The Nation Newspaper

Tag: stability

  • Centrality of Opposition to stability, sustainability of democracy

    Centrality of Opposition to stability, sustainability of democracy

    The climax of democratic consolidation on the African Continent has, generally speaking, taken place in the de-jure transitions from single party rule, where incumbent regimes monopolised nearly every facet of political and economic life, to a system of plural politics where alternative parties were legally permitted to organise and challenge the existing political order. For many of the incumbent parties on the continent as well as international donors, multiparty elections were and still are considered to be the clearest expression of a ‘new’ liberal political order and the pinnacle of democratic decision-making. However, the majority of those that follows and conducts research on the African political scene point out that the emergence of opposition political parties and multiparty elections is an insufficient measure of democracy, whereby most African states appear to be in the midst of a stalled transition (Whitehead, 2000).

    This textbook offers a new perspective on political opposition in contemporary African democracies. After a critical review of the classic and contemporary literature on the subject, it proposes a renewed definition of opposition that better grasps the complexity of political opposition in democracies. In addition, the textbook proposes setting a new agenda for future research on political opposition. The book is structured around a number of topics which are considered to be pertinent to the analysis of opposition parties and the current intellectual debate on opposition political parties in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular.

    Following no particular order of choice, chapter one of this book by Salihu Niworu set the tone by assessing opposition party in the face of primitive accumulation in Nigeria. The chapter discusses succinctly how the ruling party utilizes the poverty and quest for material accumulation of the opposition parties to entrench their dominance in the political system. The author notes that after a decade of democratization in Nigeria, the dominant political party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not shown any concrete index of meeting the aspirations of the Nigerian people.

    He therefore calls for vibrant opposition to checkmate the excessiveness of the ruling party. Chapter two by Elegunlusi focuses on the philosophy of opposition political party and development in Nigeria. The author adopts historical methods in discussing opposition parties and their involvement in national politics. He notes that even though opposition parties are important in tackling the crisis of development in democratic African societies, their existence is mostly threatened by African ruling governments. He also argues that in situations where governmental policies are left unchallenged, the socio-economic and political situations of the country will not advance.

    From a philosophical perspective, Bartholomew Onyekwere examines opposition party and the quest for good governance in Nigeria. In it, the author shows that in countries that have entrenched democratic culture, there are civilized ways of employing the principle of checks and balances in the democratic dispensation and that one common way of doing it is through the practice of party opposition. He critically examines the various contributions of opposition activities since Nigeria’s independence and that opposition practice in Nigeria has made valuable contributions to the effect that the ruling party has had to be careful when formulating policies.

    Aderonke Majekodunmi’s contribution centers on opposition parties and good governance in Africa. The author shows that the issue of good governance is at the heartof developmental and political discourse in Africa and that the indispensable role of opposition parties in protecting the interests and rights of citizens, monitoring government and ultimately in good governance cannot be over-emphasized.

    The author locates the function of opposition in good governance. She notes that opposition have had very limited opportunity to contribute positively to the process of democratic governance in the continent. In chapter five, Michael Oni and Emmanuel Oluwole, succinctly focuses on opposition parties as opposition to good governance in Nigeria. The authors note that in developed polity, opposition parties ensure that the government in power is on its toes and that opposition parties in these polities are regarded as alternative government or government in the waiting. This is because they are virile, organized and coherent to pose threats and challenge misrule of the government in power. However, this is not the case in Nigeria where opposition parties are in disarray, unorganized and not potent enough to serve as government in the waiting. As a way out, they advocate that opposition parties need to close ranks to serve as alternative government in order to ensure that the government in power sits tight to offer good governance to the people.

    Adeola Gabriel discusses how robust opposition political party is a necessary institution for democratic stability in Nigeria. For him, the essence of opposition party is a necessary regulation to curtail the tyranny of majority ruling party. The author argues pertinently for the institution of a strong, powerful and robust opposition political party as a necessary checks and balances to the ruling party, the stability of the political system, the sustainability and progress of Nigerian society. He believes that the absence of a robust opposition political party will hinder pluralism which is necessary in enhancing proliferation of opinions and beliefs that characterize a stable social order. Blessing Thom-Otuya and Goddey Wilson focus on opposition political party and democratization in Nigeria.

