Olukunle Samuel Akintola-Sogeke

Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir- I Never lost My Praise

2011-11-11T11:18:00.000+02:00

Arthur Unegbe & Victor Banjo...Heroes or Villains?

2011-08-05T11:22:00.003+03:00

It has been a while since I posted something of note on this blog. Recent happenings in the Nigerian polity have woken me from my slumber and got me thinking.

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (Rtd?) has recently been in the news and has ruffled not a few feathers in just a couple of days.
What could he possibly know that has kickstarted a smear campaign against him by people who were hitherto regarded as saints, untouchables and untaintables?

One thing is for sure, a man who has been locked up for 13 years has got nothing much to lose. Going by the number of weeks/months that recent VERY High profile cases in the country were dispensed with or paused indefinitely, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha has served and over-served the number of years He would have been sentenced taking into consideration that He might have been allowed to plea-bargain as in the norm these days.

Before Major Hamza Al-Mustapha is branded a Hero by teeming Nigerian cyber-activists, lets take a trip back memory lane and take a look at the role that two characters played that has earned them a place in Nigerian History. Were they Heroes or Villians?
The two characters are Lt. Col Arthur Unegbe and Lt. Col Victor Banjo.
So much has been written about them by so many people and I will not pretend to have a new insight on who they were or what they stood for. I'll just surmise what I know.

Lt. Col Arthur Unegbe
Lt. Col. Unegbe is remembered correctly or incorrectly as the Igboman that clogged the wheels of the first Nigerian coup, January 15, 1966.
Lt. Col. Unegbe was the Quartermaster-General of the Nigerian Army at Army Headquarters in Lagos and supposedly had the key to the armory which the coupists were keen to get into to secure weapon and ammunition. He was killed for resisting. Most historians have painted him a man that was averse to the coup and his killing during the coup has undermined the propaganda that the coup was by IGBO men in the Nigerian Millitary to entrench the interest of IGBOs in the Nigerian polity.
Max Siollun on dawodu.com has a different take on why Unegbe was killed. Please read http://www.dawodu.com/siollun1.htm

Lt. Col Victor Banjo
A few years ago at the Covenant University Library, I read "Breaking the silence" by Victor Banjo's elder sister who i believe did her best to portray her brother as an unfortunate victim of circumstances.
Lt. Col Victor Banjo was the first Nigerian Director of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Corps of the Nigerian Army. In those days, young educated men who enlisted in the Nigerian army quickly rose up the ranks and were in control of vital positions before they clocked 30.
Victor Banjo was killed on the orders of the Biafran authorities together with Lt. Col. Ifeajuna on September 22 1967, the man who conceptualised the Jan. 15, 1966 coup.
That is an irony for students of history to explore. How could Ifeajuna who planned an IGBO coup be executed by the Supreme Millitary Council of Biafra?
For more on Victor Banjo, please Read this piece by Reuben Abati http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/reuben-abati/victor-banjos-gift-to-the-nation-18.html

As someone said, someone's hero is another's villain.

What is your take on Arthur Unegbe and Victor Banjo? Heroes or Villains?

Tillaman - Trying

2011-04-05T19:48:00.000+03:00

Reflections on the Nigerian Civil War.

2011-02-05T17:31:00.001+02:00

An Excerpt from Chapter 3, Reflections on the Nigerian Civil War by Raph Uwechue

In the current Nigerian situation what we have is a stale-mate-no definite agreement to live together but no agreement to separate. In such a case only a compromise solution is reasonable and realistic. We should not separate-since there is no agreement to do so-but we should not suffocate ourselves in too tight an embrace to cling together.
The important thing is that in the light of our past and present experiences, an adjustment should be made such that can allow the best in different communities to come out while keeping the worst in adequate check.

The Nigerian Federal Constitution as it stood at the opening of 1966-that is before the introduction of the current army rule-could be compared in geometrical terms to a rhombus.
Taken in its totality, this particular rectangle has everything that is required to make a square, namely four equal sides and a total angular sum of 360 degrees. Yet it cannot stand squarely on any plane simply because the angles are unevenly distributed.

In Nigeria we have nothing to add or subtract in order to make our country firm and stable. The only treatment required is the mere adjustment of the angles of our constitutional rhombus to make them right angles and so produce a structure that can stand squarely on any given national base.

I do not believe that this task is in any way beyond our capabilities.

In view of the reality and peculiar awkwardness of our situation, the time has come for us to try the same trick as Christopher Columbus did some five centuries ago. He made an egg stand on one of its ends, simply by flattening and thus broadening its base.
We can make Nigeria stand, and all our people secure and happy by broadening the base upon which our union is founded. Until our various peoples have had enough time to learn more about one another and discover and appreciate the hidden beauty and values locked up in the multifarious habits and cultures of our numerous ethnic groups, we have no realistic choice open to us other than that of lengthening-and thus relaxing the cracking tension on it-the cord that holds us together.

Raph Uwechue. (1971). Secession and the problem of minorities. In: Reflections on the Nigerian Civil War. New York: Africana pub. Corp. pg 66 - 67

Nreport_ep02 - INEC

2011-02-01T17:20:00.001+02:00

This was funny and educative...just had to share.

EVA D DELIVERER

2011-01-21T17:01:00.000+02:00

Wow! What can i say? d girl is good...

Yelz!!!Dagrin- Pon Pon Pon-(Naija Boyz Remix)

2011-01-21T13:50:00.000+02:00

Yelz!!!
I'm a Naija boy...

God Abeg o...

2010-12-30T09:45:00.003+02:00

The Carnage in Jos, Nigeria.

From time to time, we hear of people dying and we grieve especially if it was someone we knew who had lived a good life.
All over Nigeria, I am yet to see a group of people who do not grieve at the passing of a loved one. People who die are buried amid tears and soon afterwards, there is a feast and merry-making for everybody.

The Jos sectarian crisis has been played out by the International Media organisations to be a fallout between Christian and Muslim groups in the state.
They have no problem referring to Nigeria as the Muslim North and the Christian South. What can be farther from the truth??
People who just got sucked into the fight are as well propagating the lie that the crisis is between the Christians and the Muslims.
While I do not dispute that both groups are attacking and carrying out reprisal attacks on each other, great care should be made to diffuse the current crisis and get to the root of the problem in Jos.
The latest killings are condemnable, abominable and people who carried out the carnage should be made to die in a burning pit.

Some have dubbed the crisis political while a supposed Islamic group has taken responsibilty for the latest wave of killings.
Whatever the reasons adduced by any group, a fact of life remains that HUMAN LIFE IS SACRED.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

The media will not be awash with the most gory pictures understandably and some social sites that published uncensored pictures have taken them down. Pictures of people dying and being buried in a vague manner is what you will see in the local and international media.
What I saw happened in Jos is beyond words. Human beings roasted like Sallah rams with their intestines out in the open well done. God Abeg o...

I am out of words to describe the details of what I saw.

God should not be a pretext to genocide. Religious homogeneity does not in anyway guarantee the peace and stability of a society.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is constitutionally a secular society and any attempts by any social, cultural, political or religious group to advance its interests in any way detrimental to the country should be dealt with appropriately in accordance with the rule of Law.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria as long as we the People decide to live amicably and eschew acts that questions our collective sanity.

Silent Night by Tosin Martins

2010-12-21T13:38:00.000+02:00

Xmas is here and this song is banging si mi leti...Ability pass ability...QED

Beyonce Listen - Lady Marmalade - High Quality - America's Got Talent ?-...

2010-12-13T16:18:00.000+02:00

I heard her 1 min rehearsal and then I was priviledged to hear her sing for the judges...SUPER!!!

Odun n lo sopin

2010-12-01T11:58:00.002+02:00

O ti to ijo meta ti mo tin ronu arojinle lori Pataki at maa se asaro ni ede abinibi mi.
Ti mo ba ma je omo Yoruba rere, mo ma wipe Yoruba ni ede abinibi mi. Amo sa, eede Geesi ni afi to mi dagba. Eede geesi ni awon Oluko mi ile-iwe alakobere ati ile iwe giga lo lati fi ko wa ni eko ti o ye koo ro. Igbamiran ewe, ti mo ba roo sa, o jo pe eede Geesi ni ede abinibi mi.

Asaro mi je yo lati inu ibeere leyin ibeere ti awon alawo funfun ma beere wipe bawo ni awa alawo dudu omo Nigeria se mo oyinbo so paapa julo awon alawo funfun to sese nko eede geesi. Mi o lero sipe eyin oluka mi ko ni se alaimo nkan ti mo n so.

Leyin atotunu wipe eya bi ogorun meji le ni aadota lon be ni orile eede mi, o ma n se bi eni pe won a mi ri, sugbon alaye mi o ye won to be je be.

Eni ni ojo kini, osu kejila odun 2010. Nipari osu yi, odun yi a tun dopin niyen. Asiko odun yi ni oluwa re ma n ro nu pe kini mo ti fi igbesi aye mi se ninu odun to koja yi. Kini mo fe fi igbesi aye mi se ninu odun to n bo. Ojo ori mi ma n le si…mi o gbodo wa lee le laarin awon egbe mi…iru eero ti o maa ma dalu ara won niyen ninu okan oluwa re niyen.

Ninu odun yi, orisirisi nkan lo ti sele ninu igbesi aye mi ati t’orile ede mi. Lara awon nkan ti mo ti ko ni wipe o dun lati bu enu ate lu elomiran wipe won see daada to amo sa ki ni Oluwa re na ti gbe se ti a fi wa sope o lenu ati soro.
Eni ti o ba ti de ipo alase ko le mo iru ina ti o n koju awon ti o wa ni lori oye.

Orile ede mi Nigeria o ni laelae yi pada. Ko si ilu ibomiran ti mo le so pe mo ti wa ju ikan yen na ti mo ni lo.
Olorun a tun bo ma bukun orile ede mi, awon omo Nigeria rere, awaon ebi, ore mi ati ojulumo mi. Ki Olorun bukun fun gbogbo wa o. Amin.

Olamide - Eni Duro (Official Video)

2010-11-30T17:04:00.000+02:00

I love this video...nothing beats being real.

F.SHAW- Moonlight Serenade [Official]

2010-11-30T13:27:00.000+02:00

Marianne Williamson (1996)

2010-10-21T11:53:00.002+03:00

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Impatience...17/08/09

2010-10-20T17:27:00.000+03:00

Yesterday evening on the bus from Ibadan, something bizarre happened.
I had gone to visit Grandma and soon afterwards to Kush’s place. From there, we went on to Sir K’s place in the Eleyele-Ringroad axis area of Ibadan. I met some of my egbons that I had not seen in a while.

I boarded bus from the site of the old toll gate and there was a pregnant woman on board as well.

Barely 5 mins into the journey, the driver stopped the bus for her to urinate. About 20mins into the journey, she started contracting…

Trust my naija people, various suggestions from the different passengers. While some wanted her to seek medical attention at Oke-ogun, others suggested Sagamu or Mowe-Ibafo.

She alongside her husband just wanted to get to Lagos. We got to Oke-ogun close to Sagamu but there was no hospital in sight.

Driver, speed up and let us get to Berger as fast as possible and she would be able to get adequate medical attention there. That was the consensus that the passengers reached.

Just before we got to Ibafo, she started contracting seriously and there was this kind old woman attending to her.

The next minute, still in the moving 18-seater bus, I heard the sound of a baby. I tried to fight the realization that a baby had been born.

Indeed, a baby girl had just been born.

We got to Ibafo about 5 minutes later and we went looking for a new packet of blade for the old woman to sever the umbilical cord.
We continued our journey to Lagos about 25mins later.
The woman and her male companion alighted at Berger and seconds later were lost into the receding Berger night lights.

I caught a glimpse of the impatient baby girl and as I write this, I really think she should be christened Impatience.

Yaradua 101: How Not To Be a President.

