It doesn’t really matter that the message that formed the platform of this resolution was aired since January 12; all we wanted is for our country to move forward. And to put it succinctly, it wasn’t as if we were on the fast lane when the President was in town. But the country had totally grounded to a halt and the slogan by the Safe Nigeria Group was more than apt: Enough is (indeed) enough! 

Meanwhile, some selfish and ultimately myopic politicians were busy scheming on how to shortchange the country and thus the citizens. They practically reduced Nigeria and tied her destiny to that of an individual. They thought they could swing it, that is, keep everyone in the dark and play through ethnic and religious sentiments. But something happened! 

Across the length and breadth of Nigeria, people became united. Past leaders led by the simple former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari spoke the minds of Nigerians and rightly declared that it is time to move on as a country. Circumstances and realities would not accommodate our failure to step up when statesmanship and leadership are required. Thank God, some people stepped up while some decided to bury their heads in the sand pretending nothing is amiss like the proverbial Ostrich. 

Now, VP Goodluck is now the Acting President through singleness of purpose and demands of majority of Nigerians irrespective of ethnicity or religion. What does this tell us? We can change the course and destiny of our potentially great nation by working together in a united and purposeful manner to ensure that we reach our desired ‘Eldora do’. We are more powerful than all these people that calls themselves our leaders. We can determine what we want and insist on having our way; it is very simple!

What do we really need as a people? Good governance, real social and physical development, transparency, accountability, security, rule of law and intolerance of corruption. With these in place, the sky won’t even be the limit of our progress. When people are made accountable for their actions or inactions, we will begin to see a marked change in everything to do with our national life. 

For instance, the Federal Government claimed to have spent N300 Billion between 1999-2005 on the road maintenance and construction yet an aberration like the Benin-Ore road is a constant reminder of the depth of corruption and lack of accountability bedeviling our country.  How could such an amount of money be spent without any visible impact on our potholes ridden Federal Highways? The truth is that the fact that people does things against the country and her people and gets away with it emboldens the thick skinned to continue in self enrichment to the detriment of societal development and well-being. 

Therefore, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan must carry out this onerous task with single mindedness, determination, fairness, and integrity. Fate has placed him above many and entrusted him with the responsibility to lead our dear nation at this critical time, he must not play to the gallery. Neither must he encourage sycophancy, as it is glaring that many love for what they can get. He must be ready to receive criticisms and be open minded enough to see the facts or otherwise behind such before acting. 

His place in the history of Nigeria is already assured. The manner of his rise in politics is phenomenal. But to not seize the moment to do the right and just things would be tantamount to failure and ingratitude. From his address to the nation after the resolution of the NA, the Acting President made it known that he would do all within his capacity to do us proud for the confidence the whole nation reposed in him; I sincerely hope this is fulfilled. Dr. Jonathan should not think of any other thing except Nigeria in taking the decisions that are set to stare him impudently in the face. He must act like a patriot and indeed a leader that he is not minding those whose stock in trade is to pull orders down. 

Our dear Acting President must be ready and determined to tackle power crisis, alarming security threats, terrible road and social infrastructures and massive unemployment within the period that he would be in office. He should not get himself involved in useless politicking. A man must rise above certain things to transcend the mundane. Dr. Jonathan must be prepared to quickly set Nigeria back on track; she has been seriously off course for some time now! 

It would be suicidal for him to leave governance only to corrupt politician and sycophants. People who desires to ‘rule’ for 60 years without showing anything on ground for the last 10 years should be put in their right place. Nigeria is too important for any ego-tripping. We must start moving in the right direction and speedily too before it becomes too late and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan have a lot of say in this!

Yet, the above scenarios does not bother our leaders as they go about exhibiting their ‘home grown’ patriotism and loyalty to the course of continual relevance in the corridors of power never minding the fact that the country they are supposed to be leading is derailed and on a dangerous decline. Sooner than later, we will all realize that the world waits for no one. 

Recently, it was announced that Angola has overtaken Nigeria as the world’s sixth largest crude producer and that major investment in that industry has increased ten folds in the last five years in that country while the reverse is the case at home. The implication of this to an oil dependent like ours would soon become glaring. Even our biggest buyer, the US is working on alternative energy sources and is determined to get its crude from other countries. After all, Nigeria is not the only crude producer in Africa! 

