My Person

The Only Way To Drop The NHS Bill Without Shame

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:10:00 +0000

The infamous NHS Reform Bill is now at a critical point with no solution. In fact, the simplest definition of its position now could be the saying, "between the devil and the deep blue sea".

Almost every supposed stakeholder to the NHS has rejected this reform and worst of all, majority of service users are not sure nor convinced about the proposed change. In the NHS itself, the proposed change, obviously rammed through without planning, testing and consultation, has left services and management in utter confusion. Redundancies has swallowed most of the budget that PCTs had throwing some into unexpected financial ill-health. Croydon PCT is one of those.

Where are we now? Well, the Prime Minister is strangulated in his pride to make yet another, and possibly, what would become the biggest U-turn of this coalition. The NHS was going to be the miracle-baby of this Coalition and David Cameron in his sweet talking PR manner even went as far as denouncing the Conservative MEP, Daniel Hannan who was rather true to himself to say it as it was [and still seem to be] for majority of Tories.

But there is always a danger in denying exactly what you stand for without completely denouncing it. What Cameron did was to denounce Mr. Hannan but not denounce his ideology for free primary care is. To keep both sides of the wall, the Coalition, with the opportunity of having the Liberal Democrats, embarked on a subtle erasure of free primary care at the point of need claiming it is to remove bureaucracy. Yet, GPs would employ managers to run the NHS they're given anyway. All the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) were after all, put together and applied for by a combination of GPs and managers. In fact, the managers - medical civilians I call them - were more in number. What bureaucracy are we talking of here?

But of course, the Prime Minister would like to drop this controversial Bill. It is just his pride that is stopping him. So here's the solution;

If the Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley could [just get angry and] resign. A new Health Secretary would be appointed who then disagrees with everything Lansley wanted for the NHS and stood for. The Prime Minister, as usual will then give his support to [t]his new man who would then announce and embark on a review that would subtly but gradually navigate this away from the troubled waters.

Of course, you cant deny that 'Change' isn't necessary; not only in the NHS but across the entire public sector. However, there is a difference between change in how service is delivered and change of who delivers the service. What Andrew Lansley missed all of the time is the 'What, When, Why and How' of the game. Mangling all of these together meant that the Bill needed revising and amendments every other minute.

The Prime Minister and his Coalition cannot just drop the Bill without dropping the present Health Secretary, Mr. Lansley. And sacking him would shame the PM, but making him understand to go would clear the way for a change without the full blown embarrassment for the PM.

Yet, its a pity that Andrew Lansley keep missing the points of exit. The most recent was when protesters jeered at him two days ago and a woman took him on one-to-one. If he had any sense of consideration and responsibility, he would have seized that opportunity and stepped off [claiming and accusing some of the electorates of aggression].

Religion: We Must Be At The Brink Of A New Era - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:56:00 +0000

cont'd from post below...

But rest your breathe again; the world will not turn irreligious; far from it. Man remains the only mammal as, that has continuously searched for answer for the unanswerable. At the moment, we know and see that a good number of those who are unsubscribing (or are not subscribed at all) to present day organized religion are however, creating a new religion.

These new religion are of variant types. It is therefore difficult to predict which will outdo the rest. The Human Rights ideologists, the Ethics rebellious, Science/Scientologist, Humanists or the Material worshippers? Time will tell.

It is however obvious that supremacy may end up split between Human Rights/Humanists and the Ethics/Human Rights. Science will always remain a tool for service just like Material worship. These 2 accessories are human behaviour of curiousity and obsession and will never leave.

It is the above 2 characteristics too that set us apart from fellow mammals/creatures. Humans do not stop wanting. Lions kill for food, we kill for fun. Animals eat what they need, we posses what we dont need. Animals do not worry about tomorrow, we stock up wealth toward years. Animals do not create shelter beyond their space, we prefer to own every space we can lay hands on... Obsession.

In trying to acquire, we fall prey to curiousity. Of what tomorrow might bring; of what we could be and even, as some religion has unevidently predicted, of where we shall be after we are dead. Funny!

Religion is hinged therefore on the two nature of obsession (ownership and control) and curiousity (past and future - and unanswerable behest).

All the above bring us that are living now to a very critical point in our existence, the very intersection of yet another change. A change we do not like but one that is obvious. That as we have exhausted the pragmatics of all present-day religions and have found no answer to the very unanswerable question, the early developers amongst us are moving fast onto something else; the absolute rejection of these religions.

But why mostly the young? Because as humans and based on our curiousity (of past and future), the young learns from the mistakes of the old. Hence every new generation on-going shall deny religion more than the one before it. And that move will also be applicable to regions. Europe of Middle Ages will hardly believe that the Renaissance happened?

From events happening around the world, it is clear that Africa and a lot of the developing world are still in their middle ages. Events in the Middle East since 2011 spring predicts a rather unbelievable rise of a new movement. The demand for rights, for accountability and for equity. This also points to a Change that will in the end affect religion as we know it today.

In Iran, Syria, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Oman, Bahrain, etc, religion is still holding forth and used by the present day leaders to manouvre the population, but that all is on its way out. A time shall come and not very far, when the same population, as newer generations arise, will see through the shroud [of religion] and reject that commonality between them and their leaders. Like in the past travel of religion across the world, the change is repeating the same route and possibly, the same speed.

It is no need to wonder if these will happen, it definitely will come to pass. Christianity and Islam will end! New forms of Religions will take their place.

But then, what about smaller religions like Buddhism? Those may likely not end at the same speed or step their big brothers will. They were the flimsy changes that never made the right impact and thus may remain or die. But whether they remain or die, their impact or loss is almost beyond notice.

So current attack and resistance by the faith zealots are inevitable. The Ayotalla Khamenei, the Lord Carey of Clifton, the Anne Widdecombe's, the Baroness Warsi, and all their fellow religious followers may not accept it - and I commiserate with them - but the end of their beloved faiths - at least as informing societal ideology - is on a face out.

The goodnews for the above sect of humans though is that this will not complete in their time. So each of them may still die [obviously not happy] knowing that they religions are still there. But like the pegan priests of the late 3rd centuries and early 4th centuries, they would be stricken in their grave to learn that the beloved faiths are completely gone.

These truths are hard to swallow and could lead the said fanatics to attack those who say them, yet, those attacks, whether it be mere words or fatwas, would not change what is to come.

Religion: Are We At The Brink Of A New Era - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:14:00 +0000

Across the world, never had there been a time in recent generations, when debate on religions is as high as it presently is. While religions' incarnations has remained a part of the human race all along, there had always been that milestone that can only be the tipping point.

We may just go back just a mere 3000 years ago and we realize how fast Changes with religion has occurred. From pagan worship of our forebearers to the conquering and imposition of monotheist faiths, what is very clear is that the human mind is never at rest in its quest to solve the mystery of its existence.

In the time between 200 to 1700AD when Christianity and Islam finally took hold of the world over, - this timing is based on the fact that while Europe was Christainized in early 3rd Century when Constantine finally adopted the religion, the Americas and Africa were to wait until later before Christianity and Islam arrived to change them - rebellions and refusal to accept the arriving faiths were high and repeated in all communities. Of course, who finds it easy to change their way of life?

What is undisputable through the above time was the rebellion that welcomed the new evangelization. Britannia opposed it as much as Africans rejected it. But as in all dictatorships, like the ones [faiths] before them, wars or other means of force were used to impose these new ways of life on whoever the recipient at each time was.

In today's world however, war is not being used - you may disagree on that point and you may not be completely wrong - to advance the new religions that are budding; reason is. Religious belief is waning and the pattern of change is no different from the ones in the past. Europe, as in the past is leading. it has reached its maxim and the downturn is inevitable as is evidenced presently.

A recent snapshot survey by IPSOS Mory in the UK, commissioned by the Richard Dawkins' confirms that those claiming to have religion has dropped whooping 25% (from around 72% of the total UK population according to 2001 census to 54% of the same population presently). Although this data may not be accurate to the digit, it is nonetheless correct.

Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury who is now nothing but a militant Christian, could be an evidence of the stress and worry faced upon by other zealous faith people who are worried day and night that their affabled religious are gradually losing the foothold of driving societal ideology.

