Brother eRG,
Let's hope we will understand the basis of your continuing subterranean cynicism about Gov Adams in due course (even as PDP and our Crown Prince have provided testimonies of Comrade's performance in Edo State).
On State debt and economic growth, I MUST humbly say you are VERY WRONG in your critique of Gov Adams for using targeted investment economics as the strategy for expanding the Economy of Edo State! I have been in the US long enough to realize that the INITIAL stimulus for economic growth by several regimes have been associated with short-term superficial national/State debt; while hypocritical extreme conservatives have regarded this as mortgaging our children's future and all sorts of demagoguery, moderate/sensible fiscal conservatives like Warren Buffet et cetera have STRONGLY ADVOCATED IT! If done with seriousness and honesty of purpose, short-term increase in State debt that involves massive investments in R&D, infrastructure, roads, transportation, education, science/technology, innovations and major risk-taking in the unknown is commonly the MOST EFFECTIVE approach to jolt an economy out of slumber in contemporary civilization. In yester-years, it was conquests, going to wars, colonization, conquering lands and places and their resources. I have watched Pres Clinton accomplish this model and Pres Obama is taking the same steps now. Watch out for how the US will begin a TURN-AROUND from 2011 with this tested model!
So it is my CANDID OPINION that Gov Adams Oshiomhole is using modern principles of "Debt investment economics" and progressive governance in Edo State. JUST STAY TUNED for the dividends that will accrue from this strategy in the near future! Take care. JUI
From: edo-ciao@yahoogroups.com [mailto:edo-ciao@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of eRG
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 1:51 PM
To: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com; naijaintellects@googlegroups.com; USAAfrica Dialogue; NIDOA; OmoOdua; NaijaPolitics e-Group; NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com; ekiti ekitigroups; afenmai@yahoogroups.com; edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com; edo-ciao@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Edo-ciao To Prof Joe I: UPDATE 13: Pledges Continue [Total $8,960] for Zik Legacy Project in Onitsha/// An Editorial in the Sun
Dear Prof Joe Igietseme:
Sorry I couldn't make Atlanta for I'm on ground in Naija getting my fingers dirty with politics at the grass-roots. Remember politics has to be "local" in order to make headway with policies, far from not sound-bites and rhetoric delivered at seminars and conferences. I deliberately stayed away because the "come raid" was going to be there in Atlanta, and what the hell is all this junketing abroad by the enfant-terrible labour leader? Four times within a spate of a month?
Anyway sha, I heard the debt profile of Edo State has grown to over N50 billion. This is really shocking for a State that has no visible means of repayment save for the few taxes imposed on mama-puts, akara sellers and some viable private educational institutions. Could you believe it? Tax on educational infrastructures in Edo State by a labour government? Ignorance must become bliss in the foreseeable future.
I hope you guys enjoyed yourselves?
eRG
"God gives, Man hoards and Satan steals" - eRG's Father
From: "Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCPDCID)" <jbi8@cdc.gov>
To: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com; naijaintellects@googlegroups.com; USAAfrica Dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>; NIDOA <NIDOA@yahoogroups.com>; OmoOdua <OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com>; NaijaPolitics e-Group <NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com>; NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com; ekiti ekitigroups <ekitipanupo@yahoogroups.com>; afenmai@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, 30 August, 2010 18:15:15
Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] RE: UPDATE 13: Pledges Continue [Total $8,960] for Zik Legacy Project in Onitsha/// An Editorial in the Sun
Brother erG,
I was SEARCHING for you at the Edo Leadership Assembly this past weekend in Atlanta. We hailed our Edo Chieftains, Governor Adams and other Edo leaders who were present, especially in the light of the good news in governance filtering from the home-front. For your information, a Benin Monarch Fund was announced by the Prince Ambassador from Italy. Stay tuned for more about that in future.
While on the leadership note, I believe you understand that Diasporans have ALWAYS recognized Nigerian leaders (traditional/Govt) who have served or have been serving the people progressively. Diasporans recognize that Nigeria has numerous problems, and as we have hammered again and again (and also mentioned over the weekend), POOR and INEPT LEADERSHIP is the bane of Nigerian underdevelopment. Specifically, Diasporans have been yelling about the poor educational infrastructure and falling standards, bad roads in Nigeria, and the depressing fact that no City or town in Nigeria has regular pipe-borne water, maintained roads, waste/sewer management system and regular electricity. Beside, Nigeria is the only major nation in the world who urban cities have no mass transit systems.
