A Nigerian Socio-Political commentary

The history of Nigeria is one characterized by multiple fits, starts and staccatos. Ours is a chequered history with continual disruptions by both military and civilian administrations. Successive military juntas, heralding a messianic dawn truncated whatever tranquil, stability and policy direction there was in a bid to 'move' the nation forward. Each one came to right some apparent 'wrong' perpetrated by the governments of the day. A messianic zeal and desire for the elusive eldorado, reinforced by an internal restlessness, impatience and intolerance of the masses accounts for the constant impetuousness to see the back of successive governments. Such changes were usually attended by wild street jubilations, rejoicing and anticipation of the new dawn- Uhuru! The history of disruptions isn't limited to the military administrations alone. A case in study was the Yar'Adua administration of 2007 -2011. A conniving, and vengeful administration not only put a

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The answer to that question, at least according to Carlo M. Cipolla is simple — a bunch of stupid individuals scattered throughout all strands of society, including corporate organizations. "Stupid individuals are those whose actions cause damage to another individual or group of individuals, wit... http://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2014/09/13/who-kills-talent/ Sent via Flipboard Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

The Dr Goodluck Jonathan led administration recently announced the decision to conduct an audit and review of postgraduate medical training, otherwise referred to as residency programs in the nation. The objective of this among other things is to examine the reasons for the unacceptable low throughput rates, low pass rates, examine existing regulatory framework and alternatives for funding etc. So far, a one day stakeholders meetings to consider these have taken place. This initiative, is highly welcomed, and comes at a time these programs have become largely 'spinal' in medical parlance; self serving and obfuscated. Indeed, opportunities as these are rare. The question is, what ails us so bad to warrant what we get? The Medical field like other facets of the Nigerian life is a victim of the same general malaise, a so called Nigerian factor.This however does not preclude us from continuing to suggest sustainable solutions going forward. A cursory look at the reasons fo

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Do we really need to have this conversation? Isn't it simply immodest? Is our position understood by the public? How are we perceived by the court of public opinion? Ain't we just a bunch of do no good egomaniacs with overbloated sense of entitlement? I had tried to resist joining the fray in the conversation between Medical doctors under the aegis of the Nigeria Medical Association and the paramedical and allied professionals grouped together as JOHESU, the Joint Health staff Union. I however became constrained after asking myself the foregone questions. Indeed, opportunities to provide some perspective and insight are too golden to let slip by. Posterity, and indeed the profession would not judge us kindly if we are silent in these troubling times. I quickly make open my affiliation to the Nigeria Medical Association as a member of about ten years standing. Equally, do I readily admit to the myriad of problems in Nigeria's healthcare generally, and specifically relat

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THE National Conference, at inception about two months ago, was welcomed by Nigerians with enthusiasm and boundless hope. Nigerians expectedly and rightly invested a lot of trust and hope in it to solve the myriads of problems facing the country including the age-long mistrust among the numerous ethnic nationalities in the country, which on several occasions has resulted in inter-ethnic bloodletting and stagnated the country’s growth. However ominous signs have begun to appear from the conference that the parley at the end of the day appears incapable to resolve these problems, especially the issue of power devolution which most of the ethnic nationalities hold very dear and are un-willing to trade off. The Yoruba in South-Western Nigeria who over the years have become the rallying point proponents and apostle of regionalism have in the light of the discordant tune from the conference again declared that there is no surrender and no retreat on their demand for autonomous reg

KUTIGIA delegate to the National Conference from Osun State, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, has said the outcome of the ongoing conference will either make or mar Nigeria. Odumakin, who is also the National Publicity Secretary, Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afanifere declared that the delegates from the core North have been showing lackadaisical attitude to critical issues of restructuring, development and progress of the nation. Seye Olumide reports. FORMER governor of Old Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo and the Chairman Presidential Committee of National Conference, Dr. Femi Okunrounmu who is also a delegate to the conference recently raised fear on what may become the outcome of the parley. Do you share similar concern? As a matter of fact, I have my reservation over the way the conference is going, but I never think it would bring nothing. What it would bring is what nobody knows yet. I have said before the conference started that it would either make or mar the country. Niger

Femi Fani-Kayode — June 15, 2014 On June 11th 2014 in the Punch newspaper, the former Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Chairman of President Goodluck Jonathan’s ongoing constitutional conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, said the following: “Most of the southern delegates had said they looked forward to the conference recommending a restructuring of the country and establishing a true federalism that would be characterised by regional autonomy, resource control, state police, among other changes. But their northern counterparts wanted the status quo to remain in terms of the country’s governance structure. They also sought for an increase in revenue allocations from the Federal Government to the states in the North. Going by these positions and those specially presented by different blocs like the North, the South-West, and the South-South, the recommendation of the committees seem to favour the North more than the South. Resource control is not going to happen as long as we (nor

