The Nation Newspaper

Category: Nnedinso Ogaziechi

  • South East Development Commission Forum For Vision 2050: Politics or economy?

    South East Development Commission Forum For Vision 2050: Politics or economy?

    A few years ago, this column challenged the South East Governors to be more pragmatic in the way they handle issues concerning the region. It recalled that over the years, several organizations and corporate bodies had organized several economic summits, conferences and other events geared towards developing the region that has seemingly become the weeping child of the Nigerian project.

    More often than not, politicians from the region are tempted to regurgitate the post-war marginalization song that saw the region abandoned despite the vague promises by the Gen. Gowon (Rtd.) administration of the three Rs of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction. As it turned out, nothing was done about the promise of the three Rs but he told the world that the post war petro-dollars was so much for the country they never knew what to do with same. Fifty five years after, the same Gowon is blaming late Emeka Ojukwu for lying about the Aburi Accord and surreptitiously sparking off the war. The response to the ‘praying’ former Head of state is left to historians. But I digress.

    In talking about the South East development issues, it is pertinent to always put our minds back to why we should be talking about the development or lack of same of regions and states that make up the Nigerian federation. There is a place where like the great literary legend, late Achebe said, the rain started beating the South East.

    The first and visible presence of the Igbos in post-civil war Nigeria was in 1979 when Chief Alex Ekwueme became the Vice President to President Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria. In his home state, Anambra, Chief Jim Nwobodo, a member of the Nigeria Peoples Party was the governor. That was the beginning of the developmental challenges that has plagued the region till today.

    Historians and avid readers of politics in Nigeria can recall with a certain level of disbelief how these two sons of the region ‘fought’ each other for supremacy in that republic. One son was number two at the federal level, the other a governor of a state that comprised; Enugu, present day Ebonyi and Anambra states. The supremacy battle sipped down to developmental projects. The issue was basically who takes credit for what? Would credit go to Chief Ekwueme as an NPN man or to Chief Nwobodo of the NPP? The fight was as devastating to the region as it chronically affected the development of the region. The legendary crying of the then governor of Imo state, late Chief Sam Mbakwe, a member of the NPP party for the sorry state of federal presence to his state would be a reference point to generations for the impact of divisive politics in the region.

    Since 1999, the South East region has been an economic victim of divisive political strategies by the politicians who have represented the people both at state and federal levels. From 1999 to 2011, the region had the privilege of producing several Senate Presidents as the region got the post zoned to it by the ruling PDP. It had the shame of having the greatest turnover of Senate Presidents based on intra-regional intrigues. While other regions plan well politically, the bulk of the politicians from the region display dizzying levels of individualism and selfishness. It hasn’t waned in the 4th republic.

    Beyond the battle for the Senate presidency, the governors and the National Assembly members started their own supremacy battles. Who was more politically relevant, the governors, or their representative at the National Assembly? We had the Ebeano political group in Enugu created to identify with the then Chimaroke Nnamani against his former mentor, Senator Jim Nwobodo, then governor Sam Egwu of Ebonyi was at daggers drawn with Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, then in Imo, it was governor Achike Udenwa vs Senator Ararume, in Abia, former governor Orji Uzor Kalu was slugging it out with Senator Adolphus Wabara and in Anambra, governor late Chinwoke Mbadinuju was on a parallel line basis with the NASS members as the cry of godfatherism brought the state to its knees. The South East region is the only region with five states as against other regions with six. The agitation for a 6th Anioma state would ultimately help to balance the equation.

    Read Also: Kwara attack: NEMA deploys response team, relief items to Kaiama

    So with so much individualistic ego trips by politicians, the South East has never been strategically calculative to drive any solid economic program in a region with the best educated, entrepreneurial, diligent and commercially savvy individuals on earth. The tragedy of the region is not lack of cerebral capacity or diligent manpower, the region is plagued by people who are too vainly egocentric plan for regional economic development.

    While other regions’ politicians are very non-partisan in their strategic politics, the South East has self-aggrandizing if not almost mercantilist players in politics. The political players are often very peripheral players who assume that associating with certain power brokers validate their relevance. That is why on every election year, there are politicians of the region who lead other politicians to make often very vacuous promises of projects that are never actualized till the next campaign.This has led to politicians from other regions joking that the politicians from the zone have a price. The gaping holes in the development index of the region should be blamed on the politicians who play selfish politics and have refused to pull resources together to develop the region in spite of politics and its divisive tactics.

    A few days ago, politicians, technocrats and policy advocates gathered again for the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Forum for Vision 2050 in Enugu which was facilitated by the office of the Vice President,  Senator Kashim Shettima. While this column applauds the SEDC and those who planned and supported the forum, we advocate that it should not be subsumed by the noise for 2027 strategies. The region must not be continually thrown under the bus by its own politicians. The people want politicians to work for them not work against them. Let’s hope the message can sinks in.

    It was interesting listening to some of the the governors’ speeches. The host governor, Peter Mbah insisted that the region would no longer beg for a seat at the table, they are ready to build the table. He reminded his colleagues that there is a need for regional infrastructural development to enhance movement and commerce, security cooperation built on information-sharing and a centralized response hub. Recognition of the value of the regional economic hub to him is a valid aspiration. He stated his commitment to the vision 2050 project.

    With his success with governance in Abia state one anchored on infrastructure, Governor Alex Oti proposed a coordinated regional energy strategy to drive industrialization leading to job creation and rapid industrialization. Aba is presently a poster child for effective power and infrastructural development. Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra state proposed a marshal plan for regional security, infrastructural development and institutional framework.

    The President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Senator John Azuta Mbata believes that a strong financial support for the SEDC by the federal government would be of immense development and reconciliation value. Despite the great contributions of the South East to national development, feelind of exclusion and a sense of marginalization still persist. The SEDC Managing Director, Mark Okoye insists the vision 2050 is intended to produce a long-term development framework for te South East. The zone must work toards transforming into an industrial hub leveraging strategic leadership, regional cooperation and deliberate investment to end decades of underdevelopment.

    As the 4-day event came to a close, the Roundtable Conversation believes that this would not be just another talk shop or a strategically expedient partisan move. No region develops through economic or political rhetoric. There must be the readiness to commit to action. The political elite in the region must walk the talk. Development is merely the idea of working towards enduring legacies that uplift the people. When the region remembers the Akanu Ibiams, the Micheal Okparas, the Ojukwus, the Mbakwes and others it is because they left admirably lasting legacies. The time to start is now.

    • The dialogue continues…  
  • AFCON 2025: Sadio Mane’s lesson in leadership

    AFCON 2025: Sadio Mane’s lesson in leadership

    The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has come and gone as Senegal’s Teranga Lions beat the host team, Atlas Lions of Morocco to lift Africa’s most coveted football trophy. This year’s tournament more than ever exposed a lot about African football, the capacity of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the beauty of nations imbuing players with a sense of self and patriotism, the values and limits of infrastructural development especially for sports and in this case, global football and every other thing in between.

    The Kingdom of Morocco has in the last two decades taken the initiative to invest massively in the game of football through infrastructural and youth development. They have shown what focus can do especially for a game that is living out ‘the beautiful game’ tag. Global football has become some trillion dollar economic pie. It’s more than a game, it is now an economic and socio-political tool with diverse powers.

    For the African continent, it is paradoxical that she gives the game so much in human capital yet, reaps so little economically due to leadership failures. The various leagues in the world have the brilliant imprints of African players; the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, the German Bundesliga, the Ligue 1 of France and other continental leagues in Africa, Asia, South America which for obvious reasons are not in the same league as those in Europe.

    Morocco’s investment in football has given the nation a seat at the table of football politics and economic benefits. In the last fifteen years FIFA has given them hosting rights for; 2013, 2014 and 2022 FIFA Club World Cups, 2025 Under-17 Women’s World Cup and 2025 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). They would be co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Portugal and Spain. They would be the second African country to host World Cup after the 2010 South African experience. They have also given a boost to female football in the continent with their Atlas lionesses winning silver at the 2025 African Women’s Cup of Nations.

    However, because the impact of football has gone beyond the pitch of play, Morocco’s hosting of 2025 AFCON came with so many lessons for Africa as a continent. The post-independence Pan-Africanism spirit seems to have lost steam. The Moroccans through some actions during the games have shown that geography can be of economic value but without the sociological bonding that ought to exist between the citizens within the geographic region.

    The several racist chants at black players and the bullying of Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali whose towels were stolen and banana thrown at him and the bullying of the Senegalese reserve goal keeper by both officials, players like Hakimi and ball boys showed some citizens  do not share in the African brotherhood neither do they care about sportsmanship in the game. The post-match taunting of the Senegalese coach, Pape Thiaw by some Moroccan journalists was as unprofessional as it was unethically anti-sportsmanship.

    The leadership of national football associations and even CAF as a continental body must reform to align with set standards for the game not just for the on-the-pitch play but beyond that. Administration of football must not end at attending meetings and competitions. A country like Nigeria that has become notorious for stressing out players and coaches by not paying them allowances promptly must begin to get sanctioned by CAF. There should be no escapism under the cloak of, ‘not interfering with countries’ internal affairs’.

