Olisa A:

Vision 2020 and the New Society.
By Olisaemeka Akukwe

“For lack of vision, my people perish”, so enthused the Christian holy book. ‘In spite of visions, my people perish’ is the Nigeria reality. Or so it seems. We have had litany of visions in Nigeria wearing different robes. Everybody ‘knew’ there will be “housing for all in the year 2000.” Everyone ‘knew’ there will be “health for all in the year 2000.” It’s 2009 now, I think. And the visions have been fast forwarded to 2020, with the typical panel beating. Top 20 economy in 2020!
Arresting vision. Inspiring. Exhilarating. Intoxicating. If you would come with me a while, I would like us to examine the kind of society Nigeria should be in 2020; assuming we achieve a Top 20 status among economies. Probably we may glimpse the changes we may need to do today; and ask ourselves if we are collectively ready for the challenge.

Great article.

Public education spending, as a matter of policy and future stability should flow more to the north. Reforms of the existing education channels must however be achieved, before this policy of asymmetrical education funding can work. Naturally, Southern leaders may never see the point of this much higher public education spending in the north. We should remember that every society, like any chain, is as strong as its weakest point.

Isn't this what we have in place currently? The north gets its share of national resources, including the education budget, but it ends up funding schools and programs having nothing to do with practical education. What needs to happen is for the government to set up a merit-based coupled with performance evaluation system for getting education funding to the local level. If a state takes federal money and comes back a couple of years later with students that woefully fail test exams then it would have to reform with its educational system subjected to Federal supervision or lose its allocation. That way, when funding for 1000 kids are sent and only 10 actually get an education there will be no basis for anger.

At current public spending growth pattern, government spending in all tiers will balloon to about $200 billion by 2020 (about N30 trillion). We are aware of the colossal waste and corruption at the current $50 billion of government spending. At $200 billion, your guess is as good as mine. This implies that without a comprehensive and painful civil service reform and re-invention of governance, we will simply have much, much more of the same. A transparent tax regime with coherent theme and Federal, State, Local harmonization must be developed. Its greatest virtue should simplicity.

A fool-proof accounting system will do wonders for Nigeria.

We should also ask ourselves, are we ready for the migration and immigration pressures in the urban areas? A thriving economy will be a magnet for citizens of impoverished and war torn African countries, especially in West Africa . So a foreign policy that pro-actively promotes stability in West Africa will be a plain necessity. A comprehensive immigration policy and border control may be necessary. 

This would be great, but don't expect any of it from the current crop of leaders. Their fame in international circles is connected with doling out our resources, without any returns, to ungrateful beggar nations who turn around at every opportunity to oppress and castigate our citizens, smiling and bowing in front of our leaders, while laughing and poking fun at their foolishhness behind their back.

We can go on and on. The purpose is however not a monologue, but to raise posers for all of us. Do we believe in this Vision 2020? With the ossified political and leadership culture, can we or should we embark on such grandeur? Should we not change the political and electoral process as a starting point? Have the political and technocratic leaders weighed the multi-faceted changes that should undergird such vision, as this piece have illuminated? Do you see the current leadership in the center and at the states possessing the insights, understanding, and empathy that can make this Vision people friendly? Have there been robust engagements between the political/technocratic leadership and leaderships in the religious, traditional, professional, business, academic, youth, women, and trade strata? Or is this just another people perishing , ‘macro-economic’ vision? These are the questions that are bugging my mind. I wonder if they bother you too?

Given those at the top, your elaborations of what Vision 2020 entails seems indeed like saying, don't bother, it is impossible. Yet, only dreamers can see these details and only dreamers can move the nation forward. So, I say more grease to your elbows. What we need to do though is begin the process of actualizing the dream ourselves.

Kobojunkie:

I don't believe this is TRANSFERING OF RESPONSIBILITY in the way you are trying to make it seem. On the contrary, this seems more like the government attempting to explore an angle that has been ignored to this point.

Well that is the language they were quoted to have used "warned that they will be held responsible for criminal acts in their communities".

There is no denying the fact that some traditional rulers are aware of what is going on in their communities. I read somewhere that in some cases, women and children even aid by providing lookout, cooking food for victims and helping conceal what is going on within their own backyards. Given that traditional rulers are somewhat generally informed on what is going on in their communities, it makes sense to urge them to speak out and point out those involved to the right authorities so they  are not themselves removed.

That would make sense, but there is a fine line between urging someone to speak out and holding them responsible, without any real law enforcement authority.

Well, look at it this way. Household leaders are held responsible in much the same way. You are told that if you know of anything illegal going on in your house, it is in your best interest to report. If something happens in your house and you are aware, and allow it, you are held responsible and possibly will be figered as an accomplice.

All well and good, but you too are combining "held responsible" with "if you are aware". Of course that is a responsibility of every citizen not just traditional rulers. What happens if you are not aware - the fake threat did not implore, it was a threat. Besides, all analogies break down at some point. What applies to a household cannot apply wholesome to a city, otherwise it should also apply equally to a state governor and the president. In reality, it applies to whoever has the line of authority and jurisdiction.

And this happens NO MATTER WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE POLICE. So, I see no reason why this should be turned into yet another WHO CONTROLS THE NIGERIAN POLICE issue, when that is not what this is really focused on.

You don't see it as relevant, I see it as relevant. Keep your peace, I'll keep mine.

Kobojunkie:

I actually think this approach does make some sense. These kidnappings do not happen without the knowledge of some in the communities and in some cases, traditional rulers are aware and possibly involved. Ever wonder why traditional rulers are not generally victims in all this? I mean many of them are equally rich so why not them? In Ibo communities, the role of traditional rulers is still of importance and making these rulers more responsible for what happens in their areas, will, in my opinion go some way to decreasing the trend.

Even though traditional rulers do not have police forces at their command, many do have their own security forces in place who help enforce ordinances and keep order in their communities. They can easily employ this in ensuring that those in their communities involved in these kidnappings are not only handed over to the right authorities but the AGBEROS are rounded up.

So if kidnapping and armed robbery continues in a traditional ruler's environment, without proof of his involvement, what do you do then? Hmmm! This is the kind of theoretical, ad hoc-ery that dominates rulership in Nigeria. Rather than solve underlying issues we put in place non-constitutional zoning. Rather than re-jig policing we transfer responsibility for safety of life and property to people who receive stipends from the same state government. Isn't what you do is investigate and arrest any traditional ruler or president-general involved in such illegal activity, instead of some fake you will be held responsible threat.

