Features
Nigerian Youth, A Costly Political Bride?
The result of the recently concluded national voter registration exercise conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has placed youths at the centre stage of Nigerian politics.
Reports show that youths constitute 40% of the voting population of the country, making them a costly political bride for the various political parties seeking elective positions in the forthcoming general elections.
With the assurance by INEC that votes will count in the April polls, politicians that will ordinarily not raise an eyebrow over their chances of getting political slots are making frantic efforts to reach out to the new political bride to secure their massive support.
Also in adjustment to the political reality in the country, a definite pattern has evolved in the campaign mechanisms of the various political parties.
Political parties, both contenders and pretenders, are directing their attention on youths to win their support in the April polls.
Political parties, such as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), All Nigeria Peoples Party, (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC) Hope Democratic Party (HDP) among others are already offering olive branches to the Nigerian youth to gain his support in the April polls.
Addressing a public function in Abuja recently, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Orubebe, declared that youths development was a foremost priority of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.
In apparent solicitation for the massive support of youths, the minister said: “Nigerian youth occupies a prime position in the development objectives of the present administration in the country, and the government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan will not let them down if they cast their bloc vote for the President in the April general elections”.
President Goodluck Jonathan has equally re-echoed the enormous concern of his administration towards youth development programmes in his campaign trips across the various geo-political zones in the country.
At the South South presidential flag off campaign in Port Harcourt recently, President Jonathan said his administration “will establish petro-chemical industries in the region to create employment opportunities for youths in the region”.
Similar promises were made by the President to youths in the North East and South West geo-political zones when his campaign train visited there.
Addressing students of Ambrose Alli University in Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiohmole urged students to be vigilant against any form of electoral fraud in the April polls.
Governor Oshiohmole, who brought his activist posture to bear as he aligned with the students, declared that; “the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, is the only party with the visionary ideals that can improve the living standards of the Nigerian youth in all ramifications”.
Governor Oshiomhole said: “Those who use the youths to rig elections are enemies of the youths” and added that “the Nigerian youth has the opportunity to secure his future by voting out bad and irresponsible governments”.
On his part, the presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu, sees himself as a symbol of change and revolution in Nigerian politics.
The former anti-corruption Czar also sees himself as the arrowhead of the desired transformation needed to engage Nigerian youths as gainful participants in the country’s political process.
Ribadu, who counts greatly on the massive support of Nigerian youths, declared in the flag off of his presidential campaign recently, that the Nigerian youth occupies the centre stage of his development politics, and he will ensure that his creative abilities are fully exploited for his personal development of the country.
Emphasising the importance of youths in the development of the country, he said, “deliberate violation and abuse of the beauty and spring of youth is the surest means to the successful destruction of our democracy”.
Fiery preacher and vice presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC) Tunde Bakare, in a public statement also appealed to the Nigerian youth to take advantage of the April polls and vote massively for CPC to “right the wrongs of the past”.
In a burst of indignation for bad governance, Bakare, whose political romance had triggered public reaction, said “the youths represent the future of Nigeria and CPC offers hope for political liberation in the country”.
A chieftain of the Hope Democratic Party and House of Assembly candidate in Rivers State, Deacon Billy Kalagbor, also places youth development as the cardinal hub of his campaign.
Speaking with The Tide in Port Harcourt recently, Deacon Kalagbor, who is Assembly Hopeful for Port Harcourt Constituency I, said “Past governments had neglected the youths in the scheme of things, and Hope Democratic Party will live up to its name by restoring the battered hope of Nigerian youth.”
Beyond mere verbal attestations to change and promises of economic renewal by the various political parties, the revelation by INEC has become a spur to action.
Youths across the country are taking advantage of their voting strength to make bold the clamour for change, with a resolve to vote out political parties without concrete agenda for their development.
President Yorla Youths federation, a socio-political Pressure group, Comrade Ali Nyorbana, said in an interview with The Tide that, “2011 is a decisive year for the Nigerian youth to determine what his future will be”.
Comrade Nyorbana posited that youth represents the active population of the country, and cautioned against being used “as tools in the hands of politicians for disrupting the electoral process”.
