The leadership and Unhappiness among the citizenry

 The present administration in Nigeria insists that it  to anchors its policies on transparency, integrity and honesty.

For several years successive administrations in the country have failed to incorporate the aforementioned in the national life.
Rather, activities and actions have been channeled towards stagnancy, retardation and underdevelopment.
At the inauguration of boards and parastatals in Oyo state, on 24 June, 1999, the then Governor of Oyo state, Alhaji Lam Adesina, of blessed memory, stated : ”We took our time in ensuring that men and women of integrity and probity are chosen among innumerably qualified men and women. We don’t like to be proved wrong and this is why we implore you to rise up to the challenge and improve the lot in your work place.''
”We are very serious when we promised our people that probity and public accountability will be our watch word, most of the areas, you have been posted to, are afflicted and already grounded by financial impropriety and squandermania. We, as an administration have made covenant, with our people and we shall not renege on it”, Alhaji Adesina concluded.
Indeed, Nigerians are still wondering, if the present crop of political appointees at both the Federal and State levels would make probity and public accountability their watch word, considering the rot in the system. Interestingly, the appointees are yet to publicly declare their assets.
In 2009, the Day Star Christian Centre organized a conference, ”Excellence in Leadership”. In attendance, was the former Governor of Lagos state and former Minister of  Works and Housing., Babatunde Fashola, 

Fashola had emphasized the need for Nigerians to embrace the basic values of good conduct.
”By sowing for an early crop, the capacity to ‘lead’ particularly in our youths, we can guarantee this nation, a harvest of exemplary leaders that our people so dearly expect and indeed deserve”.
Without doubt, the country is in dire need of principled and visionary leaders. However, the absence of  people with good leadership qualities has for long served as a major impediment towards achieving developmental goals.
But the existence of principled and visionary leaders, seems to be a mirage, when confronted with the fact that most power brokers end up managing wayward children.

In the political scene, the Father continues to contend with issues of governance, while the Mother runs around to boost the fortunes of her pet project.

At the end of it all, the children grow up without parental care, with their behavior, similar to that of their Nannies and Teachers.

The ”World is yours” becomes their creed, while the state and its resources are at their beck and call. Indeed, transparency, integrity and honesty is not yet within reachable distance.

Safeguarding Lives and Property

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In July 2005, the then Inspector General of Police Mr. Sunday Ehindero put in place a committee to investigate the circumstances that led to the alleged killing of five Igbo traders and their female friend by some policemen at the Apo  mechanic village, Abuja on June 7 of the same year.

However, the committee was  headed by, Mike Okiro, then a Deputy Inspector General  of Police.

 

However the committee was dissolved by the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

 

The President hinged his decision on the fact that the Police could not be a Judge in its own case.

In addition, the President's action was predicated on the testimonies of a  photographer, hired by the Police in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) to take photographs of the lifeless bodies of the six Nigerians sent to their untimely graves. 

The photographer confessed that the police were responsible for the crime, as he stated that he saw the police bring guns and placed  by the side of the corpses of the six, to make them look like armed robbers, after which, the police ordered him to take their photographs.

 

The photographer further stated that, he could not believe his eyes, when he saw the Commissioner of Police of the Command, explaining to Nigerians that those killed were armed robbers, while making particular reference to the photographs. Such instances abound till today.

 

This development emboldened the President to put a stop to the Police investigation, to avert a situation whereby the outcome of the investigation would favour the Police.

 

Without hesitation, the President set up a Judicial Commission  of Inquiry to find out how the six were killed and the role of the police in the incident. 

 

Nigerians now realized that the action of the President, was an indication that he lacked confidence in the competence of  Ehindero, as Inspector General of Police.

 

Complainants are converted to accused persons at Police stations, when money exchange hands, just as criminals boast of their cordial relationships with compromised officers and rank and file of the force.

Corruption and inefficiency have become recurring decimals in the law enforcement agency, this has affected almost all senior officers, who have occupied the number one  position in the agency.

In this dispensation, Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief, when Ibrahim Idris assumed office as the Police Boss. They thought that they would soon begin to sleep with their two eyes closed This was not the situation, considering the manner the Police had handled several cases.

Sadly, for several years, there has been a disconnect between the IGP's office and the 36 state commands. This informed the establishment of special task forces by successive Inspectors General of Police to tackle crime nationwide.

Accusation of deprivation of funds and counter accusation of mismanagement of funds have characterized the relationship between the IGP's  office and the 36 state Police Commands.

Indeed, on issues bothering on corruption, the Police cannot be a Judge in its own case. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) is an anti-graft agency, with a number of policemen involved.

Indeed, the question of funding of the police still remains in the circle of administrative bottlenecks and the late release of funds by the Federal Government. Sabotage is now the order of the day. The insecurity in land addresses the question.

Of worry, is the communication lag between the office of the IGP and the Police Service Commission(PSC). The PSC is  not responsible for the appointment of the IGP.

