My First Year!

Twelve months and seven days. How much longer shall the counting take? The 'heat' of holding public trust in an environment like our dear country makes one wonder. How much longer indeed. Would it be . . . or would it just be? It may be that one braces the tape in time for throwing-in the towel. It may be that the sweat will still be running down ones face. Maybes all the way. Yet truth has a way of catching up somehow.

It is not impossible to appreciate why things will be difficult. The twelve months seven days. It showed one how to deal with 'reality'. But what reality? How should reality be understood? Things that happen? Things that could have happened? Things that should have happened? Things that did not happen? Things that happened. What is reality? Confusing. No matter how one 'thinks', the reality will demand conformity, not utopia! Delightful, indeed. Delightful.

Surely change must begin. How? Change is constant. Change is inevitable. Should any change depend on 'majority'? Having their way. Having their say. Now, unless I am more confused than I thought, often enduring change begin with a majority of one - YOU!

Elections & Good Governance ala Nigeria

This funny feeling remains with me anytime I hear or read sentiments about 'free and fair' elections and how a good government (good governance) can evolve from it. How defeatist this really is. How would an election produce a good government if all the structure (institutions) of government are not good? Is it possible for a good person to be elected through a faulty electoral process? Remember, the actual election day event is only one out of many events that make up the electoral process. How would an election change the attitude of the people? Can a good election remove the deference shown the traditional institutions? Would a good election produce a government that can make people see the difference between government property and 'a free for all collection' that is always ready to be plundered? Is there a government indeed . . . !

Not a chance. No election can actually produce a good government. Good governance is a complete process. It is a lie to assume that an election can make for good governance.

INEC, Governors & the Law

So, eventually a court in Abuja says five states may not be part of the April Governorship elections. The five governors took oath of office and oath of allegiance twice since their first election in 2007. The big deal is that INEC said earlier these five states must join in the 2011 elections because of a constitutional amendment that says period spent in office by an incumbent returned after a by-election should count in determining his or her tenure of four years.

Is the Federal High Court saying the law cannot and should not be 'retroactive'? Is the constitutional 'alteration' actually retroactive? How soon can an appeal run through? Would we enjoy the privilege of a Supreme Court pronouncement? Ok, this is Nigeria. The days, though numbered, have a way of elongating themselves for Nigerians.