A renowned businessman, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has urged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to redouble efforts in ethical and attitudinal reorientation meant to push against negative public habits such as corruption just as he faulted the leadership selection process in the country.
Okonkwo, an adjunct Professor of Business at the University of Abuja Business School, said this on Friday in Enugu at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) – Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) South-East Lecture Series and Awards.
The NTA-NUJ South-East Lecture Series and Awards was themed: “Reawakening the Age-Long Norms And Values of Our People”.
According to him, “I am happy that already, we have a governmental tool to help us drive this need for ethical and attitudinal reorientation countrywide. I am talking of the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
“What we have in our hands is not a problem exclusive to a particular geopolitical zone. It is a national problem.
“Therefore, I further recommend, and strongly too, that we must push for the expansion of the mandate of NOA to include ethical and attitudinal reorientation of Nigerians.
“If need be, let there be a name change for NOA, and perhaps an upgrade into a commission, to reflect this new mandate.
“Let us call it the National Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission with an expanded mandate to become a very effective and functional tool towards achieving values reorientation across the country,” he said.
Okonkwo, who was a gubernatorial candidate in the last election in Anambra State, said that the upgrading and name change demands legislation, there would be nothing wrong with the National Assembly, and indeed, all state houses of assembly, enacting the same to give it the necessary legislative backing.
He said: “In making this call, I am mindful of the fact that government, including previous ones, had made attempts to refocus ethical and public morality issues through such rebranding instruments like ‘Not in Our Character’ of the Walter Ofonagoro era, ‘Heart of Africa’ of the Frank Nweke era, ‘Good People, Great Nation’ of the Dora Akunyili era, and recently ‘Change begins With Me’.
“These have been laudable attempts that failed because they were not institutionalized. Like those before it, ‘Change Begins with Me’ of Alhaji Lai Mohammed will end with his time as Minister of Information and National Orientation. This is the reason I further recommend that the next government from 2023 finds a way to institutionalize ethical and attitudinal reorientation into its programme of action for the country.”
Prof Okonkwo further pointed out that another major reason the nation must institutionalize ethical and attitudinal reorientation “is that our governmental system shows itself as bereft of character both in the leadership selection process and leadership in itself.
“Often, we have been told that the problem of Nigeria is not the absence of human capital but the dearth of leadership. However, I think that the major problem with leadership in our clime is the absence of persons whose content of character are not inspiring enough to drive the country and its people towards positive action that would berth the sort of change and growth that we all envisage. Let us not make mistakes about it, the character of some of those who we elect to leadership, from the wards to the federal levels, have always come with question marks.
“This reality begins with our leadership selection process. Ladies and gentlemen, how comfortable are we with a leadership selection process where those who elect our candidates; are themselves persons of questionable character? Is it no longer true that birds of same feather flock together?
“In some states and communities, we see persons who honed their skills from touting at motor parks, not academic institutions and environments, leading in deciding who becomes the flagbearer of political parties and indeed, who wins in the final election. This trend should worry us because it portends great danger ahead for our country. As it is said, you cannot plant mangoes and harvest apples. This is what those countries that we look up to for support have done and are still doing.”
Prof Obiora Okonkwo and Comrade Mina Adaobi Ukaobasi
Speaking on the same theme, Dr Alex Otti, a technocrat and politician, noted that years of failed and unfocused leadership in various strata of the society had led to the negativities and socioeconomic crises in the country.
Otti also deplored the rate of dishonesty and stealing of public funds; adding that it was already turning to a norm.
“Our values have become so low and it is no longer cherished in some circles and it is alien to culture as African previously known for high standards of morals and values,” he said.
He called on all Nigerians in authority to start to rethink and change the negative narrative by showing exemplary leadership and lifestyle worthy of emulation.
The former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, urged the media to be in the vanguard of changing the narrative attitude of violent crime such as kidnapping pervading the country.
Nebo noted that the media have to step-up the advocacy against get-rich-quick syndrome and other vices that diminishes the value of life and good image of the country.
“I must thank the NTA for organizing such a programme and I think it is time for the media to step-up the advocacy against crime and criminality in the country, especially the pervading insecurity,” he said.
