How Amnesty International Research Indicted Jonathan Administration

By Kelvin Adegbenga

  

I was surprised to read the Amnesty International Report via https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/09/nigeria-special-police-squad-get-rich-torturing-detainees/ dated 21 September, 2016.

The report carried out by one, Damian Ugwu, Amnesty International's Nigeria Researcher said that “A Nigerian police unit set up to combat violent crime has instead been systematically torturing detainees in its custody as a means of extracting confessions and lucrative bribes”.

It is on record that the revised version of a bill to criminalize torture which was returned unsigned by the former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012 has been passed by the House of Representatives in June 2016 and has been resubmitted to the Senate for further debates by the Buhari administration.

The research by Amnesty International that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) uses hanging, starvation, beatings, shootings and mock executions as a means of “extracting confessions and lucrative bribes", is baseless.

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris has strengthen the Police X-Squad Units in all Police Commands with the deployment of thoroughly vetted, selfless and patriotic officers to tackle corruption and abuse of office within the Nigeria Police and at the Federal, States and Local Government levels. The personnel deployed to the Anti-Corruption Unit are supported with incentives to make them more effective in the discharge of their duties.

So I wonder where Amnesty International came about SARS officers who “regularly demand bribes, steal and extort money from criminal suspects and their families”. I challenge the Amnesty International to publish evidence(s) of such corrupt activities of the SARS officers under the administration.

I am aware every detainee at the SARS have access to Lawyers and Human Rights Defenders, so I doubt the so called “ruthless human rights violations of victims”. If victims are arrested and tortured until they either make a ‘confession’ or pay officers a bribe to be released, then such victims must be guilty of the offence they are arrested for.

I want to remind the Amnesty International that the Nigeria Police has set up a Complaint Response Unit – (CRU), under the able leadership of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Shogunle where citizens make report of any violation of their Rights by the Police in the country. As a follower of the twitter handle and the Facebook page of the Complaint Response Unit, I can testify to the fact that every report received is treated to logical conclusion.

I know Amnesty International may claim that the Police did not give them access to information but like I said earlier, the new Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris has strengthening the Public Relations Department as well as the Complaint Response Unit of the Force, no matter the enormity of complaint you tabled before the FPRO and CRU, you must get a reasonable response.

The fact that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) gave the Amnesty International access to the detention centre in Abuja where they found 130 detainees is enough evidence that the Nigeria Police has nothing to hide from the General public including the Amnesty International.  

On the issue that SARS investigating civil matters and in some cases tortures detainees involved in contractual, business and even non-criminal disputes, I am challenging the Amnesty International to show the World evidences because we all know that civil matters are settled in the Law Court as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has no business with “contractual, business and even non-criminal disputes”.

If Amnesty International claimed that detainees are not allowed access to a lawyer, a doctor or their family during detention, how come they had access to the detainees in Abuja and even know the numbers in the cell? I know the Nigeria Police have well trained medical personal and clinics across the country and in some cases collaborate with Medical centers to treat Police officers and those under their custodians.  

To show how biased the Amnesty International is; the researcher claimed that “when asked to explain why no Police officers had been suspended or prosecuted for torture, the police simply DENIED that any torture had taken place”. I am sure the Police officer said nothing but the truth, so the issue of denial does not arise here.

If erring officers are not investigated, they can’t be transferred to other Stations, the Amnesty International should know better on this rather than saying the Police officer interviewed “did not say whether the claims against them were being investigated”.

I am also challenging the Amnesty International to come out with evidences that “many of these officers have bribed their way to SARS in the first place. The police chiefs in charge are themselves entwined in the corruption.” This is a grave indictment and the Amnesty International must substantiate these allegations with concrete evidence.

The Amnesty International also claimed that SARS officers are found “stealing or confiscating property from relatives of detained suspects”. My question is, “where do the SARS officers get the original documents of the so called properties they steal or confiscate?

The Amnesty International is just out to tarnish the good image of the Police that has been going through positive reform under the new Inspector General of Police.

From the report of occurrences the Amnesty International gathered for her research, I am surprised that they never bothered to ask the victims what was their own offences; did the victims make any report to the Complaint Response Unit of the Nigeria Police; the National Human Right Commission or the Human Rights Defenders?

For the record, the Amnesty International should know that the Nigeria Police in December 2014 launched a Human Rights Manual which proscribes torture and other ill-treatment of detainees, the new Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris is already reforming and reorganizing all the Units in the Force including the SARS. This was part of the Inspector General of Police meeting held on Wednesday, 21 September, 2016 with the leadership of the 60 PMF Squadrons, 21 CTU Commanders and 12 SPU Commanders in the country.

As far I am concerned, the latest report by Amnesty International indicted the past administration of Goodluck Jonathan and not the Buhari administration. Since the previous government attempts at wiping out torture proved unsuccessful, the new Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris will surely ensure that officers responsible for any Human Rights violations will be held responsible.

Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris as a refined officer will never allow Police officer to inflict torture or other ill-treatment on detainees under any circumstances.

To set the record straight, I want the Amnesty International to know that the UN Secretary General appointed IGP Ibrahim Idris as a Police Commissioner in UNAMID, in Darfur. That was the 1st time a Nigerian Police officer was clinching a B2 position for any UN mission in the world.

However, the offer was declined by IGP Ibrahim Idris to enable him contribute his quarter in ensuring Peace and Stability during and after the 2015 General Elections.

Under the United Nations, IGP Ibrahim Idris attended a seminar on re-organization and reforms of Formed Police Units (FPU), at the Centre for excellence for Stability Police Forces (COESPU) in Vicenza, Italy in 2004. He also attended the UN Senior Leadership Induction Course and UN Leadership Course at the UN Headquarters in New York in February and September 2009 respectively. He further attended Civil-Military Coordination in Disaster Management Course organized by the United States Military Pacific Command and United Nations in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2010.  

He has severally served as visiting lecturer on “Roles of Police on United Nations Peace Keeping Operations” in Nigerian Defense College in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He was a Mentor to African Union/United Nations Senior Leadership Seminar in Douala, Cameroun 2010 and African Union/ECOWAS Senior Leadership Course held in Nigerian Defense College Abuja in 2012.

IGP Ibrahim Idris has received many Commendations and Awards in the course of his career, including the Nigerian Inspector General of Police Commendation Award for his performance as Commandant PMF Training College, Gwoza in 2004, the Special Representative of the Secretary General Commendation Award for Planning, Execution and Coordination of Security for the Liberian National Elections in 2005, and the Special Representative of the Secretary General’s Award for coordinating major operations in Timor Leste in 2011.

He also bagged two Outstanding Leadership Awards by two United Nations Missions, namely United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT) in 2006 and 2009 respectively for his outstanding performance as Operations Coordinator in UNMIL and Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of Operations in UNMIT respectively.

In March 2011, the President of Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, Dr Jose Ramos Horta (Nobel Lauret) awarded Ibrahim the Country’s highest National Medal, the “Medal of Merit”, for his contribution to the security and stability of Timor Leste. He served for over seven years in the United Nations.

With the above past achievements of the IGP Ibrahim Idris, I can assure the Amnesty International that their next research will be a commendation to the men of the Nigeria Police especially the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Kelvin Adegbenga is a Freelance Journalist based in Port Harcourt. kelvinadegbenga@yahoo.com Twitter: @kelvinadegbenga

Still On Olusegun Mimiko And His 'Beatification' By Bishop Kukah

By Jude Ndukwe

Bishop Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, is a man who is well known as one who does not speak lightly or play to the gallery on any matter especially as it concerns, faith, politics and governance. He is one of those who speak truth to power without batting an eyelid. Having been called to an austere life as a priest, Kukah is one of those very few men in our clime who court no favours and welcome disdain without any qualms even from the high and mighty as long as it is for the cause of truth. He is a man generally known for his candour and fearlessness.

His avowed integrity and forthrightness qualified him to serve as Secretary to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission popularly called the Oputa Panel at the dawn of our current democratic dispensation wherein he discharged his duties passionately and to the satisfaction of not only those who appointed him but also of all Nigerians.

He is among the very few Nigerians who have told Buhari that blaming the past administration for every ill of Nigeria while abdicating his own responsibility to act was only going to drive the country southwards. He also had at different times warned the president about the way he was fighting corruption and making it the sole business of government as that could lead to the collapse of the polity. Today, those warnings not heeded have led us into recession.

So when such a man commends any one, then the person is worthy of commendation indeed; one does not need to look too far to know why.

During one of the activities of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Nigeria holding in Akure, Bishop Kukah, being overwhelmed by the developmental strides of Olusegun Mimiko, the governor of Ondo State, commended the governor on the strides and even went as far as asking other governors to emulate Mimiko. Hear the Bishop: "For us in Nigeria, we have always believed that solution to bad government is to hand over everything to the private sector. So, I am quite pleased with the fact that things are working here..."

This is by no small measure, a justification of all those who have been commending the Ondo State governor for a job well done. No one visits Ondo State without leaving with a positive impression as Mimiko has etched his signet of service through his 'Caring Heart' initiative in the hearts of the indigenes and residents alike.

One of the interventions of government which the bishop spoke particularly highly of is the Ondo Emergency Medical Services which dot strategic locations in the state. With this emergency services, rescue operations with sophisticated machines and medical aid are made available to accident victims in the state within a short period of between 12 to 15 minutes irrespective of location of incident, thereby saving lives of such victims and prevent deaths that usually occur from such accidents in our country.

In a country where fatality rate from accidents are only rivaled by that caused by malaria, this service is music to the ear especially when one considers that Ondo State is a major corridor for travelers from different parts of the country.

