King Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel; President Jonathan and Who?

The subsidy debate has engulfed Nigeria, albeit the entire known world and I’d like to add, even the heavenly host who by now most certainly would have been bombarded by innumerable petitions and supplications from citizens of the most populous black nation on earth. This existential crisis has knocked tenderly at the door of Nigerians for more than a few months and was eventually formed and happily delivered on none other than the first day of 2012 (recall that 2012 is the year the world ends according to the Mayan calendar, so we can expect 2012 to be action packed from start to finish). The nature of that action will depend on us.

Before I digress, let’s dive into the chronicles of King Nebuchadnezzar. Who was King Nebuchadnezzar you might ask? He was one of the few kings known to have practically conquered the entire world. Daniel, a great Prophet of God went even as far as to describe him as king of kings. This king was specially chosen by God to execute judgment upon a stubborn nation that had consistently ignored divine instructions. As you might have figured, that stubborn nation was His first born son – Israel.

This king ransacked God’s own nation and carried off everything and everyone worth confiscating as slaves to his own country. He chose the finest of their princes and deployed them as strategic human capital to stabilize and expand his kingdom to the far ends of the earth. To make matters worse, God defied all protocol and declared this pagan king as His own very servant sent to accomplish divine mandate.

This is different!

All achievement is the product of an idea set in motion. In the real sense, ideas do not originate from men. Since all things have already been created (Gen 1:1), there is nothing new under the sun (Eccl 1:9). Man only enjoys the privilege of searching out secrets (Prov 25:2). To “catch” an idea is to have an insight into the blue-print of creation. Since there is a season for everything, and a time to every purpose under heaven, we recognize that ideas explode when there is a synchronization of time and space.

There is nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has come! Fight all you want against it, it will prove to be an exercise in futility. The world since the beginning of time has been ruled by ideas and ideologies. Like a little leaven that leavens the whole lump, ideas that have managed to collide space with time have historically spread like a virus destroying all that stood in their path. They have consistently left the world a permanently changed place, creating irreversible transitions and shifts similar to an egg that has undergone a chemical and state change induced by exposure to heat. 

There are highly potent ideas that have been propounded by many in the past, but they did not attain global relevance because they showed up prematurely. Wise men (a.k.a. opportunistic intellectual entities) rehashed and rebranded these same ideas a few moments later at the appointed season and ended up taking almost all the credit, simply because they understood how the alignment of time and space unleashes the full potential of ideas.

For example, the works of fore-runners such as Peter Waldo, John Hus and John Wycliffe ultimately led to “The Reformation”, but The Reformation is largely credited to Martin Luther for his bravery in defiantly sticking his 95 Thesis upon the door of the University church at Wittenberg, Germany. An idea (a spiritual one in this case) that had been seeking room for full expression over centuries finally collided space with time during Martin Luther’s day. The new invention of Gutenberg (printing press) provided the space and platform upon which this idea travelled far and wide, destroying the hold of the Papacy and it’s doctrine of indulgences (some sort of stock exchange where earthly financial instruments and securities were traded for divine securities such as forgiveness and eternal life). “Justification by faith” finally prevailed! Martin Luther struck the tipping point for this very old idea and took all the credit! Imagine what Martin Luther would have missed if he had written off this idea on the basis of its previous track record and results?

When communicating and selling ideas, innovation or new technology (particularly those we feel strongly about), we often find ourselves using precursors such as “This is different!” or “Please hear me out!”. A critical look at this pattern reveals that these phrases were intended as fortification against expected attacks triggered by the declaration of new ideas or demonstration of unconventional thinking. While many do lay claim to loving change and dynamism, in reality, they are perpetual and permanent bedfellows of the status quo. Whenever there is push for change or an overhaul of an existing system, such persons balk and resist albeit subtly. However, we cannot always blame people for such faithless behavior especially when we understand that they have become victims of that phenomenon called “experience”.

Observation has revealed that there are three kinds of crowds.

The NO crowd, the YES crowd and the Observers.

Interestingly, the NO crowd is usually filled with the most “experienced” people. You see, the thing about experience is that it has a great ability to deceive. Experience can make you think you understand something you know nothing about. Because you tried out an idea that failed miserably 5 years ago, whenever someone proposes a similar idea, you discountenance it quickly based on your “experience”. You forget to factor and objectively consider the wide range of internal and external variables that have since changed.

Let’s consider a few interesting self explanatory expressions:

• Analytical Productive Thinking
• Ultra-High Frequency Thinking
• Border-less Mind Mapping
• Multivariate Analysis
• Contingency Planning
• Innovative Improvisation

All the above are simply methods of utilizing the brain!

What is wisdom? Dr. Mike Murdock provided one of the most insightful and unconventional definitions when he defined wisdom as the study of difference! Wisdom is the ability to recognize and capitalize on differences and variations, no matter how subtle.

Let’s carefully analyze the dynamics of Two Space Exploration Missions and how their study and interpretation of difference meant the difference between life and death.

