Recently, I read a beautiful opinion piece written by Mr. Uche Nworah. This is not a rejoinder to that article of his, but instead, his article constitutes a reference point for this.

Mr. Nworah wrote eloquently about the negative impact of garbage and erosion on the good people of Aba, Aba, in case you did not know, is a major city in Abia state, and beyond Abia state, Aba is actually renowned, as a major commercial nerve center for the entire Eastern region, south of Onitsha, and Aba, it must be added, is a major metropolis in Abia state currently presided over by PDP enfant terrible, Governor Orji Kalu, my former school mate.

Aba has rich culture, and the people in Aba have strong work ethic and extraordinary business acumen! But Aba has also suffered historical neglect beyond wanton!

Unfortunately, Aba as bad, as its luck has been with utter neglect of garbage removal and disposal, outrageous environmental degradation, through the scourge of urban erosion, Aba sadly, is in “good” with Onitsha in garbage and erosion gully crises.

Aba is in the unsavory company of our megalopolis of Lagos, Lagos has enough filth and erosion combined with flooding to stop the flow of the Atlantic Ocean! Lagos, is sadly, not remarkably different from the plight of Benin City in these categories of the most garbage filled streets, erosion gullies and urban decay. And the same can be said of our sister city of Kano.

I think garbage removal is the most elemental form of governmental functions. And I think the responsibility to remove garbage falls squarely, on the shoulders of municipal authorities, or local government councils, as municipal authorities are known in Nigeria, in most parts of the world, it is beyond dispute, as to whose responsibility it is, to gather, remove and haul garbage. It is clearly so, in most parts of the world that I have traveled, including Nigeria.

But why do we have garbage encroachments in most major cities in Nigeria?

Why is garbage collection, garbage removal, such, clearly elemental public hygiene, is seemingly regarded as unimportant by municipal authorities in Nigeriaa? What can the states do about the invasion of our public space by unchecked growth of garbage in public, which is so unseemly?

Why, am I, talking about garbage here? Please do not dismiss this as just rubbish! Or garbage talk; It is actually more than a story about filth and pollution in Nigerian cities and towns.

I am really not interested in a single story about garbage collection, garbage removal and disposal, as I am interested in the attitude that has become pervasive among too many Nigerians. This attitude that I here talk about, has to do with apparent misunderstanding of the duties and functions of our different strata of government in our democratic Nigeria.

In a federal structure, there is of course the central government at the federal level, then, there is the state governments and the most basic strata of government with the most basic functions, the strata of government that has the closest contacts and dealings with the average citizen in a huge federation such as ours….in the municipal or local government authorities of our 774 local government areas, or LGAs, as we fondly call them in Nigeria. Why is it more sexy, or fashionable, to attack the president but, OK to ignore the failings, ineptitudes and thievery of the governors and councilors, Senators, House of Rep members and House of assembly members?

Why are too many Nigerians uninterested in the push and pull of democracy? Why are many Nigerians not concerned with the call and response of participatory democracy? Why are so many Nigerians infinitely unmoved by the ineffectiveness of state governments and municipal governments or local government authorities?

Why is it that we are not vigorous and robust, in our pursuit of accountability and transparency at state and local levels of governments in Nigeria?

When will the majority of Nigerian citizens, wake up and realize that democracy is not a spectator sports? When will some us, wake up to the duty, responsibility, and corresponding obligations on the parts of citizens and government and vice versa?

Why is it that some Nigerians tend to or seem to ignore or even condone the abuse and misuse of power right in their backyard? Why is it that citizens of Edo state are not protesting the high crime rate of robberies and general insecurity in Benin City? Where my niece, Mrs. Ogbu, informed me that her husband can no longer travel with his mobile telephone as nobody does that anymore for fear of being attacked and robbed of the mobile telephone! What is a mobile phone if you cannot be mobile with it? If you cannot take your mobile phone with you, what the heck is the use?