He also advised youths “not to treat the electoral process at a distance, but to consciously get involved by voting out the bad eggs in politics”.
The youth leader identified youths at the centre of every revolution, either violent or peaceful, noting that youths always exert their physical energies and stake their lives for various actions as defined by their political captors.
But he expressed hope that the time has come for youths in the country to resist being used as pawns in the game of power. As an expression of disenchantment with the follies of politics, he said youths should brace up and join its ranks and work to correct them.
But how can this be achieved in a volatile political system like Nigeria?
Patrict Court, a youth leader and political activist in Rivers State opines that “Nigerian youth can participate actively in politics by joining the political parties with the most practical ideals and policies that guarantee the future and that of generations yet unborn”.
Comrade Odums Chinwe, an activist and councillorship aspirant for Ward 19, Port Harcourt, on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), captives the political scenario as “challenging to the youths”. He cautioned the youths to be vigilant against the overtures of most politicians.
According to him, most of the politicians are already used to “politics of manipulation” and may use money and other subtle offers as a bargain tool to seduce the youths to mortgage their conscience and serve their “selfish interest.”
Nadeh Nadeh, a repentant militant who has undergone rehabilitational training at Calabar, Cross River State, is also of a strong view that “majority of Nigerian youths will part ways with the old order of serving at the beck and call of politicians without reasonable impact on their lives”.
Reports reveal that within the past decade, most Nigerian youths have been fully indoctrinated as depraved elements and implementors of anti-democratic forces. Enticed by political lucre, they act deadly scripts designed to suit the whims and caprices of their paymasters, damning its reverberate consequences.
This manifests in the series of politically induced crimes like assassination, intimidation of opponents, ballot box snatching, kidnapping for ransom and other social vices.
However, political analysts observe that the new political awareness among the youth is not only based on the prominence of their voting strength, nor the fact that 2011 represents hope for a major political breakthrough in the country.
They reason that the revolutional move is also triggered by sharp disappointments and disagreements, which result in estrangement between some pliable youths and their sponsors.
The fact being that children of the rich and powerful political overlords who call the shots for these social malaise are hardly linked with such acts. They are either abroad studying, or supervising the stupendous and staggering business empires of their parents across the globe.
But as a former United States President, Richard Nixon stated; “Nothing matters more to the future of this nation than ensuring that our young men and women learn to believe in themselves and believe in their dreams”.
Taneh Beemene
From the fore going, the fight against drug trafficking should be treated as an international challenge with open collaboration, if the world leadership must win the fight!.
The circumstances or should I say the improvement on drug related activities are modifying and updating on daily basis. A close friend of mine in the United States of America who recently visited Jamaica, came with a lot of complicated information about drug trafficking and transaction. Being a qualified Nurse in US and on a visit to the Reggae Country (Jamaica), she said she was put aback when a man approached her and introduced himself as a Pharmacist. According to her, she immediately picked interest due to her professional background. To her, a business partner is birthed. But she was shocked to the narrows on learning that drug dealers or traffickers and subriquited Pharmacist in that Country. From her account, they ( The Jamaican Pharmacists), are the first set to people to meet and greet you at the Airport. No government or authority challenges them in the open due to the sophisticated nature of their transportation
Come to think of it, who would want to attack a Pharmacist on duty? Nigerians are not left out in the improvement on drug deal. A chat with a confident in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) Rivers State Command, so revealed. The Officer draw my attention to the movement of Dispatch Riders. He said part of the reasons they ride with almost speed equivalent of the thunder lightning, is to meet up with the appointment of delivering hard drug consignment to a client of theirs. According to him, those guys popularly referred to as Yahoo Boys are the ones who now payroll dispatch riders so that they can deliver their consignment ( hard drugs) on schedule no matter the sort of traffic or weather condition. The fear of loosing rich clients and that of the unknown treatment that may come of the Boys, as the officer puts it, drives the Riders crazy thus the reason to speed even at the expense of their lives.
