Nigeria Government Aid... Needs Accountability

The president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, at the Nuclear Security Summit, in 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This article is a powerful illustration of yet another shortcoming that exists in President Goodluck Jonathan government of Nigeria. While I applaud the government for finding ways to attempt to provide support for those that are affected by tragedy, they are going about it in a very ineffective manner.

 

The first problem is that they are looking to provide financial support (Ref: http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/04/25/jonathan-shares-n5-7-billion-to-victims-of-2011-post-election-violence/ ) for individuals who experienced tragedy during the  post-election violence of 2011, over two years ago. While I am sure these individuals can use the money now, why has it taken this long for the government to extend the aid?

 

Another significant flaw I see is the tracking of this aid. In Nigeria there is no public database that consistently accounts for individuals ( Ref: http://chiedufelix.blogspot.com/2011/06/national-crisis-nigeria-country-without.html ). I am referencing a system of social security numbers like are used in the US and other civilized countries. While I know there are flaws with respect to the social security number system, in the US, it is a fairly effective way of tracking the identities of individuals. It seems as though anyone can come forward and claim to be part of these tragedies in Nigeria. While this is reducing the amount of aid available to those who truly deserve it, it also invites dishonest people to cash in on the tragedies of others.

 

In the developed countries and the US there are federal protections that are put into place immediately for individuals that are victims of natural disasters, terrorist attacks, etc. These individuals receive monetary relief, housing assistance, mortgage protections, etc. The aid is able to be dispersed in a timely, organized manner that ensures that it “lands in the correct hands.”

 

Another disturbing part of this story is that Nigeria has to borrow substantial money with respect to infrastructure improvements. Why is the government not planning ahead? There should be money allotted for each area of the budget. The government shouldn’t have to borrow for certain items while paying for others. Who decides what to pay for? Are the funds guaranteed from one year to the next? Are there any planning and organizational efforts surrounding government spending and allocation or are these merely “fly by the seat of the pants ideas?”

 

I continue to worry about many of the problems that exist in Nigeria. The government spending seems to be up to the whim of the current administration. Where are the checks and balances? Who is regulating the spending? Who is monitoring the revenue? I believe that it is imperative that the citizens of Nigeria demand fiscal accountability for their country. 

Amnesty For Terrorists... The Nigerian Government's Strategy

We live in a world in which terroristic attacks (both domestic and international) are all too common. The US government has worked relentlessly to pursue individuals that choose to commit these horrific acts. These individuals are held accountable to the highest extent of the law. The US government unremittingly pursues Justice for these acts.

 

 

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols are responsible for the Oklahoma City bombings that occurred on April 19, 1995. These bombings claimed 68 lives, including 19 children under the age of 6 and injured more than 680 people. Nichols is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. McVeigh was executed in June of 2011.

On December 25, 2009 Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate plastic explosives on a Northwest Airlines flight. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the attempted murder of 289 people.

James Eagan Holmes is currently awaiting sentencing for his actions. On July 20, 2012 Holmes killed 12 and injured 58 in a shooting spear inside an Aurora, CO theater.

The above examples are simply a sampling of the approach the government takes to pursuing justice against those that commit these horrible acts of terrorism. Unfortunately, the Nigerian government does not embody the same pursuit of justice. It sickens me to know that the Nigerian government brokers deals with Boko Haram terrorists ( Ref. link: Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan Names Boko Haram Amnesty Committee Members http://t.co/RlXD8pXir5  ). The deals that they broker are not plea bargains, they are in fact offers of amnesty. This is absurd and frankly inexcusable. The Nigeria government of President Goodluck Jonathan takes the stance that in order to stop the Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb affiliates in Northern Nigeria and other terrorism from occurring, they need to offer the terrorists amnesty. To me this action, not only promotes new and current terroristic individuals and groups to continue with these violent actions, it also sends a message to the families of victims that they don’t matter…that the government doesn’t care about the lives lost.

The Nigerian government needs to significantly change their practice. They must fully pursue terrorist activities. They must hold those responsible accountable and punish them to the fullest extent of the law.

Presidential Duty & The Boston Marathon Terror

Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with the people of Boston today. I would like to commend President Obama on his immediate response to this horrific act. While Americans should be able to expect the response from the president yesterday, this is not the same for Nigerians. Regardless of the political party or who is the president when crisis arises, our President Barack Obama and others before him always responds.

 

 

In Nigeria, there is often no acknowledgment regarding crises that occur. The only time that the President Goodluck Jonathan visits victims that are injured seems to occur only when it is of benefit to the President. As president you are supposed to be serving the citizens of the country. Being visible and paying respects as well as offering support is a major responsibility that must not be taken lightly. I would implore the President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria to study the actions of President Barack Obama as well as our USA past presidents to learn how to respond. It is your duty and responsibility!

