tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67405924160313469122024-03-12T23:42:37.101-05:00My Ten CentsCommentary on national, international Economic, Social & Political issuesmy ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-7209363527913879862022-06-26T16:09:00.005-05:002022-06-26T16:09:51.896-05:00WHO IS A FATHER?<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This is a very simple question
with many answers of varying interpretations, depending on who is
responding</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">However,
to me, a father is not just a man who has biological children. Anyone
who plays the role of a father to a community of children, either as
a teacher in any setting, sports coach, counselor, priest, case
manager, caregiver, and/or in a mentoring program for children, is a
father.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When
we consider these roles above, we can all agree that fatherhood is
not an easy job; it requires a tough mindset, an unquestionable
character in conduct, enduring spirit of forgiveness and acceptance,
flexibility in thought and actions, and inclusiveness in
decision-making, both within and outside our immediate family
environments, and the willingness to acknowledge and accept the
limitation of our abilities.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fathers
are expected to lead the way as heads of their households and
decision-makers in their immediate and extended communities; society
and the bible have placed such leadership roles on fathers that,
sometimes, failure is not expected to be an option. However, fathers
are not Gods; so, most times, we do not get it right. Sometimes,
persuaded by circumstances, or overwhelmed by them, we embrace
alternative truths and ideologies completely inimical to out biblical
and spiritual leanings and beliefs.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Like
mothers, fathers do have emotions, we love our children and work hard
to provide for our families; we feel hurt when offended, disappointed
when our plans do not work out, bitter when disappointed, regretful
of certain of our conducts, and appreciative when goals and desires
are met. However, unlike mothers, we express these different emotions
and actions in drastically different ways. This, sometimes, leads our
children to believe that we do not love them; this is far from the
truth. We do love our children, we do love our wives, we do love our
families, and we do wish the best for the societies we live in.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now,
to my fellow fathers, I must say this:</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
tasks assigned to our role as fathers by God and society are only as
heinous as our perception and interpretation of those tasks. God
never asked us to carry the world on our shoulders like the imaginary
Atlas; if He did, He would not have said; </span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>come
to me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you
rest”</b></i></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What
compounds our problems as fathers is our insatiable desire to be what
God did not assign us to be. We want to be like Michael Jordan, Elan
Musk, Tiger Woods, Jerry Jones, Jeff Bezos, and everyone else, except
who God wants us to be. We want to be a Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer,
Pharmacist, teacher, Nurse, Postman, etc.; only you! Not because we
are able and capable, but because someone else is, and we are envious
and jealous of that person and their earthly possessions and their
acquired titles. We waste time and resources chasing hallucinations
misinterpreted as visions. When we fail, we wallow in self-pity and
spread contagious misery around our environment. Most times, even
when we succeed in these pursuits, we still end up worse than we were
before we started. Meantime, our marriages and relationships suffer,
we are avoided by our children, and abandon our roles as fathers in
our families, leaders in our churches and communities.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Did
God send you? Was that pursuit your destiny in life? </span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes,
men must provide for their families, as instructed by the bible and
expected by society; but we cannot do so to the detriment of the
families we are supposed to provide for.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There
are many ways we can play our roles as fathers in our families and
societies, including providing for our families, and having money is
much lower on the scale of things, regardless of what our wives may
think.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
am not against men being ambitious; but my concern is at what
opportunity cost?</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
believe, it was in Ecclesiastes 9:10 that it said:</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Whatsoever
thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work,
nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou
goest.” </b></i></span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
am asking all fathers the same question today; what do you have in
your hand? What skills do you possess? We all have, at least one. If
we develop our God-given skills to the best of our abilities, we can
provide for our families. Instead of laboring alone, we must identify
and pull our internal (wives and children) and external (friends and
siblings) resources together to achieve our goals in life as fathers.
We should never feel that we must do it alone.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We
must be willing to recognize and accept our limitations and
shortcomings; acknowledge the things that are beyond our abilities
and knowledge; ask for assistance from those who know better and are
willing to help. We must not be ashamed to say </span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I
am tired”.</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Everyone
gets tired at some point. We must learn to do the best we can and
leave the rest to God. When we do this, we live a longer, healthier,
and happier lives. Fathers who recognize their limitations in life
can re-access, regroup and re-strategize. </span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There
is no such person as a failure in life, even though friends and
family members – even spouses – may brand you such.; what often
happens is a failure to recognize that our chosen pathway does not
lead to success. What do you do? Regroup, re-strategize, relaunch.
Real fathers who encounter adversity do not wallow in self-pity,
evidenced by drunken idleness, perpetual frustration, permanent frown
on the face, and constantly exhaling plumes of cigarette smoke from
their nostrils. Instead, they pick themselves up, dust themselves
off, and keep moving. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">After
all</span><span style="font-size: medium;">, in every life, a
little rain must fall.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let
your children see you try…</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let
your spouse see you try….</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let
society see you try….</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let
</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>you</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
see you try … </span>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At
least, you owe yourself that much.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Our
Behaviors</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As
fathers, we are not just fathers to our children alone, but fathers
to every child out there. So, our behavior wherever we find ourselves
must be above reproach. Will that be easy? Absolutely not. Will there
be temptations along the way; doubts as to our abilities; feelings of
being overwhelmed by this role foisted on us by nature? The answer is
a resounding yes to all of these. However, if we must fail in our
roles and responsibilities as fathers, let it not be for lack of
trying.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We
get it wrong when we think or convince ourselves that our behavior in
our household should be different from what we exhibit outside. No!
The audience is the same, so the behavior cannot be any different. We
cannot be cruel, mean, and unloving in our family environment and be
kind, loving, and affectionate outside. Who should we impress most?
The outside audience or our immediate families who will be our first
line of defense?</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When
you are a father, either by status, profession or community service,
you are elevated to a certain status in society which requires a
change of behavior, not only in terms of conduct, choice of language,
but even in association; this we cannot escape from. Once we step
into that role, we cannot go back; because, once you are perceived as
a father, you have become a role model. – (example – soccer
coach)</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>So,
who is a father?</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A
father is that man who is always thinking of the best for his family.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
man who prays for the life, good health and success of his children</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
man who guides, instructs, directs, and preaches on the right way to
follow in life</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
man who cries in private, while manning up in public.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
man who will weather abuse, derision, and insult on behalf of his
family.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
man who is not too proud to play the hand he is dealt with by
circumstances.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
man who understands what society expects of him and tried to live by
it</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
man who tries to be the best that he can in whatever he does</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
man who often takes it on the chin from within and outside his
immediate family</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
man who is often neglected by the same society he lays his life for.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To
that man, single or married, I wish you a Happy Father’s Day!!</b></span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>June 19, 2022</b></span></p>my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-697524486189341352021-12-04T13:49:00.003-06:002021-12-04T13:49:31.666-06:00State of Abia: Wakeup call on Gov Ikpeazu<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">By Umeh Kalu, SAN</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Dec 2, 202<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Dear Doc,</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Kaa, nde, ka nka oo.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Hope this message gets to you in good stead.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I have been under intense pressure to share my thoughts with
you on the real and general public perception of the poor state of affairs in
our state, and, possibly proffer solutions towards ameliorating the situation.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I am aware that most of the sordid and unfavourable things
trending in public discourse about our State do not get to your knowledge, as
those whose duty it is to draw your attention to them, will for fear or
inability to handle the backlash, keep that information away from you. This I
must say, is not peculiar to our State, but is a national malaise. Abia will no
doubt be amongst the topmost in this regard, due to the high level of idiotic
sycophancy that is prevalent in our domain.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p>Since I left office as Attorney – General of our State in
May 2019, I have variously been confronted in both private and public, with the
poor and pitiable state of affairs in our State. Attempts to put up some
defence often fail as I come out of the exercise looking stupid due to wanting
of justification for the parlous/pitiable state of affairs in our State.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>As one who had been in government prior to your emergence as
Governor in May 2015, I can attest to the fact that you inherited a State that
was in distress and in dire need of emergency attention. Those who are
objective and truthful know too well that you did not originate the prevalent
rot but accepted it gleefully, and, instead of halting the drift, you have
sustained it. This in a nutshell is the true state of affairs in our State at
the moment.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The rain started to beat us torrentially somewhere within
the eight (8) years of your immediate predecessor’s tenure. Each time I ponder
over your reluctance and/or refusal to make the expected positive impact on the
governance of our State, I recall the admonition given to you in my presence by
one of the best legal minds in our country today. This advice was given to you
at a meeting held at your instance, between the three of us, at the new
Presidential Lodge, Umuahia, in June 2015.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>On seeing you, the legal icon congratulated you over your
victory and emergence as Governor but noted particularly that you were lucky to
assume such a position of immense authority and responsibility at a youthful
age. He said the country and indeed the southeast needed educated young men
like you to display vibrancy and charisma in governance; which virtues he
opined were in short supply in our body polity. He further admonished you to
use your present position as a stepping stone for greater political exploits
through superlative performance. I echoed his views and good wishes for you and
we both left your presence, after eliciting your assurance that you will not
disappoint God and the people of Abia State. When I look back, almost six (6)
years after that encounter, it does appear to me that those wise words of
admonition remain unheeded.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I profess that we were both strangers to each other prior to
my reappointment as Attorney – General/Commissioner for Justice under your
tenure. My appointment was the earliest, if not the first cabinet appointment
that you made on your assumption of office. In our brief consultation preceding
my acceptance and swearing-in, you informed me that I was highly recommended by
your predecessor and equally aware of my desire to leave Abia State for Abuja,
which desires you pledged to facilitate after your election petition
proceedings. Like with most political promises, the issue of my desire to leave
Abia for Abuja was never considered or revisited till the termination of my
tenure as Attorney – General/Commissioner for Justice by effluxion of time in
May 2019.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>On your assumption of office in May 2015, you made concerted
and spirited efforts to hit the ground running and made a sharp departure from
the wastefulness of the past, to the applause of many Abians, including myself.
You rejected and frowned at the ascription of “His Excellency” to your name or
being addressed as such. You equally directed that your dear wife – Nkechi – be
addressed as “Wife of the Governor” and not as “Her Excellency”. You reduced
the retinue of protocol staff accompanying the Governor on trips outside the
state to the barest minimum, in order to save cost. You rejected the use of
private jets by the Governor of Abia State as was the case in the past and
resorted to flying Business Class on commercial Airlines. You commenced
reconstruction and refurbishment of the Governor’s official residences in
Umuahia, G.R.A Aba and Aminu Kano Crescent, Abuja, the old Presidential Lodge,
Umuahia, the Executive Council Chambers, etc.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>The Standard of work in some of the completed projects as
cited above were superlative and got a commendation from everyone. The former
governor was impressed with the facelift made to the Executive Council Chambers
and made comments about its impressive status when he visited a few months
after his exit. The roads in Aba and even the FMC, Umuahia to Ubakala road that
could not be addressed for the eight (8) years that your predecessor held sway,
started receiving your attention. The people of Aba (Enyimba City) who had
since 2010 been a torn in the flesh of Abia government and her principal
officers, due to the government’s nil attention to the city’s infrastructure,
especially roads, embraced you with both hands. You became the toast of ndi
Aba.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Aba people trooped out en masse to hail you and your convoy
each time you ventured out into the streets. All these were heartening,
especially for those of us who had suffered multiple embarrassments, ridicule
and humiliation in the past through the pelting of government cars and convoys
with stones and sachet water by Aba residents. Equally heartwarming and worthy
of mention was your initial discomfiture with vainglory, as enunciated in the
various award-giving groups, organizations and bodies that feasted on Abia
government funds under the guise of giving out awards to the Governor.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I witnessed your rejection of an award by a group from the
UNIBEN Alumni, led by my learned friend Richard Oma Ahonaruogho, SAN. You
bluntly told the group that you were barely two (2) months old in office and do
not consider yourself fit or deserving of any award at that moment. This
obviously would not have happened in the past. Billboard and flex politicians
were kept at bay on your instructions, thereby giving the airspace in Umuahia
and its environs some respite. All these I must say were short-lived, as you
suddenly could not maintain the momentum and things started tilting gradually
towards the old ways. The sudden cessation of the upward and progressive
acceleration of your government towards the positive change we all desire in
our State is bewildering.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I must state here, that I have no doubt whatsoever of your
passion for service. I have listened to you severally and I am convinced that
you have all the ideas on the way forward, as you profess these lofty ideas at
each given occasion. What I find wanting is the will and ability to implement
these ideas. There have been conjectures and speculations at arriving at the
reasons. Some think you are acting on instructions, as your predecessors do not
want you to outshine them. Some believe you are not in total control of the
affairs of the State. A lot of people think that the terms and conditions under
which you were drafted into the governorship of the State have made it
difficult for you to operate maximally. All these I must say are in the realm of
conjecture.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I have however on two occasions listened to your immediate
predecessor narrate how he single-handedly made you governor of Abia State.
First, was at the grand reception organized in his honour by an Ukwa – Ngwa
socio-cultural group, that was held at Ngwa High School, Aba, while the other
was at another event organized by a Bende Union at the old Umuahia market
arena. At both events, your predecessor stated that you almost fell off from
your chair when he told you in the presence of his wife and your wife for the
first time that you were going to be the next governor of Abia State. On each
of these occasions, there was loud applause for him by the undiscerning crowd
of people at both events. As an individual, I was shocked by that analogy, as I
considered those statements a great disservice to God and the Abia State
electorate. That exposition as undesirable as it was had its purpose; which was
to drive home the point that you were not expecting to mount such high an
office, but that he made it possible.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Some past governors in other States have ventured
unsuccessfully to impose successors in their States. I liken your emergence as
governor of Abia State in 2015 to the emergence of the Biblical Esther in the
Palace of King Ahasuerus. Esther was divinely situated in the Palace of King
Ahasuerus to deliver the Israelites from persecution. So were you positioned in
Abia State to change our story and place the State on the path of sustainable
growth.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Abians, including their elders, had long come to an
agreement that the governorship seat of the State should shift to the Ukwa –
Ngwa axis after your predecessor’s tenure. Chief Onyema Ugochukwu was chosen by
the Abia council of elders to screen and recommend an Ukwa – Ngwa man or woman,
who must be a graduate for the governorship seat. Chief Onyema Ugochukwu’s
committee had commenced the selection process before it was truncated. The
making of a governor is not an event but a process. Your immediate predecessor
and few persons around him may have initiated the process for reasons best
known to them, but God saw you through the process and unto its realization.
The Scriptures have it that Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the
increase.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Recall even, that you were twice removed as the governor by the
Courts. Firstly, at the Court of Appeal at Owerri and secondly by Justice Okon
Abang at the Federal High Court, Abuja. At these crucial moments, your
predecessor was already out of the equation and had absolutely nothing to do
with the reversal of the Court judgments. God used other persons to see you
through those dire moments. I relay all these things because it does seem
obvious that you are so fixated on one or two persons who claim to have made
you governor and as such will not disobey or harm their interests. While nobody
will endorse ingratitude, the idea of unalloyed blind loyalty to an individual
in order to show gratitude has the innate capacity of eroding one’s sense of
judgment, performance and capacity to deliver on the arduous task of governance.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I do not and will never believe that your predecessor and/or
members of his family made you governor. God did. Your predecessor and members
of his family were only tools in the mighty hand of God. They were at most
vessels through which God perfected His will for you. It was God’s design even
before you were born, that you will attain the status of the governor of Abia
State in your lifetime. If you do not agree with me, or desire to push the
argument further, you can as well believe that Orji Uzor Kalu made you governor
because if Orji Uzor Kalu did not choose T.A. Orji as his successor, he would
not have been in a position to make you governor. I have devoted some time to
the issue of your predecessor’s claim of making you governor, as it does seem
to me that therein lies your reluctance to depart from the past and effect the
needed positive change in our State. The moment you accept that God and only
God made you governor of Abia and that you are answerable to God alone and to
no mortal being in whatever name called, then will you commence your journey of
the redemption of Abia.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>You may be surprised by the contents of this letter and the
channel of its delivery. For the medium of communication, I am told you no
longer read sealed letters and that all letters must pass through your aides,
whose decision it is to decide the letters that get to your notice. I have
decided not to subject the fate of this letter to the decision of your aides
who may not know the import. For the content, unpalatable as it might be, I
believe I have a greater duty to God, my conscience and the citizenry of our
State, including generations yet unborn. I am by this letter, not in the least
denying culpability in all the inadequacies and/or shortcomings of the two
governments I served in, including yours. I join in accepting failure, though
with a caveat and equally think that I should join hands with you and other
well–meaning Abians in salvaging the fortunes of our dear and only State. I
will provide details of the caveat at the appropriate time, if necessary.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With twenty months left for you in the saddle of the affairs
of our State, it may be important to proffer some suggestions as earlier
stated, towards salvaging the situation we presently find ourselves.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Road Infrastructure:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Umuahia remains our State capital and deserves a better deal
from past, present and future governments. Umuahia has indeed suffered neglect
in the hands of successive governments, including yours. I implore you, within
the available time to ensure completion, dualization and lighting of the FMC to
Ubakala/Enugu – Aba Expressway junction. The Mission Hill access road into
Umuahia from the Enugu – Aba Expressway remains an embarrassment to our State
and the capital city. The attempt at demarcating that road is an added problem
to motorists. We visit other States and cannot pretend not to know that no
State hosts that nature of colonial road announcing entry into its capital
city. The Mission Hill road needs to be expanded and compensation paid to
owners of roadside structures and buildings that may be affected in the
expansion process. Ditto for the roads leading to Isieke and Ikot Ekpene. It is
not an impossibility to revamp the Umuahia water scheme.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>For the commercial city of Aba, you may concentrate on the
three areas of ingress and egress into and out of Aba. That is the Aba/Owerri
road, the Aba/Port – Harcourt road and the Ogbor Hill to Ehere and Ukpakri
roads. Tagging these roads federal roads is no excuse, as the dilapidated
nature of these roads is adversely affecting the economic fortunes of Aba and
its citizens. The internal roads within Aba metropolis, which till date remain
the most efficiently planned in the entire southeast region of Nigeria should
be given attention. Special attention should be given to the roads leading to
the major markets and areas of economic activities. It is disheartening to know
that all the efforts and Billions of Naira allegedly expended on the
construction of roads leading to the Ariaria market, including the Ukwu mango
since 2010 have yielded little or no dividend.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Equally of importance for Aba is the Osisioma flyover
project. The delay in the completion of this project has become a big
embarrassment to most Abians, as it is now a subject of comic jokes on social
media. A few weeks ago, I witnessed governor David Umahi on Channels Television
making a veiled reference to the projected prohibitive cost of flyovers by some
States in the country, as opposed to a meager 1.2 Billion that it cost him to
complete one in his Ebonyi State. I recall that either 4.2 or 4.4 Billion Naira
was the project cost of this flyover when I co-signed the contract papers some
five years ago. I presently do not know the project cost, as I have information
that there have been variations to the cost of the project. It may not be
necessary to bring into context the propriety or otherwise of a flyover at the
Osisioma interjection, but it is of utmost importance that you do everything
possible to deliver this notorious project within the lifetime of your
administration. The duration of the project no longer matters, but its
completion, for it is well with all that ends well.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I consider it misplaced priority, inadvertence and deceitful
to be touting with the idea of a golf course in Ohafia when the roads leading
to Ohafia are in deplorable condition. While you may encounter time and
economic constraints in addressing the major road leading to Ohafia, it is
advisable that you conclude the Ohafia ring road that I endorsed the contract
papers some four years ago. The Ohafia ring road has long been abandoned after
attaining less than 10% of the project. The same goes for the Abiriba ring road
that has equally been abandoned. Nkporo is another community within Ohafia
L.G.A that should attract your sympathetic consideration. The Abiriba to Nkporo
road which has a history of receiving epileptic attention since your immediate
predecessor’s tenure should be completed and delivered before the eclipse of
your administration. The completion of this road will at least compensate the
citizens of Abiriba and Nkporo communities for the several years in which many
of their young and vibrant politicians have had their political ambition held
down, to pave the way for a subservient, opportunistic and self–serving
politician, at the behest of those who have brought our State to its present
situation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>It may interest you to know that most Arochukwu citizens now
access their communities through Akwa – Ibom State, especially the rich ones
who now prefer the Uyo airport to Owerri or Enugu airports. Their preference
for the Uyo airport is a result of the difficulty in accessing Arochukwu
through Abia State. Patronage for Enugu airport is equally on the increase as
opposed to Owerri airport for Abia North citizens due to easy access to their
homes through Ebonyi State. Motorists coming into Ohafia and Arochukwu from
Lagos and Abuja access their communities through Abakiliki, Afikpo and Edda.
The only attempt to link Arochukwu through Abam has long been abandoned. I urge
you to consider ameliorating the plight of people within Arochukwu, Ututu,
Ihechiowa and all the adjoining communities in your closing months.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I equally recall vividly a road contract Agreement that I
co-signed some years ago consisting of about thirty–three (33) kilometers. This
ambitious road contract is being handled by Tunnel End Limited and runs across
the five (5) Local Government Areas of Aba North, Obingwa, Isialangwa North,
Isiala Ngwa South and part of Osisioma. I am told that this project has
attained 70% completion. I implore you to complete this project before the
terminal date of your administration, as these inter-communal roads will
greatly facilitate growth, development and ease of movement of goods and
persons within those communities.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I strongly advise you not to compound the myriad of issues
associated with the so called legacy projects. i.e. New Abia Government House,
New Abia Governors Lodge, New Abia Governors administrative offices, JAAC
Building e.t.c. These projects cannot be visited without a proper assessment
and audit of the enormous State’s resources invested in them in relation to the
quantum of work done. An audit or assessment as advised above is an area I know
you may not want to embark on in order not to step on toes. You may therefore
want to leave these issues for the next administration. An attempt at injecting
more funds into these projects would compound the problems these projects
portend for our State.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>PARIS CLUB DEBT REFUND:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Another issue of importance worth commenting on is the Paris
Club debt refund matter. You will recall that I have always maintained that we
do not require the so-called “consultants” in order to reconcile and obtain the
State’s Paris Club debt refund from the federal government. The entire thing is
a façade with the intention of defrauding the State of its scarce resources. It
is regrettable that we have consistently allowed the resources of the State to
be fleeced under the guise of settling these multiple “consultants”.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Paris Club debt refund has given birth to some Abia
billionaires, who are basically bereft of any known qualification in finance or
related matters. The only qualification these few persons possess is their
affiliation to the seat of power in our State. While these few persons drive
around in their fleet of exotic cars, thousands of deprived Abians for whom
these funds are meant to ameliorate their problems are either dead or living
destitute. These so-called “consultants” and their accomplices, including their
lawyers, the majority of whom are Abians may regrettably evade the judgment of
man due to their connections and deep purse, but will definitely not evade
God’s supreme judgment.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I find it disturbing that the State is even cherry-picking
and instituting joint court actions with some of these “consultants”, as such
joint Court actions have the inherent capacity of jeopardizing the commonwealth
of the citizens of Abia State, whenever these contrived court Suits yield their
intended results. It is still mind-boggling to know how a letter emanating from
a governor, without any legal documentation from the appropriate government
ministry, department or agency will entitle a so-called “consultant” to 25% or
30% of the resources of our State. Abia State you will agree with me, is in
dire need of every available fund in order to meet its obligations,
particularly in the area of infrastructural improvements, payment of salaries,
wages, pensions and so on.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Clannishness and nepotism in our body polity:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have witnessed within the past few months some frenzied
activities by competing Clans and sections of our State claiming rights to your
succession. These claims ordinarily may appear proper in normal political
settings, but I see those claims as a clear indication of how divided we are
along ethnic lines. While the Igbos claim to be marginalized in the wider
context of the Nigerian nation, there is a big divide amongst various Clans
within Abia State. There are claims that Orji Uzor Kalu’s tenure favored the
Igbere and Bende people, while your immediate predecessor’s tenure was for his
Ibeku Clan and adjoining communities. This belief or notion has enamored the
people of Ngwa Clan to lay claim to your administration as theirs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Regrettably, not much has been done to disapprove of this
notion. We cannot deny the fact that we have affiliations to our ancestral
roots before becoming Abians. Those who are in positions of authority at every
stratum in our State should be conscious of our diversity in all their actions.
We cannot as Igbos complain of being marginalized and denied of our dues as
Nigerians, while we enthrone clannish sentiments in our body polity within our
State. I implore you to take a closer look at all the critical appointments
made by your administration from inception to date, including portfolios
assigned to Commissioners, Advisers and sundry aides. The fact that past
administrations were considered to be clannish in their disposition, does not
provide us a vista to proceed along that divisive and retrogressive path.
Somebody must break</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>A situation where persons who have reached mandatory
retirement ages are retained on the contract is unacceptable and devoid of a
true sense of justice and equity. A situation where there is an embargo on
employment, while a select few are constantly been set out for an interview on
a weekly basis under the guise of executive waiver is equally devoid of
fairness and enthrones mediocrity. It will be in the larger interest of our
State and its citizens for critical and in fact all appointments to be made on
merit and shared evenly among all sections of our State. I urge you to exhibit
true statesmanship, fairness, justice and equity in the appointments you make,
and, in the citing and distribution of amenities.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>ABA G.R.A GOVERNMENT GUEST HOUSE</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>The partial movement of government activities to the
governor’s lodge, G.R.A., Aba, is in my mind not well thought out. When you
took up temporary residence and office at the Aba G.R.A guest house, those of
us in government were told that it was for purposes of availing you easy access
to the then multiple ongoing rehabilitation of Aba roads. Weeks turned to
months and months turned to years, as you gradually shifted a substantial part
of your official duty time from the seat of government in Umuahia to Aba. You
have presently taken up permanent residence in Aba as opposed to the seat of
government in Umuahia.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As Attorney – General, I recall having difficulties
transmuting from Umuahia to Aba to see you for important government matters and
suffered enormous strain and loss of valuable time each time I had to do so. The
movement of government activities from Umuahia to Aba is a great departure
from the norm, as no past governor of the State, both civilian and military
have ever moved government activities out of the government house in Umuahia.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I make my last statement advisedly and mindful of the fact
that the governor has freedom of movement and has the entire Abia as his area
of operation. The movement of government activities from Umuahia to Aba, apart
from being an anomaly occasions a high toll on the activities of governance in
the State. The cost and strain on allied government functionaries and officers,
and, your having to commute between Aba and Umuahia to attend to official
duties is a huge drain on the resources of the State and available time for
government activities.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>THE JUDICIARY:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>The judiciary you will agree with me is an important arm of
government and has specific roles assigned to it by the Constitution which you
swore to uphold, on an assumption of office. You must do everything within your
will to address some of the problems that have hindered and continue to hinder
the optimal performance of that important arm of government.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Funding is key in this respect. I advise you to give assent
to the Bill granting autonomy to the judiciary that has been on your desk
unattended for the past months. It is worrisome that the judiciary in Abia
State cannot even afford to attend the annual judges conference in Abuja on
government sponsorship. Several judges in Abia State are yet to be assigned
official cars years after their appointment.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>There is a dearth of court halls in Abia State, as most
judges and magistrates do not have court halls. There are instances where
judges sit out of their jurisdiction due to non – availability of court halls
within their areas of jurisdiction. It may interest you to know that the court
in your local government area – Obingwa – has been sitting at Aba since the
time of your predecessor and has remained so six years after you assumed office
as the governor of the State.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>My personal experience from the reconstruction of the burnt
Ohafia High Court puts the conservative figure of twenty–five million Naira
(N25, 000, 000) as the cost of constructing and furnishing a befitting High
Court hall, with adjourning offices for the judge and support staff. With a
modest sum of two hundred and fifty million Naira (N250, 000, 000), you would
have built ten court halls across the State. Let me equally draw your attention
to the deplorable condition of the main High Court complex at the Abia State
Judiciary Headquarters, Umuahia, built by your predecessor a few years ago.
