Category: Politics

A “New Nigeria,” What Will It Take?

Nigeria is a nation that is in desperate need of visionary leadership. For decades, we have depended on leaders who have no clear understanding of the depth of our problems as a nation, and lack the vision necessary to create impact. Our leaders make promises and fail because they are unwilling to undergo due process and carry out feasibility studies on how proposed projects can be implemented and sustained, as well as the supporting structures that must be in place to ensure long-term success.

We are left with a country that is broken from top to bottom, and a social service system that cannot meet the needs of its people. Our roads need improvement, our educational system needs to be updated to meet the demands of the 21sth century, and we need more creativity in our teaching methods to ensure that our graduates are well prepared for the work-force. We need quality improvements in our healthcare system, as well as some form of subsidized health services to ensure better outcomes for many Nigerians who would otherwise not access healthcare because of the cost.

We need leaders who understand that what we choose to ignore today will continue to cripple our nation, leaving our children and grandchildren to pay the price of our negligence. In the past, we accepted empty campaign promises along with all the gifts they distribute as a campaign tool to solicit our support. We have allowed tribalism and political affiliations direct how we vote. As a result, we have created recycled politicians who are well versed in sustaining a corrupt system, as long they are compensated and do not suffer the social ills experienced by the average Nigerian.

Thanks to the “Not Too Young to Run” policy, we now have several candidates with diverse backgrounds who may be able to turn the tide for Nigeria in 2019. We know that most people change once they have power and are corrupted by the existing influences within the system. However, we must remain hopeful that among the 2019 candidates, we may finally have leaders who can identify with Nigerians and will not bow to the wills of greedy political “God fathers.” We need leaders who are passionate about Nigeria and understand the importance of investing in our most valuable resource, the people.

We need leaders who understand the value of maintenance, as we have had multiple projects initiated in the past, while incoming leaders ignore projects by previous administrations and allow it to decay. This a waste of our nation’s resources, and we must find ways to improve and sustain projects that are making a positive impact in the society, while consolidating investments that no longer serve us. For example, if a governor builds a facility that was unable to meet the purpose for which it was built, the government should look to sell it to private institutions and utilize the funds for other valuable projects instead of allowing the building to decay.

We are desperate for leaders who are willing to establish standards and work hard to maintain it in all levels of public service. We can no longer continue to watch our leaders defect from one political party to another during the election season, with the hopes of building coalitions and continuing to perpetuate the status quo. We have had enough, and must join forces to make our voices heard in 2019. We need to consider young political parties like Alliance For New Nigeria whose vision is founded on bringing tangible change to Nigerians.

We need hope in our nation’s future and musts start now to reverse the ills of the past; to let go of corruption and misappropriation of public funds, and the mockery which we have allowed in our political offices. We must understand that public service is a call of destiny, and what we do with that opportunity can impact a generation. Therefore, we must not waste our political leadership opportunities on frivolous living and gross negligence, but we must commit our tenures to improving the lives of Nigerians and giving them a future that is brighter than yesterday.

 

Written By:

Dr. Idongesit Udoh Bassey

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND WHAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING LEADERSHIP IN 2019

 

  1. Accountability: Accountability means that our public officials in all levels of government (local, state, federal) are answerable to each other and to the citizens. Therefore, they are required to account for what happens within the country, and intervene within the limits of their assigned position and responsibilities to ensure the safety and well-being of the people.
  2. Transparent: Good governance calls for transparency between the government and the people. This is done through consistent provision of information that allows for clearer understanding of government processes and methods to monitor those processes. This helps to prevent corruption and promotes trust within the system
  3. Responsive: A responsive government intervenes to maintain stability and avoid crisis by addressing the needs of all stakeholders. A responsive government creates and upholds policies to address loopholes within the system. For example, after the recent tanker fire incident on a Lagos bridge, a responsive government will implement and enforce laws that reduce the risk of that happening in the future.
  4. Effective/Efficient: Good governance calls for effective and efficient processes. Recourses need to be maximized, and there must be a balance between the need for a project and its cost-effectiveness. For example, sharing the recently returned loot money to “poor Nigerian households” as reported in the news, will not improve the lives of Nigerians in any way. However, investing that money in education and healthcare may have a more sustained benefit for the nation.
  5. Equitable/Inclusive: Good governance calls for equality and inclusion. This means that the rights of all citizens are valued, and the wellbeing of all members are prioritized in policy making and program allocations. No groups should be neglected based on tribe, culture, or religious differences.
  6. Participatory: A good government allows for participation of its citizens in the development and implementation of policies because the citizens’ experiences and exposures can inform the government on the needs of the people, and where resources should be directed. Citizens should be able to access their immediate leaders at the local level, who then advocate for the concerns of his or her constituents at the national level.
  7. Follows the rule of law: Good governance calls for a fair law system where no one is above the law and the rights of all citizens are protected.
  8. Consensus-Oriented: A good government is conscious about the views of the larger population and seeks the best interest of all. It involves mediating different viewpoints and interests to arrive at a consensus that would benefit the entire group.
  9. Strategic Vision: Good governance calls for strategic vision in determining short and long-term goals for the country, and what to do to achieve those goals within the designated time frames. It also requires understanding of competing variables including social, financial, cultural, and historical factors that may influence those goals, and developing methods to mitigate those factors.
  10. Ubuntu: The word “ubuntu” is embodied in the words “compassion” and “humanity.” Our leaders need to stretch the limits of their compassion for our people, and look to alleviate suffering by collectively acting and making policies to improve the well-being of Nigerians.

Written By:

Dr. Idongesit Udoh Bassey

Arise Nigeria, Arise !!!

There comes a time in human existence when a group of people have to choose a path. Either stay the course and continue on the path of struggle, mediocrity, and further destruction, or take a stand and fight to redeem the nation and leave an inheritance for future generations. Nigeria is at that crossroad, where we risk losing the value of the democracy we obtained in 1960 if we continue to stand and watch as the nation is being stripped of its identity, and the future more uncertain.

The question we all have to ask ourselves is this; how did we get here? We got here because of negligence on the path of leadership and citizens to look out for the well-being of all, rather than a select few. We got here because we failed to adopt a culture of maintenance and diligence towards the preservation of our national treasures. We got here because despite the blessings we have in natural resources, we failed to seek understanding on how to manage our resources and maximize our revenues. We are here because at so many instances we lacked vision, direction, and passion for our people and nation.

Chief Seattle once said “man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to that web, he does to himself.” What are we doing to our web of life as Nigerian citizens? Are we destroying it? How are we contributing to the challenges we face as a nation? Are we willing to become a part of the solution? What is the limit of our compassion? Are we able to see those who are suffering because of the failed systems in the country? Can we see that the young are most affected, and their futures more bleak? How about the poor children in the villages who do not have enough to eat on a daily basis, and may not have an opportunity to obtain an education? Are they not deserving of a brighter future? Think of our broken down educational system, particularly institutions of higher learning. What will it look like in the future if not fixed today? We can also speak of millions of youths who have completed higher education but remain unemployed. How will they grow and contribute to society, if they have no platform to build their skills and display their talents?

Chief Seattle went on to say “take only memories, leave nothing but footprints.” This statement speaks to the fact that what we do today determines the Nigeria that our children and grandchildren will inherit. Are we creating footprints? Will our footprints lead to a destination that is greater than where we started in 1960? We have to understand that many of the great policies and social institutions we admire in foreign countries were envisioned and implemented by leaders who saw opposition and challenges, but pushed through to establish something that made their nations better for the citizens. Most of these leaders did not see the full manifestation of their vision while in office, but they left traceable footprints that enabled incoming leaders to continue to improve on what was started, allowing the changes or projects to stand the test of time.

The president just launched a “change begins with me campaign.” It does not matter what our political affiliations are, this campaign should speak to the core of all Nigerians. What part are we going to play in our communities and our nation in order to establish the changes we want to see? Look around you. Do you see schools in your community with broken amenities that can benefit from your donation? Have you gone to your local healthcare facility recently? What is lacking that you have the power to provide or help improve? Can our elected leaders begin to value the lives and experiences of those who voted them into office? Will our leaders ensure that our resources are not diverted, misused or wasted? Can we seek to maintain transparency and accountability to our nation and the future of our children? Will our business men and women commit to provide quality and efficient services while maintaining honesty throughout?

As a doctor, are you ready to deliver ethical care within the limits of your expertise and provide timely referral and transfers for complex cases that need a higher level of care? As a senior nurse with years of experience, are you willing to mentor your colleagues and bring structure to the way nursing care is delivered at your facility? Will our teachers rise up to inspire and mentor students, teach them to value integrity and respect the rights of their fellow man? Can our students commit to careful use and maintenance of the structures in our schools? As a person with great wealth, can you go back to your Alma Mata, and pay some of the salaries of a group of teachers and professors who may not have been compensated for their work for several months?

Let us start today, stand for the truth, stand for one another, stand for our children and their children. Let us stand for the identity and future of our nation. We all have our roles to play in this movement. We can do so in our communities or advocate in the corridors of power. We have a shared responsibility to take back the values of our nation, and rebuild our Jerusalem. Our contributions to bring the changes we want to see may be small or big, but we must not underestimate the impact we will create, as we all drop a piece of goodwill in our web of life, and watch as our web becomes stronger and redefines the color of our tomorrow.

written by Dr. Idongesit Udoh