Femi Ajayi's Outlook


When my good friend, the former House Speaker, Hon. Na'Abba suggested that all political aspirants should be taken for a thorough psychiatric test, little did we realize that it would come to pass.
Monday, July 21, 2003



Dr. Femi Ajayi
ANNOUNCE THIS ARTICLE TO YOUR FRIENDS
NEW MINISTERS ON THE BLOCK:
''HISTORY WILL JUDGE US HARSHLY IF WE FAIL''



igerians welcome the Technocrats on the Block to the public service, where sacrifices must be made. President 'Akinlawon' Obasanjo has sworn in 40 of the 42 Ministers for the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the caption "History will judge us harshly if we fail". That is very correct Mr. President. This caption caught my attention regarding the screening exercise for Ministerial candidates by the Senate. The rejection of one candidate, the withdrawal of another one for one reason or the other, and the swearing-in of the Ministers made the exercise very interesting.

My first impression about the exercise was the Senate screening tactics of the candidates. Some of the candidates could not recite the National Anthem, or the National Pledge, the moral standard of some of them were questioned, some were too arrogant, unaccountable to the public, while some just took their bow and left the Senate floor. That is all right, democracy is at work and I love it.

The rejection of the nomination of Professor Babalola Aborishade was not surprising to those that follow the Professor's condescension during the last administration. He refused to respond to twenty-two letters from the last House of Assembly, and five from the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, with no response either from Professor Aborishade. The Senate was not sure how to address him, a Professor or a Reader instead. During his last tenure, the Nigerian Universities were shut down for six months without any solid resolution from the Federal Ministry of Education. Instead of communicating and working with the three former Vice Chancellors at the Senate, he built walls around himself. I am not surprised because such arrogance destroys some of us in Ekitiland. In nutshell Professor Aborishade non-confirmation was as a result of his style of public relations, accountability and poor communication. Who could have done that during the Military era?

The withdrawal of Dr. Adewale Oladipo for consideration due to his involvement in Ige's death was the right thing to do. It is only in Nigeria that a detained person accused of murder was elected into the Senate from the prison cells and became a Senate Committee Chair. Chief Ige was killed like a dog and nothing has been done about that for over nineteen months (July 2003). This is a mockery of the whole exercise of reforming Nigeria. How long is Justice going to take to get to the people, until all Bola Ige's families have gone to heaven?

Despite the questions based on the petition received by the Senate, they went ahead and confirmed nearly all the nominees. On the other hand that did not justify Senator Busola Saraki-Fowora's description of Princess Adedoyin's ordeal as a "gang up by the male Senators", that is far from the facts. Busola's knowledge of Funke personally is not sufficient and it is not the issue here. She has three children from unknown men so says the petition. The point here is that once you seek for any public office, your life history becomes an open book for public consumption. Nonetheless, that was just a message to all the public officials and other Nigerians that might be willing to lead the country now or in the future, and even the in-coming generation in their private of public. Nigeria needs A FREE RICO PIE for its survival.

The Senate has done a wonderful job. I hope they will continue like this while facing some teething challenges in making Nigeria great again. All eyes are on them this time around.

So the question turns up again. Where are the democracy gains of the last four years, which the PDP leadership has continued to celebrate and gloat about? There is absolutely none one can easily point to as at this very moment.

We thank Chief Orji Kalu for getting the support of the ancestors to stop the 'feud' between Mwabara and Imo. I believe we should be talking to our ancestors whenever we see the danger on our way to peace. Warnings should be sent to the South-South group that is setting up a shadow Government in that part of the country. We might invite all the gods and goddesses of Nigeria to dispatch them and make their plans of establishing a country within a country unachievable. The god of thunder, the god of iron, the goddesses of water and god of forest, with Governor Kalu as the Chief Priest, would drum some sense into the heads of these individuals that are planning to subvert the country.

Not to deviate too far away from the new Ministers on the Block, they have some serious work to do for the next four years. Nigerians craved for Technocrats to come to the aid of Nigeria, and here they come. There is no disappointment. If politics will be too much for them to mortgage their reputation and principles, they should share that with Nigerians. They have a great work to do. "The Project Nigeria", like 'Akinlawon' called it, is not to continue inflicting pain on the average Nigerians who are already suffering from malnutrition, poverty, unemployment, and lack of security in all its ramifications, poor technological advancement, and corruption. History will definitely judge them ruthlessly if they fail.

