Inspirational and Socio-Political Blog.

Monday 25 April 2011

Our Rights Of Revolution in Nigeria

As Nigeria goes through the last phase of the national election to elect the state Governors, all Nigerians need to wake up to their responsibilities to protect their votes and foster a growing economy, devoid of further violence. They need to take the bull by the horn and know their responsibilities as citizens of the country. They need to champion their rights of revolution and start participating in their little ways to galvanise support for progress of the nation and sustain this democracy. The zeal to get a future that works does not have to be through shedding of blood and destruction as was the case in the North after the 16th of April 2011 Election in which the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan was declared as the valid winner by INEC through a free and fair election. However, the growth we need goes with national revolution that centres on implementing new ideas and innovations that drives the country to its full potentials.
Revolution is mostly known as involving violence, but is not often the case. Revolution is better defined as the fundamental changes that takes place within a short period of time. These changes could be political, social, culture, philosophical and even technological. There is a distinct difference between a revolution and war or coup. The later often involves bloodshed and destruction, we have had enough of these in Nigeria already, what we need now is a revolution that borders around a change in the fundamental structure of the country. Our Government needs to be involved to get the country to a working and growing stage.
This type of revolution has been experienced in Europe before, example of such is what is called the Magna Carta in England, established in 1215, that required the King to renounce certain of his rights and accept that his wills could be bound by the law. The Magna Carta ended up influencing a lot of the decision process of the parliamentary and constitutional laws in England and other countries. Further to the Magna Carta, King II of Hungary also enacted a law called the Golden Bull of 1222. The Golden Bull established the rights of Hungary's noblemen, including the right to disobey the king when he acted contrary to the law, this is referred to as jus resistendi. This law place a right of revolution on the noblemen of England and Hungary and was said to be the first constitutional documents of these countries respectively.
Rights of revolution is the rights placed on the people of a nation to overthrow the Government that acts against their common interest. These rights has been traced back to China articulated by the Zhou Dynasty (1122 and 256 BC) and this was used to cause a change of the Shang Dynasty, they referred to the revolution as the Mandate of Heaven. Right of revolution has also been used to justify the reason for the famous French and American Revolution. Most recently, the Arab world has expressed similar Rights of Revolution to force the government to relinquish their power and establish a people-like Government, success of it has already been observed in Egypt and Tunisia where there has been change of government, the drive for similar change is still on going in other middle Eastern countries like Syria, Bahrain, Yemen and also Libya.
Nigeria has now gone through the one of the fairest election, in the history of the country. We have elected men we can trust and are glad that our votes counted, this is the start of our right of revolution that we have always clamoured for. All Nigerians needs a government that is open and responsive to the yearnings and demands of its people. We want a government that can implements successful projects and develop the economy rapidly. A government that is open to the demands of the Masses for a better life. Time has past when political leaders would see their post as an avenue to show off their personal achievements and amass crazy and unneeded wealth for themselves and their family, but rather, now is time to show their personal drive to serve and cause a change we so desire.
We need a change to experience significant difference in our polity and economy. I am glad that recent report shows significant growth in Nigeria's economy and could rise to double-digits. Nigeria's Finance Minister, Mr Aganga has told BBC News that Nigeria's economy will hit double-digits growth by the end of 2011 or early 2012. Currently the country's economy has grown by more than 7% and it is expected to rise to 10% by the end of this year. That is a massive achievement if we can sustain that growth. Also with the new government in place, the desires by foreign investors in Nigeria will be enhanced coupled with our level of economic growth. The revolution we all desire has just started and we should start enjoying the dividends. Nigeria's revolutionary growth has further been attested to by the UK Government; Mr Henry Bellingham, a UK Parliamentarian, who confirmed Nigeria as the “Fourth Largest growing economy in the world.” This is the right of revolution we all require, a nation we can be proud of and all be eager to return to and participate in the turn around process.

Thursday 21 April 2011

Nigerians Are Bad Historians?

It is time Nigerians went back to their book of history. The violence that erupted after the presidential election is a pointer to the fact that we have not learnt from past events. Many Nigerians have died unnecessarily from political violence in the past, we have shed innocent bloods for no just reasons. We use every opportunity we have to pour out our already volatile and burning hatred for ourselves, which have never worked as the solution we require.
The violent outbreak in the Northern part of Nigeria coming as an aftermath of the 16th of April 2011 Presidential election leading to killing, burning, destroying and wasting of resources is uncalled for and unnecessary. Recent events in Nigeria have indicated our desire to destroy and maim at every slight provocation or any difference in opinion. The presidential election is one of such, General Muhammadu Buhari came second behind President Goodluck Jonathan and the most Muslim Northern youths from which General Buhari hails took to the streets, destroying, killing and maiming, causing a lot of chaos and bloodshed.
 