In addition, as at today, Ondo state has the lowest mortality rate in Nigeria. And the reason is not a mystery. At the Mother & Child Hospital, another of governor Mimiko's 'Caring Heart' initiative, women are offered child birth services, whether natural delivery or caesarean section, absolutely free of charge as long as the patient has the State's kaadi igbeayo. For those who may not have the card which is an all-encompassing card that caters to the socio-economic needs of its holders in the state, cost of delivery through caesarian section can be as low as N10,000.

With about 55 'Caring Heart' mega schools dotting the tranquil landscape of the state, Governor Mimiko has taken education in Ondo to a new height. The new ambience, architectural aesthetics, learning facilities including ICT centres equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and well-motivated teachers all contribute to making the mega schools be in a class of their own.

In addition to this is the free shuttle bus for students that has been operating without any form of interruption for four years since 2012. This service takes school children to their respective schools irrespective of whether they are students of public or private schools. Consequently, the daily burden of additional expenses by parents for the transport fare of their children/wards is eliminated.

The good story from Ondo State under Mimiko can go on and on.

So, when a priest in the mould of Bishop Hassan Kukah commends the Ondo State governor, it is because he was convinced about the developmental strides he saw. No doubt, Bishop Kukah must have heard about the developmental strides in Ondo, but as a man who would not speak on any matter based on hearsay, he had not made any comment concerning the state lest he speaks amiss, as anyone could claim phantom feats in Nigeria. However, having seen things himself, the clergyman could not hide his elation at what he saw and he commended governor Mimiko so highly for them, more like the 'beatification' of a worthy leader, while advising other leaders to emulate the Iroko.

                                                   -jrndukwe@yahoo.co.uk; Twitter: @stjudendukwe

Tai Results: PDP Huffing And Puffing Empty Air – Rivers APC

 The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress attention has been drawn to the relentless noise on radio, television and in the newspapers by the Rivers State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, through its State Chairman, Felix Obuah and the Publicity Secretary, Samuel Nwanosike attempting to foul the air over the release of March 19 rerun election results for Tai Local Government Area.

In a press release by Rivers State APC Publicity Secretary,Chris Finebone, he said that the APC has, so far, repeatedly reminded the PDP that the Electoral Act clearly specifies how results of elections including legislative polls are released and by whom at all levels. The Tai rerun election results were announced by the statutorily recognised INEC officials at the appropriate levels. Whether the Commission had issues to establish about those results is inconsequential, internal and merely administrative.

"The PDP has always talked about a dubious and largely suspect court order they obtained restraining INEC from releasing the said results. We would like to advise the PDP to confirm whether they can obtain an order against action that has already been taken. Indeed, they should ask themselves whether someone can obtain a court order against the delivery of a child that has already been delivered.

"Assuming without conceding that the PDP has a subsisting court order restraining INEC or its agents from releasing Tai results, under what circumstances can a political party or indeed anyone take an order restraining a statutorily established government entity from performing its constitutional roles? The PDP must tell Nigerians whether it can obtain a court order restraining, for example, the Rivers State House of Assembly or National Assembly or National Population Commission from carrying out their statutory functions.

"It is the conviction of the APC that the said court order the PDP has been making reference to exists only in the imagination of the PDP leaders in Rivers State. We challenge them to publish that court order for public scrutiny because they have placed the matter in public space.

"Again, assuming without conceding that a genuine court order restraining the release of Tai rerun election is in the possession of the PDP, what are the detailed specifics of such an order? What is the challenge of the PDP in returning to court to get INEC charged for contempt of court instead of threatening crisis and breakdown of law and order?

The APC believes that repeated threat of crisis by the PDP follows in the character of their leader, Gov. Nyesom Wike who said during their second ill-fated national convention that he was allowing peace to reign because of the presence of visitors in the state. By that statement, Rivers people became aware why peace has never reigned in Rivers State especially when we did not have visitors in the State. It helped us to understand why killings returned to Rivers State the very day the NBA conference wound up especially the gruesome killing of an NBA member, late Ken Astwete a few days later.

The APC condemns the unwarranted threat to law and order by words and actions of PDP leaders in Rivers State. There is no doubt that this sort of behaviour was responsible for the spate of violence that has enveloped Rivers State and brought her infamy since 2014.

"We wish to remind the PDP that after the rerun elections of March 19, INEC has released results in favour of the PDP in many parts of Rivers State. APC members had either taken it with equanimity or peacefully approached the courts to seek redress. We have not threatened anyone or the peace of Rivers State.

The APC calls on relevant security agencies to take particular notice of the drum of war being beaten for the umpteenth time by the PDP over matters they have the clear option of seeking judicial intervention if they believe in democratic tenets.

