IT seemed like a departure from past patterns that the briefing by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last Wednesday was largely devoted to a rebuttal of an essay written by former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor and former Gubernatorial candidate in Anambra state, Chukwuma C. Soludo, formerly Charles Soludo. Reporting the position of the FEC, Labaran Maku, Minister of State for Information practically poo-poohed Soludo’s commentary (“2011 Elections: Let The Real Debate Begin, ThisDay, September 15, 2010, p.6”), arguing that the problems (more like the mess) that Soludo has seen in the Nigerian economy, and for which reason he is asking for changes were actually caused by him during his tenure as CBN Governor and that the present administration has been doing its best to resolve the problems and clean up the mess.

This argumentum ad hominem is most unfortunate. The FEC must look beyond the person, or motives, and attempt a rigorous point by point response to the serious issues raised by the former CBN Governor; to abuse and dismiss him leaves his concerns unaddressed and raises questions about the integrity of the FEC. Dismissing every critic of the present Nigerian system, and trying to label them unfairly as has been done with John Campbell (Nigeria on the Brink: What happens if  the 2011 Elections Fail?, Foreign Affairs, September 9, 2010), and now Soludo, without an attempt to respond to the issues raised obviously negates statecraft.

Soludo raises several issues which at the risk of oversimplification relate to the prudent management of the economy to ensure prosperity among the population now and in the future. The urgency of the need to prepare the country for future demographic and economic challenges which are inescapable given population growth rates, although the design of an economic blueprint remains elusive. The failure of the past and present administration to consolidate on the positives from the Obasanjo administration – signposted by fiscal discipline and a focus on recalibrating the economy to not only cope with the changing global economic dynamics but to use the challenges to justify a focus on infrastructural development issue; rather than the wanton profligacy and lack of clear thinking about economic directions that attends election year political economics.

Beyond this, he outlines a number of issues which he thinks should form the focus of the present election campaigns, issues that should engage the Presidential office-seekers instead of the platitudes they seem pre-occupied with. In other words, articulating why Nigeria should have an issues-driven electoral process that is structured along the lines of the US presidential system we have adopted (with emphasis on rigorous debate to energise and enlighten the electorate) and a focus on matters of national well-being and prosperity. Thus, Soludo’s intervention is a critique of the prevailing economic and political order.

He argues that Nigeria’s future is currently being taken for granted, with the economy effectively pushed into a ‘loser’s trap’ without any alternative vision of redirection. He pointed out that under the Obasanjo administration, with oil prices around $25 - $50 during the second term, the economy grew from 2.8% (the 1990s average), to 6 -7% , the

current benchmark of growth under this economic management plan. The Obasanjo administration he says, paid off $12 billion Paris Club debts, and still managed to leave a healthy sum of $22 billion as excess crude account savings. Since 2007, the excess crude account has been depleted, massive borrowings leading to about N4.3 trillion debts (according to the DMO which indicated that local debts account for about N3triilion of this figure) have been contracted without any quality investment in the key growth and productivity enhancing areas of the economy. Instead recurrent expenditure of the public sector has “more than doubled”  despite the reality of an oil boom that has created additional revenue above budget with oil prices averaging $70 - $85 per barrel during the period under reference. Soludo’s argument is that this profligacy and disregard for economic fundamentals cannot guarantee Nigeria’s future, and can only bring misery, in the event of a crash in the spot price of crude oil, which regrettably remains the mainstay of the economy, which we have never taken any direct effort at restructuring. At a time when the global stock markets are attaining a 4-month high, our stock market is breaching its 6-months low, lending credence to the comatose tag placed on the market by Soludo in his contribution.

Soludo argues that Nigeria can be made more productive, national growth rates can be doubled and capacity utilization enhanced. It beggars belief to think that the best response that the FEC can come up with is that Soludo caused the problems in the banking sector and that is what the Jonathan administration is trying to deal with. Soludo’s commentary is not on the banking sector, and the thinking that the banking sector represents the entire economy is  in fact part of the problem that has led to the crisis that Soludo identifies. The Soludo treatise needs not warrant a rebuttal in the first place. For what purpose would it have served if the comments were made by someone like Obasanjo, Sanusi Lamido or just about any professional analyst or economist – local or foreign?

