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Opinion

  What It Means To Be Awake

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4 years ago

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Decades ago, one Professor Chukwuemeka Ike wrote a book titled Naked Gods. Not many Nigerian readers appreciated the deeper significance of that work. One had the opportunity recently to review the manuscript of a work titled A Harvest From Tragedy, a book that would soon be available to the public. A valid conclusion which anyone can draw is that the mind set and attitude of a large proportion of Nigerians tend towards gross obtuseness. A state of stupor!
An obtuse mindset or attitude is one that is slow to understand the significance and import of events taking place in an individual’s environment. Obtuse mindset produces a predominantly obtuse environment where a larger population of the people can be swindled, bamboozled and set asunder by gangsters and power mongers, without them being awake to what is going on. A predominantly obtuse population hides away its deficiency of mindset through various clever ways that are meant to give some semblance of wit and wisdom. We call it “gra-gra” in Nigeria.
Compensationary behavioural patterns include the indulgence in flamboyant lifestyle, braggadocio and noise-making, to be heard and seen as being relevant, as well as conceit. Having a bloated opinion of oneself and one’s ability, whereby an individual throws his weight about in every issue or meddles in every affair, can be a part of having to hide away personal deficiencies. The ultimate result of hiding personal inadequacies under compensatory behaviours and power blustering, is the installation of a personal defence mechanism which manifests in narrow-mindedness and “gra-gra” attitude.
We can hardly deny the fact that the Nigerian environment has grown darker and denser in the past sixty years, arising from an influx of inferior souls in the society. Decent and noble persons who would not want to be tainted, corrupted and sucked into the vortex of degenerated and depraved environment, seek to withdraw from such environment. The process of corruption, pollution and degeneration of a country is usually accompanied by shameless and flamboyant lifestyles of the political elite, of which reckless spending of public resources and acts of impunity also feature. Borrowing follows!
We can also hardly deny the fact that many years of military rule played some significant role in the current unenviable state of the Nigerian nation. At least, acts of violence, looting and lechery associated with military culture, contributed in no small way in the influx of inferior souls into the environment. It is of particular note that several women, including noble and decent ones, were abused grossly and forced into such lifestyles that they did not choose voluntarily. From sordid deeds of the past, there is now a harvest from tragedy. Neither is there a change for the better yet!
In making an assessment or analysis of current situations in Nigeria, it would be vital and necessary to take into account what had taken place before new, especially in the past sixty years. It would also be needful to consider that life is governed by definite laws which ensure that justice and equity prevail. But unfortunately in an environment populated by obtuse persons and led by an obtuse elite, events around them are rarely evaluated on the basis of the Law of Cause and Effect. We look for scapegoats in most cases.
An individual or a nation is awake where the laws governing life are known and used as basis for addressing issues. To be awake goes beyond intellectual cleverness and smartness, but it involves recognising the truth concerning extra-sensory perception. Those who, in their obtuseness and narrow-mindedness, fail to look at issues beyond immediately visible context, would always make wrong judgements. In the case of current events in Nigeria, the truth is that there is more to what is immediately visible than what we know. Things don’t just happen, but they are caused.
Events are usually symbolic messages, demanding to be properly decoded and then appropriate steps taken to redress them. Means of redressing experiences which are the outcome of previous deeds include penitence, such that the status and quality of the humans involved would change drastically for the better. Where there is no change towards a qualitative lifestyle, no amount of legislations and political shenanigans would bring any difference. A vital question to ask is: Are Nigerians wiser, better and of higher integrity today, than before 1966? We are merely more clever!
The Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) was definitely a message and an opportunity, but thrown to the wind, rather than turned into an asset. Another question which Nigerians should ask is: Are the factors and lifestyles which led to the civil war no longer with us today? Anyone old enough, awake and involved enough to know what happened in Nigeria, 1963-1967, would know that virus and shenanegans of that period are gathering momentum once again now. Where there is no change in attitude and mindset, lessons of history are lost, resulting in a repeat of past tragedies.
If Nigerian political elite were awake and honest enough, the issue of an unfair but clever war indemnity imposed on the side that lost in the 1967-1970 civil war would have been obvious. Neither is the issue of an unfair power structure seen as a deliberate ploy. We would beat about the bush in telling ourselves the truth that a power block arrogates to itself the posture and status of being born to rule, expecting others to serve and succumb to intimidation.
Why is the issue of an “Igbo Presidency” not seen yet as a part of the war indemnity, as a deliberate ploy and as a message? There was a “top secret” message 55 years ago that “future generations will pay for the audacity of staging a one-sided military coup …” Do we not have the courage and integrity to admit that the Nigerian political economy, with oil and gas resources as the epicenter, is an issue of high-stake? Is there nothing fishing about a supposedly secular nation being dragged into membership of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) arbitrarily by Military President Ibrahim Babangida?
If nothing else would awaken Nigerians from a state of complacence, let the recent lynching and burning of the corpse of a girl in a tertiary institution in Sokoto, be a trumpet call. A similar lynching for alleged blasphemy took place in another tertiary institution in which one Akaluka was the victim. Religious extremism is usually a ploy, gambit and strategy in power blustering and consolidation. Promoters of such violent extremism and terrorism are usually masters in bamboozlement and dribbling of the unsuspecting masses. To be awake is to become knowing and to be able to read the lips and body language of power merchants. A nation gets the kind of leadership it deserves, especially when the masses are asleep!

