By Uwakwe Abugu
IN the wake of the mindless killings at Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani council area of Enugu State last month, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi literally put on the apparels of a stoic philosopher. And he capped that stance with his usual steadfast clinging to invocation of God when grisly circumstances tend to violate the sanctity of his well-ordered administrative style, as the Nimbo attack really did.
There is no gainsaying the fact that within this trying period as the incident proved to be, the governor proved himself a good leader who knows the way, goes the way and clearly shows the way, just as philosopher John Maxwell postulates. It was a period when all manner of perceived and imagined enemies turned social commentators overnight using various platforms to throw unwarranted jabs at Governor Ugwuanyi on the propriety, the efficacy or otherwise of his strategic handling of the very delicate situation he had at hand as the chief security officer of the state. His hint at Nimbo on April 26 on how he did all that were humanly possible to nip the bloody incident in the bud did not really matter to the studied traducers.
However, always running his mind back to the saying that caution is the eldest child of wisdom, the state chief executive, after weeping on coming face- to-face with the mangled remains of a law-abiding headmaster of a school in the community who was felled by the marauding Fulani herdsmen, he quickly rallied his elements back to the daunting challenge at hand in line with the wise counsel of another wise saying- catch not the shadow and lose the substance.
Hence, when some called for irrational measures like reprisals or deportation of herdsmen from Enugu, even from Igbo land as a whole, the pacifist governor called for prayers and fasting while engaging Mr. President shortly at Aso Rock Villa for a more fundamental national salvage action to tame the dangerous scourge that has been literally scooping blood and visiting destruction on parts of the country. At the end of his various shuttle diplomatic moves in Abuja and within Enugu state, the present outpouring of commendations on the governor from very critical stakeholders for showing astute leadership in his handling of the crisis so far has profusely vindicated him. And they came from individuals and groups, including even the Fulani and Shuwa Arab leaders in the state.
Again, it is clear that his handling of the Nimbo attack has undoubtedly changed the federal official’s stance on the menace of herdsmen in parts of the country. Thus, the amiable Enugu governor has paved the way for a national road map on taming the scourge of Fulani herdsmen attack on farmers and members of the host communities.
Those who came calling in sympathy with the governor and the people of the state included representatives of forum of governors elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State who is chairman of the forum of APC governors led the delegation to Enugu on May3, 2016, thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for showing maturity and for not allowing the matter to escalate despite its level of provocation. Also speaking on the occasion, chairman of the Northern Governors’ forum and the governor of Borno State and member of the delegation, Alhaji Kashim Shetima, commended Governor Ugwuanyi for all the steps taken since the Nimbo incident broke out.
Governors elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and some stakeholders visited twice and, through their spokesman and deputy president of the senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, declared on their behalf on each occasion that the governor had done them proud by his resilient leadership in the handling of the matter.
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State had also come calling along with an entourage to show solidarity with the Enugu governor over the Nimbo killings, saying his government and the people of Anambra state were solidly behind their sister state in this crisis. Obiano had come just moments after a delegation of the South East Traditional Rulers’ Council departed Government House Enugu after their own sympathy visit.
Both group of visitors on solidarity visits on May 13, 2016, commended the governor for the caliber of leadership he exhibited that worked to stave off further bloody crisis in the wake of the Nimbo attack. And the monarchs led by His Royal Majesty, Eze Eberechi N. Dick particularly held the governor in high esteem as one of their sons in position of authority with a very clear level head for the arduous task of governing Enugu, the capital of the South East region.
On the day the Enugu State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) came to show solidarity with the governor, the spokesmen of the group were clearly on the same page with the governor in seeking the recourse to the path of peace and seeking God’s intervention in the herdsmen crisis. State chairman of CAN, Rt. Rev. Christian Obiefuna, came along with other notable clergymen like the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Enugu (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, the Archbishop of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Christopher Ede among others. They commended Ugwuanyi for his stewardship, peaceful disposition and recourse to God through prayers, especially during the period of the Nimbo crisis, stressing that the governor “did not abandon his people”.
Also from Governor Ugwuanyi’s kinsmen who came under Nsukka General Assembly made up of people of the Nsukka cultural zone of Enugu state came a verdict of commendation. Led by Emeritus professor, Lawrence Ocho, and former information minister, Chief Nnia Nwodo, the group commended the governor for the effective way he has handled the sad incident which has remained a rude shock to the people of the zone.
Beholding the turn of events, that is, from the hectic time of mindless release of abuses when the incident broke out, to a situation where the presidency is wielding the big stick against the herdsmen for the first time at his prompting, and now being inundated with accolades for show of astute leadership, Governor Ugwuanyi now laughs last. And he keeps telling the people of Enugu that earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal, and that neither heat nor cold abides always in the sky.
Reps emergency session and people’s expectations
From James Ojo Abuja.
