The 2011 general election in Nigeria is gradually coming in just a few months time. Necessary arrangements have been put in place by the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a free, fair and acceptable election. There is therefore need for all aspirants both at the federal and state levels to accept the results of the elections in good faith and not to get into power by all means.
The Election crisis in Ivory Coast signaled a warning to Nigeria, especially the INEC and aspirants who are contesting in the 2011general elections to let the development of the country be paramount in their mind and not to cause chaos through election rigging that could lead to underdevelopment of the country.
In Ivory Coast, the country referred to as the world biggest Cocoa producer, the crisis between the winner of the election, Mr. Alassane Ouattara and the constitutional Council proclaimed incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, had led thousands of Ivorians, mostly women and children, to flee to neighboring Liberia and Guinea. The stalemate has also affected the economy of the country and its International relationship with foreign countries.
Fears are rising that the country may go into civil war as it did in 2002. Before the current crisis in the country, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been assisting some 13,000 Ivorian refugees who fled the 2002 civil war in their country, while they remain in exile in Liberia, Guinea and Mali.
This crisis in the country shows how desperate African leaders are thirst of power and will always want to remain in power for a long period. Several West African Countries, including Nigeria Liberia, Benin, Cape Verde, Gambia and Niger, will hold elections next year. The crisis in Ivory Coast should however serve as a lesson to them, especially the contestants.
Therefore, there is need for Nigerian leaders to have an open mind and establish a transparent Platform or mechanism for continues dialogue discussion and negotiation so as to carry everybody along.
Nigerians are tired of campaign of calumny, fake promises, character assassinations, by our politicians, especially those that are desperate to be in power come next year. The expectations of Nigerians are for them to fulfill all their electoral campaign promises.
Nigeria should learn from Ghana and South Africa that conducted credible elections. Our leaders should be mindful of the need to sustain the unity of the country.
The Independent National Electoral Commission should create a level playing ground for all aspirants and should not allow itself to be influenced by Government or International bodies and stakeholders.
Our leaders should remember that what they do today, history will recall it tomorrow, just as the people remembers the likes of our founding fathers like, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa, Anthony Enahoro among others.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The pre-occupation of the Nigerian government has been economic planning to achieve prosperity and quality, at the same time, the emphasis has been on food crops production, industry, transportation, education and health. A characteristic feature of this plan has been the almost dismal failure to alternate the condition of the vast majority of the population.
Various attempts were made to enhance national development and stability, with no real human involvement in the policy formulation. These were encapsulated in the development plans without considering the mechanism for their implementations. The first 1962 to 1968 second 1970 to 1974, third 1975 to 1980 and fourth 1981 to 1985. All these plans failed.
It then became apparent that despite the availability of human and material resources, the desired dream of development was not achieved hence, drastic economic measures, including the introduction of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) but the measure did not bring the expected development. The introduction of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) which was aimed at enhancing National development also achieved nothing.
There are some other problems responsible for the slow pace of development and political instability in the country, despite her huge natural and human resources. These ranges from lack of political will to implement policies to involving Nigerian Youths in policy formulation and implementation and over reliance on foreign ideas for national development.
Bad leadership, corruption emphasis on economic planning without systematic implementation of the plans and lack of involvement of vibrant youths have all contributed immensely to under development in the country.
However, Nigerian youths are looking for a fair and just participation and distribution of rewards and services within the Nigerian political system. It is when these demands are not met that they constitute themselves into nuisance and ready materials for desperate politicians to use in truncating the good ideas and concepts of national development.
Nigerian youths must be trained towards self reliance, well oriented towards Nigerian future, rather than immediate results of unplanned political adventure, called thuggery.
Therefore, the youths should constitute themselves into anti corruption crusaders, for national development. If this is done, the society, with lots of resources, will succeed in treating the problems of under development.
Nigeria has a potential to be a great nation but it would require the commitment of all citizens, tomorrow
Various attempts were made to enhance national development and stability, with no real human involvement in the policy formulation. These were encapsulated in the development plans without considering the mechanism for their implementations. The first 1962 to 1968 second 1970 to 1974, third 1975 to 1980 and fourth 1981 to 1985. All these plans failed.
It then became apparent that despite the availability of human and material resources, the desired dream of development was not achieved hence, drastic economic measures, including the introduction of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) but the measure did not bring the expected development. The introduction of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) which was aimed at enhancing National development also achieved nothing.
There are some other problems responsible for the slow pace of development and political instability in the country, despite her huge natural and human resources. These ranges from lack of political will to implement policies to involving Nigerian Youths in policy formulation and implementation and over reliance on foreign ideas for national development.
Bad leadership, corruption emphasis on economic planning without systematic implementation of the plans and lack of involvement of vibrant youths have all contributed immensely to under development in the country.
However, Nigerian youths are looking for a fair and just participation and distribution of rewards and services within the Nigerian political system. It is when these demands are not met that they constitute themselves into nuisance and ready materials for desperate politicians to use in truncating the good ideas and concepts of national development.
Nigerian youths must be trained towards self reliance, well oriented towards Nigerian future, rather than immediate results of unplanned political adventure, called thuggery.
Therefore, the youths should constitute themselves into anti corruption crusaders, for national development. If this is done, the society, with lots of resources, will succeed in treating the problems of under development.
