The Anti-gay Law As kudos for Nigeria

A couple of weeks ago, President Goodluck Jonathan, after several months of procrastination finally signed into law the new Anti-gay Bill submitted to him by the National Assembly in May last year. Before now, what was in existence in Nigeria was a colonial law that prescribed punishments ranging from fines to jail terms for those convicted of sodomy. But the new law prohibiting gay marriage and same-sex partnership stipulates 14-year prison term for anyone who enters into same-sex union and a 10-year prison term for anyone who “administers, witnesses or aids” a same sex marriage or civil union ceremony.  This includes: those who organize meetings of homosexuals, operate or attend gay club, carry out public…

A PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE

BEING THE SUBMISSION OF CHIEF FELIX AMADI (WHEKUBI) TO THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DIALOGUE SITTING IN UMUAHIA ON 30TH OCTOBER, 2013. Protocol: President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan spoke the minds of not a few when he called for a national dialogue in his Independence Day Speech of 1st October 2013. He also expeditiously set up a dialogue committee to craft a road map appropriate for the proposed dialogue. Until the announcements, many mistook the president to be a non-risk seeking establishment man, who thrives more in avoidance than action. I join well meaning Nigerians focused on national peace and progress to commend President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the dialogue committee for the initiative and efforts…

Nigeria At 53: Anything Wrong With Nigeria?

Nigeria, a country which gained her independence in the year 1960 has experienced successes and failures ever since independence, most of its failures being caused by human factors. Today, our dear country Nigeria is celebrating 53 years of independence, the question still remains: how independent are we? A country with natural resources yet, we virtually produce nothing. We are independent yet, we import virtually everything from foreign nations ranging from foodstuffs to machines and the most devastating are the “importation of medical services, professional advice and educational services”. On the 1st day of October, 1960, Nigeria was freed from foreign captivity and today, we are suffering local captivity.   The question now is: What is…

2015: I will run – Jonathan

 …Says constitution allows him to do eight years of two terms After months of dodging the question, President Goodluck Jonathan in New York, United States on Sunday broke his silence on the 2015 presidential election when he said the Constitution allows him to do eight years of two terms. This is even as he warned those fanning the embers of disintegration in the country to refrain from doing so as the interest of the nation was greater than that of any individual.  He urged politicians to drop the “do or die” approach to politics and allow him to concentrate on his core mandate of governance. He said that having been elected by Nigerians, he should…

Code of Conduct For Public Officers

There are rules and professional ethics governing the employment of public officers under the employment of local councils, state and federal Government’s public services to prevent abuse of office and check corruption. It is in this regard that section 153 of the 1999 constitution as amended provided for the establishment of the code of conduct Bureau which enforces the strictures of public service employment ethics or rules. These rules are made to be followed like a code of conduct and when there is a breach, it is strictly sanctioned. The 5th schedule, part 1 of the 1999 constitution provides answers to the code of conduct of public officer which enshrines legal ethics for the conduct…

Commissioner laments poor English

Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Olaide Olajuyigbe has lamented the incapability of many graduates and undergraduates to speak and write good English language, the problem he traced to secondary level of education. He spoke while delivering the goodwill message at the opening ceremony of the 10th Annual Conference of The National Association of Teachers and Researchers in English as a Second Language (NATRESI), hosted by Elizade University, Bara-Mokin, Ondo State. While emphasizing English Language as the foremost worldwide language of communication, the Commissioner advocated effective teaching of the subject in all educational institutions across the country, especially at primary and secondary schools. In his keynote address, titled: “English challenge of the 21st century, Prof….

