Breaking Through

For a change some good news filtering in about what Nigerians can do as a people. If only leadership could be a little more forthright, there is no limit to how far we could go leveraging on our indigenous ingenuity – in Science/Technology, Art, Literature, Economics, etc.

Recently I learnt of the exploit of the Nigerian Air force team in technological breakthrough: President Goodluck Jonathan unveiled an unmanned aerial vessel (UAV) or drone, which was designed and constructed by the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) in collaboration with other local institutions. The President described the launch of the UAV as a”landmark moment” in Nigeria’s history, and so it was.

Science & Iechnology

I have seen a video capturing a practical demonstration of this device – a flight test, and I am impressed and proud that for once something good and worth celebrating is here. Follow this link and see for yourselves the Nigerian drone in action:                                         http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TX1L_AxHXXw . Some cynics (and you can’t blame them) have expressed disbelief saying the whole arrangement is a phoney, but I tell you – this is for real.

Furthermore, in the year past like the president captured in his speech, we have launched the first indigenous combat vessel, developed by our Navy, and various Armoured and operational vehicles developed by the Nigerian Army. All of these are highly to be commended, and need I say that more resources and encouragement should be channeled towards such directions and the Nigerians so involved.

By: Morgan Nwanguma

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the Brick wall of Corruption

Why is it that after the whistle blower had revealed to the whole world a catalogue of missing funds that should have accrued to the government, the Goodluck Jonathan administration instead decided to suspend him from office on the grounds of (financial) impropriety? While it is true that Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has his excesses, it is still morally wrong of the government at this point in time to carry out such an order. In the first place, it has been made clear to us that going by the books, the president has no right to suspend a Central Bank Governor unilaterally. He needs the backing of two-third majority of the Senate. Secondly, you need him at this point: A man who had just told the whole world that $20 billion is missing from the national coffers is not the one to be sidelined, except of course you are hiding something.

Should the government not be interested in hearing him out; should the government not be interested in finding out what happened tour money; should the government of Goodluck Jonathan not be interested in how to recover our money and apprehend, and also punish the culprits involved? Obviously this administration is not interested in all of these.

The petroleum minister in trying to sell us a dummy instead came out in the throes of the ugly episode to say that the money was not missing, but rather the said amount was used to pay off kerosene subsidy! My goodness! But we learn that the said subsidy (has) or will bring down kerosene pump price to N50 per litre. But what do we get? Kerosine, the common man’s domestic fuel is gotten in the open market for between N130 – N170 per litre. Even after all the myriads of controversies surrounding the misappropriation of funds in NNPC, the huge oil subsidy frauds, etc, Mrs. Diezani Madueke has not been suspended, let alone sacked. And with Miss Stella Oduah at the helms of affairs at the aviation ministry, two bullet proof cars were purchased for N255 million, she was never suspended – come on!

 

Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

In civilised climes such persons as Mr. Sanusi will be encouraged to come forward to aid government in their investigations, but no, not here. This man has given very useful information to government, we ought to use him to clean up the mess he discovered and then investigate his own matter too and prosecute him if need be. But it is clear that these Nigerian leaders are not interested in the least in tackling the corruption monster bedeviling our society. They would rather grow it to an unprecedented height. This nation is headed for the abyss if we continue like this. We are not even talking about insecurity and others yet. But may God help us all.

That day of reckoning still has to come before we get straightened out. That revolution has become inevitable. All we need is good governance; we should all be united in calling for that and not these ethnic, religious, or political sentiments that some peddle around. Our kind of so called democracy has failed woefully. But what does it matter, all that Nigeria needs is an exemplary, bold leader, and I do not care if he or she comes from Sao Tome & Principe. Truly speaking and in the words of a public commentator, I honestly feel “Nigeria needs a benevolent dictator”. Such a person cannot come from this present system. 

By: Morgan Nwanguma

Unwarranted Embarrassment

I feel utterly disgusted that the assembly members at the Senate yesterday could behave the way they did. At the screening of ministerial nominees yesterday members of the Senate decided to exhibit the most immature behaviour by the totally unwarranted embarrassment meted out to one of the nominees – who happens to be a nominee of President Goodluck Jonathan himself.

Alh Abduljelili Adesiyan

In the process they left the very important questions out and instead were harassing Alhaji Abduljelili Oyewole Adesiyan from Osun State. They started with the ridiculous question: “Did you kill Chief Bola Ige?” They continued in this embarrassment until the gentleman broke down and sobbed in his defence; they even made him to swear by the Quran right there in the house!

