BEFORE MODERN NIGERIA 1

                       

                                         
                                                                               Trade
Richard and John Lander discovered  the direction  River Niger flowed. Both men explored the river for the purpose of enabling European traders reach out to Nigerians residing in remote parts of Nigeria.

Before the Lander brothers' discovery, Europeans restricted trading to those residing near the coast. At this period, local Chiefs played a prominent role in trading activities. The Chiefs exchanged their goods, slaves inclusive, for those the Europeans had, after which they sold these goods to their own people at exorbitant prices.

Then Europeans were unable to get to the remote parts of Nigeria, as a result of the personal interests of the Chiefs, which place them at the centre of economic activities.

Although Britain passed a law in 1807, against  slave trade, Portugal continued this practice, with the support of some fraudulent Chiefs.

Both countries competed for Nigerian produce, resulting in rivalry and conflict, with the Chiefs pitching their tents with the country that best served their personal interests.

The different Tales Of The Lagos/Ibadan Expressway

Travelers now spend almost the entire journey engaging in prayers for God’s protection while traveling in commercial vehicles and trucks along the Lagos\Ibadan expressway.They pray fervently not to be involved in  ghastly motor accidents that  have now characterized the expressway,among other tales of woe.

Bashed vehicles,blood stains and personal belongings of accident victims littering the road,are now sign posts of the daily tragedy that occurs along the road.

Not long ago,three occupants of a sleek new model black Honda Accord car with Lagos registration number had a collision with a truck.The car somersaulted several times before coming to a halt,while a middle aged man,clad in brown native attire survived the accident with serious bruises,the other two occupants,a lady and another man died instantly.

On the same day,at another spot along the road,some hundreds of meters to Ogere,a town along the expressway,two towing trucks made spirited efforts to rescue another truck,which found its way into a very deep pit,beside the expressway.

Curiously, investigations reveal that it is always celebration time for residents of villages along the road,when trucks conveying consumable and valuable products are involved in accidents.

One of such incidents,was when a petrol tanker fully loaded with petroleum products got involved in a ghastly accident which resulted in the spillage of its contents. Inhabitants of the villages near the scene trooped out in their hundreds to scoop fuel.

Sadly,although the regular and anti-riot policemen are noticeable at different spots on the road,their presence might be to fulfill personal desires, rather than get involved in rescue operations for accident victims and the  arrest of looters at accident spots.

A resident of Sapade,Moshood Ariyo,insists that the poverty in the land has driven a lot of Nigerians into contriving ways of survival.”A number of accidents along the road involving trailers conveying goods,are the handiwork of people with intentions to steal the goods.In the case of accidents involving other vehicles,the thieves rob the victims”,Ariyo disclosed.

He,however called on the law enforcement agencies to check the trend,before it becomes institutionalized.

Investigations also reveal that  trailer and tanker drivers have for a long time now,converted the expressway to garages.Instances abound at Ogere and the Ibafo axis of the road. This, to a great extent has contributed to the road carnage.

Also,the reckless nature of commercial bus drivers already high on intoxicants,has sent the drivers and countless number of passengers to their early graves.

When this magazine visited a number of motor parks including the one at Ojota,Lagos and Iwo road,Ibadan,the urgent need to be intoxicated before embarking on any journey appears to be a major consideration.

This has resulted in passengers continuously controlling the driving style of the drivers all through the journey.

Sadly,the activities of kidnappers and ritualists have contributed a great deal to the almost helpless situation. With their focus on passengers,who cannot afford the transport fares at the various parks,they lower theirs to attract people hanging along the expressway.

Once inside the vehicle,the unsuspecting passengers are driven to unknown destinations,after they might have been hypnotized.There have been several reported cases of abduction for ritual purposes along the expressway.

While some have been fortunate to escape,others have never been seen again,after their abduction.

With the situation already becoming worrisome and frightening, even though the repair work on the expressway has gone a long way to reduce accidents on the road,,it is the hope that the law enforcement agencies would live up to expectation,while passengers look on to God for protection.

