Report of UDHR Day Held in Onitsha on 13th Dec. 2008

TEXT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANISATION (CLO) ANAMBRA STATE BRANCH ON THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOOD GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA AND ANAMBRA STATE IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS DAY. HELD IN ONITSHA, ANAMBRA STATE, 13TH DEC; 2008.

Distinguished Gentlemen of the press and others here present. You are welcome to this unique day of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal declaration of Human Rights 1948-2008.

ORIGIN AND BRIEF OVERVIEW OF UDHR
The origin of universal declaration of human rights dates back to October 1945 when the United Nations Organization was formed. The formation of UNO was mainly to preserve International peace and security. This aim became imperative because of the devastating effect of the second world war involving 61 countries which lasted for six years.

An estimated number of 50 million people perished in the war which was a great set back for humanity. The United Nations charter was embedded in the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms which was given a definite expression when the General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of human rights (UDHR) on December 10 1948 ( Resolution 217A III with 48 rites, 8 abstentions and none against.
This action represent the first time in history that the International community had attempted to define a comprehensive code for the Internal government of its members.

Since then, the UDHR has evolved into a week long programme where human rights groups and other NGOS take time to review the human rights records and how governments have performed in its policies in good governance etc. Governments are also expected to use the period to revisit their signatures, commitments and ratifications cum accessions of existing human right instruments as enshrined in the UN charter, regional and sub regional charters, group’s statues or constitution as well as municipality laws of home governments.

Nigeria as a member of the UN is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which has now assumed the status of customary International law. Even though the Nigerian government have shown some degree of commitment to facilitate the implementation of the UDHR, International Bill of Rights, African charter on Human and people’s Rights (ACHRR) domesticated (1990 see CAP 10 CFN (1990) as well as other treaty obligations freely entered to, by the establishment of the National Human Rights commission of Nigeria (NHRC) under the National Human Rights Act 1995, it is regrettable that most of the provision of these documents are being observed in breach and violated with impunity.

GOOD GOVERNANCE AND STATE OF THE NATION
The Civil Liberties Organization’s sacred understanding of good governance is the ability of the democratically elected government to make effective utilization of authority and confidence entrusted to it and to better the lots of the people who elected it. It equally means the managerial prowess of such government in utilizing available human and material resources in tackling social problems of the people as well as the strict enforcement of the rule of law.

THE REMOTE AND IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF FAILURE OF GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA.
Article 21 subsection (3) of the UDHR document provides that the will of the people shall be the basis of authority of government, this-will, shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
The subversion of people’s right to elect the candidates of their choice, the technical and deliberate brazen method of disenfranchisement and massive electoral fraud that has become synonymous with our elections in Nigeria is the reason why we have continued to experience retrogression in every indices for measuring good governance.

PRESIDENT YAR’DUA’S INERTIA:
Nigeria has been grappling with the burden of leadership but the level has reached a crescendo with the ‘selection’ of Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’dua as the president of Nigeria.

The supreme court of Nigeria has just this yesterday confirmed his position as the No 1 man in the country. The truth is that Nigerians should rise up and take their destiny into their hands because Yar’adua is not our expected Messiah. Mr. President is not only sleeping on duty and learning on the job but the fate of over 140 million Nigerians he presides over, remains gloomy with this experimentation going on in the name of governance. Let me state our reasons. Mr. President has no agenda of his own, it is high time we overlook the concocted insincere and presently unachievable “seven point Agenda” of his.

Our president lacks the messianic zeal and gusto of men like Mahatma Ghandi, Napoleon Bonaparte, Mao Tse Tung, and quite a number of other Messiahs’. His lack of political will and masses oriented legitimacy has eroded any genuine plans he may have for the citizens of Nigeria.

NATIONAL BUDGET:
Budget have been described by some analysts as the live wire of every society. The gross incapability of the present National government have manifested much in budget proposals and implementation.

The 2008 Federal budget of N2.748 trillion was based on projected oil production of 2.45 million barrels per day, a benchmark oil price of $59/barrel and an exchange ratio of N117 to $1. The budget was a 32% increase in federal spending over the 2007 fiscal year. Yet it will be recalled that unspent budget running into several millions was recorded in the 2007 fiscal year.

