A report released last week by Middle East human rights groups presents extensive evidence of war crimes carried out in Libya by the United States, NATO and their proxy “rebel” forces during last year’s war, which brought down the regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The “Report of the Independent Civil Society Fact-Finding Mission to Libya” presents findings of an investigation carried out last November by the Arab Organization for Human Rights, together with the Palestinian Center for Human Rights and the International Legal Assistance Consortium.

Based on interviews with victims of war crimes as well as with witnesses and Libyan officials in Tripoli, Zawiya, Sibrata, Khoms, Zliten, Misrata, Tawergha and Sirte, the report calls for the investigation of evidence that NATO targeted civilian sites, causing many deaths and injuries. Civilian facilities targeted by NATO bombs and missiles included schools, government buildings, at least one food warehouse, and private homes.

The report also presents evidence of systematic murder, torture, expulsion and abuse of suspected Gaddafi loyalists by the NATO-backed “rebel” forces of the National Transitional Council (NTC). It describes the forced expulsion of the mostly black-skinned inhabitants of Tawergha and the ongoing persecution of sub-Saharan migrant workers by forces allied to the NTC and its transitional government.

The investigators report savage and repeated beatings of prisoners held without trial or charges, the summary execution of pro-Gaddafi fighters, and witness reports of “indiscriminate and retaliatory murders, including the ‘slaughter’ (i.e., throat slitting) of former combatants.”

The report exposes the human rights and democratic pretexts employed by the United States, France, Britain and their NATO accomplices to carry out a colonial-style war of conquest. It makes clear that last March’s United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, imposing a “no-fly zone” and arms embargo on Libya supposedly to protect civilians from repressive actions by Muammar Gaddafi, was in fact used to carry out a ruthless air war waged in coordination with “rebel” forces on the ground.

The report suggests that soon after the outbreak of anti-Gaddafi protests in Benghazi and other cities, opposition forces were receiving training from Western armed forces as well as weapons from NATO powers and allied Arab states. Popular opposition to Gaddafi that erupted last February following the fall of Mubarak in Egypt was rapidly taken into hand by the US, France, Britain and their agents within Libya to launch a pro-imperialist civil war.

As the report states: “From first-hand information available to the Mission, and secondary sources, it appears that NATO participated in what could be classified as offensive actions undertaken by the opposition forces, including, for example, attacks on towns and cities held by Gaddafi forces. Equally, the choice of certain targets, such as a regional food warehouse, raises prima facie questions regarding the role of such attacks with respect to the protection of civilians.”

The report gives only the palest picture of a brutal onslaught whose purpose was to turn the clock back 43 years to the conditions that prevailed under the US-UK stooge King Idris, who turned the country’s oil resources over to American and British conglomerates and allowed the two powers to maintain large military bases on Libyan soil. The mass destruction and killing, which culminated in the leveling of Sirte and lynching of Gaddafi, make the UN-sanctioned claims of a war for “human rights” and the “protection of civilians” not only absurd, but obscene.

The rape of Libya was the response of US and European imperialism to the revolutionary uprisings that ousted long-time pro-Western regimes in Tunisia and Egypt, two countries that border Libya. The aim of this imperialist war was to impose complete control on the country’s oil resources, divert and suppress the growth of working class struggles throughout North Africa and the Middle East, and deal a blow to China and Russia, which had established close economic relations with the Gaddafi regime.

The war devastated the country. The NTC—an unstable coalition of ex-Gaddafi regime officials, Islamists, including some with links to Al Qaeda, and Western intelligence assets—itself estimates that the war took 50,000 lives and injured another 50,000 people. Rising infighting between the NTC’s factions is opening the door to full-scale civil war between rival clan-based and regional militias.

Just this weekend, amid warnings from NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil of looming civil war, a crowd demanding the resignation of the transitional government forced its way into the NTC’s headquarters in Benghazi. Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, the vice president of the NTC, promptly resigned.

The report on US-NATO war crimes is also a further indictment of the assortment of “left” parties, intellectuals and academics who parroted the human rights pretexts of Washington and NATO and thus gave open or backhanded support to the war in Libya. It underscores that these forces—from social democrats, Greens and ex-Stalinists such as the German Left Party to pseudo-radicals such as France’s New Anti-Capitalist Party and the International Socialist Organization in the US—have moved into the camp of imperialism.

Everybody want success but it has been found that only few people get to succeed in life.Although there are different definitons to how pepple define  success but there are also some mix  which we all agreed that a person who claims to be successful must have.i.e a feeling of accomplishment, being fulfilled,e.t.c

But if we really want to be successful we need to understand and obey the laws which govern success universally.The laws does not change irrespective of location,race,colour,educational background,e.t.cThe laws are   very simple and easy to ignore.This is one of the reason why alot are still struggling.

