OKOROCHA AND THE DOUGLAS ROAD REFUSE DUMP IN IMO STATE

 
It was Arch-Bishop Desmond Tutu who said “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an Elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the oppressed mouse will not appreciate your neutrality”.

Also, it was Madam Helen Keller who said “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision”.

I have therefore watched with shock and unbelief how the Imo State Capital (Owerri) is gradually turning into a refuse dump estate. I have listened to various reasons and arguments regarding the offensive refuse on Douglas road (just beside Ekeukwu Owerri market and opposite St. Paul’s Catholic Church) that has obviously become an eyesore and embarrassment to the state. I have also watched with keen interest the alleged nonchalant attitude of the State Government concerning the same refuse that has for the time being stretched to over 3,000 feet in length and occupying more than half of the width of the road in
question.

The question that comes to mind is; what is the problem? What’s going on? In a bid to answer this question, I had to ask questions and listen to various reasons and nonsensical arguments regarding this un-cleared mountainous refuse
along Douglas road Owerri. I had discussions and interfaced with those in positions of Authority, and my findings have therefore made me to
conclude that the following people should be held responsible for that eyesore on Douglas road which is capable of unleashing epidemic of unimaginable proportion on residents of the State capital.

1. The General Manager, Environmental Transformation Commission,
ENTRACO – Mr. Jeff Nwoha.
2. The Commissioner for Health – Barr. (Mrs) Ngozi Njoku.
3. The Chairman House Committee on Health and Sanitation at the Imo State House of Assembly – Mr. Nkenna John Nzerue.
4. Imo State House of Assembly member for Owerri municipal council – Mr. Lugard Osuji.
5. Religious leaders in the State
6. Political leaders in the State

The reading public will observe that I tactically refused to include the name of Governor Rochas Okorocha on the list of those to be held responsible. This is so because Okorocha has people appointed into various organs of government to take care of certain responsibilities.

Conversely, if those responsibilities are not being taken care of, the appointed aides of the governor would then be held responsible in the first instance, and to a larger extent, Okorocha too. Therefore, in dare conclude that it is these set of unreasonable, unrefined and uncultured appointees that are destroying the legacies of Governor Okorocha by deliberately refusing to do their job.

Honestly, I am in tears. It pains me. It worries me and it disturbs me to see that Douglas road which is just beside Ekeukwu Owerri market has been taken over by refuse, and the Imo State Government led by Governor Rochas Okorocha has refused to do anything about it. If this assertion is true, what then is leadership?

This is where the agency responsible for the evacuation of refuse in Imo State comes in. I am talking about ENTRACO. It is most disheartening that ENTRACO has refused to evacuate the mountainous refuse on Douglas road despite repeated appeal for them to do so.

Whatever might be their reason for failing in this responsibility, they have put the residents of Owerri in danger list. I am therefore calling on Governor Rochas Okorocha to without further delay sack the General Manager of Imo ENTRACO, Mr. Jeff Nwoha for his negligence to duty.

 (Dr.) Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha

Nevertheless, if Okorocha fails to sack him, the people of Imo State will have no alternative than to hold him (Okorocha) responsible for that eyesore on Douglas road.

Also, to be sacked for incompetence is the Commissioner for Health,Barr. Mrs. Ngozi Njoku. It is most unfortunate that a trained medical doctor was not considered as commissioner for Health. Rather, a “Lawyer” was given that portfolio. No wonder, the so called “Lawyer” could not advice Governor Okorocha on the health hazards posed by that eyesore on Douglas road.

The House Committee Chairman on Health and Sanitation at the Imo State House of Assembly, Mr. Nkenna John Nzerue should be given hard knocks on his empty skull for failing in his responsibilities. It is expected that Speaker Acho Ihim will remove him as the chairman of the Health and Sanitation Committee, for his incompetence.

The member representing Owerri Municipal Council at the Imo State House of Assembly, Mr. Lugard Osuji should be blamed for failing to call those responsible for disposal of refuse to do the needful.

Also, to be blamed for the refuse dump on Douglas road is the Church, especially the Catholic Church. O yes, I am openly condemning the Catholic Church leaders because they have refused to do anything about the mountainous refuse on Douglas road, which is actually opposite St. Paul’s Catholic Church. One had expected the church leaders to have drawn the attention of Imo State Government on the threatening epidemic, but they have chosen to be aloof and indifferent to the eyesore that is opposite their church….JESUS MERE  HA  EBERE.

Finally, I am blaming the so called political leaders in the State, especially those with Governorship ambitions. They have refused to say anything concerning the refuse on Douglas road. This shameless attitude has exposed these so called leaders as people who do not have the welfare of the masses at heart.

The people of Imo State will therefore have no alternative than to resort to self help. What do I mean? At this juncture, let me call on Governor Rochas Okorocha to wave aside whatever that is inhibiting his leadership from evacuating that eyesore of a refuse on Douglas road and do the needful. People’s life is at stake. We cannot continue like this.

