WHY ARE THE POLICE NOT OUR FRIEND?

Yesterday, Tuesday 27 September, was one of those stressful days. I was tired even as I woke up! I just could not get anything worthwhile done in the office all day even with all the projects I need to get going. I left work at about4.45pm and had to take a taxi home since my car was being serviced and other repairs being done on it at the Dealer's Workshop and they said it required 48 hours to complete. My wife was stuck in traffic and there was no way she could get to me in Opebi, Ikeja, from Apapa before 7pm.

At my instance, the taxi driver went through the local airport. I did not know that taxis are barred from going through the airport internal road which connects Ikeja to Ajao Estate! Trust our Police; the ones at the Hajj Camp check-point dutifully stopped us. One Inspector Kadiri, whom I later heard speaking Esan, insisted that he would not heed my pleas on the driver's behalf. I even spoke Esan to him. He said his boss would be upset if he let us go.

Suddenly, the area was engulfed with Tear Gas! What was going on?! I put my handkerchief to my face and tried walking away for some fresh air. In an instant, the entire place between Hajj Camp and the Cargo Terminal was polluted with Tear Gas! I was later told that some Tear Gas canisters in the Hajj Camp Police Armoury had "exploded"(?) and released the gas. The Policemen appeared unaffected. One of them said Tear Gas is their "snuff"!! I was too much in pain to laugh!! I had NEVER experienced Tear Gas. My wife later told me if I had soaked my handkerchief in water I would have coped better. My eyes were burning as if very hot liquid pepper had been poured in them! My throat was itchy and I soon started sneezing.

But the Police would not let the taxi driver go. Inspector Kadiri had left and one plain-clothed guy called Omo (who I later learnt was also from Edo State - Sabongida-Ora) took over. Omo was very hostile and violent. You would think he had apprehended a Boko Haram suicide-bomber!!

He rejected my pleadings and said I could go. I had already taken my laptop, folder and lunch bag with my food and water flasks, and newspapers from the boot of the taxi, and paid the driver the N1,500 fare we agreed on (it should not have been that high but I could not be waiting for the staff I sent to get me a taxi to be "pricing" each taxi that came by Opebi Road at rush-hour! I had even budgeted to pay N2,000!!). I told Omo I could not just leave the taxi driver to his plight. Omo asked for the car key and, when the driver appeared to resist while still begging, Omo decided it was time to use force and engaged the driver in a wrestle hold and threatened to seize the car. Force was totally unnecessary as there were as many as four or so armed Policemen present at the check-point; so there was no way the taxi driver could successfully resist arrest. The driver then tried to start his car and the ignition would not even roll! Omo decided that the driver was being overly clever and that he had manipulated something to disable the car so as to evade arrest.

The Police Stations "CDO" (what is that?!), an Igbo-speaking robust woman who looked nothing like a security personnel with her flabby look, eventually joined the unfolding drama. She was cross with Omo that he was being "lenient" with the taxi driver. The driver was ordered to drive his vehicle to the station. Of course, this was not possible since the car's ignition had failed. She then directed that a second taxi which had equally been stopped for the same "crime" should take Omo and my taxi driver to their station which was just about 100 metres ahead of us. As they drove away, I walked along with the "CDO" to the station still pleading with her. She was polite to me but I'd not agree to "have mercy" on the taxi driver as I requested. When we reached the Police Station, I entered the reception and asked for Omo and the taxi driver. One of the Policeman retorted "Oga, I dey greet you and you no even answer me; na question you dey ask. Oya, go find the person wey you dey look for na!" The Tear Gas concentration inside the Police Station was too high and I was too dazed from its burning in my eyes to respond. I simply hurried away to take another taxi home! And I said a prayer for God to protect and grant my taxi driver His Favour so he will not be extorted.

Why are we like this? Why do we hate ourselves so? Why do the poor oppress the poor? Why are our Police so corrupt? Why are the Policemen so uncivil, uncouth, crass and illiterate?

Why are the Police not our friend? Why?

I now understood better why Boko Haram may remain a menace for some time if God does not help Nigeria whatever President Jonathan and his security chiefs do by way of strategy, intelligence and counter-terrorism. It came home to me lucidly why the anti-corruption war must be a Citizens Action Movement. I realised the more why we must Stand Against Corruption and Kleptocrats (SACK!) in Nigeria!