2010-03-03T23:57:00.001+02:00

President Umaru Yaradua has been described by different people as a very gentle, unassuming, down-to-earth man with a very large heart.
However, He is still in a race against time not to go down in history as the worst President, the Federal Republic of Nigeria has ever had.
A President is supposed to have a sound body and presence of mind. S/He is someone who should be able to make split-second decisions in the best interest of his wards.
Oftentimes, prospective candidates jostling for the Presidency of a Club, Society or Country have chosen prospective Vice-Presidents based on derivable bloc of votes they can get from people perceived to be different. Prospective Vice-Presidents are often docile and are supposed to be easily manipulated.
Presidents most times do not trust their Vice-Presidents and oftentimes fear they are going to be overshadowed if they give their Vice-Presidents a free hand to operate.
Below are some tips on how not to be a President.
1. Yaradua is an adult. Nobody made up his mind to run with Goodluck Jonathan on the same ticket. If He didn’t think Goodluck was capable to step into the shoes of the President at anytime, He shouldn’t have run on the same ticket with him.
Lesson 1: Be a man of yourself. Don’t be misled into taking a decision that you cannot defend or stand up for.
2. Yaradua could have shopped for a VP he could trust with the Presidency if the need arises. Jonathan was not the only southerner that He could have paired with according to the arrangement of the PDP.
Lesson 2: Trust your VP/Deputy wholeheartedly.
3. Yaradua should never have promised what He couldn’t deliver on. Yaradua promised Nigerians ‘rule of law’. His actions/inactions have pushed the country into a constitutional crisis.
As an apostle of the supremacy of the law, albeit the constitution, He failed woefully.
Lesson 3: You don’t preach something and do something else or act unconcerned when what you stand for is being rubbished by your aides.
4. As the president, the buck stops at Yaradua’s table. No flip flops. Indecisiveness is one of the hallmarks of the Yaradua administration.
Lesson 4: As a leader, the buck stops at your table. You can delegate authority to your aides but you take responsibility for whatever they do.
5. When Yaradua’s sickness became more apparent, he could have relinquished power to his deputy, long before his condition deteriorated to the abysmal level where he wasn’t in control of himself again. A little more faith and respect for his deputy would have forced his overbearing aides to respect Goodluck as well.
Lesson 5: Know when to quit when the ovation is loudest. Yaradua’s success handling the Niger-Delta Amnesty package was already endearing him to Nigerians again.

6. Politics has elements of show Business. A President in a democratic dispensation must always be visible, for in him, the state is embodied. There should be information flow about the President at all times. There has to be a real interface with the people. Yaradua was virtually inaccessible to People during his spell as a functional President and totally inaccessible when He became incapacitated.
Lesson 6: AS a President, never be inaccessible to people who voted you into power.

Calling on my President on behalf of Haiti…

2010-01-14T22:51:00.005+02:00

A few minutes ago, I had to put off the television. I just couldn’t watch the suffering of my fellow human compatriots in Haiti.
I come from South West Nigeria. In all the major cities that I have been to in South Western Nigeria, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Lagos, Osogbo, etc., I know there are a lot of skilled artisans who can effectively handle heavy machinery for buiding purposes.
Every morning including Saturdays and Sundays, I see most of these men and women around major motor parks or in some cases at designated places where contractors who need their services go to meet them in the morning and negotiate for their services.
These men and women run into thousands and possibly millions.
In 48 hours from now, enough machinery and men could be scored from the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. Each state government could be given the task of getting 20men, a total of 720 men ready to move to Haiti to assist in the ongoing Rescue Operation going on in the devastated country.
The Nigerian Army I believe should have the capability to mobilize up to a thousand men to join other security forces in maintaining peace and order in Haiti if the need arises.
What Haiti needs most right now is machinery and workers who can operate them. Nigeria has both in abundance.
With all due respect Mr. President Yaradua and Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan and all Nigerian State Governors, this is a window of opportunity to redeem the image of Nigeria that has been soiled in the comity of nations. Act now before this window slips away.
Haiti needs us!

4Rm GIRNE TO 9gErIa

2009-11-26T17:40:00.004+02:00

Departure (July 11, 2009. 1615hrs)
As Peace my travelling partner and I boarded the shuttle bus waving to our friends who were waving us goodbye, the reality that I was finally going to Nigeria after a long time dawned.
Thoughts of similar departure scenes for the victims of the two air-crashes: Air France and Yemeni Airlines came to my mind. Some of them would have waved goodbye to their loved ones and some more of them would have called ahead to their loved ones to await their arrival at their point of disembarkment.
All the way to Ercan Airport and after boarding the plane, I was still empathizing with those who had lost their loved ones in those ill-fated flights.
As the plane taxied and took off into the skies, it was time for confessions of sins. What could have gone wrong with those flights? What could have caused the malfunction of those planes? It beats me.
As the place touched down at the Istanbul Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, people started clapping, joyful and thankful for a safe flight.

TRANSIT 1: ISTANBUL ATATURK AIRPORT, ISTANBUL.
Our connecting flight to Amsterdam was not going to take off until 5:55am the next morning. We got on the queue to clear Immigration. The Immigration Officer on duty brought out his magnifying glass and checked our Nigerian passports thoroughly. That was something he did not do for the others who preceded us. He checked the bio-data and visa pages one ‘mm’ at a time for any sign that we had tampered with the passport somewhat. After a while, he let us go.
How do we pass the time and not get bored before our early morning flight out of Istanbul? Peace and I decided to take a walk round the airport and we ended up boarding the bus to Taxim at the heart of Istanbul. The crowd at Istanbul is same to what you will see at Idumota in Lagos some years ago. Not even in Central London would you find such a thronging crowd.
We had a cub of roasted corn each before we went looking into the shops and came out with some nice stuff. We got tired and went back to Taxim Square where we sat down on the steps and were talking about stuffs. After a while we headed to the café so that I could make a call to someone.
We boarded the Airport Shuttle around 12:30am back to the Airport. The parts of Istanbul we went through were beautiful. Old buildings interspersed with modernity dotted the whole area. I would love to go back soon.
At about 1:30am, we got back to the Ataturk Airport, got confused at the local terminal and finally found our way to the International Terminal and the storage facility where we stowed our luggage before we ventured into town.

TRANSIT II: Schipol Airport, Amsterdam (July 12, 2009 0820hrs)
At about 2:30am, we checked in our luggage, Peace, Abutu and I at the KLM Counter A22. From the storage facility, I got a porter who carted my luggage for me. He wanted me to give him Abutu in exchange. He was a crooked dirty old man who should go home and die in peace. What a fool! Do I look like Abutu’s father?
My passport was checked, scrutinized, re-checked and rechecked over and over again. Finally, I was allowed into the boarding area and allowed to join my two friends who had less trouble clearing Immigration this time around. We went into the Duty Free Area and we almost missed our flight. Not until we heard our names over the loudspeakers before we started rushing to our boarding gate to board.
The flight from Istanbul became interesting towards the end because it started raining and it had been a long time since I saw rain fall.

LAGOS:ARRIVAL
The first thing I saw on arrival was the remains of a Nigeria Airways Plane. The plane we flew in from Amsterdam to Lagos was much more bigger with three aisles and good entertainment facilities. They were really giving us value for our money. Also, unlike minimal services for people in Economic class, the KLM crew went all out to make sure that everybody had enough to eat and drink and were comfortable.
At the check-out counter, we were made to wait endlessly while the immigration officials held sway. We waited and waited until they finally checked us all out.
My Uncle and Aunt drove us to a restaurant where we had a proper Naija welcome with Jollof Rice and fried Snails.
Need I say that there was no public power supply by the time we got home? They had been counting three weeks of no supply and were on generators. I would have to wait five more days to catch a 20secs glimpse of power supply.

9ja Rumbling: A Nation in Darkness.

2009-09-28T18:15:00.003+03:00

I cultivated the habit of keeping a journal to detail the rich experiences I have been encountering from Girne to Lagos. However, militating circumstances have forced me to stop. I just couldn't keep on detailing the scenes I get to see playing themselves out as I travel in cars/buses, walk on the roads and atimes just stepping aside, watching people go by. What I see is like a movie playing out and me a dissatisfied spectator.

There is a frustration in everybody that you can almost touch. Everywhere is in darkness. I begin to wonder; how can you move forward in darkness? We seem to forget that a Nation in darkness is a nation in peril.

How can a nation that sets an unrealistic goal of being one of the top 20 economies in 10years from now not invest massively in the Power, Education and the Transport Sector?

Everywhere you go, people complain and grumble and more complains. You get to hear people proffering both workable and unrealistic solutions to the Nigerian problem.

Information flow is at its lowest ebb. Infact one can argue that information is not flowing. It took a long time for people to know that a new IG of Police had been appointed. How many even know his name?
Asides Nigerians who have access to Cyberspace, how many are informed about happenings as it happens or that affects the country?

Everything with a touch of goverment in them are in terrible states of dysfunctionality.
Nobody seems to care for the lot of the people.
The President would rather attend to his personal interests than to the welfare of the nation, leaving the country on "auto-cruise". Bo le baje, ko baje.*

Road networks are death traps. Seeing dead bodies on Nigerian highways are now common sights. Everybody just looks the other way.
Last saturday, I saw Federal Marshalls trying to arrest a driver whose boot was not properly closed while 15metres down the road, there was a bloated body of a human being.

Rail networks that can boost economic activities in the country are comatose. Officials of the NRC are content with collecting rent on properties around rail tracks than providing rail services.
There is still no reliable air transport network to all parts of Nigeria. The Murtala Mohammed Airport is now more of an eye-sore and only a tourist attraction to toddlers.

The situation currently in Nigeria makes one wonder whether contributing to Nation Development is really worth it. However, there is no other place to call home. Naija must be free from these shackles of oppression.

Who is the man to lead Nigeria from this abysmal depth of darkness, hopelessness and failure? Certainly not Yaradua.

*Bo le baje, ko baje - Yoruba expression meaning if it can[is] spoil[spoiling], I'm not bothered.

pls go to http://olukunle.blogspot.com to read more

Abiodun…the boy died: Who is to blame?Pt 4

2009-09-24T13:13:00.003+03:00

Abiodun was lost in thought. He was sitting at the foot of the pedestrian bridge that was at Iyana Oworo with a rectangular board that held his petty wares which mainly consists of peppermint and chewing gums. How could life be so unfair he thought? Here he was at 17… Baba, e no get job…mama is pitiable…almost all his older siblings have deserted home in search of greener pastures…Could he continue living like this?

Is God cruel? How could he create some people to enjoy this life while he wallowed in poverty? How could he keep on running after cars trying to eke out a living? Add that to the daily harassment from KAI officials….hmmm…this life…

[the scampering of people around him jolted him back to consciousness...d shout of KAI!KAI!!KAI!! rented the air]

Abiodun paused, looked right and left…where should he run to?

He ran up the stairs with some others hoping that the KAI men would just grab some wares from the people that were unlucky to be caught under the bridge and then move on a bit farther and wait for the traders to come and bail out their wares.

Some of the KAI men crossed the expressway to the other side and blocked both exit of the pedestrian bridge. What was he going to do? The KAI men are now on both ends on top of the bridge. They started closing in and seizing people goods. Abiodun was confused. He wished he had Aferi* to ferry himself out of the booby trap on the bridge. Abiodun had never been trapped like that in his life. He was the only one whose goods had not been seized and the two KAI officials were closing in on him. No, they would kill me first, he thought to himself. A crazy thought formed in his head and he smiled wryly. He placed his free hand on the railings that bordered the bridge and crossed his legs over the railing. He was now standing at the edge of the bridge. Haa…e ma pa mi leni yi o**…Move any closer and I’ll jump, he said to the KAI men…the KAI men were confused. What should they do? Advance and Abiodun jumps from the bridge in front of oncoming vehicles and die or they retreat and lose face in front of the crowd that had started forming at the foot of the bridge watching the unfolding drama on top of the bridge…

What happened next?

The older of them told Abiodun to step back over the railing and that his goods will not be seized. As he made to do that, his slippers caught on the edge of the railing, the board which his petty wares was displayed tilted backward and in a bid to hold fast on to it, Abiodun jerked backwards and fell off the bridge landing on his head. The oncoming trailer simply grinded his skull and crushed his body.

*Aferi - juju that can make one disappear

**Yoruba expression meaning you will kill me today

For followers on facebook, go to http://olukunle.blogspot.com/ for the full story

Random thot

2009-09-17T15:00:00.003+03:00

In retrospect, Obasanjo's third term agenda doesn't seem to have been a bad idea afterall. Even though, it has been proven that some of those around him were corrupt, corrupt practices were not as brazen as this under his watch.

Everybody knows that Obasanjo doesnt have long term friends like that...methink that the anti-corruption war would have gone round to haunt his seemingly untouchable friends back then.