Of course traditional rulers are supposed to help maintain law and order in their domain, unless they are like the deposed Deji of Akure, but that does not make them responsible for security. If that is what is needed then put the force of law and resources behind it. Right now Abjuja owns the security situation in Nigeria in men, resources and responsibility.

Ileke-IdI:

“All traditional rulers and president-generals of town unions in the zone are hereby warned that they will be held responsible for criminal acts in their communities, which occurrence will lead to withdrawal of certificate of recognition in the case of traditional rulers or removal of the town union president-generals in addition to prosecution. They are advised to immediately report any suspected individual to the security agencies,” the governors warned.

I kinda support this.

I don't think you should kinda support this! Do the traditional rules and president-generals have standing police forces at their command? I know that the state governors don't either, but instead of throwing the responsibility to people event more impotent than yourself what these state governors need to do, if responsible, is either challenge the FG on its incompetent policing and call for state and local police forces, or just go ahead and make state arrangements.

@cap28

You make a number of important points, but I am afraid we might still be missing a well-rounded perspective on these issues

For a very long time now africans and african americans have deliberately been kept in the dark as to what really happened in those dark days of slavery, the white slave master was able to completely brainwash the african american into believing that africans were primitive savages and that way of thinking continues to date (see bk babe's comments) some educated african americans on the other hand are aware that whitey is still up to his old tricks of divide and conquer.  In the case of africans whitey used religion and western education to destroy our minds and our ability to think for ourselves, this is why to date the average african idolises and mimics the ways of white people.

Of course, these were explicit policies in the past. However, it is mainly implicit today, and there are caucasians fighting Africa's cause even more than our rulers. So I would avoid generalizations at this point in time. The word "whitey" is probably as racist as the word "nigger". I think the major responsibility now falls on African leaders many of who, though free, continue to play the role of slaves.

today we celebrate our "acheivements" by comparing ourselves to whites instead of forging our own unique destinies.

I don't think there is any problem comparing achievements in areas that are common to human development across the globe. Food, health, transportation, etc are universal needs and achievements in these areas should be compared with other peoples' achievements. Healthy competition is actually good. It is the wholesome adoption of other peoples underlying worldview that has damaged the African psyche - much of it forced. Whatever we borrow from abroad must be localized - that is exactly what they did, that is what the Chinese are currently doing without losing "themselves". The underlying factors behind the industrial revolution were borrowed and customized. Moreover, Africans achieved great feats in ancient times, comparable to, and perhaps greater than, civilizations elsewhere. We cannot isolate ourselves, but also must not lose ourselves.

It will take years of deprogramming for this to be rectified, our only hope now is future generations coming up (any person below the age of 18)  as i feel the current generation of blacks are a lost cause. 

I think if THE leader comes along we can go places in as little as 20 years, but I am not talking about the borrowed and visionless Vision 2020. They already used up half a decade preparing useless documents on that one!

Have you ever come across any historical account of the slave trade which was written by a white historian which accepts full responsibility for the atrocity which was the slave trade? of course not, instead what you hear are series of excuses - we did not invent it , they were practiicing it amongst themselves before we arrived, the arabs were enslaving them before we arrived etc but the truth is that no where on this planet have human beings been reduced to chattel in the way that black africans were by european slave traders. 

Many are definitely trying to avoid responsibility - you hear this even from people you expect to know better. There also remains large sections that maintain the view that we are supposed to be their slaves. However, there are also others who realize the evil of these events and are fighting our cause. The problem is that our leaders are not providing any basis for hope given the slave-mentality from which they act - swiss accounts for one. Abacha's sons are still being convicted for the crimes they commiteed with their father, but are already gearing up for political office! _ibb is attempting to climb into the chair of Nigeria's presidency!

All i can say is it is time to wake up and understand that we (africans and african americans) are both victims of one of the most heinous systems invented by man - white supremacist capitalism, white supremacist capitalism is what caused the depletion of man power from africa, the plunder and pillage of the african continent, the degradaion and abuse of people of african descent in the diaspora and eventually the creation of the most powerful nation on earth - the united states of america, but all done at the expense of the black african man.  Has anything changed to date - i woudl say no - blacks all over the world continue to be exploited, degraded and abused wherever we go in the world, therefore I think its time for us to understand that we should forget about the antagonism and start working together, this was Marcus Garvey's message - the whites knew this and they cut him down before he could become too powerful, he was even denied entry into africa because the white colonialists thought he might instigate the overthrow of the white colonialists.

Yes, the struggle must continue, although I am not sure about the "white supremacist capitalism" characterization. The success of the industrial revolution certainly gave the caucasian race an air of invincibility that soon led to white supremacy, but capitalism itself, kept within the bounds where it works well, is the main means of generating immense wealth and national development. That is what China found out and has exploited to great advantage over the last few decades, while maintaining policitcal socialism.

The source also confirmed that Aondoakaa was shocked and disappointed that the United States government that voted for him in December 2009, in Rome to become a member of the governing council of the United Nations Institute for Unification of Private Laws, could place an entry ban on him without communicating it through the world body.

May there be more bans for these nincompoops. Amen. May their loots be confisticated. Amin.

Do you remember what was going on in Nigeria in December 2009? We could not find our president and a citizen had just committed a heinous international crime. Yet, the former Area-boy General of the Federation (AGF) claimed the government of Nigeria nominated him for a UN job.

Who nominated Aondoakaa? Certainly not Jonathan or Yar'adua for that matter. He probably sent his own name in under pretense 

amazonia:

@naijaking1, At first glance it appears that the Dan Fodis were conducting the exchange. But a closer observation reveals that the UDFs are equally captives. Their lines is two, with little dept. The first two in the front , are standing behind the role of sitting captives. Look closer at their gazes, there is bewilderness in their contenance. BTW, do anybody have a date for the picture? sombering.It look recent considering the structure of the boat. Might be early 20th century to late 19th century.

It is from this site http://wysinger.homestead.com/mapofafricadiaspora3.html with the caption “Group of Slaves with Arab men” , Zanzibar, 1850-1890

Kobojunkie:

There are others who have their names already declared, but you are not even considering those at all.

