Before I even get crucified by the behemoth of Governor Fasholas fans let me explain and not try to aggrandize myself I only borrowed the header from the campaign slogan;Fashola is Working,;lagos is working to reflect the present day-rainy season reality.
Lagos state is one of the few states that still gives Nigerians hope. The megacity has been a source of interest for multilateral agencies and foreign governments considering her enormous potentials in driving development in Nigeria and the sub-saharan part of the African continent.
I however must confess that Governor Babatunde Fashola has tried to live it up for Lagosians and the development community, the only fear I have is if all along the efforts made by the governor in the area of infrastructure have not turned out to be counter-productive. Everyone familiar with this month of June in Lagos can bear witness that the rains have hit hard, with flooding in places like Alimosho, where flooding carried a girl who slipped in Igando-Ikotun local council area. Areas like Iyana-Ipaja, Aboru, Abesan Estate, Ikeja and Lekki-Ajah have also had their fair share.
I am forced to be biased about Lekki-Ajah which I would be particular about in this text. The reasons are not farfetched.Lekki-Ajah hold enormous potentials in terms of investment of funds by local investors their foreign counterparts.Lekki-Ajah was also part of the high points of governor Fasholas campaign where he highlighted that the government would embark on a sea-port and an airport. These drew thunderous ovations by hands and words of mouth.
As germane as it should be it is obvious that conditions that guarantee seamless operations to achieve the maximum potential of these initiatives have not been put in place.Firstly, the Lekki-Ajah expressway seemed to have arrived at a quasi-coma. This is either because the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) has not been able to access funds since the work slowed down since the subtle protest of residents of Lekki over taxes scheduled to be collected during the election period. Here administrative efficiency was subjugated for political responsiveness.Secondly; the drainage in Lekki is either non-existent or the poorest in any mega-city. Come to think of it that road is supposed to cost 50 billion naira! The floods have been very enormous, especially in areas like Jakande, Alpha beach road, Igbo-Efon etc many businesses have been at a loss and potential ones would have been warded off. This might even discourage foreign investors if they consider the fact that there is no adequate flood emergency mechanism in Lagos State. Private residences in Lekki get full to the brim with people having to move out for months. It’s beginning to seem that Lekki is a dry season business district, the rainy season is not friendly to business as workers and businesses have a lot to contend with. Something should be done in due time and maybe Hi-Tech is not just up to the task ,they should consult Julius Berger on the latest technologies that the former employed in Akwa-Ibom to control water.
Finally, I make a case for other parts of Lagos like Alimosho,Ikorodu,Abesan etc.The government has greatly neglected these areas all in the guise of addressing infrastructure issues in the areas that are the” Faces of Lagos”-Victoria Island,Ikoyi,Lekki etc. This is injustice as these areas pay Land use charge and all other forms of taxes. Is it that the people living there are second class citizens or can just be deprived of their rights to adequate infrastructure by an unwritten law? The ruling party even gets most of their votes from this areas. Well,I believe there is room for change. The CAN should cut the propaganda and get to real work. They should stop victimising PDP and stop giving Lagosians band-aids.Lagosians should not be made to fund any political party, we demand real infrastructural development and not band aids! I want to import an alibi for Governor Fashola in that he might be lacking in political savvy but he has defied all odds in the past. He has gotten our mandate for another four years. He should increase his momentum in the Lagos he sees and that which we all see-A city of the world’s dreams!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
THE CIVIL SERVICE, JONATHAN AND THE MINISTERS-A PARADIGM OF TRUE DEVELOPMENT
Indeed in recent times the politics of the world has changed. A black man became President in America; the conservatives showed labour the way out of Downing Street and a man from the south-south became the President of the most populous black nation in the world. It can be called somewhat dynamic; it can be seen as miraculous. Miracles happen, but do we act in such a way that the miracles don’t turn into curses in a matter of time.
Goodluck Jonathan was greeted with increased vigour from anarchists in the northern part of the country, the violence led to the death of many and destruction of lives and properties. Let’s say that was a sacrifice, afterwards we still move on with our daily routines expecting things to change! Well it can be said that be can’t develop beyond our capacity but we have elected someone who would make up for many deficiencies we have had overtime, he would be doing this with a group of people called Ministers. These people would be responsible for execution broad and limited government programmes. Debates have emanated and pursued to rigorous ends about how the composition of the cabinet should be made. President Jonathan has made a case for his erstwhile ministers in that it is difficult for a country to pursue programmes effectively if it keeps changing ministers.Briiliant! Mr President, that’s good because since independence we have had one minister running the foreign affairs ministry for an average of two years. How does a country pursue its foreign policy? so Jonathan asked.
My argument is this, Mr President and the ministers the only ones responsible for implementation? They are the arrowheads, agreed.However, I am making a case for director-Generals of ministries and Permanent secretaries of government parastatals.I think this people are more influential and key to the development of this country. We should cast our net to this area and get an x-ray machine to address the fractured areas. The civil service needs reforms and people heading them must be viewed closely. The media should also try to be more insightful in setting agenda because I was wondering why everyone felt it’s just Jonathan and a handful of appointees that can work the miracle. The civil service has 60percent of the role to play. Go to government institutions and verify peoples attitude to work, some are just waiting for pension and allowances. Most don’t even develop capacity again because government business is not their fathers business. I think the civil service should be run like private sectors where you get what you deserve.