This building is more of a monument presently, requiring entire re-roofing of
the building and refurbishing of all the court halls, amongst other areas of
immediate attention.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>It is worrisome to find retired judges in Abia State,
including past Chief Judges, being forced to file a Suit at the National
Industrial Court, Owerri, for purposes of being paid their gratuity and accrued
pension. It may interest you to know that judges are precluded from practicing their
profession on retirement. This means that their only source of livelihood after
retirement is the stipend they get as their gratuity and pension. It will
amount to a death warrant for these accomplished senior citizens of our State,
who devoted their lives to the service of the State and at such a high level,
to be made destitute on retirement. This situation will even demoralize serving
judges and may likely encourage the weak amongst them to resort to bribery
while in active service, in order to amass wealth to take care of themselves in
retirement. Recall that I made several letters to you on the need for the
payment of the pension and emoluments of these retired judges while in office,
and, held meetings with the then Commissioner for Finance and the Accountant –
General, which meetings yielded little or no dividend.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I am unable to find a reason or justification for the large
number of persons being engaged by our State as magistrates and law officers in
the Ministry of Justice. An enquiry from the other southeastern States will
clearly reveal that we have in most cases doubled the numbers coming from some
of these States. Emphasis should be on the quality of these officers, their
conditions of service and their ability to deliver rather than their numbers. I
dare say that the number of these magistrates and law officers are surplus to
need, and, a big drain on the scarce resources of our dear State. Every lawyer
in Abia State must not be either a law officer or a magistrate.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>GOVERNMENT AS BUSINESS:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>While the act of governance cannot be applied strictu sensu
to the principles of everyday business, it must be emphasized that certain
business principles must and should be employed in the act of governance, more
so, as it relates to the management of scarce resources. From my experience in
government, resources that accrue to government include but are not limited to
the following: Monthly Federal Allocation (FAAC), Monthly Local Government
Allocation (JAAC), Internally Generated Revenue (Formal and Informal), 13% oil
derivation, Ecological Fund, Multiple Federal Government Intervention Funds,
Loans from banks and other financial institutions; all these and many more from
my estimation are the inflows into the resources of the government.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>The difference between one state and the other is the level
of prudence engaged in and the effectiveness to which available funds are
applied. Priority must be given to areas that touch the daily lives of the
citizens, which in my consideration should be payment of salaries and
emoluments, pension, gratuity, infrastructure and investments in critical areas
like education, health and agriculture. I am aware that the average inflow to
the government of Abia State on FAAC is in the neighbourhood of 4 billion Naira
per month. This is without recourse to other sources as enumerated
hereinbefore, which are all within the premise of the government to spend. It
is said that despite the huge potential which Aba portends in internal revenue
generation, we have been unable to take advantage of the enormous economic
activities in that city towards increasing our IGR. Past efforts have failed
due to the self–interest of those managing our IGR.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Placing a whooping sum of between 500 – 700 million Naira as
security vote for the governor alone, 25 – 30 million Naira to the deputy
governor and another 20 – 30 million Naira for the speaker of the House of
Assembly, all in the name of security vote per month, amounts to ascribing
about 25% of our entire monthly FAAC collection to these three principal
government officials to the detriment of other areas of dire need in the State.
Official government records put the security votes for the governor at 7.4
billion Naira (2019) and 6.1 billion Naira (2020); deputy governor at 291
million Naira (2019) and 442 million Naira (2020), and the speaker of the House
of Assembly at 325 million Naira (2019) and 260 million Naira (2020).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It remains a mystery to me and other well discerning
individuals, the use to which over 500 million Naira will be employed in the
security of the State within 30 days. All the security forces in Abia State
apart from the State Vigilante Service are paid by the federal government.
State intervention on federal security agencies and other miscellaneous
security expenses cannot justify this monthly drain on the scarce resources of
the State.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Lately, the sustained monthly collection of the sum of not
less than 500 million Naira from the coffers of the State as security vote by
your predecessor for the 96 months he was in the saddle as governor of the
State has been made an issue in public discourse and commentary. I recall that
on your assumption of office as governor, you directed a reduction in the exco
allowance due to the members of the State executive council from 1 million Naira
to 500, 000 Naira. This is my view remains commendable considering the
prevailing depressed economy. It is however surprising that you have over these
years sustained the collection of over 500 million Naira per month and 20 – 30
million Naira for the deputy governor and speaker of the House of Assembly
respectively, as security vote.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Allocating 30 million Naira each per month to the deputy
governor and the speaker, which transmits to 1 million naira per day, cannot in
any circumstance be justified. A 50% cut on all these security votes which have
been running for the past 14 years can vividly change the infrastructural
landscape of our State and provide needed funds for the payment of salaries and
emoluments of public officers, including payment of their pension and gratuity.
I urge you to show good faith and sensitivity to the plight of so many deprived
Abians, especially public servants by directing a 50% reduction on these
security votes. These government officials to whom these whooping security votes
are paid to live in secured government quarters at an added cost to the State
and therefore do not need this colossal amount of money in the form of security
votes.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I am alarmed at the appointment of 28 Commissioners, most of
whom with portfolios hitherto unknown in the history of the State. What will a
motley crowd of 28 persons, exclusive of other aides, be doing in a cramped
executive chamber like the one we have? Abia State in my thinking does not
require more than 16 Commissioners, while the rest could be made advisers in
order to reduce the cost of governance and enhance effectiveness. Our
continuous penchant for weekly employment of persons into the service of Abia
State under the guise of governor’s waiver, even with an embargo in place,
amounts to gross abuse of extant civil service procedure, guidelines and
practice.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>The notion of the governor’s waiver for employment does not
give room for merit and spread, as only those who have access to the governor
can get these waivers, even without subjecting these persons to the crucible of
qualification and suitability for the job.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>CONCLUSION:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>In conclusion, this letter is not intended to pass a
judgment on you or query how you have handled the affairs of the State and the
destinies of the over five million Abians, graciously entrusted to you by God.
I am not competent to do so. What I have done so far is to express my candid
view as an Abia citizen, an interested party in the affairs of the State and
one who offered service to the State for an uninterrupted period of ten (10)
years.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>All those who have been in governance, including myself, owe
the people of Abia State an explanation as to how we got our State to this sordid
state. Governance is all about responsibility and accountability. Our State has
indeed been turned into a laughing stock in the comity of States. I make bold
to say, however, that while we all take responsibility, those of you who hold
the mandate of the people and in actual fact manage our commonwealth, have
greater responsibility.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Factors that have actually contributed to the situation we
find ourselves are corruption, greed, self–interest above public interest,
mediocrity, lack of vision and capacity, nepotism, zero tolerance to dissent
and alternate view, and, enthronement of falsehood and sycophancy in the
activities of governance. Those in authority, I observe, find relief and succor
in the company of hirelings whose duty it is to malign, abuse, intimidate and
even threaten the lives of those who proffer alternate views as a means of
keeping their jobs. While I remain mindful of the likely consequences of this
my well-intended piece, devoid of any malice whatsoever, I am prepared to
engage all those that may consider it their duty to silence every opposing view
in our dear State. I will definitely give in conjunction with other patriots a
run for their time and money.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Ordinarily, it may seem difficult to change the narrative
within the time available to you, but I sincerely believe that so much can
still be done between now and the 29th of May, 2023. Some of the issues I have
raised above, maybe tasking but not impossible to achieve within the available
time. I am aware that the majority of Abians are unhappy with the unpleasant
state of affairs in our State and are praying fervently for God’s intervention
to enable you to address some of the issues I have raised above. Not addressing
this letter to you and raising the issues that I have raised will make me
oblivious of the saying of Martin Luther King Jr. who opines that “our lives
begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”. All that I
have said above do matter.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I know that I have stirred the hornet’s nest by the contents
of this letter. I am conversant with the modus operandi of the mighty ones in
Abia State, whose operating principle is hinged on the doctrine of “see no
evil, hear no evil and say no evil”. The seeming resolve of most Abians to
abide by this principle has contributed to the situation we find ourselves
presently. Your power and the powers of the persons I may have unsettled in
this letter, though awesome, remain subject to the supreme powers of God the
creator of man and the Universe. It is to this supreme being that I subject
myself to His will and judgement.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I have christened this letter part 1 because I know that
there may be a need for succeeding letters, in response to the avalanche of
abusive write-ups by paid agents, hirelings and attack dogs whose job it is to
proceed against any form of dissent or opposing views. I promise these
hirelings and attack dogs busy days ahead, as some of us are fortunate to have
seen it all from the inception and were goalkeepers in the field of play, from
which vantage position we witnessed the game. The choice of silence over these
years has been hinged on the expectation for repentance on the part of our
traducers, which presently appears obviously misplaced, even as those who have
held us down this long are gearing up and preparing for yet another onslaught
in the coming season.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I will end this letter by referring all those that have held
Abia down for so long to the Scriptural readings as contained in James Chapter
5 Vs. 1 – 6.: “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery
that is coming on you.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will
testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in
the last few days.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed
your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have
reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You
have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and
murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Let us devote a little time to read and comprehend every
word in these verses for they speak to our situation.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May God give you the grace to heed good counsel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Dated this 1st Day of December 2021</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>UMEH KALU, SAN, LIFE BENCHE</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-90800504881395878042020-01-01T16:13:00.000-06:002020-03-22T16:27:02.850-05:00Entrepreneurship: A Layman’s Guide to Starting a Business<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Everyone, I mean, literally everyone, wants to have some kind
of business to their name; from those with very excellent business ideas but
without the capital, to the ones awash with both solid and liquid capital, but
devoid of basic business idea; and the perpetual “dreamers” who perceive
themselves as the next Bill Gates and Tim Cooks of this world, but lack both
the ideas and the capital to engage in any form of entrepreneurial venture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Business ideas could range from a home-based
bakery, lawn-mowing, delivery service, housecleaning, and dry-cleaning business
to a fast-food franchise chain, and a conglomerate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">However, many obstacles lie in the way of prospective entrepreneurs;
chief of which is the lack of entrepreneurial spirit itself – the drive and
determination to succeed against all odds. For those who have the spirit and
determination, enumerated below are some steps and requirements to a successful
entrepreneurial venture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Market and Need<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">First on the list is to identify the market: rural, suburb,
or urban area; then, the demographic segment within the market that you want to
serve: men or women of certain age, race, education level, and income bracket;
bachelors, spinsters, couples with family, gays/lesbians, or transgender. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When you narrow down the market and the desired demographic,
the next step is to ascertain the need within the market that you want to
satisfy. Is it a good or a service? Is the need already being met by some other
provider? If so, how can you improve on, or add to, what already exists?
Finally, at what cost?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Product or Service?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In your chosen market, there may exist a need that is not
being met by a provider; in which case, you will have to start from scratch to
build a business which will provide that product or service. If the need is a
service, what is the best way to provide it? Online, direct/in-person, or
through a third party? If it is a product, do you manufacture from scratch,
assemble completely knocked down parts (CKD) and deliver, or repackage bulk
purchases for retail sales? If you are manufacturing from scratch, what will be
your initial quantity? What size of storage space would you need? What initial
manufacturing equipment would you need? All of these would contribute to determine
the size of initial capital investment you will need. Some of these same
questions apply if you are assembling CKDs, or repackaging bulk purchases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The next decision to make will be logistics; direct delivery
by mail or with your own company vehicles and drivers? Contracting out the
delivery to a third party commercial delivery company, or independent hot-shot
delivery firms? Customer pick-up from an outlet? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Name and Registration <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">What comes first depends on the entrepreneur, the type of
business (sole proprietor, partnership, or joint venture), and the
product/service to be offered. Some people pick names for their companies
before even engaging in any market research, while others do so after the
research. Whichever is the case, everyone goes through the process of
registering a name for the company in their proposed city, county, state, or
nation of service. Process of registration depends on the bureaucracy of the
country and culture involved; in developed nations of the Americas and Europe,
it takes from one day to a week (in-person), and probably more if done by mail.
In African and most Asian and Central American countries, it can run into
months, if not up to one year, to register a business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Staff and Compensation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This, also, depends on the type of business and the prospect
of expansion. A sole proprietor will not need as much staff as a partnership,
corporation, of joint venture; neither will a service provider need as much
staff as a manufacturer of products. The staff strength could range from mom
and pop to technicians, office assistants, drivers, line production staff,
loaders, etc. Depending on the product or service offering, they could range
from lobbyists, information technologists, to unskilled laborers. Also, the level
of education could range from high school graduates to postgraduates and
experienced professional certificate holders. The age range is equally a
factor; from teens and young adults to middle-age. A decision on the initial
strength and quality of staff, helps with determining the initial compensation
package offered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Advertising/Marketing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">For some prospective entrepreneurs, the next step will be to
work out an initial advertising/marketing format and budget; social media or
traditional – TV, radio, newspapers? Distribution of flyers and business cards,
or word of mouth? All these different forms of advertising have their different
costs and reach; so, an advertising budget should factor in your initial target
reach, internet and media accessibility, and the literacy level of your target
market. Where your target market is the general public, all the above forms of
advertising should be used; in the case of a narrowly-defined target market, a
specialized format may be necessary. There is nothing wrong with a combination
of the two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">While some forms of social media advertisements, like tweets,
Facebook, WhatsApp fora, etc, may be free, they are somewhat specialized; you
are targeting a particular audience; your friends on Facebook (and their
friends, et cetera), followers on twitter, and the collection of contacts you
built up on a WhatsApp forum, anything beyond that, and to reach a wider
audience, will cost some money. The hope is that your social media contacts
will help spread the news of your business. You made opt to join groups or
platforms on Facebook Marketplace, or the like, in other social media outlets;
while some have guidelines and small fees, others offer free entry and exit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Again, the service you offer will dictate, to a large extent,
the form of advertising you elect to invest in; specialized goods and services
require targeted advertising, while general goods and services will require all
the forms of adverting strategy listed above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Feedback Mechanism.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Establishing a feedback mechanism at the start of your
business is key to improving your product or service offerings. An efficient
and easy return/refund/exchange process, is necessary to build trust in your
customers or clients. A repair service, where necessary, should be fast and of
good quality work. Another effective feedback channel is a follow-up with
customers either by phone, information box, or ratings on social media. The
response you get will help you understand the feelings of your customers
towards your services, allow you to make the necessary changes to stay in tune
with changing needs and market shifts, and help you build a list of loyal
customer base.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It is very important to pay close attention to the negative
feedbacks, because those are of a greater value than the positive ones. In the
event of a possible expansion of your market base, negative, or critical
feedbacks, allows you to offer divergent goods and services to segments of a
market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Inventory<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">What to hold, when to hold, and how much to hold. First, you
must determine, based on the life span of the good you offer, if you should
hold inventory and how much. Perishable goods with short lifespan? A
just-in-time inventory process may be the best option. If you are in the business
of manufacturing or distributing durable non-perishable goods with extended
shelf life, a three to six months’ worth of inventory may be ideal. Of course,
as a startup company, three months will be just right. This is an important
factor in determining your overall startup cost. As the year progresses, and
you are able to predict your quarterly business volume, you can gradually
increase your inventory holding and budget.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There is no need for inventory if you are offering consulting
and other advisory services. However, some hospitality businesses, like
housekeeping, does require the holding of some inventory of cleaning products.
So, how much, and if you hold inventory at all, depends on the line of business
you want to get into.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Product/Service Pricing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">As a beginner, strategic pricing is very important; the idea
is to attract and retain customers. Regardless of what good or service you are
offering, it is to your initial benefit to start low; though, at a cost.
However, in the long run, due to high sales volume, you will be able to recoup
those initial losses. There are different pricing scales for different goods
and services in every market segment, and to wet one’s entrepreneurial feet in
any market, one needs to either, initially, offer a promotional price, which is
usually at a heavy discounted rate; or, offer coupons to be redeemed upon
purchase of a second item, or a reach certain amount of total purchase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Once you have established your presence in your chosen
industry, you can begin to offer specialized pricing in your market. Where multiple
goods and services are offered in diverse market demographics, you can offer
pricing to suit specific markets or demographics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Where you intend to offer the same type of good in diverse markets,
you may choose to apply a uniform price in all the markets. So, there may be no
need for specialization. This strategy comes with drawbacks, though. One,
high-end markets may not accommodate low-rate goods and services; so, the
prospect for growth will be very minimal. Second thing to keep in mind is that
incidents of “dumping”, from foreign or outside competition, is greater in
low-end markets than high-end ones. With it comes the risk of being pushed out
of the market even before you can break even.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It is very important to consider all the above scenario
before deciding on a pricing plan for your goods and services. Also, always be
mindful that market forces, both internal and external, will always dictate
prices in a market, non-monopolistic, economy, and be prepared to adjust to
suit turbulence of the times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Startup Capital<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You would not know how much you need as startup cost until
you have figured out all of the above. When you have decided on those, the next
step is to start sourcing for capital. The three main capital markets for
entrepreneurs are savings, loans, and partnerships. We will look at these three
in details;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Savings</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">: we will explore three sources of
savings here, private, family, and retirement, or 401K. The type and scale of
business determines the amount of startup capital, some people may have access
to family savings (old money), trust funds, or their individual retirement
accounts (401K). Access to substantial amount of old money is always a plus
when planning to set up a business; unless one is very sure of a steady stream of
profit to replenish what is borrowed from the retirement account, raiding your
401K for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>startup capital is not
encouraged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Another
source of capital is loans. You can borrow from banks, which will require
having good credit, a collateral, or guarantor of the loan; from friends, some
of whom may request to be partners in the business, or from family
member/members. Loans from the bank, apart from a collateral, comes with
interest rates which may depend on your credit score, and a timeline to finish
payment. Family members can be more generous than the banks, but available
funds are usually limited. A pool of loans from friends may be able to meet
your financial needs, but some, if not all, might ask for partnership in
exchange; especially, if the prospects for profit are favorable. Where that is
the case, it is up to you to decide what arrangements you are comfortable with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Partnerships,
limited and otherwise; dormant or active/managing, and joint venture, are all
other ways to raise initial capital for your business. You can draw partners
from your group of friends, siblings, other relatives, or college alumni. The
share of ownership, and the role of each partner in the business, depends on
the percentage of their contributions, their interest in being actively
involved in the business (determined by available time), what skills they bring
to the table and how those skills can contribute to the success of the business.
It is important to work out and sign off on all the details of succession, what
to do with the profits, and how to proceed with expansion plans ahead of time
before any partnership agreements are sighed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Joint
venture does bring with it two things: capital or technical skills. For easy
access to capital, you may want to consider a joint venture partnership, if you
have either the needed skills or access to raw materials or market that will
attract venture capitalists. Again, there is a lot involved in this type of
partnership; so, depending on the size of your vision, a joint venture may not
be necessary at the initial stage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
the same, as you begin to contemplate expansion, do not rule it out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When you have lined up all these requirements in the
necessary row, and worked towards meeting all of them, your pathway to business
success is assured. One thing cannot be ignored or de-emphasized here; you may
have all the best plans in the world, graduate from the best business schools
in the US and Europe, or have access to all the material and financial capital
imaginable, and still end up a failure. It requires entrepreneurial skills to
establish and run a business successfully. You do not have to be a Harvard or
Yale graduate to have that, though they may enhance your natural knowledge and
skills; you have to be a graduate of the school of common sense, first. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-84977381582896042642019-02-09T22:04:00.005-06:002019-02-09T22:04:48.021-06:00Why Do You Bother?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">This is a
question friends, relatives, and many colleagues have asked me due, largely, to
my continuous involvement in discussions of the Nigerian economic, social, and political
environment. It is a question, I must admit, I have asked myself several times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Though I
have spent more of my years in America than in Nigeria, I bother because Jewish-Americans
still bother about Israel; because Chinese-Americans still bother about China,
and Mexican-Americans still do same about Mexico. Generations of
Irish-Americans continue to lose sleep over Ireland; Ethiopian-Americans carry
the problems of Ethiopia on their shoulders, and Sudanese-Americans deliberate
the state of their country on a daily basis. The Cuban-Americans even set up a
mini Cuban community in Florida to remind them of their motherland; I bother
because generations of Indian-Americans never forget where their parents come
from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I bother
because I was there when Nigeria was a functioning state; when it was the
darling and idol of many nations; when it was an inspiration to many Third World
and Caribbean nations fighting for freedom and independence; when Lebanese
refugees flooded the streets of Lagos to survive the cill wars in their land,
and when the Ghanaian sought refuge and solace in the cities of Nigeria. I was
also there when Gambia and Senegal came calling for Nigerian teachers and
judges to help them set up their educational and judicial institutions; when
Black South Africans and the ANC came cap in hand seeking financial and moral
support to fight apartheid <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I was
there when Nigerian roads were motorable, electricity was supplied all day, and
water actually came out of the pipes. I was there when rail was the preferred
mode of transportation for many Nigerians, and telephone lines worked. I was
there when people went to the farms and markets while leaving their doors open;
when children played under the moonlight till dawn; when stealing was a community
taboo, and the guilty were ostracized; and, when pastors preached the message
of salvation based on a choice between the wide and narrow paths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Why do I
bother, you ask? Because there is a 23-year old Yoruba girl in Houston who
bothers about infant mortality in Ekiti state; because a young
Nigerian-American Igbo girl bother enough to work as a radiologist in Abuja
than make hundreds of thousands in Dallas; because a team of Nigerian medical
professionals bother enough to sacrifice time and money to make quarterly and
yearly medical mission trips to many villages in Nigeria. I bother because organization
like Udeme.org, BudgIt, and Tracka, led by youths, bother enough to commit to
ensuring good and responsible governance in Nigeria. I bother because international
NGOs bother enough to assist millions of hopeless, helpless, and voiceless
Nigerians who see no future for themselves and their generations yet unborn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bother because many of you have refused to
bother, and have either accepted or worked to maintain the status quo; because
while patriotism is on the decline, treasonable felony is on the rise; because
while the practice of my brother’s keeper is on the decline, that of my brother’s
killer is on the rise; because the citizen and the state have risen against
each other, and crime and criminality is more celebrated today than abhorred. I
bother because thousands of Nigerians abandon the country every year for lives
of servitude in Asia and Europe, while the Asians and Europeans flock to Nigeria
for lives of wealth and opulence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I bother
because thieve have invaded the temple of government, and the few Jesus among
the crowd have refused to lift a finger; because I do not believe in sitting in
one place and wringing my hands; because no one should live in a mansion
enclosed behind 12-foot walls; because no child should study under a tree in
this 21<sup>st</sup> century, and none should hawk wares on a school day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Now, tell
me why you choose not to bother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-46150984320707239892018-12-16T19:42:00.000-06:002018-12-16T19:42:02.554-06:00Nigeria: Tapping Into the Economic Opportunities of an Election Season<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">During the recently concluded party primaries in Nigeria, I
posted a couple of comments on social media urging Nigerians residing in Port
Harcourt, and its environs, to avail themselves of the opportunity of the PDP
presidential primaries and make some money. Though many may have taken my
comments as a joke, I believe that some who have experienced the manner money
flows in these primaries did avail themselves of the opportunities presented
thereby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In any country in the world, but more so in Nigeria and other
African countries, the election season, be it at local, state, or national
level, is a time of increased money circulation, leading to a temporary boost
in the economic activities of that nation. In developing nations like Nigeria,
with very weak electoral laws and programs, elections and electioneering is an
expensive process reserved only for the financially rich and powerful. From
ward all the way to the national level, politicians do grease palms during
every stage of the delegates’ selection process; and, by the time the
candidates meet at the primary elections proper, millions of Naira may have
trickled down to thousands of families.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To run a senatorial election in Nigeria costs an average of
one billion Naira; to fund a governorship election will run you an estimated 5
billion Naira. For a presidential election, one must be looking at a whopping
100 billion Naira. Obviously, not every senatorial, gubernatorial or
presidential candidate can afford these amounts of money, so the field is usual
narrowed down to the parties and candidates who can afford these estimated
amounts. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The two political parties easily able to fund candidates for all
political office are the ruling APC and the opposition PDP. There are 109
senate seats up for election, and about 30 governorship offices; it is expected
that a conservative estimate of N518b will be spent by senatorial and
gubernatorial candidates from just APC and PDP alone during this election
season. Add N100b each from the two presidential candidates and you are looking
at N718b pumped into the economy in less than 9 months. For the purpose of
fairness, the rest of the 80, or so, political parties can be expected to spend
another N50b on their candidates for various offices. Also, for the purpose of
is article, the field is reduced to senate, governorship, and presidential
candidates for the purpose of simplicity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How The Money is absorbed Into the
Economy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Delegates</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: As I alluded to earlier, delegates
to the primary elections are the first beneficiaries of financial windfall of
the election season; candidates compete to outspend each other to buy the votes
of the delegates at all level; financial inducement, or rewards, increase from
ward through state to national level. It has been alleged that delegates to the
PDP national primaries in Port Harcourt were induced with upwards of $5000, or
N1.7m per delegate by just one candidate. Given that there were over 7
candidates, though not with the same financial strength, even a $1000
inducement is a lot of expense for primaries alone. There were over 3000
delegates to that PDP national primaries, so even if one focuses on just
securing half of the delegate votes, the successful candidate must have spent
N2.6b in one night to secure the presidential nomination. My focus is on the
PDP, because APC did not have a presidential primary; they adopted Buhari for a
second term. All the same, there was a national convention and delegates were
transported to Abuja to ratify the selection of Buhari as the presidential
candidate. Financial emoluments were made to these delegates, and the
hospitality industry benefited immensely form their convergence in Abuja for
the weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Imagine the same scenario as above replicated by the parties
in 30 states and 109 senatorial zones, though at a lower expense rate than the
presidential primaries. At the end of the exercise, delegates went back home
with an average of N500k- N2m, which they invested in their families, businesses,
and the local economies; thereby, positively impacting on their entire local
government area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Advertisements</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: Politicians invest heavily on
publicity; they recruit musicians to write jingles for playing at radio and
television stations. These stations, and advertising agencies expect revenue
boosts during election cycles, and they prepare by hiring extra staff to
accommodate the needs of politicians. Independent visual artists are not left
out in the sharing of the political financial windfall; candidates commission
posters for display on public and private buildings, roadsides, tree trunks,
and public transportation vehicles; they also rent billboards, for the duration
of the campaign season, to display their images and messages to the electorate;
and, depending on location, one billboard can run into millions of Naira. A
gubernatorial candidate intent on garnering statewide exposure could print as
much as a million posters. Aside from the billboards and posters, there are
pamphlets to hand out at rallies and for door-to-door distribution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hospitality</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: One industry that benefits
immensely from national elections is the hospitality industry, even after the
elections have been won and lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Candidates need hotel accommodations for themselves and their entourage during
the campaign season; so, hoteliers always experience a spike in reservations,
and some developers even venture as far as building new, or upgrading existing,
hotels in cities with shortage of quality hotels. Not left out are public and
private transportation providers. Even where public transportation systems
exist, like in Lagos and Abuja, politicians prefer taxis, car rental agencies,
and private car services at their disposal during campaign events. Civil
servants avail themselves of the opportunity to make brisk businesses with
their private vehicles, by providing affordable transportation services to
visiting politicians, even if for a weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Restaurants within and around the campaign environment, also,
witness an increase in patronage during election period. Visiting politicians
and their many supporters seek out corners restaurants where they request and
taste the local culinary delicacies. For the duration of the event, the host
community, or city, usually experience an upsurge in business revenue. Of
course, every political event, be they rallies, conferences, or simple strategy
retreats, requires planning and proper execution. This is where event planners
come in; they will, in turn, reach out to canopy, furniture rental, and
catering companies for needed supplies to successfully organize and execute an
event for the candidate or the party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Not entirely left out of the fray are prostitutes, or ladies
of the night. A political campaign in any city is an opportunity for them to
make brisk business. Though the candidates proper may not indulge in seeking
the services of these ladies, and gents (for political correctness and equal
representation), some of their many supporters and sponsors traveling with
them, and almost always without their spouses, may do so. One must emphasize
here that this is not particular to Nigerian, or African political environments,
but an international phenomenon. It just seems to be more pronounced in African
countries, because most of those who engage in the prostitution business are
either breadwinners in their families, fending for themselves, their parents,
and siblings; or, simply availing themselves of the prevailing opportunity to
make some money to finance their education or hook up with a prominent
personality. For the latter group, once the political season is over, their
lives return to normalcy. When all is said and done, they would have garnered
their share of the political money pot to solve some personal and family
problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Manufacturing</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: The manufacturing sector is not
left in the cold during Nigeria’s general elections. Some political parties
have uniforms, and require their members and supporters to wear these uniforms
during the campaign season; this provides an opportunity for textile
manufactures, importers, and wholesalers to make some brisk business. When one
throws in caps, fans, T-shirts with party symbols or candidates’ image, handkerchiefs,
and many other gift items like pens, pins, key chains, shopping bags, and mugs,
just to name a few, with the party or candidates’ logo on them, one is looking
at a multi-million Naira windfall for some companies, which trickles down to
many families through the employees and retailers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Communication</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: Some candidates prefer to deliver
their campaign speeches either from notes or teleprompters, because they are
either clueless of their parties manifesto, or lack the requisite training and
charisma to captivate their audience. So, they engage the services of speechwriters
and journalists to craft a speech worthy of acceptance by the audience. Also,
to benefit from this financial shot in the economic arm are videographers recruited
by politicians and their parties for distribution to local communities which
their campaign schedules could not allow them to visit. For some candidates, it
is also cheaper to address their supporters via these professionally packaged
video presentations in town hall settings than traveling there with a large
entourage. Freelance photographers are not left out in this mad dash to make
some money during the election season. A careful observer at every political
gathering in an election season will easily spot photographers taking pictures
of prominent politicians, their spouses, moneybags or godfathers who frequently
grace these events. These photographers make brisk business by selling the best
prints to their “victims”, or targeted audiences. Most of the determined ones
travel to every location with popular candidates to cover their campaigns for
the duration of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Community Leaders</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: traditional rulers equally welcome
the election season with open hearts and arms, because of the frequent flow of
brown envelopes. Politicians on campaign trails often pay scheduled visits to
prominent traditional rulers of their campaign host communities, Sometimes,
these visits are made on individual basis; where that is time-consuming, the
traditional rulers gather at the palace of the most prominent of the groups
where “kola” is shared in solicitation for support. Not to be outdone,
community youth, and parochial organizations also pledge support for one
candidate, or the other, in exchange for some financial support or promise.