However, if the State Government fails to order ENTRACO to remove the refuse, I will have no alternative than to call on residents of Owerri to not only protest against ENTRACO by carrying placards, but to also come out in their thousands and dump refuse at their office.

LET SANITY RETURN IN IMO STATE.

Signed:

Citizen (Dr.) Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha FCAI, MKDA
Former Senior Special Assistant on Media
Former Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties
Imo State House of Assembly
Owerri – Imo State, Nigeria

Popular driver missing in Ikorodu

Mr Adelani Olanrewaju Adedeji of no 12, Ajenifuja CAC road, Benson bus stop Bayeku- Idunko, in Ikorodu area of Lagos state has been reported missing.

Adedeji popularly known as ‘angel mi’ was said to have left his house early Saturday July 23, 2016 between 4- 5.30 am to take a client to Idi- Iroko area of Ogun state from Bayeku. A driver by profession, Adedeji used to ply Ikorodu -Igbogbo- bayeku axis with his Mazda 323f car regularly and also used his car for charter outside his regular route.

His younger sister, Aderonke said Adedeji decided to venture into transportation when he couldn’t get a job after graduating from the University of Lagos. He was said to have started with a motorcycle before he became a car owner which he started using for transportation three years ago.

His fiancée, Bimbo said he got a call from one of his regular clients on Friday evening while they were taking fresh air in front of their house and Adedeji had instructed that she woke him up the next day around 4.am so as not to miss his appointment.

According to Bimbo, she woke him up around 4.am that faithful Saturday but Adedeji said he wanted to sleep some more. Bimbo said she dozed off and woke up around 5.30 am but her man was already gone.

“We were in front of the house because there was no light when his phone rang and from his response, my understanding was that the person on the other side wants to charter him outside Ikorodu. My suspicion was confirmed when he asked me to wake him up by 4.am the next morning that he would be taking a client to Idi-Iroko from Bayeku.

“I woke him up the next morning and he said he wanted to sleep for another hour and by the time I woke up around 5.30am to wake him so as not be late, he had left the house and that was when I started calling his line but till now, his number is switched off and he hasn’t returned.” Bimbo explained in tears.

On why she didn’t ask for the details of the client from Adedeji and why she didn’t report at the police station till four days after, she responded that it was not the first time he would travel like that and so didn’t feel it was necessary to ask for his clients’ details.

She stated further that, “Sometimes when he travels out of town and it is very late, he would call that he won’t be back till the next day. I initially thought it was a network problem when his line wasn’t connecting so I sent him a text message to call me. When I didn’t hear from him till the afternoon, I assumed he must have gotten to the border town and decided to wait for him to call. I had to inform his family when he didn’t show up the next day and after searching for him ourselves to no avail, we went to the police station on Tuesday but we were asked to come back to file a missing person’s report on Wednesday if he didn’t show up that day.”

Adelani Olanrewaju Adedeji is 40 years old, dark in complexion, about 5feet 10inches tall and very chubby in stature. He was said to be wearing a white, blue and red stripe shirt the morning he left his house. He drives a Mazda 323f car with registration number KRD 946 DV, ashes colour.

When the police public relations officer for Lagos state command was contacted, DSP Dolapo Badmos confirmed that a missing person’s case was reported at the Ikorodu police division and that investigation is ongoing to locate Adedeji’s whereabouts. DSP Badmos said all hands were on deck to find and reunite Adedeji with his family.   

LETTER TO SENATOR DINO MELAYE 

Dear Senator Dino Melaye,

I trust you had a safe trip back to Abuja after your ‘Show of Strength’ walk on Bourdillon road, Lagos.

I am writing in connection with the very exciting week you have had, specifically on the floor of the Senate where you got into a serious altercation with a fellow senator; Mrs. Remi Tinubu. In light of this development, I would like to offer you some unsolicited advice which I hope you will accept in good faith. I therefore suggest the following:

1. That you apologise to all Nigerian women 

 According to media reports, during a heated exchange between your good self and Senator Tinubu you threatened to beat her and ‘f……...K’ her up. This is totally unacceptable. You have since claimed that she called you a ‘Dog’ something which has not been corroborated by anyone else. However even if she did one is inclined to agree with her if you were threatening her! In attempting to defend yourself you further insulted women by referring to the fact that she was menopausal so you could not have threatened to rape her. How is the gynaecological status of your colleague any of your business, unless you intended to use it as an insult?

There have been calls for you to apologise to Senator Remi Tinubu. I believe you need to do that. However, she is not the only person you need to apologise to. You have to apologise to all Nigerian women for such a malicious and obscene attack on womanhood. You do not seem to realise it but, you have offended millions of wives, mothers and daughters. The husbands, fathers and sons who are hostile towards the idea of the women in their lives playing a role in politics will find themselves vindicated through these actions of yours.  What transpired on the floor of the Senate last week was not just a bad day at the office for the elected Senators; it was a terrible thing for Nigerians, especially women. Senator Dino, we will be expecting that unreserved apology.

