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Beyond The Facts …Addressing Northern Elders Hypocrisy
Two-faced, spurious ,insincere, deceiving,false, pretentious and dissembling are all words that mean the state of being holier than one truly is. Hypocritical, sums it up. So, any one with these attributes can hardly be depended upon as an ally in any battle or project demanding integrity.
For, to venture such, would mean to embark on a perilous voyage which end can be anything but successful.
Sadly, some Northern leaders that Nigeria today counts to enlist in the war against terror; intended to replace fear with hope, division with unity, hatred with love and more than everything else, mutual sacrifice towards same plausible ends, have now been described in one disappointing word, by one of their own – hypocrites.
Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu last Saturday practically challenged Northern regional leaders to, not merely exhibit pretentious concern over the danger, Boko Haram portends to the Nigerian – state but enlist fully in confronting the national enemy. Addressing a meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, held in Kaduna, Governor Aliyu berated the region’s leadership for dragging its feet on the threat that the terrorist Islamic sect has become, not only to the country but indeed the Northern parts.
“We cannot drag our feet any longer. We can’t continue to double-speak in our handling of the issues, saying one thing in the open and acting differently in private. We must categorically say no to the recurring wave of bombing, terrorism and crime in our communities”, Aliyu said- quoting media reports
According to him, the North could not afford to fall into another crisis before taking necessary measures to safeguard the integrity and future of the region. Just region?
Perhaps, Aliyu chose the words that easily unite Northern leaders to act, and thought it might be coming a bit late in the day, it is still better that he summoned the courage to voice it .
How for instance, can a supposed regional leadership, be it political, religious or traditional, stand aloof and mock a presidency which some of them hate and despise, for being ill-equipped to guarantee the safety of lives and property, while, tens of thousands of their kiths and kins on the one hand and other Nigerians and foreigners on the other are daily massacred by an extremist sect which real ideology represents everything Isalm is not. And yet do nothing except blame such unnecessary killings on the inability of government to protect lives of her citizenry.
For the umpteenth time, notable Nigerians, newspaper columnists and indeed editorials have hammered on the need to unite in battle against evil which Boko Haram represents, because none can tell the measure of harm, a stone thrown into a busy market place can cause and to whom? In their silence, Northern leaders seemed oblivious of the fact that these are economically challenging times when, various needs compete for the lean resources available and as such, the need to safeguard existing infrastructure rather than sit idly by and watch a group of ill-advised terrorists willfully destroy timeless treasures put in place by successive governments, not to mention the senseless killings thus far recorded.
Governor Aliyu was right, when, he asked his people to decide whether they “are serious about lasting peace or merely paying lip service to it, while, some of us continue to remain in our comfort zones as our society is overtaken by violence, crime and extremism”.
Looking at it strictly, the Niger State governor was being prophetic and proactive if you like, because real peace is not just about the absence of conflict, it is indeed a collection of all other variables that illicit conflict and how they are holistically addressed. In such self-appraisal, the truth needs to be told, and who best, other than the political, religious and traditional leadership, to hear it.
Within the past 50 years of our nationhood, for instance, the North has kept political power for the most part. In the North Central geo-political zone, writes Erefagha Ezekiel-Hart in his booklet, Nigeria: the Way Forward, Generals Gowon, Babangida and Abubakar alone held political power as Head of State and Military President for 17 years and 11 months.
The North-East zone on its part held political power for nine years 10 months and six days all shared among Belewa and General Abacha while, the North-West zone, through Gen Murtala Mohammed, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen Mohammadu Buhari and Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua together held political power for 10 years, five months and 13 days.
Together, the North held on to political power for 38 years, two months and 19 days. Knowing the worth of Nigerian political power and use, the average Northerner should be comfortable, better-educated, be less restive and love Nigeria most if the various leaders had done the right things, rather leaving office for richer than the Nigerian state while, the average Northerner feels short-changed.
Ironically, many Northern leaders have repeatedly brain-washed their followership into believing that political power meant bright regional fortunes; they, the Northern politicians - born to rule and that power alone, shall guarantee for them a future of bliss.
In his paper, Geography, Power and Politics which he presented at the just concluded All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) in Benin City, the Edo State capital, last Friday, former Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dapo Fafowora recalled how a prominent Northerner elite , one he had so much respect for as a detribalised Nigerian, once voiced same sentiments that Power must reside, perpetually in the North because Northerners are born to rule, explains how deep-rooted that campaign has been.
