The House

The Individual as a Catalyst for Social Change- Series 1

2006-11-10T10:06:00.000+01:00

Good morning all. I came across a book in the car of my colleague this week and the thoughts really created these deep feelings in me.

Yes, I will call it a book because though it has no author name on it and just 12 pages. It is titled: The Individual as a Catalyst for Social Change. Over the next week, I will be running you through exerpts pf this book. I think you will enjoy this series and I am sure that ideas like this will help shape and define our social existence and development.

Nigerians have achieved various levels of successes locally and internationally but as a nation we must accept the stark reality that we have failed. This failure is our collective failure either as a community, state or nation. It is time we continue to identify persons who though not exactly interested in contesting for political positions are nevertheless terribly concerned about the denigration of the core values which impact negatively on our lives and on the nation generally.

These groups of persons are honest about their views on the country, live exemplary lives, remain in the background as armchair critics not exactly sure how they could possibly make a difference.

I believe that if we can identify these groups of persons, united by the same ideology, passionate about the need to make a difference and hungry for good leadership, hen we may begin the process that will ignite a change within a community.

With such groups in various and several communities, we might see a change on a national scale.
To be continued.

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Respect and Values

2006-11-10T09:47:00.000+01:00

What’s your story? Who do you respect and admire that you haven’t met?

There would only be one reason that you respect and admire anyone! And that is because of their story, because you know what has happened to them.
Respect is a very underestimated word. People often try to build relationships, personal and business with people they don’t really respect. Without respect, the odds of any relationship flourishing are drastically reduced. So check it out…. do you respect the people you are trying to build relationships with?
Why would anyone respect you?
The reason anyone will respect you is if they know your story. Everyone has a story of transformation where something major has changed for the better or worse in their lives. More often than not, these changes are emotional. It is crucial to remember here that we are most times, emotionally, not intellectually driven!
That we only ever do anything for one reason…and that is a feeling! That is why emotional stories are always the best. Stories overcoming fear, stories of elation, of love, of success or even failure and especially stories of overcoming the biggest hurdle in life…and that is ourselves. It is emotions that make any story real because people can then relate to it. The most common compliment I receive after an event is when people come up to me and say….‘It was just like you were speaking to me. I could personally relate to what you said so much’. That is because we connected on an emotional level. So what’s your emotional story? It is not what happens to you that matter but how you respond to what happens to you. Everything happens for a reason and it serves us.
My recommendation to you! Take time out to discover your own story. Without it people won’t respect you and without the emotions they will not emotionally relate to you. Respect gives every relationship huge depth and meaning, and remember everyone has a story including you! You can’t be alive and not have one so find yours and share it and get the respect you deserve!
Permit me to quote a couple who have been married for more than 4 decades….”We didn’t make it this far because it was easy. We made it through 40 years of marriage because we vowed that we would; we were committed even when it didn’t feel like we were, and that meant never backing out, even when it was hard, or uncomfortable, or painful. We learned to compromise, and discovered that difficult situations can make you stronger and more patient. Staying committed to your goals and dreams doesn’t guarantee you’ll have an easy road, but you’ll be working toward something important with every step you take in that direction.

Very few people get the opportunity or privilege to have an impact or input into someone’s life. I like to think that each day I do my job in some small way I have changed something for the better. It doesn't need to be anything huge; when I was eight it was as simple as washing my plate after eating and saying thank you to mum and dad. What equated to moments out of a normal day for me several years ago is something extraordinary to some children today. The world is changing is all we hear.
Now that I've become what I admired, I've had to learn to deal with situations that are both unexpected and difficult. There have been times when I've seen something so powerful the tears began to fall before the emotion even registered. It was during those times that I fell back on memories. The difficult experiences in my life make every other moment better than it would have been otherwise. Why do I do what I do? Because I need to find the moments that change the places and lives around me, and more importantly the moments that change me. It's what I live for. The desire to walk through each day with that ultimate goal in mind is the only fire that burns forever.
The values we live by are worth more when we pass them on.

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A Trip From Abuja By Air - Reuben Abati

2006-11-08T08:26:00.000+01:00

I had cause to travel to Abuja a few days ago. I was accosted at the airport by a television crew who wanted to know how I felt traveling by air so soon after the ADC plane crash of October 29. "What can we do? Life must continue", I declared, matter of factly. And indeed life must go on, although I noticed that there were not too many passengers at the usually busy local wing of the Murtala Muhammad airport in Lagos.
But the drama that I experienced on the return leg of my trip was so memorable I cannot the resist the temptation to report it. I arrived at the Abuja airport very early on Friday morning, to beat the rush and see if I could get a seat on either an Aero Contractors flight or Virgin Nigeria. For now, these are the only two airlines which Nigerians prefer to patronise. But at the Aero contractor ticket counter, I was told that all the airline's early morning flights to Lagos had been fully booked. I ended up buying a Chachangi ticket. The plane was already boarding so I rushed off to the tarmac. Sitting next to me in the aircraft was a young lady who pestered me endlessly with her anxiety. First, she lamented not being able to get an Aero ticket. Then, she declared that her mother would nearly faint were she to be told that she travelled with another airline.
"Do you think this plane will get to Lagos safely?", she asked me."I don't see any reason why it shouldn't", I tried to reassure her."Ah", she sighed. "And I didn't tell anybody I was travelling o. I want my mum to see me in Lagos and be surprised."I kept mute. I had nothing to say to this. Meanwhile, the door of the aircraft was being shut, preparatory to departure.
"They are locking the door", she told me. "Someone cannot go down again. Ah, what have I done to myself? I think I should have gone back home and travel later". "Don't worry. We are in it already. Everything will be fine". "But see" she said, sweeping the aircraft with her left hand. "There are not too many people on this flight. It's like other people are afraid too. This is an early morning flight on Friday, ordinarily it should be full of passengers. I just hope I have not made a mistake". "Don't worry, take it easy. Everything will be fine."
"Anytime I can't get either Aero or Virgin, I will just go back home."
The plane was now moving onto the runway, and just as it lifted itself off the ground, it shook at the wings a bit.
"The plane is shaking. It is shaking", the lady said, her voice quivering.
"That is normal when an aircraft is taking off, It will soon stabilise once it gains altitude," I told her.
"See, other people are praying."
She placed her head on the seat in front of her and mumbled some words to the Almighty. I looked out of the window, and behold, just below us, on a burnt out patch of ground, almost at the end of the runway field, to the right of the aircraft was the tail of the ADC plane that crashed on October 29. I could see it very clearly. I drew the young lady's attention to it. She looked out too noting that the crash was really close to the airport, and judging from the position of the aircraft in which we were traveling, we were able to confirm that in fact the crashed ADC plane had not even gained altitude before it plunged into the earth below and exploded. If such an accident had occurred in a city like Lagos where houses surround the perimeter fence of the airport, the tragedy would have been worse. More people would have died. The plane was now airborne. The young lady was still fretting.
"Don't give yourself hypertension", I advised her.
"At least we have survived the take-off, it remains landing. I understand that these planes only crash when they are taking off or when they are landing," she observed.
"Well, well". I restrained myself from giving her examples of air crashes in which the aircraft developed a fault while airborne. She kept talking.
"And the planes tend to crash either on Saturdays or Sundays. Thank God today is Friday," she noted. I could see that the lady was trying so hard to reassure herself that she was safe. Just then, the cabin attendant said certain things and mentioned the name of the pilot. This proved to be a useful piece of information for her.
"The pilot is a white man", she said, sounding as if she had just resolved a puzzle. I couldn't immediately figure out what she was driving at. "That is a white man's name" she added.
I had wanted to tell her that the pilot could well be a Nigerian bearing one of those foreign sounding names, and that she should not judge a man's colour by the sound of his name alone. But I left her alone with her illusions. She won't give up.
"At least a white pilot will be reasonable," she told me. "How?", I asked. "He will not take the kind of risk that our people will take."
"May be." By now, this lady was beginning to get on my nerves with her panic. So, I pretended as if I was feeling sleepy. I actually rested my head on the seat in front of me. But she would not leave me alone.
"You want to sleep?". "Yes". "How can you sleep in this kind of situation? Me, I can't sleep o. I am going to stay awake and monitor everything that this plane does till we get down safely in Lagos."
I mumbled something about not getting enough sleep the previous day, because I don't always feel comfortable sleeping in a strange bed in a hotel. She was not interested in my sleeping habits.
"Do you think the weather is good today?", she inquired. Not being a meteorologist, I was not in a position to offer her an expert opinion on the weather, other than to describe what she herself could see. It was bright outside, and the sun was already out.
"I think the weather is good today, the pilot shouldn't have any problems", she answered her question herself. I nodded. And if it would be of any comfort to her, I drew her attention to the news that the President had redeployed Professor Babalola Borishade from the Aviation Ministry to Culture and Tourism, a sign at least that the Federal Government is just as concerned about the state of the aviation industry as the rest of us.
"Who is now the new Minister of Aviation?", she asked. I told her. She shook her head.
"But that Professor Borishade, does he have any shame at all?," she inquired. How on earth she expected me to offer a definite opinion on this, I didn't know.
"The man should know that by redeploying him, the President is making a statement of disapproval about his headship of the Aviation Ministry and particularly his management of the ADC crash. What is he going to do at the Culture Ministry? He should have resigned; in fact the President should have sacked him."
"The man says he likes his redeployment. He is not thinking of resignation. He is happy"
"Why won't he be happy? If the President had redeployed him as a Personal Assistant in the Presidency, he would also have taken it. People like him have an explanation for everything. No shame at all."
Finally, the lady kept quiet. But as soon as the cabin hostess announced that the aircraft would commence its descent into the Lagos airport, my tormentor started fretting again. But we made it. The landing was smooth, and I saw her praying again, and singing. I took a close look at her for the first time. A pretty girl. Used to being pampered, obviously. Nice physical assets; delicate and tempting features. We disembarked. It took some time before we could collect our luggage, and now it was my turn to fret. "I don't like being kept waiting", I said. "Why is it taking these people so long to bring our luggage?" Someone spoke beside me. It wasn't the lady now, but a man who had been with us on the same flight.
"Any time they like, they can bring the luggage. You should be thanking God that we had a smooth flight and arrived safely", the fellow said.I had nothing to say to him. I didn't want another cry baby on my hands, lamenting about the woes of Nigeria's aviation industry and how it has turned air travellers into victims of paranoia.

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Authoritarian Mentality - By Fred Igbeare

2006-11-06T07:04:00.000+01:00

Remember the injunction ‘convert or die’? Well, that seems to be the unwitting human mantra. In Nigeria it is a veritable art form, a way of life. Many people say they want democracy, but at heart they are budding despots. If you agree with them, they smile at you and wish you well. If you disagree with them, they ride your back roughshod like Josef Stalin, wishing you dead. This duplicity is the essence of the authoritarian mentality.

In a land of laws, democracy is strengthened by due process. To put it simply, due process means playing by the rules to safeguard the rights of all individuals regardless of whether you agree with them or not. The challenge for us humans is how to resist trampling on due process when we are in a hurry. Reportedly ratified under duress by the National Assembly, the Ekiti State of Emergency (SOE) doesn’t really comply with due process. That is because duly elected officials still remain suspended from office without regard for their rights or that of the electorate.

The SOE was approved sadly even by those who were supposed to be in the pro-democracy movement. It would seem expediency has contrived to rob these people of much outrage over a clever descent into dictatorship. That approval reveals a terrible truth: many Nigerians unfortunately are yet to overcome a diseased mentality that made possible years of brutish military rule.

The moral of the Ekiti story: despotic actions are okay when applied against ‘bad’ and not ‘good’ people. ‘Good’ people, of course, being those who agree with us. This contradiction is fuelled by an authoritarian mentality that pervades Nigerian life. It is a mentality that demonizes those we are opposed to, requiring that they be denied of their legal rights just because they don’t comply with our imperfect will. The message here is: join the bandwagon or be crushed underneath.

This mentality has restricted creativity and hindered our overall growth because if its suppression of the less powerful and perversion of the powerful. At the low end of this food chain are the ‘lesser’ men, the harassed women and the frightened children whose contributions to society have become stunted hence. The debilitating effects of this suppression may have facilitated the easy colonization of Africa and the enslavement of its people, the after effects of which still resound today.

Here is a warning to all budding despots. And I am talking to all types. It doesn’t matter if your political leaning is a little or a lot to the left, the right or even dead center! Hear this: stop playing with fire or it will consume you! The Russians tried it. The Germans did it. Tyranny does not pay!

You cannot trust imperfect human beings with absolute power. There have to be checks and balances, based on the rule of law which depends on due process. Those entrusted with special roles in the system, especially judges, have to perform creditably. A great example would be the judges at the Court of Appeal in Ibadan. By nullifying Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja’s impeachment, they are fulfilling their roles aptly. What is left now is for others to promptly enforce their decision or get the Supreme Court to rule otherwise. Anything else corrupts due process.

For those with the authoritarian mentality, bowing to judicial authority is like pulling teeth. The generals and others who now run our polity are used to operating under military regimes that have historically curtailed judicial powers. They seem to be struggling to make the transition from the rule of men to the rule of laws. And many Nigerians appear to be struggling right along with them because of the persistent need for ‘strong’ leaders who invariable turn out to be despots.

The authoritarian mindset in Nigeria today is not unlike that in Hitler’s Germany where it provided fertile grounds for a fiery orator with a ‘strong’ personality. That budding despot later circumvented the democratic process in Germany. He went on to set the world afire in a monumental spiral of deaths and destructions. The momentum for that spiral began with small steps of convenience to deny due process to ‘bad’ people. Ask the Jews and others who suffered gravely! If the Ekiti fiasco doesn’t alert us to the dangers of the authoritarian mindset in Nigeria today, we are in much bigger trouble than I imagined.

The signs for that mindset are everywhere. It drives one person to kill another for political office. It pushes a ‘big’ man to jump the queue ahead of ‘small’ people. It prompts government officials to disobey court orders or trash the constitution to impeach someone. It compels a president to argue for separation of powers in one breath and to contradict that argument in another breath. It may one day push a president to use the Ekiti bad precedent as an excuse for further dictatorial acts.

Self-centeredness is a distinguishing mark of the authoritarian mentality: the common good doesn’t count. Tell me, who has really gained from all these years of tyranny and the current semi-dictatorship in Nigeria? The rulers live like stars while the people are more or less beggars. And who really benefited from Stalin’s tyranny in Russia? The millions he murdered? Stalin was a serial killer who used the cover of Socialist despotism to justify oppressing his own people. We are asking for similar troubles in Nigeria if we keep playing with this fire. And it doesn’t matter if the authoritarian flavor we adopt is disguised as capitalism!