Yaradua was a mistake from the start. I was so surprised yesterday to find out that the new slang for a snail is now yaradua...Interesting...lol

Bez Idakula

2009-09-09T15:30:00.002+03:00

Bez Idakula is one fine musician with a quiet mien that conceals what he is capable of. You would be pardoned for thinking he is one “Ajebota” that is spoilt rotten.
Don’t be deceived. Behind that quiet disposition and glasses that you can’t catch him without, is a music genius.
I met Bez Idakula in passing a couple years ago at Covenant University. I heard him sing and play his guitar (crablike in those days) a couple of times.
There are a lot of wannabe artistes out there who shouldn’t go so close to a microphone talk less of singing (read bleating).
Anytime I see mediocre music /artistes being promoted, I always wonder when the real musicians like Bez would step out into the klieg light.
Now is Bez’s time. Please tune into Big Time on RHYTHM 93.7FM at 4PM today (September 9) to listen to Bez and the other contestants in the ongoing Hennessy Artistry Nigeria 2009 Competition.
If you are a lover of good music, don’t miss out. Be at Saipan Restaurant and bar, 9pm Thursday and 9pm Friday nite at Volar Club, VI(read fi-eye)...lol...Lagos to give all the support you can to Bez.
Bez has been nominated by the legendary Producer Cobhams Asuquo alongside four other contestants nominated by other producers in Nigeria.
Bez Idakula has paid his dues. He was the opening act alongside Cobhams at Asa’s Concert in Lagos, 2008. He has played alongside almost all the current heavyweights in the industry. He is one artiste that always churns out good quality music anytime he sings and plays his guitar. Expect him to leave you thirsting for more...For all its worth, take my word for it.

Who is to blame? Pt 3...[Captain Danjuma Maigeri (rtd), KAI Boss + The Olarogun’s Family]?

2009-09-08T18:17:00.004+03:00

The scene is set in Captain Danjuma Maigeri (rtd) expansive office at Alausa. One wonders what the helmsman of the KAI is doing with such an expansive office when you are entering it for the first time.
Nigerians like big things and the higher you move in an organization/corporation, the bigger your office space becomes.

Captain Danjuma Maigeri (rtd) was lost in thought as well…

How could it have come to this?
We started well on a very good footing. Now, all the achievements we have recorded are being flooded away by our errant personnel. Where did we get it wrong? Is it in the expansion of the force or is it that we have not pay attention to the quality of the men and the women that we were recruiting? Hmmn…there was no way we could have avoided expanding. Our scope of operational reach had to be expanded for optimal effectiveness. Should I throw in the towel now? No o…the KAI Brigade is at a very low point…if I leave now, I will not be celebrated. I have to do something fast to redeem my image. What should I do o? How can I turn the psyche of this meat-and-soup cum cigarettes and ogogoro snatchers around to do what they are supposed to do effectively?

I have to convene a meeting of the Area Commanders as a first measure, brainstorm with them and then go all out to prosecute the war on errant Lagosians. Wait o…come to think of it, these people have to eat. With all this reports that my people raid roadside hawkers and release their goods to them less recharge cards and other quick disposables, how will they not be encouraged to keep on going back to the same place to trade? My personnel at Oshodi are even emboldened up to the point of collecting royalty from street vendors and hawkers. KAI!
I think I know what I have to do, wage a war on two fronts; get my men to go out more and then set up a taskforce to monitor their activities. I hope that works.

As if on cue, Bisi, Captain Danjuma Maigeri’s delectable secretary walks in bringing in a file. He tells her to convene a meeting of the Area Commanders for 10:00am the following morning.

The Olarogun’s Family

The Olarogun’s family is an interesting one. Pa Adeniyi is a retired civil servant whose last post was Head of Revenue Board. At the end of the month, he was getting three times his normal salary from extras he got from people trying to curry his favor. From that, he could afford to take extra wives and he at that time barred them from working. Unfortunately, his good times didn’t last long. All his fair-weather friends deserted him after his retirement because he couldn’t dole out cash again like before. Little by little, Pa Adeniyi couldn’t keep up with feeding his large family. The change in government effectively changed all the old guards at all State parastatals.

Now, Pa Adeniyi has four wives and a total of 17 children. His last two children, Risikat and Abiodun were the worst affected of all his children. They were not really fortunate to have a somewhat opulent upbringing like their older siblings. Now, Risikat tries to make ends meet by engaging in one of the oldest professions in the world while Abiodun sells peppermintand Recharge cards at Iyana Oworo, Ilaje Bariga.

Who is to blame? Pt 2...Babatunde Raji Fashola?

2009-09-07T13:56:00.002+03:00

If you haven't read the Part 1...[http://olukunle.blogspot.com/2009/09/who-is-to-blame-pt-1umaru-yaradua.html#links]

At the same time that the President’s plane was descending, Gov. Fashola was sitting at his table at the Governors office, Alausa, deeply in thought. What should I do about the overbearing influence of Tinubu? People have said they really appreciate what I am doing but can I stand on my own politically without Tinubu’s support? I don’t want to have any confrontation with Tinubu. He has a lot of money and he is a seasoned politician. Who are those that can be considered as my henchmen when the chips are down? Have they not at one time or the other been part of the Tinubu machinery? See me o, as if there is another machinery in place in Lagos right now. I don’t think I have the might or the will to take on his well oiled-political machinery. Let’s assume that I even do, do I want to? Can I afford it? Will that not wreck me financially? I’m confused. Everywhere I go, people sing my praises. What exactly have I done? If only they know that I have not done much more than 20% of what I am supposed to have done? Even though they are singing my praises, there is still a lot more that can be done in terms of improving security, whipping KAI and LASTMA officials into shape. What is the next step that I should take to tackle those two agencies? Do I scrap them and build new agencies in their place? There are a lot of OND, HND and university graduates who can do a better job than the glorified Agberos, little educated personnel that the outfit currently parades. I’ll look for a way to increase their pay, give them better training and be on their neck to deliver. However, can the state afford the bill that will come with that? Severance pay for the personnel that will be laid off and finance for the new training facilities and all that…Will that not draw criticism from the civil society? Some really stupid people would start shouting that they’ve been doing a good job as if picking on harmless people on the street and exploiting them can be regarded as part of the good job they’re said to be doing.

The LCDA’s are now more of recruitment centers for thugs and miscreants. The ordinary okada men cannot ply the roads without one or two of them having a broken head or nose at the end of the day. If we revert to 20local government which is not fair and commensurate with what our counterpart states have in the north, there is no harm in that. Wait a min though…wont I be looked on as a weakling? This issue is way beyond me now and to give in to the Federal govt will be termed as a Northern Victory by some people. No o, I don’t see it as such but a very good way of reducing overhead cost and with proper coordination, we can achieve much more without having to create LCDA’s which are actually redundant. Who created the initial local governments? The concept has been wrong from the start. I think it should be scrapped/reorganized and by then, we can make our ministries much more effective in delivering dividends of democracy…that would require the constitution to be changed…I am tired…its like you approach a problem to tackle it and the more you approach it, the more dimensions you see about the problem and then people expect you to wave a magic wand and solve all their problems. How can I stop LASTMA/KAI and especially the police, yes the Police from receiving kickbacks from motorists and Agberos? If I can get them to stop thinking it is their natural right to collect kickbacks from these people, the others would follow suit. The report reaching me is that they are regarded as tin-gods and they don’t even pay bus fares. If a commercial bus-driver carries any uniformed personnel on board, that gives him a license to become a momentary King of the Road. The problem is that I don’t have direct control over them. They are subject to the Commissioner of Police who in turn is subject to the Inspector General of Police. A showdown is risky. What can I do to tackle them? Are they the only impoverished Nigerians? They and not anything else …haa not forgetting the PHCN, which is a story for another day. The Police Force is actually a source of headaches for most people in Lagos today. It’s not their fault too…if not for the bus drivers and operators who claim ignorance and just continue to give them money instead of calling their bluff and challenging them to do the real duty they are being paid for.

I’m tired, tired, tired. I just want to get over with this first term. Should I go for a second term or not? IF I don’t, I will be betraying the people of Lagos state who have faith in me. How will I explain that decision to them? Even sick Mr. President is going for a second term? If I don’t go for a second term, I will be looked on as a weakling. I am the true son of my father…chuckles…infact I am the reincarnation of my grandfather and I have been here long enough and I’ve acquired a lot of sense overtime. I am the man with the seven lives…Not one thousand Tinubus can stop me. I will continue to fight for the common man and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Lagos state.

Gani Fawehinmi[1938-2009], RIP

2009-09-07T13:47:00.004+03:00

Two weeks ago, I was going to do a piece on the legendary Fidel Castro of Cuba. What has kept the man relevant after all these decades? Is he really a bad man, What would he be remembered for? What is his legacy?

I just wanted to learn as much as possible about the man before he passes on to the great beyond and people just start pushing a lot of data about him that will be difficult to sift through.

Then came the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim of Iraq. The deaths of those prominent people spurred me to learn all I can about Fidel Castro while I have the time. Who is going to be the next in line to go? Is it going to be Fidel Castro, Robert Mugabe, Anthony Enahoro, Nelson Mandela or King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz?

I was wrong and totally off the mark. It was Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAM/SAN. Gani is gone, killed by the Nigerian state he lived his life for. If you think that statement is far-fetched, try and do a research into how Gani contracted Cancer of the lungs.

Gani. just like Jesus Christ, you have lived a life that will forever be remembered in the light of John 15 vs 13: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”.

You have lived a good fight. Your contributions to the Nigerian Nation-building are well appreciated. Rest in Peace with this assurance, The fight continues...

For a detailed tribute to Gani Fawehinmi, please go to [http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/publication/ubochi/090609.html]

Who is to blame? Pt 1...Umaru Yaradua?

2009-09-04T18:47:00.003+03:00

I managed to write a short story in the faction genre. I hope you enjoy reading it. I am going to serialize it for your reading convenience.

Umaru Yardua, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

As the plane descended into the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport in Abuja, President Yaradua was lost in thought. He was barely aware of the happenings around him. If only the short ceremony at the Presidential wing of the Airport could be passed over. His aides and his wife had told him to go ahead with it. They told him that would quell rumors that he was sick and that keep his detractors quiet for a while. Any opportunity to be in the public eye should not be passed over, they had said.

How much longer can he continue to govern Nigeria like this, he thought. Even though, majority of Nigerians don’t know what ails me, they surely deserve better than this. I know myself. I could have done better than this if only I am not sick. Should I resign? I’m confused. If I resign, I have to constitutionally hand over power to the Vice-President, Goodluck Jonathan. My fellow northerners would brand me a traitor and a sellout. They want power to remain in the North for eight years. If I resign, power would just go to the South south…all those hypocrites…everybody is either a criminal or an accomplice. No, that is not even an option. I have to sit out the next two years and all this criticisms would just blow away. I am already the President; they can do nothing to me.

Should I seek a second term? People even see Turai as more of the President than I am. What if I set her up to run for the second term in my place? At least, that would keep the Presidency in the family and I can even create history by being the ‘first man’ in Nigeria. He chuckles. From being President to being first man. I’ve explored everything I met on the ground to at least provide power supply to the People. From reports reaching me, even the FCT has blackout these days. How would I be remembered? As Nigeria’s worst president or as a sick man who tried to rule Nigeria? Abeg…even if I don’t do much more, I can’t be as worse as Abacha in People’s perception.

I don try now. It is just that all these so-called activists would never see anything good in any of our initiatives and castigate all our moves. The 2011 elections are just around the corner. I will sit tight until like march next year. The Ramadan is here and Christmas is coming up soon afterwards and then the New Year rolls in, that’s enough activity to keep people busy, occupied and not have to worry about the seeming non-performance of this government. There is still enough time to achieve Vision 2020. If we can have our banks strengthened and have relative peace in the Niger Delta plus increase power output to around 6,000MW by the end of this year. Chei! That’s what we promised the people. Not to worry, if we don’t get up to 6,000MW, I never went on National TV to promise the people that. I’m tired of ruling Nigeria. Putting on the same plastic smile everyday and lying to my people. They just cant afford to know the truth.

As the plane touched the tarmac, the President was aroused into consciousness. He sighed…He looked out of the window and saw the tarmac. How much would it cost to make this airport have the feel of the King Abdul Aziz International Airport or the Frankfurt International Airport? Pull it and build another one? Of course, that would serve to rejuvenate the rebranding of the Indefatigable Minister of Information, Dora Akunyili but by then, people would start complaining that there are a lot of people living on less than a USD per day, kai…hypocrites, if only they spend more of that money they spend more on feeding those poor people they claim to be fighting for. Life would surely be better for those class of Nigerians. I have to be proactive on this issue. How can I make life better for those in the rural area but then that would be done at the detriment of those living in the city…kai! The wahala for this country, e too much for me…na superman go fit come solve am for us.

...to be continued

Y

2009-09-01T20:18:00.006+03:00

Dunno why the title is 'Y' but i guess i've been bitten by the crazy bug that Lagos is infested with. I really wish i can be walking around and be able to record my experiences on the streets in and out of lagos and at work. No day has gone by in Lagos without me seeing something out of the ordinary in Fashola's paradise.