Apollo 13

The Apollo 13 crisis occurred on April 15, 1970 after the Space Ship had travelled 75% of its journey to the moon.  Two days into its mission and traveling at 2000 mph, one of its primary oxygen tanks exploded. The Flight and Crisis Director, Gene Kranz was presented with an enormous challenge. The survival of astronauts onboard Apollo 13 hung on his decisions and he had only single digit minutes to decide and execute changes to a project that took years to plan and implement. He had to figure out a way to stretch oxygen and electricity that was barely sufficient for 2 men over 2 days, in order to support 3 men for 4 days. Fortunately, Kranz had built a high performance team with advanced levels of interaction and collaboration. They had been taken through excruciating drills and were mentally prepared for contingencies of this nature. Expectedly, they successfully crafted creative solutions that saved the mission and the lives of the astronauts. A New York Times editorial reported that the crisis would have been fatal had it not been for the NASA network whose teams of experts performed miracles of emergency improvisation. In order words, they recognized and responded excellently well to unanticipated change.

Columbia Mission

On Feb 1 2003, 16 days into the Columbia Mission, the space shuttle exploded into fragments as the shuttle re-entered the earth’s atmosphere. Investigations revealed that a piece of insulating foam weighing 1.67 pounds broke off the external fuel tank during take-off and struck the tip of the shuttle’s left wing, creating a hole that would later allow super-heated gasses to rip through the wing’s interior. There was a two week period between the damage to the wing and the fatal explosion. Could NASA have averted this disaster? Absolutely YES! Mid level engineers repeatedly recommended that repair work be carried out on the wing after a post-launch review but NASA management overruled their recommendation. Management thought “this is isn’t different from similar foam dislodgements that had occurred in previous successful missions”. They thought “This is NOT different!”

NASA has lived to regret this unforgivable faux-pas that cost the lives of several astronauts including that of the first Israeli astronaut.

An HBS study went on to reveal that organizations belong to one of two models:

1.      A standardized model where standards and routines govern everything, including strict compliance with timelines and budget. 

2. An experimental model where each day, every exercise and every piece of new information is evaluated and debated (in a culture that resembles that of an R&D laboratory)

In this age, everyone alive has no excuse for keeping a state of mind that visualizes change and fast paced development as unnecessary. If Tsunamis (orchestrated by subsea earthquakes that the most advanced early warning systems are still incapable of predicting) can be let loose in a matter of minutes, then we must accept that the world we live in demands the greatest possible affinity for improvisation and on-the-spot thinking. Every experience and exercise must be treated as a source of data. Each attempt, whether space travel, a startup or a development project is fundamentally an experimental endeavor and should be managed as such.

In the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), each day is treated as an experiment. Daily debriefs are held where each day is critically deconstructed. Explaining a bad situation away is unacceptable. The path of honor is to accept responsibility and enumerate the lessons learnt. There are only two ways to describe a soldier – rosh gaddol or rosh kattan!

Rosh gaddol (translated big-head thinking) refers to a responsible can-do attitude that assesses a multiple scenario of applicability and options in executing an instruction. It means following orders in the best possible way using personal judgment and required effort. It emphasizes improvisation over disciplined rigidity. In other words, it places high premium on initiative and innovation.

Rosh kattan (translated little head thinking) narrowly accepts orders, works like a robot, shuns extra work and detests personal evaluation and responsibility.

When we shoehorn every new piece of data or experience into an inflexible system, we become dinosaurs. Isn’t it foolish to judge new ideas on the basis of recommendations from pattern recognition systems and neural networks that use yesterday to judge today and the future, knowing we live in a world undergoing convulsive change on a per second basis? Every idea, proposal, opportunity or venture must be analyzed and judged within its current context and future potential rather than being subjected to historical prejudice. There is nothing as powerful as an idea whose season is now! Break free from stubborn attachments to existing beliefs.

The old is gone. The new is here. This is different! We thank God for inexperience taking us on to the next level!

Sons of the Age; A Curse to Corruption

Division and subtraction are distinctive characteristics of darkness.  Addition and multiplication are the prime qualities of Light. It is not that which goes into a man that corrupts him, but that which comes out of him. Therefore, your produce provides the basis for your evaluation.

Now, what is corruption? Encarta defines corruption as the dishonest exploitation of power for personal gain. It further described it as extreme immorality, depravity, degeneracy, perversion, debasement, dishonest shenanigans, venality, misdemeanor and vice.

My 2011 unabridged definition of corruption reads thus: 

Corruption is the unprofitable exchange of nothing for something. It is the art or act of extracting value from a person or system without returning or depositing something of equivalent or even greater value back into the original source (the system or person). Corruption is a holistic description of unbridled theft, which I consider as one of the ultimate transgressions. To practice corruption is to steal, kill and destroy value.

Let’s bring it home now and do some mathematics. Corruption = Unproductivity! 

I guess you’re asking how. 

How about this: Corruption = Apathy = Laziness = Entitlement Mentality  = Waste = Unproductivity.

I employed the principle of equivalence and reflexivity here. Indeed, all these words are approximate synonyms. In summary, if you conduct forensic analysis, you would discover that they are all members of the same household.

Now what is unproductivity? To be unproductive is to discard value and waste capital. It means you have little or nothing to show for the resources entrusted into your hands. To put it more accurately, unproductivity means your output is less than the input. For example, If $500 was entrusted into your hands, and we return after an agreed period to find $490 in your hands, you have compromised value. That my friend, is unproductivity and by implication, corruption.

PS: Please note that we have employed money as a store or representation of value in this example. 

