02 Mar 2004 |
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| Dear Prof Nnaji, Thank you for your MEMO to Nigerians in Diaspora about this issue of ministerial dollar salary payments. It is good to hear from those of you who've served our nation before and who clearly know what the problems are; but whether you know what the solutions are is quite another matter. In any case, on this very matter, I will have to pick issues with you, not only because of what you wrote and the cynical and hazardous assumptions you're making; but because of the danger your present-day stance poses for the future of democracy and rule of law in our country. Now, isn't it funny that in all this enlightenment and wisdom you've brought to us, you found no space for the simple principle of obeying the law? Okay, you served under Abacha, but shouldn't we breath free of that kind of over-constipated view of life that got us here in the first place? Your message is terrible and I'll tell you why. Let us start with simple commonsensical issues. According to you: "This petition was supposed to inquire why UNDP's funds tend to be public while the one established in collaboration with the Nigerian government to support the Ministers was shrouded in secrecy". Did you read The Guardian report? If you did, you would have found a link to the Petition page. In fact, the link and the text of the Petition are available all over the place that it would be almost criminal to say you haven't seen it. But let me say I believe you; why would you be commenting on something you haven't read, Professor? It is not your place to dwell on rumours and react so 'robustly' to them! Why put pen to paper, or, should we say hit the keyboards without your facts, when these facts are a click away? It can only mean one thing - you assume that those you're addressing are some impressionable schoolboys or girls who will accept bull from anyone, once the title is right. Secondly, how did you come about this information about those who're behind the debate? Hear yourself: "We should be made aware that the ongoing debate is orchestrated by people who are frustrated that the holes that allow for corruption are being plugged. This orchestration is using all of you in Diaspora to appear to be supporting an inquiry into why differential pay should be made to the two Ministers" So, where did you get this information? You must think that those of us who spend our time jaw-jawing about Nigeria and the sorry pass people like you and your colleagues have put her are downright crazy, don't you? You think we enjoy criticizing your excesses and wondering when we are going to get things right? Well, while evidently you and your mates enjoy taking Nigeria to the dogs, we don't like having to walk the plank to get her back, not because we are afraid of your terrifying powers, but because we know our country shouldn't have been in that position in the first place. In spite of your protestations to the contrary, YOU KNOW YOUR MEMO IS A DISSERVICE TO NIGERIA, BECAUSE YOU'RE LYING THROUGH YOUR TEETH, PROFESSOR! Those of us who're behind this know exactly how it started and we are not going to let you rewrite history to suit your mercantile whims! Of course, we've always expected the fight back, but we didn't know it would be this cheap. And now to the substantive issue of your MEMO, what was that long-winded story about Brigadier-General Ovadje for? Okay, to tell us "for a fact that the UNDP establishes special funds that target special initiatives in specific countries"? But, who's making that an issue here? Why this special straw man? Of course, the UNDP establishes special funds that target special initiatives in specific countries, BUT DID IT ESTABLISH THE NIGERIAN DIASPORA TRUST FUND TO PAY DOLLAR SALARIES TO SUPER MINISTERS? Of course, you don't know, and you said so! Hear yourself once more: "I have not checked whether this fund exists or not because that is beside the point". Beside the point you say? Wonderful! So what is the point if this Fund that is supposed to be the cash cow for the Super Ministers does not exist? What is the point if we can't be scandalized that our government got so desperate as to rope in the innocent UNDP when it was caught with its pants down? Go, tell Annan or the UNDP Administrator that it's beside the point and please return here to inform Nigerians their response. What callousness! Prof, your sense of morality is becoming questionable! Until you've done the homework of finding out, stop dragging the honourable name of General Ovadje into this gist. I'm sure you've heard of apple and oranges, coconut and paw-paw, and so on and so forth; go on, compare them! Listen, the UNDP is a phone call away; so do yourself justice and be informed. Your story on Ovadje and responsible and verifiable UNDP special funds is what they call in simple English a DIVERSION; it won't wash. You're hanging on to the coattails of decent and honourable UNDP efforts in known areas to launder this very smelly stuff. Won't wash, can't wash. And hear you trying to play the saviour this late in the day: "It has become necessary to let our people in Diaspora know that the whole differential pay discussion is really about Nigerians living abroad and whether they should be allowed to participate in national development, and if they should be allowed, how the process would occur". You are mixing up two different things here - the "differential pay" is barefaced lawlessness. Yes, the issue of how to attract Nigerians living abroad to participate in national development should be a genuine debate