Owelle Ejikeme Odumegwu, Award recipient
Earlier, the Chairperson of NUJ-NTA Enugu Network Centre, Comrade Mina Ukaobasi, said that the lecture was meant to reawaken the consciousness of Nigerians for a need for positive attitudinal change.
“We are here to give direction to a renewed society, where age-long values and norms will be resuscitated and cherished to create a conducive society for all,” Okaobasi said.
She also called for support of NTA centres in the South-East with technical equipment to ensure effective coverage of activities within the zone.
The event featured awards of excellence to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, Archbishop of Anglican Communion in Enugu and Owelle Ejikeme Odumegwu, a renowned philanthropist, who received award of “Excellence in Business and Humanitarian Efforts”.
Other recipients of the award of excellence included: Okonkwo, Nebo, Otti, Chief Ikenna Okafor, Chief Chikwado Chukwunta; Jimoh Badamosi; Chairman, Enugu State Council of NUJ, Comrade Sam Udekwe and host of others.
Responding on behalf of the recipients, Owelle Ejikeme Odumegwu, thanked the NTA-NUJ for the award and the organization’s eye to point out distinguished Nigerians.
“Good leadership begets good followership. Journalists must stand out to promote value reorientation and good governance.
“I will urge the journalists to keep it up and ensure that positive societal values and norms are preserved for posterity,” Odumegwu added.
There were gunshots at the Abuja residence of former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello as current state governor, Usman Ododo reportedly smuggled the former out of the premises which were laid siege to by the personnel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A security source said Wednesday evening that Ododo escaped with Yahaya Bello, adding that there was a “serious gun battle in Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4 in Abuja”.
The policemen attached to Governor Ododo had in the midst of the confusion on Wednesday prevented the EFCC personnel from arresting Yahaya Bello.
The EFCC operatives had on Wednesday morning barricaded Bello’s house in Wuse, Abuja.
Ododo visited the embattled former Kogi governor on Wednesday afternoon with a retinue of security operatives amid the siege at the latter’s Abuja residence.
According to the sources, there would have been a bloody clash if they had gone head-to-head with the policemen.
“The Inspector General of Police reportedly gave Yahaya Bello more reinforcement through Governor Ododo to thwart his arrest.
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“But we’re trying to avoid a bloody clash,” one of the sources said.
It was gathered that the EFCC was able to track Bello to Abuja by outsmarting him.
It was learnt that Bello deliberately left his mobile phone at the Government House in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital to avoid being tracked to Abuja not knowing that EFCC operatives were already tracking the mobile phone of his aide which he used.
Through his aide’s mobile phone, the former governor was tracked to where he was holed up in Abuja.
“Yahaya Bello left his phone at the Government House in Kogi to avoid being tracked to Abuja.
“But the mobile phone of his aide which he used was already being tracked to where he’s now trapped in Abuja,” a top security source said.
The EFCC siege came days after the former governor met with President Bola Tinubu at the State House.
On Wednesday, a top source shared a photograph showing how EFCC operatives had barricaded the access road to Bello’s house.
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The source said: “EFCC barricades Bello’s house in Abuja. No movement in the area as EFCC barricaded the house. They are yet to gain access.”
Although there was no immediate information available as to the reason why the anti-graft agency stormed the former governor’s residence, the anti-graft agency had filed fraud charges against him.
The EFCC had charged the former governor with financial fraud to the tune of N84 billion.
The EFCC had arraigned Bello’s nephew, Ali Bello, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, for alleged money laundering to the tune of N10 billion belonging to the state government.
EFCC, which joined Bello’s nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalam Hudu as co-accused, said it was prosecuting them on an amended 17 counts of money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N84, 062,406,089.88.
The anti-graft agency claimed in the amended charge that former governor Bello was still at large.
In December 2021, SaharaReporters reported that the EFCC had seized $760,910.84 that Bello paid to American International School, Abuja, as prepaid school fees for four children until graduation, over alleged money laundering.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters showed that Governor Bello through his nephew, Mr Ali Bello had entered an agreement with the school to pay tuition for his four children up to graduation in advance to secure their future.
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The agreement was signed and executed on August 23, 2021. Following the execution of the agreement, a total of $845.852.84 was paid into the school account in varied installments.
However, the anti-corruption agency as part of its oversight function, subsequently invited the school managers for a series of interviews in connection with the funds through a letter dated September 7, 2023, after about one year.
