The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamo has disclosed that the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences, SPOMO Act, signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, last year, has really helped in combating sea piracy in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.
Jamoh made this known at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Admiralty Law Colloquium organised in Lagos by the Agency, in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS.
The colloquium had the theme, “Achieving Maritime Safety, Security and Shipping Development (TRIPOD S) through Enforcement of Legislations and the Implementation of the Deep Blue Project: The Role of the Judiciary and State Actors.”
Jamoh said the admiralty law conference, in its 10th edition this year, had achieved significant milestones in the continued effort to better maritime law administration in Nigeria. But the meeting was renamed this year to reflect current challenges and widen the scope of participation, he stated.
He further stated that, “The Admiralty Law Conference instituted by NIMASA has achieved important milestones in the pursuit of its target of continuously improving maritime law administration in Nigeria. I am happy to announce that the key recommendations captured in the communiqué of last year’s conference would be sent to the National Assembly for the necessary legislative actions expected to improve the SPOMO Act.
“We have made good progress in the implementation of the SPOMO Act. We have secured convictions at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt and Lagos, and more judgements are expected next month.
“These prosecutions and convictions have greatly helped to improve Nigeria’s image in the international community by producing a better appreciation of the country’s role and determination to end piracy and other maritime crimes in its territorial waters and the Gulf of Guinea.”
The NIMASA Director-General also spoke on the adjustment in the name of the maritime law sessions, saying it is prompted by the need to bring on board a wider range of stakeholders, including Supreme Court justices.
“From next year, Supreme Court justices and more lawyers would be included in the continuous attempt to fine tune the processes and procedures of justice administration in maritime issues,” Jamoh stated.
Meanwhile, the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has lauded NIMASA as a key organ of economic development, saying the admiralty law conferences introduced by the Agency are helping to streamline application of the antipiracy law.
She said NIMASA was “a vital organ in the economic development of Nigeria.” She said the maritime sector was indispensable, and being global in nature, “Informed knowledge of the law in the global environment” was necessary in efforts to advance the sector. What touches this sector should be treated with great care,” Dongban-Mensem stated.
Embattled Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami says there is a plot to ridicule him by those he has identified as detractors.
The Minister’s troubles started when his relationship and support for deadly Terrorists, including Al Qaeda and Taliban were made public.
A fiery Islamic scholar Scholar and Preacher, Pantami, a few years ago, was in support of terrorism activities carried out by fanatic Moslims, including the World Trade Centre tragedy which killed over 3,000 people in one fell swoop. Applauding Al Qaeda Leader, Osama Bin Laden for the feat, he said the late Terrorist was a better Muslim than him, Pantami. He also acknowledged his joy and happiness whenever “infidels are killed”.
Outraged, not a few Nigerians called for either his resignation or sack from President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet, saying that it amounted to an a crime against the State to keep him in office, and to trust him with a sensitive office which is dealing with the identity of every Nigerian.
Put under pressure, the Minister apologised for his previous extreme views, saying he was young and immature at the, and no longer held such views.
He, also, disclosed that he was not a terrorist, and does not hate Christians. “My driver is a Christian”, he said.
However, an Islamic Rights Group, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has come to Patami’s defence, alleging a plot by detractors to destabilize him, and soil his name.
The Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintoye, urged Pantami to ignore calls by some Nigerians that he should resign following his alleged links to global Islamists terrorist groups like Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
MURIC, in a statement issued by its Director General, Professor Akintola, described the campaign for Pantami to step down as politically motivated, and urged him not to succumb to blackmail.
Hinging its position on the fact that Pantami has renounced the statements he made before he was made Minister, MURIC said that just as everyone has a past, Pantami should not be judged based on his past.
Prof. Ishaq Akintola
The statement by MURIC reads:
“A section of the Nigerian press published reports of calls being made by some people for the resignation of Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami over the fake news that the US had placed him on its watchlist.
“The second allegation was that the minister had made certain radical pronouncements in the past.
“It is a baseless call and it should be ignored. Afterall, the US itself has denied it. Dr. Pantami has been enjoying unhindered multiple entry to the US for a very long time.
“Even Facebook, the US based social media giant had Pantami’s picture on Facebook’s digital board for several hours as a mark of honor and respect during one of his numerous visits to that country.
“The campaign of calumny is being pushed by forces against the Federal Government’s NIN policy, Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, criminals in general and political IDPs (Internally Displaced Politicians). No one who has the love of Nigeria at heart will support such a malicious and frivolous allegation.
