Saturday, August 3, 2013

2015: President Goodluck Jonathan's Real Friends, Foes and the Way Forward

President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who met with the President last Friday on his peace and reconciliation mission.


    2015: JONATHAN’S REAL FRIENDS, FOES AND THE WAY FORWARD
                                                              
 ~ By Eze chukwuemeka Eze, 08038199163, ezemediaconcept08@rocketmail.com

Having written several articles on the current macabre dance and political crisis rocking Rivers State and x-raying its effects on the future political developments of Nigeria if not checked, I do not see further need to come up with another piece on this subject despite new challenges that need to be addressed. Even the poser by Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka ‘that the man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny’ could not sway me otherwise. However, while I was in this state, I opened a daily guide from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) titled ‘Open Heavens’ and was confronted with the bold title for the day titled, ‘Danger of Silence’.


The Spirit of God jolted me in a manner that seems to mean that no tangible result has come out of my past write ups on this issue, as peace still eludes the State, and the need to soldier on; especially given the nature of the new piece you are about reading and the fear of being misunderstood.
Undaunted by fears knowing full that peace in Rivers State and Nigeria is very close. Again, I took solace in one of Prof Soyinka’s quotes, “I think that feeling that if one believed absolutely in any cause, then one must have the confidence, the self-certainty, to go through with that particular course of action”.
If the above quote could not do the magic to sway me off my fears then the question of Edward Abbey that, “How could anything non-controversial be of intellectual interest to grown-ups?” and the encouragement from Marvin Harris came handy when he stated thus; “I don't see how you can write anything of value if you don't offend someone”

 
PRESIDENT JONATHAN AND THE MACABRE DANCE OF RIVERS STATE POLITICS


This road is one I don’t like driving on, considering the stand of the President and his aides that he does not want to be mentioned with the current impunity and untoward political developments going on in Rivers State. George Orwell, one of the finest authors of all time, in one of his works woke me up when he said, “Within any important issue, there are always aspects no one wishes to discuss.”  As if I am not been cautious enough, Criss Jami reminded me in his two quotes that, “If you have to say or do something controversial, aim so that people will hate that they love it and not love that they hate it.”  And “To be truly positive in the eyes of some, you have to risk appearing negative in the eyes of others.”
Though, I am not a victim of Ezea Pound stand that, “If a man isn't willing to take some risk for his opinions, either his opinions are no good or he's no good” but for some strategic reasons, let me stay action on this topic to later stage of this article and instead use this opportunity to, in a way, assess present President Jonathan.


  Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu and Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

Jonathan: the journey so far.
The faulty start of this administration based on the disrespect of the zoning policy of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and insecurity challenges occasioned by the wicked activities of the Islamic sect, Boko Harams sect coupled with the ‘unpreparedness of Dr Goodluck Jonathan for the office he currently occupies, due to the nature of his selection to run for the office of Vice President with late President Musa Yar’Adua and how he became the nation’s number one citizen as a result of President Yar’Adua death the Doctrine  of Necessity that ushered him formally as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria were some of the initial challenges that slowed down  the smooth take off the administration. His initial plan before General Olusgen Obasanjo selected him to run was to re-contest gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, while late Yar’Adua desire was to retire to classroom as a lecturer.

This seemingly setbacks did not in any way constitute as an obstacle to President Jonathan unflinching desire to contribute his quota towards building a Nigeria of his dream. President Jonathan holds the transformational pledge of promising less, but delivering more. His vision is anchored on his transformation agenda anchored on driving the country on the premise of Continuity, Consistency and Commitment (3Cs). Accordingly, it was the disregard for the 3Cs that had resulted in rising unemployment, inequality and poverty. But the regime has come forth with a holistic agenda aimed at the transformation of the Nigerian state with a strategy that gives cognizance to these 3Cs in the life of the administration.

The transformation plan draws its inspiration from President Jonathan’s electoral promises, the Vision 20:2020 and the first National Implementation Plan (NIP). The agenda is based on a set of priority policies and programmes which, when implemented, would transform the Nigerian economy to greater heights.

The five governors who met with President Goodluck Jonathan.


Job Creation, Macroeconomic Framework and Economic Direction, Infrastructure Development, Public Expenditure Management, Governance, Justice and Judiciary, Foreign Policy and Economic Diplomacy, Power Labour and Productivity, Health Sector, Education are some of the sectors the government has made some remarkable impact under this adminstration.

Though space would not allow one to highlight all the achievements of the incumbent, but suffice it to say that in more ways than one both impact and vision have been remarkable. Our transportation system, particularly his commitment for reviving the rail system in Nigeria leaves no one in doubt that things are changing for the better. The establishment of new Federal Universities within two years located at Dutse,  Dutsin-Ma,   Kashere, Lafia (Nassarawa) Ndufu-Alike-Ikwo , Otuoke (Bayelsa), Oye-Ekiti (Ekiti State),   Wukari, Gashua, Yobe State; Birnin Kebbi (Kebbi State) and Gusau in Zamfara State is unprecedented in the annals of governance in the country. In the past two years, according to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minster of the economy, Prof Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the government have built 68,100 housing scheme across the six geopolitical zones of the country and now produces 28 million metric tons of cement, but needs only 20 million. So Nigeria is now a net exporter of cement. On power, 34 independent power producers have gotten licenses, three have actually commenced works and power supply has improved in many Nigerian cities. According to her (Prof. Mrs) Sure-P, Federal government earned N180 billion in improving child delivery, trained 9,000 midwives. The Port Harcourt to Maiduguri rail line will be completed in 2013, with more to follow by the end of the year. Her Inland cargo depots now handle over four million metric tons rising from 2.9 metric tons. Our banks and stock market are now stronger. Perhaps what needs to be done now is to see how the banks can lend to individual real estate developers at lower interest rates. Power, aviation and agriculture can now import at zero import duty, exchange rate is stable (N155-160), reserves are rising, inflation has reduced, our economy is growing- Nigeria’s economy growing at 6.5%, one of the fastest in Africa.