A lot of professors are suffering because they are still one skill away from success.The first law of sucess manifest itself in different scheme but still kept its o original meaning, you can call it  information, knowledge,investigation.This is the very first law of success.your success in life depend largely to the amount of available knowledgeor information that you have.

In today's economic world, many businesses strugled to survive on the internet because they do not know what it takes to succeed in the online world.

To make your business survive and have an impact on the internet, your business services will need to be ranked well on major search engines like google, yahoo and others. if your business is ranked well (1st page ranking), you are guaranty to receive good traffic for your business and in turn this will bring good business for you.

In other word, you need to get your business into good Business Directory such as NBLinks and others.

His real name is Olaoluwa Elijah Fagbemi but chose the stage name NOMBERS is coined from the word Numbers. it brings our mind t various things like the fact that it stands for songs, a list of songs or a particular song from numbers, giving special numbers amongst others. In this interactive session with ADENIKE ASHOGBON, the upcoming artiste takes us into his world

Music, life and you?

I have always loved singing at the top of my voice since I was little ( I guess that's why I grew up to love rock). I joined my church choir when I was in high school which really helped me musically. I have been composing songs since leaving High-School about ten years ago. I started learning to play the guitar around the year 2005. Over two years ago, I then decided to start doing some recordings. I love and am into various kinds of styles of music but mostly Alternative & Rock.

I also sing and play the guitar to the songs to people around me, to probably cheer them up or just to amuse them. I have prospects of singing to be heard by people but not often in the most common pattern Nigerians here are used to, like party and dance songs. I intend relating through my songs messages with a blend of Spirituality that deals with the inner sides of man and how to deal with the problems of the self before looking unto that of others or the society.

I have made efforts in trying to make my music known but to very little avail. I haven't had much financial support to make it really happen. I have tried making recordings of two songs two years back with all my savings. But it was uncompleted because my savings was not enough and there was of lack of finance, consequently it went down the drain.

Background ?

I am a Christian. Born in lagos 27 years ago into the family of Mr and Mrs Akinola Fagbemi, hails from Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. the last of their 4 children. I spent more of my years growing up in Surulere and presently stays in Ogun State thats that for now, nothing spectacular about my personality. just that I grew up loving music not because every known artiste claims that but really I have been actively involved in music and I mean good music.

Kind of song that interest you?

Rock and alternative and soul music. I am not in a particular one genre kind of song but really I listen to all genres as long as it’s good good music.

In the music industry home and abroad who motivate you?

I get most of my musical motivation from foreign artiste than local artiste. foreign; SwitchFoot, Coldplay, P.O.D, Bob Dylan, Lecrea, Creed, Casting Crowns, Delirious, Mutemath, Relient K amongst others while home, musically, I will say people like Beautiful Nubia, Asha, Niyi Adedokun. basically the reason why I love their music is because they sing of the real things through the lyrics in their song. Their songs address issues within the human heart, disposition to things within and outside the society irrespective of the differences that might exist.

 

As an upcoming artiste, what do you think would make you and your kind of music stand out in an economy where a whole lot of people are trouping into the entertainment and show biz world?

Really, I don’t think my music would sell as in SELL. all I know is that at first most Nigerians would at first take it wierd since it more or less not like the stereotypic songs they are used to. I feel it sounds very different and there is this fear that a whole lot of people might lost interest but I know that the open minded would get a lot from it socially, spiritually or entertainment wise.

 

...And if your song sounds wierd does that make it distinct?

no, it does not but it places the audience on another platform away from the dance/party mood they are already used to and over time affiliated to. unlike the dance/party track its a kind of song that takes you to another euphoria of thoughts. it relaxes your tought and helps ease you from the daily mixed up emotions all packed up in a song.

 

what is your inspiration?

God, nature and people. God- without whom I won’t be here. Nature-it’s a sphere i am living through. And People- they give me the reason to compose and sing songs.

 

thus far, how has it been striving to make your voice heard?

well, I’m just doing music with the love of doing it and that love keeps me going on, so if I sing I still believe that some amount of people will hear me and that anyone open minded enough to hear me out, listens to it would be able to take something out of it.

for now, I am not under any record label. I am an independent artsite hoping to be under a record label one day. thus far, I have recorded 3 songs, 2 of which were recorded but were unfinished, unmixed and mastered due to financial constraint but just recently I did a complete recording of a single that is now out for download on the internet at least for a start.

