Restructuring Nigeria- the big political question of our time; 'history will be our judge'- Uche Okeke

"Restructuring is the only way for any real hope to set the people free in Nigeria"-Uche Okeke. Photo: Google

We have talked about today's undemocratic Nigeria and how people were manipulated to vote for President Buhari out of fear of Boko-Haram and that the economy under Good luck Jonathan was about to collapse, whereas that was the best economy in history of Nigeria with the best competent hands, and the best democratic experience. Videos of under-age voters and other illegal activities now emerging have confirmed the 'sham' we call democracy in Nigeria.
Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/today-nigeria-is-not-democratic-country_26.html

Today the country has become what Professor Jeffrey Sachs described as "havens of unrest, violence and terrorism". Abductions,kidnappings, killings, murder,  massacre, mayhem.
Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/bloody-nigeria-murder-massacre-mayham.html .

 Money for development now used for ransome payments, cattle colony, railway for Niger, Ecowas, etc, Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/special-report-features-farmersherdsmen.html.

Patronage Politics- traditional and religious leaders, pilgrimmage, etc. The government is only interested in the next elections. Is democracy just elections only?.
 Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/the-next-level-ancestral-lands-for.html

We have heard about the rat, snake, monkey and the cow. The opposition party said no records exist at the NNPC since 2015, while the Senate President says 'NNPC stinks despite regime change',etc.
 Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/nigeria-dangerous-animals-in-green.html .

The truth is that our generation now have the opportunity to put an end to this dilemma- 'injustice and dysfunction'. It has no place in the 21st century.

Technology is helping us to see images, videos of the things we hadn't the opportunity to know about in the past. These threats are real and can be avoided if we care, else our children unborn will pay the utmost price. Daily headlines of events in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna states, etc, are a big threat to us and it's real, they can happen in our backyards if we are not very careful to stand firm.

We must reject totalitarian rule, reject cattle colony and demand the restructuring of the current political structure to set people free from this sham democracy/union powered by money and 'special interests'. Alot of people are quite ignorant of this fact and because of poverty and greed, the power holders are using money, media and greedy people seeking for power and riches to manipulate the general public to uphold the status-quo.
Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/the-right-way-to-fix-nigeria.html

We can choose to end this tragedy or our children unborn will curse us. We can choose to accept bribery or succumb to the bullet, it's up to us to reject this injustice and dysfunction, else in the words of Professor Jeffrey Sachs; "history will be our judge". We must do something about it.

 I have just read the position of the South-East Nigeria leaders, this is the right position to take. According to them the Igbo are not interested in the presidency without a restructured Nigeria. Read More: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/02/not-interested-presidency-without-restructuring-igbo-leaders/.

 Meanwhile, Professor Ben Nwabueze has said there is urgent need for a "new and workable constitution for the country" Read More: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/02/prof-nwabueze-reiterates-call-total-restructuring-nigeria/.

 Nigeria's first republic minister , Mbazulike Amaechi has described Nigeria as an "illegality" ruled by laws unknown to the majority of the people of the country. His arguement also supported our position on the need to reject the proposed cattle colony and immediate demand for the restructuring of the current political structure. Read More: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/02/nigeria-illegality-mbazulike-amechi/.

We must demand for the mmediate restructuring of this 'sham' and dysfunctional system which has no future in the 21st century. The choice is ours. We have been warned that 'Developing societies will be hardest hit' in a new globalised world. This is the time to take action. Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/nigeria-government-steps-up-search-for.html

We can change the status-quo. It's a great honour to have the opportunity to add my voice to the great debate about the future and use this platform to share the little i know about how we can help build a new, peaceful and prosperous society. The people need to hear more.
Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/p/blog-page.html.

In the words of Tabia Princewill; "misinformation, duplicity and blatant attempts at hiding the truth are common in Nigeria now, any intelligent conversation or attempt at questioning the status-quo is dismissed as grammer".Read More; https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/02/going-fake-news-misinformation-nigeria/

We are in an 'age of enlightenment' with new ideas of social progress so this is the time to reject endless cycles of bad governance, corruption, exploitation, exclusion, repression, ethnic discrimination, extreme violence, killings, murder, massacre, mayhem, and what Professor Jeffrey Sachs described as 'political despotism'.

 Instead of harnessing today's technological revolution we are fighting yesterday's battle rolling out barbaric policies that create conflicts. Restructuring of the current political structure is the only hope for the future to achieve "sustained improvements in the organisation of social, political and economic life"- Professor Jeffrey Sachs [The End Of Poverty; How We Can Make It In Our Lifetime].

 Read this blog regularly as we continue to explore why democracy has failed in Nigeria and what can be done about it. Let us commit to building a new society where everyone has equal opportunity to live in a peaceful and prosperous society. For change to happen , thinking needs to change.

Nigeria's Democracy And It's Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable; What Can Be Done About It- Uche Okeke. Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/nigeria-democracy-and-its-crisis.html[Get a copy soon].

Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur, the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation. He lives in London.

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis; Deliberate, Avoidable: Let's fix democracy in Nigeria; We must reject the...

The LEAD Project Foundation: Let's fix democracy in Nigeria; We must reject the...: Today the world has turned it's back to the unfortunate days of politics of regret where ignorant and ruthless liabilities manipulated...

Nigeria's Democracy And It's Crisis; Deliberate, Avoidable: Government steps up search for school girls abducted by Boko-Haram terrorists

"Mothers weep after their daughters were kidnapped by Boko-Haram terrorists in Borno State, Nigeria. Photo: Google

About 110 schoolgirls were recently abducted by Boko-Haram terrorists in North-East Nigeria. Boko-Haram which means "western education is forbidden" has a history of abducting young girls especially school girls putting their education at risk.

 According to reports, Boko-Haram has killed more than 20,000 people and forced more than two million to flee from their homes putting lives and food security at risk. President Muhammadu Buhari's promise to crush Boko-Haram terrorism in Nigeria is marred in controversy with claims of defeat by the government and renewed activities of the Islamic terrorists resulting in killing , abduction of civilians especially young school girls and military casualties.

Mixed reactions have followed the government strategy of paying ransome to the terrorist group and the release of captured fighters from detention since the ideology is not defeated and their colleagues still very active in the bush fighting. Increased activities of this terrorist group fuels insecurity in the region and destroys government efforts to invest in growth policies in the region resulting to greater poverty.

It's impossible to make the necessary investments including 'human capital, business, infrastructure, agriculture, public services and education as the war ravages the region. Funds for development ends up funding war against terror, which is not what the people truly need. Nobody knows how long this will go on .

The government said the police and other security officials have been deployed to schools in Borno state to prevent re-occurrence while intensifying efforts to search and secure the release of the missing girls.

 Indeed, this is a national disaster, having to pay the costs of war from meagre national resources, "having painfully to repair the devastations war leaves behind, to fill up the measure of evils, load the country with a heavy national debt"-Jeffrey Sachs [The End Of Poverty; How We Can Make It Happen In Our Life Time].

The time to end this tragedy has come. The government needs to show leadership. The people need to know the truth.



Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur.

