Careless deaths: A call for more police trainings

By PAUL ARHEWE 16/02/2011 05:16:00
The stampede last weekend at the campaign rally of the president in Port-Harcourt where 12 people were reported to have lost their lives, has again shown how shabbily events with mammoth crowds are organised in Nigeria and the role security men play to prevent misfortunes. Why should people be crammed and arranged in a space where escape routes during emergency are not visibly available?
The Port Harcourt sports stadium, venue of the rally, was turned into an arena of commotion and pandemonium as a shot from a policeman to disperse crowd sparked off panic. In this modern age, how can a policeman shoot into the air just to control crowd? This goes to show how untrained many of our security officers are.

Significance of Ideology in Nigerian politics

By Paul Arhewe

The New Year has seen political activities in the country at its crescendo as the April general polls become imminent with few months away. As expected, the world is watching and waiting with keen interest to see if the most populous black nation can break the jinx this time to conduct elections that would be freer and fairer than what were experienced especially since Nigeria retraced its steps to democratic rule since 1999.
Indeed, last week the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in its presidential primaries in Abuja successfully used a well organised convention and peaceful process in selecting incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan for its sole ticket for the exalted seat. For once, Nigerians are showering PDP with encomiums for the transparent manner it organised the poll.

Will Nigerians ever get over last-minute-rush syndrome?

By PAUL ARHEWE 03/02/2011 00:38:00

One glaring idiosyncrasy associated of many Nigerians is this problem of procrastinating and waiting till the eleventh hour, even when an activity is vital and of national interest. This syndrome was in display last Monday being the last day in January which the Central Bank had earlier set as deadline for bank account updating. The disorderliness and confused state of things at the entrances and inside of most commercial banks makes one to ponder whether notices were actually passed to their customers or maybe, those customers are from another planet? Before Monday’s deadline all banking halls were free for people to walk in and easily do their updating, one wonders; why wait to rush? Maybe, a research should be extensively conducted whether Nigerians derive happiness doing things during rush hours?

Making our security forces more proactive

By PAUL ARHEWE

The increased spate of bombings and terrorist attacks in recent times have vividly shown and exposed again how unsecured Nigeria is and the lacuna in its security outfits. Alertness and professionalism which are germane to securing a country with teaming population like Nigeria, are virtually absent or been compromised. To many, these current spates of bombings in the country may not have come as a surprise; as our security forces have been forewarned of the attacks by sect groups, especially the Boko Haram. In July last year when the Islamist sect group, Boko Haram, commemorated one year anniversary of the death of their slain leader, a serious security apparatus in the country would have been on the alert and highly proactive to nipping in the bud any premeditated and nursed onslaughts. This would have saved the country from the lugubrious situation we find ourselves.

Cote d’Ivoire: Another shameful show of ‘African democracy’

By Paul Arhewe


The current tussle for Cote d’Ivoire’s presidential seat has again exposed a derogatory practice of democracy, exclusively African, to the rest of the world. Electioneering and democratic practice in the continent is shown to be deeply obscured in inconsideration, selfishness and disregard for the wishes of the electorates. No wonder Africa is singled out from the rest of the world as it has a different definition and way of practicing its democracy. This becomes mind-boggling where many non-African countries have thrived and consolidated to an extent that democracy is a norm, even instilled into infants in their societies. We may say they have been practicing democracy for centuries. Alas, Africa’s democracy is simply rotating in a circle and retrogressing, showing no sign of improvement and would remain so for long time to come if nothing drastic is done.

Tunisia revolution: Warning for Nigerian Government

By Paul Arhewe

There is a limit to which every human being can tolerate oppression from tyrant leaders. Beyond that level of tolerance, the outcome is insurrection which can be deadly and consequentially disastrous. This is the picture in Tunisia where the then sit-tight President, Zine al Abidine Ben Ali, had ruled this North African state for 23 years. The Tunisia’s ‘Jasmine revolution’ is linked to a regime that has oppressed the people for too long, amidst high rate of unemployment, corruption and oppression. The trigger was a 26-year-old university graduate whose offence was that he didn’t take to carrying arms to rob the people after remaining unemployed for years, but chose to settle for a mere fruit and vegetable trade on a cart. Police molested Mohammed Bouazizi despite this humble profession he was engaged in; seized his cart, slapped and roughed him up severally because he does not have licence to back up his trade. Bouazizi filed a complaint with municipal authorities but was rejected. He died some days later after setting himself ablaze at the front of government house.