Ironically, even if Northern domination of political power has failed to address positively, the fluctuating fortunes of the average Northerner, the ordinary man still remains gullible to such inciting propaganda and which now and again ignites unrest of the kind the extremist Boko Haram sect has unleashed on the nation, with worrisome casualties in the Northern parts.
It was to address that aspect, methinks, Governor Aliyu said, “there is no doubt that as traditional and political leaders, we have a great opportunity to make the much needed difference.
“We have a responsibility to act decisively to conquer poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, diseases and extremism of all forms before we can genuinely hope to achieve desirable lasting peace and stability.
Clearly, if Northern leaders had utilised political power for good of the ordinary Northerner and not just for their own personal aggrandisement, all the misconceptions that power shift away from the North to any other section of the country amounts to a direct war against the North, would not have as much uniting but negative force in violence against the region and nation, as it has.
Sadly, that same mindset runs through some members of the various security agencies who now, unable to make the familiar near-frequent coups, have chosen to back the Boko Haram, in a bid to make Nigeria ungovernable, just as some disgruntled politicians under the aegis of the Northern Elders Political Forum, repeatedly threatened before the April 2011 Presidential polls, and its attendant violent reactions in parts of the North
That also accounts for why the reported release of a suspected Boko Haram leader earlier held by the Police, but later given to officers of Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) supposedly, for further interrogation, did not come to many as a surprise. Infact, Police sources said the release might have been ordered by a compromised senior DMI operative. Who could that be? And Why? All questions.
This is why Governor Aliyu’s words to his fellow Northern leaders, must be viewed seriously because a lot is indeed going wrong and unless such concerted efforts are put, in checking the excesses of the Boko Haram recklessness, what they today consider comfort zones may not be so tomorrow.
My Agony is that some supposedly professional soldiers have allowed the same familiar sentiment of the North being born to rule perpetually, to govern their actions and now see the Boko Haram induced insecurity as the window to actualise that dream.
The Commander-in-Chief must read between the lines, now, not later.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has promised to give the best attention to the education sector so that standard and quality learning will never be compromised in the State.
The governor emphasised that in achieving such legacy, schools in the State will be driven with a curriculum that will equip school-aged children to become competitive, innovative and self-reliant.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Governing Council of Rivers State University at Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He said: “There is a lot of noise everywhere: people asking what we are doing; that we are not focused, and that we don’t have direction.
”But I want to tell the world that we are focused and aware that we cannot grow if our energies are not channeled to education. Not just education, but purposeful education.
”Education that is creative. Education that gives you independence. We have left the era in the world when you speak too much grammar. We are in such times when it is what you can do with your hands.
”Our purpose for education is that we should bring back our academic programmes to where, at the end of your studies, you don’t need a job but you create jobs. When one creates a job, you automatically employ others. That is what I want this council to see as their task.”
Governor Fubara noted the non-existence of public secondary schools for the male child in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
He said such negligence leaves children in that area who have completed primary education, and whose parents cannot afford sending them to far away secondary schools, to roam the streets, and therefore becoming willing tools for criminality.
Governor Fubara assured that such fundamental problem will be addressed by his administration as a measure to curb the negative impression associated with Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
The governor said he trusts in the capacity of the members of the Governing Council of Rivers State University to bring about positive change in the institution while also contributing their quota to improving the general education standard in the State.
”I charge you, not just in terms of administering the affairs of the university, but let us add something different from the normal things that we already have to see new things.”
In her response, on behalf of the other members, the Pro-Chancellor of the Governing Council of Rivers State University, Justice Mary Odili (rtd), thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve in such capacity.
Justice Odili assured they will work assiduously as a team to solve the problems that agitate the mind of the governor and ensure their contributions form part of the legacy that will be bequeathed by his administration.
The members included Justice Mary Odili (rtd) as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council with Barrister Mela Oforibika and Chukwuma Chinwo, Esq.
Others were Adata Bio-Briggs, Esq., Dr. Jonathan Nimi Hart, Ngo Martins-Yellowe, Dr. Nancy Nwankwo, Dr. Igoni William-Park, and Mr. Ogbugbu Barisua.
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