By Sam Otuonye

“Consequently, as regards this raging ruckus and scrimmage as to whether the 25% votes required by S.134 (2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is applicable to the FCT, Abuja, I have now decided to navigate further, some uncharted routes, by going mathematical to find X.” (Mike Ozekhome).

The legal silk, Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), went beyond borders and treaded where many students, graduates, and even teachers, dread. Mathematics is in enemity with many students, particularly, Law and Humanities. Prior to the new University admission requirement of a credit in English Language and Mathematics across all courses, Mathematics was not a compulsory subject for applicants of Law and Humanities. If you were not good at mathematics you definitely did not have any bearing with Science and Business courses. You are automatically consigned to Arts and Law. But, a case of exception must be made here; as not all Law and Arts students were weaklings in mathematics. Few that knew mathematics still chose those courses for the love they had for them – Ozekhome may be one of those in this category.

According to Albert Einstein, “Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” Prof. Ozekhome brought pure mathematics to bear on the 25% FCT status dilemma, with lucid logical ideas that elevated reasonable man test and left no discerning person in doubt as to its nitty-gritty. He deployed the mathematical anatomy of BODMAS (Bracket, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction) to plot the legal cum logical graph of his perspective on the subject matter. He was responding to a piece written by a Lawyer, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, on the raging controversial constitutional interpretation of the 25% votes requirement in the FCT, Abuja, in the February 25, 2023 Presidential Election.

While many legal luminaries have argued that FCT should not attract special attention as regards the 25% votes spread; for electoral convenience, I guess, Prof. Ozekhome insists otherwise. He argued: “Had the law makers intended that the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, will be treated simply as a “State” and no more in section 134(2)(b) of the Constitution, they would have simply stopped there. There was no need to specifically add the new phrase “AND the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja”, as in section 134(2)(b). The Constitution would simply have provided for “two-thirds of all the States in the Federation”, and stopped there. But, it did not.” He supported his argument with diverse law reports and courts judgments.

This piece is not intended to join issues with the legal gurus and their arguments, as yours truly, is not a lawyer, but to highlight the assiduous essence of academic and professional excellence – studying to show yourself approved. The Holy Book asserted in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Apostle Paul was admonishing Timothy to employ diligence and accuracy in his work for God. Many professionals find it difficult to go beyond their normal peripheral professional routine. They are not in-touch with the axiomatic expressions of ‘out-of-the-box’, ‘going beyond borders’, ‘breaking limits’, etc. They have remained static, stationary and sedentary over their years of professional practice and career. Across all professions, there seems to be a striking redundancy in research and development. And this scenario erodes our value as a people, because you cannot develop beyond what you know.

In his expose, titled; “Finding the BODMAS X in the Mathematics of 25% of the FCT, Abuja”, Prof. Ozekhome said; “My deep research has just thrown up a judgment where the court was called upon to interpret and translate 1.00 to percentage. The Honourable Justice Nelson Ogbuanya of National Industrial Court, in resolving the mathematical legal question, held that “1.00 of an amount means one whole number and not a fraction; and when converted to percentage, it means 100% and not 1%.” This shows that he went beyond the ordinary to exhume evidential proofs. Daniel said in the Holy Book (Daniel 9:2)”In the first year of his reign (referring to Darius) I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in desolations of Jerusalem.” Professional and academic excellence is: Study and Research. Simple!

When Ozekhome said, “Mercifully, I am very proud to announce to Ajulo and others that going by my well known antecedents which are self-evident (simply google me), I do not belong to such a lowly class of ego-masseurs. I am certainly not one of those cheap obsequious fawners, brown-nosers, or toady characters that hang around political merchants and buccaneers of corridors of power”; was he exhibiting pride, haughtiness and bravado? I do not think so. He is simply a man that has shown himself approved. And, who can lower his shoulders!

