So Why Was Sambo Dasuki Not Arrested? By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Government comes and government goes. Politician comes and politician goes. But public institutions remain with us. It is the more reason why we must strive to strengthen them and make them stronger than any individual. Painfully, rather for us to strengthen our institutions and make them strong, we build men. We build men that become stronger than our institutions and abuse them whenever they want to protect their interests and that of their loved ones. Corruption and weak institutions are parts of the challenges facing our nation today and are responsible for many of other challenges. No nation can strive where this duo exists.  If Sambo Dasuki was not stronger than the Department of State Security Service (DSS), he would not have been able to resist its operatives for hours.

Who Is Sambo Dasuki

Our Movement Against Corruption Won`t Last Without The Public Sector Reform. By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

“President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft war has started yielding dividends. Following blockage of leakages, Nigeria’s foreign reserves have increased from $28.57 billion at the end of May to $31.53 billion as of July 22, 2015.” – CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, during a press brief at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee, meeting, in Abuja.

Since the inauguration of President Buhari, the fight against corruption is being renewed. And the seeming dead anti-graft agencies- EFCC and ICPC, suddenly gained life. Like I have always posited, when the right leadership is put in place, institutions auto-adjust to suit it. The leadership of the anti- graft agencies knows that the President Buhari`s regime will not hold on to that phrase by the last administration, “Stealing is not Corruption” hence, it’s doing all it can to make public office holders accountable.

Meanwhile, you will recall that aside from the act of cluelessness displayed by the last administration; corruption was a bane the people voted against in the last Presidential election. The past administration was popularly known for the phrase; “Stealing is not Corruption and Corruption is not Stealing”.  It was an administration of self-enrichment and patronage, and of illegality. It will be of grave offence to Nigerians if the corruption they thought have been voted out in the last presidential election still rules with impunity.

The Pros and Cons of Negotiating With Boko Haram. By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

The debate whether the Nigerian government is weak if it negotiates with the dreaded Islamist sect, Boko Haram is out again. This was as a result of the statement credited to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina. During an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), he was quoted to have said: if “Boko Haram is willing to negotiate, why not?”. Following that, a press release was issued from his Abuja office to clarify the government`s position on the matter. Part of the press release reads thus: Most wars, however furious or vicious, often end around the negotiation table. So, if Boko Haram opts for negotiation, the government will not be averse to it. Government will, however, not be negotiating from a position of weakness, but that of strength.

This statement has generated a lot of controversies as it has been widely believed that, it is only a weak government with less military might and poor intelligent gathering mechanisms that negotiates with terrorist. You see, in reality this is almost completely false.

The argument against negotiating with terrorists is simple: Democracies must never give in to violence, and terrorists must never be rewarded for using it. Negotiations give legitimacy to terrorists and their methods and undermine actors who have pursued political change through peaceful means. Negotiations can destabilize the political systems of a government, undercut international efforts to outlaw terrorism, and set a dangerous precedent.

Change: One Month On; The Big Issues.

Monday, 29^th June 2015, makes it exactly a month since President Muhammad Buhari became the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Since then, you cannot categorically say that he has not hit the ground running. It might not just be at the rate that you have anticipated. He has been here and there in search of solutions to the Boko Haram menace. Everywhere he goes; it`s been about finding a lasting solution to this scourge that has plundered our land for far too long.

With terrorism out of the way and with the new commitment against corruption, one can practically say that the President is on the right track towards giving Nigerians a sustainable change.

Although, one cannot shy away from the delay in key appointments, I really hope that the President is taking this into full consideration. With his cabinet readily on the ground, it is expected that the synergies will boost his achievements.

However, over the past one month, it has been from one issue to another. While some Nigerians are still in high expectation of the “Change” to come, some assumed the change has begun and others believe there can`t be any change.

This article will be looking at the big issues since President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in a month ago;

Nigeria: A Hub Of Opportunity Stalled By Greed. By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Nigeria is the only place we can call our home; we have not another one to brag about if it fails.

The success achieved from the just concluded elections and the level of maturity displayed by the masses, have clearly shown, that Nigerians are on the move. They are ready to match up globally with the league of patriotic nations. The people went to the polls, conducted themselves in a decent manner, cast their votes and remained peaceful even after the declaration of the winners.

