Politics
DOES KILLING NIGERIEN BABIES BRING GLORY TO OUR NAME? BY Femi Fani-kayode
DOES KILLING NIGERIEN BABIES BRING GLORY TO OUR NAME? BY Femi Fani-kayode
A dear and respected friend of mine who was once our Ambassador to a European country, who has relatives and strong links in and with Niger Republic and who is well versed in security and intelligence matters told me that up to 40 babies are dying each day in Niger as a consequence of our cutting off electricity supplies to them.
According to him these babies die in hospitals and incubators across the country as a consequence of the fact that there is no electricty supply and there is no fuel to power their generators.
This was confirmed by one Dr. Abdoul Djibou, a Nigerien medical practitioner, in an interview with Newsonlineng.com.
They wrote,
“According to a source in Niger Republic, Dr. Abdoul Djibou, there has been reports from Dosso Regional Hospital and Cominak Hospital about the recent spike in infant mortality. According to him, over 40 babies die daily in Niger since the Nigerian government cutoff Electricity supply to Niger and also closed its borders. It has affected hospital badly as they’re unable to power their incubators and other life supporting equipment to assist these babies. He also mentioned that the closed borders has made it nearly impossible for hospitals to access petroleum products especially Diesel and Petrol to power their plants and generators.
This is aside the untold hardships that the general populace are grasping with in Niger. He has made a passionate appeal for the Nigerian government to reconsider its decision even though backed by the ECOWAS. He stressed the need for the Nigerian government to remember that the people of Niger are more like an extension of northern Nigeria. In his opinion, he believed strongly that the ongoing negotiations with the Junta leaders will yield results and stressed the need for the negotiations to be intensified instead of beating the drums of war and upholding the current stiff sanctions that has now crippled the economy and the health sector especially” (Nigeronlineeng.com: Coup Sanctions On Niger Republic Causes Untold Hardship/Starvation/Death).
I cannot possibly confirm the veracity or accuracy of these assertions and reports but if they are anywhere near the truth it is enough to prick anyone’s conscience.
Furthermore I doubt that our President, being a humane, rational and reasonable leader, would have allowed this to happen if he was aware of the harsh and cruel consequences of the “cut off all electricity to Niger” policy and that is precisely why it is important to bring it to his attention in this article.
Quite apart from that, according to UNICEF, “more than two million children have been affected by the crisis and are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance” and millions of dollars worth of vaccines for polio and other dangerous diseses cannot be safely preserved or stored due to power outages.
On its own part Africanews.com reports that “The U.N. is spending over 20 times more money than usual on fuel for generators to keep millions of vaccines in Niger from spoiling due to incessant power cuts. The outages are the result of severe economic and travel sanctions imposed by regional countries after mutinous soldiers toppled the country’s president last month Country representative for the United Nations Children´s Fund in Niger, Stefano Savi, said it has spent $200,000 powering generators to keep vaccines, including for polio and rotavirus, across the country cold during the first three weeks of August. That’s up from approximately $10,000 a month previously and might soon run out of money, he said. Niger relies on neighboring Nigeria for up to 90% of its power, but after soldiers ousted democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum in July, Nigeria cut off part of its electricity supply as part of sanctions imposed by the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS. The sanctions are taking a toll on the population with the price of goods rising, residents unable to easily access cash, and people living in the dark. Now there are mounting concerns it will gravely impact the health system, particularly the ability to keep some 28 million vaccine doses in the country cold. Although there were power cuts before the sanctions, they usually lasted a few hours, but now the cuts are much longer – sometimes up to 18 hours a day, said Savi. UNICEF only has enough money until the end of August and is appealing to donors for emergency funds, he said.”
How can we as a nation inflict such damage and unleash such wickedness and misfortune on innocent people who live just across the border from us and who are essentially our people too?
This is unacceptable and especially so given the fact that we are not at war with Niger and the overwhelming majority of our people regard them as our brothers.
