Date Published: 09/21/09

Nigeria is burning with wars raging on all fronts (5) By Temple Chima Ubochi

You only need a few people to effect a kidnapping. ( Robert Bourassa)

A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves. (Edward Murrow)

What generally happens in this county is that our politicians don't serve us well because they don't tell the truth, and they don't keep their promises. (Peter Garrett)

The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments. ( William H. Borah)

The citizen can bring our political and governmental institutions back to life, make them responsive and accountable, and keep them honest. No one else can. (John Gardner)

The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over the government. ( Franklin Delano Roosevelt)

I always believe that ultimately, if people are paying attention, then we get good government and good leadership. And when we get lazy, as a democracy and civically start taking shortcuts, then it results in bad government and politics. (Barack Obama)

It seems this topic does not want to come to a conclusion. Event(s) of everyday tend to add to it. We’re now in Part 5 of it and it looks like we `ve not gone anywhere yet. We would go the long haul a bit more. The writer does crave for your patience as we would be accommodating recent happenings from time to time.

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This writer is an empiricist (not an idealist) and would never join issue with anybody. This writer believes that although there are born criminals who despite having the whole world, would still engage in crime, because, it has been ingrained in their blood. But, we would never know which of the people perpetrating the crime of kidnapping or armed robbery, is being pushed into such, by inherent greedy instinct. As an empiricist, this writer works with what’s at hand; the kidnapped victims have all said it, the policy makers have even confirmed it and so many believed it: That unemployment and poverty are the twin factors fuelling the spate of kidnapping and armed robbery in the south-eastern zone in particular and Nigeria as a whole. Anybody who thinks he/she is wiser than all of us to have a contrary opinion, is entitled to it and this writer respects that, but, one thing is that this writer would not be distracted by any dullard argument and would not be forced to accept any suppositional idea from a callow mind, This writer is better than that.

In Parts 1, 2, 3 of this article, three kidnapped victims (Dr. Robert Whittaker, Pete Edochie and Chief G.U.Okeke) reiterated that unemployment and poverty are the major forces driving kidnapping and armed robbery. This writer concluded Part 3 of this article by writing that “although we strongly condemn kidnapping and armed robbery or any other crime for that matter, and we see no justification for those crimes, but, whatever we think against them (crimes) does not wish them away. It is the reality of life in Nigeria and anybody seeing it differently might have been looking at the situation of things shallowly”.

Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) of Lagos State on Monday September 7, 2009 called for elimination of desperate conditions as the most viable means to win the battle against crime in the country. Fashola said "We must begin to do more and investigate why people break the law and what we can do to ensure that the conditions that make them break the law are mitigated." He added that since desperate conditions like poverty make people act desperately, the battle against crime should begin with efforts to eliminate the conditions that make people desperate.

According to the governor, "Universally, it is acknowledged that desperate conditions make people act desperately and poverty is a desperate condition". The governor, however, noted that the Lagos State Government has tried to use her budget and the resources at her disposal to fight poverty. Attributing the increased reduction in crime in the state to the sustained war against poverty, Fashola added, "We have struck a balance between enforcement of the law and opportunities for people to be employed. There are jobs that take people off the streets; more people are being employed, we have created driving institutes employing people to train people, addressing the environment and creating opportunities also to clean the state. These are the collective efforts of policies and programmes, enforcement and opportunities that will have the impact of reducing crime because enforcement alone will not do it". (Ref: Guardian Tuesday, September 8, 2009)

In Part 3 of this article, this writer quoted Governor Adams Oshiomhole where he pointed out that in seeking to deal with the rising wave of crime in the Edo State, the government would continue to provide needed facilities to assist security agencies. But he was quick to add that the best means to stop crime was to engage the people. In his words: "I am convinced that the greatest weapon to fight crime will be to prevent people from going into crime. Many of those men are not born criminals but the environment criminalises them. The more the number of people employed, the more the reduction in crime.

