by Suraj Oyewale

Yes, I’m aware that the  military is one institution where sentiments and public opinions do not count. But the Nigerian Military should please do this for us: don’t send those soldiers to their graves. The news goes that the soldiers, who were irked by the manner their colleagues were butchered by Boko Haram insurgents that they were posted to fight, revolted against their commander to protest the ill-treatment and lack of fighting equipment that have made their job of containing Boko Haram insurgency a difficult one. I know that revolting against a leader, not least military, is a very heinous offence, but this is no coup please.

We are bloody civilians driven by emotions, but the soldiers should please save us this sad reminder of the era of killing. I read that the court martial currently awaits the approval of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Minimah, before the execution is carried out. General Minimah, please save these souls. Na beg we dey beg please. These guys were on the field to fight our common enemies – the BH insurgents. Their families will not want to see them go just like that. Please, General Minimah, don’t approve this sentence.

Oritsejafor’s impounded jet

The news filtered in last week that a Nigerian jet was impounded by the South African authorities for carrying a huge amount of cash, $9.3 million dollars, into their country without necessary approval. Expectedly, this generated some furore and that was the biggest public issue in last week.

As someone that knows a couple of jet-owning Nigerian billionaires – even if not on personal level – I have always known that these jet-owning politicians and businessmen use their jets for commercial purposes too. That is, they give these jets out to some companies to manage, and rent out, for some revenue. I am aware of this arrangement since at least four years ago.

The reason is simple: jets are not cars you park in your garage; they are far more expensive to maintain. Also, most of them have more than one. As businessmen, no matter how rich you are, you are not unlikely to be open to any arrangement that will cover some of your costs, except you have unfettered access to the Central Bank vault. So I know very well that most of these guys lend out these private aircraft, but usually handy for their use at any time.

But I am not so bothered about the above. My major issue is, if this jet was owned by a Bola Tinubu, an APC chieftain, or an Abdus Samad Rabiu, a Muslim, what would be the public mood now?

So, with this knowledge, I won’t rule out the possibility that the Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor may not be aware of the use of his aircraft for such purpose. That jets are leased out by companies managing them, is common practice.

I won’t rule out too, the possibility that the Federal Government chose to use that jet, for a fee or pro bono, because it was Pastor Oritsejafor’s, given the closeness of the pastor to the President. Business patronage, if you get what I mean.

But I am not so bothered about the above. My major issue is, if this jet was owned by a Bola Tinubu, an APC chieftain, or an Abdus Samad Rabiu, a Muslim, what would be the public mood now? Even if, like Oristejafor, the owner probably did not know anything about it. We would have seen Pastor Oritsejafor spitting fire by now, calling for the arrest of the owner. We would have seen Femi Fani Kayode beating his chest that it was the handiwork of the “Janjaweed and Boko Haram party”, APC. Any explanation that the owner knew nothing about it would have made sense only to the marines, not to Oritsejafor or Femi Fani Kayode.

In fairness, Nigeria’s cyber-commentariat have not spared Pastor Oritsejafor, rightly or wrongly, but the kernel did not take religious or party coloration. I wonder if this would have been the case if it was a Tinubu or an Indimi that is linked with the jet.

Ebola containment

I was really impressed with the efforts of the Lagos State Government and the Federal Ministry of Health for the manner they handled the unfortunate incident of Ebola outbreak in Nigeria since July, no thanks to the wickedness of the Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, lent further proof to my now common assertion that he is the best elected public officer Nigeria has ever seen since 1999. I stand by this. Like I have always said too, Lagos State has always been blessed with great commissioners, thanks to the recruitment strategy of the handlers of their parties. The state’s commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who was a classmate to the late Dr. Stella Adadevoh of First Consultants Hospital, in their Medical School days, also rose to the occasion.

The Federal Government also did a great job through the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu. For the first time in recent time – probably since this administration came into power – politics was set aside for national interest. The result was a commendable check of what could have led to a national disaster.

Good jobs gentlemen. Keep it up.

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 Suraj Oyewale, a chartered accountant, blogger and public analyst, is the Founder of JarusHub Career & Management Portal. He can be reached via [email protected]