We can do better

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I forgot to say a Merry Christmas and a truly wonderful new year to everyone. Albeit that this Christmas wasn't at all merry for some. My cousin lost his wife in a fatal car accident two Saturdays ago. December will never be the same for him again. The realisation that he could do nothing to save her must be crushing. I pray that god will give the entire family of the Adebiyis the Grace to bear this loss. If you hear the way some men talk to their wives you would think they want them dead. If my cousin could turn back the hands of time, he would take back every put down and less than nice word he ever said to his wife. I sure will learn to appreciate mine a bit better. She's in the hospital with my son who has a respiratory infection. He's going home today though. Just in time to move to our new house. I went there this morning and saw the ghastly work that had been done. Some lout who was hired to paint the place did such a sloppy job that the entire thing has to be redone.

Makes we wonder why excellence is not celebrated in Nigeria anymore. Everybody wants to cut corners, jump queues, use substandard materials and generally do the worst they can possibly do. I remember the buildings put up in my University in the 60s and 70s are much better looking than those put up in the 90s. Are we getting worse? I don't think we need Oyinbo people to do everything for us. Nigerians are talented and industrious and honestly...we can do better. We certainly can do better. It takes discipline and rigour but it can be done.

Merry Xmas Naija style

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Xmas has come and gone with most of it spent queuing for fuel. We were all still grumbling about having to buy black market fuel when the sad sad news of how several hundred Nigerian citizens driven by poverty to commit suicide were roasted to death. Some people blame them for their deaths but I also lay the blame on poverty. If I can afford to eat three square meals, it is not likely that I will risk being burnt alive for a few thousand Naira. Honestly, this has to stop. Some touts who were interviewed said they will continue to vandalise pipelines and steal fuel because it is either they die of hunger or they face the risks inherent in carrying out such a dastardly act. I really feel for the families of the people who died in the explosion. Yet another tragedy that could have been adverted.

I spent the first two hours of today queuing for fuel and fighting some rascals who were trying to jump the fuel queue. I wonder what posseses responsible Nigerians to do such things. I asked a man at the filling station what he would say to his children if he saw them jumping a line at school. His answer? That is a completely different situation. He kept asking me "aren't you a Nigerian?" As if Nigerian and lawless lout mean the same thing. This just has to stop. Period.

In the interest of peace

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The ANPP and AC primaries have shown why the PDP is the dominant political party in Nigeria. As undemocratic as the PDP is, it was still able to conduct its Presidential primaries in a seemingly transparent and equitable manner. The ANPP primaries were simply a joke. A well thought out and acted script with Muhammadu Buhari as the "actor" or should I call him the "boss". I wonder why the others bothered collecting forms?! The AC was no better with Atiku as the sole candidate. My guess is as good as yours as to how all this will end.

Goodnight and goodluck

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The last couple of days have been interesting. First of all, my wife set me up by getting a very senior person in my company to call me and tell me that I had to have an urgent meeting. I was worried that I had done something wrong. Turns out she planned a surprise dinner and wanted to get me out of the house. God bless wives for their ingenuity! And mine for always thinking about our happiness. Second, one Umar Yar'adua has emerged as the ruling PDP flag bearer. He is to be assisted by one Goodluck Jonathan. All of this so that the PDP can continue to rule Nigeria through a shadow government known as the PDP board of trustees. Is this what we have been reduced to? I would have offered the consolation that the opposition parties will form a coalition and field a consensus candidate. But no, selfish ambition and chop I chop politics won't let the AC and ANPP choose between Atiku Abubakar and Muhammadu Buhari.

Let's even assume that both parties decide to field separate candidates. We are left with the choice of Yar'adua, Buhari and Atiku. We are really spoilt for choice this time around. What exactly is the PDP's plan? And what will become of the opposition parties. Vibrant politics requires strong opposition parties to keep the ruling party in check. And unlike the past when politicians could leave the PDP and still remain relevant, there is nothing to leave to again...

While I feel comfortable with Yar'adua because of his integrity and prudence, I can't seem to articulate his vision for Nigeria. Granted that corruption is a major problem in Nigeria, lack of visionary leadership is also a problem. Can this man rise to the occasion and continue what Chief Olusegun Obasanjo started? Can he break the mold and recast a new vision for Nigeria or will it continue to be business as usual like a dog chasing its tail?! Like I keep saying, we need something different and we need it now!

