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Electoral violence, bad governance, corruption, and human rights abuses are some of the common attributes of democracy in most of the nations where it currently exists. The Nigerian experience, for one, has been a sour taste; so far it has been a comedy of errors. The violence and chaos that precedes every election is second to none. Already, politicking politicians have started fighting and assassinating each other over the coming 2011 elections for candidacy and probable spots in the corridors of power. Raw like bleeding flesh are the memories of the violence that preceded the 2007 general election; sudden and unexpected outbursts of violence, even in the most solemn of places like churches; the run for your dear life and the usual accompanying songs of victory by the youths of the faction that gets to win the meaningless and endless fights. I can still remember vividly how I had to brave death to get to the polling booth in 2007, only to get there and discover that the name and face of my candidate was conspicuously missing on the ballot paper and his political party was totally omitted. With a resolve to cast my vote, I thumb printed against the name of another candidate from another party because I felt I couldn’t have risked so much to not vote in the end, even knowing full well that the foul-play could have emanated from the camp of the incumbent through the election umpires, as he was also re-contesting. On that day, voting for me was an exercise of my right and victory over oppression.
The sovereignty of the people in a system governed by the rule of law is the defining element of any liberal democracy. The “thick” concept of democracy beyond election is embedded in substantial individual freedom of belief and opinion, freedom of association, the right to vote and run for election, legal equality of all citizens, an independent judiciary that is neutral to all, and a due process of law amongst other things (Diamond). A democracy devoid of these characteristics is termed illiberal or just electoral, needing reforms to make it work better and deliver to the expectation and if possible, delight of her citizenry. Some democracies have degenerated below the ebb of being just electoral with elections becoming just formalities; the votes of the people are no longer relevant, as the leaders are selected at political party primary(s) elections where godfathers reign supreme and politicians pledge allegiance to grab the reins of power. These politicians use youths as mercenaries for unleashing terror and violence during elections and the canniest or deadliest of them are announced the winner by the electoral umpire without a proper electoral process. The sad reality of this is that the collaborative actions of the youths with these politicians in installing undeserving leadership has been the major bane of democracy, leading to debacle and decay that has made the supposedly sane system onerous and foul in the nostril of the right thinking world.
An average Nigerian youth is dissatisfied with the present situation and filled with the desire for change, but their cognitive model has been so wired with corruption such that when you asked what they will do if given the reins of power, their answer will be in the direction of taking their share of the national cake without any thought of changing the status quo. A comment on one of my recent online articles about the scourge of Contract Scam in Nigeria attracted this comment from one of my friends:
“...leave these people alone, it will soon be our turn, when we get there, we will do our own.”
Imagine the mind of a displeased Nigerian, hoping to continue in the path of corruption that he daily decries. This situation presents a bleak future if nothing is done to salvage the situation, the mind of the
World Youth Movement for Democracy
Essay Contest Africa Regional Winner
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Oderinlo Abidemi Nigeria
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Nigerian youth must be reoriented and their mindset changed to militate against corruption, a plague
that has been unconsciously engineered into their consciousness and DNA.
These youths have been a major part of the problem for too long, now is the time for them to become
an integral part of the solution. Rescue has been attempted through the things they love, like online
social networks (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), a move that has been far reaching; not overly effective but
must be encouraged. Online reporting by journalists like Sahara Reporters has also been effective in
providing inside information, as an example the Halliburton scam to synthesize the youth on who is
corrupt, but this has not been enough; promos are aired and seminars organized but all to no avail.
There is a need to devise a way of instilling a new perception model and thought pattern in others to
break the mind barrier on youths and deliver them from the lingering vices used in ensnaring them.
This situation led to my decision to go the Ghandi way in spearheading the changes I desired through my
actions and examples starting from where I was. I decided to plunge into the democratic waters in my
graduating years in college to get a head start into how things work and how to solve problems. I
became a member of the electoral committee, a platform that gave the opportunity to represent the
student populace with the college management and the student union. A well grounded understanding
of the desires of students, as a student myself, helped me in my assignment. I knew it was seclusion
from the electoral process and lack of information that naturally leads to rumor, which generates
confusion and leads to the electoral violence the college experience every year during Student Union
elections. Due to lack of information, students are quick to conclude that only the favorites of the school
management can win the election. I was able to convince the Governing Council on the need to allow
students access to more than just eligibility information during the election, and I went ahead to
synthesize the students on the new developments. With the reforms in place and the students informed,
a violence free election was conducted in Yaba College of Technology in 2008. This new achievement led
to the College Electoral Committee and the Student Representative Council’s request that I stay on the
committee for another year, and together we recorded another success. Automatically, I became the
Departmental and Student Union Electoral Chairman, plus a few other non-academic responsibilities
because of the success of my first endeavor, a success I attribute to my decision to participate at all.
Now back to the already identified problem presently plaguing the system. Curiosity led me to gather
like-minds so that we can think together on a way to re-orchestrate and reposition the minds of the
Nigerian youths. Since the old way of trying to impart from the standpoint of “I know it, let me teach you
how” approach has not produced tangible results overtime, we decided to introduce a discussion-like
forum where youths can gather to discuss the little things that we do know that defines corruption, and
unconsciously affect our sense of judgment and reasoning, which ultimately leads to bad governance.
We identified our leaders as people like us who once did the things we do now without worrying about
the effect they had because they felt these were little things. They continued in it unconsciously and
when they came into the management of the larger society, they failed. In order to learn more, we
made arrangement for a meeting of 50 youths, but 85 serving youths attended the meeting that was
held on the 1st of October in a northern Nigerian state. Issues were raised with dramatic illustrations and
short plays, questions were asked and great, meaningful, and practicable ideas were suggested,
ubiquitous but effective solutions, all in the direction of battling corruption.
The way out is still the Ghandi way. Corruption was identified to be on both the individual and
institutional platform and inimical to development. Individuals make up the institutions, prioritizing the
needs to first tackle the individual moral disposition, a condition that calls for effective mind renewal. A
conscious moral stand in an individual’s daily dealings becomes the first step in creating a new mind for
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the desired future. Learning how to grow our conscience back by consciously doing the right thing in issues that are as little as signing of the time log at work, honesty in small financial endeavors, and diligence in carrying out every assignment with dedication and determination to produce expected, if not exciting, quality in them becomes important. The need to consciously walk on the part of positivity becomes imperative to building a new mindset; this will help in grooming a new crop of leaders that are morally conscious and responsible.
On institutional reform, this requires participation and working towards ensuring that only deserving people that meet the competency requirement are elected. The era of recycling leaders especially in Africa and specifically in Nigeria must be brought to an end.
“In 1984, my teacher told me that Gen. Buhari was a past leader, Gen. IBB the president, and that we are the leaders of tomorrow. Now it is 2010 and they are still leading. It is either my teacher is a liar or tomorrow is yet to come.”
This was the Facebook status of a friend; it got me thinking because the two men he mentioned are both planning to contest again for presidency in the 2011 general election. After pondering on it, I concluded that truly recycling must stop, but how?
We know these politicians; we know their pedigree, what they’ve done in the past and that they are potent. Now is the time to educate others about the dangers of ceding power to this same set of politicians again in detail and through ground evangelism. Now is the time to know and this can be achieved if youths become the mouth-piece of the past in the new movement.
The youths must dare take the path of participation that they’ve been long denied due to the unleveled playing ground existing in the Nigerian political terrain. Now the opportunity has been presented to us on a platter of gold. The present administration has indirectly presented us with the opportunity by mandating all youths in the National Youth Service program to work with the Electoral Commission in conducting the 2011 elections. This directive was given in order to give the elections a wider reach for good voter representation, presenting the youths an opportunity that must be used to remove the incentives for corruption by acting as true umpires in refusing to participate in electoral manipulations, bribe-taking, or compromising for emotional, tribal, religious or politically inclined reasons. We must stand, nurture, and guard the politically sane society we desire with this opportunity.
I have written articles and communicated my ideas to the government and people as an individual and as a member of various youth movements through electronic media. I have received responses from the right quarters a few times, suggesting that the use of technology for communication is good and must be encouraged. In fact, a few reforms have been initiated by human rights activists and journalists through the Internet and print media, and even the president and governors are beginning to have effective presence on the Internet through Facebook and Youtube.
The truth is that “the ills of democracy and corruption cannot be purged out of an existing regime, but identified solutions to the problems facing democracy as regards to corruption can be introduced at the advent of a new regime” (Giorgio Areshidze: Transparency International). The present corrupt administration has presented us with the opportunity to herald the change we want by allowing us to monitor and decide the leaders we want. Here is the opportunity for us to participate fully as leaders and umpires of a new era, here is the chance for us to be the change we want to see as umpires and leaders of today and tomorrow.