    The welfare of coaches and players is fundamental to the emotional stability of those affected. The idea that Nigeria is a perennial culprit must be addressed holistically. The psychological impact of such administrative inefficiencies cannot be over-emphasised. CAF should wield the big stick if need be.

    The huge security lapses during the games that saw ball boys withhold opponents’ throw-in balls or grab Keepers’ towels must urgently be seen to be sanctioned as a deterrent to others and in preparation for 2030 World Cup the country would be co-hosting. The attack on other country’s fans in some Moroccan stadia was not a good sight. The alleged Mysterious death of two journalists from Mali and Cameroun must be thoroughly investigated and justice seen to be done.

    Read Also: Sadio Mane: God of football was not with Senegal 

    The reported artificial ticket scarcity to the fans of other teams speaks volumes of the sense of hospitality of the Moroccans. If fans and tourists travelled thousands of kilometres to Morocco and ended up watching the matches of their country’s teams from hotel rooms due to some ticket sale shenanigans, Morocco should be investigated and sanctioned if found culpable. That would be a pre-emptive move towards efficiency in the future.

    Despite the very disappointing actions of both teams, the Senagalese coach during the final game was finally concluded with a Senagalese victory. There has been outrage by football lovers due to the leadership crises that led to the chaos during the final game. The referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala from DRC failed as a lead referee of the match for failing to earn the trust of the players by being, alert, fair and firm. The Senagalese disallowed goal ought to have been verified through the VAR before the decision to disallow the goal. To have dashed to VAR to verify and award a penalty to the Moroccan team was the real beginning of the chaos.

    Referees in Africa must understand that while everyone can concede that they are humans, they are still expected like Ceasar’s wife to be above reproach. They must show leadership and objectivity to earn respect and be truly part of the global game. They must be well trained and their training must manifest in the field of play. CAF must understand the value of refereeing to football as a sport. A lot of emotions come with football and refereeing expertly ought to be the calm amidst the storm.

    There are reports that the Senagalese coach has been suspended by CAF for ordering his players to leave the pitch during the penalty argument. He did not show leadership. The spirit of the game is sportsmanship and it is achieved through obedience to the laws governing the game. He did not show good leadership at the most trying moment of African football on a global stage. He let his emotion get the better of his judgment. Leadership demands more than he gave at that instance.

    On the contrary, Sadio Mane, the Senagalese football legend; two-time AFCON winner, Premier League Champion, Champions League champion, FA Cup winner, Carabao Cup winner, Bundesliga champion and a beacon for the game showed what leadership means. He was neither the coach, team captain or even assistant captain but just his integrity earned him the respect of his teammates that he ran to the locker room to tell persuade them to return.

    Mane at that moment showed the world that leadership is not about titles, tags or positions. He displayed perseverance, humility, altruism, patriotism and a huge lover of African football. According to him, he refused to leave with his teammates because he had the reputation of the African football on his mind. It was not about emotions, it was not about ego, simply about showing leadership. It is significant that the suspended Senagalese captain, Kalidou Koulibali handed him the cup to lift after he received it from the CAF President. It was very significant, the world applauded the respect. Without the Captain’s band, a Mane has led his country to two AFCON victories and qualifications for two World Cups in a row.

    As every football lover including Nigerian politicians applaud a Sadio Mane for his integrity, humility and altruism, this period must be one for introspection. Mane does not need a tag to impact the game and lives. He has invested heavily in schools, hospitals, Mosques and football back in his country, impacting lives in ways that is almost making him the symbol of football and philantophy in his nation. Despite his background and all he has achieved, he remains calm, unobtrusive and kind. 

    In a continent with several failed leaders and corrupt political class, Mane emerges as an icon of what leadership ought to be, productive, selfless, compassionate, patriotic and humane. Mane is so humble despite his exploits, he gives so silently and impactfully that only his works speak for him. He is the perfect silent and cheerful giver. Placed side by side most Nigerian politicians, even with his physical size, he towers above many of them who even after using the people’s money to build infrastructure pretend own them and publicize them for accolades and political expediencies.

    Mane through his actions on and off the pitch is a great model to the youths not just in Africa but globally. His contributions to the game at both club and national levels can be seen through his many medals from several continents. Leadership is seen through actions not through rhetoric and ego trips seen in most politicians across the world. He has shown that leadership does not imbue anyone with certain qualities. People bring their innate qualities to leadership. Despite his achievements, he remains humble and thinks more about humans and the game.

    The celebration of Senegal’s AFCON 2025 win across continents is not so much for the mere victory of the team, it is the human family looking beyond football. Their victory is seen as a befitting tribute to Mane and his teammates’ fighting spirit. The cohesion they showed helped them achieve success. He sees himself as an ambassador of a tripartite style; football, Africa and nation/club. Today he speaks to millions without talking. Mane has spoken to global politicians. Here’s hoping his ‘voice’ resonates with generations to come. Congratulations to Senegal.

    • The dialogue continues…
  • School abductions: letter to Northern governors

    School abductions: letter to Northern governors

    The world has moved on from the historical past. While humanity remains, development in all sectors of human life has changed how humans live and engage. Traditional education by families and communities can sustain cultures but modern education does much more to enhance human flourishing. The level of development of each nation is undoubtedly tied to the level of education of all of its citizens.

    The United Nations through its agencies has been a veritable tool in enhancing global development. Given the value of children to the sustenance of humanity, the UN, through UNICEF and UNESCO promotes child welfare, child rights and education while advocating for global cooperation in education, science, culture and communication to foster global peace and development.

    Every child, no matter their geographic or economic situation has the right to quality education. Sadly, in Nigeria statistics show that one in every five of world’s out-of-school children is in Nigeria. Ironically, even though primary education is officially free and compulsory, more than 18.5 million children aged 5-14 years are not in school.

    In Northern Nigeria, the situation is even more dire. A huge number of children in Northern Nigeria are out of school. The North East and North West seem the worst hit given a lot of variables; poverty, gender, child marriage, insecurity, socio-religious beliefs and some other factors well beyond the control of the children who depend on adults to make the best decisions to enhance their welfare and secure their future.

    The Chairman of Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdulahi, former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, lamented the fact that 80% of the 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria are in the Northern part of Nigeria. While he advocated more budgetary allocation to education as one of the solutions, it is a known fact that Nigeria has never met the UN 26% budgetary benchmark for education. But a lot more introspection and actions need to be done at both federal and sub-national levels.

    The past few years and the litany of school kidnappings in Nigeria has again rekindled the fear that the Northern part of Nigeria might be laying foundation for  future of more illiterate and uninformed children in a world driven by technology and ideas. From Buni Yadi boys’ massacre of February 2014 in Yobe state to Chibok girls abduction of April 2014 in Bornu, to Dapchi abductions that still holds Leah Sharibu in Yobe to the more than 100 abduction of students in Zamfara state to that of the school of agriculture in Kaduna and in the last two weeks the abductions in Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states.

    Dear Northern governors, as you meet today for an emergency meeting possibly with some of your traditional rulers, the Roundtable Conversation wishes you all a very successful meeting. However, there are serious actions to be taken by each and every one of you governors. Understandably, the recent spate of insecurity in the country would be top on the table but we also know that this is not the first of such meetings since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999.

    We all know that besides the national Governors’ Forum through which successive state governors unite to seek for the welfare of you all the governors including but not limited to political interests, federal allocations and all other individual and collective interests, you have kept the 19 Governors’ Forum alive and well. In the usual politically expedient associations, all these national and sub-national fora defy political leanings. When it comes to such associations, political parties, tribe and religion dissolve into nothingness. You all speak with one voice.

    So, the Roundtable Conversation would be glad to see the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II reiterate the developmental guidelines he had over the years advocated for on different platforms across Nigeria. There is no Northern elite that has been as transparently and honestly realistic about the value of education especially of the girl child as the Emir in the last two decades or more. For the avoidance of doubt, the emir is well educated and so his words about the value of education can be trusted.

    He has a PhD in law from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University f London, he holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. He equally has qualifications in Islamic Studies and Sharia from the International University of Africa, Khartoum, Sudan.

    Recounting the educational qualifications of the Emir, one of the leading traditional/religious leaders of northern extraction is important in this circumstance. He is an Islamic leader, he understands and deeply studied the Islamic religion, he also studied economics so the issues of both macro and micro economics of development are well known to him. He was once the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and under his leadership of the bank, he appointed more female directors than any other CBN governor and those ladies have added value that stand as proof of the value of female education and equal opportunities.

    Realistically, Northern Nigeria as a whole has the most illiterates of any region in Nigeria. However, the illiteracy graph keeps rising with the increase in child marriages and school abductions. These two hydra-headed problems are solvable if you, the governors of the region make conscious efforts to solve the problems. According to Emir Sanusi II, “…girl child education is a ‘single silver bullet” that addresses various socio-economic issues, including child-marriage, anti-natal care, nutrition and inter-generational poverty”. He had proposed for free education for girls from primary to tertiary levels pointing out the impact on maternal, new born, and child health.

