LEADERSHIP: SUCCESS COMES FROM OPPORTUNITY AND PREPARATION - Chapter 7

There is no difference between the reactionary elements within the Republican Party in the United States and the reactionary elements that dominate the political system in Nigeria – trust deficit, greed, lies, bigotry, nepotism, and misinformation. They profess family values and moral purity, yet they see the less-privileged in the society as another category of human species, deserving nothing and worthy of nothing. They wear patriotism on their shoulders but exploit political power and government as another investment tools on behalf of a select few at the expense of the governed.

As a true believer in a strong federal system, I’m less inclined to worry about the tribal or religious background of my President. I am much more interested in the person, the personality, and to what extent her ethnic background and religious views impact her public policy initiatives. I am not asking for a miracle worker, if we have one, it's fine with me. We need someone with the ability to control members of her political party - someone with the foresight and wisdom to identify and surround herself with dedicated subordinates and advisers and listen to their counsel every step of the way.  These are common attributes a real leader should have. 

Is it too much for a President to make a commitment that a four years bachelor degree program must be completed within four years and not five or six years as has been the case in Nigeria for the past fifteen years. Is it too much for a President or Presidential the aspirant to declare that every university graduate eligible for the mandatory one year NYSC program must be able to serve immediately after graduation, without spending another six months, or one year at home waiting to be posted.

Cameroonians used to come to Nigeria for their advanced degrees - I met and worked with most of them abroad. Not anymore, because of the protracted fight between ASUU and government, and between Students Union and government which often lead to closure of campuses. The government at the center is gambling with our educational system because there are private schools in Ghana, Togo, Abuja, and Lagos built with stolen money where they pampered and nurtured their children before shipping them overseas for further education.

VISION AND GOAL SETTING

Just as it is in business; in politics, vision and goal setting are the beginning of purposeful leadership. 

When Awo left for England for his law degree he made a commitment that when he is back in the office, every child of school going age will never walk a long distance to school again.  On his return from England and back in government, he accomplished that dream in the magnitude that defied human imagination. There were elementary schools and grammar schools within walking distance for every eligible candidate. As at the creation of Midwest region on August 9, 1963, my village, Ewohimi (the second largest village within the Esan/Ishan tribal region), had about thirteen Elementary Schools, three Modern Schools, and a Grammar School. All built before 1960 under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his Action Group political party. In a nutshell, every child wanting to go to School did so without a sweat. 

President Ronald Reagan, today, is the most popular name in Republican Party presidential primary debates, because of his conservative credentials.  Is there any political party or individual in today Nigeria that is campaigning on the platform of Awo's free education and free health care philosophy? There is none. They do not have the intellectual wherewithal or managerial acumen to implement free education and affordable health care programs, even though they have the resources to implement them. They are much interested in how much they can pilfer from the state treasury at the end of the financial year. You can never see such a bunch of greedy idiots anywhere in the world. They steal the money they can't even spend. And Nigerians clap along with them.

About a year ago (2011), either the Governor of Cross River or Akwa-Ibom State, told President Jonathan on his visit to the state to commemorate a project that no employer will ever come to the state again in search of a ‘House Help’ or an ‘Errand Boy.’ Rather, when they do come, they will be interviewing educated work-force, capable of serving in any official or corporate capacity.  Such a declaration is the beginning of wisdom. 

The Governor understood his people and their realities. By openly admitting to past failure of government, and recognizing the realities of his own people and committing to transforming the status quo for the good of his people is the beginning of wisdom and purposeful leadership.

There is no political party in Nigeria today that one could reasonably identify as conservative or progressive or liberal. Every politician gravitates toward the party in power or to the political party where his chances of winning in an election are assured. Apparently, there are no visible ideological differences between PDP and AC, or between AC and Labor or ANPP. 

The positive changes that we experienced at Abuja in the last administration did not happen because PDP wanted to clean up the city. It was a conscious resolve of a one-man gang – Mallam Nassir El’Ruffai – intent on accomplishing what the office of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory demands. Furthermore, the noticeable changes in Benin City, Lagos, and Calabar today, are not as a result of the redevelopment programs initiated at the top by the leadership of the different political parties. Rather, they are individually initiated and implemented by the Governors. 

CREATIVE MIND

Right now, we have a President and a Vice President who, a few years ago, were deputy governors at the state level. Much to my surprise, we expect them to perform miracles for us within a short time. It is not going to happen, especially in a complex nation-state like Nigeria where there is no continuity in the program mechanism. The President and his Vice President did not prepare for the demands inherent in the office of the President and Vice President respectively. Above all, they do not have the luxury of an established ideological framework or platform to stand on to operate when they arrived. That is where creativity comes in.

President Obama, in spite of the political bruises he suffered during and after the Health Care reform debate, accomplished some major policy achievements that were not overtly celebrated by his White House. The White House did something pragmatic in reforming educational funding in the US, which I think President Jonathan should emulate, or at least be aware of. 

Hitherto, Uncle Sam used to provide students with grants and loans through the Banks. Banks make money by merely disbursing the loans. First, Uncle Sam made the funds available to the Banks and guarantees the loans on behalf of the students. The Banks merely disburse the loans to students on behalf of Uncle Sam, and at the end, the Banks reap the benefits of the interest generated from the loans. 

Today, that is no longer the case. The Department of Education, through the Financial Aid Offices in all the Universities, now prepare the loans and grants and disburse them directly to eligible students. If anyone must reap the benefits of the interest the loans generated, let it be the Department of Education and Uncle Sam that provide the fund and the guarantee in the first case. President Obama and his wife are products of America University system and they are very familiar with the burdens associated with repayment of student loans, especially the graduate plus loans. (I have two, and I know how it feels).

President Jonathan does not have any excuse to give for his inability to articulate a coherent framework for our educational advancement. That he is facing challenges in this sector is very disturbing. Because the President was part of the academic sector and a product of the Nigerian educational system. He cannot feign ignorance of the sorrow situations in our Universities and campuses. 

