Reconciling Feminism, culture, religion and Women Rights
Feminism is a social movement, which is predominantly, but not exclusively, associated with Western middle-class academia, it is a movement, according to its proponents that provide a critical understanding of various religious concepts, beliefs, and rituals, as well as of religion as a cultural institution that defines sanctions, and sometimes challenges gender roles and gender-inflected representations. It is an ideology that receives little or no attention in cultured and religious societies. Most people avoid discussing it or find it very difficult to arrive at compromising position especially since its proponents associate it with the rights of women, gender [in] equality, in our society. The idea is very sensitive that sometimes it causes heated debate between those advocating for women rights/feminists on one hand, and those who feel that women are adopting a wrong channel in advancing what they assume as their right.
In a mostly patriarchal society like ours, the issue of feminism is looked upon with suspicion, not only from men, but even women themselves. This is basically because the idea was an adaptation of women struggle which originated from the Seneca Fall Convention of 1848 in the United States of America where women protested against the ill-treatment and abuse of women by drunken husbands and achievement of their legitimate rights in marriage, control of property and earnings and equal pay with men for the same work.
Some scholars however attributed its rise with the rise of Marxism, one of the reason advance by this school of thought was that Marxism was a theory basically directed towards labour issues, consequently, the woman was an essential part in the rise of labour power and it was necessary to take her out of the house and to the labour market.
In reality this is not so, Feminism gained ground mostly in Western Europe and United States as a branch of Liberation Movements of 1960s and 70s in America. In 1970, a group of women staged a demonstration in New York to oppose what they termed as the way society determines role by sex. They stated their opposition to marriage; promote lesbianism and same sex marriages, etc. Today, women in the developing world have adopted the ideology and trying to introduce it to our society – a society that inherited good social values, respect for the family unit and sanctity of the marriage institution.
The concept was either misunderstood by the women promoting it or they deliberately mixed it with the struggle for women rights. The ideology is ambiguous, confusing not only to a person observing events from far, but even to the core women groups who are advocating for women rights. Talk to anyone of them, they will tell you; women are marginalised, the society does not respect women, women are maltreated, denied opportunities to live a purposeful life etc. But ask them how these can be tackled, it is then that you will come to know that they are just fighting a course that has no meaning even to themselves.
Those who have anything to say will attribute the problem to a mindset and a general perception which according to them the society has on the place of women in our society. I always ask myself this question; why do we always prefer to live on day-dreaming and continue advocating for lofty ideals that are hardly found anywhere in real world? With this kind of mindset, who suffers? Women of course.
Change in itself has a pattern and it is wrong and indeed very wrong to assume that you can change a society by condemning its long-aged cultural practices. Do we have to be told that there are things wrong with the way our society treats women? Or for how long can we continue to entertain preaching from a brain washed women who think that the only good way of life is one designed and packaged by a so-called free women of the Western world?
And when we want to talk of rights of women we quickly jumped to condemn an existing cultural practice, for example female circumcision, or the traditional role of a woman of taking care of children, early marriage etc. What message are we sending? Is that how to convince somebody to change from his bad practices to good ones, if at all the one you are presenting are better?
A typical example is a debate that ensued between me and a women rights activist, last week. In the first place she failed to differentiate between women rights activism and feminism. Most of them have this problem. I told her that feminism is like a religion, though most feminists are of the opinion that the two can work together, the question is how? Feminism completely rejects religious beliefs and in some instances questioned the authority of all revealed books. While religions especially our two religions advocate for instance to reflect on all issues presented in the Holy Books, the religions also warned against the questioning of revealed verses or having doubts in their authority.
Feminists attack the teaching of all revealed religions; from this point of view, the question of the equality of men and women is meaningless. Our religions make a clear distinction between ‘masculinity’ and ‘femininity’. To try changing that is like trying to discuss the equality of a rose and a jasmine. Each has its own perfume, colour, shape and beauty. Men and women are not the same. Each has particular features and characteristics. Women are not equal to men. But neither are men equal to women, and to try and make them the same is as ridiculous as trying to make the earth and the universe the same. Nature envisages their roles in society not as competing but as complimentary. Each has certain duties and functions in accordance with his or her nature and constitution.
But this is what most of them don’t want to hear. In fact, some might dismiss this as another point of view from an unrepentant male chauvinist, who sees nothing good from women. Why should I be so? I asked myself. I was born by a woman and I am very proud of her because it is because of my mum that I reach where I am today. My mother is a proud woman in my village, because she is an achiever. But who am I to measure achievement of a woman by the children she trained to be productive in the society?
A lady from one of the South- Western State of Nigeria once asked me; Why it is that all the women that were not caged in marital homes are successful here in Northern Nigeria? Before answering her question, I reframed it this way; why it is that despite being ‘free’ only a handful of women are ‘successful’ in Southern Nigeria? This is the kind of mindset most of the have. To them success is measured by material or worldly things a woman acquires.
This mindset can be attributed to lack of proper guidance, wrong kind of education and ego which most of them have. I read somewhere a very good analogy by a scholar on this issue of culture, feminism and religion. The scholar said, ‘take, for instance, the case of a clever merchant who is earning high profits by dint of his intelligence, hard-work and experience. But at the same time, if he is given to drink, gambling and leads a care-free life, will it not be misleading to regard that side of his life as contributing to his well-being and prosperity?’ It is very wrong to assume that because a woman decides to be a full house wife, stay at home and take care of her husband – cook for him and their children, train them, then she is a failure, as it is wrong to assume that only career women are successful. Each of the two categories is a choice that has to be respected.
All human cultures known to man throughout prehistoric and historic times make a definite clear-cut distinction between “masculinity” and “femininity” and patterned the social roles of men and women accordingly. The disintegration of the home and family, the loss of the authoritarian role of the father and sexual promiscuity have been directly responsible for the decline and fall of every nation where these evils become prevalent. And whether we accept it or not our failure as a nation can be attributed in one way or the other in the disintegration of the family unit, which every scholar of history will tell you, is responsible for the decline and failure of a nation.
And even in the West, where this idea originated, the idea is very recent, for instance read family chronicles of the famous German artist, Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) who, although a devout Christian, presents a picture of his own home life as very close to Islamic ideals. All who knew him testified that Durer led a honourable Christian life – a life that respects culture, moral, spiritual and family values. Despite the evil of feudalistic society and the abuses of the authority of the priesthood, medieval Europe enjoyed a social integration, stability, peace and harmony which is unknown to modern Europe and Durer represented a clear picture of what Europe was, before it was taken over by this Liberalist concept of freedom.
Liberalism which crept into Western Europe came with so many movements (including feminism, etc.) that erode what was known as fundamentals of family unit, upon which the society was built, establishing in its place a social order founded on materialism and greediness. A system with a deep attraction because it was shrouded with lofty ideals that have appeals for man greed, one need not to raise the level of human intelligence or make any sacrifice for its sake. One requires no altruism or endurance. One need only drift with the “times.” History bears witness to the fact that no social order has so persistently come to have its sway over humanity as it has done.
You will agree with me that there is no time that moral corruption and social decadence menaced mankind on such a universal scale as is the case now, but who cares? As An Nadawi rightly put it, ‘the adoption of feminist ideals degrades humans lower than the animals. For animals live by their instincts and cannot do anything opposed to their nature. Among animals, homosexuality is unknown. The male is only attracted to the female of its own species. The male animal never goes with lust to another male or a female to another female. Among animals, the maternal relationship is completely severed as soon as the young are able to look after themselves. In most species, the father takes no interest in its offspring. There is no such thing as modesty, chastity, marriage or filial ties among beasts. These concepts are unique with human beings. They are found in every culture at every stage of civilization and history.’
As I wrote somewhere, whenever these issues are raised they are usually painted such that even discussing them becomes a taboo. Men are afraid to discuss them because they are afraid not to be termed male chauvinist, religious scholars are afraid of being called religious bigots and so on. But for how long shall we continue to avoid these issues that are very fundamental to our lives. There is need for us to sit down and address these issues squarely. This is more than renting an office building in Abuja, Lagos or Kaduna or organising seminars, workshops which are attended by people who in the first place are not there to contribute into arriving at practical solutions, but are aiming for the monetary gain attached to it.
Therefore, as we try to advocate for the rights of women, we have to bear in mind that we also have a responsibility of protecting the sanctity of our families and the society in which we live. Before accepting any ideology or any ism for that matter, one need to unwrap it and check its contents, not only that, but he/she should also put it on scale vis-à-vis his/her cultural, religious and societal values. Feminism from its beginning to the end has nothing to do with advocating for women rights. The whole idea of feminism to me is a way to portray a woman as defined by morally bankrupt Hollywood, that sees a woman as nothing more than a mere sex object, created to satisfy man’s sexual lust.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State,
Nigeria.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Gaza Cease Fire, Propaganda and the Hypocrisy of Arab Leaders
In the dying days of 2008 and the early weeks of 2009, the world stood and watched an intense and round-the-clock attack by air, land and sea, by the Zionist state of Israel on the Gaza enclave, where we witnessed a horrible massacre of innocent, armless people of Palestine, an event or atrocity that can only be compared to the genocide in Rwanda or Bosnia Herzegovina, in which thousands of people were murdered in cold blood. The three weeks Israel bombardment of the most densely populated enclave on earth has been described as the most inhumane act human beings have ever witnessed in modern history.
Israel, we were told has no option but to murder armless civilians, including women, old men and children in order to ‘defend’ itself from the continuous rocket attacks launched by the "terrorist" Hamas group against its civilian population. Had it been Israel is a respecter of human right, democracy and the sovereignty of its neighbours, nobody would have opposed their response to Hamas rocket attacks upon ‘its’ territory. But we all know, Israel is far from that, therefore, whatever Oulmert, Barak or Livni would tell us is just a repetition of what was said during the Shatila refugee camp massacre, which even Western journalists who are mostly sympathetic to Israel have no option but to condemn.
However, is this the truth of the matter or is it only a sketch, a partial sentence chosen from a lengthy paragraph and removed from a broader context that would paint a completely different picture of the whole issue? Hamas, just to remind you, won an election in Palestine described as the most democratically election ever, however, the same people calling Hamas a ‘terrorist’ organisation refused to recognise the government. Media critics, peace activists, religious figures, and Middle East experts, argue that the crisis in Gaza and Palestine is as a result of failure of the Arab leadership who 99% of them are not democratically elected, therefore cannot tolerate a legitimate government, elected by people in their midst.
Up to the time of writing this piece, nobody claim, either in the West or within the Arab nations of any type of irregularities in the 2006 election which saw the emergence of Hamas as victorious, the only reason given for the refusal to accept the result was that Hamas is an extremist organization which they felt cannot be accepted. Rather than searching ways to find a lasting solution, the West under the former US President George Walker Bush decided to isolate Hamas. They stopped financial assistance to Palestine as a punishment on the Palestinian people for electing a government of their choice. Israel on its part imposed a blockade on the strip thereby putting the 1.5m people in a worst humanitarian crisis in history. Was this not ironic? Considering the fact that the US has spent billions of dollars, to export their form of democracy to Iraq?
