National Mirror - Between Nigeria and Brazil

National Mirror - Between Nigeria and Brazil

http://nationalmirroronline.net/commentaries/inside-page-comments/paul-arhewe/33072.html

http://nationalmirroronline.net/commentaries/inside-page-comments/paul-arhewe/33072.html

National Mirror - Lessons from Abdulmutallab’s strayed act

National Mirror - Lessons from Abdulmutallab’s strayed act

Unending wait for improved power supply

One wonders if the exclamation: " Up NEPA" whenever electric power is restored in any part of the country is still right, especially now that the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has been taken over by 18 successive companies.

The Federal Government aims to bring about effective delivery of electric power; hence the monopoly the electricity giants (NEPA and PHCN) enjoyed over the years may give way for the much touted deregulation of the power sector. However, I don't think any other government agency or corporation has caused Nigerians the kind of nightmare they suffer in the hands of the PHCN or NEPA, while the latter existed. Till date, the corporation' s services are still growing from bad to worse, despite the huge fund the FG allocates to the power sector. When President Goodluck Jonathan took over the mantle of power, like the predecessors before him, he promised to declare a state of emergency in the sector. The nation has been waiting to see the Jon- athan miracle. For over ten years, stories of unbundling NEPA, or is it the PHCN now, have been running. But from lack luster manner the FG is handling the process indicates that the true deregulation of the poor is still neither here nor there. That the FG has set aside N100.7million in this year s budget, and from the country's dwindling resources, for powering generators in Aso Rock, is an indication that Nigerians have a long period to wait before the dawn of better power supply. It is like the journey of the Israelites to the Promised Land.

Delayed sacking of five governors

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dahiru Musdapher

Many people hailed the recent ruling of the Supreme Court which sacked five governors who had overstayed their fixed tenure in office. The court held in its ruling that the tenures of Governors Timipre Sylva of Beyalsa, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Ibrahim Idris of Kogi and Liyel Imoke of Cross River states expired since last year.



This development has once again showcased the existing principle of checks and balances which every ideal democratic state should practice. Nevertheless, the decision of the country's apex court is laudable and impressive; but the timing, to me, is unnecessarily delayed, and should have come earlier. A Federal High Court had held earlier that their tenures began to run from the day of their last oaths of office and allegiance, which they took after their re-election, following the nullification of the first poll that brought them to office. It is not enough that the Supreme Court faulted the decisions of the Federal High Court and the Appeal Court in this case. It should not end there. There ought to be a synergy between the lower and upper Bench, possibly by way of some explicit guidelines to help lower courts not to misdirect themselves.

New police boss and Nigeria’s security challenges

Mohammed Abubakar, Nigeria Acting IG of police

The emergence of Mohammed Dikko Abubakar as Nigeria's new Inspector- General of Police (IGP) came at a time when the country is inundated with a plethora of security challenges that are threatening its sovereignty and the peaceful coexistence of its people. Apart from the ubiquitous and incessant terrorist attacks by the Boko Haram sect, Nigeria is currently besieged by rising crime, kidnapping, swindling cyber fraud, etc., among other nefarious acts that have continued to damage the image of the country.

These challenges have also exposed the inefficiency of Nigeria Police Force which lacks the training to combat contemporary security threats. In recent times, dare devil robbers and terrorists take their battles to the doorstep of the police and escape with ease after their deadly attacks. The Boko Haram attack on the Force Headquarters in Abuja last year and the recent mayhem members of the same sect unleashed on a Kano police station really testify to the calibre of police the country now has and the dire need to overhaul the entire police apparatus and equip the rank and file with training on modern policing.

The real fuel cabal and saboteurs

The word cabal, a coinage from cabalocracy, became more pronounced during the recent anti-fuel subsidy removal strike and protests. It was the recurring term Nigerians used to condemn in unequivocal terms, those short-changing them under the cover of fuel subsidy. While all attention focused on the invisible and faceless economic saboteurs, Nigerians must not forget that the economic felons could not, on their own, milk the country dry without readily available official collaborators and accomplices.

It won't be strange to say that the majority of Nigerians occupying various spheres of human endeavour in the country are enslaved under the burden of corruption. However, the intimidating aspect of this is when those who consider themselves clean are disappearing, or battling with their resolve to remain steadfast. Nevertheless, the murky enticement corruption offers is making many to compromise or lose faith as they see the situation as irredeemable.