Omar al Bashir ruled Sudan for thirty years, surviving civil wars, the secession of South Sudan, and even an indictment by the International Criminal Court. He was brought down in April by peaceful protests provoked by anger about the state of the economy and decades of repression. There is a civilian government now, though the military retains significant influence. The revolution has changed the future direction of Sudan, and those who may reap the benefits are the youngest in the society, the children. Newsday’s James Copnall has been talking to12 and 13 yr old girls at the Khartoum International Preparatory School to find out their vision for the future. (Photo: School assembly at Khartoum International Preparatory School. Credit: BBC)
The former teacher who’s become one of Sudan’s most powerful women
Sudan is changing. Former President Omar al Bashir was forced out by peaceful protests earlier this year. Following an agreement between the protesters and the military, a civilian government was set up. The presidency was replaced by a Sovereign Council, composed of 5 soldiers and 6 civilians. There are two women on the council – each achieving an unprecedented level of influence for a woman in Sudan. Newsday’s James Copnall had the rare opportunity to speak to one of them, Aisha Musa. She is a teacher, translator and women’s right activist who is now one of the most powerful people in the country. However, that hasn’t spared her from some awkward encounters… (Photo: Aisha Musa. Credit: BBC)
Why are Nigerian lawyers asked if they are married or not?
Three female lawyers have written to the Chief Judge of the Nigerian Federal High Court asking him to take action against the sexual harassment of women working in the courts – and to make sure women are given equal treatment to men.
In 2012 the then-Chief Justice of Nigeria said that women lawyers should not feel pressurised to declare if they’re married or not in court – but the practice still continues.
Gloria Ballason was one of the authors of the letter and is CEO of the House of Justice, a human rights radio call-in programme.
“Asking females to identify if they’re Miss or a Mrs is in itself problematic because that kind of comment is not needed for the male lawyers… You feel like you’re cattle for sale or taken so you feel objectified as a lawyer.”
(Photo and credit: Gloria Mabeiam Ballason) (bbc)
TheNigeriaLawyer.
Let us take a deep breath as we wade through the content of this piece. It is not as controversial as the impulse from the headline would make you think. There is really nothing new in what is being said here that is not readily acknowledged by most decent people up and down this blessed land called Nigeria. Thus, rather than courting controversy, the piece is aimed at jolting the populace out of their persistent vegetative state. A shock treatment designed to awaken us out of an alarmingly dangerous slumber. A re-statement of an unpalatable truth capable of injecting some sobering thoughts into our collective, felonious acquiescence. And, a cold syrup capable of reawakening the boundless energy in us at least for the day. Like the incompetent British generals who led the infantry to defeat in World War I, modern-day Nigerians are lions led by donkeys. This is principally because we are fixated too much on primordial loyalties: ethnic and clannish origins of our leaders, and would-be leaders; their taste and social mores, almost to the exclusion of their purpose and priorities in public office. In aggregate, the loyalties are to the mainstream Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, but more generally, it goes much deeper from intra-tribal cleavages, to the reification and amplification of communal ‘otherness’.
The ethnic animus felt across the divide masks the myth of homogeneity people assume of themselves. The Yoruba would not see how hopelessly myopic their sense of self truly is, until there is an attempt at concretising the much vaunted “Od’ua Republic”, then, they start realising themselves as “Ibadan”, “Lagos”, “Ondo”, “Ekiti” etc, who do not wish to be under the dominance of the ‘other’. Neither the Igbo would know who the true Igbo are until there is a similar attempt at rebuilding the “Biafra Republic”, then, see whether Delta, for instance, or Port Hacourt, consider themselves Igbo or not. The Hausa would not find out their fragile cohesiveness until they try asking whether their own fiefdom extends beyond the River Niger, and until the Hausa-Fulani question is resolved beyond doubt. All that seems to matter is whether “our guy” (in aggregate terms) is at the helm of affairs; my turn, our turn to ‘chop’; to lay a claim to our own salami-sliced portion of the meat. Whether the “guy” eventually goes on to act against the fundamental interest of his ethnicity is a moot point. In other words, given a choice between a lion and a donkey for a leader, the ethnic rosette on their lapels and the one most likely to facilitate the ‘chop’, wins the day. To be brutally frank, no one goes into public service in Nigeria for nation-building. Why? Because there is neither the reward nor incentive so to do.
