Solomon's Column

Chief Obafemi Awolowo was a political leader of Yoruba extraction, who lived by example.

His leadership impacted positively on the Yoruba people, in all spheres of life. However, it is doubtful if those who hold sway in this dispensation followed his footsteps.

Chief Awolowo had a formidable political structure that outlived him. In his time, political meetings were held at his Ikenne home in Ogun state.

After the passing on to glory of Chief Awolowo, in the days of military rule, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, took over the mantle of leadership and meetings were held at his Owo home, Ondo state.

During this period, the National Democratic Coalition(NADECO) came into being.

After Chief Ajasin did his beat, Pa Abraham Adesanya  took over the structure up till the end of the military era.

In the course of Pa Adesanya's leadership, those who could best be described as pseudo-Awoists and pseudo-democrats, were accepted into the fold, sadly, the true and real progressives were barred, due to the fact that they took up appointments in the military regime of the late despot, Gen. Sani Abacha.

Now known as Afenifere, the group restricted its membership, while maintaining a closely knit relationship with the Alliance for Democracy(AD).

At a glance, Afenifere was composed of the first generation Awoists, the second 11 and the unknown elements.  

The unknown  elements eventually hijacked the structure through unconventional means.

Of the first generation Awoists, only  a one time Governor of Lagos state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande is still alive.

However, Chiefs Bisi Akande and Segun Osoba belong to the second 11, while others were not yet into reckoning during the functional period of the group

At a point in time, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, the Director of organization of  the Unity Party of Nigeria(UPN) then, stated that in 1982, during the last convention of the UPN, Chief Awolowo expressed the hope that  a time will come, when the good elements in the  conservatives  will join the good elements in the progressives to form a synthesis.

But present happenings in the political sphere has defied this theory, rather polarization and division are tools that have brought about the present scheme of things.

Of note, is the fact that the progressives of the time past, embarked on laudable programs such as free education, to empower the Yoruba people.

Sadly, capitalist inclined policies, nocturnal ideals and preferences are the working tools of today's leaders in the South-west geo-political zone of Nigeria, to the chagrin of the disillusioned and impoverished people.

The new definition of the progressives includes, but is not limited to, the payment of school fees in Primary and Secondary schools, introduction of multiple tax regime and the preference for  mediocrity and people with doubtful educational qualifications, to carry out government duties. So sad.

The financial greed of political exposed persons in Nigeria is a major problem of nation building.

Indeed, when Chief(Dr.)Olusegun obasanjo was the President, the then Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, his kinsman, was put forward as a model to discourage financial crimes.

Till date, the Former Inspector General's travails is a talking point.

Nigerians are already exhibiting intolerant behavior,perhaps, in violation of the 1999 amended constitution, to oppose a second term presidency for President Muahammadu Buhari. Why ? The anti-corruption fight in this dispensation has not been impressive among other neglected aspects of governance. The former Secetary to the Government of the Federation  and several other high profile public office holders remain credible reference points.

As mediocrity becomes the popular choice for political office holders at the Federal, State and Local Government levels, hitherto  vibrant institutions have been weakened to damaging and ridiculous levels.

The President's constitutional breaches have come under the heavy 'fire power' of moral indignation by millions of Nigerians, with the President's media handlers reacting feebly and unconvincingly.

Interestingly, Nigerians have interpreted the statement credited to the Director General of the National Identity Card Management Commission(NIMC) that embarrassment awaits Nigerians who have not registered for the National Identity Number(NIN), as an open threat and subtle intimidation.

The Commission had earlier in the year, lamented that lack of funds was limiting the commission's plans to produce the National Identity cards for Nigerians. Why the sudden desperation to ensure that Nigerians obtain the NIN ?

Part of the answer lies in the statement by the then Deputy Speaker of the Delta state House of Assembly, Pius Ewherido in 2005, ''Looking for an ethnic plaform, I think negates the entire concept of Democracy''.