Just imagine what the civilised world will be thinking of us when they hear or watch this kind of shameful behaviour of our law makers. Now, my question is: Is the House of Senate a court of law; was the nominee on trial; if they felt he was guilty of some sort of offence, why was he cleared to stand for nomination in the first place? And even if Alh Adesiyan had a hand in the murder of late Bola Ige, did they expect him to have said yes I did it? 

One would have loved to ask the senators in reply – if Alh Adesiyan was the one that told all the security guards at Bola Ige’s house to go and eat at the same time on that ill-fated night; who was the one that withdrew all of Bola Ige’s personal police guards and orderly that before then were always found around him? 

Also, Chief Omisore who was roundly indicted in the said act has for long been having a field day in the house – having won election while in detention, nobody is asking him any questions. We all know the roles of Omisore, Atiku, and Obasanjo in that unspeakable crime, but the future will tell. 

 

One is not in any way defending the man, but it is just that the place and time was completely wrong for the kind of exercise they were putting up yesterday at the Senate. If they think he is guilty, then they should go and try him in a competent court of law. These law makers of ours need to be called to order quickly.

By: Morgan Nwanguma

Politics of Their Belly

This bad song has been playing from a distance for so long a time, but today it is fully here with us: And so all of a sudden, as long as you are in the opposition, you are a progressive, but for so long as you are on the other side, you are a non-progressive element; you are corrupt, and you are the one to be booted out of office. This is politicking a la Nigeriana.

 

Now the ACN or its off shoot - the APC have always touted themselves as the progressives. And so anything that is not on this side of the opposition is condemned to the dust bin of non-progressives and a bunch of no-goods.  My disappointment is that politics in Nigeria and by extension, Nigerian politicians and their parties completely lack structure, and are also completely bereft of philosophy, and most importantly – ideological leanings of any sort.

It is rather befuddling to see the level of political ‘prostituting’ going on lately in the political landscape in the nation where politicians cross-carpet at will without the slightest remorse. It is indeed shameful and I dare say a huge betrayal of trust on the hapless electorates that voted these people into power. Why would somebody ‘win’ an election under a political platform only to cross over to another without being voted for; Why are we surprised at all that it is happening today, even unabatedly?  When this immoral phenomenon first reared its ugly head (just like in the case of Boko Haram) some decade or so ago in our ever ‘nascent’ democracy, nothing was done to check it, probably because it favoured those who were in power then, etc. I strongly think a law should be passed to make such behaviours illegal.

And so, for the APC to be constantly wooing members of the PDP to come join the party absolutely leaves a sour taste in the mouth. The PDP or its members that are supposedly ‘anti progressive, corrupt and, destroyers of the people’, are suddenly finding willing suitors in the blossoming APC! But this is nothing more than politics of the belly. These people are just after their own selfish gains – get power and of course wealth which ever way. It is all about them and not us. By the way, I am neither a fan of President Goodluck Jonathan nor the PDP because they have failed all of us. But for these so called progressives to even pay a visit to Obasanjo in his Otta farm settlement in the same bid to woo him to their side, leaves a lot to be desired.  I mean, if you are inviting everybody to join you, is it not the same as going to join everybody in the first place?

Like one columnist – Calistus Oke once asked recently – please I want to reiterate, “Where are the Nnamdi Azikiwes, Obafemi Awolowos, and the Ahmadu Bellos” of today; Is there nobody  out there with a vision, or a dream for the future generation? Like-minded patriots with vision must come together to rescue this nation. And I must remind us – like a wise man once said: “The evil persists because good people do nothing.

By: Morgan Nwanguma

Leadership by Example - The Joyce Banda Example

Have you not heard it that president (Mrs.) Joyce Banda of Malawi came into power and decided to tackle the problems of the country by cutting costs and all manner of wastes in governance. This is exactly the opposite of what happens here in Nigeria. What did she do? She sold her only presidential jet and cut down on personal expenses including her salary and emoluments. Now tell me, why will every other person not sit up and work with a common vision for the progress of the country; why will it ever be difficult to enforce law and order or rule of law? Surely it will be much easier to tackle any form of corruption in that environment as she is already practically doing.

President Joyce Banda of Malawi

But in our own outlandish display of big brotherliness, when recently this exemplary and self effacing president visited Nigeria in one of her numerous visits (though some have been strictly private and/or religious), the government having known her antecedents, still decided to attempt ‘spoiling her a little’: A presidential jet from the Goodluck Jonathan presidential fleet was dispatched to convey the dignified states woman back to her home country – Malawi. 

You may ask – why did she accept such a lavish treatment? But why should she refuse? After all, it was to cost her nothing; moreover, it was not going to cost her countrymen and women a dime. And so it made a lot of sense. This is how to weigh your priorities as an honest leader. My worry: Is anybody here in Nigeria learning anything from all of these; why does big brother keep behaving like kid brother?

