Saturday, February 27, 2010
CONSTITUTION AND ANARCHY
By the time dust eventually settles on President Umaru Yar’Adua’s continuous stay on his hospital bed in Saudi Arabia, where he is being treated for acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane covering the heart, Nigeria might have got more than it bargained for.There is increasing confusion in the polity over the situation especially what many Nigerians believe is a deliberate ploy to humiliate Vice president Goodluck Jonathan and also hold Nigeria hostage.Endless questions have been asked and are still been asked as to why the President has found it difficult to comply with Nigerian Constitutional requirement of transmitting to the National Assembly a letter of his vacation which can authorize Jonathan to move the country forward from its current stagnation.Vice President Goodluck has only been pretending to be in charge, when it is obvious to all that he is certainly not in charge.He, Goodluck ordered the Ministers for Petroleum Resources, Mr Rilwanu Lukman and the Minister of Power not to go on vacation last December because of the petroleum scarcity and power problem bedevilling the nation; bur Mr Rilwanu went to Austria, in wilful dis-obedience to the Vice President’s directive.Are we not heading for anarchy because of lack of a clear leadership control?The fragile peace in the Niger Delta has been shattered, as militants have perceived a weakness and lack of commitment in the Federal Government. They have therefore returned to the activities that have cripped Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.Are we not heading for anarchy because of lack of a clear leadership control?The Jos crisis is now on and one hundred and forty people are feared dead. Are we not heading for anarchy because of lack of a clear leadership control?
ARE WE REALLY FREE?
Nigeria will be celebrating its 50 years of independence come first of October 2010, plans are already in top gear on how to roll out the drums for this golden Jubilee but I’d like us to think about these questions: Are we really free? Is it worth celebrating?”
Are we free from the colonial rule or colonial master?True,we are no longer under the British rule but what about our own leaders, are they not a worst version of colonial masters. Do they give a hoot about the down trodden in the society, the standard of living of you and I and how to improve it. Is it not just the rich catering for themselves and aspiring to acquire more wealth, fame and wield power. Leadership position through burdensome comes with great discipline and responsibility.
“It is rather unfortunate that most of the people we consider as leaders in Africa regard leadership as status, power, privileges, fame or great riches. They tend to forget that true leadership has a great price attached to it and is about a life of sacrifice, discipline, character, compassion and great responsibility”-Dr Sola Alade.
In Nigeria, political leaders and parties easily manipulate electoral process in their favour. Some Nigerians believe war against corruption is selective. Lip service has been paid to the war on corruption for a long time that this has painted both Nigerians in Diaspora and at home in bad light and led to humiliation of several Nigerians at foreign airports.
Power generation is at it lowest ebb, by now, power failure ought to have been a thing of the past, the previous administration hammered on this issue and spent billions of naira on power but there was no positive result. Present administration promised to ensure we generate 6,000 megawatt before the end of 2009 but alas, it is getting worse. Manufacturing industries are moving to neighboring West Africa countries saying Nigeria environment is not investor friendly because of the cost of production and products made here can’t compete well with that of other countries.
Fuel scarcity is the order of the day in an oil producing nation. There is virtually non availability of petroleum products and where you are able to get these products, the prices are skyrocketing.A wind of change must start blowing in Nigeria, let Nigeria take a cue from Ghana.
Are we free from the colonial rule or colonial master?True,we are no longer under the British rule but what about our own leaders, are they not a worst version of colonial masters. Do they give a hoot about the down trodden in the society, the standard of living of you and I and how to improve it. Is it not just the rich catering for themselves and aspiring to acquire more wealth, fame and wield power. Leadership position through burdensome comes with great discipline and responsibility.
“It is rather unfortunate that most of the people we consider as leaders in Africa regard leadership as status, power, privileges, fame or great riches. They tend to forget that true leadership has a great price attached to it and is about a life of sacrifice, discipline, character, compassion and great responsibility”-Dr Sola Alade.
In Nigeria, political leaders and parties easily manipulate electoral process in their favour. Some Nigerians believe war against corruption is selective. Lip service has been paid to the war on corruption for a long time that this has painted both Nigerians in Diaspora and at home in bad light and led to humiliation of several Nigerians at foreign airports.
Power generation is at it lowest ebb, by now, power failure ought to have been a thing of the past, the previous administration hammered on this issue and spent billions of naira on power but there was no positive result. Present administration promised to ensure we generate 6,000 megawatt before the end of 2009 but alas, it is getting worse. Manufacturing industries are moving to neighboring West Africa countries saying Nigeria environment is not investor friendly because of the cost of production and products made here can’t compete well with that of other countries.
Fuel scarcity is the order of the day in an oil producing nation. There is virtually non availability of petroleum products and where you are able to get these products, the prices are skyrocketing.A wind of change must start blowing in Nigeria, let Nigeria take a cue from Ghana.
NIGERIA : FAILED STATE OR NOT?
Since the recent failed bomb attack on a US airline by Abdul Muttallab and the president of the country being AWOL, Nigeria has been in the news all over the world.