However, the Blunt truth is, in all these problems Diasporans (and other people) yell about in Nigeria, what can Diasporans REALISTICALLY TACKLE and MANAGE? The HONEST answer is Little to NONE because of what is involved in planning for a national programs and executing and follow-up maintenance where needed. So in the final analysis, the Govt's policies and effective actions are the steps needed to FIX NIGERIA! Thus, beyond advocacies and yelling, Diasporans can only handle simple and symbolic projects such as the Zik's Memorial Restoration to send their messages across. I hope you get the POINT! Take care. JUI
"The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life."…Albert Einstein
From: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of eRG
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 12:22 PM
To: naijaintellects@googlegroups.com; NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com; USAAfrica Dialogue; NIDOA; OmoOdua; NaijaPolitics e-Group; NigerianWorldForum; NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com; ekiti ekitigroups; afenmai@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] RE: UPDATE 13: Pledges Continue [Total $8,960] for Zik Legacy Project in Onitsha/// An Editorial in the Sun
What's all these nonsense going with pledges and donation for a mausoleum for the Great Zik? The geezer is dead and long buried. There are millions of people on the brink of extinction due to lack of funding for basic necessities of life like water.
We should take a cue from ex-president Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's tomb.
eRG
"God gives, Man hoards and Satan steals" - eRG's Father
From: "Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCPDCID)" <jbi8@cdc.gov>
To: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com; USAAfrica Dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>; NIDOA <NIDOA@yahoogroups.com>; OmoOdua <OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com>; NaijaPolitics e-Group <NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com>; NigerianWorldForum <NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>; NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com; naijaintellects <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com>; ekiti ekitigroups <ekitipanupo@yahoogroups.com>; afenmai@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, 30 August, 2010 15:59:37
Subject: [Naijaintellects] RE: UPDATE 13: Pledges Continue [Total $8,960] for Zik Legacy Project in Onitsha/// An Editorial in the Sun
My Projected target remains at $10,000.00. When we HIT THAT TARGET stuffs will start happening. KEEP THE PLEDGE COMING! Zik is for ALL NIGERIANS, just like Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo and Osadebey! Take care all. JUI
From: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Mobolaji ALUKO
Sent: Sun 29-Aug-10 11:25 PM
To: USAAfrica Dialogue; NIDOA; OmoOdua; NaijaPolitics e-Group; NigerianWorldForum; NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com; naijaintellects; ekiti ekitigroups
Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] UPDATE 13: Pledges Continue [Total $8,960] for Zik Legacy Project in Onitsha/// An Editorial in the Sun
AUGUST 30, 2010
Dear All:
Table 1: Summary Pledge/Redemption Table
| S/N | Item | Number Of People | Amount US$ | Amount Naira | Comment |
| 1 | Pledged | 83 | 8,960 | 1,344,000 | - |
| 2 | Redeemed | 4 | 675 | 101,250 | 7.53% of pledge amount |
Names of latest pledgers since last Update:
Onyeani, Chika; Ndukwe, Ernest; Okorufor, Augusta; Nwokeji, Emmanuel & Stella
Egbe, Tony; Ugochukwu, Basil; Enemchuku, Chinwe; Adekunle, Philips;
Oghereore, Otitigbe; Ikheloa, Ikhide
We continue to hope that others will be generous and continue to make their pledges.
To Pledgers
Please begin to redeem your pledges by sending a check or money-order made out to "The Zik Legacy Project", and mail to either one of the following two Co-conveners' addresses:
Ms. Azuoma Anugom, PO Box 881352, Los Angeles, CA 90009, USA
or
Prof.. Mobolaji E. Aluko, PO Box 343, Burtonsville, MD 20866, USA
Kindly email BOTH of us PRIVATELY ( adaejiagamba08@yahoo.com , AND alukome@gmail.com ) when you actually send your pledge forth. We will rely upon your integrity. Pledge receipts will be updated periodically. Your money will be in good hands.
