Revolution looming in Nigeria — Makinde

In this interview with LEKE BAIYEWU, the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, speaks on the planned levy on religious organisations and leadership in Nigeria

What’s your reaction to the recent calls for taxation of religious organisations?

People calling for the taxation of churches are like people calling for the sale of their mother. The Christian church is the architect and the mother of Nigeria’s achievments. I don’t know what Nigeria would have become without Christianity; we brought civilisation, education, even publication – the first publication started in Abeokuta by the CMS. We brought hospitals. Those who fought Church Missionary Society for the independence of Nigeria were products of missionary schools.

So, those who are making the call for taxation are saying, “Sell my mother, I don’t care.” And it’s an action that is impossible. I am re-emphasising it, it is an impossible task. Those who fight the church are fighting God. The first leprosy centre in Nigeria was established by the Methodist Church Nigeria, followed by the Catholic Church. The killing of twins was stopped by Mary Slessor of the Presbyterian Church in Calabar.

There is an exception- We have the Wesley House in Lagos built for commercial purposes. If you want to tax that, it is good. If we are getting an income from it, as we put tenants there, it is taxable. We are paying tax on the commercial buildings we have. But if you want to tax our tithes and Sunday collections, you cannot because the church is not for commercial purpose. And we plough what we have back into the society.

The churches are in partnership with the government. For example the hospitals and schools built by the Methodist, Catholic, Anglican, Seventh Day Adventists, etc, are a way we plough our money back into the societ.

They think we were making profits in our schools; it started with Lateef Jakande in Lagos, they took over our schools and destroyed everything. Products of those schools are the armed robbers of today; they are the area boys, the militants and the ‘Boko Harams’ because they were given education without morality and the fear of God. It serves us right because we are lying on the bed we spread.

But critics argue that missionary schools are too expensive and out of the reach of a common man.

If knowledge is expensive, try ignorance. The one they (government) are doing is not free. Education is not free, somebody is subsidising. We are now establishing our universities where there is no cultism and no strikes. When it is four years, it is four years. But look at our government-owned universities, they are glorified secondary schools. You can’t compare them with mission universities. I know a cousin who went to the Lagos State University and spent eight years for a degree because of strikes. Even with the argument that our school fees are high, we are still subsidising.

Where did the country get it wrong that people refer to the independence era as better years?

We are the architect of our problems. One, there is no fear of God again in the land, and the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Islam preaches fear of God, Christianity preaches fear of God but there is no fear of God anywhere again. When there is no fear of God, there will be no love. Once there is no love, corruption sets in.

The love between the Hausa and the Yoruba; the Yoruba and the Igbo; the majority and the minority are orchestrated and counterfeit love. We have politicised everything. And the root of all of these is corruption.

In the sixties, when people took contracts to construct roads and other infrastructure, they didn’t give or take percentage (bribes). The Ibadan-Ijebu Road, which was constructed by Gen. Yakubu Gowon, is still solid because bribes were not given. When you award contracts and you take percentages, the works will not be solid. It is not a spiritual problem; it is a physical problem that boils down to corruption and lack of the fear of God. People no longer work with conscience. And conscience is the inner voice of God in you. Most Nigerians don’t have conscience again; their conscience is dead. And when your conscience is dead, you do wrong things. I served this country for about 40 years and I retired with no pension or gratuity, and you want me to die for Nigeria? I can’t.

Some people have said a revolution is looming. Do you agree?

I agree seven times. When you keep people unemployed for a long time, you are asking for a revolution. And let me tell you, Boko Haram has become a revolution; they don’t kill only Christians again, they kill Muslims now. They go into their homes while they are praying and shoot them. They are going beyond religion and it is becoming a revolution. The Niger Delta militancy case is a revolution. You can’t take resources from our place and develop the North, while you neglect us. A councillor is earning more than a vice-chancellor of a university or a professor and you say there will be no revolution. There will be revolution.