Why is it, that Governor Kalu Orji is frequently visiting the United States to tout himself as a presidential candidate, when the local government council in Aba, Governor Orji’s domain, cannot remove garbage from the streets of Aba? Why is it, that Governor Orji has support for his Sun newspapers and Slok Airlines, when erosion has taken over major roads in Aba, roads that are municipal or local government roads and NOT federal roads!

How does Governor Kalu Orji, alias “blabber-mouth” plan to be a good president? When he currently presides, over a state, his small domain, where garbage collection, removal and disposal is not tackled by the local government or municipal authorities, and the state government of Governor blabber-mouth does nothing?

I suppose that most Nigerians have during the military government administrations in Nigeria, has gotten Nigerians accustomed to expecting a unitary form of government actions, in a purely federal setting and systems! For decades, Nigerians expected and received federally mandated rules and command-performance of military administrators and so, we now expect the same in a democratic civilian government in a federal system?

This complete misunderstanding, misperception and even ignorance, probably explains why the federal government of President Obasanjo is blamed by so many Nigerians for matters and issues that are clearly state matters, that are clearly local government or municipal province and exclusive preserves, even mundane municipal issues such as garbage collection, garbage haul and disposal.

Little wonder then, that so many Nigerians are unwilling or unaware, that they ought to hold their governors’ feet to the fire for local issues, and further hold the feet of their local government councilors and ward members and local council chairpersons accountable for the existence or provision of local public infrastructures and social amenities, instead, we have Nigerians always accusing the federal government, when in fact, the issue is just a mere failure on the part of a local government or a state authority to live to its bidding and responsibility.

There is therefore and urgent need for a national enlightenment, a national re-orientation and focus on the duties, rights, share power, exclusive powers, current powers, responsibilities, corresponding obligations, both on the parts of the citizens and our governments at all levels. Nigerians must also begin to understand the importance of volunteer efforts, such volunteer efforts are frequently necessary as additional or even independent component of efforts by governments at all levels, even here in the United States. Efforts independent of governments or complementary of governments are a common feature of public social intercourse in America and Europe.

Example of these, that Nigerians are familiar with are, the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, there are Non-Governmental Organizations, NGOs, Support Groups of various types.

It bears repeating here, that Nigerians must learn and accept participatory democracy. It is assuredly not a spectator sports, there is no room for “sidon look!”

When Nigerians learn to imbibe the ideals and tenets of participatory democracy, imbued in the thorough understanding of the constitutional arrangements for our federal system as laid down in our constitutional framework, many Nigerians will cease to blame rainfalls and sun shines or cloudy days on President Obasanjo! And whoever becomes a president in Nigeria thereafter.

I have wondered why, there were no public demonstrations urging the Houses of Assemblies in Bayelsa and Plateau to impeach Alamieseigha and Dariye respectively!

I have equally wondered why laudable efforts by our current federal government never met with thunderous and uproarious applauses, from our citizens at home and abroad, praise from our citizens in the nook and crannies of our dear fatherland.

But the same docile, quiet or seeming comatose public, are assumed to be irritated, when the EFCC and other federal agencies do their work? Even when EFCC doing its work actually means the pushing the hitherto inactive hands, of members of Houses of Assemblies in Yenagoa and Jos; Pushing of the hands to perform duties that are clearly specified in our federal constitution in the first place! Duties that were neglected by them!

Constitutional duties which these Houses of Assemblies ought to have performed months or years prior to the so-called pressure or the push of their hands by the EFCC and other federal apparatuses. What is a responsible federal government to do? Let criminals and fugitives remain governors and ridicule their state and all Nigerians worldwide? I am an advocate of due process and the rule of law. I am a literal sucker for letting our system work and be fine-tuned. I am a strong believer in making imperfect democracy perfect with more practice of democracy.

I am quick to say, do not truncate the process, never truncate the institutions.

