Dr Pat Utomi answers wide ranging questions submitted by NVS members on why he want to be the President in 2007, Security/Law and Order, the formidable opposition he faces and vested interests, his platform , infrastructural development, Contract with Diaspora, Power Blocks,  Education, Branding Nigeria, Niger-Delta, Ethnic  crises,  Corruption and Campaign Finance.  You dont want to miss a second of this very engaging encounter.
 

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Conducted on Sunday July 9, 2006 Interviewer: Sola Adewunmi

Why do you want to be the President in 2007?

• I am convinced that the signs are frightening enough and if people who have given enough thought to the situation do not step forward to bat, we may not have a Nigeria 10 years from now. You know there have been many scenarios projected about the future of several regions. You will recall that last year, the US intellgence projections suggested that Nigeria could be a failed state in 15 years. Rather than take the usual dismissive attitude, I reflected very deeply on this and the more I came to the conviction that unless we move away from Business as usual its true that Nigeria may not exist 10 years from now.
• Let me give a few pointers. We talk about economic reforms I have been talking about reforms long before people who have become famous for reform came to the subject. But if you check several surveys e.g Afrobarometer say that most Nigerians feel alienated that these reforms have not improved their lives. Then you look at the level of unemployment in spite the enormous income from crude oil sales. You see an army of disenchanted unemployed youths that could be easy recruits that for schemes that could lead to the collapse of our country.

Security: “We are in the throes of revolution”

• 1^st step is in dealing with security is to provide food security and job security, because of the army of unemployed available. Niger Delta has become full insurgency. You see Robin Hood-type armed robbery operations. They raid a bank and as they drive away, they throw money to the people. This is just not robbery but we are in the throes of revolution

• So the first thing is job security Job security that would put millions of Nigerians back to work, creating infrastructure.

Law and Order and Police reform “Policing to be effective needs to be a local function”

• You go from providing job security and food security in agriculture, reinventing manufacturing to dealing with specific issues of law and order. We’ll deal with law and order through a complete reform of police in Nigeria . First recruits more educated people, pay them well and give them better level of prestige.

• I would get into the controversial area of the nature of policing – Federal, State, police, which has become a contentious issue that it should not be. People say local police will be used to intimidate opponents as if the FG has not intimidated with the police today. Policing to be effective in any part of the world needs to be a local function. Policing should be based on local needs. In the US here for example , you have the university police, city police, county police, and state police

• People say local authorities will violate human rights. That was the case here in the US but the solution to that is that any human rights issue becomes a federal function.

• So if we put that machinery in place in Nigeria , there will be several levels present, but there will the coordination to make sure abuse does not take place, yet policing stays close to the people. Then with effective training and equipping, and also make them mobile force, not just people who stay at checkpoints will ensure law and order takes place.

How do we fund these?

• It’s a matter of priority. If you know the rubbish we waste money on today in Nigeria . If you take away just the unnecessarily travels of Government officials as an example, you will have enough money to fund the police many times over if you cut out the waste, you will have enough money.
• Secondly, when people believe government is truly working for them. Tax reforms. If what happens in Lagos State happens at federal levels, Nigerians will be amazed at how much revenue is available to servicing the State. When Tinubu came, State revenue was I think 600 million a year, this year they expect to raise 82billion in local revenue because of tax reforms.
• So reform of the tax system will provide enough money to fund a good police force. And as we have a good police force, law and order, business will grow and there will even be more revenue. So funding as an excuse is really an excuse

Is this tied to Resource control in any way?

• We live in a federal state and fiscal federalism suggest that revenue will come from shared pool at the federal level and from locally generated resources. In the 60s, when we had true federalism, revenues from local areas were sent to the center. .basically the federating units should raised their revenue and moved some agreed value to the center.
• Whether we call it resource control or resource management, its all semantics. What is important is that revenues accrue to federating units and these come from two main sources– internally generated revenues and the one that is shared. The key is how to optimize these revenues for what the needs

How are you going to beat the establishment in the Nigerian Political Circle? What platform will you run on? How do you face formidable opponents like IBB, Atiku, Marwa? So how do you overcome money politics in Nigeria ?

• To start with, we are not going to play their own of game with them. It will be shortsighted to play their type of game. In fact our reason for being is to terminate their type of game in Nigerian public life. The game where we plunder the state and take revenues pillaged from the state to impose ourselves on the people and hold them hostage.  That must end. That is why we are contesting.We have a tremendous opportunity to bring forward the politics of ideas, politics of issues rather than I can buy you.

• The reason why this is plausible today is that Nigerians are at their wits end. People do not realize how fed up Nigerians are with the status quo and how they desperately desire change. Timing says Nigerians have had enough.
• The defeat of 3^rd term agenda also makes Nigerians feel empowered to reclaim their country from the extant political establishment that has kept Nigeria prostrate and made quality of life miserable.
• The structures of domination set up are being challenged in the games they have played the dominant political groups through very unhealthy practices infiltrated opposition parties deliberately worked things to destroy the opposition such as ANPP, AD completely dismembered as a result of unsavory activities of the dominant party. Now we have seen a reversal of fortunes. As they have destroyed the opposition, the expected implosion of PDP is very much underway; there are 3 factions now and maybe five before the end of the month. And so there isn’t a political party that is a true political party. This is good as it provides an opportunity to build something new.
• We began a few years ago to build an arrangement that was to envision a Nigeria we all desire and a capacity for making for making that come alive. It was a civil society at first when the CP in 93 created a group called the restoration group in 94 which was a broader grouping. These groups over the years have had retreat deliberate don Nigeria’s condition and came up charters – bills of rights, charters for the Nigerian people etc. its now decided this will become a political party with a clear ideas, a cohesive platform clear vision of Nigeria that we have shared very deeply and very clearly.
• Restoration group as we speak is being registered and by next week should formally be a political party in Nigeria . It will not go it alone but there will be coalitions, there will be partnerships, mergers. It’s on this platform that we will raise servant-leaders that will contest different positions including the presidency. We are looking for people who have the 4 Cs - Competence character compassion and commitment.

Economy, Infrastructure

• So much that could happen with entrepreneurship, so much that could happen with jobs is frustrated by lack of infrastructure. I worked with the World bank group on the PSA and it all boiled down to infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure
• A small company investing in Nigeria needs to invest 30% of its start up resources in power – basic stand by power. It cannot be competitive, it suffers and dies. I still cannot understand why it’s so difficult to give Nigerians power. This is the 21^st century.
• I always talk about the example of
  Philippines where Fidel Ramos fixed the issue of power in one term. In fact the Enron barges that came to Lagos were leftovers from the Philippines temporary support system. The Philippines is the sick man of Asia just like we seem to be considered in Africa . So if they can fix this, why not Nigeria .

