GEJ and change of Nigeria Security Bosses

Introduction

In the last few days media was abuzz with news with suggested implications for the sacking and replacement of national security chiefs. The proximate purpose of the sack is linked to continued menace of terrorism perpetrated by Boko Haram. The purpose of this piece is to review the issue and attempt to bring out some latent points of relevance.

Men at work

It is instructive that the sack came immediately after the President's return from Rio, Brazil. One may suggest that required papers were sorted out in Brazil but fact points to a homework done prior to stepping onto the presidential jet in Abuja enroute Rio. Moving away from local champions in comfort zone and sharing space with serious players in global leadership elicited few exchanges and discussions which may have triggered incentive for GEJ to abandon an inertia on a single issue.

Beyond grabbing headlines there are other forces at work. One must not confuse the sacking with sympathy with victims, hurting and mourning families across the land. Actually the people count less for the president and PDP which I freely dub 'party devoid of the people'. On the other hand, the PDP is falling on new lows further made visible with the recent blatant obstruction to legislators attempt to tackle corruption in the oil marketing industry.

There is no incentive to pursue internal geopolitical settling of accounts in PDP because the new appointment cost myopic South-South elites. Rather what was on display is a battle of PDP elites who are running after crumbs of money rather than deeper interest in protecting lives and property across the land.

Above all as sordid as Boko Haram terrorism is, it is just one manifestation from the large pool of national malfeasance managed, supported and endorsed by the president. There is no attempt to curb or tackle corruption at any level. There is no evidence that GEJ is committed to investing national clean-up because he'll have to make a metamorphosis. Economic, social and emotional conditions in the country are grinding negatively each day.

See-saw

The appointment from the north with required qualifications is no guarantee for containing and eliminating Boko Haram. The appointee will serve his term unsuccessfully and at the right time be removed in new revolution of chairs. Of course political connotation will be alluded to, still there will be no supporting evidence. The appointment is one move to create distraction on qualified incompetence of GEJ.

Unsurprisingly, the glue holding the PDP elite together which emboldens them to insensitivity is the glaring fact that for them Nigeria is a meal ticket. GEJ and his lot are no different from Zik, Awo and A. Bello in their contempt for real strategic and encompassing view of Nigeria. They make more money from the state than solving any problem.

There is nothing in Nigeria for GEJ and his co-ruling elite to worry about in the fact they feel that the population can be bought, silenced, ignored and abandoned. Sacking and new appointments are another waves of stunt, theatre and charade.

Conclusion

In the final analyis there is nothing to positively hope for under the current government. GEJ is too tainted to bring about positive change and as for decline of Boko Haram, only a deal made by the northern elite at their convenience will make a difference. Sadly this means more lives will be lost. However by so doing, another nail on the coffin of Nigeria is nailed waiting for the right time for her eventual dissolution.

Nigerian Christian Churches and Question of Relevant Leadership

Introduction

The ongoing targeting and slaughtering of citizens especially Christians by Boko Haram in the northern part of the country is now a certainty that will continue in the face confirmed weakness and inability of the state to react positively at all levels. Failure of the state to protect citizens especially Christians in the north is an undisputed fact. However an important dimension of the situation is the Churches leadership in action and reaction.

Poverty of Geography
An insight to religious geography of the country is an important step towards understanding the forces at play. The major religions i.e. Islam and Christianity are imports and non-indigenous. They are universalist in theologies and doctrines hence have no room for dissent and to share space unless constrained by reality. Even their attempts at indigeneity is symbolic and shallow at best. Above all there is a confirmed perception that the country as a religious space is unstable and balkanized into enclaves as a primer to doing politics.

Penetration of each faith beyond her naturally perceived geographies is clear. Islam is preponderant in the north nevertheless substantial Christian penetration is sustained by indigenous and non-indigenous populations. These populations are growing over time. In contrast Christian preponderance in the south is feebly challenged in the east than in the west where proportional populations of Muslims are found. In terms of relationships, northern Islamic-Christianity understanding is chequered and unstable. The northern Muslims are increasingly emboldened to attack Christians at their convenience since independence. Any such action by Christians in the south against Muslims is always reactionary.