We appreciate the choice of President 'Akinlawon' Obasanjo of these crops of intellectuals. We hope that they would not deviate from their calling. They should be able to make and implement "hard and tough" decisions, realizing that they "cannot have an omelet without breaking an egg". They should recognize that this is not the time to be irresponsible in their calling and realize that it "is neither an opportunity for personal enrichment nor enjoyment" of the OWAMBE style like the previous set of Ministers. Things MUST change from the past for good.

As the Ministers were sworn-in, we expect some seriousness in them, like one of my favorite among them told his staff, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Minister for Federal Capital Territory, the former Director of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), to refer to him as "Mr. Minister" and not 'Honorable Minister'. We are looking forward to see the enforcement of the initial plans for Abuja, demolish all unapproved structures in some areas designated for Parks or Public use. The beggars on the Streets should be settled in a camp, the proper maintenance of the streets, the street hawkers should be sent somewhere to market their products, and bring some decency to the capital territory. We know that Rufai has the gut to confront any challenge or difficult situation. We hope handling of Abuja Territory would be a child play for his skills.

The choice of Dr. Mohammed Rabiu Kwankwaso as the Defense Minister is good for the country. Nigerians want its territorial boundaries to be fully defended. We have had the infiltration of foreigners from the Northern neighboring countries whose purpose was to destabilize the country while their first harbor is Kano. Dr. Kwankwaso knows this very well, and other Nigerians know very well that all religious and ethnic disturbances have their root in Kano. He knows them very well as the former Governor of Kano State who got the State security reports on a daily basis. Nigeria wants and needs peace to move forward, hence ending the peril of foreign 'invaders' in the name of religion. Dr. Rowland Oritsejafor will do well by assisting Dr. Kwankwaso. Both are Medical Doctors. They speak the same professional language.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was trained in Harvard with her Ph.D. in Regional Economics and Development from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has 21-year experience working for the World Bank (1982-2003), is expected to make an impact on the Nigeria economy which is going to be a plus to the great farmer, 'Akinlawon' in reviving Nigeria economy. Nigeria needs her education and experience to make Nigeria economy second to none in Africa, which should make United States of America or Japan shudder, because all the needed apparatus to make it happen in Nigeria are available. She needs not be distracted by the politics of who controls the budget. If we are going to be fully in control of our finances, the Finance Minister should have some independent role to play. We do not want to witness the rat and mouse game, or threats of I resign, no, I am not resigning over the budget control. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala should not allow the men to intimidate her under any circumstances. She should use her leave of absence judiciously to the benefit of Nigerians. Hopefully Mrs. Nenadi Esther Usman, her Minister of State, of the same gender, would do a good job assisting Dr. Okonjo-Iweala.

Nigeria can feed the whole world if we deviate from the oil money and focus on agriculture. The whole North should never think of oil from the south, instead it should concentrate on agriculture. I believe as of today (July 2003), most food products to other parts of Nigeria are coming from the North. Alhaji Adamu Bello's choice as Agriculture Minister is good. Alhaji Bello, from Adamawa State, is coming back to continue his work as the former Minister of Agriculture. We want every Nigerians to have equal access to the sources of food supply at reasonable prices. Bamidele Dada, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization representative for Africa, would bring his wealth of experience to assist Alhaji Bello in his mission to feed Nigerians, if he would not interject politics into the assignment. Dada would give him all the support he needs in terms of diversifying Agricultural production for the entire population. We do not have to import Beans from Burkina Faso. We should go beyond banning the importation of food products such as rice, and wheat. We need to boost the local productions of such food products. Bamidele Dada would make the Ministry to think inwardly. Food should be within reach of Nigerians.