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Of Nigerian Tribes And Federal Character

The daily lives of Nigerians are woven around the various tribes and ethnic groups in the country.  Where an individual comes from, largely determines his or her fate on several issues bothering on social, political and  economic prospects.
People of the same tribe have, overtime, established unions that would cater for their interests, wherever they find themselves, outside of  their home communities.
These unions are functional in all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.  Such unions have for long, embarked on developmental programmes, which originally is the responsibility of the Government.
Sadly, Government has failed to live up to the expectations of the people, who are increasingly embarking on self help initiatives, through these unions. Most Nigerians attribute their difficulties in life to the tribal consciousness in all facets of National life.
In an attempt to ensure equity, Government established the Federal Character Commission, to address issues relating to equal representation in federal institutions.
Has the Commission been able to achieve its objectives ? The answer to the question could be got from the personalities holding sway, in the Ministries, Parastatals, Departments and  Agencies.  The scepter of tribalism abounds in every sector, one can think of.
Not long ago, President Muhammad Buhari appointed a new Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu. Reactions have trailed Dr. Kachikwu’s appointment.
One of such reaction is from Eze Dr. Alex Anozie, the Eze Ndi Igbo of Ibadan and Oyo state. Dr. Anozie is from the South East  geo-political zone. ”It is something good, they have done to appoint that  gentleman there, but the impression that he is from the South East is wrong. He is not from the South East, he is an Ibo man quite alright, but he is not from the South East. He is from the South/ South, he is from Delta state”.
Indeed, in Nigeria, tribes transcends individuality.

Looting : An Impediment to Development

The Kaduna state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), through its secretary, Rev. Sunday Ibrahim, had in August, 2015, called on the state Government to ensure  the prosecution of any public or civil servant found wanting ; in its quest to rid the state civil and public service of corrupt practices.

According to Rev. Ibrahim, prosecuting corrupt officials is necessary to rid the state of those who enriched themselves at the expense of the government and people of Kaduna state.
”I believe that there are people that may not be working in this state and are still collecting money from the government coffers. Just like we have been hearing that one person is collecting the salaries of 10, 15 or 20 and above. People that are not working with the government but they are collecting salaries from the Kaduna state government, or people that are ghost workers but they collect money. We have heard cases whereby somebody died for a long time and then someone else is collecting the money and the families are not getting the money”.
”I plead with the government, whosoever is party to it, the government should bring the person to book, irrespective of his religion, his family background and who that person is”, the CAN secretary had stated.
Interestingly, this represents the situation of things in the three tiers of government in Nigeria. ”Cosmetic ”wars” and ”fights” are the order of the day, closely trailed by sponsored  roadshows and rallies, to distract attention from issues of ”urgent  national attention”.
Of note, is that fact that about $460 million was allegedly looted by the former military ruler, late General Sani Abacha, and was with held in foreign accounts, while part of it was released to the country.
In 2000, Mohammed Abacha and Abubakar were charged to court for allegedly acquiring N21, 705,000 billion and $315,649.500 million all totalling about N50 billion state funds, between 1995 and 1998.
The Federal Government and the Abacha family had to enter into a deal before the family returned to the government, the sum of N1.2 billion out of an estimated $1.5 billion allegedly looted by the late Head of State. Mohammed, the scion of the Abacha family in early 2005,  prayed an Abuja high court to uphold that no civil or criminal proceedings be commenced against him, in respect of stolen funds which he had forfeited  to the state.  He said that under the forfeiture of assets Decree No. 53 of 1999, his family had returned 625, 263187,19,75,305,886.93 pounds sterling, N100,000,000 and N250,000,000 to the government and therefore entitled to the provisions of the said decree.
Curiosly, Justice Amina Adamu Augie stated that the property ordered forfeited was acquired corruptly and illegally, which means that they were supposedly forfeited as proceeds of crime, the forfeited property became vested in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, free from all encumbrances, according to Decree No. 53 of 1999.
In 2005, a news magazine reported that ”the regime of Abdulsalam Abubakar also allegedly pillaged the nation’s treasury during his 11 months rule as the Head of state. He allegedly siphoned several  billions in both local and foreign currencies, including $40 million that was contributed by multi national companies.
For the late Sani Abacha’s self succession bid, members of the military high command were to be given $500,000 as parting gift, but Abubakar was said to have given out $50,000. The eight year military dictatorship of Ibrahim Babangida, saw the nation losing over $24 million oil windfall, which has remained unaccounted for. The regime also took Nigeria through several ”laboratory powered” political programmes, which ended up as ‘experiments”, but with billions of Naira down the drain. Nigeria’s brief Democratic experience between 1979 and 1983 under President Sheu Shagari also took the country through a cycle of huge financial losses, in fraudulent rice importation and unexpected ”white elephant” projects.  During former President Oulsegun Obasanjo’s tenure, , form 1999 to 20007, the government’s anti-corruption war, sought several political office holders and appointees, as many of them were forced to return millions of Naira acquired through corrupt enrichment.
In the present time, the current travail  of the nation and unending economic hardship may tarry for as long as the nation’s resources, which have been looted remains between players in the immediate past and present administrations.

