THE POLICE AGAIN

My last article was about the men of the police force; now again, I am writing about the police. This explains why I don’t write so often these days. You are few minutes to go to press and another incidents hits the news stream either invalidating your about to be published facts or impressing the need to redirect your facts.

Sadly, I haven’t heard or read anything about the October 16 gruesome killing of Emmanuel Victor right in the presence of his mother. I must admit I haven’t been reading the papers or watching the TV lately; don’t ask me why! My last piece came as a result of my usual critic of the system where I thrive daily to make ends meet; my daily observations as policemen extort bike men and bus drivers.

This incident, unfortunately, not the first of its kind, further points to the fact that the government of Nigeria seem to have armed these officers without putting checks in place. Like I always contend, I don’t intend to outrightly right off all policemen; my father was once an officer of the Nigeria Police and I have every reason to give him a pass mark. Not because he is my father, but he did is best and kept a clean sheet all through his days in the force. Extra judicial killings were recorded back in those years truly but not as rampant as what we have today. What has gone wrong?

My father told me he had to retake a shooting course at the police college because his skills fell below the required average and I was marvelled. I am not sure if officers have that privilege of taking special courses before being churned out into the streets to protect civilians.

Back to Emmanuel’s story, the reason given by the erring officers for shooting him is that he was carrying a bible, a weapon and Indian hemp; isn’t that laughable. While debunking the claim, the commissioner of police, Bayelsa state command, Mr. Hillary Opara, said he doesn’t believe someone carrying a bible coming from the church, could be carrying a weapon and Indian hemp; that is also laughable. Before delving into the commissioner’s reason, I’d like to agree with the police officer that Emmanuel was actually carrying a weapon and Indian hemp, what about that instructs shooting at him several times? Did he resist arrest or made attempts to attack these officers with the said weapon? How come the next move was to shoot at him? He even held that he didn’t know the bullets were getting at him; that presupposes that the young man remained standing while he was being shot at which was against his reasons for shooting.

I can safely conclude he shot to kill. What in all of these paints the picture of a properly trained officer? Nothing I would say.

As for the commissioner’s reason for thrashing the killer cop’s argument; is it enough to reject that argument that Emma was actually carrying Indian hemp and a weapon just because he had a bible with him? Or the commissioner is just playing himself into the heart of the people of Bayelsa by standing on the popular side. For all I care, it is not the first time we have heard of people in church garments running arms not to talk of concealing arms inside bibles or even smoking hemp with pages of the holy bible. It would just be enough for that kind of officer to say it is impossible for a man adorning the turban to conceal bombs under his robe!

Police officers by all standards are human and I don’t intend to take that away from them. However, when such feelings of sympathy is overriding the sense of judgement in cases of public interest, I see them as imbalanced and unfit to hold such commanding positions.

Emmanuel Victor is dead today like many others who have been felled by trigger freaks; his killers are being said to be undergoing in house trials while the public is denied details of the proceedings, I hope it won’t end like the ones we have heard before.

A policeman carrying arms is saddled with a huge responsibility of trust; in my opinion, breaching that kind of trust should not be treated with kids’ gloves. Armed robbers who kill their victims are better off in this situation; it is who they are and what they do but for a man armed with our own tax and sweat, it is just unacceptable.

I hope the commissioner’s pro-people move would yield a true and balanced judgement in the final analysis. It is true that Victor’s family are bereaved but this is a crime against humanity and we all should be concerned. To this end, it doesn’t stop at his family believing the course of justice has been served, we all must see that to have happened before the case is finally put to a logical end.

Some have been killed years back, today, I am writing about Victor, we can’t tell who’s next; it could be me writing this or you reading or anyone else.

Against this background, we should at all time be seen lending our voices to matters of truth whether or not we are directly concerned.

When they came for the Muslims, you claimed to be a Christian; when they came for the Christians you claimed to be a Muslim. When they come for you, you can only be you and no one else.
May God grant the families of all victims true justice and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

Adieu Emmanuel Victor.

The Police and His Birth Right

I haven't been writing in a long time and truly, I can't say exactly why. It isn't about being lazy actually; maybe I just haven't had time or simply put I haven't being writing. Thank God, I am writing again.
The Nigerian Police by all standards is one of the most popular institutions we have in Nigeria. Sadly, this popularity isn't informed by the ground breaking record it has kept in crime bursting or intelligence management nor civil conduct.