It takes resilience, consistency, hard work and doggedness to achieve outstanding feats. From the authority he asserted in his write-up, it does not appear to me that he hired a Number Expert to distil the figures and formular for him. He seems to be one of those students that mathematics did not intimidate. He wrote; “But, the variables must, nonetheless be ascertained before proceeding to conclude or ascribe a fixed figure in a given arithmetical equation. It is this inability to ascertain the variable figure that usually makes some students afraid of, and intimidated by, mathematics.”

He was indeed charitable by his choice of words, “… some students…” The fact is that many students hated mathematics perfectly well. Those days in Secondary School, mathematics class used to be scanty as most Arts students disappeared into other classes holding English, Literature, Government, etc. They used to evade mathematics class with swagger, oblivious of thefact that no knowledge is a waste. One of the definitions of ‘Education’ which interests me most is that which says that,Education is knowing bits of everything but more of one to earn a living. Mathematics is central to every profession and career no matter how little. Those in the Arts (like Ozekhome) that refused to run away from it but learned a bit of it are harvesting and harnessing the benefits today. They are showing themselves approved of their workmanship more than most of their colleagues. And there is nothing anybody can do about it.

Nigeria is known for brandishing certificates, both genuine, fake and bought, even as our academic value is continually being eroded, particularly in the public schools –primary, secondary and tertiary. The public sector places certificates above competence and capacity. That does not suggest that certificates are to be discouraged, but it must add corresponding competenceand capacity value. Most of the job recruitments in government circles are done without proper interviews. They do not constitute strong interview panels and Human Resources Consultants to screen the applicants. They draw the recruits/employees from the legislative, executive, judiciary, political appointees, ethnic, and nepotistic lists. Sometimes, the jobs are sold for personal gains or as official revenue generation.So many civil and public servants do not even understand the fundamentals of the jobs they are doing. Even, some of the applicants (who are graduates) cannot write the application letter for the job they seek to do. So sad!

Our dear country, Nigeria, must shift away from this odious narrative and embrace the global best practices in education and skill acquisition. Research and Development (R&D) must be given a place of priority in our Education System, with cutting-edge facilities and technological infrastructure. And, for the Constitutional legal legend; Chief, Prof. Mike A.A. Ozekhome, SAN, CON, OFR, FCIArb, LLM, PhD, LLD, D.Litt, I join the knowledge-seeking people of Nigeria and the world over, to salute your erudition.

• Otuonye, writes from Enugu                                                 samotuonye22@gmail.com

By Sam Otuonye

“Compassion does not just happen. Pity does, but compassion is not pity. It’s not a feeling. Compassion is a viewpoint, a way of life, a perspective, a habit that becomes a discipline – and more than anything else, compassion is a choice we make that love is more important than comfort or convenience.”(Glennon Doyle Melton).

Indeed, love is more important than comfort or convenience! If Nigeria places Compassion in its strategic edge the whole gamut of challenges confronting her today and in the future will evaporate like vapor. There will not be scarcity of fuel and cash. Elections will not be rigged. Electoral officials and security agents will not be compromised. DSS will not raise alarm of people plotting for an Interim Government. And the country will not seem to be in flames, if only we have chosen to be compassionate, according to this American Author and Activist –Glennon D. Melton.

It is soul-depressing when truth is subverted and overthrown in a manner that seems like a coup d’état – clandestinely planned, plotted, and executed, sometimes, not really sure of its success or failure, and giving no wink to the consequences on the rest of us – because they do it for their comfort and convenience. This is the bane of our collective prosperity and the Nigerian people seem to be fed up with it hence, the palpable wave of revolution blowing across the entire length and breadth of the nation.

Labour Party, in its refreshed state, with the entrance of Mr. Peter Obi and his Obedient Movement, campaigned with the slogan of Compassion, in addition to the political campaign clichés of Competence, Capacity, Integrity, etc. Yes, Mr. Peter Obi also promised to move the economy from consumption to production, and so on. All those are well over-flogged campaign promises. But, the introduction of the lexicon ‘Compassion’ is novel and godly. It pierces ubiquitously through the soul and the spirit. That was what melted the hearts of the Nigerian electorate as shown in the elections of February, 25 and March 18, 2023. Nigerians trooped out en masse, both young and old, as never happened in recent history, to cast their votes. They defiled the rain showers, scorching sun and even obvious threats to their lives, to make the voting happen, because someone promised them love, in addition to infrastructure, security, healthcare, etc.

