OPINION II Today is Int'l Human Solidarity Day!

CLARION CALL FOR UNDILUTED UNITY AMONG NIGERIANS AS THE 2016 INT’L HUMAN SOLIDARITY DAY IS MARKED ON TUESDAY DECEMBER 20

        

On Tuesday, December 20, the world over is celebrating the 2016 International Human Solidarity Day. The annual International Human Solidarity Day was established on 22^nd December 2005, by the United Nations (UN). Having acknowledged the fact that solidarity is one of the basic and universal values that ought to underlie relations between peoples in the Twenty-First Century, on the aforementioned date, the UN General Assembly decided to proclaim December 20 each year as International Human Solidarity Day.

        

Prior to the adoption of the Day by the UN, by resolution on 20^th December 2002, the General Assembly established the World Solidarity Fund which was duly set up in February 2003 as a trust fund of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Its motive is to eradicate poverty as well as promote social and human development in developing countries, particularly amongst the poorest segments of their populations.

        

Solidarity, in a precise term, can be defined as a complete unity and support among people of a certain group. It can also be addressed as an absolute togetherness showcased by members/occupants of a particular group or locality, as the case might be.

       

Solidarity is identified in the Millennium Declaration as one of the fundamental values of international relations in the twenty-first (21^st) century, wherein those who either suffer or benefit least deserve help or support from those who benefit most. Consequently, in the context of globalization and the challenge of growing inequality, the uplift of international solidarity remains unavoidable.

       

Surely, the concept of solidarity has defined the work of the UN since the birth of the organization. The establishment of the UN drew the peoples and nations of the world together to promote peace, human rights, social and economic developments. The body was founded on a basic premise of unity and harmony among its Member States. It is indeed in the spirit of solidarity that the union relies on cooperation in resolving international plights or misunderstanding of socio-economic, cultural and/or humanitarian origin in order to maintain universal peace and security.

       

Frankly, solidarity is a very vital tool required to solve problems in our interconnected world. We can only reach our shared goals if people are able to participate in the formulation and implementation of plans, policies, programmes, and what have you, to shape our common future, since it is already noted that commitments without empowerment are merely words without meaning.

         

Having noticed that absolute unity is synonymous with solidarity, there is no need reiterating the fact that thorough brotherhood or unity can only be actualized through participation in solidarity-related activities or causes. Thus, adoption of human solidarity by any entity is no doubt a pathway towards actualizing absolute unity, which is no doubt an epitome of exemplary peace and harmony.

        

Since it is apparent that solidarity which guarantees absolute unity is as well a giant step towards alleviating the poverty level of any society, hence there is an urgent need for a right thinking citizen of any poverty-stricken nation such as Nigeria alongside other developing countries across the globe to support the ongoing human solidarity crusade as much as they can. In addition, it is imperative for a country like Nigeria that is currently ravaged by insurgency and other forms of treason to do everything humanly possible to ensure that solidarity among the citizenry becomes the order of the day without much ado.

         

Nigeria can promote thorough brotherhood among her populace by closing the existing gaps including ethnicity, corruption, nepotism, favouritism, religious cum social discrimination, chauvinism, and personal aggrandizement that are invariably found on the country’s socio-political and economic platform. To this end, as the present administration ably led by President Mohammadu Buhari is willing and determined to sweep out corruption, which remains the fundamental bane to unity and societal development, we are cordially expected to rally round the administration with the spirit of solidarity rather than the reverse, with a view to making Nigeria become a country to reckon with in the nearest future.

       

We can contribute our respective quotas by regularly and relentlessly preaching unity in every field of human endeavour we find ourselves, most especially in the schools, markets, worship centres, motor parks, and our immediate communities. More so, parents and guardians ought to sensitize their wards, right from their childhood, on the fact that no one can thrive successfully if he/she chose to stand alone since it is obvious that ‘a tree can never make a forest’.   

       

So, as Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate the annual International Human Solidarity Day, I call on everyone who thinks good of the country to borrow a leaf from the country’s fallen nationalists and heroes to include Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, and Chief Tafawa Belewa, just to mention but a few, who believed in the inevitable role of human solidarity in nation building. This is arguably the only way we can actualize undiluted unity among ourselves, which remains the gateway to the long awaited change. Think about it!

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OPINION II How Not To End Recession

HOW NOT TO END RECESSION

       

The last time I checked, people had abruptly become fond of crediting silly jokes, even the one cracked by a-day-old child, to Robert Mugabe – the Zimbabwe president – probably because the said political leader is a known clown. Currently, a day won’t pass without experiencing a certain comic utterance trending on the social media, and when one scrolls down, he would observe the comment is credited to no other person than the man in question.