Nigeria's Democracy Today: Mistake of Destiny- 'Dishonesty, Manipulation, Violence, Fraud And Failure'- Uche Okeke

Today Nigeria is not a democratic society, rather full blown dictatorship. 2015 Election of President Buhari was not only sold on deliberate lies and false promises but also on fears of safety and security, but the people are now worse off. The President's 'politics, ideas and views' resent modernity and believes in the doctrine divine rights. 'Myth is Right'. The only AGENDA is consolidating their grips on power. The country's political structure is also at the root of the problems. A monstrous conception designed to keep some people in power for ever, just electoral democracy- election every four years. This is not a good fit for development. Absolute power weilded by the state with weak institutions-Legislature, Judiciary, etc to counterweight the power possessed by the state. No independent institutions and rule of law too weak. Constitutional checks and balances under assault, assault on the judiciary- abduction of judges, Government officials choose which law to obey and mock seperation of power. Some are very arrogant to submit to to constitutional checks and balance. According to a new report, Nigeria has dropped to 97 of 113 countries in rule of law ranking. We have seen the new IMF report on the Economy, Oxfam report on Inequality, Transparency International report on corruption, Amnesty International report on killings, Global terrorism report on the Herdsmen, another one as the worst Electricity supply nation, Bloomberg report on Political Deadlock. We have many other report ratings on Education, Healthcare, etc. The anti-graft agency is used soley to witch-hunt political opponents while corrupt politicians decamp to the ruling political party to become free of corruption, corruption rulings reveresed, selective justice, the houses of some political opponents buldozed without due process, weakened the opposition using cruelty and violence, etc. The political structure has helped autocracy and elections are not expected to be free and fair. There is mass propaganda and lies, conspiracy, private life of the leadership including education, health not subject to public discussion or scrutiny, control of the electoral process, fraudlent election(under-age voters, intimidation of election officials, etc), bribery of media, repression of political opponents, assault on free speech-seeking coercive powers for new legislation-Hate Speech laws to determine what people see and hear  while empowering its media center to attack critics of the government, and endorse government policies, exploitation by cabal, mass corruption, waste in patronage politics and white elephant projects, ransome payments to terrorists, insecurity, kidnapping , killing, terrorism, ethnic minority discrimination, division, nepotism, safety risks, delapidated public services including infrastructure, medical tourism, rejection of reforms, rejection of restructuring, no incentive to invest in the future, deplorable resistance to modernity, etc. They're just more interested in lands for the cow business and the next election. Look around yourselves to see how much jobs that have been created in almost four years. The truth is that there will be more job losses due to globalisation and technology and the government have not made adequate preparations for this. The population is also growing at astronomical rate. We have also identified this issue of single party political culture using the crude 95/5 percent development policy depending on the number of votes obtained by states. This shows the government is unrepetentant and ignorant of the danger it poses to the future.
 Read More :  http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/p/blog-page.html We have argued that for democracy to work in Nigeria, it has to be 'properly and transparently' be applied. We must follow the rules of the game.
 Read More : http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/nigeria-democracy-and-its-crisis.html.

In morden times, everything has changed. We are now in an era of 'expanding individual freedoms', the number of functions execercised by the centre needs to be reduced, as it simply creates wastes due to duplication of autonomous functions. States and regions need greater economic and political power to address their development challenges including security and safety by freeing up resources held by the centre to invest in growth policies. There is urgent need for the restructuring of the current political structure to guarantee inclusiveness, growth and stability. It needs strong leadership certainly not autocratic/totalitarian leadership. "A federal structure whose motive is to maintain security by curbing ethnic and regional influence does not foster development"- African Research Institute. The President presents corruption as the only problem of the country and sees nothing wrong with the current political structure. He presents himself as the only solution whereas the government is now the most corrupt in history given the activities of a hidden cabal which is grossly ignored. A democracy whose mission is only election every four years is not a proper and transparent democracy, rather democracy for the few- their families, friends and associates to share the spoils of power. There is a whole lot ignorance, people are not asking the right questions. There is a lot of injustice and dysfunction of the system which can only be resolved by the restructuring of the current political structure. They're just spending heavily on the media including social media and some greedy people who are only interested in what they will gain to manipulate ordinary people including the idea of nationalism and rotational presidency The entire system is fraudlent, and exploitative. People are denied basic growth policies and told to wait for their turn to become president, while the government is planning to build railway and refinery to Niger, etc.concentrating to grow a particular group using federal resources. Thinking needs to change. Today we have the opportunity to avoid this dilemma by demanding the restructuring of the current political structure and rejecting authoritarian rule. We don't need to have this experience again. In the words of Polly Tonynbee; "Everyone wants fairness''. that's the future in the 21st century. Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/p/blog-page.htm. Some of the most disheartening examples of political stagnation, democratic backsliding and state failure are strikingly evident in today's Nigeria. This is a tragedy. The future of the country hangs in the balance. The country is under siege'. Read The US Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights in Nigeria: https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2017&dlid=277033#wrapper.  Read this blog regularly so as to be on the right side of history. We will continue to ensure that ordinary people are well-informed to avoid a repeat of the mistake of destiny in Nigeria, that's not the future. Today we have a better alternative so we must embrace it.

Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur and the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation. We continue to explore why democracy has failed in Nigeria and what can be done about it.

Nigeria's Democracy And It's Crisis; Deliberate, Avoidable: Notes From Atlanta: Propagandocracy and the Buhari Media Center

Notes From Atlanta: Propagandocracy and the Buhari Media Center: By Farooq A. Kperogi, Ph.D. Twitter: @farooqkperogi The Buhari government is an absolute propagandocracy, that is, a government cond...

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable: 20 states receieve stipends under conditional cash transfer programme.

Hajiya Maryam Uwais, The Special Adviser to The President on Social Investments, Office of the Vice-President, Nigeria. Photo: Google.

Nigeria's special adviser to the President on National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) Mrs Maryam Uwais has said that 297, 973 poor households in 20 states in Nigeria are now being paid stipends under the conditional cash transfer programme(NCTP).

According to INDEPENDENT newspaper, the states are as follows: Jigawa, Bauchi, Kogi, Osun, Cross River, Anambara, Katsina, Kano, Taraba, Gombe, Adamawa, Niger, Nassarawa, Benue, Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara, Borno (IDP), Kaduna and Plateau.

 Mrs Uwais said her department has trained 2,495 community facilitators whose respomsibility is to engage the caregivers in the households being paid, facilitate the forming of co-operatives, basic financial training, skills and support.

"We also have collated data on the demographics on each community we engage to facilitate action on education, health, access, payment and connectivity. She said: "It is important for us to get the targeting right so only the poorest of the poor will get paid. We have, according to statistics, up to 80 million people that are poor.

So what we do is sign an MOU with states specifying their various roles and responsibility, despite the fact that it's not enforceable, but this helps various stakeholders to know their basic responsibilities regarding the scheme.

We have argued that the restructuring of the current political structure will address Nigeria's poverty problems by reducing duplication of autonomous functions by the centre. There are some local government areas created for political purposes only for funds allocated to those LGA's to be embezzled by few people.

There is this issue of wastes in patronage politics- traditional rulers, funding of pilgrimmage and other white elephant projects including wastes on fighting corruption, funding of terrorism war, funding fraudlent elections, security votes, bogus legislature, bogus executive, etc. These funds can be properly channelled to fund growth policies which will have more impact on the lives of people. Poverty is man made and can be eradicated.

New threats including population increase, technology could pose greater risk so i wonder how long the government will continue to pay this kind of stipend when they have a better option to restructure.

Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur.

Nigeria's Democracy And It's Crisis; Deliberate, Avoidable: The Brown Envelope And The Bullet Who Cares?-Uche Okeke

Freedom depends on awareness. Reject Political Bribery. Reject Totalitarian Rule. Vote For Restructuring of The Current Political Structure"-Uche Okeke. Photo: Google.

 Political bribery and Authoritarian rule in Nigeria.

The big thugs, the rich people that helped them to win elections and the corrupt media.Today "80 Million Nigerians are poor, the presidency affirms", despite wealth in natural resources. The result of prolonged military rule in Nigeeria is 'corruption, poor resource management and political instability, fraudlent elections,etc.'. The game is almost 'unrecognisable' now from how it was at independence.