“It is a well-known fact that NIN is designed to expose the true identity of criminals like Yahoo Yahoo boys, bandits and kidnappers who use the internet and telephone to extort money from foreigners and families of kidnapped victims.
“They live a life of Mr. Jekyll and Hyde, respected gentlemen in the day but dangerous criminals at night and on lonely alleys.
“They have become jittery ever since the NIN policy was introduced by Pantami’s Ministry of Communications and Digital Policy.
“They are among those who stand to benefit from Pantami’s resignation. As for the political IDPs, their motive is to ensure that no project initiated by the current administration succeeds.
“The implications of Pantami’s resignation at this crucial stage are too gloomy to contemplate. It is a national security issue.
“The NIN scheme, our hope for dealing a technical blow on terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping and all sorts of criminality in the country will suffer suffocating palpitations.
“There will be a break in monitoring. It is better for us to allow the man who started it to finish it. If any problem arises after we have changed hands in the middle of its implementation, the new boss will easily shift the blame. It will then be a double tragedy. Let the beginner be the finisher. #beginnermustbefinisher
“In the interest of our great country, Nigeria, we therefore charge Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami to ignore calls for his resignation. An agitation for resignation which is not based on sincerity and truth must be resisted by patriots.
“This campaign for the minister’s resignation is in bad taste. It is pregnant with ulterior motives. Pantami must not surrender. He must not succumb to cheap blackmail. A captain does not abandon ship in stormy waters. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.
“On the issue of statements credited to Pantami in his younger days, we wonder how detractors would give preference to pronouncements made by a teenager and those made in the days of students’ unionism to those made after maturity and clairvoyance. It is sheer mischief to seek to use that against him.
“If they have evidence of speeches delivered 35 years ago when Pantami was a teenager, we have indubitable proof of more recent anti-terrorism speeches, particularly his public debates with the late Boko Haram leader Muhammad Yusuf where the minister made mincemeat of the arguments of Muhammad Yusuf.
“But our strongest evidence is the threat made by Shekau, the current leader of Boko Haram, to kill Pantami.
“Again, come to think of it. It was not as if the minister committed any official misconduct. Neither is it for abuse of office nor for corrupt enrichment. Some people just want to crucify him for daring to acquire infotech skills ostensibly reserved for a certain circle of elites.
“They believe that this is a field jealously reserved and guarded for the Western literati and their Nigerian cronies. Not an area for a mallam. It is just too petty the way some Nigerians think and behave. This is another big raison d’etre for the Shaykh to sit tight, continue and complete his good work, all to the chagrin of mean detractors.
“Pantami could have resigned the moment his life was threatened by the Boko Haram leader in February 2021. But he continued to wheather the storm because he was determined to finish the NIN scheme which he initiated. He knows that his intiative is crucial to the defeat of insurgency and terrorism. The terrorists also know it and that was the cassu belli for the threat on Pantami’s life. They wanted him to stop the NIN scheme.
“A man who puts his life on the line for the sake of his country deserves the support of every right thinking Nigerian. It is therefore ironical that the same man is being asked to resign. This is definitely a gangup by rebellious subjects and enemies of the people. They do not mean well for Nigeria.
“We call on every Nigerian who still has some modicum of our values and norms: hardwork, truthfulness, transparency and accountability to stand in solidarity with the honourable minister.
“We must not collectively hand over one of the few symbols of our pride to people who believe in easy money, people who see fraud as a necessity of life, people who believe in making their own wealth by causing hardship, pain and agony for others. It will mean the triumph of evil. We must not allow this to happen. Auudhubillahi. Allah forbid”, the statement reads.
Lawyers in Ondo and Ekiti States have lent their voices to the clamour for autonomy for the judiciary.
Lawyers in Ondo State on Monday took to the streets in a peaceful protest to back the strike embarked upon by judicial workers since two weeks ago.
“Please, save the Judiciary from sinking. The time for emancipation is now” “NBA says no Executive control of Judiciary.Aketi Obey section 121(3) of the Constitution” “NBA believes in judicial autonomy” and “Save judiciary from drowning,” are some of the inscriptions on the various placards mounted by the protesting lawyers.
Chairman of Akure branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA), Mr Rotimi Olorunfemi, Ondo branch,Thompson Akinyemi and Okitipupa, Chief Orimisan Okorisa said Governors should stop blocking the much anticipated judicial autonomy.
