Nigeria: Claimants Of 10,000 Public Service Jobs Vs. Imo State Govt. Etc.

IN THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COURT OF NIGERIA HOLDEN IN ENUGU BEFORE HIS LORDSHIP, HON. JUSTICE AUWAL IBRAHIM DATE: 25TH APRIL, 2012 SUIT NO: NIC/EN/01/2012 BETWEEN UKAWUIKE EMMANUEL NGOZI AND 76 OTHERS………………………………. CLAIMANTS/RESPONDENTS AND 1. GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE 2. ATTORNEY - GENERAL OF IMO STATE………………………………………DEFENDANTS/APPLICANTS REPRESENTATION:

1. Uche Wisdom Dureke Esq. for the Claimants/Respondents. 2. S.C. Madufor (Mrs.) Principal State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Imo State appeared with A.O. Anyanameechi Esq., Principal State Counsel, Imo State Ministry of Justice for the Defendants.

RULINGBy a Notice of preliminary objection brought pursuant to Section 6(6) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, Order II Rule J(I) at the National Industrial Court Rules, 2007 and the inherent Jurisdiction of this Court, the Defendants/Applicants pray that the court has no jurisdiction to entertain this suit as presently constituted. The grounds upon which this objection/application are raised are as follows: i) the suit is incompetent as there is no cause of action disclosed by the originating process. ii) Claimants have no locus standi to institute this action as presently constituted. iii) the suit is an abuse of legal process of this court.

Both parties filed and adopted their respective written addresses on the preliminary objection of the Defendants/Applicants.

The Defendants/Applicants filed written address dated 5th day of March 2010 but filed on 9th March 2012 in support of their preliminary objection.

In the said written address, their learned counsel stated in the introduction that the Claimants/Respondents in this suit claim jointly and severally from the defendants:
a) A DECLARATION that the suspension of the appointment of Imo State indigenes employed under the 10,000 jobs scheme, which included the appointment of the claimants, as staff of Imo Public Service by the 1st Defendant, the Governor of Imo State in his maiden speech on 6th June, 2011 and the subsequent declaration of the said appointments as “defunct” vide a public Notice dated 21st November, 2011 with reference no. GH/STA/10,000/27 and signed by one Dr. Kachi Nwoga, aid to the 1st Defendant, are wrongful, unlawful, illegal null and void, and of no effect. b) AN ORDER reinstating the claimants to their positions in the Imo State Public Service forthwith and without loss of pay and/or seniority. c) AN ORDER directing the defendants to pay the claimants their arrears of salaries and allowances forthwith. d) The monetary sum of N990,000,000.00 as general damages for the deprivations, humiliations, frustrations, trauma and loss suffered by the claimants because of the said suspension of their appointment, and declaring same as “defunct”, without due process of law.

Learned counsel formulated two issues for determination, namely,

i) whether the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the suit as presently constituted. ii) Whether the suit is vexatious, scandalous, frivolous, and an abuse of legal process.

Arguing issue No. 1 learned counsel raised and discussed the following sub-issues:

a) Is there a justiciable cause of action for now? b) Have the Claimants locus standi to institute this action now? c) Is the employment of the Claimants one governed by contract of statutory flavor looking at the terms and conditions in the offer of employment issued to the Claimants by 1st Defendant?

On whether there is a justiciable cause of action for now, learned counsel submitted that there is no justiciable cause of action disclosed in this suit. In other words, there is no reasonable cause of action to invoke the jurisdiction of the Court. That in ADEPOJU VS. AFONJA (1994) NWLR (Pt. 363) 437 at 453 - 454, a cause of action was defined to mean “A bundle or aggregate of facts, which the law will recognize as giving the plaintiff substantive right to make the claim against the relief or remedy being sought. Thus, the factual situation on which the plaintiff relies to support his claim must be recognized by the law as giving rise to substantive right capable of being claimed or enforced against the defendant. In other words, the factual situation relied upon must constitute the essential ingredients of an enforceable right. Concisely, stated, any fact relied upon by the plaintiff resulting from the act of the defendant which gives rise to a justifiable complaint is the cause of action.”

Continuing counsel stated that a reasonable cause of action therefore means the fact or facts, which establish or give rise to the right of action and it is the factual situation which gives a person the right to judicial relief. It also means every fact that it would be necessary for the plaintiff to prove if traversed in order to support his right to judgment of the court. He referred to AKILU VS. FAWEHINMI NO. 2 (1989) 2 NWLR (pt. 102) 122.

That in this suit, all the claimants predicated their claims on the suspension of their employment by the 1st defendant as published in the 1st Defendant’s maiden speech on 6th June, 2011 and the subsequent declaration by the 1st Defendant that their employment was defined vide a public notice dated 21st November, 2011. That whereas all the claimants annexed their letters of probationary employment by 1st Defendant, they never annexed any proof of their suspension from the employment of the 1st Defendants and any proof of the 1st Defendant’s subsequent declaration of their employment to be “defunct”.

Furthermore, it also noticeable from the Claimants statement of facts, pleadings and depositions of witnesses that the claimants are challenging their suspension from employment to be defined by the 1st Defendant. That it is neat and clear that the letters of offer of employment given to the claimants embodying their terms of employment states that they are given provisional or probationary employment hence they are not confirmed staff in the public/civil service of the 1st Defendant.

Again their letters of offer of appointment which states that “your appointment will be on probation also mandated them to fill the necessary papers for appointment and deployment” on assumption of duty were not annexed in this suit to show and prove what their terms and conditions of appointment are. These facts must be furnished by the claimants in order for the court to have jurisdiction based on reasonable cause of action.

That probation is defined by Collins English Dictionary at page 692 to be “undergoing a test or trial period, such as at the start of a new job”.
The Black’s Law Dictionary Sixth Edition continual edition at page 1202 defined the terms to be “the act of proving, proof, trial, test”. Simple put, probationary period or employment on probation means that the staff is undergoing a test or a trial before his employment could be made permanent after satisfactory performance, proof, test or trial. That in the case of OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL LIMITED VS. UDUMEBRAYE (2008) ALLFWLR (pt. 430) the Court of Appeal held that in the termination of an appointment of an officer on probation, no procedure is provided for and none need be followed once the board or the principal is satisfied that there is good cause for the termination. No hearing is necessary, in the instant case; the respondent was still on probation when his appointment was terminated without explanation for the decision. The appellant had no obligation to give one; therefore, the trial court was wrong to have held that the termination of the Respondent’s appointment was wrongful, see BABA VS. N.C.A.T.C (1991) 5 NWLR (pt. 191) 388 paras D - E.

That finally, Rule 02301 of the Imo State Civil/Public Service Rules had not been breached, so also rules 02801 of the said Rules. Rule 02801 states”that if within his probationary period, it is established to the satisfaction of the authority, empowered to appoint an officer that he is not qualified for efficient service, his appointment may be terminated by that authority at anytime without any further compensation than free transport to the place from which he was engaged and such free transport will be granted only if his conduct has been good…”. Rule 02803 made it clearer when it provided that “the appointment of an officer on probation who fails to secure confirmation in the punishable establishment at the expiration of his probationary period including such extension thereof as prescribed under rule 02301 may be terminated in the manner specified in Rule 02801”.

Learned Counsel continued that the clear implication of the above Rule 02803 is that probationary officers are not permanent officers until they are confirmed. They are also not on pensionable employment until after confirmation. They can be removed from service by the appropriate authority without any reasons or explanations from them. In this claim, the Civil Service Commission, Imo State that issued the claimants letters of appointment on probation was not sued and made a party, but the 1st Defendant. Learned counsel therefore submitted that there are no reasonable causes of action disclosed. The suit ought to be dismissed for all the above reasons.

On whether the Claimants have locus standi to sue, counsel submitted that the claimants have no locus standi to invoke the jurisdiction of this court to entertain this suit.

That the defendants reiterated their earlier submissions in paragraphs 2.00 to 3.05 of this address. According to counsel the meaning of locus standi has received several definitions from the various courts in Nigeria and he referred to OWUDUNNI VS. REGISTERED TRUSTEES, CELESTIAL CHURCH (2000) FWLR (pt. 9) 1455 at 1470 paras E - F where the Court held that “the term locus standi (or standing) denotes the legal capacity to institute proceedings in a court of law. It is not dependent on the success or merits of a case, rather it is a condition precedent to a determination on the merits it follows therefore, that if plaintiff has no locus standi to sue, it is not necessary to consider whether there is a genuine case on the merits, this case must be struck out as being incompetent”.


On whether the appointments of the Claimants are governed statue, counsel submitted that the appointments of the claimants are not governed by statue for now in that they are not confirmed staff of Imo State Civil/Public Service. They are engaged on probation. Their employment and disengagement are predicated on rules 02301, 02303, 02801, and 02803 of the Imo State of Nigeria Public Service rules 2001. We also submit that the provisions of the above Rules 02301, 02303, 02801 and 02803 are not breached. The claimant’s civil rights and obligation had not been infringed upon. See Section 6(6) (b) of the 1999 Constitution.

It is therefore not necessary, according to counsel to sue the defendants without even joining the Civil Service Commission of Imo State which is a juristic person and the appropriate authority that dealt with the interview, examination, employment and issuance of the letter of probationary appointment to the claimants. The suit is thus unmeritorious and should be dismissed from all the reasons raised in this application. The Honourable Court is so pleaded and urged.