• So it is Priority one for us is to make sure that within one term, we eliminate this challenge significantly. The first move of course would be to ensure this is not a problem for industry to provide enclave were we don’t have infrastructural challenge
• But what we would do is to ensure flood the country with power lines, Bring in Gas turbines that will produce power. Secondly as quick response, there are dozens of idle power plants around the world especially in the US just sitting there. Part of our strategy would be an exchange relationship building strategy would be to Make excess power plants in the US to Nigeria
• As gas turbines and pipelines circle our country, and we begin to generate power through them, whatever environmental challenges will be taken care of as those gas turbines start producing. We must get power going, because nothing else can happen if we don’t take care of that infrastructural challenge.

Powerful and Corrupt Interest groups in Power Generation

• Too much credit is given to the power these people have to disrupt. Its true but if we are serious about making things work, they don’t constitute enough of a hindrance.
• One of the ways to deal with those vested interests is to vest in them opportunities to make them make money in better order. The guys importing generators could be persuade to run the distribution company and shown how to make more money than importing generators.
• Also if they are made to realize that people could go on rampage and burn those generators if they are made to be seen that they are the ones responsible for the general frustration that the general community is feeling.
• So, managing that is very simple. That’s why I said it’s an exaggeration. It’s just an excuse for people who have not done their homework well or who are distracted by other things rather than serve the people. So if we deal with the new opportunities, those people will flower in a different direction and you will see real progress.
• Imagine you have up a team to solve a problem, two years after – miserable failure. The same team is still there 5 years later. In business if you have a management that is not performing, you fire them and bring in a new one. But we have had no change in leadership of the power sector for the past eight years, so how is it possible we know what we are doing.

Infrastructural Development

• Beyond the power, Infrastructure development is not ony a way to provide growth and development but is a way to immediately provide jobs and put money in peoples pocket and the spending of that money will have an effect that will ricochet to produce a virtuous cycle of growth and development

• My immediate goals will be to put on ground infrastructure like a standard gauge railway from Lagos to Calabar, Lagos to Abuja, Abuja to Kano etc as a way of providing jobs for hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Nigerians earning 20-30,000 Naira a month as they clear the jungle and do otherthings, it will provide opportunities for Nigerians in the Diaspora to come home to quality job to provide this infrastructure.

• The possibility of providing turnpikes, highways across the country using private capital from abroad using some of the capital/savings from oil revenue that we should not be spending carelessly in these public/private partnership driven by private players so that you don’t have the corruption and inefficiency of Government. We’ll essentially generate a renewal of the economy and produce a development that will take robbers off the street and put Nigeria back to reckoning around the world. Infrastructure will do that and we have a classic formula for doing that without heating up the economy and without falling into problems of resources.
• I visited the Philippines in 1997 and I saw lots of construction everywhere and my host told me it was all being built with private capital coming from Singapore in a BOT – build, operate and transfer.
• If we have clear legal framework in Nigeria , we can attract such companies with capital into Nigeria and invest the excess crude into bringing these enterprises with clear guidelines to employ Nigerians abroad to build such infrastructure. And without disrupting anything, you’ll see what this will do for the economy.

Contract with Diaspora

• The main objective of this trip is to establish Contract with Diaspora because I am convinced that the Nigerian renaissance will be driven significantly by how we harness the Nigerian Diaspora

• I’ve been studying India when in 1991, the PM had a treasury with 3 weeks reserve. India was prostrate. Rajiv Ghandi was not in a position to make major moves as that would have repudiated his family legacy. So Rao opened up India and the India Diaspora responded. You will see now that the biggest investment flow was from NRI . Their know-how and knowledge began the India transformation and had made India an economy to reckon with.I am saying we can do the same and much more for Nigeria

• I got on the point when Joseph Stiglitz visited LBS and said that as he gathered to go, he asked his assistant to gather information on Nigeria . One piece of information that shocked him was that of all immigrant communities in America , the Nigerians have the highest level of education. So how are we not able to mobilize these enormous resources to turn Nigeria around?

• I have since been working on a clear strategy on how we are going to do this. We are going to do this not only in terms of professionals being hired, We are going to do this in terms of creating industrial parks across Nigeria in which we’ll have the conditions that the NID can mobilize their networks, can make investments with all the enablers for them to make a major transformation of the Nigerian economic environment.

• We are going to take this in all infrastructural areas be in healthcare and other sectors where we know there is expertise in the Nigerian Diaspora. Without putting pressure on anyone to jump on the next plane and come to Nigeria , we will create a system where they will see mutual benefits in the transition

• We will create mortgage system that will allow people while out here begin to acquire homes in presidential estates that would compare to where they live here and they can easily transit into the Nigerian economy to make the kind of contributions that they can and should make. I saw that happen with my Chinese friends some of who took absence from the World bank and many of them never returned. That is what we want to see happen in Nigeria

• An opportunity to even have a better live than they have here as there are more opportunities than in a matured economy.

Power Blocks: How would you deal with the power blocks that have stifled the growth of Nigeria for the past 46 years?

"there’s nothing to fear but fear itself"

• One of the biggest we have is that people have sold themselves short. People have conditioned themselves to believe that failure is Ok. And so, when you see possibilities, people say but can it work.

• That’s in the same ballpark as this question of the need to be in coalition with evil – and we have had Thirty-something years of this evil with no progress. So, why don’t we come to an understanding that the real challenge we have is to show that the leadership we need is leadership by example. People that will show that they care and work for the people, everybody will have no choice but to create

• I think we are the ones that vest in these people who should be in prison in normal countries, a sense of omniscience that this country can’t do without us and have to deal with the evil that we are. That is clearly a danger that we give impetus to these realities
• Many of these people are really cowards. People who are passionately  committed to serving the Nigerian people will take decisions to ensure that  only those who care for Nigerian people step forward to bat
• I refuse to believe or accept that it is about how you manage the forces of evil. There are more good people than the evil people and democracy are in numbers and we should be able to get the forces of evil marching in the other direction.
• People underestimate the savvy of the well-exposed in managing the forces that are untowardly.  I remember Anwar Sadat who was butt of jokes, when Nasser was in power he appeared like a mumu until he became President and people could not believe he was the same Anwar Sadat the way he manipulated those who thought they had power. So leave it to history to show that there’s nothing to fear but fear itself

Education: In order to emancipate and empower the people, we have to be empowered mentally. But the education sector in a state of limbo. You head a highly-rated business school. What are your plans for education in Nigeria

