What Governors? What Forum?

 

Anger, danger, hunger that Nigerians suffer from governments’ ineptitude are unimportant. Everything is about 36 men and some outsiders who have created another distraction to keep our eyes off them as they steer the Nigerian ship recklessly.

What is the NGF? Why is it suddenly so important? Why if the Presidency is not interested in the crisis, one of the factions feels obliged to report to the Vice President (the President was at the African Union 50th anniversary celebrations in Addis Ababa)? Would the faction have reported to the President if he was around? Why the presidential support for a factional NGF secretariat?

Sentiments and issues have tangled; it is difficult to separate them. Governors who participated in the election, certain of their group’s victory, are turning around to smear the exercise as flawed. If they won would their position have been different?

Thanks to technology even those who said they did not vote have been contradicted.

Where was the rigging? The 35 votes cast matched the number of governors in attendance. Nobody complained about the counting until the loss. Political miscalculation is at the root of what has been promoted to a crisis. The complaining faction believed it had the numbers to win.

NGF is an association of governors. Membership is not compulsory. Attendance at its meetings used to be poor until the past two years when NGF has rallied governors’ positions on issues, mostly States’ participating in decisions about dispersing Nigeria’s resources.

Every governor wanted more money, presumably to develop his State. The forum met a need. Among its critics are those who wonder why states resources are spent on NGF, an exclusive club, whose membership is only 0.0000225 per cent of Nigeria’s population.

The undue importance placed on NGF is an excellent example of how our governments think only about themselves. They would stop at nothing to please themselves, showcase their importance, and disrupt things to get things done their way. Quests for power platforms are primed at annexation of any association that could raise a contrary voice. NGF was a prime target. Opposition would not be brooked. The point is made emphatically enough to strike fear in dissenters.

Politicians have again placed their greed above everything.

We hope parties to the conflict realize Nigerians elected them to serve the people. Nothing is more important than the welfare and security of the people, the NGF crisis cannot enhance them, especially governor Jang that failed to manage his own state, I wonder how, he will manage the whole northern part of Nigeria?

 

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PRESIDENCY AND MILITARY AGANDA

In the post-modern society, life is full of risks and danger due to the maturity of technology because act of terrorism has reached its climax and militarization is the order of the day. In view of the speech of President Jonathan on May 15, 2013. On which he declare state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe state of Nigeria, as he lamented over on high level of militancy, criminality, and act of terrorism bedevil the nation, the declaration is aim at restoring public order, public safety and security in the affected states of the Federation, but it depict military influence and other economic impact as analyses below

The ideological underpinning of the speech could be seen from different point of view, I specifically view it form post-modern paradigm because of the changes that occur in Nigeria and incident of bombs here and there. More over the activities of insurgents and terrorists have been reprehensible, causing fear among Nigerians and a near-breakdown of law and order in parts of the country. In these scenario government of the day lamented over and over, in order to tackle the issue, the enter into persuasion and dialogue  but there effort prove abortive, due to the high level of militancy and criminality couple with  sophisticate weapons which were given from other terrorist group across the world. The assist them with money, weapons, and other electronic machines that would destroyed a country within a twinkle of an eye, this has depict post-modern paradigm

 

The political economy view point, is that having declare the state of emergency but still Mr. President is urging the governors of the effected state, to continue with their constitutional responsibility and cooperate with the military personnel, this capture the saying of Roser about the value of military in capital accumulation, because definitely, the military that are sent to those state would be given allowances which will amount millions of naira, there uniform will also be change, more weapons will be given to them. In these scenarios, capital accumulation would continue as must of the top Nigerians military personnel are members of global military industrial complex including the defense minister.

 

 

 

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A Forgiving Nation, a Deceived Nation!

I am a citizen of my nation, a nation always eager to forgive. This is a nation that offers forgiveness even when it is not asked. Mine is a deceived nation, sold the counterfeit religion in which it gloats. The messages coming from the pulpits of many religious congregations are adulterated. Nigeria is made drunk from spiked religious wine. Wrong theology has made us inured to evil and hateful of reason. Many of my people believe that reason is antithetical to true religion. But reasoning is the path to true knowledge of true religion. “Come and let us reason together” is a phrase common in true religion. I call on Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to come along with me on this journey of reason.