With apparent abysmal poor implementation in the face of collapsed infrastructure and energy failure, Mr. President on Thursday October 23 2008., presented to the National Assembly a supplementary budget of 683 billion naira, 70 days to the end of 2008 and just a day after the controversial 2008 budget was passed into law. Nigerians got depressed the more on Tuesday December 2nd 2008 when Mr. President presented 2.87 trn budget to the joint session of the National Assembly as budget 2009. In the budget, a whopping N283.6billion naira was earmarked for debt servicing.


According to a recent report in Daily champion Newspapers, World Bank loans to Nigeria under the Bank’s assisted projects since 1999 to date is about $3.5 billion including a recent $780 loan granted for three projects.

This trend is unacceptable. Tying the country down with foreign loans with no clear-cut direction for our budget should be put to a halt with immediate effect.

MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENT

Our continuous assertion that Mr. President is not fit to be in the saddle of leadership is not far fetched also, going by the comedy of sorts being recreated in the appointment of new ministers.

Since may 2007 when presidential aides dropped hint on the plan to rejig or reshuffle the cabinet. It took 5 clear months for Mr. President to formally drop 20 ministers from his cabinet. The ones retained have not fared any better but our hopes got dampened again when its now taking another two months before the new ministers are selected, screened and sworn in. the most distressing part of it is the caliber of some of the nominees. This government is sliding into gerontocracy and oligarchy. we call on Nigerians to rise up and say no to the appointment of spent forces, financial felons and over used recycled politicians being paraded as ministerial nominees.

POWER SECTOR REFORM.

Government policy in this regard have been changing like the British weather. The declaration of emergency on the power sector has been so many times postponed that Nigerians don’t know when the declaration will be effected.

We are disturbed that despite the approval of 288.2 billion naira by the National Economic Council for emergency power projects, there is no end in sight to the agony of Nigerians on the power failure. We call on the federal government to be sincere and pragmatic in its approach to solving Nigeria’s multifaceted problems.

BOGUS EMOLUMENTS OF PUBLIC POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS

The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) shocked Nigerian on August 16 2008 when the commission announced jumbo pay packages for public office holders with over 100% increase.

The announcement came barely two weeks after the Nigerian Union of teachers called off their one month strike over their demand for better pay.

Despite the public outcry that followed the announcement, our now called “owners of Nigeria” have been riding roughshod on our collective resources to maintain their selfish desires in the now proposed 2009 budget. Personnel of the two key arms of government- the Presidency (part of the executive and the legislature) comprising National Assembly members will earn a total of N47.8 billion as emoluments for the year.

With an estimated N1.649 trillion budgeted for recurrent expenditure in the budget, part of the breakdown shows that for 2009 alone, the 360 members of House of Representatives are to receive N26,676,225,627 while the senators will get N15,321,393,017 in the first quarter of the year totaling N41, 997, 618, 634.

The entire National Assembly are to receive N61.6 billion, National Assembly Service commission N715,784,947 million. National Assembly office N6.4 billion while legislative aides will also receive 4.3 billion as salaries.

Imagine all the amount allocated to few individuals while majority of Nigerians live below $1 dollar per day.
We need a revolution before we get things right, here in Nigeria.

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

The legislators in the National Assembly are empowered by the constitution to make laws for the good governance and welfare of the Nigerian citizens they represent. Unfortunately what we see in various legislatives houses these days are lawmakers turned contractors seeking for their own personal aggrandizement.
The greed of our lawmakers has castrated the checks and balances that set democracy apart as the most effective system of government.

THE SENATE:

The upper house, in all fairness, deserves a bit of emulation for the stability of leadership existing in the chambers since their inauguration. However they should also receive big knocks for their grand plan to frustrate the freedom of information (F.O.I) bill. The clause of getting clearance from the court among other rigorous procedures they adopted as conditions for the passage of the bill portrays them as enemies of democracy and those with much skeletons in their closet.

The senators also have often toed the same line with their counter parts in the lower house in their penchant for personal aggrandizement. In July this year, the Deputy senate president, senator Ike Ekweremadu told Nigerians that the upper house has an appropriation of N72 billion naira mapped out for constituency projects. Our investigations have revealed that Constituency projects have turned most senators to contractors where they initiate some projects at Abuja for award & approval for the so called projects to turn into white elephant projects and the money pocketed into private pockets.