On his own part, learned counsel for the Claimants/Respondents, in his written address against the preliminary objection gave an introduction and background facts to the case and thereafter formulated three issued for determination, namely,
1. Is it right to hold that Claimants’ action discloses no cause of action? 2. Can be it be said that the Claimants in this action do not have the locus standi in bringing this action? 3. Is it right to hold that the appointment of the Claimants will have statutory flavour only upon confirmation? In arguing the issues learned counsel started by: 4.1 Before we proceed to make Legal arguments in respect of the issues for determination above, it is cardinal to re-state our position on the Defendants’ instant Application. On 12th March 2012 when we were served the Application in the open Court, we stated that the Defendants’ instant Application is premature as it deals with the substantive issues in the case. We maintain that if this Honourable Court rules on this Application, it will become functus officio on the suit as it must have decided the suit without hearing, which, to the Claimants, will amount to unfair trail. The Defendants are deliberately urging that their Application be heard in order to frustrate the Claimants’ suit. If overruled, they will appeal and apply, for stay of proceedings of the Claimants’ suit. 4.2 Importantly, the Defendants’ objection is one of demurrer and their Written Argument shows this clearly. Therefore, we urge that this Honourable Court directs the Defendants to file their Defence in the case and that the suit be heard on the merit. The Defendants will still have the opportunity to raise the issues. An accelerated hearing in the circumstance will serve the interest of justice and we, so, urge this Honourable Court.

Arguing issue 1 learned counsel submitted that the kernel of the Defendants’ contention that the Claimants have not disclosed any cause of action is in Para 2.03 of their Written Address to wit that the Claimants “never annexed any proof of their suspension from the employment” and also “the subsequent declaration of their employment to be ‘defunct’”. With respect, this is clearly an issue for trial. It is only at the end of trial that this issue can rightly arise as the Claimants have every opportunity under the law to amend their pleadings and to bring in any available evidence. The Claimants listed the Head of Service as a witness. When he or she comes, evidence will be laid on the suspension issue. The Defendants are trying to be smart by half. They deliberately want to put wool in the eyes of this Court.

The case of the Claimants is that their suspension vide the Maiden Address of the 1st Defendant, which is without Notice is null and void. Asking for the Letters of suspension is an admission that the Claimants are right. The Claimants’ case in Para 4 of their Statement of facts clearly stated as follows: “The 1st Defendant in his maiden speech, as Governor of Imo State, on June 2011, without following the laid down procedure under the Imo State Public Service Rules, suspended the appointment of persons employed under the 10,000 jobs scheme of the State Public Service between 2010 and 2011 which included the Claimants.” See also Para 41 of the Statement of Facts. There is no doubt that these averments give the Claimants cause of action. Also, these averments are issues for trial. Hearing is needed in this case if the interest of fair hearing and justice will be seen to be done in this case. This accounts, further, for objection to a hearing and determination of the Defendants’ preliminary objection.

The other reason the Defendants have put forth in trying to show that the Claimants have disclosed no cause of action is in Para 3.00 of the Written Address, which is that the Claimants “are given provisional or probationary employment hence they are not confirmed staff in the public service” and are relying on the Court of Appeal decision in OCEANIC BANK INT. LTD V. UDUMEBRAYE. To counsel, the case of the Claimants revolves on a simple issue: Is the Governor empowered under the law, on his own and without more, to unilaterally suspend and determine the employment of the Claimants? The answer is obvious and clear! The Governor has no such power. Pursuant to the Imo State Civil Service Rules, it is the State Civil Service Commission that has the power as the Claimants are civil servants and not political appointees of the Governor who hold office at the will of the 1st Defendant. With respect, the decision in OCEANIC BANK INT. LTD V. UDUMEBRAYE does not apply as the employment in question was not one governed by a statute. By the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Claimants are civil servants by the fact of their employment in the Imo State Civil Service. The Constitution does not exclude those on probation as civil servants. One becomes a civil servant upon his or her employment. That the Claimants are on probationary period will not make it right or lawful for their appointments to be determined contrary to the laid down procedure and by a person or authority not conferred with the authority by statute. The Claimants are not modern day slaves. The Governor of Imo State is bound to act and govern according to the due process of Law. Without due process of Law, he would not have emerged and must, therefore, respect the due process of Law.

On the contention that the Claimants did not annex their letters of deployment as raised in Para 3.01 of Defendants’ Written Address, see. Para 27 of the Statement of Facts. The Defendants are given NOTICE to produce the documents, which the Claimants listed as amongst the documents they will be relying on at the trial. This is, indeed, an issue for trial. This is also evidence that the Preliminary Objection is bad in law and ought to be struck out.

Counsel continued that Defendants have in Para 3.04 of their Written Address referred to RULE 02801 of the Imo State Civil/Public Service Rules, which provides that “if within his probationary period, it is established to the satisfaction of the authority empowered to appoint an officer that he is not qualified for efficient service, his appointment may be terminated by that authority at any time. The Defendants have in Para 3.05 argued that the Claimants “can be removed from service by the appropriate authority without reason or explanation.”

From Rule 02801 referred to by the Defendants, the ‘appropriate authority’ is the “authority empowered to appoint” and it is the authority that can determine the employment of the Claimants. The question that naturally arises is, according to counsel, is the Governor of Imo State the authority that is ‘empowered to appoint’? the answer is clearly no. The Imo State Civil Service Commission is the authority empowered to appoint. This Honourable Court is invited to note that unlike in OCEANIC BANK INT. LTD V. UDUMMEBRAYE, the appointment of a person on probation in Imo State Civil Service will not be confirmed only if “it is established to the satisfaction of the authority empowered to appoint an officer that he is not qualified for efficient service”. There is a procedure or regulation, which must be satisfied. There is no averment or evidence before this Honourable Court by the Defendants that Imo State Civil Service Commission that employed the Claimants established that the Claimants are not qualified for efficient service and terminated their appointment.

Further that the Claimants in Paras 31 - 34 of the Statement of Facts, which are not denied put the issue to rest. We state that the 1st Defendants being an elected Governor must respect the law and is not above the Law. It is an infraction of the right of the Claimants, for their appointments to be determined contrary to law. We submit that as the Governor of Imo State is not the appropriate authority, he acted outside the law and ultra vires.

The Imo State Civil Service Commission was not sued because it did nothing injurious or against the Claimants. It will be an abuse of the process of this Honourable Court and a vexatious action for the Claimants to sue the Imo State Civil Service Commission, which has not done anything to threaten or determine their appointments. It will amount to harassment of the Commission with Court process. We ask: what will the Claimants be claiming or asking against the Commission? From the facts of this case, the Commission is not necessary in this suit. The suit can be decided without joining it. The Commission did not suspend the Claimants, it did not declare their jobs ‘defunct’ and there is no allegation against it on the matter, so, why should the commission be sued? Parties are not sued in a matter or joined in a suit for the fun of it. Interestingly, the Claimants are bringing the Head of Service as witness, by way of subpoena, to testify.

Without conceding that the Imo State Civil Service Commission is a necessary party in the suit, Counsel submitted that it is trite law that non - joinder of a party cannot by itself defeat an action such as this one. It is settled law that no action or matter shall be defeated by reason of misjoinder or non-joinder of parties and that a Court is to deal with the matter or issue in controversy as regards the rights and interests of the parties actually before it. In this case, this Honourable Court is to deal with the issue whether the Governor of Imo State can validly suspend and determine the appointments of the Claimants contrary to the provisions of the Civil Service Rules of Imo State. This is the issue in controversy as regards the rights and interest of the parties before the Court.

In all, counsel submitted that the Claimants have disclosed a cause of action in their suit by their averments and the reliefs being sought. A cause of action exists where there is a complaint of wrongful act against the party sued, which has injured or given the party suing a reason to complain in the Court and seek remedy, which is the true situation in this case. It is immaterial whether at the end the party suing will win or Lose.

On issue No.2 learned counsel stated that the Defendants have contended that the Claimants do not have the locus standi to bring instant action. Their position is anchored, as stated in Para 3.08 of the Written Address, that “The claims and reliefs sought by the Claimants are based on suspension from work with employment on probation.” The term ‘Locus standi’ simply means the right to complain before a Court of law. Counsel then asked: Can it be said that these citizens whose source of Livelihood has been threatened and contrary to law do not have the Locus standi to bring this action? If they do not have the Locus standi, who then has in respect of the matter? As the Supreme Court stated in OWUDUNNI V. REGISTERED TRUSTEES, CELESTIAL CHURCH relied upon by the Defendants, Locus standi is not dependent on the success or merits of a case, it denotes Legal capacity to institute proceedings in a Court of Law. Whether the Claimants will succeed or not in their case is not a determinant of their locus standi in this matter. By their pleadings, they have shown that they have a grievance, which ought to be heard. It is when they are before the Court that the Court can decide whether their case will succeed or not, or has merit or not. If they are shut out, this Honourable Court will not be in a position to decide their grievance in the matter. The Claimants have a complaint worthy of being heard by this Honourable Court. They cannot be shut by mere technically. The Courts in the country today are to do substantial justice, not technical justice.

