Prayer Alone will not Invite Nigeria to World Economic

(G20) Summit: A Reply to Ms. Ester Tongo

Dennis O. Balogu, Ph.D., M.P.A.

E-mail: dbalogu7@yahoo.com

QUOTE:

"Nigeria does not have any enemies!! Nigerians Abroad Are NIGERIA'S Assets to be nurtured and cultivated. Everybody want to help, we all just want something positive to rally around like "Yes we can" Nigeria needs prayers, Good leaders that would motivate people to have country pride."

UNQUOTE. By Ester Tongo (Naija Politics)

My father once told me that the only person that does not have enemies is a madman, because he does not have his own mind and is not aspiring for anything. So, it is a curse that Nigeria, as a nation does not have its own friends and enemies (countries that are jealous of Nigeria because of its enviable position in the world). Nigeria should work hard to identify some countries as friends and have others identify Nigeria as adversaries. A review of countries shows that every successful country in the world has friends and enemies (competing countries). The most powerful country in the world has friends and noted adversaries. Obviously, the United States have friends and known adversaries. Russia has its own enemies at the super-power and economic level. India has western countries as its friends and Pakistan as is competing adversaries. It could be properly assumed that it is the competition between India and Pakistan that forced both of them to become nuclear powers. While Israel has friends in the West, it also has adversaries. South Korea has its North Korea, and Communist China has it democratic and capitalist opponents. In each case, each of countries achieved a level of development that becomes the envy of their adversaries.

So, it is very worrisome that no country considers Nigeria as an enemy and without malice - just as no body has malice against a madman. This condition needs to be changed.

The Nigerian professionals in the Diaspora and at home are already nurtured and cultivated waiting to be harvested by the nation, Nigeria. But it requires a leader that has some of the enviable traits of former President Obasanjo. In order to CHANGE the face of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Obasanjo had to retire ninety-two generals immediately after taking office in 1999. He had the guts to pick-up a young police officer with superior integrity, Malam Nuhu Ribadu and made him the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Corruption Commission (EFCC) to fight corruption in high places and he scored great successes. When Obasanjo found out that the Capital Territory of Abuja’s development master plan had been racked by a cankerworm of corruption and back-hand deals, Obasanjo had the guts of appointing a young, intelligent, vibrant, and fire-brand patriot, Malam Nasir el-Rufai as Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to restore the glory that is expected of Abuja. Any unbiased visitor to Abuja to day would certainly be proud of his achievements. For most part, Abuja’s scenario can compete with cities found in most industrialized countries – an environment that attracts modern- day tourists and business ventures.

And Obasanjo was not finished with regard to economics and financial management of the countries wealth. He recruited a few Diaspora professionals that included Professor Soludo and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and paid their salaries in U.S. Dollars (if it was what it would take). This action perceivably resulted in Nigeria enjoying a very stable currency (Naira) in the world market through out Obasanjo’s tenure which in turn stimulated great investments in the country. But to day, the Nigerian currency (Naira) has suffered almost 30% total devaluation within the last four to five months. Of course, this could be blamed on the world-wide economic meltdown which started in the United States. So, why is the Naira losing value against the U.S. Dollar if the economic meltdown started in the United States? 

The campaign for more prayers for Nigeria to save it from this quagmire would not solve the problem. A very recent worldwide survey shows that no nation has more prayerful citizens than Nigeria. There appears to be shared responsibilities here. Prayer has done it own chore, but the Nigerian citizens and leaders need to re-assess themselves to make sure that each of them carryout their own duties for Nigeria to grow.

It was humbling for most Nigerians to hear President Yar’Ardua say, "Today is a sad day for Nigeria as a country. This is because we are not invited to a meeting of the 20 world leaders (G20 Summit currently taking place in London, England). We have the population, we have the resources and we have the potential". This should be a wake-up call for all of Nigeria’s citizens and leaders that the destiny of Nigeria can be best designed, developed, built and actualized by it own people. Although, this call has been made before by many of Nigeria’s friends including former President Bill Clinton during an official visit to Nigeria, it need to be repeated often until majority of Nigeria’s citizens and leaders understand it, believe it, and implement it.

In other to move the country forward in the short run, Nigeria could maintain techniques and technician that worked and accomplished their set tasks for Nigeria. Those bureaucrats, such as Malam Ribadu, Malam el-Rufai, and Dr. Okonjo-Iweala who performed admirably in the former (Obasanjo’s) administration and their kinds need to be brought back now. Otherwise, Nigeria may not be invited to a ‘G50” Summit in the next ten years. Nigeria’s size, population, resources, and even peace-keeping missions in Africa would not invite her to World Economic Summits. Rather, what she does with her size, population, resources and intellect would invite Nigeria to the next (G20) World Economic Summits. 

Dennis O. Balogu, Ph.D., M.P.A.