There are no monuments to selfless service in this country. Streets and Boulevards are named after crooks, corrupt and murderous leaders and ex-leaders in Nigeria’s major cities. If in doubt, look no further than the nation’s capital, Abuja. The rare individual (from Mars, probably) who lives and breathes patriotism in public office quickly finds themselves sailing against a hostile and ferocious wind. They must either change course immediately or risk being consumed by the elements. It does not take a genius or a newspaper columnist to uncover the reality of the shallow-mindedness of a lot of Nigeria’s public figures. One only needs to look at the membership of the country’s National Assembly to see how many are barely literate individuals (the ex-“dancing senator”, remember him?) who are basically out of their depths and incapable of engaging with the complexity of the legislative process. By the way, the dancing senator went on to contest (and won) a state-wide governorship election, defeating several men of letters and considerable personal accomplishments who ran against him before he was subsequently out-manoeuvred from the big prize of the governor’s lodge . In a similar vein, sometime ago, an urbane and rather conscientious colleague of mine tired of what he saw as ‘mediocre’ candidates coming forward for election in his home state, angrily went back and began consulting on a possible run for office. He got a rude awakening when he sat with a group of local ‘grassroots’ party activists, who wearily said to him: “Sir, you are too decent and well-educated to enmesh yourself in local politics; it is for the jobless, roadrunners and hungry dogs like ourselves…we would not like to see you being ridiculed, let alone being harmed because you are our ‘father’, we need you”.
Now, how many times have we been told of this or that group of ‘concerned’ citizens coming together to form a political platform and it fizzled out? Nigeria has no shortage of brilliant minds to occupy every level of governance in this country and across the whole of West Africa combined. Why then do we not see them joining government in droves? Because their ideas are out of sync with the desires and priorities of the powerbrokers at the table. Is this the same as saying there are no brilliant minds in government as of today? Surely not. There is not enough of them to make the critical difference. The few that make it through the door see themselves heavily constrained and restrained by forces beyond their control. How is it then that Western democracies manage to infuse brilliant minds into the echelons of power both in politics and in industry, we might ask? Because their societies have an advanced system of social stratification, where the elites destined for high positions tread a clear path. They know what primary/secondary schools and university to attend and, subsequently, where to look for internship and their first career break. Consequently, top personnel in the civil service, politics and industry self-reproduce (through birth, recruitment criteria, and the old school network), so much that they have sufficient recruits in their ranks, across the board, to keep each other’s corrupt instincts in check. This is the magic of the corrupt(less) Western political stability. We do not have the luxury of a settled class hierarchy we can superimpose on our flailing political system to serve a similar purpose.
For us, therefore, it is anything goes, effectively. “Chop and let chop” becomes the norm; the lowest common denominator for the participants in the corridors of power. It is a starker dichotomy than that of the Western democracies. Class mobility is notoriously difficult if not impossible within our own society. At the top end is a tiny few; the oligarchs with 95% of the resources, and at the bottom end is the majority, almost 90% feeding on crumbs from the high table. There is virtually nothing at the middle. In other words, it is statistically insignificant. Based on this, therefore, you would imagine that if any society was ripe for a revolution, it would be right here, at home, but still nothing even close in the air. Why? Well, time and space would not permit us to address that thorny issue in detail here and now. But, quite simply, we are a nation of infinite time to burn; of a better tomorrow; a turn-the-other-cheek lot; a delayed gratification dreamers, and a reward-in-heaven pacifists. So, we say, long rein the donkeys!