    The Roundtable Conversation believes that the fire service approach by most governors being very reactive cannot solve any problem in the North. The talk-shops are getting repetitively exhausting and very ineffectual. Obviously today’s meeting is coming on the heels of the multiple cases of school kidnappings across the region. However, what is needed is real action. Each governor must think of the legacy he wants to leave behind. Politically expedient actions can be as ephemeral as they can be ineffective in the long run.

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    Dear governors, education is the key to the future. Insecurity has become one of the worst issues of our times. The impact is as diverse as it is far reaching. It is a social menace that has left a huge trust deficit on leaderships at all levels. It has impacted food security, social life, economic prosperity and education. These issues are too damaging to a developing country like Nigeria and even more so to the region.

    If truth must be told, insecurity is as much a global issue as it is also a national albatross to Nigerians in general but yet, the Northern governors must take steps to address the issues that seems to be sinking the economy of the region. The huge ‘security allocations’ to the governors across the country has not been seen to have been deployed effectively to impact the people. The Northern governors can do better by being more proactive.

    The sad impact of the new wave of school kidnappings especially of female students is an ill-wind that blows no one any good. Abduction of female students is not just a mere coincidence. It stems from the socio-religious fixation that has for centuries objectivized the girl child and women across all religions. Time has come for those who know better like governors and traditional/religious leaders to create more and better awareness of the value of human development.

    The impact of school abductions is in the danger inherent in parents choosing between illiterate children and kidnapped children. Reports show that most parents are withdrawing or even refusing to enrol their kids in schools. On the state level, School safety issues can be arranged to augment the federal school-safety programmes. What seems to be lacking is the will power to address the school security issues. The consequences are better imagined.

    For a region with the world’s highest number of out-of-school children, you, Northern governors must urgently take decisive actions by collaborating with each other to seriously address the issues that are exacerbating insecurity in the region. Attacks on schools would definitely create more illiterates and as women become targets, what would the future hold? What would an abducted girl become as a woman? A Leah Sharibu and all the unreleased Chibok and St. Mary’s Catholic school in Niger state and many other un-named, unaccounted for abductees are the lost children of Nigeria’s future.

    There is no culture or religion that can enhance human flourishing holding on to some un-progressive socio-religious issues. Citing socio-cultural or religious excuses for not making positive changes to the governance structures for better human development should not be acceptable in a 21st century world where the world is welcoming the innovative values of technologies like AI.  Northern Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind for any reason. Enjoying the benefits of democracy while clinging to un-progressive socio-cultural values is the bane of development.

    Dear governors, as you meet today, look at your political parties, your houses of assembly, your cabinets, your civil service, how many women are stirring the ship of leadership? Why is the North that produced a Queen Amina, a Gambo Sawaba, Dudu Waziri, Sultan Bello’s mother,(Hajia Maiurno) and Gogo Nwabueze all great women of impact and influence in Northern Nigeria not concerned about the development of women and girls today? We at the nation would want each of you to account for what you have done to uplift women and girls in your state.

    • The dialogue continues…    
  • Nigeria: 65 years after…

    Nigeria: 65 years after…

    The picture of school children lining the streets holding the green-white-green flags of newly independent Nigeria tells the story such  pictures tell; a million stories, of contentment, happiness and hope in an endless tomorrow and a faith that the political leaders of the time would keep them safe, happy and progressive. Somehow the dream was truncated barely a few years after with the military coup of 1966, the power play, the counter coups and the three year civil war that brought the country to its knees.

    As the then head of state, General Yakubu Gowon declared after the war, ‘No victor, no vanquished”. As it turned out, his promise of the three Rs; Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction was not only vacuous given the events that continues to date, it has been a promise not kept. It is often seen as contradictory and a mark of personal flaw that Gowon who claimed there were no victors and no vanquished in one breath promise the three Rs in another.

     Most political analysts describe him as not only immature given his age (32 years at the time) also as one with weak sense of personal judgment considering that he had boastfully but tactlessly said that ‘Money was not the problem of Nigeria but what to do with it’ given the petro dollars that accrued to the country during the oil boom era. The extravagant exuberance of his time in government seems to have laid the foundation for the profligacy with resources that persists till date. The coups and counter-coups ushered in different military governments that violated the democracy that came with Nigeria’s independence.

    A flawed military incursion into Nigerian leadership has been the albatross of Nigeria’s development.  It’s been a case of one step forward and three steps backward. The military governments clearly corrupted the political class with some seeming authoritarianism that revels in lack of accountability and leading with little recourse to the core tenets of democracy.

    Because political power is next only to that of the almighty God in any religion or language, Nigeria’s issues about development have been a product of the mismanagement of power given the dominance of the military goons that had seize power through undemocratic means for a better part of the 65 years since independence. The legacies left by the military dictators are at the root of Nigeria’s underdevelopment. In a way, it is not a misnomer to conclude that Nigeria’s political class has not been weaned from the examples the military left in their trail.

    Nigeria has had an uninterrupted 26 years of civilian democracy. Even though there have been many developments in the economy across the country but many analysts believe that without military interregnums, the country might have made much higher progress. However, the Roundtable Conversation is not excusing the political class in any way because all political actors are adults and have the opportunity to make better choices. However, the military system of command and control, their total disregard for democratic processes keeps rearing its head in the politicians’ modus operandi.

    That certain key sectors like education, health, gender equity and agriculture have received below United Nations’ benchmarks are all signs of political class that are disconnected from the people since 1999. In a way, politicians often display the nonchalance copied from the military. The need to please the people because of elections often does not matter.

    The violence during elections in Nigeria since 1999 is surely a by-product of military leadership. Coups are not cocktail parties. They are planned and executed through violence and without recourse to the wish of the people. Nigerian elections have become one of the most litigious in the world because the political class bring with them the military mind-set of ‘merely grabbing power’ for its own sake.

    Read Also: Irabor’s book a road map to stable Nigeria – Tinubu

    The misuse of security agencies is one legacy of the Nigerian military. The violence during elections is often done under the supervision or protection of the military who are often invited to provide security during elections. When elections are won and lost, the elected leaders often revel in the extra security protection they can avail themselves which often includes soldiers. This right there is the zenith of the military mentality displayed by Nigerian politicians.

    The Nigerian political space in the last 65 years has continued to suffer from military hangover. The violation of electoral laws with little consequences for the violators is one of the legacies of military rule that the politicians fin attractive. The ‘do or die’ mentality that often translates to violence from ward, state to federal elections might appear as non-issues but it has dented the democracy Nigeria practices.

    On the face of it, this analysis might appear as though the military is to blame for the woes of Nigeria. The truth is that sometimes, solving any problem starts when the truth about the causative factors is told. If Nigeria must make progress, the political class must look in the mirror. Mind-sets must change; there must be introspection and a readiness for reorientation that reaffirms patriotism and commitment to the tenets of democracy as government of the people by the people and for the people.

    Nigeria is blessed with rich national and material resources and there must be a willingness to maximize both. Nigeria at 65 must wean itself from the very destructive style of the military aberration in leadership. The political elite must realize the value in investing in the human capital that the country is blessed with. Political participation must be about service and not an opportunity for self-aggrandizement and influence-peddling that has stagnated development.

    Despite the developments since 1999 in many sectors, the Nigerian story can be different with better focus by the political elite. Nigerian politicians must look beyond the immediate and begin to behave in ways to reassure the people in ways that can diminish the trust deficit in the political class. The political parties must be seen to be structured to be functional and viable. Taking excuses with the presumed nascence of Nigerian democracy is self-defeatist. At 65, Nigeria is no longer a baby.

    The political parties must be run with standards befitting of the system we have chosen. The present style of fluidity must be discouraged because it makes the people very sceptical of a class without principles, oscillating between several political parties just for political expediency does not tell a good story about the integrity of our politicians. There must be clear ideological lines that political party members can be identified with as is the case in most developed democracies. There must be an inclusivity that caters to all demographics. For now, it seems to be about male dominance. The poverty index an underdevelopment challenges tells the entire story about Nigerian democracy.

    The political party leadership must be inclusive in ways that no one gender dominates or has exclusive privileges. There should be a level playing field that affords every citizen the opportunity to participate in a functional democracy. For now, political parties appear as a male exclusive club in terms of party administration. Women still see themselves as outsiders with, ‘Women Wing tokenism’. Competent women and men must be allowed to try their chances at political party administration.

    Political campaign funds must be strictly monitored in ways that no individual or group takes financial advantage of the system. For now, Nigeria has not got it right. The word; party chieftain, party financier, god-father etc., are all indicators of a flawed system of running political parties. There must be a structure that can moderate campaign funding returning power to the people.

    Democracy being a government of the people, by the people and for the people must be run according to the rules of engagement and those who breach the rules must be made to face the consequences as deterrent to others. Presently, many people get away with blue murder literarily. Democracy without the rule of law will only produce a dysfunctional system that impedes development.