Successive occupants of the IGP's seat have always been suspicious of any suggestion or advice emanating from  the commission.

Interestingly, some state governments, which are vigorously agitating for the establishment of state police, have taken advantage of the insecurity in the land to unleash terror on innocent citizens.

The predicament of the sole occupant of No. 3, Kehinde Aderibigbe street, Olorunsogo, Molete, Ibadan, Oyo state, is a good example.

Despite  writing  a petition title death threats to the Commissioner of Police and the assignment of the petition to the Monitoring unit, conspiracy remains the disturbing term.

Those a petition was written against have been emboldened by the conspiratorial attitude of the Police, to intensify threats, intimidation and attacks on the occupant.

Their major aim is to pervert justice. 

However, state police cannot fly, in an environment filled with political office holders bereft of ideology and principles.

Nigerians should not be deceived by the activities of some selfish and greed-driven citizens, who continuously discredit the present  centralization of the  police structure, in favor of sectional interests and design.

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Insecurity and the lack of due diligence

 Nigerians have expressed visible worries over the activities of criminals operating in commercial motorcycles, vehicles with tinted glasses, vehicles with foreign plate numbers, and vehicles without number plates.

They argue that most crimes in different parts of the country are committed through these motorcycles and vehicles and express surprise over the way the criminals beat the scrutiny of law enforcement agents along the road.

Innocent citizens who reside in Lagos, Ibadan, Benin City, Port Harcourt, Warri, Onitsha, Aba, Kaduna, Kano, and Abuja, among others, have continued to recount their tales of woe to whoever cared to listen.

Sadly, the law enforcement agents, saddled with the responsibility of ensuring law and order and the adherence to the road safety rules and regulations, have for long adopted a conspiratorial attitude, mainly because of the benefits that would accrue from aiding and abetting criminals.

Nigerians are now of the opinion that the laws of the land are either no longer functional or the law enforcement agencies are deliberately sabotaging the enforcement of the laws.

A victim of the worrisome state of insecurity in Ibadan, Nigeria, who spoke incognito, reveals his experience.

‘’There is a beer parlor opposite the Iyanganku Magistrate; it is among the several shops that share the same fence with the police barracks. A door inside the beer parlor leads into the barracks. Visit the beer parlor and observe those who patronize the beer parlor, and you will agree that those who break the law have the blessing of the persons whose statutory functions include the protection of lives and property, he stated.

The general feeling is that some criminally minded law enforcement agents make use of criminals as proxies in carrying out their statutory functions, which has resulted in the harassment, intimidation, and arrest of unsuspecting citizens.

Of worry is the adopted official status of lawlessness, indiscipline, and criminality in different parts of the country.

Indeed, illiteracy and ignorance have also contributed significantly to the scheme of things as presently constituted.

The mental psyche of millions of Nigerians has been dehumanized; this has resulted in unthinkable occurrences.

These occurrences have consumed a sizable chunk of those in charge.

The widespread, uninhibited prevalence of the lawless acts, to millions of Nigerians, is an indication that there is already a failure in leadership; with no visible remedy in sight for now.

Olorunsogo, Molete, Ibadan is among the several ungoverned communities in Oyo state.

Similarly, a harmless citizen has raised the alarm over death threats and continuous violent attacks on his person by hoodlums sponsored by family members.

In a letter titled DEATH THREATS addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Oyo state Police Command, the citizen (names withheld) stated, ''I humbly bring to your notice the death threats, I have been receiving from my brothers and sisters over our late father's house located at 3, Kehinde Aderibigbe street, Olorunsogo, Molete, Ibadan. On several occasions I have been attacked by hoodlums sent by my brothers and sisters. On all these occasions, I sustained serious injuries.''

Whoever, the petition was referred to the Monitoring unit of the state police command from the office of the Commissioner of Police on the 24th of April, 2026.

Sadly, after taking down the statement of the petitioner, the foot-dragging attitude of the Inspector in charge of the petition emboldened those who the petition was written against to intensify the threats on the petitioner's life.

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Crime Incorporated

 Most communities in Oyo state among other states in Nigeria have been overwhelmed by criminals, a significant number of whom are residents.
These criminals take time to observe happenings in these communities from shops, beer parlors, hotels, and abandoned buildings in these communities after which they facilitate heinous and grievous crimes.
In Molusi, Solanke, Oyegbami, Oshodi, Olorunsogo, Barracks, Aluko, Felele, and several other communities in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state, electricians, petty traders, barbers, commercial motorcycle operators, and mechanics and beer parlor operators secure accommodation for questionable characters, who no terrorize these communities.

Sadly, the Landlords and Tenants Associations in these communities know these criminals but overlook their criminal activities, perhaps because of the pecuniary benefits accruing to them. Although they ensure they facilitate the collection of night guards dues from residents with all vigor.
The outcome is the several unreported cases of crimes in these communities, while innocent residents continue to ponder over the constitutional roles of law enforcement agencies which seems to be non-existent.