DEVELOPING A BLUEPRINT AND POLITICAL BELIEFS

I think the time is now for every one of us to learn to openly identify, without any equivocation, with a school of thoughts, political system, or political leaders.  Those set of values, beliefs, and core principles serve as the foundation for the development of blueprints whenever the opportunity or personal struggles impose leadership position on you. Granted your policies might not be popular, or acceptable to the generality of the people or the opposing party or parties, but at least, stand for something - have goals and core beliefs that you can be identified with. That is motivations in power. 

My brother, what do you stand for?

I stand for free education at all levels. I stand for an affordable health care system that would benefit every Nigerian equally. And I stand for a transparent and accountable government. I believe free education at all levels and affordable health services are possible because there is more money today at the disposal of the government, compared to what was available to the governors of the old western region when they implemented free education at all levels. 

In addition, I believe they are possible because Nigeria is still standing in spite of the billions of Naira stolen by Debrieye, Balogun, and the unexplained millions of dollars that President Obasanjo’s government wasted on Electricity and road projects - electrification and road projects that did not show any sign of progress or improvement.

With respect to managing the economy, I support private ownership and creation of wealth, but I abhor extreme and overleveraged capitalism. A habit that most of our Governors have perfected to an obscene level. They go to Banks and borrow heavily at the interest rate they care less about. In the end, they leave office richer, leaving their respective states in a bankrupt state.  

Finally, leadership is not for the faint-hearted. Those who aspire to govern, must be bold and be creative; surround yourself with people learned in their respective field of studies - people who share your goals, your vision, people who understand the concept of leadership, and what leadership entails. Governing is not about the distribution of wealth, it is about the creation of new wealth through purposeful management of existing wealth and resources.

Leadership is a service, a fiduciary responsibility – involving a trust on behalf of the people. Awo did it. And President Clinton did it.  It is possible in Nigeria because we still have men and women, fully dedicated to the service of mankind. And we still have the natural resources to stand on. January 2012

This article was written before the release of Rep Farouk Lawan's report regarding the petroleum subsidy scam carried out by bogus oil marketers. So, if you consider the money involved in that scam alone, there is no doubt that you will agree with me that free education is achievable in Nigeria. In other words, the money is there, but in wrong hands. Added on September 29, 2012. 

Leadership and Accountability

In the words of William Shakespeare “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”  

Leadership is not for the fainthearted. If you must wear the crown, you must endeavor to wear it well.

There is no excuse for moral failing. If an action is a failing, it is wrong. If it is wrong, it is simply an aberration.

Leaders do not need the law to explain right and wrong. The law is a product of the mind and the thinking of a negligible few at a point in time. And the law covers, but a negligible few of our doings as a people, as an institution, as a society. It is not absolute.

Not every fight is worth fighting, but fight you must fight, if the need is, to protect what you believe in.

I am progressive, but I support capitalism and private ownership of wealth and private creation of wealth. It is my fervent belief that to build sustainable wealth in any given society, a government must provide a favorable investment climate for the entrepreneurs and the geniuses among us to thrive in what they do best - creativity and technological innovation.

I also believe that foreign investors and foreign investments deserve protection from the host nation anywhere in the World. In the same vein, I strongly hold that no country should sacrifice its sovereignty or abdicate its lawmaking power to attract foreign investments. It doesn't bode well for sustainable development and investment continuity. 

Education is the best investment gift to a child.  Government involvement is unquestionably necessary. A strong department of defense needs a viable department of education to maximize its relevance and usefulness. You can’t separate the two.

I believe in a transparent, effective, and accountable government. I also believe in the rule of law and in the independence of the judiciary. We need it; otherwise, mobs will run amok, and chaos and lawlessness will reign supreme.

September 2011

Bonga Oil Spillage, Niger Delta, and Community Factors in the Development of Natural Resources in Nigeria!

A sovereign nation is endowed with inalienable rights, coupled with the machinery of the state to function independently. These are necessary for it to be able to maintain its sovereignty within and outside its geographical and political boundaries.  A fundamental component of that statehood is the inherent right over its natural resources. And by extension, the power to enact laws to regulate the sustainable use and exploitation/exploration of those natural resources. It encompasses the freedom to negotiate and enter into investment agreements with investors – domestic and foreign – and simultaneously provides a safe harbour for the expressions of fundamental rights and the pursuit of happiness by civil society. These goals are attainable anywhere in the World. There are a plethora of studies and papers developed over the years by the United Nations as well as Private and Public Institutions, intending to attain those goals.        

God blessed Nigeria with the Niger Delta oil and gas and the Kogi-Middle-Belt axis with abundant natural riches. And it is morally demanding on the part of the leadership to explore, exploit, and utilize the natural resources for the use and benefit of present generations, while making reservations for the needs and use of the unborn generations who would have no other land, except the Niger Delta and the Middle-Belt to call their own. It is called the sustainable development of natural resources. 

What is required, therefore, is a fundamental framework developed at the instance of the Federal Government to ensure sustainable exploitation and use of natural resources in collaboration with the Federating States, Local Councils, and the host communities.

This fundamental framework involves the integration of human rights and human development initiatives within the body of the various investment agreements negotiated between the Nigerian Government and International Oil Companies (IOCs) or International Mining Companies as the case may be. It also extends to agreements negotiated between the National Government and Local Oil Companies (LOCs) as well as local Miners.

It calls for balancing the investment interests of the investors with those of the host government at the centre, without undermining the human rights and social expectations of the host communities. That is the current trend in the development of mineral resources around the World. Nigeria should not be an exception.

It requires the establishment of Land Reclamation Funds (for instance in the Middle-Belt and North-Central) or Water Restoration Funds (Niger Delta) as the case may be, created at the inception of the exploration agreement. And to be funded by the Federal Government and the investors with a certain percentage of estimated yearly earnings agreed upon by the parties.

The contracting parties must deposit the reserve funds in an escrow account during each calendar year, specifically to offset environmental clean-up, and oil spillage (as presently the case in Bonga Field). It also involves land reclamation and decommissioning costs whenever the need arises or whenever the investors cease operations (Shell). The land reclamation funds, the escrow account, as well as water restoration obligations are essential and mandatory components of the integrated contract.