Nigeria has a potential to be a great nation but it would require the commitment of all citizens, tomorrow
Monday, September 6, 2010
NIGERIA @ 50, THE JOURNEY SO FAR.
By an act of the British Parliament, Nigeria became an independent country within the Commonwealth on the first of October 1960. The country was named Nigeria after its amalgamation in the year 1914 by Flora Shaw, during the colonial period, under the leadership of Frederick Lord Lugard. The name was derived from the main river which is River Niger.
Since her Independence in 1960, Nigeria has witnessed many events including the Civil War from 1967-1970, state creation, Social, Political and economic emancipation and crisis of various dimension.
The country has also been bedeviled with some developments in governance and attitudes of the people which had assumed a negative dimension. They include high level of corruption, insecurity, political thugerry, military coup d’tart, unemployment and violence.
As Nigeria is clocking 50 on the first of October, it is disheartening that the nation is still at a crossroad, where its citizens are at loss and in perpetual darkness with no hope in sight.
Nigeria, the acclaimed giant of Africa, is by nature a country blessed with human and natural resources, but with little to show for it in terms of physical and infrastructural development. All the sectors are recording a steady regression with the power sector at the lowest.
The only pride of the country at fifty is the fact that it remains a united entity, even if larger percentage of the citizens have turned beggars in the midst of plenty, and millions of its able youths have become miscreants in a rich country.
It is worth mentioning that the lopsided attitude of our leaders occasioned by corruption and uneven development have resulted into rural-urban migration, which gave birth to the complex urban problems being experienced now such as inadequate electricity, healthcare delivery and pipe-borne water, incessant traffic congestion, crimes, over-crowing, poor housing and lack of basic infrastructures.
It is of great importance to state that a nation referred to as the giant of Africa that produced the likes of Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Muritala Mohammed, Babatunde Idiagbon, MKO Abiola, Olufunmilayo Ransom Kuti, all of blessed memory and the likes of Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Ngozi-Okonjo-Iweala, Ibrahim Gambari, Obi Ezekwesili, cannot be said to be deficient in super brands of human resources.
At fifty, we must wakeup and set the targets that we must work towards its achievements. Nigerian leaders should proceed with humility, honesty and dedication to achieve success in the good work of our forefathers who had meant well for this country.
The world is looking on Nigeria’s 2011 general elections, it therefore behoves on the Professor Attahiru Jega led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide Nigerians and the world the much expected credible elections in 2011. According to a United Nations envoy, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the successful conduction of 2011 polls, bringing insecurity to its lowest ebb, economic development, and good leadership would secure the country’s attainment of a Permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.
It is time we move this great nation to where it should belong. Nigeria is God’s own country and we must sustain this status and strive hard to ensure that this nation does not fall into perpetual disrepute. It is time to change Nigeria, let’s all come together as one to make our great country to be greater. At fifty, let’s tell the world that Nigeria has come to stay.
God bless Nigeria!.
Since her Independence in 1960, Nigeria has witnessed many events including the Civil War from 1967-1970, state creation, Social, Political and economic emancipation and crisis of various dimension.
The country has also been bedeviled with some developments in governance and attitudes of the people which had assumed a negative dimension. They include high level of corruption, insecurity, political thugerry, military coup d’tart, unemployment and violence.
As Nigeria is clocking 50 on the first of October, it is disheartening that the nation is still at a crossroad, where its citizens are at loss and in perpetual darkness with no hope in sight.
Nigeria, the acclaimed giant of Africa, is by nature a country blessed with human and natural resources, but with little to show for it in terms of physical and infrastructural development. All the sectors are recording a steady regression with the power sector at the lowest.
The only pride of the country at fifty is the fact that it remains a united entity, even if larger percentage of the citizens have turned beggars in the midst of plenty, and millions of its able youths have become miscreants in a rich country.
It is worth mentioning that the lopsided attitude of our leaders occasioned by corruption and uneven development have resulted into rural-urban migration, which gave birth to the complex urban problems being experienced now such as inadequate electricity, healthcare delivery and pipe-borne water, incessant traffic congestion, crimes, over-crowing, poor housing and lack of basic infrastructures.
It is of great importance to state that a nation referred to as the giant of Africa that produced the likes of Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Muritala Mohammed, Babatunde Idiagbon, MKO Abiola, Olufunmilayo Ransom Kuti, all of blessed memory and the likes of Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Ngozi-Okonjo-Iweala, Ibrahim Gambari, Obi Ezekwesili, cannot be said to be deficient in super brands of human resources.
At fifty, we must wakeup and set the targets that we must work towards its achievements. Nigerian leaders should proceed with humility, honesty and dedication to achieve success in the good work of our forefathers who had meant well for this country.
The world is looking on Nigeria’s 2011 general elections, it therefore behoves on the Professor Attahiru Jega led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide Nigerians and the world the much expected credible elections in 2011. According to a United Nations envoy, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the successful conduction of 2011 polls, bringing insecurity to its lowest ebb, economic development, and good leadership would secure the country’s attainment of a Permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.
It is time we move this great nation to where it should belong. Nigeria is God’s own country and we must sustain this status and strive hard to ensure that this nation does not fall into perpetual disrepute. It is time to change Nigeria, let’s all come together as one to make our great country to be greater. At fifty, let’s tell the world that Nigeria has come to stay.
God bless Nigeria!.
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