The governor of Abia State also publicly acknowledged (albeit belatedly) that poverty is the cause of crime, especially kidnapping in Abia State. Governor Orji blamed the rising rate of kidnapping and other criminal acts on poverty. ( Vanguard Aug 27, 2009 ). But, the question is: What is he doing to create jobs and to cushion the effect of the (poverty) malaise on the people? It is not enough to acknowledge what is obvious, but, to work hard to ameliorate the situation.

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Abia state governor banned Okada riders, he dethroned some traditional rulers for allegedly not reporting those behind kidnappings in their domain and the good-for-nothing Abia State House of Assembly asked and got a new state police commissioner. But still, the spate of kidnapping and armed robbery has not abated. No day passes without numerous kidnapping incidents taking place. Let’s look at one example here. On Friday Sept 11, 2009, kidnappers struck at Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the South East, and “made away” with two expatriates working at Dana Company, an Indian outfit. There was a report that the shoot out in Aba was all day, and that some policemen who resisted them (the kidnappers) were also killed in the fracas. The shoot out came two days after the killing of two policemen in the same city by hoodlums. Also, on the same Friday Sept 11, 2009, the new Abia State Police Commissioner, Jonathan Johnson, who replaced Edgar Tam Nanakumo, as Abia State Police Commission, resumed duties. The transfer is coming months after the Abia State House of Assembly passed a motion asking the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to redeploy the heads of the security agencies in the state for failing to arrest the increasing spate of armed robbery and kidnapping.

This writer disagrees partly with what Ben Duru of Daily Independent Newspapers of Thursday, September 17, 2009 wrote in his article captioned “ The Igbo and NBA ultimatum to Abia State (1)” and sees a greater part of the article as being based on compromised or coerced opinion (biased). That’s the problem with some Nigerians, we tend to judge ourselves through other people’s prism, that’s not just right, it does not matter what goes on elsewhere, we should face our own situation squarely. Denying that Abia State and the south-east zone are the number one hot beds of crime in Nigeria right now would not help us in anyway, it’s an obvious fact that should not be denied by anybody who means well for the zone. We cannot solve our plethora of problems through denial. Despite my reservations, there are still few points worth noting in Mr. Duru’s article, and they are: “there is no doubt that the spate of kidnappings that has entrapped many states has become a source of worry to many individuals, as the perpetrators target mostly the rich and powerful. Rather, they carry on their trade with impunity, leaving in their wake sorrows, tears and blood. The fact that it has continued unabated is an indication that those involved in the inglorious act have an axe to grind with those in authority.

The most virulent attack on the administration of Governor Theodore Orji, aside those coming from his political opponents, was the meeting between the government and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) led by Chief Olu Akeredolu. During the meeting with government, which was presided by Orji's deputy, Comrade Chris Akomas, the government was given three weeks within which to arrest the situation or be prepared for a showdown. The association expressed dismay at the incessant kidnapping of bank officials, businessmen and women, legal practitioners as well as the seeming insecurity pervading the state, for which government had no ready answers”.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is right here and has the support of this writer. Anybody picking up a quarrel against the NBA for what the body said has other ulterior motives for doing that.

This writer disagrees partly with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ogbonna Onovo when he blamed the trend of crime wave, especially kidnapping on parents for their lack of inculcating morals in their children. In as much as Onovo might be right, we should not forget that parents might do all their best to raise their children in upright manner, but, the pressures of this world (peers, ostentatious life styles of the political office holders, television and internet, unemployment, poverty) might make the children to deviate.

