Aziza Uko: Fighting Corruption Differently And Getting Results

Do you think that corruption is worse in Nigeria now than some 10 years ago? Well, let us look at figures from the most reliable authority on that: Transparency International. Every year, Transparency International publishes the Corruption Perceptions Index.

Obasanjo's years
2000 – 90th out of 90
2001 – 90th out of 91
2002 – 101st out of 102
2003 – 132nd out of 133
2004 – 144th out of 146
2005 – 152nd out of 158
2006 – 142th out of 163

Jonathan's years
2011 – 143rd out of 182
2012 – 139th out of 174
2013 – 144th out of 175
2014 – 136th out of 174

A look at the figures shows that Nigeria is judged less corrupt now than in the President Olusegun Obasanjo's years in spite of the bravado of the then Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Many will find this hard to believe. Nigeria does not occupy an enviable position on the Corruption Perceptions Index, but it is obvious that Nigeria has made some progress. This progress is not by chance.

What does Transparency International see about Nigeria's fight against corruption that many Nigerians don't see? It's simple. Transparency International notices that unlike the showmanship of the past, more proactive measures are being taken today to prevent corruption rather than pursuing alleged offenders. For example, by registering 12 million farmers and contacting them directly through the e-wallet to collect fertilizer and improved seedlings, the government cut off middlemen who aid corruption. Consequently, there will be no need to spend time and resources pursuing, arresting, and prosecuting middlemen for fertilizer corruption.

Also, the ban on police checkpoints was a bold step that reduced the chance of the public witnessing extortion on the streets. The reduction in the number of agencies at the seaports and airports who inspect containers and cargoes and delay clearance of goods also caused a silent reduction of corruption in these areas.

The privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was a source of reduction or elimination in corruption in that company known for its corruption.

And most importantly, the transparency of the general elections in 2011 and the elections in states like Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, and Osun was a plus for Nigeria. Since Jonathan came into office in 2010, there have been a reduction in electoral court cases. In addition, no governor has been sacked by the court for being wrongly declared the winner of an election.

As innocuous as these pre-emptive measures are, Transparency International sees them and they count in our favour during the rating.

Now look at these:
*  N400 billion in procurement fraud saved due to the strengthening of the Bureau for Public Procurement operations.
*  N370 billion of fraudulent oil subsidy claims identified by the presidential task force.
*  73,000 ghost pensioners deleted from the records by the police pension office.
*  200 properties such as hotels seized from corrupt public officials.
*  117 convictions secured by the EFCC just in 2013.

To many observers, these numbers appear like a beacon of light in the darkness of fraud, embezzlement, bribery, and theft. They represent some of the achievements the administration has been able to attain under President Goodluck Jonathan over the past few years.

This has not been an easy feat. It is no exaggeration to say that Nigeria has experienced a number of very tough years lately. 2014, especially, can rightly be called an annus horribilis: the unspeakable violence emanating from Boko Haram; the intimidating threat of Ebola to inflict human suffering on an unprecedented scale not only in Nigeria, but in Africa as a continent. These daunting challenges would be enough to bring the strongest of nations down to their knees.

In this truly difficult environment, it is even more remarkable that under the leadership of President Jonathan the fight against corruption has made further inroads in Nigerian politics, business, and society at large.

Corruption is a tough enemy to conquer. When you fight corruption, corruption fights back vigorously, vehemently, and viciously. More than just criminal behaviour by individual perpetrators, corruption must be viewed as a sociological phenomenon. It can pervade all of society, rich or poor, black or white, Christian or Muslim. It can be in the air we breathe and become a way of life.

Its consequences, though often not visible at first, are catastrophic. The political institutions as well as economic performance of corrupt countries deteriorate over time. The result is that eventually investors look for opportunities someplace else. In the words of Professor François Melese, writing on corruption in The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics: "By discouraging investment, corruption crushes economic growth and slashes per capita incomes. Corruption breeds poverty, and poverty kills. In other words, corruption kills."

Because it is such a powerful foe, the fact that President Jonathan's resolve to fight it is unshaken should be welcomed by all democratic forces in society. It is encouraging indeed that the President can be quoted as saying: "Let me put you on notice: the assignment of offices is not an allocation of privileges."

The fight against corruption will never be entirely over. No society on earth has been able to rid itself of it completely. But for contemporary Nigeria, not giving in to the evil forces of corruption is an integral part of its great transformation: one of the main building blocks for more prosperity, stability, and democracy.