Governor Ayade Gave Birth to a New Cross River State That Fears No Economic Hardship

By Edward Ntebri Egbelo 

"No child will go to bed with no food on his stomach", those were his words that day, the day Cross River State experienced an everlasting eclipse of economic prosperity. When those words echoed from the walls of the Calabar International Convention Center to the radio/television waves all around the world, many thought it was a mere political mantra to catch the indepth passion of the masses towards Ayade. The journey started with the mindset he developed within himself as a leader and he transfigured this vision into an action plan of economic prosperity. 

It was glaring that the possibility of keeping the ship afloat the top of the large ocean was a difficult task, but considering Ayade's exposure and passion, the task of injecting the right seed into the fertile soil of Cross River State gradually became a reality in the state. He surpassed most of those challenges and started projects that one would wonder where he gets funds to finance these projects, considering the quality and capacity you find in all of these projects. There is a new born Cross River State inside a womb many never expected such a beautiful child, but the child is here to stay. 

Many never knew that the start was a rough one, a beginning that saw salaries been owed, contracts been suspended owing to lack of funds, etc.. but Ayade never rejected the challenge, neither did he make excuses. Just like a father that knows the importance of an educated child, he went to the streets to attract attention and collaboration from the International community and now Cross River State Is gradually growing up to become a state that pays little attention to what comes from the Federal Government, Cross River State is now like a Vatican City in Italy, with an economy that is resilient to shocks. 

Cross River State, receives very little from the Federal Government disbursement to states, but it's not always about the brand of aircraft, but the capacity of the pilot to take you to your destination safely. There is a new Cross River in Nigeria, revolution is finding it's way into the heart of every Cross Riverian, Cross Riverians now see hardtimes as an opportunity to develop new ideas on how to develop the economic front of the state. All these wouldn't have been possible without a right thinking leader, a leader that knows how to do the job without excuses. 

Of course everybody now wants to do business with Cross River State, business flights flying in and out the state, an atmosphere that encourages both local and international businesses. Cross River State is now like a child that no longer waits for her mother to take the feeding-bottle to her mouth, she knows how to feed herself, even with little or no assistance from her mother. What many saw as impossible is already happening in the state, salaries are been paid, roads are been constructed, rural communities getting pipeborne water/electricity, agriculture developing to the next level, new projects springing up all over the state. Admist the harsh economic realities, Cross River State is working. 

There is now a foundation for industrial development in Cross River State, food security is assured. But there is one thing we must remember "governance is no longer a board room affair, governance has been taken to the doorstep of not only Cross Riverians but to all living in Cross River State. A captain has taken his army to the war front, with very little weapons, but he believes in the bravery and skills of his soldiers. Ayade is the newest brand in Nigerian politics, he has properly defined how governance works in a modern society that is so much dependent on a single source as a means of livelihood.

IGP Ibrahim Idris Meets With PMF, CTU And SPU

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Wednesday said the Police would no longer deploy personnel of the Police Mobile Force to guard individuals.

Idris made the disclosure at a meeting with Commanders of the Police Mobile Force, Special Protection Unit and the Counter Terrorism Unit in Abuja.

“Therefore, in line with these responsibilities, it will be against Force policy to deploy Police Mobile Force personnel to guard individuals or fragment their personnel into smaller units,” he said.

He said that the PMF, CTU and SPU were currently undergoing reorganisation and restructuring in accordance with their responsibilities.

The IG said the Force had put in motion strategy to ensure that PMF personnel were gradually replaced with SPU personnel who were saddled with the responsibility of close protection of VIPS.

Idris said the special police units occupied the central aspects of policing all over the world.

“It is therefore important that we as a nation ensure that our special police units are given adequate training and resources to enable them carry out their responsibilities,” he said.

He said in order to enhance the capability of the SPU personnel, they would be stationed in all police commands as against zonal commands.

Idris restated his administration’s resolve to ensure that all police training facilities operated optimally.

He said the force was also proposing the establishment of a Police SPU training school for enhanced service delivery.

The IG also said the Force would seek the support of the Nigerian Navy to establish a marine police training school in Bayelsa State to enable the police dominate the creeks of Niger Delta region.

He said the measures being taken by the Force would enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Police and address the major security challenges in the country.

Idris remanded the commanders of the Police core values of integrity, accountability, and respect for diversity.

He also advised them to operate within the concept of democratic policing to be responsive to the yearnings of the citizens.

The IG warned that any violation of the measures would be punished by the Police management.

“In the coming days, we are going to start looking closely at our officers to ensure that they carry out these measures being put in place by the senior police management,” he said.

The leadership of the 60 PMF Squadrons, 21 CTU Commanders and 12 SPU Commanders in the country attended the meeting.

The Inspector-General of Police Hosted Cattle Rustling Curtailment Stakeholders Forum

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, NPM, mni, and his Team had a seminar with the Cattle Rustling Curtailment Stakeholders today, 20th September, 2016, at the IGP’s Conference Hall, Force Headquarters Abuja.

