Women

No Force Can Remove Wike As Gov-Jaja

Published

10 years ago

February 12, 2016

Dr Mietamuno Jaja

Elder (Dr.) Isaac
Mietamuno Jaja is a retired Principal Manager with Central Bank of Nigeria. A financial expert with professional banking experience spanning over three decades. Chairman Steering Committee on Sensitization Campaign on the Redesigned Nigeria Currency Notes and Coins for Rivers and Bayelsa States in 2007, Administrator, Central Bank of Nigeria, Uyo, Management and Financial Consultant, Ex – Chairman, Opobo / Nkoro LGA, member, 8th Governing Council, Rivers State University of Education ( now Ignatius Ajuru), Vice President, Life Power Foundation, Uyo. fellow of several professional bodies, author of many publications and public analyst with passion for good governance. He bared his mind on sundry burning issues in an exclusive interview with The Tide. Execerpts.
As a financial expert, what is your view on the 2016 budget and the economic direction of this government?
Honestly speaking my brother, the economic direction of this government is not very clear to me. I do not know where to start from. I had thought that Mr. President on assumption of office with the change mantra would have engaged professionals, experts and technocrats from any where including political parties to drive the change mantra and move the economy forward in the overall interest of Nigeria. We need all hands on deck no matter the political divide. It is very important we balance academic economic theories with practical experience.
A glance at the budget clearly shows that there is no correlation between the budget fundamentals and the economic diversification policy of the government which is aimed at encouraging local production. We hope the National Assembly will correct the deviation. What is happening in the Capital Market, Foriegn Exchange Market, Value of Naira, sliding oil price and job loss in the economy is worrisome.
Furthermore, the budget to me is not realistic. We need to be realistic by cutting our coat accoding to our cloth. With the oil price budget benchmark of $38 which has dropped to $30, I do not know how the government intends to fund the deficit of N2 trillion. With the free fall in the price of oil, the deficit is bound to increase. What trilled me about the budget is the adoption “zero based budget approach”(ZBB). It is a forward looking apporach opposed to the common method of extrapolating past activities and costs. It is based on cost – benefit analysis which was popularised by President Jimmy Carter in the 70s.
What is your assessment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti – corruption drive?
My brother, in banking generally, honesty and integrity are the watch words. My background, training and core value abhor corruption of all shapes in its entirety.The increasing level of barefaced looting of public funds in the name of politics by our politicians whose only political interest is on wealth without work is worrisome in view of its negative impact on our economy .
As an advocate of good governance and leadership accountability, I wholeheartedly support President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption in all its ramifications. My disagreement is in the area of implementation process and procedure. I am not convinced that he is going about the anti-corruption war the right way.
I have strong reservations on the implementation process, which to me has been consumed and highly driven by political sentiment. I expected implementation process that should promote due process, respect the rule of law and encourage transparency and democratic ethos. What we saw and read in the media is like pronouncing sentence on the accused before trial. The exercise has been- over politicised and can not lead us to anywhere than destroying our eminent international personalities, weaken investors confidence and demarket Nigeria internationally. According to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, “any nation that goes deep into probe – probe business that nation is jeopardising the future of her citizens because it can not get to an end”.
I agree totally with Bishop Matthew Kukah who said,- “I don’t think any Nigerian is in favour of corruption or is against the President’s commitment to ensuring that we turn a new leaf. I think what we are concerned about is process. It is no longer a military regime and under our existing laws everybody is innocent until proven guilty”. For me, breaking the law to enforce the law makes the anti-graft war look more like instrument of witch- hunting and vengance. It looks as if nobody is advising Mr. President correctly.
My dear brother, it is difficult to fight a war you do not understand and win. I had expected government to have taken a comprehensive study of the scope, nature, and enablers of corruption tendencies in Nigeria. This is because most of these corruption cases are system induced. The system creates avoidable gaps that encourage stealing and corruption. No politician can steal without active involvement of career civil servants. This is the reality. Also, a thorough assessment of operational guidelines and procedure of anti-corruption agencies was necessary to reposition them to meet the expectations and aspirations of the current government’s mantra of change of zero tolerance for corruption. Furthermore, a holistic review, synchronise and strengthen relevant corruption extant laws and processes that may encumber judicial processes was needed for a smooth takeoff.
Finally, Government should have embarked on a nationwide society based value reorientation of Nigerian people through enlightenment/sensitisation programme on the negative implications of corruption in national growth and development to gain masses acceptance and buy-in into the vision of zero tolerance for corruption because corruption should be a Nigerian fight and not that of a single political party.
PMB has ordered the probe of some former Service Chiefs and senior military officers over the procurement of arms and equipment for Nigerian Armed Forces essentially regarding the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East. How do you see the President’s latest move?
