Crisis looms in drought-stricken Niger

The video by Al-Jazeera above is from their archives dated November 2008. But the situation in Niger today appears to be heading to a situation that may be worse than even the 2005 food shortage.

With poor rainfall, crop failure and exhausted food reserves across Niger and four months to go until the next harvest, there are mounting fears of a food crisis similar to the one of 2005 that affected thousands of children.

Africa's Sahel region is lurching towards a food crisis which the world has only weeks left to avert. Worsening conditions in the semi-arid belt which stretches across the southern Sahara - have seen malnutrition rates soar as families struggle to find enough food to eat.

It is now the start of the "lean season", the annual battle to survive from the end of one year's food stocks to the start of a new harvest. Baraka has brought her 13-month-old son, Abdul, to the health centre in Guidimouni. At 5.5 kg, he is acutely malnourished. He is also suffering from malaria. Abdul is one of the many children expected to need treatment for malnutrition in the coming months.

Even if more aid is pledged right now, the obstacles in getting succour to the most vulnerable and remote communities on the planet mean hundreds of thousands of children in Niger and Chad are already facing life-threatening hunger.

Aid workers say that any response now is already late because it takes some three months to get food to those that need it - by which time it will already be too later for some. But they say there is still time to reverse the situation before it becomes a more widespread disaster.

The presence of medical volunteers on the ground in Niger and a new government following the overthrow of a president who exacerbated the last crisis has meant that the local response has been far more pro-active than in 2005. But Niger is one of the world's poorest countries and outside resources are required to help it feed its starving.

Despite the fact that the United Nations and others now estimate a total 10 million people are at risk, the response from donors -- many of whom have already dug deep into their pockets this year for the Haiti earthquake - has been slow.

The UN already expects to treat 859,000 under-fives in the Sahel this season for severe malnutrition, the point at which a child faces an increased risk of disease or death.

(Source: BBC, UNICEF)

The President is Dead: Lessons to be Learnt

The President is dead! After a long and turbulent journey of ill health, Nigeria’s President Malam Umaru Musa Yar’Adua died on May 5, 2010. Until his death, Malam Umaru had not been seen in public since 23rd November 2009. That last day was when he flew to Saudi Arabia, where at that point, he was meant to perform the lesser Hajj as well as see his doctors.

However a few days after his arrival to Saudi, story leaked that Malam Umaru had been checked into a hospital. That was the beginning of Nigeria’s bewildering political expedition. The events that followed 23rd November were the most bizarre, confusing, shocking, disrespectful and pitiful in the contemporary history of Nigeria’s democracy.

Section 144 of the 1998 constitution stipulates that the President makes a written submission to the National Assembly informing them of his absence from duty. Before Malam Umaru left for Saudi no such letter was sent. That was the basis upon which all the intrigues and evil drama were scripted and played out. A constitutional crisis broke out.

Some called for Umaru to be impeached, others resisted. Some called for the Vice President to be automatically sworn in as substantive President, other kicked against it. The plot thickened with clandestine meetings held in the most unexpected places and destinations within and outside the country. The rumour mills frantically churned out unsubstantiated stories.

No one however is under any illusion that Nigeria is a complex country to rule. Neither is the notion of the non-shortage of talents disputed. So Nigeria does sometimes get to have visionary leaders.

Apparently Umaru was one of them. Some say his presidency held great potentials for the transformation of Nigeria but the success of his programmes and policies never came to fruition as he was continually hindered by ill health. Nonetheless Yaradua did make some measured gains. The main one being the Amnesty Programme of the Niger Delta which brought relative calm to the region that produces Nigeria’s cash.

In my interview with Nigeria’s new President Goodluck Jonathan (he was Acting President then) some 2 weeks ago in Washington DC, he admitted that the months that followed Umaru’s sick leave were the most challenging of his political career.

Goodluck Jonathan was not the only senior politician who owned up to the difficult and turbulent times Nigeria faced. The country’s then foreign minister Ojo Maduekwe told the BBC that Nigeria they might not have followed the right ways of tackling some of the issues that confronted the country. He too admitted that things were not going well for Nigeria.

Nigeria escaped being torn into shreds following a 1 minute BBC interview with ailing Umaru Yaradua. That interview effectively became the much needed “Section 144” of Nigeria’s constitution. Goodluck Jonathan became the Acting President. The action relatively doused political tension.

