A former Managing Director of Nigeria Breweries Plc and immediate
past Chairman of the National Population Commission, Festus Odimegwu,
has written a lengthy article endorsing the presidential candidate of
the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, and explaining why he
is the best man for the nation’s top job as Nigeria grapples with
political, security and economic challenges.
Mr. Odimegwu was an appointee of President Goodluck Jonathan after he
helped rally the organised private sector to support the enthronement
of the Umaru Yar’Adua presidency in which Mr. Jonathan served as vice
president.
He remained close to Mr. Jonathan, who appointed him chairman of the
National Population Commission. He however left the position in
controversial circumstances after he made comments considered critical
of a section of the country.
He has kept a distance from the Presidency and the administration ever since.
In his endorsement of Mr. Buhari Saturday, Mr. Odimegwu said,
“Countries without the likes of Buhari in power ultimately perishes.
There are really no other options to greatness than through great
leaders. Buhari has the qualities. And he has a date with destiny in the
Nigerian presidency from 2015 – 2023. May God give him the right vision
and guide him.”
Read full article below.
The topic of this intervention recommended itself as it is very
evident that Nigerians want change. It is also very clear to the
discerning that majority will vote for the All Progressives Congress
(APC) Presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to
save Nigeria from bad leadership and an under-performing administration.
The contrived postponement of the election also attests to this. And
the international community supports this. This is good for our
democracy in many ways and good for Nigerians.
President Goodluck Jonathan is therefore better advised to conduct a
free and fair election. Any other planned election manipulation projects
should be shelved, as the dark forces lurking even within the
administration can hijack and truncate the nascent democracy and tip the
current groundswell in the country into avoidable crisis. The
inclination, alluded to in some quarters, to take the country down, than
lose honourably, is not necessary. And any rigging that denies
Nigerians their need for change, will have the same effect. The only
sensible option is to allow the will of the people to prevail; support
free and fair elections without further manipulations and let every vote
count.
The second introductory issue worth raising in this intervention is
the erroneous assumption that the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable
even when all evidence show that Nigeria is never united. Has never had
unity. How can one sustain what does not exist? A lot of people make a
lot of noise about unity even while doing things that keep the country
severely divided. Unity can never be achieved by rhetorics, or as a
wishful thinking or by force but can only be a reality if we all work on
it, with our political actors leading by example. It can be an outcome
and not a given as some un-informed delusionists assume, claim and
posture with.
My full name, for instance, is Eze‘kulie Festus Anthony Boniface Oha
Odimegwu Okonkwo Nwa-Uboh Ikpendu Ndieze Umuozo Okanadiji
UbiriElem…Nnemiriukwu-Chukwuabiama. This bloodline extends almost 1000
years ago, into perpetuity. Within its Obidigboness, the central issue
here is that Odimegwu, who was born in 1868 and died in 1969 at the ripe
age of 101 years, was born a proud Igbo man and not a Nigerian, as
Nigeria did not exist then. My Ancestors into perpetuity from Odimegwu
were Igbos. Never Nigerians. Nigerians is what the British want us to be
from 1914, a mere 100 years ago.
I can be a Nigerian from proud Igbo extraction, but only under an
agreed basis that is irreversibly committed to and maintained in
reality. This Unity in Diversity with other nationalities is only
possible under certain conditions. It is not as automatic or to be
assumed as me being Igbo. And the basis of this, as enshrined in our
Constitution, is that our Union must be built on Truth, Justice, Equity
and Fairness to lead to unity, peace, and sustainable progress. This
progress within Nigeria must be better than progress within the ethnic
nationalities to make it attractive to all participating nations. It is
only under such conditions precedent that it makes sense to become fully
and happily a Nigerian. Otherwise it will be to your tents for every
one irrespective of what anyone or any nationality thinks. And
understanding this simple idea by all participating nationalities and
persons, no matter who, is essential for progress.
The third introductory issue, another fallacy and delusion, shared by
most of the predatory ruling cabals in Nigeria, is the wrong notion
that they understand Nigerians as gullible and naive people who can
always be divided along ethnic and religious lines and therefore
incapable of rising up in revolt over predatory leaders. The insult of
postponing the elections, with belief of no consequences, is the most
recent example. The examples of impunity and massive looting of public
treasury, without fear of consequences, is also ongoing. The emerging
conspiracy to scuttle the election altogether is another: one reads of
coups, interim governments, at least six weeks open ended postponement,
and from the same characters of the June 12 annulment, the same dynamics
that led to the death of MKO Abiola and even Sani Abacha, the
possibilities of an unsigned press release that annulled June 12 etc.
