The Nation Newspaper

Category: Dayo Sobowale

  • Politics, Structure and Security

    Politics,  powered by elections is the nature of democracies. In recent times however, the quality , timing and conduct  of elections have come under  scrutiny  globally  because  of the results  they produce  and their rejection or acceptance by the electorate . Such  is the nature and grim situation in  some nations we shall  look  at today.   From  Pakistan  to  Zimbabwe where we had recent elections programmed in  terms of expectation  to change  the political  status quo,  to  Nigeria  where the 2019 elections is already creating  partirees  alignments, disruptions and defections, to the US where the echoes of the last 2016 presidential  elections are  mercilessly  threatening the legitimacy of the winner , there is no doubt  that the politics , structure and security of the  political  systems in these  nations are  under  immense stress if not outright provocations .We  examine  the issues involved  today  to see why it  seems elections are  losing integrity  faster than  expected   which   surely  poses serious  challenges to political  stability and security  if results  are not transparent enough to reflect  what  people voted for at the ballot box , making  their  results  products  of violent protest  as in Zimbabwe  this week .

    In  Pakistan  as we noted last week it   was   the army  calling the shots  hitherto  from the  background  but now  more openly . The  army  cannot stick the guts of Nawaz  Sharif , the last PM so  it handpicked Imran Khan, Oxford educated cricket star  and legitimized  this with election  won by its protégé  and guaranteed the conduct  and results with  the  force of arms .  That  at best  is guided democracy but it is not a free  and fair election . Pakistan  is   a parliamentary  democracy but  the army  is the guardian  angel  of its  democracy and  has been  able to have its way  even  against  brave   Pakistani  leaders and democrats like Nawaz  Sharif  who was jailed for corruption  while abroad  but has returned home and to  prison  because he said his trial was a political  intimidation by  the military . So  how  does Pakistan marry  its parliamentary system with a meddlesome army  to  have free  elections and a transparent  democracy  immune from military intervention   based on security  blackmail ? That  is the million  dollar question  that will  determine  the future of democracy  and political stability in that Asian  nation with a    past  of violent  Islamic    militancy  and  political  assassinations .

    The  situation in Zimbabwe is  not very  different from  that of   Pakistan  except  perhaps that of Zimbabwe  is evolving , post  Mugabe  ,  but that of Pakistan  is recurrent . Zimbabweans  obviously   want  a change  after almost  40  years of  Mugabe  and have voted  massively  for  Nelson  Chamisa the 40  year old challenger to Mugabe’s successor President  Emmerson Mnangagwa ,  who  was helped  by the army  to make Mugabe relinquish  power  ,  albeit  in a very  face saving  ,  rickety  hand over.  Now  the army is beating people off the streets  in  Harare  and asking them to go home and close shops till the elections results  are  announced .  But  the  protesters  are  unyielding saying that their  votes  have been stolen . Also  the army which  has been Mugabe’s party Patriotic Front weapon of oppression since  Independence got  by  war  is not prepared  to hand over power to any party or candidate save that of the Patriotic Front  which  has been it benefactor and patron ever  since . Even  though  Mugabe  supported the youthful  challenger by saying that  his successor was brought in by a military  coup  there is no denying that the Patriotic Front  cannot see itself  and its  army  under  the command of  a winner in any election other than one  from its ranks like  the president that seem  to have lost  this last  election . It  would   seem  therefore  that Zimbabwe’s  diarchy  that  was so powerful under Mugabe’s  long rule is about  to dissemble  at  the first  post Mugabe  election . Except  the army  stands  its ground  and proclaims the present president victorious  and uses  force     again  to ensure  political  stability  . Which  will  really not be strange as Mugabe did it before when  he lost  an election unexpectedly . Will  his successors  get away  with it without him in power ? That  is the bold risk  the Zimbabwe military  is about  to take in the hope it  will  use  security  and stability  as excuse  to continue  the status quo  ante . But  it is  a foolish  excuse that will  not command the respect of the Zimbabwean  electorate   and will   tax crucially  on violent tenterhooks the legitimacy  of such  election  results in a post Mugabe Zimbabwe .

    In  Nigeria  we  are in a season  of political  defections of legislators and some governors  from  the ruling  party  and it’s a very interesting and educative development on the nature of our political  values  and a reflection of the structure   and security  apparatus  we have in place to  preserve political  stability . For starters    we   know   we  have a presidential system powered  by the principle of separation of   powers. .  That  principle  is at the chore of the present defections  , aside  from the inability and indifference of the executive  to respond to security and multi -ethnicity   demands  and issues we have pointed out before .

    Somehow  ,  in   running our own presidential  system the legislators seem  to  have seen only the red flag  of separation  of power s and taking that to mean  institutional  independence which  is a wrong interpretation of the constitution .  They  have  always    been  blind to the white  flag    of   power  collaboration   which    is the    essence    of    political   stability .  In  a presidential  system  the three  centres of power are intertwined  and interwoven in the service of the state  and not the other way  round . In  addition  ,the National  Assembly  is not a state within a state and must work  in harmony   with the executive and judiciary  and not at  odds  on all  occasions  as we  have seen with  budget  approvals and other  matters that led to  defections or rebellions against  the party  in power  from  our legislature .

    It  is necessary    also  to point out  that the military  during one of their many interventions bequeathed   the presidential  system  similar to that of the US to  us . It  is also  pertinent  to point out that  the leaders of both Nigeria  and   the US came to power  against  the run of play as it were   and both  have run into tempestuous storms   since  they  came to power in  2015   and   2016   respectively .In  Nigeria  the president  was elected on a reputation of integrity  , discipline  and taciturnity    to turn  the polity  round . In   the US in 2016  the president   was  elected  as an outsider , a populist   who  was  not politically   correct  and he won the election .Today  Donald  Trump  has  become the most talkative  and aggressive president in US   history  who  has tried his best  to fulfill election  promises

    Similarly    in  Nigeria   the integrity   of  the  president    is intact  but the other  virtues of discipline  and taciturnity  are   an  albatross   for   now. The  discipline virtue  flies in the face of inability  to  ensure  security of lives  and property in the nation  and the opening of investigations on corruption on those who  have defected  from the ruling  party . That  is indiscipline  . The  taciturnity virtue  could  have been  applauded   more  if the president  had  spoken  to the nation on  occasions  and sought support  instead  of statements by spokesmen that  the president  lends his support  for those  who  have not defected .That   is  contemptuous of the nature of democracy  which  is  respect   for   voters  choice and the responsibility    of leaders   to live   up   to  expectations of mandates given   at elections .   There  is therefore urgent  need  for the president  to address  issues  raised  by the defectors   as  an elected leader of  Nigeria  and nip  in the bud  ,      the  emergent  public  mood  that  like Emperor Nero  in ancient  Rome  , he has not  been   fiddling while  ‘ Rome ‘  is burning . Once  again  long live the Federal  Republic of Nigeria

  • Leadership, defection, and  elections

    There is an old saying that a people or  a nation deserve  the leadership  it  has. I want to take issues with that statement today. The title of this piece already is a pointer to how I intend to proceed. In  many  nations of the world this week, leaders  have had to face protests  and outright opposition to their leadership  styles from  both  fervent    supporters  and   traditional  opponents alike. This  is more  so  in  Nigeria where lawmakers  from  the ruling party defected to the main  opposition party  for various reasons  of dissatisfaction with the ruling style of the Nigerian president. Also  in  the  US  it has become the norm in the American  media  to call  the present US President  Donald  Trump  a serial  liar  and a former Intelligence  chief  went  further  and asked  that the president be charged with  treason for daring to parley  with  Russian President Vladmir Putin. We  shall  look at these two  events and issues  in  Nigeria  along with  the intervention of the Nigerian Vice President in the traffic chaos  that literally blocked  access to Nigeria’s  major  port, the Apapa Wharf. We  then look at two  events also  in Asia  indeed, Malaysia  and Pakistan  and  see  what  we can learn  from there in the context  of today’s topic.

