|
KWENU! Our culture, our future |
Of national interest
Max Gbanite New Jersey, U.S.A.
Sunday, January 25, 2004
The late Owelle Nnamdi Azikiwe, first President of Nigeria, once said that “change is constant.” Those listening to his sermon then at the Railway Hall Lagos in 1947 probably thought that he was prophesying the exit of the colonial masters; little did they know that change is indeed a constant phenomenon. Due to the inevitability of change, many nations have been compelled to amend or to moderate their constitutions and to adopt policies of adjustment. These adjustments unequivocally become the thrust behind their ‘national interest.’
Permit me a little digression as we take a look at excerpts from Webster’s Dictionary rendition of interest: “a share in, or a right to something… anything in which one has a share and benefit… having interest or concern.” A cursory study of this word must have prompted Dr. A. H. Maslow to modify the ideation to that of needs. When one has needs, invariably there is a tendency to fulfill such needs thereby establishing an interest.
Maslow’s pronouncements of needs were clearly articulated as follows: 1) Basic physiological needs 2) Safety and security 3) Belonging and social activity 4) Esteem and status 5) Self-realization and fulfillment.
Seriously studied, one can immediately deduce the congruent linkage of these needs to the constitution of many, if not all, nations that have one. It should, therefore, not come as a surprise to anyone if the United States of America’s national interest is intertwined to these basic hierarchies of needs as proffered by Maslow.
Every nation in the world takes pride in its existence and the collective efforts of her citizens in ensuring a peaceful coexistence with other nations. The interest of any nation as it relates to the needs of her citizens and its territory, without apologies, must take precedence at all times in its dealings with any other nations.
Most recently, the United States received what I and many others termed unwarranted and irresponsible attack by certain Nigerian officials in government when it issued a travel advisory warnings to Americans wishing to travel to Nigeria. The warning simply foretold what the conditions of daily living in Nigeria provide a traveler and justifiably to the point. These terrible conditions are necessitated by the unforgiving, ungodly, and undemocratic manner with which the ruling party, People’s Democratic Party-- a party currently consumed by pretentious Christian and Muslim pagans, is ruling the country.
The United States government, through the very capable States Department and as a democratic service to her citizens, is constitutionally compelled to inform any American traveling overseas on the political, health, economic, religious, cultural, and weather conditions of the country they intend to visit. This is part of the wisdom and gains of democracy. If after receiving the advisement the citizen still elects to travel, at least they do so knowing what is obtainable on the ground. The irony of this particular advisory warning on Nigeria is that it is targeted to Nigerian-Americans, citizens who crave to visit the Motherland. Of course, many did travel and, if an investigation is conducted, one is apt to find out that some of these travelers may be victims to the same warnings they received from the State Department in the first place.
America as a nation must continue by any means necessary (carrot and stick) to pursue that which is in the interest of America and her citizens without apologies to anyone or any nation. If an American needs it, then America must get it. If the security and livelihood of Americans are threatened, then the threat must be removed without hesitation at any cost. However, America must also make a reasonable effort to study the temperament and prevailing conditions that may precipitate the threat to American lives in various regions of the world and do its best to bilaterally establish an environment within those regions for a peaceful coexistence with mutual economic benefits.
Any nation that craves for a favorable travel advisory warning that would increase the interest of American and other international investors and tourists to come in droves must first of all look inwardly and ask with humility: “What is in the interest of the nation, or of what interest is foreign investment to our nation?” If the answer is affirmative, then the nation might begin to address its anomalies to suit the basic principles of national interest and the needs of the people as enunciated by Maslow.
Nigeria, in its emulation of the United States presidential system of democracy, must also look within its Constitution, especially the interpretations of Section 14(2)(b), which declares that the welfare and security of the people shall be the primary duty of the government. Section 16(2) (d) further states the following*:
The people shall be provided with suitable and adequate food. The people shall be provided with adequate shelter. The people must be afforded reasonable national minimum living wage. They must not lack old age care and pensions. They must always have unemployment and sick benefits. The welfare of the disabled must be provided for.
In Nigeria’s case, especially that of the ‘master reformist’ President Olusegun Obasanjo, the interest of the people or the nation has not been very high on his agenda, if one goes by the reports from the various media houses and well-meaning Nigerians.
In some areas like giving asylum to the ‘Butcher of Liberia,’ Charles Taylor, I strongly support the move in the interest of what it might cost the nation financially and logistically in future if, for instance, Charles Taylor and his entourage were to have gone to Burkina Faso or to Libya. Charles Taylor would have used this axis to escalate the crisis in Liberia, which would create additional influx of refugees into Nigeria, loss of life, prolonged sufferings, and delayed reconciliation/ rehabilitation of Liberia. His supporters would have continued to destabilize Sierra-Leone, Guinea, and possibly Nigeria.
Charles Taylor’s continued stay in Nigeria would enable Nigeria to monitor his activities and, if he breaks the rules established as a condition for his asylum, then all bets are off and he should immediately be handed over to the World Court for trial. After President Obasanjo leaves office, the new president should also review the asylum to discern if Taylor should continue staying in Nigeria or be quickly handed over to the war-crime tribunal, in consideration of the interest of Nigerian families whose loved ones were allegedly killed by Liberian soldiers on Taylor’s orders. The choice is a very dicey one and Liberian-Americans, having lobbied their government, also have the right to seek and demand his capture by their government in their own interest.