The theme of the seminar was “The Challenges Of Cattle Rustling In Nigeria, The Way Forward”.

Breaking News: Supreme Court Affirms Election Of Governor Yahaya Bello

Governor Yahaya Bello 

The Supreme Court today, Tuesday 20th September, 2016 affirmed the election of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

The seven-man panel headed by Justice Sylvester Ngwata in a unanimous judgement dismissed the appeal filed by Hon. James Faleke, the running mate to late Abubakar Audu, the initial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, and a former Governor of the State, Captain Idris Wada, who was also the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party for the election.

The court also said it will provide reasons for its decision on September 30.

Coalition of Civil Society Group Seek To Collaborate With The Police In The Fight Against Crime

L-R; The President, Coalition of Civil Society Group, Mr. Etuk Bassey Williams JP receiving a souvenir from the IGP Ibrahim K. Idris

The President, Coalition of Civil Society Group, Mr. Etuk Bassey Williams JP and members, comprising of Save Nigeria Initiative and Democratic Movement, Centre for Human Rights Advocacy, (South West) Arewa Initiative (North West) Alliance for Good Governance, OAK Foundation (South West) Network of Young Female Leader of ECOWAS Community (South South) Northern Patriotic Front (North East) Centre for Leadership Network in Africa and Centre for leadership Development Initiative, on 16th September 2016 paid a courtesy call on the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim K. Idris NPM mni at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

In a press release by Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Don N. Awunah, fsi said that during the visit, the President of the group congratulated IGP Ibrahim K. Idris on his confirmation as the 19th indigenous Inspector General of Police, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He expressed concern over the current security situation in the Country and commended the concerted efforts of the Nigeria Police Force in ensuring adequate security and safety of life and property throughout the Country.

He further lauded the commitment and dedication of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force in crime prevention and detection, most especially in the area of visibility policing which he observed has led to drastic reduction in crime and criminality in the country. He promised that the group will continue to partner with the Force.

In his remarks, the IGP expressed delight at the visit and acknowledged the fact that the groups have always been partners in progress with the Nigeria Police Force. He assured them that the Force will continue to commend it’s personnel for better performance. He told them that Nigeria Police performs excellently well while in foreign missions and urged them to give their maximum support to enhance efficiency in the Force.

The IGP informed the group that the re-organisation of X-Squad is aimed at strengthening the Force to fight corruption within and outside the Police Force. And that the Eminent Persons Forum was designed to partner with communities and find lasting solution to lingering problems in the society. On a final note, he advised the group to educate the masses on the importance of community policing and that policing is everybody’s business.

IGP Ibrahim Idris Receives US Embassy Envoy

Official of the Embassy of the United States of America in Nigeria were at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Abuja to paid courtesy visit to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni, today 20th Sept., 2016, to discuss on how to curb Kidnapping and other related crimes in the Nigeria.

Electricity Stakeholders Set To Fashion Out Impactful Ideas To Improve Sector

Lubem Gena, Abuja

Major players in the power sector are to converge on Abuja this week to fashion out more strategies that will redeem the sector from the major challenges it is currently facing.

The gathering which is powered by Nigeria Electricity Hub, an initiative of Nextier Power will convene the  power sector dialogue to discuss pragmatic ideas for developing Nigeria’s electricity market especially on the renewable energy focus point.

According to a press statement signed by Taiwo Ibeyemi, the Analyst of the group which was made available to our correspondent,  "this September 2016 Nextier Power Dialogue will convene stakeholders in government, renewable energy companies, private sector investors, policy consulting firms, and individuals from related sectors to discuss ideas for implementing off-grid technologies in an emerging electricity market".

With the theme: Energy: Assessing the Impact of Mini and Micro Grids in Nigeria’s Electricity market, papers expected to be presented at the event cut accross value issues in mini and micro grids as a panacea to power challenges.

It is expected that a communiqué will be generated after the gathering in  which shared concerned by the participants  will be articulated and shared with the minister, and key sector leaders to help shape government’s policy response.

Nigeria Electricity Hub,  is an online portal that disseminates power sector news, power sector data, analysis, thoughts and opinions, power events, among others. The core objective of the portal is to enable more-informed transactional, operational and policymaking decisions in Nigeria’s power sector.

2018: Long Walk, Long Wait For Change

L-R; Vice-President of Nigeria,Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari 

By Bayo Oluwasanmi

The Vice-President of Nigeria,Yemi Osinbajo, a professor of law and a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) combined irrational argument with evangelical exhortation in the classic preacher fashion that true change would come in the year of our Lord Twenty Thousand and Eighteen.

Two Sundays ago, Premium Times reports that Osinbajo during an interview with journalists after a church program in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, said “There are lots of people who will say where is the change they promised?” “People will condemn and shout,” says Osinbajo, “but we are focused, calm and extremely confident that God is on our side and this country will not be the same,” the preacher VP assured a doubting and restless nation. Still preaching to the body of citizens with expired hope, he said “In another couple of years, in 2018 we will see the difference.”

