29032020 - El Rufai tests positive as experts insist on Total lockdown

PAGE 30—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 29, 2020
Now, where are our
politicians?
For the first time in
many years, Nigeria
h<strong>as</strong> in the l<strong>as</strong>t few
days operated like most
countries of the world
where day to day
happenings are premised
mainly on what
government is doing.
Earlier, the only thing that
w<strong>as</strong> happening in Nigeria
w<strong>as</strong> politics, politics, and
politics, without
governance. As at two days
ago, in the peak of the
coronavirus epidemic,
Zamfara politicians were
still craving for the supreme
court to change their state
government while Bauchi
Speaker w<strong>as</strong> facing
removal threats. Our
politicians have thus
successfully reversed the
order of things making it
appear <strong>as</strong> if the essence of
government is politics
rather than the other way
out. The result h<strong>as</strong> been
stunted development. Not
many remember any more
that the government of the
day is supposed to be for all
citizens; instead
government is now seen <strong>as</strong>
belonging to the ruling
political party <strong>as</strong> if a nation
is made up of only partisan
politicians.
Today’s Nigerian
government w<strong>as</strong> installed in
PhD,Department of
Philosophy,
University of Lagos
08116759758
The audacity of power and
fetishism of due process (2)
n the publication by the
IVice-Chancellor,
“Council received and
considered C.P. No. 2019/20/
3b, which contained the
nominees for honorary
doctorate degrees at the 51st
convocation ceremonies of
the university and the
proposed budget estimate.”
He informed that in line with
the ethos and tradition of the
University of Lagos, “the dates
and programmes of the
convocation ceremonies are
usually brought to the
attention of Council after due
clearance of the dates h<strong>as</strong>
been received from the
supervising ministry, which we
did.” Regarding the issue of
honorary doctorate degrees,
Management complied with
extant university guidelines by
forwarding its nominees to the
Honours Committee of the
Senate. According to Prof.
Ogundipe, mindful of the fact
that the convocation date w<strong>as</strong>
rapidly approaching, he
proactively presented to
Council at its meeting of
January 22, through Council
paper CP 2019/20/3b, names
of the proposed honourees
being considered by the
Honours Committee. During
extensive deliberation on the
matter by Council, Dr.
Babalakin directed that
Management should ensure
that only deserving
individuals are honoured. He
then proposed the name of late
Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh,
which w<strong>as</strong> forwarded to the
Honours Committee for
inclusion <strong>as</strong> one of the
May 2019, approximately
one year ago. Since then,
not much h<strong>as</strong> happened
that can improve the living
standards of the people.
Those in government have
been too busy pandering to
the excessive demands of
their party members,
friends and relations with
little or no time for the main
purpose of government
which section 14 of our
constitution describes <strong>as</strong>
the welfare and security of
the citizenry. Others like
Governor Ob<strong>as</strong>eki of Edo
state who have tried to
change the trend are under
fire from their political
parties. The fact that such
distractions come from
within clearly suggests that
the issue at stake is about
sharing state resources
among party members
notwithstanding the
pretensions by the most
vocal critics that their anger
is not fueled by
materialism. The truth is
that they are not even
prepared for what is called
spoils of office, that is b<strong>as</strong>ed
on constructive patronage.
All they want is “cut for me,
cut for me.” There w<strong>as</strong>,
indeed, the story of a party
leader who rather than
commend government for
tarring the road where his
awardees by the Vice-
Chancellor. I remember
clearly that Dr. Adadevoh’s
nomination w<strong>as</strong> unanimously
endorsed by Senate members
present during one of the
meetings when the
convocation w<strong>as</strong> discussed.
In addition, Council
requested the Vice-
Chancellor to liaise “off-line”
with Mr. John Momoh,
national President of the
University of Lagos Alumni
Association, “since the next
Council meeting would hold
just a week before the
convocation ceremonies.”
Concerning the allegation
that the Vice-Chancellor
ignored a letter from the Pro-
Chancellor pointing out
“serious concerns and legal
issues” about the convocation,
Prof. Ogundipe affirmed that
the letter “w<strong>as</strong> sent via email
on Friday, February 28, 2020
at 10:28 pm, but not seen until
late Saturday afternoon.”
Given the issues involved, it
w<strong>as</strong> important to discuss them
at the Management meeting
of March 2, 2020, which
coincided with the date
already scheduled for the
convocation world press
conference.While
Management w<strong>as</strong> responding
to the Pro-Chancellor’s letter,
another email from him
arrived at 12.38 pm that very
day “showing that the matter
h<strong>as</strong> been escalated to the
Ministry of Education and the
NUC.” The Vice-Chancellor’s
and Management’s replies to
both letters were sent to Dr.
Babalakin and also
house is located,
aggressively <strong>as</strong>ked, “is that
what I will eat?”
With coronavirus,
vociferous party leaders
who want to eat up state
resources have gone into
hiding. Now that we need to
improve our health
facilities for COVID 19, we
are also no longer hearing
from those in political
positions who have
cornered state resources
through all forms of
allowances. All we are
hearing now is coming from
two sources, government
and public-spirited private
sector operatives. We hear
President Buhari h<strong>as</strong>
ensured the rele<strong>as</strong>e of N15
billion made up of
N10billion to the Lagos
state government and
N5billion to the nation’s
dise<strong>as</strong>e control agency.
These grants are selfexplicit.
The federal and
state governments have in
addition done some work
such <strong>as</strong> building emergency
isolation centres and
equipping their hospitals
with test machines and
other relevant facilities.
Lagos state in particular
h<strong>as</strong> reportedly set up a
Food Bank in all Local
government are<strong>as</strong>. A report
says those in need of food
support will get some
provided they wear face
m<strong>as</strong>ks and gloves.
Honeywell Flour Mills is
supporting this with
customized food packs
forwarded to both the federal
Ministry of Education and
NUC immediately. The
question now is: Why did the
Ministry ignore completely
the responses of Prof.
Ogundipe and university
Management?
The Vice-Chancellor
observed that in spite of
special appeal by the
university’s Senate following
its emergency meeting of
March 4, 2020 and entreaties
by virtually all members of the
Council when it met later that
day for Dr. Babalakin to
contact the regulatory bodies
and convince them to allow
the convocation ceremonies
to go ahead <strong>as</strong> planned, the
latter bluntly refused. In
conclusion, Prof. Ogundipe
enjoined all stakeholders in
the university to always put the
University of Lagos first so that
through our cooperative
efforts we can provide the best
for our great university and
sustain the culture and
tradition that demonstrate
why we are number one and
eight in Nigeria and Africa
respectively.
At this juncture, having
presented both sides of the
disagreement concerning the
botched convocation
ceremonies, let us dissect the
issues critically and try to
identify the lessons that can
be distilled from the
unfortunate event. For
starters, it is necessary to point
out that the regrettable
postponement of the
convocation w<strong>as</strong> due to the
frosty relationship or
infighting between the
university Management led
by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof.
Ogundipe, and the Governing
Council chaired by the Pro-
Chancellor, Dr. Wale
Babalakin. It really h<strong>as</strong> little
to do with the claim that there
w<strong>as</strong> no authorisation from
Council for the programme.
But I cannot say for sure that
the two gentlemen do not see
eye to eye at the personal level
and, if so, whether the frosty
Bearing in mind that
government is obliged to
work for the people, it
appears better to commend
the private sector for their
initiatives so far. The
It is in order for
Nigerians to see
these days of
affliction <strong>as</strong> payback
time from our
politicians. Will help
come?
Dangote Foundation for
example is coordinating a
coalition of private sector
organizations to support
government’s efforts in
addition to its earlier
pledge of N200million.