 Absolute power weilded by the state with weak institutions-legislature, Judiciary,etc to counterweight the power possessed by the state. No independent institutions and rule of law too weak.

 The media is influenced to determine what people hear and see. Anyone who disagrees is an enemy of the state that must be ruthlessly dealt with, i.e. to be violently repressed. Read More: Nigeria's 'brown envelope' journalism- BBC News Africa 5 March 2015. Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-31748257.

 Delegiwa was killed by a mail bomb in his Lagos home on 19 October 1986(wikipedia), Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dele_Giwa

The election of President Muhammadu Buhari has alarmed the people of the dangers to social life in morden times. Exploitation, discrimination, repression, propaganda and lies, intimidation of the judiciary, disrespect to constitutional checks and balances, etc. See more:  [Propagandocracy and the Buhari Media Centre; Farooq.A. Kperogi, Ph.D]. Link: http://www.farooqkperogi.com/2017/03/propagandocracy-and-buhari-media-center.html

 Globalisation/technology has empowered ordinary people with new awareness of best practices and the tool to ask important questions about the future. The time for change is now, Restructuring is the answer. The number of functions excercised by the state is too many, it kills growth. Duplication of autonomous functions is not the answer.

Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur. Read More : http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/restructuring-nigeria-big-political.html

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis; Deliberate, Avoidable: The right way to fix Nigeria, Restructuring not election every four years- Uche Okeke

"How can we react adequately then to this forbidden place? Not by pretending we are just observers..., and we are all at risk of making that journey"- Stephen Green. Photo: Uche Okeke.

 The failings of the system continue to be evident everyday, yet we're talking about the next election. INEC and the police, said they're now ready for the next election, some state governors are boasting how they 've promised the president millions of votes in their states, so they're registering under-age voters to fraudlently deliver their promise.
Read More:  http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/fraudlent-election-produce-fraudlent.html

Freedom depends on awareness. We need a genuine partnership between the various ethnic groups if we are to achieve growth and stability. This can only be achieved by the restructuring of the current political structure not this barbaric system of great divide, where people are systematically denied any 'serious chance to achieve their potential' using conquering technique.
 Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/the-new-secret-shared-identity-shared.html.

Subjection of ethnic minorities using conquering tactis to deny them growth policies- basic public services and infrastructure so that they will not have any serious chance to achieve their potential often using cruelty and violence is not what people need. We are all witnesses to the nepotism that is promoted in this regime, poiltical appointments, security chief's, fruitless oil search, railway to Niger, ransome payments, security and safety risks, etc.

According to Ayo Fayose, the Ekiti State Governor: "the corporate existence of the country is being threatened by selective administration of justice, marginalisation and vendetta against political opponents". He called on the people to salvage the situation, while decrying the level of poverty in the country lamenting that many Nigerians are dying in silence.[Nigerians dying in silence, Ayo Fayose, Guardian , February 25 2018].

Today Globalisation/Technology has ushered in new era of 'social changes', so people are now aware of so many things including basic rights, so there is urgent need to take action , demand the restructuring of the current system to have any serious chance of overcoming the injustices of this pseudo-system that prevent people from progressing.
 Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/a-new-nigeria-for-for-21st-century.html

Whats the point of election every four years if it's to serve the status-quo. Today we have the opportunity to speak out against the system. We have it in our power to demand the restructuring of the current political structure to free up resources concentrated at the centre to serve just few people, their families, friends, and associates. This is the only hope to fix Nigeria, now is the time.

Vote for only the political party that guarantees us the restructuring of the current political structure to enable economic and political empowerment of ordinary people by freeing up resources that will be used to invest in growth policies especially at the local level.

 Atiku said snake swallowing money will kill Nigeria. Restructuring will definitely save us from this forest scence where rats, snakes, monkeys compete for stealing of public funds.
Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/nigeria-dangerous-animals-in-green.html

The time has come to put an end to this endless dilemma- fraudlent elections every four years to continue business as ususal. Restructuring must happen for ordinary people to have the chance to achieve their potentials in Nigeria. I have just read a new report in Independent newspaper where the presidency affirms that about 80 million Nigerians are very poor. We cannot confront the 'Five Giants' given the status-quo. Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/the-brown-envelope-and-bullet-political.html

The number of functions exercised by the state is too many, duplication of autonomous functions kills growth. Repression is evil.

Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur and the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation.

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis; Deliberate, Avoidable : A New Nigeria for for the 21st century, a great challenge to all- Uche Okeke

Uche Okeke was at the LSE Festival; Rethinking Beveridge for the 21st century: Civil Society And The Five Giants: A Global Perspective. Photo: Google.

Today the status-quo does not hold any further promise of change, Everything has changed so thinking needs to change to enable us address the challenges of the 21st century. When the world changes, we have to change with the world, that's the 'thrill' of it all.

 According to Minouche Shafik, Director of The London School of Economics and Political Science; "we live in increasingly divided societies where social conflicts that bind us are fraying. One reason is globalisation, which has intensified competitive pressures. Another is technology which has increased the returns to highly skilled labour and thereby exacerbated inequality".

 In her words, "technology has also transformed our awareness of what is happening around the world and the way we communicate and organise ourselves socially and politically, sometimes in a way that builds social cohesion, but often in ways that divide".[Beveridge 2.0; Rethinking Beveridge for the 21st century; London School of Economics and Political Science 19-24, February, 2018].

This lends great support to our arguement that there is urgent need for the restructuring of the current political structure and leadership change in Nigeria with a new leadership that is equipped to deal with the challenges of the 21st century, not barbaric ideas and unworkable policies that decline the conditions of people's lives, risk to safety and security.

This needs informed citizenry. Technology has provided us the space to challenge the behaviours of political leaders so its the duty of ordinary people to be preoperly informed ignoring the manipulations of the media and social media fans reccruited to endorse the status-quo, and attack those who disagree with the status-quo.

We have written about the : Brown Envelope and the Bullet; who cares? . The civil society is the solution to the problems in the society and helping to rectify these injustices, so it needs collaboration and support to confront the ''five giants'- Want, disease, ignorance, squalor and idleness".

As we have learned from Beveridge 2.0; today there is shift in the way we think about things and issues in development from quantity to quality, people first not as 'photo opportunities' to win the next election. How do we make idleness productive needs new thinking, new leadership not the status-quo. "Developing countries are going to be hardest hit". This is the time to think different and act fast. The time for change is now. Read More: http://www.lse.ac.uk/Events/LSE-Festival/Events/20180224/civil-society-and-the-five-giants

We must reject totalitarian rule, political bribery and ensure we vote for credible and capable leaders with the 21st century education and ideas to drive inclusive society built on a 'shared value and shared identity' to lift ordinary people out of poverty, not discrimination, division, exploitation, repression, exclusion, wastes of lives and properties, etc.

 The world has changed so this is the era of new breed of leaders with sophisticated education and ideas to drive future prosperity. Together, we can help shape the future.

Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur. He is the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation. Independent Non-Profit, Non-Political Organisation. He lives in London.

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable: The New Secret: 'Shared Identity, Shared Value'- Uche Okeke

Reject Totalitarian Rule. Reject Political Bribery. Be Properly Informed. Photo: Uche Okeke

Politics have a duty to the society and in changing times this demand is more important now than ever. The true essence of democracy is the protection of human security and freedom; liberty and the pursuit of happiness, so if there is a failure to achieve this objective, people start asking important questions about what has gone wrong and what can be done about it.

This requires stock-taking looking at our brief history and where we are today. What's happening to our democracy? Is it serving the purpose? Is it adding value to individuals and the society? What do we do in the future or about the future?