If a parent invests $10,000 in a child’s education and the child graduates with a great academic performance and a life transforming social experience, the child has proven to be profitable investment because the competencies acquired and the qualifications obtained are exceedingly worth more than $10,000. In actuality, they cannot be bought and are hence, priceless. A child that chooses to do otherwise brings great pain and has abused the confidence entrusted in him. Such child is no good unless he makes a 180 degree turn in good time and hastens to redeem lost time.

At this point, I would like to state categorically that corruption (unproductivity) has viral and cancerous tendencies. It eats up everything in its path. It constantly seeks to expand its reach by contaminating everything around it. It is never satisfied. It always seeks to conquer new territory. It loves to network and open “service centers“ around the globe. Corruption is like an entrepreneur. It quickly evolves and swiftly replicates itself because by operating this way, it becomes entrenched and deep seated making it near impossible to be dislodged by any opposing force.

After critically examining the nature of corruption as we have done in the previous paragraphs, we do understand there is only way to stop it. Curse it and kill it dead all the way it to its root! Corruption is not a disease that can be managed. You either kill it or leave it to live and flourish. There is no choice here. It is one-way traffic. If you allow it to lead you, it takes you into a cul-de-sac.  If you manage to get in front of it, you either kill it or it converts and dumps you in its trunk.

In order to effectively wage war against and defeat this cancer, you need two things going for you. God and Men! Let’s look at the biblical responses to corruption and unproductivity. 

In Gen38:8-10, Onan (one of Judah’s sons) wasted his seed in an attempt to stop his late brother from having descendants. God did not beg or appeal to him, rather He killed him dead. 

In the parable about the Kingdom and Talents (Matt 25:14-15), The Master gave one of the three servants one talent with which to trade and invest. He yielded zero profit and returned one talent to his Master. Basic economics tells us that 100 naira today is not equivalent to 100 naira tomorrow. A natural law of depreciation (they call it inflation) takes its toll. God called this a wicked thing and immediately pronounced the ultimate judgment against this unproductive servant.

In our third and final example, Jesus (God Incarnate) encountered a Fig Tree (Mk 11:20-24) that had leaves but no fruit. Even though this tree was out of season, it ought to have bore fruit because the natural order of growth for fig trees in the Palestine area is for fruit to come out first before leaves. This fig tree had an appearance of increase but a closer look at it revealed it was an epitome of unproductivity. This fig tree challenged and rebelled against its owner and creator.

How do we know this? Immediately after the cursed fig tree died and withered down to its root, Jesus declared “whosever shall say to this mountain…and believes…..shall have whatsoever he says”. 

Jesus compared the fig tree to an opposing mountain standing in his way. That is the the nature of corruption. It stands in your way and attempts to limit and destroy you. Jesus had given the fig tree all that it needed to produce but it brought forth nothing! Jesus cursed it immediately and it withered.

We have seen that unproductivity and corruption ought to be judged at the speed of light. Where ever laziness, unproductivity, corruption, lukewarmness,  averageness, incompetence and indifference is detected, it ought to be swiftly exterminated.

He that has little, even that which he has shall be taken away. To do nothing with something, to ignore an opportunity to create abundance, to look down rather than look up, is to challenge God. We have a duty to eliminate waste and unproductivity where ever we see it. 

Our mantra should be zero waste. 

Our motto should be CIP (Continuous Improvement in Performance).

Corruption and unproductivity is the antithesis of the first commandment and the ultimate inhibitor and antagonist to reproduction and multiplication.

Division and subtraction are the core values of darkness. This explains why the devil took away a staggering 1/3 of God's angels. He stole value from God. That's why God chose us and called us sons. Sonship does not have anything to do with the male gender. Son ship means to bear the nature and character of the source. We are called sons of God because we bear fruit and make disciples of all nations. We don't divide his body and ostracize his chosen. We always leave a place better than we meet it.

This is Jacob, the generation of them that seek Him, the generation of them that seek His face. This is a new age. Desperate times require desperate measures. We have forcefully advanced since the days of John the Baptist and we are not about to relent. Yesterday’s methods cannot dislodge today’s devils. We must retrieve the axe head and sharpen the saw. A new age requires a new kind of wisdom (Eph 3:5). Whenever a new age arrives, a new set of sons are deployed. Revelation, Wisdom, Insight and Strategies that were hidden in times past are now being revealed unto the sons of this age for tearing down corruption and building new nations.

I AM ONE OF THEM!

The Sins of Buhari...by Prof Tam David West (Abridged)

The Sins of Buhari?

General Muhammadu Buhari is a man revered for his honesty, transparency, integrity and desire for justice for the common man. The idea of a Buhari Presidency is dreaded by some Nigerians who have looted the nation to stupor. These selfish politicians who want to keep Nigerians in poverty often embark on a campaign of calumny by framing up accusations against Buhari in order to prevent Nigerians from voting for a leader who loves the masses and has the mind to change the fortunes of Nigeria for the better.  Other anti-Buhari commentators have admitted that they are prejudiced against him (for no just cause). Some do not even know the truths about the allegations. 

Some misunderstand the man because of his straight forward and disciplined approach to life. Below is a compilation of the so called sins of Buhari obtained mainly from The Sixteen Sins of Buhari, written by Professor Tam David West, a man who worked closely with Buhari as Minister for Petroleum when General Buhari was Head of State. Facts have also been sourced from a few other sources to help Nigerians know the truth about this man whose presidency will undoubtedly change Nigeria for the better. Going by his unassuming nature, Buhari will not fight to protect his own name. This is why concerned Nigerians have decided to take up this fight. We must no longer let mischief makers who do not want the good of the average Nigerian deceive the Nigerian public.