To brighten the dreary picture here, let me offer a ray of hope. Over the years, the pro-democracy movement has grown stronger as more Nigerians have come to recognize the dangers of despotism. Including ex-military officers, many of them barely survived the Abacha and Babangida schools of hard knocks. Because human memory is short, there are those who would have us back in those times again since we don’t seem to have learnt the intended lesson.

The lesson to learn is that restraints must be placed on political powers. Human beings tend to commit atrocities if those powers are unchecked. That is why there is a judiciary, a legislature and an executive. That is why there is separation of powers for all these and provisions made for freedom of expression, including freedom of the press. That is why you cannot impose a military dictatorship in one part of a country and not expect that cancer to spread.

Not long ago, the pro-democracy folks scored a great victory when the National Assembly stopped the third-term steamer. Even in that national debate you could see the authoritarian mentality at play with opponents predicting doomsday if they didn’t get their way. Nevertheless, my hope was that the lawmakers would build on the third-term victory to reject the SOE in Ekiti. Unfortunately, they didn’t. Well, in a democracy you don’t always get your way. That is the essence of due process. You win some; you lose some; then you live to fight another day. Governor Ladoja should know.

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Shadows of a Coup 2: Ekiti Fallout - By Fred Igbeare

2006-10-27T08:13:00.000+01:00

The president stared balefully at the picture of his deputy on the magazine cover. “Barawo,” he muttered, picking up his pen to sign the papers. Describing his impeachment as ‘illegal,’ he declared a national state of emergency and sacked the National Assembly. He also ordered his deputy arrested. That deputy had announced himself as successor after the president’s impeachment. Battered in this political tsunami, the ship of state took another hit as troops loyal to Col. Sani Babanyaro struck at midnight. The stone-face colonel paused briefly to adjust the microphone . . .

The National Assembly should reject the state of emergency (SOE) in Ekiti. Ratifying it would be like giving a long rope to the president. He could use that same rope to hang the lawmakers later on. He just sacked the House of Assembly in Ekiti. What stops him or some other president in future from doing the same thing at the national level?

If the unimaginable were to happen, this or another president could provoke a national crisis. He could then declare a national SOE, sack the National Assembly and extend his rule. No one can predict a tidy outcome for such a bad move. All sorts of scary possibilities are conjured up: civil war, military coups, widespread disturbances, economic disaster, etc.

The lawmakers owe it to this country to squash this bad precedence. Otherwise they would be endorsing an excuse for a disguised dictatorship, a military coup or far worse. They need to remember their role in smashing the third-term misadventure. A repeat is called for in this matter.

The SOE must not stand. It must be erased along with its cloud of ills hanging over our legal system. The rule of law must prevail in Ekiti. If the judiciary cannot handle the Ekite conflict, then it cannot handle a similar crisis at the national level where the stakes would be much higher. We might as well give it all up now and bring back the military!

While I’m opposed to military rule, the events in Ekiti have unwittingly provided an excuse for a military intervention at the national level. Right now the intervention is localized to Ekiti which is under martial law! Let there be no doubt about it: Ekiti is now under military rule. What if the Ekiti crisis replays itself on a larger scale? Would the president declare a national emergency, say, against an ‘illegal’ impeachment? Or would the opportunists in the military be tempted to strike ‘because we cannot have two presidents’?

Ekiti illustrates how emasculated the Nigerian Judiciary is today. Judges are as much to blame for this sorry state as are politicians. When the Ekiti Chief Judge selected a questionable impeachment panel he damaged the image of the judiciary as an impartial arbiter. Even if no means exist now to sanction him, legal ways could be found afterwards. Ekiti demonstrates that the impeachment laws may have to be amended. That takes time, but democracy demands patience.

Besides what’s the big hurry anyway? The governor would be gone eventually when his current term runs out if the impeachment process or litigation dragged out. If all the things said about him were true, then the electorate would have fired him ultimately! If not, then they deserve him.

From the reports about him, the man could be a thief, a thug or even a murderer. Does he deserve to be impeached for all these? Oh yes, yes indeed, and more! If, or when, he is found guilty, he should be jailed (of course with opportunities for repentance and rehabilitation). Yet, the need to clean up the governor’s mess doesn’t warrant throwing away the baby with the bathwater! Our democracy is still in its infancy; let’s not throw it away with this SOE.

All the parties in Ekiti are pretty much guilty of inexcusable haste. In their hurry to promote or defend their narrow interests, they are jeopardizing the whole country. There is no contradiction, no conflict in Ekiti that cannot be resolved by the courts. So we have three people claiming to be governor? So we have two people claiming to be chief judge? So what? Is that the end of the world?

The argument by the presidency that Ekiti faced a clear and present danger is suspicious. Two points arise. One, the federal government is responsible for maintaining security in Ekiti under democratic tenets. Point: the SOE is an admission of its failure on security.

What the government is saying is that martial law is the only way it knows how to deal with such a crisis. If so, then the people running the presidency have no business being in office under a democracy. They should step aside and let more competent folks handle the situation.

Two, the federal government has an obligation to defer to judicial authorities in resolving conflicts. Point: the SOE is a reflection of its disdain for the courts. In this Ekiti crisis there was pending litigation. Again I ask: what’s the big hurry? Why couldn’t the federal government have waited for the courts to rule either way, and then enforce that particular ruling?

If the lower courts had issued conflicting judgments, there are always higher courts to smoothen things out. Nothing stops the federal Attorney-General from participating in the litigation. Or he could initiate his own case to spur the courts into expedited action given the federal ‘concern’ for Ekiti security.

The presidential proclamation itself is contradictory. In one breath, the president said: “By the unconstitutional act of Ekiti State House of Assembly, they took upon themselves the duty of the Judiciary, i.e., the National Judicial Council and the duty of the Chief Executive, i.e., the Governor. It is a clear case of usurpation of power. It is dangerous for our democracy particularly for the hallowed principle of separation of power to allow this flagrant violation of the Constitution to go on unchecked or to remain stabilised and sustained,” (The Guardian of 19 October 2006).

In another breath, the president said: “It is hoped that the Administrator will not need new laws for the administration of the State. But if he does, it will be in the form of Regulations which he will submit to the President for consideration by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the State.”

Somebody please tell me I am not making this up! So, what happened to the “hallowed principle of separation of power” when the Executive is now making laws for a state? The word “Regulations” doesn’t change that fact. Who is usurping power now?

Events should not have been allowed to go this far. What we see here is rashness to use an instrument of last resort. This is the equivalent of killing a flea with a bomb! The fallout from that bomb threatens our infant democracy. The true lovers of democracy in the National Assembly should stand up and reject the grave mistake in Ekiti. If we sow illegality today, we reap anarchy tomorrow! Please walk carefully here Mr. President!

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Stand Up and Participate!!!

2006-10-26T11:40:00.000+01:00

What’s going on?
Poverty is at an all time high. We churn out more educated illiterates than any other country in the world. The roads are death traps…the leaders don’t use them anyway- they’ve got choppers for short distances and private jets for long distances… if push comes to shove, their hummers’ giant tires can get past the roads they rarely need to go by…and with their sirens and security vehicles (filled with policemen with double barrel guns sticking out of the windows,) traffic is not an issue for them. Did I mention that a recent report released by the UN suggests that there is no electricity for an accumulated period of 5 months every year?? Those who can afford it have silent cabins…Heaven forbid that a noisy generator should disturb their peace… there are more unemployed citizens than ever before. The gulf between the rich and poor is unbelievably wide.

What we can do…
We can make a conscious choice to elect leaders that respect our wishes, and have a genuine passion for the suffering majority…

How?
Elections are here again and every ethnic group wants the presidency at their backyard...everyone wants a share of the resources meant for all of us. We’ve got to focus. We want change. We want a government for ALL Nigerians…

Where?
There is a place where you can go to be influential to your development and extremely powerful. That place is the Polling Station. Understand that things WILL NOT change if you do not exercise your right to vote! It’s the power you have to influence decisions in this country.

Voter registration started 7th October…how many people do you know who’ve registered??? Do not ignore your right to participate in this democracy... Do not become disenfranchised. REGISTER at the nearest polling center TODAY!!! Tell your colleagues, friends, family members. We’ve had enough!

When?
The time is NOW! Get up and out to register! Vote on the 14th & 21st of April 2007!!!

Why?
This may be the most important elections in the history of our country! We have got to make this work!!! Pass this important message to all the Nigerians you know…home and abroad. Its time for the people to speak, ok? Your vote is your voice…What do you say???

Visit www.projectvotenigeria.org for more information. Spread word round...forward this message to everyone on your list of contacts.

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Dele Giwa: 20 Years Later - Written by Fred Igbeare

2006-10-25T16:39:00.000+01:00

An amazing stretch of 20 years has gone by since the assassination of Dele Giwa. A damning commentary on the state of affairs in Nigeria today, the man fingered in his murder still walks free. He even now dreams of becoming president again!

A most instructive comment on this unresolved murder comes from Gani Fawehinmi in a TheNews (16 October 2005) interview: “Let me start by saying that I have no illusion, no doubt, no pessimism about who killed Dele Giwa. Dele Giwa was murdered at the instance of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, no doubt about that.”
Dele Giwa was a colorful guy. He brought his own unique style and profile to the practice of journalism in Nigeria. Journalism before Giwa was exciting, but he gave it even more excitement. He dazzled us with snazzy commentaries and vivid stories. His boldness was legendary: he refused to bow to the military. He would not cover up governmental misdeeds which made him a target of evil, power-drunk men.

His murder by letter bomb shook and shocked the nation into a neurosis it may never recover from. The news hit me like a punch in the stomach literally. At one of the gatherings right afterwards, I remember speaking with Nduka Obaigbena, then of ThisWeek, warning him to watch his back. Driven by paranoia, the tension in the land was tangible: I could almost reach into the air and touch it.

Everything seemed so pointless and such a waste to me then. My thinking then was: I have chosen to become a journalist. But the message I was getting from my country was that I had made a mistake. The message was write and die! Being a journalist was worse than being a crook, so it seemed. Should I have become a drug dealer or an embezzler instead? Would I have gotten more respect or protection by joining the military and organizing successful coups? My sense of dismay wasn’t helped by the subsequent attempt to knock of my then boss at the African Concord, Lewis Obi who almost died after a ‘robbery’ attack.

During all the litigation drama and beyond, IBB continued his reign of terror and rape of the Nigerian people, wasting the economy and assaulting our sensibilities. Amply generous with the people’s money and vicious in retribution, he disseminated favors to his ardent supporters and brought destruction upon his harmless opponents. Nigeria was his personal domain—there was a new sheriff in town, and he didn’t take no for an answer.

Death and mayhem have been IBB’s legacy to this country: from Dele Giwa’s murder to Abiola’s June 12 annulment, and down to Abacha’s brutish rule. Now he would like to do us these ‘favors’ again! How kind of him!

Time is running out IBB: make peace with your Maker on this and other atrocities. Please humble yourself before God and genuinely repent while you still can! The end draws near for you as it did for Dele Giwa, and as it will ultimately for us all. May God continue to hold and strengthen Dele Giwa’s family! And may God bring healing to an aggrieved nation over this death and many others since then!

This article was copied from the Nigeria Village Square posted on Wednesday, 18 October 2006 by Fred Igbeare.

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Winds of Impeachment - By Wale Salami

2006-10-17T16:59:00.000+01:00

The winds of impeachment appear to have finally blown Governor Ayo Fayose out the Ekiti State Government House. But there are more questions than answers particularly as far as constitutionality and due process are concerned. Like the other processes that led to the emergency exit of the governors of Bayelsa, Anambra and Oyo States from their offices the impeachment process of Fayose could best be described as ‘wuruwuru to the answer’ i.e arriving at the answer via illogical and undialectical means.

Personally, I am of the view that a greater percentage of our present public office holders especially the governors, the president and his VP have committed clearly impeachable offences and do not deserve to stay a day longer in office. But it is important the tissues in the matter are striped bear to really bring the real issues to the fore in bold relief.

The governors that have been removed so far are said to have been removed owing to corrupt practices in the case of Bayelsa and Ekiti, disloyality in the cases of Oyo and Anambra.

A major characteristic of the removal processes is the sensational manner with which they were reported by media. From the movie magic we saw in Anambra where Ngige was abducted and Alams’ pupported escaped from London in women’s clothings to Fayose’s prayer session in an un-named church in Ado-Ekiti, Nigerians were bombarded with scintillating and tantalizing news which put the real issues in the back seat and frustrated efforts to wholistically confront the problems that warranted the impeachments systematically.

As such the processes have only been replacing one corrupt individual with another or one maladministrator with another as the case may be. Barely fews months after Alams’ removal his successor Mr Goodluck or is it Badluck has also been indicted for corrupt practices, Akala of Oyo inspite of being the chioce of the self-acclaimed godfather of the state following the removal of Ladoja fell out with the godfather few weeks after being sworn-in.

Actually, all the removals have not brought about any fundamental change in the character of governance in the affected states and more fundamentally in the standard of living of the people which continue to deteroriate on daily basis.

So what is the hullabaloo over impeachment all about? Clearly it is about settling political scores when the victims fall out of favour with the powers that be and have outlived their usefulness.

For crying out loud it is unarguable that the present mode of governance is predicated on a tripod of maladministration, corruption and repression. Thus 99% of political office-holders are supposed to be sent to the gallows guilty as charged based on their mode of governance.

Consequently the impeachments of Alams, Ladoja and Fayose represents serious good riddance to bad rubbish. Fayose was used by the PDP in Ekiti when they were desperate to capture power in that state. Let nobody be decieved that the PDP did not know him as a ‘rude-boy’, an infant terribe, but the party looked the other way at that time because of their sheer desperation for power.

It is instructive to note that the path of constitutionalism and due process were consciously abandoned in all the impeachment processses so as to cover up a lot of atrocities which would have been exposed, a lot of people like lawmakers, commissioners, workers, even people outside the government like contractors, consultants, friends and families of some these indicted governors would have been exposed.

The processes were delibrately rushed so as to guarrantee soft landing for the indicted governors and cover up other actors who aided, abbetted and participated in the crimes that necessitated the removal of the governors.