By now, Nigerians are familiar with the fire wall of blame game erected by both President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Osinbajo around their failure to deliver their signature campaign slogan of “change.”  Osinbajo's statement sounds unrealistic with a biting satire of optimism. Muhammadu Buhari administration is “focused and determined to ensure this country is put on the right track,” says Osinbajo. As if on the pulpit, the preacher-pastor VP is fired up: “All of us have a part to play in the change. Nigerians must be patriotic in our dealings and daily activities. We should be committed to the nation,” says Osinbajo.

By the way, whose change is it?  For who and by who? Who owns the change? Who promised change? Who needs change? The campaign of “change begins with me” concocted by the Buhari-Osinbajo administration is a manipulative reverse psychology of blaming the victims (Nigerians) for being victims of the regime's deception, incompetence, inaction, and mismanagement of the economy that has brought more misery than relief to Nigerians in the past 16 months.

The political strategy of blaming the previous administration and shifting responsibility of change to the Nigerian people by this administration is a wild and dangerous invention. It would only fern resentment, anger, and hatred from poor Nigerians against the government whose campaign cornerstone was “change.” No doubt, the progress report card of the administration in the past 16 months has destroyed to a large extent its credibility. It has eroded our trust and loyalty.

The Buhari-Osinbajo preference is to appear like they're solving the problems for which we duly elected them to tackle, rather than actually tackling them. We're inundated with the same repulsive regurgitating mantra of why the “change” they promised isn't forth coming – soon. Listen to the second part of the VP's sermon: “One of the reasons why we are in a recession is the fact that we lost about 60 per cent of our revenue due to the vandalisation of the pipelines on the Niger/Delta and we lost almost 40 per cent of the gas.” “These are challenging times,” Osinbajo reminds his Nigerian congregation. “It is very obvious and we know the reasons. It is high level of corruption and we have dealt with that. We are controlling government expenditure. Once you can control corruption, we are out of it.”

We're tired of the sickening repetitive excuse of dwindling revenues from oil as one of the reasons for the incompetence of the administration. Buhari-Osinbajo knew way back that revenue from oil had fallen before they came into office. It's no new news. We have dealt with corruption? How? How can you control corruption when corruption is dictating the terms of engagement in the war against corruption? What results have you gotten? Is there anything to celebrate in the war of corruption when a thief only refunds chicken change of a million or two from billions of heist taken from our treasury? Is there any reason to roll out the drums when the looters particularly the most prominent and the ones with the most pile of stolen Naira like Bukola Abiku Mesujamba Saraki, Sambo, and other baron looters still out there untouched, unmoved, unaffected, and free from prosecution and conviction.

Mr. VP, what's the status of war on corruption now with these thieves? What happened to their cases? How long would it take to prosecute and convict them? What happened to the proposed corruption courts?  What's the purpose of fighting corruption without corresponding punitive punishment that could deter other elected  thieves from  stealing?

We know change is incremental. It comes in bits and bites. It won't be  a wholesale one-time event. Fact is, we've not even seen any small change taking place, except from the screaming headlines of arrests of  looters by the EFCC on pages of newspapers and the paltry refunds from the thieves. It's all deja vu again – it's change without change. The unfulfilled promise of change by this administration is an ominous climb-down from its pre-election claims and it's a destructive weapon typical of political con artists.

We now know that the APC campaign slogan of change was an empty promise and trade mark arrogance that made the change mantra both despised and disturbing. If there was a time when the joke of Buhari-Osinbajo administration lost all its humor, it's clearly now. Change? What change? It's a change we can't believe in: undiminished unemployment, the daily aggravated starvation, the unmatched penury of families, the unattended health problems of millions of sick and the infirm, the tone deaf attitude to constructive criticisms and suggestions coupled with the administration's ineptitude of not acting faster, promptly, properly, proactively, and decisively. But the most relentless drag on the administration that promised change is even more ominous. It's the country's fatalistic sense of hopelessness and helplessness arising from the stalled moribund economy which remains intractable.

The change vis-a-vis the war on corruption seems to have a prosecutorial gene. Its failure to get conviction speedily and successfully against the public faces of corruption whose membership includes high power and high visible politicians. The Buhari-Osinbajo led federal government has neither aggressively prosecute corruption nor compellingly worried by the snail speed with which it fights corruption. Indeed, the unannounced truce reached on corruption between the government and the thieves makes President Buhari looks like he's fronting for the crooks and the thieves even if he's not.

Buhari-Osinbajo administration is guilty of transgression of undelivered change that it promised Nigerians. As we confront the disappointment of heart wrenching political malpractice, a troubling sense of malaise and despair casts a pall shadow on the lives of our people. Nigerians are boiling with anger for the failure of the government to respond adequately and aggressively enough to the massive wave of sufferings because of rising unemployment and resistant poverty. The failure to respond directly by targeting the needs of our people makes mockery of a government that boasts of change.