How the Nigerian PLEDGE can turn Nigeria around

Recently, I listened to a Nigerian teen recite the Nigerian Pledge at a Nigerian party here in Baltimore. It was so moving that my mind went back to old good days at the Community Primary School Umueze Amaimo in Ikeduru LGA of Imo State. No school day began and ended without the Pledge. At home, the Pledge resonated daily through the media. IBC (Imo Broadcasting Cooperation) TV would close at midnight with the Pledge. If you forgot to turn off your radio before going to bed, NTA would wake you up with the Pledge early in the morning. I am not sure what the practice is today. Nonetheless, while everyone else ate, drank and danced…

NULGE Strikes: Arising Issues Of Corruption And Constitutionalism

Recently, the National Union of Local Government Employees  (NULGE) representing the 774 Local government Areas in the country went on preemptive strike actions to protest the reluctance of the senate to agree to the constitutional amendment that will facilitate the end to the inconvenient marriage of local governments with their state governments Co joined by joint accounts in the receipt of federal allocations. The House of Representatives had earlier given the nod for the fiscal divorce but an obstinate and insensitive senate refused the amendment, perhaps for reasons that have not been made public. This development is coming in the heels of generalized outcry for fiscal autonomy for local governments in other to facilitate the…

Nigerians don’t like to pay tax – Finance Minister

More than three quarters of companies in Nigeria do not pay tax. In fact, the Federal Government is losing over N80 billion monthly from tax dodgers. Minister of Finance Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made this known at a recent visit to the National Council for Finance and Economic Development (NACOFED) in Minna. She said over 75 per cent of registered firms have refused to pay tax while 65 per cent of supposed registered tax payers have not even filed their tax returns in two years. Dr Okonjo-Iweala explained that given recent decline in oil revenue, such additional income would have helped to improve the country’s economy. On the controversial rising debt profile of the country, she…

Catholic Bishops say no to Child Marriage

There has been a furore in Nigeria over the status of people internationally regards as minors. This has made it “necessary to amend parts of the Nigerian Constitution”, to protect the dignity and rights of these minors. This statement was contained in a communiqué issued by the Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province at the end of their second meeting for 2013 (from August 4 to 5) at the Adoration Nuns Monastery Oyin, Ilorin. “We deeply regret they said “that the general environment in Nigeria is already harsh enough for our minors who struggle to get good education, good upbringing and are victims of child trafficking, prostitution and other abuses”. The bishops called on the…

Politics And Public Service: The Most Lucrative Business Enterprises In Nigeria Today (1)

Politics is a witty stratagem and artifice that are being exercised to establish a human and material platform for the institutionalization of a stable and progressive state with the full credence and tenet of the entrenchment of democracy and enactment of good governance. While Public Service could be categorized as a working contract entrusted to the care and responsibility of a chosen with a stipulated remuneration, recompense or allowance, for the strengthening of the affairs of the state and welfare of the people. Analytically, both politics and public service are for the advancement, growth and upliftment of a state in every facet of her development including direction, conduct, guidance, administration and management. If all these…

More reactions trail on the new UK visa policy

Many Nigerians from all walks of life have continued to react to the introduction of a new visa policy by the British government, describing it as discriminatory and unacceptable. The new UK policy deemed it that Nigerians travelling to the United Kingdom to produce a cash bond of N730,000 (3,000 pounds, $4,600 or 3,500 euros) before they enter the UK, as Nigerians  were among country nationals deemed to pose a “high risk” of immigration abuse. The Presidency and the National Assembly have also reacted as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru yesterday, assured all Nigerians that “the Jonathan government will defend the interest of Nigerians by whatever means we can. So, when…

Governor Obi showers N100m on Mission Hospitals

… He is a  blessing to humanity –Bishop The Anglican Bishop of Amichi Diocese, Most Reverend Dr. Ephraim Ikeakor has described Governor Peter Obi as a blessing not just to Anambra State, but to humanity at large. He made this comment while receiving a cheque of N10m for the continued renovation of Amichi Diocesan Hospital which was among the missionary-owned institutions Anambra State is supporting in her strategic partnership with the churches. The Bishop who prayed to God to raise more Peter Obis said that people like him were needed for the edification of society. The governor who on June 4, toured some missionary institutions and gave them cheques totaling N120m continued with the tour…