In Germany, there had been disputes against the formerly traditional church tax and presently, it is no more applicable. Germany recorded an almost 8% fall in Christian adherents between 2006 and 2008. These fact is almost repeatable across Europe and America. But it wont be strange to find the same once in Islam once secualrization gets a footing as it is presently in the process of.

But this is reality. Just like those many centuries ago, when a swat of pagan British people thought Christianity will never take hold; like the many Turks or Egyptians, who never envisaged Islam dominating; or like the Africans who gaped as their traditional worshiping was labelled sin and evil, we are today seeing these mighty religions, especially Christianity and Islam, losing footholds and their followers engaging in a war of words refusing to accept that their religion should not guide or inform public life.

Over the week, a British Cabinet member [without portfolio], Baroness Warsi resorted to name-calling, branding secularism Militant. Like her fellow Conservative politician, the now-retired MP, Anne Widdecombe, these people and their ilk are failing to grasp the reality that is dawning on us all; that religion as we know it is changing. And nothing shall stop this.

Yes, it is the beginning of the end for established religion as we know them. But hold your breathe, it wont happen yet. These evolutions take time. But come back 100 years from now and check, religion as we know them would have been faced out.

But rest your breathe again; the world will not... Part 2 coming

Canada: Amends Its Mistake On Same-sex Marriage

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:12:00 +0000

Image taken from Wikimedia Commons

The Canadian Government has introduced a Bill into Parliament amending the Civil Marriage Act. The amendments are intended to address concerns raised in a recent case involving a lesbian couple who are not residents of Canada but who were married in Canada. Unable to divorce where they reside, they turned to the Canadian courts to seek a divorce.

It is estimated that more than 5,000 non-resident same sex couples have been married in Canada, which has no requirement of residence or citizenship for marriage. It is believed that almost all of those same sex couples were unable to marry where they resided. The Canadian Government lawyer in the recent case had argued that the divorce could not be granted because (a) the marriage was not valid under Canadian law because it had not been valid under the laws of their home jurisdictions when performed, and (b) because only Canadian residents can be divorced in Canada.

The Bill provides that all marriages that are otherwise valid in Canada are valid even if the parties lack the capacity to marry under the law of the jurisdiction where they reside. The Bill is fully retroactive.

The Bill also provides greater access to divorce for same sex couples. If a couple married in Canada is unable to divorce in their home jurisdiction, they will be able to seek a divorce in the Canadian courts. However, the only grounds recognized will be separation for one year, and the only relief available will be a dissolution of the marriage.

The Bill is expected to pass.

As reported by Douglas Elliott on Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity (SOGI) list from Toronto, Canada

Commonwealth in Sri Lanka; A Wrong Step?

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 03:54:00 +0000

image taken from Creative Commons

The Commonwealth announced at its last Summit; the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, Australia that its next CHOGM will be hosted by Sri Lanka. Shocks!!!

Criticism has followed ever since and it is very easy to see why.

Sri Lanka is synonymous to ethnic insurgency to most of young generation of Commonwealth. Whether you know where Sri Lanka is or not, one thing is clear and very ethnic conflict has been non-stop. In fact, Tamil and Sri Lanka are far more popular to Commonwealth citizens than the Commonwealth itself.

Over the 50 years the problem has brewed in Sri Lanka Prime Minister Bandaranaike introduced the controversial Sinhala Only Act that recognized Sinhala as the sole official language of the government in the middle of 1950s, Sri Lanka as a country has known little to no comfort.
At the last count in 2009, following the government's claim to having defeated Tamil Tigers, the famous militant group in the North of that country, official record has it that about 100,000 people has died in the 26-years fracas. This is in addition to 294,000 displaced people according to Sri Lanka's own government records.

However, the government of Sri Lanka has been pragmatic since that acclaimed defeat of the Tamil Tigers in 2009. It has shut off or diverted the media attention away from the problems that continues to brew on the same issue. These problems owe largely to the fact that the government has not effected nor implemented the necessary safe-guides of equalities and protection for the Tamil tribes. Speaking to different Tamil and Sri Lanka people I have met in the UK, they confess that troubles continues to brew on the ground. The Tamils still feel overly alienated in their own country.

But all the above is swept under the carpet through the government's pragmatic approach. It has succeeded in diverting the world's attention from the realities of life for a sect of its citizens. In stead, the government is using 'fastest growing economy' to confuse the world. Of course, as this blog identified here; present generation government is controlled by the 'Market'. The people do not matter any more.

For a country with so much bloodshed and such level of discrimination and oppression going on, and resulting in unresolved tensions, it is therefore appalling that the Commonwealth would consider hosting its next Head of Governments Meeting there. Is the Commonwealth endorsing a failing government thtat it should be chiding?

The Commonwealth should be sanctioning Sri Lanka and mandating it to effect the necessary instruments to implement peace especially on the equal treatment of its citizens and the provision of services. Or where the Commonwealth do not want to be seen to be taking sides as it always claim, it could at least, have not taken its Summit to Sri Lanka because that amount to an endorsement for a failing governance.

What does this meeting hope to achieve in a country where words like; equality, minorities, rights, equity, discrimination, opportunity and any such words that depicts justice would be avoided or said in hush-hush tones if not at all?

Is the Commonwealth really going backward instead of forward? This seems the wrong step and the expectation is completely skeptical.

This is not about who is right; the government of Sri Lanka or the militias of Tamil, but of justice and equity. The Commonwealth must redraw its footsteps and consider relocating this meeting to a more comfortable destination for now.

Sales Of Weapon Fell By 14%; Hope It Continues

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:16:00 +0000

Image taken from www.baesystems.com

UK defence group BAE Systems has reported a drop in annual sales after defence orders fell back and has warned sales will not grow this year.

The report confirms that sales at BAE fell by 14% and a particular reason cited is the USA's pull out from Iraq.

Although shareholders in BAE might feel sad at the prospect of losing business, it seems a good thing that less weapons are being purchased and a forecast that it would continue is just the right thing.

But when would our world report such a fall in aggressions and war? A fall in violence, in shoot and kill, in crimes; of assassinations, murder, man-slaughter, dangerous riots, etc. When?

When will we wake up to a world that gets a whole day of peace? Of no suicide bombing, or terrorism or self-immolation? when?
Yet, what is baffling is, that most of the actions above, from governments' aggressions to suicide bombing and terrorism are all geared towards finding peace. Hence we mess up whatever peace there exists in the quest to destroy or put opponents to angst. But is it working?

May be, the reduction in owning weapons by both States and individuals would be a step to begin at. It is imperative that we think of peace in peaceful term rather than by wars.

BAE may be unhappy that its year-end statement is negative. Yet in reality and for practicality, a further negative report such as this and if it persists, could reduce wars for a more peaceful world where, all could live happier lives with lesser fear. Of course, weapons would always exists but any reduction would do our emotional lives much good no matter how little.

George Osborne: The Man Who Invents Myths

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:40:00 +0000

George Osborne (left), looking dazed.

At the 2009 Tory conference, George Osborne, the then Shadow Chancellor, in a term of concrete and well rehearsed PR onslaught for No 10, invented the phrase: "we are all in this together".

Giving his conference speech that year (October 6), with a backdrop of typical British brick houses, Mr. Osborne announced that the Conservatives would make bankers pay, and other myths he told the nation that day;

"But if we find the money that should be going into stronger bank balance sheets is being unreasonably diverted into bigger pay and bonuses - we reserve the right to take further action and that includes using the tax system."

In trying to confuse the nation, George Osborne used the phrase "we are all in this together" seven good times. So far, 19 months into the actual game as the Chancellor, we now know that we are surely not in the same thing as him.

The same bonuses he promised above "to take further action..."; he now defends thus

"There are those who are trying to create an anti-business culture in Britain – and we have to stop them. At stake are not pay packages for a few but jobs and prosperity for the many."

Mr. Osborne who should be fighting to bring [us] all into this together, is hereby boldly pledging his support for big bonuses which he strongly opposed in 2009. By referring to public outcry against unreasonable bonus package to bankers subsidized by taxpayers money, as "anti-business", the Chancellor is creating a two-tier society.