Okay...have a feel...on the way to Ota last sunday evening at Abule Egba, i saw this man in white Agbada come down from a Toyota Corolla[2008], got down from the car in the middle of the road[traffic] and started urinating on the culvert in the full glare of everybody,policemen, commuters stuck in traffic and the salespeople there...lol
Okay, you've seen that before, try this...have u seen someone give birth on a public bus?
The constant subject of Okadamen and other hapless Nigerians by security operatives[thugs in uniforms] leaves much to be desired....
I have seen uniformed men throwing blows at Obalende...

Lets brainstorm on something...It is an idea that I picked up somewhere. Instead of the hollow vision 2020 of the Nigerian Government[more on this later], can we drive development through a much improved vision of hosting the World on Nigerian soil in the year 2006 by hosting the World Cup?
The South Africans can testify to the level of development that their country's public infrastructure has undergone in preparation for the World Cup 2010.

Can we make it happen in Nigeria?

Dabo

2009-08-24T13:34:00.005+03:00

People like Godwin Dabo should be held responsible for Nigeria's plight. I heard the text of his interview with Daily Sun on Radio this morning and I was amazed that men of his ilk can not just keep their mouth shut and atleast by that, we wouldnt know the amount of folly stored up in them. Agbaya.
A text of the interview is reproduced below.

“He should let another Northerner try or put his wife. Nigerians will support his wife because the woman has shown clearly that she has what it takes to lead mankind and there is nothing wrong with a husband handing over to a wife who is very effective. To me, I would prefer the wife because I have seen that she is in charge of the mechanics of control in the Presidency,” he said.
Dabo launched a virulent attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the ANPP standard bearer in the 2007 elections, Major General Muhammadu Buhari for nursing the ambition to become Nigeria ’s president, saying that the former vice president had failed in his political career, just like his former boss, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The Presidency is zoned to the North. So, at the appropriate time, the North will sit down and decide the person they are going to field. For anybody to say there is no alternative to Yar’Adua, that person is not speaking the truth. The North is now filled up with a lot of credible people who can replace Yar’Adua. I tend to support what some people are saying that Mrs. Yar’Adua will be a more effective President than her husband. Of course I will support her if she is fielded. The husband, because of several factors said he was going to do just one term. The enemies of Nigeria should not push Yar’Adua for a second time. I’m in Abuja and I have not had light for the past six days. I’ve been on generator for the past six days and I’m in the heart of Abuja.

I believe President Yar’Adua has made his point. He should let another Northerner try or put his wife. Nigerians will support his wife because the woman has shown clearly that she has what it takes to lead mankind and there is nothing wrong with a husband handing over to a wife who is very effective. To me, I would prefer the wife because I have seen that she is in charge of the mechanics of control in the Presidency. Everybody who has met her leaves with the impression that he has met a woman who is in charge. She is like Margaret Thatcher of Britain . She is like Mrs. Clinton. For God’s sake, let Yar’Adua allow his wife continue or in the alternative, there are many Yar’Aduas who are ready to step in. there is Babangida Yar’Adua and other people. But Atiku cannot come in because he’s the same failure like Obasanjo who gave us the worst government. Atiku was part of his administration for a very long time before they had a misunderstanding and parted ways."

My grouse is not with the fact that Yaradua should not recontest. Rather it is at Dabo's suggestion that Yaradua should put his wife as if that will just make everything alrite. Dabo himself said that Turai is in charge of the mechanics of control in the Presidency yet he hasn't had power supply to his house in the heart of Abuja the FCT in six days. What a shame for someone of Dabo's stature to consider the Presidency a family affair.
As far as Nigerians should be concerned, the Presidency was zoned to the North by the PDP. If someone from another part of Nigeria comes around tomorrow and he promises to give us succour from the visionless government of President Umaru Yaradua, what stops us from voting that person in as the next President of Nigeria?

What we expect from Statesmen is to convey an emergency conference and look into how the power of the masses can be harnessed to make the Federal Government wake up from its slumber and provide proper governance for the People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

If people like Dabo have nothing better to say other than to take up public space with stupid commentary on state of affairs of the Nigerian Nation, I regret to say this because of ur supposed old age, but I've got to say it, just SHUT UP!

Fashola’s Lagos: Not yet Uhuru.

2009-08-11T14:53:00.001+03:00

I lived in Lagos long enough to be well acquainted with the kind of life Lagosians live before going after the proverbial golden fleece. Fast-paced, chaotic, all day long adrenaline-pumping activities in a very challenging environment devoid of good governance, swarming with men of the underworld, rickety buses, bad roads, corrupt inept policemen, noise-polluted with the Kings of the Road, Agberos holding sway.
It is very heartening to see people believe in the present government of Lagos State. It is a sign of better things to come. The way people talk about the Governor of Lagos State without finding faults, praising and eulogizing the achievements of the young man makes you wonder what He has really achieved in his two years in office.
The way people describe Lagos is like describing El Dorado. Lagos is now different, there are flowers in most public places, Lagos has been beautified and all that and People in the Diaspora rely on what they see on TV to form an opinion of the state of things in Lagos. How far can they be from the truth?
I arrived Lagos just over two weeks ago and I was disoriented for a whole week before I started pulling myself together. There was no light. Yes, there was no constant supply of Power Supply but in all my growing up years, the light situation was never as bad as what I met on ground. My folks told me there had been no power supply to their area in three weeks. I waited five days to catch a 20secs glimpse of power supply and a full week to have 2-hours supply. At least I remember growing up and having constant power supply on an estimated average of 12-15hrs everyday.
Well, constant power supply falls under the prerogative of the Federal Government under the bungling leadership of President Umaru Yaradua. Constant power supply to Lagos state is technically not under the control of the Lagos State Governor.
On the Second Day I arrived, I had to go to MMT-2 with a friend of mine who was catching a flight to Abuja. There were no more flights to Abuja a night before when we arrived in Nigeria.
From the MMT-2, I went to the Computer Village where so little has changed. The perimeter fence protecting the rail tracks before you get to the computer village proper was down and people were doing business as usual despite the supposed wahala from KAI personnel. From there, I went to Oshodi to see the new wonderful glorious Oshodi. I was disappointed.
Last Sunday, Segun Odegbami during the Dreams come true TV Show with Jazzy B at Ibadan reiterated something that had been in my mind for a while. Nigeria is in darkness. Politicians who are elected into power do nothing and the few ones who do something small are idolized and praised to no end.
Gov. Fashola has no doubt raised people’s morale level about governance in Lagos State but what he has done so far is like trying to drain a swimming pool with a 1Litre bucket and scooping the first 2Litres.
No doubt, his sincerity, open-mindedness and frankness have endeared him to Lagosians but the Oshodi I saw on that day and a number of times after that has always left me thinking that Oshodi can still be much more better than what it is right now. The people have seen the difference that a responsible government can bring to bear on a situation. Work is still ongoing but it should be noted that half of the lights especially the ones under the flyover-bridges are working absmally. In previously cleared areas, people are now selling and getting more confident day by day. Earlier this evening, I saw a small relaxation spot with 6chairs springing up under the flyover bridge where people sat smoking and drinking with the woman vendor ready to refill.
Take a trip round Lagos. I was at Aguda, Surulere earlier today. Asides the removal of structures that were jutting into the streets, nothing of note has happened in that area. The roads were still in a bad state of disrepair and some areas I walked through are worse off than when I last saw them. Take a trip to Ilaje, Bariga, Itire and you will see that there are a lot of things to be done in those areas.
Oshodi which is hailed as having being transformed is still filthy and I saw some people driving against traffic despite the KAI, Police and mobile enforcement personnel stationed there.
“Eko o ni baje o” is a popular slogan in Lagos but I humbly suggest another slogan, “Ka parapo, ka tun Eko se”. Eko sure needs the participation of everybody to make it better.
The Governor of Lagos, Babatunde Raji Fashola surely deserves some pat for a good job well done so far but not the accolades he is showered with now. Like Obama that was denied a honorary degree at the Arizona State University, Gov. Fashola needs to do much more to deserve the accolades.

Taking Bush to the Cleaners.

2009-07-07T18:14:00.000+03:00

It is really funny how you try to make sense of the world and it just doesn’t add up. A lot of things that should ordinarily be are out of place and a lot of things that shouldn’t be the way they are allowed to stand to please some people and people with common sense are appalled.
A discourse on Iraq is an over flogged issue. However, the reverberation around the world is enough to drive sane people to seek workable solutions. I have been thinking about something for a few weeks now.
The United States of America invaded Iraq going against all international norms, conventions and rules of engagement, also not forgetting the UN was not in support of the war from the beginning.
America allegedly invaded Iraq because they were suspected of having Weapons of Mass Destruction. Overtime, that reason was found to be untrue. Even if Iraq had weapons of Mass Destruction, did Saddam Hussein leave anybody in doubt that he had the capability and the will to launch an attack against any country? Though, the invasion was later being justified because Saddam was a monster who was killing/terrorizing his own people. Was he the only one who killed/terrorized his people? There are lots of other countries where their leaders are disconnected from the people and they are terrors to their own citizens.
The fact which is out there on the table is that President Bush sanctioned the invasion of Iraq and is a very good candidate for the International Criminal Court in the Hague. A lot of people have been killed, maimed and millions of people will never return to normalcy.
What more does the ICC need to prosecute the former President of the USA?

Dear Mr. President by P. O. Agbo

2009-06-21T14:37:00.002+03:00

Dear Mr. President,
I'm sure you are tired of people saying you are not performing as a
president. Mr. President, for your own name in the annals of Nigerian
history, pull out the check book and contact these companies listed
below immediately. If you call these companies, Nigeria's power
problem will be a thing of the past. These are companies with decades
of experience in everything Nigeria needs to move the country forward.
If you start the process of solving Nigeria's power problem by
contacting these companies, Nigerians will forever remain grateful.

1. Bechtel USA
www.bechtel.com
415-768-1234

2. AECOM USA
www.aecom.com
213-593-8000

3. ABB
www.abb.com

Mr. President, call these companies, sit down and ask them to:
1. Give you a satellite image of Nigeria:
Sit down around a table, draw a line going from North to South, Draw
another line going from East to west. Ask them to give you a quote to
build a six lane freeways that goes along these lines.
Draw a circle half way from the center of the previous line. Ask them
to give you a quote on how much it will cost to build another six lane freeway
and railroad along this circle you just made.

2. Ask them to give you a quote on how much it will cost to build a
21st century power generation and distribution grid.

3. Ask for a 5 year commitment for them to run the power station and
train Nigerians on the job.

Mr. President, you will not solve Nigeria's infrastructure problem by
going anywhere else. Please, this is the 21st Century, how can you
award a contract to a company where Nigerians cannot get online and
see the company previous projects. How can you give Nigeria's money
away without a serious due diligence to see if the company has the
wherewithal to handle a project of that magnitude. You have a duty to
lead Nigeria out of darkness, please Sir, do something. I am hopeful
these 3 companies will give Nigeria a chance and come and help us.
Stop your Ministers from looting Nigeria's treasury by bringing all
these companies from Asia and Eastern Europe to loot our treasury.
Remember few billions was given to Chinese Engineering & Construction
Company to build railroad. Sir I have been searching the web to find
this company, to see the projects they've done before, to see a blue
print of what they are going to build for Nigeria. I have not seen
anything.

Fighting online bloggers and press is not going to solve any problem.
These journalists are doing what journalists do: report on things that
affect Nigerians. Every single one of these online reporters have
cried for Nigeria just like I have. To watch a country so richly
blessed be plundered by a bunch of kleptomaniacs makes us all cry. To
see the police shoot innocent Nigerians and call them armed robbers
makes us all cry. Mr. President Nigeria belongs to all of us. Large
percentage of us want to come home but how can we do that when you,
the President, cannot guarantee the safety of property or life. Nobody
hates you as a human being. We hate that you are in that office and
seem not to know what to do.

Stop the killing in Niger Delta, enough is enough. Get these multinational companies devastating the region to become partners, build
schools, bridges etc in the region where they tapping oil and reaping
100% returns. Remove the name militants and talk these Nigerians. An Army should never point a weapon at its own citizens.

Out of these companies, choose one for power and one for the road
construction. Sir, they are afraid that a new government will come in
and not pay them. That's one of the reasons why reputable American
companies doesn't want to do business with Nigeria. So open escrow
account and write a check for the whole project. These companies do
not abandon projects. They do not give kickbacks. They will get
Nigeria back on track. Do something Mr. President, Do something. Obama
chose to go to Ghana because we have become irrelevant. Do Something.
Show the world you know what to do.