Also of worry, is the alarm raised by the Independent Natonal Electoral Commssion(INEC) that the  Permanent Voters Cards(PVC) are been cloned, this is coming on the heels of reports that desperate politicians are already purchasing the PVCs from uninformed Nigerians at the grass roots.

The situation is made more confusing, with the statement of the Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, that there are threats to the country's cyberspace. How ? And why is it coming at a time that elections are coming up in Ekiti and Osun states, while the 2019 general elections is also around the corner. Perhaps, Government is still hiding a lot from Nigerians.

Days to the Governorship election in Osun state, the Federal Government introduced a scheme, ''Trader Money'' to enable petty traders access interest free loans.

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was at the Bola Ige International market, new Gbagi Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria to launch the scheme.

 In addition, the Federal Government  released billions of Naira to the Osun state  Government under the under leadership of Mr. Rauf Arof the state.

egbesola and under the cover the Paris Club refunds, to pacify  the poverty and hunger stricken workers.

Eight years is more than necessary to impact positively on the people of a state, if those who call the  the shots have what it takes to deliver the proverbial ''Dividends of Democracy''.

Even though the workers in the state endured the abnormality  of receiving half salaries  for  over three years, the voting pattern in last Saturday's elections in the state confirms that the  people are  no longer ready to embrace propaganda and deceit.

Sadly, despite the  landmark achievements of the state government infrastructure the construction of mega school buildings, Osun state,  occupys the 29th position in the rating of the  West African Examination(WAEC).

Of worry, is the N96.7 billion  debt hanging on the of the neck of Rauf  Aregbesola led government, regardless of the fact  that the national leader of the All Progressives (APC), recently  declared  that  the state  does not have his kind of money.

The first Presidential campaign of the APC  at Osogbo was anchored by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo,  while the second Presidential campaign was piloted, President Muhammadu Buhari alongside the ''heavy weights'' of the ruling party.

Surprisingly, President Buhari is out of the country for an official engagment.

The foregiong did not, however, have any impact on the results of the election, even though the tone of the returning officer, who announced the result of the election, was not only suspicous, but exposes the deceit in the election.

Informed sources at the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) insist  the number of irregularities were man made , when it was discovered that ''all was well''.

It is disturbing that some  INEC officials was arrested for tearing result sheets in some Local Governments.

Inspite of this, the people have  decided to havea firm grip of happenings in Osun state, even though those in power are not happy about the people's decision.

The Justice Kayode Esho panel report on the Judiciary of 1994, indicted several Judges in Nigeria for wrongdoing. 

 Although the report recommended most of the Judges, including Justice N.S.N Onnogben, then a Judge of the Appeal court , Calabar, Cross River state, for retirement/dismissal, the Judicial review panel headed by Justice Bolarinwa Babalakin gave most of them and Justice Onnogben a clean bill of health, thereby nullifying the recommendations of the Justice Esho panel.

 Justice Onnogben was a high court Judge, when the recommendation was made, but was however, promoted to a Judge of the Appeal court. 

 Again, the Justice Babalakin panel reversed the recommendation by the Justice Esho panel that Justice E.I.D Emeordi of the Delta state Judiciary be dismissed. 

 This reversal did not go down well with the Delta state government, which eventually retired Justice Emeordi and Justice G.O Akoro. While justifying his retirement, the then Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Amos Utuama had said ''The Judges were tried by the NJC. 

Recommendations were made to Government and based on the recommendations the Judges were duly retired. That was rule of law at work''. Is the rule of law at work today, in Nigeria's Judiciary ? The answer could be seen in happenings in the court rooms all over the land. 

 Indeed, Nigerians hailed the decision of the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, when he decided to implement the recommendations of the Justice Esho panel on the Judiciary.

 The Justice Babalakin review panel had invited all serving Judges that were indicted by the Justice Esho panel and whom it had jurisdiction to deal with. 

The panel heard and considered their defenses. Out of 14 of them, eight were given a clean bill of health and their indictment overturned. Of course, a transparent cleansing of the Judiciary would improve its functionality. 