Leadership?
The question now is, how is Christian leadership dealing the issue of sustained insecurity perpetuated by Islamic (Boko Haram) north and condoned by governments? Unfortunately Christian leadership over time came later to the party. There are many reasons for this situation. The principal among them is the reception and sustenance of unchallenged faith (strategic) purpose as primacy of the world beyond. The fact that only the living makes a Christian did not sink in. Christian groups including leaders and members have collectively failed to extract themselves from existential struggle of finding legitimacy in themselves as citizens and their unique environment. They have failed colossally to accept the strength of their citizenships and the primacy of their ontology as the basis for living their faith rather than vice versa. There is credibility deficit in Christian leadership from both operational and strategic dimensions.

For this reason they cannot accept that survival is the first law of self-determination. For this reason they failed to analyse available data for patterns and relationships towards informed decision and strategic advisory of members in the face of Sunday-Sunday bombing by Boko Haram. They failed to advise their members of alternative arrangement for Sunday services/Mass in the face of overwhelming evidence. This is evidence of rigid and unreconstructed interpretation of imposed theologies, practices and doctrines. Christian groups have failed miserably to fine-tune participation in the political space and political process respectively. The idea of seeking legitimacy and validation in the north conspires to seriously diminish their hands in the polity.

Christian groups are confused between their citizenships and functions of faith as multi-dimensional human beings. The leaders especially the Anglicans and Catholics have perpetuated this existential crisis since the inception of Nigeria. Having faith doesn’t diminish citizenship rather faith must derive from citizenship. This dithering and confused leadership has contributed to unclear policies, rearguard engagement with the state and abdication of responsibilities toward protection of citizens-members. By so doing in full knowledge that Nigeria is a dysfunctional state, they have contributed in sustaining dysfunctionality of the state. The choice of impotence justified in clinging to imposed hegemony of ‘separation of faith and state’ must be jettisoned as it has no relevance to our unique African/Nigerian experiences. Maintaining ‘separation’ position is indicative of intellectual, cultural and ontological retrogression.

Conclusion
Christian leadership and membership must be pro-active at all times in their accepting that active citizenship is primacy. They must realize that faith doesn’t suggest inferiority and that legitimacy of faith can only be sustained through indigeneity rather than from outside. They must also act on their duty of care to members and the general community by providing advisory information within their theologies and the constitution of the Federal Republic. 

GEJ, Traveling and Governance

Introduction

There have been rounds in the media recently of President Goodluck Jonathan’s apparent abscondment to Brazil while the country is mired in conflict and malfeasance. Some have even gone as far as suggesting that he abandoned his duty post to play samba in Rio de Janerio. While this piece is in no way attempting solidarity with the president, it is important to flesh out vivid misconceptions on the subject or discuss.

Behind Time

First of the all the country did not suddenly become inundated with malfeasance, corruption, abuse of office and poverty of governance. It was there before he arrived in Abuja; he played his part in supporting corruption and malfeasance as deputy governor, governor and vice president. There is no evidence that in over a year in office, he is determined to even address the issues talk less of tackling them. He absconded from his moral and constituitional duties to serve the people diligently with due process, ethically and responsibly. He abandoned his responsibility to oversee rich tapestry of positive governance that diminishes PDP-directed corruption. He epitomizes poverty of governance in managing power devoid of the people.

Galivanter-in-chief

The idea that he wriggled his way to dance samba in Rio is very rich in irony. Despite the fact that there is nothing against him traveling to South America, his foray in foreign lands and foreign policy is rather disappointing. When you peruse the caliber of leaders who attended Rio, it was obvious from the beginning that it will be a no-show. The cast list of absentees include Barack Obama of USA, Vladimir Putin of Russia, David Cameron of UK, Hu Jintao of China, Angela Merkel of Germany and Stephen Harper of Canada. The message was disingenuously clear; economy yes, environment no! Unfortunately the disconnect between economy and environment is not clear and simple. Sadly GEJ has never played comfortable in such meets except on West African playground. Nevertheless Nigeria needs the head present at such international no-show, feeble or not.