    Let  me first  of all make some remarks  that  I  feel  are general to all these issues even though  each  of them  is distinct in terms of its leadership style and context. Leadership to me should be responsive,  firm,  pragmatic, flexible  and decisive. It must be ready to take risks  and be ready  to apologise and  admit  obvious failures in the process of leading  its followership.   Modern   leadership  should  never  be like that of   Frederick  the Great of Prussia who  infamously    once said –‘ My  people and I have reached an understanding which satisfies us both. They  are to say what they  like and I am  to do  as I  wish.’ Of  course Frederick  led  a monarchy which is literally  extinct  or powerless nowadays except  perhaps in Britain and Thailand,   and the   governance  vogue  globally   nowadays is democracy.  But there is no denying that some elected leaders  behave like hereditary  monarchs  once they  have  taken over the apparatus  of power in elective democracies, and that is not only wrong  but pathetically so.  Unfortunately  that  seems to be the situation in Nigeria  and   the defections   from the  ruling party    are a direct  sequence of that. More  of that later.

    In  the US   there is no defection  from  the ruling Republican Party  yet because of what the opposition media led by CNN and New York  Times  have   done  in  successfully  branding the incumbent US president a liar but  there is no denying that such branding  has given a huge dent in credibility  and  respect  both at home and abroad  to  the image of both the US  and  its president   as   unserious entities      who  cannot  be taken  seriously in  the comity  of nations. In  Asia  as I said  before we look  at  the  election  in Pakistan  where  a new PM  is  coming into  office  from  the background of  an  election  so  violent that on election day   a   bomb exploded  and killed  over 30  people  at a polling booth. In  Nigeria  too an    unusual   defection  took  place from the  toothless leadership shown  so far in  controlling   the way tankers and trailers have taken over the traffic  and   bridges   in  the port  city of Lagos when the VP   came   calling  and    gave orders   that  the traffic should flow around  the  Apapa /Badagry   Expressway  and  Lagos,     within 72  hours  and that  really  happened.   Nevertheless   the main commercial  artery   of  Nigeria, the Apapa  Expresway  remains blocked by  a retinue  of trailers   and  oil  tankers  blocking  the entire length of  the three  lane gate way  to Nigeria’s major port. In  a great  way  the  Nigerian VP Prof  Yemi Osinbajo  showed  that Nigerian  leaders can    be responsive    and have empathy    for  the long suffering Nigerian  masses   when   they   want,  and on behalf  of long suffering Lagos commuters, car owners and those who  earn a living by travelling in  the   chaotic  Lagos traffic   daily,  I thank  him  for his yeoman  intervention,  concern  and execution  of the traffic movement  order  which has brought life  peace  of  mind  and  good health in a few  days to many residents of Nigeria’s commercial capital.

    Now   to   Malaysia where we have the oldest leader of  a modern   democracy,    PM  Ahmad Manathir  aged 92  and newly elected, we appraise  his pragmatic  approach  to international  relations and  regional power politics in the Pacific     from  a recent CNN interview.

    We  now go back  to the  defections  from  the APC  in  the Federal Legislature  which is a sign of a sensitive and alert  democracy  and which  the presidency  has described as inconsequential and the new APC Chairman  has waved off as  incapable of  affecting the   party’s  fortunes  at the coming  2019 presidential  elections. Maybe that was why the president called  the defections seasonal. There is no denying however  that some  of the defectors  saw  red and are ready  to leave certainty  for uncertainty because  they  saw  no solution  to their grievances. But  the governments problems known to Nigerians as untreated by the present government  include the Fulani  herdsmen killings, Insecurity, lopsided  federal  appointments  especially  of   the leadership    of our security apparatus  These  are  issues  the ruling party should  address  urgently  to avert  more  defections  as no  leadership  worth its salt  can ignore  protests  from its  fold as that will  be akin to going to sleep  while a  spark  of fire has been seen on a thatched roof.

    In  the case  of the US President Donald  Trump’s leadership  he has shown flexibility on important issues but  is being branded as unpredictable and confused  by his opponents. This week  he met the President of the European Commission and rescinded  his tariffs on steel and aluminium literally, with both sides pledging to a future of free  and fair trade, But  his detractors saw  no merit  in this since he too has called the media the No 1 Enemy  of the people.  Funny  enough Trump’s  core   supporters  have not defected or abandoned him  as even  the CNN polls   acknowledged  but  there is need  for the US president  to be more accommodating of opposing view points especially  when  offered  in good faith.

    In    Pakistan  it  is clear  that  the military  have  taken care  of both the Bhutto  and Nawaz Sharif political  dynasties  and have backed former  Cricket  star  Imran  Khan  as Pakistan ‘s new PM. We  shall  soon see  how long the romance can last.  Even  then the Bhuttos and  Sharifs  have a  long  history  of taking on the military   in  Pakistan  and either returning  to power or getting killed in the process.  Time will  tell  what  the outcome  of this last  election will be.

    On  a CNN interview  Malaysia’s  old PM  Mahathir  Mohamad   made  some  educative  comments on  China and US,  the two  major powers controlling the Pacific region where his nation is located. He said Malaysia is not as strong as China  and must  learn  to trade and make the best  of China’s  bullying on claiming ownership of   the   South  Seas  Islands  of other nations in the area. That  to me is good   diplomatic    pragmatism.  Regarding  his earlier pre – election pledge to hand over to his former pupil  and later opponent,  with  whom  he rallied to  win the last election,   he    nevertheless   promised  to  carry on,  if the people preferred  he should  continue in power,  even  though he had  been elected on a pledge  of handing power over to his   young  ally after two years on account of his old age.  That showed  a veteran  politician’s  love of  power  at  all costs  and   at  any   time.  Which  too is a  defection from  reality which  itself  breeds  ultimate  defection from power  which  seems to  be  sweeping,   in the  legislature, the rank  and file of  the ruling party in Nigeria. Once again long  live the Federal  Republic of Nigeria.

  • Change, disbelief and responsibility

    My  starting  thoughts today  hover  around the  space   of   global  diplomacy  now taken  over in recent  times  and   most   unapologetically  too  by the US President  Donald  Trump  who  thought he made history with his  Helsinki   meeting this week  with Russian President Vladmir  Putin, only  to be ripped to pieces  domestically by friends  and foes alike   as kowtowing  shamelessly  to America’s traditional  and Clod War adversary  Russia.  But was Trump  that wrong, silly  or wrong headed? That  is the crux  of our discussion to day.  Domestically  too    for  us,  we look at  the  growing aggression of the so called Fulani  herdsmen as well  and  the unending   but  bloody Boko  Haram terrorism  in the face of claims of   their  annihilation by our military and wonder  very  loudly  whether  government  has   lived up to its responsibility   in arresting   these  violent changes that have altered the   Nigerian political  and socio  cultural landscape  so massively as if they  are   mostly,  out  of  control.

