Houston’s All Saints Anglican: Don’t you think The Guardian deserves an apology?

All Saints Anglican Church, the largest Anglican Church built by a Nigerian congregation in North America has been cobwebbed with internal conflicts since 2010, costing tens of thousands in legal fees and causing the Parish to split at least twice into other factions now operating as different Anglican churches.

Today, the issues at the All Saints get worse by the hour, with different cliques and factions fighting each other to the extreme. Just a few weeks ago, the Parish was on the local TV news showing an angry faction demonstrating their concerns with the church management.

But this is really not the reason for this piece. Here is my reason for revisiting matters of the All Saints Anglican. Since August 2015 till date, calls about the present issues at the All Saints have bombarded our newsroom, with individuals asking for a media coverage of their persisting internal squabbles.

These calls were normal. For instance, International Guardian has always championed investigative stories on crucial community matters. Furthermore, the establishment of the All Saints Anglican Church had a compelling story that resonated with the Nigerian immigrants, their struggle for identity, and their survival in a society where immigration is often a taboo topic. These were why The Guardian took the bull by the horn in its previous coverages of the All Saints.

These media coverages however attracted so much resentment by those not favored by our reports. They declared war against the newspaper and went as far as making an announcement during a church service; asking members to visit local stores and destroy every Guardian publication. Also, advertising clients were persuaded to cut off ties with the paper. But this was around 2012.

Surprisingly today, these same individuals who vowed to destroy the Guardian (but could not) are the same folks calling our news room to again request a coverage of their latest ordeal – exactly the same ordeal revealed by the Guardian almost four years ago.

Sounds strange, but those who actually went to the stores destroying copies of the Guardian years ago are the same folks seen on the TV demonstrating what our reports warned them about back then.

Organizational challenges might be paramount to progress because good leadership evaluates issues and iniquities of the past as the parameter in managing the present and the future. In the apostolic fraternity however, Christians clear their guilty consciences through genuine repentance and confession to seek God’s compassionate forgiveness and salvation.

These are facts about spirituality; thus, Christian often fall from issues to issues when they conceal their transgressions with some nonchalant forgive-and-forget “let’s move on” lyrics; or when they seek resolution through a complicated court process rather than a Bible-based mediation forum or consensus. No wonder, the book of Proverbs (28:13) specifically hinted that whoever that conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

The questions thus arise on whether the warring members of the All Saints would seek ways other than a shameful street fighting; legal wrangling; verbal and physical abuses; destructive gossips and individual unforgiving spirits to solve their internal concerns? Would these warring members settle for a spiritual retreat and kneel before the Holy Ghost for a spiritual intervention; over uncontrolled broiling anger of congregants in a Parish that has turned the alter of God into a damaging wrestling and boxing ring?

While we all join hands and pray for this miracle, one more thing may be appropriate. I think that The Guardian deserves a little apology from the Houston All Saints community – or what do you think? I can take those calls anytime, and I’m never on long distance.

■ Dr. Ogbo is the publisher of International Guardian based in Houston, Texas: anthony@guardiannews.us

Tavis Smiley’s “Black Vote” sham and the Africa-American community

It is no longer surprising that this author and television host, Tavis Smiley shows up during presidential campaign periods with either a new book on Black votes, or announces an “advocacy tour on poverty”.

In the 2008 presidential campaign, for instance, he took advantage of the campaign period to promote his book “The Covenant with Black America.” Again, just before the 2012 Presidential Election, Smiley felt that, late in 2011 was a good time to bargain his personal interests with the voting public. He then teamed up with another confused activist and a Princeton professor, Cornel West to resume what they called ‘Poverty Tour.’ This project crashed.

This has been the regular trend for Smiley, and so, the present presidential season (2016), is no different. Just a few days ago, Smiley showed up with another “attention-grabber”, in his usual fashion, to intimidate the candidates with a so called “Black Votes” designed to woo them with non-existent demographic theories.

He spoke to Yahoo News and Finance Anchor, Bianna Golodryga about his new book, “50 for Your Future: Lessons from down the Road,” and offered unsubstantiated thoughts about the state of the 2016 presidential campaign, and where the candidates stood with black voters. Among all Presidential candidates, Smiley thinks that Bernie Sanders was the only trusted candidate because he was clear on talking about poverty, income inequality, and economic immobility. Then on President Obama’s legacy in terms of race and Black America, Smiley said, “Historians are going to have a hard time trying to juxtapose this reality – how, in the era of the first black president, the bottom fell out for black America.”

The issues about candidates and the prevalent political landscape are not complicated at all. People are listening. From women, the youth, Hispanics, to other demographic segments, the electorates are watching the candidates and are making decisions based on their specific interests. Therefore, African Americans might not need any middleman or agent to assist them with making their choices about the candidates.

Whereas every individual has a right to his or her communal advocacy, we must be clear in categorizing our roles as community leaders and activists, to ensure that it actually serves public interests, as against selfish interests. Credible community activists always put the community first. This is why famous activists like Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, W.E.B. Du Bois, Harriet Tubman, Ruby Bridges, Rosa Parks, and thousands of others secured special positions in the Nation’s history of civil rights, social, and political actions.

These days, however, with individuals like Smiley, the practice of community advocacy has been distorted into a bargaining venture for greener pastures. It has become a ground for unscrupulous media opportunists, composing falsehood and instigating uncertainty, while they take advantage of their vulnerable communities to pursue self-centered political careers or business interests. It is appalling to note, that Smiley only goes public with his campaigns to coincide with the general election, and they are usually tagged to either a book launch, or an aimless “poverty” tours.

In the 2008 electioneering season, he had set up web sites and organized discussion forums, claiming that his book, “The Covenant with Black America” was a national plan of action to address the primary concerns of African Americans – from health to housing, from crime to criminal justice, from education to economic parity. In a despicable show of desperation and intoxication for recognition, Smiley tried to use this shambolic setup against a presidential campaign that featured the first African-American presidential nominee by any major party. That wicked plan also failed miserably.

With individuals like Smiley, the practice of community advocacy has been distorted into a bargaining venture for greener pastures. It has become a ground for unscrupulous media opportunists, composing falsehood and instigating uncertainty, while they take advantage of their vulnerable communities to pursue self-centered political careers or business interests.

As if that was not enough, Smiley showed up again just before the 2012 Presidential Election, to resume his President Obama witch-hunting. He teamed up with another confused activist, and a Princeton professor, Cornel West to initiate their so called ‘Poverty Tour.’ Both Smiley and West said they hoped to jump-start a national conversation about poverty and political action in four battleground states before the elections. This tour crashed because it had no significant mission, but was created out of selfishness; to threaten the political landscape with their sham “Black vote” crusade and take advantage of the moment.

The campaign season is here again. The priority for any credible community advocate that is passionate about the African-American communities should be how to inspire the community’s collective civic participation in the socio-political process. Activists and Community advocates should be concerned about preparing their community for massive voter-turnouts. Community Advocates who are genuinely interested in their communities should, most definitely not be taking advantage of voter vulnerability by selling books, or swaging uncorroborated poll theories. The one thing that is crystal clear in this constant, consistent, and predictable display of desperation is that Smiley does not represent anybody or the community he claims to promote. Smiley represents himself alone. Using the concerns of the African American community as a trick to bargain political interests or boost a shaky media career would further cripple his credibility.