 

 where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

wooh, in the next 5years doing what I love to do...singing, singing...singing irrespective of present state of entertainment where some are given more preference than others but I intend singing, singing and singing to be heard. you know at every point in time, you have your own audience. one does not just get to the top like that, its all a gradual process.

Like I say, I don’t strive to be the best but hope to be the most different.

by Adenike Ashogbon

it is no longer news that laughing is a significant and an integral part of human survival as laughter cools the human nerve, thus, prolonging their life span. in a quest to make awaiting corpers laugh away all the sorrows and tiring memories of being student, Jimoh Olayinka a.k.a JImboi organise a comedy show for all awaiting corpers of the Lagos State Polytechnic (Ikorodu & Isolo) 2010/2011 set.

Jimboi, horror of comedy noted that the programme is basically centered around bring ex students together, make contact, interact on a different and social platform away from the stereotypic way of students dispersing.

speaking further, he noted that the programme is also going to bring the students together breaking the barrier of various departments and status, rubbing minds together and know each other better before going into the labour market.

the comedy show which will take place in the morning around 10am and later at night, there will be a Corpers’ night. All these will attract a gate fee of 1000 naira

 Date: 2nd March (Friday) 2012-01-24

Host: jimboi

 

Featuring: comedians

1. seyilaw
2. accapella
3. saco
4. funny bones
5. pencil
6. nothing do me
7. talk talk
8. memory card
9. loose mouth
10. edo charles
11. aje baba
12. baba – de 0 baba
13. lucky child
14. akporo
15. bash
16. loose mouth
17. headmaster

musicians like Q .Dot, Lace, Banging, Unknown, Dega, Xtwo, amongst others.

 

Dress Code: Green & white

dj: chrisland Unique

free bus available from Isolo to Ikorodu by 10am

 

BE THERE!!!

 

BY ADENIKE ASHOGBON

It’s time for another Charity Lounge in Lagos (Reloaded, Bigger and Better). Last year Charity Lounge in Yola was oh-so-inspirational & after what seems like forever we are happy that it is finally here again. What makes this edition even more exciting is that this date will mark the maiden edition of Charity Lounge Lagos and the team is proud to be inducting three individuals, Tosyn Bucknor, Donjazzy, and Ronke Apampa into the Humanitarian Hall of Fame for their notable service to humanity: We call them the “Compatriots with Compassion”.

 

Public Spirited Individuals and Organisations are invited to come put the Fun in Fundraising by being present at the January edition of Charity Lounge Lagos. It is going to be a cultural themed event where guests can Mix, Mingle, and Donate Time and Funds.

 

According to the Project Manager Michelle Emiaha, “Charity Lounge Lagos is all about creating credible media driven platforms through which we can engage ourselves and the rest of the International Community as a purpose built vehicle to transcend all pressing issues of our immediate community.

The event promises to be the birth of a new nation Community Service and this quarterly event is expected to move around Lagos metropolis as a change agent

Highlights:  Old School Music, Atilogun dance, Musical performances, Comedy, Auctions, Presentation on cancer by Professor Dayo Oyekole, Free medical checks, Interactive session by Dayo Isreal, singing of old school songs by celebrities and more fun.

Gold Bow Ribbons will be on sale(priceless)

 

Date: Jan 28th, 2012

Time: Afri-carpet reception starts 12pm

Venue: Holy Family Home of the Elderly, Mushin

Dress Code: White or Traditional Attire or Old School Outfits.

 

Afri-carpet Hosts:Miss Ikaz and Tito

 

Anchors: Mofe Duncan & Emillia Asim-Ita

 

Come armed with your business cards, wallets and items for silent auctions to the invited charities: BETHESDA HOME FOR THE BLIND & LEONARD CHESHIRE HOME FOR THE HANDICAPPED.

 

This 2012 Quarter Edition is the brainchild of C5W in association with Lamboginny Say No To Crime & supported by Dayo Israel international, CUP events, Femtej Kreations UK, House of Black Ice, Limelight Pr, Blush, Helen's event blog, UnilagOlodo, olorisupergal, scoop concepts, abisona.com, Clemas garments.

Coverage by Event Plus&Candid pictures, EWondertv, Bizman Creations and powered by OVATION international.

Endorsed by the Creative Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria and streamed live on USTREAM by Segunsd.

 

For Donations to the charities please call 07039796890 or Pin 2717CA05

 

 

 

Dear TIG Colleagues,

I am humbled by the wonderful e-card sent to me on my special day (Birthday). I appreciate your concern, love and best wishes.

 

I love you all !!!

