I am bothered by the recent story of Ghanaian citizen, ‘Ama Sumani’ and a host of other Nigerians/Africans in her shoes, that die of curable and avoidable diseases, for lack of proper medical services while our leaders go abroad to sort themselves out.

l want us to wonder; why is it that each time our Nigerian “leaders” have a headache, they jet abroad for 'medical check-up', still collect "out-of-station allowance" and tax-payers pay the bill BUT when a “tax-payer” is ill, all those benefits don’t accrue to him or her?

The last one that went public was when UMYA went to Germany for medical Check-up.

Don’t these “black leaders”, with a black brain, have any semblance of shame?

Have they lost all sense of dignity, when as a sitting President or Minister, in an African country, that is so blessed with crude oil, that makes hundreds of millions of dollars daily (@ 100$ to a Barrel, Nigeria makes close to 2.5million X $100 daily!), go to some of these western or European countries that live only on Taxes and export of manufactured goods, seeking medical help for ailments that good medical facilities in our country would have solved?

What is it that these European leaders can think of and articulate that for example, a UMYA, who is a university lecturer or an OBJ, with all his years as a military General and Head of State, should not be mentally capable of articulating?

Are we Nigerians and indeed other Africans thinking and reasoning “on the same level”, when it comes to the ‘value attached’ to life, with our political leaders?

For me, l think

“ITS ALL ABOUT MOTIVATION”.

“IT’S ALL ABOUT COMPULSION”

Until there is a law which forbids presidents, governors, ministers, assembly members and all those in authority (those who are entrusted with power and policy-decision-making, to MAKE A CHANGE), from going abroad to receive medical treatment, until then, our Hospitals and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) will continue to suffer. Why should they repair and equip our hospitals, when they, selfishly, have a better choice abroad? What if their life depends on LUTH, will they not stock it with good equipments?

Why would an OBJ repair the roads, when he has series of HUMMER 4X4 jeeps and a Helicopter that regular trips between Abuja and OTTA farm? Recently outside government, when OBJ spent hours commuting between Ikeja and Otta farm, was the only time he complained about traffic snarl!

Why would they build proper power stations when they have four 30KVA generators, in their compound, doing six-hourly rotations? If UMYA were to be in darkness, like all Nigerians, do you think that despite the alleged looting perpetrated by OBJ and his cronies, he would “suspend his emergency” declaration on the power sector?

Why should they make the refineries work when they have their own refineries in Liberia, Gabon, Sierra Leone, e.t.c. and an underground fuel-dump in their house? If they too had to queue for days at fuel stations and pay exorbitantly for the fuel, don’t you think it will set them thinking straight?

Why would the government and I.G of Police really tackle and “be ready to die” tackling insecurity within the polity when they are constantly guarded by a whole battalion of Army, SSS and MOPOL? Of what benefit is it for Sir Okiro, to “die” for an ordinary lay-man, like he has recently professed his readiness to “die for UMYA”?  Why don’t we strip them of all these paraphernalia of security details and let them feel what it means to live with insecurity or live at the mercy of armed hoodlums?

If the Senate President where to be living at Agege and the vice president where to live at New Market road in Onitsha while the I.G himself lives within Kano, do you think they would not be interested in ensuring security of lives and Property in those areas? But hey, Asokoro and Maitama are secured enough, to hell with all you Nigerians!

Why would they build mass-housing units and force down the cost of house rent when they can collect over 600Million naira annually for refurbishing the government house they are occupying for free!

The long and short of the story is that they don’t have any motivation to make life better for the average Nigerian since it is neither high on their priority nor most importantly, not tied to their fate.

In addition, Nigerians in general, are afflicted with this malaise called apathy! We are not too eager to COMPEL our leaders to deliver.

God gave us a brain, a heart and a mind far superior and above those of animals and l am sure even the lower animals don’t “shift” so many burdens unto HIM.

Instead of doing what is needful to improve and make life better,

Instead of the “Nigerian in us” to apply himself to compel our political leaders to do what they are employed, “elected or selected” to do in office, by way of genuine agitation and protest if need be, we shift the “effort” to God’s domain under the silly prodding of our religious leaders! PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS, PRAY FOR THE NATION! BULLSHIT. Kick their Ass if they fail to deliver.