The question should be asked why the EFCC turned off the heat on the Bayelsa lawmakers it had indicted for corrupt practices after the successful unconstitutional removal of Alams. Also, could the seeming peace in Oyo be as a result of Akala’s cooperation with Adedibu in the pilfering of state funds in the state? Really, IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL.

The option before Nigerians is political, Nigeria must be be politically transformed to guarantee its social transformation in favour of poor who bear the brunt of the abracadabras of the power that be. We need to be focused and realise that what we need is a complete overhaul of the present decadent system by any means necessary.
On a lighter note, it is necessary to warn Nigerians that when they show movie magic like the abduction in Anambra and they tell you Alams escaped in womens’ clothings, that Ibadan is a garrison, that lawmakers have illegally suspended CJ in Ekiti and the governor is praying in an un-named church be careful for THEY WANT TO SCATTER YOUR HEAD, apologies Femi Anikulapo Kuti.

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Thinking and Working...

2006-10-05T12:34:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone. Happy independence celebrations in arrears.

I got a mail from a close friend of mine. It strikes me like the perfect write up I will like to read now. Please read through with caution and thoughtfulness.

“I watched the silverbird television danceathon on Sunday night as the world record of 52hrs 3mins non-stop dancing was broken in Lagos, Nigeria. And as the silverbird guys were popping champagne, somethingwas going thru my mind that there are still some people that are thinking and working towards putting Nigeria's name in world's records in their own way.
You will agree with me that the silverbird guys havebeen pioneering a lot of entertainment stuff in Nigeria and it's been working. I read an article sometime last year written by Dayo Arise about the introduction of credit cards in Nigeria which was pioneered by his organization. And he concluded by attributing his contribution to the development of Nigeria.
I think if we are all thinking and working like these guys, Nigeria will be better for it. Nigeria can be better if we all contribute our quota in our own little way. God bless Nigeria."

The extract is from a mail by Dayo Orolu. Dayo writes in from Lagos and he currently works for Akintola Williams Delloitte.

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Project Nigeria: The bleeding vision by Johnson Abbaly

2006-10-05T11:47:00.000+01:00

"It is time for a new generation to take charge and build a new nation wecan all be proud of. Let those who will people the future invent it now" -J.E. Abbaly, President, Achievers Consortium International (Nigeria)

Fellow Compatriots,Our concept of time is created by the spining of the earth around itsaxis. As the earth spins so time goes. Understanding the unique seasonsand rhythms of life has made nations outpaced others and become thedominant ones among millions.
It isn't fate, but choice that makes one nation great and another subdued.Our choices make us.It is not that magic moment of decision that props upon us every now and then that defines us, it is the everyday decisions andchoices we make that do .Our country Nigeria consistently makes non strategic choices in policiesand diplomacy. We would rather build world-class Olympic stadium thaninvest in education.
While we are still smarting from the debacle of over24 million ( and counting) educationally disenfranchised youths who arelargely unemployable, yet we are more concerned with hosting beautypageants, winning danceathons, and building cultural centres. Which ismore important to the world, building stadia that win gold medals thatlanguish on walls, or achieving strategic global leadership by raising ahigh profile workforce that will dominate high skill and high wage globalindustries of the future?The brutal truth is that it takes a least one generation to reap theinvestment in education or in miseducation. Imagine a future where theNigerian youth is incapable of competing on the global stage because he isill-prepared. I shroug to think that we are forging our own chains.
The main dinstinction between a child and an adult is not age butpriorities. A new generation of young people are about to set thepriorities right. We are prepared to craft a new nation from scratch. Come2007, a new wave of spirited , intellectual and moral renanissance willbegin. This is a vision with a soul. We are young and perhapsinexperienced. However, it is not always experience but inspiration thatis required to invent the future because the future is not an extensionof the past and present but an evolution of time.Achievers Consortium International calls on each one who loves this "noblecause" called Nigeria, both at home and in the Diaspora to share theconcerns of this bleeding vision and support the futuregenex Project2030.God bless Nigeria.

Johnson Abbaly is the President of Achievers Consortium International

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ATIKU V. OBJ - By Dike Chukwumerije

2006-09-29T16:37:00.000+01:00

I have a slightly different take on the recent wrangling between the President and his Vice. I wonder- what has Atiku done?

I understand the facts of the charge- he took public funds and deposited them in two commercial banks to help business friends of his with funds to pursue their business interests.

So?

Did he take any of the money for himself? Did he put any of the money into an account in his own name to bear interest for him? Did he carry any of this money out of the country in a suitcase? So, his actions helped two business men obtain loans to invest in business opportunities in Nigeria. The investment of one of those business men has resulted in a business organization that has created thousands of jobs for Nigerians. That loan was diligently re-paid. The other business investment failed because the foreign partners backed out of the deal (not because Otuna Fasawe pocketed the money) and the loan will be re-paid. So, what is all the noise about?

Has the money that found its way into the hands of Mike Adenuga not done more good for Nigeria than all the monies that PTDF (who even knew that PTDF existed even before this?) has ever handled? In my opinion, it would be a good thing if Nigeria’s public funds were invested as efficiently as Atiku’s “corruption” (in this instance) has allowed it to be.

Don’t get me wrong. I understand all the rhetoric about “due process” and how it is important that government officials don’t just shift public funds around from bank to bank without the approval of the FEC. I agree. There is need for transparency. But of the charge of lack of transparency, they are all guilty. (We have not forgotten Obasanjo’s moves with the excess crude account).

My point is that, if the Presidency was looking for a reason to crucify Atiku this particular reason is not a good one. Non-transparent or not, the way those funds were used in this instance did the country more good than harm. Indeed, there might have been “collusion” between Atiku and some business interests but some (like the famous architects of the East Asian success stories) would regard such collusions between government and progressive business men as a necessary tool for facilitating rapid economic growth. Moreover, how different is what Atiku did from what the Presidency is doing with Transcorp. In both instances, a specific business interest is receiving “preferential” treatment- all for the greater good of advancing the economy (hopefully).

I am all for transparency. Which is why I like the fact that so much is being revealed through the mud slinging between the President and the Vice. I don’t think it’s a bad thing for the two to wash their dirty linen in public. There is nothing “indecent” or “degrading” about it. A “public” office should have no privacy. My hope is that at the end of all this two things are learned- the need for greater transparency AND the need for more imaginative use of public funds to spur economic growth.

Having said all the above, let me add that I am not an Atiku-fan. I hear the man is very corrupt. I do not know. Clearly, all this corruption scandal business is an attempt at character assassination ahead of the 2007 elections. Obasanjo (for whatever reason) is clearly determined to frustrate Atiku’s presidential ambitions. Whether it is because he genuinely believes Atiku is corrupt and will make a bad President or because he is just getting back at Atiku for helping to spoil his third term plans, I do not know. Obasanjo’s own lack of integrity in the eyes of many Nigerians, makes it hard to decide why he is doing what he is doing.

This perception of Obasanjo feeds over into public opinion about the role of EFCC in all this. Ribadu, of course, swears that he is motivated only by the desire to stamp out corruption. I believe the man but, at the same time, HABA! Is it only the President’s enemies that are corrupt in the present political regime? I think the EFCC, for all its genuine passion, still suffers a measure of political tele-guiding. It is after all an organ of the Executive. So was the “Ministerial Administrative Tribunal of Inquiry” that endorsed the EFCC’s report. I agree with Professor Nwabueze who noted that, essentially, the same body (the Presidency) accused, investigated and judged the Vice President; a fact that does not sit well with the rule of law.

What should the Senate do with the report? If they want to be fair, they should constitute their own Inquiry. Let all the actors- from President to Otunba Fasawe- come before the Senate and tell their story. Let us hear the full gist of all these mysterious accounts and the people that patronize them. The most valuable thing that Nigeria can get out of this thing is not an impeachment but greater insight into how our own government works.

Now, in my opinion, the Presidency has gone and shot itself in the foot by arresting Atiku’s mouth piece, Mallam Garba Shehu. This distressing fact exposes one of the root causes of our unstable political culture- the politicization of security agencies. We have seen this regime employ tactics like this before (against Ngige, against anti-third term campaigners, against the “rebel” PDP faction, to mention a few). It is wrong. The spokes people for the Presidency are known for their virulence. Why should they alone have the right to speak “hot words” in public?

What all this shows me is that, ultimately, our leaders KNOW that the electoral process is really a “selection” process. If it were not, they would let the people decide whose presidential aspirations should come to pass. So much effort would not be expended on these pre-election battles. If Atiku survives this storm, Nigeria should watch out for a potentially explosive PDP presidential convention (should Atiku decide to contest the PDP ticket). If he loses the ticket, he would of course jump into another party and grab the ticket there and then we would be treated to explosive elections. The determination of each power broker to show that he is the more powerful one will ensure that the elections would be massively rigged. This is the most damaging legacy of the Nigerian politician’s tendency to personalize politics and the struggle for power.

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Lessons to Learn from Bostwana - By Ayo Olowookere

2006-09-21T09:58:00.000+01:00

Just before work started today, I was reading an article on the Warton Knowledge board and the development and continuing growth of Bostwana struck me.
Botswana, believed to have achieved the fastest growth in per capita income in the world, averaging 9% annually from independence in 1966 until 1999. The plight of Botswana has been described an intriguing mix of good fortune and shrewd decision-making that went into what has sometimes been termed "The African Miracle."

According to Scott Beaulier, an economics professor at Mercer University in Macon, Ga., who is an expert on the country, the luckiest break was the fact that the country's wealth in diamonds was not discovered until a year after it had been granted independence from Britain. The country's leaders "thought they would have to make wealth out of sand. Before the discovery of diamonds, no one was interested in Bostwana.

The landlocked, Texas-sized country is still heavily dependent on subsistence farming, considering the fact that its cattle population of two million remains higher than its census figure of 1.8 million.
Moreover; like the Greek city-states, the tribes found a need to deal with each
other. They also have tolerance and openness toward foreigners -- a policy described as "Let's keep the experts around" -- and a relative lack of corruption as positive economic
forces.

All in all, I think the idea that economic growth in Africa would tend to
occur more rapidly in an atmosphere of reduced government regulation and greater political reform.

We all know the history of Nigeria, and truly there are lessons to learn here.

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Roforofo politcs go to town - By Ayo Olowookere

2006-09-14T10:35:00.000+01:00

Since the restart of roforofo politics some two weeks or so ago in the presidency alot revelations have been made and hundreds of opinions and writings seen and read.

All I can say now is that just has Professor Okey Ndibe wrote in his article; High Jinks of Corruption', it's no more news that Atiku lacks the moral capital and intellectual insight to provide the kind of leadership that Nigerians deserve. Because the most eloquent he’s been on the subject of why he wants to lead the nation is a desire to “move the nation forward,” the more he reminds us that he is a part of the famous cliché of clueless politicians. He became an improbable hero by lending his voice and energies to the worthy goal of reducing an imperial-minded Obasanjo to size. A vengeful president is now casting about, determined to torpedo Atiku’s presidential ambition. For the record, I believe Obasanjo has no more moral or intellectual funds than Atiku. As the two titans pummel each other, may the rest of us, long victimized by their stunted visions, be the victors.

And for all the peopel airing their views and opinions, please do not disturb our view. The movie has just started, sit down and watch or move out of sight!

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N.B - The image attached is copied from the Nigeria Vilage Square Homepage of Thursday, September 14th 2006.

The Emperor is Dancing Naked - By Wale Salami

2006-09-14T10:26:00.000+01:00

Ayo, I read your piece on the 'bolekaja' presidency and I assure you a lot of Nigerians think like you when you asserted that “kettle is calling boiling ring black’. One must say too that Reuben Abati put it aptly in has essay titled ‘Bolekaja Presidency’ in the Guardian Newspapers.

For me nothing strange is really happening as I have always known that this government is thoroughly corrupt from bottom to top. There is no public officer today whose hands are clean that can be likened to the founding fathers of our country, Nigeria.

It is disheartening indeed that the present rulers can degenerate to the level of washing their dirty linen in public. They are absolutely shameless. They have thrown caution into the wind and are engaging in what Fela of blessed memories described as ‘rofo-rofo fight’ to protect their parochial interest.

We must be wary and observe their body languages very carefully. The pertinent question to ask is that which out of the President and his VP is not guilty of corruption? I assert that they are both neck deep in corruption with the can of worms that have been open so far. Another question is why is this can of worms being opened at this point in time?

It is crystal clear that these revelations were reserved until this moment to checkmate some political opponents by the headmaster of the school of corruption himself, General Obasanjo having failed in the attempt to fraudulently to perpetrate himself in office.

What the arrow-head of corruption in Nigeria lost on the swing he wants to gain in the roundabout and thus this circus. It’s like the attitude of the Yoruba proverbial rat “kaka keku maje sese, afi se awadanu” that is, instead for the rat not to eat cowpea, it would rather waste it’. Since the failure of the diabolic third term bid, the president had become a rattle-snake, attacking ruthlessly, recklessly and crudely and anything that comes on his path.

We must recognize that this confusion is being consciously created at a time we are supposed to be busy with last minute preparations for elections. This unfolding scenario gives a lot of strength to the argument by some us that third term agenda is not dead and that there are conscious plans to elongate this tenure through the instrumentality of an imposed Interim Nation Government (ING).

Quintessentially, Nigerians must be careful not get entangled in their web of intrigues, immoralities, shamelessness and insensibilities. We cannot have any sympathy for any of the parties; there is no difference between six and half a dozen, they have collectively brought us through their corrupt, oppressive and repressive leadership to our present situation of catastrophic equilibrium.

We are being informed first hand by the facilitators of our excruciating condition of existence about how they have been achieving their feats. We can see clearly why millions of Nigerians are wallowing in abject poverty, destitution, homelessness, unemployment etc. We now know some secrets. Let us keep watching, because we ain’t seen nothing yet.

I do not particularly agree with our Fawehinmi who said only Atiku must go, rather the battle-cry should be Obasanjo and Atiku must go. In fact PDP must go. As far a moving Nigeria out of these woods is concerned the extremely rich ruling class has failed severally, so we must say no the return of the likes of IBB, no to Odili who is part of the present corrupt regime. In fact no to Attah, no to Adamu, no to Marwa and all the others who belong to the class of looters and exploiters, they represent one and the same thing.

It is unfortunate that our Emperor in Aso rock is dancing naked in the middle of the market.

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For your information Only - by Ayo Olowookere

2006-09-12T09:26:00.000+01:00

I have been finding it really hard to write these days but happenings forced me to.
I have also been thinking of serialising these thoughts. Time will tell how I will go about doing this.