 

Warm wishes,

Odor King

Dear Lagosians, For the past few days, I have monitored the developments related to the public protest against the increase in the pump price of petrol. During that period, I have at the invitation of my colleagues in the Governor’s Forum responded to an invitation from the Presidency. My role since last Monday till date has been to find a ground of compromise that stabilizes the polity, protects our democracy and prevent any loss of lives.
Inspite of these efforts, we were not wholly successful in preventing the loss of the life of a young Nigerian, Ademola Aderinto who was sadly shot. I am truly saddened by that ugly development. While I condole with his family, I pledge the commitment of ourGovernment to bring the alleged perpetrator to justice.
I have decided to address you today in view of the very disquieting developments that occurred overnight especially the deployment of soldiers across Lagos. I have the highest respect for members of our military, especially because they have made a contract with all of us that they will willingly lay down their lives whenever it becomes necessary to do so, in order to protect us.

This covenant is instructive, because soldiers did not sign up to stop us from expressing our grievance about things that we are displeased about. It is not disputable that the citizens who have gathered in several parts of Lagos like Falomo, Ikorodu and Ojota to mention a few have largely conducted themselves peacefully, singing and dancing while they expressed their displeasure at the way that we have taken decisions that affect them.
That in my view should not offend those of us in Government. The majority of these people who represent diverse interests have not broken any law. If they have, it is my opinion that in a constitutional democracy, it is the police that has the responsibility for restoring law and order if civil protests threaten the breach of the peace. This is not justification for sending out soldiers to a gathering of unarmed citizens.

Every one of us, or at least majority of us who hold public offices danced and sang before these same people when we were seeking their votes. Why should we feel irritated when they sing and dance in protest against what we have done? For me this is not a matter for the military. The sooner we rethink and rescind this decision the better and stronger our democracy will be.

If anything, this is a most welcome transformation of our democracy in the sense that it provokes a discussion of economic policies and this inevitably may result in political debate.

I therefore urge the reconsideration of the decision to deploy soldiers and implore the President and Commander-in-Chief to direct their withdrawal from our streets, I must also emphasize that the rights of free speech and protest is not absolute.

They impose the duty not to break the law, breach the peace, endanger human life or destroy property whether public or private. They also impose the duty to respect the rights of others not to support our protest and indeed to support what we oppose.

At the end of the day, it is a contest of ideas in which the most persuasive will get the endorsement of the majority of the people we serve. I am convinced that our democracy is mature enough to accommodate this. We must do our best to ensure that it does.

God bless you all.
Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Governor of Lagos State
Monday, January 16, 2012

After surviving the monstrous gale of Hurricane Katrina which embowelled and decapitated many residents of New Orleans in August 2005, Nigeria’s poet laureate and social critic, Niyi Osundare, decided that in spite of his huge loss the disaster would not have the last word. The outcome of that rugged determination is his newly published book of poem entitled City Without People: The Katrina Poems. Written over the last five years in the characteristic style of the tireless songbird, the poems in their short forms severally weave a narrative of pains resulting from heavy loss that is general yet personal, of man’s resilience in the face of virulent hardships, and of a poet’s heart full of appreciation to those who did not leave it in the lurch. ADEMOLA ADESOLA asks him some questions about the book which he reveals is the most difficult to write of all his works

Reason for the delay in the writing and the publication of the book

Katrina was a huge catastrophe. And it left us all with a big trauma. For three whole months after Katrina I couldn’t sleep well. I was having nightmares. Up till now I’m still having those nightmares, particularly whenever I remember the scenes or whenever I dream about the manuscripts and the books I lost and of course the danger that my wife and I faced when we thought all was lost. So, it took so long to get these poems out because each time I sat to write them the pain came back. The original pain we felt on the 29th and 30th of August, 2005, and our journey through evacuation centre. We had to stay for many days without brushing our teeth without having a bath and without any shoes. We left our home with nothing, absolutely. So, it was the nature of the experience and the nature of the trauma that made this work so difficult to compose because there is no way you can write about an experience without remembering the details. And each time I remembered the details I had a terrible bout of depression and all the angst and all the terror of Katrina would come back to me. All the poems in the book of course are new and they were written between the time I started recovering from the Katrina trauma and the time they were finally gone. That was 2010. So, they took so long in coming because of the kind of experience that gave rise to them.

