There is a small mammal called the meerkat! It lives in the Kalahari desert of Namibia: it is also found in Angola, and South Africa!
It is a close relation of the mongoose!
The meerkat gets it's food primarily by digging for it! It loves earthworms, snakes, scorpions, and any other small thing it can catch!
When a meerkat is confronted with an egg, which as we all know, is not easy for a small animal to grasp because of it's oval shape, and smoothness: it's first attempt to get at the food it knows is in it, is to dig around the egg!
Because it is so programmed to dig for food, it's brain tells it dig, and dig it would, frantically, and in frustration!
So it keeps digging, if it is lucky, the egg might hit a stone, and it gets a meal, or the egg might just titillate it, and refuse to yield to all the digging!
It is a funny story, but sadly true!
Sadder still, is the human parallel!
Sometimes, the actions of people with infinite stupidity, is to attack every every problem, with the same set of tools!
If they were able to solve the problem of walking in the rain, by wearing a raincoat, the next time they walk in the sun, they would wear their raincoats again!
The federal government has declared that a high-powered select committee, is going to be meeting with the insurgents that go by the name "Boko Haram", to negotiate peace terms with them!
They have been killing people, and bombing government targets, generally making a big nuisance of themselves in the Northern part of Nigeria!
The government has a lot of experience in dealing with situations like this!
It successfully negotiated with, and gave amnesty to, the militants who were generally imperiling our economic interests in the Niger Delta!
Overnight, the young men who were waging war on our oil facilities, and engaging in all manner of reckless brigandage, became millionaires!
Many were sent on government scholarships to study in America, and other exotic parts of the world!
Those who did not travel, but opted to have their training in Lagos, have been spending money like Bill and Melinda Gates do on good causes! Only these ex-militants spend theirs on wine, women, and what-have-you!
Many law-abiding young men, who refused to join their friends in the insurgency, were left to rue their decision to be law-abiding!
They are still unemployed, poor, and despondent!
That was in the Southern part of Nigeria,
The Boko Haram insurgents, are operating in the Northern part of the country!
As you are aware, there are two more cardinal points to be visited! (Or in our own case four more! The mystery of our six cardinal points is another story for another time)
Nigeria is a very interesting country: people do not want to be cheated, and always demand their share of any largess given to another part of the country!
Government too, is always eager to acquiesce to every demand of people who do anything to threaten our economic interests!
It is just like how overindulgent parents pacify, and satisfy, every whim of a petulant pampered and properly spoiled child!
Commonsense dictates that a strong hand is the best way to handle wayward children, but government believes otherwise!
For people who have seen this scenario before, there is a feeling of de ja vu!
We have seen this before!
It usually begins with an offer being made by the government for unconditional amnesty for people who are not even willing to surrender! The government nags them until they accept it! In return, they have to promise to end hostilities!
This would be followed by a high powered committee formed to implement the conditions of the amnesty!
To show government's readiness to always go this route, there is a special adviser to the president on amnesty!
Does it not sound eerily similar to how a meerkat is ready to dig all the time to solve a problem?
The other shoe is waiting to drop: the Eastern, and the Western part of Nigeria, are yet to get their share of the amnesty largess! (And the other four)
So, in no distant time from now, expect to hear of insurgents like the Defenders of Oduduwa, from the South: and Nwoke Na Action for the East!
I suspect that there will be many takers!
The militancy/amnesty business, is the most lucrative business in town now!
It is lucrative to both sides!
Those in government charged with administering it, are usually given the keys to the national treasury, and all expense is put under the amorphous subhead called "security vote"!
The "security vote" is like the the American military's policy concerning gays "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"!
The money will not be accounted for, or audited!
It is a legitimate black ops transaction, in plain view!
As the people in government decide to walk in the sun with their raincoats, let us hope that they would see reason: be wise, and stop addressing every problem, with the same solution: money!
The limit of money is obvious, it solved the Niger Delta insurgency, but did not prevent the Boko Haram brouhaha!
On the other hand, a person of limitless stupidity, will always make the same mistake all through life, and leave a trail of problems behind!
MAY GOD BLESS NIGERIA, OUR NIGERIA FOREVER, AND DELIVER US FROM STUPIDITY!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
No To Single Tenure!
We say No! to single term for our executives! Politicians should not be the ones proposing constitutional amendments, it should be the people!
Please copy and paste the images on your Facebook profiles! Let us send a clear message to President Goodluck Jonathan!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
AMBASSADOR JOHN CAMPBELL'S DOOMSDAY PROPHECY FOR NIGERIA : WILL IT, OR WILL IT NOT?