    We  look  at the  purported  Trump  Helsinki mishap   as well  as the Nigerian government’s handling of  the twin  menace  of herdsmen invincibility  and Boko Haram  terrorism   with some basic principles of Change Management  and political  philosophy  at the back  of our  mind.

    Starting with  the so called Trump blunder  at  Helsinki it would appear  that his detractors took  threw   caution  to the wind in appreciating   a well  known dictum of international   relations and diplomacy  that in both   endeavours,   there  are    no   permanent  friends or foes  but permanent  interests. Contemporary   history  provides  a solid  example of this.  The  Allies  of the Second  World War collaborated  to defeat Hitler  and then spilt  at  Berlin  creating  four  sectors   called  the French,  British and American  sector  -called Check Point Charley  –  and East  Berlin owned  by the Soviet Union,  an  ally  till then until  the collapse  of Hitler’s brilliant  war  machine. This was the beginning of the Cold War  that  ended  with the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989  and the  fall  of the Soviet  Union in 1991.  The  Soviet  Union dissolved into 15 sovereign Republics  and the Soviet Premier then Mikhail Goberchev got  a  Nobel Prize for  Peace  for presiding over the liquidation of the Soviet Empire, the US implacable  enemy. Barak  Obama, lusting   nowadays  for women leaders globally at Mandela’s Centenary in S  Africa, got a Nobel Prize  for  doing nothing other than setting the Arab world ablaze   with   his Cairo  Speech  at  the beginning of his presidency   and creating unwittingly  ISIS   which  bred the millions of   war refugees  mostly Muslims    fleeing  wars    and     arriving   in droves   at the gates   of the EU.  For  which  Donald Trump  holds Germany’s Chancellor  Angela Merkel  mostly  responsible for allowing 1m refugees into Europe  in  one year into  Europe.

    However   in   contrast  to what  Trump’s opponents  accuse him of, including most  ridiculously,  treason, this most vilified US president has done more for world peace than either Gorbachev  or Obama . He has  made  peace with N Korea and now he has made peace with Russia  and some of his country  men are  calling for his head . I  have called  for a Nobel Prize for the US president over the overtures to N Korea  to withdraw  from the nuclear brink of destroying the world. I repeat that  call  for him to be given  the Nobel Prize  for his Helsinki gesture in bringing in Russia   from  the cold  and   promoting the prospects of world peace.

    As  for  Donald Trump he needs to learn a basic lesson that   Change  cannot be  managed  because it   simply   follows its own path. It  is not a  Deal  which  he claims he knows too   well  .Change Management is  an  oxymoron like Trump  himself is the devil incarnate to his opponents and detractors.  Even Trump  himself  can  be destroyed by  the forces of change he has unleashed on global climate, trade and his America First  rhetoric. But  definitely  Trump  is an agent of Change, the most  effective of our time and his achievements must  be acknowledged as I do,   albeit  most grudgingly. He  has ‘brought  a  New  World  into existence to redress the balance of the old’ like  Lord  Palmerstone  once claimed in England  at  the beginning of that   nation  overseas adventures in piracy and exploration that   the   British  and Europe  later called Colonialism,  the initiator   and    historical   instigator  of the present  global  migration  crisis.

    With  regard  to Nigeria,  both  the herdsmen killings and Boko  Haram are violent changes  thrust  upon our political  system  which  are avoidable  because  they  are  not natural  disasters   like  hurricanes  and  tsunamis which  follow their chosen  deadly  paths of destruction. These two  blights on our socioeconomic environment are products of our political ineptitude, lack of knowledge of our physical   geography,   poor leadership  and corruption. We  have ignored the Sahel  and its creeping advance  that  has  made inhabitants of  our Northern part to  flee  southwards  but  have never  stopped to find ways to  scientifically  and strategically  check  the deadly  advance of the Sahel  southwards. Yet  our   political leadership,  politically  especially  has  always or  mostly  been  from  the North  since Independence.  Just  like  the   people    of  the  oil rich  Niger   Delta  have  always  voted for  the victorious  party  at the center  at   all   our    elections   but  still  have   nothing to show  for the huge oil  wealth  of Nigeria domiciled  on its territory.   In a way we have been architects of our own misfortune  historically  in the emergence  of these daylight killings threatening our collective security  and safety. But  it is still    the duty of government  to counter  by force those  who  challenge its authority   as  the sovereign  power on Nigeria’s  territorial  borders  and guarantor  of   the safety of our lives and property as   law  abiding Nigerian  citizens. Any  other  approach  than this can  only fuel  the aggression  of  those doing the killings and make victims  and potential  victims feel  insecure and angry  and no  government  no  matter  how popularly  elected  can  last  long in the good  books  of  even its electors  on that score. A word is enough for the wise. Once again long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Leaders, defamation and reputation  

    Tomorrow  is my birthday  and I  dedicate  this piece  to that occasion and  thank  God  for  my   life’s journey so  far  as I share  some of my life experience  in the course  of  today’s  write  up.   Today  however  is  also   the    day  of the governorship  election  in Ekiti  State   and  it  is so  important  to the opposition  PDP party of   outgoing  Governor Ayo  Fayose  that  the party  leadership  has insisted  that  its success  or failure  will  determine  if the 2019  presidential  elections will  take place.  I  take a look at the predicament  of Nigeria’s brilliant  Minister of Finance Kemi  Adeosun  and   compare   my experience  on NYSC ‘exemption’ and insist  that the exemption brouhaha should  not be allowed to derail  a brilliant  career  that  has propelled  economic growth  and development  for  our  nation. I  also   examine  two   foreign  visits by   two global  leaders  and reach  strong  conclusions on their  import  for leadership  values and character  inherent in the backgrounds  of these visits.

    Let  me comment  briefly  on the Ekiti  Governorship  Election   and  note  that  Nigerians  have  a lot  to learn  from  the results, no matter  who  wins.  At  the election  that brought   power   to  outgoing  Governor  Fayose,   the PDP,  his party  was in power in Abuja  and federal  might was unleashed against  the party  of the incumbent  governor then   who   lost  in all  local  governments in the state. Even  a Deputy Minister  of Finance  was on hand and on the ground   in  Ekiti  State to ensure that security  arrangements were  against  the state governor   then  and in  favor  of his opponent. Now  the tide has changed  and  there  was a sorry  picture   in the dailies  of the outgoing governor  mopping his face from tear gas attacks  and claiming a   policeman  had slapped  him. That  to  me is unacceptable   under  the rule   of law.  Yet   it could   be   payback time in terms of federal  might  and there   really    should be no sour grapes  on that  account.  One   could recall  that    the  governorship   candidate  from the ruling party  today   was  defamed and electorally  humiliated  when Fayose  came to power   and  that candidate  literally   lost his reputation  as a politician  of substance in Ekiti  state. In   today’s   election    however, he has federal  might behind him like Fayose  did  at  the election that brought him to power. Will  history  repeat  itself?   Certainly      what  is good  for the goose should  be good for the gander  and I wish  the good people of Ekiti  State  a peaceful election  today   with  the chosen  Governor   from   a free   and fair  election,   having   a good  journey  to the Ekiti  State House  in consonance with the wishes of the Ekiti   State   electorate.

