Month: June 2023

The horse-trading, intrigues and political maneuvering that characterised the Speakership tussle in Cross River State and the eventual emergence of Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem as the Speaker of the House of Assembly have left more to be desired, as political pundits have described it as a return of the people’s prevailing power of leadership selection.

A juxtaposition of the two contenders suffice to say that it was a David versus Goliath battle. And if biblical accounts of the above are anything to go by, the will of God, through the overwhelming goodwill and acceptance of the people, has prevailed upon Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem to be speaker of the legislative arm of government.

As the heat of the tussle raged on, two clear pictures were staring at the faces of political stakeholders. These pictures portrayed the characteristics that made and marred the winner and loser of the speaker battle, respectively.

The picture, on one hand, was depicted one contender as one with a gerontocratic inclination and entitlement mentality who boasted and relied on connections in high places to enthrone him speaker at the end of the day. Such a Nigeria-like situation. His loss lends credence to Dwight Eisenhower’s philosophy, which holds that “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”

On the other hand, was a candidate who clearly fitted for a son of a nobody, relying on the power of the people and his humble, receptive and egalitarian dispositions, which had endeared him to all, as his only arsenal to the fray.

At the end, the people will prevailed over gerontocracy and the son of a nobody has emerged leader of a critical arm of government called the legislature.

A critical take home from the Speakership tussle that engulfed us in the last week’s remains the postulation that “a receptive mind is a great asset in the threshold of a career.”

Elvert Ayambem came into the Assembly in 2019, subjected himself to learning the legislative robes and making genuine affinities. He has always worn that wry smile and exuded a lovable mien. Today, his contributions to legislations, endearing trustworthiness and humility in leadership pitted him to be speaker, against all odds, above other lawmakers also very qualified for that position. The whole situation, to me, is a learning curve. May we learn from it.

As we look forward to an independent legislature under Rt. Hon. Ayambem, to carry out it statutory responsibilities of lawmaking, checks and balances, as well as oversight functions, it is my hope that he leads well, so that at the end of the term, Cross Rivererians would have a cause to say thank goodness he was chosen.

For the summation of speakership battle remains that there has continued to be a gradual evolution of the people’s prevailing power of leadership selection. Long may it continue.

Written By Kingsley Agim

The immediate trigger for this intervention is the recent announcement of the public holiday declared by the Federal Government of Nigeria on Monday, June 12, 2023. It’s in commemoration of Nigeria’s freest election won in 1993 by the inimitable philanthropist and pan-Africanist turned politician, Bashorun MKO Abiola.

The campaign slogan for Bashorun Abiola’s campaign was Hope ’93. Interestingly, when campaigns commenced for party primaries prior to the general elections of 2023, Governor Yahya Bello, a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party, pulled what some of us considered an unsettling surprise. His was what emerged as the closest to the Hope 93 slogan adopted by Bashorun MKO Abiola of blessed memory. Governor Bello had expressed a most visible interest in the nation’s presidency. Several others too, including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has since been sworn in on May 29, 2023, as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

No one knew Bello as a politician in 1993. Asiwaju Tinubu had already become a key player in the nation’s polity, indeed in the same political camp as the winner of the June 12, 1993, election. If anyone had been tempted to dismiss Bello’s aspiration, that temptation was promptly diminished by his choice of the director-general of the campaign in the person of Hafsat Abiola-Costello, the daughter of Bashorun Abiola. Not surprisingly, Hafsat spoke confidently about the prospect of the success of her candidate. She expressed so much confidence that she left no one in doubt about her sincerity. Like Bello, Hafsat was a ‘political minor’ in 1993. Interestingly, Hope ’93 finally became Renewed Hope ‘23 after GYB offered to step down for BAT

Abiola’s investment in the media yielded humongous dividends, perhaps not in naira term but far in excess of it, in support of Abiola’s presidential ambition. On the stable of Concord Press initially then were two newspaper titles namely National Concord, Sunday Concord, and much later, Weekend Concord. There were also Isokan, Amana, and Udoka for speakers of Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo. Joining all of those titles later were Community Concord titles dedicated to grassroots news in all the regions of the country with editors sourced from their respective communities. Concord practically became a household name as Community Concord titles complemented the titles run in indigenous languages. MKO’s influence largely helped to be cultivated by his ceaseless philanthropy had its visibility driven sustainably by the Concord titles that have endeared themselves to the people whose affairs they reported consistently.

