Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Friday 17th April 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 17/04/20
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COVID-19 Vs Hunger Virus: Buhari, Lockdown Not Sustainable By Fredrick Nwabufo
Fredrick Nwabufo
Fredrick Nwabufo
The conundrum: Do we sustain the lockdown to contain Coronavirus and risk the upsurge of insecurity and citizens’ unrest or do we lift the restrictions and find other means of controlling the spread of COVID-19?
For a country like Nigeria with complexities and depreciable socio-economic indices, imposing restrictions on movement for an extended period of time — asphyxiating the economy and pauperising small businesses is Siberian. As it is, we cannot afford an extended lockdown! Lockdown measures are not sustainable.
As a matter of fact, some countries affected by Coronavirus in Europe are beginning to realise that imposing lockdowns and shutting down economies, even though necessary, are reactive approaches.
On Monday, some workers in certain industries returned to duty after Spain lifted some lockdown measures in the country. CNBC reports that construction and factory workers in the Mediterranean country returned to work on Monday as the government lifted some of the most stringent lockdown measures. Spain is one of the worst-hit nations by Covid-19.
In Sweden, the government is sticking to a ‘’low-scale’’ lockdown. According to Washington Post, Sweden’s softer approach ‘’means that schools for younger children, restaurants and most businesses are still open’’ though the country banned gatherings larger than 50 people, closed high schools and universities, and asked those over 70 or otherwise at greater risk from the virus to self-isolate.
Sweden is of the opinion that total lockdown is not sustainable – in the long run.
Other European nations like Austria, Denmark and Czech Republic battling COVID-19 are considering easing lockdown measures.
Lockdown measures are not sustainable! They are at best a reactive approach to a hydra-headed problem. They can slow down the spread of COVID-19 – only for a while. But these measures cannot eliminate the spread of the disease or prevent re-infection.
I am of the view that owing to our complexities and parlous indices of armies of the poor and the unemployed, it is a defective idea to lockdown the country for an extended period of time. We cannot import wholesale the approach of other countries, much more advanced than we are, without care for our own unique situation and expect things to work out.
Even with the lockdown in the past two weeks, we have done only about 6,000 COVID-19 tests while Ghana is shooting above 35,000 in the aggregate of tests conducted so far. Why?
Really, we cannot afford another round of lockdown measures. The current insecurity in Lagos and Ogun will escalate and engulf more states. I am surprised the President did not address this pesky issue in his speech.
Is he really in the know of the current security crisis in these states fuelled by the restrictive measures? Is he abreast of the security implications of the extended lockdown? If he is, what is he doing about the challenge? He seemed not to have spared a breath for it in his second COVID-19 address to the nation.
Really, I had thought the President would roll out other plausible measures with strict enforcement such as – the compulsory use of face masks; reworking offices to meet social distancing criterion and mandating offices, markets, malls and public places to adhere to stringent hygiene routines. That was what I expected not this reprise of torture for Nigerians.
In addition, the President’s speech was laden with hollow promises – a recast from the empty pledges of the previous address.
What did the President mean when he said: “In the coming weeks, I want to assure you that the Federal Government, through the Presidential Task Force, will do whatever it takes to support you in this very difficult period.’’
The presidential task force has been in operation for the last two weeks but it seems to lack direction and purpose. How exactly is it going to help Nigerians at this time?
The head of the task force, Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, confessed he did not know that Nigeria’s healthcare system is in a deplorable state. Also, a pivotal member of the task force, Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, told a National Assembly panel that he is not aware if doctors are paid hazard allowance – at a time of great national emergency!
How are these people going to help Nigerians whom they are obviously far removed from?
Also, the President said: ‘’I have also directed that the current social register be expanded from 2.6 million households to 3.6 million households in the next two weeks. This means we will support an additional one million homes with our social investment programs. A technical committee is working on this and will submit a report to me by the end of this week.’’
As a matter of fact, increasing the number of households for cash transfer from 2.6 million to 3.6 million is commendable, but it is not judicious. Nigeria has over 95 million poor – what happens to the other indigents? This does not address the poverty of millions of other Nigerians who have been made poorer by the restrictive measures. Also, the parameter for the cash transfer register is contentious.
At this point, it appears Nigerians have been given two options – to die of hunger or to die of COVID-19. Either way it is death for them.
Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist.
Twitter: @FredrickNwabufo
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BREAKING: 20 New Coronavirus Cases Announced In Nigeria
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has confirmed 20 new cases of Coronavirus in the country.
This was confirmed by the NCDC in its daily update on Twitter.
Of the 20 cases, 13 was recorded in Lagos State.
It said, “Twenty new cases of #COVID19 have been reported as follows: 13 in Lagos, two in Edo, two in Kano, two in Ogun, one in Ondo.
“As at 9:50 pm 13th April, there are 343 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. 91 have been discharged with 10 deaths.”
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French President, Emmanuel Macron, Extends Lockdown Until May 11
French President, Emmanuel Macron, has extended the lockdown in France to May 11 with the hope of carrying out more tests and stopping the spread of Coronavirus in the country.
Macron said by then France should be able to test everyone, who presents symptoms of COVID-19.
He added that from mid-May, France will progressively reopen crèches and schools.
France has seen about 15,000 deaths so far as a result of the virus.
Rules on social distancing was also reinforced.
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Despite Evidence, CBN Denies Charging Small Businesses N10,000 For COVID-19 Loan Application
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele
Screenshot of NIRSAL Microfinance Bank’s email to an applicant
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele
The Central Bank of Nigeria has denied charging N10,000 to process COVID-19 Intervention Loan applications for small businesses.SaharaReporters can confirm that NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, administrator of the loan for the CBN, is charging N10,000 for what it described as a “business plan link” compulsory for all applicants if they want their entries reviewed.The CBN’s Director of Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, on Monday said the apex bank would not demand money from anybody and urged customers with complaints to report to its consumer protection department.
Screenshot of NIRSAL Microfinance Bank’s email to an applicant
The CBN statement reads “The attention of CBN has again been drawn to false reports on the social media that loan seekers and owners of small scale businesses who apply for loans provided to cushion the effects of COVID-19 are required to pay a certain amount as application processing fees.”CBN urges members of the public to disregard any message requiring them to pay any amount to process their applications.“Prospective applicants are advised to approach NIRSAL Micro Finance Bank or the CBN branch nearest to them for clarification on the procedure for accessing any of the bank’s related loans.
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Central Bank Of Nigeria Demands N10,000 From Small Business Owners Applying For COVID-19 Intervention Fund
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“Any observed irregularities should be reported to the Consumer Protection department of the CBN via cpd@cbn.gov.ng or call 07002255226.”
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CAUGHT ON TAPE: How Central Bank Governor Emefiele, Deputy Adamu And Top Officials Discussed How To Cover-Up N500bn Which They Stole From The CBN
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AAC Slams Buhari For Failing To Mention Lagos, Ogun Robberies During Nationwide Address, Demands N100,000 Palliative For Nigerians
The African Action Congress has berated the nationwide broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday for not mentioning several keys issues in the country including robbery attacks in Lagos and Ogun states by hoodlums in recent days.
National Organising Secretary of the party, Oshioks Philips, in a statement on Monday, described the addition of one million names to the existing 2.6 million persons on the national social register as meagre and an assault on the sensibilities of Nigerians.
The statement reads, “The plea that Nigerians endure and die of hunger at home, only adding “one million houses to the social register” is one assault Nigerians must stand up and reject.
“Lagos alone has 20 million people and all the social register is just 3.6 million houses to take care of Lagos, Ogun and FCT. This means that Buhari and APC want to keep more people at home dying of poverty.
“AAC insists that Buhari and the APC should be booted out now before they kill us all.
“For the past two weeks, mass robbery, hunger, and pains have visited houses with government officials taking care of their family and party members alone.
“The ruling party does not have the political goodwill to deliver Nigeria safely and soundly out of this pandemic.
“In Lagos, Nigerians have turned themselves to vigilante while millions have been fighting to survive staying at home.
“Our position is clear, we need all adults in Lagos, Ogun, and FCT to be paid cost of living allowance of at least N100,000 each.
“Our party also believes that health and security workers especially should be giving standard hazard allowances, not the N5,000 currently being paid.
“The continuation of the current madness as advocated in President Buhari’s speech is an insult working Nigerians must not take.
“Let’s send these rogues away once and for all so that sanity can be restored in this country.”
