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.