That presently in Nigeria, the meaning of locus standi moved from the restricted arena to the expansive arena. It is submitted that a litigant who shows that he has sufficient or special interest in a matter, as in this case, will have locus standi. In AG, KADUNA STATE V. HASSAN (1989) 2 NWLR (PART 8) 483, the Supreme Court held that courts should not give an unduly restrictive interpretation to the expression “Locus standi’. In FAWEHINMI V. AKILU (1987) 4 NWLR (PART 67), the Supreme Court recognized the right of a private citizen to lay criminal charge against anyone committing an offence or who he reasonably suspects to have committed an offence. The Courts today are using the public good tense when the issue of Locus standi arises. In GANI FAWEHINMI V. PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA & ORS (2008) 23 WRN 65 @ 79 and 116, the Court of Appeal held that Gani Fawehinmi had Locus to bring his action challenging the infraction of the ‘Certain Political, Public and Judicial Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act No. 6 of 2002’. That he, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, had the Locus because he was “a political elite in Nigeria and represents the conscience of the people”. In BADEJO VS MINISTRY OF EDUCATION & ORS (1990) 4 NWLR (PART 143) @ 254, the Supreme Court held that a person affected by an act which also affected the general public can complain of a violation of his rights even though other persons affected do not want to complain. In this instant case where the Claimants’ individual direct interests are affected, can it rightly and justly be said that they do not have the requisite Locus standi? Where a Governor exercises a power that is not given to him by law, such exercise of power is unlawful and whosoever is affected can approach the Court as he or she has an interest to protect in the circumstance.

Learned counsel therefore, submitted that the Claimants have the requisite Locus standi to bring the present action.

On issue no. 3 counsel stated that the Defendants have submitted that “the appointment of the Claimants are not governed by statue for now in that they are not confirmed staff of Imo State Civil/Public Service.” The Defendants did not, however, refer to any statue or case Law in support of this submission. We have searched the Imo State Civil Service Rules and cannot find any rule in support of the Defendants’ submission.

Counsel then submitted that once a person is employed in the civil service of the State, he or she starts to enjoy the statutory flavour of his or her appointment. Even though the appointment is on probation, it is not subject to the will of the Governor because it is only when “it is established to the satisfaction of the authority empowered to appoint… that he is not qualified for efficiency service” that he or she will not be confirmed. Neither confirmation nor determination is left at the whims and caprice of the “authority empowered to employ” or any authority or person.

As there is a laid down procedure to govern employment in the civil service, counsel continued, there is also laid clown procedure for termination and confirmation of appointment on probation and discipline. In view of this, once a person is employed in the Civil Service, his or her appointment starts to enjoy statutory flavour because his or her confirmation or termination of the appointment is governed or regulated by statute and not subject to the whins and caprice of any person. In Imo State by the rule referred to by the Defendants in their Written Address, a condition precedent to termination of an appointment under probation is a satisfactory Establishment that the person is not qualified for efficient service. In the Claimants’ case, the Defendants neither averred nor showed that they are not qualified for “efficient service”. It will amount to injustice to take way their source of livelihood and throw them into misery and poverty without following the laid down in law.

That it is trite that an employment is said to have statutory flavor when the appointment is protected by statute or laid down regulations made to govern the procedure for employment and discipline of any employee. This is the situation in the Claimants’ case. The Imo State Civil Service Rules has laid down procedure or regulations that govern the appointment of the Claimants starting from their employment to discipline and termination of appointment - during probation and upon confirmation. Counsel submitted that these regulations are made to be observed and not disrespected. Any violation of or non-observation of a laid down procedure or regulation in a statute is a cause of complaint or action because any action taken outside the powers conferred by that statute is ulta vires, null and void. This is the issue at hand in the Claimants’ case. In IBRAHIM JIBRIL V. MILAD, KWARA STATE @ ORS (2007) 47 WRN 63 @ 88, the Court of Appeal held that: “Where an employee is sought to be removed in a contract with statutory flavour, that is a contract of employment wherein the procedures for employment and disciple including dismissal are spelt out, such a contract must be terminated in the way and manner prescribed by statue. Any other manner of termination which is inconsistent with the statue is null and void and of no effect”.

Counsel submitted that the Claimants’ appointment have statutory flavour as they were employed pursuant to the procedures and regulations in the Imo State Civil Service Rules and the said statute provides for the procedures and regulations governing the termination and the confirmation of the Claimants employment in the probationary stage. It will be unjust to hold that if the procedure or regulation is violated, the Claimants have no right to seek redress in the Court. This will be unfair and unjust. It is important to state that the country is under a democratic governance where respect for rule of law and due process are the hallmark and not military or autocratic rule where the law is under the boot of the leader. The rule that under the statute that an employment in probation will be terminated if it is established that the employee is not qualified for efficient service clearly points that the appointment is meant to be secured, except the employee is not qualified and therefore cannot be confirmed.

Concluding learned counsel submitted that the Defendants’ preliminary objection is premature and lacking in merit. It is calculated to delay the Claimants’ case. He urged the Court to direct the parties to file and serve their Statement of Defence for the matter to be heard on the merit as deciding the preliminary objection will lead this Honorable Court deciding the substantive issues at the end of the trial. If the Defendants are simply relying on their preliminary objection only then the Court can proceed to decide the matter based on the processes before it. The Claimants have the locus standi in bringing this action and have a cause of action. The Claimants’ employment started to enjoy statutory flavour from the date of engagement as their Letters of employment and the State Civil Service Rules did not state otherwise.

The Defendants/Applicants counsel filed a reply on points of law dated 26th March, 2012 but filed on 27th March, 2012. In the said reply on points of law, counsel stated that: (A)The Claimants raised the question is it right to hold that the claimants action discloses on cause of action? In para 4.2.3, he answered that “the Governor has no such power pursuant to the Imo State Civil Service Rules, it is the state Civil Service Commission that has the power as the claimants are civil servants and not political appointees of the governor who hold office at the will of the 1st defendant.” A Rule such as the Civil Service Rule is subordinate to law and the constitution. Counsel referred to the case Saleh V Monguno (2006) 27 NSCOR 826.

That inconsistency between the constitution and the civil service Rule of Imo State result in the provision of the said Rules being rendered void, null and of no effect to the extent of the inconsistency. He referred to Saleh V Monguno, Supra.
T
hat the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the very foundation of and the structure upon which the existence of all organs of Governance are hinged and he referred to the case Governor, Kwara State V Ojibara (2006) 28 NSCQR 97.

Further the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the organic and fundamental law, it is the grundnorm. It is “fons-et-erigo, and counsel cited the case of Fasakin Foods Nig. Ltd V Shosanya (2006) 26 NSCQR 641.

Counsel continued that the constitution defined :”Civil service of the State in section 318 (1) as service of a Government of a State as staff of the office of the Governor, Deputy governor or a Ministry or department of the government of the sate assigned with the responsibility for any business of the government of the state”. A person on probation is not include in the above definition.

That under section 5 (2) (a) and (b) of the constitution subject to the provisions to this constitution, the executive powers of a state.

(a) Shall be vested in the Governor of that state and may, subject as aforesaid and to provisions of any law made by a House of Assembly or through the Deputy Governor and Commissioner of the Government of that State or officers in the public service of the State, and

(b) Shall extend to the execution and maintenance of this constitution, all matters with respect to which the House of Assembly has for the time being power to make laws. That the relationship between the Governor and the Imo State Civil Service Commission is one of principal and agent respectively, and counsel referred to the case of Edem V Canon Balls (2005) 22 NSCQR 809.

To counsel the principal can do all that his agent can do and he referred to Edem V Canon Balls, Supra, so the Governor can appoint and terminate the appointment of a civil servant without recourse to civil service commission.

That Governors in the states of the Federation have exercised such powers as command appointment, command promotions of civil servant for distinguished service, they can also exercise their powers under Command termination of appointment for indolent service of a civil servant. The claimants are not even civil servants being on probation, counsel added.

(B) Furthermore, counsel tried albeit unsuccessfully to distinguish the case of Oceanic Bank Int’I V Odumebraye, supra, the principle in the case defined who is an employee with statutory flavor and makes it clear that it does not include a person on probation. The case is therefore relevant to the counsel’s discussion.

(C) Counsel tried successfully to say that the Constitution does not exclude those on probation as civil servants, section 318 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as Amended defines civil servants to exclude on probation. That under the Oceanic Bank Int’ Ltd CV Edumberaye, Supra, the Governor has to act as regards to due process does not include a person under probation.

(D) On joinder there is no way this case can be determined without the joinder of civil service commission since that commission gave the alleged appointment on behalf of the Governor of Imo State. Counsel referred to Fajeminrokun V Commercial Bank Nig. Ltd (2009) 37 NSCQR p.1 and also Green V Green (1987) 3 NWLR (Prt 61) p. 4480, and Babayeju V Ashamu (1988) 9 NWLR (Pt 567) p. 546.
(E) The law is that failure to join a necessary party renders the action incompetent and liable to be struck out.
(F) An issue that borders on jurisdiction does not require demurrer as held in Arjay Ltd V A.M.S. Ltd (2003) 7 NWLR (Pt 820) 577 the Supreme Court drew a distinction between demurrer and objection to jurisdiction and each can be employed. Reference was made to B NDIC V CBN & Anor (2002) 7 NWLR (Pt 766) 272. Otuwanyi Vs. Adewumi (2008) 13 NWLR (Pt 1104) P. 387 especially 395 ratio W, p.409 para F-H.

(G) Jurisdiction can be raised at any stage even for the first time at the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court, it can be raised by any party to the suit viva voce or by the court suo motu. Reference was made to Oloba V. Akereja (1988) 2 NWLR (Pt 84) 508 @ 520 per Obaseki, JSC. Ifeanyi Okonkwo

Vs. INEC (2003) 33 WRN 93 at 111. CBN V Kato (1994) 4 NWLR (Pt. 339) p.446.

