LIBERATING THE NIGERIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT by Yemi obideyi

The Nigerian House of Representatives recently took a bold step towards amending the country's constitution as it relates to the local government system.

By this initiative, the local government is granted autonomy as against the practice over the years wherein the third tier of government was constitutionally tied to the apron of state governments in Nigeria.

Clamour for this autonomy by opinion leaders, public analysts and the mass of people of this nation had been on for decades. To this end therefore, it is viewed by many as a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel and a ray of hope of better things to come.
Under the old order (which is being repealed now), local governments are practically hamstrung in many ways.

THE VISION OF A NEW NIGERIA : PATH TO GENUINE CITIZENSHIP by Yemi Obideyi

THE VISION OF A NEW NIGERIA : PATH TO GENUINE CITIZENSHIP by Yemi Obideyi: T he Vision of the New Nigeria provides for a re-definition of citizenship of the country. A new name, a new orientation, a new method or...

OVERCOMING THE ETHNIC DIVIDE By Yemi Obideyi

Attempts at solving the ethnic issue bedeviling Nigeria dated back to the pre-independence era. At its take-off in 1914, it was obvious the regions merged together by the British Colonial Administration under Lord Lugard, were at different levels of civilization and social evolution.

Besides, the three major ethnic groups in the merged territories of the Northern and Southern Protectorates known as Nigeria, differed markedly in culture, perspective, socio-political temperament, character and aspiration.

PATH TO GENUINE CITIZENSHIP by Yemi Obideyi

The Vision of the New Nigeria provides for a re-definition of citizenship of the country. A new name, a new orientation, a new method or approach to governance. A shift from the mentality of old because the new is conceived of and constructed on ideals that connote higher values than the usual ethnic background, biological history or any of such things that marked out the old pattern as a mere shadow.

WHEN THE LAW IS BLIND By Yemi Obideyi - Part 1

The heavens and earth are positioned on the strength of law. Freedom and bondage are both functions of one law or the other.

Law making is an essential part of life for it is the bedrock of nationhood. The birth of a nation, the composition and running of its arms of government- the Legislature, Judiciary and Executive- are all derived from the instruments of the law.

Essentially, the law provides the framework upon which the institution of government is situated; it guides citizens’ daily activities and gives a clue on the nature, features and direction of a government in focus. 

THE NIGERIAN TRAGEDY by Yemi Obideyi

The troubles with governance in Nigeria are not only inherent but hydra-headed. A plunge into the parliamentary system of government in the 1950s (an inheritance from Britain, our colonial masters), could not tackle Nigeria’s basic problems. Three or more attempts at the American presidential form of government had brought her more woes. Shall we then talk about the military intermittent incursions that held the country for over a quarter of a Century and bruised our national psyche, fractured Nigeria's seed of nationhood with corruption missile. It is said commonly that the Nigerian situation is a tragedy. 

Tragedy  because, her plethora of human and material resources are easily dwarfed by her mounting and daunting leadership problems.

Selection or election of rulers into various arms of government had become a recalcitrant challenge to various political actors, parties and political organizations. In this regard, there had been several experiments including mergers of political parties, absorption, political plea bargaining, electoral reforms, unity government etcetera, yet, all to no avail.

LORD LUGARD ON NIGERIA – A Realist or Illusionist? By Yemi Obideyi PART 3

Judging by the high scale of optimism and enthusiasm with which Nigerians (in particular the educated), embraced the cause of action towards self-rule in the 1950s, any rational thinker would have declared Lord Lugard’s position or viewpoint as a product of illusion and concentrated hallucination.

That the Nigeria of the 1960s would turn round into what it is today was simply unthinkable. But it appeared Lugard saw it. He saw beyond the façade and the superficiality, getting deep down into the personality make-up of the Nigerian. 

AUDIO : LIBERTOCRACY is the answer by Yemi Obideyi

From the album, "The New Nigeria, -Special Songs that extol the virtues in Libertocracy as a new socio-political concept aimed at correcting age-long anomalies in constituting Representative Government. It speaks of Liberty, Oneness & Purposefulness in real terms between  government and the people.

The CD is available for sale.

LORD LUGARD ON NIGERIA – A Realist or Illusionist? By Yemi Obideyi PART 2

Can Nigerians and Africans in general, work with fewer or less incentives than other races? The answer is yes indeed. Right on Nigerian soil, foreigners especially Asians like Indians, Lebanese and Koreans do employ Nigerians, keep them as casual workers for years and do treat them as sub-humans. Poor condition of work, unbridled exposure to high risk and danger in workplaces, inaccessibility to first aid or primary health care, poor wages, job insecurity, inaccessibility to staff discount on company product among others are common or daily experiences of Nigerians.

In many cases, some (opportunists) Nigerians do collaborate with these foreigners to under-pay workers who are Nigerians. These ills found in different sectors of the economy, notably textile, manufacturing, communication, commodities, aviation and hospitality “are not enough to discourage Nigerians” for, as a set is dispensed with unceremoniously, another is ready on the queue “begging to apply”.

 

LORD LUGARD ON NIGERIA – A Realist or Illusionist? By Yemi Obideyi PART 1

“He loves the display of power but fails to realize its responsibility. He will work hard with a less incentive than most races. He has the courage of the fighting animal, an instinct rather than a moral virtue.” - LORD LUGARD.       

  
Eighty- seven years ago, the comments in quote above were made by the first British (Colonial) Governor-General of Nigeria, Lord Lugard, in his analysis of Nigerians as a type of race in Africa.

In 1926, when Lugard made these statements, Nigerians had not been voted into any position of political relevance or appointed into portfolio of administrative significance.  The highest Nigerians had attained then was the role granted some kings or Emirs to serve as intermediaries between the people and the colonial administrators. Even then, the arrangement could not hold for too long as the British Government strengthened its hold and “conquered” the territories thereby relegating the Emirs and Kings.

