WHAT ABOUT AFRICA?

What hope is there for the African child?

The African continent has for centuries been labeled the dark continent. Not only because of the colour of her inhabitants’ skins but also because the continent still gropes in the dark- in backwardness and underdevelopment. For decades the continent has remained stagnant, wallowing in extreme poverty, lack and deprivation while other continents have taken giant strides in development. In spite of the fact that the continent boasts of abundant mineral and human resources, there is practically nothing to indicate the existence of these resources in areas of physical and infrastructural development and technological advancement. 

For decades, Africans were led to believe that abundance of mineral resources would inevitably lead to wealth and development. Unfortunately, mineral and human resources only signify potential wealth; and potential wealth will always remain potential as long as they are not properly harnessed and geared towards the achievement of specific goals. Little wonder that DR Congo, the nation with the greatest potential wealth in the world, valued at $24 trillion is also one of its poorest.  Such scenario is prevalent all over the continent – Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan to mention a few nations whose destinies have been shortchanged by a combination of poor leadership, greed and corruption. It is saddening that the vast human and mineral resources in African nations remain yet to be harnessed. Thus ensuring that citizens continue to wallow in the most extreme forms of poverty imaginable, albeit in the midst of overflowing wealth.

In addition, the African continent continues to lag far behind other continents in the knowledge and information technology race. It is estimated that internet use in the continent is estimated at 26/100 inhabitants, against 74/100 inhabitants in developed nations. This obviously does not bode well for the continent’s future as the IT gap will further be extended. The continent’s massive population of over a billion people, with an estimated 40% currently below 15, will continue to suffer deprivation of facilities that are  now regarded as necessities in a modern world except drastic actions are taken to stem this tide. Unfortunately, there seems to be no solution in sight as the continent’s leaders are more concerned with perpetuating themselves and their cronies in power and looting the treasury blind, rather than tackle the problems facing the continent.

These children's futures might have been mortgaged already 

It is also quite unfortunate that the continent’s 'superpowers' have failed to lead other nations by example. Nigeria still grapples with getting her political leadership right while her once fast growing economy has since slowed down after a near collapse of the finance sector after the global crisis of the previous decade. The South African political leadership scene has been far from encouraging with series of controversies trailing the ruling African National Congress although the nation’s economy has consistently maintained a positive outlook. North of the Sahara, dust is yet to fully settle in the Egyptian political and constitutional scenes after the uprising/upheavals  of 2011. To lead the continent out of the woods, Africa’s largest three economies must get their acts together and encourage other fledglings like Rwanda, Botswana and Angola.

In addition, there is a need to focus on the development of institutions instead of personalities. There is a need to shift the focus from individuals and personalities to structures and institutions. Without strong institutions the continent will continue to lag behind and remain underdeveloped. No nation has ever attained development without viable institutions. There is also an urgent need to bridge the information and communication gap between Africa and other continents through conscious, innovative efforts aimed at encouraging the use of technology especially among the continent’s youths.

The battle before Africa is one that the current generation cannot afford to lose. To win this battle, the continent’s political leadership needs to settle down to the art of good governance and look beyond exploiting and pilfering the commonwealth. The continent’s leadership needs to look beyond extraction of mineral resources as the major source of income and concentrate on developing capable manpower and strong institutions. If the continent’s current leadership gets it acts right soon enough, then the African continent might yet be saved from impending doom.

@Numero_1ne 

#SixWords

A couple of six word quotes to inspire you for tasks ahead this week.
 Read, learn, share and enjoy.

• "Always start with assuming good intentions".- Teri Edman

• "Persistence has more value than qualifications". - Mitch Polack

• Have passion in what you do . 

• "You manage things, you lead people". - Admiral Grace Hooper

• "You are not learning if you are comfortable". - Debbie Beet

• "Do one more thing than requested' - Gary Belsky

• "Luck is the residue of design". - Branch Rickey

• "Do what's right, not what's popular".

• "Screw-ups will happen, just own them".  - Kara Carthel

• "Cutting corners only create more paperwork" - Dyan Titchnell

• "Add value - otherwise you are a commodity" - Randall Lane

• "If you don't know, say so". - B. Saville

• "Get the hardest part done first" - Cathy Smith

• "Pretend impossibilities are possible. They are'.  - Sandi Hemmerlein 

• "Fall fast. Learn fast. Improve fast". - Steven Robbins

• "Two ears. One mouth. Engage wisely". - Bob Myers

• "Provide guidance, don't take the credit".- Peter Ashkenaz

• "Today a reader, tomorrow a leader". W. Fusselman 

Follow on Twitter @Numero_1ne

#OccupyNigeria : Far From Over

After days of protests triggered by an increase in fuel price by about 125%, uneasy calm have returned to the streets of major cities in Nigeria.  The protests christened #OccupyNigeria in line with the global #Occupy movements against corruption and inequality started out in slow fashion but picked up with the declaration of a nationwide strike by the labor unions which lasted nine days. This ultimately proved to be the Achilles hill of the movement as protests literally fizzled out with the suspension of the nationwide strike after the presidency settled for a pump price of N97 per litre. It was a grave error of judgment in retrospect though as the #OccupyNigeria movement was largely misconstrued as an industrial relations movement when it actually is a movement for good governance and eradication of corruption and inequality.