Already, Sterling bank h<strong>as</strong>
put down N250million
while United Bank for
Africa UBA gave N5billion
to “catalyse a
comprehensive Pan-African
response to the fight in
Nigeria and 19 other
African countries.” On his
part, the founder of BUA
group, Abdul-Samad Rabiu
h<strong>as</strong> donated N1billion in
c<strong>as</strong>h plus equipment and
medical supplies including
testing kits and medical
protective gears to 9 states.
First Bank h<strong>as</strong> offered to
finance the roll-out of e-
learning solution
accredited by government
for students that would
immediately enable one
million children move to e-
learning. 30millionUS$ is
coming from NNPC’s
coordinated 32 indigenous
oil and g<strong>as</strong> operators.
The question now is: Why
did the Ministry ignore
completely the responses
of Prof. Ogundipe and
university Management?
relationship referred to above
is a reflection of personal
animosity between them.
Whatever might be the c<strong>as</strong>e,
the relevant question to <strong>as</strong>k is
this: What are the roles
<strong>as</strong>signed by the University of
Lagos Act to the Pro-
Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor
and the Senate in organising
convocation ceremonies? I
have read the Act, and there is
no explicit delineation of the
functions of the Pro-
Chancellor and Vice-
Chancellor therein. However,
certain provisions of the Act
provide re<strong>as</strong>onable guide
both to the university
Management and Governing
Council on the issue. For
instance, Section 6 (2)
provides that “The Pro-
Chancellor shall, in relation
to the university, take
precedence before all other
members of the university
except the Chancellor and the
Vice-Chancellor when acting
<strong>as</strong> Chairman of congregation
or convocation and except the
Deputy Vice-Chancellor when
so acting; and the Pro-
Chancellor shall, when he is
present, be the chairman at all
meetings of the Council.”
Section 7 (1) of the act
empowers the Council to be
in charge of the “general
control and superintendence
of the policy, finances and
property of the university,
including its public
relations.” Section 8 (2c & d)
vests on the Senate the power
to award degrees and such
other qualifications <strong>as</strong> may be
prescribed in connection with
examinations held <strong>as</strong>
aforesaid; the making of
recommendations to Council
Our expectations that our
religious organizations
would be among the
leading voices does not
appear to have been met.
There is however a report
that renown church leader
P<strong>as</strong>tor Enoch Adeboye h<strong>as</strong>
donated intensive care unit
beds with ventilators to
<strong>as</strong>sist Lagos, Ogun and
Plateau states to combat the
coronavirus pandemic. For
many re<strong>as</strong>ons, Nigeria,
deserves more donations
from our churches. To start
with, many of our church
leaders who preach help to
the needy are rated among
the richest people on earth.
In addition, sharp incre<strong>as</strong>es
in church collections which
have converted the
Kingdom of God’s industry
in the country to a booming
business justify our
expectations. Apart from
schools, universities and
other businesses, many
religious groups own
hospitals which they can at
this point properly equip
and make available to all.
Interestingly, our
politicians have been too
quiet; it is like they no
longer love publicity, <strong>as</strong> we
are yet to hear from the
rather loud leaders of our
political parties either on
behalf of themselves or
their political parties. Our
conclusion that our
politicians are no longer
forthcoming is not too
h<strong>as</strong>ty because, they are the
ones who have always been
in the public glare. Is it not
strange that they are now
allowing industrialists and
private sector operatives
take a lead in national
matters? They are the ones
who always claim to want
to offer service; it is in fact,
hard to forget the
multitudes of politicians
who at election times often
provided bags of rice,
with respect to the award to
any person of an honorary
fellowship or honorary degree
or the title of professor
emeritus. In addition, Section
9(2) proclaims that “Subject
to Sections 7 and 8 of this Act,
relating to the Visitor, the Vice-
Chancellor shall to the
exclusion of any other person
or authority have the general
function, in addition to any
other functions conferred on
him by this Act or otherwise,
of directing the activities of the
university, and shall be the
chief executive and academic
officer of the university and exofficio
chairman of the
Senate.” Reading all these
provisions together, the Act
envisages that the Vice-
Chancellor and the Senate
should play more prominent
roles in putting together
convocation ceremonies than
the Pro-Chancellor.
