POVERTY AND TERRORISM



CORRUPTION, POVERTY AND TERRORISM

Nigeria is the biggest oil exporter in Africa, yet its population are amongst the poorest on earth because of state corruption. ~ Injustice Facts

“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity; it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that generation. Let your greatness blossom.” ~ Nelson Mandela.

Poverty like corruption and terrorism are a global scourge, poverty is believed to be directly or indirectly responsible for many of today’s evils; Armed Robbery, Prostitution, Kidnapping, Drug Peddling/Abuse, Human Trafficking, Rituals, Terrorism etc. but like the late Global Statesman Nelson Mandela pointed out, Poverty is Man-made.

Many have commended President Goodluck Jonathan’s Economic policies and have acknowledged that the Nation has taken a bold leap in the right direction and that in the nearest future our Nation will be among the Great economies in the World. But it will take concerted effort on the part of all stakeholders; The Private, Corporate, Local, State and the Federal Government to make that happen. There lies my skepticism.

The adoption of President Jonathan as the PDP's sole Candidate in next year’s Presidential Election, seems to have opened the flood gate to a season of Adoptions. But there are Questions; what are the indices that make an incumbent or aspirant qualified for adoption? Will political expediency take the back sit at the expense of quality and past record? Does the Party have a Structure in place to measure performance? Who decides that a candidate deserves Adoption – the select few or the People the Party tout that has the Power?

In spite of our grandstanding and self adulation as a party we need to take a critical look at our performance in the past sixteen (16) years as the Party in Power. “Most of our Platitudes notwithstanding, self-deception remains the most difficult deception. The tricks that work on others count for nothing in that very well-lit back alley where one keeps assignations with oneself: no winning smiles will do here, no prettily drawn lists of good intentions.” ~ Joan Didion

Jesus asked his disciples; “Who do people say I am?” in a follow up question, he asked “But who do you say I Am? Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe a Former Minister and Governorship Aspirant under the PDP in Delta State said “Almost Ninety-Nine percent of followers are sycophants; it takes wisdom to filter the voice of the genuine One percent from the Ninety-Nine.” What is that valuable One percent saying about our achievements as a Party?

Supporters of Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, Governor of Delta State including myself continue to harp that His Excellency is a performing Governor who is set to finish strong; but the nay sayers are saying the reality on ground is different. Road is one infrastructure that touches on the life of all in the society. Good roads are a necessary prerequisite for development in any State, they point out that all the roads His Excellency proposed for dual carriageway, none has been completed and that almost all inter-City and intra-City roads in the State are various stages of disrepair, the Delta Beyond Oil campaign is a mere Slogan, the State Independent Power Project (IPP) is mired in controversy and that all the projects he completed where those started by his predecessor Chief James Ibori. They call him the Schools Renovation Governor, but I think that is harsh.

These voices insist it’s the same tale in many PDP ruled States. I don't think the opposition fare better in this regard though, but they say “we need more Akwa Ibom and Lagos States in order for us to achieve our long desired greatness as a Nation.” They question if Dr. Uduaghan has the moral justification to anoint a successor? And be granted a VIP pass to the Senate as Speculated, with the reality on ground?

Will Senators and members of the House of Representatives who had defrauded the people by pocketing the constituency Project allocation http://tinyurl.com/pbprvmt be entitled to automatic adoption like Mr. President? I hear Senate President Mark has already secured his Adoption. Our party the largest Party in Africa needs very serious self evaluation.


Studies show that terrorism is a pretty rewarding business. Terror groups such as; The Taliban, Hezbollah, FARC, Hamas, Al Shabaab, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and ISIS are all Multi Billion and Million Dollar organizations and despite world leaders continues sing song that these groups do not represent Islam, a recent report states the contrary; “It bears repeating that much of the revenue listed above, with the exception of FARC’s drug money, originate from traditional Islamic revenues sources such as Zakat, Sadaqa, Khums, and Ushr, rather than from “secular,” criminal activity.” Many experts attribute the success of Boko Haram to extreme poverty in the North.

But as Nelson Mandela pointed out, “……..Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that generation. Let your greatness blossom.” The PDP must move beyond rhetoric and work to reverse all ugly practices that accentuate poverty in the Land. To achieve greatness we must address extreme poverty.


The PDP must strengthen internal democracy by ensuring that the process that produces candidates for elections are Free, Fair and Transparent, only credible candidates must emerge. The party as a matter of urgency as part of its self evaluation process set up committees with credible Nigerians (Yes there are still Credible Nigerians) in each state to measure performance and sanctions erring officials. “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi  

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