Quote:“The question that many continue to pose will have to be answered with all its attendant ramifications: What is this nation called Nigeria? What does it mean to be Nigerian? What is the relationship between the citizens and the state? Can it survive its unitary, over-centralised nature? What is the nature of inter-governmental relations?”

•As Oshiomhole Inaugurates Projects To Mark 2nd Anniversary
Written by Uchechukwu Olisah, Benin City
Saturday, 13 November 2010

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has declared that the question of the national structure, which even elections cannot deal with, is the central issue that must be resolved in Nigeria’s quest for democratic development and effective governance.

Dr. Fayemi made the declaration in a lecture entitled “An Insider’s View of a Broken Electoral System and Proposals for Reform,” which he delivered on the occasion of the second anniversary of the assumption of office of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State on Friday, in Benin City.

This came just as distinguished personalities who were present at the event poured encomiums on Governor Oshiomhole for what they described as his progressive transformation of Edo State in the last two years.

The dignitaries included the national chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande; former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu; governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fasola (SAN); governor of Kano State and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential aspirant, Ibrahim Shekerau; former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and ACN presidential aspirant, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; former Foreign Affairs Minister and ACN chieftain, Chief Tom Ikimi; legal luminaries, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) and Mr. Femi Falana.

The Ekiti state governor said, “The notion, which paints a pre-conceived destination, almost a uni-directional focus on election as democracy - Have elections, and every other thing shall follow – is a seriously flawed one and there is now concrete evidence to suggest this with the retreat into façade, democracies in the West Africa sub-region particularly, with developments in Mauritania, Niger, Guinea Bissau and now Guinea-Conakry.”

According to Fayemi, “The question that many continue to pose will have to be answered with all its attendant ramifications: What is this nation called Nigeria? What does it mean to be Nigerian? What is the relationship between the citizens and the state? Can it survive its unitary, over-centralised nature? What is the nature of inter-governmental relations?”

Meanwhile, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said his administration has awarded contract for the rehabilitation of the Benin moat with a view to tackling the perennial flood problem in Benin City.

Besides, Oshiomhole said the road projects being executed by his administration were those with the greatest positive impact on the lives of the majority of the people of the state, just as he added that so far no road project had been executed in Government Reservation Area (GRA).

According to the governor, his administration could never be anti-workers in spite of budgetary and resource challenges, pointing out that he remained indebted to the people of the state because they gave him all they could and his obligation was to service that trust.

Oshiomhole spoke during the inauguration of some projects executed by his administration to mark his second year in office.

The projects included the 2nd West Circular Road/Aruosaghae Road; an 80-bed ultra-modern female hostel at the state-owned School of Health Technology; ultra-modern blocks of classrooms and state-of-the-art multipurpose hall at St. Maria Goretti College, a state-of-the-art Eye Centre at the Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital and  water fountain, all in Benin City.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/news/2549-fayemi-seeks-resolution-of-nigerias-structural-problems-as-oshiomhole-inaugurates-projects-to-mark-2nd-anniversary.html

I like Fayemi. I hope he does well and doesn't disappoint us.

DapoBear:

I like Fayemi. I hope he does well and doesn't disappoint us.

Me and you both.

Ekiti a gbe a o!! God continue to lead you, Fayemi!

DapoBear:

I like Fayemi. I hope he does well and doesn't disappoint us.

Ileke-IdI:

Me and you both.
Ekiti a gbe a o!! God continue to lead you, Fayemi!

I agree.  These ACN governors seem to be leaders that are really thinking about doing something right for Nigerians in their domain. They may not know exactly how or even what, and that is where we come in - follow them closely and speak up as needed.

This is my main attraction to Jonathan and Ribadu as well. Buhari is good too, but I am afraid old soldier never die!

Everyone who means well for Nigeria should support de-centralization of power.

Abegi . . . . Less talking, more DOING already!!! Make we see am start acting to fix the state. Spare us the lecture for now until you establish yourself as a different kind of politician.

Kobojunkie:

Abegi . . . . Less talking, more DOING already!!! Make we see am start acting to fix the state. Spare us the lecture for now until you establish yourself as a different kind of politician.