Nigeria is bleeding. We must try as much as possible not to make it anaemic. Everyone is guilty; don’t apportion blames to the politicians alone. The church is guilty because some people have commercialised religion and that is why some say churches should be taxed – because they see religious leaders living above their means. When you are too flamboyant as a man of God, people will talk. But we cannot use isolated cases to judge the church. The judiciary is not left out, in fact, it has disgraced the nation. What about the police? They are licensed to kill through accidental discharge. Everybody is almost lawless in this country.

Those who are calling for a revolution have also faulted the 1914 amalgamation, saying the regions should go their separate ways. Do you support this?

Revolution can come but it cannot lead to a division. The revolution will not be restricted to any region because we have all got it wrong. I will not advocate fa break-up. Going our separate ways is not the answer to our problems. Getting it right and returning to God is the answer. The spirit of those who died during the civil war will not forgive us if we divide as a nation. Let me emphasise this: the spirit of those who died, the innocent ones, during the civil war will not forgive us if Nigeria divides. To jaw-jaw is better than to war-war.

There is nothing President Goodluck Jonathan can do, except we pray for him. We are insatiable; nobody can satisfy Nigerians. I pity him as a leader. I am a leader and I know what leadership means. He cannot satisfy everybody. Even those who are not as knowledgeable as he is are condemning him. It is easier to condemn than to offer advice.  This is the right time for all of us to pray for our country, our leaders and offer constructive criticism and have good political leaders.

What baffles me in Nigeria today is that the enemies of Nigeria are in the same party. Those who criticise the Peoples Democratic Party bitterly are the members of the party. Most of those who do not see anything good in Jonathan are members of the PDP. The party is a house that is divided against itself and cannot stand. What I want is a formidable opposition, not to gang up.

What I want is a party with discipline; a party with manifesto. The only way out is for politics to be less lucrative. We are not civilised and experienced enough in politics to run a presidential system of government. It is too expensive; our economy is not good and we depend on only crude oil. All the local councils and states go to Abuja for federal allocation. How can we grow? 

States cannot generate funds for themselves and they think they can generate funds to run their states through taxation of churches. They are deceiving themselves. We will pray and they will collapse because God can fight for himself. Let them diversify. I am praying to God to let oil dry up even during my lifetime so that we will learn a lesson of not putting all our eggs in one basket.  We have a long way to go and that is why I say it is a general failure, not Jonathan’s failure. I pity him. Jonathan is suffering from the penalty of leadership. To me, it is a collective failure. We are all making Nigeria to bleed. We all need attitudinal change.

Network glitches: How cheap infrastructure wrecks MTN services

The Citizen

Despite recent investments in infrastructure upgrade, the quality of services offered by MTN Nigeria has reached the lowest ebb, no thanks to poor facilities deployed in the purported upgrade.

MTN invested $1.3 billion on the network upgrade in 2012 alone, a development which was supposed to enhance quality of its operations.

The telephony company embarked on an extensive network optimisation and swap-out exercise in June 2012, which is now at an advanced stage.

However, for most subscribers on the MTN network they have never had it so bad. Poor quality service continued at frustrating levels especially during festive season across the country.

In the South East it came close to system collapse as most people could not make or receive calls, while short messages continued to bounce back.

THE CITIZEN investigation showed that the ugly situation is traceable to the use of cheap products in the purported upgrading of its network by the service provider.

Sometime in 2012, MTN Nigeria and a Chinese based ZTE Corporation signed a contract to build GSM/UMTS networks in Nigeria. As part of the agreement, ZTE will help MTN Nigeria modernise and expand its mobile network in two of the country’s most economically developed regions by providing its innovative SDR-based Uni-RAN solution.

But according THE CITIZEN investigation, MTN decided to choose ZTE as its supplier principally to cut cost and not necessarily to improve its services.

MTN Nigeria, it was learnt, fell for ZTE whose offer was at a rate far cheaper than what other credible suppliers were ready to take but it was gathered that the quality of ZTE’s base transiting stations are not as rugged and efficient as the ones been changed.