        

The scenario is related to what is making the rounds in the Nigerian State at the moment. Right now, any misfortune in the country, be it personal or corporate, is wholly attributed to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government owing to the obvious irregularities the administration is characterized by. No one ought to be penalized for nurturing suchlike insinuation or claim, considering that ‘no smoke without fire’.

        

It would be needless to reiterate that Nigeria is presently undergoing recession that is nearing depression. I’m afraid, if the needful is not put in place as quick as possible, the latter might set in soonest. Hence, sound thinkers cannot fold their arms as the painful and pathetic situation lingers. It is their duty to proffer the needed remedy as well as tender constructive criticism when and where necessary to ensure that the embattled giant of Africa regains its strength.

        

The Federal Government (FG) has promised that the forthcoming 2017 budget, estimated at #7.298 trillion, would pull Nigeria out of recession. This pledge does unequivocally not augur well for the country since the implementation of the 2016 budget of #6.08 trillion is still ongoing, and over 60 per cent of the budget is apparently yet to be implemented. It’s noteworthy that the recession had set in prior to the approval of the 2016 budget; it suffices to say that the said budget ought to possess the capacity to end the lingering pitiable condition.

       

Besides, do not forget in haste that Nigerians were equally promised awhile ago that 2016 budget would end the recession. Intriguingly, the focus has suddenly been shifted to the yet-to-come 2017 budget. How do you reconcile these? This confliction of promises significantly indicates that the actual plight ravaging the country’s economic status is yet to be discovered by those whom are entrusted with the economy. Sure, they may not concur with this candid observation, but it’s a reality.

       

If the truth must be told, I would say the 2016 budget can end this monstrous era once and for all, if the needful is adhered to. Read my lips. The 2016 budget is conspicuously bedevilled by limited funds; hence, the prime problem is not its implementation but how to cough up the required funds. For urgency’s sake, we need to concentrate on realistic issues rather than futuristic ones. This is the only way we can progress, and not regress as it is currently the case. Nigeria has indeed grown of age, thus is required to do things maturely and differently.

        

If we fail to implement the 2016 budget as expected, we will arguably still encounter similar hurdles when the awaited 2017 budget is eventually approved by the National Assembly (NASS). Moreover, a deficit of #2.269 trillion in the 2017 appropriation bill is enough reason to worry about. This implies that Nigeria would continue to live on mere promises whilst thousands of Nigerians are dying and countless firms running into comatose, on a daily basis. Since the NASS is yet to approve the Presidency’s request to borrow $29.9 billion externally, which is in line with the people’s wish, I suggest we look inwards toward sourcing for funds internally. Several stakeholders would be willing to lease, or even donate, to the government; the FG should endeavour to extend hand of fellowship to them; it takes two to tango.

       

Though the FG has thrived relentlessly towards curtailing excesses via the ongoing anti-graft war, a lot still needs to be done. We need to tackle tax evasion headlong by deploying forensic mechanism. Instead of causing the masses more pains by overtaxing them, let’s shift attention to those corporate bodies that have ab initio been dodging payment of taxes. Some inconsequential incentives, such as wardrobe allowance and so on, due most public office holders ought to be put on hold for now till further notice. They should cope with their old wears, or what have you, till we get out of this mess. These measures would enable us to generate huge funds.

       

The FG has often times told Nigerians that the funds returned by the looters were not meant to be utilized since their cases are still in the law court. I beg to differ from this perception. It’s imperative to acknowledge that these monies were not refunded under duress, rather through plea-bargain. So, court proceedings have absolutely nothing to do with monies that were willingly returned by these foes. In fact, the refund is a clear evidence that they are guilty of the crime accused of; in other words, the court hearing is just for an apt conviction to be delivered. Thus, let’s use the funds to service the 2016 budget that is presently wearing a pathetic physiognomy.

        

Above all, we must tackle the ongoing Niger-Delta militancy without further ado. I advocate that the FG should deal directly with the militants, than calling the so-called elders to a roundtable. Hear from the horses’ mouth and stop beating about the bush. We also need to revisit the various existing policies towards making amends. For instance, the oil subsidy has been totally removed from the country’s budgets, hence, there’s a compelling need for a sound alternative policy in this regard. Similarly, President Buhari also needs to reshuffle his cabinet having observed that most of his allies aren’t currently serving where they are meant to.

       

Before I round off, I want to solicit that governments at all levels should, henceforth, start taking the Nigeria’s fiscal year seriously to enable them plan ahead. The country’s fiscal year is between January and December of each Gregorian calendar year. An appropriation bill ought to be ready before august of every year, so that before the end of November, it would be passed as budget by the legislature for the incoming year. Let’s focus on realistic issues, and jettison frivolous ones. Think about it!

