The  lead story of THISDAY on Monday seemed to encapsulate what could be proposed as a binding idea for  the team put together by President Bola Tinubu for governance : “New Leaders Take Charge of Africa’s Largest Economy Today.”  

Yes, the primary  task  before the Team is to improve the state of the economy. Even the formidable question of physical security cannot be definitely answered without tackling the socio-economic issues at the root of it. 

So, as the new ministers attend the first federal executive council meeting today, their common  thoughts  should, therefore, be on the  direction in which  the Tinubu administration is  steering the ship of Nigeria’s political economy. Every policy steps or execution of projects in the various ministries, departments and agencies should be scrupulously guided by that idea to be  defined for the ministers by the President.

This point should be stressed because of the temptation on the part of those in power  to dismiss the significance of economic thoughts in shaping policies as revelling in  abstraction  or being unduly ideological.

 As the administration takes off in earnest, Tinubu and his team should avoid the error of former American President George H.W. Bush. In the build-up to the  1988 American presidential election Bush, deputy to President Ronald Reagan, emerged  the republican candidate. But  he had a problem. Even supporters  doubted his ability to articulate his broad ideas about governance even though he was good on details of the issues. In that regards, he was the opposite of his boss, Reagan, who was never a man of details, but he was clear about his dream of America. Reagan effectively  inspired his team towards that dream. Perhaps in response to the criticisms, Bush resolved to develop an agenda as a politician. In preparing for the campaigns, Bush asked a friend to work on what should be the issues of his campaign. In response the friend told Bush to go alone on a  retreat in Camp David and reflect  on the big picture of what he would like to do as the United States president. An irritated Bush dismissed the suggestion saying: “Oh, the vision thing.” Since then the phrase has been associated with a politician who despises the suggestion of formulating a grand vision for governance.  The “vision thing” is a metonym from America; but different metonyms could emerge in the Nigerian context depending on the attitude of leaders at all levels of governance  to the emphasis on the force of idea.

The basic idea informing governance should be shared by all members of the team regardless of divergence in perspectives. It should be the defining feature of the administration. Ministers should engage the public in policy articulation on the basis of the binding idea of the team. That would also serve the purpose of engaging the public  in the course of governance as well as mobilising the creative energies of the people for the national purpose.

Ironically,  policy articulation in governance was most pronounced  in the military regime of  President Ibrahim Babangida. The primacy of big ideas to governance was largely demonstrated in the period between 1985 and  1993.   A military regime was in power; yet  ideas flowed freely from the government to the public and vice visa even when Babangida still took very unpopular decisions. The foundation for this collision of ideas was laid in the political personality of the leader, Babangida,  the only soldier who elected to be addressed as president  in the days of military rule. Babangida’s resolve to recast the Nigerian political economy in neo-liberal terms was unmistakable. At the background was the distinguished Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) headed by eminent development economist Professor Ojetunji Aboyade. The council comprised of scholars and experts of various ideological persuasions.  Hence, elements  of  his administration engaged the public on the fundamentals of the policies of the administration. For instance, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Chief Olu Falae, Finance  Minister Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu  and Economic Planning Minister Dr. Chu Okongwu fiercely  defended the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) of the administration against criticisms from left, right and centre. Components of SAP include privatisation, devaluation, reduction in social spending and the ruthless application of free-market principles. Foreign Minister Professor Bolaji Akinyemi developed thoughts on the “Concert of Medium Powers” in the bid to assert the place of Nigeria in the world. Major-General Ike Nwachukwu,  who later became foreign minister, pursued the policy of  “economic diplomacy.” Even the ill-fated and long-winding political transition programme was built  on a solid theoretical basis with the  professed centrality of ideas to the steps taken. The ideas of the transition  were rigorously articulated by scholars such as Professor Sam Oyovbaire, Dr. Tunji Olagunju and Professor Adele Jinadu. Professor Jerry Gana took the nation’s social space by storm as the head of a novel mobilisation agency, MAMSER, to actualise the Babangida dream. Elevated debates dominated the public sphere in those days. The government organised a month-long public debate  on the propriety of Nigeria taking a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). For days, the direction of the nation’s foreign policy was debated at a national conference in Kuru, Jos. You might fundamentally disagree with the Babangida vision; but you could not deny that a coherent right-wing strategy of development was formulated and articulated.

