ASUU and The Hardest Choice

 I have been thinking and reflecting on ASUU's predicament as a trade union. The union has been on strike for months now and no salaries coming for the research done, community services rendered and other things done for the country like this agitation for a new vista. 

My time for reflection is often when I walk in the morning. I have been asking myself: "What is the next thing to do?" The day after the meeting where academic staff insisted the strike must continue until the #FGN responds responsibly, I was walking along a deserted road and it was as if my colleagues were not eager to hit the road to somewhere very early. As I was counting my steps to fitness absentmindedly, I saw a boy who was standing by the roadside enjoying the fresh unpolluted air. Our eyes met and I wondered why he was up so early missing the comfort of his bed. I took a look at his T-shirt and, with my reading glass, I read what was inscribed on the shirt. I memorized it because it was loaded with meaning. As I walked I thought about it. Is this another golden-tongued wisdom? Life has many ways of bringing an answer when there is a question. The inscription was: "The hardest choices are made by those with the strongest will". I remembered another aphorism: "Where there is a will, there is way". Does it mean that ASUU has no other choice, but to continue on strike with the will of a determined union? We have put on our thinking caps to solve our problems collectively.

Looking for allies in the "Fuel War" in Nigeria

I am gladdened each time I remind myself that Nigeria is a great Nation because we have the people and human resources with the potential to positively  transform the nation. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi made my day when I read his thoughts expressed long ago. The build-up of his argument was intellectual and agreed with my economic reasoning. I wonder whether the members of the Economic Council have good background in Economics of Developing Countries. They should really be given some books to read. Meanwhile they could start with the Sanusi piece by clicking on the excerpt highlighted below!!!!!

 

"Economic policies aimed at reducing subsidies, unraveling the welfare state, widening income distribution inequalities and increasing the suffering of our masses to fuel obscene profiteering must be resisted. However, we ought to applaud debt repayment/cancellation, due diligence and increased transparency, a fight against corruption and drug trafficking, and those steps taken by the likes of Okonjo-Iweala, Mansur Muhtar, Nasir el-Rufai, Nuhu Ribadu, Oby Ezekwesili and Dora Akunyili to improve our image as a nation and reform the economy and society."

Making a sense of OBJ

"I have never participated in any coup, but I have been a beneficiary of a coup. I believe, for instance, that we in Nigeria, on the whole, we would have been better off without coups. We keep learning, and we keep improving. I believe that this is the third election we have in this dispensation. I believe we are improving in the quality of people that are coming up. The first election in 1999, many people didn’t believe it would work, so, they kept away. Some even told me I was a fool." OBJ

The interview of OBJ in a recent newspaper publication was an interesting reading to me. Nigerian leaders like OBJ must keep the history of Nigeria outside the realm of conjecture. There are many lessons to be learned from him. Perfection is achieved by adding positively and removing the militating factors.

Housing Sector Development in Nigeria

Kindly read this article:

How to reduce dearth of Nigeria’s housing stock

It provides insights as to what government must do now to solve the problem of housing deficit, slum development and crowded cities. After the GRAs, there are no decent places to live in Nigeria.

Opposition: Who is covering the milestones and road signs?

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Opposition: Who is covering the milestones and road signs?

Why Vote GEJ?

1) He represents a paradigm. An impossible permutation made possible by a transformational evolution of fresh values in politics. It speaks eloquently about minority rights in country attached to the dominance of three tribes.
2) He is a personality I can trust with the future of democracy.
3) He has responded to trade unions and taken favourable actions on issues that bother me. Other candidates have historical traits that will negate GEJ's current position.
4) He is unassuming and can accept the position of the weak in a struggle. Quite poised to see another side of the argument. He listens and acts, with a research orientated approach to national problems.
5) He has a national outlook and believes in the slow tangible progress we make as a nation. He preaches peace and advocates an inclusive government.
6) He is fighting corruption under the law by creating an environment for the flow of information and strengthening institutions that will adjudicate in breaches of the law.
7) He has displayed better emotional balance than other candidates.
8) He is an academic and can accept intellectual challenge from Nigerians here and abroad.
9) He is our hope to break away from the past, so that history does not repeat itself ingloriously. 10) .........etc.
If you research and look at all the issues, you will vote GEJ. PDP has a problem, yes! All the parties do. Do your best for Nigeria.

Reflection on Nigerian Politics of Opposition

The essence of the opposition in politics is NOT to cover the milestones and road signs on the highways built in a democracy. The opposition is, rather, expected to highlight and point out the clearer paths to greatness of a nation.


A good road for the journey in a democratic process is built by politicians who play by the rules and have true sense of patriotism without inordinate taste for power.

Politicians must not love power and hate to lose it. Those who truly love Nigeria will always have the power to govern because they will be called or beckoned to serve.

Opposition in politics is not about creating crises for the sake of relevance. Opposition is creating visions that remove illusions in the minds of people to make better choices.