Nevertheless, MTN Nigeria still settled for ZTE, with a projection that doing so would reduce its operating expenses by more than 50 per cent, which would also translate into a total cost of ownership saving over a s pan of seven years of 40 per cent after modernization. In addition, it was also learnt that ZTE offered the network an irresistible payment incentive that spans for five years which invariably swayed the juicy contract.

In all these, the subscribers’ interest and the primary goal of quality enhancement were traded off for cost-cutting.

MTN Nigeria, which controls about 48 per cent of the telephone subscribers in Nigeria, is the most profitable GSM Operator in the country at the moment.

Since the upgrade contract kicked in, MTN subscribers have not experience any improvement; rather they are groaning under worsening quality conditions.

It has become very difficult for its teeming subscribers to make smooth calls within and across networks.

THE CITIZEN reliably gathered that in the south-east for instance, the last two weeks was hell for most of the subscribers on the network as they faced challenges of incessant drop calls, call diversion, weak call signals to activate calls, poor voice clarity, delay in SMS delivery, among others.

The Nigerian Communications Commission recently conducted a Nationwide Benchmark Drive Test on MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat network and MTN was trailing other networks.

The research was the first of such tests and it concentrated on Call Completion Rate, which encompasses the major network Key Performance Indicators (call drop and congestion).

The service providers were ranked in Lagos and six Geo-Political zones of South-West, South-East, South-South, North-Central, North-East and North-West.

The study by NCC revealed that MTN finished third in three zones; namely North-Central with 74 per cent, South-South with 71 per cent, and North-East with 58 per cent. It was fourth in the other zones such as Lagos with 72 per cent, South-West with 72 per cent, North-West with 59 per cent, and South-East with 53 per cent.

Meanwhile, it is busy advertising that Posted about 63 days ago | 0 comment it has commenced network upgrade through its network modernisation and swap –out exercise, that will address the situation and put an end to subscriber challenges on its network.

But unfortunately even the areas already upgraded, poor quality of service has been on the increase in recent times without any improvement from the service provider.

According to Mrs. Chimobi, one of its subscribers based in Onitsha, Anambra State, her experience was very frustrating. She said that most times her calls could not connect, and her messages were either undelivered or took time to deliver. “The worst is that when you eventually get your calls through, you hardly hear the other side. Meanwhile, you will be charged throughout the duration of the calls,” she lamented.

She said that all her Christmas messages could not leave her phone until a few days after Christmas. “I have never seen a thing like that. I could not send Christmas wishes to my people and they thought it was deliberate, not knowing that it was network problem,” she said.

Another subscriber in Owerri, Imo state said that they had to drop the sim card for other networks and that was how they were able to reach out and were reached too. He said that for most people, the season was agonising because of poor quality service from network providers.

“I made frantic effort to call out. Not because there was no credit in my phone but due to bad network. It is something that NCC needs to look into. They come to Nigeria and are installing cheap equipments from China in the name of cost cutting, while the subscribers groan. This cannot continue this way,” said Mazi Okwuoma, a civil servant.

In the same vein, Sunday Asogwa, a student of Enugu State University of Science and technology told THE CITIZEN that he blames operators for poor service quality experienced in his neighborhood, which he said, was already affecting business in Enugu metropolis. He called on operators to come up with lasting solution to the continuous drop in service quality across networks.

All efforts to reach the General Manager, Corporate Communications for MTN, Mrs. Funmi Omogbenigun proved abortive.

Koreans paid N30m ransom for kidnapped expatriates – CP

Korean owners of the Hyndai Heavy Industries paid N30m to the kidnappers of four of their workers at the company in Okpoama, Brass Local Government, Bayelsa State, it has been confirmed.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Kingsley Omire, confirmed in Yenagoa on Thursday that the firm paid the ransom to the kidnappers but without consulting the police.

