It is worth celebrating that close to 47 years after independence, we have successfully transited from one civilian administration to the other despite the many hiccups that attended the elections. And contrary to happenings in the past, especially after the 1983 elections massively rigged by the then National Party of Nigeria, the cry in the land is not about war and the need for the military to intervene. Rather, even from the major losers – Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is the presidential candidate of the Action Congress, and Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party – the talk has been about going to the election petitions tribunal to seek redress for the alleged injustice done to them.

And unlike in the past also, not even from the military is there any feeling of uneasiness in the barracks. Though not everything can be said to be okay in the country concerning the election, the apprehension is not about whether democracy would survive. It is about whether the country can ever have elections that would be free and fair and without as many lapses as were noticed during the 2007 general election.

The current mood of the nation is understandable. Nigeria, the most populous black nation, should be setting the pace for others when it comes to world acceptable standards, especially in the area of democracy. This is more so that we are highly rated worldwide when it comes to the number of Nigerians serving in world bodies that have been promoting democratic ideals and with the country’s involvement in the installation and restoration of democratic governments in other countries.

For me, however, as an individual, what attracted my attention mainly during the general election are the negative roles played by the police and the military in the election. Despite the deployment and use of thousands of policemen, military men, paramilitary forces and other security agencies for the elections, there were several cases of ballot boxes snatching, stuffing of ballot boxes and intimidation of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission right in the presence of the security agencies.

There was the report of the polling station where some armed thugs seized the ballot box at a polling station and started stuffing it right in the presence of the two policemen manning the station. Agreed, the two policemen on duty at the polling station were not armed, the excuse given by the leader of the team, an Inspector, was a shame to noble police profession. He said their duty at the polling station did not include ensuring that armed thugs did not invade the polling station to stuff ballot boxes. Rather, they were there to siddon look. What a shame! But thank God that courageous Nigerians at that particular polling station were able to mobilise to stop the rampaging thugs.

Also, despite the involvement of the numerous security agencies in the conduct of the elections, several cases of missing ballot boxes were reported; a lot of ballot boxes arrived at the collation centres with altered figures; officials of INEC were intimidated by thugs who had a field day; arsonists burnt down the houses of those that were believed to have rigged the elections; and some were even reportedly involved in helping politicians to stuff ballot boxes.

It is very shameful that despite the fact that it is glaring that there is very little INEC officials could do in the face of intimidation, our security men were unable to rise to the demands of the occasion. What was expected of the officers and men of the numerous services involved in the elections was to ensure orderly conduct of the election; protect those at the polling centres, officials of INEC inclusive; ensure that the votes are counted without intimidation; see through the process of signing the results forms by all those involved; and escort both the ballot boxes and result sheets to the designated locations. But the security agencies failed woefully in all of these.

Indeed, from my experiences in other countries, the security agencies help in checking the excesses of the electoral commission in some cases, thereby assisting in making the elections credible. The reverse was the case in Nigeria during the last elections. They rather helped weaken the position of the electoral commission even in cases where there was a serious attempt to make the elections credible.

With this, it has become obvious that the security agencies were programmed to fail during the elections. It is quite glaring that they were not meant to be neutral but to be tools of the government in power. This is quite a sad commentary on our security agencies that have received commendation for doing this same sort of assignment in other countries with touches of perfection. But in the case of their own country, the security agencies were used by the powers that be to manipulate the process to the detriment of democracy and the shame of their own profession.