Also, it recognizes the importance of local content, training, and education of the indigenes of the surrounding communities. Cash incentives only provide temporary relief and should be discontinued where possible. Instead, effort should be made to expand the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, with the capacity to absorb and provide necessary machining, technical and mechanical training for candidates within the amnesty pools (former members of MEND), to prepare them for entry-level positions in the energy sector.

Adding to that, it requires honesty, and transparent negotiations between the government, the investors, and the local communities where natural resources are located. These companies should endeavour to engage and interact with the local people regularly by buying local produce and attending community affairs, and cultural festivals. It is called a “social license,” which is more important than any PSA. Also, the divide and rule system - setting up one community against another or one interest group against another as was the case in the trial and execution of Ken Saro-wiwa, is counterproductive and should be avoided by the stakeholders.

In the words of Professor Luke Danielson, a prominent Attorney in the emerging world of sustainable development of natural resources, "Truly successful projects must be successful for investors, local communities, and host national economies. Increasingly, it appears that there is little opportunity for success in one of these dimensions without success in all of them. A project that has terrible results for investors is not going to benefit anyone else very much. A project that burdens the government of a poor country with all kinds of costs of social dislocation and environmental problems while providing little or no revenue to deal with them is likely to have a long list of other problems. The idea that the company is going to be highly successful at meeting its own expectations without meeting the expectations of other key players is increasingly difficult to accept.” Culled from “Sustainable Development in Natural Resource Industries: New Perspectives, New Rules, and New Opportunities.” The above is a perfect picture of the situation in the Niger Delta.

Presently, it cost Shell much more to provide security for its workers and facilities in the Niger Delta, in comparison to what other oil companies, similarly situated, pay to maintain production at the same capacity.  The facts are whenever Shell declares force majeure, both Shell and the federal government suffer substantial financial setbacks, running into millions of dollars in revenues, royalties, and taxes. When those are added to the large security budget and the replacement cost resulting from recurring expenses associated with the burning and destruction of petroleum pipelines, you are bound to have much more than enough to finance the demands of the local communities before the protest and demands escalate out of control into kidnapping vandalism.

According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), “Before disputes escalate to settlement at the international level, companies must ensure that they have in place adequate mechanisms for dispute resolution between its stakeholders and the communities. A grievance mechanism should provide a way for the communities to hold the company accountable, to be sure it takes community inputs seriously, deal with them through a clear and transparent process, follow through with actions, and communicate with the community.”

The interest of the host community overrides all other considerations. You cannot provide bread and butter for the local chiefs, making millions of dollars available to influential politicians to write off your taxes, and expedite the contracting process, while 99.9% of the people do not have clean water to drink, cannot fish, and cannot farm. It doesn’t make sense.

Given the enormity of the environmental hazards and other problems associated with petroleum and exploration activities, the same effort and resources should be devoted to managing exploration and disaster prevention measures and control.

Moving Forward.

Indeed, President Goodluck Jonathan’s (Niger Delta) election as President of Nigeria is important symbolically, but they cannot overcome 50 years of abuse of federal character, quota system, environmental degradations, and the indiscriminate destruction of the aquatic resources that the people of Niger Delta overwhelmingly depend on for their survival by the multi-national oil companies.

They survived 50 years of neglect and deprivation. That is a fact. And Ogoni grieves, and a clean-up came that never was.

They were fishermen, they were into rubber, and they were into the timber trade. They were industrious, self-secure and self-sufficient. They were loyal landlords, until the uninvited quests confiscated their land, took away the riches of their earth, and imperilled their means of survival.

And yes, they produced and drank ogogoro (local gin), but there was no drunkard and no insane delusional or hopeless mind rummaging the swampy landscape scavenging for a piece of the black gold simmering from crevices along the pipelines. IOCs and the Federal Government of Nigeria took their humility for granted and left them economically pulverized.

There was no burning, and there was no looting. There was no kidnapping of white men and not-so-white men for ransom. And there was no lamentation of force majeure by Shell, or BP, or by Chevron. These companies cleaned up their mess in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere in the developed and developing world; they must be made to clean up their mess in the Niger Delta.

That is not too much of a demand. 

Suffice it to say at this juncture, that, just as Abuja (the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria) was a national priority during its development phase, the reconstruction and development of infrastructural facilities in the Niger Delta should be a national priority.

Managing Militancy

In Nigeria, the militancy business is big business. It benefits the sponsors of the activities more than the perpetrators of the events in financial terms. Therefore, the perpetrators (the field workers) need redemptions, while those who plan and sponsor the actions should be prosecuted where possible.

First, the government and IOCs should start with the establishment of Schools of Basic Studies or Extramural Classes, where those who dropped out of Grammar Schools those who do not have the mandatory five or six credits required for admission to higher institutions and those who cannot afford to pay to retake the exams over and over again, as it is the case in Nigeria, should be able to register and retake the exams, without the temptation of joining militant activities. These are the dislocated Nigerians – no certificate, no jobs, and no future - who are the easy target for militant recruitment.

Above all, the affected youths should be proactive and look beyond immediate gains from militancy activities and think about their future and the future of their children. The reasonable step right now is to eschew militancy activities and take advantage of the amnesty programs, and everything that it offers. That is one of the most credible avenues to earning a sustainable income and a happy living.

Scholarship

Where the family support system is lacking, the government and oil companies ought to step in and fill the vacuum through community engagements, extra-curricular activities as well as other social and educational incentives. The health hazards inherent in exploratory activities are common knowledge, worldwide. Therefore, a request for healthcare support is not a high demand.

The concerns most often expressed at international forums and in classrooms overseas regarding the establishment of hospitals in local communities and the availability or non-availability of doctors and personnel to manage them when IOCs cease exploratory activities and depart are real concerns. However, they are preventable. The first step is the award of scholarships to deserving students from the immediate localities and the country at large, to attend medical schools.

