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Letters to the Editor

 

 

 
May, 2007
NigerianNews Letter to the Editor

May 22, 2007

LETTERS TO FRISKY

Dear Frisky,

RE: Obasanjo's legacy

Dear FriskyLarr,

I do not know you in person but I have read many of your articles on Olusegen Obasanjo. I must say you make sense in some of the evaluations you have made. However, I think you stand accused of the same bias you levy at  the detractors of Obasanjo's legacies. In your last piece you mention that you belong to a minority who see something good in Obasanjo. Shouldn't you sit back and reflect why the  majority are on the other side of the fence on this issue? Is it not too simplistic for you to categorize all these as coming from ill-intentioned individuals in Nigeria ? I happen to believe that Nigeria has again wasted a golden opportunity in the last 8years of Obasanjo regime by the  way Obasanjo handled the most crucial elements necessary to Build a Nigerian Nation. Achievement such as  debt relief, GSM , Satellite launch etc. as important as they are, are not going to be meaningful unless the major undercurrents of Nigerian Nationhood are addressed. This would have set him apart from others. Unfortunately, Nigeria has not moved away from tribalism, ethnic rivalry, claims of marginalization, unequal opportunities, religious strifes, decaying education and health services, massive curruption in all aspects of life, reduction in quality of life despite increase in the so called "income per capital", electoral malpractices and abject poverty of the masses. These are objective determinants that the public sees in the last 8years. Yes, it is true that these were not created in the last 8 years but they were not adequately addressed to the level the masses would have said "thank you" to Obasanjo as well. Here lies the reason why his so-called achievement have meant nothing to the people.

I advice you to take on other issues that you are likely to make better impact on and leave the issues of Obasanjo to prosterity to judge. I like reading your piece and I hope you will take up this advice from someone who admires your writing even though I may disagree with some of your submissions.

Regards,

Nat Salako

Frisky's Response

Salako Sir,

Many thanks for your mail! Like many of our friendly readers, you and I seem to be definitely on opposite sides of the fence on the OBJ-Atiku issue. Your characterization of "so-called achievement" is the state of denial I am addressing Sir. If OBJ's achievements are not good enough to show gratitude for, should his failures be sufficient to warrant lynching?

I am quite impressed by your conclusive counsel: "I advice you to take on other issues that you are likely to make better impact on and leave the issues of Obasanjo to posterity to judge." Posterity will definitely be the final judge Sir. As a passionate analyst however, it is difficult if not impossible for me to factor out a specific subject matter because it is controversial. Now that you are well aware of subjects, in which we may never see eye-to-eye, you may be doing the entire readership an invaluable favor, if you counter my analysis with facts of your own to ensure a balanced presentation of the issue at stake and I am ensure our Editor-in-Chief will be glad to have your views posted on the letters column.

One more point. I think its great that you appreciate that the existing problems were not created within the last eight years. Can't we simply criticize leaders for things done wrong and show appreciation for things done right as well rather than trivializing one against the other?

God bless and many thanks once again, for your friendly attitude!

Best regards Sir,

Frisky Larr

Re: The Dilemma in hypocrisy: Example of the Satellite launch

Dear Editor,

I follow the media and the Nigerian politics a great deal, I also look forward to reading your articles. I appreciate your point of view of the Nigerian politics vis-à-vis the hatred of President Obasanjo.

I will like to start by saying I do not agree that President Obasanjo is the most hated president of Nigeria, as far as I am concerned, the so called antagonist of Obasanjo are the people that run the society, so to say. They control the media, and now obviously, the Judiciary. The noise they sponsor appear as though it is the whole country shouting. It does not represent every Nigerian's point of view, even the rest of the world.

An example can be drawn from the criticism that met the election from international observers of this last election, although the election might have been marred with irregularities which warranted the criticism, the western government are already showing support for Yar'Adua, knowing that he stands different from the corrupt leaders that have plagued the country all these years. Would the election have been better? Obviously it would not have been when all the contestants were calling for a postponement of election before the election and they hired every machinery to cause confusion during the election in order to undermine the result and get express approval from the public and judiciary for a cancellation of the election. After all, if their chances of winning is slim, then they must make the election fail. Who were burning police stations? Who were the people attempting to burn INEC headquarters and so much more.