There is no telling in the kind of atrocities committed in the occupied territory since the carving of Israel in 1948, many Palestinians including school children have been murdered, tortured to death, starved to death, others were maimed and injured for life by brutal Israeli army. Others are still languishing in Israel prison. Many of the victims are average citizens on their way to work or to school, while others are involved in protests against occupation. Only a handful were armed–do you blame Hamas or any other armed Palestinian organisation for trying to protect their motherland and their families from daily assault by one of the powerful army in the world? Or put yourself in their shoes; What will you do today if an occupying force raid your house kill your mother and your father, rape your sister, destroy the house in which you live?
The question is why are all Arab leaders silent while the massacre was going on? And why are they always in disagreement over helping the people of Palestine? Why Arab leadership is always disorganised? Why?
Some Arab states and their leaders like Syria repeatedly criticise Israel's actions, but they have little or nothing to do, neither Israel nor United States will listen to them. However, for some Arab states like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan it is extremely difficult for them to accept or recognise Hamas, talk less of supporting them in the recent violence. This is largely because it is deeply troubling for them to do so. Hamas contested an election in 2006 which was regarded as the fairest and freest elections ever to take place in the Arab world. Therefore, it is better to allow Israel to deal with Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza for them, for daring to choose democracy in place of dictatorship.
Arab leaders whether in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE or Egypt would never accept any democratic government in the Middle East, doing that will expose them and open an avenue for their citizen to rise and demand for democratic reforms. On their part, the West especially the US prefers to deal with the dictatorial regimes than to allow democracy to flourish because of their interests in the region. If not because of that, how would you explain the attitude of the West and US towards dictatorial regimes in Syria, Sudan, and Iraq under Saddam with others like Jordan, UAE, Egypt or Kuwait?
What the crisis in Gaza did was not only exposing the double standard of the West and US in dealing with the Middle East crisis but has also exposed the hypocrisy of the Arab leaders in dealing with the Palestinians on one hand and Israel on the other. The Israeli invasion of the strip also opens a new chapter in its relationship with its neighbours. As most analyst observed, the crisis gave Hamas a long time victory as did the Israel/Hezbullah war in 2006. The crisis discredits the Abu Mazen unpopular government, expose the double standard of the West, especially the US and provide Hamas with additional support not only from Palestinians but also other people around the world, including those who were seeing the movement as a terrorist group.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,KM 25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State,
Nigeria.
kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
In the dying days of 2008 and the early weeks of 2009, the world stood and watched an intense and round-the-clock attack by air, land and sea, by the Zionist state of Israel on the Gaza enclave, where we witnessed a horrible massacre of innocent, armless people of Palestine, an event or atrocity that can only be compared to the genocide in Rwanda or Bosnia Herzegovina, in which thousands of people were murdered in cold blood. The three weeks Israel bombardment of the most densely populated enclave on earth has been described as the most inhumane act human beings have ever witnessed in modern history.
Israel, we were told has no option but to murder armless civilians, including women, old men and children in order to ‘defend’ itself from the continuous rocket attacks launched by the "terrorist" Hamas group against its civilian population. Had it been Israel is a respecter of human right, democracy and the sovereignty of its neighbours, nobody would have opposed their response to Hamas rocket attacks upon ‘its’ territory. But we all know, Israel is far from that, therefore, whatever Oulmert, Barak or Livni would tell us is just a repetition of what was said during the Shatila refugee camp massacre, which even Western journalists who are mostly sympathetic to Israel have no option but to condemn.
However, is this the truth of the matter or is it only a sketch, a partial sentence chosen from a lengthy paragraph and removed from a broader context that would paint a completely different picture of the whole issue? Hamas, just to remind you, won an election in Palestine described as the most democratically election ever, however, the same people calling Hamas a ‘terrorist’ organisation refused to recognise the government. Media critics, peace activists, religious figures, and Middle East experts, argue that the crisis in Gaza and Palestine is as a result of failure of the Arab leadership who 99% of them are not democratically elected, therefore cannot tolerate a legitimate government, elected by people in their midst.
Up to the time of writing this piece, nobody claim, either in the West or within the Arab nations of any type of irregularities in the 2006 election which saw the emergence of Hamas as victorious, the only reason given for the refusal to accept the result was that Hamas is an extremist organization which they felt cannot be accepted. Rather than searching ways to find a lasting solution, the West under the former US President George Walker Bush decided to isolate Hamas. They stopped financial assistance to Palestine as a punishment on the Palestinian people for electing a government of their choice. Israel on its part imposed a blockade on the strip thereby putting the 1.5m people in a worst humanitarian crisis in history. Was this not ironic? Considering the fact that the US has spent billions of dollars, to export their form of democracy to Iraq?
There is no telling in the kind of atrocities committed in the occupied territory since the carving of Israel in 1948, many Palestinians including school children have been murdered, tortured to death, starved to death, others were maimed and injured for life by brutal Israeli army. Others are still languishing in Israel prison. Many of the victims are average citizens on their way to work or to school, while others are involved in protests against occupation. Only a handful were armed–do you blame Hamas or any other armed Palestinian organisation for trying to protect their motherland and their families from daily assault by one of the powerful army in the world? Or put yourself in their shoes; What will you do today if an occupying force raid your house kill your mother and your father, rape your sister, destroy the house in which you live?
The question is why are all Arab leaders silent while the massacre was going on? And why are they always in disagreement over helping the people of Palestine? Why Arab leadership is always disorganised? Why?
Some Arab states and their leaders like Syria repeatedly criticise Israel's actions, but they have little or nothing to do, neither Israel nor United States will listen to them. However, for some Arab states like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan it is extremely difficult for them to accept or recognise Hamas, talk less of supporting them in the recent violence. This is largely because it is deeply troubling for them to do so. Hamas contested an election in 2006 which was regarded as the fairest and freest elections ever to take place in the Arab world. Therefore, it is better to allow Israel to deal with Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza for them, for daring to choose democracy in place of dictatorship.
Arab leaders whether in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE or Egypt would never accept any democratic government in the Middle East, doing that will expose them and open an avenue for their citizen to rise and demand for democratic reforms. On their part, the West especially the US prefers to deal with the dictatorial regimes than to allow democracy to flourish because of their interests in the region. If not because of that, how would you explain the attitude of the West and US towards dictatorial regimes in Syria, Sudan, and Iraq under Saddam with others like Jordan, UAE, Egypt or Kuwait?
What the crisis in Gaza did was not only exposing the double standard of the West and US in dealing with the Middle East crisis but has also exposed the hypocrisy of the Arab leaders in dealing with the Palestinians on one hand and Israel on the other. The Israeli invasion of the strip also opens a new chapter in its relationship with its neighbours. As most analyst observed, the crisis gave Hamas a long time victory as did the Israel/Hezbullah war in 2006. The crisis discredits the Abu Mazen unpopular government, expose the double standard of the West, especially the US and provide Hamas with additional support not only from Palestinians but also other people around the world, including those who were seeing the movement as a terrorist group.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,KM 25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State,
Nigeria.
kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
Friday, January 16, 2009
Akko LGA
SHOULD AKKO LGA CONTINUE LIKE THIS.
Permit a space in your widely read newspaper to comment on my local government of origin. First of all I am proud to be an indigene of Akko LGA.The local councils can burst of having illustrious sons that in any place can be proud of. The likes of Dr Sulaiman Kumo of blessed memory, the Danjuma Gojes, Alhaji Saidu Umar Kumo, Dr Aliyu Modibbo etc etc. However, quite unfortunate, since its creation the local council has not made any effort in transforming the vast local council into what its sons and daughters will be proud of. Akko LGA is a vast land starting from Wuro Dole in the West bordering Kirfi LGA in Bauchi State to Billiri LGA about 100 KM. It also covers from Garin Galadima or Dumbe in the South to Liji in the North. But this vast local government was not lucky to have leaders that will use its numerous resources to develop it. In fact, worst of all, the present administration is busy pursuing its political opponents by stopping there salaries or threatening to dismiss them from service.
This attitude will not take the local government anywhere. This will even lead to resentment and total lost of confidence from the populace. The local government political elites have to do away with their political differences and come together to salvage the local government from its present predicament. There are so many villages that do not have even a primary school and there are some for instance in Zongomari village that draw water from a well using their cattle. Is that not something that the local council should focus on, instead of victimizing their perceived political opponents? Will that not derive away other sons and daughters away from the LGA whose service will be extremely useful to the people? Please I would like to use this opportunity to call on our elders of Akko LGA to forget their political differences and help the local council move forward.
Particularly, the state governor Dr. Muhammad Danjuma Goje and the FCT Minister Dr. Aliyu Modibbo to shun their political differences and help our teeming youth who abandoned farming, going about from this politician house to another in what is known as KJK {kafan ka jarin ka} to demand for money.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawnti village,
KM 25 along Gombe to Bauchi Road,
Akko Local Government Area,
Gombe State
Permit a space in your widely read newspaper to comment on my local government of origin. First of all I am proud to be an indigene of Akko LGA.The local councils can burst of having illustrious sons that in any place can be proud of. The likes of Dr Sulaiman Kumo of blessed memory, the Danjuma Gojes, Alhaji Saidu Umar Kumo, Dr Aliyu Modibbo etc etc. However, quite unfortunate, since its creation the local council has not made any effort in transforming the vast local council into what its sons and daughters will be proud of. Akko LGA is a vast land starting from Wuro Dole in the West bordering Kirfi LGA in Bauchi State to Billiri LGA about 100 KM. It also covers from Garin Galadima or Dumbe in the South to Liji in the North. But this vast local government was not lucky to have leaders that will use its numerous resources to develop it. In fact, worst of all, the present administration is busy pursuing its political opponents by stopping there salaries or threatening to dismiss them from service.
This attitude will not take the local government anywhere. This will even lead to resentment and total lost of confidence from the populace. The local government political elites have to do away with their political differences and come together to salvage the local government from its present predicament. There are so many villages that do not have even a primary school and there are some for instance in Zongomari village that draw water from a well using their cattle. Is that not something that the local council should focus on, instead of victimizing their perceived political opponents? Will that not derive away other sons and daughters away from the LGA whose service will be extremely useful to the people? Please I would like to use this opportunity to call on our elders of Akko LGA to forget their political differences and help the local council move forward.
Particularly, the state governor Dr. Muhammad Danjuma Goje and the FCT Minister Dr. Aliyu Modibbo to shun their political differences and help our teeming youth who abandoned farming, going about from this politician house to another in what is known as KJK {kafan ka jarin ka} to demand for money.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawnti village,
KM 25 along Gombe to Bauchi Road,
Akko Local Government Area,
Gombe State
NIS Recruitment
Lessons from the NIS Recruitment Exercise
Desperate for job and strong desire to earn a decent living is what cost over twenty young Nigerian men and women their lives across the nation. This was as a result of rigorous physical exercise they undergo during the just concluded Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment exercise. The exercise which over 130,000 candidates turned out to participate all over the country was to fill-in 1,200 slots required by the NIS to beef up its staff strength. It is still unclear why these young men and women were subjected to such unhealthy situation just because they want to serve their fatherland.