How South Africa’s constitutional court put Zuma in his place

BY GARETH NEWHAM | Newsweek/

Jacob Zuma's homestead Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, January 21, 2014. South Africa's highest court has ruled that Zuma should pay back some of the state money spent upgrading his home. MARCO LONGARI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES — Jacob Zuma’s homestead Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, January 21, 2014. South Africa’s highest court has ruled that Zuma should pay back some of the state money spent upgrading his home.
MARCO LONGARI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

“The President failed to uphold, defend and respect the Constitution.” With those words, Chief Justice Mogoeng Thomas Reetsang Mogoeng of the South Africa Constitutional Court finally ruled on the biggest of many presidential scandals since Jacob Zuma came to power in 2009.

The court ruling related to the failure of Zuma to adhere to the findings of the public protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, that he breached his ethical responsibility with regards to the excessive expenditure of public money on his private homestead in Nkandla and should repay a portion of it. An amount of 246 million rand ($23 million at the time) was used to enhance security and upgrade Zuma’s residence—which including the installation of a swimming pool and ampitheater—resulted in it becoming one of the most expensive homes in a country where more than half the population lives on 779 rand ($53) per month.

The roots of the saga started in 1999, when Zuma was appointed as deputy president of South Africa. Soon after, he began developing his rural estate near Nkandla in northern KwaZulu Natal, a province on South Africa’s east coast. His financial advisor at the time, Schabir Shaik, assisted with the financing of the project. Shaik was eventually convicted of being in a corrupt relationship with Zuma and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2005.

Fortunately for Zuma, the political winds were changing at the time. Then-President Thabo Mbeki, who was increasingly seen as intolerant and aloof, had become unpopular within the African National Congress (ANC) and its alliance partners South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). Fired by Mbeki and facing corruption charges himself, Zuma had little option but to go for broke and challenge Mbeki for presidency of the ANC. He partly achieved this by presenting himself as a “people’s president” and building support from ANC structures such as the Youth League and other political leaders whom Mbeki had alienated.

This strategy succeeded, and he was elected as the ANC president at the party’s five-yearly National Conference in 2007. Shortly before the 2009 national elections, the then-acting head of the National Prosecuting Authority Mokotedi Mpshe withdrew the 783 criminal charges of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering facing Zuma. Following the ANC’s election win in 2009, Zuma became the president of South Africa.

Zuma quickly used his presidential authority to consolidate his power across the party and the state. He appointed people he believed would owe him allegiance to powerful positions in security and other key state agencies. In this way he was able to dispense patronage to loyalists and target people he perceived as enemies.

Recently, however, Zuma has come under increasing pressure. Various senior ANC party members have publicly alleged that the Guptas—a wealthy business family that are Zuma’s personal friends and benefactors to a number of his immediate family members—have been able to influence presidential decisions, including the appointment of cabinet ministers. This resulted in senior ANC stalwarts calling for Zuma to step down.

Zuma’s term of office as president is due to end in 2019. However, this Constitutional Court ruling has provided fresh impetus to growing calls for Zuma to either step down or be removed by the ANC much earlier. The problem facing the country is that Zuma is still very powerful within the ANC. Despite the court’s ruling, key structures such as the ANC Youth league and Women’s Leaguequickly released public statements after the Constitutional Court ruling expressing their full support for him.

If Zuma threatens to fight against any internal attempts to remove him, it is likely to result in deepening the already severe divisions within the ANC and its alliance partners. Given that highly-contested local government elections will take place later this year, there is unlikely to be the stomach for this type of fight. Moreover, Zuma is in a tight spot. A court ruling on rationality of the withdrawal of the criminal charges against him in 2009 will be out later in 2016, and if he loses they could be reinstated. There is far too much at stake for Zuma, a man who has consistently put his personal interests ahead of his party and the ANC, to leave power prematurely.

It is likely that the ANC will try and manage this internally to prevent additional damage to the party. It will most likely be the outcome of the 2016 local government elections that will determine Zuma’s fate. If the ANC loses substantial support, Zuma’s exit is likely to happen in the relatively near future. If the ANC manages to retain their substantial majority, Zuma is likely to stay until the end of his term of office. Whatever the outcome, South Africa’s Constitutional Court has reaffirmed its supremacy over a rapacious political elite.

Gareth Newham is the head of the Governance, Crime and Justice Division at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), an African security thinktank based in Pretoria. The ISS tweets @issafrica.

President Buhari: between foreign policy and overseas excursions

BHR AIR ROUTES FB — Satiric composition of President Buhari’s travelling routes. Buhari has consistently been hooked on his presidential jet, trotting the globe, and making official stopover calls to just about any foreign city that has an airport; and taking photos with any foreign public officer or leader that cared. So what does this mean to a country currently overwhelmed by a burden of economic and political adversities?

President Buhari’s penchant for flying around, it may be recalled, started when he was a presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC). Today, as president, Buhari consistently has been hooked on his presidential jet, trotting the globe, and making official stopover calls to just about any foreign city that has an airport; and taking photos with any foreign public officer or leader that cared. So what does this mean to a country currently overwhelmed by a burden of economic and political adversities?

Here is a Commander-in-chief who chooses to remain on the air making rounds of unsubstantiated escapades while his country’s security system remains in unexplained tatters. In the North where President Buhari hails from, casualties of suicide bombings are a horrific trend, while communal mobility is grounded for scarcity of fuel. Ever since Mr. President made himself the overseer of the Petroleum Minister, the Nigeria’s oil and gas industry has gone in a terrible coma; contractors wander around a blind system whereas motorists struggle in vain to buy petrol.

Within this prevailing devastation, here is Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, responding to his travelling obsession:

“President Muhammadu Buhari came into office under the mantra of change. While Nigerians are yearning for change, you need someone who will set up the infrastructure, both at home and abroad for it. President Buhari is busy doing that. The change is manifest in where he visits and what he does.”

This again is where President Buhari’s handlers got it wrong – an inability to differentiate between effective foreign policy and aimless foreign excursions. Foreign policy is basically a government’s strategy in dealing with other nations. Buhari, since his inauguration had shuttled Islamic countries to show appreciation to foreign Muslim leaders who secretly funded his campaign. He had equally made unreported trips for medical reasons; whereas other trips were aimlessly planned and yielded nothing but photos albums for social media campaign – so how does change manifest from this documentary of unreasonable oversea trips?

Nigerians who initially supported this president expected that his trips would have galvanized foreign assistance and collaboration to defeat the Boko Haram overpowering insurgency. Unfortunately, President Buhari’s trips are unproductive while he exaggerated his military’s success against the terror group, claiming they had long been defeated. But the group are an intractable agony, executing their butcheries with little or no challenge from the government forces. Just a week ago, 24 worshipers were killed and 18 were wounded after two female suicide bombers detonated explosives inside a mosque.

The major question is on how Buhari’s voyage addiction would translate to effective foreign policy. The foreign policy process is very diplomatic and must galvanize power to protect and project Nigeria’s global interests – not create a forum for several trips, executive dinners, and fanfares. President Buhari must seek diplomatic interests with the appropriate countries to strategically create opportunities to solve his country’s surmounting issues on security, economy, and a continued derail of the social system. Consequently, he should collaborate with global leaders passionate about uniting the country rather than his current foreign cronies – some controversial sectarian extremists unconcerned about a peaceful Nigeria.

