I am not writing a new essay for now, except compelled by extraordinary circumstances. I have written copiously about domestic and global issues. And I have written copiously to change the world and make it a better place to live in. To some degree, I did succeed. Unexpectedly though, we have been able to provide valuable materials for graduate students and change advocates all over the world for their intellectual enrichment. To the social and environmental activists, this blog has been of galvanizing tools for resisting oppression.
From Turkey - protesting over the government's decision to transfer a public park to industrial use, and to Argentina and Brazil exercising total control over the use and exploitation of their natural resources - it all began here. And it is the same story with Nigeria Criminal Justice reform. We defined the problems and propound solutions accordingly - arguing unequivocally that it is the indiscriminate grant of ex parte order and injunctive reliefs by judges to undeserving applicants, and not the immunity clause under section 308 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, that needs a review. And we won the debate.
Since the publication of the number one essay on this blog and the constitutional review exercise of 2014, which culminated in the retention of section 308, no Nigerian political leader or commentator has written in condemnation of the Immunity Clause again. That effort began here.
Also worth mentioning is the essay on bridging the educational gaps between the northern and southern regions of Nigeria, which turned out to be the foundation of President Jonathan Almajiri Educational reform - the integrative model. By the way, the philosophy underlying the formation of APC (handshake across the Niger) began here. Once again, see the essay on bridging the educational gap.
How do I know all these? Very simple. First, I would start to notice a particular essay on the blog gaining a steady hit from a particular country for days. Subsequently, news of a major development in that particular country, bordering on the dominant issue on the essay would start unfolding in the media. With that, I am able to make an accurate deduction. Here is one example.
In early 2013, there was a stream of hits flooding this blog from Turkey, reading a particular essay, titled "Energy Law: Balancing Stabilization Clause With Human Rights and Sustainable Development of the Host Communities." By the way, the essay is number three on this blog. Initially, I assumed that the hit might be connected with Nigerian graduate students studying in Istanbul. And the hits continue for weeks, nonstop. it came to a point, I said to myself, Nigeria can't be having this huge student population in Turkey.
Then, a few days later, the truth dawn on me. I saw a breaking news story on CNN about an ongoing protest in Instanbul, Turkey. Listening to the news, I realized that the protest has been going on for days. Instantaneously, I grabbed my laptop, and straight onto Google and I entered "protest in Turkey." Lo and behold, it was environmentalists and concerned citizens who are protesting the government's decision to turn Gezi Public Park into one of industrial use. And I just gasped in amazement. How did they come about my essay? Well, the world is now a global village.
The opening section of the referenced essay is about the dislocation/relocation of an agrarian community. It is about the ills that wrecked a once upon a time vibrant village in Sub-Sahara Africa that was relocated to a brand new village to provide a space for a mining operation. And I could understand why the protesters in Instanbul remain virulent - you just don't want that experience in your country. Never for a second did I anticipate the likelihood of anyone from Istanbul coming in contact with that particular essay. Well, they did. And it helps to save the environment.
Also, the essay on oil and gas and Bonga Oil Spillage in the Niger Delta of Nigeria was the favorite to visitors from Brazil and Argentina. So, I was not surprised when the news of the two countries taking over complete ownership of their natural resources hit the press. And they reach out to be, via friendship requests on Linkedln. The message was always, "go back to your country, Alex."
I have always nursed this inclination that indeed I have useful materials about Nigeria federalism. And I knew very well that no editor would publish it the way I want or as written. And I didn't want the ideas to die with me - unpublished. So, when Google came up with the Blogging concept, it was like manna falling down from Heaven for me. I grabbed the concept firmly and ran with it. Yes, it was the essay on the search for true federalism that gave life to this blog. In terms of views interest, it is the fifth on this blog as of today. During the National Conference deliberation that took place under President Jonathan, I published a long essay on True Federalism and Decentralization of Power (in the form of talking points) at the website of the Nigeria Village Square. And it was very helpful to some of the delegates.
Following the creation of the blog at the tail end of 2011, I was able to put my thoughts in the public domain raw and unfiltered, without editorial input from anyone. From its inception to this very moment, the blog has been a major source of raw materials or raw ideas for political leaders, established writers, Presidents, and Head of Government, and opinion leaders all over the world. And I want to thank my unknown Argentinean and Brazilian Lawyers who have pleaded with me over the years via Linkedln correspondence to go back to my country of birth, Nigeria. By the Grace of God, that dream is alive and well.
On a final note, leadership is not just about running for a public office or holding a political position. It encompasses a lot. And one of them is building wealth through ideas, visions, investments, and taking risks - entrepreneurship. The private sector makes the most of an economy - any economy. And that's a fact. Historically, and even now, about 99% of the top global philanthropists are not political leaders. They are private citizens and they are leaders - highly revered and respected, doing wonderful things across the globe and bringing out the best in the lives of others. Like them, I share the same spirit - a good heart and good intentions. Thank God my hands are clean. On that, I draw the curtail.
NB
And I am more than a blogger - propounding ideas for others - hated, resented, and uncompensated. They set me up. They literally stripped me naked. They posted my email address and password on a dangerous website. They made me an enemy of the state. And all eyes were on me. They took over my FaceBook account and my Messager, taunting me openly. The most dangerous Nigerians on earth today, are those managing the propaganda machine of the government in Nigeria. They are callous and devilish.