Wikileaks Exposures: Is Pubic Interest Threatened?

BY Paul Arhewe

Secrecy is a germane ingredient of international diplomacy that some analysts argue should be maintained for the safety of the public. Transparency, they posit, could sometimes be detrimental to public interest. Thus, “unveiling all secrets is not a universal and absolute good”, Steve Harvey of Colorado Confluence argued.
The above statement is justified when former American President John F. Kennedy successfully negotiated a peaceful end to The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 by making a secret promise to remove American missiles from Turkish soil.
Diplomacy is the chief instrument of countries’ foreign policies. This act usually requires the conducting of relationships for gains without conflict. Hence, its methods according to Britannica Concise Encyclopaedia include, inter alia, secret negotiation by accredited envoys including those conducted by political leaders.
Wikileaks set precedence recently by divulging thousands of U.S. diplomats’ memos through its website. This move has not only starred tensions among nations but it is said would go a long way to affect the base of international diplomacy. This has divulged some ugly behind the scenes manoeuvrings and conspiracies among allies and plots against foes. The organisation operated silently since 2006 when it was established not until early part of this year when their first batch cables were revealed.
Wikileaks may not be the first in exposing those clandestine dealings of envoys and their patrons, but it has upped the ante. In 1979 Iran through its revolutionary guard took hold of similar releases of cables from U.S. Embassy, though in smaller version. Never before in human history has the volume of diplomatic material and broad scope of subjects released to the public. The content of the over 250,000 cables is linked to 300 embassies dated from 1966 to 2010. Subjects covered include external political relations, internal government affairs, human rights, economic conditions, terrorism and the UN Security Council.
The organisation’s whistle-blowing operations have attracted massive supporters and at the same time it is in the bad books of many governments and their envoys who are calling for prosecution of Julian Assange the founder of Wikileaks. In support of the Whistle blower’s popularity recently a rally was staged in Melbourne where thousands of people condemned his arrest in UK in connection with sexual abuses committed in Sweden. The protesters pledge they will continue to gather in front of the British consulate every Friday until he is released. As a matter of fact, call for his nomination for Noble Peace Prize is been advocated by Lebanese Progressive Socialist Party Leader Walid Jumblatt.
The impact of these leaks on international diplomacy and foreign relations would have a far reaching effect. Firstly, the amount of information and assessment shared among countries will likely be constrained and restricted. Secondly, the leaks are likely to influence the way leading world power like U.S. relates with other countries. This may likely tell on the fortunes of present political leaders and actors at the international scene. Thirdly, if the leaks continue as Wikileaks has threatened the disclosures of internal documents of banks will have colossal repercussions on the financial industry globally.
Diplomats and peacekeeping troops abroad are likely easy prey for terrorists as these leaks have exposed their operations’ strategy and some government scheming.
Furthermore, a regime of suspicions among countries has begun to take place. After the leaks many countries were denying actions and postures attributed to them. Even as Iran says it will not react against Saudi Arabia on the revelation of its anxiety over Tehran operations nevertheless Iran would be suspicious of her neighbouring friend even if this is not overtly shown.
In her reaction to the leak, U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton condemned it as an attack not only on U.S. but on all governments. She said “It is an attack on the international community, the alliances and partnerships, the conversations and negotiations that safeguard global security and advance economic prosperity”. Clinton went on to criticise those protagonists on the side of Wikileaks. According to her “some may mistakenly applaud those responsible...There is nothing laudable about endangering innocent people, and there is nothing brave about sabotaging the peaceful relations between nations”.
If affected governments are not at ease with these disclosures reaching the public, then many have asked why do they say them or execute such act at the first instance. In this stance, Tony Obiechina media officer for the Israeli Embassy in Abuja told National Mirror “It is a very good development to have the Wikileaks disclosures because it has laid bare some of those selfish decisions and actions taken by a few power mongers in government who pretend to represent the vast majority of us”. He further added that “more disclosures are needed hopefully to keep our leaders on their toes”
Public interest is usually referred to as common well-being or general welfare of all. Then, the argument that secrecy in diplomacy should be maintained to safeguard public interest has it pitfalls; some of the revealed cables by Wikileaks have shown to represent the ego and subjective interest and views of few people government. For instance, the recent released cables exposed how U.S. plan of getting a united Korea under Seoul got the consent of China. Is this move considered from the view of public interest or a subjective inclination? With the present setting in that part of Asian continent, annexing North Korea under Seoul is one easy way of promoting the birth of a bloody colossal war. A Saudi crown Prince was also revealed in the leak to have thrown a party where alcohols, drugs and prostitutes were used to service guests. One would ask if keeping this secret would be for public advantage. Nigeria was also not spared from the leaks. It is revealed that Dutch Shell BP has planted agents in all ministries and government agencies in the country. If this is true, of whose interest was it done? Is it to protect the oil conglomerate’s interest or those of Nigerians?