The account of a prominent Party Promoter, Wayne Anthony, as obtained online recently, also pointed out that ‘No Legislation Will Stop Clubbers From Doing Drugs’ Party promoter, Wayne Anthony, arrived in Ibiza, a Spanish Island in 1988, at the same time as dance music and the party drug ecstasy. Despite hallucinating badly enough to make him give up the lifestyle forever, he says laws will never stop clubbers taking drugs. “I don’t think you can control these things,” said former party promoter Wayne Anthony. He arrived in Ibiza in 1988 and began setting up club nights and raves in some of the island’s most iconic venues. In the years that followed, the sleepy Spanish island turned into a raver’s haven of clubbing and hedonism, with party drugs like ecstasy commonly found. “What Ibiza represented was this beautiful, hot island which was visually stunning and we knew you could party there quite legally,” said Wayne. “You didn’t have to look over your shoulder. You could just be as free as you possibly could be.”
That freedom came with a price. Along with the lavish clubs, all-day-benders and hot Spanish sun came drug cartels and crime. The city transformed into one the world’s most vibrant party capitals, “fuelled by a dangerous and lucrative drugs trade which drew as many criminals to its shores as it did party animals”. Wayne, one of the contributors to the documentary, spoke to Sky News ahead of its release.”I’m not going to sit here and say the cartels aren’t there. They are all there and they’ve been there from the ’90s,” said Wayne. But he said most people tried to ignore the organised crime going on around them. According to Wayne, clubbers usually took the approach of: “‘Give me 10 E’s . Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Hallucinating giant spiders Although he described the Balearic island as the “motherland”, it was eventually a bad experience with drugs that convinced Wayne it was time to leave Ibiza.
He’d been partying for days when he realised he’d taken too many drugs. A friend told him to drink cough medicine, dangerous advice that he now says could have killed him. “I saw the worst hallucination I’ve ever seen in all of my life. I ended up locking myself in the villa with all the shutters down. When he sobered up, he realised he had “come to the end” of his party life on the island. “I never looked back. I never took another drug. I got away from the club world.” ‘I don’t think you’re going to be able to stop it’ Despite his life-changing experience, he doesn’t think criminalising drugs is a good idea – or particularly effective. “If you’re old enough to vote for who’s going to be a world leader, if you’re old enough to put your name down on debt for 25 years, I feel like you should be old enough to govern what you put inside your own body, you know?” said Wayne.
Back to Nigeria, some illicit drugs worth over N30billion seized at Onne Port in Rivers State.
This blood chilling development forced the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency at the Onne Port, following what authorities described as repeated incidents of importation of dangerous cargo, including arms and ammunition through the said port. To this effect, the government said it was immediately implementing emergency protocols at Onne Port for the next three months by conducting thorough examinations of all suspected containers in the premises.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, in charge of the port via a press conference, said it henceforth, unveiled the seizures of illicit goods by the Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. In defence for his action, Adeniyi said the recurring incidents posed a threat to national security, adding that the health of citizens at the Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo, describing it as a disturbing trend.
The customs boss stated, “Earlier today, I joined numerous stakeholders to take a significant step towards the cause of trade facilitation through the inauguration of upgraded facilities provided by the West Africa Container Terminal, Onne. “As I express delight that trade facilitation is getting traction in Onne Port, I cannot help but call your attention to a grave concern. This has to do with the repeated incidents of national security breaches unfolding in Onne Port. I appreciate your presence, as we all have a shared responsibility in safeguarding our national security. As we are all aware, the policy thrust of Mr President supports the re-energising of our business environment to drive faster import clearance and grow our capacity for exports, Our emphasis has been to promote initiatives that speak to Trade facilitation and economic development. “It is a matter of regret that criminal elements in the international supply chain are exploiting our pro-trade stance to commit atrocities bordering on national security breaches”.
“The attempts to test our will through the importation of dangerous cargo through this port has necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in Onne Port, coming on the heels of a seizure of a huge cache of arms a couple of months ago. It is disheartening that perpetrators have not backed down on their illegal acts. Recent intelligence and seizures have revealed a disturbing trend; Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo. The scale and nature of these illegal importations pose a significant threat to our national security and the health of our citizens. Today, we are here to showcase yet another series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command. On display are twelve containers of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and meticulous physical examination. Seizures on Display include: Three (3) x 40-feet containers: Containing 562,600 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine and 3,150 pieces of chilly cutters, with a Paid Duty Value (DPV) of N4,716,573,846.