I am delighted to inform you all that I have been nominated to be awarded with the prestigious UPF/YFWP International Youth Ambassador for Peace Award . The Youth Federation for World Peace is a global alliance of young leaders and youth related organizations dedicated to building a world of peace, a world in which everyone can live in freedom, harmony, cooperation and co-prosperity for all. The Youth Federation for World Peace is an affiliated member of the Universal Peace Federation and is guided by a vision of humanity as one global family, living in accordance with universal principles.
The Peace Federation through the network of Youth Ambassadors for Peace presents a vision of hope that as a people with a common aspiration for peace, we need to work together to deal with the issues threatening our world and to create a better future. The Youth Ambassadors for Peace initiative is the youth arm of the Universal Peace Federations’ Ambassador for Peace Initiative which was launched in New York in 2001 as part of its worldwide peace building program, constructing bridges of peace across the many divides around the world.
Ambassadors for Peace are individuals whose lives exemplify the ideal of living for the sake of others, and who dedicate themselves to promoting universal moral values, strong family life, interreligious cooperation, international harmony, renewal of the United Nations, responsible mass media, and the establishment of a global culture of peace. Transcending racial, national and religious barriers, the Ambassadors for Peace contribute to the fulfillment of the hope of all ages, a unified world of peace, wherein the spiritual and material dimensions of all reality are harmonized.
The Youth Ambassador for Peace appointment honors achievement and signifies the recipient’s commitment to a new mission to serve the common good. It may interest you to note that some notable Nigerians who show commitment and dedicate their lives to the promotion of peace are being nominated and honored as Ambassadors for Peace. We do recognize the many efforts you have made to support the peace process in the society and the nation, which are commendable. The award ceremony will take place as follows:
DATE: 25th April, 2007 TIME: 4.00 p.m.
VENUE: The Peace Embassy, 25 Bujumbura Street, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.

Probably the most celebrated health issue today is that of the scourge of HIV and AIDS. No day passes without our being reminded of the presence of this deadly disease either through radio/television commercials, public bill board, in the pages of newspaper, on the internet or by one rally or public enlightenment or the other taking place within our neighbourhood. Sadly we are told that some one gets infected with every passing second. For nearly a quarter of a century now, mankind has frantically sought ways and means of solving this deadly scourge yet experts say the pandemic is spreading rather astronomically with between 70 and 100 million people already infected world wide a fact that has been proven by available statistics.



A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

According to the UNAID/WHO AIDS epidemic update of December 2005 more than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981 with Africa having over 12 million AIDS orphans. As at Dec. 2005 women accounted for 46% of all adults living with HIV worldwide and for 57% in Sub Saharan Africa. Young people of 15-24 years are said to account for half of all new HIV infections world wide, more than 6000 becoming infection with HIV every day. It is said that of the 6.5 million people in developing or third world countries who need life saving Anti retroviral drugs only about I million are presently opportune to receive them.



THE SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA PROBLEM.

Statistics of HIV/AIDS prevalence are no doubt scary figures but even more scaring is the information that the area in Africa south of the Sahara desert known, as “Sub-Saharan Africa” is by far the worst affected in the world by the AIDS epidemic. The region has just over 10% of the worlds population but is home to over 60% of all people living with HIV. An estimated 3.1 million adults and children became infected with HIV in the year 2005 alone. This brought the total number of identified people living with HIV/AIDS in the region to 25.8 million by the end of last year.



At present, HIV prevalence continues to rise because there are still more newly infected individuals joining the pool of people living with HIV every year than there are people leaving it through death. In sub-Saharan Africa, AIDS accounted for approximately 2.4 million deaths in 2005 and experts believe that in the coming years, unless there is far broader access to life prolonging therapy, the number of surviving HIV positive Africans can be expected to stabilize as AIDS increasingly claims the lives of those infected a long time ago.





WHAT MAKES SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA DIFFERENT.

Recently, the 14th edition of the International Conference on AIDS and other STD’s in Africa (ICASA 2005) held in Abuja, Nigeria. As usual, piles and piles of documents, strategies and resolutions on the way forward were circulated. Dozens of good will messages have been sent depicting the effects and contributions of well wishers and international donor agencies in support of the AIDS ravished sub Saharan African countries while funds running into several billions of us dollars have actually been spent trying to fight this disease, yet the figures have continued to rise unabated. The mind-burgling question therefore is this:



What makes AIDS different in Sub Saharan Africa?

In the early 1980’s AIDS research in Sub Saharan Africa was hijacked by an extreme hehaviouralist explanation instead of being addressed with the proper acceptable methods of scientific inquiry. This claim, which was motivated by a powerful racial bias, which saw Africa as a special case incorporated the assumption that behaviour explained the difference in HIV prevalence between Sub Saharan African countries and the more developed countries. This notion, as myopic as it sounds unfortunately dominated both research and policy on AIDS for sub Saharan Africa for over a decade. A prove however came through a 1999 UNAIDS publication which showed no correlation what so ever between rates of sexual behavour and prevalence of HIV.