This begs the question: is this the way to treat our African neighbours and brothers even whilst we lay claim to seeking and preferring a diplomatic solution to the crisis? Methinks not!
If our claim and intention is to better the life of these people by insisting that they must have a democratically-elected Government and by resisting a military one is our purpose truly served by killing the children of the very same people that we claim we want to help?
Again does this murky and murderous course serve our national and security interests and does it enhance better relations with other African countries?
Does imposing sanctions and policies like cutting off electrical supplies and that, albeit inadvertently, lead directly to the death of innocent babies and defenceless children help our cause, bring glory to our name or give credence or credibility to our so-called fight and quest for democracy?
I doubt it very much.
I call on our leader and President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is currently the Chairman of ECOWAS, to review and reverse this policy and allow us to continue to supply electricity to Niger.
This is all the more so given the fact that cutting off electricity to that nation is bringing death, suffering and hardship more to the women and children than to their Government officials and members of the newly-installed military junta.
Surely Niger’s suspension from both ECOWAS and the African Union coupled with the imposition of a series of strong economic sanctions including the closing of borders and the imposition of a no fly zone, are enough punishment.
We must never forget that there is a distinction between the Government of a nation and it’s people.
Punishing the people for the sins of their leaders and Government is not only unjust and unkind but also counter-productive.
Outside of that It is interesting to note that our French allies and partners, who are amongst those western powers that want us to bring the Nigeriens to their knees and even attack them, recently described Russia’s targetting of power grids in Ukraine and denying the Ukrainians gas to power their electricity supply as a “war crime” and “crime against humanity” yet they are encouraging Nigeria to do the same to Niger.
When will the application of these double standards by our French friends stop?
Just in case anyone is in any doubt about the high handedness and excesses of the French in Africa permit me to conclude with the strong words and powerful admonition served to French President Emmanuel Macron by Giorgia Meloni, the courageous, passionate and stunningly beautiful Italian Prime Minister.
In a blistering and thunderous speech she exclaimed the following words with orgasmic passion,
“Macron, your France undermined and destroyed the good relationship we had with Gaddafi, destroyed Libya, unleashed a wave of refugees and immigrants into Europe and appropriated the resources of African countries and plundered their wealth. Children and the underaged work in feudal and inhuman conditions in Niger just for you to take a big percentage of their uranium that powers your electricity and nuclear reactors. Niger has no light and are dirt poor all because of your policies ”
What a lady! She has said it all!
Now just in case we doubt her let us consider the words of a towering figure like the former French President Jaques Chirac who said the following at the 21st France/Africa Summit in Yaounde, Cameroons in 2001 where 30 Heads of States were gathered.
He said,
“While speaking of Africa, we must check our memory. We started draining the continent four and a half centuries ago with the slave trade. Next, we discovered their raw materials and seized them. Having deprived Africans of their wealth, we sent in our elites who destroyed their culture. Now, we are depriving them of their brains thanks to scholarships which are definitely another form of exploitation because, at the end, the most intelligent students do not go back to their countries. In the end, noticing that Africa is not in a good state and as bonuses for the wealth we made on its back, we are giving lectures” (Canard Enchainé, January 24, 2001).
If there were ever a public admission and confession of neo-colonial and imperialist malfeasance and malevolence by a reverred and highly respected French leader and collossal figure, this is it.
He was honest, candid and forthright about his nation’s egregious and pernicious atrocities and outrageous policies in Africa and we commend him for that.
Yet this begs the question: are these the French on whose behalf ECOWAS is considering fighting a war and invading a brother African nation?
The west may have many African leaders in their pockets and eating out of their hands but the hearts, minds and souls of the overwhelming majority of the African people are with Vladimer Putin and the Russian Federation who are now perceived, rightly or wrongly, as the champions of the oppressed and the architects of a new and just world order.
