Celebrating Nigeria at 50

                               

As Nigeria rolls out the drums in celebration of 50 years of attaining political independence, it is pertinent to note that that most Nigerians will bask in the euphoria of the momentous occasion using lit candles or electricity generated by their privately owned inverters and generators.
50 years after supposedly seeing the light of self-rule, Nigerians are still literally living in the dark. Electricity supply is still a major challenge. The cost of energy is driving up the cost of production in an impoverished economy The manufacturing sector has gone downhill. Companies are closing shops and some are relocating to other African countries owing to inefficient power generation.

President Goodluck Jonathan has however come up with an impressive roadmap towards resolving power outages.  It looks fantastic on paper with radical reforms in electricity generation, transmission and distribution. It is a commendable initiative and timely too, as it boosts his presidential aspirations, especially with the party primaries and presidential elections just around the corner. The President should however forgive my cynicism when I say that we have been down this road before – and nothing came out of it.

Chief James Ajibola Ige (may his soul rest in peace), then Minister of Mines and Power (1999-2000) promised Nigerians, on assumption of office, with set targets of 6-12 months and 24-months periods, to drastically reduce and eventually eradicate power outages in December 2007. He had immediate plans to revamp the power sector. That was in 1999. The darkness and epileptic power fits still traumatize us 11 years after.

Controversy still rages over how much exactly was spent by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration on the power sector and on the auspices of National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) during his eight-year tenure. Figures between $10bn and $16bn have been speculated. He also failed to deliver on his pledge to raise power generation to 10,000MW by the end of 2007. Members of the power sector probe panel set up by the National Assembly to ascertain the true figures and the alleged profligacy and lack of due process that trailed the power project, are now being probed themselves for alleged fraud during the probe. A case of the hunter being hunted. Whatever amount that was spent eventually, it was evidently money down the drain – some allege money down the drain of private pockets.

A major plank of President Umaru Yar’adua’s presidential campaign was the  unequivocal promise to declare a state of emergency in the power sector. He also promised to boost electricity supply from 3,000 MW to 10,000 MW in December 2008, 30,000 MW in 2010 and 50,000 MW in 2015. After realizing the folly of these promises, Nigerians were then promised 6,000 MW, which never happened.

The National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) mutated and became the sinister behemoth called the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), ostensibly to serve us better. I imagined that the name change was a sign that the good times had finally arrived. The name changed but the services became even more deplorable. Nothing worth writing home about (or writing anywhere else for that matter) came of out this change in nomenclature.

These are the reasons why President Goodluck Jonathan  must not fail this time around. He must be totally committed to this project even if it is the only footprint of his administration. Posterity will speak well of him if he delivers where others have failed woefully. He must give teeth to the transparent and immediate implementation of the roadmap. He should ensure that square pegs are placed in square holes. We cannot speak of Vision 20-20-20 or achieving the Millennium Developmental Goals without sorting out the issues of Nigeria's epileptic power sector. It is key to our economic transformation. Except we delude ourselves.

The city of New York uses up as much electricity as most of Africa. Exclude South Africa, and the rest of sub-Saharan Africa uses only about the same amount of electricity as New York. That’s the finding of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in a report released last week on international access to power. The 19.5 million inhabitants of New York use roughly the same quantity of electricity, 40TWh in a year as the 791 million people of sub-Saharan Africa said the IEA.

In the index, South Africa ranks 10th, below Libya, Iran, Lebanon and Algeria. All other sub-Saharan countries are in the bottom half of the index. That sadly is where our dear country Nigeria finds herself. Gabon ranks second in sub-Saharan Africa, behind South Africa but 23 places lower.

It is my earnest prayer that the next 50 years we will see us experience the Nigeria of our dreams with stable power supply and political environment, sound macroeconomic policies, a competitive and vibrant private sector and our emergence as the true giant of Africa in most aspects of life.

The City that Never Sleeps

I loved New York City from my first visit in early 2008.  The city has a distinctively vibrant and infectious energy. I met very nice folks - complete strangers at that - who went out of their way to make it a memorable visit.

My hotel was situated at 65 West 54th Street (at Avenue of the Americas). It was recommended by a friend and their service was impressive. From my 18th floor, I had a bird's-eye view of the street and city activities.

I quickly observed that there was a lady in another grand hotel next to mine and who was on about the same floor. She also shared the habit of frequently looking out through her window. Both hotel buildings were so close that had we leaned out of our windows and stretched our hands, our fingertips might have touched - even if briefly. Sadly, neither of us had such a brain wave or made such friendly efforts to reach out neighbourly fingers. We could, arguably, also have toppled to our deaths with the extreme leaning effort required for such a neighbourly gesture. So, it is good thing we didn't. It is a long  way down to the cold and merciless sidewalk concrete from the 18th floor of a high-rise building.  Free falling with no safety net - I didn't think that would end well.