    The authors are of the opinion that the activities of opposition parties have significant impact on democratic activities in Nigeria. As a result, attempts were made in the chapter to examine the challenges and various ways of strengthening opposition party in Nigeria. Opposition political parties and democratic consolidation in Nigeria’s fourth republic is the focus of chapter eight. The author argues that good governance cannot be achieved in Nigeria without the opposition challenging unpopular policies and constant demand for accountability from the ruling party. The chapter concludes by underscoring the need for the various opposition parties to work together rather than against one another. This is imperative in order to build strong opposition to the ruling party as well as offer better options towards democratic consolidation in the country.

  • Nigeria’s threshold of stability

    SIR: Obviously, the prophesy of doomsday prophets preceding the last presidential election has come to naught. It is on record that the international community and some individuals predicted doom if any of the two major contenders in the 2015 presidential election; President Goodluck Jonathan of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), or General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC), lost the election. But in every contest, there will definitely be a winner and a loser. The rest is history.

    Congratulations and thanks to President Jonathan for his political maturity and statesman-like conduct. He conceded defeat earlier by congratulating on phone the winner, Gen. Buhari prior to official announcement of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and this went a long way in stabilizing the nation’s already high temperature.

    At this juncture, President-elect, Gen. Buhari deserves more of sympathy than congratulations. He rode on the crest of change mantra to attain this historic victory of defeating an incumbent president. The change he promised during his campaigns has raised the citizens’ expectations. Nigerians want positive socio-economic change from the day he is sworn-in as president on May 29, 2015. We need education that will produce employable graduates while poverty index needs to be improved.

    The sick economy needs to be healed; there should be moral discipline in the management of government expenditures as we expect corruption to be drastically reduced and security of lives and property given premium consideration. To whom much is given, much is expected and probably, the President-elect has recognized this fact.

     

    • Yusuf Anuphawi,

    Finance quarters Wuye, Abuja

  • Politics, elections and stability

    Let  me  start     on    the   premise that  politics  when  played  by the rules  and  done  legitimately  facilitates  good  and  fair  elections  which  ultimately  lead  to  political  stability and  a peaceful  environment. It    follows  therefore  that  in  talking  about  Nigeria’s  2015  elections  and  the state  of  tension    and   friction  bothering  on  hysteria    that   we are  in     right  now  this  premise  does  not  hold  water  in  our  nation. Which  means  my assignment  on this  score today is  to  highlight  events  and issues  that give  cause  for concern  in  our polity or  indeed  any  nation,  and  constitute  serious threat  to  an    environment’s, collective  existence,  security  and   peace      of   mind.

    The  first  cause of concern was the challenge purportedly  given by  Femi  Fani  Kayode, the  Goebbels of  the  ruling  PDP to  APC  flagbearer retired  General  Muhammadu  Buhari  on  his role  in the July  29  1966  countercoup  in  which  several  Ibo  military  officers including  former  Head  of state  then  General  Aguiyi  Ironsi  and the former  governor  of the West  Colonel Kunle  Fajuyi   were  killed . The  second  was  the advice  given  to the  incumbent  president by  his  host  the  Awujale  of  Ijebuland  when  he  visited  the  Oba  to  canvass  for  his  support. The  third  is  the     CNN  interview  of  Prince  Charles  the Prince  of  Wales  and  his wife  Camilla,  the  Duchess    and  my  interpretation  of  that in terms  of political  stability of  British  democracy which  is robust  but  is still  tied  to the apron  string  of  the British  monarchy.

    The  PDP  Director  of  Communications  spoke  in  Umuahia  the heart  land  of  Igbo  land  and  he was quoted  as saying that the APC   presidential  candidate had  his hand full  with  Ibo  blood during  the coup. So  Fani  Kayode’s  speech  was well  timed  in terms  of  context and  location  for  maximum  effect.  His  goal  was  to  invoke  painful  memories  of  the coup  against  the  North  which  Buhari  represents    and  provoke  the Ibos    to  vote  against  Buhari  and  the  APC.