When the respected American Ambassador John Campbell, postulated that Nigeria would fail, implode, scatter, break (take your pick) within fifteen years from the year 2005, many people maligned him!
They said the evil drum he was beating would never sound over Nigeria!
He made his prediction when things were relatively peaceful!
For many faith-based Nigerians, it was a negative confession!
And they were correct in their assertions!
It was negative, but was it something without a remote chance of coming to pass?
Refusing to accept a thing does not deny the inevitability, if the conditions necessary for it coming to pass, are fulfilled!
You can confess that you would not get wet, but if you jump into a swimming pool, there is no way God in heaven will keep you dry!
We listened to the man prophesy the doomsday scenario, and the wiser ones only sighed in despair!
As we look at our nation today, we see the necessary conditions coming together, fearfully crystallizing!
Something similar to the Boko Haram crisis; believe it, or not, was predicted long ago, by an eminent panel led by the former Commonwealth Secretary General, Dr. Shiridath Ramphal!
His panel was commissioned by general Obasanjo’s administration less than fifteen years ago, and they pointed out the potential flashpoints in our nation!
Those who are aware of that report will testify to the veracity of what I am saying!
One of the necessary conditions required for the fulfillment of this prophecy, is poverty!
And I know there is no poverty in Nigeria anymore!
Or is there?
The existence of crippling, inhumane, iniquitous, poverty is a trigger for social uprising anywhere in the world!
How have we performed in poverty alleviation?
We have given out a few tricycles (keke NAPEP) and we believe all is well!
Our quest to achieve the Millenium Development Goals, MDGs, have been more of developing millionaires from the over inflated,and shoddily executed contracts, given out to political cronies!
We have not even pricked poverty with a pin!
Many people wake up in our land today, and do not know where they will get a meal from!
Even those with jobs, are just a sack away, from dropping into poverty!
There are no social security nets for the poor!
Instead, politicians who have served for four years, are receiving life-time pensions fit for despots!
Poor people are dangerous because they are dissatisfied!
They are easily provoked!
They are cheap to hire to cause trouble!
They have nothing to loose!
They believe it is better to die, than to continue in the hopelessness that is their present lot!
Nigeria is very rich in poor people!
If care is not taken, we may find that we are the richest nation on earth when it comes to poor people!
This is because we have managed to sustain, and increase, the poor in our midst, as our country has increased her revenue intake from oil!
The number of poor people in our land, has increased illogically!
The nation’s wealth has not translated into individual wealth for all, just a few are rich!
Many of the ethnic-religious clashes that seem to spring up out of the slightest provocation; which sensible people with a future, and a hope would overlook: are usually sustained by poor people who use the opportunity to revenge against the rich, and loot!
The Niger Delta problem was poverty-driven!
The crises in Jos, has elements of frustration over economic emasculation, fight over land, and poverty carefully woven into the fabric!
How many bank managers have you seen in Jos burning cars, or how many doctors are going around bombing houses in Maiduguri?
What would probably point to how precarious, and dire, our situation is, is that we are a mono product economy!
Oil!
It is a blessing in other places, but for us, it is a curse!
It is the single factor that is preparing the ground for our disintegration as a nation!
We do not refine it, but export crude!
That would not have been too bad, if we were not buying back refined products at a higher rate!
So the cards are not in our favour!
All because we have abdicated our refineries, like every other sector of our economy, to strong cabals, and cartels!
We are careering along now, like a car with failed brakes down a steep slope! Many are giddy from the trip, unaware of the crash to come!
Oil price is good! We have been narcotized by it!
But history has taught us that everything is cyclical!
When there is a boom, it is always followed by a bust!
What the world tries to do; is to ensure that the boom is longer than the bust, and save for the bust, to ameliorate it's effects!
Did I just say, save?
We do not have savings! Even my five year old daughter has a piggy bank!
When there was a boom, we did not save! We spent more, and our leaders stole the rest!
Nigeria is in debt, and it is spending more on recurrent expenditure, and little on infrastructure!
When we spend on infrastructure, we always seem to acquire technologies that are thirty years obsolete!
The Chinese are building the old wide gauge rail for us, but the same Chinese possess bullet train technology!
Between now and the year 2020, are nine uncertain years!
Anything can happen in nine years!
The world’s economy could go into a recession!
There is a strong possibility!
With fears over America’s debt, and European nations failing to meet their obligations: there is no certainty that the price of oil will continue like the juggernaut that it has been!
What seems more likely: is that the price of oil will come down: quickly, and without notice!
In addition, alternative sources of energy that could supplant oil, are been developed aggressively!