From Turkey - protesting over the government's decision to transfer a public park to industrial use, and to Argentina and Brazil exercising total control over the use and exploitation of their natural resources - it all began here. And it is the same story with Nigeria Criminal Justice reform. We defined the problems and propound solutions accordingly - arguing unequivocally that it is the indiscriminate grant of ex parte order and injunctive reliefs by judges to undeserving applicants, and not the immunity clause under section 308 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, that needs a review. And we won the debate.
Since the publication of the number one essay on this blog and the constitutional review exercise of 2014, which culminated in the retention of section 308, no Nigerian political leader or commentator has written in condemnation of the Immunity Clause again. That effort began here.
Also worth mentioning is the essay on bridging the educational gaps between the northern and southern regions of Nigeria, which turned out to be the foundation of President Jonathan Almajiri Educational reform - the integrative model. By the way, the philosophy underlying the formation of APC (handshake across the Niger) began here. Once again, see the essay on bridging the educational gap.
How do I know all these? Very simple. First, I would start to notice a particular essay on the blog gaining a steady hit from a particular country for days. Subsequently, news of a major development in that particular country, bordering on the dominant issue on the essay would start unfolding in the media. With that, I am able to make an accurate deduction. Here is one example.
In early 2013, there was a stream of hits flooding this blog from Turkey, reading a particular essay, titled "Energy Law: Balancing Stabilization Clause With Human Rights and Sustainable Development of the Host Communities." By the way, the essay is number three on this blog. Initially, I assumed that the hit might be connected with Nigerian graduate students studying in Istanbul. And the hits continue for weeks, nonstop. it came to a point, I said to myself, Nigeria can't be having this huge student population in Turkey.
Then, a few days later, the truth dawn on me. I saw a breaking news story on CNN about an ongoing protest in Instanbul, Turkey. Listening to the news, I realized that the protest has been going on for days. Instantaneously, I grabbed my laptop, and straight onto Google and I entered "protest in Turkey." Lo and behold, it was environmentalists and concerned citizens who are protesting the government's decision to turn Gezi Public Park into one of industrial use. And I just gasped in amazement. How did they come about my essay? Well, the world is now a global village.
The opening section of the referenced essay is about the dislocation/relocation of an agrarian community. It is about the ills that wrecked a once upon a time vibrant village in Sub-Sahara Africa that was relocated to a brand new village to provide a space for a mining operation. And I could understand why the protesters in Instanbul remain virulent - you just don't want that experience in your country. Never for a second did I anticipate the likelihood of anyone from Istanbul coming in contact with that particular essay. Well, they did. And it helps to save the environment.
Also, the essay on oil and gas and Bonga Oil Spillage in the Niger Delta of Nigeria was the favorite to visitors from Brazil and Argentina. So, I was not surprised when the news of the two countries taking over complete ownership of their natural resources hit the press. And they reach out to be, via friendship requests on Linkedln. The message was always, "go back to your country, Alex."
I have always nursed this inclination that indeed I have useful materials about Nigeria federalism. And I knew very well that no editor would publish it the way I want or as written. And I didn't want the ideas to die with me - unpublished. So, when Google came up with the Blogging concept, it was like manna falling down from Heaven for me. I grabbed the concept firmly and ran with it. Yes, it was the essay on the search for true federalism that gave life to this blog. In terms of views interest, it is the fifth on this blog as of today. During the National Conference deliberation that took place under President Jonathan, I published a long essay on True Federalism and Decentralization of Power (in the form of talking points) at the website of the Nigeria Village Square. And it was very helpful to some of the delegates.
Following the creation of the blog at the tail end of 2011, I was able to put my thoughts in the public domain raw and unfiltered, without editorial input from anyone. From its inception to this very moment, the blog has been a major source of raw materials or raw ideas for political leaders, established writers, Presidents, and Head of Government, and opinion leaders all over the world. And I want to thank my unknown Argentinean and Brazilian Lawyers who have pleaded with me over the years via Linkedln correspondence to go back to my country of birth, Nigeria. By the Grace of God, that dream is alive and well.
On a final note, leadership is not just about running for a public office or holding a political position. It encompasses a lot. And one of them is building wealth through ideas, visions, investments, and taking risks - entrepreneurship. The private sector makes the most of an economy - any economy. And that's a fact. Historically, and even now, about 99% of the top global philanthropists are not political leaders. They are private citizens and they are leaders - highly revered and respected, doing wonderful things across the globe and bringing out the best in the lives of others. Like them, I share the same spirit - a good heart and good intentions. Thank God my hands are clean. On that, I draw the curtail.
NB
And I am more than a blogger - propounding ideas for others - hated, resented, and uncompensated. They set me up. They literally stripped me naked. They posted my email address and password on a dangerous website. They made me an enemy of the state. And all eyes were on me. They took over my FaceBook account and my Messager, taunting me openly. The most dangerous Nigerians on earth today, are those managing the propaganda machine of the government in Nigeria. They are callous and devilish.
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