They usually serve as the eyes and ears of these candidates at the polling
stations on election days. Even professional and vocational bodies, like
mechanics, drivers unions, lawyers, the disabled, market women, etc., declare
their supports for some candidates, who, in turn, provide them with funding for
a few political gatherings mostly in violation of their organization’s code of
ethics; but, who cares, as long as everyone gets a cut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Elder Statesmen &
Women</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: There is a
class of retired politicians and senior civil servants in Nigeria classified as
elder statesmen and women; some of these people still command respect, and
wield considerable influence in their communities and social clubs.
Politicians, recognizing the election benefits of these influences, strive to establish
and maintain close connection with these people, by putting them on special compensation
lists through the governors and regional political party structures; in return,
during political campaigns, these elder statesmen and women, lend their voices
and support to specific political parties or candidates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Though not every sector is represented here, like private
security companies and the legal profession, one can easily deduct that election
seasons in Nigeria pump large sums of money into the economy, through the many
professions and sectors listed above; while the season presents opportunities
for corporations to increase revenue, it is also an opportunity for individuals
to make much-needed extra income to support their families. So, while many
social organizations complain about the huge amount of money candidates spend
to finance a run for public office, and the negative effects such increase in
money supply on the economy, they must remember that the bulk of this money is
recycled throughout all sectors of the economy, and the people are the
beneficiaries in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Felix
Oti<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Arlington, TX<br />
USAmy ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-10135442171479266482018-11-23T10:51:00.000-06:002018-11-23T10:51:44.930-06:00Ndi Igbo and the Lost Political Decade<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Late in May
of this year, I had published a paper on Igbo political miscalculations based
on our political alliances; in that paper I had laid out scenarios that could
have put Ndi Igbo in a position to occupy Aso Villa four years earlier, in
2023, than a possible 2027. I, also, proffered reasons why even a 2027 Igbo
presidency may not be a possibility. This paper will, drawing from some of the
scenarios of the last paper, explain why the decade of 2013 to 2023 could be
considered a lost decade in Igbo political history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This
analysis, review, or whatever one might choose to term this paper, is much more
necessary now that, as I predicted in my May paper, the two major political
parties, APC and PDP, have selected their presidential and vice-presidential
candidates. The APC had maintained the status quo of the current president and
vice, while the PDP nominated, Alhaji Atiku Abubaker, former Vice President
under Obasanjo, former APC member, and a constant and an astute political
operative in the wild and unpredictable political climate in Nigeria, as their
presidential candidate. Atiku in turn, and predictably, picked an Igbo
political non-politician, Peter Obi, a former banker and two-term governor of
Anambra state under APGA, as his running mate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now, I have
read some comments, more prominently from Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, one of the
members of the Atiku presidential team that he has promised to serve just one
term, if the PDP wins the 2019 presidential election. This, if it happens, will
put Ndi Igbo in a prominent position to take over the presidency. By 2023,
Atiku will be 76 years old, and may very well decide to focus on his business
and for the rest of his useful years. This comment has not been confirmed, or
denied, by Atiku himself, and no one else in his inner circle has seconded or
confirmed it. So, as things stand now, only Senator Bruce heard this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, why a
lost political decade? Because, by 2023, it would have been 10, or more, years
since the Igbos either played any role of prominence in, or directly benefited
from, the political process in Nigeria, The last two years, if not the entire
five and half years of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, could be
considered a loss for the Southeast and his South-south base, considering the
massive political support these two regions gave him in 2011. In a
winner-takes-all political dogfight, Jonathan, after securing a win, decided to
leave everything on the political table. Following in the footsteps of, albeit
few, former southern presidents before him; he cannot, today, point at anything
of substance in the southeast, or his south-south region, to remember him by;
except for massive levels of corruption at all levels of government. For a
region which suffered serious neglect, in terms of development and key
appointments, under the Obasanjo and Yar’Adua administrations, the expectation
was that Jonathan, our son and “brother”, would come to the rescue.
Unfortunately, this never happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">These
results notwithstanding, the Igbos voted massively for Jonathan again in 2015;
a 98% vote allocation to Jonathan, and a pittance of 2% for his opponent,
Buhari. This massive Igbo support was for two reasons: one, his opponent was a
northerner perceived by many among the Igbo leadership to be anti-Igbo and
anti-Christian; the second was that Buhari will definitely stop the financial
largess falling from Jonathan’s many feast tables to the so-called southern
elder statesmen, because he is widely acclaimed as a miser. Relying on the
power of incumbency to return Jonathan to power, Igbo leaders and political
analysts failed to read the mood of the rest of the zones. So, with their
massive support for Jonathan, they voted themselves out of Nigeria’s political
system; at least, for four years – a very critical error to make in Nigeria’s
increasingly fluid political dispensation. Thankfully, the apex Igbo cultural
organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, seem to have realized this error, and are working
hard to correct it and position Ndi Igbo for a more inclusive role in 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As I
predicted in May, and restated earlier in this paper, the two prominent
presidential candidates have emerged from the North, with their running makes
from the South. If PDP wins in 2019, and their candidate runs for a second term
in 2023 (regardless of what Sen. Bruce said), an Igbo will be the PDP
presidential candidate in 2027, not doubt. With the APC re-nominating Buhari
for a second term, the Yorubas stand a chance of fielding the presidential
candidate in 2023, four years earlier than the Igbos, and 16 years after a
Yoruba handed over to a northerner. So, if the Igbo had dispensed with tribal
politics in 2011 and 2015, and immersed themselves deeply into both major
political parties, they would have had a considerable chance of fielding a
presidential candidate under the APC in 2023, on the basis that all the major
regions have produced the president except Ndi Igbo. This would have drawn
nationwide sympathy towards them. Now, could my thinking have played out? Let
us analyze some scenarios, first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Public Disenchantment<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Despite
photo-ops and social media publicity, there is widespread disenchantment among
Nigerians, though very premature given their short time in office, with the
current APC government; so, given that by 2023, the Southwest would have been
out of office for 16 years, and since it is due to no fault of any other region
that the Igbos have been in the political wilderness, the likelihood of the
Yorubas conceding to, or supporting, and Igbo presidency in 2023 is very
remote. Instead, they will likely make a go at it with either Osinbajo or Bukola
Saraki; alternatively, Tinubu and his lieutenants could engineer another
coalition of political parties for the top post in 2023, as they did in 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Deep-Rooted Regional Suspicion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Buhari administration have , from inception, witnessed unprecedented verminous
attack from some Igbo groups, especially amplified by the Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB
in the last year, that the ebbing mutual suspicion between Northerners and the
Igbos have been gravely reinforced. As one Igbo elder lamented to me, recently:
“the trust which took us 40 years to restore has been destroyed by one stupid
boy in just a few months”. So, with the North-South distrust at its highest
level in recent years, the northern voting public will not likely support or
vote for an Igbo candidate. The sliver of hope is that 2023 is still far away,
and before then, these two regional enemies could begin to see eye to eye. This
will take a considerable effort by both sides to repair the damage already
done, and to prevent a continuation of antagonistic rhetoric.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Right Political Alignment<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">No
doubt, the numbers are in the North. For anyone to win a presidential election
in Nigeria, that person has to corral two of the three northern zones, and the
Southwest. Specifically, for an Igbo candidate to win a presidential election
in Nigeria, that person will have to win the 3 southern zones, plus one
northern zone; then, capture, at least, 25% of the remaining two northern
zones. Anything short of this calculation will not get an Igbo candidate
elected president in Nigeria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A
scenario where a Yoruba is running alongside an Igbo candidate will pose a
near-insurmountable challenge to a successful Igbo presidency in 2023. Because
the north is more comfortable working politically with the Southwest than the
Southeast, they will more than likely back a candidate from that zone than one
of Igbo stock. The same politically alliance could be expected between the
north and the southwest if a northerner was running against an Igbo candidate;
because, in spite of public comments and postures, the Yoruba will not support
an Igbo over a northern candidate, except that Igbo has a Yoruba as a running
mate. Unfortunately, a Southeast-Southwest presidential ticket will never be
acceptable in Nigeria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
same relationship problem Igbos have with the Southwest exists with their next
door neighbor in the south-south, though at a much manageable level. The
South-south seem to share a much closer relationship with their Southwest
neighbors than with the Southeast; due, largely, to fear of Igbo economic and
political dominance, amplified by IPOB’s forceful annexation of this region, by
the South-south. It is relatively easy for Igbos to adopt and support a South-south
candidate against a Northern or Southwestern candidate, than it is for the South-south
to return the favor in the case of an Igbo candidate. The seeming inability of
Igbos to understand the political formula required to win a presidential election,
will keep them from occupying Aso Villa as resident-in-chief for a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Internal Disunity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Of
all the previously mentioned reasons why Igbos may not win the presidency in
2023, or even 2027, the biggest impediment is lack of unity among the Igbos
themselves. The oft-quoted republican nature of the average Igbo can be
considered more of a curse than a blessing. No two Igbos can agree on a course,
or the strategy to pursue that course; the multitude of Igbo organizations,
both locally and in Diaspora, are like Jacks of all trade, but masters of none.
There are no specific organizations focused on specific issues like education,
manufacturing, agriculture, political and social integration, infrastructural
development, safety and security, healthcare, wealth creation and management;
instead, goals and objectives overlap, and no cohesive relationship exist between
any two organizations to champion any of these courses. Rather, what exists is
simply a multiplication of roles and responsibilities, which further exacerbate
the confusion, incoherence, and disarray among the people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Most
damaging is the insistence by particular groups and prominent individuals that
their identification, and definition of, the Igbo problem is supreme;
therefore, their proffered solution or course of action must be the only
acceptable one. This myopic belief, adversely, affects their approach to
political relationships and party affiliations. The feeling in some certain
quarters that, almost 50 years after the civil war, the inability of Igbos to
form a cohesive political force could be blamed on the North is simply an
attempt, now widely acknowledged by others, at offering a reason for a possible
failure in 2023 and beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Lack of a Clear Vision<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Everyone
in Nigeria acknowledges that Igbos want something; what is not clear,
especially among the Igbos, is what that thing is. In the absence of a uniform
plan or program for, and by a majority of Igbos, it is impossible to convince
or coerce others to join your course. Where there is lack of a national agenda
by a presidential candidate, capable of energizing his or her traditional base,
it becomes much more difficult for anyone else to take you seriously.
Restructuring, devolution of powers, states creation, regional autonomy, and
outright secession are some of the items on the Igbo’s bucket list. Unfortunately,
these all mean different things to different people among the Igbo tribe; the
leadership team, or an Igbo organization, that is able to understand this and
fashion out an all-inclusive action plan that incorporates the needs and
desires of the many different ethnic groups within the Igbo nation, and
sellable to the rest of Nigeria, is very likely to deliver an Igbo president in
2023 or 2027.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Unfortunately,
this will not happen before 2023, given the damage done by the resurgence of
Biafran </span>secessionist<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> championed by Nnamdi Kanu and his IPOB; however, the
current state of political wilderness should not be allowed to extend beyond
2023. Yes, the three years between when we lost our all-or-nothing bet on
Goodluck Jonathan and 2018 has been one</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
of anger, frustration, and concealed regret; but, from 2018 to 2027 is
almost a decade away, and we should not lose the opportunity to re-write our
political history in the Nigeria we currently call our own. If, and when Biafra
comes, we will take it and run with it; until then, we have to make our
presence felt in the now that is Nigeria. It should not take another ten years<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Felix
Oti<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Arlington,
TX <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="mailto:felix.oti@gmail.com">felix.oti@gmail.com</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I write about Igbo issues, because I am
Igbo to the core and care about my people; and, I do invest time and energy to
continuously study and understand my people. Yes, I rub some Igbo readers the
wrong way because I am independent-minded, and not so easily swayed by some
sweet-tongued or fiery preachers of hate and discord in the name of Igbo
self-determination. The elections are here, so my focus for the foreseeable
future will turn to the candidates and their plans for Nigeria, which Igbos are
still part of.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-27157114289874165122018-05-28T20:10:00.000-05:002018-05-28T20:10:07.112-05:00Nigeria: Ndi Igbo and the Politics of Miscalculation<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No, my brother; it was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">you people</b> who voted him in. We gave
you Falae, but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">you people</b> chose
Obasanjo”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The above was in response to a question I put to a Yoruba
socialite in Lagos in 2001. I had wanted to know why they thought Olusegun
Obasanjo was the best they could offer in 1999 for the presidency. The “you
people” in her response refers to South-easterners, specifically, Igbos. This
claim can only be true if one adds the South-south votes, because the total
Southeast vote for Obasanjo in 1999 was 2.3m out of a total 3.3m votes cast in
the region.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let us review the political succession scenario of the PDP,
and how it was supposed to benefit the southeast; if Obasanjo and Atiku had a
good working relationship, Atiku would have succeeded his boss in 2007, and
would have picked someone from southeast or south-south as his vice-president.
If that scenario had played out, by 2015, whoever was the vice-president would
have become the president. Which means that a southerner would have been Nigeria’s
president today, though the likelihood of that president coming from the South-south
or the Southeast was a 50:50 coin toss. Of course, this did not happen as
envisioned, or even written.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As it turned out, Atiku was sidelined, Obasanjo picked Yar’Adua
to replace him, and the rest is well-documented. However, we will continue to
construct this scenario to determine, all things being equal, when Nigeria
could have had an Igbo president. With Yar’Adua’s emergence as president, the
vice-presidential lot fell on the South-south, instead of the southeast;
assuming that he was able to serve out his two terms, Goodluck Jonathan would
have taken over in 2019, and served till 2027 with a Muslim vice president of
the Southwest extraction, to balance the political equation. Obviously, with
the selection of a vice-president from the South-south, the Southeast was
effectively, eliminated from possibly ever producing a Nigerian president. Yet,
the Igbos never expressed any form of anger or frustration at this PDP succession
scenario. Maybe, they never read or accurately interpreted the tea leaves. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the Southwest was making its own calculations based
on the above scenario; realizing that with a continued PDP rotation system, the
earliest they could get back into the corridors of power at Aso Villa would be
in 2027, they decided to stage a coup. After the 2011 elections, and the dissatisfaction
of the northerners over the loss of their rightful turn to complete their two
terms, Tinubu saw an opportunity to form a coalition of strange bedfellows to
not only wrest power from the PDP, but to return the Southwest to the corridors
of power much earlier than projected and, in the process, inadvertently create
an opportunity for Igbos to have a shot at the presidency. That is, if the
coalition manages to last beyond two election cycles. Currently, things seem to
be falling apart. However, there is nothing wrong in evaluating the chances of
an Igbo presidency in an APC political arrangement.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To garner the votes of the northern electorate, the
newly-formed political coalition dubbed All Progressives Congress, with little
or nothing progressive about them, needed a popular northern candidate, and
they settled on Muhammadu Buhari. The South-south, with an incumbent president,
expectedly, stuck with their man. However, and surprisingly, the Southeast
elected to stick with Jonathan and the PDP, even though the region was devoid
of any form of evidence of Jonathan’s six-year presidency. Here, the southeast
opted to stay with the devil and the party they are comfortable with than join the one where, seemingly, their chances of producing
the president in the near future is much better.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, how would have the Southeast fared if they had switched
political allegiance in the 2015 elections? All things being equal, if Buhari
serves out a second term by 2023, it is expected that one of two things will
happen: either Osinbajo will run for office, or an APC candidate of Igbo
extraction will be selected. The latter is more likely to happen than the
former, because the rest of the regions in Nigeria will demand it of the APC,
given that only the Southeast, of all the major tribes, would have been without
a president since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule. So, the question is, why
did the Igbos not imagine this scenario and support the APC, considering that
their route to attaining the highest elected office in the land is shortest
through the APC than the PDP? Was it a case of political non- or miscalculation?
More surprising is the fact that after three years during which the Igbos would
have realized the error of their ways and re-calculate their political
equations, they are still deeply entrenched in PDP and vehemently opposed to
the APC, continuously deriding their brothers and sisters who serve in that
government. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One might wonder why this is the case, given the current presidential
set up in the PDP where the 2019 candidate is to come from the North? The
expectation is that whoever the flag bearer of the PDP is will pick his vice
from the Southeast, and by 2027, after he would have served his 8 years, his
vice, an Igbo, will take over. So, the Igbos are willing to sacrifice four more
years before making it to Aso villa in 2027, instead of in 2023. Here is a wrinkle
to this scenario; by 2023, the Southwest would have been without the top
political post in Nigerian for 16 years, and may not be willing to wait for an
Igbo presidential candidate in 2027 who may, or may not, pick his running mate
from the Southwest. So, another palace coup involving a coalition of another
set of strange bedfellows, which will ensure the emergence of a Yoruba
president in 2027, will be effected. It will be like the 2015 arrangement, only
that the two top positions will be switched, with a northerner as vice-president.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, these are all scenarios and calculations some of which
had already played out, and others still to, or may not, play out. What is
evident, and has been for a while, is that Igbos seem to lack the foresight and
the political calculating skills of the rest of the regions; dismissing that,
then, one might say they are comfortable playing second and third fiddle to
everyone else, and blaming their political misfortunes on some form of
marginalization scheme by the rest of the hundreds of tribes that make up the
Nigerian nation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is always the likelihood of a political earthquake in
either 2019 or 2023, which will make nonsense of all the scenarios and
calculations; now, if such were to be the case, where will the Igbos be, and
what role will they play in effecting that earthquake? What happened in 2015
was akin to a political earthquake, and it took deft political moves, negotiating
skills, and the offering of carrots for those involved to pull it through. Some
truths are evident in the Nigerian political scene: any candidate from either
the southwest or the Fulani north can win without the Igbo votes; MKO Abiola
proved that, and so did Buhari in 2015. Again, all it takes is knowing how to
balance the regional equation. Before the 2011 elections, a group of political
analysts successfully predicted the voting pattern of that election; the same
thing happened before the 2015 presidential elections, and, currently, a team
is analyzing the 2015 voting pattern and realigning the numbers to predict the
eventual winner in 2019. All of this work is important and politically beneficial
to all the regions interested in the presidency, because you can narrow your campaign
focus to those key areas and states.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A political
earthquake prior to 2023 might include a restructured Nigeria which will result
in regional autonomy, though, realistically, I do not see that happening any
time soon. No one, having attained the presidency of Nigeria, will dilute his
own power and influence. Another option might be a secession by one or more of
the regions, most likely the South-south and the Southeast. This, also, I do
not envision, except when oil becomes the 3<sup>rd</sup> largest revenue
earner for Nigeria. Finally, the earthquake could involve the return of the
military, in which case every region will be taken 20 years backwards.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whatever the case may be, and however the projected
scenarios may play out, the Southeast needs to begin the process of creating
political alignments, building trust with more than just one region – the neighboring
south-south, and shedding the well-worn toga of a marginalized people; because,
believe it or not, the rest of Nigeria is losing interest in the Igbo man’s
plight, and are increasingly seeing them more as trouble makers than innocent
victims. Currently, the Southeast is politically irrelevant at the national
level; it must find a way to regain the relevance of the second republic by
being in the mainstream, and not on the sideline. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-16943016118054098052018-03-25T13:54:00.001-05:002018-03-25T13:54:18.920-05:00"If We Build It, They Will Come"Yesterday, March 24th, was the Igbo Community Association of Nigeria (ICAN), Dallas, Business Banquet, and it was an interesting one; preceding that the night before, was the meet-and-greet event to welcome the members of the Board of Directors of World Igbo Congress (WIC) to Dallas of the Professor Anthony Ejiofor-led administration for their first Board meeting. I had an obligation, as a parochial president, to attend both events which offered an opportunity to meet, interact with, and listen to some of the speeches and questions by some prominent Igbo sons and daughters that evening<br />
<br />
I was not able to attend the WIC Board meeting earlier on the 24th, but if the questions of the 23rd night was to serve as a precursor, then the meeting proper was, or must have been, quite eventful. However, I was early enough to the Business Banquet to listen to, and analyze, the speeches and addresses of most of the guests from Nigeria on the theme of the event: If We Build It, They Will Come".<br />
<br />
The first to speak was Professor Obi Nwakanma of Florida Central University; a noted historian of international repute. He delved into history to remind us of the successes of the Michael Okpara administration of the First Republic and up to the Mbakwe successes of the Second republic; he traced the history of Igbo business successes, the reasons for those successes, and the opportunities which still exist beyond the shores of the Nigerian nation, all the way to the Congo basin, where untapped mineral and natural resources are in abundance waiting for the brave at heart to venture into. He decried the situation where Igbos build mansions in Abuja and Lekki, while erecting chicken coups in their villages, and lamented the fact that since the demise of African continental Bank (ACB), there is no Nigerian bank, or any other major financial business, headquartered in the Southeast, even the ones owned by Igbos.<br />
<br />
After the good History Professor came the Consular-General at the Atlanta Consulate, Mr. Laro. He reminisced on his months as a youth copper in the east serving in a small boundary town between present day Imo and Anambra state; his witness of the hard work and resilience of an average Igbo business man on his trips to Onitsha and Owerri, and their determination to make something out of nothing in any environment. He praised the desire, in spite of all odds, to venture into areas and business ideas that others are either afraid, or refuse, to go - even to his home state of Kwara. He elaborated on the business opportunities both in Nigeria and within the Diaspora community, the available government assistance in both exports and imports promotion for prospective entrepreneurs to tap into, and the desire of his office to assist the Nigerian community in both consular and business services.<br />
<br />
After the Consular-General, Chief Joe Madu introduced the Chief Executive Officer of Knightsbridge Property limited (KPL), the main sponsors of the night's event, who made a case for investing in real estate. Statistically, he said, Nigeria needs about 17-20 million houses to be able to provide affordable housing for all its citizens. With these needs come opportunities to invest in not only property development, but in management also. He urged prospective investors to look into areas of real estate where they can put their money in an effort to meet this housing challenge.<br />
<br />
Finally, came the big masquerades of the night; the speakers everyone have been waiting for, and the reasons why most of us stayed up later than our bedtimes. First to speak was the CEO of Master Energy, Dr. Uche Sampson Ogah. There is no need to go into too much details about his speech, because it was very long, but necessary; however, one thing of note is his reason for embarking of the industrial city project at Uturu. Now, it must be noted that Master Energy has about 100, 000 employees in its payroll, but its offices and services are mostly outside the southeast. His reason, according to him, was that he got too tired of people trooping to him to ask for employment, every time he goes home, that he decided that, instead of building this industrial complex in Ogun state, where he has a sizable parcel of land, why not do it in his hometown. The complex will not only create 4500 direct employment in Uturu, it will feed accessory businesses that will not only support the community but the industrial complex also. He encouraged others - individuals and groups of investors alike - to do the same. He also praised the business decision of Nnewi people to always headquarter their businesses in their hometown, and wished that many others outside Nnewi will do same.<br />
<br />
I could not leave the event without hearing from the last speaker for the night, even though it was almost midnight. Dr. Bart Nnaji's speech was not long, because, according to him, most of the grounds have already been covered by Dr. Ogah. He listed 4 projects which was born out of a meeting of prominent some Igbos that was held sometime in December of 2016. That meeting led to the formation of Southeast Nigeria Development Corporation (SENDEC), which was tasked with looking into areas where private investors can augment government efforts in developing the 5 southeastern states. The group came up with 4 areas of critical need:<br />
1. A major hospital which will serve as an anchor for rural and communal healthcare delivery<br />
2. A standard gauge rail system that will connect the major economic hubs of the southeastern states.<br />
3. Adequate power generation and distribution to provide uninterrupted power supply to the major business towns of the region, so manufacturers can locate their businesses in the southeast.<br />
4. Provision of adequate housing and commercial property development in the Southeast.<br />
<br />
To fund these projects will include public-private partnerships, joint ventures with both local and international investor, and crowd funding - which is where every Igbo is expected to be involved.<br />
<br />
According to him, some of these projects are already at advanced stages of planning and logistics, and for some others, funding negotiations are already going on. He informed the audience of plans by the CEO of Crown Property Development to build a business city, Aba Business City, on the outskirts of Aba, mirroring what Dr, Ogah is doing in Uturu. Finally, Dr, Nnaji narrated his experience at the hands of the previous Jonathan administration, when he and some investors were trying to provide stable power supply to Aba, and praised the Buhari administration for stepping in to their rescue, and saved them from a loss of about $560m. He promised that by October, the Geometric power project in Aba will come into full stream. Also, plans are underway, working with General Electric, to build other power plants outside Aba, while working on expanding the wattage output of the Aba project.<br />
<br />
All in all, it was an eventful night, and most of the things I heard were music to my ears. One thing was clear from all the speakers: opportunities exist for business in Nigeria, especially the southeast, and investors should not be cowed by fear of insecurity. As one investor asked me in a side comment: "why is the white man who is in your village working for a company making money not afraid; yet, you the owner of the villager is afraid to go home?". Something to think about.my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-2854676106712475622018-02-18T16:27:00.001-06:002018-02-18T16:27:05.128-06:00A Nation under Threat of Disintegration<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: blue;">Congress of</span> <span style="color: lime;">Concerned Nigerian</span><span style="color: red;"> Citizens</span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have watched with utter shock and disbelief as lawless
anarchy seem to have become the norm in our dear country, as a combination of
Boko Haram terrorist and armed Fulani bandits continue to sow terror and fear
across the length and breadth of our beloved nation, Nigeria. It is equally
with dismay and disappointment that we observed the lame response, and
sometimes, seeming nonchalant attitude of the Federal government towards what
should, ordinarily, be of immense concern, and top priority of a responsible
government.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While we acknowledging that the current security problem
witnessed in Nigeria predates this current administration, it must equally be
acknowledged that the spread and frequency of attacks and resultant loss of
lives by, especially, the herdsmen has increased immensely under this
administration; thereby, giving credence to allegations of incompetence or
insincerity on the part of the Buhari government in curbing the excesses of
these herdsmen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though the activities of Boko Haram terrorists are largely
concentrated in the Northeast region of Nigeria, the marauding herdsmen, Fulani
or otherwise, have traversed regions and ethnic nationalities, wreaking
destructive havoc on both humans and farm crops. While the victims cry out in
anguish, the government has been lukewarm and ignorant in its response to these
atrocities; holding endless security meetings, and offering hollow words of
condolence to devastated families and communities, while Nigerians suffer more heinous
attacks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even the patience of a docile and tolerant citizenry
eventually run out, and they resort to self-efforts to protect themselves and
their farm crops. While we do not hope or pray for the escalation of an already
tense security situation, we call on the government to, urgently, arrest this
pervading lawless situation in Nigeria before the citizens lose hope and trust
in their government, and take their safety into their hands.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We call on the Buhari administration, and its security
agencies to prioritize the safety and security of Nigerians, without which no
level of development can be sustained. A word is enough ………………..<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Mr. Felix Oti<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
(Coordinator, North
American Region)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">PO Box 183721 Arlington, Texas 76096 USA. Email: congresscnc@mail.com</span></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-91287129018214513722017-10-16T11:14:00.002-05:002017-10-16T11:14:34.342-05:00IPOB and the Roads Not Traveled<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On September
15, 2017, the Southeastern governors rose from an emergency meeting in Enugu
and issued an order/declaration proscribing the group, Indigenous People of
Biafra (IPOB), headed by one Mr. Nnamdi Kanu from Isiama-Afara in Abia state.