The dark forces that have held Nigeria down over 100 years now are
rearing their ugly heads again, double-speaking, contriving, unable to
give clear answers to simple direct questions and all for personal and
self-serving reasons, for continued exploitation of Nigeria and
Nigerians that are already laying prostrate. The Arab Spring examples
recommend themselves for all. Muammar Ghadafi of Libya was extracted
from a waste pipe. Mubarak of Egypt, the lost Pharaoh, was put in a cage
in Egyptian courts. The wise can learn from examples like these. The
corrupt leaders of Nigeria should let Nigerians be!
And the Federal Government, as distinct from the ruling party, must
take steps to secure the life of General Buhari as these intrigues
thicken. Nothing should happen to him. He may not be a saint. Even the
late Nelson Mandela rightly said he was not. No one is. But he now
personifies the new hope for Nigeria. Nigerians need him. Nigerians need
change. What happened to Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, MKO Abiola and even Sani
Abacha must not happen to him. Nigeria may not survive if it does. And
the Federal Government should keep on a straight and narrow path to
avoid boxing itself into a corner that can be hijacked out of its
control. Deductive reasoning and good sense of applied history recommend
this caution, given in the overall interest of our country.
With these introductory advise, let us put the challenges before
President Buhari in historical context. The important question here is:
what is the unedited story of Nigeria to date? In summary the narrative
is as follows: History and papers in the colonial archives have it that,
Britain colonised Nigeria and ran it for their interest from 19th
century to 1914 when they amalgamated the poor North with the rich South
with an obnoxious concept of Northern husband and Southern wife of
means in a new creation called Nigeria and held the colonised captives
without their consultation or agreement. 1914 to 1960 represented 46
years of exploiting the amalgamated protectorates according to the
wishes of the British Crown. And this, unfortunately, should be
expected. On their exit at independence they found it wise to impose a
fraudulent census data on Nigeria that enabled them to rig the elections
and hand over power to the northern part of the union in preference to
the troublesome (enlightened) southern part: in their continued
self-interest.
The first republic was soon showing signs of un-informed leadership,
with no clear national vision for the young nation and it is not
surprising that the centre could not hold sooner than later. The regions
were antagonising themselves in absence of a capable and independent
leader at the Federal Government level; the prime minister reporting to
the Northern Premier as it were, violating basic principles of
organisation. And entrenching the interest of the Caliphate against
pursuing a national vision of greatness.
Young crazy army officers struck in 1966 but killed political leaders
of Northern origin more than from other regions but the coup was
significantly quelled under an Igbo head of the army, who himself was
also not particularly well educated. Northern officers labelled the coup
an Igbo coup for convenience and butchered Igbos in their thousands
including the Head of the army that had also become the Head of state
for about six months. The savagery of this pogrom is not yet matched,
even in modern terrorist enclaves. In self defence and to avoid genocide
against them, the Igbos retreated to Eastern Nigeria and hastily
declared the Republic of Biafra, where all Igbos could have a safe
haven: A Home land since Northerners do not want them in the North and
the seat of Federal Government, now managed by also uneducated northern
army officers, was in Lagos, western Nigeria.
An accord was reached in Aburi between the antagonists, where the new
nation of Biafra was led by its Oxford University trained Head of State
with an upper-class mien and confidence that seem to have raised envy,
hatred and the general Nigerian “let us deal with him” antagonism. On
return, the Nigerian side was now educated by their supporters that what
they agreed with the state of Biafra is not good for implementation as
it will prevent continued exploitation of the rest of the country by the
new northern overlords.
Biafra stood on Aburi: Nigeria stood on keeping Nigeria one: two
positions that can be resolved at the level of creative synthesis, but
the young hot heads on both sides, driven by idealism from the Biafra
side and by regional domination from the Northern side and an avoidable
war was started, first as a police action and later a full scale war
against the Eastern part, now called Biafra and the rest of Nigeria.
The North procured Western support by releasing their leader from
prison and later procured Eastern minority support, to sabotage the
Biafra position with all sorts of promises that included taking over the
real estate assets of their fellow easterners, Biafrans, at the end of
the war. Almost two million lives were lost on both sides, but more on
Igbo side; including the use of hunger and starvation as instruments of
war, even if against women and children! After the war, no victor and no
vanquished was declared and reconciliation, rehabilitation, and
restoration announced. All have been observed in breach, with all rich
Igbos reduced to twenty pounds, as the Igbo political marginalisation
also continues till today, to the detriment of Nigeria.