Love, possesses the cutting edge to heal, preserve, re-live, persuade, restrain, sacrifice, and comfort. Both the Bible and Quran attest and espouse the innate characteristics of love as the ultimate essence of believing. In other words, if you do not have the spirit of compassion you are not a true believer. For love is kind, patient, generous, humble, courteous, consistent, joyous, and restraining. It is not self-seeking neither does it keep record of wrongs. It is often said that Nigeria is a very religious country but evil continues to fester unabated. This is because we have churned out leaders that lack the milk of compassion, by omission or commission, over the decades.   Our political landscape has been dotted with leaders that have ethnic bias, religious intolerance, tribal sentiment, unforgiving spirit, self-centeredness, greed, pride and callousness, etc. They have eroded our National Pride and Values so much that Nigeria has been rated as one of the poorest countries in all indices – economic, social, political etc, in the world.

But Labour Party has promised that it will show compassion on Nigerians. Peter Obi has repeatedly and passionately declared that, as if he was jealous of Nigeria. His passion could be captured in the words of the renowned poet, J.P Clark, in his poem, Olokun; and he wrote: “I am jealous and passionate like Jehovah, God of the Jews, and I would that you realize no greater love had woman from man than the one I have for you.” True? Does Peter Obi love Nigeria and Nigerians that much? If he finally becomes the President (as the matter is still in court) would he walk his talk?

A cursory assessment of his leadership records, past and present will speak to his claim. Daily Post reported on March 29, 2023, that Labour Party, at the instance of Mr. Peter Obi, has asked that the N25m, being cost of the gubernatorial nomination form paid by Chief Humphery Anumudu, the governorship aspirant in Imo State, who passed on recently, be refunded to his family. He also advised that the cost of nomination forms for the off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo States, should be reduced from N25m to N15m and those that have already obtained it at N25m be refunded N10m each. Really!

A quick reference to Doyle’s quote above that; “… compassion is a choice we make that love is more important than comfort or convenience”, comes handy. And it poses these obvious questions: Is it not comfortable and convenient for Labour Party to pocket the N25m of the deceased aspirant and bring sneaky logic into play? After all, the fee was supposed to be non-refundable. Why should the party refund N10m to these rich politicians after making the payment of N25m?  After all, money is not their problem. Why should they fix the Nomination Fee at paltry N25m when Labour party ticket has become a national hot cake? In Imo State alone there are more than ten aspirants jostling for the ticket. But Peter Obi chose compassion above comfort or convenience.

As governor of Anambra State, he refused to loot the treasury to lavishly enrich himself and family. He is one out of very few Nigeria governors who never had a day with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over financial crime against his state. He even rejected a parcel of land that was graciously allocated to him unsolicited, by the state. He showered love on Anambrarians so much that he never owed salaries and pension throughout his tenure. He invested in stocks and shares for Anambra people and left reasonable positive balances in government accounts. There was development of infrastructure. Education and health sectors received unprecedented improvement and poverty was reduced drastically. He was driven by the spirit of compassion, to ensure that the people did not suffer unreasonably.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Minister of Finance, in her book, ‘Fighting Corruption is Dangerous’ singled out Mr. Obi among very few governors who supported her proposal at National Economic Council (NEC) to save for the rainy day via Sovereign Wealth Fund or Excess Crude Account. She wrote: “The chief opponent of these arguments to deposit savings in the Sovereign Wealth Fund or Excess Crude Account was Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers state, chair of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). He was strongly supported by Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo state, who was very vocal in voicing his disapproval and his suspicions of the federal government’s management of the Excess Crude Account; Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos state, a lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who objected on constitutional grounds; and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state, later chair of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum. Others, such as Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state, argued for savings but were not supported. Their voices were drowned out, and National Economic Council (NEC) sessions became unpleasant when this topic arose.”