Many, who are smarter than me, would probably have jumped forward in time, and seen how this would imperil our government’s ability to meet her financial obligations!
The clincher for me, the next factor that points to a not so rosy future, is the new minimum wage!
The government had agreed to pay, out of political expediency, without considering how money would be sourced for it!
If we estimate that government pays “X” amount on salaries and wages now, and the new minimum wage is times three of the former one: it means that by next year, government shall be paying “X times 3” on emoluments, and wages!
If we kick in the various promotions, and salary increases, due to the demand by labour, that the increase be prorata across the board; you will see that it is not going to be easy for governments at all levels!
We then need to ask a stupid question, will governments triple their ability to generate income by next year, or the year after?
What we are staring at, is a Greek style scenario!
Governments at all levels, unable to meet their financial obligations!
There will be more strikes; longer and painful ones!
There will be more unrest, because more people will be without hope!
Imagine what will happen in states that are currently not viable?
With zero internally generated revenue they only depend on monthly allocations from the federation account to survive now!
The crises will be cataclysmic!
All I have declared; is a logical portrayal of where we are heading, if we do not change now!
But it is still possible to make the ambassador a liar!
If governments begins to focus on other non-oil sources of income, if we begin to develop people, and not buildings!
If we make the rule of law supreme, so that people have confidence in the courts, and do not take the law into their own hands!
If we strengthen our tax system!
However, if we refuse to do this, we may find that we would all be rushing to the John Campbell Prophetic Church of God, the new church the ambassador would be forced to start by us!
This is because he would have passed the biblical test for true prophecy, one that comes to pass!
MAY GOD BLESS NIGERIA, OUR NIGERIA FOREVER!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Goodluck's Gambit
The news is stale, that the president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, is presenting a bill to the national assembly to amend the constitution! He wants to replace the former tenure of executive office holders from the current possible two terms of four years, to a single finite term of six years, or whatever !
As is the fashion in Nigeria, there are two camps, the "Ayes" and the "Nays" Right now, the "Nays" seem to be winning the verbal war!
While I am an advocate of the single term presidency, I do not subscribe to the way it is being introduced!
Those who oppose the amendment point to the myriad of problems, and the miasma of infrastructural rot, and deficit, plaguing the country!
They would prefer that the president sends an amendment to tackle bad roads, corruption, epileptic (some would say, comatose) power industry, and the high cost of running the country's bureaucracy!
As we currently stand, a mere five percent of the total population, consumes ninety five percent of the nations wealth by way of recurrent expenditure to maintain political office holders!
Nigeria has been tottering on like a drunken blind man, on a narrow road between two deep ravines! and she does not know it!
We have been fortunate in muddling, and fumbling through the various crises we have encountered.
We have failed to grow properly, refused to utilize our resources, and carried on as if oil would last forever! We are neither at par with other nations we gained independence with, and those who are less endowed are even ahead of us in the quality of life they give their citizens!
Some would dare to call it good luck, but saner people would point out that luck can change!
The cracks we have been carefully covering with mud, are now wider, and deeper! We now have an insurgency of our own making, we are back in debt, the world's economy is slowing down, there is no nest egg for us to fall back on, and government has just increased it's recurrent expenditure by increasing the minimum wage!
Is this the game changer for Goodluck? He already has opened our own Pandora's box with the minimum wage increase. For the first time, governors are asking for true federalism, and a review of the revenue sharing formula in favour of the states!
Jonathan in bringing this amendment, is like a groom on his wedding day, when confronted with the fact that his bride to be is stranded at the airport minutes to the wedding, in addition to the caterers refusing to prepare the food for the reception, and his wedding rings being lost in transit: is only concerned with the fact that there are cobwebs in the church where he intends to solemnize the ceremony!
As is the fashion in Nigeria, there are two camps, the "Ayes" and the "Nays" Right now, the "Nays" seem to be winning the verbal war!
While I am an advocate of the single term presidency, I do not subscribe to the way it is being introduced!
Those who oppose the amendment point to the myriad of problems, and the miasma of infrastructural rot, and deficit, plaguing the country!
They would prefer that the president sends an amendment to tackle bad roads, corruption, epileptic (some would say, comatose) power industry, and the high cost of running the country's bureaucracy!
As we currently stand, a mere five percent of the total population, consumes ninety five percent of the nations wealth by way of recurrent expenditure to maintain political office holders!
Nigeria has been tottering on like a drunken blind man, on a narrow road between two deep ravines! and she does not know it!
We have been fortunate in muddling, and fumbling through the various crises we have encountered.