We all have one or two tales to tell about men of the Nigerian Police. For emphasis sake, 'men' in this contest caters for every sex adorning the police uniform. I would have dedicated a portion of this article on the shameful conduct of women in the police but for all these gender noise; besides, shame has nothing to do with sex!
The lucky ones amongst us are those who haven't directly had something to do with the police or have dealt with the civilised and disciplined few; you must be indeed very lucky. Some of us haven't being so lucky, we have had our bitter share of the ugly tales; no thanks to the ills that has not only eaten deep into the police force but also into the individuals whose decision to join the police was not informed by the drive to serve this country but were only beneficiaries of slot of certain big men in their local governments or misfit to the corporate world.
By chance you probably would have seen this popular sticker that reads: If you think the police is bad, when next you are in trouble, call a Thug!!
Oh my God, what is the difference? Thugs most times might come in handy as they are delivering based on payment made to them. I would call God in my case if I can’t personally fight back. Or maybe call the police to fulfil all righteousness.
That's one way to see it though, the problem of policing in Nigeria is far too complicated and gross to blame in on the average police officer alone. This would only achieve a lamentation trail that is not about to end anytime soon.
How well is an average police officer catered for?
How many civilians are under the direct responsibility of a poorly paid, undertrained and almost frustrated police officer?

What is the take home pay of this officer whose children also deserve to be schooled and cleanly dressed like some children of other workers he is supposed to protect?
What value is attached to his life especially in death?
Providing an answer to these questions would further reflect how far we are from resolving these policing problems. Another interesting trend is the fact that despite being understaffed, government officials across all arms don't seem to see the danger except the few times they read from the pages of newspapers or a close relative is affected by the policing crises. They allocate to themselves savvy officers with properly serviced arms and regular tips to keep his concentration intact; like you would have guessed, they don't keep just one officer! They have extended this goodwill to their rich colleagues who help them wash clean their loots and also to visiting foreigners.

I do not mean foreigners should not be protected; all I am saying is I would like to see a situation where an officer of the Metropolitan police would be sighted at the gate of a Nigerian big man in the name of protecting him.
This is a country of about 150 million people expecting to be protected by a paltry 330000 (Source: http://247nigerianewsupdate.com/?p=5553) police men. Mathematically, approximately 455 would Nigerians have had look up to a police man for protection; this is not to be fellow Nigerians.
Recent finding revealed that of this miserable figure, about 100000 officers which represents 30.30% are attached to individuals(quoting DIG Parry Osayande (retd)). By implication, about 625 Nigerians now look a policeman for protection.
Of the remaining 230000, another huge percentage has chosen to abandon their duty post to mount illegal road blocks to extort, harass and sometimes, kill those they are stationed to protect. I fondly advice my friends to go to a police checkpoint to report when they have problems rather visit empty stations.
The brazen confidence with which the police officers collect tolls from motorcyclist and other transport operators has reached such a height that one can certainly conclude that the proceed get farther than the pocket of the collector.
We have heard few cases of police officers arrested for bribery offenses but we really can't tell how such cases have ended. If this mad rate is anything to go by, then it should be correct to say that atleast 5 police officers should be dismissed on daily basis.

This takes me to the proposed way out. I want to keep it simple; total overhauling and strict orientation.
Better welfare package and improved training programs.
Enrolment should be pegged at minimum qualification and merits be upheld.
There must be a proper account for the ammunitions policemen carry and also their lives as individuals.
When all of these and many more are put in place, the penalty for breaching trust by a police should be tougher and all processes of trial must be open, free and fair.
All erring police officers must be publicly blacklisted and also gazetted for future references.
I hope my proposition doesn't sound like a movie? Every positive suggestion these days have always passed for movie script.
As a parting advice, let's all play our roles in ensuring a secured system by being vigilant and mindful of conducts that could expose us to criminal attacks. The lesser you get yourself into troubles the lesser you would rely on the police.

IN THE SERVICE OF THE NATION

On Friday, May 7 2010, I wrote an article, Another One Down, Who’s Next?, you may want to look at it

ANOTHER ONE DOWN... WHO'S NEXT?