• National competitiveness is related to the level of investment we make in Human capital.
• Back in the 50s/60s, we invested close to 7% of our GDP in education. The Ashby commission which was set up after independence made the point that our education was comparable to anyone in the world.
• Military rule led to a basic erosion of our basic values including the importance of education. We saw budgetary allocation continued to drop even below 1% of GDP. This has to change and I’ve made this point over and over with my friends in the current economic team. I told Iweala when she first came home that budgeting has to reflect new push in the social sectors -education and healthcare. Healthcare and education should get massive new investment to reverse the trend and build human capital.
• The point needs to be made that the private universities and institutions that have emerged in past 10 years, are making contributions that have not been fully measured yet. For example Covenant University and the quality of efforts from one mans vision. I have to give Kudos to Archbishop Oyedepo, who I consider a soul mate. I need not mention the good fortune we are making at LBS. It’s just a matter of commitment and we have those private universities making a difference already.
• We need to make sure that the educational focus on functional education that equips them to be functional in the Nigerian system. Not just note giving. But how does the education affects their utility in the economy.
• Talking about the diaspora, we have set up a thinkgroup here in the US essentially to deal with how the educational system become more functional. I intend to meet with some of these people on this trip and we do intend some revolutionary policies that will bring Nigeria forward.

Branding Nigeria positively: What are your strategies towards branding Nigeria positively?

• A number of things impact on how a country is perceived in the international arena. First the strategic importance to those who dominate the global arena is key.
• For me one of our key strengths that I want us to drive very hard is that we are located at the hub of what is emerging as the most important source of energy to the biggest consumption part of the world. That is the gulf of guinea and the consumers being of course US and Western Europe . In the past few years, most of the investments in oil and gas have gone into the gulf of guinea and the Caspian basin.
• Our commitment is to use this strategic advantage to deal with partners to understand that as we are valuable to their energy needs, so are they to our reconstructing our reputation and image and being players of respect in the international community
• Using that leverage, I do expect that we can re-brand Nigeria not only as an energy supplier but one with human capital that can make a major difference to a new world order.
• I have mentioned that we have the most highly educated immigrant population living in the US . I think that should be a key factor in how we position ourselves. That’s one of the reason the epicenter of my approach to the Nigerian renaissance is contract with the Nigerian Diaspora.

• The roles of Nigerian diapora in the US unsong will become very critical because Nigerians are playing very critical role in driving the American eonomy and the American govt., the world will need to realize that Nigeria has given so much value to the international community and will give way to a new sense of respectability  
• As we rebuild our institutions, we will find ourselves moving off from low reputation ratings appearing on transparency International index.
• By the time we deal with entry points like airports and seaports. By the time we have champions because failure has been a function of the way we appoint people. If we get people who are passionate about an area to g in there and run them. If we get more Dora Akunyilis running more agencies and getting more global spotlights. 10-15 people like that being recognized for outstanding jobs of transforming healthcare, ports, the world will come to a new view of Nigeria as a country of people who are competent, who are capable and who live integrity.

Function of embassies

• Foreign Service is made of very capable people who have not been made to work as they should. We will empower our Foreign Service people to truly shape how we engage in the intern arena giving the talent available in the Diaspora.
• A clear effort is being made in that regard and we must give credit to Pres. Obasanjo for recognizing the work that the former consul of Nigerian consulate in Atlanta (Joe Keshi) is doing in the Nigerian National Volunteer service to articulate a role for the Diaspora in Nigeria. Unfortunately have not empowered that office, but the FS will be more integrated to make the entire mission focus on using the Diaspora to rebuild Nigerian reputation and rebuild Nigeria itself.

Niger-Delta, Ethnic hegemony and crises

• I’m already active in private diplomacy so I have very good understanding of it. What I will do is bring on the platform of the administration some of the initiatives we have deployed already. Clearly frustration with how the Niger Delta was managed has led to what is now a full-blown insurgency.
• I have had the privilege of working on supportive initiatives to try and get the people in Niger Delta to look for a more peaceful way to protest the injustice that’s clearly there.
• As a government part of what I’ll ensure is a massive infrastructural development of the Niger Delta, massive investment of education, entrepreneurial extension services in Niger Delta to get people alternatively employed. I was in Bayelsa 3 weeks ago and the poverty is frightening. This to me is unacceptable. Justice demands that we change that and I’m sure by the time we put those kinds of things in place, we’ll see tem come alive and abandon the struggle,
• In the same manner, we will deploy conflict resolution capacities that are there to be deployed to deal with these ethnic problems many of which are in my opinion problems of extreme poverty and a struggle over very limited resources, so you’ll find Fulani herdsman, with his cattle grazes on the land of some Plateau native who take offence. All of it is result of poverty.  As we eradicate poverty, the people will move away from stereotyping one another.
• At the end of day is about quality of life of the Nigeria people, once we get that right, all these pestering sores will be healed.

Corruption: What will you do differently to fight corruption?

• The easiest way is to lead by such immaculate transparent personal example that nobody will have incentive to try it differently
• If you as a leader is so transparent and put in place institutions that ensure vertical accountability is such a way that the people can hold you accountable on a continuing basis. Develop systems and processes where your indices of performance are available to the ordinary people and they have means to ask you about that, I think to be corrupt will be very difficult.
• The weakness of the Obasanjo approach is that it depends almost exclusively on institutions of horizontal accountability such as EFCC and ICPC. Because those institutions are ordered to do this or do that, you will have people rightly or wrongly say they are only going after their enemies.
• But if you have the dominance of institutions of vertical accountability where you come to the people, be it in a town hall meeting, where people have clear information, people will not only see there is transparency but that they are part of ensuring that transparency.
• So the EFCC and ICPC will continue to function more effectively, but in addition, you will have more vertical accountability and I will show example by regular frequent sessions that are transparent.
• I will ensure we immediately enact the Freedom of Information act that will give individual Nigerians not just journalist, the right to demand for files to be made available to see that the interest of the Nigerian people is taken into account.

Freedom of Press

• A very free but a very responsible press. I have myself been involved in Nigerian media most of my adult life. I think the media has a important role to play.
• But the media has not been 100% responsible. There have been times the media have been abused and used by some elements in a disruptive way. There is also a significant level of corruption in the media
• However it’s a greater evil to block their access or being allowed to do their jobs than the risk of them writing untruths.
• I will rather have some abuse in the media takes place and the truth be told than I try to catch some corrupt journalist and the truth not be told.
• Our focus will be to open our systems but also ensure responsibility in the media, so they’ll abandon the business of being paid to twist information.