I commend the courage of the President for his effort to change the cause of the Nigerian future, he has challenged the status quo in a lot of ways. I still remember not many years ago when fraudsters move around our cities with entourage, and boast that they are untouchable. Now fraudsters keep low profile, because they are wary of the long arms of EFCC. Ask the judiciary, and the so called SANs today how much was done to prosecute corrupt people when Nigeria was ranked the second most corrupt country in the world for several years according to Transparency International, but they will tell you they are fighting now to salvage the country from peril.

Obasanjo's antagonists are very loud, they control a lot of the institutions, and their biggest fear is that they cannot get away with feeding fat on the national cake anymore, they will do anything to fight it, what if it were you. They should all know that the end has come for them, let them not be fooled to think they will win anymore, they should start considering turning a new leaf to work together toward a greater Nigeria.

My salute to the President that has been guided more by his conscience than the desire to be popular, despite all the distraction he remains focused on pioneering projects that will help the future of Nigeria, like the launch of NICOMSAT. Previous government would have made more media flora of their plan to embark on projects like that, even though they never materialize in the past, it would have been converted to a drain pipe for siphoning money.

Even if all the people that do not want to be stopped from circumventing the future of Nigeria make all the noise today, posterity will judge you tomorrow.

Steven Afolabi
Aguda, Lagos

May 18, 2007

Dear Editor,

RE: LESSONS FROM THE TURKEY EXPERIENCE

I am very much at home with an article recently posted here by a columnist, Mr Frisky. His observation about the role being played by the Turkish Army is right. And of course, the lesson therein for the African military establishments as-well-as the lesson for the political class to learn from, irrespective of the basic dissimilarities in the background of the duo of Turkey and African states cannot be more challenging. 

 

I only want to complement his observation by striking the core message in this lesson, in regard to what irony obtains as African democracy and its military buddy around which our non-readiness to identify, accept and learn to live by the effects of hybridity needed of democracy on the African continent before ever we will be able to hand down democratic principles that cannot be violated pivots around, particularly in Nigeria.  

 

I have the feeling that this should be our major concern now. We need urgent, positive discrimination against copying the western democracy into our relatively dissenting background, as we have seen it failed in part of the Americas, Persian Gulf and Asian states where native identity is invaluable.

 

Glaring enough in the Turkish Army example is their not exhibiting any interest in either direct government or any political powers but, would not mince words or fail to act straight in putting down a government whose policies threaten the national unity, or identity and sovereignty of Turkey.  It did not take the Turkish Army centuries to wake up to this reality and its perfection. It only succeeded doing this by not refusing to let stick the culturally specific and unique experience of the evolutionary era of the republic of Turkey, a time it became factual that the largely Islamic state of Turkey could not deliver and measure up tangibly, given its geostrategic location – bordering eight different countries or so, without a classically befitting democratic government.

 

I like to build more on this fact that we’ve got more to learn from here than from the Turkish military alone.  We also should learn from the selfless service of the Turkish political characters who, out of commitment, voluntarily granted to their armies, the internal Service Code to protect and look after the Turkish Republic, should things go the wrong way. Thus Turkish army, like other military establishments all over the world, had planned coups but had, in effect, acted rationally to cut short only bad regimes, to the jubilation of the masses; was, and is still astute at quickly feeling the pulse of the gazing world and the Turkish people, and, its coming on stage at the failure of the civil authority is seen to be constitutional and most appropriate which, as a matter of fact, has largely encouraged the positivism of its function.

 

Although I will not campaign the same style for African states but I may be tempted to ask my fellow contributors here what could the constitutional back-up mechanism for African Democracy be or, like Turkey, how do we even formulate a befitting democractic principles in Africa? I look forward to more discussions over this as the two questions above really puzzle me.

