Monday, 21 May 2012
Occupy Nigeria: Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Paul Collier, and Some Troublesome Nigerian Professors!
Columnist:
Pius Adesanmi Somehow, in the heat of Occupy Nigeria last week, somebody must have convinced Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy (a clever way of calling her Prime Minister and maintaining deniability), Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, to embark on a well-oiled, behind-the-scene, reach-out campaign to carefully selected Nigerian Professors at home and abroad. Mission: persuade them to become paracletes of the IMF philosophy that she and her fellow hijackers of the Jonathan regime – Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Diezani Allison Madueke – have foisted on Nigerians in the form of oil subsidy removal. Modus operandi: add the selected Professors to her linked-in profile, send them materials favorable to her case, and appeal to them to spread the word.
And some of them did begin to spread the word. I knew something was amiss when the same message from Mrs Iweala began to trickle into my gmail account from listservs and, in certain instances, directly from colleagues, with the rider that they’d been asked to share the minister’s message. I decided to ignore all the pro-government trickle until a message came from Professor Mojubaolu Okome asking colleagues in a diaspora and transnational scholarship listserv she moderates to critique Mrs. Iweala’s message to her. Confession: the appearance of a senior colleague I fondly call “aunty mi” in the flow of discourse between the Mrs Iweala and her target Nigerian professors foreclosed the possibility of further indifference to the Minister’s curious strategy for me. A respected Professor of Political Science, African Studies, and Women’s Studies at Brooklyn College, City University of New York, aunty Mojubaolu’s scholarship and praxis come from the best traditions of commitment and social responsibility. This is one scholar you are not going to ask to just “pass on the word”!
Once I saw her name, I surmised that Mrs. Iweala and her team had made a tactical blunder by contacting this Professor in the hope that she would just be a simple vector of their message. I knew they were in for serious intellectual grilling and critique. I was right. Professor Okome took on the Minister. They exchanged civil but robust emails. I read from the ringside, admiring how beautifully Professor Okome was making the case of the Nigerian people, backed by her characteristic intellectual rigor. Every time I felt like jumping in, I would conclude that there was no way I could state our case as beautifully as aunty Mojubaolu was doing.
Then came the spoiler! I woke up on Wednesday to a new round of exchanges between aunty Mojubaolu and the Minister. Perhaps frustrated that she was not making any headway in selling her argument, Mrs Iweala wrote another civil email but ruined it for me by referring Professor Okome to the offensive and now infamous pro-government subsidy article published by the meddlesome Paul Collier! Reading Mrs Okonjo Iweala’s email, I nearly smashed my computer screen in anger! Here is a Nigerian female Minister discussing Nigerian matters of life and death with a Nigerian female Professor and who, unable to provide superior arguments to back up her pro-subsidy removal position, sends the Nigerian Professor to a rude and condescending British Professor for validation! Why would Mrs Okonjo Iweala believe that Professor Paul Collier is better positioned to advise her about Nigeria and Nigerians than Professor Mojubaolu Okome? Why should she have given that Englishman a say in an otherwise engaging and mutually respectful exchange between two Nigerian female intellectuals? Unable to contain my frustration, I jumped into the conversation with this email to Dr Okonjo Iweala:
Dear Mrs Ngozi Okonjo Iweala:
Greetings and thanks for taking the time to read and react to my comments. I will be brief, mindful of your commitments at this particularly difficult moment in the life of our country. I've been following your interesting email exchanges with my sister and senior colleague, Professor Mojubaolu Okome, and have been more persuaded by her submissions than yours. You asked her to share your views in her intellectual circuit and she's been kind enough to oblige. I wasn't going to intervene because Aunty Okome has been saying all the things I would have loved to say to you but I woke up this morning to another round of exchanges and your submissions did not help my mood. Honourable Minister, to make your case, to press the argument of your government, you refer a respected Nigerian Professor like Mojubaolu Okome to Paul Collier's article. Ma, this is an article in which this British meddler insults the Nigerian people. As far as he is concerned, we are foolish and ignorant tea-partyers. Our legitimate and historic movement, Occupy Nigeria, he dismisses in terms that are too painful to be rehashed here. Your wholesale endorsement of Paul Collier's condescending article raises a lot of questions. Mindful of your time, I'll ask just two:
1) Are you aware, Honorable Minister, of the outrage that the article in question has generated, especially in Nigeria's online community? Are you aware of how Nigerians are reacting to yet another spectacular instance of rudeness and condescension by a Western meddler in our affairs? And if you are not aware of how Nigerians are reacting to the offensive article, isn't that another evidence that Nigerian government officials are alienated from the Nigerian people?
