We will start a new decade, 2030 – 2039, five years from today. By then, humans might be going to space for holidays. Driverless cars may have become the norm on our streets. The average life expectancy is almost certainly higher in many countries. Artificial Intelligence (AR) will be working wonders in healthcare. Where will Nigeria and Nigerians be then? What will be our lot within the human community?

Nigerians should no longer be aloof to the affairs of their country and how they are governed from year to year. In 2025, they should, with one voice and one heart, resolve to change the trajectory of their country towards delivering a better life for all citizens (without exception) and becoming a more respected nation in the world.

As a Nigerian-American citizen, I have spent much of my adult life in the United States. I have worked as a productive citizen, paying taxes to help build the American society. Now, I am looking forward to retirement. But it is with a heavy heart because the country of my birth is moving at full speed in reverse gear. And I have family and friends back home whose plight depletes my joy.

We will start a new decade, 2030 – 2039, five years from today. By then, humans might be going to space for holidays. Driverless cars may have become the norm on our streets. The average life expectancy is almost certainly higher in many countries. Artificial Intelligence (AR) will be working wonders in healthcare. Where will Nigeria and Nigerians be then? What will be our lot within the human community?

Nigerians should no longer be aloof to the affairs of their country and how they are governed from year to year. In 2025, they should, with one voice and one heart, resolve to change the trajectory of their country towards delivering a better life for all Nigerians (without exception) and becoming a more respected nation in the world.

As a Nigerian-American citizen, I have spent much of my adult life in the United States. I have worked as a productive citizen, paying taxes to help build American society. Now, I am looking forward to retirement. But it is with a heavy heart because the country of my birth is moving at full speed in reverse gear. And I have family and friends back home whose plight depletes my joy.

My humble advice to the people and government of Nigeria is simple: Borrow a leaf from thriving and progressive countries in critical sectors and get your act together. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. The world owes you nothing. You owe yourselves everything.

The most important thing to borrow is not money or even technology (as crucial as they may seem). It is the mindset of working relentlessly for the common good and posterity, not for immediate, selfish benefits or the interest of small groups closely related to us.

I arrived in America over 40 years ago, barely from my teenage years. I knew no one who could speak for me. But I received a decent education and regular odd jobs to pay my way through. It was a hard life, but the opportunity was available to me (and others like me) without minding my status as an immigrant. In the years since my graduation, I have paid back that favor with multiple interests. That’s how systems are built to be self-sustaining and grow.

No one I know feels that they owe Nigeria anything. Indeed, most think that Nigeria denied them opportunities and owes them arrears. Changing this narrative would require more than the leadership mindset shift I referred to earlier. The citizens must also be involved to hold elected and appointed leaders accountable and monitor their job performances. In doing so, they must be prepared to enforce their sovereignty or die trying.

As G.K. Chesterton rightly said, “The paradox of courage is that a person must be somewhat careless with their life to keep it.” The balance of duty, privilege, and fear keeps leaders on their toes.

In the last decade since APC came to power, it has become fashionable for Presidents to ignore or scorn public opinion while carrying on as kings and emperors with divine right to rule. This is a tragic development that must be quickly arrested. The Office of the Citizen is the most important in a Republic. The President and Governors answer to that office and take their instructions therefrom.

To exercise that office, citizens should demand regular town hall meetings from their elected leaders where they can ask questions and demand answers. If the answers are not provided or are inadequate, they should demand the resignation or removal of affected officials.

All public service outlets’ official email addresses, phone numbers, or social media handles should be in the public domain. Through these, citizens may file complaints about hardships, make suggestions, and report service failures from government officials or those asking for bribes to do their jobs. All allegations should be thoroughly investigated, and those found guilty should be fired.

Sometimes, even living in today’s Nigeria can be seen as an act of courage. Life should not be that way. Life should be enjoyed, not endured, by the living. Nigeria is a great country, blessed with enormous resources that can make it the most beautiful nation on earth.

Those of us in the Diaspora have a moral responsibility to help by using the expertise and experience gained from other climes to transform the country of our birth to be better than when we left and make us proud abroad.

The knottiest of Nigeria’s problems can be fixed simply by getting exemplary leadership into power – and insisting that the leadership recruitment system is not perverted. This ensures that leadership has vision and character compatible with the best values of the people. Can we see if the Chinese and Emirates of Dubai can do it?

♦ Dominic Ikeogu is a social and political commentator based in Minneapolis, USA.

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INTERNATIONAL GUARDIAN is the boldest and brightest issue-oriented international newspaper published in Houston, Texas. Strategically, it strives to promote private enterprise, support responsible government and advocate social justice.

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One unique way to become an American citizen is to marry a U.S. citizen. But you have to meet certain requirements and stay in residency for the right amount of time. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) handles this process. The length of time it takes depends on the type of residency status you get.

You must be married to a U.S. citizen and show proof of being a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder) for at least five years in order to become a citizen through marriage.

Citizens whose permanent residency status is conditional

If you are married to a U.S. citizen and your permanent residency is conditional, you and your spouse must apply to the USCIS to have the conditions taken away. This application needs to be turned in within 90 days of the date that it will have been two years since your spouse entered the United States with an immigrant visa.

• Ensure your marriage to a U.S. national is legally recognized.
• Maintain your status as a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder).
• Understand the timeline and requirements for conditional residency.
• File necessary forms and applications within designated time frames.

Embracing the journey to becoming a new U.S. resident through marriage is a significant step that requires patience and diligence. By staying informed and organized, you can navigate this path toward achieving your American dream.

