Nigerian politicians and their vague promises

 PAUL ARHEWE 23/02/2011 01:26:00

Many vague and bogus promises are bound to be bandied across Nigeria as politicians campaign to win the votes of the electorate. The aforementioned may not be new to us, nevertheless, what many of us would find hilarious and a kind of mockery is, when politicians, having spent four years without much achievement to show us, come around to tell us when voted for another term, they would conjure paradise from heaven to Nigeria. Please, they should spare us such illusionary cajole and think of better ways to woo the electorate. The question a reasonable person should ask is: What stopped them from implementing in the first four years those fine ideas they are now peddling? Some of them would argue they need another term to fine-tune and complete projects they have started- If this is their stance, we should begin to see how poorly they have managed government business entrusted to them.

Head or tail, Gaddafi still loses

PAUL ARHEWE 15/03/2011 05:21:00

Muammar Gaddafi’s continuous slaughtering of his people to remain in power, even though he has spent the last 42 years as a sole leader for this North Africa country, no doubt has again illustrated how power can intoxicate and his show of abundant recklessness and inconsideration for the many lives and public infrastructure that are destroyed daily.
Since penultimate Sunday, the aggressive anti-counter attacks against rebels, who are pursuing his ouster made this tyrannical ruler regain some lost grounds. Gaddafi’s forces attacked the areas where rebels had taken control of; bombarding them through airstrikes, tanks, and rocket launchers making death toll mounts. One fact is clear whether Gaddafi eventually regains all rebels captured areas in eastern and other parts of Libya, he will still be a loser. Winning or not, his people will continue to despise him and he won’t be able to rule majestically and have the free reign to command total control as he flamboyantly flaunt before this self attracted predicament.

Making caricature of our societal values

By Paul Arhewe

It is only in a fool paradise that the grandiose display of parody and the daylight slaughtering of societal values are wholesomely applauded. When criminals and ex-convicts are publicly celebrated and pencilled down for future highest political positions then it explicitly shows how putrid societal values has been debased.
The red-carpet reception organised by friends and toadies to celebrate the return of the ex-convict cum PDP big whip is not only a slight on our societal values but really degrading especially as the country is trying to stamp out the smear Nigerians are stereotyped with as one of the world’s most corrupt people. How would observers from other sane societies take us serious in our claims and pseudo-determination to adopt the Dora Akunyili’s approach of rebranding Nigeria?

Ghana: Nigerians must come!

PAUL ARHEWE 04/03/2011 02:47:00

It is amazing how time flies and events change fast. The axiom that what goes around comes around can be linked to the 1983 ‘Ghana must go’ operation under the regime of then General Muhammadu Buhari and his able deputy, late Brigadier-General BabatundeIdiagbon. Many pointers are vividly showing us how Nigerians and many firms are shifting sites and their headquarters to the former Gold Coast.
It was just like yesterday that we witnessed the convoy of trailers, like those used in transporting goats and cows from Sokoto to Lagos, taking the dislodged ‘unwanted Ghanaians’ home. The nomenclature ‘Ghana must go’ bag is now popular with the multi coloured sack-like bag because this was what many Ghanaians then used in packing their little belongings back to the country of Kwame Nkrumah.

Careless deaths: A call for more police trainings

By PAUL ARHEWE 16/02/2011 05:16:00
The stampede last weekend at the campaign rally of the president in Port-Harcourt where 12 people were reported to have lost their lives, has again shown how shabbily events with mammoth crowds are organised in Nigeria and the role security men play to prevent misfortunes. Why should people be crammed and arranged in a space where escape routes during emergency are not visibly available?
The Port Harcourt sports stadium, venue of the rally, was turned into an arena of commotion and pandemonium as a shot from a policeman to disperse crowd sparked off panic. In this modern age, how can a policeman shoot into the air just to control crowd? This goes to show how untrained many of our security officers are.

Significance of Ideology in Nigerian politics

By Paul Arhewe

The New Year has seen political activities in the country at its crescendo as the April general polls become imminent with few months away. As expected, the world is watching and waiting with keen interest to see if the most populous black nation can break the jinx this time to conduct elections that would be freer and fairer than what were experienced especially since Nigeria retraced its steps to democratic rule since 1999.
Indeed, last week the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in its presidential primaries in Abuja successfully used a well organised convention and peaceful process in selecting incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan for its sole ticket for the exalted seat. For once, Nigerians are showering PDP with encomiums for the transparent manner it organised the poll.

Will Nigerians ever get over last-minute-rush syndrome?

By PAUL ARHEWE 03/02/2011 00:38:00

One glaring idiosyncrasy associated of many Nigerians is this problem of procrastinating and waiting till the eleventh hour, even when an activity is vital and of national interest. This syndrome was in display last Monday being the last day in January which the Central Bank had earlier set as deadline for bank account updating. The disorderliness and confused state of things at the entrances and inside of most commercial banks makes one to ponder whether notices were actually passed to their customers or maybe, those customers are from another planet? Before Monday’s deadline all banking halls were free for people to walk in and easily do their updating, one wonders; why wait to rush? Maybe, a research should be extensively conducted whether Nigerians derive happiness doing things during rush hours?

Making our security forces more proactive

By PAUL ARHEWE

The increased spate of bombings and terrorist attacks in recent times have vividly shown and exposed again how unsecured Nigeria is and the lacuna in its security outfits. Alertness and professionalism which are germane to securing a country with teaming population like Nigeria, are virtually absent or been compromised. To many, these current spates of bombings in the country may not have come as a surprise; as our security forces have been forewarned of the attacks by sect groups, especially the Boko Haram. In July last year when the Islamist sect group, Boko Haram, commemorated one year anniversary of the death of their slain leader, a serious security apparatus in the country would have been on the alert and highly proactive to nipping in the bud any premeditated and nursed onslaughts. This would have saved the country from the lugubrious situation we find ourselves.

Cote d’Ivoire: Another shameful show of ‘African democracy’

By Paul Arhewe


The current tussle for Cote d’Ivoire’s presidential seat has again exposed a derogatory practice of democracy, exclusively African, to the rest of the world. Electioneering and democratic practice in the continent is shown to be deeply obscured in inconsideration, selfishness and disregard for the wishes of the electorates. No wonder Africa is singled out from the rest of the world as it has a different definition and way of practicing its democracy. This becomes mind-boggling where many non-African countries have thrived and consolidated to an extent that democracy is a norm, even instilled into infants in their societies. We may say they have been practicing democracy for centuries. Alas, Africa’s democracy is simply rotating in a circle and retrogressing, showing no sign of improvement and would remain so for long time to come if nothing drastic is done.

Tunisia revolution: Warning for Nigerian Government

By Paul Arhewe

There is a limit to which every human being can tolerate oppression from tyrant leaders. Beyond that level of tolerance, the outcome is insurrection which can be deadly and consequentially disastrous. This is the picture in Tunisia where the then sit-tight President, Zine al Abidine Ben Ali, had ruled this North African state for 23 years. The Tunisia’s ‘Jasmine revolution’ is linked to a regime that has oppressed the people for too long, amidst high rate of unemployment, corruption and oppression. The trigger was a 26-year-old university graduate whose offence was that he didn’t take to carrying arms to rob the people after remaining unemployed for years, but chose to settle for a mere fruit and vegetable trade on a cart. Police molested Mohammed Bouazizi despite this humble profession he was engaged in; seized his cart, slapped and roughed him up severally because he does not have licence to back up his trade. Bouazizi filed a complaint with municipal authorities but was rejected. He died some days later after setting himself ablaze at the front of government house.