Whereas, those governors routed for ‘share the money’ syndrome, Peter Obi, in his compassionate disposition wanted some savings as a buffer for any unexpected economic crisis. It takes a compassionate leader to always consider, plan and prepare for the present and future well-being of his subjects. A compassionate leader prioritizes expenditure and avoids wastages. He saves for emergencies and does not loot the treasury.

Mr. Peter Obi has introduced this new dimension to Nigeria politics. He has reconstructed electioneering politics beyond the mundane campaign promises of infrastructure, security, economy, etc., to the extra-mundane – compassion. This ‘soul and spirit’ angle has become strategic that many politicians will displace their routine to embrace it. Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor of Abia state has rightly identified it as; ‘The Peter Obi Effect’. Explaining why his party, the PDP, lost the governorship election in Abia state to Labour Party in a recent interview on Channels Television, said; “That Peter Obi effect, I predicted it and told my party. I even volunteered that reasonable politicians should not ignore what Peter Obi was doing.”

What was Peter Obi really doing? Marketing Communication scholars would rather opine that he simply deployed a marketing strategy that is referred to as, ‘Unique Selling Proposition’ (USP). Yes, but it was beyond USP. He showed compassion. He preached love. He identified with the poor, the downtrodden, the physically challenged, the broken-hearted, etc. He visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, flood disaster communities and Boko Haram ravaged villages, etc., not to flaunt huge donations and show off wealth but with the message of love and compassion. He sat with them. He hugged them. He cuddled them. He truly sold himself uniquely to the people and became the most cherished and preferred candidate.

 • Sam Otuonye writes from Enugu                                                                                    samotuonye22@gmail.com

By Sam Otuonye

“One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.”(Iris Murdoch)
Pastor Umo Eno, the Governor-Elect of Akwa Ibom State, I guess, must have drawn his ‘Happy Hour’ inspiration from this Iris-British novelist, Dame Jean Iris Murdoch’s philosophical milieu. Umo Eno had campaigned that he will make Akwa Ibomites happy every Friday by giving them ‘small treats’ at designated bars in the state.

He made this known on Arise Television during an interview. Said he “Every Friday, I will have what I call happy hour for the state. And what do I want to do with happy hour? It is simple. I want to create a business for people that have facilities. So, we declare that between 5pm and 6pm, these are the bars that will sell drinks at a certain price.”

Talks are really cheap! But implementation poses a humongous and daunting task. In Nigeria most programs and projects, particularly by the political class are hatched and executed without painstaking research, proper evaluation of similar programs and their adaptation possibilities. This is largely so because of a long time culture of lack of transparency and accountability. Our laws and their interpretations and enforcements have been bedeviled by corruption of myriad dimensions. Politicians and their stakeholders, public and civil servants, and indeed, everyone that grabs any opportunity, plunder our collective vault with flagrant audacity, and boldly escape punishment.
Otherwise, what difference would ‘Happy Hour’ of Umo Eno make from Rochas Okorocha’s (former Governor of Imo State) Ministry of Happiness, Ayo Fayose’s (former Governor of Ekiti State) ‘Stomach Infrastructure’ and the Federal Government’s ‘School Feeding program.’ They ended up serving the interests of those that created them rather than the masses for whom the programs were created. Today, both Rochas Okorocha and Ayo Fayose are battling with humongous billion naira corruption cases with the Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and billions of naira that was deployed into the federal government school feeding program is still begging for reconciliation.

Happiness is an intangible asset. It is unquantifiable. It is soothing. It is unconditional. It is emotional. It is pleasurable. In it lies what governance, in its totality, is all about. Any government that does not make its people happy is cruel, callous and wicked. And it transcends beyond creating a ministry or designating bars to make people happy. It is a whole and entire approach: Security, Youth Employment and Empowerment, Infrastructural Development, Prompt Salary and Pension payments, Ease of doing business, Accountability and Transparency, Functional Health system, Affordable Education, Low Inflation, etc.