And we need a rebirth of our Police Force from the top shots down to the strap-less recruits just leaving the Police Training College!

The good news is: We Can Do It!! I believe in God. I believe in Nigeria.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA!



Eghes Eyieyien

Lagos.

28th September, 2011

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN’S FIRST 100 DAYS: MY CONCERNS

I am an ardent supporter of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ). I am one of those that believe that his emergence as President was not borne out of “good luck” but God’s divine selection and ordination. For reasons that God knows best, He chose Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to be Nigeria’s President in the nation’s Year of Jubilee which has immense spiritual and prophetic significance. I have wondered many times if President Jonathan himself knows why God had chosen him and if he understands the enormous responsibility that election (by God and, subsequently, by the Nigeria people through their votes) imposes on him.
I am very active on Facebook and have used the platform to defend, explain, promote, justify, and hype President Jonathan since late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua became terminally ill in October, 2009. My support for President Jonathan has earned me many enemies and caused even some “friends” to question my motives. My former Pastor, who is no fan of President Jonathan, actually told me during the pre-election campaign season that if he did not know me as well as he did he would have had no doubt that I was a hireling who is being paid handsomely by the Presidency to write all the complimentary articles I had published promoting GEJ’s candidacy. I was relieved that he knew I could not have been paid by anyone to do anything unethical. In today’s Nigeria, it is difficult not to believe that everyone has a price. One can hardly be expected to give praise gratuitously. Why should one promote another’s views, particularly a politician’s, altruistically? Unfortunately, I have had to put aside modesty sometimes and speak about my own professional (and even spiritual/ministerial!) pedigree to prove to the cynics and naysayers that I was not doing a hatchet job for the Jonathan-Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation.
On 31st May, 2011, just a couple of days after the Presidential Inauguration which I had the privilege to attend in Abuja, I wrote an article which I titled “PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND NIGERIA'S NEW DAWN”. The article is available using these internet links:  

http://www.facebook.com/#!/note.php?note_id=10150211734687022 and

http://eghes.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html

Here is an excerpt from that article:

“But God's election carries grave responsibilities. Sadly, many men and women whom God called and anointed to accomplish His Purpose very often fail Him. The Bible is replete which such people. Talented, gifted, anointed, graced, blessed people who miss it badly and derail God's Agenda, howbeit for a season. People like Lot, Esau, Reuben, Balaam, Samson, Saul, Jeroboam, Ahab, Uzziah, Gehazi, Judas Iscariot....etc. Few men follow God and do His will completely. God still seeks men even today. Men after His own heart. MEN. REAL MEN (....and women).

President Goodluck Jonathan must understand why God has raised him, despite his lowly background and many disadvantages which he himself openly acknowledges and is well aware of. Who would have thought Otuoke would be the place where Nigeria's President would arise. Can anything good come out of Otuoke? President Jonathan alone can help us answer that question as he steps into office.

President Jonathan must covenant to follow God and Him alone. The godfathers, party-men, political organisers, campaign managers, family, friends, well-wishers, supporters and voters, have played their role. He must now allow God to bid where he goes and lead so he follows. The name "GOODLUCK" and the slogan "GOODLUCK NIGERIA" might have been good to market his candidacy. But the name "JONATHAN" is now more relevant. Jonathan means "YAHWEH has given" or "God has given" in the Hebrew language. No man can have anything except God has given. Power belongs to God and He gives it to men as mere stewards. President Jonathan must live up to his name as God's Gift to Nigeria. He must be a blessing not a curse. He must give not take. He must be different. So God (and Nigerians) can say in 2015, "WELL DONE!".

My prayer is that the Lord God would turn him into "Another Man" as it was for King Saul after he was anointed King over Israel. I pray that God emboldens him and grants him uncommon wisdom to do His Will for Nigeria.”


One hundred days after President Goodluck Jonathan’s Inauguration, I still remain a keen supporter. But, now, I am worried. I have serious concerns.

I am worried that President Jonathan still appears not to understand why God chose him and what exactly God would have him do. I am worried that the President appears still unsure so he takes tentative steps. I am worried that, while he is no doubt very well meaning and has good intentions, he has not moved with the confidence and assurance of one who knows exactly what to do. I am worried, very worried, that the remaining one thousand, three hundred and sixty (1,360) days of the Jonathan Presidency might be like his first 100 days!

