When I Become the President

 

Man does not live by bread alone



As a child who grew up in the village, I saw chickens cry to their chicks to take cover every time the kite shows up. It is the same way the tug boat is feared by farmers who called out to their farm partners to paddle close to the river bank to avoid sinking by the high waves of the tug boat.

The tug boat is designed specially to move and carry heavy duty oil company equipment and barges around the creeks of Niger Delta. These boats have tremendous engine capacity so powerful that they are used to help turn around large vessels in the harbor. On top speed, the tug boat can create waves of over four feet high and enough to instantly sink any canoe on its path.

Farmers returning from their farms and whose canoes were loaded to the brim with farm produce and firewood, are often the victims. When the time approaches 4:00 O’clock in the evening time, families and especially children, start gathering in the water front, waiting to welcome their parents from the farm and to assist them in off-loading their farm produce.

On one sad and unforgettable day, my mother, like most other women, set off in the morning to the farm to harvest her yam farm in readiness for the feasting and fishing festival just a few days away, and was paddling upstream back home with her boat loaded to the brim with firewood and yam. The practice usually is for farmers to paddle very close to the bank when returning from the farm, so that if the waves become too violent, they can berth and wait until the waves subsides. And they continue this way until they get right opposite their family quarters in the town before making a quick final dash across.

And on this day, as my mother makes this final dash and was approaching the middle to the river, the thunderous zoom of the tug boat covered the air and behold the boat was approaching on high speed, and as was customary with them, they will never slow down. And there was my mother, looking confused and scared. You can see women at the water from in the town raising their hands over their heads, while the young active men jumped into any available canoe, losing and trying to hurry to provide any form of help.

You can see the giant waves as the tug boat approached, and instantaneously without thinking, I dived into the river, as if trying to loose a canoe will be too much waste of time, and started swimming towards her. I have barely made three strokes when the humming boat sped past, and as if the boat swallowed my mother and her canoe, she disappeared with the waves into the river.

Stick in hand, one step to the right and then another frightened step backward; as if the first was a bad move, fumbling and groping with both hands and feet like a blind man without a helper. I woke up from a dream, in the dead of the night, in a room so dark I had to reach out with my hands to find the lantern. The lantern went off as there was no oil in it. I reached out to the window, exactly as it was in the dream. My eyes wide open, and sleep nowhere near my eyes.

So many things ran through my mind, I am really worried, more for my people than for myself. When will this oppression stop?  I stood by the window, looking out to the riverside and beyond the mangrove palms across the Nule River not too far away was the glow from somewhere not too far away.

I kept staring at what appears to be a horizon from flaring gas. I stood there holding back my tears from my eyes. How can I be so richly endowed, yet be so poor? Oil is called the black gold, and eyes shot away from the thatch hut grandfather left behind, which provide shelter for me and members of my family I could see the wicked exploit of our resources.

I will be graduating from the University with a Bachelor of Sciences in Mathematics. I planned to work in the oil sector. It won’t be too difficult to get a job there provided I come out with good grade, I wished.

Its 1:30 a.m., eyes still ajar, I have to read for at least two hours before dawn. Exams are at 9:00 a.m., and I have to try and catch some sleep before dawn as well. Where am I going to get oil to keep my lantern burning? It’s too late in the night to even find a candle to buy. I raised my head and the flame from the flare in the nearby oil field depresses me. I can’t even oil my lantern despite the abundance being flared to waste, not even to talk about providing electric power for the indigent communities.

 History has it that when the slave masters came to our land, our leaders gave out the strongest of our men and the most beautiful of our women in exchange for gun powder and mirror. That was then, but now our leaders trade oil for bride money, fat foreign accounts and visas for their families to sojourn abroad to experience the good life and dine in the same table with the slave masters. There has not been much change since the time of our great grandfather.

I hate travelling by boat. Four hours of rocking and splashing through the waves shivering from the cold breeze from the early morning dew. Sitting five in a row in a tightly packed wooden bench, that hurts your butt as though there is sore from the extreme long hours of sitting still.

I will be lucky to catch the first bus to Lagos. Thank God the buses don’t get filled up early in the Lagos Park. I will be staying with my uncle in Lagos during my service, and I will be hoping to secure a place in one of the oil companies. I heard that oil companies are a very closely nested environment where senior management staff secures every available vacant spaces for their wards and relations.

For five years now uncle Joe has been hoping that he would be converted to a staff having read geology with a 2, 1 from the university of Port Harcourt. The oil companies have their offices in Abuja and Lagos with operational bases in secluded communities and offshore. These companies are dominated by people outside the oil communities. Success comes painstakingly in a hostile environment.

They say indigenes often do not have the pre-requisite qualification and skills, but I know uncle Joe has. I have heard him say that it is difficult for him to be absorbed into full staff because there are very few junior level and a couple mid-level staff from the oil producing states in oil companies, most of which has little on influence and are often intimidated by the share number and more influential superiors who are from non-oil producing regions.

