Arise, O Compatriots (2)

By Chukwudi Ohiri

07052415807

The events of the South African xenophobic attacks and the threat by the Oba of Lagos, though already doused ought to remain a wakeup call for all Nigerians everywhere. There is the urgent need to reflect on why Nigeria as a country is sardonically referred to as a giant with clay feet to the extent that those we were hitherto ahead of in the race to nationhood are now the ones urging us to wake up. The incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari must as a matter of urgency, do whatever it can to reposition the country to a respectable position among the comity of nations before we sink into the abyss of obscurity. 

Narrowing down this discourse to the purported ‘ingenuity’ and ‘sagacity’ of the South Easterners (Ndigbo), one begins to wonder what has happened to the people once idolized by the world for their bravery and tenacity during the Nigeria/Biafra civil war years. The people were once compared to the Jews, who up till today hold the ace in industry, economy, commerce and to an appreciable extent, the politics of the United States to the point that America cannot do without them. Could it be said that the Igbo people are now dwelling in past glory? It can’t be far from the truth otherwise, how come the tribe has so depreciated in valuegeometrically within the last few decades such that they have become unwanted elements at home and in the diaspora.

Recall the great speech of the Late Biafran leader and warlord while addressing the world in a press conference and I quote: “In the three years of the war, necessity gave birth to invention. During those three years of heroic bound, we leapt across the great chasm that separates knowledge from know-how. We built rockets, and we designed and built our own delivery systems. We guided our rockets. We guided them far, we guided them accurately. For three years, blockaded without hope of import, we maintained all our vehicles. The state extracted and refined petrol.Individuals refined petrol in their back gardens. We built and maintained our airports, maintained them under heavy bombardment. Despite the heavy bombardment, we recovered so quickly after each raid that we were able to maintain the record for the busiest airport in the continent of Africa. We spoke to the world through telecommunication system engineered by local ingenuity; the world heard us and spoke back to us! We built armoured car tanks. We modified aircraft from trainer to fighters, from passenger aircraft to bombers. In the three years of freedom, we had broken the technological barrier. In three years we became the most civilised, the most technologically advanced black people on earth.” Could this ascription made of Ndigbo be a mere propaganda?

If Ndigbo achieved this much in three years under very excruciating hardship and circumstances, why can’t the feat be re-enacted now that there is relative freedom, wider opportunities and to a large extent, an almost assured international support which was obviously lacking during the war years? Now, more than ever, the Ndigbo need to reappraise its position in the affairs of Nigeria. We must go back to history in order to dig up those things that made the Igboman outstanding when others were merely standing in order to re-invent them. There is need for Ndigbo to do a soul search in history to also discover where the nightfall began to eclipse its ingenuity, doggedness, foresightedness and above all, the spirit of oneness which  has be the most conspicuously identified bane of the Igboman in recent history. This self and holistic appraisal is very pertinent in order to launch ourselves back to reckoning again in Nigeria and in the entire black world?

The starting point for this self-reappraisal and self-rediscovery will be tocommence a search and identification genuine, committed and selfless leaderswho will steer the ship of re-launching the Ndigbo into the mainstream of affairs in the Nigerian political space, at least, for the time being. It has dawned on every discerning mind that the big vacuum created by the demise of the late sage, Chukwuememka Odimegwu Ojukwu has not been filled till date. It will be a mockery of our collective sensibilities to contemplate or admit that we don’t have bona fide Igbo sons and daughters in the ‘spirit and likeness’ of Ojukwu. This is far from the truth, just that the mechanics have so confused us that we can no longer differentiate between them and the mad men. However, if we look deeply, ‘testing all spirits’ (as the Holy Books say), we will find them. They abound because God Himself has richly endowed the Igbo race with all shades of characters that will lead us to our promised land.

Talking about leadership, this discourse will lack merit if it fails to appraise and address the quality of political leadership that has been bequeathed to the South East geopolitical zone since the inception of the new democratic dispensation since 1999. It appears that in rating, vis-à-vis other geopolitical zones who are supposedly our rivals, we have not fared better. From Anambra to Imo, Enugu Ebonyi and Abia, there seem to be a general consensus that the development indicators have almost perpetually tilted towards the negative territory. As mentioned in the part one of the series, apart from a few intermittent flashes of good governance in one, or maybe two States, the rest have been adjudged poor and reproachful. The South West and South South have a number of States adjudged as making some progress whereas the South East lags distantly behind. This is appallingly unacceptable and smacks of a complete dearth of the leadership we all seek.

