The writer disassociates himself from any 51st independence anniversary celebration. Instead of celebration, we should weep for Nigeria. The reason is because our past and present “rulers” have failed the nation. The Nigerian masses have also failed the nation, for failing to realize their power to positively change the nation. Citizens’ empowerment is needed in every sphere of life. Imagine citizens’ full support for the fight against bad governance, injustices, crimes, corruption, kidnapping, raping, etc. Each of us owes the country a duty to help empowerment our fellow citizens. Again, the country needs a fundamental restructuring. May God bless Nigeria.
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An Activist and Citizens Journalist.
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com
Monday, November 7, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Citizens, Media and Crime Fighting.
“The fate of the nation then lies in the hands of the faithful” Time Magazine, September 26, 2011. Page 27.
Greater number of Nigerians (home and abroad), have risen in unison to condemn the Abia State University gang rape. Also the Nigerian media have shown tremendous support to make sure the animals (rapists) are apprehended. The pressure from Nigerians and the Nigerian media have led to the arrest of some suspects in the rape case. Though the police is yet to give details of the arrested suspects, the writer urges Nigerians to keep the pressure. Permit me to use this medium to ask Nigerians to volunteer information that will lead to the arrests and prosecution of the remaining rapists and other criminals. An injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere. What affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Therefore, Nigerians owe each other the duty to cooperate in the fight against crimes.
One thing has caught my attention in the case of the Abia State University gang rape, and that is the unity amongst many Nigerian media house, online blogs, internet forums etc to catch these culprits. While fighting to make sure justice is done, the writer appeals to Nigerians, Nigerian media, NGO’s etc to adopt this approach in other crime fighting strategies. The media has a bigger to role play. First by alerting the public of criminals, by published their names and pictures. Secondly, by calling on law enforcement agencies, to act. Thirdly, keeping pressure on the law enforcement agencies and the legal system to make sure justice is done.
Security is the responsibility of all Nigerians. If the citizens do not watch over their city, the police men/women stay awake in vain. And let’s remember what Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”. More so, “The fate of the nation then lies in the hands of the faithful” Time Magazine, September 26, 2011. Page 27. It will definitely be a good idea for fellow citizens to keep surveillance and spy on people whose motives and movements appear suspicious. No price is too much to pay for our security. May God Bless Nigeria.
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An Activist and Citizens Journalist.
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com
Greater number of Nigerians (home and abroad), have risen in unison to condemn the Abia State University gang rape. Also the Nigerian media have shown tremendous support to make sure the animals (rapists) are apprehended. The pressure from Nigerians and the Nigerian media have led to the arrest of some suspects in the rape case. Though the police is yet to give details of the arrested suspects, the writer urges Nigerians to keep the pressure. Permit me to use this medium to ask Nigerians to volunteer information that will lead to the arrests and prosecution of the remaining rapists and other criminals. An injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere. What affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Therefore, Nigerians owe each other the duty to cooperate in the fight against crimes.
One thing has caught my attention in the case of the Abia State University gang rape, and that is the unity amongst many Nigerian media house, online blogs, internet forums etc to catch these culprits. While fighting to make sure justice is done, the writer appeals to Nigerians, Nigerian media, NGO’s etc to adopt this approach in other crime fighting strategies. The media has a bigger to role play. First by alerting the public of criminals, by published their names and pictures. Secondly, by calling on law enforcement agencies, to act. Thirdly, keeping pressure on the law enforcement agencies and the legal system to make sure justice is done.
Security is the responsibility of all Nigerians. If the citizens do not watch over their city, the police men/women stay awake in vain. And let’s remember what Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”. More so, “The fate of the nation then lies in the hands of the faithful” Time Magazine, September 26, 2011. Page 27. It will definitely be a good idea for fellow citizens to keep surveillance and spy on people whose motives and movements appear suspicious. No price is too much to pay for our security. May God Bless Nigeria.
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An Activist and Citizens Journalist.
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com
Diaspora Resources.
