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By Jerome-Mario Chijioke Utomi
The greatest problem of man is that man is the problem, Anonymous.
Aside from the time-honoured belief that the poverty (intellectual, economic, social, psychological and cultural) of any country is felt by the quality and quantity of its citizens, this piece primarily stemmed from a barrage of intra, inter, trans and cross-reactions that trailed my recently posted intervention entitled The Man Ortom; His Politics and Leadership Style.
Out of many, this piece will as a guide cite/highlight two.
While the first comment appears objective and emphasizes why followers should nimble in adopting, adapting and disseminating new discoveries and leadership efforts by some of their self-contained and quietly influential leaders like Dr Samuel Ortom, the Executive Governor of Benue State, the second for reasons that will be explained in subsequent paragraphs provided reasons to worry as it was not only stripped of process and outcome fairness but more than anything else qualifies as neither admirable nor glorious. It painfully amplifies the reality that as a people, we are yet to become acquainted with the fact that we face a choice about nation-building in a much larger context.
The first reads; I just read the incisive treatise you did on my governor, Dr Samuel Ortom. Thank you for your boldness in writing what you did. While many are lambasting and lampooning him for non-performance, you have taken a good look at the man and the good in him and have brought it out clearly for all doubting Thomases to see. I appreciate you. Keep doing what you are doing. Right thinking Nigerians are behind you.
The second said in part; Ortom hasn’t done much in the state – what policies has he put in place to alleviate the suffering of the common man? How has he harnessed the massive agricultural potentials of the state to ensure the state exports food abroad? What infrastructure has he put in place? Beyond propaganda, how has he secured the lives of his people?
Essentially, this second reaction did not come as a surprise. In fact, in my view, it is not Ortom but Nigeria-specific. There is nothing wrong, particularly when viewed peripherally, with demand for infrastructural provisions and the development of the state’s agricultural potentials. But, its context and assumptions, shows that there is something intrinsically out-of-order with the present reaction.
First, it paints a picture of a nation where the masses have been so economically and intellectually impoverished/disempowered by the deformed federal system to the extent that they now narrowly view leadership/governance as a mere ‘cement and concrete’ arrangement.
Again, it painfully speaks volumes as well as tells the story of a nation where the masses applaud and endorse ‘obsolete team management structure’ that cares less about rule of law, security of lives and property, discipline and economic planning but concentrates on the working assumption that doing is more important than thinking, execution more important than generating breakthrough ideas, and infrastructural provisions, more important than demand for true federalism and strong institutions. More often, the people applaud these choices of infrastructural provisions even when it is obvious that such infrastructures will be of no economic value/importance to the people.
While this piece sympathizes with the awkward position Nigerians are placed with this deformed mentality, it must, however, underline the fact that leadership, says Lee Kuen Yew, the pioneer Prime Minister, is more than just ability. It is a combination of courage, determination, commitment, character and ability that makes people willing to follow a leader and every nation needs people who are activists with good judgment and interpersonal skills to survive.
Likewise, the nation Nigeria needs confident and good-minded activists like Ortom to have a good nation. However, good the system of government or the constitution or system of government may be, bad leaders will bring harm to their people.
The likes of Ortom should be appreciated by Nigerians for acting as a check for other public officeholders. They should be commended for keeping vigilant adherence to the rule of law which strengthens our democracy and strengthens Nigeria by extension.
His advocacy prowess has ensured that those who govern us operate within our constitutional structure, which means that our democratic institutions play their role in shaping policy and determining the direction of our nation.
Rule of law, as we know, makes us stronger by ensuring that decisions will be tested, studied, reviewed, and examined through the processes of government that are designed to improve policy. And the knowledge that they will be reviewed prevents overreaching and checks the accretion of power. By the same token, whenever power is unchecked and unaccountable, it almost inevitably leads to mistakes and abuses. In the absence of rigorous accountability, incompetence flourishes. Dishonesty is encouraged and rewarded.
Even on the global stage, the likes of Ortom are not only highly-priced but well appreciated and given pride of place.