For instance, Shell has been in Nigeria for close to 50 years; similarly, no other major oil company has abandoned its operation in Nigeria within the first seven years of its exploration activities. (All things being equal, it takes about seven years to train a medical doctor in Nigeria). So, the establishment of the scholarship fund and training of doctors and the establishment of hospitals in the local communities where the multinational operates would go a long way to ensuring a cordial business relationship between the different stakeholders.

The scholarship should be made available on the condition that the beneficiaries, in the first ten years following graduation, must work for the oil company at the company’s own hospitals that are accessible to the villagers. Alternatively, the beneficiaries must, with the support of IOCs, set up their private clinics or hospitals in and around communities specified by IOCs. And where it is not logistically feasible to establish clinics or hospitals (as in the creeks), Mobile Clinics should be provided.

Analysis

The demand for the integration of human rights, human development and sustainable development within the framework of every investment agreement in the extractive sector, is not just an intellectual exercise. It is real and achievable if diligently pursued. Investment Treaties and Stabilization Clauses do not provide the kind of stability that developing some forms of relationship (social license) with the community offers.

The earlier nation-states and foreign investors embrace and acknowledge the interests and concerns of Indigenous people and inculcate those concerns into their final investment agreements, the closer we are to peace and sustainable human development in the mineral-producing areas anywhere in the World. Nothing enriches shareholders' value more than a sustainable income.

Finally, it is our firm belief that any investor who values life, liberty, freedom, and fundamental human rights of others, especially people living in and around mines and rigs or mines; with a genuine concern for living things, creatures, and the environment in and around its facilities; and appreciates peaceful investment climate inherent in cordial business relationship with local communities, should not prevaricate on these issues and the solutions proffered.

We firmly hold that the number one problem facing multinationals in the extractive sector, especially in developing countries, is a failure of corporate responsibility. Political instability is real and potent, but not as egregious as community unrest.

Also, the host nation should hold multinationals liable for any financial loss resulting from the declaration of force majeure unconnected with natural disasters, or unforeseeable catastrophic occurrences. I hold this view believing that most of the unrest at the locations of facilities is preventable.

When your facilities and staff quarters enjoy an uninterrupted supply of electricity, while the community where you are tapping your wealth are in total darkness is criminal.  

When the smooth and bumper-free road that extends from the highway to your facilities and the nearby villages suddenly stops at the entrance to your facilities, while the villagers contend daily and endlessly with gallops and pot-holes from your gate to their homes is criminal.

Also, we firmly believe that the health and environmental hazards prevalent in mining and oil-producing areas are preventable, and the economic deprivations and financial losses inherent in oil spillage, pollution, and environmental degradation are compensable. Host nations as well as host communities, working through the right channel, should demand punitive damages where catastrophic occurrences are foreseeable, egregious, and preventable.

Finally, the United Nations, in its Rio Declaration of 1992, stated inter alia:

“Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. The right to development must be fulfilled to equitably meet the developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations. To achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered in isolation from it. Indigenous people and their communities and other local communities have a vital role in environmental management and development because of their knowledge and traditional practices. States should recognize and duly support their identity, culture, and interests and enable their effective participation in the achievement of sustainable development.” UN RIO DECLARATION. 1992. And that is the way it should be to be able to sustain a peaceful investment environment in any region of the world. 

December 2011

Rethinking Disintegration - By Ehi Aidaghese, January 02, 2012

Introduction

Yes, things have fallen apart and the centre is not holding on strong. A few months ago, one Leonard Shilgba, a regular writer on Sahara Reporters, argued in a lengthy article for the creation of independent nations based on ethnic configurations (tribes) out of present Nigeria. The same week, another regular writer, Mr. Rudolf Okonkwo, introduced a new slang into the separation debate. He compared Nigeria to a house without a solid foundation and argued metaphorically that since the house is incapable of self-supporting, it should be demolished for smaller and stronger units to emerge. In his words: “In place of the temple, a series of family homes in the form of estates should be built around the spot where the temple is.” Sahara Reporters: “Destroy This Temple” By Rudolf Okonkwo: September 8, 2011

A fine piece, no doubt, but Mr Okonkwo, like thousands of other separation enthusiasts, did not propose or develop a modicum of thought on how to manage the monstrous rules and regulations associated with customs and immigration that would mushroom due to disintegration. 

The truth is that some of our friends in social media, and in fact, the majority of them, have become so creative in their disintegration narrative that you would start to wonder if the Leonards and Rudolfs of our world have ever travelled to Lagos or Abuja or Benin City to glean the level of our social and economic integration. 

I would rather we focus on problems and solutions -  specifically, on how to decongest the monstrous federal government; eradicate the entrenched greed in the system; and correct the leadership deficit that transcends race, tribe, and geography. We must stem the tide of corruption, especially the feeling of hopelessness in the political system that catalyzes the disillusionment, which, in turn, motivates the Leonards and the Rudolfs to seek disintegration as a better alternative. I want to reiterate: We are so economically, culturally, and socially integrated that disintegration along tribal lines, not only would be nearly impossible to execute but would make the outcome regrettable. 

A Realistic Review and Some Overlooked Posers.

For a start, how would you guarantee the safety of Hausa merchants at Ikpoba Hill in Benin City, and at Obalende and Okokomaiko in Lagos? What would you do with the Ndigbo at Idumota and Alaba Market in Lagos and in every nook and cranny of Nigeria? And what would you do with the Yorubas, Hausas, and Fulanis in Port Harcourt? Would you expect a wholesale distributor of yams and fresh tomatoes at New Benin Market in Downtown Benin City, to obtain a visa or a special pass before travelling to Makurdi in the new Middle Belt Region for her supplies?

By the way, do you know the people who own Abuja? Would the Federal Capital Territory become another Jerusalem (a troubled land) a holy and sovereign land like the Vatican, or a new Mecca? What would you do with our biggest headache - NNPC - the Nigerian oil behemoth?

