The year 2011 cruised to a close on Saturday, December 31. In this report, Editor, Op-Ed & Features, Nelson Chukwudi x-rays how Nigeria fared, with highlights of major events that shaped the nation and its people.

 

It is no longer in doubt that 2011 was one of the worst years for Nigeria, since the country’s post-civil war history. However, a few events brought smiles to the faces of Nigerians. Amongst the events that brought cheers were the Prof Attahiru Jega-superintended general elections held in April 2011, adjudged both locally and internationally as ‘relatively free and fair’; the launching of the Sat-X (Nigerian-built satellite) into space; and, perhaps some major breakthroughs in the healthcare delivery sector such as the reduction in the number of HIV/AIDS-infected persons in Nigeria, the reduction of polio cases in Nigeria, among others.

On the other side, the ‘perennial and intractable monster’ of the crises in the once peaceful Jos, on the plateau, and the indiscriminate bomb blasts and explosions in some states in the North. There was also the abysmal performance of the Nigerian contingents in all sporting activities in which the country participated in 2011. In fact, Nigeria failed to clinch any major global trophy in 2011, and therefore did not qualify for any major championships slated for 2012, including the Olympics, the African Cup of Nations, and the rest.

The economy did not fare any better. The impact of the global meltdown also played a part in the slow economic growth in 2011, despite the painstaking efforts of the National Economic Management Team with such quality individuals as Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former World Bank managing director and international economist par excellence; Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor; Prof Barth Nnaji, internationally-acclaimed power and energy guru; and Aliko Dangote, business mogul, richest African and the 51st richest person in the world, according to Forbes magazine’s latest release. In order to jump-start the economy, government continued with intervention and regulation of critical ailing sectors, including the bailout of the manufacturing, agricultural, transport, and textiles, among others. The banking sector witnessed another shakeup with some banks going under while new names emerged to take over in a reform that leaves more Nigerians waiting for answers to many questions. Islamic banking and cashless economy were also proposed in 2011 to take effect in 2012.

While oil prices soared in the international market, indicators of the economy did not reflect the dividends. The nation’s currency, Naira, plummeted against the dollar and it is projected that the downward trend may continue in 2012. Inflation rate exceeded the single digit projection of the CBN while the 2011 budget, understandably, recorded a dismal performance. Ever increasing price of kerosene and diesel continue to unleash a regime of hardship on innocent citizens. And the heat of the full deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry reached a crescendo with government bent on removing on premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol. As at the end of 2011, national indicators did not show any sign of improvement: Nigeria’s adult literacy rate scurried at 57 per cent; infant mortality stood at 92.9 per 1,000 live births; life expectancy at 47 years.

On the intractable challenge of the power sector, it was still a hazy smokescreen despite the hype on the ‘significant efforts’ of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) under the management of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC). Both President Olusegun Obasanjo and late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua promised Nigerians 6,000 megawatts of electricity but failed to deliver on this promise. At a conference on the power sector roadmap in Lagos, President Goodluck Jonathan promised to increase electricity generation and supply to 5,000 megawatts by December 2011, from 2,800 megawatts in May.

Interestingly, the government increased electricity supply from the 2,800 megawatts in May to about 4,300 megawatts as at November. Although this is a far cry from what Nigerians need. According to the National Planning Commission (NPC) 2010 Monitoring, Performance and Evaluation Report for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Nigeria needs an electricity generation capacity of not less than 35,000 megawatts by the 2020 if it must actualize its Vision 20:2020 and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

As usual, the much-touted war against corruption stagnated like in previous years. Indeed, months after the April general elections, only but a few arrests of former political office holders were made, even as most states still lament the reckless looting of their treasuries by past administrations. The alleged culprits roam the streets as free men as though they are untouchable. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested, prosecuted and jailed former Oceanic Bank International Plc Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Cecilia Ibru, former Edo governor, Lucky Igbinedion, and supported the London prosecution of former Delta governor, James Onanefe Ibori. It also arrested and arraigned former House of Representatives speaker, Dimeji Bankole, former Oyo governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Ogun governor, Gbenga Daniel, and Nassarawa governor, Akwe Doma but their trail has been stalled. Even former Lagos governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was also arraigned by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) but could not prove a case of operation of foreign bank accounts leveled against him. Embattled Farida Waziri, EFCC chairman was dropped before the end of 2011.

Nigeria gradually leapt into prominence again in the African continent through its leadership role in the newly constituted West African Parliament, but its foreign policy direction and international relations still left much to be desired. For this reason, President Jonathan called for a total overhaul of the Nigerian foreign policy. In fact, the success of the April polls gave the country a new face-lift in its foreign policy sphere, even though subsequent elections in some states and local governments painted a clearer picture of the low level but rising profile of intra-party democratic practices in Nigeria.