Former heads of state General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar (rtd.) and the visiting governors.

According to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Ballot box snatching and thuggery have become almost extinct and that it is the President’s deliberate policy to listen and respects the views of Nigerians. The negative deployments of freedom of expression, which has left Nigerians bolder and more asserting, and the President the most criticized in the world, is the cost of the President’s deliberate policy of openness, “In the last two years, the civic space have been expanded, “achievements of the government promoting the rule of law, integrity of state institutions and rights of citizens are legendary and that within eight out of 14 strategic targets set by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 have been achieved.

A Conducive atmosphere for improving and encouraging private partnership with government have made more to industries springing up and producing made in Nigeria goods, including Proforce–armored vehicles, Obajana – Cement, and Innoson – motors, creating jobs and transforming Nigeria.
Reveling in some of these feats recorded by the present federal administration, Nigeria’s Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo at a recent public function said, “Our public institution are being rebuilt, our National Assembly is vibrant, our judiciary is truly independent and our press is feared all over the world and that government has in the last two years placed a special premium on the rule of law and expanding the democratic space but most importantly that President Goodluck Jonathan has exhibited good leadership qualities.”

The Bond between President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi:
Reminiscing on the political crisis in Rivers State, I took time out to study the gladiators not minding their denials. The word bond means something that binds, fastens, confines, or holds together a cord, rope, band, or ligament, something, as an agreement or friendship that unites individuals or peoples into a group.
According to the facts available to me, these two great exponents of democracy from Niger Delta shares similar family background – raised in humble families and experienced the pains of being educated by poor parents. President Jonathan won the hearts of Nigerians with his expose that he was that student who trekked to school without a shoe, while Governor Amaechi had a sandal and one pair of trouser which he washes by every weekend to be uses the following week for the major part of his undergraduate days, even as the two political leader are products of the unique University of Port Harcourt, UNIPORT and are among the big Port Harcourt boys.

 Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike.

Although President Jonathan is the older of the two, Amaechi have been in politics right from his days in the university, culminating to becoming the only Nigerian that was a Speaker of House of State House of Assemblies for eight years and have the singular credit of becoming the Chairman, Conference of Speakers in Nigeria while he was Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and later Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, NGF as governor of Rivers State. President Jonathan on the other hand is the first PHD holder, (not honorary) to preside over the affairs of the country and the only Nigerian that left the academic environment where he was a Lecturer after having a stint with the defunct OMPEDEC and rose to become a Deputy Governor (Bayelsa State that was). Few years after he became the Governor of that state and few years after became Nigeria’s Vice President and President afterwards all of these without contesting a single election. While Chibuike means God is my Power and Amaechi Nobody knowstomorrow while on the other EbeleChukwu which is the name of the President means “God’s Mercy”.

While President Jonathan as the Vice President of Nigeria was suffering every humiliation in the hands of the cabals during the Umaru Yar’Adua led administration. Amaechi was the only Governor in Nigeria very visible in the office of the then Vice President and when President Yar’Adua passed on, Jonathan was been pushed around, Amaechi was among those at the forefront of ensuring that Vice President Jonathan assumed office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when the National Assembly out of their wisdom came up with the Doctrine of Necessity.

Alhaji Sule Lamido, Amaechi and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)' National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

When the election of 2011 came up, Governor Amaechi not minding some other options available to him opted to rally round the supports of other Governors to ensure that President Jonathan won the PDP ticket and during the election proper, Amaechi delivered two million votes from the state to ensure that President Jonathan got elected as the 14thPresident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Not done with all these affection to his own brother whom he shares some invisible bond not known to many Nigerians, he went ahead even while President Jonathan was the Vice President to ask him to nominate candidates to his Cabinet in Rivers State, this resulted to the nomination of Professor Israel Owate, who was the President’s classmate as the Commissioner for Education. Unfortunately, he could not drive the vision of the governor on education as fast as the governor wanted, so he was dropped. The governor requested from Mr. Vice President then a replacement. Again he nominated Mr. Moses Ahubele who manned the Ministry of Empowerment and Employment Generation till he died as a result of some health condition in the later part of 2010. After the 2011 general election, Amaechi requested from Mr. President and he graciously nominated Mr. Charles Okaye, who still serves as the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community-related Affairs.

Who could believe that a person of this status based on his impeccable relationship and respect and love he exhibited towards his own brother the President could be haunted, humiliated, scourged, frustrated and his State turned to war zone even while his brother is still the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is the irony of life. Just for the records, these are some of the humiliations Amaechi was meant to go through – The plane of the Rivers State Government was grounded for no just cause, the PDP Structure in Rivers State was removed from him, his election as the Chairman of NGF duly certified and acknowledged worldwide is in the process of annulment, he was suspended from a party he so much love and spent so much to build, if not for the providence of God he would have been illegally impeached by five Legislators in a House of 32 members; a Police Commissioner by name Mr. Joseph Mbu was posted to haunt, hoard, insult and abuse him publicly calling him a despot, Governors that came to visit him were stoned. In the eyes of Nigerians, he stands as a great man while in the eyes of those haunting him he is a personal non grate.

