25042019 - Free web operators threaten national security — EXPERTS

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40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019 Imo and the politics of transition THE allegory of the tortoise that willfully refused entreaties from concerned friends who desperately tried to dissuade him from a disaster prone journey fascinates me. Asked when he would return, his “not until I am disgraced” retort was both instructive and foreboding. His friends, aghast, must have wondered what would spur him on such nihilistic mission. I get the same feeling these days anytime I reflect on the infantile theatrics of the outgoing Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. Like the axiomatic tortoise, Okorocha at the twilight of his administration has decided to swim against the tide of decency, decorum and graciousness. His friends are horror-struck. If the governor is a man given to introspection, he wouldn’t even wait to be dissuaded. Enlightened self-interest would have come to his rescue. But Okorocha, blinded by hubris, sees himself as the charmer who cannot fail. But, is he? No! If he thought he was, the outcome of the 2019 elections proved otherwise, and his well-wishers had hoped he would beat a retreat thereafter. He didn’t. Instead, he is doubling down on the perfidious road which ultimate destination is the land of disgrace. While other outgoing governors are in the transition mode, preparing their handover notes and working towards a hitchfree hand over of the reins of power to their successors, Okorocha, typically, is navigating a different tangent, elevating mischief to a statecraft. Okorocha has vowed not to allow the state governor-elect, Emeka Ihedioha, have an easy ride to power. It is an ill-advised gambit but like the axiomatic tortoise, he has vowed not to retreat until he is disgraced. Possible dissolution So, on the eve of his departure from office, Okorocha, who abdicated governance for a long time, suddenly remembered it is time for him to govern. On April 5, he inaugurated boards of 38 parastatals, admonishing the members “not to fear over possible dissolution by the incoming government” and “to deploy their wealth of experience to ensure that they bring the desired results in their respective boards and parastatals”. Was Okorocha’s administration allergic to such desired results? As if that is not bad enough, barely one month to the end of his eight-year governorship, Okorocha bizarrely inaugurated a six-man committee, headed by Prof. Chima Iwuchukwu, to establish six new universities, two colleges of education and four polytechnics, which he claimed were fully ready to resume academic activities. Most comical is the so-called University of Medical Sciences, Ogboko, which he claimed will be serviced by the non-existent new ultra-modern 200-bed hospitals in each of the 27 local government areas in the state. While the governor is thumping his chest for turning the state into a haven for medical tourism, doctors in the state commenced an indefinite strike to protest what they called open marginalisation of medical practitioners in the state. The media is awash with stories of alleged massive looting in the state. Government properties are allegedly being carted away. And fingers of blame are pointing directly at officials of Okorocha’s government. The greatest drawback of Nigeria’s democracy is its ability to mass produce dictators who rarely see leadership from the prism of service and ability to positively influence others towards achieving ennobling goals. They hug the hubristic absolutism of King Louis XIV of France and his ‘L’etat c’est moi’ (I am the state’) avowal with fanfare, even when Nigeria is a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l democracy. Nigerian governors have acquired the very unhealthy Why would Okorocha not ensure that there is a smooth transition of power even if the power is being transferred to an opposition party? appetite of absolute monarchs, behaving as if they are the state writ large. In Nigeria, there is hardly any difference between private purse and public till. Impunity is the new normal. Okorocha is immune to reason. He hugs impunity with relish. Seamless transition of power is the norm in every democracy. Okorocha benefitted from such process eight years ago. It is foolhardiness to work against the norm. Outgoing governments should be as interested in transition committees as those coming to take over from them because it is a statutory prerequisite for any new administration. So, Okorocha is not being asked to do anything new. He is not reinventing the wheel. In fact, Imo has the unique position of being the state where transfer of power since 1999 has been from a ruling party to an opposition party. When Achike Udenwa who governed the state for eight years under the platform of the PDP was leaving office in 2007, he handed over to Ikedi Ohakim who won on the platform of Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA. Ohakim, who later defected to PDP handed over to Okorocha who won on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in 2011 without any hassles. So, why would Okorocha not ensure that there is a smooth transition of power even if the power is being transferred to an opposition party? Imolites are watching and keeping records even as the governor-elect, Emeka Ihedioha, moves on in spite of Okorocha’s shenanigans. And Imolites are also working to ensure that