You are one of those people who won't do and won't let others do what they can. Just name the names and let me put it on my list. These are the people I have listed so you won't have to go back 5 posts: Jonathan, Buhari, Atiku, Utomi, Duke and of course _ibb

Briefly, the Saudis explained that investigations are still on, especially on his links with Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspected December 2009 bomber. The matter, they were told, is being handled between Nigeria and Saudi government but their security agents are still investigating the liaison between Mutallab and Gumi. Thereafter, the Rigachikun delegation wrote to Alhaji Shehu Idris, Emir of Zazzau, giving him the update and the missive was copied to Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan Bello mosque management committee, Jamaátul Nasir Islam and Alhaji Umaru Abdulmutallab, Farouk’s father.

COMMENT: At the time Yar'adua was rushed home from Saudi Arabia I raised a potential connection between it and the arrest of Gumi in the same country following the Abdulmutallab incident. I am even more convinced that this reason has something to do with why they suddenly moved Yar'adua back to Abuja - not any consideration for the political fiasco created by Yar'adua's behavior. If the latter were the reason they would have moved him directly to Katsina and save him the humiliation of dying uncelebrated in Aso Rock.

Written by Ibraheem Musa (Kaduna) Abdullahi Yahaya Bello & Aisha Umar Agaie (Abuja)     
Saturday, 03 July 2010 02:48 
Malam Lawal Abubakar, the no-nonsense preacher, was Sheikh Abubakar Gumi’s acolyte but in demeanour, physique and style of preaching, he differed from the grand Mullah.
Burly, short-tempered but soft-spoken, the cleric was with Gumi through thick and thin and in 1992, the protégé succeeded the great ulama. Preacher, teacher and former Grand Khadi of Northern Nigeria, Gumi was like a Colossus within the Izalatil Bid’ah wa’Ikamatis Sunnah movement. In addition, during the month of Ramadan, he delivered the tafsir at Sultan Bello mosque, situated at Unguwar Sarki Kaduna and upon his demise, Lawal Abubakar stepped into his shoes. However, in other respects, Gumi took his shoes along because as yet, few have matched his qualities.

Politics, as in everything, played out after his demise and the jostle for succession was between Lawal Abubakar and Sheikh Ahmad Sanusi Gumbi, a young, knowledgeable and fairly well-off Malam. However, Gumbi is as controversial as they come as he relished in debates and the upstart, on that account, was very unpopular amongst Izala rank and file but Gumi embraced him. Occasionally, when the Malam was away, Gumbi stood in for the old man but that did not assuage critics. Basically, opponents saw Gumbi as a man in a hurry but all camps rallied round Lawal Abubakar and the Maiduguri Road Mosque Imam succeeded Gumi. For 12 years, Lawal Abubakar preached at Sultan Bello mosque during Ramadan.

In 2004, following Abubakar’s death, the position was again up for grabs and the scramble was bitter and divisive but this time, Gumbi watched from the ringside. Largely, the contest was between Sheikh Jafar Adam, a Kano-based cleric and Dr Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, Sheikh Gumi’s son. The young Gumi is a medical doctor and a retired army officer and was based in Saudi Arabia and according to reports, was a reluctant candidate, as was Jafar Adam. However, Sheikh Yusuf Sambo Rigachukun and some Izala top hats contrived a contest, laid out the ground rules and rooted for Dr Gumi. Alhaji Ahmad Sani, then Zamfara State governor, provided funds and logistics for the shuttling to and from Saudi Arabia. Basically, the new preacher should be Islamically learned, western educated, broad-minded and fair. Dr Gumi fit that bill and based on these criteria, he succeeded Lawal Abubakar, his father’s successor.

Significantly, Dr Gumi commenced the annual tafsir and his turban and his bearded face resembled his late father’s. Last year, he stirred intra-religious disharmony when he took on he took on the Darika sect, shiite group and the salafiya elements, declaring them apostate. In addition, he dabbled into partisan politics. In 2007, after the presidential election, Gumi advised General Muhammadu Buhari, the ANPP presidential candidate, to accept defeat as leadership comes from God but the general stuck to his guns. Similarly, he rallied support for Alhaji Umaru Yar’adua. Gumi, by his own account, sought the way out of the nation’s power crisis and in this search, he went to Kainji Dam, saw the extent of damage and advised on the way out.

Ibrahim Hassan, one of his supporters, sees Gumi as a mature, temperate and broad-minded scholar who sees issues dispassionately. The sheikh, according to him, is not the usual run-of-the-mill preachers whose stock-in-trade is making incendiary statements. Such preachers, he pointed out, criticise to either win followers or impress their flock but with his pedigree, popularity and knowledge, Gumi does not need such publicity stunts. Silently, without fanfare and name-calling, Gumi told truth to power but given his nature, according to Ibrahim, the preacher would not run down leaders in public.

However, on February 24, the Saudi authorities detained Gumi in spite of his moderation. Simultaneously, the arrest was as surprising as it angered Muslim ummah and no reason was given for the detention. Specifically, Alhaji Abdullahi Garba Aminci, the Nigerian ambassador, was neither briefed of Gumi’s offence nor was he allowed to see him by Saudi securities. However, the detainee had access to members of his family but he was neither charged nor arraigned before a court. Appeals, questions and enquiries since the arrest, have inundated Ulamas, Izala chieftains as well as diplomats but the efforts came to nought and Gumi’s offences remained mere speculations.

Remarkably, as Ramadan approaches, the noise climbed higher as the prospect of Gumi’s absence, especially for the annual tafsir, is discomforting to his teeming supporters. In the last few months, according to Rigachukun, he gets about 100 telephone calls daily from concerned Muslims, asking for Gumi’s whereabouts, his living condition and whether or not he will be released before Ramadan.

On May 20, a delegation of Izala top shots, led by Rigachikun, wrote a letter to Saudi Arabia and hand delivered it to the embassy. In the letter, the group traced Gumi’s genealogy, religious trajectory and the preacher’s antecedents, arguing that in his 20 years stay in Saudi Arabia, Gumi had never run afoul of the law.  In addition, Gumi has never interfered with the governance of his host country and his moderate brand of Islam is in tandem with the Saudis’. In the end, they asked for Gumi’s release, arguing that it is wrong to detain him. On May 23, three days later, the Saudi ambassador sent emissaries to the delegation, requesting audience with them. The delegation, comprising Rigachikun, Abdullahi Sale Pakistan and Saidu Alhassan Saidu Sale, met the Saudi envoy and made further explanations. Last Tuesday, the embassy told Rigachikun that the reply to their letter was ready.