Look at this way, the present administration have just about nine months to go and what readily comes to my mind is that the Government will be more concerned about making life better and put up some face saving performance. At least some. But as against all expectations we are getting what I will call another version of the Fuji’s House of commotion.

To start with, against all expectations, although not totally surprising giving the party's tendency for crudity and absurdity, the PDP just recently unanimously agreed on a motion to adopt President Olusegun Obasanjo as not only the father, but also the leader and founder of modern Nigeria! As if that is not enough, all we see is this charade and parade of senselessness and extreme shamelessness. Kettle calling boiling ring black.

After the events of last week when the President sent a letter to the senate with the EFCC report stating categorically it is for their information only, there has been so much fuss here and there.

Firstly, everybody knows that the Vice President is a man of low character and by far less integrity. So we need no special report to inform us of that. I am of the opinion that we should allow this to pass us by and move on like nothing happened. But on talking to some colleagues and on a second thought, I reasoned that it is good anyway; at least when they open the can of worms, there will be enough for the public to relish tastefully and more for the press to write about and sell.

Secondly, I still insist that we do not need this because Nigeria and Nigerians have proven over time to be people of both short memory and sight. If not, I do not see why dare devils and sycophants like Ojo Maduake, Anthony Aneneih and Emeka Offor call the shots presently while those fighting the imbecile called Abacha are either in jail, already assassinated or labeled all sorts by the likes of Fani Kayode. So the information might not be useful anyway.

So since the whole lot of letters and pages of reports are for the information of the senators only; I think there is no need to debate or act on it. Or have you forgotten the Sao Tome saga when the Emperor himself, Chief Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo, after already given out loans to Sao Tome and Ghana sent a letter of notification to the National Assembly. Then the senate wanted to discuss the matter on the floor, but the leadership of the party, you know which one, shut them up and told them that it was just for their information only. So, this time around, this report would be for our information only, without any debate whatsoever.

So let the Emperor (with due respect and highest of regards), concentrate on making sure the so called reforms are institutionalized, bills pending in the National Assembly passed and the execution of the final phase of the Power reform. And save us the time and stress of going through this. We already know the thieves and their portion will be the gallows.

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Values-based Leadership - By Ayodele Olowookere

2006-09-08T08:21:00.000+01:00

"No creature can fly with just one wing. Gifted leadership occurs where heart and head - feeling and thought - meet. These are the two wings that allow a leader to soar." - Daniel Goleman

Leadership theory over the past 150 years has evolved through five major paradigmatic eras. The present era, the Complexity Era, has a strong focus toward value-based leadership. Early eras concentrated on the “what” of leadership and the “how” of leadership. The Complexity Era continues these, but adds the “why” of leadership. (such as leadership elements, leadership styles, philosophical models, leadership emergence theory, mentoring, change dynamics, etc.) as the framework for studying leadership?

Values based leadership is defined as a relationship between a leader and one or more followers based on a strongly internalized ideological values espoused by the leader and strong follower identification with these values. Simply put if the leaders values appeal to followers, followers will be more motivated and committed in following the leader.
In this brave new world of the era of self-determination, the victories are more ambiguous and the defeats more notorious. Individual leaders are often overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem and the limits of the resources. Systems slide into entropy, organizations disband, public servants are compromised by malfeasance, and the people go unserved.

Today, societies and organizations are finding it difficult to evolve a leadership that could respond forcefully to the technological, economical, and socio-political challenges and improve economy with human touch. To face such challenges, value-based leadership has emerged as a recognized strategic tool for organizational excellence. The onus then falls on the business leaders (chief executives) and management gurus to understand the challenges and develop competent corporate leaders with human values, confidence, and professional commitment, which is the demand of the time. Recognizing the reality of leadership crisis, it is for us to initiate a renaissance. This proposed meet is an endeavor in this direction.

The essential questions that will surely end us on the critical path thinking path and help in objectively evaluating value-based leadership are: How do individuals develop values and beliefs? What factors shape our values and beliefs? Why do we need beliefs and values? When is it appropriate to challenge the beliefs or values of society? How do individuals reconcile competing belief systems within a given society (e.g., moral beliefs conflicting with legal codes)? What role or purpose does religion / spirituality serve in a culture?

With various answers riveting your minds, I will go on to concisely discuss what I believe are the essential values a good Nigerian society should be built on.

There are, I think, only three matters that are truly fundamental -- that truly determine the kind of society we have and the kind of lives we will lead as individuals, and that are permanent matters of permanent relevance. The three matters can justifiably be called values, truly basic values.

The three essential values a good Nigerian society should be built on are honesty, competence, and at least some concern for others, not just concern for oneself alone. And of the three, honesty is the most important because, without it, competence is not attainable and concern for others is less likely by far, because one is not likely to know, understand or sympathize with the position of others.

If one looks back over, say, the last 50 years, it seems inevitable to conclude that much, even most or all, of our public problems stem from some form of, some level of, dishonesty. Sometimes the dishonesty takes the form of outright lies. Sometimes its form is lack of disclosure of the truth or lack of full disclosure of the truth. Sometimes it comes as spin. Sometimes it comes as standardized words or phrases that sound good but are false and are used to cover up the truth. What is true of the public life is true as well of private lives.
Honesty is foundational. Without it disasters occur, and without it there can be no competence. For competent thought and action, depend on knowledge of the truth of a situation, knowledge of its facts. Conversely, ignorance or distortion of the truth and the facts lead only to mistakes.
Yet, for all the lip service paid to honesty -- and lip service is usually all it is -- it is relatively rare that one runs across a philosophy, which holds that honesty is foundational, and therefore is the single most important value of any. The idea that trustworthiness is of the essence was part of successful and developed.

Secondly, Competency is a value whose necessity is widely acknowledged, is at least given lip service as being necessary for success. Yet it is in too modest a supply in a world where advancement so often goes to the merely personable, the sycophant, the person who can work the room, the smoothie, the person who knows how to maneuver in a bureaucracy, the person who is a friend. It is too rare in a world where people know that these traits, not competence (nor its inherent predicate, diligence), are how one advances, and where they act accordingly. Therefore, the value of competence is one that is often honored in the breach.

The need for competence in order to achieve success is, I note, of peculiar relevance to public life today. We are told that problems in our society and economy, not to be discussed here, were caused not by incompetence.

Lastly, about caring for others, not just for oneself. This value is spoken of favorably but is most often honored in the breach in a society where, since at least 1981, unbridled greed has become the ruling principle. Many people find that unbridled selfishness is not a satisfactory way to lead a personal life, and at the civic and political levels, it has in the past led or contributed to such world-shaking events as the French Revolution and the Great Depression, and to the stock market catastrophe of the early twentieth century. No good can come to a society where lack of concern for others is the guide to action.

My last general observation on the topic of value- based leadership can be stated more briefly. It is no secret that, over the course of the last two to three decades, we have suffered a widespread loss of public confidence in many of the central institutions of our society: government, businesses, many religious institutions, the media, and educational institutions, to name only a few. To build a society that exemplifies these positives values and ultimately reap the fruits, we need a leader who has a mission that matters, ethical, honest, and sensitive, uses power wisely, courageous and committed.

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Long Time No See...

2006-09-06T16:24:00.000+01:00

It has been over two weeks I actually sat down and do some writing. I thought I will be able to do that over the last weekend and all the unforeseen just kept creeping up and I eventually had a stress full day.

A lot have been happening in the country and one can only watch in awe as revelations come up and secrets are made public.

Claims and hooting as regarding the doings and undoing of the EFCC, the Ekiti State saga, Globacom debacle, the Nigeria Bar Association, GSM fraudsters, Transcorp, Vasta assassination, NFA elections, Okigbo report, and IBB.

One after the other I will do justice to these issues.

Another issue that I dare not forget is that of the Osun state tussle between Aregbesola and Oyinlola (the incumbent governor), on one hand, and Omisore and Oyinlola on the other hand. I take this as serious because I am from Osun state.

All said and done and I will like to leave you with the following quotation. I don’t know who said this originally but someone sent it tome on the chatting machine and I thought it will be good I share it with you.Cheers.

"Knowing when to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty requires a mind set that recognizes that there are no prizes for coming second.It demands the mental discipline to drive oneself beyond the normal limits of achievement so that building oneself and one's family becomes the only thing that matters."

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Obituary - Naguib Mahfouz: 1911-2006

2006-09-04T06:53:00.001+01:00

Egypts most famous contemporary writer and the only Arab to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, Naguib Mahfouz passed away yesterday aged 94. Mahfouz wrote 50 novels the most famous of which are the exceptionally brilliant piece of work, The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk (1956) Palace of Desire (1957) and Sugar Street (1957) which brought Mahfouz global recognition and Children of Gebelawi (1959) an important work that challenged religious dogma. The book was banned in Egypt for blasphemy and led to an assassination attempt on Mahfouz’s life by Islamic fundamentalists.
Reading Mahfouz is like reading the underbelly of Cario life especially in the early part of the 20C. He takes you through the streets, the cafes, the world of male privilege and the oppression of women.

Culled from the Black looks web blog.

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The Chinua Achebe Foundation - Interview with Professor Jadesola Akande

2006-09-04T06:53:00.000+01:00

THE INTERVIEW

Do you think it is possible to identify a particular period in Nigeria’s history when its deterioration commenced, or should we assume that we ‘missed the boat entirely’?

We haven’t missed it; what we have missed is leadership in Nigeria. I say this, because the leaders we’ve had in this country have been products of the colonial system. The colonial system did not train our people for leadership positions; rather, they were trained to be next in command to someone British in the position of authority who then hands down instructions. Someone else would take a decision, and then ask his Nigerian subordinate to implement it. So when the colonial masters left governance to these people who were used to taking orders, they were still waiting for people to give them guidelines. There was no one, of course, to give them the guidelines, because they were the leaders on whose desk the buck stopped. And before anyone could realise this, the country was facing a coup.

Some are of the opinion that Nigeria’s problem is not necessarily that of leadership, but mainly followership; people are not politically aware, and so those in power have been able to get away with bad leadership.

The followership was unable to monitor what the leaders were doing, the majority, unfortunately, not being educated enough. So the basic strategies needed for leadership were not present. The colonials created a gap between those supposedly being trained to be heirs apparent to power and others. And those who were followers did not know what to expect of their leaders. All these years, it’s been a recycling of the same group of people, so, we will only have a good leader if we remove all those who have been in office since independence. This was the exact opinion of a market leader we worked with in recent times, and she’s right. They are the same people who had this training that was simply not good enough, and unless we remove that set of people and bring in fresh candidates with sound initiatives, we will go on having bad governance.

At the National Reform Conference that was held recently, the average age that attended was 80; the same people who were here even before independence. Now they are 70, 80 years old, and still refuse to go. Many of those men and women have not even kept up with the times; they have not kept up with what is happening in other parts of the world. But there they were, selected to fashion out a new political order in Nigeria.

Many members of my generation are concerned that there are younger, incompetent and unqualified politicians being sponsored by the old guard…individuals who are just as corrupt as their mentors…

I agree…but other younger politicians are fighting the conservativeness of the old ones. The problem is that while they are fighting, they are not thinking of what they will do if they get into power. They are too busy trying to wrestle power from the old ones who are not willing to let go.

Nigeria is currently beset with the political conundrum of “Godfatherism.” Some believe it is a Nigerian political idiosyncrasy that we must get used to. Others believe that is one of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s burgeoning Democracy. What is your assertion?

It is a travesty! Politics in Nigeria is all about money and ‘godfatherism’ -- to put the least literate and unqualified people into positions of authority. The political parties are controlled by the old guard, so they determine who is going be in them. And if a younger candidate is not their loyalist, he will never make the list. So, the godfathers are still there; but they are thankfully no longer relevant as indicated by the Anambra State and Oyo State incidents, for instance. One or two decent young politicians seem to be coming up, but the godfathers still have a hold on them. Either they have to donate money or they have to push, if they want to retain power. The old guard will only put people they can manipulate into positions of authority.

Nigeria just completed a controversial National Census. Why has it been historically difficult to produce a credible count of the people?

The divide and rule tactics of the colonial masters ensured that they manipulated population census taking. They ‘apportioned’ a larger population count to one part of the country, and so that segment of the Nigerian society seemingly has twice the population of everybody else. And we all know that politics is a game of numbers. So, that particular section always has that edge; when states were being created, this area had far more states than the rest of the country. Hence when anything is shared in the country, more is given to it, because it is assumed that there are more states and more people. The assumption is that these people are greater in number than the rest of the country.

At the Confab, there was a call for the creation of more states; but I’ve never been in support of this, and I don’t think our leadership has understood the presidential system of government. It’s obvious that the presidential system is too expensive for us. I think the military did not allow for the proper practice of the parliamentary system, and did not allow it to gain root before they intervened and forced the presidential system on us.

Many thinkers believe that Nigeria appears to be in a state of political confusion, in part, because we don’t even understand the democratic system borrowed from America that we are supposed to be practicing… Is it possible to say there has been a non-evolution of the political culture? In other words, we copy the presidential system, then the parliamentary system or whatever system exists. But none of these have evolved from any part of our own traditions?

I accept that analysis… Under the parliamentary system, there are so many checks and balances; the ministers are chosen and they are part of the house, part of the parliament. They operate by rules and regulations; they are not responsible only to the president so that they have no regard whatsoever for the will of the people they represent. If we continue with this idea of an ultimate president, it is not going to augur well for us. That is not how the presidential system of government is practised anywhere in the world.

I also think that it will be better for us to operate as regions, because most of the states are not viable; they have nothing to live on. They just wait for the federal government to give them money, and that’s why they are so pre-occupied with trying to please the president, hence the relationship is that of master/servant. This was unlike when we were operating as regions; it didn’t matter who was at the federal level, because each of the regions was more or less self sufficient. But now, everybody scrambles to be at the centre since that’s where all the power and authority flow from.

So, I believe there is the need to weaken the centre; I’ve said it many years now. You cannot create too strong a centre and expect development in the smaller units – the states. Look at the situation in Lagos State, for instance; how can the president withhold its local government funds? He shouldn’t even be involved in what’s going on at the local government level! If he must, he should rely on feedback from the state governor, because the local government seat is different from the presidential. But because the president has been given so much power, he now wants to control the local governments as well. In the real sense of it, it’s not the president’s, but the responsibility of the people to decide whether a local area is doing well or not. Why would the president, a leader at the centre and supposedly concerned with higher matters, know what is happening in my small local government in Eti-Osa? There are 774 local government councils; the local government administration is the business of that enclave which is the state!

