PDP shenanigans

Article

The People's Democratic Party, the dominant party in the Fourth Republic, is showing apparent signs of maturation. A faction has established itself at the PDP Reform Form, calling for all party "stakeholders to recognize the need to separate the party from the government and return to participatory democracy." Apparently, the PDP-machine is in a PRI-esque relationship with the government and party leaders handpick candidates in true pre-bendalistic fashion.

Yar Adua Dies

In a turn of events that seems all too much like it could be the potential for a Hollywood film- Umaru Yar'Adua finally took the big sleep May 5th 2010 . After an extended medical leave in Saudi Arabia that started in late November 2009 and lasted just over four months due to kidney and heart problems, Yar'Adua returned to the chaotic country in still declining health.
His sick leave was plagued by superstition and rumors of conspiracy, for the undefined measures to be taken in the case of an absent president left the Nigerian legislature confused and unsure of what to do. Some felt that it was a secretive arrangement set up before the election to continue previous leader Obasanjo's reign with his god-son and Yar'Adua's vice president Goodluck Jonathan. Continued suspicion arose when Yar'Adua's wife shielded the sick president from view once he returned to the country in late February. However; all was worked out. Fears of an unstable country rocking apart by the absence of president were resolved when Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as acting president February 9th, 2010. The country has remained no less stable since.
Although Yar'Adua's presidency was cut short, the 59 year old Katsina native accomplished much throughout his time in Nigerian politics. In 1999 he was elected governor of Katsina state and just 8 short years later he was nominated as the presidential candidate for the Nigerian People's Democratic Party. As president Yar'Adua was the first president handed the position by a civilian incumbent rather than a military one. He continued liberal economic policies, harsher tactics to relieve the country of corruption, and most notably gave his support to the groups pushing for the emancipation of the niger delta.

CPC

In a move that shouldn't surprise anybody, a US advisory commission on international religious violence has recommended that Obama dub Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern" with regards to its out of control religious violence. Apparently, 12000 people have been killed in the last decade in only a dozen incidents. I would normally assume that this is the sort of thing Nigeria would get huffy about, but the article claimed that the top brass in Nigeria welcomed the prying committee when it went to see Nigeria's dismal religious community relations for itself, and looked forward to working with the US to eradicate the problem. The article was fairly silent on how the country should actually go about finding a solution, it only gave this pithy line, "more violence should be expected in Nigeria except there is a change."
Come to think of it, I don't know of one single country that has successfully resolved deep religious schisms. The United Kingdom is probably the closest, but even there people still kill each other over religion. In India, Hindus and Buddhists seem to get along (hindus and muslims definitely do not though), but I am not aware of any insuperable doctrinal schism between the two. Actually the relationship between Hinduism and Buddhism is similar to that between Christianity and Islam, in each case both religions are similar in their roots and teachings.

Vanguard article

Taste of Africa! Unbelievable Rates! Visit Nigeria's Poorest Slum!!

Article

Nigerian officials are facing an interesting predicament. Slums are usually viewed as demolition targets to make way for useless" infrastructure projects or projects that benefit only the rich. But apparently many people think "poverty in Nigeria is good business." The article claims that this call for exploitation of the business potential of slums is not a call for "anti-modernization". At first it seems a disturbing comment on the unequal state of affairs in this world that Nigerians wish to prostitute themselves to the curiosity of "affluent tourists from the Western economies who yearn to catch a glimpse of what it is like to live in poverty." But then again, it might be pure pragmatism. I feel that I cannot comment on Nigerian behavior because my opinions are influenced by my western upbringing. Africa, or at least West Africa should rally around a set of principles, in a manner similar to the founding of the United States on our political and moral foundation. I don't know which principles they would choose, or what would be best for them, but I do know that they need some sort of ideological unity on which they can launch their fledgling democracies.

Education Abroad Soon to Be History

In a country where sectarian violence causes daily riots and mobs, the GDP per capita is $2100, slums are prevalent, the AIDS virus is rampant, and the government is confused about who actually runs the country it's no surprise that education in Nigeria isn't exactly doing so hot. In 2009, Nigerian Universities were shut down for 5 months, affecting an estimated 10 million students. It was no surprise then, that 2009 saw some of the worst exam results for Nigerian students. Only 25% of Nigerian students passed the Senior Schools Certificate Examination (SSCE) and a stunning 98% of Nigerian students failed the NECO. As a result over N295 billion is spent in the education of Nigerian students abroad in the UK and Canada. This in turn worsens conditions of schools in Nigeria. Thus, a bill has been proposed to outlaw the education of Nigerian Public Officials' children in other countries. The bill passed its first reading in the House and awaits a second reading. If formally made into law, it would require public officials to educate their children at Nigeria's primary and undergraduate institutions. In order to educate their children abroad, all public holders would have to obtain a waiver from the Minister of Education. The issuance of a waiver would be guided by the following -

1. the "nature of the proposed course of study for an undergraduate applicant"
2. the "medical condition [of the undergraduate applicant]"
3. the "general national interest"

Any qualifying children already studying abroad before the bill becomes law, will automatically qualify for a waiver.

"YarÁdua, A Victim Of Spousal Abuse- Soyinka"

Efforts to see President Yar’Adua are being hindered by a cabal led by his wife, which constitutes spousal abuse, according to Professor Wole Soyinka. Soyinka has made this claim multiple times. Apparently, Yar’Adua has granted the BBC rights to an interview, and Soyinka thinks that he should also address the nation.
Soyinka is calling the people of Nigeria to action to take more control over their own country. He wants to remind them of their duty to themselves and their country to demand accountability from the government, because the government and the governed have a shared responsibility. In one of his talks, he said that “every Nigerian had the responsibility to protect his or her vote” and urged Nigerians to support the Save Nigeria Group along with other civil society groups. His main point is that “The system is geared towards large scale corruption. It is not beneficial to the country and it needs to be overturned”. Quite intense.
For more information, click here.

candidate search

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article02/070410?pdate=070410&ptitle=Presidency:%20Search%20begins%20for%20best%20from%20the%20North