Nigeria loses $500m yearly to foreign medical trips

The search for better medical healthcare abroad by Nigerians particularly political office holders is said to be costing the nation over $500 million annually, even as a traveller on the average is said to be spending between $20-$40,000 on a trip.
Similarly, about 5,000 Nigerians are said to visit India and other countries in Europe and America every month in search of medical care even for medical conditions that can be satisfactorily managed in the country.
President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele, who disclosed this Monday at the commencement of the 2012 Physicians Week in Abuja, alluded the development to the deplorable situation of the health sector, which he said like any other sector, had suffered from years of systemic decay occasioned by lack of political commitment and mismanagement of the nation’s wealth.
Speaking on one of the sub-themes of this year’s celebration, “Medical Tourism and Investment Options in Nigeria’s Healthcare Sector – The Role of NMA and Other Stakeholders”, Enabulele argued that the poor confidence in Nigeria’s health system had led to poor investment in the sector with many Nigerians travelling outside the shores of the country in search of medical care.
He said for a country to be destination for medical tourism, it must substantially have a healthcare system that meets the satisfaction and expectation of her citizens and foreigners alike. He disclosed that India earned over $260 million from medical tourism from Nigeria alone, adding that it had been projected that in 2012 India would realise between $1 and $2 billion from a medical tourism market worth over $20 billion.
While calling for greater political commitment by governments at all levels, so that Nigeria can begin to tap into the lucrative business of Medical Tourism, Enabulele said: “Indeed, the NMA is convinced that if President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Senator David Mark, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and other political office holders, make it a point of duty to stand on the same queue with ordinary Nigerians to seek medical care and conduct health checks in public hospitals in Nigeria, the confidence of ordinary Nigerians and foreigners in health care system will be re-ignited and bolstered.”
 BusinessNews

Ondo Polls: “Our party is studying the results and we will take a decision” – Akeredolu releases official statement

It is no longer news that the Returning Officer of INEC has announced the return of the incumbent Governor as elected after the Ondo election. I am conscious of the expectation of our supporters and the general public on our reaction to the outcome of the election.
Let me hasten to state that our party is studying the results and will take a decision on reports of widespread irregularities from our agents and other witnesses. I have been inundated with tales of the
brazen acts of violence perpetrated by thugs during the conduct of the election. I still find it difficult to believe that our security agents played the role of partisans of injustice in some areas of the state. There are, however, incontrovertible evidences of attempts at violence and actual perpetration of same against voters before, during and after the election.
I was informed of the arrest of the State Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Niran Sule, and the Caretaker Chairman of Owo Local Government, one Prince Ojomo, by soldiers for being in possession of
firearms and large sums of money on the morning of election. The news was widely circulated and was later confirmed by several people who witnessed the show of shame. I reliably gathered that the suspects were later released.
I also heard of the heavy monetisation of the voting process, particularly by the Labour Party. I was told of the inducement of voters and violent attacks on those who refused to cooperate with them in virtually all the polling units in the state despite the intimidating presence of the security agencies deployed to protect lives and property. Owo, my hometown, was practically under siege. My unit was, nevertheless bombarded by agents of retrogression who insisted that they must make a point with my contrived defeat in my ward. The resilience of the true sons and daughters of Owo ensured that I won. Adequate security was not provided in my polling units as in most polling unit all over the State as voters were openly
suborned. My people still stood firm in anticipation of change. News of the purported defeat in my ward had been sent to the internet even before counting commenced.
There were reports of the arrest of Labour Party chieftains and their sympathisers who were caught with voting materials, especially ballot papers, some few hours to the election. There was news of violence in
many towns and villages of the State before, during and immediately after the election. Idanre is being mentioned for sundry reasons.
Voters were prevented from voting in some areas where results were returned. Two of our supporters were reportedly killed.
Many eligible voters could not find their names on the register provided at the polling units where they had previously voted. In some polling units the number of accredited voters was less than the results released. Somebody has to explain the difference.
In view of these glaring evidences of irregularities which characterised the exercise, the leadership of the party will be meeting to decide on the next line of action.
I must not fail to thank the good people of Ondo State who supported our aspiration to effect quality change in the system. Their unflinching support and encouragement sustained me throughout my
campaign. I cannot forget the show of love and genuine affection. The patience and great expectation of change displayed by all those who came to meet us during our visits to all the nooks and crannies of the
State, coupled with the mournful mien worn by many people consequent upon the announcement of the result by INEC, will propel us to defend their interest.
I thank you journalists for the wide coverage given my campaign tours and the liberal spaces provided for my interviews. I express my profound gratitude to all those who provided security for me when the
level of intolerance displayed became threatening.
Let me also seize this opportunity to alert Nigerians that agents of the Labour Party have continued to attack my supporters. A party which has truly won an election need not resort to violence soon after
victory. Let me sound this note of warning to the hoodlums who terrorise innocent people that they will not be allowed to escape justice. The power of incumbency will not be strong enough to protect
banditry.
I call on the government of Ondo State to rein in the excesses of its agents to avert crisis. Our supporters must be allowed to go about their legitimate businesses. There is a limit to what human frailty
can withstand.
We thank our party leaders for their commitment to the project of socio-economic transformation of the region. We fervently believe that their dream will be realised in a short while. An especial mention
must be made of the Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, We cannot thank them
enough.
Our other leaders such as the Governors and Deputy Governors in ACN controlled states, Senators, members of House of Representatives and Houses of Assembly, party leaders at units, wards, local and state levels were of tremendous assistance. We praise them for their support.
As a legal practitioner of many years, impelled by the consuming passion to chart the murky waters of Nigerian politics, let me assure my friends and supporters that I am learning very fast. My undying
belief in the country is sufficient to sustain me. I am equally an unrepentant democrat. I hold onto the ideals of democracy and the rule of law tenaciously. I will continue to join others who truly believe
in these precepts to fight for good governance.
OLUWAROTIMI O. AKEREDOLU, ESQ. (SAN)
DailyPost