The protests might not have succeeded in ensuring that fuel prices were reversed to N65 or in ensuring an immediate reduction in the cost of running government but it cannot be denied that the movement was successful in several other areas. Perhaps, the major achievement of the movement was the socio-political awakening of a largely apathetic populace. The role of social media in the quick and massive spread of information assisted in orientation of a large number of citizens who hitherto were oblivious of the scale of corruption and waste in the government. Information dissemination in Nigeria must have reached an all time high during the protests with millions of Nigerians questioning the rationale behind the government decision on removal of the subsidy on petroleum products. In addition, hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have now taken more than passive interest in the 2012 budget, identifying major sources of leakages, waste, duplicity and other irregularities in the budget. What we have now might be described as a new generation of Nigerians who have finally discovered the power of new media in effecting change and coupled with the population of Nigerian youths, the political landscape of our nation might never be the same again.

The display of love and unity of purpose by Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity, religion or social inclination proved that the nation is not doomed as several observers are wont to believe. It was quite heartening seeing Muslims in Christians in Northern states guarding Muslims while praying and Muslims securing churches during Sunday service. The display of unity was surely heartwarming especially in this period of instability in some areas of the North of the country due to threats by the radical Islamic group Boko Haram.  An attempt by Niger Delta leaders to introduce some sort of ethnic coloration to the protests was met with condemnation by Nigerians who clearly understood what was at stake and could not be swayed by tribal sentiments. It should be noted that majority of the people on the streets last week were the same people who walked the streets to ensure that then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as acting president. They also probably forgot that Goodluck Jonathan is not the president of the Niger Delta but President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that Nigerians regardless of origin or social status have a right to demand good leadership and governance, irrespective of the occupant of the office.

In addition, it was obvious that the government realized that the awakening of the people was quite different from whatever had happened in the past. Public officers unsuccessfully tried to confuse and convince citizens but all efforts were futile. The presidency, having realized the loss of its goodwill, embarked on a series of actions to defend its decisions, majority of which ended up complicating the matter and exposing government officials as ignorant of the workings of several of the administration’s policies. The government’s decision to attempt to quell the protests with the use of brutal force against protesters was as callous and inhuman as it was unnecessary. 20 people reportedly lost their lives in the course of the protests in the hands of police and military officers. Civil society organizations must ensure that killers of these citizens are brought to book and that their lives were not lost in vain. No Nigerian deserves to be killed for exercising a fundamental human right and efforts must be intensified to ensure security of the life and properties of the average Nigerian.  

However, achievements in the struggle will all come to naught if the pressure on the government is not sustained. Nigerians have finally found their voices but words alone do not build a nation. Nigerians must continue to take active interest in the conduct of the affairs of the nation. Nigerians need to continually assess and monitor the activities of elected officers. Also, having discovered the massive waste items in the 2012 budget, it will be an act of irresponsibility if measures are not taken to ensure that such items are cut from the budget. Already, a probe into activities of the NNPC and the role of government officials in fuel subsidy payment has begun. It is necessary to ensure that the probe is carried out to a logical conclusion and guilty parties face the wrath of the law. Also, promises made the presidency over passage of the ‘Petroleum Industry bill’ and inclusion of stakeholders in decision making must be monitored. With the passage of the Freedom of Information act, monitoring and assessment of government policies and activities of public officers should be easier, especially with the advent of new media.

Also important is the need for sustainability in order to ensure that the gains from the struggle and those who paid the ultimate price will not be in vain. It is most important that the movement is not allowed to die a natural death like some other before it. Abandonment of the movement half way will not just be an act of injustice to those who lost their lives but might also mean forfeiture of a once in a generation opportunity to get things right. The movement must be sustained not just through street protests, but through intellectual engagements with public officers. The need to engage public officers cannot be overemphasized. Our apathetic attitude to government decisions and policies have brought us thus far and it is pertinent that the average Nigerian citizen knows and understands how every government policy affects his/her  life and those of generations yet unborn. 

