$ Tokunbo Ministers and other OBJ blunders

[timogose]

Nigerians back home are against the continual payment of salaries in US Dollars, to the Finance and External Affairs Ministers. If Mrs. Okonjo-Iwela (the Finance Minister), Ambassador Adeniji and their boss has confidence in themselves and faith in our currency, they would agree to be paid in Naira. If Okonjo-Iwela has any faith in & love for Nigeria, she would transfer her children from Havard to University of Abuja or any other Nigerian university, why not if not? With the insecurity pervading the land, and the government's desire to make the exchange rate 300N to 1$, why should our citizens abroad willingly come home? We do not need imported or Tokunbo experts, let OBJ look at the private sector and universities for capable hands. Why do they want to impose a N1000 denomination on the nation and withdraw N5 and N10 notes? It appears to be an IMF script they are acting out. When we ought to be moving towards a cashless economy?

Will Obasanjo dialoge with Mustapha over the security breach? Afterall it is a party affair (between Major and C-in-C in the 31st political party aka military)? We hope he will treat the issue the same way he treats the Anambra coup and not use double standards. Alas no, the DMI instead of the police is investigating, and a military tribunal is to be used to try arrested civilians instead of the court. Is Abacha the only ruler to have looted the nation's treasury? No! It seems Obasanjo is picking on his family for personal vendetta. Also, this President has a reputation of calling political murders and attempted assasinations "armed roberry" even before the police conclude their investigations. Being human, nobody expects the President to be perfect, but his shortcomings and obstinacy are becoming unacceptable. To make matters worse, we hardly have a National Assembly!

[timogose]

Oh my God Which kind of President is this? While I do not support religious violence (and is averse to killing) I think OBJ is loosing out just as IBB snapped after the SAP riots of 1989.

Have you read Obasanjo's latest outbust? Check out
http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/...114052004.html
The man just cant stand criticism. He surely needs prayers or he will not only undo himself but also the nation. And to say SELF CONTROL was one of the factors that hampered Howard Dean's presidential ambition. Nigeria, we WAIL thee...

[TruTalk]

The man is under a lot of stress...The system is resisting reform, the international community is hounding his administration, and Nigerians are generally unsupportive.

However, I hope that his public outbursts will serve as a warning to any future incumbent. This isnt the first time that an outburst of it's type has been recorded with him (I remmeber he was ina press conference, where he was provoked by an attendee, and told the person to shut up...

This incidence just goes to underscore the fact that the US system does have a point when it harps on the importance of PR and media hype. The present governing administration has not scored well on image control and mass communications. I have been very disappointed that before taking any major decisions, mass enlightenment campaigns are not embarked upon. How does this administration expect the transition to democracy to be smooth? People want to believe, but they have to be given something to believe in.

Funny, but I was confiding in my ex-roommate a couple of days ago, that if I had a million dollars, I would start a leadership institute for bright young minds that aspire to go into politics. Aspiring politicians need to learn the power of words, the influence of the media, and how to weave both sources into powerful platforms for action. Until we learn this quintessential lesson in Nigeria and other emerging democracies, our efforts might as well sum up to throwing seeds to the wind.

[TruTalk]

I think at this point, any excuses and sympathies I had for OBJ have evaporated. According to the BBC, Wole Soyinka was arrested along with other demonstrators during an anti-government protest rally. What happened to the judicious use of power? To the freedom of association and freedom to congregate? Maybe we dont have these freedoms written into the Nigerian constitution. Oh, great...This is one of the few times I can count on one hand, where I have much to say, but no words to express my thoughts...

[Sola]

Na wa o. The man just puts his foot in it every chance he gets. Just as you are urging people to give him a chance elsewhere, he screws things up. Frustrated or not, some outbursts are totally uncalled for...

[timogose]

Agreed OBJ means well but he has to be more tolerant as an elder Statesman and father of the nation. I agree on politicians being instructed in the power of Speeches & the Media.

It is high time the president free himself from represive influences and assert himself positively, afterall this is his LAST term. To be fair, he will be remembered for some wealth creation and introduction of GSM but he needs to do more. Right now the negatives far surpasses his positives. Lets not give up on him or on Nigeria. Remember he was the lesser of two (or more) evils (at least by election results).

[cxsm]

I agree that a leader needs to practice some iota of diplomacy and decorum, but we are all human and fallable to some extent. Finess is always a good attribute to possess and exercise.

Can't speak about these particular religious leaders, but some are indeed idiots, while some are totally 'fake' operating under the guise of religion while committing atrocities and sometimes a spade deserves to be called a spade.

[timogose]

Cxcm, the issue here is OBJ's temperament and self control (or lack of it) and his inability to stand up for transparency, fairness, etc. Diplomacy involves calling a Spade a Shovel in a way that allows u to be appaluded. As for religious leaders genuineness, that is a different topic entirely.

From ThisDayOnline (May 17, 2004) is the headline Obasanjo Mishandled Crises, Says Buhari
excepts from the story;

...(Buhari) lamented that over 6000 policemen were deployed to stop legal rallies in Lagos and Abuja, while no single law enforcement agent was deployed to the troubled spots in Plateau state, with the consequence that "a rampaging ethnic militia had a field day massacring hundreds of fellow Nigerian

In its comment, CNPP described the president's utterances as a national disgrace. It said "his utterances is unpresidential, uncouth of the President of Nigeria."

Speaking with THISDAY in Abuja, the Secretary General of CNPP, Maxi Okwu said "We are not surprised. That's exactly the President's reaction when bombs exploded in Ikeja Cantonment and his accusation to the NLC that they are plotting to overthrow his government."
...
He said "to us in CNPP, the language of Mr. President goes to show that he is the problem of this country."