It’s very painful that not only politicians are responsible for our shortcomings. While we complain about them we should look at the poor attitude to work by some of us in the civil service and our communities. The civil service has a major role to play indeed. They know the weakness, they alone. The ministers are just political fulfilments in our setting.
Let’s ask ourselves when we got something important seamlessly from a government parastatal or whether the quality of service in government parastatals is delivered with utmost professionalism. Do we think the developed countries didn’t know what they where up to by reducing government functions in areas critical to their national existence.
The truth is simple for true development, reduction in bureaucratic bottlenecks and adequate service delivery to be available the Civil Service must be drastically reformed!
Goodluck Jonathan was greeted with increased vigour from anarchists in the northern part of the country, the violence led to the death of many and destruction of lives and properties. Let’s say that was a sacrifice, afterwards we still move on with our daily routines expecting things to change! Well it can be said that be can’t develop beyond our capacity but we have elected someone who would make up for many deficiencies we have had overtime, he would be doing this with a group of people called Ministers. These people would be responsible for execution broad and limited government programmes. Debates have emanated and pursued to rigorous ends about how the composition of the cabinet should be made. President Jonathan has made a case for his erstwhile ministers in that it is difficult for a country to pursue programmes effectively if it keeps changing ministers.Briiliant! Mr President, that’s good because since independence we have had one minister running the foreign affairs ministry for an average of two years. How does a country pursue its foreign policy? so Jonathan asked.
My argument is this, Mr President and the ministers the only ones responsible for implementation? They are the arrowheads, agreed.However, I am making a case for director-Generals of ministries and Permanent secretaries of government parastatals.I think this people are more influential and key to the development of this country. We should cast our net to this area and get an x-ray machine to address the fractured areas. The civil service needs reforms and people heading them must be viewed closely. The media should also try to be more insightful in setting agenda because I was wondering why everyone felt it’s just Jonathan and a handful of appointees that can work the miracle. The civil service has 60percent of the role to play. Go to government institutions and verify peoples attitude to work, some are just waiting for pension and allowances. Most don’t even develop capacity again because government business is not their fathers business. I think the civil service should be run like private sectors where you get what you deserve.
It’s very painful that not only politicians are responsible for our shortcomings. While we complain about them we should look at the poor attitude to work by some of us in the civil service and our communities. The civil service has a major role to play indeed. They know the weakness, they alone. The ministers are just political fulfilments in our setting.
Let’s ask ourselves when we got something important seamlessly from a government parastatal or whether the quality of service in government parastatals is delivered with utmost professionalism. Do we think the developed countries didn’t know what they where up to by reducing government functions in areas critical to their national existence.
The truth is simple for true development, reduction in bureaucratic bottlenecks and adequate service delivery to be available the Civil Service must be drastically reformed!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
WHY CHINA MAY FALL
For a while I pondered on the successes of the emerging economies, rising out of the ashes to compete with America, United Kingdom and other European powers.Brazil,India,China and Russia indeed have achieved a feat.
Of all Chinas success is unique. It operates a communist system of government and managed to care for a large population. Just second to America with promises of being the next power, China has proven to be beyond the phenomenon of being phenomenal. That’s the current reality.
Citing these milestones may be easy, saying otherwise with facts may be painful; after all a good number of left wing Marxists would have been quick to rejoice over the possibility of overthrowing capitalism. The bottom line is Chinas success maybe short-lived. Why?
Internal democracy is non-existent in China, in recent time’s Tibetan monks and some Mongolia citizens have made dissenting positions such that the government had to suppress them with force. Remember the Tiananmen Square? It lives in the memories of people but the power of the barrel of the gun still holds sway and it is the most powerful according to Chairman Mao-Pioneer of the communist party in China. According to feelers some members of the communist party are aware of this and have made arrangements such as buying houses abroad and getting their passports ready so that they can travel once the bubble bursts like it did in old USSR.
Demographically China has been very fortunate over the years with a large population of young people yesteryears China has been able to enjoy demographic dividends. Today the young people are now old and the likelihood of replacing them is dim. Thanks to the one child per family policy. It cannot be overemphasized that the once young people were the one of the major pillars holding the Chinese state. With rising wages and rising prices of food, China still has pension issues to contend with when these crop of old people retire. The only option is to extend retirement age like France did. Given the forceful nature of their government this is possible, but for how long?
Chinese policy is not far reaching unlike the capitalist club. Africa can be polygamous by befriending China, but not permanently.Africas true husband is the west. With the romance between America and India, with the promise of a United Nations council sit to India, China and Russia’s anti-western mien would be adjusted. India has been giving out aids to other countries, China has only been investing. If it was you who would you dance to? The former I guess.
Media power is little on Chinas side of the divide. The west’s greatest power is the media. Even Al-Jazeera still sets their agenda for them. Who are the real allies of China? Iran? Russia? Even Cuba has started reforms. Let’s hope China does same, otherwise she would or might wake up on the other side of old USSR.
