Goodluck Jonathan: With Nigeria under his administration, he has bitten more than he can chew
The present state of Nigeria, a country once richer than many European countries, shows how corruption could affect a country and ruin it without any immediate remedy.
In the seventies and late eighties in Nigeria, even though it is an African country, due to its flourishing economy, its local currency, the Naira, has value more than even the Dollar and other foreign currencies.
Corruption, tribalism, nepotism, and lack of good governance have made a country once worth living to be a nightmare for its ordinary citizens.
Each day, hundreds of people are trying to leave the poverty-stricken country overseas. Most of them, without proper documentation to facilitate the visa application, end up buying fake documents such as certificates of professional jobs, birth, and fake bank attests to the British Embassy.
The embassy is overwhelmed by the number of fake documents it receives each day.
After the death of the long-ailing Yar'Adua, the president, Goodluck Jonathan, the vice president, was peacefully sworn in on Thursday, 4th May 2010, as president of Nigeria. But the country is set to hold presidential elections next year, and it remains unclear who the top candidates will be.
In recent times, political instability, religious violence, and militant attacks on energy pipelines have significantly affected the country. The oil-rich Nigeria's economy isn't getting better but worse each day.
Now that Jonathan is in power, the question is, "Does he have a magic wand to save the crippled economy of Nigeria?" And again, who will be named the vice-president to Jonathan?
At his swearing-in, Jonathan said that he would work to ensure next year's polls were credible. "Our total commitment to good governance, electoral reform, and the fight against corruption would be pursued with greater vigor," Said Mr. Jonathan, according to Reuters.
But Nigerians are tired of hearing this whenever a new president is sworn in, for corruption is an incurable disease not only in Nigeria but entire Africa. After independence, many countries in Africa seemed they can't manage state affairs without corruption.
What is the significance of independence when most African countries were better off under the colonial government? Africa has so many questions to answer. It's our duty to restore our country's dignity.
Enough is enough; corruption must be kicked out of African politics.
A Muslim woman in a full-face veil: Where is her comfort?
Belgium would soon be the first country in Western Europe to ban the full-face covering veils by Muslim women. The action explains this as not a discrimination against religion or Muslim women, but for better integration and communication. "We have to know the people we communicate with," they said.
As a matter of fact, the misinterpretation of the Koran has imprisoned many Muslim women who find it extremely difficult to get out of their predicament.
Thousands of women do not wear the face veil at all, and they could explain the reason why it's not necessary, while others who wear it would also explain its significance.
In this case, there are divisions already within the Muslim women's community over face covering.
Every country has its own law. People have to respect and obey the law. The old saying still exists, "If you go to Rome, you do what the Romans do." I am imagining in this modern world, traveling to any Arab country with the intention of building a church. I don't think that permission would ever be granted to me.
The reason is simple and logical. I will be told this is an Arab country, and we don't permit that. Yet in every part of Europe where there is a large concentration of Muslims, permission has been given to them to build Mosques.
This is because Europe respects religion. Why then are they accusing Belgium of discriminating against women if they want people who want to live in their country to follow and observe their law?
In the Arabic world, there is a dance called "Belly dancing". It is a Western-coined name for a traditional Middle-Eastern dance. Belle dancing takes different forms depending on the country. The most featured part of the dancing is constantly moving with the hips.
Muslim women perform this dance in restaurants and cabarets, with "naked or nude belly" watched by admirers with applause.
My question is, if Muslim women can expose their belly nakedly to be watched by hundreds of people at the restaurant and festivals, why is it difficult for them to unveil in public? I leave this question for them to answer.
To make it clear, I am not encouraging the Belgian government to ban the wearing of a full-face veil. This article is based on my opinion; the fact is that Belgium is their country, and we have to obey and respect their laws.
If we travel to any Arab country, we have to obey and respect their laws as well. Recently, someone was arrested in an Arab country for kissing his girlfriend in public.
I have never heard of such a thing before, yet that is prohibited in that country. We also need to respect and obey the law of the Europeans.
Brussels, the capital city of Belgium
"The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly"—Albert Einstein
History has once again repeated itself in Belgium's political history. Belgium has plunged into a new political crisis as the premier-elect, Yves Leterme, hands over his resignation letter to King Albert II after his Flemish Liberal Allies (VLD) quit the five-party coalition earlier on Thursday.
In a similar crisis, the country was left without a permanent government from July 2007 to March 2008, when Leterme came to power.
Yves Leterme had a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders to tackle when he took his seat barely five months ago. One of the important tasks was to find a lasting solution to a long-running dispute between the Flemish-speaking and their counterpart French-speaking Wallonia.
In his effort to withdraw political boundaries between French and Flemish districts, the Flemish Liberal Party stood against it and split with Leterme. This is really a bad time for such a thing to happen when Belgium takes the seat of the European Union on 1 July 2010.
Even though Belgium is a relatively small country with a population of about 11 million, the country has never enjoyed a smooth or stable government from time to time because of the different opinions of its nationals, especially the Flemish-speaking communities.
It is a well-known fact that the Flemish authorities actively discriminate against the Wallonians. In a civilized country like Belgium, this shouldn't happen. Tensions between the French and the majority of Dutch-speaking communities have risen in recent years as parties advocate full autonomy for wealthier, flourishing Flanders.
Over the dispute that led to the resignation of Leterme, the Flemish-run communities on the outskirts of the capital have been trying to dissuade French speakers from moving in, largely by demanding they speak Dutch.
The question is, does every Dutch person speak French? A language must not be imposed on someone before he or she becomes a recognized citizen of a country.
The French-speaking Belgians' effort or right to live in Flemish districts is considered an "invasion." "We want to preserve the Flemish of this beautiful town," says the mayor of Gooik. "We don't want it to be overwhelmed by people who speak different languages," says Michael Doomst.
What kind of discriminatory statements are these in a democratic society? These were the kind of statements often heard in the former apartheid South Africa; now they are resurfacing in Belgium.
Until a permanent lasting solution is found for this long-running feud between the Flemish and Wallonia, Belgium will never ever enjoy a smooth running of government. What has happened in the past is just the tip of the iceberg.
More political chaos would come. There is no peace in any country that does not have respect for its fellow citizens. The Flemish must change their character and approach to certain issues.
Splitting Belgium is not the answer but unity. Whether French or Flemish, both are hundred percent Belgians.