 

Sesan Belo

May 15, 2007

Dear Editor,

Bravo! and who is Frisky Larr?

I want to use this opportunity to say bravo! to you and your news team for the wonderful job you have done so far. And thank you for giving us Frisky Larr. Who is this guy? Times have changed quite a bit. Now we can read opinions from different perspectives and school of thought.

I want to bring out few points on journalistic integrity and flavor, not that I am a journalist myself, but I have read quite a few articles, columns and editorials, from the likes of the late Mike Royko, a Pulitzer winner and Bob Green of Chicago Sun times. The list might not seem long enough to make me an expert on writing format and styles but I know a good writing when I come across one. Frisky Larr is the subject of my article today. I admire his writing style and facts presentation. Often times, in the early hours of the morning when I am reading up on politics, election updates and other news worthy write up, my first anxiety is to find out if Frisky has any thoughts to share. For starters, a good writer is one that uses the English language to express ideas that can be understood even by an elementary school student who can read. Regardless of the subject matter, these caliber of writers often break down hard to understand facts to pure basics without the jaw breaking grammar that is sometimes unnecessary and hard to understand by the general public. In all the articles shared by Frisky Larr that I have read, I dare say that he is an embodiment of what a superb writing is all about. I am saying this because often times I come across articles written by some Nigerian journalists and others who feel inspired enough to write, they often make the mistake of using jargons, slang and abbreviations that takes away from the points they are trying to convey and most importantly discrediting the very newspaper they are using to share their opinion. By no means am I suggesting that every writer should write like Frisky. Frankly, one stands a better chance of seeing an angel than such an illusion becoming a reality.  Specifically I am referring to the fact that it is not necessary to use jaw breaking and fanciful words to come up with an interesting form of writing. There is much to learn from the writing style of Mr. Larr and I want to thank him for his perspective on issues that are otherwise crowded with biases, lies and misuse of English grammar. Further more, it would be a lot of fun and excitement to read from Frisky often although I can relate to time constraint and opportunity. Finally I like to encourage others who often pass up the opportunity to enjoy a clear, simple and well put together piece of writing by Frisky Larr to try it. You might like it better yet have fun reading it.

Thank you, for the opportunity and keep on matching soldier!

Sincerely
Ralph Mbang

Dear Editor,

ABIA POLICE COMMISSIONER, WHAT’s AMUDA ELUOMA’s sin?
My Community, Amuda Eluoma Uzuakoli is known as a peaceful one until 1962 when the community through a joint effort trained a lawyer. Since then Amuda Eluoma has not known peace. The young lawyers trained instead of contributing to the development of the village turn out to become an oppressor. This lawyer is no other person than Justice Okozie. He vowed that he would take over the community land. He went as far as using force to collect land from the rightful owners but thank God who is the owner of life, Justice Okezie has started reaping what he sowed. He now lives like king Nebuchadnezzar.

Amuda community has started enjoying relative peace until Abia state government appointed the younger brother of justice a Commissioner. This young Commissioner has started where his elder brother stopped. As I am writing now our Community has been deserted because of threat from Mobile policemen sent from Umuahia that has been terrorizing the village. All the public and private toilets has been demolished and shops and so many houses worth millions of naira were destroyed. So far two people have been reported dead and so many injured and some on danger list. Our people have ran away from their houses for the fear of being arrested, it is as if there is another civil war only in Amuda. The Abia State Commissioner of police has been bought over if not how do we reconcile mobile policemen breaking into people houses at about 3.00am. Many youths now sleep in the bushes or in the farms. We learnt that the Police have been bribed with the sum of 5 million naira and that is why they are abusing the human rights in Amuda Even when the owners of such houses were not around. The mobile policemen claimed that they were sent to fish out the youths that demonstrated on what they tagged injustice. The Commissioner of rural development in Abia state through Abia state Commissioner of police sent mobile policemen to Amuda Eluoma Uzuakoli where the policemen shot some youths made some arrest. They even arrested some breast-feeding mothers. Abia state Commissioner, Mr Chima should be brought to book.