The exercise slated for 6am when the weather is generally conducive could not start in some places like Kaduna till 2pm, by which time the weather was very hot and humid. Long waiting, exertion and hunger coupled with dehydration caused some of the recruits to slump during the drilling which consequently led to the death of others. The exercise in Enugu claimed three lives as candidates struggled to force themselves into the examination premises. According to one of the victims who spoke to BBC, Chikaodili Okeke, the prospective immigration men were told to make it to the Federal Government College Enugu, from government secretariat in 20 minutes. Said she ‘but on reaching there we found the gates closed. In a struggle to open the gates chaos ensued and from that time I don’t know what happened. The only thing I can remember was that I fell down’.
The highest number of casualties was recorded in Kaduna State . A total number of eight candidates have been reported dead. during the military-styled drilling. Eye witnesses said that the candidates were left under the blazing sun, eight hours before the commencement of the recruitment exercise. Amidst very humid and hot weather, the candidates were subjected to a military-styled drilling which include a 2.3 kilometre marathon race, which is to be completed at a specific time. Responding to newsmen, on the number of casualties recorded the comptroller of Immigration Service in Kaduna State , Alhaji Yusuf Mohammed Bawa, said that military-styled drilling and long distance running is routine exercise during recruitment of paramilitary. According to him only one casualty is recorded adding that ‘we normally warn them to ensure their fitness before coming for the exercise’. However, what most relatives of the victims were complaining about was the way the recruits were left for so many hours before the commencement of the exercise without food or water.
In Bauchi and Delta five people are reported dead during the exercise. The four that lost their lives in Delta failed to make the long race which started from Federal College of Education (technical) Asaba to Stadium as early as 7am. While the victim in Bauchi died after undergoing the rigorous exercise.
The Saturday’s immigration recruitment exercise is a cause for concern to all and sundry as this is the first time in the history of this nation that a recruitment exercise claimed so many lives. It is unfortunate and regrettable that young men and women would be sent to their early graves for a sin they never committed. Their only fault was opting for a legal way of earning a living. Although the NIS claimed that it warned the prospective candidates to ensure they are physically fit for the exercise before applying, notwithstanding the NIS ought to have make adequate preparation to avoid such a disaster. Had it been the NIS made provision for first aid and ambulances they should have save so many lives. Yours sincerely believes that government had provide enough money for the successful conduct of this exercise but someone somewhere in the chain helped himself with the money putting other peoples lives in danger.
It is unfortunate that we are living in country where people don't accept the responsibility of their wrong doings. If it is in a country where leaders are more concern about the welfare of their citizens, somebody would have accepted responsibility and resign, but trust our leaders up to this moment nobody either from the NIS or the interior ministry is telling us what actually went wrong talk less of claiming responsibility. Our hope is that the National Assembly will set-up a powerful committee to fully investigate this matter and punish those responsible. This incident will also serve as a lesson for other paramilitary institution to seriously re-visit the way recruitment exercise are conducted in order to avoid the repeat of the Saturday’s disaster.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,
km25 along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko L.G.A
Gombe state
Desperate for job and strong desire to earn a decent living is what cost over twenty young Nigerian men and women their lives across the nation. This was as a result of rigorous physical exercise they undergo during the just concluded Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment exercise. The exercise which over 130,000 candidates turned out to participate all over the country was to fill-in 1,200 slots required by the NIS to beef up its staff strength. It is still unclear why these young men and women were subjected to such unhealthy situation just because they want to serve their fatherland.
The exercise slated for 6am when the weather is generally conducive could not start in some places like Kaduna till 2pm, by which time the weather was very hot and humid. Long waiting, exertion and hunger coupled with dehydration caused some of the recruits to slump during the drilling which consequently led to the death of others. The exercise in Enugu claimed three lives as candidates struggled to force themselves into the examination premises. According to one of the victims who spoke to BBC, Chikaodili Okeke, the prospective immigration men were told to make it to the Federal Government College Enugu, from government secretariat in 20 minutes. Said she ‘but on reaching there we found the gates closed. In a struggle to open the gates chaos ensued and from that time I don’t know what happened. The only thing I can remember was that I fell down’.
The highest number of casualties was recorded in Kaduna State . A total number of eight candidates have been reported dead. during the military-styled drilling. Eye witnesses said that the candidates were left under the blazing sun, eight hours before the commencement of the recruitment exercise. Amidst very humid and hot weather, the candidates were subjected to a military-styled drilling which include a 2.3 kilometre marathon race, which is to be completed at a specific time. Responding to newsmen, on the number of casualties recorded the comptroller of Immigration Service in Kaduna State , Alhaji Yusuf Mohammed Bawa, said that military-styled drilling and long distance running is routine exercise during recruitment of paramilitary. According to him only one casualty is recorded adding that ‘we normally warn them to ensure their fitness before coming for the exercise’. However, what most relatives of the victims were complaining about was the way the recruits were left for so many hours before the commencement of the exercise without food or water.
In Bauchi and Delta five people are reported dead during the exercise. The four that lost their lives in Delta failed to make the long race which started from Federal College of Education (technical) Asaba to Stadium as early as 7am. While the victim in Bauchi died after undergoing the rigorous exercise.
The Saturday’s immigration recruitment exercise is a cause for concern to all and sundry as this is the first time in the history of this nation that a recruitment exercise claimed so many lives. It is unfortunate and regrettable that young men and women would be sent to their early graves for a sin they never committed. Their only fault was opting for a legal way of earning a living. Although the NIS claimed that it warned the prospective candidates to ensure they are physically fit for the exercise before applying, notwithstanding the NIS ought to have make adequate preparation to avoid such a disaster. Had it been the NIS made provision for first aid and ambulances they should have save so many lives. Yours sincerely believes that government had provide enough money for the successful conduct of this exercise but someone somewhere in the chain helped himself with the money putting other peoples lives in danger.
It is unfortunate that we are living in country where people don't accept the responsibility of their wrong doings. If it is in a country where leaders are more concern about the welfare of their citizens, somebody would have accepted responsibility and resign, but trust our leaders up to this moment nobody either from the NIS or the interior ministry is telling us what actually went wrong talk less of claiming responsibility. Our hope is that the National Assembly will set-up a powerful committee to fully investigate this matter and punish those responsible. This incident will also serve as a lesson for other paramilitary institution to seriously re-visit the way recruitment exercise are conducted in order to avoid the repeat of the Saturday’s disaster.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,
km25 along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko L.G.A
Gombe state
Sudan and ICC
Al Bashir and the Politics Of War Crimes
Sudan, the largest country in Africa and once regarded as the potential breadbasket of the Arab world, has in its over fifty years of independence been devastated by a series of civil wars and internal turmoil that threatened its survival. Again, the country is in headlines, this time, not of civil wars but of its aftermath. The International Crimes Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant on President Omar Al-Bashir. The ICC has advanced reasons for this: accusations of human rights violation in the Darfur region of Sudan. The move was, according to the African Union Commission, through its Chairman Mr. Jean Ping is 'pouring fuel on the fire'. The AU is trying 'to extinguish the fire, the ICC put more oil in the fire'. He said. Provincial governor, Osman Mohammed Youssef said ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has a 'wicked political stance aiming at cutting the ongoing efforts to solve Darfur's issue peacefully' adding that Sudan is not a signatory of the ICC and the court has no jurisdiction over Sudan, its people or government. The civil war in the Darfur region, no doubt, is adjudged one of the worst humanitarian crises in history. But can the latest move by the ICC (that is the attempt to arrest the Sudanese President) help in resolving the crisis? Invariably, no! The actions of the ICC and the reluctance of the United Nations, African Union and the Arab League to bring the war to an end, represent the usual double standards of international players when it affects poor countries. The conflict in Darfur and the crimes against humanity, represent a shameful episode in the history of mankind. It is not long ago, in 1992 and 1994, under the watchful eyes of the United Nations (UN) and the world Super Powers, that innocent, armless civilian were massacred in Bosnia and Rwanda. Equally disgraceful is how this conflict is politicised by Britain and the United States using their powerful media. For instance, the US Congress passed a resolution, on June 22, 2004 declaring that the violence in Sudan was state-sponsored genocide. In October 2006, former President of the US, George W Bush signed it into law as Darfur Peace and Accountability Act. However, the UN, after thorough investigations, came out, in early 2005, to declare that although both the government of Sudan and militias were systematically abusing civilians in the Darfur region, it insisted no genocide had taken place. If UN could declare the war was not genocide, then, on what premise does the ICC arrive at the latest decision? Probably, the US Congress' biased resolution that was purely political. Automatically, the ICC's highest observance of fairness and due process on this note has failed. It has also exposed the double standard which the West represents in dealing with third world countries. The war crimes committed in Iraq and Afghanistan by occupying forces still remains worse than what obtains in Darfur or anywhere in the world, probably worst than the atrocities committed by the Nazis in World War II. However, the ICC does not see these as relevant as to issue an arrest warrant on Former US President, Bush or former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Human rights organizations in the West also failed to even for once condemn the killing of innocent civilians including women, children and the old in Iraq or Afghanistan. And, up to this day, the violations of human rights in Guantanamo, Abughuirab and Haditha were not publicly condemned by any of these agencies. But these same agencies were very quick to pass judgment on a war that is regarded as an internal crisis of a sovereign nation. Unlike the events in Iraq, where a sovereign nation was invaded on false accusations and official deception, the crisis in Sudan is an internal local conflict in which various tribes and communities fight each other in order to have control over the natural resources in the area. In Iraq, the US and British military are directly involved in the killing and maiming innocent civilians. The Sudanese president is alleged to have been involved in supporting the Janjaweed militias' atrocities on Darfur civilians. The civil war in Sudan is no different from any other ethnic or tribal conflict that happened in DR Congo, Uganda, Liberia or Sierra Leon. National security in any nation is paramount. A responsible government can go to any length to ensure the security of its national borders. It is understandable therefore for Sudan to go to any length to ensure the protection of live and property of its citizens. No responsible government can allow terrorists to hold it hostage. The ICC does not deem it fit to declare an arrest warrant on the Congolese President, Joseph Kabila, despite evidence of human right violations in the country's long civil war. Equally, no comment came from the ICC or humanitarian organizations on the situation in Somalia where innocent lives were killed by Ethiopian invading troops. They entered Somalia without mandate from the AU or UN and committed various forms of atrocities against innocent Somalis. The crisis in Darfur region of Sudan can only be resolved when external forces - the U.S. and Britain especially - stop meddling in the country's affairs. But due to political and economic interest in Darfur, this could be difficult, because there are countries that benefit from the present crisis in the region. They will not allow peace to reign in the region. Sudan has become a victim of international politics being played for over a century when Britain and Egypt fought over the country for 57 years. After its independence in 1956, the country was faced with internal political wrangling, from an army coup in 1958, to rebels' insurgence in South of the country in 1966. In 1976, the then President Numeiry survived a coup attempt masterminded by former Finance Minister Hussein AlHindi and former Prime Minister Sadik al-Mahdi, both in exile. Some 2000 heavily-armed civilians infiltrated into Khartoum and Ondurman. In 1981, the country faced the biggest industrial unrest where 43,000 workers participated in support of a pay claim.