By: Bright Amirize

Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.

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Opinion

Kudos  Gov Fubara

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5 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Please permit me to use this medium to appreciate our able governor, Siminalayi Fubara for the inauguration of the 14.2-kilometre Obodhi–Ozochi Road in Ahoada-East Local Government Area.  This inauguration marks a significant milestone in the history of our communities and deserves commendation. We, the people of Ozochi, are particularly happy because this project has brought long-awaited relief after years of isolation and hardship.
The expression of our traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Eze Prince Ike Ehie, JP, during the inauguration captured the joy of our people.  He said, “our isolation is over.”  That reflects the profound impact of this road on daily life, economic activities, and social integration of the people of Ozochi and other neighbouring communities. The road will no doubt ease transportation, improve access to markets and healthcare, and strengthen links between Ahoada, Omoku, and other parts of Rivers State.
The people of Ahoada, Omoku, and indeed Rivers State as a whole are grateful to our dear governor for this laudable achievement and wish him many more successful years in office. We pray that God endows him with more wisdom and strength to continue to pilot the affairs of the state for the benefit of all. As citizens, we should rally behind the governor and support his development agenda. Our politicians and stakeholders should embrace peace and cooperation, as no meaningful progress can be achieved in an atmosphere of conflict. Sustainable development in the state can only thrive where peace prevails.
Samuel Ebiye
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Opinion

