DESMOPEDIA-BLOG
...to inform, enlighten and inspire
Friday, 2 March 2018
DESMOPEDIA-BLOG: The Pythons From Doden Barracks
DESMOPEDIA-BLOG: The Pythons From Doden Barracks: ... An Allegory of the Nigerian Ordeal By Desmond O. Agwunobi A smart Professor friend of mine once asked, "where is Nigeria?&quo...
DESMOPEDIA-BLOG: The Pythons From Doden Barracks
DESMOPEDIA-BLOG: The Pythons From Doden Barracks: ... An Allegory of the Nigerian Ordeal By Desmond O. Agwunobi A smart Professor friend of mine once asked, "where is Nigeria?&quo...
The Pythons From Doden Barracks
...An Allegory of the Nigerian Ordeal
By Desmond O. Agwunobi
A smart Professor friend of mine once asked, "where is Nigeria?" In order to understand where Nigeria is, I responded by painting an allegorical picture of what happened to Nigeria. Check it out below:
As 2019 is fast approaching, it is time for the other intelligent organisms to come together and synergistically chase these pythons out of the system. More importantly, let the eagles arise and defeat these pythons. Let the young eagles take over the ecosystem of Nigeria; because when the eagles are in charge, Nigeria will soar and rise to take her place in the comity of nations.
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By Desmond O. Agwunobi
A smart Professor friend of mine once asked, "where is Nigeria?" In order to understand where Nigeria is, I responded by painting an allegorical picture of what happened to Nigeria. Check it out below:
Several
pythons that danced from the Doden Barracks to Aso Rock for several years left
the socio-economic & political ecosystems of Nigeria in ruins. Those
pythons continued their catastrophic dancing from the Northern Savannah to the
Rain & Mangrove forests of the South. The sad story is that as they
danced, their audience clapped in rhythm as they sang... As they danced, they swallowed the resources meant for the sustenance of other species of organisms and their progeny. Unfortunately, as some organisms were trying to escape the ravaged ecosystem, they became economic migrants and were eaten up by the torrid sands of the Sahara desert, others were swallowed by the raging tempest of the Mediterranean sea; while the survived ones were sold as cheap as $400 at Libya.
The pathetic aspect is that the supposedly
ecological successions that took place in the Nigerian socio-economic and political ecosystem were nothing else but same pythons and
their descendants masquerading as harmless creatures, claiming to be on a
mission to restore an ecosystem whose integrity has been long compromised
"beyond repair". Oh...from where would that ameliorative glimmer of
hope come from to assuage this perturbed ecosystem?
Thursday, 1 March 2018
Nigeria's Most Cerebral Senate President
By Desmond O. Agwunobi
The most scholastic Senate President that has ever
existed in the political and intellectual landscape of Nigeria is Dr.Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo. He was a
great orator, activist, philosopher, publisher and traditionalist who displayed
great mastery of political intrigues. Okadigbo brought panache and dignity to
the office of Senate President. His verbosity combined seamlessly with his Igbo
cultural inclinations, gave the office of Senate President the kind of elegance
that was lacking in the previous Enwerem senate. He was colourful, flamboyant
and sometimes controversial in his activist life. A native of Anambra State, Okadigbo
was born on December 17, 1941. He was often referred to as Oyi of Oyi – a traditional title in reference to his local
government council area known as Oyi. Okadigbo was married to Margery and they
have children although he had other kids before then.
Okadigbo had his first degree from Blackenburge
College of Technology in Germany (1963), Master’s degree in Philosophy from the
Karl Marx University, Leipzig, Germany (1967), another Master’s degree and PhD
in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America, Washington DC in 1972
and 1975 respectively. Thereafter, he
became Assistant Professor, later Adjunct Associate Professor of Philosophy, University
of the District of Columbia; Adjunct Assistant Professor of Politics the
Catholic University of America, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Politics Howard
University. He accomplished all these from 1973 to 1975. Between 1975 and
1978, he became Director-General Centre for Interdisciplinary and Political
Studies, and a lecturer in Philosophy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He also
became a Professor of Philosophy, Bigard Memorial Senior Seminary [Roman
Catholic Mission] in Enugu State.