Why then did God not give us the mind and brain of a donkey? Or are we just donkeys in human form?

I am also worried about those of US that have the opportunity to go abroad (am not talking about some 3weeks visit, you cant really capture what living abroad entails in that short time!) and live there. We have experienced how things are done, PROPERLY DONE. Why do we now find it difficult to replicate such good things at home?

Information is valuable, and when you articulate and recognize the benefits of such information, it is powerful. We have seen how the TRAM system revolutionized the transport system in Europe, especially in France and Germany. We have seen what stable electricity can do to commerce and trade in ‘advanced’ countries. We have experienced a situation where you can drive for hundreds of kilometers with your eyes closed due o the smoothness of the road (no do am  :-) , this is not an advice O!), we have seen how the leaders and policy makers/shapers in these land, feel comfortable and at home with the ordinary people they rule simply because, in the “people’s comfort”, they’ve derived their own success, riches and security unlike where Nigerian leaders constitute themselves into nuisance and security risk so much so that they must surround themselves in 12 feet-high walls (self-imposed prison) and go about with a battalion of MOPOL like some “about-to-escape” Serial killer. We have seen how cleanliness leads to a healthy life, we have seen how obeying traffic rules can ease road congestion and preserve life……..

The trend now is for some nonentity to come abroad, make a few bob (essentially due to the low value of the naira), go back home to contest election (and his/her few Bob plays a significant role!) and becomes governor. Nothing bad in that in itself but most disappointing is that this same person who has EXPERIENCED the good and excellent things of Europe/Americas is now the one that oppress the people! What is the benefit of all those years of sojourn abroad? Of what use is the knowledge and experience of living abroad?

Look among the governors in the last eight years and not less than 80% among them have lived abroad and we therefore expect better dividends from them but like some crazed kleptomaniac, they use the opportunity to further impoverish and scam their people. It’s really an ironic shame, a buried talent.

Military-boys are no good, civilians are worse, local leaders are bereft of ideas, the “imported ones” are full of only selfish ideas, the older generation are a bunch of thieves and treasury looters, the younger generation are Yahoo-yahoo con-artist, Men cannot be trusted with leadership, some women-folk have proved to be more dangerous when it comes to defrauding the country! Where will it end?

Maybe not, may be we all just what THEY say we are?

Robot  # 1 | 25.03.2008 13:41

I am bothered by the recent story of Ghanaian citizen, ‘Ama Sumani’ and a host of othe...Read the full article.

PAPIG  # 2 | 26.03.2008 21:00

HEALTH TOURISM BY NIGERIAN LEADERS: WETIN WE FIT DO? My brother you don talk everything. I salute you. I personally would not mind if these officials go abroad and spend their own money. They have loads of this stuff but would prefer to scrounge on state resources. What is the way forward my brother/sister? Should we devise a powerful petition to foreign missions in Abuja and Lagos asking these government officials to be denied visas especially if they are going to depend on state resources instead of their personal fortune for their health trip? W e could copy say the commonwealth and foreign office in London and all the equivalent offices in the major capitals of the world to give this 'more teeth'. I am too simple to come up with a lasting solution to this health tourism of our leaders at our expense. May be the very intelligent ones amongst us like Olu (employonelaw) could help us in this direction. We may just be able to cut off one of the pecks of our corrupt leaders thus enforcing them to invest in our health sector where infant and child mortality is still one of the lowest even in the West African subcontinent inspite of our huge oil wealth. Even some Oyibo people go back us in this campaign not becos dem like us but becos some of dem dey sensitive to child poverty. Or wetin else we fit do? I don tire to write, we need action now my brother. Let us not underestimate our power. Only recently it was estimated that we remit over $7billion to our folks back in Nigeria. Dat na the money we dem fit calculate using bank and money transfer. If you add the ones we dey take go naija by cash you go begin dey understand our collective power. Wetim make we do my brother, Olu please help.

lifted1976  # 3 | 27.03.2008 05:31

If only our so called senators could sponsor a BILL and have it passed in the house whereby all public office holders must use our public hospitals, public schools et-al for themselves, spouses and wards will there be sanity in the polity, they will send their wards, spouses and even girlfriends to high profile schools and hospitals abroad, thereby allowing the rot to hold sway unabated in our public insitutions.