“Others are, three x 40-feet containers containing 380,000 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, 5,350,000 tablets of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, and other items, with a DPV of N17,432,506,000 were seized”.
According to the report, more seized items were, “Five (5) x 40-feet containers; Containing 892,400 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 1,300,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,250,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, and other items, with a DPV of N8, 128,568,295,90. This very action of the Nigeria Customs Service, further complicated the hope of how soon the fight against drug trafficking could be brought to a halt owing to its high profile nature.
Another hair-raising report of the illicit drug deal has it that when NDLEA bursted a Snake-Guarded Shrine Used For Storing Illicit Drugs sometime ago in Edo State. This very news report was published in The Tide Newspaper on June 24, 2024. According to the report, NDLEA said its operatives uncovered a shrine, guarded by a snake, being used for storing illicit drugs, during an operation in Edo State. The Agency in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, added that its operatives discovered a specially constructed large hole in a wall, hidden behind wallpapers and fetish objects used for drug storage. It further noted that methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado and Arizona, all strong strains of cannabis with a total weight of 8.743kg among others, were recovered from the shrine.
To be cont’d
King Onunwor
The persistent clash between farmers and herders in Nigeria has been a longstanding issue. These conflicts, often, over resources like land and water, have led to loss of lives, destruction of property, displacement of large numbers of people, deep-seated mistrust between communities and insecurity. Herders, traditionally nomadic, move their livestock in search of grazing land and water. Farmers, on the other hand, require the same resources for their crops. This competition often leads to clashes, especially in areas where land is becoming increasingly scarce due to population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation. As these clashes intensify, there has been a growing call for sustainable solutions. Two weeks ago, President Bola Tinubu took a bold step towards tackling the issue by inaugurating the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms and creating the Ministry of Livestock Development.
The committee which has the president as the chairman and the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega as the deputy chairman has the mandate to address obstacles to agricultural productivity and open up new opportunities which benefit farmers, herders, processors, and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain as well as propose recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers, ensuring the security and economic well-being of Nigerians.The establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development was part of the recommendations of the National Livestock Reforms Committee. Part of the 21 recommendations submitted to the president include: “This agenda should include the establishment and resuscitation of grazing reserves as suggested by many experts and well-meaning Nigerians and other methods of land utilisation.
“Create the Ministry of Livestock Resources in line with practice in many other West African countries. In the alternative, Federal and State Governments should expand the scope of existing Departments of Livestock Production to address the broader needs of the industry,” among others. Experts in the agricultural sector have posited that the livestock industry can create millions of jobs directly in farming, processing, and distribution, and indirectly in related sectors like feed production, veterinary services, and marketing. It provides livelihoods for rural populations, helping to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in rural areas. It also increases the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign exchange earnings through the exports of livestock and livestock products such as meat, dairy, wool and leather.
According to them, a well-funded livestock industry supports the growth of agro-processing sectors, such as meat packing, dairy processing, and leather manufacturing, adds value to raw products and creates additional economic activity as well as stimulates the development of supply chains, including logistics, packaging, and retail, contributing to broader economic growth. It enhances economic resilience by diversifying the agricultural sector and providing a buffer against crop failures or other agricultural shocks and many more. Some other agriculturists have also opined that the livestock industry in Nigeria is currently underdeveloped and that by the creation of the ministry of livestock development will open up the industry which will be a huge money spinner for Nigeria.
Reports have shown that a Livestock Ministry can play a pivotal role in mitigating conflicts between farmers and herders by implementing policies and programmes aimed at fostering coexistence and sustainable resource management. The Ministry can work towards clearly demarcating grazing routes and farming areas. This would reduce instances of trespassing and accidental crop destruction, a common flashpoint for conflict. While introducing rotational grazing systems can ensure that land is used sustainably, preventing overgrazing and land degradation, establishing water points and boreholes specifically for livestock can reduce competition for water resources. Similarly, promoting the development of pasturelands through reseeding and controlled burns can improve grazing conditions.