According to them, a situation where the Judiciary goes to Governors for fund each time is not acceptable to lawyers in the state.
They later submitted a letter at the Governor’s office, which contained their demands.
Part of the letter states that “JUSUN’s demand, which the NBA unequivocally supports, is not alien to our system of governance, because federalism comes alive through active implementation of the doctrine of separation of powers.
”It is particularly reprehensible that despite all the interventions of relevant stakeholders towards enforcing constitutional provisions, this state has continued in the undemocratic practice of micromanaging the funds due to the Judiciary with gross impunity, and in breach of oath of office which requires that you uphold the dictates of the Constitution.”
In Ekiti state, the lawyers paid a courtesy call on Governor Kayode Fayemi, during which they tabled their demands.
The three branches of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA in Ekiti State which include Ado, Ikere and Ikole called on the Governor to accede to the demands of the judicial workers over the implementation of financial autonomy for the Judicial sector.
Chairmen Ado Ekiti branch, Barrister Adeyemi Adewumi, chairman Ikole branch Barrister Albert Adeyemi and his counterpart from Ikere Barrister Kikelomo Owolabi disclosed that the request of the Judicial workers for financial autonomy was a constitutional provision which could not be negotiated.
They affirmed that granting financial autonomy to the Judiciary would enable the court function effectively urging government to act on the request so as to enable the Judicial sector bounce back to life.
In an undignified manner, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club of England has sacked Jose Mourinho as Coach of the team. This followed an unimpressive 2-2 draw at Goodison Park on Friday against Everton Football Club.
The North London Club sits Seventh position on the log of the Barclays English Premier League Table. With that, any hope of playing in Europe next seems impossible.
Tottenham Hotspur Chairman, Daniel Levy, unexpectedly, and sensationally announced the sack of the Portuguese born tactician.
Former Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason and the ex-Charlton and Huddersfield boss Chris Powell have been placed in temporary charge.
Mourinho was appointed Tottenham Manager in November 2019, a day after the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino.
He guided them to sixth place in the table by the end of the campaign, but not many people were impressed by his style of football, and so, he is, mostly, unappreciated by fans.
Tottenham has struggled in the Premier League this season, and exited the Europa League at the last-16 stage after a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Dinamo Zagreb Football Club of Croatia, in an embarrassing manner.
The sack of Mourinho by Tottenham now makes it the third Club in England to have parted ways with him.
On two occasions, he was sacked by Chelsea Football Club, and also got sacked by the Red Devils of Manchester United Football Club, before joining Tottenham Hotspur, where he has also been shown the exit door.
Tottenham are gearing up to take on Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final next weekend as they search for their first trophy in 13 years.
Julian Nagelsmann is the bookmakers’ favourite to replace Mourinho at White Hart Lane. But the RB Leipzig coach is also Bayern Munich’s No.1 target to replace Hansi Flick if he leaves the Allianz Arena this summer.
Hours after the Police gave him 48 hours to return Government vehicles which he took away at the end of his tenure, former deputy governor of Ondo State, Mr Agboola Ajayi, has finally agreed to immediately return them. Before the ultimatum, Ajayi had refused to return the government vehicles in his custody, two months after leaving office.
Ajayi and some political appointees of the present administration had engaged in argument over the legality of holding on to the vehicles after expiration of his tenure. But the number of vehicles he claims he has with him, differs from what the Government claims. While he said two, the Government claims four.
Even then, the former Deputy Governor had insisted he is constitutionally entitled to the two vehicles but government insisted there is no provision under the law for ex-governors and their deputies in the state.
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogo, and an aide to the Governor, Seun Odebowale had called on the state police command to retrieve the vehicles through any means.
In a statement personally signed by the former Deputy Governor titlted “Much Ado About Nothing: The Ondo State Government Must Get Their House In Order,” he expressed his readiness to return the vehicles.
The statement reads, “Recall that in my farewell message to the good people of Ondo State, on 24th February,2021, I wished Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN and his Deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa success in their administration.
“I stand by that; as a citizen of the state, it is in my interest and in the interest of all of us that this current administration demonstrates good governance, transparent policy making and effective change.
“Unfortunately members of the inner circle of the Governor have decided to prioritise their time to harass me on a number of issues, most especially with regards to the return of vehicles.
“I had hoped these petty interactions would have ceased after the recent inauguration.