We have failed to grow properly, refused to utilize our resources, and carried on as if oil would last forever! We are neither at par with other nations we gained independence with, and those who are less endowed are even ahead of us in the quality of life they give their citizens!
Some would dare to call it good luck, but saner people would point out that luck can change!
The cracks we have been carefully covering with mud, are now wider, and deeper! We now have an insurgency of our own making, we are back in debt, the world's economy is slowing down, there is no nest egg for us to fall back on, and government has just increased it's recurrent expenditure by increasing the minimum wage!
Is this the game changer for Goodluck? He already has opened our own Pandora's box with the minimum wage increase. For the first time, governors are asking for true federalism, and a review of the revenue sharing formula in favour of the states!
Jonathan in bringing this amendment, is like a groom on his wedding day, when confronted with the fact that his bride to be is stranded at the airport minutes to the wedding, in addition to the caterers refusing to prepare the food for the reception, and his wedding rings being lost in transit: is only concerned with the fact that there are cobwebs in the church where he intends to solemnize the ceremony!
The Americans have a saying, "if it ain't broken, don't fix it!
Why would one man believe that what Nigeria needs now, is the diversion of another constitutional amendment?
If Jonathan seeks the good of Nigeria, he should send the Justice Uwais Panel's report on electoral reform, in it's original form, to the national assembly!
Or, let him include in this bill, that the president, governors, and their families would pay for the food they consume while in the executive mansion, like the American president does!
In addition, he should include in the bill, that the members of the national assembly from now on would serve pro bono without remuneration of any form!
I can bet my last kobo that the acrimony, and the do,or die, that is now the norm with our elections will end!
Or, let him include in this bill, that the president, governors, and their families would pay for the food they consume while in the executive mansion, like the American president does!
In addition, he should include in the bill, that the members of the national assembly from now on would serve pro bono without remuneration of any form!
I can bet my last kobo that the acrimony, and the do,or die, that is now the norm with our elections will end!
The problem with Nigerian politicians, is that they think too highly of themselves! They equate election to office with omniscience: they believe that they have a divine right to tinker with our lives, as they please, without consulting us!
There has not been any murmuring concerning the tenure of politicians, no one has started a campaign, collecting petitions to the effect!
The refrain on the streets is fix the power problem, fix the roads, fix health, fix schools, fix corruption, fix Nigeria!
I wonder why, oh why, does he want to leave the real issues that affect us, and go paint the clouds pink? Or like we say in Nigeria "build us a house on water!
Jonathan's house is on fire, and all he can do is kill the cockroaches, and rats fleeing the fire?
By extending the largess to the members of the national assembly, he has effectively bribed them, and tied their hands!
Some of us would like to change our lawmakers sooner, than later!
His desire to ensure continuity is misplaced! Jonathan sees continuity as stemming from individuals occupying the same political office for donkey's years!
In truth, continuity is the byproduct of strong institutions that cannot be influenced by individuals with evil intentions, no matter how strong they are!
In truth, continuity is the byproduct of strong institutions that cannot be influenced by individuals with evil intentions, no matter how strong they are!
It is because we have not had this continuity, that Jonathan can bring a bill like this before the national assembly! He would only succeed in weakening the frail, and fragile forms on ground
This his interpretation of continuity was what informed his reappointing his old ministers to to their old portfolios!
It was a gross error of judgement if you ask me!
He only allowed those who were thieves among them to go back to the elaborate schemes they had set up to fleece Nigeria: now he wants to do the same for the national assembly!
President Jonathan was elected on a wave of goodwill, he however believes that it is because his name is Goodluck: he is about to find out if that wave is still far out at sea, or whether it is already crashing on the shore!
Beware Jonathan! Beware of the rocks!
MAY GOD BLESS NIGERIA FOREVER!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
DO YOU KNOW ANY THIEF?
We all love easy solutions! At least I do!
That is what is driving the various money making innovations in the marketplace today!
A faster way to do it, a cheaper way, all new innovations promise a better future!
What holds the promise for a better future for Nigeria?
The ready-made answer from politicians, is sacrifice!
They tell us we need to do more, for less!
The worker on the other hand, believes it is more for less: more money for less labour!
The inteligentsia, who are outsiders to power, would quip corruption: they believe the eradication of which would give Nigeria a better future!
A careful appraisal of our nation points to one single factor as being the way to our future prosperity: the rule of law!
We are a people ever looking for ways to get something out of nothing, while not discharging what is our legitimate responsibility!
We do this, while holding on to, and demanding vociferously, our entitlements!