Human Rights Abuse

Human rights must be protected and must not be abused. However, those who single out the military rule of Buhari for human rights violations are biased.

The Buhari regime was a military regime. Military regimes have not been known to uphold the same standards of human rights as democracies. There was hardly any military regime in Nigeria that was not characterized by dictatorship and violation of fundamental rights. Military Heads of States gave orders that violated human rights.  Some have accused Buhari of ordering executions. However, unlike other military Heads of States who single handedly ordered executions,  Buhari never took decisions unilaterally. He practiced democracy even as a military Head of State. Decisions were taken by the Supreme Military Council (SMC).

President Buhari will not order the execution of accused persons because it is the responsibility of the judiciary to pass sentences. President Buhari will not be a dictator because he has matured into a democrat and has participated actively in the democratic process since 1999. President Buhari cannot be a dictator because the democratic environment is different from the military environment. General Buhari has shown his faith in the democratic process by contesting for the presidency twice. When he lost under controversial circumstances, he demonstrated his faith in the judiciary by challenging the results through the laid down procedures of the court system. Therefore Nigerians should welcome whole heartedly Muhammadu Buhari, the democrat.

Retroactive Laws

General Buhari has been attacked for making retroactive laws by which he targeted corrupt practices which robbed Nigeria of vital income. Decree Number 20 of 1984 on bunkering and illegal oil deals was aimed at stopping the theft of oil which at the time cost Nigeria over $2 million per day. Again that was the only way a patriotic and zealous military Head of State could have saved Nigeria from the clutches of corruption. That retroactive law put an end to the theft of oil. Other Nigerian military Heads of States also made retroactive laws. The United Nations tribunals at Nuremberg and Tokyo which tried perpetrators of World War II atrocities operated based on retroactive laws. Retroactive laws simply fulfilled the maxim, “desperate diseases require desperate remedies”. A democratic government will be different at least because it is characterized by separation of powers. As such, President Buhari cannot and will not make retroactive decrees as it is the duty of the National Assembly to make laws in a democracy.

Islam Fundamentalist

Buhari has been accused by mischief makers of religious fundamentalism. He was quoted out-of-context as saying that muslims should vote for only muslims. If this were true, can he be hanged for it when Christian clerics have also been known to advocate that Christians should vote only for Christians? But Buhari’s rebuttal of this charge, “I am not a religious fundamentalist …” was published on Saturday Sun on 3 July 2004. Do you know that as Head of State, General Buhari bulldozed mosques that were constructed illegally? Do you know that he arrested and detained a number of Islamic preachers for violent sermons? Do you know that as an army commander, most of Buhari’s men from platoon to division were Christians? Do you know that it was Obasanjo, not Buhari who took Nigeria into the membership of the Islamic Bank? Do you know that it was Babangida, not Buhari who sought to secretly take Nigeria into membership of the Organization of Islamic Countries? How then can Buhari be said to be an Islam fundamentalist? Buhari is simply a devout muslim who is committed to his faith without trying to impose it on anyone.

Decree 4 and Press Freedom

Admittedly, Decree 4 seemed to negate some principles of press freedom. Again, it must be stated that the Buhari regime was a military regime. Military regimes are not known to guarantee press freedom as well as democracies. Those jailed under decree 4 included two journalists reporting for a major Newspaper. The newspaper was fined N50, 000. Its offence was that it published before the official time the list of Nigeria’s ambassadorial postings. This was invariably a breach of state security. Governments all over the world seek to preserve information that is essential for state security. Even the United States, the chief advocate of press freedom is seeking to arrest the founder of Wikileaks for publishing state secrets. Despite this, the Buhari regime should be applauded because it never closed down or proscribed any newspaper or magazine. Other military regimes, particularly the Obasanjo and Babangida regimes seized and proscribed newspapers and magazines with impunity.

Decree 3 and Shagari Regime Politicians 

The Buhari regime passed the Recovery of Public Property (Special Military Tribunal’s Decree No. 3 of 1984) to try the corrupt politicians in Shagari’s government. Admittedly, the sentences handed over to the culprits may have been outrageous but this was again characteristic of military regimes, not just Buhari’s regime. Some military regimes were known to hand down life sentences to persons against whom they framed up accusations.  Did Buhari frame up accusations against anyone? Certainly not! Even Buhari’s critics have admitted that the Shagari’s government was outrageously corrupt. In the process, Buhari saved Nigeria hundreds of millions of naira. Again in a democracy, President Buhari will not hand down sentences on anyone because it is the responsibility of the courts to do so. Other governments including civilian administrations have been known to manipulate anti-corruption agencies because they had something to hide or someone to protect. Not so for Buhari. He has nothing to hide and no one to protect.