Sources said that during the interrogation of officials of the school, the EFCC noted that the advanced school fees were proceeds of crime. It said that the school was being used as an unwitting money laundering tool and demanded that it should refund the monies to the agency through a dedicated account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). (SaharaReporters)
The standoff between Yahaya Bello’s security details and EFCC operatives at the ex-gov’s Abuja residence Wednesday morning
Policemen attached to Alhaji Yahaya Bello have prevented armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting the former Kogi state governor.
The confrontation between the EFCC operatives and the policemen occurred at Bello’s residence in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, where the EFCC had laid siege in an attempt to apprehend him on corruption-related charges.
Supporters of Bello, alongside the police officers, gathered at the residence and resisted the EFCC’s arrest attempt.
The situation escalated as tensions mounted between the two law enforcement agencies.
Bello has been under EFCC investigation over allegations of misappropriation of public funds amounting to over 100 billion naira.
Despite obtaining an interim injunction from Kogi State High court restraining the EFCC from taking any action against him pending the determination of a substantive originating motion to enforce his fundamental rights, the anti-graft commission has insisted on arresting him.
The interim injunction, which sought to shield Bello from detention, prosecution, or persecution during the ongoing legal proceedings, has been appealed by the EFCC.
The agency contends that the trial court lacked jurisdiction and argues that any order issued by a court lacking jurisdiction is null and void.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been asked to call the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to order as the anti-graft agency moves to arrest former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello despite existing court order restraining it from prosecuting him (Bello) for alleged graft.
Despite a subsisting Order of injunction granted on 9th February 2024 by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Alhaji Yahaya Bello v. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, restraining the Commission either by itself or its agents from harassing, arresting, detaining or prosecuting Alhaji Yahaya Bello, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive fundamental rights enforcement action, the EFCC on Wednesday arrived the Wuse Zone 4 Residence of Yahaya Bello to effect his arrest.
Confirming the incident in a statement, Wednesday, the Yahaya Bello Media Office stated that It is a surprise that an agency led by a lawyer could flagrantly disobey a subsisting court order by taking actions contrary to the reliefs granted.
Read full statement below:
ABOUT 9:30 am today, the 17th day of April 2024, persons who described themselves as officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrived the Wuse Zone 4 Residence of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to effect his arrest.
This is despite a subsisting Order of injunction granted on 9th February 2024 by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Alhaji Yahaya Bello v. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, restraining the Commission either by itself or its agents from harassing, arresting, detaining or prosecuting Alhaji Yahaya Bello, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.
The EFCC was duly served with that Order on 12th February 2024 and on 26th February 2024; the EFCC filed an Appeal (Appeal No.: CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission v. Alhaji Yahaya Bello) against the said Order to the Court of Appeal Abuja division.
The Appeal was accompanied by a Motion for Stay of Execution of the Order of the High Court which the Court of Appeal adjourned for hearing till the 22nd day of April 2024.
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Furthermore, Judgment in the substantive case between Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the EFCC is to be delivered at 12 Noon today in Lokoja.
Contrary to all of the above, the EFCC has now laid siege to the home of H.E Yahaya Bello seeking to arrest him in contravention of the extant orders!
It is a surprise that an agency led by a lawyer could flagrantly disobey a subsisting court order by taking actions contrary to the reliefs granted.
We are aware of the total commitment of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the rule of law and can say categorically that the leadership of the EFCC might have offered the agency on a platter of gold to desperate politicians to convert to their score settling tool without minding the effect on its integrity and the image of Nigeria as regards the rule of law.
A situation where law enforcers disregard the rule of law is a definite recipe for anarchy, which will adversely affect every aspect of the nation’s economy.
Nigerians have perceived the desperation of the anti-graft agency to embarrass and harass the former Governor by all means through spurious allegations, especially the latest one dating back to September 2015, way before he assumed office.
We are aware that there are clandestine moves to correct the error, but with even more questionable allegations, which would embarrass the Commission and Nigeria more than the initial one.
It is unfortunate that an agency that is supposed to enforce the law is now the first culprit with respect to disobedience of court orders.
This is a big dent on the fight against corruption. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.
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We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the EFCC to order in the interest of legal sanity.