Briefly, the Saudis explained that investigations are still on, especially on his links with Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspected December 2009 bomber. The matter, they were told, is being handled between Nigeria and Saudi government but their security agents are still investigating the liaison between Mutallab and Gumi. Thereafter, the Rigachikun delegation wrote to Alhaji Shehu Idris, Emir of Zazzau, giving him the update and the missive was copied to Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan Bello mosque management committee, Jamaátul Nasir Islam and Alhaji Umaru Abdulmutallab, Farouk’s father.

Before now, Dr Gumi was detained in Jeddah but the preacher, according to Rigachikun, is now under house arrest in Mecca, in good living condition with family members allowed to visit him. The matter, as things stand, is between the Nigerian and Saudi governments but whether or not Gumi will regain his freedom and deliver this year’s tafsir is the current bone of contention.

Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Abdullahi Garba Aminci told Weekly Trust that from all indications Sheik Gumi will soon be released. “Right now they have brought him back to Makka. You know since he was arrested they took him to Jiddah for interrogation but he is back to Mecca where they picked him from. From information I got from the family members who have been going there to see him, they said he is hale and hearty. Up till now they have not allowed any embassy official to see him but his family members have access to him. The family members informed me that Sheik Gumi told them that the Saudi authorities have concluded their interrogation and forwarded the report to the government. Sheik Gumi also told his family members that they didnt find anything incriminating against him. General Abdulkadir Gumi and Dr. Hamza Gumi came to visit him from Nigeria recently and they also confirmed that he was doing well. In fact the embassy has sent a letter to the Saudi Authorities informing them that a lot of people are worried back home because of his continuous detention. We appealed to them to hasten the process of his release.”

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) is also trying from its own end to push for his release. T he Secretary-General of (NSCIA), Dr. Lateef Adegbite said they have made representation to the Federal Government over the matter. “We have taken the case to the highest level. We have written letter to the Federal government asking them to intervene because it is a diplomatic matter. We have not been told what crime he committed.”

A family source who spoke to Weekly Trust on condition of anonymity said his release is taking too long. “Look Dr. Ahmad has been in detention for over four months now and the Saudi authorities even then promised that he will be released soon, maybe July. So, how soon is soon?”

@bk/babe99
Actually I read you loud and clear, although you stated it in a sacarstic manner. What you wrote below confirms that this is the way you feel. From my viewpoint, this is the source of our potential friction. Africans grow and live in a completely different reality than the African-American, but each seems to be thinking we should have the same worldview simply because we had a common past. This is not true at all. The great names that you mentioned are common knowledge to African-Americans, but go to the street of Lagos and mention those names and see the blank stare that you get.  Why are the rappers more prominently known? Simply this, those are who people see. Even among African-Americans the young are likely to be more in tune with these rappers than the heros that are really worth emulating. This is an ongoing fight in the community, so don't be surprised that Africans that grow and live under even more oppressive regimes and almost completely unaware of your experience, don't have a clue about what our common history implies. When an African finally allows himself to stop and read some of these history they develop the proper perspective, although some are completely without redemption in their twisted views. In the same way, African-Americans need to be more aware that their struggle against the oppression they still experience today actually seems more endurable than the b-as-tard leaders that rule the mother continent. We will find that the freedom we desire are more alike if we cut out the incorrect imposition of worldviews on each other's experiences.

Besides, there is no need to answer for the person I met. We talked more than what I have said here, and it was clear that he cared about Africans and is not too happy that some of those he has met don't seem to recognize the common bond between us. I believe that once we stop making incorrect assumptions, we would finally figure out the proper reasons that would lead us in the right direction.

bk/babe99:

Foolish Biafran! Clearly the poster mistakened my sarcasm as sincerity! Even the dead skin cells at the bottom of my feet are more intelligent than u, homo!Like I said we really dont give a funck about yall! What we know is this: Yall been brainwashed to think African Americans are a hopeless bunch! Yall been conditioned to ignore the likes of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, Condoleeza Rice, Collin Powell ect . Uve been made to believe we're all Nicky Barnes', Guy Fishers, Gangsta Rappers and Athletes. Regardless Tho, the average African American could care less about native Africans. The ones who do, want to find out more about their heritage; and thats a very small minority of us. Me? I know where I'm from, I'm just trying to figure out where I'm heading to. Meaning? Could care less about yall; i'm thinking more about me and my loved ones!

@Kobojunkie
Sometimes I don't like the way you argue your points. First, you tell me you won't participate in a ridiculousness - good for you. Then you say I am trying to recycle old hands.

Again, mam, it is all relative: IF (and if is the operative word) this is the crop that declare their intention, THEN which combination is best. It is as simple as that, if you know how to read ENGLISH.

When you are finally ready to release the name of YOUR candidates then I 'll take a look and see if we can get an even better combination. Besides, it is my opinion - you don't have to like it, but if you say my combination is objectionable, show me your combination!

This has been a good discussion, but it is going where it shouldn't.

Kobojunkie:

Come up with my own combination? Why? We are not even in the primaries and you already believe it MAKES SENSE to indulge in such ridiculousness(I am sorry but it is ridiculousness to indulge in such knowing what one knows of the situation)WHAT THE HECK? ROFLMAO!!!
But . . . but . . . but . . . Jonathan is not even PDP party head and I should draw your attention to the main issue here . . . P - freaking D - P, are you serious?
I don't understand you man . . . are you serious about things changing or are you so stuck in RECYCLING the same old heads that you cannot even see the problem with what you continue to put forth? I have to ask at this point . . Or is it the case that my posts are not even in ENGLISH?

@bgees
So you are saying those kings made a mistake. This is disputable because many kings infact saw the potential damage these intruders can do and tried to resist them. Others took advantage and cooperated, and even took it upon themselves to do far beyond what the foreigners asked. Until recently I did not realize that the British never had a large force to conquer their portion of Africa - most of their soldiers were natives whom they set against their people. The famous King Jaja of Opobo was at first a child slave , but rose from a petty trade to become King of Opobo and middleman between the coast and palm oil plantations that were harvested by slaves, supported the invasion of Asante by the British and was honored for it. His troubles started when he monopolized the palm oil trade against the wishes of his "friends" and was captured and deported. The whole point of the above is that a sweeping description of what went on does not apply.