The 53 Suit Cases Saga

Below is an excerpt of a profile of Muhammadu Buhari written by Oluwarotimi Fashakin and published on Elombah.com:

Owing to the damaging effect of currency trafficking outside the Nation’s shores, the Buhari administration decided to change the colors of the currency notes in April 1984. This yielded the desired result as N5Billion excess liquidity was mopped off! As a back-lash on this exercise, there was insidious story from a section of the media that the Buhari regime allowed the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Jokolo to bring in 53 suitcases during the currency change, thereby insinuating a case of double-standard. Let it be said from the onset, the opinion tenaciously held on to about this incident was what was sold to the unsuspecting Nigerian public by a section of the press. So much hoodwinked that Buhari's explanation had never been heard!

This is what Buhari said about this:

"This is a typical case of the press believing what they want to believe. I hope it is not a reflection of the Nigerian society. I hope one day you will find the time to interview the Vice President (Alhaji Atiku Abubakar) on this. I understand he was the Customs officer in charge of the Murtala Mohammed airport, perhaps he knows more about it than myself. I have explained this so many times but the press write what they want to write and not what is factual."

Going down the memory lane, he added: "I recall the day in question. We were playing squash with my ADC when his father, the late Emir was returning to the country. He was a well-respected person. I prompted Jokolo to go and receive him even when he had no intention of doing so. By some coincidence his father was returning with my late chief of protocol who was an ambassador in Libya. He returned with his three wives and about 16 children. Everything about him including the handbag of his wives was counted as a suitcase. I explained this myself but nobody believed me."

It is believed that these false allegations were cooked up by persons who secretly sought to discredit Buhari in order to overthrow him. Let him that have eyes read between the lines. Let those who falsely accuse an honest man have a rethink for it is the height of injustice.

The N2.8 Billion ‘Missing’ Oil Money Poppycock 

In 1980, during the administration of President Shagari, a case arose of some N2.8 billion allegedly missing from the NNPC in the previous administration of General Obasanjo when General Buhari was the Minister for Petroleum. A Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by a Supreme Court Judge, Honourable Mr. Justice Ayo Irekefe, was set up to examine the allegations. The MD/CEO of NNPC, Chief Festus Marinho, an oil technocrat was temporarily moved out of the NNPC to allow for investigations. From its findings, the Commission, satisfied that no such money ever got missing, dismissed the scandal. It is interesting to note that even before the allegations were dismissed by the Commission, Buhari’s name was not mentioned among those suspected. This was reiterated by General Obasanjo in 1990 in his book “Not My Will” in which Obasanjo praised Buhari’s “honesty”, “moral probity and rectitude”.

Those prejudiced against Buhari later sought to revive these allegations and, failing to justify their claims, alleged that the sum was $3.4 billion reviewed to $4.1 billion even though all government records state clearly that the allegedly missing sum was N2.8 billion and that the allegations were found to be untrue and subsequently dismissed. They falsely claim that the coup against Shagari’s governemnt was because of the investigations. How could Buhari have staged a coup in revenge for an investigation into a case in which he was not even accused and which was eventually dismissed as baseless? The Buhari led coup was to clean up the polity which was deep in corruption during the administration of Shagari. Nigerians took to the streets in jubilation when the Shagari administration was toppled as it marked an end to a reign of corruption which had caused severe damage to the economy. One year later, the missionary zeal of the Buhari-Idiagbon regime had begun to transform the nation to the extent that Buhari was almost christened “Nigeria’s Jesus” by enthusiastic Nigerians but for the fact that that would mean a “muslim Jesus”.

Rejection of National Award

When “national award is patronisingly made as if it is personal favour, and with some odour of condescension, proving or scoring some political points, all decent and honourable persons should feel constrained to reject it”- Professor Tam David West.

Buhari, by honourably rejecting Obasanjo’s national award, joined the league of Chinua Achebe who will not compromise principles for gain. Buhari should be crowned with the people’s support for refusing to be stained by the favour of a government whose election victory was criticized by international observers. Indeed Buhari is an honourable man!

The Siege on Chief Awolowo’s House

Buhari has stated clearly his innocence in the raid on the houses of Chief Awolowo, Alhaji Gumi and Shehu Musa by security operatives. He was not told about the incidents. It was masterminded by a fifth columnist (a secret group whose agenda was to discredit and overthrow Buhari’s government).

The Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) 

In spite of the widely acknowledged success of the PTF, some anti-Buhari advocates claim that the PTF was created for Buhari and that it was a parallel government. This is nonsense. The PTF was set up as a child of necessity by Abacha’s government when complaints trailed the increase in fuel pump price. The fears were that as it was on previous occasions when fuel price was increased, the increase would not bring any benefit to Nigerians. The PTF was then set up to use the proceeds from fuel sales for development. By Decree 1 of 1995 which established the PTF, the body was to be bound by the principles of prudence, transparency and integrity. No other person suited the administration of this body than General Buhari who was begged to run the organization. It has been said that the PTF did more in 3 years for the development of Nigerians than the PDP government has done in 12 years. Buhari’s integrity and dedication to duty made the PTF a “Model for Development”.  “Its Annual Audited Accounts were always on time up till 1998, audited by their External Auditors, Messrs KPMG” – Professor Tam David West. Buhari challenged President Obasanjo to probe his tenure as PTF Chairman (The Anchor, 31 May 2006). Obasanjo could not find anything against him.