We hope to have gotten N1 million redeemed by November 1, in time for November 16, which would have been Zik's 106th birthday. If preferably we can raise N1 million by October 1 (50th Independence Anniversary), then it could be a great opportunity to highlight our appreciation for Zik's role in Nigeria's Independence struggle - among other things. We might even get some matching funds from Nigeria. Our sights are now on $10,000 total pledges.
To those who have pledged, we urge you to sign up for a discussion group, if you wish, by clicking the following URL (or copying it onto your browser):
http://groups.google.com/group/zikproject/
where instructions for joining will be found. Let us know if you have any problems.
We thank you all in advance.
News Media Update
An editorial in The Sun recognizes our effort so far.
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/opinion/editorial/2010/aug/29/editorial-29-08-2010-001.htm
The abandoned Zik mausoleum
By Sun News Publishing
Sunday, August 29, 2010
"The recent media report that some concerned Nigerians and Ghanaians in the United States (U.S.) are raising funds through the Internet for the completion of the abandoned mausoleum of the late foremost nationalist and elder statesman, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, in Onitsha, Anambra State, shows that the nation, which Zik and his fellow compatriots salvaged from colonial bondage, has easily forgotten the legend."
For more, see far below....
Azuoma Anugom Bolaji Aluko
Co-convener Co-convener
Table 2: Detailed Pledge/Redemption Table
| S/N | Donor | Amount US$ | Comment | Status of Pledge | Redeemed Amount |
| 1 | Aluko, Mobolaji | 300 | | Rec'd $300 8/27/10 | 300 |
| 2 | Ojo, Valentine | 50 | | | 0 |
| 3 | Ojedokun, Olu | 50 | Used to be BP25 | | 0 |
| 4 | Nwakanma, Obi | 100 | | | 0 |
| 5 | Madu, Abraham | 50 | | | 0 |
| 6 | Kolawole, Suji | 200 | | Rec'd $200 8/27/10 | 200 |
| 7 | Ogundimu, Folu | 100 | | | 0 |
| 8 | Edosomwan, Charles | 100 | | | 0 |
| 9 | Igietseme, Joe | 200 | | | 0 |
| 10 | Chief Gemologist | 50 | | | 0 |
| 11 | Ekechi, Felix | 50 | | | 0 |
| 12 | Aina, Tade | 100 | | | 0 |
| 13 | Udogu, Ike | 100 | | | 0 |
| 14 | Zakari, Aisha | 100 | | | 0 |
| 15 | Raji, Taju | 75 | | Rec'd $75 8/27/10 | 75 |
| 16 | Kuforiji, Kayode | 50 | | | 0 |
| 17 | Anonymous | 67 | N10,000 | | 0 |
| 18 | Mensah, Edward | 50 | | | 0 |
| 19 | Gyasi, Kwabby | 50 | | | 0 |
| 20 | Onyegbula, Festus | 100 | | | 0 |
| 21 | Mustafa, Salihu | 100 | N15-20,000 | | 0 |
| 22 | Garba, Lawal | 100 | | | 0 |
| 23 | Olajide, Saheed | 50 | | | 0 |
| 24 | Adeniyi, Michael | 100 | | | 0 |
| 25 | Kassim, Ola | 125 | | | 0 |
| 26 | Viscount Slim | 103 | | | 0 |
| 27 | Nwosu, Okenwa | 250 | | | 0 |
| 28 | Egbo, Benedicta | 100 | | | 0 |
| 29 | Osunsan, Rotimi | 100 | | | 0 |
| 30 | Williams, Dapo | 160 | BP100 | | 0 |
| 31 | Aghadiuno, Eric | 150 | | | 0 |
| 32 | Babajide, Ibukunolu | 100 | | | 0 |
| 33 | Dawodu, Segun Toyin | 100 | | | 0 |
| 34 | Akuechiama, Jude & Ebere | 200 | | | 0 |