GEJ must travel without fear or favour. He may not travel only when there is fear of edifice of corruption and malfeasance collapsing. The Vice President will not take over power except in cahoots with US State Department. The same applies with the military. Get your orders from Washington DC and you take Abuja. Actually his presence and absence only matter because it costs the country dearly. Nigeria has lived with a president’s absence or vacuum so GEJ can only be creative and innovative at best.

Above all, Nigeria is not a one-man state. Even satraps of the Gulf ruled by absolute monarchs and totalitarian tyrants run smoothly in temporary absence of their leaders on foreign trips. The Vice-President is capable of making, manage and deliver policy including national security and territorial integrity. The cabinet members should deliver their individual and ministerial obligations without direct physical oversight of the president.

The governors have no inhibition in a federal state to govern their states. Despite their inglorious incompetence, they are legally and morally bound to protect lives and property across their jurisdiction. One must acknowledge that most governors especially in the conflict northern states have become the most stupid entities and examples of wrong-headed leadership.

Conclusion
Finally, the radical truth is that Nigeria is a failed state. It is a genocide state constructed without consent of the people, without the benefit of the people and not for the existence of the people. It is an artificial construct for the benefit of few and pain and death of many. The current leadership at all levels is simple manifestation of cancer of poor leadership. Their presence is counter-productive while their absence from office may offer incentive for constructive people-oriented solutions including dissolution of Nigeria.  

Absurdity of Rochanomics

Introduction

The arrival of Mr. Rochas Okorocha to the State House of Imo State on the back of his 2011 election victory has brought new air into the life of the state. Whether the air is refreshing or pungent will be determined by time. Opinions differ and will continue to diverge on the merits of his leadership and its evidence one year on. Nevertheless there is no doubt of the hunger of citizens and residents in their anticipation for civility, true governance, due process, strategic initiatives, investment in public service, security, economic development and economic growth with knock-on effect on employment.

Ancestors
The political landscape is not necessarily smooth and problems of the state are not trivial hence any anticipation of easy solutions is childish. One cannot accuse Ndi Imo of being a difficult bunch to rule as they have gallantly withstood repeated assaults unleashed on them by various governors except Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu and Chief Sam Mbakwe. One would have expected that Mr. Okorocha drank from the wells of history in his decisions, judgments and strategies. While he expressed his desire to be on the fast lane of governance, so am I in a hurry to conclude his legacy from his 1 year in office by drawing from a single example.

Economy Stupid

It was reported on Imo State Blog few days ago that Mr. Okorocha in his capacity as Executive Governor authorized importation of 15 containers consisting of school uniforms, books, sandals, learning materials and desks etc. Cost is not disclosed. Critical assessment of this authorization brings a number of issues to the fore especially clarity in understanding the space of governance, appreciation of potential of the electorate/population and understanding of basic economics.

None of the materials mentioned on the import list deserves to be imported. There is no evidence that the local skill, resources, expertise, processes and structures were lacking to address the need if the governor deemed them relevant. Organised private sector including but not limited to various Chambers of Commerce, Manufacturers Association, firms, businesses and etc have the capacity, knowledge and disposition to deliver those products. The first observation is that the governor is isolated and doesn’t communicate effectively with relevant areas. Secondly it is obvious that the governor is not supplied information or ignores local information in making informed decisions.

If the governor is committed to economic development and economic growth of the state, such commitment would have manifested in direction huge proportion of allocated resources to local economy. Is Imo State devoid of experts in designing and production of school uniforms? There are many fashion designers across the land whose firms and employment would have benefited from such investment. The chain reaction would have led to expansion of the industry and associate industries. Rather what obtained was celebration of myopicism.