Re: PDP is too corrupt and too sick to lead the opposition

This article was earlier sent to me privately by the author Dr SKC Ogbonnia before going public on the International Guardian Vol 17 No 9 of January 2016, Ordinarily, the caption would have elicited some excitement had it been it was sincere, unbiased and constructive in attempt to demonize a party that ran the affairs of Nigeria for sixteen years. I have a lot of respect for Dr SKC for his interest in the affairs of Nigeria from the Diaspora. But in the author’s position as it concerns who leads the opposition in Nigeria, I have some reservations that he may not have done a good research or he purposely decided to label all members of the present opposition party in Nigeria the PDP with one tag. This to my mind and that of many discerning minds is fallacy. I guess he wanted my reaction that’s why he sent me a copy and I respect him for that privilege.

The Peoples Democratic Party still commands the respect of many Nigerians despite many lies told by APC before the 2015 elections against the party which many have come to realize in recent times as mere propaganda. The Peoples Democratic Party’s umbrella still have array of well meaning Nigerians of all works of life who are decent in character. As a party, they had and still having their challenges which is not uncommon with political activities. For anybody to wake up from sleep to assert that PDP is too corrupt and too sick to lead the opposition is jaundiced. All across the country Nigeria, there are signature people oriented infrastructure which the PDP led government in the past 16 years will be credited for. At the same time, there are mistakes they have made which should not be given as an excuse for non performance of the present APC administration.
For the records, the PDP was elected into office in 1999 and in 2000, less than one year, Nigerians could boast of GSM services throughout the country without blaming the military misrule which Buhari was a key actor. Nigeria under PDP saw the rail system destroyed by the military which Buhari was a key actor being revived, thanks to President Goodluck Jonathan administration. New airports were built under PDP. Workers salaries were increased, the price of fuel was stabilized, new universities established and lots more under the PDP administration. Compare that with 9 months of inactivity of the Buhari led APC government which glorifies itself with the Change mantra but administratively inefficient and developmentally visionless, one would appreciate the fact that the elements that constituted a clog in the wheel of progress in Nigeria democracy in the challenging days of PDP are now calling the shots in APC. By that, one would ask where lies the morality for anybody to assume that APC members are less corrupt or too healthy to lead at the federal level? These same elements who blame PDP today were the real architects of some of the challenges that faced the party either as governors, ministers, legislators, board members or contractors from 1999 to 2015 but today find themselves in APC. They trade on names calling and blame games which have brought untold avoidable hardship to Nigerian. Nigerians are quick in getting disillusioned with the APC administration which should have been the major concern of DR SKC Ogbonnia. Many leaders of APC have some moral burden but that does not make everybody in the party bad.
On the issue raised by Dr SKC that PDP leaders are befallen with one form of acute sickness or another instead of defending themselves and the cause of the party, one begins to see a kind of American Donald Trump insulting rhetoric. Sickness is something that could happen to anybody and should not be a political issue. Are there no APC leaders who are sick? Don’t APC leaders now go on oversea treatment? Going abroad for treatment, has been a problem with the Nigeria leadership since post independence which is condemnable. I think what we need to do is to hold our leaders accountable for failing to strengthen our health care programme and that is not something the PDP should be held solely accountable. Dr SKC should join forces with other Nigerians irrespective of political party affiliation to encourage the present administration which came to power on the mantra of change to do something about health care services rather than continue to blame President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Buhari is to blame for his inactivity and lack of vision. They promised Nigeria change and they should change those things that are not good not blaming the past and doing the same thing. We all are against corruption no matter the party in power. The constant globetrotting and gallivanting by President Buhari for medical treatment abroad ,wasteful and unrewarding diplomatic meetings must be reassessed considering that the Naira{N} has fallen to a shameful value under his watch with a dwindling economic situation. That leads to the possible conclusion that “na the same people”.

President Buhari.... APC administration and people should ask government to do something to checkmate recent mayhem caused by Boko Haram before they recapture all the communities from where PDP led government dislodged them before APC came on board. — President Buhari…. APC administration and people should ask government to do something to checkmate recent mayhem caused by Boko Haram before they recapture all the communities from where PDP led government dislodged them before APC came on board.