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E2%80%99s-salary AFRICMIL Calls On NBET Boss To Comply With Court Order On Payment Of Whistleblower’s Salary
The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy has called on Dr Marilyn Amobi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, to comply with the judgment of the National Industrial Court in Abuja, which ordered the immediate payment of the salaries, emoluments and accruable benefits of a whistleblower, Sambo Abdullahi, which she has withheld since December 2017.
Abdullahi, head of internal audit in NBET, is being punished for uncovering sundry acts of corruption in the organisation.
In the last three years, AFRICMIL has been in the forefront of the campaign for protection of whistleblowers.
In a statement signed by its coordinator, Dr Chido Onumah, the organisation reminded the NBET boss that the 30-day window given by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi of the National Industrial Court for her to comply with the judgment expired on April 10, 2020.
According to Onumah, “Dr Amobi should do the needful and not treat the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction with contempt as she treated the directive of the former Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN.”
Onumah said at least on two separate occasions in 2018, Fashola had, following the report of a ministerial committee, which investigated the crisis in NBET, directed Dr Amobi to pay Abdullahi his salaries and allowances and treat him like other staff in NBET, but Dr Amobi defied the minister by flatly ignoring the directives.
The statement said Abdullahi had suffered enough having gone without salary for more than two years.
“Nobody, more so a whistleblower, deserves this kind of treatment. It is important to point out that Abdullahi has since been vindicated by the ICPC, EFCC, BPE and the office of the Auditor General of the Federation, all of which indicted Dr Amobi.
Government, therefore, has a duty to protect the whistleblower and ensure that he does not continue to be victimised for doing what is right,” Onumah added.
Abdullahi went to court in December 2018 when all efforts to resolve the crisis by Fashola and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation proved abortive.
On March 11, 2020, Justice Oyewumi held that the stoppage of his salary, allowance, and other entitlements such as annual leave was wrong.
She ordered the payment of all salaries and allowances within 30 days, failure of which will attract 21 per cent annual interest.
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Boss Mustapha: You Weren’t Born With A Sliver Spoon By Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed
Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed
Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed
Oppressors gyrate to see the oppressed people bow and applaud them, but the current plague devastates their whole system since it affects them and their cronies.
A hopeless man has nothing to rely on; he will utilise his last energy wisely for him to survive. Also, a neglected pregnant woman only has little hope with the local midwife who might help her to deliver her baby.
A dying person with no money for medical treatment dies while consuming local herbs just to survive. Those who lost their sight and hoping to regain it eventually lost it completely because of little or no funds for the surgery.
When there is no hope, survival becomes difficult. When there is no leadership, a community becomes a desecrated place for survivors. Criminality is initiated by the weak system that harbours it.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who also serves as the Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, was quoted as saying, “I can tell you for sure, I never knew that our entire healthcare infrastructure was in the state in which it is. Until I was appointed to do this work”.
Boss Mustapha is an opportunist who clearly got carried away and forgot his roots. He wasn’t born with a sliver spoon and couldn’t have spent his entire life flying in and out of foreign hospitals in Asia, Europe and America to necessitate his absurd statement.
Boss Mustapha was born in Garaha, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State. He also attended his primary school in Hong before proceeding to Maiduguri for his high school education. He was later admitted into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Law before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus.
His path into politics shows that Boss Mustapha wasn’t born with a sliver spoon. He has experienced the low side of life and the decrepit state of our institutions before he rose to the dining table to wine and dine with the powers that be. Behaving like a river that forgot its source is nauseating to the extreme.
People have been expressing their concerns on social and print media long before the pandemic. Many doctors and nurses have demonstrated their worries and frustration to the government owing to lack of equipment and dilapidated state of our healthcare system in the country. Perhaps, if our healthcare system was in good condition no politician will consider travelling abroad for his medical checks like Muhammadu Buhari has done in the past five years of his regime.
The Nigerian healthcare systems has collapsed for decades, APC’s deceitful government used it for campaign in 2015 and in 2019. And Boss Mustapha has been in government for long, enjoying the freebies that are accruable to him. He probably has never used any of our medical facilities in the country since becoming a public official. He has been flown to foreign hospitals at the slightest headache, all at the expense of Nigerians.
