LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Sir:
OUR POLITICIANS AND GOVERNANCE
As far as Nigeria is concerned we have (mostly) leaders who care less about the governed but more of their private estates. Nigeria leaders have substituted penchant for personal aggrandizements and deceitful publicity blitzes for good governance. They do not say what they mean and never mean what they say.
But what pains me most is the gullibility of our citizenry that withdraw into shells and not caring, always feeling subdued. No one needs feel so; each citizen still has the potential of saying “enough of this deceit” because by shouting out leaders then know citizen’s right.
Let us take instances: How could a President allocate N25billion in one year for servicing and fuelling generators that would provide power to (only) the presidency’s Aso Rock while the masses remain in darkness? Can the generation and distribution of 6000MW by December 2009 be achieved from the comforts available at the Aso Rock? How could a Governor claim that he spent N200billion in two years in (only) roads construction and reconstruction jobs in his state and the masses keep quiet; even if that state was never with a single good road before his tenure? How should EFCC swing into action only after the new CBN governor exposed the rot in our banking industry; it cannot claim ignorance of the rot before now. N255million cash was traced to a governor’s personal office after hauled in his official car yet the citizens are cowed into pretending it was no sin. The repentant Militant Boy Loaf said boldly that his foremost sponsor is an aide to the President and the Federal government after arming itself with the list of militants’ sponsors (in a document recovered Tompolo’s enclave), the President still refused to release the names after promising? How could as the world’s fifth oil producer and having refineries, Nigeria still sends its crude-oil to a non-producer for refining and in turn buys back into Nigeria at exorbitant prices? And this is taken into consideration when government talks of subsidy as if its inefficiency is the fault of the masses.
What is really wrong with our leadership?
Alhaji Mutum Bello, 1 Bello Close, Bukuru-Jos

Dear Editor.
A’IBOM PEOPLE NO MORE WHAT YOU THINK
The Ibibios, the Annangs and the Oros are the people of Akwa Ibom State. Before the 21st century, people insinuated that our place is one of those places in Nigeria where seekers of servants and menial jobbers turn to. Even if there was an atom of truth in that I will not agree that it has remained so till date.
Therefore, reading The Nation newspaper’s “News Extra” (pages B1, B2 and B3) of Monday August 31, 2009, I felt bad. The Nation’s story further insinuated that the dislodged shanties and criminal okada riders are mostly Akwa Ibomites. The onus is on the present leadership in Akwa Ibom to call to order The Nation newspaper and others that may report in similar way; we feel hurt by those assertions.
During Victor Attah’s era, our rightful place was rekindled as he confidently went forth to contest to be President of Nigeria and was almost there but for what we all know that happened. Furthermore, the actions that led to the final abrogation of the obnoxious onshore/offshore oil dichotomy that now benefits the entire littoral States was achieved through our citizenry persuasive nature as exhibited in former military governor retired Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, Lady of Songs Christy Essien, first civilian governor (late) Obong Akpan Isemin, including other late/living numerous to mention, and Obong Victor Attah.
I think it is high time all and sundry should desist from subservient toga placed on Akwa Ibom or ‘Calabar' people. We are very enlightened people.
Eno Samuel, Oron Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom

Sir,
AMNESTY MESS: ALAIBE AND SYLVA CONNECTION
Until President Yar’Adua shows sincerity in naming those who are his aides said to be sponsors of the militants, he may know no peace on the matter.
Boy Loaf had volunteered that an aide still in the Presidency gave him and his group initial sponsor fund of N15million in 2005. In his full-page open letter to the President, General Boy Loaf reinforced his claim again. If the President had trusted Boy Loaf to the extent of a receiving him and other repented militants at the Aso Rock, then one is wondering why he is now not disposed to taking him any seriously..
Unless if the President has something he knows and wants to hide like the names of those the federal government said were seen from the document recovered by JTF at the Tompolo’s place, then one sees no reason the President cannot call Boy Loaf to name the Presidential aide that initially sponsored him.. The President’s silence stance on this matter may not depict him any more serious. Are the masses are being deceived?
Now, the situation is getting messier with the accusation and counteraccusation going on between Sylva’s government and the former NDDC Managing Director, Mr. Timi Alaibe, who is now special an aide to the President on things that have to do with disarmament and resolving the militancy Niger Delta. Something as serious as the ongoing demobilization of the militants in the Niger Delta is not considered something that should be glossed over.
Mr. President should speak up, please, to save the gun-powdering keg.
DIOKPA DIKE ODU, 299 OZOMAGALA STREET, ONITSHA, ANAMBRA STATE.

