Vision 2023: @obyezeks, the best option for the south east! By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Have you ever thought of Nigeria giving the south east the opportunity to produce the next president? If no, why?

Have you ever thought of Nigeria giving a woman the opportunity to become the president, especially after 55 years of men dominance? If no, why?

Following the attempt of secession by Biafra in 1967, which brought about the infamous and highly criticized Nigeria-Biafra civil war (July 1967- Jan 1970) and its disastrous effects on the stability on the country, given the bitterness of the war, the restoration of peace and the reintegration of the Igbos into Nigerian life were pertinent. However, since the war was over in 1970, either knowingly or unknowingly, intentionally or by coincidence, no one from the south eastern part of the country has held the highest position of the land.

Nigeria, divided into 6 geopolitical regions; North East, North West, North Central, South South, South East and South West, has after the civil war produced at least one president from each of the region except from South East and North East. The North generally has had more chances so this piece is about the South East.

Nigeria @ 55: I Choose To Remain Hopeful! By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

On Thursday, 1^st October, 2015, Nigeria turns 55. That is quite a milestone, in terms of age. But in terms of achievements, she falls far below her peers with Malaysia (1963) and Singapore (1965) miles ahead of her.

Just imagine Nigeria as a 55 year old human being, with only 10 years left before retirement, the situation will be dire if not bleak. What does she have to show for the many years of running round in circles?  It means the only investments she can boast of; are the many times she spent at the bar on alcoholic beverages, getting drunk and eating away her beauty. Ending up in a bad shape, like a malnourished child in an abandoned displaced refugee camp.

Nigeria gained her independence from the United Kingdom in the year 1960. 1960, is referred to as the Year of Africa, because of a series of events that took place during the year, especially the independence of seventeen African nations that highlighted the growing Pan-African sentiments in the continent. The year brought about the culmination of African independence movements and the subsequent emergence of Africa as a major force in the United Nations. These rapid political developments led to speculation and hope about the future of Africa as a whole.

Nigeria: Learning From The Aylan Kurdi's Tragedy By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Few weeks ago, Aylan Kurdi became the face of the unfolding human suffering.

It took a horror story about a truck full of corpses in Austria, and a poignant photo of a drowned child- Aylan Kurdi, to raise the pity of the world.

Who could not have been moved by the picture of this little boy whose father risked his life and the lives of his family, in search of a better life somewhere in Europe? The Kurdis were not sure how, but they needed to leave Bodrum, Turkey, and get to Kos, Greece, with its promise of a life free of war.

Unfortunately, that was not to be. Aylan Kurdi’s lifeless body washed up onto the shore of one of Turkey’s fashionable beaches as a grim reminder of how unjust and ephemeral life truly is.

For the past months, the refugee crisis has been building in Europe and European Union leaders have seemed divided and at a loss as to how to deal with it. Not since World War II has the world seen such a movement of people in search of safety. The International Organization for Migration has been consistently calling for those fleeing war-zones, dictatorship and devastation to be treated with dignity and within the bounds of international law. Yet, there is very little dignity when men, women and children risk their lives to cross the Mediterranean in search of a home and die in rickety boats operated by ruthless smugglers. Images of men and women being numbered as they reach Lampedusa, Italy, show the stark reality of life as a modern-day refugee or asylum-seeker; the loss of a name and identity, only the number, marking one out as someone ‘processed’ and ‘captured’ by a system which seems to be buckling under political, social and financial pressure.

Before Governor Tanko Al-Makura Descends Into Tyranny… By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

On Saturday, 12 September 2015, the news of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura assaults on a road user went viral. After the security operatives attached to his convoy allegedly beat up a road user, damaged her vehicle and destroyed her phones and iPad.

The road user; Ms Lois Lorvihi was traveling through Lafia, the capital of Governor Makura’s Nassarawa, with her younger sister, Joi and her brother Jerry, on their way from Makurdi to Abuja.