(H) The issue discussed here that prompted the preliminary objection borders on locus standi goes to the jurisdiction of the Court not technicality. He referred to Ojukwu V Ojukwu (2008) 36 NSCQR 1279, and Orji V Dorji Textile Mills (2009) 40 NSCQR 597.

Learned counsel then urged the Court to strike out the suit as disclosing no reasonable cause of action. That the claimants are on probation and as such not civil servants. Secondly the claimants have no locus standi to institute the action. Thirdly the issue borders on jurisdiction and as such does not require demurrer.

I have carefully considered the processes, arguments and submissions of learned counsel to parties on both sides in this application and the main question for the determination of the Court is whether this Court has the jurisdiction to hear and determine this suit as it is presently constituted? I shall proceed to determine this question by examining the issues formulated and argued by learned counsel to Defendants/Applicants as follows: 1. Whether this suit discloses any reasonable cause of action against the Defendants. 2. Whether the defendants have locus standi to bring this action.

It should be noted that the Defendants/Applicants had in their written address formulated the issue of whether the suit is vexatious, scandalous, frivolous and an abuse of Court process, but have not canvassed any argument in support thereof and therefore it is deemed abandoned. Accordingly, it is hereby deemed abandoned and struck out.

Before going into the issues proper, it is necessary to state that it is the settled law that in determining jurisdiction the Court is to look at the originating processes of the Claimant only in arriving at the conclusion on whether or not it has jurisdiction to entertain the suit before it. See the case A.K.Y. Balogun & 2 Ors V Alhaja Shifawu Ode & 4 Ors (2007) NSCQLR Volume 29 p. 199, per Ogbuagu JSC, where the supreme Court clearly sated at p. 210 the principle that:

It is also settled, the issue of jurisdiction of a trial Court in any particular case, is determined or decided by the claim in the writ of summons and the statement of claim – i.e jurisdiction is determined by the plaintiff’s claim and not by the defendant’s denial.

In the instant case therefore the Court shall accordingly limit itself to the complaint of the Claimants and the Statement of Facts which are the originating processes.

On the 1st issue for determination, namely, whether there is any reasonable cause of action disclosed against the Defendants in this case, from the Complaint of the Claimants, looking at relief’s a, b, and c thereof, they are asking for declaration that their suspension from their various jobs is null and void, order for reinstatement and for payment of the arrears of their respective salaries. Furthermore, the Claimants, in their statement of facts have stated that they were employed in the State Public Service by the Imo State Government between 2010 and 2011 and that the 1st Defendant, Governor of Imo State on 6th June 2011 suspended the said appointments. See paragraphs 1 and 4 of the Statement of Facts of the Claimants. Thus put in a nutshell, the Claimants are pleading that they have been wrongly suspended from jobs they were given by the Defendants and have therefore approached this Court for relief.

On what is a cause of action, the Supreme Court gave the guiding principle in a number of cases. See for example, the decision in Chevron Nigeria Limited V Lonestar Drilling Nigeria Limited (2007) NSCQLR Volume 31 p.92 where the Supreme Court, per Oguntade JSC, at p.99, held that:

I can do no more on the meaning of a ‘cause of action’ than to call to mind the observation made by this Court per Karibi-Whyte, JSC in Bello V. Attorney-General on Oyo State (1986) 5 NWLR (part 45) 828 at 876 thus:

I think a cause of action is constituted by the bundle or aggregate of facts which the law will recognize as giving the plaintiff a substantive right to make the claim against the relief or remedy sought. Thus the factual situation on which the plaintiff relies to support his claim must be recognized by the law as giving rise to a substantive right capable of being claimed or reinforced against the defendant. In other words the factual situation relied upon must constitute essential ingredients of an enforceable right or claim see Tower & Sons Ltd V Ripstein (1944) AC 254 at p. 263: Read V Brown 22 QBD. 128 Coke V Gill (1873) l.R. 8 C.A. 107 Sugden v Sugden (1957) All ER 300; Jackson V Spittal (1870) L.R. 5 C (Pt. 547). Concisely stated, an act on the part of the defendant which gives to the Plaintiff his cause of complaint is a cause of action.

On the meaning of reasonable cause of action, Oguntade, JSC in Chevron’s case supra, continued that:

In Ibrahim V Osim (1988) 1 N.S.C.C. 1184 at 1194, this Court per Uwais JSC (as he then was) discussed the proper meaning of the expression ‘reasonable cause of the action’ thus: The question therefore is what is a ‘reasonable cause of action’? The words ‘cause of action’ without the adjective ‘reasonable’ had been defined by this Court in Savage & ors V Uwechia (1972) 1 All NLR (part 1) 251 at p.256: (1972) 3 S.C. 24 at 221, where Fatai-Willians JSC (as he then was) said:

A cause of action is defined in Stroud’s Judicial Dictionary as the entire set of circumstances giving rise to an enforceable claim. To our mind, it is, in effect, the fact or combination of facts which give rise to a right to sue and it consists of two elements: the wrongly act of the defendant which gives the plaintiff his cause of complaint and the consequent damage.

Having examined the meaning of cause of action and the submissions of learned counsel to the parties, as well as the processes before the Court, it is clear that the claimants were given employment which has been suspended by the Defendants. The learned counsel to the Defendants/Applicants had argued that even though the claimants have exhibited their letters of employment, they have not exhibited any document to show that their appointments were indeed suspended by the defendants and therefore no cause of action exists in favour of the claimants. I do not agree with learned counsel on this as paragraph 31 of the Statement of Facts clearly states that:

31. The claimants were faithfully discharging their duties in their various places of posting before the sudden suspension of their appointments and subsequent declaration of the appointments as ‘defunct’ vide a Public Notice issued by the Governor’s Office dated 21st November 2011 with ref No GH/STA/10,000/27 and signed by Dr. Kachi Nwoga. The public Notice is hereby pleaded and shall he relied upon at the trial. Notice is hereby given to produce a certified true copy of the Public Notice at the trial for the use of the claimants.

In the circumstance therefore, I hereby find and hold that the claimants have a reasonable cause of action in this suit and the issue is resolved in favour of the Claimants.

On the second issue of locus standi, as canvassed by learned counsel to the parties, the claimants have each exhibited their letters of employment and have stated in their Statement of Facts the processes they each went through to secure the said appointments. The learned Defendants counsel simply submitted that the nature of the employment of the claimants, i.e. its being probationary, essentially robs the claimants of the locus standi to bring this action. Here, with all due respect to the learned counsel, locus standi depends fundamentally on the interest which a person has in pursuing the claim before the Court. See the case of Owodunini Vs Registered Trustees, Celestial Church, supra, A-G Kaduna State V Hassan supra, and Fawehinmi V Akilu, supra, which have all been relied upon by counsel on both sides. Going by the facts as stated above, namely, that the claimants were engaged as workers in Imo State Public Service and have now had such appointments suspended, it is not difficult to agree that they have sufficient interest to come to court to seek for relief. Therefore, I hereby hold that the Claimants do have the locus standi to file and maintain this suit. Thus I resolve the second issue in favour of the Claimants also;

The Defendants/Applicants’ counsel has made submissions on other issue, especially in his reply on points of law, but I feel those issue are better dealt with at trial as they touch on the merits of the case and would therefore depend on the evidence adduced before the Court.

In the circumstance therefore, and for all the reason given hereinbefore I hold that the preliminary objection of the defendants\applicants fail and is hereby dismissed. Accordingly, this court has the jurisdiction to entertain hear and determine this suit as presently constituted the case shall now proceed to hearing

I make no order as to costs

Ruling is entered accordingly
XXXSIGNEDXXX
Hon. Justice Auwal Ibrahim Presiding Judge

OFFICIAL

XXXSIGNEDXXX
2/5/12 Omene Peter Esq
REGISTRAR

(Imo-Nigeria): Why Rochas Is Buying 1 Million Shoes - Duruji

A VANGUARD INTERVIEW

The Imo State Commissioner for Information, Barrister Obinna Duruji at a parley with newsmen spoke on the strides, successes and challenges of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. He also spoke on issues emanating from the Governor’s recent victory at the Court of Appeal. Excerpts:

EIght months in office, what can you say are the attainments of the administration?

The governor on assumption of office declared free and compulsory education in both primary and secondary levels in Imo State which PDP and Ohakim told Imo people was impossible, placement of order to procure one million school sandals and ordered procurement of 600,000 school bags and desks to boost free education in Imo State.

The governor also ordered the payment of backlog of pension arrears owed for over 12 years by the past administrations, establishment of Imo Pension/Senior Citizens’ Club and donation of vehicles to the club, release of N450 million bailout fund to missionary schools in Imo State, increase of government monthly subvention to IMSU from N57m to N100m, revival of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH) abandoned by Ohakim’s administration.

Community speakers

He introduced fourth tier Government and appointment of community speakers, which have brought governance closer to the grassroots, reformation of the vigilante outfits by restricting their operations in the communities rather than using them to fight political opponents, establishment of General Security Council and Local Government Security Council and Local Government Security Council in the 27 LGAs, reconstruction of Commissioners’ Quarters abandoned by Ohakim’s administration.

Reconstruction of ALGON and Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers Secretariats, construction of 405 rural roads at 15km per L.G.A, introduction of Health-at-your-door-steps programme in Imo State, the first of its kind in Africa, upgrading of Umuguma General Hospital to a Specialist Hospital, reformation of the State Civil Service Local Government System, blockage of revenue leakages thus saving billions of naira for capital projects in Imo State, construction of International Conference Centre at Oguta Blue Lake of Treasure (formerly known as Oguta Wonder Lake).