Professor of Agriculture & International Affairs Officer

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S.A.

Robot  # 1 | 03.04.2009 07:04

Prayer Alone will not Invite Nigeria to World Economic (G20) Summit: A Reply to Ms. Ester Tongo Dennis O. Balogu, Ph.D., M.P.A. E-mail:dbalogu7@yahoo.com QUOTE: "Nigeriadoes not have any enemies!! Nigerians Abroad AreNIGERIA'SAssetsto be nurtured and cultivated. Everybody want to help, we all just want something positive to rally around like "Yes we can"Nigerianeeds prayers, Good leaders that would motivate people to havecountry pride." UNQUOTE.By EsterTongo (Naija Politics) My father once told me that the only person that does not have enemies is a madman, because he does not have his own mind and is not aspiring for anything. So, it is a curse that Nigeria, as a nation does not have its own friends and enemies (countries that are jealous of Ni...Read the full article.

ajimoh  # 2 | 03.04.2009 08:51

Dear Prof, Thank you. It is however pleasing to note that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, in her capacity as Managing Director of the World Bank, was invited to dine with the first ladies and other eminent women who were invited to 10 Downing Street. Whilst I agree that Obasanjo culled politically ambitious Generals from the Military and appointed some notable good people into his administration, I would not join in pouring any encomium on him because he had so much opportunity to achieve a lot more than he did, given the resources and personnel at his disposal. The unresolved murders, wanton disregard for human rights , etc under his watch must never be relegated at the expense of any economic gains made. On the main discussion, you say the President was reported to have remarked, Today is a sad day for Nigeria as a country. This is because we are not invited to a meeting of the 20 world leaders (G20 Summit currently taking place in London, England). We have the population, we have the resources and we have the potential I agree with the President that we have the population, resources and the potential. As the President has not been reported to have added leadership to the list of what we have, I hasten to add that we do not have the leadership to harness our population, resources and the potential; and that is the reason why we are not considered to be among the G20. Frankly, I am surprised that a nation where its leadership was rigged into power thinks the rest of the world do not know that simple fact. In addition, since this regime came into power, the charade surrounding the fight against corruption has made Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations. Is the President seriously thinking various foreign missions do not report back to their respective countries the way James Ibori and other rogues appear to be walking free, nominating key personnel (e.g. present Chief of Staff to the President, who was finance commissioner to Ibori), the ineffectiveness of the EFCC and the Executive’s response to the Uwais panel on electoral reform, etc. If Nigeria wants to be part of the G20, we need to tackle corruption head-on. Embassy officials see members of the various Houses of Assembly embarking on spurious foreign trips on the pretext of observing democracy, etc. These officials grant those visas but know deep down that the officials are merely embarking on trips to waste the country’s resources and are not serious people! In confirming people to occupy important positions, we have a senate that would ask people to take a bow and go, instead of subjecting them to vigorous scrutiny; our House of Representatives has been enmeshed in one financial scandal or the other – and what happened to Patricia Eteh by the way? The following names and organization are alleged to have been bribed in the Halliburton case: <*> Sani Abacha, former head of State; <*> Abdusalami Abubakar, former head of State; <*> Olusegun Obasanjo, former head of State; <*> Dan Etete, former Petroleum Minister; <*> M. D. Yusuf, former Inspector General of Police; <*> Gauis Obaseki, former Group Managing Director of NNPC; <*> Peoples Democratic Party, current ruling party in Nigeria; <*> Intels Energy Limited, in which Atiku and late Shehu Musa Yar Adua are substantial stakeholders. see: http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5395403-146/The_Halliburton_bribe_takers.csp The world is watching and notes that whilst concerted actions are being taken in certain jurisdictions, the Attorney General of Nigeria has promised to sue those responsible for bribing Nigerian government officials. I couldn’t believe it when I read it and just wonder! Also, is the EFCC going to take action against Obasanjo, Abdusalami Abubakar, M.D. Yusuf, et al? Would the intelligence services not have reported copiously on the shenanigans of our AG concerning the trial of Ibori in the UK? Our leaders can only be blind and deaf in pretending that we should have been invited to the G20 meeting.

Danmeka  # 3 | 03.04.2009 09:01

First let me thank the writer for this piece. Here we go again putting our hopes in prayer when our illegal leaders see evil and call it good. Electoral reforms,Nigerianising Reforms,power reforms,police reforms,constitutional reforms,whatever reforms this is not a time to play on words; we are a nation in crisis. The enormity of the challenge challenges our collective conscience. Our non participation in the G20 summit, we have no business there when our nation is crisis; a President going abroad for treatment tell us we are in crisis. So Nigeria' problem is caused by the opposition, Who is in power?PDP (People deceiving Party) is in power and for Vincent Ogbulafor to tell us the opposition is the problem just show how naive he is.Infact he is blaming conscious Nigerians whose rights were sabotaged by the cabal institued INEC and are trying their best to make sure such does not happen in 2011.Instead of the Government to get its house in order we are busy re-branding evil and call it good. No wonder the former Commonwealth Secretary General Chief Emeka Anyaoku(1990 to 2000) said he can never win an election in Nigeria.

