AMAOPUSENIBO Shedrack Fubara Blog

It is interesting to note that a protest, tagged, ‘One-day Global Action in Defense of Democracy in Rivers State,’ is scheduled for Tuesday, July 30, 2013. According to “THISDAYLIVE” publication of Sunday 28 July, 2013 ( http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/senate-approves-takeover-of-rivers-assembly-s-functions/154497/ ), this protest will address politically motivated violence and other anti-democratic norms in the state. A lot of never-ending articles, stories, editorial comments and blogs have been written on how the crisis in Rivers State is hijacking democratic principles in Nigeria. In spite of the wealth of information available on democracy, most analysis I have read miss the central point of democratic principles. There should be no disagreement about protecting democratic principles in Nigeria. It is an issue that affects all of us and future generation. Indeed democracy is an economic imperative as it is believed to be a foundation stone of how we install the doc...

At a special meeting of Congress held in Abuja, Nigeria on Tuesday July 9, 2013 the Ijaw National Congress INC, the umbrella body as well as the mouth-piece of all ijaw people and organizations in Nigeria as well as the Diaspora, considered the critical events in River State, especially the fracas that occurred in the State House of Assembly; the reactions from certain groups and individuals and resolved as follows: That the unruly conduct of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the ensuring physical combat in which dangerous weapons were used is unfortunate and is condemned by Congress in the strongest terms. All the persons involved in that fracas have brought shame and odium upon the people of the state. It is even more disheartening to recall that our youths with their impressionable minds were offered such dishonorable displays on International Television and the social media by their fathers and “role models”, especially since these leaders routinely advise our...

I bring you greetings from Port Harcourt. Fortunately, from my location, no hippos are in sight. Your place in history is securely established. You are one of the very few that have been consistent through the decades in your stance. Every regime since independence has felt your bold presence. Your mastery of words is extraordinary…so good that people are afraid of replying you (for fear of exposing their lingual deficiency – by the way, I face that risk too). Prof, you are one of the few that excelled both in the academic world and the audacious realm of activism. At my age, you were already declared an enemy of the Nigerian state for daring to stand hand in hand with truth. Time has proved you one of Nigeria’s finest, and no one can negotiate that. It is in the light of this remarkable persona that I am bothered by your position on the rumble in the deltaic plains of Rivers State. Your summation, I’m afraid, is uncharacteristically one sided. In your press conference, yo...

Date Published: 03/02/11 Propaganda and sycophancy have become the fuel and lubricant that drives campaign engines in this part of the world. Ironically, it is the same twin evil that derails leaders and makes them shift focus from advancing the wheels of development to “oiling” the praise singers . I’m sure Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is fully aware of this as he was an active player in a regime that was characterized by unprecedented propaganda and sycophancy. They made everyone believe that the Governor had the Midas touch. That he was the best thing that ever happened to Rivers State . All the positive titles in the book were exhausted on him: The Golden Governor; The Action Governor; The People’s Governor; Development Personified, etc. Even the State House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Amaechi, endorsed him overwhelmingly for a second term. Today, the story is different - Every failure of the past is blamed on that administration even though it birthed...

My attention has been drawn to a message and an invitation on facebook by the organizers of the above named group and I wish to state the following for the records and for avoidance of doubt:   First, I thank you for your compliments and for recognizing my determination to fight for a true and progressive Nigeria.   I am a progressive and a true believer in a one United and egalitarian Nigeria where justice, fairness and equity shall prevail.   Much as I am dissatisfied with some policy decisions and style of President Goodluck Jonathan in governance of Nigeria since he assumed office, I still believe he alone cannot change the decades of decay Nigeria has been plunged into by successive govt. To this end, rather than wish him failure or call him “Bad luck”, we need to rally and support him by exposing the ills we see around us, making public issues that we feel ought to be addressed by govt, making constructive criticisms of policies and programs that wi...

Please read before you scream at the headline: Hopefully someday and soon, Nigerians will come to appreciate the transformational strides of PGEJ aimed at setting Nigeria on a pedestal of sustainable development - Shedrack Fubara   Before recounting any STUPID achievement by the 5th democratically elected head of the Nigerian State, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, it is pertinent to note that Nigerians are just 14 years into a non-stop democratic governance system for the first time in a hundred years. Incontrovertible attitudinal evidence suggests the average Nigerian is still ingrained with autocratic and authoritarian outlook to leadership. Oblivious of the fact that councilors, Local Government Chairmen, State Assemblymen, Governors, Representatives and Senators also have huge parts to play in governance; the dividends of democracy have always been expected from the President alone. That is not desirable for a followership which should demand accountability from ev...