The sermon on change by Osinbajo is a quick-witted farce that doubles as the most disengaging and comic filled buck passing of a campaign promise. Nigerians, brace up and fasten your seat belts – it's going to be a long walk, long wait, for change in 2018, a year before the demise of the Buhari-Osinbajo government.

bjoluwasanmi@gmail.co

Recession: Nigeria Has No Constructive Economic Team - Hashim

Salaudeen Hashim

Salaudeen Hashim is a senior program officer who is in charge of security, human rights, migration, agriculture and livelihoods at the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) based in Abuja.

CISLAC is a non-governmental, non-profit, advocacy, information sharing, research, and capacity building organisation. Its purpose is to strengthen the link between civil society and the legislature through advocacy and capacity building for civil society groups and policy makers on legislative processes and governance issues.

In this encounter with our man LUBEM GENA, he spoke on how Nigeria got into the recession, how to get out of it as well as made instructive comments about fundamental issues in the oil sector. Excerpts:

What is your centre's view around the economic recession in the country?

Basically we think one needs to understand the trajectory that has led to this problem which is based on what happened in the past, what is happening now and the tendency of what is likely going to happen in the future. Of course, we know too well that there have been some inability of the past administration to save for the rainy days which has actually brought us to this point. But that is not an excuse for the present administration. The current administration must strongly ensure that they put in place strategic positions what will ensure that the country's economy is properly restructured.

Our view is that the current drivers of the economy are not properly putting in place adequate mechanisms that will drive us out of the current economic doldrums. They must generate and find structural solutions to what is currently happening. The formal sector is generally not doing well. The economy is contracting. The foreign exchange policies are not doing better. There have been some challenges with the monetary policy rate. Various fiscal and economic policies have not been very fantastic with this administration. So there is the need for an emergency to be declared in the economic sector. It is expected that by now, the government will be able to put in place a proper industrial sector policy that will be viable.

The manufacturing sector seem to be a crux that would be the bedrock to take us out of this doldrum.  Unfortunately, nothing is happening in that sector. We are more of a consuming nation and that is in itself a negative trend for us because, if we don't produce and earn foreign exchange, there is no way we can begin to strengthen our network, the Naira. The Naira is very weak as it is in the comity of currencies. And that in itself is a major catastrophe. We don't have a proper industrial policy. We don't have a roadmap to take us out of the current doldrum. That is the major challenge but that is where we are at the moment.

Is it okay to wholly place the blame at the doorstep of the past administrations as it is currently the trend?

Yes, a lot of mistakes were made in the past but if the present administration had managed effectively what they met on ground, the tendencies were there that we wouldn't be here. The cost of crude oil at the international market is a factor but it is not sufficient reason to continue to keep us in that recession line. There is therefore the need for us to begin to look inwards. And of course the attitude of many Nigerians in giving to foreign goods, products and services is worrisome. So what alternatives do we need now to create? How do we now begin to create options that will bring us to re-activation of our local economy?

 We have huge appetite for imported products over local products. That in itself is one of the gradual challenges we have done to put ourselves where we are today. So value re-orientation on the part of Nigeria is needed. The current  administration must actually begin to do something different. You know, there is a saying that you cannot do the same thing consistently and expect different result. The formal sector is generally suffering. The informal sector now has become the main stay of the country as it were because that is the only place where anything is happening. The formal sector is in near comatose. So there must be a complete emergency declared in our economic sector generally.

That is interesting. You have opened so many chapters already. But let me take you back on one issue. In your perspective and in more specific terms, what do you think the present administration is supposed to have done that it left undone?

One, we don't even have a constructive economic team. You need to have eggheads that will put their heads together to give you a roadmap. In the past we used to have what was called National Economic and Development Strategy (NEEDS). You need to have a development plan that will take you out of this current situation. Unfortunately we don't have one. And there is no plan anywhere to develop any. That in itself is a major challenge.

Number two. Ineptitude and the capacity of those who are managing the economy at the moment. The minister of finance particularly (for me), I think has no capacity and antecedent to manage the economy that the country is facing. That is the challenge. Human resource capacity is one challenge and the roadmap that will take us in terms of developing an agenda; a national development plan should be put in place. These are structural issues.

Now on industrial policy, if you go to the industrial area in Kaduna, you will discover that  it is completely dead. In Ilupeju in Lagos, the industrial area has been taken over by churches. In fact the churches are the fastest growing economy in the country. Go to any industrial area including the textile industries; all of them are dead. So how do you intend to revive an economy which you have a comatose industrial sector?