He is buying into his rich-gangs in the so-called "Markets" while ignoring the electorates again. Today, he as invented yet another phrase that would hunt him like the first.

"We are all in this together" has proven to be a lie at every step of the way; the list is ashamedly unpresentable:

the NHS reform?
Public pay freeze?
Pension reform?
Welfare reform
Local council services cuts
Redundancies in all sectors
Schools reform
Defence cuts
Milk for kids
Rail transport
Forest sale-out
Home Office/Immigration
Justice system & prison
Police cuts
RBS booty with taxpayers money

All the above reform, pay freeze, cuts and wanton redundancies are happening to the ordinary man. As already highlighted, homelessness has doubled, unemployment is growing faster than a High Speed 2 train. And crime, as evidently portrayed during the August [2011] riots across England shows that the bomb is ticking towards explosion.

But it is vividly clear that this man is far removed from where the "we" is. He knows nothing about everyday life for the majority low-middle class [people]. He has no understanding what not having food to eat means. And in fact, there's nothing in life that this man understands... Little wonder he thinks those being over-paid deserve it or they would go elsewhere to the suffering of the entire country.

And today, this man has invented yet another myth calling public disapproval of bonuses "anti-business culture". Shame on George Osborne. Only a fool will believe him.

In any proper setting where there is strong opposition, both myths join together could shine light on the lies of this government and expose their failure for all they promised both in opposition and in power.

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Message

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:54:00 +0000

"I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong." - HRH, Princess Elizabeth; 1947 in South Africa. Happy Diamond Jubilee

Today, as I mark 60 years as your Queen, I am writing to thank you for the wonderful support and encouragement that you have given to me and Prince Philip over these years and to tell you how deeply moved we have been to receive so many kind messages about the Diamond Jubilee.

In this special year, as I dedicate myself anew to your service, I hope we will all be reminded of the power of togetherness and the convening strength of family, friendship and good neighbourliness, examples of which I have been fortunate to see throughout my reign and which my family and I look forward to seeing in many forms as we travel throughout the United Kingdom and the wider Commonwealth.

I hope also that this Jubilee year will be a time to give thanks for the great advances that have been made since 1952 and to look forward to the future with clear head and warm heart as we join together in our celebrations.

I send my sincere good wishes to you all.

ELIZABETH R.

GPs Give The NHS One More Year To Live If...

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:29:00 +0000

Image taken from bpacc.net

Say, is there any other professional medical groups left to disown the UK government's Health Reform Bill?

Possibly, there is/are. Except that such must be faceless. In the government response to the latest criticism, Health Minister Simon Burns told the BBC, "...I find it in one way baffling, because it (GPs Criticism) is not representative of what I hear GPs up and down the country saying." As you can see, these "GPs up and down the country" has no identity.

The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) was the latest to run far from the Reform. It is even stranger considering that this whole hulla-ballo has been built and hinged on the fact to give the said GPs the power to run healthcare in the UK as they wish. Yuk!
Speaking to colleagues on Thursday - and I work in the NHS with a Primary-Based Commissioning (PBC) group of GPs - they think the Reform is ill-focused. What GPs wanted in practice, is not to run the NHS; but to be more involved in running the NHS. These are two different things. And the later wouldnt have been any difficult to achieve as much as it would have been to review a bit of the beuracracy that surrounds all aspects of the public sector in the UK anyway.

So as the RCGP today air their disappointment, it corroborates what we have always feared. However, I fear that at this point, as said in this post few days ago, the Reform is at the worst critical point; a point of damage.

According to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Dr Helena Johnson, chair of the group had this to say: "Together with many other health professionals, we have tried to engage constructively and make sensible suggestions throughout the bill's passage through Parliament. But time and time again, the views of patients and health professionals have been ignored. The government seems determined to press ahead with these reforms." Disappointed.

But as the government is too embarrassed to make a U-turn and too ignorant to dump its ideology, it wont be pessimistic to worry for the demise of the NHS. But fear not, it wont be buried; we'll be left with just a walking-dead NHS at the end of this Reform if carried on at its current form

God save our gracious NHS!

The Queen And The Queer - Dedication, Passion, Service...

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:27:00 +0000

Today is Peter Tatchell's birthday; his 60th. As someone I greatly admire and had done long before I met him and even got involved in the LGBT Rights struggle, something else struck my mind this morning...

Of course Mr. Tatchell is not the best-loved across the nation, but he is respected for his dedication, resilience and passion. It was while I try to think about this man who has selflessly dedicated himself to supporting the oppressed, to bring neglected issues to the fore, regardless of the cost to him, that I also thought of another personality I so greatly admire: the Queen, Herr Elizabeth.

It is then that it dawned on me, that while the later was to ascend the throne that year, Peter was born shortly before. Does it mean that the promise Elizabeth made 5 years before that time on her 21st Birthday, have a lot to do with Mr. Tatchell?

First of all, it is important to note that Peter do not agree to a hereditary monarchy as he publicly declares for a Republic. Funny for that, I admire him but disagree on that issue. I am a Monarchist and admire Her Majesty.

It does make it strange that this promise the Queen made on her 21st Birthday in far away South Africa: "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.", seems to have replayed in Mr. Tatchell's life.

Peter has dedicated his life, earning nothing, living in a council flat and going across the world to show solidarity publicly... The Queen had dedicated her life, earning (inheriting) a lot, living in a palace and going across the world to show solidarity in calm. Very different?

Please also note, that Mr. Tatchell, started his most active protest for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Rights at the age of 21... The other coincidence is that he started it 'Far far away from his own birthplace too'.
The two role models of mine who my contrast of all nature, birth, privilledge, job, place in the world, opportunity, et al, seems to share so much in common too... dedication, passion, service, resilience, patience, perseverance and above all, almost the same response to criticism; keeping calm and carrying on.

Peter Tatchell may not agree with my comparison of him to the Queen and I have not sought his opinion or approval to write this, but within all that notion, the things these two people share are what I admire them both for. Not for their position or other personal belief and characteristics which I do not know much about.

Just two months less 4 days from now, the Queen will celebrate her own real birthday. And that comes on the heels of her accession to the throne; it seems to me that all these dates which are important is the Queen's life are somehow important to one of her best critics. Mind you, Peter Tatchell, by no means have a personal hatred for the Queen... he only disagrees with hereditary monarchy.

Well, I wish Mr. Tatchell even a longer life on his 60th. And in the summer, I shall, in hope, be joining in all joys, Her Majesty, to celebrate her 60th year as the reigning Monarch.

For me, history would always, although told apart, remember that in 2012, the Queen and the Queer, both had shown service and yes, in a selfless manner.

Thank you Peter Tatchell.

Could Nigeria Govt Officials Be Behind Boko Haram?

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:25:00 +0000

Nigeria is synonymous with chaos; that's a fact. Nigeria is corrupt beyond reason and imagination; that's also a fact. Actually, social engineering is a political tradition in Nigeria used over the past 50 years to maintain corruption through chaos; this is more than a fact.

In the wake of the price increase of petroleum product due to an IMF engineered subsidy-removal - hence the removal of the only benefit-like gain from the State, Nigerians protested. Coupled with the increasing violence by Boko Haram, it was billed to be a self-destruction as the IMF must have envisaged... but wait for this; Nigerian politicians are versed in creating own Nigeria's self-destruction.

Hence it wont be totally wrong to think that the increased tension now in Nigeria has an artificial input engineered by some politicians who are well-horned in such all these years. I am of the strong premonition that the Corrupt State, in adhering the advice of the IMF which I suspect include a promise to help them hide their stolen wealth in IMF-controlled banks abroad, is unofficially and secretly involved in Boko Haram's attack. Yes, the rapid move of Boko Haram may not be without support from the high echelon of that corrupt-ridden country.

The plot thus looks like this: the government is under pressure from citizens for the first time in years, to be accountable. Knowing nothing but corruption with the required crippled State security, an key player in the ruling class must have turned to the obvious. Dont get it wrong, you wont find a memo or Cabinet brief recording this; Nigeria never do things that way. But some official is assigned the job who assigns it to another and possibly to another... Then Boko Haram is finally reached. This is usually why suspected terrorists or criminals in Nigeria are killed through the same chaos so nothing can be or is ever investigated, etc.

