Despite our signing up to the UN Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, we have yet to assign the right percentages of our National and States Budgets to these targets. For example, education has never gotten its UNESCO-stipulated 26%. Agriculture has been wallowing in low rates, while health has haemorrhaged consistently. The mismatch has been intriguing!
Despite a National Book Development Policy/Project, on which we have obtained foreign loans, aids and grants, the Obasanjo Administration raised import duty on printing paper from 5% to 20% in 2006! The minister of education has admitted that it was an embarrassing mistake that is being corrected. Some observers believe it was meant to stifle both the press and the vocal academic unions. No matter. But it speaks volumes of this out-going administration, in which both the president and vice president are education proprietors!
Is parliament free of blame? Not by a long shot! They appropriate funds. It is clearly a matter for regret that the so-called people's representatives could be so complicit. Yes, there are many standing charges of non/half-hearted-implementation of budgets by the executive, but nothing concrete was done to assert compliance. Afterall, the budgets were encased in laws! The ruling party was simply lawless, period. And this was a recurrent charge during the hot "Third Term" debates in the National Assembly. Belated acrimony...but welcomed.
As we head to 2007, let this issue be a cardinal debate and deliberate subject of contestation. We need to sensitize and conscientize all Nigerians to its sacred, salient and strategic status. Let us hold firm to this core ingredient of democracy and good governance. We should be short-changed no more! No.
Never again!
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Point of Order (1)
The political class has started again o!
For goodness sake, when are we going to learn??? Why don't we concentrate on issues, policies, ideologies, stakes and timeline, now....Then, worry about zoning, quota, gender, etc. later???
Those who ruined the past are now busy dictating and derailing the pace, the platforms and polluting the polity. Nigerians are being deliberately confused. We must stop them.
Right now, let only candidates speak. Supporters and godfathers should hold their peace. If you are contesting, tell us what you have in stock, and contend with your competitors. Let the political parties hit the recruitment trail, with their full manifestoes. All others should be lining up behind their favourite parties or candidates, and let's have robust debates by those who seek office and votes. 2007 is not just about the presidency. It should be more about the states and local governments. Time for accountability of both office-holders and their present parties.
If we don't debate the STATES, how can we determine which governors (or LG chairmen) are good materials for higher office - say, senate or presidency? How then do we pressure the ICPC, EFCC and Code of Conduct Bureau/Tribunal to act on all 1999 & 2003 frauds/infringements?
May we also realise that this unproductive approach to politicking may be another arrow in the quiver of the ruling party to achieve 'Third Term' by other means. A ploy to derail the proper or due process of electioneering! Have we so easily forgotten the bribe-for-vote saga? And the boasts of its proponents that all is not yet over??? Better not o!
Finally, the MEDIA must save us from the unfocussed political class. They should help set the agenda. Ignore the self-serving headline-seekers. Play down this whole noise about zoning or no zoning. Since it is not yet in the consttution, it needs to be negotiated. When that time comes, the quality of all candidates on parade will matter. Manifestoes will matter. Parties will matter.
In other words, these be the conditions-precedent for successful bargaining. Let's go for THEM! Right now, thank you. Dump the joke.
For goodness sake, when are we going to learn??? Why don't we concentrate on issues, policies, ideologies, stakes and timeline, now....Then, worry about zoning, quota, gender, etc. later???
Those who ruined the past are now busy dictating and derailing the pace, the platforms and polluting the polity. Nigerians are being deliberately confused. We must stop them.
Right now, let only candidates speak. Supporters and godfathers should hold their peace. If you are contesting, tell us what you have in stock, and contend with your competitors. Let the political parties hit the recruitment trail, with their full manifestoes. All others should be lining up behind their favourite parties or candidates, and let's have robust debates by those who seek office and votes. 2007 is not just about the presidency. It should be more about the states and local governments. Time for accountability of both office-holders and their present parties.
If we don't debate the STATES, how can we determine which governors (or LG chairmen) are good materials for higher office - say, senate or presidency? How then do we pressure the ICPC, EFCC and Code of Conduct Bureau/Tribunal to act on all 1999 & 2003 frauds/infringements?
May we also realise that this unproductive approach to politicking may be another arrow in the quiver of the ruling party to achieve 'Third Term' by other means. A ploy to derail the proper or due process of electioneering! Have we so easily forgotten the bribe-for-vote saga? And the boasts of its proponents that all is not yet over??? Better not o!
Finally, the MEDIA must save us from the unfocussed political class. They should help set the agenda. Ignore the self-serving headline-seekers. Play down this whole noise about zoning or no zoning. Since it is not yet in the consttution, it needs to be negotiated. When that time comes, the quality of all candidates on parade will matter. Manifestoes will matter. Parties will matter.
In other words, these be the conditions-precedent for successful bargaining. Let's go for THEM! Right now, thank you. Dump the joke.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
As For The 1999 Constitution....
Political parties must now conduct their own survey of how best to rejig the present constitution for true federalism, and a greater, better Nigeria. After this inhouse chore, they should go hold strategic consultations with like-minded competitors with a view to forming grand coalitions for power-gaining and manifesto-cum-mandate delivery.