Sonala Olumhense: Nigeria’s Media Weakest Link

Listen up everyone, Sonala Olumhense has sunk into the mire. He needs no help. He would rather remain there and make a fool of himself than come out for cleansing. He pretends to understand issues when he does not. He claimed to have the solution to the issues confronting us as a nation, when he doesn’t understand how to place his own intellectual bearing. Instead of using his pen to advance the truth and increase the understanding of his readers on pertinent issues, he would rather use it as a tool of vendetta and gladly hand it to the highest bidder.
I didn’t realise how much his intellectual muscle has atrophied until I began to read some of his articles. They are laced with falsehood, half-truths and unsubstantiated claims. The latest is the article published on Saharareporters, Guardian and some other online news media. In that article, Ngozi Iweala: Nigeria’s Weakest Link, he reached for a knife and viciously lurched at the integrity of the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance Minister, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala – a brand that was painstakingly built with hard labour and Providence’s favour over the years, locally and internationally.
The web of ignorance spun with tactless abandon throughout the article could be seen from the first paragraph where he blindly asserts that Okonjo-Iweala is “the weakest link in a very weak chain.” He goes further by writing that “she is the clearest argument as to why progress may be impossible in the Goodluck Jonathan era because she is painting when she should be digging up. She is nurturing poverty, not combating it.” Hmmmnnn….
For a perceptive reader, it is clear that Sonala has no grasp of the subject matter he is vaunting about. And the best course his parochial mindset could trump up is to turn the subject on its head and begin to grope his way to the head! Friends, that’s exactly what he did!
Looking at the world from his tainted lens, Sonala, in ten watery arguments, tried to paint Dr. Okonjo-Iweala as one who is incompetent and playing in the corruption league as him.
His first of the dime a dozen lame arguments is that NOI abandoned the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) after a few months. He even alleges that the money in the account of the program also vanished. One would have expected that a writer worth his salt should have researched this claim before making such ignorant harangue. Perhaps, it will interest Sonala to know that one of the cruxes of the NEEDS proposal is to develop the industrial sector by relying more on local resources and less on imports. For an impartial analysis, it will be clear to them that this was one of the main agenda pursued by Dr. Okonjo-Iweala all through her time as Minister of Finance under the Obasanjo regime. As for the money tied to NEEDS, isn’t it suspicious that he makes such spurious, unsubstantiated claim?
His second point is on the promise made by President Obasanjo that poverty would be eradicated by 2010. Curiously, Sonala neither mentioned Iweala as the one that made such promise neither did he inform us why the point was brought forward. Isn’t it proper for Sonala to direct the question to Obasanjo himself and the 13 federal Ministries involved in the Poverty Eradication Programme?
The third allegation in the article is even more venomous. Sonala seeks to steal the show by alluding to the allegation made by Audu Ogbe that,”in the negotiations with the Paris Club, one ’top member’ of the government walked away with a personal fee of N60 billion.” He continues, ‘’Ogbeh did not disclose who it was, but the allegation seemed to fit either President Obasanjo or Okonjo-Iweala. None of them has ever challenged it.” Pray, isn’t this the height of absurdity in a nation like Nigeria, with a vibrant media industry, where investigative journalists unearth shady practices that are less than a billion? At least, by now, we should have known who the culprits are. But Sonala has only shown how bereft he is of the gift of rigorous thinking, which everyone who wields the pen must be enamoured, by making such a wild allegation without any verifiable basis.
The fourth allegation cut a semblance with the third point.
His fifth point is that Iweala was instrumental to the establishment of Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President on MDGs (OSSAP-MDGs). And that team found out that that the Ministry of Health, alone, squandered most of the N54billion. Shouldn’t we applaud madam minister for establishing a body that uncovered this rot?
Getting to the sixth and seventh question, Sonala asked about the Abacha loot from Okonjo-Iweala. In a bid to stuff the minister’s boot with the loot, he contradicted himself. In one breath, he claims that madam minister never made explanation about the Abacha loot; in another breath, in his seventh point, he claims that she did explain in a speech after she left office that “General Abacha looted about $3-5 billion from the Nigerian treasury in truckloads of cash in foreign currencies, in traveler’s checks and other means. Most of these monies were laundered abroad through a complex network including some of the world’s best known banks.” Talk about a quintessence of self-befuddlement.
Point eight and nine seek to cast NOI as the President of Nigeria who should take the blame for the nation’s woes during the OBJ era; he also makes her the Chairman of EFCC who should arraign corrupt officials. The Ribadu that Sonala quoted as saying that Obasanjo’s regime was corrupt was in charge of anti-corruption body. Shouldn’t that question be directed at Ribadu as to why he allowed corruption to run riot under his watch?
The last point, just like the others, is nothing more than an account of a commentator whose brain seems drained of the fluid that supplies intelligence. No doubt, Sonala is one of the social commentators who are in the habit of rolling all the blame for Nigeria’s woes on this great woman.
It is obvious to all that NOI has been at the forefront of clearing the mess of corruption in the country. Have we forgotten so soon her efforts at sanitising the oil sector? Bigwigs in the oil industry are behind bars now for shady deals in the subsidy regime.
Knowing full well that any allegation thrown at those in government will stick, especially that of financial impropriety, Sonala is spoiling our day by adding bouts of odious fumes from his blackened exhaust to our national space for as long as this his ill-conceived article is visible.
However, Nigerians are now more perceptive. We know those who care for us. We know those who plunder our commonwealth. And, of course, we know those who defend our commonwealth from marauders. Okonjo-Iweala is there.
We also know those whose ideas are stuck in the mud. Sonala is there!
By Omoade Adelani
DailyPost

Nigeria's Secret Police Says Arik Airplane Incident Caused By Mentally-Unstable Man Triggered Off By Aircraft Turbulence

