G8 - Nigeria

There is no good to come out of a conference that allows the major cause of the worlds problems to supposedly suggest realistic solutions. It's like giving the fox the key to the henhouse and suggesting he knows what's best.

L’Aquila, the city symbolising the earthquake that hit Abruzzo on 6 April is the venue for an austere G8 increasingly alive to the issues of natural calamity-related risk prevention, aversion and management. Wouldn't it be history's fate if an Equake were to occur between 8 & 10 July as Heads of State and Government of the member countries hold talks with a view to finding solutions to the main world issues? There are no solutions but education like this one would help us all.

Nigeria has been invited. Yar'Adua was being invited because President Silvio Berlusconi was personally committed to renewing ties between the G-8 and Africa, especially with Nigeria. Italy and the rest of the G8 only care about the benefits of the relationships to their respective countries. The past few decades holds that statement true. The G8 members are not concerned about stripping Africa bare but using it as a launch pad for their ailing economies. G8 2005 attended by OBJ was a memorable one. The outcome?

A MUST SEE movie - HOME

We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth's climate. The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being. Watch this and think change.

Human rights & democracy

48 years of independent bad management as the war in the Niger-Delta rages on. Another celebration of mediocre in a country where prisoners can be jailed for years without court sentences. In Enugu prison, 724 prisoners out of the total prison population of 987 have not been convicted, a contributory factor in the recent mass break out. 10 years of democracy in Nigeria, a milestone no doubt but what are the benefits to the people and at what cost?

How do we measure democracy and socio-economic progress anyway? The concern has always been the difficulty in measuring progress in Human Rights in the form of comparable numerical statistics. There are certain immeasurables that cloud the decisions to help countries that do not grasp the concept of democracy and human rights but look to US dollars as a way of abusing their own people.

Oil War in the Niger Delta

In February 2009 the government of President Umaru Yar’Adua assured the UN Human Rights Council it would refrain from military offensives in the Delta region because of the risk of loss of innocent lives. Civilians are now bearing the brunt of this violence as thousands of villagers displaced and thousands more trapped in the cross fire. Scenes of the unthinkable, Biafra?

Former President Obasanjo wrote the militants off as thugs and criminals but now, a war has broken out against the so-called freedom fighters who insist that the region should control its resources totally. The Federal Government is blaming among many the collaboration of foreign business. There are many questions about this war.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, has said the military operation in the Niger Delta region is aimed at restoring peace in the region. Mr. Bankole described the operation as merely a peace-keeping one. "As far as I am concerned, it is a peace-keeping option, which is going on in the Niger Delta,"

Looking dishevelled, they scrambled for mattresses, food and other relief materials, distributed by officials of the council and staff of the National Emergency Management Authority. They have, literally, become “refugees” in their own country.

Is this how an elected government restores peace with its people? What shocking arrogance and ignorance? War is ugly but those benefiting from it will not just walk away and it is only via the rule of law that this fire must go out. The offensive in the Niger-Delta must stop now before the whole country is lost!

100 Days, Africa & Obama

President Obama has shown in 100 days that the key to leadership is the effective communication of a story. Africa did not feature in "the typical president has two or three big problems. We've got seven or eight big problems. And so we've had to move very quickly" speech. Those Baba Go Slow in Africa had better take heed as he described the Pakistani regime as blind and extremely fragile. US officials have been critical of the Pakistani government but Obama's criticism was sharper, pointing up failures that he said extended throughout the country. Foolish governments everywhere, your re-education start here:-

The Pakistani government's hold on power was weak, he said, because it could not provide basic services to its people -- including education, healthcare and a widely accepted system of law and judicial administration. "And so as a consequence, it is very difficult for them to gain the support and the loyalty of their people." 

No doubt that part of President Obama´s speech had the potential to cause a diplomatic issue but with most of the planet in his defence, what idiot dared showed his claw. Transpose the above to Africa today and wonder why a whole continent was never mentioned. The H1N1 virus mutated from pig, bird and human viruses and now it is everywhere but is Africa prepared for chaos? Nigeria has the potential to become the power house of Africa as Zuma gets his machete ready to slaughter and rape South Africa. Will Africa see a better day?

Kids Photograph Nigeria's Slums

Underprivileged children from a slum in Lagos take part in a photo exhibition to show their day-to-day experience of poverty. 

$1 trillion stimulus to boost world economy!

the IMF is almost out of money.  Now, you may not like the IMF and maybe we can come up with ideas to change the IMF and other global structures, but right now, for helping emerging markets that get into trouble, that's all we've got and they're down to their last $100 billion.  $100 billion in this world right now is not a lot of money.

Where does Nigeria and other emerging cess pits stand in this huge pile of cash? History has shown that regardless of the amount of money pumped into developing countries, the infrastructre remains challenging. Getting the cash is easy but the plans and strategy of using it to develop the so called 3rd world seemed stunned. G20 my left foot. They have allocated $500bn for the IMF to lend to struggling economies but only $100bn to poor corruption ridden ones.

Nigeria does not need daft loans which will end up in Ghana-must-go bags. We can raise the same amount without effort. How about a $100bn levy on multi-nationals on site for bribes, corruption, fake everything and pollution? Evidence suggests it is those multi-nationals we worship that are killing us. While Abuja thinks of re-branding and confirms low talent count, it is those outside the box that might yet help save a country sliding into the abyss.

Abuja National Oil

And if anybody will ask me of the right price of crude oil that will encourage investment, I think $140 per barrel will be appropriate. - The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman

How bad is $140 oil for consumers? In the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, Lukman served as minister of mines, power and steel from 1984 to 1985. In 1986, he was made petroleum minister until February 1990. As top energy advisor to President Obasanjo in 1999, the government on July 6 cancelled 47 offshore E&P licences awarded controversially to local companies since 1995.

In 2009 under President Yar'Adua, the Federal Government now wants to  reform the sector by developing local content in the oil and gas industry. The Nigerian oil industry has been marred by political and economic strife largely due to a long history of corrupt military regimes and complicity of multinational corporations but who controls our national oil? Anyone else concerned?

Good People, Great Nation, Corrupt Government

The good news -- and it is largely good news -- is that everyone has a chance to stand out. Everyone has a chance to learn, improve, and build up their skills. Everyone has a chance to be a brand worthy of remark. - The Brand Called You - Tom Peters

According to the Minister for Information and Communication, Dora Akunyili, the 'Heart of Africa' brand failed because it was driven from abroad and did not meet with the aspirations of Nigerians and the best way forward is with GG and C. So, here we have a Made-in-Nigeria brand but how do we market it? Might a colossal top to bottom effort be required looking at where we are now?

Are we getting the National Assembly we paid for? Have we killed enough militants in the Niger Delta? Electoral reforms in progress? Who you dey call village idiot? Nigeria will not be able to generate enough electricity for its population until at least 2020? Human Rights, who be dat? Health & Education status? If you want people to see you as a powerful brand, act and deliver measurable benefits.

Wanted: Omar al-Bashir - 4 March 09 - Part 1

South African Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu said African leaders are behaving shamefully and dismissed concerns that the court's action would impede promoting peace.

Wanted: Omar al-Bashir - 4 March 09 - Part 2

Now that we have done the murderers lets go after the thieves. 

Obama's Hopeful Economic Speech

listen out for the We have a problem! We fix it! Fellow Nigerians, are you still living THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY?