FG’s unsure SURE-P policy

President Goodluck JOnathan

By Paul Arhewe

The imbroglio that greeted Federal Government's petrol subsidy removal in January coerced it to quickly embark on transformational campaigns. The Goodluck Jonathan administration used every available media and forums to propagate what Nigerians stand to benefit if the total subsidy on the produce is discarded. Palliatives to cushion the foretold suffering the common masses would experience when the full policy implementations began were hurriedly both announced and promise.

No sooner the representatives of Federal Government and Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) met to broker partial removal of subsidy than the government put on a new garb and changed its transformational campaigns into a transitional paradigm. To me, that overt departure was the initial signs signifying that the surety in this Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment (SURE) Programme (SURE-P) is really uncertain.

Lessons from Abdulmutallab’s strayed act

Abdulmutallab

By Paul Arhewe

Penultimate Thursday, US Federal Judge Nancy Edmunds convicted the Nigerian underwear bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab and sentenced him to multiple life jail. Rationalising the sentence, the judge had said: “This was an act of terrorism that cannot be quibbled with.” The 25 year-old Nigerian, from an affluent and well cultured family, was indoctrinated after persistent listening and watching of internet videos containing radical teachings from the late Arabian Peninsula based Al-Qaeda Islamist cleric, Anwar al Awlaki.

Umar Farouk, like some youths from wealthy homes residing outside the shores of the country, had lived an affluent lifestyle. He had money and the means to move from country to country; he also had ample liberty to choose the type of lifestyle to pursue. After being indoctrinated in Yemen and having found a new faith, the former engineering student at University College London and youngest out of 16 children of Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, a former banker sent text messages to his parent urging them to “... just forget about me, I’m never coming back… Please forgive me. I will no longer be in touch with you… Forgive me for any wrongdoing, I am no longer your child.”

Unending wait for improved power supply

By Paul Arhewe

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.

Why government can’t subdue Nigerian protesters

Nigerians protesting fuel subsidy removal

In recent times the world has witnessed several protests and revolutions in countries where people are dissatisfied with their governments. The Arab Spring started with one man in Tunisia, when Mohammed Bouazizi set himself alight and the fallout was the dethronements of the Tunisian President , Zine el Abidine Ben Ali.

In Egypt and Libya, President Hosni Mubarak and Muammar Gaddafi respectively lost out in the power game. While the latter paid with his life and those of some of his children, Mubarak who is bedridden, is currently undergoing trial for mass killings while his Tunisian counterpart is in exile in Saudi Arabia. In all these anti-government protests, despite the killings and maiming, running into thousands, the people usually emerge victorious. For instance in Syria, President Bashar al-Assad has killed over 6,000 people since last March to suppress the protest calling for his ouster. Despite this high death toll the protesters are still unrelenting.

Time to redefine our democracy

Paul Arhewe

(Published 10/1/2012)



Nigerians protesting over fuel price hike

The simplest and most popular definition of the term ‘democracy’ is that proffered by the former American president, Abraham Lincoln (1809 -1865). For him democracy is “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Nigeria may claim she is administering the American presidential system of government; however, it is funny how our leaders continue to taunt us that democracy is in place here.

Let the truth be told, what the country is practicing as democracy is a far cry away from any resemblance of its tenets and principles. In an ideal democracy the people are supreme, because they are the ultimate sovereign since power resides in them. The masses’ wishes most always count; prior to, during and after elections and in all government policies. Can we attest that Nigerians wishes are been recognised and upheld during any of these phases of electioneering and the consummation of government policies and programmes? Since the intension of government to discard fuel subsidy was unveiled last year majority of Nigerians have openly kicked against it. However, in an obstinate demeanour, President Goodluck Jonathan and his government want their wish to supersede those of the masses. It is an aberration when our government chooses each time to dance to the drumbeats of Breton Woods Institutions in total disregard to the wish of the people. It is amazing, how each time cronies of World Bank and IMF are around the corridors of power some unpopular anti-Nigerian policies are introduced with non-appealable seal.

New year, new security challenges in Nigeria

PAUL ARHEWE
(Published 03/01/2012)

Christmas Day bombing in Niger state

Those of us who are alive to witness and partake in the celebrations that ushered in the New Year, especially against the backdrop of the enormous security challenges facing our country Nigeria, would definitely be grateful even when the country is still in a lugubrious disposition following the last Christmas Day bombings amid other senseless serial killings and maiming that characterised 2011.

While as a country we may be optimistic that the New Year comes with a miraculous salve that would immune it from the not too pleasant security malaise Nigeria experienced last year, the reality is that the New Year indeed comes with more new challenges for the country; especially in the area of securing the lives and properties of the people. It then behooves President Goodluck Jonathan to take charge and revamp the country's security apparatus by discarding ineffective and wane hands, or allow the situation to crumble his government in the New Year
The country's security network that should be a soothing factor and beacon of hope to the already traumatised and fear engrossed Nigerians, is even seeking for protection from the conscienceless Boko Haram sect. The National Security Adviser (NSA) General Owoye Azazi last week, to the bewilderment of the public, said it is difficult to effectively police a large country like Nigeria. It is absolutely difficult to man every point of the country when there are security problems. Like I have said before, there is need for security awareness.

Foreign policy to spur economic diplomacy

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan and his US counterpart, Barack Obama. Photo: USAfricaonline.com

Paul Arhewe

(Published January 6, 2012)

Foreign policies adopted by any countries have some reflections of internal happenings on homefronts. Nigeria’s foreign policy over the years has nosedived after the many decades of concentration on Africa. The interventions to restore peace in Liberia, Sierra Leone and the fight against apartheid in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Angola amid other missions of mediating in conflict prone countries like Gambia , Mali, Burkina Faso among others signify the height in foreign interventions in the 1990s. Since the last few years the country’s foreign relations have been tamed, mainly due to internally overwhelming problems associated with finding footings for our nascent democracy amid pressing economic malaise.

Last year, government charted a new path for the country’s foreign policy thrust, with the concentration to be on policy that promotes growth and national development. In this new policy both private partnership and foreign missions would be utilised as new vanguards and foot-soldiers in economic diplomacy.

Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, while throwing more light on the new paradigm shift emphasised that “We will redress existing imbalances and forge a strong partnership with organised private sector, OPS to assist economic growth. Consequently, members of OPS would frequently constitute part of any bilateral discussions between our governments and other foreign delegations, so that Nigeria can benefit from visits to and from other countries.”