There have been some challenges as to how we hold ourselves together and move forward. The religious as well as ethnic clashes, which I think Dr. Iyorchia Demenoyo Ayu, from Benue State, is very well aware of, is very challenging for him to fix. Dr. Ayu, Minister for Internal Affairs, a Sociologist, Journalist, former University Teacher, former Senate President, former Minister of Education, Industry, founder of Institute of Civil Society, should bring his enormous wealth of experience to bring peace to Nigeria. Working with other Ministers and strengthen the Immigration would work well for Nigeria. He would have no problem working with the Minister of State, Alhaji Abubakar Tanko from Niger State. Alhaji Tanko is in a good position to prevent any evil plans from any source beginning from his own Niger State. Alhaji Tanko has leisurely sworn to be loyal to the Country.

Our Education is no match to what is obtainable in the jungle of Amazon basin by the Aborigines of Central Australia. Professor Fabian Ngozi Chinedum Osuji, a Zoologist by training, has a huge challenge to revive our crippled education. Nigerians are hoping that Professor Osuji will bring his wealth of experience as a member of International Atomic Energy Agency, and Fellow, Royal Entomological Society of London to work at the Federal Ministry of Education. Working with Professor Turner Isoun, Minister for Science and Technology, a Micro- Biologist, with DVM degree in Veterinary Medicine and Doctorate in Pathology from Michigan State University, USA, will bring Nigeria on the same page with the rest of the world. They can start working on the brain gain, bringing back the 'brains' that are outside Nigeria. Professor Osuji and Isoun need very serious help to revive Education in Nigeria. They know where to tap Nigeria hidden brains in Diaspora. Bring them back home for good. They are not gainfully employed in their different places of abode.

Mr. Broderick Bozimo, Minister of Police Affairs, a Warri-based lawyer, from Delta State, should realize that, regardless what other Ministers do to improve Nigeria, if the law enforcement is not adequately trained and well equipped to control the arsenals of violence in the country, peace will not be attainable. I have a very serious problem with the Police, and I want you to solve that puzzle for me. How could the Attorney General and Minister of Justice for the Federal Republic of Nigeria be gruely murdered in his house and for the past 20 months or so, and the Police has no clue as to who did what. Why should the suspect on the murder be allowed to contest for an election? Could you see what your Assistant Inspector of Police did in Anambra State? Instead of facing treason charges, he was only retired. This is sad Mr. Minister. Could you look into that and report to us. Am I in my dream again? Security should be tackled in all angles, stop the Police from taking sadaka from the motorists. Send them to patrol the streets and highways, not being stationary on a spot. We'll see how the Police Minister would transform his legal background to reform the Nigeria Police Force. Nigerians want to sleep peacefully at night and enjoy their social gatherings without any fear. Please stop the armed robbers from collecting tithes from the motorists.

If Nigeria would focus on other areas of revenue like the Solid Minerals, Honorable Minister Elder Magnus Odion-Ugbesia, job opportunities would be available to our graduates that turned armed robbers. Odion-Ugbesia experience as the Minister of State for Internal Affairs, especially with the successful implementation of the National Identification Card project, is an advantage in exploring the minerals.

For the Ministry of Justice, one of requests is JUSTICE for the killers of Chief Bola Ige. The situation surrounding his death is like the bird on top of a rope, neither of them will be at peace until the bird flies off the rope.

The special message for the Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, is that Nigeria needs good roads. Take a look at the roads in the heart of Lagos where you came from. How many of the Federal roads are motorable in the South West, South East, South South and even North Central. I can drive at 120 kilometers per hour in some parts of the North, if I drive that fast in the south, I will be singing Hallelujah with the Lord in few seconds. We have to go at a slow speed to the advantage of the armed robbers. Alhaji Saleh Shehu, the Minister of State in the ministry, from Jigawa State, would cooperate with you in the even development of the Federal Roads across Nigeria.

The state of health in Nigeria is not that rosy as well. AIDS is killing Nigerians in large numbers under the facade of dry sickness. Doubling our efforts in the crusade against the killer AIDS would help safe the valuable life of Nigerians. The Ministry needs to work with regional Non Government Organizations across the country such as, Mercy Agency For Health And Human Services (MAHUMANS) with its headquarters on 32 Stadium Road, P.O. BOX 602, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. It has AIDS program almost similar to the Uganda's ABC. MAHUMANS covers areas of Educational, Health, Economic and Social Welfare Activities for Mitigating the Impact and Reducing Community Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS in Selected Rural Suburban and Urban Communities of People Living with AIDS (PLWA) in Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Osun, Ondo and Oyo States of Nigeria. Unfortunately the family put their retirement money on this project to save life.

