COLLAPSE OF CEASEFIRE: MEND issues two-week ultimatum

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PAGE 26–SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 10, 2016 Before parents start eating their kids “Love and business and family and religion and art and patriotism are nothing but shadows of words when a man is starving.” O. Henry, 1862-1910, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, P 233. Nigeria is descending to a new low in barbarism, which if left unchecked will define the new era of politics. Parents, presumed to be sane, but obviously callous and distressed, now sell their kids to procure food for the rest of the family. Whether the evil is perpetrated with a heavy heart is difficult to say until we conduct a study into the motivations of the few known examples to date. And, the sooner the better, because this trend might gain momentum and become irreversible for a long time to come. It is difficult to imagine how parents would determine which of their kids to be sold. That they don’t particularly care what fate befalls that child is obvious. That they don’t consider that the sale of one child for a pittance will not solve their problems permanently is also clear. They certainly don’t ask themselves what will happen when the food purchased with their own kids’ blood money is exhausted. Will they sell another one? Just as obvious to anybody who can think deeply is the fact that those who can willingly sell their own kids would think nothing about trading other people’s children for cash. Perhaps some are already into that business. We will never know until somebody conducts a study to find out if cases of missing children had risen in the communities where parents have been caught selling their own. However, before proceeding with this column, a diversion is necessary. Mr Femi Adesina, Presidential Adviser for Media, was once reported to have stated that he does not believe that Nigerians are suffering now. I sincerely hope he was misquoted. But, in the event he was not, that statement will go down in my own memory as one of the most callous and insensitive ever by an official of the Federal Government. It would also have gone a long way to prove my pet theory that there is a medical and mental phenomenon called ASO ROCK DISEASE. This is defined as an affliction experienced by some individuals who are appointed to great office in Aso Rock and who shortly after reaching there start to make pronouncements that are totally out of character with what they once pretended was their belief. Late Professor Herbert Marcuse, in 1967, in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA, had delivered a lecture in which he declared that “Existence determines consciousness; where you stand determines what you see”. People entering the world of power at Abuja from relative powerlessness can be forgiven if they suddenly talk and behave as part of the power elite. Late Chief Bola Ige became Minister under Obasanjo and quickly declared that there was no need for a Sovereign National Conference – something he had championed all his life. That led to a two-part column from me titled ET TU CHIEF IGE. I asked Uncle Ige if he had not contracted the Aso Rock disease. I certainly hope that Adesina had not contracted that disease which had consumed the reputations of ALL the journalists and columnists who served Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Jonathan before him. None returned from Abuja with their reputations intact – although financially wealthy. Invariably, they have forgotten that “The true measure of your wealth is how much you will be worth when you have lost all your money”. Who now listens to Femi’s last three predecessors in the Rock? They have become the living-dead. It is a fact that it is almost impossible for someone who eats “free lunch”, at the Aso Rock cafeteria, to understand the problems of millions of his fellow Nigerians who have to pay for their own lunch and increasingly cannot find it. Tucked in the comfort Nigerian money can buy, it requires a lot of insight and deep wisdom to sympathise and empathise with those who are not sure of any meal for weeks to come. Empathy is here defined as “standing in somebody else’s shoes”; feeling the pinches. In fact, if Adesina wants to know if Nigerians are suffering, he should ask his former colleagues in the print media who have not received salaries for over four months. They will be the first to ask him to go and wash his mouth with soap. Enough said for now on that. Those not privileged to eat free food at the Rock know that these are the toughest times millions have known in a long, long, long, time. Unfortunately, the worst is yet to come. If people are now selling kids, will they start eating them when things get worse as they will inevitably do in 2016 and 2017? Yet, the signs of imminent famine and mass starvation are there for all to see. Two inescapable factors will serve to illustrate the point – imported and manufactured food items on the one hand and locally produced food items on the other. Floating exchange rate which had effectively devalued the naira had correspondingly set in motion a series of escalating price increases on