While the responsibility of what happened to the people that they took from Africa's shores fall squarely on those who metted out the most evil acts possible to fellow humans, the role of each group in that eventuality cannot be ignored. Even today parents that give up their kid for adoption in opulent homes tend to regret it after many years and often find that their children, if they were old enough to be aware at the time of the separation, tend to habor resentment against their real parents. It is the blood bond.

You talk as if ancient human kingdoms were altruistic. Far from it. We like to call them civilizations today, but all human kingdoms before the present and much of the present are basically the same babaric rulerships. Only democracies have achieved some measure of people power. Whatever is true in the accusations leveled against ancient Africans were equally true, or even more so, of those who made those accusations.
The question still remains. Suppose all of these were mistakes in the distant past, then they do have to take responsibility for their mistakes - right?. This is especially so, given that the effect of that "mistake" is reflected not only in the descendants of those who directly suffered the atrocities of those ages, but also in those left behind on the continent. Our psyche was completely altered by the level of mistrust and dislocation that slavery entailed. If we don't recognize this common experience with the African-American we are simply deceiving ourseves when we talk about African progress.

bgees:

Those hiding our national resources and those kings I mentioned are two different kinds of people . the kings did it for what they thought was the good of the entire Kingdom or empire whatever the case may be ,not like present African leaders who are just selfish.

And who do I blame? Of course I blame the white man. because he initiated it, they could have brought their own slaves from Europe.

Kobojunkie:

Please, get back to discussing Nigeria rather than looking for, what I consider LAME excuses for the ineptitude that continues to this day in the name of government in Nigeria. Jonathan is not making mistakes, he is simply showing he is not ready for the job by his daily actions, and ignoring the very vital needs of the people over and over.

The ball is in your court, I listed a number of potential combinations. What you need to come up with are your combinations. Perhaps we can then go ahead to discuss the merits of each one. Two points:
1. Jonathan has no reason for letting IBB or Atiku for that matter kick him off the PDP slot - especially if he finds a good complement that together can move Nigeria forward.

2. If Buhari finds a good southern technocrat that knows what he is doing, he has a good chance of saying: I will get rid of corruption, check my religion at the door, and look here is a vibrant VP to help with modern economic managment. He will be better than the combination of IBB & Atiku put together, and may win against Jonathan.

Over to you.

Blazay:

I really do not see any reason why ANY African-American should be whinning about slavery.

That is the misunderstanding or ignorance I think is the basis of potential friction. They are not whinning about slavery - that is the "others" line. They are living the effects of slavery today, and because that is their unpalatable experience it does not seem reasonable to them that any completely "free" African from the mother continent would want to give up his "freedom". Therein lies the problem: Africans are not really free. We are ruled by the "same" colonialist in a different skin - and they are even more cruel than those of past centuries.

I will gladly give up my spot and take his or hers even the darkest holes of Mississippi.

This here is only a SAD truth, but not something to be happy to do! It is the outcome of what happened in the past which we have not corrected, and so our future is tied to the whims of the same colonialists we asked to leave our land. Ah! This is what baffles the African-American, I believe. As I have heard it described Africans are acting like the elephant tied with a strong chain to a big tree for so long that when the chain is cut loose he refuses to leave - being so used to that condition he doesn't recognize freedom anymore. It would take a major new impetus, enough to overcome the strength and duration of the chaining, to get him moving again.

bgees:

As for your question, I think the issue is overblown as it is not common. Many African- Americans actually get along with Africans and when they don't get along , the slave trade is not always the reason.

Certainly many African-Americans get along well with Africans. I am wondering if there is an undercurrent of resentment under the surface. It is like all the tribal conflicts in Africa. See the Hutu and Tutsi neighbors in good times, and you would not know how easily they would get rid of each other given the right conditions. So we need to dig deeper and address the fault lines.

Honestly, I won't really blame the African kings that sold slaves to the white man. Most of the slaves they sold were prisoners of war(and not their own tribe), they had to sell them to finance more wars and buy superior weapons like guns because those days you had to be strong or else your kingdom would be taken over.

You won't blame them! Who do you blame then? The children and women that were raided for slavery? I guess those hiding our national resources in Swiss accounts today simply need more houses, cars and funds for the future of their children and grandchildren, yet unborn? You are not thinking right, I am afraid. Nobody is saying that anybody alive today should be held responsible for what they did not actually participate in as an individual. This is the same reason why it is terrible to hear Africans ask for reparations from the West. However, the way we do things today is an offshoot of the way we were doing them back then, and unless we reexamine this history and make a good-faith effort to achieve unity of purpose the suspicions that opened up those ages ago will continue to frustrate our progress.

Kobojunkie:

Actually, Bush's  messes have nothing to do with inexperience or inability to do the job well. The man simply made mistakes, that does not mean he did not have what it took to be a president. I think you should understand the difference between those.

Inexperience is a better excuse for Bush's failures than "mistakes". This is a man who went from one fumble to the other and for 8 years would not admit any of them - he was captured by his business and war-monger friends, and they together almost threw a great country into the dustbin. Having no experience of his own he put Cheney in charge of the politics and Rumsfeld in charge of the war, and went clearing the grass in Texas. If that is not inexperience in handling national affairs I don't know what is. His was a combination of not just inexperience and a well-measured barrel of unfounded arrogance. Even President Obama has shown some inexperience in handling certain things, but he is a man capable of making course correction and thinking long-term. Moreover, he is not arrogant about his office. Still, only time will tell if Americans will consider his presidency a resounding success, a so-so or complete failure. Right now he is having a rough time reviving this economy, but it would be wrong to start declaring him a failure. That willingness to hold judgment and the lack of a really good opponent are the reasons why Americans gave Bush another 4 years - if only, as they said, to let him correct his mistakes. What happened? The economy almost collapsed in his 2nd term and he tried to correct some mistakes, but to no avail. It is not just as straightforward as you might think!

Kobojunkie:

But they are not the only choices out there. I think at this very point you should be able to answer the question. Is he the leader you need? He has been in office for over 3 years . . VP about 2.5 years of that time, AP about 2 months and President about 3 months.

I definitely having serious doubts as stated earlier, but final judgment at this time is premature. We cannot pretend we don't know what Yar'adua and his cabal did to/with Jonathan.

The NOBODY candidates( again does not mean they are not skilled and up to the task) need our help and as long as we are more willing to focus on recycling the ridiculous, we do them(the NOBODYs) no good and in the end, we probably prolong our suffering under the SAME GROUP.