Corruption has long been the bane of our nation. What are some of the subterranean factors that nurture corruption in Nigeria?

Corruption is such a big problem in Nigeria; it is so deeply rooted that people often say we cannot get rid of it! In spite of the steps that President Olusegun Obasanjo is taking now, corruption will be with us for a long time to come. And the reason is this; corruption is not as a result of poverty, but greed. Many Nigerians are greedy, even when they have material wealth you find them still trying to cut corners. So, its not poverty, its greed. People are poor; I’m not disputing that, and they are not satisfied being poor. Yet those who are rich still want what does not belong to them. This encourages corruption. Take the rural areas as an instance. Once a man from there comes to the urban centre he is not expected to return to the village a poor man. He must become rich, in whatever manner.

Then take the Niger Delta. For a very long time, some members of the community received money from the oil companies on behalf of their communities; but because of corruption, the monies were siphoned by a handful of individuals so that the majority of the people did not benefit from it. The politicians are given all kinds of allowances as soon as they are elected into office, whereas the civil servants are poorly paid. The minimum wage ought to be considered when money is being allotted to politicians. So, you see a lot of people in the civil service trying to amass wealth to make up for the little they earn, and also to be able to take care of life after retirement. It is well known that there is so much corruption in the civil service, and it is all because they want to prepare for the rainy days, as they have no other means.

What steps, in your opinion, can Nigeria take to stop this trend?

There has been a corruption of the systems. Corruption is not only when the policeman at the checkpoint demands N20 from the road user; it is endemic, and until we look at the root cause and tackle it from there, we are not about to solve the problem, and it will continue. We are not talking about apprehending and prosecuting one person here and there, or somebody who stole N10 million. I think, most importantly, we need to address the system; the root causes of corruption in the country. The Nigerian system is such that it encourages people to want to amass wealth. People keep saying “it is poverty...” Again, I will say it is greed, because the poor are not necessarily corrupt as the rich are.

Some pundits believe Nigeria should streamline its many bureaucracies in order to effectively tackle this problem. What is your assertion?

My sentiments exactly! Look, take the sale of government houses, for example; people are asked to obtain forms free of charge. Then the man in charge hoards the forms, and for 10,000 houses for which, at least, 300,000 people will want to apply for, he provides only 400 housing forms so that people will desperately pay to get them. So, all these little aspects of our national life that we don’t look into encourage corruption. In different spheres of our system, there are so many things that we do not consider or look into. We see situations where people embezzle money or there is outright stealing of public funds…but corruption is not just about money. When you employ someone who is not qualified for any particular position, you encourage corruption -- so, where are we going?

The pathology of corruption seems to have infested, infected, and permeated every cadre of our society…including the educational sector…

Well let us look at our examination system… I will not say the examination bodies are corrupt; but you can see how corruption in the society has so badly affected the educational system, leading to rampant examination malpractices. I will say that we have not taken into consideration the fact that there is too much emphasis on paper qualification. Examination questions are set outside of the system, there are syllabuses and it is assumed that all schools will teach the same things and pupils able to answer the same sets of questions. But we all know that the school system does not work this way. Different schools have different teachers whose qualifications also differ and all these affect standards. Some schools don’t even have teachers for certain subjects; yet the students are expected to write and pass the same qualifying examinations! And each school wants to excel, outdo the other in terms of general performance. What happens, therefore, is that they will look for a way of covering up their deficiencies in their own way. They buy question papers, get syndicate students to write examination for candidates or buy supervisors over to assist their students during examinations. Sometimes, they go all out to buy marks.

There have been situations of outright purchases of certificates; even highbrow private schools have been accused of some of these examination malpractices, because they want it to be said that their products perform excellently in general examinations, and they do this to attract more students. Some schools do not have the equipment necessary to teach certain subjects, yet the students, are expected to pass all the same. So, that is the way Nigeria is.

What is your reaction to the spate of rash political killings in Nigeria in the last few years?

I think it’s very sad and very scary. People will be scared away from taking part in politics, because no one is prepared to die for anyone or for any cause any longer. And if these killings do not stop, we shall not have any confidence in the political process. It is not as if other countries do not experience political killings, but in our own situation it seems as if the killings occur mainly in one particular party. So the members of that party should first examine themselves before they begin to consider what they will contribute to nation building. If they cannot control their own internal conflicts, how then are they going to administer the entire country? For that reason, I think more commitment is needed to finding those who are involved in political killings. Otherwise, every vote cast for that party is a vote for murderers.

But do you think that today, investigations are being conducted differently, and that we can begin to be confident that, for once, these recent killings would be resolved?

These investigations have all followed the same pattern. So none of the political murders has been resolved -- from Bola Ige, Rewane, the young lawyer and his wife in the east, Dikibo and more recently Funsho Williams and Daramola... So many now that I cannot remember them all. So how can we be confident that these latest murders would be resolved? It is not likely, though I don’t want to say it is not possible. I heard the Inspector General announce that he is personally taking charge of the Ekiti assassination. What gives the Ekiti situation special consideration above all other cases? We will want to know why the IG has a personal interest in just one case when there were two killings within a short space of time. It is the business of the Policemen stationed in the areas the murders took place.

There is however no sign that they will ever unravel these killings. Funsho Williams’ killing, for instance, they may have a commitment to resolve; but I don’t think they are going about it the right way at all. First of all, the man was killed at between 10 and 11am or thereabout, and the corpse was left there until about 10pm. During those hours, the police did not seal up the scene of the crime; people were going in and coming out. In short, someone told us that he not only went in, but turned over the corpse so that he could see where he was stabbed. Maybe he was lying, I wouldn’t know.

So in all that time, a lot of evidence would have been destroyed, and that is why the Police Investigatory team brought in from abroad said they could not use fingerprints and footprints, because there were so many by the time they got there. Also, we don’t have a culture of finger printing criminals in Nigeria. So how are they going to use fingerprints as evidence? So, the possibility of their finding the killers is very, very slim. The implication of this is that as long as these killings continue, credible people, people of honour and integrity will stay away from the political process. This is because such people are not desperate to get into office and those who are, can kill and maim to do so. And we continue to be led by murderers.

What is your opinion of the Bola Ige assassination and the unfinished work of your eminent late husband?

I will just repeat what my children said: ‘we leave everything in the hands of God, because he is the ultimate judge and He knows all that happened.’ But let me point this out; somebody was arrested, indicted and prosecuted. He was elected to the highest body of legislature while he was in prison. The same fellow is now fighting the governor of his state. Better watch out before someone else is killed in the same way. This same person is now involved in violence, and seems to be following the same pattern; the opponent he is fighting was attacked in the Oni of Ife’s palace, and up till now, none has said anything. And they seem unable to arrest him. So, is it when there is another murder that it will be said they are looking for the killers?

But the IG has said that a number of murder cases have been resolved, and he named Bola Ige’s as one…

(Cuts in) The Ige case was not properly dealt with. The police arrested some people, but the court discharged them on the grounds that there was not enough police evidence. So if the police had done their job thoroughly, why would the court say it does not have enough evidence? It means they did not do their job thoroughly. And I will tell you an instance where they did not appear to have done their job thoroughly; they arrested an eye witness who as soon as he was arrested told them, ‘Yes, I can identify those who did the job. They now took the man into police custody, put him in the same cell as those who were being prosecuted, and said the man was under protective custody. Of course, anything could have happened in there, and when he was interrogated again, the man said he could no longer recognise anybody. Yet, the Police claim that they did a thorough job; but what is thorough there? And understand that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; if they fear God they will know that they are not saying the truth.

I would like us to turn to the PRONACO Conference; are you satisfied with how it went?

I’m very satisfied. People misunderstand PRONACO; PRONACO is not a political party, but a pressure group to ensure that there is constructive change in Nigeria. One of the main things which PRONACO wanted is to push for a new Constitution. This new Constitution has been drafted; it’s being discussed now, and God willing, will be adopted today (August 28, 2006). Once this happens, the work of PRONACO is finished. The next step would be to find an acceptable political party to take the process forward by accepting it as the Nigerian Constitution. So PRONACO has not failed at all.

What would you say are the highlights of the Constitution?

PRONACO wants a new and united Nigeria. And it is the most thoroughly debated Constitution in Nigeria as it brought together all the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. All of them were represented and came to say what it was they wanted for Nigeria. So what Nigerians want for Nigeria, is a return to the parliamentary system of government. Secondly, Nigerians want more emphasis on the regions rather than on the federal. In this way, authority will rest with the regions, and not the federal, as it is now. Thirdly, they are putting more emphasis on the participation of women; that women should be able to occupy at least, 30 per cent of all the positions; elective, appointive or whatever.

Fourthly, we are making plans to make education is free. All this talk that ‘there is no money’ is not true. There is enough money to make education free and education is the bedrock of any development. Therefore we are aspiring to make education free up to the university level. Fifthly, we are upholding the issue of resource control not because oil is a big market, but from the point of view of developing our agriculture and other mineral resources and helping to develop it. And in the end, only a percentage is given to the federal government, not the other way round.

Finally, in the case of criminal laws that say a person shall be innocent until proven guilty, there are certain issues where we have said one must also prove ones innocence. Also, anyone who took over government by force has committed treason; anything through arms. And even if such illegal administrations spend 20 years, whenever they leave power they will be tried for treason. This will permanently end military participation in governance. We expect that if we truly want a change in this country, then we should adopt this constitution.

Do you see the present crop of leaders at home with the contents of the PRONACO constitution?

The present crop of leaders is going to be wiped away; they are not relevant. They are there now, they are going to contest elections, but we are hoping that whoever wins the next election is going to say let us take on the revised constitution and begin to implement it. In the next few years therefore, we will have a different leader, a different country, a different constitution, and younger people with better ideas coming on board.

When PRONACO first started out, there were disagreements among some leaders of the group and a lot of people were disappointed. But that is the beauty of democracy; everyone is allowed to say what he has to say; it is a right to be heard. In democracy, you do not have to agree, but you can dialogue to reach a compromise, and that was what happened.

But Ma, you were in this country when the 1999 Constitution was being drafted?

Yes, and at the time I was one of those who argued that the constitution will make an autocrat of the president, whether a military or an elected president.

And it was written in black and white. It’s there and I told them this. It was another of Babangida’s handiworks, and the majority had their way. So that is it.

Sometimes, I just get tired thinking of Nigeria’s problems that seem never to end. Other times, I take solace in the fact that other countries have their own problems too. But really, one has to be optimistic because that is the only way you can be happy to be Nigerian.

This interview was culled from the Nigeria Village Square

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Corruption, money bag politics and 2007-Prof Pat Utomi

2006-09-04T06:49:00.000+01:00

Nigerians are caught in awkward dilemma. They are fed up with corrupt politicians and the damage corruption has inflicted on the possibilities of human material advance in Nigeria . But they have come, somehow to internalise the view that running for high office necessarily involves lots of money. In other words only thieves, moneybags, and agents of godfathers can hope to win. INEC Chairman, Maurice Iwu thinks differently. He has promised to stop corrupt politicians and is avowed to limiting the place of money in the elections of 2007. EFCC's Nuhu Ribadu shares the same point of view and has promised to inoculate the 2007 elections with a vaccine that will send corrupt politicians to extinction.
In spite of these promises, I find, as I traverse the vast terrain of our blessed but bruised fatherland, preaching the coming of the age of change. I discovered that people long dearly for change, hunger for servant leaders, thirst for politicians that can be trusted to be motivated solely by the Common Good, but they are somehow cynical about the capacity and the will of the system to stop the parasites who will use that which they have stolen from the people to steal their mandate and hold the people hostage. In truth many have lost confidence in the electoral process. They ask why bother to vote.... I find people are still quite cynical.
Often I turn to human history to show how it took the passion of a few to restore hope and reclaim lost promise. When I tell them that I am a witness to promise and look to being a tribute to hope, someday, I see a desperate yearning to hang on to those words but the sense of helplessness that is the mood of this land remains palpable and worrisome. The threat to peace of mind and the light of progress so very obvious from corruption, and the corrupt use of ill-gotten money to abuse the universal sovereign right to determine who the leaders should be by the casting of one ballot, remains.
The pity with the pervasive thinking that elections are about tons of money and thugs, unconsciously projected by media analysis, was a phenomenon of rarity in the age of promise when our new nation looked with confidence into a brave new future at independence. A tribute to that is found in the fact that quite a few of the great heroes of our nationalists' struggles who fought for independence died as people of very modest material means. The very powerful Sarduana of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Nigeria had but so little at death in 1966. Same can be said of Dr. Micheal Okpara, even in later years, and of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, Aminu Kano and others. In the wilderness years that followed their exit our examples are getting fewer, leaving the grave danger that our youth may imagine that public life is about emptying the treasury into private pockets so you can have the war chest to influence future elections to stay relevant.
From the wilderness years we, fortunately have the limited examples of the stoic ascetism of a General Muhammadu Buhari and the decent gentility of a General Yakubu Gowon. If we do not consciously seek to show different kind of roles models about electioneering and election funding in 2007 we may find that the future of elections in Nigeria will be in jeopardy. That is why the Obasanjo regime's anti-corruption crusade must get our applause.
Role models matter. Many times when I speak to young people and they seek insight into my values and why I have had the discipline of looking away from abusing public trust for self-enrichment when I advocate a free enterprise model generally portrayed as being about accumulating profits, I talk about two influences.
One was about arriving at events with former Administrator of East Central State, Ajie Ukpabi Asika, either in an ageing Peugeot 504 or a VW Santana that was not factory fresh. I noted how his arrival had a great "presence" than that of some others who arrived in S Class Mercedes, many of who rush forward to greet him. That early in my career it sank into my consciousness that it is not about what you have but what you are. A man constitutes in being not in having. This is why I say without ceasing that a man's self worth far outweighs his networth.
The second point I make to young people is drawn from faith and devotion to a Spanish Saint who lived more than 400 years ago, St. Theresa of Avila . One of my favourite reflections from her thoughts on "The Way of Perfection" says "It is when I possess least that I have the fewest worries and the Lord knows that, as far as I can tell, I am more afflicted when there is excess of anything than that there is least".
I have indeed been asking if this view is not at odds with my views on free enterprise and I say No. Free enterprise provides the freedom to be co-creators with God to move creation towards its perfection. If your endowments bring you excess returns your conscience should challenge how you use it to make society better. Gladly, Bill and Melinda Gates, their friend Warren Buffet, Ted Turner and others have been making my point with action. Compared with Marxist dogma which took away the freedom to create, in Soviet Russia, the reason I favour free enterprise should be obvious.
Back to our politics, money and 2007. How can we save Nigeria by killing the role of money and imposing a regime of contestation of ideas. The most practical way is to teach young people how their energies make a difference elsewhere, and to get average people to recognise that their small contributions to back an idea that improves their lot does a lot more good that peanuts they will receive from those who cannot but raid the public treasury because of the huge financial investment they are making in getting elected or rigged into office. Professor Iwu may therefore do a lot more through massive commitment of resources, if they will make it available to him, to voters education.
The year 2007 provides us a good window of opportunity to change campaign finance traditions in Nigeria , get the people to take ownership of party agenda with their small contributions being the main source of party funding, and encourage students to spread into neighbourhoods canvassing the election of candidates they support as their colleagues do in America and elsewhere. Unless Nigerian politics moves from fat cats, rent champions and war Lords who believe elections are to be bought and rigged, to middle class people focused on the issues, we may never be able to tame the greater killer that corruption is. One way to deal with this is to educate people to take the money and vote their conscience for the future of their children and the well being of all.