But we did share that common passion of staring at the activities taking place on the street below through our parted window blinds - the early morning traffic, bright car headlights, trucks and cars covered with snow, joggers and those taking brisk early morning walks, all kitted up to keep themselves warm against the freezing cold. As she looked out her window - our eyes did frequently meet - even if our fingertips did not. She always returned my stares unabashedly even if she was on most occasions - deliberately flirting you think? - not decent or fully clothed for lack of a better expression.

The cab drivers I met in New York were mostly funny and chatty. They had an endless supply of witty sayings and humorous anecdotes. They had me in stitches with their hilarious but often  vulgar stories laced with expletives.

They were really friendly - not quite sure if that was because I was a JJC who was being fleeced by the cab rates and suggested tips - but the warmth and liveliness of their company was nice. They were eager to point out landmarks and the history behind them. They often had a good grasp of world events and politics and spoke knowledgeably.

This was just about the time Barack Obama was sworn in as President of the United States of America - an undeniably epoch-making event! There was a palpable sense of excitement, optimism and celebration in the air. I bought several Obama T-shirts and figurines as souvenirs from shops.

I've so many fond memories of that visit that I have a smile on my face as I reminisce and write this.

During a particular cab ride, I gave the cab driver a hundred dollar bill and waited patiently for my change. To my surprise, the cab driver seemed taken aback.

"Mister," he began looking annoyed. "If I had change for a hundred dollar bill, I won't be here talking to you! I won't be out here driving this cab on such a freaking cold morning. Damn it! I would be at home fucking my wife!"

In order to let him get back home on time and engage in his favourite activity with his wife, I took my money to a nearby shop to buy what I didn't need.

"I'm waiting, mister. I ain't got all day." He rolled his eyes expressively. I had certainly raised his hackles. He stuck a cigarette in his mouth, cupped his hands around it, and lit up. That done he leaned on his cab parked by the sidewalk and puffed away.

I hurried into the nearest shop to get him the right amount for the cab fare. It was a busy shop and I quickly picked some inexpensive items at random and walked to join the queue at the counter.

"Cash or card?" I was queried by the sleepy-eyed attendant. He snapped to full attention mode when I produced my hundred dollar bill.

"Cash," I replied. The attendant appeared as taken aback as the cab driver. He gave me a suspicious appraisal from my head to my snow-ruined, previously favourite black shoes. Apparently not satisfied with his deductions of my person and how I came about having a hundred dollars, he called his supervisor who sauntered over.

The supervisor was briefed of the "situation". He took the offending hundred dollar bill as one might pick up a highly venomous and hissing snake. Then he turned the crisp note  this way and that way with a critical eye. Everyone on the queue behind me watched with keen interest and seemingly with bated breaths. Then the towering supervisor turned his uncompromising stare at me. I stared back at him unflinchingly as we engaged in a first-to-blink eyeballing contest. He finally looked away and I was served by the attendant and given my change.

Those are some of the highlights of  my first time experience in the Big Apple.  I had a fantastic time.

MANY FACES OF HILARY CLINTON

Politics is not for the faint hearted. Alignment of strange bedfellows, mudslinging, threats and counter threats are part of global politics. Politicians delight in stirring firestorms for political gain

The United States of America can be described as the bastion of democracy. Yet during the 2007 intense rivalry between Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton for the Democratic Party ticket, there were some untoward “undemocratic” incidents. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton complained during a debate in Las Vegas that her opponents were "throwing mud" at her, while Sen. Barack Obama complained that it was Clinton who was making "personal attacks" against him.

At about this time also, Sen. Hilary Clinton made an interesting speech at George Washington University.

"I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base."
--Hillary Clinton, speech at George Washington University, March 17, 2008.

Hillary Clinton was grandly entertaining supporters on her campaign trail with terrifying and breathtaking tales of a trip she made to Bosnia in March 1996. An investigation of nearly 100 news accounts of her visit shows that not a single newspaper or television station reported any security threat to the First Lady
According to other reports, the Tuzla airport was one of the safest places in Bosnia in March 1996.

Far from running to an airport building with their heads down, Clinton and her party were greeted on the tarmac by smiling U.S. and Bosnian officials. An eight-year-old Moslem girl, Emina Bicakcic, read a poem in English. A photograph of the greeting ceremony showed a smiling Clinton bending down to receive a kiss.

But Hillary Clinton sticks to her own chilling and yet exciting special memories of that day different from almost every other account. Oh well, it is understandable. Everybody’s perceptions of an event can never be the same anyway.

Beyond Armed Militancy and Amnesty

The Niger Delta area of Nigeria magnifies a picture of lawlessness and instability occasioned by pervasive poverty, stagnation, environmental degradation and criminal neglect.

This situation led to numerous armed groups roaming the maze of the mangrove swamp and creeks seeking who to kidnap, steal from, plunder and rape. Criminals mingled with true representatives trying to liberate the people.