That the rain didn’t fall is no reason to wish the sea would flood the city. Coronavirus has opened the buttocks of the Nigerian Government, it has also revealed the incompetence and inadequacies of this regime. One will wonder why he never knew about the current situation of our healthcare system in the country as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Having the audacity to publicly claim that he never knew Nigeria’s healthcare system was in a terrible condition is laughable and amounts to an insult to Nigerians. It would seem also that the Minister of Health is being sidelined in the decision-making process, which may be why he was unable to narrate the shameless state of our healthcare system to the SGF.
Let us even assume that Boss Mustapha has not been aware of our current healthcare system, let him drive down to Garaha, his hometown in Adamawa, for medical checks. Let him also take all his family members along to his community for medical tourism. Let him tour Hong Local Government and feel the pains of what his people are passing through.
One man’s adversity is another man’s gain, the pandemic has assisted Nigerians by forcing the government to see the reality on ground and their foolhardiness. Coronavirus has shown how weak and incompetent this government is.
We are breeding up those who have no knowledge about leadership and do not know what government is all about. Boss Mustahpa is comfortable with his position, while not knowing the numerous problems Nigerians are facing on a daily basis. How can he know? Since he has no business with our healthcare system in the country.
To face a war and not flee is the honour of a man. Boss Mustapha should not abdicate his responsibilities because he wants to satisfy his master. Even President Muhammadu Buhari knew about the rottenness in our healthcare system for long, that’s why he flies abroad for his medical checks.
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Robbery Attacks During Coronavirus Lockdown By Kareem Shamusudeen
Many Nigerians had foreseen that this would happen. This being the robbery attacks that have almost become commonplace in the South-Western part of the country especially in states like Ogun, Lagos, and Oyo. Many who had thought that any theft cases or robbery incidents would manifest only by household food items being forcefully carted away since the federal government did not put all odds in check before it declared the stay-at-home order, were perhaps taken by surprise when lots of lives were lost, citizens were injured, valuables were stolen in attacks that seemed like a brazen affront to the safety of the lives of citizens.
It was a friend who shared a Whatsapp message with a panic tone to me, urging that I pray for the residents of Ogun State in areas like Sango, Sagamu, Ifo, and others because robbery attacks in these areas and beyond were becoming more scary. Similarly, news reports also reeled out the unfortunate incidents that are associated with these dreadful attacks.
Painfully, the citizens cannot move out freely for the fear of contracting the deadly Coronavirus, and while staying in their homes they suffer from fervid apprehension and trepidation because the armed marauders can strike them at any time. To be candid, robbery attacks during this period are unfortunate and heart-wrenching. It is saddening when citizens who strove by all means to conform to the directives of government as regards the need to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic live in fear of being killed, maimed and emasculated by the men of the underworld. While some citizens battle with hunger as the so-called government’s palliatives have not proved sufficient to help the hard-scrabbled citizens, they are still not rest assured of being protected adequately from evil machinations. It took a while for the security operatives to counter these attacks.
The residents of Ogun State, according to news reports, were dazzled by the complete insouciance of the armed robbers who rob in the day as against their nocturnal activities. Even, some men in the police have been reportedly rendered immobile by these robbers. The robbers seemed to be at ease as they unleashed terror on residents, took possession of valuables, and the worst of it all was that they outsmarted the police as well as other security operatives by going free.
In Lagos State, the sad situation is the same as residents in some local government areas shared similar fate with their Ogun State counterparts. In Oyo State too, there are robbery attacks in some local governments which reportedly sprouted from cult clashes. What should be in place now is the alertness, efficiency and effectiveness of the security operatives to forestall any attacks—be it robbery or not—on the citizens. By doing so without any off-handedness and politicisation, they would make the citizens be sure that they are being protected, else the citizens can take up arms to confront the life-endangering attacks which can foil the government’s attempts to ensure the stay-at-home order and at large, jeopardise the nation’s security.
In my opinion, these attacks are not totally hunger-driven. The robbers or thugs, in my purview, are delinquents who took advantage of the lockdown to perpetuate criminal activities. In every case however, this shows that the building holding the security network in the country is on a very porous foundation. What has happened to the police patrols? What has become of the security operatives designated to enforce the lockdown? Why are they absent when these illegal attacks were ongoing? I would not be caught unawares if these attacks were later found to have some underlying political elements. One cannot be so confident that some big barracudas in the political force are not employing some youth to carry out these dreadful activities in return for some token. I would advise that the government immediately commence intelligence gathering to find out the source of these attacks, the characters involved, and sketch plans to counter these attacks in the most effective and efficient way.