From continuing to educate the man on the streets to speaking at public forums and debates with public officers, the struggle must continue until all demands and aspirations of the movement are actualized. There must be an end to corruption and mismanagement in government and an overhaul of our sociopolitical and value systems. This can only be achieved if we do not falter in our march to freedom. The battle to reclaim Nigeria is far from over, it only just started. A new Nigeria is possible. 

Follow on Twitter @Numero_1ne 

Nigerian Stabbed To Death In Moscow

 This news article originally appeared in the Russian news website- www.lifenews.ru

This is the link to the original article- j.mgh.kj

Below is the article  and its English translation.

       “  В Москве убили африканца и отрезали ему уши

Тело с многочисленными ножевыми ранениями обнаружено на железнодорожной насыпи.

Труп гражданина Нигерии Акшинтово Ануфеш нашли случайные прохожие у дома № 10/12 в Нагорном проезде прохожие у дома № 10/12 в Нагорном проезде.

- Эксперты насчитали на теле африканца 22 ножевых ранения, - подтвердили Life News в правоохранительных органах.

Кроме того, преступники отрезали жертве уши. Не исключено, что иностранца перед смертью пытали.

Следователи отрабатывают все возможные версии убийства. Не исключено, что 28-летний иностранец стал жертвой националистов.

Впрочем, также отрабатывается и версия о бандитской разборке - многие выходцы из Нигерии в Москве попадались на наркоторговле и сутенерстве.” 

Translation:

               

                       African Killed In Moscow, Ears Cut Off

   “A body with multiple knife stabs has been found on a railway embankment.

    The corpse of the Nigerian citizen 'Akshintovo Anufesh' was found by passers-by close to house No 10/12 at the Narognom railway.

     Experts have identified 22 knife stabs on the African’s body,  The life News confirmed from law enforcement agencies.

     In addition, the criminals cut off the victims ears. It’s possible that the victim was tortured before his death

     Investigators are working on all possible versions of (motives for) the murder. It is quite possible that the 28 year old was a victim of nationalists.

     However, also being worked upon is the scenario of gangster affiliation – many immigrants from Nigeria in Moscow are involved in drug trade and pimping.”

    It is quite saddening that such a cruel fate befell a Nigerian citizen on the streets of Moscow, the Russian capital.  

    While this news appeared in the international media some days back, no Nigerian media organization has deemed it fit to be publicized. I want to believe this is not a reflection of the premium that Nigerians, the Nigerian media and the Nigerian government place on human lives. It behooves upon the Nigerian government through the Nigerian embassy in Russia and other governmental organs to ensure that a proper investigation is carried out and justice is done.

    The Nigerian government must ensure that this injustice is addressed. Injustice to one is injustice to all. The life of a Nigerian is as important and worth as much as that of an American or Briton. While the average Nigerian citizen can do little or nothing to ensure justice in this case , it is the duty of the Federal government of Nigeria to ensure the sanctity of the life of any Nigerian, whoever s/he might be and wherever s/he might be, is preserved. The least we can do as citizens is ensure the federal government and Nigerian embassy in Russia take up this matter and ensure justice.

      May the soul of our slain Nigerian brother rest in peace.

      Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

      Follow on Twitter @Numero_1ne - j.ghy.ki

FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL: MATTERS ARISING

That the presidency intends to remove the subsidy on petroleum come next January is no longer news.   It is doubtful if anyone can claim to be shocked by the disclosure as It’s long been coming.  The presidency disclosed that about N1.5 trillion is expected to be expended on subsidizing the price of fuel this year, as against the N568 billion provided in the 2011 budget.  The removal of the subsidy in itself is not a bad idea.  Under ideal circumstances, it is necessary that the government spends more on infrastructural development and education if we truly intend to move forward as a nation. However, the prevailing circumstances in Nigeria are far from ideal, and the government cannot feign ignorance of this.

In the argument put forward by the presidency in support of the removal, it was stated that the estimated sum of N1.5 trillion could have been spent on other areas of the nation like education, infrastructure and health. The presidency also stated that the sum constitutes a large drain and huge burden on the economy. In addition, it was said that the subsidy has contributed immensely to the quick depletion of the nation’s external reserves, which has been depleted by over $3 billion this year. Perhaps most interesting in the argument is that the subsidy majorly favours a “cabal” in the petroleum industry, who benefit through numerous crude and illegal processes (Why members of this “cabal” have not been identified and prosecuted is a matter for another day) and there is the unending argument as to reduction of overall government expenditure. These are some of the major reasons put forward in support of the intended removal of the subsidy.

