http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article03//indexn2_html?pdate=171209&ptitle=Govt unwilling to make desired change in Nigeria, says Clinton

Govt unwilling to make desired change in Nigeria, says Clinton
From Laolu Akande, New York

ONLY a few days after three former United States (U.S.) Ambassadors to Nigeria expressed the view that Nigeria's global significance is declining, the American Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, has listed the Federal Government of Nigeria among governments that are "able but unwilling to make the changes their citizens deserve," and such governments, she promised, will come under vigorous U.S. pressure.

Mrs. Clinton spoke at the Georgetown University in Washington DC where she presented an overview of the Obama Administration's agenda on human rights and democracy around the world. The U.S. government regularly focuses on human rights, good governance and democracy issues, including yearly human rights reports as mandated by the U.S. Congress, but the Secretary of State spoke in commemoration of this week's observance as Human Rights Week.

A U.S. government bulletin containing Clinton's speech delivered on Monday was later made available electronically on Tuesday by the State Department to The Guardian in the U.S.

According to Clinton, human development must also be part of our human rights agenda.

"Because basic levels of well-being - food, shelter, health, and education - and of public common goods like environmental sustainability, protection against pandemic diseases, provisions for refugees - are necessary for people to exercise their rights, and because human development and democracy are mutually reinforcing. Democratic governments are not likely to survive long if their citizens do not have the basic necessities of life."

But she observed that "in some cases, governments are willing but unable without support to establish strong institutions and protections for citizens - for example, the nascent democracies in Africa. And we can extend our hand as a partner to help them try to achieve authority and build the progress they desire."

However, in other cases, she continued; "like Cuba or Nigeria governments are able but unwilling to make the changes their citizens deserve. There, we must vigorously press leaders to end repression, while supporting those within societies who are working for change."

Categorising Nigeria among nations unwilling to make changes to benefit its citizens is believed to be another signal from the U.S. government of its discontent with the current direction of the Nigerian Federal Government and expresses America's perception of the country's current state of affairs.

Hilary Clinton and the USA are totally correct. America is not perfect but it is right to be worried about how the callous Nigerian Government , out of self-centred interest , is not interested in doing the basic things that will go a long way to developing Nigeria. Too many powerful individuals and groups benefit from the mess that Nigeria currently is. Sadly , these folks are the ones who select our most important leaders i.e the President, Vice President and Senate President. Once these men are in place serving their various godfather benevolent change for ordinary Nigeria is the last thing any of us will see.