2) Why does the government of Nigeria find it so easy to approve of these kinds of foreign interventions in our affairs, often even soliciting and funding such interventions, no matter how condescending, while dismissing the position of patriotic Nigerians? For instance, your government has embraced Jeffrey Sachs and Paul Collier. But this is the same government that dismissed Professor Chinua Achebe as ignorant and out of touch with Nigerian realities (Reuben Abati) when he commented on burning national issues in a statement rejecting the national honour he was awarded. If we are to take your government's position to its logical conclusion, Jeffrey Sachs and Paul Collier are more knowledgeable, more competent to talk about Nigeria than Chinua Achebe? They are more in touch with Nigerian realities than Chinua Achebe?
I assume that you have no objection to my sharing these queries and your eventual response with my readers in the spirit of national conversation.
Best Regards,
Pius Adesanmi
I didn’t expect a response. It was more of a symbolic intervention on my part. Unknown to me, my intellectual co-warrior and long-term travel mate in the world of ideas, Professor Wale Adebanwi of the University of California at Davis, was also in on the conversation and had been equally irked by the Minister’s reference to and validation of Paul Collier’s offensive article. Like me, Wale is also one of Professor Mojubaolu’s troublesome “aburos”. Wale fired this email to the Minister:
Dear Dr. Okonjo-Iweala,
Greetings.
First, let me quickly commend your civility in the middle of very difficult circumstances.
I was not going to respond to your invitation for intervention because speaking to those in power in Nigeria, except in the "languages" of interrupting their pleasure, is often a waste of time.
However, given Prof. Okome's intervention and my friend's (Pius's) excellent questions, I am compelled to add a thing or two.
We all have no doubt about either your competence or commitment, we clearly have problems with your paradigm and the competence and commitment of your political bosses.
Three brief questions given the limitations of this forum:
1. What other nation of the world would have such abundance of human and natural resources and regularly recruit the least competent into the topmost level of political leadership? This is a structural and historical question that escapes Sachs and Collier, as displayed in the condescension evident in their responses. The matter is beyond mere economic theories.
2. Haven't we been here before? On that note, neither you nor President Jonathan can be wiser than Nigerians. As Achebe says, no matter how wise a (wo)man is s/he cannot be wiser that her/his clan; 'no one wins judgement against his people'. If Nigerians have lived with these arguments in the past and have witnessed the continued and steady deterioration of their quality of life, what makes this different - especially coming from a president who is challenged on many fronts?
3. Please, provide a single social or political - even fiscal - evidence before the January 1 action that showed that this government truly understands the pain of Nigerians? Was it the scandalous self-provisioning for the Villa denizens that litter the 2012 budget or the sheer indulgence that is the life of federal legislators that would have convinced our people about a committed leadership? What is 25% pay cut for a pampered cult whose pay no one truly knows?
I am saying basically that you cannot throw neo-liberal solutions at fundamental structural - political and historical - questions that condition the tragedies that we have, and are, experiencing in Nigeria.
I have no doubt that as you found out under President Obasanjo, when they are done with using your credentials, they will move on to the next in their perpetual project of national humiliation.
You can start the change by telling the president the alternative to a genuine national dialogue on restructuring Nigeria is the collapse of the House.
I wish you well.
Wale Adebanwi,
UC Davis, CA.