    In  the embarrassing position on   NYSC exemption   certificate that the Minister of Finance has found  herself  I wish  to share  my  experience  on an ‘ exemption’ on NYSC  that  I got without  soliciting for it. I was  due for NYSC  from UNIFE  as  I   was graduating  before 30 years  of age   with  the NYSC  second  set but  when  the list  of postings came my name  was not on the list. My colleagues were furious and accused  me of manipulating the situation  from NYSC Lagos. I was literally  dragged in a sort of posse  by them to  the Registrar’s  Office  where  the   University  official  in charge  showed  them  the list he sent to  Lagos NYSC with my name on it. He  then  promised  my accusers  that he would check  with  Lagos  which  he  did  and I was  posted  to Maiduguri  which  made  my accusers very  happy. Years  later I met  a friend  of mine who  worked  a t the NYSC in Lagos  at the time  who said  he deleted my name  because  he thought  he was  doing me a favour. I  told him  his favour  was  expensive as it  landed me in Maiduguri capital of the then North  Eastern state  from which  six states  were  later created. I  pray  the Minister  of Finance gets  a less expensive break on her  exemption ordeal  as she has served  the nation diligently  on her present  assignment.

    Let  me now  briefly  comment  on the visits  of   both US President Donald  Trump  to  Europe  and  Britain  and that of  French  President Emmanuel   Macron  to  Fela’s Shrine in  Lagos. In  President  Trump’s case  he was visiting old allies  and friends with  who  relations  have cooled  some what   even  though  both  sides  resolved  before  and during  the meetings  that old friends  are better  than  new  and the  Europeans felt defamed  and embittered because Trump  washed their dirty linen in public by accusing them of not living  up to their financial  undertakings on defence contributions   to their mutual  defence in the North Atlantic Treaty  Organisation – NATO. To   me Trump  is the winner  in spite of the European conspiracy to  defame him  as threatening to break  an old alliance  formed  after the Second  World  War  to counter  the threat  of communism  from the former  USSR  and Communist China. Yet  the EU  nations seem  to have bought into the conspiracy  of  Trump’s  opponents  on the US  domestic  scene that  the Russians under President Vladmir  Putin helped Trump  win  the 2016 US presidential  election.  A  claim  that drives  the US   president mad  and has  seen  him  at  loggerheads  with the US  media, the FBI ,the  Democratic  Party  and even  members of the Republican  Party who  have  voiced  any doubts on the authenticity of his election  victory in 2016.

    We  shall  end up with  the visit  of  the French  President  Emmanuel  Macron  to  Fela’s  Shrine in Agidingbi. I  congratulate  the Lagos State Governor Ambode for finding time to  take  him  round  presumably  on account of diplomatic  protocols.

    Otherwise it was a very  childish  visit  for  a president  of a nation like France  to  make. If  the rationale was  to promote culture it was misdirected. Undoubtedly  Fela  was  a music  genius  and his  music  makes  him  immortal.  His  shrine was  however  at Ojuelegba  in  Lagos  and later  Ikeja   where  he was a terror  to families   that  raised small  girls in those  unfortunate  environment.  For a  French  president to visit  Nigeria  and not visit  the states where  herdsmen  slaughtered  innocent  farmers on their  grazing routes  or displaced people in the camps housing  Boko  Haram victims and survivors is  certainly unbelievable as it is unforgivable and one can  only pity  the French  people  for their  present brand  of  leadership .All    the same  –  Vive  la France!.  Once again long live the Federal  Republic  of Nigeria.

  • Denuclearisation, trade  and justice

    Three  events ricocheted into  the three  – in –one  headline  of  today.
    These  were the historic Trump  -Kim Denuclearisation   talks in Singapore on  June 12, the  G7 Meeting last week in Canada  and  the spat  between  the US  and  G7  nations   over  tariffs  and the aftermath  of the declaration of  June 12  as Nigeria’s Democracy  Day  by  incumbent President Muhammadu  Buhari. The  three  events as  we shall  see   here  show  clearly  that the world order  is changing in terms of the prospects  of peace  and  the emergence  of a new  world  order. They   also  show in strange unison that  in not only international  relations and diplomacy  but also in Nigerian  politics there  are  no permanent enemies  but  permanent  interests . Furthermore   the  events  show  that sovereign  and political  alignments and alliances  are  not cast  in stone and that  such  relationships are  renewable  and recyclable.   Just  like the new energy  sources we are dancing around to replace fossil  energy  in  the quest  to  make our environment    cleaner   in line with  the support    for  the  global   climate change  effort. I will  illustrate my comments with  good  examples of what  happened  on the world stage  this week  on these issues.

    The  Trump – Kim  Talks  have  come  and gone like  a fairy  tale on  denuclearization  but the hard unbelievable facts that the world  has  moved away  from a cliff  of nuclear  war are there  for all  to see. Kim  Jong  Un    the  North Korean    leader  signed  a statement committing his regime to  denuclearization  and US  President  Donald  Trump  has pledged  to stop the  provocative   Joint  Military Exercises  with Allies in the Korean  Peninsular. Later  the Americans clarified  that sanctions will  not be  stopped  against  NK until  Denuclearisation  is in place.  In    effect  the  two strong leaders simply  made  a difficult  and dangerous  issue  of  war  mongering and threat  of nuclear  annihilation to  vamoose  into thin air. As  if  we  are  talking  about  an  advertisement presentation by an agency  to  a willing client.  Yet  the  conclusion  was  not  always   that obvious  as  it happened and  such  a statement by the two  leaders  was just  unthinkable  a few  months back. It  is easy  now to compare  the June 12  Singapore  Talks  with the annual   G7  meeting  of the richest nations on earth where these  nations converge to entrench their  monopoly  and control  of world trade and finance. Except  that this time  around  the US  president  threw a bomb  at  the G7  by  introducing tariffs  as weapons of fair  trade  on  his way  to the G7  meeting.  He  did not stop at that , he  made clear  to the   G7  nations that he had  more important things to address  in  Singapore  than  the lamentations and hand  wringing of old US  trade  partners  he accused  of  stealing from the piggy  bank  they   have turned the US into, through   their    underhand    and unfair  trade  practices. Which  is a crucial   denunciation  of trade  partners  in any  language.

    That  development  leads  us to the assertion we made earlier that  alliances  and trade  agreements are  not cast in stone. The  US is  showing  that to the G 7 nations  generally  and the EU led  by its most opulent  leader  Germany  under Angela  Merkel. Trump  has not minced  words in condemning Merkel  for  allowing 1m migrants into Germany and forcing  literally  the rest of EU  to  follow  suit  or face cuts in EU  funds . Hungary, Poland, Slovak  and Czech Republics  are resisting  that for  now. Now  Trump  or the US  has  promised  to put tariffs on  German car  products because  Germany  he  said buys one car from the US for every 3 sold to the Americans.  Trump  is showing the EU  and G7  nations that  the economic equation has changed and they cannot eat  their cake and still  have it with the US on trade  at least  during his presidency.  It  remains  to be seen  how Europe  will  react to redeem itself  and continental  ego  in the face of  a leader of an alliance it belongs to  who  has no aversion to washing dirty linen of  all  members in public. Yet  Trump  took the wind out of the sail of his European  accusers in Canada  by calling on them to use tariffs  to achieve fair  trade for all which  is what they  are accusing him  of not  doing by slamming tariffs  on them. But  really  between  the G7  and  Trump’s America  who  can really  boast  of having a clean  hand  when it comes to  equity in trade? That  is the million dollar  question begging for an answer.

