When speaking extempore is national risk
Punch Newspapers / Azuka Onwuka / 30 minutes ago
Azuka Onwuka
Anytime President Muhammadu Buhari goes overseas, he causes some embarrassment to the nation by what he says. The reason is simple. In Nigeria, he avoids media interviews and speaks to the public ex tempore. In his three years in office, he has only had one presidential media chat, which his predecessors used to have periodically, to address burning national issues. Whenever he addresses Nigerians within Nigeria, he reads from a prepared speech. But whenever he goes abroad, he cannot avoid being interviewed, especially when he is being hosted by another leader of a nation. In the West, a democratically elected leader cannot avoid regularly speaking to his people.
READ ALSO: Rohr set to invite Italy-based striker, worries over Iwobi
It is not unusual that within two weeks of being in the United Kingdom for his annual leave, he has had two gaffes: one gaffe per week. The first was two weeks ago when he met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev Justin Welby. While speaking about the killer Fulani herdsmen that have been killing people virtually on a daily basis in Nigeria, Buhari blamed the killings on those who were armed by erstwhile Libyan leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi, but escaped to Nigeria when Gaddafi was killed. Gaddafi died in 2011.
Buhari came under severe criticism for his penchant for not taking responsibility and also because the reason he gave for the killings was flimsy. In the first place, it is close to seven years since Gaddafi was killed. Whether he armed some people or not is immaterial, as such a group should not be stronger than the security strength of a country like Nigeria, governed by a retired army general. Secondly, Libya does not share any border with Nigeria. In fact, Tripoli, the capital of Libya, is 4,680 kilometres from Benue State: more than 10 times the distance from Lagos to Accra, Ghana. The countries that are nearer Libya like Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, Niger, and Chad could be giving such excuses, but not Nigeria.
In addition, Buhari and key members of his cabinet had given different reasons for the killings by herdsmen. While receiving Benue stakeholders in Abuja in January, Buhari said to them: “I ask you in the name of God to accommodate your countrymen.” The implication of that statement was that the reason for the killings attributed to herdsmen of Fulani extraction was the lack of tolerance by their host communities. One week later, the Minister of Defence, Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (retd.), re-echoed Buhari’s message that the communities should “accommodate” their countrymen (the nomadic herdsmen), while blaming the cause of the killings on the blocking of the grazing routes as well as the enactment of the anti-open grazing law in Benue State. In early February, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, toed the same line when he said that the cause of the Benue killings was the enactment of the anti-open grazing law by Benue State. So, Buhari and his lieutenants had earlier blamed the killings on the intolerance of the host communities (farmers) against the itinerant herdsmen.
The second gaffe the President made in London was last week at the Commonwealth Heads of Government and State Meeting where he accused “a lot of Nigerian youths” of laziness and expecting free things. The curious thing was that his comment about the Nigerian youths bore no relevance to the question he was asked about investment in the North-East zone and the continental free trade agreement. It reminded one of when he was asked how he would solve the restiveness in the Niger Delta and he went into the irrelevant rigmarole about those who gave him 97 per cent votes and those who gave him five per cent votes.
The surprising part of the statement about Nigerian youths being lazy was that he was speaking at a time he had the golden opportunity to market his country. But rather than sell Nigeria to the world, he used it as an opportunity to make a mockery of the same youths who voted him into office and have been tolerating his shortcomings.
Anytime the President makes a gaffe, there are people who make it their duty to offer one explanation or the other in defence of his comment or action. Some are employed by the President or the All Progressives Congress, while some are supporters who just believe that Buhari should be defended aggressively always. One thing one has noticed is that the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Mr Femi Adesina, is getting angrier by the day while responding to the criticism heaped on his principal. His tone and mien show that he finds such criticism of Buhari irritating. On many occasions, he has had to “explain” what the President meant, as if Buhari does not speak in English. It shows how difficult it is to be the spokesman for a leader who is prone to gaffes.
READ ALSO: Buhari’s uncharitable comment on Nigerian youths
It is obvious that President Buhari has a weakness with communication, especially when it involves articulating his views on the spur of the moment. He has a tendency to veer off the point and make a comment that is either unpresidential or untoward.
One weakness of President Buhari that leads to these constant gaffes is his penchant to criticise rather than approbate. When a leader has the proclivity to praise rather than excoriate, it helps him in not being mired in frequent scandals. A cup that is neither full nor empty can be described from whatever point of view one chooses. An appreciative and positive person will dwell on what is available and the prospect of growth, while a cynic or a negative person will focus on what has not been achieved and the possibility of the existing little quantity being depleted.
