Politics
Much Ado About BRIC(S)* _Where do Nigeria Fits in?_ ~Oti Joe ASHIA
*Much Ado About BRIC(S)*
_Where do Nigeria Fits in?_
~Oti Joe ASHIA
BRIC(S)– A few days ago, Mbotab Guibaldi, my Cameroonian friend, who is a research fellow at the World Bank Centre, Ofrima, invited me for a tea party which we later altered to a cocktail.
We then entered into a conversation on a variety of topical issues bothering majorly on political developments in Africa viz-a-viz the performances of African leaders that may have necessitated the resurgence of juntas, thinkering of seizing power from democratically elected governments in their various countries.
He tried to convince me that Leadership in Africa has failed hence the uprising.
He opined that with the Russian- Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner group already emerging to support the Sahel Nations to help oust their democratically elected governments in those countries, he is suggesting that the way to go now is for African States especially Nigeria to start contemplating joining the BRIC(S).
He said Nigeria should be careful else there may be a coup d’etat waiting to happen.
On Nigerian Government’s recent policies, I tried to convince him on what may have prompted current government’s decisions which were of course long overdue and that three months (1/16th) on a scale of 4 years is too short a time to rate whether a government has performed or not, or whether its policies were pro-people or not.
There were aspects were we both shared similar views.
However, on BRIC(S), it was one discussion I was not too excited.
Before I go into my reason, I think a background may help.
The term BRIC is an acronym for (Brazil Russia, India and China) and was originally developed in the context of foreign investment strategies. It was introduced in the 2001 publication, ‘Building Better Global Economic BRICs’ by then-chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Jim O’Neill; it was coined by Roopa Purushothaman, who was a research assistant in the original report.
South Africa only joined in 2010 making the original membership to adjust the acronym to accommodate her – the reason it was changed from BRIC to BRICS or BRICK (the ‘K’ of which I am still thinking).
Regardless of the goal and objectives of this group, I was concerned if Mbotab actually understood that BRICS stood for BRAZIL RUSSIA, INDIA CHINA AND SOUTH AFRICA, a group of five nations that came together to forge a common front economically and politically.
Well agreed, the sole aim of most if not all relationships is for mutual benefits.
So why should a country like Nigeria, the largest and most populous black Nation, the most abundantly blessed Nation in terms of human and natural resources, join BRICS which is just a coinage of her existing membership?
It is instructive to note that the war between Russia and Ukraine that has left millions either death, injured and/or displaced has been on issues of Interests and rivalry on choice of association. And the key actor in this emerging marriage (BRICS), the Russian President, Vladimir Putin did not attend the three-day summit in person, as he faces an arrest warrant for war crimes in Ukraine issued by the international criminal court,
This has placed a huge burden on the bloc whose most inducing goal is to provide alternative Economic governance to the US dominance at the global stage.
On the other hand, South Africa has always proven to be Nigeria’s rivals economically, socially and ‘traditionally’ if you may like evident in the constant sanctions placed on Nigerian firms or vice versa and the xernophobic attacks on Nigerians in that country.
So why should Nigeria be so excited to join a club with South Africa and Russia as part of her Membership?
I do not think it is in our best interest of our corporate existence.
To butress my points I took him through a list of European countries who are doing perfectly well but are not EU Members.
In fact, some are progressing smoothly as ‘stand alone nations, yet, they are about a tenth of the size of Nigeria in both land mass and population.
The ones that caught my attention the most were Norway, Switzerland, France, Germany, Serbia, Belarus, etc.
Fortunately, these are among the best economies in the world.
My submission was that Nigeria do not need to be a member of any club, union, association, etc to develop.
We have all it takes to be a great nation.
Nigerians and her Leaders know what we need to develop.
It is not Grants.
It is not Aids.
It is not Loans.
It is not Donations.
It is not Goodwill.
What Nigeria needs is purposeful leadership and patriotism.
The Corruption that has eaten so deep into the fabric of an average Nigerian subconscious requires proper surgery.
