Nigeria: No new states precursor to abolishing them

Asexual cell division

Nigeria in some cases is very much like some organism that undergoes asexual reproduction by cell division and this refers to the state and states of Nigeria [1].

There was a time when Nigeria consisted of just 3 regions, when I was in childhood it had 12 states, by the time I left Nigeria it had 21 and today it has 36 states.

All these states are still within the same land area that has been called Nigeria for about 50 years.

Pools of federal character

I wrote a blog last year on the President’s prerogative in choosing his cabinet and opined that we had too many pools but too few talent pools [2], a point that AfricanLoft [3] showcased to a wider community.

Written into the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria [4] is the concept of Federal Character governed by a Federal Character Commission, the purpose of which it is to promote national unity by seeking uniform representation in federal appointments made under the auspices of the President.

This is defined under Section 318 (1) as “federal character of Nigeria” refers to the distinctive desire of the peoples of Nigeria to promote national unity, foster national loyalty and give every citizen of Nigeria a sense of belonging to the nation as expressed in section 14 (3) and (4) of this constitution;

Those two sub-sections read as follows –

Section 14 (3) The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.

Section 14 (4) The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation.

Supreme Court Sector Selections

This is fair enough in general sense, but is there a trade-off between representation to fulfil the federal character and the available competent personnel to serve the country?

This became a matter of interest to me when I read that two new justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria had been sworn in [5], one of them a lady, making two ladies on the highest bench but reading further into the article whilst we were not told where the new justices hailed from we were informed the departing justices came from North-Central and South-West sectors of the country.

There are now 17 judges on the Supreme Court of Nigeria [6], the number must not exceed 21 and it would be difficult to apply a full federal character posture on appointments to this court from 36 states so there is a variation of the federal character paradigm to the selection process which gives one some concern.

I would hope that judges appointed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria are there for their acute legal minds, ability to interpret the constitution with gravitas and level-headedness without necessarily having to fulfil political quotas of tribal, state or regional representation – the courts cannot afford appointments that are not chiefly by merit.

Competing for influence

However, in an excerpted piece from a book by Rotimi Suberu titled Federalism and Ethnic Conflict in Nigeria [7], he states whist supporting the need for the federal character principle that “the “federal character” principles in the Nigerian constitution also serve as a Rorschach test [8] for the national family’s dysfunction.

The principles are interpreted as a mandate for the central government to represent and aid all groups. However laudable and necessary the principles are for a multi-ethnic nation ... efforts to implement them have cultivated resentment between winners and losers competing for slots in governmental institutions”.

Quite an interesting insight he gives to the issue of federal character and how it works or does not work in the context of Nigeria.

Abolish states

However, coming back round to the core of the topic about states and representation in Nigerian, Admiral Mike Akhigbe who was de facto vice President after the death of the despotic General Sani Abacha suggested states be abolished [9] and be subsumed under wider geopolitical zones with the state structures becoming more like larger local government councils.

Suggesting six geo-political zones he states that there are too many resource sapping administrative units in the country that impact of economic development, he opined that states as they are weaken the federal structure of Nigeria.

Saying that there should be more to improve the well being of the Nigerian people rather than creating new political administrative units.

I think those views need to be fleshed out more and given a bigger forum for debate, the creation of new political administrative units creates a divisive “cake sharing” fixation where states and groups are more keen on grabbing a larger slice of federal disbursements than expanding the size of the nation’s output as Mr. Suberu writes.

Thoughts for Nigeria at 50

It no doubt fuels conflict rather than cohesion and it should become part of the agenda for what should Nigeria be doing when it clocks 50.

This whole idea of subsuming states to create broader talent pools of representation to allow for real quality to help in the development of Nigeria cannot be bad, but we have an uphill task against vested self-serving interests who require fiefdoms from where to exercise power and peddle undue influence.

However, this is a seed sown and we shall water it until it germinates, grows and bears fruit, I expect to find much mileage in this – meanwhile – No New States!