The excuse that a leader needs to speak the truth in international circle is lame, because truth is relative. Most importantly, being on the international space is not an opportunity for a leader to ridicule one’s nation or people. No people are without a positive side to focus on. The mayors or presidents of cities or countries with high crime rate don’t go abroad and talk about the high crime rate in their cities or countries. Even when such is mentioned to them, they reel out statistics to show what is being done about it. They focus on the positive sides of their city or nation and persuade people from other parts of the world to visit or invest in it. Not focusing on the high crime rates in their cities and countries does not mean that such leaders are hiding the truth.
It is said that you cannot teach old dogs new tricks. In the past three years of Buhari’s governance, there has not been any improvement in his international comments. Therefore, the chances of Buhari changing his method of international communication are low. The only available option may be to ensure that he reduces his foreign trips and reads from a paper anytime he has to speak. If the trip is one at which Vice President Yemi Osinbajo can represent him, let him allow him to represent him there. If not, let him stay at home.
But a person who is serious about creating a result-oriented way of doing things can drop the old way and imbibe a new way. That is why we are human beings, different from animals like dogs, horses, cats and the like who find it difficult to change whatever they have learnt at an earlier stage. President Buhari needs to work on his attitude to communication. His poor communication is harming the image of the country.
— Twitter @BrandAzuka
Tuesday, 24 April 2018
Saturday, 14 April 2018
Anyone who supports Buhari’s re-election will be doubly disappointed if he wins again –Akin Osuntokun
Anyone who supports Buhari’s re-election will be doubly disappointed if he wins again –Akin Osuntokun http://punchng.com/anyone-who-supports-buharis-re-election-will-be-doubly-disappointed-if-he-wins-again-akin-osuntokun/
Tuesday, 10 April 2018
Knocks, kudos as Buhari declares second term bid
Punch Newspapers / Taiwo Ojoye / 10 hours ago
Olusola Fabiyi, Olalekan Adetayo, Gbenga Adeniji, Leke Baiyewu, Gbenro Adeoye, Jesusegun Alagbe, Godwin Isenyo and Ihuoma Chiedozie
President Muhammadu Buhari briefly stopped activities at the All Progressives Congress’ National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja on Monday when he declared his intention to seek re-election in 2019.
Governors and national leadership of the APC present were said to have been taken aback by the President’s declaration.
They were said to have, however, quickly recovered and clapped as soon as the President declared his intention.
It was gathered that the governors and the national leadership, led by the APC Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, were not aware of the decision until the President spoke.
A source said, “We didn’t expect that the President was going to inform the meeting about his intention.
“I’m not even sure the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, were aware. The look on their faces didn’t portray that they were told earlier.
Why I’m seeking re-election – Buhari
The President at the NEC meeting explained why he would seek re-election in 2019.
Buhari, who is already 75 years, said he was responding to the clamour by Nigerians to re-contest in 2019, adding that he wanted to give NEC members the honour of notifying them first.
Before making the declaration, the President gave his speech on the report of the APC National Executive Technical Committee.
According to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau who briefed journalists after the meeting, the President made known his second term ambition in a closed-door meeting with the party´s NEC members.
The NEC meeting was the third since February 27 where it approved the tenure extension of the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee of the party and its other executives for one year staring from June.
Buhari had at another NEC meeting on March 27, opposed the one-year tenure extension decision, saying it was illegal and unconstitutional.
The Monday´s NEC meeting was to look into the report of the 10-member committee constituted by the party’s NWC to advise its leadership on the issue.
Lalong said the report of the committee’s report was accepted by all the APC leaders, including the president.
He said, “Everybody’s interest was considered in the report and the adoption was a unanimous vote.
“The President was excited because of this unity in the party, and he accepted the appeal by several members of the society, party and everybody, that he re-contest in the 2019 election.
“He has accepted that he is going to contest again the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
President hails Lalong committee
In his speech at the meeting, the President commended Lalong-led committee for what he called a job well done within the limited time frame.
According to his speech which was made available to journalists, Buhari said the report showed a great sense of commitment to the ideals of the party with a view to positioning it to continue delivering good governance.
He pleaded with members of the party to remain united, adding that it would not be in their interest to go into elections with disagreement.
He said, “With the present state of the party and based on the report submitted by the technical committee, it is important to focus on how to move the party forward by avoiding actions detrimental to the interest of the party.