Today, 11 months and 19 days after I published the story of Miss Grace Adie Ushang, who was gruesomely murdered in Borno state, I am being forced to write along the same line because we have once again suffered the price of lawlessness, disorderliness and disregard for human lives.
This is also coming after the November 28, 2008 approximately 2 years 5months short 2 days, brutal killing of 3 youth corp members in Plateau state. Leke Akande, 23; Tola Odusola, 20; and Ibukun Oluwatosin Akinjogbin, 23 were slaughtered right in front of family members. I don’t intend to bring back sad memories but it has become necessary to emphasise the extent to which our fragile unity has been threatened.

The post elections crisis recorded around the Northern part of this country has been met with so many condemnations and assertions. You obviously would have expected that; this is how it has always worked in Nigeria. Irrespective of what has being said, the bitter truths is somewhere, parents have lost their children, someone has lost a friend, and a lot of relationship severed depending on what who was murdered is to whoever is counting the loss.
For me, a nation’s pride has been dragged in the mud and the sun forcibly forced to set for young minds that have undergone the rigours of getting educated within the Nigerian terrain hoping to start a meaningful lives. Sadly, this is not to be; no thanks to the blood thirsty vampires let loose from hell.

My approach to this incident may be radically different from what has been recorded in the last one week following the gruesome murders of youth corpers in the north. This is because, I have come to realise that while mourning, it is always important to take out time critically understand the causes of such killings and join voices in finding a last solution to the problems. Hard as it may not to join the seemingly popular call for restructuring of the NYSC scheme or total abolishment, I sincerely share the pains of the crusaders of this opinions and cannot but salute the resoluteness with which these calls have been made.
I however have these to ask, is this the first time such calls have been made? To what extent do we actually classify human life? Besides lip service paid by the government, has there been any notable effort made to really address this situation.

I will go ahead to take these questions one at a time hoping to help charter a holistic demand towards finding a lasting solution to this killings. I sincerely appeal for a careful appraisal of my position considering the nature of item of discourse.

Nigerians have made calls that NYSC be scrapped having had the founding essence betrayed. I wish to soberly submit standing by the side of reality that while people’s dream have been abruptly dashed in the line of service, some have made a meaningful life out of this scheme. Weighed on a scale, the pain of losing a dear one may just represent the joy of seeing a loved one excel inside out. That might sound wrong depending on what angle it is viewed from but it is a fact that can’t be disputed that while some count blessings, some would count gains within the same scheme. That this scheme’s essence had been defeated is in no doubt but asking for total scrapping seems to me trying to kill a fly with a C4.

To what extent do we classify human lives as a nation? Is the life of a pauper worth less that of a rich man? What is the worth of the life of a police man? Or to make a general case, who really does not deserve a life, whether basic or rosy?

We all seem to have narrowed our cries to the death of youth corp members which somehow presupposes that their lives are worth more than those of others that were also killed. It is true that man is likely to push an argument from an angle he is most affected and that also is understandable but can we really afford to be disunited in pushing for a better and secured society? I would argue in the negative.

Every Nigerian, irrespective of education background, religion, ethnic group and socio-political status deserves to enjoy the right to life. Nothing short of this should be our demand from the government whose it is the responsibility to make this happen.

What has been the role of the government is securing the lives and properties of Nigerian citizens? We can’t truly make a correct judgement if we miss the details of how and where these heinous crimes were committed. One of the youth corp members last called to inform that they were being surrounded in a police station where they have gone to seek refuge. That was the last heard of him!

Now we can begin to probe into some other eye opening faults the government has tried to package as something simple. Were there no officers in the station, not even one? If none, where did they all go to? If there were, at least one, where is he now? Was he also murdered? What role did the officer(s) play? Are we so sure they also did not partake in the killing or ran for their lives leaving harmless and innocent civilians in the hands of murderers? Whichever picture you choose to paint, one thing is obvious; our police force is so weak, understaffed and incapacitated. This is just one of the very many implications. We have heard countless cases of policemen joining forces with armed robbers or giving arms to them.

Unfortunately, those officers who have a semblance of good training would have been dispatched to the houses and offices of rich men and politician, some as escorts to expatriates and the rest probably mounting illegal road blocks around looking for what to take home to support the meagre salary paid by the government. Do we blame an officer for absconding knowing that no insurance package covers his family in the event of his death while in service?

The problems are numerous; they keep pinching us from different angles overtime. The best we have received as a reaction from the government is lip service. Did we not get promises after the Suleja bomb blast where youth corp members were wounded and others killed? We got promises after the Jos mayhem, after the Abuja bombing, after the military market blast also in Abuja. We were assured we had seen the end of Boko Haram. Was there not a promise that there would be adequate security and that corp members should take part in the exercise? Who has been brought to book for the bombings, I am not talking about stage managed culprits, true arrest; what happened to the security promised?