Sir,
GOVERNOR THEODORE ORJI AS A TRUE LEADER
Judging from what probable distractions many perceived the governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, have been getting from the opposition PDP and some overzealous PPA members, Theodore has remained with good qualities of what a party leader should be like.
Many would have expected him, being the custodian of PPA’s only State (Abia), to take a pound of flesh of those fighting him unjustly; he would have jumped at the unsolicited olive-branch being dangled at him by the PDP through the party’s national Chairman Prince Ogbulafor who is his blood relation, I understand. Rather the part which Governor Orji played so far in the crisis rocking the PPA is worthy of commendation.
Governor Theodore Orji speaking at the PPA’s NEC meeting held in Abuja Wednesday 2nd September denounced the rumour that he was PDP-bound like his counterpart in Imo. He was quoted in the ThisDay newspaper of 4/09/09, page 8, thus: “All of us labour to build PPA. You can only destroy your house if you want to be a tenant; and whereas we are all landlords, we know what tenants suffer. If what is happening today to PPA does not happen, then it is no political party. It is our ability to manage the crisis that would make us excel”. Governor Orji expressed optimism that those who left the party would surely come back, to a united home. This should be the stand of a seasoned and sincere leader in time of crisis.
Kenneth Dagogo, Bukuru Road, Jos, Plateau State. dagogok@yahoo.com

FARIDA ON TRIBUTE TO GANI
We should know when to draw the curtain on any given situation. For sure, EFCC Farida Waziri paying tribute to the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, is not in good taste and should be regarded as scorn which no media should accept or give publicity to. She has just celebrated a great relief. Her brother, the Federal Attorney General also paid some tribute to Gani; that one is understandable being a professional colleague. It is no secret that Senator Waku and Justice Minister Mike Andoaaka are from Benue State as Waziri and were the arrow heads in her appointment.
It should be recalled that Gani has a case in court where he was challenging the appointment of Mrs. Farida Waziri for details anyone can get from the court handling the case. It is believed that Gani in his usual self had averred that Farida is not fit for the position she is now occupying; trust him, he substantiated this.
Madam EFCC should please stay away with her tribute and continue in springing up again with her commendable performance so far on those that have messed up the banking sector.
Dr. Ikechukwu Anunobi, 55 Nkisi Road, Onitsha - ikechukwuanunobi@yahoo.com

Dear Editor,
RE: HERE THE SOUTH-SOUTH GOVS/ELDERS GO AGAIN
It is high time one stopped taking the south-south elders and their governors any serious. The governors had their meeting in Asaba Delta State about two months ago and came up with signed communiqué insisting that they would pull out of the amnesty deal that the President proposed for the militants if the federal government failed among other things: to withdraw the Petroleum Bill now in the National House of Assembly; to sack the Petroleum Minister; to rescind its plan to relocate the Petroleum University. Some days earlier, the south-south elders had met in Uyo and had a similar stand.
Suddenly, these groups of people made a full u-turn and could not make good their threat. But some Ijaw movements’ executives including Mr. Eva of IYC shouted foul. Mr. Eva was on Galaxy TV programme recently raining abuses on them and calling them corruption personified, which of course they are.
Again reading the The Punch of 23/09/09 the same south-south governors met in Asaba a day before the publication threatening to withdraw once more from the amnesty arrangement. Chief Edwin Clark’s admirers have been reducing gradually as they now see him as someone who talks from two sides of the month; you hardly could pin-point where he stands nowadays. Both the governors and elders have all again, tongue-in-cheek, say that there is no post-amnesty programme truly on ground, insinuating that October 4 deadline given by federal government to repentant militants to give up their arms is not realizable. Nevertheless, the federal government maintains it is sacrosanct.
So who are the south-south governors and/or elders fooling? Stella Bolokor, 3 Randle Close, VGC-Lagos - stellabolokor@yahoo.com