To be sure, the President has done some things in the last 100 days that I am pleased with. For example, unlike many critics, I am happy with very many of those he appointed as his Ministers. Realising that a few performers can be the catalysts that galvanise and inspire others to step up their performance, I am excited that people like Prof. Bart Nnaji, Mrs Mobola Johnson, Dr. Yerima Ngama (who was my colleague at the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation), Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Ms. Ama Pepple, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, Olusegun Aganga, and Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi, who have strong and enviable antecedents are in the President’s team. I am also happy that Dr. Shamsudeen Usman is continuing as the Minister of Planning; so we should see some continuity in our economic agenda. You only need a few super-stars in a sports team to win laurels. There may be others in the Ministerial team who are stars in their own right but the names I mentioned give me cause for great expectations. But I am yet to understand why the President needed an Adviser on Ethics and a Special Assistant on New Media. What do these two appointees do from day to day? What is their job description?

I applaud President Goodluck Jonathan for his leadership in the Libyan matter. Nigeria's decision to side with the Libyan people is arguably the best initiative we have taken in our foreign policy probably since the anti-apartheid struggle in which we played a leading role. The other African countries would inevitably recognise the National Transitional Council of Libya soon enough; but then it would be with shame and its tongue in cheek. I hope Nigeria continues to lead the way in acting on the side of African people, truth, justice, freedom and good governance on the African continent and indeed the world stage.

But in the main, President Jonathan has been slow in the last 100 days. Even the undue delay in the nomination of his Ministers was disappointing; he did not hit the ground running as I expected him to given that he had said he would release his Ministerial list within two weeks of his Inauguration. I was, however, relieved that he virtually discarded the lists of proposed ministerial nominees submitted to him by the State Executive Committees of his political party. For me, that showed his ability and willingness to ignore pressure from his political party. So why does the President still seem to be cautious in not displeasing certain vested interests? There are too many faces one sees around the President too often that give cause for concern. I am concerned that the President appears unperturbed to allow some discredited politicians and some people who were convicted for crimes by Nigerian Courts to be seen around him and, in the case of a particular ex-Governor, even in the Aso Rock Council chamber!  

More importantly, the security situation is what gives me the greatest cause for worry. When the October 1st Bomb Blast happened in 2010, I was upset with the perpetrators that they were enemies of Nigeria and the President who just wanted to embarrass the country and the President on such a historic day. When the bombs went off in Jos, Suleija, and Minna, I was livid that those that said they would make the north ungovernable for President Jonathan if he won the Presidential election were probably making good their threat. I sympathised with the President and joined the chorus of condemnation of the evil persons behind the attacks. Then the Nigeria Police Headquarters was hit by the bombers.

And then, the United Nations’ Office Complex in Abuja’s Diplomatic Zone was bombed.

I am still unable to understand why the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police, and the Director General of the State Security Service still have their jobs. Is it not clear that they have failed? I have no doubt that they have the requisite qualifications and experience to have been appointed into those positions. I am sure they mean well and are loyal to the President. But their continuation in office is just not tenable now. It is time the President shook up the leadership of the security agencies and appointed new people who can deliver. The incumbents may be doing their best, but their best is clearly not good enough. I am even worried, like many Nigerians are, that President Jonathan himself is not safe. No doubt, as he himself affirmed when he visited the Police Headquarters after the bomb blast there, if members of Boko Haram could kill him they would.

Time has come for President Jonathan to take off the kid-gloves and hit hard at the terrorists and their sponsors. He must now match his tough-talking with tough actions! He must now show that he can bite! He is not only in office; he is in power. The President must remain tolerant, calm, strategic and deliberate. But he must also act with courage and boldness. He once wrote on his Facebook page that he had no enemies to fight. I am sure he knows better now. You do not seek enemies. Being Nigeria’s President is enough to give you enemies aplenty!

My faith in President Jonathan is unshaken. I know he is intelligent, humane, wise, humble and people-loving. In my view, he is still the best President Nigeria has ever had. He is positioned uniquely to make a difference. He is not Nigeria’s Messiah. No man can be. That job was already done over 2,000 years ago! But President Jonathan can do something significant and bring the transformation he promised during his election campaigns.

It is time that Nigerians begin to truly experience the Breath of Fresh Air.


God bless President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA!




Eghes Eyieyien

6th September, 2011