“To be clear – if the return of these two vehicles will make the administration focus more on the avalanche of pressing needs, challenges and predicaments facing the state most especially insecurity, the absence of governance and unpaid salaries across the entirety the Ondo public sector, then I’m ready to make the sacrifice and return the two vehicles which they so desperately need.
“I am not the problem of the present administration.
I have moved on.
Once again, I wish Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN and his Deputy Lucky Ayedatiwa Success in their administration.”
Renowned Journalist and administrator, Senator Chris Anyanwu, has emerged the pioneer President of Nzuko Umunna. The association is a leading think-tank of foremost Igbo Technocrats and Professionals.
Announcing the new Executive Council, Political Economist and Chairman of the Nzuko Umunna Board of Trustees, Prof. Pat Utomi said: “I am pleased today to flag off the formal path forward from four years of impactful service to the Igbo nation at home and abroad by the Nzuko Umunna foundation, especially through this platform, to a new level of greater impact, with an Executive Council selected by the trustees to administer Nzuko Umunna affairs for the next four years when formal elections by eligible members will decide their replacement.”
In a statement titled “The light finds formal torchbearers,” Prof. Utomi noted that “A candle loses nothing, it is said, when it lights another candle. I am full of trust, therefore, that the eminent members of this Executive Council will give generously of their service in knowledge and wisdom and love for God’s purpose for the Igbo person, that all may thrive wherever they are located and live in peace with fairness, justice and equity, as defining marks of their environment.”
Utomi observed that the new leadership “sets the pace and tone of where NU and the Igbo nation is going by breaking new ground in both diversity and inclusion,” adding that the team “features accomplished entrepreneurs, social enterprise and civil society champions, outstanding academics, media experts and technocrats.
“Finally, I want to salute the dedication, tenacity and goal mindedness of Ngozi Odumuko and his team of young people who birthed Nzuko Umunna in response to the desperate needs of our people for direction.”
In her acceptance speech, Senator Anyanwu thanked Prof. Utomi and the Board of Trustees “for assembling such an amazing mix of young, tough and bright Igbo with men and women of experience and capacity in the new Council,” noting that “The task to be undertaken is not going to be easy but with the team members bristling with patriotism, I am sure that passion and that ‘can do’ spirit will propel us to new frontiers and higher goal achievement.”
She noted that the times “are unusual, hard, even scary, at times,” adding that “Our highest mission is to bring out the best in our people and to build synergies across economic and social classes, interest groups, and political divides that will enable the best deployment of our very fertile pool of ideas.”
Concluding, the respected lawmaker said: “I have no doubt that the team will give of its best. But let me emphasize that it will require the maximum cooperation of Nzuko Umunna people to succeed. I hope we can count on this.”
In his remarks, Odumuko, the Founding Coordinator of the think-tank, said: “I am full of joy for seeing through a successful handover to a great Executive Council under Senator Chris Anyanwu as the President. Ndigbo have shown the light, for a great woman to be leading a very strong global Igbo organization comprising men and women. It is heartening that Nzuko Umunna in the last four years has implemented great interventions including the Handshake Across the Niger Conference, Never Again Conference, Igbodum Database project, and the South East Economic Development Integration project, to name a few.”
Other members of the Executive Council include Prof. Chika Moore, Vice President; Mr. Ngozi Odumuko, Executive Secretary, and Dr. Uju Agomoh, Deputy Executive Secretary. The Ex Officio members are Dr. Austin Nweze, Chief Patrick Chidolue, Prof. Emeka Ezeonu, Mr. Obioma Okoye, Mr. Paschal Mbanefo, and Mr. Gregory Muonyililo.
For the third time within a couple of months, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, have met.
The two politicians met Sunday in Abuja during the dedication ceremony of Okorocha’s grandson, in Abuja. His grandson is the son of his daughter, Uloma, and her husband, Uche Nwosu. Wike was their guest.
Until recently, not many people knew of the close relationship between Wike and Okorocha, now the Senator representing Imo West at the Senate. But Wike explained that the relationship between the two of them goes beyond politics. He says he has known Okorocha since he, Wike, was a Local Government Chairman.
But speculations are rife over the political relationship between the two of them. It first started when Okorocha, on Wike’s invitation, went to commission a road in Rivers State. At the Commissioning ceremony, Okorocha had hinted at a political work-relationship between him and Wike while saying there were bad people in both his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. He said the country needed to move forward, and asked the audience to imagine how progressive Nigeria would be if two of them were to be in same party.
