Why must Lukman be Petroleum Minister again? Are we that hard up for competent and contemporary Nigerians to run the affairs of this nation? This tendencies to rehash geriatric ghosts of our not-so-pleasant-nor-so-distant past creates the impression that only a special "few" can manage the Nigerian nation; the rest of us are mere plebians...irrelevant and incapable. But we all know that is not true.
How can a man who has been around as a career government jobber since I was just out of elementary school be the only one relevant enough to take over a ministry he last headed almost two decades ago?
Truth be told, it is either Dr. Lukman is the most astute and adept manipulator of the political machinery that has governance in a vise grip or he is probably the hottest brain Nigeria can muster at this critical hour. My logic then begs the question; if he is so hot, how come he did not fix these problems back then in the 80s when the complications weren't this severe; the Niger Delta brood were still passively docile and the "militants" hadn't tasted the forbidden fruit of ransom dollars and illegal bunkering zillions?
He had all the opportunities in this whole wide world to deregulate the petroleum sector as he is advocating now, to increase the number of refineries so we could be exporting products and not crude as he is reported to have noted at his Senate screening. Dr Lukman, had he been as visionary 20yrs ago as the position he is being considered for now desperately requires, should have for seen the current challenges, considering our population growth rate and our utter dependence on crude as a monolithic economy and set up structures to mitigate the attendant shortfalls. In simple English, if Dr Lukman was so hot back in 1985, we wouldn't be here in 2008.
Which is why his consistency in successive administrations baffle me. And his resurrection to the post of Minister for Petroleum is dumbfounding to say the least. When will the Nigerian political system start rewarding results and cease pandering to premodial instincts of ethnicity, religion and geographical advantages?
In a merit based society, it would be very hard to recycle our erstwhile Petroleum Minister back to the same position with the hard facts of the gross failure of the sector staring us all in the face. If there is a list of those who should be accountable for the current depravation in the sector, Dr Lukman should be in the top five section of that list, afterall, he has been around here for more than half the years the sector has existed in the Nigerian economy!
What new ideas will Dr Lukman bring to the table at this eleventh hour? What answers will he profer for the global downturn of our most valuable and solo income earner? Will his tool box that could not prevent the descent in this direction even when he was OPEC head huncho contain the hi-tech gadgets that the 21st century global financial market desperately needs to stem a seemingly inevitable crash?
While I respect the place of experience and do acknowledge Dr Lukman's service to our nation, the issues facing us now cannot allow us to wallow in cultural sentiments of eldership and statesmanship. We require the smartness and astuteness of a younger competent and dynamic mind to challenge the status quo. Dr. Lukman can never do this because he is the status quo!
President Yar'adua seems to favour regression than progression. The office of the President of any nation in this harrowing times require vision, focus, dedication, agility and dynamism; qualities we are yet to applaud in his administration almost two years into his tenure.
On the international scene, it is clear that almost all Dr Lukman's contemporaries have either retired into statesmanship in their countries or some are dead and gone (Bless their souls). The whole world is gravitating towards younger generational leadership...everyone it seems except Nigeria. How would Dr Lukman keep pace with the likes of Obama, Sarkozy or whoever his counterparts are in those nations? Does Nigeria want to be the spanner in the works of global recovery by slowing them down with our choice of Petroleum Minister? (as if we were that important abi? well it was just a thought...we can dream can't we)
On every logical grounds, including his age and health, I believe Dr Lukman should opt for a less vigorous role as adviser and statesman. Really, a great performer is that one who knows the best time to exit the stage. And really, he might be pushing the tab on outstaying his welcome in the fray of Nigerian governance. Dr Rilwanu Lukman sir, please say NO!
Knowing the nature of the Legislature, the 'screening' would just be a rubber stamp of the President's choices. Some of our honorable lawmakers are usually too star struck to be thorough sometimes. Who wouldn't be? Dr Lukman was the stuff we read about in Nigerian History growing up and to see him live? it's like being in the presence of royalty. We choose to be silent on the other possible incentives...
If the President and his staff bothered to take a poll on his choice for Petroleum Minister, the percentage of "nays" would stagger him. Most of us are embarrassed because it is an indictment on our generation. When will we be considered wise and capable enough to determine the affairs of our nation?