The CP said after arresting the suspects linked to the incident, the police discovered that the firm had bowed to pressure from the hoodlums and parted with N30m.

He said the police initially arrested Romeo Egbo, Goodnews Amabebe, Dito Ologbo and Digiteme Itua a.k.a Seko in connection with the crime.

Omire said, “On interrogation three of the suspects voluntarily confessed to kidnapping the four Koreans and two Nigerians on December 17. They also disclosed to us that one Digiteme Itua alias Seko is the leader of the kidnap gang.

“Itua was arrested in his Odioma house in Brass at about 1.30am. One AK 47 rifle,60 rounds of ammunition, a telescope and three magazines were recovered from his house.”

He, however, said Itua and Egbo tricked the police and escaped.

He also said the suspects escaped after telling the police that they had concealed four AK47 rifles and several rounds of ammunition at Ogboinbiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government.

Omire also said the leader of the gang that kidnapped the Paramount Ruler of Okordia clan, Yenagoa Local Government, King Seiba Simeon, on August 25 had been arrested.

Eight gunmen on December 17, 2012 raided the firm and kidnapped Jong Ken, Hi Kim, Doo Lee, Joon Chae and a Nigerian, Austin Giwa.

The victims were, however, released four days later at Azikoro Village in Yenagoa with the management of the company claiming that no ransom was paid for their release.

It was learnt that the company paid some money to secure the release of the victims, who spent about five days in the kidnappers’ den.

2012: Enugu Police arrest 503 suspects, record 99 kidnap cases

About 503 persons were arrested by the Enugu State police command for various offences between March and December 2012.

The state commissioner of police,  Mr. Musa Daura, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the achievements of the command last year.

He said suspects arrested within the period under review, included 99 for kidnapping, 201 for armed robbery, 37 for cultism, 21 for car snatching, six for NITEL and PHCN cables vandalism, eight for unlawful possession of fire arms/ammunition as well as 101 suspected members of Biafra Zionist Movement and 20 members of MASSOB.

He added that 10 other suspects were apprehended for other related offences.

The CP further hinted that the command rescued a total of 14 kidnap victims while 79 armed robbery cases were reported  during the period.

Daura said his command recovered a total of 87 arms and ammunitions, 68 locally-made pistols, 10 locally-made double barrel short guns, one revolver pistol of six rounds, four AK47 riffles, three Pump Action guns, one Brownie pistol and a total of 150 cartridges.

He further submitted that a total of 120 vehicles were recovered.

Of the 79 armed robbery cases reported, a total of 201 suspects were arrested and prosecuted accordingly, while a total of 14 kidnap cases were reported, leading to the arrest  of 99 suspects who were prosecuted.

Daura noted that despite these achievements, the command faced several challenges in the discharge of its functions.

”The challenges may be numerous but essentially, the inability of some members of the public to give timely and useful information to the police has been a source of worry just as inadequate number of patrol vehicles and other logistics are militating against our smooth operation,” the CP said.

He, however,  thanked the Inspector General of Police Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, for his fatherly support to the command.

He also expressed appreciation for the collaborative efforts of sister security agencies in the state, the media, all relevant stake holders in the business of security in the state and other members of the public while applauding  his officers and men for their commitment towards battling crimes in the state.

Corporate governance, solidarity and Godly change

Samuel Ogungbemi

CORPORATE governance is the establishment of visionary leadership to ensure eradication of poverty and hunger, promote quantitative and qualitative education, good health, combat HIV / Aids, Malaria and other communicable diseases. Promotion of security of lives and properties, sustainable economic growth, provision of basic needs such as shelter, clean water and sanitation services. Generation of constant electricity, creation of conducive environment that ensures fundamental human rights, promotion of egalitarian society between the rich and the poor as well as eradication of bribery and corruption that has become endemic in our society.

Corporate solidarity means unity, agreement and support resulting from shared interest, feelings, actions and sympathies across gender, religions, tribe, ethnic group and profession.