FG saves N3trn in contributory pension scheme, says Okonjo Iweala

The Co-ordinating Minister for Economy and the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has disclosed that the contributory pension scheme which is a compulsory saving for workers, has made a total savings of over N3 trillion. The Minister who was speaking at the Ministerial Briefing in Abuja assured Nigerians that the scheme was in good health, adding that the government was reforming the old scheme to make it more transparent, “Compulsory pension scheme is fine.  We have more than N3 trillion there.  It’s working well and I want to reassure Nigerians of its good health.  So, it’s only people who are still under the old scheme which we are reforming that are affected.  We are…

Corruption: The 37th State of Nigeria

There is a cloned hydra-headed monster on a tiny-lined white thread seen with the third-eye only making up the 37th State of Nigeria.  It is CORRUPTION.  On May 27, 2012, the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Owerri Diocese, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna celebrated a thanksgiving Mass for the State Government to mark its one year in office at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri.  In his homily, the Archbishop called for an alternative Nigeria. The alternative Nigeria, he explained would be “Nigeria that is just and fair, a Nigeria where there is rule of law and respect for justice and fairness, a Nigeria where the leaders will shun double standard life and enthrone good governance…

How APC will Fix Nigeria – Okorocha

Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has assured Nigerians that the newly formed All Progressive Congress (APC) by the coalition of major opposition parties will fix and return Nigeria in the path of progress. Governor Okorocha who seized the opportunity of rendering his two year account of stewardship to Imolites to speak on his political future and recent political development in the country, maintained that APC would among other things balance the political equation as well as offer credible alternative so far as leadership is concern in Nigeria. He said “let me throw more light on why I have decided to join and promote APC. It is a clear fact that our dear country under…

MEN OF GOD AS DEMIGODS IN NIGERIA

Quite instinctively, Nigerians see any person who goes by the name, “man of God” as a demigod. Some of us who are familiar with societal arrangement and power-relations in the Nigerian society and are able to make comparisons with what obtains outside the shores of the country never cease to marvel at the enormous powers the “man of God” wields in Nigeria. Being a “man of God” becomes a veritable privileged position that gives one access to nearly every good thing under heaven. Perhaps this state of affairs is not bad in itself, for what is wrong giving due respect and honor to a member of our society who received (or claims to have received)…

Ojukwu and the discourse of disunity

He came from a wealthy stock. He was educated in the best schools. He was a soldier. He was a radical. He was an adept. Some will describe him as unpatriotic, while others see him as a nationalist. Some see him as a villain and others see him as a hero who fought for justice. In life and in death, Ojukwu appeared to have embodied the paradoxes of life and its extremes. Notwithstanding his rare characteristics represented in a somewhat mystic personality, the name Ojukwu will for a long time remain synonymous with the defunct Biafra. As the ex-warlord of Biafra, Ojukwu was a historic figure upon which the apparent ethnic and tribal disquiet in…

Editorial: Maintaining our Pro-Life Stand

The news that the House of Representatives, after 18 months of foot-dragging has finally toed the step of the Upper Legislative Chamber in proposing laws banning the practice of gay marriage, homosexuality, lesbianism and other sexual aberrations in the country, has gladdened many hearts. Henceforth, Churches and Mosques are forbidden from conducting same sex marriages while gay and lesbian couples who marry could face up to 14 years each in prison. Witnesses or anyone who helps such couples marry could be sentenced to 10 years behind bars. Anyone taking part in a group advocating for gay rights or caught in ”public show” of gay affection also would face 10 years in prison if convicted by…

NIGERIAN GOVERNORS FORUM: WHICH WAY NOW?

When the Chief Executives of the 36 states of the federation formed the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) soon after the return to civil rule in 1999, Nigerians welcomed the idea as a laudable development capable of strengthening the then fledging nascent democracy. The Forum, as a coalition of the elected governors is a non-partisan association which seeks to promote unity in governance and better understanding among states to ensure a healthy and beneficial relationship between the states and other tiers of government.  It is on record that the Forum has played useful role at certain critical moments of crisis in the country by trying to wedge the country from drifting down the precipice. The Forum…