Constitutional Amendments Are Better Than National Conferences

Constitutional Amendments Are Better Than National Conferences By: Paul I. Adujie New York, USA June 19, 2003 I have watched the renewed debate in connection with the so-called National Conference with complete amazement and incredulity! I had assumed that the elections and the inaugurations that followed would end these political grandstanding and hot air, sound and furies that all amount to nothing of substance! Nigeria currently has Senators and House of Representative Members for all the states of our federation? Let them be the conferees! What is more representative and democratic than Nigeria's National Assembly already duly constituted? What section of the Nigerian constitution provides for SNC? Why will any Nigerian and any person for that matter think the National Assembly incapable of resolving Nigeria's political, economic, social or constitutional reform? What exactly then is their job description? Why do some Nigerians seem to think the so-called sovereign national conference is a panacea to the crises? I strongly believe that the way forward is Constitutional Reforms through Amendments this will be a reform of the rules and processes that could sustain our nation for 400 years or more, this as opposed the hogwash and slipshod of a national conference day-dream! A Sovereign National Conference is an ad-hoc measure, a stop-gap, that would not endure, its a band aid/bandage to a gaping wound, it will amount to a waste of time and resource and it will surely produce more anger and disaffection and hotel bills! Democratizing Nigeria requires hurrying slowly! Let us reform the constitution, the laws, the rules and processes and democracy will take firm roots! We should continue to oppose ad-hoc measures, including the fabled SNC! Because, Constitutional Amendments Are Better Than Political Conferences that will just satisfy a clique of Nigeria elite that have been demanding SNC. There has been a stampede and shrill shouting marathons orchestrated by the advocates of the so-called national conference (de facto) constitutional amendments as opposed to a (de jure) which is the preferred constitutional amendment that that they suggest, which is what an SNC will mean. The trouble is that, the advocates of national conference are so LOUD! Perhaps that is clear and is the reason that the presidency may yield to the pressure and blackmail? I hope that political expediencies do not act to subvert our constitution and our laws! Some Nigerians instead of making the system and process work and fine-tune itself, they rather engage in quick fixes and unnecessary tinkering! It is not clear that Mr. Obasanjo is now for the conference thing, I see what has been reported as mere speculation, but even if he does, it will probably be because of the shrill shouting that I referred to above, it will be a matter of regret! Should Mr. President be unyielding and defiant? Even when he is clearly right in resisting unconstitutional tinkering? When he is adamant? He is called names, when he is amenable or magnanimous? He is equally called names! Uneasy head lies the head that wears the crown? If Obasanjo continues to resist National Conference; some would say he is a dictator, If Obasanjo now say: let's all of NIgeria have a talk; some are saying he has an ulterior motive, What should Obasanjo do, and how can we now move Nigeria forward? Nigerians should let the system fine-tune itself, let the rule of law, rules and due process sort out the issues of the great Nigerian debate. Constitutional Amendments are much more preferable to ad hoc tinkering with the Nigerian structure. Constitutional Amendments will help to establish a well grounded democracy and help to sustain the system and individual rights, resource allocation, prevention of group domination by other group etc. No Fire Brigade tinkering please! The complete disregard to the rule of laws as mentioned has led Nigeria to the current state of affairs since during the last thirty years, Nigeria should not and cannot have Sovereign National Conference; that will take power away from the established Constitutional order, the SNC completely negates the constitution! We should not have National Conference, when the National Assembly can deliberate and make recommendations, the NASS can deliberate national issues, agree on them and make them into laws, this can only be done by the National Assembly not a so-called national conference or a mimic of the NASS! If the members of the proposed National Conference are not nominated by local communities and civil authority and instead elected, what modalities will be used to conduct elections, and who will fund such election? Will all these not amount to a duplication and waste of efforts? Especially in Nigeria where there are so many project competing for few available resources? Why should Nigeria create more rigmarole? The National Assembly is already assembled to tackle all national issues! Why can't the Nation Assembly be allowed to have the onerous tasks of dealing with structure of the country, the economy, constitutional amendments etc. Why would Nigerians after elections and inaugurations, now hire somebody else to do the job of the president and the national assembly? Is the marginalization of ethnic nationalities responsible for the fact that the last four years, the House of Assembly members of Enugu state were fighting? And in two factions? Ndigbo Assembly persons in Enugu were in factional fighting because of Hausa/Fulanis? Or Lord Lugard creation? Or resource control and marginalization? NO! It is political and the democratic process in teething or growing pains, the rule of law, due process and democracy are not fine-tuned in short-order, or overnight and the benefits are not derived is short gestations period! A National Conference is unconstitutional, the constitution does not provide for the duplication of NASS the people's representatives and the constitution is the supreme law of Nigeria, any other impositions will be extra legal and fraught with clear danger! All Nigerians should accept democracy and its rules and practices, and begin to lobby, write letters or visit their elected representatives and insist on accountability on the part of public officials and office holders at all levels of government. Demand everything through your elected persons, she or he represents your constituency and if you want a law made of changed or reformed or you want the Nigerian constitution amended? AHA! Talk to your elected representatives, that is, your Councilor, Local Government Chairman, your Senator, House of Rep member, your Governor and our president! Do not truncate the system! Reform it, Nurture if! Nigeria is not a one party state and will not become one under a democracy, Nigerians are too impatient for that sort of thing! In a country where everyone wants to be a president or governor etc.? What will happen to the thirty different political parties that are just several months old? Fizzle out so fast? In OBJ's next four years? You guys are presuming that OBJ will succeed himself? Nigeria has already had our "Federalist Conference" Our constitutional Conferences and Constitutional Assemblies Nigeria must now fine-tune the constitutional that arose from those previous constitutional/national conferences, amend our constitution as necessary. Some Nigerians exhibit incredible impatience, it is the source of most of Nigeria's challenges, it has always been and it still is, even now! What is the job of our elected representative in the National Assembly? To get car loans? Furniture Loans? Stay in the best quarters in Apo Village at Abuja? Fight the President? Why can’t some Nigerians let our elected representatives (Senators and House of Reps members) amend the constitution as need arise? All Nigerians should reject ANY attempt to appoint anyone on our behalf for a national conference! Nigerians should prefer the elected ones, even if the elections were imperfect! Let all Nigerians say no to ad hoc! And say no to any tinkering with our country present and future. Nigeria's current National Assembly already hold National Conferences every time that they assembly to conduct Nigeria's national business, on all our behave everyday in Abuja, when they meet to discuss Nigeria's national interests, contrary to what some now say, Nigeria was not concocted in hell, Nigeria was ordained in Heaven and THE TASK TO KEEP NIGERIA ONE IS A TASK THAT HAS BEEN DONE, ask the former President Gowon, many Nigerians made the ultimate and supreme sacrifice to preserve Nigeria, Nigeria is moving forward to a better, prosperous and greater nation, where no one is marginalized or left behind Keeping Nigeria One Is A Task That Has Been Done, It will not be undone! Nigeria's National Conference has been assembled and seating since May 29, 1999, the National Assembly is our institution that will endure and resolve our national issues, in cooperation with the other arms of government, there may be new elections and new inaugurations, the structure of Nigeria is the same and will remain so, In Sha Allah Paul I. Adujie is a Nigerian Lawyer and an Information Technology Professional