Okorocha has fallen out with his party in his State, and there is no love lost between him and the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma.
It is not known if Okorocha would form another party, but he is reportedly, the founder and financier of the Action Alliance, AA, the party under which his son-in-law, Nwosu, unsuccessfully contested for the Imo Governorship seat, after the APC denied him the ticket in favour of Uzodinma.
It is not known if Okorocha reinvalidated his membership of the APC or not during the recent exercise, but there is a strong speculation that he is planning to defect to Wike’s party, the PDP.
But Wike told Reporters in Abuja that he and Okorocha go a long way. He said:
“I have known him (Okorocha) since 1999 when I was a Local Government Chairman so, there is nothing political about it. I don’t abandon people because of politics. It is in my character to always keep my friendship with people. It is not based on party or politics.”
Unconfirmed reports say Governor Wike was one of those who took Okorocha on bail during his recent 48-hour stint in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The storm over the damning allegation made by the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki that the Federal Government printed the sum of N60 billion to breach the shortfall in the March Federal Allocation is far from over.
Obaseki ruffled not a few feathers when he revealed while addressing the State’s Transition Committee Stakeholders when he raised an alarm over the economy of the country, disclosing that to be able to give States the March Federal Allocation, the CBN had to print money to the tune of N60 billion to breach the difference.
He said: ” Everywhere else Governments rely on the people to produce taxes, and that is what they use to run the Local Government, States and the Federation.
“But with the way we run Nigeria, the country can go to sleep. At the end of the month, we just go to Abuja, collect money, and we come back to spend. We are in trouble, huge financial trouble”
But the Federal Government denied the allegation, insisting that no such thing happened. Commenting on that, the Minister for Finance, Budget and Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmad, dismissed Obaseki’s allegation as sad, and a lie.
She said: “What we distribute at FAAC is revenue that is generated, and in fact, the distribution of the revenue is public information. We publish revenue generated by FIRS, the Customs and the NNPC, and we distribute at FAAC. So it is not true to say we printed money to distribute at FAAC. It is not true.”
Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State
But Obaseki stuck to his allegation, saying Nigeria has become an ostrich, prompting the CBN Governor, Emefiele, to say there was nothing wrong in the CBN printing money since it was their business to do so.”
Not a few Nigerians, were alarmed, saying that Nigeria was gradually going the Zimbabwean way, and asked for the sack of Minister Ahmed. And so did the PDD which, also, prompted the APC to accuse PDP of bad faith, insisting there was no big deal in PDP’s allegations and alarm.
However, the PDP Governors’ Forum has backed Obaseki, decrying the attack against him, saying he only advised the FG as a patriot.
In a statement signed by the Forum’s Director General, CID Maduabum, the Forum said it was alarmed by the partisan slant Obaseki’s advice has taken.
Following the full text of the Forum’s statement titled;
Governor Obaseki Merely Offered A Patriotic Advise
“The PDP Governors Forum is alarmed at the partisan slant a patriotic advise to the Federal Government by His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki , on its monetary policies has assumed.
“2 It is unhelpful for the Progressive Governors Forum to join the fray in the manner it did by its recent statement attacking the bona fides of Governor Obaseki who merely warned the monetary authorities about the danger of uncontrolled use of Ways and Means, that is, the printing of Naira, to support government’s expenditure.
“3. Governor Obaseki has a background in economics and finance and is a very responsible Governor who talks in a measured way . His advise, which by the way has been corroborated by none other than the Governor of the CBN himself, and the international ratings agency FITCH , should be heeded rather than being crucified for sounding a note of caution.
“4. No doubt the Federal government has been supporting the States in the area of agriculture, budget, refund of Federal Government executed projects by States and a few other areas of intervention. Is CBN trying to be vindictive and vengeful by recalling its loans to the States because of an informed advise by a Governor?. It is unfortunate that governance has plummeted to this level.
“5. The Federal government should plug financial leakages in the system and curb wasteful expenditure of billions of Naira on projects that can be executed by the private sector and save a lot of money in the process, thereby relying less on Ways and Means by the CBN , which brings pressure on the Naira with its inflationary consequences. Inflation in Nigeria is currently at 18.2 % , the highest in recent years. We should all be concerned to find ways of steming the tide.
“6. We are all involved in the urgent task of rescuing the economy of Nigeria and nobody should indeed play the OSTRICH.”
On Sunday, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, joined the fray. He backed Obaseki.