Between The Court Rooms And The People

The percentage of Judges and Magisterates in Nigeria,who have the tendency to sacrifice their integrity and career on the altar of filthy lucre are increasing by the day.
Most Nigerians, have a tale or the other to tell of their experiences in the courtrooms, good or bad, with the latter case occupying the majority position.
Interim injunctions, rulings and delivered judgements from the court rooms in the country have always attracted comments,questions and debates among the people, who still view the Judiciary,as the last resort and only hope of the common man.
However,the common man still finds it difficult to come to terms with the fact that the financial position of an individual determines what he comes out with from the court room.
In 2004, Justice Stanley Nnaji of the Enugu state Judiciary was suspended from office by the National Judicial Council(NJC), for ordering the then  Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, to remove the then Anambra state Governor, Chris Ngige from office.
Also in the same year in Enugu state, Justice Anthony Onovo,ofthe Nsukka  Judicial Division,was asked by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman NJC to give reasons for delivering a controversial judgement.
Justice  Onovo’s judgement had led to the demolition of a six bedroom bungalow,Nursery and Primary school and a poultry farm at No. 29 John Nwod close, Government Reservation Area,Enugu. The property belonged to a couple-Obed Chukwunedum and Linda Menakaya.
Following a petition written by to the Chief Justice by Menakaya,which alleged perversion of justice between Menakaya and one Dr.Harry Ezim-a United States of America based legal practitioner, the Chief Justice in a letter dated May 24, 2004,with reference No. NJC/873/1/185, requested Justice Onovo to respond ”urgently” to the petition.
Before this time Justice Onovo was transferred in 2002 from the Enugu Judicial Division toNsukka Judicial Division,but for undisclosed reasons, he continued to adjudicate on some cases, he was in charge in Enugu, before his transfer to Nsukka.
Of worry, is the fact that similar instances abound in several court rooms in the country,today.
Interestingly,the then state Chief Judge, never authorized Justice Onovo to conclude pending cases in his court before his transfer. This exposed his hidden interests in those cases.
The case between Dr. Ezim and Menakaya is one of such cases.
On 3, July, 2001, Dr. Ezim had instituted a suit in the state high court,against the 78year old retired Chief Agricultural Officer,in the old Anambra state, in a bid to claim ownership of No. 29 John Nwodo close.
In the suit No. E/18301,2001, Dr. Ezim prayed the court to declare that, he legitimatley acquired the property from the siblings of a deceased, Gabriel Okiyi, a close friend of Menakaya.
Indeed, court rooms are increasingly becoming waiting rooms of injustice.
But Menakaya through his counsel,Chief Anthony Mogboh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) countered Dr. Ezim’s claim. Chief Mogboh stated that his client bought the land from late Okiyi, when he was Director in the Ministry of Agriculture in the defunct East Central state and thereafter, proceeded to build a six bedroom bungalow, a poultry farm and a Nursery and Primary school. He maintained that his client,had lived there since 1981.
Surprisingly, on 19 March,2004, Justice Onovo delivered judgement against Menakaya. In his judgement,Justice Onovo declared Menakaya a tresspasser on the land,while also ruling that Dr. Ezim was the rightful owner of the disputed property.
Less than an hour after  the judgement was  delivered, Dr. Ezim mobilised 15 thugs,three anti riot policemen and 14 policemen from the Police Area Command, Enugu and one Ugwu, the then Chief Bailiff of the Enugu state High court to eject Menakaya and his family.
On Monday,March 22, armed with a ”warrant of possession”,which Dr. Ezim claimed originated from Justice Onovo, and a caterpillar,the entire buildings were demolished.
Menakaya’s case is just one out of several thousands that have gone unnoticed. Indeed,it is very odd for some questionable legal practitioners to relocate their chambers to beer parlours,in residential  areas.
Their motives are  reflected in a beer parlour operator’s  words: “We always have our LLB, BL, beer parlour here for us,this is his chambers”.
Of interest,is the desperate attempts by individuals,who have  acquired illegitimate wealth to invest same in landed properties in major cities in the country, of course,this can only be possible with the seal of the court rooms,and the footsteps of  the law enforcement agents.
Are these attempts having the consent of the authorities that be ? Hopefully not !

