COLLAPSE OF CEASEFIRE: MEND issues two-week ultimatum

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PAGE 22—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 10, 2016 Wanted in Nigeria: Interpreters for Court Decisions In the last few months, members of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been embroiled in squabbles to determine their true leadership. Is it former Borno Governor Ali Modu Sheriff? Some would say yes while many would say it is former Kaduna Governor, Ahmed Makarfi. Having failed to deal with the matter as a family affair, the factions have been in court and on a daily basis, they are getting different decisions which make it easy for each side to follow the judgment it prefers. The court decisions are not only at conflict with one another, they are all made by courts of coordinate jurisdiction. The rest of us are left with no option but to look for help from different interpreters to comprehend what the courts have said or are saying or intended to say or are likely to say about the subject. Why are the courts contradicting themselves? Could it be that the judges are grouped into two with one working for and the other against the prediction of one of the factions that the cases would run till 2019? Any body’s guess is as good as mine because once it is a case involving our billionaire politicians; our courts amaze the ordinary man. On May 12, 2016, a court in Lagos reportedly ruled that the PDP convention slated for May 21, 2016 in Port Harcourt should not hold. Sheriff claimed that in obedience to the court order, he had to suspend the convention only for some members to conspire to remove him from office. Did the order stop the PDP from replacing Sheriff, himself an unelected chairman, with someone else? Perhaps the Lagos court felt so; hence it decided to outlaw the decision of the party to constitute a caretaker committee led by Makarfi. Some PDP members say that although they are yet to hold a convention, they have a right in the meantime to end the temporary mandate of Sheriff to hold brief for a proper chairman. His mandate had a May 2016 expiry date. If so, what makes Sheriff superior to Makarfi and why can’t the former be changed with or without a convention when both leaders were similarly If court decisions are difficult to understand, the posture of the PDP factions is also a puzzle. It is not quite easy to know who actually belongs to which faction handpicked? Perhaps this explains the decision of a court in Port Harcourt to support the Makarfi faction in contrast to the posture of the Lagos court. The other week, another court in Abuja decided to give due recognition to the faction led by Sheriff. The court specifically directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to accept any list of candidates submitted by any other faction for the forthcoming governorship election in Edo and Ondo States. But because the Nigerian constitution provides for party chairmen to be elected and not appointed, a second court in Abuja nullified Sheriff’s purported appointment. The decision was particularly significant as it suggested that since the process which originally brought Sheriff to power was faulty, there was no PDP leader called Sheriff in the eyes of the law. Expectedly, this was not palatable to Sheriff, who promptly rejected it while announcing his readiness to continue to relate with INEC in line with the decision of the other Abuja court. Sheriff imagined that since decisions against him were given by courts of coordinate jurisdiction, he could remain in power. From what has been said so far, a number of posers present themselves. First, why are the factional leaders relying on conflicting high court decisions to pick and choose what to accept or not? Why has no one gone to the Court of Appeal ever since? Does it mean the high courts are more malleable? Second, what is the fate of INEC in the ensuing confusion? Which group should it recognize and for what reasons? Third, laymen are often told that courts deal with only those things before them. But with the high level of tension in the main opposition party of the nation, which can scuttle our democracy, shouldn’t our courts in the interest of society take judicial notice of some notorious facts to resolve issues rather than allowing themselves to be seen as part if not the ones fuelling the problem? Why indeed are our courts often in disarray whenever the subject before them concerns politics and elections? Meanwhile, if court decisions are difficult to understand, the posture of the PDP factions is also a puzzle. It is not quite easy to know who actually belongs to which faction. The case of Edo State makes the point clearer. Following the process for the election of the party’s Governorship candidate which commenced with the conduct of the Ward congresses for the elections of three Ad-Hoc delegates, the Makarfi faction garnered 713 delegates. The latter elected Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the party’s flag bearer on June 20, 2016. Some days later; Sheriff ’s faction accredited 677delegates in a second primaries to elect Mathew Iduoriykemwen as its own flag bearer. Considering that PDP has the same guidelines, the two sets of delegates are likely to be the same persons especially as the winner of the second primaries was also a contestant in the first one. If however, the second set of delegates were fresh, did Sheriff’s faction liberalize the guidelines for the primaries to allow hitherto unqualified delegates to vote? If on the other hand it was the same set of delegates why then did they not originally elect the new flag bearer when he first solicited their votes in the first primaries a few days earlier? The questions have elicited more allegations. One analyst imagined that while the judgments which favour Makarfi emanate from a location controlled by the PDP, the pro sheriff decisions are obtained from locations controlled by the rival All Peoples Congress (APC). What this suggests is that Sheriff has the backing of the APC. It would