We can be member Nation to the best performing blocs around the globe but if the main ingredients of growing economies ‘good governance and purposeful or qualitative leadership’ is missing, it will be as good as we were not even a member in the first instance because it will still be like what Robert Kyozaki termed *Rabbit Race* in his ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’
And like the proverbial *Rotten tooth*, _… until it is pulled out, the mouth must continue to chew with caution…_
Thank God the world is already heading to Artificial Intelligence- AI.
We have the resources to procure these Technologies to help develop our abundant natural resources and reset the country.
If Nigeria needs a mutual association to jump start her economy to enable her play in the global league, there is Germany with the Technology, Norway with the managerial expertise, Switzerland that has printed all our currencies including keeping the ones that has been stollen and laundered.
In my submission, I told him that Nigeria joining BRICS is like a student who would copy in an exam hall including the Name and Registration Number of his/her benefactor without knowing the implication.
Nigeria cannot be so enthusiastic to be identified with a country like Russia whose Leader has inflicted much pain on her neighbors Ukraine on mere diplomatic Interests when back home, Nigerian have continued to prevail on her President HE Sen Asiwaju Bola Ahmed TINUBU not to go to war with Niger over the military interference with the democratically elected government of that country?
With the potential admission of six new Nations including Egypt, Ethiopia, Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE into its ranks after their recent three-day 15th annual summit in South Africa, and even more in coming years, what will be the faith of this much talked about acronym BRICS?
*_©2023_The_Pen_Lieutenant_*
Port Harcourt
Breaking: Speaker Obasa Debunks Allegation Of Spending N17b On Assembly Gate
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday described the allegation that the House spent N17 billion on the fixing of a gate as spurious and funny.
A self-proclaimed group, Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, had accused the Assembly of spending the amount to construct a gate. The group also sought investigation of the claim.
Speaking at plenary, Dr. Obasa said the allegation stemmed from the fear of some people over 2027 which is still more than two years away.
Obasa further debunked the claim that the House spent N200 million on its recently organised 22nd thanksgiving service for staff.
“It is so funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in the whole year that we will decide to spend N17 billion on a gate? They even claimed that we expended 200 million on thanksgiving that did not hold.
“We are aware that at a period like this when we are approaching elections in 2027, we should expect such things. I think some people are scared and I don’t know why.
“This House did not and has not embarked on any such project. We are not that reckless. We had our thanksgiving last Friday and dignitaries from various parts of the State attended it,” the Speaker said.
Addressing further claims by the group about the alleged relationship between him and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, the Speaker denied attending the latter’s screening and confirmation by the National Assembly.
“They said that I was at the National Assembly when they were confirming the EFCC chairman. I want to believe that there are CCTV cameras at the National Assembly to identify those who attended the event. The press must have written about it too. So the group should do more to confirm if I was there.
“This is just to deny the allegations in the interest of the public and not the writers because the writers are not those we should be joining words with,” the Speaker said.
Earlier, the House, through its spokesperson, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, had addressed the allegations noting that the Assembly bases its activities on integrity, transparency and accountability.
“It is ludicrous the claim about constituency intervention funds and constituency project funds and their handling by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko as claimed by the group.
“One would have expected a self-acclaimed anti-corruption crusading group to do its groundwork before jumping across the fence with conviction that it hit a jackpot to malign an institution of repute in the name of politics.
“Simply put, the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have any such funds. The Assembly does not embark on constituency projects. Instead, once every year, the House holds stakeholders’ meetings simultaneously across the state where constituents have the opportunity to tell the lawmakers their expectations and make requests for the betterment of the state.
“These requests and expectations are compiled and sent to the executive arm of government for consideration as inputs in subsequent budgets. If this is what the group takes as constituency intervention or project funds, we are sure this explanation has given the required education, moreover, it is common knowledge that it is the responsibility of the Executive arm to execute such projects,” the earlier statement by Ogundipe read.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
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