The UNAIDS report can be buttressed by this example: African societies are generally credited globally as being the custodians of the best moral values in the world which abhores promiscuity and treats premarital sex and adultery as abominations, doesn’t it sound rather ironic that sexual behaviour in the absence of other factors would produce a prevalence of HIV in a country like south Africa that is over fifty times that of the United States and eighty times that of France?



Serous epidemics of other STDS in the United States and Europe confirm that there are quite significant levels of unprotected multi partnered sex in these countries. In spite of this level of unprotected sex, the HIV/AIDS pandemic is not considered a major problem in these otherwise “rich countries”. Statistics show that among the otherwise healthy, well nourished people of developed “first world countries”, sexual transmission of HIV is relatively rare, just about one in one thousand contacts between a HIV positive female and a HIV negative male and about one in 300 contact between a HIV positive male and a HIV negative female. This figures are obviously so low when compared to those of sub Saharan Africa clearly showing that there is something peculiar and different about our case.



This thus raises a big socio epidemiological question of how poverty in Africa contributes to the maintenance of high HIV/ADIS prevalence.



POVERTY AS THE CULPRIT.



The World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than I dollar a day. Among the 50 poorest countries of the world of 2004, 33 where Sub Saharan African countries notable among which are Somalia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Congo DR and Senegal. It is interesting to note that the region of the world said to be home to over 60% of the world HIV patients happens also to be home to the poorest peoples of he world. What an obvious relationship. With very low incomes, people in this region of the world are unable to avail themselves of the basic necessities needed for the maintenance of healthy living. Such people are less opportune to have safe drinking water, have poor nutritional intake, are less likely to have good health facilities at their disposal, are less likely to fight disease due to serious immune suppression. Such people are also not equipped enough to make informed choices and are less capable to change their behaviour.



For example it is more likely for a youth in Nigeria to have unprotected sex (say with a sex worker) because his meager income cannot handle such rather extraneous expenditures or even when he cares,

his finances can not provide him with good quality condoms for better protection than it is for a youth of same age say in the United States. On the other hand, the prostitute who is driven by unemployment and societal pressure into the trade just to raise money is less likely to question the use or not of condoms in her escapade with her customers. Prostitution it self we must note is a poverty induced and sustained trade.



The high prevalence of the disease in women (57%) can be linked to marriage practices which are poverty motivated. With most of the women being low income earners, they often get married in search of social and financial security rather than for love or convenience (as is the case else where) and are less likely to question their husbands infidelity or his polygamous status especially in an situation were the women is considered “opinion less” in issues as such.



Over and above all these, a well feed healthy looking child is more likely to withstands the effect of invading disease pathogen than an immune suppressed, undernourished Sub-Saharan African child.



It thus goes without saying that AIDS problem in Africa is purely a problem of poverty. The staggering AIDS casualty figures in Africa is a server indictment on the various governments and economic planners in Africa. It confirms the unacceptable levels of poverty and palpable neglect of the primary needs of the masses.

Worse still is that the high prevalence within the region is creating more poverty. It is making children hungry, in poor health, traumatized and less likely go to school or to learn a trade.



THE WAY FORWARD.

I am of the strong opinion that the fight against HIV/ADIS in Sub Saharan Africa will work best only when adolescents and young people can control their health and their future, are empowered to make informed choices and possess the skills needed to change their behaviour. This they cannot obviously do with less than dollar in their pockets.



It would therefore do our various governments, African union, NEPAD, the United Nations and international donors much good if their efforts are channeled more towards the eradication of poverty in the region rather then at the provision of free condoms and payment for endless television jingles which often do not reach the target audience, the poor.



African governments should become less pre occupied in retaining themselves in office and concentrate more in improving the heath and well being of their people which is the only viable way the HIV/AIDS scourge can be contained in Africa.



The time for action is now. I find it appropriate to end this piece with a quotation drawn from

Marius Nyoyergo’s Africa is Sinking “--------- Shall it be wisdom or smartness of man that there exist quantum surplus and obscene opulence for a few side by side with total look or unspeakable poverty for the majority who strike, claw and bicker at one another for the pleasure of that few”. Africa and Africans must find the answer to this.



Ifedigbo Nze Sylva
UNN

Whether we like it or not, bad governance and political irresponsibility have never constructed the greatness of any human society. The peace, progress and development of every nation are forever predicated on, and guaranteed by responsible and visionary leadership which pilot the affairs of the state with enormous sense of duty. These foregoing cannot be divorced from the present quest to redesign the Niger Delta as a region that has become increasingly hostile to its inhabitants.



