The Sickness of Nigerian Leaders Diagonised

Sometime ago, I had a need for a legal practitioner but I did not have any in mind. In my quest to get one, I saw an inscription, “Ruthless and brutal frankness is our motto” and I walked in. I ended up contracting the legal firm because there was the need for a bitter truth and frankness at the time. This article will say many things that are unconventional because there is need for bitter truth. The Nigerian society is sick, very sick indeed. Only the truth will heal her. The truth is like a medicine. It is usually bitter, with adverse side effects, but it cures the disease and heals the patients. The Nigerian state is afflicted by a disease called “Mathewnomics” that could easily become terminal if not severely treated. The Nigerian patient therefore requires a large dose of very bitter medicine i.e-bitter truth. It was Wanye Booth who signifies that “The scholar is the only person charged by society to carry the burden of thought to its extremes, even when thought hits back.” Therefore as a scholar, I am qualified to administer the medicine.

Since it is not possible to examine in totality the legion of manifestations of “Mathewnomics” diseases in the contemporary society, a hand full will be examined. Definitely, contemporary Nigeria is a more sophisticated criminalized version of Babylon . It is an unjust, sick, wayward, unpatriotic, deadly state-governed and devil-driven modern Sodom .
Okowa in his syllogistics signifies that “Mathewnomics” is derived from two words: Mathew and Economics.

Whoever has will be given more, and he will heaven abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. (Matthew Chapter 13; verse 12)
For everyone who has will be given more and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. Matthew Chapter 25; verses 29).
He contends that the political economy of the contemporary Nigerian political economy is built on the logic of Mathew: The use of the instrumentality of the state to expropriate loot and siphon the resources of the poor and weak majority for the benefit of the wealthy and powerful minority according to Mathew. Now let’s examine a few of the manifestations of “Mathewnomics” in our beloved Nigeria:

Education:
There was a time in the history of Nigeria that Ghanaians and even the West came to Nigeria for a better living and education. The reverse is now the case. We are witnesses to how much the “ Rogue Republic ” Nigeria has been relegated to, because of systemic failure, bad governance and greed. The British pounds matched 1 for 1 pound then. Having so messed the economy and our once cherished educational system by the few political “rogues”, they now prefer to whisk their children abroad for a better now “turned bitter” education. And that is why Nigeria can afford to be in this basterdised act of attempted “bombing heaven” of Umar Farouk who has studied abroad all his life until 25/12 incident that stopped him. Nigeria is now enlisted as a ‘country of interest’ nation among Afghanistan , Iran and 13 others. The evil that men- “Nigerian Rogue political class” do live with them. Now the rich also cry. Let me ask, is it not from looted Nigerian treasury that Mr. Umaru Mutallab, the alleged “terrorist’s father” sponsored his son’s lavished life abroad? It is still a mystery to me, how a chap of 23 years suddenly became a self acclaimed “Minister of Tourism”, jetting in and out of London, Yemen, Dubai, Togo, Ethiopia, Ghana and Dubai all of where he supposedly studied? Daniel Adewumi wrote in my blog that “This boy lived in an “appartment"(sick) building worth 4.2Million Pounds” per annum in London . Where did his father got such money? It is time to probe his activities as a once Chairman of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). If Nigerians cares to listen, we are getting clues on why the sudden collapse of our banking industry. The likes of Cecilia Ibru, the self arrogated female role-model cum looter who bought over 103 houses all over the world and 77 shares with various companies. What of Erastus Akingbola? Birds of the same feather that flock together. ( Continues below….. )

Photo Above: Undated photo of Abdul Mudallad (on a school trip to London ), Nigerian accused in the failed blow-up attempt of Northwest Airlines Flight 253

The political elites have totally destroyed our institutions of higher learning.”Today the dominant issues in higher institutions of learning are fashions, music, cultism and other social vices. Books, studying and learning have taken second place in the priority of many Nigerian’s future leaders. (Tell Magazine, no.45, Nov. 8, 2004, p.42).
More on how the Nigerian political elite “rogues” contributes to the rot in our institutions of higher learning, Tell further reports:
“That is why on some campuses today, prostitution is widespread. On the campuses, those who have money use it to ‘settle’ their lecturers, those who are not yet privileged pay in “kind”. Others ply their trade outside their campuses. At different social gatherings, organized mainly by government officials and the rich, female undergraduates are recruited ostensibly to serve as hostesses but later end up on their host’s beds.” (Tell Magazine, no. 45, Nov. 8, 2004, p.43).
Had our universities been functioning, the present shame would have eluded Nigeria because the “radicalized lad” would have schooled in Nigeria . Thus, the political elites are “connected” with the “Failed Bombing Heaven”. They have questions to answer.