Speaking to Reporters in Abuja, he said: “Obaseki was in APC, so he understands them. So, Obaseki couldn’t have come from the blues to say they printed N60 billion. He knows them.”
If you are looking for why a number of Nigerians think it is not possible for the Igbo to work together, look no further. It is not in the hilarious caricature photographs and cartoons being shared to ridicule the hastily established Ebube Agu, by the dilly-dallying, South-east Governors. No. It is in the statement issued by a Group which goes by the name Imo Elites, in response to the appointment of Professor Nnenna Oti as the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. FUTO.
If you are looking for why they say the Igbo take the cake when it comes to petition writing to run down one another, the answer is in that statement released by the Imo Eltes
I don’t know about you, but I had neither heard the name, nor read about this Group, well, until Thursday, April 15, 2021. Perhaps, I never took notice. As you know, Nigerians like forming Associations. Like acquiring Chieftaincy titles, forming one association or the other is in our DNA. It remains to form the “Association of the Dead.”
I don’t know if it truly does exist, or if the name was coined and adopted by a couple of people for the battle the group imagines is ahead over the VCship of FUTO. But it announced itself in an obscene style.
Its language was crude. Its intention, mischievous. The contents of what it was saying, bitter. As a teaser, the Association warns that its members would march on the Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission, NUC. We wait with bated breath.
Here’s why the group descended on us with its foul language and threat.
On Tuesday, April 13, FUTO’s Governing Council announced the appointment of Professor Nnenna Oti as the new Vice Chancellor of the University. She is to succeed the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Francis Eze, as from June, 2021.
FUTO, established in 1980, is the oldest University of Technology in Nigeria. In its 41 years of existence, it has never had a female as its Vice Chancellor. It has been the exclusive of men.
But on April 13, Professor Oti broke the jinx. And she did it in style. She beat a field, well-studded with brilliant male Professors to clinch the high profile job.
Applicants were 29. The number was reduced to seven for the final interview and selection. At the end, Prof Oti came tops.
Announcing the result at a Press conference, Chairman of FUTO’s Governing Council, Professor John Offem, said Professor Oti scored a total of 75,5 per cent marks to beat Professor Ikechukwu Dozie to the second place. Dozie scored 69.7 per cent.
For the records, I do not know Professor Oti. But her appointment as the next Vice Chancellor of FUTO excites me to the moon and back. And it is not because she is a woman.
Her whole package excites me. She merited her appointment. She deserved it. When I looked her name up on Goggle, I was like: this is it. Rich. Solid. The Professor is a combination of brain, beauty, and brawn.
Professor Nnenna Oti, FUTO VC.
Having no brain for sciences, I admire any, every science-inclined woman no end. I was not the only one excited by her appointment.
Many of those I spoke to in Owerri, especially within the FUTO community, were happy. They attested to her brilliance, her eyes for details, her diligence to duty, and her unobtrusive carriage.
I was, therefore, taken aback when, on Thursday, April 14, a statement by this Group, Imo Elites, surfaced on WhatsApp platforms.
Signed by one Ken Uwandu J, the intention was to rubbish Prof. Oti, and the process which threw her up.
The statement had quite a few things to say, and had some choice words to describe the Chairman and members of the University’s Council.
Uwandu and his group called them wicked, and the process which produced Professor Oti evil and corrupt. If Uwandu, the character who signed the infamous statement is not fake, he should, please, be man enough, and stand up for recognition.
The group, and its statement, did not stop at trying to rubbish the process, it also descended on Oti. In the process, they exposed their ignorance, and zero knowledge of who Oti is. She was called unfit, unqualified, not exposed academically, not brilliant, had not presented any academic or seminar papers, had written for no academic journal, has had no experience in administration, and more.
But here is a brief on the person Imo.elites called unfit, not brilliant, and incompetent.
Professor Oti holds a First Class Honours degree, (Agriculture), in Soil Science, from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN; a Masters in Soil Science (Soil Biology and Biochemistry option), UNN. She did her Postgraduate Diploma in Irrigation Engineering at the Katholic University Leuven, Belgium, and came out in style. She made a Distinction. She then got her PhD in Soil and Environmental Conservation from FUTO.
So, you ask: how can anybody who came out in a First Class from no less a University than UNN be described as not brilliant? How can a woman who made a Distinction in her post- Graduate course be dull and unfit? How can anybody who got her PhD from FUTO, a high rated University, be an academic push-over? None of the Universities she attended is a “kwe-kwe” University.