Like a friend summed it all up, Dr Rilwanu Lukman's grand and great grand children if he has any need him more crucially at this moment in time, than the Nigerian state. So Dr Lukman sir, please say No!
How can a man who has been around as a career government jobber since I was just out of elementary school be the only one relevant enough to take over a ministry he last headed almost two decades ago?
Truth be told, it is either Dr. Lukman is the most astute and adept manipulator of the political machinery that has governance in a vise grip or he is probably the hottest brain Nigeria can muster at this critical hour. My logic then begs the question; if he is so hot, how come he did not fix these problems back then in the 80s when the complications weren't this severe; the Niger Delta brood were still passively docile and the "militants" hadn't tasted the forbidden fruit of ransom dollars and illegal bunkering zillions?
He had all the opportunities in this whole wide world to deregulate the petroleum sector as he is advocating now, to increase the number of refineries so we could be exporting products and not crude as he is reported to have noted at his Senate screening. Dr Lukman, had he been as visionary 20yrs ago as the position he is being considered for now desperately requires, should have for seen the current challenges, considering our population growth rate and our utter dependence on crude as a monolithic economy and set up structures to mitigate the attendant shortfalls. In simple English, if Dr Lukman was so hot back in 1985, we wouldn't be here in 2008.
Which is why his consistency in successive administrations baffle me. And his resurrection to the post of Minister for Petroleum is dumbfounding to say the least. When will the Nigerian political system start rewarding results and cease pandering to premodial instincts of ethnicity, religion and geographical advantages?
In a merit based society, it would be very hard to recycle our erstwhile Petroleum Minister back to the same position with the hard facts of the gross failure of the sector staring us all in the face. If there is a list of those who should be accountable for the current depravation in the sector, Dr Lukman should be in the top five section of that list, afterall, he has been around here for more than half the years the sector has existed in the Nigerian economy!
What new ideas will Dr Lukman bring to the table at this eleventh hour? What answers will he profer for the global downturn of our most valuable and solo income earner? Will his tool box that could not prevent the descent in this direction even when he was OPEC head huncho contain the hi-tech gadgets that the 21st century global financial market desperately needs to stem a seemingly inevitable crash?
While I respect the place of experience and do acknowledge Dr Lukman's service to our nation, the issues facing us now cannot allow us to wallow in cultural sentiments of eldership and statesmanship. We require the smartness and astuteness of a younger competent and dynamic mind to challenge the status quo. Dr. Lukman can never do this because he is the status quo!
President Yar'adua seems to favour regression than progression. The office of the President of any nation in this harrowing times require vision, focus, dedication, agility and dynamism; qualities we are yet to applaud in his administration almost two years into his tenure.
On the international scene, it is clear that almost all Dr Lukman's contemporaries have either retired into statesmanship in their countries or some are dead and gone (Bless their souls). The whole world is gravitating towards younger generational leadership...everyone it seems except Nigeria. How would Dr Lukman keep pace with the likes of Obama, Sarkozy or whoever his counterparts are in those nations? Does Nigeria want to be the spanner in the works of global recovery by slowing them down with our choice of Petroleum Minister? (as if we were that important abi? well it was just a thought...we can dream can't we)
On every logical grounds, including his age and health, I believe Dr Lukman should opt for a less vigorous role as adviser and statesman. Really, a great performer is that one who knows the best time to exit the stage. And really, he might be pushing the tab on outstaying his welcome in the fray of Nigerian governance. Dr Rilwanu Lukman sir, please say NO!
Knowing the nature of the Legislature, the 'screening' would just be a rubber stamp of the President's choices. Some of our honorable lawmakers are usually too star struck to be thorough sometimes. Who wouldn't be? Dr Lukman was the stuff we read about in Nigerian History growing up and to see him live? it's like being in the presence of royalty. We choose to be silent on the other possible incentives...
If the President and his staff bothered to take a poll on his choice for Petroleum Minister, the percentage of "nays" would stagger him. Most of us are embarrassed because it is an indictment on our generation. When will we be considered wise and capable enough to determine the affairs of our nation?
Like a friend summed it all up, Dr Rilwanu Lukman's grand and great grand children if he has any need him more crucially at this moment in time, than the Nigerian state. So Dr Lukman sir, please say No!