the man they collectively and unequivocally handed their mandate does not fall into the malcontent ditch dug for him. While inaugurating the handover committee on Tuesday, April 9, Ihedioha called for “a sombre ceremony devoid of the usual pomp and pageantry heralding a new administration,” even as he acknowledged that “the PDP and Imo people are entitled to a little celebration of a hard won victory that heralded the liberation of the state from the shackles of bad governance.” Imolites are in a hurry to catch up with development. For them, Okorocha is not part of that future. That explains the unprecedented level of enthusiasm and commitment of the people to the Imo project. Shackles of bad governance They are revelling in the “liberation of the state from the shackles of bad governance, maladministration, destruction of the structures and institutions of representative government, nepotism, and absolute lack of due process in the way governmental business is conducted.” That explains the large number of people who are volunteering to work pro-bono in both the transition technical committee set up to help prepare a road map for governance and the inauguration committee. Ihedioha did not need to tell members that “the work of the committees is basically voluntary with little or no remuneration”, or that Okorocha had refused to commit government money to the transition process. The people already know and are determined to move forward despite Okorocha. They appreciate the great and difficult task ahead and are prepared. The only Imolite who does not seem to appreciate the fact that with the outcome of the March 9 governorship poll, the people have decided to move on is Okorocha himself. He does not seem to appreciate that the train has left the station and is headed to a new destination. Imo people are angry. The anger is real, potent and palpable. It is pity that the man who ought to know is oblivious of this fact. The good thing is that the choice not to turn back from this ill-advised journey is personal. The disgrace is assured. AAUA students protest hike in tuition fee •Ibarapa Poly shut over non-accreditation of courses campus on Monday, May 20, By Dayo Johnson & Ola Ajayi AKURE—AUTHORITIES of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, AAUA, in Ondo State, yesterday, ordered the closure of the institution following students' riot over hike in tuition fees. The institution was shut last year when the tuition fees were hiked by the school authorities. The tuition fee was hiked from N35,000 to N200,000 but was later reduced following the State Government's intervention. Vanguard learned that the school authorities imposed additional payment of N10,000 for late registration on the students. The students reportedly protested after the management insisted that those who failed to pay the school fees, at a specific period, should pay for late registration. They reportedly resisted all attempts by their Deans and Head of Department to effect the nopay-no-test policy as directed by the management. A circular released by the University authorities directed "the students, who are yet to pay their tuition to pay an additional N10,000 for late registration and whoever fails to pay and register, would not be allowed to write first semester 2018/2019 examination, tagged No Registration, No Examination." The circular, signed by the Registrar, Dr Sunday Ayerun, directed all Deans and HODs to implement the policy. One of the student leaders, who spoke with Vanguard, said: "How can you expect a student that is yet to pay normal school fees to pay additional N10000 as fine for late registration? "I know if such student or their parents have the tuition, they would have paid since, these days, some of our leaders that enjoyed scholarships are now putting more financial burden on the less privileged." Institution shut Meanwhile, the school management, in a bid to avoid breakdown of law and order on the campus, has approved a midsemester break for all students of the university. In a statement, the university registrar, Sunday Ayeerun said: "All students of the university are to vacate campus and proceed on the Mid-Semester break with immediate effect. "Students are to resume to By Elizabeth Uwandu LAGOS—COLLEGES of Education Academic State Union, COEASU, at its 50th South-West Zonal delegate Congress has called for the revitalization of all internally generated revenue programmes; the payment of 53.37 percent of allowances and arrears among other demands. The Congress, held at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, AOCOED, saw Union leaders across the South- West zone present situational reports of their colleges. Chairman of COEASU- AOCOED and host of the 2019." Ibarapa Poly shut over nonaccreditation of course Similarly, the continued protest by ex students of Ibarapa Polytechnic over non issuance of certificates that would allow them to participate in a compulsory one year National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, scheme has led to paralysis of academic activities in the institution. The protesting students complained that the management had allegedly failed in their responsibilities to resolve the issue due to alleged mismanagement of funds meant for the accreditation of the Engineering course of the instituition. All the gates leading to the institution were locked as early as 8am. The National Senate President of the Federation of Oyo State Students Union, FOSSU, Mr. Wasiu