Heh! You just like to cut through the chase, don't you?. Give the man some room - it was a speech to a mark an occassion.

I agree, we need to see what he is really going to do, but words also matter.

koruji:

Heh! You just like to cut through the chase, don't you?. Give the man some room - it was a speech to a mark an occassion.

I agree, we need to see what he is really going to do, but words also matter.

Not for me it doesn't. I don't really care to read much of what our politicians have to say since it rarely translates into substance, if you know what I mean. Fayemi was recently declared Governor and I would rather he get to doing the job instead.

koruji:

I agree.  These ACN governors seem to be leaders that are really thinking about doing something right for Nigerians in their domain. They may not know exactly how or even what, and that is where we come in - follow them closely and speak up as needed.

This is my main attraction to Jonathan and Ribadu as well. Buhari is good too, but I am afraid old soldier never die!

Jonathan and Ribadu represent the future. Jonathan especially, represents the opening of locked gates for the common Nigerian.

People like Buhari and IBB have been tested and spat out, they got Nigeria into the rotten position it now occupies.
The likes of Buhari and IBB thrived in a command structure that is the bedfellow of a unitary system. Along with that command structure came disdain for "bloody" civilians who soon learnt that the shortcut to one-upmanship in the slightest debate was to get their military relations involved to literarily kick arse. That was the birth of our current "do you know who I am?" culture, it was the birth of our siren culture and our winner takes all, do or die politics.

The Buhari's and IBB's of Nigeria should really be in jail for stealing the happiness of generations of Nigerians and the treason of kidnapping 150 million people and holding them hostage with the very weapons their taxes bought to enhance and ensure their security. Rather, they are again, seeking the highest office. For what?
Buhari also needs to explain how the $2.8 billion oil money that went missing was traced to his London Midland Bank account. IBB needs to tell us about our missing $12.4billion windfall oil money.

The unitary system represents all that is bad about Nigeria. We have been bequeated an upside down structure by barely literate soldiers, the like of Buhari and IBB. It is a structure only suited to dictatorship and tyranny and antithetiacal to development, individual creativity and freedom. It is a system that actively kills healthy competition between rival regions with its free oil money to states. The states have all become lazy and produce next to zero.
But there is a reason why we have our crazy architecture. . . Every fcking Kobo of our oil money was meant to feed only a single pocket and that pockets cronies. So, are you looking for the roots of Nigeria's endemic corruption? Look no further than bastar'ds like Buhari and IBB.

True federalism alone, will save Nigeria.

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^^^ Can someone delete this plz?

Kobojunkie:

Abegi . . . . Less talking, more DOING already!!! Make we see am start acting to fix the state. Spare us the lecture for now until you establish yourself as a different kind of politician.

Mo agree pelu e jare.
But still, God bless Fayemi for informing us

Kobojunkie:

Not for me it doesn't. I don't really care to read much of what our politicians have to say since it rarely translates into substance, if you know what I mean. Fayemi was recently declared Governor and I would rather he get to doing the job instead.

Well in a couple of years, we should be able to tell what he is up to.

Meanwhile, he should be able to walk and chew at the same time.

Ileke-IdI:

^^^ Can someone delete this plz?

Looks like another robot found its way into NL!

walk, yes
Chew, yes.
He should hit the ground running, nuff nuff lectures man.drive thru that state will give you migrane.

He is making a lot of sense to me.


"The question that many continue to pose will have to be answered with all its attendant ramifications: What is this nation called Nigeria? What does it mean to be Nigerian? What is the relationship between the citizens and the state? Can it survive its unitary, over-centralised nature? What is the nature of inter-governmental relations?"

A question no one seems eager to answer.

koruji:

Well in a couple of years, we should be able to tell what he is up to.

Meanwhile, he should be able to walk and chew at the same time.

A couple of years? You mean you have years to give up for another MAYBE-MAYBE NOT? Months should be enough for the people to know if he is of substance or fluff. . .  this is the people lives we are speaking of here, not some abstract entity here.

