If I Were State Governors...in 2012

Listening to the various budgets proposals of state governments for 2012, it comforts to see some clear movement towards capital projects. The devil of course is in both the details and implementation. Over the next 12 months, there is time enough.

The mood of the nation today asks for good governance and sustainable development. The surest way to attain both is for governors and local council chairmen to deliver the dividends of democracy in utmost transparency and full accountability. Not a tall order at all. The starting point of course is to be the people's hand - take away their pains, this excruciating penury, this burgeoning spectre of pauperization of the masses. And to do so with the people's money, the people's resources. Chikena.

If I were Nigerian State Governors, I will pitch with the people. I will pick attainable goals and target areas of most-needs. Why will it not be in my interest to create the infrastructure for life and livelihood? Why will it not be fun to build houses - mass housing - with burnt brisks and other local building materials? Why will foods and drinks not be available and affordable when we can farm all-year-round, and we have hordes of capable but idle hands? Why won't I go for solar energy: to power street lights, boreholes, primary health centres and schools, to liberalize and decentralize domestic consumption, and make things happen in 2012?

If I were Nigerian Governors, I will build one world class health-care complex per senatorial zone in my state - complete with diagnostic, surgical and recovery facilities; complete with human and material resources, including foreign experts where needed.

If I were a State Governor in 2012, I will cut down on the bloated bureaucracy and right-size political and technocratic appointees as well as the wasteful official delegations and government convoys.

From now on, I will look at my worthy peers (ahem... *Babatunde Fashola, Peter Obi, Jonah Jang, Godswill Akpabio, Sule Lamido, Rotimi Amaechi*, I'm eyeing you) and aim to match or surpass them --- pro-rata, of course.

Four years, dear Governor, be not forever!

If I Were NYSC Authorities...on Violence and Insecurity of Corpers

The National Youth Service Scheme will be reviewed, revamped and restructured. No question. We should all join and/or follow the process.

Meanwhile, any state that cannot or will not guarantee our children's safety during their service year must be excused or exempted - for now. QED.

If I were the NYSC authorities, this subject will be non-negotiable - not after what parents, guardians and the nation have experienced and endured in the last 12 months.

To Whom It May Concern: Make no mistake about it, the NYSC stays! QED.

Traditional Rulers on 2011 Elections

Who hasn't seen the beauty of our natural institutions - chiefs, obas, emirs, obis, baales, district heads, et al? Who could dare them in the past? Who wouldn't attempt to dare or ignore them now?

We've had the good, the bad and the ugly. Fair. But we must not diminish or desecrate our traditional rulers and our heritage. Neither education nor religion, travels nor civilization, expects us to. So, when we see our fellow compatriots do things other people/nations won't do to our royal fathers we shudder. Now we must act.

As we prepare to act, let our fathers act. Let it not be said of them that the nation burnt and dissolved under their care and guidance. Let our traditional rulers be, well, traditional rulers - fathers of all. To do so successfully, they must be apolitical. Once they get affiliated to any political party, they compromise their natural neutrality, and become overly partisan. In which case, they become fair game for disrespect, inducements, and political attack!

If I were our Traditional Rulers, I will stop sharing chieftaincy titles and turbanning ceremonials like cookies. Let the honour be earned, hard-earned. I will be in the vanguard of moral rearmament, sustainable development and good governance. How? By backing the electorate, damning the selectorate, by promoting and dutifully defending popular democracy.

When? This April. This 2011 General Elections.

Why? Because without true democracy, no-one can defend and revere tradition, its institutions or leaders - especially our royal fathers. As our elders say, the peace of the tree is the peace of the bird! We saw it all during our tortuous military misgovernance. Never again! 

The Media on Nigeria's 2011 Elections

I have a secret wish: I hope all the friends of Nigeria will help her confront all the enemies of her democracy! And do it fast and furious, faithfully and fearlessly, with pride and honour, as once and future. Oh, I pray for the total routing of those brigands, those unbelievers, those barriers, those barracudas, who have sworn to keep her down for aye! Una don fail this time.

If I were the Nigerian Media, I will be doing what our forebears did in the beginning: they fought the colonialists to a stand-still, and won! The media should be fighting the enemies of state, the enemies of our democracy, the enemies of The Press, the looters and launderers of the nation's treasury. Deny them space and spin. Elevate the just. Celebrate true patriots. Fight, folks, fight the good fight!

Why? Why not - isn't that our constitutional role, out patriotic duty? See how horrendous it costs to consume media products in Nigeria, including ICT which is its modern backbone! Deliberate strangulation to keep the press impotent, and the people ignorant, isn't it? But dem go fail this time.

If I were the Nigerian Media, I no go gree o! We will join the battle to free the land, again. This time, for good.

Our tool? 2011 General Elections.

Expose 'em! Period.