Buhari and Counter-Trade

Before the Shagari-administration was overthrown, the economy was almost crippled. When Buhari took over, in order to revive the economy, he refused to adopt IMF conditionalities. As a strategy for national survival, the Buhari-regime adopted the Counter-Trade policy which in simple terms means “using what we have to get what we need”, that is, exchanging oil for the goods needed in the national economy. Under strict conditions, specified barrels of oil were allocated to qualified merchants nominated by the goods supplier. The proceeds from oil sales were lodged in Escow Account in a foreign bank selected by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Goods needed by the Nigerian economy were purchased from this account. It is sad to note that the Escow Account established by Buhari’s government was depleted by Babangida’s government just as the current administration has depleted Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account set up by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala as Minister of Finance during Obasanjo’s regime. When Babangida sought to probe Buhari’s Counter-Trade policy, no case could be made against the Buhari regime because it had nothing to hide and the policy served the good of the national economy.

The War Against Indiscipline (WAI)

It is unfortunate that what has been hailed as the era of a culture of discipline is being peddled as a sin of Buhari by some. WAI was instituted to instill discipline in the Nigerian character. The result of this is that Nigerians began to keep their environment clean. The queuing culture became “an integral part of the national culture”. Today, there are many law enforcement agencies on the streets and highways. In spite of this, indiscipline has become the order of the day. Some law enforcement agents are easily compromised and there appears to be inadequate political will to enforce the laws. What the WAI crusade brought to Nigeria was that political will. Admittedly, its methods were strict. After all, it was the project of a military regime. Nigeria today needs disciplined leadership that can lead by example and demonstrate proper public conduct. Because the man Buhari has matured into a democrat, his discipline and integrity makes him the president Nigeria needs at this time.

Buhari and the Oputa Commission

The Human Rights Violation and Investigation Commission (HRVIC) headed by Honourable Justice Chukwudifu Oputa an eminent jurist and supported by respected Nigerians like Rev Father Matthew Coker may have had good intentions. But why a mere ceremonial, or at best, administrative panel without any mechanism of enforcement or even of compelling people to appear before it. What has happened to its report? Even Babangida successfully defended in court his right not to appear before the panel. Many lawyers called it a toothless bulldog. In a governmental order that lacks the political will to enforce unbiased findings, where such reports as the Pius Okigbo Report can be alleged to be missing as an excuse not to implement it, what serious minded Nigerian will expect anything to come from what Wole Soyinka described as “Portraits in Infamy and Criminal Impunity”? Could it be that General Buhari, in his characteristic honest and serious approach to life had seen beforehand that the government of the day had no intention to take that panel seriously even though it had respected Nigerians in its committee?

....The Power of Knowing...& the Nigerian Polity

"My people perish for lack of knowledge".

"Knowledge is POWER".

It is no longer news that the two "ultimate extremists" in the Nigerian polity have joined forces to war against the established order (or should we call it disorder) that is threatening the future of the nation of Nigeria.

I embarked on a political pilgrimage in search of the most credible aspiring leader of the Nigerian Cooperative and after much investigation and research, I finally arrived at an unequivocal station - The DUO of General Buhari and Pastor Bakare.

While conducting my investigation, I discovered General BUHARI is one of the most mis-represented personalities in the history of the nation of Nigeria. The Media has done an outstandingly poor job of revealing his identity. (I'm not sure but it seems there's a conspiracy somewhere).
It is highly probable that there has been a gimmick and a grand plot to keep Nigerians in perpetual darkness. An unending list of false accusations have been leveled against him in the past in a plot to abuse the mind of the polity and render him incapable of becoming a threat to the incumbent immoral party that has illegally held on to power for 12 years running with next to nothing to show for it.
However, the cartel and conspirators forgot one thing - There is nothing that is hidden that shall not be revealed.

If every Nigerian today knows the truth about all the candidates before them, only those who desire darkness and poverty will ignore Buhari.
Sadly, because many Nigerians (including the 'learned' ones) lack the discipline to conscientiously dig out information, search out revelation and pursue truth, they accept untruths which ultimately result in poor judgment and ignorant counter-productive decisions.

But we thank and bless the God of Heaven who has chosen to reveal this 'hidden mystery' to a nucleus in this most critical point of inflection in the history of the Niger Area (Nigeria).
We (Transformed Nonconformists who are hell bent on toppling the PDP controlled government) are that nucleus and we will stop at nothing to SOAK and DRENCH the whole Nation of Nigeria with the TRUTH about those vying for the Apex Leadership Office in their Nation.

We are not into the manipulation game. We will present before the Nigerian people: Life and Death, Blessing and Cursing, Victory and Defeat. They must choose because there is no sitting on the fence. There is no room for lukewarmness. Indecision is a decision to support darkness.
But we are glad because we know and believe that Nigerians will CHOOSE LIFE, BLESSING and VICTORY.

The incumbent is already aware of the battle ahead and PDP cronies are already mapping out strategies for undermining the will and choice of the Nigerian People. But the evil plans that are being conjured in the secret rooms of ASO ROCK have been made known to us. They have no idea what is about to hit them.

WE CAN DO IT! WE WILL DO IT!

You may begin your personal research by joining the BuhariBakare 2011 Volunteers' Group on Facebook and reading up about the General on Wikipedia. Stay Tuned here for more...