The same applies to desks and shoes. There is abundance of resources, skill and capacity in the state to develop, produce and expand investment to local needs and unique tastes. Scarce resources are wasted abroad to prop up foreign market, another economy and to our collective loss. It is difficult to convince an open minded citizen that such decision and initiative is for the greater good of the state or indicates excellence in governance. It point to gross poverty of leadership, gross poverty of knowledge of legacy information and vivid abuse distrust of the electorate, population and local industries.

There may be the odd argument that local products and local capacity are sub-standard. The currency of abuse in both the economic and political spaces cannot be isolated nevertheless it was an opportunity for the state to strategically encourage and target resources towards gradual rebuilding of the economy. Sadly the opportunity was mangled and murdered. It would have mattered less if contracts for those products and needs were given to any firm/firms in part of the state.

By ignoring the talents, professionals and productive potential of the state; he has signaled clear deviation from expected economic leadership. He has manifested his underlying commitment to unreconstructed panache for spending without accountability. On this score he has denied many firms and businesses the opportunity to advance their capacity; he has denied young people and potential entrepreneurs the scope to start useful jobs in their own state. He has failed to jump at the opportunity to deny crime an oxygen source.

Conclusion

Sadly he talks the talk and refuse to walk the walk. There is no desire to waste a second expecting a change in the course of retrogressive leadership. While hope for greater things abound, one is rather motivated to wait for the next election. Imo State has potential to grow, develop and excel. Rochanomics is an absurdity whose hazy contours and opaque agenda cannot rescue Imo State.

Nigeria Subsidy Fight

As Christmas suffocated along

Even consuming the faithful

Where they thought most secure

The cabal have already concluded

At the dawn of the New Year

With pockets taunt and empty

Spending trailed down to mere return fares

The cog was let loose on the national wheel

Professional sufferers beheld another suffering

Fuel subsidy removal

Like thunderbolt

Smashing the New Year into still birth

Spontaneous reaction infected the 99%

Letting loose repressed anger against corruption

Imposed by the 1%

In an unmasked triumph of injustice

The divided land divided again

Not because of what it promises

Or what is expected of her

Rather into clusters of further uncertainty

The DC consensus on cabal unleashed

Structural adjustment platitudes already paid for in blood

By Chileans under Pinochet

Shock and awe that decimated Argentina

Confused and scattered common citizens became

With subsidy and corruption

Overhanging like a sword of Damocles

Obviously it is too early for comfort

The brim-hatted zoologist at the helm

Favoured and experienced steward of horror

Stood at the pinnacle of state declaiming peoples pain

While piling the drivers as compromise

Common citizens stood high and dry

As their pretending leaders betrayed positions and percolate up to the cabal

Co-scripting legal justification of their pain and injustice

Knowing that this is not the State to arise for together as compatriots

© 16/02/2012

Balancing Equations against Nigeria Disintegration

The case for Nigeria’s territorial integrity is always made as some bet hedged against an inevitable. This implies an existence dynamically challenging to positions, designs and interests of diverse citizens in the construct constituting the territory, waters, airspace and continental shelf called Nigeria. However what is unclear is the weight of significance attached to defending the current status towards avoiding disintegration. Or is it taken for granted that Nigeria must be one in its current form?

The entity cobbled together in 1914 is an interesting piece undertaken without inquiry and consent of its eventual constituents. No doubt many of the constituents were taken unawares and those who understood it at the time resigned to radical change of reality after struggle. It is important that the different nationalities and communities that make up Nigeria are assumed to desire this forced union as long as it last.

Unfortunately history has shown that union (force or chosen) only survive in a consensus. For those who estimate or adopt that Nigeria will remain forever territorially unreconstructed seem to be ignorant students of history. They seem to ignore historical evidence of territorial change even in the glaring case that led to Nigeria’s origin. It is even against human nature to defy natural expression of discontinuation or reconfiguration in relationships. Friends, marriages and alliances serve various purposes for short and long term depending on internal and external conditions surrounding the relationships. Political relationship and territorial unions are not different.  