However, the citizens should also assist the security operatives by giving information of any suspicious movements in their community because the truth of the matter is that the security operatives cannot do it alone. The citizens also have a major stake in ensuring peace in their respective communities and should be on the alert to call on the security operatives in case of any impending attacks. The Ogun State Government has said that they have begun counter attacks in affected areas in the state as they urged the citizens to remain calm. In Lagos State also, the police have been saddled with the responsibility to man areas that are prone to robbery and other attacks. While these are brilliant moves to regulate peace, it is noteworthy to add that security operatives should be in constant operation to ensure the safety of the citizens and not the few patrols they carry out which stop immediately after the attacks have been reduced to the barest minimum. The Federal Government should look into the issues since they are the main actors to ensure the protection of the lives and properties of the citizens nationwide.
However, the safety of citizens should not only be the top priority of government during this stay-at-home period alone, it should surely transcend after this period. It is pertinent to add also that a nation exists when there is peace and that insecurity threatens the longevity and prosperity of a nation. The Federal Government should learn from states where the armed forces find it hard to restore peace and order because of their off-handedness towards security matters that required swift action. The governors of the affected states should work closely with the Federal Government in restoring peace in affected areas in their states. The security of the lives and properties of the citizens should not be foiled by political rivalry or battle for supremacy. Irrespective of the political parties the governors of the aforementioned states belong to, they should understand that security comes first before anything else as democratisation cannot succeed in an unsecured state.
Asides the issue of ensuring security, the Federal Government should also be serious in giving palliatives to citizens during this lockdown period. Enough of sharing the meagre amount of N20,000 to the so-called poorest citizens of which there are no available data to ascertain their indigence. Many citizens are struggling to eat one time in a day, and if this lockdown continues and the government does not support the citizens as they claim they are doing, there may be an unprecedented massive breakdown of law and order.
It should be recalled however, that residents of Lagos State as well as in other states had initially defied the lockdown order before the security operatives forcefully ensured that residents obeyed the lockdown. Much as the Federal Government attempts to bring Coronavirus under an effective control, the citizens should also be protected on the other hand. And as Marcus Tarcus Cicero says, “The safety of the people shall be the highest law.”
Kareem Shamusudeen is a campus journalist at the University of Ibadan and can be reached via kareemshamusudeen@gmail.com
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E2%80%93-part-2-akin-rotimi Now That We Are Home – Part 2 By Akin Rotimi
These are desperate times the world over. Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has taken a number of steps in the right direction in our battle to contain the pandemic. Some of our state governors are also proving their mettle by their actions, while some others are trivialising this crisis and putting their people at risk with pedestrian rhetoric and stupid actions. Just like was recorded in Bible times during Job’s crisis, we can also see that “Great men are not always wise.” We have come to discover in stark relief the number of misfits we have leading us. It is also in this time of war that generals are earning their stripes, and by God’s grace the day would soon come when we would celebrate the heroes of this battle and document their roles in serving our common good.
As things stand today though, there is still no cure for the virus, and our best efforts to win this war remains to continue to enforce physical distancing, aggressive contact tracing, and mass enlightenment on the need for everyone to practice personal hygiene and build their immunity. I must add to that the need to improve the morale of our heroic health workers on the frontlines, and incentivise them to continue to put in their best. These are the ones staying the hands of the pandemic within our borders – the ones who are bravely defying the scary projections about the pandemic overrunning our health system.
The greatest challenge however, is ensuring wilful compliance by the citizenry to physical distancing measures put in place by government, and at the same time maintaining social cohesion and law and order. This is because of the toll the lockdown is taking on the majority of Nigerians, which President Buhari in showing empathy acknowledged in his recent statement: “We realise that today, there will be sons and daughters unable to visit their parents, and elders that are isolated from young ones. And there will be those who live day-to-day, eating as they earn, who face real and present suffering.”
It is heart-breaking and worrisome to read of spikes in crime in our urban centres, and the desperation of many Nigerians to do anything at this time for bread. A video that went viral recently shows a septuagenarian, confidently saying she would be happy to sleep with anyone for N500 to survive.