It is worthy of note that the Oguta Wonder Lake project only existed in the internet during Ohakim’s regime. These are some of the tremendous achievements of His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha in less than one year of his administration, which is an eloquent testimony that Imo Rescue Mission has come to stay.

The last administration of Governor Ikedi Ohakim took N18.5b bond from the Stock Market. What does the current administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha intend to do with the bond?

Government is a continuum. We are going to redirect the bond and ensure that it is used for meaningful development projects.

The bond was to be used for the rehabilitation of the Imo state water scheme, rehabilitation and construction of major roads, financing the Imo State government’s equity investment in Imo Wonder Lake and conference centre in Oguta. Okorocha’s administration has started work in all these areas and that’s why I said government is continuum.

There were speculations that APGA was responsible for the transfer of the governorship election tribunal to Abuja. Is this true?

No, we are a responsible government and our priority and focus is the delivery of dividends of democracy. You can see that even on the day of the tribunal verdict on the 12th of November, 2011; the governor was not bothered; he was driving his government bus to various sites inspecting projects.

I was shocked when I came from the tribunal and I saw him at the gate of the Government House in shorts, addressing the crowd and I was curious and I said your excellency are you addressing Imo citizens on shorts, he said it doesn’t matter and that he was coming from the project sites.

So that’s how unruffled he is. His mandate was ordained by God and delivered on the planet earth. It is not our own making. Imo citizens for the first time expressed their wishes and aspirations in the mandate delivered to the Governor.

It was not their making, it was ordained in heaven. So what we saw on earth was the manifestation of the heavenly intervention. So, the governor is loved by his people and those who came to the court were there to show their solidarity to the mandate they gave to him. Neither our party APGA nor government influenced the move to Abuja.

The governor is accused of formulating policies in the state without due process; they cited as example the creation of community speakers without the input of the house of assembly. What is your reaction to this?

He didn’t have to. What people don’t understand is that the only constant thing in life is change. This is a man who is a change agent; he is a catalyst, a facilitator for change and development. He is not going to be held hostage by protocol and mundane understanding of the rule of law.

Law trails development, development does not trail laws unnecessarily, and law trails development all over the world. I am a senior advocate in the Unites States and I do know that law follows development, development does not follow law; otherwise society will not move forward.

As events are happening, law catches up, you don’t wait to make the law for the average human thinking before you can implement, it is only as you evolve that the law trails behind, and all over the world, the due process is a twin sister or brother of democracy.

So the two are not mutually exclusive, they are mutually inclusive. Once you see democracy, the government of the people, for the people and by the people, you are talking about rule of law.

So once he envisions, he conceptualizes and then the legal process takes place. If he does not envision, conceptualize, articulate the polices before the implementation, how can the Legislative house formulate. The House formulates based on the fine prints of articulation of the policies and programmes that emanate from the executive arm whenever necessary.

It is only then that the policy is transmitted to the house for articulation of an enabling law. It cannot be the other way round; otherwise the House will be dictating to the executive. So there is no violation of the rule of law, I challenge any opponent of this administration to come up with a clear indication of where we have violated the law.

Imo indigenes sacked in Abia. Why is the problem still lingering?

Well it is not an Imo problem; it is the South East problem as a matter of fact. But the issue is still pending before the South East Governor’s Forum. So Governor Okorocha has advised us to be cautious in our approach, that dialogue will be a better approach to resolve the quagmire and as obedient servants we so obliged.

Cushioning of effects of the sack

He has also cushioned the effects of the sack, which is our major concern and apprehension about the fate of the Imo indigenes, by assuring us in no mistaken terms that at the appropriate time, if the obnoxious decision is not rescinded, that Imo citizens would be absorbed in the Imo workforce. So that is the last resort and that’s by way of assurance.

What is your reaction to Court of Appeal decision?

Owelle’s victory at the Court of Appeal recently in Abuja is a further manifestation of its divine origin and a revalidation of Imo people’s mandate. The judgment has also rekindled our faith and confidence in the Nigerian judiciary. Imo people applaud the judges for remaining resolute in their determination to uphold Imo people’s mandate despite pressure to the contrary.

Given the wisdom of the tribunal and court of appeal, we are confident that the dismissal will stand Supreme Court scrutiny. To God be the glory.

Nigeria: Imo State Meetings In Los Angeles, A Baby Talk?

The last time I was at any Imo State-related meeting was in 2007 when former governor of the state, Ikedi Ohakim had “just” been elected into office and the Southern California chapter of Nd’Imo, in a quick fix, organized and confirmed Ohakim’s formal visit to Los Angeles. I was in the said meeting and questioned the validity of the governor's visit when he had “just” been sworn into office.



In this modernity, four years would storm by and Ohakim would have no time to stop by and see how the Southern California residents of his state are doing; the ones who threw their support and sent him an invitation for a state visit to Los Angeles. Not surprising to some and stunning to those who expected much from the governor, Ohakim would run Imo State for four years - good or bad - and the Southern California elites would not utter a word until Ohakim’s love-hate relationship with the state would be over.



When Ohakim was chased out of office by the peoples mandate, a sigh of euphoria beclouded Imo indigenes in the Soutland with a new strategy that began to unfold in another attempt at throwing in support to the new governor-elect, Rochas Okorocha. Thus begun the new movement and another round of “never again should we sit idly and allow another maladministration happen in our presence. We must not let this happen again,” which earnestly called for action to rescue Imo State from its nightmare and the long ordeal of bad leadership.



Upon Okorocha’s projected victory, the call was immediately announced on a series of outlets and related groups in cyberspace, and had been made public. The call was not about dissolution of Imo meeting in Los Angeles; it was not about the formation of a new one; it was about finding the ways and means to get involved in Okorocha’s administration and to help the state have a sense of belonging and purpose. It was also not about getting rid of the “old Guards,” but to determine if they’d like to continue or abandon what they started years ago in the quest for a properly, organized Imo State, home and abroad.



Nevertheless, the initiative was well worth it and the attempt a bold one. But here is the hiccup, which is troublesome: It’s been six months since Imo Diaspora of the Los Angeles, California-area residents came out with a new political agenda tailored to be significantly engaging in an upcoming Okorocha’s administration in the Igbo heartland. I was overwhelmed and filled with enthusiasm on the basis that Nd’Imo residing in Southern California had made up their minds to “pull the bull by the horn” and get Imo State moving again all around the globe with its new projected guidelines. With an obvious pumping fist in the air, I engaged some very few among my Imo colleagues here in the Southland, showing my interest by way of applications, recon-structuring journalism as part of the ideals to be drawn and required to effecting change in Imo, and especially to set the standard to improve relations between Diaspora and homeland.



From that perspective, many suggestions were made as to a framework that would help launch a new Southern California/Los Angeles Imo meeting which did begun, announcing its intentions to the Nigerian list serves. The idea was that all the blah, blah, blah, considering Imo’s magnitude and without question, the clear showing of its intellectual powerhouse with nothing to show for it, would be a thing of the past if not immediately arrested. The Imo Diaspora of Southern California meant business, and patently, no more baby talk. I had assumed, learning about the architects of change, it will go well and be smooth.



From my list of proposals suggesting a guideline which would help map out a spectacular blueprint, I listed the following I had thought was important for the creators who had gunned for a new, vitalized Imo, both home and Diaspora:



1). Start Imo Diaspora network by way of a discussion forum which must

be restricted with admissions by referral and verification. Table items to

be discussed and if needs be, moderated for out of character

commentaries.



2). Get our respective districts involved by attending town hall

meetings and voicing our opinions with regards to the ways and means of

the relevance of our stay here coupled with the 'push factor' which had

enabled us to be part of this great society.



3). Establish a thorough and efficient pressure group to monitor the

floors of our federal and state assemblies which would also include the

conduct of the state executive branch.



4). Open up a non-profit organization with a Imo Diaspora bearings to

start building institutions in all of Imo State, say, for instance,

University of Imo State, Amazano Campus, specializing in Agriculture;

University of Imo State, Umuowa Campus, specializing in engineering;

University of Imo State, Umuohiagu campus, specialing in medicine;

University of Imo State, Mbano campus, specializing in all areas of

liberal arts; University of Imo State, Nekede campus, specializing in

teaching credentials; University of Imo State, Arondizuogu campus known

for its business school, and the list goes on and on.



5). Being practical and committed to the cause applying effective

leadership.



6). Start working on the agitation for Imo Diaspora Liaison offices all

around the world and regional branches in the United States of America

for its larger concentration



7). Having direct contact with any sitting governor of the state, the

state assembly members, the federal representatives, local government

councilors for transparency and accountability.



8). Initiate learning institutes here in Diaspora for our kids to learn

a variety of who we are, for instance the kind of food that we eat

(botany) and things like that.



19). Initiate paying stipends to our reporters at home as they monitor

the goings on, on the floors of the state and national assembly,

including that of the executive branch.





What happened from around where this development fertilized was that the three most concerned Imo figures in the South-land involved with the new vision, was that most of us, if not all, had seen an unfolding, committed leadership that needed our moral support. Before the meeting held ground and supposedly no more time for baby talk, but absolutely and positively relative discourse to the well being of Nd’Imo. I, in several occasions, engaged my friend and pointblank, talking-head, radical teacher, Innocent Osunwa, who had been blunt over the years on an idling and do-nothing Imo Diaspora regarding its quest to make Imo a model for the Igbo-related states.