If right living follows right knowledge, why is it that in spite of so many churches on our streets and many Islamic sects in Nigeria this nation has known neither peace nor purity in either private or public conduct? The reason is that what is taught in churches and mosques is not right knowledge. If traditional religion was the repository of pure knowledge, why is it that the custodians of culture, Nigeria’s traditional rulers, have not shown a better example than politicians do?

Religious, traditional, and political leaders in Nigeria always call for forgiveness, unity, and peace. The louder those calls are becoming, much worse have killings, kidnappings, public corruption, and private corruptions become. Religious leaders live like kings and queens while the majority of their congregation lives in abject poverty. They promise prosperity and “breakthroughs” to their congregations, but extreme poverty is the sad result. They make merchandize of the people, but the people worship and revere them. When you attempt to point out the wrong of either religious or political leaders, you are warned of the destructive fate that awaits those that dare—“Touch not the Lord’s anointed!” There is hypnotism of religion, complemented by quasi-democratic fraud.

If the primary purpose of government is security and welfare of the people, then we should not “just forgive” offenders of the state whose actions have impoverished the people, reduced the life expectancy, brought people to untimely deaths, and worsened all human development indices. Religious people parrot that we should “forgive”, that “to err is human, but to forgive is divine.” So we have cheapened forgiveness, and engaged in public distribution of “forgiveness” even to those who neither appreciate nor deserve it. But there is a fact about forgiveness that Nigerians often overlook. Political leaders are “Avengers” for God, “sword-bearers” for God, and “ministers” of God, who must reward those that do good, and punish those that do evil. They cannot forgive on behalf of the people except this serves public interest. Furthermore, restitution must follow. For instance, if a road project was paid for, and yet the road was not built, it would be a public offence for the leader, the avenger, the sword-bearer, and minister, to “forgive” without first recovering all embezzled public funds and resulting fines from the contractors and conniving thieving public officials. Even at that, as a deterrent, those criminals must be punished.

Many religious Nigerians would call for accountability from public officials, but when you ask their religious leaders to give annual account of the offerings and “tithes” that they collect, you would be branded badly by the same religious folks. They hold their pastors, overseers, and bishops like some demigods who are beyond reproach and questioning. Why do we hold different standards for different people? A Nigerian pastor would warn his congregation against “politics” and claim that “politics is a dirty game.” The next moment, you see him hobnobbing with those “dirty politicians” and collecting gifts from them. They also “bless” the same “dirty politicians” who visit them to “collect blessing”. What a contradiction! Furthermore, when you get close to their churches, you would witness first-hand the deadly politics for power among pastors and church leaders.

Politics is not a dirty game anymore than church governance is. Some players may be corrupt, but that does not make the game so. Can you imagine a world without political leaders to whom God refers as his “ministers”? Every man and woman has their calling from God, and this is a private matter. Our religious leaders have done a poor job on Nigerians, many of whom are members of their congregation. Those are left uneducated about holding their leaders accountable. Rather, they are told blandly to “pray” for their leaders. “The Pharisees sit in the seat of Moses. Don’t do what they do, for they say and do not.” These are the words of Jesus Christ who took time to teach his disciples about the position and responsibilities of leaders. A religious leader must be well-informed about the constitutional provisions (the responsibilities, rights, and privileges of citizens and leaders) of his country in addition to his professed knowledge of the scriptures. The same goes to Islamic leaders, and leaders of other religions.

Many Nigeria scholars and professors have equally failed the young that sit under their tutoring. A professor of Chemistry, for instance, can hardly comment intelligently about public issues such as budgeting, democratic governance, constitutional rights, privileges, and responsibilities of citizens and leaders, etc. They only write “research papers” for either promotion or to keep down their jobs. They are not ashamed to say, “I am not interested in politics.” Is it any wonder that Nigerian students pass through their academic care and cannot discuss intelligently their nation, but react only by spewing out vulgarities when they lack the intellectual dexterity to engage in discourses? I believe, and I have written that Nigerians must give themselves to reading for national renewal. Nigerians, thieves won’t steal your books; so why don’t you invest your money in buying books that will expand the quality of your thought? We seem not to have faith in the power of knowledge. We believe rather that with plenty of money we can buy just anything in Nigeria, including votes and public offices. This is also a deception. When the light of proper knowledge lights up Nigerians, this cannot happen anymore. The probability of lies winning in an oasis of knowledge approaches zero!