This writer wonders if the new inspector general of police is taking the route of his predecessors, that of lying and covering up their incompetence. Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, has cast doubt on the reported brief return to the country by the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Onovo, while reacting to a question from newsmen why the Intelligence Unit of the Nigeria Police was unable to track down the former EFCC boss, stated that it was very surprising to him that no newspaper or media house could get Ribadu’s photograph during the reported visit. He said: “I do not believe that Ribadu came to Nigeria. Why was his photograph not taken? It will be very surprising that his photograph was not taken.” When the pictures came out, Onovo recanted by saying “I am not the immigration at the airport and you know who to ask those questions. Ribadu’s issue is not what is worrying me right now”. This writer is advising the Inspector General to be very careful as not to go the way of his predecessors, many Nigerians reposed their confidence in him as a person who would make a good and different kind of inspector general from those before him. We hope he would not dash our hope. On Ribadu’s visit to commiserate with the bereaved family, Onovo gaffed.

This writer is very pleased that Ribadu satisfied his conscience by visiting the Gani family and more to that, by showing this government how incompetent it is at all levels. Revolution might sweep away the ruling class soon without any counter from the intelligence community.

Daniel Elombah wrote: “If I were President Yar’Adua, I will really be afraid. One week after Nuhu Ribadu breezed into Nigeria, went to commiserate with the family of Gani Fawehinmi, spent comfortable time with friends and family and breezed out again, Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo says the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, did not attend late Chief Gani Fawehinmi's rites of passage. Not stopping there, he challenged newsmen to produce photographs of Ribadu at Gani's burial. We have answered the challenge and produced these pictures.

Mrs Ganiyat Fawehinmi, wife of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, receiving Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) when Ribadu paid a condolence visit to the Fawehinmis at their Ikeja, Lagos residence

In other words, his controversial visit became a security nightmare as the federal authorities in Nigeria continue to investigate his manner of entry without success. One week after they still don’t have answer! What a shame! 

What does it say about our security services? What is the SSS doing? Where are the Security Services? What are they being paid for?

This event shows clearly the positive probability that should any insurrectionist and revolutionary force strikes, that the YarÁdua regime will fall like a pack of cards. I do not doubt the success of any attempt against this government, because it is a loosely organized government. Someone joked that YarÁdua awoke from his sleep and asked Turai if it was a dream that the Former EFCC chairman, Nuhu Ribadu sneaked into Nigeria to visit the family of late human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi... Then Turai in her very bossy character began to ring and pour venom on all the service chiefs and security bosses for letting Ribadu go. 

On another issue: The Guardian Newspapers of Thursday, September 17, 2009 wrote that Abia State deputy governor tasked his kinsmen (Ngwa people) on kidnapping, urging the people to stop aiding and abetting kidnappers. Chris Akomas, spoke at the 18th annual national convention of Ngwa National Association USA (NNAUSA) held at Double Tree Hotel in Wilmington Delaware, United States from September 11-12, 2009. According to him, “some of our brothers and sisters, parents and traditional rulers are sponsors or informants to the kidnappers. They use our homes and plantations as hideouts and even provide criminal gangs with lists and profiles of intended victims, some have been found to be directly involved, all in their quest to make quick money. This is contrary to the value of a typical Ngwa man who believes in hardwork and legitimate wealth”. He urged the Ngwa people to always think right, act right, make friends and be loyal and faithful to the friendship so made and even be able to preserve the same friendship when a test of loyalty comes. This writer wants to tell the deputy governor that his boss, T.A. Orji, must have brainwashed him to believe such a trash he spewed out or he was playing out his master’s script. What have making friends, being loyal and faithful got to do with the condition of things in Aba? The deputy governor and his ilk from Ngwa land have mortgaged their conscience for pittance cloaking their selfishness and the betrayal of their people under such phrases. It is only people who are, at least, a bit fulfilled and happy, who would pay attention to such semantics. It might also interest the deputy governor that the virtues he’s encouraging his kinsmen to imbibe, are what kept and is still keeping Aba Town/Ngwa land and people in the condition they’re in right now. Chris Akomas knows that he’s loyal to a fault, making him to a paper-weight deputy governor who can not influence his masters to do, at least, one tangible thing for his village, how much more for his community. Let the honourable deputy governor tell us what’s the different between himself and a houseboy.