Interestingly, 2011 saw the National Assembly inaugurating several probe panels that published startling revelations on the decays that have characterized the running of public institutions since 1999. The Seventh National Assembly has been described as more transparent and thorough in its oversight function, especially as relates to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) probe, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) probe, the National Judicial Council (NJC) probe, probe of the post-elections violence in parts of northern Nigeria, among others. But unfortunately, the present Assembly is yet to produce incontrovertible proof of the dividends of the investigative ventures.

In this analysis, it is important to focus extensively on the political stratosphere. This is what most defined the shape of the nation in 2011. Yes! From January to December, there was no dull moment in the political turf. Starting from the zoning brouhaha in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the triumph of opposition parties over the PDP in some states across the country, especially the Action Congress of Nigeria’s sweep of the South West, and new-born Congress for Progressive Change’s upset in the North, it was action-packed all through.

2011 began with a heated controversy in the ruling PDP over the zoning of the Presidency. Some northern statesmen argued that the PDP’s presidential candidate must come from the North in conformity with the party’s power-sharing principle embedded in the zoning convention while those opposed to zoning, particularly from the South, pushed that the presidential standard bearer could come from any part of the country. The PDP’s constitution recognises the rotation of the offices among various zones. By that arrangement, the Presidency was supposed to rotate between the North and South.

The controversy was sparked off by the death of former president, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and the interest of then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2011 presidential elections on the PDP platform. The debate created tension in the PDP, and by extension, the entire polity.

In an attempt to scuttle Jonathan’s ambition, former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida; former national security adviser, General Aliyu Gusua; former governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki; and some other PDP presidential aspirants from the North selected former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, as their consensus candidate for the presidential primaries. The exercise was conducted by the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPFL), headed by former finance minister, Mallam Adamu Ciroma. Thus, Atiku squared up against President Jonathan in the presidential primary, which saw Jonathan trounce Atiku to clinch the party’s ticket, paving the way for his election as president in the April 19 presidential polls.

Jonathan’s emergence as the president dealt a deadly blow to the PDP’s zoning policy as the party’s choice for the leadership of the lower chamber of the National Assembly was disregarded. Prior to the inauguration of the Seventh National Assembly, the PDP national leadership had zoned office of speaker of the House of Representatives to South West and deputy speaker to North East. But in flagrant disregard to the zoning formula, members overwhelmingly voted for Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from North West as speaker and Emeka Ihedioha from South East as deputy speaker.

The year 2011 also witnessed the extension of tenure for five governors, who incidentally were elected on the platform of the PDP. The governors – Ibrahim Idris (Kogi); Magatakardar Wammako, (Sokoto); Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa); Liyel Imoke (Cross River); and Murtala Nyako, (Adamawa) – were declared winners of the 2007 governorship elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, along the line, some divisions of Court Appeal in their adjudication on matters arising from disputes from the election nullified the elections of the five governors and called for fresh elections in their respective states. The governors contested the fresh elections and also won, and took fresh oaths of office months later on different dates.

In the build up to the 2011 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicated the desire to conduct governorship polls in Kogi, Sokoto, Bayelsa, Cross River and Adamawa states but the governors went to court to stop the electoral body. Eventually, they got a judgement from the Appeal Court to the effect that their tenure would run for four years, counting from the day they took their oath of office after they won the re-run elections in their respective states. Consequently, governorship elections in the concerned states were stalled. Only Kogi in December conducted its governorship elections, with PDP’s retired Captain Isah Idris, emerging winner.

In 2011, the Bola Tinubu-led Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which sprang from the ashes of Olu Falae’s Alliance for Democracy (AD), regained control of five out of the six states in the South West. At the emergence of democracy in 1999, AD had won all elections in the South West states. But in 2003, PDP wrestled Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states from AD. After the 2007 elections, it regained Ekiti, Osun and Edo, albeit through the courts while Labour Party displaced PDP in Ondo. However, in the 2011 general elections, ACN launched a comeback and took over Ogun and Oyo states from PDP, thereby forcing the PDP into opposition in the zone.

Now, with ACN sweeping the seats in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, and Osun, and pockets of seats in Edo, Anambra, Abia, and northern states, it has without doubt emerged as the main opposition party in the country. In both chambers of the National Assembly, the party won the highest number of seats after the PDP, thereby taking over from All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), which had led the opposition from 1999 to 2011. In all, ACN controls six governorship seats and a total of 87 seats in the Senate and House of Representatives. While CPC controls only one state, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Labour Party (LP) and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) control one, three and two states, respectively. The PDP controls 23 states.