MIND-SHIFT Agents of the GREEN REVOLUTION

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) are United Nations treaties that Nigeria has ratified since July 29, 1993. On December 9, 2003 Nigeria went a step further and ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. Under international law, we are legally bound as a nation to provide and guarantee to every citizen, these inalienable, indivisible, equal and interdependent rights. With over 500 billion dollars in revenue from oil, do we as a nation have any excuse for the state of our people today? Can we describe our actions so far as consistent gross violations of these treaties? Who should be held accountable? What should we do next?

The mission before us as nation states in Africa is of immense proportions and involves creating a MIND SHIFT amongst our people in order to birth a new desired economic and political order. In Nigeria, it is a daunting task, but a possible one and we can accomplish this through the coordinated actions of great revolutionary Nigerians in what we’ve now termed the GREEN REVOLUTION!

I addressed a group of SSS-3 students of Bonny National Grammar school on March 19, 2010 (on the platform of MIND SHIFT CONSORTIUM) and shared with them a picture of what they could, and will turn Nigeria into in a thoroughly engaging 90 minute session. I was overwhelmed by the sheer energy and conviction exhibited by these young Wole Soyinkas, Philip Emeagwalis, Mark Zuckerbergs and Sergey Brins in the making.
Despite the impossible situation in this school that had only 8 government-employed teachers (for a student population of more than 500 students, often depending on corpers and part-time teachers to make up the huge vacuum), I saw highly intelligent students with hope written all over their faces. I did not need any more convincing that the Corporate Titans and National Leaders of the New Nigeria were here, and all they require is a MIND SHIFT to help focus their energy accurately for their strategic roles and responsibilities in building this country from the ground up. They are very much aware of the challenges, and are ready to take them on. However, these brilliant young Nigerians require guidance and adult supervision, which every available mature revolutionary should be more than willing to provide to every single youngster.

What is a SHIFT? To SHIFT means to move somebody or something from an old position to a new and different position.

The old position in Nigeria – Indifference, tolerance of evil, complaints, ineffective talk and occasional action

The new position in Nigeria – Aggressive campaigns, mass action, revolt against incompetence, demand for accountability, zero tolerance for election rigging

I’m a firm believer (meaning that I advocate and execute corresponding action in line with my professed belief) in the fact that African nations have the inherent potential to develop, and ultimately come out of poverty of mind, soul and the environment. I may not be able to predict accurately how soon, but I’m certain development is inevitable. What I can guarantee is that after a critical-mass of revolutionaries has been attained, then the inflection point (change that even the worst international critics cannot gainsay) is within striking distance or ‘killing range’( as U.S. Secret Service agents love to call it!)

The root cause of underdevelopment and poverty isn’t really the lack of infrastructure and basic amenities. Maybe it isn’t our political leaders, corporate thieves or rebel groups. If sky-scrappers, educational facilities, water treatment plants and power stations suddenly appeared all over our continent today, would they be there 5 years from now? Or perhaps, if the proverbial geographical exchange takes place between Africa and the U.S. (i.e. all Africans go to America, and all Americans come over to Africa), what would happen in a few years? These are hard questions that need answers.

I believe the critical difference between prosperity and poverty is in the underlying thinking and attitudes of a people - a product of their culture and values. I’ve heard preachers say that it is an extremely harder task to change a man’s point of view, than to cast out devils from a possessed individual. I believe that assertion is accurate. Therefore, we have a task to break the hold of tradition over our people, and help them transit from apathy to having a sense of responsibility for their national outcomes.

One of the other missing links in our efforts to salvage our nation, in my judgment has been Coordinated Action!

Coordinated Action is a series of intense, fierce, aggressive, unrelenting but peaceful activities wrought by a movement of resilient people demanding for their inalienable rights. They are led by a decentralized but very tightly integrated leadership. Simple examples are the Gandhi and MLK movements of India and the U.S. respectively.

I do believe we are now maturing as a people, faster than ever before and are making the critical alliances that will have the reach and power to topple and destroy the enmeshed leviathan of big-stouting and pepper-souping political cults and power bases in our society (to borrow some expressions from Patrick Obahiagbon).

I’ve been doing some intense study on the history and economic development of nations (emphasis on African nations) and the plethora of post colonial events and upheavals that have shaped and evolved the present day society before us today. Many of us are familiar with the peculiar African trends and it’s predominantly a tragic one, but I do believe it’s important for us to understand the waves of revolutions that have taken place so that we can accurately judge the impacts they’ve had on our society.

We’ve had Oil, diamond and natural resource conflicts in Angola, Nigeria, Sudan, DRC, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra-Leone and others. We’ve had eternal dictatorships in almost every African state. We’ve had hundreds of rebel groups fighting their respective (and sometimes neighboring) governments. We’ve witnessed Apartheid and extreme oppression by national leaders resulting in ethnic deprivations, hunger, forced migrations, extreme living conditions, mass executions and even genocide. (I remember Burundi/Rwanda. One foreign government kept describing the mass executions in Rwanda as “acts of genocide” and then one puzzled journalist asked thus – how many acts of genocide does it take for us to have one genocide?) We’ve also had resource rich regions experiencing un-imaginable levels of under-development and neglect. The list is endless.

However, I’m not certain all these past experiences and nightmares have had the right effect on a higher percentage of our vast populations. There is still that visible conservative and laid back attitude that pervades the continent. Many still embrace archaic, ineffective and wasteful traditions that have no place in the present age. We seem to hope for a better tomorrow by committing our future into the hands of a heavenly being who will one day hear our cries and send down help from glory. I believe in the spiritual (because it is even more real than the physical), but the law of the human medium cannot be violated. In explicit terms, everything that would happen in society and in this physical realm would have to be wrought through the hands and abilities of human beings. (Things may change after the messianic return takes place, but today is here and it beckons on us to take action!)

The truth is that the help we seek has long been around us, and has merely awaited our recognition. In simple terms, our day of deliverance is in our control and will come when a sufficient number of us tire-out, and decide to revolt against all forms of incompetence. People power is something no government in the entire universe can defeat. This is evident in the Orange revolution (Ukraine 2004/2005), the ROSE revolution (In Georgia - 2003) and the revolt against Slobodan Milosevic (In Serbia – 2000).

Critical lessons from these revolutions (such as in Ukraine) is that we can firmly resist and denounce the incumbent lethargy in our political and economic systems, and bring about change without bloodshed. Sustainable change however constitutes a different challenge that must be addressed concurrently. I was bewildered by the recent happenings in Ukraine. The same Victor Yanukovych that the Orange revolution prevented from rigging the presidency in 2005 has now become president in 2010. It seems a sustainable MIND SHIFT may not have taken place amongst the Ukrainian people, because I don’t understand how a widely reported ex-convict could gain the presidency in a free and fair election. I may not have the moral grounds to analyze the internal matters of Ukraine, but I believe there’s an important lesson for us in here.

Our GREEN REVOLUTION is here. We are the players on ground and coordination must begin in earnest. The mind shift and succession planning required to prevent us from allowing our new gains to be eroded in future must be built into our youngsters from now. We must take ownership of this process, and establish multiple platforms for Coordinated Action.

In the words of William Jefferson – I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE for Your Nation (Nigeria)!

When a young child goes out and commits a crime, who is held accountable? Is it the child, or is the adult parent who ought to know better?
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction will drive it far from him.
Teach a child the way of the Lord, and when he grows, he will not depart from it.
Clearly, the scriptures above tell us who to hold responsible.

The mutallab boy almost single handedly brought disrepute to our nation, but thank God the plot was unsuccessful (and i know it was the prayers of the saints that stopped that from happening because the price would have been to enormous to pay, for us as a nation).

Now my question is should the Father be absolved of any blame just because he reported his son earlier? I think not. The son has forever brought the father's name to disrepute and i'm certain the father will only find peace when he comes to Christ.

I was seeking God's face about the condition of our Nation, and He spoke to me expressly that those who know better (which is His Church - consisting of you and I) would be held accountable for the current condition and end result of our nation. We would be held more accountable for the right things we didn't do, rather than the evil things we did.

Jer 25:8 Therefore the Lord almighty says this: "because you have not listened to my words, i will summon all the peoples of the north, and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of babylon....".
Wait a minute! did God just call that pagan unbeliever his servant??? Yes he did.
God called him His servant because He was going to use him to execute judgement (not because the pagan king was a righteous man).
I've learnt that the Lord raises national leaders for two purposes:

1. To deliver people and bring about prosperity. (e.g. Joshua and Moses)
2. To execute judgement! (e.g. Nebuchadnezzar)

It's that simple. I believe any, and every leader has been appointed by God, and is there for a purpose. I'm saying expressly that Obasanjo and Yar'adua were 'anointed' by God to lead this country. The question you and i ought to ask is for what purpose? I don't claim to know just yet, but that's an assignment for everybody.

We have sinned greatly as a nation. We have stolen, killed, maimed, cheated and done the worst things imaginable to our brothers. We have institutionalized sin. These things cannot just be swept under the carpet. They have to be dealt with. By who? I believe by the 'adults' who know better. We must realize that the world doesn't know any better, so it's in their nature to steal, kill, maim, destroy, vandalize and hate just like their father. If they weren't doing that, it would be strange and unnatural.
But the problem is not with the food. The problem is with the tasteless SALT. The problem is not with the darkness - the problem is with the dim LIGHT.
The 'adults' are unequivocally you and I - The Church. We are the ones who know what is right, but have refused to do it. Instead, we have become commentators, and have adopted worldly principles instead of taking the lead and showing the world how to live. we have joined the rat race that leads no where.

"The world shall see your works, and give glory to your Father in heaven!"
The people can NOT see our prayer, fasting, church building, endless services, night vigils, tongues,..............the list is endless.
Why? Because they cannot see spiritual things. They are blind. They can only see physical things that they can relate with.

They can see our social development, they can see our giving to the poor, they can see our selflessness, they can see our exemplary leadership, they can see our resistance to corruption, they can see our CSR and Advocacy, They can see our Mushin makeover, they can see our educational institutions, they can see our honesty and integrity, they can see our desire to help them get a better life, they can see our dedication to our jobs, they can see our excellence on the job, they can see our attention to detail, they can see our respectful and intelligent children, they can see our outstanding academic performances, they can see our Harvard and MIT degrees, they can see our multi-billion dollar businesses built upon strong values, they can see our advanced innovative, creative and conceptual abilities, they can see our professional and clean dressing, they can smell our perfume, they can see our shining suits, they can see the beautiful cars we use for ministry and give away freely (not for oppressing them)..............the list is also endless.

2010 is a year to demonstrate the effects of being Xtians. We are the Church, and we will be held accountable for our Nation.