On the trio of intended creators of a new Imo Diaspora and a new Imo in homeland, nothing went through our minds as in suspecting lack of interest to get things done. We did not see the three as enemies of one another, nor seeing them as formidable political personalities who came to play politics with our heads and walk away with something else in their minds. We did not even see them as ambitious, having different visions for the state. We saw the three as having good intentions and same visions of a good society, adapting the American democratic fabric -- which they have since the ‘push factor,’ the conditions that compelled them to seek better lives elsewhere - and that the press lubricates democracy. We also did not see them as engaging in the personal endeavor to struggle for influence in Imo on the interest of their respective personal gains as indicative of previously mismanaged administrations of Achike Udenwa and Ohakim which was a shocking realization.



I had attended the first Imo meeting “call for action” in Los Angeles held at the All Saints Anglican Church conference room. Based on how the announcement circulated online, I had looked forward to a huge turnout from a Los Angeles-area population; and as it was, the turnout wasn’t disappointing. And I had also thought what the previous administrations had left behind - a state that is rich in cash and resources, but socially fragmented and intellectually impoverished - would rise like a phoenix getting the state back on track from what I earlier outlined in this framework. The long reign of past, corrupt regimes during the military juntas’ handling of the affairs of state; the excruciating pains of inept, corrupt administrations during the 2nd, 3rd, 4th Republics respectively, which held in suspense the ordinary struggles that forge historical progress. Imo rebirth expected to be created by the Los Angeles area “progressives” who had thought power should be earned by virtue of dedication, sacrifice and hard work; and what they saw as an opportunistic, financial oligarchic class which erupted a state of empire and anarchy should now be a thing of the past, bringing forth a new era and key figures to speak for the Imo people on accounts of thorough systems typical of organized societies.



The sad reality fact now is the real battle extending the state of empire and anarchy has just begun. Osunwa and I engaged on the subject matter, the probabilities of the “same old song,” old wine in a new bottle kind of stuff, that Okorocha’s backers are of the Old Guards, and if probably not, that Okorocha still have some payback time to his election campaign donors who helped catapult him to Government House, Owerri.



In one of my talking points, bedtime discourse with Osunwa, which took us into the night, and after the first meeting I had attended as path finder, I argued that the region’s modern state of insanity as seen over the years - kidnapping, human parts trafficking, rape (most unreported), police brutality, murder and things like that - that if we have been serious to face the challenges squarely, it must start from Diaspora to set up the pace condemning the all sorts of mayhem occurring in Imo and all the Igbo-related states through a powerful web of activists, writers, journalists to global links meant to influence Igbo leaderships on an array of problems requiring solutions that must be applied consistently.



Osunwa had relied on the creator’s sense of good judgement to shovel out the Los Angeles area Imo Diaspora from the deep mess it has been into over the years by lacking a sense of purpose. He had also endorsed the state of mind the creators had adopted in pursuing its course of getting Imo State out of the nonsense, square peg in a round hole drama that likely was taking the state to hell. It was in this atmosphere of Osunwa’s imagination that I chipped in to talk about journalism and why it should be taken as important as any aspect of the creator’s intent to be romantically involved directly with the goings on at Government House, Owerri, without laying more emphasis on the necessities that provides the tools for change - which by all accounts is the work of the journalist to shape how we think, inform the public and govern which comes along with a sound democratic fabric. And why do journalists think about what they do? The job is calling: the mission is to improve every corner of our enclaves. And how’s this done and achieved effectively? And why would it matter?



On the days approaching the first meeting of the “New Order” to a “New Dawn,” I was able to hold some conversations with many of the new dawns on how to get Imo Diaspora and the administrators of the home state to work in tandem for a better understanding and how working collectively would lead to utopia, coupled with a communication gap over the years that could be bridged by means of openness with journalism’s take. Osunwa, however, acknowledged the fact that journal work “is” more than required in a fledgling democracy like Nigeria to keep the government in check, and also said “independent journalists” must be made available to keep checks and balances orderly and not the kind of scandalous journalists who blackmail government and public figures when they have something on them and then negotiate a price within a range of some cash depending on the gravity which is how most newspapers survive in the country; and which at the same time destroys the reputation of worthy, news reporting.



And, remarkably, now that we have fallen into the age of Internet, everyone from individual citizens to political operatives can gather information, investigate the powerful, reach out to the powerless, mediate between government protocol and provide analysis in its investigative work. But as the case has been, not everyone engages in the need for news gathering. For instance, the Igbo-related discussion groups, staggering by the numbers of its subscribed members, and yet haven’t been established well enough to creating impact on how it could influence decisions to its respective administrations from the local governments, the municipalities, the legislature and its executive arm of government that is not however, done by these discussion, news-related groups. Or, are these discussion, news-related groups working on providing quality news items assuming it has established its own line of items that would have its own independent link to reach governmental institutions, as a stable organization which can facilitate regular reporting? And if so, why haven’t we seen a serious news break to their credit, linking directly with these organizations to governmental institutions including the local outlets other than wired news stories?



What has hindered these discussion groups from engaging itself directly with the governmental institutions - the executive, legislature and judiciary - directly for its Diaspora to be engaged fully and be part of a government their role is needed for a sound, thorough democratic dispensation? What was the purpose of creating these groups, for picnic, social gathering and ego-tripping, bragging on its members’ social economic status and the nouveau riche in its class? Why should these discussion groups still be standing in more than 12 years of its founding and are yet to establish any link connecting it directly with series of its governmental organizations in a strictly business way?



Maybe, not so clear to some. These discussion groups, whatever its foundation, cannot afford to be providing us information on picnic, ballroom dances, a new chief in town and its grand-style coronation, a breakthrough purchasing some new arrival of a ‘powerfully’ made machine by the Germans or the Japanese, negating and leaving aside its lifeline that should be benefiting generations to come by totally engaging in the political and socio-cultural issues affecting its land with a concrete, structurally established system for their off-springs and more, more generations to follow; and by discussing innovations, inventions, new techniques, formats for change, ideas and discoveries, and of course, the ways and means to compete in a challenging global market economy.



What are they leaving for the generations to come as legacy when they are sitting idly watching and applauding their land turned into a state of empire and anarchy? What would their generations to come, think of who they were, looking at how hopeless they left the situation? And why is it taken that these discussion groups of a Diaspora stock assume they have nothing to do with the affairs of state, of its native land? And if that be the case focusing on its adopted land, are they fully involved in the administrative process of its council members, senators and representatives at the state and federal level in its respective districts, where they should be presumably presenting their case for the turmoil in their home land like other communities did? How many town-hall meetings and series of activities that follows have they been to checking on how the folks they elected to office are doing by way of reaching out to its district? Or, would it be they played it off, caught up on a crossroad, not belonging to any side of the road?



There shouldn’t be any quiz here; and if only they had paid attention looking back to a failure , lacking the vision, as a result of their deliberately made mistakes and at a terrible cost, the generations to come, many would have to go through, probably would have done something that should have avoided such a terrible mistake of a lifetime - by using the same mechanisms of their upbringing that “it takes a village to raise a child,” putting the priorities into perspective.



And what would have amounted to such a terrible, costly mistake?



Again, one is weary of pointing out, especially on the logjam cases of a strong Diaspora foundations in building bridges by connecting as in all communities we all bear witness; how in similar, they overcame their predicaments of culture shock, struggled, worked hard as a community and thrived; becoming powerful, influencing decisions in their new found land and their native land. In that regard, they acquired all the accessories to become powerful in all aspects. They established their own banks for their commerce and industry; their own schools to teach their own; their own markets and farms for their own people; their subsidies and other related programs for the underprivileged and for their own elderly; their own learning center to teach their own language and culture; their own elected representatives to speak on their behalf and legislate for their concerns and needs; their own means of employment, employing their own; their own hospitals and women’s clinic to care for their own; their own medical staff and medical benefits for their own; their own vocational institutes teaching variety of trades and crafts for their own; their own mortgage companies attending to housing needs of their own; their own newspapers in their own languages; their own communities and villages where they can be identified; their own quest and determination to make life better for each and everyone of their own; their own socializing courts where the next line of projects are put into perspective; their own orthodox in religion where all their kind worship; their own landscaping company where gardening and things of that nature services the community; their own eateries where its dishes are now universal; their own playhouses where drama, musicals, movies, comedy, life band performances of its own musical genre and dance shows, and things like that, draws a diversified audience, and the list goes on and on and on.



So, too, as the creator’s had planned to use the above outlines beginning from establishing a newspaper due to, without news. “we cannot be in business facing the challenges of building community.” Folks need to know about new development in its community. Folks need to read on the latest update in a news worthy world. Folks need information from its own bulletin boards.



And how could this be arrived?



In terms of Imo State, as the creator’s had visioned, creating funds for local news with money made available from federated accounts or money collected from communication-bent projects, like tele-communication users, television and radio broadcast licensing fees, or internet service providers, and which would be administered in open competition through state local news councils. The same could be applied to Diaspora in the event it becomes too much of a burden for the home states to bear. Diaspora could channel a whole lot of ways in getting the news out: through multi-task revenues from related social events, funds from varieties of not for profit organizations, levies from non-governmental events like the churches, enterprises, and many other outlets where funding could be derived so journalists could focus on serious news at the local and state level; and could get it direct on one-on-one to reach the public, uncensored, unless where need be, like the classifieds.