Campaign Finance

• This campaign will be financed by the Nigerian people. We are embarking on a process through which we’ll invite market women, students, professionals to contribute to our campaign funding. We do not expect that there’ll be some money bag putting up some big money and then demanding things from our government. The Nigerian people will fund us and hold us responsible for our actions. The little from the market women and professionals will be more than what any moneybag will give us.

 About Dr Patrick Utomi

Pat Utomi is Professor of Entrepreneurship, and Director of The Centre For Applied Economics at the Lagos Business School. He has served in Senior positions in government, as an Adviser to the President of Nigeria; the Private Sector, as Chief Operating Officer for Volkswagen of Nigeria, and in academia. He is the author of several Management and Public Policy books including the Award Winning Managing Uncertainty: Competition and Strategy in Emerging Economies.

His academic background covers a range from Policy Economics, Business Administration, and Political Science to Mass Communication. As an entrepreneur he has founded or co-founded companies that are active in fields including financial services, ICT, and media.

His articles are catalogued in the following link
http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/content/category/4/96/55/

Village Square Podcasts will explore the personalities, principles and passions that influence Nigeria and her citizens and their effect on the nation in the larger world context, while advancing the tenor of dialog

The Podcasts are intended to educate, enlighten and entertain the discerning intellect. The Podcasts will feature in a lively, interactive format.

Comments Page: 1 2 3 4 5 posted on 07-13-2006, 11:08:16 AM Big-k Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi This is a great interview and I hope all Presidential candidates will come forward and speak directly to their programs like Prof Utomi has done. We dont want candidates who will hide behind press secretaries. I aso hope candidates like Prof Utomi will insist on a one-to-one debates, so as to raise the level of discourse and thinking among candidates and Nigerians in general. I came off this with a tremendous amount of respect for Utomi's candidacy! posted on 07-13-2006, 11:15:05 AM WaleAkin Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi This is good, very good!! The polemics are so accurate, Pat Utomi only need to bring in like minded fellas to run the government but i have a strong fear that he may not win the elections. What we have in Nigeria now wont give the likes of Utomi the chance to rule us all, i may be wrong though! Good Luck! Cheers, WaleAkin posted on 07-13-2006, 11:43:18 AM Ben Idris Alooma Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi Who is this man, Pat Utomi? Personally, I have never heard of him. Could he or someone tell me (or us) about the man, Pat Utomi? Let's start from the beginning ---- Full name, what does Pat stand for? Professor of what? Professor where? Age? Experinces... work? life? finance? religion? philosophy? culture? etc. Tell us about his upbringing.... where? who? how? when? what? family? siblings? parents?etc. Where does he live at present? What does he do currently for a living? What did he do before now? Is he married or single or divorced or shacking? Has he got any children? etc What political party does he belong to? What connection(s) has he got with the past to present Nigerian government or people in government or para-government or quasi-government? How is he planning to to deal with the Nigerian back-boneless masses who have been cajoled and hypnotized into retrogressive mentality? What about the super-corrupt super rich ex-military officers? What about the pitiful most corrupt police officers? etc. I am simply curious. The more I know about him (Pat Utomi), the better for me to make a logical decision to either align with him or not. Obviously Nigeria needs a new leader like a fish needs water. Nigeria needs a quick changeover from the dark to the light. Please feel free to send a response to my email address if my questions can not be answered on the media. Thanks. God bless Nigeria! posted on 07-13-2006, 11:56:43 AM Ifeolooni Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi I believe in the dream of professor pat, but we are missing issues up here he is up against a very huge task, almost 50 years old stronghold, tree with a fat root spread allover deeply and firmly. Whats the only solution that i think?start from the root itself,even in the best of democracy nobody wakes up and desire to be president it must be a gradual thing, i really believe in his dream but i dont see it coming except he approaches it from a better angle. Who can stand against a local government chairman called pat utomi? Which governor can stand and tell a local govt chairman called pat utomi what to do with his local allocations? I have not seen!. we need to begin from the root by making the people themselves taste the deviation we all are clamoring for and i tell u they will rise and demand for the same no matter who comes after him, from there the people would be at the forefront of his campaign for higher office. I'm still hoping that one day i will see people like pat utomi infiltrating our local govt structures and from there begin to fight and clean this structures. One day still hoping for gani ,falana,olisa,abati and likes bombarding the local govti.vie for the position it will be quite easy for people of their calbre, they might have underestimated this but its the root of the corrupt system,if apresident of nigeria could call a meeting of southwest govnors and basically beg them not to organise election into local govt positions in 2003 then u should rethink the power thereof THIS IS THE ONLY OPTION PLEASE RETHINK IT ,IT MIGHT BE UNDERESTIMATING TO SAY THAT TO PEOPLE OF UR CALIBRE BUT ITS A SERVICE , A WORTHY ONE LETS TAKE OVER THE LOCAL GOVT STRUCTURES AND MOST DEF THINGS WILL CHANGE,SHOW THE LOCAL PEOPLE THE WAY! THEY WILL RISE BEHIND U. posted on 07-13-2006, 12:16:32 PM Big-k Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi QUOTE: Where does he live at present? What does he do currently for a living? What did he do before now? Is he married or single or divorced or shacking? Has he got any children? etc What political party does he belong to? What connection(s) has he got with the past to present Nigerian government or people in government or para-government or quasi-government? How is he planning to to deal with the Nigerian back-boneless masses who have been cajoled and hypnotized into retrogressive mentality? What about the super-corrupt super rich ex-military officers? What about the pitiful most corrupt police officers? etc. ! Alooma, Did you read/listen to the interview at all? Many of these questions are already answered. And there's a llittle bio at the bottom of the interview. But you have a point about his personal background and we'll be sure to follow up on those and ask those from the next aspirant on the hot seat. Dont forget to contribute your questions before the interviews next time. Cheers posted on 07-13-2006, 12:32:03 PM Picasso Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi A very great interview indeed! And a very big THANK YOU to Big K, Sola Adewunmi and the entire NVS admin team for providing and sustaining this platform of information. Going by this interview, Dr Pat Utomi has my vote anyday! He comes across as someone with his head and balls screwed on tight; someone with sincere desire to lead Nigeria out of the doldrums and prepare the grounds for her transformation into a 21st century world power - a beacon of hope for the black race! I sincerely call on all Nigerians that mean well to rally round and support this man for Presidency. Those suggesting that he runs for LGA or governor should please have a rethink; if he runs for such positions, he would have to run under one of the current corrupt political platforms. I wish you the very best of luck, Dr Utomi! posted on 07-13-2006, 13:07:01 PM Emj Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi Big thank you to Big K and also to SolaAdewunmi for a beautiful interview. Very clear Podcast------nice music, well woven questions and great response from Prof Pat Utomi. Wish him the best of luck k posted on 07-13-2006, 13:09:38 PM Abraxas Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi Hi, Administrator (NVS)! Congratulations, and thank you very, very much for this pioneering effort at bridging the yawning gap between Nigeria's aspiring leaders and the thinking Nigerian public. This is the best thing that has happened in the Village since its inception! If nothing else, the Nigerian Village Square Interviews will become the benchmark of issues (not personalities) to be discussed and addressed, in fair depth, beyond the trite, bogus, vacuous, and hollow promises (of providing the usual clichés : roads, schools, hospitals, and potable water) in the debates leading to the forthcoming general elections in 2007. From all indications, Nigeria’s crop of untrainable prodigal old breed politicians (i.e. from General Obasanjo to General Buhari; from General Marwa to General Kotangora; from Sergeant Jokolo to General Babangida; from Papal Knight (Sir) Odili of Port Harcourt, Rivers State to Mujahideen Yerima of Gussau, Zamfara State; from Madam Bakassi to Mr. Fix It; from Orji Kalu of Umuahia to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of Aso Rock Annex; et al) are all palpably allergic to robust strategic planning, analysis, evaluation, and effective delivery of optimal non-populist solutions for tackling the seemingly intractable problems that Nigeria has to surmount, so as to avoid fulfilling the prophesy that Nigeria has been lined up (by the actions and inactions of its visionless politicians) to be a failed state by 2015. Definitely, this is the beginning of the end of such a callously arrogant, and sadistically indifferent mindset that allowed Chief Balogun General Olusegun (Baba 3rd Term) Okikiolakan Aremu Mathew Obasanjo (GCFR) the nerve to shun an invitation to partake in a televised open debate with his fellow contestant in 1999, with brazen impunity. The standard has been set. Now let us see those pea-brained so-called money bags come out openly to the Square, and attempt to either insult our collective intelligence, or wriggle out of their own pooh-pooh!. Thanks a million. Agradece milhão vezes. Agradecimentos você muito muito. Gracias de muchas. Muchas gracias. Don Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III) posted on 07-13-2006, 13:57:38 PM Yomi Chukuma Opeola Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi Dr. Pat Utomi, may God Bless you. I first read about you on Elendu Reports about a couple of months a go and was skeptical at first. Pls. understand that I've become so disillusioned about our country by now. However, you said a few things in that article that whetted my appetite about the good possiblities of a transformed Nigeria. So, I decided to do my own research about the real man behind the name, Pat Utomi. Needless to say, I have been super impressed with my findings. You not only have my vote, I am right now calling all my relatives back home in Lagos and Warri and telling them all about you, sir. May your way to Aso Rock be prosperous in the name of Jesus Christ (Yeshua HaMashiach)! For those of you that may not