The offensive write-up however noted in self contradiction that PDP still have ardent supporters who still see hope believing that the party will soon usher in some credible leaders. For sure the party will usher in credible leaders because they abound. Dr SKC agreed with ardent PDP supporters by going ahead to name people like Sen. Ken Nnamani, Nuhu Ribadu, Donald Duke, Segun Mimiko and so on as those he adjudged untainted. The author made himself a moral judge of determining Nigerians who are tainted and untainted. This to me and many others is fallacy. Since the author believes PDP still parades credible people because there are indeed men and women of integrity and class in PDP who have served Nigeria and many more with patriotic zeal to serve humanity. That therefore exposes the fallacy in Dr SKC’s misleading sermon that if like God’s promised not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if there is found one righteous person amongst them, he will not destroy the city. In PDP there are still men and women of honour who are not sick in the authors view that can provide leadership at all levels as to lead the opposition to recapture power at the centre again not by propaganda, not by threat of monkey and Baboon soaking in blood, not by making empty promises that holds no water like the APC, not by playing politics with insecurity and insurgency in the country, not by use of bombastic languages against the establishment but by exposing the hypocrisy of the present government of APC as a visionless, careless, directionless,, lawless, vicious and dictatorial regime with skewed mentality of vendetta, nepotism, blame game and deception.
With the experience of a missing or lost and found 2016 budget the first of its kind in the modern society where a country’s budget would be declared missing at the National Assembly, APC as a party if decent and incorruptible should have asked President Buhari and those involved in the budget saga to honorably resign for the shame and embarrassment they caused Nigerians. PDP as a party and government would have done better.
Again, the article in view suggests that the author who claimed to know the next move of the PDP even before they hold their congress has made himself a seer who has the supernatural powers to know ahead those in the northern part of Nigeria who will be handed the mantle of leadership by PDP and has condemned them as wearing beads of corruption another fallacy of hasty conclusion and fallacy ad-hominen because people are presumed innocent before the law until proven guilty. It is only in Nigeria under President Buhari where people are presumed guilty until proven innocent, an affront to rule of law. This is the situation with the so much orchestrated Dasukigate Dr SKC talked about. Dasuki has not been allowed to speak out; all the allegations against him have been by the government who are on vendetta mission. Note that in 1985, it was Col Dasuki that led the group that kept Gen Buhari then president under house arrest after the coup that overthrew him. The public need to know that fact and see clearly why Buhari wants to get a pound of flesh from Dasuki. APC liars have been publicizing names purported to have been mentioned by Dasuki as those involved in the said scandal which from reliable source close to Dasuki were not mentioned by him.
The author went ahead to opinionate that the timbers of 7th Assembly mentioning only those who are in the PDP still as only those who are corrupt. He said and I quote; “the timbers of 7th Legislature, particularly former Senate President David Mark, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and former Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha are pondering what could have happened. They were well groomed as the picture perfect baby-face of the opposition with every resource in tow. However, the trio has suddenly has suddenly grown too old and too important due to a raging fear of imminent probes into the billions budgeted for constitutional review and constituency projects from 2007 to 2015.” This sermon is laughable in the sense that the author expected these great leaders to start fighting the government for mere fighting sake. These great Nigerians are democrats whose interest is how to move Nigeria forward not to use their experience to drag the government down like the APC did during President Goodluck when they joined the Boko Haram as their advocates, sponsoring insurgency and doing things that undermined the security of the country. Knowing that APC is visionless with the conglomeration of strange bed fellows those PDP leaders mentioned by the author know very well the antecedents of most of the leaders of APC and are convinced that their infighting and greed will derail their administration and provide the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP a stable to be back to power. On a personal note, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha today in his state of Imo is seen as the solution to the maladministration of an APC Governor Rochas Okorocha who rigged himself back to power. Go to Imo State people are crying why not Ihedioha. His past performance and his characters as a man whose word is his bond have positioned him as a pragmatic leader. Again, all those who were labeled too corrupt and too sick are PDP members. One may ask when did APC become an abode for forgiven sinners? Does APC have the canonical right like Catholic priests to give absolution for sins? Any mention of Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, the Deputy Speaker 7th House of Reps without mention of Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal , a man of character now in APC and governor of Sokoto State the then Speaker, 7th House of Reps, is selective judgment and such cannot pass objectivity test. Again the mention of PDP leaders as corrupt because of allegations by the APC without mention of APC past governors and top government officials who have been indicted by panel of enquiries set up by constituted authorities for embezzlement and management of state treasury amounts to hypocrisy. Today APC governors who are on their second term in office have mismanaged their state resources and have declared their state broke. A state like Imo where the governor is APC, the economy is deplorable yet the author failed to mention it. Gov Rochas Okorocha is a symbol of a typical APC leader, insensitive, lawless, nepotic, greedy, corrupt, liar and propagandist, confussionist, visionless and loquacious.
Having said that, I make bold to say that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has all it takes to lead Nigeria once again especially now when the hawks that were in the party have found themselves in the All Progressive Congress, APC. The kind of opposition expected of democrats is not destructive opposition but constructive one that deals with issues not the type of propaganda done by APC when they were in the opposition which they have continued to do by blaming the past administration for their inactivity and cluelessness in governance behaving as if they are still the opposition party. Any citizen of Nigeria that wants the progress of the country should advise the new government to take off with their campaign promises and stop blaming the past. The government should be held accountable for not being able to fix problems of governance and deal with issues that will accelerate development. The government of Buhari should be encouraged to do something fast to stabilize the Naira and check fuel scarcity. Nigerians are suffering under this APC administration and people should ask government to do something to checkmate recent mayhem caused by Boko Haram before they recapture all the communities from where PDP led government dislodged them before APC came on board. The APC government should address non payments of salaries of civil servants by governors under their party. APC should caution the Imo State governor to stop mass sack of more than 4000 workers and pay arrears of salaries owed workers as many believe that Gov Okorocha stole Imo money to sponsor President Buhari’s election. Same is the fate of Rotimi Amaechi former governor of Rivers State who records have shown, looted the state treasury to sponsor Buhari’s election which resulted in his appointment as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Corruption no doubt has been one of the banes of Nigeria towards achieving greatness. It is so rooted that hardly any political party or class can beat their chest to claim innocent. I am solidly behind any effort by any leader or group of people to fight the menace of corruption and other evil in the country called Nigeria. Tribalism, divide and rule, religious bigotry and sycophancy have all promoted corruption in Nigeria and any attempt by anybody or group to fight the hydra headed virus, such person or group must as well live above the mentioned sentiments. I am in support that anybody who has looted or has breached public trust should be brought to book. I am of the firm believe that to achieve success in the fight against corruption, people should stop the sycophancy of praising President Buhari when he has done little or nothing. Nigerians should also demand that the rule of law should be followed in prosecuting his war against corruption and there should not be sacred cow or selectivity. Those in APC who have in one way or the other involved in corrupt practice should be made accountable. In my candid opinion, I expect Dr SKC to be a father figure as the president of Nigerians in Diaspora, NIDO Texas, which is made up by people of different political linen, to be apolitical. Aligning himself with a political party to hastily condemn another as too corrupt and too sick to lead may be counterproductive.
I wish to state that PDP as a party irrespective of the challenges they have faced in the past or facing in the present, by omission or by commission, is still a party to be reckoned with. There are men and women of impeccable character who have the patriotic zeal to serve the country. PDP remains a viable alternative to the present clueless regime. APC parades some good guys too and such people should be brought on board to assist the administration instead of President Buhari appointing according to him, people from areas that gave him his so called 90% votes leading to his skewed appointments. To move Nigeria forward, all hands must be on deck. No section of the country should be alienated; those who have something positive to offer irrespective of their party affiliation should be embraced by the APC administration because the total national interest should be making Nigeria great.

■ Casca Ohanele is Journalist, member Nigeria Union of Journalist, Newspaper columnist, a Social Commentator and Political Analyst and Lives in Houston. Contact: email to Casmir.tochiohanele@yahoo.co.uk

PDP is too corrupt and too sick to lead the opposition

It is a common knowledge that any government without credible opposition is open to dictatorship and abuse of power. Recently, there was an array of hope for Nigeria. For all intents and purposes, Nigerians had witnessed a formidable opposition activity by the time for the 2015 elections. But that is no longer the case. The current main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria (PDP), has turned out to be too corrupt and too sick to play a leading role.

So far, President Muhammadu Buhari is doing a commendable job grabbing the corrupt PDP henchmen one after the other. Yet, the attitude of the culprits once they are granted bail is not funny at all. Instead of standing firm to defend themselves and the cause of the opposition, these PDP leaders are usually befallen with one form of acute sickness or another. To rub in the ploy, the sick looters typically opt for treatment abroad while the masses are saddled with poor medical facilities at home.
Interestingly, the ardent supporters of the former ruling party still see hope. They believe the party will soon usher in some credible leaders in the crucible of a party convention, whenever that might be. But don’t hold your breath. Of course, PDP still boasts of fairly untainted figures like Ken Nnamani, Nuhu Ribadu, Donald Duke, Segun Mimiko, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Ibrahim Shekarau, and so on. Alas, the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria is not ready to entrust its future on any novice in primitive accumulation of wealth. The dilemma, therefore, is that virtually all its anointed leaders with deep pocket—from the north, east, and west—wear loud beads of corruption around their necks. Take a look at the lineup below.
Namadi Sambo: In a normal clime, the mild-mannered former Vice President would be the shoe-in to the leadership vacuum. However, he is yet to recover from an overseas medical treatment resulting possibly from the new wave of sickness common with PDP chieftains being fingered for abuse of office. Moreover, Sambo cannot feign ignorance to the monumental corruption that rocked the National Economic Council while he was at the helm.
Enter the man of the hour, son of a former Sultan, and the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki who has been in dire need of foreign medical treatment in midst of dizzying criminal charges. Dasuki had exhibited a measure of political shrewdness when he stormed the London Think-Tank Chatham House to make a case for the postponement of Nigeria’s 2015 elections. But it is clear that his was a fall before the rise. The Sokoto prince will forever be remembered for freebooting $2.1 billion defense funds budgeted to save human lives—now referred to as Dasukigate.
The case of the recent PDP Chairmen does not exude hope. Haliru Mohammed Bello, for one, has become a permanent fixture in the contemporary discussion of corruption in Nigeria. Currently confined to a hospital bed but indicted in connection to the Dasukigate, Bello is the same character thrust into the position of Defense Minister during the Goodluck era despite being embroiled in the infamous £8.6 billion Siemens bribery scandal. Similarly, though he is been out of the public scene since stepping down after failing to account for N12 billion party funds, Nigerians will never forget how Adamu Mua’zu ascended the top party post in the face of pending allegations for stealing N19.8billion from Bauchi State coffers. Even more, not only is the former governor rumored sick somewhere, Mua’zu remains an integral quotient in cracking the various Dasukigate equations.