But the degrees and academic brilliance are not the only things that make her tick. What makes Professor Oti tick is what she has done with those degrees, what she has done with her brilliance.
A brief.
A Professor of Soil Science and Environmental Conservation, Nnenna Oti was a three- time Head of Department of Soil Science and Technology in the School of Agricultural and Agriculture Technology (SAAT). She is also the immediate past Chairman of the Gender Policy Unit. And she has relevant experiences to boot.
To her name are about 34 years in academics, research, teaching and administration in the Nigeria University system, and a large dose of exposure internationally.
Her work experience includes consulting for the Government and the Private Sector, ranging from TETFund, Anambra Imo River Basin Development Authority, National Biotechnology Development Agency and more. And, yet, this group says she has no experience.
The group, also, ignorantly said she had no academic papers to her name. How can anybody be a Professor, without writing academic papers. But here’s how much she has done in that area.
Prof Oti has written over 65 Academic papers, 40 Seminar and Workshop Papers. She has edited a handbook, delivered 50 public lectures, and had written over 10 Technical Reports for the Federal Government. Until her appointment as FUTO Vice Chancellor, she was the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics.
The question mark on her abilities by the Imo Elite reminds one of Arunma Otteh, former Director General of the Security and Exchange Commission, SEC.
On invitation to the House of Representatives by the House Committee on Capital Market, its Chairman, Hon. Herman Hembe, dared to question Otteh’s qualification for the office of the DG of SEC. Otteh felt insulted. And by the time Otteh finished with Hembe, and reeled out her qualifications, Hembe, literally, forgot his name.
Now, see where Otteh is, and see where Hembe is.
While Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was Nigeria’s Finance Minister and Coordinator of the Economy, Adams Oshiomhole, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, called her incompetent. Now, see where Okonjo-Iweala is, and see where Oshiomhole is.
These accomplished women are even lucky. Nobody has called them “bottom-power” – meaning that they slept their way to the top. That is the burden many accomplished women carry in Nigeria.
In the case of Professor Nnenna Oti, they have also not alleged bottom power. But they are alleging corruption. They are alleging man-know-man. They are wrapping her appointment around their destructive politics, their politics of bitterness. They are alleging favouritism for her – on the part of the Minister for State, Education. And they are alleging hatred, by Governor Hope Uzodinma for Mbaise people, because a couple of those who contested against her are from Mbaise.
Their grouse, they wrote, is that Minister Nwajiuba and Governor Uzodinma, both Imo sons, deliberately denied Imo sons of the Vice Chancellorship of FUTO in favour of an Ebonyi indigene – Professor Oti.
For Uzodinma, they say his hatred for Mbaise people, made him work against two Mbaise candidates for the post. For Nwajiuba, they said he simply preferred Oti to Imo candidates. But I gather differently.
Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha, an activist, blunt in capital letters, while congratulating Oti, mocked Minister Nwajiuba, and said he, Iwuoha, was happy Nwajiuba’s candidate did not make it. For Uzodinma, you begin to wonder what his interest is in a Federal University. He is not the visitor. FUTO is not Imo State University. They say he hates Mbaise people. Why? That is a political statement. Hate is a strong word.
Questions then: Is there any reason Uzodinma and Nwajiuba, both Imo sons, will not want an Imo son to be FUTO’s Vice Chancellor?
Why would Uzodinma hate Mbaise people? Does he not have friends and political associates from Mbaise? Does he not have aides from Mbaise? Are there no Mbaise people in the APC? Reading politics into everything is deliberate mischief. Every Professor who got to the final round is solid, sound and capable. But it had to go to one person – the best of the egg heads.
What has, sadly, happened to us is that we have allowed politics, ethnicity and religion to rule our everyday lives, to affect our reasoning, our thinking. We have murdered competence, efficiency, effectiveness, on the alter of politics, religion, ethnicity.
In the instant case, the grouse against Oti is that she is not from Imo State; that she is from Ebonyi State. So, how can an Ebonyi indigene, they ask, be the Vice Chancellor of a University in Imo? And, this is a Federal University. Has it occurred to this Group that the FG is not bound to appoint somebody from the South-east FUTO’s VC?
But here is the irony.
The South-east say their Zone is marginalised. Sons and daughters of the Rising Sun, a good number of their people are fighting for freedom from Nigeria over marginalisation. It is a Zone which, rightly, shouts and fights discrimination. Yet, they discriminate against themselves – all the time.