Since Bashorun died in 1998, Nigeria has not had any daring multi-sectoral investor and philanthropist of similar rating in financial, educational, and wisdom endowments all combining to endear any individual to members of the Nigerian general public across geographical, religious, and all other possible divides. The Concord press, therefore, had so much to grind and process for the public and indeed got readily complimented even by opposition media if only for them to be more relevant and perceived to be in tune with reality. Those opposition media were run by tested professionals

The media space like others has since received its fair share of technological disruption with or without the readiness of different societies in different parts of the world. But no one can stop the speeding train of technological transformation, just that human wisdom manifest in restraint and caution must be activated to hold sway always, now that information production, dissemination, and consumption have all been radicalised altogether.

In 1993 as a Concord reporter, I was here in Saudi courtesy of my fatherly boss, Alhaji Liad Tella, then Concord’s deputy editor who doubled as the chair of the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board of Osun state. Being a journo himself, many of his pilgrims rallied around him for updates digested probably from his access to BBC, VOA, etc on the just concluded presidential election. We all expressed our wishes only to the extent to which technology made them possible, at best through the telephone to limited people back home. We had banked on Hope 93 for MKO Abiola so much that many of us initiated possible post-MKO presidency business ideas. Nothing to suggest the devilish manouevrings of the soldiers of evil in government. None of our business projections, therefore, materialised following the truncation of the entire Hope 93 dream by the self-acclaimed evil genius.

It’s really been a tortuous journey with several hopes dashed. The light shines at the end of the tunnel today at last after we have all had to be extremely cautious ignoring all provocations, as the evil genius had since given ‘birth’ to worse, indeed unimaginable geniuses. Even as the winner of the February 25, 2023, presidential election had emerged against the unimaginably devilish designs and projections of fake prophets and supposedly conservative bureaucrats like the central bank governor Emefiele (Godwin?), Nigerians still had to be prayerful to see Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu sworn in as the president and commander-in-chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

As opposed to 1993, this year 2023 presents a situation of massively liberalised media space with charlatans perhaps being more visible than more credible sources. Information flow is no longer an issue but the quality of the information circulating. Media moguls’ dominance of the space is no longer the same as even the moguls now have to get used to cohabiting with lesser-known players, some of them, with followership far outclassing those of established media on assorted social media platforms especially, Twitter.

As a witness to the anxiety of Nigerians and the numerous ideas and projections triggered by Hope 1993 later betrayed, it is fulfilling that the gradual, though painful restoration of the same appears to be emerging. It’s gratifying that while we’re still in the Holy Land, our prayers are being answered. Alongside religious rites, therefore, business projections and designs as well as other beneficial ideas such as we attempted in 1993 may again be contemplated perhaps by those who still have the opportunity such as Allah has granted me. How can Nigerians like me be able to imagine a replication of the disaster inflicted on our dear country 30 years ago and not suffer depression? ‘Renewed Hope 23’ is indeed the last resort.

Incidentally, the gross abundance of media relative to the situation in 1993 has been quite challenging, thus provoking whimsical solutionist suggestions that may not be effective. Such is the concern for social media’s impact that India has banned Tiktok while Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates don’t allow Whatsapp calls. And as I script this, Nigeria has announced the banning of Binance operations in the country. It is worth noting that scholars and professionals have consistently called for massive media education. I dare add that the suggested media education should be across all levels in the form of a general education recipe for all school-age children as well as young men and women in tertiary educational institutions. The intervention may be spiced up with enhancements bothering on the rule of law contents so that the supply and demand sides of social media will be alive to the legality or otherwise of their activities.

Until and unless we are made to consciously appreciate the roles of individuals in cultivating and sustaining the vital needs for the general preservation of peace in society, we may not reckon properly with our different levels of interface with media with their possible consequential multiplier impact on society.

Akanni (PhD), a media and conflict scholar, wrote in from Medina where he is currently a member of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) national media committee on the 2023 Hajj. Follow him on Twitter @AkintundeAkanni

The past week has been one of the most momentous in the life of the nation. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dared the undared and triumphed. He passed a knotty test of leadership. The first of its kind. Under a haze of threats of a strike by labour unions over the abrogation of petrol subsidy, President Tinubu showed peerless leadership, preparation, and attunement. When preparation meets leadership, Tinubu happens.