THE ARIK AIR PROPOSED N30BILLION INVESTMENT IN IBOM AIRPORT
I read through a statement credited to the Vice-Chairman of Arik Air, Senator Aniete Okon, at the commissioning of the newly constructed Ibom international airport. In what was termed test-run of the airport, Arik Air aircraft landed there on 22nd September 2009. I still want to find out why it was a ‘test-run’ instead of inaugural flight because with my little knowledge, you can only test-run a machine or things of the sort. Again one may not call it commissioning as it is said that flights would start at the place in three months’ time, November 2009.
But the most curious question I want to get an answer for is on what part of the airport is the Arik Air going to invest the N30billion (US$200million) that it promised. For all I have read about the airport, it will be revenue earning for that State as it has an MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) facility. Speaking as an aeronautical engineer, whoever initiated the project has a foresight by including the much needed MRO, which I read its components were procured about three years ago.
And for airport/hangar project that the government has spent about US$300million (N45billion) according to what I read, there is no other area Arik Air would invest there, unless for a new airport.
It is very necessary that people are not taken for fools especially those who are not in our field. Let it not be a political talk, Arik Air and Akwa Ibom government should come out with specifics.
MR. AKIN JAMIU, 164 AKILO ROAD, OGBA-LAGOS

DENOUNCING CULTISM: GOV IMOKE STYLE
The style of Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State whereby he got members of his government to swear to an oath denouncing membership of any form of cultism is very commendable.
In the past I read of people going to Okija shrine to take oaths. I have also read of accusations and counteraccusations about the Ogun State officials taking oaths. I heard of a governor of one of the south-south States that allegedly took majority members of his government to his village for oath taking ritual that involved pounding what looked like a day old baby; nevertheless it was said that few refused to participate.
These types of occult oath taking are in order that those involved are bound in secrecy whereas the one by the Cross River State governor and his officials was for them not to belong to any form of cultism. In other words, Imoke was warning anyone among them who is contemplating or already in any type of cult to come out of it otherwise should be ready to face the consequence. Furthermore, while other ones were taken in secret, the one invoked by Imoke was done in the open, with the Holy book.
Come to think of it; most of those in power today in Nigeria are products of cult groups and drug addicts in our higher institutions and most even graduated as lawyers.
OBIDIGBO MGBACHI, 59 MARKET ROAD, EKWULOBIA, ANAMBRA STATE

Dear Editor,
UNDERSTANDING AONDOAKAA AND WAZIRI QUARELL
Mr. Mike Aondoakaa, the Attorney-General of the Federation/Justice Minister and Mrs. Farida Waziri, the Chairman of the EFCC are both from Oshongo Local Government in Benue State. One can understand one thing wrong with most politicians in Nigeria: Each wants to be the only one to be reckoned with in their respective locality as tin-god and therefore would not be comfortable with another rising up to compete. This is the case between Aondoakaa and Waziri.
It happened that during Obasanjo era and while trying to set up the EFCC Obasanjo considered from a list potential persons to head it and it included Nuhu Ribadu, Farida Waziri and others before settling for Nuhu but the former Attorney-General Kanu Agabi preferred Farida. Farida’s husband who was appointed Nigerian Ambassador to Turkey had to leave for the service with her.
When Yar’Adua came in and brought in Aondoakaa as his Attorney-General; and shopping for Ribadu’s replacement, Aondoakaa recommended another lady, retired AIG Wushishi, also from Benue but a different LGA. Yar’Adua sought for alternatives and eventually fell for Farida.
It is easy to now see why Aondoakaa and Farida may not work amicably together. Nevertheless, both Aondoakaa and Waziri did not give accurate information in the matter concerning James, Tinubu, Attah, V-mobile shares and the ADFI. While Aondoakaa included Tinubu in a matter that did not connect him in the first place, Waziri was quick, without cross-checking, to add that none of the three ex-governors were cleared. EFCC had earlier investigated and cleared Attah on the same matter and why Attah’s name should also feature again in her Press Release, calls for questioning. Must she drag her disagreement with her brother to rubbish others?
Alhaji Musa Salem, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, ABUJA.

RE: AKWA IBOM MILITANTS DEFY AMNESTY
Just two weeks back on NTA network, governor Akpabio claimed that there were no militants in Akwa Ibom but for some that infiltrated from Akwa Ibom neighbouring States. I cannot agree totally with our governor because some militants of Akwa Ibom origin and located in Akwa Ibom surrendered their arms and ammunitions as reported in the media. Unless that we are being told that those boys are government-sponsored; some prominent indigenes did allege this.