What could have brought this in a relationship assumed to have been perfect! Barr Achinike Godwin William-Wobodo the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Rivers State on Inter Governmental Affairs who holds an LLM in Criminal Law and Practice and currently pursuing a PhD in Money Laundering and Anti-Corruption Law came in to assist, according to him, “the induced situation is caused by third party elements, who are either driven by the hunger for power or jealousy. The seeming situation is induced principally by two classes of persons, those driven by hunger for power which represents the group in Rivers State, and those driven by envy, which houses external factors. For instance, the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, my friend and brother, is at the centre of the group opposes to Amaechi’s style of governance and bent on wrestling power from the governor. My worry is not that they seek to wrestle power from him, because that basically is politics. My quarrel is the approach: the crude, undemocratic and uncivilized manner that they are going about it. In the process, they have undermined the rule of law, breached the peace of Rivers State and are threatening a breakdown of law and order.

The second category are persons who are driven by envy and the rising profile of the governor and the only way, to them, to break the rising profile of Governor Amaechi is to pit him against the president and hiding under the cover of the Presidency. For these persons, I think and honestly too that they have proven that they are not men enough to personally handle their affairs”.


PRESIDENT JONATHAN AND THE MACABRE DANCE OF RIVERS STATE


Having listened to some of the funny and flimsy excuses posited by the Media Chiefs of President of his not involvement in the macabre dance of Rivers State and the counter claims by the Senate Committee that investigated the crisis and many great Nigerians indicting him over this I wonder what type of people actually make up a media Team of the President that ought to be proactive in its defense of Mr. President but have succeeded to generate poor publicity and name calling on Mr. President. With due respect to the much both Dr Reuben Abati the President’s spokesperson and The Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupr are doing the duo have not managed President’s media affairs well enough. Yes, Mr. President may not be involved in this sad developments in Rivers State and should not be mentioned for such ugly incidents seeing what his administration achieved in the rule of law by given the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC free hands in its affairs and how the elections in Edo, Adamawa, Sokoto, Ogun, Ekiti was done and how he duly acknowledged the winners of those elections coupled with other factors. All these great feats nosedived when he started playing games with the outcome of the last NGF Election duly won by Gov Amaechi and instead of improving on his democracy credentials he allowed himself to be used by some confused political gladiators and elements in his cabinet to play host to the Jang Faction of the Governors Forum that shamelessly lost the election. After the futile attempt by the funny five Law Makers from Rivers State to impeach the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan-Amachree. The purported new Speaker, Hon. Evans Bipi was seen attending a function in the State House in Abuja. Before this funny attempt Mr. President played host to most of the key actors pushing or rather instigating the RIVERS State crisis at the State House in Abuja. Weeks to the full war against the peace of Rivers State, the First Lady was in Port Harcourt interacting and dinning with most of these key actors in this dance and all and all Nigerians are told of the non involvement of the Presidency in all these. Let us assume that is the case, why is it that after the House of Representatives that investigated the grounding of the Rivers State plane and after four months the plane is still grounded? Why is it that after all the calls by both the National Assembly and other concerned Nigerians that the Police Commissioner of Rivers State, Mr. Jospeh Mbu is still in Port Harcourt executing his sad project in the State? Why is it that up till now only the Majority Leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, Chief Chidi Llyods is being investigated and kept under detention for the past ten days while those who instigated the crisis in the House are going about their businesses. Is this not the issue of the owl crying in the night and the child dying in the morning? Let us bring decorum and equity to prevail on this issue and stop playing politics with the lives and peace of Rivers State.

THE REAL ENEMIES OF PRESIDENT JONATHAN

Without fear of being misunderstood the true enemies of Mr. President in his political calculations in Nigeria are not Governor Amaechi and his followers, but those who by their actions have brought the name and image of Mr. President to shame and embarrassment going by their flagrant display of impunity in the political crisis in Rivers State.

Those who have by their utterances been overheating the polity ahead of the 2015 general elections attacking any Nigerian or section that have contrary views; those who are attempting to reduce Mr. President’s status from a National Leader to ethnic one (Ijaw nation), in a manner of speaking.

Those Ministers and agencies of government promoting corruption, highhandedness and antagonising Nigerians with perceived alternative views on governance are the enemies of Mr. President. Those promoting the infamy in Rivers State and looking at Nigeria and Nigerians as a conquered people and without knowing have indirectly by their misguided acts succeeded in ridiculing Mr. President and not those who are offering him constructive suggestions on how to be the best President ever from Nigeria. These are the true enemies of President Jonathan who wants to destroy him and make him a total failure before the eyes of Nigerians and the entire world. Those charlatans in the corridor of power that have reduced a great party like PDP to its present sorrow state of not being so sure of its future. According to Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State these charlatans in government should be flush out from the system if Mr. President intends to salvage anything out of his administration. These ingrates and confused minds should be invited in a room to be educated on how to govern a country like Nigeria than the mess they have made out of it a system that ought to have being a golden regime and sadly have through their inimical acts brought this administration to public odium.

First Lady Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Amaechi.

Other agents hell-bent of destroying all the legacies of President Jonathan are those who mobilised youths that stoned the visiting Governors that came to pay solidarity visit to Governor Amaechi over his unwise, wicked and malicious humiliations without minding the results of their action both to the image of the President and peaceful co-existence of Nigeria as a corporate unity. In his reaction to the sad development, Hon. Dakuku Peterside a member of the Federal House of Representatives said, “I can describe it as barbaric, primitive and most unfortunate. It portends danger for our democracy and the continued unity of Nigeria. Some people hired thugs and ex-militants with the protection of the commissioner of police, to go and embarrass governors at the airport. That is most unfortunate and barbaric. You expect these people to visit Kano, Jigawa and other states where these governors who were embarrassed come from? Danger is staring us in the face. The other day, ex-militants took over the streets of Port Harcourt and the police did not do anything about it. They went and recruited them and took them to the Rivers State House of Assembly to use five lawmakers to sack 27. Yet, there was nothing wrong with it”


 
Governor Amaechi, President Jonathan and First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

Thank God as it seems that both the PDP National Chairman, Alh. Bamanga Tukur and our revered leader and One-time Minister for Information and respected Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark have come to the realization that they utterances recently have not be of any help to the future of President Jonathan political calculation by apologizing of their attacks on Gov Sule Lamido and the progressive Governors in PDP for visiting the embattled Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi. According to Chief Clark, “I apologize to all Nigerians if my utterance or my action threatened the peace and unity of this country that all politicians, leaders should emphasize only those things that keep this country together. We cannot split; Nigeria is a large country. Love is one of the greatest things that bind us together and Nigerians should learn to love one another and work assiduously for the unity of the country.”