The greatest impetus that has continuously aided this ugly trend to continue is the inability of the government to bring any of the perpetrators and their sponsors to book. Today, arsonists, murders, thieves, and drug pushers walk freely on our streets while petty criminals are victims of government ‘flash in the pan’ approach to dealing with crime. Those big men criminals who were managed to be made to face the wrath of the law were either celebrated as they returned from prison or allocated hospital beds in lieu of jail rooms.

I have written this not necessarily to represent an overall views of what the problems are or pose as the seer of a full packaged solution, no, I only intend to probe your inner thoughts and have us all talking about the problems. We can’t always afford to wait for events and then meet them with spontaneous reactions and demands.

It tells a tale of a country that has refused to stand up to her problems and face it squarely, a tale of a leadership that takes extra courage to do the right things ‘once in a while’, a tale of a nation where defaulters end up being heroes.

I sincerely mourn with the families of the deceased, corpers and non corpers, with the nation as a whole and pray that the spirits of these innocent people continue to haunt their killers until they are brought to book.

Where are the thinking caps? Let’s get back to the drawing board.

God Bless Nigeria.

MEND To Initiate World War 3: From my Archive...

I wrote this article on the 16th of September, 2008 at about 10:17 pm in response to a posting on Nairaland MEND To Initiate World War 3.
Toy may want to read the uncensored article following the link:
THE ORIGINAL POST ON NAIRALAND.
I feel the whole Niger Delta matter needs some sincere opinions. My definition of sincere here is contextual, every individual has a right to his or her own definition of sincerity.

While I would love to also share some views as far as Niger Delta crisis is concerned, I would not make the mistake of reducing my analysis to the activities of MEND.
They seem to be the most vocal (not necessarily most organised) of all the militant groups, it really does not make them reasonable and/or most respected.

I share the pains of our brothers and sisters from that side of the country and I feel it is just fair to jointly condemn the neglect they have suffered over time.
I have personally paid visits to some oil rich states and I must confess; if you are very vigilant, you would see poverty in person. Poverty is everywhere.
Not just poverty of amenities or money but also poverty of ideas. They feel so isolated that every other Nigerian may quickly irritate them on issues affecting their existence.

It is no gainsaying that the neglect suffered by this region has successfully separated it from the rest of the nation, so the question of whether Nigeria should divide may need no further answer, events would speak.
However, the first step to getting matters resolved is to see people from other regions condemning the neglect and ask for sincere attention for oil cities.

This crisis to a very large extent has also contributed to what I call ethnic chauvinism.

Having said this much, I have not, atleast within myself, been able to fathom out the sense in blowing up a place we are complaining is under developed. The multi-dimensional issues attached to this matter all would have various opinions visiting them.

First, on kidnapping, I condemn this act is strong terms and feel such should be discouraged. It is a reflection that the struggle for Niger Delta emancipation as far been commercialised if people kidnap only to release the victim after collecting certain amounts tagged ransom, I call it BRIBE.

I however have reasons to suspect that there is a kind of working understanding with most victims been kidnapped in recent times. The comfort and ease with which this kidnap is carried and the speed at which deals are brokered to facilitate release calls for more than meets the eyes. I feel the white man is also beginning to make faster money outside their blood-oil money.

Second, the free display and use of arms and ammunitions raises a lot of questions as regards security. My concern is centered round the fact that we seem not to be asking where these ammunitions come from, definitely not Nigeria then what the mode of transporting it is. By the time we try to ponder over this, we are not likely to spare some big boys cum politicians in this arms deal! So also are the white men. What happens to all the tankers seized, I am sure they don't spill all.
How many of their own are in school as a result of scholarship funded by these militants? All we see is young jobless men cruising around the streets in state of the art cars, spending money lavishly and building castles. Then the question is, get what you can using what you have:

With the caveat, EVERY OTHER PERSON CAN GO TO HELL!!! The whole third world war threat is a reflection of how shallow the militants' understanding of this crisis is, THERE IS MORE TO WAR BEYOND BLINDLY PRESSING DOWN YOUR TRIGGER KILLING YOUR OWN VERY BROTHERS!!!