… And It Came To Pass

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5 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Quote:“Leadership is not measured by how hard one strikes back, but by how steady one remains under provocation.”
Tell it  in Rivers State, publish it  in the streets of Port Harcourt, so  the daughters of the State could rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph and know that Fubara is not vindictive”. And it came to pass that Rivers State emerged from one of the most delicate chapters in its political journey, the period of emergency rule that spanned from March 18 to September 18, 2025. It was a season that tested institutions, strained loyalties, and exposed the fragile balance between power and principle. During that time, the suspended Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara DSSRS, was widely believed to have suffered not only political setbacks but personal betrayal, allegedly from some top civil servants within the state apparatus. These were individuals expected to uphold neutrality and professionalism, yet were accused in public opinion of taking sides against the very government they served.
As the emergency rule ended and Governor Fubara resumed office, expectations were shaped less by policy and more by emotion. Many assumed that revenge would quietly find expression through governance. The loudest suspicion centered on the 2025 Christmas bonus of ?100,000 traditionally paid to each worker. The thinking was simple and cynical: a wounded governor would surely withhold goodwill. Some voices even mocked workers  openly hoping that the governor would refuse to pay the bonus. To them, denial of the bonus would serve as proof of political strength and justified retaliation. In reality, such thinking revealed a troubling desire to see governance reduced to personal vendetta. Yet,  it came to pass, the governor chose a path that confounded suspicion. Against all expectations, the 2025 Christmas bonus was paid.
That single decision quietly but firmly reframed the narrative. It showed a leader focused on governance rather than grudges, on institutional continuity rather than emotional satisfaction. The payment was not a favor, nor was it a concession; it was a statement that public administration must rise above personal injury. By honoring the bonus, Governor Fubara demonstrated that leadership is not measured by how hard one strikes back, but by how steady one remains under provocation. He made it clear that workers’ welfare would not become collateral damage in political disagreements. This action also served as a moral rebuke to those who celebrated division and hoped for punishment. Governance is not validated by the suffering of workers, nor is leadership strengthened by withholding entitlements. At the same time, the issue of alleged sycophancy and betrayal within the civil service cannot be brushed aside. If proven, such conduct deserves firm, lawful, and institutional correction. Civil servants are bound by duty to the state, not to political conspiracies or shifting loyalties.
However, justice must never be confused with revenge. The strength of governance lies in correcting wrongs without destroying the system itself. Governor Fubara’s restraint suggested an understanding that the future of Rivers State mattered more than settling scores. For workers, this moment carried an important lesson. Celebration should be rooted in good governance, not in the expectation of another’s downfall. Rejoicing in rumors of denial or punishment undermines the very stability that protects workers’ welfare. Public service thrives where professionalism, mutual respect, and accountability are upheld. Pettiness, gossip, and political scheming only weaken institutions and erode trust. History often remembers leaders not for the crises they inherit, but for the character they display in response. In paying the 2025 Christmas bonus, Governor Fubara chose legacy over impulse, maturity over malice.
And so, it came to pass that focus defeated revenge, governance triumphed over bitterness, and Rivers State was reminded that true leadership is proven when restraint is expected least but delivered most. Beyond the symbolism of the Christmas bonus lies a deeper question about the kind of political culture Rivers State intends to cultivate in the years ahead. Periods of emergency rule, anywhere in the world, often leave behind residues of suspicion, fear, and silent realignments. Institutions do not emerge untouched; individuals recalibrate loyalties, some out of conviction, others out of self-preservation. What distinguishes stable democracies from fragile ones is not the absence of such moments, but the discipline with which leadership manages their aftermath. River.
King Onunwor
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Opinion