SSS spokesperson Marilyn Ogar

By SaharaReporters, New York

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has blamed today’s incident on an Arik Air flight from Maiduguri to Abuja on a mentally-unstable man whose “condition was triggered off” by turbulence.
Social media reports had claimed a bombing threat on the flight.
In a press statement, Marilyn Ogar, DSS’ Deputy Director for Public Relations, said that when the man, an Abuja interior decorator named Aminu S. Galadima boarded the flight, Airport Management was not informed as had previously been arranged.
Mr. Gladima had travelled to Maiduguri on October 19 with Hajia Yachilla Jidda, wife of the Secretary to the Borno State government, to do some work.
“On arrival in Maiduguri, he was lodged at Greenland Hotel. During the course of his stay, he exhibited unusual behaviour by smashing a window, and ended up with lacerations on his hands,” the statement said.
Following an investigation, it was discovered that Mr. Galadima was in poor mental health, and arrangements were made for him to be returned to Abuja for treatment.
As it would turn out, terrible miscommunication then followed, leading to the lives of passengers being put in danger.
“Unfortunately, when Galadima was taken to the Airport on 23rd October for his return trip, the management of the Airport was not informed, and 10 minutes into the flight, due to slight turbulence, his condition was triggered off,” Ogar said.
Explaining that the clarification became necessary in order “to dispel the unfounded rumours concerning the flight,” she said Mr. Galadima is with the security forces.
She did not explain why he is not in a hospital.
Earlier today, the Ministry of Aviation told SaharaReporters there had been no threat to the Maiduguri-Abuja flight.  That means it does not consider a “triggered-off” mentally-unstable passenger who had not been professionally handled a danger.
On their part, an Arik pilot on the flight said that the problem was only as “an unruly passenger who was high on drugs blabbing rubbish.”
Full text of the press statement:
PRESS STATEMENT
This is a brief highlight of the incident that occurred on the Arik Air flight from Maiduguri to Abuja.
On Friday, 19th October, 2012, Wife of the SSG to the Borno State Government, Hajia Yachilla JIDDA, travelled to Maiduguri in company of one Aminu S. GALADIMA, an interior decorator based in Abuja to do some interior decoration work. On arrival in Maiduguri, he was lodged at Greenland Hotel. During the course of his stay, he exhibited unusual behaviour by smashing a window, and ended up with lacerations on his hands.
The SSG was contacted, and in collaboration with the Hotel management, subject was taken to Atal Hospital, also in Maiduguri, where he received treatment. His family in Abuja was contacted and they gave confirmation that GALADIMA has been mentally unstable. In addition, his elder brother who lives in the UK was contacted and he requested that subject be returned to Abuja for medical attention.
On Sunday, 21st October, 2012, he was taken to the airport to be returned to Abuja, but missed the flight. However, the Airport management was informed of his state of health, and they advised that whenever his return is scheduled, the management should be notified. Unfortunately, when GALADIMA was taken to the Airport on 23rd October for his return trip, the management of the Airport was not informed, and 10 minutes into the flight, due to slight turbulence, his condition was triggered off. Meanwhile, GALADIMA is in the custody of security forces.
       
This clarification has become necessary to dispel the unfounded rumours concerning the flight.
Marilyn OGAR, msi
Deputy Director, Public Relations
Department of State Services
23rd October, 2012

A Grand Conspiracy To Finally Kill The Nigerian Navy

By Factor One

The new Chief of the Naval Staff may exhibit a friendly mien as he tries to settle into the arduous task of steering the ship of naval affairs of the nation on the right course. Unbeknownst to many however, behind the friendly mien lies an agonizing pressure from within and without for the new Naval Chief to ‘deal’ with some senior officers regarded as ‘disloyal’ by making immediate changes in the hierarchy of the Naval Service to suit the personal wishes and caprices of certain powerful people in Nigeria. Much as the pressure on the new Naval Chief emanates from external sources, the man himself may harbour personal misgivings about perceived conspiratorial actions of the ‘senior officers’ who ensured that he remained outside the Naval Headquarters throughout the tenure of his predecessor in a bid to ensconce the amiable, consummate but sometimes domineering career naval officer from becoming Chief of the Naval Staff. Obviously, if this perception is correct, then the plan of his tormentors with the calculations that supported it went terribly wrong.
This is because Vice Admiral DJ Ezeoba, the Man Friday of the imaginary power mongering group, emerged as Chief of the Naval Staff following the recent administrative changes carried out in the Armed Forces of Nigeria by the President, Commander-in-Chief, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
The Delta State indigene Naval Chief who speaks the 3 major Nigerian languages (Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba) fluently in addition to the English Language was born in Jos, the Plateau State Capital. He is a member of Course 22 of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and has attended numerous military courses including the prestigious National War College (National Defence College of Nigeria). He holds a Master of Science Degree in Strategic and Defence Studies. A consummate but flamboyant sailor, he can be outspoken on any issue that he feels strongly about. Vice Admiral Ezeoba could also be domineering even over his superiors hence the so-called conspiracy to send him out of the Naval Headquarters when the former Chief of the Naval Staff and now Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral OS Ibrahim, assumed duty in 2010. With his exit from the Naval Headquarters, many observers in the Nigerian Navy considered his chances of becoming the Naval Chief slim if not dimmed altogether. Consequently, many of his fellow contenders, especially from the stock of ranking Seamen Officers of NDA Regular Combatant Courses 23, 24 and 25, assumed the image and carriage of anointed successors to Admiral OS Ibrahim. Many of us in the Nigerian Navy believe that perhaps, it is from this group that the new Naval Chief may want to exert a pound of flesh in return for their impudence. However, the greatest pressure on the new Chief of Naval Staff that seem to be giving him sleepless nights less than a month after assuming duty is the call from several quarters for the removal of Rear Admiral KO Komolafe (commonly referred to as KOK in the Nigerian Navy), as Chief of Accounts and Budget (CAB) of the Nigerian Navy.
A Regular Combatant Officer of NDA Course 24, KOK is a no-nonsense articulate senior naval officer that can hardly stand waste, mismanagement and corruption in the management of financial resources of the Navy. The born-again senior officer is also a Pastor with one of the ubiquitous and high profile Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria (The Redeemed Christian Church of God). The Spartan-like senior officer committed class suicide when he chose to study accountancy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in the early 80s; shortly after graduating from NDA. He is a member of the graduating class of 1984 of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University that also includes the current Deputy Director of Central Bank of Nigeria (Operations) Dr Tunde Lemo. By choosing to read accountancy, KOK effectively left the Seaman Branch (Teeth Arm of the Navy) for the Finance Branch and by so doing abdicated every opportunity to hold command appointments, including becoming Chief of the Naval Staff in the Nigerian Navy. A man who accepts his fate with divine submission under any given circumstance, KOK settled down in the Finance Branch with avowed determination to do things differently. He abhorred the corrupt indulgences and practices of officers and ratings of the Finance Branch that denied many ordinary personnel of the Nigerian Navy of their pecuniary privileges. Also his knack for following due process and attention to details both of which are complemented by