State of Occupation-FULL VIDEO : South East Senators Protest against Multiple Roadblocks in ...

The Buhari administration since coming to power in 2015 has relentlessly pursued a ruthless policy of Exclusion, Exploitation and Expansionism treating the people of the South-East with distrust, perhaps percieved enemies. Beside running an ethnic and regional government, the South-East Nigeria has been subjected to routine heavy military and security presence despite the country's security challenges that is more prevalent in the Northern Nigeria.  By excluding the people of the South-East from the country's top security architecture, the people of the South-East view this as a bad omen. The level of atrocities and hardships their people encounter on a daily basis in the hands of security personnel manning these numerous check-points is horrendous and worrisome.  In the words of Mr Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere National Publicity Secretary; "It will only take a Nigerian that is naive to see the trend the Buhari's government is going as if the entire South is conquered territories of the President and the Fulani and this is very dangerous for the unity of the country". I think the current government in Nigeria has proven that Nigeria is not a united country and has strenghtened the case for regional autonomy/ethnic federalism. Ethnic/Regional autonomy remains the only solution in a climate of suspicion and even hatred as its the case for Nigeria. According to Gurr, 1993, etal, "exclusion or maltreatment of minorities explains ethnic groups' rebellions around the world". True federalism in Nigeria is long overdue. People should be given more 'leeway' to govern their own affairs and take their own destiny in their own hands. This is the only way to eradicate fears of invasion and colonisation with legalized occupation and its horrendous consequences of 'genocide, economic exploitation and moral decadence'. Lastly in the words of Benny Hinn, American Televangelist, "the notion that Nigeria is a united country has been proven to be false based on past and present realities facing the country. The country is not only divided along ethnic and religious lines but throwing religion into the mix makes the gulf even more wider. The Buhari administration since coming to power in 2015 has done more harm than good to the unity it says is non-negotiable"
Uche Okeke is the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation. He lives in London.

Nigeria 2019: The Year in Photos

We have selected some images that offer a lens on 2019 . Out there, there was a history unfolding, the year 2020 should be a year of repentance and sober refelection for Nigeria. In the words of American Televangelist, Benny Hinn, "In today's Nigeria, the struggle isn't about ensuring good governance, but about religious domination. The Buhari administration since coming to power in 2015, has done more harm than good to the unity it says is non-negotiable", something must be done about it.

Mrs Salome Abuh was opposition PDP Women Leader Brutally murdered by political thugs in Kogi State Nigeria during the November 2019 Governorship Election in Nigeria. She was locked inside her house and set ablaze by the ruling APC political thugs. Photo: The News Chronicle.

                          

Prince Deji Adeyanju, a rights activist was brutally attacked by pro-government supporters in Abuja Nigeria on Monday 23.12,2019, during a peaceful protest to demand the release of the US-based International Journalist, Omoyele Sowore. Photo: Legit

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New UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson to back amnesty for undocumented immigrants

"It is absolutely true that I have raised it several times since I was in government. I must say it didn't receive an overwhelming endorsement from the previous Prime Minister when I put it to her when I raised it once in cabinet. We should look at it and the truth is the law already basically alows them an effective amnesty, that's basically where we have settled now"- Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister.

The new UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson  has backed an amnesty for about half a million migrants who do not have proof of their right to stay in the UK. According to The Times Newspaper, the Prime Minister promised to look at the "economic advantages and disadvantages'' of a policy review for undocumented migrants who have been living and working in the UK for many years without being involved in any criminal activity. The new Prime Minister has also confirmed that he was scrapping Theresa May's pledge to cut net immigration to the ''tens of thousands", and would instead introduce an Australian style points based system.  In his words; "We know the difficulties that can be caused and we need to look at our arrangements for people who have lived and worked here for a long time unable to enter the economy, unable to participate properly or pay taxes without documents". The Prime Minister's official spokesman made clear that he was not interested in playing the ''numbers game'' and was instead focusing on controlling migration rather than limiting it. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has pledged to give the 3.2 million EU nationals living in the UK 'absolute certainty' about their future and would guarantee their ability to remain in the UK after Brexit, while being ''tougher'' on those who abuse the system. Boris Johnson said that the legal position of undocumented migrants who have been living in the United Kingdom for years was ''anomalus'' and risked a repeat of the Windrush scandal.

Uche Okeke

Nigeria is a mismatch of political and ethnic identities, true federalism is the answer

"The question of government should be decided by the governed not autocratic and militaristic empires bent on expansionism and conquest"-Giuseppe Mazzini.

Nigeria is a federation comprising thirty-six states and the federal capital, Abuja, but its struggling to find a permanent solution to nationhood as members are yet to regard themselves as a nation. Nationalism must be addressed through constitutional reform.Today the golden age is about freedom and autonomy, true federalism is the only solution to colonial constructs built on divide-and-rule politics  that served its interests only. Find out more soon.