Biafra Is Dead, Buried And No More!

Biafra Is Dead, Buried And No More! First Published or Posted on October 5, 2005 by Paul I. Adujie Esq. Exigent circumstances exist in Nigeria which make ethnic agitations possible or sustained. And so, Nigeria has had to contend with the collective nuisances of ethnic militia and their agitations, and sometimes, these agitations take on militant and violent tones, as with OPC, MASSOB and NVPF of Mujahideen Dukubo and others? I must state quickly that I have no preference for any ethnic chauvinists, whether they are ACF, MASSOB, OPC, Egbesu or whatever, so long as they pursue parochial interests that are not necessarily Nigeria’s national interests or consistent with Nigerian oneness. Nigerian causes have not been advanced or helped and will not be helped by ethnic chauvinists. Whether such chauvinists are Hausas, Ndiigbo or Yorubas and all the other ethnicities that are embedded in, and of which Nigeria is diversely comprised. According to Dr. Okenwa Nwosu in his article “Is Biafra Alive, Dead Or On Life Support?”, ‘Amongst the Igbo, therefore, Biafra continues to be a subject that readily elicits profound emotions despite the fact that the Civil War ended more than 35 years ago. On one end of the spectrum, we have those who are willing to bet their lives on the fact that Biafra lives and offers Ndiigbo a clear path to their redemption while on the other end, the Igbo political establishment operates with the mindset that Biafra belongs to history?’ Allow me to be the first to admit and acknowledge that the word Biafra is an emotion laden word. It conjures the best and the worst among disparate peoples. Biafra is a very delicate and sensitive word particularly among Ndiigbo, and that is understandable. I for instance, have repeatedly and publicly stated my raw emotion of about 38 years ago, when for the first time, I saw my father bawl and wail as if a child, as he notified and received the sorrowful news, a notification to the effect that Christopher, his second son, my brother, was killed by Nigerian Third Marine Commandoes at ‘Abagana Sector’ and until that day, I did not know that grown men cried, and if they did, it could not include my father, our family protector, our family fortress and my father, my family’s lord of stoicism. It remained a strong imprimatur in my indelible child mind, hence wars still elicit an almost automatic rejection response from me when people talk carelessly about needless wars that they seek to foist or impose on Nigeria? As an impressionable child, I saw the gory effects and horrors of war! I saw soldiers with guns and bayonets, I saw trailers and lorries hauling dead bodies or corpses, some part decomposed and dripping fetid body liquid of decay and decomposition of war dead, and I was deprived of so much, I was not allowed to play in nearby bushes as my parents feared and heard constant machine gun fire, sounds of which I can still recite precisely, they sounded tooooook, tooook-kaaaay, gaaaar, gaaaar, toooook, tooook, tooook, gaaaar, gaaaaar, gaaaar day and night, more so at evenings and nightfall All children of my neighborhood were forbidden from entering bushes and shrubs for fear of running into soldiers or weapons or booby-traps set between Biafra and Federal troops, but for us children, we all just wanted to play, but the frequency of bursts of machine gun fire usually drove home our parents’ concerns to us, sounds that I still recollect so clearly, it is scary! They do not know what the horror and barbarities of wars are like, and they do not know the magnitude of personal loss to families, the collateral damage, in today’s parlance and euphemism. And warmongers are unable to understand that war is senseless! War mongers are unable to reject the Clauswietzian mantra of war is pursuit of policy by other means. No, war is a horrible machinery and a most brutal instrument of failed policy, and warmongers are oblivious of ultimate sacrifices made by many, sacrifices that I do not wish even upon my enemy now. Regarding Nigeria, there have been this developing trend, a troubling trend, by some, some too young to know what the suffering was like, among the families like mine, who took no direct hit or felt the impact of the Biafra Nigerian war in a very personal, more than national sense! A developing trend whereby threats of war are issued as a means of nudging ahead important political negotiations or as means of fending off perennial marginalization, but war is not friendly. War is Horrible! It is horrible horrible! We must negotiate our future and Nigeria’s future without war, without the threat of war or promise of anarchy upon ourselves or anyone? We must negotiate smartly, even if we have to hold our noses! Even an imperfect peace is infinitely better than war! I have been equally troubled by this trend, just as Dr. Nwosu indicated in his very analytical article, as he described this seeming ambivalence amongst Ndiigbo, a feeling of to-be-or-not-to-be and a sort of crossroads feelings of not being entirely Nigerian and not being entirely Biafran! And this hesitation is a distraction and time consuming, I have