impeccable turn-out in and out of uniform did not escape the notice of his superiors both for the right and wrong reasons at the same time. For instance, even though it was customary at the time to appoint only Seamen Officers with appropriate training on security and intelligence matters as Aide de Camp (ADC) of ranking senior officers like Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral P Koshoni, retired naval officer and former Chief of Naval Staff, appointed KOK as his ADC when the latter was a young officer. The sterling and erudite qualities of the unassuming young officer and keen military bearing did not escape the attention of the Naval Chief during a routine tour of naval formations in Warri area. KOK’s appointment as ADC did not go down well with many a chauvinistic Seamen Officers, including his course mates and former colleagues in the Seaman Branch, who may have been secretly coveting the appointment and therefore regarded the appointment of KOK an aberration. Admiral Koshoni was nonetheless nonplussed by their arguments and grumblings. The vintage KOK discharged his duties effectively and efficiently as ADC such that the then Military Head of State, General IBB once sought to swap him with his own ADC.
The other side of noticing the sterling qualities of KOK by his superiors had some negative dimensions though. The Finance departments in Nigeria’s public service, including the Nigerian Navy, conjure an image of a gluttonous cult group. To belong, one must prove to be loyal, trustworthy beyond any iota of doubt and behave according to tradition. Anything to the contrary means a potential enemy is in the camp. KOK is no doubt loyal but nobody could vouch for the trustworthiness of an avowed stickler for due process. Sticking to due process is certainly not one of the cardinal rules of the finance departments of public service in Nigeria. On the contrary, it is one of the foreboding exceptions. Therefore, the Nigerian Navy Finance Department regarded KOK as a potential disaster right from the very moment he de-branched into the self-destruct cult group. Successive Chiefs of the Naval Staff who regarded the man as a possible obstacle on the way of their desires to dip their seedy fingers deep into the funds of the Nigerian Navy only related with KOK on the surface, or so it appeared. After all, he is a Regular Combatant Officer and as such was one of their own. However, he could not be trusted and therefore they knew better to keep him at bay with peripheral appointments that kept him away from the nucleus of financial activities of the Nigerian Navy. That was before the appointment of Admiral OS Ibrahim as Chief of the Naval Staff.
If the man KOK had enemies within, he was perhaps his own worst enemy because he did not conceal his intention to follow proper procedure in financial and related matters at all times irrespective of whose ox is gored. Like Wale Adebanwi wrote in his book ‘a Paradise for Maggots, where he described the travails of the erstwhile ‘scoundrel’ of Nigeria’s corruption war,  ‘’yet there were many oxen to be gored’’. Just like Mr Nuhu Ribadu, KOK is not a man given to the hypocritical pretensions of the charlatans in Nigeria’s public service, which, sadly, include the Nigerian Armed Forces. Like a leprous child, successive Chiefs of Naval Staff in key Headquarters appointments avoided him even though the man continued to earn his promotion with his coursemates up to the rank of Rear Admiral (Army equivalence of Major General). The out-gone Chief of the Naval Staff and currently the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral OS Ibrahim against all expectations, appointed Rear Admiral KO Komolafe as the CAB of Nigerian Navy. By that singular appointment, Admiral OS Ibrahim sent a clear signal to all and sundry in the Nigerian Navy that it was not going to be business as usual especially with regards to management of the meagre financial resources of the Nigerian Navy. This was contrary to the usual practice in the Service whereby a new Chief of the Naval Staff either retains or appoints a loyal CAB that he estimates would do his personal biddings in the management of Nigeria Navy Funds. Before the appointment of KOK, the management of Nigerian Navy financial resources was characterised by monumental waste, mismanagement and massive embezzlement. At a point, the Directors under the former CABs before KOK assumed office (Director of Naval Accounts or DONA and Director of Budget or DOB), including the staff officers and ratings under them controlled one fund or the other from which they all helped themselves as they liked and doled generously to whosoever found favour in their sight. Conversely, they denied many