 2015: CHALLENGES BEFORE PRESIDENT JONATHAN
A major challenge facing the current federal administration and which clearly will define the rest of its tenure if not checked with the urgency it deserves is the issue of corruption.
Though one of the major sins of Amaechi is his stance on protection and accountability of the state’s resources (the sovereign wealth of our nation) and confirmation of the fears of the governor, NEITI in a report had indicted the federal government agencies for the disparities in payments in the oil sector. It says, inter alia, that N175b is still not found in the Federation acct.

Recently, TI released the 2013 Global Corruption Barometer, GCB and rated Nigeria as the eightieth most corrupt nation in the entire world under this administration and that our political parties and the Nigeria Police as the most corrupt institutions in Nigeria. TI’s 2013 GCB is a product of interviews with a total number of 114,000 respondents across 107 countries between September 2012 and March 2013. The Berlin-based organisation said the primary aim of the 2013 GCB report was to explore respondents’ personal experiences of paying bribes for government services on one hand and on the other, to gauge perception of the integrity of major public institutions. There is also TI’s desire towards a better understanding of the willingness and disposition of citizens in countries under review to fight corruption. The level of corruption under this administration is not to be condoned if we are to survive as a nation.
 
          
2.   THE EAST-WEST FEDERAL ROAD AND THE SECOND NIGER BRIDGE
If these two major projects at the heart of the South-South and South East are not completed before 2015, its potential of posing a serious setback need not be over-emphasized.

3.       THE APC AND NORTHERN ELEMENTS CHALLENGE
With the registration of APC by INEC, its threat come 2015 is not only real but has the capacity to stop PDP come 2015 coupled with the seriousness some Northern elements are attaching to the 2015 polls. Those that need to know about this have already confirmed it including both the BOT Chairman and National Chairman of PDP. What strategy to adopt to curtail this moving force should be of concern to any serious strategist in the camp of Jonathan instead of wasting energy to pull down a force that should be of help in whatever calculation they are advancing? Instead of the egg heads in Jonathan’s Camp strategizing and strengthening their base, they think by fighting some elements is the best strategy to sell Jonathan to other regions after all these obvious threat! Funny people!

SUGGESTED STRATEGIES ON THE WAY FORWARD

A lot of time has been wasted pursuing shadows instead of addressing governance and rendering dividends of democracy to the people of Nigeria which will determine the fate of the party come 2015. Not minding obvious shortcomings, President Jonathan must be commended for the efforts to reach the true characters that will help his issue come 2015 recently instead of the charlatans that have constituted themselves as nuisance in this regard. Learnt that he is also billed to summon a peace meeting to be attended by critical stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to forge a consensus on how to resolve the crises and with the meeting with President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Amaechi, Dist senator Abubakar Saraki and the five progressive Governors of Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Alhaji Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) — who have been shuttling around Nigeria, consulting eminent personalities on how to resolve the multi-faceted crises in the country is a step in the right direction.

Commendation must go to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) who brokered the meeting between the president and Amaechi. It was learnt that Dasuki initiated the process of fence mending between the duo to douse the political crisis in Rivers State that has been threatening the security and stability of the country. Dasuki, in his capacity as the NSA, was said to have taken the initiative to invite Amaechi to a meeting with the president, certain that the Rivers State crisis amongst other security challenges, could do a lot of harm to the nation’s fragile democracy. Presidency sources said the NSA had been toying with the idea since eight opposition governors met with Amaechi in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, about two weeks ago to plead with him to meet with Jonathan and formally brief him on the situation in his state.

I will suggest in furtherance to this, that President Jonathan need to listen to his brother, Prince Tonye Princewill the Amanyanabo of Kalabari scion on the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. I am aware of the efforts he has made to bring both President Jonathan and Atiku Abubakar to work together but the continued playing down on the issue of Atiku Abubakar by the charlatans in governance may be calamitous if not handled wisely. No matter what ever those surrounding the President that cannot even win their wards election are saying, Atiku Abubakar stands out as a man of vision who has a blue print to take this out country out of its present sorrow state. The President should for the greatness of this nation get to this man who is ready to give him clues on how to handle most of the challenges facing his administration but if he like he can continue with those who are after their belly and lacks ideas on how to handle critical issues facing the country.

As Mr. president start his consultations, he should endeavour to get in touch with the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, Shehu Shagari, General Gowon,  Pastor Enoch Adeboye and the CAN President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and plead with them to be sincere with him on his vision and plans for this country. The time of playing dummy is not longer an issue.