As the rot eats deep, with other category of staff in the Judicial system playing a major role, there is also increase in the number of corrupt lawyers. In an interview with a weekly publication, in 2002, human rights activist and Lawyer, Femi Falana(SAN) had said '' A Judge was recently identified in Lagos, for granting bail to some convicted persons, who had been tried and jailed under Federal offenses.

 Indeed, they all appealed. It took two to tango, the lawyer who filed the application before that Judge knew all the facts of that case, at the end of the day the Judge was removed and nothing happened to the lawyer, he would continue such atrocities. 

So the business of purging the Judiciary of bad blood, the role of the Lawyers has to be seriously examined, otherwise we are not going to get to the root of the mess''. 

 Of worry, is the fact that the 'mess' has made most Nigerians to view the Judiciary as unpredictable and unreliable. 

 Several years after nothing has changed in the nation's Judiciary. The Judicial system requires a total overhaul, which can only be done after a massive purge of corrupt officials. Can this be achieved in this era of change ? Nigerians have great hopes and expectations.

Adolf Hitler labelled the extermination of the Jews in Europe, '' the final solution'', while the military dictatorship in Argentina which embarked on an unprecedented killing of its citizens code named same ''The process of National Integration''.

The activities of insurgents and armed  herdsmen which have claimed thousands of livers are similar to the above mentioned/

Between 1976 and 1983 millions of citizens lost their lives in Argentina. Death squads operating under secret circumstance and the cover of the state murdered about 11, 000 people, which are now described as ''The Disappeared''.

Two million people escaped persecution, while hundreds of babies born to ''The Disappeared'', were either sold, bartered or murdered.

Indeed, happenings in several states of Nigeria, including Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa and Kaduna, indicate that government is fully aware of the insecurity, even as the killings continue. This calls for concern.

On March, 23, 1976, General Jourge Videla, Head of the Argentine Army overthrew the government of Isabelita Peron, a former night club dancer. No civilian government had completed its tenure, excerpt for Juan Peron's first term in office.

General Videla hinged his action on the chronic inflation and high rate of unemployment that trailed Isabelita's government.

However, in Nigeria, a retired Army General calls the shots, even though the country still experiences symptoms of economic recession, mass unemployment, corruption and insecurity.

The Ejecrcito Revolcionario del Pueblo(ERP) and the Montotneros, took to kidnapping and killings. This plunged Argentina into crisis, in Nigeria, kidnapping and killings have gone on unabated. Political pundits put the blame at the door step of the present administration.

Nigerians are worried that the government has done nothing noticeable to ensure that the country does not slip into anarchy.

In 2009, the Defense Minister of Madagascar, Cecile Manorantha resigned  her appointment on the grounds that she  would not continue to be a part of a government that kills its people.

Also, the people of Madagascar vigorously opposed the attempts by President Marc Ravalomanana to lease one million acres of their land in the South of the country to a Korean firm, Daewoo for intensive farming/ The people have deep ties with their land and consequently view the President's action as a betrayal.

The same scenario is playing out in Nigeria.

The insecurity in the land has made foreign investment impossible, while  the disenfranchised and poor majority look in the gloomy future for reprieve.

Not long ago, President Muhammadu Buhari told his loyalists that they should work towards his second coming in exchange for unspecified rewards.

Although the President acknowledged the fact that that there were still several of his loyalists, who worked for his victory in 2015, who were yet to be rewarded, he noted that is was not possible to reward everyone.

Nigerians have not stopped expressing worries and concerns over the attitude of the country's political office holders to governance, at all levels.

They lament that political office holders in this dispensation brook no opposition, in most cases when their selfish interests are under obvious threats.

Sadly, such interests are opaque, leaving Nigerians to the mercy of guess work.

Interestingly, the present administration's media handlers are pre occupied putting together lies and half truths to possibly extend the tenure of the already unpopular government.