And, as it goes, the bills of the journalist must be paid to get the quality and news-worthy stories across. Journalism has always been a direct/indirect, private/public backed projects. And from that background, journalists in this order, would then have a good relationship with those who pay their bills, whether advertisers targeting consumers and its business development, or private and public domains working on improving infrastructures, needing the services of citizens.



In one of my conversations with one of the creator’s regarding the infrastructural needs of the state and how the message could be sent across to a governmental awareness, journal work surfaced, citing outside newspapers’ credits that has been the mouthpiece of the people. The Sahara Reporters, an online news outlet, which has been doing well from noted public opinion polls, on its account of how it handles the news. While the creators applauded Sahara Reporters’ line of work in its reporting; analysis; dissected programmed blogs; essays relative to Nigeria’s problems grand and small; and documentaries of the same nature, I had wondered if the source of Sahara Reporters’ energy on news-gathering and analysis came from another planet. I had told them that the forces behind Sahara Reporters funding was not unearthly. That the forces, from its foundation of engineering social and democratic change during the Sani Abacha years remains one of its backbones of its existence. So, why wouldn’t Sahara Reporters be top notch agency news reporting outlet, from how it operated in the past and in disguise, masquerading with many handles to fight for democracy and social change?



The creators, from their point of view, weighing Sahara Reporters to have remarkably done a good job in its thought provoking reports and analysis over the years, applauding its efforts; one thing should be borne in mind: it’s time to get your own news outlet and be sure of what the general audience is getting from your reel. Face the challenges and fund your own newspaper. Organize, make it happen and leave it to the experts to handle.



For instance, it will not take all the heavenly places to piece together the finest Igbo writers, correspondents, investigative journalists, including reporters and researchers in homeland to dig deeply providing Diaspora with authentic and reliable, worthy news stories, which is where the creators should start putting their money where their mouth is; that is, if they honestly want to see change and be part of its outcome. The other question should be, are they willing to face the challenges of walking the talk?



Journalists. reporters, writers and researchers in the likes of Chidi Nkwopara-Uduma Kalu -Tony Edike (Vanguard), Leon Usigbe (Tribune), Ikechukwu Enyiagu (syndicated columnist), Chibuzo Ukaibe (Leadership Nigeria), Emma Mgbeahurike (The Nation), Chiawo Nwankwo (Punch), Nkechi Opurum (Daily Times), Petrus Obi-Chidi Nnadi-Ofole Okafor (Daily Sun), Andy Uneze (This Day), Ike Okonta (Daily Star), with a long list of Igbo journalists and scholars on a variety of discipline at the numerous Igbo-related institutions can be given the task; and by investing on good reporting and writing, a whole lot would gradually change especially in this new era of collaborative and “accountability journalism.”



Nkwopara, Kalu, Edike, et al., without doubt, have been doing some fine work of journalism; researching, reporting and writing to keep us informed on a variety of interesting subjects within our surroundings, in Ala-Igbo and its central government in Abuja, including the several other big cities in the nation where Nd’Igbo transact business on a daily basis providing goods and services that sustains the nation.



And why shouldn’t Diaspora be concerned about the affairs of its own people with the kind of work these folks in our journal world send to us, not even mentioning the scholars on their dissertation process and much, much more they will be having us know in terms of information and upfront knowledge. And how much are these folks paid by a controlling publishers and board directors who bankroll what these fine journalists transmits to us regularly?: On how we live and what’s going on in our communities; who is out there to attack us and who wants us dead or alive; how the government is playing games on a very gullible and vulnerable people; why we missed it all on our political, democratic endeavors; why Nigeria is failing all of us; what the urban hard-money banks, insurance companies and big corporations like Shell - are doing to us; the churches in every nook and cranny of the land and why it has become so; how anti-intellectualism and demonization of writers and critics is destroying free speech, and how we are becoming less and less a news reading media people; the angst of the Islamic Boko Haram terrorists, the series of kidnappings in Ala-Igbo and what should be done; the nasty romances in the governmental houses; and how easy going and down to earth men fell readily available as political tool for use by ugly politicians, hard and brutish men; so, the list goes on and on and on.



There are several reasons why other news outlets are performing much better than any independent, Igbo-related owned newspaper, that is, if there is a credible one. From the list of Igbo journalists I have cited, and taking a closer look at the news outlets they work for, about one or so could be said to be owned by a South-easterner; and taking a closer look, too, who indeed runs the paper? The creators cannot be trashy-talky, reproachy, sloppy and gossipy on inconsequential stuff while they have loads and loads of untouched literary and historical issues confronting them -- paying their journalists and writers to start researching on a wide range of their origin, where all the migration began, who they were, how they got trapped into a fabricated nation through a colonization mandate; their role in that fabrication and its aftermath; the pogrom, the civil war, the post-civil war and an alleged reconstruction that followed; and regarding the pogrom and civil war, the victims’ family, the participants who survived and what they know, leading-edge research and interviews in that perspective; and a whole lot connected to the facts and logic about what happened -- and not doing anything about it, which in its entirety a continuous tragedy.



Also, the creators should should come to realization that the people want an administration that is open to scrutiny, making its financial accounts public, one of the lapses former governor Ohakim was able to elude them.



The creators should be focusing and coming up with projects, since a lame duck government of deceit would not get anything done; on how to influence, shape, establishing their literary culture by building libraries in every of its enclaves where access to all that is important in its history and things like that can be located -- works of traditional and lyric poetry, comedy, cultural festivals, history, tragedy, medical writers, the pagans and all about the myth; Agwuisi na Amadioha; nd’amala and what they may have left behind; the churches and those church fathers who combined Omenala and the Biblical principles to their practice; the Dibies (native doctors), who combined mgborogwu and Western medicine to their profession; the nd’ na agba afa, soothsayers, who combine their craft with Western ideals of logic and philosophy, and the list goes on and on and on.



Remarking on these blows, I remember interviewing Dr. Julius Kpaduwa on August 11, 2002. I had scheduled this interview with Kpaduwa after reaching agreement with my colleagues at BNW Magazine on questions they would want asked. I had also notified my friend and colleague, Austen Oghuma, who promised he’d be there on the day of the said interview at Kpaduwa’s bedroom community, The Country Diamond Bar home.



What happened was, Kpaduwa had declared his candidacy to run for the governorship of Imo State. I was not there at his formal declaration party. I was investigating the Otokoto family criminal mafia, asking questions on who knows what on a trail of mayhem, rape, lynching, body parts trafficking and mob killings connected to the Otokoto family in Owerri and its environs. I would interview the son of the mob, Maxwell Otokoto Duru, here in Los Angeles on that trail of heinous crimes that spooked Owerri township.



While working on the Kpaduwa interview, first of its kind by any Nigerian, U.S.-based news magazine in that order, its content and capacity, which was during Achike Udenwa’s administration in Imo State, I bumped into Dr. Edmund Ugorji, then medical director, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, who had since relocated back to Nigeria and who had questioned if I was still writing my “thought provoking” stuff treading with caution that even though what I write is clearly the way it’s suppose to be, that Nigeria ‘is’ not America, that “my people are not matured yet for your kind of write-ups; we are still learning the process of democracy,” Ugorji would tell me. Ugorji also popped up the question of Kpaduwa, if I heard anything since he’d been shot by his political opponents in Nigeria.



“What actually happened and what are the details, do you know?” Ugorji asked.



“I have been scheduled to interview Kpaduwa at his Diamond Bar home and I have been talking to Kpaduwa since the attempt on his life in Nigeria, and I will be meeting with him soon for the interview,” I told Ugorji.



“Good, tell him that I said be well and be strong,” (emphasis mine) Ugorji said.



In late 2004, Ugorji, Kpaduwa, Jimmy Asiegbu and a host of Igbo Diaspora in Greater Los Angeles would summon its elite class to address the plight of the Igbo Nation and how to arrest the troubling situations in the Igbo-related states, which I will be writing in a different essay.



On August 08, 2002, my colleagues and I - Chinedu Ibe (Chicago, Illinois), Dr. Emeka J. Amanze (College Park, Maryland), Nick N. Nwuda (Inland Empire, California), Odo Akaji (Gloucestershire, England), Dr. Emeka S. Enwere (London, England) and Dr. Chidi Okorie (London, England) - had a teleconference on Kpaduwa’s interview to be published exclusively at BNW Magazine. The questions were all in order as agreed. Kpaduwa, fine with the date of interview, was prepared waiting for my arrival. Upon arrival, I met Oghuma, and some of Kpaduwa’s friends, colleagues and political allies who looked forward to the interview.



And for sure, investigative and compelling, I asked the questions and Kpaduwa answered all that had stuff to do with Igbo-related worthy causes and the people of Imo in general. Just like a country or state without appropriate measures operating a police force without bullets, Kpaduwa laid out his agenda for his ideas and visions if elected governor, when I popped the question on healthcare:



BNW: Let's talk about healthcare. The healthcare system in Imo state today is in shambles. I remember the story of a dying patient who could not be treated because he had no deposit. That, for sure, will not happen in the United States. Here, in America, in a situation like this, all one need to do is dial 911 and the response would be available immediately. If elected, how would your administration address the issue, improving the healthcare system?