A shouting headline “Akwa Ibom Militants Defy Amnesty, Continue Kidnapping” in Daily Independent 09/09/09 page A7 claimed that a former Head of Civil Service, Mr. Eseme Essien, was kidnapped as he was coming out of church in Etinan on Sunday 6th September; 24 hours later, a prominent indigene of Akwa Ibom, Jackey Jay, was abducted from (in) his office by unknown gunmen, in Uyo. All these were confirmed by the Police PRO Gabriel Ngban. The last heard of Eseme Essien’s kidnappers, as reported in the Saturday Independent 19/09/09 page A11, was that they are haggling for N12million ransom and the government seems to have backed out of the negotiation.

It should be recalled that the Chairman of Essien Udim LGA (home of the sitting governor), Mr. Nse Ntuen, was sometime ago ‘kidnapped’, and according to his widely reported statement, the kidnappers asked for N500million ransom for him to get freed. Ntuen who was later set free. He told journalists that his gratitude goes to the governor Akpabio ‘for securing my release’. He refused mentioning how much the State governor coughed out to secure his ‘release’. The governor on his part has refused to say in spite of public inquisition for umpteenth time.

Also no news has been made public about the ‘kidnapped’ father of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Pa Edet as to whether he is still in captivity or released. Soon we may hear that ‘ransom’ was paid by (government) to secure his release.
Mr. Samuel Okon Bassey, Goldie Street, Calabar

Sir,
WHAT A SHAME TO NIGERIAN LEADERSHIP
We all read about how President Yar’Adua has decided to miss a life-time opportunity of putting Nigeria rebranding concept better to the entire world through United Nations Assembly where he was slotted to talk about the country he presides over. That meeting, which starts Wednesday 23rd September 2009 at the United Nations Headquarters, had other openings for private meetings in which the President would have interacted with others, especially Obama, and corrected any wrong impression the world leaders have of Nigeria. Instead the President chose to send Foreign Affairs Minister Ojo Maduekwe who would not have the opportunity of sitting in those exclusivities.
I do not have much misgiving about the president’s miscalculations on this issue but what got me angry was reading in the media today (22/09/09) that the President was leaving for a working visit to Saudi Arabia today, a day to when he had the opportunity to clear issues with the world about our nation. The president had recently visited Saudi Arabia for both lesser Hajj and medical checkup. Why going to the place again? If the President’s health is deteriorating, the nation should know so that we all go into prayers for improvement because there would not be any justification traveling again to Saudi Arabia. We cannot accept the simple reason that the President wants to have some talks with the Saudi King (the opportunity he did not have during the lesser Hajj?) and also what is special for him to be the Special Guest of Honour at the opening of the new King Abdullah University of Science and Technology than presently an address at the United Nations?
I believe the President has a serious explanation to make to the nation unless we are being told that we do not have a democratically elected one.
ITORO AKPABIO, UMUAHIA ROAD, IKOT EKPENE, AKWA IBOM STATE

Sir,
PASSING OF A STATE BUDGET UNDER ONE WEEK?
I was shocked reading from the print media on September 10, 2009, the passing into law of N75.6billion (a figure twice annual budget of some State governments in the federation) as supplementary budget by Akwa Ibom State government. This is coming at the time when one is reading that Lagos and Abia States were realigning their 2009 budget’s sub-heads without increasing the amounts.
The passing into law of this supplementary budget was done within seven days from the day governor Akapbio submitted the Bill to the State House of Assembly. Speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Mr. Ignatius Edet, said that the Bill passed three readings and a ‘thorough’ scrutiny carried out by the appropriate committee. It finally (within the same seven days) got back to the committee of the whole house where it was passage into law.
Questions that are being asked are: What time was at the disposal of the ‘appropriate committee’ within that one week to have concluded its work? And the Bill was read three times, all within the same time frame? Furthermore, reading the projects that would consume this huge supplementary budget, one was not able to pinpoint anything different from those details contained in the (main) original 2009 budget and as earlier published. One therefore may not even be wrong to conclude that such a supplementary budget, which is the first by any State in the federation, could be described as frivolous and with an undertone of ulterior motives. This huge amount as supplementary budget could also send envy from those States, especially in the north, whose annual budgets are being disgraced or taken as child’s play.
It is actually worrisome how some State governments are taking their citizens for granted; treating State matters and finances as if they are their private estates.
We just must be careful with our present democracy; and what would happen to some people when they are no longer covered by the immunity clause is better imagined.
DR. JEROME JIGA, 7 SHEHU CLOSE, ZARIA-KADUNA STATE