Like me, Wale got no response. It was evident that our reactions, which came within minutes of each other, were going to drive the Minister away from that small forum. The important thing is that we made our point. Professor Mojubaolu Okome did us proud with her robust engagement of the Minister and I believe that Wale and I also made a good case for respect and dignity. I have decided to go public with this to send a clear message to those with Mrs Iweala’s inclination in the Nigerian government: you are welcome to believe that American and British experts and consultants are superior to Nigerian intellectuals; you are welcome to believe that they are more in touch with Nigeria than Chinua Achebe; you are welcome to fly them first class on the back of the Nigerian people to come and advise you in Abuja but, please, do not add insult to injury by referring us to their expertise!
N.B: Professor Okome collated more responses to the minister at her blog. Please see:
http://mojubaolu.blogspot.com/2012/01/nigeria-and-petrol-subsidy-wahala_...
Comments
96 comment(s)
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Fuel Subsidy
Submitted by Greattomorrow (not verified) on January 25, 2012 - 12:32.
Nonetheless, we have no hope in our leaders as they have failed us countless times. If they say this is indeed a democratic regime which means the government should be by the people, of the people and for the people, then it suffices to say that the Federal Government needs to implement its budget in a way and manner that it will not tamper with the lives of innocent Nigerians
Fuel Subsidy
Submitted by Greattomorrow (not verified) on January 25, 2012 - 12:30.
If the government is certain and convinced about its intentions, let explain its position to the people in a coherent manner. It should be democratic in the commencement of the removal policy. The palliatives should have been seen to be working and effective before removing the subsidy. As a government portraying itself as honest, it should mandate the attorney general to set up a committee to review the list of oil marketers, unveil their directors, their pedigree in the oil and gas industry, verification of claims on subsidy payments made to them and evolve a new framework for registration of fuel importers, verification of fuel to check round tripping and a payment regime that eliminates kickback and compromise. Till these steps are taking, many will negatively perceive the fuel removal and see this government as a joker. It is time for the cabal to confront the cabal within its administration. There is no process or system that can be abused without the connivance of the insider.
@ Agent Of Africa
Submitted by Concerned Emmanuel (not verified) on January 25, 2012 - 10:36.
I just keep on wondering why we keep on mentioning sap as a failure instead of pointing to the fact that our leaders (IBB) did not implement it well. The same contrast can be said of many of our many universities that are giving out certificates instead of imparting knowledge to youths. Do we now say that university education is bad? NO NO NO. The problem is in implementation. The best policies can fell woefully if not properly implemented. Let us support a woman who has come to aid her fatherland and stop all this mud sliding.
What do you mean to say or
Submitted by Concerned Emmanuel (not verified) on January 25, 2012 - 10:27.
What do you mean to say or are you so jealous that no one in your family or state can be that literate enough. What eveil has she done? Think again
Re: Ngozi is it!
Submitted by 9ja@heart (not verified) on January 23, 2012 - 17:17.
To me Dr Iweala's competency or sincerity is not in doubt, but Nigerians may never agree with her because they cant trust IMF or Nigerian govt, that she is working for. I believe, you dont need the best policies to solve ur problems, you need honest & sincere people, who are to be honest with whatever policies you adopt.
True Federalism
Submitted by 9ja@heart (not verified) on January 23, 2012 - 16:56.
sincerely yours, i prefer true federalism to foster healthy competition and accelerated development, division will take us back 50 yrs. Lets see. In my understanding,if we pick division, in the short term, the north will be the first to survive because they have food, most agric produce ,food products, in nig are from the north - tomatoes, yam, beans, etc. The west/east predominantly now are educated/business people, will survive if we get our acts together on time, may be with good governments, we may import food, but we need financial base to buy, SS must be very smart to survive, since no more food, agriculture is dead & no basic amenities, with rivalry, & external interests in their oil, may actual get themselves into bigger mess than the present situation. so, as u can see, the best for us is TRUE FEDERALISM where regional governance becomes powerful and sharing is based on what u generate, u will see speedy development, if this is allowed. just look back at Zik/Awo/Balewa period!