Coincidentally, the Nigerian military, erroneously, declared (later withdrew)
the same organization a terrorist group. Within days of these declarations, the
federal government moved to make both declarations official and legally binding
via a court order. While legal luminaries and social media experts are busy
falling over themselves as to the legality of the states and federal actions,
the federal government had moved on to inform the international community of
its present decision regarding IPOB.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Wrong Choices by IPOB<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The question
one should ask is: how did IPOB end up finding itself in this situation? Let’s
review some of their activities and effects of such activities that ensured
this outcome:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It reached a point in Igboland that
one could hardly express a dissention, or contrary opinion to the organization’s
methods, without being called names ranging from saboteur, anti-Igbo, son of hausa-fulani
prostitute, children of monkeys and slaves of the “caliphate”, to spies of the
“oppressor”, Okoroawusa, zoo monkeys, etc. Many on social media went as far as
issuing threats of instant death and family extermination to any Igbo who dares
to express his or her feeling and concerns. Those who have higher levels of
education may not have issued these threats, but they dismissed these
cautionary opinions of others as “comical” fit for the theatrics of the Mr. Ibus
and Nkem Owos of Nollywood fame. Aside from the threats and curses coming from
mere members of IPOB directed at fellow Igbos, the fiery threats, including
massive death and destruction to anyone and everyone who dares to question his
representative authority of all of Ndi Igbo, from leader, Nnamdi Kanu, directed
at the leadership of federal and state governments, without constitutional
authority to protect and preserve life and properties of every Nigerian
citizen, only added to the concern and fear among the majority of Igbos that a
crisis of devastating proportion, one way or the other, is in the offing.
Therefore, they rightly expressed those fears to the authorities vested with
the powers of protection of lives and properties in Nigeria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The leadership of IPOB, erroneously,
arrogated to themselves powers and authorities over the Igbo people that were
never legally conferred on them either through the ballot box or through state
or federal executive fiat. Thought many Igbos, including my very self, would
want, and do dream of, an independent Igbo nation, the approach to that
ultimate goal differs; especially, when compared to the approach of
confrontation adopted by Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB. I refer here to Nnamdi Kanu’s
IPOB, because there is an organization of the same name, headed at one time by
Dr. Dozie Ikedife, which has been pursuing the same indigenous national agenda
through the civil courts. Now, if the two groups are one and the same, I have
no idea until they tell us so. For this piece, I will treat them as separate;
so, every reference going forward if to Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB. Because the IPOB
did not bother to seek the legitimate mandate of the majority of Ndi Igbo, or
allow dissenting or alternative opinions, they failed to interpret the real
mood of the Igbo people, relying only on the crowd of curious spectators who
thronged every venue where Nnamdi Kanu appeared as their gauge of their level
of acceptance and support as a representative of the mood of, and acceptance
by, all Igbos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In their misinterpretation of the
mood of the people, and probably relying on a few outside supportive comments,
and financial donations, from people outside the region and/or safely tucked
away in Diaspora, the IPOB decided to form a Biafra Security Service, issue
passports, and encourage the use of the old Biafra currency notes for
transaction, all in violation of the Nigerian sovereignty which all the elected
state governors and legislative representatives from the region pledged to
uphold and defend. Effectively, they created a state within a state, and
headquartered in Isiama Afara without even the consent of the people of the
community, local government, or the state; especially, given that the father of
the leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is a traditional ruler of Isiama, and receives
emoluments from the state government when he attends council of chiefs meetings
as a representative of his people. Such level of arrogance cannot be tolerated anywhere
in the UK where Nnamdi Kanu is a citizen; so, why would anyone expect the Abia
state government to tolerate it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The long silence of Igbo elders,
leaders, and statesmen over the activities of the IPOB sent a message to the
federal government and other tribes and regions of covert complicity, and this
did not bid well with the federal security agencies. While some have argued
that the incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu by the federal government accorded him
undeserved publicity and followership, there is really no way of knowing if his
group’s approach would have been different if he was not incarcerated. In any
case, the resultant effect of their approach to achieving an indigenous Igbo
nation, and the implied tacit approval of Igbo leaders by their long silence,
put the entire region under the threat of federal state of emergency. The
governors, afraid of losing their legal mandate from the people, had to act
very quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Threats of shutting down commercial
and political activities in Igboland did not help the overall cause much. The
May 30<sup>th</sup> compliance with “shutdown of commercial activities in
Biafraland” was not done out of support for IPOB or reverence for its leader by
the people; rather, it was done out of fear for lives and property. Also,
“commercial activities in Biafraland” was shut down for more than one day;
because, over the months prior and post May 30<sup>th</sup>, IPOB activities
and rhetoric scared away business investment in Igboland, especially Abia
state. Both foreign and local investors refrained from starting new businesses
or expanding existing ones in the region, because of the air of uncertainty
pervading the region. Quite a few of them not only reduced their level of
activities, but contemplated complete exit from Abia, Enugu and Anambra states
entirely. Even Diaspora easterners who regularly travel down to the region for
summer holidays with family and friends, and contribute to the local economy
through their personal expenditures, mostly stayed away until they are assured
of their safety and well-being. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Unfortunately, IPOB leadership never calculated, or were entirely
oblivious, of the economic damage their actions and rhetoric were doing to the
region and people they professed love for, nor did they bother to create
economic activities that will replace the ones they were, inadvertently,
chasing out. Because IPOB misinterpreted the result of the May 30<sup>th</sup>
sit-at-home order, it went ahead to threaten the elections in Anambra state,
and future others in Igboland. It effectively shot itself on the foot with all
these threats and declarations. People became frustrated with the inaction of
the elected government, and began to express such frustrations openly. Those
expressed frustrations, and the quit notice issued to Igbos by the Arewa
youths, finally spurred the Igbo leadership into action to contain the mess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, when one
factors all the above in, a reasonable mind of a responsible person could have
seen the proscription, and subsequent designation of the organization as a
terrorist group (though I still have a problem with this one), coming. The
alternative would have been a declaration of a state of emergency in the
southeast and appointment of military administrators. Many have argued that
IPOB members never carried weapons, harmed or killed anyone. To be designated a
terrorist, you do not have to carry weapons or hurt and kill anyone, you just
have to express the intent, verbal or written to do so; especially, since after
9/11. The leadership of Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB, and their supporters, did a lot of
these; worst of all, they did them online where the general public could read
them. Many people charged with domestic and international terrorism by the US
and European governments never killed anyone; however, they, in one way or the
other, expressed the intent to harm or kill. So, where one chooses, one could
sue a supporter of IPOB who made threats to do harm to anyone with a dissenting
opinion. The reason why many people did not do so, is not so much that they are
not aware of the law, but they chose to trivialize and dismiss these personal
threats. Unfortunately, the state and federal governments could not have been
expected to follow suit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Alternatives Not Explored<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As a victim
of the 1967-1970 civil war, which was justified from every angled, I will be at
great constraint to support any activity that may result in another war in
Igboland; so, while in full support of autonomy for Ndi Igbo – and every other
ethnic nationalities in Nigeria – I cannot, either willingly, or under threat
of death, support the methods adopted by Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB. While I consider
him a courageous and charismatic leader who knows what his people wants, and
how to deliver (at least, verbally, as most charismatic leaders do), I do not
support his methods, whether originating from, or hoisted on him by his
lieutenants. There are better ways to kill a monkey, or, in this case, secure
autonomy for Ndi Igbo; and, though many might disagree completely with me, add,
or deduct from my suggestions, they are still the best way to avoid a war. Here
are some of the methods I had expressed in the past (and still do) as the best
way, and the goal is to win the hearts and minds of the people first:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">IPOB should have initiated an
awareness campaign in Igboland of its intents and purposes. Peaceful
sensitization of the people of their goals and plans for Igboland through activities
like:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Organizing sanitation exercises in
markets, primary schools, streets and public parks, along with music, on chosen
Saturdays, while dressed in IPOB regalia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">b.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lectures on Biafra, past, present,
and future, where core IPOB strategic vision for Ndi Igbo is espoused, and
attendees encouraged to spread this vision in their immediate environments.
Promoting historic Igbo achievements and recognizing past great Igbo leaders in
these lecture circuits would have brought in tremendous goodwill to IPOB<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">c.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Visitations and donations to less
privileged homes and shelters like Uzuakoli leprosy center, ex-Biafran soldiers
center at Oji River, and Biafra War Museum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In addition to the above, IPOB should
have adopted the OPC model of wealth creation via peace maintenance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Instead of a BSS, it should have
created and registered a security company available for hire by corporations,
private people, schools, and even government agencies. Ganiyu Adam’s OPC was
initially a radical offshoot of Frederick Fasheun’s OPC who started with
trouble-making and graduated to providing security services to estates,
individuals, and companies. They landed a pipeline protection contract, and
today they have hotels, skills acquisition centers/schools, and micro-finance
banks. They transitioned from pariah group to a seat at the Yoruba cultural
table, with their leader being tipped today as the next Aare Ona kakanfo of
Yorubaland. This would have worked for IPOB in the interim, while still
pursuing its end goal of either regional autonomy or outright independence. It
does not have to happen in Kanu’s lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">b.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">IPOB raised a lot of money from
internal/external donations and the sale of Biafra/IPOB paraphernalia. Where
did the money go to? Paying stipends to officials and organizing rallies? The
bulk of that money could have been used to fill the social gaps created by
government inaction. This was what the Taliban and ISIS did in parts of
Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria to draw people’s support. Though, at a much later
period, IPOB embarked on pothole filling activities around the streets of Umuahia,
it should have started much earlier. Such activities could have endeared the
group to the hearts of the people, and increased revenue-generation prospects
through free-will donations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Instead of threatening no elections
in Anambra and all of Igboland, IPOB should have used the opportunity of a
vacuum of quality leadership in Alaigbo to step into the political arena. They
could have done so in two ways:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Either transmute into, or form a
political wing, and register a party to contest local and state elections in
2019 and beyond. Or,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">b.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Select and endorse and vigorously campaign
for some vetted, tried and trusted Igbo personalities to run for office under
existing political parties. Either way, the group could have used the
opportunities to test its popularity among the people and elect people of
integrity and vision (even if it is IPOB vision) into political offices in
Igboland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Unfortunately,
the path chosen and methods adopted by the IPOB leadership, has led to its
proscription and tagging as a terror group. What is the way out? The current
federal government is not going to reverse its decision, regardless of what any
court might rule tomorrow; also, not many federal courts will like to overrule
the federal government on this one. That leaves only one option: form another
group and adopt a much less threatening approach to securing autonomy for Ndi
Igbo, because any open and continuous IPOB activity will further endanger the
lives and properties of the people, and force the federal government into
taking more drastic measures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those who,
from far and near, supported and encouraged the approach that led to the recent
death of innocent Igbos, and the subsequent proscription and outlawing of IPOB
as a terror organization, while dismissing voices of caution as comical and treasonable,
should share the blame of this outcome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-52215222821911442962017-07-02T11:31:00.002-05:002017-07-02T11:31:49.489-05:00Africa: Food Security, Nutrition & Health.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Though
considerable progress has been made in recent years in Nigeria and other
African nations, in the fight to combat malnutrition or under-nutrition, a lot
more still remains to be done; this is because the percentage of health
problems related to under-, or malnutrition, is still at an unacceptable level
in most African countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In this
paper, we will discuss the causes of malnutrition, especially in the most
vulnerable groups of people – children 5 years and under, women of reproductive
age, pregnant women, and the elderly; we will also discuss the impact of food security
on the following childhood health problems like stunting, severe wasting, wasting,
underweight, and Obesity among children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We will also
discuss and appreciate the importance of the following in the maintenance of
good nutrition: Micro-nutrients (iron, zinc, vitamins, iodine, etc.), macro-nutrients
(protein, fats, calories, etc.) Also, we will discuss the four dimensions of
food security which includes Availability, Accessibility, Utilization, and Stability.
We will also look at the significance of nutrition and food security on health.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Finally, we
will examine the impediments to food security in African, and offer possible
solutions toward overcoming them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In 2003, 2011,
and 2015, according to available World Health Organization, and World Bank
Group data, the percentage of children under the age of 5 years, and who suffer
from the five classes of malnutrition in Nigeria, and some other African
nations were as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Africa: 2011
6-Country Malnutrition Data (WHO, WB)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 0px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="105">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>Severe Wasting<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="71">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>Wasting<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="96">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>Underweight<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 64.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="87">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>Overweight<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="66">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>Stunting<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Burkina Faso<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2.40%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="71">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
10.20%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="96">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
24.40%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 64.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="87">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
0.00%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="66">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
34.10%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ghana<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1.40%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="71">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
6.20%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="96">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
13.40%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 64.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="87">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2.60%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="66">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
22.70%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mauritania<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
4.00%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="71">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
13.90%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="96">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
24.40%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 64.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="87">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
3.20%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="66">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
29.70%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mozambique<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2.30%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="71">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
6.10%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="96">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
15.60%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 64.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="87">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
7.90%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="66">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
43.10%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Nigeria<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
3.10%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="71">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
10.20%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="96">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
24.40%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 64.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="87">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
3.00%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="66">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
36.00%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Uganda<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1.50%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="71">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
4.80%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.65pt;" valign="bottom" width="96">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
14.10%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 64.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="87">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
3.80%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="66">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
33.70%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nigeria – multi-year malnutrition
data (WB, WHO)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 0px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>2003<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>2011<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>2015<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Severe Wasting<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
4.80%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
3.10%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
1.80%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Wasting<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
11.20%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
10.20%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
7.20%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Overweight<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
6.20%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
3.00%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
1.60%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Underweight<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
27.20%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
24.40%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
19.40%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Stunting<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
43.00%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
36.00%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
32.90%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ethiopia: multi-year malnutrition
data (FAO, WHO)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 0px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>2011<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>2014<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>2016<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Severe Wasting<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
2.90%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
2.50%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
2.90%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Wasting<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
10.10%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
8.70%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
9.90%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Overweight<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
1.80%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
2.60%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
2.80%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Underweight<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
29.20%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
25.20%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
23.60%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Stunting<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
44.20%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
40.40%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
38.40%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ghana – 2011 & 2014 malnutrition
data (FAO, WHO)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 0px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>2011<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>2014<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Severe Wasting<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
1.40%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
0.70%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Wasting<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
6.20%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
4.70%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Overweight<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
2.60%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
2.60%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Underweight<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
13.40%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
11.00%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Stunting<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
22.70%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
18.80%<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 78.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="104"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 48.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">While a
progressive trend is noticeable over the years in some areas in the three individual
countries since 2011, especially in areas of severe wasting, wasting, and
overweight, much effort is still required by government and healthcare agencies
in the areas of underweight and stunting in Nigeria, and severe wasting,
wasting, stunting, and overweight in Ethiopia. The overweight trend in Ghana
appears to hold steady for the periods under review, while only a little over 2
percentage points each have been shed between 2011 and 2014 – a period of 3
years – in wasting, underweight, and stunting categories. Overall, a lot remains
to be done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Causes of Malnutrition/<o:p></o:p></span></b><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>Under-nutrition</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Severe
micro - and macro-nutrient deficiencies
is the major cause of, at least, three – underweight, stunting, and wasting -
of the five malnutrition problems suffered by children 5 years and under in
Nigeria, and Africa in general. Deficiencies in micro-nutrients like iron, zinc,
vitamin A, and iodine (among many others), which are chemical elements found in
the body in small quantities for normal growth and development of humans and
other living organisms; and in macro-nutrients which are required in large
amounts by humans to develop and grow, like carbohydrates (55-75%), protein
(10-15%), and fats (15-35%), contribute to, if not the main cause of all the
listed malnutrition problems that continue to plague mostly the 5 and under
population, pregnant women, those of childbearing age, and the poor and illiterate
population in African countries. These nutrients come from food and/or various
multivitamin supplements. Now, how does one ensure adequate supply and intake
of these nutrients to produce the desired health results? This is where food
security is important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Food security<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Food
security, according to the 2009 World Summit On Food Security, “<i>exists when all people, at all times, have
physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food,
which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy
life”</i>. Quite a mouthful, but it encompasses so many things that will be
discussed in details when we look at the four dimensions of food security:
availability, access, utilization, and stability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Food Availability: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Water, water everywhere but nary enough to drink”. This is the same
situation with food availability. For food to be considered available, a family
has to have adequate, sufficient, and diversified supply of food to meet their
daily nutritional needs. In other words, a family has to have available to its
disposal enough combination of nutrition-rich foods to continuously satisfy its
needs. Unfortunately, this goal is never
achieved, even in industrialized nations with perennial records of excess food
production, for reasons that will be explained later<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Food Access: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> This is broken down into three types; economic, physical access, and
social support;</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Economic access - disposable income,
food prices, and access to social </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">support systems all determines the level of
economic access a family has to food. Where disposable income is low,
especially in large families with multiple responsibilities, though food may be
accessible, budgetary allocations for food may not be adequate to access the
needed quantity, quality, and diversity to meet nutritional requirements. Also,
food prices do play a major role in accessibility; again, in a low income or
large family environment, high food prices will force difficult choices that
may result in choosing quantity over quality. This is the situation in many
Third world countries, and even some poor sections of industrialized nations. A
family in rural Africa may choose to eat cassava or corn meal two to three
times a day, because it is heavy enough to satisfy the hunger pangs, and very
much affordable. Same thing in a low-income family in the US which might elect
to feed on Jumbo Jacks and fried chicken because of the filling effect in the
stomach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">b.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Physical access - in this case,
though the food may be available, along with the disposable income to buy,
physically accessing the food is either difficult or impossible. This happens
mostly due to lack of availability of infrastructure – roads, rail, ports,
communication, and storage facilities - to transport the food from the farms
and processing plants to the market or consumers. This results in wastage of
most of the harvest, and the few that make it to market are priced so high that
they become less affordable by the average consumer, because of the high cost of
transportation/conveyance that has been passed on in the retail prices<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">c.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Social support - social support
augments shortfalls in economic and physical access. In developed nations of
the US and Europe, governments have established social support programs,
through their agriculture and commerce ministries, and in alliance with states,
local governments, non-governmental agencies – including churches -, and
agricultural firms to provide foods and other nutritional products for those
who may need such services to augment their incomes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Churches and many NGOs
have set up food pantries and soup kitchens for families, homeless people, and
even individuals who are temporarily between jobs, to cater for their
nutritional needs. State governments, also, have programs to provide pre- and
post-natal nutritional needs for pregnant women and their babies, either in the
form of redeemable coupons at grocery stores or debit cards with which to buy only
food and non-taxable items, at grocery stores. Only a handful – or even less –
of African countries provide this support to the disadvantaged of its
population. Even in the few countries where such services exist, corrupt
practices by those in charge ensure that the needy are denied access to this
support service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Food Utilization:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A family could have food access and availability without proper
utilization, and this can result in mal- or under-nutrition. Lack of proper food
utilization can be determined through the measurement of the size and
proportion of the human body, to ascertain whether that person suffers from
stunting (caused by prolonged inadequacy of food intake), wasting (short-term
inadequacy of food intake), overweight/underweight, or severe wasting. With
food under-utilization, families simply eat to fill their stomachs without
consideration for nutritional balance; the day’s meal could be an
all-carbohydrate/starch, or all-vegetable meal, but never a combination of both
and plus fruits to have a balanced meal. In many African countries, including
the ones with yearly abundant harvests like Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and Uganda,
consumption of unbalanced meal combinations still persist, due largely to
minimal nutritional/dietary education.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Other factors include the quality of food, methods of preparation, and
health/hygiene conditions. Most times, due to low income or limited access,
most of the food products are already in advanced stages of rot and decay
before reaching the consumer. At this stage, it has already lost most of its
nutritional value and is of no benefit to the consumer. Also, in some cases
where the food is still fresh from the farm, or markets, the proper cooking
method is never applied. Either the vegetables are under-cooked, resulting in
not accessing the full nutritional content, or overcooked, thus resulting in
the killing of most if not all of the nutrients. Again, this could be
attributed to lack of proper dietary/nutritional education. Finally, unsanitary
food storage facilities at the markets, warehouses, and private homes could
lead to early decomposition or spoilage, which results in severe loss of
nutritional content and value to the consumer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Food Stability:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The last step in food security is stability, and this happens
in two forms; stable food supply and stable food prices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Stable food Supply – uneven weather patterns
can affect food supplies. Some African nations like Southern Sudan, Somalia,
and countries near the Sahara desert suffer occasional droughts which affect
production. Typhoons and tsunami in some Asian countries, El Nino and hurricane
effects in central and North America also affect harvest outputs in these
countries. Even the warmer ozone effects on the arctic regions of, Russia,
Alaska, and the Scandinavian countries affect the supply of some food products
from that region. When weather patterns are even and favorable, food supplies
tend to be high due to increase in harvest; this will increase global and,
eventually, local food supply. The reverse is the case when weather patterns
are unfavorable; output drops, creating widespread food scarcity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">b.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Food Price – The effects of uneven
weather patterns on food production and supply result in changes in global food
prices. These changes can be indirect at international supply levels, or direct
at local end-user levels. When global or regional supply is low, food prices go
up and families have to choose between nutritionally balanced meal and one that
just satisfies the hunger pangs. This is the choice that faces most consumers
in African countries. On the other hand, when food supplies are high and steady
and stable, families can make healthier purchase combination choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, the
battle against malnutrition/under-nutrition in Africa starts with food security;
physical and economic access to a stable available supply line of food that is
properly utilized. Any interruption along these chain of food security, either
due to low income, inadequate infrastructure, and uneven weather patterns
affecting growth and harvest and price fluctuations, will impact nutritional
intake level of the most vulnerable of the African population which are
children 5 and under, pregnant women, and women of childbearing age, and result
in problems of wasting, severe wasting, under and overweight, and stunting
problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What African Nations Can Do<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">African
governments do know that the problem of malnutrition/under-nutrition is a
serious one in the continent, and some have declared some sort of state of
emergency on agriculture; however, their best efforts are still hampered by inadequate
budgeting, planning, and implementation. Also, poor preservation/storage and
processing facilities are still lacking in most of these countries; so, even
where you have a bumper harvest of all the necessary food products, most of the
harvest is either rotting away or never make it to the consuming public due to
poor infrastructure and distribution network. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Public
enlightenment programs on nutrition and dietary requirements (including
televised public service programs on proper meal combination and preparation)
for the 5-under population, expectant mothers, and women of childbearing age
should be a constant of every country’s health and agriculture ministries and
agencies. For the rural poor, social support services should be provided to
assist them in meeting their daily nutritional needs, either by instituting at
least one free balanced lunch programs in every kindergarten elementary school,
or issuing coupons to families making below a certain income level to augment
their food budget. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Finally, African
countries and regional bodies should pursue inter-regional economic
relationships that will ensure steady supply of nutritionally essential
commodities even in the times of drought and other severe weather patterns
which negatively affect the continent’s or global food production and supply. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When African
countries and governments put in place the right programs to ensure complete
and unabridged food security in the continent in which every family have
uninterrupted access to adequate, balanced and affordable food supply, the
nutritional problems of the continent, which include over/underweight,
stunting, wasting, and severe wasting will be one less problems the continent
will have to worry about. To achieve any major success in this battle, the
political will and determination to act has to be recognizable among the
leadership.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Felix Oti<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Arlington,
Texas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">felix.oti@outlook.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-22939925236294786442017-05-07T18:13:00.000-05:002017-05-07T18:13:41.059-05:00Much Ado About Change And Re-structuringClamors and agitations for change - any kind of change - are not done in silence, and in the case of Nigeria, there has been lots of noise in recent times about re-structuring and breakaways.<br />
<br />
Why all the noise, and why this level of intensive clamor for change now? Well, for one, the country at its present state is not working. Matter of fact, it has not been working for quite a long time. Specifically, it has not worked for all of the people all of the time, but has worked for some people - regardless of region, zone, or ethnic nationality - some of the times. The Igbos feel perpetually marginalized; the Yorubas, Hausa, Fulani, Berom, Ogoni, Ikwerre, Bini, Efik, Egba, Christians, Muslims, Obas, Obis, Emirs, women, girls, young men, retirees, civil servants, unemployed, graduates, market women, illiterates, and anyone and anything in uniform, all feel at some point or the other marginalized by the "system". Now, with all the diverse ethnic, religious, professional and business, retired politicians, the never-tried, and the tried-and-failed all crying foul at the current system, or structure, why has nothing changed?<br />
<br />
One reason is lack of sincerity of purpose. Any and every ethnic group or zone that has been schemed out of the current political system tends to cry "marginalization", and want out of the union until their fortunes turn around in the next dispensation, then the agitation for change dissipates to a bare whisper in very remote circles. Hausas, Fulanis, Igbos, and the Yorubas all play this same game.<br />
<br />
The second is lack of clarity on what exactly should be replaced, and with what. Re-structuring is on the table, and so also is breakup; for proponents of re-structuring, what do you want re-structured? The political system, economic system, or social system? In a nation where the majority claimed that no system exists, what system, then, requires re-structuring?<br />
<br />
Thirdly, even where there is consensus agreement on re-structuring, there is division on when and how? No one region or ethnic nationality wants to lose what they are currently enjoying for something they have no idea what the benefits will be. Some have called for a return to the 1960s model of regional governance; others have called for retaining the six Geo-political zones and running a provincial system based on these zones, with six provincial parliaments and administrators, and vice-presidents at the center. Others have gone as far as suggesting a tribal system of government, meaning more than 250 tribal administrations like what exist in some places like Afghanistan, etc.<br />
<br />
For advocates of a break up of the Nigeria, or secessionists, their reasoning is that the current united system emasculates their socio-political and economic growth and development opportunities; they believe that if they excise themselves from Nigeria and form a separate independent nation, their fortunes will grow and all the social and political problems that bedevil Nigeria today will stay put in Nigeria. This, at best, is a fairy-tale dream; but, that is not up for discussion here. However, it is impossible to really argue either way on the position of the secessionists, because there is no recent experience in the country to use as a yardstick.<br />
<br />
Also, a breakup into ethnic nationalities, as being bandied about by some other groups, will only multiply the existing national problems by either six time (zonal/provincial governments), or 300 times (tribal administrations); because, within these ethnic nationalities exist tremendous discord. The same goes for every other alternative idea being floated out there, and these are some of the main reasons why the loudness of these agitations tend to ebb and flow according to which tribe or ethnic group is in charge at the center, or in line to take the center.<br />
<br />
As I mentioned earlier, there are legitimate reasons for these agitations for a change of the current system in Nigeria; unfortunately, these efforts are directed at the wrong place. Agitators should focus their efforts at the local and state governments which directly impact the people much more than the central government. Ignoring the rotten system at the state level presided over by fellow ethnic brothers and sisters while crying foul at the central problem smacks of hypocrisy and tribal protectionism, and this attitude does not address the problem of bad governance.<br />
<br />
Just as all politics is local, any change or re-structuring in any systems has to start at the local level. A hen cannot ignore the knife that cut off its head only to bend its neck at the soup pot. When we paper over our tribal/ethnic and state problems and direct our anger and clamor for change at the center, the eventual success achieved at that center will result in failure at the ethnic/state/regional levels.<br />
<br />
<br />my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-70987085753143333262017-01-11T16:27:00.001-06:002017-01-11T16:27:35.953-06:00Let Your Light Shine before Men<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mathew 5 14:16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">“You are the light of
the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp
and put it under a basket, but on the </span><span style="font-size: 10.6667px;">lamp stand</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;">, and it gives light to all who
are in the house” (Verses 14-15)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“<b>Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven”</b> (verse 16)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A large
crowd of people were pressing on Jesus, so he climbed up on a mountain where he
could secure a vantage position that will allow him a clear visual of the
magnitude of the crowd, and at the same time provide some sort of protection
while he preached to them. The Sermon on the Mount is considered the first
preaching of Jesus Christ to a large crowd, and where he listed the topics that
will form major biblical subjects that promises a way of life that leads to
salvation. Known as the Beatitudes, these subjects are outlined in Mathew
chapter 5, from verse 1 to 13. However, right after the Beatitudes, Christ also
preached on the relationship between his disciples and the world; how we should
attract followers to him, and what the world expects to see in the daily life
and activities of those who profess to be Disciples of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“You are the light of
the world”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hear Him! We
are the light of the world. Christ is not talking about fashion here: no
painted fingernails, designers clothing, or the latest hairstyles. He is not
talking about our private jets, mansions, and fleet of exotic cars, our gold
medals and trophies collected through our sporting prowess. It is not our bevy
of beautiful spouses decked out in expensive jewelry; yes, while those could
and do sparkle, they do not produce the light Christ is referring to. Here,
Christ is talking about our daily lives: how do we live our lives as
Christians? At work, at home when no one is watching, in the church, in public
places when everyone is watching, at grocery stores, in the classrooms, in our
marriages, friendship with others, and in our relationship with our children
and siblings. How does your light shine through? To know if your light shines
through positively or not, you must first understand what that light is; and to
successfully do this, you must first know who you are spiritually aligned with.