Before the present crises in Darfur, a 19 years old ravaged the country untill a cease-fire was achieved between the then rebel's leader John Garang and the Sudanese government. Nobody will support oppression, dictatorship and holding a country for ransome by a single individual, but in a situation where the international community prefers to selectively punish some criminals and allow others to go free does not speak well for organisation that claims to be neutral.
The ICC/ El Bashir saga like any other brings to light the usual hypocrisy of major international actors when dealing with poor countries.
Kabiru Danladi. Lawanti Village, KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road, Akko LGA, Gombe State. kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
Sudan, the largest country in Africa and once regarded as the potential breadbasket of the Arab world, has in its over fifty years of independence been devastated by a series of civil wars and internal turmoil that threatened its survival. Again, the country is in headlines, this time, not of civil wars but of its aftermath. The International Crimes Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant on President Omar Al-Bashir. The ICC has advanced reasons for this: accusations of human rights violation in the Darfur region of Sudan. The move was, according to the African Union Commission, through its Chairman Mr. Jean Ping is 'pouring fuel on the fire'. The AU is trying 'to extinguish the fire, the ICC put more oil in the fire'. He said. Provincial governor, Osman Mohammed Youssef said ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has a 'wicked political stance aiming at cutting the ongoing efforts to solve Darfur's issue peacefully' adding that Sudan is not a signatory of the ICC and the court has no jurisdiction over Sudan, its people or government. The civil war in the Darfur region, no doubt, is adjudged one of the worst humanitarian crises in history. But can the latest move by the ICC (that is the attempt to arrest the Sudanese President) help in resolving the crisis? Invariably, no! The actions of the ICC and the reluctance of the United Nations, African Union and the Arab League to bring the war to an end, represent the usual double standards of international players when it affects poor countries. The conflict in Darfur and the crimes against humanity, represent a shameful episode in the history of mankind. It is not long ago, in 1992 and 1994, under the watchful eyes of the United Nations (UN) and the world Super Powers, that innocent, armless civilian were massacred in Bosnia and Rwanda. Equally disgraceful is how this conflict is politicised by Britain and the United States using their powerful media. For instance, the US Congress passed a resolution, on June 22, 2004 declaring that the violence in Sudan was state-sponsored genocide. In October 2006, former President of the US, George W Bush signed it into law as Darfur Peace and Accountability Act. However, the UN, after thorough investigations, came out, in early 2005, to declare that although both the government of Sudan and militias were systematically abusing civilians in the Darfur region, it insisted no genocide had taken place. If UN could declare the war was not genocide, then, on what premise does the ICC arrive at the latest decision? Probably, the US Congress' biased resolution that was purely political. Automatically, the ICC's highest observance of fairness and due process on this note has failed. It has also exposed the double standard which the West represents in dealing with third world countries. The war crimes committed in Iraq and Afghanistan by occupying forces still remains worse than what obtains in Darfur or anywhere in the world, probably worst than the atrocities committed by the Nazis in World War II. However, the ICC does not see these as relevant as to issue an arrest warrant on Former US President, Bush or former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Human rights organizations in the West also failed to even for once condemn the killing of innocent civilians including women, children and the old in Iraq or Afghanistan. And, up to this day, the violations of human rights in Guantanamo, Abughuirab and Haditha were not publicly condemned by any of these agencies. But these same agencies were very quick to pass judgment on a war that is regarded as an internal crisis of a sovereign nation. Unlike the events in Iraq, where a sovereign nation was invaded on false accusations and official deception, the crisis in Sudan is an internal local conflict in which various tribes and communities fight each other in order to have control over the natural resources in the area. In Iraq, the US and British military are directly involved in the killing and maiming innocent civilians. The Sudanese president is alleged to have been involved in supporting the Janjaweed militias' atrocities on Darfur civilians. The civil war in Sudan is no different from any other ethnic or tribal conflict that happened in DR Congo, Uganda, Liberia or Sierra Leon. National security in any nation is paramount. A responsible government can go to any length to ensure the security of its national borders. It is understandable therefore for Sudan to go to any length to ensure the protection of live and property of its citizens. No responsible government can allow terrorists to hold it hostage. The ICC does not deem it fit to declare an arrest warrant on the Congolese President, Joseph Kabila, despite evidence of human right violations in the country's long civil war. Equally, no comment came from the ICC or humanitarian organizations on the situation in Somalia where innocent lives were killed by Ethiopian invading troops. They entered Somalia without mandate from the AU or UN and committed various forms of atrocities against innocent Somalis. The crisis in Darfur region of Sudan can only be resolved when external forces - the U.S. and Britain especially - stop meddling in the country's affairs. But due to political and economic interest in Darfur, this could be difficult, because there are countries that benefit from the present crisis in the region. They will not allow peace to reign in the region. Sudan has become a victim of international politics being played for over a century when Britain and Egypt fought over the country for 57 years. After its independence in 1956, the country was faced with internal political wrangling, from an army coup in 1958, to rebels' insurgence in South of the country in 1966. In 1976, the then President Numeiry survived a coup attempt masterminded by former Finance Minister Hussein AlHindi and former Prime Minister Sadik al-Mahdi, both in exile. Some 2000 heavily-armed civilians infiltrated into Khartoum and Ondurman. In 1981, the country faced the biggest industrial unrest where 43,000 workers participated in support of a pay claim.
Before the present crises in Darfur, a 19 years old ravaged the country untill a cease-fire was achieved between the then rebel's leader John Garang and the Sudanese government. Nobody will support oppression, dictatorship and holding a country for ransome by a single individual, but in a situation where the international community prefers to selectively punish some criminals and allow others to go free does not speak well for organisation that claims to be neutral.
The ICC/ El Bashir saga like any other brings to light the usual hypocrisy of major international actors when dealing with poor countries.
Kabiru Danladi. Lawanti Village, KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road, Akko LGA, Gombe State. kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369
Democracy As Africa's Burden
DEMOCRACY AS AFRICA ’S BURDEN
Kabiru Danladi
For the past three months Zimbabwe remains in the headlines of most western media after the controversial March 29 elections. As a country Zimbabwe went through so many hurdles that few African countries experienced. In the early 1970s the country went through a lot of crises as a result of dictatorial white minority rule. In 1974 when most of its neighbors especially Mozambique and Angola attained power shift as a result of a coup de tat in Portugal , which was then colonizing the two countries, Zimbabwe was devastated by revolutionary armed struggle by Africans in quest for freedom. The power shift in these two countries put more pressure on the then autocratic regime of Ian Smith to negotiate with the joint revolutionary forces of Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU). Sensing the dangers, the British government, (the country’s colonial masters) began deliberations for settlement with the Africans.
Although a Unilateral Independence (UDI) was declared by the dictatorial regime of Ian Smith, which claimed to be democratic, persecution of the black majority continued. On the other hand the joint military of ZAPU and ZANU intensified their antigovernment guerilla activities causing ‘destruction, economic dislocation, casualties, and a slump in white morale’. Realising he was defeated Ian Smith sought for settlement with the revolutionary forces. Therefore, a meeting was convened between the two parties; the Patriotic Front, consisting of ZAPU and ZANU on one hand, and the Zimbabwe Rhodesia Government under Bishop Muzorewa and Ian Smith. The meeting which took place at Lancaster House in London , ended biracial rule and an agreement was reached on December 21 of the same year, on the terms of Independence Constitution, and that elections should be supervised under British authority to enable Zimbabwe ( Rhodesia ) to proceed to legal independence and the parties to settle their differences by political means.
During the transition period nine political parties took part in the elections, which were conducted on 27-29 February 1980. Under British supervision and other hundreds of observers a free and fair elections were conducted. The results of the elections gave ZANU-PF party, under Robert Gabriel Mugabe victory. The rest is history.
Although Mugabe critics especially British and their American friends tried as much as possible to down play this important historical fact, the present crises in Zimbabwe are very much connected with what happened in Lancaster House. Most people are convinced that Mugabe has overstayed his welcome, but we need to remind ourselves that Mugabe is not the longest serving leader in Africa . It was his fallout with the west due to his ‘controversial’ land reforms that earned him the title of the most hated African leader in the west, especially by these two members of the U.N. Security Council that is Britain and U.S. It is important to note that when Mugabe came to power his major priorities were to integrate the various armed forces in the country, reestablish social services and education in rural areas, and resettle the estimated million refugees and displaced persons. But of all his priorities none attract attention like reversing the past discriminatory policies in land distribution, education, employment and wages. However, land distribution issue, which I want to believe, is the bone of contention gave way to the British to raise so many issues including the recent ‘democratization’ and ‘human right’ in Zimbabwe. It is equally important to note that before the present crises in Zimbabwe , the country was one of the most successful countries in Africa and it was Mugabe who achieved that. However, his fallout with his masters Britain and the U.S in the 1990 resulted in change in their relationship.
The two super powers used their positions in the United Nations to sponsor resolutions that imposed numerous sanctions on the country. This led to the total collapse of the county’s infrastructure and consequently destroying the country’s economy altogether, which at present reaches about 2,200,000% inflation rate. The motive of the super powers of punishing Zimbabweans is simple; Zimbabwe or Mugabe should consolidate power, allow ‘free and fair’ elections and hand over power to the opposition MDC. Although to any discerning mind the sincerity of the motive is questionable, because of the hypocritical nature of the west in promoting democracy, especially in developing countries. One need not to be told for him to be convinced on this, because of the fifty six independent African countries only few can burst of having a genuine democratically elected government, and even where such a government exist you need not to ask how fraudulent the elections were.
Whereas a country like Gabon is headed by lone dictator for over forty years, no single country in the west talks about regime change in that country. And Gabon is not alone on this. There are countries like Egypt where Mubarak’s government detains and persecutes opposition at will attracts little or no attention from the self acclaimed promoters of democracy. This is also the same in countries like Ethiopia , Tunisia , Cameroun and many countries. This act led some analysts and political commentators to doubt the west’s seriousness especially Britain and the U.S. about promoting democracy and development in Africa . Even in countries where there are assumed democratic government the level of development in those countries is more or less no different from the other so-called dictatorial regimes. This lack of development and the persistent poverty and hunger in the continent, raises so many questions as to whether we need western styled democracy to develop or solve our problems. Why does the west impose on Africa their own way of life despite difference in culture and historical background? How compatible is western styled democracy to Africa ? Why many countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America succeeded despite abandoning western styled democracy? Does western styled democracy brings about the much desired change and development in human and material resources most of us expected?