With monies and assurances provided for Boko Haram, all they have to do is throw the bomb, start the gun-battle and cause the chaos. That way, attention is diverted from the people's struggle for a responsible State. Hence in the last two weeks, Nigerians has gone from demanding responsibility from the State in providing petroleum to trepidation of violence and trying to save themselves or their families and friends from attacks.

Well, this hypothesis may not convince you or you may even ask for evidence. But if you know Nigeria and the level of all manners of corruptions both proven and redacted over the years, the nature of crimes, violence, tribal clashes, ethnic cleansing and indepth State institutional corruption, you wont be far from this suspicion that someone, within a State with a tradition of corruption could be behind these violence.

NHS In Limbo

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:42:00 +0000

Since the formation of UK Coalition government, one thing, amongst all cuts, that has concerned most people is the Health [Reform] Bill.

From the very beginning, only a fool would have thought that the proposed plan was what is needed to safeguard the NHS into the future. Of course, let's not make the mistake, the NHS and most of all public sectors, including the Executive arm of government needed a radical change. The problem is; what Change?

Well, for the NHS, from the inception of the Coalition, the wrong Change was proposed and worse still, applied without due and accurate consultation. Thus we are experiencing now the worse ever reform any that can could be implemented.

The approach was like taking an unfinished barge onto the sea... and when it starts capsizing, obviously, the problem isnt just that the ship was not completed, but that the vast ocean is not a safe ground to stand aside to save occupants.

So here we are; faced with that reality.

For a Prime Minister that gave a cast-iron guarantee to protect the NHS, ring-fence its budget and promised not to carry out a top-down restructuring, its shameful that he is executing a dictator-style change imposed on the people with such reckless abandon. Of course, we know that the likes of Danniel Hannan that must be sitting back and laughing his head off at how the PM and Andrew Lansley are achieving what he dreamt of. Yet Mr. Cameron berated Mr. Hannan when he made his suggestion in 2009 on Fox News.

At this point, there is barely any redemption for the NHS. The Health Bill is at a stage that both moving back or forward would probably have the same effect. While Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) were abolished is still unexplained and the proposed replacement-Consortia has been a mess in formation.

After hurriedly forcing the Consortia to form on the basis of free border and alignment, they are now being forced to align to Council borders. How did we come to that? Because as this ideological Coalition separated health, public health and social care, it requested Councils to take over public health but to work with 'local' consortia for delivery - dont worry, we are yet to determine anything about social care. However, since Councils' budget is tied to population spending money with a Consortia that is straddling more than a one Council or [worse still] not covering its entire area was always going to be problematic?

So with the constant patching and reform of the Reform, the Health Bill is now dangerously inconsistent and worse off than a box of Puzzle with enough jigsaw but of different origins.

Who says penny-wise pound-foolish is just an adage?

Is Nigeria Reaping the Seeds of Long Years of Corruption

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:44:00 +0000

The rise of modern terrorism in Nigeria is not shocking to Nigerians, it is only threatening and abhorring.

For over 50 years of self-governance, Nigerians who are old enough to tell of the country under colonial rule agree it's been a shameful 50years.

In all that years, the benefit of citizenship is a mere wishful thinking... In fact, benefits of citizenship is unknown to generations born after colonial governance. The first emotion was displayed immediately afterwards resulting in a civil war that lasted over 3 years and claimed millions of lives. That wound has never healed underneath; but worse still, corruption and bad governance increased ever thereafter.
Although terrorism in Nigeria always take the form of religious or tribal offence, it is truly the result of long years of corrupt and inefficient government after government. For 52 years, the citizens of Nigeria has suffered the worse poverty, denial of their own common wealth and worse still, their politicians has used divide-and-rule to keep confusion at the heart of the polity in Nigeria.

Its tough to imagine or think Boko Haram's actions as the disintegration of #Nigeria yet... but it is concerning. However, it is a known fact in history, that terrorism is the final resort of oppressed people; by a sample. Consequentially, it usually lead to full revolt if mismanaged.

But is there a solution? Can a government without a blueprint for positive change - as we are yet to experience - really steer the ship - Nigeria - away from this storm? There is still hope.

Solution must be both immediate & long term. Citizens must feels the benefits of belonging to a country that is vast in all aspects. The government however is currently making a mistake; of implementing short-term solutions of attack, arrest and kill members of Boko Haram without yet proffering opportunities to the poor, deprived people of Nigeria to feel the gains of a rich country that is theirs.

It would not be assumptive to suspect that some Nigerian politicians and high State officials are already exploring ways in which to use Boko Haram to obtain control of State. In fact, what would be right to assume is that this is already happening; that some politicians and top government dons must be behind Boko Haram; I pray not.

The tension in the country is not limited to the Northern states only. Neither is it special to Christians nor Muslims. The truth is that everyone else who is not a member of Boko Haram or the government is afraid. Speaking to relatives, friends, former colleagues and former clients in Nigeria, there massive an immeasurable fear around. People are staying away from Church as well as Mosque.

While the Igbos and other ethnic groups are on mass exodus from the North back to their origins in the South, the Hausas who has nowhere to go are feeling dejected and left to die. Friends they have grown with have deserted back to the South and the government isnt providing any assurance of protection. Boko Haram's action is a curse to all in the country regardless of whatever alignment.

The Course Ed Miliband Talked About Does Not Exist!

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:30:00 +0000

Today on Andrew Marr Show, Labour Party Leader, Ed Miliband put up what could be called a strong fight against critics, especially within the party by going on about how he will stay the course... what course?

What he seems to have failed to understand is that those criticizing him, especially within the party are those who really care. It is those who are honest and are genuinely concerned about the party and want the party to put up a real response as an opposition. This is not to deny that there some minute number of detractors within the party all the same.

What do we get? A party that is clearly groping and crawling in the dark, responding to every voice that comes across, in [what seems] a desperate move to reach light; any light. This is absurd.

Mr Miliband was, as far as I am concerned well received once elected Leader. Having witnessed him being announced Leader and speaking to many party members at the event in Manchester after the result and his immediate subsequent speech, it was clear, that majority of grassroot Labour party members wanted to move on and make a difference. One phrase was most common afterwards that day at the conference; "he's been elected, lets support him". To hear that over and over amongst a crowd that only just over 51% gave him the vote was spectacular.

Sixteen months into that, what he has failed to do is create a Road Map towards achieving the obvious; taking the government back. The reason for this unmarked charting is indefensible.

Instead, Ed and his Shadow Cabinet has spent 16 months responding to every insect that fly by from the Coalition. This has left the Labour Party as a laughing-stock. No one in this country, including Labour party members, knows exactly what policy the party has on hand to lead or be a better choice.

As written on this blog just about a month ago, the party is not ready and doesnt seem to be getting ready. Would it wait until the election before it sets out its plan?

Of course, no one wants Ed out; what they want is to know his plans. It is like a man who says he is building a house but has no architectural design whatsoever. A robust plan that clearly shows how Labour will walk the walk and 'stay the course' is all that's been ask. If duty calls today, would voters trust Labour to take over the reins of government of this country? I doubt that.

Nobody wants the Leader out; instead, they want him in. The course he talks about does not exist because there is no constitutional time limits for his office. The course he wants to stay will be determined by a clean, well-focused and comprehensive policy plan he puts out. Voters need to have this, study it and cross-reference them to be convinced of a robust position that convinces them to trust and believe in Labour again.

Delaying coming out with a pure plan shows weakness if not confusion and erodes what little trust there is. For this part of the game, the earlier the better. There is barely 40months now to the General Election? Until when before this policy paper is seen? At the 11th hour?

All the little talk here and there by him and his team, today on public sector pay freeze, tomorrow on Murdoch and phone hacking are too flimsily presented hence portraying indecision and unpreparedness. It is like a fish out of water flapping all over and is destroying any chance the Labour party stands of being regarded as a serious contender in the race to run a government.