The intellectual climate of the public sphere of the Babangida regime  could be contrasted with what  has happened in the last 25 years. For instance,  the power sector reform that was started by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo has not achieved the purpose 18 years after the making the enabling law for the policy direction. It’s clear that privatisation in the electricity sector has failed. The buyers of the public assets  simply lack the capacity to be effective players in the industry. Mr. Babatunde Fashola was minister of power in the first term of President Muhammadu Buhari. He publicly made criticisms of the players in the sector. Their corporate governance  is hardly better than what prevailed  when the electricity supply was  in the public sector. Similarly, Fashola also raised fundamental  questions about the efficacy of Public – Private Partnerships  (PPP) in the construction of roads and bridges. For  instance, after many years PPP could not deliver the Second Niger Bridge and  PPP made no progress on the Lagos- Ibadan Express Way. At the end of the day, the federal government had to source funds to complete these projects. No productive debate has been generated by Fashola’s critical and fundamental  observations. Meanwhile, our neo-liberal experts are still waxing lyrical about the magic wand of privatisation. They talk of privatisation, deregulation and commercialisation as if  they are  new concepts in  policy-making in Nigeria. To them, every socio-economic problem has a free-market solution.

Watching the direction  of economic management by the Tinubu administration, it may not be premature to caution  against neo-liberal excesses. The symptoms are already visible in the policy pronouncements on fuel subsidy and exchange rate for the naira. With Messrs Wale Edun, Abubakar Bagudu and other convinced neo-liberals in the team, it may be a tall order to expect a radical transformation of the political economy. But is possible to achieve  honest socio-economic reforms in the interest of the people and  to a great extent. That’s if the faith of policymakers in market forces is tempered as they seek to build  the Nigerian variety of capitalism.

In this respect, the view of a South Korean development economist at the University of London, Ha-Joon Chang,  is worth reflecting upon at this time. A liberal, Chang is not fundamentally  anti-capitalist; but he is critical of the free-market capitalism. In his book entitled “23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism,” Chang puts the matter like this:  “… The market is an exceptionally effective mechanism for coordinating complex economic activities across numerous economic agents, but it is no more than that – a mechanism, a machine. And like all machines, it needs careful regulation and steering. In the same way that a car can be used to kill people when driven by a drunken driver, or to save lives when it helps us deliver an emergency patient to hospital in time, the market can do wonderful things but also deplorable ones. The same car can be made better by putting in improved brakes, more powerful engines or more efficient fuel, and the same market can be made to perform better through appropriate changes to the attitudes of the participants, their motives and the rules that govern it.

“There are different ways to organize capitalism. Free-market capitalism is only one of them – and not a very good one at that.

“The last three decades have shown that, contrary to the claims of its proponents, it slows down the economy, increases inequality and insecurity, and leads to more frequent (and sometimes massive) financial crashes.

“There is no one ideal model. American capitalism is very different from Scandinavian capitalism, which in turn differs from the German or French varieties, not to speak of the Japanese form.”

At least, a  binding idea that could be suggested  to  the Team Tinubu is to wage war against poverty and inequality in the land. Here is a proposed vision:  poverty should be significantly reduced in the land if not eradicated at the end of Tinubu’s tenure. The anti-poverty war should be fought with  the weapons of well-articulated policies executed  in the genuine interest of the people. The tactics necessary for accomplishing the war strategy should  include prudent management of resources and should exclude making mass delivery of public goods in the policy arena a trade-off. The  barometer for gauging the success of the war would not be the verdict of  rating agencies or the  analysis of foreign  investment  banks, which are essentially working for their clients. The proof of success  should be  the millions of people exiting the poverty trap. Those should be the most important numbers to focus upon in policy formulation.   

In any case,  the 1999 Constitution embodies what should be the vision of any government in power. According to the Chapter II Section 14 (2B)  of the constitution, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

The challenge of Nigeria’s political economy is how to achieve this purpose that is well  defined by the constitution. All the previous administrations since 1999 faced the challenge. The fact that the land is plagued by poverty and socio-economic injustice is a measure of how far this vision has been realised in the country. 

Ultimately, the success of  the Team Tinubu will also  be measured by how far this vision compelled by the constitution is realised.

The General Overseer of Deeper Life Church, Pastor Williams Kumuyi has said that Nigerians are going to see good things though President Tinubu and members of his cabinet.

While speaking with newsmen ahead of the monthly Global Crusade of the Church scheduled for Osogbo on Thursday, August 24, Kumuyi said God has not forsaken the country and Nigerians will witness a new country through the President. He opined that the President’s new cabinet was carefully chosen and made of people with good antecedents.

