Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fwd: FW: Victory is at hand!

Dear John: Thanks for building on these points. On the question of institutions: there is a view of institutions that is about structures, infrastructures, and a functioning bureaucracy. This is all well and good. My view of institution here is ritualized behavior that could be imposed through systemic constraints as I think is the line you are taking or through recurrent practice. As a rule, I do not think you can achieve probity in governance without probes. Half measures and targeted actions will not work. Ask Obasanjo.  You cannot change an ingrained culture of impunity without the public spectacle of probes at the very top. No one will take any government seriously until it has instituted probes into the missing Billions of dollars. You cannot pretend it did not happen or that making peace with the powerful ethnic lords is more important than accountability. You cannot say only future financial crimes will be punished; that if you stole your money before so and so time you can enjoy it. It will not work. There has to be a serious commission on the side to probe Government in Nigeria for it to have legitimacy with the people. When Obasanjo said any one who has evidence against Babangida should come forward with it people knew he was not serious about fighting corruption. Corruption in government is the most challenging fight any progressive society will have to fight. How best to start for Buhari than to pick a fight with the congress on their bogus salaries and obscene allowances. The upper class will turn against him but he will become the hero of the people or should we say masses. If we highlight this argument and agitate enough, I am sure we can get the necessary attention to set the agenda.

Yours Bode

On 3/29/15, 6:22 PM, "John Mbaku" <jmbaku@weber.edu> wrote:

I want to comment about the following points that  were addressed to Buhari (note that I did not make the points; I am just commenting on them):

1.            Buhari must realize that when we talk about corruption in Nigeria, he should look no further from the congress!

2.            There should be a legislation that mandates diversity, equal opportunity, and transparency in the award of Federal contracts.

3.            We must insist that all governments from 1970 should be probed. His vice president is an eminent law professor and it would make no sense appointing him without using his expertise. He sacked over 50 judges from the bench as Attorney General of Lagos State. Professor Osinbajo should lead this charge!

4.            We must push for an immediate audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation.

First item: corruption

Corruption in Nigeria, as it is in other African countries, derives, in part, from the failure of post-independence institutions to adequately constrain the State and hence, those who serve in it. Until and unless the country is provided with institutional arrangements that adequately constrain state custodians (i.e., political elites and civil servants), corruption, in all its manifestations, will remain a pervasive part of political economy in the country. 

Second item: diversity, equal opportunity, and transparency in government procurement:

Since independence in 1960, Nigeria has struggled with effectively managing ethnic and religious diversity. Many formulas have been devised to deal with the so-called "national question" and yet, none of them has been able to provide remedies that are accepted by or acceptable to, all of the country's population groups. This is due primarily to the fact that there has never been an effort made to engage all these constituencies in robust negotiations on how to structure the polity and provide for peaceful coexistence. Effective management of diversity in any country requires the provision of institutional arrangements that enhance the ability of each group to maximize its interests and values while at the same time preventing any group (regardless of its intentions) from interfering with the ability other groups to equally maximize their values. Under such a formula, some groups, due to accidents of history, handwork, a high premium on investment in education and entrepreneurship, etc., are likely to develop faster than others. The government should not, for example, use public policies, to try to penalize such groups for their successes. Instead, such efforts to create both knowledge and wealth should be encouraged by public policies. But, what about groups that are left behind through such a policy? Public policy, specifically tax policy, which does not discourage individual effort, should be used to assist failing groups or those which have pushed to the economic periphery.

Equal opportunity should not be confused with equal outcomes. The types of institutional arrangements that we speak of here, would create an environment within which all citizens, regardless of their ethnicity, religious affiliation, or nationality, would have the opportunity to maximize their values--of course, the government should make a concerted effort to use public policies to make education, especially at the primary and secondary levels, accessible to all citizens, especially those from historically marginalized groups (which include, especially girls and women, rural inhabitants, and the urban poor), as well as help improve access to those services that help citizens meet their basic needs (e.g., primary health care, clean water, shelter, prenatal care, etc.).

The types of institutional arrangements that we are suggesting here guarantee the rule of law, and  openness and transparency are part and parcel of the concept of the rule of law.