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INTERNATIONAL GUARDIAN is the boldest and brightest issue-oriented international newspaper published in Houston, Texas. Strategically, it strives to promote private enterprise, support responsible government and advocate social justice.

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The inauguration of a professional peace advocating group called “Peace Advocates and Practitioners Organization Nigeria European Headquarters Austria (PAPONEHA) was held on 19.10.2024, with UN representatives, the Nigerian Embassy, a few selected international organizations, some dignitaries and personalities with impeccable character in attendance. It was an edifying expert gathering of intellectuals with noble ideas on how to contribute professionally in developing strategies that should effectively usher peace whenever and wherever a conflict arises around the globe.

PAPONAHA was an idea conceived and delivered after evaluation of contemporary crises and conflicts amongst homes, communities, war and threats of war among nations with empirical evidence of danger capable of igniting a third world war. The primary aim of the organization is to reconcile opposing parties, instil peace anywhere it steps in and sustain it. The organization also wants to help vulnerable people and assist those affected by war and violent conflicts. Correspondingly, the organization will equally create a platform where peace and conflict resolution etc. would be taught.

The president of the organization Mag. Dr Samuel Ogbonna officially declared the occasion open at about 4 pm Austrian time. In his welcome address he thanked Dr Dogondaji Haliru Bello, the Charge de Affairs of the Nigerian Embassy Vienna, – who was represented by Minister Florence Lola Ejim – all dignitaries and guests in the hall for the honoured invitation. He also recognized members of PAPONAHA and thanked them for their energy, time and the enthusiasm they exhibited in pursuit of a successful inauguration, and appealed to all to support the organization. The Master of Ceremony (MC) Chief Wise Ibeji, Eze Okonko, introduced Dr Ogbonna and other bigwigs of the occasion.

Delivering his speech titled “The Dream Comes Through”, he narrated the genesis of how the journey of PAPONAHA began. It was a comprehensive and a well-expressed presentation of the history of the organization and its challenges that started from his first visit on 26 July 2023 to Prof Paul Uche J. Mbakwe in Uturu, Umuahia, Abia State, to the inauguration day. Prof Mbakwe whom he described as a great thinker and a motivator “is the founder of PAPO Nigeria DG/Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) Peace Advocates and Practitioners Organisation (PAPO/PAPONEHA) worldwide”, said Dr Ogbonna.

Conflicts around the globe like the situation in Sudan and in the Middle East, the threat of war from Iran, and the war between Hamas and Israel, Hezbollah and Israel, Russia and Ukraine etc. were all cited as imperative reasons for an urgent quest for peace.

Leaders of the invited organizations mounted the podium and gave eloquent speeches and praises expressing profound gratitude for such a honourable cause on how humanity regardless of race, religious background and political affiliation could live in peaceful co-existence. National Association of Nigerian Community Austria (NANCA) was also represented.

“PEACE BEGINS WITH ME, PEACE BEGINS WITH YOU” was the title of Lady Dr Chinedu Brown’s speech. She was not present at the occasion but was represented by Mrs Chinwe Agatha Egwuibe the wife of the Chairman of Igbo Cultural Society (ICS) who classily delivered her speech brilliantly. According to her, the Global Peace Index (GPI) developed by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Austria ranks the 3rd most peaceful country in the world while Nigeria ranks 147th among 163 countries in the analysis. She appealed to Nigerians living in Austria to endeavour to contribute for peace back home.

Professor Mbakwe is the founder/Director General and BoT Chairman of PAPO-PAPONAHA. He is a lecturer at Abia State University, Umuahia. He flew in from Nigeria for the occasion. In his speech titled “THE EMERGENCE OF PAPO-NEHA: OUR MISSION AND OUR VISION,” he recounted and attributed the genesis of PAPONEHA emergence to a question one of his 2020/2021, 200-level law students of Abia State University, Umuahia asked him, precisely on 12 October 2020. He said the question inspired him into action that led to the formation of the group. He reiterated the aims and objectives of the organization and the importance of peace in the world. He thanked Dr Ogbonna and his team for a job well done, and officially inaugurated the group with some dignitaries called to the podium as witnesses.

Mrs Florence Lola Ejim, a Minister and the representative of the Nigerian Embassy Vienna, was proud as a Nigerian and encouraged all and sundry to spread the good news about the organization, as she urged members of the group not to relent in their quest for peace because everyone needs peace. She promised that Nigerian Embassy will support any noble cause such as being championed by PAPONAHA whenever necessary and possible.

In his vote of thanks, Engr. Okeke John who is the financial secretary of the organization thanked all that graced the ceremony and reminded them that the inauguration was just the beginning of miles ahead.

Let me firmly and finally lend my voice here once more without any ambiguity that the path members of the group have chosen is a noble one. I am quite sure that they are not oblivious of the challenges ahead. Therefore, as professionals and intellectuals, I am optimistic that with dedication, perseverance, consistency to strive for fairness at all times, and applying wisdom in implementing what is just and right, the fundamental objective of the group in the globe will not be elusive.

Indeed, we all need peace.

♦ Uzoma Ahamefule, a refined African traditionalist and a patriotic citizen writes from Vienna, Austria. WhatsApp: +436607369050; Email Contact Uzoma >>>>

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Texas Guardian News

INTERNATIONAL GUARDIAN is the boldest and brightest issue-oriented international newspaper published in Houston, Texas. Strategically, it strives to promote private enterprise, support responsible government and advocate social justice.

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