ordinary naval personnel their legitimate pecuniary claims and privileges. The DONA particularly has spent about a decade, if not more, at the Naval Headquarters and remains there till date. He became stupendously rich and doled out public funds (in soft and hard currencies) to as many persons as he considers instrumental to his continuous stay at the Naval Headquarters. He became so powerful having compromised virtually successive Naval hierarchies, officials of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), some members of the National Assembly, senior officials of the Offices of the Accountant-General and Auditor-General of the Federation including the Budget Office and potential ‘big boys’ of the Nigerian Navy. He achieved this through frequent bribes subtly referred to as ‘welfare’ such that every attempt to deploy him out of the Naval Headquarters failed at conception. One of his boys, a junior rate popularly called JJ for short, became a living legend in the Nigerian Navy by doling out welfare to his superiors, including Generals. It is a common joke in the Service when people want to be ridiculous that many ‘Generals’ attended the several house warming parties of the junior rate on the several occasions that he completed each of his numerous houses in Abuja. For this and many more, the Nigerian Navy became the butt of jokes in messes and unofficial gatherings with Army and Air Force officers citing how personnel of the Nigerian Navy and those of sister Services (Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force) including paramilitary agencies and even civilians throng the first floor of the Naval Headquarters every day in search of ‘welfare’. (The Accounts and Budget Branch of the Nigerian Navy is located on the first floor of the Headquarters building). They joked that it was common then to see a ‘General’ saluting JJ and praising him to high heavens in anticipation of ‘enhanced welfare’ package, depending on the mood of the overly indulged lad.
Directly as KOK assumed office he made his intention for reform of the Accounts and Budget Branch of the Nigerian Navy known to all concerned. Many of the personnel who had served in the Branch at the Naval Headquarters for many years and had employed all tricks to remain at the Headquarters knew instantly that their games were over. Some of them sought and obtained transfers out of the Headquarters on their own volition before the new CAB showed them the way out. Some who have got used to the ‘land of milk and honey’ (Naval Headquarters) decided to however wait with bated hopes while devising new tricks. Before long, most of the officers and ratings of the Accounts and Budget Branch, including the almighty JJ, that had latched to the Naval Headquarters like leeches on human bodies were eased out of the Headquarters. However, there was one exception. The services of the DONA are so invaluable to many powerful Nigerians that it was not expedient to redeploy him. That was the first shocker that KOK who was not familiar with the politics of Naval Headquarters despite his wish and that of the new Chief of the Naval Staff to do so. There were far too many entrenched interests that pressurized the Naval Chief to allow their financial acolyte and generous provider to stay no matter what his CAB (KOK) thinks. And so stay did the Director but not without adjusting immediately to the austere and strict practices of his new Boss. But like the proverbial fox, the DONA was up to the tilt with his schemes and ambition even though he bided his time circumspectly. To say that KOK restored sanity to the Accounts and Budget Branch of the Nigerian Navy would amount to an understatement. Under him and with the permission of Chief of the Naval Staff, he curtailed waste and mismanagement of public funds under whatever pretext, including the largesse that people had become so accustomed to. Personnel began to receive what is legitimately due to them but unlike the former practice, denied what is not due to them all according to financial rules and regulations of the public service. Rear Admiral KO Komolafe articulated and marshalled sound financial planning and policies that enabled the Nigerian Navy pay-off over N5b debt owed to some Nigerian contractors, some of them fronting for serving officers of the Nigerian Navy in charge of award of contracts. Like the companies that owned the debts, several of them were spurious and unverifiable. Yet, the Nigerian Navy was compelled to painfully pay the debts even because they were initiated and consummated by serving Nigerian Navy officials. KOK gave impetus to the vision of Chief of the Naval Staff for re-positioning the Nigerian Navy both operationally and in terms of personnel welfare. He sought to enforce financial discipline in the Nigerian Navy and subtly rebuffed the overture of the many that hitherto partook in the ‘sharing’ of the naval funds.