The World Bank had said as much just as any ‘common sense’ commentator on the economy could have done. Would it not be in the public interest to ask for what happened to the $22 billion saved under Obasanjo? Why has the economic growth rate stagnated at 6-7%? Why is there a doubling of recurrent expenditure?  Is there a justification for massive borrowing beyond the challenge of a global meltdown and even at that has this gone into funding infrastructural development and creating jobs for the growing unemployed? Is Soludo out of line to predict the apocalypse of an oil price crash, something that has been done by so many leading experts in both the finance and oil sectors? OPEC itself predicts a difficult first half of 2011 according to Kippreport.com and if that were to happen, is the government working on any “contingency plan” to prepare for that rainy day?  Superior arguments, and hard facts, and clear demonstration of the government’s innocence are what we expect to be advanced by officials speaking on behalf of government, that is what will persuade intelligent people, not the emotional riposte that “he caused the problems”.

[b]The second plank of Soludo’s intervention is his concern about the lack of serious discussions about the future of Nigeria , no articulation of programmes and vision by those who want to lead Nigeria as we step into the beginning of another 50 years. And he proceeds to outline the programmes and issues to which the candidates should advert their minds as campaign manifesto copies to persuade the people that they understand the enormity of the task to which they seek to assign themselves. These are: the reconstruction of public finance to place it on the path of sustainability with a plan and definitive date in which the presidential aspirant believes we can achieve a balanced budget. Other considerations will include the aspiration to achieve a reduced recurrent expenditure and increased capital expenditure on key infrastructural engagements, encouragement of private sector investments; and a reconstruction of the country’s political structure to ensure productivity at state and local levels rather than an overdependence on federal allocations.

Where does each candidate stand in relation to these, or are we to assume that such call for accountability of planned stewardship no longer matters? And in relation to a number of additional issues such as states creation, effective policing and general sovereign security leading to the question of state or regional police, uninterrupted power supply, a credible population census, population policy, the integrity of elections, the unresolved Niger Delta development, environmental sustainability, the education system, capital flight, women, youths and the physically challenged, poverty, urbanization, unemployment, housing policy, the ports system, tax collection, excise and customs, economic partnership and foreign policy – is it not fit and proper to know where each candidate stands?
[/b]
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23541:abati-the-soludo-treatise-and-the-fec-rebuttal&catid=38:columnists&Itemid=615

With the exception of IBB, no other candidate has addressed any of these issues raised by Soludo.

There is room for an issue-backed candidate in this election. This election may not be won by PDP if they don't rig the polls.

We must insist on presidential debates before the elections.

[size=16pt]Olumhense: To Defeat The PDP Is A Task That Must Be Done [/size]