We don’t need mega parties to win elections. Every election is won locally. Have you heard of Operation 774? A Nigerian patriot told me about this idea, and I would like to share with you. Concentrate your political capital on your local government. If that is too much to start with, I suggest you start with your clan. Call for a meeting of the youths in your clan. Teach them what you know about Nigeria (Please, take time to acquaint yourself with the Nigerian constitution). Let them see the difference between reality and the ideal, and then ask how committed they are to bringing about the ideal. Take a look at the second chapter of the constitution, Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy. Explain to them those wonderful privileges of citizenship. As they begin to enjoy the possibilities, open to section six and show them how their hopes cannot be guaranteed by the current arrangement except they get into the national assembly and state houses of assembly the people that would fight for them. Show them in the Fourth schedule of the constitution how it is the responsibility of local governments to build and maintain homes for the homeless and infirm. Then let them know how their governor is an enemy to this objective. Let them know that the allocations for their local government are being kept by the governor for himself and maybe for his village and family members. Paint a graphic picture of how they are being robbed by their governor while they watch like cowards. Make it clear to them that local government chairmen cannot fight the governor because they are appointees of the governor who has forced them on the people; that they (the youths) must embark on public pressure and awareness to halt the continual impoverishment of their local government and villages. More importantly, tell them that it is their responsibility to spread the information you give them.

If you need help with implementing this in your village or local government, we can help you. I am willing to travelling across this nation to help. Don’t be in a hurry; but be hopeful as you start meeting with your people, your children’s people. They may be 50 here, 100 tomorrow. But know this; one convert makes two of you. Remember, elections are a local affair.

Because there is no independent candidacy in Nigeria, you would need a political party. Don’t choose any of the parties that have destroyed your village and local government for the past decade. This is because all the neglect of the people that you will show in plain narratives before the people happened under the ruling party. Find a virgin party. People make parties; parties don’t make people. Build integrity for at least two years, and then run or sponsor people to run. Make the people understand that it is their duty to contribute to any campaign fund they believe in, and that it is the responsibility of candidates to give monthly account of how much money they have raised and how the money has been spent.

We must not forgive the misrule of the ruling parties in our various states and local governments. We shall punish it. All contractors (Enemies-In-Chief of Nigerians) who have assisted to deceive and rob us for years shall give account. All the trillions of naira that they and politicians have collected since 1999 for public projects, which have not been completed, must be recovered and not forgiven. Let us get to work. Let us reject deception. Let us arise without any more distractions.

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WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

 

My project supervisor is a renown icon of Political Economy who nurture World Trade Organization into the soul of bukites, he initiate the Mock Ministerial WTO Summit in BUK since 2007 everybody like to associate with him, because of his hospitably and fatherly behavior even due he has a policy that for you to be his student, you have to be above average student. He always to me that ‘the road to success is hard work’ in person of M M YUSIF to know much about him visit www.mmyusif.blogspot.com

Aristotle seen Political Science as a Master Science and he also personify Political Science as a ‘mad man with stick in the market’. I only agree with him, when am doing my pre-project readings as instructed by Mallam to read 50 text books on INTERNATATIONAL TRADE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT. I realist that as Political Scientist now fully reading books on Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Agriculture and so on. Especially as I narrowed my topic to Trade Environmental service: the implication of water and waste management under GATs for development in Nigeria. it seen as having three degree apart from Political Science, as in Environmental Management Resources, Water Resource Management and Waste Management. These make me special among my fellow Scientist whose written are on Democracy, Federalism, Military, Rule of Law and so on. Because those concept is common to everybody. Here is little knowledge on my project.

I have no doubt that water is life, because water is a fundamental input for agriculture, energy production, manufacturing and tourism, and vital for achieving public-health goal and it constitutes 75% of earth crust.  Safe water has been described as water that meets the National Standard for Drinking Water Quality for Nigeria (FMWR, 2004). However, abnormally low levels of access to clean water by a large proportion of humanity have been reported. Worldwide, about 2 billion people struggle daily for access to clean and sufficient water (Smith and Marin, 2005). Africa is the region that suffers most from inadequate access to water supply. Yahaya (2004) reported that in Africa, only 62% of the populations have access to potable water supply (compared with 82 % Worldwide, 81% in Asia and 85% in Latin America). Furthermore, of 55 countries in the world whose domestic water use is below 50 litres per capita per day, 35 are in Africa. In Nigeria, 52% of the population does not have access to safe drinking water (UNDP 2006; UNICEF 2007).