Lastly on this section, Mr. president need to organise a strategically seminar with his Media Chiefs and re-orientate their shallow ideas of what it takes to manage such a magnanimous office they are occupying but sadly seem lost on how to manage it. As they attempt to emulate Alh Lai Mohammed is a far cry. Mr. President should ask General Olusegun Obasanjo and he will tell him that the Media Team of Atiku Abubakar managed by Mal. Shehu Garba and Ifeanyi Izeze stands out as the most portent and viable Media outfit in Nigeria. I will suggest that the Presidential Team to take some lectures from Mal. Garba on how to manage the offices they are occupying as the idea of unwarranted attack on some of the key actors that will assist the President in his future political calculations is the worst idea of selling a President looking for a second tenure.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion and in line with the recent postulation of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gown Rtd, it is not late to redefine, reform Nigeria. According to this living sage, "What is happening in our country today calls for sober reflections, as we entreat God on behalf of our nation. I want to believe that in spite of the gloomy situation made manifest by the  escalating security and political challenges in our nation, the church in Nigeria, given its spiritual and human resources, occupies a strategic position to trigger process aimed at remaking, enforcing and reinforcing the blessings of Nigerian jubilee. It is not late to redefine and reorder Nigeria."

Mr. President must build on the virtues that will assist our democracy by properly recognizing the office of the NGF Chairman in the person of Governor Amaechi and intervene and ensure that those behind the crisis in Rivers State are called to order and Gov Amaechi restored to his position as the Leader of PDP in Rivers State and Mr. Joseph Mbu redeployed as the Rivers State Commissioner of Police as a matter of urgency unless he has not done much harm to the image of Mr. President. With all that has happened, it is very clear to any responsible mind that Amaechi is not a push over when serious political issue is involved in Nigeria.
Finally, the RCCG Open Heaven daily Guide of 29th July came handy at this juncture. Titled, Leading with God’s Fear exampled in 2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God” while to all Nigeria, the Action point throws more light on this by stating that, “A leader who fears God is both accountable to God and the people under him or her”. Let us ask that only such leaders will govern our lives and nation from now on.

God has blessed Jonathan and have offered him a unique opportunity to take Nigeria to greater heights and should seize this opportunity to right acts inimical to the greatness of this nation and write his name in gold by taking over governance from the charlatans controlling his government and deliver good governance based on the support given to him by Nigerians during the 2011 general elections. It is not too late to act.

****************
Eze chukwuemeka Eze is a Media Consultant based in Port Harcourt and could be reached through ezemediaconcept08@rocketmail.com



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Friday, August 2, 2013

Annie Inyang Speaks On the Exclusivity of Angel Champagne


Annie Inyang

ANGEL CHAMPAGNE IS A CHAMPAGNE FOR THOSE OF WHOM EXCLUSIVITY IS NATURALLY EXPECTED—ANNIE INYANG
An Interview with Annie Inyang the Business Director of Palatially Interlink Nigeria Limited, marketers of Angel, the world’s most exclusive champagne, on the occasion of Royal Lifestyles Group’s sponsorship of Miss Nigeria beauty Contest

Q: Good morning, please let’s know a bit about you.
Annie: Hello my name is Annie Inyang, I am the business director for Palatially Interlink Nigeria Limited. Palatially Interlink is into the collection of luxury wines and spirits around the world. For now our signature brand in the country is called Angel Champagne soon to be joined by other brands in our product portfolio.
Q: How long has Angel Champagne been in Nigeria?
Annie: Angel champagne has been in Nigeria for two years. Our marketing strategy  is the subtle and personalized approach. We supply only on request to our esteemed clientele.
Q: Who are your target clientele?
Annie:  Our target clientele include wine connoisseurs, high net worth individuals for which luxury brand collection is a form a lifestyle, individuals for whom exclusivity is not only desirable but also expected of them. The kind of individuals at whose auspices you do not expect to see anything that is run of the mill, you expect the most exotic and the most special. I am talking about the initiated of top-echelon world class luxury. And there are quite a lot of such individuals here in Nigeria today.
Q: How affordable is Angel Champagne?
Annie: Angel champagne is affordable to our target clientele. To these clientele, pricing and affordability are not problems.

Annie: Apart from consumption, it is also a worthy gift item. It is also becoming popular among collectors as a store of value for speculative purposes.
Q: What are the prospects for Angel Champagne here in Nigeria?
Annie: Our progress has been tremendous but we still have a lot of heights to conquer and we are ready for the Nigerian market and believe it or not, the Nigerian market is also quite ready and ripe for palatially and Angel Champagne. We are on point.

Q: What has the response of Nigerians been so far to Angel Champagne?
Annie: Like I said, ours is a very exclusive target clientele. This represents a percentage of the economy and we are not programmed to try and reach outside that close knit of connoisseurs because then it will amount to de-marketing of the product. So with this close knit demography, we have been getting very good response. Also we know that Nigeria is a land of opportunities and we are open to whatever other good openings the society has to offer.
Q: What marketing Strategies have you employed to get more of the small demography you talked about to patronize Angel?
Annie: We combine with the marketing selling points of our other corporate partners, quintessentially and Recherché Events to present a full bouquet of options to our clientele and that helps the whole system to cater better for our clients because the demands are always interwoven.
Q: What Corporate Social Responsibilities is Angel Involved in as a bridge between the economic divide between your clientele and the rest of society?
Annie: Palatially is involved in a lot of charities but we do not make noise about it. Most things we do about the Angels Champagne and our other brands are exclusive, our marketing approach is subtle and that is also the approach we employ in giving back to society.

Q: What roles did Angel Champagne play tonight at Miss Nigeria?
Annie: Apart from sponsorship, Angel Champagne came in tonight to felicitate with the new Queen, who is an ambassador of our dear country and our corporate partner, quintessentially.   We came in to present her with a vintage limited edition of the Champagne for her to celebrate with her friends and her family.

~ By  Mr. Ingram Adichie Osigwe
MD/CEO Fullpage International Communications Limited



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Thursday, August 1, 2013

More Than 126 Million Women Entrepreneurs in Active Businesses in 67 Economies in 2012

Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, World's Richest Black Woman.

 
More than 126 million women entrepreneurs were starting or running new businesses in 67 economies in 2012, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2012 Women's Report.

