The World waits…

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

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...

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

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

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...

a>

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

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

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

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

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!

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.

...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

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

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...

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

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.

by

Moshood Adebayo

(Culled from The Sun Newspapers)

The ghost of Biafra..

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?

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?

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.