All opposition to the tenure extension plans of this administration are been devoured by the ''hawks''  at the seat of power.

It is quite disturbing that despite the fact that several top ranking government officials who have issues with their credentials, are still holding tight to their appointments, while the security agencies who declared them fit, continue to look the other way.

Without doubt , the venal leadership at all levels  are responsible for the   poor governance, Nigerians are experiencing presently. This has in turn ensured the entrenchment of corruption in the country.

Poor governance revolves on mass unemployment, domant public services and an incapable civil service to deliver policies, schools without libraries and unpaid salaries and pensions.

Nigerians insist that the Presidnet has abused his office, regardless of the loud noise about the anti-corruption crusade.

The actions of the lawmakers, during the presentation of the 2019 appropriation bill by the President to the joint chambers of the National Assembly, is an indication that all is not well.

Several corrupt officials, appointed and elected are still hiding under the safe cover of the executive, while Nigerians watch in disbelief.

After three and a half years on the saddle,  President Buhari is having great difficulties converting the vicious cycle of poverty in the land into a virtuous cycle in which transparent and people friendly decisions are taken to the benefit of common Nigerians, rather than the domineering patronage  caucus.

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, trumpeted the feeling of Nigerians, when he said that ”nothing has changed from my perception of Buhari before the election, that he can never be a democrat. Buhari doesn’t have the attributes of a good leader. He doesn’t have qualities of a good leader, required to lead a complex country like Nigeria”.

The organized private sector is already thinking of the mass lay off of manpower, as the only option to cushion the effect of the strangulating and unfavorable policies of the Federal Government.

Before now, casualization and exploitation, have trailed the experience of workers in most private organizations in the country.

This is just as their colleagues in the public sector continue to lament the non payment of salaries by most state governments.

Indeed, President Muhammadu Buhari had at a meeting with the All Progressive(APC) Governors elect in May, 2015, at the Defense house, Abuja said that the expectations of Nigerians were too high.

”The expectation is too high and I have started to nervously explain to people that Rome was not built in a day”.

Sadly, households in the country are watching helplessly, as the price of Kerosene is left for market forces to determine. Of  worry, is the fact that Kerosene now sell for between N150.00 and N200.00 per bottle.

 Strangely, the national leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to bear with the APC led Federal Government.

But Nigerians are at a lose, to determine the cost of what they would endure, as most homes are complaining of hunger and poverty.

Of note, is the fact that workers across the states have continued to express dismay over the attitude of a number of their union leaders on the issue of the new national minimu wage.

The sight of several Nigerians taking their bath at all times of the day, at the Dandaru, Queen Elizabeth road end of the Ogunpa River, in Ibadan, Oyo state, is an indication that all is not well.

In an interview with a national newspaper in January, 2016, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, trumpeted the feeling of Nigerians, when he said that ”nothing has changed from my perception of Buhari before the election, that he can never be a democrat. Buhari doesn’t have the attributes of a good leader. He doesn’t have qualities of a good leader, required to lead a complex country like Nigeria”.

Expectedly, disobedience of court orders, intimidation and harassment of innocent citizens by law enforcement agents coupled with the insensitivity of political office holders across the states characterize, day to day living in the country.

Not long ago, the Governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson expressed surprise that President Buhari did not congratulate him on his victory at the polls.

The people are not happy with the leadership style of the present administration in Nigeria.

For instance, the plans by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited to locate its shipyard in Lagos state, instead of its major operational base, Bonny Island in Rivers state has been described a ”grand conspiracy against the people of Bonny Kingdom and the Niger Delta region, the planned relocation”.

Of note, is the fact that most women-single,married, divorced and their children have taken to prostitution to cushion the effects of the economic reality as defined by the present administration.

When Alhaji Lam Adesina of blessed memory, was Governor of Oyo state, he had said ”this administration believes that it is the business of government to protect the citizenry from the injustice which government may, because of its exploitative weakness, bring on the people it seeks to protect”.