You have to start providing names and pointing out their statement of intention, and organization for this to be tenable. Frankly, I have seen a couple of You Tube newbies gunning for the presidency, when we know nothing of where they have been or done, and their so-called declaration did not impress. Anybody with an agenda and plan to accomplish it that sounds even half-reasonable is certainly preferable to the non-agenda of the current contenders[quote][/quote]

Kobojunkie:

@Naijamini, He has had 4 years ON THE JOB TRAINING still we produced an inexperienced man/politician like the others. . .  If that is so far not enough for you and I to expect results at this time, how much more time do you think is necessary for this to happen? What next? Do we also give people like Bankole, and others who were relative newbies back, say in 2007, more years to give us good results?

We have to find a way to improve the system, but it is probably too late for 2011. Look at G.W. Bush, who was not only a governor of Texas, but was considered one of the best governors than there, mess up on the national stage. No matter how "experienced" you are in other areas of life, when new challenges come up or you get into different situations you may become inexperienced. That is why I believe a leader needs at least 1 year to show his true worth, but we hold their feet to the fire all along the way, and when the time comes to vote them out we make the final judgment on the balance of the evidence. What we cannot do is declare someone a failure a few months into their allowed time - we might let them know they are showing the signs of failure or success, but we need to hold the line until they have had enough time.

Certainly, if there is a better combination of Jonathan & someone else or another pair entirely they need to step into the game. From what I am seeing I don't see all these other parties really organized to give PDP a good fight come 2011, but who knows with the way people jump political ship in Nigeria

Kobojunkie:

Ok! what would a Jonathan/Rufai combination change?

Probably not much, but again it is all relative. If these are the choices available, I am simply looking for the best combination of the lot.

The reason the pool is limited is mainly because those who want to try are currently intimidated by the amount of attention we continue to give the very same people who have looted and pillaged our lands for decades. I would not want to waste my money on running if I sensed that the people do not seem interested in change but are all too willing to settle for another round of the same packaged in some random manner either.

This is exactly the reason why Jonathan would have to play some politics - even if he is the leader we need. If some better candidate doesn't show up because of these reasons then we are left to choose from those who do come out - but we have to recognize that until there is a better way they will have to play some politics. It may be too late to start recruiting for 2011, but we need to find a way to get better candidates in the "game".

redsun:

But it takes a funtioning brain to provide the basics.The brain creates the condition for excellence.If our leaders are the obstacle then we have to use our brains to push them aside and do what is right for us.

Agreed. So, what we need to do is figure out why our cancerous leadership is so hard to disloge, and begin the necessary "series" of operations to clear them out. Easier said that done!

chidichris:

one or two steps in every administration is good enough for me to pass my judgement on that administration.
on certain sritical issues in nigeria that have been discussed here on nairaland, i have been able to take a side and to God be the glory they all come to pass.

Certainly you are not trying to claim that you are right all the time. Are you?

how can men who ran away from justice be his first periority bringing them back and giving thnem a heroic welcome talking about ribadu and el rufai?

You are mixing issues. The charges against Ribadu and Rufai were dug up after both men had left Nigeria's shores because Yar'adua started persecuting OBJ's allies, as if it wasn't the same OBJ who ensured his emergence. Besides, I don't know how anybody compares protecting Ibori to correcting the injustice to Ribadu. Rufai is back home answering and fighting EFCC charges. These are non-issues, and restoring that sense that you can get a fair hearing is actually one good that came out of GJ's emergence.

he did declare emergency on the power sector and how has this emergency fared all these while? in my side, things are improving for the worst and the emergency declared on nff become effective immediately.

By all means assess him, but don't start looking for miracles!

alams who was confirmed a criminal now recieves a national appology and a heroic welcome back to pdp.

I am aghast at this myself - and I think it shows, if true, that GJ is more of a politician, than a leader. Suggests we look for someone better in 2011, but where are you going to find someone in Nigeria that is not mixed with the political dirty-bags and can still become president.

@redsun
I guess what nobody pointed out is that your statement below about the state of the "African Brain" is just as patently wrong as your "theory" to explain it. Nothing is basically wrong with the African Brain, but if a "brain" doesn't eat right, doesn't have good health, transportation or education it would behave as if something is wrong with it. However, this does not translate into any irreversible solar-induced, biological shortcoming with the brain - provide good food, health, transportation, education, etc to the brain and watch it excel!

redsun:

It is quite idiotic of you to say that the proponents of the theory are idiots when you don't have any plausible explantion to give as to why the brains of africans are coordinately,productively,contructively and progressively dormant.

I understand where you are coming from, but in reality it is all relative. Even if I would vote for a nobody they have to show me a plan that is better than anybody currently has - aka no real plans. Otherwise, you would make matters worse by giving your vote to someone because he claims to be a nobody. In fact, Jonathan said something like that in Church after he became substantive president. You cannot have someone in today, and start making full and final judgement on them on a monthly basis. Yes, you can assess their performance on a monthly basis, and if they are inherently good leaders who need some experience and prodding they will make course correction that delights everyone.

Yes, we need to change our leaders until we get it right, but if we do it blindly we will never get it right. I am not saying that Jonathan/Rufai is good enough, as I also suggested another option. If you there are other combinations you would like to see, let's put them up too. I am interested in a real contest in 2011, rather than just between dumb and dumber. Right now the people I mentioned are those who have expressed any serious interest in the presidency.

Kobojunkie:

Personally, I would rather vote a nobody so we can start on a clean slate and if it turns out to be another dirty slate, we start over until we get it right rather than recycling mediocrity in desperation.

@udezue
Could you explain why you have these views about African-American history? Take a look at the picture below and tell us which of the kids in there were deceived by the "opportunity" to work somewhere?

udezue:

Whatever they need to get over it. Rival tribes sold eachother and some were also deceived into thinking they were going to work and come back. Its sad history but its time to move da hell on.

@bk/babe99
Thank you for being honest about how you see it. I think your statement shows that we have serious misunderstandings going on between us. The gulf that divided the two groups after forced separation of the slavery trade cannot be bridged so easily.