Dear Sir,
NOT EGWU OR MADUEKWE SHOULD REPLACE OGBULAFOR
Baring wonders or surprises that may never end with PDP seen to be treating corruption with kid-gloves, from what was in the media recently; it is becoming very evident that the embattled PDP national Chairman, Prince Ogbulafor is due to be changed. Ogbulafor has been fingered in many party confusions and corrupt enrichment both when he was Minister for Special Duties and presently taking contracts here and there the States with a bid to supporting the sitting governors for return tickets.
In the report, it was touted that a serving Minister who is an ex-governor from the South East is likely to take over from Ogbulafor. Well, simply put, it has to be either Achike Udenwa of Commerce Ministry, formerly Imo governor or Sam Egwu of Education Ministry who governed Ebonyi State. Sunday Trust article also speculated Foreign Affairs Minister Ojo Maduekwe. One wonders why none has speculated the most appropriate person - Senator Pius Anyim.
Rating: Udenwa has been facing his job as Minister and so far has no controversy surrounding his performance, but we all know how badly Egwu has been handling Education Ministry. Egwu has all along been in the academic world; therefore putting him in that Ministry was one of the most thoughtfulness of Yar’Adua. But if Egwu has failed there, then is it the biggest Party that he would be able to handle? From the grapevine, if this man is put there, many top Party men are ready to resign because they see it as the party going from fry-pan to fire. Ojo Maduekwe, could not conscript his local constituency to PDP during the last elections. He and Ogbulafor moreover are the central figures to PDP unsettled position in Abia State.
But come what may, Ogbulafor is due for change at mid-term convention of PDP early 2010 because one man’s incompetence should not be allowed to destroy a house of collection of men.
CHIEF KENNETH HOLMSES, 234 OKIGWE ROAD, OWERRI

YAR’ADUA HUNTING FOR RATS WHEN HOUSE IS BURNING
Even a blind mind or an imbecile would not subscribe to Yar’Adua’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia, just for the purpose of being a Special Guest of Honour at the inauguration of a higher institution of learning in that country. He left unattended the United Nations invitation where he was offered opportunity to drive home the Nigeria project. He instead requested to be represented by the Foreign Affairs Minister Ojo Maduekwe; not even the Vice-President was considered most appropriate to represent him.
But the most annoying aspect is that while Yar’Adua’s home higher institutions are reeling in about three-month-old strike with no end in sight, he left for such an assignment as he did in another country. So he values higher institutions? This can be likened to when Akwa Ibom governor left his ASUTECH for close to two years while at the same time left to receive a honorary doctorate in a Katsina College of Technology.
President Yar’Adua is so much in love with Nigeria he is presides over yet his party (PDP) was holding an all important meeting in his absence. One wonders why the President is always not finding it expedient to prioritize his schedule for the good of the nation. The other time, he jetted out for weeks on an unannounced ‘lesser hajj’ and at another he left for Brazil while his home was on fire with ‘Boko Haram’. He condones corruption as if it does not bother him and this is very evidently sad.
I do not care whatever form it takes, we need revolution to sanitize leadership of our nation. Nigeria must move forward; right now it is sliding so rapidly that almost every facet of the nation is under threat.
JOHNBULL O. OKON, MARIAM EXTENSION, CALABAR - (jokonosung@yahoo.com)