“Upon my review of the report, my position is to ensure that the party toes the path of unity, legality and cohesion and not that of division.
“Therefore, I am stressing that we should strengthen our internal democracy by organising the party’s congresses and convention where election of national executive committee members would be held. This will automatically end the cases filed by members seeking orders of court compelling the party to hold its congresses.”
The President said he believed that the current executives should be free to vie for elective positions in the party if they so wish, which he said was in line with the APC constitution.
He said, “However, considering the provision of Article 31(1)(iii) of the APC constitution which requires any serving officer desirous of seeking re-election to resign from office 30 days before election, I am not sure of the present serving officers’ ability to meet this condition.
“Accordingly, the party may consider granting waivers to party executives at all levels so that they are not disenfranchised from participating in the elections should they wish to do so, provided this does not violate our rules.
“Necessary waiver(s) should also be extended to executives at the ward level whose tenures may have elapsed, and indeed to anyone knocking at our doors from other political parties.”
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the meeting granted waivers to Odigie-Oyegun and other executive members to remain in office and seek re-election if they so desire.
Both Lalong and Abdullahi said the meeting had approved a timetable for the party’s congresses which they said would be released soon.
The NEC meeting was attended by governors and lawmakers elected on APC platform, the President of the Senate, Saraki; Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, party stakeholders and state chairmen, among others.
In his speech at the meeting, Odigie-Oyegun said he had undergone several attacks because of his position as the leader of the ruling party.
Odigie-Oyegun said the responsibility imposed on him because of his position prevented him from replying his attackers.
He said, “The responsibility imposed on me by my position as the National Chairman of the party, demand that I rise above my personal pains and refuse to yield to the temptation to react in a manner that potentially complicates the situation for our party.
“However, I will like to urge everyone else to remember that regardless of our ambitions and personal interests, the party is greater than all of us.”
Nigeria don’t need Buhari, says Fayose
The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said Nigeria does not need Buhari as her leader in 2019, noting that Monday’s declaration of second term ambition by the President is dead on arrival.
The governor also noted that if Buhari was re-elected, he would kill the country.
Fayose, who spoke to journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Monday through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, said if Buhari was unable to read the handwriting on the wall and knew when to call it quits, Nigerians would show him the exit door in 2019 by voting him out of office.
“We don’t want grandpa as President anymore. Nigeria does not deserve a Buhari as president in 2019. Buhari is old and tired. His declaration today is a slap on Nigerians in the face. He should go home and rest.”
‘Tell Nigerians your achievements’
A former President of Aka Ikenga, an Igbo think tank, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, has said even though the President has a constitutional right to seek re-election, he should tell Nigerians what he has done to deserve another term in office.
Uwazurike said the President should weigh his campaign promises against his performance so far.
“He listed three major areas – corruption, security and the economy – as his focus. He should tell us where his achievements lie in these areas. .
“He should tell us how our economy is better off now that the prices of a bag of rice and a litre of petrol have doubled. In fact, he should tell us that our medical services have improved, and that the children of top politicians school here,” he said.
Buhari’s declaration disappointing – Fela Durotoye
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the GEMSTONE Leadership Centre, Fela Durotoye, said it was disappointing that Buhari would be seeking re-election in 2019.
He said the country couldn’t afford four more years of Buhari’s presidency due to insecurity and high unemployment rate, among other negative indices the country was exhibiting.
“We saw it coming, but we’re disappointed. For Buhari to ask for four more years, I believe Nigerians deserve better. We can’t afford four more years of disappointment. It’s an indictment on the youths that a 75-year-old man, who should be in retirement, will be the one leading them for four more years.”
Buhari has exercised his right, says ACF
The Arewa Consultative Forum said on Monday that it was the right of President Muhammadu Buhari to declare his interest for the nation’s presidency.
The National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Alhaji Muhammadu Biu, said the President only exercise his right as enshrined in the nation’s constitution.
“It is now the right of his party, APC, to nominate him in accordance with the party’s rules and regulations,” the ACF’s spokesman added.
Borno gov welcomes declaration
The Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, on Monday welcomed Buhari’s decision to seek re-election, saying stakeholders could heave a sigh of relief.
“The President is not under any obligation to consult governors or anybody,” Shettima said.
He added that party members were in full support of the President’s decision.
“He has done the right thing, he is going to contest and we are solidly behind him,” he added.
He said state governors would give Buhari the kind of support they gave him in 2015.