Africa’s experience with western styled democracy since independence in 1950s and 60s is that of regrets and disappointments, because the system failed to meet the yearnings and aspiration of Africans. Western styled democracy is an ideology and system that is shrouded with lofty ideals and catchphrases like freedom, equity, representation, empowerment, participatory development etc.etc, which are nonexistent in real practical terms. In western styled democracy we are made to believe that rulers are accountable and answerable for their actions. In other words, citizens can be able to monitor the actions of their rulers and participate effectively in choosing and regulating their actions. We are told that the system makes society open and the economy transparent as possible. Thus, creating a social order, justice and equity in sharing resources. In reality these lofty ideals start and end in theory books. They are far from what obtained in virtually all the ‘democratic’ societies especially here in Africa .
The inception of democracy in most African states brought hopes and expectations to many Africans, but these hopes and expectations are dashed few years afterwards. Failed promises are what followed, and then stories of public funds stealing, hunger, poverty, civil wars and HIV/AIDS become major headlines in most of African dailies. Suddenly Africans realized that the much desired change expected does not come with democracy. The question is that; do we need the western styled democracy to achieve what the west has achieved in their countries or do Africans have other options?
History has taught us that quite a number of countries including those countries in Western Europe had at one time abandoned democracy – (in strict western definition of the term), to what they felt was best for them at that particular time. Surprisingly those countries today are the leading industrial nations in the world. A good example is Spain , which in 1931-39 realizing the country was not going anywhere; the democratic republic of Spain was replaced with a paternal dictatorship which stamped out all opposition. The democratic system could not work because of deep poverty and social conflicts over resources. Franco’s dictatorship developed Spain (turned it into the 9th industrial power on earth), and in year 1975-96, the country re-modeled as a democracy. If a country at the heart of Europe could abandon democracy to look for a better future for its citizens, what is it that is stopping Africa to do same?
The biggest problem the African continent faces today is not of dictatorship or sit-tight rulers, but of greedy neo-colonial elites whose sole aim is to satisfy the interest of Western imperialists. There is after all examples of sit-tight rulers elsewhere who transformed their countries to fanciful economic success. People like Fidel Castro, Dr. Mahathier Mohammed, Suharto, the leaders in Singapore , Thailand and Vietnam are very good example.
In recent years Russia becomes a very good example of countries that chose to abandon the western styled democracy and in few years the country was able to come out of its economic and social crisis of the 1990s. The emergence of Vladimir Putin as Russia ’s president in 2000 ushered in new hopes for mother Russia . Under Putin , Russia was neither democratic or dictatorship, like most countries of the world it has a ramshackle authoritarian system with some democratic trappings (some of which are meaningful). His style of leadership was generally condemned by the West as dictatorial but received acceptance from the Russians. His eight-year rule brought economic stability, improved living standard of ordinary Russians and gave the country a new voice at the world stage, a role she lost since 1990.
Many people attributed his success with his high-handedness and his experience in the KGB. The Soviet KGB was a huge institution, with massive personnel who are extremely committed to the Russian project. Unlike their African counterparts, Russian leaders are a group of committed, patriotic and dedicated individuals. In just eight years they were able to re-transform the Russian nation back to its former glory. Distinguishing democracy as a means and democracy as a goal, they were able to create a dynamic society with over 20-25 % of the Russian society qualifying as middle class. On the other hand, Africa ’s story is a bleak one. Over half a century after independence, African society is still grappling with poverty, hunger and diseases. Majority of Africans live below the poverty line, and corruption remains the main issue. Therefore, it is wrong for anybody to see the problems of Africa from a single country perspective. It is indeed very wrong to think that Zimbabwe ’s problems is an isolated case, it is not. As long as these neo-colonial elites remain in power, we will continue facing same problems. It is either elections violence in Kenya , persecution of opposition in Ethiopia and Egypt , Darfur crisis in Sudan or Niger-Delta crisis in Nigeria . Western styled democracy has become a burden for African nations and their leaders. Until the continent is able to solve its problems by proffering solutions from African perspective, I am afraid even in the next hundred years the continent will remain what it is - a dark continent.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, km25,
Along Gombe to Bauchi Road ,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State,
Nigeria.
0805 454 6764 or 0803 515 0369
Kabiru Danladi
For the past three months Zimbabwe remains in the headlines of most western media after the controversial March 29 elections. As a country Zimbabwe went through so many hurdles that few African countries experienced. In the early 1970s the country went through a lot of crises as a result of dictatorial white minority rule. In 1974 when most of its neighbors especially Mozambique and Angola attained power shift as a result of a coup de tat in Portugal , which was then colonizing the two countries, Zimbabwe was devastated by revolutionary armed struggle by Africans in quest for freedom. The power shift in these two countries put more pressure on the then autocratic regime of Ian Smith to negotiate with the joint revolutionary forces of Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU). Sensing the dangers, the British government, (the country’s colonial masters) began deliberations for settlement with the Africans.
Although a Unilateral Independence (UDI) was declared by the dictatorial regime of Ian Smith, which claimed to be democratic, persecution of the black majority continued. On the other hand the joint military of ZAPU and ZANU intensified their antigovernment guerilla activities causing ‘destruction, economic dislocation, casualties, and a slump in white morale’. Realising he was defeated Ian Smith sought for settlement with the revolutionary forces. Therefore, a meeting was convened between the two parties; the Patriotic Front, consisting of ZAPU and ZANU on one hand, and the Zimbabwe Rhodesia Government under Bishop Muzorewa and Ian Smith. The meeting which took place at Lancaster House in London , ended biracial rule and an agreement was reached on December 21 of the same year, on the terms of Independence Constitution, and that elections should be supervised under British authority to enable Zimbabwe ( Rhodesia ) to proceed to legal independence and the parties to settle their differences by political means.
During the transition period nine political parties took part in the elections, which were conducted on 27-29 February 1980. Under British supervision and other hundreds of observers a free and fair elections were conducted. The results of the elections gave ZANU-PF party, under Robert Gabriel Mugabe victory. The rest is history.
Although Mugabe critics especially British and their American friends tried as much as possible to down play this important historical fact, the present crises in Zimbabwe are very much connected with what happened in Lancaster House. Most people are convinced that Mugabe has overstayed his welcome, but we need to remind ourselves that Mugabe is not the longest serving leader in Africa . It was his fallout with the west due to his ‘controversial’ land reforms that earned him the title of the most hated African leader in the west, especially by these two members of the U.N. Security Council that is Britain and U.S. It is important to note that when Mugabe came to power his major priorities were to integrate the various armed forces in the country, reestablish social services and education in rural areas, and resettle the estimated million refugees and displaced persons. But of all his priorities none attract attention like reversing the past discriminatory policies in land distribution, education, employment and wages. However, land distribution issue, which I want to believe, is the bone of contention gave way to the British to raise so many issues including the recent ‘democratization’ and ‘human right’ in Zimbabwe. It is equally important to note that before the present crises in Zimbabwe , the country was one of the most successful countries in Africa and it was Mugabe who achieved that. However, his fallout with his masters Britain and the U.S in the 1990 resulted in change in their relationship.
The two super powers used their positions in the United Nations to sponsor resolutions that imposed numerous sanctions on the country. This led to the total collapse of the county’s infrastructure and consequently destroying the country’s economy altogether, which at present reaches about 2,200,000% inflation rate. The motive of the super powers of punishing Zimbabweans is simple; Zimbabwe or Mugabe should consolidate power, allow ‘free and fair’ elections and hand over power to the opposition MDC. Although to any discerning mind the sincerity of the motive is questionable, because of the hypocritical nature of the west in promoting democracy, especially in developing countries. One need not to be told for him to be convinced on this, because of the fifty six independent African countries only few can burst of having a genuine democratically elected government, and even where such a government exist you need not to ask how fraudulent the elections were.
Whereas a country like Gabon is headed by lone dictator for over forty years, no single country in the west talks about regime change in that country. And Gabon is not alone on this. There are countries like Egypt where Mubarak’s government detains and persecutes opposition at will attracts little or no attention from the self acclaimed promoters of democracy. This is also the same in countries like Ethiopia , Tunisia , Cameroun and many countries. This act led some analysts and political commentators to doubt the west’s seriousness especially Britain and the U.S. about promoting democracy and development in Africa . Even in countries where there are assumed democratic government the level of development in those countries is more or less no different from the other so-called dictatorial regimes. This lack of development and the persistent poverty and hunger in the continent, raises so many questions as to whether we need western styled democracy to develop or solve our problems. Why does the west impose on Africa their own way of life despite difference in culture and historical background? How compatible is western styled democracy to Africa ? Why many countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America succeeded despite abandoning western styled democracy? Does western styled democracy brings about the much desired change and development in human and material resources most of us expected?
Africa’s experience with western styled democracy since independence in 1950s and 60s is that of regrets and disappointments, because the system failed to meet the yearnings and aspiration of Africans. Western styled democracy is an ideology and system that is shrouded with lofty ideals and catchphrases like freedom, equity, representation, empowerment, participatory development etc.etc, which are nonexistent in real practical terms. In western styled democracy we are made to believe that rulers are accountable and answerable for their actions. In other words, citizens can be able to monitor the actions of their rulers and participate effectively in choosing and regulating their actions. We are told that the system makes society open and the economy transparent as possible. Thus, creating a social order, justice and equity in sharing resources. In reality these lofty ideals start and end in theory books. They are far from what obtained in virtually all the ‘democratic’ societies especially here in Africa .
The inception of democracy in most African states brought hopes and expectations to many Africans, but these hopes and expectations are dashed few years afterwards. Failed promises are what followed, and then stories of public funds stealing, hunger, poverty, civil wars and HIV/AIDS become major headlines in most of African dailies. Suddenly Africans realized that the much desired change expected does not come with democracy. The question is that; do we need the western styled democracy to achieve what the west has achieved in their countries or do Africans have other options?
History has taught us that quite a number of countries including those countries in Western Europe had at one time abandoned democracy – (in strict western definition of the term), to what they felt was best for them at that particular time. Surprisingly those countries today are the leading industrial nations in the world. A good example is Spain , which in 1931-39 realizing the country was not going anywhere; the democratic republic of Spain was replaced with a paternal dictatorship which stamped out all opposition. The democratic system could not work because of deep poverty and social conflicts over resources. Franco’s dictatorship developed Spain (turned it into the 9th industrial power on earth), and in year 1975-96, the country re-modeled as a democracy. If a country at the heart of Europe could abandon democracy to look for a better future for its citizens, what is it that is stopping Africa to do same?
The biggest problem the African continent faces today is not of dictatorship or sit-tight rulers, but of greedy neo-colonial elites whose sole aim is to satisfy the interest of Western imperialists. There is after all examples of sit-tight rulers elsewhere who transformed their countries to fanciful economic success. People like Fidel Castro, Dr. Mahathier Mohammed, Suharto, the leaders in Singapore , Thailand and Vietnam are very good example.