Actually, it’s ironic that while the Katrina poems were on my mind but I couldn’t write them, I stepped aside and produced another book. That was Tender Moment – love poems. I think that was some kind of psychological compensation, or psychological avoidance. It’s amazing the way the mind works. It was the Katrina poems that were on my mind but I couldn’t write them. So, I took out time composing love poems, remembering some of the poems I lost to Katrina. Well, I couldn’t remember any of them really. I had to compose new poems and they were love poems. It was after Tender Moment that I decided to face the Katrina monster head-on! I kept telling myself that I would not be defeated by Katrina. That was when I started writing the poem. And once I wrote the first three the other ones started coming a little at a time. But this has been the most difficult of all my works because of the experience that produced the poems.

Wouldn’t other mode have been suitable for recording the Katrina narrative?

Not for somebody like me! I’m sure you know I’m basically a poet. Ideas come to me in poetic term. Images that express those ideas come to me in poetic term. And the whole articulation of the experience came to me in poetic term. That’s at the personal level. I’m sure you also know that of all the literary genres poetry is the most condensed. Poetry is the one that is closer to the human heart and the interface between the human heart and the human mind. When you want to reach your depth as a writer, when you want to express something that is beyond yourself, when you want to express an experience and make that expression greater than the experience itself, when you want to give music to the mystery and the misery of life, you reach for poetry. I think this was really what happened to me. I also toyed with the Katrina experience in prose form, but I think I did the first 42 pages. And they are still there. I haven’t revisited them for a very long, long time. Maybe I will some day. But it was the poetry of the experience that first captured my fancy. That is why the book has come in poetic form. You know poetry also offers a certain liberty, certain latitude when it comes to the expression of experiences. It makes it possible for us to play around with imageries. It makes it possible for us to harness the depth and density of feeling in the music of expression. This is really the advantage that poetry offered me. And I took it with both hands.

I allowed the nature of the subject of the poem to influence, and in fact, dictate the kind of register that I used, that is the kind of language. The language of the work is such that readers will find accessible because I saw myself as a spokesperson for an entire city. The complex transparency of the language is there. The communicative imperative to reach as many readers as possible decided in me on the kind of register employed in the poems. Also, at the psychological or psycho-linguistic level, or if you like, psycho-stylistic level, there are certain levels of pain that dictate the kind of language in which they should be expressed. This is what I called density of feeling and density of expression. The density of feeling has a way of influencing the density of expression, or as it happens most of time, density of feeling may result in a clarity of expression. I’m happy that reactions to the poems have very, very encouraging, in fact flattering at times. And I’m happy that at the reading we had about two weeks ago in Lagos the audience more or less showed the same level of empathy with the experience and the language in which it is communicated to them. I never wanted to keep any reader out of the experience.
Experience with the publisher of the book

The name of the publisher is Blackwidow Press. They are based in Boston, United States, but they have big connections in New Orleans. I met the publisher earlier on, about a year or so ago and he expressed interest in publishing my poetry. He specializes in poetry and he does a wonderful job. One of his preoccupations is bringing poetry from other land to the attention of readers in the United States. He has so many books of poems translated from different languages in the world. So, he is a truly international poetry publisher. That is Blackwidow.

When I finished the Katrina manuscript, I considered him. I made up my mind to get this book published in the US because that is where the experience took place. I have always published my books in Nigeria. But I say this one is for the US and I’m happy I took that decision. Blackwidow took the book and within a week or two he got back to me to say that the poems are very touchy and that he was delighted in publishing them. Then I advised him to let us make the publication of this book coincide with the sixth anniversary of Katrina, which was August 29, 2011. It was a tall order but he managed to beat the deadline. So, I enjoyed working with him. He has a designer who is very proficient. He designed the book, especially the cover.

For the first time in many years I had a publisher who would notice an error or a set of errors in the book and contact the author. In Nigeria here it’s different. In fact, even when you write the correct thing many of our publishers would publish the wrong thing. I didn’t have any problems at all working with Blackwidow because they have proficient editors. These are proficient and highly educated editors. In Nigeria, because of our terrible educational system, our editors don’t have the necessary kind of education that they need for the publishing job – the thoroughness, the literacy that you must have before you can call yourself a publisher. We had this in the 1960s, 70s and up to the 80s in Nigeria. But things started going down, down. I don’t know whether there is any book that I have produced in this country in the past 10, 15 years that have not had one kind of error or another. My experience this time around is really different. That is like my experience with some other books that I published abroad. This shows that in Nigeria we still have a very long way to go.

The Nigerian edition of the book

I am hoping to get a Nigerian edition published. I don’t know which publisher is going to handle it yet. But you know this is going to be some kind of professional agreement between my publisher in the United States and whosoever Nigerian publisher is going to handle it. But certainly I would like to have a Nigerian edition. The way the book is at the moment is that it is $19.95 – $20. Multiply $20 by 160 and you have nearly N4,000. Who will buy a book of poem for N4,000? This again shows you some of the problems we’ve been shouting about this past couple of years, that the economy, particularly the state of the Naira, affects the literary culture. Books are becoming more and more expensive in Nigeria because the Naira is sinking. Our government is silently and mischievously and dangerously devaluing the national currency. They are doing that and they are also devaluing our national life with it. So, I’m looking forward to a Nigerian edition that will be affordable to readers in this country.