All political parties must tell Nigerians how they intend to enrich and enhance our constitution, including subjecting the final outcome to a national referendum. No short-cuts. No ambush.
One thing we the electorate owe them is our vote. If they get it, they have the first hurdle out of the way. When they propose the amendments, the parliaments will robustly debate and decide. Then the people will vote on a clause-by-clause referendum basis. What passes is passed, what doesn't is dropped. Maybe for another term.
The great benefit in this is that the people will become hugely conversant with, and more able to defend, their constitution. Great for political education, grassroots motivation, and democracy.
And the clincher is: We've got FOUR years to FIX it!!!
All political parties must tell Nigerians how they intend to enrich and enhance our constitution, including subjecting the final outcome to a national referendum. No short-cuts. No ambush.
One thing we the electorate owe them is our vote. If they get it, they have the first hurdle out of the way. When they propose the amendments, the parliaments will robustly debate and decide. Then the people will vote on a clause-by-clause referendum basis. What passes is passed, what doesn't is dropped. Maybe for another term.
The great benefit in this is that the people will become hugely conversant with, and more able to defend, their constitution. Great for political education, grassroots motivation, and democracy.
And the clincher is: We've got FOUR years to FIX it!!!
Thursday, May 18, 2006
May The Campaigns Commence!
President Obasanjo and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) made the right decision today by accepting defeat on the Third Term Agenda. The president has ordered his members to proceed with campaigns towards the 2007 Elections. Long overdue, but better late than never.
We've stated here before, as now, that 2007 is REAL. And it will determine a million things in our great country. Note it. Huge surprises are afoot. Weeks away.
With the new-found freedom extracted from the jaws of the still-born Tenure Elongation crusade, now declaimed, denounced or disowned by the president, Nigerians will certainly be reluctant to over-invest political dominance in one party in the immediate future. Unless it is a grand coalition to, for example, punish the ruling party for this unwarranted fiasco. Thus, let all who feel confident of serving this country set forth on the campaign train. Niche players should be emboldened. Bright prospects.
Prediction: Real multi-party democracy is on its way in Nigeria. No question.
We've stated here before, as now, that 2007 is REAL. And it will determine a million things in our great country. Note it. Huge surprises are afoot. Weeks away.
With the new-found freedom extracted from the jaws of the still-born Tenure Elongation crusade, now declaimed, denounced or disowned by the president, Nigerians will certainly be reluctant to over-invest political dominance in one party in the immediate future. Unless it is a grand coalition to, for example, punish the ruling party for this unwarranted fiasco. Thus, let all who feel confident of serving this country set forth on the campaign train. Niche players should be emboldened. Bright prospects.
Prediction: Real multi-party democracy is on its way in Nigeria. No question.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Women Arise!
I am happy that an overwhelming majority of our legislators in the National Assembly support the Independent Candidates clause in the ongoing constitutional review exercise. Good news for Nigerian women! No question.
Let our professionals and community workers/leaders now begin to ready themselves for the 2007 Elections. Nigerians are ready to teach the political class and their parties a lesson. We've had enough of their arrogance, ineptitude and fraud. Enough. God knows.
Now, at last, there shall be no need for their say-so to fill the Beijing Quota of female gender representation in public office and governance! Get set, ladies, a new day is dawning. Be there!!
Let our professionals and community workers/leaders now begin to ready themselves for the 2007 Elections. Nigerians are ready to teach the political class and their parties a lesson. We've had enough of their arrogance, ineptitude and fraud. Enough. God knows.
Now, at last, there shall be no need for their say-so to fill the Beijing Quota of female gender representation in public office and governance! Get set, ladies, a new day is dawning. Be there!!
Monday, May 08, 2006
Anti-Corruption Renaissance
This is a simple Note To The File. With what we now read, see and hear, there is no doubt that the current anti-corruption war is inadequate. Perhaps skewed. Maybe badly compromised. No matter.
Let all tempers cool, the tempests subside. There be time enough for redress, room enough for repairs. The key? Every political party, and all contestants must commit to a complete overhaul and revamp of the anti-corruption crusade, come 2007.
People must answer for their actions and non-actions. Bad cases must be revisited for justice. All files and felons will be ferreted. Yes. We must be free, true and fair. And we must install the "whistle blowers" mechanisms to strenghten our system. Plus plea-bargains, when and where appropriate. Let the Freedom of Information Act fly and bite. Bond with INTERPOL. By 2007.
Commit.
Let all tempers cool, the tempests subside. There be time enough for redress, room enough for repairs. The key? Every political party, and all contestants must commit to a complete overhaul and revamp of the anti-corruption crusade, come 2007.
People must answer for their actions and non-actions. Bad cases must be revisited for justice. All files and felons will be ferreted. Yes. We must be free, true and fair. And we must install the "whistle blowers" mechanisms to strenghten our system. Plus plea-bargains, when and where appropriate. Let the Freedom of Information Act fly and bite. Bond with INTERPOL. By 2007.
Commit.
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