Sources

[1] States of Nigeria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[2] Nigeria: Removing influence from selecting the cabinet [akin.blog-city.com]

[3] Nigeria: “Too many pools very few talent pools” | AfricanLoft

[4] Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

[5] allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Kutigi Swears in New Female Supreme Court Justice

[6] Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja

[7] Federalism and Ethnic Conflict in Nigeria. By Rotimi N. Suberu. Washington, D.C.: Institute of Peace Press, 2001. ISBN-10: 1929223285 ISBN-13: 978-1929223282 - Amazon

[8] Rorschach inkblot test - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[9] The Sun News On-line: States should be abolished — Akhigbe

Nigeria: Electoral reform starts with Iwu pensioned off

Unable to keep ones peace

I think I have now reached the conclusion that if Nigerians ever learn discretion and acquire the ability to resist fulminating they would no more be Nigerian but of another faraway country. The high social art of being able to keep ones peace is well beyond us.

It should already be a completely forgone conclusion that the ‘so-called’ Independent National Electoral Commission is in need of radical root-and-branch reform [1].

The President in his tardy and soporific exigency [2], a misnomer in terms, at least agrees that much should be done even though there are disputes as to how it should be done.

More pain the in the INEC

Of all democratic agencies in Nigeria INEC stands out as the one that has most undermined the basic principles of democracy by returning flawed results by reason of rank incompetence and incomprehensible cant emanating from the chairman of the commission.

The competence of the commission and the adequacy of the same under the leadership of Professor Maurice Iwu has received such a battering with the annulment and over-turning of many elections in the courts and tribunals, by July 2008, 11 governorship elections [3] out of 36 had been annulled; one contest finally got resolved a good 20 months after the elections with the INEC declared winner deposed.

I can think of no other organisation that might have suffered the ignominy of having its activities questioned, opposed, subjected to severe sanction and repudiated so much that the leadership of the organisation can without dignity, honour or self-respect still growl with hubris.

Truth and abuse

At a book launch last week [4] that entertained a former Head of State, a governor and a former minister, comments were made to the effect that “INEC as presently constituted, is illegitimate”; one would contend that there is probable cause to voice such a sentiment.

The former Head of State then said “the proposed electoral reforms in the country would be baseless if INEC was not totally overhauled”; one could hardly quarrel about that either – the disgrace of elections conducted in April 2007 left Nigeria tongue-tied when rotten elections were conducted in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Rather than let these seemingly inconsequently comments go, the publicity machinery of INEC decided to blow its own trumpet and castigate these personalities by suggesting they should “avoid the path of eccentricity and crass partisanship in their public comments”.

If I did not have a sturdy chair to sit in I would have fell over with laughter at the cant and flagrant effrontery of the reaction, it does beggar belief.

Mirror, Mirror

But then, I would suppose empty barrels do have to make the most noise and having lashed out vehemently at the personalities INEC then feigned great offence by saying the comments were “uncharitable, deplorable and condemnable”.

INEC should really be looking in the mirror because their conduct of the 2007 elections [5] was uncharitable because they were deemed unfair and not credible, they were deplorable and should be deplored for the unpreparedness and lack of organisation and were condemnable for that fact that after all the elections annulled they definitely did not express the will of the Nigerian electorate.

They asserted they would have kept their peace but for the personalities involved they could not resist the urge to respond to these highly partisan and self–serving outbursts which makes one wonder if the results returned in 2007 by INEC were not highly partisan in favour of the ruling party and their current response is in no way self-serving.

Bragging without restraint

Not if you read other copy that suggested the Professor Iwu is to be sacked in June [6] only to hear the man himself brimming with confidence and the braggadocio of a silverback in full jungle tearaway declare that he cannot be sacked [7] except through some arcane but convoluted process.

As he addressed a lecture of senior policy personnel, I find that I cannot in anyway paraphrase his retort than to quote him verbatim [8].

“It has not occurred to those who want the rule bent that the Chairman of the Commission has the same protection like the President of the Federal Republic and governors because we are all product of the same constitution and which cannot be treated in isolation and they know that I have tenure.

It is only when I commit a crime and I am impeached, not hounded by anybody; no matter how and that is why I did not resign and I would not resign.

When people demand that I resign, I refused because that would have been the most unpatriotic thing to do; if I am not able to solve the problem, then I can contemplate resignation, but I am more than equal to solving the problem. I have no doubt about that”.

So, he suggests he has the wherewithal to deliver the reforms necessary to overhaul INEC and make it a credible electoral body, he will not resign – for Nigerians, once bitten must make us twice shy.