    In  Nigeria  the debate  is on,  on  the appropriateness or legality  of making the new  Democracy Day, June  12. To  me the president should  not lose any sleep  over those  questioning his motive. It is election time  and people  especially  opponents see ulterior  motive  in even the most salutary acts of government. That  is the nature of politics. The president  should take solace  that majority of  Nigerians  see his  action positively because of the ultimate sacrifice  made by MKO Abiola, the major  victim  and martyr  of the June  12  Election  and  injustice. Whether  that translates  to electoral  capital  in 2019  or  not    for   the  incumbent  president  is not the issue. But  then  it should, all  things  remaining equal  like  the Economists  would  say. Whether it is belated like the sage Pa Ayo  Adebanjo  has averred  is yet  to be seen. Yet    its potential  of  dampening  the horrors, pain  and disappointment  of  the June 12 Election cancellation are enormous  and   that can translate into  political  empathy and electoral  capital  for the Nigerian president  in the 2019  elections. To  me therefore the return of June 12  as Democracy Day  by the present government is a national  atonement  by a nation that  has  struggled with the compunction of cancellation  of its freest election while it keeps on calling itself a democracy  on blatantly rigged  subsequent  elections. June  12 Democracy Day  is like a restoration of justice in the direction  of a better  attempt  at a cleaner  democracy  and a promise  to make a clean break with election  rigging   henceforth. It is not too much to have such hope. Even in our Nigeria. Once again, long live the Federal  Republic of Nigeria.

  • Denuclearisation, trade  and justice

    Three  events ricocheted into  the three  – in –one  headline  of  today.
    These  were the historic Trump  -Kim Denuclearisation   talks in Singapore on  June 12, the  G7 Meeting last week in Canada  and  the spat  between  the US  and  G7  nations   over  tariffs  and the aftermath  of the declaration of  June 12  as Nigeria’s Democracy  Day  by  incumbent President Muhammadu  Buhari. The  three  events as  we shall  see   here  show  clearly  that the world order  is changing in terms of the prospects  of peace  and  the emergence  of a new  world  order. They   also  show in strange unison that  in not only international  relations and diplomacy  but also in Nigerian  politics there  are  no permanent enemies  but  permanent  interests . Furthermore   the  events  show  that sovereign  and political  alignments and alliances  are  not cast  in stone and that  such  relationships are  renewable  and recyclable.   Just  like the new energy  sources we are dancing around to replace fossil  energy  in  the quest  to  make our environment    cleaner   in line with  the support    for  the  global   climate change  effort. I will  illustrate my comments with  good  examples of what  happened  on the world stage  this week  on these issues.

    The  Trump – Kim  Talks  have  come  and gone like  a fairy  tale on  denuclearization  but the hard unbelievable facts that the world  has  moved away  from a cliff  of nuclear  war are there  for all  to see. Kim  Jong  Un    the  North Korean    leader  signed  a statement committing his regime to  denuclearization  and US  President  Donald  Trump  has pledged  to stop the  provocative   Joint  Military Exercises  with Allies in the Korean  Peninsular. Later  the Americans clarified  that sanctions will  not be  stopped  against  NK until  Denuclearisation  is in place.  In    effect  the  two strong leaders simply  made  a difficult  and dangerous  issue  of  war  mongering and threat  of nuclear  annihilation to  vamoose  into thin air. As  if  we  are  talking  about  an  advertisement presentation by an agency  to  a willing client.  Yet  the  conclusion  was  not  always   that obvious  as  it happened and  such  a statement by the two  leaders  was just  unthinkable  a few  months back. It  is easy  now to compare  the June 12  Singapore  Talks  with the annual   G7  meeting  of the richest nations on earth where these  nations converge to entrench their  monopoly  and control  of world trade and finance. Except  that this time  around  the US  president  threw a bomb  at  the G7  by  introducing tariffs  as weapons of fair  trade  on  his way  to the G7  meeting.  He  did not stop at that , he  made clear  to the   G7  nations that he had  more important things to address  in  Singapore  than  the lamentations and hand  wringing of old US  trade  partners  he accused  of  stealing from the piggy  bank  they   have turned the US into, through   their    underhand    and unfair  trade  practices. Which  is a crucial   denunciation  of trade  partners  in any  language.

    That  development  leads  us to the assertion we made earlier that  alliances  and trade  agreements are  not cast in stone. The  US is  showing  that to the G 7 nations  generally  and the EU led  by its most opulent  leader  Germany  under Angela  Merkel. Trump  has not minced  words in condemning Merkel  for  allowing 1m migrants into Germany and forcing  literally  the rest of EU  to  follow  suit  or face cuts in EU  funds . Hungary, Poland, Slovak  and Czech Republics  are resisting  that for  now. Now  Trump  or the US  has  promised  to put tariffs on  German car  products because  Germany  he  said buys one car from the US for every 3 sold to the Americans.  Trump  is showing the EU  and G7  nations that  the economic equation has changed and they cannot eat  their cake and still  have it with the US on trade  at least  during his presidency.  It  remains  to be seen  how Europe  will  react to redeem itself  and continental  ego  in the face of  a leader of an alliance it belongs to  who  has no aversion to washing dirty linen of  all  members in public. Yet  Trump  took the wind out of the sail of his European  accusers in Canada  by calling on them to use tariffs  to achieve fair  trade for all which  is what they  are accusing him  of not  doing by slamming tariffs  on them. But  really  between  the G7  and  Trump’s America  who  can really  boast  of having a clean  hand  when it comes to  equity in trade? That  is the million dollar  question begging for an answer.

    In  Nigeria  the debate  is on,  on  the appropriateness or legality  of making the new  Democracy Day, June  12. To  me the president should  not lose any sleep  over those  questioning his motive. It is election time  and people  especially  opponents see ulterior  motive  in even the most salutary acts of government. That  is the nature of politics. The president  should take solace  that majority of  Nigerians  see his  action positively because of the ultimate sacrifice  made by MKO Abiola, the major  victim  and martyr  of the June  12  Election  and  injustice. Whether  that translates  to electoral  capital  in 2019  or  not    for   the  incumbent  president  is not the issue. But  then  it should, all  things  remaining equal  like  the Economists  would  say. Whether it is belated like the sage Pa Ayo  Adebanjo  has averred  is yet  to be seen. Yet    its potential  of  dampening  the horrors, pain  and disappointment  of  the June 12 Election cancellation are enormous  and   that can translate into  political  empathy and electoral  capital  for the Nigerian president  in the 2019  elections. To  me therefore the return of June 12  as Democracy Day  by the present government is a national  atonement  by a nation that  has  struggled with the compunction of cancellation  of its freest election while it keeps on calling itself a democracy  on blatantly rigged  subsequent  elections. June  12 Democracy Day  is like a restoration of justice in the direction  of a better  attempt  at a cleaner  democracy  and a promise  to make a clean break with election  rigging   henceforth. It is not too much to have such hope. Even in our Nigeria. Once again, long live the Federal  Republic of Nigeria.