Chief Dr. Obayan has very impressive background. Dr. Chief Mrs. M.N. Obayan DR. P.H. (Hopkins) M.P.H, M. Sc. Public Health (YALE), B.Sc. (Nursing) Ibadan, SRN, SCM, (UK), Certificate of Family Planning/Planned Parenthood of Connecticut, USA. Planning and Assessment of Health Needs of Stonington County, Connecticut, USA, FHA, FFWACN Gold Medallist, WHO/UNICEF FELLOW, Yale University Fellow, Awarded of Millennium Gold Award by International Youth Congress for Youth Development in Nigeria Brussels Belgium. Chairman/Chief Executive, Mercy Agency for Health and Human Service, Retired Director of Administration, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Secretary to the Management Board of University Teaching Hospital, Head of Health Planning for the Kwara State Government, Former Nursing Officer, Public Health and Research, Federal Ministry of Health, Lagos, Secretary /Chief Executive, Kwara/Kogi State Health Management Board, an adroit Administrator, Manager, Clinician, Researcher, Community Mobiliser and Anchor Person for Women-In- Health on International Summit on Health in 1995. Expert in family and reproductive life and programs in Nigeria and abroad. What does the Federal Ministry of Health needs that she does not have in saving the generation from extinction. I felt very pertinent about the killer AIDS and the nonchalant attitude of the Government in realizing the dangers of AIDS epidemic in the continent. MANHUMANS would be one of those that could help the Health Ministry. Bringing MNHUMANS on board in the fight against AIDS to safe life will be healthy for Nigeria.

There is nothing wrong if Nigeria adopts the Uganda's program of ABC, which is Abstinence, Be Faithful and use Condom, in fighting AIDS in Uganda. The model could serve Nigeria right. The world predicted in the 80s that within two decades all living creatures in Uganda would be wiped away from the face of the earth. Uganda survives that prediction. If it works for Uganda, it can work for Nigeria. Professor Eyitayo Lambo would be able to handle this very well for President 'Akinlawon' Obasanjo. As an economics, we will see how he would transform that into giving a better health service to Nigerians.

I believe Alhaji Muktari Shagari did a wonderful work in the Water Resources Ministry. His second coming to the same Ministry would see better service, above mere pushing the activities of the Ministry to the limelight.

Nigeria is blessed with natural beauty that needs to be transformed into a huge business, bringing enormous wealth to the country while Nigerians will be gainfully employed, if we adequately manage the resources very well. Tourism is a huge source of boosting the country's revenue. Hopefully, Chief Franklin Ogbuewu, Minister for Culture and Tourism would be able to revive the Ministry to entice other nationals to visit Nigeria. Ritetime-World Airways would be smiling from its mouth to its ear by transporting Tourists from USA to Nigeria on a direct flight. As a former Custom Officer, from Ebonyi State, Chief Franklin Ogbuewu knows what products come into Nigeria and the countries where they come from. It would be a better way for enticing them to come to Nigeria.

Working in conjunction with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Idris Waziri, Minister of Commerce, could alongside Tourism, improve on Commercial activities with other countries. Ministry of Industries of Alhaji Magaji Mohammed would be a team player as well. Transportation, Labor and Productivity of Dr. Abiye Sekibo and Alhaji Hussaini Zannuwa Akwanga respectively, would be a strong Team to get more people employed in Nigeria, hence reducing the poverty level of most Nigerians. The retired soldiers could manage the Sports, (Col. Musa Mohammed), and Environment (Col. Bala Mande) that the Military has polluted.

Chukwuemeka Chikelu, Information Minister need to make all government activities, including that of the National Assembly, easily accessible to the Public. My last visit to the National Assembly, this past May (2003), was very disappointing. To obtain the Bills passed by the last set of House of Representatives took me to three different floors and I came out with nothing. Whatever the Bills passed belong to the public. The lady in charge, Elizabeth, felt that such information is not for the public consumption, and because Mr. Oru was out of town, I could not have the information.