Sadly, in Oyo state schools, students, who have paid the compulsory school fees and are yet to show evidence of the payment of three years tax by their parents or guardians are sent home, thereby prevented from sitting for the term's  examinations.

Is the present administration protecting the people from its exploitative tendencies ?

The recently  N50.00 stamp duties for every deposit above N1,000 in commercial banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) provides just one out of the several answers to this all important question.

On the eve of the 1979 general elections, the then Head of state, General Olusegun Obasanjo made a national broadcast. In the broadcast, General Obasanjo asserted that a true national leader was one who recognized that ''the will of the electorate is supreme and the self interest of an individual must be subjugated to the will of the electorate''.

This might not be the present situation in Nigeria today.

The late Michael Ani, was at the period the head of the Federal Electoral Commission(FEDECO). Under his leadership, FEDECO screened and disqualified a considerable number of candidates on the basis of corruption and tax evasion.

Some of the challenges Nigeria is presently passing through, could be traced to the outcome of the  2105 general elections, midwifed by Professor Attahiru Jega of the Independent National  Electoral Commission(INEC). Is the INEC truly independent ?

Sadly, President Muhammadu Buhari has decided not to assent to the 2018 electoral act amendment bill. Nigerians express surprise and disappointment that this development.

Indeed, in the 2015 general elections, thousands of Nigerians could not vote, as a result of the malfunctioning of the smart card readers at an unspecified number of polling units across the country. Interestingly, this was to the benefit of the All Progressives Congress(APC)which is the ruling party presently.

At  a programme organized by the Oyo state chapter of the  National Forum of Heads of Federal Establishments in Ibadan, recently, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Mutiu Agboke expressed confidence that the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) was up to the task in conducting a free, fair and credible election in 2019.

''All irregularities have been  corrected, our smart card readers have been upgraded, however, it is not 100 per cent. We know what we are doing and we are ready for the 2019 elections. Your votes should not be under duress. Vote buying is a dangerous menace. It is a demon, we are going to fight it together. Your vote is improtant to the extent that you are allowed to cast your vote.'' 

''Let there be no coercion or imposition of candidates on the voters. Whatever laxities and shortcomings that would occur in the 2019 general elections would be used as the basis for the 2023 general elections. Only 39 political parties shall be fielding candidates for elections in Oyo state in 2019'', Mr Agboke told those in attendance.

Curiously,  millions of Permanent Voters Cards(PVC) are yet to be collected in the states of the Federation.

Under age voting is just one among several shortcomings of elections in the country, which the electoral body is well aware of, but chooses to be retroactive despite disturbing happenings.

The electorate perceive unfolding events in the polity as signs that the ruling party might eventually conspire with the electoral body to once again hoodwink Nigerians, as in the past, if given the opportunity.

Even though the criminal silence of some usually outspoken Nigerians and organizations including  a section of the media, encourages fraudulence in the electoral process.

It is daily becoming obvious, that a sizable number of political office holders have become unpopular in the places they claim to represent. Why is this so ? They might be candidates who were imposed on the people, against their wishes.

Indeed, a government that operates in secrecy cannot be popular with the people. This is seen in the desperation to force anti-people policies on the citizenry, at the tail end of this administration.

After all, their mindset  could be that '' those we put in the electoral body will not only preserve, but also protect our interests''. If this is the case, then  the country still has a lot to learn in the conduct of elections.

In politics, lessons are repeatedly  taught and learnt. It is now left for those involved to modify their gains and loses to suit the situation they eventually find themselves.

Regrettably, the laws of Niccolo Machiavelli have all along been wrongly applied in this clime.

After the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) convention in 2003, Chief Barnabas Gemade made spirited attempts to be adopted as the Presidential candidate of the United Nigeria Peoples Party(UNPP), but failed. This was Chief Gemade's fall back option, when his future in the PDP became uncertain.