    This  is an act  of  incitement with  no respect  for  the history  and stability  of  Nigeria . It  shows  clearly  that the  ruling  party  is ready  to  do anything to  retain  power.  Since  the PDP  has  not  renounced  the speech and published  statement,  it shows  that the party  has  endorsed  it  and  that is dangerous  for  the  security  and political  stability  of  Nigeria.  This  is  because  coups,  military  interventions and  countercoups  and  civil  wars  are not just  ordinary  politics and once  over  should not  be  politicized  or  made  the contents  of  political  campaigns  as  Fani  Kayode  has  done  so  recklessly  and  brazenly in  Umuahia.

    Such  episodes  in the  life  of a nation  are  like  revolutions  which  Mao  said  was  politics carried  on  by other  means  principally  violence.  It  is  crass  ignorance  on the  part   of  the  PDP  Campaign  spokesman not  to  know  how to  draw  a line  on what constitute a campaign  issue.  A  coup  such as the July  29  1966  coup is certainly  not  one  and  the  PDP  should  rein  in its  Director  of  Communications  before  he  sets  the nation ablaze again on  issues  that the  costly  civil  war  we fought  have put behind  us. As  things  stand we  have enough  on our plate with  Boko  Haram  and  the conduct  of a free and fair 2015a election  without the  costly  distraction  of  the  recall   of  a    bitter  past by  a desperate  and  overzealous politician   with  no  sense  of  history and patriotism,  who  is just  eager  to  get  public   attention,  no  matter  how the way  he  does  it  affects  the stability  and  peace  of  our political  system and  polity.

    The  second  issue  was  the advice  given  by  the Awujale  to  President  Goodluck  Jonathan when  he  went to  his  palace  to campaign. The  Ijebu  monarch  told  his visitor  that it is not the duty  of an Oba  to  tell  his people  who  to  vote for. This  he said is the  right  thing not  only in Ijebuland  but in Yorubaland  generally. The  Oba  said  the duty  of an Oba  is  to guide  his  people  to  make a choice  so that they  don’t vote in those  he called  looters.  He  said  he has  called  in people  from  all  walks  of  life  in his  domain  to listen  to  the visitor  and  make  a choice and  the visitor  then  catalogued  his achievements  as usual.

    What  the  Awujale has  done   is  to  set the  enabling  environment  for  a  jus political  participation in a modern democracy   even  though  he  is  a traditional  ruler.  He  has  induced  the  spirit  of  merit and  impartiality in  both  his  subjects  and his  visitor in  one  swoop. He  has  killed  two  birds  with  one stone  in  the  process. He  has  fused  innovation  with tradition  and turned  it  into  modernity. He  has  taught  his  august  visitor  and  his powerful  entourage the political  virtues of  fairness, choice, accountability and  transparency  just with a single  campaign  visit  from  the president of the nation  on his  busy  campaign  schedule. The  Awujale’s  contribution  and  advice  should   strengthen  our political  system  and  our collective  security. Other  traditional  rulers     in    this   nation should  emulate  his sense  of fairness  and state  building from the  conduct  of elections  and  social  mobilization.

    The  third  and  last  issue  may  sound  strange  and  far fetched but  it is relevant  and  apposite  in terms  of our  topic  of  today. I  have  seen  the interview  of Prince  Charles and  his wife  Camilla on  CNN this week  and  I just could  not  resist  hazarding a guess as to why  the sudden publicity for this  virtually  forgotten royal  couple especially  as  the Jubilee Celebrations  and Royal  wedding  have  fuelled  rumours  that the  couple  or  Charles  in  particular  will  not ascend the British throne  because they were  tainted  with divorce.  I  personally  have never  agreed  with such thinking and look  forward  to seeing the day the present Prince  of Wales  will  succeed his  mother  as  King  of  England  and Camilla  as  his  Queen according  to  the British  Constitution. This  is because  of  my  colonial  experience as a youth  impressed  by the royal  family  early in life. Indeed it is what is commonly called Colonial  mentality which  I really am not bothered  about.  But  I am  impressed  with the way the  wily  British  are  preparing  the public  mind for an abdication  by the Queen  paving the way  for his  ageing  son to succeed her. It  is the fashion  nowadays as recently done  by the monarchs  in Spain  and Sweden  recently.