THE PETROL SUBSIDY BLUES

With mounting national debts, desiccating revenue, haemorrhaging economy, corruption, and shadowy sectoral enterprise, the removal of subsidy on petrol is coming at an auspicious time. It is either we slither down the snaky tunnel to certain economic peril, or we buck up, pull together, and confront this bogeyman menacing us for decades.

Tough decisions are expected. President Tinubu affirmed a fait accompli when he said in his inaugural address that the petrol subsidy ‘’is gone’’. The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, signed by former President Buhari, already made the petrol subsidy regime inoperative. Although the effective abolishment of the scheme was delayed until the end of June 2023, there are no funds to finance the deficit.

But the President had been forthright and genuine about his intentions on petrol subsidy. He said during the campaigns that he would not maintain the parlous order, and that he would stop the haemorrhage.

Nigeria had been borrowing to fund petrol subsidies. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) was spending as much as N400 billion every month to subsidise the petrol price. According to Mele Kyari, NNPCL CEO, Nigeria has racked up $6 billion in petrol subsidy debts. The scheme is projected to have wolved over N11 trillion in eight years. This is clearly not sustainable, not even for any avidly populist government. Without accurate data of Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption quota, the petrol subsidy regime was nebulous and prone to abuse, and chronic venality. Much of the subsidised product is believed to be smuggled to neighbouring West African countries by profiteers.

The argument for petrol subsidy retention is an emotive one that obviates the filth in the system. Nigeria is a quasi-socialist country, a highly subsidised country. Corruption thrives partly because of the regime of subsidies.

EARNING PUBLIC TRUST

The President once said he had prepared himself, all his life, to lead Nigeria. His artful management of the concomitants and corollaries of the petrol subsidy removal accents this conviction. He has triumphed where many leaders failed. How did he do it?

On Monday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) suspended the planned strike. Earlier, the Joint Health Workers Union of Nigeria (JOHESU) suspended its planned strike as well. A government delegation had been meeting with the labour unions, negotiating terms of the entente. The president, himself, had met with the leadership of JOHESU. He did not stay behind the ornated walls of his office while his aides do the jaw-jawing. He got his hands on the wheel.

The President was unambiguous about his proposition to the unions – providing palliatives, particularly minimum wage review — to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal. At a meeting with some governors, the president had said: “We need to do some arithmetic and soul searching on the minimum wage. We will have to take a look at that together, and the revenue. We must strengthen the source and application of our revenue.’’

The federal government and the labour unions agreed to ‘’establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation” and ‘’to review World Bank Financed Cash Transfer scheme and propose the inclusion of low-income earners in the programme.’’

Evidently, the President anticipated a problem and primed a solution.

During the campaigns, the President made a valiant statement on axing petrol subsidies and other economic blackholes. What many considered a political suicide attempt at the time. But he stuck to his guns.

He said: “By all means, you must have electricity. And you won’t pay for estimated billing anymore. When I become president, multiple exchange rates will go away. Write it down. How can we be subsidising the fuel consumption of Cameroon, Niger, and Benin Republic? No matter how long you protest, we are going to remove the subsidy. We can do it. We are educated enough.’’

The honesty, courage and forthrightness exemplified by the President in this instance were infectious. He did not dilly-dally or play around with the critical issue of political chicanery; he made a firm statement and asked Nigerians to hold him to his word.

And staying true to principle, his first presidential dispatch was to permanently seal the drainpipe. He showed sincerity of purpose, genuineness, and clarity of mind. Honesty is infectious. Nigerians saw the sincerity of the President and the decisiveness of his leadership. He did not get into the saddle and change from Rock and Roll to Rhythm and Blues; he maintained the same tempo; the same energy, the same oomph; the same vision, the same truth, and the same purpose. When preparation meets leadership, Tinubu happens.

The President has earned public trust and goodwill for his honesty and firmness of character. He is aware. Two days after his inauguration, two law enforcement agencies got into a public brawl. He did not dither. He did not vacillate. He did not look away. He issued a stern reprimand.

Nigeria has a leader who is not afraid of taking tough decisions for the greater good. The President may have prepared himself for leadership, but destiny prepared him for Nigeria at this time.