Indeed, Chief Gemade was the backbone of the UNPP, in his home state, Benue, even though he was a card carrying member of the PDP. Not surprisingly, meetings were held in his home, with Chief Gemade in attendance. Of note, is that his followers held him in high esteem.

Curiously, it was discovered that the former PDP National Chairman, contested the Presidential primaries, alongside, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, with the intention to use same as a bargaining chip to persuade the then President to compensate him with a 'mouth watering' political appointment. This did not sail through.

 Indeed, double standards, as a means to an end   in politics has become a unique brand in  Nigerian politics.

Chief Gemade began losing his followers, after he abandoned Senator Daniel Saror, who he successfully convinced to  let go of his senatorial ambition to contest for the Benue  governorship seat on the platform of the UNPP.

To be extra sure that Senator Saror abandoned his ambition, Chief Gemade boosted his morale financially and that was how Senator Saror was able to purchase the UNPP  nomination form for a whooping N2 million.

Interestingly, at the Swange  cinema hall, Makurdi venue of the governorship primaries, Chief Gemade, with the financial backing of a political money bag, Usman Abubakar(a.k.a Young Alhaji) influenced the leadership of the UNPP in the state to adopt Mike Mku, instead of Senator Saror as the party's Gubernatorial candidate.

Already, candidates for elective positions in the 2019 elections are aligning and re aligning, while hinging their intentions on optimism.

Indeed, a sizable number of these candidates rely solely  on optimism and money(for the money bags), as a strategy to hoodwink their competent opponents to the bargaining table, with hope that rewarding agreements would be made.

With this in mind, the average Nigerian, contending with insecurity and economic hardships, brought about by  bad governance, is of the hope that the same quality of political office holders, presently on display, would not reemerge to torment and torture all and sundry in a new dispensation.

Criminals now operate in vehicles with tinted glasses all over Nigeria, while innocent citizens  are at the receiving end of theses crimes. This does not augur well for government which has always insisted that it is up to the task in ensuring a secured environment.

Insinuations are that these criminals might have had unwritten agreements with the law enforcement agencies, to operate without hinderance, if the  late response of the law enforcement agents to distress calls are anything to go by.

The criminals exhibit confidence and operate  without fear in different parts of the country.

On December 21, 2018 at about I.00 PM in the afternoon, some young men residing at 4, Kehinde Aderibibge street, Olorunsogo, Molete, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria(self contained ground flat in front), suspected to be cultists, attacked and injured a resident of the same street.

The resident had raised the alarm, when he noticed the young men led by one Michael, moving arms and ammunition from their apartment into a waiting light grey tinted glasses Lexus.

Sadly, the conspiracy of slience by the residents and the Landlords and Tenants Association in the community, exposed the fact that they are knowldgeable about the activities of the young men, who claim to be undegraduates of a private university located at the Toll Gate, Ibadan and other criminals living in the community.Of great worry is the proliferation of hotels in residential areas, which serves as  fortresses for several actvities which are not in tandem with the laws of the land.

Indeed, lawlessness and criminality has become a means to an end in Olorunsogo, Molete, Ibadan and several other communities, just as residents live in fear and hopelessness.

Of note, is the deep involvement of artisans particularly barbers, mechanics and petty traders, whose shops are located within communities, in various crimes.

The dress code and hairstyle, choice of words and behaviour of the youths has further heigthened the apprehension among worried residents.

`Recently, the Commissioner of Polcie in the state, Mr. Abiodun Odunde, while featuring on a radio programme lamented that the command lost about 50 police personnel in 2018, who were not in the direct line of duty.

Mr. Odunde then went on to advise the people of the state to embrace prayers.

Interestingly, these criminals boast that they are known by the law enforcement agents and even dare residents to report their activities.

Government at all levels and the people are now at home with the fact that there is extreme hunger and poverty in the land.This is no longer a subject of argument, even though a large percentage of Nigerians insist that the three tiers of government are doing almost nothing to address these threats  to human existence.