Fuel Subsidy Made Simple - Tunde Bakare

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:20:00 +0000

A exposition by a Nigerian Pastor in his Church, 'The Latter Rain Assembly' today. Mr Bakare was a Running-mate to former Gen. Buhari on the presidential elections 2011 in Nigeria, the election that saw Goodluck Jonathan, the incumbent to the State house. According to this exposition, it seems Mr. Jonathan is yet, as we all suspects, to make amends and lead a modest, selfless government.

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Sermon:

FACTS YOU MUST KNOW: SUBSIDY MADE SIMPLE

1. DEFINITION

To subsidize is to sell a product below the cost of production. Since the federal government has been secretive about the state of our refineries and their production capacity, we will focus on importation rather than production. So, in essence, within the Nigerian Fuel Subsidy context, to subsidize is to sell petrol below the cost of importation.

2) THE UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The Nigerian government claims that Nigerians consume 34 million litres of petrol per day. The government has also said publicly that N141 per litre is the unsubsidised pump price of petrol imported into Nigeria. (N131.70 kobo being the landing price and N9.30 kobo being profit.)

3) ANNUAL COST OF IMPORTATION

Daily Fuel Consumption: 34 million litres
Cost at Pump: N141.00
No. of days in a regular year: 365 days
Total cost of all petrol imported yearly into Nigeria:
Litres Naira Days
34m x 141 x 365
= N1.75 trillion

4) COST BORNE BY THE CONSUMERS

Nigerians have been paying N65 per litre for fuel, haven’t we? Therefore, cost borne by the consumers =

Litres Naira Days

34m x 65 x 365

= N807 billion

5) COST OF SUBSIDY BORNE BY THE GOVERNMENT

In 2011 alone, government claimed to have spent N1.3 trillion by October – the bill for the full year, assuming a constant rate of consumption is N1.56 trillion.

Consequently, the true cost of subsidy borne by the government is:

Total cost of importation minus total borne by consumers, i.e. N1.75 trillion minus N807 billion = N943 billion.

Unexplainable difference: N617 billion

The federal government of Nigeria cannot explain the difference between the amount actually disbursed for subsidy and the cost borne by Nigerians (N1.56 trillion minus N943 billion = N617 billion).

6) BOGUS CLAIM BY THE GOVERNMENT

A government official has claimed that the shortfall of N617 billion is what goes to subsidising our neighbours through smuggling. This is pathetic. But let us assume (assumption being the lowest level of knowledge) that the government is unable to protect our borders and checkmate the brisk smuggling going on. Even then, the figures still don’t add up. This is because even if 50% of the petrol consumed in each of our neighbouring countries is illegally exported from Nigeria, the figures are still inaccurate. Why?

WORLD BANK’S FIGURES: POPULATIONS OF WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES

NIGERIA: 158.4 million

BENIN: 8.8 million

TOGO: 6 million

CAMEROUN: 19.2 million

NIGER: 15.5 million

CHAD: 11.2 million

GHANA: 24.4 million

The total population of all our six (6) neighbours is 85.5 million.

Let’s do some more arithmetic:

a) Rate of Petrol Consumption in Nigeria: Total consumed divided by total population:

34 million litres divided by 158.8 million people = 0.21 litres per person per day.

b) Rate of Petrol Consumption in all our 6 neighbouring countries, assumed to be the same as Nigeria:

0.2 litres x 85.5 million people = 18.35 million litres per day

Now, if we assume that 50% of the petrol consumed in all the six neighbouring countries comes from Nigeria, this value come to 9.18 million litres per day.

7) PATHETIC ABSURDITY

There are two illogicalities flowing from this smuggling saga.

a) If 9.18 million litres of petrol is truly smuggled out of our borders per day, then ours is the most porous nation in the word. This is why: The biggest fuel tankers in Nigeria have a capacity of about 36,000 litres. To smuggle 9.18 million litres of fuel, you need 254 trucks. What our government is telling us is that 254 huge tankers pass through our borders every day and they cannot do anything about it. This is not just acute incompetence, but also a serious security challenge. For if the government cannot stop 254 tanker trailers from crossing the border daily, how can they stop importation of weapons or even invasion by a foreign country?

b) 2nd illogicality:

Even if we believe the government and assume that about 9.18 million litres is actually taken to our neighbours by way of smuggling every day, and all this is subsidised by the Nigerian government, the figures being touted as subsidy still don’t add up. This is why:

Difference between pump price before and after subsidy removal =

N141.00 – N65.00 = N76.00

Total spent on subsidizing petrol to our neighbours annually =

N76.00 x 9.18 million litres x 365 days = N255 billion

If you take the N255 billion away from the N617 billion shortfall that the government cannot explain, there is still a shortfall of N362 billion. The government still needs to tell us what/who is eating up this N362 billion ($2.26 billion USD).

8) ILLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS

i) We have assumed that there are no working refineries in Nigeria and so no local petrol production whatsoever – yet, there is, even if the refineries are working below capacity.

ii) Nigeria actually consumes 34 million litres of petrol per day. Most experts disagree and give a figure between 20 and 25 million litres per day. Yet there is still an unexplainable shortfall even if we use the exaggerated figure of the government.

iii) Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cameroun, Niger, and Chad all consume the same rate as Nigeria and get 50% of their petrol illegally from Nigeria through smuggling.

These figures simply show the incompetence and insincerity of our government officials. This is pure banditry.

9) FACT 9:

The simplest part of the fuel subsidy arithmetic will reveal one startling fact: That the government does not need to subsidise our petrol at all if we reject corruption and sleaze as a way of life. Check this out:

a) NNPC crude oil allocation for local consumption = 400,000 barrels per day (from a total of 2.450 million barrels per day).
b) If our refineries work at just 30%, 280,000 barrels can be sold on the international market, leaving the rest for local production.
c) Money accruing to the federal government through NNPC on the sale, using $80/bbl – a conservative figure as against the current price of $100/bbl – would be $22.4m per day. Annually this translates to $8.176bn or N1.3 trillion.
d) The government does not need to subsidise our petrol imports - at least not from the Federation Account. The same crude that should have been refined by NNPC is simply sold on the international market (since our refineries barely work) and the money is used to buy petrol. The 400,000 barrels per day given to NNPC for local consumption can either be refined by NNPC or sold to pay for imports. This absurdity called subsidy should be funded with this money, not the regular FGN budget.

If the FGN uses it regular budget for subsidising petrol, then what happens to the crude oil given to NNPC for local refining that gets sold on the international market?

10) TACTICAL BLUNDER

The federal government is making the deregulation issue a revenue problem. Nigerians are not against deregulation. We have seen deregulation in the telecom sector and Nigerians are better for it, as even the poor have access to telephones now right before the eyes of those who think it is not for them. What is happening presently is not deregulation but an all-time high fuel pump increase, unprecedented in the history of our nation by a government that has gone broke due to excessive and reckless spending largely on themselves. If the excesses of all the three tiers of government are seriously curbed, that would free enough money for infrastructural development without unduly punishing the poor citizens of this country.

Let me just cite, in closing, the example of National Assembly excesses and misplaced spending as contained in the 2012 budget proposal:

Number of Senators 109
Number of Members of the House of Representatives 360
Total Number of Legislators 469
2012 Budget Proposal for the National Assembly N150 billion
Average Cost of Maintaining Each Member N320 million
Average Cost of Maintaining Each Member in USD $2.1 million/year

Time has come for the citizens of this country to hold the government accountable and demand the prosecution of those bleeding our nation to death. Until this government downsizes, cuts down its profligacy and leads by example in modesty and moderation, the poor people of this country will not and must not subsidise the excesses of the oil sector fat cats and the immorality cum fiscal scandal of the self-centred and indulgent lifestyles of those in government.

Here is a hidden treasure of wisdom for those in power while there is still time to make amends:

PROVERBS 21:6&7

“Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death. The violence of the wicked will destroy them because they refuse to do just.”

A word of counsel for those who voted for such soulishly indulgent leadership:

“Never trust a man who once had no shoes, or you may end up losing your legs.”

This is the conclusion of the matter on subsidy removal:

i) “If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked.” (Proverbs 29:12)

ii) “The Righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness. Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and will not be heard.” (Proverbs 21:12&13)

Thanks for your attention. God bless you all.