Change on the other hand means making somebody or something different entirely from what the person or thing used to be. We experience change in a variety of ways, our growth is a product of change. Change can occur supernaturally, physically and technologically. Godly change is a progressive journey from one point to another in one’s life existence. “Life is a journey, life is not a station. Those who want to make’ it a station end up in frustration proving that life is designed for motions and dynamic changes”.

Nurturing the nascent democracy and actualising the benefits of good governance demands attitudinal change in the behaviour of all citizens in this nation. All good citizens of this nation who care for people with good attitude, behaviour, virtue and ethos should continue to live a life that will challenge and influence others in order to promote productivity, national consciousness and peaceful co-existence with one another.

Thus, unity is paramount in our achieving and enjoying the full sovereignty of our National Republic of Nigeria. How good and pleasant would it be for all Nigerians to dwell together in unity and harmony? Nigeria is ours and she deserves the best governance. It is necessary for us to learn from the locusts which have no king, yet go forth by group. 

They are such a harmonious creation that can teach every Nigerian the need for unity in life’s endeavours.

Strengthening our unity through cooperation, tolerance and understanding one another entails individual and partners working together as a nation. Friends to stand together and like minds to think together. Ethnic groups are to meet and share common interests in the spirit of harmony. Leaders with a common goal/vision must work together with commitment, determination, speed sustainable ways of building a more humane, just, peaceful, cohesive, self-reliant and strategic partnership among tribes.

There is need for good governance to promote peaceful co-existence that will bind us together as one nation despite our diverse cultures, multi-ethnicity, geographical locations and different religious leanings.

We must see ourselves as one and indivisible entity with brotherly love and commitment to the fulfilment of the dreams of our founding fathers. Our national anthem focuses on unity and oneness. This cannot only become a mere rhetoric. It must be practised and expressed in action and belief. Righteousness exalts a nation while wickedness is an ingredient of reproach to any nation.

There is no doubt that shedding of innocent blood through Boko-Haram’s inhuman and nefarious attitude, injustice, bribery and corruption, election malpractices, non-payment of pensioners and other workers’ salaries as and when due, lobbying/settlement with public funds, oppression of the masses, high rate assassination, fraudulent practices, among others, are sins that have caused a lot of hazards and reproach on our land and economy.

If we must have a society that is void of armed robbers, touts, political thugs, Boko-Haram, examination cheats, smugglers, drug addicts e.t.c., adequate training and moral upbringing of our child(ren) must be put in place firstly at home because “Charity” they say begins at home, not leaving out such training schools and other social institutions. The spiritual and moral trainings at home will later metamorphose to good behavior and discipline in our society.

Righteousness, accountability and transparency are almost gone in our society and other religious homes. The time has come for the church to use the pulpit to preach the truth and expose all art of wickedness on our land.

What then can we say about those so called leaders who failed to render their stewardship accounts before the investigating panel? “Any way, all animals are equal but some are more equal than others “. What can we say about our public officers who do spend millions of naira to bribe their ways out at the House of Senate or house of Assembly? What can we say about those public officers who do deposit money meant for the payments of eo-workers salaries or pension into their personal bank account for their selfish benefits? 

One day will be one day when we shall all give accounts before the Almighty God.

What can we say about the parents, aiding a child to cheat in an exam or purchase question papers even certificate with either teacher or mercenary writing the exam in their places. Eradication of examination malpractices, certificate forgery and cultism are among the ills now hampering the maximum functionality of our institutions.

Officers in varied cadres have already been entangled in syndicates which rebuff attempts to stop these evil. The syndrome calls for sober reflection and Godly change of attitude.

For Nigeria to become a great nation like United States of America, Britain’, Japan, France e.t.c., can only come to reality if we corporately change our attitude and perception and put the country first in all that we do. All tiers of government, NGOs, Corporate bodies and individuals should be involved in the revolutionary change forgood governance in our society.

Ogungbemi, a cleric, writes from Ibadan.