Not given to deathless or pedestrian imaginative works, Babafemi Adeyemi Osofisan remains one of the highly productive playwrights, poets and essayists thriving colourfully in the increasingly widening gyre of the Nigerian literature. While his plays artistically reflect the foibles and the follies of the high, and the frailties and miseries of the low in the actual human societies, his numerous essays do no less in providing the necessary stimuli for the enrichment and development of Nigerian literature.

That Osofisan’s plays, over 40 and of varied types, enjoy the patronage of theatre enthusiasts and scholars is an established fact. Being the most regularly performed, the dramaturge’s plays are not in short supply on the stages situated within the artery of the various departments of Dramatic Arts across higher institutions of learning within and outside the country. These works are often the choice of those whose responsibility it is to choose convocation plays, and students deciding what to feature in their project plays. His inspiring level of productivity and disciplined commitment to the production of enduring play texts have resulted in the continuous availability of materials for the use of both students and scholars of drama every other year.

In the year 2011 Osofisan provided the Nigerian literary community with some more works. Most notable among these is the book entitled, JP Clark: A Voyage. Published at the most important time in the country’s history, the book engagingly chronicles the life, career and works of Clark. The author’s effort provides students and scholars of Nigerian literature with requisite information about the sometimes controversial persona of Clark and about some other personages who contributed in shaping the Nigerian literary history. According to him, “JP Clark was an enigma to most of my generation. He had a terrible and terrifying reputation. He was reclusive and arrogant and hostile to critics. He is the poetic incarnation of the name pepper”. The other important thing about Osofisan’s experimental narrative is that it helps to properly reverse the disinformation that Adewale Meja-Pearce’s A Peculiar Tragedy: JP Clark-Bekederemo and Beginning of Modern Nigerian Literature in English contains. Love’s Unlike Marvin is another play that he published last year to the acclaim of the literati.

A patriotic Nigerian and didactic writer, Osofisan is incurably convinced that literature has the potency to address the varied personal problems and national challenges of the country. Thus, like Agemo, one of the characters in his play, Many Colours Make the Thunder King, says, what he does every other year through his works is this: “I embellish people and any living thing: I make them the colours of their dreams”.
Osofisan was born on June 16, 1946 at Erunwon, Ogun State. He became a professor of Drama in 1985 at the University of Ibadan where he has spent most of his adult career. He had served as the General Manager and Chief Executive of the National Theatre, Lagos. And as the leader of a private theatre company, he is known for his roles as director, actor, and composer. He is also reputed for his commitment as a theorist of literature, critic and translator. He authors his books of poems under the pseudonym, Okinba Launko.

While the clangour of rejection still sounds deafeningly against the removal of subsidy by the Federal Government, the creation of a Subsidy Reinvestment Board, which is somewhat reminiscent of the Petroleum Trust Fund created by the regime of the late General Sani Abacha, has equally been confronted with equal sturdy stance of disapproval, reports Ademola Adesola

Not a few Nigerians had a sense of de javu when President Goodluck Jonathan last Monday announced the establishment of a Subsidy Reinvestment Board which is to ensure effective and timely implementation of projects to be funded with the savings accruing to the Federal Government from subsidy removal. They recalled that a military regime in Nigeria had about 18 years ago done something like this.

It will be remembered that shortly after the late maximum ruler, General Sani Abacha unexpectedly increased the per liter prices of petroleum, kerosene and diesel in October 1994, Nigerians across the federation strongly deplored and stoutly rejected the new prices. Specifically, the price of petrol was hiked by Abacha from N3.25k to N11.00k. The opposition against the increase then was informed by the outrageous nature of the increase and the strong belief of many Nigerians that the premium from the increase would be diverted into the private coffers of an insignificant number of high-heeled Nigerians.

However, in order to allay the fears of Nigerians and convince them of the sincerity of his government about what to do with the windfall from the increase in the prices of petroleum products, the Abacha government then by Decree 25 of 1994 established the Petroleum Trust Fund, which was saddled with the responsibility of using the money generated from the increase effected in the prices of the products to address some important concerns in the major sectors of the economy in a way that it would impact Nigerians at whatever level of the social ladder. Headed by General Muhammadu Buhari who was reputed and respected for his no-none-sense posturing, the PTF was expected to focus on developmental projects around the country.