 In the 21st century the things we did in the past is no longer working, it has created a lot of problems leading to a 'massive breakdown' of trust in the system: business, political leaders, politicians, the media, etc. In the words of Stephen Green; "And if trust has been broken in this way, where do we go from here? Questions arise about the system. How to fix it? Should we/can we turn the clock back? What are the alternatives? Questions also arise for us as individuals. What part did we play in what went wrong? What do we do in the future? And , beneath it all, what have we learned about ourselves as human beings? About what constitutes good business and good life? About what our values are? About what the common good is? [Good Value; Choosing A Better Life In Business- Stephen Green]

We have argued that military intervention in domestic politics destroyed democracy in Nigeria leaving horrific tales of 'corruption, poor resource management, political instability', horrific human rights abuse, etc. The election of President Muhammadu Buhari , a long time democratic sceptic has finally buried the last hope for democracy in this Africa's most populous country, this should be a huge concern to everybody including the international community.

The era of totalitarian rule is over and must be rejected given it's horrific characteristics; exclusion, exploitation, discrimination, repression, risks to safety and security, etc. The President has demonstrated lack of knowledge of democratic governance, and incapability to lead a great country like Nigeria. We have seen various reports from reputable international organisations on corruption, inequality, infrastructure, killings, horrific human rights abuse, lack of respect for law and order, constitutional checks and balances, payment of ransome to boko-haram terrorists, etc. This is not a good fit for democracy.

 According to Mr. Peter Obi, a former Governor of Anambara State; "If you cannot deliver what you promised, then you have no business wanting to continue in office..., the discussion now should not be who is contesting or occupying any office, but how Nigeria moved from thirty-five percent under-employment and unemployment to fourty-percent. He concluded that the country needs people with competence and capacity at all levels of governance.

 In his words: "Nigerians should stop being docile but to ask questions about the system and to actively engage in the debate about the present and future of the country so as to make Nigeria a better place".[Nigeria Needs Wealth Creators in Government Not Wealth Sharers; The Nation, February 24, 2018]

 We have argued that the system is not broken, it's designed that way and needs immediate restructuring of the current political structure to enable democracy fulfil it's mission in Nigeria- lifting ordinary people out of poverty. In the words of Professor, Sir, Paul Collier, this requires a 'shared value and shared identity. This is lacking and cannot be achieved given the status-quo. "Politically and Economically , this is a huge probelm". [Understanding Economic Development; Oxford University, UK]

 The current system is full of wastes in patronage politics and 'white-elephant projects', etc. Instead of development it's motive is to maintain security by curbing ethnic/regional influence and President Buhari is playing the script to the gallery. People are now alarmed to the dangers so there is urgent need for a concensus for a better future.

The government simply rely on propaganda, using their media centre to attack demonize/smear people critical of the president. According to Professor Farouq Kperogi, "they are mandated to react to all media contents critical of the president, and attack/demonise/smear people critical of the president. They work behind the scenes and use pen names in extended articles, and pseudonyms on social media".[ Propagandocracy and the Buhari Media Centre; Farooq. A. Kperogi PhD]. Link: http://www.farooqkperogi.com/2017/03/propagandocracy-and-buhari-media-center.html

We must say no to this exploitative system using crude belief system of nationalism to continue their impunity. We talked about the use of conquering techniques. Click on this link to read more: http://www.zurumnewsdigest.com/2017/03/a-new-nigeria-on-shared-struggle-and.html

.Finally in the words of  Nerendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India; "In a world that is full of fault lines and rifts, we need to build a shared future". According to him, the challenges we face today are as numerous as they are daunting, this is a threat  to the survival of human civilization'.  [7 things that happened on the first day of Davos 2018- WEF]. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/01/7-things-that-happened-on-day-one-of-davos-2018/

The truth is that we cannot escape it, we need to take time to face this unavoidable challenge, no matter how we pretend to think on the contrary. The status-quo is the reason for what Stephen Green described as  'immeasurable suffering and waste of human potential', in Nigeria. This must not continue.

Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur. Read More as we continue to explore why democracy has failed in Nigeria and what can be done to put it right.

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable: The Brown Envelope and The Bullet; Who Cares?, Part 1- by Uche Okeke

"All genuine lovers of football experience the richness of what is to dwell within the heart of the game"-Jimmy Greaves , Photo: Getty Images.

How the thug business destroyed the world's most beautiful game in Nigeria.

We set out to help ordinary people understand how and why democracy has failed in Nigeria, and what can be done to put it right. I'm sure people are now convinced that what is happening there mocks democracy, so i created this social fiction using the beautiful game of football.

We have argued that for the world's most beautiful game to be enjoyed by everybody in Nigeria it must be 'properly and transparently' be played. The rules and functions of the game have not changed. Dangerous striker or defender-(Red Card), Bad Coach or Manager or Referee-(sack).

It's the duty of the fans, players, clubs,etc, to demand sack. Every player and club wants to play top games, not to be purnished by the football authorities. The duty of the football authorities is to make sure , there is fair play, and infrastructures, ok. But when the thugs hijacked the football institution with the gun and bribe, things fall apart, it's now a dilemma.

 The media is influenced to report only what the thugs want the people to hear and see, and opinion/community leaders are bribed to join the thug business so as not to demand accountability. Anyone that disagrees is an enemy of the state.

 Football is still the world's most beautiful game, but if the game is to flourish and develop in the future, in Nigeria, it needs informed citizenry, i.e. education, which requires substantial funding and partnerships. According to the World Economic Forum: "We cannot fix the fractures of our world without multi-stakeholder collaboration".

Participatory obedience or what Jimmy calls 'blind acceptance' has no role to play in football. In his words, : "It is a sport that compels examination without which there would be no progress, no development, colour or drama- the very essence of the game".

To bring back the 'excitement' that goes with this game in Nigeria needs the restructuring of the current political structure(football authorities) and rejection of autocrats as managers, otherwise this beautiful game will continue to be 'irritation' in Nigeria. I wonder if there is any excitement in a football match where Enyimba Forest United scores 100 and Sharks of Porthacourt -0.

As long as the status-quo remains in place the game will not serve its functions and purpose. It's our desire to put these story in a book form to help educate ordinary people who are deprived of 'the sense of well-being' that comes from the world's most beautiful game. Make sure you get a copy.
Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/nigeria-democracy-and-its-crisis.html

I enjoy reading Matthew d'Ancona; "People who like authoritarianism always picture themselves running the show. But no one stays on top for long".

Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur. He is the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation, Independent Non-Political, Non-Profit Organisation.

We recognised that democratic education is the key for a vibrant democracy, but it needs funding and collaboration which is currently lacking in Nigeria. The power holders want to bribe people to keep them in the dark. Read through our blog to see how we can partner to reach a wider audience.

 Together we can change the way things are: 'Reject Authoritarian Rule, Stop Political Bribery and Give Voter A Choice'. This is our message; our mission.-Uche Okeke.
Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/the-brown-envelope-and-bullet-political.html

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable: Lessons learned; We have it in our power to drive change- Uche Okeke

Totalitarian government divides and must be rejected. Stop Political Bribery, let us fix our democracy. 'Give Voter A Choice '. Education is the key- Uche Okeke. Photo: Google.

We have basically addressed some of the challenges facing Nigeria's fragile democracy. Our findings and concerns are also confirmed by the evidence of daily occurrences. We will now focus on gathering important comments that support our arguements as we follow events leading to the next elections in 2019.

Our idea is to provide an online portal where ordinary people will be better informed about how democracy works, how it's failing and what can be done about it. There is no excuse for the elites not to embrace modernity to change the way things are. They need to put the country first instead of personal ambitions, or ethno-religious ambitions.