According to a veterinary doctor, Dr Andrew Obadiah, by providing training for herders on sustainable livestock practices and for farmers on conflict resolution, both parties can understand the importance of coexistence. He said that extension services of the ministry can offer advice on improving livestock health and productivity, reducing the need for large herds and extensive grazing. “Setting up local committees involving both farmers and herders to mediate disputes can provide a platform for dialogue and peaceful resolution. Encouraging community-based conflict early warning systems can help prevent clashes before they escalate”, he emphasised.For Mrs. Stella Ugwu, a farmer, having a ministry dedicated to the development of the livestock industry can help in diversifying income sources for both farmers and herders and in turn reduce dependence on land.
”For instance, promoting agro-pastoralism can provide farmers with livestock and herders with agricultural produce”, she explained, adding that providing incentives for adopting sustainable practices, such as subsidies for fodder production or crop insurance, can ease economic pressures. Ugwu was however of the opinion that the creation of a new ministry to handle livestock affairs was uncalled for, since the job can effectively be done by the Technical and Service Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and food security and its equivalent on the states level.In some countries, the establishment of a Livestock Ministry or similar bodies has shown promising results. For example, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture includes a dedicated department for livestock which has successfully implemented programmes to improve pastoral livelihoods and reduce conflicts.
In Kenya, the establishment of the National Drought Management Authority has helped manage resources better, thus reducing clashes between herders and farmers during dry seasons.The president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Othman Ngelzarma, sees the Ministry of Livestock Development achieving the same feat for Nigeria in the near future. He told newsmen that, “MACBAN expresses its deepest appreciation to the Federal Government for creating a ministry of livestock to unlock the trillion-naira livestock economy and create qualitative and productive jobs across the value chain to improve the Nigerian economy. With this development, MACBAN believes the hope of the Nigerian pastoralists is now achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, the Middle Belt Forum took a different view of the proposed Ministry of Livestock Development, saying it was not enough to sustainably resolve the decades-long farmers-herders crisis in the country. According to the National President of the association, Mr. Bitrus Pogu, what is needed to end the perennial farmers/herders clashes is a deliberate action by regulatory bodies and the government to stop criminal elements from carrying out deadly attacks on innocent Nigerians, mainly farmers. Hear him: “If the reason for creating the Ministry is to stop clashes, I think it is wrong because all of these attacks and killings that are happening have nothing to do with conflicts between farmers and herders. “Farmers have never connived at any given time to go and attack herders, but rather, criminals who happen to be Fulani gang up and attack farmers, kill, maim and chase them out of their ancestral homes.
“Then, the Fulani will come and occupy them. So, it is more about invasion, criminality, and terrorism. And the majority of those they hire to do these evils are not even those who have cattle. So, a deliberate action has to be taken by the government against the perpetrators, which will address the criminality.” Mr. Pogu suggested that the government should adopt ranching for productivity and enduring peace between the pastoralists and farmers in particular and the entire country in general.While the establishment of a Livestock Ministry presents a viable solution, it is not without challenges. Funding constraints, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and corruption can hamper its effectiveness. Additionally, deeply ingrained cultural practices and mistrust between farmers and herders can be difficult to overcome.
Critics argue that without a holistic approach that includes land reform, climate change adaptation, and broader economic development, a Livestock Ministry alone may not be sufficient. Therefore, it must work in tandem with other governmental and non-governmental bodies to ensure comprehensive solutions. “A dedicated Livestock Ministry, with its focus on sustainable resource management, conflict resolution, and economic incentives, offers a promising avenue to address the root causes of these clashes. However, its success depends on effective implementation, adequate funding, and the cooperation of all stakeholders involved. With the right strategies and commitment, devoid of any political or selfish interest, it can play a crucial role in fostering peace and prosperity in affected regions”, they advised.
Calista Ezeaku