Journalism and journalists faced the greatest challenge in the country's recent history as information was outrightly denied, dubiously fabricated, maliciously manipulated and un-ingeniously managed. Special Media Advisers and PR Guru's misled Nigerians. The worst of the culprits were said to be those charged with the responsibility of managing President Umaru ‘Yaradua’s publicity.

All publicity surrounding President Umaru backfired as they were most unprofessionally handled. In the end the whole issue turned into a PR disaster, indeed a catastrophe. The victim was of course the bed-ridden, helpless man – the President.

But on Wednesday 5th May, He whom in whose hands Umaru’s life was, brought to a final end the suffering of the helpless President. Immediately after it happened, text messages flew across the world: The President is dead!

Veteran politician, former Lagos governor, AKA Baba Kekere, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, is quoted as having said that “the death of Yar’Adua is sad and I hope it will teach all of us a good lesson. He is a good man but unfortunately his political associates used his illness to play on the intelligence of Nigerians”.

Umaru’s remains was laid to rest in his own town, Kastina. The last 6 months must not be swept under the carpet. Some people should not only hold down their heads in absolute shame, but they must be disgusted with themselves for their outrages and unforgiving immature behavior.

I personally see everything surrounding late President Umaru’s illness and death as a personal tragedy. Personal tragedy for him in the sense that a “good, quiet, humble, unassuming” fellow had been turned into a political pawn by some mean, selfish individuals. At one point Umaru had even become a “hate-figure”.

Clearly, any decent human being will be engaged in deep reflection over all the unfortunate incidents that happened from 23rd November 2009 to 6th May 2010. Lessons must be learnt.

PDP: Dog Eat Dog Politics

Tragedy appears to be set to befall Nigeria’s ruling party, PDP. Vanguard, a local newspaper describes what is happening to PDP as “the story of a party perpetually steeped in crises and how the presidential aspiration of not a few is fuelling the present shambolism in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP”.

It goes on to make rather unsettling predictions on the party: the unfolding scenario in the polity especially in the family of this self acclaimed largest party in Africa is turning out to be a case of dog eat dog. The PDP Umbrella is once again threatened by the possibility of being shredded.

Last week, crisis in the party deepened following the suspension from the PDP of members of a splinter group, the Peoples Democratic Party Reform Forum, spearheaded by former Senate Presidents, Ken Nnamani, Adolphus Wabara, ex-Speaker Aminu Bello Masari, former Rivers State governor, Peter Odili.

The PDP Reform Forum says it aims to return the party to its founding ideals; re-engineer the party to make it more people-oriented (Peoples Democracy); be more creative in the generation of party funds; streamlining existing parallel structures in PDP states. But the million dollar question is, if these objectives will rid the party of internal monopoly and bullying why should ears of the Reform members be pulled?

Well, the answer is not that simple. The issue goes back to that same “case of dog eat dog”. If you are Nigerian you may understand it… But simply put it is a dirty power tussle characterized by shocking intrigues with no public interest at the heart of the jostlers.

As 2011 polls near, the questionable biggest party in Africa is heading for the rocks. Voters will decide if enough is enough and tear to shreds the alleged wet blanket the PDP has thrown over Nigeria since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1998.

Much A Do About Nothing?

Nigeria's Senate today approved 38 nominees for Acting President Goodluck Jonathan's new cabinet. The list does not include portfolios. That means re-appointed ministers may not necessarily return to their old jobs.

The Nigerian cabinet has more than 40 members, including ministers, ministers of state (junior ministers) and ministers in the presidency. A further list is expected to be sent for Senate approval to complete Jonathan's new team.

Jonathan dissolved the 42-member Cabinet on March 17, about a month after the National Assembly empowered him to become acting president in Yar'Adua's absence. It was seen as an effort to purge top officials loyal to Yar'Adua, though some were included in the new cabinet.

Unlike some thought, the Senate did not drop even a "fly" from the list that was sent to them. Initially there were rumours that some ministers would be dropped given the roles they played in the Yaradua/Goodluck push-and-shove political saga that had engulfed Nigeria since November last year.

Fiery ex-information minister Dora Akunyili was one of the couple that was said to face axing by the senior law makers. One Senator from North West Nigeria argued that she was “certainly not returning as minister.”

Another was ex-planning minister and an ex-Senator Sanusi Daggash, but whom his distinguished colleagues felt he had betrayed and disrespected them by slashing their budget when he was minister. The story was that they would teach him a lesson for what he did.

