The Man Who Must See The President
The presumptive Man of the Year award should go to Mr. Paul Ekoja. Paul who? Permit the brief introduction of this strong-willed (some will say he was on a death wish) civil servant who, last month, went close to the fringes of “recklessness” in the course of interpreting his call to duty. The man dared the might of the Nigerian presidency, one of the most powerful in the world, to deliver a document - a piece of paper he insisted must be handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari in person! Ekoja is a bailiff from the Supreme Court of Nigeria, based in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. In a deposition affidavit dated September 4, 2019, he accused President Buhari and his lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, of evading service of the apex court processes. The bailiff claimed, in his affidavit published in the media last week, that he visited the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock to serve Buhari with a ‘notice of appeal’ and ‘record of appeal’ filed by Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate in the last election; however, that all his efforts to fulfill his duty were frustrated by the presidential guards who allegedly denied him access to effect service on the president as required by law.
Of course, we are not aware of any circumstance whereupon an incumbent has come face-to-face with the bailiff of any Nigerian court since the Fourth Republic began in 1999. Yet, there has never been any result of presidential election that was not challenged fervently, with only the exception being that of President Goodluck Jonathan’s second coming. Incidentally, of the six election cycles, the incumbent had led the challenge up to the Supreme Court thrice... unsuccessfully!
There are many excuses to illustrate why Buhari may not be aware of the intransigence of his security unit... and running through the Sheriff’s and Civil Process Act as an outsider in the ‘learned profession’ planet has not yielded any ammunition to throw at the president. Nonetheless, I have little doubt that our lawyers will regale us with robust arguments on both sides, highlighting the merit and demerit of Bailiff Ekoja’s adventure.
But, we strongly believe a reminder to the presidency is in order; in fact, it is drawn from the President’s own declaration few days ago during Nigeria’s 59th Independence Day broadcast. His words: “...In this regard, I reiterate my call for all to exercise restraint, tolerance and mutual respect in airing their grievances and frustrations. Whilst the ongoing national discourse on various political and religious issues is healthy and welcome, we must not forget the lessons of our past – lessons that are most relevant on a day such as this”.
So, sir, remember the sort of legacies you intend to bequeath this nation, and promptly ask Mr. Paul Ekoja to repeat his duty-call, ensure that he is accorded the respect and cooperation his service deserves. Thank you, sir.
Anambra’s Innoson Dilemma: Between Patriotism and Pleasure
The news coming out of Anambra State of patriotic legislators voting against the buying of “Prado Jeep” for their own use, and rather opting for the locally made Innoson (IVM) SUV may turn out as a figment of the imagination of political opponents of the state governor, Willie Obiano; it is nonetheless, a good thing to contemplate.
Apparently, the state government, and the APGA-dominated House of Assembly have played it cool, not admitting Prado or Innoson was in the offing. This has not stopped the opposition from taking the position of the sympathisers crying more than the bereaved... for indeed, didn’t we agree that the state and government belong to everyone, in this case, all Anambrans?
A review of cost differential makes a sobering look: The 2018 Toyota LandCruiser Prado (every SUV is a Jeep to many Nigerians) costs between N19m and N21m (manual/ automatic); but trust Nigerian “money-miss-road” politico to prefer the 2019 TLC version which arrives at a princely N30m. Meanwhile, the Innoson SUV range (called G5 and G6) goes for a humble pile of N6.7m and N7.35m.
It makes good read and common sense that the Obiano administration should follow the example (even if it’s too late to lead by example) of other governors of the South-East who have patronised our only privately owned vehicle manufacturing ensemble, arguably. We understand that Obiano’s predecessor, Peter Obi bought over 500 vehicles from Innoson Manufacturing Co. during his reign in Anambra’s for the use of vigilante services, schools and local government councils. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Enugu State governor, reportedly bought over 100 Innoson pickups for the security agencies in his state. That is apart from agencies of the Federal government outside the region.
Two damning facts stand as Sword of Damocles over Obiano and the legislative leaders whenever they make up their minds on what vehicles to spoil the legislators with: one, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co. Ltd. is located in their backyard! The relentless industry and bullish reinventing acumen of the Nnewi based auto manufacturer (some say as much as 70% local content) have made the option to patronise home-grown automobile makers to stabilise and expand a no brainer. Two, with a highly positive differential in cost of up to 60%, it is criminal indulgence and excellent example of irresponsibility in the management of public finance to hug the internationally acclaimed Prado... to the detriment of your own nationally beloved and easily affordable product.
“Monkey no fine”, so we say on the streets, “but him Mama like am”... Yet even more damning in this case, this one is no monkey, and is much prettier!
The Niger Delta Miscarriage
Many Nigerians are interested, alongside the House of Representatives, in knowing what and where exactly have the fortunes and infrastructures of the Niger Delta been impacted positively since the Olusegun Obasanjo intervention in 2000. An ad-hoc committee of the green chamber, after two weeks of interrogating contractors, MDA officials, principals and stakeholders of the Niger-Delta Development Commission, NDDC, including the acting Managing Director of Dr. (Mrs.) Enyia Akwagaga, has invited former Managing Directors of NDDC, Timi Alaibe, Nsima Ekere, and other strategic operatives, including Nelson Brambaifa and Emmanuel Agwariavwodo. The focus of the Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai-led ad hoc committee may be narrow for now, we eagerly await the possible expansion of the seemingly ordinary matter of what is the true status of over N61.4bn abandoned projects in the region.
The legislators are looking for trouble: asking politicians who moonlight as technocrats to provide documents and evidence of overpayment of contractors and number of contracts awarded without execution...is akin to asking for class suicide.
The Nigerian public is actively observing how this new “Atilogwu” will play out... will it similar to the matter of $16b power bazaar between 1999 and 2015?
In deed, we must start asking serious questions of our political officers and administrators, as stated almost eloquently by the President, in the Independence Day broadcast: “I will also call upon all Nigerians, from every walk of life, to combat corruption at every turn. By choosing to question and confront corrupt practices, by reporting unethical practices or through whistleblowing (...) Together, we can overcome corruption and will no longer be a country defined by corruption”.