Take, as an illustration, evidence abounds, for those that can find it that, the absence of an enlightened nation-building programme after World War 1, coupled with the absence of global leaders with a combination of courage, determination, commitment, character to speak the truth, led directly to the conditions that made Germany vulnerable to fascism and the rise of Adolf Hitler and made all of Europe vulnerable to his evil designs. By contrast, after World War II, there was an enlightened vision embodied in the Marshall Plan, the UN, NATO, and all of the other nation-building efforts that in turn led directly to the conditions that fostered prosperity. This is precisely the role Ortom plays in the present democratic experiment in Nigeria.
Very germane, raising the issue about infrastructural development of the state and questions as to how has Ortom harnessed the massive agricultural potentials of the state to ensure the state exports food abroad and secured the lives of his people, in a country where the state Governor, as the chief security of the state, has no control over security apparatus in the state, portrays a lack of understanding about the nexus between development and security.
For a better understanding of this present argument, let’s listen to Stewart, a development expert as he argues that the development-security nexus has become central to the development and peace-building enterprises. He considers three types of connections between security and development, both nationally and globally: (a) security as an objective, (b) security as an instrument and (c) development as an instrument. Given these connections, he argued that security policies may become part of development policy because in so far as they enhance security, they will contribute to development. Conversely, development policies may become part of security policy because enhanced development increases security. Stewart finds that ‘societal progress requires reduced insecurity’ and that more inclusive and egalitarian development is likely to enhance security, he concluded.
From this spiralling awareness, flows issues that come in double folds; one, it is evident that Governor Ortom is development hungry and that informs his persistent calls on government at the centre/relevant agencies to provide adequate security in his state.
Secondly, Nigerians must recognize that infrastructure is important, but we must learn to ask for the development of strong institutions and uphold the rule of law. When strong institutions are in place and rule of law is adhered to by our public office holders, every other thing including but not limited to; namely, infrastructures, equity, justice, peace, human rights and economic development shall be added to it.
The choice is ours.
Utomi Jerome-Mario is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos. He could be reached via [email protected]/08032725374
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By Jerome-Mario Chijioke Utomi
The bitter truth is that presently, no nation best typifies a country in dire need of peace and social cohesion among its various socio-political groups than Nigeria.
Over the years, myriads of socio-political contradictions have conspired directly and indirectly to give the unenviable tag of a country in constant search of social harmony, justice, equity, equality, and peace.
In view of this fact, particularly as it is said that once the boundaries of the brain are adjusted by new knowledge, it will never regain its original shape, as we begin the year 2022, there are important actions/steps that the nation handlers must take in order to abort this unpalatable narrative.
In my view, the Federal Government must come to the recognition that Nigerians hitherto relegated to the background in the scheme of political and socio-economic affairs of their nation have finally come to term that sovereignty as provided for in Section 14 (2) (a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) belong to the people.
Hence, they are ready to hold the government accountable and make demands for prudent use of the nation’s resources.
The second and a very good one is that Nigeria as a nation, we ‘stand a better chance of not failing if its handlers abide by the basic principle that has helped other countries progress; social cohesion through sharing the benefits of progress, equal opportunities for all, and meritocracy, with the best man or woman for the job, especially as leaders in government’,
Going forward, Nigeria needs a sincere and selfless leadership, a politically and economically restructured polity brought by the national consciousness that can unleash the social, economic and political transformation of the country while rejecting the present socio-economic system that has bred corruption, inefficiency, a primitive capital accumulation that socially excluded the vast majority of our people.
The Federal Government must recognize, and position Nigeria to be a society of equal citizens where opportunities are equal and personal contribution is recognized and rewarded on merit regardless of language, culture, religion or political affiliations. If we are able to achieve this, it will once again, announce the arrival of a brand new great nation where peace and love shall reign supreme as no nation enjoys durable peace without justice and stability, without fairness and equity!
From the above explanation flows yet another question as to how?
The answer may not be explicit as this piece provides too short a space to explain and understand the above question. It is, however, spaced enough to state that if committed to mind, and acted upon in this 2022, there are strong indications that Nigeria’s challenge is predicated on inadequacies of, and failure by public office holders to generate breakthrough ideas and exacerbated by comprehensive incompetence to learn what the job of leadership is all about, made worse by the total absence of creative/innovative thinking and superior leadership communication.
To explain this fact, evidence abounds that Nigerians in the days of the oil boom in the 1970s witnessed the peak of economic successes. But when it seemed that the country would end up controlling the whole world, something prevented it.