 Worldwide, some 2.4 billion people lack access to basic sanitation and 1.2 billion, or one in five, lacks safe drinking water. The rapidly increasing urban population in developing countries has generated a mounting demand for drinking water that has outstripped its supply (UNCED, 1998). Inadequate solid waste disposal is the second most pressing problem facing city residents after unemployment in Nigeria. According to United Nation Statistic Division (UNSD, 2009) Nigeria has a population of about 140 million with an annual urban growth of 3.8%. It is a developing country that has persistent solid waste management problems in addition to her growing population (George, 2008). An average Nigerian generates about 0.49 kg of solid waste per day with households and commercial centers contributing almost 90% of total urban waste burden (Onwukwe, 1993). NEST (1999) estimated that of the 4.5 million tons of waste generated in Nigeria in 1999, a little below 1.5 million tons was generated by each of Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna and Kano. In another study, NEST estimated that about 40 million tons of waste would be generated in Nigeria between 2005 and 2010.

The growth in energy consumption worldwide has significantly increased greenhouse gas emissions. Excess nitrogen emissions have resulted from increased use of fertilizers and the burning of fossil fuels. Continued deforestation and increasing levels of pollution have been affecting biodiversity. Other activities, such as over-fishing, result in deterioration of the marine environment (OECD, 2001). In 20 years, if current trends continue, three and a half billion people will live in countries facing “water stress”—having less than 1,000 liters of water per person a year. Each day 6,000 people, mostly children, die from diseases caused by lack of access to clean water and sanitation (UNEP, 2001).

Improved access to safe drinking water is a prerequisite to poverty reduction as outlined by the MDGs. Access to safe drinking water prevents the spread of water-borne and related diseases. The government invested heavily in the water sector in an effort to provide potable water at close proximity to every Nigerian but do to low productivity, financial mismanagement (including poor economic governance), low cost recovery and the use of the revenue for unrelated activities, especially by local authorities (Mabogunje, 2002). Serve as a bottleneck for Nigerians to have access to water and sanitation with net rural-urban migration overwhelming Nigeria’s cities, over half the urban population lives in informal settlements with no direct connection to municipal water or sewage service. About 60% of the urban population has access to safe drinking water, and the corresponding figure for rural Nigerians is 34%. Access and cost of access to piped drinking water are tilted against the poor, who must buy their water from vendors at very high prices. ( world bank 2003).

Despite Nigeria’s open trade policy and its commitment to GATs rules and legislation, yet 65% of Nigerian populous lack accesses to safe drinking water and sanitation due to rapid urbanization, rural-urban migration, little or no town planning efforts coupled with attitudinal irresponsibility, lack of political will, ineptitude and graft have independently and collectively created environmental challenge in Nigeria. Consequently, water-borne disease such as diarrhea kills thousands of children annually (Akingbade, 1991).

Poor disposal of solid waste is associated with spread of vector borne-diseases like malaria and dengue fever (ibid 1991). Infrequently disposed refuse tend to become breeding sites for mosquitoes, as pools of rain water collect in discarded cans, bottles and car tires. Uncollected waste left to accumulate or dumped in the streets can block water drains and channels which can cause flooding, posing significant environmental and public health risks (Nubi et al, 2006). Example can be citing during 2012 raining season in Plateau, Kano and other States which claims lives and properties of Nigerians.

 

In a recent online survey by the Sahara Reporters, an online news media focusing on Nigeria, Ibadan and Lagos were described as the filth centers of the world. While Ibadan ranked as the number one dirtiest city in the world, Lagos, despite being the economic hub of Nigeria, was ranked fourth dirtiest city in the world.

 

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Saving Nigeria: Are Nigerians Ready?

 By Written by Taofeek Ramat

 I once wrote on my blog encouraging true patriots of Nigeria, not to weep for Nigeria, their country, and indeed Nigerians at the lower rung of the society, who are bearing the brunt of all the ills that have befallen the potentially great country. That Giant of Africa that has become a symbol of how-not-to-be-a-giant.

That conclusion I reached emanated from my understanding of the difficulty of getting an oppressed people to free themselves from the shackles of those holding them hostage. For as we have come to know – the unearned suffering has now become fashionable to the sufferers! And it is all part of the bargain and plan of the oppressors. Not that I do not believe that Nigeria and indeed Nigerians can be saved, far from it. I do believe that Nigeria and Nigerians can be saved, but this is not going to be a child’s play. It is going to be a journey far longer and frustrating than the biblical wilderness voyage of the Israelites. The adventure of salvaging Nigeria and saving Nigerians is going to be more tortuous than the struggle for economic development, not just growth in GDP as we have seen in much of the Latin America, Southeast Asia or indeed the rest of the world that have raised far more than half of their population from poverty and instituted a more lasting egalitarian economy. And these successful economies, I should remind you, are not based on the template promoted by Bretton Woods’ institutions of World Bank, IMF or WTO.