Finally is the government recklessness and petty approach to resolving the matter. The govt has made this crisis so lucrative that nobody currently feeding fat on this impasse would like to get is resolved anytime soon.

Imagine the creation of a NIGER/DELTA MINISTRY with the office in Abuja while the crisis is in the war torn areas. So how do we reconcile the mindset of a government who has deployed most of our military might to a place and at the same time enticing them with a ministry?

Stick and carrot approach, I’d say. A government that has built more bridges in Abuja where there are no waters than a completely riverine Niger Delta.

In conclusion, I do not fancy the government approach and there is nothing to hide here, at that however, I also condemn in strong terms the manner with which this militants groups have fashioned to redesign their destiny and that of the people of Niger Delta.

I for one do not see them as freedom fighters; I’d rather see them from the angle of anarchists who have privatised the business of anarchism for their own commercial benefits.

I like to see some sense of purpose in the agitation for a better Niger Delta, a constructive and critical review of ways forward and high display of maturity. Beyond this, let us all add our voices to calling for a BETTER NIGER DELTA.

I would sincerely appreciate your views as well.

(Please pardon my mistakes)

Cheers.

IT’S ALREADY THREE DECADE

I am not very sure this would pass for an autobiography but it tells a little about my sojourn on this planet in the last 30 years.
In fairness, I can’t recall what the first four year were like beyond the fact that I was a mummy’s boy and had a relatively comfortable family background.
Events after then especially my early teens have taught me great lessons, so great are these lessons that I have come to realise that understudying the life of a single man is worth more than a university degree. This may be argued but for me, the lessons of life are better taught by living them and not read on pages.
Show me a book on the most equipped shelf that teaches experience, I’d buy with all of my life savings. Even those that try to teach men how to live a good life limit the teachings only to getting you prepared to live your own life.
I have lived mine so far relying on parental guidance, societal influence, spiritual guidance, peer influence and above all self will.
By any standard, I can’t claim to have had the best of life neither the worst; I have been opportune to see life from the perspective of a rich kid and that of a poverty stricken young mind. I have had reasons to take decisions influenced only by my living condition without considerations for whether or not it agreed with the norms of the society and commands of the Almighty.
Within this little while, I have come to realise that man can only claim to be consistence to the extent of which of his trait is convenient for him, that probably explains why we get disappointed at times and impressed some other times. Why in the first instance would I be impressed when you do things I know you are capable of or disappointed when you come out in your known colours? These two feelings are in my opinion elements of surprise.
Growing up has been so revealing and interesting. The best of our actions in the past years, we look back and see they are the most foolish of present years; it is not as if we weren’t corrected then but, tell me a man that can do better than the limits of his thinking. We were just at the best of our folly for those years. These were years when the community would be willing to forgive us owing to our age limitations. I look back at the arrogance with which most of those acts especially mine were defended and I can only thank God for giving me a second chance and people around especially the elders for understanding.
Today, I am looking back with almost all pictures of the past flashing my mind with some nostalgic feelings. I sure miss the past but the question is whether I can have it back. The scriptures all preach about it but man’s wisdom can’t comprehend the depth of spiritual teachings.
I remember almost everything. The songs that were sang when, the movies, the breaks and holidays. The gathering of friends and outings; the memories of the dead family members, friends and colleagues. All have played a role in designing my kind of man, the man that I have always wanted to be.
These years have taught me yet another irony of life. To what extent can we control the events that mould our lives? How then can we stand confident to say we are now the dream person we wanted to be? Is it more convenient to say we are the captain of our own destinies or better say we are the best of what nature has made of us? Whichever way we choose to go, I think it is all about contentment and the will to get better.
Life for me hasn’t been a bed of roses nor thorns; it has come with phases of ups and downs, good and bad times, I have laughed very much and cried very hard, I have achieved feats and failed woefully at tasks, I have taught lessons and have been taught multiple times, I have drank to my satisfaction and fought thirst bitterly, I have fed fat and gone slim out of hunger, I have celebrated the birth of new ones and wept at the demise of loved ones, I have won and lost, I have given and taken, I have seen life through others and expectedly some have seen it through me. I have impressed some and disappointed some. I have seen that life is in itself a scale that measures the two possibilities of human life and endeavours.
Now, I am thirty years old, I am so aware the priviledges of youthful exuberance are gone and responsibilities of adulthood beckon. To what extent I am set for the challenges others have taken on well before now is a question of time? I hope I can one day read this piece and say with a big smile, SO FAR SO GOOD.
It has been a very adventurous life, one that if given the opportunity, I would lead again but with moderations. I can’t get any luckier than what I have become because of the people I have met thus far and their respective roles and influence in my live.
Alhaja Elegbede, my mother, my goddess. If permitted by Allah, she would be about the only person I’d bow to. My rock of gibraltar. Abiamo lojo isoro. Today, I cannot but say thank you even when I know these letters can’t express how much your efforts, prayers, sleepless nights and your tears have impacted in my life. Of what use would laurels be to me, if your blessings are off my head. Thanks for being so wonderful, thanks for being so caring; thanks Mama for the sacrifice. All I can say is you haven’t seen my best. May Allah preserve you to enjoy the fruits of your sweat.
Dad thanks. You have always called me a man. Now I am growing into one; your resounding lessons and quiet messages are my fortress. You have calmly mentioned the errors and advised the way to go. You have stood to correct me and lowered yourself to be corrected. You have taught me leadership and made yourself available as a follower. You are the man, thanks for your ways and positions in times of confusion. Funny as it may sound, thanks for marrying Mum.
To my siblings, THANK YOU. I am more than sure that you all know what it means when I say that. You all have been my first contact with life and today, I probably wouldn’t have had a life but for your understanding and love. I feel most privileged to be a part of you.
Friends and colleagues, would there have been a better time to know any of you? No! Thanks for coming into my life at this time. You have added colour to my life and made it very interesting.
This is my story, the story of a life that has continuously reminded me that for every situation there’s a choice to make and a path to thread.
Alhamdullilahi Robil Al-Amin, it’s already three decades...