African-Americans are intimately aware, by experience, of the issues but the general populace down in Africa are not - believe me I had no idea until I got out of the continent. Although you get to learn about the slave trade in the history classes, you are taught this with no sense that this was the greatest tragedy in human history or what it means for your past, present or future. The most important stuff you remember from the history classes have to do with the "achievements" of the colonialists - the famous "Mungo Park discovering River Niger" phrase. Here, I am not talking about uneducated people, this applies to the educated Africans as well. I am beginning to link this back to leadership of the motherland, which seems incapable of using its high office to make sure our educational system provides an accurate history of what went down, even if that involves accepting some blame. For example, where is a tour of the slave departure point as part of schooling in Nigeria or other African countries? Where are the special events that remember the untold horrors suffered by our people as they are forcibly taking from their land? Unless Africa undergoes a thorough catharsis of these events, we are not going to move forward no matter how long we pretend.

However, in not realizing the above general lack of awareness of the history, it seems that the returning African-American or one who meets an African anywhere assumes that the latter understands the same history that he knows so well and/or that he has the same feeling about it. It seems to me that out of these two incompatible views arose certain generalizations that became popular.

I can testify to blunt statements made by Africans about African-Americans that are borne out of this type of generalizations and reveal crass ignorance of African-American history. However, rather than throw the African-American into confrontation with his mother-continent counterpart there is a need to reexamine why the average African reacts this way, and this goes back to my above points. It is this singular reason why our history books continue to feed kids the same lies the colonialists left for us - in fact most African leaders to date were stooges of the colonialists to whom the latter left power - who else would they give the power?

While it is possible for the African-American to take better advantage of the system under which they now live, and continue the fight for real freedom, in my view they are generally doing better than many an average motherland African. The African-Americaon does seem to realize that the average African would, with good reason, grab half or even less of the opportunity available to African-Americans with both hands in place of what they deal with on the continent today. It seems that the African is saying what is your excuse, while the African-American is saying why the heck do you want to be here where you are treatd as lower animals? There is a grain of truth to both questions, but these are simplistic views of the gulf that needs to be bridged - we seem to be talking past each other.

I think a dialogue on these issues would be healthy.

bk/babe99:

Speaking as someone who knows both sides of the aisle, I'll say; We (most African-Americans) dont give two hoots about Africans from the motherland. BUt, it has been my experience that most Africans think (for some unfathomable reasons) that we are beneath them and that they are somehow better. i guess u can blame the media for this!

@Kobojunkie
I am having doubts about the ability of GJ as the leader Nigeria needs too. Still, given the set of political jobbers trying to replace him I won't tell him to hurry away. My statement about giving him time has nothing to do with the other one about him getting into election mode. The latter is simply pointing out that GJ is being more of a politician than the leader some people hoped.

I recall the thread by one of the praise-singers on here trying to declare GJ's presidency the best. As I recall you, and a lot of us here told him to keep his snake oil. However, I am willing to say that you cannot begin to make defendable arguments for or against GJ's presidency until he has had one year - that is probably where we differ most. Unfortunately, if he doesn't get elected in 2011 one year is it for him. So, what I was trying to point out is the reason why some of his actions may appear surprising - the way to wining an election in Nigeria is to play with all kinds of schemers, but there surely is or should be a better way.

As for finding someone better prepared than Jonathan, it is not obvious to me who that person would be among those parading themselves for the position. IBB? Atiku? Never, ever! May be Buhari or Pat Utomi or Donald Duke? Except for Donald Duke who was a governor like Jonathan they have no real experience either (I know Buhari headed a government stolen with the help of IBB and Abacha for several months, but that doesn't count). I am thinking that if Buhari bundles himself with one of the last two and Jonathan bundles himself with Rufai (I don't know about Sambo - he seems to be a good person that Jonathan is comfortable with, but who knows, they might perform some magic together  over the next few months), then we would probably have a good contest come 2011.

Kobojunkie:

How much more of our time are we willing to invest in this or any more of the same? He is inexperienced, sure. So why can't we send him off to go get experience at the grassroots level while we get someone better and ready in there next year? What is with the excuse that he is considering elections and so we ought to give him more time when to this point he has yet to show he is leadership material, let alone able and equipped to handle the position as we would like?

So, to watch the Ghana-USA match I walked into a sports bar. Two chairs from me sat an African-American guy who I first mistook for a Ghanian.

Well, we got talking about football, and he soon mentioned that when a lot of black people in South Africa were asked on TV who they wanted to win the answer was USA. This obviously pained him very much. I did not see all these stuff as Ghana's first goal was already scored before I walked in. He soon asked me who I wanted to win. Frankly, I was hoping Ghana wins but I heged my answer by saying "Ghana, but I also like the way the US plays". When I called for another beer , he offered to pay, and of course I thanked him. However, after a couple of sips of the beer he asked me again, "now who do you want to win" and he got the same answer.

Why am I writing this uninteresting story anyway? The reason is this. I am beginning to wonder why he asked me again the question about who I want to win , after offering the beer. Taking by itself this doesn't mean much, but for the fact that after our conversation had gone into the state of things in Africa he uttered the following phrase at a point: "you people sold us". That got me wondering. Was he trying to replay the false stories of Africans selling each other to the Europeans for gifts?

I have heard that African-Americans hold a grudge against Africa for slavery. While there is some basis for it I have never believed it to be anything that is general or considered to be a major factor in the black man's predicament in America or the world today.

Is it really true that, beyond street talk, there is a current of resentment against Africans for "you people sold us"? Should this be? How do we right the wrongs, while recognizing that nobody alive today sold anybody else alive today into slavery? With the level of suffering and the rate at which Africans are jumping by leg, makeshift boats, plane tires, and so on in addition to legitimate means, is there any real basis for resentment against those living on the mother continent today?

Now, I am aware of increasing cooperation between Africans at home and the disapora, but is there a general feeling/misunderstanding that if unaddressed would doom any potential progress?

@Poster
Perception and reality is the answer? Where is the most the real business going on Nigeria? South. As such if there is corruption in business in Nigeria, you will expect most of it in the south. The report is incomplete, we need to know the proportion of business transactions conducted in the South vs. the North.

The question is why is there a need to highlight South/North corruption dichotomy in national government report?

@redsun
So, if someone asks you what is wrong with Africa? You will ignore our entire history, most of it glorious, some of it indeed shameful, and say it is that shining sun the universe blessed us with. How about get some cover, master AC technology, etc. The problem is not in our environment, but in ourself. Have you exposed your head to frigid weather for even 1 hour? You will see that 1 hour of the sun is nothing compared to the cold.

So, yes, if you expose your head to the hot sun for too long, you should expect brain damage. The real question is why should you? That answer has nothing to do with the sun. That is just one more great excuse!

