The issue before us is economic bliss and good governance. I have changed it to good governance and economic bliss because it is good governance that makes economic bliss possible. Contrary to the thinking of many intellectuals and policy makers, just as we all know the difference between good health and illness, ordinary people know the difference between development and underdevelopment. Today, some nations like to make themselves feel good by saying they are developing nations: we shall not argue with that.
By
Prof. Julius O. Ihonvbere, OGI, OON
Text of Lecture delivered to mark the Inauguration of the Edo State Chapter of the Yar’Adua/Jonathan Solidarity Forum, at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre,
Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, June 27, 2009.
PROTOCOL
I thank the organizers for inviting me to deliver this lecture. I heartily congratulate all those being [...]
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In an attempt to tackle the crisis in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, the government set up a technical committee with the following terms of reference:
To collate, review and distill the various reports, suggestions and recommendations on the Niger Delta from the Willinks Commission Report (1958) to the present, and give a summary of [...]
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…the nature of society, existing contradictions and opportunities, power balances and societal values can determine whether the imbued leadership qualities can be nurtured, subverted or simply negated or ignored. Leadership can be individual or collective. Either way, the purpose of leadership at home, work or anywhere for that matter is to exercise power, provide direction, encourage and inspire others, show the right direction, build appropriate legacies for the future generation, and work for the common or public good.
Ethnic Reconciliation
by
Professor Julius O. Ihonvbere, OON
Paper delivered at the Policy and Programme Retreat 2007, Organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Delta State Chapter, Grand Hotel, Asaba, Delta State, February 2007.
I thank the Delta State Chapter of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for inviting me to deliver this paper on “Ethnic Reconciliation” [...]
Constitutionalism and the National Question in Nigeria
Julius O. Ihonvbere
The number one political contradiction or challenge in Africa today is how to deal with the national question. The continent’s history and the contradictions and engagements of the post-colonial era have precipitated deep political fault lines and congealed interests on both side of the political divide. Put [...]
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The Nigerian State as Obstacle to Federalism: Towards a New Constitutional Compact for Democratic Politics
“Under a true federal constitution, each group, however small, is entitled to the same treatment as any other group, however large. Opportunity must be afforded to each to evolve its own peculiar political institution. The present structure reinforces indigenous colonialism- a [...]
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Political Violence in a fledgling democracy
Professor Julius O. Ihonvbere
Text of public lecture delivered under the auspices of THE BREEZE MAGAZINE, Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos March 14, 2003
Mr. Chairman, it is not my intention to speak for too long today. I would prefer to be brief and to leave enough time for discussions and questions. [...]
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