The emerged, mostly Northern, army of occupation now operating as a
full army of fortune, re-colonised Nigeria and established a corrupt
political leadership class that rotates between the Northern military
and civilian political wings. No thought was spared for Nigeria. The
other Nigerians became onlookers as the Northern impunity held sway
replacing one clueless government with another without even sharing with
their collaborating western and conspiratorial eastern minority
partners in the war against the Igbos, beyond the indigenisation timing
and so called abandoned property execution.
Then a prominent and loved cosmopolitan Yoruba won the presidency,
beating the north to their own game of deception. The election was
mindlessly and thoughtlessly annulled and the Yorubas cried foul. The
caliphate North said they were born to rule. The Yorubas refused.
Brutality was deployed against the Yorubas by the North. Another Yoruba,
a former military Head of State, was jailed. The military maximum
leader from the North was himself cornered by colleagues he sidelined,
inside his military Presidential fortress, and offered an unholy apple.
And MKO then had to be honoured with an executive supervised tea service
to return to ground zero.
Olusegun Obasanjo was preserved at this point as the North needed a
trusted ally to calm things down before taking power over again, as
their birth right. He was released from prison and taken to the
presidency. The military continued in power by other means! The army of
fortune that claimed to have fought to keep Nigeria one continued to
exploit the country without let, united in sharing the oil money and the
loot of war as they would have seen it. Learning nothing from recent
happenings.
But Obasanjo was not quite like The Obasanjo before prison
experience; he became his own man and grew into power as in office: The
north refused and invented sharia to destabilise him. But he is a
General and also experienced and well known internationally, having
being a military Head of state that handed over to a northern civilian
with an unbalanced mathematics. He even negotiated in desert tents and
being who he is, that also made him survive in prison, he also survived
these intrigues. He attended to the army wing of politics and executed a
strategic handover that eventually enthroned a Minority in the
Presidency. Jonathan emerged with a lot of goodwill and as a breath of
fresh air: not from the Caliphate North, not an ex-military man, and not
from any of the majority tribes. A younger man than the immediate past
Presidents. And above all a University graduate. A PhD!
Nigerians were very hopeful that a new era that would be better than
the British colonial era of exploitation from 1914 – 1960 and better
than the caliphate North mis-rule from 1960 – 2010 effectively (Obj
being a creation of the North) has started. A new era where an ordinary
(qualified) Nigerian will truly enable Nigeria to practice democracy: a
government of the people for the people by the people!
The President Goodluck Jonathan Presidency, is ultimately an Obj
creation, even if not originally planned so. It is therefore very
significant if this Presidency is rated low by its main promoter and its
low performance rating then becomes comprehensive with the latest
endorsement of Buhari by Obasanjo despite all the hedging. Other
prominent Nigerians, with objective minds have also made direct calls
that Buhari be supported and be voted for. From my detailed analysis and
observations, I am aligned to that thinking.
However, I have not seen any one that truly captured why the Jonathan
Presidency failed the hope of ordinary Nigerians. It is my conviction
that all the failings of his Presidency emanated from one mortal
leadership sin: the deliberate and sustained replacement of a
presidential vision that should be good for Nigeria and Nigerians with a
personal vision uncompromisingly focused on re-election! He sacrificed
and was ready to sacrifice anything and everything, anyone and every one
for re-election! He continuously saw himself as a politician instead of
the President of Nigeria! This is really frightening and dangerous when
the full ramification is internalised. Anything and everything that can
lead to re-election is allowed no matter how wrong or unwholesome, and
anything and everything that is good for Nigeria and Nigerians, but that
has no immediate direct link to re-election can be traded for
re-election! This is not leadership. This led to leadership failure
including the Kano Governor taking over our Presidential villa to abort
Nigeria having a credible and accurate census!
Analysing it further is not necessary for the initiated. Where there
is no vision, the people suffer like we have also seen with the North
currently at the receiving end of insurgency and displaced persons,
including trafficking of children and heart-aching forceful slavery of
about 300 Chibok young school girls. It is providential that APC
provided an alternative platform. If not, a real crisis is possible, if
the Jonathan Presidency, with PDP as a party, continued the current
governance deception or charade.
