29042019 - Economy bleeds as power system collapses

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Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2019—27 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com Nigeria and May Day in the Centenary of the ILO THE 2019 May Day is on Wednesday. May Day is both a distress call and a battle cry by workers. This year’s commemoration also marks the centenary of the International Labour Organisation, ILO, which has become the universal symbol of Labour. But just as May Day was born in the quite bloody circumstances of the 1886 state murder of American labour leaders, so was ILO born in the bloody peace treaty of the First World War; a war with 40 million casualties, including 19 million deaths. The world was in turmoil and in November 1917, the Russian Revolution sprouted, threatening to trigger workers' revolts in many countries. On June 28, 1919, the Versailles Peace Treaty ending World War I was signed. Thirteen of its 15 parts punished defeated Germany. The Treaty forced the disarmament of Germany, imposed on it heavy reparations, seized some of its territories and gave them to Poland, Czechosolovakia and Belgium, and confiscated (instead of granting independence) Germany’s colonies in China, the Pacific and Africa. These included Togo, Cameroun, Namibia, Tangayika (now part of Tanzania) and Botswana. However, the first part of the Treaty was the Covenant which established the League of Nations, while the 13th part established the ILO in the name of universal peace based on social justice. The ILO constitution stated that the prevailing conditions of injustice, hardship and privation in which millions of workers exist, is capable of producing “unrest so great that the peace and harmony of the world are imperiled” and, therefore, called for urgent improvement. It argued that the establishment of the ILO is essential because “the failure of any nation to adopt humane conditions of labour is an obstacle in the way of other nations which desire to improve the conditions in their own countries.” On May 10, 1944, the Declaration of Philadelphia was made as an annex to the ILO Constitution. It emphasized the centrality of human rights to social policy and the need for international economic planning. Amongst other issues the Declaration stated that “labour is not a commodity,” and that “all human beings, irrespective of race, creed or sex, have the right to pursue both their material well-being and their spiritual development in conditions of freedom and dignity, of economic security and equal opportunity." It also famously declared that “poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere.” In 1946, the ILO was made a specialised agency of the United Nations. Although the ILO could neither stop the bloodier Second World War nor other wars, including those that today engulf a fifth of the African continent, it has introduced Standards and Conventions which have helped to regulate Labour Relations in most countries. One of the major challenges of the ILO, is the rich Western countries lording it over the rest of humanity. However, it was at the ILO Nigeria scored one of its most stunning diplomatic victories in the interest of the African people and to the glory of humanity. Nigeria became independent on October 1, 1960. At its first attendance of the ILO Conference in It was at the ILO Nigeria scored one of its most stunning diplomatic victories in the interest of the African people and to the glory of humanity Geneva nine months later, Chief Joseph Modupe Johnson (JMJ) as Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Head of the Nigerian Delegation personally moved a motion that Apartheid South Africa should be thrown out of the ILO. He stood up at the ILO Conference and pronounced that the resolution was in the name of the Government of Nigeria and that “of the 40 million people of Nigeria”. He said the Nigerian people “have good will, love and affection towards other people irrespective of the colour of their skin, (and) believes in the equality of all races, abhor racial discrimination in all its forms and with all its trappings, wherever and by whomever it is practised.” The motion by Johnson and some amendments made on the floor read: “Whereas the International Labour Organisation, dedicated to the pursuit of lasting peace based on social justice, has stressed the need for freedom of expression and of association, and the right of all human beings irrespective of race, creed or sex to pursue both their material well-being and their spiritual development in conditions of economic security and equal opportunity, as fundamental to the attainment of the aims and purposes of the organisation. "Whereas the organisation has adopted a series of Conventions and Recommendations calculated to implement these aims and purposes, especially as regards the promotion of freedom of association, the abolition of forced labour, the elimination of discrimination, the free choice of employment, and just and favourable conditions of employment. Whereas the Government of the Republic of South Africa, in spite of its long association with the International Labour Organisation, accepts and practices the policy of apartheid, which said policy subjects indigenous African citizens to racial discrimination to their economic and social disadvantage, in contravention of the principles, aims and purposes of the International Labour Organisation. "Now, therefore, this General Conference of the International Labour Organisation, meeting in its Forty-Fifth Session in Geneva, this day of June in the year nineteen hundred and sixty-one, hereby - '1. Condemns the racial policies of the Government of the Republic of South Africa. 