Nigerian Cronies’ Democracy:
What do I mean? In America and elsewhere Democracy obtains, it is defined as “the government of the people by the people and for the people”, while in Nigeria ; it is “Government by crony and for the cronies, the hangers-on and recipients of favours for old times’ sake.”
It was George Washington who said, “Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” Across our political landscape are a dysfunctional and dangerous conglomerate of business-as-usual cronies who openly claim to be the friends of men in power, who in turn use their position to protect these influence-peddling felons. Today in Nigeria the rule of law has become the ruse of law (‘ruse’: an action intended to mislead, deceive or trick).
Thus, Nigerian’s ruling class has violated the 8th commandment in the Bible and Quran.
“Thou shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15).
“As to the thief, male or female, cut off his or her hands: a punishment by way of example, from Allah, for their crime: and Allah is Exalted in power.” (Qur’an 5:38).
But in Nigerian, we cut off the hands of hungry citizens who steal yam and rice, while those who steal millions “the cronies” shouts “don’t let him go.”! Those who steal in millions and billions, use their stolen wealth to rig themselves into power, lesser thieves who steal to survive, lose their hands or are roasted alive. One Nigeria ! The moral is rather unfortunate: petty thieves are criminals; mega-thieves are “Commanders of the Order of the Negro, (CON).” Of course, owners of CON are conmen. Nigeria in reality therefore operates one law for the rich and powerful, another one for the poor and weak.
Pastor Tunde Bakare once wrote that “Those who serve at the altar in Nigeria ’s Public Service do not only partake of the offerings at the altar”, they carry the altar away even to foreign lands and every attempt to make such people face the law is sabotaged by their cronies in power.”

Such people forget what the Bible or Quran says (with which they “stupidly and hopelessly”, took oath of office with (in the words of Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai). Proverbs 29:24 - “Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life; He swears to tell the truth but reveals nothing.” When you add the Preacher’s verdict in Ecclesiastes 8:11 to all these, then you realize why we are in this State of Lawlessness : “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”
No wonder the late Very Rev. Dr. James Ukaebgu once wrote that “If God fails to punish Nigeria ; he should write an apology letter to Sodom and Gomorrah.”

The Judiciary and Jungle Justice:
The legal icon, Professor Uche Ewelukwe maintains that Nigerian courts are yet to develop concrete and equitable standards to guide their interpretation of the law. Much is therefore left to individual judges. The standard of natural justice, equity and good conscience is “at best vague and at worst reflects the views of the dominant power in the society.” She avers that during the colonial rule, it reflected the views of the white colonial officers. Today in Nigeria , it reflects the views of male dominated judiciary, giving jungle justice under the whims and caprices of the rich.
For instance, in December 2009, a Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State discharged and acquitted the former Delta State governor James Ibori of all 170 charges of corruption brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). “This Court is the highest one in the land, but you can appeal to God”, my learned friends would say. “Wonderful!! Shame to those who ignorantly say that the Nigerian judiciary is the last hope of the common man. In fact, if not for the sake of the sick president whose name is even missing in the Saudi Arabia’s hospital (Jeddah) patients’ manifesto where he is supposedly being treated, I would have urged the CJ to issue an injunction restraining the Judge from practice. Oh, is the newly sworn in CJ himself not even illegitimate? My hands are tied. ( Continues below….. )

Photo Above: Nigerian Ex-Bayelsa State Governor( Diepreye Alamieyeseigha ) Plush London Manson.

“Babangida stole billions of dollars in Nigerian state resources and mismanaged the rest. His children and cronies became rich overnight. But most importantly, Babangida is yet to answer to his crimes against humanity and the Nigerian people, including the killing of Dele Giwa? To show his disdain for the dead journalist and the constitution, Babangida refused to testify before the “best Nigerian entertainment”, the hapless Oputa Panel; Human Rights Panel about Dele Giwa’s murder. What pains me most is that Dele Giwa “was killed via a bomb with a parcel bearing the coat of arms of the Nigerian state.” Where is Gani? Where is Gani? I cry for my country. The late legal luminary’s suit against IBB, the evil genius and Maradona on Dele  Giwa’s murder is still pending with the Judiciary. I challenge the Nigerian Judiciary to fish out the killer(s) of Dele  Giwa.