Dr. Chuba Okadigbo |
Okadigbo was President Shehu Shagari’s political
adviser between 1979 and 1983. He was a key negotiator for Nigeria’s government
led at the time by Shagari in securing the return of Biafra’s leader, Dim Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu. At the dawn of the
fourth republic, Okadigbo successfully contested and won the election into the National
Assembly to represent Anambra North Senatorial District. He became President of
the Nigerian Senate, after the impeachment of Evan Enwerem. However, he was
later falsely charged of corruption in the year 2000 and was impeached,
officially demoting him from Senate President to a Senator. He decamped to the
all Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2002 to become Muhammadu Buhari’s running
mate in the 2003 presidential elections.
The circumstances surrounding Okadigbo’s death in
September 25, 2003, a day after campaigning in Kano State, was highly
controversial. It was reported on the Voice of America (VOA) Hausa Service that
Okadigbo may have died from the impact of an “offensive liquid” which the
Nigerian police poured on ANPP leaders dignitaries at the Kano rally.
Herein lies the true legacy of an erudite orator –
Okadigbo’s pragmatic philosophy of Handshake
across the Niger. Okadigbo achieved most of his ambitions with an erudite
mind and powerful political connections. Perhaps, he could have even achieved
more with just a little more discipline. Whatever the case may be, Chuba
Okadigbo’s imprints on the sands of Nigeria’s politics cannot be ignored.
CONTACT US
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desmondagwunobi247@gmail.com
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CONTACT US
desmondagwunobi247@gmail.com
Phone
+2348099563284
Follow us on Twitter
@AgwunobiDesmond
Sunday, 18 February 2018
WHICH PUBLIC SERVICE IS IN NEED OF A REDESIGN IN NIGERIA?
By Desmond O. Agwunobi
One of the hallmarks of developed economies of the world is an efficient and effective public service. It is no rocket science to observe that the extent to which a nation is developed is a function of the magnitude of the effectiveness and efficiency of its public service. This accounts for the corelation that exists between under-developed countries and dysfunctional public service. Of course, Nigeria, with its vast potential as one of the top developing nations, is not an exception. The quality of her public servant and the services they provide for the nation leaves much to be desired. When a country sacrifices meritocracy at the altar of mediocrity, it is only going to be natural for her to manifest perpetual under-development.
One of the hallmarks of developed economies of the world is an efficient and effective public service. It is no rocket science to observe that the extent to which a nation is developed is a function of the magnitude of the effectiveness and efficiency of its public service. This accounts for the corelation that exists between under-developed countries and dysfunctional public service. Of course, Nigeria, with its vast potential as one of the top developing nations, is not an exception. The quality of her public servant and the services they provide for the nation leaves much to be desired. When a country sacrifices meritocracy at the altar of mediocrity, it is only going to be natural for her to manifest perpetual under-development.
It
is quite obvious that virtually all public service in Nigeria is in need of a
redesign but that of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is something else. Falling
victim of a police case in Nigeria is an encounter better to be imagined than
experienced. It is worthy of note that the level of dysfunctionality in the
Nigeria Police Force is on a monumental proportion. A state of emergency should
be declared on the NPF owing to the magnitude of its dysfunctional operations.
Thus, it is desperately and drastically in need of a redesign.
By
whatever standard, the Nigerian Police Force has failed in its assigned role of
serving and protecting Nigerians. Recently, there was social media meltdown
with respect to the activities of an aspect of NPF known as the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The trending hash tag on twitter was #EndSars. The
level of horrendous cruelty, savagery and extra-judicial killings going on in
SARS has long reached an alarming proportion. This is the natural product of a
public service system that has long tolerated the culture of impunity and corruption.
No wonder the score sheet of the World Internal Security and Police Index
International rated the Nigeria Police Force as the worst police force in the
world.
If
a redesign of NPF is not carried out and the status quo continues, the hope of
Nigeria becoming one of the great developed nations of the world will only
remain at the realms of probabilistic conjecture. Hence, all the reports on
police reform carried out by various organizations and civil society panel which
have been left on the shelves should be dusted and judiciously implemented.
CONTACT US
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Thursday, 8 February 2018
Reflection on Nigeria's 2014 Economy
by Desmond Onyeka Agwunobi
Below is an article I wrote towards the end of 2014 during the administration of Dr. Goodluck Ebere Jonathan. Subsequently, that administration ended the following year by May, 2015. The article is now like a throwback and a reflection of Nigeria's 2014 economy. It was equally an economic prognosis of Nigeria. The article was then submitted to Rennaissanceafrica Company Limited and it was regarded as one of the best because it accurately pictured the Nigerian economic situation. It analysed where we were and the way forward for Nigeria.
Way back when things were not as bad as they are now, it was Dr. Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that was the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. According to Forbes website, she helped Nigeria's economy grow an average of 6% (per annum) over three years and thus, becoming the largest economy in Africa. She was credited with developing reform programs that helped improve governmental transparency and stabilizing the economy.
Although due to high political sentiment and propaganda, many Nigerians could not appreciate her work then. But I am sure that seeing the extent our economy has gone bad today, many would be appreciating and desiring the good old days when Dr. Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was the Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Read and reflect on the article below:
It is no longer news that the crude
oil price has dropped below Nigeria ’s
budget benchmark for the third time. Consequently, another downward review of
the 2015 budget is on the way. Within a couple of weeks, the Federal Government
has changed its benchmark twice from $78 to $73 and lately to $65. The fact
that the United States of
America – the major consumer of our product
backed out a couple of months ago has not really helped matters. Nigeria is a
mono product based economy. And that is why the issue of economic diversification
is timely and a subject for serious deliberation.
Below is an article I wrote towards the end of 2014 during the administration of Dr. Goodluck Ebere Jonathan. Subsequently, that administration ended the following year by May, 2015. The article is now like a throwback and a reflection of Nigeria's 2014 economy. It was equally an economic prognosis of Nigeria. The article was then submitted to Rennaissanceafrica Company Limited and it was regarded as one of the best because it accurately pictured the Nigerian economic situation. It analysed where we were and the way forward for Nigeria.
Way back when things were not as bad as they are now, it was Dr. Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that was the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. According to Forbes website, she helped Nigeria's economy grow an average of 6% (per annum) over three years and thus, becoming the largest economy in Africa. She was credited with developing reform programs that helped improve governmental transparency and stabilizing the economy.
Although due to high political sentiment and propaganda, many Nigerians could not appreciate her work then. But I am sure that seeing the extent our economy has gone bad today, many would be appreciating and desiring the good old days when Dr. Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was the Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Read and reflect on the article below:
DIVERSIFYING THE
NIGERIAN ECONOMY: AN IMMINENT IMPERATIVE
December 19, 2014
By Desmond
O. AgwunobiDecember 19, 2014
Why is Nigeria as a
nation sweating over the global dwindling of the price of crude oil? It is
simply because her economy is crude oil driven. It is no rocket science to know
that Nigeria ’s
economy is mono product based. No wonder it is subject to the vagaries of
volatility. The oil price, which accounts for more than 70 percent of
government revenue and 95 percent of foreign-exchange income, has fallen by 37
percent in 2014. With the current trend, the projection of experts is that
crude oil price would still fall to $50 per barrel over the coming months as
market forces shake out the weakest producers, hence the need to diversify the
economy.
Should the current fall in crude
prices continue over a longer period, years of austerity would be inevitable for
Nigeria .
Over the years, the leadership of the country has shown a lack of fiscal
discipline. It has been from one story of corruption and administrative
profligacy to another. They have been largely prodigal and wasteful.