What is happening now is economic slavery. It is a case of government trading our resources in connivance with foreign trading partners, who would only invest in no other sector than the oil industry, and that is because of the substantial returns they make from the sector.

One day when I become the president of this country, all these issues would be addressed. For now, I just want my uncle to be given a respectable job so that he can earn a decent living. As for me, I have nobody to look up to for assistance in securing a place for me in my service year. But I am confident that if I am given a fair chance and allowed to compete with others, I certain that I will come out successful.

If wishes where horses, I would not have been in this abandoned oil producing community thinking about oil for my lantern, while gas is been flared across the river.

Why do I have to grope in the dark when electricity is on 24/7 on right across the river? Why do I have to travel for five hours by boat when oil companies in my community fly workers in by choppers? Why do I have to be unemployed because I do not have my tribe’s men in the oil companies? Why must I suffer from the effects of spill and yet not be considered a place to earn a decent living from oil production? Why are our leaders not recognizing that they are making the same mistake our fore-fathers made during the slave trade era? Why, why and why are the oil companies hostile to the people from whose land they benefit so much?

When I become the president, will seek answers to these and many other questions.

By March Oyinki

The 419 Scourge - Symptoms of a Failed Nation

We live in a society heavily burdened with notoriety -- advance fee fraud (419 – referring to a section of the criminal code relating to advance fee fraud), corruption, bad governance, human right abuse, child trafficking, drug trafficking, money laundering, cannibalism, female genital mutilation, armed robbery, ritual killings, religious riots, the list is endless. These negativities coupled with poor infrastructure, has deprived us of trust and respect from the international community.

The eradication of the enigma known as 419, which has eaten so deeply into the marrows of our society, and has caused us so much damage it requires more than just the efforts of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to win this battle. The entire society, the lawmakers, the judiciary, the higher institutions, and the church, everyone needs to be involved in this war against advance fee fraud. We are paying too much a price from their criminal activities. It’s time we turn that resources around to fight them.

Every society has its fair share of societal ills. There always bad and good going side by side. Those who are perpetuating evil, afflicting the innocent, the unsuspecting and frail members of society with grief for their parochial and selffish pursuit of power and riches, do live amongst us. Thieves they say, steal from only people they know.

When a person you have never met suddenly sends you a business proposal involving large amount of money, be wary nine out of ten will turn out to be fraud. They come pretending to be a helpers, and in the process, you end up helping them with all you have sadly sometimes, some people pay with their lives.

I have learnt never to trust strangers, and I am careful in my dealings with them. This indeed is my first rule of life – ‘A stranger is not your neighbour to be loved as thy self.’ Perpetrators of this crime, go about collecting information about their potential victims.

My personal experience:


It is said that it is the greedy and careless that often fall victim of 419. That to some extent is true, but, the perpetrators of this crime are highly skilled, and they use modern communication gadgets. It is sometimes so convincing you are forced to believe their lies. In my case, they went as far a re-routing a call through Taiwan, and the number displayed on my phone, showed that the call is actually coming from Taiwan. They even spoke with Taiwanese accent.

Some of those who are involved in advance fee fraud are very rich and highly respected people in society. They are also well connected, and have collaborators even in EFCC. That is why we need to fight this scourge with all we have, so that we can regain the trust of the international community, which will make life easy for everyone once again.

It all started with an email from someone who called himself Matthew Choung Lin, claiming to be a Rotarian from Taiwan. He said he got my name from the Rotary International Directory, and as a “fellow Rotarian” he prefers doing business with me.

He is the President of Export Solutions Inc. and is interested in buying garnet stones from a dealer in Nigeria. He has approached the Nigerian Embassy in Taiwan, and they gave him the contact information of a dealer in Abuja and helped with the initial contact to get him Mr. Lin a quote. But he prefers dealing with a ‘trust-worthy’ person such as myself, especially being that I am a Rotarian.

He then told me what he would want me to assist him with and gave me the contact name of the garnet dealer and his phone number. He wants me to
contact the dealer by the name of Emmanuel Okilo and to ascertain whether the products are available and to confirm the prices, which the Embassy in Taiwan helped to get. He offered paying all the expenses including phone and travel with additional 10% commission as their agent. Indeed, he said the board of his company have decided to appoint me as their representative if I offered to assist them with this purchase.

It looks acceptable to me at this point, so, I called up the Mr. Okilo, confirmed the product availability and actually got a price reduction and quickly pass the information to my ‘Fellow Rotarian’ and future business partner.