Oke said: "We have not heard anything about this issue since our last protest. All our efforts to get in touch with the authority proved abortive and our problems are yet to be attended to. That's why we are here to show our grievances." Also, chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students in Oyo State, Mr. Olujuwon Asubiojo said the association would no longer condone any excuses again. "What we are requesting from the school management is to resolve this problem on time. The Oyo State Government should be ready to fund the accreditation and the management also should be accountable for all the money they have collected", he said. We have shortage of funds— Rector Reacting to the issue, the Rector of the institution, Mr. Eyitayo Iyiola said that the major problem in the whole issue was shortage of fund from the Oyo State government and misinformation from the Faculty of Engineering of the institution. Iyiola said: "The management of the school didn't have enough fund to buy engineering materials to accredit the engineering courses and we have been misinformed by the Faculty concerning the accreditation. "This problem will be resolved very soon because the National TETFUND has promised us some funds, together with other individuals who have shown interest in assisting us." COEASU demands payment of 53.37% allowances, arrears Congress, Ige Ajayi said: "A union is measured by its number of agitations turned to achievements. Our union is not unaware of the many challenges being faced. However, with the support of our Congress, these agitations shall be addressed. "These agitations are: Resuscitation of all College internally generated revenue programmes, IGRP. Honestly, that is the only way our college can survive the economic turmoil; Signing of National Certificate of Examination, NCE certificate by the Provost and the Registrar of Colleges should be extended to the State Colleges; Life salary for our chief lecturers have been done to the professors in the universities."
Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019 — 41 vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES 018773962, 08052867058 Free web operators threaten national security — EXPERTS Continues from Page 5 ARPU. Wakil also said that for now, the regulator is not regulating the activities of OTTs in any form even though “conversations are on-going” on possible ways of creating a middle ground between the telcos and OTTs so that both can coexist in a friendly ecosystem. Nätional security under threat; NCC comes under fire Immediately Wakil finished his presentation, operators faulted the regulator’s stance, saying it would not only violate local content policy but could also create a dangerous national security question. Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom operators in Nigeria, ALTON, Engr Gbenga Adebayo countered that instead of technology neutrality the NCC should collaborate with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN to evolve a regulatory framework capable of making both OTT players and mainstream telecoms operators remain in business without the dagger-point relationship that exists today. Adebayo argued that the surge in OTT services have enormous social, economic, security implications due to the fact that they are neither licensed nor regulated which now pose trade danger for telecoms. His words: “The OTT service providers are not regulated and that means there is no limit or scope to what they can do; no control over the services and content they can provide. “In real truth, the problem is that the proliferation of Over The Top messaging apps (applications) and internet calls, which use the internet to deliver content, is eating into the revenue of Main Network Operators (MNOs) used to enjoy. Over the top service providers utilizes traditional Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) infrastructure to offer social networks, voice and instant messaging services to retain user loyalty and drive stickiness, with a view to creating large on-line communities and eventually attract huge advertisement revenues. The telcos have neither rights nor control over OTT services, as customers have the discretion to use the internet as desired. “Telcos invest a lot on network infrastructure in order to provide basic and innovative services to customers. Even as core voice and SMS revenues are decreasing continuously due to impact of OTT players who offer voice, video and messaging services free of charge to users, the telcos will continue to invest a lot to make the networks support the data tsunami generated by the OTTs. That means the telcos incur the costs while OTT players make Naira down at N359/$ in parallel market By Elizabeth Adegbesan The naira yesterday was stable at N359.3 per dollar in the parallel market. According to naijabdcs.com, the live exchange rate platform of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators (ABCON), the parallel market exchange rate dropped to N359 per dollar yesterday from N359.3 per dollar on Monday, translating to 30 kobo appreciation of the naira. Similarly, the naira yesterday appreciated by 29 kobo in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window due to a 86 percent rise in the volume of dollars traded. Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for the I&E window dropped to N 360.29 per dollar yesterday from N360.52 per dollar on Monday, translating to 29 kobo appreciation for the naira. The volume of dollars (turnover) traded on the window yesterday rose by 86 percent to $ 261.73 million from $ 141.02 million traded on Monday. FIRE—Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to the Niger Delta, Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade, speaking during his arrival at scene of the fire incident on a vegetation at Awoba, at the Nembe Creek Trunk Line in Rivers State, yesterday. Photo: NAN. the money without paying anything either to telcos or government”. National security at risk Adebayo said that beyond all these is the security risk their operations pose to the nation. He said: “OTT players also hold many customers’ personal data they can use for any desired purpose without risk of being sanctioned by the government while telcos are forbidden to use or disclose subscriber information to third parties.” He, however, recommended that the NCC give special incentives to telcos to cushion the effects of their revenue losses or adopt the “same service, same licensing” regime, which he described as international practice, to avoid distortion in the nation’s telecom sector. OTTs, banks killing small operators Also, the National Coordinator, Wireless Access Services Providers of Nigeria, WASPAN, Mr Chijioke Ezeh, agreed with Adebayo that leaving the activities of OTT service providers open will endanger the economy further than it has already done. Ezeh said that the number of value added service providers has dwindled since patronage to their services now go to the OTTs and banks. He specifically lamented that both recharge card manufacturers and vendors have been put out of business as the services are rendered by banks who introduce vending apps on their platforms. According to Ezeh, “there have been arguments that there is a competition among OTTs Telcos and VAS. This is akin to calling a match between the Super Eagles and Principal Cup winners a competition. “Competitions have rules set on a level playing field. What is currently obtainable today is that whereas Telcos, VAS and OTTs offer similar services such as voice, text and data services, only Telcos and VAS are licensed and heavily monitored. OTTs have a free rein. “Nigeria’s telecoms industry is summarily owned by foreigners. In the earliest days, investments and forexbased investments were heavy. However, the market has expanded By Emman Ovuakporie and Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA—ONE of the key aspirants for the speaker’s position, Mohammed Umar Bago, has advised newly elected members to remain calm over threats that open ballot will be adopted in the National Assembly elections. According to him, the legislature has an established tradition that can’t be altered. Bago, who stated this in an interactive session into several other categories, which should have encouraged more local investor participation. The primary responsibility of market creation for indigenous participation and investment is the regulator’s. Therefore, NCC must develop attractive incentives to woo local investors to take advantage of lowbarrier opportunities particularly in the service and last-mile areas” He regretted that to date, there’s yet to be known, any generally acceptable, and comprehensive industrywide strategy for harnessing the potential benefits of the telecoms industry, adding that “this is why frameworks, policies and guidelines aren’t always in tandem with themselves or with federal government programs. Examples of such are the disparities between the Ease-of-Doing Business in Nigeria and the Executive Order 5 on Local Content in ICT among others. Still lamenting the dwindling revenues in the industry, Executive Director, Business Development, B r o a d b a s e d Communications limited, Mr Chidi Ibisi, made a passionate appeal to the NCC to reconsider its neutrality stance and ensure that the businesses of licensed operators in the country are protected. “when we are saying technology neutrality, are we considering the licensed operator who borrowed money from the bank; who is thinking how to repay the loan and equity? Are we thinking of invasion of foreign operators we do not know where they are operating from? We should be wary of invasion of our national security”he added. Speakership: Don’t be threatened by calls for open ballot —Bago tells Reps-elect •Says NASS has established tradition with major stakeholders in Abuja yesterday, said: “The developing story is that I have withdrawn from the race. That is not true. I am in the race and I am going to the floor on the day of the inauguration and by God’s grace, I will come out victorious, because the issues we are calling for have not been addressed; the issues of justice and equity. “All men and women of faith have continued to encourage us on this journey and we are not going to rest on our oars. “We have our colleagues behind us and by the grace of God, just the 360 of us will be in that hallowed chamber on that day to elect one of us. “When people talk about loyalty, I laugh. Can there be anybody more loyal to the party than we are? We have come with President Muhammadu Buhari from the time of The Buhari Organisation, TBO, Congress for Progressives Change, CPC, merger, to the APC and now next level. Our CV is too much for us to throw away at this time. “We are very loyal to the party and we are core Buharists. We are disciples of a leader who has taught us to do things rightly. "
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