Disintegration
Submitted by Rhomax (not verified) on January 23, 2012 - 10:46.
For those who think that any other tribe won't succeed in the event of a division, have a rethink. All tribes are educated so all tribes will thrive. I don't care if there is a division, i just want to live in a corrupt-free society. A society where tribalism is a sin, where the leaders feed the citizens before they eat, where there is justice and equity, where the poor are just 1% of the people, where there is fresh air, where a leader is competent, where there are no bombings or teargas in the air.
A peaceful nation where the voice of the people is heard cannot be this present government. When the head is rotten, all other parts have an en excuse to go bad. May Allah save us from these trials.
For those who think that any
Submitted by Rhomax (not verified) on January 23, 2012 - 10:44.
For those who think that any other tribe won't succeed in the event of a division, have a rethink. All tribes are educated so all tribes will thrive. I don't care if there is a division, i just want to live in a corrupt-free society. A society where tribalism is a sin, where the leaders feed the citizens before they eat, where there is justice and equity, where the poor are just 1% of the people, where there is fresh air, where a leader is competent, where there are no bombings or teargas in the air.
A peaceful nation where the voice of the people is heard cannot be this present government. When the head is rotten, all other parts have an en excuse to go bad. May Allah save us from these trials.
After disintegration
Submitted by Rhomax (not verified) on January 23, 2012 - 09:11.
For those who think that any other tribe won't succeed in the event of a division, have a rethink. All tribes are educated so all tribes will thrive. I don't care if there is a division, i just want to live in a corrupt-free society. A society where tribalism is a sin, where the leaders feed the citizens before they eat, where there is justice and equity, where the poor are just 1% of the people, where there is fresh air, where a leader is competent, where there are no bombings or teargas in the air.
A peaceful nation where the voice of the people is heard cannot be this present government. When the head is rotten, all other parts have an en excuse to go bad. May Allah save us from these trials.
@Deri: Ogogoro is destroying your mind !
Submitted by tundemash (not verified) on January 22, 2012 - 21:40.
@Deri
In your warped mind, anyone that does not agree with Iweala and Dumbo Jo must be a supporter of Boko Haram ? So how did u link Pius Adeyemi and Boko Haram ?
Pius Adeyemi queried why a useless Jonathan govt would rate the view of a British man above and over a respected Nigerian like Chinua Achebe and typically you come here to link Pius Adeyemi with Boko Haram.
Ogogoro is destroying your mind, stop drinking it !
Ngozi
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 22, 2012 - 17:53.
"Ngozi is more of a problem than a blessing".
Understanding Iweala
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 22, 2012 - 16:37.
Many have held on blindly to the notion that Dr. Iweala is out to inflict pains on Nigeria, I disagree! Nigerians should at least give her a benefit of the doubt. For crying out loud, she has not spend close to a year in this assignment. Nigeria should give a chance and see how things would work out.
pope pius is suffering from fuel subsidy removal syndrome
Submitted by deri (not verified) on January 22, 2012 - 15:49.
Happily for us, u dont have to be a rocket scientist to know that this article in question has no bearing whatsover with the fuel subsidy rubbish which past 9ja leaders, allowed to eat deep into the fabrics of our corrupt political system in the 3 old regions for 25yrs. Its a shame that the same Pius who often cites developments in Canada, to back some of his watery arguements against GEJ, no longer believes in the views or thoughts of his white masters-he now seems to be suffering from dual personality traits here-which Marcus Garvey spoke about in Ghana years ago! one 4 9ja, the other canada. 3rd could be the agbada theory 4 kogi state. That the opinion of a british national was sort on a critical national issue-is now evil-Where were these professors educated-in Nigeria like Jona or in the West? Again is poor Pope Pius, here to represent the abstract views of boko haram-as it concerns western education or his kogi state? The guy needs help period!
Omo EKUN, I couldn't agree more with you
Submitted by Chekwube (not verified) on January 22, 2012 - 15:48.