[REGISTER] Enugu State Multi-Door Court House, Law Pavilion & Obra Legal Webinar On “Mediation Advocacy & ODR Awareness For Lawyers”
![[REGISTER] Enugu State Multi-Door Court House, Law Pavilion & Obra Legal Webinar On “Mediation Advocacy & ODR Awareness For Lawyers”](https://lawandsocietymagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/enuguMediation-Advocacy-ODR-Awareness-For-Lawyers-1.jpg "[REGISTER] Enugu State Multi-Door Court House, Law Pavilion & Obra Legal Webinar On “Mediation Advocacy & ODR Awareness For Lawyers”")
THE Enugu State Multi-Door Court House in conjunction with Law Pavilion and Obra Legal will be hosting a webinar on “Mediation Advocacy & ODR Awareness For Lawyers”.
This is contained in a notice which was made available to TheNigeriaLawyer.
The webinar is to be moderated by Mr. Ikechukwu Onuoma, Obra Legal Managing Partner and Mrs. Nnezi Ivenso, Obra Legal Partner.
Meanwhile, the Special Guests in the webinar are:
Chief M.E Eze,
Enugu State Attorney General.
Mr. Jude Ezegwui,
Chairman, NBA Enugu Branch
Mrs. Caroline Etuk,
Director of ESMDC
Furthermore, the panelists are:
Mr. Kenneth Onyema,
ADR Practitioner
Prof. Andrew Goodman,
Convener, Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates (SCMA), UK.
Mr. Yemi Akisanya,
Legal Practitioner.
Meanwhile, the webinar is scheduled to hold thus:
Date: 30th day of September 2020
Time: 2 PM.
To register in advance, click:
TheNigeriaLawyer
Menopause in women: Know the symptoms, complications and treatments
Menopause is a reality for every women in their lifetime, considered a normal part of ageing, occurring when their menstrual cycle ends. Menopause occurs when a woman hasn’t menstruated in 12 consecutive months and can no longer become pregnant naturally. It usually begins between the ages of 45 and 55, but can develop before or after this age range. According to study, about 1 percent of women begin menopause before the age of 40, which is called premature menopause or primary ovarian insufficiency. Also some researches also states about 5 percent of women undergo menopause between the ages of 40 and 45. Which is referred to as early menopause. As we go further in this article, let’s look at the symptoms of menopause in women below.
What are the symptoms of menopause.
Every woman’s menopause experience is unique. Most women first begin developing menopause symptoms about four years before their last period. Symptoms often continue until about four years after a woman’s last period. As the body ages so do the ovaries ages which makes the hormonal production to slowdown.
A small number of women experience menopause symptoms for up to a decade before menopause actually occurs, and 1 in 10 women experience menopausal symptoms for 12 years following their last period. Below let’s check symptoms of a developing menopause in a woman. They are:
(a). Having a less frequent menstruation.
(b). Experiencing heavier or lighter periods than you do normally.
(c). vasomotor symptoms, like hot flashes, night sweats, and flushing. Researches also states that an estimated 75 percent of women experience hot flashes with menopause.
Also, I earlier said that every woman’s menopause experience is different so do their symptoms. Some may have all the symptoms above while some have partly. There are also other symptoms we may look at below.
Other symptoms of menopause include:
(1). Insomnia.
(2). Vaginal dryness.
(3). Weight gain.
(4). Depression.
(5). Anxiety.
(6). Difficulty concentrating.
(7). Memory problems.
(8). Reduced sex drive.
(9). Dry skin, mouth, and eyes.
(10). Increased urination.
(11). Sore or tender breasts.
(12). Headaches.
(13).Racing heart.
(14). Urinary tract infections (UTIs).
(15). Reduced muscle mass.
(16). Painful joints.
(17). Lessfull breasts.
(18). Hair loss.
What are the complications of menopause?
There is nothing in this world we do that doesn’t have it’s complications so do our responses to our health. Although, menopause is a natural ageing process in a woman but it also has its complications on the woman affected. These are the complications of menopause which women experiences, they include:
(1). Vulvovaginal atrophy.