Danmeka  # 4 | 03.04.2009 09:17

AS for the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Michael Aondoakaa, he will only carry out the will of his master to enrich his pocket not the suffering Nigerian masses.The same Attorney General and Minister of Justice who omitted several vital recommendations on the Justice Uwais Report to appease the Cabals in Government. We are in deep trouble

10Kobo  # 5 | 03.04.2009 09:35

=Robot;342867>.. But it requires a leader that has some of the enviable traits of former President Obasanjo. In order to CHANGE the face of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Obasanjo had to retire ninety-two generals immediately after taking office in 1999. He had the guts to pick-up a young police officer with superior integrity, Malam Nuhu Ribadu and made him the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Corruption Commission (EFCC) to fight corruption in high places and he scored great successes. When Obasanjo found out that the Capital Territory of Abuja’s development master plan had been racked by a cankerworm of corruption and back-hand deals, Obasanjo had the guts of appointing a young, intelligent, vibrant, and fire-brand patriot, Malam Nasir el-Rufai as Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to restore the glory that is expected of Abuja. Any unbiased visitor to Abuja to day would certainly be proud of his achievements. For most part, Abuja’s scenario can compete with cities found in most industrialized countries – an environment that attracts modern- day tourists and business ventures. What? Even without the power of "hindsight", no one would agree with this your theory....and that is putting it mildly! We all know why "Military men" retire "Generals" once they take office. By virtue of experience and training, these untimely retirement are a colossal loss to a nation. You have men that the country has speared no expense to train, being retired when we should be having value and full benefit for our investment in them, all in the name of "sitting comfortable" by an incumbent? Thats "insecurity borne out of non-performance", taken to a mad level. If Obama had retired "90 Generals" when he assumed office, l guess the likes of General Patreus will be "chasing contract" by now or waiting in-line to be the next "khaki-boy-in-Agbada"! Arrant nonsense. And can you tell us if the retirement of 90 Generals had any positive impact on the Army aside the ego of another figure-head leader being soothed? Depending on how you look at the "cup", half-full or half-empty, there are arguments for and against how OBJ used Ribadu (a fine gentleman) to achieve sinister motives and the Abuja "land-for-corruption" under Nasir is still up there in the public domain. And Obasanjo was not finished with regard to economics and financial management of the countries wealth. He recruited a few Diaspora professionals that included Professor Soludo and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and paid their salaries in U.S. Dollars (if it was what it would take). This action perceivably resulted in Nigeria enjoying a very stable currency (Naira) in the world market through out Obasanjo’s tenure which in turn stimulated great investments in the country. But to day, the Nigerian currency (Naira) has suffered almost 30% total devaluation within the last four to five months. Of course, this could be blamed on the world-wide economic meltdown which started in the United States. So, why is the Naira losing value against the U.S. Dollar if the economic meltdown started in the United States? This is sad, coming from an educated person! How can you pretend not to know that the high price of crude in the international market, largely contributed to the rise in Nigeria's foreign reserve and the ultimate exchange rate of the naira, during OBJ's tenure? Since we have little or no export aside crude oil, it doesn't take a genius to know that the recent decline in the price of crude oil and the fall of the dollar (the denomination of our foreign reserve) will lead to a fall in the value of our currency! Maybe you should laud Obasanjo for earmarking and disbursing 16Billion for provision of "darkness" in Nigeria? Maybe you should laud him for diverting state funds into Transcorp, for killing NITEL, with the aid of his lackeys, for using his office to acquire stupendous wealth and building a University, for using his office to illegally acquire other people's land at OTTA and environs? You could also laud him for eight years of infrastructural decay in the country (Roads, Railways, Health, e.t.c) and if you want to spice it up, you can also laud him for ridiculing us publicly with the "incest allegation" and "penis-chasing" any Female Minister within sight :d .... But please, dont assault our collective intelligence by thinking we have forgotten so quickly, how he ruined our economy for eight years by allocating oil blocks nilly-willy to his friends and associates and while setting-up his own private refinery in neighboring country; of course, how else would he get benefit, for the un-ending fuel increases he subjects Nigerians to, all in the name of deregulation? Or is it what he did with the Petroleum Trust Fund you want us to give him a trophy for? Go ask his deputy, Abubakar. Had it not being in a Nigeria where anything goes, some of these figures you are parading here would be cooling their heels in jail by now. If this is supposed to be another masqueraded, OBJ-image-laundering, l will suggest you go back to school and do a thorough job next time. Even the supposed focus of the write-up was not properly addressed! Bunkum. :sick: Abeegi, next story. 10Kobo