We are expecting the outcome of the recommendations for the restructuring process which we hope will kick-start the change process. The status-quo does not hold any further promise of change as events of more than fifty-years have proved. We must do better. What is democracy if its not inclusive. Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/nigeria-democracy-and-its-crisis.html

Again there is only one way to fix Nigeria: the restructuring of the current political structure and  rejection of autocracy. This is the time for our political elites to demonstrate that the essence of politics is social good, politics have a duty to society to change the way things are.

For the first time in Nigeria's history various ethnic groups in the country have collectively accepted the urgent need for the restructuring of the political structure, this is a great opportunity to make change happen- eradicate: 'corruption, poor resource management, instability' . This will help re-position the country to address its complex development goals and endless wastes of  human potentials in a country blessed with abundant wealth in natural resources.

Whenever i see photos of ignorant people, majority uneducated celebrating some politicians i feel a bit sad because of their ignorance. Those politicians are the reason why they are in a very poor state. They are simply rented crowd by the politicians for 'photo opportunities'.

We have seen photos and videos of under-age voting in Kano state and other states which simply means winning at all costs, so it's obvious that such victory is empty victory which has nothing to offer in government. Fraudlent election produces fraudlent government whose mission is to exploit and exclude.

We are all in this journey together and will share the risk of in-action if we fail to step-up the demand for change. A mere observer status will help mediocrity and tyranny to continue to reign which is not the future we want for our children and those yet unborn. The opportunity for change has come, so be inspired to help make change happen. We must reject brown envelope, pseudo-promises and resist the gun.

I read a post about extreme violent acts in some states, how some state governors are ordering illegal demolition of properties in their states without the due process, i wonder what such people will do if they are heads of state. I also read a post in Guardian newspaper where a Vice Chancellor of a new private university declared that Nigerian youths are recieving 'expired' education .We must be willing to tell ourselves the truth.

Read through this blog as we have talked a lot about public services including infrastructure for development.

Uche Okeke.

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable: The Next Level: Promises are cheap, what we put is what we get, think-again- Uche Okeke

Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission -INEC registers under-age children to vote in elections in Kano state, Nigeria. Photo: Google

We have talked about fraudlent elections and its implications in Nigeria. We're only worried that elections are not going to be free and fair, the result is chaos and Nigeria's three friends: 'corruption, poor resource management and political instability, i.e, rats, snakes and cows. We have also talked about the reasons. Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/fraudlent-election-produce-fraudlent.html

Just few days ago the leading opposition political party in Nigeria, the PDP declared that Nigerians have lost confidence in Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission -INEC's ability to conduct free and fair elections in 2019 and demanded immediate review of voters registration list in Kano and Kastina because of under-age voters, and removal of the Chairman , etc. The electoral commission cited threatening of their staff in these states as the reason for registration of under-age voters.

This is exactly the point, so how do we expect a sound government from such a sorry situation? It's very difficult to explain this deplorable resistance to modernity, 'no direction, no purpose, no discipline' just the next election.

The opposition PDP party said : "the credibility of the electoral process under the current INEC is hugely in doubt. By this alarming statement INEC under Professor Yakubu has completely discredited and disqualified itself and cannot be trusted to conduct a credible, free and fair general elections in 2019". [2019 We Have Lost Confidence in INEC; PDP, Vanguard, February 20, 2018].

Furthermore, the opposition PDP party also alleged attack and demolition of properties belonging to opposition members and percieved opponents of the government's re-election bid. No doubt 'the next level' is chaos, more corruption, exclusion, death of rule of law and constitutional checks and balances, repression, exploitation, more wastes on patronage politics: traditional rulers, religiious leaders, pilgrimmage, railway for Niger, etc. Enyimba Forest United -100, Sharks of Portharcourt-0.

The striker has injured most of the players especially the defenders , forward and the goal keeper yet he escaped a red card, this is not good for his club and the football association, because the stadium will be empty anytime he's featured to play, because the spectators know he's a very dangerous striker, so empty net to score as much as he likes.

 Tinubu's wife said the president dumped his husband the owner of the football club immediately after the party won the the 2015 elections, and only remembered him  because of his re-election bid, the next level is chaos given the signs. In the words of Anne McElvoy, senior editor at The Economist; "to court the same problem twice does not look like a winning strategy".[If there's another referendum, Remainers must change tack; Evening Standard, Teusday 13 February 2018]

This is the time to 'think again' whether to continue with this striker who has injured all the players including the goal keeper to score goals for Enyimba Forest United or do what we have to do perhaps stop him at the club level so that the stadium will be full again with many football fans. The signs of dangers ahead are getting worse, it's 'scary', so we need to think-again.

The era of running government on words alone is over and will not help to restore already battered public confidence. Finally in the words of Mattew d'Ancona :"The Government lives only in the sense that it has not died. It has no direction, purpose, or discipline"[Boris's NHS antics reveal just how feeble No.10 really is; Evening Standard, Wednesday 24 January 2018].

We must reject any leadership that is at odd with modernity, perhaps what they said is 'analogue' leadership, except we are prepared to remain in this sorry state of anarchy. We have been working why democracy is failing in Nigeria and how to put it right, so we believe that leadership change is very imperative to get the democractic dream in the right direction. Read more: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/nigeria-democracy-and-its-crisis.html

Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur.

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable: Farmers/Herdsmen Attacks in Nigeria, lives at risk, security first- Uche Okeke

This is the time to wake up from slumber. There is no excuse for our politicians to be inactive in taking decisions about citizen security and safety. Photo: Uche Okeke.

If the priority in finding the solutions to this national crisis is surrendering indigenous lands for foreigners, this is gross injustice and must be resisted. We have argued that it's recklessness for the federal government to use national budget to fund the private business of aliens who pose greater risks to our various communities and the country at large.

Today, greater emphasis should be placed on providing our teaming youths with the tools for growth and stability and this requires urgent need to invest massively in key areas of public services and infrastructure including electricity, internet/broadband to facilitate a new way of work, instead of putting their lives at risk.

In the words of the UK Prime Minister, Thersa May : "... this political doctrine and ideology will have damaging real world consequences for the security of all our people. In her words; "those who threaten our security would like nothing more than to see us fractured, criminals will have free for all".[Lives at risk without Brexit security deal, warns May, iNews, Saturday 17 February 2018]

Greater emphasis should be on the security and safety of our people , their cultural heritage and tradition well preserved not imposition of aliens with history of gross blood-letting.

Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur, the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation.

www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/

Farmers and herdsmen clash in Nigeria | DW English

Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in the Nigerian state of Benue as conflicts between nomadic herdsmen and farmers intensify. The disputes, originally about land ownership, are now threatening to develop into ethnic conflicts.

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable: The Four Friends; wild rat, snake,, monkey and cow; a political entertainment.

The Four Friends:  There is bitterness in their hearts. Who ate the money? 'The snake ate it'-BBC.

"If you see a snake just kill it don't appoint a committee"- Ross Perot

"Rat chased bubu out of his office, Snake swallowed N36 million Naira, Cow has taken over the Airport in Akure and now Monkey swallowed N70 Million Naira. Well, wonder which animal is next on line. This country is gradually becoming a huge joke"- Peace Nwadire(Facebook).

The battle for the commonwealth takes a new dimension. The rat chased the cow out of the farm, the snake ate the money, and the monkey have swallowed another huge sums of money. Trust is a bit in doubt, confusion everywhere. The cow must get rid of the rat, snake and the monkey to possess the farm or another cow will possess the farm.