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Akomas also told his kinsmen of the need to pursue legitimate self-determination, and that they must define their interest as a people and work towards that path. The deputy governor who also represented Governor Theodore Orji, listed what he described as needs of Ngwa people as basic infrastructure, improvement in education, good health facilities, better environment, enough food, employment for all, security and political advancement like their counterparts in the state and the nation at large. This writer would want to know what the deputy governor is doing there as the state’s No. 2 and Aba is decaying the more, does he care that Aba is the dirtiest city in Africa?

The deputy governor wanted to hoodwink his audience when he said that the Orji/PPA government in the state is doing its best to provide conducive environment for investments to thrive. May be, the investments are thriving only for Orji Uzo Kalu, his mother and their errand boys such T.A. Orji, Chris Akomas etc.

Despite this writer’s exasperation here, he concurs with the deputy governor where he:

This writer wants to use this opportunity to chide all the members of Ngwa National Association USA (NNAUSA) for failing to task the Abia state Governor, through his deputy who is one of their own, to see to it that Aba is uplifted from the dung it has been turned into. Unless this writer missed something, he was waiting to hear or read where the Ngwa people in USA admonished the Abia State government for leaving the almighty Aba in that condition. Instead, what the Ngwa indigenes did was to converge in Delaware only to show off and showcase their false wealth and fake good life. Those Ngwa people in USA should know that the wealth they were more interested in flaunting is fake because it’s all based on credit and a life of working round the clock. This writer would want them to know that we’re all wretched as long as Aba, our home town, remains in that condition. What were they trying to achieve without sending a strong message to T.A.Orji en-route to his political godfather/mother, when they had the ears of the deputy governor?

Somebody might say that sending a message to T.A. Orji might be useless as he is only an errand boy and seat warmer for his god father/mother (Orji Uzor Kalu and mother), because the duo decides what happens in the state. Kalu and mother are the people who kept (and continue to keep) Aba and the whole state in the condition they are in. Abia State properties and finances belong exclusively to the Kalus, the incumbent governor hands over the state monthly allocations from the federation account to the duo and they give him (the governor) pocket money out of it to run the state. Be that as it may, we should be making our voices to be heard, because, our people say that “the chick picked up by a hawk said that it is not crying, that the hawk will leave it, but, it is crying so that heaven and earth will hear its voice. (Nwa ökükö egbe büra si n’ ya anaghi eti mkpu ka ihe ji ya hapu ya, kama ka elu n’ala nü olu ya).

The behaviour of the Ngwa indigenes in USA is a microcosm of the behaviour of their kinsmen at home. They are so docile and allowed others to be fighting for their right. The Ngwa people should know that a non-indigene is a visitor and would have a limit to how far he/she can go in fighting for the good of the city, because he/she knows that one day he/she would go back to his/her place of origin. That’s the reality of Nigeria; people do not take their place of residence as their permanent home, safe for those living in their native village or town. The point is that instead of the Ngwa people, and the owner of Aba to be in the forefront to salvage Aba out of the rot it has been consigned to, they abandoned the struggle (no matter how inconsequential) for few of us only (indigenes/non-indigenes) Ndi Ngwa should know that an Ngwa Proverb says “if a person continues dancing non-stop at a burial ceremony, people would ask him whether he knows what killed the deceased (otu onye ngbakaria nkwa l’okwükwü onye nwürüanwu, ajuya m’obu ya ngburu ya). This writer implores the few non-indigenes to continue the fight for Aba as their efforts are noted and appreciated.

Cy Uka Anyanwu wrote: “Umu Igbo, the situation in Aba has become so precarious, untenable and unacceptable that a state of emergency should be imposed in Abia State for six months. The governor should be suspended for that frame of time, a military (General) administrator should be appointed for the sole purpose of restoring law and order; flushing out these hoodlums and bringing them to justice. Free and brave men should never allow themselves to be put in situations as exist in Aba today. The current situation in Aba is an affront to Igbo pride. Where is the Enyi of Enyimba City? Evil thrives because good men let it! Every good Igboman every where should rise against this nonsense”.