Are you with Christ or with the world?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you are
with Christ, then you have to go back to the Beatitudes that preceded these
verses and clearly understand those who will obtain salvation, and why: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The poor in spirit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those who mourn (not necessarily for
the deaths in their own families)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The gentle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The merciful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The pure in heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The peacemakers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those persecuted for the sake of
righteousness, and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">9.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those persecuted for the sake of
Christ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Are you any
or all of these? Does the world see any of these lights in you? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“A city set on a hill
cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but
on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you are
or possess any of the qualities, the world will notice them from your daily
life activities and interaction and they will strive to emulate you. If you
have any or all of them but do not exhibit them (lighting a lamp and hiding it
under a basket), then you are not giving light to “all who are in the house” (world
around you). You can say to yourself all you want: “I know I am a good person;
I do not cheat, steal, kill, or bear false witness”; but if there has been no
witness to those, and no other life or behavior has been positively impacted by
your good deeds, or lifestyle, then you are not a light unto the world. Do you
turn them off and on, use them like a charm instrument, as occasion requires?
Maybe, to get a spouse, a certain job, for good grades, to endear yourself to
some groups for ulterior purposes? To attract the attention, and possibly
convert certain class of people to Christ to the approval and praise of your
pastor, and not everyone who crosses your path? Or, do you just have some and
not all the required characteristics?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If your
light is selective in its shine, then it is not to the work of God, or to His
glory. Same thing if your light is artificial in its shine; faked just for the
purpose of confusion and deceit, and not really from the bottom of your heart.
Then you will not obtain salvation, because God is not mocked, neither is his
instruction disregarded or used for ulterior motives. Are you like the bank
counter clerk, that salesgirl, or the cashier at the fast food joint, who is
forced to smile because he/she is expected to be “nice” to the customer; yet,
behind the facade is the antithesis of all that the Beatitudes spells out for
us as a path to salvation. Are you like the politician who patterns his or her
message according to the needs of the segment of his constituency? That lady
with a different dress for every different occasion, or the man presents with multiple
personalities based on the status of woman he is courting? Are you presenting
different lights to different audiences? Then your light is not of God, and
cannot light up either His house or His community for rest of the world to see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Felix Oti<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">felix.oti@gmail.com</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(All Rights
Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-91124191989187076932017-01-02T09:47:00.004-06:002017-01-02T09:47:40.853-06:00Nigerian 2017 Budget of Economic Recovery and Growth<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“<i>The underlying philosophy of our Economic
Recovery and Growth Plan is optimizing the use of local content and empowering
local businesses”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The role of government must be to
facilitate, enable and support the economic activities of the Nigerian
businesses ….”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<b><i>President Muhammadu Buhari,
December 14, 2016<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On December
14, 2016, like millions of Nigerians (I hope), I watched the Nigerian president
deliver his budget – speech and all – to the joint session of the Nigerian
national assembly, and long before the saliva could dry from his mouth economic
experts went to town analyzing the budget. I have always wondered how anyone
could do that simply from a budget speech; especially, given that the details
of the budget were not even known to members of the national assembly, at
least, as at that time. Anyways, I believe in different yolks for different
folks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The two
statements in paragraph 14 of the president’s speech caught my attention, and
it was based on those that I decided to look for the details of the budget to
see if appropriate allocations were made to the right agencies responsible for
seeing this promise to fruition. – Ministries of Labor, Agriculture,
Mining/Natural Resources, Finance/CBN, Economic Development, Works/Power, Transportation,
Industry/Trade, Health and Justice. Analysis of the breakdown of allocations to
these ministries and departments will present a better picture of where this
administration is going economically and socially; especially, with regards to
pulling the nation out of recession and placing it on a steady and stable
growth footing. Until those details become available, we must review what role
each of these ministries/departments playing in realizing the president’s goals
above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Optimizing use of Local Content<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here, local
content is not only limited to mineral resources and raw materials; it includes
localized information gathering and distribution, development and sharing of
technological expertise, local labor recruitment, training and retraining,
which requires establishment and refurbishing of training facilities. Now,
which are the ministries and departments key to this role? They will be the
ministries/departments of Agriculture, Mining and Natural Resources, Labor,
Education, Economic Development, and Justice. A database of resources – natural
and manufactured – that are obtainable in Nigeria for production and
manufacturing purposes should exist in the ministries/departments of
Agriculture, Mining, Natural Resources, and Economic Development, and be easily
accessible to Nigerians who may wish to use such resources in their
entrepreneurial ventures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The ministry
of Labor, on its part, should have or collect data on all Nigerians of labor
age – 18-55 years; their academic and skills experience, and in collaboration
with the Ministries/departments of Education and Economic Planning, formulate a
training program not only geared towards enhancing the existing skills of this
labor-age group, but providing training opportunities for a change of skills
training, based on the prevailing economic situation. That way, the nation will
always have an abundance of skilled labor force for every economic sector, and
will not have to depend on supplies from foreign labor force like India and
China. Where does the Ministry of Justice come in? Without laws, there will be
societal chaos. Since the proposed data collected by the Ministries of Labor,
Natural resources, Agriculture, Education, etc. towards creation and
preservation of local content will include sensitive private information of
Nigerians and their resources, a law guiding its sharing, with whom, and for
what purpose is very important. So also is the safeguarding of any technology
developed or enhanced by Nigerians, and the application of such technologies to
avoid harm or injury to users that might result in legal disputes; and where
such disputes occur, there should be a legal framework to resolve them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Empowering Local Businesses<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
involves a little bit of export promotion and import substitution policies, to
enable local businesses survive and grow.
It also means tax breaks and other financial incentives like extension
of generous credit and loan facilities, business-friendly laws – including
easement of doing business in Nigeria; improving power, infrastructure,
transportation and security services will go a long way towards realizing this
goal; granting of import licenses for heavy machinery and raw materials not
available in Nigeria, and education/seminars focused on spreading of information
on the available forms of business, risks and benefits, resources and their
accessibility, and market opportunities within and beyond the Nigerian shores.
The ministries of Finance, Trade and Industry, Power/Works, Justice, Transport,
and the Central Bank all have roles to play in towards meeting this goal. The
Ministry of Finance and the Central bank should work with the commercial banks
and other special interest banks, like the Banks of Industry and Agriculture,
Import-Export bank, and the Islamic bank, to make loan facilities available at
low interest rates – even if it means creating a soft loan or interest rate
regime just for small and medium-scale Nigerian business owners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On their
parts, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Nigerian Export Promotion
Board would handle the sourcing of international and regional markets, and
promotion of Nigerian-made products, respectively. Also, the Standards Organization
of Nigeria (SON) has the role of ensuring that made in Nigeria goods and
services meet internationally-acceptable standards; this will help allay the
concerns of international importers about the quality of these products. The
Nigerian Customs Service should draw up a set of procedures to ensure smooth
and quick clearing of big ticket production/manufacturing equipment at the
wharfs, and reduce clearing costs for these and other business-related
machinery, so as to reduce unnecessary demurrage and holding cost that might
negatively impact on businesses’ capital
budgets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Critical Infrastructure Needs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Without
steady power supply and a reliable access to markets, no business will be
successful, and this where the Ministries of Power/Works, and Transportation
have roles to play in ensuring the success of the president’s 2017 goals. Without
a doubt, power supply in Nigeria is epileptic at best, and the cost of
alternative power supply has driven many local companies out of business. The
major reasons why the national power agencies in Nigeria have not been able to
make much of an impact are sabotage by the staff and the fierce resistance of
generator importers. To improve power supply in Nigeria, government must first
ban generator importation; with that out of the way, it could then focus on
improving/modernizing available equipment, ridding the agencies of corrupt management
and staff, and proposing a billing system that includes lower rates for
business facilities like manufacturing and production warehouses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Like power,
the Nigerian road network is terrible and deserves a lot of attention. The same
applies to the transportation system. Without necessary infrastructure, it is
very costly to do business in Nigeria, even for Nigerian businesses. The
responsible ministries must redouble efforts to improve Nigeria’s road network,
provide for an efficient rail and water transportation system so as to
efficiently move heavy cargo to their destinations. Frequent delays in air
transportation add to the woes of any business entity, by increasing their cost
due to unnecessary waste of time at airports. An efficient business environment
requires ease of movement and communication by air, land, and sea; and, between
these two ministries, and some other government agencies, a lot is expected of
them if the 2017 budget goals of empowering local businesses will ever be
achieved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Enabling Business Laws<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After the
finance and infrastructure comes the enabling environment, and this is where
the national assembly and the justice ministry find themselves working hand in
hand. In collaboration with the justice ministry and the Presidency, the
national assembly should look at laws currently on the books that need
tweaking, and new ones that may be needed, to ensure ease of doing business in
Nigeria both for indigenes and interested foreign investors. Currently in
Nigeria, it takes about two years to get all the necessary documentation and approvals
to set up a corporation; about half that length of time for a partnership, and
about six months if you want to set up a legalized Sole Proprietorship. A
personal experience: to renew/update my company information at the Corporate
Affairs Commission took four days in Abuja, and a whole lot of palm greasing.
With that experience, not many would want to set up a business in Nigeria. If
the business establishment laws are modernized, and bureaucratic bottlenecks eliminated
at both federal and state levels, doing business in Nigeria will be easier and
prospective investors will flood the nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> While ease of doing business laws are
important, it is equally important – if not more so – to enact laws that
protects young indigenous businesses for at least 5 years, to give them enough
time to find their footing and compete at par, or near so, in the international
markets. Such laws would mandate government agencies at every level to source
their needs locally, and only look outside for those needs that are not
available locally. I believe there are laws or discussions in the national
assembly to this effect. Since one of the problems that kill businesses in
Nigeria is difficulty in debt collection – and payment of loans, laws that make
it mandatory for buyers to pay their debts within 30 day of purchase, or face
prosecution and confiscation of properties to the creditor, should not only be
enacted but be enforced. All of these will encourage many Nigerians to
establish businesses, with the assurance of the full backing of the laws of the
nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are so
many things needed in Nigeria to successfully empower local businesses, and the
above are just a few of them. One thing must be acceptable by Nigerians:
economic recessions take about three years of focused investment in the right
segments of the economy to end; so, any hope that the current recession will
end by the end of 2017 is wishful at best. All of the above propositions, if
implemented, cannot come to fruition in the 2017 fiscal year, but a continuous
implementation over a period of three fiscal years will ensure a stable and
growing small and medium business sector in Nigeria that will be the major
employers of labor by 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The role of government must be to
facilitate, enable and support the economic activities of the Nigerian
businesses ….”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Buhari
administration, and subsequent administrations, must not allow the above
statement to be just a budget presentation talk, as has been the case in many
years past; government must make sure that it means what it says by working
with relevant government agencies and ministries to enact and implement
policies that achieves what the president promised. To this effect, the N50b
set aside to expand Export Processing and Special Economic Zones; the N15b for
recapitalization of Banks of Industry and Agriculture; the seed amount of $1.3b
for the Development Bank of Nigeria, and the provision for establishment of
model technical and vocational schools are all steps in the right direction, if
the government can actually move from talking to doing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-88629070666009699062016-12-22T12:59:00.000-06:002016-12-22T12:59:00.532-06:00Do You Understand What You Read?<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then the spirit said
unto Philip, “go near and join yourself to this chariot”. And Philip ran
thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said: “do you
understand what you read?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And he said, “How can
I, except some man should guide me?” And he desired that Philip would come up
and join him. (Act 8:29-31)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is no
one way to interpret, and therefore understand, the true meaning of any bible
verse. Every pastor, evangelist, and students of the bible – including the congregation
and theologians read the same bible verse, or some versions of the bible, and
render different interpretations of that same verse. Most of the times, their
intent is to make the interpretation suitable or commensurate with the message
they want to impart to their audience. The same situation applies to how
students in schools of varying levels interpret and understand the textbook they
use for their various school courses and exams; that is why some students would
study hard and fail their tests, while others will study less and do very well.
It is all about your level of understanding and incorporation of the message in
what you read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the passage
under discussion, an Ethiopian Eunuch, a man of great authority akin to a
vice-president or Prime Minister of a country; a Chief Executive Officer of a
corporation, or in the case of the Old Testament stories, a Joseph to the
Egyptian Pharaoh. This man was a man of great authority in the then Ethiopia
under the Queen – the utmost authority in Ethiopia as at that time; his status
was like that of Joseph in Egypt or Oliver Cromwell in the 1600 England.
According to the story, the Eunuch had been to Jerusalem to worship and was on
his way back to Ethiopia; it is also obvious that he was new to Christianity,
so God saw an opportunity to use him to open up a Christian front in Ethiopia –
what better person to use than a man of wide authority who easily had the ear
of the ruler Queen. We do not know the name of the queen ruling Ethiopia then,
since the word “Candace” was the Latin version of Kandake – a Meroe word used
to describe a queen. Historians have even suggested that the queen then was
Amanitore who ruled in the 50CE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Having had a
taste of Christianity during his trip to Jerusalem, the Eunuch was thirsty for
more; so, he collected articles on the late prophet Isaiah to read on his way
home. Problem was that, not being from part of the region where Jesus Christ’s
missionary work took place, he was not familiar with the stories that form the
bible today. Also, since the missionaries of Paul, Silas, and the other Disciples
of Christ had not started, Christianity had not spread widely in Ethiopia
beyond the queen of Sheba who visited King Solomon in the Old Testament. So,
the Eunuch could be excused for not understanding what the story of Isaiah was
all about. In came God, using Philip who happened to be available at that time.
God commanded him, specifically, to go “towards the south unto the way that
goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert”. God had to be clear in his
description to Philip so that he will not miss His subject of interest; his
vehicle for the spread of Christianity beyond the Middle Eastern region. We
have to remember that many other people were returning to their various towns
and communities from having gone to Jerusalem to worship, just as the Eunuch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Interestingly,
that was where God’s instruction to Philip stopped; He never told Phillip that
he will meet an Ethiopian Eunuch heading home from Jerusalem; Philip was to
discover that all by himself, and God ensured that he will not miss the
opportunity to meet with this man traveling in an unusually expensive and well-endowed
chariot by urging him to get closer to the chariot, where he overheard the Eunuch
reading out loud. For those who might wonder how Philip was able to hear the
Eunuch reading, remember that when we are new at reading a text we are not
familiar with, we tend to read it out loud, and slowly too, to better absorb
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Do you understand what
you read?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Good
question! This same question applies to many of us, not just when we are
reading the bible, but when we are reading anything that is worth reading for
any reason. I have been around groups where members were asked to render their
understanding of an assigned passage, and all of us had very different
interpretations. Understanding of what we read is very important towards not
just for accurate interpretation, but for proper implementation/application of
the instructions, be they in the bible or in a textbook. The Eunuch was interested
in what he was reading, and desired to understand what the story was all about;
however, being a stranger to a new religion, he needed someone to explain
things in simpler terms to him. Sometimes, that is all we need to better
understand the verses in the bible and get the intended message.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Beyond the
bible, understanding what we read is very important; school assignments, an
ordinance, accurate interpretation of court verdicts, contractual and
partnership agreements, wills and even pre-nuptials where such things are
desired. The deeper a person’s level of understanding, the better his or her
level of interpretation. Many have fallen victims of many acts of criminals
because they could not understand the documents they were reading, and lacked
the capability to interpret it properly. Many Christians have misapplied their
pastor’s instructions, or biblical teachings, just because they could not
understand these teachings. Unfortunately, instead of admitting their lack of understanding
and seeking further explanations, they would form their own opinions and run
with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And he said, “How can
I, except some man should guide me?” And he desired that Philip would come up
and join him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Eunuch,
this man of great powers who has the ears of the Nubian queen of Ethiopia, did
not see it as humiliating to admit that he did not understand what he was
reading; he even went further to ask Philip, whom he has never met, to come on
to his chariot and help explain to him. How many people of means and influence will
be humble enough to admit that they do not know something and seek the
assistance of a “nobody” to educate them? The Eunuch in his request of Philip,
expressed the desire to be further educated, which is very important. If we can
overcome our ego and superiority complex, and seek the services of those who
know better than us, we would be the best for it. Most times, we suffer for
lack of knowledge; and we lack this knowledge because we refuse to seek it. We
refuse to seek it because the knowledge is, in most cases, possessed by those
we consider inferior, until something goes terribly wrong. By then, it is
usually too late.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Ethiopian Eunuch did not want to leave anything to chance; he did not want his
ego and position in society to get in the way of acquiring knowledge. He also
wanted to be able to say to his fellow rulers: “this is what I learned from my
travels. Here, partake of it and your life will be better”. By acquiring
knowledge through the understanding of his readings, he will be able to spread
the message of Christ to his people. This is what God had intended, not just
for the Eunuch but for all of us. If we cannot properly understand the words
and teachings of God, we cannot share or spread it; if we learn and understand
the wrong thing, that is what we will share; the same thing those we shared it
with will pass on to their converts, and the cycle will just continue. When
that is the case, what do we get? “People being led like a sheep to the
slaughter house, and like lambs dumb before their shearers, so opened they not their
mouths”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Felix Oti<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(All Rights
Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-33631438983946115452016-12-04T13:34:00.001-06:002016-12-04T13:34:13.640-06:00What Is Your Situation?<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Then the men of the city
said to Elisha, “Behold now, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord
sees; but <b>the water is bad</b> and <b>the land is unfruitful</b></span></i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">”. He said, “<i>Bring me <b>a new jar</b>, and put
salt in it.” So they brought it to him. He went out to the spring of the water
and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I have purified these
waters; there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness anymore</i>.” (2
Kings 2:19-21)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In spite of
our efforts to create a facade to mask our internal problems, there is always
something that gives our real situations away. Reading this verse reminds me of
Sodom and Gomorrah; the land and vegetation were attractive enough for someone
like Lot. In Sodom, he saw vast acres of green for his livestock and crops,
friendly neighbors and favorable laws, and cheap labor. Unfortunately, there
was a lot morally wrong with Sodom and Gomorrah, and God was determined to
destroy the land. So, in spite of its beautiful and lush greens, paved roads and
magnificent edifice (assumed), and friendly (too friendly in many cases)
citizens, the soul of Sodom and Gomorrah was bad and corrupted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another
reminder is Enron, the Houston-based energy company that went under in a matter
of days after its dirty deeds were exposed. On paper, year after year, Enron
was a financially strong company. Its annual filings to the Securities and
Exchange Commission was nothing but exemplary, the envy of its competitors and
the darling of every SEC auditor. Unfortunately, beyond that paper façade was a
company that was financially weaker than a paperweight. When the façade was lifted off of Enron, the
shockwave rippled beyond continental United States; countries far away in
African and Asia lost millions of dollars, and in a matter of days the behemoth
known as Enron was reduced to a heap of financial ashes. While some of its
executives ended up in prison, one or two committed suicide, and the entire
staff was up the creek without a paddle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What
happened to Enron and Sodom can be seen in many families and communities today;
beyond that beautiful family portrait on the mantelpiece is always a rocky
marriage, financial problems, marital infidelity, drug and alcohol abuse, and
what have you. Inside that beautiful expensive dress or suit is a tortured soul
crying out for intervention. That one person who lights up the party, who tells
the funniest jokes, and always wins every drinking contest in the bar; The hunk
who gets all the girls, or the blond who attracts all the guys, always smiling
and looking all put together well. That socialite who throws the best Christmas
parties every year, or the pastor who deliver’s that uplifting sermon every
Sunday, they all have hidden “bad” waters that need purification.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What is your
situation like beyond that camouflage? In the verse above, Elijah had
transcended and Elisha was left with the mantle of prophetic leadership. The
sons of the prophets in Jericho, not believing that Elijah did actually
transcend, persuaded Elisha – very much against his will - to send some 50 men
among his servants to go look for Elijah. As expected, the search party did not
find Elijah, dead or alive, deposited anywhere in or around Jericho; but in
their search, they discovered something: the terrain and placement of the land
was a sight to behold, but because the water was bad the soil is not good for
cultivation. Of course, for there to be a bumper harvest, there must be
adequate supply of good water either naturally or through irrigation. The same
is applicable in life: for there to be marital, financial, and business
success, there has to be love and commitment, financial frugality, and business
planning. For there to be redemption and salvation, there must first be
acceptance, repentance, and submission to His will and ways; and for there to
be academic success there first must be dedication to studying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He said “bring me a new
jar and put salt in it”. So they brought it to him. (Verse 20)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Elisha knew
what needed to be done, and with what instrument. Salt is largely used as a
purifier and preserver in those days, and even in some communities today. So,
it was appropriate that Elisha will ask for a jar of salt, since the problem
was with the water. If your problem is marital, what are you asking for? If you
identify your problem as being financial, or spiritual, what do you perceive as
the solution? If your business is not getting off the ground, after many years
of toiling, what is the problem? Your soul is not at rest? Having sleepless
nights and tortured mind? Where do you go for solutions? Do you need a marriage
counselor? A financial planner or business analyst? Do you need a session with
your pastor, doctor, a social worker or psychologist? What is your situation?