'Old boy, there's no time to start
talking about confederation or
no-confederation, Nigeria was a
marriage of inconvenience
moulded into three by the British
for their selfish end. Two things can unite a nation . 1) Your
language 2) Your religion. As
Nigerians, it is clear, we have
three main languages. a) Yoruba
(Oduduwa Republic) b) Igbo
(Biafra Republic) c) Hausa (Arewa Republic). We have no time for
SNC. Let's break up Nigeria into
three and let be bygone be
bygone. I'm pretty sure Jonathan
can hold on to his Bayelsa
country if he wants to create one out of the south-east
south-south. That is their
problem. The Yoruba's will survive
and make it in every aspects of
life. We have the education, we
have the everything to be successful if Nigeria breaks.'
I give your comment an A+
Pius needs help from boko haram
Submitted by deri (not verified) on January 22, 2012 - 15:44.
Sadly for us, u dont have to be a rocket scientist to know that this article in question has no bearing whatsover with the fuel subsidy rubbish which past 9ja leaders allowed to eat deep into the fabrics of our corrupt political system in the 3 old regions for 25yrs. Its a shame that the same Pius who often uses Canada, to back up some of his watery arguements against GEJ, no longer believes in the views or thoughts of his white masters-he now seems to be suffering from dual personality traits here-which Marcus Garvey spoke about in Ghana years ago! one 4 9ja, the other canada. 3rd could be the agbada theory 4 kogi state. That the opinion of a british national was sort on a critical national issues is now evil, beats my imangination-Where were these professors educated-in 9ja like Jona or in the West? Again is poor Pope Pius, here to represent the abstract views of boko haram-as it concerns western education or his kogi state? The guy needs help period!
Omo EKUN, I wouldn't agree more with you
Submitted by Chekwube (not verified) on January 22, 2012 - 14:58.
'Old boy, there's no time to start
talking about confederation or
no-confederation, Nigeria was a
marriage of inconvenience
moulded into three by the British
for their selfish end. Two things can unite a nation . 1) Your
language 2) Your religion. As
Nigerians, it is clear, we have
three main languages. a) Yoruba
(Oduduwa Republic) b) Igbo
(Biafra Republic) c) Hausa (Arewa Republic). We have no time for
SNC. Let's break up Nigeria into
three and let be bygone be
bygone. I'm pretty sure Jonathan
can hold on to his Bayelsa
country if he wants to create one out of the south-east
south-south. That is their
problem. The Yoruba's will survive
and make it in every aspects of
life. We have the education, we
have the everything to be successful if Nigeria breaks.'
I give your comment an A+
Omo Ekun, i wouldn't agree more with you
Submitted by Chekwube (not verified) on January 22, 2012 - 14:55.
'Old boy, there's no time to start
talking about confederation or
no-confederation, Nigeria was a
marriage of inconvenience
moulded into three by the British
for their selfish end. Two things can unite a nation . 1) Your
language 2) Your religion. As
Nigerians, it is clear, we have
three main languages. a) Yoruba
(Oduduwa Republic) b) Igbo
(Biafra Republic) c) Hausa (Arewa Republic). We have no time for
SNC. Let's break up Nigeria into
three and let be bygone be
bygone. I'm pretty sure Jonathan
can hold on to his Bayelsa
country if he wants to create one out of the south-east
south-south. That is their
problem. The Yoruba's will survive
and make it in every aspects of
life. We have the education, we
have the everything to be successful if Nigeria breaks.'
I give your comment an A+
sad saad, is ngozi mind
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 22, 2012 - 14:47.
sad saad, is ngozi mind controlled by the west to kill us just like dan fodio killed off hausa kings who trusted him to keep court records in arabic or as boko haram is being mind contolled by hausa fulani political supremacists to terrorise nigerians and intimidate the president?
BREAK NIGERIA UP INTO THREE
Submitted by Omo EKUN (not verified) on January 22, 2012 - 06:03.