According to the CNPP scribe, "the only atonement for the President is for him to apologise. He must apologise for his uncouth language on Nigerians." ...

[cxsm]

I addressed the OBJ issue in the 1st of 2 paragraphs. The 2nd paragraph was just a comment.

[Waka-waka]

Look here my people, Democracy or MOB rule as it is called is not for everybody. It might work for some people, but not Nigeria, and especially at this present time.

We are in such a situation that we need a leadership, an informed and honest leadership that can come to a deliberate on issues, plan actions and execute them without the arguement that occurs in democracies

Now is not the time. We need someone we can have faith in. SOmeone that is honest and can move forward unhindered to archieve progress.

Democracy does not work right off the bat. We have no idea where the road is. WHAT we need right now is someone that will speak for us and lead us to the path from where we can find our way to whatever form of government we deem fit. We need someone like me!

[Sola]

I agree with all you wrote above. Well, I stopped agreeing when you wrote this:

We need someone like me!

[TruTalk]

I just heard the most hilarious news item I've recieved in a long time...the government is going to arbitrate or convene a national conference of ethnicities. Why? Because the hew and cry for such a forum has reached fevered pitch. Who, may I ask, is hewing and crying? None other than our dear Ojukwu, and some other minor characters.

Give me a break.

And somebody remind me again, how is this supposed to work?
A. OBJ shouting down any one that even thinks any thing he doesnt like?
B. The final seccession if Ojukwu doesnt get what he wants, Aso-like palace and the lastest Miss Nigeria to boot?
C. The new constitution being written by my village headmaster, who has never seen what the past constitutions looked like nor witnessed any parliamentary proceedings in his life?

Other questions:
- Who will represent the common man. You now, the agberos and the street touts and the bukateria owners? The cow herders and the dankua hawkers?
- How will these representatives be selected, and how long will it take us to 'accept the results'?
- Where will we hold this event or these series of events? For how long will they run?
- How will we be held accountable to the results?

Dont get me wrong, I believe in the ability of the common man to make sound decisions to rule his lfe. I just dont believe in the ability of the common man to make sound decisions to guide a nation. I have grown very cynical over the last couple of months. On the one hand, I believe in the immense potential of the nation. On the other, I truly believe that Nigeria cannot withstand these pressures that are being placed on her.

Too many of us believe that we can do a better job at the top, instead of focusing on doing a better job at the till, where we are stationed. Even the best of policies cannot change the worst of followership. And there we have it. Nigeria's problem isnt an issue of leadership. It has been transformed into an issue of followership. We blame leaders for not articulating a better vision, while we criticize the little they do. We blame leaders for not supporting sound economic policies, and then criticize them as being too inhumane when they finally arrive.

Damned if you do, damned if you dont in that country. I think we need a civil war.

Originally posted by TruTalk
I just heard the most hilarious news item I've recieved in a long time...the government is going to arbitrate or convene a national conference of ethnicities. Why? Because the hew and cry for such a forum has reached fevered pitch. Who, may I ask, is hewing and crying? None other than our dear Ojukwu, and some other minor characters.

Give me a break.

And somebody remind me again, how is this supposed to work?
A. OBJ shouting down any one that even thinks any thing he doesnt like?
B. The final seccession if Ojukwu doesnt get what he wants, Aso-like palace and the lastest Miss Nigeria to boot?
C. The new constitution being written by my village headmaster, who has never seen what the past constitutions looked like nor witnessed any parliamentary proceedings in his life?

Other questions:
- Who will represent the common man. You now, the agberos and the street touts and the bukateria owners? The cow herders and the dankua hawkers?
- How will these representatives be selected, and how long will it take us to 'accept the results'?
- Where will we hold this event or these series of events? For how long will they run?
- How will we be held accountable to the results?

Dont get me wrong, I believe in the ability of the common man to make sound decisions to rule his lfe. I just dont believe in the ability of the common man to make sound decisions to guide a nation. I have grown very cynical over the last couple of months. On the one hand, I believe in the immense potential of the nation. On the other, I truly believe that Nigeria cannot withstand these pressures that are being placed on her.

Too many of us believe that we can do a better job at the top, instead of focusing on doing a better job at the till, where we are stationed. Even the best of policies cannot change the worst of followership. And there we have it. Nigeria's problem isnt an issue of leadership. It has been transformed into an issue of followership. We blame leaders for not articulating a better vision, while we criticize the little they do. We blame leaders for not supporting sound economic policies, and then criticize them as being too inhumane when they finally arrive.

Damned if you do, damned if you dont in that country. I think we need a civil war.

Uuhhh Uummm! No please! At least not until my hubby gets a visa......

[TruTalk]

You know me, I'm just venting. Some days, the news is overwhelmingly depressing. And then on others, you hear news that affirms some things that the government is doing by way of ICT/Telecommunications, improvements in the infrastructure for commercial agriculture, and Long-term Poverty Alleviation approaches, and there is some respite.

I guess I'm a typical Nigerian: I want the results right now, without really considering that it took us some 15 years to get to where we are, and that it should take us another 15 at least to reverse the damage that has already been done.

On a good note, international bodies are already pressing to make sure that this current economic team and the health team stay on after OBJ leaves, so that there is consistency in our policies. I think it is so imperative. A string of half measures leave us totally bereft of any progress at all. We shall see what the years ahead have to offer.....

[timogose]

OBJ ... Makes peace with Plateau CAN

This is a good development probably initiated by his spriritual advisers. It could be better though if followed up with a national apology for unpresidential speech. But then, is that stretching hope too far?