Like the proverb from the Yorubas: “The season of the masquerades would soon be over and the child of the priest would have to pay for bean cake”. The crude oil that our leaders are ready to kill, maim and loot for is not inexhaustible; neither would the money from criminal sources be forever acceptable in decent societies of the now and future. 

Compared to other countries in our league, we are seriously lacking in all developmental and human indexes. We are rated as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. While we cannot be classified in the same vein as Iraq and Afghanistan in terms of violence and break down of law and order, we are certainly not far behind when one looks at the records of violence and riots in the last 11 years. What’s more? We are now a ‘country of interest’ in US terrorism list. Yet our leaders carry on as if there’s really nothing at stake. 

Our social infrastructures are totally collapsed except for a few places like the FCT and Lagos. What do we really have going for us as a nation? Oh, I forgot, we have the largest collection of looters, liars and thieves in government and corporate world! 

The cliché that we are ‘the largest black nation in the world’ means nothing as far as ‘am concerned. Otherwise, President Obama would have been dining with his Nigerian counterpart rather than President Mills when the leader of the Western World visited Africa for the first time after his inauguration. Our largeness rather than be a plus is more like a negative as we have the highest number of poor and exploited people on this side of the planet and like I pointed out earlier; the fact that we produce oil would soon become irrelevant if we fail to do what is right. 

A country that is deeply embedded in official corruption with its attendant problems is clearly headed in the wrong direction. More so, a country that is not ready to make necessary changes required because of ethnic and religious considerations popularly tagged ‘federal character’ WILL NEVER arrive at a desired destination. This is not a curse but a statement of fact! 

So where are we headed when we cannot boast of just 5000 megawatts of electricity? Yet we are quick to point to others that we are the largest black nation in the world. Pray me, what does that put on my table? Where are we headed if we import virtually everything we use and do not even have the will to insist on having the right quality? Our country is the most derided nation in the world as we are expected to be a giant in the comity of nations yet midgets are better recognized and respected than us in major international platforms. 

We are incapable of taking proper and needed decisions as our leaders must politicize and regionalize everything to be correct not minding that the country and its citizens are suffering. Directionless, Nigeria is held hostage by a wicked and power hungry cabal that does not care if the roof caves in as long as they continue to enjoy the benefits and perks of office. But for how long? 

It is appointed to a man to die but once and after that, the judgment. Our political, corporate and religious leaders are going to give accounts one day and they better be aware of this. The day of reckoning is near at hand as all indications show that people are fed up with the situation of things in the country. It is at hand and we would all witness the power of the people in due course!

While we fought so hard in the past to put Nigeria back into the front burner of international discourse and consideration, the current administration of President Umaru Yar’Adua whether by omission or commission contrived to reverse all the goodwill of the previous eight years. Lacking in vision, our foreign policies became a cloudy and ambiguous rhetoric. Till now, Nigeria does not have a substantive ambassador to the US.  Our foreign affairs minister represented the country in the last two UN General Assemblies where Heads of governments hold sway! The continued absence of the president has not helped matters in any way. Various claims and counter claims have been made as to the well being and where about of the president but no one has come out to tell us in clear terms when our leader would return to active service and help in steering this drifting Ship back in the right direction. Most annoying is the fact that our politicians refused to step up to the plate and make nationhood their watchword. They are all comfortable with keeping their jobs. But these jobs are temporary and can never be permanent. The serious minded therefore should have an eye on what history would relay concerning them. 

Constitutionally empowered, the Vice President would have been holding the team together in such a way that Nigerians would only have been more prayerful for the ailing President. Rather than this, the VP is left without any executive power, as his principal never handed over properly. The result of this anomaly is the swearing in of the Chief Justice of the Federation by another one. What a joke! But it is very clear to even the unlettered that one arm of government cannot swear itself in! 

This is the reason why the President and Commander-In Chief is sworn in by the CJN. The President then inaugurates the National Assembly. All these are clearly spelt out in our constitution and yet some people think we are fools. The political arrangements of convenience and ethnic balancing brought us to the current state of lethargy. Need we continue to splash about in mire when there are clean streams for us to swim in? 

We cannot afford to fold our hands and wait for things that are positive to take place in our nation. Deliberate, concerted and purposeful actions are needed to move this country forward. We can see it in Lagos, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom and a few other states. It must be clear to all that nothing works until we work it. The time is now to start taking the decisions (whether painful or not) that would lead this country out of the current doldrums. 

