Niger Delta: To Whom It May Concern!

CNN has just aired a Pulitzer-grade exclusive on the oil-rich Niger Delta region which must be as chilling as it is instructive. It is a timely and clear call to conscience.

We must ask all presidential candidates to get a tape of this report for dispassionate analysis and contemplation for compact-building. We ask same of all our South-South Governments, as well as the home offices of all the multinationals operating in that region. It is time for a global response to the crises in the oil fields and the looming dangers they unquestionably promise the world. We must all study this tape!

Let the Nigerian Media rise up to this challenge...in this election year.

And for ultimate corroboration, we ask the BBC, ITV, ABC, CCTV and CBS to get on board this very global issue as well. It will help cage the politicians on all sides, and, more importantly, help galvanise public opinion and catalyze civil society & shareholders' actions worldwide.

We must pray that DW TV will help the German Chancellor to better appreciate her urgent and decisive intervention, through both the G8 and EU instrumentality, by conducting independent exclusives like CNN's. With Germany's commendable role in bringing the peaceful UN-assist 2006 elections to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the DRC's subsisting crises over its rich natural resources, the media house has its job well cut out for it! Time is short.

Thank you, Jeff: That was some daring, I tell ya!

The EFCC "Name & Shame" List

The 137-strong list of "investigated" and "indicted" political gladiators put out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was a bombshell of sorts. The BBC reported it as name and shame while highlighting Vice President Atiku Abubakar's presence on the infamous list.

Not surprisingly there is an uproar. There will be more. And it will be messy.

My worry is that the commission is asking the world to take its word for it! No way! Let them do the right and proper thing: put facts & figures behind the charges. That way, we can exercise our full discretion and wait for further action.

My advice is that the presidency should stay completely out of this. The EFCC doesn't need any megaphone. Let Nuhu Ribadu take his case to the COURTS. So should those who fell aggrieved.

Meanwhile, the political parties need to honour this list with due process and integrity. We in the public domain, especially through the independent media, must insist on hearing all sides of the story. Yes.

We are the voters!

Campaigns: What Content, What Substance?

Enough of people-bashing, mob-frenzy politics and politicking! Let the content be out, and real substance subsist. This be the season of ideas, the reason for change. Period.

Considering that we've had elections? in 1999 and 2003!?, it is expected that our electioneering efforts this time will be robust and will resonate with Nigerian voters. My informal survey shows that our people are fed up with this whole politics of bitterness, acrimony and scare-mongering. And this is the colour so far! Do these guys think they will be voted in without us knowing what they stand for, or merely on the sentiments of disappointment and disillusion with extant state of affairs? Do they think abusing the ruling parties is enough to get them elected???

Where are the options, where are the alternatives? Not too late, but now pretty urgent.

My take: Political parties should publish their manifestoes in local languages and in multimedia. Candidates should publish their Compacts plus Action Plans in same manner. Take the SEVEN most critical areas of concern and articulate a budget-based response, then challenge all your opponents to do same - for a proper debate.

The media should summon the courage and patriotism to call all wayward contestants to order, or promptly and comprehensively BLACKLIST them!

Enough of these tendentious jokes and roller coaster jokers.