know of this man of great and admirable integrity (like I was innitially), simply do what I did. I simply went to Google, Yahoo, and Lycos and did a simple search on his name. And I had enough info. about him to peruse for weeks. No, this man is not only intelligent but he is also a prolific author. Folks, this is the man we need as President of Nigeria! For your convenience, I am enclosing some links about him. Enjoy!!! Shalom Aleichem (Peace be unto you) Yomi posted on 07-13-2006, 13:59:15 PM Auspicious A Society deserves the Leadership it has. Kudos to the NVS team for a pace-setting job. People have a right to ask strong hard questions from those who seek elective office in any society. Seeking an elective office is like seeking a job, and before you get a job you need to present yourself for interview(s). Nobody entrusts the management of their affairs into the hands of someone they hardly know. Unlike the Obasanjo Vs. Falae contest, where Baba refused to submit to a public debate(!) (Why, was he afraid of loosing his temper???), we should make everyone who seeks our mandate humble themselves before us; submit themselves to scutiny. Anyways, we know better now - hopefully. Anybody wey wan be Presido MUST submit himself to rigorous questioning/scrutiny from Nigerians in general. We have been cheated for too long to trust any sweet-talking, conniving, evasive, cunning politician out there. Let us see what an Atiku can say in an interview. Let us have first-hand knowledge of the depth of his intelligence and grasp of realistic or theoretical approach to the many problems that bedevil our complex political union. Let us hear from Buba Marwa; let us hear from Buhari; let us hear from even Babangida sef! The first question should be: "Sir, what do you want again!?"* and then: "What is your motivation for seeking to be elected to the highest office in the land?" Nigerians will then decide on voting (judgement) day wether he and the others meet their criteria for leadership. Let us hear from ALL of them - everyone seeking elective office. What is the job of NTA, AIT, CHANNELS, Galaxy & Co if they can't do things like this? When we interview them, let us not praise them. Let us cut out all that vainglorious bullcrap and ask them straighforward hard questions. Interviewers don't praise their interviewees in the middle of their interviews; they simply assess them by asking questions without any personal attachments. Somebody commented earlier about Pat Utomi's chances of winning the contest for President in the present harsh political terrain in Nigeria. I say, again, that a society only gets the kind of leader it allows. We allowed Babangida, Buhari, Abacha - all of them - when they arrested power unconsitutionally in Nigeria. We tolerated them. Hence, we deserved them. The moment we begin to take the destiny of our nation into our hands, we shall begin to get what we want. Pat Utomi or anyone of his calibre can reach that pinnacle of leadership in Nigeria if we want it - to hell with vested interests or 'godfathers'. Voix populi, Voix Deux they say. Who are godfathers? Na jazz dem get? If a people free themself of hero-worshipping and a**-kissing, they can get what they want in terms of representative leadership et al. As for where the clean-up process should start, it doesn't matter if it is bottom-up or top-down; it can start from any angle - even sideways. Of course yes, we need influential and enlightened people at the grassroots too - not illiterate or garulous chairmen/women of our 779 LGA's..or half-baked Governors, but powerful and influential people as well. And, people like Babangida should go and contest for Chairman of his LGA first - now, that will be an EXCELLENT example in humility. Or we will be forced to believe most of these aspirants are only in it for the money at the Centre. So much for the 'federal' system of government. Enough of people seeking elective office with that mentality that appears like they are doing the people a favor by availing themselves of elective posts. They need to be made to realize that, apart from us doing them the favor of giving them the honor of leadership, they are there to serve while leading by example. That in doing so, they only submit themselves for service to the Motherland. Let's have them debate when the campaign comes to a crucial stage; let us see them battle it out together on live TV. Let us see how they handle intellectual challenge from an opponent; let's see them sweat and see how they handle their affairs (and how they will handle OUR affairs if given the chance) under pressure. Seeking political office is NOT only about standing in your open-roof Land-Rover with tinted windows and waving to poor, desperate Nigerians and promising them the usual - water, electricity et al; it is NOT standing on the podium in front of a rent-a-crowd set-up in your flowing 'Agbada' @ Tinubu Square, smiling benignly down on folks like you were some heavenly benefactor; it is NOT about building a Church, Mosque or Shrine in your village and calling the name of your Diety in vain. It is not about throwing money out to the impoverished people of your local town everytime you drive by.. Seeking elective office is about humility - if you claim to have any conscience. It is about submitting yourself to scrutiny and deep reflections of the job ahead of you if you ever make it. It is about throwing away your Agbada and driving to the villages and inner shanties of our cities and meeting the suffering people and getting first-hand information of their daily lives of struggle - it is about trying to identify with these people! It is about saying to yourself, in your heart of hearts, that you will give these people a raison d'etre - that you will give them a reason to hope and realize their hopes sooner rather than later. Better that than going about standing far away from them and mouthing off the same old rhetoric on provision of water, roads and electricity. Do we need any serious leader to promise people such when they are things we should take for granted from them? The Nigeria Village Square has set a positive precedent and we must not miss the fact that Pat Utomi is the first person to avail himself of that opportunity of submitting himself to the scutiny of those with internet means. If it is possible, people should pressure their local media - and better, their local NTA/Radio Nigeria (since they are present in almost every state) - to organize, publicize and broadcast debates/interviews about aspirants who have the honor and courage to submit themselves to such. This must apply to contestants at all levels. Last word: A society - a nation, community, group etc - deserves what it gets in leadership. We lie on our beds as we lay it. May we find the will and the way do what is best for us in Nigeria always. posted on 07-13-2006, 14:51:00 PM N.A.R. Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi Admins, Big K, Pat Utomi Supporters, Does Pat Utomi have a website where we can read more about him and his agenda? This will answer Idris Alooma's questions and also allow us to take a in depth look at his candidacy. Have not listened to the interview yet. posted on 07-13-2006, 14:51:47 PM Omovudu Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi Very imressive interview. Pat Utomi has come out with a very clear articulation of his plan and he sure has a grip of the issues. Not suprised though if you are familiar with his background and current (or recent now that he is on leave of absence) vocation. Would sure make a solid leader and president if (a very big if) only he could get there. How I wish wishes were horses and could just catapult him into the seat, but sadly wishes are not horses and beggers have not yet ridden. The opposition against him (and any of such purist move) is thick. The current players (listed fully by Abraxas above) are certainly not going to give up without a fight (and a dirty fight at that). I look and try to have faith but it must very big faith. It can be possible though but would take very broad level alliances for progressive political groups and like minded individuals to band together and challenge the harbingers of darkness in that country. Utomi cannot make it alone. Perhaps if we all stand up to be counted, and join forces to fight these evil faces that bestrode our political space, perhaps the resistance of the good may tip the overbearing influence of evil in the retreating direction. The big question however is this - how many of us are willing to step up, to stand to be counted. This is where we often fail, and the visionary who takes the risk of the plunge is left stranded. He becomes caught between the web of ethnocentric and mediocre antagonists who know nothing else but their stomachs. May this not be Utomi's case. For my own contribution - Admin, abeg help me send this prayer to the Prof: Dear prof, I wish you all the best in this noble endeavour. You sure have the potential to stir the political hornets nest if you apply political tact (without impunging your integrity) in addition to your economic strength. As you have decided to lose sight of your shore in order to catch a glimpse of the presidential ocean (or better still guide your ship to its port) I wish you good speed and God's grace. The bible says that God is the one that rules in the affairs of men and gives authority to whomever He wills. I pray that He remembers your name in 2007. Amen. posted on 07-13-2006, 14:57:03 PM Uche Nworah Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi In the interim, the following websites are up and running (though still work in progress). www.restorenigeria.org www.patutomi2007.com If you live in the Uk and would like to get involved by voluntaring