myself wrestled with these and have wanted to make a public debate of it since and most recently, I was dissuaded from doing so, as I was told that I will promptly receive the hostile treatment meted out to Olisa H. Osita, just because he dared to be different and think outside the box perspective-wise, regarding Biafra and such other issues Ndiigbo. Just as I also worry that Ndiigbo has not started to tally presidential hopefuls and rally round a possible consensus candidate, despite the explanations or defense mounted by Chief Joe Achuzia, the Secretary-General of Ohaneze in his recent news briefing in preparation of this year’s Igbo Day Celebrations. Chief Achuzia suggests it is a matter of strategy, and that time is not yet ripe for Ndiigbo to announce a consensus candidate(s) but other political gladiators are already getting name recognitions, as they have already thrown their hats into the presidential bid ring. Chief Achuzia, of course, also mentioned another worry, what he described as ‘Part of our problems as Ndiigbo is the emphasis on individuality’ even as he urged unity and cohesion amongst Ndiigbo. It must be pointed out, that there are already dashes in the race for 2007, in leaps and bounds, hence, there should be no snoozing on the part of Ndiigbo, even now. My first draft of this article was several months ago, what motivated me then was an article by a Nigerian who referred to himself and adamantly stated his preference to be known, and described as a something he called Biafra! I have variously thought of this subject matter and title in different ways. Eventually, I refrained from completing and sending my first writing of this article for publication because I was dissuaded by another Nigerian who I had intimated of my frustrations with the Mr. Biafra and those with similar inclinations and mindsets as his. The advice that I got was that I should ignore the ranting which amounted to nothing instead of appear to give it more importance than it deserved. But ranting and raving got louder and even violent. But so much has transpired and changed since I received that advice, including the fact that a so-called Biafra Pound now circulates in Nigeria and most of West Africa! And there were some Nigerians of Igbo origin, who were celebrating the existence of the illegal and worthless Biafran Pound Sterling, some such celebrations were for pure nostalgia, while others, used it to perpetuate fraud upon the gullible and unsuspecting simpletons. Something that is worse has also occurred. MASSOB has ostentatiously announced its intentions to disrupt Nigeria’s Population Census formerly scheduled for November and even disrupt the dry-run by the Census Commission. MASSOB has also c hosen to identify with the Osama bin Ladin loving Mujaheedeen Dukubo, a Robbin Hood wannabe and a very violent version of it, at that! So handshake between Dukubo and Ojukwu! More and more pronouncements are being made by advocates and adherents of the dream or make-belief nation of Biafra. I know that I am now walking into the lion’s den or the equivalent of a snake pit, full of venomous vipers, but this must however be said and done in the interest of our national interests, our oneness, our benefit in unity and diversity in our collective Nigeria-ness, Ndiigbo genuine aspirations and that of all other ethnic groups of Nigeria, in Nigeria, are realizable within the confines of the potpourri of Nigeria’s wondrous diversities, without bullets flying or without firing any weapon. And without invoking or threatening mayhem and anarchy! The time has therefore come to speak up, time for those of us who believe in one indivisible Nigeria as sacrosanct, time for us to raise awareness and perhaps raise alarm as well, regarding the increasing specter of the spread of the phantom excitement thing that, is, the so-called Biafra! Some of us Nigerians are sadly consumed by dead and useless causes. I have been in rooms where people made incendiary statements like Nigeria should still not trust the Igbo because of the declaration of Biafra and the civil war that followed…and such discussants are quick to gloss over the antecedent grievances that led to or culminated in the Nigerian civil war… Biafra and now MASSOB, but those who harp on separation, of Ndiigbo as Biafra and away from Nigeria, give Ndiigbo’s detractors ample ammunitions, to classify Ndiigbo as non-Nigerians undeserving of presidential powers. A reading of the article “I am Biafra” is a symptom of the contradicting aspirations by some Nigerians! How else would anyone excuse, let alone explain the obvious ambivalence of some who would seek and should concentrate on producing the next president but are also engaging in the irritatingly futile efforts of clamoring for the moribund and long defunct and dead fabled republic of Biafra? What a useless exercise indeed? Why are some continually engaged in these self distracting exercise, which has done no good but defeat the main purpose? While at the same time busily offending every friend and well wishers? We cannot afford to be simplistic or be dismissive of feelings…raw feelings that existed….we all need to reconcile