WELLESLEY, Mass., July 31, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 126 million women entrepreneurs were starting or running new businesses in 67 economies in 2012, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2012 Women's Report , the most comprehensive research ever conducted about the entrepreneurial activity of women across the globe. This unique research is sponsored by Babson College, Universidad Del Desarrollo, and the University Tun Abdul Razak.

An estimated 48 million female entrepreneurs and 64 million female established business owners currently employ one or more people in their businesses.

Seven million female entrepreneurs and five million established business owners are expected to grow their ventures by at least six employees in five years.

Still, the Report found that much needs to be done for women entrepreneurs to further boost and grow their businesses. Women entrepreneurs need more resources and better programs to:
  • build new collaborations and leverage ideas,
  • develop entrepreneurial abilities and attitudes, and
  • access the means necessary to expand their businesses and generate jobs. 

"In most economies around the world, there are fewer women than men starting and running new businesses, but there are even fewer running mature ones," said Babson College Professor Donna J. Kelley , the Report's lead author. "This raises a red flag about the ability of women to easily transition from starting to sustaining their businesses."

According to the Report, women entrepreneurs are drawn more to the consumer-industry sector while men continue to dominate the capital and knowledge-based manufacturing and service sectors. In Europe and the United States, women are as highly-educated, or more so, than men. Yet, they are less likely to believe they have the capabilities for starting businesses.

"Even though women may have more years of education, it may not relate to self-perceived confidence in their entrepreneurial capabilities," said Candida G. Brush , Report author and Distinguished Professor in Entrepreneurship, Babson College. "In developed economies, entrepreneurship is opportunity driven and women, who are well-schooled in other disciplines than entrepreneurship, may question their ability to identify, assess and act on an opportunity."

The 2012 GEM Women's Report, conducted in 67 economies, examines the rates and nature of female participation in entrepreneurship around the world and contrasts these findings with male rates. This unique research analyzes how many women are participating in entrepreneurship, the types of businesses they are starting or operating, their motives and aspirations for this endeavor, and their attitudes about entrepreneurship. The GEM Women's Report is authored by Professors Donna J. Kelley, Candida G. Brush, Patricia G. Greene of Babson College and Yana Litovsky, Data Team Supervisor, The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor.

"Entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as the driver of economic growth and societal well-being," said Babson College President Kerry M. Healey , "The GEM research shows that women's participation in entrepreneurship differs around the world, as does their impact on job creation and innovation. The report's findings suggest new ways to enable aspiring women entrepreneurs to overcome the unique challenges they face and, in the process, contribute significantly to economic development."

Link to the full 2012 Global Women's Report

Among the report's key findings:

Activity and Profile of Women Entrepreneurs

  • Women's participation in entrepreneurship varies markedly around the world. In Pakistan, women entrepreneurs represent only 1 percent of this gender's population, while 40 percent of women in Zambia are engaged in this activity.
  • The highest regional female Total Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) levels are found in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 27 percent of the female population on average is engaged in entrepreneurship. Latin American and Caribbean economies show comparatively high levels as well (15 percent).
  • The MENA/Mid-Asia region (Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Palestine, Tunisia) reports the lowest average TEA levels among women (4 percent). Developed Europe and Asia, and Israel also show low rates (5 percent).
  • In just seven economies (Panama, Thailand, Ghana, Ecuador, Nigeria, Mexico, and Uganda), women had equal or slightly higher levels of entrepreneurship than men. For the rest, women represented a smaller share of the entrepreneur population.
  • TEA rates tend to be higher than established business activity. In Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and Caribbean, female TEA rates are high; however, there are less than half as many women established business owners on average in each region. For the MENA/Mid-Asia region, women's TEA rates are already low, but established business ownership is only one-fourth the level of female TEA.
Business Discontinuance

  • Sub-Saharan Africa has a high TEA rate for both women and men, but also registers many business stops among women, and at a higher level than for men. . In contrast, the MENA/Mid-Asia region also has a high number of stops, but there were fewer starts (TEA). In the United States and developing Asia, relatively few women are stopping, and this reality is accompanied by high TEA rates.
  • Women in developed Europe are slightly more likely to have a higher proportion of exits due to lack of profitability than do men, with nearly half the women discontinuing for this reason. For women exiting businesses in the United States and Israel, nearly one-third and one-fourth, respectively, cite problems with finance, a much higher proportion than men.
Business Profile: Industry and Team

  • On average in every region, at least half the women entrepreneurs operate in the consumer sector—accounting for as much as four-fifths of the women entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Men often compete in the consumer sector as well, but display much more diversity in industry sector participation.
  • The percentage of women entrepreneurs who are sole owners of their ventures ranges from just over half in developing Europe to nearly nine-tenths in Israel. There are still many single-founder businesses at the established phase; again, Developing Europe shows the lowest level (61%) while Israel shows the highest (86%). Men are generally more likely to work with one or more co-founders.
 Age and Education

  • In most regions of the world, entrepreneurship is as popular among young women (18-34 years) as it is for their older counterparts (35-64 years). Among women in both Developing Europe and Israel, youth rates are on average 63 percent higher than rates of older entrepreneurs.
  • The lowest levels of education are found in Sub-Saharan Africa, where about 15 percent of female entrepreneurs have a post-secondary degree (college) or higher. The highest levels of post-secondary-graduate entrepreneurs can be seen in the United States, where 70 percent of women entrepreneurs achieve this level of education, which is higher than for non-entrepreneurs/non-business owners and relatively similar to men.
Household Size and Income