It was why Senator Theodore Orji, at a point, sent Imo State indigenes in Abia State Civil Service packing when he was Governor. I cannot confirm, but I understand it is one of the reasons those against the confirmation of the Honourable Justice Ijeoma Agugua, as the substantive Chief Judge of Imo State, are adducing. Married to an Imo man, with children, now a grandmother, they insist she is from Anambra, and so, should be denied the position.
During the Presidential election in 2019, a good number of high profile Politicians of Igbo origin worked against the Abubakar Atiku/Peter Obi ticket out of prettiness. One of them, who wanted to be in Obi’s place, reportedly asked Atiku to pick a running mate from the South-west instead of Obi.
But back to Professor Nnenna Oti. She should stay focused. And, if this Uwandu guy who signed the petition, and made all kinds of allegations against her is not faceless, I encourage her to sue him for whatever he’s got. I also encourage Professoe Offem and his Council members to do the same.
Let Uwandu and his group publicly prove their allegations. What kind of “bad belle” is this? Where is the Igbo unity? Whatever happened to the much touted Biafran spirit? God forbid.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has been in the eye of the storm in the last few days.
The major allegation against him was that he canvassed in recent past seismic views in support of his Islamic sect, said to be an extremist Salafist group and shared opinions on pulpits which suggested that he had affinity with and, indeed, insurgency running in his blood. These, the allegation further claimed, were manifest in the extremist views Pantami held and the blatant hatred he had for people of other religions.
Pantami has, however, been struggling to disclaim the allegations. To buttress his declamation of the allegations, the Minister has been fighting frenetically to defend himself.
For instance, though he admitted that he had been an Islamic preacher since age 13, he claimed that, in the last two decades, he had been invited and travelled to countries like Niger Republic, Katsina, Borno, and Gombe, among other Northern States and his preaching was a singeing denouncement of Boko Haram’s ideology and Islamic fundamentalism.
Unfortunately, however, video evidence against him, especially as made available on YouTube and by the People’s Gazette, suggested contrarily.
Pantami, in the videos being shared, was seen fraternizing with the destructive views of Bin Laden and justified the killing of kafirs.
Those who have attempted to exculpate the Minister from the charge of sharing indecipherable opinions and ideology from insurgents’, as well as those who claimed that Pantami has since distanced himself from those views since he became Minister, are spewing bunkum.
First, what forensic sieve did they use to determine that he has been purged of such views? What assurance is there that someone who canvassed such demonic views isn’t a mole in Government to the insurgents, and is not funding these terrorist cells?
While anyone can share, or hold any seismic view that they subscribe to, whether religious or political and whether now or previously, so far as such view is not at variance with the laws of the land, they are in the clear. The state must however ensure that holders of such divisive views which contravene the secularity of the state must be held far off from the levers of power.
That is the crime of the Nigerian state; allowing Pantami to rise to the level he has risen in Nigerian state affairs.
To be sure, Pantami’s religious views are not different from that of Sheikh Gumi, the man who has turned himself into the religious avatar whose chosen path is that of going inside the forest to mediate and negotiate between bandits and the Nigerian state. Gumi too has sought to canonize bandits and even insurgents by saying that Nigeria misunderstood them. He is free to trade such irresponsible views too. The problem will arise the day Gumi seeks to handle one of the instruments of administration of a secular Nigerian state.
That is why Pantami should not be blamed. The blame should fall squarely by the feet of President Muhammadu Buhari, his appointor, and the Nigerian state whose feeble binoculars could not pinpoint and pin those damaging and dangerous views ascribed to the Minister.
Why I do not blame Buhari himself but the Nigerian electors who, in spite of them, voted him into office as President, is that, there seems not to be too much difference between the views held by Pantami and even Buhari himself before the latter became President.
We were not too young to read and watch on television Buhari fuming and saying that if he was rigged out of the Presidential election, the dogs and the baboons would be soaked in blood. That was an insurgent philosophy.
This same man upbraided the Goodluck Jonathan Government for attacking Boko Haram insurgents and said that every shelling of the insurgents was an attack against the North.
The truth is that, many Northern elders, unfortunately, share huge slices of opinions that are similar to Pantami and Buharis’. It is why insurgency is festering in the land like ferns in a plantation.
In a saner clime, Pantami would have resigned if he still retains any modicum of honour left in him. But, this is Nigeria; he won’t resign. Has President Buhari himself resigned?