Lessons Nigerians must learn from Chilean mine rescue

By Paul Arhewe
Just like in the movies, 32 Chileans and a Bolivian, trapped miles beneath the rocks of a Chile’s mine for 68 days, were all rescued in a task that was achieved through coordinated state- might and a determined commitment that spared no cost to see that they were reconnected to their loved ones and the rest of the world. Millions of dollars were committed to bring specialists from NASA and some drilling experts within the shortest time, just to rescue the miners. The successful rescue of the 33 is peculiar as this would be the first time in human history that miners trapped for over two months beneath the earth, came out alive.
As it will be recalled, on August 5, 2010, the 33 miners were literarily cut-off from the rest of the world as 700,000 tonnes of rock collapsed and caved in on them. They only had a glimpse of hope of surviving this nightmare 17 days later. This mine rescue was the second event which brought the country into world focus this year. The first was in February, when a devastating 8.8-magnitude earthquake that left about 500 people dead and more people missing, hit the country. The country’s resolute and spirited show of oneness in the face of disaster, has given credence to the general assertion that South American people have strong sense of national identity and commitment to the welfare of one another.
The Chileans have successfully taught the rest of the world, especially Nigeria, how to turn a miserable and hopeless situation into glory. As a matter of fact, many observers have expressed fear that if this event had taken place in Nigeria, the rescued mine workers would have perished without any assistance. Authorities in Nigeria should note that, while Copiapo would have gone into history as a mine site of mass grave, it is now a place where patriotic valour is celebrated.
The country has even begun to reap from this brandished exhibition of commitment to national goal of protecting life and properties of her citizens. To many analysts and observers of international politics, Chilean President, Sabastian Pinera, posing in front of Number 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister David Cameron, is a great diplomatic mileage achieved by Chile. Ipso facto, the country has continued to enjoy universal appreciation of the historic rescue of the trapped miners.
Although the country had a bad record of human rights abuse, especially during the dictatorship rule of Augusto Pinochet from 1974 to 1990, what entire world has learnt from Chileans is that, there is no limit to the level of success to be achieved when a nation directs her energies towards genuine goal of making the difference. Nigeria must learn from this fact and begins to redirect her energies towards developmental activities capable of making her true giant of Africa before the end of the first quarter of this century.
Nigeria has much to learn from President Pinera’s assertion that, “Chileans are facing more challenges with the same enthusiasm and commitment, especially on how to improve and strengthen their economic relations; how to work together in terms of education and many other issues”. One big lesson to be learnt from this globally celebrated event is that no problem is insurmountable for any country as long as there is genuine will and commitment from both the people and their government for that purpose.
The pertinent question here is whether or not Nigeria, the self-acclaimed Africa giant, would have attained same feat, given the same scenario; would our government have got the same zeal and commitment to put a stop to its business and go the whole length to commit vast resources in rescuing 33 ‘ordinary’ miners, especially when victims are not directly or ‘indirectly’ related to those in the corridors of power?
Like many people have expressed, it is quite evident that this sort of rescue mission would have been a complete flop in Nigeria as tribalism and other centrifugal considerations would have had a visible role to play in scuttling the rescue effort. The question many would have asked is whether or not the victims are Yorubas, Hausas or Ibos? Many ethnocentric arguments would have sprung up. If the government had demonstrated the will to commit its time and resources to the rescue mission, opposition would have delayed and eventually scuttled it. The commitment of government would have worn out with many selfish demands which have no relevance to the timely intervention required by rescue of the miners.
Recently, Nigerian government put up a similar show of commitment to rescue the abducted journalists in Abia state. However, the exhibited commitment of the government was more of a function of the personality of those kidnapped. Before their abduction, several people had been kidnapped in many parts of the federation without any serious rescue effort either by the government or its security agencies.
President Pinera might have used the rescue mission to score some political points at home and on the internationally stage, but this does not diminish the fact that the Chileans have a strong sense of national identity, an attribute Nigeria with an ethnocentric and divisive cleavages, should adopt.