But what do you do, when some states rush to create new local government areas and councils, contrary to the provisions of our federal constitution 1999? What should a responsible federal government do in the wake some governors in Nigeria, literally holding guns to our head in hostage-taking like crisis?

Should Nigeria allow hostage takers and hijackers and child molesters walk free in our land? all in the name of the fine ideals and tenets of due process and the rule of law?

Acute infection requires aggressive and rigorous regimen of treatment or therapy!

Alamiesiegha and Dariye in engaging in criminal activities, in engaging in gross misconduct and subsequently becoming fugitive of the law, they shredded our constitution, our laws and our shared sense of common decency.

Alamie and Dariye sneered at us all, sneered repeatedly at the constitutions and rules! What is a responsible government to do in the face of thieving governors making the front page of The New York Times and cover stories repeatedly on the BBC worldwide?

And when Houses of Assemblies are quick to impeach deputies of governors, not for public good or purpose, but because there are schisms and chasms between governors and their deputies and House of Assemblies Speakers, as we have witnessed in many states in Nigeria since 1999.

Whereas, state Houses of Assemblies have been asleep at the wheel, in the face of impeachable offenses, including being fugitive on the lam from the law, by Alamie and Dariye etc Why do these states and citizens of these states stand aside and look,? And then, when there are federal interventions, as when Dariye looked the other way, when anarchy reigned in Plateau state and innocent citizens were slaughtered endlessly? When event reached a tipping point and precipice of anarchy and lawlessness, the federal government declared a state of emergency in Plateau state, after duly consulting the relevant opinion and community leaders.

Some still criticized the declaration of emergency in Plateau state as a constitution aberration, which they considered unacceptable! These same persons omitted to call Daryie to order, before matters in Plateau state degenerated to lowest levels, and he was more interested in his foreign personal bank account in England!

We must balance our national interests, even if, delicately, due process, rule of law and national self-preservation. We must act when exigent circumstance requires it! We must protect Nigeria in the face of the imbecilic onslaught brought on by Alamie and Dariye.

Nigerians must hold political leaders’ feet to the fire, make office-holders become accountable and transparent, make them become good listeners, make them responsive and compel them to practice good governance, this must not be limited to the presidency!

Make your ward representatives, your councilors, your local government chairpersons, you House of Assembly members and your governors and federal legislators in the House of Representatives and Senate, accountable and transparent, make them become good listeners, make them responsive and compel them to practice good governance.

Nigerians must urgently become engaged in learning how a democratic system works, especially, a federal system; Nigerians must learn and grasp our individual and collective roles as specified in our constitution… of our rights, our duties, our responsibilities and our equally important obligations! Nigerians must play our required roles for Nigeria’s progress, development and greatness.

Robot  Villager

# 1 Recently, I read a beautiful opinion piece written by Mr. Uche Nworah. This is not a rejoinder to that article of his, but instead, his article constitutes a reference point for this.Mr. Nworah wrote eloquently about the negative impact ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 27.12.2005 01:34

Prophet  Villager

# 2 Dear Paul, This is simply masterful. Keep the fire burning and the Nigerian flag flying. I expect no less from so called journalists who malign the democratic process and write very poorly in terms of factually, truthfully informing the communities they claim to serve. As you hightlighted, the vast majority of communities say nothing. You are a worthy change agent and you shall reap the fruits of your labour of love, which never is in vain. I pray that the relevant stakeholders receive the bane of your messages in good time. This will truly help in transforming Nigeria. May God continue to show mercy, grace and love to our Nigeria in allowing the reforms of this Obasanjo government (unprecedented in the history of Nigeria). Such reforms are comparable only to the efforts that revamped certain international communities that are historically noted for visible change/transformation. Peace. Prophet. Posted by Prophet| 27.12.2005 03:25

Unregistered

# 3 National Orientation must start with the media. It seems the whole world has left Nigerian media behind simply because they can not adjust to the sudden freedom of expression which the current democratic experience has engendered. News media to them must always be in opposition no matter what the government is trying to do. Nigerian media may be independent but they are not impartial. Posted by Unregistered| 27.12.2005 06:49