His reply was even more exciting, he offered to visit Nigeria in a week and make the purchase through me as their agent in Nigeria and Africa. All the legal papers will be signed when him and his team arrive Nigeria. After the signing, they will then release the money to me with which to purchase the garnet stones. To facilitate their travel, I should get from the dealer, International Exportation Code Number that they need to secure a visa. He requested for my contact information so that he can talk to me on phone, and I obliged.

Quickly again, I contact Mr. Okilo, who agreed to release the IECN, but said that it attracts a registration fee of $650 and my personal appearance in Abuja for sighting. But if business would not permit me to make the trip, I should send two passport photographs of myself through any of the night buses providing courier services. The money he said I can send through money transfer from a local Bank. At this point, he triggered my alertness.

Engineer Choung Lin kept calling to receive updates, and at one point, asked me if I am married and have children. I said yes and told him the number of children I have. He then offered to bring for my family some gifts when he arrives Nigeria. That evening, I sent him an email telling him what Mr. Okilo said, and asked what he would do?

He replied saying I should just get him the IECN if possible by that same evening, and reassured me that the company is willing to off-set all expenses on his arrival. But if I decide not to continue with this purchase, I should let him know so that he can ask his other contacts to assist with the purchase.

Now, I was expected to send the registration fee. Mr. Okilo, the garnet dealer, kept calling. At this point, I knew I had to do something to stop them. And that is exactly what I did. I sent an email to Mr. Matthew Choung Lin requesting that he send me his Rotary ID number, club registration number and meeting venue. I also told him I have commenced a background investigation on Mr. Emmanuel Okilo to ascertain the genuineness of his operations. After that email, as if there was a power cut, they seized communicating with me.

Intellectual Property Infringement in Nigeria

Intellectual property owners in Nigeria gathered at the National Theatre during a protest rally displaying placards. The practitioners made up of musicians, actors, writers etc. are embarking on what they described as hunger strike which they claim will continue until they get the attention of government.

The protesters are calling for the short-down of Alaba International market in Western Nigeria, which it is believed remains the single largest international piracy cartel in sub-Saharan Africa. As part of their protest, high powered delegation will be sent to the National Assembly in Abuja. They also announced a plan to ask all radio and television stations nation-wide to stand-down all music programs for twelve hours starting from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This action is too driving in the importance of music in our lives.

This is the first time ever that such a large gathering of intellectual property owners have come together to protest against copyright abuse.

These Nigerians deserve the support of every Nigerian and the authorities. I appeal to the National Assembly to receive their protest letter with open mind and work towards addressing the issues raised. I also believe the international intellectual property owners and producers should give their support to this new effort because it is for the protection of the interest of both local and international intellectual property rights.

It is imperative to consider the claim by intellectual property owners that this industry is bigger than the oil industry in terms of revenue generation. This makes the sector one to reckon with. This means that government stand to benefit if the industry is developed and the appropriate controls are put in place. Government can raise huge tax revenue from music, software, movies, books etc.

It is therefore pertinent to remind us that while we are protesting and craving for better controls and management of the industry, it should be made clear that we should be ready to pay taxes on these intellectual property materials as well as our personal tax returns. That is how government can directly benefit.

Rebranding Nigeria Project

Beddes and Grosset Webster define brand as trademark; a particular make or kind of goods. Therefore, branding is essentially about products; and a communications function of design, packaging and publicity.

The Nigeria rebranding project therefore is out of focus and faulty and requires urgent redefinition of the entire process. Rebranding in the context of the Nigeria experience should focus on our national identity, which in this instance are our products. Our national identity includes and not limited to our national anthem, flag, name of country, currency, crest and emblems, uniforms of our police and armed forces, our national colours etc.

It is after the completion of the rebranding process that publicity and public relations commences. It is during this process that image laundering, and to put more aptly, 'social re-engineering' can be introduced. As it is practiced now, we are simply putting the cart before the horse. We need to re-align the process with international best practices.

Popular opinion is against the 'Rebranding Nigeria' project as it is currently practiced. Though 'social re-engineering' should be an integral part of the rebranding project, it is believed that the process of governance should be seen to have purged itself of its bad past of corruption, lack of integrity and bad governance, which have been identified as the root cause of our slow development, youths restiveness, incessant strike actions and sectionalism in the body polity.

The Ministry of Information is currently expending tremendous time, resources and energy in driving the rebranding project. They mean well but their energy is directed at a totally wrong concept. With just a little process re-definition, I believe they will get it right.

Quelling Militancy in Post Amnesty Niger Delta

The success of the amnesty programme of President Musa Yar Adua is not in question any more. What is in question however, is the fear of skeptics of the sincerity of the federal government in delivering its post amnesty pledges. It is also true that government largesses are not keeping quiet about government good intentions for the people of the Niger Delta.

The recent federal government pronouncement that ten percent of oil derivation will be given to oil producing communities was received with a lot of excitement by people from the South South region and by followers of the Niger Delta crisis. Causing even more excitement is the federal government intent to include this ten percent derivation policy to oil producing communities in the Petroleum Industry Bill currently in the National Assembly.