Old boy, there's no time to start talking about confederation or no-confederation, Nigeria was a marriage of inconvenience moulded into three by the British for their selfish end. Two things can unite a nation . 1) Your language 2) Your religion. As Nigerians, it is clear, we have three main languages. a) Yoruba (Oduduwa Republic) b) Igbo (Biafra Republic) c) Hausa (Arewa Republic). We have no time for SNC. Let's break up Nigeria into three and let be bygone be bygone. I'm pretty sure Jonathan can hold on to his Bayelsa country if he wants to create one out of the south-east south-south. That is their problem. The Yoruba's will survive and make it in every aspects of life. We have the education, we have the everything to be successful if Nigeria breaks.
Ngozi's Ph.D. degree in Urban and Regional Planning (Geography)!
Submitted by Okwuchukwu Ezeanyika (not verified) on January 22, 2012 - 03:10.
I want to be proven wrong. My research shows that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's Ph.D. degree gained from MIT in the United States was in Urban and Regional Planning which are basically studies in Geography. However, she obtained an antiquated first degree designated as A. B. in Economics from Harvard University in 1977. It is therefore not surprising she is bereft of knowledge of basic economic principles.
Status quo
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 22, 2012 - 02:20.
I will agree that Nigeria go confederation. The center is full of confusion and no one gets the truth out of them all. Then the regions will be able to develop appropriately with in-depth vision that will be directly related to the needs of the people.Stop all these monthly state allocations that cannot be accounted for.Dismantle all these expensive center called federal govt.
Re: PIUS, BE HONEST- YOU ARE JEALOUS
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 22, 2012 - 00:47.
If you really are for the truth, Yemi, you would know that reading to acquire certificates is one thing, while being an expert is another. Collier and Sachs who refer to as experts can best be described as expert at posturing. Where are their expertise in the economy of the US and Europe. If their expertise is what has helped these economies to achieve the special position they occupy now in the world,then Nigeria can do without such expertise. Hope you don't need a dictionary to understand this.
Reaching out
Submitted by Josh (not verified) on January 21, 2012 - 23:32.
I dont believe that Dr. Iweala cannot sustain her argument for the removal of subsidies. After presenting his own side of the coin, it is the prerogative of others to hold on to their views and opinion. At least, she has shown the courage and courtesy to intimate these great people on happenings back home.
Ngozi is it
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 21, 2012 - 23:28.
No matter what many people would want us believe, Dr. Iweala is a jewel and gift to the Nigeria nation. All that have decided to paint her black will not succeed.
Pius, how do you propose to restructure Nigeria?
Submitted by Mazi Dike (not verified) on January 21, 2012 - 20:20.
Pius, i always enjoy your articles even when i may not necessarily agree with you. Ok, we all know that the current unitary systems cannot be sustained in a Multi-Ethnic Nation-Society like Nigeria, so how do you propose we restructure this Nigeria?
1. Confederation system based on the 1967 Aburi Accord?
2. Confederation system based on the Canadian model with the 6 geo-political zones as provinces?
3. Provide your Own great ideas?
4. Amend the Constitution to abolish the House of Representatives (leaving just the Senate), maintain 8 states in each geo-political zone and increase oil derivation to 25 percent?
5. Retain the status quo until Nigeria collapses under its weight, whereby, the masses must spill blood of the elite and their families to cleanse the land for a new beginning?
"IMF is a morally neutral
Submitted by Agent Of Africa (not verified) on January 21, 2012 - 17:05.
"IMF is a morally neutral organization ". You need to educate yourself about the IMF/World Bank brother. IMF/World Bank has destroyed lives in so-called third world countries. From South America to our homeland. Remember SAP in the 80's? What good was that policy for majority of our parents? As the saying goes, ' a house divided cannot stand.' Our enemies know that we despise each other, so there is always an opportunity to take advantage.
TO PROFs ADESANMI, ADEBANWI AND OKOME
Submitted by ENYI OHA (not verified) on January 21, 2012 - 15:52.