Sept 11: New events fan flame of mayhem

By Paul Arhewe, Online/Foreign Editor


Before 2001, September 11 was like any other date for the Americans and the rest of the world.

But this was not so again after the terrorists’ attack on New York Twin Towers, and the Pentagon where about 3,000 lives were sniffed out within intervals of minutes. Two fuel loaded planes were crashed straight into World Trade Centre- housing the two tallest buildings in U.S. within interval of17 minutes, third plane after about one hour plunged into Pentagon in Virginia (destroying a wing of government’s military headquarters) and a fourth one heading to Washington D.C. about 30 minutes later crashed half way in Pennsylvania, following the interventions of passengers that rushed the terrorists after hearing of previous attack through their cell phones.

This development did not only immediately shattered U.S. security, but threw it into a state of emergency.

Though the U.S. intelligence were quick in pointing fingers to Osama bin Laden al-Qaeda group in Afghanistan, and the Bush administration spared nothing in retaliating against the Islamic Taliban regime that had protected the al-Qaeda in the mid-east country’ one wonders if the Taliban actually owns up to the 9/11 attacks? However, new argument last week by the Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad casts doubts on if actually U.S. is telling the world the truth or knows who the real actors behind these attacks were. According to him, "Something happened in New York and still nobody knows who the main perpetrators of that act were." He further charged that "No independent people were allowed to try and identify the perpetrators". Does Ahmadinejad knows what the rest of the world do not know about the true happenings or untold story of the 9/11 attacks?

No sooner than the twin towers were grounded that prophesy was linked to establish background of the event. This emerged from a script dated many centuries from a foremost astrologer of all times Nostradamus. The prophesy in his book The Centuries written in 1654 was In the City of God there will be a great thunder, Two brothers torn apart by Chaos, while the fortress endures, the great leader will succumb",

The third big war will begin when the big city is burning.



Interpreting this -the ‘City of God’ is New York City, the “two brothers torn apart by Chaos” was surely the fallen towers of the World Trade Centre. The fortress is the U.S Pentagon, and the ‘great leader’ succumbing to chaos surely is United States of America, and the third big war is a pointer to World War III.



Has the US successfully fought this war since 2001 by its military futility in Iraq and Afghanistan where over 110,000 lives have been lost? Or maybe the ‘third big war’ is imminent following recent events that are fuelling the ambient of religious bedlam.

First was the purported building of a mosque close to Ground Zero; the spot where the fallen towers in 9/11 attacks took place. This development attracted conflicting debates and threatened President Barack Obama, following his initial statement that the American Muslim community has right like any other religious group to build their mosque in any part non-restricted area in U.S. in his words: "This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are”. Many are of the view that Obama next bid to return to the Oval office would be tested on debates stemming from the aforementioned posture he exhibited.



Feisal Abdul Rauf, the Imam behind the proposed move to build the mosque two block next to Ground Zero stated in an interview recently that: “The status of Muslims in America and how America engages with its Muslim community has global ramifications”. The 13-story building is also to have compartment for community canter and a memorial to victims of the September 11 attacks.