 Kevin Ani is constantly creating awareness about the plight of Aba Town; he wrote “There is a Nigerian city of more than 1 million people that has the undoubted distinction as the world’s dirtiest city by a mile. It is worse than Baku and Dhaka combined. The city known as the Japan of Africa and one of Nigeria's biggest commercial hubs. The city of Aba in south-eastern Nigeria is by far the dirtiest place on earth inhabited by up to 1 million people . It is known throughout Nigeria and West Africa as a city where indigenous industrial manufacturing in Nigeria takes place and a very popular market”.

This is part of what this writer wrote as far back as Monday, November 27, 2006 (nigeriaworld.com):

“ Abia State is one of the oil producing States in Nigeria. The State is supposed to be one of the richest based on the revenue coming from the Federal Account. The oil of Abia State is located only in Aba District. This district gives the State the largest revenue.

Since the creation of Abia State, no person from this zone has been governor, in fact, from the former Eastern Region to East Central State to Imo State and to Abia State, no indigene of Aba Senatorial Zone has ever been governor - military or civilian. The highest position reached by person from this zone is that of Deputy Governor.

Past governors (civilian or military) neglected Aba, only Chief Sam Mbakwe of the blessed memory - the then governor of Imo State - did a lot for Aba, because he lived and practised his law in the town. People will always remember him. Successive governors did virtually nothing for Aba or the District. Today Aba town is one of the dirtiest in Nigeria, roads are impassable, offensive odours permeate every part of Aba town, to put it mildly, Aba town is an eye-sore.

To make matters worse, most of the elected representatives at local government level in Aba are non-indigenes. These people never had the interest of the town at heart because they are not sons of the soil. I think it is only in Aba that you have a situation like that. The people of this zone have been marginalized beyond imagination. The social/political injustice towards these people surpasses my understanding. The hospitality and good-naturedness of Ngwa people are beyond comparison, although the stranger elements do always take this hospitality for granted.

Apart from oil revenue coming from Aba District, Aba town is the highest generator of internal revenue for Abia State. Situated in Aba, is one of the largest markets in Africa, many people from every parts of Africa come to Aba for their trading businesses.

Ngwa and Ukwa people are well-educated; in fact, Ngwa people are the most educated people in Abia State. In terms of population, this District has the largest population in Abia State. Ngwa people might be one of the largest chunks in USA; you can find Ngwa men in almost all fields of human endeavour in USA.

The question is, why haven't all these qualities transcended into political success in Abia State?

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I think people of the District before now were too complacent; they were self -satisfied and no risk takers. Ngwa people don't have the aggressive impulse towards the pursuit of wealth or money; they don't believe that wealth should be acquired through all means. The rich non-indigenes in Aba came to the town in penury but today they are rich. Upon the fact that Aba made and is still making a lot of non-indigenes wealthy, the Ngwa people failed to utilise the opportunities offered by Aba as wealth creator.

Ngwa people are deeply religious; some of them see politics and elective offices as worldly enterprise. Thank God that this notion is changing, the Bible preaches against the selfishness of the politicians and not against getting involved in politics, God selected and anointed Kings for the Israelites, so there is nothing unrighteous about getting involved in politics or seeking elective offices as long as everything is been done with the love of mankind and with the fear and respect of God.

Some Ngwa elite who are supposed to be at the forefront of the struggle for the political emancipation of Ngwa people were sell-outs, they connived with people from other districts in strangulating the wishes and aspirations of the Ngwa people”.