Where does Kwara belong? How about the people of Kogi State and the inhabitants of Jos and the Tivs and the Igbiras of Benue?  Are they part of the Arewa Republic, the Oduduwa Republic, or the Middle Belt Republic? Why, for instance, is Kogi State - a state that is substantially located below the Niger and the Benue river - a northern state? Seriously; why is Kogi State, a northern state? 

To those canvassing a two-state solution, I suggest you do the math - where does the northern region begin, and where does the southern region end? Whatever we do or write, we should not discountenance the feelings and aspirations of the people in and around the middle-belt region of Nigeria, Southern Kaduna, as well as the thousands of Ndigbo electronics merchants of New Benin and Clothing Store owners of Forestry Street in Benin City whose kids intermarried with the Esans and Edos. It is the same story all over Nigeria. 

To those of you canvassing for the Regional Police Force, how would you overcome the harassment from the Oduduwa Police Force, Midwest Police Force, and Biafra Police Force while travelling by road from Lagos in the new Oduduwa Republic to Calabar in the new South-South Republic? 

Again, would you recommend the creation of a separate and independent republic out of Arewa Republic for the people of southern Kaduna whose last names sound as if they are from River State? How many of you even know about these people, their tribal learning, affiliation, language, and culture? For your information, there is no longer a true north or a monolithic north as we know it in the old days.

Besides, the Federal Character and Quota System mechanisms that people from Kwara, Plateau, Kogi, and Benue have enjoyed over the years based on being part of the so-called disadvantaged and protected northern region, pale into insignificance juxtaposed with the large-scale killings by Herdsmen and the colonized status they endured over the years for been part of the privileged Hausa/Fulani Northern zone. So, suffer no more illusions; there is no longer a monolithic northern Nigeria as of old. What is going on right now is a struggle for survival - any means necessary by the Northern Elders and the ACF to consolidate their Business Empire. There is nothing on record to support their love for the Talakawas and the Almajiris. 

Analysis

Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s be realistic and objective in our analysis of the potential benefits of disintegration: The British knew too well that creating multiple independent nations from that geographical expression – apology to Pa Awo – based on tribal affiliations would be a herculean task to execute or govern, because of the magnitude of the diverse ethnic groups within the geographical expression.  It is a known fact that neither the northern region nor the southern region enjoys a monolithic status or one tribal identity that would make for a coherent, independent and viable two countries, which explains the urgency of amalgamation of the entire landmass or ‘geographical expression’ in 1914.

That reasoning subsists till today. We survived the treasonable felony trial and we survived the civil war. Let’s find strength in unity and direct our anger at a common enemy. Take oil out of the picture, the attraction for Abuja or Aso Rock would dissipate drastically.  Alternatively, give us a credible, purposeful, intelligent, fearless, or revolutionary President, and I can assure you, that the call for SNC and disintegration would dissipate drastically.

The political class knows too well that Nigerians are a bunch of gullible, docile, and ethnic chauvinists, afflicted with a chronic short-term memory disorder. We celebrate big names in and out of government, in total disregard for their abysmal performance while in office, especially if such big names are members of our own tribe or community. It is symptomatic of hapless minds, of beat-up people searching for heroes and handouts from the wrong places.

I am not in denial. Something is fundamentally wrong with the structure and geopolitics of Nigeria. The lopsidedness of the last local government and state creation, favouring the northern region disproportionately, should be revisited and amended as appropriate to correct the imbalance. 

Adding to that, the northern power/political elite, over the years, treated the southern region, its people, and resources, as a conquered territory. 

The Sadauna of Sokoto did not consider it germane to create a Middle Belt State or Region out of the much larger Northern Region but championed, and with success, the creation of the Midwest Region out of the smaller Western Region. His government headed by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa took that decision, not necessarily for the love of the people of the Midwestern region, but because, doing so would drastically dissipate Pa Awo and Action Group regional power and influence in the national political arena. Thus, making the giant northern region more powerful and domineering. 

On the other hand, when it came time for the sharing of oil wealth, "Sadauna's Military Boys" now in leadership positions, did the impossible: They dismantled the one untouchable Northern Region into smaller pieces than the West, Middle-West, and East put together, thereby giving it more States and Local Governments in the process. The reason for that is not far-fetched. The more States and Local Governments a region commands, the more resources it commands from the Federation Account in terms of allocation of funds. 

In a similar vein, till this very moment, no one has stepped out within the IBB Military elite group to tell Nigerians how the decision to annul the 1993 Presidential election that was won by Chief Moshood Abiola, was taken. 

Yes, our independence from Great Britain was delayed because the North was not ready. Federal Character, designed to protect the minority tribes is now a vehicle for power-sharing by the three dominant tribes. Today, even though we profess to be governed under a secular system, our government, both at the state and national levels is completely entangled in religious activities. Our federal government is having difficulties prosecuting those involved in the squandering of our riches, and there is no sign that it will. Therefore, a radical reformation is very necessary at this juncture to free our resources and institutions from the stranglehold of that elite few and the over-bloated federal government.

Be that as it may, what we perceived as the policy of the north, what we are worrying about as northern dominance, is not exactly so. They are the handiwork of that negligible few, intent on monopolizing wealth and power, with the active support of gullible, predominantly uneducated followers, psychologically and mentally enslaved by misinformation tactics perfected by daily handouts made possible by stolen wealth. Besides, that dominance happened because, at every point in time, there was always an opportunistic power clique from the south collaborating with the northern power elite to execute their ethnic-influenced policy. 

Also, the pains and sufferings of the Talakawas and their counterpart in the south are identical and bear similar patterns. Corruptions and squandering of riches are as rampant in the South as they are in the North. We cannot and should not hold one region, one group, or one race solely responsible for our pains and misfortunes. To do so would render meaningless the massive records of embezzlement of public funds by elected officials of both Northern and Southern extraction that news media have consistently made available to Nigerians at home and abroad over the years. The people and politicians who control our oil wealth know themselves. It is a clique, and they are all over the country.