A Nation that’s determined to progress cannot afford to be lethargic. Neither can it be found wanting in terms of security in all ramifications of it. Nigeria must be moving. This movement must be in the right direction and our politicians must know that the time is now to throw in the towel if they are not ready to flow with the momentum of change. Corruption, religious intolerance, tribalism, official highhandedness, unnecessary bureaucracy, nepotism etc must give way. 

Having been tagged a terrorist nation; the onus is on us to do all within our capacity to show to the international community that we are not. Our government must engage the US at the highest level. Past agreements and cooperation must be highlighted. But the critical starting point is for us to conduct credible elections. Where the votes of the people do not count, the governments at the various levels cannot command any respect. 

Nigeria, ordinarily should command great respect internationally but our past and current corporate and political elites have done her the damage of dubious credibility. Just as the banking rogues are being tried and reforms carried out in that sector, our political terrains must also be tried and tested. Anyone found wanting should be punished and people must be made to account for their deeds whether now or in the future.

P

Having been made to queue for fuel for the past two weeks and with contrasting news coming from NNPC and major marketers, Nigerians at least expect some form of cooperation within government to resolve the issue. In saner climes, officials would have been resigning now but not here. To make matters worse, the Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan instructed Rilwan Lukman, the minister of petroleum to cancel his holidays and stay around to resolve the crisis only for the man to jet to Austria for a meeting he claims has already been scheduled. Could he have disobeyed President Yar’Adua instruction like that?This is the most glaring evidence yet that no one is in charge in Aso Rock and the man that is supposed to be in control is at the mercy of a few power mongers who are hell bent on wresting the government from him at all cost. Throw into the hat our notorious penchant for trivializing issues on the altars of religious and ethnic sentiments; the full picture of what’s going on in Abuja begins to take shape.

A northern socio-political group, Arewa Consultative Forum made assertions to the relevant sections of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 concerning the transfer of power between the President and his Vice if there’s need for it. The organization accepts the fact that for the nation to avoid a systemic collapse of government, President Yar’Adua must write the National Assembly to notify them that he’s on medical vacation and as such full powers be conferred on the Vice President to assume the mantle of leadership until the President gets better. This is the honourable and constitutional path.

The reverse is the case being put forward by another northern group, the Northern Union that the PDP must respect the ‘agreement’ of power rotation between the South and the North contrary to the letters and the spirit of the Constitution. To this group, the continuation of a ‘Northern Presidency’ is sacrosanct not minding what this would entail for the country and the reality on the ground concerning the position of the vice president.

There are also comments making the round that the AGF wrote a letter purported to have been sent to Saudi Arabia for the President’s signature directing the VP to assume the control of government. This, according to newspapers reports was declined by the cerebral Jonathan who thought it wise to ignore such an instruction. The AGF first denied the report but later acceded to its veracity claiming he did it to avert impending constitutional crisis

All said and done, the truth of the matter is that there’s a powerful clique in Aso Rock that’s not comfortable with the VP and is bent on frustrating a normal constitutional process to secure their positions. But they are obviously oblivious of the interest of Nigerians or do not care at all. If not, how does one explain this unnecessary delay in doing what’s right and moving the country forward in the process? It is even more disheartening to know that these are people pretending to love the President while all they are interested in is keeping their positions.

But through history, there’s has never been the continual or perpetual existence of oppressive or insensitive elites in government. The collapse of the Shah regime in Iran through the Islamic Revolution of the Ayatollah and the current impasse of the June 12 elections in that country is a clear indication of what could happen when people become fed up with poor and corrupt government. Surely, Nigeria, at the rate she’s been driven cannot be too far from social uprising.

The only way out of this quagmire is to do the right thing for once and show the rest of the world that indeed we are a people destined for greatness. Enough of sycophancy, greed, corruption and inordinate ambition to rule at all cost. Our current political gladiators must look back to the very recent past and learn from the things that took place then. This is the time to display statesmanship and pull the nation back from this brink. Our politicians must not by their actions invite the military back into government and thereby derail our democracy again.

The country, which was a former Portuguese colony has eclipsed all expectations in terms of growth and development and now is a member of a powerful group of nations popularly tagged the BRIC countries. This group consists of Russia, Indian, China and our subject matter. 