2. Expresses the utmost sympathy with those people of South Africa whose fundamental rights are suppressed by the apartheid policy of the Government of the Republic of South Africa as well as those courageous people who irrespective of race and colour, are opposing apartheid. “ '3. Declares that the continued membership of the Republic of South Africa in the International Labour Organisation is not consistent with the aims and purposes of the Organisation. 4. Resolves that the Governing Body of the International Labour Office is requested to advise the Republic of South Africa to withdraw from membership of the Organisation until such time as the Government of the said Republic abandons apartheid which is against the declared principles embodied in the constitution of the International Labour Organisation, and further requests the Governing Body to ensure speedy implementation of this resolution.'" Most European government and employer delegates including those of the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Australia, Italy and Spain abstained as did the United States and of course, South Africa. The claim was that Nigeria was introducing politics into the ILO which is a non-partisan UN agency. Despite this opposition, the motion received an overwhelming endorsement. The other Nigerian delegates to that momentous ILO Conference were Messrs Tom Edogbeji, Aitkins Salubi, Tijani. M. Yusuf (Government), Mrs. Moore (Employers) and Comrade Lawrence Borha (Workers). Twenty nine years after Nigeria moved that motion, Nelson Mandela, newly freed from apartheid jail after 27 years, stood before the ILO Conference on Friday June 8, 1990 to thank the international body for that decision. The struggle continues. Africa and the opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative By Charles Onunaiju THE second international forum of the China-initiated Belt and Road, which Nigeria and about 35 other African countries are partners, held in Beijing, April 25 and 26. The meeting came six years since the initiative was announced by the Chinese President, XI Jinping in 2013, and offers Africa a unique opportunity of closing the historical gap that has challenged the pan-Africanist vision and agenda of regional integration. It also seeks the construction of economies of scale for efficient and competitive integration into the global value chain through procuring the enabling physical and institutional infrastructural connectivity. Because of the deficit, African countries trade more with others than among themselves. The cost of shipping from one country in Africa to another, for instance, is prohibitively outrageous and hampers the core value of economies of scale and opportunities of comparative advantage among countries within the region. Equally because of shortages in enabling infrastructural connectivity, funding and competent personnel, the struggle of African countries to overcome bottlenecks and build long-term sustainable and inclusive economies have suffered hiccups. However, within the context of the Forum On China-Africa Cooperation, FOCAC, established in 2000, African countries have through joint efforts with China, begun to overcome some of the structural gridlocks that have hindered economic development. In the past two decades since the establishment of the Forum On China-Africa Cooperation which gave practical expression to the historic solidarity that have traditionally existed between the two sides, after the founding of modern China and decolonisation of Africa, the strategic partnership have nudged vital and formidable footprints in the struggle for sustainable development and improved living conditions for people in Africa. The Belt and Road Initiative, China’s enigmatic contemporary contributions to global governance and inclusive development, through the re-founding of the spirit of the ancient Silk Road through which mutual exchanges in trade, culture and people-topeople contacts facilitated over two millennia ago, has been brought to drive a new framework of international cooperation anchored on consultations, inclusion and participation. As a global public good, Belt and Road has already enjoyed global acceptance, though in some quarters, doubts and outright misrepresentation of its essence and significance remain. However, Belt and Road Initiative, a process of international cooperation that is still unfolding and a work in process, is, however, not a geo-political strategy to advance grand hegemony and project national chauvinism. China maintains consistently that the success of the Belt and Road Initiative would depend so much on global ownership through extensive consultations, joint contributions and shared benefits among partners. Highways, railways and other overland transport arteries that would transverse the economic Belt across the world would synergize with the maritime road network that would criss-cross the world through ports upgrade, integrated maritime and digital network. Across nations and within nations, the Belt and Road Initiative would enhance connectivity and create industrial clusters along the routes dotted by power plants and other major facility connectivities. These unique global public goods that Belt and Road Initiatives offers are also at the heart of the crucibles that Africa need to sustain the momentum of her contemporary renaissance, especially in the sector of amassing and harnessing the critical infrastructure conducive to long-term sustainable and inclusive economic development. At the September summit of the FOCAC in Beijing, President Xi Jinping told his counterparts from Africa that: “We could both seize the opportunity created by the complementarity between our respective development strategies and the major opportunities presented by the Belt and Road Initiative,” and noted that: "The Belt and Road Initiative and Africa Union, AU, agenda 2063, the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and development programmes of African countries complement each other.” Against the background of the foregoing, President Xi Jinping is hopeful that China and The Belt and Road Initiative would enhance connectivity and create industrial clusters along the routes dotted by power plants and other major facility connectivities Africa can “expand areas of cooperation, unlock new cooperation potential, and consolidate our traditional areas of cooperation and foster new highlights of cooperation in the new economy”. In the historic Beijing declaration of the summit, the two sides affirmed that: “Africa, being part of the historical and natural extension of the Belt and Road, has been an important participant in this initiative. The cooperation between China and Africa under the Belt and Road Initiative will generate more resources and means, expand the market and space for African development, and broaden its development prospects.” Going forward, the two sides agreed “to form a strong synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative, and the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations, Agenda 2063 of African Union, AU, as well as the development strategies of Africa", and expressed the firm belief that: “The closer connectivity in policy, infrastructure, trade, finance and peopleto-people ties, strengthened industrial capacity cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and greater cooperation in the planning of African infrastructure and industrial development will lend new impetus to the winwin cooperation and development between China and Africa.” As Africa and China deepen cooperation through such strategic framework as the Belt and Road Initiative, traditional distractions originating from quarters that have historically lacked faith in Africa’s renaissance and future, are busy with outlandish innuendoes, about “China’s neo-colonialist intentions” and “debt burden”. The interesting part is only that Africa and China seem too busy and focused with the work at hand and certainly appears to pay no attention. China-Africa cooperation spanning nearly seven decades since colonial domination were overcome on both sides have never claimed to be an Eldorado without twists, turns or even setbacks but mutual respect, common aspirations and now determined efforts on both sides to drive the Belt and Road Initiative and become pacesetters in the building of a community of shared future for all mankind; has been the enabling driver of the steady and stable growth of cooperation between China and Africa. •Onunaiju, Director of the Centre for China Studies, wrote from Abuja. C M Y
28 — Vanguard, MONDAY APRIL 29, 2019 STATE OF THE NATION: We’re back to NADECO days •Says Bucknor-Akerele •Buhari fighting war against PDP, not graft •It’s time to make National Assembly part-time Senator Kofoworola Louisa Bucknor-Akerele will be 80 tomorrow, having been born on April 30, 1939. The journalist, lawyer, politician, botched Third Republic senator, and former deputy governor of Lagos, played a crucial role in the battle to return Nigeria to the democratic path in 1999 through the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO. In this interview at her Ikoyi, Lagos home, the octogenarian, who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, spoke on the state of the nation and lamented that Nigeria is back to the NADECO days. She also spoke on why the PDP lost the governorship election in Lagos, why cost of running the National Assembly should be cut down and the legislature made part-time among others. Excerpts: By Clifford Ndujihe, Acting Political Editor On why the PDP lost the L a g o s governorship election Well, we thought we should have got it this time around but Jimi Agbaje did not relate with the party. And then he was on his own. I think that was what happened and we lost. The loss seems to be creating more crisis in Lagos PDP... There is no crisis in the party. What about chairmanship crisis? There is no chairmanship crisis; we have one chap (Segun Adewale) who was previously a member of our party, he left, went to his state, which is Ekiti to contest governorship election. He failed and now, mysteriously, he is coming back to say he is the chairman of the party. I don’t know whether he is all right. What are the elders doing about that? We have brought the police to clear the boys he put in the party’s secretariat and we are fully back in control of the party. What is your assessment of the 2019 general elections? I am really disappointed in the last election because there was gross intimidation of voters, open buying of votes, election was rigged in many places, figures were just written and handed over to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to announce as results. Where did this happen? Is it in all the states? In virtually all the states especially in Lagos. I had the experience because I was on the field. It was open. In my ward, there was a car that was brought with money and people were going to take money openly and the security agents stood by and watched. Which ward was that? Ward H2 in Victoria Island. What is your advice to INEC to ensure better polls in future? I think this INEC should be dissolved and sent packing. So, I can’t give them any advice. They claimed they were using card readers so that people could not vote more than once but people were voting more than Highlights once. On the high number of