(2). Dyspareunia, or painful intercourse.
(3). Slower metabolic function.
(4). Osteoporosis, or weaker bones with reduced mass and strength.
(5). Sudden emotional changes.
(6). Cataracts.
(7). Periodontal disease.
(8). Urinary incontinence.
(9). Heart or blood vessel disease like high blood pressure.
How can doctors diagnose and treat menopause?
A new blood test known as the PicoAMH Elisa diagnostic test was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration In U.S.A.
The test is used to help determine whether a woman has entered menopause or is getting close to entering menopause.
This new test may be helpful to women who show symptoms of perimenopause, which can also have adverse health impacts. Early menopause is associated with a higher risk of osteoporosis and fracture, heart disease, cognitive changes, vaginal changes and loss of libido, and mood changes.
Treatment.
If your symptoms are severe or affecting your quality of life, treatment or advice from a certified health practitioner is the best. Hormone therapy is an effective treatment in women under the age of 60 or within 10 years of menopause onset and for the management of, hotflashes, night sweats, vaginal atrophy, etc…..Other medications may be used to treat more specific menopause symptoms, like hair loss and vaginal dryness.
Additional medications sometimes used for menopause symptoms include:
(a). Topical minoxidil 5 percent, used once daily for hair thinning and loss.
(b). Antidandruff shampoos, commonly ketoconazole 2 percent and zinc pyrithione 1 percent will be used for hair loss.
(c). Eflornithine hydrochloride topical cream for unwanted hair growth.
(d). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), commonly paroxetine 7.5 milligrams for hot flashes, anxiety, and depression.
(e). Nonhormonal vaginal moisturizers and lubricants.
(f). Low-dose estrogen-based vaginal lubricants in the form of a cream, ring, or tablet.
(g). Ospemifene for vaginal dryness and painful intercourse.
(h). Prophylactic antibiotics for recurrent UTIs.
(I). Sleep medications for insomnia.
(J). Denosumab, teriparatide, raloxifene, or calcitonin for postmenstrual osteoporosis.
Need more clarification, please go to any registered and certified government or private hospital nearby.
MULAN Abuja Chapter Gets First Female Secretary as New Executive Committee Emerges
The Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria, MULAN, Federal Capital Territory Abuja Branch has appointed Adama Mohammed, Esq. as the first ever woman, at both national or state levels, to run the Secretariat of the association.
This was contained in the report of the five-man Shura Committee [consultative body] which was constituted on the 9th August, 2020, and inaugurated on the 10th August, 2020 for the purpose of selecting new Exco members
Nominations were received from the members of the Chapter.
The Shura Committee thereafter set out to work by sitting, deliberating and having physical interactive sessions with the nominees.
In all 32 nominations were received
“It is pertinent to remark that all the nominees showed enthusiasm to serve and uplift the state of the MULAN FCT Chapter. The Shura Committee resumed its sitting on Wednesday the 16th September, 2020 and interacted with the remaining nominees, after which it concluded its sitting by selecting, bi mashee’atillaah, the next Exco Members of the Chapter to fill the positions are 10 altogether.” The report said.
The following members were unanimously selected to Steer the affairs of the branch for the next two 2 years:
- Aliyu Usman Imam PhD. – Chairman
- Abdulkareem Mashood, Esq. – Vice Chairman
- Mohammed Adama, Esq. – Secretary
- Hassan Luqman, Esq. – Assistant Secretary
- Umar Mustapha Liman, Esq. – Treasurer
- Danshitta Shittu Saheed, Esq. – Financial Secretary
- Ahmed Lambe, Esq. – Assist. Financial Secretary
- Hameed Ajibola Jimoh, Esq. – PRO 1
- Abdullah Ali Chibuzor, Esq. – PRO 2
- Garba Musa Audu, Esq. – Auditor
“The Shura Committee wishes to thank the Exco and the entire members of the FCT Chapter for the opportunity given to it serve our noble Association in this capacity.” The Committee concluded.
