Opinion
The Death Of Osama Bin Laden
The leader of the terrorist organisation, al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, was killed by American Navy SEALs, a special armed forces team, in a hideout in Abbottabad in the night of Sunday, May 1, 2011. Abbotabad is located some few kilometers off the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, and a few kilometers east of the Pakistan-India border. That is almost 10 years after he was declared the most wanted terrorist by the United States of America, following a series of bomb attacks at different locations in the heart of America. Indeed, the search for Osama bin Laden started soon after the al Qaeda network and its leader claimed responsibility for the destruction of the World Trade Centre Twin Towers in New York on September 11, 2001.
It would be recalled that on September 11, 2001, about 3,000 people from different nationalities, most of them, Americans, perished in the United States of America’s most deadliest attacks ever by al Qaeda terrorists. According to reports, 19 suicide terrorists hijacked four domestic planes which took off from Boston, Massachusetts, at the same time, and slammed two of them at the World Trade Centre Twin Towers in the heart of Manhattan, New York, the business capital of the world. Each of the two buildings collapsed to what is now known as Ground Zero following the crash, and the fire which engulfed the entire edifices as an aftermath of the attacks. Adjoining buildings nearby were also razed by the inferno. The third plane crashed into the Pentagon Building, the most dreaded military complex in the world, and headquarters of the US Defence superstructure in the outskirts of Washington, DC on the border fringes with the State of Virginia. The Pentagon complex was partially destroyed. The fourth plane was forced by patriotic American citizens who saw the direction of the plane and have heard what befell New York and Washington, DC, to crash-land in a virgin field southeast of Pittsburg, in the State of Pennsylvania, en route to the White House, the official residence and offices of the US president in Washington, DC.
It should be noted that more than 50,00 people worked at the World Trade Centre and over 150,000 people visited the business centre of the world daily. The World Trade Centre had office accommodation for people from all sections of the world. It was a trade and investment centre for people from all parts of the world. Therefore, to think, plan and carry out the destruction of a place like that when people were there doing one business or the other, must be the work of Satan, the devil.
However, because of this dastardly act, the United States Government, under Republican President George W. Bush, declared war on terrorists, especially al Qaeda and the Taliban Government in Afghanistan, which gave them safe haven within the country’s territory to plan and execute acts of terrorism across the world. The US government also declared war against Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq, which openly supported al Qaeda’s action against America.
As an initial take-off, Bush had approved the sum of $40billion to execute the war on terrorists and cover the destruction caused by the attacks. In any case, since the declaration of the war, America has fought and dislodged the Taliban regime in Afghanistan believed to be harbouring al Qaeda. It also fought and dismantled the Saddam government in Iraq, which further accommodated elements of al Qaeda, and allegedly stockpiled weapons of mass destruction, even though this claim turned out to be false.
Nevertheless, announcing the death of the al Qaeda leader, US President Barack Obama, said, “tonight, I can report to the American people and the world, that the United States had conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist, who was responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.” According to him, it is nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attacks on the American people in their history. The president went further to stress that shortly after taking office, he had directed Leon Panetta, the director of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to make the killing or capture of Osama bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, “even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle and defeat his network.”
In fact, since the 1989 bombings of US Embassy buildings in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaa, Tanzania, that killed hundreds of innocent citizens, the bombing of US Navy Cole warship off the Yemeni coast, the Bali club bombing in Indonesia, al Qaeda terrorists have made several attempts to kill innocent citizens of the world, particularly Americans and their western allies. For instance, in 2006, al Qaeda terrorists attempted to blow up 10 US-bound passenger planes from the United Kingdom’s Heathrow Airport. They were to do this with explosives smuggled in carry-on bags. The attempts disrupted flights between the two countries for several days, and threw citizens of the UK and America into panic.