In looking at the soon-to-expire dispensation in the South East, one discovers with utter bewilderment, the irony of appraisals. It is quite surprising that while the outgoing governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji has garnered quite a number of available laurels for good governance in Nigeria and even in Ghana(in spite of the hue and cry bellowing from his State to the contrary of his performance), the governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has barely gotten any (whereas the thinking, especially outside the zone is that he has been outstanding in performance). Ironically again, both of them won the recently concluded elections to the various positions they sought after. The confusion as to the real performance of these two case studies still lingers.

One fact remains sacrosanct. Most regional leaders emerge from the sub-platforms based on the credentials they are able to create for themselves at the lower levels. Among the governors that have governed any of the five South East States since 1999, can we boast of any as a true leader based on credentials? The answer to this will surely be a subjective one and so we leave it to posterity for judgement.

We must all arise, O compatriots for this onerous task of re-inventing our various states, region and the nation at large. Ndigbo needs to re-enact the feat of the civil war years in a more positive way. That ingenuity, that dexterity, that bond of unity, that resoluteness and that creative and innovative mind-set which now rules the world needs to be re-awakened for the general good of all. 

If Ndigbo cannot, for time being attain the status of Nigeria’s President (which is not even a laudable achievement in itself as history has shown), they ought to at least have the equivalents of Dangote, the Alakijas, the Dantatas, the Otedolas, the Adenugasetcetera in areas of setting up businesses that can outlive the owners. As I mentioned in part1, Igbo business model must change to something more durable and futuristic in line with emerging global realities and changing technologies, else, we are heading to outright oblivion.

 

Group Sets Grand Agenda For Buhari ·

Urges jettisoning of Nigeria’s expensive Presidential System.

·        Blasts continued implementation of IMF economic policies.

·        Calls for drastic slashing of salaries of political office holders.

By Chukwudi OHIRI

As the gale of agenda setting for the incoming administration continues ahead of the May 29 handover date, a group, under the aegis of Movement for Nigeria’s Total Transformation (MNTT) comprising of leaders of thought from the six geopolitical zones of the country and in the Diaspora led by erstwhile Editor of Daily Times, Chief Areoye Oyebola, has made available to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a detailed document charting a comprehensive roadmap for the total transformation of the country.

The document which was made available to some media houses outlined specific action plans and urgent steps that must be taken by the incoming administration to revamp the economy, fight corruption, end impunity, end insurgency, create a value re-orientation for the citizenry and reposition Nigeria for greatness again, amongst others.  MNTT believes that the administration of Gen. Buhari’s administration will hit the ground running if it religiously implements the contents of the document.

To demonstrate to all Nigerians that his administration is that of an altruistic service to the people and not business as usual, the MNTT recommends that in the first instance, salaries and allowances as well as the now trending severance gratuities and post-tenure pensions of all political office holders starting from the president himself to the local government Chairmen and councillors be slashed down by between 60—70% in order to free up capital required for infrastructural developments. The group decried a situation where recurrent expenditure in the country’s annual budget more than triples the capital expenditure thereby denying the citizens the opportunity of developing critical infrastructures that directly impacts on the lives of the common people that make up a vast majority of the population. The policy document expressed worry that the emoluments of public office holders are still shrouded in secrecy and are allegedly far higher than those of their counterparts in advanced richer countries.

The group argued that one of the reasons for desperation by politicians to get into office at all cost is the luxurious lifestyle political offices guarantee such that Nigerian politics has now become more lucrative than drug peddling. “For you to succeed in your herculean task”, the group told Buhari, “salaries and allowances of the President, National Assembly members, Governors, Ministers and other political office holders should be reduced by about 60 to 70 per cent”. In addition, “severance gratuities and post tenure pensions, whether approved or contemplated, should be reduced or cancelled out-rightly” in tandem with what obtains in advanced climes, the group said.

The MNTT document harped on the need to drastically cut down the cost of governance which it blamed on the expensive and extravagant presidential system that gives room for over bloated bureaucracies. The group unequivocally recommended the discarding of Nigeria’s ostentatious Presidential system while suggesting concrete way of making a pragmatic departure from it in order to cut down on the cost of governance. The group specifically urged Gen. Buhari to epitomize this matter of immense national exigency by issuing a Presidential directive to the Salaries and Wages Commission, on assumption of office, that “all basic salaries and allowances paid to you (Buhari) as President of Nigeria must be lower than that of President Barak Obama (of the United States) which is $4000,000 a year”.

On the hydra-headed monster called corruption which has eaten deep into the very fabrics of the country’s national life, the MNTT called for a decisive action plan against perpetrators that will include long prison terms, forfeiture of dubiously acquired wealth and the abolition of the system of plea bargaining as non-option. The group called on Buhari not only to amplify, but also exemplify his much hyped “strong moral authority” in the crusade against corruption. They argued that “the all-pervading corruption in all areas of our national lives, most especially, among the different arms of government” was responsible for the economic crunch being experienced in the country lately, insisting that the efforts to arrest and prosecute politicians have only been inert and insincere. The group noted that “despite all the pretences and occasional arrest and inconclusive prosecution of those involved in massive corrupt enrichment, no highly placed Nigerian has been made to serve as a scapegoat through life imprisonment and publicised forfeiture of stolen houses, lands and funds as a deterrent to other future treasury looters”. In the light of this, the group urged Gen. Buhari to up the ante once in office saying: “The all-important point is that you must ruthlessly and desperately fight corruption to a standstill, with our laws changed to give harsh punishments, including long years of imprisonment, and forfeiture of stolen assets for all offenders, irrespective of status. Plea bargaining must never again be tolerated in this country”.

Still on the issue of freeing more funds for developmental projects, the total national transformation advocates decried the large number of Presidential fleet (about eleven) whereas the country has no national carrier. They called for immediate sale of at least, nine of the presidential jets “considering the fact that the richest country on earth, the United States has very few presidential planes, compared to Nigeria”. In a direct advocacy for the sell-off, the group said: “Please do not hesitate to sell nine of the eleven jets with two retained”. It also recommended that the proceeds from the sales be immediately invested in the provision of additional Mega Watts of electricity that would be sufficient, on a 24hour basis for our industrial and domestic needs”.

On fuel subsidy, the group opined that Nigeria has no business importing petroleum products when it could have as many refineries as possible and rather than export crude oil, it would be then be exporting refined products with added value. They counselled Gen Buhari to set timelines for his administration on when to revamp Nigeria’s decrepit refineries, build additional ones, end importation of fuel and correct the fraudulent practice whereby Nigeria ranks among OPEC member countries with one of the highest fuel pump price per litre and the lowest minimum wage record. It described the fuel subsidy regime as monumental fraud against the Nigerian people as the oil cartels cart away billions through mere presentation of receipts without importing a single litre of fuel.

On Nigeria’s fiscal and economic policy thrust, the MNTT called for the jettisoning of the one-size-fits-all economic blueprint of the Breton Woods institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In its stead, they advocated for a “a coherent, original, deep-rooted and forward-looking economic philosophy that can turn Nigeria, with its awesome endowment by providence into one of the most prosperous nations in  the world in record time. The group criticized the import-oriented status of Nigeria’s economy “which has made the country a dumping ground for all sorts of (substandard) manufactured products from different parts of the world.” They opined that Nigeria could achieve much more than the proceeds from oil if only it can look in the direction of Agriculture and exploration of other solid minerals other than oil which abound in commercial quantities across the length and breadth of the nation waiting for harnessing.

MNTT insisted that “until we take such drastic steps (most of which were enunciated in the policy document under review), Nigeria will continue to move around in circle thinking that it is making progress whereas it is heading nowhere” adding that such incoherent and half-hearted measures of the previous regimes “explains why the percentage of China’s abject poverty shrank from 56per cent of its population to 12 per cent in the last 30 years (whereas) that of Nigeria rose from 20 to 80 per cent within the same period.

Arise, O Compatriots (1)

By Chukwudi OHIRI

(07052415807)

The events of the last few weeks in Nigeria and later, the xenophobic attack on non-indigenous blacks in South Africa really call for intense sober reflections for every well meaning Nigerian, especially all Igbo indigenes at home and in the Diaspora. Unfortunately, it appears that there are no lessons learnt. Nigerians and indeed the Igbos have not learnt that East or West, home remains the best.

First, it was the Oba of Lagos, His Highness Oba Rilwan Akiolu, who savagely issued a warning threat to all Igbo people residing in Lagos to either vote for his preferred candidate in the recently conducted governorship polls or face extinction. According to the well respected king, Lagos belongs to him and the Igbos have to do his bidding or perish in the Lagoon. The controversy and uproar generated by the comment almost heat up the polity to a melting point. In the end, the Oba’s anointed candidate won the elections and whether the Igbos heeded his call or not is a subject for further discussions. Heavens did not fall, but where lessons learnt?