Dear Editor,
RE: HERE THE SOUTH-SOUTH GOVS/ELDERS GO AGAIN
It is high time one stopped taking the south-south elders and their governors any serious. The governors had their meeting in Asaba Delta State about two months ago and came up with signed communiqué insisting that they would pull out of the amnesty deal that the President proposed for the militants if the federal government failed among other things: to withdraw the Petroleum Bill now in the National House of Assembly; to sack the Petroleum Minister; to rescind its plan to relocate the Petroleum University. Some days earlier, the south-south elders had met in Uyo and had a similar stand.
Suddenly, these groups of people made a full u-turn and could not make good their threat. But some Ijaw movements’ executives including Mr. Eva of IYC shouted foul. Mr. Eva was on Galaxy TV programme recently raining abuses on them and calling them corruption personified, which of course they are.
Again reading the The Punch of 23/09/09 the same south-south governors met in Asaba a day before the publication threatening to withdraw once more from the amnesty arrangement. Chief Edwin Clark’s admirers have been reducing gradually as they now see him as someone who talks from two sides of the month; you hardly could pin-point where he stands nowadays. Both the governors and elders have all again, tongue-in-cheek, say that there is no post-amnesty programme truly on ground, insinuating that October 4 deadline given by federal government to repentant militants to give up their arms is not realizable. Nevertheless, the federal government maintains it is sacrosanct.
So who are the south-south governors and/or elders fooling? Stella Bolokor, 3 Randle Close, VGC-Lagos - stellabolokor@yahoo.com

THE ARIK AIR PROPOSED N30BILLION INVESTMENT IN IBOM AIRPORT
I read through a statement credited to the Vice-Chairman of Arik Air, Senator Aniete Okon, at the commissioning of the newly constructed Ibom international airport. In what was termed test-run of the airport, Arik Air aircraft landed there on 22nd September 2009. I still want to find out why it was a ‘test-run’ instead of inaugural flight because with my little knowledge, you can only test-run a machine or things of the sort. Again one may not call it commissioning as it is said that flights would start at the place in three months’ time, November 2009.
But the most curious question I want to get an answer for is on what part of the airport is the Arik Air going to invest the N30billion (US$200million) that it promised. For all I have read about the airport, it will be revenue earning for that State as it has an MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) facility. Speaking as an aeronautical engineer, whoever initiated the project has a foresight by including the much needed MRO, which I read its components were procured about three years ago.
And for airport/hangar project that the government has spent about US$300million (N45billion) according to what I read, there is no other area Arik Air would invest there, unless for a new airport.
It is very necessary that people are not taken for fools especially those who are not in our field. Let it not be a political talk, Arik Air and Akwa Ibom government should come out with specifics.
MR. AKIN JAMIU, 164 AKILO ROAD, OGBA-LAGOS

Dear Editor,
IS YAR’ADUA GOVT SHOWCASING MEDIOCRITY?
If I am asked to give verdict whether Yar’Adua’s government is showcasing mediocrity, I may not be able to give an accurate answer. One wonders when governance which is supposed to be a serious business that involves lives of the governed should show the seriousness it deserves.
Watching the Weekend File on NTA Saturday October 3, 2009 and the picture that adorned many of the previous day’s newspapers, I seem to pity President Yar’Adua. Starting with the picture that accompanied the newspaper story, I could see the President and the Vice President beaming with smiles while the repentant militant warlord Tom Ateke wearing a serious look. The President has not won until he starts those post-amnesty promises with great vigour which includes speedy development of the slums in the Niger Delta area because those militants must have been surprised at how Abuja and Aso Rock look like.
And now to NTA’s that got me pissed off; it was as if we watched unserious comedy. Something that should be done in closet was offered to us as if it is an important national assignment for the President. What has the President settling common quarrel between Governor Sylva and Timi Alaibe which had Nduka Obaigbena of This Day newspaper as the mediator got to do with governance and why was it taken as if it is of national importance? The show depicts that the President does not have other serious businesses to handle, whereas we have lots of pressing national issues unattended to.
Please Mr. President should buckle up.
Ms Eno Ntuk, Oron Road, Uyo

