What The Papers Say
Standard Diary, September 29, 1985
Prisons' Week
The Prison's week is a good occasion for us to reflect on the situation of our unfortunate brothers and sisters who, for various reasons, have been deprived of their liberty. It can be a traumatic experience even when one is aware of why one is deprived of one's liberty but it is nothing less than a tragedy when one does not even know why one suffers the loss of one's liberty. And this does happen sometimes; maybe even the right authorities are unaware of this. We publish below the names of some people who happen to be in custody and who, apparently, have not been charged with any specific offence yet. There may be many more such persons in this situation. Our plea is that a thought be given to all such people on this occasion of the Prisons' Week. As Professor Ral Darendorf said in the Great Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon, in one of the Aggrey-Fraser- Guggisberg Memorial Lectures: "The right to habeas corpus and the right of expression are absolute; no regime however poor it may be, has the right to restrict them."The following is a list of the people arrested and on which date:
Kankam da Costa, January 1982; Dan Nii Oku, December 1982; E.Y. Agyepong, January 1982; David Korley (Cauley), February 1983; Appiah Amankwa, May 1983; Nai Abundan Quaye IV, May 1983; Timothy Kwasi Asa, May 1983; Alhaji Abubakari Musah, November 1983; H.K. Twumasi-Afriyie, December 1983; Tetteh Adime, March 1984; Emmanuel Narh, March 1984; Ahmed Malik, Febuary 1984; George Darko, March 1984; Alhaji T.B. Damba, January 1985; Ex-S/Sgt. Emmanuel Afari, January 1982; L/Cpl. Tweneboa Kodua, January 1982; Sgt. S. Danso, January 1982; Sgt. Joseph Ankra, January 1982; S/Sgt. M.K. Tanson, January 1985; Nana Kobina Amoah, January 1982; Cpl. Boye Okai, January 1982; Cpl. S. Amandzakpe, February 1983; Pte. Twumhene, February 1983; Cpl. George Owusu Antwi, February 1983; Cpl. Nyame- Bekyere Sarpong, February 1983; Rexford Ohemeng, February Osei, February 1983; S/Sgt. Emmanuel Osei, February 1983; 1983; Pte. Amponsah Dadzie, February 1983; St. Nicholas Cpl. Daniel Dzame, February 1983; Boby Mustapha, November 1982; Cpl. Alhassan, October 1983; Paul Adega Akora, October 1983; Evans Dyivor, October 1983; L/Cpl. Aninakwah, February 1983; Cpl. Obeng Okyer, February 1983; Cpl. Opare Sarpong, March 1984.
Daily Times, Nigeria, November 2, 1985
The forces' pay cut
When during the week the Armed Forces Ruling Council, the nation's highest ruling body, slashed by 2½ to 20 per cent the pay of men of the armed forces and the police, it simply put the nation on notice of what to expect in the months ahead. Theirs in clear terms is a practical demonstration of the classical saying that charity begins at home.A vista - or perhaps only a glimpse - of that future was revealed by President Ibrahim Babangida in his 25th Independence anniversary address.
The declaration of war, be it military or economic as it now is the case, must be sequel to developments that threaten the existence of the state. It will appear that in our 25 years' history we have twice been faced with such developments. The nation in 1967 went to war, though against a part of herself, to maintain her sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Today, we stand on a precipice, staring destiny in the face as the nation witnesses her worst economic crisis. The crisis itself threatens our collective interest as a people and renders very gloomy those of the unborn generations of Nigerians. If the present circumstances do not demand of us the courage to declare and be ready for war, then we, of course, have no business laying claim to nationhood.
Good enough, the courage is there. Then if the coming war has to do with being forced to live and do things within our means, it needs no begging the issue that we must start first by doing away with wastage. That step should take us to the next - a review or update, with the goal of strictly enforcing the legion of laws or rules that guide usage of public property. This means that we cannot now anymore parry over, like in the bad old ways. the unwisdom of allowing top public servants have telephones, electric supply, palatial houses, gardeners, etc, that they do not pay for.
Of course, the bitter medicine ahead will affect everyone. There will and should be no sacred cows. But all these expectations impose imperatives of their own. The government will need all the willpower it can muster in order to push through the necessary measures. Every Nigerian will be expected to make one sacrifice or the other. But in an emergency situation where some salaries have to be slashed, there arises an equal commitment to beat down prices. That, in the end, will boil down to a people's sacrifice for economic survival.
