As chairman of the Bayelsa State chapter of Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) and later chairman of the board of Bayelsa United football club of Yenagoa, I had met Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdulahi a number of times. In fact, I voted for him during the 2006 election that crowned him as chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA)- as it was known then. I did so because I was convinced about his personality. I was therefore taken aback when news started filtering out of the Glass House about the near absence of transparency and accountability in the running of the nation’s football governiy others, I had warned him about the dangers of allowing himself to be blinded and used by members of his kitchen cabinet. I had also warned him that Nigerians would soon get tired of him. With certainty, I equally told him that members of his kitchen cabinet would deny him as soon as their boat starts sinking. This is exactly what happened when the just impeached first vice president of the NFF, Mr. Amanze Uchegbulam cried out that he was only a victim of institutional loyalty. He tried to convince those that had enough patience to listen that he was invited by the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) simply because he was loyal to Sani Lulu. Uchegbulam went ahead to argue that he is not the approving authority of the NFF and wondered why he should be invited to answer questions bothering on finances of the board. It is unfortunate that Lulu would not have a second opportunity to preside over Nigerian football. If he had, there is no doubt in my mind that he would not touch the once invincible duo of Amanze Uchegbulam and Taiwo Ogunjobi even with a hundred metre long pole.
Sani Lulu’s problem started when he decided to dismantle all internal mechanisms available to check corruption and maladministration in the NFF. Nigerian football was run like a private estate. Members of the executive committee of the NFF that demanded greater transparency in the administration of Nigerian football were either suspended or sidelined. It would be recalled that Dr. Peter Singabele was suspended for close to two years for daring to tell Nigerians the truth about the rot that has become of the Glass House. With this action, Sani Lulu and his kitchen cabinet were able to barb the head of Nigerian tax payers with reckless abandon until President Goodluck Jonathan pumped the brakes.
I am joining all other well-meaning Nigerians and friends of the country to thank President Jonathan for powering on the internal mechanisms for checking corruption and maladministration in the NFF. It is my prayer that the president leadership do not turn it off the power button later. After all, it does not need PHCN to function properly. More than that, the EFCC must not allow this matter to go the way of others. This is an opportunity to stop corruption in the sports sector. We all know that it is as a result of corruption that the private sector is not attracted to invest in the sports industry in Nigeria. Sports is big business. It is time for government put in place plans to hands off sports. This can only be successful if corruption is eliminated in the sector. To eliminate corruption, the culture of transparency and accountability must be encouraged. Those that fall fowl of the law should be punished.
Before now, members of the kitchen cabinet had always hidden behind the banner of FIFA to rape the treasuries of the NFF. Whenever questions are asked concerning the finances of the NFF, threats of sanctions are invoked against Nigeria. It is unreasonable for the NFF to collect billions of naira from government and expect it to keep quiet when things are not done properly. This is an insult and against all human and public protocols. Even in countries like Britain, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy etc where public money is not used to fund football, government still make inputs. It is close to treason for any Nigerian to connive with FIFA or any other organisation to undermine the integrity of this nation. Thank God, FIFA is beginning to appreciate the important place of government in the development of football especially in Africa.
But above all, members of the NFF and state FAs should not wait for government to take extreme actions before doing what is right. With the impeachment of Lulu and his kitchen cabinet, many persons that criticised the actions of the president have now seen the wisdom in the decision to withdraw Nigeria from all international football competitions. Tough problems need tough actions too. Carry Go, EFCC.
Showing posts with label accountability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accountability. Show all posts
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
AMNESTY IS NOT A MAGIC WAND
Nigerians should not shy away from saying the truth simply because our leaders hate hearing what is true. Only recently, the Senate President, David Mark revealed how much the ruling class abhor truth when he invested his integrity to argue that the international community should allow the nation’s leaders to do to the Nigerian masses whatever that pleases them. Mark’s unintentional confession is the truth about how much hatred Nigerian leaders have for the masses.
There is actually no reason why with four refineries, the world’s sixth largest producer of crude oil should rely on the importation of petrol, diesel, and kerosene for domestic consumption. It is an abomination that Nigeria is still grappling with the problem of regular power supply despite the abundance of natural gas and availability of associated technologies to stabilise the power sector.
