July 14, 2012 is barely three months away. It is a date that Edo State voters will troop out in their numbers to elect who to govern them for the next four years. Two candidates and two parties are the major contenders for the plum position.
NO doubt, the late Dr Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi, who died on Wednesday at age 95, was an accomplished medical practitioner. Although, he devoted about 89 years of his life to medicine, his six- year stint in politics appeared to have entrenched him more in the consciouness of Nigerians.
Fresh happenings in Nigeria these days keep one wondering about our determination to help our country get past all the sordid stories of yester years. At the dawn of each blessed day, one is confounded by the ingenuity of those who are in authority at explaining away gory details about their conduct in public office.
Nigeria is surely not showing good examples as the self-acclaimed giant of Africa. From one ridiculous drama to another, Nigeria’s leadership orientation has been one that leaves many mouths gaping about our self-inflicted predicament. We preach what we do not practice.
The raging controversy over resource control and derivation has once again assumed the driver seat in socio-political discourse in Nigeria as we speak.
No doubt, Benue State purse must have felt the pinch of an ostentatious civic reception for President Jonathan penultimate Thursday in a show of political solidarity in the glare of daunting challenges confronting the nation.
Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan could rightly be described as a cat with nine lives. Since his ascension to the coveted seat of Governor of Delta State, the man has been on the firing line for opposition politicians and political parties in the State. His greatest arch rival Great Ovedje Ogboru has not left any stone unturned in his strong determination to take over the State from Emmanuel Uduaghan.
I am yet to understand the rationale for the numerous committees that are springing up every day at a time the Jonathan-led government is thinking about running a slim government and save for the country.
The agitation for the convocation of what some called Sovereign National Conference has been around us for a long time and particularly gained currency in the last ten years. Some of the agitators with all their political and intellectual pedigree still show a remarkable lack of understanding of the socio-political dynamics of the country, especially the intricate logic of being a country of several configurations.
There are so many issues begging for attention in Nigeria on a daily basis as a result of our peculiar configuration. In the fullness of all the issues that have occupied public space in recent times, we do not seem to be paying attention to details. The Bayelsa politics of old has been one characterized by fraud and corruption since 1999 till date.
I am still in the realm of the metaphysical, trying hard to rationalize a number of things that took place in the country in the last two weeks. I have seen strikes before in this country but not one that was peacefully conducted. I think the Arab Spring mentality has come home to us and gladly too because it will help mitigate the unmitigated powers of our leaders who feel they can sit in their cocoon to dish out choking air for us to swallow.
The so-called complete deregulation of the downstream sector and the removal of subsidy may seem like a purely economic policy decision, but it is so tied to larger Nigerian questions that it ought to be more rigorously debated, and government should make haste slowly. As at this moment, Nigeria operates a partial deregulation regime in the downstream sector.