“Let’s forget the past. This is a new day and I believe; we all believe that we’re going to see new things for our country through our President and through the members of the cabinet. Good things will happen.

“If you look at the new ministers one by one, you’ll see the good things they’ve done either as state governors of the past or as former ministers and I would say they have been carefully chosen. If we support and accept them and if we are not criticising their every step, we believe that God will walk through them and use them as instruments to build our nation.

“God will perform a miracle in the heart of our leaders and their hearts will be towards the people and the wisdom to lead us and do everything that will benefit us as a country, the Lord himself will do it in their hearts”

Political economist Pat Utomi has said Nigeria’s maritime industry suffers setbacks because of lack of proper regulatory frameworks to drive the sector to economic prosperity.

He said the sector has not managed to stipulate its possibilities due to leaders and politicians, who see the sector as a meal ticket.

Utomi warned that if Nigeria does not catch up with the trends, and make laws for economic competitiveness, the country would continue to lag behind comity of nations.

He spoke yesterday at a maritime roundtable workshop organised by the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) and Utomapp Limited on the theme: “Emerging Technology and Regulations in the Global Maritime Industry of the Future and the Impacts on the Nigerian Sector.”

Rather than leaders see the industry as a cash cow, he said the industry could solve the nation’s economic challenges with its tremendous possibilities.

He said, “When you have an area that can transform your economy, you do not send boys to go and make money there, you find people who are capable of opening the place up and get them to go and transform your country. But because regulators and people, who lead, do not understand what they are doing, because there is a challenge of purpose. The maritime sector is seen as a place where they send people to go and make money. This is an industry where we can solve the problem of this economy because the possibilities are tremendous. There are so many ventures that flow out of the maritime sector.”

As the technology change continues to impact the future of the sector in Nigeria, Utomi said some of the technologies that could influence the sector, such as digital platforms for ship and cargo tracking, robotics, blockchain technology, autonomous ships and unmanned ports, as well as big data, Internet of things and Artificial Intelligence.

He said the inefficiencies in the Nigerian port system have led to low productivity, thereby, appealing to regulators and legislators to continue to build their knowledge and liaise with industry clarity of national strategy.

A former minister of interior, capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho (rtd), said technology was the way to go for Nigeria to achieve a prosperous maritime sector.

According to him, technology is vastly encroaching on the delivery of maritime services. “How ready are we? How do we understand technology and what kind of technology is it projecting into the future?”

Iheanacho, who is the managing director of Genesis Worldwide Shipping, said Nigeria needs to start understanding and defining emerging technology that would drive the maritime sector.

He said: “For a prosperous maritime sector, technology was the way to go. It is geared towards getting better output into the input made. Goods that are carried on ships are going to be cheaper, the lives of the seafarers are safer, and the environment is projected. With these, we will not want to be behind, we want to be at the forefront of defining how this goes.”

The managing director of the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML), Abdulkadir Ahmed, said stakeholders have significant roles to play in ensuring that Nigeria is not left behind in the new global maritime economy.

As strategic leaders and regulators of the maritime industry, he said there is a need to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the tropical issues, develop clear actions and guidelines that would guide regulators and place Nigeria on the pathway to success, through a safe, reliable and globally competitive maritime industry.

He maintained that technological advancement and regulations were critical issues fully anchored on the objectives of ensuring a safe, reliable and sustainable industry.

Parents of eight graduates of Akwa Ibom State tertiary institutions mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) yesterday staged a peaceful protest over the abduction of their children by suspected bandits in Zamfara State on their way to Sokoto State orientation camp.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the victims were ferried from Uyo, the state capital via the Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus to Abuja en route Sokoto, but were intercepted by hoodlums in Zamfara State, three days ago, forcing the distraught parents to protest to the State House of Assembly to draw government attention to the incident.

Speaker of the house Udeme Otong, who addressed the protesting parents, it was learnt, later calmed their frayed nerves in a closed door meeting in his office, while assuring them that “the matter would be handled at the administrative level.”

The state commissioner for information and strategy, Iniobong Ememobong, who blamed the incident on insecurity in the country, said the administration of Governor Umo Eno was negotiating with the Zamfara State government and security agencies to secure the safe release of the kidnapped victims.