    Again,  I  must  end with my  favorite  quotation on British  political  stability  when ever  I  discuss  the  British  political  system.  It is  that –  ‘With  the Queen  in  Buckingham  Palace  every  Briton  sleeps well  in his bed. ‘With  the Charles  and  Camilla interview shown  globally  this week  you  must prepare  to  substitute   King  for  Queen  in  that quotation   very  soon  as I  believe  that was the purpose  of  all that  brouhaha  on Charles and  Camilla on CNN this week.

  • Fostering prosperity and stability

    Fostering prosperity and stability

    Women entrepreneurs all over the world are now understood to be accelerators of global growth. Their difficulty accessing capital, however, is a global challenge. Yetunde Oladeinde identifies ways they can make use of the opportunities provided by cooperative societies to change their world.

    Unfortunately, a number of aspiring entrepreneurs get turned down trying to access a credit line that is critical to starting up their business. For a long time, this has been the trend because women do not have collaterals and the other requirements needed as backups.

    While they continue to  struggle to access the capital they need to spur economic development, the opportunity cost is profound, given that women’s economic impact is magnified by a multiplier effect; women are more likely than men to plough earnings back into their communities, fostering prosperity and stability.

    But despite their systemic disadvantage, women are launching businesses at an impressive rate. At a recent forum, the challenges for women were identified and by proffering solutions, they were advised to seek survival strategy using the cooperative business model as a choice model.

    The event which took place at the University of Lagos multipurpose hall began at 10 am with a welcome address and formal opening by the representative of the Director of Cooperative Society, Mrs. Ibraheem Zulikha.

    The first lecture titled, “Understanding the cooperative business model for the maximisation of benefits to stakeholders” was handled by Mr. M.G Oduola. He began by admonishing participants to see the cooperative society as an enterprise or a business concern with a difference. This is because the survival strategy of a cooperative depends on sound business planning, careful market analysis, competent management and adequate capital, amongst other things.

    Oduola stated that “the management of a cooperative can be professionalised only if the training of officers, members, managers and employees is professionalised.”

    The presentation went on to introduce participants to the cooperative law and regulations as stated under Chapter 15 of the laws of Lagos State, 2003 as well as the roles of different stakeholders in the effective management of cooperative societies.

    The second presentation titled, “Cooperatives as a path to financial freedom” was taken by Mrs. Adeola Essien. She started on an interactive note, asking participants to identify and define financial freedom. Participants went on to stress the fact that financial intelligence was missing from schools’ curriculum while this is a most important aspect of life and everyday living.

    She also talked about the things to do to ensure this. They include, according to her, financial audit, investment in financial intelligence, increase in income streams, reduce your expenses, open an Escrow account as well as seek opportunities to build your asset column.

    Essien also advised that there is a need to have self audit regularly. Other areas that she explored include investments in real estate, paper investments, intellectual property and network marketing.

    Dr Maymunah Kadiri took the third presentation titled, “Diabetes and hypertension; silent killers associated with executives.”

    Dwelling on the fact that health is wealth, she admonished all the participants to take good care of themselves in order to enjoy what they laboured for. She informed that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) kill more than 36 million people each year. Nearly 80 per cent of these deaths (29 million people) occur in low and middle income countries. While more than nine million of all deaths attributed to NCDs occur before the age of 60.

    The programme ended with the last presentation by Mr. Adenuga on: “Harnessing the business opportunities in Agriculture.” He emphasised that agriculture business portends availability and affordability of food, employment generation, youth empowerment, aid rural transformation as well as increase life expectancy. He went on to talk about the opportunities in poultry, fish-farming, rice-farming, cassava, coconut, fruits and vegetable preservation and processing. Other areas that Adenuga identified include investments in modern lairage and abattoirs, feed lots, butchers shops and cold storage.

