BEYOND THE BOKO HARAM NEGOTIATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA

The Boko Haram crisis started on the heels of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential nomination processes of 2011. The wanton wastage of lives and property is strictly a political retaliation against the candidacy and eventual election of Goodluck Jonathan. The president confirmed this himself by saying that the Boko Haram has members in the present political ruling class including his cabinet. Recent revelations have indicted some of them but they are still free, with no meaningful investigation or prosecution. It appears that there is a high-powered conspiracy of the politically aggrieved to deal with the Jonathan presidency. It is rather unfortunate that the leadership of this same PDP have not engaged themselves on the fundamental issues troubling the party internally.

When the president came up with the idea of the single-term tenure, it was the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that opposed it vehemently. The Northern leaders who felt cheated by the election of President Jonathan in 2011 would have supported the single-term tenure if it has scaled through the National Assembly. Attacks are launched whenever there is any comment or debate that puts Jonathan forward as the best candidate for the 2015 presidential election. Attacks are however suspended whenever there is an anti-Jonathan campaign at any level e.g. the Fuel Subsidy Removal Protest at the Freedom Park in Lagos.

The Boko Haram leadership has defended the sect as “fighting for God”. But this is far-fetched, knowing fully well the genesis of the crisis – the election of President Goodluck Jonathan. Members of the sect pretend as if the mass destruction of life in the North, and the comprehensive economic wreckage serves anyone any good. The ruling class thought that the presidency can put an end to insurrection in any region of the country.

There were once the militants in the Niger-Delta creeks that fought vehemently against perceived marginalization of its people leading to wanton wastage of lives and properties. The Igbos are still aggrieved that they have not had a democratically elected president in the presidential villa since Independence over 50 years ago. It has been said over and over again that no region has the monopoly of violence. Those who think destroying the once peaceful and serene environments in most parts of the North would meet their agitation should have a rethink.

The whole crisis as it stands now is beyond Goodluck Jonathan, and his presidency as of today. It requires all Nigerians’ attention and collective response. The ruling class should not play to the gallery when it comes to the issue of security. It is when we have internal security that we can boast of political stability and economic growth and development. The convocation of a National Conference is long overdue. Many issues still trail the political injustices across the length and breadth of Nigeria. The National assembly should, for once, climb down its high legislative horse, and accept that Nigeria needs to realign its political infrastructure to survive.

There cannot be a State of Emergency when there is an avenue that accommodates every citizen irrespective of their political inclination to sit at a roundtable. The best time to call for a National Conference is now.

The Looming Food Scarcity

If the government wants to tackle the looming scarcity headlong, it should not pay lip service to it. So far, the Federal Government has demonstrated a high level of commitment on the issue of floods that have taken over various parts of the country in recent times. By now, there should be a workable master-plan on how to grow our food crops in Nigeria to cater for our citizens. However, one point still remains valid -- we are not fully exploiting the vast agricultural potential of the country. The minister of agriculture should begin to set up strategy on how to ensure stable supply of grains to farmers who are not affected by the floods. He should also begin to see the need to encourage more commercial farmers to go into increased food production. He should schedule town hall meetings with all Nigerian commercial farmers where opinions can be sought on the way forward for affected farmers. Some of us have criticized the Federal Government's budget allocation for agriculture in 2013. Nevertheless, if well-managed, the money can turn around the agricultural sector within the first half of 2013 through improved investment in arable farming. Some of the N17.4 billion intervention fund announced by President Goodluck Jonathan should be properly distributed to commercial farmers that have suffered so much in the course of the disaster. Importation should be a secondary option in the wake of the food crisis that is looming in our country. This is a clarion call for our leaders to encourage our people to produce our food crops locally for consumption and export purposes. It is about time we began to take practical steps in combating the "sit-down-look" syndrome that has eaten deep into our governance.

We need ICT in tackling insecurity

The adequate provision of security is a matter to be taken very serious now. Let the government think of creating employment first by recruiting fresh graduates from the engineering background, for a start. And the Federal Government should train other non-engineering graduates in Information Technology. It should be an intensive training for the second category of people (non-engineering graduates). 

I would so much appreciate it if the Federal Government can give attention to ICT. It will go a long way in putting our security intact. We can only tackle insecurity by giving jobs to the jobless and paying much, sincere attention to ICT training. We can mount cameras at so-called red spots in the country and have a central control complex at the SSS and Police headquarters.

We can achieve this within this year. We watch movies in which technologies are used effectively to tackle crimes at the highest level. At least, half of the money set aside by the president to tackle insecurity this year should be made to produce results. This is my preliminary submission. Thank you. Long Live Nigeria! Nigeria Shall Live!! We Shall Prosper!!!

NAIJA GOVERNANCE: WHERE I STAND

NAIJA GOVERNANCE: WHERE I STAND

Irrespective of the number of years of military rule in Nigeria, I am in the class of the people that believes that Nigeria ought to be better and greater by now. This is not because of the political manifestos of our leaders or the freedom of expression. I would not want us to start the debate of whether Nigeria is a nation or a country. Politics without principles will only plunge our Nigeria deeper and deeper in corruption and injustice.

In Nigeria today, anyone that wants to make a difference is seen as an antagonist. Martin Luther King (Jr.) was seen as such in America many years ago. However the result of his “antagonism” is there today for everyone to see – Barrack Obama. Records are meant to be broken, bars are meant to be raised. We cannot say that investors should come into Nigeria when we are not ready to empower our people. The enduring legacies of our founding fathers are still in place today in various structures and institutions. Chief Obafemi Awolowo craved for the empowerment of the Southwest. Nigerians have benefited from his legacy of free education today in structures like the Obafemi Awolowo University. The Coca House and the Nigerian Television Authority both located in Ibadan are the results of his vision for Nigeria.

If at all we have been following the trends in Nigeria, we would have noticed some great disparity between what our leaders say and what they do. That is where the value edge seems to be falling off before our own very eyes. Nigerians have to begin to shoot at their target – the ideal Nigeria. To achieve this, I strongly believe that what we need to fear is fear itself. We are in a new era, we are in a new age, and we are not supposed to be given what we do not bargain for as a people. When we vote, we should put aside sentiments, resentments and frivolities. If our leaders perform below expectation, let us arise to challenge them. If they refuse to listen, then let us ask for their recall at their constituencies. Enough is enough.

Let us come up to the round table and discuss the way forward for our dear Nigeria. This is one of the reasons why this page has been put up for us to really dig deep into the basics of rebuilding our dear Nigeria. If Nigerians succeed abroad, then they should be able to succeed here in Nigeria. Let us remember that the more we keep silent, the more we become more vulnerable in our own Nigeria. The ruling class in Nigeria today is not up to 5% of the entire Nigerian population. Let us remind our leaders that they are leaders because we are followers. Let us hold them accountable and begin to think of voting out the “benchwarmers” amongst them. Let us free our minds and liberate our mentality. Post relevant suggestions, comments and constructive criticisms and let us break the vicious cycle of bad leadership and value disorientation. The New Nigeria would not be a coincidence. God bless Nigeria. 

My Nigerian Vision: I see Nigeria in the future having solid infrastructural development, utilizing state-of-the-art Information Technology facilities and well-trained and well-remunerated public and civil servants. I see Nigeria with a master plan that encompasses all the sectors of the economy with a view to planning for the security, environment and education of our youths. I see the best Nigerian technocrats giving the best advice on achieving the vision of a new Nigeria. Welcome to the future!!!