2. You need to rebrand yourself.

The political sphere is broad enough to accommodate the brazen, the eccentric and the colourful; therefore I have no doubt that you fit in. However when people think of the name ‘Dino Melaye’ in Nigerian politics today, it is synonymous with negative controversy; brawling, sex scandals, reckless statements, allegations of domestic violence, distasteful flamboyance – an all-round bad boy image. You have all kinds of nicknames, ranging from ‘Shakiti Bobo, to Rofo Rofo Senator, to ‘Dino the Dinosaur’. Senator, are you sure you want these characterisations of you to become set in stone? Is this the brand you are comfortable with? We have many branding experts in Nigeria so I strongly suggest that you invest in them, perhaps they can help project you as an articulate, charismatic leader and social justice advocate who speaks truth to power but is mindful of his age, status, words and audience.  That is the brand that might take you to the next level. The brand you are stuck with now is one that brings diminishing returns. 

3. Show us your own ‘local product’.

Remember when you took Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State to task for using scarce foreign exchange to marry and import a ‘foreign product’? Well Senator, please show us your own ‘local product’. You should be entitled to privacy; however you lost that right when you decided to take an unhealthy interest in other people’s spouses. We know you have had a couple of misadventures when it comes to matters of the heart, but perhaps if you stopped beating your spouses or threatening other peoples spouses, your relationships would endure the test of time.

4. You might not need the blessings of women, but you should avoid their curses 

Regardless of where we stand on the ideological spectrum or the company we keep politically, our starting point is our humanity’. It is not alright to dehumanize people. Even if you cannot find it within yourself to respect women, you should at least think of the fact that your mother was or is a woman, and how you would feel if she is treated the way you treat women. If you keep treating women like second class citizens your political career will not end well. You might not need the blessings of women, but you should avoid their curses. A word is enough for the wise.

5. You should re-position yourself as a positive male role model

Senator, I am sure you will agree with me that our youth in Nigeria need positive role models. It is important for young people to be able to look up to both men and women for guidance, but it is even more powerful when young people can see themselves in role models of the same gender. We need our young men to have manners, and be polite, responsible citizens. We do not want to see our sons accused of beating their wives, or threatening their colleagues with sexual violence. The next time you feel like whacking one of your colleagues, please remember that young people might model themselves after you.

Finally Senator, I hope you will do what is necessary to prove that you are not a common thug, and also focus on your primary task of being a lawmaker in the Senate. Battles are commonplace in the political arena, and all kinds of weapons are deployed but the dignity of women should not be one of such weapons. I wish you all the best. 

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender Specialist, Social Entrepreneur and Writer. She is the Founder of Abovewhispers.com, an online community for women. She can be reached at BAF@abovewhispers.com

DINO MELAYE IS NOT ALONE

Like most Nigerians I woke up a few days ago to the news that Senator Dino Melaye had (within the grounds of the national Assembly) verbally threatened to beat up another senator; Mrs Oluremi Tinubu. I immediately recalled that a few years ago the ex-wife of Senator Melaye accused him of domestic violence. This was enough for me to tilt towards his being guilty of making the threat; after all if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is a duck!

While it might have shocked some people that the Senator would threaten to beat a fellow senator, I on the other hand was not at all shocked. In case you have not noticed, the victim is a woman, as a woman I have also been threatened more than a few times by men in the course of my job and personal life. It is actually a common threat made by African men when they fall out with a woman. And it is also code word for “I will rape you”.

However this incidence is unique because both parties are Senators of the Federal Republic. Threats of violence are usually and commonly levelled by such men against women thought to be their subordinate; unless of course Mr Senator sees himself as superior to Mrs Tinubu; something which I seriously doubt due to the intellectually deficient nature of his utterances.

Even in the course of attempting to deny that he ever threatened Mrs Remi Tinubu, Senator Dino Melaye again tried to belittle and debase her by talking about her inability to no longer reproduce! It is unfortunate that she has been further subjected to this kind of personal attack. Whether you agree with her husband’s politics or not, it is obvious that she is being bullied because she is a woman.

 What has shocked me is the lack of outcry from the National Assembly and from the people who voted for Senator Dino Melaye. If a female senator can be so belittled and insulted without any serious backlash then there is no hope for the ordinary woman. It is beginning to look like Senator Melaye was right when he said he would do it and nothing would happen. In most other sane countries Mr Senator would by now have been suspended or forced to apologise.

As we go about discussing and condemning Senator Dino Melaye’s recent antics let us not ignore the fact that he is not the only man in Nigeria who would beat his wife or threaten to beat a woman, or would use a woman’s biology to belittle her, it is a very common phenomenon and should be condemned wherever and whenever it occurs. I have two sons and I constantly educate them about the fact that real men do not go around threatening, beating or belittling women. Let us all talk to our sons, nephews and brothers so that we can break this toxic attitude towards women.