Following these attempts, security was put on red alert in most of the nations of the world, including Nigeria. It will be remembered that in July 2005, terrorists attacked the London underground train network, and killed many innocent citizens, including Nigerians, who were travelling in it. Between then and 2009, several other attempts were made by al Qaeda terrorists to kill innocents people across the world. In Spain, another train attack by terrorists resulted in massive deaths of people. Another attack on a terminal wing at Heathrow caused severe damage to the airport’s infrastructure. Thousands of citizens affected by the various attacks of al Qaeda terrorists are yet to recover from the effects of such dastardly acts. Even as some of their wicked ploys succeeded, many others had failed. For instance, the Nigerian-born Muttalab attempt to bomb a US-bound plane was foiled, just as other plots to blow up planes, shopping malls, cafes, and other strategic locations, including train networks, city transport services, were nipped in the bud.
Meanwhile, methinks it is wise to praise President Barack Obama and his commandos for this huge and significant success. This serves to remind terrorists and other devilish minds plotting the destabilization of the established industrialized order that they would no longer have their way smoothly again. It is necessary for all peace-loving people of the world to say, “never again” shall we seat down and watch idle minds and terrorists bring down the world we have struggled for decades to build.
Indeed, the world needs peace. Perpetrators of evil in the world must be fished out and given adequate punishment. This is the right step to deal justly with those who do not want peace to rein in the world. I believe that if wicked people now roaming the streets and or hiding in obscure places, plotting and perfecting another range of attacks on innocent lives, are sniffed out from their hide outs and killed just like justice was meted out to Osama bin Laden last month, those thinking of indulging in such terrorist acts would realise that there is no hiding place for criminals.
Perhaps, the British statesman and philosopher, Edmund Burke (1729-1797) assertion sets the tone for those evil ones in our society, including al Qaeda, Boko Haram, militants, kidnappers, among others, who do not want us to sleep with our two eyes closed. According to him, evil men can only have their way if good men decide to do nothing about their evil deeds. Thus, as Barack Obama committed to achieving the extermination of Osama bin Laden and his cohorts, and has succeeded, other good men, including President Goodluck Jonathan should, therefore, be prepared to fight evil and satanic men wherever they may be. As for the death of Osama bin Laden, we see it as a good riddance to bad rubbish and public nuisance.
Dr Tolofari, distinguished fellow, Institute of Corporate Public Administration of Nigeria, resides in Port Harcourt.
Mann Tolofari
Nigeria, often referred to as the “Giant of Africa”, is endowed with vast natural resources,
a large population and a youthful workforce.
Despite these advantages, the country faces persistent economic challenges, most notably high unemployment rates over the years. Successive governments remain a central issue contributing to poverty, social unrest, and underdevelopment. The economic wellbeing of a nation is significantly tied to her employment levels.
In Nigeria’s case, high unemployment has become a key driver of its poor economic performance affecting everything from productivity and income levels to crime and political instability.
Unemployment in Nigeria has assumed a multidimensional nature, characterised not just by joblessness but also underemployment, informal employment and precarious working conditions.
The Nigeria National Bureau of Statistic (NBS) said the youth with over 60 percent of Nigeria’s population under the age of 30 percent youth unemployment is a time bomb threatening the nation’s future.
Many graduates leave universities and polytechnics annually with little or no hope of securing decent jobs.
This structural unemployment is the result of a mismatch between skills and labour market needs, inadequate industrialisation, and a weak private sector.
Unemployment affects an economy in numerous direct and indirect ways.
In Nigeria, it leads to a reduced consumer base, when large sections of the population are not earning steady incomes, they have limited purchasing power which in turn affects the production and growth of businesses. Companies produce less, invest less and hire fewer people, leading to a vicious cycle of low economic growth.
Moreover, high unemployment translates to lower tax revenue for the government with fewer people paying taxes. The government has fewer resources to fund infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other public services that stimulate economic development.
This fiscal weakness forces Nigeria to rely heavily on foreign loans, which leads to rising debt levels and economic vulnerability.