These kids who are being called militants, kidnappers, 419ers will
have the ability to open a bakery and know that power will not go out.
My mother, Mr. President will be able to sell cold water knowing that
power will not go out. A country without middle class cannot survive.

Sorry, I had to break it down to you like this. We love our country.
To solve our problem doesn't take a rocket scientist. And as you can
see, no mention of tribe or ethnicity here because we are all the
same, Nigerians. I am tired of my fellow country men and women saying
"na God/Allah dey doam". No, we have to do this. God has done his part
by given us the resources. It is up to us to use the resources to
better our people.

Create Your Legacy. Like Obama said "You will be remembered by what
you built, not what you destroyed."

Thank You Mr. President.

P. O. Agbo
Los Angeles.
etep007@gmail.com

A cashless World

2009-06-21T12:28:00.000+03:00

Imagine a world without cash. Imagine a world where physical money becomes extinct. What would a world like that be like?
Before the invention of the paper money by people in China a long time ago, people have always had forms of transaction which invariably leads to Trade-by-barter of goods and services.
Since the introduction of paper money that has different values, it has subtly become the next free-flowing thing after water.
In today’s world, what can you do without money? You can certainly move around with your debit and credit cards in your wallet and do most of your transactions but a bill or a coin to toss here and there is not at all out of place.
Taking reality into cognizance, the world from the UK to the Cayman Islands, Somalia to Italy, Niger to Taiwan does not have the capability to eliminate cash from the system.
Imagine taking your card to Bolade Oshodi, Lagos to swipe your card for just two oranges. Even if the orange seller tells you there is a machine available for use, you’ll probably think it is a ploy to steal your card information.
Cultures, Norms and Values will be challenged leading to a new world order.
Some people will flow with the dynamics and make more money while some would become poor in no time because they can’t just get the concept and survive without physical cash in their transactions.
By legislation or something, if everybody in the world, residents and visitors alike need to have a consolidated card that will contain their bio-data, bank account details and balances…I presume that financial crime will drastically reduce. There would be financial accountability that will make the world a sane place. Morals as well are bound to be on the increase as some people would not want to have a traceable anomaly behavior to them.
Developing countries will now have a real chance of infrastructural development.
People in developing countries can now walk the streets at anytime of their choosing without the fear of the men of the underworld.
In developed countries, illegal immigrants will be virtually non-existent.
What is your take on this?

Iran

2009-06-18T18:14:00.001+03:00

On the eve of the Iranian elections, an Iranian friend of mine, Majid walked up to me and asked me whether I was following the Iranian elections. I replied in the affirmative. We talked for a little while on what the election portends for the people of Iran.

When you meet an Iranian for the first time, you will be forgiven for having the misconception that you are meeting a potential terrorist.
As far as I know, democracy as it should be is still alien to the people of Iran. How and why did a cleric become the Supreme Leader? Isn’t that title supposed to be God’s?

For a while now, world news is not complete without a mention of the alleged role of Iranian-backed activities in Iraq, their grandstanding against the United States on Nuclear Programs and their defiance of United Nations sanctions.
The elections gave the people of Iran two choices. The first choice is to stay with Ahmadinejad and rubber-stamp his continued opposition to the United States and make continuous headline news for all the wrong reasons on major news channels all over the world.

The second choice is for them to break away from the past and embrace the world. I have met a lot of Iranians and they are not just Iranians. They are human beings, intelligent, active people always shying away from trouble.

The people of Iran are tired of being of Ahmadinejad that has put them at war with the world. They want to meet the world on their own terms and not what the establishment says. The women are tired of being oppressed in the name of Religion. They want to dress as normal people and interact with their fellow countrymen on their own terms. They are simply tired of being remotely controlled and being zombies.

Of course, Ahmadinejad is not the cause of the Present perception of the Iranian people. That can be traced back to the US embassy holdup from 1979-1981. I have read about the experience of a French-American-Iranian whose father worked for the Iranian Oil Company in the 70’s.

The grouse of the Iranian people is that Ahmadinejad with the backing of the establishment that he represents is worsening their situation.
The Presidential election as we understand was a farce and is causing a lot of unrest and reverberations around the world. Since the Islamic uprising of 1979, Iran has never seen anything like this. The people have taken a stand.

I cannot begin to imagine the backroom deals going on right now to calm the situation but any deal made with Mousavi is going to hold up for just four years. Any attempt to rig future elections would be met with better organized and well-orchestrated opposition.

The situation in Iran should be noted by people from Africa and the rest of the developing world where sham elections are conducted and justified. The people can rise up to say defend their votes and not allow any Supreme Leader or Court to decide their fate.

Cheating the system...

2009-05-31T12:55:00.003+03:00

Why do Nigerians like cheating the system?
We Nigerians have created and cultivated a very negative image of ourselves to the world.
Everybody likes the good things of life but we have an insatiable desire to acquire the very best of things the world has to offer. In trying to acquire these stuffs, we go to unimaginable lengths in trying to do so.
What got me thinking a few months ago is the yahoozze culture that an alarming proportion of Nigerian youths are involved in…IT has now become a way of life insomuch that a lot of people have perfected the art and now people undergo training to become certified yahoo dons…
Even People who are not into ‘yahoo’ have a tendency to do the wrong thing needlessly as if we have been accursed with the spirit of wrongdoing.
We always try to find a shortcut to do things in and out of the country. We don’t ever want to go through the normal channel…A Nigerian believes there is always a way round everything.
For days, I mulled over the question, why do Nigerians like cheating the system?
I wondered if it was malfunctioning gene in our genetic make-up that is responsible or we were made to be so by the Creator?
Perpetuation of bad acts is not peculiar to Nigerians, home and abroad alone. Nationals of other countries also engage in nefarious activities.
The main reason why we get picked up on is the fact that our country is seen as the arrow-head of the black race. Therefore, Nigerians are expected to blaze the trail in the socio-economic & political landscape on the African continent and our country, Nigeria is supposed to be a good model for other African countries.
Unfortunately, such is not the case.
Nigerians like cheating the system because the system has never been fair to them.
The system has been manipulated to favor an elite few while a lot of people out there, out of the establishment suffer the brunt of their misdeeds.
So, if a naija youth does something to skirt the system and he is successful, he’s happy because in his own thinking, he has been able to conquer the system.
That is why Nigerians are ever so ready to break laws or experiment with law breaking because it gives them a sense of victory over a system.
It doesn’t matter in which system you find us…Rules are meant to be broken!

May 5, 2008
Olukunle Samuel Sogeke

Letter to Mr. President

2009-05-30T18:43:00.001+03:00

Mr. President Umaru Yaradua, saanu o. Mo ki yin toloogun toloogun, mo sit un ki yin t’alagbada t’alagbada.
Friday 29th May marked two years of your administration in Nigeria…God be praised!
With a very heavy heart, Mr. President, I have to tell you this…I am ashamed of you. I’m ashamed not because of your reported sickness but by the under-performance of your government and your lackadaisical attitude towards governance. By the way, May God bless you with good health.
By the time your predecessor, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration clocked two years on 29 May 2001, a lot of achievements had been recorded.
Civil servants were motivated to work…salaries had been increased…the NLC was championing the cause of the people and their leaders were not clamped in jail…the economy was growing.
Civil servants could afford a decent car without being tied up in debts. Parents could afford to send their children to decent private schools instead of the misfit public schools we have around. Businessmen and women had hopes of making it in life through hard work. The environment was just right for investing. “Gbemu Aremu” became a slogan, not because OBJ paid anybody but it came about because people credited him with the boom in the economy.
Though fuel price was increased, it was affordable and available.
Furthermore, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd.) was junketing around the world trying to redeem our dear country’s image…we never felt at any time that the country was without a leader.
Bilateral relations between Nigeria and other nations were improving and the hitherto sleeping giant of Africa was beginning to be reckoned with in the comity of nations. Technocrats started taking over ministries. Institutions to combat corruption started springing up.
Mr. President, I am sorry to have to tell you that your administration has disappointed Nigerians. Nigerians never trusted you for a second because of the way you came by the office but they hoped that you would at least prove yourself to be the true servant-leader that you are self-styled.
You have proven to be nothing more than a dove “mouth-piecing” for serpents, an assertion I held since 2007.
I would have loved to sit at your feet and let you regale me with the tale of the situation of things when you took over government: the unaccounted millions of dollars, the bad state of our Federal Roads, a grossly abused electoral process, politicized EFCC, epileptic power supply, corrupt-ridden NNPC, NPA, demoralized police force, etc.
Spare me, sir! Mi o ko je…
A leader in your position takes ultimate responsibility takes the full responsibility for everything that happens under his watch.
Though you started on a good note by reversing some anti-people policies put in place by the OBJ administration, I have to ask you: What has been the resultant effect on the lives of Nigerians?
Your ministers, special advisers and some members of the NASS have been busy quietly eating the cake meant for the whole nation. What has your government been doing to stop them or get them to share with the masses? We are not asking for too much…just a bite that will hit us like the “gbemu” that OBJ hit us with at this same time of his administration is enough.
Mr. President, can you name five ministers in your cabinet that have done anything significant? I’m sure that the Minister of Justice and & Attorney General would be first on the list…hmmm…
The truth is that the only news-worthy thing about their portfolios is whether they returned or conveniently forgot to return unspent funds at the end of the year.
On 29 May 2007 when your government was inaugurated, you promised Nigerians and the world that you would set electoral reforms into place. You just sent the honorable members led by Justice Uwais on a wild goose chase…though the rerun elections since the inception of your administration fell short of being credible, we still kept faith with you…e go better…the charade, maiming and killings that characterized the Ekiti elections showed us the kind of elections that your government is capable of organizing with extensive preparations. Kai! You disappointed Nigerians again…worse still, I’m ashamed of you. I’m pretty sure that the mothers, wives, husbands and children of those killed during that period will not spare a moment to pray for Gods blessings on your health and your administration.
You might also want to argue that you are building a strong foundation for tomorrow…eh…what about today? Ti a ba fi ogun odun pi le were, igba wo lo ma to ja?*
You keep hiding behind your rule-of-law mantra but magistrates are now being beaten up on court premises by the Police. Rule-of-law, my yansh…
Your sycophants have been busy using state powers and resources to hound and rubbish opposition and progressive Nigerians.
I love my country but I keep being embarrassed at your actions and inactions that is making my beloved country look like a joke. You have unleashed the military on people you are supposed to dialogue with, protect and serve…people who are agitating for a fair share of their own resources…
In short, you are a colossal failure and I would be surprised if you achieve anything meaningful after your first & second terms. We’ll just have to bear with you for a second term because it looks likely that you’ll foist yourself on us…OBJ doesn’t have to do that for you this time around.

A Brief on Zimbabwe

2009-04-13T17:35:00.004+03:00

The greatest disaster of leadership begins to happen when a leader wilfully convinces himself that there is no other person that can lead effectively as himself...Olukunle Samuel Sogeke

The Republic of Zimbabwe, the official name of the land fondly referred to as “Zim” is a country in Southern Africa bordered by Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa and Botswana.
The current population estimation is 13.3million people. An interesting fact worth mentioning is that over 90% of the adult population is literate.
The official languages are English, isiNdebele and Shona.

Interestingly, the Motto of the Zimbabwean people, “Unity, Freedom, Work” does not reflect in the daily lives of the local people. Though the average Zimbabwean is educated, hardworking and resourceful, there is no work to do. The labor market is highly controlled by government, which makes it difficult for employers to recruit workers who are literate and often highly skilled. Zimbabwe is the home of Arthur Mutambara, a graduate of the University of Zimbabwe who is a renowned Robotics Professor and NASA robotics specialist.

The Republic of Zimbabwe was a former colony of the United Kingdom. The British Southern African Company played a prominent role in establishing British rule and the disruption of a once orderly and prosperous land.

Zimbabweans like subjects from other British colonies were veteran World War II Veterans who have largely been uncelebrated and their place in history erodes with each passing day.
In the Republic of Zimbabwe today, men and women who live above 37 and 34 respectively have reached the official end of their lifetime. Every extra day they live is just a bonus that they are just too happy to experience.

The genesis of Zimbabwe’s current travails is traceable to the domination of the country’s political system & mineral resources and by the colonial masters. Chimurenga, an unsuccessful revolution by the Shona people of Zimbabwe to reclaim their land led to a massive loss of their remaining land and the government at that time effectively ceded control to Europeans.