President Jonathan himself said it best: "Democracy is a journey that every nation, mindful of advancing the liberty of its citizens, must undertake." This amounts to a paradigm shift that looks at the fight against corruption as a process, not an action authorities can take at will.

Thus, the advances of the Jonathan administration since the year 2010 are tangible. Significantly, for instance, the EFCC has been granted independence from the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice. This measure frees this pivotal authority in its fight against corruption from the influence of the political sphere. Full and true independence for the EFCC is of critical importance. Furthermore, the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) came alive recently. This will help to close one of the major avenues of public-sector corruption. More than 50 thousand ghost workers have been eliminated, saving the country next to N140 billion. In addition, those longtime staples of corruption in Nigeria, such as fertilizer subsidy fraud, PMS subsidy fraud, or pension fraud have been tackled. Several corrupt judges have been fired. For the first time, a system which monitors who the real recipients of agricultural subsidies are has been installed.

It is this plethora of measures successfully applied under President Jonathan that gives hope that the fight against corruption will continue unabated with him. Today, the facts tell us that President Jonathan is delivering on this promise he made a while ago: "The time of lamentation is over. This is the era of transformation. This is the time for action." President Jonathan must expand the scope and style of this fight against corruption, so that more results can be achieved.

But most importantly, we as individuals must take a decision to resist bribery and corruption in our own little corners. We must refuse to demand gratification before performing the duties for which we are paid salaries. From the journalist that demands a brown envelope to write his or her stories to the manager that demands a bribe to sign a document, corruption thrives. Corruption is not only a crime of those in political offices. Anybody in a small office who demands a small bribe now will demand a big bribe when in a big office.

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Aziza Uko is Executive Editor of The Trent. She is also Chief Executive of Ziza Group, a company she founded in 2009. She is award winning graduate of marketing and a marketing communications professional with over 16 years post graduation experience. She is a writer, editor, and music lover. She can be reached on Twitter at @azizauko
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Just In: PDP Lifts The Suspension Of Bamanga Tukur

The Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday announced the lifting of the suspension of a former Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, announced the lifting of the suspension at the presidential rally of the party in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

Tukur was suspended in December 2014 for dragging the party before the court in his attempt to reclaim the chairmanship of the party, where he was forced to resign in January last year.

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Source: The Punch


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Buhari Has Expressed Confidence That Nigeria Will Move Forward Again.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari has expressed confidence that Nigeria will move forward again.

Buhari said this while expressing gratitude to Nigerians for believing in him and giving his campaign a rousing welcome everywhere he went.

He said this in a statement signed on his behalf by the Director of the APC Presidential Campaign, Mallam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, on Thursday.

According to him, the huge reception his campaign trails have received in all the states visited across the country thus far, indicates how desperately Nigerians are yearning for change.


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Source: The Punch


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IBB: Jonathan Has A Very Strong Belief About The Unity Of Nigeria

Former military president,Gen Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has cleared the air on his preferred candidate in the forth-coming presidential election saying that he endorses all the candidates.

Babangida made this known yesterday in a CHANNELS Television talk show programme, Straight Talk where he said all the candidates have shown passion for the unity of the country.

Asked by the programme presenter, Kadaria Ahmed if he actually endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as was reported in the media, Babangida said he actually alluded to it.
"I did allude to that, I said I found him [President Jonathan] as someone who has a very strong belief about the unity of this country.


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Source: LEADERSHIP


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Nigeria-China Trade Volume Exceeds $16bn In 2014 – Official

The trade volume between Nigeria and China in 2014 exceeded 16 billion dollar in 2014, Deputy Chief of Mission, Chinese Embassy, Mr Zhang Bin has said.

Zhang told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that the figure exceeded that of 2013, which he put at 13.5 billion dollar.

According to him, China is currently the third largest trading partner of Nigeria adding, that the country is looking at possibilities of improving balancing of trade with Nigeria.

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Source: LEADERSHIP


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Mario Balotelli Will Stay At Liverpool, Says Agent

Mario Balotelli's agent has revealed the striker is 'very disappointed' with his time at Liverpool but has no immediate plans to leave the club.

The former AC Milan striker has failed to score a single Premier League goal since arriving at Anfield for £16million and has faced considerable criticism from supporters.

But Balotelli's agent, Mino Raiola, said the striker is not ready to turn his back on Brendan Rodgers.