imported food items and manufactured food items which rely on imports of raw materials. Price of bread will certainly soon go up and one hopes that somebody inside the Rock will not announce “Let them eat cake”, Queen Maries- Antoinette, 1755-1793). That stupid joke by an insensitive woman precipitated a revolution. Even local food production had been devastated by drought. We are in July and the rainfall this year had been the least in over fifty years. Crops are failing everywhere. New yam, which serve as proxy for harvest in general, is not yet out and a quick visit to some farms indicate that a disaster is underway with respect to yam harvest. Only the rich and wealthy will escape the consequences of poor harvests. The most urgent question now confronting Nigeria is descending to a new low in barbarism, which if left unchecked will define the new era of politics.... It is difficult to imagine how parents would determine which of their kids to be sold us is: what will happen to the kids as the calamity unfolds? Will they be served for lunch? Buhari has a whale of a problem on his hands – even if he doesn’t know it yet. ADVICE TO BUHARI ON SARAKI AND OTHERS “There are some individuals who are better kept on the inside pissing out, than on the outside pissing in.” Sam Rayburn, 1882-1961. Sam Rayburn was probably the most powerful Speaker of the US House of Representatives. He was also regarded as a mentor to Lyndon Johnson, 1908- 1973, who was Senator, Vice President and President of America. The story had been told about when Rayburn faced with some rebels in the House within his own political party and someone asked him why he did not use his enormous power to deal with them. Wise Sam made the statement above which has relevance for Nigerian politics today. As everybody knows now, there is a total breakdown in relationships between President Buhari and the Senate President. The heads of the Executive and legislative branches are literally at war. On both sides, the combatants are in the trenches; political, as well as real, lives are at stake. On paper the balance of power is with the executive branch; but it might turn out to be a costly blunder for anybody to assume that it is overwhelming. Unfolding events out of Buhari’s control are already reducing the power gap. The cases started including the forgery case will certainly not be concluded soon. They will wind their way to the Supreme Court after several trips to the Courts of Appeal and Buhari’s term might be over before we have heard the last words on these. Meanwhile, there are three more budgets to be presented to the Senate, appointments to be approved, ambassadors to interrogate, inevitable economic recession to address – all of which need Senate support. To make matters worse the Minister of Justice who approved the prosecution of Saraki and Ekweremandu is already involved in conflict of interest controversy. Saraki on the outside is dangerous…. The young shall grow I have done the three things which a man must do – I have planted a tree; I have fathered a child, and I have written a book. I have done more; I have seen the world and enjoyed largely a good part of my 71 years. — Kola Animasaun Ido not know those who have been 80 years old but I know it’s been something to be 77years. When my daughter,Denrele asked me to put my thoughts on paper to mark my birthday, I do not know where to begin. It has been a very eventful journeyfrom my primary school in Abeokuta and Ibadan; from my school in Fiditi and the Abeokuta Grammar School to my professional colleges in London. It was a stage that old Shakespeare called seven stages or is it ages? I have lived 55 years of journalism and that will take some telling and that will be for some other time. Now, I want to remember people who have been good to me and/ or have helped my career. Chief Bisi Onabanjo, journalist and politician would be my first port of call. I went to see him in Daily Express to ask him for a job. Chief Onabanjo was the editorial director of the paper but then, he wrote one of the most powerful columns in Nigeria. Most people do not know him for the job he held but do for his ‘Aiyekoto’ column. Most people read him but most decision makers listen to what he had to say. I learned in his stable even as a sub-editor. Chief Onabanjo was a governor of Ogun State. Uncle Sam, a soft-spoken man also contributed to the making of the man, Kola. He was one of the heavy writers of his age. At school, we burrowed from the library Sam, Allah De and Ebenezer Williams. I did not meet Uncle Sam when I went to work for the Express but I heard of him and he had gone to the Daily Times. I heard and saw of him in the Vanguard which he published and still do. He did not write his column which popularised him but he has, and still is popular for his turning out good journalists. One of that is yours truly. I, however, still remember Uncle Sam for his kindness. He will ask for your family and your well-being. Uncle Sam has visited me in my home many times I cannot now remember how many timeboth in illness and in good health. Allah De-Alade Odunewu -was a master craftsman. I mean when word craftsmen are concerned. And we learnt a lot from him. He