May Be, Politicans in Homophobic Countries' Are To Blame After All

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 01:25:00 +0000

Recently in Jamaica, during the campaign for the December 29th election in 2011, Ms. Portia Simpson-Miller, who later won the election, surprised, not only Jamaicans, but the entire world when she declared publicly that if elected, her government will incorporate gay people into her Cabinet. Her bravity was suspected to become the mistake of her success... But the reverse was the case.

While her opponent, the then Prime Minister, Mr Holness barked away in response to the same question insisting that retaining homophobia in his Cabinet if elected is only a wish of the people, Ms Simpson-Miller proved him wrong without fear or favour.

The then ruling party, Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) harped on that sincere opinion to undo Ms Simpson-Miller, but Jamaicans turned a deaf ear. May be, after all, Jamaicans are not as homphobic as we have always thought. May, Jamaicans had played out homophobia because their politicians had ignored bringing in equality in actiona. May be, Jamaicans had only remained deeply homophobic because their politicians had been living with the fear of the unknown.

While across the world in all countries with laws that criminalize homosexuality, or even in one that do not have formal laws but operate from a mythical cultural value of oppression, homophobia had remained because politicians are basing governance on self-made morality instead of well-debated policy.

Today, Ms Simpson-Miller is the Prime Minister of Jamaica with a majority won at that same election; who would have thought? Since in theory, Jamaicans had accepted her sincere opinion of support for gay people, now is the time to hit the ground and do away with criminalizing laws and bring in laws that grant all citizens a fair access to their country, including complete freedom of association, expression and freedom of the dignity of the person.

It would be great if other African and Caribbean countries' politicians learnt from this particular lesson which Ms Portia Simpson-Miller had taught them; that honesty and reputable sincerity is the key.

Wishing the new Prime Minister the best of times in the office and hoping that she would take Jamaica further into the road for that long-awaited equality.

A Nigerian's Response to Nigerian Govt Irresponsible Approach to Fuel Subsidy

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:47:00 +0000

This is a response posted on Facebook on rant by Nigeria Minister of Finance, the Betrayer Ms. Okonjo-Iweala on her page. I have copied and pasted it here and you can see Ms. Okonjo-Iweala's ranting lies in the blog below
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The response
When a Nigerian pays N65 for fuel rather than N40, he is subsidizing the incompetence of Government by N25.

· When a Nigerian has to buy a Generator and buy Petrol and Diesel because Electricity generation is worse off, he is subsidizing the incompetence in Government.
· When a Nigerian has to drill a borehole, buy pure water or Bottled water rather than get public potable Tap water, he is subsidizing the inefficiency of Government.

· When a Nigerian has to maintain 3 phone-lines or 3 different internet subscriptions just because of call-quality or crippled bandwidth, he is subsidizing the failures of Government regulation.

· When a Nigerian has to pay heavily to secure his life and property through personnel and gadgets, he is subsidizing the failure of Government to protect him constitutionally.

· For Bad roads, we subsidize by having to visit the mechanic more often than usual or sometimes with our lives.

We can go and on about the Educational system, Health sector, the Environment, Maritime, etc.

Its time for us to remove our own subsidy by making the government do what they are suppose to do. ITS NO MORE ABOUT SUBSIDY ALONE:

The American President has only 2 aircraft, our president has 11 in his fleet and voted money recently to buy 1 more!
The British prime Minister has only 2 official cars, our president has 23 in his pool and only recently voted 300million naira to buy 2 more bullet/bomb proof ones!
Senators in the US earn about $6,000 dollars monthly and dats about what a university professor, or a director in a state dept, or a doctor with 20yrs experience, or a teacher with 25yrs experience earn too, but in Nigeria a senator earns 245million Naira per annum! Dats the annual salary of 25 vice chancellors, or 50 medical doctors, or 60 directors, or 500 school teachers!
The US, with about 300million people have 24 ministers, and 32 govt parastatals and commisions, Nigeria has 42 cabinet ministers, and over 50 government parastatals!
America with about 300million people and more mileage to drive consumes 39million litres of petrol daily, Nigeria with 160million people 60% out of which live in remote areas, yet our govt tells us we consume about 35 million litres of petrol daily!

IS SUBSIDY REALLY THE PROBLEM OF NIGERIA?
And a last one!!! President Jonathan last bought fuel with his own money in 1996 shortly before coming on board the NDDC! So also is a whole lot of them in government!

Article taken from comments by Dominic-savior Chibuzo Chukwu on Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's Facebook page

The Traditional Lies Of A Nigerian Govt Official, Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:29:00 +0000

The Nigerian Finance Minister, Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is on her Second Missionary Journey in the governance of Nigeria. Like her first under the failed government of former President Obasanjo (1999 - 2007).

Ms Okonjo-Iweala, through the text below, while discussing the on-going removal of fuel subsidy, signifies how she has been corrupted so much.

The truth about this matter is that it is completely disappointing that a woman who has lived and enjoyed life in developed Western countries is leading the encourage to remove the ONLY benefit Nigerians get from their State. The text below is not new, but the same type we have heard over the years through which many has gone to State House and Offices and enriched themselves. This shameless woman is now on this same path. What with the over-blown salary she collects...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

POTENTIAL BENEFITS FROM BUDGET 2012 AND SURE-P

Against the backdrop of the recent debate on the removal of fuel subsidies , and the calculated misinformation being peddled by opponents of this policy, it is pertinent to highlight, in more tangible terms, some of the significant allocations that have been made to essential sectors of the economy, both in the 2012 budget as well as the recently-launched Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). This programme is a 3—4 year programme designed to mitigate the immediate impact of the removal of fuel subsidy and accelerate economic growth through investments in critically-needed infrastructure. It is noteworthy that, while the 2012 budget allocated the best possible amounts to these critical projects, additional resources are allocated to the same projects in the SURE programme to ensure that they are completed at faster rates than envisioned in the 2012 budget. Some of the projects and allocations are as follow:

WORKS
• N11bn is allocated to the Abuja-Lokoja road in the 2012 Budget, with an additional N14bn from the SURE-P.
• N6bn is allocated to Benin-Ore-Shagamu, with an additional N16.5bn to be financed through SURE-P.
• N3bn is allocated to Port-Harcourt–Onitsha road, with an additional N5bn from the SURE-P.
• Similarly, N18.5bn is allocated to Kano-Maiduguri road, with an additional N1.5bn from SURE-P.
• Provision is made in the 2012 budget for construction of the Second Niger Bridge (N2bn) and Oweto Bridge (N3.5bn). An additional N5.5bn and N4bn would be spent on both bridges respectively from the SURE-P.
• Provision of N23.5bn is made for maintenance of roads and bridges across the country through Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

POWER
• The total amount allocated to the power sector (including Bulk Trader, Nelmco, and Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) and PHCN privatization) is N248bn.
• A sum of N392 million allocated to Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company and N650 million for Bulk Trader.
• In the 2012 Budget Proposal, a sum of N3.7bn is allocated to the Kaduna Dual Fired Power Plant.
• Similarly, N2bn is allocated for the completion of the small and medium hydro-electric power plants Oyan Dam Hydro Power (Ogun state).
• A sum of N2.2bn is allocated for feasibility studies regarding the establishment of coal fired power plants.
• Additionally, N155bn will be spent on Power projects (Mambilla power plant, Coal Power Plant and Small Hydro power plants) through the SURE-P over the period 2012-2015.

AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT
• The total allocation to the sector is N78.98bn
• N4bn is allocated to research and mechanisation
• Provision of N1.22bn is made for the construction of access roads to each of the 6 Staple Crop Processing Zones.
• Value Chain: N720 million is allocated to the development of value chains in cocoa, rice, maize, livestock, cotton and others sectors.
• N1bn is allocated to the Price stabilisation scheme.
• N610 million to facilitate for the access to credit, fertilizers and seeds.
• An additional sum of US$500m is expected from Development Finance Institute to support the sector.