All hail President Yar Adua. “PDP – progress for the people.’ For once in more than twelve years since the party came into existence, have they been seen to be doing the right thing. Good as it may look, there are questions about this federal government pronouncement of relinquishing to the oil producing communities a whopping ten percent of oil revenue. The question is, which community falls under the classification of 'oil producing?

I was just wondering how the oil companies under the GMoU arrangement are able to categorise communities in the Niger Delta as oil and non-oil producing communities. If a particular community is given a development grant based on the premise that an oil company operates in their home land, what happens to the many other communities which suffers from oil spills, destruction of farmlands, aquatic and marine lives, and pollution of their source of clean drinking water?

I can not understand the logic whereby you give money to community A as oil producing, whereas community X, Y,Z gets nothing and yet suffers from the effects of oil producing activities in its neighborhood. A situation such as this is bound to spell doom.  Obviously, the so called ‘oil producing’ communities will be happy, the oil companies will enjoy relative sporadic peace from beneficiary communities, but other non-oil producing communities suffering from the effects of oil production activities which are not beneficiaries of such grants from oil companies and the federal government will be agitated.

A larger proportion of the restive youths in the Niger Delta who are now fighting in the creeks are actually from the so called ‘non-oil producing communities. Both the oil companies and the federal government should know that there is a big price to pay if this issue of ten percent derivation to oil producing communities is not well managed.  The situation may degenerate into intra-communal clashes leading to a retraction of militants to the creeks.

The success or failure of the post amnesty programme largely depends on how the oil companies and indeed the federal government is able to structure the distribution of the ten percent derivation to oil producing communities. 

Nigeria Will Not Be 'Fool At 50'

Happy Independence Day! I celebrate with you as Nigeria clocks 49 years. We have a few things to be happy about and celebrate. Surely, we can celebrate one Nigeria. At least we can still say we are one 'indivisible' entity. I am not celebrating accomplishment, but us, because you and I are still one family. We have passed through thick and thin, and have had our differences and engaged in several battles. But today, 49 years after, we stand strong as one 'happy' family. Kudos! You deserve more and I believe in the coming years you will earn your deserved rewards.

There is a bright future ahead of us and there is great hope that together we can make it. Let us remain one family and relinquish religious bigotry, sectarianism and tribal divisions. It is only by so doing that we can take head-on the very many opulent challenges before us.

The need to redress our developmental concerns should be the focus as we strive to strengthen this luscious family of ours and tackle the poor power supply situation. Provide good medicare programmes and upgrade our medical facilities. Construct roads and build bridges. Produce enough food to feed our families. Introduce quality education for our sibling and effective transportation system. Provide clean drinkable water and conducive living environment, and most of all, free and fair electoral process that will promote equity and justice.

These goals are attainable and I indeed strongly believe so. But, we must be united in one purpose, to strengthen our resolve to make this great Nigeria family one truly indivisible one that every one of us will cherish and guide jealously. As we look ahead to the future, I wish you good health, wisdom and patience. You can always count on my support.

Finally, don't forget that we have common enemies, and we must support all efforts to eliminate them. Key amongst them are corruption, bad governance, electoral fraud, 419 scam, child abuse and human trafficking, and not forgetting armed robbery and assignations.

Again, wishing you God's blessing.

Happy Independence Day!

Missiles on Wheels

Sadly, only a couple of weeks ago, I lost a close family friend in a ghastly car crash along the Lekki - Epe expressway, involving a commercial vehicle,  whose driver, probable drunk and driving without head lamps, ran across the road to the other side of the road, causing a head-on collision with her official vehicle.

Every day, we see many commercial vehicles and tipper trucks, driving along the Lekki Expressway without head lamps at night.  I have seen a big truck drive on this road with two of its rear tires completely absent, and was rolling on bear reams. Believe it or not, the road safety officials are all over the place. Whether they themselves see these things or not is not left for me to say.

Another very dangerous practice by commercial bus drivers along the Lekki - Ajah axis, is that they disconnect the fuel tank of their vehicle and use a plastic container which they keep at the booth of the vehicle with a hose connected directly to the engine.  This same vehicle transport school children and workers and some lapping the other.  Obviously, this vehicle is a dynamite waiting to explode.

The rate of accidents on the Lekki - Epe expressway is worrisome. The authorities are completely overwhelmed and appear to be helpless while we loose our loved ones to car accidents on a daily basis. The lack of government presence in the Lekki Peninsula axis is very visible, and it time for government to increase it presence.

I am also calling on the traffic agencies to be more committed to their duties and take up the challenge of safe-guarding the lives of our loved ones and family members who ply this route and patronize these commercial vehicles daily.