Most government agencies and those in the private sector take advantage of the unfortunate  economic situation to ridicule Nigerians.

This was the case on Thursday 24 January, 2019, when the Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC) organized a Consumers Outreach Programme at the Mapo hall, Ibadan, Nigeria, obviously for the downtrodden and economically oppressed  class in society, which is a far cry from the stakeholders forum, soon to be organized by the Commission at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. This forum is strictly by invitation.

The posters containing information about the stakeholders forum pasted  at different locations within the city prepared the grounds for the programme which suggested deceit. It assured those who planned to attend the forum that the telecommunications service providers would give out free Tee  shirts, phones and lots more. This attracted a lot of people, but this was not the case.

However, airtime not exceeding N5,000 was given out to hundreds of people in attendance in a ''funny' way.

Without doubt, a majority of those that were at the venue of the forum, were there to collect food and the NCC made good use of this fact.

After hours of educating a bored  crowd, the organizers in the first instance, distributed biscuits valued  at N20.00 and ribena drinks-N50.00-in strange looking black nylons. 

This attracted grumblings, murmurings and arguments, with a  sizable number, making reference to destitutes who are always presented with similar items at the nearby ''Oja' Ba by pass.

One of the Deputy Directors of the NCC opined that the programme was organized to enable consumers know their rights and safeguard  same. Sadly, those in attendance lamented that the acts of the organizers, one way or the other infringed on their Fundamental Human Rights.

Even though less than 10 people won cheap phones during the raffle draw, which the Deputy Director stated was facilitated by a consultant, this did not cut ice  with the crowd.

When the NCC officials discovered that people had started leaving the hall, the Deputy Director  reminded them of the launch packs that would be  forfeited if they left.

Since most of them were hungry and were there to collect food, they decided to wait till the end of the programme.

The Deputy Director now instructed armed policemen to shut all entries to the hall and leave only the one near the high table open. The only entry was manned by armed policemen.

Immediately  the programme came to an end, the impatient crowd  surged towards the entrance manned by armed policemen, where they were handed austere food packs as they stepped out.

Pickpockets  had a field day as  wallets, phones and money were stolen.

The foregoing has been the lot of Nigerians, who attend programmes organized by government agencies, that seek to project the achievements of the present administration in various sectors.

In its leaflets, the NCC stated that one of its core objectives is to ''protect the rights of telecom consumers in Nigeria'', this is just as Nigerians have continued to pray ceaselessly to God  to ease out those responsible for the evil, killings and hardships in the land.

Nigeria possesses the human and material resources to become a prosperous liberal Democracy, but political appointees working at cross purposes have made this a mirage so far.

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) will definitely have great difficulties in convincing Nigerians that it has conducted  free, fair and credible Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Also of note, is the  disturbing wastage of ballot papers. 

At a point in Nigeria's history, former President, Chief(Dr.)Olusegun Obasanjo stated ''it is a matter for regret that most public servants tend to subdue their political discipline in the face of personal aggrandizement''.

When Chief(Dr.)Obasanjo was in the saddle as President, he set up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC)  to rein in fraudsters, money launderers, corrupt government officials and several others.

Perhaps, the EFCC, was to strengthen the activities of the Nigeria Police Force, while the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission(ICPC) was established to boost the work of the Code of Conduct Bureau.

During this period high profile personalities, like former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun showcased the fight against corruption.

Sadly, happenings today, is a fierce departure from when Chief(Dr.)Obasano called the shots.

Interestingly, in an interview in 2007, prominent lawyer and huma rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana(SAN), who was then a member of the National Conscience Party(NCP) had stated '' you in the media, you must challenge politicians, you must ask them for their programmes for our people as opposed to celebrating criminals. If somebody says  he is a thief, you should ask him to resign''.

Unfortunately, Nigerians have continuously asked ''thieves'' to resign in this present administration without positive results.

Of worry, however,  is the fact that the youth now have the impression that corrupt practices are the only reliable path to success.