President Obasanjo’s attempt at reform is another form of structural adjustment program and the attendant benefit to the nation, if properly introduced, can be monumentally beneficial. The problem is that the President does not posses the uniqueness and dynamism of a good salesman. His brisk and abrasive approach to issues has robbed him the great opportunity to articulate his vision to the nation.
When Obasanjo took the reign of office, he demolished the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), which was established by a military decree. Be it as it may, had he allowed that entity to continue its work but with a refocused adjustment, he would have been able to justify to Nigerians the reasoning behind the increases in petroleum products without overheating the polity.
Had Obasanjo allowed his economic program to revolve around ‘Vision 2010,’ he would have indeed become the economic messiah he craves. The vulturization of this well articulated and formulated economic policy, a sort of economic constitution put together in the interest of the people, has made Obasanjo’s team of economists look like Harvard-trained nomads. Ivy League economists are better suited for developed economies and, if they must operate in the developing economies of Africa, they must infuse indigenous economic formulas that are workable with incentivization derivatives for the country.
Security is one of the most important aspects of national interest; in the case of Nigeria, it must be handled with urgency. Going by various publications emanating from Nigeria, it is not unholy to conclude that the Inspector General of Police has been compromised and the best thing for him to do is to resign his position. As for the process of reducing insecurity and safeguarding the lives and property of the citizens, I presented a paper in January 2001 titled, ‘National security and intelligence in Nigeria under democracy: The way forward,’ which was published by various Nigerian print media like Hotline, Abuja Newsweek, and Abuja Mirror, and such web-based publishers as www.kwenu.com and www.gamji.com.
It is in the interest of the citizens of Nigeria, as clearly stated in the Constitution, to be provided with adequate security, to have gainful employment, to be provided with shelter, to be paid their gratuity in full when due -- for those who have attained the age of pension, for labor to be granted the right to strike without violence, for elected legislators to enunciate and pass people-oriented laws, amend the constitution if they see the need, and for there to be constant electricity, portable water, access roads for the movement of goods -- rails, air, and sea inclusive, the right to subsidize farmers by providing them with free fertilizers, and establishing food storage silos for strategic purposes.
It is in the interest of Nigeria and her citizens to encourage the culture of democracy, diminish corruption, reestablish integrity and discipline in their culture, refocus the goals of education, and prohibit the existence of cultism within all phases of the society.
It is in the interest of Nigeria to overhaul the entire judiciary and dismiss incompetent judges who have become the tools of fifth columnists. The judiciary has consistently played an unsavory role in dismantling democracy in Nigeria, as far back as the First Republic’s state of emergency declaration in the Western Region in 1964; the election tribunal argument of two-thirds of the ballots cast in 1979; the annulment enunciated by Senator Arthur Nzeribe’s led Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) in 1993; the ruling of a Lagos High court nullifying the Interim National Government (ING) of Shonekan; the eye-popping rulings of now retired Judge Wilson Egbo-Egbo, and the most recent ruling of Judge Stanley Nnaji in the Chris Uba/Nelson Achukwu/Chris Ngige-PDP saga. INEC must also be reformed to sustain democracy, all in the interest of the nation.
It must be the interest of Nigeria to influence the decision of African Union, the Commonwealth, and New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD), Ecowas, and the G77 nations. Goods made in Nigeria must have unfettered access to these markets.
It is in the interest of Nigeria to ascertain that all oil-producing communities come to terms with the laws of the land; the government must be ready to deal decisively with any erring community and, at the same time, the government must in the interest of the community and Nigeria at large make sure that oil companies comply with established international laws that ban the degradation of the environment and support economic revitalization of the communities whose land is being exploited.
It must be in the interest of Nigeria that security and military agencies are financially empowered to become proactive in combating crimes, in protecting of Nigerian borders and oil pipelines, in arresting any religious bigotry and extremism (both of Islamic and Christian fanatics), and in making democracy a workable solution for the divergent ethnic groups. And above all, it is in the interest of Nigeria to remain as one nation; any government in power must use all available instrument and resources to keep it that way.
Finally, it’s in the interest of Nigeria for President Olusegun Obasanjo to mend his ways, create people-oriented programs, remove the toga of arrogance in his behavior, be a true Christian with a heart of forgiveness. [if he cannot forgive others their trespasses, how does he expect God to forgive him his trespasses?] President Obasanjo must look into the mirror of national building and listen to the voice of the people and, at the least, include foreign-based professionals with tremendous wealth of experience to collaborate with other professionals in Nigeria to rebuild and nurture our ailing nation back to health.
Mr. President, you are only human and not the messiah; you cannot know it all. You must change because change is constant. If you refuse to change your ways, Nigerians will force a change in the interest of the nation.
Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria, and God Bless America and Nigeria.
===================@@@@===================
|
|
www.kwenu.com: Simply surprise yourself yonder! |