EezeeBee  Villager

# 4 Mr. Adujie, You raise legitimate questions like: "I have wondered why, there were no public demonstrations urging the Houses of Assemblies in Bayelsa and Plateau to impeach Alamieseigha and Dariye respectively!" (BTW There WERE demonstrations in Bayelsa against Alamieseiga) and "But what do you do, when some states rush to create new local government areas and councils, contrary to the provisions of our federal constitution 1999?" The difficulty I have with your viewpoint, especially with the second question I quoted is that I have not seen any similar stridenty calls for government propriety in the situation where some parts of the country declared Sharia law "CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF OUR FEDERAL CONSTITUTION 1999". Posted by EezeeBee| 27.12.2005 07:20

Ikemba

# 5 Ohaneze and the tragedy of two Joes! Pini Jason Posted to the Web: Friday, December 23, 2005 This must pass as one of the most painful articles I would ever write. It is painful because two men I held in great respect have dragged themselves in the mud and must be told so, especially for the sake of the Igbos they were elected to serve but who they now want to drag back for the mess of Third Term pottage. Since November 2003 when Prof Joe Irukwu and Chief Joe Achuzia were elected President-General and Secretary-General respectively of Ohaneze Ndigbo, they have never agreed on anything. It was surprising to many, except some of us, when two of them appended their signatures to the most disrespectful and insulting document against authentic Igbo leaders. In The Guardian of Thursday 8 December, Prof Joe Irukwu and Chief Joe Achuzia accused the Igbo leaders who met in Enugu on 10 December of trying to “destabilize” Ohaneze and “cause disaffection within the South East zone.” Joe and Joe also accused the leaders of plotting to use the meeting of 10 December “to create a parallel platform as a launch pad against the Federal Government as well as castigate some South-East governors.” They also called on “our governments and security agencies” to actually go and disrupt the meeting of Igbo Leaders of Thought! As if that was not bad enough, at Umuahia on 17 December, Joe Irukwu alleged that the leaders who met in Enugu on 10 December were paid to destabilize the Igbo race. This shows that the once revered insurance man called an “insurance guru” by the very generous Nigerian press is getting more desperate and has a tendency to still get more desperate as his ploy to overstay his welcome as the President-General of Ohaneze gets frustrated by the logic of constitutionalism. By the way, the Igbo leaders that Joe and Joe were maligning included Prof Ben Nwabueze, the constitutional legal luminary who earned his stripes as a senior Advocate of Nigeria many decades before Joe Irukwu and who served very meritoriously as the Secretary-General of Ohaneze when Joe Irukwu was contented with confessing his political naivety to whoever cared to listen, as if it was a virtue, Admiral Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu who has given to this country more than Irukwu can ever contemplate, Chief C.C Onoh who was one of the most dogged lions of the struggle to create more states in Igboland, including Abia State where Irukwu emerged as a candidate for the Ohaneze presidency, at a time Igboland could not find an Irukwu on its radar, Senator Uche Chukwumerije who has always stood up for Igboland when the Irukwus would hide in foxholes! And many other great sons of Igboland! I could have been at that meeting had I not traveled to my village on that fateful 10 December. Joe and Joe would have counted me as those plotting to destabilize Obasanjo’s Third Term project or who “were paid to destabilize the Igbo race! What audacity! It is no longer in doubt whose interest Joe Irukwu has used his