    Make no mistakes about it, the journey has been very challenging and progress being recorded in some areas but we must evaluate whether the development is satisfactory given the human and material resources available to the country. The fact that other countries keep creating incentives to take out our resources an even our human capital must tell us something. The fact that citizens that were trained with tax-payers money can so easily seek jobs in countries outside Nigeria must tell us that only the best brains get to be ‘drained’.

    Nigeria at 65 is no longer a toddler. It is time to stop and re-evaluate how far we have come. We can acknowledge the challenges of colonialism, slavery, coups and military incursions into leadership over some decades but we must have little excuses after 65 years. The human capital development must be an urgent priority as ideas and technology, now rule the world.

    There must be a renewed effort to meet the UN benchmarks on key areas like health and education. Insecurity is affecting, foo security, investment and tourism. While we celebrate our anniversary, we must introspect and like legendary Achebe said, learn where the rain started beating us as a people. Happy 65th independence anniversary, dear readers. 

  • 2027: Party/Governors’ Report Cards

    2027: Party/Governors’ Report Cards

    Nigeria is the most populous black nation on earth whose political economy cannot be ignored in the global stage. The human and material resources of the country form the pillars of the country’s strength. However, it does seem that the country’s greatest asset, its human resources has not been optimally developed in ways that can catapult the country to its greatest productivity levels. Much needs to be done on major sectors like, agriculture, education, infrastructure and health.

    Developing the human capital of any nation requires grit, vision and focus. As a democracy, progress has been made especially with the return of democracy in 1999 but much still needs to be achieved. The level of development in the country still needs a greater and more daring attention to all the variables of development. There has to be a deeper reorientation and introspection by  the political elite. The exaggerated celebration of democracy becomes a farce the moment the people are handed the short end of the stick through policy misdirection, inconsistencies including the absence of viable socio-economic policies.

    The Nigerian democracy seems to have been modeled after that of the United States of America. However the political elite seems to merely choose the politically expedient democratic structures that have weakened the Nigerian brand. To start with, the political parties in Nigeria lack any ideological base. This makes it almost dysfunctional as there seems to be no ideological anchors that unite any group of politicians that decide, even if momentarily to come together for the purposes of winning elections.

    The political parties lack a certain form of cohesiveness and administrative accountability that empowers political parties to hold members accountable. The tiers of government;  federal, state and local governments often appear to have overlapping and often confusing roles in the eyes of a largely illiterate citizenry. In a country like this often leave jobs undone. In a country where citizens are often fixated on the post of the Presidency because of both tribal and religious sentiments, governors and local government chairpersons often bask in that flawed mob belief that the office of the president just needs to wave the magic wand to solve all problems.

    Make no mistake about it, the federal government wields enormous powers that many political analysts believe a constitutional amendment can help balance out in the future. However, the Nigerian governors are a very powerful political force. They often hold Presidents to ransom when their individual interests are at stake. In real terms, governors often wield more powers than the president when it comes to local/grassrrots politics. The essence of their association, ‘The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF)’ which often has units at the regional levels often spells bullish authoritarianism.

    Governors in Nigeria are almost very imperial in ways that distort democracy and impede progress. They are often the ones that control the political structures which they use to extract blind loyalty in some cases. Their attitude is often the reason intra party democracy is hard to maintain. Because they wield so much power, they often determine who gets elected to the state houses of assembly, their own deputies, and the national assembly members. For party congresses at the national level, they often determine who gets the presidential nominations.

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    As a developing country, it is often easy to describe the Nigerian democracy euphemistically as, ‘nascent’ but there must be a time to wean the country into real development. The governors have been getting away with a lot since 1999 and 2027 must be a defining moment if Nigerians are serious about getting value for the democracy that is on the right side of three decades.  It is time to begin to hold governors to account. There is a reason the buck stops at their table as state chief executives.

    The news has been all over the place that due to the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023, governors across the country are getting more allocations from the Federal Allocation Committee (FAC) with media publications of how much each state gets on a monthly basis. Factual as the news is, not much difference has been noticed by the men and women on the streets.  But mum has been the word while attention is focused on the federal government. Development cannot happen by accident. The people must begin to have more interest in the activities of their state governors and local government chairmen that have been granted financial authonomy.

    Commissioning  ‘projects’  (read roads, bridges, school renovations etc. ) with all the exaggerated fanfare and media bliss seems to have become the norm for most governors as proof of their people-focused development projects. Ironically, despite the plethora of ‘commissioning of projects’ across the country, the poverty index keeps increasing. Most of the commissioned projects are either white elephant projects or they are abandoned for new ones by their successors most of who they as ‘godfathers’ install at the end of their tenures.

    Not many governors since 1999 have real legacy projects that are impacting the people and pushing up development. It does seem that rather than target real development projects, many governors across the country focus on self-glorifying projects that are principally for political expediency rather than functional investments that change the lives of the people. There seems to be little investment in the informal sector of the economy and this merely translates to more poverty. There is little investment in human capital development and this has led to an increase in insecurity and unemployment.

    The Roundtable Conversation is ready to ask the very tough,  questions.  Nigerian democracy has shown that many political parties and state governors have not made very impactful social and economic investments aimed at empowering women and girls that drive the informal sector. The political parties are still dominated by men at the leadership levels because there is a tendency to just leave ‘Women Leader’ roles for the women. This position is nothing other than a furtherance of the exclusion of more women at the decision making level of party leaderships which if reversed and made more representative can alter the fortunes of women politically and help the country to progress.

    Political parties still run as a male monopoly given that the funding of political parties is still not inclusive of the larger voting bloc through voluntary donations. In other climes, there are ceilings to campaign donations and a bit of transparency  which deepens democracy. In Nigeria, there is no firm systemic control of financial inflow for political party administration. It is therefore not difficult to see a subtle exclusion of women who even though ready for political leadership, get sidelined due to low economic capacity. Political party administration ought to be open and accessible by willing and competent individuals of any gender.

    Political parties in Nigeria must be realistic enough to understand that democracy is about the people and not about one gender. Economists and global institutions like the UN across the world consistently publish statistics about the status of countries that do not empower their women. These warnings have always been ignored by both political parties and most Nigerian governors. Electing women at party levels for executive positions has been very abysmal. As populous as Nigeria is, there has never been a woman presidential nominee from the major political parties, no woman has been elected as governor and even some state assemblies have no female member.

    Nigerian political parties often merely appoint a few women into positions as tokenism. While women excel in sectors where merit is the criteria like in the corporate world, entertainment, agriculture, sports and the academia, most male politicians often bully women out of political participation through subtle economic and even physical bulling. The Nigerian national Assembly has in the last few years seen a decline in the number of women elected to represent their constituencies not for want of qualified and willing women but just out of the lack of real understanding of the value of inclusivity.

    Development happens when countries invest in their human capital through policies that yield tested and tried results. Leadership at state levels has been largely that of lip service to the development and empowerment of women. There must be a level playing field for the best to emerge. Leadership is not gender-sensitive. Ironically, women lead in most areas except in politics and that says something about the democracy we run. For a long time, Nigeria seems to have become a one-winged bed trying to fly but falling back each time but continues to do the same thing but expecting a different result.

    Illiteracy, poor reproductive health, lack of basic education, child marriage, poor economic prospects and some other odds seem to be huddles against women empowerment and the poverty index continues to increase. Governors who pay attention to some of these sectors obviously have better economic and social stability than those who seem not to care. The increased food insecurity and banditry are rooted in certain policy flaws.

    As 2027 election cycle approaches, we intend to highlight the political parties and governors who have shown through actions that they understand the socio-economic impact of empowering women. The poverty index in Nigeria must alarm any governor or political party and they must show through the right actions that they understand that the world leaves any nation that fails to empower  women behind.

    Governors must be accountable to their political parties and that can only happen when they act in ways that make democracy a functional  system that is for the people, by the people and for the people. If the mantra, “when you educate a woman, you educate the nation” is anything to go by, then political parties must restructure in ways that their governors understand the functional development models that have been tried and tested. In the coming weeks, we intend to publish the statistics of projects and inclusion in states who feel they have more inclusive and women-empowering policies to push development.

    •The dialogue continues…

  • Anioma State: history, identity and need for equity

    Anioma State: history, identity and need for equity

    Nigeria has a very interesting even if often paradoxical history. The area that was colonized by the British Empire had in the 19th century like nations consisted of many ethnic groups. Colonialism was principally a political and economic enterprise for the benefit. It was therefore an outcome of colonial strategy that the British took certain political decisions for both political and economic expediencies.

    The political dominance of the three ethnic groups possibly based on population has since remained the albatross of development in Nigeria. The post-independence military coups had ethnic colorations and since then in the words of legendary literary icon, Chinua Achebe, politics has become the proverbial knife that has cut what held the Nigerian people together and things have fallen apart.

    The 1967 civil war set the stage for further ethnic divide and mutual suspicion in the larger Nigerian state. Both military and civilian governments have been tainted by both ethnic and religious allegiances that have never translated to development. The effects of Nigerian/Biafran civil war between 1967-1970 still reverberates in the Nigerian polity in ways that political historians and economists have agreed must be redressed .