Northerners have ruled Nigeria for longer period than any other tribes in Nigeria, but that have not helped to abdicate poverty and illiteracy in this part of the country, most Northerners just want to know that they have a Northerner and Muslim as President of the Country. What significant benefit has the past Northern Leaders made to the development of the North, they have all occupied the sit and their memories faded away with them as they leave or die in their positions, while the people still languish in poverty and lack of education. The recent violent outburst in the north is another confirmation of the decadence and the level of exposure of the average Northern youth. As much as most of the Northerners wants a change in their living standards, the destruction of this kind has never and would never be the best route to a change, irrespective of their desires, nothing should have warranted the destruction of the magnitude that followed last presidential election, that is not say that any other leader from the other parts of Nigeria has done better either, but we should all embrace peace and not violence.
Be assured that past violent protests have never and would never cause a change in a nation like Nigeria, the protesters are the one that stands to loose everything, they loose their lives, loose their friends and neighbours, their wives and children. They also loose their hard earned possessions and valuables without any recourse to compensation from the sponsors of those illicit acts. We do not get the houses and lives we have wasted back, looking back in history of the country, no violent protest such as the recent has achieved any positive feedback, all that we get is destruction and blood bath that followed such protest. We have always mourn alone. Desist from being used by unscrupulous, opportunistic and greedy politicians to achieve their selfish aims at your detriment.
Many Nigerians have lost their lives in violent protests and unnecessary unrest in the past. Many of those lives were lost innocently and some of them as a result of poor level of literacy and being used to achieve selfish interests. Please do not be a bait for the evil and callous politicians and religious bigots who only want to achieve their aims and do not care if you loose your lives. Desist from seeing every protest as a way to express your disgust for the opposite religious and people from the other tribe.
This politically induced violent protest in the North leading to Muslims burning Churches and killing Christians does not project a good image of the country that we are all trying to build together, lets give peace a change to reign in our midst, we can only see the beginning of a fight and not the end. Lets not forget that continuous reprisal religious-attacks in Jos and other parts of the country is still on going and religion is not do or die because we have our way of life before these religions were introduced to us. Lets desists from fighting for God, if He is God indeed, I am sure He can defend himself. Religion should be what unites us and not what sets us apart. Irrespective of our believes, let it not lead to this unwarranted killings. Let's all endeavour to desists from killing people from other tribes because of politics and religion, you are putting people of your tribe in a bigger risk by doing that, because those you have killed might come back at you again as is the case in Jos, we do not build a virile country through such.
Let us stand and embrace President Goodluck Jonathan, I have listened and read his promises very closely and I believe he is very kind hearted and has the best interest of the country at heart. We need to embrace this man and encourage him to achieve what he has set out to achieve. I do not see him as a tribalist. It is time Nigerians did away with Tribalism, Racism and Religious intolerance. Let us all be our brother's keeper and protect the interest of the country. That is the only way forward.

Saturday 16 April 2011

And the President Is?

All Nigerians needs to imagine a new Nigeria after the Presidential Election of today. I personally see it as an important new beginning for the nation Nigeria. I have listened to some of the promises of the various presidential candidates, almost all of them have very promising manifestos, however, how truthful they are remain to be proven after the election. One thing I know for sure is that Nigerians have shown commitment and solid desire to experience a change, the large turn out today at the Polling Units is a good indication. I have received several twits today from Nigerians all over the country on Twitter, twitting their experiences in their Polling Units, some taking Camera Shots from their Cameras and Mobile Phones, which shows a strong commitment to experience a change, gone are the days when Nigeria would rather sit at home on election day and wait to hear the news of the newly 'appointment' Leader. We have been deceived long enough and now we know that our elections can count, we have realized that if we all get involved, they can only do little in their rigging plans.
Nigerians are a very enlightened and educated people, we have the charisma to excel in all that we do and are a force in many sectors in the world. Even as the western world spread ridiculous stories about us Nigerians and make us look so bad, we still have stood together as a Country. These and more are what makes the country a great nation and a country that is worth giving our efforts for a credible leadership. For some of us living abroad, we know there is nothing really special in the diaspora, that cannot be achieved back home, it only needs time, ideas and a dedication to achieve it.
 
Few years ago, many Lagosians would say that , Lagos can not be revamped due to the level of poverty and infrastructural decay that was prevalent, but Senator Bola Tinubu started a job in the drive to turn things around, though he did not achieve as much as people expected, Governor Fashola came in and continued in the remodelling of Lagos to every ones amazement. Though there is still a lot to do in Lagos, but he has gone far in starting the drive we all require for a good live. Changes have also been recorded in other parts of the countries, among the leaders that knows that being the Leader is a commitment to serve and not to be served. With this achievements, it goes to say, we can turn the table and start a new life.
It is time for our leaders to understand that leadership is about serving the people and not about enriching their pockets. Whoever emerges the President today needs to understand there is little time to waste, they need to open their governance for ideas to flow and not lock their door at criticism as the case have been with past leaders, they need to break forth from the old-cargo-leadership and dead brains who simply wants to protect their wages and have no plans or ideas as we have experienced for a few decades now.
Today's election should be the starting point in correcting the failed image of Nigeria and the massively rigged elections we have experienced in the past. We need to show the world we can hold a credible election without international intervention. We need to see this election as a pointer to building a credible nation. Let all foreign observers go back to their nations, with the good news of what we have achieved. I will also enjoin all Nigerians to assist the leaders to do their jobs, Let us all be ready to sacrifice our little efforts in the drive for a stable economy, don't just sit back and criticize, but let us take our little contribution as very important towards building a virile nation.
Start with following the driving rules, keep your environment clean, stopping throwing wastes on the road, do your work with your heart and not just for the money alone, pay your tax, do not destroy public property, be your brothers keeper. Stop the kidnapping, Armed Robbery and assassinations. Police needs to stop collecting £20 and desists from killing innocent motorists. Let us be more committed to a successful country, we can only achieve it together with our commitment and drive.
May God help Nigeria and give us the President that will work in the best interest of the country. Long live Nigeria.