APC Government in Nigeria is simply writing its political obituary

"I believe that the solutions to most of the problems we face today lie in our honest assessment of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference. If we take politics out of consideration, there is every likelihood that a diligent implementation of the key recommendations of the conference will lead the nation out of the woods"-Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Political parties everywhere  compete for power by promising growth and prosperity, not  capture and corruption, poverty, insecurity and instability, high inflation, huge debts, mass unemployment, poor infrastructural development, poor social services including education and health care, etc. This is the position of the APC ruling government in Nigeria today, political power for luxury and adorenment. Dr.Oby Ezekwesili captured the mood of the nation when she declared that "Nigeria has no president". Sadly the government meanders from crisis to crisis, each its own making. When a government feels powerless in the face of growing challenges, what role is left for politics? Few years ago, Nigeria was the fastest growing economy in Africa, so how come the promise of a good future has now turned sour. Look at what we have got : Sham elections, insecurity, Killings, kidnapping, routinized terror, politicisation of public policies, political bias and favouritism, fear and terror.  Nigeria is now the world's poverty capital with more than 70% of the population living below poverty lines. There is mass unemployment, no jobs, poor infrastructure development, collapsed manufacturing, collapsed capital markets, diminishing Foreign Direct Investment, Poor economic diversification, Poor tax administration with only active tax payer population of less than five percent, no electricity and internet, no good roads, railways, seaports, no refineries, fraudlent petrol subsidy, high inflation, huge debts, intimidation of the judiciary, selective justices, the government chooses the law at will and obeys only favourable court orders, opposition intimidation and witch hunting, partial corruption war, police state, repression of civil liberties, forged certificates by government officials, funding terrorism through ransom payments, engineering legalization of theft by seeking to transfer land and wealth from one group to another without their consent, attack on constitutional checks and balances, propaganda, lies and untruths, RUGA settlement of manipulating to impose foreign terrorists on various communities across the states despite the bloody borders of the foreign herdsmen described as the world's fourth dangerous terror groups, who don't even speak Nigeria languages as evidences have confirmed, these are people described as bandits who are supposed to be brought to justice not providing them with shelter. Indeed, abuse of power is the worst corruption and bad omen that can befall any country. I wonder how the electorates will reward this political party and its leadership in future elections in Nigeria. According to Forbes Magazine; President Trump has warned that ; "continued ignorance of the Nigerian government and President Buhari's ''dismissive approach'' to the herdsmen killings of indigeneuos population in Nigeria is  not ''justified". The lessons learned so far is "there is no escaping political economy''. Capture and corruption are really the political economy problems of Nigeria. The president should heed to the candid advice of  former President Goodluck Jonathan to implement key recommendations of the 2014 National Conference report, this is one sure way to get out of the mess we're currently in .The political system that promotes abuse of power must be overhauled to address the interconnectedness of trust, governance and growth. Every objective enquiry has endorsed restructuring of the monstrous political structure as the only solution to capture and corruption in Nigeria.The APC government must discontinue its endless political football with this urgent national dialogue. Barbaric politicians who believe that political power is a means for oppressing others, oppression and subjugation, exploitation and domination ought to learn from the monsters of history that power is only temporary and creationism is real. The time has come to resist and reject  political leaders of "cunning, cruelty and manipulation who conceal personal ambition behind the rhetoric of public service". We must rise up against this national tragedy and  national embarrassment. The future has no place for totalitarian barbarism. The golden age is about freedom and autonomy agenda not unity and continuity regardless of inequity and injustice. Sadly, its only in a place like Nigeria where such style of governance flourishes due to ignorance and impotence of the majority. The party has become  a greater part of Nigeria's sad story with litany of woes on our economy and society. Today, the country tops global terror list, bottom on global peace and 12th on global religious persecution for christians overtaking Iraq, etc. Indeed, promise of abundance replaced with terror and economic violence, this is the sad reality of what this government has become. A political party that achieved power democratically destroys the very democracy that empowered them. Everything history told us about totalitarian barbarism is laid bare for all to see.
Uche Okeke is the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation. He lives in London.