"What would you say to a cold beer?- Don't get comfortable in that glass"-Jimmy Greaves

Nigeria's democracy is marred by 'corruption, poor resource management and political instability'. The election of President Muhammadu Buhari has not improved the situation despite citizen goodwill. "Government must be built on truth and honesty. The government will lose credibility in the eyes of the voters, who look to it for leadership at a time of change"-George Bridges.

 The citizens need to take action, a failing government is a challenge to the citizens to take action for their future. There is huge distrust in the system. Most members of the public don't know who to trust and what to believe. The government is not practising what they are preaching, this is a tragedy.

Read more, soon.

Uche Okeke

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable: Let's fix democracy in Nigeria; We must reject the bribe and resist the gun-Uche Okeke

Today the world has turned it's back to the unfortunate days of politics of regret where ignorant and ruthless liabilities manipulated the minds of people to cause human atrocities. What's the point of forcing people to live together when there is no value to be derived. Photo: Uche Okeke

What's the point of sacrificing human safety and security to please some unknown  aliens whose hands are full of blood? What's the point of election if it will not be free and fair? What's the point of seeking re-election if you cannot guarantee inclusiveness and oppose change?

What's the point of politics if in the words of Charles Krauthammer, if it's for: ''invasion, genocide, economic exploitation and a deep level of institutional racism and moral decadence...,there is more to life than politics"- This is the time to think different  which is the mission of this blog to help ordinary people change their world view and recognise the power they have to make a difference in the society.

Providing value should be at the heart of politics not deprivation and destruction. This needs all of us, people, media willing to reject blood money to foster social change. In social media and other spaces we must be willing to listen to each other, not just what they want us to hear and see.

These are changing times, the world is leaving the past behind, ordinary people deserve more from democracy. Those who know they cannot do the job and incapable to do the job should give those who are very credible and capable of doing the job. This is the only way we can have change.

We must demand for change for it to happen not waiting for it or being comfortable with the status-quo because of fears. We must be willing to change the way things are else it will go from frying pan to fire. The power to make change happen lies in our own hands not from the outside. This needs education and collabration, so how can we work together to drive change?.

"Let no one be discouraged by the belief there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the world's ills-against misery and ignorance, injustice and violence...Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation....It is from the numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance"-Robert Kennedy[The End Of Poverty; How We Can Make It Happen In Our Lifetime- Jeffrey Sachs Forward By Bono]

Together we can change the way things are and help shape the future.

Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur. He's the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation.
Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/nigeria-democracy-and-its-crisis.html

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable: The Next Level: Ancestral lands for maurading cows, lives at risk- Uche Okeke

"I will keep crying until i get justice for my people"-Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Nigeria. Photo: Google.

"No land for cattle colony in South-East"-Arch-Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma; Bishop of the Enugu Ecclesiastical Province of the Anglican Communion,Enugu State, Nigeria.

History always warn and predict, the borders of the herdsmen is always very bloody. According to the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May its pointless ''putting lives at risk by putting ''doctorine and ideology'' above security of lives' and properties, so we must not be decieved. Those who threaten our security and freedom are not our friends. In the words of  Thomas Jefferson, "when injustice becomes law, resistance becomes a duty".

 How can we justify the use of government resources to settle foreigners in each state, surrendering their ancestral lands to them, with the subsequent devastations of extreme violence given the history of the maurading aliens, this policy must be resisted. It's reckless and unbelievable that the government is willing to risk the citizens''safety and security'' just to favour a particular group.

 This is a  very strong signal that there is more to this policy, as the whole process seem significantly very suspicious. It's worst when the president has not bothered to visit the families of the victims including those still receivng medical treatment in various hospitals in the affected states.
Read More:

Uche Okeke.

The LEAD Project Foundation: My own story: 'you must do the things you think yo...

The LEAD Project Foundation: My own story: 'you must do the things you think yo...:                 "We want to encourage new ideas but we dismiss many of those who have them..., if life is a marathon, then none of us...

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable : Fraudlent election produce fraudlent leaders, fraudlent government- Uche Okeke

You cannot be the referee, linesman, striker, coach, police, defender, goal keeper and expect a fair play, it's not possible. The result is to score your opponent 100-0, the game will  also be very boring for the spectators. As a young man we were told that India was banned in football competition because of the huge number of goals they always score in every competition. The opponents always complain, that instead of eleven players, spiritually, they encounter many other unseen players. This is what we were told as young people.  Photo: Uche Okeke.

In Nigeria, the thug business destroyed elections and democracy, so the result is always : Corruption, Poor Resource Management and Political Instability. Too many wild rats, snakes and cows. We will complete this story soon. Remember, this is my own story, if you don't like it you write your own so that we can learn from each other not fighting each other.

We must not remain comfortable with the way things are. If democracy works very well somewhere it can also work better in our territory. The rules of the game and the functions still remains the same so it must be 'properly and transparently' applied for things to happen.

Elections must be free and fair to produce a 'sound government' which will lift ordinary people out of poverty and ensure peace and stability. This is what drives some of us who are working very hard to research and communicate the best practices so that people can be properly informed and make better choices. Fraudlent elections is a set back for democracy in Africa, making people to loose confidence in the system. Routine elections every four years marred by serious irregularities which often exclude popular candidates, opposition, young people, etc is not good for democracy.

Democracy is security, freedom and prosperity not discrimination, exclusion, and extreme violence and silence in the face of atrocities- "Life, Liberty, the right to Pursue Happiness".

Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur and The Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation.

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable: How to fix Nigeria; now not the next level, the passes must be reliable to get to the next level

Under-age voting in Kano State Nigeria, "fraudlent election produce fraudlent leaders, fraudlent government"- Uche Okeke. Photo: Facebook

"They knew they had a job to do , but were incapable of doing it...., the passes are not reliable"- Jimmy Greaves

We can tell this singular story in different ways so that we can change the way things are. This should be everyone's goal. Today, nobody likes the way things are. This should be a great concern to all, how to fix Nigeria. How can we fix Nigeria? Find out soon.

 The people are more interested in what you have done, and what you will do, not what you say you will do, or wait for the next level, i don't think nobody wants to get to the next level with this current train. Today, they are tired of the next level.

What's the point of playing both beautiful and ugly soccer if you cannot score a single goal, a good striker must score some good goals in four match seessions, else no club in Europe and America will sign up except you are prepared to settle for Enyimba forest or Gombe United, definitely it must be a relegated team, perhaps the one they say is club of retired tired people, it's as simple as that, i don't know why people don't like the truth.

This is one of the challenges we need to overcome for change to happen. We are talking about change. In international football, as soon as you turn 35-years old, your price will go down, the value depreciates, so it's difficult to get a good deal. I don't know why we are resistant to the truth and change.

According to Jimmy Greaves; "Clubs should not give supporters what they want-They deserve much more than that", this is a very simple truth. I read the work of great men to learn about change, but i created the stories, so i own them, they are my intellectual property., i learn to improve daily, this is how people learn to get to the next level.

I totally agree with Jimmy, the passes must be reliable to get to the next level, else you will go down with your club to relegation or retirement. This is a significant lesson in history. We must reject the bribe and the gun to fix things in Nigeria, this is a collective responsibility -media, people, everyone. We must be willing to listen to opposing opinions.

Uche Okeke.

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable: Do it for others, 'our doubts and traitors limit our ability to try'- Uche Okeke

I always think about my injury, if not my injury, perhaps, i wouldn't have been a story teller. . Photo: Uche Okeke. "The usual afflictions are no reason not to make the attempt"-Felix Dennis

Because of my injury i nearly lost my children which was the reason for my injury, so i lost everything.  ..., but my injury has helped me to become a story teller. How can i live in a place of law and order, then i take my children to stay in a place of anarchy, very funny .