  • Democracy, leaders  and power

    Every  dog  has  its  day ‘ is a fine saying   to  oneself   urging restraint  when your  opponents get  the better  of you    on  any   issue ,  no  matter  how momentarily. It   is  a statement  that  is both consolatory and hopeful  that a different  solution to the  matter  at hand  may still  emerge  even  as the victors  of the moment  savor their  victory.   That  mood and attitude  had been  the mood  of  most  Nigerians since former Head of State  retired Gen Olusegun Obasanjo  in   1999   made    May  29, Democracy  Day   when    he was elected a civilian  president  of Nigeria, 20  years after he left office as a military  dictator  and handed  over government  to a democratically  elected government  of  Shehu  Shagari.  Nigerians  were tramautised  by that  use  of presidential  power as most thought that  June 12,  the date   of  the   June  12  election  that  brought in MKO Abiola  as president ‘ of the freest election in Nigeria’  should  without  doubt  have been  Nigeria’s  undoubted  Democracy  Day  given  the struggle  the Nigerian people embarked on with the Abacha  military  regime to  have the winner  of the election sworn  in as president to claim his mandate. Every  dog  had its day  for the Obasanjo’s  thinking  and   use  or  abuse   of  power  till  this week  when  Nigeria’s President Muhammadu  Buhari  used the same power  to annul  May  29  as  Nigeria’s  Democacy  Day  and install  June 12  as the new Democracy  Day  and Public Holiday  in  Nigeria.  Again,  you  can  bring  in  another  fine saying for  the occasion.  That  is the wise  saying  that  –  the mills  of justice may grind slowly  but they  grind exceedingly fine.  You  may  even   round that up  by  joining me in  doffing my  hat  to  our  president  and sage  indeed  on this matter    for  making  a reality  the wishes  of  millions  of  Nigerians  for  a long  time.  A  wish  deliberately  and contemptuously  ignored  with  impunity  by  the creator  of  May   29  Democracy  Day. A  leader   who  sees  himself   and no  other  as Nigeria’s   chosen  Messiah  even  though fate  gave  him  ample opportunity  to  turn  Nigeria  round so that  we have light at the end  of  the tunnel  of  Democracy. But  he blew  up  the rare  chance  of being our president twice and is  still  unrepentantly  blaming every  one but himself  for  the  sick  democracy   we  are  all  learning to  live with  today.  Even  as we do not know whether  or when  to cry  or  laugh     as  we  somewhat,     in very    vain   hope  await  the elusive  mirage  of  the dividends  of  democracy.

    All    the same  without  taking anything  away  from  the incumbent’s  President’s   responsive and welcome creation of a new Democracy Day   in  Nigeria,  we  look  at the travails  of Democracy  as a   global system  of  government and  the claims  being made  for  it or  on its behalf  by those  who  have  power  through  elections  and  believe  democracy under  their  leadership  or  guidance  is working. One  such  view  point  is  held by  no less  a body  than  Nigeria’s National  Assembly  which  in   a joint  session  this week called  on the Nigerian  president to perform  on security  and protect  Nigerians   and    stop  molesting  opponents  or else   be ready  for the Nigerian Legislature  to invoke  its power  to  take care of  Nigerians.  Which  is a form  of impeachment  threat  which  we  shall  look  at  in the appropriate  context  today.

    We  also  take  a look  at another  June  12  event  on  De -nuclearisation  taking place  hopefully  finally  in Singapore  and  involving   the highly  charged  meeting between  US President Donald  Trump  and N Korean leader  Kim  Jong  Un. It  is  a meeting  between two  leaders with  different  concepts  of  democracy that  are  at odds in  theory  and practice . In  fact  those Americans  who  hate Trump  would  put  him in the same dictatorial  mode  as Kim  and call  them  birds  of the same feather  in their  style  of  democratic  leadership. That  however  would be open  to  a virile debate involving the evolution  and history  of their  two  very  different political  systems  and the  institutions  of political  participation  and mobilization. What  is important  is that the  two  leaders have taught    the civilized  world  a lesson that  in diplomacy  at  what ever level  and what ever  the odds,  where  there is a will    there  is always   a  way.  The two  leaders  meet  on an Island in  Singapore on  Nigeria’s  new  Democracy  Day   and Nigerians cannot  but  wish  them  the best  in their  quest  to make the world  a safer  place  for  us  all. The  meeting   was  always  on a cliff  hanger in terms of it   ever  taking place given  the volatile  nature  of the two  very  powerful  leaders    who  have shown by  now  mutual  respect  for each other in making the June 12 possible  after  mutual  recriminations , suspicion  and   mistrust  of  their agents  and nations on the Denuclearisation issue. The  lesson  for global  leaders  here  is that power  and its exercise  should  not stand  in the way  of  national  and   global  issues and  political  systems  in what ever  mode    of democracy     can  relate, interact and have  rapprochement  to make  global   peace  in our  time.

    We  can now  go back  to  the National  Assembly’s   veiled impeachment threat  to the Nigerian president and its implications. It  is apparent  that the face off   between  the inspector  general of police and the  president of the senate  that  has  mushroomed  to the Offa  robbery   accusations   and  invitation  of the Senate  President   by  the Police on the robbery has been deemed an attack  on the independence of the Nigerian  legislature  and as such  an  assault on our  democracy. The  issue  here is that impeachment and criminal  allegations  are two  different  issues  and distinct  aspects of democracy  and  the rule  of  law. The  president  is in charge of the security  of the nation  and the  ball  is always  in his court  on  that  account  on which  he is accountable  to the Nigerian  people  now   and  especially   at election time. Similarly  the legislature  and its principal  officers are  not above the law  of  the land while policing is still  under  the IGP under  the rule of  law  and no  other.  These  are  the nitty  gritty  of  the matter  and the  workings of  our  democracy  must  be allowed  to play itself out  in  the correct,  legal  and legitimate  manner,  such  that  justice  is  not only  done  but must  be seen  to  have  been  done according  to our constitution.  Once again, long live the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Culture, impunity and politics

    We  live in a fast changing  world  and environment  and some events  and happenings   come so fast that we need  to nudge ourselves that we are not hallucinating. I   take on a few of such  unbelievable melo dramas and scenarios  today  and I am  sure you will  find them  not only fascinating  but   also  revealing about  the changes in our  world. The  events  I have picked  hover around the concepts in today’s headline and affect  our values, our  restraints and self control  as a  nation and a  people  and of course  our lack of  these simple virtues  too.