The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq the US troops fought were not explicitly religiously inclined but one waged against terror. Thus, they were restricted and limited to the mid-east region. But the proposed move to burn Koran publicly by a U.S pastor and intention of an Imam to build a mosque near Ground Zero would spark a colossal war that could culminate into war with factions aligned under religious basis. This is surely a good parting for WW3.

Rauf, even admitted this when he said, "If we don't do this right, anger will explode in the Muslim world ... If we don't handle this crisis correctly, it could become something very dangerous indeed."



Another event that is like a time bomb ready to blow off, sparking religious war between Christian and their Islamic brotherhood is the planned move to set hundreds of Korans on fire by a U.S. pastor controlling a small congregation of fifty people in Florida. Rev. Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center has marked out the 9/11, in commemoration of the terror attack anniversary to burn Muslim holy book for 3hours (6pm-9pm), an spinout of his last year declaration where he posted signs in front of his church with inscription stating "Islam is of the Devil."

Jones’ recent plan to burn Koran has attracted many reactions and condemnation to this action that is not only insanity, but one presumed is aimed at making him and his 50-member congregation famous. Not only would U.S. troops in places like Afghanistan, Iraq and other embassies across the world to placed as easy targets, fanatics among the Islamic faith would joyfully see this as an avenue to quickly attack Christians with the slightest of provocation. We remember the reactions the caricatured cartoon of Prophet Mohammed spurred in part of Northern Nigerians despite the fact the event took place in millions of miles from Nigeria.

Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Kabul Afghanistan, first raised his voice condemning the pastor’s plan; saying it would undermine the U.S. effort in Afghanistan and jeopardize the safety of American troops and civilians.

According to U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton this plan is “disrespectful, and disgraceful”. She also explicitly condemned the plan. Already effigy of Pastor Jones and U.S. flags have already been burnt in open protests against his move in Afghanistan and Indonesia among other Muslim states. The pastor knows he is not safe, as he made known to public last Wednesday that he had already received 100 death threats, and that he has armed himself with a .40-caliber pistol to safeguard himself wherever he goes.





Obama also lent his voice last Thursday on the issue, imploring the minister to have a change of heart on the despicable act. According to him the intended act of the pastor is “a bonanza to mass recruitments for the Taliban”. He implored him during an interview with ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ saying "If he's listening, I hope he understands that what he's proposing to do is completely contrary to our values as Americans," Obama said. "That this country has been built on the notion of freedom and religious tolerance."

One would be wondering why no arrest is made on the pastor to stop him from carrying out his threat. U.S. is a country that guide jealously his constitution and are ready to abide by it even when situation are not too pleasing to the eyes of other people across the world. According to constitution analysts, Rev. Jones has not violated any constitutional right. In fact, he is exhibiting his freedom of speech through his action, and cannot be held since his action has not caused any direct bodily harm to anybody. Hence, other suave moves to placate him out of his insanity planned act should be employed.



Though acknowledging the grave negative consequence the stationing of mosque close to Ground Zero would attract Rauf is still resolute like Rev. Jones saying that nothing is off the table, the move is still on to build it at the proposed spot. He said moving the project to another location would strengthen Islamist radicals' ability to recruit followers and would increase violence against Americans.



This year’s commemoration of 9/11 attacks is no doubts one that has attracted proceedings that are ready to tear apart America war against terror and jeopardise the security of Americas across the world.

Hence, The U.S. government under Obama need to carefully handled situations like these current religious outbursts that could easily spark mayhem leading to bloodletting from already high tempers of the people from either side of faith - be it Christian or Muslim.

Death penalty cases: U.S. double standard condemned

Paul Arhewe, Online/ Foreign Editor


The accusation of double standard against United States has trailed its execution of Teresa Lewis last Thursday at the Greensville Correctional Centre in Virginia despite the fact that American led other western states in condemning Iran’s purported plan to stone an accused woman for adultery and her having a role in her husband’s death.

Several entreaties, over 7,300 appeals, from European countries coupled with those from right activists’ and open staged protest for Virginian government to halt the execution of Lewis by lethal injection, all were ignored and the execution was conducted.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier last week before the execution condemned western media and the western world of double standard in death penalty cases. Ahmadinejad during a speech to Islamic clerics and other figures in New York noted that "millions of Internet pages" have been devoted to Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, whose stoning sentence was suspended in July and her case put under review.