And for APC to make change possible, like a done deal, Nigerians must
thank the Jagaban of Nigeria, the last standing Governor of the 1999
class, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for unmatched vision and patriotic role
in forming the APC. Nigerians must also thank General Buhari of CPC,
Chief Ogbonnaya Onu of ANPP, Owelle Rochas Okorocha of an APGA faction
and HE Atiku Abubakar, Turaki Adamawa for leading the New PDP team to
reinforce APC. Special thanks to the Lion of the South South, HE Rt. Hon
Rotimi Amaechi for being a man and a leader of character: committed to
his people till death if necessary.
These are the great Nigerians, with their teams, that gave a platform
to save Nigeria. The Good Lord has forgiven all their shortcomings and
prepared a special abode for them in paradise. As already well said
elsewhere, General Buhari is educated enough. Experienced enough and
meaning well enough to be our President. No more unnecessary
distractions. And the only advice one can give APC at this point is to
make Tinubu the Party Chairman (forget zoning) so that he can build APC
into an ANC type party, with internal democracy and where the elected
President cannot dictate to the Party, and the Party can discipline an
erring President. Where the Leader of the Party is the Chairman of the
Party and not the President to allow for separation of powers, for
checks and balances. PDP was ruined doing the opposite as an evidence of
this need.
This short historical excursion shows that all Regions of Nigeria
have tasted what it feels like to be under a country where things are
not done properly. Overall, Buhari has remained above the rot and now
positioned to save Nigeria. And Buhari himself said: “My dear friends,
this is very important to note: it doesn’t matter if you are Igbo,
Yoruba, Ijaw,Hausa, Idoma, Efik, Ikwere, Urhobo, Igala and, no, it
doesn’t matter if you are a Christian, Muslim, Animist or Atheist: we
need a new direction under a new leadership. The task ahead will be very
challenging and daunting, but it is surmountable. This is what
leadership is about; my only desire is to prove to you that Nigeria can
truly work. Allow me to prove to you that in your lifetime, you can be
proud of this country. Let me make you this promise today: we will
protect your children; we will protect your wealth. We will make this
country work again. This is why i am running for the office of the
President of Nigeria. This is my promise.”The pertinent question is: Why
General Buhari? I believe him because he is believable. I believe him
because he has a track record of being a serious leader. I believe that
General Buhari will do well as President of Nigeria and that he needs
the support of all for seven reasons:
He has the personal example of honesty and integrity. He will not steal with compulsion.
As Fulani he can relate better with the Caliphate to help redeem its
image of misrule and establish once and for all that where a leader
comes from is not important. What is important is that he performs well
for Nigeria and all Nigerians.
As a General he will relate best to the Nigerian military to help
redeem their image of mis-rule too and show that our military is a
worthy national institution and not army of occupation with soldiers of
fortune.
He is committed to fight corruption and compulsive stealing. This is key now, with 5 and 6 as well.
He is committed to fight insurgency and can handle it better.
He cares about ordinary Nigerians and will serve them wholeheartedly.
He is supported by many prominent objective Nigerians, international
objective media and the civilized world. He is dreaded by many that have
looted Nigeria dry. And I am happy in this worthy company of free
citizens of the world and institutions that endorses General Buhari and
recommends him to all Nigerians.
What General Buhari and APC owe Nigeria and Nigerians, during this
extra and unnecessary six weeks delay to election day and even long
after is to SECURE THE LIFE of General Buhari. It is imaginable, given
the annulment of June 12 under unclear circumstances, that this six
weeks delay can have more supporters than are known. President Jonathan
himself can lose control as during the trying time of the 1993 election
crisis. It is imaginable that some vested interests may not want both
President Jonathan and General Buhari and may work alone or in
cooperation with others to impose a contrived and orchestrated interim
government that is now gaining traction. Or coups or coups baits that
are being mentioned, worsened also by giving security agencies more
roles over election matters than necessary.
The forces that aborted June 12 could still be alive. General Buhari
in many ways reminds one of MKO. Nigerians must shine their eyes beyond
the ordinary and the conventional. Things seem to me now like the more
one looks, the less one sees. There is a logical need therefore, based
on the history of MKO’s political struggle to have cause for concern.
Similarities, comments, personalities, etc. are emerging and trending.
APC as a priority should secure the life of General Buhari. It is
important for Nigeria and Nigerians. And as said earlier, this is also
the task for the Federal Government, specifically the President. This
bulk must stop on this table: no relegation, no excuses.