  • China’s growing stake in stability

    China’s growing stake in stability

    China’s growing investment in industries worldwide chills those who see in it the specter of a global economic behemoth. But there could be more reason to welcome than fear this new role. By giving China a greater stake in global and regional stability and prosperity, these investments could ease the tensions created by China’s geopolitical activities.

    China has had a major role in world financial markets for years. But investment in foreign businesses by its public and private companies could soon overtake foreign investment in China, said Shen Danyang, a Commerce Ministry spokesman. Direct investments abroad not only create employment and wealth in the recipient countries, but, if they are large enough, they can bind national economies and political interests, stabilizing relationships.

    The Lenovo Group, a major computer manufacturer, recently made acquisitions worth more than $5 billion to push into the smartphone business in the United States. The company is based in Beijing but has a hub in Morrisville, N.C. Xu Weiping, the creator of huge business parks in China, is investing $1.6 billion to turn the abandoned Royal Albert Dock in London into the main European hub for Chinese companies. He said more than 60 Chinese businesses had agreed to take space in the development.

    Last week, the French government and the Chinese state-owned Dongfeng Motor agreed to buy $4 billion in shares of the troubled French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroën. The investment provides Dongfeng with technological upgrades and Peugeot with capital to restructure so it can become competitive again. The deal raises China’s stake not only in Peugeot but in the health of the French economy and in its relationship with the French government.

    Chinese investment in Japan has been in the billions for several years, despite tensions over conflicting claims about islets in the East China Sea that some strategic analysts fear could lead to war. But it makes little sense to go to war while increasing investments that could be confiscated during a conflict. Even though China does not seem worried about stirring up this rivalry, further Chinese investment in Japan should motivate China to tone down its aggressiveness out of self-interest.

    Deepening economic integration can act as a counterweight to international political difficulties. Japanese and European governments should take heart in the flow of Chinese capital that provides the much-needed investment in their current struggles to fight deflation. Conversely, any nationalistic effort to restrict the flow of Chinese capital would heighten anxieties to no one’s benefit.

    – New York Times

     

  • ‘Taxation promotes global wealth, stability’

    ‘Taxation promotes global wealth, stability’

    The stability and growth of world economies will depend on their adaptation of efficient and effective tax policies, President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Sunday Femi Jegede, has said.

    Speaking ahead of the 15th Annual Tax Conference holding from May 7 to 11 in Calabar, the CITN boss said how tax revenues are generated and spent by different levels of government should be of utmost concern to civil society groups, local communities and entire population. He said such awareness would help put the needed checks that will bring lasting development to the people.

    He said the conference with theme: Global stability, revenue generation and economic growth would serve as a unique opportunity for participants to interact with tax administrators and policy makers who will attend from the continent and globally.

    The CITN boss said sub-themes are – The imperatives of service delivery in governance; fraud, corruption and taxation; Transfer pricing and thin capitalisation, among others.

    He said the theme of this year’s conference was informed by contemporary realities of this era where economies of many countries are passing through turbulence that could be addressed with efficient tax system.

    “The conference has been packaged to be a yet another rewarding experience for all participants, and will feature tax experts and policy makers that will enrich the knowledge of participants on tax matters,” Jegede said.

    He regretted that tax policies applied in most countries have failed to achieve their objectives, thereby denying the people the potentials and advantages accruable from good fiscal policy reform.

     

  • Foreign Intervention, Diplomacy and Stability

    Foreign Intervention, Diplomacy and Stability

    The  decision by French President Francois Hollande  to send French troops to Mali to fight rebels who have seized  the northern part of that nation was predicated  on the need to save a friendly nation’s sovereignty and preserve regional stability according to French diplomatic sources.

    However, foreign intervention generally has always been condemned in diplomatic circles because it violates the territorial integrity  and sovereignty of  the victim nation  as more often than not such incursion or intervention  is  military and without the invitation or the approbation of such a nation. Indeed foreign intervention is an option of the last resort in the comity of nations nowadays  as the  Syrian   fighters trying ardently to remove the blood thirsty regime of Bashar Assad  in Syria have found to  their cost  as they have asked for the intervention of the international community  to help overthrow  the tyrant in Damascus to no avail.

    Yet  many Africans  undoubtedly breathed a sigh of relief when the news broke early this week that France the former colonial power  in Mali has sent troops to that country to drive out the rebels that have seized the northern part of the country  for some time now. While one could scoff that France,  like the proverbial dog has returned to its vomit,  which nominally is a repugnant act, there is no denying  that this intervention has boosted the prestige of France   as a decisive and humane member of the international community and the reasons are not far fetched.

    Firstly, procrastination, it  has been stressed   many times,  is  the thief of time but it has  unfortunately  also been the   unnamed Mali Policy of ECOWAS,  the sub regional group that was given approval by the UN Security Council to secure Mali and drive  out  the invaders of that nation.

    ECOWAS had announced it was raising an army of 6000 troops with Nigeria expected to contribute  600  but till the French landed in Bamako  this week  there was no ECOWAS troops on ground in Mali. Indeed it was when the internet showed pictures of French tanks said to be about 50 moving into the interior  of Mali  that Nigeria announced that it was sending 200 troops and Chad also said it would send 2000.

    The French had sent 800 men initially and expect that to be beefed up to 2,500 eventually. It is apparent that France is more concerned and committed to the salvation and sovereignty  of its former colony, Mali, than its neighbors and fellow members in ECOWAS with which it shares propinquity and contiguity. Which throws up the inevitable question as to which is more important in diplomacy  in African nations  – the umbilical cord  of colonialism  or the regional bond of diplomacy and international relations. Given the way the Malians cheered the French Army on the streets of Mali as they moved north to oust the invaders of Mali, there is no doubt that colonial ties have ousted the weak kneed, dithering  diplomacy of ECOWAS nations as the savior of Mali,s  soverengty and  integrity  in its hour of need. This is not to say that the French by merely landing have routed the invaders and  accomplished their mission in Mali. We  are just saying that France’s decisiveness has given hope not only to Malians but also other West Africans who can see the danger of not containing the invasion of Mali and the consequences of that for the ECOWAS sub region.

    The danger lies in the fact that the north of W Africa which is called the Sahel has become a danger to ECOWAS members and what happened in Mali could happen in any of them. Nigeria already has a foretaste in the menace of Boko Haram which wants to introduce Sharia law and has been bombing Churches in the  north for some time. In Mali’s case there are three types of insurgents  in the north namely the Malian Tuaregs who want to secede , a  branch   of Al Qada in the Magreb  and a body that aims to unite jihadists in West Africa. These are the groups that have invaded the northern part of Mali after driving the Malian army sent to contain them out of the north and back to Bamako, Mali’s capital .Obviously the French president has seen the danger that ECOWAS leaders are shortsighted about and France has moved to nip in the bud a contagion that it can not afford to   allow   to destroy its prized assets and connections  not only in Francophone Africa   but  in the entire W/Africa sub region.

    Again,  one can accuse the French of being led  to  act by business I and commercial interests or  scold  their president   for  using a  foreign adventure to divert attention away from growing disaffection over his economic policies at home in France especially the 75% tax  on 1m euros that is driving   young and bright entrepreneurs away from France.

    Yet  one must admit that France has always had a soft spot for  its colonial subjects for whom it formulated a policy  of Assimilation  aimed at turning them into black Frenchme. Whether that has made the subjects incapable of ruling themselves after independence and without France is another matter.

    This is because the French  have  had to intervene earlier in Ivory Coast to drive out Lawrent Gbagbo and install Alasane Ouattara, the present president of Ivory Coast and Chairman of ECOWAS after a bitterly contested presidential election result

    Indeed, in the recent past,  after the  independence of African nations  especially the Francophone ones in the  fifties and sixties,  the French always provided troops to keep the status quo and prevent coups in Francophone states. It was the advent and popularity of elective democracy  later that  made  France to withdraw into its shell and look the other way while military coups toppled its favorite allies  in some Francophone   African states.

    Now France is back with aplomb to rescue  a former colony and  you want to wander whether Mali’s independence  on June 20  1960 so many years ago was worth the celebrations and   gaiety that accompanied it; given the fact  that France in  2013  is literally   still   helping Mali to wipe its bloodied nose arising from the blatant   and   easy assault  on its territorial integrity  and sovereignty by roaming desert warriors.