PIC.2. FROM LEFT: VICE PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO; PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND PDP CHAIRMAN, ADAMU MU'AZU, WAVING TO THE CROWD DURING DECAMPING CEREMONY OF ATTAHIRU BAFARAWA FROM APC TO PDP IN SOKOTO ON SATURDAY (8/2/14). 794/8/2/14/AAG/NAN — PIC.2. FROM LEFT: VICE PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO; PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND PDP CHAIRMAN,
ADAMU MU’AZU, WAVING TO THE CROWD DURING DECAMPING CEREMONY OF ATTAHIRU BAFARAWA FROM APC
TO PDP IN SOKOTO ON SATURDAY (8/2/14).
794/8/2/14/AAG/NAN

Sule Lamido is a well-nurtured party stalwart then widely seen as the heir apparent to 2019 PDP presidential ticket. Sadly, the ex-governor and son are now awaiting trial for plundering Jigawa State treasury. The plight of the past Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, is equally sad. Not long ago all roads pointed to Aliyu’s Minna residence, but that was then. Today, the erstwhile “Chief Servant” of Niger State is mired in N2.9 billion fraud charges at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The timbers of the 7th Legislature, particularly former Senate President David Mark, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, and former Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha are pondering what could have been. They were well groomed as the picture perfect babyface of the opposition with every resource in tow. However, not surprisingly, the trio has suddenly grown too old and too impotent due to a raging fear of imminent probes into the billions budgeted for Constitutional Review and Constituency Projects from the year 2007 to 2015. Ordinarily, PDP could have explored Senator Godswill Akpabio, the official opposition leader in the Legislature, but the former governor has become dumbstruck out of the blue after an encounter with the EFCC for allegedly carting away N108 billion from Akwa Ibom State treasury.
That brings us to Olisa Metuh, a man of cerebral pedigree, then packaged as a fearless patriot in his role as the PDP National Publicity Secretary. Regrettably, the party has just found out the hard way: Promoting Metuh as its official mouthpiece is akin to bursting the Pandora’s Box in a public square. Lo and behold, the credibility of the Nnenwi High Chief is deep down the tubes at the spur of the moment after failing to make sense of how and why a portion of the Dasuki corrupt largesse landed in his individual business bank account.
The most brazen is the spectacle of Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State grandstanding as a self-appointed “Leader of Nigeria’s Opposition”. A man of voluble tidings, Fayose is the shameless fugitive ex-governor previously impeached for corruption but drafted back by his party to recapture the seat by any means necessary. Ultimately, he is rattled by the anti-corruption war and has been roaming the political space inciting the public with all manners of innuendo against the ruling party as if PDP had shared the stolen billions among the poor masses. But Nigerians have become wiser. We are well aware that the commotion is nothing but the wailing of a highbinder awaiting serious time for his involvement in the N1.3 billion poultry scandal plus 2014 Ekiti election fraud.
It will be a gross disservice to the reading audience if this exposé is to conclude without a special attention on Femi Fani-Kayode. Quite frankly, at the chagrin of friends, I was overjoyed when the former minister was acquitted of money laundering charges. Though always traducing, Fani-Kayode’s kind of verbal opposition is not totally bad for the polity. At least, his bombastic style has entertainment value—a radio station away from a poor man’s Rush Limbaugh. The issue with this one, though, is that new revelations from the Dasukigate have shown that the constant bravado is not only to blind the gullible masses but also to fan the embers of crises in anticipation of looming indictments over new graft allegations.
This whole picture portends a troubling future for Nigeria. Although President Buhari has recorded a measurable success thus far, he is far from sainthood. Like in any human undertaking, excesses abound. Very unfortunately, however one views it; and no matter the line of argument; it is clear the PDP brand is hopelessly banal—too corrupt, too sick, and too witless to checkmate the party in power. Even if the PDP is to succeed in its dream of a makeover, the ensuing leadership will always be dismissed, and rightly so, as an appendage to an unrepentant corrupt cabal. The posterity beckons on patriotic minds within the different opposition camps, therefore, to unite towards the path to a true democratic culture. Instead of the maddening rush to the ruling party, it is time to explore a new opposition party that is steadily alert to expose the weakness of the APC central government and credible enough to offer alternative solutions.
■ Dr. SKC Ogbonnia, Ph.D., is the current president of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO) – Contact: email to skcogbonnia@firsttexasenergy.com

APC and PDP terror and counter terrorism politics

As the economy continues to be in coma, with oil price going down and the dollar suffocating the naira, the political terrain which produces the caliber of leaders we have in Nigeria has not fared better. The system has become laughable and worrisome to sane minds across the world that has a focus on Nigeria and the possibility of their getting things right now or in the future. Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, Nigeria’s democracy has been described as nascent and politicians have been using that as an excuse for their misrule and abuse of the people’s trust. One may ask, how long will our democracy last for it to be real democracy like is practiced in some other nations of the world? A child born in 1999 cannot be said to be ignorant of his environment, such a child can reason to know what may hurt him or what harms him but in the case of Nigeria, we tend to always be in a haste to go the harms way. Our political parties and politicians are in constant struggle for who will undo the other in terms of abuse of the rule of law and violence. These attitudes of politicians have created the era of political brigandage with terrorists in the garb of politicians taking centre stage. Today, it is not difficult to see those who have been accused of having links with the dreaded terrorist group Boko Haram being in positions of authority from the presidency to the legislature and at the helm of affairs of political parties.

I must say without fear of contradiction that Nigeria political parties are not formed on the basis of ideology or any national interest but are the congregation of strange bed fellows whose only intentions are to use such platform to gain political authority for the purpose of aggrandizing the national cake to themselves and their cronies. I do not intend to go on political voyage of reminding readers of the structure of political parties since independence as today’s experience is not different from the same illogical and criminal amalgamation of the north and the south is an unholy political structure called Nigeria. Since that British intentional mistake, formation of political parties and leadership structure of same has left much to be desired. In 1999, the two major political parties the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the APP/AD awkward alliance and their choice of presidential candidates from South Western Nigeria was not to serve any national progressive intent but to romance the ego of tribal cleavage to appease the Yorubas for denying them the presidency in the most free and fair election ever conducted in Nigeria which Abiola their kinsmen won but was denied by the northern elites. At this point, it won’t be out of place to opine that the northern elites and their political tactics have at one time or the other drifted our country on the path of retrogression with their false and pompous born to rule mentality. This situation has contributed in defining the present political structure and experience in Nigeria.