There is a wind of change blowing in Africa and indeed the world today and every vestige of neo-colonialism, imperialism, pseudo-fascism, economic bondage and fiscal subjugation shall be blown away with and by it.
We have seen this happen with the meteoric and laudable rise in power, glory and influence of the formidable BRICS block of nation’s which include China, Russia, India, Brazil and South Africa and the admission of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Argentina, Iran and Ethiopia into that elite club of rising economic powers and giants just a few days ago.
They seek to set themselves free and shatter the shackles of economic dominance and fiscal tyranny of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the European Union and all the other western powers and their allies.
Again we have seen this happen in Mali, Guniea, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Sudan where the quest for freedom from the bondage of former colonial masters like the French and corrupt puppet African leaders and Governments led to military coups.
Regardless of the legitimate concerns of ECOWAS I expect the same to happen in Togo, Ivory Coast, Cameroons and possibly one or two other Franco-phone countries in the not too distant future simply because each is bedevilled with sit tight, vicious, undemocratic, unelected rulers and tyrants, because the resentment against the French in those countries is palpable and overwhelming and because the desire for Russian support and friendship is astounding.
Nations like Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Senegal and Liberia may thankfully not be in danger of military intervention because they have a measure of legitimacy and because they came to power through an ostensibly credible democratic process but their Governments and leaders MUST be very wary of the level of suspicion, hatred, disdain and contempt that the ordinary people have for the Western neo-colonialists and imperialists that appear to bring so much power and influence to bear over their nations’ affairs and for those that are seen as weak, corrupt puppet-leaders who are prepared to put western interests before that of their own country.
These leaders and Government’s cannot and must not make the mistake of being seen or regarded as the Chief Poodle, Chief Enforcer, Chief Slave, Chief Slave-Driver or the grovelling and snivelling “yes bwana”, “yes massa” Chief House n*gger of the western powers in the West African sub region.
ECOWAS MUST be perceived as a body that brings Africans together and settles their differences in a diplomatic and civilised manner and not a body that can be used by the French, Americans, British, EU or anyone else to exploit us, to further and protect western interests and to fight proxy wars on their behalf.
Frankly the only ones that I can vouch for in this respect are Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo who I do not believe would ever consciously and willingly sell their people down the river.
Whatever the case we must not allow any country in the West African sub-region to be turned into a Zaire under Mobutu Sese Seko or to a Central African Republic under Jeane Bedie Bokassa.
That is the French formula and it must never take root here.
May God guide our leaders!
FFK
FHA MD/ CEO, Hon Oyetunde Ojo visits Akwa Ibom State.
…As Governor Umo Eno pledges to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu .
The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency Pastor Umo Eno has pledged full support for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) on housing. This was made known Thursday, 2nd May 2024, when the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Federal Housing Authority Hon Oladimeji Oyetunde Ojo paid a visit to the state.
The Governor who in an unprecedented manner handed over an allocation letter and survey plan of 50.3 hectares of land in Uyo to Federal Housing Authority for the Renewed Hope Housing programme, commended the Authority’s management under the leadership of Hon Oyetunde Ojo for adopting policy of consulting with the state governments before embarking on any project.
Governor Eno frowned at the idea of some agencies coming into states and do works without consulting the states who are the major Stakeholders, said he wishes they could emulate the inclusivity disposition of FHA management.
He noted that his government has not done any project in the State without engaging the Stakeholders. In his words, “we watch as your management travels to engage State governments. There is no project we have done in Akwa Ibom without engaging with the Stakeholders holders. We wish other agencies will emulate you”
Earlier, Hon Ojo had informed the Governor that the reason for the visit was for the Authority’s new management to pay him a courtesy visit and to bring President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Housing to the state.
The FHA CEO noted that Akwa Ibom is the 15th state his Management would be visiting in about three weeks, and stated that the reason for the visits is to consult with the state Governors who are the custodians of lands in their various states. Hon Ojo pointed out that it is needless embarking on housing projects without having the imputs of the people who the houses are built for. He said consulting with the Stakeholders makes the people to take ownership of such projects and reduces the incidents of such houses not taken on completion.