The encouraging news is that characteristic of Nigerians being our brothers’ keepers, in addition to efforts of government across all levels, we are seeing humanitarian responses at the level of individuals, families, and clusters of friends crowdsourcing money and food to share with underprivileged persons. People are cooking meals and distributing to fellow Nigerians on the streets, and distributing stipends to vulnerable families. Citizens’ responses have been commendable and has proven that every single person counts in efforts at nation building. We must not stop. As I had encouraged in Part 1 of this article, when this pestilence passes, we must keep up in this same spirit and hold our leaders accountable to addressing some urgent problems that have compounded the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Some of these are as follows.
Inequality: Wealthy Nigerians and corporations are falling over themselves to announce huge donations to confront the pandemic in Nigeria. The problem is you don’t prepare for war in times of war, and many Nigerians are beginning to wonder what exactly would be done with all these monies, and how exactly it would tangibly impact their lives. These donations in many cases come from donors who are as complicit as our leaders in the house of cards we have built. Jobless economic growth over the years has enriched a few while others wallow in indigence. This is why we have a severe housing deficit yet empty and overpriced real estate abound in our major cities. We have a broken education system yet Nigerians as international students fund the education systems in other countries. Poverty is one thing in Nigeria, inequality is another. Wherever inequality exists, it is joined by a league of ills. We must not forget the saying attributed to French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau: “Quand les pauvres n’auront plus rien à manger, ils mangeront les riches!” meaning “When the poor have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich!”
Data management: For long, we have failed to heed the warning of experts that our inefficiencies in managing data would hurt us someday. This is the day. The dearth of veritable data and the lack of integration of the ones we have amongst key government entities is blunting efforts in this war as far as contact tracing and delivery of humanitarian relief is concerned. Assuming we have the infinite resources, we simply lack the data to reach our most vulnerable citizens with relief in an equitable, efficient, and dignified way. We must however acknowledge that some governments have done well in this regard, a good example being the Government of Ekiti State who have been able to leverage existing databases in the state’s Vulnerable People’s Support Programme to reach vulnerable households with relief in a dignified way. This issue of data goes beyond government. Very few of our social and religious organisations that have for long been sustained by contributions of Nigerians can boast of comprehensive databases with which they can attend to the material, mental health, and spiritual needs of members during this crisis. We can do better.
Social protection: Closely related to the subject of data management is social protection. We absolutely need to rethink our strategies on how we cater for the most vulnerable segments of our society. The main purpose of social protection is to reduce poverty, economic shocks and vulnerability, which in turn, helps to determine the country-specific social protection design requirements (ADB, 2003). The Federal Government’s National Social Investments Programme is doing very well in the circumstances, but we need to ask what became of social protection initiatives of previous administrations? What are the assurances that the N-SIP would survive beyond the lifetime of this administration? Sadly, social protection programmes in Nigeria have been dogged by lack of continuity and susceptibility to nepotism and partisan manipulations. Instead of strengthening existing programmes, successive administrations choose to truncate them and initiate new ones thereby losing traction. We must build resilient and enduring social protection programmes on the solid foundations of accurate data, transparency, and accountability, and over time deepen its coverage and impact.
Functional federalism: With such a large country in terms of land mass and population, this crisis has brought back to the fore conversations about the nature of the federalism we practice. In the days leading up to President Buhari’s March 29, 2020 national broadcast, there was a hue and cry about the need for him to address the nation, as though his speech was to be a silver bullet to solve all the problems. What we didn’t pay attention to was all the work that was already going on in different states of the federation – with diverse strategies that best suit their peculiarities. That is the way it should be. As a matter of fact, the president’s actions and policy pronouncements only served, in many instances, to reinforce actions already taken by some state governors. In other jurisdictions we see the beauty of cooperative federalism in fighting this ugly situation. We see all levels of governments – federal, state, and municipal – working collaboratively to address the challenges, with each empowered to act in the best interest of their citizens. We must in the principle of Subsidiarity urgently seek ways to devolve more power and resources from an unwieldy federal government to the lower levels of government, and encourage them to generate more income within the states. The lower levels of government who are closer to the people and better positioned to respond faster and more appropriately in times like this, should have greater resources and less encumbrances.