It should be noted the major reason for subsidizing the cost of fuel is the fact that all of our refined fuel are imported. It is quite ironical as it is saddening that a nation that is the 6^th largest producer/exporter of crude oil needs to import refined fuel at the prevailing world market price simply because there are no functioning refineries in the country.  Nigeria, as the 6^th largest exporter of crude oil with a population of 162 million, has a combined refining power of just 445,000 barrel per day. Even with this disappointing figure, our refineries only operated at between a dismal 9-43% in 2010. This implies that the maximum quantity of refined fuel produced in our country last year was less than 200,000 bpd; while our daily local consumption is estimated to be over 40 million litres. This means we import virtually all of our total consumption, at prices subject to oscillations in the world market. Though it could be argued that purchasing fuel at the current world market prices is the major reason for such high value of subsidy, it should be noted that our nation has no business importing what we produce in mass quantity if we had functioning refineries. If we did, we would not be subject to the oscillations in the world market and would be exporting refined fuel and not the other way round.

However, as much as the federal argument argues that the removal of fuel subsidy l is pertinent to national development, it is not ideal in our country under the present circumstances.. In a nation where constant electricity is non-existent, our nation depends on petroleum as the major source of energy and power. Large factories, entire industries and small & medium enterprises depend on diesel and petrol to generate their power. Fuel subsidy removal will translate into higher costs of productions for virtually all firms, thus driving the prices of quality, finished goods higher and out of the reach of the average citizen. In addition to this, the removal will not augur well for already our ailing manufacturing sector, as imported goods will become even relatively cheaper than they currently are. If electricity was constant, then the removal could have been welcome as there would have been minimal effect on industries, but in the absence of electricity and increase in petroleum prices, it spells doom.

Also, over 90% of transportation within the country is on road, which implies that our human and commercial transportation is highly dependent on the availability and cost of petroleum products.  With the high cost of air travel and the inexistence of railway lines and metro services, road transportation is the only mode available to the average citizen who cannot afford air travel. Increase in the cost of petroleum products will naturally translate into higher cost of road transportation. This will also translate into higher costs of goods as firms will need to add up the higher cost of moving their goods, which in turn will be finally passed over to the final consumer- the masses. The multiplier effects do not end there. Prices of food stuffs will increase, cost of living will skyrocket, the new minimum wage will become insufficient to lead an average life and families will have lower disposable incomes.  This will definitely negate the gains of the recently introduced minimum wage scale as living standard of the average worker will surely diminish.

Perhaps, most important is the persistent question on the minds of Nigerians:  Even if the subsidy is removed, will the over N1.5 trillion set to be saved be used appropriately? Based on past experiences, it is doubtful if that the affirmative will be the case.  The recovered Sani Abacha loot readily comes to mind.  There is virtually no justification based on past actions of our leaders that removal of fuel subsidy will translate into the much needed infrastructural development. Neither is there any assurance that citizens will be better off in the end. Perhaps the only assurance is that only those in the corridors of power will reap the benefits of the policy. If Nigerians had the assurance, and if this administration through its actions in the past 6 months, had shown that it actually means well for the populace, perhaps this policy wouldn’t be such a hard sell; but past experiences and this administration’s attitude towards issues that should be of utmost national importance has made the policy quite difficult to agree to. The government has consistently failed to prove that its actions are in the interest of the people, such that even a seemingly well intended action is looked upon with great distrust by the masses. The lack of a meaningful, articulated and understandable presentation on the policy to Nigerians also doesn’t help matter. It only makes it seem like a self serving, greed motivated decision by our leaders, with no advantage whatsoever to the masses.

It should be noted that while the presidency states it intends to cut costs, there has been no mention of reducing the salaries and allowances of elected officials. Removing subsidy on fuel, while continuing to subsidize the lavish lifestyles of elected public officials, is just a no brainer on the part of the government.  If the government is truthful in its bid to reduce cost, the first step should be a cut in the salaries and allowances of all elected public officers and not increasing the hardship of majority of the citizens by removing the subsidy on petroleum products.  In a country where the essential infrastructural facilities like electricity and alternative means of transportation besides road are lacking, it is definitely hypocritical to remove fuel subsidy in the name of cost cutting while elected officials continue to receive millions of Dollars annually and can increase their pay to suit their avarice whenever they wish.

It should be stressed that Nigeria ideally should have no concern with fuel importation. However, the inefficiency, greed and corruption of our leaders have made that quite impossible. The Venezuelan ambassador to Nigeria, Enrique Arundell , kind of punctured any hint of credibility in the arguments put forward against the subsidy by drawing direct comparisons with the oil sector in his country. First, he debunked the argument that Nigeria has the lowest price of refined product among oil producing countries and said it costs about $2.35 to fill a 2 litre engine car in Venezuela while it costs about #5,000 ($32.25)to do the same in Nigeria. He went further to identify our nation’s problem as our preference to export rather than refine more of our crude- Refining more of our crude in the country will give our nation an higher stake in the deregulated market, stimulate medium service industries and provide greater job opportunities for the teeming size of skilled, unemployed youths. The same reasons are also responsible for the state of our power industry and transportation system. It is therefore foolhardy to expect the whole population to pay for the inefficiency and corruption of our leaders.