A drive along the nation’s highways tells a pathetic story of failed leadership. Corruption has almost become a celebrated national tradition. Unemployment has reached the sky. Crime has become part of the Nigerian culture. The take home pay of the average Nigerian civil servant can hardly support a family of three- man, wife, and a child for just a week. The educational sector is in chaos. Certificates obtained from Nigerian universities are regarded as junk outside the shores of the country. The situation is worse with our primary and post primary schools that are mostly closed due to industrial actions buy teachers demanding for improved condition of service. Nigerians desirous of giving their children sound education are therefore compelled to look the way of neighbouring West African countries. Quality health care services are beyond the reach of average Nigerians. Despite all of these, we continue to pride ourselves as the Giant of Africa. We should bury our heads in shame. Don’t we know the abilities of true Giants?
To a very large extent, the Senate President thought Nigerian leaders can continue to fool the masses. It was for this simple reason he insinuated that Nigerians should be allowed to tackle their problems when the United State’s Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton told our leaders the home truth at a Town Hall meeting in Abuja. David Mark and PDP’s shallow reaction to America’s verdict on Nigerian leaders pointed clearly to a government that does not believe in accountability and the rule of law. A government can only be said to be accountable when it is able to provide answers to the needs of the masses. Accountability in governance does not merely mean providing details of revenue and expenditure.
Rule of law is to governance what food is to human beings. It therefore sounds funny when one hear government officials attempt to score cheap political gains for doing what is normal. It is like a father going to the market square to boast that he has provided breakfast for his children. There is no way an oil producing country that cannot provide basic social amenities such as electricity, portable water, health care services, jobs, good roads, affordable housing, petrol, kerosene, and diesel could be judged to uphold the principle of rule of law. This is because; security, law, and order are the fundamental laws of state. They form the foundation for peace. There cannot be peace in the midst of poverty and crime, which is mostly caused by the inability of government to provide the basic necessities of life for the citizenry.
As against David Mark’s argument, the issues of failed leadership in Nigeria cannot be left for Nigerians alone. The world is a global village. The problems of failed leadership in Nigeria will impact negatively on the international community. Hillary Clinton was only being proactive. Our leaders should rather be glad that Clinton has helped to illuminate the very dark paths of political leadership. Those that have taken the wrong path should retrace their steps quickly because the masses are hungry and angry.
The argument by David Mark that the United States should leave Nigeria for Nigerians is very unfortunate. It is fair enough that natives of Nigeria’s oil bearing communities are not toeing his line of argument by insisting that the rest of the country should not interfere in the affairs of the Niger Delta region. In that case, the Niger Delta people would have demanded for 100% derivation principle. But in relying on precedent, the Niger Delta people have merely demanded that Nigeria returns to the 1960 era when derivation was 50%. Instead of the federal government coming out to explain why it has refused to honour precedent, it has gone ahead to force the NDDC and Niger Delta Ministry on the people of the region. I believe strongly that David Mark’s angry reaction to Hillary Clinton’s criticisms of failed leadership in Nigerian would make many persons to drop the negative tag they had earlier on hanged on the necks of Niger Delta militants. This is because; it has become very clear that Niger Deltan militants love Nigeria far more than most of our leaders do.
I have always maintained that the offer of amnesty is fair in spirit but arrogant in nature. That is one reason why most militants have shunned the arms collection centres to negotiate their own choice of location of disarmament. By offering amnesty to the militants, President Yar’Adua has boldly accepted the fact that the Nigerian nation has been unfair to the Niger Delta people. Punishing these militants would therefore amount to double punishment. I salute the courage of the president as many have pressurised him to use the military to quell agitations by the Niger Delta people.
Like I have suggested in other forums; in finding solutions to the problems of militancy in the Niger Delta region, the federal government has put the cart before the horse. The genuine demands of the Niger Delta people have not been addressed. Right now, the success of the amnesty deal is being threatened by cases of doubt and suspicion. The offer of amnesty would have come after addressing the issues of fiscal federalism and injustice in the sharing of revenue from crude oil and natural gas. The Niger Delta people are well aware that when the nation’s super tribes were producing the natural resources that sustained the country’s economy, derivation was 50%. The question therefore on the lips of every Niger Deltan is: Why is it 13% now that the advantage has gone the way of minority tribes in the Niger Delta region?