My feisty Coooooo Adebayo, you have a heavy responsibility on your shoulder. I know he can do it. He has done more than that before. Nigerians are in the dark as to what President 'Akinlawon' Obasanjo is doing in Aso Rock. The best we knew then were his overseas trips, and his Constitutional breaches. I had to dig very deep to find out what each Ministry has done since their inception. Nigerians were not aware of such information. The Communication Ministry might take up the public relation's roles and open Aso Rock accomplishments for the world to see. We need better communication between the Presidency and the Legislature, and the Voters as well. Your strong English background is going to help us understand the happenings with the Presidency.

Our Foreign Ministry is getting better. I hope Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, a career diplomat, whose years at the United Nations would further improve the image of Nigeria across the world. His Minster of State, Alhaji Samaila Saidu Sambawa, would give the Ministry an upliftment that it needs.

Power and Steel Ministry needs to roll out some irons within the next four years. It has been a wasteful project that Nigeria has not been able to roll out a single iron these years of heavy funding allocated to Ajaokuta. Being the youngest Minister of all the Ministers, Liyel Imoke's youthfulness would help him to bring Nigeria Iron and Steel dream into reality. His past experience within the Ministry of Power and Steel Industry would definitely help him to do some serious work to bring Ajaokuta project back to life.

With the changes coming into the country, and all eyes are on Nigeria as the leader of Africa, working in cooperation with the Ministry of Transportation, Aviation Ministry has much to do now. I believe the Ritetime-World Airways would have a major role to play at this time of moving Nigeria to the top of the mountain in the area of Aviation. Mallam Isa Yuguda, I believe, would like to take flights from Abuja to Yola, Bauchi State, instead of going by road. Local flights to link all the State capital Cities should be number one priority for the Aviation Ministry so by the end of their term in 2007, we can fly from one capital city to another at reasonable prices. Mallam Yuguda's experience as a Minister of State under Chief Ojo Maduekwe in the Ministry of Transportation is important for him to know the importance of transportation in the development of a growing country like Nigeria.

For the Ministry of Justice, one of requests is JUSTICE for the killers of Chief Bola Ige. The situation surrounding his death is like the bird on top of a rope, neither of them will be at peace until the bird flies off the rope. There will be no peace for the killers, their sponsors and supporters until JUSTICE is done. The 55-year old Chief Akinlolu Olujimi, (SAN), is the new Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Chief Olujimi is a very articulate and brilliant lawyer with over 10 years as Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He is one of the finest the legal profession can offer Nigeria. Nigerians are interested on the progress being made on Chief Bola Ige's death.

I wish the rest Ministries the best especially the Women Affairs and Youth. The core of Nigeria success. Rita Akpan would definitely bring her Akwa-Ibom experience to the benefit of Nigerian women and youth. As a single mother, Nigerians are hopping to gain from her devotion to duty and efficient skills to bring an end to female mutilation, sex trade, and children trafficking within and across the borders of Nigeria. Working with Princess Olufunke Adedoyin, a single parent as well, will not be too difficult for them to come up the best way to keep the family together. Gaining from their life experience they should come to the rescue of Nigeria women and the pains children of single parents have to go through. It will work for the country. Good combination.

No one is going to sleep until we pull out that rotten tooth in our society. Help is available all over the world especially with Nigerians in Diaspora. Reach out to them.

Good luck to the technocrats. They cannot fail or disappoint us. The era of donations of the State money to the owambe parties is over with. "All the ministers must be totally committed to the achievement of poverty alleviation, provision of employment, �making Nigeria a leader in Africa and a respected member of the international community, provision of security in all its ramifications, including personal and food security, laying of foundation for technological take-off, and fight against corruption and waste in the public sector". They should also realize that "the post of a minister is a position that carries very great responsibilities."

If I may borrow from 'Akinlawon's' statement, "The Searchlight will be on you [Ministers]". On a serious note my personal searchlight is on all of them. I have their numbers, like Americans would say.

God have mercy over Nigeria.

Thank you.