He therefore told the governor that FHA has come to ask for land. According to him, ” … we have come to request for land to develop Mass Housing for the people of the state. We are not going to speculate on the land”
The FHA boss said that the Authority would partner with the government in coming up with designs that would suite the people, rather than imposing one on them. He noted that FHA is known for developing cities within cities, citing Festac Town, Lagos and Gwarinpa in Abuja as examples.
On the affordability of the houses as mandated by Mr President, Hon Ojo said FHA has come up with such delivery models as carcas ,where only the exterior will have a prototype finishing, then plumbing and electricals because of their sensitive nature, leaving the allottees to do the rest finishing according to their individual taste and capacity.
He also said such other model as studios would be targeting the younger ones, who are starting live.
The MD told the governor that FHA is planning Diaspora cities across the states for the benefit of our people outside the country. He hinted that the Authority launched its digitalisation drive on the 1st of May, 2024 a feature that will help in the Diaspora initiative.
He finally requested the state government to assist in getting off takers and helping in reducing some of the bottle necks in developing the houses which would definitely help in reducing the cost of the houses.
He noted that the value chain of construction and Housing development has been a major tool in fighting inflation all over the world and as such would be of great benefit to the state.
Hon Ojo noted that the Renewed Hope Housing Agenda is non political but all about Nigerians in the directives of Mr President. He stated that President Tinubu has put politics aside and is determined to work for the good of all Nigerians irrespective of political affiliation or tribe.
Celebrating Gbajabiamila’s Twin Babies In NASS
By Philip Agbese
As the dust settles on the newly renovated main Chambers of the National Assembly, a sense of pride and accomplishment fills the air. As I sit down to write this piece, I can’t help but marvel at the transformation that has taken place within the hallowed halls of the National Assembly, all thanks to the indomitable spirit and vision of Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. The recent renovation of the main Chambers of the National Assembly, which now houses the Representatives and the Senate, is nothing short of a dream come true. The newly established National Assembly Library and Research Centre stands as evidence of the unwavering dedication of Femi Gbajabiamila, the current Chief of Staff to the President.
The Book of History was filled again with overwhelming salient paragraphs when the Chief of Staff to the President and immediate past, Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, CFR visits the new National Assembly Library/Resource Centre and the Newly renovated House of Representatives Chambers, projects facilitated in the 9th Assembly under Gbajabiamila’s leadership. There, he was received by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., principal officers, and other members of the House of Representatives at the National Assembly on Monday.
In a manner reminiscent of a woman in the labour room discovering she’s been carrying twins, the unveiling of these projects has brought an unexpected and delightful surprise to the forefront. The parallel between the birth of new life and the rebirth of the National Assembly is both humorous and enlightening, underscoring the unforeseen potential that lay dormant, waiting to be realized.
What sets these achievements apart is not just their aesthetic appeal but the fact that they were executed and delivered by indigenous contractors. The successful completion of these projects and the inspection of both facilities on Monday has confirmed what many of us have long believed – that we are more than capable of achieving greatness without relying on foreign companies who often seek to exploit us for their gain.
The inspection of these facilities has not only confirmed their quality but has also served as a resounding rebuttal to the notion that foreign companies are the only ones capable of delivering large-scale projects. This display of homegrown excellence stands as a testament to the ingenuity and proficiency of Nigerian contractors, dispelling the myth that foreign entities hold a monopoly on quality construction.
Drawing parallels to the biblical story of Solomon completing the temple started by David, the current Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., exemplifies humility and dedication, which I found admiring and worthy of note. Just as Solomon saw to the completion of his predecessor’s grand vision, Speaker Tajudeen has carried forward Gbajabiamila’s initiatives with grace and commitment. Hon. Abbas is not given to self-aggrandizement, but the one I know to be filled with total humility and respect. His leadership and collaborative approach have been instrumental in ensuring the successful realization of these projects, thereby further reflecting Nigeria’s commitment to democratic governance.
