As we approach 2011 general elections, with or without calls for President Umaru Musa Yar’adua to seek for a second term, he will naturally wish to have it. The political history of Nigerian and African leaders, with very few exceptions having opportunities to seek for other terms look the other way. In the First Republic , Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa sought for re-election. Former President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic also sought and contested for second term. In the present dispensation, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, after having his second term, also attempted to have an extra term called third term which he failed.
Constitutionally, President Yar’adua is entitled to seek for another term, but there are two reasons that Nigerians are skeptical about if he decides to seek for a second term. Firstly, what are his achievements in the nearly two years as Nigeria ’s President? Secondly, will he be able to conduct free and fair elections that will be acceptable to most Nigerians?
With the dust of 2007 elections yet to finally settle, will the present administration of President Yar’adua conduct an election different from how it was conducted in 2003 and 2007 elections? Will Nigerians say bye-bye to ballot box stealing and stuffing? Will the votes cast by Nigerians be really counted? And will we really have democratically elected leaders without the courts deciding their legitimacy all in 2011?
The controversy about 2011 has started in earnest courtesy of Justice Mohammed Uwais’ Electoral Reform Committee recommendations, which President Yar’adua still insist on nominating the Head of INEC contrary to the recommendation of Uwais committee. If the President does not have any personal intrest in the 2011 elections, why is he insisting to nominate the INEC Chairman instead of the National Judicial Council as recommended by the Uwais committee?
Can Nigerians trust President Yar’adua to conduct free and fair elections in 2011 if he eventually decides to contest? The study of Yar’adua’s antecedents as former governor of Katsina state during his tenure on how he conducted Local government elections and the roles he played during the 2003 and 2007 elections will help Nigerians to know what to expect during the 2011 elections.
Even the re-elections in states like Kogi, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Sokoto, Cross River e.t.c, can also assist Nigerians to have a close study of what to expect during the 2011 elections. After such elections with the opposition crying foul conduct, what was the reaction of President Yar’adua? And after the declaration of Prince Vincent Ogulafor that the PDP will continue ruling for 60 years and Governor Sule Lamido’s statement that PDP will rule forever, what were the reactions of President Yar’adua on such undemocratic statements?
President Umaru Yar’adua should also inform Nigerians his views on the proposal sent by the PDP governors to the party’s National Working Committee asking for automatic tickets to contest the 2011 elections-the PDP change of tactics notwithstanding- And if the proposal is expanded to include him, will he accept automatic ticket to contest for 2011 elections if he decides to contest? And as a PDP leader, what are his inputs in strengthening internal democracy of the party?
And if President Yar’adua finally decides to contest for 2011 elections, what are his achievements in office for the past nearly two years in the saddle of Nigeria ’s leadership? Among his promises to Nigerians are the implementation of a 7- Point Agenda and Nigeria ’s 2020 target of becoming one of the strongest economics in the world.
On the 7-Point Agenda, how far has Yar’adua’s government gone in implementing it? As the extent so far implemented can determine the success of fulfilling what remains before the end of his first term.
And the success in the implementation of his 7 – Point Agenda can determine if really the Yar’adua government is on track in its promise of making Nigeria among the strongest economies in the world in the next 11 years to come. Presently, according to the Federal government accepted World Bank figure, 40 million Nigerians are unemployed. And with about 70 percent of Nigeria ’s population living below the poverty line. With such statistics on ground, and the government not doing anything visible to tackle the problem, how on earth can Nigeria , with the present leaders not willing to listen to other Nigerians, be able to work toward making Nigeria among the strongest economies in the year 2020?
Instead of Yar’adua’s government to find ways of becoming successful in achieving its 7-Point Agenda, it has now become busy in finding ways that it will inflict more hardship, misery, suffering and hopelessness on Nigerians through the removal of all subsidies the Nigerian populace is enjoying. They may argue that the government needs more money and even the subsidies are not reaching those meant for, but when the Yar’adua government was getting a lot of money due to the rise in cost of petroleum products in the international market, was there any attempt to make the Nigerian people enjoy the increase? The only sets of Nigerians that can testify to the oil boom are the politicians holding public offices.