For the oil based Nigerian economy to grow, there is an urgent need for peace in the Niger Delta. It is however unfortunate that both the federal and Niger Delta State governments are seeing the disarmament by militants as the foundation for peace and development of the region. If the truth must be said; then I would warn that Nigerians would be disappointed in the very near future if we see amnesty as a magic wand and ignore the fundamental issues that gave birth to agitation in the Niger Delta region. Justice and fair play in the sharing of revenue from oil and gas are the foundations on which amnesty should stand on. On the other hand; the federal government should make efforts to convince the Niger Delta people why it has refused to honour the 50% derivation precedent. Perhaps, the federal government has finally accepted the suggestion by Hon. Bala Ibn Na’Allah to end militancy by wiping out the entire Niger Delta region.
In blaming Niger Delta youths for their choice of militancy in seeking justice in the sharing of revenue from oil and gas, the presidency should accept the fact that government has made the culture of non-violent protest unattractive to Nigerians. The Advanced Learners’ Dictionary defines violence as, “an angry way of speaking or reacting.” Niger Delta youths had noticed that it has mostly been through industrial actions (an angry way of reacting) that NUPENG, ASUU, NMA, RATTAWU, PHCN, Police, and the Army have succeeded in forcing government to live to its obligation. That is to say, the Nigerian federal government has murdered her capacity to do any good thing voluntarily. Therefore, Niger Delta youths saw militancy (also an angry way of reacting) as the nearest thing to industrial action in their quest to right the grave injustice in the sharing of revenue from crude oil and gas.
While I do not want to contest the suggestion by many that President Yar’Adua holds the key to solving the Niger Delta question, I want to equally advice that he should not make the mistake of seeing the amnesty deal as a magic wand. The cart should be quickly retuned to the back of the horse so that the Niger Delta question can be solved once and for all.
There is actually no reason why with four refineries, the world’s sixth largest producer of crude oil should rely on the importation of petrol, diesel, and kerosene for domestic consumption. It is an abomination that Nigeria is still grappling with the problem of regular power supply despite the abundance of natural gas and availability of associated technologies to stabilise the power sector.
A drive along the nation’s highways tells a pathetic story of failed leadership. Corruption has almost become a celebrated national tradition. Unemployment has reached the sky. Crime has become part of the Nigerian culture. The take home pay of the average Nigerian civil servant can hardly support a family of three- man, wife, and a child for just a week. The educational sector is in chaos. Certificates obtained from Nigerian universities are regarded as junk outside the shores of the country. The situation is worse with our primary and post primary schools that are mostly closed due to industrial actions buy teachers demanding for improved condition of service. Nigerians desirous of giving their children sound education are therefore compelled to look the way of neighbouring West African countries. Quality health care services are beyond the reach of average Nigerians. Despite all of these, we continue to pride ourselves as the Giant of Africa. We should bury our heads in shame. Don’t we know the abilities of true Giants?
To a very large extent, the Senate President thought Nigerian leaders can continue to fool the masses. It was for this simple reason he insinuated that Nigerians should be allowed to tackle their problems when the United State’s Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton told our leaders the home truth at a Town Hall meeting in Abuja. David Mark and PDP’s shallow reaction to America’s verdict on Nigerian leaders pointed clearly to a government that does not believe in accountability and the rule of law. A government can only be said to be accountable when it is able to provide answers to the needs of the masses. Accountability in governance does not merely mean providing details of revenue and expenditure.
Rule of law is to governance what food is to human beings. It therefore sounds funny when one hear government officials attempt to score cheap political gains for doing what is normal. It is like a father going to the market square to boast that he has provided breakfast for his children. There is no way an oil producing country that cannot provide basic social amenities such as electricity, portable water, health care services, jobs, good roads, affordable housing, petrol, kerosene, and diesel could be judged to uphold the principle of rule of law. This is because; security, law, and order are the fundamental laws of state. They form the foundation for peace. There cannot be peace in the midst of poverty and crime, which is mostly caused by the inability of government to provide the basic necessities of life for the citizenry.