The presidency also contributed to this commercialization attitude of the legislators by his various lobbies to the senators.
On August 2008, the senators were allegedly paid 2.5 million by the presidency for cutting short their holiday to attend one day sitting for the passage of 2008 budget amendment bill. This crazy bazaar has got to stop.


THE HOUSE OF REPS:

The federal House of Representatives deserve a lifetime failure Award (LFA) for their dismal detachment from the electorate to vainglorious selfish pursuit.

The Ettehgate saga was a mere child’s play to what is currently playing out in the house. A cursory look into their financial deals and their epicurean lifestyle will shock one to the marrows. part of the reason why the 2008 budget was delayed before it was signed into law was the bogus expenditure list of the Reps. In the 2008 budget, the representatives earmarked 2.8 billion for the purchase of new vehicles not withstanding that the same amount was also mapped out for the items in 2007. Apart from the car bazaar, a whopping N6,227, 400,000 was earmarked for Refreshment and meals in this 2008 budget.

By the breakdown, each legislator is entitled to N114, 054.95 worth of refreshment daily. Presently, the house is enmeshed in the car purchase scandal where another whopping 539.4m was alleged to have been fraudulently removed from the account of the National Assembly . Imagine buying a range rover at 57.2 million and other inflated contracts.

CLO calls for the removal of the speaker Dimeji Bankole and all the principal Officers involved, other members of the house should go for exorcism to purge themselves from this malady or else their constituencies should push for their recall.

CORRUPTION AND EFCC

Until our votes begin to count in Nigeria and we put adequate measure to make our laws work, the anti corruption war remains a farce, puse & simple. Corruption has come to stay in Nigeria. It has assumed a spiritual problem and like prostitution, alcoholism, sexual aberrations, drug addiction and kleptom aniasm that needs spiritual solution to abate, corruption in Nigeria also need some spiritual methods. Those in power lack the Zeal and the will to deal with the monster.

The Economic & financial crimes commission as presently constituted is on a wasteful distracting jamboree, if not to serve the interest of some ‘powerful’ Nigerians. in the recent brouhaha brought about by the ‘operation crucify Ribadu’ allegedly by the Attorney General of the federation, some financial felon ex governors and the police hierarchy; the EFCC has been brought to public ridicule.

The commission in defense of its image, told Nigerian’s that since the exit of Ribadu, they’ve secured over 32 convictions in court and amount of over N10 billion recovered. We regard this as empty image laundering. Looting has been indirectly legalized in Nigeria, one can steal 100 million, hire a brilliant lawyer, settle some EFCC boys, the police and the judge and rent some sycophants to sing praises in court on the day of trial, all these with about 20 million.

After reeling out over 106 count charges, the next is to secure an indefinite bail and the suspects goes home to enjoy his loot.
Rise up Nigerians and change this system.

RULE OF LAW & HUMAN RIGHT RECORDS

The Government of president Yar’dua promised us good governance anchored on the rule of law. Events have proved to us that the rule of law mantra is a hoax and the maxim now has many colours in Nigeria today.

Human right violations are still on the ascendancy in Nigeria despite all the conjectures of promoting it. It was not mere coincidence that miss Uzoma Okere was brutalised in Lagos the very moment meeting on African charter on Human & people’s rights was held in Abuja.

The recent harrasment of journalists and detention of online reporters by the state security service portrays the government as double faced. The civil liberties organization therefore warns the federal government to respect the citizens rights.

The government should know that the media as the fourth estate of the realm is one of democracy’s most important institutions and in the words of the outgoing U.S secretary of state Ms Condoleza Rice “ there is no more important pillar of democracy than a free and active press”.

ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT
HUMAN RIGHTS DEVELOPMENT & DEMOCRACY

The Developmental pace of Democracy and human rights in Anambra has been that of barbarism, brigandage and cannibalism from 1999 until the emergence of the present executive of Mr. Peter Obi.

Desecrating the sanctity of the ballot box seems to have become a tradition in Anambra since 1999 when the people’s choice as candidates for election’s were not only denied the opportunity to win election but some were dropped within the last minute intrigues.