It is a truism, that one cannot reap where one has not sowed!
To do so, would be stealing!
Sadly, we seem to have become a community of people who assiduously endeavor to get, without first fulfilling the precondition for getting: which is giving!
What I have been struggling to say, in many words, is that we have become a nation of law-breakers, or as they say on the streets: thieves!
Fidelity, is the lifeblood of any living, and thriving organism: be it biological, or social!
Once a part in a living organism does not discharge it's responsibility to the rest of the system, there is a disease for the rest of the system, and consequently death!
In like manner, if a striker, or a defender, in a football team, does not play his position faithfully, the rest of the team would suffer, and might even be defeated!
So you see, our major problem is a gross disobedience of the laws we have made to help our society run on an even keel!
We have jettisoned the rules of civil engagement, and now make our own rules as we go along!
When elected leaders, who swore an oath to the constitution, fail to govern with honesty, and integrity: they are robbing the people of the leadership they were voted to provide!
When ordinary citizens do not pay their taxes, or drive against oncoming traffic, or litter: it is all robbery!
The reason why advanced societies work so well, is that by and large, the fear of the consequences of breaking a law, makes people comply with those laws!
This, subsequently, promotes harmony, and growth in the system!
We are suffering from an epidemic of social, and criminal misbehavior! This is a direct traceable result of our not enforcing rules that are meant to regulate us all, and promote good governance!
We do not need another Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, or any other high-sounding smart alec agency to fight crimes!
The rules in our statutes, and the police are enough!
Why we are suffering, is as a result of the consequence of no consequence: when bad behavior, does not result in the swift sanction it merits!
Until we begin to do this, we would continue to be a nation of thieves, and lawless people!
And we all know that there is no honour among thieves!
When next you feel like cutting corners, ask yourself if you are a thief, or not: such self examination would eventually lead to a more honourable society: and that should be the goal of every Nigerian!
MAY GOD BLESS NIGERIA, OUR NIGERIA FOREVER!
That is what is driving the various money making innovations in the marketplace today!
A faster way to do it, a cheaper way, all new innovations promise a better future!
What holds the promise for a better future for Nigeria?
The ready-made answer from politicians, is sacrifice!
They tell us we need to do more, for less!
The worker on the other hand, believes it is more for less: more money for less labour!
The inteligentsia, who are outsiders to power, would quip corruption: they believe the eradication of which would give Nigeria a better future!
A careful appraisal of our nation points to one single factor as being the way to our future prosperity: the rule of law!
We are a people ever looking for ways to get something out of nothing, while not discharging what is our legitimate responsibility!
We do this, while holding on to, and demanding vociferously, our entitlements!
It is a truism, that one cannot reap where one has not sowed!
To do so, would be stealing!
Sadly, we seem to have become a community of people who assiduously endeavor to get, without first fulfilling the precondition for getting: which is giving!
What I have been struggling to say, in many words, is that we have become a nation of law-breakers, or as they say on the streets: thieves!
Fidelity, is the lifeblood of any living, and thriving organism: be it biological, or social!
Once a part in a living organism does not discharge it's responsibility to the rest of the system, there is a disease for the rest of the system, and consequently death!
In like manner, if a striker, or a defender, in a football team, does not play his position faithfully, the rest of the team would suffer, and might even be defeated!
So you see, our major problem is a gross disobedience of the laws we have made to help our society run on an even keel!
We have jettisoned the rules of civil engagement, and now make our own rules as we go along!
When elected leaders, who swore an oath to the constitution, fail to govern with honesty, and integrity: they are robbing the people of the leadership they were voted to provide!
When ordinary citizens do not pay their taxes, or drive against oncoming traffic, or litter: it is all robbery!
The reason why advanced societies work so well, is that by and large, the fear of the consequences of breaking a law, makes people comply with those laws!
This, subsequently, promotes harmony, and growth in the system!
We are suffering from an epidemic of social, and criminal misbehavior! This is a direct traceable result of our not enforcing rules that are meant to regulate us all, and promote good governance!
We do not need another Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, or any other high-sounding smart alec agency to fight crimes!
The rules in our statutes, and the police are enough!
Why we are suffering, is as a result of the consequence of no consequence: when bad behavior, does not result in the swift sanction it merits!
Until we begin to do this, we would continue to be a nation of thieves, and lawless people!
And we all know that there is no honour among thieves!
When next you feel like cutting corners, ask yourself if you are a thief, or not: such self examination would eventually lead to a more honourable society: and that should be the goal of every Nigerian!
MAY GOD BLESS NIGERIA, OUR NIGERIA FOREVER!
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