He said, “The incident is borne out of the general situation of insecurity in the country. Government is aware of the incident, and is in touch with both the government of the state where the incident happened, and the security apparatus in the state.

“But being a security operation, the government cannot say so until the people who are being held hostage have been released. So, we understand the parents are feeling so extremely bad, but unfortunately because of its security nature, we can’t even share more information.

“What I can tell for now is that the government is aware, and is in – charge, and on top of the situation. We are appealing to the parents to exercise a little bit of patience, and continue to support the government with prayers; that is the only option available for them now.”

A lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje has slammed a N100 million suit on the inspector-general of police (IGP), Kwara State and seven others before the Federal High Court in Lagos over their alleged violation of the fundamental rights of traditional worshippers in the state.

Ogungbeje, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit, is asking the for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from arresting, detaining, harassing and further violating the rights to freedom of religion, thoughts and conscience of traditional religion adherents and faithful as it relates to the planned Isese Cultural Festival or any other cultural festival to be celebrated in any part or state in Nigeria

He listed as second to nine respondents in the suit numbered FHC/L/CS/1674/2023: the Kwara State Police Commissioner; the State Government; Registered Trustees of Council Of Ulama (Islamic Clerics).

Others are Justice Salihu Mohammed, Executive Secretary of Council of Ulama; Sheikh (Dr) Mohammed Bashir Saliu, Chief Imam of Ilorin and Chairman of Council of Ulama; Alfa Abdulsalam Baba Tonile Okuta-Agidu; Kwara State Magistrates Court, Ilorin, and Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Ilorin, Kwara State.

Ogungbeje claimed that he filed the suit against the respondents in the public interest on behalf of traditional religious adherents and worshipers in Nigeria.

The lawyer contended that the suit is also filed in pursuant to the freedom of religion, thoughts, belief and conscience, under sections 36, 38, 42, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution, Order Ii Rules 1 And 2 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009; Order Xi of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction as imbued by Section 6(6)(b) of the Constitution.

He urged the court for the determination of the following questions: “Whether he can approach the court in public interest for the enforcement of any of the Fundamental Rights expressly enshrined under Chapter IV of the Constitution by the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 seeking redress for violation or breach of any of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and whether the reliefs sought are personal to the Applicant or not.

“A determination of the question whether the fundamental rights to freedom of religion guaranteed under Section 38 of the Constitution extend to traditional religion adherents who are Citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and can enjoy the right to freedom of religion and practice their religion and celebrate cultural festivals without any let or hindrance by the Respondents in any part or State in Nigeria…”

Edo State governor Godwin Obaseki, has settled the benefits and gratuity of the former governor of the state, the late Professor Ambrose Alli. This is coming 34 years after the demise of Alli.

Alli was Second Republic governor of the former Bendel State (Now Edo and Delta states) between 1979 and 1983 under the then Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Born September 22, 1929, the renowned medical professor died on September 22, 1989.

Obaseki made this disclosure yesterday in Benin City on the occasion of the celebration of the award of the ‘Most Pension Friendly Governor in Nigeria,’ bestowed on him by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP).

Speaking on his commitment to the wellbeing of pensioners in the state by ensuring that their benefits are paid regularly, including outstanding pensions and gratuity, dating over 40 years, he revealed how the unpaid benefits of the former governor were settled last week by the state government.

Obaseki said, “Last Saturday (August 19, 2023), the widow of former governor of Bendel (Edo) State, the late Prof. Ambrose Ali, turned 80 years old in Birmingham, United Kingdom. He has made a lot of sacrifices for us as a state.

“We decided to celebrate with her and I asked one of the children what he thinks is an appropriate present for her mother. He said, ‘just do her the honour of paying my father’s benefits while in office.’ Then I said, ‘you mean Prof. Ali benefits are not paid. He said yes.’ We went into the records, prepared the cheque and took it to her in England. This is to tell you where we are coming from. I’m glad we remembered him,” he said.

The governor was represented by his wife, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, at the 80th birthday celebration of the late governor’s widow, Chief Mrs. Rosemary Alli-Walker.

The Edo State first lady recognised the enduring impact of Alli’s tenure as governor, noting that the policies and programmes implemented during his leadership, notably in education, urban and rural development and healthcare have continued to shape Edo State’s progress.

She said the former governor and his wife occupy a special place in the hearts of Edo people, which resonated with the attendees, who had gathered to honour Chief Mrs. Alli-Walker.