Furthermore, infrastructure deficits including inadequate power supply, poor road networks and limited access to credit make it difficult for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to thrive, yet SMEs are the bedrock of employment in many developed nations. Nigeria’s weak support for SMEs stifles innovation and job creation.
Another tragic consequence of high unemployment is the mass exodus of Nigerian talent to foreign countries in search of better opportunities. The brain drain weakens the country’s human capital base and deprives it of professionals who could contribute meaningfully to national development.
The “Japa” phenomenon-a slang used to describe young Nigerians fleeing the country reflects deep disillusionment with the system. Doctors, nurses, software engineers and other professionals are leaving in droves. The cost of training these individuals is absorbed by Nigeria, but their expertise benefits foreign economics. This dynamic further deepens the economic challenges as the country loses its best and brightest minds.
Addressing unemployment in Nigeria requires a multifaceted approach, first.
Secondly, industrialisation must be prioritised. The government should create an enabling environment for local manufacturing by improving infrastructure, reducing Bureaucratic bottlenecks and offering tax incentives reviving the agricultural sector with modern techniques and supply chains can also absorb a significant portion of the unemployed.
Thirdly, Governments at all levels must be held accountable for implementing job creation programmes transparently and effectively. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) should be encouraged to drive innovations and employment in ICT, renewable energy and logistics.
Finally, Nigeria must diversify its economy away from crude oil and invest in sectors that generate mass employment. Tourism, education, healthcare and creative industries such as film and music hold immense unlapped potential.
With genuine commitment from leaders, strong institutions and the active participation of the private sector and civil society, Nigeria can turn the tide on unemployment and chart a path toward sustainable economic prosperity.
Idorenyi, an intern with The Tide, is a student of Temple Gate Polytechnic
Abia State.
Biana Idorenyin
April 25 every year is World Malaria Day. It was instituted by the World Health Assembly in 2007, “to highlight the progress made in Malaria control, the ongoing challenges that persist and the urgent need for sustained investment and innovation”. This year’s theme, “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine and Reignite”, is apt considering the loss of lives incurred and money spent to treat and prevent Malaria. The theme is a clarion-call to intentionally end the malaria scourge through robust commitment of human and financial resources.
That is why one of the best policies, of the suspended Sir Siminalayi Fubara’s administration in Rivers State, was the avowed commitment to check the malaria menace and its multiplier consequences on the residents of the State, through its “Free Malaria Testing and Treatment” innovation.
Rivers State is a microcosm of Nigeria in terms of residents; thus the secularity of the State makes the programme’s beneficiary all-inclusive.
No doubt, the Rivers State Government has by this initiative reinforced value placement on the lives of the people, especially the less-privileged in the State. Residents in Rivers State can now be tested and treated free for Malaria in any Rivers State Government- owned hospitals and healthcare centres across the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State. This is a lofty and laudable programme because of the prohibitive cost of malaria drugs and conducting tests at a time majority of Nigerians hardly have a meal to eat, because of the prevailing economic hardship in the country.
Malaria and Typhoid, according to medical and health statisticians are the commonest ailments people suffer as a result of dirty environment, absence of good drainage, lack of potable water. The State Government’s Malaria programme is, therefore, not just a big financial relief but also a life-saver for the teeming poverty-ridden population of Nigeria resident in Rivers State.
According to statistics reeled out by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, “Globally, there are an estimated 249million malaria cases and 608,000 malaria deaths among 85 countries”. Such reports leave much to be desired in a nation so blessed with natural resources and manpower. This is why the Rivers State Government should be commended for defying the huge financial implications to drive the lofty programme for Nigerians and foreigners in Rivers State who are availed the privilege of accessing the largesse in all State Government health and medical facilities.