That Withdrawal of Police   Orderlies  From VIPs

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5 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Quote:”Balancing VIP security with public safety remains a tightrope walk in a country where the majority of citizens are still under-protected.”
The Presidential announcement on the removal of police orderlies from persons in authority and their relations  ( Very Important Persons ) last month came as a relief to many Nigerians who felt deprived    of one major  role of government ; security of lives and property.The higher  population of Nigerians  missed needed security because the VIPs and the VVIPs kept  retinue of Police Officers  totalling over 100 ,000 to  themselves and their family members as if they are all that matter  while some  communities under attack of terrorists  have no single unit of  police station located there in. While many hailed the announcement , some said perhaps the government has just woken up to her major responsibility of securing the lives and property of all  citizens while many expressed indifference on the note that it may be one of those pronouncements which come only in words but no action .Many keep their fingers crossed watching how it will play out , how Mr President  will  go about the implementation of the seemingly dicey  policy .
Benjamin Franklin  said “well said is better than well done ”  It is sufficient today to say that many Nigerians including me are still waiting and watching to see  how well  and how long this  return  of the Police service to the ordinary people will go . Wishing hopes will not be crashed ,  It  is note worthy, that  the recent complaints by the VIPs of being exposed to attacks  may in a way affect the action on implementation. Recently, at Senate plenary , another worrisome  angle came up as Senator Abdul Ningi  coming through a motion    disclosed that he had only one police officer attached to him ( his office ) and that  the officer was recalled the week before following  Mr President’s directive  . Senator Ningi said the withdrawal exposed him to high risks but underscored the angle that while his orderly  was recalled , many other politicians , men  and women in authority, business concerns   foreigners  and even children of some  VIPs are still enjoying retinue of police protection ( officially attached to them ).
 It’s note  worthy also that the Deputy Senate President , Distinguished Senator Jibrin Barau,  who presided  over  the session revealed that the  leadership of both chambers are already in discussion with President Tinubu on the need  to exempt  the law makers  from the new policy .  Senator Ningi may not be  wrong . After all he emphasized he is okay  provided that the removal of the Police Orderlies be done across board . Senator Barau noted that talks are on  over the issue of law makers’    in line with international practice . Further details from the Presidency  noted  that   Presiding officers  will retain their  police officers ,  others would have Civil Defense  officers ( NSCDC) as orderlies while  any other VIP who feels he or she deserves personal police protection should get clearance from  his office . In the midst of all  issues weighing in on the proper implementation , it becomes necessary  to bear in mind that  the decision  hinges on  the realization that Nigeria has peculiar security issues (of kidnappings, banditry, and terrorism.) and that  majority of Nigerians   are under protected.
More so, that if well  implemented, Police officers will focus on core duties; even as 30,000 new police officers are to  recruited to enhance security .That implementation  must be made in a  way that leaves no room.for selective  treatment loss of confidence  and  controversies.  Looking at previous attempts of  implementation  of this policy  gives faint hope  as several  attempts consistently failed . Former  IGPs like Tafa Balogun (2003), Ogbonnaya Onovo (2009), and Ibrahim Idris (2018) tried  the policy but all  failed due to political resistance from various angles. All the failed attempts  were tied to lack of political will  mostly due to the fact that the directives came from police chiefs, not the president. Selective Enforcement was another killer to the policy  as  partial implementation  met  resistance   and   later  reversal . Egbetokun (2023) and Adamu (2020) saw minimal impact.
Further more entrenched corruption in the system saw  Politicians and VIPs quietly regain police escorts due to ‘transactional economics”and pressure. Worse still the mindset of the  police officers  withdrawn didn’t help the policy Underpaid police prioritize VIP duties for extra benefits. Many wish President Tinubu’s move can  break this cycle.  As at today, he  still  insists the move is non-negotiable while stressing collaboration with states to upgrade training facilities. As citizens look forward to  success of the policy  without undue exposure of both sides, balancing VIP security with public safety remains a tightrope walk. Talk fades ; action echoes.  How the Presidency  implements this policy.  has  much to tell on the governments stand on national / community  security , choice of priority and the ability to   stand uncomprised . The known  goal is clear:  The outcome is  not yet certain.  Fingers crossed , we await . Definitely , time will tell.
By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi.
s State stood at such a crossroads in September 2025. The temptation to rule with a long memory and a heavy hand was real. Yet, the choice made signaled a preference for healing over hardening. Leadership after crisis demands more than administrative competence; it requires moral clarity.
 Governor Fubara’s decision reminded the state that authority is not best exercised through silent punishment or selective generosity. Rather, it is strengthened when rules remain rules, irrespective of personal injury. By keeping faith with workers, the government preserved an essential firewall between politics and public service. That firewall, once breached, turns governance into a battlefield where livelihoods become weapons. Rivers State narrowly avoided that descent. In doing so, it affirmed that institutions must outlive tempers, and governance must not mirror the bitterness of political seasons. This moment also invites sober introspection within the civil service itself. Allegations of partisanship, if left unresolved, corrode professionalism and weaken public confidence. A civil service that drifts into political camps loses its moral authority and operational effectiveness.
Therefore, reform, where necessary, should be guided by due process, transparency, and institutional review—not whispers, witch-hunts, or mob verdicts. Accountability strengthens systems when it is fair; it destroys them when it is arbitrary. The restraint shown by the executive places a corresponding burden on administrative leadership to restore discipline, neutrality, and pride in public service. For the wider political class and the commentariat, the episode serves as a caution against normalizing cruelty as strategy. The eagerness with which some anticipated workers’ suffering revealed a dangerous appetite for scorched-earth politics. When governance becomes a spectator sport where pain is cheered and deprivation is weaponized, society inches toward moral exhaustion. Rivers State has seen enough turbulence to know that stability is not sustained by triumphalism, but by restraint.
The lesson is simple yet profound: power is fleeting, but institutions endure; leaders pass, but precedents remain. In the end, the payment of the 2025 Christmas bonus was more than a fiscal act—it was a civic statement. It told workers they were not expendable. It told political actors that revenge would not be policy. And it told the state that maturity in leadership is not weakness, but strength under control. In a climate where many expected fire, restraint prevailed; where bitterness was predicted, balance emerged. Thus, Rivers State was offered a rare reminder that governance, at its best, is an act of discipline, and leadership, at its highest, is the courage to rise above provocation.
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