When you identify it then you will be best able to look for the best possible
solution</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He went out to the
spring of the water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I have
purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness
anymore</span></i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.” <i>So the waters have been purified to this
day, according to the words of Elisha (verse 21-22)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Elisha went
to the spring – source/head – of the water and threw the salt in it. This is
very important. It is not about pouring a jar of salt into a stream, it is more
about where exactly you pour it. He did not pour it mid-stream or tail-stream,
he poured it head-stream. If you cut of the head of a snake, the tail dies of.
If you pour a jar of salt at the head of the stream, the purification process
continues all the way down the stream. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The same
process applies in our individual and collective problems. Most of our problems
persist because we apply solutions mid-stream; we fail or refuse to apply
solutions from the source of the problem; instead of a thorough analysis of our
problem, with a view to identifying the source, we embark on a patchwork
process that only identifies the parts of the problem and apply solutions
accordingly. What is/are the cause/causes of your marital, spiritual,
financial, and business problems? Are they in parts? Are the parts easily
identifiable? If they are, can you successfully sequence them? If so, then you
can apply the solutions from the first sequence and the results will cascade to
the last one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Just like
Elisha poured the cruse of salt at the head/spring and cleaned out the entire
river, so also will our problems be completely solved if we apply the solution
at the origin of the problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Felix Oti<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(All rights
reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-14361149107205131532016-10-31T19:22:00.000-05:002016-10-31T19:22:09.754-05:00What Is That In Your Hand?<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And the Lord said unto
Moses, “what is that in thine hand?” And he said a rod. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And He said, “Cast it on
the ground”. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent</span></i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Exodus 4:2-3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When Pharaoh
heard of the killing of an Egyptian by Moses, he sought to kill Moses; fearing
for his life, Moses ran off to Midian where he made acquaintances at the local
well with the daughters of Reuel, the priest of Midian, who took him in and
gave Moses one of his daughters, Zipporah, in marriage. The bible said: and
Moses was <b>content</b> to dwell with the
man (Exodus 2:21).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This
contentment lasted long enough until Moses’ encounter with God in the burning
bush in Horeb; one that will change his life forever, even against his will. As
the bible tells us, though Moses had fled Egypt, his kinsmen were still there
suffering under Pharaoh; they were still groaning and calling on God for
deliverance daily, but to no avail – at least, in their own thinking. In Moses,
God saw an instrument with which to use to deliver His people from Egypt.
However, as far as he was concerned, Moses did not see himself as a good or the
right instrument for the job God had in mind, and he did his possible best to
extricate himself from the assignment. Listen to his many excuses:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Who am I that I should go unto
Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt”
(Exodus 3:11)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here, Moses
must have inspected himself from head to toe; inspected his hands, legs, chest,
biceps and triceps, gluteal muscles, and even stood next to a tree to measure
his height, and realized that he was not quite the right build; looked around
the area to see if there was someone else standing nearby also named Moses that
God may be talking to; and even wondered if he was listening to a false god.
Convinced in himself that he lacked the height, strength, and the courage – all
the outward qualities that humans consider - to qualify to lead Israel out of
Egypt, he wondered if God had his head screwed on straight that He even thought
of him for such assignment. “Why in God’s green earth will you choose me of all
people for such a difficult task?” he must have wondered in exasperation. “I am
here minding my own business, raising my father in-law’s flock of livestock,
taking care of my family, and tending to other needs of the community as they
present themselves, and you want me to go back to a land where I am a wanted
man to save the people that betrayed me in the first place. God, this time, you
got it really wrong”. Clearly, Moses was not expecting to be called by God, or
any other person of authority, for any assignment either in Egypt or anywhere
else; he was very comfortable with his job as a shepherd. Even if something was
to develop in the pipeline, he did not expect it to be back in Egypt; an
assignment hundreds of miles further from Egypt would have been acceptable to
him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And Moses said unto God, behold, <b>when</b> I come unto the children of
Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you;
and they shall say unto me, what is his name? What shall I say unto them?
(verse 13)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">From Moses’
second excuse we could deduct that he had lost with the first one. Also the
word “<i>when</i>”, as used by him confirms
that he may have realized that arguing with God might be a lost cause. Since
the first attempt had failed, Moses tried a second time. This time, it was not
about his physical attributes, or lack thereof; instead, it was how to convince
the Israelites to believe that God, their real God, sent him. “God, let’s say
that I agree to go, you know these people are stubborn and very hard-headed; if
I go there all by myself and just tell them to believe me that you sent me,
they will laugh their heads off and even attempt to commit me to a nut house. I
need something to show them as proof that you sent me, because they will not
believe a simple shepherd like me who still lives and works for his father
in-law”, Moses must have said to God; anything to make Him decide that Moses
may not be the right person for the job after all. Moses may have either been
expecting a sign – some kind of magic he can perform before the gathering of
the people, or an angel to accompany him on this journey; some kind of support
mechanism that will make his task easier – if he could not wiggle his way out
of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And <i>Moses said unto the Lord, O my
Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto
thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue</i>. <i>(Exodus 4:10)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If at first
you don’t succeed, keep trying. Since God dismissed his first excuse and gave
him a “sign” in the second one, Moses decided to try a third one: his
stammering problem. “God, you know very well that before our meeting at this
burning bush, and since afterwards, I was, and still remain, slow of speech;
how do you expect me to appear before Pharaoh in this condition and convince
him to set your people free? He may not have the patience to sit there and wait
for me to blabber all day just to make one sentence. This is not going to work,
Lord, it just won’t. Just imagine the fun the people will make of me; even the
children will fall over themselves in jest of me. Please, Lord, just send
someone who is not just eloquent in speech but very commanding of the spoken
word. Someone that Pharaoh will respect”. Who knows, there may even be a law
against stammering in Egypt after Moses had left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray
thee, by the hand of him whom thou will send (verse 13)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Even at some
point, we get tired of giving excuses. Moses had given every excuse or reason
that could have convinced God that he was not the right person to go to Egypt,
and God had countered every one of those excuses; so, the only option left was
to come out and just say it: “please, Lord, just send someone who is
physically, mentally, and oratorically qualified to confront Pharaoh, I am not
that person. Just leave me let me tend to my in-law’s livestock and, in due
course, he will set me up as an independent man. I am not cut out for all of
this bravado and drama, just find someone else from another tribe, if you
wish”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All these sound
familiar to you? They should. We all have a bit of Moses in all of us, whether
in answering the call to spread the gospel: “oh, I am not spiritually equipped
enough yet”, or “I am too shy”; lead a project team at our jobs: “there are
others who have been here longer and more experienced, or better educated than
me”; represent our community in public office: “Ah, those people?. Will they
even bother to listen to my message let alone vote for me”, or “nope! I am not
the political type”; or venture into a new business: “the money is not quite
enough for that at this time”, or “I have not actually decided on what kind of
business to invest in”. We also look for excuses to refrain from being in a
relationship: “I am not old enough or ready yet”; “I do not enough experience”;
“I don’t have the right job yet”; “I am not making enough money at my current
job”; “I am not psychologically prepared”; “I just cannot handle all that
nagging”; “I love my peace”; or “I want to be a graduate first”. The list goes
on forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However,
just like God dismissed all the many excuses Moses proffered for not being the
right person for the task at hand, we can, and are well equipped to look beyond
our physique, our age, intelligence and academic level, our financial
readiness, spiritual maturity, and social status in our community before taking
up a task. Many times, all that stands between us and our life goals and
assignments is fear of the unknown. Yes, the task may be daunting when looking
at it from the outside, and we may feel, like Moses, that we are not equipped
or cut out for it; but, upon further review, we might discover that, just like
God provided Moses with all the tools he needed for the assignment in Egypt, He
will also do the same for us; He will provide our needs according to “His
riches in heaven”. All that he requires of us is a little faith and trust in
His ability to equip us for any task He assigns to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To be
successful in life, we must not let our fears and concerns impede our attempt
at trying our hands on God’s assignment for us. Our height, weight, speech
impediment, preference for an obscure life, or fear of what is along the way,
or at the end of the tunnel, must not stop us. Where those concerns exist,
either from the beginning or along the way, we must always remember that God is
with us; His promise of never leaving us unattended or forsaken is not a bogus
one. What is it that you hold in your hand? A staff? A faith as small as a
mustard seed? A love for community service? Desire to spread the word of God? A
friendly smile? The gift of gab? Whatever it is, think of how best you can use
it to do God’s work when the call comes. No more excuses!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Felix Oti<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Arlington,
Texas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(All Rights
Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-9672050962981733902016-10-17T21:19:00.001-05:002016-10-17T21:22:35.240-05:00Economic Recession: Causes, Effects, and Possible Solutions<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Economists
generally believe that recessions occur due to a more than normal drop in
spending by both the private and public sectors; some of the causes this drop include financial crises, as was the case in 2008 when the
world suffered the consequences of a global financial meltdown due, in part, to the burst of the US housing bubble; an external trade or adverse supply shock –
for example, some OPEC member countries like Nigeria and Venezuela who were
heavily impacted by the drop in crude prices, which led to about 50% drop in
revenue and, consequently, resulting in a drop in importation of some critical
consumer goods, seem to be sliding into economic recession. The situation is
further exacerbated where a nation could not produce enough of these consumer goods
locally to offset the shortfall in importation. Some of the consequences of a
recessed economy include the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Effects on Employment<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One of the
consequences of recession is unemployment which tends to increase, especially among the low-skilled workers, due to companies and even government agencies
laying off staff in order to curtail expense. Unfortunately, this results in
further restriction in overall spending which is needed to pull the economy out
of recession. Where family or individual income is drastically reduced due to
loss of employment or underemployment, discretionary spending, or disposable
income, is mostly eliminated in the budget. This reduction in income, in turn, results in
non-payment, or delayed payment of debt obligations – especially credit cards -
which further reduces the funds available for financial institutions to lend
out to businesses for expansion/investment to increase production. Investments which could
have resulted in increased employment, income, and discretionary spending that could help pull
the nation out of recession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Effects on Businesses<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another
consequence of recession is fall in output or productivity and business
closures. The fall in output may to last until weaker companies close shop; eventually, output picks up again among the surviving firms. During recessions,
stronger companies tend to swallow up weaker and smaller ones, and this
negatively affects the competitive environment; some level of product scarcity, artificial
or real – begins to emerge, and prices of goods creep up in response. These
mergers or outright acquisitions also result in job losses; thereby, further
depressing family incomes, and reducing discretionary spending that is needed
to combat recession. A combination of job losses, scarcity of goods, and
increased prices, help drives families further into economic difficulties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Effects on Society<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With more
people out of work, and families increasingly unable to make ends meet, the
pressure on demands for government-funded social services increases. Since
governments experience drops in revenue collection during recession (something
that, in some cases, lead to the recession in the first place), it becomes
difficult to meet the increased demands on social services. Worst hit are those
who are either on fixed income – social security checks –, or on Medicaid, and
Medicare services (the elderly and disabled). Unlike those on wages and
salaries who experience little or no reductions in salaries, the fixed income
earners usually see experience cuts in their benefits and services provided by
the government, and these cuts increase the level of hardship these families
are already feeling. Another, and probably the most devastating, social effect
of economic recession is destabilization of families. With the loss of a job,
every plan for the future – college education, home purchase, vehicle
replacement, and other family-enhancing plans are all suspended, and may never
be reactivated or achieved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All of the
above enumerated effects of an economic recession father exacerbates the
situation the longer it lasts. It is more of a vicious cycle – a
cause-and-effect; effect-and-cause situation. Now, how does a nation get itself
out of an economic recession?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tax cuts & Government Spending<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The most
popular, or most recommended, policy for any country to dig itself out of
recession is expansionary fiscal policy, or fiscal stimulus. This is usually a
two-pronged approach – tax cuts and increased government spending. Let us
address these two approaches separately:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tax cuts</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">: the
idea of tax cuts in times of recession is to increase family disposable income,
in the hope that these families will go out and spend the extra money which, it
return, will spur increased production in companies; the increased production
is expected to result in increased hiring, and so on, and so forth. Sounds all
too simple and wonderful. But, is it that simple? We must remember that in
periods of recession, families borrow money, either from financial institutions
or their credit cards, to stay afloat. Now, suppose they elect to use the extra
disposable income from tax cuts to pay off these accrued debts, how does that
help achieve the government’s expected goals increasing consumer spending?
While one could argue that the financial institutions will lend the extra
revenue (paid loans and credits) to businesses for investment; the question is:
how many financial institutions make loans in recession?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Increased government spending</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">: this is more advocated than tax cuts; however, since most
of government revenue is generated through taxes, levies, and duties on imports
and exports, the receipts from these sources usually diminish in recessive
economic periods, because many companies are closing shop and the few that
remain open are cutting cost by decreasing staff and output. So, where is
government expected to get the money it is supposed to invest in these capital
projects? Yes, it is true that government capital investments injects money
directly into the economy through creation of massive employment and its
attendant multiplier effect, and construction of infrastructure, like roads,
rail, ports, etc., which have direct impact on economic growth; but the money
has to be available in the first place. Since tax cuts result in reduced
government revenue, the only other recourse is external borrowing. This only
works, or makes sense, if the money is directed at the right capital investment
for the purpose of creating employment and causing a multiplier effect in the
economy. For example, the Nigerian government believes that massive investment
in agriculture will make the country less dependent on oil revenue; so, it
might make sense to invest any external borrowing on agriculture. However, if
you invest on cultivation and harvesting of raw products without any investment
on the secondary, and more prosperous, segment of agriculture (processed goods
for export), then the revenue generated may not be adequate for use in
repayment of the loan, and reinvestment in other segments of other sectors of
the economy. So, it is not so much about where you invest the loan, but how you
do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Currency Devaluation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Apart from
the two above, devaluation of the local currency is another suggestion usually
put forward by economists. A currency devaluation is expected to cause a boost
in aggregate demand of goods and services; that is, if the nation produces what
other nations need. For industrialized nations with diversified economies and
multiple products, a currency devaluation in periods of recession will be
beneficial to export products; for nations with mono-product economies, like
some African nations, currency devaluation will not have much positive impact in
times of international supply glut. So, even though the product will be cheaper
to export, the market may not be available. Now, the other effect of
devaluation is to increase demand for domestic goods. Where such goods are
produced domestically, this plan will work; but, where the absence is the case,
then the purpose of currency devaluation is roundly defeated. It is very
difficult for most Third World economies to get out of recession through
currency devaluation, because they are mostly mono-product economies with
devastating international competition, and little diversified domestic
production. One thing to keep in mind with devaluation in mono-product
economies is that the likelihood of competitive devaluation – in an attempt to
gain competitive edge – does exist. For example, suppose that in a global
recession Nigeria decides to devalue its currency to boost oil export, the
expectation that Angola, Venezuela, and many other oil-dependent economies will
follow suit is very real. In the end the market is flooded with cheap oil that
no one want; so, everyone suffers from this policy decision, instead of
benefiting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Quantitative Easing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is a
policy applied by central banks to increase/decrease money supply when interest
rates are already at, or near, zero. When all other options are exhausted, or
in addition to the option earlier enumerated, central banks can manipulate the
money supply by buying government bonds to increase the volume money in
circulation. This increases bank reserves which will, in theory, encourage
banking lending to businesses. The other effect of this central bank action is
a reduction in bond interest rates, which is expected to help increase
investment spending. Some of the drawbacks, or dangers, of quantitative easing
are possibilities of financial losses by the central bank, difficulty in
gauging exactly how much money in needed for injection into the economy,
likelihood of loss of confidence in the economy -especially by external
investors-, and the danger of the plan not working out as intended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What tool(s)
or option(s) a government elects to use to get its economy out of recession
depends on what caused the recession in the first place, and which one will
have the most minimal adverse impact on the people, or drive the economy deeper
into recession or outright depression; but, it must choose something. In
choosing, it must also consider the areas or regions of the nation, or section
of the economy where the option will work best, especially in terms of fiscal
stimulus policy. Which regions of the nation, or segments of the economy, will
a fiscal stimulus generate the most multiplier effect? Also, which policy will
have the most immediate impact on the economy, tax cuts, fiscal stimulus,
credit relaxation, or quantitative easing? It is important to consider all of
these before choosing an option, or a combination of options.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-57521162798733601142016-10-17T21:19:00.000-05:002016-10-17T21:21:09.567-05:00Economic Recession: Causes, Effects, and Possible Solutions<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Economists
generally believe that recessions occur due to a more than normal drop in
spending by both the private and public sectors; some of the causes this drop include financial crises, as was the case in 2008 when the
world suffered the consequences of a global financial meltdown due, in part, to the burst of the US housing bubble; an external trade or adverse supply shock –
for example, some OPEC member countries like Nigeria and Venezuela who were
heavily impacted by the drop in crude prices, which led to about 50% drop in
revenue and, consequently, resulting in a drop in importation of some critical
consumer goods, seem to be sliding into economic recession. The situation is
further exacerbated where a nation could not produce enough of these consumer goods
locally to offset the shortfall in importation. Some of the consequences of a
recessed economy include the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Effects on Employment<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One of the
consequences of recession is unemployment which tends to increase, especially among the low-skilled workers, due to companies and even government agencies
laying off staff in order to curtail expense. Unfortunately, this results in
further restriction in overall spending which is needed to pull the economy out
of recession. Where family or individual income is drastically reduced due to
loss of employment or underemployment, discretionary spending, or disposable
income, is mostly eliminated in the budget. This reduction in income, in turn, results in
non-payment, or delayed payment of debt obligations – especially credit cards -
which further reduces the funds available for financial institutions to lend
out to businesses for expansion/investment to increase production. Investments which could
have resulted in increased employment, income, and discretionary spending that could help pull
the nation out of recession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Effects on Businesses<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another
consequence of recession is fall in output or productivity and business
closures. The fall in output may to last until weaker companies close shop; eventually, output picks up again among the surviving firms. During recessions,
stronger companies tend to swallow up weaker and smaller ones, and this
negatively affects the competitive environment; some level of product scarcity, artificial
or real – begins to emerge, and prices of goods creep up in response. These
mergers or outright acquisitions also result in job losses; thereby, further
depressing family incomes, and reducing discretionary spending that is needed
to combat recession. A combination of job losses, scarcity of goods, and
increased prices, help drives families further into economic difficulties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Effects on Society<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With more
people out of work, and families increasingly unable to make ends meet, the
pressure on demands for government-funded social services increases. Since
governments experience drops in revenue collection during recession (something
that, in some cases, lead to the recession in the first place), it becomes
difficult to meet the increased demands on social services. Worst hit are those
who are either on fixed income – social security checks –, or on Medicaid, and
Medicare services (the elderly and disabled). Unlike those on wages and
salaries who experience little or no reductions in salaries, the fixed income
earners usually see experience cuts in their benefits and services provided by
the government, and these cuts increase the level of hardship these families
are already feeling. Another, and probably the most devastating, social effect
of economic recession is destabilization of families. With the loss of a job,
every plan for the future – college education, home purchase, vehicle
replacement, and other family-enhancing plans are all suspended, and may never
be reactivated or achieved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All of the
above enumerated effects of an economic recession father exacerbates the
situation the longer it lasts. It is more of a vicious cycle – a
cause-and-effect; effect-and-cause situation. Now, how does a nation get itself
out of an economic recession?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tax cuts & Government Spending<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The most
popular, or most recommended, policy for any country to dig itself out of
recession is expansionary fiscal policy, or fiscal stimulus. This is usually a
two-pronged approach – tax cuts and increased government spending. Let us
address these two approaches separately:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tax cuts</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">: the
idea of tax cuts in times of recession is to increase family disposable income,
in the hope that these families will go out and spend the extra money which, it
return, will spur increased production in companies; the increased production
is expected to result in increased hiring, and so on, and so forth. Sounds all
too simple and wonderful. But, is it that simple? We must remember that in
periods of recession, families borrow money, either from financial institutions
or their credit cards, to stay afloat. Now, suppose they elect to use the extra
disposable income from tax cuts to pay off these accrued debts, how does that
help achieve the government’s expected goals increasing consumer spending?