Of all Chinas success is unique. It operates a communist system of government and managed to care for a large population. Just second to America with promises of being the next power, China has proven to be beyond the phenomenon of being phenomenal. That’s the current reality.
Citing these milestones may be easy, saying otherwise with facts may be painful; after all a good number of left wing Marxists would have been quick to rejoice over the possibility of overthrowing capitalism. The bottom line is Chinas success maybe short-lived. Why?
Internal democracy is non-existent in China, in recent time’s Tibetan monks and some Mongolia citizens have made dissenting positions such that the government had to suppress them with force. Remember the Tiananmen Square? It lives in the memories of people but the power of the barrel of the gun still holds sway and it is the most powerful according to Chairman Mao-Pioneer of the communist party in China. According to feelers some members of the communist party are aware of this and have made arrangements such as buying houses abroad and getting their passports ready so that they can travel once the bubble bursts like it did in old USSR.
Demographically China has been very fortunate over the years with a large population of young people yesteryears China has been able to enjoy demographic dividends. Today the young people are now old and the likelihood of replacing them is dim. Thanks to the one child per family policy. It cannot be overemphasized that the once young people were the one of the major pillars holding the Chinese state. With rising wages and rising prices of food, China still has pension issues to contend with when these crop of old people retire. The only option is to extend retirement age like France did. Given the forceful nature of their government this is possible, but for how long?
Chinese policy is not far reaching unlike the capitalist club. Africa can be polygamous by befriending China, but not permanently.Africas true husband is the west. With the romance between America and India, with the promise of a United Nations council sit to India, China and Russia’s anti-western mien would be adjusted. India has been giving out aids to other countries, China has only been investing. If it was you who would you dance to? The former I guess.
Media power is little on Chinas side of the divide. The west’s greatest power is the media. Even Al-Jazeera still sets their agenda for them. Who are the real allies of China? Iran? Russia? Even Cuba has started reforms. Let’s hope China does same, otherwise she would or might wake up on the other side of old USSR.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
JEGAS ELECTION DILEMMA:BEHIND THE SCENES
National Assembly elections which were supposed to hold on 2nd April,2011 were cancelled due to the problems of logistics and irregularities which could have undermined the credibility of the elections.Many have called Professor Jega several names such as Just Elect Goodluck, Jonathan Ebele Goodluck Azikiwe etc.It is a shame in the West-African sub-region,Africa and in the international community.
However,if you were in Jegas shoes what would you do?Jega is like the proverbial Soyinka or Tai Solarin,national heroes ho refused to sit on the fence,hence took appointments to serve their fatherland.Till dates the appointments have been used as reference points to soil their characters.Jega has a lot in common with them;they were activist,intellectuals with good reputations and most important the institutions which they controlled were sabotaged by selfish elements purposely and consciously through regular acts of corruption.Such is Jegas case.
Jega truly must be joking to think that his name would remain intact easily after this elections.There were rumours of misleadings in printing of AC and ACN with the broom logo just to mislead voters and dividing votes of ACN.Materials and personnel also were not available in some areas.Some names were also missing from the registers.Who is to blame?Jega of course,if we are to follow the management paradigm that the buck stops at his table.We must also rule out the roles of eroded values,lack of professional in federal institutions and the arduous task of managing a weak institution like INEC.Above all we must not rile out the lukewarm attitude of everyone towards a Sovereign National Conference,where we-all Nigerians, would rewrite our social contract,because as we read we don't have one.At best we all dont have a true intent of staying together as a nation.Some portion of the ruling elite have their own contract;to suck the country dry at the peril of the common man.At least they have an agreement.What is the agreement of the civil society and the masses?Nothing with cohesion,I guess.
To cut the chase only true federalism can solve this problem.If true federalism is in place there wont be so much desperation to win elections because the abundant oil money at the federal money wont be in place.there would be fiscal responsibility and the money used to fuel corrupt political machineries wont be enough.These leviathan politicians would wither and accountability at all levels would increase.Governance would reach the grassroots easily and and political consciousness would increase.What is the relevance of this to the Jega dilemma?To conduct credible elections we need strong institutions,this inevitably is made up of people with values; I dont think we have this in place.We have majority with uniformed or eroded values which translate to availability of weak institutions.
The only way out is a true sovereign national conference,a consequent adoption of true federalism,if we are to end this Jaga-Jaga republic.In the words of Pat Utomi ;''We must pull down this democracy,its not working" Truly we must pull it down and rebuild.
We must bear it in mind that the masters are at it again,they wont let Jega organize credible elections.It is now obvious that we don't only need strong men; we also need strong institutions.Fellow Nigerians,we are the ones to build these institutions.This is not Ghana,our case is more complex.We have to campaign and call for true federalism and write a social contract.If we cant do that one million jegas cant beat the masters.We would have to endure for another four years as usual and complain on facebook,twitter and other social media platforms.We would only protest in vain,because we refuse to elicit the right actions.
Th right action is a Sovereign National Conference.If not don't blame Jega, behind the scenes the masters are behind his dilemma
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