When Nigeria goes to the polls next January, it will be a very simple national assignment: retake Nigeria.
The objective will be to sweep the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from power: quickly, firmly, surely. The strategy will be to vote for any party other than the PDP, and for anyone other than the PDP candidate.
The means for ensuring the triumph of that strategy will be even simpler for committed Nigerians: wake up, and stay awake for as long as would be required. That way, you would not forget to vote, nor would anybody you know.
You would sing and shout long and loud enough to remind everyone to do their duty to their fatherland. You would charge your cell phone in order to ensure that those who cannot hear your voice on your street can hear their phone ring. You would enthusiastically escort people to the polling stations and guarantee that neither harm nor hunger comes between them and the casting of their vote. You would then do whatever you need to do to ensure that your vote is neither stolen nor sold.
2011 is as simple as that.
For over 10 years, the PDP has conducted itself not as a political party which believes in multi-party democracy, but as an army of occupation. It has desecrated democracy’s most cherished values, placing itself above law and above political responsibility.
All over the country, there is hardly any state where the PDP has won a true election, let alone a free and fair one. All over the country, there is hardly any state where the PDP shines as a beacon of service or responsibility or hope.
The PDP insists on calling itself a party, but perhaps only in the sense of revelry or merrymaking. Top members publicly conduct themselves like brigands: cheating, lying, looting.
As we prepare for the 2011 elections, Nigerians know that a PDP man of honour is almost a contradiction in terms. There might be one here and then there, but the nature of the PDP is such that they are discouraged from high office and banished to little windowless rooms where they wither and die.
Nigerians have four months to confront the thought that the trajectory of Nigeria’s decline and collapse parallels the emergence of the PDP. The party’s aversion to principle and high standards is reflected in the final collapse of our institutions, the dissipation of our hopes, and the marginalization of our best minds.
Under the PDP, ours is a story of double standards: one for those in the party, another for those outside it; one for those in power, another for those outside it; one for other peoples and other places, and another for Nigeria.
Under the PDP, Nigeria lacks multilateral stature. We no longer enjoy recognition even within Africa. We cannot prepare for the Olympics, let alone the World Cup. Under the PDP, Nigerians fight to be enrolled in Ghanaian schools. Under the PDP, Nigeria is being compared to Somalia. In PDP-Nigeria, Gabon is a better footballing nation than Nigeria.
In PDP-era Nigeria, corruption is a game, not a crime, and the largest looters shine. In PDP-era Nigeria, to be involved in an international scam such as Halliburton or Siemens or Wilbros is no embarrassment to the country; it makes you a star of the party. You are on the next National Honours List.
Under the PDP, the executive and the legislature have a collegial relationship so that when they rob the people, they are applauded as philanthropists. Under the PDP, the judiciary is an instrument of the executive, and justice is delayed, denied, and denigrated.
Look around, PDP Big Men are only displaced, never misplaced. That is why, for instance, Lucky Igbinedion continues to be a power broker in Edo State, in addition to anchoring PDP celebrations in South Africa. Paul Odili is reportedly on his way to being Nigeria’s next Vice-President, on Ibrahim Babangida’s ticket. Tony Anenih has returned from the “hot soup” Olusegun Obasanjo planned for him, to take his place next to Goodluck Jonathan. Dipreye Alamieseigha, barely out of his Mama Iyabo disguise, is being entrusted with ensuring his former deputy does not lose a single vote in the Delta.
The PDP rule is simple: stay—don’t stray—and you can enjoy choice homes in Maitama, in Dubai, and even in Potomac, Maryland, where one Barack Obama can hear you laugh at night. One James Ibori arrogantly forgot this lesson, which is why—unless they can get Alamieseigha’s disguise to him in time—his PDP friends will soon be comforting his women in his beds, and distributing his mansions among themselves.
This is the philosophy that has brought Nigeria to its knees. In Esan, we say that the dog in the hunt hunts for the dog. It has resulted in the triumph of greed and impunity, of people who steal their peoples blind, only to retire to a life of political luxury, or move into the Senate to fashion new privileges and rules for themselves.
With the PDP in power, that Nigeria is not going to change. Nigerians will have to do the changing by themselves.
That is why the elections of January 2011 are such a marvelous opportunity for Nigerians outside the PDP blind spot. In that one month, we can change everything by ensuring that the PDP is roundly and permanently rejected. In that one month, we must put all the talking and all the divisiveness aside and focus on plugging all electoral loopholes.
I do not mean to give the impression that opposing candidates are perfect; every candidate brings a weakness or two to an election. But the PDP has had the best chance of any political party in post-colonial Africa, but has blown it. It deserves to be shown no messy, and I strongly advocate an alternative candidate for every available electoral position, as there is no use electing an alternative President, for instance, while the PDP is permitted to possess the legislature.
We are witnesses to the mayhem the PDP has visited upon our land. We know, today, what we did not in 1999, and perhaps could not prevent in 2003 and 2007: the PDP candidate is the PDP. You cannot sit at the feet of the devil and claim you are serving God. The PDP candidate travels with the devil’s pitchfork, bringing his party’s corporate malice, avarice, and scorched-earth greed. One look at the pre-eminent presidential hopefuls in the PDP and the meaning of hell is immediately evident. Nobody can be as bad as the PDP, which can only degenerate.
The 2011 elections are therefore incredibly simple: unless you are of the PDP, or benefiting in some way from the corruption, mediocrity, complacency, irresponsibility and arrogance that it champions, you have to rise up and join in ridding Nigeria of it. Unless you believe the PDP best represents our destiny—unless you believe we have no future—you must seize the opportunity of January 2011.
We have done all of the whining and complaining. It is now time for everyone—teachers and students, nurses and doctors, drivers and conductors, employers and employees, reporters and readers, pastors and prayer warriors, civilians and soldiers—to rise as one and shout that they are not prepared to lose one more day, let alone another 50 years.
Nigerians abroad must reject their status as aliens in their own land and work with groups at home to define these elections, and define a strategy. We have talked too much, for too long. But now, we know the answer, and there is no tomorrow.
Some 40 years ago, as Nigeria stared into the abyss, the cry was, “To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done.” Nigeria stayed one, but she has not travelled into the future. We have it in our hands to engineer a new start. That is why to defeat the PDP is a task that must be done.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23487:olumhense-to-defeat-the-pdp-is-a-task-that-must-be-done&catid=38:columnists&Itemid=615