While one could argue that the financial institutions will lend the extra
revenue (paid loans and credits) to businesses for investment; the question is:
how many financial institutions make loans in recession?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Increased government spending</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">: this is more advocated than tax cuts; however, since most
of government revenue is generated through taxes, levies, and duties on imports
and exports, the receipts from these sources usually diminish in recessive
economic periods, because many companies are closing shop and the few that
remain open are cutting cost by decreasing staff and output. So, where is
government expected to get the money it is supposed to invest in these capital
projects? Yes, it is true that government capital investments injects money
directly into the economy through creation of massive employment and its
attendant multiplier effect, and construction of infrastructure, like roads,
rail, ports, etc., which have direct impact on economic growth; but the money
has to be available in the first place. Since tax cuts result in reduced
government revenue, the only other recourse is external borrowing. This only
works, or makes sense, if the money is directed at the right capital investment
for the purpose of creating employment and causing a multiplier effect in the
economy. For example, the Nigerian government believes that massive investment
in agriculture will make the country less dependent on oil revenue; so, it
might make sense to invest any external borrowing on agriculture. However, if
you invest on cultivation and harvesting of raw products without any investment
on the secondary, and more prosperous, segment of agriculture (processed goods
for export), then the revenue generated may not be adequate for use in
repayment of the loan, and reinvestment in other segments of other sectors of
the economy. So, it is not so much about where you invest the loan, but how you
do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Currency Devaluation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Apart from
the two above, devaluation of the local currency is another suggestion usually
put forward by economists. A currency devaluation is expected to cause a boost
in aggregate demand of goods and services; that is, if the nation produces what
other nations need. For industrialized nations with diversified economies and
multiple products, a currency devaluation in periods of recession will be
beneficial to export products; for nations with mono-product economies, like
some African nations, currency devaluation will not have much positive impact in
times of international supply glut. So, even though the product will be cheaper
to export, the market may not be available. Now, the other effect of
devaluation is to increase demand for domestic goods. Where such goods are
produced domestically, this plan will work; but, where the absence is the case,
then the purpose of currency devaluation is roundly defeated. It is very
difficult for most Third World economies to get out of recession through
currency devaluation, because they are mostly mono-product economies with
devastating international competition, and little diversified domestic
production. One thing to keep in mind with devaluation in mono-product
economies is that the likelihood of competitive devaluation – in an attempt to
gain competitive edge – does exist. For example, suppose that in a global
recession Nigeria decides to devalue its currency to boost oil export, the
expectation that Angola, Venezuela, and many other oil-dependent economies will
follow suit is very real. In the end the market is flooded with cheap oil that
no one want; so, everyone suffers from this policy decision, instead of
benefiting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Quantitative Easing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is a
policy applied by central banks to increase/decrease money supply when interest
rates are already at, or near, zero. When all other options are exhausted, or
in addition to the option earlier enumerated, central banks can manipulate the
money supply by buying government bonds to increase the volume money in
circulation. This increases bank reserves which will, in theory, encourage
banking lending to businesses. The other effect of this central bank action is
a reduction in bond interest rates, which is expected to help increase
investment spending. Some of the drawbacks, or dangers, of quantitative easing
are possibilities of financial losses by the central bank, difficulty in
gauging exactly how much money in needed for injection into the economy,
likelihood of loss of confidence in the economy -especially by external
investors-, and the danger of the plan not working out as intended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What tool(s)
or option(s) a government elects to use to get its economy out of recession
depends on what caused the recession in the first place, and which one will
have the most minimal adverse impact on the people, or drive the economy deeper
into recession or outright depression; but, it must choose something. In
choosing, it must also consider the areas or regions of the nation, or section
of the economy where the option will work best, especially in terms of fiscal
stimulus policy. Which regions of the nation, or segments of the economy, will
a fiscal stimulus generate the most multiplier effect? Also, which policy will
have the most immediate impact on the economy, tax cuts, fiscal stimulus,
credit relaxation, or quantitative easing? It is important to consider all of
these before choosing an option, or a combination of options.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-3803397232202228302016-09-25T20:40:00.000-05:002016-09-25T20:40:46.971-05:00Change Really Does Begin With Me<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“A mere need in itself
does not cause the wheels of change to spin in a peopled society; rather, the level
of desire within that need does”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When I was
young and living in Enugu, we used to go to a catholic church; one of the
traditions of the catholic institution is the weekly or daily confessional (for
those who have sins and crimes to confess to). As children, we were never
really into confessions, though we did get into some pranks that required a
visit to the priest. However, all such pranks and nefarious behaviors were
considered forgiven without admonition, given our age. At these confessionals,
it was – and still is – always the priest and the confessor in a secluded
environment, devoid of prying ears and eyes. Though the sins and crimes being
confessed to may have been witnessed by many, the need and desire for atonement
is always personal and private – though it could be made public after the fact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The decision
to engage in activities contrary to one’s spiritual and moral norms is always a
personal one; the decision to kill, steal or embezzle public funds, blow up a
pipeline, to cheat, deprive or deprave, assault, collude to commit a crime, to
forge official documents, or covet another’s property – human and material -
are all singularly thought through in the deepest recesses of our souls. Same
is the decision to consume illegal substances like drugs or alcohol, defraud
the government, join a cult, manipulate election results, stuff ballot boxes,
kidnap little children for domestic slavery, murder innocent people for money
ritual or to harvest their organs, or simple things as looking the other way
while a neighbor (in this case, anyone at any given time sitting, standing, or
living close to you) is in the process of committing an act contrary to
socially and morally acceptable norms. It could also be something as
religiously debasing as a pastor or imam, preaching or practicing heresy in an
attempt to impose his or her personal interpretations of a holy book on the
congregation; promoting the commission of crime against another religion,
culture, race, or ethnic group.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Though some
may claim effects of external influence, or coercion, in their decisions, the
fact remains that the final decision to engage in, or deviate from these norms,
is yours as an individual. Some have blamed peer pressure or need to belong,
long periods of unemployment, loss of employment, family responsibilities, family
traits and characteristics (my father and grandfather were drunks and smokers),
or the fact that government officials or politicians are all crooks, as reasons
for indulging in criminal and other reprehensible conducts. The struggle in
accepting these excuses lies in the fact that while everyone has been, or are
still privy to all of them, not everyone indulge in criminal activities. So,
while there are those who loot the public treasury on the assumption that some
in government are doing the same, not everyone loots the treasury. The same
applies to every criminal act in the book. If everyone who has, somehow, come
under the pressure or influence of any or all of the above succumbed, then we
all would be criminals today. So, again, the decision to succumb – and stay
under any influence – is a personal one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The decision
to change from any or all of these evil ways is also a personal one. One may be
encouraged or swayed, just as in the initial decision to commit a crime, by
external forces like churches and other religious groups, morality police teams
as exist in countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, peers, lessons learned as
consequences of criminal and immoral activities, tragic family events, and a
realization that crimes really do not pay. The role external influences play in
our decision to change our ways depends on the depth of our personal resolve to
change. In most cases, we just need a little conviction that our decision to
change direction is the right one, and beneficial to us, to our loved ones, and
the society in general. Where that personal resolve is not deep enough, or we
are just changing to please someone, get them off our back, or for the purpose
of obtaining a particular favor, that change will not last for long. That is
why we see alcoholics, drug dealers, and addicts relapse; pedophiles return to
their old ways after release from prison, abusive spouses continue the same way
with their next spouse, cigarette smokers return to their old habits after
quitting, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Change is
real and effective if the decision is personal, borne out of a sincere
conviction that one’s previous behavior was injurious, unethical, immoral, and
devoid of any social benefit. That is why our prayers and confessions are in
private, our acceptance of Christ is personal, and our pleas for forgiveness
and salvation are done privately too. No one person ever goes before God to say
“we” have sinned; it is always “I”. Yes, we may hear all the preaching and
admonitions in churches and prayer houses, schools, our homes, and even from
our friends; it is still up to us to decide to change, pretend to change, or
remain the same. It is up to us as individuals to evaluate our personal lives
and ask ourselves: how does my daily conduct impact on the life and conduct of
my neighbor? How does it impact my family, village, community, state, and
nation? How does my criminal activities contribute to the overall poverty
level, social and moral decay, and political instability in the nation? It is a
question for everyone to answer on their own, from the leaders to the led.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Recently,
the National Orientation Agency in Nigeria launched a campaign termed “Change
Begins with me”; the idea was to get Nigerians to rethink their actions,
especially how it impacts the Nigerian nation socially, economically, and
politically. The reaction from the citizenry was more of comical ridicule and
disdain. In a nation where the leadership is seen as pathologically corrupt,
visionless, clueless, and working against the overall interest of the citizens,
this reaction was largely expected. Many suggested that change must begin with the leadership, and referred
to stories of alleged looting of public funds running into billions of dollars
over many decades as evidence; others lamented about a nation ran down to a
Third World status by series of inefficient and ineffective leaders and
politicians since independence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">While all
these may be true – and, in some case, they
really are in Nigeria – a few things remain indisputable: the leaders are
selected from among the Nigerian populace; the people are complicit in the conduct
of their leaders, either by their silence, acquiescence, or by their inactive
participation in the selection process; also, given that the decision to engage
in any activity, criminal or otherwise, is a personal one, Nigerians who have
chosen to engage in immoral or criminal behavior of any kind cannot honestly point
to their leaders as a reason. In the same vein, the leadership cannot
justifiably blame their behavior on the nonchalance or criminal conducts of the
citizenry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, to say
that change must begin with the leadership is a misnomer; because, within the
leadership, there are those who have not been corrupted or influenced by the
moral bankruptcy of their colleagues. The same also applies among the
citizenry, thereby reinforcing the theme of this essay that the decision to
choose one way as against the other is a personal one. The fact that all 180
million Nigerians are neither criminals nor morally debased lends credibility to
the argument that choices are individualistic in nature. If you steal because
someone is said to have stolen, would you kill for the same reason? Will you
offer human sacrifice to ritualists, inflate your company’s payroll, blow up
oil wells, or tap into your neighbor’s electric or cable supply just because
someone you knew or heard of did the same thing? If you have no moral or
spiritual principle, you might. The instructions in the Ten Commandments is to
be applied on individual basis, not collectively, that is why some kill and
steal and others don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If the
leadership is to blame for the lack of principle, good character, spiritual
conviction, and morality that currently pervade the Nigerian society, one would
ask why the same accusation is not leveled against countries like America, UK,
Germany, Canada, and The Netherlands, just to mention a few, where the
leadership is exemplary but, still, have differing levels of criminal behavior
among its political, religious, and social class. Not one criminal of any class
in these countries has ever claimed they were emulating the leadership, even
though there might be some in political leadership positions who have been
caught with their fingers in the cookie jar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A tale is
always told of a housewife who, lacking the strength to push out her child,
blamed it on the presence of her mother in-law in the delivery room. In
Nigeria, we either lack the moral strength or are afraid to look inwards for
solutions to our problems; we find a general excuse in the government. A
ritualist, rapist, kidnaper, 419-er, armed and pen robbers, cultist, oil thieves,
lecturers who prey on innocent students, economic saboteurs, office secretary
who sells government properties, and medical staff who sell off hospital
equipment to private clinics, all find it easily convenient to blame the
leadership for their personal conducts and social problems; we refuse to
acknowledge a correlation between their activities and the general social,
political, and economic degradation of the Nigerian nation. We perceive every
economic downturn as an opportunity to further bleed the country dry; every
election cycle is presented as an avenue to loot the treasury, settle old
scores with an enemy, and every contract is seen as a conduit to personal
wealth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Charity,
they say, begins at home. If that holds true, and Nigerians want a better
country, we must be the change we desire; and that change must come from us as
individuals. Little drops of water make oceans, just as a collection of
individual trees make a forest. When change starts with us individually, collectively
the nation will change for the better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="mailto:Felix.oti@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Felix.oti@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Arlington,
Texas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-15535835657935852392016-06-24T17:15:00.007-05:002016-06-24T17:15:58.054-05:00The Day the Veil Finally Came Off<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On June 12,
2016, the US and, by extension, the world woke up to reports of a mass killing
in a </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">nightclub</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> in Orlando Florida. Initial reports put the number of deaths at
20; however, by evening of that day, the death toll had risen to 50, including
the shooter, and 53 wounded - most of them critically. As someone who has, over
the years, become immune to these stories of mass killings, which seem to have
become an accepted fabric of the American culture, what caught my attention
were the patrons of the place the killings occurred –a nightclub largely
patronized by gays, lesbians, and trans-gender people, or LGBT for short.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I had
largely ignored the LGBT community, and their complaints of discrimination,
abuse, assault, condemnation, and taunting by the so-called straight
people. I have always wondered why
ordinary human beings should congregate themselves into an association, group,
or community, design their own flags, form their own churches and schools, and
seek special protection from government when, in my eyes, there is no reason to
do so. In my mind, their complaints were largely exaggerated and their demands misplaced
in a society like the United States. I argued in my mind that if this was
Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Kuwait, or Guinea then their complains and
quest for special designation and protection will be well-deserved; but this is
America where freedom reigns, where liberty is preached from the rooftops,
highways and bye-ways; where you can be what you want to be, say what you want
to say (as long as you are not in politics), and do whatever it is that brings
joy to your heart – just as long as you remember your tax obligations to Uncle
Sam. This was until June 12, 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hate is real<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The mistake
we make (at least, I do) in life is our belief that as long as we hate no one,
no one will hate us in return; as long as we are friendly to everyone, and bear
no grudges against anyone, no one will do so against us; or that if we look the
same or come from the same tribe and/or tongue, we are incapable of hating one
another. Oh, how wrong we could be. I had my first dose of hatred in the month
of July, 1987; the day remains so clear in my head because I was barely six
months in the country and a novice when it comes to cultures and norms in my
new home. I worked in a family-owned restaurant on Skillman Street in Dallas as
a busboy, and one of only two blacks; one would have expected a fraternal bond,
right? Wrong. To an African, every black man is automatically a brother, and I
(mis)took my colleague as one, expecting guidance from him. Unfortunately, not
only did our conversations never go beyond brief greetings, nothing else
developed. His true feelings for me came out the day one of the chefs asked him
if he has been teaching “your brother” the ropes (he was a waiter). He went off
on this horrible tirade on the poor Hispanic chef and admonished him for
calling “some fucking African” his brother. I was shocked and horrified, and
that comment stuck to my heart like a knife till this day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In college,
I experienced and witnessed some more of the ridicule and hate generally
directed at African students, not so much by the white community but by fellow
blacks. I also witnessed the reciprocity, though veiled from African students.
I remember writing a paper in one of my English classes that played down the
importance of the Civil Rights struggle, especially the policy of non-violence
response in the face of violence, and suggesting that blacks acted out of fear
instead of need; it drew a firestorm from my fellow blacks, and a lecture on the
history of black suffering in this country. Remember, all these happened in my
first two years in this country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As the years
went by, events began to gradually move the veil of indifference and denial
from my eyes, and a clearer picture of the level and types of hatred which
pervade the American society began to develop. Hatred in the American society
is not one-dimensional, it is multi-dimensional and reciprocal; it cuts across
religion, culture, race, ethnic origin, social beliefs, and even class. It is
insidiously encouraged by politicians, businesses, religious leaders of various
practices, grandparents, and interest groups. That is how society ends up with
pitch battles between pro and anti-gun groups, pro and anti-abortion groups,
pro and anti-immigration groups, pro and anti-Israel groups, and pro and
ant-Muslim groups; the pro and anti-police groups, Oath Keepers versus Black
Panthers, and the Bloods against the Crips. Right in the middle of these
warring groups and factions are politicians and business owners playing one
against the other to amass profits and campaign contributions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Even if they elect a president today
who …….. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Just as the
case with every one of these mass killings, out-pouring of emotions, words of
solidarity, unity and support followed the Orlando mass killing. Politicians
blamed and defended each other’s gun policies; gun rights advocates defended
their rights to bear arms as provided in the constitution, and blamed the
person, not the guns, for the massacre; long and winding speeches fell over
themselves in eloquence, and all kinds of “experts” – America is never short of
them – offered analysis and opinions on what went wrong where and why; psychologists,
as they are wont to do, offered possible reasons on what could have triggered the shooter, and
law enforcement turned up every stone in search of external links to ISIS and
the hundreds of terror organizations that generate huge revenue for arms
merchants. The president, as expected, visited and made his plea as he has been
doing for 8 years, and many charity organizations set up tents and supplied
priests to assist, counsel and console grieving families. All of these, though
commendable, will pass along with the last burial ceremonies; the LGBT will
gain a few sympathetic minds during this ordeal, and some politicians will make
the expected attempt to tighten gun laws, but all of these will last until the
next mass killing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Orlando
shooting and the many stories by survivors, friends and family members of the
deceased, and many others in faraway cities and states, of the sufferings of
the LGBT community in America and other parts of the world finally convinced me
of the existence of a similarity between their situation and those of Black
Americans before Civil Rights (and beyond), Jews, and many other social,
cultural or ethnic minority groups in the world. It offered a better
understanding of their need for special classification and protection. As a
patron of the Pulse night club admitted during a radio interview: “we know we
live in a time and society that hates us and wants to kill, but we will not
give in to hate. We cannot die, because we are not a person; we are a spirit.
If we elect a president in this country who wants to kill us all, I will be in front
of the line…” I personally hope we never degenerate to a state where we would
elect a president that will order the killing of all LGBT people, just for
their lifestyle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mixed messages from the pulpit</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Much of the
hatred directed at LGBT people is borne out of the misinterpretation of the teachings
of the bible. Yes, as a Christian one is taught that homosexually is not
acceptable, and I believe that. Ironically, the same bible and Christian
teachings impressed upon us that it is against our beliefs to treat someone
differently; we are supposedly all children of One God, and discrimination
against another is discrimination against God. Love one another, the Bible
said, as God loves us. Unfortunately, most of our religious leaders us their
opportunities at the pulpit to preach division and hate, and many of their
followers and listeners act upon such preaching. It was heart-warming for me to
hear a prominent Dallas pastor, on the day of the Orlando massacre, strongly
insist that Christians are only required to understand that homosexuality is
unchristian, and not to hate or harm such persons. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The US
constitution emphasizes the importance of freedom of choice and equality of all
creation. The separation of people by race, gender, ethnic origin, and
religious preference is nowhere in the constitution; however, politicians, in
their quest for influence and votes, have divided the people along these lines
and the result is the frequent massacre of Americans that we witness weekly, in
the guise of one thing or the other. We have even appended causes for these
mass killings depending on race: if you are a white mass killer, you have a
mental problem and forgot to take your medication; if you are a born or
converted Muslim, you are a terrorist with links to major terror organizations
based in some foreign land. If you are black, you are angry and frustrated, and
if you are a police officer, you feared for your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Second Amendment,
as originally intended, was in support of the right to self-defense, resistance
to oppression, and civilian involvement in the defense of the state. You can
agree with me that none of the mass killings in the US today has any
relationship with any of the original intents; not Columbine, not Newtown, not
Virginia Tech, not Charleston, and
definitely not Pulse night club in Orlando. Yet, the National Rifle
Association, and many politicians who benefit financially from the NRA and gun
manufacturers have stoked alarm and fear of disarmament in the minds of mostly
gullible citizens who, in return, have boosted sales of guns and fattened the
pockets of executives of gun manufacturing companies and their families, while
leaving a trail of blood, tears, and broken families crisscrossing the entire
US landscape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">An abridged chronicle of US mass
killings and fatality counts:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Camden, New
Jersey – September 1949 – 13 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">University
of Texas, Austin – August, 1966 – 16 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">San Ysidro,
California – July, 1984 – 21 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Edmond,
Oklahoma – August, 1986 – 14 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Killeen,
Texas – October, 1991 – 23 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Columbine
H.S, Littleton, Colorado – April, 1999 – 12 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Virginia
Tech University, Blacksburg, VA – April 2007 – 32 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Omaha,
Nebraska – December, 2007 – 8 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Geneva
County, Alabama – March, 2009 – 10 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Binghamton,
NY – April 2009 – 13 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fort Hood,
Texas – November, 2009 – 13 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Manchester,
Connecticut – August, 2010 – 8 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tucson,
Arizona – January, 2011 – 6 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sea Beach,
California – October, 2011 – 8 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Oakland,
California – April, 2012 – 7 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Aurora,
Colorado – July 20, 2012 – 12 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*Newtown,
Connecticut – December 14, 2012 – 26 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Herkimer, NY
– March, 2013 – 4 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Santa
Monica, CA – June, 2013 – 5 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Washington,
DC – September, 16 – 12 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Umpqua
Community College, Oregon – October, 2015 – 9 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Alturas, CA
– February, 21 2014 – 4 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isla Vista,
CA – May, 2014 – 6 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Marysville,
Washington – October 24, 2014 – 5 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Charleston,
SC – June 17, 1015 – 9 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Roseburg,
Oregon – October, 2015 – 10 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">San
Bernardino, CA – December 2015 – 14 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Colorado
Springs, CO – November 2015 – 3 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">**Orlando,
Florida – June 12, 2016 – 49 people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A couple of
things are worth noting here: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. This total – 371 - number of American casualties occurred
not in the hands of an outside enemy, during a war, or from series of natural
disasters; instead, these were American citizens killing each other out of hate;
frustration with their lives, the system, or their relationships; for
adventure, and/or just testing out their new guns and,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2. This does not include other murders committed by gangs,
the police, scorned spouses and jealous lovers, business partners because of deals
gone badly, and suicides. It does not, also, include the 168 people who died in
the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, which was clearly a terrorist act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It will be forlorn
to hope that the recent massacre in Orlando will awaken the American conscience
into action, because Newtown did not achieve that; it is equally self-deceiving
to expect the outpouring of support and emotions for the LGBT community to ease
or reduce the level of hate directed against them. Because ours has become a
nation determined to beat itself back into the age the Second Amendment was
written and passed into law, the recent mass shooting will result, like others
before it, in increased gun sales and usage. We are all waiting with bated
breath for the next mass killing, because it has become an American culture
like baseball and apple pie. At least, for me, the veil of ignorance is finally
off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-69875025284049016682016-06-11T16:48:00.000-05:002016-06-11T16:50:24.217-05:00DONALD TRUMP AND HIS BAND OF ANGRY WHITE MEN<div class="MsoNormal">
The headline of this piece may sound like a bedtime story
for toddlers, the title of a comic play in your local theater, or a folktale by
an old woman in an African village; unfortunately, as much as we may wish it to
be any of the above, it is neither. Instead, it is about the core support
group, or base, of the GOP front-runner in the 2016 US presidential primaries,
billionaire businessman Donald Trump, or Trump for short.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I first heard of “angry white men” in early 2008 when then
Senator Barack Obama was running in the DNC primaries for nomination as its
presidential candidate. The closer he got towards securing the nomination, the
“angrier” these white men became.
GOP-controlled, or “conservative” Television houses and newspaper
headlines screamed of dire consequences for gun owners if Obama became
president; of Blacks running rampant all over the White House, frying chicken
wings and cooking pig feet all day, rubbing hair grease all over the walls of
Fortune 500 companies and the hallowed chambers of government offices. They
warned of the imminent desecration of Honest Abe’s room, Washington’s bed, and
Kennedy’s reading table. White Americans, male and female trooped to the gun
stores to stock up on both military-style rifles and your average Saturday
Night specials, on the rumor that Obama will abolish the 2<sup>nd</sup>
Amendment, and ship all the guns to some Utopian Peninsula. They bought for
their wives, sons yet unborn, and their toddler daughters. Some even took
second mortgages on their homes so they can buy specially modified
street-sweepers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Throughout the eight years of the Obama presidency, these
white men have been getting angrier. Realizing that, contrary to their fears, no
one has taken anyone’s guns, they resorted to complaining about loss of jobs to
immigrants, outsourcing of American jobs to Asia and India, erosion of American
might and influence abroad, recognition of gay and lesbian rights, same-sex
laws, ISIS, homegrown terrorism, and everything else on the surface of the
earth. They took out their anger on fellow Americans in elementary schools,
churches, colleges and universities, workplaces, apartment complexes, parks and
playgrounds, and even in private homes. Not to be outdone, security agencies
joined tem, with police killing skyrocketing in the second term of the Obama
presidency. “Fear for my life” became a general excuse for police killings, and
minorities – especially blacks Hispanics, whether sleeping, handcuffed,
pregnant, riding your bike around your house, asking for help after an
accident, talking to your wife on a street corner, or just simply buying a
birthday gift for your nephew at a Walmart – were at the receiving ends of
these police guns. Membership in
organizations like KKK, Aryan Brotherhood, and National Rifle Association
soared to astronomical heights. Amidst all of these activities, two other consumer
goods, besides guns, struggled to keep pace with the level of demand spurred by
the anger of these white men: alcohol and cigarettes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Categories of White
Angry Men<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who Are These Angry Men? Good question. There are two groups
of white angry men: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The first group are the small business owners
who make barely above the national income average; this group run small sole proprietorship like
roadside restaurants, car repair shops, cable & wireless technicians,
landscaping, HVAC services, hotshot delivery services, roofing and general
plumbing services, and towing services.
Compared to their Hispanic or Asian counterparts in the same category,
they work less hours, have a narrow clients’ list (mostly whites), and their
service prices are non-negotiable. On top of that, most of them have poor
workmanship. They have huge mortgage payments, expensive hubbies like hunting
or fishing which requires expensive “toys” like guns and boats they could
hardly afford. On top of their
mortgages, they are likely to own the latest trucks, RVs, and/or supped up
Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Their many credit cards are mostly maxed out; they
spend their weekends at Hooters and other sports grill and bars, and go on
vacations at least once every year, all charged on an ever-increasing credit
card debt. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The second group of angry white men works your
typical 9-to-5 jobs in warehouses, manufacturing plants, junk yards, car dealerships,
distribution centers, work in their family companies, or as outside salesmen in
major companies. Some also work as automobile, cable and communication
technicians for major companies. In the
course of their daily work activities, they interact with colleagues of other
races and ethnic origins, including Hispanics, Asians, Africans, and people of
Middle Eastern origin most of whom are immigrants. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
This group of young white men typically display an
air of superiority over the rest of their colleagues; they believe their
company should pay them better (which is the practice in most companies), cut
them some slack when it comes to frequency and length of break and lunch times.
They take more smoke breaks than everyone else, rarely work overtime unless it
is mandatory, are the first to clock out – usually a few minutes before time,
are less productive than their immigrant counterparts, and are easily stressed
and frustrated at work. They, also, are more likely to change jobs more
frequently than their counterparts from other races and cultures. They are less
likely to interact with other cultures and races at work, and more likely to go
for a drink at the end of the work day. They are less likely to own shares in
their places of employment, and invest only the allowable minimum percentage of
their gross income – 3% - in a retirement plan like 401(k). They are, equally, less likely to carry full
insurance coverage in their workplaces, and more likely to listen to, or watch,
anti-immigrant/minority radio and TV stations.
So, why are they angry?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Reason for their
Alleged Anger<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though these groups of white men are constantly referred to
as angry, not many of them can clearly explain specific reasons for their anger,
or how they are personally affected by the situation they highlight. Some of
the general reasons offered by them include blaming immigrants – especially
Mexican immigrants - for taking over their jobs; Chinese taking over American
companies and jobs; Blacks bleeding the social security system dry, and America
weakening and losing international respect under President Obama. On close
analysis of each of these reasons, which are usually hyped by the news media
and politicians, one can easily poke major holes in each of them:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">In the case of Mexicans and other immigrants
taking over American jobs, they are only taking the jobs rejected by the white
man. An average red-blooded white American male will rather go hungry than work
as a housekeeper, dishwasher or busboy in some hotel or restaurant, except he
is a college student; they will not be seen any time soon on the streets under
the Texas summer heat doing construction work, patching up potholes, mowing the
lawn, picking trash on public parks and highways, or sorting recycling
materials at the city dump. Apart from private farmers, a typical white
American young man will not spend hours and days in the citrus farms of Florida
picking oranges, or in the slaughter houses of Pilgrim’s Pride cleaning and
packaging frozen chicken. On rare occasions where you come across one willing
to do such menial jobs, it is usually on part time and temporary basis, just to
make up for cash shortfall. To the immigrant, such a job is a source of
survival for self and extended families, and he will do it longer and better
while at the same time learning a trade or going to college to better his life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->About the Chinese taking over American
companies, that is also not the case; Americans move their companies overseas
in search of cheap labor, lower corporate tax, and less regulated environment. A
typical iPhone 6 cost around $600 in the US because the assembly staff is paid
pennies on the dollar in some Asian country. Now, comparing unit costs in
relation to product price: an American phone parts assembly staff is likely to
belong to a union which will demand higher wages for their members, all kinds
of insurance coverages, and some other unnecessary emoluments which adds to the
unit cost of an iPhone. All these extras will help drive up the sale price of
the phone, and reduce sales volume, because not many people can afford to buy
it. So, instead of and average price of $600 per phone, the price of a
domestically-assembled IPhone could rise as high as $900. When sales volume
falls, production falls, and the resultant effect is staff reduction. So, if
Americans want the companies to stop moving overseas, they need to consider
accepting lower wages so the products could be cheaper.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->On the allegation of blacks bleeding the welfare
and social services system dry due to their laziness, by actual numbers, the
ratio of whites to blacks on welfare is estimated to be 6:1. What these angry
white men, and their media and political trumpeters are quick to do is refer to
population percentages. Yes, blacks make up about 12.5% of the US population of
310m, which is about 40m; now, if 3% is on welfare, this will be about 1.2m
blacks on some form of government assistance. Now, let us run the numbers for
whites using the same 3% rate of a population of 310 million: at 72% of this
population estimate, there are about 223m whites. If 3% of them are on some
kind of government assistance, the number will be about 6.6m. So you see, it is
a fallacy to blame blacks for the problems with welfare and social security
services.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The other false claim is about America losing
international respect under Obama. First, there is no other nation greater than
America today, or in the last 8 years, in terms of the two major indices –
military and economic might. Yes, there are slips in academic achievements when
compared to other industrialized nations, but these slips are more of
individual and family failings, and not a collective American failure. Obama
has been used as a target of blame by most white men for America’s individual
failings, to the extent that even those who choose to abuse their spouses blame
it on Obama; the same reason for families having reproductive difficulties, drunks
electing to squander their earnings on Jim Beam, farm animals producing less
milk and eggs, colleges failing to win NCAA tournaments, water pollution in
Flint, mass murders in Newtown, South Carolina, and even police killings are
all blamed on Obama. Before ever Obama won the presidency, angry white men had openly
declared their hatred and disdain for him, not as a person, but as a black
person occupying the White House, and that has not changed till date. So, while
it is very convenient for them to blame their personal failings on him, it is
far from the truth. Reality is that most of these so-called angry white men are
simply lazy; they refuse to better their lives, even in the midst of
opportunities. To them, 8 years of Obama serves up an excuse for them to wallow
in their laziness while blaming their misfortune on someone else.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Core Beliefs and
Preferences<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is difficult to
pin-point their core beliefs and preferences, because these change with whoever
is in the white House. To them, American greatness is only projected through
war; as long as America is not at war, it cannot be said to be great. Unfortunately,
they fail to make a correlation between the cost of such wars and the current
economic downturn. They equally ignore the human cost in personal, family, and communal lives,
including the social cost to governments at every level. Ironically, if the
nation finds itself in a prolonged war, as was the case with Iraq and
Afghanistan, this same group of people will be in the forefront of the protest
marches demanding an end to the war.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These group of white men will endorse and support any
government policy that appears to negatively impact minorities and immigrants,
like voter restriction laws, re-drawing of congressional maps to favor a white
candidate even when whites are in the minority in that district, and deep cuts
in social welfare services for the elderly and very poor, without factoring in
the effects of such cuts on elderly whites too. They are for stricter
punishments for first time and minor offences, because minorities are more
likely to be first time offenders. On social issues, they tend to swing any
which way their favorite politician leans at any given time; that is why they
cheer when Donald Trump insults or makes derogatory comments about women. They
tend to separate their wives, mothers and sisters from the “women” at the
receiving end of Trump’s insults; they see them as “those women” and not as “all
women”. They support increases in
defense spending and reduction in other essential services, like education and
health care; they are more likely to stick to their decisions, or ideas, than
admit that it is wrong-headed and detrimental to their persons, families and
communities.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is very important to point out here that within this
class of low income, lower class, and minimal education white men are many who
care less about the economic and political state of the nation, and more about
working and educating their way into the middle class. They are comfortable as part
of mainstream America; they are more likely to stay longer on their jobs and
take full advantage of whatever benefits it may offer. Also, they plan and work
towards a better life for their children. They are less likely to spend their
precious times worrying about walls on the nation’s borders and exclusions at
the airports. It is, equally, rare to find this group of white males at a
Donald Trump or Ted Cruz rallies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>A Fertile Ground<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyhow one looks at the situation, and if one decides to be
honest and impartial to oneself, one will come to the conclusion that the
reasons these so-called angry white men give for their “anger” cannot be
justified. Unfortunately, these groups of people are easily swayed and deceived
by one-chance charismatic politicians, like Donald Trump, who reinforce their
erroneous belief that the country is going to hell in a hand basket, without
taking out time to analyze the substance of his message – if any. Because they
are like fertile ground waiting for seedling, when a politician like Trump
comes around, he or she does not have to offer any evidence of his repeated
claim of a fallen nation, because these are already beliefs harbored and
ingrained in the minds of his target audience. All he has to do is amplify the
message, sometimes with the help of a section of the media – social and
otherwise, and the people will follow him. The world witnessed people like
these in Italy and Germany in the 1930s, and the results of their blind
following are still reverberating across many continents today. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is up to the rest of the non-angry white American men,
who are more educated, more focused on a better career and family life for
themselves, and more understanding of social and economic dynamics to help
educate their brethren, and warn them of the errors of their beliefs, and the misplacement
of their trusts; because, when the chips eventually fall, the biggest losers
will be these same angry white men.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-33772966528976784902016-01-20T15:41:00.003-06:002016-03-08T11:52:21.077-06:00Arochukwu-Ohafia Road: Health, Social and Economic Impact on Host Communities and Users.<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Ohafia – Arochukwu road is a 23-kilometer (14.3 miles)
federal road which runs from Ebem in Ohafia to Amuvi village in Arochukwu local
government. Along this stretch of road lie two major towns of Ihechiowa and
Ututu which form parts of the local government area, along with Abam and Isu
communities with an estimated population of 169,000 people. This road, first
constructed during the First Republic era, was last extensively reconstructed
during the Second Republic government of Shehu Shagari. Since then, subsequent
repairs by succeeding governments have been nothing more than grading during
the dry season and filling of major potholes in the rainy season. During the
Sani Abacha administration, contract was awarded for reconstruction of the road
from Ohafia to Arochukwu, under the Petroleum Trust Fund program headed by the then
General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), current Nigerian civilian president. The contractor
elected to start from the Ohafia end and work their way down to Arochukwu; in
1999, when work had already reached parts of Ebem Ohafia, the Obasanjo
administration decided to wind down PTF and reverted this and many other road
projects back to the Federal Ministry of Works. This signaled the beginning of
the sufferings of the communities along this road, and those who ply it on a
daily basis.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The purpose of this essay is not to chronicle the story of
failed political promises or abandoned road projects by contractors; rather, it
is to examine the health, social and economic impact of the deplorable state of
this 14.3 mile stretch of federal road, which, under normal conditions, should
take only 30 minutes from Ebem Ohafia to Amuvi Arochukwu, on the resident and
business communities of Ihechiowa, Ututu, Arochukwu and those of neighboring
communities which use this road on a daily basis. We first begin with the
effects on the general health of the patrons:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Effect on Personal and Public health</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Due to the deteriorated nature of the road,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->A journey of an hour from Arochukwu to Umuahia,
where better health services are available, takes 3 hours. This results in
major delays in accessing better healthcare facilities in Umuahia and Aba for
emergency situations, thereby leading to exacerbation of existing health
situation and, eventually, death.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->There is increased frequency of accidents
resulting in multiple death and dismemberments. Aside from these accidents,
plying the road in the worst of seasons, especially with public transportation,
may have resulted in many pregnancy miscarriages. Lack of evidence to this
claim may be attributed to two reasons:
one, there are no existing records; because, two, commuters have not
made a correlation between the loss of a pregnancy soon after plying the road and
the condition of the road itself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The dusty nature of the road in the dry season,
especially immediately after grading, either results in onset of many
respiratory illnesses in the most vulnerable – especially the children and
elderly, or compounds existing situations in many who are already suffering
various kinds of respiratory ailments.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Also, for the weak and elderly, plying the
Arochukwu – Ohafia road could (and do) result in muscular-skeletal
displacements, including hip, knee and ankle strains and dislocation. All of
these strain not only the skeletal health services available to these rural communities,
but their personal budgets too, since only a very few of them could afford to
pay for private healthcare.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Effects on the local Economy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Compounding
the health problems inherent in plying this federal road is the dire economic
impact on both public and private transport owners. For commercial vehicle
operators, the frequent breakdown of their vehicles means frequent stops at
mechanic workshops for one form of repairs or the other; these repair costs are
then transferred to the patrons in the form of high transportation costs.