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Source: Sportsmail


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Real Madrid Set To Rename Stadium Abu Dhabi Bernabeu

As well as having it's name behind one of European football's biggest clubs Manchester City, Abu Dhabi now looks set to have its name in front of one of the world's most emblematic stadiums – the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Arab Emirate that has bankrolled Manchester City entered into a financial partnership with Real Madrid last November and for around £15million a year over a reported 20-year period they have won the naming rights for the club's stadium according to Diario AS.

Coca-Cola and Microsoft had both shown an interest in having their name on the Bernabeu but the race looks to have been won by the Spanish energy company Cepsa which in turn is owned by the IPIC (International Petroleum
Investment Company) which is owned by the Abu Dhabi government.

Madrid-based Cepsa is Spain's fourth largest industrial group in terms of turnover, while IPIC, formed in 1984, has invested in 18 leading companies within the energy and related sectors across the globe.

In November of last year when the three-year tie-up between IPIC and Real announced by Madrid, president Florentino Perez was caught on camera saying the stadium will be called 'IPIC or Cespa, whatever they want'.

According to the AS report the sponsors have settled for 'Abu Dhabi Bernabeu'.


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Source: Sportsmail
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Graham Poll: To referee Diego Costa have a few words with him before kick-off

While it is not correct to pre-judge a player you are about to referee, it is essential to prepare.

If I was refereeing Diego Costa, I would look to have a few words with him before the game, in public, most likely on the pitch in the warm-up. I would make sure that John Terry, as his captain, was present.

Costa is a gifted player but feels hard done by.
He believes he has not had the rub of the green from referees when he has been fouled in the penalty area but booked for diving instead.

Because of this, he feels the need to protect himself — that is why he squares up to people. He will not back down in a stand-off and he reminds me of Roy Keane — a player I refereed more than 50 times.

While I cautioned Roy numerous times, I never sent him off. We established mutual respect and he trusted me to deal with him fairly. This is what Costa needs now.

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Source: Sportsmail


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Shaka Momodu: What Manner Of Change Is APC Chanting?

As I sit down to write this piece, I cannot but be amused by the change chorus around me. Even though I sense some genuine desire to have things go in a different direction, I get this sneaky feeling that a vast majority of Nigerians are being duped by some smart and clever businessmen masquerading as progressive democrats and agents of change. They sensed resentment and keyed in with the change slogan which seems to have caught on like a wildfire in the harmattan. But when you ask those clamouring for change; change to what? They just stare blankly at you unsure of how to answer. And when the answer eventually comes, it's a disappointment, "we just want change." That is the first inkling you get that some of our choristers of change hardly understand the issues at stake.

Now, are these promoters of change really agents of change? Are they really the democrats they profess to be? The evidence around me suggests otherwise. I think they are part of the problems Nigerians need change from. The values and virtues of democracy which they profess and claim allegiance are observed more in breach by these people who claim to be the long awaited messiahs destined to liberate our countrymen from the bondage of corrupt managers of public wealth.

They remind us every day of the rot in the system – corruption at the centre, growing unemployment, insecurity in the land, irregular power supply etc. Of course, these are facts that cannot be disputed. But what they fail to tell us is that they have been part and parcel of the rot and share in the responsibility and blame for the situation in the country today. They fail to remind us that they are among the greatest beneficiaries of the weak institutions that have made the country a wobbling giant. They fail to tell Nigerians that they have become richer and more prosperous on account of their holding public offices in this democracy. They want change not to serve the people but to serve their own interests and those of their cronies. They just want more money to increase their vast wealth to further their private benefits at the expense of public good. But they have found a strap line that resonates well with the people to anchor their quest for power, but no one is guiltier of practices detrimental to public good than these so-called agents of change. Their daily conduct is a mockery of their progressive hymn; the solemnity of their pledges to liberate the people is hollow, impiety and deceptive.

Now, let's take a look for a moment at the promoters of change. Former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu at the Redemption Rally organised by the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Akure to mobilise support for the party's candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, in the last Ondo governorship election openly boasted how he funded Olusegun Mimiko's election with millions of pounds. He said: "Mimiko claimed that I did not spend money when he had problems with his mandate; this is not true. It is a lie. He came to me and begged for support, rolling on the ground.

"He collected money from me. I spent millions of pounds sterling but he betrayed me. It was Yemi Osinbajo who travelled to Israel and other countries to arrange the experts that helped him prosecute the case. Mimiko has called me a godfather, yes, I am a positive godfather and even, godfatherism is biblical and that is why Christians refer to God as their Father. I play godfatherism in the South-west for the good of our people. My godfatherism is for progress and mentoring. I have brought development to Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, Edo and Ogun States and the people are better for it."

