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.