Investment Data For Nigeria

"A country without a stable macroeconomic and political environment will not be able to attract long-term investment. Similarly,  a country without a sound banking sector lacks a key pillar of capital markets development,..., WBG's Global Investment Competitiveness Report 2017/2018 found that political stability and security, a stable legal and regulatory environment are the leading country characteristics valued by multinational corporations"- The World Bank Group
Nigeria has oil revenue as the main sources of Financing. According to the IMF; Nigeria has one of the lowest revenue-to-GDP ratios relative to peers with an active taxpayers population of only 5%. Nigeria has a significantly higher revenue potential from structural tax measures, tax administration reforms. Estimates of tax potential from the literature ( Fenochietto 2013, IMF 2017b), suggest that a non-oil tax capacity of 16 to 18 percent would be optimal for a country with Nigeria's economic structure and per capita income levels. This estimate implies space for additional tax collection of 12 percent of GDP. The largest source of International Financing in the country in 2017 is Official Development Assistance(ODA) at 11%. The United States, The United Kingdom and the European Union are the largest donors of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to Nigeria. Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) to Nigeria is at 11% and Personal Remittances at 72% are other important sources of International Financing in Nigeria. The Diaspora is the largest Foreign Direct Investment to Nigeria. According to  Professor Andrew Nerving, Chief economist at Price Water Coopers (PWC) Nigeria; "Nigeria's citizens living outside the country are its biggest  export remitting about  US $25Billion in 2018"(Allafrica.com, 16 Feb 2019). Domestic Public Finance is crucial to Nigeria's continued development to reduce dependence on volatile oil revenues. Tax collection is low at about three and five percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2017. Recent data from the National bureau of Statistics indicate that Nigeria's external Debt is rising while the total government collection in taxes was decreasing barely N1.3 Trillion in the Second Quarter (Q2 2018). Debt Sustainability is a huge concern and it is unlikely that the government can continue to lend to finance its development. Private Financing, International and Domestic is promising if the Government commits to building an enabling investment environment and to developing its capital markets. Foreign Direct Investment is very important for economic growth of any nation, but 'there are both global and country-level barriers to private investment in EMDEs'. "At the country level, the World Bank Group's(WBG's) Global Investment Competitiveness Report 2017/2018 found that Political stability and security, and a stable legal and regulatory environment, are the leading country characteristics valued by multinational corporations". Poor societies must diversify and recognise the need for Private Finance to fund Sustainable Development Goals. One sure way this can happen is electing people of expertise and experience to drive sound government that will provide the enabling environment for long-term investment not fear and terror. Insecurity is the biggest threat to investment and most Nigeria states are on International terror lists with various governments hightening travel risk to Nigeria. According to Priti Patel , former UK International Development Secretary; "Nigeria is the only member of OPEC that is dependent upon petrol imports to keep the country going and the country is ranked 145th in the world for ease of doing business which demonstrates the risks of investment into Nigeria.  Professor Pat Utomi, A Professor of Political Economy, confirmed this in a recent seminar in Lagos Nigeria. In his words; "lack of investors' confidence is slowing the economic growth of Nigeria despite enormous investment opportunities in the country". He noted that Nigerians are now establishing their businesses outside the country due to the fear of unknown in Nigeria. I have argued several times that the only way to make progress is to acknowledge the failings in the system and address the flawed political system that creates abuse of power, insecurity and instability. Nigeria must be bold to restructure the country to embrace true federalism which enables comparative advantage and competition to drive growth.Capture and corruption, luxury and adorenment is never a growth good fit, thinking needs to change if the country will join the rest of the world to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and eradicating poverty. Poor leadership with barbaric and primitive ideas are a big threat to democracy and development and should be avoided. The essence of democracy is to achieve economic growth and improvement in citizens living standard and well-being not a return of the society to the primitive state where life is 'nasty, brutish and short'. The future is to think different. The future is thinking big. We must be mindful of incompetent, and divisive leadership that don't bother about a dying economy and citizens well-being just power grips. Political leaders of ''cunning, cruelty and manipulation who conceal personal ambition behind the rhetoric of public service". Nigeria does not need barbaric politicians who believe that political power is a means for oppressing others, oppression, subjugation, exploitation and domination, rather leadership that will embrace high investment for development and better ideas to transform the future and change people's lives.. The future is Peaceful, and inclusive societies for Sustinable Development, Justice for all and Strong Institutions that are effective, accountable and inclusive at all levels.
Data For Nigeria:
i) Official Development Assistance (ODA); 2017- (USD) 3471.6(11%)
ii)Other International Sources: 2017;  (USD)1449(5%)
iii)Public Finance; Central Government Debt: 2017; (USD375.74Billion)
iv) Tax Revenue: (N1.3Trillion) (3%), 2018
v)Imports, Exports: 2017 (USD13.2)
vi) Foreign Direct Investment: 2017; (USD3,497) (11%)
vii) Remittances: 2017; (USD 22,001) (72%)
viii) Capital Markets: 2017 GDP US $375.745( )
(Source: The World Bank Group)
Uche Okeke is the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation, he lives in London. He has participated in ; Unlocking Investment and Finance in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies(EMDEs).