In a society where justice and the rule of law prevails, the community leaders, members of the Landlords and Tenants Association, law enforcement agents(agencies), and residents of Olorunsogo, Molete, Molusi, Solanke, Oyegbami, Scout Camp,Aluko/Barracksand Felele communities in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria who sponsored hoodlums wielding stones, matchets, and iron rods to attack and injure a resident of 3, Kehinde Aderibigbe Street, Olorunsogo, Molete ought to be brought to justice.

Sadly, this is not the case.

In addition, those behind the vandalization and looting of 3, Kehinde Aderibiggbe Street, Olorunsogo, Molete are still walking the streets freely full of boasts and acting persistently with impunity. Why is this so? Perhaps, crime and criminality are now means to several ends for Those-in-Charge, who may have severed ties with the attributes of good and focused leadership.

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Nigerian Prisons, Inmates and Officials by Comrade Andrew Emelieze

 

It is no longer news that our correctional centers are in deplorable conditions. In reality, they function as punitive prisons rather than correctional centers—serving as places of torment, dehumanization, and corruption. The firsthand experiences of former inmates and prison inspectors prove that our so-called correctional centers have become hell on earth.

Our prisons are severely dilapidated, overpopulated, and plagued by poor feeding regimes and disease outbreaks. Prolonged awaiting-trial cases have led to extreme overcrowding, the rapid spread of infections like tuberculosis, a high population of sick inmates, and an alarmingly regular occurrence of inmate deaths. This health crisis exposes inmates to grievous danger and, by extension, compromises the safety of correctional officers, their families, host communities, and society at large. Our prisons have become breeding grounds for infectious diseases that will inevitably find their way back into the larger populace.

Inmates are subjected to unimaginably hostile conditions. The quality of prison feeding is a crime against humanity. Inmates sleep on bare floors, packed tightly together like slaves in the cargo hold of an underground slave ship. In overcrowded cells—particularly the category known as "sabo"—prisoners are forced to sleep on top of one another. Virtually every inmate suffers from one ailment or another, making the spread of illnesses a daily reality. The prevalence of tuberculosis in these facilities directly confirms our outcry.

One wonders if external bodies ever inspect these facilities. Anyone who has visited our prisons as an inspector, guest, or former inmate, and fails to expose this rot, lacks a conscience.

Furthermore, many citizens are detained on frivolous charges or simply because they cannot meet stringent bail conditions.

 In Nigerian prisons, it is common to find individuals awaiting trial for ten to fifteen years. A justice system that keeps citizens  awaiting trial locked up in hazardous conditions for over a decade is oppressive and indicts our entire judiciary. What is being done to these inmates is unjust and constitutes a crime against humanity. Today, a prison sentence in Nigeria is effectively a death sentence. Human beings should not be treated this way; a prison term should not be a double punishment. Surviving a Nigerian prison requires either a miracle or sheer luck. Given these horrific conditions, sentencing anyone to prison is a miscarriage of justice.

Our legal system and judiciary must be called to question. No just legal system should tolerate these hellish conditions. One wonders if judges, Chief Judges, and members of the judicial community ever visit these prisons. If they did, we are certain they would decry these conditions and hesitate to sentence anyone to these facilities. Prison terms in Nigeria focus entirely on punishment rather than rehabilitation. This is a national embarrassment, especially when compared to prison management in civilized countries. The Nigerian government owes a profound apology to all current and former inmates.

To this end, the Federal Workers Forum calls for:

Justice and Reparations: We demand justice and compensation for abused inmates.

Immediate De congestion: We call for a general amnesty to de congest overcrowded prisons.

Prerogative of Mercy: Inmates awaiting trial for over five years should be granted immediate pardons. They have already served prison time without being found guilty or convicted.

Abolition of Capital Punishment: All death sentences should be commuted to life imprisonment.

Speedy Trials: No awaiting-trial inmate should spend more than one year in custody without their trial being concluded. There must be a strict statutory time limit for every trial to prevent a miscarriage of justice.

Welfare of Correctional Officers and Paramilitary Staff.

Our attention has also been drawn to the poor welfare conditions of correctional officers. Aside from receiving meager remuneration, major allowances due to them are withheld. More painfully, officers are compelled to use their personal funds from their small salaries to purchase their own uniforms, desert boots, official belts, rank badges, and other kit items. It is unacceptable that federal workers are forced to self-fund four different uniforms a week out of their meager pay. This practice we were made to understand persist amongst the paramilitary outfits under the Federal Ministry of Interior.

Furthermore, credible information indicates that correctional officers writing the current promotion interviews were forced to contribute ₦10,000 each for the "welfare" of their examiners. Similarly, officers of the Federal Fire Service are allegedly being extorted to the tune of ₦25,000 each to sit for promotion examinations.

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