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Cornered Like Rat …Sour End Of Gaddafi, The Despot
Perceived by loyalists as almighty and foes as invincible, even after he had been chased out of Tripoli, the seat of Libyan political power in the heat of that country’s, civil war, not many believed that one of the world’s most wanted men and for 42 long years, maximum ruler of Libya, Col Moammar Gaddafi could fall, the way he did; that he would be cornered like a frightened little rat in a stinking drainage pipe, full of rubbish and filth.
Prior to that, for more than two months, Gaddafi talked tough, threatened his assailants with mass murders and vowed to resist any real or apparent threat to his 42 year-old maximum rule which he started 1942 with the last drop of his blood and die, if need be, standing. A martyr. Instead, he was found in a drainage pipe, afraid for his life, the same life he denied many, through countless terror attacks, battle against descent with brute force and hateful religious cleansing. Even in that state of shame, many were not quick to believe that the strongman of Libya could fall so easily.
Infact, when news of Gaddafi’s death was brought to the attention of US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton in Washington, Thursday, last week, her first reaction was that of disbelief since similar rumours turned out to be hoax. Frankly, for most part of his last 20 of the 42 years in power, several attempts had been made on Gaddafi’s life without success.
For instance, agency reports recalled, soon after taking office as US President, Ronald Reagan ordered US warplanes to bomb Gaddafi’s compound, in retaliation for orchestrating the West Berlin Disco bombing of 1986, in which, two American servicemen were killed. But the Libyan strong man escaped unhurt.
Apparently, angered by that attempt, Gaddafi targeted Pan Am Flight 103, killing all 270 passengers on board and which painted the despot as champion of a rogue state. That singular conduct also put him on a collision course with the US which engineered far-reaching economic sanctions on the maximum ruler and his government, with minimal impact.
Feared and loathed by many, Gaddafi was for many years, what Osama bin Laden became in recent years. For years, he was branded as public enemy No One in the US, for, among other things, bankrolling terrorism and revolution around the world. A Newsweek cover story in 1981 even described him as “ the most dangerous man in the world”, while US President Reagan called him; the mad dog of the Middle East”.
Strangely, after the September 11 2001 terror attacks on the Twin Towers that once housed the World Trade Centre in New York City, in which nearly 3,000 people from various nations were killed, Gaddafi became one of the first Arab leaders to condemn the attacks and two years later also rennounced Libya’s readiness to pursue its weapons of mass destruction programme; assumed responsibility for the Pan Am bombing and offered to pay families of the Lockerbie mishap victims $2.7billion dollars in restitution.
Born 1942 in a Bedouin tent to illiterate parents in a Libya and into a country that was very poor, young Moammar showed promise as he became the first member of his family to attend secondary school.
Libyan historians recall, “he harboured outsized ambitions even as a teenager. Enamoured of Gen Gamel Abel Nasser’s rise to power in neighbouring Egypt, Gaddafi began conspiring with high school classmates to stage a similar revolution in Libya.
“In September 1969, Gaddafi led a small band of junior military officers in a bloodless coup, toppling Libya’s pro-western ruler, King Idris. It was an audacious move since, Gaddafi was a mere , army lieutenant, just 27 years old, recalls a Reuters feature.
At the beginning, young Gaddafi was popular among his people and enjoyed tremendous support. With no formal title, he, at various times, went by various self-adorning appendages, including, Supreme Guide and Brotherly Leader.
With that popularity, Gaddafi created a system of government known as Jamahirirya meaning, state of the masses, a system which sought to place government in the hands of local councils without a collective rule. But that was in the beginning.
Soon after, Gaddafi transformed Libya into a dictatorship which criminalised discent and created a network of informers that randomly engineered execution of opponents. His hunt for opponents who he called, “stray dogs” went beyond Libya into Europe and the US.
To secure his hold on to power, Gaddafi reasoned that he required economic power and so forced foreign oil companies operating in his country to pay to his regime a whooping 80 per cent of the revenue from Libya’s vast oil fields, a model that would be duplicated by other oil-producing states. An American Cable News Network (CNN), documentary on Gaddafi, said, funds accumulated in that process “ provided Gaddafi with the resources he needed to cause havoc around the world. Harbouring a deep resentment of the West, Gaddafi financed revolutionary movements in Africa, Asia and Europe-from the I.R.A in Northern Ireland to Islamic radicals in the Philippines. He supported Palestinian terrorism, including the Black September Movement blamed for the killing of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.”
Armed with such power, Gaddafi was feared abroad and worshipped at home. With that pedigree, it was unthinkable that anyone or group of people could venture organised protest against his maximum rule, not to talk of being killed by anyone in Libya.
But shortly before dawn prayers last Thursday, Gaddafi surrounded by a few dozen loyal body guards and accompanied by the head of his once dreaded army, Abu Bakr Younis Jabr, according to Agency reports, broke out of the two-month siege of Sirte, his hometown and attempted an escape to the west; but did not go far.
“NATO said its aircraft struck military vehicles belonging to the pro-Gaddafi forces near Sirte about 8.30am (06.30GMT) Thursday, but the alliance said it was unsure whether the strikes had killed Gaddafi or not.
Although the rest about how Gaddafi wept and begged those he once referred to as rats, not to shoot and how he was later disgraced and killed are all history, it still makes sense to those, to whom, the caution, “No Man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent,” makes no sense. Those are the living tyrants of our world.
The Gaddafi example is indeed a lesson to other despots and sit-tight rulers to whom human life means nothing. Gaddafi’s is surely a shameful path, same path, followed earlier by Iraqi strongman, Saddam Hussein, himself also cornered like a wounded rat in a dingy tunnel with appeals to negotiate his freedom, a luxury, he denied many. And there was the public enemy No.1 and terror Kingpin Osama bin Laden, who was killed in a US raid on his home in Pakistan and ending up without a grave.
More importantly, the air of freedom breezing through the Middle-East should, by now, be enough warning signal to other despots in Iran and Syria. It should also highlight the sad and unpredictable climax of evil power, which from all indices, has proven to be good only for leaders willing and ready at all times to do good.
Now also is the right time to urge the Libyan people particulary, the ruling class to unite in rebuilding a stronger, stable and democratic country where, human freedom will be guided jealously by the state. The ruling class must at all times eschew greed, avarice and selfishness in the allocation of resources, to avoid early resentment that often blossom into huge cracks in the art of governance.
My Agony is that Gaddafi was denied the punishment of facing trial for his crimes against humanity and went the easy way, he did.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
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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.