Lagos Boy  # 4 | 27.03.2008 09:31

May God bless you for this write up I am looking forward to us channeling these ideas towards policy and decision makers for implementation I would also like to recommend additional measures to address corrupt tendencies such as compulsory PUBLIC declaration of assets and tax records of public officials and the DEATH penalty for convicted looters of public funds/abuse of office These people are FAR worse than armed robbers who rob, kill and maim

Bode_Boluz  # 5 | 27.03.2008 09:41

Why not get the Health tourists, to use the money they use to fly out their entourages, to build clinics or hospitals that will make it worth the while of foreign medical experts to visit and treat them in Nigeria. By default and obvious compassion, these experts, (unlike the Nigerian Based Medical Business People), would extend their services free, for a time to other needy Nigerians. Experts should be welcome to Nigeria, to help treat Extra ordinary cases... Even the Politician... It may even win some smart politician brownie points with the ignorant masses...

RAYNOSA  # 6 | 27.03.2008 11:15

> want us to wonder; why is it that each time our Nigerian “leaders” have a headache, they jet abroad for 'medical check-up', still collect "out-of-station allowance" Because most of us rush to congratulate them even for doing nothing. Back to the article proper

10Kobo  # 7 | 28.03.2008 04:24

Villagers, Is there a provision/means or method by which a Private-Nigerian can sponsor a PRIVATE BILL on the floor of the house (whether it will be supported and defeated by our "elected" Reps is another kettle of fish but lets get it going first!) Since our Reps seems to be too busy chasing shadows (naira) on the floor, and our Executives dont seem to be cerebral enough to take the challenge, its time we help ourselves. Anybody familiar with the workings of our house should please help me out here. Thanks. 10Kobo!

crazyotor  # 8 | 28.03.2008 06:19

"Military-boys are no good, civilians are worse, local leaders are bereft of ideas, the “imported ones” are full of only selfish ideas, the older generation are a bunch of thieves and treasury looters, the younger generation are Yahoo-yahoo con-artist, Men cannot be trusted with leadership, some women-folk have proved to be more dangerous when it comes to defrauding the country! Where will it end?" Do we really need the west to lead us?

Beam  # 9 | 28.03.2008 06:49

=Bode_Boluz;4294999508> Why not get the Health tourists, to use the money they use to fly out their entourages, to build clinics or hospitals that will make it worth the while of foreign medical experts to visit and treat them in Nigeria. By default and obvious compassion, these experts, (unlike the Nigerian Based Medical Business People), would extend their services free, for a time to other needy Nigerians. Experts should be welcome to Nigeria, to help treat Extra ordinary cases... Even the Politician... It may even win some smart politician brownie points with the ignorant masses... I agree with you, but we do not need foreign experts to visit and treat them in Nigeria,most experts in alot of the hospitals abroad are Nigerians, both in the UK and the States, we have able, well qualified, experts in all fields of medicine who live abroad try and get some of them back to nigeria and we will have a better health industry. If we get these people to come back to nigeria, we invest in the right equipment they use abroad, listen to them, do not cut corners regarding the costs of the equipment we can have the kind of hospitals we have abroad, not all hospitals abroad also are sporting state of the art machines, they just have our brothers and sisters as their experts running the show:)

Bunch17  # 10 | 28.03.2008 09:21

=beambolla;4294999801>I If we get these people to come back to nigeria, we invest in the right equipment they use abroad, listen to them, do not cut corners regarding the costs of the equipment we can have the kind of hospitals we have abroad, not all hospitals abroad also are sporting state of the art machines, they just have our brothers and sisters as their experts running the show:) I see two problems with this scenario 1) No more estacode 2) They want to be treated by an Oyibo (irrespective of skill level)

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