In recent years Russia becomes a very good example of countries that chose to abandon the western styled democracy and in few years the country was able to come out of its economic and social crisis of the 1990s. The emergence of Vladimir Putin as Russia ’s president in 2000 ushered in new hopes for mother Russia . Under Putin , Russia was neither democratic or dictatorship, like most countries of the world it has a ramshackle authoritarian system with some democratic trappings (some of which are meaningful). His style of leadership was generally condemned by the West as dictatorial but received acceptance from the Russians. His eight-year rule brought economic stability, improved living standard of ordinary Russians and gave the country a new voice at the world stage, a role she lost since 1990.
Many people attributed his success with his high-handedness and his experience in the KGB. The Soviet KGB was a huge institution, with massive personnel who are extremely committed to the Russian project. Unlike their African counterparts, Russian leaders are a group of committed, patriotic and dedicated individuals. In just eight years they were able to re-transform the Russian nation back to its former glory. Distinguishing democracy as a means and democracy as a goal, they were able to create a dynamic society with over 20-25 % of the Russian society qualifying as middle class. On the other hand, Africa ’s story is a bleak one. Over half a century after independence, African society is still grappling with poverty, hunger and diseases. Majority of Africans live below the poverty line, and corruption remains the main issue. Therefore, it is wrong for anybody to see the problems of Africa from a single country perspective. It is indeed very wrong to think that Zimbabwe ’s problems is an isolated case, it is not. As long as these neo-colonial elites remain in power, we will continue facing same problems. It is either elections violence in Kenya , persecution of opposition in Ethiopia and Egypt , Darfur crisis in Sudan or Niger-Delta crisis in Nigeria . Western styled democracy has become a burden for African nations and their leaders. Until the continent is able to solve its problems by proffering solutions from African perspective, I am afraid even in the next hundred years the continent will remain what it is - a dark continent.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, km25,
Along Gombe to Bauchi Road ,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State,
Nigeria.
0805 454 6764 or 0803 515 0369
Kano Market Literature
Banning And Burning Of Kano Market Literature:
Another View
I was surprised by the hues and cries that followed the recent banning and burning of ‘literatue’ books popularly known as the Kano Market Literature by the Kano State Government. Although politics affected the credibility of the whole exercise, but Hausawa and lovers of indigenous literature will agree with me that these handouts that come in form of books are doing more harm than good to the social and moral live of our innocent young boys and girls. However, the problem with Nigeria is that, we tend to easily ban a programme or system without duly providing an option for it. The nation is so disorganised that we hardly find a working system either in the academics or otherwise; a system that will ensure the protection of our culture and history. Recently, the Daily Trust on its editorial (120808), titled Safe Guarding Our Treasures, cried about the sad episode of how our museums are looted daily by the very people responsible for safe guarding them.
The issue of poor and substandard literatures which filled our markets today is the consequences of general decay that hit our educational system as a result of poor economic policies of the military era, especially in the late ‘80s. Secondly, our scholars laziness in terms of writing qualitative literature; most books you find in our markets are these Kano Market Literature that are written in poor language that cannot pass as a serious academic standard, and government is not ready to support serious publishers.
On the other hand, our economy is in shambles that printing business becomes very expensive. Coupled with poor reading culture of our people, you find this Kano Market Literature a thriving business. With one hundred and fifty naira, one can easily get a book to read, not minding the quality of the books or its conformity to standard literature.
Therefore, the argument whether Rabo is right or not does not arise at all. The issue is very much more connected to the socio-politico cum economic situation in the country. Some of the writers may not like order to be brought to the system because they are benefiting from the disorder. Hajiya Maryam, while condemning the Kano State Government of using religion to kill Hausa literature and films, it is better to sit down both with the government and the writers to bring about a working solution to the whole problem.
While nobody will support the behaviour of the Kano State government for unduly clamming down on innocent writers in their effort to earn a decent living, it is equally important to consider the implication of these so called literatures to our societal moral values.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village’ km25,
Gombe to Bauchi Road ,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State.
Another View
I was surprised by the hues and cries that followed the recent banning and burning of ‘literatue’ books popularly known as the Kano Market Literature by the Kano State Government. Although politics affected the credibility of the whole exercise, but Hausawa and lovers of indigenous literature will agree with me that these handouts that come in form of books are doing more harm than good to the social and moral live of our innocent young boys and girls. However, the problem with Nigeria is that, we tend to easily ban a programme or system without duly providing an option for it. The nation is so disorganised that we hardly find a working system either in the academics or otherwise; a system that will ensure the protection of our culture and history. Recently, the Daily Trust on its editorial (120808), titled Safe Guarding Our Treasures, cried about the sad episode of how our museums are looted daily by the very people responsible for safe guarding them.
The issue of poor and substandard literatures which filled our markets today is the consequences of general decay that hit our educational system as a result of poor economic policies of the military era, especially in the late ‘80s. Secondly, our scholars laziness in terms of writing qualitative literature; most books you find in our markets are these Kano Market Literature that are written in poor language that cannot pass as a serious academic standard, and government is not ready to support serious publishers.
On the other hand, our economy is in shambles that printing business becomes very expensive. Coupled with poor reading culture of our people, you find this Kano Market Literature a thriving business. With one hundred and fifty naira, one can easily get a book to read, not minding the quality of the books or its conformity to standard literature.
Therefore, the argument whether Rabo is right or not does not arise at all. The issue is very much more connected to the socio-politico cum economic situation in the country. Some of the writers may not like order to be brought to the system because they are benefiting from the disorder. Hajiya Maryam, while condemning the Kano State Government of using religion to kill Hausa literature and films, it is better to sit down both with the government and the writers to bring about a working solution to the whole problem.
While nobody will support the behaviour of the Kano State government for unduly clamming down on innocent writers in their effort to earn a decent living, it is equally important to consider the implication of these so called literatures to our societal moral values.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village’ km25,
Gombe to Bauchi Road ,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State.
Post UME
I know as every other Nigerian, the country's future looks bleak. Nothing is working. For instance, our children are subjected to something called post UME despite under going an approved national examination. You need to be in ABU or any University to see how this boys and girls are subjected to most humiliating treatment not because they did anything wrong, but because they want to obtain a university degree.
Last year, more than 55 students attended the post UME test in ABU. Majority of them with nowhere to go, no accommodation, they ended been raped or sexually assaulted. Somebody needs to do something about this. Anyone that attended ABU or is in ABU in recent times, knows very well how yaro boys in Samaru seriously disturb female students or even males in some cases. Last year, there was a celebrated case of raping in Samaru, where a female student from Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty was raped by this yaro boys.
This girl was born and brought up in Samaru. If this can happen to a girl that knows the ins and outs of Samaru, think of what will happen to my daughter and your daughter that are in Samaru for the first time?
Whether we like it or not government has failed Nigerians in all aspect and we need prayers and God's intervention.
Kabiru Danladi.
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com08054546764,08035150369
Last year, more than 55 students attended the post UME test in ABU. Majority of them with nowhere to go, no accommodation, they ended been raped or sexually assaulted. Somebody needs to do something about this. Anyone that attended ABU or is in ABU in recent times, knows very well how yaro boys in Samaru seriously disturb female students or even males in some cases. Last year, there was a celebrated case of raping in Samaru, where a female student from Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty was raped by this yaro boys.
This girl was born and brought up in Samaru. If this can happen to a girl that knows the ins and outs of Samaru, think of what will happen to my daughter and your daughter that are in Samaru for the first time?
Whether we like it or not government has failed Nigerians in all aspect and we need prayers and God's intervention.
Kabiru Danladi.
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com08054546764,08035150369
Ndidi Okereke: What Manner of Democracy
OBAMA CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISER, NDIDI OKEREKE AND MATTERS ARISING
What manner of democracy do we practice in Nigeria? It is a kind of democracy in which courts connive with politicians to prolong the tenure of Governors whose elections were dubious in the first place. That is why when the issue of Professor Ndidi Okereke-Onyiuke of raising funds for Obama campaign came up, least I was surprised. People like Okereke are the genesis of our problem in this country, especially in recent time. She was part of the cult that inflicted sufferings on Nigerians during Obasanjo era.
But what I can’t understand really is that; what is the relationship between Obama and Okereke? Nothing indeed. Mr. Obama Professor, why can’t you mind the democracy of your own country which is getting undemocratic by the day? The question is still does the Professor thinks that American politics is similar to the one run by the PDP here in Nigeria? Professor, what do you want to do with the money raised? I still cannot understand your motive. Are you going to import people to America from Africa to vote for the man or do you intend to bribe the American Electoral Body to announce the results their way as they did here in Nigeria or intimidate American voters through the police or Army for that matter to thumb print the ballot papers in traditional rural? houses.
She is probably enriching her own pocket because all her life she lived on people’s earning. She made money from other people suffering. That is why when opportunities like this come-up you will find her likes trying to establish a fundraiser with the sole intention of duping people out of their income to survive. She has to do that because she has to survive. And the easiest way to survive for people like her is either to steal from coffers or dubiously collect money from people for dubious project. Is it not illegal to raise money for American elections by non American? Madam please come out and tells us precisely what you want to use the money for?
The propriety and legality of this fundraising extravaganza, considering that US law forbids American politicians from receiving campaign donations from outside the US is questionable. The fund raising jamboree, which reportedly garnered about N100 million (approximately $900,000), had raised eyebrows and charges of impropriety, deceit and outright fraud. This woman is not new to controversies that has to do with dabbling in politics. She was widely condemned for organizing Nigeria’s top corporate players to raise campaign funds for former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidential campaign in 2003. Last year, she also joined Aliko Dangote and a few businessmen in a shady campaign fundraising for the gubernatorial campaign of Mr. Nnamdi (Andy) Uba, a former aide of Obasanjo’s who ran for the governorship of Anambra, which many analysts suspected that the so-called fundraiser for Mr. Uba was designed to deflect questions in the media about the source of Uba’s prodigal spending on his campaign. She was also instrumental in getting Mr. Obasanjo to support the founding of Transcorp, an investment group that bought up several of Nigeria’s assets at bargain prices. She also convinced Obasanjo to purchase more than 200 million shares in Transcorp, a move condemned as one of the most corrupt acts of the Obasanjo era. The issue of the Nigerians for Obama fundraiser may open the door to ask her other questions pertaining to Transcorp and her other activities.
Then the Daily Trust on its front page, August 26, 2008, reported that the CBN, NSE and SEC loss N3 trillion. Wow! What a country? Trust Nigeria, nobody is going to be prosecuted for that because they contributed or funded the president's campaign.
Kabiru Danladi.
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764,08035150369
What manner of democracy do we practice in Nigeria? It is a kind of democracy in which courts connive with politicians to prolong the tenure of Governors whose elections were dubious in the first place. That is why when the issue of Professor Ndidi Okereke-Onyiuke of raising funds for Obama campaign came up, least I was surprised. People like Okereke are the genesis of our problem in this country, especially in recent time. She was part of the cult that inflicted sufferings on Nigerians during Obasanjo era.