I confirm that the Vice-
Chancellor scrupulously
followed existing regulations
regarding the role of the
Senate in the programme,
being present at Senate
meetings when it w<strong>as</strong>
discussed. Dr. Babalakin’s
claim that the programme
w<strong>as</strong> not authorised by the
Council is perplexing. I
participated in the Senate
meetings where different
<strong>as</strong>pects of the ill-fated
convocation were debated
thoroughly. How re<strong>as</strong>onable
is the claim that Council w<strong>as</strong>
not carried along if during one
of its meetings in January the
Pro-Chancellor requested that
Dr. Adadevoh should receive
a posthumous honorary
doctorate degree during the
convocation? Would he have
made the recommendation
without any information
about details of the
programme?
Now, it is strange that,
according to the rele<strong>as</strong>e by the
Council on March 9, 2020,
the convocation budget w<strong>as</strong>
the only item formally
brought to the special meeting
held on January 21 and 22,
beans, salt etc. to the people
<strong>as</strong> a sign of affection.
Where are they now?
Politicians whose donations
have been made public like
Atiku Abubakar at federal
level and Chris
Ogiemwonyi in Edo are too
few. Where are those who
held offices before and who
collected severance
allowances that are
equivalent to ten years’
salaries of the highest paid
civil servants? Where are
those for whom we built
houses in two cities of their
choice for serving their
states for only 8 years?
Former President
Goodluck Jonathan h<strong>as</strong>
sent words of hope to the
nation; but we need more
from him and all other
former and present leaders.
We agree with Oyo
politician, Kehinde
Olaosebikan that
government should
organize a fund for the
benefit of the poor and
needy. The other day,
Senate President Ahmed
Lawan said “we can’t lock
people up in their houses
with a threat of dise<strong>as</strong>e
without food.” He should
kindly lead the way and
appeal to his always welldressed
colleagues to give
up at le<strong>as</strong>t their wardrobe
allowances for now. We
won’t be drawn into the
puerile controversy
between our legislators and
the media <strong>as</strong> to whether or
not the National Assembly
h<strong>as</strong> taken delivery of the
Toyota Camry 2020 model
cars which they acquired for
themselves <strong>as</strong> official cars.
What cannot be disputed is
that our legislators are
unduly pampered.
Therefore, it is in order for
Nigerians to see these days
of affliction <strong>as</strong> payback
time from our politicians.
Will help come?
bearing in mind that the Pro-
Chancellor had declared that
all matters relating to the
ceremony shall be considered
at the Council meeting of
January 22, 2020, and also
when it is obvious that the
ceremony, which involves
demanding coordination of
different components, w<strong>as</strong> a
very important item on the
agenda of the meeting.
Moreover, it is difficult to
believe that the Council
deliberated on the budget,
proposed convocation
lecturer, and Senate’s
recommendation for the
award of honorary doctorate
degrees without looking into
other details of the event.
Accordingly, any openminded
person who reads the
“University of Lagos Council
Resolutions” and the Vice-
Chancellor’s rebuttal would
recognise that the latter h<strong>as</strong>
more verisimilitude than the
former, because it definitely
does not make sense to discuss
certain critical <strong>as</strong>pects of the
convocation (the budget,
convocation lecturer, and
honourees) without having an
idea of the activities
earmarked for the occ<strong>as</strong>ion
and the exact dates it would
take place. In any c<strong>as</strong>e, there
is no provision in the
University of Lagos Act which
stipulates that Management
must receive special
authorisation from the
Council to organise
convocation ceremonies and
how such request should be
made. At any rate, even if the
Pro-Chancellor had
complaints about the way the
Vice-Chancellor and his team
were handling the
programme or for whatever
re<strong>as</strong>on w<strong>as</strong> not satisfied with
what w<strong>as</strong> going on and
wanted the regulatory
authorities to intervene, must
he act unilaterally without
approval from a properly
constituted Council meeting?
Or is the Chairman identical
with the Council?
To be concluded.