    At  an event  to mark  our Democracy Day the man  who  conducted  our  last  presidential  elections told an audience  made up richly of the results and products of  the   2015 elections   that  our National  Assembly  is made up of   bribe  taking Committees  Chairman and  federal  law makers who took  bribe with impunity  in the guise of  doing committee work. Prof Attahiru  Jega   former   INEC   Chairman  lamented and wondered what  the security  and investigative  authorities  were  doing  on the   matter.  The  following day   it was reported that the Senate  President  in the Senate  asked Prof  Jega   to  name the Committee  Chairmen  involved. That  reaction  from  the Senate  President  to me is a confirmation  that   a  culture of  corruption with impunity rules  the entire  Nigerian  political  system  and that is what Jega,  a professor of political science  was   trying  to point out at the  Democracy   Day  Lecture  titled ‘  Peace Building   and Good  Governance  for  Development  in  Nigeria. ‘

    I  have  not read  Jega’s  paper  but from  his observation  as well  as the reaction of   a  product  of   the election he   conducted  in  2015, he is not only  distancing the quality  of that election from its products  in the National  Assembly. He is also  saying that peace and sustainable development  in Nigeria are not possible under such a corrupt  political  culture which  thrives on the malfeseance  of  bribe  taking  by  legislators who  treat  such  deleterious behavior   with  levity      and   unworthy   of their attention   since    that  is their  political   norm  or  set  way  of life,  in making laws for Nigeria.

    Just  this week  a former  Minister  of  Finance  in  the last   Administration  Mrs   Ngozi   Okonjo  Iweala  revealed  at  a book  launch,  a huge amount  added  to the budget  for  legislators constituency  funding  before  the budget  for one year   could  be passed.  Yet   the legislators  in that legislature at that  time  have not found it appropriate  to  resign or  deny such financial misdemeanor. Which  also confirms the culture of corruption with impunity   as stated earlier.

    However,  as  a seasoned political scientist  and university trade unionist Prof Jega  cannot claim to be a novice on   the workings of the Nigerian presidential  system  and politics. Indeed  last  week  his former boss  the last president accused  him of irresponsibility  in wanting to go on with the   2015  presidential  elections  and assuring the security  chiefs that he could go on with the elections when  about 40%  of the electorate were  yet to  have voters  card,   which    would  have disenfranchised almost  half  of the electorate. That  was a true  accusation and I know because I was one of such potential  voters  in my area in Lagos state. That is a charge that the former  INEC  boss  must  live with  or explain forever.  In  addition  Jega  cannot  just  wonder  why  the investigative authorities   seem  powerless  in calling legislative bribe takers  to  order. The constitution has tied the  hands of the security  apparatus in making their leadership  confirmation  of appointment  a legislative   duty.  For  now the boss of the EFCC is  unconfirmed  because of  his role in   probing legislators  and the Inspector  General  of  Police has  been  proclaimed unfit  for office  because  he delegated a  function of appearing before  the Senate  which is his  legitimate  right.

    Anyway  since Jega  himself  is a professor  and the last  presidential election had professors  as INEC state Chairmen  I  want  to remind the former  INEC Chairman  of the highly  suspicious  demeanor of some of these   otherwise brilliant  egg  heads  on presenting their state  results before the INEC Chairman in the 2015 presidential  elections. Especially that of  Rivers  and Kano. The professor for  Rivers  was shivering  as if he stole something  and was being probed  by the INEC  boss.  The  Prof   for Kano  surprised  even  Jega when  he  answered  by    vigorously   shaking his head   in the affirmative,  Jega’s  incredulous  question  that there were  no spoilt  ballot  in the total  massive  votes  announced  for  Kano. Of  course  Jega  believed  that the university  system  have the best  brains but by now  he must  have known disciplinary   or   professional  excellence is not necessarily the best for counting of votes and the attendant honesty  and integrity  that go  with  it. That  should  have  been in his  Democracy  Day  lecture  which  I admit  I have not read.

    Let  me round off  with a story  from another university  environment  in the USA  to show that  a culture  of corruption  and  lack  of ethics  is not limited  to  the  Nigerian politicians and legislators.  In  the University  of Southern California [ USC ], Faculty  members  have signed a petition for the University president to resign  because  he did nothing to a University Gynaecologist  who  served for 30  years  and retired  in 2017  after messing up  with  female  students and patients in the University. The randy  gynaecologist  Dr George  Tyndall was accused of inappropriate   conduct  between  1990  and 2016  in the treatment of 52  women  who have  made  reports  to the police.

    Dr  Tyndall  was accused of doing pelvic examination without  gloves with his fingersand using racist and   in appropriate   sexual  language during consultations. He made comments  ‘about  patients bodies  and their sex lives and   the  tightness of their vaginal  muscles and touched  patients inappropriately during breast examinations’.  Appropriately  though the USC President  C L Max Nikias  stepped  down  this week  after  demonstrations by thousands of students and  alumni  signed a petition  asking for  his resignation.

    The  lesson  to learn in this  USC gyni  case  of  unethical  behavior  is that power  corrupts  and absolute  power  corrupts  absolutely and professors  and doctors who wield  technical  knowledge  and power  are not immune  to temptation to misuse  and abuse  their power  and the trust  of their  patients. What is important however is that those around them  should  be bold  to expose  their  excesses. In the USC  case  nurses  who stayed  with the randy  gynaecologist  were  said  to have looked away  when  innocent   and worried patients  smelt  a rat  in the way the doctor was using his fingers on them.  Such  nurses  are being summoned  by their professional  bodies  for  severe  breach  of ethics .  In  addition  the fact  that the University  president was asked  to resign  means that those  who  put him in power  have asked him   to  bear responsibility  for  playing  Nero  while  Rome burns in the  randy   gynaecologist’s    clinic  and examination room  for  30  years in USC. There may  such  Neros in our universities  and teaching hospitals  and   indeed   globally. It  is the duty of society  to show  them that  they  are not god  because of  their knowledge  and  must  obey  the ethics of their profession and the morals of  cultured  society.  Once again, long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

     

     

  • Democracy, justice and global security

    While  new  conflicts and squabbles  arise with   fury   around the world in recent times,  giving rising to  fearful  speculations that the  third World  War  is upon us, there is some comfort  in the fact that  some old quarrels are  being resolved in  unexpected  ways  that  redress  old political   injuries  in quite comforting  manner.  A  list  is not difficult  to  make. From   the  warm  welcome  Donald  Trump  gave to  three American  hostages  released  from N Korea as a precursor  to the   historic, meeting  between  the US  leader  and his N Korean  counterpart;  to the defeat  of the incumbent  PM  Najib  Razak of Asian Tiger  Malaysia  by his  godfather Manathir   Mohamad   aged   92,  who  switched  to  the opposition to win  a sweet  victory  against  a party  he led for 22 years;  to  the declaration of the Nigeria Police  boss as unfit  to hold  public  office;    and the  proxy  war  that suddenly  broke  out between  Israel  and Iran just  as the US president repudiated  the Iran  Nuclear  deal  signed  by his predecessor  and current members of the Security  Council  and Germany.

    The  first issue, which  is the release  of US  citizens  by the North  Korean leader  as  a friendly  diplomatic  gesture to the US and  its president,  is a personal diplomatic  victory  for the 45th  US president,  Donald   Trump     who  has   had    a    very  bad press in his nation.  No  one can  take that  victory  away  from  him.  This was  a leader  characterized  as a diplomatic  moron and war  monger in the way  he called  the bluff  of the N Korean leader in telling  him that he and his nation  would pay a huge price if  he continues his missile tests against International  law. The N Korean’s father  and grandfather  had always  threatened the world this way  only to be pacified  with  economic bounties  and  aid  once they  agreed  to relent on threatening   the civilized  world with  nuclear  annihilation. Previous  US  presidents from Reagan, through Bush  snr, Bill  Clinton, Bush  Jnr    and   Barak   Obama went through  this  carrot  and stick  motion  without  any permanent   or   peaceful  solution. Until  Trump’s  dare  devil  cowboy approach  which is now  evolving into  an  unexpected   regional   peace  and  unity   of the two  Koreas  separated  by war since 1953.  I have  called  for  Trump   to be given  the Nobel  Prize  for  peace  when  the news of  a meeting between  the two  broke. I  repeat  that call  with  more  vigor  and conviction now   as the great  conference  between  the two  leaders  appears imminent   on  June  12    at   Singapore   and is  indeed  turning   into  the most  wonderful  diplomatic  coup  for global  peace in our time.