Such was the scenario in Anambra until the 2003 elections when Anambra people massively turned out enmasse to exercise their franchise.
How the election was hijacked and the struggle to reclaim the people’s mandate is well known to everybody.

We commend the governor for his continuous respect for human rights and the non-use of crude method or bringandage to deal with security or the oppositions.

GOVERNANCE AND DIVIDENDS OF DEMOCRACY

We commend the governor once more for the prudent management of the state’s resources but we also remind him that it amounts to mere miserly tendencies as some people allege when the large chunk of these resources remain in the government vault while there is much work to do. Over-prudence stifles progress and can be counter productive.

To whom much is given, much is expected. It is an indisputable fact that the governor enjoys input legitimacy as the one whose mandate was bestowed on him by the people, Anambra people therefore like Oliver Twist of the Charles Dickens classic want some more as his output legitimacy shall be tested.

Since the creation of Anambra State, this year 2008 recorded the highest amount in budget proposals. With a budget of N55. 901 billion in 2007, budget for 2008 was upped to N84.2 Billion.
Though after months of brickbats between the state House of Assembly and the Governor, the appropriation bill was finally reduced to 74.575 billion and passed into law on Tuesday April 29,2008. Another supplementary bill of over 10 billion was also approved and signed into law later.


This huge bill was expected to turn around the face of Anambra State.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION

It is the duty government to listen to the good yearnings and aspirations of the people. Various groups and individuals have voiced out their opinion over the non-conduct of local government elections in the state. Anambra CLO have taken a position before and we are repeating it.

Section 7 of the 1999 constitution made the guarantee for a local government clear and in section 8 the state governments are under obligation to ensure their existence, structure etc. Since the short lived local government structure under Mbadinuju between 1999 to 2002, local governments here have been under caretaker arrangement. The continuous reason of porous security situation in the state for non-conduct of the election is no more acceptable. We suspect that there is a grand design by successive administrations in the state to make local governments here mere appendages of the government so as to siphon money through that way.

Some critical observers in the state allege that the delay in the conduct of council polls in the state was deliberate in order for the state government to continue to enjoy the bounties of the local government allocation to the detriment of the local government areas in the state (see Sunday independent Nov. 23rd 2008)

From our findings though the published statement of disbursement by the Federal Ministry of Finance, between June and December 2007 only,, the 21 local governments in the state got over N10 billion from the federation account.

We call on the Government of Anambra state to render account of over N140 billion believed to have accrued into the account of the 21 local governments between June 1999 and December 2008. Out of this amount, about 50 billion Naira are believed to have been lodged in private coffers, while Anambrarians wait for this account, the government should as a matter of urgency conduct elections into the councils and various markets in the state.

The caretaker committees in the various markets in Anambra also hide under the cloak of unfavourable false security report to latch onto the coffers of their various market treasuries. All these reasons are artificially created.

PETER OBI’S CABINET

Just as we have talked of the federal Ministers, there is need for the Governor of Anambra State to dissolve and reconstitute his cabinet for effective performance. Agreed that the present crop of commissioners parade some intimidating credentials but the score card of some of them have not been commensurate with their paper qualifications.

Also the ministry of Environment have been without a commissioner for several months now. The permanent secretary in the ministry have been saddled with the responsibility of the commissioner since then. It has become imperative for the governor to dissolve his cabinet, inject some few fresh blood with visionary traits and give some communities a sense of belonging in the state by appointing their qualified candidate as part of the team. There is need to refocus the cabinet for the challenges ahead, meanwhile, there have been much talk with less action on the beautification of Onitsha and Environs. The commercial city of Onitsha as the entrance route of the state from the western part of Nigeria deserve a faster approach in giving it a facelift.



INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND ANAMBRA BROADCASTING SERVICE;

The Anambra Broadcasting service as the official media outfit of the state government needs serious injections to survive. The station which took off around 1979/1980 at Onitsha during the Nwobodo administration used to be the darling station of choice for many listeners, unfortunately, the station as presently obtained dwells only on past glory.

The Onitsha station – our investigations revealed that since government mooted the idea of relocating the station to Awada and converting the GRA office to a five star hotel, things have really fallen apart, the staffs are not only disenchanted with the idea but have been working in a very harsh condition. The GRA studio has no functioning Generator and the engineers on duty rely on almighty PHCN for all their recordings. Even though Govt. has awarded a contract for the erection of a new MW station at Awada, the project is moving at a snail-speed. There is also no proper information flow and the station’s present transmission on 90.7 FM doesn’t send signals beyond Onitsha.