Nigeria and Nigerians should be saved from international embarrassment in 2011 elections. The ungodly and unholy activities of politicians during the 2003 and 2007 elections should not be repeated in 2011. And for Nigerians to have free and fair elections in 2011 , the agitation should start in earnest collectively by all Nigerians , irrespective of tribe, region or religion for us to truly have the leaders we elected to lead and represent us.
It is only when we have free and fair elections in Nigeria that we can start to boast of having true democratic government wherein those in the helm of affairs will feel responsible to their electorates. And even before the proper elections, party primary elections should also be free and fair. Imposition of candidates on party level weakens supporters and paves the way for election rigging. The 2007 elections were the worse ever as all political parties deliberately imposed unpopular candidates or those that did not win party primaries.
Whether President Yar’adua will contest or not in 2011 elections , the Nigerian people should assist him in seeing that Nigeria, like other countries which have developed , have free and fair elections in 2011. Democracy should be in full action by giving the Yar’adua’s government a very close marking in strengthening its hands to give Nigerians the leaders and representatives they truly elected.
President Umaru Musa Yar’adua has the great and golden opportunity in Re-Branding Nigeria and himself to the whole world as truly a nation of Good People, Great Nation with him as a great leader, if he could conduct a free and free elections that the opposition, local and international observers will testify that it is a really free and fair election.
Shehu Mustapha Chaji
shehuchaji@yahoo.com
Friday 27 March 2009
Wednesday 11 March 2009
ADVICE TO DORA AKUNYILI
Professor Dora Akunyili, the current Minister for Ministry of Information and Communication have launched a pet project called “Re-Branding Nigeria” which most Nigerians are skeptical about it success as many attempts had been made in the past and are not successful. In the opinion of this writer failure of leadership is the cornerstone of most of Nigeria’s problems.
My advice to Professor Akunyili to emerge successful in the Re-Branding Nigeria Project is to put more effort in Re-Branding Nigerian Leaders. We have leaders whose concern are not about establishing justice and serving the people as well as protecting their rights. Leaders who sacrifice the truth for their selfish intrest or their cronies intrest. And are in habit of committing disloyalty and dishonesty to the trust bestow on them by the Nigerian people.
In civilized nations of the world, power and authority is principally for protecting the rights of the oppressed people of the society against the oppressors, exploiters and opportunist. Leadership in such societies is about maintaining welfare, progress, establishing social justice, removing injustice and providing enable environment for the betterment of lives of their subjects.
Nigerian leaders that emerged from the controversial democratic process in 1999 to date are to be blamed for the bad image Nigeria and Nigerians are been viewed in other parts of the world. Corruption that is beyond human comprehension is been committed by those in position of authority. Many are kleptomaniacs with no shame or human feelings. They rig elections, using the apparatus of power, state treasuries and agencies conducting elections to deny citizens their universal franchise right to elect leaders they feel can bring about positive development to their nation.
Politicians that had rigged themselves into power are presently in the fore-front in presenting Nigeria to the world as a nation of not trustworthy people, where the fundamental human rights of citizens is not valued and a country where leaders embezzled state resources and escape the law.
Mismanagement and implementation of policies that are against the intrest of Nigerian people such as retrenchment, removal of subsidies and inability of government to fund education and health is daily increasing the numbers of frustrated Nigerians. Millions of Nigerians are unemployed and those engage in petty trading are having their kiosks, shades and containers destroyed under flimsy excuses without any better arrangement for them.
Nigerians are presently yearning and praying that they should have or their present leaders should change to, wise leaders capable of managing their resources, who have respect and regard for the lower class, the poor and who will improve the living conditions of their people. Leaders who control their desire and restrain themselves from corruption and looting of public treasury, using their occupied offices to amass ill-gotten wealth. But leaders whose concern will be welfare, mercy, love and kindness to their subjects.
