I wrote on Facebook that events in Nigeria tend to justify the 'shithole' narrative, no wonder the global silence. The truth is that change must come from us and the solution to non-performance is in our hands. No doubt, Democracy in Nigeria is in peril. The President seems to dare those calling for the restructuring of the current political structure with the recent endorsement by his loyal party executive for second term, despite poor performance and chaos.
Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/02/today-nigeria-is-not-democratic-country_26.html
Instead of reforms the Independent National Electoral Commission has released Election time table for the next thirty-six years. The Vice-President down played the transparency International report on Nigeria saying "the latest corruption perception index should not be a set back". The Inspector-General of Police said "State Governors should establish cattle ranches before enacting ant-grazing laws, to avert conflict between the farmers and the herdsmen", not minding nation-wide safety and security risks posed by the herdsmen.
The essence of government is to improve the 'human condition': "the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"-Thomas Jefferson. In my view the government of the day has failed this performance test. What we have today is chaos, killings, destruction of lives and property, ethnic discrimination, exclusion, assault on seperation of powers, selective justice, violent repression- see the proposed bill on free speech-death by hanging in 21st century, kidnapping, mass-unemployment, poor public services including infrastructure, etc., so it has become very imperative to 'abolish' it to secure the ''safety and happiness'' of the citizens.
This is a great challenge to all in the Nigerian project. The arrogance of the executive is reliance on 'divine rights' due to the current political structure which must be restructured to set the people free. We must embrace modern values and global best practices if we want to succeed. Gowon has also lent his voice to the idea that Nigeria should plan beyound oil to survive. This is a wake-up call to look for leadership that will promote 'social well-being' of the citizens instead of leadership overtaken by 'destructive passions'.
A lot of people are ignorant of this basic facts which must be overcomed if we are to drive social progress. Thanks to today's liberation technology we have the opportunity to reach a wider audience with vital information for change. I read a report in Punch newspaper where an ex INEC commissioner said he was almost killed for rejecting under-age voters, what a democracy!
The International Monetary Fund has released another damming verdict on the Nigeria economy: "Nigerians are getting more poorer., economic reforms urgently needed''. Click on this link to read the exclusive report: https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-economy-imf/exclusive-nigerias-people-getting-poorer-government-to-muddle-through-says-imf-idUKKCN1GC2F7.
We have also seen the reports from other reputable institutions including Transparency Internation-Corruption, Oxfam- Inequality, Amnesty report on the killings in Nigeria another as the second worst electric supply nation in the world, Global terrorism report-the herdsmen...We are all aware of reports on Education and Healthcare, etc, but this governments promotes medical and educational tourism for their families, friends and associates.
Read this blog regularly as we continue to dig deeper to ascertain why Democracy Failed in Nigeria and What Can Be Done About It. Remember to get a copy of the book soon.
We must resist those people who have sold their soul to profit and power to promote 'destructive passions' and destructive politics instead of development. Those people are the real enemies of the people so we must beware of them.
Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur. He's the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation- Raising the Voice of the Poor.
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