Look, you can not question Mr. President’s move in this direction. Do not forget that he is a retired General in Nigerian Army and also one time Nigerian Military Head of State. It is difficult for us to question his security credentials and competence on issues bordering on Armed Forces. In Nigeria, we read political meaning into every action. You see my brother, at top leadership level, there are certain classified information that is available to them that most of us are not privy to know. I think he should be allowed to do his job. Nigerians are waiting.
Crime and criminality soared before, during and after the 2015 general elections in Rivers State, what could have inspired this untoward phenomenon?
That is not true. Do you know I am from Rivers State? I was here before the general elections and was here during the general elections. I voted in Ward Seven (7), Unit fifteen ( 15 ) in Opobo/Nkoro LGA where election was generally adjudged to be peaceful. I am still here after the 2015 general elections. So, what are you talking about soared criminality and soared that? I do not know why you should single out Rivers State when you know too well that 2015 general elections’ tension and fever affected every part of Nigeria in almost equal proportion. You can not stop people from campaigning before election, you cannot stop people during the election from exercising their civil right of vote or expressing wishful thinking neither can you stop those who failed from crying wolf. If this is what you mean by criminality, then, you are wrong because it happened nationwide. But if you are referring to Boko Haram area of North East or the Fulani herdsmen’s criminality along Benue trough you could be right. Certainly not Rivers State.
If you were asked to address politicians of different political persuasion in Rivers State, what would you tell them?
Thank you so much for this question. My advice is very simple and direct. Politics you know, is local and is all about people, we cannot claim to be politicians if we fail to do, what the people want us to do. Our politicians should be people centric and statesmanly in their bid for political relevance. They should eschew bitterness, rancour, and vendetta and close ranks in the interest of the people. It is important to note that power is transient, it will come and go but the state and bond of brotherhood subsist.
Political venture should ordinarily bring progress and put smiles on the faces of our people rather than curses and untold hardship. The increasing needs of our politicians has become greed. You will agree with me that need can be met but greed can not be fulfilled. I have always insisted on politics of selfless service to humanity believing that political success is not necessarily defined by the amount of wealth accumulated without work but about the differences you make in people’s lives.
This is not the time for us to feather our own nests and leave the people hungry and wasted. We should build people and not using people and dump them. According to Einstein, “try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value”. We should learn to think Rivers state, act Rivers State and live Rivers State.This remains my advice to politicians.
In your view, how can the youths of Rivers State be properly harnessed to enable them contribute positively to the development of the State?
If you go through the history of political philosophy, you will find out that youths are known to be in the vangard of social development and change. Ironically, this critical group – youths are marginalised in our development process. I am told that building a nation is the hardest task which requires special commitment and team work. We need the combined strength of the youths and the wisdom of the old to function properly. It is time we partner with our youths, engage their idle hands and re-channell their aggresion and restiveness toward meaningful contribution to the growth and development of Rivers State.
We can achieve this through effective massive society based value re-orientation and human capital development programme to redirect and refocus their mindset towards meaningfuls projects. They are bound to falter, but we should be patient with them knowing that youth is the time to learn, experiment, stumble, fall and rise again, the time to play sponge and take life’s lesson.
How would you assess the government of Governor Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike in the past eight months?
My brother, let me tell you the truth because as they say, “truth” is the most powerful force on earth and the only thing we can not change. Chief (Barr) Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike’s intervention in the affairs of Rivers State was apt and timely. A time the state was kept under lock and key and its material wealth frittered in favour of strange men at the expense of the people. A time the once peaceful and serene state wore the toga of the most politically volatile in the history of Nigeria and the leadership style was clearly diametrically opposed to the yeanings of the people.
Governor Wike’s emergence was a devine intervention. He restored hope to the hopeless and gave strength to the weak within the short peroid of less than seven months in office. You see in him a man with zeal and zest to serve his people. In spite of pausity of funds, but with leadership vision and creativity, he took dynamic steps to complete critical infrastructure abandoned by previous government in roads network etc. He promptly paid arrears of several months of salaries owed to civil servants, pension arrears, scholarship arrears and reversed injustice done to the poor and put smiles on the faces of many. Infact, Governor Wike displayed extreme ability to cultivate humanity and promote happiness of all and the good of every River man.
Let me tell you, no force can remove Wike as governor of Rivers State except Almighty God. Even if the election is conducted hundred times, he will win hundred times. Do you know why? He has three attributes that please God. They are strong belief in God, uncommon courage and heart of thanksgiving. Read the accounts of Jehoshaphat, Joshua and David you will see Wike in them. Thses are three divine weapons Wike will use to demolish APC. Take note.
Cont’d on p.24
cont’d from p.23