You Are Slowly Damaging Your Liver When Doing These 7 Things
These pieces of the body are: the cerebrum, heart, kidney and the liver, just to make reference to yet few. For the motivation behind this review, i am confused in on the liver.
The liver is liable for the creation of bile, which helps divert waste and separate fats in the small digestive system during absorption. It detoxifies synthetic substances and used medications. The liver likewise makes protein which is significant for blood clotting and different functions.
The picture above is the Anatomy of Liver from Pinterest.
The liver is saddle with alot of basic duties, however for it for perform it work adequately we should treat it right. A portion of the things we do unconsciously can prompt harming our liver. A portion of these things are:
1 .Intake of a lot of sugar into the body.
The taste bud consistently longs for something sweet which incorporates sugar. Sugar might be sweet as we would prefer bud yet a lot of it can harm the liver. The liver uses fructose to make fat.
An excess of refined sugar causes greasy develop which can prompt liver infection. A portion of these ailments are hopeless and can prompt one’s passing. As the familiar adage goes “prevention is better than cure. Stop from taking an excessive amount of sugar. A few investigations shows that sugar can be harming to the liver, as liquor.
2. Herbal Supplements.
” Herbal enhancements are common and has no negative symptom” that is an average African man intellectually. In any case, these cases are broken. Studies shows that herbel supplements can prompt genuine liver sickness. Preceding that a few nations havent favor the utilization of these a few spices in their clinical focuses.
Although few spices that have experienced genuine research facility testing are affirmed for certain treatment. In any case, the case that spices doesn’t have symptoms are broken. It is prudent, you ought to consistently converse with your primary care physician before you take any spices to ensure they’re safe.
3.Drug Abuse.
We were thought broadly the risk of medications misuse which can prompt the harm of liver. One of the capacity of the liver is, to metabolizs drugs. Admission of an excess of medications into the framework subject the liver to alot of worry, before that, the liver can be weaken.
4. Soft Drink.
Study have demonstrated that individuals who have the propensity for drinking a ton of soda pops are bound to have non-alcoholic greasy liver illness (NAFLD). Studies don’t demonstrate that the beverages were the reason. In any case, in the event that you down a ton of soft drinks and have been significance to scale back, this could be a valid justification to switch what your beverage. Stop from the propensity for taking soft drink drinks each day. I am aware of individuals who can’t eat without a soft drink next to them.
5.Alcohol.
The liver separates the majority of the liquor you drink with the goal that it tends to be taken out from the body. This makes substances that are much more unsafe than liquor. These substances can harm liver cells and cause genuine liver infection. Studies have indicated that, liquor causes 5 out of 7 passings from liver infection.
A few people are uninformed of the negative symptom of liquor. It is significant for those of us that are learned of the impacts to make mindfulness for them.
6.Fried Food.
Fried food contains high fat and colories. Preceding that individuals who are determined to have liver sickness are guidance to halt of eating singed food totally.
7.Red Meat.
Red meat is high in fat and colories, eating an excess of red meat can prompt liver malady. It prudent to eat less of red meat particularly individuals who have happened to age(old age). At mature age it is prudent to take a greater amount of Fish.
Health is wealth. Everything may be permissible but not all things are useful for your body, be aware of your what you eat.
This article is open for commitments and perceptions. Offer your remarks underneath.
Image credit:Pinterest
Suspected smugglers attack border patrol operatives in Katsina
Joy Anyim
Forty-three suspected smugglers have been arrested by the Katsina State Police Command for allegedly killing a yet-to-be identified man during an attack on security operatives attached to the joint border drill in Daddara Village, Jibia Local Government Area.
Recall that the Joint Border Drill initiated by the office of the National Security Adviser in 2019, brought together operatives from the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, the Police and other key security agencies, to end smuggling.
According to reports, the attackers, mainly youths, stormed a major check point mounted by the security operatives around 8:30 a.m., protesting against the presence of the operatives.
