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Nigerian Arms Theft Incidence and Insecurity
Hadiza Wada, DBA …May 12, 2012
It will be hard for the former Obasanjo Administration to free itself from
various media reports and articles that have consistently charged that his was
an administration that clearly was anti North and most especially pitched
against the Muslim majority population. Most important of all, we now understand
that his administration was surely anti-Nigeria and must have deliberately led
the nation into the escalated insecurity quagmire witnessed today.
Full
Article
Why Global Reforms Must Succeed
Hadiza Wada, DBA
…April 21, 2012
The Foreign Conspiracy Angle
Nigerians across educational, political, and social lines [including across the age strata] have a uniform belief that foreign interference is a strong factor in the security challenges Nigeria faces. The popularity of that possibility is amazingly high even among the illiterate, whose diverse sources for information and current affairs worldwide provides them a window through which to analyze and gauge local possibilities. Full Article
Hadiza Wada, DBA …February 25, 2012
Many policies, actions, and pronouncements by the People’s Democratic Party [PDP] Administration, the first 1999-2007 and the present 2007 to date have resulted in denial of certain inalienable rights that every human being deserve. Because these basic and fundamental rights are important to any democratic entity, and they were some of the ones compromised in Nigeria, one should expect some form of tension leading to crisis. And without addressing at least most of these issues in some way, we could only expect escalation of Nigerian crisis. Full Article
Backgrounder: Nigerian Violence
Hadiza Wada, DBA
…December 31, 2011
Introduction
The extreme
and violent expression of dissent by whatever group i.e. bombing targets, and
for whatever reason [true or perceived] is quite new to Nigeria. It started barely one year ago. Before the Independence bombing of
October 1, 2010 political or religious differences used to be expressed with
lesser form of defiance ranging from communiques or group meetings at the most
peaceful end, to street demonstrations by people on the other. When things go out of hand in
the most extreme cases such as election years, such demonstrations may lead to
destruction of property, but hardly lives.
Washington’s Election Year Politics
Hadiza Wada, DBA
…Dec. 17, 2011
The Era of the Governed
Hadiza Wada, DBA
…November 26, 2011
Muslims, True Descendants of Abraham
Hadiza Wada, DBA …November 5, 2011
Today stands as one of the happiest days in Allah’s sight out of the 365 days
[of the year] for his human servants, as related by scholars of Islam. This happens as millions of His
direct worshippers stand on mount Arafat near the city of Makkah wrapped in
nothing but two simple pieces of cheap but clean white clothing, raising their
hands up in humility towards the sky praying directly to Him and seeking His
guidance, and for Him to forgive and cleanse them of all their inequities, and
grant them provision for this worldly life and the next.
Africa’s Tribute to One of its Greatest
Hadiza Wada, DBA
…October 22, 2011
Capital Punishment for Fake Medication
Hadiza Wada, DBA
…October 8, 2011
Capital
punishment should be introduced to take out all manufacturers of fake medication
caught in Nigeria; and an equal punishment or worse on those who connive to
import same into the country. The
reason is, such criminals play a key role in the death of multitudes of innocent
citizens and an equally critical role in the failure of the Nigerian Healthcare
system.
Book Launch: Towards the Restoration of Nigeria
Hadiza Wada, DBA
…September 24, 2011
The book “Towards the Restoration of Nigeria: Discussions and Analysis of Major Issues” authored by the writer Hadiza Wada was formally launched at Arewa House, Rabah Road Kaduna, former Northern Nigerian Regional Capital on Thursday September 22, 2011. In his speech at the occasion, and in line with the theme of the book, Dr. Kabir Mato from the University of Abuja pointed at various developmental hindrances. Full Article
Backgrounder: Gaddafii
Hadiza Wada, DBA
…August 20, 2011
As the news
about the imminent end of the Gaddafi regime in Libya makes rounds, we bring to
you some background information about the man; Gaddafi [Arabic, Qaddafi]. Libya
has been experiencing a bout of uprising since February 2011, a somewhat
regional uprising sparked largely by youths, which began in Tunisia and has been
sweeping many Arab nations beginning late last year.