How do you assess Buhari’s effort in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency?
Well, I am not a security expert but I will use a layman’s assessment to make my opinion. You see, in Economics, there is a theory that “production is not complete until it reaches the final consumer”. As a common man, I will only be satisfied when I am told that President Muhammadu Buhari has ended the challenges of Boko Haram as he promised and 219 adopted Chibok girls returned accordingly. This idea of Boko Haram had been technically and significantly defeated and yet the fact that people are being killed everyday in the North East does not appeal to me. In as much as I commend the effort of government and the military, until we have peaceful North East and return of Chibok girls, it will be difficult to give this government pass mark on insurgency.
What are your view on the stance of the Federal Government on withdrawal of petroleum subsidy ?
Good question. I read in one of the World Bank’s reports couple of years ago, that “99% of Nigeria’s population shares 20% of Nigerian’s resources while 1% shares 80% of Nigeria resources” This was thought- provocating particularly when I read IMF’S Analysis that “40% of fuel subsidies in rich countries go to rich families” This is to say that oil subsidies impoverish the poor and benefit the rich. Perhaps this must have informed the Jonathan administration’s decision to remove oil subsidy. You can see how our income distribution mechanism is deliberately skewed in favour of the rich at the expense of the poor.
Based on this, I support the removal of oil subsidy but with a proviso that Government must ensure equitable and even redistribution of the economic benefits arising therein which should also be seen to tally with the practical living standard experience of the people.A

City Crime

Women And Dangers Of Obnoxious Practices

Published

4 days ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

It is worrisome to hear that a woman or a girl is bathed with acidic contents just because she refuses to adhere to one instruction or the other from an opposite sex.

Sometimes, you see a woman with bruises on the face, with one eye swollen as if she is an animal perhaps she demanded one or two things from her spouse.

A situation where a widow will be mandated to marry a brother-in-law for her to still belong to the family where she is married and to partake in inheritance should be looked into.

Severally, there have been talks, seminars, workshops, fora, arguments, bills and laws abolishing the issues that concern women, especially violence. But much has not been achieved to curtail the menace.

Violence against girls and women has been on the increase. From time to time, it is either girls are denied access to father’s property or a widow is denied inheritance to husband’s properties. Even when laws are put in place about things that will help women have their rights, some persons feel that culture and tradition do not permit such laws.