    Lastly, one cannot comment on this French invasion of Mali without making some observations on the attack on the BP oil facility in Algeria and the holding of many hostages from European nations. It  has been widely reported   that the  attackers have asked  that part of the conditions for their release is that France should stop its invasion of Mali.

    It  was  however  nice to know that the Algerian authorities   have not only  vowed not to negotiate   with the terrorists but the Algerian  military  have surrounded the facility, which from its picture on internet is an isolated desert facility  whose  location  should tell a story of its own.

    This is because Northern Mali is  in a similar location   or environment  to the BP facility in Algeria. It  follows therefore that ECOWAS  should send troops prepared and trained for desert warfare  or train them for such, before sending them to Mali. We  have read that the French troops in Mali are from an elite brigade well versed in desert warfare  and are on familiar grounds in Mali as such.

    As  events unfold however   is difficult to resist the temptation to give a name to this French intervention in  Mali and its Algerian connection. Since the first  Gulf War   over the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq was called Desert Storm  one needs a more imaginative and different name.

    I call the French intervention in Mali  the  ‘Sahel Assault ‘as  a mark  of respect for the foresight and precocity of the French President Francois Hollande, in showing decisively that a stitch in time saves nine in terms of regional security; and that in diplomacy, intervention can be justified pragmatically on the grounds  of regional stability  and   the protection of territorial integrity.

     

  • OPEC to focus on market stability

    The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has said it would focus on ensuring oil market stability this year in view of the uncertainty of the global economy, which has been lingering in the past few years.

    The organisation in its latest bulletin said that when OPEC’s oil/energy ministers gathered in Vienna for the 162nd meeting last month; they were faced with the challenge of addressing an uncertain outlook for the international oil market in 2013.

    The challenge according to the bulletin, was tied to the stuttering performance of the world economy, which the OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) released last month, described as experiencing “another year of deceleration” in 2012.

    Although the market report noted that some indicators pointed to a tentative recovery in the second half of last year, a momentum that it said would likely be carried over into 2013. However, it cautioned that “many uncertainties remain.”

    On the uncertainties, the report said that the most important would be avoiding the fiscal cliff in the United States, further decisions on austerity issues in the Euro-zone, and balancing the need to reduce the fiscal debt burden while stimulating growth in Japan. “In the emerging economies, it remains to be seen how domestic demand will be improved, given the likely continuation of low growth in their main exporting markets in the developed world,” it added.

    Such doubts about the global economy, the MOMR added, were “causing a great deal of uncertainty for the forecast for world oil demand, which has a downward risk, especially in the first half of the year.”

    On supply, the report noted that the growth in non-OPEC supply, together with OPEC natural gas liquids and nonconventional oils, was expected to outpace the increase in world oil demand growth in 2013. Indeed, this was already happening, with some notable downward pressure on oil prices since mid-September.

    The conference was emphatic that the biggest challenge facing global oil markets in 2013 was uncertainty surrounding the global economy, noting that projected demand for OPEC crude in 2013 was expected to contract to 29.7 million barrels of oil per day (bopd) even though the organisation would still maintain the production level of 30 million bopd.

    Besides, the organisation informed member countries to if necessary, take steps to ensure market balance and reasonable price levels for producers and consumers. This would mean responding swiftly to developments that might have a detrimental impact on an orderly oil market.

    However, OPEC had in its October market report, noted that the current dampened trend for world oil demand is not expected to change this year, with the market continuing to be characterized by high volumes of crude supply and increasing production capacity. It said that given the uncertainty facing the global economy and the ongoing downside risks, world oil demand growth for 2012 had been frequently revised down, while non-OPEC supply and output of OPEC natural gas liquids (NGLs) had continued to perform well, outpacing demand growth.

    The market report also noted that the global economy had experienced a continuous deceleration since the beginning of 2012, which was the combination of an austerity-driven Eurozone, the weakening recovery in Japan and clear signs of a slow-down in the major emerging economies.