 That is not going to happen. You must begin to find an alternative in the revival of those particular sectors. And that will be contained in your national development plan. That is the reason why I said, in the last retreat that they had, the very major issue that would have topped the agenda should have been the development of the national development framework and I am surprised that that is not happening. That is the first thing that is needed to be done because you need a manual that will help you to begin to follow your step by step approach in beginning to get the people out of this situation. But unfortunately, we are not even hearing or seen any practical steps taken to take us out of this situation. This is quite unfortunate actually.

Aside from talking to the press, what other efforts have the civil society, (which your centre is a key player) made to draw the attention of the concerned power centres to the catastrophe that we are discussing here? Have your coalition raised any memo to that effect and made it available to those in appropriate quarters?

Basically and generally, most of us have used different fora to respond to the situation that is ongoing. But basically, in this country at the moment, anything you say is always given some political colouration. But of course because we have always credited the government when they do well and faulted when they have gone wrong, that makes us very constructive in terms of issues of national development. We have used various platforms. But we are hoping that in the couple of days, we should be able to also issue an address on the state of the nation. This will let the people and even the government to get to know how basic issues should be responded to.

Part of the issue that we expect from the current administration at the moment is that there should be a state of the union address. The President should address the joint session of the National Assembly and give them constructive and practical plans or roadmap on how he plans to get the country out of the current situation. I don't think that is happening.

 These are part of the issues we are going to be rolling out in couple of days from this centre to let the government know that they need to put some level of seriousness in the current situation of living in Nigeria. Nigerians are suffering and that is clear. If people are suffering this much, you now begin to ask this question, is this the change that this administration said they were going to bring on board when they were campaigning? If it is not, then, they should begin to bring very realistic measures by putting mechanisms in place to be able to address the current situation.

Nigerians are also believing that there are structural issues around the ministry of finance, that of budget and national planning as well as the budget office. Could this seeming inter-related economic structures which you said are not coordinated be implicated as exacerbating the situation?

In our public finance management project, one of the recommendations that we have made that the presidency has taken into account was the need to narrow the proximity between planning and budget which saw the merger that happened. It used to be ministry of planning and budget separately but now you have one ministry of budget and national planning so that proximity can help between conceptualization and implementation. That in itself is a good step in the right direction.

The ministry of finance in itself need to see that some of the architecture is restructured and provide some technocrats the enablement, ability and inclusiveness that will engender participation into the entire development. We used to see team from the finance ministry often times come up with some level of think tanks which are drawn from various sectors of the economy. If you are having those think tanks drawn from various sectors of the economy, they should be identified now, put together and see the possibility of how they can constructively add value to the process that we have on ground at the moment.

Unfortunately, these are all in the deficits. We have deficit in terms of capacity. We have deficit in terms of policies. We have deficit in terms of monetary policies. We have deficit in terms of industrial policies. I just wonder if we will not have a deficit country at the end of the day. We are hoping that there will be a level of  addition into the entire country.

But don't you think that the existence of these three bodies is unnecessary duplication of efforts which might lead to some elements of confusion?

I agree but the fact is that I think you need to also take a look at the various instruments and institutions together with the laws that bring them to place. The reason why budget office itself was put in place is to look at how budget issues are generated from various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) put them together before they become a document that can be looked at by the ministry of finance.

So, you will see that there are various attempts by the administration to bridge the divide. Unfortunately, it has also not been practically put in place. When you look at some of these institutions you will discover that some are already created but not properly structured. What we see at the moment in the country is a public service that is nearly comatose and that is why we are beginning to see this kind of output. But the impact is what the country would love to see in the near future.

Your centre was vehement is pushing for better days in the oil sector. Bring me to speed as to what you are doing in that regards at the moment?

For us, we believe that natural resource governance is something that should be given a thorough watch. That is because of the various ills that happen in that particular sector. You have a lot of oil theft that happen there. You have alot of crooked and shoddy deals from various administrations that is going on in that particular sector. For us we thought there is the need to bring transparency and accountability to play in in every matter related thereto. And in doing that, we have been able to drive a network that is letting oil companies publish exactly what they pay in terms of royalty to government and taxes. This is because these are places where you see  plenty dubious activities going on.

As a matter of fact some international oil companies (IOCs) hire finance houses that will help them to duplicate books and put certain records in such a way that they are not very straight. That in itself is a major issue.

We also need to interrogate the number of barrels we take per day. Unfortunately, we don't have that figure. We only take the official figure. The country itself does not have the figure of the barrels they actually extract per day. That is another issue. That is why you see plenty of oil theft and activities that are unorthodox in nature happening. For us it is all about transparency and accountability in that sector so that the host communities should be properly taken care of. There should be a good level of distribution in terms of how everybody gets the national share of what is accrued from it. Of course, there should be a level of increase in what is currently given to oil producing states. These states are suffering alot of neglect, social injustice is happening there; insecurity, livelihoods are badly affected and you see people jobless.

So how do you want to take all these four cardinal principles and disconnect them from insecurity? In order not to have a situation of chaos, we have to interrogate these issues and that is what we are doing at this centre.