    Even though the then Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd.) promised the three Rs, Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction post-civil war, many analysts believe it has been mere socio-political rhetoric devoid of sincerity and an eye for real reconciliation and development. In fact many believe that the Igbos with historical evidences have been handed the shortest end of the stick.

    The paradox remains that while the mantra seems to be that the three major ethnic groups are equal, for some reasons Ndigbo have solid reasons to feel marginalized in the Nigerian project. State creation   has been one socio-political and economic tool. From 1967 – 1998, the various governments have created 36 states. Gowon administration sought to split the Eastern region as a political and economic tool. Today, the North has 19 states while the South has 17.  Most regions have 6 states apiece and even the North West has seven states while only the South East has just 5 states.

     State creation is a political action that has both socio-political and economic implications. The agitation for the creation of Anioma state predates the present republic. It emerged from the voices of indigenes seeking a reunification with their kits and kin spread across the country due to migration, trade and the civil war, a re-affirmation of socio-cultural identity and a solid base for generational identity and self pride.

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    The Roundtable Conversation had engaged with a wide network of Ndigbo and socio-cultural groups both at home and in the diaspora and there is unanimity of demand for an Anioma state.  Prof. Pat Okedinachi Utomi is a renowned professor of Political Economy and Management Expert. He is the founder of Center for Values in Leadership.  He traced the efforts of late Dennis Chukwudi Osadebe (1911-1994) whose iconic memory as a politician, journalist and former Premier of the Mid-Western Region of Nigeria looms large in the history of Anioma state creation in the last six decades.

    He recalls that there are Ndigbo in parts of Cross River, Rivers, Benue, Kogi and the five states of the South East. The creation of an Anioma state to him is merely a political action that is long overdue. A huge part of Delta state is home to people of same ancestry, language, culture, food and heritage. He believes that ethnic identity is not bad on its own but political marginalization and manipulation can be veritable sources of conflicts which hampers development. He recalls that as for viability, the Anioma region as the name implies (Good land) has the human resources that is the key element of development. About 80% of the drivers of many indigenous Nigerian banks and notable technocrats trace their ancestry to the Anioma region.

    The late Asagba of Asaba, one of the most revered Nigerian academic and dignified Royal Father, late Prof. Chike Edozien was a very vocal advocate of Anioma state.  He was a direct descendant of Nnebisi, the founder of Asaba. It was not surprising that he was a passionate promoter of Igbo unity. He was immersed in encouraging the full socio-cultural unity of Ndigbo anywhere they exist. Late Dr. Ralph Uwechue, renowned diplomat became the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo bringing with him the unity and purposeful leadership that was as admirable as it was functional in promoting Ndigbo causes and unity.  

    A Prof. Pat Utomi insists that on a philosophical level, he believes that the regional system of government was very productive as all regions thrived productively. However, even though many of the governors appear very profligate and poor in maximizing the value of human capital, he believes that a country  like Japan and others that have little natural resources but are in the global high development index.

     Senator Ned Nwoko represents Delta North Senatorial District and is the Sponsor of the Bill for the creation of Anioma state which has the support of most of his colleagues in the present National Assembly.  Asked his motivation for sponsoring such a Bill, he went down memory lane recalling that the agitation predates his present status as a Senator. He said he stands on the shoulders of Anioma citizens that started even before his birth. Today that he has the opportunity to represent his people, the best he can do is to add his voice to those of his progenitors and the living as a way of leaving a legacy for generations. He recalled his war time experiences staying in today’s Abia state as a pre-teen. When his parents decided to get back ‘home’ to today’s Delta area, his young eyes recorded memories that brings him to tears every time.

    The Senator recalls how the then Nigerian soldiers killed and/or raped young girls in his community. At some points, as a survivalist strategy, parents decided to tell their kids to adopt names of Benin and Yoruba people just so their life could be spared. That became the origin of ‘I’m not Igbo’ that is common with a few individuals today.

    This piece of history explains the identity crises  that has lasted over generations. This gave rise to some Igbos being prefixed with; Mid-Western Igbos, Bendel Igbos and today Delta Igbos. He advises  that the creation of Anioma state would be a soothing balm on the psyche of generations. It would spell equity, justice and peace to let Ndigbo reunite as a people and have the solid identity that gives the confidence to feel valued and part of the Nigerian state.

    He feels that the state would be viable because the human/material resources would be maximized. Asked about some people who feel Anioma shouldn’t be created or even it is, it should be attached to the South South, the  Senator said that that all the democratic processes including referendum would take place. This is why the advocates are taking all the legal steps to get the National Assembly do the needful. After all, being representatives of the people  was a product of voting power. That is democracy.

    The Senator believes that the agitation is not just about politics but about the human essence that powers development. It is about righting the wrongs of the past, it is about an inferred restitution of a people that need to reclaim their past. The now globally documented Asaba Massacre of October 1967 remains as a reminder of how deep the hurt is. The massacre was orchestrated by the Nigerian army as punitive measures for the Igbo identity of the people. The Oputa Panel presentations saw survivors still living with the trauma.

    The legislative and legal processes for the creation of Anioma state as the 6th state for the South East cannot be waved off by people who lack what  Rev. Prof. Anthony Akinwale, calls the ‘tedious task of tidy thinking’. It is not about any individual or political process but a very far reaching action that would re-orientate the wounded mindset, restore self-identity and reunite the Igbo people across the country and beyond. As the social mantra goes, ‘Igbo bu Igbo’ which translates to the Igbos everywhere are still Igbos no matter their location.

    The Senator maintains that those who tend to make the argument that the Anioma state would not be viable must remember  that the area in question has huge land mass and is blessed with arable land, huge gas deposits and some of the most productive technocrats and corporate giants in Nigeria. What with the Okonjo-Iwealas, the Tony Elumelus, the Nduka Obiagbenas, the Jim Ovias, the Achuzia, the Odogwus, the Kachikwus, the Okogwus  (in fact former first lady Maryam Babangida is credited with using her influence to get the Asaba as capital for Delta state in respect of her heritage), the Uwechues, the Utomis, the Edoziens and a host of other very brilliant and highly successful individuals that have the torch of progress as evidence of the value of human capital.

    The South East  must not remain a dot in the map according to the late President Buhari who gained a presidential twitter notoriety by claiming that he will treat the people in the ‘language they understand’, a subtle reference to the tragedy of the civil war. After his election, he claimed he would not treat the ‘97% of those who voted for him the same way he will treat the 5% that didn’t, still referencing the South East region, flawed as his statistics was.

    Equitable treatment, justice and fairness must be the bedrock of development. An Anioma state according to both Senator Ned Nwoko and Prof. Pat Utomi will engender leadership legacies that stand individuals out through the actions they take to enhance human flourishing. A Mandela, an Abraham Lincoln,  an Azikiwe, a Martin Luther king, a Ghandi and many others who remain immortal did so by acting on behalf of their people and humanity. The Anioma state creation story continues to intrigue and create room for the values of history and human memories.

    The dialogue continues…

  • 2027 and the damaging sense entitlement

    2027 and the damaging sense entitlement

    The 2027 elections in Nigeria promises to be very exciting. As always, the political activities are gaining momentum. Permutations are almost on steroids and the people are having a blast discussing the possible outcomes. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is seemingly the beautiful bride as some members of other political parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) and some other parties keep defecting to the APC. There are defections from the APC but into the APC seems more in comparative terms.

    On the other hand, the PDP and LP, two of the most vibrant opposition parties seem to have some internal party issues that have in some ways coloured the type of opposition they have provided in the last two years. Even though the APC as a political party has its own internal issues too, the power of incumbency is a strong force in Nigerian politics. The new party of the said political coalition,  African  Democratic Congress (ADC) is just trying to organize what the politicians call the ‘coalition’ to unseat the APC at the center.

    Whether the word, ‘coalition’ as implied by the ADC meets the political semantic value or not, fingers are crossed to see the outcome of the political journey of those involved. The Roundtable Conversation is watching events closely and the conversations would continue.  Given the history and nature of politics in Nigeria, it would be interesting to see how this coalition works. Already, many Nigerians believe that the coalition is a collection of strange bedfellows who might not have enough political muscle and patriotism to push out the APC from power both at the federal and state levels.

    As the politicking hots up, many Nigerians seem to be complaining about the fact that the Nigerian political parties are made up of the same old politicians who have been in the business since 1999 that civilian  democracy returned to the country. What this means is that the same politicians who have stirred the ship of governance for more than a quarter of a century are still the ones in all the parties in Nigeria. The country has had some achievements in the period but the poverty index seems to be higher incrementally. For Nigeria to have more than 133million people in multi-dimensional poverty presently says a lot.

