And Four Other Things…
One of my fears about state police is the way Nigerian governors can use them to terrorise their political opponents. Now that presidency has denied the involvement of President Buhari in the dethronement and banishment of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II as the emir of Kano, my worries just got bigger. So Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the state governor, actually has authority over the federal police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)? So Ganduje can issue instructions to the police IG, DSS DG and the NSCDC commandant general to move Sanusi from Kano state to Awe, Nasarawa state, in a federal set-up? Wonderful!
MENTAL POLLUTION
There is a bill before the senate, introduced by a senator from Niger state, asking for the prohibition of generators in Nigeria “to fight environmental pollution”. You heard me right: the senator wants generators banned in Nigeria! It has gone through first reading in the upper legislative chamber. At this rate, another senator will soon introduce a bill to ban candles, lanterns, lamps, gas cookers and stoves to protect the ozone layer. What next? The time has come to ban boreholes to protect our water resources. I understand that our lawmakers are overpaid and overfed but I don’t think they need to be throwing banters at us in the name of proposing bills — just to appear busy. Wasteful.
CURBING COVID-19
I am quietly hopeful that by this week, Nigeria will be declared free of COVID-19, the coronavirus that is wreaking havoc all over the world. The index case, an Italian, is reportedly making good progress while the second case has now been declared virusfree. The 179 persons who were observed, having had contact with the Italian, have all been discharged. However, we should not make the mistake of lowering our guard. For as long as the world is not free of the virus, Nigeria is not free. I am very proud of the way the Nigerian authorities have handled this health challenge. We survived the more deadly Ebola. We must not drop the ball. Vigilance.
OFEIMUN AT 70
Mr Odia Ofeimun, the poet, polemist, public intellectual and author, clocks 70 tomorrow. I first encountered him in 1994 when I joined TheNews/TEMPO group as a youngster and he was a member of the editorial board. My first impression of him was that of someone who was very passionate about the progress of Nigeria and a humble soul. His age might have changed, as nature dictates, but his passion has been ever so consistent. The former private secretary to Chief Obafemi Awolowo has had a very interesting life — he was a news reporter and factory hand before going to the university to study political science. Today, he’s surely an accomplished man! Congrats.