We need leaders that are steadfast and firm. Who do not condone corruption and does not partake as such behavior if allowed will even make those that abstain to become tempted if those engage in the practice go scot-free.
Those leaders who are kind and shows concern to the Nigerian people. And lighten their burdens and abandon coercing them in that in which they possess not the ability. Leaders who when their subjects complain of burden, suffering and bring about prosperity to the country.
Leaders that will not right size or downsize their workforce and will grant generously to their workers enough salary which will eliminate their lacks and through which their need for greasing of the hand will decrease. Leadership who will investigate the affairs of the masses who are unable to gain access to them.
The leaders we need are the ones that will respond to their subject’s requests and demands, as such request do not impose burden on them, such as demand for social amenities and betterment of their lives. Leaders that if any of their subjects should report injustice, they will take their time to explain to their citizens their justification for implementation of policy they view as inflicting hardship on them.
Way of life of our leaders should change from flamboyancy and living beyond their salaries and allowances. The Leaders should set examples to their subjects by their families attending public hospitals and schools. And they should not prolong seclusion from their subjects, for a leader s seclusion from their subjects is a kind of constraint and results in lack of knowledge of affairs. Seclusion from subjects deny them the knowledge of affairs of state and great appears to them as small and the small as great. The beautiful appears as ugly and the ugly as beautiful. And the truth becomes strained with falsehood. For the leader is only a Man and he does not know the affairs which Men hide from him.
And those leaders with the vision of not hurrying to implement policies before their proper time, of neglecting them when they are possible, of stubborn persistence in them when they are impracticable and of weakness in them when they have become clear. Leadership that will put everything in its place and perform every action at it’s time. And who are in government not for the sake of power and to use their position to acquire ill-gotten wealth. But are in government to implement reforms that the Nigerian populace will be safe and prosper in all sectors of life.
Nigerians need leaders that will consider corruption, amassing of wealth and misappropriation of treasury funds by government officials as treachery. Government officials should win the confidence of electorate by their sincerity and honesty, as people are aware of how they dress, where they lived, the car they owned e.t.c before been in government.
Leaders, who will fight poverty across the country as it weakens an intelligent man, make reason and wisdom puzzled. Leadership that will not let the luxury of government and power to overlook the condition of the Nigerian populace.
We want leaders that will treat Nigerians with humbleness, lenient toward them, meet them with open face, and accord them equal treatments. Leadership that will protect human rights without distinction of religion, state, tribe or region.
Re-branding Nigeria Project will be an effort in futility if those at helm of affairs do not Re-brand themselves. Change in their attitude will create a rapid change in behaviors of Nigerians. As people tend to copy their leaders in whatever they do. Re-branding Nigeria should make Nigerian leaders from federal, state and local government’s levels the centre piece of the Re-branding.
Shehu Mustapha Chaji
shehuchaji@yahoo.com
My advice to Professor Akunyili to emerge successful in the Re-Branding Nigeria Project is to put more effort in Re-Branding Nigerian Leaders. We have leaders whose concern are not about establishing justice and serving the people as well as protecting their rights. Leaders who sacrifice the truth for their selfish intrest or their cronies intrest. And are in habit of committing disloyalty and dishonesty to the trust bestow on them by the Nigerian people.
In civilized nations of the world, power and authority is principally for protecting the rights of the oppressed people of the society against the oppressors, exploiters and opportunist. Leadership in such societies is about maintaining welfare, progress, establishing social justice, removing injustice and providing enable environment for the betterment of lives of their subjects.
Nigerian leaders that emerged from the controversial democratic process in 1999 to date are to be blamed for the bad image Nigeria and Nigerians are been viewed in other parts of the world. Corruption that is beyond human comprehension is been committed by those in position of authority. Many are kleptomaniacs with no shame or human feelings. They rig elections, using the apparatus of power, state treasuries and agencies conducting elections to deny citizens their universal franchise right to elect leaders they feel can bring about positive development to their nation.