We all have serious doubts

Whilst he might have no doubts, we all have doubts, the people have doubts, the judges have doubts, and even the erstwhile president for the sake of comment had doubts when he said the elections were far from perfect – Can Professor Iwu read the runes or has he overdosed on the delusionary congratulations? He happens to be a pharmacist.

To give this man another opportunity to sell our democratic mandate to the highest bidder such that what would count in the end would not be the votes of the people but the votes of the justices, if we ever find justice and fairness is to sacrifice the nation to retrogressive forces that would condemn the country to oblivion.

He might yet have more of a chance to breath but his tenure of unbeatable opprobrium must end yesterday if not the day before.

Only such incompetence can revel in atrocious hypocrisy and stand shamelessly tall in utter ignominy without reflection, remorse or contrition – Nigeria deserves better and it must by all that is good in this world get better by persuasion or coercion – by all means – Professor Iwu must be pensioned off.

Sources

[1] BBC NEWS | Africa | Nigeria's 'slow' election reform

[2] BBC NEWS | Africa | Nigeria's 'Baba-go-slow' one year on

[3] Nigeria court annuls 11th state governor election

[4] Electoral Reform: INEC blasts Buhari, David-West, Oshiomhole

[5] Nigerian general election, 2007 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[6] Daily Trust - The Online Edition - Iwu to be sacked in June

[7] Vanguard Online Edition - Nobody can sack me — Iwu

[8] Vanguard Online Edition - Maurice Iwu and his critiques (sic)

Nigeria: The crude franchise of stones

Stones may atone

Whilst one is not given to violent protest of any sort, it was amusing to read that the Nigerian Presidential convoy that malingered to Jos to condole the people on the death of their king; the Gbong Gwom of Jos, Da Victor Dung Pam was pelted with missiles.[AllAfrica/Vanguard Obateru/Shaibu][Leadership Abimaje/Timothy]

Now, I do remember when we lived in Jos and the Head of State visited, we were out there proudly waving our Nigerian flags, glad to have him visit, even though it was his home state.

Considering it is easy to find a belly-driven paid or coerced multitude to sing the praises of despots in Africa as witnessed in Zimbabwe and Sudan recently, one can only wonder at the disconnect between the corralling sycophants who were to marshal the plaint masses to welcome the benevolent leader and the reality of discontent rather than malcontent leading to the pelting with missiles.

It might well signal a time where African masses have decided to give non-performing leaders their just desserts.

The Gbong Gwom

When a big traditional chief dies in Nigeria the multitudes of political bigwigs and their clique troop to the palaces of the dead kings and declare all sorts of atrocious allegiances and statements that bare no significance to the truth. [TheNationOnlineNigeria Ayuba/Ologun]

The Gbong Gwon who might in other lands have ascended the throne took the stool in 2002 having been a Deputy Inspector General of the Nigeria during which time there have been serious religious and tribal tensions leading to riots and many deaths in late 2008, his predecessor presided over those of 2002 and 2001.[Wikipedia][Wikipedia]

Whilst the Gbong Gwon might have served his country meritoriously as a policeman, it is disingenuous to suggest that his leadership as a traditional chief was that beneficial considering the last riot was alleged to have been instigated by political powers, these powers that he should have been able to lean on from his sphere of influence. [LeadershipNigeria Nkwocha] [LeadershipNigeria Umunnabuike/Shuaib]

A cultural present

A bigger false notion is even being purported of his death creating a vacuum in the cultural heritage of the people – history tells us that the Berom tribe of which he was “political leader” maybe tribal ruler only had this kind of “royal” leadership from 1947, a mere 62 years ago – I am sorry, he might have been a figure head for the Berom but amongst the Berom their leadership structures are clan centred. [Wikipedia]

As one should not speak ill of the dead, paying tribute and respects should not be the occasion to embellish the truth and in being nice tell blatant lies peddling falsehoods.

Investigating a symptom

However, the police would investigate and try to apprehend those who dared to disrespect the President, but I would contend that respect is a two-way thing – the leadership has to earn its respect to have reciprocal respect.