History testifies to these facts. Niger Delta as any challenged enclave in the world has not yet found it bearing simply because good leadership has eluded the region. Men of honour have not been in the vanguard of administering and championing its course. Historically, one can confidently equate the Niger Delta conundrum to Great Roman Empire, America after the Great Depression, Great Britain after the Nazism and Germany after the war. whereas record has it that Caesar was reputed to have found Rome a city of brick, but left it a city of marble, while Franklin D Roosevelt (FDR) gave America the new deal which not only brought it out of the great depression, but jump stated a socio – economic renaissance that today, was reputed to have brought America at the pinnacle of global dominance, while Winston Churchill led Britain during its darkest hours ; leading it to victory from the jaws of the Nazi death and destruction, while Konrad Adanauer and Friedrich Ebert inspired the Germans post war miracle which today set Germany out as one of the world’s economic giants, the Niger Delta and Nigeria’s problems have however become as complex as astronomy (apology to Eddy Edivwri of This Day) in this 21st century world simply because we lack icons of history to make legendary and remarkable impact to solving the region’s problem. Also, china that we all admire today was carefully and rigidly managed by men who nursed a vision of socio – economic dominance.



After a careful study of the Niger Delta crisis, it is rather unfortunate that the travail of the region, the socio – economic disequilibrium, militant anxiety and the secessionist agitations in the region are direct consequences of bad governance occasioned by league of buccaneers that have held the people hostage for the past years. It is rather unfortunate that some Presidential Aspirants are even canvassing for the creation of ministry of Niger Delta to ensure the perpetuation of looting in Abuja – Nigeria’s supreme axis of pretense.



Leadership as observed by one public commentator is more than a compilation of some delirious meandering of synaptic import. It is important to see leadership as a call to serve the masses and the zeal to inspire fellow citizens with apostolic zest unlike the nebulous college of looters that parade themselves in the Niger Delta as messiahs. Leadership is for true patriots. In summary, leadership is all about giving. Ask JF Kennedy! From Presidential to Local Council candidates, anybody that lacks the will to give a purposeful leadership in the troubled region should be rejected by the politically awaken people of the region as leadership changes hand.



For instance, each presidential candidate has seen reason to rent the air with statement such as; I will change the fortune of the Niger Delta people without concretely stating how to go about it. The brazenness of governance in the region in the past years is so naked that the rural populace drink from the water they defecate in. this, I am saying from experience as a development worker in the region. It is therefore rational to situate the crisis in the region in the precedent years as failure of governance across all level of our national life. J F Kennedy observed long time ago that if a free society cannot help the many who are poor; it can never save the few who are rich. If hunger wakes the poor to insomnia, fear will invite the rich to awake. That is the law of social existence. The present insecurity and other sundry agitation in the ruined region is a clear manifestation of the above long time axiom where the elite in complete concurrence with expatriates steal every resource thereby leaving the poor to swim in abject poverty and crumbs.



This writer’s experience in the region’s communities as regards social infrastructure that is totally lacking has further reinforced the level of incompetence and insanity of a bunch of leaders so brash that dominates our country despite the huge resources therein! How can a man be in the midst of water and yet have no water to drink? Isn’t this the sorry irony of the Niger Delta? For instance if all the oil producing region has to advertise is hostage taking, absence of electricity, health care, roads, mind boggling poverty, street filled with filth, and refuse, why then should we contest the fact that, when the likes of Richard Gozny say leadership is the bane of the region; when it is obvious that the past and present day misrulers have helped them arrived at such conclusions.



The most important aspect of this development is the opportunity the present democratic transition offers. It is rather very instructive for the people in the delta to choose candidates that look, sound and exude credibility. Considering the absence of plausible leadership, monumental avarice, brazen inequality and social dissension in the region, supporting the candidates of these largely failed and profligate governors to access and control their resources legitimately - certainly means their rendezvous with greatness is automatically postponed ad infinitum. It is terribly bad that hospital in even some of the states capitals are practically out of drugs and equipments and few Doctors loitering around will watch you die if you have no deposit. Bearing in mind the enormous wealth embedded in this poverty stricken land, there exists no logic, excuse or circumstances that can justify the level of misrule and crass incompetence prevalent in the region in terms of administering governance except if the will is lacking couple with desire for self aggrandizement. The above statement defies all explanation and constitutes the greatest example of the colossal failing of mankind and man inhumanity to man especially from the outgoing leadership in Nigeria. Today the region and by extension Nigeria has become a huge paradox of everything that is evil, wrong and hopeless.



