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THISDAY, THe SATurDAY NewSpAper • MARCH 26, 2016
PERSPECTIVE
TheChangeMantra:APleaforUnderstanding
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Isiaka Adeleke here is nothing more difficult to carry out, not more doubtful of success, not more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things. The reformer has enemies in all those who profited from the old order and only lukewarm defenders in all those, who would profit through the new order. This lukewarm arises, partly from the incredibility of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new, until they have actually experienced it. It is in this situation, that President Muhammadu Buhari, found himself when he came on the scene, on May 29, 2015, when Nigeria progress was at its lowest ebb. But the Daura-born politician, was determined to go the whole hog of making Nigeria an Eldorado, no matter what. Only an administrator with the heart of steel and grim resolve could accomplish such feat. Setting out to achieve his avowed goals, expectedly met with resistance from those, who profited from the old order of doing things in Nigeria. To the glory of God, President Buhari has opened up Nigeria to certain level of socio-economic development. One of the most important decisions for those in authority is defining the roles of their personal staff and those in the cabinet. No general rules can be laid down, because no game plan will work unless you have the players to carry it out. An official or staff member is not useful to the President or Governor because of the position he occupies, but because of the qualities he brings to it. Cabinet members at all level of government, should have strength, loyalty as well as brain to understand, that it is their onerous responsibilities to represent the President to the bureaucracy and not the other way round. Sometimes, Ministers or Commissioners with unquestionable loyalty to their bosses, could unwittingly become captive of their civil servants also. If what Buhari told us on May 29, 2015 is anything to go by, government cannot be business as usual. I want to state further, that politics in business is science, whereas, politics in government is an art. Even the strongest-willed businessman or contractor, will become lily-livered or chicken-hearted in the hands of skilled bureaucrats, who are masters at buttering up the bosses. For one thing, All Progressive Congress (APC) is a disciplined and organized party, that conducts its affairs with absolute decorum and high sense of responsibility. It is therefore, to the glory of God, that President Mohammed Buhari was elected to take Nigeria out of economic woods and give her citizens, real value for their lives. Buhari has for long sent out the signals,
Adeleke that he means business to provide the right leadership at the centre, with a view to solving her multi-faceted problems, using the country’s endowed abundant human and natural resources, just as he shook his head in disappointment, when in 1984 he got to Agbabu, in the course of his official tour of the old Ondo State as Military Head of State, and saw bitumen oozing out “annoyingly” without being put to advantageous use. The situation remains so, even today. This important natural resources should be forthwith exploited. Over to you Dr. Kayode Fayemi. He has come a long way to be elected President. His watchwords are transparency and accountability in the conduct of government affairs. In his twenty months as Military Head of State, he ensured financial prudence, religious harmony, security of lives and properties, because he had the strong will to do so. Buhari sees religion of whatever persuasion, as an avenue to be a good human being, as against what his detractors would want the public to believe, that he is against a particular religion. President Buhari is a principled politician, whose nationalistic zest and zeal cannot be negotiated. Believing in him, a little girl who was nine-year old, endorsed him in Lagos, during the campaign and donated her personal savings of N9, 000 to his campaign. If such a little girl could believe in the President’s ability, no one should be left behind in giving fullest support to his change mantra. Nigeria is presently on the throes of economic strangulation, caused by uncaring leaders in the past. Leaders that has inflicted a lot of unwarranted economic hardship on the voiceless majority. We
are still trudging on today, because Nigerians are resilient and long distance runners. General Muhammed Buhari, together with other patriots in All Progressive Congress are already breathing a fresh air into our lives since May 29, 2015. Despite various hurdles placed on his ways by his predecessor, Buhari has remained undistracted from his set goals of giving excellent services to Nigerians and Non-Nigerians alike. But as a saying in Yoruba goes, “an enemy does not kill a fat grasscutter-literally translated – “ta ni, ki ipa odu ya”. President Buhari as the proverbial cat with nine lives, is pragmatic and full of wisdom, to make life more abundant for the generality of Nigerians. Every human being is fallible. There is no perfect being, except God Almighty. But we learn through our mistakes to evolve with better attitudes. Buhari’s detractors, should not live in illusion, that he is a spent force in the political firmament. The President has since 1984, remain as constant as a shining star, refusing to quit the stage, when it is glaring, that even without a war-chest, President Muhammed Buhari made it to the presidential seat. At the loss of any presidential contest, he withdrew to his arsenal to re-strategise. He is what we call in Osun State, a QUINTESSENTIAL OMOLUABI, ready to identify with those living below the poverty line and give them succor, through meaningful and populist welfare programmes in its totality. Buhari is a remarkable personality in his own right. His political acumen, sagacity, brilliance, wisdom, knowledge and understanding of Nigeria problems know no bounds. President Buhari, is no doubt facing the challenges, that the likes of Mathama Gandhl, Abraham Lincoln, Wiston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkwema passed through in their quest, to serve their people when it mattered most. But just as these great nationalists surmounted their problems and emerged their countries great leaders, Buhari will perform excellently and write his name in gold in Nigeria hall of fame. Between President Buhari and patriotic Nigerians, it is a bond forever. A bond, that will see Nigeria returning to the enviable path of greatness. A country where basic infrastructures, shall be taken for granted. That time has come for us all to give Buhari, the opportunity to give his best to us. We cannot afford to miss the golden chance. All leaders of men, whether political figures, all of those who can get the best out of others, have identified themselves with high ideals, and this has given added scope and strength to their influence. Followed in their lifetime, because they stand for greatness of mind, rather than self interest, they are later remembered for the usefulness of what they have achieved and for the sake of their endeavours. Nigerians should be very patient with Buhari. I remember a story of a commercial cab driver and his passengers, who were on a journey from Lagos to Ibadan. A journey of one hour. However, the cool and calm driver was making the journey on a steady speed of 100
kilometers per hour. But the impatient passengers kept complaining, that he was too slow. On getting to Sagamu after 30 minutes drive, the passengers requested the driver to take them back to Ojota Park in Lagos, for a driver who could drive them at a speed of 180 kilometers per hour. They got one. But before getting to Ogere, the suicidal driver crashed the vehicle and all of them lost their lives. President Buhari is the driver on seat of the Nation’s ship. He is driving us slowly and steadily, so as to take us to the promised land of prosperity safely. He should not be stampeded to rush the affairs of the nation, for slow and steady wins the race. Buhari will take the ship of the nation to a safe shore. As the Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market, I found it compelling, that a lot needs to be done to make the capital market very effective. The need to attract new listings to address the shallow status of the market cannot be ignored. This stems from paucity of tradable shares in the market. It is regrettable to note that less than 2% of the registered companies in Nigeria were quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange right now, even though the Exchange was established in 1961. Today Singapore had over 500 (established in 1979), Kuala Lumpur 757 (established in 1973), Hong Kong 695 (established in 1986) and Istanbul over 900 (established in 1986). They were all established over 13 years after Nigeria, and all emerging economies. Today there are less than 250 listed companies on the Nigeria stock Exchange. We shall strive as members of Senate Committee on Capital Market, to ensure that more viable companies in Nigeria, particularly the telecommunication giants are listed in the Stock Exchange. Buhari is making tangible efforts to develop good personal relationship with members of the National Assembly. He is forging a good rapport to make the three arms of government succeed in their different constitutional duties without interference, as against what is been said in some quarters. Buhari has been using his constitutional power wisely and effecting the right changes in all spheres of our endeavours, so as to give us the much needed economic prosperity. President Buhari should know, that he has a purpose larger than himself and he should pursue them without hesitation. Win or lose, he will have the ultimate satisfaction of knowing, that he did not stand on the sidelines, when others were making decisions, affecting his fate and that of his country. –– Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke is the first democratically elected governor of Osun State and Chairman, Senate Committee nn Capital Market
POLITY
Carex Chemistry Challenge Winners Visit PZ Cussons
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iding on the success of the third edition which climaxed last December, PZ Cussons Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to nurture the winners in industrial chemistry by taking them on a facility tour of the company’s Lagos administrative office in Ilupeju, and the factory at Ikorodu. The four finalists of the 2015 PZ Cussons Carex Chemistry Challenge who went on the tour were Anthony Ekene Ike-Okoro of Top Grade Secondary School, Surulere, Wajud Kareem and Samuel Joseph, both of Abibat Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School, Agege, and Jude Nnaemeka Chineke of Great Esteem Secondary School, Surulere. The students were accompanied on the tour by Mr John Nna Odinibe and Mr Tolulope Joseph Odusanya, both
Chemistry teachers. Mr Christos Giannopoulous, Chief Executive Officer of PZ Cussons Nigeria, alongside the Corporate Affairs Director, Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti, welcomed the students and their teachers to the organisation and also congratulated them on their emergence as finalists of the rigorous competition. Giannopoulous said: “I congratulate you on your success at the just concluded chemistry challenge. The company is focused on chemistry because of its importance to the society. I particularly salute your courage and enthusiasm to study chemistry and I hope in the nearest future you will be working in the corridors of this organisation and making an impact.” The group was received at the PZ Cussons Group training centre by Mr Pieter Stroek, Head of Research, Development and Innovation, who
conducted them round the laboratories, while Mr Alex Goma, Managing Director, Family Care, encouraged the students to pick up some other skills while on internship with the company to help them become better in terms of management, organisation and accountability. At the Ikorodu factory, Mr Fred Omoiya, Administrative Manager, explained to the group basic safety precautions and emergency procedures of the organisation before they were guided around the factories. On his thoughts about the facility tour IkeOkoro, the 2015 grand prize winner, expressed satisfaction with the tour. “I want to thank PZ Cussons for this wonderful opportunity and I hope the competition will spur other students to take Chemistry and other science subjects seriously.” Kareem, the first runner-up, said: “I really enjoy
the experience; the factories, the machines and the way they work is really breath-taking. This tour of PZ Cussons’ facility has enlightened me and with this I hope it will engineer my enthusiasm.” Joseph, who finished in third place in the competition, expressed his readiness for the internship, while Chineke graciously said: “I am very delighted with the experience of this facility tour and it has further boosted my confidence in the pursuit of my career.” As part of its commitment to reach out to everyone, not just secondary school students, Carex, the competition’s sponsor, instituted an online challenge that is open to all individuals residing or working in Lagos State. Entry is absolutely free and the quiz is not strictly based on Chemistry. The online challenge will run monthly until April, this year and two winners will emerge every month.