A lot of people have since been comparing Nigeria to failed nations like Yemen.Nigeria is now on the terrorist list of the US. Many Nigerians now pass through dehumanizing ordeals at airports all over the world even in neighboring Ghana.
Why do they see Nigeria as a failed state?
First of all, our president left the shores of this country without properly briefing the Federal Executive Council and National Assembly on his mission and how long it’s going to take thereby not transmitting a letter to the National Assembly handling over to his vice president. Even in nations where democracy is not practiced, the president or head of government know what to do. For example, in Guinea, the coup leader, Capt. Moussa Dada Camara handed over power to his deputy when he had to be flown to Morocco for treatment. It is only in a lawless and failing country in which a President of the country abandoned his duty post with no formal permission. There is no official record whatsoever to indicate that the president is on sick leave or sabbatical leave. Does this not imply that the president of Nigeria is above the law?
Those in the National Assembly rather than safeguard our collective will and the interest of the nation were requesting that the nation go on prayer for its president, when the National Assembly ought to have insisted on the president to hand over to Jonathan and speedingly approved the process, they were being evasive and reluctant to talk about Yar’Adua’s issue. The judiciary itself did not fare any better.
It claimed that it is not obligatory but discretionary for the president to hand over power to the vice president under the Constitution. Wow! What an interpretation. The constitution has been interpreted severally to suit the whims of some elements in this nation.
During the days of vacuum, the Niger Delta militants resumed its attack on oil pipelines, there was no president to respond and the vice president had no authority. It was during the absence of the president that we had the Mutallab case, thereby adding a new feather to the nation’s already battered international image and became a country of interest and a terror sponsoring country. No President to address the situation.
U.S Secretary of state, Hilary Clinton said at U.S – Islamic World Forum held recently in Doha, the Qatari capital city,” in Nigeria, extremists are exacerbating Muslim – Christian tensions” thereby indicating that Islamic fundamentalism and extremism in Nigeria is of core concern to the U.S and that Nigeria is actively being watched by the American government.
There is no electricity, water, good roads, an oil producing nation where there is fuel scarcity and no security. Frustration, pain and despair are abound instead. These are evidences of a failed or failing state/nation.
A lot of people have since been comparing Nigeria to failed nations like Yemen.Nigeria is now on the terrorist list of the US. Many Nigerians now pass through dehumanizing ordeals at airports all over the world even in neighboring Ghana.
Why do they see Nigeria as a failed state?
First of all, our president left the shores of this country without properly briefing the Federal Executive Council and National Assembly on his mission and how long it’s going to take thereby not transmitting a letter to the National Assembly handling over to his vice president. Even in nations where democracy is not practiced, the president or head of government know what to do. For example, in Guinea, the coup leader, Capt. Moussa Dada Camara handed over power to his deputy when he had to be flown to Morocco for treatment. It is only in a lawless and failing country in which a President of the country abandoned his duty post with no formal permission. There is no official record whatsoever to indicate that the president is on sick leave or sabbatical leave. Does this not imply that the president of Nigeria is above the law?
Those in the National Assembly rather than safeguard our collective will and the interest of the nation were requesting that the nation go on prayer for its president, when the National Assembly ought to have insisted on the president to hand over to Jonathan and speedingly approved the process, they were being evasive and reluctant to talk about Yar’Adua’s issue. The judiciary itself did not fare any better.
It claimed that it is not obligatory but discretionary for the president to hand over power to the vice president under the Constitution. Wow! What an interpretation. The constitution has been interpreted severally to suit the whims of some elements in this nation.
During the days of vacuum, the Niger Delta militants resumed its attack on oil pipelines, there was no president to respond and the vice president had no authority. It was during the absence of the president that we had the Mutallab case, thereby adding a new feather to the nation’s already battered international image and became a country of interest and a terror sponsoring country. No President to address the situation.
U.S Secretary of state, Hilary Clinton said at U.S – Islamic World Forum held recently in Doha, the Qatari capital city,” in Nigeria, extremists are exacerbating Muslim – Christian tensions” thereby indicating that Islamic fundamentalism and extremism in Nigeria is of core concern to the U.S and that Nigeria is actively being watched by the American government.
There is no electricity, water, good roads, an oil producing nation where there is fuel scarcity and no security. Frustration, pain and despair are abound instead. These are evidences of a failed or failing state/nation.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
VALENTINE REDS
Today, being Saturday; am wearing a red top. Funmi is asking why. Why? Because am getting prepared for tomorrow the D-Day. Funmi, u know am S & S. U know what that means? Single and Searching. So, Funmi, can u please link me to a babe for my VAL tomorrow? Funmi,u say u dont know any one available for me because u are now married. U mean u can remember your other friends who used to be in your former shoes( of “singlesity”)? U can’t be serious, u know.
Today, being Saturday; am wearing a red top. Funmi is asking why. Why? Because am getting prepared for tomorrow the D-Day. Funmi, u know am S & S. U know what that means? Single and Searching. So, Funmi, can u please link me to a babe for my VAL tomorrow? Funmi,u say u dont know any one available for me because u are now married. U mean u can remember your other friends who used to be in your former shoes( of “singlesity”)? U can’t be serious, u know.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