    Furthermore, the report noted that despite the prevailing weakness in the world economy, the slowing momentum was expected to bottom out in 2012. As a result, global growth was projected to be slightly higher in 2013 at 3.2 per cent, compared with an earlier 3.1 per cent.

    The market report warned that two major structural weaknesses represented continued risks to the forecasts and include firstly, that most of the incremental growth was set to come from developing and emerging economies, which to varying degrees were reliant on exports to the developed economies. “Secondly, and even more of a concern, the growth forecast is dependent on the effectiveness of the global oil demand trend unlikely to change in 2013,” the report added.

     

  • In pursuit of peace, stability

    In pursuit of peace, stability

    It was a three-in-one event – Leadership Lecture, Role Model Awards and Workshop on Information Communication Technology (ICT) – but the lecture took the shine off the others.

    The organiser, Leadership Watch, is a non-governmental organisation (NGO), committed to the promotion of good governance and responsible leadership through research, documentation, capacity building, training, trade and investment promotion.

    The group works in partnership with many international institutions

    The roads leading to the event’s venue Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, were unusually free of traffic that day.

    Although attendance was low, the high table paraded eminent men. The calibre of personalities at the special guests section made the audience’s day.

    Different banners of corporate organisations were hung at the entrance of the auditorium.

    The event began with an opening prayer, followed by the National Anthem before Mr Ayo Opadokun, the General Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), who chaired the event, gave his remarks.

    Decked in black Agbada and a cap, Opadokun congratulated Leadership Watch for putting the event together.

    The NADECO chief said the organisation’s insistence that he chairs the occasion demonstrated the resilient attribute of a strategist who is always unrelenting in pursuing a desired goal.

    He promised to continue supporting every positive action geared towards establishing a much-more effective and efficient national security.

    There were keynote addresses and goodwill messages from other guests.

    Opadokun said insecurity in the country calls for concern, asking for innovative strategies to tackle the problem.

    The guest lecturer, Prof. Anya .O. Anya, took the audience on a long speech.

    His lecture was entitled Today’s Insecurity: What it portends for the future.

    The Chairman of the Alpha Institute for Research in Science, Economics and Development (AISED) said violence and insecurity in Nigeria had their root in the pre-colonial era, as violence was then used as an instrument of social control.

    He said violence and insecurity went through various stages until the emergence of the Boko Haram sect, whose activities became more political than religious or ethnic as being painted.

    Prof Anya said Nigerians should not think that they would never get good leaders.

    “The Nigeria of our dream could not be built in the climate of negativity and depreciation of all leaders. Nigeria cannot survive the present level of hypocrisy, insincerity and general sense of amorality that seems to dominate our progressively materialists society,” he said.

    Anya said pragmatic nation building efforts involved patient and cumulative brick-by-brick construction and some degree of myth-making and even symbolism, founded on the ability to select and amplify desirable elements.

    He said: “Yet the picture is not all gloom. All over Nigeria today, there are young men and women, often under 50, many under 40, who are well educated, very professional and who have done incredible things even in this inclement environment. Some have relevant international experience. They are not bound by geography, ethnicity or class. The challenge is how to build a network of these unusual men and women, imbue them with new values based on merit and excellence and challenge them to take on the onerous duty of socio-political redirection.”

    Prof Anya got a standing ovation for the thought-provoking and eye-opening lecture.

    The awardees were presented with plaques by Leadership Watch President Dr. Martins Iwuanyanwu after reading their citations.

    They included Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola – Leadership Role Model; Managing Director of Mobil Oil Nigeria Mr Adetunji Oyebanji – Leadership Role Model; Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service Mrs Rose Uzoma went home with Excellence in Leadership award.

    Fashola, represented by his Special Adviser on Information, Alhaji Lateef Raji, thanked the organiser for recognising the government’s effort at making life easier for the populace.

    He said reward for hardwork begets more work, promising to continue offering selfless service to Lagosians.

    The governor dedicated the award to the young people at the function.

    Mrs Uzoma was represented by the Assistant Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr Abbas Ahmed.

    Ahmed said Mrs Uzoma popularly called mother of immigration truly deserved the honour.

    He said securing the nation is the responsibility of all Nigerians.