Na so we do give yar adua another year, and another year, and another year. If say papa God no pity us carry that man go the other life, na so we go siddon for here dey talk giving the man another year, another term  . . .  ROFLMAO!!!

Come to think of it, we had almost the same situation during Abacha's turn at the seat. God dey help us a lot for that country ooo . . . ROFLMAO!!

Kobojunkie:

A couple of years? You mean you have years to give up for another MAYBE-MAYBE NOT? Months should be enough for the people to know if he is of substance or fluff. . .  this is the people lives we are speaking of here, not some abstract entity here.

Na so we do give yar adua another year, and another year, and another year. If say papa God no pity us carry that man go the other life, na so we go siddon for here dey talk giving the man another year, another term  . . .  ROFLMAO!!!

Come to think of it, we had almost the same situation during Abacha's turn at the seat. God dey help us a lot for that country ooo . . . ROFLMAO!!

Well, I 'll have to agree with you that months should be enough. My bad for saying a couple of years, but it wasn't meant as a real measure- but I guess 2 years means 2 years.

You should change your username to "Efficiency"

Action o! We need action

I REALLY like Fayemi.

I hope he performs well.

My wife likes him, too.

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koruji:

Quote:“The question that many continue to pose will have to be answered with all its attendant ramifications: What is this nation called Nigeria? What does it mean to be Nigerian? What is the relationship between the citizens and the state? Can it survive its unitary, over-centralised nature? What is the nature of inter-governmental relations?”
http://www.tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/news/2549-fayemi-seeks-resolution-of-nigerias-structural-problems-as-oshiomhole-inaugurates-projects-to-mark-2nd-anniversary.html

The country Nigeria is a colonial creation, we are neither a unitary or a federation in practice. Part of the fall of the first republic was because of the Unitary government. We need to reform our local governments system, in order to gain the dividends of democracy.

koruji:

Quote:“The question that many continue to pose will have to be answered with all its attendant ramifications: What is this nation called Nigeria? What does it mean to be Nigerian? What is the relationship between the citizens and the state? Can it survive its unitary, over-centralised nature? What is the nature of inter-governmental relations?”
http://www.tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/news/2549-fayemi-seeks-resolution-of-nigerias-structural-problems-as-oshiomhole-inaugurates-projects-to-mark-2nd-anniversary.html

Let Nuhu Ribadu answer that question if he is truly progressive.

We always like them when they're newly in position. I used to vouch for GEJ until he started all the bullshit he's in.

We can only pray Fayemi doesn't change course.

This topic is too complicated for some NLs to understand, or it demands a lot of thinking, which some NLs hate to do. Those people therefore cannot contribute meaningfully to this thread. Those people know themselves. I predict this thread will probably not make it past page 1, maybe page 2 at best.

Princek12:

This topic is too complicated for some NLs to understand, or it demands a lot of thinking, which some NLs hate to do. Those people therefore cannot contribute meaningfully to this thread. Those people know themselves. I predict this thread will probably not make it past page 1, maybe page 2 at best.

And how have u contributed to d topic with ur well-thought out assertion? U shud av asked sum1 to explain some of the new words for ur sake than coming out to make careless statements. That was what we did in primary school. . . we learnt new words daily. Try it. . .it won't make u a dullard.

Donmeca:

And how have u contributed to d topic with your well-thought out assertion? U shud av asked sum1 to explain some of the new words for your sake than coming out to make careless statements. That was what we did in primary school. . . we learnt new words daily. Try it. . .it won't make u a dullard.

There you go. You have erroneously assumed that "words" mean complexity, and that I suggested that the topic was complex because of some "new words." By the way, what new words are you talking about? Or because the words  are new to you does not mean that they are new words. If they are new to you, then maybe you should feed your brain some quality.

As per the topic, Nigeria's structural problems are profound. There is no principle of federalism, as in limited federal power and autonomy of the states. The Constitution of 1999 does not grant the states enough power and independence from the feds. There is excessive federal power; for example, forming a police force, power generation, the practice of law, road safety, among others, are all controlled by the feds. That causes a problem of accountability--the local constituents cannot hold their local elected leaders responsible for actions perpetrated by the feds. So the accountability problem can be solved by giving more power to state and local governments, for example, like giving each states the power to form its own police force.