We are aware that some women are rich and may not want to partake in the share of their late parents’ property, but there are vulnerable ones who may need to be empowered, through perhaps, late parents’ property inheritance.

Some of the obnoxious laws were made before now without the consent of women. There was no enough representation to either argue for or against so as to be beneficial to women generally. Some of the laws were so primitive that even when civilisation came, became difficult to change. Very unfortunately, it is the women sometimes who execute the laws made by men in their absence. But women are suffering it.

If government can establish laws abolishing certain practices against women and girls, it will be better for them and should in the presence of women so that they can contribute as well.

For long, laws against female genital mutilation and circumcision have existed but some communities with their culture and tradition have refused to put a stop to it with reasons best known to them.

Circumcision of a full-grown girl or lady may not be the only way of attaining maturity. It is a harmful practice and the pain associated with it cannot be imagined. The illegal operation is not performed in the hospital so the dangers inherent will be much.

For those who still practise it, the menace should be discouraged as that is not a proper way of ushering a girl into womanhood. A lot of women lose their lives due to pains experienced during the process. If it was practised in the past when civilisation was not there, it is a different case, nowadays with science and technology proving it wrong, those who still practice should resist.

We know that government is doing a lot to save women and girls from some of the pains they go through but right steps should be taken in the right direction and all stakeholders intensify efforts in dealing with persons who perpetuate evil against their fellow women.

One issue that comes to mind is implementation even if policies and laws are out in place by relevant agencies. The issues have been dwelt on for decades, but it is still practised as big ceremonies in some communities.

When it comes to inheritance, a girl born into a family, married or unmarried will be denied access to father’s property.

When parents are sick, the female child will pick him or her for care and offset medical bills. If it has to do with the demise of parents, the woman and the husband will be mandated to provide a cow and perform other burial rites.

If the National Assembly makes laws concerning the well-being of women, community heads, molecular leaders, women groups and associations, religious organisations, Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) should create more awareness through the media to sensitise rural dwellers.

In this digital era, it should be forbidden that a woman loses her spouse and she is mandated to drink water used on the late husband.

A legal practitioner, Tam Jacobs, said if one forcefully shaves a woman’s hair with the intention that she is mourning her late spouse, she can sue that person for assault.

He said if the woman is forced to drink water used on her late husband’s body, she can also sue for attempted murder.

According to him, several cases of girl-child inheritance have been won and documented in the law court but some cannot claim it.

“Even a widow who is handicapped may not be able to make attempts so NGOs, CSOs should be in the forefront to support them and ensure that the laws are implemented at the grassroots level where they are practised”, he said.

A pharmacist, Eno Amos said any culture that does not add colour and value to life, especially as it concerns women should be abolished.

She added that implementation can be easy in the cities where awareness has been created but expressed fear that it may not be easy in the rural areas where culture is really practised.

A business woman, Agnes Ugwu, said tradition and culture were made by man and not God and wondered why people who claim to be educated still follow the tradition of ancestors who never went to school.

Ignorance also comes to play here. If you have watched a documentary showing female genital mutilation and the gory experience the young women go through is something else. Some of the perpetrators claim that the practice has existed for ages. Women have to learn more about issues that concern them.

A nurse, Rosy Ekeocha, said it is not about culture but about the behavior of a group of people in the community who force it on others.

According to her, let people change their behaviour and leave culture alone. It does not happen in every family and if any family allows it that is its business.

She said we are in the 21st century, certain cultures and tradition need to be reviewed to ensure that they align with today’s reality.

Culture is dynamic she said, but that implementation of laws relating to the vulnerable in the society calls for concern.

We should not behave the way people behaved twenty decades ago, after all, we do not dress the way our forefathers dressed. Time has evolved and things are getting better as it concerns women. We are getting more exposed and more enlightened about issues that concern us. Information is moving round as the world is a global village.

Talking about culture nowadays, we wear shoes whereas our forefathers never had any. They walked barefooted

far distances to get family necessities but things are better now as we are mobile.

