Articles by this Author
»
USE THE NHIS TO DEVELOP ACCESS OF THE PEOPLE TO ORGANISED HEALTH CARE SERVICE
In the past few days, we have witnessed a flurry of lamentations in the press and on the Internet on the sordid and killing state of the Nigerian healthcare delivery situation. The Sunday Punch of 8 March 2009 devoted four full pages of woes and disappointments and hopelessness to its readers. The Internet in the past one week is awashed with wailings particularly from the Nigerians in the Diaspora with regard to relations at home wasting away in hospitals.
»
Annual Convention of the Democratic Alternative
It is a great event for delegates to assemble in this historic city of Ilorin for the 7th Annual Convention of the Democratic Alternative. We are also happy to have the invited observers here among us. The last time this great party of the working and ordinary Nigerians met in this old city was on 11 January 2003 at the Extra Ordinary Convention when the party decided to contest the 2003 general elections. We met last on this platform of the Annual Convention, the highest constitutional dispensation of the party on 29 September 2007 in Lagos.
»
ON THE CALLS FOR A TWO PARTY STATE IN NIGERIA : by Dr Abayomi Ferreira
Recently, there were calls by two prominent personalities for a change of the political party system in Nigeria to a two party system. Professor Bolaji Akinyemi who made his political mark on the country during the military dictatorship of Buhari and Babangida respectively, at a lecture called for the return of the country to the two- party system. The usual excuse that he gave is the often stated ease of management of the two-party state.
»
NIGERIAN ELECTIONS 2007 IS THE SAME PATTERN IN SIX DECADES EXCEPT ONE.
The Nigerian elections, 2007 have come and gone. The entire world has condemned the process and outcomes as not representing the wishes of the peoples of Nigeria. Indeed, the presiding chief executive, Olusegun Obasanjo has equally declared that the process was ‘faulty’, although he would quite predictably uphold the outcome. I must express my surprise at the outcry of the world with respect to this rather expected farcical event of the 21st century.
»
UTOMI, OSHIOMOLE , 2007 ELECTIONS AND BEYOND
The sustained in-fighting to finish being assiduously promoted and globally displayed by Obasanjo and Atiku, political creatures of the same political party succinctly demonstrates the very essence of the ruling elite in Nigeria. This unenviable essence exists not only in the Peoples’ Democratic Party PDP, the party of the feuding top citizens in power, but equally in all the ruling political parties, the All Nigeria Peoples’ Party ANPP, Alliance for Democracy AD and the All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA.
Dr Abayomi Ferreira was born at Port Harcourt, Nigeria on August 1, 1938. He attended Christ's School, Ado- Ekiti and studied medicine at the University College, Ibadan. He obtained commission into the Nigerian Army in July 1967 and served with the 3 Marine Commando Division as the Divisional Surgeon commanding the 3 Field Ambulance Organisation and Military Hospital, Port Harcourt during the Civil War 1967-1971. Dr Ferreira obtained his baptism into politics, political writings and nationalist struggles as an undergraduate at the University College, Ibadan. Foundation Chairman of the university branches of the Nigerian Youth Congress and the Socialist Workers and Farmers' Party of Nigeria, SWAFP, he has worked very closely with the Labour movement ever since. He was the Chairman, Lagos State chapter of the Labour Party during the Babangida political manipulations. He is presently the President of the Democratic Alternative DA on which platform, he contested the Presidential elections in 2003. That experience led him to publish a book, Savagery in politics: the hindrance to national development. The book which approaches the political history of Nigeria with emphasis on the interests of the oppressed and deprived peoples of the country, and the road to a rapid economic and political development of Nigeria is available at