position as Ohaneze President-General to serve! What is the cause of all these insults on great Igbo sons by Joe and Joe? Both were elected on November 2003 and sworn in on 29 January 2004 to a two-year term of office. Now, in this era of self-perpetuation, rumoured or real, Joe and Joe want to illegally elongate their tenure to four years, thus denying Anambra its turn to the presidency of Ohaneze. There is no Ohaneze constitution that prescribed four years for the executive. Any such constitution must be a criminal forgery! So there ought not be any debate about that. What Joe and Joe have agreed, for once, to do is purely illegal and no amount of blackmail can permit that. The attraction to this elongation effort is tied to the spurious Third Term agenda. It has been said that there is so much material benefit being spread around by the apostles of Third Term. Perhaps Joe and Joe want to be around till 2007, using their position in Ohaneze for purposes that are contrary to the aspirations of Ndigbo. It would appear that Joe Irukwu, the out-going President-General, started from the word go, to breach the constitution. Hear the out-going Secretary-General, Joe Achuzia in a letter of 12 February 2004 addressed to the out-going President-General, Joe Irukwu: “It will not be fair and proper if I fail to inform you about certain issues that have been agitating my mind since we were sworn in on 29th January this year as Ohaneze National Executive Committee. In the first instance as President-General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, I expected you to observe the rule of law, defend and protect Ohaneze Constitution we both swore on Oath written inside the same constitution that we will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Ohaneze Ndi Igbo.” It can be seen that there has been a consistent effort to truncate the constitution. This kept the two Joes working at cross-purposes until this Third Term agenda and seeing it through united them in this unpatriotic effort to rubbish Ndigbo. When Chief Irukwu emerged the President-General of Ohaneze, many well-meaning Igbos had their reservations about his loyalty to the Igbo cause. He can say the right things at any forum, as he eloquently did at Enugu on 19 December. But you will find it hard to hold him on his avowals! Some of us, however, decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. But it did not take long before Chief Irukwu found new friends who introduced him to Aso Villa. Since then, he has gone from bad to worse. This is a man, who nominated himself to the National Political Reforms Conference, leaving his Secretary-General behind, even when he ought to stay behind and be reported to. Not only that, the man who was expected to table and defend the Igbo agenda to the conference would turn round and tell the world that he had no Igbo Agenda; he had Nigerian agenda! Now he turns round to libel very patriotic Igbo leaders who are bent not to allow his chicanery! Joe and Joe have not just stopped at insulting Igbo leaders, they have also resorted to inciting some misguided and mercenary Igbo youths as well as the security agents of Obasanjo to cause mayhem in Igboland. By this disgraceful conduct, Joe Irukwu and Joe Achuzia have sold themselves short. They deserve the contempt with which they are now being treated. This is not a matter for debates and wasteful altercations. The matter is simple. Come January or latest February 2006, Ime Obi of Ohaneze should set in motion the machinery to conduct elections into the executive of Ohaneze. Anambra state should ignore the very distasteful blackmail and present three candidates for election as President-General. Joe Irukwu and Joe Achuzia are not Ohaneze. The thumb, no matter how fat, cannot be bigger than the nose! Enough is enough! Posted by Ikemba| 27.12.2005 10:07