Hardly had the dust generated by the Oba’s thread at home settled than another King in far away South Africa provoked a spate of wanton killings of fellow black Africans in what may pass for one of the world’s most deadly xenophobic attacks in recent history. The king of the Zulu nation, Goodwill Zwelithini reportedly accused the government of South Africa of cowardice for not intervening in the growing number of non indigenes setting up businesses in South Africa and thereby “inconveniencing” the banafide indigenes. He allegedly called on such foreigners to leave the country and what followed was the spate of killings.

The sad but indubitable truth is that Nigerians, especially the Igbos are the most travelled people on earth and perhaps, worst hit in all of these. Arise O compatriots, it’s time to wake up. It’s time to think home, it’s time build Nigeria and Igbo land of our dreams.

Outside the shores of Nigeria, a Nigerian is despised and treated with disdain for the wrong reasons. Within the country, the Igbo man is seen as a perpetual threat that must be halted at all cost. In the North, he is despised. In the South, he is dreaded. In the West, he is hated, abhorred and disparaged like a monster that must be eliminated. Unfortunately, in the East, the Igboman appears to hate one another.

Look at the governorship polls in Abia State. It has been turned into a tribal war between bonafide indigenes and non-bonafide indigenes. It also degenerated to death threat on residents who dare to vote against a certain candidate. Yet we cried ‘blue murder’, ‘we wailed’ we lamented when the Oba of Lagos threatened us with death if we fail to vote for his anointed candidate. What moral justifications do we have to condemn the Oba when we do the same thing to ourselves back home? Who would take us serious if we are so threatened elsewhere? A dog can only bear the name its owner calls it. People address you the way you are dressed. Not until we begin to regard ourselves, no body will regard us. We are directly the architect of our misfortune in corporate Nigeria. At the national level, unless our government begins to place high premium on the lives and welfare of its citizens, no nation would accord us that respect and dignity we deserve.

 A few years ago, this same South Africa, forgetting so soon, the price paid by Nigeria in its march to freedom and complete eradication of apartheid, embarked on the deportation of Nigerians with genuine visas on account of a yellow fever vaccine document which the authorities claimed was fake.  What did our government do? They hobnobbed with the South African authorities, invited them to a tea party and that was all. Every time, the federal government engage in a weightless rhetoric about a certain principle of reciprocity in its foreign policy thrust, but when the occasion warrants reciprocal action, the will power disappears and we chicken away.  

While not soliciting for a reciprocal killings and damage of investments as many Nigerians have prescribed (two wrongs cannot make a right), the Nigerian government ought to have demonstrated a proactive stance that will portray it as a responsible government. Rather than moving to evacuate Nigerians in South Africa as many other countries have done, the federal government feels the damage already done is not enough to warrant such an expedient action. Perhaps, when Nigerians begin to die in their thousands; when their properties are depleted to ground zero; when the son, daughter or relation of a highly placed politician or government official is affected; maybe it will then be time to act. This is called ‘crying when the head is already off’—reactionary governance. Arise O compatriots, our attitude towards our citizens must change.

Recall that in September last year after the ill-fated Synagogue Church of All Nations building collapsed, killing scores of South Africans, the South African government promptly dispatched a delegation to Nigeria not only to ascertain the complicity of the church owners in the tragedy, but also to ensure that it personally took stock of its demised nationals and their bodies taken home. Can the Nigerian government replicate the same feat if the story was the other way round? I’m sure you know the answer.

In January 2015 when 12 French journalists were killed in Paris, the French government led by President Francois Hollande with a unanimous support of all citizens declared war on the terrorists deploying over 10,000 troops across the length and breadth of France not only to forestall further attacks, but also to apprehend the three suspected terrorists. Never was it heard that the opposition cast aspersion on its leader nor was it politicized.

In Nigeria, when more than 200 Chibok girls were abducted over a year ago, there were neither signs of emergency on the part of the government nor were the citizens unanimous in condemning and seeking solution to the debacle. In fact, it became a campaign tool in the hands of the opposition making it sound as if the purported abduction was a fiction. Till date, these girls are still missing while many Nigerians still doubt if the abduction was real. We must arise, O compatriots, lest we continue to be a laughing stock among the comity of nations. Premium must be placed on the lives of our citizens. Let us imbibe the culture of chasing away the predatory kites and blame the mother hen later for her carelessness. If we don’t imbibe this attitude, the Chibok girls (if real) will remain missing even with the bravest of presidents. The fight against insurgency will remain elusive and the little gains made, reversed.       

Who takes the blame in all of these? It is neither the government nor the citizens. I think we are collectively guilty as charged.