MrOneNaija  # 6 | 03.04.2009 09:39

RUBBISH "But it requires a leader that has some of the enviable traits of former President Obasanjo. In order to CHANGE the face of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Obasanjo had to retire ninety-two generals immediately after taking office in 1999. He had the guts to pick-up a young police officer with superior integrity, Malam Nuhu Ribadu and made him the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Corruption Commission (EFCC) to fight corruption in high places and he scored great successes. When Obasanjo found out that the Capital Territory of Abuja’s development master plan had been racked by a cankerworm of corruption and back-hand deals, Obasanjo had the guts of appointing a young, intelligent, vibrant, and fire-brand patriot, Malam Nasir el-Rufai as Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to restore the glory that is expected of Abuja. Any unbiased visitor to Abuja to day would certainly be proud of his achievements. For most part, Abuja’s scenario can compete with cities found in most industrialized countries – an environment that attracts modern- day tourists and business ventures."-Rubbish!Bunkum!

eire  # 7 | 03.04.2009 09:55

"My father once told me that the only person that does not have enemies is a madman, because he does not have his own mind and is not aspiring for anything" to this I will have to say you father was wrong and the saying had something to do with primitiveness and African juju mentality that makes the rest of the world see the continent as barbaric and backward. I have seen and heard cases like that comment that ended up in a babalawo house. It is sickening. Many people in the world don't have enemies, I am not at war with Iraq personally nor is my neighbour trying to use juju on me, they may envy my car or some other possession or my career but I don't think the term "enemy" relates to a lot of humans on planet earth. It is silly the way some of us think. "So, it is a curse that Nigeria, as a nation does not have its own friends and enemies (countries that are jealous of Nigeria because of its enviable position in the world)" Another ridiculous comment bordering silliness, If you say Nigeria suffers MORE bad publicity despite the rest of the world being as equally guilty of the same crimes then yes. there is no one to blame for that than Nigeria and its people and government who refuse to take the world headlong on this matters. Such a non-nationalistic citizenry cannot be envied. We are not north Korea is an understatement. and what enviable position? a nation filled with islamic terrorists who go about killing Christians and a nation where no one is patriotic but rather see the country as a free world to loot and share?

ariteni  # 8 | 03.04.2009 10:54

Prof. I agree with you in toto. Nigeria at this time needs a LEVIATHAN. To get a leader of Obasanjos standing is a practical impossiblity. A leader must have a followership that is willing. We had Murtala Muhammed/Obasanjo and Nigerians followed. We had Buhari, we follwed. Who's next? Only God knows. But I am convinced (like you) Prof that prayer alone will not do it. Prof, welcome back. Your views are always so objective and refreshing. Please dont take the jokers above too serious. Some just don't want to admit that President Obasanjo did anything as President. They'll rather attribute all the achievements to his "sons and daughters" like Okonjo-Iweala,Soludo etc. Only an Obasanjo could have effected REFORM OF THE NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES in way that assures democracy.

Observer  # 9 | 03.04.2009 12:37

This present leadership of Nigeria is so shameless and because it came to power by crooked means, it believes the rest of the world is as corrupt as it is. Why will our President think he deserves to be at the Economic Summit? Brazil, India and China have demonstrated how a nation can achieve economic success within a relatively short time. What has the PDP government done in the last ten years to advance development in Nigeria? My dear Prof, praising Obasanjo has completely destroyed your effort in this article. The greatest dis-service that Obasanjo has done to our country is that he single-handedly chose Yar'Adua to be our president. Yar'Adua is the biggest disaster to have happened to Nigeria.

Anioma777  # 10 | 03.04.2009 12:54

NIGERIA NIGERIA NIGERIA!!!!! LAND OF STUPIDITY AND MADNESS PERSONIFIED. WHEN NIGERIA CAN SUPPLY REGULAR POWER FOR 20 DAYS NATIONWIDE THEN IT CAN ME INVITED TO G20,UNTIL THEN IT WILL REMAIN A PIPE DREAM.:D I WONDER IF UMYA AND HIS IMBECILES THOUGHT THAT THEIR COMICAL VISION 2020 FANTASY WAS AUTOMATIC MEMBERSHIP TO G20 NATIONS CLUB. NEXT THE FG WILL BE LAMENTING THE FACT NIGERIA WAS NOT INVITED TO THE NEXT G8. :D THIS EASTER I WIL BE SAYING A SPECIAL PRAYER TO GOD TO SEND A SECOND SON TO ATONE FOR NIGERIA'S SINS!:sad: P.S. Correct me if I am wrong, but CBN governor Soludo was already in Nigeria before his appointment.

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