Now, what are the key challenges before President Buhari when
elected? Nigerians are hopeful that General Buhari will live for them
and win the coming election. And I want him to be the best President
Nigeria ever had after his two terms in 2023. But this will be based on
his performance in office, for Nigeria and all Nigerians, and not on
sentiments. For that to happen, he needs to meet the following seven
challenges as an absolute minimum:
One Nigeria for All Nigerians: He must come with a Vision of One
Nigeria for All Nigerians. Based onTruth, Justice, Equity and Fairness
as the only basis for sustainable Unity, Peace and Progress. This
progress must be bigger and greater than progress under ethnic,
regional, religious or other identity platform.
Every thing he does must be driven by this Greater Nigeria, Greater
Nigerian Vision. He must rally the Nation, the Nigerian Nation and all
Nigerians with this inspiring leadership vision based on his continued
honesty, integrity and personal example. Nigerians will believe and
follow him. And that is what leadership is all about. This will ensure
that the two million or so Nigerians who died during the Nigerian civil
war will not die in vain and for their souls to finally rest in peace.
Keeping Nigeria One is good but certainly not the current Nigeria. To
keep Nigeria One for ALL NIGERIANS is a task that must be done!! On that
vision we must all stand.
First Class Cabinet: He must establish a credible and competent
cabinet and Presidency with only credible, honest and competent
professionals with integrity and personal examples too: extending
himself and his goodness into the total executive arm at the Federal
level that will impact on executive arms at the Regional levels and the
Legislative and Judiciary arms at all levels. This is the magic of
honest leadership!! This Presidency can lift the entire nation, all
sectors.
Assemble the best Team of Nigerians from anywhere in the world to
give the best cabinet and Presidency ever designed and in placed in
Nigeria. Really qualified persons may be begged to join the
cabinet/Presidency. This Presidency under the President, should then
develop the strategic Architecture to develop Nigeria in 8 years, even
without a drop of oil and oil revenue!!!
This Presidency will, by example, provide leadership for the
Legislature, Judiciary and all public servants/civil service at both the
Federal and Regional Government levels, even with separation of powers.
This presidency, by absolute dedication to the well-being of
Nigerians, and well-being of all Nigerians ALONE will have the moral
suasion and audacious impact to mobilize all civil society
organizations, media, academia, labour, youths, women and the
international community to enforce what is right on all Nigerians and
all institutions of state.
Strong and patriotic leadership precedes all strong institutional
formulation, building and establishment. Strong institutions and
maintenance culture are outcomes of strong leadership that also
establishes good laws and enforce them no matter who is involved.
Nigeria cannot be an exception. And the President and his Vice are not
the first and second citizens by order of protocol for nothing. The
President, can and should take the lead. And if doing the right things,
all will follow. And all will be made to follow one way or the other.
Leadership determines followership in our type of society. Leaders with
integrity and personal example like Buhari are needed for progress. And
their goodness cascade down and permeate the Nation.
Countries without the likes of Buhari in power ultimately perishes.
There are really no other options to greatness than through great
leaders. Buhari has the qualities. And he has a date with destiny in the
Nigerian presidency from 2015 – 2023. May God give him the right vision
and guide him.
Security for all Nigerians: Security has socio-economic and political
inclusive, vision-driven and effective governance aspects that needs to
be handle in conjunction. But directly he needs:
To degrade, destroy and eliminate Boko Haram insurgency in the North,
including immediate arrest and prosecution of sponsors, financiers and
hate religious preachers and severe punishment of those implicated in
the abuse of IDPs.
To degrade, destroy and eliminate kidnapping and armed robbery
kingpins and drug barons in the South East including removal of all
criminals in traditional institutions and in political offices and
parties through special courts for accelerated no nonsense hearing.
To continue to contain militancy in the South South including
arresting and prosecuting all sponsors and leaders of massive oil thefts
and collaborating security organizations – private and state.
To carry out a massive youth empowerment job creation and invest in
education and vocational training targeting elimination of prostitution,
human trafficking, modern day slavery and idleness of youths.
Restore sanctity in the military and security agencies including severe
disciplinary actions, jail terms and court marshalls for those who
perpetrate corruption in security matters and intelligence officers that
collaborate with criminals, by sitting on their files, allowing them
into political offices.