If many at the onset hailed Rear Admiral KO Komolafe, he was soon to outlive his goodwill before this many and a few adversaries. Most were to later regard his style of financial administration strange and ‘too extreme’.
As expected, the CAB became unpopular with Nigerian Legislators, officials of MOD, corrupt public officials and even his colleagues (serving and retired). They were all used to sharing the ‘naval loot’ and KOK was committing sacrilege by standing in their way. Admiral OS Ibrahim came under intense pressure to remove KOK and bring in any of his more pliable but less professional juniors. However, the former Naval Chief remained focused and determined to stir a revolutionary course at whatever price. He simply remained unruffled. This group of desperate people therefore saw an opportunity in the appointment of a new Chief of the Naval Staff to renew their call for KOK’s head. I must admit that KOK may not be completely a saint as he is bound to compromise in certain areas either deliberately or through omission. After all, he is a mere mortal. It would interest you to know that those of us that decided to contribute this piece are serving naval officers in order to bring the atrocities of those bent on killing the Nigerian Navy to public domain had been denied what in our estimation our legitimate pecuniary privileges due to a rigid interpretation of financial rules by KOK’s boys. Yet, for the sake of common good and advancement of an egalitarian society, we endured such denials. It is our conviction that it is better for things to work for common good than revelling in the narrow indulgences of exclusive privileges. Knowing the flamboyant lifestyle of the new Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral DJ Ezeoba, and the intense pressure to remove KOK from the office of CAB, it is in our own estimation but a matter of time before he succumbs. And if he does, the Nigerian Navy would once again descend on a precipitous journey to self destruct and immolation. Do you wonder why most of the Nigerian Navy Ships are not operational today or why the Nigerian Navy does not have enough and befitting Barracks as well as functional hospitals like the Nigerian Air Force? The answer simply lies in corruption and several years of looting of Nigerian Navy’s funds by successive administrations and their cooperating politicians (including successive Ministers of Defence) public officials, scavenging retired senior military officers and dubious contractors. KOK may have been too stringent and unbending in his quest to engender financial discipline in the Nigerian Navy, yet this is what the Nigerian Navy needs after many years of financial rape and profligacy. If Vice Admiral DJ Ezeoba removes KOK as CAB, let it be known to Mr President that his new Naval Chief did not take his admonition to stop the menace of oil theft seriously. Rather, he is set to revert to the old order of ‘business as usual’. Whereas by such a reversal, the retired vultures of the naval service hanging around the putrid carcase of the Naval Service all day, dubious front men of unscrupulous serving officers of the Nigerian Navy in charge of contracts, shameless politicians and the irredeemably corrupt Nigerian public officials may have something to jubilate about. Also, the Nigerian Navy and by extension, the Nigerian nation, will be the greatest looser as theft of crude oil, poaching, piracy, pollution and other criminal activities being perpetrated in Nigeria’s waters currently by a powerful cabal would continue unchallenged. The effort of the immediate past administration of the Nigerian Navy to reposition the Service for enhanced operational effectiveness through efficient management of scarce resources would become fruitless ultimately. The Nigerian Navy may be unable to further convince the Federal Government to do things differently and rise to existing and emerging national security challenges as it has promised recently. If this happens, the Government’s commitment could wane leading to possible total collapse of the Nigerian Navy in the not too distant future. The interest of Nigeria as a nation is too important and greater than any individual interest. Therefore good men must continue to talk or fertilize the seed of individual and collective tyranny when they keep quiet. In all these, whether the Naval Chief yields to pressure or not, the person that would achieve real victory ultimately like Mr Nuhu Ribadu will be KOK. We rest our case.                                  
  Saharareporters