For well over a decade, Nigeria has
benefited from oil boom as oil prices have consistently been above the budgeted
price. Enough should have been saved to cushion the effects of the current
slide in oil price. More importantly, the government should have channeled the
profits to other vital sectors of the economy. By now, other sectors should
have generated substantial foreign exchange equivalent or even more to that of
crude oil. Currently, the masses especially those occupying the lower echelon
of the economic ladder are seriously paying for the years of administrative
profligacy and prodigality of its leadership. The gap between the rich and the
poor is still wide indicating under-development. Hence, the rich are getting
richer while the poor are getting poorer.
The failure of
government to use oil funds to transform other sectors of the economy has led
to lack of sustainable overall economic development and this leaves the country
in a greater state of foreign dependence. One of the sectors that have felt the
negative impacts of crude oil discovery is agriculture. Agriculture was the
main foreign exchange earners for Nigeria before the advent of
petroleum. Agriculture has suffered total neglect and patronage by government. A
World Bank report in the 1950s indicates that Nigeria had tremendous agricultural
potential – enough to produce crops for itself and for export. However, with a
rapidly declining agricultural industry, Nigeria imports many of the crops
it used to export such as cocoa, palm oil and groundnuts.
Furthermore,
the issue of pollution has taken a toll on our environment. Oil exploration and
production activities had produced polluted creeks, rivers, land and other
water bodies. This resulted in the destruction of aquatic life in the region,
erosion, deforestation and destroyed farmland in this agricultural region.
Indeed, activities associated with oil exploration activities have compromised
the integrity of our ecosystem and made it unsuitable for agricultural and
other economic activities to flourish.
The huge revenue realized from oil
windfall made the government of Nigeria
to loose focus. Efforts and attention is concentrated on oil industry. The
non-oil industry such as solid minerals, agriculture, tourism, aviation and
many more has been underutilized. Their full capacity for contribution to the
national coffers has not been developed.
However, it is
imperative for Nigeria
to find ways to diversify her economy. This should no longer be just an
official mantra. With the current reality in the global oil market, Nigeria must
start to ‘walk the talk’. The non-oil sector that has dominated the structure
of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should start to contribute similar
proportion to revenue base of the country. It is time to locally transform our
crude oil and natural gas by adding values to create products like Liquefied
Petroleum Gas (LPG), fertilizers, electricity, petrochemical products, plastic
products, among others. This will create a lot jobs for the economy and boost
the integration of oil and gas sector with the rest of the economy.
But there is something crucial. The
issue of corruption has to be addressed. Corruption renders every economic
policy ineffective and useless. I once said on the electronic media
(Television) that if corruption is eradicated in Nigeria , every economic policy will
work. The economy is on downward spiral because of the cumulative effects of the
corrupt practices of past administrations. Corruption leads to
underdevelopment. No wonder my favourite lecturer in the Nigerian Institute of
Management (NIM) always says: “while the developed countries are busy
developing development, Nigeria is busy developing underdevelopment”. In order
to checkmate corruption, the government has to revamp the anti-graft agencies
like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Appropriate
punitive measures have to be dished out to individuals guilty of corrupt
practices no matter how highly placed. The Judiciary should live up to
expectation; all prosecutorial misconduct to shield corrupt individuals in high
places should be abhorred.
Economic
diversification is vital to Nigeria ’s
long-term economic growth. Her mono product economy is facing serious challenge
in sustaining growth because of swings in prices of crude oil at the
international market. A successful diversification plan requires strong
political will on the part of the leadership to execute firm political
commitment, consistent public policies and substantial financial resources. The
government has to create enabling economic environment for the participation of
the private sector. Entrepreneurship and the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises
(SMEs) have to be encouraged.
In conclusion, nobody knows exactly
whether the current trend in oil price is a new long term trend or simply, short
term volatility. Whatever it turns out to be, it is a message for the
government of Nigeria
to reset and rebalance the economy.
CONTACT US
Email
desmondagwunobi247@gmail.com
Twitter
@AgwunobiDesmond
Phone
+2348099563284
CONTACT US
desmondagwunobi247@gmail.com
@AgwunobiDesmond
Phone
+2348099563284
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