Many Sins of Sylva

From the first republic politicians to the present ones, I find it very difficult to pick one politician who has performed creditably well. Worse still, none of our elected officials have been severely punished for their crimes and failures to serve as a deterrent to others. Nigeria cannot continue this way. In no distant time, something will happen to check this anomaly.

Jonas Egem,

Owerri, Imo State.

Initially, I felt like glossing over the story as just another essay on a well-worn subject. But a couple of pictures and their captions caught my eyes and it would be inept for me not to comment. You captioned a pool of water as “Epie School Road: One of the 52 internal roads Sylva built” and another picture as “Five-Star Tower Hotel: Abandoned by Sylva.”As ex-commissioner for works and transport in Bayelsa State under Governor Sylva, I can say with authority that the choice of pictures/captions is either the mischievous work of a clearly biased and partisan person or one who is the antithesis of investigative journalism. The “52 roads Sylva built” (to use your term) are listed in “BAYELSA W&T,” a brochure published by the state’s ministry of works and transport at the end of my service and which was widely distributed to correspondents in Yenegoa. There is no such road listed therein. The 5-Star Tower Hotel was on the second floor in 2007, at the inception of the Sylva administration and sprang to the penultimate 17th floor by 2008, before the economic downturn stalled further progress.

Frank  Opigo,

Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

How Shell Funds Criminal Gangs In Niger Delta

Maureen Chigbo did a good job of the report. I am surprised at the activities of Shell in our country. I know Shell operates in other parts of the world in peace and tranquility but in Nigeria, it’s a different story, as Shell is the mastermind of crises in the Niger Delta. The company is not different from other multinational organisations in Nigeria and is not above the laws of the land.  It should be called to order.

Jide Owate,

Ajagba, Ondo State.

Your write-up shows the kind of leaders we have in Nigeria. Can any African company in America or Europe enjoy the co-operation of the home government to kill or destroy the source of livelihood of its citizens? My position is that all the reports, including the recent one by Platform, a London-based NGO, non government organisation, confirm Nigerian government guilty as charged. As long as the oil revenue continues to flow to the government officials, they won’t care a hoot about what happens to the hen that lays the golden egg. I am sure, with the events in Niger Delta and general insecurity and hardship in the country, many Nigerians are being emboldened by the revolution taking place in North Africa. One day, it will be our turn.

Stephen Asuquo Udoh,

Shomolu, Lagos State.

Jonathan’s Riot Act On Jos Crisis

Since President Jonathan’s assumption of office as president, many Nigerians have been brutally killed due to lack of security. One is at a total loss as to how secure Nigerians are under his administration. In saner climes, the leader of the country would resign honourably in the face of such colossal failure and waste of lives. Can one hope that Jonathan would somehow halt the wanton destruction of lives and property of Nigerians? History will take note of that.

Jonas Egem,

Owerri, Imo State.

Anarchy in the Temple Of justice

If Isa Ayo Salami, a high ranking judicial officer, could be so treated by the National Judicial Council, then one wonders how many Nigerians have  suffered  wrongly under our corrupt judicial system.

By the action of the National Judicial Council, one important council of justice as encapsulated in the principle of Magna   Carta, “we will sell to no man, we will not deny to any man, either justice or right,” has been broken.

Ndubuisi Onyenandu,

Enugu, Enugu State.