your time, talent and skills, contact Dr. Anthony kila on anthonykila@email.com or call +44- 7906084842, and also Uche Nworah on info@uchenworah.com or call +44-7985280210. Alternatively download, complete and return this questionnaire for your details to be kept in the database. Also contact the UK Working Group for details on how you can set up a Pat Utomi Campaign Working group in your area or country. posted on 07-13-2006, 15:14:04 PM Ebe Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi Excellent! Pat Utomi has done his home work. He is ready. I remember mentioning him as a possible candidate to a friend a few years ago and being told that he was too textbookish, too much of an abstract professor. This interview puts paid to any anxieties about his ability to discuss and tackle real problems. I was really impressed by his ability to mix sound strategic thinking with the wisdom of everyday problem solving. It is very rare to encounter such a brilliant articulation of the long view and the practical, down-to-earth art of solution-finding. This man gets my vote ahead of Donald Duke who, despite his impressive credentials, turned me off with his support for the Third Term, and who may not be entirely clean, corruption-wise. NAR, When you and ILN were making noise challenging presidential aspirants/candidates to declare, and declaring that there was no alternative to OBJ, as part of your campaign for the third term, I told you that when the battle over that evil was won, there would be no dearth of candidates outside the faniliar group of ex-rulers. I also told you that it would be unwise for the candidates to declare when Baba, through the TT campaign, had declared "no vacancy" in Aso Rock. I hope that you can see the difference that the defeat of the TT has made. Aspirants are now declaring or dropping hints in impressive numbers. I am sure that there will eventually be a website for Dr. Utomi's campaign. But I doubt that a website will do a better job of articulating his vision than this podcast. And I am sure that when you listen to the interview, you'll agree with me. posted on 07-13-2006, 16:06:28 PM BOE Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi Thanks NVS for the excepts of the podcast but I do not think Professor Pat Utomi (PPU) is fit to rule Nigeria because his message came across as an unfinished dissertation from one of the students, but then again we are all still learning. Nigeria needs building, shaping and running now! Given that the essence of African leadership belonged to the past and should not exist anymore, he seemed to be apologising for the abusive conditions of the old where the worker is not a valued. QUOTE: One of the biggest we have is that people have sold themselves short. People have conditioned themselves to believe that failure is Ok. And so, when you see possibilities, people say but can it work. Hello PPU? Everyone knew this and you did not even make it sound convincing. QUOTE: I visited the Philippines in 1997 and I saw lots of construction everywhere and my host told me it was all being built with private capital coming from Singapore in a BOT – build, operate and transfer. PPU, The Philippines is an island nation and a significant source of migrant workers and comparing Nigeria to the USA, Philippines, India etc is short of daft because our differences makes us unique and just because a solution worked for elsewhere does not mean that it can be applied here! On branding Nigeria positively QUOTE: key strengths that I want us to drive very hard is that we are located at the hub of what is emerging as the most important source of energy to the biggest consumption part of the world. This from a Professor of Entrepreneurship! Shock horror! Just when I thought it, OK, PPT will get great advisers, he said QUOTE: I will rather have some abuse in the media takes place and the truth be told than I try to catch some corrupt journalist and the truth not be told. Professor Pat Utomi, formal authority is much less important than getting things done, Nigerians need answers to simple questions about what you are going to do in order to get the jobs done. Most of your answers here are much of the same as this current government who after 7 years in power are still announcing “draft resolutions”. It would have been better to have said, “I don't know but will bring in the best talents to help our country”. posted on 07-13-2006, 16:39:29 PM Big-k Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi BOE, I'll strongly suggest you listen to the entire podcast. Then if those 3 items are the only issues you have rather than Utomi's strategic vision, then I think the man is very much on course! For me, right now this is the guy to beat! posted on 07-13-2006, 17:25:40 PM InDiaspora Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi BOE reminds me of young journos who glean reports from colleagues, rush off to press and quote people out of context in the process. I suggest you listen to the interview FIRST before making your comments. Left to some people, NO NIGERIAN is qualified for Presidency. Maybe they want us to hire a foreigner for Nigeria's top job. God forbid. posted on 07-13-2006, 17:30:31 PM Picasso Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi BOE: You're right! Dr Pat Utomi is not fit to RULE Nigeria. He doesn't even want to RULE Nigeria; hasn't Nigeria had a fair share of rulers already? He wants to LEAD Nigeria into greatness and God willing, he will be successful and his vision will be made manifest for all to see. Meanwhile, of all the candidates that have thrown in their hats so far, can you please tell the reading public who you see as deemed fit to LEAD Nigeria? Thanks posted on 07-13-2006, 17:30:41 PM Auspicious Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi BOE is who he is - click on his blogsite link below his comments and you will get the drift. ;-) posted on 07-13-2006, 17:48:07 PM InDiaspora Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi @ BOE Why are you advertising your blogsite on NVS. Admin, is this allowed? posted on 07-13-2006, 18:55:54 PM BOE Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi Thank you all for the comments. One of our strengths lie in being able to just come out with our thoughts passionately, I only wonder how foolish BBC came up with the "happiest people in the world" jab http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/5072244.stm There are a lot of questions to me which only Pat Utomi can answer, but I'd like to add this, having a point of view isn't wrong by definition. It's when you insist on the primacy of everything you think to the absolute exclusion of contradictory views that you end up in trouble. Everyone should be able to question any/everything in 2006. Our country still does not work. We all know the huge list of whys, but the solutions seemed to be a lot of talk. That is why we have barely moved. This is not about me. I am a nobody that is questioning everything. I am looking for answers and solutions just like you all. Do we really care about who rule or lead Nigeria? We simply just want to get the job done! How do we do that? The podcast did not reveal anything new to me. It was full of this current government's rhetoric. A country that sits on 10% of the world's oil should emulate Lagos State to fund essential programmes!!! How about two fingers to OPEC and ask all the multinationals to come up with $100B pollution and corruption levy? posted on 07-13-2006, 19:10:00 PM N.A.R. Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi I still have not had the time to listen to the webcast, probably tomorrow. (gotta get an Ipod I guess and listen in the car). Uche, Thanks for the links, at a first glance, the RG group looks very promising! I could certainly be part of a think tank that realistically plans for change, not organizations more interested in making the front pages of The Guardian or Vanguard, and having huge "owambe" launches all around town. Also something I saw on the Pat for 2007 really gladened my heart, I see he is having a Town meeting in Kano. I hope he has others all over the north as well. More on this if I even get the time. Ebe2, Indeed the candidates are emerging, but I still think they did not need to wait for TT to decide to campaign or not. But I know Nigeria is a dangerous country, and most do not either want to die for it or feel its worthy for them to die for. I have just found out that in a state the sitting governor is systemtically intimidating potential challengers with thugs et al. We shall see. I will listen to the podcast probably over the weekend and have a more concise response. posted on 07-13-2006, 19:38:21 PM Vito Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi This is Excellent. I hope we could have more of the so called aspirants for 2007 presidencial election coming up with their programmes and vision for Nigeria like this. Personally speaking, i will like to give my vote to someone like Dr Pat Utomi,but i am very worried that can Pat Utomi win in the Election? My worries stem from the fact that he is too theoretical than practical about the game of politics in Nigeria as his approach is more of an issues centered . In the Western Demcocracies,their political and voting behavior focus and count more on ISSUES,PARTY AFFILIATION, and OPINION POLL and on the Contrary the Nigeria Political and voting Behavior is more of ETHNICITY,MONEY POLITICS, GODFATHER SYNDROME,RELIGION FACTOR.If Issues or opinion poll are the determining factors in Nigeria Politics,OBJ would not be our President in 1999.I sincerely hope that Dr Pat could be more realistic with the game of politics in Nigeria if he ever hope to win in the election. I sincerely hope that Dr Pat Utomi will be able to overcome all these hurdles which have remained a stumbling block on the political development in Nigeria. I hope AVS could interview Oga Atiku ,Baba or Buba Marwa,Evil Genius and other noise makers jostling for Aso Rock. posted on 07-13-2006, 19:50:37 PM Whytboi Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi I think is a good thing he is running. All we like-minded people need to do is band behind him. Let us start making things work! He may not win as president, but like minded people in his party might win as governors, local chairmen,councilors etc. And that would not be a bad start. I am all fall PAT UTOMI!!! posted on 07-13-2006, 19:57:36 PM Ebe Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi My personal favorites from the podcast are: 1. Utomi's support for true fiscal federalism, especially the simple, historically-grounded way he explained and justified it. No jargons; no politics. 