Dr. Kpaduwa: You have asked the most important question of the night, though I don't know how many more questions you have. I can tell you that for the past four years, my wife and I (my wife is also a physician), we have been organizing and going on medical missions,, a free medical care to all parts of Imo State. As a matter of fact, we just finished one last Friday and we had a whole lot of cases. I was not able to go, even though I arranged it, and my wife could not go even though she was suppose to be part of the medical team. You just have to talk to people from Mbano, and they will tell can tell you what they experienced in our medical missions last week. Not only in Mbano, there were accounts of people who came from Orlu, Owerri and Mbaise trooping to Mbano Joint Hospital for free medical treatments and needs.



In fact, it was as a result of inadequate medical care I experienced during or very first medical mission that drove me to what I am doing now, running for the governor of Imo State, because I found out I could do very little with a stethoscope. I found out that if there was sound, good public policy as far as healthcare is concerned, the people of Imo State would be better off. That's really what motivated me to seek the office of the governor.



I have a plan that is very well laid out in our Manifesto, so to speak. And that plan, basically will guarantee any division of government owned Imo State hospital, standard of community hospital in the United States, if you know what I mean. That means that the operating room has to be fully equipped and functional. There has to be a functioning emergency department. There has to be adequate amount of drugs. And you will ask me how are we going to finance this. We have been doing this without even being in office, completely free of charge. We happen to be in a country--the United States of America--and God bless America that philanthropy is one of the bedrock of society. There is no where I can go to the hospitals that I practice, and ask them for equipments which are still functional and very good, or do a drive around the United States, I will equip every single hospital, functioning without spending a penny. All I need is the transportation. I will train a personnel, an adequate personnel. We will fully compensate the physicians that work there.



The hospitals, nobody goes to them because there is little or no care. We practiced in those hospitals, they are only hospitals in name and it is a shame. If you do not provide the people with minimum wages, decent jobs that will not guarantee them some form of health insurance or any form of health coverage, I believe that the government has the sole responsibility to take care of its own citizens. I don't care where you get the fund from,you go out there and get it until such a time when you have brought out the economic level of the state to a point whereby people can begin to get health insurances from their various jobs.



Under our own government structure, no single individual will be turned away from government hospital and emergency cases because of the inability to pay. It can be done because we will be able to get resources from outside of the country. For complex cases, no individual, for any operation that is needed will be turned away because he or she did not have money. And that is what's going on now. If you don't have money even on emergency basis, in fact, when I was shot and they took me to Federal Medical Center in Owerri, they refused to let me down until I have a police report. This is a gun shot wound, I was bleeding; I was in pain; nobody took the time to access my condition, I could have died. They told us that I cannot come down. So, we went to the police station to get a police report. Under our administration, such a nonsense will not happen.



When we got the police report and went back to the hospital, they refused to attend to me until we are able to pay certain basic fees. I just was lucky my wife's friend who's a physician works at that hospital and she happened to be there when we walked in. She paid all the fees. It's not that I don't have the money, but we just didn't have it on us. You will need a card, you will need this, you will need that in order to be attended, or they won't attend to you. Under our administration, that comes to a full stop. I don't care whether it's a federal medical center or a state hospital.



So the Imo people are in for a treat, as far as healthcare is concerned. That's where they will have the immediate benefits of our administration, because this is not depending on anybody else effort. It is going to be solely our effort. I belong to the Association of Nigeria Physicians in America; they help me run the medical mission in Mbano. The Imo people really are out for a treat; they want decent health-care and we are going to put a whole lot of money for it.”



Which, as the interview entails years we have been living in different times, if at all, we ever had normal lives, with no sense of an ending, as our daily life and movements have been altered, not knowing where the kidnappers are planning for their next victim; not knowing the next politician to be murdered in the most brutal of circumstances; not knowing when a village encounters police on a shootout on the vagaries of a kidnapped local government chairman; not knowing the next victim to be hanged on a tree; not knowing when a Diaspora is waylaid by hired assassins while visiting his native land; not knowing when a young girl would be raped by a gang of college students; not knowing when police would fatally shoot a U.S.-based resident visiting his homeland, and the list goes on and on and on..



We have not in many instances cared about these practices except when it’s shown in the news or we heard it while socializing in beer parlors, and as it’s not happening directly to us, but others - until, one day, and unfortunately like a man going about his business knowing nothing at all and suddenly hears the story of his or her relative being a victim, of the chaotic nature of the land, and that’s when we’ll be up awake, in shock, moping, “is this happening in our land? Jesus

Christ!”



What is actually disturbing is the recent incident of the rapists Jonah Uche, Zaki, Ifeanyi Justin Ogu and Winston Okoye Chinonso who collaboratively raped a young college student brutally to a point the victim asked to be killed. The irony: the follow-up to the case seems to have quieted down, fizzled out and we are erasing it from our memory with nothing done as time passes by. Has anyone thought of the rape victim being a sister, a sister’s friend, a mother, a family friend’s wife and or a very close relative?



These and a whole lot of problems is what should be expected from Diaspora to address with their influence and a positive result forth coming. And with this framework, and a Diaspora comparing its ideals to other communities, in analogy, as they lay claim on their cumulative life experiences in building community from turmoil to triumph in what did pay off telling of their American story as a community; and telling of American prosperity from their building community; and telling of American triumphalism, who else would doubt and argue when they say: The United States Of America is the greatest nation in the world!



Ede chaa nam!



References: See;



BNW Face 2 Face: Dr. Julius Kpaduwa

http://magazine.biafranigeriaworld.com/aehirim/2002aug16.html



The Otokoto Family Criminal Mafia

A BNW Magazine/The Ambrose Ehirim Files Exclusive With Maxwell Vincent Duru Otokoto

http://tinyurl.com/3lavqrk

http://tinyurl.com/3suq9ph



Rochas Okorocha and the New Dawm

http://ambroseehirim.blogspot.com/2011/06/rochas-okorocha-and-new-dawn.html

Rochas Okorocha and the New Dawn

Rochas Okorocha and Solomon Egbuho at The World Igbo Congress Convention in Los Angeles, 2005

I wish to draw everybody's attention to what has been going around as the new democratic fabric seems to be in what the pundits now call 'the progressives' and how it has helped effect change as the Fourth Republic enters its 4th Term, and by the time the 4th term will be over or should be over, we'll be talking about sixteen years of a fledgling democracy. I have always emphasized on situations like this when I say 'it's not yet uhuru' and there's no need to be bumping fists in a political environment that is still full of uncertainties.

In the past, I have predicted with near certainty in elections of this nature with regards to the Igbo-related states, and particularly my home state of Imo, from around which a better election was held, this time around, and that the people of Imo State spoke overwhelmingly on the ground destiny was in their own hands. This may be because not that Ohakim was that evil as we all may have thought; it's because we have been learning how other states in the federation have been gradually doing well as time went by and as they kept learning from the nation's neo-democratic dispensation of the Fourth Republic; by correcting its ills as it came along.

As it has now happened, and applying other better performing states as model, we hope, we will not be seeing again Imo Diaspora endorsing a 4th Republic first 'elected' Imo governor in Achike Udenwa who nobody questioned his code of conduct through a second term without investigating a ridiculously managed regime in Imo. So, too, hopefully, we will not be seeing Imo Diaspora endorsing and applauding a fraudulently 'elected' Ikedi Ohakim's proposed visit to the shores of the United States by a confused Los Angeles area organizing committees.

And hopefully, we will not be seeing where backlog of teachers salaries are left unpaid as in Udenwa's regime. And, again, hopefully, we will not be seeing a Diaspora that will abandon its responsibilities, sit and do nothing about the affairs of state, by way of proffering thoughtful ideas based on its Diaspora knowledge to help its home state grow through series of development programs typical of all organized societies. And too, for sure, we will not be seeing where Igbo-related states, especially Imo, in which that part of Ala-Igbo was deliberately turned into a state of empire and anarchy while kidnapping became the order of the day and we all sat idly watch it unfold.

We have arrived to the 'New Dawn,' and evidently Rochas Okorocha cleared the hurdle giving Nd'Imo a sigh of relief, and that, never again would people like Ohakim be given the opportunity to destroy the state in its entirety; and that, never again would such be accepted in any civil society if we really want democracy to prevail.

Okorocha, I would assume saw how Imo deteriorated by way of social programs and basic infrastructures he quickly dabbled himself to opposition to fight and have Ohakim removed. Okorocha did not all of a sudden pop up to an out of nowhere politician. During the World Igbo Congress held September 2-4, 2005, (Labor Day Weekend) at the Los Angeles Airport Hotel, while I reported for BNW News, I met and spoke with Okorocha when he told me he had intentions to run for president of Federal Republic of Nigeria. The keynote speakers included Senator Ken Nnamani, President of Ohan'Eze Nd'Igbo Prof. Joe Irukwu, Orji Uzor Kalu, Okorocha, among others. Despite the fact that, Nnamani, not impressed with the convention on a variety of reasons World Igbo Congress had not accomplished in its twelve years of gathering asking where Nd'Igbo were heading to as a result of a Los Angeles bad organizing committee that invited him to be a keynote speaker, Okorocha did not waist time in announcing his bid for the presidency noting Nd'Igbo must engage Nigeria and get what they want; and put the marginalization theory behind them.

But now, the question here is: How Would Imo Diaspora influence decisions in a changing Imo State as Okorocha declares free education in the state on the day of inauguration? Is free education what Imo State desperately need right now or is it by creating jobs which would gradually alleviate crime? Would free education do any good without equipping the schools? Would free education without equipping the schools by any standard bring about better scholars?

Free education for all, no question, is a good way to start. But let's not start celebrating. It's not yet Uhuru!