Today we have the APC administration in power at the federal level. APC a marriage of disgruntled former members of the ruling party PDP and alliance of opposition parties from 1999 to 2015 before taking over power used many arm twisting tactics including threats, propaganda, intimidations and outright violence to cajole the Peoples Democratic Party who themselves were careless with power, to lose the confidence of the international communities and the citizens. With the mentality of born to rule, the northern political elites did not stop at anything in sending signal that they intend to grab power at the centre at all cost. The attacks on the office of the presidency under the command of university don from Southern part of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan by northern elements were unprecedented in Nigerian history. The clamour for change and return of power to the northern Muslim intensified which gave impetus to the dreaded terrorist organization Boko Haram. The organization rose and enjoyed the sympathy of some northern elites or somehow enjoyed the silence of majority of northern interest groups as they found a comfort zone at the Border States controlled by the opposition party then the ANPP. The Boko Haram became a security threat to the federal government and some of the opposition leaders were fingered as masterminds, financiers, supporters or members of the terror group. It was not surprise to see most of these politicians mentioned as having links with the terror group occupy very sensitive position in the formation of an alliance party which gave birth to All Progressive Congress, APC. As the new mega party gathers momentum, struggle for supremacy and positions soon set some of the leaders of APC on each other’s throat leading to some leaders and founding fathers of the APC exiting from the party and offered red carpet reception by the PDP. On the other hand, the tempting opportunity of relevance in the new evolving mega party and the carrot stick offered to some leaders of PDP who have to some extent fallen out of favour with the party structure soon drove some governors under PDP out to join forces with opposition. Note all these carpet crossing were not on ideological basis but for self recognition and financial interest.

What all these mean is that political struggle by politician in recent times in Nigeria has become a kind of terror and counter terror tactics. Like I noted earlier, intimidations which evokes fear on the citizens became evident ahead of the 2015 election. Gen. Buhari threatened that monkeys and baboons will soak in blood if he does not become president. One may wonder who he was referring to as baboons and monkeys if not the citizens of Nigeria. Today, Buhari is the President and Commander in Chief of Nigeria. He placed his interest above the lives of every Nigerian. Some opposition leaders in the Senate like Senator Ali Ndume one of the founding fathers of APC fingered as having strong ties with the terror group in Nigeria in whose house one of the terrorists who masterminded the 2011 Christmas bombing in Suleja Niger State was arrested in Abuja is today the Senate Leader of the 8^th Senate. El Rufai who was touted as go between the Boko Haram and the federal government under President Jonathan is today the governor of Kaduna State. In the southern part of Nigeria, Rotimi Amaechi a former governor under PDP in Rivers State who was also touted to be a leading supporter and sponsor of the Niger Delta militants who also threatened that there will be no peace if APC loses the presidential election in 2015 is today a federal minister. Across the country, one will see all those individuals who in one way or the other threatened the peace of Nigeria and the citizens while in the opposition, occupying sensitive political position today at the federal level. These tend to indicate that only by being violent and instilling fears on the people can politicians and political parties make their way to the top of governance. One then asks, what is the hope for decent people those who are not violent, the loyal party members who have remained in their different parties since the end of the military regime in 1999 without cross carpeting?

In PDP, three of its national chairmen since 2009 have been decampees from the opposition, from Chief Ogbulafor who was a member of ANPP, to the present former governor of Borno State, Sen. Amodu Sherriff , a founding member of APC who is today the National Chairman of PDP. It is this recent development that triggered my thought into questioning if APC and PDP are not playing terror and counter-terror kind of politics which to mind may be counterproductive as it may not bring the expected progress in Nigeria?

Before I proceed I wish we could check what actually is terror or terrorism for us to see if the scenario depicts such experience. Terror according to the dictionary means a very strong feeling of fear, something that causes very strong feelings of fear, something that is terrifying, violence that is committed by a person, group, or government in order to frighten people and achieve a political goal. These fears are created by act of violence or destructive acts (as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands. This strategy can be liked to what played out in Nigeria during the 2015 election which so many people believed forced President Goodluck Jonathan who vowed not to allow bloodshed for his political interest, to relinquish power which many believe was rigged in some part of the country in favor of the All Progressive Congress that intimidated the citizens of Nigeria. Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry, the sound of guns being fired in many parts of the country especially in the northern part of Nigeria by Boko Hram and so called Fulani herdsmen that filled the citizens with terror. Many civilians fled their places of residence in terror, a terror that is still fresh in peoples’ memory like the terrors of life in the jungle which intimidated INEC officials into succumbing to the antics of APC and forced the citizens into voting for the opposition or staying away from voting. That terror led to the emergence of the administration of APC, a regime that rules by terror, bombings and other acts of terror of intimidating the opposition in the name of selective war against corruption. To the ruling party, all leaders of PDP who could oppose or critic the policies of the ruling APC are guilty of corruption and must be silenced into jail. These people have been living with terror and the threat of terror of being labeled corrupt politicians who must be jailed in recent time that PDP needed someone from outside of them who could counter the campaign of terror against their members. This I believe led to the questionable elevation of Sen. Amodu Sherriff as the new National Chairman of PDP. This can be seen as counter terrorism. Fighting terror with terror is counter terrorism. Terror as description of a situation was first used in the 14^thcentury as depicting fear, dread, fright, alarm, panic, and trepidation, while terrorism as a systematic use of terror as a policy” is first recorded in English 1798.

On the other hand, counterterrorism is operations that include the offensive measures taken to prevent, deter, preempt, and respond to terrorism. Looking at the Nigeria experience, to gain recognition, it seems plausible that one must get involved in the act of terror against the state. Today, we have some notable leaders across the country whose only credentials for rising to the top are nothing but their violent roles at one time or the other or their role as 419 kingpins. Others are those who disrupted democratic process and made themselves lord over others. The names Asari Dokubo, Ateke Tom, Government Tompolo and many others of the Niger Delta Militants, Gani Adams, Fredrick Fasheun of OPC,Generals Buhari, Babangida and many northern elites coup plotters, all these give the impression that decency do not pay in Nigeria. These are the group of people who run the affairs of the country called Nigeria. No wonder therefore the PDP found it politically expedient to choose one of those who had been accused of having serious ties with terror group in Nigeria who happens to enjoy the support and backings of the present ruling party APC when the PDP led government under former president Jonathan was on the verge of arresting him on charges of corruption and terror, a their new National Chairman. This move is to foreclose the possibility of APC led government, arresting or prosecuting the chairman of the opposition because doing so will expose the hypocrisy of the APC and their change mantra. How can you accuse, arrest or charge one of your founding fathers for corruption or terror now he is in the opposition will be the question on peoples mind.