Spokesperson for the Command, Gambo Isah, stated that the hoodlums became violent, burnt down a Border Patrol Van, one Volkswagen Gulf III vehicle, three AK 47 rifles and a pistol.
Isah further revealed that the hoodlums unleashed mayhem on commuters, destroyed their windscreens, and injured innocent road users.
A statement signed by the spokesperson said : “ On September 28, the Command received a report that some of group disgruntled youths and adults mainly from Daddara village came out in their numbers, tumultuously rioting and protesting. The angry protesters were reported to have blocked the Katsina – Jibia Highway, exactly at Dadda village, smashing and destroying vehicles of security agencies and that of innocent citizens passing along the highway.
“They also set ablaze a Police Border Control Post – Daddara, Nigerian Immigration Service Check point – Danmasani, one Police Border Patrol Van (stationery), one Volkswagen Gulf III motor vehicle belonging to the officer in charge of the police border post, two AK 47 rifles belonging to Joint Border Drill Forces, one Ak 47 rifle and a pistol belonging to Police Mounted troops.
“The rioters smashed and damaged the windscreen of many motor vehicles of innocent commuters passing through the highway. Consequently, the Command swiftly deployed teams of Police Mobile Force (PMF) and conventional units to the area, and have succeeded in arresting 43 persons found rioting.
“The teams have brought the situation under control as normalcy has returned to the area. But sadly one person lost his life during the fracas. Investigation revealed that, the riot was purportedly sponsored by smugglers and their agents targeting joint border patrol personnel and their facilities.”
He maintained that investigation into the attack was ongoing with a view to arrest more perpetrators and their sponsors.
Isah stated that the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Police Command, Sanusi Buba, has promised to bring all perpetrators to book to serve as deterrent to others.
(COVER) As Nigeria turns 60: We want Nigeria Back!
By Alfred Obiora Uzokwe
On this 60th anniversary of Nigeria’s existence, there is frankly not much to celebrate. At 60 years of age, in human terms, Nigeria is no longer a toddler, not a teenager but a full-fledged sexagenarian. But unfortunately, Nigeria is still crawling in so many respects.
The standard of living has been in the tubes for years now. Don’t be deceived by the super-opulent mansions you see in some parts of Nigeria like Lagos, Abuja and the likes and the exotic cars you see in some streets. Standard of living is measured by how well the totality of the populace is doing not how well a select few is doing.
Garri is slowly becoming unaffordable by the common man. Boko Haram has refused to allow honest and hard-working citizens any respite. Constant electricity is now a luxury that only the affluent can afford via private generators.
Unemployment rate has jumped to unprecedented levels. The roads? Just terrible. This is a clarion call to all and sundry. We must return the country to a semblance of true civilisation.
So how did things degenerate to this abysmal level in Nigeria? I will answer by going down memory lane. In the end, I am almost certain that most well-meaning Nigerians would declare in unison – WE WANT NIGERIA BACK. We want Nigeria restored to the good days of the late 70s and pre civil war.
A little after the Biafra war in 1970, after the Igbos started finding their footing again, Nigeria began to make developmental gains. If you got through secondary school and acquired a university degree, you were on the path to middleclass-hood. If you went into business, all you needed was a little hard work and success came. Secondary school education fetched good jobs that helped many successfully climb the economic ladder.
But mismanagement of the economy, by successive military administrations, began to change things. The military and successive civilian administrations have now plunged the nation into one of the darkest periods of her 60-year history.
Former President Babangida worsened Nigeria’s problems with his Structural Adjustment Program (SAP). Right after institution of the programme, the naira, which had hitherto competed favorably against other major currencies like the dollar, started a downward slide with grave consequences.
When I first visited the United States in 1979, my one thousand naira fetched more than one thousand five hundred dollars in traveler’s cheques! Compare that to what is happening today – you need a sack to carry the naira equivalent of one thousand dollars. At that time, a bag of cement sold for less than five naira, today it is between N2,500 to N2,800!