Much as the paternalistic elements of the society would fulminate about the people being malcontents, it is time to reflect on the possibility that the lack of a truly representative democracy that imposes the unsatisfactory on the powerless, where the powerful act with impunity and masses are herded at the bidding of a corrupt elite some form of expression must find an outlet.

Something to ponder

Given this is not the first time a President has been pelted with missiles in that vicinity the security detail have been naïve if not in plain dereliction of their duties to have allowed the President to run the gauntlet of the aggrieved.

In Nigeria, where justice is pricey and due process mostly comes after the grave, a stone here or a stone there at the people who are in leadership but fail to lead or deliver progress and development might just be the only means of the electorate connecting with the elected.

It is then incumbent of those who suffered such indignation to consider what can be done to avoid such situations by addressing the causes rather than corralling everyone who does not have a godfather for punishment which would be unjust, unfair and inimical to possibly the only kind of public protest that can make the leaders listen.

Rest in peace, Gbong Gwom.

Banking on new local realities

The difficult rebirth

Getting my mail out of the post box the other day there was a letter from a once familiar organisation with I had not communicated for about 4 years, because then they sent me a letter that they were being absorbed by another bank.

This one had a new logo but more or less the same name it had from when it was an autonomous entity – the credit crunch is doing things radical to the banking sector, in this case Fortis Bank which is now essentially a public utility rather than a bank since it needs government support has had to regurgitate the ingestions it took in over the last few years.

All these onetime seemingly well run banks that were acquisitive with reckless abandon using management models that made the acquired banks look like they were being run by charlatans now all seem to be run by charlatans – it is appalling to say the least.

Show me the building

So, my mortgage bank that was once in the belly of Fortis is now back as an autonomous entity alas I do not get a bailout that closes my mortgage book and lets me consider other things to do with my money.

Though we are all keen on the flexibility and convenience of online banking, I like to know that my money can still be found in some building built of bricks and mortar able to weather storms and having some human being with whom I can converse if I have issues.

I do however commiserate with those who had to queue up for miles round the streets for hours to get into their bricks-and-mortar bank when things seemed to be going belly up – a man cannot be persuaded of a greater cause to run to than to know that there is a run on the bank that he banks in.

Fought for by four

Walking down through the local shopping centre where I live we have 4 automated cash machines representing four banks, one of those banks – PostBank – has now formally absorbed in the bigger ING Group conglomerate but the cash tills have been retained – letters declared that too, sometime ago.

So we have PostBank, ABN Amro, ING Bank and at the far end of the shopping centre, RaboBank, all with walk-in offices apart from PostBank which is now part of the ING Group.

ABN Amro, the subject of the worst banking constipation and expectoration including the discomfort of food poisoning that could hit any bank, the nemesis of the Royal Bank of Scotland in the United Kingdom and Fortis in the BeNeLux had always had the longest opening hours including Saturdays.

Imagine my surprise when I found that my local ING Bank had refurbished its offices, extended its opening hours for the shopping evenings and also will open on a Saturday.

Crunch is global, service is local

Amidst the global consequences of bad banking decisions made by professionals who had forgotten the fundamentals of client service and risk, I would presume the seedlings of competition on the high street have been sown once again between banks.

Less of the adventurism that left many shipwrecked in waters far from home and back to the trusty, thrifty, parsimonious simple local customer who needs basic services, wants easy answers to nagging questions and likes to see the manager rather than being fobbed off by some personal assistant that has created the mystique of financial deity around the boss that their hubris resulted the chaos we now grapple with.

Methinks one should call in on Saturday for a hair cut even though I have none to lose – there should not be much between banks and the barbers, we have all been given severe hair cuts already – now, if I decided to move my account from some far-flung place to my local bank, there might just be a beer mat and pen in the bargain – such extravagance for pennies with the potential of pounds.

On reflection, I think Not!

Nigeria: The Guardian, Conscience nurtured by half-truths

Guided from the truth

When my friend highlighted the context of an article that appeared in the Nigerian Guardian of the 6^th of March 2009, I opined saying maybe the paper was not necessarily serving the function of its masthead [1] which is Conscience, Nurtured by Truth but just being a general publishing forum of opinions no matter how crass.

The editorial board of the Nigerian Guardian allowed and in allowing, endorsed the publication of an article by a Christian Nwoke who purports to work for the Project for Human Development in Lagos titled Finally, a social vaccine for HIV [2].