I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND YOUR ACERBIC RESPONSES TO DR IWEALA AND HER STRUCTURED ADVOCACY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST INSTITUTIONAL CORRUPTION.WE ALL WANT NIGERIA TO MAKE PROGRESS LIKE THE WESTERN NATIONS YOU PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING IN THE DIASPORA BUT WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING FUNDAMENTALLY STRATEGIC POLICY SHIFTS TO JUMPSTART OUR POLITICAL ECONOMY, YOU SEEM TO SPEAK FROM BOTH SIDES OF THESAME MOUTH.FOR HOW LONG SHALL WE CONTINUE TEMPORARY PALLIATIVES WHILE THE CORE OF THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNTOUCHED?OR HOW COME YOU ARE NOT ADVOCATING RESTRUCTURING FOR THE PRACTICE OF TRUE FEDERALISM WHILE ALSO KEEPING QUIET ON BOKO HARAM TERRORISM WHICH IS EVEN A MORE POTENT THREAT TO NIGERIA THAN REMOVAL OF OIL SUBSIDY?
PROF. P. ADESANMI, PLS STOP NOISY PONTIFICATIONS
Submitted by ENYI OHA (not verified) on January 21, 2012 - 15:24.
PROF. PIUS ADESANMI, GREETINGS TO YOU AND IT IS HOPED YOU WILL READ THIS POST.THE IDEA BEHIND FREEDOM AS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT PARTLY FINDS EXPRESSION IN MASS MEDIA BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THE EDUCATED MASSES ARE MORE OF GENERALISTS, NOT SPECIALISTS.IN THE INTELLIGENTIA TO WHICH YOU BELONG,YOU ARE A SPECIALIST IN FRENCH AND LITERATURE INCLUDING CRITICAL WRITINGS CONTESTING FOR READERSHIP IN THE PUBLIC MEDIA SPACE.SAME GOES FOR PROF. OKOME WHO IS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST.WHEN IT COMES TO 'ECONOMICS', I WOULD SUPOSE HUMILITY DEMANDS THAT YOU LISTEN TO SPECIALISTS INSTEAD OF GENERATING NOISE BY PONTIFICATING ON SUBJECTS FOR WHICH YOUR 'SPECIALIST' COMPETENCE IS BELOW PAR.THEN, LISTEN TO DR.IWEALA AND PROF COLLIER.
The Need 4 Constructive critiques and Upbuilding Suggestions...2
Submitted by KA (not verified) on January 21, 2012 - 15:10.
The reference to Collier's work or article would not necessarily translate to a condescending perspective -we do not have the email exchanges so it would be unusual to infer reasoning from the blank. In anycase, corruption is rife in Nigeria’s system, Dr. Iweala and her colleagues in government would do well to seal-up the loopholes. There is nothing wrong in a hybrid top-bottom-top approach as against the bottom-up approach which appeared to have been adopted in the oil-subsidy saga. Let there be sanitisation and lean strategy adoption across board top-bottom. Let there be complete transparency in reporting to enable accountability. Nothing stops full adoption of IFRS across board. We can all contribute meaningfully by forging positive perspectives ahead for our dear country Nigeria... Let the golden rule reigns in the heart of individuals in Nigeria!!!
The Need 4 Constructive critiques and Upbuilding Suggestions...
Submitted by KA (not verified) on January 21, 2012 - 15:01.
I am quick to infer the level of decorum exhibited by both Profs.Adesanmi and Adebanwi. I am sure Profs. Mojubaolu and Okonjo-Iweala would have demonstrated such level of civility in their exchanges too although we happen not to have same published here. One thing struck me though as far as Dr. Iweala is concerned; she came across as sincere in the initiation of the move to seek positive contributions of fellow intelligentsias. I have no doubt such move would avail a rigorous constructive critiques of the underlining issues and excellent suggestions on the way forward. This is the way to iron out things -brainstorm and proffer the best solutions. I am sure Dr.Iweala would have picked one thing or the other from the exchange with Prof Mojubaolu who is a globalisation expert with a keen interest in the project Nigeria.
