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Friday 28 April 2017

We must learn from the mistakes of bad political judgement

There is no better way to learn how to succeed than to learn from past mistakes. The rest of the world have chosen the pathway to success, we're only concerned with the next election, chibok girls, it's our turn to rule, etc. Now what we have is more burial grounds instead of good schools, quality healthcare facilities,broadband, etc. Read Life in a Rural Society: ( http://www.zurumnewsdigest.com/2017/02/life-in-rural-society-you-give-me-food.html?spref=fb )

It's just recently we found out why the politicians like burial grounds , thick forests, and abandoned buildings , crumbling infrastructure; where they dump public funds..

There is very strong indication that the leadership has recurring health issues, unfit to continue in office. What the legislators need to do is simply pass a vote of no confidence if he can't continue, so that the Vice President can move the nation forward. We've seen his great capability to deliver, to rally a devastated nation.

Our leaders need to rise above personal and tribal interests, resentments and learn to avoid creating the conditions for political tensions and uncertainty. Leadership comes with responsibility. An effective leader must be present and deeply involved in the day-to-day workings of the country.

 When we get something wrong, we try to understand why and quickly make a change, so that we can focus on what works to help take the country to the next level.

 We have emphasised the need for Decentralisation. Decentralisation helps the regions, states, LGAs to take ownership. It helps them get challenged to work hard. Decentralisation 'creates a high level of loyalty, devotion and innovation'.
The time to build inclusiveness, end monopoly of power and violence is now.

We need a quick economic boost not confusion. The Minister for information says the president wants to work from home as if running the country is a family business, basically, all the basic duties of government must go to his sitting room.

We need improvement in infrastructure, motorways, railways to connect cities, new and better airports, new bridges. We must put an end to the conquering ideology that has dominated our politics since 1970 and remove the barriers to development. Look at the politics of River-Niger bridge. It's been in the election manifesto of major political parties since 1979. What happens, absolutely nothing!.

According to Richard Branson; "Updated infrastructure will facilitate the flow of new businesses, help to allow companies move to areas best suited to their needs''. We must get the  government and banks to support entrepreneurship, trade, ' pumping money into new products and services is the best way to deliver more jobs and growth''. The current Vice President understands that a lot.

 I've once written about the Chineese coming to buy some states. Read More: http://www.zurumnewsdigest.com/2016/06/states-for-sale-come-and-buy-my-state.html?spref=fb)
 There is urgent need to look for overseas investors, but this need a stable political enviroment and available pool of skilled workforce, and good tax incentive. We must free up ease of doing business, reduce bureaucracy, promote merit, new skills, pioneering research and innovation,  embrace technology and entrepreneurship.

Let us put an end to constant harrassment and intimidation of innocent people expressing their fundamental rights to help nuture a better society.

 Let our political leaders learn to put the country first, get the right people and the right partnership for achieving long-term success.

Uche Okeke is the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation.

Wednesday 26 April 2017

Uncovering the hard truth about Nigeria's fragile democracy

 I talked about our electoral democracy in my last blog post.- Election every four years.
Every four years we are called to perform the same rituals, Abracadaba (Nollywood etertainment). Whether we participate or not a winner must emerge to continue business as usual.

 Former President Goodluck Jonathan has finally opened up on the implications of identity politics in our polity and how he was undermined in power. The current president has decided to operate from home instead of getting the Vice to move the country forward and the legislators are finding it difficult to do the needful, everybody is now waiting for the next election.

According to Pius Adesanmi, "the average Nigerian politician does not connect with his constituents at the level of ideas. What drives Nigerian politics is the sharing of cheap envelopes containig a percentage of stolen funds".

 Indeed, we must stand-up against a repellant system that condems our future. This government promised us restructuring, now they're talking about the next election, probably to promise another restructuring.
The political party that guarantees us decentralisation should be voted come2019, alternatively people should vote for regional political parties.

The current dispensation only confirms the fears of many with its 20th century ideologies.- a small minority holding the rest of us to ransome.using division, sycophancy and violence to renegate on election promises.

I think the colonial masters were far better; they built roads, provided very good education, hospitals, vocational training, new skills. What we have now is people dumping national funds in forests and burial grounds.

Everywhere is littered with abandoned projects. The only job now available is whistle-blowing, roadblocks. Young people are now combing all the thick forests and burial grounds looking for abandoned money.
"All domination must end; but after how much devastation?"-Charles Krauthammer.

We must remember in the words of Gandhi; "A small minority cannot control an unco-operative majority, so they must be distracted, divided, tyrannised or anaesthetised into compliance".

The ongoing voter registration is another opportunity to look for responsive leadership that will create the condition for local autonomy that guarantees inclusivessness, and greater economic development.

Go now to register to enable you have the opportunity to effect change with your votes come 2019.

Uche Okeke.

Tuesday 25 April 2017

Nigeria's Electoral Democracy: 'Power. Conspiracy. Corruption'.

At last we now have a good platform to help build informed citizenry by providing independent analysis of our electoral democracy where a group of people with a monopoly of violence hijacked the polity with the aid of the people that helped them to win elections.
 The elites control national resources including the local government areas making participation very difficult.

Through out this dispensation, all we've been hearing is how our elected officials have been moving looted funds around, using private jets, superyatchts, and now buring the stolen funds in uncompleted buildings, forests and burial grounds- what a country!.

 We have emphasised the need for inclusivessness by advocating for decentralisation/regional autonomy to help free-up national resources at the centre to enable grassroot development and overall economic development. The current federal system of government creates the condition for individualism, sycophancy and corruption through identity politics.

For further information on our analysis of social issues in Nigeria read :  http://www.zurumnewsdigest.com/

 Citizens want to work with the government to improve their lives. They are seeking deeper engagement in decisions that affect their lives.They want government that is open.inclusive and responsive.

Sadly our democratic experience is in continuos retrogression devoid of inclusiveness and accountability. According to UNDP: "Inequality and exclusion are major impediments to human progress already threatening both global security and social stability within countries''.

 It's our desire to help make citizens aware of the money allocated to their services, the actual conditions of the services, to ensure accountability, helping them make informed choices about leadership. "raising poor citizens voice through the ballot and widely available information can increase their influence with policy makers and reduce the diversion of public services''- World Bank.

 Citizens need information and the skills to voice their concerns, act collectively, and hold public officials accountable.
We'll be seeking to publish monthly and annual accounts allocated to the States, LGA's and Constituency funds, to help citizens hold their elected officials to account.

Elected officials should do more to embrace economic diversification, massive infrastructure development, encourage research and innovation and seek partnerships that will help prepare ordinary people for the new way of doing things including a new way of jobs.

 The truth is that loads of jobs will disappear in the future due to technology. This portends a great danger and there seems to be no adequate preparations given the consolidation of the status-quo.

According to Professor  Gerry Warburg ; Our goal is neither to  'produce partisan talking points, nor to favour one governance philosophy over others', rather to help facilitate citizen engagement by helping ordinary people have informed knowledge of democracy, democratic process, participation,  resources allocated to them and how they can have effective dialogue with elected officials and policy makers for effective and efficient service delivery.




Uche Okeke.

The LEAD Project Foundation