Moving Forward

Take, for instance, the issue of Sovereign National Conference - a noble objective, no doubt, but none of the advocates has written more than a sentence or a paragraph on SNC since the emergence of social media. They beat up random issues in about ten paragraphs, inject a paragraph on SNC at the end of the piece, and that's it. How do you expect to make an impact in the social consciousness of the larger society about your demands, if you cannot articulate and make a forceful case for it? It won't happen.

Make no mistake, political leaders who benefit largely from the dysfunctional political system will not subscribe to your demand for disintegration or your demand for SNC. Instead, change your tactics. The narrative shouldn't always be about bribery and corruption, but an objective review and analysis of why Nigeria is in a sorry state - mention names. Mention tribes. Mention regions. Mention political parties. Tell your readers what they did and what they are doing wrong presently. Tell them how their deeds and misdeeds perpetuate a failing state. We must shift gear from the generalized narrative (corruption in high places and embezzlement of public funds by our political leaders)  to concise and definitive research work on individuals, groups of individuals, what they did and how they did it.

Today the cost of education in Lagos State has never been that high. If Awo were to be in the position of Tinubu, the present political leader, free education at all levels would have been non-negotiable, not only in Lagos State but in the entire old western region of Nigeria. 

It is the leadership, and it is the same story all over Nigeria; except, of course, the abysmal illiteracy rate in the northern region that the Boko Haram sect has taken advantage of to advance their crusade - that they have done successfully to exacerbate our differences.

We might not have a Bill Clinton or another Awo, but if we could gather enough wisdom, enough foresight to look beyond our present anger and resolve to jettison ethnic and religious considerations when making leadership choices if we could stand and remain objective in our assessment of our potential leaders, I am optimistic that we will find greatness again very soon. Don't be afraid to challenge the system. Tell Magazine did just that, and IBB set aside. 

Oil is still flowing, we are not at war, but the cost of education is at an alarming rate nationwide. And possession of private jets is trending as never before. It is the leadership and deficit of ideas exacerbated by greed and opportunism.

Therefore, we must be bold, resolute, and willing to ruffle heads when the need arises and learn to identify and say no to feudalism, greed, and opportunism. Decentralize the federal system, to achieve true federalism. Above all, be willing to take a stand, a firm stand on what you believe in, and make enemies if the need arises, to achieve the desired changes that we talk about presently. It begins and ends with leadership change and not the political system or the state of origin of the President.

Mr. Alex (Ehimhantie'Aiyo) Aidaghese - January 02, 2012. 

The Search for True Federalism: Balancing Feudal Interests with Southern Greed and Opportunism in Nigeria.

“The federal character principle enshrined in the 1979 Constitution is predicated upon the view of Nigeria as a house on four pillars, the four pillars being the Hausa/Fulanis, Igbos, Yorubas and the Minorities, and that the edifice will begin to wobble and its stability imperilled if the headship of the federal government is not made to move around these four groups. Nigerian unity demands acceptance and commitment by all to the principle of rotation, i.e., that ordinarily, no two persons from the same group should hold the headship of the federal government in succession. Unless the federal character principle is applied to rotate the headship of the federal government among the four groups, its application at the lower levels will not be effective in securing national unity. The danger of disintegration and of demands for a confederal arrangement will continue to stare us in the face.” “The Igbos in the Context of Modern Government and Politics in Nigeria: A Call for Self-Examination and Self-Correction.”, By Prof. Ben O. Nwabueze SAN, 1985 Ahiajoku Lecture.

PREAMBLE

The call for a confederal system of government (Confederacy), or a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) is receiving unprecedented momentum in the blogosphere of late following the upsurge in the bombing spree credited to Boko Haram and its affiliates. The demand is not new. It began with the late Chief Olu Aboderin, seconded by late Chief Bisi Onabanjo in the 80s, and given a new meaning in the 90s by the late Chief Anthony Enahoro and other prominent social activists, too numerous to mention here.  While Aboderin and Onabanjo called for a confederal system of government (where the component units are more powerful than the central government), Enahoroh and his fellow social cum political activists, originated the concept of a Sovereign National Conference (a dialogue, kind of) after the annulment of June 12, 1993. That election was won by Chief Moshood Abiola the Aare Onakankonfo of Yoruba land.

A Federal system of government involves the delegation of power between the national government, the federating states, and local governments. The ability of the component states to manage their own resources, raise revenues, participate in the ratification of the national constitution, make laws, provide security, and regulate the general well-being of the citizens within their geographical and political boundaries are some of the fundamental elements of a federal system of governments. A Federal system of government is midway between a Unitary model and a Confederal arrangement.

In a Unitary system of government, the central governments delegate power and authority to the component states and local governments and exercise total control over the resources and the means of production. On the other hand, in a Confederal arrangement or Confederacy, the reverse is the case - the federating states are more powerful than the central government.

Under a confederal arrangement, the central government only exercises the power and authority reserved for it or delegated to it by the component states. In other words, the component states dominate the central governments and operate as a semi-independent nation-state. Canada and Switzerland are some of the few countries where the Confederacy is presently in operation. That was the model that the late Chief Olu Aboderin and late Chief Bisi Onabanjo had wanted or suggested before they died. To a certain degree, this was what we had in Nigeria between 1952 and 1960, which made it possible for Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his Action Group (AG) members to build all the celebrated "firsts" in the old Western Region. 

Whatever the semantic colouration of SNC or the system of government agitated, it is an expression of anger motivated in part by the growing disillusionment within the educated elite groups over the inexcusable failure of our elected and unelected leaders in the management of our political system and our oil wealth, especially at the national level. Surprisingly though, the demand remains an exercise in intellectual voyaging, lacking congressional support and refusing to gain mainstream support or traction in the real world. Cogent as the motives may seem until the apostles of SNC or confederal arrangement develop a winnable argument and articulate how dismantling this country in line with pre-amalgamation will eradicate corruption and leadership crisis (greed and poverty of ideas), the demand will remain, as it has always been, a futile endeavour.