2. His support for a freedom of information act (it would be great if we could also have a whistle-blower protection law, but first things first) 3. His economic realism and pragmatism. He believes in massive funding of education and health as a way of building human capital and making Nigerians ultimately more productive and innovative, and as a way of making people buy into the government's vision. As the world gradually moves towards a knowledge economy (as opposed to industrial economy), only countries which invest heavily in education can compete and take advantage of globalization, a la India. But his is not a recipe for throwing money at our higher institutions; he talked also about curriculum review to make our educational system responsive to the needs of the workplace and the global skill market. ( I expected to hear something about our moribund research institutes and funding for them, but these are details that may emerge in policy statements later). For a professor of Enterpreneurship and for someone who is the intellectual face of Nigerian capitalism, his insistence on reforms which bring succor--not suffering-- to Nigerians and puts people to work rather than concentrate wealth in a few hands is heart warming. 4. His plan for infrastructure development is very encouraging. There are many economic moves that can achieve dual objectives. In the case of infrastructure development, it can achieve three objectives, namely providing jobs, supporting and sustaining industrialization, and making people happy and engaged, thus improving security. 5. His support for a locally accountable police with increased mobility. But I like the way he tied security to the provision of food and job security. As he rightly says, once you provide this kind of security, 50% of the insecurity problem is solved. The remaining 50% can be solved by a more mobile, well-equipped, and locally accountable force. My disappointments: 1) He didn't say whether he would support giving us (Nigeria diasporans) a vote. But it was not entirely his fault; the interviewer didn't ask him about that. 2) I was a little disappointed about his plan for the Niger Delta, which bears an uncanny resemblance to the recently announced FG development plan for the region. He sounded like he was still fleshing out his thinking on the issue. 3. His idea about tackling corruption is impressive, but I also expected him to speak to the issue of probing past leaders who robbed us blind and are now using their money to cause all kinds of problems. In fairness to him he wasn't asked about probing previous administrations. I also thought his views on the EFCC and ICPC were a little vague. posted on 07-13-2006, 20:35:15 PM Whytboi Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi QUOTE: I still have not had the time to listen to the webcast, probably tomorrow. (gotta get an Ipod I guess and listen in the car). Uche, Thanks for the links, at a first glance, the RG group looks very promising! I could certainly be part of a think tank that realistically plans for change, not organizations more interested in making the front pages of The Guardian or Vanguard, and having huge \"owambe\" launches all around town. Also something I saw on the Pat for 2007 really gladened my heart, I see he is having a Town meeting in Kano. I hope he has others all over the north as well. More on this if I even get the time. Ebe2, Indeed the candidates are emerging, but I still think they did not need to wait for TT to decide to campaign or not. But I know Nigeria is a dangerous country, and most do not either want to die for it or feel its worthy for them to die for. I have just found out that in a state the sitting governor is systemtically intimidating potential challengers with thugs et al. We shall see. I will listen to the podcast probably over the weekend and have a more concise response. Yes i agree with you, so many Nigerians think our country is not worth dying for, yet they die of malaria, road mishaps, air mishaps, ethnic violence etc. All of these have istant remedies which only good leadership would foster on us. I think it is high time we appreciate the fact that we can only get what we want when we want it! That time is now!!!! posted on 07-14-2006, 02:04:00 AM Omoluabi Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi The new dawn. Finally! posted on 07-14-2006, 04:29:04 AM Kabikala Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi My conviction that Pat Utomi is miles ahead of the whole bunch of other contenders aspiring to the position of President was strenghtened by the message of this interview. Here is someone who has a clear vision of what he wants to accomplish before he comes to the public domain to declare his intention. He was not begged to be President and he is prepared (all those Presidents/Heads of State who were begged or unprepared turned out to be disastrous and calamitous). The person that was begged to contest in 1999, 2003 and 2006 wasted his first tenure perambulating and fighting opponents, both real and imagined. Whatever achievements that could be ascribed to Mr. Aremu occured only in his second term. Now we have a candidate that has a clear vision and he is willing to take the plunge. Those who believe in his cause should support him. Do not be discouraged about him not being able to win in this kind of clime. Do your own bit. Register whenever the voters registration exercise takes place, discuss him with people of like minds (or refer people to NVS to read this interview) and make sure you cast your votes during the election. I want to be proud to tell my little daughter later in life that when this country was down, and its citizens were hopeless, I did not just sit down to whine and complain, I took steps in my own little way to make a difference. I pray she will be proud of my little effort at securing her future! posted on 07-14-2006, 05:33:33 AM Abraxas Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi Hi, folks! It is very interesting to note that the idea of forcing all prospective political office holders in Nigeria, (from the local government level, through the states, to the central government level), to clearly articulate, and if possible, document their intended strategies of governance if voted into power, was first muted in the Square by one Dr. Ozodi Osuji, whose opinions, apparently, seem to always attract all manner of vitriolic opprobrium, intense “bad belly”, contempt, disgust, intolerance, and tongue-lashing from all and sundry, particularly his own kith and kin. Indeed, like the Messiah himself said some 2006 (or so) years ago, no prophet is acceptable in his own country; not even in his own house! I have taken the extra effort to present some other equally cogent contributions made by Dr. Ozodi Osuji on the general subject mater of good governance in Nigeria, for the information, appraisal, and general enlightenment of Villagers and visitors to the Square alike, as appropriate. Cheerio! Muchas gracias. [B] POST SCRIPT: I believe we should take a second and closer look at some of the suggestions proffered by BOE (Comment #22 above). They make a lot of sense to me: i.e. … “How about two fingers to OPEC and ask all the multinationals to come up with $100B pollution and corruption levy?” Fantastic! REFERENCES & SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: [/B] 1. OZODI T. OSUJI; (PhD): “Politicians Should Write Blueprints Of What They Plan To Do.” (http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/content/view/2163/55/); Sunday, 25 December 2005. 2. JESUS CHRIST: Mathew Chapter 13: Verses 54 ~ 57; Holy Bible (King James Version). 3. OZODI T. OSUJI; (PhD): “The Judiciary in Nigeria's Politics; The Osuji Lectures #13; (http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/content/view/1777/55/); Monday, 17 October 2005. 4. OZODI T. OSUJI; (PhD): “Extra-Legal Governments In Nigeria”; The Osuji Lectures #18; (http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/content/view/1796/55/); Saturday, 22 October 2005. 5. OZODI T. OSUJI; (PhD): “Introduction To Customer Care And E-Commerce”; The Osuji Lectures #30; (http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/content/view/2006/55/); Sunday, 06 November 2005. Don Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III) posted on 07-14-2006, 06:18:42 AM Gwobezentashi Re: .Presidential Candidate Interviews #1: Professor Pat Utomi Pat Utomi looks fantastic on paper but his ambition is at odds with the reality of winning elections in Nigeria. Some diaspora commentators who are not registered voters at that are already indicating non existent voting intentions. No be 419 be dat? Good luck Prof, you'll need it as your chances of success are less than zero! Aluta! Gwobezentashi Go to the Full Discussion Thread Comments Page: 1 2 3 4 5