Prof. Utomi is Convener and Presidential Aspirant of the Restoration Group

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Soyinka - By the Punch Published: Wednesday, 23 Aug 2006

2006-08-23T07:49:00.000+01:00

The Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Tuesday said President Olusegun Obasanjo did not win the 1999 elections but was selected and imposed on the country by a few.
According to him, the President was also re-selected” in 2003.
Soyinka spoke at the National Seminar on Economic Crimes organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at its training centre in Karu, Abuja.
The seminar had as its theme, Leadership and Governance Challenges in Africa.”
Among the dignitaries in the audience was President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
Reacting to a statement by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, that Obasanjo was duly elected by Nigerians, Soyinka said, I dont want the Rwandan President to leave this place with the wrong impression that President Olusegun Obasanjo was elected and re-elected by Nigerians.
President Obasanjo was not elected, but was selected in 1999. Again in 2003, Obasanjo was not re-elected but was re-selected by his party.”
Soyinkas statement drew an immediate response from the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, who sprang to his feet and asked for the microphone.
In defence of his boss, Ojo argued that it was wrong to say Obasanjo was selected in 1999 and re-selected in 2003.
He said, I dont think it is right to say that the President was selected and re-selected in 1999 and 2003. The President was duly elected and re-elected by Nigerians in 1999 and 2003.”
Earlier, Soyinka, while commending the Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for the commissions performance, criticised the perks attached to public office.
He said, The first thing that anybody asks when he or she gets into position of authority is what he or she is entitled to. It is high time we terminated the culture of entitlement of those who govern this nation.”
On the forthcoming 2007 elections, the Nobel laureate advised members of the public to collect money from whoever offers it to them, but to vote according to their conscience.
He said, If people offer you money, please take it and vote according to your conscience. Nigerians should subvert the purpose for which the money is given and vote in line with their conviction.”

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THE REVOLUTION HAS NO TRIBE - By Dike Chukwumerije

2006-08-18T07:38:00.000+01:00

Do you not know that poverty is not an Ijaw man?
He will not spare the rest of us and afflict only the Ishan
He will step over the river and come across the border
So, when the drums sound let everybody answer

Do you not know that corruption is not from Nekede?
He will not hear that Ife has no dealings with Modakeke
He will wake up all of our children at night with hunger
So, when the drums sound, let everybody answer

Do you not know that HIV/AIDS is not Kanuri?
He will not select his victims and kill only the Fulani
He will set the land ablaze from the delta to the Sahara
So, when the drums sound, let everybody answer

Do you not know that our enemies have no face?
They are indigenes of no state, they come from no place
And, if this boat capsizes every one of us will go under
So, when the drums sound, let everybody answer

Do not say, “I am an iroko”, when the forest is burning
Do not say, “I am an obeche”, when the forest is burning
Our differences will not prevent us from perishing together
So, when the drums sound, let everybody answer

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PREMEDITATED ASSASINATIONS: A THREAT TO THE RIGHT TO LIFE AND DEMOCRACY - By Nurudeen Sojimade

2006-08-18T07:26:00.000+01:00

The current wave of assassination spreading through Nigeria is not only saddening, disgusting and senseless but also barbaric and anti-development. Just so many miles away from unravelling the beasts behind the gruesome murder of Engr. Olufunsho Williams at his home in Lagos, Another dastardly killing was carried out in Ekiti On Dr. Ayo Daramola by yet to be identified assailant(s).

The unwarranted killing aches me to the marrow and in fact had made me to reflect and ask myself if thoroughly democracy is in place in Nigeria and if yes, wither are the foots with which democracy stamps its authority. I mean where is the law, what about the law enforcers.

As I continually asked my self these questions, I came to a conclusion that what exist in Nigeria presently to my mind is Pseudo-democracy.

My heart bleeds at the rate at which Nigeria is currently wasting her vast human resources which is leaning daily due to constant migration of her best brains. The words of George Bernard Shaw quickly came to me in which he posits that " the biggest tragedy of any nation is not the great waste of natural resources(though this is tragic) but is the waste of her human resources"

We currently have in our polity today at all tier of government individual and group of people who are very politically naive, intellectually impoverished and emotionally unbalanced which could possible explain evidently the political terrorism and gangsterism the country is currently experiencing. Out there as our senators, house members, governors and minsters are thousands of outright lying crooks who sort to remain and grown in perpetual power above us all in a mafia way.

To effectively do this, they are now moving ahead with policies of
extermination of any individual that would stand in dissent to their unpatriotic and shameless desires.

What makes it more painful is the easy with who the agent of the state is directly or indirectly involve. Where was the security operatives detailed to watch over Engr. Williams when the assassins came calling? Same goes for Dr. Daramola who probably felt his live was in danger and applied for police protection but was turned down.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966 as quoted above stressed the need for the lives of every human being to be protected. Furthermore, the requirement that the right shall be protected by law as well as the stipulation that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life mean that the law must strictly control and limit the circumstances in which a person may be deprived of his life by the authorities of a state.

It then goes a long in concluding that this killings which are a violation and arbitrary deprivation of one of the important fundamental rights- right to life was successfully carried out at the negligence of the state in ensuring that it effectively discharge its duties to her citizenry. And as such it will not be out of place to deduce, infer and possibly conclude that the killings were done with the knowledge of the state.

Governments are no longer servants of the People. rather they are now merging together and taking stand as our master to the extent of
resembling false god:on whom our daily lives depends.

They are growing larger and more powerful and the high time we began taking stands and decision against the unholy marauders who are forming alliances here and there to continue to determine our future the better.

A proverb in Yoruba language literarily translates that “The trimming to size of an Iroko tree is done whilst it's still young; otherwise it grows to become a menace and monster"

Re: Evolution and Revolution - By Wale Salami

2006-08-16T09:35:00.000+01:00

It is my assumption that the contribution by Dr Butali Azeez titled ‘Evolution and Revolution’ to thenigeriahouse.blogspot.com is a response to my write-up titled ‘The Gathering Storm in Nigeria’s political picturesque.

For me, I think his critique, which is essentially not against the crux of the write-up, but of revolution as the way forward out of the present quagmire in Nigeria is welcomed. But I think there are yet some clarifications to make particularly since this is a forum for intellectual interaction.

First, I don’t have so much problem with his theory of evolution if it was dialectical enough for my thinking but as things were and from my analysis things can only get worse with decadence deepening profoundly with every new day. With the present comatose nature of the educational sector that has been consciously made so, it will be difficult for change to evolve just like that.

It is also correct that change has to be driven by ideas and strategy but I don’t the strategy that is inherent in the idea of evolution. To me it sounds more like leaving things the way they are. And I think evolution in the way it has been described by the doctor will allow violence that he says cannot be detached from the revolutionary process to persist.

This is so because the present status quo knows no other way of carrying on. My write-up was just about a week ago and within that time till now an assassination attempt has been made on Rauf Aregbesola, a gubernatorial aspirant in Osun state while another gubernatorial aspirant in Ekiti State, Ayo Daramola of the PDP was not that lucky as he was felled by assassins. Dr. Tunji Abayomi, also an aspirant from Ondo State has been crying out over threats to his life.

So this trend will continue, desperate situation require desperate response, power is never given but taken. We say we don’t want revolution because people are going to die yet people are dying everyday for things that cannot fundamentally alter our situation of existence.

Armed robbery is rife, political killing persists, the bad state of Nigerian roads have sent multitudes to their early graves, our Sosolisoed and bellviewed aviation sector gulps lives without notice, hunger and diseases ravages the society. The reality is Nigerians are dying in multiples for reasons that are avoidable but the power that be has it unavoidable.

The task is to chase out the present power usurpers and I guess that is what Dr. Butali meant he said our people “should be told that they have the right to reject any representative of doubtful abilities presented by any cabal or party as in the present case. When this process is gradually nutured and effectively carried out by efficient and committed people like you and I, the evolution process will be completed in no time.”

There is no basis imagining that the process of our people exercising their right by rejecting “representative of doubtful abilities presented by any cabal or party as in the present case” would not be met by force. When this happens what do we do? Simply turn the other chick?

Other societies have passed through their stages of development. America that we copy so much passed through its turbulent times, they didn’t conquer it by expecting change to evolve. Their people paid the prize through commitment, dedication, sacrifices even the ultimate sacrifice. Our case may not be mirror images of how other peoples that found their selves in similar situations overcame their predicament, but our story cannot be too radically different, human nature is universal. Nigerians cannot get freedom by looking for short-cuts, its diversionary.

In conclusion, I will quote two revolutionary singers whose songs I believe are relevant at this point in time.

“my people sef dey fear too much, we fear for the things we no see. We fear for the air around us, we fear to fight for freedom, we fear to fight for liberty………….. we always get reason to fear, we no wan die, we no wan quench”…………Fela Anikulapo Kuti

“Everybody want to go to heaven but nobody wants to die” …………Peter Tosh

Lastly, and this for all contributors to this blogspot, I quote Karl Marx……………..
“The philosophers have interpreted the world the point is changing it”

Lets us all work towards changing Nigeria, Africa and the World at large for better.
Onward to Victory!

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'LET'S TALK NIGERIA!' - RESTORATION GROUP

2006-08-15T11:38:00.000+01:00

The Restoration Group (RG) is facilitating a national village squarepublic forum titled: 'Let's Talk Nigeria!' This event is scheduled forSaturday 19th August 2006 at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos,from 4pm till 7pm.The Restoration Group (RG) seeks to build a people's movement led byservant leaders who are passionate about using public office to createwealth for Nigeria and who recognise that the dignity of the human being must be at the centre of governance. RG is convinced thatNigeria stands in need of such new leaders who are true servants ofthe people, to propel her growth and development to economicprosperity, based on respect for the will of the people.

The sustenance of Nigeria's democracy and attainment of its possibilitiesdepends on the involvement of all capable persons of goodwill and thebuilding of a new national consensus.RG is recruiting a new crop of leaders from all over Nigeria. These new leaders that RG is seeking to nurture must possess the 4Cattributes of Competence, Commitment, Character and Compassion.This edition of LET'S TALK NIGERIA! is the first in a series of public events to be organised across Nigeria by RG in the build up to the2007 round of elections. Speakers at the event represent importantnational stakeholder groups in the nation, including youthorganisations, women's groups, political movements, market associations, professionals associations, community developmentbodies, civil society and community based organisations, the organisedprivate sector and the physically challenged.The event will be given live
coverage by some Television and Radio stations. LET'S TALK NIGERIA is part of a process to build national consensusamong all the stakeholders on issues of democracy, governance anddevelopment in Nigeria. The event is open to the public and every Nigerian is encouraged to attend and participate in this search forsolutions to the challenges we face as a nation.

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Evolution and Revolution - Dr. Butali Azeez

2006-08-14T07:52:00.000+01:00

I read the article of a respected colleague whichemphasised on revolution as a possible way forward forNigeria. Being an advocate of an evolution, I beg todisgree.A revelotion is in most cases if not all brought in byviolence, loss of lifes and property. There will be amonumental loss and the sacrifice by our heros pastwill then be in vain. Agreed the Nigerian situationwill need a drastic approach to weed off the corruptand focusless leaders.
However, the use of ideas andstrategy can be used to actualise this- this willjustify that adage which says "The pen is mightierthan the sword". Again, most revolution will end upwith factions laying claims to its success. Thisemerging factions then go to war to confirm whateversupremacy.

Are we not living witnesses to thefactional wars between Ganiyu Adams OPC and Dr.Fasheun's faction, Dokubo and Atake Niger-deltaVolunteer force? These are near-revolutionary forcesand see the havoc they reck on society followingfactional wars. We dont need that !. The use of ideas and strategy are the driving force ofan Evolution.
Men like you with great ideas of how tomove our country forward should be encouraged andsupported to aspire for positions of policy making andimplementation. The strategy will be for us, to takeit as a responsibility to change the orientation ofour people - we all belong to one community, village ,town or state or another. This orientation willinclude the roles of their leaders to the society andthe roles of followers. Leaders have been forced onour people making it difficult for them to account fortheir actions. They should be told that they have theright to reject any representative of doubtfulabilities presented by any cabal or party as in thepresent case. When this process is gradually nuturedand effectively carried out by efficient and committedpeople like you and I, the evolution process will becomleted in no time.

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Let us do our best to pray for Nigeria-Toroti Umuerri

2006-08-14T07:49:00.000+01:00

As we know that good things are achieved by prayers and bad things also need prayers inorder for them to be turned good or healed. We are all aware of what is happening in Nigeria, especially as the 2007 election year is fast approaching.

A lot of people are already saying that "Oh, they will rig the elctions again, our votes are useless even if we vote because there are machineries in place to bring to power who ever the so called "power determinants" choose etc". All of these things may be true, but that does not mean we should not cast our votes for the good people.

But to me, the most important thing we should all do is to earnestly start praying to God from sincere hearts for Nigeria and confess our sins to Him, for Him to have mercy, pardon and deliver us. One thing I am very sure of is that God still answers prayers.