Gania, a foreign commentator sums it all when he wrote “I am not a Nigerian and I want to say that I am surprised about what people say about IBB….The Nigerians I know have always spoken about IBB as if he were a genius. They seem to be very proud of him only because they regard him as a master deceiver. I have never seen a Nigerian that expects a president to be honest because this is not a part of the Nigerian culture. Even the [some of] churches in Nigeria are just another form of 419.”

Constitutionalism:
THERE are really no significant changes in the 1999 Constitution from the 1963 Constitution, save for the nomenclature of the Queen and the finality of the decisions of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Accordingly, Nigeria became a legal sovereign and its appeals no longer lay from the Supreme Court of Nigeria to the Privy Council in the United Kingdom . I submit that Nigeria still operate with the colonial Constitution. Save Nigeria Group (SNG) describes the Nigerian Constitution as “A dictatorship Constitution brought about by a treasonable power clique which tells lies about our rights is unfit for us.” For Pastor Tunde Bakare, “Nigerian Constitution is a wayward child of British colonialism.”
An imposed constitution cannot serve the same purpose as a people’s Constitution and it is a matter of time, the people’s will shall prevail. The National Assembly is playing politics as usual with the Constitutional review. We want a peoples’ Constitution.

Economic Development:
By God’s design, every nation is to develop at her own pace. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals and all the surrounding politics will only benefit those who designed it. Whereas no nation can be an island in this age of globalization, we must learn to develop at our own pace, one sector or domain at a time and do so thoroughly except where the available resources in the hands of selfless leaders can be utilised to accomplish simultaneous development of all domains. What Nigeria has spent so far and what we still need to spend to attain the MDGs could have been put into some productive use in developing vital domains of our society and by now we would have something to show for credible governance.
Time has come for us to stop running the race of our national development looking at the clocks of other nations except those truly interested in our not becoming a failed state. It will do this nation a lot of good if our leaders can remove their political and chieftaincy caps and wear thinking caps for a change in the overall interest of our survival and development as a nation. At best, I can describe President Yar’ dua’s seven points agenda as “seven pockets agenda.” Seven more better, tailored pockets to loot the Nigerian treasury.
President Uma Yar’dua and His “ Ruse of Law”: (‘ruse’: an action intended to mislead, deceive or trick). How did Uma Yar’dua clinched power? Is it not by “stealing and robbery” of people’s mandate? If so, that is why he will lead Nigeria into destruction.

“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber….The thief comes, only to steal and kill and destroy; … (St. John’s Gospel, Chapter 10, verses 1-10).
If President Yar’dua clinched power through “robbery” what do you expect from the cabinet that he has formed? The offering of a hawk cannot fail to devour chicken. Barrister Christopher Onwuekwe wrote that the “Federal Executive Counsel is an illegality and has not done its job under the constitution…” (Punch newspaper of January 15, 2010).
You can agree with me why President Uma Yar’Adua and his philosophy of Rule of Law is “ruse of law” along with most of his cronies Ministers, especially the Attorney General, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN). They should be regarded as greatest jokers of Nigerian stumbling historical Silver Jubilee? (If I am right Nigeria , turns 50 years of independence come October, 1 2010).

Let’s examine a few of the Nigerian “Rogue” Political cronies:
The Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu is the worst educated illiterate and the worst Education Minister that the country has ever had. He quickly forgot the pace that he had set for himself as the Ebonyi State Governor where his educational policy was the loudest and a model. Soon after being appointed as the Education Minister, he became a “mathewnomist” and allowed the cronies’ syndrome in the “ Nigerian Rogue Republic ” to destroy his hard earned reputation. If not for the smart move of the sick president to engage Edo State Governor, Comrade Oshiomole, the university lecturers would have still been on strike by now. My condolences.
What of the information Minister, Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili? Is she not a paid town crier or better put, a paid piper. It is said that he who pays the piper detects the tune. Her once reckoned integrity as a NAFDAC boss is rather fast going down the drain as she hurriedly joins the cronies as evidenced in her mouth-watering “Nigerian Re-branding Project.” The first of such white elephant “re-branding” cost taxpayers 1.05billion; 750million in 2007 and 300million in 2008. In fact let Dora submit why she should not be stoned for failure to first, start rebranding herself and her cronies. The government favours the most diplomatic language. That’s why any proposal letter that Dora writes as long as it starts with, “Dear turkeys and foul maggots…", the money must be approved.