In achieving this sustainable economic growth, the current administration of President Lula Da Silva developed a ‘home grown’ economic blue print that neither leaned too far to the left nor to the right. While free market enterprise was pursued with zeal, the enforcement of rules and regulations by the state was also enhanced. This resulted in the balance in economic realities rather than abstract growth figures that are usually quoted here in Nigeria without any positive or concrete impact on the citizenry. 

Unlike Nigeria, Brazil is indeed in a political and economic leader in Latin America.  This standing stems from the quality of life of the majority of its 192 million population. Borrowing from time tested technological initiatives of the Chinese and Indians, Brazil over the past 18 years had invested in such initiatives at increased levels on an annual basis. This has paid off in breakthrough advancement in biotechnology and allied inventions. 

Wait for this; major exports from the country include aircrafts, automobile (Marco Polos are made in Brazil), electrical components, chemicals, steel, ethanol, iron ore, corn beef and textiles. According to Times, one of the biggest investments in history was launched in 2007 as Brazil kicked off a $300 billion four year plan to modernize it road networks, ports and power infrastructure. Talking about a nation who is going somewhere! 

Developmental statistics available indicates that the GDP is $1.944 billion; unemployment stands at 7.6%, inflation 4.46%, GDP growth 5.7% all for 2008. Total imports fell way short of exports, a very clear indication of an industrializing nation. Aggregate balance of trade was in excess of $24 billion. Yet the country is not resting on its oars by going to sleep. Rather, bigger plans are in the offing to totally rebuild major cities taken into consideration the threat posed by Global Warming. 

In 2002, Brazil was ‘bailed out’ by the IMF to the tune of $30.4 Billion that was a record sum by that time. The nation however paid back this loan in 2005 one full year before it’s due date! Just some few months back, the world became aware of a humongous Itaipu Dam that singularly generates 17000 megawatts of electricity when it had technical problem. Yet we are ‘working’ very hard to achieve just 6,000 megawatts for the whole country! 

What’s there to learn from this? It is very clear that a Visionary can change a nation if patriotism and dedication forms the crust of his or her agenda. President Silva in 6 years showed dedicated leadership and fought corruption with determination. From an extended background in labour and socialist movements, he defied calculations with his victory in December 2002. Not forgetting his past like many are wont to do here, he seized the opportunity with integrity and zeal to steer his country in the right direction. 

He has just eighteen months left to serve after being reelected in 2007 for a second term. Yet, he is driving his nation even faster toward absolute development and industrialization. Today, he is feted across the entire world as a decent politician who understands what governance is all about. And that’s the crust of the matter; having an understanding of what power and governance is all about.

Most worryingly is the determination of the failed leadership that we are saddled with to continue in corruption and lack of vision in running the country. Where decisions are taken to enhance the quality of life of the citizenry, the hawks in the corridors of power hijack these initiatives to feather their nests to the detriment of the rest of us. These unpatriotic people have messed up rural electrification, HIV/Aids initiatives, NECO, UBE, Federal Road Maintenance, NAPEP etc. 

The people are oppressed, poor and incapable of living decent lives just because our government is static and almost comatose. We have become the laughing stock of other more serious nations. The name Nigeria conjures the image of a giant with lay feet! 

Policies that would have immediate impact on the lives of the people are stalled. What would move the country forward quickly is relegated to the backgrounds. The electoral reforms that should form the fulcrum of legislative activities as we march toward towards 2011 has been totally forgotten. What concerns our lawmakers is which chamber is superior to the other and who should be hosting the President for budget presentation! 

But should one expect something different when the same electoral reforms would get most of these people out of office? It is a clear statement that majority of our politicians would not win elections if we had an independent and properly constituted electoral body. How can they when there’s nothing to show for the positions they occupy? They are people that behave like the Ostrich that buries its head in the sand. 

Yet the people cannot continue to be oppressed forever. There is no country in the world that perpetually survives continued injustice and oppression of its people. Our leaders must change and become patriotic for once. After all, this is supposed to be their country. It doesn’t matter if they use stolen wealth to buy the whole of Dubai and South Africa; the fact will remain that they are thieves and that they are Nigerians! 

President Yar’Adua’s current illness should form the platform for all Nigerians to deeply ponder over our existence and the purpose of God for all of us. Our political and corporate leaders in particular should take time to think over what seems to be their lack of concern for their fellow human and their country as a whole. It should serve a reminder that we do not actually own our lives and that God is indeed the One in charge. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and I dare say the key to a fulfilled life. When men and women put things into proper perspectives, they tend to live their lives in a better way and manner. 