wrote like a professor letting the words just sink in. His Sunday tonic was a sine qua non. He visited me in my home -one old man to another young boy. Alade was once commissioner in Lagos State government. Lateef Kayode Jakande is still alive and kicking and his John West column in the Tribune was a must read. By the way, he is my older cousin and my father’s cousin by extension from our Omuaran root. His father, Oloye Jakande was my father’s cousin and so loved him to name When my daughter,Denrele asked me to put my thoughts on paper to mark my birthday, I do not know where to begin. It has been a very eventful journeyfrom my primary school in Abeokuta and Ibadan; from my school in Fiditi and the Abeokuta Grammar School to my professional colleges in London Lateef after my father when he was born. When I went to work for Tribune, he was in castration but we worked for him all the same. LKJ has/had courage and spirit and as governor of Lagos State, he set all the good examples. Chief Olu Adebanjo was my editor at the Daily Express. He became council Chairman of Ijebu Odogbolu Local Government in his dying years but he has served Shagari in NPN days. I learned an undying lesson from him. How not to be proud on account of your achievements. It is a long story; but the long and short of it is that you never know who you will meet on your way down. My friend, the Akirogun of the Egbas, Olusegun Osoba is special. We were not friends at first, but through my long lasting friend Eddie Kola Aderinokun. Akirogun will defend my position and will put things my way. When he offered me the chairmanship of Abeokuta North Local Government, I had had no experience of it. I do not know why I deserve his special care. May he live long! I wish I knew where Chief Emiola Atanda is now. He was editor of the Tribune in 1964. I heard he was a professor of communication in Ife or thereabout. He was way up my elder. He treated me well and I learned some of his editorial styles in my craft. Eddie Aderinokun is my lifelong friend. We started from secondary school in Abeokuta and we wanted to go into journalism together. I started at the Daily Express a month ahead of him and we have been inseparable. Eddie would do anything possible for me. I stayed with him at Yaba and he visited me in Stockholm. I became friends with Dayo Duyile and we have been friends ever since. It was Dayo who dragged me to lecture at the NIJ. I can go on and on about my friends because they bunch with me, but there are some special friends I cannot stop singing about-my wife and children. They go with me through rain or shine. My wife -Silifat Modupeola Animasaunmy wife of 54 years and my children. The hallmark of my life has been its contentment. I have been content with life from my early years. I have been satisfied with it and I take whatever comes to me. Alhamdulilah. C M Y K
VANGUARD, SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2016, PAGE 27 Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep record improved sales A typical used car market Auto policy summit: Dealers differ on imported used cars THERE is a saying that when two brothers come out from a meeting, frowning, they must have told each other the bitter truth. This was exactly what happened recently at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of the one-day stakeholders’ forum on the Nigerian automotive industry. The event put together by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group has the theme Setting an implementation agenda for the national automotive plants. The forum discussed the way forward for the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan, NAIDP, with the main objective of eliminating existing limitations in implementation process. Present at the event were Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Okechukwu Enelomah, the Director General of National Automotive Design and Development Council as well as chieftains in the automotive industry, like Chief Michael Ade- Ojo of Elizade Group, William Anumudu of Globe Motors, Cosmos Maduka of Coscharis Group, Ibrahim Boyi of PAN Nigeria Ltd, and a host of others. In his opening speech, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit, Laoye Jaiyeola, noted the importance of the auto sector to the nation’s economic development. According to him, the choice of the automotive industry as one of those targeted for diversification of the economy is predicated on the potential of the industry to play a strategic and catalytic role in economic development in the area of employment creation, GDP contribution, SME development. Automotive parts, components and services, skills development and the acquisition of technology other areas are the sector can also boost the economy. He regretted that though the size of the automobile market in Nigeria is worth over four billion dollars annually, it does not translate into anything meaningful for the country characterised by importation. So the forum was challenged to leave no stone unturned in proffering solution that could make the policy work. Jaiyeola reminded the participants that the success NAIDP does not only have implications for the development of small and medium