IMF warns African oil producers to avoid “white elephants”

The International Monetary Fund has urged African oil and gas producing nations to direct their revenue in infrastructure and education rather than on “white elephants”.
A photographer takes pictures through a glass carrying the International Monetary Fund logo during a news conference in Bucharest
Exploration in east and southern Africa has been high in recent months as a result of big oil and gas discoveries in Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya and other regional countries.
Antoinette Sayeh, the IMF’s director for Africa, said on Monday the oil and gas sector does not create as many jobs as other sectors of the economy, but if the revenues were directed to education and transport links they would help create jobs.
Sayeh said nations could set up sovereign wealth funds to invest for future generations and to provide cash, which could be used to help their economies navigate times of volatility in the global economy.
“It is not enough just to maximise your revenues and then to spend them on white elephants, you have to really be using them wisely and leaving some of the wealth for future generations as well,” she said.
Sayeh said the IMF is advising Mozambique, Tanzania and Niger to help them boost revenues from oil and gas exports.
The Washington-based agency projected in its Regional Economic Outlook launched in Japan earlier this month that Sub-Saharan Africa will grow by 5.25 percent this year and next, driven by robust domestic demand, investments and newly-found natural resources.
Despite this forecast, there are concerns that although some of the world’s fastest growing economies are African, the rapid growth rates have failed the inclusion test due to lack of jobs especially among young people.
The IMF has predicted inflation in the region would fall to 8 percent at the end of this year from 10 percent in the same time last year, before falling further to 7 percent in 2013.
Sayeh urged policymakers in countries that are still facing double-digit inflation, like Nigeria, Guinea, Malawi and Ethiopia to adopt policies that will help lower inflation.
 BusinessNews

PDP Leaders including expelled members pay congratulatory visit to Mimiko

Leaders of the PDP in Ondo state have paid a congratulatory visit to the governor of Ondo state Dr. Olusegun Mimiko on his victory in Saturday’s governorship election.
DailyPost gathered that the chieftains called on Mimiko on Sunday, few hours after Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared him winner of the election.
The team was led by a member of PDP Board of Trustees, Dr. Bode Olajumoke. He was accompanied by Chief Segun Adegoke, Senator Gbenga Ogunniya, two former members of the House of Representatives – Gbenga Elegbeleye and Tayo Fawahinmi, Prof. Olu Agbi, a former ambassador to Austria and Dr. Akin Olowookere.
Speaking at the government house, Dr. Olajumoke advised the newly re-elected governor to increase his effort in the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
Recall that Professor Olu Agbi and Chief Segun Adegoke are among the PDP members expelled for openly supporting Mimiko. It is however surprising why they were part of the delegation despite their expulsion.
DailyPost