Unemployment and The Crises of Governance : The Nigerian Story

Even though a sizable number of ”pressmen” as government officials always say, are on the payroll of the ruling party in Nigeria today, that does not distract professionally resolute Journalists from outlining the chamelionic nature of governance.
Failure is a recurrent feature, when the people’s voices are ignored and the imposition of the desires of a few occupys the front page.
Politicians have over the years groomed army of youths to promote their interests. Majority of these youths do not necessarily possess the basic qualification-Senior Secondary School Certificate(SSCE) to make any meaningful impact in life.
To fill the vacuum, politicians console these category of youths with limitless supply of outlawed substances and alcohol, so long as the youths do their bidding.
The unemployment rate in Nigeria is at an all time high, with unemployable graduates constituting  a significant number of the unemployed.
Of worry is the fact that most Primary, Secondary and tertiary institutions of learning are ill equipped and have on their pay rolls, poorly motivated manpower to impart the required knowledge.  State Governments now employ graduates to positions originally meant for unskilled labour, as political patronage and nepotism determines who gets what.
Professionalism no longer  exists in the civil service of most states, as workers continue to redefine their positions to reflect the survival of the fittest ideology currently in vogue.
It is on record and it is already a reference point that the All Progressives Congress(APC), the ruling party had its first progressive governance lecture series on 24 February, 2014, in Ibadan, Nigeria.
At the lecture series, Ayo Teriba, Chief Executive Officer, Economic Associates, delivered a lecture titled ”NIGERIA’s HIGH GROWTH-HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT PARADOX”.
Treiba had said, ”As Nigeria’s growth surged in the past one and a half decades, unemployment rate has increased three fold. Elected officials have been unable to translate growth to increased employment, largely because they have left the task of fiscal and monetary policy management growth, constrained domestic demand and worsened the employment rate.  To make democratic governance a tool for delivering economic tangible and enduring economic benefits in the future, Nigeria needs to make monthly employment data available before the end of each month, fix rail transportation, rethink fiscal policy, refocus monetary policy and ensure that elected officials accept responsibility for policy formulation and coordination”.
However,  the future is here and it is doubtful if Teriba’s recommendation are being followed.
Interestingly, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo state and Chairman, Progressives Governors Forum has lamented ”the current unemployment situation in Nigeria is unacceptable and is a danger to the social, economic and political stability of Nigeria. It also impacts negatively on our ambitions as a country, afterall, how can Nigeria, with over 20 million youths who have no jobs and millions of others wasting away claim that we want to be a major  power in the comity of  nations ?
That claim would be laughable if not tragic-tragic because we come across as refusing to empower the youths on whose shoulders will rest the task of taking Nigeria to the next level. We can no longer remain insensitive to issues around unemployment and crises of governance in Nigeria”.
Will the Presidnet Muhammadu Buhari led administration reverse the current trend of economic and other sectoral challenges ? Nigerians are already taking note and stock of the activities of the present administration for future reference.