Recently the senate president, Ken Nnamani was quoted as saying all the countries Nigeria took off together in nationhood have tragically left us behind. One can even safely the ones with criminally bad record of terrorism, dictatorship and lack can boast of functional and efficient basic infrastructure and services with good level of social welfare in spite of their meager resources. Ours is a direct opposite – poverty amidst plenty. Or can someone explain the fact that despite the records amount in our coffers we still grope in perpetual and endless dungeon of poverty?



I enjoin all our Presidential Aspirants and respective aspirants from the following areas to pay a campaign visit to Tamigbe, Ozobo, Agbogene in Delta State and Ayama, Aleibiri, Isampou, Peretorugbene, Gesmiebo all in Bayelsa State and Akaolu in Ahoada west, Obele, Rumuekpe in Emohua; Rivers states to see the dehumanizing condition in which the Niger Delta people tragically find themselves. It is a case of total disconnect in the following Ogoni land in Rivers state – Bere, Teemana, Agbani – Lueku, Gbe, Giokoo, Kira – Tai and Kporgor. I can go on and on. These ironically are the three richest states in Nigeria in view of their federal allocation and sundry incomes. In these communities, one can witness the extent to which the Niger Delta governors with the full cooperation and facilitation of the oil companies and Federal Government have held their subject; who were seen as slave rather than as citizen in contempt. These “leaders” have demonstrated more self-centeredness than anything else. Infact, Nigeria has failed the Niger Delta!



To end with, as these governors and their collaborators exit the various Government Houses, all effort must be stepped in to bring the full hammer of justice on those leaders that have failed the people. This will serve as deterrent to the in coming leadership.



Maxwell James

Project Coordinator

Niger Delta Nonviolent Elections Initiative

116 Woji RD GRA II Port Harcourt

State elections in Nigeria have been marred by late opening of polling stations, missing ballot papers and in some areas violence and intimidation.

Voting had been extended because of the late opening but it has now ended and ballots are being counted.

The polls are a key test ahead of next weekend's presidential elections.

President Olusegun Obasanjo said he thought polling had gone relatively well but the opposition said there were widespread irregularities and fraud.

The outcome of Saturday's election for governors and state legislatures is as important to many Nigerians as the presidential poll.

State governors can be extremely powerful, controlling budgets of around $1bn, especially in oil-rich states.

The poll was being seen as an important indicator of how free and fair the presidential polls will be.

Nigerians lined up in the sun for hours to cast their ballots, with many having to put up with the late arrival of election officials, inadequate voting materials, and in some cases, intimidation by youths supporting one party or another.

Station stormed

President Obasanjo had said that fraud or violence would not be tolerated.

But in Port Harcourt - the largest city in the oil producing Niger Delta - the BBC's Alex Last said there was genuine fear of violence and vote rigging.

Our correspondent was at one polling station that had only been open for a few minutes when a gang of young men on motorcycles stormed it and made off with the ballot papers and ballot box.

Early on Saturday, suspected militants torched three police stations, killing seven policemen.

In the commercial capital, Lagos, an opposition stronghold, the streets were abnormally quiet and the military was out in full force manning checkpoints at key road junctions.

Many polling stations in different parts of the country opened several hours late.

The BBC News website's Senan Murray was at a polling station in the Rukuba area of Jos in central Nigeria and saw eager people queuing to vote from early on Saturday.

But electoral officers only turned up just before midday to open the polling station.

Voter Yakubu Ropshak, 27, said: "We are waiting and we are not going anywhere until we vote."

In some areas of Rivers State and Delta, voting had not begun by mid-afternoon, Reuters reported.

Electoral chief Maurice Iwo assured Nigerians that "people who are already at the polling stations will be allowed to vote, no matter how late".

Many busy centres were staying opening into the evening to allow people to cast their ballots.

There were pockets of violence in some other parts of the country where election materials were destroyed and electoral officers attacked.

culled from BBC