It saddens my heart each time I read of how much money Nigeria is making from Oil sale and other revenues, but look at the vast majority of Nigerians living in penury. Nigeria is still ranked among the poorest countries in the world, believe it or not. Many countries that don't have enough resources like we do, their citizens are living very comfortable lives, but not so with Nigeria. If we that God has helped and blessed keep shut or close our eyes to these situations because we are ok and are not affected by this poverty trend, it will not do us good. We should rise up like the lepers in the Bible that never held their peace when they saw a big source of food in the midst of great famine, but went ahead to proclaim the good news to the suffering and hungry people of Samaria.

What also pain my heart is that, many people vieing for elected positions in Nigeria now are just interested in going there to embezzle their own part of the national cake. For example, see how many people that were elected or put in positions of authority since 1999, that have been apprehended or accused of mass embezzlement of public fund. Well, thank God for agencies like EFCC, and I pray that God will continue to use these groups to regain back all Nigerian wealth from past and present corrupt leaders. But then, if we don't want this trend to continue for our beloved nation, I think it is time for us to rise up, and cry to God. Since we don't have the money, position etc to justly fight our cause, we have our voice to cry out to God, to other appropriate quarters and cast our votes. If we do, God will answer us and 100% deliver us from all these selfish and merciless predators come 2007, no matter how much they may want to rig the elections to their favour and God will put in all positions of authority in Nigeria, people that will fear Him, love the people and work for the good of the people.

So please, it is high time we started praying earnestly for Nigeria. Please don't fold your hands and just say things will not change. Things can change and must change for good in Nigeria. Also please spread this message to all loving and concerned citizens of Nigeria, home and abroad. It is not too late to start praying. God can help us, but it is ours to pray to Him.

God bless you.

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Niger-Delta: I am sad - By Dr. Azeez Butali

2006-08-11T10:49:00.000+01:00

I have just being asked to submit a proposal for agrant by an organization whose concern is onoccupational and environmental health. As part of myproposal, I will have to do a literature review on allenvironmental factors which have an effect on thehealth of people.As I searched the literature, I came across thisarticles which brought sorrow to my mind.
In the oil industry, many of the pollutants arehydrocarbons, and these include methane, polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbons, and some other unburnthydrocarbons. This pollutants are all suspected to beteratogenic and have adverse effects on reproductiveoutcomes.There is an extensive evidence that ambient airpollution affects human health reported in studies byBrunekreef and Holgate 2002; Kunzli et al. 2000; Popeet al. 2002. Glinianaia et al in 2004 and Maisonet etal. 2004 reported the association of air pollution andadverse pregnancy outcomes.
In 1989, Professor Datubo-brown and Kejeh reportedthat villagers in some parts of Rivers state livingclose to the petroleum oil wells and gas flares drewup a list of "new diseases" which they claim have beencaused by the oil exploration in their areas. Theyalso reported that women have had to leave the area assoon as it is suspected that they are pregnant, inorder to avoid abortions or abnormal babies.
The current demand for oil by the global market musthave tripled that of 1989. This will lead to increasedexploration by oil companies with a simultaneousincrease release of environmental pollutant. Can youimagine the effects on the people of the area. I am very sad!

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Votes Counted May Not Count. But… - By Ayo

2006-08-11T08:39:00.000+01:00

"Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them". Paul Valery - French critic & poet (1871 - 1945)
It was lunch time, so as usual I took a This Day Newspaper and off I go to the dinning. As I was just settling down I saw an advert of a public lecture organized to mark the 65th anniversary of IBB, a presidential aspirant. The colleague beside me shouted, “this man again”! He went further, “left to me, this man will not the President of Nigeria, he should be in prison by now”!

As I mumbled over my meal, what readily comes to my mind is the stark but bitter realization of the fact that we are on the same familiar road to self destruction again. But wait a minute, is this simply a case of disconnect from reality? The people I really support and vote for never did get there.

I wondered who determines who becomes what in this country. I seem not to know. Some cabals somewhere maybe?

My colleague ranted again, “I am sure OBJ will not hand over to this IBB of a man. I am sure”!

And I wondered again, since ABUBAKAR is not the one who decided to give the power to OBJ, just like ABACHA never chose ABUBAKAR as his successor; and then it’s most unlikely OBJ will be the singular decider of who will be sworn in as the next President. And this still brings me back to the basics. Some people somewhere pull these strings.

As my colleague set to rant out another phrase again, I held out my hand and asked him if he will vote in these forthcoming elections. He answered me? “I will not. In fact I never voted before”.

I nodded and bid him goodbye. But various thoughts raced through my mind. The logic is that various factors and forces decide who will come out as the leader. It is most unlikely that the votes of the PEOPLE will not matter. Just like Segun Adeniyi said, it is almost like a pie in the sky.

There and then I resolved within myself, that even if my vote will not count, I will make sure that I cast my vote and my vote is counted.

As written by Albert Einstein in his book Treasury for the Free World published in 1946; "It is the duty of every citizen according to his best capacities to give validity to his convictions in political affairs".

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Mr Raji Raji - By Ayo

2006-08-10T08:11:00.000+01:00

I was checking out on the articles submitted by Dr Azeez yesterday when I saw this catching looking mail titled “Treat as urgent and call me”. I quickly opened the mail and got the surprise of my life. Someone sent a mail asking that we joined hands and minds in scooping some 15 million USD laying idle in the coffers of the banks he claimed he works in; The African Development Bank (ADB) in the Republic Benin.

He promised me 40% of the bounty as my share as a foreign partner. He even trusted he will from me very soon.

There will be no need to flog the issue of scam mails and 419 ners. We live with it everyday. But I will like to send an unassuming reply to Mr Raji Raji and I think I need the help of people here.

Please send me you comments/ contributions of what you think should be my reply. I will make sure I send all your comments/ contributions to Mr Raji Raji verbatim. I am sure he will have a field day after this barrage.

Have a nice day everyone and hope to hear from you all!

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The Gathering Storm in Nigeria's Political Picturesque - By Wale Salami

2006-08-09T12:24:00.000+01:00

As the 2007 general elections approaches the uneasy calm that have characterized the Nigerian political terrain since the outset of the present political dispensation recently assumed more violent dimensions with the assassinations of a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of ACD in Plateau State and Funso Williams another gubernatorial aspirant on the plat form of PDP in Lagos state.
Prior to this is time there have been several unresolved political assassinations including that of the former Attorney General, Chief Bola Ige, Dikibo, Harry Marshal, Ogom, Hassan Olajoku etc. The present regime have also visited unprecedented violence on Nigerians; from the killings in Odi to the massacre in Zaki Biam to the killing of OPC and MASSOB activists the story have been a tale of woes.
The way the power that be has been using different means to contain and conceal the violent acts can be likened to the ostrich that buries its head in sand, more like wearing a seriously undersized pants which will naturally must burst through the seams.

The bottom-line however is that why do we have such violent scenario on hands? The reasons are not far-fetched; mainly it has to do with the inherent contradictions embedded in the politico-economic system that subsists in Nigeria today. This system with its bundles of contradictions has engendered poverty, destitution, corruption, unemployment, ignorance/illiteracy, diseases, ethno-religious intolerance and absolute despair in the society.
What is perhaps most saddening is that the leadership that superintends over the present status quo is sit-tightist and unwilling to allow the desire and aspiration for positive revolutionary change to come to fruition.

This is why the 2003 elections were monumentally rigged as acclaimed by local and international observers and even the court of Appeal. The fraud and manipulations in 2003 were made possible using the instruments of violence, intimidation and corruption (money politics).
The ingredients that made possible the manipulations in 2003 are still in existence and stare in the face even in bolder relief. It is to achieve the same end like in 2003 that the storm is once again gathering. We are actually seeing the prologue to 2007 elections.

But can Nigeria survive another round violence instigated by political intrigues emanating from the present inept and inhuman ruling classes that are responsible for our present excruciating condition of existence?
Even at the risk of sounding pessimistic, Nigeria cannot. The truth is that Nigeria is on the verge of collapse, if the violent struggles amongst the components of the polity continue, it will get to a crescendo where the present trend would become irreversible then two possibilities await Nigeria.

One possibility is that Nigeria will implode; the other is that Nigeria will explode. Implode in this sense means a cataclysmic autolysis of the polity where the various components of the polity engage in a series of violent reactions in chemistry of self-annihilation. To explode means the violent reactions amongst the components will lead to the spilling of the contents of the polity in a violent explosion.

The present ruling classes must be held responsible for this situation. In fact the present chaotic atmosphere is being consciously planned by the present PDP led civilian dictatorship to facilitate the perpetration of their tenacious hold to power.
It was said when the diabolic third term agenda failed that the hawks would go back to the drawing board and emerge with Plan 'B', the present premeditated violence coupled with the conscious clamour for an Interim National Government (ING) substantiates this position.

As a matter of fact, there appears to be several plans, from A, B, C to Plan Z, all in order to maintain the vicious cycle. The corrupt ruling classes have a lot to hide, this is why they contort all sorts of arrangements to cover their tracks and consciously put bottle-necks and impediments on the path of the oppressed peoples’ march for revolutionary socio-political economic change.
Nigerians must guide their loins, for more turbulent days lies ahead, the crises within the ruling classes would continue because of the irreconcilable differences amongst them. There would be several camps and tents pitched against one another like we are already seeing the OBJ camp, the Atiku tent, the IBB canopy, the Odilli caucus and so on.

They shall play all possible cards in the present violent game, from the ethnic card to the religious card and the zoning card in their quest to grab power by all means. The poor oppressed peoples of Nigeria must unite to confront their common oppressors as represented in the present extremely rich ruling class.
The oppressed class must avoid being drawn into their intra-class squabbles instead the poor and oppressed people should engage in organised conscious political self activity to take advantage of the present situation and at the decisive moment chase away the crazy 'bald-heads', apologies Bob Marley.

Power actually belongs to the people, it is the Nigerian peoples; the toilers, the workers, the hewers of the woods, the fetchers of the water who suffer most as a result of the present system of governance that must take their destiny in the hands and characteristically transform Nigeria in the own interest.

But how does this happen? It is through a process called REVOLUTION and it simply means change. And unlike the ignorant would like to say, a revolution is not necessarily violent. In fact a revolution can only become violent if the decadent state employs violent means to suppress and repress the peoples' desire for change.

But there is no army in the world strong enough to stop an idea whose time has come; the time for the Nigerian revolution is close. It has gotten to that time when change must come and the possibility of the change being violent is dependent on the attitude of present status quo and its beneficiaries towards the march for freedom.

It is pertinent to note however that ‘those that make peaceful changes impossible makes violent change in evitable’.
Revolution is however not an event, it is a process which has its dynamics, we must realise that it took quite awhile for the oppressors to bring us into the present decadence. Equally, the process that would lead to the amelioration of our situation of existence cannot happen at the snap of a finger or at the flick of a pen.

The oppressed class must be organized to take over political power either by ballot or by whatever means necessary. It is this political power that could be wielded to reverse the order of things and fundamentally alter this state of perdition.

The oppressed must be ready for the monumental struggles ahead. Unite! All oppressed peoples of Nigeria!

Wale Salami is the National Administrative Secretary, United Action for Democracy (UAD). He writes in from Lagos.

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Good Thinking! - By Dr. Azeez Butali

2006-08-09T12:17:00.000+01:00

I was very delighted to know and read of thisinitiative to stimulate and create a melting pot ofideas for the Nigerian youths. It has become extremely important for youths to definetheir role in making Nigeria great and I think thisis the right home for that- Nigeria house.
The thought of 2007 is a nightmare for most Nigerians-say that again. Politicians have decided to causesleepless nights and make the country a hub forassassinations - What a shame?Are You surprised?Certainly not! Why?Taking it from the basis. Politics is a call to serveand not to chop.

It is an avenue to use ideas,understanding of community needs and design ofstrategy to implement the ideas. An inventory of theideological make up of the present crop ofpoliticians in the country leaves me with less than10%. It is sad.Are you complaining?Me!.No oh but I fear for the future.But they don't own the future. Or do they? For sure, No.The future of our country is in God's hands - throughthe youths.

Our country needs an "Evolution". CharlesDarwin clearly defined this term and the best time forthat is soon.The evolution process will take a while but graduallythe result with be for the good of all. Unlike baba'semergency search for a successor, which is a sign ofpoor prospective reasoning and deficient leadershipqualities, we must from now identify prospectiveleaders amongst us and create the right platform forthem to fulfill the aspirations of Nigerians.This is a call to you- come build the "FUTURE"

Dr. Azeez Butali is a Research (Phd) student in Department of Dental Public healthand Health Psychology(WHO collaboration center for Craniofacial anomaly)Dundee Dental School and Hospital)Scotland U.K

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Leadership Nigeria Needs - By Adeolu Akinyemi

2006-08-07T11:51:00.000+01:00

It’s 3:30am, I’m getting used to these late night escapades. But tell me, when but now are things quiet enough for one to be truely inspired to write? I don’t know if night is the correct time, I can only say that I feel truely at peace at these times, and feel free to write from my heart.
Yesterday Night around 10pm, some friends and I went to have a meeting with one of the aspirants for the presidential position in Nigeria for 2007 - Professor Pat Utomi!
He is a man I have come to respect and believe in. Like most of us, I started from the cynical position of, is Nigeria ready for a leader like this? In the past 3 months, my answer to this question has migrated from a sure no, to a compelling yes!
I don’t know about you, but I believe that we have grown over time as a country. The current president and crop of leaders have done some good things. The case of Nigeria is like a man that falls down from a tall building, the first thing you want to do is not suture is head wounds. The first thing you want to do is check his pulse, verify if he is alive or try to resussicate him before anything else. The pulse of a nation is it’s economic indices, the voice of it’s people and it’s general response to the world. We have not witnessed monumental change, but our pulse has to a good extent been restored! To this I say a good kudo’s to President Obasanjo.
Haven developed a pulse however, the calibre of aid needed to get the person up and running again becomes different. That is the stage we are in as a country now! We are in a time when we need competent, committed, charismatic and compassionate leaders! We need leaders that are real and can steer Nigeria into the enviable future that we all desire. Leaders that when we mention their names, people care less about where they come from. Leaders that have the common man in mind, leaders that are accessible. Servant Leaders!
The only thing that good people need to do for evil to prevail is keep quiet! That is why the first lie you and I will battle with is one that makes us believe that votes do not count in this country! Who says? Who forms the rules? If we say votes don’t count and we refuse to vote, does your prophecy not become self fulfilling? Let the picture of the future that we see, propel us to make decisions that we can beat our chest about in the future!
In the words of Prof Pat last night (paraphrased) -”I must encourage you, a lot of senior citizens in this nation usually say, “they are young people what can they do?” These were the same people who the governance of this country was handed over to when they were in their early twenties. Then they were not as prepared as you are today, but they had the privilege of being in charge of things in this nation. I encourage you to go on!
20yrs from now, Nigeria will be a living wonder, a choice place for the world to visit, Nigerians will be treated like kings in other nations. Nations will queue for hours to get our visas! That future will come, what part will you have played to make it real?