or to reconstruct and heal and we can neither fan embers of hatred, we cannot act as if we are not full citizens, even if that is what others wish that we feel. African Americans and Jews are good precedents for what I suggest here. These groups have been devalued and defined downwards, but these groups continue to define themselves and hold their heads high as full citizens of the world, with meaningful contributions to make to the world, Ndiigbo is similar. It is now time that all Nigerians say enough to these energy sapping and dissipating dispiritingly useless mutual suspicions, which only ensures a backward march for us as a collective and as a nation with purpose and for Nigeria as a nation that must advance to its destiny for greatness. In my opinion, those who continue to fan the sores and scars of events leading to the declaration of Biafra, and its demise, actually make life difficult for all Igbos, regardless of belief or support and non-belief and non-support of Biafra as it then was, and as it is now hoped. My father of blessed memory spoke Igbo Hausa and Yoruba and he like Azikiwe, IK Dairo and Aminu Kano and Fela and Enahoro believed in one united Nigeria and so do I, and so will I, until I die! I am an Igbo man, as I am a Hausa man and a Yoruba man! For I am Nigeria and Nigeria is me! We accept that Nigeria is complex, just as our families are and the world is. Even among Igbo families, there can be differences. Abum and Awum onye Igbo! And among the Igbos in my family, some actually claim superiority to the other Igbos! Because those from Nnewi in the former Anambra state are always accused and labeled as peripheral Igbos by my other family members from Oguta in the former Imo state, who shamelessly assert their authentic Igbo-ness, Ndi-Imo, which they insist is superior to the ‘adulterated’ Igbo-ness of Anambrarians, as poor Anambrarians are accused of being too close to the Bendel people of the lower, and across the Niger Bridge, possessing only flimsy claim to Igboland, but we all joke over this these days! It is a mini Nigeria when my family gathers! Where everyone is superior in our equality and equal-ness, we are all equal in my family as Nigerians are all equal, my family constantly argues, just as Nigerians at large argue about our place in Nigeria and our rights, duties, obligations and responsibilities of full citizenship, etc., and our competing and sometimes conflicting interests. As is often the case in multicultural and plural societies, Nigeria is no exception. A time will come when religion, region, ethnicities, such ancillaries and seeming extraneous prefixes are no longer major factors or determinants of political and economic outcomes in Nigeria. But unfortunately, Nigeria has not matured economically and politically as yet. Apparently some NIGERIANS never received the memorandum or e-mail? We are all God’s children, whatever ethnicities in Nigeria we may claim or belong, or have as our heritage. All Nigerians certainly need to be patient with other Nigerians! Nigeria is God’s and in so many ways, the story of my family, is the same as Nigeria’s. And this is the story of Nigeria… We are all God’s own and we are assuredly needing patience, with each other, so we can co-exist with all fellow Nigerians, just as all Nigerians reap the benefits of our Nigerian-ness, and unity of our national purpose….Forget Biafra, Biko! In the past I have written in a series of articles “Genuine Aspirations; Ndiigbo and 2007” again, “From Biafra to MASSOB What Do Ndiigbo Want?” expressed my desire and opinion in seeing a citizen of Ndiigbo become president come 2007, but now, it has become difficult to harp on such. Utterances and actions by those who should be marshalling and corralling others to the aforementioned presidential efforts are busily insulting everyone else with seemingly immature public discourse that has only inflamed national nerves I cannot fathom the logic or rational of those who are adamantly advocating a cause that is NOT coming to fruition even in a million years! We ought to pay more attention to what is attainable, reasonable and possible, as opposed to a dead dream, and the pursuit of this dead Biafra dream, some give weapons to those who would distract us, and detract from real and worthy goals. Ndiigbo ought to focus on what is really important. So much energy has been dissipated by those who ought to be working assiduously and most diligently in the attainment of the more worthy cause of full citizenship in our national scheme of things? Ndiigbo ought to be engrossed now, in earnest, plotting strategies and drawing graphs for 2007. There ought to a clear demand, an insistent demand for respect for the collective will of Ndiigbo as full citizens of Nigeria, within Nigeria, not outside of it. But what we have instead are some of our citizens who seem to be more interested in annoying the daylight out of would be supporters and well wishers in the more plausible cause, making one of our own, from Ndiigbo, president of Nigeria, for all Nigerians in 2007! This is what Ndiigbo need, from Biafra to MASSO B, Ndiigbo? Genuine Aspiration Within Nigeria!