Vindication came to my way when a renowned World Evangelist, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai describes Dora’s “Rebranding Nigerian Project “as [an] other funny paper work” as reported by the PUNCH newspaper of Nov. 7th, 2009. Responding to the question “Do you believe in the campaign to rebrand Nigeria?” this highly respected and a balanced international gospel minister who has been described as belonging to the “class of Elijah the Tishbeth” retorts: “If you want to rebrand Nigeria, where do you start because we are so neck deep in corruption? If we are going to rebrand Nigeria ; I want to hear of one man who stole government money and returned that money to us. I want to hear of somebody who gave false accusation and send somebody to jail to rise up and say I told lies. I want hear a man who put his sister in-law in a family way to rise up and say, I did something I shouldn’t have done. I want to hear a woman say the child I am carrying does not belong to my husband. I want to hear the Police say we locked up somebody not because he was guilty but because he insulted us. Until the source of the spring is clean, the main river will never be clean. To me that is the beginning of rebranding. You cannot conquer what you cannot confront.”

I do not want to waste time talking about the petroleum Minister, Rilwan Lukman, the oldest minister “crony” who has been consolidating “Mathewnomics” since 1970s in which he has enjoyed one appointment or the other. He slammed the Vice President’s order and jetted out of the country to enjoy himself abroad while Nigerians suffer fuel scarcity. His grey hair is a disgrace to wisdom. Can Lukman leave his family while his house is on fire? He is a ruler, not a leader. Aondoakaa & Rilwan Lukman should be immediately shown the exit door because they have proved to be arrogant and lacks any respect for Nigeria (not even the VP). Lukman has outlived his usefulness to Nigeria , he has become a burden. This man has been in the system since 1970s and the rot in the oil industry has been increasing at high magnitude. He is part of the problem than solution. The energy Minister also should be sacked for his failure in delivering good results, in delivering 6000 megawatts of electricity in December 2009.

Professor Okowa sums it all when he wrote that “only the fool, the poor, and the weak may respect the law. The smart, the rich and the powerful owe the nation a duty to disrespect the law. Indeed, one could say that in contemporary Nigeria , a man’s importance may be measured by his ability to disregard the law, no thanks to the elite operators of the state.

At the 8th December, 1982 at the U.P.N. Congress (28 years ago, when Nigeria was only 22), VINTAGE AWO appears to be referring to the Dora’s “paid-paper work” of “Re-branding Nigerian Project when he said:
“Our current leadership is totally bereft of new ideas, and utterly incapable of evolving or devising solutions to our problems. It is also incapable of appreciating effective solutions or of how to apply them, even when these are presented to it unsolicited and on the platter.”
“Our Government is a source of despair at home and a disgraceful laughing-stock on the international scene. “We are regarded as a chicken-hearted giant with jelly-like physique. Africa has waited in vain for years for this giant to be conscious of its destiny and give the desired leadership: the world has also waited for it to realize its unique potential strength and make its influence felt in wholesome directions: but the world has, so far, had to wait in vain.”

How the Ruled Class Have failed Nigerians:
I now turn to the ruled class who, because of poverty sell their votes, and then sacrifice not only their future, but also that of their great grand children because of the pleasure of the present. When the ruled class mortgages their vote, that signifies sending a UPS letter to pick crumbs, and selling the conscience to challenge the leaders because you cannot eat your cake and have it. Every one of us is only as strong as members of the inner circle (the political elites) when we cast our votes wisely. Nobody can rise above us when we refuse to sell our birth right with a port of porridge. Let’s use our vote wisely and vote them out. Thus, the ruled class is also connected in the failed “bombing heaven” because of our inability to control our materialistic wishes and vote them out. They continues looting our treasury and sending their children abroad to study after messing ours.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole beate his chest and bragged that her “junior sister graduated from Oxfod University about two weeks ago…” and concludes “no one can stop [them, political elites] from sending their children abroad for quality education” (Vanguard, 21st Jan. 2010).Therefore we should expect more “bombing hell.” Except if we resolve to vote them out.
However, some critics who never have faith again in the “business call Nigeria ” may be pessimistic given the rigging theory of the Nigeria ’s ruling party, People’s Destructive Party, as Orji Uzor Kalu prefers. But I do not even agree with him. There are two other lesser known political parties that rules Nigeria , not even PDP. I will describe below.

