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 [...]
Continue reading about Leadership and Sustainability of Democracy in Nigeria
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 [...]
Continue reading about Report of the Technical Committee on the Niger Delta
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” [...]
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 [...]
Continue reading about The Nigerian State as Obstacle to Federalism
Between Policy and Politics: Strategies for Moving Nigeria Forward.
Text of Convocation Lecture Delivered at the 13th and 14th Convocation Ceremony of The Federal University of Technology, Akure, October 30, 2002.
*Professor Ihonvbere is also Project Director, Constitutionalism in Post-Conflict Societies” Project with the International League for Human Rights in New York; Visiting Professor of Political Science, [...]
Our discussion today would focus on the new politics of constitutionalism and democratization in Africa and Nigeria. While my focus would be on Nigeria, I would draw lessons from other African states. Critical aspects of our discussion would focus on the nature, character and politics of the Nigerian ruling class though one could legitimately ask: Is the so-called ruling class actually ruling? Or is it just governing? We would focus also on the nature and composition and character of the Nigerian state.
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Beyond Constitution Making Experiences in Africa: Challenges and Prospects.
Text of keynote lecture delivered at the conference on constitutionalism in Southern Africa organized by the Southern Africa Research Institute for Policy Studies (SARIPS), Sheraton Hotel, Harare, Zimbabwe, July 24-27, 2000. The views expressed in this paper are those of the author.
It is indeed an honor to [...]
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