Now, were the millions of pounds sterling earnings from entrepreneurship or money made from holding public office?  We hear of his vast wealth spanning real estate, media, construction, hospitality etc.  It is this same man that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the "Navigator" of APC, referred to in his book, My Watch, as "having the worst case of corruption". Till this moment, there has been no reaction from Tinubu.

Recall how he railroaded his wife into the Senate to replace a man who was far more experienced in legislative activities. Today, his wife merely sits in the Senate warming the seat, hardly making any meaningful contribution on the floor of debate. Lest we forget, his sister-in-law was also planted in the Lagos State House of Assembly. His son-in-law is also in the House of Representatives. This is the height of nepotism.

But nothing underscores Tinubu's pretentious claim to the principles of democracy than his arbitrary appointment of his daughter, Sade, as the Iyaloja of Market Women and Traders in Lagos following the demise of his mother, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, who held the position. A true and progressive democrat would have thrown the position open to elective contest. But that was not to be as he simply pronounced his 40-year-old daughter at the time, who is not even a trader, the President General of Market Women and Traders in Lagos, practically decreeing it a hereditary position. There is a saying that, "you can't like the fruits of a tree and hate the tree." A true democrat must not only preach it but practise it in all its manifestations.

Imagine if it was President Goodluck Jonathan that appointed his daughter as President of Market Women and Traders, all hell would have broken loose in the country. APC and those fraudulent human rights activists would have been shouting to high heavens in condemnation; lawyers – hundreds of SANs would have been jostling to represent the traders in court free of charge to challenge the imposition. But Tinubu did it against all known sense of decency and not a whimper from these hypocritical sets of people who by their own choosing lay claim to being the custodians of public good. From the pro-democracy activists to the constitutional lawyers who see two similar impunities with double vision and twin morality to the godfather goaded to continue to dupe the conscience of the people, there is no difference between their sins.

Governor Babatunde Fashola is on a swing after being initially at odds with his godfather's preference to succeed him. He seems to have accepted the reality of his own near-zero political value and has embraced the man he initially kicked against. He fought his godfather through proxies, culminating in an open contest where he was roundly beaten. The old fox taught his godson a very bitter lesson on how not to challenge a benefactor. When the primaries were held, the distance between the godfather's preference and godson's were miles apart.

How can one explain that after eight years in office and with well over N4 trillion in revenue expended, pipe borne water is still a scarce resource in Lagos? An estimated 90 per cent of Lagosians have no access to this vital necessity of life. Nearly every household today self-provides this essential resource by sinking a borehole. Recall here that the situation wasn't this bad before Fashola's rise to power. Even if the situation was bad, the governor's record on this score is a miserable failure.

Under Fashola, instead of more people having access to pipe borne water, what we are seeing is a rapid decline of access to this necessity of life. Many public schools have no roofs, toilets, tables, and chairs as students sit on worn-out tyres to take lectures in classrooms that have neither windows nor doors. This is the state of some public schools especially the primary schools in Fashola's Lagos. The state of most roads in the state is nothing to write home about. Just visit a place like Ikorodu or Iyani Ipaja and you will understand what I mean. The health sector has deteriorated to the level of "mere consulting clinics," i.e. if you see a doctor to consult. If you think I am lying, visit any of the public health facilities in Lagos and tell me if any, I repeat if any, befits our so-called "centre of excellence".

I am also curious to know the policies Fashola initiated to help the unable become able and as such help lift more people out of the poverty index. Affordable housing is still a pipe dream in this mega-city state. What has he done to ease the challenges faced by the people in this regard?  This is the man now at the forefront of change campaign. The man who could not change the dilapidated infrastructure in public schools, health sector or provide pipe borne water for Lagosians after nearly eight years in office as governor is the one telling Nigerians that help is coming from Buhari.  Former Governor Lateef Jakande's temporary school structures litter the state, almost 32 years after he left office. Lagosians should ask him, if he truly shares in their pains and identifies with their problems as he claims to be, then why are his children not attending public schools or using public health facilities like ordinary people?

Perhaps, more than anything else, Fashola's hypocrisy played out last week, finally revealing the internal contradictions in their message of change.

When I read the statement made by the governor urging Lagosians not to vote for an old man, Jimi Agbaje (57), I chuckled, unsure of what he meant. Hear him: "You know what you have to do, open your eyes clearly. When I took this job, I was 44, I was counting the white hair on my head. Today, at 52, I am counting the black hair on my head. Akinwunmi Ambode is younger than me; you need youthfulness to do this job. That man (referring to Jimi Agbaje) is already 60; he cannot cope with this job. If you call him at night he may not take your call."