There is also a problem with the domain of federal power. The Nigerian Constitution does not clearly delineate the boundaries of federal power, so the feds think they can essentially invade into the roles that are traditionally reserved for states in modern societies. Many states are also confused about the extent of their power. For example, whether the feds and states can both tax citizens, and how these taxes will be disbursed between the feds and states. I can go on and on, but this is the inappropriate forum for that.

I pray Fayemi does not follow the path of Chimaroke Nnamani. He was all over Nigeria delivering lectures (EBE ANO) , while Enugu was under his looting siege.

Princek12:

There you go. You have erroneously assumed that "words" mean complexity, and that I suggested that the topic was complex because of some "new words." By the way, what new words are you talking about? Or because the words are new to you does not mean that they are new words. If they are new to you, then maybe you should feed your brain some quality.

As per the topic, Nigeria's structural problems are profound. There is no principle of federalism, as in limited federal power and autonomy of the states. The Constitution of 1999 does not grant the states enough power and independence from the feds. There is excessive federal power; for example, forming a police force, power generation, the practice of law, road safety, among others, are all controlled by the feds. That causes a problem of accountability--the local constituents cannot hold their local elected leaders responsible for actions perpetrated by the feds. So the accountability problem can be solved by giving more power to state and local governments, for example, like giving each states the power to form its own police force.

There is also a problem with the domain of federal power. The Nigerian Constitution does not clearly delineate the boundaries of federal power, so the feds think they can essentially invade into the roles that are traditionally reserved for states in modern societies. Many states are also confused about the extent of their power. For example, whether the feds and states can both tax citizens, and how these taxes will be disbursed between the feds and states. I can go on and on, but this is the inappropriate forum for that.

What d'you mean by dat? You tink we is dim?

footreja:

I pray Fayemi does not follow the path of Chimaroke Nnamani. He was all over Nigeria delivering lectures (EBE ANO) , while Enugu was under his looting siege.

ROTFL.

footreja:

I pray Fayemi does not follow the path of Chimaroke Nnamani. He was all over Nigeria delivering lectures (EBE ANO) , while Enugu was under his looting siege.

You're right. While Nnamani went around preaching high intellectually sound principles, his action was infact low and criminally minded

Beaf:

What d'you mean by dat? You tink we is dim?

I do think NLs are dim. Any topic that requires more thinking, just like this one, usually does not generate much interest. This topic has been on front page for over a day.

Princek12:

This topic is too complicated for some NLs to understand, or it demands a lot of thinking, which some NLs hate to do. Those people therefore cannot contribute meaningfully to this thread. Those people know themselves. I predict  this thread will probably not make it past page 1, maybe page 2 at best.

The above quote was my earlier prediction. Thus far, NLs are yet to prove me wrong.  Imagine this topic was about, for instance, how my girlfriend gave my gonorrhea, boy, it would have been on page 99 by now. It is a reflection of the mental laziness that afflicts many citizens of our country.

Lets all be mindfull that Former Governor Asiwaju Segun Oni while in office left some on going projects in the state such as 132/33 kva power plant plus 300 transformers, the 50 digitalised patrol vans in the state, the construction of roads i:e roads linking Ekiti-state and Kwara and Kogi state respectively, The eye specialist hospital in the University teaching Hospital in Ado-ekiti plus the good salary wages for thier doctors, etc. So Fayemi shouldn't lie to you lots on the internet seens they are the owners of the media house that we all read thier stories(propagandas). Will not be surprise when the state will go into ANARCHY soon because the people that worked hard in the state and fedral level been deprieved to show cases thier willingness to take thier state to the greatness of thier ability will not sit and look at them snatch thier hard work. To be truthfull to oursleves are we saying Fayemi really won the Governorship election? If he was that popular he will stop them via the people in annoucing the results at the coalition center that faithfull day without stories. And there is history about Ido-Osi in Ekiti state(the only local government in south west that voted P.D.P since 1999). :