By CLEMENT IDOKO in the Nigerian Tribune The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has introduced System Review Mechanism, which is a subtle and ingenious way of dealing with “endemic corruption” in the nation’s universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. This, according to the Chairman of the Commission, Mr Ekpo Nta, is in line with the ICPC’s enabling Act 2000, which empowers it to deal with manifold corruption through investigation and prosecution of offenders thereof. It is in line with this, that ICPC in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Ethics and Values, recently organised a two-day National Conference for vice chancellors, rectors and provosts and other principal officials of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in Abuja. Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta, has in executing the mandate of the commission, always empha

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his report by JIDE AJANI will show that whereas members of the Jama’atu Ahliss-Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, may have started out as a rag-tag group of Islamic evangelists who came in handy for political domination, it became a veritable tool of distraction to President Jonathan’s government in the build-up to and in the wake of the 2011 general election, before becoming a terror group with international network, contemporary reality is that with just about nine months to next year’s presidential election, even the incumbent, constitutionally guaranteed to seek re-election, is tongue-tied to verbalise his aspiration. President Goodluck Jonathan during his declaration Saturday, in Abuja. President Goodluck Jonathan. But what this creates is a catch-22 situation whereby Jonathan, if seen to have been hounded out of power on account of this insurgency, would create a fresh life for another form of militancy, south of the Niger. The report would conclude t

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI Leadership of the Yoruba Assembly in Lagos has made a passionate demand for regional autonomy, saying it is the minimum condition for Yourubas to remain in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nigeria. They also reiterated demand on special status for Lagos, which they said would continue to be the economic nerve centre of Nigeria and the West Africa, hence, there should be appropriate budgetary provision that is part of the First Line Charge in the federation account. The groups include Afenifere Renewal Group, O’dua Foundation, O’dua Nationalist Coalition, Afenifere Youth Forum, Atayese, Agbekoya Reformed Society and Coalition for O’dua Self-determination Group, among others. The ethnic group made the demands at a joint news conference addressed at Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, Lagos on Monday. National Secretary, Chief Ayo Afolabi and Chairman of Atayese Yoruba Group, Chief Tokunbo Ajasin, who read the text of the conference theme: “Regional Autonomy… or Nothing

Some Words of Wisdom From Peter Drucker to My Daughter Rick Wartzman @DruckerInst May 7, 2014 Dear Emma, Next week you will graduate from college, a milestone that calls for a little fatherly advice—advice, to be precise, from the “father of modern management.” So here, with an assist from your own dad, are half a dozen insights courtesy of Peter Drucker, a man who earned his degree more than 80 years ago and then spent the next six decades mulling what it takes to be successful. I must warn you that Drucker believed “education should confer duties rather than privileges.” In other words, none of what I’m about to tell you is going to be easy. For starters, have the courage to quit your first job. I know, I know. You aren’t even gainfully employed yet and the labor market is brutal, especially for recent grads, and I’m suggesting that you already be prepared to give notice. But “on the whole,” Drucker wrote, “young people have a tendency to hang on to the first job . . . bey

THIRTEEN Igbo organisations Tuesday rose from their meeting in Enugu State, insisting that anything short of true federalism built on six regions affirmed at a referendum to throw up a new constitution would mean a failure of the ongoing national conference. The groups, which reminded Igbo delegates at the national conference that about 50 million Igbo people are monitoring their move, stressed that they must speak out in matters that must reposition the geo-political zone in the affairs of the country at the conference. In a statement issued after the meeting, they noted that the ongoing bloody campaign by Boko Haram has really redefined Nigeria’s image internationally and jolted Nigerians into a new consciousness, explaining that it has the capacity to either make Nigeria stronger or create fears and distrust. They agreed, however, that either way, Nigeria would never be the same, when she must have pulled out of her security challenges and called for joint efforts.

Grant Us Regionalism or Nothing, Says Yoruba National Conference delegates Lists conditions for a united Nigeria Gboyega Akinsanmi Midway into the on-going National Conference, the Yoruba yesterday made a stronger demand for regional autonomy, which it said, was the minimum condition for remaining in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The ethnic group, which basically comprises six states in the South-west geopolitical zone, expressed strong will “to exercise its right of self-determination on and up to the right to secede if its demand for regional autonomy is not granted.” The demands were made at a joint news conference the leadership of the Yoruba Assembly, Afenifere Renewal Group, O’dua Foundation, O’dua Nationalist Coalition, Afenifere Youth Forum, Atayese, Agbekoya Reformed Society and Coalition for O’dua Self- determination Group among others addressed at Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota. The news conference with the theme: “Regional Autonomy... or Nothing”, was ad

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Discovery of minerals, gas and oil in many African countries has led to what economists call the "paradox of plenty" - a phenomenon in which macroeconomic forces create pressures for over-reliance on an energy or a mining sector, leaving other domestic economy sectors to deteriorate. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which was called a "geological scandal" because of its vast concentration of minerals, and Nigeria have become the poster children of what is wrong with oil and mineral discoveries in Africa. Both countries despite having huge mineral and oil deposits have failed to derive dividends from them. Further, domestically, the discovery and exploitation of the mineral has led to "resource nationalism" - communities calling for a lion share, especially in peripheral regions long marginalised by the centre, which is often the case. Kenya and Uganda recently discovered economically viable oil deposits, following years of being the sleepy