Columns
Bill Clinton Lists 3 Ways To Solve Problems Facing Nigeria Today
Feb 27, 2013 – Bill Clinton Lists 3 Ways To Solve Problems Facing Nigeria Today
FORMER president of the United States of America, Mr. Bill Clinton, on Tuesday, said that Nigeria could do better as a nation, if all its natural resources and potential are well-managed by its leaders.
Clinton who spoke at the 18th edition of ThisDay Awards tagged “Celebrating Nigeria’s Best Teachers”, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said that the country was being confronted with three major challenges that had made it impossible for her to actualise her vast potential.
Clinton, who ruled America from 1993 to 2001 recalled that he had listed Nigeria as one of the 10 countries that would emerge as world’s greatest in the 21st century because of its abundant potentials, adding that Nigeria had not done well with its oil money.
“First of all, when I became president, my Secretary of Commerce, the late Mr Ron Brown did a lot of work in Africa before he was tragically killed in a plane crash in 1995 and I said he should make the list of the 10 most important countries in the world for the 21st Century and Nigeria was in the list. Imagine the future of the entire continent if Nigeria fails or South Africa fails.
“I would say you have about three big challenges. First of all, like 90 percent of the countries who have one big resource, you haven’t done well with your oil money. You have reinvested it in different ways; now you are at least not wasting the natural gas, you are developing it in pipelines.
You don’t do a better job of managing natural resources,” he said.
Clinton also urged the nation’s leaders to redistribute wealth among the haves and the have-nots, adding that sharing prosperity would bring about development.
The 42nd US president also lamented the poverty level among Nigerians, saying such could result in uprisings like that of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
Clinton said that the poverty level in the Northern part of the country was far greater than what it was in the Lagos area of the country, hence the need for its leaders to tackle the issue headlong.
He said, “Secondly, you have to somehow bring economic opportunity to the people who don’t have. This is not a problem specific for Nigeria.
“Almost every place in the world, prosperity is heavily concentrated in and around urban areas. So you have all these political problems and no violence problems, religious differences, and all the rhetoric of Boko Haram, but the truth is the poverty rate in the north is three times greater than what it is in the Lagos area and to deal with that, you have to have both powerful stake in the local governments and a national policy that work together.
“The third thing is there has to be a way to take the staggering intellectual and organizational ability that Nigerians exhibit in every country in the world in which they are immigrant and to bring it to bear here so that the country as a whole can rise.”
He also urged Nigerian leaders to urgently address the challenge of braindrain syndrome in the country.
The ceremony was well attended by traditional rulers, captains of industry, media gurus, students and diplomats which include former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; Mr Wale Aboderin, Chairman, Punch Nigeria Limited; Mr Sam Amuka, publisher, Vanguard Newspapers; Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, Senator Biyi Durojaiye, former Minister of Education, Dr (Mrs) Oby Ezekwesili; renowned banker, Mr Fola Adeola.
Fifteen teachers from primary to tertiary levels were honoured with best teachers award which attracted a sum of N2m each while Chief Rasaq Okoya; the Osile of Oke Ona Egba, Oba (Dr) Adedapo Tejuoso; Professor Laz Ekwueme and Mr Oba Otudeko were honoured with Life Time Awards.
[Source: Nigerian Tribune]
Steve
February 27, 2013 at 4:34 PM
For a white man to say this that means we need to wake up nigeria is a great country with terrible leader well this is still hope about to change this country and as well as our leaders God save this country
da game behind da game
February 27, 2013 at 6:15 PM
Thank you Mr judgemental and Dr know it all. Firstly, once the American government and the west stay in their lane and stop meddling, sky will be the limit of the African continent. However, if they still stand by the devil master’s ideologies such as bombing countries that are against their foreign policies with the assistance of their regime change and racist international soldiers called NATO, imprisoning African freedom fighters in Hague which the USA and some of its allies are not signatory to, using their slave drivers as African election observers thereby installing puppet leaders, international communities conferences (beast of the nation by fela) and using sanctions which is a typical example of weapon of mass destruction towards sovereign countries .
