Introduction I need to take a short break from my weekly commentary on Nigeria's power struggle to address a global and broader theme--that of state reform within and across countries. While the article would first appear to be targeted at my … [Continue reading]
What is your citizenship worth?
Introduction Against the backdrop of the on-going dialogue on the essence and structure of the Nigerian state, I have decided to reproduce a revised version of the paper that I presented last June on the value of our country's citizenship. Though … [Continue reading]
Nigeria, Time for change!
This is not the topic that I had chosen to write about this week. I had planned to move away from the increasingly boring debate on the 2015 power play and focus instead on something really exciting—like a no-holds barred assessment of Nigeria’s … [Continue reading]
On GEJ’s Rebuttal to OBJ’s Open Letter
I saw it coming. I had predicted in my last post that ex-President Obasanjo's open letter to President Jonathan would not go unanswered. And answered it was earlier this week. Although the sitting President's self-appointed media consultants had … [Continue reading]
The Mandela Legacy: an inspiration or a millstone?
Twenty years after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Nelson Rolihlalala Mandela, finally joined his ancestors. Madiba, as he was fondly known, died last Thursday, the 5th day of December 2013. As to be expected when a colossus passes on, the earth … [Continue reading]
Open letters, trust deficit, and red herrings
What a week it was! First, Nigeria's former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, sent an open letter to the current President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, carpeting the later for various misdeeds. Then, as readers were still digesting the content of the … [Continue reading]
INEC and 2015: planning for tomorrow’s trouble today!
I. An Overview of Nigeria's Electoral Management Challenges As 2015 approaches, Nigeria must brace itself for the difficult challenges ahead. Political parties, opinion leaders, and other stakeholders must start in earnest to anticipate and … [Continue reading]
You want change? Start with yourself!
In an earlier blog (https://balogunjide.net/people-driven-constitution-nigeria-yes-open-ended-dialogue/), I argued the case for a constitution that is drafted with the knowledge and consent, and preferably, under the supervision, of the People. The … [Continue reading]
To rig or not to rig: these are the 2015 questions
Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari is in the news again. Never one to pass up the opportunity to galvanize foes and embarrass friends, the leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force /NDPVF, chose the occasion of his release from police detention in … [Continue reading]
A People-Driven Constitution for Nigeria? Yes! Open-ended Dialogue? No!
President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to establish the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue (hereafter referred to as the “Dialogue Committee” or “the Committee”) has generated a lot of reactions, some positive, others negative, yet … [Continue reading]