However as I have maintained in some other fora, I refuse to hold any white man or woman responsible for the plight of the African Continent. Though they contributed largely to its origin, the resources at the disposal of the Continent plus the gains from trade which have been squandered or embezzelled outrightly have been more than enough to right the wrongs of the 19th/20th Century.

The downfall of a country begins when its leader with the ultimate responsibility usually, the President or Prime Minister sees himself as the only one capable of managing the affairs of State usually with a gentle push from sycophants. At the point where that happens, attention/priority shifts from programmes capable of developing the country to putting machinery in place to propagate his self-rule. The country is gradually steered towards a course of destruction where it is extremely difficult to recover from in extremely unquantifiable terms of wasted human potentials and eventual loss of sacred human lives.

The praise and admiration people had for Mugabe has effectively given way to scorn and ridicule by people within and outside of Zimbabwe. He has overseen the metamorphosis of his country from a once prosperous nation into one plagued by hunger and diseases.

Currently, Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC-T faction and incumbent Prime Minister has successfully battled Mugabe to relinquish partial control of the country using legal and diplomatic moves and more importantly winning elections in the Presidential elections of March 29, 2008.

The battle Morgan Tsvangirai waged is similar to that Mugabe against minority rule pre-1980 Zimbabwe.
The vast majority of Zimbabweans are hungry, frustrated and in dire need of protection from the police and armed forces. Lives have been wasted, people have been displaced and a once prosperous nation has been plagued with the curse of leadership.

However, there is hope for Zimbabwe.

Affluent citizens of Zimbabwe have started asking themselves how they got to this point and what they can do to help their country. Most importantly, the vast majority of Zimbabweans have elected someone they trust to lead them but Mr. Mugabe still would not allow that...

//This is a piece i wrote for the soon-to-be-launched Hope for Zimbabwe website, a charity organisation founded by Miss Azaliah Mapombere

The World waits…

2008-11-03T22:59:00.002+02:00

We are approaching the final hours of the closely fought presidential contest between the major US Political Parties; the Democratic Party and the Republician Party represented by Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain seconded by Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin respectively.
The major flag bearers of the election that is fast coming to an end have tried to outsmart themselves in portraying themselves as the worthier candidate to become the next President of the United States of America.
One thing is certain…The election is going to largely define the direction in which this perilous world is heading rite nw…
A McCain Presidencyportends more of the same that we have been used to while an Obama Presidency signals a drastic change in the approach of the US to the problems plaguing the world. Mind you…Obama might not be the Messiah People take him to be…
Both men and their surrogates have really tried in presenting the principles they stand for…
The world waits with suspense as the American People go to the polls to elect a new President who is in effect the President of the United States of the World…
It has been a long hard fought battle…

The World waits…

In Defence of Clarence A. Peters

2008-09-17T04:05:00.003+03:00

I pride myself on being an F. Gary Gray in the making. I always make sure that I am up to date on Nigerian Music Videos. Up until two years ago before I left Naija, before a new video is on TV for a full day, I would make efforts to know the name of the Artiste and his background, his producer and the Director of the Video.

Back then, when the likes of Uzodinma Okpechi held sway with the Synergy Video, Kingsley Ogoro etc. to hitherto unknowns back then who are now household names: dj Tee, Seyi Babatope, Clarence A. Peters, Emeka Obefe…I have always tried to stay informed.

However, there is this guy that I’ve been interested in for a while, Clarence A. Peters.
Everybody that has written about this guy would always mention that he was a product of the love affair between Sir Shina Peters and Clarion Chukwura. Some writers even bracket and highlight it just so that you do not miss that important fact.
From my findings, I now know he was under the tutelage of dj Tee for a while before he started running things on his own and that he is a bundle of talents and ideas. In addition to being a Video Director, He also has a Record Label.
Is it a crime to be conceived or born outside wedlock? Is being born out of wedlock supposed to be a defining stigma? I do not think so.

I have never met Clarence in person, I really hope to meet him soon though…
With brilliant works like Street Credibility[9ice], Shayo[Durella],Roof on Fire[Jazzman Olofin], etc., the sky is the limit for him.

I am appealing to writers out there to celebrate this brilliant young man. Nobody really wants to know that Clarence Peter is Sir. Shina Peter’s son and that he was born out of wedlock.
Let us celebrate this young man and his works and he would be encouraged to do more.

To She that it concerns...

2008-08-15T21:10:00.001+03:00

Everything in life happens for a reason. We’d only learn why it happened if we stay around long enough to learn...

No one has ever left an indelible mark on me the way you have done.
I have often asked myself why loving thoughts of you flood my heart each day...your simplicity, frankness, guileless and sincere lifestyle, my Dear.
It’s hard putting all this down in writing cos I’m afraid I might not be able to capture the ‘whole’ in black & white.

The love I have for you transcends time, space and physical contact...
I have tried to shut you out of my mind and out of my world cos it seems surreal to me to still have deep feelings for you after all these years. The more I try to shut you out, the more I feel you are the only person worth loving to me in the world...
I have always loved you and I will always...

Ambassador Raph Uwechue

2008-07-22T10:04:00.002+03:00

Raphael Chukwu Uwechue was born in 1935.

He was former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Special Envoy on Conflict Resolution in Africa from 1999 to 2007, one out of a few who were there from the beginning of OBJ’s Administration to the end. Also, He was Special Representative of ECOWAS Executive Secretary in Cote d'Ivoire from 2002 to 2007.

Raph is a man who has devoted his life to conflict prevention and resolution in Africa. He’s been through the length and Breadth of Africa from Sudan to Angola, to Burundi, etc.

A major feat was the peace brokering between the warring factions in Sierra Leone in 2001. This largely unsung hero restored peace to that country.

He is an indigene of present Day Delta State.

He had his primary school in Sokoto and his secondary school education was at St. John’s College Kaduna,alma mater the likes of Major Kaduna Nzeogwu and Air Vice-Marshal Abdullahi Dominic Bello.

He proceeded to the university College of Ibadan where he took an honours degree in modern history.

Thereafter, He travelled to Switzerland to study French and international law at the Geneva Africa Institute.

Ambassador Raph Uwechue joined the Nigerian Foreign service at its inception in 1960.

He served in a number of countries including France, Camerooon, Pakistan and Mali.

He holds the honor of being Nigeria’s first diplomatic envoy to France, where he opened the Nigerian Embassy in Paris in 1966.

He later switched his allegiance to the Biafran Republic.

He had the following to say in His Book: Reflections on the Nıgerian Civil War, Facing the Future

"The principal point at issue on which I disagreed with the Federal Government (of Nigeria) was its inability.

(a) to provide effective protection for Ibo civilians during the gruesome massacres of 1966 and, (b) the unsatisfactory handling of the question of compensation and rehabilitation of the families and dependents of the victims of those unfortunate events.

"My opposition to the Federal Government.was not based on any sudden realisation that the Nigerian peoples who had lived together in one country and in that sense as one community, in considerable harmony for over half a century, have become such inveterate incompatibles that they must now be separated in order to be saved...

"Until we become a truly integrated nation - only time, tolerance and patience will make this possible - it is unrealistic to adopt a constitution which presupposes the existence of an already integrated society.The answer lies in 'modulated' decentralisation within the framework of a federation in which minority elements are effectively insulated from the threat of domination by any of the preponderant tribes, Hausa-Fulani, Ibo and Yoruba."

Back in 2003, when I became confused about the happenings in Nigeria, Raph Uwechue was an example of how things could still go right in Nigeria.

His book rated the most impassioned account of the Nıgerian Civil War, dwelt extensively on the remote and immediate causes of the war. He didn’t stop at that, He also proffered credible solutions that would have stood the test of time if they had been implemented.

Ambassador Raph Uwechue, Mr. Africa has traversed the length and breadth of Africa in search of Peace for a Troubled Continent.

In these days and times, when Political Mentors are fast disappearing on the Nigerian Political Landscape, Ambassador Raph Uwechue’s life, ideas and stand is one which progressive Youths can tune into in our quest for a new Africa.

UK embassy denies Lagos lawmakers visa

2008-06-27T01:22:00.003+03:00

What message were they trying to pass across?

I think the British High Commission needs to tell us the details of what actually led to the refusal of Entry Clearances for our esteemed lawmakers to attend a one-week workshop aimed at sharpening their legislative skills and oversight responsibilities [Ki la won na n wa kiri?].

If our lawmakers[public officers, who have been trusted to create laws to maintain peace and order are not spared the the indignity of being refused entry clearances, what hope do ordinary mortals like us have at the hands of the Entry Clearance Officer?

Is it a form of protesting against the high cost of diesel fuel used to generate power in the absence of regular power supply for their operations or the fact that their members of staff cannot go round Lagos safely or any of the Niger Delta States without fear of abduction?

Is their action precipated on the fact that we are still a long way off from being the Giant of Africa, an ordinary title we tag ourselves with to suit our ego without a value in terms of economic might, continental influence, etc.

The sins of their slave-fathers should not in anyway be visited on their sons and daughters.

It hasn’t been proved that it was solely the sweat of my slave ancestors that developed the infrastructural Development the UK is enjoying today.

A vast majority of Nigerians speak English, live English and are English-oriented.

Our way of life is indirectly influenced by the English Culture because we speak the language. Studies abound which shows that a language and its culture go hand-in-hand.

However, we have allowed ourselves to be tagged 419’ers[advanced fee fraudsters].

Our young men and women have not helped matters having bought into the ‘yahoozze’ culture which has been a proven and tested way of making money.

Applying for a visa to enter any country under any guise subtly points to the imbalance of this world in terms of Racial Perception and Economic strength despite claims by modern day economists that the world is now a Global Village with a level Playing Ground for each and every citizen of this world.

What can be further from the truth?

The world that I know as of today is a cruel one, which reduces the value of a man into U.S. Dollars/the Pounds Sterling and the worth and ideals of a woman into the partition between her thighs.

I refuse to hold any white man or woman responsible for the plight of the African Continent.

Though they contributed largely to its origin, the resources at the disposal of the Continent plus the gains from trade which have been squandered or embezzelled outrightly have been more than enough to right the wrongs of the 19th/20th Century.

Back to the main discource of this writing, I think the British High Commission should have explored other options to correct the anomalies that might have trailed the application of our lawmakers instead of subjecting them to the riducule of the denial of Entry Clearances.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200806261495545

*Ki la won na n wa kiri?: What is it they[lawmakers] are looking for?

finally...I get to update...

2008-06-19T22:54:00.005+03:00

rite nw...I dont even know where to start from...start somewhere...yeah, rite.

All school children have been told at one time or the other to always revise whatever they have been taught in class and not wait until the exam period before picking up their books...
Alas! I didnt pick up my books to study on time, flunked my middterms not because I liked the failure staring at me in the face but because I had devoted my time to something I considered very important: the welfare of my fellow Nigerians and image of my country, Nigeria.

The Kibris Police is in everyway like the Nigerian Police Force...unprofessional, uncouth and operating with impunity.

They were the genesis of my problems this past semester.

From the onset, I planned to have a semester where things that should go right would go right, delegating authority to people like Felicia, Tunde, James, Harun, etc. who were capable of carrying out assigned tasks and using their own initiative to do what they know is right...

I laid back to enjoy the free time I started getting for myself...

An attack on an Iranian girl on the unlit way to the girls dormitory caused the police to go and arrest close to 40people...still can't figure out why they could blantantly show their hatred for black people openly like that...

Anyway, things shouldn't get out of hand...whiltst having meetings with the top echelon of the university, the international students Union Stakeholders and the Nigerian students...my studies suffered and the only thing that kept me going was the sense of belonging everybody showed in the Association and the greater good being achieved.

Needless to say again, I flunked my middterms asides DBM II where I scored 90%[Residual knowledge from the previous semester]...I went to the exam hall 10mins late cos I knew I wasn't ready to take on the exam just yet...

To cut the long story short, the NSA Presidential Elections were just around the corner and unlike the sham of the Presidential elections in Nigeria last year, I had to work to surpass the transparency of the Elections that brought me into power last year.

The elections were almost marred by the Graduate students claiming not to have any representative on the Election Organising Committe...my bad, as I thought I had set up an all-encompassing Committe to take charge of the Elections...

1. James Agbabune [Chairman]
2. Henry Anarodo
3. Peace Chibogu
4. Moses Jiya
5. Rhoda Olaoye

I would like to reiterate the appreciation of the entire Nigerian Student Body to the five afore-mentioned people for conducting a free, fair and credible election.

O my God! Final exams were days away...I haven't studied anything at all but I must pass.....Thus began the sleepless nights to try to cover up and post a good enough result that will not make mama cross with me, and still keep alive the hope of getting High Honors...
I pitied myself after a while...I became scarce on campus, I cut my sleeping hrs from 5hrs to 2hrs and underwent some stress I wouldn't wish to go through again...

To God be the Glory...I posted a good enough result that still placed me at the 'bebe' of a High Honors and still one of the best in my class...

My H.O.D, Terrin Adali who has the reputation of being a B... awarded me two straight A's[beat that!] in the two courses I took with her...

I got my result and I literally flew out of the Admin Building cos It was much more than what I was expecting...

The 'many many waka' and the stress finally paid off glowinly in the academics as well...

...nd finally...the finals r here

2008-05-26T23:55:00.000+03:00

I've been on AWOL for a while...Not to worry, I'm going to finish my finals in like a week and then I'll update...lutfen...bear with me...

...rather a Blast! contd

2008-04-30T23:04:00.002+03:00

In the early hours of Thursday, 28th February, 2008 around 1am, a friend of mine from the dormitory, Shuaib Adebayo came down to my house to tell me that all the Nigerian boys resident in the the Univer-City Complex(Male Dormitory) have been arrested by the Police. I told him that it was too late in the day for a joke like that but he told me He was being serious and that he was only one of two that escaped from the lot.
On getting to the Police Station around 1:30am in the morning, I met about 34Nigerian Boys, One Cameroonian and One Ivorien lined up in front of the office of the Case Officer.

I sought audience with the case officer who told me that my fellow students were not arrested as they claim. So, what are they being held for? Most of them have classes in the morning by 9:00am and they don’t know what they are being held for at close to 2am in the morning.
I told him that if I am not told why they are being held, I’ll give an order to the Nigerian boys to march out in ten minutes.
Five minutes later, a police officer came to me and took me to a side room and told me that an Iranian girl was assaulted and that they suspect a Nigerian of committing that atrocious act and that they have a suspect in particular, Francis Nnadi. I told him that is still not enough justification for arresting the Nigerian boys’ resident in the school dormitory.

What I still can’t fathom is that the supposed assault was carried out on the unlit way to the female dormitory and then based on the flimsy suspicion of a Nigerian, the police went to the boys dormitory which was about 2 to 3kilometres away from the supposed crime scene to arrest all the Nigerian Boys. They didn’t stop at that. They barged into their rooms which was being pointed out to them by a dormitory official by, slapped them and demanded for their passports. Those who dared to raise their voices or showed some form of resistance received blows and then they all were hauled to the Police station.
At about 3:30 am when I finally secured the release of the Boys, there was no single dormitory official in sight into whose care their various Parents/Guardians have committed their wards.
Later in the morning at around 10:15am, I was summoned to the Rectors Office. A while later, the General Secretary of the school joined us. He explained that the Police behaved in an unprofessional manner and that there was no concrete evidence that it was a Nigerian who committed the supposed crime. He said the police had wrongly based their suspicion on the fact that the girl or a witness had said the supposed assailant was an “Arab” which loosely translates into a black man in the Turkish language and that the supposed person was indeed referring to someone of Middle East Origin.

The school tendered apologies on behalf of itself and on behalf of the Police and said it was imperative to maintain the peace on campus. I reasoned along that there was no need letting the tempers fly so high about what has happened and I talked to most of the boys and they agreed with me.
However, Francis Nnadi was arrested later in the morning of the same day, taken to court the next day[Friday] and was held on the orders of the court over the weekend pending the outcome of the Police Investigation.

He was released about a week later when Police investigation showed that Francis was nowhere near the supposed crime scene.

As a result of the lukewarmness of the School Authority in dealing with the aforementioned issues decisively, the ISU President, Mr. Atif Hafeez resigned from his post.

Though, the matter has been largely forgotten now and frayed nerves calmed, I cannot think about this singular event which almost caused a free for all fight between my Nigerian boys and the Police when I got into a scuffle with one of them for assaulting Francis Nnamdi when they raided the boys dorm.
I wont ever forget the solid cooperation and courage that was shown by the boys in the face of Police Oppression and Brutality. Thank you guys...

In exacly one week from now, elections would be held to determine a new leader for the Nigerian Community.

A lot of things have happened over the past one year that I have learnt from, the memories of which will linger on forever in my mind...Thank you to everybody who believed in me and voted for me on the 4th of May, 2007.
As we march look forward to another round of elections in a week's time, It is time to reflect on what still needs to be done to place the Nigerian Student Body on a very sure footing within the ambit of the University.

Behold! the New Nigerian Foreign Minister...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQK5h22_Y5A

2008-03-30T14:33:00.003+03:00

Without taking anything away from Chief Ojo Maduekwe, I think this Indian Dude is doing a far better job of projecting Nigeria's Image positively...I can't but agree with you, my Indian friend...Thank you for standing up for us...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQK5h22_Y5A

ME, MY DESERT & I

2008-03-16T19:41:00.003+02:00

I had gone to the the Library as it was my usual practice back then in 2005 when I was outta school for a while.
After going through the back cover, I became interested enough to read through the book.
Over time, I have learnt that The Great men in history always, have had to do something that was extra-ordinary.
Isaac Jibunoh is one of such men.

Isaac's soul was along the line yearning to be great...to do something different...

He gave a good account of his journey therein...cant remember most of the details right now...but I do remember that he said his car was impounded at an entry point into Nigeria. He came across to the immigration men as a weird one. Instead of being carried shoulder-high as soon as He was sighted, He was being asked series of questions and made to go to Lagos to obtain clearance before he was allowed to drive his car into Nigeria...(I can't remember the details, go read the book)...

Isaac mentioned in his book that his wife was apprehensive of the fact that the Desert was silently calling to him once again...He finally heeded the call and he documented his experiences alongside the account of his first journey...

I got the impression that sir Isaac was done with Desert Exploration but then I read a couple of days ago that the Desert call was too strong to ignore for the Great one again...

I wish him success in his endeavor to make something out of something that is seemingly worthless...

...rather a Blast!

2008-03-04T17:12:00.002+02:00

A few days to the commencement of the Spring semester, I told a friend that I would like to serve out my tenure this semester as the President of the Nigerian Students Association with a Bang! ..lol...recent events have underscored that statement! It seems that I'm going to get more than what I initially bargained for...I'm serving out my tenure with a Blast!
A lot has been happening in my school and I'm at the centre of it...More on that later...

Adieu, William F. Buckley Jr.

2008-02-29T20:31:00.001+02:00

...grrr grrr(Will's mobile ringing...on the way to heaven)...
Will: hello
Sam:Hi Will
Will: Hi Sam
Sam: Haba, Why did u have to go on ahead to the great beyond at a time like this? You could have waited a while more for me to finish Stained Glass...na wa 4 u o

Will: no vex o...it was the whole election brouhala that got to me...
Sam: ehn, that reminds me...why didn't you want to stay around long enough to know the outcome of the Presidential Elections?
Will: true talk....but you and I know the winner already
Sam: but the elections are still a long way off
Will: yes..but we have a new President in the person of Obama
Sam: Obama? what about McCain, your party's flagbearer?
Will: well, from the voting patterns during the party primaries so far, it is evident that the American People want a change of government and policy...
plus the fact that McCain is favorably disposed to the current American foreign policy of killing the killables and wounding the woundables in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Iran.
Sam: so, what you're saying in essence is that we should look forward to an Obama Presidency
Will: I doubt it cos the Federal Government has concluded plans to give your Prof. Maurice Iwu US Citizenship so that he'll come and conduct the elections...
He has been tested and trusted in the area of Winning Delivery...
Sam: You dey take style insult an accomplished pharmacist of repute
Will:(cuts in) and an accomplished election fixer as well so that McCain will be declared the winner
Sam: I no follow u talk again... at least it wasnt Iwu that fixed the elections of 2000 for Bush
Will: yeah, rite but my country shops for the best in every sphere...so it is imperative that at this point in time, he should come and be drafted to employ the tactics he used in 2007 to the forthcoming elections between McCain, Obama and Ralph Nader..
Sam: I've heard you...Please tell Baba Eleran, my grandpa and my dad that I miss them o
Will: I will
Sam: Yuz yil sonra gorusuruz
Will: bye, till then

Eagle Square Court

2008-02-08T19:52:00.000+02:00

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200802080512362
Whilst surfing through naija news today, i came across the above article on the Eagle Square Food Court...
I cannot forget in a hurry the day I was there in company of Segun, Eleano & Tope...the food...lol...coooooooorrect Akpu with a nice bowl of soup was wonderful.

D`banj

2008-02-06T22:43:00.000+02:00

Sometimes last week, a friend asked me if İ had seen d video of `booty call` by D`banj and İ replied in the negative. Pronto, İ logged onto youtube and İ was amazed at the quality of the video.
For those of you who have a problem with `booties`, try convincing sure u aren`t okobos*?...lol...
İ have been searching for the name of the creative mind behind that video who shot A fantastic video for an otherwise lewd song without success.
Biraz once*, İ logged on to the website of Mo Hits Records and İ was disappointed.
İt is one thing to have a web presence and another thing altogether to have a functional dynamic one.
İ would say Link 01. D`KOKO MASTER` is a disappointing piece. D`banj deserves a much better profile than that...
The subsequent links didn`t fare better
İ like the Macromedia Flash Layout but a lot still has to be done to improve the site to make it a one-stop information centre for all D`banj and Mo Hits Records fans worldwide.

*okobo-Yoruba expression for one that is impotent
*biraz once-Turkish expression for a while ago

Well...

2008-02-06T19:23:00.000+02:00

Well..İ wouldn`t know what is making my fingers itchy to blog this evening..
First of all, İ would like to say a big thank you to everybody who came around to felicitate with me on my birthday...İ promise youö you`d have more fun next year. İ`d also like to apologise to all those of you that didn`t get the invitation to come round...İm sorry İ made you miss out on the fun...

Secondly, İ would like to register my frustration officially about the outster of the Super Eagles.
Those boys didn`t know what it took me to get to watch the ACN online...
There is a cliche that says that a prophet is not recognised in his own country...A man is a man irrespective of whether he is black or white, İraqi or Malaysian...İ think it is pretty clear to everybody out there that Berti Vogts is a failure. İn previous outings, the Super Eagles has perfomed much more better under the tutelage of so-called Local Coaches...
İ would implore the stakeholders of Nigerian football to prevail on the NFA to look inwards for a good Coach/Technical Director and give him a good working contract. İt is high time we stopped believing in white-witch doctors.