It is a truism that the reactionary feudal elements in the north and by extension, the military wing of that conservative power block, succeeded in under-developing Nigeria because of the persecution complex and willful silence of most of our southern military officers since the Kaduna Nzeogwu’s coup. Followed by the greed and opportunism of the reactionary elements within the Southern political establishment since the creation of this country. Most disturbing is the complete absence of Southerner academics and intellectuals in the face of blatant, retrogressive, and ethnically motivated socioeconomic policies successively pursued and implemented at the centre by the Jubril Aminu of the north in cahoots with the faceless Kaduna Mafia and present-day Arewa Consultative Forum. 

While most southern columnists, opinion leaders, and public affairs commentators tend to impress us with their semantic prowess, re-enacting publicly available information as opinion; northern intellectuals and technocrats continued to shape our national policy debate as well as the policy implications of our laws and regulations to suit whatever purpose they deem fit at any given time.

Most often, when Southerners are not sleeping on their rights, they are naively or purposely acting out the Northern scripts in the worst form imaginable. They do that not necessarily on account of patriotism, but for self-promotion and greed, or directly based on intellectual puritanism, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, and Dr. Walter Ofanagoro, for instance. Northerners set the machinery in motion, only for greedy southern politicians and administrators to turn worthy ambassadors of feudal and retrogressive policies.

Be that as it may, we cannot have a viable union or strong Federalism in the absence of some form of physical mechanisms or some kind of general physical structures that every citizen can tap into on an equal basis and at all levels of government – from clerical to the presidential level. There is no gainsaying the fact that present anger would have been averted or mitigated at least if southern military officers and political leaders who served under the northern-controlled governments show strength in the face of fire. 

Nevertheless, I would like to add that, time and time again, the north, successively represented at the centre by a coterie of predominantly ethnic chauvinists, with the active support of the vocal and lawless religious extremists at the fringe, has been an unfaithful partner since the amalgamation. It has always been all about the North – what the North wants and what is suitable for the North before what is right for Nigeria. For instance, they receive more money in federal allocations for the education sector than the South, even though they constitute less than 20% of the entire population of students in Nigeria.

It is profoundly ironic, that Aguiyi Ironsi, died because he introduced a Unitary System of Government, that is today, the norm in Nigeria. Some historians and public affairs commentators consider the promulgation of the Unitary system naive. However, Ironsi and his advisers then, firmly believed that, given the mistrust and the volatile political situation generated by the assassination of the Premier, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and the Sadauna of Sokoto, Almadu Bello during the Nzeogu's coup, a unitary system of government would facilitate unity, peace, and tranquillity, and ultimately, calm nerves in the north. They were wrong. 

The north, represented by the often referred to as 'young military officers,' thought otherwise; they considered a unitary system of government another form of dominance, introduced by the Ironsi regime to silence and colonize the north. Who would blame them - Zik ran away, and the Premier of the Eastern Region was in a safe location, while Balewa, Sadauna, and Akintola were killed. I am not a historian; nevertheless, I have no doubt that that was never Nzeogu's intention. Somebody somewhere betrayed Nzeogu and his friends, thereby defeating the purpose and essence of the coup. If on the other hand, Nzeogu and his friends provided cover for Zik and Okpara to evade the assassin bullets, but went ahead and killed Balewa, Akintola, and Sadauna, then the coup, was nothing but a sectional campaign designed to propagate Igbos dominance. I live that to Historians. 

Today, we are supposedly a federation, or allegedly, a federal system, but in reality, we are operating a unitary system of government (what Ironsi died for). The centralized model was conceived by the government headed by northern military officers through the creation of more states - states that cannot fend for themselves and states that substantially depend on the government at the centre for their survival.  That is not what our founding fathers had in mind when they developed and settled for the concept of a Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Must we now turn around and accuse IBB and Abacha of creating more (weak) states and local governments to develop a stronger and domineering central government to subjugate the south as argued by the young northern military officers when Ironsi introduced a unitary arrangement? Truth is, their intention was not to dominate, but to redistribute wealth in favour of the northern region - the more the number of local governments and states created in a particular area, the more national wealth that goes to that specific region monthly.  

One could also argue that they intended to bring the government closer to the people and facilitate grassroots development. Whatever your interpretation is or was, one thing remains apparent: the unintended consequence turned out to be structurally and politically devastating to the entire fabric of our federal system. The process eroded the genuine concept of federalism because the new states and local governments created as well as the old states cannot stand on their own, without the direct support of the now powerful central government. That is an indisputable fact. And that is now our reality - a unitary model at its finest - a development that Southerners now find very unsettling.

True federalism is about the equal distribution of power and responsibilities between the government at the centre and the semi-independent component states and the local councils at the lowest end of the political ladder. That is one of the fundamental elements of a federal system of government. In sum, the ability of the component states to manage their own affairs and resources and regulate the security and well-being of those within their geographical and political boundaries, are some of the primary attributes of a federal system of government.

Today, states are like local governments or counties - they collect taxes, levies, and fines from market women and motor park operators, and no more. States within a federal system do more than collect levies and fees; they are mini-nations, with all the power and privileges that come with it. They control, exploit, and manage the mineral resources in their domain in collaboration with the federal government in licensing, permitting, and regulatory aspects. That is what is missing in Nigeria. The states cannot perform, and the central government is becoming more and more powerful and domineering.

Federalism was at its best in Nigeria before the discovery of oil in the Niger Delta. Then, we had groundnut pyramids, timber, rubber, palm oil, cocoa, cotton, and coal, just to name a few. They were our major foreign exchange, earners. As long as we have free money flowing from crude oil to the central government, we will never have true federalism in Nigeria.

The apparent truth is that, if the northern political leaders and the military elite groups had judiciously utilized the wealth they cornered for the development, training, and education of the majority of the children within the Northern region since the end of the civil war, the mass illiteracy, lawlessness, and hopelessness ravaging that part of the country today would have been adequately contained by now. And by extension, the principle of federal character and quota system (that created inequality in our political order, which southerners resent) would have been avoided, and religious bigotry would not have been that rampant.