Without my injury, perhaps i wouldn't be telling stories. Stories definitely change the way things are, that's the power of stories. i'm waiting for the right time to tell the full story so that others can learn from it. Time will tell. We must learn to fight for our rights in a civilised manner, you will definitely overcome, it can only take some time, so be inspired.

. I'm a Statistician and Analyst Re-insurance, I participated in Acumen Leadership Essentials course, another one about story telling and Citizen Engagement organised by the World Bank online. Democratic development, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Social Change,
I also participated in the one they said will help ordinary people understand Economic Development organised by Oxford University, United Kingdom,  Growing Entrepreneurship in Transitioning Economies, Trade, and the others. The truth is that no one is interested in your past, the question is what can you contribute to the society to help change the way things are, everyone has a past, so be inspired.

 Today I have got a lot of stories to tell, so that we can change the way things are, but the enemies on top will not like the truth to power, but they send their children to places where the government is encouraging ordinary to tell power the truth. We can always do this without expecting anything in return, this is the whole point, it's what they call civic engagement. You can do it wherever you are, to inspire people especially young people who are let down by the system to ask important questions about the system.

As soon as the young people start asking these questions, sharing those photos and videos, all the rats, snakes, and cows that are eating the public funds will disappear, even the traditional rulers who depend on public funds to cater for hosts of wives and concubines will start looking for productive ventures. All those they send to kill innocent people  and attack people online will start asking some important questions.

They protect their own children, give them the best education, your own child is in a local school, he's not sure of any job whenever he manages to complete his education due to endless teacher strikes and you are not sure that your pension will be paid when you retire and you have not saved enough for your retirement, but they send you to attack and kill people who are campaigning for change, people asking  important questions about those things that prevent change. You see we need to think different.

 Stories can change the way things are. We can tell this singular story in different ways. Our problem is just one singular event but could be described in different ways. Unless we remove the hands of the monkey from the soup, it will definitely become a human hand. This is why you must be one of those who think different.

Thinking needs to change, if we want change to happen. Anyone can tell a better story, until you are noticed, however in the words of late Professor Chinua Achebe, the author of 'Things Fall Apart': "If you don't like my story, you can write your own". Perhaps your own story can change the world. Let us encourage everyone to tell stories about how it's happening wherever you are. Today's liberation technology can help us do it better and do it for everyone.

The whole story is about the way things are: What is happening wherever you are? How did it happen? What can we do about it? How can we put it right? You see story telling is very easy, anyone, everyone can be a better story teller, don't be discouraged, nor be bullied, everyone has got a story to tell.

I read a beautiful piece of advice when i visited a friend in a gym centre in  London, very inspiring. "The best way for a beginner to attract the attention of the trainer is by working so hard that everyone takes notice about what you are doing". Even if you are just trying you can always get a helping hand.

We will also produce some audios and videos where we can tell these stories live to erase doubts, i know some people may think we are doing copy and paste. A good reader is simply a good writer. We are always ready to tell the stories, anyone can tell moonlight tales, it's as simple as that. We simply spend some time to 'search' so that we can spread the best practices.

"After a little while, the God of grace will settle the man of destiny, the man of destiny always triumph over the evil wind". I'm now a story teller.

Uche Okeke is a Statistician and Social Entrepreneur.

South Africa's new President Cyril Ramaphosa pledges to tackle corruption

"I will try hard not to disappoint the people of South Africa"- President Cyril Ramaphosa, recently sworn-in as South-Africa's new president. Photo: Google.

 He promised to tackle corruption the real plague that prompted the recall of former President Jacob Zuma, While many hailed this new development as a new model for democracy in Africa, the country's opposition party; the Economic Freedom Fighters says the swearing in of Mr Ramaphosa as the new President of South-Africa is illegitimate, and calls for new elections. The party says he's "Illegitimate President" and this action could further compound democracy and it's crisis in Africa.

Uche Okeke.

Bloody Nigeria, 'Murder, Massacre, Mayham'- Uche Okeke

Emotion, tears about killings in Benue State Nigeria. We must unite against this barbarism. Photo: Google

Today, Nigeria has become what Tony Robinson described as a 'theatre of blood'. The slogan is "we have seen too much blood". In every part of Nigeria, there is murder, mass-killing, mayhem and it has become a daily routine challenging conventional wisdom. These atrocities are committed in Nigeria by Nigerians to Nigeria citizens. It's worrisome that the perpetrators are known to us, but evade justice, a great challenge to the Executive, legislature, Judiciary, various arms of the government who swore allegiance to the protection of citizen rights , security, and freedom.

 No arrest, no genuine and speedy efforts to bring offenders to justice, rather government sets up a committe headed by the Vice-President to negotiate with the people responsible for tragic loss of lives. It's also very unfortunate that the president has never bothered to visit families of the victims including those still in the hospital. Till date the herdsmen still carry AK-47 assault riffle in the public, so this is very worrying.

We are aware of mass release from detention of terrorists who have been killing people for sometime into the society when the ideology of the movement is very much alive and some of their colleagues still in the bush fighting.

Despite economic devastations and widespread hardship, ordinary people are not even sure of their lives and basic property in a country they call home. If citizens are not killed by the police, army or navy, they are massacred by armed robbers, assasins, maurading aliens,  terrorists and other enemies including hunger and diseases, all man made.

The horroffic images of these barbaric acts whose victims include women and children reverberate around the world especially in the era of technology who now questions the location of this 'bloodstained landscape' on the world map. No doubt, Nigeria has become one of the most insecure black African territories in recent times, given the phenomena. We are aware of various global insecurity ratings, but this doesn't seem to be a challenge to our government. This is not a good news for the much needed foreign investment for development. Definitely the result is development in reverse.

 Daily images of unstopable kidnappings, rituals, murder, hacking to death, burnings, across the country by bloodthirsty liabilities defy every reasonable belief, especially when the perpetrators are known to us. This man's cruelty to man reminds of the dark ages and questions our commitment to peaceful co-existence, self and good governance.

This tragedy is a great humiliation to a country positioned to become a world player in global governance including conflict resolution and democratic governance. We must collectively denounce these abominable atrocities and put excessive pressure on the government to step up a robust response to this fatal national plague. Enough of the blame games.

 In the words of a Pan-Yoruba Group, Afenifere, "if a the government panel is meeting herdsmen who are staining the country with blood, it means the Federal Government is complicit in the murder of Nigerians. They have not brought one person to book but they are negotiating with the murderers; this is an invitation to anarchy"

 The citizens look up to the government for leadership especially in difficult times, so the next election is an opportunity to tell the government that only qualified and capable people will be elected to lead a sound government that works for everyone, not just for the few.

We can learn from President Trump who organised a 'listening session' with students on mass shootings. Scott and Hockley, Co-director of the group ; Sandy Hook Promise have this to say: "This is not difficult, these deaths are preventable, and i implore you, consider your own children. Hockley said: you don't want to be me. No parent does. And you have the ability to make a difference and save lives today. Please don't waste this "- [Trump holds listening session with students on mass shootings; Halimah Abdullah, ABC News February 21, 2018]. Read More: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-holds-listening-session-students-mass-shootings/story?id=53245367

In Nigeria we are only interested in the next election. It's worst when elected president has not bothered to visit the various states and the victims, and the civil society groups in various states have not come up with one voice to protest the killings, instead the police and the independent electoral commission are busy telling whoever cares to know that they are now ready for the next election in 2019, very laughable.

Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur. He's the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation.