CONGRATULATORY LETTER TO MR. PRESIDENT ELECT; DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN

Dear Sir,

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE

I am writing today to congratulate you on your re-election as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces of the Federal republic of Nigeria, not because I am your fan neither do I fall into the category of early well wishers for the sake of recognition. This message is informed by the need to call your attention to the fact that beyond the victory at the poll, the major victory lies in being able to deliver your promises on one hand and your ability to meet the Nigeria people at the point of their needs on the other hand.

Elections, which in all honestly stands out compared to what we have had between 1999 and now but not necessarily the best we can have, have come and gone but the Nigerian problems have deepened calling for immediate attention hence, leaving no time to champagne or parties.

The wish of every voter is to see the coming government perform; you need not be told that beyond the promises you made during your campaigns most of which in my opinion do not represent the ideal solution to the Nigerian crises, the need to get to work almost immediately cannot be emphasised enough.

You have promised to ensure construction of airports across the country if voted in. Such promise makes me wonder what the job of the various financial advisers and Minister of Finance is. How this is achievable in the space of four years is also an issue to carefully consider except the plan for a tenure extension or a 7 year single term plan is launched; you may want to argue government is a continuous process but the golden question is, how much do we need these airports and what do we suffer if we don’t have them?

The cost implication of such investment would only shift attention from pressing items that would immediately reflect changes in the lives of Nigerians and give hope for a better future. Take some time to think about it. Yes, you have made these pronouncements but by dictates of objective reality, more airports are not urgent need of Nigerians.

Mr. President, you have also promised establishment of more universities, that is yet another disturbing promise which makes me think Nigerians have voted not necessarily because of the promises made but for reasons attached to personal views. You probably should mandate your minister of education, whoever that is going to be, to move round tertiary institutions in Nigeria and report back to you the extent of decay. Adding more universities would amount not only to waste of scarce resources but also imply disorderliness in our priorities as a nation.

Have you thought about investing these resources in existing universities to bring them to world standards? What about the take home of our lecturers and teachers? What about involving private companies in funding projects and increasing their quota for scholarship for indigent students? These are about some of the meaningful steps to be taken to save the ivory towers from the decay recorded over time.

The problem of insecurity stares at you and I am sure you know this much. You are in the know that no matter how much change you intend to effect, if people cannot go about their normal lives without the fear of kidnap or bomb blasts which have being on the increase in the recent time, then you have achieved nothing.

An approach would be for you to be more detailed and firmer in your approach to curbing this menace. What comes to my mind are the sad occurrences of explosions and innocent lives lost across the country and also your statement that a particular organisation wasn’t responsible for the bomb blast. I hope you would be mindful of your assertions on other issues as I don’t pray for such occurrences again.