Before the PTF was scrapped by former President Olusegun Obasanjo after assuming office in 1999, the body executed some road projects and succored some federal universities through the provision of buses and building of lecture theatres. The body was also smeared with many allegations of corruption and controversies revolving round selective execution of projects, which some claimed were in favour of the North where Buhari hailed from. Though in 1998 a report by New African lauded the PTF under Buhari for its transparency, saying it was a rare "success story", the same report also noted that critics had questioned the PTF's allocation of 20% of its resources to the military.

Though the new Subsidy Reinvestment Board now headed by Dr Christopher Kolade reminds Nigerians of the PTF under General Buhari, what is not in doubt is that President Jonathan’s creation is heavily affronted by credibility problem. Many Nigerians think there is no basis comparing the PTF with the subsidy Board.

Former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Dr Wale Okediran, said the Board was put in place in order to deepen the deceptive antics of the government. “I don’t think there is a point of comparison between the two because the PTF under Buhari was established to take care of accumulated petroleum fund, which received the blessing of majority of Nigerians. Whereas in this case, we are talking of a situation where people see the Board as one established to manage what government extorts from them, for the removal of the oil subsidy is extortion. So, one can say that this new creation by President Jonathan is something that does not have the blessing of majority of Nigerians. One cannot say that it is at the same level with Buhari’s PTF. I don’t see the Board performing because it is just a contrived body meant to deceive Nigerians,” he said.

In his own view, Mr. Odia Ofeimun argued that the subsidy Board was a complete distraction that should not be entertained. Embittered by the development, the poet and social critic reasoned that rather than establishing an extra-governmental body, government should get serious with the job of repairing existing refineries and building new ones that would meet the local demand optimally. His words: “The Kolade Board is a distraction from the real argument. This thing is not even about the price of fuel. It is about refineries. It is possible for Nigeria to have built refineries since we have started this debate. It is possible between now and that April that the President talked about to have repaired enough of the refineries or built enough to make the argument completely unnecessary. Nigeria is refusing to behave like a serious country. Suppose we were at war and a foreign country locked off all our refineries, won’t we build one with immediate effect? The question of what Kolade is going to do is a big distraction because that is not how to manage a country. A country is managed according to proper budgeting principles. If you are collecting taxes, the way to spend taxes is well laid down in the budgets of most governments in the world. You don’t need any special extra-governmental system such as the Kolade or the Buhari one. Only unserious governments do it”.

Similarly, a university lecturer, Dr Chijioke Uwasomba, maintained that the Board would be another avenue to fritter away public money. According to him, “the PTF headed by Buhari was created by the government then because it said it wanted to keep the money realised from the withdrawal of subsidy with the body. The body was given some specific functions. But as you know, at a point the body was said to be by another government and so the Obsanjo government did away with it. The thing is that the ruling class is playing games with the lives of Nigerians because the issue is not about setting up another body called Subsidy Reinvestment Board. You will also realise that the hike in the pump price of petroleum product will affect all aspects of our lives. I don’t think that both the removal of subsidy and the Board established to manage the fund will work. Nigerians will not accept this Board. There is nothing reasonable, there is nothing patriotic, and there is nothing useful that will come from this Board. As I said, every government in power in Nigeria is playing games with the lives and security of the Nigerian people. So, nothing good will come out of it because this is just an opportunity to give money to ‘the boys’. Government has already said it would bring in 1,600 buses and all that. Who are the people that will buy these buses? Where are they going to buy these buses from? I don’t think that the critical sector of the Nigerian society will accept what Jonathan’s presidency is doing. So, I see a long battle with this government”.

Additionally, an Ibadan-based lawyer, Mr. Olabode Ajayi, noted that comparing the PTF with the subsidy Board was a needless exercise, more so that it was an action taken by a government that is “insensitively indifferent to the dangerously pulsating pulse of the Nigerian people”. Speaking with The Nation, Ajayi held that “it is highly irresponsible of anybody to do the same thing in the same way and expect different outcome. Unfortunately, that is what our government has elected to do without sparing some minutes to re-examine the decisions it has taken. Although the PTF which Buhari provided leadership for tried only in a little way, the fact that we are still neck-deep in the rivers of backwardness in the area of development in the critical areas of our economy is enough to convince anyone that the establishment of committees or boards to manage government’s incompetence is outright unnecessary.