As against David Mark’s argument, the issues of failed leadership in Nigeria cannot be left for Nigerians alone. The world is a global village. The problems of failed leadership in Nigeria will impact negatively on the international community. Hillary Clinton was only being proactive. Our leaders should rather be glad that Clinton has helped to illuminate the very dark paths of political leadership. Those that have taken the wrong path should retrace their steps quickly because the masses are hungry and angry.
The argument by David Mark that the United States should leave Nigeria for Nigerians is very unfortunate. It is fair enough that natives of Nigeria’s oil bearing communities are not toeing his line of argument by insisting that the rest of the country should not interfere in the affairs of the Niger Delta region. In that case, the Niger Delta people would have demanded for 100% derivation principle. But in relying on precedent, the Niger Delta people have merely demanded that Nigeria returns to the 1960 era when derivation was 50%. Instead of the federal government coming out to explain why it has refused to honour precedent, it has gone ahead to force the NDDC and Niger Delta Ministry on the people of the region. I believe strongly that David Mark’s angry reaction to Hillary Clinton’s criticisms of failed leadership in Nigerian would make many persons to drop the negative tag they had earlier on hanged on the necks of Niger Delta militants. This is because; it has become very clear that Niger Deltan militants love Nigeria far more than most of our leaders do.
I have always maintained that the offer of amnesty is fair in spirit but arrogant in nature. That is one reason why most militants have shunned the arms collection centres to negotiate their own choice of location of disarmament. By offering amnesty to the militants, President Yar’Adua has boldly accepted the fact that the Nigerian nation has been unfair to the Niger Delta people. Punishing these militants would therefore amount to double punishment. I salute the courage of the president as many have pressurised him to use the military to quell agitations by the Niger Delta people.
Like I have suggested in other forums; in finding solutions to the problems of militancy in the Niger Delta region, the federal government has put the cart before the horse. The genuine demands of the Niger Delta people have not been addressed. Right now, the success of the amnesty deal is being threatened by cases of doubt and suspicion. The offer of amnesty would have come after addressing the issues of fiscal federalism and injustice in the sharing of revenue from crude oil and natural gas. The Niger Delta people are well aware that when the nation’s super tribes were producing the natural resources that sustained the country’s economy, derivation was 50%. The question therefore on the lips of every Niger Deltan is: Why is it 13% now that the advantage has gone the way of minority tribes in the Niger Delta region?
For the oil based Nigerian economy to grow, there is an urgent need for peace in the Niger Delta. It is however unfortunate that both the federal and Niger Delta State governments are seeing the disarmament by militants as the foundation for peace and development of the region. If the truth must be said; then I would warn that Nigerians would be disappointed in the very near future if we see amnesty as a magic wand and ignore the fundamental issues that gave birth to agitation in the Niger Delta region. Justice and fair play in the sharing of revenue from oil and gas are the foundations on which amnesty should stand on. On the other hand; the federal government should make efforts to convince the Niger Delta people why it has refused to honour the 50% derivation precedent. Perhaps, the federal government has finally accepted the suggestion by Hon. Bala Ibn Na’Allah to end militancy by wiping out the entire Niger Delta region.
In blaming Niger Delta youths for their choice of militancy in seeking justice in the sharing of revenue from oil and gas, the presidency should accept the fact that government has made the culture of non-violent protest unattractive to Nigerians. The Advanced Learners’ Dictionary defines violence as, “an angry way of speaking or reacting.” Niger Delta youths had noticed that it has mostly been through industrial actions (an angry way of reacting) that NUPENG, ASUU, NMA, RATTAWU, PHCN, Police, and the Army have succeeded in forcing government to live to its obligation. That is to say, the Nigerian federal government has murdered her capacity to do any good thing voluntarily. Therefore, Niger Delta youths saw militancy (also an angry way of reacting) as the nearest thing to industrial action in their quest to right the grave injustice in the sharing of revenue from crude oil and gas.
While I do not want to contest the suggestion by many that President Yar’Adua holds the key to solving the Niger Delta question, I want to equally advice that he should not make the mistake of seeing the amnesty deal as a magic wand. The cart should be quickly retuned to the back of the horse so that the Niger Delta question can be solved once and for all.
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