By: Morgan Nwanguma

Presidential Madness

When recently our high flying President Jonathan visited Kenya on their Independence anniversary, he did something to attract a mockery from a Kenyan commentator: 'Your president visited our country and we have never seen this number of private jets before all at once; I mean this is Nigeria, and everybody came with their own private jet - wow!'   

Leading by example?

Well, one thing they don't know is that in this year's budget, N1.52 billion has been earmarked for the maintenance of the presidential fleet of ten aircraft. My question is: When will this madness be cured? I mean - these rulers are certainly possessed. Otherwise how else can anyone describe this?

By: Morgan Nwanguma

NELSON MANDELA: Quintessential Leader and Role Model

Nelson Mandela is not your run-of-the-mill type of leader; he is a leader to the core. The Madiba himself is an exemplary and selfless leader. He is a model and a huge inspiration to all manner of leaders worldwide, and a great lesson too, especially for African leaders, i.e. anyone who cares to draw from him any lessons at all. Now, let us meet our role model/case study: He is the South African statesman (1918-2013) who was released from prison to become the nation's president after the first multi-racial election in 1994. By exhibiting unflinching and unparalleled selflessness, and sacrifice, Nelson Mandela finally stood himself out as an epitome of an astute leader for the world to behold.

Nelson Mandela

Leadership must drive a definitive image along with it in order to be reckoned with. Thus a good leader must be one that is both devoted to his career, and diligent towards his calling and vocation. It is quality leadership and integrity (at work), vision, principle, and a predilection for the sublime that unfolds your inner being to the approval and admiration of civilised society. In the end therefore, it should matter to you when you ask yourself – what image do I portray, or how do people see me?

On the very day Nelson Mandela passed on; on that night of thunder in South Africa, when a mighty tree fell and the eagles fled their nests, top world leaders left everything to pull up the rostrum and pay tribute before anything else, and before the strike of dawn. That very moment the American president – Barak Obama ordered that the American flag be flown at half mast immediately, starting from the White House in Washington DC.

While fellow African leaders in unison with their counter parts all over the world join in mourning, uttering ululations and pouring encomiums on the departed world hero, which is the usual ritual, one should wonder if anyone is actually drawing any lessons from the life and times of this fallen hero; this dogged fighter, defender of justice, and an astute leader of the African continent and the world. Usually these African leaders are just wont to come out publicly just to identify with a great brand or personality and, to eulogise the dead – just mouthing off tributes that do not emanate from their heart. They are sober only for a second and the next moment they are back to who they are – what a pity.

In the Holy Scriptures, Jesus Christ referred to the prophet – John the Baptist (a man of no means) as ‘the greatest of all prophets born of woman’. And many who are professed religious people and Christians alike today would be shocked to know that; many would even want to contest it in their hearts unfortunately for them because, greatness, contrary to their brainwash beliefs, does not have to do with, and does not consist of your material possession. So also, our Nelson Mandela has revealed himself larger than life – a very great man and leader of unmatchable stature, not basing it on material possession, but on quality leadership and life style. What more – Michael Jackson, the late music icon of the world longed to meet this great citizen of the world and shake his hands until he did, ditto for so many other world leaders that eventually met with him. Even his enemies had no choice but to admire him.

Greatness, and by the same token, quality leadership, is measured by the core values and a sound philosophy of life which all sum up to the legacies you build and eventually bequeath to posterity. But on the contrary – our leaders, most of them in Africa, and especially here in Nigeria do not seem to care about image or integrity; they are just too busy aggrandising themselves. They do not cherish those virtues that stand out Nelson Mandela; they neither have candour nor cherish peace in their hearts because the truth of the matter is that without justice, there can never be true peace in the land. Our (rulers) leaders are too material conscious and value above all else, primitive accumulation and power acquisition. But Nelson Mandela compared to these lot looms like a translated being, towering above them all, having also transcended all these and other primordial idiosyncrasies.

Our leaders, and in fact everyone of us must learn the lesson that greatness is never measured by the size of your bank account, or the size of car your drive, but by the size of your heart and the values that drive you. Greatness is never measured by the size of mansion you live in or the number of houses all over the world that are in your name, but rather a true leader and great personality is acknowledged by the love he shows, the courage he musters to remain resolute to lofty principles; to uphold them and to stand up and stand out, even if alone, only to make a difference. Such is the man Nelson Mandela; a man of simplicity, a man of charisma, a man of humility and outstanding accomplishments.

By: Morgan Nwanguma (www.workamania.blogspot.com)                                  

Brand/Creative Executive - Energy Group, Lagos