President Trump is Volatile, Unstable and Unpredictable

President Trump is Volatile, Unstable and Unpredictable

Written by Paul I. Adujie Esq.

These are perilous times. Perilous for America and consequently, perilous for the entire world.

America now has a sitting president who obviously speaks before he thinks? A president who makes most provocative statements without thoughtful analyses and without requisite expert counsel?

He is equally generous with his caustic criticisms and generalizations against American intelligence agencies, in the same way he generalizes about pretty much else.

President Trump apparently intend to govern America through his Twitter unarticulated commentaries in response to profound policy positions by leaders of other nations and policy wonks. Trump’s post-inauguration address and antics from January 20, 2017 through February 20, 2017 is proof positive!

Trump has been controversial and scandalous in his words, actions, pronouncements and twitter-feeds!

Donald Trump have tended to turn logic on its head with each pronouncement which are now routinely opposites of responsible conversations by a potentate American political leader.

As candidate, Mr. Trump engaged in pugnacious rhetoric and no reasonable persons, American, Asian or African or European expected Trump as president to actually follow-through with his boasts, threats and belligerence of his electioneering campaigns, after his election gimmickries culminating in his victory.

Trump as president has continue to disavow, denounce and repudiate multilateralism, and globalization in favor of his isolationist so-called America First!

President Trump is wildly popular with his political base, there is no doubt, but, it must be borne in mind that Adolf Hitler of the Third Reich was vigorously supported as a popular political “leader” in Germany before, and during the wars he imposed on Germany, and eventually, the entire world.

We should all be asking ourselves, as citizens of the world, whether history about to repeat itself? Is World War III next? Is President Trump flippantly and mindlessly taking the world to the precipice?

President Trump talks about Iran, as if he will soon invade and occupy Iran to effect regime change and forbid Iran's centrifuges and any modicum of Nuclear technology efforts!

President Trump is faithful to his comedic election campaigns promises so far; on South China Sea, he has deployed an American Aircraft Carrier to illustrate aggressive gunboat diplomacy disposition, while shouting his disregard for a tried and true, one-China policy which the Americans have practiced for decades as a diplomatic détente with mainland China.

President Trump in public, have cavalierly made pronouncements regarding the intractable and internecine profound Middle East core of all crises, peace between Israel and Palestine, also dubbed the two-states-solution.

The 45th president of the United States of America was tongue-tied as he attempted to articulate his administration’s policy regarding Israel and Palestine, he spoke mostly incoherently, and with a wink and nod, assured Israel’s Prime Minister, Benyamin Netanyahu that they can do whatever they with Palestine lands, but must refrain from announcing it. Telling Israel to stop announcements settlement expansions, but perhaps should continue doing so?

President Trump’s incoherent and confused press conference with Prime Minister of Israel, should not be confused with the clear pronouncements and stance of the United Nations Organization on the fact that Israel expansion of Settlement offends International Law and countless UN Resolutions supported by a plurality of nations on earth.

President Trump has repeatedly and giddily made sundry pronouncements which, if, and when pursued to logical conclusions would lead to Trade Wars with China. He campaigned that as president, he would slap 45% tariff on goods arriving into the United States from China. Trump has so far, been faithful or has attempted to be faithful to his election promises made to his core supporters.

President Trump has killed the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was intended to promote trade, mercantile and vigorous commercial interactions between the United States, Japan, and Australia etc.

President Trump has repeatedly derided the North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, just as he has threatened to dismantle NAFTA, without regard to the concerns of all other member nations!

On Immigration, he issued Executive Orders against seven Muslim nations as failed nation-states and as incubators of terrorists.

Donald J. Trump, has undertaken to build a xenophobic wall between America and Mexico, I do believe that this is impossible, unless and until, Trump’s America invades and occupies Mexico, he installs a president of his choice, at his becks and calls, as Mexicans in his estimation, will remain docile!

