"So Vizuum, the difference between us, engineers, and medical doctors is that we we ensure standards of structures in order to prevent loss of lives while the doctors sometimes rely on postmortems in order to prevent further deaths". That was Sani, a friend of mine during our NYSC days. The recent collapse of the 21-storey building in Ikoyi, Lagos, prompted me to recall my conversation with Sani, whose claim could be valid in many places in the world but definitely not Nigeria. How long will buildings continue to collapse before we get it right? There are magnificent buildings in many parts of the world that have outlived four centuries and yet were built by people who had not gone to school. Nigeria's case is a lot different because we prefer to cut corners. In the last 16 years over 150 buildings collapsed in Lagos State alone. I believe that of SCOAN which claimed nearly 200 lives is still fresh in our memory. The recent Ikoyi building collapse killed 45 people. I should also mention that shortly after the collapse of prominent Ikoyi building, another one fell down too but it didn't claim any lives, something we could call a "minor collapse" since we are already used to it. The owner of the building was also found in the rubble and that, to me, also signifies a sense of closure on the matter. But, we may pause to ask, who else is culpable? there are those who went ahead with the building of the storey building even when the initial contractors washed their hands off the project, people at the Ministry of Town Planning/Urban Development, dealers and manufacturers of substandard building equipment etc.
The Lagos State Governor appointed a six-man committee to investigate the immediate causes of the collapse and report back in 30 days. But we already know the drill because, as other previous cases, it will end up under the carpet. I do not mean to be pessimistic, I would rather prefer that focus on the future. To see that standards are met and all needed certifications are given before a structure is completed otherwise everything will boil down to politics.
On politics, although the Anambra Gubernatorial election has come and gone, I believe there are still lessons for us to learn, particularly for those in the south-east who have a plan of projecting a Presidential candidate in 2023, having been "marginalized" for long. First, it seems voter apathy has now been ingrained in the political culture of the Igbos, else, what would justify a tithe-turnout of total registered voters? Let's not blame it on IPOB this time because they had lifted their legs off the 'stop' button of the election. Barely 241,000 people came out to vote in a state that has over 2.4 million registered voters. I believe politics is still a game of numbers otherwise Soludo wouldn't have won. The good thing is that that election was not so much a function of financial inducement as it were in other states. Here's an opportunity for Soludo's first-class to come to bear in his home State.
Soludo shouldn't embezzle resources meant for the people and smilingly get away with it as Abdularashid Maina did. Maina, one of the famous actors in Nigerian courtrooms, was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment for stealing 2 billion naira meant for civil servants who gave their best for the nation. Note that he might be going to a furnished cell with access to almost everything he needs. For me, I feel 8 years for 2 billion is too mild a punishment but it just speaks of a legal system that is too weak for the strong and too strong for the weak.
That's the kind of law that keeps BH, now ISWAP, going ahead in their atrocities. Last week a Brigadier General and three others killed by ISWAP in Askira Uba of Borno State. We were told that some of the ISWAP fighters were neutralized but not how much. Could that be the new style of reporting of terrorism? I think all those soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the north east should be immortalized in some way.
A new Vice-Chancellor for the University of Jos was appointed last week. Prof Tanko Ishaya now succeeds a bulldozer, Prof. Sabastine Maimako and we sincerely hope he would take Unijos to higher heights. Also, new President for Church of Christ in Nations ( COCIN) was elected, in the person of Rev. Dr. Amos Mohzo. It would seem that Plateau is opening up itself, once again, for national integration.
Let me leave you with a quote from the PRO of the bandits, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi: "Nigeria should use billions of naira spent on ammunition to build schools for bandits".
Me: Schools like 'Bandits Comprehensive Academy'? Just kidding but let me know your take on the matter.
See you next week!
#FreeLeahSharibu
#SecureNigeria
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