“It is in the light of this that I see the Christopher Kolade-led Board. It will only scratch the surface and fizzle out without affecting Nigerians positively. If the presidency finds it difficult to manfully address the asphyxiating corruption in the oil industry, how can the Board it set up be above board? Even if this Board survives the coming decisive battle against the removal of subsidy, I honestly don’t see it achieving anything remarkable – not even close to the very little the controversial Buhari PTF recorded”.

Contrariwise, a highly placed officer in one of the Local Government Areas of Borno State, who would not want his name in print, said he was confident that the subsidy Board would deliver. He based his conviction on what he described as the impeccable track record of Kolade, who he said he had known for many years. In spite of the strong note of disapproval from Nigerians, he called on them to give the Chairman of the Board a chance. He said: “I have not taken time to go through the profiles of other members of the Subsidy Reinvestment Board, but what I know is that Dr Christopher Kolade is a very good industrialist. He is a transparent man. Times are changing. During the time of Muhammadu Buhari the rate of problems was not as it is now. The Abacha period had all kinds of problems. But I know that the Chairman of this subsidy Board will perform. I have confidence in his ability to deliver. If he has the right people, those who are transparent, to work with I am confident that he will deliver much more than Buhari did. With him there I don’t think we have to worry; he is going to do something very good”.

From the foregoing, it is doubtful whether the Board will survive the hardcore resistance against it, a development that was alien to the PTF under Buhari.

Men to decide Nigeria security situation in 2012
Some men will shape Nigeria security situation in the New Year. Ademola Adesola examines them

With the relentless ruthlessness of the dangerous Islamic sect, Boko Haram, increasingly making a mess of security in Nigeria, 2012, needless to say, will seriously task the service chiefs. They will be expected to initiate useful security plans that will ensure that the problem of insecurity currently threatening the peace of the country is fully addressed. Indication that the service chiefs will have to play more pivotal roles in the New Year emerged after their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan last Thursday at the Villa. According to reports, the Federal Government has concluded plans to overhaul the security operations in the country so as to be able to effectively address the various security threats assailing the country. And because these men will be highly depended on to implement the plans, they immediately become key people expected to decide the nation’s security concerns in the New Year.

These key individuals who were also in attendance at the security meeting include the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim, Chief of Air Staff, Vice-Air Marshal Mohammed Umar, the National Security Adviser, General Owoye Azazi, Director General State Security Service, Ita Ekpenyong, and Director-General, Nigeria Intelligence Agency, Olaniyi Oladeji.

On his part, Hafiz Ringim is expected to rally his men and ensure that they adequately confront the worrisome increase in crime rate and of course do more in preventing crime rather than just appearing at the scene after the dastardly act has been effectively executed. He is expected to task the various state Commissioners of Police on how to make their commands achieve enduring result against the more daring men of the Boko Haram sect. The IGP has already assured Nigerians that the Force is “prepared more than ever before … l assure you members of the public that the Nigerian Police Force and indeed all other security agencies are now ready more than ever before to face these challenges".

Similarly, Azubuike Ihejirika will be expected to come up with a more viable tactic of engaging the men of the dreaded Islamic cell whose guerrilla method is clearly undermining the efforts of the Nigerian army which is more at home with conventional war. Doubtless, the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDS) and increasing confrontation with security forces will further stand him on his toes and inform more decisive decisions and improvement on current methods of engagement in the fight against terrorism and other forms of threat to security. Whether Boko Haram and other allied security challenges that the nation faces will abate or get worse in the year has more to do with the path the army chief and his troops choose to travel.

Another man to watch in the security arena this year is the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin. He will be expected to spearhead the operational restructuring that the country’s state of insecurity has necessitated. Already he has dropped the hint that the operational restructuring will possibly come in form of movement of personnel and total overhaul of security network systems to make them more proactive and responsive. As the CDS, Petinrin’s oversight functions in the security network may receive more boosts. The overarching urge to achieve result and stem the raging tide of terrorism in the land will again bring him more into action.

More than ever before, the SSS under Ita Ekpenyong has the inevitable duty of unmasking the bigwigs who are the life-wire of Boko Haram. It is expected that serious intelligence works have to be done by his organisation if the battle against the group is to be won. As Ekpenyong will be busy with his men in intelligence gathering on the home front, the Director-General, Nigeria Intelligence Agency, Olaniyi Oladeji, will be expected to be working very hard to oversee foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations. Since it has been revealed that the Islamic sect receives assistance in terms of training of its men and provision of weapons from some terrorist groups abroad, the man has more to do in the area of exposing the said links in order to enhance the efforts being made by other security agencies to subvert and despoil the terrorist gangs the continuous existence of the country.

What is not in doubt is that whatever these service men do or fail to do in the New Year will go a long way in determining whether the security situation in the country will improve or worsen.