TRANSPORT
• Rail lines: The 2012 budget allocates N3.95bn, N3.15bn and N3.35bn to the construction and completion of Abuja-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan and Ajaokuta-Warri rail lines respectively. In addition, the SURE-P allocates N11.6bn to the Abuja-Kaduna line and N9.3bn to the Lagos-Ibadan line.
• Provision of N800mn is made for the procurement of wagons, coaches and locomotives.
• Dredging project: N1.2bn is allocated to the dredging of Lower River Niger (Warri-Baro).

EDUCATION
• The total allocation to the sector is N400bn
• N11.6bn is allocated for existing universities.
• N7.7bn is allocated for the restructuring to Unity Schools.
• National Teachers Institute: The 2012 budget allocates N3.5bn to the retraining of teachers for basic education and training in innovative teaching.
• Moreover, an additional N24.6bn will be spent on vocational training centres from the SURE-P.

HEALTH
• N4.6bn is allocated to the Polio eradication programme
• N3.5bn is allocated to the procurement of HIV/AIDS Drugs
• The sum of N174 million is allocated to Integrated maternal, newborn and child health strategy, including capacity building, and promoting school health initiatives.
• N8.42bn is allocated to Federal University Teaching Hospitals.
• N6bn and N3.6bn are allocated to the procurement of vaccines and midwifery service scheme respectively.
• An additional N73.8bn will be spent on Maternal and Child heath from SURE-P.

AVIATION
• Various Airports: N22.2bn is allocated for the modernization of airport terminals and upgrading of facilities in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ADMINISTRATION
• N3.1bn is allocated to the construction of a 20,000m3/hr lower Usuma dam Water Treatment Plants.
• N2.5bn is allocated to the construction of Cultural and Millennium Tower.
• N1.25bn is allocated to the Development of Idu Industrial Area (1b Engineering Infrastructure).
• Various road projects including the completion of roads B6, B12 and circle road (N4bn), rehabilitation and expansion of airport Expressway (N7.53bn).

NIGER DELTA
• East-West Road (Section I—V): The 2012 budget allocated N22.2bn to this road. In order to accelerate its completion, an additional N21.7bn is allocated in 2012 from the SURE programme.

WATER RESOURCES
• N1.2bn is allocated to the construction of Central Ogbia Regional Water Project.
• A total of N4bn are allocated to the construction of dams.
• Other provision for water facilities (i.e. regional water supply scheme) of N8bn.
• Rehabilitation of river Basin authorities (12 nos) of N13.91bn.
• Moreover, over the period 2012-2015 an additional N205.5bn will be invested in rural water scheme, water supply scheme, irrigation scheme and other water related projects from SURE-P.

These projects will not only significantly improve the country’s infrastructure, but will also create millions of jobs for Nigerians. This struggle is not between the government and Nigerians, because government is squarely on the side of the people. The fight is between the government and Nigerians on one side, and persons who are bent on continuing their age-long “milking” of the system for their personal benefits on the other side.

Please let us support government’s efforts at defeating these persons, and creating a better country for all Nigerians.

See my reply to this in the comment below.

Saving Iranians; The New USA's Missionary Journey

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:17:00 +0000

Photo: AP

In the space of a week [or so], American ships rescuing Iranian citizens from [Somalian] pirates has become too common. In fact, since the advent of sea terrorism, never had it been so easily secure like we have seen in these recent episodes. And in spreading it, the Media painted the picture down to the tiniest events including how the rescued Iranians were given "water, blankets... and even 'halal' breakfast". (Do we need these details?)

But considering the time they are happening, as tension mounts between Washington and Tehran, one is tempted to wonder if there is more than meets the eye in this new missionary journey the US of A has suddenly heard the voice of [their] God to carry out; rescue [only] Iranians. Should we look under the boats? beneath the sea surface? Are we being fooled or is Iran being lured - or appeased, depending on how you want to see it - to a round table?

Of course the self-proclaimed World power never do anything except for their own greedy self-enhancement and expansion with one goal in mind: to dominate the world - dont quote me here; it calls itself - or enjoys being called - World power.

But at a time America has just - and finally so - got tired of military warfare; realized it has nothing left or if truth be told, realized its end-of-20th Century plot wasnt a success, what else could be much easier than to turn to wit while it decides its next plot to keep dominating the world?

Since America is shunning wars now while Iran is pressing on with nuclear development in absolute stubborn defiance of the West, this new plot of showing mercy cannot be at a better time. Yea, call this skepticism, but this events smells of fish.

However, whatever be behind this new-found missionary journey on the sea by the Americans towards their arch-rival Iran[ians], so long as it gives us a peaceful world, it is very welcomed. Just so long as...

It is a critical time; with Iran sentencing US citizens to death, seizing America's military drone, developing uranium, enhancing its military capacity & capabilities; the incumbent world power must surely feel threatened. But as with all Powers-that-be, it is normal to refuse emerging powers or even acknowledge them.

But the saying that "history repeats itself" is only meant for a fool. Rome was once an empire just as Gadaffi was once the mighty one of Libya.

Jamaica Republic; Is This A Reverse Priority?

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 12:28:00 +0000

Portia Simpson-Miller

The new Prime Minister of Jamaica, Ms Portia Simpson-Miller announced one of her focus would be to relieve the Queen of England as Head of State of the Caribbean country by the end of this year. It is not a new case nonetheless but it is one of tiny relevance for Jamaica as far as governance is concerned.

Whilst Ms Simpson-Miller has been praised for her liberal stance on equality, especially for people with homosexual orientation, it is concerning that she would make the case of replacing a Head of State a priority.

Jamaica is independent of British rule for 50 years now and it is still distressing that the country has not improved beyond what Britain left it in 1962. Going by the ceremonial nature of the office of Head of State which the Queen occupies, it is almost useless to wrangle over the issue, especially not now that Jamaica's economy is unstable and dept is almost 130% of GDP.

Ms Simpson-Miller set herself apart when she announced during the election campaign that her government, if elected, would appoint gay people as well as others into the Cabinet as that would be based on ability, not sexual orientation. That parachuted her into a different level of Black leaders of the present generation. But what is this thing about Head of State?

Not that it is wrong or an untouchable issue, however, it portrays a rather reverse priority at this time. The economy, the freedom of expression and association of all Jamaicans, the protection of victimized and vulnerable Jamaiacans, and of course, improved trasportation networks and energy could be top priority including accountability. The Police Force is every now and then found to be wanting in leading civil peace and drug crime and thuggery are still fashionable.

These and the many others issues that directly affect the majority of people in Jamaica should surely be of high priority than who the Head of State is. The present Head of State costs the Jamaican tax payer very little while a new office of Head of State would increase spending, etc.

In summary, Jamaicans can decide what matters to them first; a robust economy, working democracy, safe society and accountable public officials; or the Head of State person.

Jamaica is very right to have a Head of State it deserves.

UK Aid; A Tool For Corruption

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:47:00 +0000

In what seemed a big U-TURN today, the UK government, urged by Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Parliamentarian International Development Committee, has announced that it will increase aid to acknowledged corrupt countries. This comes as a shock.

The committee thought that this aid should be "conditional" on these countries improving governance.

In fact, for the soreness of corruption in these countries, ordinary citizens in these countries do not agree with huge funds being handed down to their rulers who accomplish absolutely nothing with it.

But looked at closely, one is tempted to wonder why this uncalled-for change of tone by the British government. Only [less than] 3 months ago while in Australia for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), David Cameron announced what seemed a sensible approach to UK aid giving. Although he tainted that announcement with the gay rights link, it was still a bold step which tax payers in the UK had long wished for.

In a letter by Justice for Gay Africans (JfGA) responding to that announcement, we welcomed the Prime Minister's move especially based on corruption but berate the link to gay rights since there are a barrage of other general reasons UK can take that proper step.

In what seems a repercussion, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Jamaica, etc responded fiercely threatening the UK to dare pull out their aid. In fact, to make it more material, the Nigeria senate went ahead to start and vote through a Bill to prohibit same-sex marriage. During the staged processes of debating that Bill, Nigeria Senate President continuously referred to Mr. Cameron's aid speech. That Bill today has one or two more steps to land on Nigeria President's table for signing into law. That will double-fold the criminalization of Homosexuality in that country.