The Only Two Political Parties in Nigeria :
Although INEC claimed to have currently registered about 57 political parties, I contend that they are two functioning political parties in Nigeria . They are Barabalistic Political Party (BPP) (Politics of Barabbas) and Abdulistic Political Party (APP) (Politics of Abdulahi) aka “Business Party.”

Barabalistic Political Party (BPP) (Politics of Barabbas):
It was the ebullient Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, who spoke of what he described as the politics of Barabbas. The Scriptures tell us that when Jesus was about to be crucified, a renegade known as Barabbas also faced the same fate. Pontius Pilate asked the crowd to choose whom they wanted executed, and they said they wanted the head of Jesus. So, they executed the man who brought them salvation and spared the bandit. When Abiola disengaged from the NPN. He said it was “a liberation from darkness in the search for truth.” He then quoted Christ who said “and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Abiola, the second best president that Nigeria never had (besides Awo, quoting Dan Agbese), and Murtala Mohammed were killed, while the Barabbas cliques, the likes of James Ibori, have been discharged and acquitted by the crony’s neo-colonial, and maggot infested court. BPP is a political party that does not allow the good ones: the Abiolas, Murtala Muhammed, the Joshuas and Calebs that will lead Nigerian nation to the promise land to remain alive. They are “wasted overnight.” Like Delegiwa, they are murdered with letter bomb or assassinated one foot away from police check point. The Nigerian police “fault” in turn shoots into the thin air, while the government opens up a legalized “pocket for stealing” and connect their cronies to loot Nigerian treasury in the name of “Commission of inquiry” whose inquest are never made known. Such commission of inquiry’s report on the gruesome murder of Delegiwa is yet to be submitted up till date. If they have submitted, of what use? Who then killed Delegiwa? Fela has the answer.

Abdulistic Political Party (APP) (Politics of Abdulahi) aka “Business Party”:
This reminds us of the legendary Abdul who want to make money without working all his life. It is Abdulistic political party that gave birth to the “Business Party” called Nigeria . The manifesto of APP is to teach people how to make money without working. We have a situation now in which those who work very hard typically have little to show for their hard work. On the other hand, those who are well connected to the controllers of the state can easily connect themselves to the fabulous wealth without working. Increasingly therefore, Nigerians are abandoning hard work as they try to get connected to the state. One time Senate President, Pius Anyim, once said that “The problem of Nigeria is not the uniform [Military rule] but with the psychology of Nigerians, because every Nigerian sees himself as an adventurer into the business call Nigeria and so, is concerned mainly with how much enters into his pocket.” (Punch of Sept. 14, 2001).

Terrorism:
Terrorism refers “The calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear).” On the other hand, there is also “State terrorism which refers to acts of terrorism conducted by governments.” Who are terrorists in Nigeria ?
Governor Adams Oshiomhole has the answer when he said “They [Nigerian political elites/government are the terrorists] have a history of using state apparatus to kill, to maim and to detain and I am warning them, the world is running out of patience with Nigeria, the world is mad that Nigeria cannot get its act together because of the activities of few criminals among us.” “But the problem is not with Nigerians; the problem is a small group of discredited politicians who have always lived fat on our people.” (Guardian, Jan. 20). Why the incessant wars and wanton destruction of lives and properties in the Northern Nigeria ? Why Northern Nigerian all the time? Why Niger Delta? Why? What is the role of the “lame government”?
“The world cannot understand why an election in Nigeria will be equivalent to war, the world cannot understand why a politician will insist that whether his people want him or not, he must win an election, that is why the world is dismissing Nigeria as a failed state because when the state cannot guarantee free and fair election, what can it guarantee?”When you hear America said that we are on the watch-list of terror, it is because the Americans are frustrated by the inability of the Nigerian state to organise itself because of the problem of abuse of office, the impunity with which elections are rigged and the level of corruption in our environment - those are the issues that the world is angry with Nigeria about. They can’t understand why Sierra Leoneans can do election, Nigeria cannot, they cannot understand why Ghana can do elections, opposition party defeats the government of the day and Nigeria cannot. If at 80, we are still into criminality, at 80 we are perfecting how to rig election, at 80 we are begging Inspector General of Police to give us policemen to help us commit crime, when we go because we won’t live for more than 100, this is the report card our God the creator will show us.” Contemporary Nigeria is a more sophisticatedly criminalized version of ancient Babylon .