    The  second  issue was  the victory of  a former  PM of  Malaysia,  Manathir  Mohamad  a  92  year  old  man who  defeated the incumbent  PM  Najib  Razak  after  abandoning the party both  led –  the  Barisan National  – [BN ] because  the old man  lamented  that  he could  not  stay  in a party  tainted  with  the stigma  of  corruption. In  addition  the old man’s  opposition  party  won  with  a huge majority.  He  has  said  he will  lead  for two  years and make way  for  the man  he persecuted  on trumped  up  charges of  sodomy,   Anwar  Ibrahim,    his estranged  Deputy   PM   when  he was in  power   and was accused  of  dictatorial  tendencies.  Manathir  made  a mark  as a leader  with economic insight  by making crucial  financial reforms  and  regulatory  interventions  in  Malaysia at a time when other world leaders led their  nations into economic  disaster  by allowing the so called  invisible hand of the free  market  to guide  economies  undergoing marketization  and democratic  change  at the same time. The  beauty  of this  unique  Malaysian  political  romance  is that Manathir  condemned  corruption in his  former party, joined the opposition  and won  power  back.  In addition  his promise to bring back  his former  Deputy, Anwar  Ibrahim    and  hand over  power  to him in two  years  makes  this  a great political   comeback    fairy tale  of all  time,   second  only  to  the   forthcoming  great  meeting between Donald  Trump  and the N Korean leader Kim  Jung Un on  June 12  in  Singapore.

    The  third  issue  in our Odyssey on this page  today   is the war  between  the Nigerian  Senate  and the nation’s Inspector  General  of  Police. Both  have  been quite  hostile  in their  condemnation of each other   and both  cannot  be wrong  or  right. First  the IG  has  the right to designate  any  one sufficiently senior  to  represent him  before  any  institution  including the Senate.  That is his inherent power of delegation of responsibility and it  is   his prerogative,  as long as he does  not delegate    his authority    and abandon  responsibility.  I  do  not think  the senate  is accusing him of this yet. For  the senate  to write  him  off    because  he has not shown  up personally is to personalize  the issue  and topic  for discussion.

     

    • Continued online www.staging.thenationonlineng.net

  • Blockchain technology, Buhari and Trump

    Poverty  Alleviation  is pet  project  of mine and takes  a lot  of my time in terms of reading and research. My   abiding interest in the subject  is   based  on my belief  that the world will be a better place if each  human  being can eke  a  decent   living   above subsistence  level  and take care of his or her  family with an  assured income or means of  sustenance. You  may track my  obsession with poverty alleviation  to the Socialist  ideal  that the rich  man  cannot sleep  well  when  surrounded by  hungry  neighbours  and you may  be right. But  really  that is what  is at the back of my mind in treating today’s  topic   which emanated    from   three   events  that  happened  this last  week.

    The  first  was the   US  visit of the Nigerian  President Muhammadu  Buhari  and his warm  welcome by  his host, the American President  Donald  Trump.  The  second  is the Inaugural  Blockchain  Africa Conference taking place at The Wheatbaker in Ikoyi  Lagos  Nigeria on  Monday May 7 and the import  of that  for  both  Nigeria and the  US  and  of course  how that affects poverty  alleviation. The   third was the video I watched on Youtube  on the travails  and   shortcomings  of Globalisation  by well  known Peruvian Economist Horatio  de Soto  who  had    propounded  the theory or position that   the recognition of property rights  for  the poor   in developing  nations can  mitigate  the pervading negative effects of globalization  and lift  the  world’s  suffering masses  out  of poverty. Now   I  think  you can  see  how   and why  I am in love with this Peruvian Economist.

    To  me,  anyone who  can promote the creed of  poverty alleviation  and show that it is not an economic mirage certainly  has my  unflinching  admiration.  Indeed  I see  today’s  topic  in the context of  de Soto’s  theory  that the developed   world  evolved  from  the people as a nation, then the   coming  and exploitation   of   capital  and lastly  the rule of law. America in particular in the video evolved from, settlements in the frontiers, through the Industrial Revolution icon, the steam  engine and the railroads,  followed by property  rights, which created   and cemented   the rule of law.  De Soto  affirms  that two  thirds  of the population of the world is living in poverty because  of globalization  while only a third enjoys the fruits of globalization which  he insists are  abundant and economically rewarding  and beneficial  for the lucky  third of the world. The  rest, that is us in Africa, Asia, the Middle  East  wallow in poverty because we  have been  cut  off by our  lack  of recognition  and identification  of  property  rights for  our citizens, who in that state  of existence  constitute Dead Capital. In  giving  property  rights to  such  poor  citizens  they  can use  the property as collateral  to borrow  money  and invest and enter  the modern economy  and thereby  lift  themselves  out  of poverty.

    This  ties in beautifully  with  the nature  of the new  Blockchain   Technology  holding its Africa Confab here in Lagos  at  the Wheatbaker  in Ikoyi  on  Monday.  Blockchain Technology  is a revolutionary  financial technology   which  creates a  digital  financial  landscape  of records, registration  and distribution of information in a transparent  manner.  It  eliminates  third party  participation and makes financial  transactions available  to  anyone who  wants to be involved. For  security it uses private key cryptology   and the internet  for records  and  a    protocol  for authorization. Blockchain  Technology  like property  rights in de Soto’s  theory opens the financial  world not only to banks, lawyers  and accountants  but  to all  and sundry.  Indeed  Blockchain  Technology aims  intrinsically  to eliminate  middle  men  in  financial  transactions.

    For  clarity  of purpose   let  me define Blockchain  and Cryptocurrency  which  are some of the newest  words in the authoritative  Merriam Webster  dictionary. It  says   ‘Blockchain [n]is  a  digital  database containing information [such as records of financial  transaction ] that can  be  simultaineously   used  and shared   within  a large  decentralized, publicly accessible network  also;  the   technology  used to  create such  database, first  known use 2011 ‘This  dictionary  also   defined  ‘Crypto currency – any  form  of currency that only exists digitally, that  usually  has no central   issuing or regulating authority but instead  uses a decentralized  system  to record transactions and manage the  issuance of new units and that relies on cryptography to prevent  counterfeiting and fraudulent  transactions.  First known use 1990.

    With  this in mind let  us look  at  the visit of our   President to the US President  and the  import  of that for poverty  alleviation and  the  relevance  of  Blockchain  Technology  in all  that.   Aside  from their  distinctly  different  backgrounds   as   soldier  and   businessman, both  gentlemen  at  this point  of their chequered  political  career and leadership  of their  nations,  have a lot in common, which  may alarm   many Nigerians  and Americans alike.

    • Continue online www.staging.thenationonlineng.net