If the government provides constant electricity and alternative mode of transportation, such that our lives, national economy and national development do not depend on petroleum and its price, then there could be talks about removal of the subsidy. Also, when the government realizes that charity begins at home and reduces the salaries and allowances of elected officials by a reasonable percentage in a bid to reduce government expenditure, there can be talks of subsidy removal. Until then there should be a stay on this policy. It is the height of greed and selfishness, to make the 99% pay for the expensive lifestyles and suffer and bear the brunt of the inefficiency, greed and corruption of the 1%. Under the prevailing circumstances, removal of fuel subsidy come next January is just unacceptable and our leaders will do themselves a mighty favour by rethinking that policy.

God bless Nigeria

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A Nation On The Brink

        After close to two decades of military rule, the nation was hopeful that return to democracy in 1999 would translate to better living standards and development, but that these hopes have been dashed would be an understatement. The sad reality has been that twelve years of democratic rule have not translated into better living conditions for majority of the citizenry. Instead, only those in the corridors of power have been better off, basking in affluence while those they were supposed to serve still wallow in penury. 51 years of independence and over 12 years of uninterrupted democracy have not translated into any form of meaningful development in the nation. Instead the nation  hovers on the verge of instability. The stability of the nation is being threatened by the forces of youth unemployment, fiscal indiscipline (impending economic failure) and insecurity. On these three fronts, the nation is losing a battle and the culmination of these failures is likely to lead to an uprising- maybe a revolution.

        The view of the average Nigerian youth is one of a hopeless future, one which has been mortgaged already. It is estimated that there are 80 million Nigerians under 30, and of this figure less than 30% of them are gainfully employed. This implies that millions of able bodied Nigerian youths wake up every day with nothing worthwhile to do. Youth unemployment constitutes the greatest threat to the stability of our nation. Millions of youths roam daily with nothing to do, majority of them graduates of our higher institutions of learning. It’s therefore not difficult to understand how Boko Haram, MEND and other militia groups command such huge membership, after all an idle hand becomes a tool for the devil.  Factories which could have provided these youths with jobs have either closed office or relocated to other countries with more conducive clime for doing business. You cannot have such population of unemployed youths without bearing the consequences. If nothing is done to correct this, we have a ticking time bomb in our hands, and when it explodes, it will rock the whole nation.

When unemployment reaches a head, protests will be inevitable

        The state of national security is at best parlous. The Jos crisis has been raging for over 10 years and successive governments have failed to find a lasting solution to it. The Islamic radical group Boko Haram has practically taken hold of the North with series of bomb explosions in the past six months. It is quite baffling that over 10 bomb explosions have occurred in the country in less than one year. The police headquarters and the United Nations building in Abuja have both suffered bomb attacks. Just last week, the Independence Day parade was cancelled over threats of attacks from Boko Haram and MEND. It goes to show how secure the average citizen is when the Commander-in- Chief of the armed forces cannot guaranty his personal safety. The police ‘farce’ as actions continually portray remains a thorn in the flesh of citizens its officers are paid to protect.

The police continually harass citizens it was meant to protect

 Just yesterday, it was  reported that the Abia state police command has suspended investigations into the ABSU five man gang rape case, citing that the victim CONSENTED TO BE RAPED. One is left to wonder how a victim can 'consent to be raped’. Instances like this are quite numerous and they reflect the worrying inefficiency of our security apparatus. A poor security system coupled with millions of idle, unemployed youths who can easily be used by unscrupulous individuals and illegal organizations to cause unrest can only spell doom for our nation.

That the Nigerian economy is right now at best floundering should be obvious to everyone. In spite of what the statistics say, the average Nigerian does not feel the impact of the policy makers and their claims that the economy is growing; instead it seems the living conditions worsen with every announcement. The national debt is at an all time high since the cancellation in 2005, already total domestic debt is estimated at over #5 trillion while external debts total around $5.4 billion. This implies that our leaders have successfully mortgaged our future and that of generations yet unborn. In spite of these, our elected officers remain the highest paid in the world. An average federal lawmaker receives over $2million annually and just last week, they allocated to themselves funds to procure brand new state of the art cars despite receiving loans for same in January. The foreign reserve has been depleted from $50 billion to $32 billion within 2 years. This does not take into consideration that the Yar’Adua/Jonathan administration between 2007 and 2011 earned over $150 billion from oil alone. The Naira currently exchanges at about #165 to a Dollar, while the CBN plans to devalue the Naira if there are continued “threats to oil price and reserve position”. If this occurs, coupled with the impending removal of fuel subsidy, the economic state of the majority can only worsen while only those with access to the corridors of power will continue to be better off.