No longer can conversations about African democratic stability by the world stable democratic heavyweights be discussed without mentioning Nigeria. Nigeria is a nation on the move with a hub of opportunity. If nations are not looking towards Nigeria, they are missing out an opportunity to be part of and invest in something potentially great.

However, while the masses are tired of delay, and are no longer comfortable standing at a point with no appreciable growth and development, their leaders have been on the contrary. They prefer to keep the nation at a point as long as their greed is satisfied.

Subsidy Must Go; It Has Done More Harm Than Good! By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

 

In December 2011, I was back in Lagos from Umuahai, Abia State, to celebrate the Christmas break with my family and friends. My plan was to go back within the first week of the new year, 2012. I budgeted ten thousand naira (N10,000) for my transport fare both to and fro. The celebration was on and we were still in the mood of celebration, only for the Former President, Goodluck Jonathan to announce the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as Petrol. This removal suddenly increased the price of PMS from N67/L to N145/L consequently inflation hits the economy and everything went excessively expensive.

On getting to the park on the 4th of January 2012, same bus I boarded from Umuahia to Lagos for N3,500, was boarded back to Umuahia for N10,300. This time around it was not about the transport fare, but there were fewer buses that were ready to embark on the journey.

Why Lookest Thou For Change, When Change Is Here? Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Eight days after President Muhammadu Buhari was inaugurated; a friend called me and asked: Where is the Change President Buhari promised us during his campaign? I responded: Why Lookest Thou For Change, When Change Is Here? I went further and said, Change has begun, haven`t you seen it yet? It started right from the moment President Buhari gave his inaugural speech, when he said: “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody”

The message in that statement is obvious. It means; we now have a President that belongs to everybody. Everybody that is ready to act according to the constitution of the country and put the nation first before personal interests. It does not matter their ethnicity, region, religion or political affiliations. A President that belongs to nobody, that cares only about how to plunder the nation at all cost. It also doesn`t matter of what their ethnicity, region, religion or political affiliations is.

Dear President Muhammadu Buhari, Your Time Starts Now! By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

First and foremost, congratulations to you Sir on your election and inauguration as the fourth elected President of the Fourth Republic of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Against all odds, your election has finally proven and shown to many and the world at large that Nigeria is determined to achieve greatness and that with great dedication, commitments and consistency nothing is impossible to achieve.

I must admit, that your ascension to the highest office in the land came at a time when the country is in desperate need of a leader. One devoid of greed and with a strong passion for excellence. It came at a time when everything seems crashing and the centre no longer holding.

However, there is a reason why you were elected, to restore the lost hope to many Nigerians that have believed that it is impossible for anything good to emerge from the country.

By This Time Next Week. By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Fellow Nigerians, this is the time to celebrate, the long awaited change that we`ve patiently waited for is finally here. Even though our celebration seems to be taunted by the ongoing fuel scarcity, but there is no reason to panic. The type of transformation we see today, we shall see no more.

You see, as it stands now, Nigeria seems to be on hold. We are in a dormant stage, like we do not have a president in place and a leader to direct our affairs. And as the looming fuel scarcity goes on, it is logical not to expect a meaningful end to the scarcity not until the inauguration of a new administration is over.

 No one in the presidency has “convincingly” told us what we need to know about the continued scarcity and how they tend to resolve it as soon as possible. It`s quite obvious that President Jonathan no longer feels concerned about whatsoever befall us, even though he never did in the last five years. But by this time next week, it is expected that the story would have changed. A President is expected to be in place and the government shall be on his shoulder. He is the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.  He is expected to tell us what we need to know about the looming fuel subsidy and put a lasting solution to this failure of government. May be this is exactly the right time to let go of subsidy. Well this is not the topic for today but for another day.

Can We Bring Back “War Against Indiscipline”? By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

In March 1984, a military decree enacted “War Against Indiscipline”, sometimes called WAI, supported by General Muhammadu Buhari and General Tunde Idiagbon. The program's intention was to instil public morality, social order, civic responsibilities in Nigerians, and promote Nigerian nationalism.