enterprises, but ultimately offers the opportunity of Nigeria moving significantly on the Doing Business rankings or indeed the WEF competitive rankng. The discussant which includes The Managing Director of PAN Nigeria Ltd, Ibrahim Boyi; Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, Dr. Cosmas Maduka of Coscharis Group, Thomas Pelletier, Managing Director CFAO Automotive, Tokunbo Aromolaran, Managing Director of VON Automobiles Ltd, expressed their views on the ban of imported used vehicles, tariff increase, closure of land border. Setting the debate in motion, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, explained that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration does not only believe in the auto policy but is also determined to make a success of it. While the stakeholders agreed on the importance of having a robust auto policy, one issue they expressed divergent views was imported used vehicles, which control a chunk of the nation’s auto market. Mr. Ade-Ojo, noted that placing a ban on imported used vehicles should not be the first thing to do. In his views: “We are importing used vehicles, because local assemblers are not able to meet up the volume of vehicles required by the consumers at the price they can afford. “My take, therefore, is that rather than keep looking at placing a ban on imported used vehicles, we should try to build local content, which is the only way the fruit of the auto policy can be reaped. “Right now, everything is imported. If we can make the tyres, batteries and other parts locally, all of us will be able to use them. What we are doing at the moment is mere assembling, which contribute very little to the economy," he said. Meanwhile, Coscharis chairman, Dr. Maduka, maintained that Nigeria has no reasons importing used vehicles, which in his view, amounts to working against the growth of the auto industry. “In the 70s, “no one was buying used vehicles. If the government is willing to make things happen, they must ban importation of used vehicles. As I am speaking here, we have for long assembled 500 cars that cannot be sold.” He challenged the Federal Government to make up its mind as to what it wants to do and achieve. He added: “And as I have said at several occasions, no woman will deliver a child without going through pain and without losing blood, even if delivered by caesarean. If you ban the used vehicles now, the auto assemblers will be able to sell more and increase volumes." “Initially, it will be painful, but at the long run, prices of vehicles will come down, and today’s new vehicles will become tomorrow’s used vehicles. In other words, those interested in buying used vehicles will have them available in a matter of three, four years.” For Mr. Boyi, Managing Director, PAN Nigeria and Deputy Chairman, Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association, NAMA: “All government need do is increase tariff on used vehicles, assist Nigerian vehicle buyers by supporting vehicle finance scheme as spelt out in the policy, and as it was in the 1970s and 80s’. “Let us look at what made the first auto policy work in the 70s and 80s. Had the government remained steadfast, there would have been no need for another auto policy." “And I will like to add that you do not just make imported used vehicles more expensive, also ensure that vehicle importation record is linked with vehicle registration. In other words, create a central record that will contain data of vehicles imported, for which the appropriate duties are paid. That will shut the door against vehicle smuggling.” Mr. Thomas Pelletier, Managing director, CFAO Automotive Equipment and Services Ltd, supported imposing higher tariff on imported used vehicles and asked the government to discourage automobiles from coming through the land borders. “It is not right for duties on imported used vehicles to be lower than that of brand new vehicles,” he argued. “Rather, custom duties on used and new vehicles should be at par. “Beyond that, there is a need to ban importation of used vehicles through land borders. And the Federal Government should create an enabling environment for auto finance.” Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran, Managing Director, VON Automobile and Chairman NAMA, suggested progressive ban on used vehicles as the way forward. He said: “The fact is that it is abnormal to have a very small market such as we have at the moment. It is so because used vehicles are holding the chunk of the market. For the auto policy to succeed, used vehicles should not be competing with locally assembled vehicles. The least the government can do is impose a levy as envisaged in the auto policy. “Also, assemblers should come up with affordable cars, which can be churned out in numbers. At the same time, the government should ban used cars gradually, not at once.” He suggested a policy that would restrict importation of vehicles via the nation’s sea ports only. “Smuggling cannot be controlled if we continue to allow vehicles from Cotonou,” Aromolaran added. C M Y K
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COLLAPSE OF CEASEFIRE: MEND issues two-week ultimatum

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