No one is infallible; no matter how highly placed. The best of human remains just that; human. President Yar’Adua’s illness calls for concern, understanding and prayers from all. I am particularly saddened that just as he seems to be finally prepared to lead, this heart condition struck. 

In the last few months, the President succeeded in disarming the militants in the Niger Delta, commenced the sanitization of the Banking and Financial Industry, pushed forward the Petroleum Industry Bill, ended ASUU’s protracted strike, concessioned Lagos-Ibadan highway, led ECOWAS condemnation of the events in Niger and Guinea, successfully held FIFA Under I7 championship etc.

The above are actually more than the entire achievements of the President in his first two years in office. And all I can say is that may God in His mercies heal him and restore him to a full state of health to steer the ship of state. This Ship is indeed in need of direction and momentum in order to avoid the pirates invested waters of our national politics!

The recent disagreement over which chamber should host the President for the presentation of the 2010 budget sticks out like a sore thumb in the many ‘sins’ of the National Assembly. If there’s nothing we could do as a people to stop the obscene salaries and allowances our legislators earn while ‘serving’ us, I think taking the people for granted based on egoistical odyssey is going too far! 

In other climes, it would be unconceivable for legislators to delay the reading of national budget due to supremacy arguments. But anything seems to go in Nigeria and the people are left to bear the brunt. The importance of a quick passage of an appropriation bill is quite clear to most if not all. Anything that will ensure this should thus be encouraged and done to achieve the much-needed development of the country. Rather, our lawmakers see nothing wrong in delaying the presentation and by implication, the development of the nation. 

While I am not going to take sides or trade blames, I strongly believe that the current impasse could have been better handled had PDP been up to par as a progressive political party. The current problem started during the preparations for the review of the 1999 Constitution. Some of the members of the House of Representative walked out on the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu over the co-chairmanship of the joint committee of the National Assembly on the review of the Constitution. The festering anger over this ‘insubordination’ and lack of respect from the honourable members became a bitter pill for the Senate to swallow. 

So the presentation of the 2010 budget became the right avenue for them to prove which arm of the NA is superior to the other when they insisted that the joint session must be held in the hallowed chamber. They didn’t care about past precedents nor were concerned about space for the number of the representatives or the retinue of ministers, SAs and PDP’s top hierarchy that will follow the President for the exercise. The senate can only sit 215 people while the lower chamber sits up to 500. It is therefore clear from this where joint sittings should be held. But beyond the issue of capacity, all past joint assemblies had been held in the House of Representatives. Even when President Clinton came, he addressed Nigerians from this venue. Why the sudden change? 

At the root of our underdevelopment and poverty lies poor governance. We have people in positions of authority that know next to nothing about governance and the use of political power beyond the opportunity to loot and dispense political favours. Tragic! If people claim to represent us why is it that they don’t seek after those things that matter to us? 

The arrogance and impunity of our leaders is legendary. They see themselves as far above the rest of us and therefore can go to blazes for all they care. Our future as a Nation is not the crust of their engagement; their enrichment is the fulcrum of their attention. But they must know, like I always say on this blog that the tide will soon turn, as the only constant thing in life is change. 

For our leaders to be more careful and mindful of history, all they need do is take a look around them. If they care to do, they will find a lot of people who occupied similar positions in the past and are now ordinary citizens facing the same challenges they failed to tackle when fate gave them the opportunity to do so.  The time to embark on ego trip is not now. This is the time to stop Nigeria from slipping into the abyss. All hands must be on deck to do this and our lawmakers have prominent roles to play in this quest. 

It will be a tragedy if they fail to appreciate the onerous task placed before them. The presentation of the budget is just a tip of the iceberg when compared with the multitude of developmental challenges facing us as a Nation. Nigeria is underdeveloped to say the least and I cannot understand the arrogance on display from our leaders. I am forced to ask many questions from time to time. Do they not travel? If they do, are they not ashamed at the level of our progress compared to others? If they are, why do they find it difficult to do the right things? Etc. 

They go to other countries and enjoy the benefits of decency and good governance. Yet they struggle to do even a jot of it in their own Nation. What an irony! We are the eighth largest producer of crude oil in the world yet we are classified as one of the poorest nations on earth. What are our leaders waiting for to snap them out of their comfort zone? We cannot continue like this and keep hoping that the country will remain one undivided entity. History is not very positive about nations that continued the way we are going. This is the time to make a 360” turn.