I appeal to IG Mr. Sunday Ehindero to please use his good office to look into this matter. He should please investigate the role Abia state commissioner of police played in this matter to stop further humiliation and killing of innocent people.

Okwuchi Rita Inegbu
Amuda Eluoma Uzukaoli
Rita_okwuchi@yahoo.co.uk

May 08, 2007

Dear Editor,

Everybody in Nigeria is sick as Shaege talk am

I want say that we are tired of this noise Buhari and Atiku are making. They want to start another riot whereby innocent citizens will be killed and properties demolished, why wouldn't they bring thier families and front them in the protest against the new elected president so that they'll be killed first? Rather they'll send all their families to Europe for safety and give money to poor masses for them to start the riot and be killed.

Buhari was crying that the election was not free and fair, where was he and what did he say when his brother Babangida annulled the 1993 election that was won by MKO ABIOLA of which the whole world confirmed as the most free and fair election in Africa. (Ebulu ozu onye ozo,o di ka ebu ukwu nku) If it's someone else ,it'll be nothing but when it's you,it becomes an issue.

Please let Baba sheage and his ceremonial president Yaradua continue joo..Atleast he has initiated some moves for good in NIgeria in his 8years tenure and I believe in another 8years(i.e if we dey alive and together as one Naija reach then) the good moves will materialise. The devil (Shaege & Yaradua) we know is better that the devil(Atiku & Buhari) we don't know.

Tony Chidi

Johannesburg South Africa.

May 05, 2007

Editor

Well Done

You are just doing very well. Just great. Keep up the good work. Your objective analysis is worthy of commendation. We've got a lot to show case to the world that we LOVE our country Nigeria and seeing far beyond what the international community may label our election. We are grateful to God that we were able to hold the election distractors never wanted because of visionary leaders who want to make history.

People are entitled to there own opinion and we know that we have many more elections to conduct. The first election can not be never be perfect when even mentors of democracy are still struggling to get rid of irregularities.

INEC need to be congratulated by Nigerians. With my experiences as engineer in managing multiple projects simultaneously with stringent or nearly impossible time frame for each, it was near miracle for Professor Iwu to have conducted the presidential election after supreme court judgment just 4-5 days to election. The judgment was the necessary evil with plus and minus impact. Personally speaking, Iwu deserves award.

On opposition parties, the machinery for electoral victory is just one and whoever get it first gets the victory. PPA got it and the guber aspirant, despite in detention won his election. Lagos state, the same thing and even ANPP states. None of the opposition parties actually posses the machinery to win presidential election except the ruling party. The machinery even Atiku relied upon was the PDP own. He thought he still has it until he just realize that that what makes the machinery works is the authority that was taken over by his boss. I advise opposition parties that want to be relevant in Nigerian politics to go and build a grass root machinery for the next 8-12 years to be able to challenge the ruling party. As long as PDP remains united and articulate opposition has a lot to do.
On the current election, even the court won't just rob PDP victory when their sin was also committed by other parties. Some of us monitored the election out of personal interest in Lagos. I'm not a politician, I do not belong to political parties but a professional in my field.

I have strong passion for this nation. Things have started to take shape since1999. We now have a road map. We are now in a track or path in the right direction. There was never a time we have hope of going somewhere in this country talk less of getting there. I see Mr. president- Olusegun Obasanjo as a miracle, an achiever, an icon, a leader who made other leaders for the international community to pay higher premium for and a visionary leader that could get a successor. Just less than 3 months ago, opposition parties that already read the hand writing on the wall that PDP machinery was insurmountable had been campaigning as there manifesto to Nigerians that Obasanjo would not handover in may 29Th but today it is Iwu and Electoral irregularities.

Gentleman Editor, you are doing a great job with NigerianNews and we are proud of you. Please keep the vision alive, don't be induced and I can assure you that you are greater than all those who would never see any good thing in this country except the government place a piece of bread on there table for breakfast.

IDOWU PETE