Solomon's Column

Adolf Hitler labeled the extermination of the Jews in Europe' the final solution', while the military dictatorship in Argentina, which embarked on an unprecedented killing of its citizens, code named the same ''The process of National Integration''.  The activities of insurgents and armed herdsmen, which have claimed thousands of lives, are similar to the above-mentioned things.  Between 1976 and 1983, millions of citizens lost their lives in Argentina. Death squads operating under secret circumstances and under the cover of the state murdered about 11, 000 people, which are now described as ''The Disappeared''.  Two million people escaped persecution, while hundreds of babies born to ''The Disappeared'' were either sold, bartered or murdered.  Indeed, events in many states of Nigeria, including Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Borno among others, indicate that the government is fully aware of the insecurity, even as the killings continue....

  Peaceful change and superior honesty are two among the advantages of democracy. However, the alteration of the truth brings about disillusionment among the people and the continuous worrisome bloodshed of human lives is reflecting negatively on governance. All governments from time immemorial have been characterized by the twin evils of corruption and embezzlement of public funds. In addition, laws are hurriedly enacted for the preservation of the rot in the system. In dictatorships, the ruling party takes the position of the state, and ensures that the profession of a particular set of political opinions becomes the first qualification for those in the Civil and Public Service, rather than competence and honesty. However, although governments are liable, there are weapons to fight it in a democracy which is suppressed in dictatorship's form is labeled Glieshaltung, unifying the state. This form of corruption is not removed by dictatorships, but remodeled. Democratic governments,...

  The improvement in the system of transportation, to a very great measure, increases the physical extent and economic size of a country. However, in the Nigerian context, a number of factors have negatively affected the transport system and this has resulted in an astronomical rise in the prices of goods and services beyond the reach of a majority of the population. The prohibitive transportation costs coupled with the multiple taxation across the country and the unabating insecurity have all succeeded in ensuring that Nigerians remain in a perpetual state of hunger and poverty. Curiously, levels of government have channeled generated revenue from multiple taxes, unproductively, to real estate, while Nigerians continue to daily count their landed property losses. Indeed, the government at all levels have always contended with inadequate financial organization and the relevant knowledge. Sadly, economic stagnation is now a major characteristic in most cities that are contending wit...

The Federal Government has lost grip of the health sector. Nigerians now seek God’s intervention on issues pertaining to health care delivery.  Most public hospitals are now designated mortuaries, where Nigerians are left to die, rather than recover from ailments. Interestingly, the citizenry now resorts to self-medication and traditional healing therapy as a result of their poor economic status.  Sadly, most health workers lack the requisite skills needed to be proactive in their jobs. All these put together have resulted in high infant and maternal mortality and the prevalence of several diseases.  In some hospitals, patients are required to buy sachets of water for medical tests. Governments at all levels ought to set goals for better health care, but this is yet to occur.  Nigerians hope to experience an increase in life expectancy, while also coming to terms with high and substantial levels of immunization against all vaccine-preventable diseases and attaining n...

  The Federal government has been called upon  to urgently take a second look at the entire  process of recruitment and training of personnel of the various law enforcement and security agencies as a step towards ensuring  that the unbearable level of insecurity across Nigeria is nipped in the bud. This call was made by the National Coordinator for the Federal Workers Forum, Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''The government should take urgent steps to carefully look into the processes of recruitment, training and postings of those in uniform as a step towards reversing the worrisome and disturbing spate of insecurity. The government should take a second look on the processes that ensured that these personnel showcase the different uniforms of law enforcement and security agencies in a negative light. These trained personnel of the various uniformed agencies in Nigeria have continued, without stop, to engage in forgery, perjury, extrajudicial killings and corruption in all f...