From the statements issued by both the accuser and the defendant, it was clear that there was a confrontation between Ms Lois Lorvihi and the governor. It was clear that both of them were at the junction where the said incident happened. It was evident that Governor Al-Makura`s convoy was behind Ms Lois Lorvihi.

What`s not clear in all of these is whether the lady intentionally stood in the middle of the road or perhaps slowed down because of the sharp bend after the bypass at Nasarawa-Eggon.

However, the issue of if the lady had intentionally obstructed the convoy of the governor could have been addressed if the governor had taken the right approach to it. Beating up a road user or a traffic offender is not the right way to go. It`s barbaric, not democratic and shameful! There are legal frameworks clearly stipulated against any road abusers and traffic obstructors.

#100DaysOfChange: A Magnificent Go Slow! By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Barely one month after Muhammadu Buhari was inaugurated as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he was tagged “Baba Go Slow”. Ask me why? Because he decided to address the cumbersome nature of Nigeria`s challenges in a different way. He promised change and has changed his tactics from the usual way that has brought us down and failed us. Since what has been tagged the “norm” has failed us in the last 16 years of democracy, it was important for him to do things differently. He has delayed in appointing members of his cabinet as contrary to the way it`s being done before now that has ended up in failure. He`s taking his time to dissect each Ministry, Department and Agency in the view on taking the right decision on them.

Meanwhile, ask those that tagged him “Baba Go Slow” secretly if they have not started experiencing the change he promised? They might tell you No still, not because the change is not there but because they chose not to see it.

Open Letter To President Buhari: Sir, You May Have To Dissolve The Peace Council By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Your Excellency Sir,

This is the first open letter I will be writing to you since your inauguration as the President and Commander In Chief of The Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I will go straight to the point and won`t bug you with the facts and figure that you already know. Right now, you have become facts and figures yourself and there is no information that you are not preview to.

Sir, those that voted you and believe in you hold you in high esteem because of your level of integrity, discipline and courage in handling issues. Since you became the president, you have painstakingly taken your time to take every decision you have made. You have deliberately not appointed your ministers and other members of your cabinet because you want the best hands and less partisan Nigerians to work with you.

As you will recall Sir, the reasons why Nigerians voted en-masse for you are for you to wage war against corruption, recover stolen funds from corrupt person or group of persons that have plundered the nation and for you to reposition the nation on the path of excellence. These are the things they believe you can do which informed their decisions to vote for you. This is the more reason I believe you have been careful of the caliber of people you place in sensitive positions and in committees.

However, you are human, and the very fact that you are mortal makes you inevitable to mistakes. But it is one thing to make a mistake; it is another thing to keep making it.

Local Production of Arms: A Mission Long Overdue. By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

It is impossible to imagine a world without needs. The history of mankind is the history of his efforts to satisfy his needs. All the discoveries and inventions of science are a proof of man's urge to solve his problems.

Hence, when man feels the pinching need of anything, he begins to think of how he can satisfy his needs. He then sets his mind to the task of invention. Necessity gives the first impulse; the rest is the work of the intellect. The world is changing every day, and we must adapt ourselves to our changing needs and keep pace with them.

We actually may not have seen the need to revive the dead, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) before now. But as the terror of the deadliest terrorist sect- Boko Haram continues and the refusal of the US to sell weapons to us persists, there are many reasons for us to see the urgent need why we should produce our weapons ourselves.

In 1964, an Act of Parliament established the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON). It is to operate the ordnance factories for the manufacture and supply of arms and ammunition, as well as inspecting, testing and recommending ordnance materiel intended for use by the Armed Forces and other security organizations. The first Technical Partner of DICON was Fritz Werner (FW). FW designed and built the Kaduna Ordnance Factories with the production capacities of, 5,000 units of BM 59 Rifles per annum, 18,000 units of SMG 12 per annum, 12,000,000 rounds of 7.62mm x 51 per annum and 4,000,000 rounds of 9mm x 19 per annum.