Dear Editor Sir;
BI-COUNTRY AND ARIK AIR
The federal government has given in, as it were, on the concession of the Lagos Airport to Bi-Country and the Arik Air is regretting to leave the part of the airport that involved this exercise because they were already there. Well Arik Air has no choice on the matter.
But as if to say that since what it would be missing at the Lagos Airport, it can get from Akwa Ibom; probably that informed the statement by Arik Air Vice Chairman, Senator Aniete Okon, in which he said the company would invest N30billion in the Ibom airport, a facility which Akwa Ibom State government claimed it invested N45billion to complete.
The questions now are: Would Arik’s proposed investment means that it would control about 66% equity in the Ibom Airport project? If so, it would mean that the concession status granted Bi-country which Arik was against is what it wants happen in Akwa Ibom. Would Akwa Ibom people accept that Arik takes over majority equity in the project? Who are the present owners of Arik in real sense of it? The people should consider this and the news making the round now may turn out to be the biblical “voice of Jacob but hand of Esau” just as many people are saying that the former President Obansanjo has a hand in the Bi-country.
Whatever the case, it is a matter of time; and the facts would play out.
DR. PETER KOSOWEI, 421 ABA ROAD, P.H., RIVERS STATE PETERKOSOWEI@YAHOO.COM

Dear Sir:
THE QUESTION OF 17 DIALYSIS MACHINES AT UUTH
One thing is clear: Most Nigerian leaders tell cheap lies when trying to impress on the gullible masses. Under that cover, they live in affluence with public funds, impoverishing the same masses. The situation looks so annoying.
Let us take the instance where in a broadcast, Governor Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, while reeling out his achievements mentioned that he built a Dialysis Centre at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) and donated to it 17 dialysis machines; UUTH is a federal institution. He must have gotten applause not only from the citizens who look forward to using the machines but also from the federal Ministry of Health and that of Education. To me I consider this among simple and verifiable lies that need not be told. This governor knows that the centre could only contain about 5 or 6 of such machines and that 3 or 4 had been provided by his predecessor in office under whose administration the Centre was also built. This 17 dialysis machines issue has been making the news for a while now and the governor is aware of this, therefore he is morally supposed to correct the erroneous information he gave his citizens. I know about this topic very well, hence I can talk authoritatively. Recently and in confirmation of this, I read press statement from Attah’s personal assistant, Ms Ijeoma Orjih. Akpabio should challenge it if he feels it is not in order.
The media should always help in bringing out those doubtful sides of people in leadership so as to make them accountable. All brazen lies and fraudulent and contentious life styles of our leaders must be challenged. They were never elected or selected to lead as dictators. They form all kinds of security outfits around them, all aimed at staying in power.
But what pains me most is that the more these leaders loot, more sycophants are created and the gullible Nigerians look helpless, hopeless and hapless. It is so disturbing and annoying that the situation must be addressed.
DR. EPHRAIM DICKSON, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA TEACHING HOSPITAL, ENUGU(EPHRAIMDICKSON@YAHOO.COM)

Sir:
FEC FAILURE TO HOLD: WAITING FOR QUERY TO YAYALE
At times, when one considers what type of governance we enjoy in Nigeria, it makes heart bleed. The Minister of Information and Communication, Prof Dora Akunyili was all over the media on Thursday 24/09/09 telling the nation why the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting could not hold as usual the previous day.
Curiously and funny enough she attributed it to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) which she said could not draw up the Agenda and compilation of the various papers for the failed meeting. She went further to inform an excuse that because of the Monday and Tuesday preceding that were public holidays, it affected the whole preparation. What a serious government!
I would rather suggest to the Information Minister that if there were nothing she wants to inform the nation, she should simply not say anything. Why must a public holiday affect a routinely held meeting of Nigeria government? She should tell us that because the President had travelled out of the country to Saudi Arabia hence the meeting could not hold; people would have taken that better. Is it an offence for the Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to act for the President? One expects that the SGF should be queried publicly for this national disgrace.