Adeolu is the CEO of Generis Solution. He is a motivational speaker.

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Making us count - By Ayo

2006-08-07T08:10:00.000+01:00

Some days ago, I wrote a piece on a day without TV. I am sure not many went through the piece. Put together, my concern then was, content, quality and culture. I never thought about restrictions, but I think it counts too.
Only last week, the Federal Government broke DSTV’s monopoly in Nigeria following a review of the nation's policy on broadcast rights and exclusivity in programme acquisition and delivery. NBC, the agency in charge of licensing and regulating use of broadcast frequencies in Nigeria announced some new policy directives on the mode of operations of licensees on the Direct-to-Home (DTH) platform to guide operators.
Just over the weekend, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Frank Nweke, directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to inform the management of English Premiership League (EPL) in Nigeria that South African satellite broadcast firm, Direct Satellite Television (DSTV), a subsidiary of Multichoice, can no longer broadcast the EPL in Nigeria.
At present, Multichoice has bought the exclusive rights, on behalf of all the countries in Africa, to broadcast EPL as well as other channels, including Discovery, Reality TV, National Geographic, etc, on the continent.What keeps baffling me is how and why a foreign company would buy the exclusive rights to broadcast the league in Nigeria when there are Nigerian companies operating in that sector.
According to information gathered, this new development is part of the reforms taking place in the Nigerian entertainment industry centered around the protection of the sovereignty of the country and the growth of its media, film and music, as well as sport industries. This seems a more objectively pragmatic way of enforcing the country’s position, copyright laws and regulatory powers would no longer be used to support and or defend such unpatriotic and colonial structures and systems of doing business saying “we must begin to encourage our local businesses and help them grow”.
Although its quite unfortunate that the minister confessed just realizing this, but the fact is that it is only in the African continent that any content is sold exclusively across a whole continent to one entity . We did better ensure that it is corrected. Multichoice can buy on behalf of other countries if they so allow but the South African company would no longer buy any content on behalf of Nigeria. That practice must end.
For so long, indigenous Direct-to-Home satellite companies that were in operation have all gone under incurring huge loses as a result of their inability to get good content that will attract customers. Contents and channels that could have helped them remain in business have been exclusively bought or warehoused by a South African company on behalf of Nigeria. This is ridiculous. Even if their aim is to control broadcasting in Africa, we do not have problems with that as long as they are not making any attempt to control broadcasting in Nigeria.With the current development, Nigerian subscribers who have been hooked to DSTV for global news and sports over these years of its monopoly may now have a variety of choices in terms of satellite television viewing in their homes.
To me, this is definitely a right step in the right direction. I might not be able to argue if it is being done at the right time.

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Tear Down the Walls! - By Ayo

2006-08-07T07:05:00.000+01:00

A lot of people are living with different kinds of walls in their minds and these walls have robbed them of the blessings of God and have placed an embargo on their destinies. Whatever walls that are in your life now can only be pulled down by you alone. Sadly many of these walls are imaginary and far from real. I am challenging you to free yourself and pull those walls down.Incessant failures in life could have been a cause for some but Abe Lincoln was an epitome of failure and was not deterred, eventually he became one of the best Presidents America ever had. Winston Churchill said "Success is never final and failure is never fatal". You are only defeated when in your mind you have been defeated, so if you think you can, you are right and if you think you can’t, you are also right.
To some, what someone told them many years ago, erected a gigantic wall. In 1962, Decca Recording Company rejected Beatles on the ground that they don’t like their sound and sooner than later, guitar music would soon be phased out. I am sure they licked their wounds for years as Beatles became the greatest group selling over 1 billion copies. Do you have a God's given idea and someone you have so muchrespect for has criticised it?
Thomas Watson who was the Chairman of IBM in 1943 made a sincere but out rightly wrong statement, "I think there's a world market for may be five computers." Worse than that was even a recent statement credited to Ken Olson, Founder of Digital Equipment in 1977, "There is no reason why anyone would want to have a computer in their home'You are probably reading this piece on your computer now. What if they have listened to these two heavyweights in the industry?Your teacher told you, you are not likely to amount to anything while in elementary school? Beethoven was told by his music teacher that he will never make it as a composer but went to become the greatest composer of all times.
Are you a drop out? Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Michael Dell and manymore are all drop outs, so what excuse has you?
Struck by tragedy? Lance Armstrong had testicular cancer at the prime of his life, fought it and went out to win Tour du France unprecedented seven times. Imaculee Ilibagiza lost her whole family except her eldest brother in the Rwanda holocaust of 1994, put it behind her and wrote one of the most inspiringbooks of all time "Left to Tell", a book I simply couldn’t put down until I read through.
Is age your wall? Ray Kroc started McDonalds at the age of 53in 1955. Col. Harland Sanders began his business at 40; the businesscollapsed when he was 60, auctioned everything and was living on $105social security. At 65 he began again. That business is KFC. Are you too young? Keith Peiris founded CyberTeks.net at the age of 11 in 1999. He is the CEO with many professionals working in that company. Michael dell at 18 founded dell Computers. Matthew McCauley the CEO of Gymboree is 33,managing a $700m company.I therefore challenge you now, go out there and make a difference. Makesomething out of your life but first you have to tear down those walls.

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The Nigeria House : Genuine opportunity to Serve - By Sojimade Nurudeen

2006-08-04T15:54:00.000+01:00

Dear All,

I think this is an opportunity for all to start making meaningful contributions to the development of our dear country.
Lets us all offer to become the clay with which a new and better Nigeria would be moulded from.

I am of the view that there should be a genuine resolve from the youth to give something back to our country now in the the knowledge that the little we give today will shape, construct, define and redefine the future of many to come including generation yet unborn.
The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea,
buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us along the path to its fulfillment.

George Benard Shaw once said "If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.”
Let us exchange ideas and in a little while we shall be swimming in a pool of ideas.

Sojimade Nurudeen writes form Scotland. He is a graduate student of Medical Molecular Genetics in the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.

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A day without TV...

2006-08-04T11:36:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone,
I was on a site, the Global voices, and was amazed at some ideas in other lands.Can we live a day without TV? Many Indonesian bloggers almost simultaneously posted a piece about a day without television to commemorate National Children Day on July 23.
Many of them are worried about the quality of Indonesian tv programs which they see as a threat to the children creativity specially when it is seen from quality point of view.
The campaign was to urge everyone to stop watching a tv program to pay respect for children and to warn Indonesian tv channels about their programs that could harm children in many ways and possibly destroy their culture.
So what the point of making such campaign when they know that their voices will reach the deaf ears of tv producers and regulators if it’s not accompanied with a proper law? A comment here tell us the reason.
I agree with the campaigners that it’s not about anti-TV as a technology. It’s just too-much-violence-and-junk-shows on our TV. This is not about proposing a bill that makes TV ilegal, just showing respect to the National Child Day.As we all know Nigerian TV show is far from child-friendly. Despite that children everywhere spend more time on TV than on other activities.
I think if we had lived happily without TV since many years ago then we still can if the TV houses do not stop giving us junks and eroding our values and culture.
Safe!

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Is There any Hope For Nigeria again?- By Soneye Olalekan Philip

2006-08-04T10:45:00.000+01:00

The final year of the campaign for presidency in Nigeria is just a few months away, and Nigeria's future will be in your hands. I urge all of you, to please, take time to vote not because you just have to do that but because of our tomorrow and that of our children. Don't allow flashy materials or token to take your vote away from you, vote and vote right. You are the guardians of this great but nascent democracy.
Here, I want to share with you my views about the issues that directly concern our future, the future of our children, and the future of this dream we call Nigeria. The election will offer us the clearest choice: whether to go forward together with courage, confidence, and common sense, making Nigeria strong again; or turn back to policies that will weaken our economy, diminish our leadership in the world, and reverse Nigeria's long awaited Hope.

HOPE '93
For the first time in the history of Nigeria, the Northerners and Southerners came together to pick a president (The best president Nigerian never had) in an election that was tagged "free and fair" from all electioneering frauds. Yet, the spirit of every Nigerian was dashed by the then Head Of State, and some shameless and unpatriotic marauders in the corridors of power. Has the hope gone for ever???
Oh! what a remembrance, even if Federal Republic of Nigeria as a government will not recognise the "Nigerian democracy martyrs" the Nigerian masses do and we do.
I urge you to join us in a great national effort to free Nigeria from leadership that said we suffered from a malaise, that told us we must learn to live with less, and that our children could no longer dream as we once had dreamed. They introduced many programs (under the disguise of poverty alleviation) to feed their families at the expense of the poor masses.
In spite of the fact that Nigerian level of poverty is increasing tremendously, many are jobless, no good education, NEPA change its name to PHCN (Problem Has Changed Name), no water: Yet an absurd Third Term agenda.
The greatness of Nigeria does not begin with Abuja or Lagos; it begins with each of you. Each of you as an individual, worthy of respect, unique and important to the success of Nigeria. And only by trusting you, giving you opportunities to climb high and reach for the stars, can we preserve the golden dream of Nigeria as the champion of peace and freedom among the countries of Africa. Every Nigerian must be given the opportunity to contribute positively to the nations' overall growth .
If anyone is looking for heroes, they are abundant on the streets of Nigeria.

2007; we can vote to go forward with a Nigeria of momentum, or back to a Nigeria of malaise; go forward with an economy that's robust, or back to an economy that went bust; go forward with morale up and jobs up
If the dream of Nigeria is to be preserved, we must not waste the genius of one mind, the strength of one body, or the spirit of one soul. Let us encourage all Nigerians -- men and women, young and old, individuals, of every race, creed, and color -- to succeed and to be healthy, happy, and whole. Our goal is a society of unlimited opportunity which will reach out to lift the weak and nurture those who are less fortunate.

Chief MKO Abiola has died, and has the HOPE gone with him? Will Nigeria ever has any HOPE?
I urge Nigerians to come together again like the time when Chief MKO Abiola contested an election in this country. Let's build together and wake up the Hope of Nigeria. But what I'm really thankful for is that all across this shining land, we're hoping together. We can say to the world and pledge to our children: Nigeria's best days lie ahead.
Thank you and God bless you.

(Philip Soneye lives in Lagos, an Entreprenuer and is into Educational Services)

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Bayelsa Sate Loot - By Femi Awofala

2006-08-04T08:14:00.000+01:00

President Olusegun Obasanjo has said the £1m recovered from former Bayelsa State Governor Chief Dipreye Alamiesieyegha in London by the British Police will be utilised in identifiable projects for the benefit of the people of the State.This is a fruad .This money belongs to all tax paying Nigerians

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Breaking News;Okonjo Iweala Resigns!

2006-08-04T08:11:00.000+01:00

Sources said that the immediate reason behind her resignation was how she was removed as the leader of the Economic Management Team while she was away in London where she went to initiate the process of Nigeria’s final exit from the London Club of creditors.Her removal, conveyed to her while in the middle of negotiations was said to have left her distraught. She reportedly remarked: “Why did they not allow me to come back to Nigeria before this humiliation”.
Other sources stated that the former minister faxed her resignation letter from the United Kingdom, where she was on an official assignment.
According to information, another reason why Obasanjo had been looking for an opportunity to slight Okonjo-Iweala was as a result of a publication, about two weeks ago, by the London-based Economist Magazine suggesting that the President removed Okonjo-Iweala from the finance ministry because of a last minute effort at looting the treasury.
She said she was compelled to resign because of the need to take care of pressing family issues because she believed she has faithfully delivered on all of the tasks she was charged with by the President when she was invited to become Finance Minister three years ago.

Okonjo-Iweala’s letter reads: “This is to tender my resignation as Foreign Affairs Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “Your Excellency outlined a terms of reference that included formulation and spearheading of the implementation of a reform programme that would turn the Nigerian economy around. Specifically, Your Excellency also asked that I deliver debt relief for Nigeria – a quest that had eluded the country for some time.“Mr. President, working with your Presidential Economic Team under your leadership and guidance, I believe we were able to create a strong reform programme and implement this to worldwide acclaim and to the benefit of Nigerians. The results speak for themselves and need not be repeated here".

2006-08-03T17:27:00.000+01:00

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Too much Government. Too little Progress

2006-08-03T16:15:00.000+01:00

A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government... —Thomas Jefferson

I was having a chat with a friend in the UK this week end and he told me that a Wall Street index ranking countries based on economic freedom recently released rated Nigeria as the 146th of the 157 countries graded by the WALL Street Journal and Heritage foundation. (Iraq, Congo, Sudan and Serbia & Montenegro were not graded). I could not believe this and quickly tuned up to my online resources for a contrary opinion, disappointedly my fears were confirmed. Of all the 37 African countries graded, only Zimbabwe is worse off (154th overall).

The researchers listed the basis for their submission as the aggregate of the following: trade policy, fiscal burden, Government intervention, monetary policy, foreign investment, banking, wages, prices, and regulations.

The bitter truth is that most of the revenue and expenditure is driven and centred on government leaving all other sectors barely scratching. It’s quite true that some level of government spending is necessary to ensure that the basic structures of society function smoothly enough to facilitate economic activity. Nevertheless, excessive government spending and activities shifts resources from the private sector and impedes economic growth. So do our Government know and realizes where to draw the line?

I have come to realize, that until the economy is entirely free and various informal sectors appropriately mobilized, our Government will continue to shrink its very own ability to catalyze economic growth despite all its reforms and discourage other interested and able players.
Simply put; our government has no business in business.

I believe that when governments establish strong courts, strong property rights and strong rule of law, when they lower or eliminate tariffs, ensure safety of life and property, invest in infrastructures, make it easy to open businesses, make state-owned enterprises work better by whatever method derived, reduce barriers to foreign investment, incomes rise and economies flourish.

Among his many famous writings, Thomas Jefferson noted: “My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.”

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At last!

2006-08-03T12:06:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone out there.

After alot of days and years of procastination and tongue wagging, I finally found the resolve to bring this blog spot alive.

I hope it will herald beginning of good things to come for Nigeria, the human race and all of us all.

See ya!