appear that both Ahmed Makarfi and his Edo state chapter leader, Dan Orbih believe it. If so, how come Justice Valentine Ashi who has also recognized the Makarfi faction is Abuja based? So, who will tell us in the layman’s language, what precisely is going on? Hopefully, not Icheoku! Take the current recrudescence of agitation for the establishment of Republic of Biafra in the South-east and some areas in the South-south more than four decades after the civil war ended. With the possible exception of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, Ndigbo, the people who have contributed more than any other ethnic group to national development, have been treated as third class citizens by previous leaders especially in key federal appointments. With the “second coming” of Buhari, the absurd situation has degenerated further. In fact, a plausible case can be made that President Buhari probably has a deep-seated dislike for Ndigbo, considering his unwillingness to appoint qualified Igbo sons and daughters to key positions in his government. To be sure, I am an Igboman but not an Igbo irredentist. Yet, even if I was not and another ethnic group is exactly in the same position as Ndigbo in the current dispensation, my argument would still have validly applied to that very ethnic group as well. In a highly diverse country such as ours, a sagacious leader must take decisions that give people from different parts of the country a sense of belonging. PhD,Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos 08116759758 Pachyderms and governance (2) This can be done in several ways, one of which is to ensure that key appointments are distributed fairly and equitably across the country without sacrificing merit. But President Buhari seems indifferent to the complaints that he is northernising the federal government, thereby unwittingly providing rationale for separatist groups such as the Mass Mobilisation for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). Now, by showing obvious bias in favour of the north, is the President saying that there are more qualified Nigerians from the north than from the south, particularly the south east, to occupy most offices in his government? Since when did the north surpass the south in having highly educated and qualified personnel to fill vacancies in federal government agencies and parastatals? In my opinion, by his lopsided appointments, the President is actually playing into the hands of those that see him as an ethnic champion solely concerned with the interests of the ruling cabal or invisible government domiciled in Northern Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent reaffirmation of the combative assertion that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable demonstrates beyond reasonable doubt that he is operating with the conqueror mindset typical of military dictators. Buhari probably has not learnt appropriate lessons from the civil war: he still believes that the quest for selfdetermination by any marginalised ethnic group can be destroyed through military action. But he is wrong. Biafra, like every other utopia, is an ideal that cannot be annihilated by brute force, even if the attempt to actualise it concretely had been crushed earlier. Therefore, shooting at mostly unarmed youths exercising their democratic right to protest unjust decisions by a pachydermatous leadership can halt agitations for Biafra temporarily - it cannot eradicate it as long as unfairness in the distribution of both benefits and responsibilities among the federating ethnic nationalities persists. It follows that the only reasonable way to deal with the centrifugal forces that threaten the continued existence of Nigeria as a sovereign geopolitical entity is for the ruling elite to address the root causes of discontent in different parts of the federation. It is amusing that some pigs in the big animal farm called Nigeria hastily dismiss agitations for selfdetermination as useless, as the handiwork of undesirable elements and unemployed youths either seeking opportunities for selfenrichment or serving as willing tools used by enemies of government to disrupt the rhythm of change promised by President Buhari and his party leaders. In the case of pro-Biafran movements, for example, some pseudointellectuals and cash-andcarry politicians some of whom are Ndigbo fail to understand that as long as the issues that led to the emergence and secession of Biafra in 1967 remain unaddressed, the quest for its actualisation by any means necessary will rear up periodically. The same thing applies, mutatis mutandis, to the agitation for selfdetermination in the Niger The APC government is making a huge mistake if it continues to ignore calls for reconstructing Nigeria in such a way that the generally accepted six geopolitical zones become the fountainhead or nucleus of a resurgent Nigerian nation Delta region. The Niger Delta area accounts for over seventyfive percent of our national revenue. Yet, the region has been horribly devastated for decades mainly due to the exploration and exploitation of crude oil and natural gas. Of course, the developmental crises there is also the result of greed, corruption, visionlessness and poor planning by political and community leaders from that region. That said, the desire by the people to control their resources and pay an agreed tax to the federal government is legitimate and proper: it should be supported by all Nigerians who desire to live in a federation where each federating unit can develop its natural resources to meet its developmental challenges and aspirations. There is no doubt that wellmeaning Nigerians abhor violence: the devastating Biafran war brought into bold relief the extreme negative consequences of using military force to subdue legitimate demands for selfdetermination. At any rate, if President Buhari were a good student of history, he would not be repeating the same threadbare rhetoric about Nigeria’s unity being out of bounds for negotiation and possible reconstruction to create a functional