Mr. President, you have promised to bring culprits to book, we have heard nothing so far and nobody is being arraigned for these offences, is that suggesting culprits can walk freely while families go to sleep everyday hoping for justice that may never come? It sure would if you don’t make it a priority. Nigeria needs to be safe.

All security outfits must be well funded and adequately empowered and remunerated. Joining the Nigerian security outfits as a result of lack of job must be discouraged; passion and merit must be allowed to govern enrolment. The welfare package of men of the respective forces should be given serious attention, without these, we are likely to dance round this matter over and over again.

Sir, your promises to invest in local contents and revive the manufacturing capability of Nigeria would amount to nothing if the borders are carelessly flung open. For a very long time, our country has remained a dumping ground so much so that foreign companies feel more comfortable with making gains than local institutions. I make bold to say that Nigerians, given the right and enabling environment can come up with products that meet world standards.

The policies on commerce are so poor and tax system is so moribund that people have resolved to cutting corners and under-delivering standards to make up for other sundry expenses that the government can readily help with.

Your Excellency now is the time to act on power and oil. So much lip service has been paid to these key issues that one begins to ask when exactly the action plans would be rolled out.
Brilliant ideas have been suggested at different forums and events to resurrect the sector in question but as it stands, we are getting almost nothing as a people. May I challenge you Mr. President that until you take decisive steps on how best to deal with these situations especially individuals who are selfishly feeding fat on the rot in our power sector, we still would get nothing from it?

If there is a best time to kick start implementation, it was twelve years ago, a better time is now Sir.

Sir, you may also want to take time to check with the Minister of Health, whether the current one or whoever is coming in, how many of the child death recorded so far can be avoided, same for other related deaths and breakout of diseases. The health sector is also begging for immediate attention. Sir, have you asked how many governors, ministers or members of the respective houses go to the General hospitals? You may want to argue it is a question of taste and availability of resources but I would argue that such tastes are funded by the monies belonging to the public. If they have done a good job with the health sector, why fly abroad to treat common ailments? Do you feel anything when you read about the exodus of professionals all in the pursuit of better working conditions? These are challenges Mr. President. You can’t have this much on your table and have spare time for wild jubilations.

Sir, this is a country whose future lies in the youth, the need to show good examples is very important. Celebrating the likes of Bode George is far from the kind of lessons future leaders should be taught, I would advise you distance yourself from such gatherings and pay more attention to your promises as amended. This is to the extent that presidential pardon must be carefully and well thought of before being granted. Let me also quickly add that the urgency demanded by the Nigeria crises does not leave room for compensating friends, associates and party members with ministerial appointments, no! Let the round pegs stay in the round holes and encourage people to return to trade; politics after all is not supposed to be an occupation.

Sir, Nigerians are dying daily across the globe all because our foreign policies are porous. We must not encourage crime or make cases for disgruntled Nigerians who soil the name of this nation but, there is a need to ensure justice has been done. There is a need to redefine our relationship with the outside world and show to them that Nigerian citizens are human beings and must be treated as such.

Also, the Judiciary must be allowed to function to its capacity. It should leave up to its role as the hope for the common man. This country has witnessed many cases of compromised justice, a situation that has in turn encouraged jungle justice and crime rate. You must lead the way and have everybody learn that no one is above the sacrosanct law guiding our existence as a people.
Mr. President, this list is long and the truth is whether or not they are written, they stare right into your face and you know they exist.

Now you have in your hands the book of history and pen of posterity, write for yourself that which you would like to be read to generations yet unborn.
These are my words for you, bitter as they may sound, that is the way I feel. Wherever you feel spited, check again and you are likely to agree within yourself that it is an item you need to act upon.

Once again, you have being favoured by democracy, a sheer game of numbers. A phenomenon that has over time proven that while majority determines the outcome, majority at times can be very wrong in their judgement. Take this advantage to prove that the majority made the right decision by doing the right thing and serving the interest of the people.

Finally, you are assured of commendations when you get it right and truly this is what I like many true Nigerians which for; when you get it wrong however, expect the truth to be told and recommendations made. You don’t have to know it all so get people of deep knowledge and intelligence to work with you without interfering.

Be humble in victory and always remember there is no time for vendetta.

I wish you all the best.

Goodluck to you, President Goodluck.

God bless Nigeria.