which requires government to show sincerity, engage these Nigerian professionals in Diaspora, especially those we really need, in genuine discussions, reach an agreement, and if the law will have to be amended to bring to fruition what's agreed upon, I'm sure Nigerians will be all for it. But no, Prof Nnaji will lead the lawless brigade to assault our sensibilities with poisoned carrots! Prof, let me end this by making a brief comment on your recommended ThisDay article. Assuming all you've said there is true and reasonable, is it not more reasonable for people like you and those so concerned about the status and needs of expert Nigerians abroad to come together and prevail on the government and the National Assembly to make the necessary laws that will make it possible for your ideas to come to fruition for the good of our motherland, rather than engage in or support this attempt to run roughshod over existing and prevailing laws and browbeat the rest of us into silence in the bargain? Your attempt, Sir, to make a case for this incredulous infraction is akin to putting the cart before the horse! No self-respecting expert worth his/her salt should feel good to wallow in lawlessness; and, note this as well, no self-respecting member of the international community you're angling to attract will touch you with a barge pole if they know your position is gained by tearing up your Constitution! Whatever distinction you aim to project between the position of a Minister and that of the President, do not conveniently forget that being a Minister is not a contract job, nor is it one in which you're expected to tout your status or credentials for pay. Therefore, your relativist argument, to say the least, is a damp, damp squib. The surest way to achieve progress; to achieve all you've dreamed up in that piece is through the law. If you can't do that, don't try badmouthing those of us that object. It's either we are a country of law or of beasts! So, the bottom line is this - each individual involved has a choice - a choice to accept to serve under the prevailing legal regime or seek to change the law to meet their special needs. If neither is possible, there's still that choice to say, "No, thanks!" Nigeria will not disappear for two experts that got away. Finally on this point, I note that in spite of your claim that you're yet to know whether there's indeed UNDP involvement in the Fund; your piece in ThisDay is staunchly premised on the belief that it's true! How come? Please, do the right thing first - find out! Find out the truth before preaching crude privatization of governance to those who are weary of eternal glibness from men like you we should otherwise be looking up to. Prof, as I see it, you need a little more enlightenment. So, to help you on your way, I'm sending you a copy of the Petition. If you still have a conscience after reading, think of the future of all those Nigerians who've passed under you as students, take yourself to the Petition page and sign! ALL WE ARE DOING IS ASKING FOR INFORMATION! Aren't you interested in finding out; rather than continually bathe yourself in esteem-damaging contradictions? Like you, we are all free to take any side in the debate and still remain credible; but unlike you, we want to hear from the horse's mouth. We don't bite, you know? Yours sincerely, Kennedy Emetulu -------------------------------------------------------------------- PS: Below is the link, if you feel like signing: http://www.petitiononline.com/UNDP/petition.html By the way Prof, honest advice, stick to the tech job; spin-doctoring isn't the good for you, as you yourself can see! CHEERS! Dear Reader, Some of you may wonder why I’ve adopted the tone I did in response to the erstwhile esteemed Professor, so I guess I owe you an explanation. It simply boils down to this – when those you look up to start uttering bull, it’s safer to let them know immediately so that everyone knows what he or she is dealing with. It is obvious that this is the beginning of the government’s fight back against our honourable motive, so it’s safe to say without mincing words that the Prof is speaking with his masters’ voice. Please note that I did not bother asking him if he was paid in dollars when he served Abacha or if his salary was any different from those of his former cabinet colleagues, because that is irrelevant; as the law in question, including the Constitution, came after his time. But he’s chosen to impute dishonourable motives to what we are doing, coming out with all guns blazing, trashing truth left, right and centre and presenting himself and those he’s serving as those thinking about a better future of service for those of you in Diaspora. But you are not dead; you are living witnesses to the shallow and insincere attempt by this government to involve Nigerian professionals in Diaspora in the early days of the administration through what the President christened, Project Greater Nigeria. Some of you went to the meets in America and Europe; but then what became of it all? Were you the reason why that failed? Are you supportive of an attempt to trash the Constitution and the laws of our land in thy name? Are you convinced this whole thing is for your own good? Take the time, relax, and think about it, then make up your own mind. As for me, all I owe the enemies of democracy, good and accountable governance in our land is one silent bullet, and that does not scare me one bit. What scares me is to compromise truth in a bid not to step on toes. Kennedy Emetulu, London
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