Jude Agbaso... Pocket Padder



English: Map locator of Nigeria. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Deputy Governor of Imo state Nigeria, Jude Agbaso has crossed our radar for almost two weeks. One of the duties of Jude Agbaso is serving as Commissioner of Works. In his position Jude Agbaeso is responsible for awarding contracts for government work. It seems as though Jude Agbeso is using his governmental authority to pad his own pocket. This is very disturbing. Jude Agbaso solicits and accepts kickbacks from companies to ensure that they are the ones who are awarded the contracts. This action is despicable. What is even more outrageous is that his actions are well known. By the way Jude Agbaso has an outstanding felony warrant in the US for fraud. He fled before he was able to be apprehended.

The system of awarding contracts needs a serious overhaul. It is essential that the decision to award a contract is based on the best value for the government versus the largest kickback that the government official can obtain. The system for obtaining contracts should follow a process similar to the one outlined below.

Jude Agbaso Deputy Governor Imo State Nigeria

 

1.      The scope of the project should be advertised

2.      Companies can submit proposals for fulfilling the project

3.      The company names will be removed

4.      A panel of individuals (with various experiences) will review all of the bids

5.      The panel will chose the proposal which best meets the needs of the work being proposed

This process ensures that multiple perspectives are used when choosing the company to provide the work. This process also ensures that a company is chosen based on quality versus their connections or other ties they may have.

I implore Governor Rochas Okorocha to take two actions immediately.

1.                  Stop defending Jude Agbaso’s actions

2.                  Fully cooperate with the investigation and provide all information as requested by the review panel

Joel Brinkley: Nigeria's squandered opportunity

Just outside President Goodluck Jonathan's office sat 17 ambulances, just in case he or one of his aides fell ill. They were seldom if ever used.

No actual health-care facility nationwide had as many, and in fact a few still have none at all. But as soon as a Nigerian newspaper took a photo of the ambulances and published a story about them, they suddenly disappeared -- probably to an underground garage.

Jonathan is president of Nigeria, which should be among the world's most prosperous nations. After all, it produces an estimated 2.4 million barrels of oil each and every day. With oil now selling at $93.61 a barrel, that's $224 million in income daily. And yet many hospitals can't afford to buy an ambulance. The reason, in my view: Nigeria is the most corrupt nation on earth.

Sure, Transparency International lists almost three dozen states as more corrupt -- Chad, Haiti, Laos, Yemen, Cambodia and the like. But are any of those nations as wealthy as Nigeria -- taking in $81 billion annually, just from the sale of oil? No, not even one of them. So Nigeria steals and squanders more money than any other nation, making it the world's most corrupt, by that measure.

Nigerian journalist Musikilu Mojeed finds all this so discouraging.

"With its geopolitical power, economic resources and middle class," he laments, "no country (with the possible exception of Saudi Arabia and Egypt) has the power to change the course of black/African civilization like Nigeria." After all, Nigeria is Africa's most populous state -- and large, twice the size of California.

So Nigerians are living an opportunity squandered -- particularly now. Egypt is in turmoil. In just the last few days, in fact, many Egyptians have been calling for a military coup -- anything to rid the state of its widely despised Muslim Brotherhood government. And a new report by the World Economic Forum ranked Egypt the least safe and secure tourist destination among 140 tourist nations evaluated.

Egypt has lost its place as the Arab/African worlds' leader, and Saudi Arabia never had it. So for Nigeria, the time is ripe. But its leaders seem interested only in stealing the state's money to make themselves rich beyond imaging. Think about it: $81 billion a year just from the oil, while most every local government official still tells his people the nation just doesn't have enough money to fix the roads, schools or hospitals. (Roads are in such terrible shape that government officials generally travel any distance by helicopter.)

And Nigeria's people -- well, they are as mistreated as any on earth. In only nine nations -- among them Liberia, Sierra Leone and Somalia -- do more mothers die during childbirth. And in only 10 states, including Chad, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, is the average life expectancy lower. Right now the average Nigerian's average life span ends at 52. That may be why the median age of Nigerians is just 18.

A few months ago, the Economist Intelligence Unit published an evaluation of the best places for babies to born in 2013, given their probable welfare as children and the chance for a safe, comfortable, prosperous life. Switzerland, Australia and Norway were the top three. The United States came in at 16th, largely because "babies will inherit the large debts of the boomer generation."