petitions, 776, filed in 2019, the second highest since 1999 after the 1,290 petitions that were filed after the 2007 polls It goes to show what happened during the elections. If the elections were free and fair there won’t be petitions. Her take on the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s petition against President Muhammadu Buhari at the tribunal It is an excellent petition. I just pray that the judges will have the courage to do the right thing. What is the right thing? The right thing is to pronounce Atiku Abubakar the winner of the election. It is obvious that he won that election but the election was rigged. Her take on the All Progressives Congress, APC’s claim at the tribunal that Atiku Abubakar is not a Nigerian That is utterly ridiculous. How can a man who is not a Nigerian join the Customs Service, rise to the highest rank in that service, contest for the presidency several times, and became vice president of the country and it is now they discovered he is not a Nigerian. •We are back to the NADECO days •Buhari fighting war against PDP, not corruption • National Assembly should be part-time, running cost too high •Agbaje let the party down and lost Lagos gov poll • Segun Adewale is not Lagos PDP chairman • 2019 polls were militarised, rigged • INEC should be dissolved • It’s ridiculous to say Atiku is not a Nigerian • APC can’t dictate to NASS how to choose their leaders • How government can recognise June 12 • Buhari’s performance is dismal • How we can save our democracy I don't know which APC leader performed well in Lagos State. Babatunde Fashola was there, he planted flowers. Ambode did his little bit, at least he cleared Oshodi of the mess that was there and built a few roads In any case, I think in his reply to that he has given them the relevant answer. The APC likes to play to the gallery and this is •Bucknor-Akerele one of their gambits. On comments that the 2019 polls were militarised yes, it was militarised because it was done in my ward also. The soldiers came, obviously, to intimidate people and some of us faced up to them and didn’t allow them to get away with it. How can we end militarisation of elections? The military should not be involved in our elections at all. Their job is to ensure the integrity of the country and not to be involved in election. On the APC adoption of Senator Ahmad Lawan as Senate President and Mr Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the Ninth National Assembly I don’t know whether their rules have changed since I was in the Senate but normally, the National Assembly chooses its own leaders and that is done by all the concerned parties in the National Assembly. It is not the party that dictates who should be their leaders. Could you recall some of the good things the Third National Assembly you belonged to did in 1993? We stood firm on June 12 election and some of us gathered ourselves and tabled a resolution asking that the results be announced and Chief M.K.O Abiola declared the winner. Some of us were arrested as a result of that as you are well aware. What is your take on President Bhari’s recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day? Have they declared Abiola as the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election? Recognising June 12 as democracy day is a different thing. What they should do is to announce the result and apologise to the country for the annulment. On the exchanges among Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives S p e a k e r , Y a k u b u Dogara on allegations that the Eight National Assembly hampered President Buhari’s projects and plans for the country I don’t see how they hampered the progress of the President’s administration. I think the President Buhari hampered his own progress by not delivering his promises to the people. Tinubu accused them of delaying and padding budgets He should prove where and how they p a d d e d budgets. He should not m a k e allegations without proof. Really, can the National Assembly pad budgets? I don’t think so. As a lawyer, what is your take on the Justice Walter Onnoghen’s saga? It was obvious that some elements wanted Justice Onnoghen out of the way. So far, they seem to have succeeded although Justice Onnoghen has appealed and we await the result of his appeal. Not only that, the person who was sentencing Onnoghen has accusations to answer. I don’t see how a man who is being accused of corruption is sitting in judgement against another man. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has cleared him... I am not aware of that. So far, how would you assess the performance of President Buhari? Dismal. Absolutely dismal. Personally, I would have thought that having done one term, especially with his health issues, he would quietly retire and allow another healthier and more dynamic person run for the presidency but he is there. You think he has not performed in tacking insecurity? Certainly not, giving the way people are being killed every day. They said they had defeated Boko Haram but there is bombing all the time, there is kidnapping, which we did not have before. The security issue has deteriorated considerably. What about the economy? We all know that the economy is in doldrums. Go and look at all the industrial estates and see the number of factories that have closed. What about the war against corruption? I don’t think he has done well in the war against corruption. I think it is war against the PDP. That is how I see it. Why is it that you are fighting war against Continues on page
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29042019 - Economy bleeds as power system collapses

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