Politicians that had rigged themselves into power are presently in the fore-front in presenting Nigeria to the world as a nation of not trustworthy people, where the fundamental human rights of citizens is not valued and a country where leaders embezzled state resources and escape the law.
Mismanagement and implementation of policies that are against the intrest of Nigerian people such as retrenchment, removal of subsidies and inability of government to fund education and health is daily increasing the numbers of frustrated Nigerians. Millions of Nigerians are unemployed and those engage in petty trading are having their kiosks, shades and containers destroyed under flimsy excuses without any better arrangement for them.
Nigerians are presently yearning and praying that they should have or their present leaders should change to, wise leaders capable of managing their resources, who have respect and regard for the lower class, the poor and who will improve the living conditions of their people. Leaders who control their desire and restrain themselves from corruption and looting of public treasury, using their occupied offices to amass ill-gotten wealth. But leaders whose concern will be welfare, mercy, love and kindness to their subjects.
We need leaders that are steadfast and firm. Who do not condone corruption and does not partake as such behavior if allowed will even make those that abstain to become tempted if those engage in the practice go scot-free.
Those leaders who are kind and shows concern to the Nigerian people. And lighten their burdens and abandon coercing them in that in which they possess not the ability. Leaders who when their subjects complain of burden, suffering and bring about prosperity to the country.
Leaders that will not right size or downsize their workforce and will grant generously to their workers enough salary which will eliminate their lacks and through which their need for greasing of the hand will decrease. Leadership who will investigate the affairs of the masses who are unable to gain access to them.
The leaders we need are the ones that will respond to their subject’s requests and demands, as such request do not impose burden on them, such as demand for social amenities and betterment of their lives. Leaders that if any of their subjects should report injustice, they will take their time to explain to their citizens their justification for implementation of policy they view as inflicting hardship on them.
Way of life of our leaders should change from flamboyancy and living beyond their salaries and allowances. The Leaders should set examples to their subjects by their families attending public hospitals and schools. And they should not prolong seclusion from their subjects, for a leader s seclusion from their subjects is a kind of constraint and results in lack of knowledge of affairs. Seclusion from subjects deny them the knowledge of affairs of state and great appears to them as small and the small as great. The beautiful appears as ugly and the ugly as beautiful. And the truth becomes strained with falsehood. For the leader is only a Man and he does not know the affairs which Men hide from him.
And those leaders with the vision of not hurrying to implement policies before their proper time, of neglecting them when they are possible, of stubborn persistence in them when they are impracticable and of weakness in them when they have become clear. Leadership that will put everything in its place and perform every action at it’s time. And who are in government not for the sake of power and to use their position to acquire ill-gotten wealth. But are in government to implement reforms that the Nigerian populace will be safe and prosper in all sectors of life.
Nigerians need leaders that will consider corruption, amassing of wealth and misappropriation of treasury funds by government officials as treachery. Government officials should win the confidence of electorate by their sincerity and honesty, as people are aware of how they dress, where they lived, the car they owned e.t.c before been in government.
Leaders, who will fight poverty across the country as it weakens an intelligent man, make reason and wisdom puzzled. Leadership that will not let the luxury of government and power to overlook the condition of the Nigerian populace.
We want leaders that will treat Nigerians with humbleness, lenient toward them, meet them with open face, and accord them equal treatments. Leadership that will protect human rights without distinction of religion, state, tribe or region.
Re-branding Nigeria Project will be an effort in futility if those at helm of affairs do not Re-brand themselves. Change in their attitude will create a rapid change in behaviors of Nigerians. As people tend to copy their leaders in whatever they do. Re-branding Nigeria should make Nigerian leaders from federal, state and local government’s levels the centre piece of the Re-branding.
Shehu Mustapha Chaji
shehuchaji@yahoo.com
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