Full
Article
Boko Haram and its implications
Hadiza Wada, DBA …August 6, 2011
Positive Roles for Private Enterprises
Hadiza Wada, DBA …July, 23, 2011
Debating the Economy
Hadiza Wada, DBA …July 16, 2011
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Pickthall eloquently clarified the values that Islam holds, which are contrary to the contemporary norms. He argues that Islam aims at improving the individual while seriously building a |
brotherhood that is held strong by common values of love, respect, and care for our fellow beings. We want to state clearly also, that he is arguing from the perspective of the text of the re ligion itself, not the actions of its followers then, or even now. As we argued in our earlier article, though Muslims seem to be overwhelmingly and by a greater percentage the most successful in putting into practice what their holy book contains, followers of the religion have also been steadily moving away from the religious teachings and the influence it has on their actions. Full Article
The Spirit of Egypt Spoke
Hadiza Wada, DBA
For almost three weeks, the world was gripped with the Egyptian protests, which culminated with the resignation of the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Friday. What many people have been asking as soon as the protesters announced victory, was; now what? Much of the answers may lie in what Egypt has been, and what it would like to become, as envisioned by its teeming young generation. According to authentic demographic figures, about one third of the Egyptian population of 80 million is 14 years and below. And only 4% of its population is above the age of 65 years. Full Article
Public Rights to Credible Governance
Hadiza Wada, DBA …February 5, 2011
Deliberate lying, especially when done to cheat, violate and or take away what rightfully belongs to a community and then squander it somewhere else where it was not meant to go, or does not belong is in itself wrong, even if the person who performed the act did not benefit from his wrong doing. What makes it even worse on the moral and ethical continuum, of course, is when the actor or performer of the act comes to directly benefit from that which he took away, stole, misapply or embezzle. Full Article
The effect of Elevating Satan’s rank
Hadiza Wada, DBA ...January 22, 2011
We had talked about the elevation of the status of Satan previously, without
expounding on that subject matter.
We will today tell you why that is key to understanding the weakening of the
moral bearing of those who hold that view, when it comes to the ability and
willingness to hold themselves in check, stressing acting righteously on the one
hand and firmly rejecting the spread of wrong conduct in any community on the
other. By acting thus we can
objectively agree that one has rejected that part of religious history that our
religious emissaries of scriptural religions have all taught, including his.
Full Article
Hadiza Wada, DBA ...December 24, 2010
If there is anything that makes conspiracy theories about the twin tower attacks believable it is the many legislations and acts that were literally forced through the U. S. Congress in rapid succession in the early years of the twenty first century that made it literally impossible to adequately deliberate and debate them before passing them into law. A more convincing reason to question the motive of such laws is the way they are being enforced where, for example, convicted felons have been used in FBI entrapment of law abiding U S citizens as well as immigrants who mostly fall within the protected populations under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Full Article
Backgrounder: Cote d’Ivore
Hadiza Wada, DBA …December 11, 2010
Hadiza Wada, DBA ...November 27, 2010
The Commemoration of Eid
Hadiza Wada, DBA …November 20, 2010
Keeping The Issues in Focus
Hadiza Wada, DBA
…November 13, 2010
When the cult of fear takes hold, no one knows where it will strike next. It is for such reasons that people will have to find ways to keep the issues in focus. We have carried on our pages an in-depth analysis of the manipulation of the greater society through image creation and/or destruction. In other words the use of media propaganda to paint grim images away from the reality that the manipulators detest. Recently in the United States, the ultra conservatives are banking once again on old age dogmas to evoke fear. We have heard alot about such words like “Socialism.” The Democratic Party’s efforts to come up with much needed legislations such as the healthcare reform, for example, has been described by the conservatives as socialism. Full Article
Backgrounder: United
States Election
With three days ahead of us to the
Tuesday Election, we again write in the hopes of further informing our readers
of some basics before the actual elections.
Our article from last week may sound too simplistic, because it stressed
one factual side of the argument.
But as you may have seen across the screens of your TV sets as well as heard on
radio from many news sources within the last few weeks, the battle for
nationwide legislative seats and gubernatorial seats across many states of the
United States was no joke. Each
party has been busy and fighting hard for those seats, even as polls continue to
sound upbeat for the Republicans and discouraging for Democratic voters.