On another level there is the innate self flagellation at any suggestion that 19th century Berlin conference delineation is not sacrosanct. Are Nigerians or Africans condemned to abide by boundaries redrawn from outside? Whose interest is served by Berlin conference designs?

Those who take it for granted that Nigeria will remain as one should not forget that in part Nigeria has been territorially reconfigured in the not too distant past. 1961 plebiscite that saw exchange of communities between Nigeria and Cameroon is an example.  2008 ceding of territory of Bakassi again to Cameroon is another. Of course these exchanges were made under civilian governments, but the case for unity and integration has not been made forcefully through credible governance by various governments. It is taken for granted that unity is an existential certainty. Natural resources, military capacity and access/lack of access to the sea cannot stop such possible disintegration. Absence of conflict and friendly neighbours did not save Czechoslovakia.

Nigerians must accept that unity is not sacrosanct or no-go area in a popular local parlance. This is all the more plausible with an inter-generational bankruptcy of governance at all levels of government in the country. The waste and abuse unleashed since 1960 cannot be contained by denying citizens their aspiration for self determination even its speculation. Communities cannot be run down and be forced to watch their collective destiny decimated by external preponderance and mangled view of statehood.

Countries or states unite and disintegrate over time in relationship to internal and external geopolitical realities. Nigeria is no different. If the case for unity must be resounding then, real productive governance must be instituted and backed by law. There are numerous examples of change in the territorial status of countries. Even the United States used a combination of war, outright purchase and genocide to expand her territory. In 1903 Panama was relieved off Colombia for Panama Canal to be built to serve US interest. South Sudan disengaged forcefully from Sudan for similar reason to Nigeria’s ineptitude in governance. United Republic of Tanzania is an emergency cobbling of Tanganyika and Zanzibar to forestall perceived ambition of one man (Abdulrahman Mohamed Babu) in 1964.

There is no divine right to clinging to territories all the more territories designed for external manipulation. Even civilization states like China and United Kingdom have not been immune to loss of territories. Reconfiguration or disintegration of Nigeria is not an issue for imposition or denial rather an inevitable outcome over time and rather hastened by strategic errors of long term instability. If the current political continues, then when disintegration occurs there is high possibility that an inevitable resignation may have greater attraction than any attempt of fighting to save it.

Nigeria like any artificial construct has manufacture date and her expiration date must not be beyond consideration albeit realization. If the current malfeasance and corruption continues unabated, only convergence of time and forces will usher in her inevitable disintegration.

Northern-Islamic Terrorist Bombing Campaign

Since 2010 new approaches to political behaviour took centre stage in Nigeria. Nigeria is a complex phenomena, chaos in reality and an artificial edifice with unique character.

One way political response and behaviour reached out Nigeria chaos is through deployment of bombs and suicide bombing since 2011 by unconfirmed non-state actors. Innocent citizens have been killed, maimed and traumatised. Properties worth millions of Naira have been lost. Its effect has reached the heart of federal government that for the second year in a row, national celebrations have been suspended in fear of suicide bomb/bombers.

Data of northern-Islamic-terrorist bombing campaign (Dec 2011 - July 2012) is now collected from various sources and collated for various kinds of analysis.  So far the following patterns have become apparent;

1. Over 90% of the terrorist bombs took place in Northern Nigeria in locations with Muslim majority populations. Pivoted on FCT Abuja funneling out encompassing North Central and North East Regions!
2. Hotspots include Kaduna, FCT Abuja, Plateau and Yobe States
3. 51% of attacks took place on weekend with 44% on Sundays
4. 92% of Sunday attacks took place in the morning (AM)
5. 39% of attacked targeted Churches or places of Christian worship
6. 17% of attacks targeted security assets/personnel (Police, SSS, Army and Airforce)
7. 13% of attacks targeted media assets/personnel

For spatial visualisation of attacks across Nigeria click on the link, 9jaTerroBombs. Be mindful that the content is not regarded as a map in a classical sense. The accuracy of attack location is poor as data sources do not have addresses. Zoom in to street level (locations) to have better observation. The data will be updated if there is need for it.