Ministry of Happiness, by Rochas Okorocha, for instance, was merely a conduit for financial malfeasance. The state funds were being piped into some children of Adam’s pockets, like ‘Ways and Means’ business that has left a mind-blowing debt on our federal treasury. Even as the ministry he created, as Governor, was termed by many Imolites, as a failure, he went to the Senate, as Imo West senator, and proposed same for the federal government. He said that the ministry was created to assist Imo people to realize happiness and fulfill their purpose in life. How? How many indigent Imo widows did the ministry visit with life enhancing materials and facilities? How did the aged fair with regard to health assistance programs and provision of old people’s homes? How did the ministry impact the youths in sensitization and organization of workshops and equipping them with work tools? What about the children? How many holiday retreats and jamborees did the ministry organize for them?

The ministry was rather turned into a joke stick as many Imolites made jokes of it on the social media, like; ’ichiala ochi’ (have you laughed (today)?, ‘if you don’t make me happy I will report you to the ministry of happiness.’ The one that tickled me the most was a video clip where a man was forcefully being dragged to the ministry for refusing to make his wife happy in ‘the other room’, etc. All these caricatures were created because the ministry failed to make the needed impact.

Now, the governor-elect of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Umo Eno, has campaigned with ‘Happy Hour’ and has won the election. How would he extricate himself from these leprous fingers? One interesting irony to underscore here is that, his colleague former governors introduced that product during their second term in office. And, that made the perceived failure of the program a non-issue to their political ascendancy in the state, but Eno is introducing it in his first tenure, of which, its implementation, whether good or bad will respectively affect his second term bid. Do not forget that, the youths who hold the ace of any political victory in Nigeria, as it stands today, are at the centre of this drinking largesse. He therefore, has a burden to deal with.

Most of this burden will arise from influence peddling (undue influence of fraternity and relationships), spread and coverage, and administration and control, etc. The first hurdle he will confront is the submerging number of bars that will be established by his friends, relatives, political stakeholders, church and association members, etc. This group of people will quickly open bars and lobby for selection. The second challenge is, the spread and coverage area of the bars, bearing in mind that he is not the governor for the city centres alone. He was voted from the ward to local government and to the city centre. Hence, the bar must be located at ward level, local government and city centres, to make for inclusivity.

Another important aspect of the program is administration; which has to do with the management and control mechanism that is made operant – the rules of the game. The profiling of the bars, in terms of Corporate Affairs registration, quality of products, capacity, size and ambience, etc. Also, is the bar locations; with regard to safety and security. In the same vein, is the profiling of the weekly participants to ensure that no one person gets repeated ration, and finally, the punishment that will be meted out to the rules breakers. Hence, the five functions of management, according to Henri Fayol, become inevitable: Planning, Organizing, Command, Coordination, and Control. The planning, organization and coordination should be horizontal and bottom-up. The people, for which the program is packaged, must be carried along. It is not what governor’s aides and consultants will seat in the coziness of their office and roll out. The program should also be supported by a robust technology for data purposes. There should be upload and download of data and weekly activities for evaluation and control.

Having x-rayed these possibilities and with the benefit of hindsight, I think the task is uphill and would need a critical, decisive and above all, the grace of God, to accomplish without blemish. The 2023 elections did not come like the former. The entrance of the ‘Obedient Movement’ twisted the entire political ecosystem. It put politicians under intense pressure to over-promise the electorates; and I guess ‘Happy Hour’ is one of those. But, it is not yet ‘Uhuru.’ We wait and see how Pastor Umo Eno, the governor-elect of Akwa Ibom State, will paddle this ship and berth it safely.

Sam Otuonye writes from Enugu
@samotuonye22@gmail.com