THIS IS ABEOKUTA

2008-02-06T19:14:00.000+02:00

A city of splendour and contrasts. A city of many Nigerians with firsts in their chosen professions. A city of great men and women. Welcome to Abeokuta, the Ogun State seat of power.Abeokuta, famous “town under the rock” can also be described as a town with a tale of sweet and sour. It is a town that providence has bestowed on the task to always play a prominent role in the socio-economic and political destiny of our dear country, Nigeria, at various times.Indeed, the history of Nigeria before and after independence in 1960 cannot be complete without a generous mentioning of Abeokuta people otherwise known as the Egbas. They are as fiery as they are fearless. And they straddle every face of our national life like colossus. They are so prominent that they hardly need any introduction. As somebody once remarked, “what would Nigeria have been without the Egbas?” Abeokuta, to some people, is the rock upon which Nigeria is built. Even the history of Nigeria’s Press is tracable to Abeokuta, where Henry Townsend founded Iwe Iroyin.For students of history, the Western part of the country blazed the rumblings in the country where notable Egba indigenes played a leading role. This, according to available records, culminated in the historic treasonable felony trial of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, then leader of the opposition in the federal parliament. To the late founder of the Action Group (AG) and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), his fellow Yoruba brothers from Abeokuta (Sir Adetokunbo Ademola and Justice Sodeinde Sowemimo) were at the forefront of his orchestrated arrest, trial and subsequent imprisonment. The historic judgement of Justice Sowemimo read: “With regard to the 27th accused person, I have discussed the evidence against him exhaustively and I find him guilty on the three counts”The ambiguous statement by Sowemimo, “My hands are tied” for many years remained in the political lexicon of the country. The statement, according to many political pundits, was to justify the trial of Chief Awolowo by his Yoruba brothers from Abeokuta.Chief M.A. Majekodunmi, an Egba man, also played a leading role in the old Western Region crisis which saw his emergence as the Administrator of the Western Region. It was he that ordered the restriction of movement and eventually, the house arrest of Chief Awolowo.Majekodunmi’s assumption of office put paid to the administration of another Egba man, Alhaji Dauda Soroye Adegbenro, the choice of the AG to replace Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola as Premier. While he lasted, Majekodunmi restricted the movement of his townsman to Osogbo instead of their town, Abeokuta . Events of the early 60’s which involved Chief Awolowo who was born and bred in Abeokuta and some notable Egba indigenes, according to many political watchers and historians, precipitated the crisis in the old Western Reigion , the first military coup in the country and by extension or progression the civil war that engulfed the country for many months.The Afro-beat legend, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti never spared former President Olusegun Obasanjo and late Publisher of the Concord Newspapers, the late Bashorun MKO Abiola. These two illustrious Egba sons, he considered as oppressors and never spared them through poisoned barbs, while he was on this side of planet.Obasanjo’s military administration after his boss, General Murtala Mohammed was assassinated supervised the destruction of Fela’s Kalakuta’s Republic in Yaba area of Lagos. During what later became “Unknown Soldier” saga, Fela’s household including his late younger brother and mother were molested and wounded by soldiers in the 1977 rampage.Fela’s mother and the matriarch of the Ransome-Kuti family and a woman activist was badly beaten and thrown down form the storey building. She never recovered fully from the trauma until she died later.For the Afro-beat king’s brother, Dr. Beko, who also suffered the same faith, he never recovered fully from the fracture he sustained during the raid as he limped for greater part of his life after the soldiers’ assault on his family.Since 1960, there was hardly any political unease in the country that would not have an Egba son or sons at the centre of the emerging scenario. During the June 12, 1993 presidential election which later became a watershed in our political history, an Egba illustrious son, Bashorun Abiola, contested and won the election.Unfortunately, instead of the winner to be inaugurated as the President, the Military President in power then, General Ibrahim Babangida, annulled the historic election.Unfolding facts later revealed that General Obasanjo quietly supported the illegal action of the Minna-born General against his town’s man, Abiola.In the mid of the crisis that trailed the annulment, another Egbaman, Chief Ernest Sonekan, became the head of a political concoction; the Interim National Government (ING) that was later sacked in a bloodless coup that was staged by the late General Sani Abacha. He was the most despotic military ruler Nigeria ever had since 1960.When the country managed to survive the threat that trailed the annulment, the mantle of leadership once again fell on an Egbaman, General Olusegun Obasanjo. That was after his school mate and townsman, Bashorun Abiola, had died in a mysterious circumstance while in prison.Obasanjo left power after an eight-year rule which brought more hardship than succour to the Nigerian masses, particularly in area of power generation and security. As Nigerians were relishing their experiences from the Obasanjo’s administration another Egbaman, Hon. Dimeji Sabur Bankole, mounted the saddle of leadership as he was made the Speaker of House of Representatives.Since providence has bestowed on it that her indigenes must take active part in the direction of the country, it is hoped that as year 2008 unfolds, Abeokuta, the ancient town of Egba people, will continue to blaze its trail in the political history of the country. Only time will tell!.However, it is a great irony that this historic town whose paramount ruler is the Alake, barely boast of a big time manufacturing industry except sole proprietorship industries and quarrying businesses that dominate the town.

Moshood Adebayo

(Culled from The Sun Newspapers)

The ghost of Biafra..

2008-01-20T21:18:00.000+02:00

I read with disgust a few days ago in the papers that self-promoted four-star Biafran Army General Ezegburugburu Odimegwu Ojukwu was at the Millitary Pensions Board to collect his gratuity.

I was appalled because that to me represents a sell-out of the struggle that led to the secession of the Igbo race from the rest of Nigeria.

I remembered a discussion I had with my political mentor, Amb. Raph Uwechue a few years back on his book, 'Reflections on the Nigerian civil war: Facing the future', the circumstances that led to the secession who found a collective voice in Emeka are still present today albeit cloaked.

I wouldn't know if Dim Emeka reflects on happenings in the country presently on the 15th of January every year as a day that Biafra, a child of necessity then and now was killed with the formal surrender of Phillip Effiong at Dodan Barracks in Lagos.

Biafra was an ideal child of necessity against the blood-sucking elements who were thirsting for Igbo blood in the northern part of the country. If only He, Ojukwu had been humble enough to enjoy the goodwill of the Igbo people and seek not to entrench himself in apparent power,
my country, The United States of Nigeria would have been doing the black race proud.

38 years after, I wouldn't know if Ojukwu has been misled to think now that all is well with Nigeria. The problems of Nigeria are legion which could have been settled if Ojukwu had not gotten carried away with the power he could have wielded as an independent ruler of the Biafran Republic without answering to anybody at Dodan Barracks. Erstwhile, he was the military Governor of the Eastern Region.

I daresay that the ideals of Biafra were noble and present-day Nigeria lost out in properly constituting itself into a true United States of Nigeria because Ojukwu got himself misled about his military strength when the Federal Government reneged on the Aburi accord and stuck to his guns when it was eventually ready for it.
Its so bad that villains like Brig-General Benajamin Adekunle are the silent heroes of the Nigerian Civil war and the Obasanjos openly gloat about their being able to bring an end to the civil war.

In light of Ojukwu's recent action, what can be said to be the value of the lives of eminent people like Aguiyi Ironsi, Brig. Victor Banjo, Major Sam Agbamuche, Major Phillip Alale and the rest of those who lost their lives in the struggle?

To go or not to go?

2008-01-12T12:13:00.000+02:00

Over the last few days, the Nigerian media has been awash with different stories, postulations and opinions over the apparent removal of the EFCC chairman.

A lot of issues have been raised and as a Nigerian, I have become more confused.

I wonder the kind of impression a foreigner who is interested in visiting Nigeria and about the only thing he can get from our dailies are the intrigues surrounding Nuhu Ribadu's exit from the EFCC.

I do believe that nobody is a monopoly of knowledge. Everybody at one time or the other, in the private or public sector should go for refresher courses and stuffs like that that have the prospect of increasing your effectiveness on the job.

I can confidently say as a Nigerian, someone somewhere, maybe the Inspector-General of Police himself engineered the plot to remove Ribadu from office. I can say that because I know how the Nigerian factor works..

The EFCC is already becoming an institution in the mould of the FBI. However, it still lacks the capability to work effectively due to constraints in manpower and finance.

The major challenge that the proponents of the "Ribadu must stay camp" have is that the EFCC is still built solidly around him.

You'd agree with me that no brouhala would be raised if the FBI Director is relieved from his job. There are more than enough already-groomed succesors to the office.

I beg to disagree with those who have made public commentary their source of daily bread. Over the past few years, they have been there scourging for daily bread and political relevance on the pages of newspapers stifling informed opinions from seasoned journalists like Reuben Abati, Dele Omotunde, Simon Kolawaole, etc.

For the sake of posterity, if you dont have anything sensible to say, keep your mouth shut! Nobody is deluged by the stories making the rounds that the EFCC was used to hound Obasanjo's perceived enemies.

How many political opponents of Obasanjo have had their names dragged through the mud compared to people from his own camp.

It is a shame that we always fail to see people who are genuinely interested in the Nigerian dream and castigate them when they try to do what is right.

Yes, I would tell you going by my benchmarks holistically that Obasanjo failed Nigeria.

However, one shouldn't rush to throw away the baby with the bath water.

Everybody knows that corrupt practises is the order of the day in Nigeria.

It is no news that our uniformed brothers harrass their brothers in the transportation sector.

It is no big deal to deal 'brown envelopes' in the name of PR.

It is no big deal to obtain a valid drivers license without having an idea of where the nearest FRSC office is situated...

The administration of OBJ was courageous enough to create the ICPC and the EFCC as a medium to combat corruption.

Baba could have been doing business as usual but he chose not to...at one point in time, I remembered him saying that Corruption is Nigeria has eaten so deep into the system insomuch that you find therein family members, traditional rulers, even people you respect engaging in corrupt practises.

If the Police organisation was being effective, there would have been no need for the EFCC to come up in the first place.

Going back to those who are allegedly being hounded by the EFCC by being OBJ's styled enemies...

Free your mind of all sentiments and try to focus on the names of those who have been indicted or being investigated...for every one OBJ's styled enemy that you mention, I'd mention two of his friends who were also caught in the anti-corruption crusade.

Who in his right senses would say or allude to the fact that the former-IG Tafa Balogun was in OBJ's bad books? Oh..

Does the name of S.M. Afolabi rings a bell whose trial alongside a sitting minister,Akwanga, Akerele, etc by the ICPC started lending credence to the anti-corruption war?

Nobody as far as I know has told Alamieyeseigha to shut the f**k up and start blaming OBJ for his arrest and subsequent trial in Britain and in Nigeria.

I heard him 'live' when he told us during a visit to my former school, Covenant University that they(serving government officials) do not have anything new to offer in governance and that they are waiting for us to come and give them fresh ideas. In other words, all they are capable of doing is to siphon money meant for the betterment of the masses to acquire properties through fronts like Terry Waya and the likes...

If he's not corrupt, let him come out and tell us how he got to be in possession of one(1)million pounds sterling raw C.A.S.H. while his basic salary for being governor is less than 500pounds...

Finally, for all those of you who are rooting for Ribadu's removal, come up with credible and verifiable reason why he should be removed or have been removed before now...

Let us for once celebrate his achievements using the instrument of the EFCC and stop vilifying him for doing the right thing at the right time.

We all crave for public-spirited public officials(in the moulds ofAbubakar Tafawa Balewa, Festus Okotie-Eboh, Michael Okpara, etc.) in our nation but this shameful act of vilifying our heroes and celebrating them long after they are gone will discourage even the valiant of men from coming into the public sector to do what is right.

3 yrs ago...Has the sun risen?

2008-01-07T18:23:00.000+02:00

I've been pondering over what to upload as my first-ever blog. A trip into my archive turned up this stuff I wrote in 2005...I hope u enjoy it...

In the light of the current political situation in our dear country Nigeria, I have thought it fit to share this with you.....

A new dawn in Nigeria …
It is so disheartening that some Nigerians do not want to accept the fact that a new dawn has come in Nigeria . It is another new day and we are set to draw from the waters of Nigeria .
Never in the history of this nation has the anti-corruption campaign been so strong.
Kudos should and must be given to the current administration for the dogged fight against corruption.
The administration forced a resignation on the part of the former Inspector General of Police, sacked two ministers, did a cabinet reshuffle, weeding out ministers that were found to be under-competent, dropped a ministerial nominee on the ground that he is suspected of having forged a part of his C.V.
As I said earlier, it is so disheartening that some people do not see anything good in the current administration.

We have a myriad of problems in Nigeria but the only way those problems can be solved is through a collective effort that will truncate all the problems that we have.

We know we have problems but we have resigned our selves to fate yet we will not look the other way when heinous crimes are being committed in our country, Nigeria .

Here is an administration that is committed to wiping out corruption and we have decided not to give our support to the administration.

Anytime the EFCC or the ICPC or any other government agency arrest someone, a particular section in which the person is from will start shouting that they are being persecuted.

It is time for change.

There is no doubting the fact that this is the birth of a new dawn in Nigeria .

Most of the old people around have failed us. They have continued to toe the path of tribalism, bad politics and what have you to the detriment of the nation.

Unfortunately, the youths of this great country have started following their footsteps.
It should and must not continue to be like this. We should be thinking of taking this country back to its former place among the comity of nations instead of continually dragging it into the mud.

On the issue of resource control, the Lord God has placed enough mineral resources in all parts of the earth. All we need do is to find out what they are and exploit them.

All the states in Nigeria have one mineral resource or the other that is enough to sustain each state government.

I think the state should be in full control of the resources in their locality and they should pay a fixed percentage e.g 10% to the federal government which would be like 10% derivation to the federal government.
This would make the centre less attractive to corrupt politicians and the electorate would know who to hold responsible for the economic down fall in the country.

I think the federal government should only concern itself with foreign affairs and national security (I don’t support state police and militant groups), and concentrate on fostering good relationship among the citizens of the country via the federating units (states).

I believe we can make this country great again. I believe that the best thing that can happen to a person in this world is to be a citizen of Nigeria , live among the people of Nigeria and get to know the people of Nigeria .

I am sold out to seeing a change in the Nigerian perception of his neighbour, the current administration or subsequent administrations.

If our politicians are corrupt, it is because the larger society is corrupt. We should remove the lump in our eyes before trying to remove the speck in their own eyes.

I am tired of hearing that an individual or some set of individuals can hold the country to ransom. Are we fools? No.

Come 2007, I would want us to shine our eyes and vote for people of repute and not mediocres.

God bless Nigerians, God bless Nigeria .

Sogeke Olukunle Samuel
July 14, 2005
9:00 -10:05pm.