That should also happen to culture and tradition. There are certain aspects of our culture and tradition which are practised today that have expired long ago. We should get rid off them.

Sometime, the bill for prohibition of obnoxious practices against women at the National Assembly was a welcome development, how far have the powers that be gone to ensure that it favours women.

It is expected that the bills abolishing obnoxious practices against women and girls in the society should have started achieving results as it concerns their wellbeing.

Eunice Choko-Kayode

Women

Early Start Of Education: The Dangers On Children

Published

4 days ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

There are worries these days about the way parents are sending their kids to school earlier than it was many years ago.

A situation where children of six and nine months are sent to creche and day care centres all in the name of starting them early.

Although some parents whose schedules are tight say they have no choice than to do that since getting a house help or nanny has a lot of implications for the child and the family.

But aside that, some people feel that the benefit of sending their children to school so early will help them secure job early. And the issue of starting life early.

So many years ago, children of school age were not allowed to start school until their hands could cross from one part of their ear to another. That was the yardstick used to ascertain whether a pupil could start school or not.

It is important that our wards acquire education early but their lives should not be put on danger because parents want them to finish school early.

The truth is that parents are pushing their children into school these days as if there is competition among families and friends. This is not healthy enough for our young ones.

I don’t understand why a child of 12 years should be in Senior Secondary School (SS2). It means that the child will be and graduate at age 13 or 14 in SSS3. This should be discouraged by school managers.

Which university will admit a student of 14 or 15 when universities insist they must be 16 years-old before being admitted. I’ve seen a child who performed well both in SSCE and UTME but was denied admission by one of the universities because he was below 16 years.

In fact, the stakeholders have come up with the issue well clarified that, students seeking admission into the universities must be 16 years of age. That’s a welcome development.

Maturity is one of the factors affecting teaching and learning process. Parents should not send their children to school earlier than it should be.

No matter how intelligent a child is, he should not be allowed to jump any class. School managers should resist parents who may want their children to jump from one class to another.

Even if a child scores Excellent in all subjects in a particular class, that child should be allowed to touch all the classes, complete primary 6 of lower basic. That will make a significant impact on that child.

Many of us year back started secondary school at the age of 12 and 13 and never lost anything, as we graduated at 17, 18 and 19 before seeking admission into the university.

Back in secondary school, some students were already 20 years and never bordered being in the same class with younger persons.

There are children who are exceptionally good but that does not mean a child should be sent to school prematurely. That child may suffer inferiority complex in the midst of seniors.

Children should be allowed to move with their peers. This will give them a sense of belonging among peers. When a child begins to nurse the problem of inferiority complex, he will certainly experience withdrawal syndrome. Peer group pressure becomes a problem on the child.

Those are some of the challenges resulting from keeping younger persons among the older ones. We are not in danger so we should not put our children into such uncomfortable scenario.

Nowadays, children are getting into school at tender age as parents dictate. There are things children are supposed to learn as kids at a particular level and when they jump such level and get to a point where parents want them to be, one day, those children will definitely feel it and the significant of that particular level will manifest.

Children should be allowed to enjoy whatever thing they are meant to enjoy at every level. No level of a child’s development should be ignored. Every stage of development is important no matter how intelligent that child may be.

Stakeholders know why every curriculum is prepared in a way to sooth every child so parents should allow children to enjoy every stage in their lives.

A teacher once told me that children below 10 years who find themselves on secondary schools do not concentrate in class. They find it difficult to concentrate no matter what the teacher does.

Parents deny their kids parental care. Sometimes in schools, parents abandon their wards at the mercy of minders after school hours, up to 6:00 p. m. Whereas they should have gone home earlier to prepare for the next day.

Even at home, they are left in the hands of house helps and nannies while parents are busy looking for money. Children are denied parental care and are not getting full maturity because of these factors.

Another reason for this rush by parents is pride. A parent may be boasting that his child is either in ABC school and representing the whole world while another person’s child is at home or one “inferior” school.