  • The average household size for female entrepreneurs ranges from three people in Europe and the United States to five people in Sub-Saharan Africa and MENA/Mid-Asia.
  • Women entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA/Mid-Asia, and Developed Asia are more evenly distributed across household income levels. In Latin America, Developing Asia, Europe (Developing and Developed) and the United States, 43 percent or more of women entrepreneurs come from households in the highest one-third income category. In Israel, however, women are over half as likely to be in the middle one-third income group.
Attitudes About Entrepreneurship

  • Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America show the highest perceptions of opportunities on average; 69% of adult women believe there exist many opportunities for entrepreneurship in their areas. The lowest average perceptions of opportunities are in Developed Asia (19 percent) and Developing Europe (26 percent). Compared to men, women have lower opportunity perceptions in all regions, with the greatest difference visible in the MENA/Mid-Asia region.
Self-assessment of Entrepreneurial Capabilities and Fear of Failure

  • In every economy, women have lower perceptions of their entrepreneurial capabilities than men. The region with the highest average level of perceived capabilities among women is Sub-Saharan Africa (73 percent), while Developed Asia (16 percent) shows the lowest regional average.
  • In every region, women have, on average, a greater level of fear of failure than men. This indicator is lowest among women in Sub-Saharan Africa (25 percent), followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (31 percent). In contrast, regions with the highest perceived fear of failure include Developed Asia (47 percent), Israel (52 percent), and Developed Europe (45 percent).
Motivation – Necessity vs. Opportunity
  • Opportunity motivation generally predominates in all regions, but it is most prevalent in developed economies, where it is the principal motivation for three-fourths or more of women entrepreneurs. Economies with the highest levels of opportunity motivation are found in Developed Europe, where 73 percent of women start businesses primarily to pursue an opportunity.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa and MENA/Mid-Asia show high levels of necessity motives among women entrepreneurs; on average, 37 percent and 36 percent, respectively, start businesses out of necessity. Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America/Caribbean show a large gender gap, where necessity motives are higher for women entrepreneurs than for their male peers.
Entrepreneurial Intentions

  • Across regions, Sub-Saharan Africa exhibits the highest average intentions (52 percent of women intend to start a business in the next three years). Developed Europe shows the lowest average intentions (8 percent of women). In nearly every economy, men have higher rates of entrepreneurial intentions than women.
  • In the United States, there is one person intending to start a business for every entrepreneur. In all other regions, there are more people with intentions than actually taking steps to start. The ratio of intentions to actual starts is similar for women and men in most regions. The greatest discrepancy is found in MENA/Mid-Asia, where for every female entrepreneur, six intend to start, but for every male entrepreneur, only two and a half express intent.
Entrepreneurial Affiliations

  • The highest percentage of women who personally know an entrepreneur can be found in Sub-Saharan Africa (59 percent). Developed Asia has, on average, the lowest percentage of female respondents who know an entrepreneur (21 percent). In no economy are women more likely than men to know entrepreneurs.
Impact and Future Expectations

Innovation

  • Innovation levels are highest among women entrepreneurs in the United States; 36 percent report their products or services are new to some or all customers with few competitors. Innovation levels for U.S. women are slightly higher than those for men. Developed Europe also reports high innovation levels for women entrepreneurs (32 percent), equal to those of men. Developing Asia reports the lowest level of innovation among women entrepreneurs (17 percent), lower than the innovation level among men.
Number of Employees

  • In most regions, women are more likely to operate without employees than are men. The highest rates of single person businesses, especially among women, are seen in the Latin American and Caribbean region, where half or more of new and established business owners operate without employees. In Developing Europe, 80 percent or more of women business owners operate with employees.
  • The largest gender differences for single-person operations in both new and established businesses exist in MENA/Mid-Asia and Israel. Female business owners are 60 percent more likely than their male peers to operate without employees in MENA/Mid-Asia. In Israel, women business owners are more than twice as likely to do so.
Growth

  • Growth projections are consistently lower for female vs. male entrepreneurs. A little more than one-tenth of women entrepreneurs in Developing Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa expect to have more than five additional employees in five years. One-fourth of women entrepreneurs in Developed Asia and Developing Europe also project this level of growth. For both women and men in each region, fewer established business owners anticipate growth of more than five employees over the next five years; only 2 percent of women established business owners in Developed Europe project this level of growth.
Internationalization

  • Female entrepreneurs in most developing regions report lower levels of internationalization than male entrepreneurs. Developing Europe (24 percent) and Israel (27 percent) show the highest level of internationalization among women entrepreneurs. The United States and Latin America and Caribbean, have the second lowest among the regions (7 percent).
  • Developing regions show smaller average differences between female and male business owners in the percentage who sell at least 25 percent of their products or services outside their national borders. Developed economies show greater gaps, with more men engaged in international trade than women. Israel presents an exception, with men less likely to sell outside their national borders.

Link to the full 2012 Global Women's Report

The Authors

  • Donna J. Kelley, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship. Frederic C. Hamilton Chair of Free Enterprise, Babson College
  • Candida G. Brush, Chair, Entrepreneurship Division, Director, Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship and Franklin W. Olin Distinguished Professor in Entrepreneurship, Babson College
  • Patricia G. Greene, Paul T. Babson Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies, Babson College
  • Yana Litovsky, Data Team Supervisor, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor

About GEM
Twitter: @GEMNOW

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) is a not-for-profit academic research consortium that has as its goal making high quality information on global entrepreneurship activity readily available to as wide an audience as possible. GEM is the largest single study of entrepreneurial activity in the world. Initiated in 1999 with 10 countries, GEM 2012 conducted research in 69 economies all over the world.

About Babson College

Twitter: @Babson
Babson GEM Web page.