Third, leadership:

 As I have said before on this forum and elsewhere (in articles published in professional journals), leadership is a necessary but not sufficient condition for good governance. Sufficiency requires laws and institutions that adequately constrain the State (and hence, those who serve in it. This is the essence of the rule of law). 

Fourth, audit of the NNPC:

Agreed, but the question is: What next?

Other:

Both Buhari and Jonathan have indicated that they want to create a new Nigerian political economy, one characterized by law and order and sustainable development. If this is true, then the main occupation of the next government should be State reconstruction to provide laws and institutions that guarantee the rule of law. The first step of the new president, then should be to form a government of national unity (GNU), and use that GNU to spearhead the country's institutional reconstruction.

On Sun, Mar 29, 2015 at 1:32 PM, Anunoby, Ogugua <AnunobyO@lincolnu.edu> wrote:

Thank you SO.

How dare you suggest that “water is removing sand under the feet of your (my) preferred candidate”? Just kidding. If I had a preferred candidate, he/she would walk on water. I like your sense of humor. You made me laugh.  More seriously, the hope must be that Nigeria wins at the end of the day.

Thank you again and please enjoy the rest of your day.

 

oa 

From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Segun Ogungbemi
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2015 11:39 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Cc: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fwd: FW: Victory is at hand!

 

oa,

You are right that it is too soon to conclude who the winner is. We should be patient and to not allow the euphoria of anticipated victory could our sense of Reason. 
Having said that OA, it appears water is removing sand under the feet of your preferred candidate. Isn't it? 

Have a pleasant Sunday evening. 
Prof. Segun Ogungbemi

On Mar 29, 2015, at 10:38 AM, "Anunoby, Ogugua" <AnunobyO@lincolnu.edu> wrote:

Is it not too soon to project victory in the elections. The Western states of Nigeria traditionally announce election results first. If anything was learned from the Mitt Romney experience, it is that those candidates who prepare acceptance speeches are well advised to prepare concession speeches too. Things are not always what they seem to be.

One worries that a rush to project the final results of the elections may dispose some partisans to reject the final and accurate results of the elections. They may resort to violence should they find the results  disappointing.  

Haste should be made prudently.

 

oa

From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Bode
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2015 9:30 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fwd: FW: Victory is at hand!

 

The failure of Obasanjo’s second coming began when he found he had to renege on his promise to allow his vice president oversee federal contracts. Also, he soon found that to get anything done, he had to bribe the congress. So, within weeks of his inauguration, money was already changing hands. There was no recovering from that. 

 

1.            Buhari must realize that when we talk about corruption in Nigeria, he should look no further from the congress!

2.            There should be a legislation that mandates diversity, equal opportunity, and transparency in the award of Federal contracts.

3.            We must insist that all governments from 1970 should be probed. His vice president is an eminent law professor and it would make no sense appointing him without using his expertise. He sacked over 50 judges from the bench as Attorney General of Lagos State. Professor Osinbajo should lead this charge!

4.            We must push for an immediate audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation. 

 

The margin is insurmountable! It is important to turn the corner from this moment forward!

 

On 3/29/15, 7:50 AM, "Okechukwu Ukaga" <ukaga001@umn.edu> wrote:

 

Fantastic!!! Thanks for sharing.
OU

On Mar 29, 2015 3:33 AM, "Abdul Salau" <salauabdul@gmail.com> wrote:

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Abdul Salau <salauabdul@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, Mar 29, 2015 at 1:06 AM
Subject: FW: Victory is at hand!
To: abdul abdul <salauabdul@gmail.com>

 

---

From: situationroomapc@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2015 04:41:48 -0700
Subject: Victory is at hand!
To: ud4ani@yahoo.com

Colleagues, Friends and Supporters,

 

Attached please find GMB's acceptance speech as President-Elect: Victory is at hand!

 

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JOHN MUKUM MBAKU, ESQ.
J.D. (Law), Ph.D. (Economics)
Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law
Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Attorney & Counselor at Law (Licensed in Utah)
Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor of Economics & Willard L. Eccles Professor of Economics and John S. Hinckley Fellow
Department of Economics
Weber State University
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