As the Bill went through, we saw UK government almost silent due to the complexity of aid threat. What then followed was the UK trying to salvage its name and explain what it did not mean in regard to cutting aid.

This therefore makes one wonder if this new move to increase aid to the same countries is a way to pacify their outbursts and threats. Considering that China is lurking around the corner trying to snatch these business opportunities from the weakening West, is the increase a game to retain the corrupt friend? To calm the angry lions of Africa and Asia? To assuage the lying pits of hell?

This is appalling! The Commons committee claims these countries are fragile and post-conflict States. Do they not realize that the reason for their fragility is corruption? Countries where leaders exploit ethnic differences, religious separatism, gender imbalance, tribal conflicts, sexual minorities, youth unemployment and the myriad of problems caused by their non-existent leadership.

The UK must stop wasting money. Non-Governmental and Charity organizations should get these monies to use directly in creating enterprise. Tax payers in the UK can do with tax breaks and we would see donations to charities increase.

Like social welfare, UK government continuous dishing out of money without probity is fueling corruption at all levels. This should and must not continue. It seems time is coming when ordinary tax payers in the UK should revolt against this wasteful spendings.

Aid to these countries is like taking money from the poor tax payers in rich Western countries and giving it to rich government officials in poor developing countries. These rich government officials are richer by millions than Cameron and own a shocking amount of wealth which they cannot account for.

Stop corrupting these gluttons!

Michele Bachmann: Is Her Bible Fulfilled Against Her?

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

"When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. (Psalm 27 vs 2; King James Version)."

Although I am not a Christian, I am not one to dismiss the Bible. In fact, I strongly believe that it contains an amount of good sayings as well as evil, awful, intolerable things. And in the case of Michele Bachmann, her dream for the presidency which she started off on a homophobic pedestal has just stalled according to the above verse in the Bible. I think so because she made herself an enemy to gay people...

What is funny is that Ms. Bachmann could not even go one-tenth of the way; what a shame? I feel sorry for her and can imagine the embarrassment she must emotionally be trying to suppress now. After all that fuss!

With this outcome, it is clearly, and far more than an imagination, that if there is a God at all, s/he does not like Michele Bachmann; AT ALL!

Well, tell me, if anything, why did that God has to let down a fighting warrior of his/hers while gamblers remain on the race? Simply put, God does not only disagree with Michele Bachmann, God hates Ms. Bachmann with a passion.

All Bachmann need to do now is repent and stop being homophobic and may be there will be salvation for her. If at all she ever read the Bible, and believe that it is true and works, then she must note this plan when she embarks on her next wicked and hateful speeches.

God bless[ed] America... by refusing Michele Bachmann into the White House of course.

Nigeria: The Blessings And The Curse

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:03:00 +0000

Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer, but it imports refined petroleum...

That is the biggest shame. Nevertheless, it could also be a wise economic decision - to not own a refinery - if it was financially profitably so. But it is not. You know, if you live in places like London; and are single, not owning a car may be financially profitable.

In the case of Nigeria, due to the corruption of its leaders since independence, every economic decision made has been deliberately wrong, hence costly. Corrupt officials make these decisions because they benefit their own personal purses through it.

The IMF insists that Nigeria has to remove its oil subsidy, but it never insists Nigeria has to care for its citizens. With the IMF believe, it clearly is not asking for the later.

Although oil price in Nigeria is literally cheaper in comparison to most developed countries, in reality, it is more expensive compared to the same. In Nigeria, after filling the tank of your car, you need to fill the tank of your electricity generator too. That said, you'd also pay for the non-supplied electricity. This is just one of the complexities.

For a State that rank amongst the top 10 oil producers in the world, isnt it shocking that social mobility is crippled. There is no existent social welfare hence the high rate of crime, violence, ethnic clashes, constant labour strike, bribery, low life-span, etc. Fuel subsidy therefore, is the only benefit Nigerians get from the self-cursed State we have. How much more can a people live accursed?

If the Nigerian government has been interested in improving its society, it would think of the welfare of the people first. Thus to remove the subsidy, the government would have made sure it has done tangible work in improving infrastructures and social mobility. That way, the inflationary repercussions of removing the subsidy would be minimized as well as the violence and exploitations that would follow.

Had the government improved electricity supply for instance, by at least 75%, Nigerians would have been too happy to think about protests. Had the government improved education by at least 50%, Nigerians would have been too enlightened and not engage in violence. And had the government improved road, security, public service, accountability, etc; removing the subsidy would have made sense because living standard would have improved.

With all the above missing and no assured signs of them being advanced, it is clear that the government of Nigeria doesnt seem to be making the best plans and officials are still seeking their personal benefits with economic plans.

The blessings of natural and human resources has surely been a curse for Nigeria. Is there really hope for change?

Image taken from BBCNews

The Markets Or The Electorates; Who Do Governments Owe Protection?

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:15:00 +0000

Since the first financial crisis in 2007, it has become glaringly clear why governments brought us all to this knee-grinding position. A very excruciating position that we are all in [it] together only for the pain, but not for the support. The governments care only for the 'Markets' not their electorates.

When the banks and their cohorts in the financial trading industry across the world starting falling like the pack of their gambling cards 4 years ago, governments across the world rallied round, took what belonged to all of us and gave to them.

Although it made sense to stop the savings of the average man vanishing into thin air, it made no sense that what then followed was top bankers continuing to take home millions in wages and bonuses; even with increases. It is shameful.

Although the electorates are yet to realize, they only serve as rubber-stamp to keep the ruling class in power. The governments focuses their worry on what happens to the Markets. A very fictitious Market that pays no dividend to the general population but to its operators although heavily using our savings without the slightest of gratitude.

Four long years into the economic crisis, only the morbidly intelligent governments has refused to accept that the solution lies in creating tangible production lines, improve vocational skills and control fat cows instead of creating more fictitious numbers via Quantitative Easing.

In UK and most Western countries that led in the bubble economy of the decade before the crisis, manufacturing, vocations and skills almost entirely disappeared.

With that equation drawn out, that recession or credit crunch or financial crisis - whichever you chose to call it - is currently the absence of manufacturing and vocational skills use. Thus, governments' obsession with the markets is simply ignoring their electors who then bear that brunt.

But what is clear is now this: that as the Arab Springs showed electorates hold their differently corrupt rulers to account through the year, Western governments have developed a tactics of forming governments by appointments starting from Europe. Italy and Greece are currently being used as test-grounds thus expanding the fact that the electorates may hold no value soon.

These governments, by appointments surely owe no responsibility to electorates.

Too Much To Do? To Much to Ignore?

noreply@blogger.com (Godwyns Onwuchekwa) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:55:00 +0000

Finally here we are. It is 2012 and the UK is set for a fever of landmark events. Come June, the Queen's 60years on the throne will be celebrated in style for weeks. And on the heels of that will be the Olympics which by obligation will draw people from across the world.

Since both events are world-class events or at least watched across the world, it definitely is a lot to do. the UK will therefore for over 10 weeks of this year, hold the world in attention... and no stones will be left unturned to make sure these impresses.

But in the midst of so much to do, the fear that so much would be ignored may not be an alien one. Just before Christmas, the charity Crisis reported the increasing incident of homelessness. It is not a very new issues, but unfortunately, Homelessness has rarely made it into any UK political party's manifesto in recently years.

Child poverty is spiraling out of control. However, most of Coalition government's policy would increase this as funds are channeled into organizing an impeccable Olympics and Diamond Jubilee events.

Healthcare would also be sent to the back burner for now. So far, with the NHS Reform process in total disarray, healthcare in the UK for the average person would continue to lose quality and priority.

Although the government has announced that UK will not have an Olympics of austerity, it is however vividly clear that the people will have an austerity of Olympics' year.

Available data reveal an appalling care for the elderly. For the Education Department, there can be no better time for full review with mess in examination boards and the like. As for immigration, lets hope that as it directly contributes to the Olympics, it would rub off on it. Otherwise, they may this time have to run a whole year of unguarded and unchecked border.

Surely, there is so much to do. But without caution, there will be so much to lose under the glittering shows the world will see.