         In a country where elected officers allocate over a quarter of the budget to themselves and receive hundreds of millions of US Dollars annually, the best way seen by the government to reduce expenditure is by removal of fuel subsidy. This move is likely to compound the woes of citizens who are still struggling to survive even when fuel prices are subsidized.  Removal of fuel subsidy under the prevailing circumstances will spell nothing but doom for majority of citizens. A government that spends billion to cater for itself while the very citizens it was selected to serve go to bed hungry and continue to wallow in extreme poverty is courting failure. When public officials view their followers as unequal and place no premium on their well being as currently witnessed in Nigeria, an uprising is inevitable. Continued economic oppression will definitely give birth to an uprising.

Nigerians continue live in poverty despite the nation's wealth

It is as saddening as it is ironical that a nation as wealthy as Nigeria ranks amongst the poorest in terms of living standard. High income from vast oil sale receipts have had no impact whatsoever on the lives of majority of the citizenry. Nigerians have been long suffering for decades, condoning the ineptitude of rulers who have done nothing to better their lots to better our lots but enrich themselves. At every corner what you hear is “God dey”, “E go beta”. For so long we’ve been mouthing these parlances with no change in our living conditions. Perhaps the only change that experienced has been in the number and sizes of the bank accounts of our political office holders who seem unconcerned by the fact that 70% of us survive on $2 daily while a ‘legislooter’ in the National ‘scAmssembly’ receives over $2million annually. Yet we remain a peace loving people. We were even voted the happiest people on earth some years back. We are able to condone these leaders, forgive them their trespasses as our holy books instruct and continue to live like all is well, but for how long shall we be like this? For how long shall we watch while these self-centered fools loot away our future? How long shall we remain “idiots” basking in the joy that tomorrow will be better when that tomorrow has been auctioned off and when our children’s collective destiny is being  frittered away and tied to self serving loans?

        When a government does nothing but inflict pains on its citizens, an uprising is just inevitable. A goat pushed to the wall has no choice but to go head on with its oppressors.  What might probably be the straw that’ll break the resolve of our people is the removal of fuel subsidy. While removing the subsidy on fuel is not a bad idea in itself, the deplorable state of life of Nigerians should not be further worsened by a policy that is likely not to impact on the life of the average Nigerian. There is no assurance in any form that the over 1 trillion that could be saved from the subsidy removal will be channeled to the right areas. Removal of subsidy in January 2012 without stable power supply can only spell doom for the Jonathan presidency, the national economy and the nation at large.

When the people get angry, violence is inevitable

         You do not take the people for a ride for too long without facing the repercussions.  That the citizens are tired of the system is an understatement. It’s just a matter of time before they react to the “lootocratic” system. Soon Nigerians will refuse to be content with state they are in.  It should be noted that countries like Tunisia, Egypt and Libya all had higher living standards than Nigeria, yet that could not prevent the people’s uprising. Any form of oppression- political, economical and social will inevitably lead to an uprising. And in a society like ours where all these forms of oppression and several others exist. It is perhaps the cowardice of Nigerians that has prevented one for this long, but even the most fearful of men will sooner or later prefer to damn the consequences and fight for what truly belongs to him.  With these circumstances, it’s soon bound to happen.

Follow on Twitter @Numero_1ne.

419 Reasons to Like Nigeria

419 Reasons to Like Nigeria

For too long, Nigeria and Nigerians have been readily associated with the online scams, financial crime and impersonation - termed ‘419’. However, beyond the unfortunate stereotyping, there are several positive characteristics and cogent intriguing traits of the country, Nigeria and its people, some of which are highlighted below as part of the ‘419 Reasons to Like Nigeria’ campaign which enlisted 100 volunteers and bloggers to share reasons why they like Nigeria. These reasons echo the voices of Nigerians, with resonating similar themes. The campaign is being facilitated in partnership with ‘The 419Positive Project’.

The full list of ‘419 Reasons to Like Nigeria’ is available here  (www.419Positive.org)

The list of contributors to ‘419 Reasons to Like Nigeria’ is available here

If you would like to say something positive about Nigerians and Nigeria, please do so here.

NIGERIA - THE LAND OF POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITY

v  I like Nigeria because it is a land of endless opportunities and possibilities. Nigeria is one country whose true potentials I believe the world is yet to experience. I believe Nigerians are sharp, brilliant and accommodating people. Giving the right enabling environment the world will marvel at what Nigeria will become.

v  Nigeria is the most populous black nation - and a buying one at that. From a capitalist point of view, this makes for great investment opportunities.

v  The fact that Nigeria currently lags behind so much - in infrastructure and developmental terms - hints at the size of the potential for innovation and transformation, and at the huge number of vacancies that exist for 'transformers'. What I think this means is that the world will be hearing a lot about Nigeria and high-achieving Nigerians (in the public and private sectors) in the near future.

