All these Insightful Perspectives and Brilliant Ideas: Who Cares?

By

Anyanwu, I. C.

California, USA

californiabiz@yahoo.com

 

 

Since its inception, GAMJI online news magazine has provided a forum for Nigerians in the diaspora to share views on a broad range of issues that are pertinent to the wellbeing of our people and dear-native-land -from domestic to international affairs, political, economic, social and cultural affairs. Very brilliant and insightful views have been shared on these topics by most of the article contributors.

A number of insightful articles over the past few weeks in the GAMJI, namely: on the ongoing national constitutional conference; the right of ex-military to contest elective offices; the alleged predictions of the US Govt on the collapse of Nigeria as a federation; the deplorable state of Nigeria's economy; the North-South dichotomy, among others, have prompted me to ask: who cares, and ought to care about these insights? Who is the target audience for these articles and the views they convey? Or are we (we, the GAMJI audience), dancing to our own drums and tunes? We should not be writing the articles for the heck of it -there should be a target audience! If I would be so presumptuous to suggest, it ought to be the Nigerian policymakers. But, do they even read these articles, and what impact have been seen in the recent Nigerian policies, that could be attributed to insightful views in the GAMJI articles? Beyond providing us a forum to vent our views and frustrations about the sad state of affairs in the governance of Nigeria (which is good in and of itself, but not good enough purpose for the insightful views that are shared in the articles), what are the goals and objectives of the GAMJI online news? Short of the universal mission for which the profession of journalism is established and the news media operate -disseminate information and foster social change, I dare say that, its proprietors ought to rethink their goals.

 

A fundamental question for GAMJI proprietors, and indeed, its contributors/audience is: how could the brilliant ideas and insightful viewpoints that are shared in these articles be used to improve governance and policies in Nigeria? One fundamental, sad and regretable syndrome that plagues most us -Nigerians, is that, we take refuge in lamenting our plight, and not do any meaningful and practical thing about it. This is really, tragic, because, we, obviously, have a few ideas and solutions to some of the problems that plague our country and people, but when are we going to stop writing about them, and start do something to effect change? It feels "good" to get published on the GAMJI, but, I think, it would even feel much better, if the ideas that are shared on GAMJI are used to change the conducts of Nigerian policymakers and policies, and improve the governance of our country. You would agree with me that, if Europeans, Americans and Asians are faced with problems such as Africans', their intellectuals and professionals would not just be writing, endlessly about their plight, and not have a plan of action to do something about it. Part of the problem that face us, Nigerians, and indeed, Africans in general, is in the way we think.

As for the alleged predictions about the collapse of Nigeria: it may happen, if, we elect another puppet for a president, and common criminals as members of the legislature; and if, we barr ex-military officers fro elective, thereby treating them as less than full citizens. Why start now, why did we allow Obasanjo and other ex-military types to contest election, not once, but twice? Quite contrary to our warped thinking, the only glimmers of respectability that Nigeria has ever had(at least, in public safety, and pursuing international policies that are driven by, primarily Nigerian and African imperatives)have been, under military regimes. Unquestionably, the image of the profession as constitutional custodians of the nation's corporate existence has been tarnished by some of its unscrupulous members. Hopefully, they have learnt the lesson that, one rotten apple spoils the bunch. I am convinced, that ex-military types cannot do any worse than these civilian crooks we have now in most public offices, in Nigeria.

 

LET US PUT THE IDEAS INTO ACTION -LET US, TOGETHER, FIND WAYS TO PUT THESE IDEAS INTO ACTION TO SERVE NIGERIANS AND THE REST OF HUMANITY!! Sincerely, Anyanwu, I. C. California, USA