 

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OPINION II How Realistic are the Awaited LG Polls in Imo?

HOW REALISTIC ARE THE AWAITED LG POLLS IN IMO?

       

The last time I checked, Imolites in their entirety were earnestly awaiting the conduct of local government elections in the state, expected to be carried out by the state’s electoral commission (ISIEC). It isn’t anymore news that few months ago the governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha disclosed that the said election would unfailingly be conducted in January 2017, a decision reportedly informed by the unanimous resolution reached by the State Executive Council (SEC).

       

The Nigeria’s political system is being perceived as one that does not reverence the constitution. This is the reason a state like Imo could stay for over nine consecutive years without boasting of substantive local government chairmen; it is the reason a budget would be approved by the legislature for a certain fiscal year and throughout the affected year, over sixty per cent (60%) of the budget would not be implemented; it is why a vice-chancellor of a given university would exhaust his/her five-year tenure or thereabouts without executing at least a tangible project on the campus, yet he/she wouldn’t be probed by the concerned government.

      

Though Imolites have been promised that the conduct of the polls is actualizable come January 2017, they are still sceptical over the pledge. The scepticism was occasioned by the obvious fact that that wasn’t the first time such promise would be made, yet absolutely nothing was done afterwards. Sure, Imolites likewise citizens of other states passing through similar fate, have endured enough that they deserve an award. But, would they continue to persevere?

      

The way and manner most state governors handle LG matters have made me to see the awaited Imo LG polls as a mirage. It sounds non-realistic to my person, and of course to any other concerned fellow, because such an issue has never been taken seriously since the reign of the immediate past governor – Chief Ikedi Ohakim – till date, let alone this recessionary era. Hence, awaiting January 2017 towards witnessing the elections, is unequivocally not unlike building castle in the air.

       

However, it’s pertinent to acknowledge that all hope is not lost, thus needless to despair. Conduct of the polls come next month wouldn’t be far-fetched provided we are committed. It is just a matter of being transparent as well as standing by nothing but the truth. The electorate need to comprehend the real state of things, and they can’t if the picture is not presented to them in an elaborate form. Let’s give them that sense of belonging, so that, they can even help the government to do the thinking.

      

I might be sounding abstract but the truth is, we need to hold the bull by the horn. Beating about the bush would cause more harm than the anticipated good. All the aggrieved parties ought to be brought to a roundtable, so we can address this once and for all. We can’t continue to put the blame on a certain individual or group while the state continues to suffer. We shouldn’t continue deceiving ourselves and allow Imo wallow in pains. It is high time the deceit stopped for the sake of the state at large.

      

The above instruction became consequential because if truly the LG polls would be held by the aforementioned period, or anytime within the first quarter of 2017,  by now, primary elections ought to have been conducted by the various political parties involved; series of electioneering campaigns should be in the air; electoral debates ought to be the order of the day. I stand to be corrected if I have goofed.

      

Funnily enough, new Transition Committee (TC) chairmen were recently installed by the governor, and probably more would still be replaced in the nearest future. Or maybe, the new chairmen are the ones to conduct the awaited elections. Whatever the case might be, time is conspicuously two short for reshuffling if really we are determine to get it right come January next year.

      

Let’s not indulge in a practice that would make the governed overlook the government. The government is meant to be taken seriously by the people but in a situation whereby the former continually displays nonchalant attitudes, I’m afraid, the latter would be forced to start taking it (the former) for granted. Governance requires a two-way participation where the leaders and the followers are expected to engage in serious cooperation; but if any side is being sidelined, it becomes a problem to the society.

       

Come to think of it, are Imolites really prepared to witness the polls in question? Everyone appeared so docile and less-concerned. Is it an indication that they have forgotten about it, or have lost hope in the government? It would interest, perhaps shock you to note that only few states across the federation have conducted their LG elections, but if you visit any of the states that are yet to conduct theirs, the electorate seem relaxed and lackadaisical. This should be one of the prime reasons the concerned governments don’t take the issue seriously. It pisses my psyche profoundly each time I realize that I belong to one of the affected states.

       

Nevertheless, I’m using this medium to humbly appeal to the amiable governor of the ‘Eastern Heartland’ to please, understand that the conduct of these polls is long overdue. The prolonged suspense is indeed deeply telling on me alongside Imolites of like minds. I wouldn’t like to continue sounding personal in regard to this anomaly, as it is making me appear more sensitive. Think about it! 

 

Comrade Fred Doc Nwaozor

-Political/Public Affairs Analyst & Civil Rights Activist-
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