Babson College is the educator, convener, and thought leader for Entrepreneurship of All Kinds™. The College is a dynamic living and learning laboratory, where students, faculty, and staff work together to address the real-world problems of business and society -- while at the same time evolving our methods and advancing our programs. We shape the leaders our world needs most: those with strong functional knowledge and the skills and vision to navigate change, accommodate ambiguity, surmount complexity, and motivate teams in a common purpose to create economic and social value. As we have for nearly a half-century, Babson continues to advance Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® as the most positive force on the planet for generating sustainable economic and social value.

About Universidad del Desarrollo
Twitter: @UDD_cl

Universidad del Desarrollo is known not only for its academic excellence, but also for its entrepreneurial hallmark. This feature has earned it a place of privilege in higher education in Chile and Latin America a mere 20 years since it was founded.
 Entrepreneurship is a characteristic that distinguishes its students and professors. It creates an interactive and dynamic environment on campus where innovation and new ideas are constant. Ethics and public responsibility, the hallmark values of UDD, are encouraged not only in the classroom, but are also put into practice in each of the activities conducted at UDD.

About Universiti Tun Abdul Razak
Twitter: @myunirazak

Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UNIRAZAK) was established on 18 December 1997 as one of the first private universities in Malaysia. Since its inception, UNIRAZAK was among the first few private learning institutions in Malaysia to receive the SIRIM certification of ISO 9001:2000. Additionally, the University has been awarded the prestigious Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) status, which is a testament to the University's commitment to integrating technology and innovation in its teaching and learning techniques. UNIRAZAK has rapidly established itself as a premier centre for education in its efforts to produce competitive and capable graduates.

SOURCE Babson College
CONTACT: Michael Chmura, 781 239 4549, mchmura@babson.edu Web Site: http://www.babson.edu




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Redi Tlhabi of Al Jazeera Talks To Directors of Banned Film Of Good Report

A scene from "Of Good Report".  
Director: Jahmil X.T. Qubeka 
Language: Xhosa, Zulu and Sotho with English subtitles 
Run Time: 104min South Africa. 2013.

 For Immediate Release
This Friday on Al Jazeera’s global talk show South 2 North, Redi Tlhabi speaks to three film directors in the aftermath of South Africa’s Film and Publication Board banning Of Good Report, the opening night movie at Durban International Film Festival.
 
                            Jahmil-Qubeka

Of Good Report director Jahmil Qubeka joins Cameroon’s Jean-Pierre Bekolo (Le President) and Angola’s João Viana (The Battle of Tabata) in South 2 North’s Johannesburg studio. 


Of Good Report was banned for allegedly showing ‘child pornography.’ Jahmil describes the psychological thriller as “your classical tale of lust, shameful lust…,” saying that it’s about a teacher who becomes obsessed with his student “to a point where he cannot see that he’s obsessed with a child.”


                            Jean-Pierre-Bekolo

                            Joao-Viana


While agreeing that child pornography should be banned, Jahmil saysOf Good Report is rather “making an indictment... For teenagers this a horror film. I want kids, particularly girls, to watch this and I want to scare them.”


Jahmil managed to get the banning over-turned and is also proceeding with a defamation case against the Film and Publication Board of South Africa.
Reflecting on the effects of the ban, he says, “I’m not sad for me. This has turned me into a superstar. My life has changed in a week. I’ve been in Variety magazine… three times. What I am sad for is my nation because my nation was refused the right to see the film.”


Calling his role as a filmmaker “a privilege” and describing film as “the definitive artform of the 21st century,” he says, “Self reflection is the only way you can develop. We are the mirrors of our society… If we are living in an age where our government is putting down draconian policies that don’t allow self-reflection, instead we showcase a world that is actually not real, so how will we get to a place of seeing where we are?”


Le President was sidelined in Cameroon earlier this year because Jean-Pierre’s film discussed the end of 80-year-old President Paul Biya’s reign – a topic that is taboo in the country.


“He was minister in 1962; Barack Obama was one year old,” Jean-Pierre says. “He’s been there forever… You don’t have to be a genius to think that an 80-year-old man can go one day.”


Pointing out that “everyone will give me money to make a film once the president is gone to say how bad he was,” he says he rather made the film now “to anticipate and start a conversation about what will happen when he leaves or if he leaves… When you see the Congo, the Cote D’Ivoire, these are presidents who stay in power (very long) and then you have 20 years of war afterwards. Films always come when everything is over. Why? Why can’t cinema be there even before the problems, to reflect what is happening, so we can fix it?”


He says cinema has always played a political and social function. “I really think right now we have forgotten the very nature of cinema in the first place. Cinema is not neutral.”


Later, he adds,“ A lot of African filmmakers I know have political films, but all of them have given up. Today Africa is not in peace. We’re not really developed. We even have foreign troops on our continent. But our films are now very, very nice. We’re not talking about anything anymore.”


The Battle Of Tabato is the story of a town in Guinea-Bissau filled with musicians. While Joao’s film hasn’t been banned, he says, “I think my cinema is banned too because I don’t have cinemas to show the film in Guinea-Bissau… It’s a kind of economic censorship.”


He stresses the need to retell Africa’s history without the influence of colonialism. “It’s very important because its always the perspective of colonialism… What I learned in school, and even later, is completely wrong. I learned in school that man came from Africa, this is obvious, but that modern culture was born in Europe. It’s wrong. Even the Egyptians, they tell us that the Egyptians are white people. Why?”


The three directors also discuss funding in Africa; whether or not governments should provide money for films; and when films should be banned, if ever.


For more information, visit http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/south2north/, where all episodes are available to watch online.
You can also tweet your questions, comments and opinions to @AJSouth2North or find South 2 North on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/South-2-North/255419671252120.
Catch up on last week’s episode of South 2 North, where Redi discussed the peacekeepers going to war in the Congo, athttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtyjmpd2kLM. 

 





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