Mr Clinton, charity begins at home and I don’t need to inform you that African Americans in the USA are socially excluded in every aspect of factors of social exclusion. Yet during you premier, not even a single inclusion initiative was introduced to help African Americans. Alternatively, activist like Tupac was murdered because he was exposing the flaws in the system directed to African Americans and the state murderers were not brought to justice. In your country, African American does not choose their density because the system has already done it. Also, your wife Hilary was proudly happy with big laughter on her face on national television when another true African leader (the great Gadhafi) was killed by an American drone and her compliment was we came, we saw and his gone what a racist and devil mistress in 21st century.
Mr Clinton, you are not ashamed of yourself, kindly go back to your country with your three ways of solving Nigeria problems and implement it towards solving African Americans problem, unless you want to teach our leaders of how to drop their pants in ASO rock while they get their helmets polished just like you did in white house with Monica Lewinsky.
Since the west and USA are the most corrupt countries in the world, I don’t even need to start telling you about our tomorrow children’s monies deposited in your allies countries as well as yours by our puppet leaders which plays major roles towards development over there. Instead of these foolish and inhuman puppet leaders using the money to build infrastructures, roads, rehabilitation of our public sectors rather than auctioning them to your so called multinational companies, electricity and reduction of unemployment. In return, you guys furnish these puppets and their clique visas to your countries to spend people’s stolen money while the ordinary citizen’s visa applications will be denied. Also, ordinary citizens will be labelled all sorts of names such as advance free fraudsters, yahoo yahoo boys, terrorist etc
Lesson to you African leaders, the blood of Africans are measured with the barrels of oil the west and USA needed. On the other hand, the west and USA are using democracy to alter our social construct thereby benefitting from the outcome. Is about time we produce our true leaders rather than manufactured ones from the devil masters.
ugochi
February 28, 2013 at 6:43 AM
Tell them
yahaya
February 28, 2013 at 8:04 AM
Nigeria is sick,if a patient is sick and he meet the right Doctor,is left for the patient to use the priscribe drugs very well.As cliton give us those advised,is left for us.
i love your comment guy
February 28, 2013 at 8:47 AM
white are the courses of blacks problem in the world
U6me2
February 28, 2013 at 12:24 PM
Da game. You have a point. But the 3 areas my clinton mentioned should be properly checked. I dnt fully support his three ways of solve the problem face the country. Throughly,we are independent country and they depent most on Nigeria resources. All we have gat to do. Is to continue in prayers. The first things to look into is the area of social amenties… And other can follows
Nkv
February 28, 2013 at 1:38 PM
I was waiting to see the 3 big advice he was going to give us.but what i’m seeing is oil,oil,oil.do america need oil?
prince
February 28, 2013 at 8:31 PM
Leadership is what nigeria is lacking, we only have bunch of rulers who are just there to milk the abundant resorces that god has bless nigeria with. I quite agree with mr cliton on the issue of resource management, we are really bad managers doe the white guys contributed in bringing the country to it moribund state, b’cos they are always aiding n abating must of corrupt practices 9j rogue’s are doing.
Nkv
March 1, 2013 at 7:23 AM
Which corruption is greater than legalising samesex and abortion .they shouldn’t come here and tell us what to do when their country is in choas. were they making list of the countries they will conolize?
Bukkybest
March 1, 2013 at 12:43 PM
The advice given by Mr Clinton were not bad. It’s left to the greedy political leaders to stop appropriating our oil money and utilize it to better the lives of citizenry, fight corruption with purpose and embark on develomental projects. And the entire citizenry should wake up and choose for ourselves, good leaders and stop sycophant attitudes towards the political thieves!
Nkv
March 1, 2013 at 6:43 PM
This is an occasion where teachers are celebrated.i didn’t see any comment praising our teachers,he came to tell us our problems,there was surely a time when america was like this or worse.that is what we the citizens of Naija are here for ,to make Nigeria, a better .ok
jacobi
April 18, 2013 at 1:06 PM
Well there is freedom of expression I think you guys shld nt forget we made our own choices whether good or bad n shld stand for wat you believe in. Stop blamin people for U̶̲̥̅̊я problems.
Lawuru Ebi
October 23, 2013 at 11:15 PM
Please Beloved, Always Pray for this Great Country that Almighty God has Bless us with to move forward. That is all we need. Remember in any thing you do when the Hand of God is in there, there will Always be Prosperity. God bless you all. Amen. Don’t stop Praying! Remember always Jesus Christ is the Answer to all Our Needs.