I'm not indispensable

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I'm still feeling a bit groggy from all the drugs I pumped into my frail body over the last couple of days. While I was away, a lot of the work got done and the fact that some things didn't get done didn't bring the office to a complete standstill. I missed out on the news but this morning heard that one Mr. Yar'Adua has been tipped to win the PDP Presidential primaries. I'll have to read all the news analyses to form an opinion on this.

While lying down on my bed this morning, I got a call calling for an urgent meeting from someone unexpected. I'll know if the call means I've been given a triple promotion or something of the sort by tomorrow. Just a couple of weeks ago I went to visit a friend who has been ill for the last five months. I was still feeling bad about seeing her so emaciated that I came to the conclusion that you can't do anything to guarantee your good health. Besides, if you die today the earth will not stop spinning. I guess someone should have told the third termists this fact before tried to convince us otherwise. A smart friend of mine told me that Nigerians will regret not allowing Baba run for a third term. This is the same ideology that some people are indispensable. I'm not indispensable and neither is any Nigerian. Let's reflect on this as we choose our leaders.

Africa and malaria

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I'm just recovering from a breakdown so I haven't been able to post to my blog in some days. I was down with Malaria or so it seems. I also had a stress induced migraine. I'm going to be taking it easy over the next couple of days so I enter the new year in good health. God has been telling me to relax but I foolishly believed my body was made of highly tempered steel. My advice to all of you out there, get some well deserved R & R this season. The planet will function with or without you so don't start to feel indispensable.

Is the world really flat?

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I just got a book called the world is flat which takes a practical view of globalisation. I have only just started to read it but the concept already scares me. Why? India and China are being touted as the new economic superpowers, America will resurge from the effects of offshoring and Europe will... still be Europe. South America, because of it's close proximity will begin to supply even more sophisticated services to the US. The idea is that advances in ICT will create a level playing field. Bangalore will be as accessible and wired as Silicon Valley. It won't matter where goods and services come from as long as they are cheaper, better quality and get to the user faster. So where does that leave Africa?

As a provider of natural resources which we are immensely blessed with. Unfortunately, we are unable to add value to our natural resourcs. We export cotton and import expensive textiles, cocoa for chocolates, oil for gasoline etc. China is already attempting to secure our oil and they will move on to other resources. Nigeria has the potential to become another BRIC economy (Brazil, Russia, India and China) but it takes men of great vision to take us there. Our problem is not natural resources nor infrastructure. What we lack is vision about the sort of country we want to create. So far, we have tried to be a little bit of everything thus creating a sort of Frankenstein's monster. All we need is one leader with a strong enough vision to infect each and every Nigerian. Joan of Arc infused a sense of nationalism in the French and enabled them route the English. All this at just seventeen. So it doesn't matter how old you are are what sex you are. All that matters is you have a vision you are willing to stick your neck out for.

Which brings me to a hot topic at then moment... The PDP primaries. The calibre of candidates is embarrassing. Is this the best we can do? Where are the Nasirs, Ngozis, Emeka Anyaokus etc. When will serious people begin to seek elective office? Anyway, I don't feel like writing about this anymore. What's the worse that could happen? So let's think straight for once and get our act together.

Kshorty1

PDP primaries

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The next President of Nigeria may be decided in the next 10 days. This presupposes that PDP's stranglehold on Nigerian politics will result in the party's flagbearer automatically becoming President of Nigeria. Candidates for all elective posts will be decided at the PDP primaries on December 16. There a couple of issues that need to be analysed in order to accurately predict the outcome of the PDP primaries.

Will the North's desire for power to be returned be acceded to?
Will the PDP's preference be for a Governor?
Will the South-South finally get their shot?

If the last two questions are Yes, then the two candidates in contention will be Peter Odili or Donald Duke. Which of these two will make a better President given their antecedents in Rivers and Cross Rivers respectively? At this point I will not venture to suggest a name except to say that we need a break from the past. Most of the other front runners represent what we are trying to leave behind. Or do we want to take one step forward and ten steps back. What we require at this point in time is what my consultant friends like to call a "paradigm shift".

Back to the topic at hand. Who do you think will pick the PDP Presidential ticket?

Kshorty1