At Awka, the story has not been palatable too. The M.D of ABS is alleged to be the stooge of the Hon. Commissioner for information and culture and Victimization of staffs seems to be the in-thing presently. It is quite a serious tragedy that neither ABS radio nor TV reported the armed robbery incident of August 21 near SARS Awkuzu on the instruction from ‘above’ simply that they don’t want to scare investors away.

We call on the state governor, Mr. Peter Obi to get committed to revitalizing and re-branding the station to brace up with the challenges of the 21st century broadcasting. The government should know that embracing secrecy is a recipe for disaster in government. This capital fight in the state where millions of tax payers money are spent on other private broadcast stations like AIT to launder the image of the state should stop.

The reach of the station determines its success; we also call for the recall of some sacked and suspended staff of the station allegedly victimized because they volunteered information to the panel of inquiry set up sometime ago to look into the crisis in the station. Mr Ibekwe Tony and Ibe Anoliefo fall into this category.


EMBARGO ON EMPLOYMENT

Article 14(2b) chapter II of 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria State in Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State policy says that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the Primary Purpose of government” in (c) “the participation of by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this constitution”.

The implication of this law is that the government is obliged to make improvement of the living conditions of the people its paramount objectives; also the level of governments input in the positive welfare of the people determines the support the people give to the government.

We urge His Excellency to lift the embargo placed on employment by getting the people more involved in government affairs and empowered through job creation.

The staff audit said to be ongoing to ascertain the strength of the state’s work force should not take eternity to complete.

We also advise the governor to reduce frequent oversea travels and concentrate on delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Anambra.



SECURITY AND POLICE IN ANAMBRA STATE

The inglorious epoch of Mbadinuju’s regime in Anambra State has been buried but the carcass has refused to decay totally, its like the limbs are still sticking outside the grave. The volatile political atmosphere which characterised Chris Ngige regime is still prevailing. All these have metamorphosed into parliamentary rascality, kidnapping for ransom,police extra judicial killings, illegal possession of arms among other evils.

We are extremely worried that weapons of death which includes gun, ammunitions, machetes, axes estimated at over 10,000 are still in the wrong hands since the infamous OTA and Bakasi Boys were dislodged and proscribed.

The emergence and proliferation of various vigilante groups and unregistered private security outfits in the state is another time bomb tickling to explode. Monstrous vigilantism and activities of their agents have continued to expand rapidly. In Anambra, people are still detained indiscriminately in private cells, harrasment, rape torture and illegal shootings have been reported to our office.

During the botched PDP ward Congress not long ago, jobless, untrained but armed youths, did use guns freely in parts of Osumenyi, Nnewi, Uga and some other parts of the state. The security agents should be alert since there are speculations of stocking of arms cache in preparation for 2010 elections by the apostles of do or die politics.

The police:
The police by virtue of section 214 (1) of the 1999 Constitution and part II section 4 in the general duties of the police force (1979) is empowered to exist and are employed for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations which they are directly charged.

To boost police efficiency, the federal government in 1999 announced its readiness to increase the force strength from 180,000 men to 577,000 by recruiting 40,000 policemen yearly in order to meet the united Nations requirement of one policeman to every 400 citizens.

From a simple beginning in 1861 as a colonial institution, the Nigeria police force has now grown into a complex institution with about 440,000 policemen.

Unfortunately, the larger the organization gets, the bigger its headaches become.

Anambra people have had it so bad in the hands of the police and with the ongoing trend, it will take more that mere window dressing to get out of this quagmire. The favourite past time of the police in Anambra is extortion, intimidation, harassments, extra judicial killing, arbitrary arrest and ‘wetin you carry’

Emeka Umeagbalasi captured it succinctly when he stated recently that the police is bedevilled by “returns culture” and that illegal tolls are estimated to have fetched its police command the sum of 3.3 billion in the past nine years in the state.

The prayer of an average policeman in Onitsha is not how to apprehend criminals but “how much cash will I take home illegally today and how many people will I use my gun to suppress since every bloody civilian here is always in a hurry and doesn’t know their rights.”