To curb the increasing crime and violence in the country, the President must declare a State of Emergency on unemployment. I am not one of the people who seem to think that government must employ everybody for the country to develop. But I am a strong believer in the fact that government must take the initiative in the direction of economic empowerment and social development. How can we achieve this?

Let there be Power! In the past three months, I’ve written extensively on the significance of electricity in Nigeria’s drive to achieve economic turn around and poverty reduction. Everywhere, the demand has always been same; give us power. Tens of millions of Nigerians are self-employed entrepreneurs. They range from hairdressers to tailors, welders to barbers, ‘pure water’ manufacturers to shoe makers. The list is endless. The common ground is that none of these people can survive without electricity. 

Leaving this group of people and moving to the big manufacturing concerns, the story and demand is the same. Recently, an industrial gas supplier in Lagos, Gaslink cut supplies to manufacturing concerns in the state and about 15 companies wound down immediately. Two people that I know are currently affected. Such is the significance of power in a nation that is desperate to re-invent itself and move into development. Solving the energy question therefore will be a major achievement for any government. 

Brazil, a country that was ranked with Nigeria as the next ‘big’ issues just 20 years ago recently experienced power outage that knocked off 17,000 megawatts from its grid through the monstrous Itaipu dam. And this is from just one Hydro Power Station. Here we are ‘working’ very hard to attain 6000 megawatts after billions of petro dollars have been spent. A lot of the investment remains unseen, questionable and absolutely indefensible.

So what could aid quality of live in Nigeria has become the mirage of a sunny day to a driver on a highway; he keeps seeing the water like image in front of him but never fast enough to catch up with it! 

Several promises are made and political noise thrown up but yet Nigeria is still in darkness after 10 years of democracy. I have often asked the question that ‘why is it so difficult to make electricity available in the country’? Is it that this government does not know the importance or the fact that they run on generators on public expense matters little to them?When Nigeria, through her leaders solves the problem of electricity, we would have succeeded in reducing poverty to a great extent. Our collective drive must be targeted towards achieving this, as it will form the platform for our drive to economic development and relevance among the comity of Nations.

Having established watertight cases of corruption and abuse of office against many ex governors, the EFCC has found it even harder to bring prosecution to a close talk less of getting judgment.  Strange and very ridiculous injunctions are obtained from our courts to thwart the power of the constitution and delay justice. The meaning of Rule of Law has been turned upside down and so, many villains are walking free like heroes in our country. 

One could then imagine the surprise of many citizens when the news broke that Bode George had been convicted and jailed along five orders for corruption and unethical practices. The total amount involved is also mind-boggling; N85 Billion! It was both shocking and delighting; at last a big fish has been caught. The Judge who did the nation this honour is no other person than Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Lagos High Court who had given landmark judgments in the case of Emmanuel Nwude and Rev. King. 

Whether the sentence is commensurate with the crime is another thing entirely. The fact that a top notch of the ruling party could be sentenced to jail is a clear indication that ours is not a lost case. Nigeria, with men and women of integrity, people who have not sold their souls to the devil, who are left with sense of shame and pride, can become the pride of the continent in a little time when given the opportunity to occupy positions of authority. 

I could imagine a reverse situation in which Justice Oyewole decides to look the ‘other way’ and therefore pervert the cause of justice. What would have happened? Nothing! 

We have become so disillusioned with our situation that we are no longer bothered with the atrocities being committed by our leaders. It is not strange to hear people say “ God will judge them” when the corruption of politicians stare them in the face. The good thing is that the wind of change is blowing across Nigeria. Citizens are ready to demand their rights. Our leaders must know that the long rope is almost exhausted; the time is coming when they would be asked to give accounts. 

Today, it’s Bode George’s turn. Tomorrow it must be the turn of those other shameless people who connived to steal what should have been used to make live meaningful and worth living for millions of their people. It is such a shame that the speed and decisiveness that’s been used to pursue bank chiefs and directors could not be deployed in bringing to book proven thieves that governed us in various capacities in the past. 

It is about time to set down a marker that this is a country of civilized people. People that are committed to the best practice in their business and political conducts. It is only when we set our house in order that tenants would be interested in moving in. While we continue our re-branding efforts, I make bold to say that the judgment of Justice Oyewole  has done more good to this country than a thousand trips organized to positively project Nigeria to the World!