President Trump says the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, is obsolete and Vice President Pence says American support and participation in NATO is unwavering, Trump’s statement is in the face of American membership and active participation in NATO for over 50 years.

President Trump says Japan needs to ready herself for the withdrawal of American troops and that Japan should fun her own defense, then, President Trump is one hundred percent behind Japan as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits President Trump.

President Trump is anti NATO anti EU in his rhetoric during the electioneering campaigns and since his inauguration on January 20, 2017 to the chagrin of traditional allies, friends and partners of the United States of America.

President Trump is the apostle of De-globalization, protection and isolationism. His a passionate Free Trade apostate businessman turned president of America!

It was reasonable and every reasonable person believed Donald J. Trump in his electioneering puffing and braggadocios, but, it is no longer reasonable or acceptable for President Trump to continue his diatribes and dangerous pandering to a minority of American citizens, while risking setting the world on unquenchable inferno.

Donald John Trump’s declarations are analogous of a man pandering to a dangerous lynch mob. Trump as such, has been preaching to the emotions and sentiments of ultra conservative simpletons, Donald Trump is a demagogue.

Trump is the sitting president of the United States of America, and as such, his pronouncement(s) are supposed to be meaningful, carry the full-faith and credit of America, but alas, anyone who takes Trump’s vacuous declarations literarily harvests Armageddon! Will this be our global fate?

Trump is a rabble rouser with complete disregard for facts. This was clearly illustrated a few days ago, when Trump, president of the United States of America verbally and falsely conjured up and announced a fathom terrorists attack in Sweden.

When he was chastised for not fact-checking or seeking clarifications before making such booboo and ridiculous declarations, he tried to characterize it as fake news, the fake news which he manufactured in the factory and province of the dimwitted.

President Trump is in large measure a comedian, replete with comedy-of-errors, but, this is too important, crucial and critical to be laughable; Trump is certainly dangerous to himself and to us all.

Trump needs to be curbed and must be tamed before he does irreparable harm to America and then, by extension and logical extrapolation, the entire world

President Trump's America is Protectionist, Isolationist & War Monger?

President Trump's America is Protectionist, Isolationist & War Monger?

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Nativists' arrowhead President Donald John Trump of America is hell-bent on fulfilling his polemical campaign promises, with the attendant risks of creating worldwide instability, insecurity and a downward spiral of the global economy.

Many, including myself never expected Donald J. Trump to be elected a dogcatcher, much less, being elected president of the United States of America, and so, there were many of us, who thought very little of his electioneering campaign rhetoric as anything but mere blusters

Donald Trump's only claim to fame is his real estate business, his scandalous serial marriages, his reality show on television "The Apprentice" a show in which he made the term, "You Are Fired" notorious!

President Trump's possibility of winning the elections was so remote, in the view of many pundits and the average person in America and across the world, such that his outrageous and equally outlandish pronouncements regarding Mexico, Muslims, World Trade, TPP, NAFTA, Gender Equality or his misogyny, Global Warming etc were derided and dismissed by so many.

These were merely Trump's characteristic braggadocios, many thought; particularly, coming from a man, who once publicly proclaimed Marla Maples as the best sex he ever had, then, married a divorced her in such rapid disorder! Mr. Trump before dabbling into politics had the reputation of a loudmouth!

President Obama was known to have called the now President Trump out, by chastising Trump with a sort of advice, to the effect that Trump should realize, that the America presidency requires superb intellects and strategic thinking, not the sorts of talking-before-you-think of reality shows on television!

Then the elections came, and like magic, the dam broke, Mr. Trump won the elections by some fluke or by the sheer force of democracy by nativists and nativism! Nativists are Donald Trump's core support.

True democracy requires Trump to keep his promises to these core supporters who ensured his being victorious over Secretary of State Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton, who was projected by pundits and the average Joe, to be the would be first female president of America, and seen as a literal shoo in.

On January 20th, 2017, Donald John Trump was inaugurated or sworn-in, as the 45th president of the United States of America, and he made a lackluster inaugural speech, without flair or flavor, as he singularly focused on a segment of the American population to whom he pandered during, and after the electioneering campaigns, and then, with his bland, brash and quite uninspiring inaugural speech.

President Trump, true to his rhetoric, polemics and blusters during the elections campaigns, has started to make good on his promises, starting with Executive Orders signings with melodramatic fervors on major issues such as immigration, trade, abortion rights and much more.

President Trump has with a simple stroke of the pen, revived the hitherto moribund oil-pipeline project between Canada and the United States, despite the long drawn-out debates between conservatives and environmentalists regarding cost-benefit analyses, the cost to the environment and benefits to consumers.

President Trump after his victory at the American elections was expected to tone down his toxic and acerbic pronouncements about everything, but, instead, he has accelerated and ramped-up his rants against everything and everybody!

President Trump has so far, mostly engage in outbursts like a petulant child. He has thus far refused to grow up and matured into the American presidency, he is everything but presidential in his first week at the presidency.