Mrs Obaseki also lauded her enduring commitment to values such as hard work, diligence, and forthrightness, adding that these values, which she upheld during her tenure as first lady, continue to inspire the state’s ongoing reforms across various sectors of the economy.

In her response to the felicitation, the celebrant expressed her gratitude to the first lady for travelling all the way from Nigeria to join in her celebration.

This is as she pledged to support free surgeries for children with cleft lips, an initiative named ‘Operation Smile’.

Obaseki had in 2018, sought and obtained a posthumous presidential pardon for the late Governor Ambrose Alli, a request that was ratified by the Council of State in 2020.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has assigned portfolios to the 25 new commissioners and members of the State Executive Council sworn in on Tuesday.

According to a statement by Abubakar Bawa the Press Secretary to Sokoto State governor, the governor wished the commissioners success in their service to the government and people of the state.

The full list of the commissioners and their respective ministries are as follows, Nasiru Binji, Commissioner of Justice and state Attorney General; Ibrahim Adire, Ministry of Local Government; Idris Gobir, Ministry of Works, and Deputy Governor, Muhammadu Shagari, Ministry of Finance, and Sharifu Kamarawa, Ministry of Home Affairs.

Others are Alhaji Tukur Alkali, Ministry of Basic & Secondary Education; Dr Jabir Mai Hula, Ministry of Religious Affairs; Nasiru Tsoho, Ministry of Lands & Housing; Aminu Iya, Ministry of Higher Education; Hadiza Shagari, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs; Sambo Danchadi, Ministry of Information; Alhaji Bello Wamakko, Ministry of Agriculture; Ministry of Animal Health and Fisheries Development, Aliyu Tureta, and Ministry of Youths and Sports Development, Jamilu Gosta.

Also in the list were Bala Kokani, Ministry of Science & Technology; Yusuf Maccido, Ministry of Water; Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, Ministry of Health; Nura Tangaza, Ministry of Environment; Shehu Chacho, Ministry for Special Duties; Ministry of Social and Humanitarian Affairs, Ya’u Danda; Culture and Tourism, Aminu Bodai; Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industries, Haruna Bashar; Ministry of Innovation and Digital Economy, Bashar Kwabo; Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Resources, Sanusi Umar, and Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Alhaji Isah Tambagarka.

Rivers State Signage and Advertising Agency, RSSAA, sealed the premises of a new generation church at Rumuosi Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state over the electrocution of five youths on Monday.

It was gathered that the church owned the metal structure that caused electrocution of the five youths.

It was also gathered that operatives of the state police command had arrested the assistant pastor of the church following the incident.

Five persons were Monday electrocuted while erecting a metal structure that would be used for placing the church’s signages, whereas four others who were part of the team of nine youths are still hospitalized.

The billboard metal frame had touched the live high-tension wire while the nine youths were making efforts to mount it.

It was gathered that following the incident, yesterday, officials from RSSAA sealed off the premises of the church that owns the billboard, pending outcome of ongoing investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed that police had picked the assistant pastor of the church.

Iringe-Koko said investigation into the incident was still going on, adding that the arrested person would assist the police in the process.

The Managing Director, RSSAA, Tony Okeha, said the church and the nine people, who attempted to mount the Billboard did not seek government approval before the act.

Okeha said: “They do not have any approval from the agency. We have spent time warning people against illegal activities such as this. We regret what has happened but this will serve as a deterrent that people should learn how to do things the proper way.

“The agency regulates what billboard structures should be erected where and whether it will cause visual blind or accident and all such consequences. We go out every day to remove illegal structures because of where they are erected and because of the low standard.”

He warned people erecting billboards without the agency’s authorisation to stop forthwith, adding that anyone arrested would be punished.

Seeks synergy among South East governors

Widow of the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Ambassador Bianca, has intensified call for the release of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, haven been declared free by a competent Nigerian court.

Delivering a keynote address at the Annual National Conference and Convention of the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) in Dallas, Texas in USA, the former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, sh called for greater synergy among governors of the South East, and urged them to continue to intensify efforts towards the release of Kanu.

AVID is a congregation of American citizens, both men and women of Igbo extraction, who are serving military officers and veterans who have served honourably in various branches of the United States military at different times, different conflicts and different theatres of war.

Ojukwu, who was special guest, noted that the initial nonchalant attitude of Igbo leaders towards Kanu’s illegal rendition and continued unlawful incarceration contributed greatly towards inflaming the tensions within the South East region today.