Members of the House of Representatives were last week, called out for an emergency session by the noon of Monday May 16, 2016 as part of the House’s reaction to the pains caused by the increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as Petrol.
That was six days after the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu had jolted the nation with the announcement of a new pump price of Petrol from N86 to N145 per litre.
The fact that the new price as announced by the minister would only be effective in Abuja and Lagos was not lost on the people going by the experience of past price increment by government, just like the arguments put forward to justify the increase in the name of subsidy removal was dismissed with a wave of the hand. As expected, market forces reacted with swift upward review of prices of commodity thereby worsening the plight of the masses who were grappling with the crises of shortage of foreign currencies to import consumables and raw materials to power the few industries still functioning.
This was in addition to the problems suffered from inadequate power supply which did not correspond with the increase in energy tariffs imposed by Electricity Distribution companies.
So, it was a big relief that elected representatives of the people were ready to intervene and offer a soothing balm to the pains brought about by the new price regime.
This was the expectations of the people when it was announced that the House has decided to cut short its recess to discuss the effects and ways to mitigate the pains of the fuel price increases, more so, when the threat of a nationwide industrial unrest was on the air with its attendant pains.
The fact that similar intervention in the past by the House had brought succour to the people made the call for a Special session a decisive step in the right direction by the people’s representatives. Indeed, last Monday’s special sitting was not the first time such an emergency session would be convened to address burning issues in the history of the House but it was the first in the current National Assembly.
The last time a similar special session was called was during the 7th National Assembly when the House under the speakership of Aminu Tambuwal sat on Sunday to take a stand when increase in fuel price was presented to the nation as a new year gift by the government of Goodluck Jonathan in 2012.
Many Nigerians who travelled to their hometown to celebrate New year were caught napping when the price of petrol was moved from N65 to N 140 per litre on the first day of the year 2012. Many were stranded as transport fares back to cities went up beyond the people’s purse after spending quality time with relatives and friends.
Current Speaker, Yakubu Dogara was among 61 members who sponsored a motion calling for the suspension of the increase and urging the labour movement which was threatening to shut down the nation to have a rethink on their decision.
The motion, which also suggested setting up an ad- hoc committee to mediate between stakeholders in the search for a permanent solution to the problems of fuel subsidy was presented to the floor by Hon Tajudeen Yusuf who is still a member of the Green Chamber.
Indeed, the sitting was special because never in the history of the National Assembly was plenary held on Sunday. It was on record that the intervention of the House made impact on the events which followed as the increase was reversed by government.
That singular event helped to boost the image of the Tambuwal House more than expected as the House became the people’s beacon of hope. Its popularity soared fantastically.
So when an announcement of a special session to discuss the recent increase hit the air wave, it was seen as a bold step to protect the interest of the weak and poor who were helpless and vulnerable to a bleeding economy.
The House met as scheduled with few members absent. The session was about to commence the business of the day when lawmakers from the opposition protested against admitting into the chamber the Minster of state for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu
Kachikwu had been invited by Speaker Dogara to brief the House on the petrol price increase, but a motion to admit him led to an uproar that lasted more than 20 minutes before order was restored.
When order was restored, the House had to go into a closed door session apparently to address what led to the protest in a special session called to deliberate on a national urgent issue.
Speaker Dogara described the action of his colleagues who were dancing and poking the Nigerian flag in the directions of member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and shouting ‘All we are saying, save Nigeria’ as the beauty of democracy because they must disagree to agree.
Although the chamber was opened for the Minister to address the House, it was very clear that the House was not on the same page on the fuel price increase.
The hope that the House would rise up like it did in 2012 to identify with the masses was lost to the rowdiness and division as displayed on the floor of the Chamber.
It was therefore not surprising about the position taken by the House to accept the new fuel price of N145 per litre and called on the labour leaders to shelve the idea of embarking on a national strike.
The House went a step further by setting up a 10 member ad-hoc committee under the chairmanship of the House Whip, Alhassan Ado Dogo to liaise with labour leaders, civil societies and other stakeholders on the issue.
Even before the minister of state for petroleum was allowed to brief the House and win them to the side of government, some members had shown understanding with government’s position on the need to increase the pump prices of petrol.
The House needs to adopt a style of responding to some draconian policies of government in such a manner that people will be looking up to the Green chamber as the conscience of the masses.
Expectations were high that the present House of Representatives would be proactive like it did in 2012 when the House under Aminu Tambuwal provided the impetus needed by labour and civil societies to force the government of that time to bow to the people.
As for the new petrol price of N 145 per liter, the House has not lived up to the expectations of the masses who had to contend with the spiral effects of the increase in the cost of food, transportation, services and general cost of living.
The leadership needs to up its ante by forging a united front to fight for the masses and it was not the best for the House to advertise its lack of unity on a day of special sitting, when all eyes are on the chamber for possible solutions to high handedness by the government.