Special status for Lagos State: One of the commendable actions by President Buhari recently is providing a grant of N10bn to the government of Lagos State to help them in the fight against COVID-19. This action was not contested by any other state. It is by itself presidential recognition that Lagos is disproportionately affected by this crisis, and carries the weight of the expectations of the entire country to provide the leadership to nip the scourge in the bud, as it did in the past with Ebola. With an estimated population of 20 million, and ranked as the fifth largest economy in Africa, Lagos is undeniably our economic nerve centre, and host to our busiest airport and seaport. When this crisis is over, we must revisit the need to grant special status to Lagos state; a move that has been repeatedly turned down by the Nigerian Senate. The last time the matter was debated on the floor of the senate in 2016 was one of the rowdiest sessions in her history. Senator Olusola Adeyeye making a comparison between Abuja and Lagos in his contribution had declared that “the Federal Capital Territory is a rotten and over-pampered child.” The National Assembly is respectfully put on notice, you can see for yourselves, there is no need for long debates after this crisis, Lagos is not the mate of any other state.
State of origin/state of residence: Talking of states, we need to review the nonsense we have kept up with for such a long time – state of origin! There is hardly any form you fill in Nigeria today that doesn’t have that inanity in spite of the divisions it fosters, and the fact that it negates the spirit and letters of our constitution. Any Nigerian should be able to live and work freely in any state of the federation and be recognised as a resident. Now that we are all in this crisis together, we can clearly see that the actions or inactions of those that reside in a state affects one and all, regardless of their origin. As far as our well-being and economic prospects are concerned, the people we live and work with are more relevant than those we share ancestry with that are far away. I hope Nwagbo that has lived in Lagos State for most of his life would now be able to fill in Lagos state as his state of residence, just the same way that Ibinabo that lives in Kano State can fill in Kano as her state of residence because she lives there. We must learn from this crisis and especially need to cross the river to deliver this message to a certain governor, and all those who discriminate against non-indigenes in their states.
National orientation: This crisis has exposed the non-existence of a coherent national orientation strategy. Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, has told us it is not the style of our President to speak frequently – granted. But communications and national orientation is much more than that. It is about leading the reformation of the hearts and minds of Nigerians and aligning our collective psyche to national goals and aspirations. It is about inspiring Nigerians, and in times like this, it is about providing accurate information that trickles down to the grassroots. If there is a vacuum in the flow of communications from the leadership of our country, and presidential aides are needlessly combative, we look to the National Orientation Agency of Nigeria to rise to its mandate of effectively “communicating government policy, staying abreast of public opinion, and promoting patriotism, national unity, and development of Nigerian society.”
The agency has been quiet so far, and needs to keep up with the times and jettison antiquated strategies. This is 2020 and it is laughable that our national orientation strategy revolves around the War Against Indiscipline (WAI Brigade) of the Buhari/Idiagbon era. How is that serving us now?
Culture of the ‘big man’: Our culture of ‘bigmanism’ is a social malaise that is demonstrated by the high and mighty in our society who live ostentatious lifestyles and promote the wilful disobedience of laws. Nigerian big men are never seen alone, but rather with retinues of aides and security operatives who fall over themselves to answer to their every whim, only to become gentle when they are abroad. In spite of the Nigerian Police being stretched thin, we still have policemen drafted as personal bodyguards to protect big men, leaving common Nigerians vulnerable. They disobey traffic laws, shunt queues, and intimidate fellow citizens at every opportunity. Their favourite expression which evidences our confused identity is “do you know who I am?” Most Nigerians are either ‘big men’ or aspiring to be, and our children are being socialised to perpetuate these attitudes. The culture of ‘bigmanism’ is what breeds the perception that our leaders, who should know better, are above the law, and has been implicated in the potential spread of the virus. Such recklessness was demonstrated by the leading opposition party whose leadership convened a South-West Reunification Rally mid-March, pulling such a massive crowd during a pandemic. Similar indiscretions were demonstrated by leaders from the ruling party, and even our celebrities were not left out. What moral rectitude do they now have to enforce physical distancing measures? Obviously we all need to concentrate more on reuniting our brains with common-sense, and rebuilding a society where no one is above the law, and the virtues of humility and simplicity once again become the norm rather than the exception.