NIGERIA - THE COUNTRY

v  The Nigerian Green and White flag is a notable national symbol. The green color symbolises agriculture, seeing that the country is endowed with masses of arable land, while the white colour signifies unity and peace. Other national symbols include the Nigerian Coat of Arms, which depicts an eagle on a black shield, tri-sected by two wavy silver bands, and supported on either side by two chargers. The national motto underlies the coat-of -arms: "Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress." Her national symbols convey great meaning to its people.

v  The Nigerian accent is currently ranked by CNN Global Experiences as the 5th sexiest accent in the world.

v  Nigeria is home to Nollywood, one of the world's biggest film industries.

NIGERIA - THE CULTURE, THE FOOD, THE WAY OF LIFE

v  Something great to like about Nigeria is our cultural diversity. A strong affinity exists, despite our differences. Learning about other ethnic cultures in my country really helped me personally relate to other cultures when abroad.

v  I think the food is tastier in Nigeria than that I have found in other countries.

v  Nigerians live a communal life style. The extended family is part of the immediate family in a Nigerian home.

NIGERIA - THE MUSIC, THE MOVIES, THE DANCE, THE ART

v  Nigeria has produced many world class musicians. A notable mention in this regard is Fela Anikulapo Kuti. A Broadway show titled ‘FELA!’ was produced in 2009 depicting the life and times of the Afrobeat musician.

v  Nigeria’s movie industry, Nollywood, is reputedly the 3rd largest film industry after Hollywood and Bollywood, and has grown gradually into a $250 million industry in more than 10 years.

v  Nigerian indigenous musical instruments are unique, soulful and rhythmic. They comprise the popular Talking Drum, producing proverbial and storytelling sounds, the Shaker (shekere), the Udu drum, the Lute, the leg and arm Rattle, the Omele, the Ogene (Gong originating in Eastern Nigeria), the Ekwe drum and the Kakaki (A 4m metal trumpet popular in Northern Nigeria). Many of these instruments have been incorporated in South American music over the years

NIGERIA - GEOGRAPHY and NATURAL RESOURCES           

v  Nigeria     Nigeria is a nation blessed with rich human and natural resources. As the 8th largest exporter of Oil in the world, with the 10th largest proven reserves, our blessings cannot be overemphasised. No earthquakes, no tsunamis, no droughts, an evergreen land. The rest of the world should live here.

v  The beauty of the Nigerian state cannot but leave one in awe. Blessed with captivating physical features and abundant wild life. From the rolling hills to the vast plains in the North Central Nigeria and the forests in the South, the beautiful scenery of the country is more than breathtaking and with the wildlife spread all over the country; Nigeria is surely a beauty to behold and a tourist's delight all year round.

v  Nigeria is blessed with tremendous agricultural resources. Cotton in the North, Cocoa & Oil palm in the south amongst many others. The flag is green for a reason

NIGERIA - WEST AFRICA, AFRICA and THE WORLD

v  Nigeria has the largest population of any country in Africa. Approximately 1 out of every 2 West Africans, 1 out of every 4 Africans, and 1 out of every 5 persons of African origin is a Nigerian.

v  Nigeria is the largest contributor of troops to the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) and by extension, is the largest force for peace and stability in West Africa.

v  A Nigerian will stand out anywhere you find him/her, from Libya to London, Tokyo to Timbuktu. Well known examples include Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets, USA), Olumide Oyedeji (Seattle Sonics), Tunde Baiyewu (Lighthouse Family), Sunday Adelaja (Ukraine), Chris Aire (US), etc.

NIGERIA - INDUSTRIOUS, INNOVATIVE and ENTERPRISING, with ACHIEVEMENTS        

v  Nigerians are intelligent, brilliant minds who have proven their mettle in various fields - Wole Soyinka was the first African to win the much coveted Nobel Prize for literature in 1986. Chinua Achebe’s classic novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ was ranked as number 14 in a list of top 100 books in the world by Newsdesk in 2009. Others include Cyprian Ekwensi, Mabel Segun, Chimamanda Adichie and Helon Habila whose literary works have won both international and local awards at various times.

v  We have budding fashion designers. Yes! It's a line every Bunmi, Amaka and Amina has decided to tow but to disregard the effort and originality of our Fashion Designers would be disrespectful. Tiffany Amber, Lanre Da Silva and Deola Sagoe are building world renowned brands, not to mention the legacy developed by the likes of Abba Folawiyo, Maureen Onigbanjo, Remi Lagos and Zizzi Cardow.