federation. The persistent demand for greater fiscal and political autonomy by the Igbo and indigenous population of the Niger Delta is largely due to the faulty foundation on which our political architectonic was build since the abolition of regionalism in 1966. Given that the basis of Nigerian unity hammered out during the constitutional conferences which led to independence in 1960 envisaged a federal structure with a relatively weak central government and largely autonomous federating units, and that that very structure has been mutilated by military dictators, it is imperative for us to revert to a modified version of regionalism. As I have always maintained, a return to functional federalism in which the federating units are empowered by the constitution to exploit the human and natural resources in each unit to serve its people would not transform our country into an El Dorado overnight. Now, even the best political system cannot achieve sustainable positive results without good leaders supported by enlightened and alert citizens over a reasonable period. Yet, it must be acknowledged that for every society at a given point in its historical evolution, some political systems are more suitable than others for delivering quality political leadership and service to the people. In this connection, the APC government is making a huge mistake if it continues to ignore calls for reconstructing Nigeria in such a way that the generally accepted six geopolitical zones become the fountainhead or nucleus of a resurgent Nigerian nation. As I indicated earlier, President Buhari believes that he can use all the military might at his disposal to suppress nonviolent protests in Igboland and the new militant groups emerging in the Niger Delta region. However, he should be reminded that there is a more reasonable, less disruptive, cost-effective and peaceful option, that is, sincere efforts to reconstitute Nigeria using recommendations of the 2014 national conference as a guide. I do not understand why the President is dogmatically fixated against devolution of powers to the six geopolitical zones. Perhaps such a measure negates the hegemonic agenda of some key conservative elements in the North and their British and American collaborators. Earlier, I alluded to the claim by Balewa that if British colonial administrators had left Nigeria, the northern people would have continued their uninterrupted conquest to the sea. Balewa’s vision of Nigeria mirrors exactly Alhaji Ahmadu Bello’s concept of a Nigerian state in which the north dominates the south in a master-servant relationship despite the economic and educational superiority of the latter. That grotesque vision, the silly notion that northerners are ordained by providence to rule other Nigerians, is the ideological compass that dictates the actions and reactions of a section of the Northern ruling elite to national issues up to this time. To be continued
08116759757 SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 10, 2016, PAGE 23 the gallery Experts launch mobile App for Christian singles By Chioma Obinna Mere mention of Makoko, the first thing that comes to mind is usually the state of the environment. But this time, Makoko is in the news for good. Saturday, June 25, will remain ever green in the minds of 50 women and 20 youths of Makoko, a slum area of Lagos State. Even in the midst of smoke which filled the air, their joy knew no bounds as the densely populated community rejoiced over a life-saving intervention brought to them. This was a day 70 members of the community, comprising women and youths, graduated from an entrepreneurship programme on solar energy installations courtesy of King's Domain, a non-governmental organisation, NGO, in collaboration with Global Environmental Facility, GEF, with support from the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP. It was a life-saver as beneficiaries were also equipped with tools needed to start off their businesses. The youths and women were trained in solar installation and clean energy By Bashir Adefaka T he leader shows the way while others follow. Since the regime of change, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, started in the country, every other sector of society has fallen in line. Livingspring Schools, Awoyaya, Lekki, Lagos is one of them. That was the journalistic understanding of all that transpired at the 2015/2016 valedictory and prize giving ceremony the schools held, last Wednesday, where the school director, Barrister (Mrs) Abosede Obayomi, said she wanted to see the products of the faith-based group of schools be the change from the current state of corruption that moral decadence had since inflicted on the society. She said, “You will agree with me that we are having the problems we are having in this country today because of corruption. And it is corruption because we have lost it; moral values, fear of God, we have lost it. But for them (the children of our schools), I want to see a change. They are Daniels wanting Good news comes to Lagos slum Makoko entrepreneurship respectively. One unique thing about the day was that despite the rain that had messed up the environment, the people of the community trooped out in large numbers to witness the programme held at the popular Makoko Hot Spot. On what prompted the NGO to select Makoko as beneficiary of the project, Chief Executive Officer of King’s Domain, Mr. Segun Adaju, said after the investigation, their findings revealed that there was a great need for energy in the community. This reporter and others in Makoko for the first time could not but come to terms with the reality on ground. The thick smoke coming out from different shanties made the few hours spent in the area unbearable. Guests struggled to breathe and endure the stench coming out from the area. Open defecation was also the order of the day. Sunday Vanguard gathered that the smoke was inevitable because the major occupation of the people was fishing, while many of the women roast the fish by the same river where they defecate