As we march in favour of democracy & development, let us not presume that the troubled peace in our country will self-resolve. Yet, this seems to be the general direction if not tendency we seem to be headed. Wrong, very wrong.
First off, we are not agreed on the root causes of the problem. Second, the forces of unity are at once rooted and floating! They want a big and bold country, bonded in egalitarian democracy but are not ready for full and fulfilling federalism. Third, we are disabling and dis-enabling our vibrant youth population, it's just mind-boggling and baffling. Fourth, we have ignored Nigerian women in nation building: can you beat that? Finally, the politicians are misusing both religion and ethnicity (two of our most cherished gems and core values) in blind pursuit of personal ambitions and unbridled brigandage. The result is the shame-soaked badge of worsening corruption and deepening poverty.
Tackle these at base and get on the firm path to democracy, development and peace - enduring peace.
Who will take us there? The political class, nudged by elders, battled by civil society, supported by the international community. The arrowhead? National Assembly.
Monitored and recorded by the Nigerian Media - fearlessly, robustly and patriotically.
Showing posts with label Nigerian Media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nigerian Media. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
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!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
FOI Bill, AT LAST!
Passed. Since everyone is congratulating the Senate, we must join in to say bravo! We still have to await the harmonization of the nine areas of differences with the House. Any reluctance on our part on this matter is suspended because the presidency has refuted reports of any “adversarial ambush” at the Villa! Do we have a perfect/preferred law yet? Nah. But let dem sign this one, first. We wait.
How then do we put the point that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has yet to be treated in an economy that totally relies on this sector for survival? Not passing this all-important law before going for reelection was grossly insensitive on the part of parliament. After the polls, you can imagine the hard times ahead for things like “quorum“, “punctuality“, “kola“, “vested interests”, “blackmail”, etc. You know the story, and the insinuations, and all dem Wikileaks stuff! But again, we wait.
Kudos then to the National Assembly on the FoI Bill. Because they have a way of rising to the occasion (as with INEC case, Constitution Amendment, Third Term saga, Acting President issue, Minimum Wage matter, et al), we can safely say Kudos-in-Advance for the PIB Bill as well. Bravo!
How then do we put the point that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has yet to be treated in an economy that totally relies on this sector for survival? Not passing this all-important law before going for reelection was grossly insensitive on the part of parliament. After the polls, you can imagine the hard times ahead for things like “quorum“, “punctuality“, “kola“, “vested interests”, “blackmail”, etc. You know the story, and the insinuations, and all dem Wikileaks stuff! But again, we wait.
Kudos then to the National Assembly on the FoI Bill. Because they have a way of rising to the occasion (as with INEC case, Constitution Amendment, Third Term saga, Acting President issue, Minimum Wage matter, et al), we can safely say Kudos-in-Advance for the PIB Bill as well. Bravo!
Monday, February 14, 2011
KUDOS TO RADIO - Especially FRCN!
Recovering from a small accident that got arthritis attracted, I've been on a hybrid retreat. From my semi-rural and self-imposed outposts-domains, I chose radio as my main link to the world. The internet gave me the other part: news panorama.
Radio. I have always loved radio. But in recent years, like many Nigerians, the private media channels have caught my imagination, empathy and patronage. No less because the public media had become personalized by public officers! As the NBC admonished, and quite rightly constantly reiterated by the NUJ president and civil rights crusaders, government-owned media must be just and fair to ALL - especially the opposition. We still can’t say so of many public stations nationwide!
For months now I have been listening to FRCN National. I’m pleased. Very. The quality and variety of content and delivery make me proud. The 12 noon diet - Network Nigeria - brings me creativity and comic relief. Oh, and those news and programme anchors! Your kids would safely learn English from them. We certainly can’t say the same for many private (or even FRCN FM) stations nationwide!
Labaran Maku, expand the FRCN Training School, Ikeja. Ask Babatunde Fashola for a befitting land on Lekki Peninsula or Badagry Mega Highway, and upgrade it to a full University - like the NTA TV College, Jos. Bring back veterans to man the faculty with tenure and incentives. Before 29 May, 2011. It’s our local BBC!
BON should encourage, failing which compel, all broadcasters to go to FRCN for voice and phonetics training. Now, and periodically!
Radio. I have always loved radio. But in recent years, like many Nigerians, the private media channels have caught my imagination, empathy and patronage. No less because the public media had become personalized by public officers! As the NBC admonished, and quite rightly constantly reiterated by the NUJ president and civil rights crusaders, government-owned media must be just and fair to ALL - especially the opposition. We still can’t say so of many public stations nationwide!
For months now I have been listening to FRCN National. I’m pleased. Very. The quality and variety of content and delivery make me proud. The 12 noon diet - Network Nigeria - brings me creativity and comic relief. Oh, and those news and programme anchors! Your kids would safely learn English from them. We certainly can’t say the same for many private (or even FRCN FM) stations nationwide!
Labaran Maku, expand the FRCN Training School, Ikeja. Ask Babatunde Fashola for a befitting land on Lekki Peninsula or Badagry Mega Highway, and upgrade it to a full University - like the NTA TV College, Jos. Bring back veterans to man the faculty with tenure and incentives. Before 29 May, 2011. It’s our local BBC!
BON should encourage, failing which compel, all broadcasters to go to FRCN for voice and phonetics training. Now, and periodically!
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