Unregistered

# 6 There is no gainsaying that there is a total disconnect between the "governors" and the "governed" in the Nigeria of today because of the sham elections of 2003. How the hopes and aspiration of a people were dashed by the magnitude of this daylight robbery must never be underestimated. The people have been robbed of their voices and the "governors" can do as they please without fear of sanction which is why they do what they do. How many people in Aba voted for the Aba local government authority? In the same way that Aba garbage is not Obasanjo's problem, it should not be Orji's. It is the local government chairmans but hell, it is our collective problem! Aba is in our country and makes a statement about the way we all are. It tells us (and others) why you cannot sow beans and reap corn. It tells us why the people have lost out in the debauchery that has been PDP governance. At the top of this tree of governance is a PDP President who proclaims Godliness but is really the leader of a depraved order. This Mr Adujie is why we all look to him for answers he has not got. Orji Kalu is a comic character with its light hearted value but no one seriously believes that he is a serious contender for the presidency. No one seriously believes that he has been good for Abia State in particular and Nigeria generally because of his poor understanding of governance. Nobody takes any of our politicians seriously anymore. From the local government councillors, through the houses of assembly, the state executives, the national assembly and presidency, all epitomise corruption of the highest order. First in the manner of their ascension to office and then in their opaque conduct in carrying out their responsibilities (when they bother that is). The people have no defences yet against this onslaught and they rightly to an extent hold Obasanjo responsible because he made promises he has not kept. He promised high and delivered low. Now his friends say he needs/deserves more time and the people say No! Again he/they may try to ignore the will of the people and this time they will reap the whirlwind. If the President would not interfere in the other arms of government, then nobody would hold him responsible for their failings. Who is it that has been interfering in the choice of the leadership of the legislature? When he foists a Wabara or an Enwerem on the Senate, why are you suprised when he is blamed for their failings? When the choice of who governs the states is decided between he and his henchmen to guarantee him a second term, why are you suprised when people say it is his fault that they are lumbered with an Alamco or a Dariye? On enlightenment, the government has a National Orientation Agency that used to be MAMSER(I think!) resourced from the federation account. Ask them what they do other than like NTA, FRCN act as a noticeboard for the President. When he buys a new jet, receives a guest or marries a new wife they gleefully announce to the world like court jesters. This is how they "orient" and inform Nigerians. This is how people like Jerry Gana claim to fame. These organs of state are more given to propanganda than orientation though I dare say that there is a role for propanganda in governance. Private media is in business to make money. They write their stuff to sell their papers. I thought we were privatising everything so that commercial decision making could create efficiencies? Why then are you asking for social responsibility that does not sell newspapers? If you wish to orient Nigerians, then first we need to agree definitions like what is right and wrong? What is corruption? Suprisingly there is a gulf between government's definitions/understanding and the peoples. The people have a clear understanding of what constitutes corruption but our leaders try to be sophisticated about it. "Educate" the people as much as you like but a traumatised people can do nothing to stop the rampaging bull in a china shop that Obasanjo has become. How can he feel accountable to the people when Uba, Adebibu, Anenih, Atiku, Afenifere, Ogbeh, INEC,Tafa and the governors delivered "votes" in the manner of 4,19 2003? The same goes for all tiers of government across the land. The people are disenfranchised by the PDP rigging machinery and what we have to show for it is where we are today. When power truly returns to the people via free and fair elections, then a basis for demanding accountability exists. For now, why bother accounting to the people when Uba can hand over governorship on a plate? The people know that you are not up there by their grace and are powerless to hold you to account. The people cannot hold you to account when the chief law officer is mowed down by political thugs without consequence. Marshall Harry, Dikibo and other politicians have been lost in the political fratricide of Nigerian democratic culture. Who wants to hold a politician to account when he can deploy his thugs to demolish a state's infrastructure? When he can win an election from jail just like Al Capone? The Bayelsa debacle was simply a charade and no elegant words such as the "helping hand of the EFCC" can wipe that slate. Deploying the military was illegal. It was designed to intimidate the people. The tragic history of the Nigerian armed forces is that they have spent more time intimidating and killing the Nigerian people than external aggressors thanks to Obasanjo and his military colleagues. The EFCC have now backed off the Bayelsa legislators who embezzled constituency funds. Begs the question, are they truly interested in catching all corrupt public officers or a selection? Shutting down the radio station was illegal. Intimidating the CJ was illegal. An accused not having the right to a fair hearing is clearly illegal. In a truly democratic Nigeria, the