Americans Head to the Polls in Ten Days
Hadiza Wada, DBA ...October 23, 2010
Democrats, the nation’s President also a Democrat, and most of other high ranking members of the government are busy doing all they can to mobilize their voters in the final days of campaigning for midterm elections. They are working very hard because most polls suggest significant gains by Republicans in the upcoming elections. But the question is, is it unusual for congressional make up of both parties to undergo significant changes in midterm elections? Is the outcome of the elections a decisive measure of the effectiveness of the Obama Administration? Looking at past records of the balance of power in the capital Washington D.C., the Congress and the President have most of the time been at odds; that is, the same political party has not typically controlled the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives at the same time. Full Article
While politics everywhere is just that politics, the way it is being played in Nigeria is not only pathetic, but it leaves much to be desired, especially given that personal interest has overshadowed national interest by far. Truths are hard to come by, because a greater majority of the Nigerian press is largely irresponsible. The national debate has been held hostage too, making many feel disgusted by the political climate in the country. The Nigerian political climate, for example, is presently heated following the recent explosions that occurred during the Nigerian Independence celebrations. Full Articles
Nigeria: The Way Forward
Hadiza Wada, DBA ...October 2, 2010
The 50 years of post independence governance of the nation has been celebrated. What exactly do we see as issues that have hindered the nation’s progress; and in what ways can we address them. Below are some of our observations:
Politics Not a Career: Ideally, Politics and political participation should not be a career. In countries where democracy has been practiced for more than a century, people who usually find themselves looking forward to contesting for positions either in the legislature or executive are those who come from other professional careers, e.g. Lawyers, community activists, professors, doctors. Others come from private companies, who have garnered years of managing monetary and human resources, who however feel that a need exists within government for the specialized skills that they have. Then they move into politics, pointing at problems they have observed and how they feel they can contribute in solving them. Full Article
Hadiza Wada, DBA ...September 25, 2010
Nigeria
celebrates its 50th anniversary Friday October 1, 2010. It has been fifty
years since native Nigerians took the reigns from the British Colonial
government. Together with many other nations of Africa, Nigeria is marking
a half century of self-government. The Nigerian capital city of Abuja is
already in the mood for celebrating the 50th Independence anniversary. For
many who know the city well, the congestion plus the colorful attire you see
on the streets, especially in the vicinity of Eagle Square reminds you about
the upcoming grand celebration pegged for October 1, 2010.Full
Article
Hadiza Wada, DBA …September 18, 2010
The unbelievable stories about the rate of heinous religious and ethnic incited massacre of innocent citizens commuting along the Plateau State highways on their way to or from Nigeria’s capital (Abuja) or Kaduna need the most urgent and decisive attention from the Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria. No commander-in-chief should neglect such routine breach of security, or else rest while the citizens who look up to him by right to be protected from harm and loss, come under such drastic challenges to their lives and property on a regular basis. Full Article
The world’s attention has been focused on the threat issued by a Florida Pastor, Terry Jones, to burn copies of the Holy Quran today, the ninth anniversary of the World Trade Center attack. Though cancelled last minute it did have an impact on the annual anniversary event in New York. The plan announced much earlier which at first did not draw much national attention, soon did after the U S Top Army Commander in Afghanistan General David Petraeus commented on it, citing it as a move that may pose a threat to serving U S troops abroad especially in Afghanistan. Full Article
Hadiza Wada, DBA ...September 4, 2010
In
both religious and legal arena, we know that the established laws judge
people’s actions based on the intention of the actor. In legal circles
almost universally, the laws (at least in the books) clearly specifies
that people get convicted only if they intended the act for which they
have been accused of committing.
In
Nigerian Politics unfortunately, it is beyond doubt that majority of
contestants for leadership positions, begin with the wrong intention in
mind. It usually begins primarily with a strong drive to achieve their
unfulfilled ego;
the
crave for power and wealth. Full
Article
This article is a reprint from exactly a year ago. It appeared as an Editorial on this publication August 29, 2009. We really commend the House for overwhelmingly rejecting the bill seven months later, in March 2010. The timing of the vote is what we take exception to.
Recently a news item caught my eye, and made me wonder what is happening on the ground regarding the Land Use Act that is presently in the process of being amended. What I read was that all state governments in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Authority have endorsed a bill that will strip them of power over land allocation procedures in their localities. Full Article
Reports
of massive expenditures by the current Nigerian government pricks the
mind, making one come to the conclusion about the possibility that the
Nigerian President may have embarked on a plan to deplete the national
treasury in case he does not get a longer tenure to do the same. As we
have impressed earlier in one of our articles, we did not forget that a
struggle over pruning the 2010 budget proposal, in light of the economic
realities, was one of the last battles that the late Umar Musa Yar’adua
led government had to fight with his own party and
governmental branches.
Full Article
The
moral and political courage to do the right thing at the right time is
what separates effective governments (administrations) from mediocre or
failing ones. We mentioned and discussed the issue briefly in last week’s
piece about our book (Towards The Restoration of Nigeria), while
describing how the book viewed Nigerian political challenges. A clear
demonstration of that position occurred just yesterday and we thought it
wise to use that occasion to further impress our argument. President Obama
demonstrated such courage while announcing his strong support Friday
August 13, 2010 for the approval by city officials to construct a $100
Million Mosque within walking distance of ground zero, the former location
of the New York Twin Towers.
Full Article
Towards the Restoration of Nigeria:
Our New Book
Hadiza Wada, DBA ...August 7, 2010
This is an interview conducted in the process of putting together a “Book Trailer.” A book trailer video is an increasingly popular way of capturing and promoting a newly released book.
Q: I think the most curious thing is the title of your book itself. So when you say Restoring Nigeria, does that imply that the nation has broken down or is tattered in some way?