The significance of these developments extends beyond the physical structures themselves. The renovated chambers and the establishment of the research center not only elevate the image of the parliament, but also reflects the grandeur of renowned parliaments, positioning the National Assembly as a hub for legislative research and innovation, not only within Nigeria but across the African continent. This development opens doors for collaboration and knowledge sharing among lawmakers, fostering a more informed and progressive legislative environment. The impact of these facilities will undoubtedly reverberate far beyond the walls of the National Assembly, leaving an indelible mark on the legislative landscape.
Reflecting on my visit to the British Parliament in 2018, I am struck by the uncanny resemblance between those esteemed halls and the newly refurbished chambers here in Abuja. This is a testament to the remarkable work of Gbajabiamila, and I am honoured to witness such a significant milestone during my tenure as a member of the House.
Now let’s picture this – the National Assembly undergoing a makeover, complete with a stylish new library and research centre. It’s as if the hallowed halls received a fabulous makeover, courtesy of none other than Gbajabiamila. The thought of stately politicians surrounded by the trappings of modernity is enough to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
In the spirit of education and enlightenment, it’s crucial to highlight the transformative power of these developments for a clearer understanding. The establishment of a state-of-the-art research centre within our National Assembly is a cause for celebration, as it signifies our commitment to intellectual growth and legislative prowess. With these new facilities, the possibilities for groundbreaking research, innovative legislation, and collaborative efforts are simply boundless.
Special credit must also be given to Hon. Dan Amos, the current House Committee Chairman on House Services, for his outstanding supervision throughout the renovation and establishment processes. His meticulous oversight also ensured that these projects were executed seamlessly, delivering a result that meets the highest standards. Hon. Amos and his committee can be likened to the midwives who facilitated the successful delivery of Gbajabiamila’s vision for the National Assembly. Their dedication and attention to detail deserve good recognition.
As I sit privileged to serve as a member of the House, the transformation of the National Assembly under the leadership of Gbajabiamila has not only inspired a sense of pride but has also evoked a sense of humour and awe at the unexpected and delightful turn of events. The collaborative efforts and dedication of all those involved in making this dream a reality is much overwhelming and it’s a testament to the existing unity in Nigeria as a whole, irrespective of party affiliations or political loyalty. The juxtaposition of the unexpected twin babies and the unveiling of these projects serves as a profound testament to the fulfilment of a grand vision.
Truly for a fact, this recent unveiling of the refurbished chambers, alongside the inauguration of the National Assembly Library and Research Centre, marks a significant milestone in transforming Nigeria’s legislative hub. The brain behind this remarkable feat, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has not only delivered on his vision but has also set a new standard for indigenous excellence in infrastructure development.
In conclusion, the transformation of the National Assembly under the stewardship of Femi Gbajabiamila is not only a testament to his vision and leadership but a resounding declaration of the capabilities and potential of indigenous talent. Gbaja’s unwavering dedication to the betterment of the National Assembly has brought about a renaissance that will leave an indelible mark on the fabric of our legislative institution. The humour, the unexpectedness, and the educational significance of these developments all coalesce to paint a picture of a man who has redefined the landscape of the National Assembly and has emerged as the perfect embodiment of fulfillment.
As we bask in the glory of these achievements, let us not forget the humour and joy that accompanies such momentous occasions. After all, laughter and lightheartedness can make even the most serious of endeavours all the more enjoyable. With great delight and pride, I celebrate the birth of Gbajabiamila’s “twin babies” in the National Assembly, a testament to his vision, leadership, and the potential of indigenous excellence. Cheers to Gbajabiamila and the vibrant future of the National Assembly!
Agbese MHR is the Deputy Spokesperson, National Assembly’s House of Representatives, writing from Abuja.
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