By Dele Sobowale

“Wise skepticism is the first attribute of a good critic” – James Russell Lowell, 1819-1891.

When the new  acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, first ordered the numerous police check-points, nationwide, to be dismantled, few people believed him. To be candid, I never did; and for good reason. Every IGP since Babangida’s administration, had announced that those illegal and shameless toll gates be removed – without success.

Not only did his predecessors fail; they knew they failed because there was no former IGP who also did not travel Nigerian roads in uniform and in mufti. And they saw their orders being routinely violated. As a frequent traveler on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, I had observed as top police officers, traveling the road with me, drove through the nine to ten check points on that road – without pausing to reprimand the “boys” manning the corrupt collection points.

They were satisfied when allowed to jump the queue of vehicles held up and to receive the mocking salutes of the officers doing brisk business.

The mystery concerning the checkpoints was solved years ago when IBB announced the creation of the posts of Assistant Inspector of Police, AIG. Working in North Brewery Limited, Kano, at the time, I was naturally sitting in a popular hotel, situated at Niger Road, in Sabon Gari when the new appointments to that exalted position were named.

One, like the rest, was a former state Commissioner of Police, CP, whose state was one of the most notorious for toll gates. But, when he received his new appointment, the first announcement he made was “check points and corruption will no longer be tolerated in this zone”.

The IGP, at the time, also made similar announcements. An off-duty sergeant drinking with us cracked into loud peels of laughter –which attracted everybody’s attention. Asked what was the reason; he pointed at the television and the AIG, who was still declaring his intention to fight corruption in the force and said.

“No mind the man, I worked with him in two states when he was DPO. He was the one assigning us to the check points and he gave us a target for collection. You will be withdrawn if you fail for three days to reach the target – especially during Christian and Muslim festivals”.

Every IGP invariably had risen from the ranks of toll collectors, bribe takers and extortionists. So, it was understandable why nobody believed Abubakar. The attitude was “we have heard that stuff before, what’s new?” Unlike most Nigerians, however, I was prepared to give the benefit of doubt for one reason. Every nation, USA, Britain, Russia, China etc had at one time, in its history, corrupt police officers; and all nations still have them.

But, at one time or another, one man had come up who was determined to change the system. The question in my mind was, “Is Abubakar the man we have been waiting for?” The next question followed naturally from the first, namely, “How would we know if progress is being made?” I provided the answer to the second question myself; somebody or some people must travel all the zones of Nigeria to observe if the order was being obeyed or flouted as in the past. Well wonders never cease.

Since Abubakar gave the order, I have personally covered fifteen (15) states of the Federation without encountering any check points – except border joint check points involving the police and the army. My latest trip took me all the way to Bakasi LGA, or what is left of it, in Cross River. After flying into Owerri (for reasons soon to be explained), I went on the road through Mbasie to Umuahia and from there to Ikot Ekpene; to Uyo; Itu, Calabar to Bakasi.

I spent an afternoon in Owerri; chartered a taxi to drive down the Owerri-Elele; Owerri-Onitsha and Owerri-Aba roads. These are the areas most congested with toll gates in Nigeria. There was none… PEACE, AT LAST, IN IMO, ABIA AND AKWA IBOM STATES

In 2010, Imo, Abia and Akwa Ibom  the arc of evil in Nigeria. The last two years leading to the 2011 elections had stressed the people living in those three states to the limit of endurance. Kidnapping, assassinations, arson and intimidation, politically motivated, had reduced the states to no go areas. Night life became nightmare and the twenty to thirty per cent contribution, which evening commercial activities made to the states GDP dried up. The major cities and towns in each state became ghost towns after 7 p.m.

There was insufficient time to spend the night at Umuahia and/or Aba on this trip. I hope to return. But, I spoke to friends, known since 1975, in Abia state and the reports demonstrate that Governor Theodore Orji, “Ochendo”, had exorcised the evil political spirits terrorizing the people of God’s own State.

In fact, Governor Orji represents the exception to one rule I hold passionately. He is the first example, known to me, in which a politician improves in stature by joining the PDP from another party. But, I withhold final judgment until I spend nights in Abia state.

GOD BLESS OWELLE ROCHAS
With regard to Imo State and its governor Owelle Rochas, there can be no doubt that peace and security of lives had returned to Imo state. Owerri was, until three years ago, the second most civilized city in the South East and by far the most peaceful and secure.

All that changed from 2009 until the elections last year. Who was not assaulted or insulted by Ohiakim? He came to Lagos and his people assaulted an innocent woman taking her kids to school for not getting out of the way of the demagogue’s convoy fast enough. A critic was reportedly taken to government house and brutalized and even a Catholic priest felt the lash of the megalomaniac in government house at Imo. But, most of all, people were mortally afraid – even behind locked doors.

Rochas has changed everything. I was out, naturally with some Area Boys, until 2 a.m. And still people were on the streets. Hot spots which would shut down by 8 pm in 2010 were busy doing business.

Owerri, a formerly dead city, had come back to life. Thanks, Owelle. More than thanks, God bless Rochas for restoring freedom and hope.

“Independent Power Producers Up in Arms”. That was THISDAY of May 16, 2008. At the time, Professor Bart Nnaji, was the CEO of Geometric Power Limited, and leader of private power producers. According to the report, “The key contentious issue is that the off-take price of N2.80 per kilowatt hour would be unprofitable for most of them”.

So, we have as Minister for Power someone who stands to benefit from higher tariffs which will increase hardship on Nigerians ably supported by his “brother” Dr Amadi of NERC, under whom tariff had gone up twice despite atrocious service delivery. Syndicate?

Now, we have a major stakeholder in independent power supply in charge of power. The Professor is so comical, he does not even know that as far back as April 2009, Jonathan, then Vice-President, and Chairman of the National Integrated Power Project Steering Committee, was already promising Nigerians 6,000MW of electricity by December 2009. He goes about beating his chest about 4,000 MW which is not even stable. Is it incompetence or sabotage? Judge for yourself.