The problem is that we failed to apply/use what we have learned from the successes of other countries to make informed national policies/decisions. This brought a marked economic decline and paved the way for other countries to overtake us both socially and economically.
This decline in Nigeria’s socio-economic growth and accelerated development of other nations are traceable to the existence of smart and banal leadership styles. The smart leaders that held sway of now developed countries spelt out every detail of their nation’s growth strategies into the future. They planned everything; they knew the job of leadership. The banal leaders on the other hand never got the big picture but only concentrated on the boring little details. They are good at analysing the nation’s political and socio-economic challenges with clarity but could not see the solution. This is a painful tale about our country.
To move forward and build Nigeria of our dreams, the nation-leaders need to reassess their priorities. The leaders/government must develop the ability to give every citizen a stake in the country and its future by subsidizing things that improve the earning powers of citizens- education, housing and public health.
Again, separate from providing good governance and granting Nigerians the love, attention and care they deserve, President Muhammadu Buhari must be ready to practice empathy, humility, communicate, accommodate, coach and invite the youths to start learning leadership through sincere political apprenticeship/appointments. It will be of a greater good in political and socio-economic terms if the Federal Government admits the reality that Nigerian youths are no longer ready to watch the political and leadership affairs of their nation from the political gallery.
Without a doubt, effective communication should be a skill that President Buhari must learn going forward if he is desirous of being described as a strategic leader when he must have gone. Humility should mean to him recognizing that he doesn’t know everything and some of his best strategies have flaws. His ability to practice empathy will create meaningful connections between him and the general masses.
Let Mr President remember that ‘a system that advertises complete absence of human kindness, exploits the weak and vulnerable in the society, much against the acceptable international practice, and places little or no value on human life is a destructive system’.
On their part, it is important that Nigerians continue to speak up against the violation of human rights, suppression of free speech and freedom of the press. They must not initiate, encourage or spread false, mischievous or divisive information capable, or with outright intent, of misleading the populace and disrupting societal harmony and peace. Within the ambience of the law, they must speak up with facts against any wrongdoing or oppression by the government or fellow citizens capable of endangering sustainable democracy and the effective delivery of good governance.
Also, Nigerians are in agreement that the law is the supreme instrument of the state which must be respected and no one is above the law. This particular fact if well understood will assist them (Nigerians) to comprehend that as citizens, they are constitutionally eligible to vote and be voted for.
Finally, ‘whenever and wherever words fail to impose order, anarchy prevails. Wherever and whenever signs fail to communicate noble ideas and ideals, humanity is diminished and impoverished’. Likewise, Nigerian political space at independence despite being an amalgam of multicultural, multi-religious and multilingual groups thrived peacefully on some values nourished. This harmonious existence, however, has since transformed into a chaotic coexistence. President Buhari’s ability to find answers to the nation’s disordered coexistence will be the most valid responsibility/performance in the present circumstance.
Utomi Jerome-Mario is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), a Lagos-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). He could be reached via [email protected]/08032725374.
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The beginning of a new year is always a special time when people are energized and excited to make resolutions and come up with ideas on how to make the year a great one.
Most would agree that it is a perfect time to celebrate your wins and reflect on your low points – a time to plan for the future and begin implementing positive changes in your life.
At the start of the year, anything and everything seems possible. And although many of us pursue new plans and goals with eagerness and vigour, somewhere along the line, the list of things we want to achieve feels too difficult, perhaps due to getting caught up in the all-too-familiar daily grind, or our schedules becoming too busy.
However, making your plans work doesn’t need to be difficult and stressful. The most important thing is to set yourself up for success. Here are tips that can help you:
Start with smaller goals
To have a greater year ahead, start your implementation plan with small goals. There’s nothing wrong with having small goals. Though they may not be as impressive to talk about, they’re much easier to stick with and see real results from. They are also easier to achieve on a regular basis, which means you can set them more often, build off them and constantly see yourself getting better.
Become inspired
Are you starting a business, or trying to further your education, or venturing into something new? It is key to learn how to inspire and motivate yourself. You need to approach each day in a positive way so that you can achieve. Get the right motivational tools such as books, videos, and documentaries that align with your plans and inspire you positively. Being inspired is one of the best ways to have a kinder year.