But what I can’t understand really is that; what is the relationship between Obama and Okereke? Nothing indeed. Mr. Obama Professor, why can’t you mind the democracy of your own country which is getting undemocratic by the day? The question is still does the Professor thinks that American politics is similar to the one run by the PDP here in Nigeria? Professor, what do you want to do with the money raised? I still cannot understand your motive. Are you going to import people to America from Africa to vote for the man or do you intend to bribe the American Electoral Body to announce the results their way as they did here in Nigeria or intimidate American voters through the police or Army for that matter to thumb print the ballot papers in traditional rural? houses.
She is probably enriching her own pocket because all her life she lived on people’s earning. She made money from other people suffering. That is why when opportunities like this come-up you will find her likes trying to establish a fundraiser with the sole intention of duping people out of their income to survive. She has to do that because she has to survive. And the easiest way to survive for people like her is either to steal from coffers or dubiously collect money from people for dubious project. Is it not illegal to raise money for American elections by non American? Madam please come out and tells us precisely what you want to use the money for?
The propriety and legality of this fundraising extravaganza, considering that US law forbids American politicians from receiving campaign donations from outside the US is questionable. The fund raising jamboree, which reportedly garnered about N100 million (approximately $900,000), had raised eyebrows and charges of impropriety, deceit and outright fraud. This woman is not new to controversies that has to do with dabbling in politics. She was widely condemned for organizing Nigeria’s top corporate players to raise campaign funds for former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidential campaign in 2003. Last year, she also joined Aliko Dangote and a few businessmen in a shady campaign fundraising for the gubernatorial campaign of Mr. Nnamdi (Andy) Uba, a former aide of Obasanjo’s who ran for the governorship of Anambra, which many analysts suspected that the so-called fundraiser for Mr. Uba was designed to deflect questions in the media about the source of Uba’s prodigal spending on his campaign. She was also instrumental in getting Mr. Obasanjo to support the founding of Transcorp, an investment group that bought up several of Nigeria’s assets at bargain prices. She also convinced Obasanjo to purchase more than 200 million shares in Transcorp, a move condemned as one of the most corrupt acts of the Obasanjo era. The issue of the Nigerians for Obama fundraiser may open the door to ask her other questions pertaining to Transcorp and her other activities.
Then the Daily Trust on its front page, August 26, 2008, reported that the CBN, NSE and SEC loss N3 trillion. Wow! What a country? Trust Nigeria, nobody is going to be prosecuted for that because they contributed or funded the president's campaign.
Kabiru Danladi.
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764,08035150369
Dividends of Democracy
I sometimes wonder if the country known as Nigeria will ever change. Why is my country - my beloved is the way it is? Why and why ? No answer. Just as I was discussing with a friend on the problems bedeviling the country something very interesting happen just now. I just stroll out of office to get fruit for breaking my fast when one striking thing happen. Yesterday, I bought a slice of pineapple for fifty naira, but today being the first day of Ramadan the price has gone up, not by 2,3 or 50% but by 100%. Can you imagine. Then if we want to correct things inthis country where are we going to start? If a fruit vendor can be so heartless as to raise the price of commodity to 100% do you think our leaders will ever pity us?
We need to change and change for the better. There are so many things that are wrong, indeed very wrong in the way we interact and associate with our fellow country men. As far as we cannot pity ourselves or our neighbours lets not expect any change from our leaders. Our leaders will continue stealing our money and we will continue suffering.
Democracy is just a word as any other word in the dictionary. It si not a system, it is not a form of government, it is we that are the system, the government. Democracy devidends is a concept - an abstract that is used by people to deceive and cheat their fellow human beings.
We all have to put what we write, prech and advocate for into practice. But as far as we assume our country will come out of its present situation through deceit and lies and pretence wallahi no future for us and i fear disaster.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State.
We need to change and change for the better. There are so many things that are wrong, indeed very wrong in the way we interact and associate with our fellow country men. As far as we cannot pity ourselves or our neighbours lets not expect any change from our leaders. Our leaders will continue stealing our money and we will continue suffering.
Democracy is just a word as any other word in the dictionary. It si not a system, it is not a form of government, it is we that are the system, the government. Democracy devidends is a concept - an abstract that is used by people to deceive and cheat their fellow human beings.
We all have to put what we write, prech and advocate for into practice. But as far as we assume our country will come out of its present situation through deceit and lies and pretence wallahi no future for us and i fear disaster.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State.
The 2009 budget
The 2009 budget, NDE and the challenges of unemployment in Nigeria
In a survey conducted by the Federal Ministry of Education sometimes in 2006, a very alarming rate of youth unemployment emerged in the country of over 60%, in which, although the accuracy of most of these data is still debatable, it is an indicator to the crisis in which this country finds itself. With a population of over 140 million and a youth population of 80 million, with 64 million unemployed, also with an estimated graduate turnover of over 600,000 graduates yearly, the Nigerian labour market is in crisis. We have every reason to sound an alarm bell especially in a situation where over 70% of working people are either unemployed or underemployed. For instance in the same report by the Ministry of Education, it is estimated that only 4 million people were on paid employment, while over 60% of youth ages 15-29 are unemployed.
The alarm in this respect is the non inclusion of measures to tackle this problem and related issues in our 2009 budget. The budget did not come out specifically to point out what is going to be done about the problem of unemployment. Our country is lucky to be endowed with multifarious and multitudinous resources - both human and material. However, due to gross mismanagement, profligate spending, kleptomania and adverse policies - sometimes misplaced priorities of various governments in Nigeria, these resources have not been optimally utilized on one hand and on the other they have not been adequately channelled to profitable investments to bring about maximum economic benefits. As a result of these, accumulated problems compounded the already existing problem. Today our country is not only faced with the problem of energy, Niger-Delta and other crisis but also bedevilled with the issue of unemployment and poverty.
Unemployment is a societal problem in any nation that is why in advanced countries of the world employment issues are used to determine candidate seriousness during his campaign. Short-term or frictional unemployment can be tolerated but prolonged unemployment promotes and aggravates societal income and expenditure inequality, poverty, hunger, disease, anarchy, thuggery, armed robbery and other vices.
Economic growth, which is supposed to be a solution to the problems of unemployment and poverty, appears not to be so in Nigeria. Nigeria’s official statistics show that economic growth has not always been accompanied by decline in unemployment and poverty. In fact, economic growth has even contributed to what we are seeing today of massive unemployment and poverty which is the genesis of some of the ethnic and religious crisis we have seen in recent times.
Generally, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the budget however, but we must bear two things in mind; one the recent financial crisis that affects the US and Europe, who are the major consumers of our oil and major players in the free market and the issue of non-implementation of budgets. Since the inception of our democracy about nine years ago, no single budget was implemented; in fact, it is even right to say that the country in the last few years was running a disorganised economy, where money was spent arbitrarily by an individual or group of individuals. One sad thing about all these is the fact that with all these alarming rate of unemployment in the country, nobody either in the National Assembly or the Executive remembers to include the issue of how to deal with unemployment in the 2009 budget.
For the nation to get out of the current unemployment crisis according to Dr. Magnus Kpakol , the National Coordinator, Poverty Eradication Programme, 3 million jobs are needed annually. Dr. Kpakol said the nation has suffered a prolonged unemployment problem due to the disequilibrium in the demand and supply at the labour market. Unemployment in Nigeria has persisted for too long or even more than that. Since the economic crisis of the early 80s and late 80s, when the nation's economy took a turn for the worse as world petroleum prices tumbled, the Nigerian currency became devalued, corruption became rampant, and the population of Nigeria ballooned at a breathtaking pace which was compounded by the Structural Adjustment Programme. Large number of graduates from our educational institutions, most of who are without any adequate skill joined the labour market annually. This led to what we are seeing today of large number of people roaming the streets of major cities in search of jobs.
One other thing that will be attributed to massive unemployment in this country is lack of harmonisation between what obtains in our higher institutions of learning, and the labour market demand. Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education are offering courses not relevant in the labour market. The school curriculum has lost touch with reality. As soon as these graduates are employed they have to undergo training for them to fit in to the new places of work.
In order to eradicate unemployment and poverty in Nigeria, innovative methods are needed which require development and implementation of programmes that will directly benefit the poor, by restructuring sources of Nigeria's gross domestic product to significantly include variety of industries that are labour intensive, such as cottage industries. Making land available to private and public organizations to set up industries in the most economically depressed areas of Nigeria, and providing training in setting up industries (especially cottage industries) to unskilled or economically deprived Nigerians would make ownership of small scale industries a viable source of employment opportunities and building wealth for many Nigerians.
The agency that is mandated to offer this is the National Directorate of Employment. Established in 1989, the agency was to, among other things, design and implement programmes to combat mass unemployment, obtain and maintain a data bank on employment and vacancies in the country with a view to acting as a clearing house to link job seekers with vacancies in collaboration with other government agencies. NDE strategy has over the years been based on the need to train young graduates who were unemployed and needed reorientation and motivation to be self-employed and self-reliant. However, over the years the agency has made little impact to address the problem of unemployment because of poor implementation of policies, misplaced priorities and duplication of efforts on the part of those who were vested with the responsibility of running our affairs.
It is the opinion of this writer that if government is serious about addressing unemployment problem then as I said serious measures needs to be taken. We keep emphasizing anytime that unemployment and poverty can never be solved by distributing motorcycles to party loyalists or dashing them money, which are all short term strategies. The government has to strengthen agencies like the National Directorate of Employment, which has the capacity to offer millions of Nigerians the skills and knowledge to be self employed and self-reliant. The NDE offer people vocational and skills acquisition courses after which they will be offered soft loans to go and start their own businesses. Only God knows how many people these set of people will train in turn. If carefully supervised and monitored it will go a long way in reducing the rate of unemployment in the country. But to do that, our leaders have to focus on substance, not spin.
Kabiru Danladi.
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764,08035150369
In a survey conducted by the Federal Ministry of Education sometimes in 2006, a very alarming rate of youth unemployment emerged in the country of over 60%, in which, although the accuracy of most of these data is still debatable, it is an indicator to the crisis in which this country finds itself. With a population of over 140 million and a youth population of 80 million, with 64 million unemployed, also with an estimated graduate turnover of over 600,000 graduates yearly, the Nigerian labour market is in crisis. We have every reason to sound an alarm bell especially in a situation where over 70% of working people are either unemployed or underemployed. For instance in the same report by the Ministry of Education, it is estimated that only 4 million people were on paid employment, while over 60% of youth ages 15-29 are unemployed.
The alarm in this respect is the non inclusion of measures to tackle this problem and related issues in our 2009 budget. The budget did not come out specifically to point out what is going to be done about the problem of unemployment. Our country is lucky to be endowed with multifarious and multitudinous resources - both human and material. However, due to gross mismanagement, profligate spending, kleptomania and adverse policies - sometimes misplaced priorities of various governments in Nigeria, these resources have not been optimally utilized on one hand and on the other they have not been adequately channelled to profitable investments to bring about maximum economic benefits. As a result of these, accumulated problems compounded the already existing problem. Today our country is not only faced with the problem of energy, Niger-Delta and other crisis but also bedevilled with the issue of unemployment and poverty.