The rise and fall of the CPC is one of the major surprises in the politics of the country in 2011. At the beginning of the year, CPC, which was formed by former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), as a child of necessity to drive his presidential ambition, held so much promise. With the popularity of Buhari in the North, it was taken for granted that the party would sweep the 2011 polls in most of the 19 states in the region. It was also speculated that Buhari, who was running for the Presidency of the nation for the third consecutive time, would win majority votes in the North and a few states in the South to emerge president. But the wind of change in the country undermined that prediction, and the retired general was defeated by Jonathan. At the National Assembly and governorship elections, it was also a tale of failures. It only mustered a win of the governorship seat in Nassarawa and a handful of legislative seats, especially in North East, North West and North Central thereby making all hopes that the party would form the government at the centre, or, at least, lead the opposition, stillborn.

In 2011, three PDP governors, contesting for second term in office suffered humiliating defeats. Former Imo governor, Ikedi Ohakim; former Nassarawa governor, Akwe Doma; and former Oyo governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala lost their return bids to APGA, CPC and ACN in their respective states. Ohakim was trounced by Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura buried Doma’s second term dream while Senator Abiola Ajimobi shamed Alao-Akala in the ancient city of Ibadan. Paradoxically, the trio had boasted they would defeat their opponents with a landslide.

The case of the three governors is different from that of Bayelsa’s Timipre Sylva. At the beginning of 2011, Sylva, trampled on the political firmament in Bayelsa as PDP leader and more significantly, as the governor of the president’s home state. And like every first-time PDP governor, Sylva hoped to grab automatic nod to contest and win his second term on the party’s ticket. But party’s top hierarchy in Abuja brushed him aside, and cleared others, including a member of the House of Representatives, Seriake Dickson, who has emerged as PDP candidate for the February 11, 2012 gubernatorial polls. Now, Sylva is leaking his wound on the political turf.

Another significant political development in 2011 was the arraignment of former governor of Lagos State and national leader of ACN, Bola Tinubu, in the Conduct of Conduct Bureau (CCB). He had been charged for allegedly operating foreign account while he held sway as governor of Lagos. However, the CCB acquitted Tinubu of the charges preferred against him. If he had been convicted, he would have been barred from politics for 10 years.

Also in 2011, a serving Senator, Ali Ndume, was arrested by the State Security service (SSS) and arraigned in an Abuja Magistrate Court for alleged links with the dreaded Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram. Ndume, a former member of the House of Representatives, represents Borno State in the Senate. Ironically, the Senator was part of a Federal Government committee set up to evolve ways of tackling the activities of the Boko Haram. Ndume’s arrest and prosecution is part of government’s plan to stem the tide of terrorist attacks in the country.

Another key event in 2011 was the death of former Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Dim Ojukwu, first graduate to enroll into the Nigerian Army, a two-time presidential aspirant, national leader and chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of APGA, died in a London hospital after a long duel with stroke. His death is one singular event that would have monumental consequences on the fortunes of APGA.

 

Without a doubt, 2011 was a year of mixed fortunes for Nigeria. Below are highlights of some of the key events that characterized the year:

Notable Deaths In Nigeria

January 6: Uche Okafor, 43, former Nigerian International footballer died in the United States.

April 18: Olubayo Adefemi, 25, Nigerian International footballer died in an auto crash in Greece.

April 20: Ashley Nwosu, famous Nollywood actor, died after a brief illness at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

June 18: Echendu Adiele, 32, Nigerian footballer passed on.

June 30: Christy Essien  Igbokwe, 50, famous musician and actress died.

July 20: Chief Al-Mustain Abaniwonda, 56, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Lagos East senatorial district candidate.

August 1: Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, former Speaker of the House of Representatives died.

August 7: Sam Loco Efe, 69, veteran Nollywood actor and comedian died mysteriously in a hotel room in Owerri, Imo State.

September 4: Geraldine Ekeocha, Nollywood actress passed on.

September 14: MC Loph, real name Obiajulu Nwaozor, famous Nigerian musician.

November 20: Chief Alex Ibru, 66, publisher of The Guardian Newspapers, former minister and politician leaves a hole in the Ibru dynasty’s family tree.

November 25: Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, 78, ex-Biafran warlord, died in a London hospital.

Bomb Attacks And Explosions In Nigeria

January 1: Nigerian Army Barracks’ mammy market in Abuja.

April 7: Explosion hits a polling booth at Unguwar Doki, Maiduguri, Borno State, injuring more than ten people.

April 8: Bomb explosion at the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), office in Suleja, Niger State, leaving 11 people dead.

April 15: Youths riding on a motorcycle threw locally made bomb into the premises of the Maiduguri council office of INEC.

April 21: Two suspected bomb-makers died in a blast in Kaduna.

April 25: Three bomb blasts ripped through Tudu Palace Hotel and Kano Motor Park in Maiduguri, Borno State.

April 27: A bomb blast was averted at an INEC collation centre in Oron, Akwa Ibom State several hours before the commencement of voting.

May 28: 13 people died and 40 were injured after a blast occurred at the Nigerian Army Barracks’ mammy market, Shandawanka in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital.

May 29: Eight victims lost their legs after an explosion occurred at Zuba, a suburb of Kubwa in Abuja.

June 16: A massive explosion at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters building in Abuja.

August 26: Bomb blast rocked the United Nations building in Abuja, killing more than 23.

December 7: A heavy explosion occurred at Oria Apata along Katsina Road by Ogbosho Street, opposite the former Scala Cinema at about 9:30 am.

December 25: Multiple bomb blasts at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla near Suleja, Niger State, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries in Jos, Plateau State, and another spot in Maiduguri, Borno State.

December 30: Bomb explosion near a mosque during Friday prayer session in Maiduguri, Borno State, killing about four.

Random Shots Of Other Major Events In Nigeria

February 26: Former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Chief Olabode George, regained freedom after serving out two years imprisonment alongside four others for contract-splitting when he was chairman of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).

February 2011: Convicted former CEO of Oceanic Bank International Plc, Cecilia Ibru, regained freedom.

April 9: National Assembly elections held across the nation.

April 16: The presidential polls won by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan were held.

April 26: The governorship and House of Assembly elections were held across the nation.

May 28: President Jonathan signed into law the Freedom of Information Act as passed by the National Assembly.

May 29: Dr Goodluck Jonathan was inaugurated as the first president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from the Ijaw ethnic group in the Niger Delta.

June 5: Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, was arrested by the EFCC in Abuja.

August 4: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) submits first-ever scientific report of 50 years of oil pollution of Ogoniland in Rivers State to President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.

August 17: Nigeria launched Sat-X (the first Nigerian-built satellite) into space.

October 6: EFCC arrested the former governor of Ogun, Otunba Gbenga Daniel as well as his Oyo and Nassarawa State counterparts, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala and Alhaji Akwe Doma, respectively, over allegations of fraud to the tune of N101 billion.

October 10: Former governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje, surrendered himself to the EFCC in Abuja.

October 12: Nollywood actor and veteran comedian, Alhaji Babatunde Ayinla Nurudeen Olasunkanmi Omidina, a.k.a. Baba Suwe, was arrested for alleged possession of substances suspected to be cocaine by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). He was later freed after a protracted detention without excreting the suspected substance.

November 21: Senator Ali Ndume was arrested following allegations that he was one of the sponsors of the dreaded Islamist group, Boko Haram.

November 22: Ali Umar Konduga (a.k.a Al-Zawahiri), former spokesperson of Boko Haram, was convicted for felony after he pleaded guilty to the one-count charge against him.

November 23: President Jonathan sacked chairman of the EFCC, 65-year old Farida Waziri, and appointed Ibrahim Lamorde as acting chairman of the anti-graft agency.

December 20: First major Bonga oil leak 200km offshore western Niger Delta, spewing some 40,000 barrels of crude into the deep-water body territory, sparking the worst oil spill offshore Nigeria.

16 Major Events In Rivers State

April 9: National Assembly elections.

April 23: Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

April 25: INEC declares Chibuike Amaechi of PDP winner of gubernatorial polls.

May 21 : Local Government elections.

May 29: Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi sworn-in as governor for second tenure.

June 28-10: 17th National Sports Festival (NAFEST), Garden City Games.

August 21-26: Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) National Conference

September 30: Rivers State Government and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) sign gas deal.

October 25: A Colloquium Featuring an esteemed panel of legal luminaries in the country.

October 26: Interactive Session between Governor Chibuike Amaechi and Rivers youth.

December 12: Rivers State Government signs 35-year deal with Belgium-based Siat company.

December 13 – 17: Rivers Cultural Festival (CARNIRIV).

December 15: Miss ECOWAS Beauty Pageant.

December 23: RSG Hosts Special Christmas Party for civil servants in the state at Alfred Diette-Spifff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt.

December 1-31: First Port Harcourt Discount Market.