One of the objectives of WAI was the encouragement of customers and citizens to line up to board buses and mostly line up or queue for high demand services. Other objectives included the encouragement of women to train their wards, as the culture then considered child raising a predominantly female skill and proper home training would groom future disciplined adults.

The second objective was to encourage hard work, which was introduced in May 1984. This objective like many others was buoyed by the use of government owned media.

While the third and fourth phases focused on patriotism and eradicating economic sabotage and corruption. In July 1985, the General Buhari administration launched environmental sanitation as the fifth phase of the program.

Our Judicial System Is Absurd, The Morbidity Is Becoming Unbearable By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

After my article last week, I had in mind to write on a totally different topic this week. But after a Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State, on Thursday, 30th April, 2015, sentenced Michael Igbinedion, to a six-year jail term or an option of paying N3 million for a N25 billion money laundering related offences, I was forced to write this.

Two convicts and four companies were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), before a Federal High court in Benin, Edo State, on an eighty-one (81)-count charge of money laundering during the tenure of Lucky Igbinedion the ex-governor of Edo State.

The two convicts were Michael Igbinedion, a younger brother of the former governor of Edo State and Patrick Eboigbodin an aide to the erstwhile governor.

This Is Why President Jonathan Must Be Probed. By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Justice is served when those that are found guilty of one offence or another are brought to book. It is no longer news that President Jonathan has been alleged to have led the most corrupt government in Nigeria since the beginning of the fourth republic- The many corrupt cases perpetrated under his watch attest to that. Meanwhile, none of the allegations against his regime has been thoroughly investigated and its report made public. And as long as these allegations go unchecked and investigated, it wouldn`t speak well about the credibility of the nation as its quest to fight corruption that has taken over the entire system.

Firstly, President Jonathan must be probed to clear or establish the rumours about him and his administration. Who knows if after probing him he might be exonerated of the allegations against him.

Sanitation, A Key To Healthy Living. By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

More people today are affected by the negative impacts of poor sanitation than by wars, terrorism, natural disasters, and weapons of mass destruction all combined. This is because most of the world’s prevailing and well reported diseases globally such as Malaria, Typhoid, Cholera, Schistosomiasis, Diarrhea, Trachoma, Intestinal worm diseases, just to mention a few are caused by poor sanitation.

Sanitation, as defined by Wikipedia, is the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of humans contact with the hazards of waste. Hazards are physical, microbiological, or chemical agents of diseases. While wastes that can cause health problems are human and animal faeces, solid waste, domestic wastewater (sewage water), industrial wastes, and agricultural wastes.

Now Is The Time To Fight Corruption And Strengthen Our Institutions.

Politicians will say whatever it takes to get elected. Every one of them swears they’ll be less corrupt, and less corruptible, than the lot in power.

That is, of course, trivially true, if only because being out of power means you have no power to sell. As long as government power exists, private interests will figure out a way to corrupt it. Everyone has their price; hence, a possible cure for corruption is to elect incorruptible politicians. A more certain cure is to withhold power from them in the first place.

However, when people stand up and take a stand, there is something beautiful and powerful about it. It sends the message that nothing will be done or achieved without their involvement. Furthermore, it sends a message to those in leadership positions that people are growing tired of the slow pace of development in the society. Development in all its forms, which includes; the economy, human settlements, alleviating poverty, equality and justice, provision of quality education and healthcare, etc.

In Memory Of The #ChibokGirls: Who Will #BringBackOurGirls? By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Like a thief cometh in the night to steal and to kill, the deadly terrorist group, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, which in English means, “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad”, otherwise known as Boko Haram, on the night of 14–15 April 2014, stormed the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok Community, Borno State, Nigeria. Broke into the school, pretended to be guards, told the girls to get out and come with them. A large number of students, numbering about two hundred and seventy-nine (279) girls were taken away with them in trucks. Possibly into the Konduga area of the Sambisa Forest where they were known to have fortified camps. Fifty-seven (57) of the girls managed to escape on their own on transits, left with about 219 in the hands of Boko Haram their abductor. Houses in Chibok community were also burnt down in the incident. The school had been closed for four weeks prior to the attack due to the deteriorating security situation in the region, but students from multiple schools had been called on to take their physics final exams. These girls were aged 13 to 18 and were in their final year of school.