NIGERIAN LEADERSHIP IS A FAILURE, BEMOANS HILLARY CLINTON?

On Tuesday January 26, 2010 on her first anniversary as the United States of America Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, in a question and answer town-hall styled session, addressed so many subjects, including Nigeria. The venue was the Dean Acheson Auditorium in Washington, DC.

Responding to the intractable Nigerian question, Secretary Clinton said, "The failure of the Nigerian leadership over many years to respond to the legitimate needs of their own young people, to have a government that promoted a meritocracy, that really understood that democracy can't just be given lip service, it has to be delivering services to the people, has meant there is a lot of alienation in that country and others. The rate of illiteracy is growing, not falling, in a country that used to have a very high rate of literacy in Africa. The health statistics are going the wrong direction. The corruption is unbelievable," adding that "when I did a town hall in Abuja, people were just literally standing and shouting about what it was like to live in a country where the elite was so dominant, where corruption was so rampant, where criminality was so pervasive." "I do think that Nigeria faces a threat from increasing radicalisation that needs to be addressed, and not just by military means. There has to be recognition that in the last 10 years, a lot of the indicators about quality of life in Nigeria have gone the wrong direction" .

Icheoku says, well-said Madam Secretary of State; and notes that this doubling-down on Nigeria is coming barely a year after she had dubbed the sadistic pathetic situation in Nigeria as "heartbreaking." Yes, a pathetic and sadistic situation which the British had foisted and helped to sustain since Independence in 1960; using the apparatus of the less qualified and very incompetent Hausa-Fulani northern Nigerian Islamists to keep Nigeria as is, down and under? Icheoku says, Madam Secretary, may be your government can re-start a Nigeria in doldrums by first breaking the British-stranglehold on the country alongside their exploitative 'mercenary-love' for Nigeria; a Britain which is in it for what they can get out of it and not interested in seeing a grown-up Nigeria come to stay? May be if Britain could be made to stay clear of Nigerian politics and economy, completely butt out and allow meritocracy to take root in Nigeria, may be all the good brains in Diaspora and within, can begin to turn things around therein and deliver within a record time? Also, may be your government can consider placing travel ban on all past and present Nigerian leaders starting from Independence and ask Britain and France to join in the effort. That way those rogue-leaders will be forced to stay back in Nigeria and fix what is broken of a country on tethers; and instead of frequently running off to your country as well as Europe to enjoy the comforts therein, using looted money to pay for it while at the same time, starving off development in Nigeria; they will be forced to really feel how bad things are in Nigeria and then begin to ask the "how do we fix it" question? Also there are millions of dollars worth of real properties and other investments owned by these leaders in your country as well as in Europe which can be confiscated and auctioned off, and their proceeds repatriated back to the Nigerian people, the rightful owners and for their beneficial use.

The simple panacea is to drain the swamp - make it impossible for these Nigerian leaders so called, to enjoy their looted assets from the Nigerian state, anywhere in the world. By not allowing them to visit your country or Europe on vacations, seek medical services/treatments, bring their children to study from kindergarten to University levels, maintain bank accounts, buy and live in homes, as well as other indulgences which they have deprived Nigerians, a definite message will be sent to their hearing. As you may recall, the northern Nigerian terrorists' father bought a $4million dollar home for his terrorist son's comfort in Oxford Circus London? If you can persuade your government to do these things, then Nigerians will know that the formerly colluding West are now serious about fighting corruption in Nigeria, which will in turn speed up a Nigeria's rebirth? But until these measures are implimented, wherein these crass leadership can really feel the pinch, it will remain to them just another "running of the mouth" or "lecturing" by American official? These Nigerian leaders have no shame, they are tone-deaf and are queuing up as we speak, for visas to travel out of Nigeria to their various paradise-homes in Europe and North America; while Nigeria goes to hell in a hand's basket? Just cage them and force them to remain in their Nigeria and Nigeria will, as a matter of urgency, begin to turn the corner! Until that end of time miracle happens, Icheoku can only commend your speaking out on the subject of pandemic corruption in Nigeria; while urging the European Union to see the need to allow Africa to grow up and thrive. European Union should leave Africa alone and not continuously dictate to them how and who should run things therein; and help Africa fight the war on corruption, by simply adopting these cut-off measures.