As have been characteristic of him, he criticized the German leader, Chancellor Angela Merkel for her fair minded and liberal policy on immigration and refugees, Trump blamed her for not acting similar to the advocates and proponents of Brexit, Brexit is referendum which voted in favor of Britain exiting the European Union multilateral organization.

President Trump has also engaged in diatribe against China, even as China has begun to command worldwide respect consequent upon President Xi Jinping of China's promotion of free trade and globalization, during the Davos World Economic Forum recently.

It remains to be seen, whether President Trump will go-full-throttle and full-speed ahead with his vociferous threats against China, to the effect of imposing 45 percent trade tariffs on every product made in China and exported to America.

Israel has taken a hint and even solace from Donald Trump's brash worldview, it is protectionist and isolationist, Trump's so-called America First, which is parochial, myopic and quite shortsighted to say the very least.

And so, Israel has announced that she would build almost three thousands housing units, in addition to the illegal settlements which Prime Minister Netanyahu government already built on Palestinian territory lands, an action which has received widespread condemnation worldwide, including criticism by European nations and even the United Nations, but, not a whisper or whimper and murmur from the President Trump's administration.

President Trump and his Defense Secretary have made public statements suggestive of war mongering. Both men have indicated interests in military actions to reverse China's presence in South China Sea.

Fighting a war in China's neighborhood will be expensive and quite costly in various respects. A war with China may be Trump's wag-the-dog distractions for his domestic audience as plan B, if his much bragged about "America First" economic theories does not revive America, but any such war, will be debilitating for America and it will be an unwinnable war.

President Trump comes across as totally and completely clueless and ignorant, particularly when he talks about complex and complicated global issues with his simpleton conspiracy theories. He often wag his fingers at everyone. He comes across as an egomaniacal arrogant buffoon, who happens to be president of the United States of America!

There are some who are still hopeful, in the belief that President Trump will soon calm down and curb his enthusiasm for making illogical and unreasonable demands on other nations.

Such hopes were raised on Friday January 27, 2017 as Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain forced President Trump to contradict himself and his threat to undermine North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) he did so publicly, obviously, kicking and screaming, as he said in her presence, that he is now behind NATO funding one hundred percent! This is an about face on NATO by Mr. Trump! More of such swallowing of own vomit are reasonably expected

Others, have speculated and suggested that his talk is just all-talk, and therefore, he is merely engaging in grandstanding and psychological warfare, before negotiations, in order to get the better part of deals or upper hand in relationships, trade or diplomatic. This thinking implies that he is smart and practices what he preached in his old book, The Art of A Deal.

Those who are suggesting this, are reasoning that President Trump knows his limits and America's, in relationships with all other nations, this thinking better be right, or the world will witness too many trade conflicts, violent military confrontations, sundry cantankerous interactions with other nations, and even the possibility of a nuclear holocaust; as a boaster and an egomaniac is president of America!

President Trump's current attitude to global issues is the very definition of extreme unreasonableness.

I predict that President Trump will lead America out of its world-power status, if he continues to make his outrageous and outlandish provocative pronouncements.

President Trump could unfurl asinine policies which would lead the world into political, economic and military seismic events or even global cataclysms!

Written by Paul I. Adujie Esq

NBA Goofed On Arrest of Judges!

NBA Goofed On Arrest of Judges

Written by Paul I. Adujie Esq.

I watched with utter dismay, as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) surrounded by other prominent lawyers badmouthed the actions of the DSS which culminated in the arrest of some judges on Saturday, October 8, 2016

As the world has become aware, some judges in Nigeria were arrested on the allegation of fraud, and the arrests were conducted in a nationwide raid or sting, orchestrated by the DSS, armed with adequate prosecutable information with equally adequate and sufficient Probable Cause!

A majority of Nigerians are elated and ecstatic to learn of these arrests, particularly so, given the sacred position, the exalted and hallowed position judges hold in upholding Justice, Due Process and The Rule of Law

Nigeria has for far too long witnessed the profound absence of justice, and the equally profound absence of the Due Process and the Rule of Law, which has led to impunity and lawlessness at all levels.

Nigeria has witnessed and continues to witness regression in all facets of life, as no one plays by the rules or follows laid down processes and pay complete obeisance to the rule of law.

I have often said privately and publicly, that efforts to fight corruption by current federal government or any future government must begin with the judiciary and the police and or other law enforcement agencies.

When judges and policing agencies cannot be bribed, a majority of those Nigerians who have made impunity and lawlessness their vocation and profession; would soon fall in line.

It is the case that in Nigeria, there are great and good laws and rules regarding human conditions. However, most laws are not enforced, implemented or obeyed. Laws and rules in Nigeria are observed in their breaches!

The simplest of processes in Nigeria have become warped, twisted and perverted, and as a consequence, simple processes are made to become unnecessarily complex and complicated. Simple actions are made to take too long and extremely expensive, stressful and or frustratingly cumbersome!