Unemployment is a societal problem in any nation that is why in advanced countries of the world employment issues are used to determine candidate seriousness during his campaign. Short-term or frictional unemployment can be tolerated but prolonged unemployment promotes and aggravates societal income and expenditure inequality, poverty, hunger, disease, anarchy, thuggery, armed robbery and other vices.
Economic growth, which is supposed to be a solution to the problems of unemployment and poverty, appears not to be so in Nigeria. Nigeria’s official statistics show that economic growth has not always been accompanied by decline in unemployment and poverty. In fact, economic growth has even contributed to what we are seeing today of massive unemployment and poverty which is the genesis of some of the ethnic and religious crisis we have seen in recent times.
Generally, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the budget however, but we must bear two things in mind; one the recent financial crisis that affects the US and Europe, who are the major consumers of our oil and major players in the free market and the issue of non-implementation of budgets. Since the inception of our democracy about nine years ago, no single budget was implemented; in fact, it is even right to say that the country in the last few years was running a disorganised economy, where money was spent arbitrarily by an individual or group of individuals. One sad thing about all these is the fact that with all these alarming rate of unemployment in the country, nobody either in the National Assembly or the Executive remembers to include the issue of how to deal with unemployment in the 2009 budget.
For the nation to get out of the current unemployment crisis according to Dr. Magnus Kpakol , the National Coordinator, Poverty Eradication Programme, 3 million jobs are needed annually. Dr. Kpakol said the nation has suffered a prolonged unemployment problem due to the disequilibrium in the demand and supply at the labour market. Unemployment in Nigeria has persisted for too long or even more than that. Since the economic crisis of the early 80s and late 80s, when the nation's economy took a turn for the worse as world petroleum prices tumbled, the Nigerian currency became devalued, corruption became rampant, and the population of Nigeria ballooned at a breathtaking pace which was compounded by the Structural Adjustment Programme. Large number of graduates from our educational institutions, most of who are without any adequate skill joined the labour market annually. This led to what we are seeing today of large number of people roaming the streets of major cities in search of jobs.
One other thing that will be attributed to massive unemployment in this country is lack of harmonisation between what obtains in our higher institutions of learning, and the labour market demand. Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education are offering courses not relevant in the labour market. The school curriculum has lost touch with reality. As soon as these graduates are employed they have to undergo training for them to fit in to the new places of work.
In order to eradicate unemployment and poverty in Nigeria, innovative methods are needed which require development and implementation of programmes that will directly benefit the poor, by restructuring sources of Nigeria's gross domestic product to significantly include variety of industries that are labour intensive, such as cottage industries. Making land available to private and public organizations to set up industries in the most economically depressed areas of Nigeria, and providing training in setting up industries (especially cottage industries) to unskilled or economically deprived Nigerians would make ownership of small scale industries a viable source of employment opportunities and building wealth for many Nigerians.
The agency that is mandated to offer this is the National Directorate of Employment. Established in 1989, the agency was to, among other things, design and implement programmes to combat mass unemployment, obtain and maintain a data bank on employment and vacancies in the country with a view to acting as a clearing house to link job seekers with vacancies in collaboration with other government agencies. NDE strategy has over the years been based on the need to train young graduates who were unemployed and needed reorientation and motivation to be self-employed and self-reliant. However, over the years the agency has made little impact to address the problem of unemployment because of poor implementation of policies, misplaced priorities and duplication of efforts on the part of those who were vested with the responsibility of running our affairs.
It is the opinion of this writer that if government is serious about addressing unemployment problem then as I said serious measures needs to be taken. We keep emphasizing anytime that unemployment and poverty can never be solved by distributing motorcycles to party loyalists or dashing them money, which are all short term strategies. The government has to strengthen agencies like the National Directorate of Employment, which has the capacity to offer millions of Nigerians the skills and knowledge to be self employed and self-reliant. The NDE offer people vocational and skills acquisition courses after which they will be offered soft loans to go and start their own businesses. Only God knows how many people these set of people will train in turn. If carefully supervised and monitored it will go a long way in reducing the rate of unemployment in the country. But to do that, our leaders have to focus on substance, not spin.
Kabiru Danladi.
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764,08035150369
NECO JAMB,AND WAEC
JAMB, WAEC, NECO et al Scratch Cards: Whose benefit?
Nothing is more disturbing or is it disgusting [?] in Nigeria than one to take upon himself the responsibility of speaking for the oppressed. Yourself a victim, but since you are more privileged than the rest , you took it upon yourself to serve as a middle man between the government and the governed. You do this with a strong conviction that one day, this country - our great country, will be great and indeed a country where our leaders will be incorruptible, credible and honest, the countrymen organised, orderly, who respect one another and live peacefully.
Sometimes in July I wrote a letter to this forum discussing the issue of Post-UME, not only the way student are squeezed, extorted and exploited by universities, through the payment of money to sit for the exams, but the dangers these aspiring university undergraduates fall into during this exercise, especially the ladies. I sighted an example of how most of these innocent girls were “raped” by undesirable elements within the university community because most of them came from far places and know nobody in these places. I was specifically referring to ABU Zaria, where somebody confessed to me that they lured a girl by offering her accommodation and they raped her that night. I also gave an example of a celebrated case of rape which involves a 200 level Pharmacy student also in Samaru. However, to my dismay nothing was done either by the National Assembly or the NUC to stop post UME or at least take measures to protect these children.
I believe we will not stop talking, until and after those responsible for making life difficult for us in this country do something about our plight. But this time before you ignore this discussion, I want you to reflect on what will happen to your 18 year old child as she left home for a Post-UME not only in Zaria, Kano or Maiduguri, Lagos, Ilorin, Ibadan, Nsukka, but to the other second choice university she chooses, because she is not sure of getting admission into her first choice university. Most of us tend to ignore many things and pay little attention to such things, since we think we are rich enough to sponsor our children, thus, to hell with the attendant consequences. Therefore, nobody care or pay attention to the issue of Post-UME and the dangers involved.
Although this is not the topic of this discussion. I felt it is important to bring to fore so that I tie it with another systematic extortion by the leading examination bodies in Nigeria ; JAMB, WAEC, NECO. These three bodies, due to advancement in technology have adopted the use of scratch cards for registration of students to write exams. The issue of scratch cards is something which few people paid attention to. How on earth can we allow some few individuals, to continue exploiting us year in year out just because we want our children to go to university? Have we ever pause to ask ourselves who is benefiting from the millions paid by our children to obtain a scratch card every year either to sit for a single examination or just to get their results? This issue of purchasing scratch card to access JAMB, WAEC, and NECO results is illegitimate and improper. Once a candidate pays the examinations fees, he is entitled to write the examination and the examination body to mark and grade the candidate and finally issue him his statement of results.
But today what we are seeing is extortion and exploitation in high degree, where students are made to pay high registration fees and later they will be left in the hands of internet operators to surf for their registration centres, numbers and results. This is unfair and total disregard for people’s right. Nigerians should start questioning the legality of this. Many children are denied writing these examinations because of their failure to pay for the scratch cards. In some instances where internet facility is not available, the school authorities charge students extra money to delegate somebody to go and check their results.
I want to urge the National Assembly, the Federal Ministry of Finance and Education, State Houses of Assembly, State Ministries of Education, the PTA and ANCOPS to, as a matter of urgency do something about this madness. This money, students are paying for scratch card is used by few individual who connive with the education body to squeeze, extort and exploit unsuspecting parents. They pay this money because they don’t know, but somebody needs to do something. If scratch cards are to be used, let it be free, but in this current situation, parents are paying extra money which does not go into government account or the account of the examinations bodies. It goes directly to some few individual pockets.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764,08035150369
Nothing is more disturbing or is it disgusting [?] in Nigeria than one to take upon himself the responsibility of speaking for the oppressed. Yourself a victim, but since you are more privileged than the rest , you took it upon yourself to serve as a middle man between the government and the governed. You do this with a strong conviction that one day, this country - our great country, will be great and indeed a country where our leaders will be incorruptible, credible and honest, the countrymen organised, orderly, who respect one another and live peacefully.
Sometimes in July I wrote a letter to this forum discussing the issue of Post-UME, not only the way student are squeezed, extorted and exploited by universities, through the payment of money to sit for the exams, but the dangers these aspiring university undergraduates fall into during this exercise, especially the ladies. I sighted an example of how most of these innocent girls were “raped” by undesirable elements within the university community because most of them came from far places and know nobody in these places. I was specifically referring to ABU Zaria, where somebody confessed to me that they lured a girl by offering her accommodation and they raped her that night. I also gave an example of a celebrated case of rape which involves a 200 level Pharmacy student also in Samaru. However, to my dismay nothing was done either by the National Assembly or the NUC to stop post UME or at least take measures to protect these children.
I believe we will not stop talking, until and after those responsible for making life difficult for us in this country do something about our plight. But this time before you ignore this discussion, I want you to reflect on what will happen to your 18 year old child as she left home for a Post-UME not only in Zaria, Kano or Maiduguri, Lagos, Ilorin, Ibadan, Nsukka, but to the other second choice university she chooses, because she is not sure of getting admission into her first choice university. Most of us tend to ignore many things and pay little attention to such things, since we think we are rich enough to sponsor our children, thus, to hell with the attendant consequences. Therefore, nobody care or pay attention to the issue of Post-UME and the dangers involved.
Although this is not the topic of this discussion. I felt it is important to bring to fore so that I tie it with another systematic extortion by the leading examination bodies in Nigeria ; JAMB, WAEC, NECO. These three bodies, due to advancement in technology have adopted the use of scratch cards for registration of students to write exams. The issue of scratch cards is something which few people paid attention to. How on earth can we allow some few individuals, to continue exploiting us year in year out just because we want our children to go to university? Have we ever pause to ask ourselves who is benefiting from the millions paid by our children to obtain a scratch card every year either to sit for a single examination or just to get their results? This issue of purchasing scratch card to access JAMB, WAEC, and NECO results is illegitimate and improper. Once a candidate pays the examinations fees, he is entitled to write the examination and the examination body to mark and grade the candidate and finally issue him his statement of results.
But today what we are seeing is extortion and exploitation in high degree, where students are made to pay high registration fees and later they will be left in the hands of internet operators to surf for their registration centres, numbers and results. This is unfair and total disregard for people’s right. Nigerians should start questioning the legality of this. Many children are denied writing these examinations because of their failure to pay for the scratch cards. In some instances where internet facility is not available, the school authorities charge students extra money to delegate somebody to go and check their results.
I want to urge the National Assembly, the Federal Ministry of Finance and Education, State Houses of Assembly, State Ministries of Education, the PTA and ANCOPS to, as a matter of urgency do something about this madness. This money, students are paying for scratch card is used by few individual who connive with the education body to squeeze, extort and exploit unsuspecting parents. They pay this money because they don’t know, but somebody needs to do something. If scratch cards are to be used, let it be free, but in this current situation, parents are paying extra money which does not go into government account or the account of the examinations bodies. It goes directly to some few individual pockets.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764,08035150369
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