By This Time Next Week By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Fellow Nigerians, this is the time to celebrate, the long awaited change that we`ve patiently waited for is finally here. Even though our celebration seems to be taunted by the ongoing fuel scarcity, but there is no reason to panic. The type of transformation we see today, we shall see no more.

You see, as it stands now, Nigeria seems to be on hold. We are in a dormant stage, like we do not have a president in place and a leader to direct our affairs. And as the looming fuel scarcity goes on, it is logical not to expect a meaningful end to the scarcity not until the inauguration of a new administration is over.

 No one in the presidency has “convincingly” told us what we need to know about the continued scarcity and how they tend to resolve it as soon as possible. It`s quite obvious that President Jonathan no longer feels concerned about whatsoever befall us, even though he never did in the last five years. But by this time next week, it is expected that the story would have changed. A President is expected to be in place and the government shall be on his shoulder. He is the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.  He is expected to tell us what we need to know about the looming fuel subsidy and put a lasting solution to this failure of government. May be this is exactly the right time to let go of subsidy. Well this is not the topic for today but for another day.

Can We Bring Back “War Against Indiscipline”? By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

In March 1984, a military decree enacted “War Against Indiscipline”, sometimes called WAI, supported by General Muhammadu Buhari and General Tunde Idiagbon. The program's intention was to instil public morality, social order, civic responsibilities in Nigerians, and promote Nigerian nationalism.

One of the objectives of WAI was the encouragement of customers and citizens to line up to board buses and mostly line up or queue for high demand services. Other objectives included the encouragement of women to train their wards, as the culture then considered child raising a predominantly female skill and proper home training would groom future disciplined adults.

The second objective was to encourage hard work, which was introduced in May 1984. This objective like many others was buoyed by the use of government owned media.

While the third and fourth phases focused on patriotism and eradicating economic sabotage and corruption. In July 1985, the General Buhari administration launched environmental sanitation as the fifth phase of the program.

Our Judicial System Is Absurd, The Morbidity Is Becoming Unbearable By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

After my article last week, I had in mind to write on a totally different topic this week. But after a Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State, on Thursday, 30th April, 2015, sentenced Michael Igbinedion, to a six-year jail term or an option of paying N3 million for a N25 billion money laundering related offences, I was forced to write this.

Two convicts and four companies were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), before a Federal High court in Benin, Edo State, on an eighty-one (81)-count charge of money laundering during the tenure of Lucky Igbinedion the ex-governor of Edo State.

The two convicts were Michael Igbinedion, a younger brother of the former governor of Edo State and Patrick Eboigbodin an aide to the erstwhile governor.

Justice A.M. Liman who delivered the verdicts, found Michael Igbinedion guilty of three charges on counts 79, 80 and 81 and was sentenced to 6 years jail. By calculation, that`s 2 years each for the three counts he was found guilty of, or an option of paying N1 million each for the three offences. While Patrick Eboigbodin was found guilty of ten charges on counts 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 and was sentenced to 20 years jail. By calculation that`s 2 years each for the 10 offences, but without an option of fine.