Our natural resource(s) extends beyond our borders. By this, the author means, our abundant human resources in Diaspora. It’s not in doubt that over 19 million of us live in Diaspora. Therefore, before calling for foreign direct investment or calling on foreigners to come and invest in Nigeria, the first call should be on fellow Nigerians to come home and invest. After all, charity begins at home. India has experimented this model with massive economic boosts. Meanwhile, in the absence of oil revenue, remittances from Nigerians in Diaspora accounts for the second largest source(s) of foreign exchange. Who then should drive this change, for more economic boost from our folks abroad?
Government, organized private sector, NGO’s, and Nigerians should focus more on this under tapped sector of our economy. Some private sector establishments have performed creditably well in this direction. I could recall several job fairs/recruitment drives organized in UK by some many Nigerian firms. It will be a good idea for the private sector to continue, driving this initiative of tapping into our foreign human resources/reserves.
For our economy to develop, there is need for competitiveness with other emerging economies. Here our human reserves in Diaspora, comes handy to complement the human resources at home. There is also the need to inject technological and skills transfer into our system. The cheap way to do this will be to start taping into these huge resources/reserves overseas.
The author has been privileged to meet a lot of Nigerians who came to United Kingdom, looking for projects to copy and domesticate in Nigeria. The author also belongs to the school of thoughts that believes technology should be copied. The Asian tigers copied western technologies, and today their economies are even ahead of some European nations. Till date, the author is yet to see any nation prosecuted for coping technology. For those who produce Aba made etc, my advise is for them to copy better technology so as to improve on their qualities and quantities.
The author suggests synergy and sincerity between people at home and those in Diaspora. With trust and confidence, more investments will flow into our economy. It’s important for Nigerians on both sides of the divide to establish trust. The passion to come home and invest runs high in every Nigerian I have come across in the west. Lack of trust is amongst one of the stumbling blocks to foreign capital inflow.
Another reason is that, East, West, North or South, home is the best. In fact, the moment you board a foreign airline leaving Nigeria, you become a second class citizen (It doesn’t matter if you have American, British, Canadian, European or Chinese citizenships). In these circumstances, you have no choice but to appreciate home. Furthermore, when one eventually arrives the western countries, social mobility becomes too difficult. Assimilation is near impossible. Racism is rife. Xenophobia and anti immigration sentiments are on the high, examples being the mass shooting at a Norwegian youth camp and the rise of far right political groups/parties.
In all, the author understands that, there are a lot the government can do to facilitate tapping into our huge human resources/reserves in Diaspora. But for obvious reasons, let’s pretend the government do not exist and let the citizens lead this approach. May God bless Nigeria.
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An Activist and Citizens Journalist.
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com
Government, organized private sector, NGO’s, and Nigerians should focus more on this under tapped sector of our economy. Some private sector establishments have performed creditably well in this direction. I could recall several job fairs/recruitment drives organized in UK by some many Nigerian firms. It will be a good idea for the private sector to continue, driving this initiative of tapping into our foreign human resources/reserves.
For our economy to develop, there is need for competitiveness with other emerging economies. Here our human reserves in Diaspora, comes handy to complement the human resources at home. There is also the need to inject technological and skills transfer into our system. The cheap way to do this will be to start taping into these huge resources/reserves overseas.
The author has been privileged to meet a lot of Nigerians who came to United Kingdom, looking for projects to copy and domesticate in Nigeria. The author also belongs to the school of thoughts that believes technology should be copied. The Asian tigers copied western technologies, and today their economies are even ahead of some European nations. Till date, the author is yet to see any nation prosecuted for coping technology. For those who produce Aba made etc, my advise is for them to copy better technology so as to improve on their qualities and quantities.
The author suggests synergy and sincerity between people at home and those in Diaspora. With trust and confidence, more investments will flow into our economy. It’s important for Nigerians on both sides of the divide to establish trust. The passion to come home and invest runs high in every Nigerian I have come across in the west. Lack of trust is amongst one of the stumbling blocks to foreign capital inflow.
Another reason is that, East, West, North or South, home is the best. In fact, the moment you board a foreign airline leaving Nigeria, you become a second class citizen (It doesn’t matter if you have American, British, Canadian, European or Chinese citizenships). In these circumstances, you have no choice but to appreciate home. Furthermore, when one eventually arrives the western countries, social mobility becomes too difficult. Assimilation is near impossible. Racism is rife. Xenophobia and anti immigration sentiments are on the high, examples being the mass shooting at a Norwegian youth camp and the rise of far right political groups/parties.
In all, the author understands that, there are a lot the government can do to facilitate tapping into our huge human resources/reserves in Diaspora. But for obvious reasons, let’s pretend the government do not exist and let the citizens lead this approach. May God bless Nigeria.
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An Activist and Citizens Journalist.
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Specialist(s) Hospitals: An Appeal.
Health is wealth. A healthy nation is a wealthy nation. Please permit me to use this medium, to make a special appeal to banks, financial institutions, private investors, foreign investors, religious organizations, charity organizations etc to invest in the nation’s health sector. That is to build specialist(s) hospitals and possibly commercialize them. The author is making this special appeal because of the followings;
(A) My own little niece was evacuated in February of this year (2011) to a South African hospital, due to complications that arouse after her birth. She was only 3 weeks old, when she was evacuated. To make matters worst then, there was strike action by health workers at most government hospitals.
(B) Just today (1st August 2011) at about 17:00 hrs United Kingdom time, the author made a call to a Nigerian lady, at a hospital in New Delhi , India . As at the time of calling, she had spent a month at this hospital in India .
(C) As at the time of writing (1/8/11), the highly revered Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, is still in a London hospital. He has been in London hospital since December 2010.
(D) The late President Yar’Adua was evacuated to a Saudi Arabian hospital. He spent nearly 3 months there.
The list is endless. Since the government cannot equip, maintain and train health workers to international standards then, a vacuum exists that the private sector should fill. Healthcare can be very expensive; therefore, the author supports profits maximization by any private investor in our health care industry. This cannot be compared to flying to India , UK , USA , South Africa , Saudi Arabia etc for overseas treatment. The private sector has done well in most industries, examples include, telecommunication, education (private schools, tertiary and universities), banking, transport, etc. Therefore, their next target should be the health sector. The religious organizations should also consider establishing, specialist(s) hospitals of international standards. The author is aware that some churches have already built hospitals, but more specialist centres are needed from them.
Not too long ago, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced plans to build a poultry farm, which upon completion will be the largest in Nigeria . This is part of CBN diversification project. The author agrees with the central bank on this project. After all, “We don’t need more bankers. What we need are more farmers” (Time Magazine, July 11, 2011 Edition. Page 40). The Central Bank should seriously consider building a world class hospital in Nigeria , at least to stem the tide of capital flights occasioned by overseas treatments.
This might be out of their scope, but there will be nothing wrong if the CBN takes the lead, or use policy instruments to support the establishment of world class hospitals in Nigeria. The time is now. May God bless Nigeria .
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An Activist and Citizens Journalist.
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com
Business Briefs:
Please, this is only for UKResidents. For all those that need payday loans, kindly visit http://www.vacconceptukltd.co.uk/id4.html and apply online.
(A) My own little niece was evacuated in February of this year (2011) to a South African hospital, due to complications that arouse after her birth. She was only 3 weeks old, when she was evacuated. To make matters worst then, there was strike action by health workers at most government hospitals.
(B) Just today (1st August 2011) at about 17:00 hrs United Kingdom time, the author made a call to a Nigerian lady, at a hospital in New Delhi , India . As at the time of calling, she had spent a month at this hospital in India .
(C) As at the time of writing (1/8/11), the highly revered Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, is still in a London hospital. He has been in London hospital since December 2010.
(D) The late President Yar’Adua was evacuated to a Saudi Arabian hospital. He spent nearly 3 months there.
The list is endless. Since the government cannot equip, maintain and train health workers to international standards then, a vacuum exists that the private sector should fill. Healthcare can be very expensive; therefore, the author supports profits maximization by any private investor in our health care industry. This cannot be compared to flying to India , UK , USA , South Africa , Saudi Arabia etc for overseas treatment. The private sector has done well in most industries, examples include, telecommunication, education (private schools, tertiary and universities), banking, transport, etc. Therefore, their next target should be the health sector. The religious organizations should also consider establishing, specialist(s) hospitals of international standards. The author is aware that some churches have already built hospitals, but more specialist centres are needed from them.
Not too long ago, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced plans to build a poultry farm, which upon completion will be the largest in Nigeria . This is part of CBN diversification project. The author agrees with the central bank on this project. After all, “We don’t need more bankers. What we need are more farmers” (Time Magazine, July 11, 2011 Edition. Page 40). The Central Bank should seriously consider building a world class hospital in Nigeria , at least to stem the tide of capital flights occasioned by overseas treatments.
This might be out of their scope, but there will be nothing wrong if the CBN takes the lead, or use policy instruments to support the establishment of world class hospitals in Nigeria. The time is now. May God bless Nigeria .
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An Activist and Citizens Journalist.
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com
Business Briefs:
Please, this is only for UKResidents. For all those that need payday loans, kindly visit http://www.vacconceptukltd.co.uk/id4.html and apply online.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Negotiating with Boko Haram.
Well, if the federal government could negotiate with the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), grant their members amnesty, and send so many overseas for training, then there will be nothing wrong to dialog with Boko Haram. This may sound odd, but its becoming a question of, if you can’t beat them, then negotiate with them. But, to achieve a balance, the federal government should also open negotiations with Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Odua People’s Congress (OPC) and other groups agitating for self determination. What is good for MEND should also be good for others. In case of MEND, over 20,000 were given amnesty, out of which about 969 of them are receiving training in USA, South Africa, Poland, Russia, Ghana, Malaysia etc. Boko Haram members definitely need such training, re-orientation, rehabilitation etc. Other Nigerians also need local and overseas trainings.
The writer advises that, Boko Haram or other groups agitating for self determination or any cause, should forget the use of violence. War, fighting, bombing or armed struggle has never achieved any thing except destruction. Every conflict(s) ends on the negotiating table. In Afghanistan , the United States and President Hamid Karzai’s government have opened up negotiation with the Taliban. No price will be too much to pay for peace in Nigeria . However, one important lesson can be learnt from our government. They are willing to listen, when the language of force has been applied. No wonder the MASSOB leader (Chief Ralph Uwazuruike) has threatened to abandon his non violent and non exodus movement. The question to ask our government is, what about non violent innocent Nigerians? When will the government remember them?
From all indications, it appears Boko Haram has popular support amongst the locals. Otherwise one wonders the reasons why Borno State law makers have asked the army to leave Maidugiri. In addition, former Governors of Borno and Gombe State (Senator Alli Modu Sheriff and Senator Danjuma Goje) and the present Governor of Bauchi State (Alhaji Isa Yuguda) have all publicly apologized to Boko Haram. Enjoying the empathy of the locals, means the security services will have tough work to do, which again points to negotiations as an option. In all situations, the priority should be the safety and security of innocent Nigerians. All hands must be on deck to protect them. May God bless Nigeria .
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and Citizens Journalist, Based in UK .
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/
The writer advises that, Boko Haram or other groups agitating for self determination or any cause, should forget the use of violence. War, fighting, bombing or armed struggle has never achieved any thing except destruction. Every conflict(s) ends on the negotiating table. In Afghanistan , the United States and President Hamid Karzai’s government have opened up negotiation with the Taliban. No price will be too much to pay for peace in Nigeria . However, one important lesson can be learnt from our government. They are willing to listen, when the language of force has been applied. No wonder the MASSOB leader (Chief Ralph Uwazuruike) has threatened to abandon his non violent and non exodus movement. The question to ask our government is, what about non violent innocent Nigerians? When will the government remember them?
From all indications, it appears Boko Haram has popular support amongst the locals. Otherwise one wonders the reasons why Borno State law makers have asked the army to leave Maidugiri. In addition, former Governors of Borno and Gombe State (Senator Alli Modu Sheriff and Senator Danjuma Goje) and the present Governor of Bauchi State (Alhaji Isa Yuguda) have all publicly apologized to Boko Haram. Enjoying the empathy of the locals, means the security services will have tough work to do, which again points to negotiations as an option. In all situations, the priority should be the safety and security of innocent Nigerians. All hands must be on deck to protect them. May God bless Nigeria .
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and Citizens Journalist, Based in UK .
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Sending The Wrong Signals.
One hopes there are other reasons for the arrest of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai (former Minister of The Federal Capital Territory) in the morning of today (2/7/11) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja, other than his writings and his most recent post election presentation at the Chatham House London. Lets recollect that in January 2011, Prof Okey Ndibe (A Nigerian Academic, writer, critic, and journalist, based in the USA) was also arrested and interrogated at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos. The case of the later was purely on his writings. When you factor in the fact that many journalists (Mr. Bayo Ohu of the Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Abayomi Ogundeji of Thisday Newspapers, Dele Giwa of Newswatch Magazines etc) have been killed in the past, one wonders if there are calculated attempts to suppress freedom of speech, even under “democratic rule”. However, the government should realize that wrong messages are being sent, each time a journalist is killed or one is arrested for his/her views. May God bless Nigeria.
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and Citizens Journalist, Based in UK.
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and Citizens Journalist, Based in UK.
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/
7-Year Single Term of Office is Unrealistic.
An online news media (http://nationalmirroronline.net/news/16094.html?print?print) has reported, that the Presidency has concluded plans to send a bill to the National Assembly, for a single term of seven years for governors and presidents. The reason being that political violence was always caused, by the resolve of the incumbent governors and president to run for a second tenure of office. Dear President GEJ, if the above intension is true, then the writer completely disagrees with you and other proponents of this idea.
Mr. President, the true cause(s) of political violence is the lack of transparence in our political processes and injustice in Nigeria. Single term of 7, 8, or 9 years will not solve the matter until there is complete transparency, fairness, honesty and justice, in the system. In addition, the level of corruption is more than capable to cause political unrest. Mr. President, our country needs fundamental restructuring. Nothing short of true federalism or confederation is needed. The writer is aware that Mr. President is not in support of sovereign national conference. This makes matter(s) worst, because the nation’s problems can only be solved when the different aggrieved regions, states etc sit on the table and tell each other the truth and chat a way forward.
Just today (12/07/11), it was reported on the news that Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) has called on you (President GEJ) to convene a sovereign national conference, to afford Nigerians the opportunity to discuss and possibly give birth to Republic of Niger Delta. South Sudan was used as an example. Mr. President, several groups are agitating for self-determination, these calls cannot be wished away. It’s a clear indication that all is not well with our polity. Listen to the people and find out what they want. Perhaps, your government can conduct a referendum to find out what Nigerians want. Instead of seeking for a seven year term, emphasizes should be on how to restructure the nation with a view to developing various parts of the country. To the writer, four years is more than enough to put back Nigeria on the path to greatness. Whatever that cannot be accomplished in four years might also not be completed in seven years. May God bless Nigeria.
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and Citizens Journalist, Based in UK.
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/
Mr. President, the true cause(s) of political violence is the lack of transparence in our political processes and injustice in Nigeria. Single term of 7, 8, or 9 years will not solve the matter until there is complete transparency, fairness, honesty and justice, in the system. In addition, the level of corruption is more than capable to cause political unrest. Mr. President, our country needs fundamental restructuring. Nothing short of true federalism or confederation is needed. The writer is aware that Mr. President is not in support of sovereign national conference. This makes matter(s) worst, because the nation’s problems can only be solved when the different aggrieved regions, states etc sit on the table and tell each other the truth and chat a way forward.
Just today (12/07/11), it was reported on the news that Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) has called on you (President GEJ) to convene a sovereign national conference, to afford Nigerians the opportunity to discuss and possibly give birth to Republic of Niger Delta. South Sudan was used as an example. Mr. President, several groups are agitating for self-determination, these calls cannot be wished away. It’s a clear indication that all is not well with our polity. Listen to the people and find out what they want. Perhaps, your government can conduct a referendum to find out what Nigerians want. Instead of seeking for a seven year term, emphasizes should be on how to restructure the nation with a view to developing various parts of the country. To the writer, four years is more than enough to put back Nigeria on the path to greatness. Whatever that cannot be accomplished in four years might also not be completed in seven years. May God bless Nigeria.
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and Citizens Journalist, Based in UK.
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/
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