As the Rivers State Government deemed it necessary to initiate the Free Malaria Testing and Treatment programme, nothing stops the Federal Government from doing the same. But even with abounding natural and human resources in unimaginable quantity in Nigeria, Malaria programmes are either grossly underfunded, or funds for the programmes are misappropriated or embezzled with impunity.
In Nigeria, malaria is one of the leading causes of death of children under the age of six and pregnant women. Malaria is a nightmare in Nigeria so much so that price of its drugs and treatment have skyrocketed like a phoenix and outrageously outside the reach of the teeming less privileged citizens of Nigeria. The situation was so alarming that the National Assembly, in 2023 urged the Federal Government to declare Malaria an emergency in Nigeria as a matter of urgent national interest. I am not sure that has been done by the Federal Government because it seems to be in the interest of the common citizens.
Experts have recommended new approaches to fighting the malaria epidemic in Nigeria which seems to have defied continuous attempts to reduce the Malaria burden in Nigeria to zero.
According to a Senior Associate at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public.Health, Soji Adeyi, Nigeria should begin to increase internal funding.for malaria elimination.
According to him,, “Each year reliance on external funding needs to be reduced. I looked at the summary of Malaria reports from 2008 till now and what has been common is the complaint about the lack of funding. If this is a recurring problem, what should be done is to find a new approach “.
In his view, Abdu Muktar, National Coordinator of the Presidential Healthcare Initiative, called for the local production and manufacturing of medical supplies as well as reducing Nigeria’s dependence on drugs imports.
According to him, the local production of anti-malaria and.related.medication will consider.the peculiarity of the country’s terrain, population and burden and.would improve access to effective treatment.
For his part, the regional. Director of World Health Organisation (WHO), African Region, Matshiddiso Moretti, advised Nigeria to accelerate its efforts to end Malaria by relying on adequate data for the implementation of health policies.
Malaria is an epidemic more devastating than the dreaded HIV/AIDS. Malaria triggers high blood pressure and places HIV/AIDS patients on a critical condition. The Federal and sub-national governments should therefore declare Malaria an emergency and prioritise attention to its treatment, production and importation of drugs and vaccines to stem the malaria menace.
The Federal Government should also improve incentives and remuneration of medical and health workers to end their exodus abroad in droves, for greener pastures.
Igbiki Benibo
The traditional institution is as old as human society. It predates the advent of modern organised society. Before the emergence of modern justice system of dispute resolution and political system of administration, the traditional institution has existed long ago. In fact, it was so revered and regarded as sacred because of the mythological conviction that it was the “stool of the ancestors”. Consequently, judgment given was deified as many people especially the traditionalists believe it was the mind of the gods revealed. Perversion of justice , in the pre-modern justice system was alien and considered uncommon. Chiefs and traditional rulers though may not have generated knowledge formally (through the four walls of a classroom), yet they embody and exemplify knowledge. They hold fast the virtue of integrity and honour, fairness and relative impartiality, partly because they believed that the stool they occupy was ancestral and traditional as act of indiscretion can court the wrath of the gods at whose behest they are on the traditional saddle of authority.
The Compass of Life stated unequivocally that “the throne is preserved by righteousness”. Where righteousness, integrity and honesty are savoured,and valued, perversion and miscarriage of justice is an anomaly. The judgments of traditional rulers and chiefs were hardly appealed against because they were founded on objectivity, fairness, truth and facts beyond primordial sentiment and inordinate interests or pecuniary benefits. Judgments were precedent. Traditional rulers and chiefs, therefore carved a niche for themselves, earning the respect of, and endearing themselves to the heart of their subjects. Is it the same today? Some traditional rulers and chiefs are administering their communities in exile; they are diasporic leaders because they have lost the confidence of the people through self-serving, raising of cult group for self-preservation, land grabbing and other flagrant corrupt practices.