Yours, sir, is pseudo-theory, and it is dangerous for it easily leads to pavlov's syndrome.

Once again i am asking,could the round the year scorching sun have damaging effects on the brain?Why are africans not rational,having no sense of coordinations,no sense of creativity,no sense precedences,no sense creatures intuitions and dignity,even among the so-called educated ones?

Looking at aondoaka picture,all i can see is a man that is suppose to be highly educated but still very stu-pid and visionless.

FIFA has, unlike sport associations worldwide, decided to take a cut out of the political administration of its member countries. This is not acceptable to any right-thinking global villager. If FIFA's current rules allow for the undue interference in the national affairs of individual nations, as we have recently seen with Nigeria and France, is it time to dissolve FIFA and reconstitute it too or like all monopolies to get a rival global football association?

While President Jonathan's move on the NFF may appear drastic it is not without reason. The unpatriotic members of the NFF board have being hiding behind FIFA rules to make themselves into a nuisance to the Nigerian people and government. How does an association hire a new football coach two months to a global tournament (for $3 million), set up a Nigerian village, incur a $250,000 fine for changing hotels, and yet come back with no single win. The shame of the under-17 championships is still not washed off our people. Can anybody dare compare Nigeria's hosting to South Africa's? The fault is not in our players, they, one and all, showed up when called - but they were called too late.

It is the same FIFA that comes to Nigeria to tell us our organization is bad that also says our government has no power to interfere in the same organization. Yet, the same NFF takes money from our public pocket, does nothing with it, and our president has no leverage with them or with FIFA! To the hot place  with FIFA and its archaic rules. It is actually no wonder.  FIFA is probably just as corrupt as the NFF. Why you say? How much did FIFA spend designing a new soccer ball that has a mind on its own, yet cannot get rid of its clearly unfair rules or take advantage of technology that a 10 year old could probably use to make correct decisions on the field. If FIFA really wants to stop constituting itself a menace to the world (politically and football-wise), here are 5 reccomendations:

1) Stop the watch when there is no play going on;
2) Learn from American basketball and institute a rule called goal tending - if a player clearly stops the ball from going into the net with his hands, it is a goal, no need for a yellow or red card or penalty.
3. Use instant replay.
4) Make sure the ball that is kicked straight goes straight!
5) When a player gets kicked off the field for any reason his team can replace him out of the 3 substitutes allowed to them. This will stop referees from becoming the 12th player for one team.

Enough said.

@Mr. Fire

While you are on to something, it is not political naivety that is GJ's problem. His problems are: 1) Inexperience; and 2) Showing that he is more of a politician down he shows. He is certainly interested in next years elections, and getting himself into campaign mode. For that purpose he needs a lot of the "devil" on the Nigerian political landscape on his side. In the process he might make too many compromises (one would be appointing Alam to any position, it that story was true). Also, I am led to believe that he will have a joker for those in the military who misbehaved, when is the question? - if he doesn't do this before he relinquishes power (that could be May next year or May 2015) then he will never be taking seriously as a leader.

In any case, we need to give the man time, even as we point out what could be done better. One year is not nearly enough to turn Nigeria around, but we need to see evidence of the possibilities from the beginning. Really I don't see any of the vultures on the landscape being better positioned to do anything for Nigeria until I hear and read their manifestos

Mr Fire:

There is no way you can make an informed appointment without knowing the appointee to a reasonable extent. What if the appointee turns out to be incompetent? What if he stabs you at the back?

Last week, GJ came out publicly to declare that security agents were responsible for the way he was treated then and in an embarrassing display of lack of knowledge that he is the commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed forces,he declared that he expected the military to look into the matter without giving any definite order.Just compare this with Obama's response to McChrystal,the Afghan war commanders's mouthing.

GJ is a democratic president, surrounds himself with Danjuma,Obasanjo,IBB,Abdulsalami,Guzo,Buhari etc.Over time his decisions have reflected these peoples' influence.Giving that at least two of these people have presidential ambition and they also have military background, GJ's ambivalence in their presence and a habit of revering the military unnecessarily must be one of the reasons making them believe they can out-muscle him.

As per thanking the military,I do not believe that the commander in Chief of the Nigerian armed forces should thank the military openly or even secretly for not taking over the government.At the end of the day,he only succeed in making the military see that somewhere remotely,Nigerians still believe they can play a role in governance.World over,the military is subject to civilian control in democracy and part of protecting democracy by the fortunate custodian is re emphasizing the chain of command and the contemporary world political order at every opportunity.

Most times ,we hide under the facade of love for peace but like Patrick Henry once asked Americans in the continental Assembly-is peace so sweet that it has to be bought with the prize of slavery?

We errenously see these retired military men as always lucking around to rock democracy boat.These people know their rights are protected more under democracy than the military.Post presidency,IBB was best behaved under Abacha's regime.

Johnathan last week approved 23 billion Naira for offsetting military pension.He personally went to unveil this approval to the military.Somebody worked all his life for his nation.What about celebrating his lawful entitlement.GJ has continuously exposed democracy to military onslaught and in the light of the current zoning imbroglio,I fear for democracy in Nigeria

He has left all the command posts that were responsible for his shabby treatment and even those pronounced culpable in the Jos mayhem intact , openly declaring that he was advised by people immediately he took over to sack the commands but he refused.

Let somebody tell him that Kabila was shot by his guard and Dadi Camara was also shot by his chief guard.In the later case at least there was a positive fallout as evidenced by the first free election in Guinea in 58 years.We are awaiting the final result and hopefully the beginning of government of the people by the people for the people.

His habit of patronizing the military will likely undo him.

Now did we just not read that GJ has appointed Alams to a govt position. How more politically naive can this get?

FL Gators:

Plz, tell me you're lying.

No kidding. They pay no attention to getting the team ready, but always manage to have a jamboree & issue a challenge to bring the cup on the way to the games. This one was actually tagged: "Super Eagles Celebration Night" - deep down they know what our preparation was worth, so they cashed in b/4hand

[url]http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/nigeria%27s-super-eagles-off-to-london-2010052249751.html[/url]
http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Sport/Football/5569113-147/jonathan_to_send_eagles_off_to.csp

Our problem remains mainly that of organization, and it seems to me that THE leader would easily see these weaknesses and begin doing things differently. I know GJ has such a short time for his performance to be adequately judged, but the elements should be there from the beginning and I am just not seeing it.