This kind of mentality has produced disastrous results, police killings over N20 bribe is a frequent occurrence in Onitsha. The arrival of MOPOL 54 division in Onitsha has brought more incalculable woes on the people. Anambra people have become endangered species in the state, they are afraid of the police in the daytime and live with their hearts literarily in their hands during the night because of armed robbers.

The multiplication of roadblocks in the state has not reduced the wave of crime, many are robbed daily with Okada silently while the police collects their tolls even very close by. An average MOPOL collects about 140,000 per month from Anambra road users while they disappear whenever armed robbers strike.

SARS:
The Anambra State special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) constitutes the most human rights violators in the state. From their various units in different police stations to their head office at Awkuzu It has been blood trail, high velocity torture and dehumanizing experience on the helpless citizens.
Recently at Okpoko division, our secretary encountered some officers who arrested one of our members during their various mass arrests for extortion. The squad led by one sergeant Tony compiled a list of over 60 innocent people detained in their custody, to the chagrin of Comrade Ijeoma, all the suspects were threatened to be taken to Awkuzu and labeled as criminals if they don’t cooperate.

In their extortionist tendencies, the 12 months calendar of the year was used as the initial to describe the amount collected. for instance, if they collect N6000 from you, your name will be written across June as the 6th month of the year. Reports from our findings indicate that secret killings are carried out at the SARS office Awkuzu where those who couldn’t pay their demanded amount are killed and dumped somewhere at Agu Awka. The phrase “taken to Abuja” is used to describe those murdered in this circumstance.

The Anambra State Police Commissioner has not told us his policing method after over six months stay in the state. The Command has unfortunately encouraged bribery, corruption and indiscipline judging by the way public petitions against some bad eggs in the force are taken with levity.

Anambra State police command should be declared a police disaster command. We call on all Anambrarians to rise up and defend their rights from police subjugation, ineptitude and abuse. We also call on the inspector general of police to institute disciplinary actions on all the command structures in the state for their inability to checkmate crime especially the rising wave of kidnappings in the state in the abundance of various logistic supports from the state Government.
302 DIVISION NIG. ARMY
The constitution of federal Republic of Nigeria defined the major role of the army as defence and protection from external aggression/invasion. The corruption virus of the law enforcement agents has permeated the 302 Artillery Regiment Onitsha. Most of the junior rank officers in the Onitsha cantonment have brought the army earlier touted as the most disciplined force in Nigeria to public odium. These exuberant officers now engage in debt recovery, collection of illegal tolls along the road and performance of other sordid jobs at a fee.

Recently Mr. Kenneth Emeafu of 28 Lafiaji Street had to flee his home for 3 weeks because one of his friends he later fell out with arranged some soldiers to deal with him alleging that he owed him some money. We call on the Onitsha Commandant to restructure its disciplinary measures and checkmate the over stepping of boundaries exhibited by his boys.

NEPA or PHCN: The energy crisis in Nigeria is purely man made out of the corrupt practices of those privileged to be in the power sector. They have resorted to inflict several injuries on our lives while they enjoy the enormous loot in the system. The energy rot in Nigeria has a long history of failure, from the days of the Electricity corporation of Nigeria ECN derisively nicknamed Electricity Conservation of Nigeria to the days of NEPA generally known as Never Expect Power Always to PHCN now known as Power Hoarding Company, Problem Has Changed Name or Please Have a Candle Nearby depending on one’s own perception, Nigerians have had it so bad. The Onitsha district of PHCN has been synonymous with corruption. Several business managers have come and gone but the virus keep spreading to a cancerous stage.

Before the installation of prepaid meter bills to some parts of the town, NEPA officials give estimate bills of over N3500 to some flats thereby raking over 150 million Naira monthly.

Despite all the millions raked, it has become a tradition for Onitsha residents to mobilize PHC officials for everything. We pay for new transformer, load shedding, fixing of G&P, repairing of circuit breaker fuse etc. It is only in Onitsha that this kind of practice thrives without questions.

Distribution officers often use their discretion after bribe to determine which area will have light and which will remain in perpetual darkness. Some industrialists also bribe their way for their factories to remain connected.