Non-commercial vehicle owners equally face the same situation, though at much
less frequency than the commercial operators. All the same, they face the
options of either subjecting their vehicles to the rigors of the road, or
utilize the services of commercial transporters. Either way, there are costs
involved; apart from the transportation cost, there are costs in terms of time
wasted, inconvenience and personal health risks, all of which if monetized adds
up to a substantial sum. Using one’s personal vehicle equally subjects one to
the same costs, inconvenience, and risks associated with the terrible state of
the road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Most commercial
vehicle operators elect not to ply the road entirely, thereby subjecting
prospective passengers to hours of uncertainty. A decline in transportation
services directly impact commercial activities within and around the bothering
communities. Local roadside businesses that depend on sales from motorists and
passengers for their daily sustenance experience a decrease in sales due to a
slowdown in the volume of commercial travel. This same decline in volume results
in high cost of transportation of people and commercial consumer goods from the
major cities like Umuahia, Uzuakoli, and Ohafia to the bothering communities of
Ihechiowa, Ututu, and Arochukwu. These extra costs are passed on – just like
the repair costs - to the local consumers some of whom may not be able to
afford these goods; this situation results in some of these businesses either
closing up shop or relocating to a greener pastures in the cities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Apart from
the negative impact on economic activities, there is the damage to existing
infrastructures, both public and private. Most of the residential houses,
commercial buildings, and public facilities like schools, clinics and
government facilities are either covered in red dust for many months in the
year or exposed to other severe elements of nature, and this contributes to
expedited deterioration of these structures and decrease in property values. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Where an
effective and efficient tax collection system exists, reduced commercial
activity in these affected communities results in lower tax revenue for the
local government, and a dearth of funds to provide badly-needed social services
to the communities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Impact on Social Services<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are a
few major ways the state of the Ohafia-Arochukwu road could impact the host
communities socially:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The dearth in private commercial
activity results in increased unemployment; this, consequentially, leads to a
rise in criminal activities by the unemployed youths. The absence of government
institutions, and/or job-creating programs, which could absorb those unemployed
from the private sector, influences the decision to resort to crime for daily
sustenance. It is on record that, in the past few years, the three major
communities of Arochukwu, Ututu, and Ihechiowa have witnessed an increase in
unemployment among its employable age bracket; at the same time period, there
is a corresponding increase in various criminal activities – including murder,
in some cases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The current state of the road has,
also, caused a drastic reduction in social interaction among the neighboring
communities. This affects not only friendly social interactions; it also
impacts the frequency of cultural exchanges, governmental agency interactions,
and inter-school athletic programs. The state of the road has, over the years,
contributed to a reduction in the number of traders and customers from Ututu
who patronize the New Market at Arochukwu, and the dry fish market at the Akwa
Ibom communities bothering Arochukwu. The situation is equally the same of
patrons to major markets at Ututu and Ihechiowa communities; with this
reduction in the number of those engaged in commercial activities come a
reduction in trade volume, which affects revenue generation at both individual
and government level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another thing that suffers is the preventive rural healthcare programs
provided by the various levels of government to the local communities; programs
like child immunization and well-woman services provided free by the government
are either routinely postponed, or shelved completely, because city government healthcare
staff refuse to subject themselves to the rigors of plying this road. Rural
water and power supply projects, community clinics, police stations and even
the local magistrate offices, also suffer the same fate as the preventive
healthcare programs because government technicians refuse to travel to any of
these communities to effect necessary repairs on government infrastructures.
All these contribute to an atmosphere of general neglect and abandonment, leading
to increased cases of infectious diseases.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How can the
three major communities of Ihechiowa, Ututu, and Arochukwu benefit from a
repair/reconstruction of this road? First, the local economies will benefit
from the influx of what one might term “weekenders”; these are indigenes of
these communities who reside in faraway cities as Aba, Umuahia, Port Harcourt,
Enugu, and Owerri who prefer the peace and quiet of the rural communities on
weekends. The revenues local businesses generate from these weekenders could be
reinvested towards business expansion resulting in job creation, and
improvement of social services to better cater for the elderly community. Not
only this, for communities like Arochukwu with tourist sites like the Long
Juju, slave trade routes, and the Slave artefacts museum, among many others,
continued influx of non-indigenes to the community could spur development of
these tourism sites to attract more visitors and international attention.
Another benefit is the improvement of intra-village roads in these communities.
Constant vehicular use of these pathways will result in their widening and recession/
elimination of brushes, thereby making it safer for pedestrian use.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As one can
see, there are so many direct and accessory benefits accruing from the repair/reconstruction
of this one 23-kilometer deathtrap; decreased travel time from Ohafia to
Arochukwu, less repair and transportation cost for commercial transporters, reduced
health problems for all who ply this road, quick access to better health
facilities in Umuahia and Aba, improved local business environment leading to
increased job opportunities, reduction in petty crimes occasioned by
unemployment, more tax revenue into the local government coffers for provision
of social services, quicker evacuation of consumer farm produce from farms to
markets in the city, reduced food costs, and reduced mortality rate. If
governments at every level were to factor in all of the above in their decision
making as to which infrastructural services to provide to the people, they
would make the reconstruction of the Ohafia-Arochukwu road a priority.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-51546303179521445582015-12-24T16:55:00.000-06:002015-12-24T16:55:01.053-06:00The 2016 Nigerian Budget: Analysis and Concerns<div class="MsoNormal">
Like many Nigerians, I watched President Muhammadu Buhari
deliver his 2016 budget presentation to the Nigerian national Assembly on Tuesday,
December 22, 2016. Like I always do with many of these budget speeches every
year, I printed out the full text the following day, Wednesday 23<sup>rd</sup>,
so I can read and fully digest the fine details.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, an N6.08tr budget in a period where the price of oil
is selling below $40 a barrel is a bit ambitious; especially given the
dwindling foreign reserves, and the lack of economic diversification expected
when the price of oil was above $100. Though the president outlined some
measures to streamline revenue collection, plug leakages, invest in diversification
programs, education, social insurance, and infrastructure development, I am
afraid that at the end of 2016, it might fall short of its goals, even with a
zero-based budget system, unless most – if not all – of the leakages are
plugged.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the steps outlined by the president towards economic
diversification is import substitution and export promotion. Import substitution requires domestic
production of comparable or similar products to the ones domestic consumers
import, not only in quality, but in quantity and efficiency. Where these are
absent, consumers will revert to importation.
Export promotion, also, can only be successful if your product is
desired by the intended export market, and it depends on the product meeting
expected quality standards the export market is used to. Where the expected quality standards falls
short, Nigerian manufacturers will lose that export market. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is common knowledge that Nigerian products still fall far
short of acceptable standards of the local consuming public, and this limits
the market base of these products to a category of the population which live
below or within the poverty line. For those above this line, their preference
for foreign goods remains insatiable. Therefore, for this twin policy to
succeed, government must set an internationally-accepted standard that exceeds
that of not just the Nigerian market, but the African market. This standard
must surpass those accepted by the Nigerian Diaspora market.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One other important point touched on by the president was
the broadening of Nigerian tax base so as to increase non-oil revenue. The first step towards achieving this objective
is to know the closest estimation of the labor force in Nigeria both in the
public and private sectors. This will require creation of a comprehensive
database of all working age adult in the country; an odious task in a country
where data collection and storage is still in its infancy. This is where the
National Identity Management Commission, the INEC, the Federal Road Safety
Commission, and the National Population Commission will play a major role in
collecting sifting, and sharing data among themselves and with the Office of
Budget and Management. It is only with such information that the government can
estimate the nation’s active labor force and formulate a successful national
tax collection policy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A successful implementation of zero-based budgeting, where
expenses for each new period must be justified, can only work if the discipline
exists among the various government agencies and ministries. How many of these
agencies and ministries will overtly comply with a request for a thorough
analysis of its functions to ascertain its needs and costs. Previous
governments with such lofty ideas have been roundly defeated by elements within
these same agencies with ulterior motives. To go with a zero-based budgeting
system and expanded tax base are: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> 1. </span><!--[endif]-->Government Integrated Financial Management
Information System – a system designed to improve financial management in large
organizations and governments. Ironically, this same system has been in
existence since 2012 and could not curtail, let alone stop, the level of
financial recklessness Nigeria witnessed in the last three years. There is, therefore,
no assurance that things will be any different in 2016 and beyond.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> 2. </span><!--[endif]-->Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System –
again, a comprehensive database of all working-age Nigerian will aid in the
effective implementation of an IPPIS program.
Like the GIFMIS, this software, or something like it, is already being
used by some state and federal agencies in Nigeria for some time now. With a
comprehensive database, and all the ministries and agencies employees
incorporated into this system, it will not only improve the accuracy and ease
of tax collection, it will greatly contribute towards elimination of the ghost
worker problems in Nigeria. However, there always exist the tendency for some
to cause mischief; so, government must remain aware and alert to the likelihood
that someone can create a backdoor to this software for the purpose of financial
mischief.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A private sector-led job creation policy, as outlined by the
president, involves tax reduction for small businesses and providing subsidized
funding for investors in the agriculture and solid mineral sectors. This again
is a tricky policy; previous governments have employed this policy – especially
in the solid minerals sector where many collected federal subsidies on the
pretext of investing in solid minerals exploration and development, with little
results. However, to achieve a better outcome, government must first formulate
a strict policy that will include setting of performance goals and insisting on
refunds of subsidy amounts where such goals are not met. Tax incentives work better to achieve government
objectives where they are graduated over a period of specific number of years
or performance level. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Along the same policy of job creation, the budget proposed
the training and deployment of 500,000 teachers with university degrees and NCE
certificates. This, at least, will ensure that primary and secondary school
students are taught by qualified teachers. However, one cannot expect to
produce qualified teachers from a rotten education system. Half of Nigeria’s
universities are nothing to write home about, and most of the graduates are
more of theory experts lacking any practice. Essential amenities, including
teaching materials, are lacking in almost all the universities. So, for the
government to train half a million qualified teachers, it must first fix the
tertiary institutions from which they will graduate. One program that is badly
needed, and which worked effectively in the past, is the cooperative societies
program. If the government can
successfully bring it back before its exit in 2019, it would have taken a huge
step in saving many small businesses and communities from economic oblivion.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two programs of concern, though, necessary and overdue, are
the free feeding at primary school level and the provision of social services
to the elderly and disabled who could not adequately fend for themselves. This is a program that should have been
implemented when the nation was swimming in oil revenue, but was ignored; to
attempt to, or propose to, implement these programs at a time when the nation
is in dire financial straits is going to be difficult, if not impossible. More
worrisome is the proposal to partner with state and local governments in
implementing this policy; these two levels of governments, especially the local
governments, have not been known to be people-friendly in terms of providing
social services. While they may be useful in collecting data on the proposed
beneficiaries, they cannot be relied upon to deliver the benefits. Any federal
social service program involving the state and local governments will be fraught
with execution problems, or serve as conduits for siphoning public funds; the
SURE-P program, as commendable in its minimal success as it is, was used by party
and government officials as conduits for embezzling public funds. Though a simple process as allowing the state
and local governments to select qualified beneficiaries will still be
corrupted, direct payments of emoluments into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts
will reduce the level of fraud likely to arise in the implementation of this
program.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though many may see the payment of N5000 to unemployed
graduates as a waste of money, one must not lose sight of the fact that such
monies will be recycled into the economy through spending; where the
beneficiaries choose to save their monies in the banks, it will only make
excess funds available to the banks for lending, and this will reduce the
borrowing rates for businesses who will need the capital. So, anyhow one looks
at it, the economy benefits. Provision of free food to primary school students
has been long overdue in Nigeria. The agriculture ministry, in collaboration
with major corporations in the sector, nutrition experts, state governments,
and distribution agencies, can easily coordinate the efforts to ensure a
successful outcome of this program. Again, though it will present opportunities
for abuse, it is still worth attempting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The proposed investment in revival of vocational and
technical institutions is a good idea. In industrialized nations like Germany –
especially Germany – and the United States, the academic shift is towards
technical and science education, and the avenue is community colleges and
vocational schools. Associate degree holders in technical and vocational skills
are already making more money in earnings than those with 4-year degrees from
universities. Germany is the leader in engineering today not because of the
number of university degreed employees, but because of its technical and
vocational workforce. While a degree in
in liberal arts studies is still useful, it must be acknowledged that the
industrialized world and some emerging economies are already moving away from
it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, increasing the capital expenditure allocation to
30% of the budget, though a departure from the previous years, still falls
short of what Nigeria needs to invest on infrastructure. No nation ever
develops without infrastructure and power; without drastically reducing the exorbitant
cost of moving people and goods from point A to point B, Nigeria will never
develop out of a Third world classification. One hopes that, as the president
promised, the capital expenditure allocation will continue to increase, as more
loopholes and seepage systems are plugged around our national treasury. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
All in all, this is a budget of promise and hope: the
government promising, and the people of Nigeria hoping. If the government
exhibits tremendous effort in keeping its promise, even with a partial success,
the people will continue to hope. Where that effort is lacking, the hope will
wane and the people will – again – clamor for change.<o:p></o:p></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740592416031346912.post-48641094434413412212015-12-11T15:45:00.002-06:002015-12-11T15:45:23.557-06:00Effects of Migrant Workers on the Local Labor Market & Economy<div class="MsoNormal">
The frustration on the face of the site supervisor is
palpable; the project is running behind schedule and over-budget. His problem
is the work ethics of the local labor force. To create temporary employment for
the local youth population, the Ahoada local government in Rivers State had
instructed the contractor handling a hospital project to employ auxiliary and
non-technical labor from this specific pool. Therefore, daily labor like masonry,
block molding, foundation work, and site clearing jobs were assigned to the
local, mostly inexperienced, youths.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Miles away from Ahoada, at the construction site of a mini
shopping mall in Ojodu at Ikeja, Lagos state, work is going on at a breakneck speed;
temporary day laborers are dashing up and down the makeshift wooden stairs
moving mixed concrete and cement up the second level for the decking, and the
foreman can be heard from a quarter mile away bellowing orders and threats of
dismissal to the panting mix of muscular and skeletal staff.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At a farmland in Arochukwu, Abia state three young men in
their mid-twenties are gathering and setting fire to brushes as fast as
possible, discussing among themselves in a dialect alien to the indigenous
owner, though in Igbo language. At a
corner of the farm, an elderly woman is busy preparing meals for the young men.
A couple of hundred yards from the farm
is another, much bigger, piece of farmland where an elderly couple, four young
men and a girl, are busy doing the same things as the young men in the first
farmland, except that the pace is much slower and the level of urgency was
evident in its absence. The male adult spends much of his time sighing and
urging the young men to pick up the pace.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At a soak-away construction site behind a newly-finished
single family home at Afugiri village in Umuahia, two young men covered
waist-high in red mud huddled in deep conversation; a third is on the phone
while leaning on a shovel, while another walks to and fro a nearby stream fetching
and emptying buckets of water into a drum. It is 11:00AM in the morning, and
the freshly mixed cement and stone is beginning to cake under the hot sun; a
half case of Gulder beer sits under a large mango tree, and three empty bottles litter the work area,
along with cigarette butts, while three other half-empty bottles sit in close
proximity to the young laborers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What is wrong with the different scenarios described, and
how can they be explained? This is the question this commentary will attempt to
address in an effort to explain the effects of migrant and transient workforce
on the local labor markets and economies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Decision-Making Powers &
Flexibility<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the Ahoada example, contractual restrictions limited the
recruitment of casual labor to a specific pool – the local unemployed youths;
this reduced the power and flexibility of the contractor to source for cheaper
and more qualified labor elsewhere, thereby creating a laisse-faire environment
at the site. This attitude resulted in delays and cost overruns. The indigenous
staff, immune from severe discipline – including termination –was lax in their
work ethics. Oblivious, or in spite of, cost overruns, they view any delays in
completing the project positively as extra paid workdays for them; so, there is
no incentive to put in their best efforts since they cannot be replaced with
outside labor.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Contrast this with the scenario at mini mall construction
site in Ikeja where the contractor is under no such restrictions; majority of
the day laborer are transported daily from outside communities as far as
Surulere and Oshodi, and have no ties to the local community. Daily pay rates
and targets are pre-negotiated, and expectations are communicated to everyone
prior to arriving at the site. Therefore, desirous of a good day’s wage, and
protective of their good work ethic, the laborers have no alternative than to
put in their best efforts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There exists a relationship between the two scenarios above
and the two farmlands at Arochukwu. The young farmers at the first site are seasonal
migrants from Afikpo in Ebony State who migrate in the local
communities/villages during the farming season, with a long history of farming.
They have no strong communal ties beyond their farming services for a moderate
fee. To continuously attract job offers, they must offer their best services to
their clients. The situation at the second farm, where a detectable level of
laxity exists, is due to the close personal relationship between the owners and
the workers. So, even though these men are contracted at the same going daily
rate of N1000, their output is less than those of their counterparts from
Afikpo; unfortunately, unlike in the first farm, the owners of the second farm
are hesitant to exercise any form of discipline due to familial and communal
ties to the workers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What is going on at the single-family soak-away construction
site is akin to the situation at the second farmland; the owner is closely
related to the man filling the drums with water who serves as the project
supervisor, and he has recruited his friends to construct the soak-away. This
close relationship with the laborers erodes his authority to hire and fire;
therefore, the project is expected to suffer delays and cost overruns.
Preference for a migrant workforce in the community, which is in abundance from
as far away as the Southwest and as close as South-south states of the
federation, would have resulted in meeting project deadline and cost-savings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beyond the exemplary difference in work ethics between
indigenous and migrant workers, there are several other effects migrant workers
– transient and resident – have on their host communities. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Effects on Labor
Supply & wage Costs<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The availability of non-specialized migrant
workers in any community results in an increase in available workforce in the
local labor market, or increase in the supply of labor; this excess supply
causes a depression or downward trend in the cost for labor, thereby creating a
favorable buyers’ market. In the example of the Ahoada hospital, if the
contractor had the flexibility to hire from outside the indigenous pool, he
could have recruited from the migrant pool at a very low daily rate; thereby
not only saving labor costs, but completing the project on time. The same
applies to the second farm and the soak-away projects. The possible savings
from labor costs could be re-invested in other construction materials, or in
hiring additional labor.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Apart from forcing a depression in labor costs, Migrant
workers introduce new skills and innovative technology into the local labor force
that may have been previously lacking; new blocking molding technology that could
either doubles production quantity or uses less combination of cement and sand
mix while retaining desired quality. New power tools that enhances speed and
efficiency cutting, drilling, or scooping, leading to reduction in completion
time and project costs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->One major disadvantage of migrant workers in the
community is the increase in unemployment among the local workforce. Migrant
workers undercut the bargaining power of the local pool, and force them to
accept the same daily wage as their guests, which is usually much lower than
what they usually get without competition. This “encroachment”, initially, causes
resentment towards the migrants and, in most cases, resulting in invasion and
blockade of construction sites for extended periods of time. On the positive
side, the presence of migrant workers could force a change in work ethics of
the local labor force, and result in a healthy competition with the migrant
workers. Therefore, it is safe to speculate that though in the short term,
presence of migrant workers could have a negative impact on the local labor
force; in the long run, their presences does effect a positive change in the
work ethics of the local labor force, and the host community is the main
beneficiary.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Social & Economic
Impact<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Migrant workers also introduce their cultures, customs,
traditions, and habits into their host communities, resulting in a rise in new
businesses catering specifically to these needs, either short or long-term. For
example, a migrant Yoruba or Idoma community in faraway Okigwe, Ahoada, or
Kazaure will have to source for their unique needs within the host business
community; this desire to satisfy a need results in establishment of new
businesses, or extension of existing ones, to accommodate these needs. The increase in business activities results
in increased tax revenue over time which is applied to improving social
services like road, school and hospital repairs, culminating in the creation of
more employment opportunities not only for the duration of the work season but,
in most cases, for the long term. For example, the influx of Akwa-Ibom house helps
to the Port Harcourt and Lagos metro areas led to an increase in the string of
businesses catering to their specific needs - especially consumer goods - and
forcing existing ones to diversify their product and service offerings. Altogether,
the creation of new business and expansion of existing ones created more
employment opportunities within and around impacted communities. This multiplier
effect is recreated in many communities where large migrant workers exist.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because most migrant workers are transient and leave their
families behind in their native communities, they remit most of their earnings
back home; therefore, they are not able to make substantial capital investments
in the economies of their host communities. Their major investment is in
consumer goods like food, clothing, daily hygiene needs, and rental
accommodation which account for between 25 – 50% of their earnings. Depending
on the type and extent of the economic activity – road and housing
construction, farming, and/or harvesting – which could last anywhere from 3 to
18 months, most beneficiaries of migrant labor investments are landlords,
restaurant and saloon owners, food vendors (or mama put), tailors, cobblers,
and the local churches. Other beneficiaries include the local consumer markets,
local clinics and pharmacy and, where available, prostitutes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Cultural Benefits<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the few among the migrant workforce who have no family
ties – wives and children – in their native towns, opportunities exist for
inter-marriage and blending of different cultures and customs. This new
relationship results not only in an increase in the local population over time,
but also in making substantial investments in capital goods and property in the
communities due to a reduction or outright elimination of remitted earnings. Small, low capital businesses, like bicycle
repair, vulcanizing, technology products repair services, cyber café, carpentry
services, and provision stores, are some of the favorite businesses of migrant
workers. These small businesses create apprenticeship opportunities for the
locals, and the competition with existing like businesses create a downward
trend in cost thereby favoring the consuming public.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apart from the few
listed benefits – low labor cost, improved work ethics, and introduction of new
technology, improved efficiency, and increased business activities - of migrant
workforce in host communities, they change the social, economic, and cultural
dynamics of host communities, especially through inter-marriages and cultural
affiliations. Though in the short-run, migrant workers face hostilities and
suspicion from their host communities; eventually, with continued interactions,
they are accepted and gradually assimilated in the community and this result in
a mutually beneficial relationship in the long term. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Felix Oti<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Arlington, Texas<o:p></o:p></div>
my ten centshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16699010281464178693noreply@blogger.com0