In spite of everything, the North is not an Eldorado – not everyone is a beneficiary of the stolen wealth or the stolen governments. Northern poor and the generality talakawa are a victim of the system just as those of us in the south. They need help. We all need help. This country should not be divided. We need a new attitude. That is why I started this blog. I will mention the name(s) and point the finger where possible because I have the facts.

The deafening silence from prominent leaders of thoughts in the north and the nonchalant approach exhibited by the vocal Arewa Consultative Forum since the emergence of Boko Haram, support the argument that the answer that we seek is not in disintegration, but in the leadership change. Reason: the victims of the carnage are on their own. ACF members are more interested in building a family empire - a business empire for the privileged few, not for the vulnerable talakawa who congregate at places easily targeted by Boko Haram.

Now is the time for a new start, to reminisce and take stock of what we did not do right as an individual as a group and as a race. And to develop a framework for a new beginning, for equal rights and protection, and for impartial deliberations to serve one great purpose – the greatness of Nigeria.

I reject the ‘destroying this temple’ (Nigeria) narrative of our bloggers, opinion leaders, and writers. I would rather we focus on a unifying and nation-building story - doing precisely what Chief Obafemi Awolowo did – educating everyone and providing everyone the right incentives for empowerment, industrialization, and entrepreneurship. And simultaneously, do precisely what Mallam Nassir El’Ruffai did at FCT- clean up the Temples, without regard to race, religion, and class and make it (Nigeria) WHOLE again, without bloodshed.

MOVING FORWARD:  THE FALLACY OF DISINTEGRATION

Yes, things have fallen apart, and the centre is not holding on strong. A few months ago, Mr. Leonard, Shilgba, PhD., a regular writer on SAHARA REPORTERS, argued eloquently in a lengthy article for the creation of independent nations based on ethnic configurations out of present Nigeria. The same week, another regular writer, Mr. Rudolf Okonkwo, introduced a new slang into the separation debate. He compared Nigeria to a house without a solid foundation and argued metaphorically that since the house is incapable of self-supporting, it should be demolished for smaller and stronger units to emerge. In his words: “In place of the temple, a series of family homes in the form of estates should be built around the spot where the temple is.” Saharareporters: “Destroy This Temple” By Rudolf Okonkwo: September 8, 2011

An excellent piece, no doubt.  But Mr Okonkwo, like thousands of other separation enthusiasts, did not propose or develop a modicum of thought on how to manage the monstrosities of custom and immigration rules and regulations that would improve as a result of disintegration.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s be realistic and objective in our analysis of the potential benefits of disintegration. The British knew too well that creating more than one independent country from that geographical expression – apology to Pa Awo – based on tribal affiliations or ethnic groupings would be a Herculean task to manage or govern, because of the magnitude of the diverse ethnic groups within.  It is a known fact that neither the northern region nor the southern region is a monolithic or one tribal enclave that would make for a coherent and viable independent country if divided, which explained the urgency of amalgamation of the entire landmass or ‘geographical expression’ in 1914.

That reasoning subsists till today. We survived the treasonable felony trial, and we survived the civil war, the Ibos or Igbos were indiscriminately massacred, before, during, and after the civil war; we do not crave for a repeat. Not now. Let’s find strength in unity and direct our anger at a common enemy.

The political class knows too well that Nigerians are a bunch of gullible, docile, and ethnic chauvinists, afflicted with a chronic short-term memory disorder. We celebrate big names in and out of government, in total disregard for their abysmal performance while in office, especially if such big names are members of our own tribe or community. It is symptomatic of hapless minds, of beat-up people searching for heroes and handouts from the wrong places.

What we perceived as the policy of the north, what we are worrying about as northern dominance, are not precisely so. They are the handiwork of a negligible few, intent on monopolizing wealth and power, with the active support of gullible, predominantly uneducated followers, psychologically and mentally enslaved by misinformation tactics perfected by daily handouts made possible by stolen wealth. The pains and sufferings of the Talakawas and their counterparts in the south do overlap and bear similar patterns. Corruptions and squandering of riches are as rampant in the South as they are in the North.

The Sovereign National Conference (SNC), despite the noble intent of the proponents, is unrealistic for an apparent reason - it is perceived by many as another way to legislate the disintegration of Nigeria. No government (elected government for that matter) would willingly sign on to a conference where no one is sure of the outcome. That is the opinion of those in government and the majority of the power elite groups about SNC. Therefore, my suggestion to the apostles of SNC is to set up a 'Progressive Think Thank.' And use that as a platform to organize and hold conferences on the issues that we all care about - population, oil and gas licensing and permitting,, the state of origin concept, injustice, security, religious bigotry,  corruption, accountability, trust deficit, and poverty of ideas in the leadership. You don't have to wait for the central government to approve your goal to organize and strategize for the way forward. 

We need to develop some mechanisms for resource control and allocation of mineral resources in each region between the component states and the federal government. And give the component states some latitude in the power and exploitation of mineral resources within their regional boundaries. The need for states to exercise substantial control over resources in their domain is paramount, and it is the first step to true federalism.

We might not have a Bill Clinton or another Awo as our national leader. Nevertheless, if we could gather enough wisdom, enough foresight and look beyond our present anger and resolve to jettison ethnic and religious considerations when making leadership choices if we could stand and remain objective in our assessment of our potential leaders, I am optimistic that we will find greatness again very soon. 

Therefore, we must be bold, resolute, and willing to ruffle heads when the need arises and learn to identify and say no to feudal principles, greed, and opportunism. Be willing to take a stand, a firm stand on what you believe is suitable for the people. And be prepared to make enemies if the need is to be able to achieve the desired changes that we talk about presently. It begins and ends with strategic grass-roots movement, and awareness campaigns, with a focus on leadership change and decentralization of power. Certainly not the state of origin of the President.

God Bless you, and God Bless the good people of Nigeria.

December 2011



Please watch out for 

"Game Change: The Uncertainty of Sovereign National Conference (SNC) and A Case for Progressive Option" in Spring 2012.