^^

I think this is the best article I've read in recent times!! Quite powerful!
Always respect Solana Olumhense.

How could the opposition defeat PDP while they all are already chorusing Hosanaa Hosanaa with GEJ of PDP.

You really are something with your willingness to bend the truth just enough.

Where, when and how did IBB address these issues? Perhaps what you are really telling us is that Soludo is now speaking for IBB - you should just tell us that rather than beating around the bush. Or, does the fact that IBB baited you with Igbo Presidency in 2015 imply he has addressed all these issues in your view?

Onlytruth:

With the exception of IBB, no other candidate has addressed any of these issues raised by Soludo.
There is room for an issue-backed candidate in this election. This election may not be won by PDP if they don't rig the polls.
We must insist on presidential debates before the elections.

koruji:

You really are something with your willingness to bend the truth just enough.

Where, when and how did IBB address these issues? Perhaps what you are really telling us is that Soludo is now speaking for IBB - you should just tell us that rather than beating around the bush. Or, does the fact that IBB baited you with Igbo Presidency in 2015 imply he has addressed all these issues in your view?

uumm . . . IBB did address the issues, and if memory serves me right here, so did Atiku.

@Kobojunkie
Can you show me? You said here - here where? Same for Atiku.

They listed items that we can all put together is what I recall - where did they "address" those items? Jonathan has the same or better list.

Kobojunkie:

uumm . . . IBB did address the issues, and if memory serves me right here, so did Atiku.

koruji:

@Kobojunkie
Can you show me? You said here - here where? Same for Atiku.

They listed items that we can all put together is what I recall - where did they "address" those items? Jonathan has the same or better list.

I am sorry I cannot do the searching for you at this time but my response was to correct what you had earlier that he had not done that. He did explain some of his agenda about a month ago by the way. Atiku did the same. So, you assertion that they had not was wrong.

If you want to believe Jonathan has the same or better, that is all your business. Jonathan only declared that he would be running for president yesterday, so feel free to compare what you have on him so far with what IBB and Atiku have had for over a month I believe.

koruji:

You really are something with your willingness to bend the truth just enough.

Where, when and how did IBB address these issues? Perhaps what you are really telling us is that Soludo is now speaking for IBB - you should just tell us that rather than beating around the bush. Or, does the fact that IBB baited you with Igbo Presidency in 2015 imply he has addressed all these issues in your view?

you really need to learn to contribute to a grown up conversation rather than making up conjectures.

All we are asking is for Jonathan to say where he stands on fiscal federalism, creation of new states, state policing, devolution of power etc ,  as raised by Soludo. These are the features that will define the kind of country we want to be going forward. As much as I am not not looking to vote IBB he has given his opinion on these issues which is the point Onlytruth was trying to make.

Jonathan and other candidates are yet to.

mikeansy:

you really need to learn to contribute to a grown up conversation rather than making up conjectures.
All we are asking is for Jonathan to say where he stands on fiscal federalism, creation of new states, state policing, devolution of power etc ,  as raised by Soludo. These are the features that will define the kind of country we want to be going forward. As much as I am not not looking to vote IBB he has given his opinion on these issues which is the point Onlytruth was trying to make. Jonathan and other candidates are yet to.