Reading through his diatribe I felt the article might have been well placed to appear in some newspaper some 25 years ago. I would not know the function of the agency he works for but he is clearly not aware of the demographic he writes about.

The women are the most affected

Indeed, there is sexual promiscuity amongst the youth and there is serious child sexual abuse in Nigeria which does not get tackled with the urgency and exposure that it requires, but this is hardly the face of HIV in Nigeria.

If Mr. Nwoke had bothered to do the most basic research before he fulminated, he would have realised that in Nigeria it is the women [3] that carry the greater burden of HIV/AIDS by over 50% of those infected and children account for 8%.

His article concentrated on the scourge affecting the men when the social issue is the women who in their matrimonial homes cannot exercise the restraint on their promiscuous husbands who sleep around and bring things home. Or women who are egregiously abused by a paternalistic culture that demands sexual satisfaction regardless of the woman's desires or rights.

Condoms fail but still protect

There is a mind and discipline element to Abstinence but human beings have a sexual inclination and appetite, where it needs to be satisfied for all sorts of reasons it is good to Be faithful but where that fails the next line of action is to use Condoms.

These are the ABC’s of protection; using all means as a pragmatic response to realities – social, moral, political and economic – rather than a puritanical one solution view of abstinence which we fail to accept is ineffective.

Mr. Nwoke expressed his ignorance in full measure when he suggested that condoms are causative of HIV and hence advocated they should be banned because they are known to fail.

Anything can fail

Indeed, condoms are known to fail which is why we are advised to use a lot of lubricant and check during usage that it is still effectively doing its job, but I doubt if condom failure is the main cause of HIV infection, I would suggest it is the lack of use of condoms.

Abstinence can fail if one is unfortunate to have a tainted blood transfusion, being faithful can fail if one of the partners is infected by other means than sexual transmission and condoms do fail; there is also a contraceptive element to using condoms talk less of the social consequences of children people cannot afford to rear – However, HIV/AIDS comes from either participant being infected – never from just the act of sex between uninfected partners, no matter how promiscuous they might be – one should debunk the unfounded view of sex equals infection.

By the time he uses the analogy of failed parachutes where he says if he is told one out of 6 parachutes failed he would not jump out of a plane, (parachutes are used all the time for jump out of planes, stopping high speed vehicles and many other things, we we adopted such a unadventurous view to life we would get nowhere; I guess because of car accidents he does not drive and for the fear of electrocution he does not use the mains) – the story of his ignominy was complete but he would not draw my ire.

The Guardian draws my ire

That is to be given to the Nigerian Guardian Editorial Board headed by a Dr. Reuben Abati [4] who as watchdogs and guardians of the principles and focus of the newspaper should not have allowed such tripe to feature especially not in a forum like the Internet which has a global reach. Indeed we should promote the freedom of expression but there should be a line drawn at poorly researched expressions of ignorance.

In this one case they have allowed a matter of conscience for Mr. Nwoke to be nurtured by half-truths, fallacies and ignorance then given it a global platform – this is appalling at best and should be harshly excoriated at worst.

A malevolent protégé, I perceive

As for the agency Mr. Nwoke works for, human development can be anything from serious humanitarian activity through eugenics to being an offshoot Dr. Mengele’s laboratory [5] – with such views expressed, one can easily see where Mr. Nwoke’s mind is.

The Guardian should really ensure that their columnists have researched their copy diligently and would impart knowledge rather than a diatribe of ignorant generalisations that have no basis in fact.

My friend who alerted me to that apology of an opinion has worked with persons with HIV and AIDS in South America, Africa and Oceania in the last 8 years and was incensed that such nonsensical views could appear in a newspaper that is supposed to have a reputation and a standard – the qualifier supposed for now stands as a grudging compliment.

Sources

[1] The Nigerian Guardian masthead

[2] Guardian Newspapers: Finally, a social vaccine for HIV

[3] HIV InSite – Nigeria

[4] Reuben Abati - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[5] Nazi human experimentation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

How safe are condoms against HIV - HIV AIDS Care

How Effective Are Latex Condoms in Preventing HIV? | Questions and Answers | CDC HIV/AIDS

Note: If the source article disappears, I have already printed a PDF version of this infraction to good journalism.