Live a healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle simply means doing things that make you happy and feel good. Most successful people understand and live by this important principle. It’s a pointer towards having a great year as this will allow you to perform at a high level on a consistent basis. You can start by getting into a normal sleep routine, allocating as much time for sleep as necessary to feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
Exercise is also fundamental to your overall health and wellbeing. It is an investment in your health, life, longevity, and productivity. You need to make time for regular exercise to provide yourself with strength, energy and vitality to be more effective as you pursue your goals.
Acquire new skills
Every goal and plan requires new actions, which typically require new skills. To achieve some of the plans you have set for yourself this year, you need to take a moment to examine yourself and identify those skills you would like to acquire. Skills are learnable, so once these skills have been identified, start sourcing people and resources that can help you to acquire those skills. The only people who become old-fashioned in business are those who stop learning new skills.
Don’t get distracted by chores
We all have those areas in the house we know need a really good clean, like windows, the shower walls or kitchen cupboards. You may not have the time or energy to tackle those chores, but having a list of tasks that never actually gets done is akin to having unfulfilled goals, and can make you feel demotivated. A study from Wake Forest University in North Carolina showed that, while tasks we haven’t done distract us, just making a plan to get them done can free us from this anxiety. This weekend, take a walk around the house and make a list of things you’d like to get done, then hire a domestic worker through SweepSouth Connect’s app to come in and help you. It’s amazing how just being in a cleaner, fresher space can make us feel instantly more positive.
Drink a toast to small successes
Big wins are great, but they’re rare and can take a long time to achieve. We often focus more on the big goal rather than the small and significant steps we need to take to get us there. Celebrating and acknowledging our small wins is a great way to motivate ourselves and garner the strength to keep pursuing the bigger picture. We need to realise that our big goals aren’t going to happen overnight, which is why we must celebrate our small successes as we achieve them.
Spend quality time with friends and family
One of the ways to have a great year is to be full of happiness all year round, and spending quality time with friends and family makes a big difference when it comes to happiness. According to Professor Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard social psychologist, “We are happy when we have family, we are happy when we have friends and almost all the other things we think make us happy are actually just ways of getting more family and friends.”
So, while money can’t buy you happiness, spending time with the ones you love is always a good investment!
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By Jerome-Mario Chijioke Utomi
Understandably, the major factor, says a report, that daily abbreviates the seriousness with which communication from public officials/offices are taken by the people is that generality of such information often makes the grade of ‘self-undermining’.
They are recurrently reputed for encouraging complacency as constituents perceive issues raised by the government has already been handled or the priority often always not in conformity with the will/opinion of the people on the action later taken.
As expected, similar feelings greeted the recent reassurance by the Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, that the federal government was ready to generate 25,000 megawatts of electricity in the country.
The Minister disclosed this in Katsina State recently during his inspection of several power transmission substation projects, including the ongoing windmill project located at Lambar Rimi in Charanchi Local Government Area of the state as part of efforts to enhance power-related businesses and other economic activities in the country.
Without any shadow of the doubt, the assurance by the Minister is by no means political and would have, for obvious reasons elicited some level of excitement among Nigerians. If not for any other reason, the power sector as we all know remains very critical to meeting our industrial development aspirations and power is especially important because many artisans have been thrown out of work while many manufacturing and textile companies closed shop due to epileptic power supply.
It affects the survival of humanity, our nation. After all, any nation, according to Barack Obama, former United States of America (USA) that cannot control its energy sources can’t control its future.
The validity of the above statements and the strategic role that electricity plays in the socio-economic development of any nation notwithstanding, Nigerians are no longer moved by such promise/assurance coming from the federal government in this direction.
What they anticipate from the government is no longer assurance but action, progress and result. In fact, in the estimation of many, the challenge of epileptic power supply in Nigeria can easily be likened to the proverbial cat with nine lives that have survived different administrations.
Nigerians are particularly not happy that instead of generating megawatts of electricity, successive administrations, including the present federal government, have become reputed for generating megawatts of assurances devoid of process and outcome fairness.
They (Nigerians) are now in agreement that the culture of promises when it comes to electricity generation and improvement by successive administrations now qualifies as a familiar music hall act.
This challenge is by no means President Buhari’s administration-specific. Rather, for those that followed the trend since 1999 when democracy re-emerged on the political geography called Nigeria.
Let’s cast a glance at some of these past developments/promises.
In 2005, the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, going by media reports, attempted to solve the power problem with the Power Reform Act which provided for the privatization of the power sector.
As part of that reform, the then National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), which was renamed Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), was to be unbundled for privatization. But the reform did not go far before Obasanjo left office in 2007. But before then, a report observed that he had sunk $16 billion into the NIPP without anything to show for it
Before the dust raised by such colossal waste and phantom promise could settle, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) in 2010 came up with a similar roadmap for electricity reform in the country.
During the launch of the programme, Mr Jonathan even boasted saying; “As President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I and my Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo, GCON, is conscious that what we do with the Nigerian electricity supply industry will go a long way in determining whether Nigeria remains in darkness or joins the rest of the world in the race for development.
“Our commitment is to bring an end to our nation’s stunted growth and usher in the fresh air of prosperity by pursuing a new era of sector-wide reform which is driven by improved service delivery to every class of customers in the Nigerian electricity sector. Promising that with diligent implementation and meticulous application of what this Roadmap provides, we will see an end to the chronic electrical power supply shortages.”
Again, to lend credence that Jonathan’s electricity roadmap was on course, Professor Chinedu Nebo, the then Minister of Power, in 2013 told Nigerians and the entire world that President Jonathan’s power sector privatization process was on and already.
Successful bidders, he said, had paid 25 per cent of the bid-offer. They are expected to pay the remaining 75 per cent in less than 90 days after which they would take possession of the distribution companies. Also, Nebo going by reports had said that the handing over of the national integrated power projects, NIPP, would make power supply more stable soon.
Regrettably, as at the time of his departure from office in May 2015, there were neither traces of appreciable increase in power generation or the promised fresh air of prosperity.
In 2015, the All Progressives Congress (APC) led the federal government emerged.
The party had in the previous year, as part of its draft manifesto, promised to revitalize the nation’s power/energy sector. According to the party, its power supply programme would vigorously pursue the expansion of electricity generation and distribution up to 40,000 megawatts in four to eight years. The party would also work assiduously at making available power from renewable energy sources such as coal solar, wind and biomass for domestic and industrial use, wherever they are visible.
In the year 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government, sequentially launched a roadmap for the nation’s power sector.
Without going into specific concepts or approaches contained in that move, the roadmap which according to government sources form a part of the outcome of meeting President Muhammadu Buhari held with a German Chancellor, Angela Merkel on August 31, 2018, will have Nigeria partner with the German government and Siemens, in implementing projects geared towards resolving challenges in the sector, expand capacity for future power needs and supply in Nigeria.
To continue with the season/culture of promise/excuses that have in the past ‘produced monument of nothingness’, President Buhari during a nationwide broadcast on June 12, 2020, among other things stated; “The power sector remains very critical to meeting our industrial development aspirations and we are tackling the challenges that still exist in the delivery of power through different strategies.
“We are executing some critical projects through the Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme including the: Alaoji to Onitsha, Delta Power Station to Benin and Kaduna to Kano, 330KV DC 62KM line between Birnin Kebbi and Kamba, Lagos/Ogun Transmission Infrastructure Project, Abuja Transmission Ring Scheme, and Northern Corridor Transmission Project. Our agreement with Siemens will transmit and distribute a total of 11,000 Megawatts by 2023, to serve our electricity needs.”
Today, both the nation and the administration are yet to depart that season of promise/reassurance.
Certainly, while I believed and still believe in the FG’s effort to ensure stable electricity in the country, the truth must be told to the effect that the whole gamut of failures is standing on the tripod of corruption, policy summersault and lack of sincere political will/desire by the nation’s handlers to engage best minds to help get the answers and deploy the resources we need to move the sector in the right direction while achieving the result we need as a nation.
This piece further holds the opinion that at the most basic level, it is evident that what Nigerians need is the result, not assurance or reassurance; they want to see and enjoy stable electricity supplied at a very reasonable tariff regime. Outside this, this season of doubt will continue.
Jerome-Mario Chijioke Utomi is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos. He could be reached via [email protected]/08032725374.
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