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    However, majority of those complaining about the roles older people are paying in politics are from the younger generation who feel excluded alongside women. They complain of marginalization but the fact is that as President Tinubu is often quoted as saying, “power is not served a la carte”.  You have to fight for power. No one gives you power just because you desire it. How proactive have the Nigerian young people being in politics? Have they really stood up to be counted?  What of the Nigerian women? Why is it that despite the fact that women constitute more than 50% of active voters, they are always largely insignificant on the electoral maps?

    The Roundtable Conversation had a chat with multiple award winning matriarch in the Nigerian arts and entertainment industry, veteran actor, journalist and cosmetologist, the irrepressible Taiwo Ajai-Lycett. We wanted to find out her views about the brand of politics in Nigeria where some intellectuals of both genders, women, the Gen-Zs and millennials often feel excluded from politics even when they are often the most impacted by bad leadership at all levels.

    She feels that the younger generation must deliberately try to convert their internet and social media activism to functional radical political value with better critical thinking. Granted that times have changed, the younger generation must realize that their lives and future are at stake. Without serious and consistent engagement with the older politicians on the field, nothing will change.  Lamentations neither influences nor makes policies. Only deep and persistent engagement in the political field can alter the situations for the better. Mere social media analysis and trolling older politicians cannot change the narrative.

    Ajai-Lycett believes that now more than in the past, education and exposure have impacted young people globally and it is then left for the youths to valuably utilize their education and modern innovations. Those the young people berate as old and uneducated have persevered in the political field and the prize is their occupation of the political field and power influence. The young people seem to be more interested in mundane things like fashion, easy fame, personality worship and how to be rich without investing time and hard work.  She believes that the young people often focus only on discussing personalities than issues that would impact their lives. Whether we like it or not, politicians decide what happens to everyone especially in democracies so the young people must not look in through the window, they must be at the table participating.

    When it comes to the issue about gender equity in politics, she believes that it is a global problem but it appears that women in other climes struggle more to overcome the misogynistic attitude by throwing their towels into the ring. She gave examples of a Kemi Badenock, a Nigerian-British who has risen to become the leader of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom. She didn’t get there by being ‘a Woman Leader’ in the Tory party. She has paid her dues and might just be on her way to becoming the next British Prime minister following in the footsteps of late Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May and Liz Truss.

    While there are socio-religious issues affecting women’s political participation globally, women in Nigerian politics have for long accepted to be treated as second class citizens by the male political class. She insists that the position of ‘Women Leader’ by Nigerian political parties and the acceptance of same by the women is not only an insulting tokenism but an acceptance by the women that they are mere appendages. Why don’t the men have ‘Men Leader’ positions? It is because they believe that women must be considered incapable of leading.

    Fallacious as that thinking is, the women have not seen anything wrong in that. They have not seen the devaluation embedded in having the position of ‘women leader’ which on a good day is just a subtle relegation of the leadership qualities of women to fellow women. The women further enable the insult by organizing other women to vote for men no matter how incompetent they are.  The moment women in politics realize that they have to own their value as competent, thoughtful, compassionate and multi-tasking humans as opposed to men, things would begin to change. They will then stop feeling triumphant when some tokenism is thrown at them.

    She believes that the older women in politics must educate and mentor younger women so that they would be confident enough and use their intelligence to work for themselves.  Beyond this, they must not be mere, ‘city women’ who just go home during elections. The grassroots mobilization can be very rewarding. Being intellectually savvy does not win elections, mobilization at the grassroots level must be done by serious women including those in the corporate and business world who have what it takes to lead.

     Many women tend to isolate not just themselves but even their children from integrating at the community levels. Men seem to be more grounded and use this effectively during the elections. Women must engage more and desist from being errand ladies recruiting fellow women to vote for men by helping the men give out tokens before elections.  Women must galvanize and re-orientate women and the young ones because it is in the nature of women to nurture and educate. This is very valuable in politics. Politics is about numbers. If the women can expediently use their numbers, Nigerian politics would change for the better.

    In all, the matriarch believes Nigerian politics would change with more people willing to make sacrifices for the people now and in the future. Presently there is over reliance on Europe and America and some in the Asian blocs. Today, the global political dynamics is changing and it is  a wakeup call for Africans, nay, Nigerians to put their best foot forward. Women and the young people must work their way up the political ladder. They must learn to network like the men.  It is funny that even women often look down on each other based on the wrong-headed narrative from socio-religious  societal grooming about leadership. The world knows better now that critical thinking, a profound pillar for leadership is not an exclusive of any gender or age. Networking is a very vital rule for political success so both women and the young people. Power is never willingly yielded so every demographic must fight to clench power for the good of the country.

    Women and the young people must dismantle the narrative of genderizing power or ruling by age. Why do we have words like, female member or a youth representative? These are semantic manipulations that seek to keep the status quo, an ill-wind that blows no one any good. Men seem to have successfully made politics and leadership very hierarchical. This makes it appear like patriotism is measurable in gender terms. No one can measure patriotism based on unbalanced opportunities.

    Ajai-Lycett believes that to make progress, we must as citizens treat the causes of our socio-economic problems rather than the effects, a system that has always failed to work for deevelopment. The variables must shift. Women and young people ought to not just read the memo but memorize and act accordingly. 2027 election is less than two years away but in politics, 24 hours is a long time. Like the saying goes, politics is too serious to be left in the hands of politicians. Women and the young people must move from passive participation to getting truly involved and re-strategizing for better functional results for development. Inclusion is not out of entitlement mentality, its done through grit and hard work.

    •The dialogue continues…

  • Coalitions, mergers and defections: It’s all politics

    Coalitions, mergers and defections: It’s all politics

    The next Nigerian general election is less than two years away. Barring any shifts or cancellations, Nigerians are expected to go to the polls by February 2027 to elect a president, governors in majority of the states (post-election litigations had altered some state governors’ elections to off-season) and state and federal legislators. The political environment is hitting up giving vent to the cliché saying that, “politicians always  think of the next elections”.

    The Nigerian democracy is fashioned after the American model (but I dare say to the extent that the politicians in Nigeria find very expedient). The Nigerian political party system allows for dozens of political parties. The American political party system is clearly a two party system even if there are the less popular smaller parties that have not made great inroads electorally.

    The two popular parties, the Republican and Democratic parties are deeply ideologically based. Despite their marked differences, they often agree on some national policies when it is in the interest of the American people. Even though policy routes might differ sometimes, they often hold dear American national interests especially in global politics. The Republican and Democratic parties are run under strict constitutional guidelines. Party leaderships are  not based of financial capacity and their roles are often purely administrative.

    The Nigerian political system is such that the structure seems so flawed that it would appear there are neither strict adherence to both party and the national constitutions nor a strong adherence to laws. This seems to be the core reason for the level of indiscipline often displayed by some influential members of most political parties at ward, state and national levels. There is clearly no strict ideological identities of political parties in Nigeria. This is reason why politicians easily oscillate (often euphemistically referred to as defections) from one political party to the other. In fact, the late former Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo, a renowned political scientist had once referred to the Nigerian so called political parties as mere gatherings of people.

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    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had to deregister some political parties because some of them did not meet the electoral benchmarks to continue in the process. Recently too, it does appear that more than a hundred political parties are seeking registration with INEC. This fact says a lot about Nigerian political party system. Between the  mere gathering of people who are often strange bedfellows politically and socially and functionality of the democratic system in Nigeria is often some blurred lines.

    One fairly good outcome of the former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida’s lengthy transition period was obviously his insistence on just two political parties, the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). That system seemingly brought a bit of order and cohesion within the political party structure. It helped the Nigerian political system as it helped in uniting the country politically. That system produced what is now celebrated as the best, freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history. It blurred the tribal, ethnic and religious lines often drawn by politicians for their personal expediencies.

    So as the 2027 general election draws near, the Roundtable Conversation is calmly observing the usual macabre dance in the Nigerian political field. There have been a continual defection of politicians mainly from the seemingly opposition Peoples democratic Party (PDP) and the 2023 revitalized Labour Party (LP) aand other inconsequential political parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Despite the Supreme Court’s verdict about the consequences of defections from one party to the other after winning elections, Nigerian politicians through their actions sometimes say in very loud terms, “the Supreme Court can give verdicts but we can do what we like”.

    Even though this disobedience of the Supreme Court ruling happens most of the time with no consequences, it is a loud verdict on the discipline of the Nigerian political class. It stands as a bold example of why Nigerian democracy seems to appear very unweanable and  earns the delusional tag of ‘a nascent democracy’.  No nation that has chosen democracy as a system of government can continue to toy with wobbly political culture and make progress.

    A close scrutiny of the average politician’s attitude in politics shows a lot of hypocrisy. The lack of ideological leaning and the indiscipline of oscillating from one political party to the other is often euphemistically explained as a power granted by the constitution for freedom of choice, free speech and gathering. The kind of cherry-picking that doesn’t apply when they refuse to be held accountable, when they disobey  their own party and national constitutions and the Supreme Court of the land.