Devaluation of the naira contributed to double-digit inflation, which basically rendered the middle class an endangered species. Yet, the middle class is the class that generates wealth and employment and pays the bulk of the tax for societal upkeep in any nation. What we now have is a socially and economically stratified society where, on one side is the very poor. On the other, is the exceedingly affluent mainly composed of retired Generals and politicians!
Nigerian tertiary institutions were not spared in the onslaught. Due to bad management and government disinterest in the affairs of the universities, infrastructure degenerated into a mess. Lecturers were not paid and strikes became the norm rather than anomalous.
Standard of education, which used to be the envy of the world, crashed and students lost interest. I dare not blame the students for their disinterest. When I first gained admission into the School of Architecture at the University of Nigeria in 1977, the future was full of promise because almost all those who graduated before us settled into meaningful and financially rewarding lives upon graduation. They landed good jobs, cars, got married and were comfortable. Those of us following them had an idea of what the future was likely to be like and we were hopeful.
It is sad that I cannot say the same for current university graduates or students currently in the school system. They are aware of the bleak future that await them because of joblessness, high cost of living, evil machinations of robbers, kidnappers, Boko Haram and people of their ilk. Nepotism, favoritism and all other unpalatable isms also run rampant. In Nigeria today, our youths have become vulnerable, they see no glimmer of hope in their future and the society does not seem to care.
Politics has become as dirty and corrupt as ever. Votes are cast for politicians who spend the most money bribing the populace. The naira is now ferried in bullion vans during elections to bribe the populace. The first task of politicians who get into office, through bribery, is to recoup the hefty sum spent on electioneering, pay back favours to their lackeys and strategize on how to amass more wealth for perpetuity in power.
The most current trend is that very wealthy Nigerians constitute themselves into kingmakers by donating very large sums of money to political parties and individuals. After the elections, the elected officials dole out contracts to them as pay back. Inept contractors get road construction projects and prosecute the jobs haphazardly. As a corollary, roads crumble as fast as they are built. We must start electing politicians with impeccable integrity and proven competence.
The exodus of Nigerian professionals, to oversees countries (including yours truly) is another phenomenon that has not helped the country at all. In the 80s, an attempt was briefly made to stem this tide with the “Andrew no check out -o” advertisement. But you cannot ask people not to “check out” when the country was gradually being dismantled and plundered with reckless abandon. People saw the exodus as the only viable alternative.
Before asking people not to check out, the government should have instituted measures to make it attractive to stay within. This could have been achieved by supporting and encouraging small businesses, granting them loans, giving them financial incentives for hiring new graduates and helping individuals defray the cost of business startup.
This never happened. Nigeria has lost and is still losing some of her finest minds to the Diaspora for good. Nigerian professors and academicians now populate foreign universities and are notable for their outstanding feats. This is a loss for Nigeria.
One thing I would give to Nigerians is that we are a resilient people. The terrible impacts of the structural adjustment programme, on the economy, did not completely dampen the ardour of all Nigerians. Some exceedingly resourceful individuals started floating viable industries and agro-based ventures.
In my hometown Nnewi and elsewhere, many industries floated by individuals are doing very well. But with poor electricity supply, the cost of doing business tends to be high and is passed on to consumers, putting certain commodities, made in the country, outside the reach of the common man.
The military should shoulder the greatest blame for Nigeria’s woes today, then followed by corrupt politicians. As Nigeria turns 60, the populace must understand that the destiny of the nation lies with them. A nation is as good as the leaders they elect. The idea of voting for the highest bidder or excusing the machinations of politicians from one’s section of the country must stop.
The youth must commence peaceful protests to demand what is rightfully theirs- a prosperous Nigeria. A Nigeria where jobs are no longer hard to come by. A Nigeria where inflation is not the norm. A Nigeria where road networks compare favorably with the ones in advanced nations. A nation where security and peace reign. A nation in tune with modernity. A nation working towards curbing dependence on oil by ushering in alternative energy sources. These I pray.