Conclusion: In the Words of Nigerian Founding Fathers:
I can do no better than to end this piece with the Awo’s reflections on Nigeria . On the 8th of December, 1982 at the U.P.N. Congress (28 years ago, when Nigeria was only 22), VINTAGE AWO appears to be referring to our corrupt-maggot infested political elites in particular and the systemic corruption general of the present Nigerian state when he said:

“The society is getting more and more insecure. More people are going into crime and they are getting more ruthless, desperate and sophisticated. With the way the society is, it is a predictable result of a malignant environment dominated by man’s insensitivity to man.”

“The good people of this country, the entire lot of them, are entitled to live in reasonable comfort. Nature herself commands that this should be so. Our natural and mineral resources are super-abundant. Our human resources are just adequate for our purposes – not more, not less. The latter are awaiting to be fully developed and fully utilized, in order that we may explore and exploit the former to the optimum level. But so far they have been largely neglected.
“And the agglomeration of obtuse, supine and unawakened minds that are responsible for this criminal neglect want to continue – indeed perpetuate themselves in office.
“From all accounts, it can be said, without fear of valid contradiction, that Nigeria is about the most unsafe country in the world to live in, robbery by violence is endemic and is committed with impunity, even in broad day-light. Our roads, instead of being safe means of egress and ingress, are quicker avenues to death than any known deadly disease. Corruption is extolled and largely emulated: mediocrity is enthroned: industry and hard work is discouraged.

“The society is getting more and more insecure. More people are going into crime and they are getting more ruthless, desperate and sophisticated. With the way the society is, it is a predictable result of a malignant environment dominated by man’s insensitivity to man.
“The most serious of these negative consequences is the complete breakdown of law and order. Lawlessness is pervading now in Nigeria and the law enforcers are being overworked, stretched and overtly pressurised…we must all act concertedly now to forestall the likely natural occurrence of complete chaos because then, neither the oppressed nor the oppressor will have either succor or respite. When the morning of doom dawns, even the soldiers and the police will run for their lives. World histories have confirmed this.”

Unlocking the Mind of Our Nation With Our Votes:
How can the poor match against the rigging of their votes given the often used security operatives to perpetuate their rigging? But Professor Sam Omatseye reminds us that “Starvation is a legitimate greatest weapon of war.” The Nigerian police “fault” cannot match with the 150 million hungry-militarian Nigerians who live below 99 cent USD a day. It is the inability of the ruled class to use their vote wisely to vote out the rogues that perpetuates them in office. Let us rise, use our votes wisely and vote them out!
Neither BPP nor APP will rule us again. It is character that will determine whom we shall vote in. Without character, we will still have the usual promise: “to build bridge where there is no water” to borrow the words of Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai. It is only those with character that can deliver their economic promises. President Bill Clinton gave America its greatest economic expansion in history. Yet, when Al Gore, his vice-president and fellow traveler through those robust years, decided to run, they changed the message. The election, the Republicans said was about character. The Monica Lewinsky scandal helped to make George W. Bush the president.

The Power of Our Votes-More Powerful than Gun:
Speaking on the power of our votes, Lyndon B. Johnson wrote that “The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men”. For Abraham Lincoln “Ballots are the rightful and peaceful successors to bullets.” Franklin D. Roosevelt caps it all when he wrote “Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us.

The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.” Fellow citizens, it’s time to fundamentally change the way that we do business in Nigeria with our votes. To help build a new foundation for the 21st century, we need to reform our government so that it is more efficient, more transparent, and more creative. That will demand new thinking and a new sense of responsibility from every one of us. LET’S USE OUR GREATEST WEAPON, OUR VOTES TO VOTE THEM OUT!

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria !
May God bless Nigeria !!
Always, a proud Nigerian.
*Olugu Ukpai, a Ph.D student, School of Law, University of Reading , sent in this article from UK , and can be reached at oluukpaiolu@yahoo.com

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