What for me has been a constant encouragement, particularly of late, is the fact that stories of people and countries attaining true libration abound, from Brazil to Singapore, from Norway to Finland. And when I say economic and political liberation, I am not talking about that overhyped and falling apart glory of greatness of America or Britain, but truly advanced societies that understand the need to pull everyone up and developing their society not by plundering and destabilizing others. But again, more concerns remain based on the peculiarities of Nigeria, just like the rest of Africa or indeed the third world that have perpetually been held down to remain as museums of underdevelopment. And this too is part of the bargain and plan!

Talking of the concerns, let’s dwell a bit on this. You would have realized that in the history of political and economic struggles across the world, there have always been the true champions of the people and the ponies working for their masters, those within and without their borders. Let’s keep a tab on the differences of the two opposing camps. The true champions are mainly to the left of the political spectrum. These are the unapologetic liberals who believe in and work for the good of the majority. And we have the supposed ponies – those to the right. And you know, most of these slaves, the house niggers, the armies of turncoats, nitwit and halfwit foot soldiers and bootlickers never consider it that they are ruining their lives while they mortgaged their people and society. The lessons in collective liberation and development that guarantees the wellbeing of individual never sink into their skulls or minds. These lots who are Judases consider the crumbs reaching them as the sweetest they can get and, the fleeting allure they revel in, the highest it can ever get. Even the man Fridays among them always feel they have some powers – a sheer illusion. And please be wary of the accidental progressives or those unrepentant capitalist adorning the toga of socialist democrats. There are many who are looking for where their bread can be buttered. And of course, the late converts into the progressive gospels, including OBJ – whose endless gallivanting around the world is just a desperate attempt to keep intact until death a stinking integrity threatening to explode.

Let’s take the discussion further. You know the identities of the ponies have been changing over time. In the pre-independence era of Nigeria, they were just some sets of foolish political opportunists, who happen to chance on power or authority as per their time, either as clerks or as would be civil servants or political representatives taking over from the marauding British. For a better understanding of the distinctions between the two camps at the struggle for the soul of Nigeria during the period just before independence, please take time to read the ‘early intimations’ chapter of Wole Soyinka’s memoir – You must set forth at dawn. Page 42 and 43 of the book should be of interest for those hoping to take back their country. And the changing identities get a bit musty under the military regimes; I do not want to get any further there. And you must also know that the ranks of those holding Nigeria by the jugular, those mortgaging their nation and people for a piece of the pie have swelled so much over the years.

Now in this era, with the birthing of a kind of democracy, since 1999, we now have a more elitists, well read, well travelled and eloquent ponies. And the sad part of the story – these lots despite their education, global travels and experience continue to sell to the government and people of Nigeria alchemy in the name of programmes and policies which will never lead to a collective liberation and development – socially, economically or politically. These lots are expert in turning logic on its head. They can rationalize anything. They are adept in making good speeches, mesmerizing their audiences while those who are not so vocal throw around their internationalness from their certificates, to education and those global positions they have held in time past.

And majority of Nigerians continue to believe them. So saddening! I wish Nigerians will not just moan about the many brilliant on paper but failed programmes that they have shoved down our throats, particularly since 1999, but will get to understand these tricks as part of the plan and bargain to perpetually keep them poor while their nation remain museum of underdevelopment. Nigerians should know that the likes of Magnus Kpakol understand full well that poverty can never be alleviated through the NAPEP. Charles Soludo and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi know that millions of banking reforms as they are implementing them will never liberate the economy for the poor. Nigerians should know that Okonjo Iweala knows full well that seeking debt relief for Nigerians by agreeing to pay $12.4bn of debt no one can point to where such monies were spent and was spent for, and dolling out at-a-go in once tranche $4.6bn; an equivalent of N736bn naira cannot improve the Nigerian economy, nor the lots of poor Nigerians. Nigerians should remember that way back in 2006 after our monies were given away, we were promised that our economy will grow, the government can focus more on infrastructure development. Where is the growth and where are the infrastructures? What is obvious six years down the line is that the ranks of the poor have swelled going by the Nigerian government official statistics.

 

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