Eliminate Corruption (reduction will not do!): Corruption has killed
Nigeria. People steal without consequences. The rule of law is in
breach. Some Nigerians are more equal than others. Write your name in
gold to stop this.
First work with the National Assembly and all Nigerians to close all
office duplications that will reduce the 2000 + MDAs to just the
Constitutional Bodies and maximum of 24 Ministries with eye to reduce
recurrent expenditure to 30 % max and capital expenditure to 70% minimum
by design / planning. And enforce the monetisation policy. This will be
a good signal of serious leadership and no business as usual.
Take all Audit Reports on corruption cases since independence till
date and set up a small body of 10 incorruptible Nigerians to vet it and
sieve out all refunds needed. Work to set up special courts, with high
integrity known judges with modern ICT-based court process and with
international support and ask them to recover all stolen Nigerian funds
in one year maximum. This will generate more funds than your
Administration will ever be able to invest in Nigeria in eight years
even without selling a drop of oil.
This is the best thing you can do for Nigeria with your integrity and
honour. If it is not done, people will continue to steal turn by turn
and kill themselves for political office. Public service must not be a
route to material wealth. Public service should not be the best economy.
It should only be an avenue for sacred service to fellow Nigerians.
Once there is the political will to do this, you will be surprised how
easy it is to execute. It is the criminals that should be afraid and not
honourable Nigerians working on behalf of the Nation and on behalf of
Nigerians. Stand firm on this.
The well-being of all Nigerians Imperative: The economy should be managed for 12% growth that creates Jobs, Jobs and Jobs.
Having a credible census for Accurate Demographic Data is key to
professional management of the economy. The envelope system without
data, without strategy and plan supports corruption.
Physical and Social Infrastructure (Education, Health, Transport, ICT
etc) and Development strategy and plans coordinated by the CEO of
Nigeria Plc / The President are all key. You cannot delegate this.
Technocrats with performance track records abound to handle this area
but under your supervision to benefit all Nigerians. Regulators and the
regulated must never sleep in same beds, to avoid massive scams and
absolute conflicts of interests as presently the case.
Sustained Re-orientation Policy, Projects and Programmes to convert
ethnic nationalities with different religious orientations and economic
backgrounds into PROUD NIGERIANS: This is key. A national education and
re-education programme aimed at all levels for Nigerians.
The elite must be educated that their lives can only be better in a
united and peaceful Nigeria. And that they will NOT be allowed to ruin
Nigeria and run away.
Justice, Truth, Equity and Fairness must be entrenched in every
public affairs for continued work towards Unity, Peace and Progress that
will be sustained. Forced unity is not possible. And good peace for
real progress will not be possible without sustainable unity. Experts
abound to do this work for Nigeria and Nigerians but only the President
will guarantee the foundation: that Truth, Justice, Equity, Fairness and
Rule of ‘good’ law for sustainable Unity, Peace and Progress must never
be violated with impunity as we march towards a Greater Nigeria and
Proud to be Nigerians Vision.
Credible People-based Constitution: Above all, all these ingredients
of greatness for our country and improved well-being of all Nigerians
should be coded and encapsulated in a People-based Constitution, and the
constitution that Nigeria needs and that should be put in place must
enshrine the values of truth, justice, fairness and equity as organising
principles to guide all our national actions. The route to it can be
through the National Assembly that is willing or through other many
possible routes. But it is a must have. It must abolish all obnoxious
frauds in our constitution that keep us divided, removing ethnic,
tribal, religious and unmerited advantages out of national limelight and
the constitution into personal lives where they belong by establishing
the following minimums:
True fiscal and cultural Federalism, with well demarcated 6 Regions.
Each Region has potential for viability if well led. And, competition
will be good for the regions and their people. Easy money, ultimately
kills a soul that is housed by a lazy body. And the North has lagged
behind the Southern Regions for this reason as evidence. Hardwork is
part of a good life.
Specified directives for an accurate and credible census, with
ethnic, religious and place of origin as part of data collected and
collated, and executed as per international best practices as per the
plans that we already developed and left behind in National Population
Commission. This will have a comprehensive Vital Registration
infrastructure to deliver, not just the Accurate and Credible
demographic data for planning but for its updating on a continuous
basis. 80% of our current problems in Nigeria will be cured by having
ACCURATE DATA alone. It is the DATA stupid as the Americans say.
Management starts with it. Leadership without competent management will lead to no where and burns out.