v  Nigerians have excelled in the fields of economics and finance, managing well established global bodies. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, the current Minister of Finance, was until recently a Managing Director at The World Bank.  Obiageli Ezekwisili is currently the Vice President for Africa at The World Bank. Mr Adebayo Ogunlesi is a first class graduate of Oxford, and Managing Partner of Global infrastructure Partner (GIP), a concessionaire of London’s Gatwick International Airport.

v  We take technology and expand it in ways those who created it could not have imagined. For instance, take the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) which allows you to send broadcast messages to all addresses on your contacts list; Nigerians recently found a unique way of advertising the different businesses they do. Someone started a message highlighting the fact that many people in Nigeria are entrepreneurs or provide a service and included his BB PIN in the message and sent to all his contacts with the charge that they state the service they provide, include their PIN and send on to all their contacts too. This seemingly small campaign has gone “viral” with whole lists of entrepreneurs and their BB PINs being passed from phone to phone. This is a clear sign of the ingenuity of Nigerians!

NIGERIA – GREAT PEOPLE

v  Nigeria is the 7th most populous nation in the world (over 160 million) and most populous in Africa - a gold mine of energetic, determined and talented people in each and every field. From Lagos to Aba to Kano, the Nigerian business spirit and desire to succeed is visible. It requires just proper harnessing of these human resources before Nigeria becomes the super power she was meant to be.

v  Nigerians are passionate, friendly, welcoming, hospitable, and well cultured people. The average Nigerian reflects a combination of vivacity, intelligence, energy, talent, and resolution.

v  We are a nation of people that can hardly hide their excitement at seeing family and friends. Some misconstrue this thinking we are loud but let's just say we are EXPRESSIVE! If you see us on the streets of New York making a big ruckus and hugging? No sweat. We are just happy to see each other.

NIGERIA – THE RESILIENT SPIRIT

v  The Giant of Africa: Not ignoring the current challenges, eventually, when we get our act right, we will reign supreme on the global scene. We have the potential and as is much touted by the Warri people - "Naija no dey carry last"

v  The 'survivor-mentality' hard-wired into the DNA of Nigeria's people. The fact that against all the odds (and there are many of them), Nigerians continue to live, hustle and seek to triumph. It is not by mistake that Nigeria is regarded as one of the "happiest" countries in the world, despite its challenging economic and social conditions.

v  We are hardy. The average Nigerian does business under circumstances that are unimaginable to people from other parts. In a place where there is no power, no credit, and scant regulation, people do business and do very well for themselves too. If you can make it in Nigeria, you can make it anywhere in the world.

NIGERIA – TOURISM and SPORTS

v  Nigeria is an amazing tourist haven and is home to the Obudu Cattle Ranch, located in Calabar. It is only 45 miles from the Cameroon border. The Obudu Plateau is spread over 40 sq. miles and is 5,200 feet above sea level. The Obudu resort features a Gorilla Camp where tourists may observe gorillas in their natural habitat.

v  Nigeria has two UNESCO world heritage sites, the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove and the Sukur Cultural Landscape in Adamawa. UNESCO world heritage sites are places designated as being of cultural significance.

v  Nigeria has produced great footballers like Teslim “Thunder” Balogun (the first Nigerian to play for an English Club – QPR), Segun Odegbami, Muda Lawal, Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini (who scored Nigeria’s first ever goal at the World Cup), Nwankwo Kanu, Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha, John Mikel Obi, Osaze Odemwingie, to mention but a few.

v  Nigeria has excelled in athletics over the years, still holding continental records in the 100m men and women, 4x100m men and women, 400m men and women, among others. Over 100 skilled Nigerian professional footballers played in First Division leagues in different countries all over Europe in the 2010/2011 season, 9 in England; 8 each in Finland, Norway; 10 in Ukraine and 7 in Sweden.

NIGERIA – UNITY in DIVERSITY

v  Nigerians, despite our diversity are a united people who always strive to help one another. With 774 local government areas, multi religious and ethnic affiliations, 36 States, and population of over 160 million, we still stand undeterred to move forward together.

v  Even outside the country, Nigerians remain united. This gives a quiet assurance somewhat that you can get on a plane and go to any country of the world and find a Nigerian there who will not only make you feel welcome but will go out of their way to be of really good help. I have experienced this several times on my travels and each time it amazes me how all I need to be is a Nigerian, not Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa and once I run into another Nigerian, I will immediately feel at home.

v  Our greatest strength lies in our diversity.

The ‘419 Reasons to Like Nigeria’ Campaign is in partnership with ‘The 419Positive Project’.