Well, don't insult me - and I won't insult you. That you may be a baby doesn't concern me.

It is a fact that Onlytruth likes to state things that are at most half-true, and continue to push it even after they are revealed to be not so true. I especially remember him as the one who came here with the story that Kaduna Nzeogwu is an Hausa boy and that the 1966 coup plotter's objective was to hand over to Awolowo.

Besides, I don't know what feeling has to do with fiscal federalism, creation of new states, state policing, devolution of power, etc - most of these issues are so abstract in their definition and implementation that somebody telling you how they feel about them amounts to telling you nothing. That is why I don't think IBB or anybody else has addressed these issues. It is my opinion that this is part of Soludo's competiton for the IBB VP slot with Nnamani. Say, I am wrong if you will.

Don't get me wrong. I was one of those who asked viable Igbo candidates to jump in the ring no matter what anybody says. It may be too late for them now since the group of SE governors took that shortsighted decision that the east needs to stay out of the presidential contest. I would have loved a Soludo to stand up and campaign with the rigor of vision he is talking about in this piece. However, he did himself a disservice without declaring intent, while well aware of the talk about him as IBB's VP.

Some expel a lot of hot air and lies about federalism (eg IBB), while Jonathan very quietly does the practical things that are required (as usual). No shaking.
All others are noise makers.

[size=14pt]FG budgets N1.6bn to compute states’ contribution to national economy [/size]
Friday, 17 September 2010 01:16 Onyinye Nwachukwu

The Federal Government said it has budgeted about N1.632 billion to carry out a “first ever” exercise that would enable states of the federation begin to compute their individual Gross Domestic Products (GDP) to the national economy.

The exercise, which starts almost immediately, would help the Federal Government monitor what each state is contributing to the national GDP, thus generating some form of competition among them. Shamsudeen Usman, minister of national planning commission, said on Thursday that the process would come in two phases: the first, covering the planning and pilot study while the second phase would comprise the training of enumerators and the actual field work survey.

He announced that the budgeted sum for the exercise is to be shared among the Federal Government, sub-national and the development partners in a 40:30:30 ratio, bringing their expected contributions to about N652,800,000, 489,600,000 and N489, 600, 000, respectively. GDP is the most comprehensive parameter for measuring the level of economic activity in any economy over a particular period and can be computed at the national and sub-national levels. Nigeria’s GDP, at the moment, is only computed at the national level but the minister said the disadvantage is that it does not provide information on the size of the sub-national economies that make up the overall GDP as is done in other countries like India, Ghana etc.

At the opening session of the first two-day sensitisation workshop on state GDP computation for Nigeria in Calabar, Usman said sub-national GDP computation which is relatively new globally is the most comprehensive and reliable measure of economic activity at the sub-national levels in federal economies. He said monitoring output at sub-national levels would serve as a basis for benchmarking the economies of the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as generate healthy competition amongst them on periodic basis, while providing disaggregated data and information for improved management of the states’ economies. The minister was optimistic that computing GDP at state level would help facilitate transparency and accountability as well as help monitor and evaluate key programmes of government.

He further told the gathering that state GDP is expected to be developed within the national framework, using standardised methodology and procedures to ensure consistency and credibility of the results, adding that the exercise is intended to draw from experiences and lessons from these countries. “Given the renewed interest in expanding the policy space at the lower levels of government of Nigeria, it has become more necessary than ever before for the Nigerian statistical system to further improve its data generation efforts, especially in the area of revenue and expenditure. It is in this context that efforts are being made by the Federal Government to commence the production of state GDP for Nigeria,” Usman said.

At the event, Slyvester Monye, secretary to the planning commission, noted that the computation exercise is expected to produce the quarterly and annual GDP series reflecting detailed characteristics of the economy at the sub-national level.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13599:fg-budgets-n16bn-to-compute-states-contribution-to-national-economy&catid=85:national&Itemid=340

The first step, creating reliable national statistics, has been taken with little fanfair (just as several other steps to fix the country have been taken without loud noises). Thats Jonathans style, you wake up and see it in the morning, like it was a miracle.