The judges arrested on Saturday October 8, 2016 are said to have made useful statements to law enforcement agencies and the policing authorities. Documents were said to have been recovered from the allegedly erring judges who were arrested.

It is the case that large sums of monies were said to have been recovered from each of the arrested judges - hundreds of millions of Naira, US Dollars, British pounds and Euros were recovered from the arrested judges. Let the arrested judges defend themselves. Let them reconcile their salaries with their sudden wealth or stash of cash or loads of loots and avarice! And yes, I do believe in and subscribe the Presumption of Innocence!

Law enforcement agencies will soon reveal the contents of statements made by these culprit judges. Most probably, these said judges have filed statements of their assets prior to their arrest, and secondly, the said judges would explain why they have these extraordinarily large amounts in their homes as opposed to lodgements with their various banks.

It does appear that these arrested judges, were scared to deposit the monies which they received from their sale of matches, toothpicks and sachets of water, as the Bank Verification Number rule or regime, has made it a little more difficult to bank almost anonymously and through proxies as a certain lady was recently accused of banking by proxies, while retaining all the benefits and ATM cards, even though the accounts in question bore the names and images of other persons!

It is quite astonishing, astounding and even outlandish, that the NBA executive would defend the obviously indefensible judges! The NBA President was heard and seen condemning the arrests of these judges, and referring to the process as Gestapo style, despite the fact that the DSS operations was preceded by petitions of allegations of these judges accepting bribes and perverting justice!

The DSS have Probable Cause(s) to conduct the arrests, and the DSS may have reasons to believe that the targeted judges would flee or hide or destroy the evidences of their alleged crimes.

The NBA President seems to misunderstand or he has wilfully misinterpreted Due Process and Rule of Law with his suggestion that the arrest of the judges should not have taken place because (a) DSS is not the Nigeria Police and (b) DSS or even the police may not arrest the judges at all, particularly at the particular hours of the morning!

It is my opinion that the DSS acted within the scope of their statutory assignment and that the DSS acted properly in conducting the arrest at the particular hours, to prevent flight, or escape by the arrested judges and as well as the DSS desire to ensure that proceeds of crimes are not destroyed or taken out of jurisdiction, including other tactical and strategic reasons which may have informed and prompted the DSS to act in the manner and the time their operatives acted.

I strongly believe that the DSS have adequate and sufficient information, and now, evidence to prosecute, hence these audacious arrests and bribe loot recoveries as have been announced by the DSS. The DSS certainly know more than what the public currently knows, they may have had exigent circumstances as to likelihood of flight or disappearance of the judges arrested, and the targeted corruption proceeds!

It is really disappointing to regularly and too often see Nigerian lawyers, and worse the NBA executives become tools with which the corrupt political class shield themselves…. Judges and members of the political class openly, conspicuously, ostentatiously and brazenly corrupt and break any and every law with impunity, while setting slush funds aside to hire 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria to defend the indefensible!

The Nigerian nation and her citizens are not living to their full potentials as a result of corruption of every process. Elections are predictably rigged, judges are predictably for the highest bidders, budgets are routinely passed but monies so appropriated are predictably stolen or plundered, and then law enforcement agencies engage in some sort of “Catch-and Release” and the cycle perpetrates and perpetuates!

Budgets for roads, bridges and public infrastructures never get spent on roads and bridges or other public infrastructures hence they are decayed and decrepit nationwide. There are front-loading and unwarranted upward appraisals of contract prices. Monies budgeted for equipment and medicines never get to the target hospitals. Hence, Nigerian hospitals are bereft of modern state of the art medical diagnostic and treatment tools and or medicines. Medical doctors are frequently on strike nationally, and this is why your cousin will not find a doctor or medicine in his neighbourhood hospital tomorrow.

The generator in your home is running right now, as there is no municipal electricity, because the budget for electricity generation and transmission has evaporated through corruption, and nationally, Nigerians can count more generators than citizens!

Stupidity should have consequences and law breaking should receive sanction(s) but, currently in Nigeria, there is a dearth or even the complete absence of integrity. A corrupt judge is worse than an armed robber because a corrupt judge perverts justice, law and processes. Such judges, where there are allegations and probable cause, should be arrested and punished. Corrupt judge are odious and inimical to the very essence of justice, corrupt judges should be exposed and subject to public opprobrium.

When and if a law enforcement agency discovers that a crime has been committed, is being committed or likely to be committed, it’s incumbent on upon such a law enforcer to arrest the offender without dithering. Prompt and legal arrest is an imperative! We do not ask armed robbers in Nigeria for permission to arrest them. So, why should we ask judges for permission to arrest them, when and if there is a probable cause, predicate and foundation for their arrest?

Corrupt judges thwart the very fundamental social order, the rule of law and due process to which they are supposed to pay complete obeisance. As we all must realize, the absence of law and order permits lawlessness!