The questions then arise: What did Lugard see in 1926 that gave him the impression that Nigerians love to display power but fail to appreciate its responsibility?

Reforming the UN security council: mañana, mañana

Mañana means tomorrow in Spanish or an an indefinite time in the future, and mañana mañana is procrastination at it's finest. Mañana mañana implies that you are putting it off for another day, but it may, or may not get done that day, or even attempted.

The word-Manana Manana, that appears in the headline seems to suggest that the UN had been hypocritical in its decisions and actions. Its failure in this regard may however, be excusable for lack of a better way of doing it. Now, a new way is opened, a new order is birthed in the interest of truth, justice, fairness and uprightness.

As political party system is selective, defective, deceitful and discriminatory in the practice of democracy within a nation, so also the governments they produce at the global platform of the United Nations. Below is an editorial comment of The UK Guardian that exposes the culture of double standard, inequality, discrimination, prejudice and unhealthy rivalry within the United Nations' hierarchy. 

Our position is that the issues involved cannot be solved by a mere reformation of the Security Council, but a total adoption of LIBERTOCRACY. A new concept in democratic reformation which gives room for representation in government to be based on professions or legitimate occupations in a country. It is perfectly suitable for each nation and the UN at large.Among numerous benefits, it eliminates double standard, cheating, discrimination and racial undertone.  

Read this piece and you will be better informed. 

CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA - BATTLE OR RATTLE ? By Yemi Obideyi

Last year, Nigeria clinched an unenviable position of 135^th among nations, revealing it as one of the most corrupt on earth.

The Transparency International (T.I) 2012 Report on Corruption Perception Index surveyed 176 countries in the world and Nigeria was found to be one of the most robust enclaves for bribery, fraudulent and illegal activities.

An attempt to ignore or contest this report is a similitude of a man who sees his rooftop being consumed by a raging fire and yet decides to ignore it, instead goes into his room within the building and sleeps off. The mildest or most polite way of describing his action would probably be “he is just being foolish”. Some observers may also say of him (especially if he could not be rescued from the fire), that “he is doomed or predestined to end his life that way.”

THE ODDS AGAINST POLITICAL PARTY SYSTEM by Yemi Obideyi - PART 2

Why did it take a country like the United States over 250 years in democracy before a Black could be voted in as president? Of all the races in the United States, how many have won presidential ticket on Republican and Social Democrat’s platform other than the Caucasian? 

As liberal as the U.S claims to be why are certain elements (citizens) within resort to dastardly acts against the country or her citizens? A lot of the citizens may have been discontented with one thing or the other about the system but the fact that a certain group, set or descent never minded paying the supreme price in venting their disappointment holds a lot of implications. 

VIDEO : BOB MARLEY - Get up, Stand up

A classic song of freedom by Robert Nesta Marley.

THE ODDS AGAINST POLITICAL PARTY SYSTEM by Yemi Obideyi - PART 1

The essence of the head of a human is to receive and process signals, coordinate activities of the body system and provide direction by sending information to the parts as at when due.

In a nutshell, failure of the head to carry out the afore-mentioned functions automatically endangers other parts just as it may also mean that the body as a whole, is headless or lifeless.

THE BIRTH OF VNN

Given graciously to man are abilities with which to serve generations. When this service is done according to the desire and dictate of the Creator, God Almighty, the earth ripples in gladness and thumbs up in accolade because all things come together to work well.

To facilitate information on the most effective means of harnessing and deploying these abilities or human endowment for optimum results prompted the creation of the VNN Blog (Vision of the New Nigeria).

AUDIO: VENO MARIOGHAE - Nigeria go survive

One of the major songs that ruled the airwaves in early 80's, an evergreen song that gives hopes for a better Nigeria.

LIBERTOCRACY :VISION OF THE NEW NIGERIA written by Yemi Obideyi

The Vision of the New Nigeria is contained in a book ( LIBERTOCRACY ; VISION OF THE NEW NIGERIA) written by Yemi Obideyi,  a Sociologist.

In itself, the Vision captures the emergence of a new nation out of the rubbles or decadence of this traumatized Nigeria. It underscores the essence and ideals of a truly representative government, hinting that any practice that compels a participant or candidate to invest a huge sum of money to partake in or win an election (as usually done by political parties) is in itself unrepresentative, misleading and segregational. Affluence and or indebtedness (or a predisposition to any of the two) should not, consciously or unconsciously, be imputed into the matrix of constituting a truly representative government else it becomes a government of the few by the rich but camouflaged for the people.

The Real Issue

To a casual observer of the Nigerian situation, corruption, embezzlement of public fund is the real problem with Nigeria. It is not. Indeed a careful examination and pathological dissection of the Nigerian socio=political malady, reveals that corruption is actually one of the effects or fruits of the problems. Result of in-depth analyses of this parlous and unenviable state of Nigeria, can be summed up thus: A nation without nationhood, amalgamated but not integrated, federated without unification.

Beyond the foregoing however, the real interpretation is that the progenitors of Nigeria had unconsciously sentenced her to death from inception.

Nigeria Briefly

Born in 1914 was Nigeria following the amalgamation of its Northern and Southern Protectorates by the British Colonial Administration. In land mass, Nigeria is one of the largest in Africa occupying a territory of over 923,768 square kilometre. In population and quality of human resources, it is one of the greatest in the world. In mineral resources deposit and raw materials’ portfolio, it is arguably second to none in the universe. But in the league of developed and industrialized nations, Nigeria cannot be found even ninety-nine (99) years after it came into existence, and fifty=three (53) years as an autonomous nation. Perhaps most painful is the fact that it is not showing any sign of heading in that direction rather of running farther away from it.