Author: The title was a process of wider discussions with others in an effort to capture the essence of the book. But to answer your question directly, we will just delude ourselves when we assume that Nigeria is a healthy nation growing at a healthy rate. And this is not just our opinion. The most basic of people’s rights continue to be denied Nigerians. The nation is deteriorating at a fast rate. Health, education, portable water and simple electricity, you name them. Just recently after South Africa was able to become the first African nation to impress FIFA and the world to host world cup, the Netherlands team who felt so enthused on reaching the world cup finals decided to travel by road across the continent. The team further snubbed Nigeria big time when they chose not to travel through it, citing Nigeria’s insecurity as a reason. Full Article
Heads
of governments from more than 49 countries converged at Kampala, the
capital of Uganda for a summit which took place from July 19 - 27. Though
the theme was maternal and child health, the summit discussed many issues
and consequently issued a communiqué where some major decisions were
highlighted. For example on the issue of security, the communiqué says
“the Assembly welcomes the efforts deployed by the AU and the Regional
Economic Communities for Conflict Prevention, Management and
Resolution...”
Full Article
The
Obama Administration has reached another milestone in its struggle to put
the nation back on sound financial footing, with the signing of a new
banking and consumer protection bill Wednesday. You may recall that the
U.S. financial challenges emerged immediately after the election of
President Barack Obama, but even before he took office. Since then, one
strategy after another has been employed to deal with the issue. Today,
most of the immediate threats to the economy have gradually waned, though
most financial analysts including those within the administration believe
the nation is not out of the woods yet.
Full Article
In
any legal tussle, there is a judgment that settles the issue, and one that
settles it justly. The first resolves it temporarily leaving the tension
intact only to resurface later; and the other ensures that the settlement
is just, allowing the matter to rest for good.
Denying the
nation a just and lasting solution to rotational presidency by any
individual, institution or group of people is not only unjust, but
hypocritical and unbecoming of any one bold enough to call himself a
leader. Why should the nation be confined to the two alternatives the
politicians are imposing on the nation, i.e. between the abandonment of
rotational presidency and its continuance?
Full Article
Recently,
the Minister of Petroleum announced that the Nigerian National Petroleum
Cooperation (NNPC) is resuming oil exploration in the northern part of the
country. The oil presently mined comes from fields in the South-south zone
that borders the Atlantic Ocean with increasing exploitation of offshore
wells. This is not the first time an attempt is made to explore oil in the
North. All the recent explorations have been in the Northeast with the
last one stopped abruptly in 1999 by the Obasanjo administration after
only three trial wells were drilled.
Full Article
It is with humility, and immense gratitude to God for making this endeavor possible that we announce the completion and premier of our soon to be released book titled Towards the Restoration of Nigeria: Discussions and Analysis of Major Issues. The timing could not have been better too, as Nigeria prepares for another round of elections. The main goal, is in line with that of our weekly magazine “The Optimist Voice,” i.e. to inspire, motivate and subsequently inculcate a proactive and participative citizenry willing to speak up for the greater good of the country and its people. Details
Hadiza Wada, DBA
... June 26, 2010
The
return to democratic dispensation in Nigeria should be a blessing for a
nation long held hostage by rule of the military, whose very own training
is not to use diplomacy and soft measures for addressing problems. It
should have been so for everyone, but alas the whole nation continues to
face various challenges based on how for these eleven years since the
inception of the current round of democratic rule, things have gone out of
control several times. The promise of peace after attaining democracy
continues to elude the nation. People have been
loosing their lives in large numbers for a
decade.
Full Article
![[product thumbnail]](http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab343/umru6/bookcover.jpg)
There are many
perspectives with which one can view a situation or event. Some things
appear on the surface to be useless, while in actual fact they are of great
value, more than one can simply comprehend. While some others have all the
glitter and seem to attract everyone with eyes on the glitters of life,
while in actual fact the real value may not be up to par with what you can
readily see.
In
attempting to spotlight the reasons behind police inefficiency which is not
particular to Nigeria alone, but many third world countries and African
nations in general, we will examine the causes as described by empirical
studies. One very useful study was conducted by Alice Hills and published
by The Journal of Modern African Studies in its September, 2007
issue. The study is titled “Police commissioners, presidents and the
governance of security.” The study, informed by earlier studies that pinned
the major problem to governance of the force, observed and recorded
situations from four different countries of Africa, namely Ghana, Zimbabwe,
Kenya and Uganda. The findings were similar across the board, with the
difference primarily being the extent or intensity of the problem being more
pronounced in one country than another.
All
three religions (Godly) have strong roots in Africa. They are not imports,
as generally believed. Following historical records closely, they appear to
be offshoots of a continent that has for thousands of years been in a quest
for a sense of higher power (We covered that in our