Politics

Reinventing Africa for the Challenges of the Twenty-First Century

Reinventing Africa for the Challenges of the Twenty-First Century By Professor Julius O. Ihonvbere, OON, OGI Being Text of the 2010 Annual Public Lecture of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Lagos, 22nd July, 2010 It is a great pleasure to be here with you all today and I thank CBAAC […]

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Good Governance and Economic Bliss

The issue before us is economic bliss and good governance. I have changed it to good governance and economic bliss because it is good governance that makes economic bliss possible. Contrary to the thinking of many intellectuals and policy makers, just as we all know the difference between good health and illness, ordinary people know the difference between development and underdevelopment. Today, some nations like to make themselves feel good by saying they are developing nations: we shall not argue with that.

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Leadership and Sustainability of Democracy in Nigeria

By Prof. Julius O. Ihonvbere, OGI, OON Text of Lecture delivered to mark the Inauguration of the Edo State Chapter of the Yar’Adua/Jonathan Solidarity Forum, at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, June 27, 2009. PROTOCOL I thank the organizers for inviting me to deliver this lecture. I heartily congratulate all

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Leadership and the Future of Nigeria

…the nature of society, existing contradictions and opportunities, power balances and societal values can determine whether the imbued leadership qualities can be nurtured, subverted or simply negated or ignored. Leadership can be individual or collective. Either way, the purpose of leadership at home, work or anywhere for that matter is to exercise power, provide direction, encourage and inspire others, show the right direction, build appropriate legacies for the future generation, and work for the common or public good.

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Ethnic Reconciliation

Ethnic Reconciliation by Professor Julius O. Ihonvbere, OON Paper delivered at the Policy and Programme Retreat 2007, Organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Delta State Chapter, Grand Hotel, Asaba, Delta State, February 2007. I thank the Delta State Chapter of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for inviting me to deliver this

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Constitutionalism and the National Question in Nigeria

Constitutionalism and the National Question in Nigeria Julius O. Ihonvbere The number one political contradiction or challenge in Africa today is how to deal with the national question.  The continent’s history and the contradictions and engagements of the post-colonial era have precipitated deep political fault lines and congealed interests on both side of the political

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The Nigerian State as Obstacle to Federalism

The Nigerian State as Obstacle to Federalism: Towards a New Constitutional Compact for Democratic Politics “Under a true federal constitution, each group, however small, is entitled to the same treatment as any other group, however large.  Opportunity must be afforded to each to evolve its own peculiar political institution.  The present structure reinforces indigenous colonialism-

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Political violence in a fledgling democracy

Political Violence in a fledgling democracy Professor Julius O. Ihonvbere Text of public lecture delivered under the auspices of THE BREEZE MAGAZINE, Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos March 14, 2003 Mr. Chairman, it is not my intention to speak for too long today. I would prefer to be brief and to leave enough time for discussions

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Legislative Duties and Responsibilities in a Democracy

Legislative Duties and Responsibilities in a Democracy Professor Julius O. Ihonvbere, OON Text of Lecture Delivered at the Workshop for Local Government Councilors in Edo State, Benin City, Nigeria, June 19, 2008. Protocol Allow me to begin this discussion by congratulating you all on your election as councilors and chairmen in your respective local governments. 

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The Legislative Process in Nigeria

It is difficult to ascertain when legislatures came into being. I suppose that the difficulty lies in defining what is meant by legislature. In ancient Greece, the people of Athens gathered at the Acropolis, discussed matters affecting Athens and voted on them. Was such behavior legislative? In Igbo land, the entire male citizens above age

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