The region is characterised by tempers flaring over gas flaring. Oil spills pollute the streams and dreams of these impoverished host communities. Imagine a situation where oil theft, rape, kidnappings, drilling and killings are normal everyday occurrences.

There is however a prevailing sense of accomplishment in President Goodluck Jonathan’s government that the volatile issues of the Niger Delta have been addressed. In one of his frequent postings on the social media network, Facebook, the president celebrated that peace had returned to the Niger Delta as the warring militants had turned their swords into ploughshares. The “repentant” militants were granted amnesty and are now undergoing a rehabilitation exercise in batches.

Militancy is an offshoot of the crisis engulfing the region. But the struggle goes beyond arms running, kidnapping, blowing up oil pipelines, stealing massive amounts of crude oil, killing and raping of women which is the image the militants have created. The ongoing amnesty and rehabilitation programme will not solve the problem of oil spills or that of the poor woman whose only farmland has been polluted by the activities of oil exploration or the poor man whose family members suffer health hazards occasioned by gas flaring and ground water pollution.

There is a need to demobilize the various armed groups and reintegrate everyone naturally. This is a welcome process. But it must be carefully worked out, if any success is to be made of the amnesty programme. Amnesty to militants should not be treated a stand-alone initiative or the panacea to the ills of the Niger Delta region. It has to be part of an integration, healing and developmental process. There is a need to address the issues of environmental degradation, unemployment and lack of basic infrastructure. There needs to be improved corporate social responsibility and human resources development such as youth empowerment programmes.

The amnesty programme on its own does very little to address the concerns of the local people of this impoverished region. The warlords and so-called repentant militants were mostly fending for their own pockets. Their rehabilitation does not begin to scratch the basic reasons for the crisis in the region – which is at the core of the agitations. Issues of oil spillages, environmental degradation, unemployment and provision of basic infrastructure need to be addressed. Those are the fundamental issues that triggered the struggle. 

A MAN CAN’T LOVE TWO WOMEN AT THE SAME TIME

Many have argued that a man cannot genuinely love more than one woman. They argue that if it is more than one then it is lust or infatuation. They also posit that ‘real love’ transcends any degree. That is, if you really love a woman it is 100 per cent, it can’t be shared with any other one, else lust comes in.

Is there any merit in this popular and strongly articulated position? Perhaps we should agree first on what love means to have a common ground.

The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines love as, 1) strong feeling of deep affection for somebody, 2) strong feeling of affection for somebody that you’re sexually attracted to, 3) the strong feeling of enjoyment that somebody or something gives you, 4) a person, thing or an activity that you like very much.

It is only commonsensical and normal that a man can have the above defined feelings for two different women. I guess the question most folks (women and girls especially) really want to ask is: Should a man act on these feelings? Should he act on these natural instinct or attraction and go after all these women? Now that’s a different question! But it will amount to self-deception and delusion to opine that a man cannot have strong feelings of affection for more than one woman at the same time. It simply happens!

But a disciplined man in a committed relationship or who has taken marital vows with a particular woman, won’t act on these feeling except in the instance where his religion or personal beliefs allows marrying more than one wife.

We’re only taught by culture or societal norms to love one person in a relationship at a time. The capacity to love others is infinite especially as no two people are the same. Should one chase two relationships at the same time is another matter.

This widely held misconception may have been started by puritans and those at the helm of religious affairs to control those with roving eyes and hearts. It also gives a measure of comfort to women that once they are the apple of a man’s heart, he will look no further. But this is scant consolation in the face of harsh reality. It is better to face the bitter truth of the matter than to be ensconced in the comfort of self-deceit.

It seems we confuse fidelity, commitment and marriage with the issue of love. Marriage as an institution excludes all others not in the union. Fidelity means staying faithful to your spouse or ‘loved’ one. A man can love any number of women he opens his heart to. Love comes in degrees. We can speak of the degree or intensity of love for each of these different women but not that it must be infatuation to have strong feelings for more than one woman.

Reading from various sources, love is a feeling of deep affection or passion. It is tender, passionate affection. It is a strong personal liking. No definition of love anywhere says that it is to the exclusion of all others!

Should a man pursue all the women he has feelings of deep affection or passion for? That's a moral and different question altogether!

Some religions allow marrying up to four wives. And to varying degrees the husband loves all his wives. He may have a personal ranking of his level of affection for these women but that does not mean he doesn't love each of them.

Each individual brings different flavours to the table. How can he not love each of them for their different pleasing attributes? It is a fallacy to keep insisting that there is no way a man can love two girls at the same time. And that one must be infatuation. Infatuation means to inspire with a foolish love or admiration. The men caught in these situations are neither foolish nor merely out to satisfy the flesh. They know what they feel and it is love.

Should a man therefore love two women or pursue two relationships at the same time because he has natural feelings? This is a moral question and it is different from: can a man love two women at the same time?