"Meanwhile, nobody objects to the case of an American woman who is going to be executed."

"Today Western media are propaganda agents who continuously speak about democracy and human rights though their slogans are sheer lies," he added.

His condemnation would be staring the America on the face as practising internally those same acts that it condemns in other countries, especially those considered as its foes.



Her case and that of the Iranian woman’s have drawn international sympathy mainly because of their feminine status which normally is seen as docile to criminal tendencies. The proportion of male to female execution in U.S. is very wide, especially since the country’s Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976. Out of over 1,200 people executed only 11 were women.



The cases of both condemned women bear semblance. For Lewis, who her attorneys say she is mentally imbalance, confessed she was guilty for the killings of her late husband and step son, and pled for forgiveness before her execution. Ashtiani, the condemned Iranian woman still maintains her innocence and retracted her earlier statement. She claimed she was forced under duress to give false confession which led to her conviction in the adultery case.



Ashtiani was convicted in 2006 of having an ''illicit relationship'' with two men after the murder of her husband the year before and was sentenced at that time to 99 lashes. Later that year, she was also convicted of adultery and sentenced to be stoned.

After putting the stoning sentence on hold, Iran suddenly announced that the woman had also been brought to trial and convicted of playing a role in her husband's 2005 murder. Her lawyer disputes that, saying no charges against her in the killing have ever been part of her case file. In early August, Iranian authorities broadcast a purported confession from Ashtiani on state-run television. In it, a woman identified as Ashtiani admits to being an unwitting accomplice in her husband's killing. The Iranian authorities are said to have flogged her for the publication of a photo of a woman without her hair covered in the Times of London newspaper.



Lewis in 2002 contracted two men whom she had sex with and gave them cash to kill her husband and step son for her to claim a $250,000 insurance policy. Both men would have to die for her to receive the insurance payout. She married Julian in 2000 and two years later, his son Charles entered the U.S. Army Reserve. When he was called for active duty he obtained a $250,000 life insurance policy, naming his father the beneficiary and providing temptation for Teresa Lewis.

She met at a Walmart with the two men who ultimately killed Julian Lewis and his son. Lewis began an affair with Matthew Shallenberger and later had sex with the other triggerman, Rodney Fuller. She also arranged sex with Fuller and her daughter, who was 16, in a parking lot.

On the night before Halloween in 2002, after she prayed with her husband, Lewis got out of bed, unlocked the door to their mobile home and put the couple's pit bull in a bedroom so the animal wouldn't interfere. Shallenberger and Fuller came in and shot both men several times with the shotguns Lewis had bought for them.

She was testified by her attorney, many other prisoners and warders as a changed woman before she was put to death. She had openly confessed her wrong and begged for forgiveness to the only surviving daughter of her late husband. In her words: "I was doing drugs, stealing, lying and having several affairs during my marriages," Lewis wrote in a statement that was read at a prison religious service in August. "I went to church every Sunday, Friday and revivals but guess what? I didn't open my Bible at home, only when I was at church." Moments before her execution, Lewis asked if her stepdaughter was near. She was. Kathy Clifton was in an adjacent witness room blocked from the inmate's view by a two-way mirror. "I want Kathy to know that I love her and I'm very sorry," Lewis said.

The act of Lewis is one that called for capital punishment, just like many people have condemned her that she desired what she got. Nevertheless, Iranian government was painted a monster in Ashtiani case, and well trumpeted by western media. But the American government and the western media, who were leading the cry against her stoning, went mum when Lewis’ case gained international attention, amid several entireties for stay of her execution. Is this not a case of double standard?

Iranian government would have the upper hand in the barbaric death sentence of Ashtiani by stoning, even as it is undergoing review. A mark which can be interpreted as the painted devil sometimes listen to entireties while the acclaimed saint turns deaf ears to clemencies and pleas. The two cases and their endings portray huge irony, where only bias less elucidation would only make one to decipher the boundary that separates both.