Beaf:

Some expel a lot of hot air and lies about federalism (eg IBB), while Jonathan very quietly does the practical things that are required (as usual). No shaking.
All others are noise makers.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13599:fg-budgets-n16bn-to-compute-states-contribution-to-national-economy&catid=85:national&Itemid=340

The first step, creating reliable national statistics, has been taken with little fanfair (just as several other steps to fix the country have been taken without loud noises). Thats Jonathans style, you wake up and see it in the morning, like it was a miracle.

Much as I like the idea of actions speaking louder than words, I am educated enough to understand that government is not a private business. In private businesses, you can "work without making a noise"; in fact, it is an advantage over the competition!
In running a public office, however, you have no advantage of stealth; after all, you could also be stealing our money "without making a noise".
That is THE PROBLEM with Jonathan's approach.
Nobody is saying that he should blow his trumpet or shout at the top of his voice. He only needs to say what he plans to do, where he plans to take the country, so that the citizen can evaluate them and agree or disagree, or know whether he succeeded in the set "public policy goal", or failed.

Nigeria, though we have made it to look like a pure banana republic, is really a country with the highest number of educated Africans or black people on earth.
So let's respect the country.
We need public policy statements and positions by our president, and all presidential candidates, to enable us score them if or when they get there.

A man without a promise is free from resposibilities, could this be a Game GEJ is playing.
Obama quickely commenced the withdrawal of US army from Iraq becoz that is what he promised the people, and the midterm election coming closer, he would be held responsible for his word and promises. Or are we to underestimate the voters heart he won through this single promise and stance?

Nigeria is really doomed when we began to apply the saying "action speaks louder than Voice" to politice. We all knows Politicians in the whole world have one thing in common, Lies. So is better GEJ tell us his stance on the above economic issues raise, so that we know on what to evaluate his performance after 4 years. Am very sure he would like to go for another 4years, we dont want someone to tell after 4years that " i did not promise you anything but i have done this and this. Nigeria is not his private company like someone already said, he need to woo the masses into voting for him unless they plan to hijack our votes once again.

You dont woo a lady by promising her nothing in the name of action speaks louder than voice, you need to convince her with the reasons why she should be yours, you need to make her promises on which she will always remind you of that promises.

Are we not tired of long stories,do you think our leaders do not have a clue how to fix the country.of course they do, but fixing the country would mean less loot for them. If you ask me for now we have just two options for 2011 vote Jonathan or if vote for any other credible person, cos am yet to see any for now.

Are there any signs that pdp administration will address key issues?I have every reason to doubt that.Niger Delta,wealth creation,state police,equal rights for all Nigerians wherever they reside and abolition of ethnicity syndrome.

You would expect a thread like this to make it to the front pages, afterall Nigerians still don't know what some of the presidential candidates would do for us if elected. Instead, it is Ojukwus endorsement of IBB that make it to the front!
Wonders shall never end.

Where does Jonathan stand on KEY ISSUES: State police, true federalism/resource control, equal residency rights to all Nigerians, economic growth etc.

I have not heard anything from him along those lines.

So, all those supporting him should know that they are the ones mortgaging the future of their children, not IBB supporters. 

You are very right @ ONLYTRUTH but I still won't vote for IBB even if he turns born-again xtian.

udezue:

You are very right @ ONLYTRUTH but I still won't vote for IBB even if he turns born-again xtian.

Bros, frankly I'm not a die hard IBB supporter either. I just have not found other candidates in this elections with ANY RECORD to support. He is the only one with a record.

Now that Ribadu is angling to join the fray, I may switch to him if he is serious. At least, he has something to run on. He actually did some things that shook the ground, even if he did them for OBJ. He still did them. I can't shake the picture of Tafa Balogun in handcuffs while being led away by Ribadu's EFCC. My only worry is that I don't know his financial supporters.

GEJ is not promising anything. He is not even promising to run only one term. His major weapon in this election is opening of national coffers for massive looting. That is why you see all those thieves at his declaration rally.
I need Jonathan to promise something, and then let us decide whether he can deliver or not. Not promising anything is dangerous. He may end up treating Ndigbo badly and we can't say anything then.