Fredrick Nwabufo, Nwabufo a.k.a Mr OneNigeria, is a writer and journalist

 

It was early in the morning, 1st of June, 2023, I started receiving the monthly wishes for good health, success and so on, from wellwishers. I also received prayer-filled calls from family and friends, extending their love and goodwill…while I was still enjoying the beautiful feeling of expectancy from the outpour of love and goodwill, I received yet another call…”Sir Mike, obongowo” Began the caller, I promptly replied, “eyeneka idem foo?” (brother how are you?) in my usual cheerful voice expecting goodwill messages, then Caller continued in Efik language ” have you heard what has happened? People raided our village and killed and beheaded Mma (name withheld) that stays at usung idim (Stream road)? …the diatribe continued. He further informed me of plans by our village youth to carry out reprisal attacks and that they were gathered somewhere, mapping out strategies of warfare to overrun the village from where the murderers had come from. They planned to rain death and killings… (although I later heard different versions of the murder)

Very alarmed and disturbed, I started making frantic calls to every law enforcement officer I knew, called Village Heads, Youth Leaders etc, who managed to prevent the attack and calmed the situation, although the whole Clan remains tensed and apprehensive, unsure of actions that may be taken if proper and timely intervention by the government is not done.

This murder was committed in the presence of the woman’s son who is still in shock, and suffering from severe mental and emotional instability.

This case is one out of so many reported cases of murder and beheading of natives and people of Akpabuyo. Some happen as reprisal attacks while others are from mere provocations or secret cult clashes that have fast become the in-thing, the way to go, or the way to make your name amongst the youth as a dreaded gang leader. Murder has indeed become a Norm in Akpabuyo, which ironically is nicknamed the *City of Light.*

How sad and how deem this *light* must be…

Most of the Efik, Efut and Qua royal families have or own villages in Akpabuyo. The increasing scourge of kidnapping, endless robberies, and now outright murder has severely dampened growth and development over the years.

One wonders what has caused all this despite the huge potential of Akpabuyo which has been enviously blessed with good link roads to Calabar, Good Topography for both Housing, and Farming, rich mineral deposits, very rich soil for agriculture, a major river and access to the Atlantuc Ocean, also has a huge youth population for labor, possesses a very rich Cultural Mix as various tribes especially the Ibibios, Anangs and Igbos all dwell, live there, and display their different rich cultural traits, arts and crafts…Akpabuyo even boast of mashy areas that, if properly harnessed, can be used for.fish farms and thriving Palm Estates. The potentials are enormous…

Akpabuyo should indeed be a city booming with development and growth. It should be the CITY OF LIGHT.

But the case is the direct opposite.

I remember when my father, High Chief Dr. Emmanuel Nsan OFR, during his brief but eventful outing as Minister of Works and Housing, facilitated the construction of the Atimbo link road and Atimbo Bridge from IBB road down to Ikang, the people of Akpabuyo resisted the development move, as a result, my family paid the prize by the gruesome murder of my father’s brother who was assisting in the construction job of the bridge. It was later claimed that boat owners or fishermen who felt the bridge will hinder their source of living and water transport business had ganged up and killed him in their bid to stop the bridge construction.

I also recall Late Bassey Idim who was murdered in broad daylight by a masquerade (suspected to be Ekpo Ibibio) with a machette. The list is endless.

More alarming are recent spate and occurances of murders like the recent killing and beheading of a Village Head by suspected cultists, add this to the growing rate of kidnapping, robberies and theft, then you can only imagine the fear and uncertainty that grips the people, especially the non indigenes. This reflects in how many houses and properties that were acquired by both indigenes and non indigenes have been abandoned. Owners have started reselling off their properties, so.many have moved back to Calabar with their businesses out of fear…the people remain improverished, stagnant, redundant and backward.

Many leaders blame “idut” a name used to define non Efik, Efut, and Qua tribes that have lived there over the centuries while others apportion blame on various personal or percieved factors. But ultimately, what Akpabuyo lacks is quality and dedicated leadership, that people oriented leadership that’s devoid of aspersions, political sentiments or tribal differences.

Akpabuyo needs total revamp in all sectors. The security challenge is priority and the government must as a matter of urgency, take decisive actions no matter who will be affected. THIS NORM, THIS REIGN OF MURDER, KIDNAPPING, ROBBERIES …MUST BE STOPPED.

Most worrisome is the fact that these murderers parade themselves openly without fear of arrest or justice. They go into hiding and reappear with bravado, looking like heroes.

THIS TOO MUST STOP.

I plead with every law enforcement, the entire Government of Cross River State and Nigeria, come and salvage Akpabuyo!

Mike Nsan
Ifondo Village
Akpabuyo