When truth is not found in the traditional institution that, in my considered view, constitutes the grassroots government, then crisis is inevitable.In most African societies before advent of the Christian Faith, and consequent Christening of the traditional stools in many communities in recent times, ascent to the traditional institution was a function of a traditional method of selection. It was believed that the gods make the selection. And whoever emerges from the divination processes eventually is crowned as the king of the people after performing the associated rituals.Whoever lacked the legitimacy to sit on the throne but wanted to take it forcefully, traditionalists believed died mysteriously or untimely. Traditional rulers wielded much influence and power because of the authority inherent in the stool, the age of the person designated for the stool notwithstanding. The word of the king was a law, embodied power. Kings so selected are forthright, accountable, transparent, men of integrity, did not speak from both sides of the mouth, could not be induced with pecuniary benefits to pervert justice, they feared the gods of their ancestors and were consecrated holistically for the purpose dictated by the pre and post coronation rituals.
Some of those crowned king were very young in those days, but they ruled the people well with the fear of the gods. There was no contention over who is qualified to sit or who is not qualified to. It was the prerogative of the gods. And it was so believed and upheld with fear.Kings were natural rulers, so they remained untouchable and could not be removed by a political government. If a king committed an offence he was arrested and prosecuted according to the provision of the law. But they have immunity from sack or being dethroned because they are not political appointees. However, the people at whose behest he became king reserved the power to remove him if found guilty of violating oath of stool. The traditional institution is actually the system of governance nearest to the people. And kings were the chief security officers of their communities. So indispensable are the roles of kings and traditional rulers to the peaceful co-existence of their people, ensuring that government policies and Programmes were seamlessly spread to the people that many people are clamouring for the inclusion of definite and specific roles in the Constitution for the traditional institution.
Traditional rulers are fathers to every member of their domain. So they are not expected to discriminate, show favouritism. By their fatherly position traditional rulers, though can not be apolitical, are also expected to be immune from partisan politics. This is because as one who presides over a great house where people of different political divide or interest belong, an open interest for a political party means ostracisation of other members of the family which could lead to disrespect, conflict of interest, wrangling and anarchy. Traditional rulers are supposed to be selfless, preferring the interest of their people above their personal interests following the consciousness that they are stewards whose emergence remains the prerogative of the people. The position is essentially for service and not for personal aggrandisement and ego massaging. So they should hold the resources of the people in trust. However, in recent past the traditional institution has suffered denigration because of unnecessary emotional attachment to political parties and political leaders. Some traditional rulers and kings have shown complete disregard to the principle of neutrality because of filthy lucre and pecuniary gains, at the expense of the stool and people they lead. Sadly some traditional rulers have been influenced to pervert justice: giving justice to the offender who is rich against the poor.
Traditional leaders should be reminded that the “throne is preserved by righteousness”, not by political chauvinism, favouritism, or materialism.Traditional rulers should earn their deserved respect from political leaders by refusing the pressure to be subservient, beggarly, sycophantic and docile. Traditional leaders have natural and permanent leadership system, unlike the political leadership that is transient and tenured.They should be partners with every administration in power and should not be tied to the apron string of past leaders whose activities are aversive to the incumbent administration and thereby constituting a clog in the development of the State and the community they are to woo infrastructure development to. It is unpardonable error for a traditional ruler to have his conscience mortgaged for benefits he gets inordinately from any government.It is necessary to encourage kings and traditional rulers to not play the roles of stooges and clowns for the privileged few, political leaders. Political leaders are products of the people, even as every government derives its legitimacy from the people.
No doubt, the roles of traditional rulers are so necessary that no political or military government can operate to their exclusion. This is why the 10th National Assembly mulled the inclusion of Traditional institution in the proposed amendment of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.Traditional rulers and chiefs should, therefore, be and seen to be truthful, forthright, bold, courageous, honest and people of integrity, not evasive, cunning, unnecessarily diplomatic and economical with truth.The time to restore the dignity of the traditional institution is now but it must be earned by the virtuous disposition of traditional rulers and chiefs.
Igbiki Benibo