    While analysis go on and on about formation of new political parties, defections to or from the ruling APC, PDP, Labour or SDP, one thing remains clear, there is an ominous sign to Nigeria’s democracy. Professional politician as they exist in Nigeria is not good for democracy. It is sad that most politicians in Nigeria describe themselves as ‘professional politicians’. On the face of it, it sounds comical but with a deeper look, it portends grave danger for development. There seems to be a preponderance of individuals whose only means of livelihood comes from the ‘spoils’ of office and politicking.

    The late Ojukwu once defined most politicians as individuals with no second addresses. By this he meant those who introduce themselves as ‘professional politicians’. They often lack the discipline of occupational achievers. They eran their every dime and influence from playing politics and in most cases, they are in it not to improve the welfare of the people but for what they can get election after election. There is hardly any developmental initiative, vision for the future of the country or worries about the state of the ordinary people who are the main reason for governance in the first place.

    Nigerian elite has a role to play in redirecting the course of our democracy. It is not enough to sit back and sneer at the things happening in our political space. The essence of education, knowledge and exposure is the value it brings to the lives of others. Iconic individuals and legends in the world earned their legendry accolades for their civil and political activism that impacted others beyond thei generations. Late Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Mandela, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Patrice Mulumba, Queen Amina, Moremi, Queen Idia and countless others earned their immortality through acts that edify humanity.

    As we watch the drama in the political field, the scramble for registrations and the harvest of inter party defections at a time most politicians ought to be held accountable is as tragic as it as laughable. In the 26 years return to democracy, there are more people in the poverty bracket that even India with its more than a billion population has left Nigeria in the poverty bracket. There are more than 133million people living in multidimensional poverty, Nigeria has more out of school children than some five countries’ population, there are more chronically malnourished kids than some country’s entire population.

    Nigeria might be raising a generation of mentally and physically retarded children whose future miht be altered by their developmental deficiencies which ultimately impacts productivity. Do our politicians take stock at all? Do they care for the future? Do they care for legacies beyond bank balance and property and notoriety? It is a sad commentary that most politicians only see themselves in the mirror of life. Nothing matters except their advantageous political positioning.

    Beyond the political party intrigues, who cares about the structure of these political parties as enduring legacies that can enhance the Nigerian democracy for the children yet unborn. The irony and hypocrisy of politicians at campaign podiums is that the same puerile rhetoric keeps being regurgitated with no serious thought about walking the talk post elections. Why do most state governors hide under the federal government instead of taking their constitutional roles beyond white elephant projects  that often have no direct impact on the people? The basic needs of food, shelter and health have not really been prioritized. Political expedient but low impact projects are often over celebrated and not very impactful.

    As one watches the political activities unfold across the country, there is a tendency to be despondent. This is reason the best brains in the country are being lured to other countries through the now socially coined word, ‘jakpa’. It is a euphemism for the lure that emigration from the country offers. Globally, immigration is not a crime as humans have been moving from creation for different reasons. However, the modern trend is a fall out of socio-economic conditions forced on the people by bad practice of winner takes all democracy.

    The constant political lexicon, ‘mergers and coalitions’ seem to only be for the positioning of the political actors most of who have played politics all their lives with little or no legacies of good service delivery. As the 2027 political season hots up, we are forced to ask the political actors, what new song shall the people sing? Are we just going to see, ‘my sin is smaller than yours’ kind of self-aggrandizement that has kept our political parties looking like tree brances to the monkey – a mere means of getting to either the next fruit or running from a predatory animal?

    As we watch the public race to grab the headlines and with it power, we watch keenly to see the stars that would shine on their merit like a Zik of Africa with his patriotism, an Awolowo with his free education legacy, an Aminu Kano with his pro-talakawa popularity and effective leadership, a Lateef Jakande with his investment in public housing and education. Each day, we watch and record…

    • The dialogue continues…

  • MKO Abiola: The untold story of a metaphor

    MKO Abiola: The untold story of a metaphor

    Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (GCFR) has earned the axiomatic ‘good name’ that is better than silver and gold. Even though he died decades ago, he remains immortal not because he won the 1993 presidential election that was annulled by the former military president, Gen.  Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (Rtd.) but because of the human he was. Politics did not bring him into prominence. His foray into business, sports, entertainment and philanthropy preceded June 12, 1993.

    As Nigeria celebrated Democracy day on June 12th the focus seemed to have been on the election and the outcome.  It has become the metaphor for the freest, fairest and most credible election in Nigeria’s political history. An M.K.O Abiola won the election. He broke records. He ran with Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, a fellow Muslim from the North. There was no problem with that for Nigerians. He defeated the late Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in his home state of Kano.

    Nigerian politics has been and continues to be plagued by tribal and religious intrigues fired by manipulative politicians across the country. They often fan the embers of hatred amongst the lower rungs of the society often too naïve to understand that religion and tribe have nothing to do with good governance. Manipulative politicians often mask their incompetence and lack of merit to earn the votes of the people by playing the religious and ethnic cards.

    But an M.K.O Abiola emerged in the scene in 1993 and erased totally the clichés and semantic manipulation by politicians in Nigeria. He won the election by a 58% majority. He was of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). While the annulment of the election continues to be debated in the public domain, former President IBB in his recent memoir tried to play with words and somewhat pass the buck.

    However, the electoral umpire, late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu had in many interviews explained that he was not confused about the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections. The result of the annulment of the election was chaos across the country. There were protests and some people were killed, others displaced, many arrested, tortured and jailed while many ran into exile to save their lives.

    As Nigeria marked this year’s June 12 democracy day with speeches and awards of National honours to some of the heroes of democracy owing to their fates or actions about the annulment of the election, the Roundtable Conversation just noted that not much of the personality of the late MKO Abiola was reiterated for the records. Not that the day ought to be about him alone but his persona brought about the victory and the democracy day we celebrate.

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    Historians and Biographers might have documented the life of an Abiola. The event of June 12, 1993 has immortalized him but we have to look at an Abiola pre-June 12, 1993. He was an exceptional human being. He was the true metaphor of grass to grace. He rose from poverty to wealth, used his wealth to empower and nurture  and became a global citizen. His personality was larger than life. He was as versatile as he was humble and humane. His humanity was as enduring as it was endearing. He was not perfect but he was human.

    He was grounded and versatile. He was at home with business as he was with entertainment, politics and international politics. His passion for humanity was expressed through his practical expression of his love for and support for various sports not just in Nigeria but across the continent. When people say that sportsmanship exemplifies large heartedness, that saying had full expression in an M.K.O Abiola. He was a sportsman who loved and supported sports across board. He invested in football, athletics, boxing, table tennis and many others.

    The Roundtable Conversation has noticed that many Nigerian politicians assume politics is a sport and they tend to play it to the hilt. Most have no second addresses. They are neither interested in people nor in sports except for political expedience in some instances. An Abiola was different. He loved and invested in sports and humans. Most Nigerian politicians are so bare of any affecting quality that they earn only skepticism from the people. This is reason there is huge trust deficit in the political class. This in turn gives birth to apathy during elections and the rejection of most politicians by the people which impacts on the flawed electoral processes that have made Nigerian elections the most litigious in the world.

    We decided to talk to two veteran sports journalists that had close interactions with late M.K.O Abiola about their assessment of the person they conferred with the highest sports award not just in Nigeria but Africa as a continent. The African Sports Journalists Union (ASJU) had awarded an M.K.O Abiola the ‘Pillar of Sports in Africa’ in 1980. He remains the sole awardee till date. On January 11, 1992, the African Football Hall of Fame had his name etched by CAF with the Order of Merit in Gold.

    Mr. Kunle Solaja, ace sports journalist that holds the enviable achievement and honour of covering about nine World Cup tournaments, who not only worked in Abiola’s Concord newspaper but has been in the business of sports (especially football reporting) ever since traversing the Sun Newspaper as Sports Editor and now the Vice President/Editor in Chief at Extra Time Communications LTD./Sports Village Square.  He says he was honoured to have been in vantage position to have seen firsthand the passion that the late Pillar of Sports in Africa expressed for sports in general across Africa.

     Solaja said that not only was the late MKO a sports enthusiast, he was as versatile in business, politics, entertainment as he was in philanthropy.  He was not just interested in sports in Nigeria alone,  he was a regional and intercontinental lover and investor in sports not for any profit or political expediency but just as a global communication tool. He was at home investing in Zambia as he was enthusiastic about Algeria, Ghana etc. To an MKO, sports is a universal language of love and entertainment. He invested with no anticipation of returns. To Solaja, unlike most politicians that saw invitations to sports events as ego trips, an Abiola, initiated, sponsored and participated in sports activities that spurred others to attend. He founded the defunct Abiola Babes and Concorde  football clubs that made waves in Africa and nurtured some of the best names in football at the time. 

    As a journalist at the time, sometimes editors had a hard time casting headlines because an Abiola often made headlines in business, Sports, national and global politics. He was one of the pioneer advocates for the payment of reparations by the colonial and trans-Atlantic slave trade proponents.  He was as much a patriot as he was a Pan Africanist. His humanity was evident in his extensive philanthropy across Africa.There was no doubt that his passion for sports was a product of his inner sense of sportsmanship not just as a social rhetoric but as a choice. 