Dead last: Nigeria. "It is the worst place for a baby to enter the world in 2013," the report said.

Even with all that wealth, only just over half the population has access to clean drinking water, and one-third to a toilet, UNICEF says. Two-thirds live below the poverty line. Only one child in four who contracts pneumonia is given antibiotics, and only about half the population is literate.

The CIA also cites endemic "soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water pollution." All this in a county whose gross domestic product stands at $236 billion a year, in the same league as Denmark, Chile, Israel and the United Arab Emirates -- prosperous, successful states to be envied.

Goodluck Jonathan is certainly aware of all of this. After all, taking the oath of office, he swore to "devote myself to the service and well-being of the people of Nigeria. So help me God."

Well, just last week he demonstrated who he really is and what he stands for when he pardoned a former state governor who'd been convicted of embezzling state funds and laundering the money. That pardon triggered a broad, angry uproar.

Good luck, Mr. Jonathan. It's time you were impeached.

(Joel Brinkley is the Hearst professional in residence at Stanford University and a Pulitzer Prize-winning former correspondent for The New York Times.)

Copyright © 2013, Tribune Media Services

Republicans…the New Democrats?

There has been much buzz surrounding the Republican Party as of late. Eric Cantor seems to have transformed his viewpoints. His new messaging on Immigration and Gun Control seems to be eerily familiar. It seems to be leaning Democrat. The Republicans are finally seeing that they are not relatable to the vast majority of Americans. In order for Republicans to sustain their future, they must transform their party views. It is essential to stop blocking important measures and changes that need to be made simply based on political partisanship. A call to all of our government elected officials, start taking action to bring about the changes that need to be made in our country. It is important to work together for the greater good rather than fighting for the sake of partisanship. Cantor you are on the right track…thanks for being a positive role model for your colleagues.

 

More articles on Conservatives / Republican ideology:                                      Romney/Ryan...Really? - http://chiedufelix.blogspot.com/2012/08/romneyryanreally.html                                             Republican Presidential Candidates Clueless On Immigration? - http://chiedufelix.blogspot.com/2012/02/republican-presidential-candidates.html

Advocacy Begins with You

For most of us reading this blog, we are able to advocate for ourselves.  We are able to provide a quality life for ourselves. We are able to maintain income to live within a general area of comfort. This is unfortunately not the case for much of society in Nigeria. In Nigeria the "have's" work to not only support a quality standard of life for themselves, they also work to ensure that the "have not's" stay in their place.  

Many of the "have not's" are our friends, cousins, brothers, sisters, and even our parents. Some "have not's" may even comprise some of our readership. It is our responsibility to advocate for those that are not able to advocate for themselves. We need to give a voice to the "have not's." It is unacceptable for individuals to be treated with disregard for human life. It is time to end the genocide and abuse that exists in Nigeria. We are here to give a voice to the voiceless and to be advocates for those that are unable to advocate for themselves.  

 

 

You may be asking how can I be an advocate for my fellow Nigerians. We must elect individuals to our government that are going to make decisions based upon what's right, rather than based upon who is lining their pockets. We must place individuals in power that are not afraid to challenge the status quo, that are not afraid to stand up and say this treatment and oppression will no longer be tolerated.

While this may seem like a daunting task, I assure you, it is highly attainable. As a united front we can put the individuals in power that will make for a better tomorrow in Nigeria, that will instill hope and assurance in our young people, and that will make decisions based upon what is right, because that is simply the right thing to do!  

This work will by no means be easy or be popular. We will be bullied and intimidated by the haves. Anytime you take away power from those that have it (whether they should have it or not) it is all out war. We will be dumping gasoline onto an already vibrant fire. While the process will be daunting and some may not rise to the challenge, we cannot afford to wait. We must step up on behalf of the have not's and make a better life for all.

It is easy to talk about, write about or lecture about the change that is needed. What is truly needed is a total transformation. Nigeria needs to be re-structured from the top to the bottom. This will take bold actions by those that are in power. It is essential that we step up to seek governmental positions. Once in those positions, we must tirelessly work to transform Nigeria. It is essential that there are no “sacred cows.” Everything must be analyzed. In a time of re-structuring and re-building chaos may ensue. Trust that this is an essential part of the process. Trust that it will get better. Most importantly trust that transformation must happen. The future of Nigeria lies in the hands of the change makers. While we did not create the corruption and problems that exist in Nigeria…if we sit back and continue to do nothing, the problems will still exist in 10, 15, 20 years and then it will absolutely be our fault. We sat back, we watched it happen, and we agreed to allow the status quo to be perpetuated. This behavior is unacceptable. Nothing will change without our actions!