The left behind in Northern Nigeria suffer not for their sins but ideology

"Practical solutions abound, sadly they're in danger of drowning in the snake oil.., the left behind are feeling the pain but putting up barriers is not the answer"- Stephen King.
In my last blog post on the controversy about RUGA settlement initiative of the Nigeria government to address the herdsmen-farmers crisis ravaging the North, i was quick to observe that this initiative widely rejected in the Southern Nigeria has further exposed the historical divide which the politicians assume can be swept under the carpet with elections every four years. Personally , i'm yet to see the need for such an irrational policy having made my position known in my writings. The truth is if the country is serious about a stable future, everything, national identity, diversity, integration should be on the table. Politics is about co-poeration not conflict.  Its only when we do the right thing that we will not only solve the problem, we will get it done as a nation, unfortunately double standards does not guarantee a stable future. A lot has been written about the level of poverty in the North despite nearly six decades of power grips. The truth is there is lack of political will to address this urgent task despite becoming a national catastrophe. The extent of a burning desire to solve this problem is yet to be seen, just mere political rhetorics as everyone knows that the development model in that region does not support growth. Available Records show almost zero domestic tax revenue, mineral resources fuel conflict and insecurity,  and oil revenue funds luxury and adorenment and the next election. I think the traditional feudal system is largely to be blamed. Traditional rulers in the North are some of the most paid, government officials fund medical and education tourism, their children are rewarded with choice jobs on return, funding religious activities including pilgrimage is part of the state budgets, borders are kept wide open in the name of brotherhood, etc. instead of investment in infrastructural development, education and healthcare, agriculture which is their main stay is now threatened by terrorism , an attack on food security. Whether we agree or disagree, the political leaders in the North should apologise to their citizens for a disservice by denying them economic opportunities especially inability to exploit comparative advantage and competition which federalism guarantees with abundant evidence, instead of pursuit of capture and corruption, grab your share. The times are changing fast, only those societies who are equipped or provide the enabling environment will be able to benefit from the challenges of the future. The North must embrace modernity to drive growth not violence, unfortunately increase in violence simply brings more violence. Investment in security to maintain power is a development misfit, it only promotes capture and corruption which benefits just few people as events of nearly six decades has shown. No doubt, by pursuing this ideology the region has failed to look at the big picture to realise that charity begins at home. Come to think about it, how and why do you think you can change the whole country when the rest of the people in your home states are the poorest in the country, thinking needs to change. According to Stephen King; ''Practical solutions abound, sadly they're in danger of drowning in the snake oil..., the left behind are feeling the pain but putting up barriers is not the answer". A shift in mindset holds the magic key. Young people in the Northern Nigeria should be challenged to re-think ideology, carry out objective enquiries to find the right answers instead of wholesome allegiancies to bias, lies, distorted facts and untruths to keep them more impoverished. Today any society that resists adaptation will definitely be left behind. If Dubai can become one of the world's most attractive centre, i wonder why such wouldn't happen in the Northern Nigeria. Definitely we would all be concerned because ''everybody  eventually loses out'', as we're currently witnessing now, the horroffic atrocities of extremism and terrorism due to bad governance. It's unthinkable to imagine that cows are being allowed to travel from Sokoto to down South-East destroying private and commercial farmlands in the name of cattle grazing , whereas the rest of the societies who have unlocked great opportunities in this sector have all embraced innovation and modernity to achieve growth so this total bad governance, ruthlessness and failure of governance, fresh thinking is needed. The political leaders in the North must be bold to accept the truth about their dysfunctional system and bring the political will-power to effect change, now is the time to make change happen. I read an insight on Facebook about how the Igbos who were massacred, and given only £20 to survive have suddenly emerged stronger and richer whereas the dominant North that masacred and destroyed them are now the poverty capital of the world with ravaging and incurable terrorism which has come to stay, this should be a great challenge to everyone, not the next election and where the next President comes from, charity begins at home. In the words of Einstein the great; "insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results". Every society must embrace universal values that champion peace, prosperity and progress to make the world a better place. Everyone wins if the political leaders do the right thing, Political Power can be a force for development if properly utilised. Growth requires a shift in mindset.  The Politicians in the North created a philosophy of ''greed is good'', there must be a desire for people to stand on their own feet. People must think of taking responsibility for their economic and social circumstances. In changing times, people must learn to challenge ideology and politics that makes change inevitable rather being persuaded by propaganda and ideology to remain stuck, My view. Click on this link to read about my position on the controversial RUGA initiative of the Federal Government.  I think the focus should be how to start implementing it in the North where there is abundant land resources and where culture practices will guarantee its success rather waiting for the rest of the society to donate land before its eventual take off since it has the potentials to drive economic development, provide jobs, income and reduce unemployment and poverty: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2019/07/the-honest-truth-about-controversial.html
Uche Okeke is the Founder of  The LEAD Project Foundation. He lives in London. He has participated in the course: From Poverty to Prosperity: Understanding Economic Development.