| 35 | Anugom, Azuoma | 100 | | | 0 |
| 36 | Irozuru, Julius | 50 | | | 0 |
| 37 | Okafor, Victor O. | 100 | | | 0 |
| 38 | Frempong, Sandra | 50 | | | 0 |
| 39 | Oyedeji, Kale | 50 | | | 0 |
| 40 | Abegunrin, Layi | 50 | | | 0 |
| 41 | Enweze, Obi | 100 | | | 0 |
| 42 | Omoigui, Nowa | 200 | | | 0 |
| 43 | Adam, Baba | 100 | | | 0 |
| 44 | Adeboye, Adeniran | 100 | | | 0 |
| 45 | Adeyeye, Sola | 100 | | | 0 |
| 46 | Ibe, Kevin | 50 | | | 0 |
| 47 | Awofolaju, Akin | 100 | | Rec'd $100 8/27/10 | 100 |
| 48 | Adesanmi, Pius | 100 | | | 0 |
| 49 | Okala, Emeka, R. | 100 | | | 0 |
| 50 | Dada, Ganiyu | 100 | | | 0 |
| 51 | Odusanya, Adeola | 100 | | | 0 |
| 52 | Oviawe, Joan O. | 50 | | | 0 |
| 53 | Okojie, Paul | 100 | | | 0 |
| 54 | Aduba, Obi | 200 | | | 0 |
| 55 | Okeke, Okwy | 200 | | | 0 |
| 56 | Raheem, Ade | 100 | | | 0 |
| 57 | Akindana, "Matto" | 100 | | | 0 |
| 58 | Nwabuzor, Steve | 100 | | | 0 |
| 59 | Iberosi, Simon | 100 | | | 0 |
| 60 | Omeaku, Cyriacus | 100 | | | 0 |
| 61 | Aniedobe, Chris | 100 | | | 0 |
| 62 | Ezeoke, Marcel | 100 | | | 0 |
| 63 | Okoye, Gabe | 100 | | | 0 |
| 64 | Umeweni, Uchenna | 100 | | | 0 |
| 65 | Anetor, Lucky & family | 100 | | | 0 |
| 66 | Umunnakwe, Fred | 100 | | | 0 |
| 67 | Edem, Noyo | 50 | | | 0 |
| 68 | Isama, Ike | 230 | | | 0 |
| 69 | LaCrown Adeyemi | 100 | | | 0 |
| 70 | Anonymous (Pbid) | 150 | | | 0 |
| 71 | Anonymous (Soom) | 200 | | | 0 |
| 72 | Adeyemo, Florence | 100 | | | 0 |
| 73 | Okeke, Alex Ike | 100 | | | 0 |
| 74 | Onyeani, Chika | 300 | | | 0 |
| 75 | Ndukwe, Ernest | 100 | | | 0 |
| 76 | Okorufor, Augusta | 100 | | | 0 |
| 77 | Nwokeji, Emmanuel & Stella | 100 | | | 0 |
| 78 | Egbe, Tony | 100 | | | 0 |
| 79 | Ugochukwu, Basil | 100 | | | 0 |
| 80 | Enemchuku, Chinwe | 50 | | | 0 |
| 81 | Adekunle, Philips | 100 | | | 0 |
| 82 | Oghereore, Otitigbe | 100 | | | 0 |
| 83 | Ikheloa, Ikhide | 100 | | | 0 |
| | Total | 8960 | | | 675 |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SOME BACKGROUND
Timeline:
1. November 16, 1904 - Zik is born in Zungeru
2. January 1, 1960 - Zik becomes President of the Senate of Nigeria (under British Colonial Rule)
3. October 1, 1960 - Nigeria becomes an independent country
4. November 16, 1960 - Zik becomes Governor General of Nigeria
5. October 1, 1963 - Zik becomes President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
6. November 16, 1963 or thereabout - Zik's life-size statue in Onitsha (near DMGS) unveiled by sculptor Prof. Ben Enwonwu in commemoration of then President Zik's 59th Birthday
7. May 11, 1996 - Zik dies in Onitsha
8. November 7, 2005 - large portion of Inosi Onira Retreat (home of Zik) in Onitsha destroyed allegedly by MASSOB;
9. November 7, 2005 or thereabout - head of Zik's Statue removed by unknown (?) person(s).
10. January 1, 2007 - statue at Zik Retreat restored
11. August 2010 - Photographic status of statues and state of mausoleum are in.
Note: The date that Zik's life-size statue near his Inosi Onira Retreat home was unveiled is not known at this time.