Already commentators across the divide have started discussing the issue. To PDP supporters in trying to defend the choice of Sen. Sheriff as National Chairman of PDP when confronted by APC supporters that the chairman is a suspected Boko Haram sponsor, one AIC Akwarandu a PDP blogger noted thus “What of Senator Ali Ndume, he was accused and even docked for sponsoring Boko Haram. Yet APC considered him as the majority leader and I repeat Majority Leader of the Senate. What that means is that while Saraki is the president of all the Senators, Ndume is the general leader of all the APC Senators. None of the APC activists condemned it. They won’t anyway. Bad History students! All of them are awake, advising the PDP of whom to make her National Chairman. May God save Nigeria from hypocrisy and Pretence, Amen.” He went further to promote the image of the new PDP Chairman, “He was elected Senator for 8 years. He also served as a Governor for 8 years. Ali Modu-Sherriff is loved by his people.” On the other hand, an APC supporter responded, “ so you are now supporting this Boko Haram sponsor because he was made your party leader while you were supporting President Jonathan when he was looking for him. I don’t think you will last with this your propaganda”.

The PDP man went further to showcase a photograph of Senator Ali Modu-Sherriff with APC leaders including the commander of Change President Buhari at a rally in 2015 and noted that within this period in question, they drank and ate with him without raising any issue stating that it is hypocrisy that today, the PDP has appointed him as it’s National Chairman, the APC have remembered everything bad about him. In other words, the choice of Sen Ali Modu Sherriff is a blackmail stunt gainst APC and their war against corruption and violence. This is what I term fighting terror with terror which is terrorism and counter terrorism politics of APC and PDP.

I refuse to be one of those that will cast aspersions on Ali Modu-Sherriff just because of things that hold no water because all the allegations against him have not been proven. The party has found him worthy; all loyal members should support him and see the outcome. However, I have expressed my feelings to many friends that I am not excited over the choice of Sherriff because there has not been a known record where evil was used to solve the problem of evil.

The truth remains that even if you bring God to lead the PDP, some people will still question why He allowed His only Beloved Son to die on the cross of Calvary. Let’s give him a chance. Nobody has convicted him. He is a Nigerian like all of us.

On the tactical ground, the PDP has sent shocking message to Buhari and his party. The new Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff, has vowed to mobilize all the resources in his disposal to send President Muhammadu Buhari, packing out of the Presidential villa come 2019. Sherriff stated this on Wednesday, February 17, during the re-dedication of the Supreme Court Victory of Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, in Umuahia, Township Stadium. Recall that the Supreme Court had affirmed the election of Ikpeazu, and other governors in South East and South South of PDP extraction in a unanimous judgment by a seven-man panel of the Supreme Court Justices.

The apex court headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, voided the verdict of the Owerri Division of the Court of Appeal which sacked Ikpeazu and others from office. The turn of event at the Supreme Court jolted the ruling APC to the extent of their questioning the integrity of the apex court. Could this be part of the gift package that Sherriff brought on PDP table?

At the thanksgiving at Aba which had all the big boys of PDP in attendance, Sherriff decked in a flowing Agbada immediately took over the podium, after arriving the venue towards the end of the thanksgiving programme and spoke for barely two minutes. “As the new chairman of the party, I have decided to mobilize the party, especially the north to take over power from Buhari come 2019.

“Like I said, we are going to send Buhari out of Aso Rock to where he comes from (Daura),” Sheriff stated. He added: “PDP is on course, and taking over power is of paramount importance.”

The National Executive Committee, NEC, of the PDP had on Tuesday rectified and approved Sheriff, the former Governor of Borno State, as its National Chairman. From the tone of the new National Chairman, one can see the signal and message which is akin to the intimidation and threat messages of the APC ahead of the 2015 presidential election. Terror is again seeing its match and the citizens at the end will be intimidated to accept the eventual outcome sooner or later.

Sheriff had in his acceptance speech announced that the PDP is sure of winning the 2019 presidential election with him as chairman. He said he would not witch-hunt any of those opposed to his emergence promising that his main task would be to restore peace and unity to the party. Some of the dignitaries present at the occasion include: Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmannuel, among others who today are the war lords of the PDP.

From APC apologists views, it’s obvious that the fear of Sen. Ali Modu Sherriff, SAS is the beginning of their wisdom. At this critical moment, it seems what PDP needs is the man to challenge Tinubu”; decode Gen. Mohammed Buhari, GMB’s antics in the North as well as hold the ace in divulging the make, brand and source of APC’s campaign funding with most of them claiming empty Bank Account. This I call operation fire for fire, terrorism and counterterrorism. But can Sherriff who is Buhari’s inlaw betray his inlaw? The question of his sponsorship of Boko Hram has more questions than answers; it is either SAS did the sponsoring with some occupants of Aso rock: does he know something that may rattle the occupants of Aso Rock or the Change Party: or is he 100% innocent of all allegations? if not why is he walking a free man while Dasuki who only spent Security vote now branded as Arms Deal is facing the music?

Let me take us on excursion : In Nigeria, politics has never been a clean game, neither do we have saints in politics as it involves a lot of maneuvering. The day you venture into politics is the day you made a choice to fight dirty if not, where are the campaign promises of APC? Where are the Chibok Girls? Is the Dollar now equal to One Naira? What about Free Food for School Children? What about the N5000 for unemployed youths? What about the madness of stabilizing the global Oil Market? I am not a conformist to such standards but a drastic situation calls for a drastic measure and since Sen Ali Sherriff has never been convicted I am not condemning him outright. But like my friend Prof Oparaoji a political activist based here in the USA would say, PDP seem to have gotten it wrong by playing the politics of terror and counterterrorism instead moving a step further to search for decency in politics. If the statement credited to GMB that “an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the North” make him unelectable? Did the gruesome murder of innocent NYSC members, who were lawfully posted to the remote areas of Northern Nigeria, diminish the image or political profile of a GMB in 2011 after he threatened violence under his party then the CPC? Buhari still emerged president of Nigeria after the documentary that exposed his tyrannical proficiency, during his first missionary journey as military president with his decree 2. Despite the supposed parasitic life of Ahmed Tinubu against the people of South West, with his touted ownership of half of Lagos State; choice properties in other States in the South west, plus some choice properties all over the world, he still emerged the maximum leader of APC in the South West nay Nigeria? Tinubu single handedly nominated the Vice President of Nigeria and made his wife a Senator. All these can only happen in Nigeria and that’s why some call it monkey republic.

Buhari as the President of a ‘democratized’ Nigeria, it should be noted that as long as we keep to the rule of law, Sheriff, remains innocent of all charges of links to Boko Haram until it is proved otherwise by a Court of competent Jurisdiction. This I believe informed the decision of PDP to chose Sen. Ali Modu Sherriff, SAS as its National Chairman as a counter terrorism to the terrorism of the All Progressive Congress, APC because the Borno born politician cum businessman was the only man who was said to have challenged Ahmed Tinubu during the formation of APC and still have the capacity to do so on the battle field. My summation on this is that, it is not the solution to Nigeria lingering economic and political crisis. A referendum by all nationalities must be convened for people to determine their willingness to remain part of Nigeria or otherwise. Decent people and loyal party members must not be suffocated perpetually by violent people who play politics of do or die. Patriotism should be the criteria for reward not violence or ill gotten wealth. In the months and years ahead, Nigerians and the international community will come to see how this new political tactics of APC and PDP will affect the economic, social and political life of the country Nigeria which is already at the brim of serious economic recession.