Foreign relations: These are very tough times, and the global balance of power would never be the same again. Many countries are currently concentrating on defeating the pandemic but have hinted of significant changes to their foreign policy in the days ahead. The pandemic will change the world forever, and diplomatic relations between countries are bound to be renegotiated. The question is where does Nigeria seat in the light of these emerging realities? The viral videos of the horrible treatment being meted out to Nigerians in China is symptomatic of how low we have come. Now more than ever before, Nigeria needs to take our foreign policy seriously. We cannot afford to take a reactionary and incoherent foreign relations strategy, and our inefficient and poorly funded diplomatic missions into the future. Nigeria must prioritise our national interests and rekindle the fire of Pan-Africanism. We must rise from being pawns in the high stakes contest for global relevance, and find our voice and place in the emerging global order.
Leadership: COVID-19 is showing us the direct impact that incompetent leadership has on lives, and the destruction that can befall nations when leaders joke with such priorities as the health sector. Every aspect of life in Nigeria needs to be overhauled, while leveraging the gains we have achieved in some areas. We need our education system functioning again so that our research institutions can develop new technologies and make advances in medical science that would help humanity. Instead of hustling for give-aways on twitter, we must rid our society of systemic corruption and equip our government institutions with the human and material resources to build functional systems and structures that serve the interest of all Nigerians. It is often argued that followers in Nigeria are as bad as our leaders, but the truth is nothing can change without transformational leaders leading an enlightened and active citizenry.
By God’s grace and the resilience of Nigerians, together we will win this war against COVID-19, and Nigeria would be great again.
Opinion
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Akin Rotimi
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Southern Taraba Residents Accuse State Governor, Ishaku, Of Neglect Despite Growing Kidnapping, Killings In Region
Governor Darius Ishaku
Governor Darius Ishaku
Guardian Nigeria
Residents of Southern Taraba through their umbrella organisation, Jukun Development Association of Nigeria, have accused the state governor, Darius Ishaku, of abandoning them to the mercy of kidnappers and killers that have turned their lives into a living hell.
Passing a vote of no confidence on Governor Ishaku for his inability to address the raging crisis between the Jukuns, his kinsmen, and some Tiv militia groups attacking the Southern part of the state, the residents said the worsening and protracted insecurity in the region had led to the deaths of hundreds of persons and kidnap of scores others.
In a statement by its National President, Chief Bako Benjamin, and General Secretary, Bulus Abe, the Jukun Development Association of Nigeria said the vote of no confidence became necessary because the governor was missing from his duty post and had abandoned his people for a very long time.
The statement reads, “February 2019 was the last time Jukun people saw Governor Ishaku despite unprecedented killings, kidnappings and destruction of properties still ongoing in Southern part of the state which is his homeland.
“Jukun people were doing very fine with their small subsistence economy and sleeping well with our eyes closed before the coming of this governor.
“His coming to power has not only impoverished the Jukun people but also exposed us to ridicule as a people incapable of governing Taraba State well.
“Wukari and Takum is constantly under threat from some Tiv militia groups to the extent that Jukun people are wondering if the governor is not supporting the carnage against them.
“This is because he has been unable to provide security for the people despite almost N11bn security vote from the Federal Government and borrowing of additional N86bn since assuming office five years ago.
“Though Darius Ishaku is not a governor for the Jukun people alone, his seeming silence over the crisis ravaging his homeland and daily kidnappings ongoing in state capital, Jalingo, since he became governor was worrisome.
“The Jukuns are never in anyway the political power brokers in Taraba State and that is why in the 29 years of the creation of the state, the Jukuns in Southern Taraba are just producing a governor in Darius Ishaku.
“Yet, for reasons best known to the Tivs, they have insisted that the Jukuns have been the ones depriving them of all political privileges in Taraba State hence their unending attacks on Jukuns.”
A state official when contacted by our correspondent, said Governor Ishaku had not abandoned any group in Taraba and that he was doing everything possible to ensure the protection of lives and valuables in the state.
He said, “We understand the argument of the Jukuns but that is not to say Governor Ishaku has abandoned them in any way.
“The governor is a servant of every group in Taraba and shall continue to do his best to protect residents and their properties.”
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SaharaReporters, New York
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