before taking them to the markets. “I am sure you can feel the smoke since you came here. They cook with firewood and the smoke is almost unbearable. At times we imagine how do they survive? Then we say let’s change the way they live, and do a lot of cooking with kerosene. They always use lamp, candles and a lot of fire incidences have happened here, Adaju said. He explained that the clean energy introduced to the community including solar energy and clean cooking stove would definitely improve how the people live. “The best way to develop a man is to teach him how to fish instead of just giving him food to eat. Then for the youths, we trained them on how to be installers and technicians in solar as well as how to assemble clean stove,” he said. “For the women, we have decided to raise small loans for them to start up as entrepreneurs selling these products. We have talked to our partners and some microfinance bank about the capital. We need small seed capital to let them start to trade”. He added that the grants for the training were from GEF, stressing that there is need for Nigerian government to support capacity building like this. At t Livingspring Schools, we train ain children to be the change we want to see —Obayomi to come and be the difference in this moral decadence world.” She went on: “We in Livingspring Schools have been enjoying the privilege and patronage of government. They have rules which we follow. But then they give us the latitude, the ambit that we can do something especially because of the moral decadence in the society. So the government is not opposed to our teaching children in the way of the Lord. And what we have done actually for parents coming is give them a form that they fill. They know us right from the beginning that we are a Christian school just like any other faith that also has an intervention in the education sector. Ours is just to make sure that the children that we have now are not manipulated by the devil and by all the gadgets that we have around for them to stand and be who God has ordained them to be now and in future. Also we want to see them become governors. We want to see them become Presidents. We want to see them become lawyers having the fear of God and then knowing what to do at every point in time”. Also speaking, the school’s Head of Administration, Mr. Adeniyi Gbogunloko, said the event was to mark the end of 2015/2016 academic session and seize it to honour the pupils graduating from reception to primary one and from basic six to secondary school for the work they had put in and to congratulate their parents who, he said, had invested in so much on their children so that they can become successful in life. Gbogunloko added that Livingspring Schools has staff members whose qualifications span first decree to doctorate degree. The Guest of Honour, Prof. Kayode Amund ,presenting a prize to Ibukun Oluwa Ogunlewe during the prize giving ceremony of Grace High School, Gbagada, Lagos. By Yinka Ajayi To curtail the rising number of Christian singles, a group of relationship experts launched a Christian-based online application, known as `Believers connect'. Lead Pastor of The Elevation Church, Godman Akinlabi, said it had become necessary to help Christian singles find godly-spouse. “Believers Connect was created to ease the stress and pain some single Christians go through while trying to find a worthy life partner. There are so many hard working, matured Christian men and women out there that have become limited in their choices as a result of their daily routine, mostly influenced by their job, business or church engagements now desperate for a life partner. This is about to change with Believers Connect”, Akinlabi told journalists. Meanwhile, a relationship talk show host, Stephen Omojuyigbe, said there was hope for single Christians in finding life partners with the App. “The essence of Believers Connect is to bring together Christian faithful who are single and committed to finding a spouse from across the country. “Believers connect can be downloaded on all android smart phones from the android play store,” Omojuyigbe, the host of Deep Soul, stressed. Taiwan Alumni get new EXCO The Taiwan Alumni Association of Nigeria, TAAN, has elected new executives. The exco emerged during its annual dinner for members in Abuja. The new executives are Mr. Leon Aliboh, Director of ICT in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology who is Chairman, while Mrs. Emi Ogunboye, an Assistant Director in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, is Vice Chairman. Mr. Aminu Sanni Yargaya of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, is Secretary while the Head of Business and Economy Desk of Africa Independent Television, Mr. Emmanuel Imevbore Ohiomokhare, public relations officer. The Taiwan Alumni Association of Nigeria is a group of about one hundred professionals who have benefited from training programmes from the Republic of China, Taiwan in the last two decades. No going back on the dissolution of Itama Exco - NWA THE Nigerian Welders Association (NWA) says the dissolution of the Pius Itama-led National Executive Council and the appointment of a nine-man Caretaker Committee to run group's affairs is irreversible.“In a statement by Comrade Joseph Idjai, Delta Zone Chairman of the body, who presided over the special delegates conference that removed Itama on June 11 at the Zone D Lagos Secretariat of the NWA, said it resolved to take the action in line with the body's constitution and there was no going back.“"Itama single handedly expelled three of his cabinet members in total disrespect of Rule 14 Section 10. “"Consequently a Caretaker Committee has been put in place in accordance with the association's constitution. We urge oil and gas companies to be informed and avoid dealing with the past executive committee", the statement noted. C M Y K
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COLLAPSE OF CEASEFIRE: MEND issues two-week ultimatum

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