The wickedness of these PHC officials have risen to apogee, these days, light come by 1.30am and goes by 5am. This is a deliberate act by these rogues to deny one any use of the power while outrageous bills through estimate come at the end of the month.

This evil practice has defied any remedy because we are keeping silent, demonstrations by some communities in the past made these crooks to sit up a bit. Now is the time also for Anambra people to confront whatever is confronting us.

ASTA – the Anambra State traffic Agents was a welcome initiative in its formative stage. This is because it was a refined approach unlike the previous period when rogues were commissioned as road traffic decongestors.

However, abuse has crept into the system, most of the society outlaws who were disbanded after the OTA & Bakassi era has infiltrated the rank of ASTA.

These people connive with some bad policemen & soldiers earlier mentioned, to harass and intimidate motorists.

We call on the state government through the commissioner of transport & special duties Hon Emeka Ojukwu and the boss of ASTA Col Onwuteaka rtd to ensure maximum surveillance, monitoring and routine discipline of some of these infiltrators.

The anambra state house of assembly.
Some analysts have described the Anayo Nnebe led legislatures as a house of holidaymakers.

This can be posited from the frequent times the legislators have adjourned sitting indefinitely for frivolous reasons. The PDP dominated house is suffering from the spirit haunting the national ruling party viz, fascism, fraud, factionalized political cult populated by feuding and desperate self-seekers.

The house after deciding to shelve their impeachment tool because of plethora of condemnations and call for their crucifixion in the Anambra Court of public Opinion has a new job now. The game plan for the house now is “even though we can’t impeach him, he must be ready to release millions to us as we wish or else ”.

Recently, the house just like their bigger boys in Abuja shared 10 million Naira each as constituency project fund in the 300 million appropriated for it in the 2008 budget, they also allegedly collected 2.5 million Naira each for security allowances, regrettably, recent findings indicate that most of the lawmakers have never initiated any project in their various constituencies.

Also, the house members have never hidden their obeisance and unflinching loyalty to their pay master, Emmanuel Andy Uba. That is why they doled out Millions in congratulating Mr. “Dr” Uba on his birthday leaving out serious matters that needs their attention. This is absurd and demoralizing. We call on the house members to toe the path of patriotism and be committed in making good laws that will compliment the efforts of the state Government to make Anambra the true light of the nation.

Anambra govt’s palliative measures+.
Recently on 21st Nov 2008, the state government at an interactive session between his Excellency Mr. Peter Obi and other stakeholders from different communities, doled out 442.5 million to the 177 communities in the state for palliative measure works on community roads and security maintenance.

According to the break down, 1.5 million was earmarked for repair of community roads, while 1 million is for security, the communities were told to mobilize and buy 1 serviceable vehicle, motorcycles, double barrel guns or its equivalent, torch lights and communication gadgets GSM.

This gesture is a welcome development provided the aim is pursued; some also described the sudden gift despite Govt’s “araldite” postures before, as a campaign gimmick.

Anambra CLO cautions that the programme should be monitored to ensure strict implementation. We hope the largesse will not be shared among some cohorts in some communities. The government should also regulate the conducts of these community vigilantees.

Conclusion
We thank you all for being here today, the theme of our Celebration – Redeeming our bastardized democracy is very timely. The tragedy of our time is that those who doesn’t know the tenets of democracy have hijacked the political system.

A German philosopher Karl Jaspers, reflecting on the nature of German guilt and responsibility for the holocaust, distinguished four types of guilt viz;
(a) The criminal guilt of those who actually committed the crimes.
(b) The political guilt of those who helped such people to get unto power
(c) The moral guilt of those who stood by, doing nothing as the crimes were being committed and finally,
(d) The metaphysical guilt of those who survived while others were killed.
In the case of Nigeria, politicians and the security forces are guilty, but what of the democratic citizens that stand by and watch?
The time therefore is ripe for us to arise and say no to abuse of power and dehumanization of the citizens, it has happened in other western countries and we can replicate it here.
So long as men worship the “Caesars and Napoleons,” Ceasars and Napoleons will rise up and make them miserable.
Let me end by saying alongside Prince Tony Momoh that “the future has the right to curse us but I plead not guilty in advance”
It is time for us to rescue and defend our democracy.

Thanks

Comrade Aloysius Emeka Attah

Chairman CLO
Anambra state branch
08035090548