We cannot plan or coordinate the economy or anything else without
credible data. Celebrating the documentation of 4 million farmers is
fool-hardiness given what is possible from a comprehensive National soft
data infrastructure. Specifics should be put in the constitution that
should enable National population commission to carry out its
constitutional mandate without political interference. The political
requirement that census result is subject to council of state acceptance
is nonsensical and should be deleted.
All other bodies in the constitution, including security agencies,
should be sharpened and protected from political interference. A
functioning Council of State for instance cannot be there and certain
things are happening. The constitution should specify directions and
implementation imperatives and matrices.
Anti-corruption policies, practices and sanctions must be better
specified and the body made independent of all arms of Government and
immunity clause expunged. Plea bargain provision must not be extended to
issues of corruption and stiffer jail terms and recoveries must be
enunciated to serve as deterrents. Corruption should be made
unprofitable from all dimensions.
The 2000 or so MDAs under the Federal Structure should be reduced to a
level where recurrent expenditure is maximum of 30% with capital
expenditure minimum of 70%. All extra constitutional bodies like EFCC,
ICPC etc etc should be abolished and absorbed in their constitution most
relevant bodies or MDAs. The assignment of responsibilities to Federal
and Regional governments should be aligned, including security agencies.
A two-party system should be enshrined into the constitution with
ideological orientation and broad socio-economic development directives
specified.
Job creation growth routes should be favoured given our huge
population. Party primaries to sieve out criminals and any one with
criminal records should be specified. The minimum qualification for
political office should be aligned to weight of office (Buhari is
qualified under current specification that ask for up to secondary
school which is really JSS 1, even for one day. But Buhari with his
military training and on the job experience up to former Head of State,
GCFR, is more than qualified.
A provision should be added that the NSA should be prosecuted and
sent to jail if his agency withholds the criminal records of criminals
and refuse to give them to political parties and INEC to sieve out
useless people from aspiring to political office. And if the occupant of
that office becomes a threat to national security with inappropriate
conducts that are corruption or politically motivated, like scuttling
planned elections, he should be prosecuted and sent to jail. It is more
dangerous when those that should protect us become the threats to
national security.
INEC should have powers to disqualify at the last minute without
replacement option by political parties. This will make the parties to
be more careful and for Nigeria to start the process of evolving
credible and competent political leadership. Given the numerous problems
in the land, our brightest and the best should be attracted to public
service in place of corrupt scums and economic predators, criminals,
professional thugs and uneducated jesters. In matters that determine
national security and well-being of the nation, only the very best will
do.
Conclusion: Size matters. So, I believe that progress within Nigeria
will be better than progress as ethnic champions. Nigeria has had a
chequered history from colonial times through the years of the locusts,
years of occupation army of fortune to the recent years of the Jonathan
failed Presidency. Upcoming democratic election gives Nigeria another
chance and all signs point to Change, as a popular choice of most
Nigerians and nothing should be allowed to derail that.
General Buhari needs to be secured. Nigeria needs him. Nigerians want
him. When his party wins the Presidency, Buhari should continue to
provide integrity-based leadership. He should then lead the Presidency,
as the first citizen, doing the right things for all Nigerians at all
times. Leadership by example is the best way to lead. The best way to
think. The best way to speak without words. And the best way to act. It
will be there for all to see, feel and honour. Leadership to secure
Nigeria and improve the well-being of all Nigerians.
Leadership by example, will be a product that does not need
propaganda or display of obscene advertisement to sell. It will sell
itself. It has sold itself without making effort as it can be perceived
and felt. Truth is self-evident. Facts do not need debates. All the
propaganda in the world cannot make a lie true. What is Right, like
Goodness, uplifts. Evil depresses, even to one who pretends they are
hardened.
With a continued personal example, a Greater Vision for Nigeria and
all Nigerians and with an honest hard work towards the seven key
challenges identified here as the basic minimum, the Golden Era of
Nigeria will start and the life of Nigerians will be properly rebased in
reality. For now, all should do whatever is in their power to support
the election of Buhari and ignore all campaign propaganda and
mis-information and even assassination threats from panic-stricken
political thugs. It is too late in the day for PDP. The party needs to
take stock after losing and reform to become an effective opposition
party. It will be good for its soul. And good for Nigeria. Above all, it
will be good for Democracy: to keep the ruling party then, APC, in
check. No condition is permanent, says the visionary Zik of Africa.
And may God continue to bless Nigeria, our HomeLand, and all Nigerians
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