Compiled by Bolaji Aluko
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE SUN
The abandoned Zik mausoleum
By Sun News Publishing
Sunday, August 29, 2010
| |
| |
The recent media report that some concerned Nigerians and Ghanaians in the United States (U.S.) are raising funds through the Internet for the completion of the abandoned mausoleum of the late foremost nationalist and elder statesman, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, in Onitsha, Anambra State, shows that the nation, which Zik and his fellow compatriots salvaged from colonial bondage, has easily forgotten the legend.
It is, indeed, shameful and embarrassing that 14 years after the demise of the nation's first president, first indigenous Governor-General and first President of the Senate, the final resting place which the Federal Government was building to immortalize him, is yet to be completed.
It will be recalled that the astute politician, who bestrode the Nigerian political landscape like a colossus, died in 1996, while construction work on his mausoleum was commenced in 1997 by the regime of late Gen. Sani Abacha.
Initially, the contract for the project was awarded to an indigenous contractor, Lemmy Akakem Nigeria Limited. But work on the site was later abandoned for lack of funds. But in 2007, the administration of the late president, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, re-awarded the contract to a new contractor, Beton Bau Nigeria Limited, a civil engineering firm at the cost of N121 million.
Up till now, Zik's final resting place at his Inosi-Onira Residence, which ought to have been a tourist site and attraction, remains derelict, a sad reminder that the labour of our heroes past might, indeed, have been in vain. Zik's case is a classical illustration of how not to treat and immortalize a foremost nationalist and one of the founding fathers of the nation.
The treatment meted to the memory of Zik, has shown that subsequent Nigerian leaders do not appreciate the sacrifice and contribution of our past heroes. It shows that we, as a nation, have short memories, and that history and historical sites and monuments mean little or nothing to us. It is unfortunate that we tend to forget in a hurry the achievements of our past national icons. We seem not to remember them any more.
How can the Federal Government explain its seeming apathy and inability to complete the mausoleum of the late Pan-Africanist, and staunch believer in a united Nigeria and a highly detribalized Nigerian, who sacrificed his entire life for the nation?
Is the government tacitly saying that patriotism and dedicating one's life to a national cause is outmoded and does not pay any longer? Why is the government unduly silent about Zik's mausoleum? Surely, paucity of funds cannot be cited as one of the reasons for abandoning the project?
It is a pity that former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who promised to complete the mausoleum if elected president in 1999 could not fulfill his promise in the eight years he ruled the country. No doubt, there are attempts in certain quarters to blot out the numerous contributions of Zik to Nigeria's political development by some revisionists and tribal irredentists. But the truth of the matter remains that Zik's contribution to political development in Nigeria and Africa is indelible and can never be erased.
Zik ranked among the world's greats. His peers include Mahatma Ghandi, Mao Tse Tung, Franklin Roosevelt, Lenin, Fidel Castro, Churchill and Will Brandt. Back home in Africa, his contemporaries include Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyetta, Sekou Toure and Nelson Mandela.
We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to save itself this embarrassment by completing the mausoleum without further delay. America would not treat Lincoln or Jefferson like this. That the government should allow Nigerians and foreigners living in the U.S. to search for funds via the Internet for a project it begun years ago is unfortunate and demeaning. It does not require this group to remind us of our responsibility. It is incontestable that Zik had a place in Nigeria, Africa and World History.
Let the government act expeditiously and complete the work it started in 1997 so that the nation's foremost leader and one of the architects of Nigerian freedom and independence would rest in peace in a befitting mausoleum. That Zik has not been allowed to have a befitting place of rest many years after his death speaks volumes of the attitude of our political elite.
It is time our leaders lived up to the words of our national anthem-"the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain." The best way to ensure that Zik's labour was not in vain is to complete his mausoleum and make it a tourist site. Let the contract be re-awarded to a competent firm that would do a befitting job. Let government use the project to demonstrate how Africans honour their dead legends.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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