Nigerians express anger over the claim of  the powers that be, that they have fought corruption to a commendable extent, even when it is very glaring that several officials of the present administration have cases of corruption trailing their daily lives.

The EFCC is now a shadow of its old self, only barking but not biting those it ought to bite.

If only the leadership had made transparency  the guide to its activities, all the negatives trailing the country at home and abroad would never be the signposts of governance. 

Everywhere within the borders of Nigeria, fraudsters, corrupt government officials and related category of criminals are celebrated by their people, who believe these individuals are the heroes of this time.

In 1919, the Department of Geological Survey established by the colonial administration explored, identified and evaluated solid minerals in Nigeria.

The department also established the real reserves of several minerals and appreciable activity in exploration for export was undertaken.

In the 1970s when the focus on crude oil was at its peak, the fortunes of the solid minerals sub-sector began to decline.

The mines were abandoned, as products of crude oil became reliable alternative sources of energy and revenue for successive administrations-both military and civil.

Sadly, today illegal mining is the order of the day in most places endowed with solid minerals, not minding the fact that the Ministry of Solid Minerals was established in 1995.

Curiously, the people of Ekiti state did not ask the immediate past Minister in the Ministry of his achievements, before mandating him to govern the state endowed with intellectuals or rather perhaps, the electoral process was manipulated to his favor.

For the past four years, there has not been any noticeable orderly development of the nation’s mineral resources and therefore no optimum benefits from their production and use in terms of enhanced economic growth and improved human welfare.

Although, the mining sub-sector has the potentials to play a major role in the effort to broaden the productivity base of Nigeria’s economy through linkage effects, this is not the case.

Interestingly, the present administration in the country has done next to nothing in reclaiming and converting to productive use the mined out lands, just as it is yet to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of road grade asphalt.

Nigerians would like the Federal Government to disclose its level of involvement in several mining deals, which have churned out billions of hard currency, even though no one has been held accountable in the past and present.

In these times of economic distress, it would be strange for government to claim that it is not aware of the revenue the mining sub-sector has generated in the last few years.

However, it would not be out of place to conclude that the revenue must have been diverted to individual pockets for ‘’safekeeping’’.

On Wednesday, 28 September 2011, the Federal Executive Council approved N30.066 billion for the accelerated implementation of the ‘back-end’ component of the National Identity Management System(NIMS).

The delivery date of the NIMS was December, 2013.

It should be noted that the National Identity Management Commission(NIMC) was to receive a sum of N23.074 billion, in the last quarter of 2011, for the procurement of the redesigned multi-application National Identity Card.

Before this time, the National Identity Card Scheme executed by SAGEM was a failure.

The NIMC Act ?23 of 2007 mandated the NIMC to establish a reliable, secure and ‘scalable’ identity management system that makes use of advance Bio-metrics technologies to identify every individual in Nigeria in unique ways.

Despite the colossal amount government has expended on the project, most Nigerians, who have registered have only laminated papers to present where necessary.

Although choice brand of papers serve the same purpose, on a condition that negotiated payments are made to the relevant officials.

The insinuation is that the laminated papers are just open cover ups for the failed project.

The expectations of Nigerians were that , upon completion of registration, physical cards would be issued. This is not the case.

At the NIMC registration center at the University College Hospital(UCH)Ibadan, Nigerians are made to pay N100.00 for the registration form, while N500.00 is the amount for the change of name after registration and other unspecified fees for the lamination of the registration slip. There are other hidden fees.

The NIMC officials also instruct people to write their Bank Verification Numbers(BVN) on the form. Nigerians want to know the reason why this is so ?

Of worry, is the rude behavior exhibited by the NIMC officials in a sizable number of centers, which over time has discouraged several Nigerians from having faith in the project.

Indeed, NIMC proudly insists that over the years, it has issued out millions of the National Identification Numbers(NIN), even though it has continuously avoided making categorical statements on the Identity Cards.

Nigerians have the impression that the project is one among several white elephant projects of government.