The same Fashola, who feels Agbaje whom he claims, is 60 but whose actual age is said to be 57 is too old to govern Lagos, has been campaigning vigorously for Muhammadu Buhari (72) to be elected to govern Nigeria.
Now hear him defend his position on Buhari: "Some people are challenging me that if I say Agbaje is too old to govern Lagos, what about Buhari who is older? My response is this: We all agree that we have problem of insecurity in the country. Between Jonathan and Buhari who is the most experienced to tackle security issue? We all know Buhari is an experienced security expert. Then on corruption issue, who is the most credible among them? It is only Buhari. He has ruled Nigeria before and headed several positions without record of corruption and mismanagement."

Did he really mean what he said about age? If he did then something is wrong somewhere. In one breadth, he approbates in another he reprobates. If a 57 or 60-year-old is too old to govern Lagos, which is less complex and a microcosm of Nigeria, why should it be okay for a 72-year-old man to be the president of Nigeria with all its multiplicity of problems? Will Buhari, who is steep in medieval times, pick Fashola's call at night? Does Buhari have the vigour, stamina and mental alertness to govern a modern country with all its ethno-religious complexities and developmental challenges? The hypocrisy of these people surprises me to no end.

After nearly eight years in office, Governor Aliyu Magatakada Wamakko's Sokoto State is still on the list of the 10 poorest states in Nigeria. This is according to the recent Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) 2014 report which revealed Nigeria's poorest states. A man who failed to change the fortunes of Sokoto people for the better is on the bandwagon of APC's change. His state is listed number four on the poverty index.

Look at Governor Rotimi Amaechi's behaviour in Rivers State. What is ennobling about it that one can sincerely recommend as model to the youths to emulate? A progressive democrat who is so intolerant of opposition that he won't even allow the use of the state's stadium for a campaign rally a few days after he used the same facility to flag off his party's campaign. Is this the change they talk about?

The truth is that Nigerians are not included within the pale of their glorious progressive dividends. Their posturing matched against the reality of their stewardship only reveals the immeasurable distance between them and the people whose interests they claim to be fighting for. They have amassed a rich inheritance for their own children, while condemning our children to hewers of wood  and drawers of water. This is a generation of self-seekers whose motivation is primitive wealth accumulation. They must be challenged, interrogated and held to account for their public conduct lest the people are misled again by their new clamour disingenuously disguised as "change."

According to Theodore Roosevelt, "The foundation-stone of national life is, and ever must be, the high individual character of the average citizen." This is specially so for leaders and custodians of public trust. But what we have seen here is a succession of bad leaders who have profited from the misery of the people. And there you have it.

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Shaka Momodu is a columnist for Thisday Newspapers.
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Opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
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Wilfried Bony and Yaya Toure to miss crucial Chelsea clash On Saturday

Manuel Pellegrini will have to wait. His midfield talisman and his expensive new signing are staying in Equatorial Guinea a little longer.

They are both yet to impress at this Africa Cup of Nations, but Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony are into the quarter-finals to face Algeria, rather than flying back to England to play Chelsea.

But it was not down to a significant contribution from either man that the Ivory Coast progressed. Indeed, Toure was withdrawn 10 minutes from time, with a possibly worrying injury.

But progress was ensure by Max Gradel, who won the game with a goal that could easily be the best we see all tournament.

Having robbed Jerome Guihoata of possession on the left wing, the former Leeds winger cut inside and lashed a vicious shot at goal from 25 yards. The pace, swerve and accuracy of the shot saw it beat the otherwise excellent Joseph Ondoa, finding the corner of the net beyond the despairing goalkeeper's dive.

Ivory Coast, ahead for the first time in the competition, sat back on their lead, inviting pressure from a Cameroon side who knew that defeat would see them crash out.

But aside from a flurry of chances late in the first half, the previously leaky Ivorian defence held firm. And they should really have wrapped the game up on the break, Serge Aurier firing meekly at Ondoa before City's new striker fluffed a chance to seal the win.

In Bony's defence he did brilliantly to hold off the scarcely legal challenge of Nicolas Nkoulou, to get his shot away, but having escaped the defender's clutches his finish was not of the standard you would expect from a £28million forward.

And his team-mates seemed determined to prove him right, producing comfortably their most incisive football of the tournament so far, against what, on paper at least, ought to have been their toughest opponents.

Source: Sportsmail
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