end can never ever justify the means! No sir! Think, if they can do this to a governor, what about the common man? This is why the policeman at the check point dispenses his own brand of justice. N20 or die! The collapse of law and order is a central government responsibility. The instruments of coercion are in its hands and there is no denying that things have steadily declined. Who appointed Tafa Light Fingers? The state commissioners of police are accountable to the IG who is accountable to the President. The governors do not get a look in. If people cannot travel with their mobile phones, you know whom to call. What will enlightenment do for the harpless citizens when the police have become the oppressor? Sue them after they have killed you perhaps? When police work glove in foot with political thugs hired from university cult societies, the scale of the problem becomes apparent. The universities are supposed to produce the next generation of leaders and they are being groomed as political thugs? What hope Nigeria? Before we can make progress, power must return to the people. This is the equalizer. No one Nigerian is more important than the next and until we rid ourselves of these complexes, we will not make progress because ultimately at the material level, one may have more than the other but until we truly believe in one man one vote, we will never make democratic progress. The bottom line is that leadership must be credible to inject fervour in followership. All the current campaigns of this government are personal to the President - his reforms, his anti-corruption, due process et al because few believe in his sincerity. For any campaign to infect the people, the leadership must shorn itself of its contradictions. First Chief Obasanjo must rid himself of all vestiges of corruption. He must stand before the people of Nigeria and say to them, look at me! I am not corrupt! I have x, y and z and this is how I came about them! Look at me, all my friends are incorruptible! When Murtala started his assault on corruption, he first divested himself of all corruption. The people bought in and followed through with petitions to the extent that he was swamped. When Buhari started his war against indiscipline. The people saw in him and especially his deputy an embodiment of discipline and took the cue to the extent that the people did not wait for a WAI marshall to impose discipline in their public conduct. Buhari lost the war because he misunderstood that a disciplined people must have rights as well. The media have a key role and would buy in to a campaign that the people have bought into because the people will want to read about things that appeal to them. The President cannot lead a campaign against corruption when legislators are being bribed in his name, court judgements are being ignored or his friends are sobourning the judiciary or his party is rigging elections. His friends are expending public funds without accountability or he is not complying with the appropriation and other laws of the land. All of which is corruption right under his table! Does he think the people don't see it? Alamco's children are buying houses abroad but so are Obasanjo's. Bayelsa contractors were giving Alamco money, so are/were FG contractors giving Obasanjo for elections and to build a library . Alamco is giving contracts to his friends, so is the President. Alamco was bribing his legislators and was instrumental to their entry into office, so was Mr President and the National Assembly. Where is the difference? The President has EFCC, Alamco has not! That is the difference. At the end of the day, the greatest corruption of all is in the electoral laws and this government's role in undermining them. Nothing good can come of a process that is so discreditted and until this government shorns itself of this corruption, the people will never be carried along no matter how much "education". Therefore to answer Mr Adujie as to why the people look to Obasanjo rather than the governors, legislators and local government councillors, it is because the people perceive that they are all in office because of him and his INEC magic(read - corruption). That is why all the nonsense going on in Nigeria today is down to him. The people are more sophisticated than you give them credit for and have interpreted the mood/state of the nation correctly. It is the leadership that is at sea. Aluta! Gwobezentashi Posted by Unregistered| 27.12.2005 12:21

taslim

# 7 you have spoken very well. Indeed a majority of our people need to be told that whichever way they look at or define our present democracy, it is in no way the same as a military regime. What is more you cannot effectively comment or respond to something that you dont have knowledge about. This is why a majority of our people need to firstly, accept that we are in a democracy, study it and most importantly go through the constitution,. There is no short cut if you want to be relevant and taken seriouslyl. thanks for the piece. taslim Posted by taslim| 27.12.2005 16:16

Palamedes  Villager

# 8 Taslim have spoken well, and I agree with most of Paul I. Adujie analysis. If I were advising the President, I would strongly recommend that he take a tour of the country to explain to the Nigerian people his role and that of the state and local governments. In addition, if he cannot do so why not send his ministers to the airwaves to enlighten the Nigerian People. Why take all the blames including local garbage collection; lack of water, roads, housing and even electricity that should be the responsibilities of state governments. As for Ikemba, with great respect, may I suggest that you get off this thread; you are defacing it with irrelevancies – go and start another thread with your problems. Posted by Palamedes| 27.12.2005 18:55