Re-election bid’s not news – Makarfi
A former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, said the President’s declaration of interest to contest the 2019 Presidential election, was no news to Nigerians.
Makarfi, who is also the immediate past National Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, said, “For me, the news would be if he had announced that he would not seek re-election.”
He added that it had always been the expectations of the main opposition party that he would run for the 2019 presidential election.
“For the PDP, our expectation has always been that he will run so nothing changes in our resolve to do the needful.
What the country needs is a mature, issues-based clean contest,” he said.
Jubilation in Kano
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that many youths in Kano State jubilated when they heard that Buhari had declared his second term ambition.
NAN reported that many of the youths expressed optimism that Buhari would complete the development projects that he started.
A resident, Usman Baba, told NAN that the administration of Buhari had restored security in the country and fought corruption.
He said, “We are happy and hoping that President Buhari will return to embark on infrastructural development since he has already retrieved a lot from looters.”
Another resident, Abduljalal Mu’azu, expressed optimism that if Buhari won the second term, the country’s situation would improve.
Declaration, APC’s internal affairs, says PDP
The PDP says the declaration by the President for second term is an internal affair of his party, the APC.
It said that the declaration had placed the President among the ranks of aspirants seeking to be the President from May 29, 2019.
A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the former ruling party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said until Buhari became the candidate of the APC, the PDP would not spend precious time on his mere show of interest.
Buhari chose not to be like Mandela – Shehu Sani
The lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, said the President decided not to be like the late former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.
Mandela, South Africa’s anti-apartheid hero who became President after his 27-year imprisonment, had rejected a second term despite the popular demand for his re-election.
Reacting to the official declaration of his decision to seek re-election in the 2019 poll, Sani took to his social media platforms to hail Buhari for moving against the elongation of the tenure of APC’s NWC.
He also said Buhari’s announcement would silence members of the ruling All Progressives Congress who were nursing presidential ambition.
The posts read, “The Lion roared and nipped the Tigers’ open ambitions and the Foxes’ hidden ambitions. The Lion’s roar nails the coffin of tenure elongation. The Lion roared to avert plots and scheming in its absence and behind its back.
“Now that Baba decided not to be a Mandela, we hope that he becomes a Deng Xioping and not Augustus Pinochet Agarte.”
I’m not threatened – Sowore
Presidential aspirant and publisher of online news medium, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, has said he is not threatened by the declaration of Buhari to seek re-election.
He added that there was nothing to worry about.
Sowore stated, “I don’t feel threatened by his declaration. His declaration is not a certification of re-election. No reason to worry about. We knew all along that he would be defeated by the ‘inconsequential’ people ranging from the old, young, the weak and strong to the youth.’’
He also said it was ironical that the President left the country after his declaration to re-contest “on a medical vacation which they didn’t disclose and without a fixed date for his return.”
He doesn’t deserve another term – Moghalu
A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and presidential hopeful, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, has said Buhari is undeserving of a second term based on his poor performance.
He, however, noted that he had the right to seek a second term.
Moghalu said, “I do not think he deserves to be re-elected based on an objective assessment of his failed performance. Nigerians deserve a very different kind of effective and inclusive leadership that can unite the country and reverse the poverty that has made our country the poverty capital of the world with the highest numbers of absolutely poor people of any country.’’
Declaration, height of insensitivity – CNPP
The Conference of Nigeria Political Party has said Buhari has nothing to show Nigerians, in terms of concrete achievements, to make him seek re-election.
The CNPP in a statement by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, maintained that Nigeria should be thinking of electing a patriotic politician who understands economic dynamics and inclusive governance.
He said, “It is disappointing that the President will choose to declare for a second term at a time when the security of lives and property of Nigerians cannot be guaranteed.
“The President’s declaration of intention to run at this time is the height of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians who are suffering under his administration as he has nothing concrete in terms of achievement to show Nigerians.
“Today, we can count businesses that have either collapsed or are operating under the worst economic condition in history of our dear country, with no single high profile conviction in his so-called anti-corruption war in three years.
“His anti-corruption campaign has obviously been turned into a blackmailing tool aimed at painting one political party black, while anyone accused of corruption that joins the All Progressives Congress automatically becomes a saint and must be protected to enjoy his loot. That is not war against corruption.
“Nigerians at this time should be moving with the global tide by thinking of electing a successful patriotic man or woman as President.”
He said that it would be wrong to re-elect the President who he accused of poor performance.
He said, “Nigerians have experimented enough in the last three years. The hungry and jobless citizens can no longer endure, and cannot afford to see another four years of this failed administration after 2019.”
Declaration: Igbo for 2023 presidency, says South-East APC
The APC in the South-East on Monday described Buhari’s declaration of an intention to seek a second term in office as the beginning of the actualisation of an Igbo President in 2023.
APC National Vice Chairman, South-East, Chief Emma Eneukwu, and the zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr. Hyacinth Ngwu, in a statement in Enugu, noted that Buhari’s re-election would guarantee the emergence of a President of Igbo extraction in 2023.
The jointly signed statement said Buhari’s decision to seek another four years in office was taken in the best interest of Ndigbo.
The statement described the declaration as a “kind gesture” to the Igbo.
The statement read in part, “The All Progressives Congress, South-East Zone, heartily welcomes the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to seek a constitutional second term in office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This decision was in all respects made for the best interest of the people of South-East Nigeria and we happily thank God and President Buhari for this kind gesture.
“We believe that the actualisation of the Igbo Presidency in 2023 has just begun with this declaration.”
Describing Buhari’s re-election as a “golden opportunity,” the South-East APC urged Igbos to vote for Buhari in 2019.
“We urge the good people of South-East (Ndigbo) to avail themselves of this golden opportunity of playing into the Nigerian political mainstream by voting massively for and ensuring the re-election of President Buhari in 2019. We must not let go this opportunity.
“We equally urge Ndigbo to be conscious in electing quality members into the National Assembly under the platform of All Progressives Congress in order to benefit maximally from the APC’s zoning arrangement at that level.
“The era of negative and self-cantered propaganda should be over. This time demands that our best brains should be employed to our overall advantage,” the statement added.
The South-East APC further pointed out that ‘mistakes’ made by the Igbo in 2015, when they massively voted for the PDP candidate, the incumbent, former President Goodluck Jonathan, limited their chances in Buhari’s administration.
The statement urged Ndigbo to learn from the experience.
“We believe the Igbo know the consequences of being in opposition to the Federal Government in Nigeria, and doubtless to say this knowledge informed our people’s deliberate action in 2015.
“This certainly is the right time for us to redress and make the right move and be bold enough to always demand and ask for more,” the statement added.
Friday, 6 April 2018
INTERNAL COLONIALISM: THE FIGHT WE MAY NEVER WIN
just like the saying that whenever dry bones are mentioned, the old become uneasy, any time the word, colonialism is mentioned, an average Nigerian with a little knowledge of history becomes quite uncomfortable and alarmed. Colonialism is the dread of any people that have sighted even just its ugly shadow let alone those that have served under its throne of historic brutality and inciting dehumanization.
Understanding the concept of colonialism, as far as I am concerned, does not necessarily require any serious academic training. Just as the concept of poverty in sub-saharan Africa, the meaning of the common colonialism we know can be communicated even to the unlettered.
The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of English language, 8th edition defines colonialism as "the practice by which a powerful country controls another country or other countries." "Colonialism is a practice of domination, which involves the subjugation of one people to another" (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2012). Colonialism has also been defined as the establishment of a colony in one territory by a political power from another territory, and the subsequent maintenance, Expansion, and exploitation of that colony (Wikipedia, 20017). While Collins English Dictionary on its own sees colonialism as the policy and practice of a power in extending control over weaker peoples or areas.
As noted earlier, the concept of colonialism is not a big task to comprehend and this claim can be substantiated by those few definitions above. The message conveyed above is simple: colonialism is a policy of subjugation and intimidation engineered by a stronger state against a weaker one, usually characterized by brutality, slavery, exploitation, forced labour, dehumanization, destruction of existing local institutions and value systems and replacement of same with those that foster the goals of the policy and the use of military might to subject a people to a state of near-zero self-worth and total dependence.
This strand of colonialism is the one commonly captured by most existing literatures, and as can be concluded from the foregoing, it comes from an external force thereby establishing a kind master-servant relationship between the stronger and weaker nations involved. Usually, citizens of the colonized nation are unanimous in their hate for and condemnation of the evils of colonialism and as a result, fight from a common front.
The vigour and unanimity with which Nigerian heroes fought the menace of colonialism with their lives in line is a strong point in favour of the above argument. A number of factors spurred these heroes generally referred to as nationalists into unanimous actions. Such factors include: the denial of educated Nigerians of the opportunity to participate in government, disenfranchisement of Nigerians, domination of import and export trade by European firms, denial of bank loans to Nigerians ,payment of very low salaries to Nigerian workers among others (Nwankwo, 2002). As history has it, the efforts of these nationalists like Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Ahmadu Bello culminated in the nation's political independence in literal term on October 1, 1960.
But the fight they fought and won was a fight against an enemy without not against an enemy within. It was a victory over external colonialism not over "internal colonialism". The concept of "internal colonialism" might not have appeared in any known literature by academic authorities and by virtue of academic qualifications, I may not find favour with scholars for introducing it. But be that as it may, I beg to be excused! The trend of events in Nigeria has become too worrisome to me that I cannot lay my hand on a better concept to empty my bowel of contempt than "internal colonialism".
The concept of internal colonialism only differs from the colonialism we know in terms of the force in charge and its delicate nature. While the evils of colonialism are perpetrated by an external principality, the same evils in "internal colonialism" are perpetrated by not just an internal principality, but principalities whose dominion has no shadow of ending.
The late popular gospel musician, Rev. Pattey Obasi once noted in one of his songs that internal enmity can be likened to a poisonous snake that positions itself across a narrow pathway and no one can correctly say where its head is. By this, the artist was by extension referring to "internal colonialism" and its intricately delicate nature. Dealing with it is as sensitive and difficult as dealing with the proverbial fly on the scrotum.
Oh! Hold it! You are doing some thinking right? Don't think too far! I will tell you who these indigenous colonial masters are. They are the men who decide the affairs of this nation; bona-fide citizens of Nigeria who have either by godfatherism or other sharp practices found themselves at the corridors of power where they ruthlessly spit fire and brimstone that consumes anyone that dares raising his head against them. These principalities are Nigeria and Nigeria is them. They decide who dies and who stays alive. They determine what is right and what is wrong in the country. They phrase and rephrase the constitution to perpetuate their dominion and consolidate their powers. The nation's resources are under their exclusive control and they determine who gets what and how.
These "indigenous colonial masters", both the past and the present, have a very tall history of corruption, exploitation, intimidation and self-centered policy formulation even worse than the then colonial masters. They only use the masses as a tool to achieve their selfish ends, usually playing very smartly to beat the international community and their ever beaming satellite.
No physical assault on Nigerians by the European colonists recorded in history paralleled the genocide launched by the federal government of Nigeria on the people of Odi, a town in the oil-rich Bayelsa state on 20 November, 1999. Nnimmo Bassey, the Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action and Human Rights Watch estimated that about 2500 civilians were killed in the attack with the entire structures in the town levelled with the exception of a bank, an Anglican church and the town's health centre (Wikipedia, 2017). No people in Nigeria had ever had it that way during the British colonial rule. I call it "internal colonialism".
Although it is right to argue that rigging of elections in Nigeria dated back to 1959 general election conducted by the British government that ushered in Nigeria's independence, the records of post independent election frauds have been unprecedented, grossly embarrassing and ignominious. Nigeria joined the league of democratic nations in 1999, but right from that year, elections in the country have continued to be a public show of shamelessness, institutionalized corruption and apparent desperation for power. In principle, power belongs to the people in a democratic setting, but in my great country, it belongs to those who control the instruments of force to the detriment of the people. For instance, on June 9, 2007, a sitting president in Nigeria accepted openly before the UN Secretary-general, Mr Ban-Ki Moon that the election that brought him into power was fraught with fraud, yet he couldn't tender his resignation (Nairaland Forum, 2007). The Nigerian masses are subjected to the position of mere slaves even in their own father's land by these brand of "colonialists".
The Nigerian masses can be imprisoned by these principalities on account of the slightest infringement of the constitution or any other law in the country, but they can go untouched or mildly caressed as a cover-up after committing heinous crimes. They are the gods of the land and as you know, the gods cannot be questioned by mere mortals except to their detriment. If ever you have heard of these "colonialists" who served a term of improvement on account of corruption charges, look closely, you must notice that they did not dance properly to the tune of the "powers that be". Even the current federal government that chanted the mantra of war against corruption has been severely accused that the moneys used to sponsor its election campaigns were stolen; yet, none of those fingered in connection with these moneys have been invited by the EFCC for questioning (SCANNEWS, 2015).
The case of Nigeria is the case of one of the popular quotes of the most currently cited African tyrant, Idi Amin of Uganda, " There is freedom of speech, but I cannot guarantee freedom after speech" (azquotes.com, 2017). The brand of democracy operated by these indigenous "colonial masters" is not the type operated by the United States of America from where we claim to have borrowed it. I think it is high time we stopped using the American form of democracy to access the "jamboree" played by these principalities and appeal to them to give us the true definition of their own brand of democracy. I believe there definition must justify their colonial disposition.
Now, having introduced the concept of "internal colonialism", the mind-boggling question becomes, "can the fight against this hydra-headed monster be won like its external counterpart?" A close look at the peculiarities of both concepts only leaves an objective mind with the conclusion that the fight against "internal colonialism" in Nigeria is far more difficult than the one fought by our past heroes that fetched us political independence and is not likely to be won in the near future. The reason for this may be that these "indigenous colonialists" decide the fate of the country - they enact laws, enforce the law, control the court system, own and allocate resources and have the power to give and take life in the eye of the state.The situation becomes more hopeless when it is realized that there is no international treaty that gives the international community the power to control the internal operations of an independent nation.
But does this mean we will perpetually remain subjugated to the whims and caprices of these ruthless principalities? What exactly can we do to gain our freedom from these exploiters? Do Nigerian masses really care about their freedom? Even if they do, can they garner the supports for such a fight? From whom will these supports come? These and many other related questions boggle the minds of many Nigerians and your answers are just as good as mine.
Understanding the concept of colonialism, as far as I am concerned, does not necessarily require any serious academic training. Just as the concept of poverty in sub-saharan Africa, the meaning of the common colonialism we know can be communicated even to the unlettered.
The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of English language, 8th edition defines colonialism as "the practice by which a powerful country controls another country or other countries." "Colonialism is a practice of domination, which involves the subjugation of one people to another" (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2012). Colonialism has also been defined as the establishment of a colony in one territory by a political power from another territory, and the subsequent maintenance, Expansion, and exploitation of that colony (Wikipedia, 20017). While Collins English Dictionary on its own sees colonialism as the policy and practice of a power in extending control over weaker peoples or areas.
As noted earlier, the concept of colonialism is not a big task to comprehend and this claim can be substantiated by those few definitions above. The message conveyed above is simple: colonialism is a policy of subjugation and intimidation engineered by a stronger state against a weaker one, usually characterized by brutality, slavery, exploitation, forced labour, dehumanization, destruction of existing local institutions and value systems and replacement of same with those that foster the goals of the policy and the use of military might to subject a people to a state of near-zero self-worth and total dependence.
This strand of colonialism is the one commonly captured by most existing literatures, and as can be concluded from the foregoing, it comes from an external force thereby establishing a kind master-servant relationship between the stronger and weaker nations involved. Usually, citizens of the colonized nation are unanimous in their hate for and condemnation of the evils of colonialism and as a result, fight from a common front.
The vigour and unanimity with which Nigerian heroes fought the menace of colonialism with their lives in line is a strong point in favour of the above argument. A number of factors spurred these heroes generally referred to as nationalists into unanimous actions. Such factors include: the denial of educated Nigerians of the opportunity to participate in government, disenfranchisement of Nigerians, domination of import and export trade by European firms, denial of bank loans to Nigerians ,payment of very low salaries to Nigerian workers among others (Nwankwo, 2002). As history has it, the efforts of these nationalists like Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Ahmadu Bello culminated in the nation's political independence in literal term on October 1, 1960.
But the fight they fought and won was a fight against an enemy without not against an enemy within. It was a victory over external colonialism not over "internal colonialism". The concept of "internal colonialism" might not have appeared in any known literature by academic authorities and by virtue of academic qualifications, I may not find favour with scholars for introducing it. But be that as it may, I beg to be excused! The trend of events in Nigeria has become too worrisome to me that I cannot lay my hand on a better concept to empty my bowel of contempt than "internal colonialism".
The concept of internal colonialism only differs from the colonialism we know in terms of the force in charge and its delicate nature. While the evils of colonialism are perpetrated by an external principality, the same evils in "internal colonialism" are perpetrated by not just an internal principality, but principalities whose dominion has no shadow of ending.
The late popular gospel musician, Rev. Pattey Obasi once noted in one of his songs that internal enmity can be likened to a poisonous snake that positions itself across a narrow pathway and no one can correctly say where its head is. By this, the artist was by extension referring to "internal colonialism" and its intricately delicate nature. Dealing with it is as sensitive and difficult as dealing with the proverbial fly on the scrotum.
Oh! Hold it! You are doing some thinking right? Don't think too far! I will tell you who these indigenous colonial masters are. They are the men who decide the affairs of this nation; bona-fide citizens of Nigeria who have either by godfatherism or other sharp practices found themselves at the corridors of power where they ruthlessly spit fire and brimstone that consumes anyone that dares raising his head against them. These principalities are Nigeria and Nigeria is them. They decide who dies and who stays alive. They determine what is right and what is wrong in the country. They phrase and rephrase the constitution to perpetuate their dominion and consolidate their powers. The nation's resources are under their exclusive control and they determine who gets what and how.
These "indigenous colonial masters", both the past and the present, have a very tall history of corruption, exploitation, intimidation and self-centered policy formulation even worse than the then colonial masters. They only use the masses as a tool to achieve their selfish ends, usually playing very smartly to beat the international community and their ever beaming satellite.
No physical assault on Nigerians by the European colonists recorded in history paralleled the genocide launched by the federal government of Nigeria on the people of Odi, a town in the oil-rich Bayelsa state on 20 November, 1999. Nnimmo Bassey, the Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action and Human Rights Watch estimated that about 2500 civilians were killed in the attack with the entire structures in the town levelled with the exception of a bank, an Anglican church and the town's health centre (Wikipedia, 2017). No people in Nigeria had ever had it that way during the British colonial rule. I call it "internal colonialism".
Although it is right to argue that rigging of elections in Nigeria dated back to 1959 general election conducted by the British government that ushered in Nigeria's independence, the records of post independent election frauds have been unprecedented, grossly embarrassing and ignominious. Nigeria joined the league of democratic nations in 1999, but right from that year, elections in the country have continued to be a public show of shamelessness, institutionalized corruption and apparent desperation for power. In principle, power belongs to the people in a democratic setting, but in my great country, it belongs to those who control the instruments of force to the detriment of the people. For instance, on June 9, 2007, a sitting president in Nigeria accepted openly before the UN Secretary-general, Mr Ban-Ki Moon that the election that brought him into power was fraught with fraud, yet he couldn't tender his resignation (Nairaland Forum, 2007). The Nigerian masses are subjected to the position of mere slaves even in their own father's land by these brand of "colonialists".
The Nigerian masses can be imprisoned by these principalities on account of the slightest infringement of the constitution or any other law in the country, but they can go untouched or mildly caressed as a cover-up after committing heinous crimes. They are the gods of the land and as you know, the gods cannot be questioned by mere mortals except to their detriment. If ever you have heard of these "colonialists" who served a term of improvement on account of corruption charges, look closely, you must notice that they did not dance properly to the tune of the "powers that be". Even the current federal government that chanted the mantra of war against corruption has been severely accused that the moneys used to sponsor its election campaigns were stolen; yet, none of those fingered in connection with these moneys have been invited by the EFCC for questioning (SCANNEWS, 2015).
The case of Nigeria is the case of one of the popular quotes of the most currently cited African tyrant, Idi Amin of Uganda, " There is freedom of speech, but I cannot guarantee freedom after speech" (azquotes.com, 2017). The brand of democracy operated by these indigenous "colonial masters" is not the type operated by the United States of America from where we claim to have borrowed it. I think it is high time we stopped using the American form of democracy to access the "jamboree" played by these principalities and appeal to them to give us the true definition of their own brand of democracy. I believe there definition must justify their colonial disposition.
Now, having introduced the concept of "internal colonialism", the mind-boggling question becomes, "can the fight against this hydra-headed monster be won like its external counterpart?" A close look at the peculiarities of both concepts only leaves an objective mind with the conclusion that the fight against "internal colonialism" in Nigeria is far more difficult than the one fought by our past heroes that fetched us political independence and is not likely to be won in the near future. The reason for this may be that these "indigenous colonialists" decide the fate of the country - they enact laws, enforce the law, control the court system, own and allocate resources and have the power to give and take life in the eye of the state.The situation becomes more hopeless when it is realized that there is no international treaty that gives the international community the power to control the internal operations of an independent nation.
But does this mean we will perpetually remain subjugated to the whims and caprices of these ruthless principalities? What exactly can we do to gain our freedom from these exploiters? Do Nigerian masses really care about their freedom? Even if they do, can they garner the supports for such a fight? From whom will these supports come? These and many other related questions boggle the minds of many Nigerians and your answers are just as good as mine.
Army arrests kidnap kingpin in Kaduna State
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/army-arrests-kidnap-kingpin-kaduna-state/
1st International Conference
http://www.unn.edu.ng/1st-international-conference/
1st International Conference
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