Modibbo, stop chasing shadows

If there is one thing which has become manifest and abundantly clear from the ongoing  senate probe  of the FCT Administration, it is the desperate and self serving desire of the current FCT Minister, Dr. Umar Modibbo, to discredit his predecessor in office, Mallam Nasiru e–Rufai.

I watched the very negative documentary which aired on several   TV stations and which were apparently sponsored by Dr. Modibbo. I also watched the FCT Minister’s performance at the senate hearing. To get a comprehensive view of the real state of affairs in the FCT, I  equally watched Mallam el–Rufai’s testimony at the senate hearing last week Wednesday.

Having observed the situation thus far, I have come to the inescapable conclusion that the FCT Minister is merely chasing shadows. It is now clear that he is finding the shoes el-Rufai left behind too big to fill. Rather than develop a vision and a strategy with which to build on the laudable achievements of his predecessor in the infrastructure, education, health, transportation and social sectors, he is busy fanning the embers of discord and distraction.

It is disappointing that, unlike his predecessor, he has nothing new to add to the dramatic transformation of Abuja. If not, why is he wasting time airing false documentaries, sponsoring lies – filled dubious advertorials and inundating the senate committee with pertinently faulty information? el – Rufai bestrode Abuja and the FCT like a colossus, did a world of good and may have made a few mistakes. Let the current minister do likewise and we will praise him to the high heavens.

By chasing shadows and not concentrating on executing the mandate Mr. President gave him, he is already alienating the bulk of Abuja residents, myself inclusive. A word is enough for the wise.

Segun Adedoyin,
Wuse,
Abuja.

FG, sanction British Airways

This is not the first time people have complained about the way British Airways and its staffers treat Nigerians. They treat us as if we are second class citizens. I have flown with British Airways from Vancouver to Abuja for the past three years and I must confess that their services to Nigerians are nothing to write home about. From Vancouver to London (because I have to transit in London) their services are impeccable.

However, from London to Abuja/Lagos once you board a British Airways they will allow passengers to be seated first then they will bring out a can of insecticide and say,”it’s for bugs” and begin to spray the aircraft. The question I always ask is that if this spray is for bugs why don’t they spray the aircraft before passengers are seated? Another question is, why is it that only the Nigerian route is sprayed for bugs? For the three years I have flown British Airways to Nigeria from Canada they have never sprayed any of their aircraft from Vancouver to Heathrow or vice versa.

I find this behaviour very disturbing since they are claiming that they have been serving Nigerians for the past 70 years. The problem is that government is not doing enough to curtail their excesses. British Airways and its staffers should be brought to book with regard to the way they treat Nigerians and our government should defend her citizens against any imperialist tendencies. The airline has no right to ban any Nigerian from entering their aircraft just because he was simply expressing his views.

It shows that they look down on Nigerians. I suggest that the government should look at this phenomenon very carefully and ban British Airways from Nigeria until they have a change of attitude towards Nigerians. Nigerians on their part should boycott the airline.

Olugbenga Clement,
Lagos.