Politics in Nigeria; 'Players, People, Passion'- Uche Okeke

"Always remember that the gym was there before you. It will continue to operate with or without you, and will still be there when you have long gone"- anonymous, Photo: Google.

Politics is always an elite game, but the elites should understand that politics just like any other vocation including football which demonstrates great similarity have a duty to the society, and must be inclusive, not just 'profit and power'. We have argued that in Nigeria, the relationship between the players and the people is too parallel , and the passion is not for social good. Most politicians go into this vocation for several reasons- profit and power,...,etc.

Participation is limited to elections only, ordinary people including young people do not get the opportunity to be voted for because of barriers to entry including money and connections, fraudlent elections etc, and there is no citizen engagement. The result is Corruption, poor  resource management, political instability. The essence of politics is to protect human rights, security and freedom to achieve growth and stability. The rule is the same, our only problem is that it has not been 'properly and transparently' be applied to work for everyone. Read more: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/nigeria-democracy-and-its-crisis.html

 What they describe as elite manipulation, just like the game of football include the correct passes, the rough tackles, fouls, yellow cards, arguements, etc, encountered in the process of getting the chance to score goals so that the club will be top of the league table and bring numerous trophies and large income, joy, happiness and satisfaction to the stakeholders(shareholders, fans, and workers), you can hear how the footballers are hailed when they perform very well in the pitch through a team work. They earn great respect in the society and show discipline and make social  investments that improve the lives and welfare of ordinary people.

They are always very conscious of their standing in the society especially during the period of their career. Nobody is interested in how much they are earning, because of the spectacular results they generate, because they don't want to end their career or let their club end up in relegation..

 The manipulations should result to the good of the club and the society at large, so it has to be fair and transparent to a greater extent. This is not an easy fit. First you must have a passion for football, start training in a local club with the ambition to play in the local, regional and international level. Ability to be a team player and continuous training , loyalty to the fans, club and the society is very significant. The football industry is the better than wealth in natural resources of some countries.

 In Nigeria politics, the manipulations are not for the good of the people rather for the selfish interests of the politicians, their families, friends and associates."their passes and not correct''. Most of them are not qualified to be in the game and are not willing to let qualified people to do the job. We are working to address how some of the elite manipulations in various areas of our public life affect the lives of ordinary people and the society at large.

Some of these areas we have interest include: Why the spectacular failure ? Do you have what it takes to score the goal, if not the fans will demand your withdrawal from the team. Politics is a duty to the society. Politics is only for qualified people who have the passion to change lives, not to destroy lives. Politics should be able to give the people what they want not what the politicians want.

Census manipulation, fraudlent election, repression(Autocracy), exclusion, exploitation, inequality, poverty, free speech, LGA's, Education, Economic diversification, trade, Infrastructure, Public services, Ignorance, Sycophancy, rule of law, (Abduction of judges), constitutional checks and balances, security, EFCC, the herdsmen, IPOB- ethnic minority discrimination, migration, diaspora, refugee, HIV/AIDs, diseases, hunger, unemployment, agriculture, refinery, religion,, diversity, waste on patronage politics, identity politics, pilgrimmage, traditional rulers, opinion/community leaders, labour unions, religious leaders, insecurity, kidnapping, killings, Boko-Haram, Chibok girls, poverty, transport,  housing and social nets, oil, medical and educational tourism, internet/broadband, electricity, etc.

The truth is that the role of politics in society determines the progress of the society including 'waste of human potential', this is why we are interested to find out more especially, now that everyone is asking important questions about the future of Nigeria. Politics divides, politics builds, politics can be transforming if properly and transparent played, there must be a little degree of shortfalls, but politics is always there, so we must not remain comfortable with the way things are.

Change is demanded not given freely by the oppressor. Again politics should be what the people want not what the politicians want.

Read more as we keep updating .

Uche Okeke.

Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable: The heart of the matter: Rethinking the federal system of government in Nigeria- Uche Okeke

Uche Okeke, is a Statistician and Social Entrepreneur. Story coming soon as we continue with our moonlight tales of how the thug business destroyed the beautiful game of football in Nigeria; the world's best loved game . Why? How? Unless....

We have argued that there is urgent need to restructure the current political structure in Nigeria to facilitate inclusiveness ie, create greater opportnunities for the citizens. The current structure does not believe in growth for all. Too much power is concentrated at the centre.

 Today our security and freedom is threatened by the commitment to accommodate unwelcome aliens whose border is full of blood. This requires new leadership with the political will to make change happen. The current leadership believes in the status-quo and is very committed to it. We must speak the truth to power. The insistence to accomodate  dangerous maurading aliens is a gross threat to our collective freedom and security.

We must be willing to reject bribe and the guns to change the way things are, this involves all of us -media, people(traditional rulers, religious leaders, student leaders, market women , trade leaders, opinion and community leaders,etc).

This 21st century, the past is over, so we must look for people who are capable of doing the work, not collecting bribe from incapable people to continue the status-quo. The guns will cease to fire if we collectively resist it and say NO to the way things are: Endless manipulation, exploitation, exclusion, repression, etc.

Born in Nigeria; 'unrealised hope and expectation'- Uche Okeke

 Children crying against strange disease killing children in Jigawa State Nigeria. This is the time to face the facts, a big challenge to all.  Photo: Google

When the future of young people is decided by those who sold their soul to profit and power. It's worst when they're used as mobs for power instead of great tools for development, by depriving them social investments in public services including world class infrastructure.Their future have been decided by those only interested in their great, great, grand children, now the young people are asking important questions about their future, now their future must be fixed.

We have chosen to use these Facebook comments by young people to make a strong case for the restructuring of the current political structure and change in leadership in Nigeria. There is urgent need for change. I totally agree with these young people, that the past is over and the time for change is now.

"What kind of leaders exist in this iniquitous country. My prayer is that God will destroy this fraudlent country called Nigeria, in Jesus name"- Samuel Okafor.

"It's only in Nigeria that the elder will snatch a child's food away from him and still threatened him not to cry. I weep for our country"- Nora Ugo .

"What do you say to a cold beer?; Don't get comfortable in that glass"-Jimmy Greaves

In the words of Neri Nation: "Everybody in every state go and get your PVC simple. This government must pack their loads and go".

We encourage people to engage in democracy, especially young people who are the victimes of exploitation and social exclusion to vote and be voted for, and hold elected leaders to account.  We are simply promoting the value of citizen engagement, a voice for change. I participated on an online course on Citizen Engagement organised by the World Bank, it's very inspiring. I'm using this medium to raise awareness. We must be willing to listen to each other for change to happen. According to Chartered Insurance Institute, London, "Big change means Big conversation", so together we can change the way things are.

We are currently working to develop this story. According to the Economist: "The world's young are oppressed by the few". In Nigeria, instead of investing the money in world class public services including infrastructure, rats and snakes eat the money. No good schools, no refineries, no good health care, no elecricity, no internet/broadband, etc, but there are so many rats, snakes, and cows in everywhere eating public funds.

 Instead of giving them education,and other tools to become like their own children, they teach them only election fraud, under-age voting and thug business, both online and offline. They're told to attack the unseen enemies online and offline whereas they are the real enemies of the people and a lot of people key into it because they've been made to believe that they love the country more than the next person because of little brown envelope which may be hard to come by when they're no longer in office, very unfortunate.

 They set brothers against brothers, friends against friends instead of listening to opposing views which is what democracy is all about, they tell them to attack in the name of crude nationalism as if some lives are more important than others. That's why we're telling the young people to think different. This is very wrong, you cannot get change this way. It's through exchange of ideas that change can come.

Uche Okeke, is a Statistician, Social Entreprenur, he's the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation.