Despite all the faults and falterings, patriots must not give up on their fatherland - this blessed land, NIGERIA.
The politicians test our very limits, don't they? But the militicians did worse, didn't they? We survived the jackboot and outlived the gun-loot. Alas, we will survive the slack-hoot and outlive the pen-loot. We are NIGERIA!
Now is then the time to call on our successful sons and daughters in the diaspora to rise in full duty and diligence for the rescue mission: Come Home! Choose your path, chime your time; no matter. But, please, Come Home!
By 2015, this land is going to retire many of the present galloping gladiators. The sweep will be sharp and shocking. And we need worthy replacements - a blend of home-based and diaspora-groomed patriots.
To fit in, dear compatriots, 2012 is the PrepYear. Start the strategic links and break the jinx...
Come Home!
Showing posts with label 2015 General Elections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2015 General Elections. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
PRESIDENTIAL and GUBERNATORIAL DEBATES next time
The 2011 Elections in Nigeria is a special case of nation-building. We did everything in a hurry. And we are harrying everybody in the polity! This hurry-hurry character must stop o, na wetin sef?
Once we refused to shift the official handing-over date from May 29 to October 1 as canvassed by many well-meaning Nigerians and some Friends of Nigeria, we had set up ourselves for the “unpredictable”! That was why we all “understood” and “bore” with INEC during the voter registration hiccups. Rightly so. There will be more challenges to come. And we trust that Nigerians will stand by Jega’s INEC.
That brings us to the question of election debates. Our people are complex but not complicated. With simple layouts and analyses you can convince and command (lead) them. Which is why the ruling class has gotten away with all their shenanigans all these years! They turned the virtues upside-down. Debates are central to democracy. Opinion polls are central to elections. Both are central to governance & development in modern society - be it in cabinet, parliament or the soapbox.
For us in Nigeria, I suggest that a simple format be designed for election debates. The organizers must act upfront. Conduct credible research on the areas of critical need, prepare a strategic plan, propose a timeline and do the indicative resource /funding requirements. Circulate this package to all political parties at the start of the election year, so that all aspirants know the score. And be ready to respond to the score. Period.
If we do so for every tier of government (presidential, gubernatorial, chairmanship) we will help the political parties weed out and winnow the fields! At the final debates before elections, we will have candidates compare apples with apples, have experts take them on, and give the electorates usable inputs for their final decisions.
With such a simple and comprehensive format jokers, pretenders, CV-boosters, pimps and charlatans will go elsewhere! It’s about time.
So 2015, here we come!
Once we refused to shift the official handing-over date from May 29 to October 1 as canvassed by many well-meaning Nigerians and some Friends of Nigeria, we had set up ourselves for the “unpredictable”! That was why we all “understood” and “bore” with INEC during the voter registration hiccups. Rightly so. There will be more challenges to come. And we trust that Nigerians will stand by Jega’s INEC.
That brings us to the question of election debates. Our people are complex but not complicated. With simple layouts and analyses you can convince and command (lead) them. Which is why the ruling class has gotten away with all their shenanigans all these years! They turned the virtues upside-down. Debates are central to democracy. Opinion polls are central to elections. Both are central to governance & development in modern society - be it in cabinet, parliament or the soapbox.
For us in Nigeria, I suggest that a simple format be designed for election debates. The organizers must act upfront. Conduct credible research on the areas of critical need, prepare a strategic plan, propose a timeline and do the indicative resource /funding requirements. Circulate this package to all political parties at the start of the election year, so that all aspirants know the score. And be ready to respond to the score. Period.
If we do so for every tier of government (presidential, gubernatorial, chairmanship) we will help the political parties weed out and winnow the fields! At the final debates before elections, we will have candidates compare apples with apples, have experts take them on, and give the electorates usable inputs for their final decisions.
With such a simple and comprehensive format jokers, pretenders, CV-boosters, pimps and charlatans will go elsewhere! It’s about time.
So 2015, here we come!
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