Buhari’s abuse and crash of the “Change” Praxis

Social media discussion threads are swamped with discussions about Nigeria and a latest controversy about the list of ministerial nominees recently made public by its president, Muhammadu Buhari. Majority of the masses almost running out of patience, had waited for almost four months for their new leader to announce his ministerial team, and had equally criticized him for sluggishly sitting down on many issues of national significance. But the Presidency explicitly defended his delays of ministerial nominations, claiming it needed enough time to search for credible people to harmonize with his professed transformation agenda. He had uncontrollably used the term “change” to pacify their justified impatience.

The nation was shocked when the list of ministerial nominees was finally released and sent to the Senate by the Presidency for endorsement. Disgracefully, most nominees turned out to be the same politicians and public officers with accusations of embezzlement, mismanagement, and corruption blurring their records. The issues on political dynamics thus took a new turn, revealing that the President may have lied to the nation when he claimed he was taking his time to search for honest and capable hands.

Another issue provoked by the President’s list centers on the “Change” philosophy affirmed by the President and his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) as their governance approach. As a campaign strategy, Buhari’s camp had adopted the change mantra as an anthem, wooing their base with chocolate-coated transformation lyrics, and singing themselves into power. But besides a routine abuse of the practice since his inauguration, the President may have finally crashed what was left of in his credibility to fight moral laxity, and the ability to execute a transformation process he professed and paraded as his supervisory forte.

President Buhari’s handle of the country so far has convinced Nigerians across party lines that the regime has no idea what to do with power in a representative process. It is unfortunate that the regime has no blueprint to move their country forward, but are trapped with a President who neither communicates nor collaborates with subordinates but wakes up each day with strange attitude, disagreeing with himself, and pronouncing tactless orders.

Most Nigerians, without doubt are now convinced that this regime has battled unproductively with the perception of the change praxis. Yet, failure in any leadership process, as I have always mentioned, should not be treated as a taboo, but as a learning ground to make amends and proceed. Here again are a few summaries similar to what I presented earlier in the year, during a heated presidential campaign:

■ The first determinant of ‘change’ as a solution is the quality of the proposed transformation. A proposal to fight corruption with corrupt characters is not change, but reveals a total bastardization of the process. In the realm of ethical management, it takes moral people to shape moral society. The names and characters in Buhari’s list do not correspond that philosophy.

■ Change does not mean a rearrangement of managers and positions; it is not about firing workers for poor performance or jailing jobless youth for shop-lifting. It is a science – an embrace of a new paradigm strategically executed to inspire a solid foundation for future developments.

■ A quest for organizational renewal requires a constructive blueprint. A Change expedition without plan is like flying a passenger jet without a satellite-based navigation system. Since its inauguration, the regime has not presented any development outline, while the president singlehandedly made decisions in a dictatorial manner. In a structure supervised by a team of politicians unfamiliar with the dialect of change, the masses must be ready for further surprises.

■ In the complex world of political governance, change does not mean a change of address from Daura to Abuja. It is obvious that the regime does not understand the political meaning of “Change”, but has unwisely shown a biased movement, recycle, and reshuffle of people, positions, and the national resources. This is not “change”, but a systematized smash-and-grab invasion of the nation, its people, resources, and prospects.

Nigeria: executive appointees and diversity management

Nigerians are boiling in controversy over their new leader’s approach to appointment of ministers and other governmental positions. President Muhammadu Buhari, almost 100 days in office, so far has appointed mostly indigenes of the North where he hails from to occupy key positions in his regime in a manner that generated a widespread uproar, with critics labelling his actions as “lopsided.”

From many threads that pervade the social media about this issue, one commentator, Rhoda Irodia wrote, “No Southerner is looking for handouts from their Southern representatives, rather we simply want all parts of the whole to be equally represented.” Abubakar Tsav identified as a retired police commissioner echoed a similar sentiment labelling the appointments as unequal. According to Tsav, “Nigeria is too big to have majority of the appointees from one section of the country. We have competent people in every part of Nigeria. For that reason, Buhari should spread the appointments to every part of Nigeria.”

Most of Buhari’s supporters, however saw nothing wrong with his appointments, arguing that choosing a team of his choice is a part his executive mandate. In fact, one Oladimeji Fabiyi, a member APC told the media that Buhari’s appointments are “wonderful and forward looking.” According to Fabiyi, “There is nothing wrong with it because they leader wants to put people who are going to help achieve the promise they made to the people.” To further support the President’s actions, a news blog, Delta Analyst Online reported how a pastor in Benin backed the President’s actions saying, “If Buhari appoints a ‘monkey’ as one of those to assist him to bring the change he has promised, Nigerians should support him”.

But Buhari’s actions should have been expected based of his own comments less than six weeks ago. In a forum in his recent visit to the United State, President Buhari had categorically stated that he would not treat people who did not vote for him equally with those who voted for him. In his words, the President had stated, “Going by election results, constituencies that gave me 97% cannot in all honesty be treated, on some issues, with constituencies that gave me 5%. I think these are political realities.”

So Buhari’s latest disregard of issues of equity and fairness in his allotment of crucial executive positions should not be a surprise, rather a practical execution a proposal he had already put in place. Attorney and legal analyst, Oshiokpekhai Utu-Orbih cited a possible constitutional lapses of Buhari’s appointment as “a total disregard for due process of law and order,” citing Section 14 (3) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution mandating equity in composition of national government. Utu-Orbih denounced Buhari’s appointments as a scheme running contrary to the spirit and letters of this constitutional provision, and argued that Buhari’s onslaught on the Nigerian people has surely awaken a new consciousness that could inspire a unity of the Southerners as formidable oppositions.

It may be necessary however, to view President Buhari’s disproportionate executive appointment so far from other perspectives. Besides the provisions of the laws, balancing the workforce in a diverse culture is not just an administrative requirement, but an ethical duty. An uneven work structure amorally leaves an unproductive environment of dichotomy and marginalized populace. Constitution or not, it is ethically erroneous in a population diverse with multiple tribes, cultures, and geographical sectors, to ostracize any group from the leadership or the workforce process.

Demographic trends in contemporary governance leaves three interrelated leadership challenges; cross‐cultural complexities, gender disparities, and diversity management. Without doubt, President Buhari, so far, has failed to recognize the inevitability of these concepts in his stewardship, and repercussions may derail his push for a transformation. Various studies are a substantiation of the powerful effects of workforce evenness in decision-making effectiveness. Hence, to progress in his vows to effectively transform his country, President Buhari must embrace a plan that would encompass a judicious composition of the people and relevant demographic arrangements, including; culture, tribes, gender, and geopolitical zones.

In transformation management, especially in a multicultural society, diversity in governmental appointees is a moral mandate not a treat. Using appointment of key public positions to reward campaign supporters, support tribesmen, or punish those considered as “unsupportive” constituents are ethically unjust, spiteful, and may not create the necessary avenues to inspire change.

Furthermore, Buhari’s cohorts must enlighten him on issues of diversity regarding public policy rather than their current self-justifying mentality. A consideration of gender, tribe, age, and geopolitical zones must play a role in structuring the executive workforce to inspire any growth. The electorates or followers who are indeed a core segment of the democratic process are humans who have emotional and psychological needs, and compromising those needs could create resentment and resistance to any transformation agenda. The regime, visibly, is already experiencing such resentments.

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