BENJAMIN MADUKA, 3 ALHERI CLOSE, JIMETA-YOLA. MADUKABENJAMIN@YAHOO.COM

Dear Sir;
FARIDA ON PSYCHIATRIC TEST FOR OFFICE CONTENDERS
It looks like the EFCC leadership is waking up from slumber. Recently the EFCC Chairman, Waziri, said “The extent of aggrandizement and accumulation of wealth that I have observed suggests to me that some people are mentally and psychologically unsuitable for public office. We have observed people amassing public wealth to a point suggesting madness or some form of obsessive-compulsive psychiatric disorder”. When she revealed that some governors use drugs without letting us know those, what does she expect?
But why is Waziri still keeping quiet over the information she volunteered when she averred sometime ago that a first-term governor had bought a property worth billions of Naira in Abuja within few months in office? Why is she also turning her eyes away from a published letter in the media recently, about Union Homes (a subsidiary of Union Bank PLC) where a bank facility of about one billion Naira which a sitting governor of one of the south-south States had accumulated but now seems to have disappeared in the bank’s record? The sacked Union Bank Managing Director shielded the governor who is alleged to have come from the State as he. He had stopped a court action which the bank’s external lawyers were initially contracted to handle. How was the amount settled; with public fund or written off as bad debt?
EFCC leadership should stop all this type of talks which may be to gain public support or present it as not lacking in its (operational) modus operandi. It should move into actions. It is not only the president, vice-president, governors, other elected office holders and ministers that should be psychiatrically tested but also those who are being appointed to anti-graft agencies and judiciary so that they do not continue compromising in their duties.
CHIEF BARNABAS OSUANLELE, 198 IKPOBA RIAD, BENIN CITY – EDO STATE

Sir,
THE RANTING AT THE PDP NEC MEETING
Considering what transpired at the just-concluded PDP NEC meeting at Abuja, I envision what would be the fate of PDP come 2011. President Yar’Adua was absent due his travel to Saudi Arabia as Special Guest of Honour at the inauguration of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. He preferred that to the United Nations summit where he would have served his nation best,
One read that the serving governors expectedly rallied round the Party’s national chairman, Prince Ogbulafor, to retain his seat. Who actually told them that Ogbulafor could have been removed by the ordinary NEC meeting that warranted the panicky vote of confidence? To start with, the governors must be joking or must have been uneducated not to know that Ogbulafor ouster would be done at the mid-term convention early 2010 and not the ordinary PDP NEC meeting that just concluded.
Another aspect was the stupid point raised by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu where he tried to move that any member of the party that tries to correct any sitting governor through the media must be sanctioned. Iwuanyanwu, I believe must have a personal or business problem that made him play the good-boy for governors’ patronages. The joker felt disappointed when no motion could be moved for the idea he touted. By so trying to suggest, it shows that people like him do not believe in democratic norms which in any case are not deep-rooted in the PDP.
I also read front page of The Nation newspaper of 27/09/09 where Anenih, Iwuanyanwu and a Minister were reported to have been mandated to lead the re-election gang for President Yar’Adua. I am sure Anenih would not like to be dragged into such because he does not look ‘sick’ person; he would better let others who are, do such a job.
PDP needs to retain the presidency. Reading the back page of Leadership newspaper 28/09/09 an article by its publisher, Sam Nda-Isaiah, titled “What a President!” I strengthened my belief that Nigeria under Yar’Adua leadership has lost her position in the comity of nations.
Mr. Yinka Aderemi, Fasheun Close, Molete, Ibadan

Dear Sir,
KUDOS TO TURAI ON MAINTENANCE CULTURE
I was impressed watching TV where the Nigeria First Lady, Hadjia Turai Yar’Adua talked on her recent visit to European countries and relating to her pet (cancer eradication) project. Watching and listening Turai’s comments on the television when she conferred with the first lady of Czechs Republic, I was further impressed.
She was taken through a building structure said to have been constructed hundreds of years ago and still being maintained instead of being brought down for a new one. She confessed that unlike in Nigeria where people prefer new things by destroying old ones, she has gotten something to take back to Nigeria. She would like to preach to Nigerians how not to destroy old and magnificent buildings but renew them for historic posterity, and rather put funds for their reconstructions to other meaningful projects that would benefit the masses.
Back home in Nigeria I recollect that few months ago, the Akwa Ibom governor Akpabio came under criticism for pulling down a magnificent governor’s lodge built by Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga regime in the 80s and which continued to house subsequent governors of Akwa Ibom State. He pulled down this edifice was still under 20years old and built a new one by awarding contract to a German company, Julius Berger, at an exorbitant cost of about N7billion; just for a ‘befitting’ abode of the governor. In Germany (home of the Julius Berger) old magnificent buildings are kept and not knocked down. Last week the Managing Director of Julius Berger was seen in the media handing over to the governor key to the completed building and I think that show (publicity) was unnecessary.
Her Excellency, Turai Yar’Adua should throw her advice to such situations, if she is sincere with what she observed oversee.
SUNDAY ISONG, 88 KEHINDE STREET, AGBARA OGUN STATE.

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