This one is for all Nigerians abroad (of all stocks): Unless you’ve turned your back on your family, village (town), community, state and nation itself; otherwise, we all have a stake in what’s happening in Nigeria, our hundreds and thousands of miles away not withstanding. The question we need to ask ourselves is what have I done in my supposedly limited ways to bring about change? How far have I dared to do what is right for Nigeria? What sacrifice am I making as an individual? It is obvious that living outside of Nigeria and putting one’s heart in all that goes on there could be excruciating, punishing and a sacrifice, but we should be glad to continue doing all these so as to ensure that our children and grand children do not inherit a failed state or die as immigrants in someone else's land, where their grand-fathers (you and me) laboured to make a relatively but elusive happy living. What that goes on in Nigeria, would definitely affect us in one way or other. If Nigeria becomes better; we would benefit from it, but, if it continues on this downward spiral into abyss, we would be affected, albeit negatively, also!

Many Nigerians abroad (most especially, the south-easterners) have put on hold their plan to travel home for the Christmas and New Year festivities until the security situation improves. Is that how our lives should be turned into?

ThisDay Newspapers ( Sept. 15, 2009) wrote how a United Kingdom-based Nigerian medical doctor, Ibe Nathans, was abducted before he escaped from his kidnappers. Nathans returned to Nigeria to continue his periodic free medical treatment for the people of Ngor Okpala local government area and other parts of Imo State. He was reportedly abducted by unknown gunmen while on his way back to Owerri, the state capital. The kidnapper, he said, tied his hands, legs, blindfolded him, laid him down on the floor of the car and sat on his head before whisking him away in the Cherokee Jeep parked by him to a nearby compound in the area where a woman allegedly prayed for them before they finally departed to their hideout. While carrying their victim away to their hide out, the doctor further disclosed that they told him all they needed from him was money to cushion the harsh effects of the biting national economy worsened by high unemployment rate.

Finally for now, this writer wonders how many people read the Tribune Newspapers of September 17, 2009 captioned “2011: Atiku, Tinubu, Kalu plan alliance”, where it was

Written:

“A grand alliance of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governor Orji Kalu of Abia State and his Lagos State counterpart, Senator Bola Tinubu, is likely ahead of the 2011 presidential contest. If it materialises, the alliance will see the Action Congress (AC), where Atiku and Tinubu belong, enter into a political fusion with the Progressive Peoples Party (PPA) of Kalu. But giving the indication of a possible alliance that would involve Atiku, Tinubu and the PPA, former Abia State governor said the PPA had a soulmate in the AC. In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, he said the PPA and the AC were mutually compatible, adding that Atiku and Tinubu remained his political soulmates”.

With the benefit of hindsight, after reading the piece, one would come to recognise the antics of Orji Uzor Kalu the more. Although in politics, there is no permanent friend or enemy, but, Kalu is turning himself into a political liability, he should start writing his political obituary, because, he is finished politically. Why is this writer saying this? Not too long ago, Orji Uzor Kalu threatened Atiku with fire and brimstone for making up with Obasanjo. Kalu with his infantile political sense, wanted to impress YarÁdua by attacking Atiku directly and Obasanjo indirectly. Kalu’s calculation then was that the reconciliation between Atiku and Obasanjo was a threat to Yar’Adua’s leadership, so in order to gain a favour or two from Yar’Adua, Kalu miscalculated by going for Atiku’s jugular. Kalu words then was: "Atiku will remain my friend for the rest of life but I will not have anything to do with him politically. So, he can do his own politics, I will do my own politics. I can agree with him, certainly not on political issues. He owes us a lot of explanation." (The Nation Newspapers of Feb. 17, 2009). But now Kalu has started singing a new tune. What a political idiot! Kalu should stop using his hirelings to write his drivel called “leadership series”. Nigerians see him and his rented writings now as dross; he should save his uneasy peace.

To read more about this writer wrote on the “war of attrition” between Kalu and Atiku then, use the links provided:

http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/publication/ubochi/022309.html

http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/publication/ubochi/022709.html

http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/publication/ubochi/030609.html

To be continued

THE THANXS IS ALL YOURS!!!

Continued from Part 4