enzo

it only what we beleive in that works for us
i beleive in God
i beleive in miracles
i bekeive in Jesus Christ his resurrection and life

new streams

in my blood
trough my veins flows new streams of joy



i asked why ?
why am i so excited?
what"s the feeling?
a new site has been discovered in ijebu in ogun state nigeria
its the SUNGBE EREDO TOURIST COMPLEX
it is filled with great end unimaginable discoveries.





keep your fingers crossed

Life so

This life is a teacher. Without pay a preacher. Your destiny so mild baby don't make it go wild . Express your talent don't kill it. See the lilly express it see the roses expressing . So don't keep your staunts quiet. Do something or die silent.

Life so

This life is a teacher. Without pay a preacher. Your destiny so mild baby don't make it go wild . Express your talent don't kill it. See the lilly express it see the roses expressing . So don't keep your staunts quiet. Do something or die silent.

my plight

alone i sat in humble plight the brimming mess of a murky world heavy like olumo wreathed on my neck my eyes amid torrid tears and roving.

then i ask what is it about? about helpless bemoaning children scampering about in want of sour less milk, about pregnant children heavy with kwashiokor
about death lurking around the corner like some vicious vulture

what is it about ?
about fathers bargaining the life of their children in selfish ruthless right blinded by greed and deafened by ploy

what is it about?
about a world so harsh and deadly to guiltless lads