    Onochie Anibeze is an award-winning veteran sports journalist who is presently the Vanguard Newspaper Saturday Editor . To an Onochie, there is no African living or dead that matches the late M.K.O Abiola’s interest and investment in football, boxing, athletics and table tennis. He was a great sportsman who put money and time in sports promotions. He didn’t just throw money into sports, he was present in the real sense. He loved and lived sports and it was no surprise when in 1980, long before he thought of contesting for the Presidency, he was crowned the Pillar of Spirts in Africa, an honour yet to be bestowed on any other individual living or dead.

    His humanity shone like a million stars through his sponsorship and presence in the support of various sports across the continent and even beyond. He recalls an incident in 1987 when they were travelling together to Tunisia with Abiola Babes team. Suddenly the team doctor  fell ill on air and the late MKO joked that the doctor was now at the mercy of journalists’ healing hands if they had any.  That was how hilarious and human an Abiola was. He was a hands on human whose large heart touched many in and out of sports.  His humility knew no bounds as he could travel in the same plane or bus with players and other individuals covering any sport he was interested in. his sponsorship of sports was across regional lines as he was as present in Senegal as he was in Algeria. He was very close to most players and journalists and related to them as a father.

    Onochie recalls that an Abiola showed unique qualities that were endearing.  He was always travelling for and sponsoring sports events with his late wife Simbiat who equally had her own Simbiat Babes football club. In fact, journalists nicknamed the amiable couple Papa and Mama Sports respectively due to their parental-like involvement in sponsoring and supporting sportsmen and women across board. An M.K.O almost knew most sports journalists on first name basis and related closely with them. Not many billionaires with his stature was that magnanimous and charitable.

    So an Abiola to us was more than the winner of an annulled election. his image and humanity were rare. He easily won the election because he earned the love of the people. He did not win because he used thugs or shared money. He was loved across tribes and religions. His personality was very endearing and people rewarded him with their votes in an option A4 Open secret ballot that defied rigging. He earned the love that won him the election. That should be celebrated and copied  by politicians in Nigeria beyond the commemorative June 12  Democracy Day celebrations.

    •The dialogue continues…

  • Between JAMB and WAEC, what oversight from the National Assembly?

    Between JAMB and WAEC, what oversight from the National Assembly?

    “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”—Nelson Mandela

    Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school (OOS) children in the world with about 20 million across the country. About 12.4 million never attended school at all while about 5.9million dropped out of school too early. This, according to statistics means that Nigeria alone accounts for about 15% of the global total. What this means is that the population of educationally disadvantaged children in Nigeria in a 21st century world is almost the population of about three or more countries combined.

    This startling statistics have been the object of discussion at United Nations education agencies like UNICEF and UNESCO. The implications are dire. Education has no alternatives in our modern world where technology and Artificial intelligence (AI) have become the order of the day. Education according to Malcolm X, “…is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today”.

    Nigeria’s successive governments seem not to fully appreciate the value of education in development. There is a seeming ignorance about the impact of illiteracy in the Nigerian political economy. Nigeria has a staggering number of about 137 million citizens living in multi-dimensional poverty.  A huge percentage of the problem of poverty is illiteracy in a world ruled by ideas polished through education. Nigeria has never met the UN annual budgetary benchmark of 26% for education. In fact, it has never even hit 20% in any given year.

    This has very huge implications. The education system doesn’t seem to serve the maximum number of people. So many socio-religious issues seem to be on the way.  There is lack of total appreciation for the prime value of an educated population.  Successive governments  seem to pay lip service to education and the result is what we have at the moment where things seem to go from bad to worse.

    Most times, those at the helm of education do not appear to put emphasis on the right requirements. Teachers are some of the least paid public servants. This sadly is why very few young people have the ambition of being teachers. Teachers are treated as second class workers as their salaries are often too poor especially in public schools. Infrastructural development is equally poorly managed across the country as some pupils and students still study in very pathetic environments like under trees and barely roofed classrooms. No one knows how much is invested by government in teachers’ training schools to make it more attractive.

    Early marriage, insecurity and poverty are some other factors that affect school enrolments and there seems to be little attention paid to enforcing child enrolment at least for the basic primary education that is compulsory and free across the nation.  The proliferation of private schools that are often out of the reach of many parents came as a result of lack of government attention to public schools which ironically today’s politicians gained from in their days, most even with either state or federal scholarships. Paradoxically, most Nigerian politicians in contrast to the teachers that groomed them live in obscene luxury.

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    The Roundtable Conversation had in the last few weeks discussed the unfortunate muddled up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) that is the organizing body for the exams. More than three hundred thousand candidates had had to retake the examination because of what the registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede alleged was a technical glitch caused by some individuals in the organization.  A 19 year old female candidate had out of frustration for the poor marks she received from the exam body committed suicide. She might not be the only one but her case came to limelight through the media. Some other affected students might not commit suicide but both them and their parents are traumatized and might be forever impacted by that singular mishap. Many others might drop the idea of tertiary education completely even if they are super talented.  Those would be loses to the nation.

    Just as Nigerians tried to take the JAMB tragedy in their stride while waiting for full investigation and disclosure by the organization, videos of West African Senior School Certificate Examination  (WASSCE) students writing their English language exams with torch lights in several examination centers flooded the media. Students were seen struggling to write exams in very horribly dark examination centers with all sorts of improvised lighting. Some parents and guardians were seen around expressing their outrage and discomfort.

    The question is, what is really the value the nation puts on education? This is not a problem with budgeting or infrastructure, this is purely the failure of those in charge to plan and to be sensitive to what ought to be normal course of events.  Let’s assume for anything that there were logistical problems, why did the West African Examination Council (WAEC) not postpone the exams in the affected centers to a later date? Why should children be subjected to such an tacky examination environment? What kind of mental torture were those children subjected to and what results no matter how brilliant a student is can be expected to be produced under such conditions?

    These two incidents with JAMB and WAEC are testimonies to how careless Nigerian agencies can be with education. Even if JAMB can be excused based on possibly technical issues which is normal with human processes, what excuses does WAEC have for making students write examinations with torch lights and candles in 2025? By the way, the exam is a regional one and Nigeria seems to be the black leg.This is very telling of a dysfunctional system where people do not care for consequences of their actions. We expect heads to roll.

    Then the question is, why do these things happen in a country with the most educated and talented Africans in the world? Lack of reward and punishment easily comes to mind. These recent incidents are not isolated cases. There have been a litany of dysfunction in both exam bodies over the years but sadly not many if any heads had rolled in punishment. Who are those whose negligence normally causes exam malpractices and fraudulent centers to thrive? What attempts have been made to nail perpetrators?

    The Roundtable Conversation knows that there are Committees both at the House of Representatives and the Senate that have Oversight functions over the Ministry of Education and affiliate agencies. What do they assume is their job? Do their duties just end at appropriating funds to these agencies? What diligence do they bring to the table in a country that should be number one in education in the world? It seems they are mainly reactionary when cases  of incompetence or negligence is highlighted by the media.

    The essence of the third tripod of Oversight as the function of the legislature in a democracy is for them to be actively a supervisory body that takes detailed interest in the executive arms and the agencies under them. The Nigerian legislature possibly assumes that their only job is to take care of their own welfare and grandstand as the second arm of government  without much active participation through stringent oversight functions.

    The Nigerian legislators seem to misunderstand their legislative roles. They are the ones with the proverbial sword of Damocles that should fall on any erring executive ministry or agency. Rather what happens is that they almost always react following public outrage. This is why it does appear like there are no barricades and ministries and agencies often do not act in the interest of the people.  A good party loyalty route should be in making sure that the ministries and agencies work for the people of Nigeria.

    On the face of it, the tragedies with JAMB and WAEC would appear as minor issues that can be swept under the carpet but a good analysis of the issues involved shows that such issues contribute to the decline of interest in education in the country and Nigeria cannot afford to slide down the education slope given the already bad state of illiteracy in Nigeria. Institutions like JAMB and WAEC as academically inclined agencies must like Ceasar’s wife, be above reproach.

    The impact of these pitfalls can be far reaching. More young people would drop out as the agencies stumble through carelessness and negligence through trust deficits. Academic achievements don’t come easy. To create extra huddles for students and parents just exacerbates the problems in the education sector. The two examination bodies through all the systemic tackiness merely discourage interest in scholarship in young minds.

    Underdevelopment is not a national disaster. It is a result of lack of planning and prioritizing human development. The metaphoric Singapore that Lee Quan Yew created emerged because he invested in the human capital of his country. Today, a country of less than 6million people with very few natural resources is in the first world. It was not a divine miracle. The leadership of the country and many of the Asian Tigers are where they are today because of investment in education of their human capital.

    Sadly, Nigeria with all its human and material resources is still an underdeveloped economy with millions in the abject poverty index. There must be a concerted effort to take education more seriously in the country and prioritize the sector along with healthcare. This is why donor agencies and individuals like Bill gates invest so much money in the health and education sector. Nigeria has a decision to make!

    •The dialogue continues…