Children who are pushed into school prematurely do not sustain it most times. Students of 15 and 16 years-old going into university can suffer depression according to research.

Researches have also shown that they (younger) ones risk the problem of mental health more than the older classmates.

In the case of creche and day care centres, the idea is not really to acquire education yet, some parents decide to keep their babies so that they can go about their daily businesses. It is true they need money to cater for their households, but should avoid that tender age, the best training any child can have is from parents, while teachers and caregivers are secondary.

Teaching and learning process begin with the parents. No matter how tight the parents’ schedules may be, they must take care of their kids. Parents must devote time to nurture and teach their children many things that they cannot learn in classroom. They should not rush them through life all in a bid to acquire education early.

It is worrisome that parents rush their children to school while they cannot speak and understand their languages and dialects.

One of the guidelines in the National Policy in Education is that children should be taught in their mother tongue at home while they learn foreign language in school.

The NPE also stipulates that every child at the basic level should be taught the language of the place of residence. If school managers are not obeying the instruction, parents need to do a follow-up.

Parents rush their children to school while they do not understand their environment, culture and tradition of theirs and others. Although a few schools devote little time to mark cultural day for the kids.

It is good that children start school early and graduate at 20, 21 and may be get a job at 23 and 24 as some employers will indicate.

Recently, organisations were inviting graduates of between 23 and 25 years for job offers. This caused a lot of reactions from the public. The question people asked was about when the children started school and youth corps service to seek for job in the labour market.

There was a period students secured admission between the ages of 22 and 23 years as a result of either delay in obtaining credits in their choice of disciplines and high scores in UTME. They still graduated at 27 and 28 before proceeding for national youth service.

I think this is one of the reasons why many decide to start their children early to scale through those external exams early enough.

When parents start their children early, they may be exposed to emotional and psychological problems in schools. A lot of them make more friends for protection as they are easily apprehensive.

The morals they needed both at home would have been denied them. At the end of the day, they may acquire good education but lack morals.

The family is the first school for the child but because parents are engaged, the creche and day care centres become their option.

Early start for the children affects their productivity. Factors like home, society and government are responsible.

Charity, they say, begins at home. Parents must have a balance. It is a known fact to that parents need to work to provide money for the family but must make out time to take care of the children.

Eunice Choko-Kayode

Women

Who Is A Classic Woman?

Published

4 weeks ago

August 22, 2025

The Tide

A classic woman is one who has identified herself in terms of fashion, occupation or the kind of business she does.

A woman can be classical in the way she entertains her audience in terms of music and movies. You will discover that some female musicians are identified with the kind of music they sing.

A classical woman is one who always wants to appear trendy.

Generally, classical women are normally identified with the kind of things they are involved in.

There are ladies that want to be identified with wearing of shorts (short trousers) in the public. They use it to showcase their beauty. They want to be identified with such things as they see it as socialisation.

Some wear trousers that are so tight just to showcase all the curves they possess.

Consultant stylists and etiquette experts say some fashions won by some persons are inappropriate because of how and when they are won.

A classic woman is supposed to dress properly. She should be able to wear clothes that will not expose hidden parts of her body. When such occurs, then it is indecent dressing.

Ladies should be known for two things, classical and beauty. One can be classic with minimisation. The minimum woman should go is to look good, decent and presentable.

Some ladies like wearing short skirts but no matter how short the skirt is, it should look elegant. The skirt should not be too short like the mini-skirt.

Dressing or fashion depends on the environment the persons finds herself. The kind of clothes won to the office may be different from the one won at home. Likewise, a dress won to a party may be different from the one won too swimming pool.

For one to look classical or decent, body shape should be taken into consideration.

Colours of a particular fashion can make one look odd or nice. Looking model does not mean that one should go naked or dull.

Don’t wear clothes that you need to drag from time to time in order not to expose yourself.

Eunice Choko-Kayode