All the 38 FEC Club members were given the green! The approval did not come to some as a surprise though. After a loud hiss, one Abuja based "siddon-looker" told me, "rubbish, who told you they were going to drop any one on the list?" I asked him why. He replied, "Jamilah, I am shocked. You should know Nigeria better than that!"

I didn't exactly understand what he was insinuating, but what came across very strongly was the lack of excitement and disappointment over the whole ministerial appointment issue. From the look of things, it is an anti-climax to this man.

I hope it won't be for Nigerians.

Nigeria Will Shine

“Despite frantic moves by the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, to beat Acting President Goodluck Jonathan into political line over the composition of the new Executive Council of the Federation, EXCOF, the party appears to be losing out…

…Investigations reveal that the last visit by PDP National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, to Aso Rock…was to discuss with Jonathan on the need for the new EXCOF to have PDP outlook, a position which the governors are also canvassing. Jonathan’s men were, however, said to have rejected the idea…”

Above is how Vanguard a Nigerian daily reports the political horse-trading and wrangling that surrounds the appointment of a cabinet in Nigeria.

Being a minister in Nigeria is a highly profitable job – it opens doors to many things. Interests run deep and getting one's name on a potential ministerial list can be a do or die affair! Appointment to ministerial position in Nigeria is hardly about performance. It appears to be hardly about competence too.

Some may disagree, but before you do just that, let’s look at a dictionary definition of the word “competence”.

Competence is described as the acquisition of knowledge skills and abilities at a level of expertise sufficient to be able to perform in an appropriate work setting. So if for an example one was to be appointed to the position of a minister, the appointee must possess the required level of skills and expertise to perform the designated duties as effectively and efficiently as possible. Such an appointment will yield desired results. People's live will be touched.

At the moment one of the questions flying about as Mr Goodluck puts together a team that will run the affairs of Nigeria before the general elections early next year is: will the new team comprise of competent people who will bring about some significant improvement in the lives of Nigerians within such a limited period?

We scratch our heads. The reason being that the names that have so far made it to the list appear to be wives, cousins, nephews, friends, loyalists, ex-this, ex-that, etc. These people, argue pundits, will effectively constitute the “traditional square-pegs-in-round holes” sing-along FEC-attendees. The only glimmer of hope say some critics is one Goldman Sachs of London guy!

But don’t despair as Ayi Kwei Armah said in his book “The Beautiful Ones are Not Yet Born” it is from the depth of the manure that life springs forth. Much as I am pessimistic about the future of my country, I still believe that “one day go be one day”

....and Nigeria will shine.

Fret No More - President Wilson Was Ill Too!

"The patient is progressing most satisfactorily, so far, and I have good reasons to hope for a most beneficial result. It has been a big undertaking. . . . “

Sorry, this is not a line from Nigeria’s minister of information or indeed that of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s doctor. The line above was written by President Woodrow Wilson’s doctor way back when the President inner caucus tried pulling the wool over the eyes of Americans over their leader’s health.

It was almost certain that President Yar’Adua’s supporters would use the argument that Nigeria was not the first in the world to experience a very ill President; one who had been away from his duties for a prolonged period. They may have a point.

The health of a one-time US president was also under wraps and it was only recently that newly revealed documents show how Wilson's inner circle, including physician Grayson, right, tried to conceal his poor health, which preceded a major stroke in 1919. The 28th president was debilitated for the rest of his term, says Washington Post.

But that was way away in 1919 - the beginning of the last century. When there was no BBC sick-chambers-emanated interview with Mr Wilson.

Today in the cutting-edge age of technology, with the internet and mobile phones invading people’s privacy and providing second-by-second account of global events, taking a cue from the inner circle of ex-President Wilson may perhaps not be such a brilliant thing to do.

There’s fretting, there’s tossing and there turning. Yes, restlessness means the political juggernauts of Nigeria are having sleepless nights. Text messages won’t stop flying about from across the continents asking the question, “Have you seen who has seen him?”

Guest what people, the answer is, well, mmm, take a wild guess. There was a secrecy vow at the Villa which forbids aids to yap away “State secret”. So you may probably be fighting a lost battle.

But what about the beeb? Weren’t they there when the black box was lost in the middle of the Red Se until they found it in February 2010...and then boom! Section 144!

So, fret no more, I am sure the beeb will find this one again!

My Blog on BBC's Superpower Season

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/superpower/