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Not At All Charitable …That Clark’s View On Jonathan, 2015
When a senior citizen attains certain privileged heights he conducts himself honourably, chooses his words properly, picks the right forum and timing as would any respectable elder, and weighs the perspective to avoid not only being misunderstood, but to live his status-a statesman. Such special citizens are not easily drawn into joining issues. They talk, when, absolutely necessary, and do so well.
For instance, in the electoral process leading to the eventual election of Second Republican Civilian President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1979, news hounds had besieged the home of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) leader, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo to seek his reaction to uncomplimentary remarks allegedly made of his person by Alhaji Balarabe Musa of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). To such newsmen, the statesman in Awolowo replied: ‘I shouldn’t be heard joining issues with such people in search of instant fame’.
Conversely, it was the lack of the statesman in the vituperations of former Head of State and Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.) that pushed many Nigerians to react to his mid-May speech, the way they did. Otherwise, fore-warning a nation about the dangers of flawed-elections should not be a big deal. Afterall, was it not Abraham Lincoln (1809-65) the 16th President of the United States of America (USA) who once warned, “No man is good enough to govern another without that other’s consent”?
That was the wise warning of a statesman, an elder and grand father which, simple it may sound, bears even greater weight than Buhari’s bloodbath threat.
Blessed with age, endowed with wisdom, pushed by nationalism and very often guided by a strong desire to defend the unity of the peoples of the nation, even in their diversities, such elder statesmen should never lose sight of the fact that their every public comment could be a reference point, an unwritten injunction and so, must think properly before voicing any opinion.
Infact, public speech culture of statesmen, in my view, ought to be guided by one of the Commandments of the Greek historian and philosopher, Plutrarch, “it is a point of wisdom to be silent when occasion requires, and better than to speak, though never so well”. Even Adolf Hilter (1889-1945), the German dictator knew the worth of words which was why in the Mein Rampf 1925, Hilter musses, ‘The broad masses of the people can be moved only by the power of speech. All great movements are popular movements, volcanic eruptions of human passions and emotional sentiments, stirred either by the cruel Goddess of Distress or by the firebrand of the word hurled among the masses’.
That realisation is indeed why the American Philosopher, John Dewey, (1859-1952,) in M. Dworkin’s Dewey on Education, 1959, insists, ‘There is all the difference in the world between having something to say, and saying something’.
It is from this premise, that the recent comments credited to the highly respected statesman, renowned Ijaw leader and onetime Minister of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Chief Edwin Clark, on the political future of President Goodluck Jonathan appears to me, not only hasty, it is also as uncharitable as Buhari’s vituperations on 2015.
Addressing newsmen recently in an event to mark his 85th Birthday, Clark said categorically that Jonathan would contest the 2015 Presidential elections, at the time, less than a year into the President’s four-year tenure.
The respected nationalist, statesman and veteran politician ought to have reasoned that if what he was flying was a political kite, it was a dangerous one likely to hinder national cohesion, since the President’s every action or inaction would from thence be seen not from the perspective of President’s desire to transform the nation, but of his own selfish political schemes to actualise re-election. Yes, Jonathan has the constitutional right to seek re-election as did some others before him, but was the timing ripe for such discuss?
Was it not rather too premature to plunge the polity into the usually rancorous politicking, akin to our transitions, especially at a time when, several national problems are begging for solutions? What is different between what Buhari intended to say and what Clark was credited with saying?
Buhari, while addressing CPC members from Niger State who visited him in Kaduna mid-May this year, had said that the Jonathan government was the biggest Boko Haram who ‘steal and kill’. He then warned that the 2015 elections be either “free and fair or they go the disgraceful way”, adding, ‘if what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.
The bottomline is that Buhari has not fore-closed his ambition to take another shot at the Presidency, his fourth such attempt, (which was exactly what he meant to say) should he join the political fray 2015. That may be his right, but what offended public interest is the fact that the familiar hate-filled politicking, which has for years now, become a tradition, often ends after the familiar post-election litigations and resume during the lame-dock period of the presidency when, unsure of a political future, the commander-in-chief avoids certain policy pronouncements and decisions.
Such period comes, not within the first year of a new tenure, when patriotic zeal should push all genuine statesmen to partner with government either through reasonable criticism or support, in order to further national growth, aspirations and development. That was perhaps why many Nigerians reasoned that not only was the timing of Buhari’s speech wrong, the threat of bloodbaths, the same type that ignited the post-election violence in parts of the North, was indeed unstatesmanly on Buhari’s part.
But Clark’s 85th Birthday talk on political future of Mr. President is no less so, because it, in some way, not only helped to heat up the polity, but also justified the haste and desperation in Buhari’s utterances. Don’t forget, Nigeria’s political arena is like a close community where, kites flown either to feel the pulse of the people or to heat up the system are seen even before their take-off. Could it be that Buhari had heard rumours that Jonathan’s supporters had started planning his re-election?
If such were mere rumours, Clark’s interview simply lent credence to them and is as flawed as Buhari’s seemingly ill-timed utterances. Clark should know that his comments, products of his constitutional right to free speech, they may be, still amount to avoidable distractions which the presidency had repeatedly warned against. How, for instance, can this President start now, to talk about re-election when he is yet to complete the first of a four-year tenure? How can anyone who genuinely means well, for Jonathan, as Clark prides himself, join in heating-up the polity with such sweeping declaration, at this time?
Rather than embark on such destructive early campaigns, Clark and Buhari should have found better reasons to help check the increased spate of insecurity through multi-ethic dialogue. I believe that if that was the case among our statesmen, the rising wave of resentment to virtually every government action or inaction would have abated.
But it cannot in an atmosphere of vicious competition, uniquely Nigerian; because no opposition politician would ever sees merit in whatever any government, seeking re-election does.
Could that have accounted for the political opposition to oil subsidy removal even with its countless economic advantages? What of the renaming of the University of Lagos after Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential elections annulled by the General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) military junta? And who died in jail while fighting to reclaim his mandate.
Ordinarly, that Abiola symbolises the birth of our uninterrupted 13 year-democracy by making the sacrifice of his own blood, should not be an issue for debate. Instead, that should have united the so-called progressives, of what is left of NADECO or Tunde Bakare’s Save Nigeria project. But no!
Interestingly also, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) while recently denying ever instigating the students’ protests against renaming UNILAG, Moshood Abiola University (MAU) Lagos, is yet to express approval for Jonathan’s discretion.
What’s more, it does appear that this would be the only action of the Jonathan presidency, to which Pastor Bakare, Buhari’s running-mate in the last Presidential elections, has no opinion on. Isn’t this a disturbing signal, of seeing nothing good in an opponent, the type known to Nigerian politicians during transition? And the unenviable era both Clark and Buhari were shoving down our throats?
This is why our statesmen must talk and act like statesmen: as true beacons of national unity; strength of a ruling government, political role-models to the youth and most importantly, able defenders of the nation’s hard-earned freedom and independence.
The ill-timed talks by Clark and Buhari cannot achieve all these. What they create instead, is further polarization of the polity along ethnic, political and neo-cultural cileavages which Nigeria, with all the challenges, can ill-afford. If indeed, Buhari’s mis-talk made him a sectional leader, Clark’s, made him an equally tribal champion.
My Agony is that Clark is not the media adviser to Mr. President nor a Presidential political mouth-piece and should not have made himself Aso Rock soothsayer or mindreader.
That exactly was what his utterances on 2015 made of his ordinarily statesmanly reputation and should be condemned as loudly as we berated Buhari’s. Case closed.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
Mohammedu Buhari and Chief Edwin Clark
Front Pix
DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.