THE APRIL CONSPIRACY

... Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable. -John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

I have thought of handing out this article well before now but for other engagements and my decision to allow the process go without making comments, it is just happening now.
Clearly, in the history of our democracy spanning the last twelve years, the enthusiasm shown this year can only match what we recorded during the June 12, 1993 elections. Many organisations have rolled out different degrees of platform to monitor elections, give voice to the electorates and also admonish the masses on the need to vote. The involvement of the international community in terms of human resources deployed and financial support cannot but further confirm the readiness of the good people of Nigeria to see the process through and ensure the freeness and fairness we have been promised.

On Thursday, March 31st, 2011, apart from the fact that the INEC chairman continuously assured Nigerians how set the commission was for the election, materials were set to have also arrived on the same day by noon. This same assurance was broadcasted on Friday, heightening the hope of the masses.

On Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 mid way into the process of accreditation and voting in some other places, rumours started flying that elections have been postponed in some areas, Plateau and Gombe were the first names to go round. While there were no given reasons as to why this was so, a twitter message by INEC, inecnigeria, read “NO CANCELLATION OF IN NIGER, GOMBE, BENIN OR ANY STATE AT ALL. PLEASE IGNORE THE RUMORS.” at about 11am. Another one read, “There will be an official statement made by the chairman of INEC PLEASE BE PATIENT.” at about some minutes to 12 noon.

Lo and behold, the INEC Chairman came on air to announce the cancellation and postponement of the National Assembly Elections by 48 hours.

To set the facts straight, Prof. Jega displayed a rare level of decency to have admitted the faults were that of the INEC and appealed to Nigerians, and that was enough for a lot of people to give him a pat on the back and hopefully wait for a better turnout on Monday.

While that must be noted, I strongly feel such event tells too many tales to be overlooked as a result of admittance of fault. By dictates of common sense, what the Prof did is what he should have done; if for the reasons that we have a system where morals walk on its head with the legs up, Prof. Jega should be pardoned, then anyone can as well carry out his evil deeds and then take responsibility.

Certain questions need to be asked and answers provided. What stopped this broadcast from coming on the night of Friday, April 1st, 2011? It probably in the Prof’s wisdom would have passed for an april fool’s joke. If election materials did not arrive the country as at Friday night, I have reasons to feel the hesitation of the INEC chairman to have made the pronouncement there and then waters down the moral noise his admittance was expected to generate.

I would have expected him to meet with party leaders and representatives to discuss the situation and have them all seat at the press briefing rather than plunge the country into such a huge embarrassment.

Second, does it occur to the INEC and indeed Mr. President who termed this as one of the sacrifices we have to make to ensure a free process, how much this country is losing for the wasted days? How much the international community have lost? How much the Nigerian traders have lost? It probably doesn’t matter to them; afterall, the budget of the INEC in the first instance seems to have emerged from the heavens always in round figures.

I also have to ask how Mr. Chairman arrived at the date he communicated to us. What does he intend to change or effect within 48hrs? Can we by now anticipate delay on Monday as I really haven’t come to understand how INEC intends to get materials across the country in a short time? Did the chairman take time to consider the effect of logistics on parties participating in the process? Do all these add up to an issue to waive aside because Prof. Jega did the logical thing? I would argue in the negative.

Have we quickly forgotten Mrs. Ayoka, the godly staff and the Resident Commissioner at the Ekiti State election rerun who later turned her back at her own very words? There is always a way to appeal to public sympathy as a premise to perpetuate a bigger fraud.

In my little experience dealing with people, I have come to realise that the best way to kill the morals of people is to push it to its height and then betray expectations; this is exactly what the INEC is doing and I am forced by this reasoning to see the INEC Chairman as part of a bigger picture of electoral fraud.

It would be my joy that I am proved wrong and that would be for the good of the nation. The implication of such cancellation would either be that people would not bother turning out on Monday, April 4th hence, making the process of rigging a little convenient or if the brains behind this scheme would be unlucky, people would push harder and come out in their numbers to make sure they actually vote and see this process through. Whichever way it goes, we need to then be mindful of the antics of these who also would have various plans for any outcome.

The people have shown great interest in this process and it would take a very high level of ingenuity to rig, this cancellation has a semblance of such genius. Whet the appetite of the people with promises of a free process and flaunt your credentials, raise their hopes, betray it and then take responsibility.

The chain is quite simple but the psychological implication of it is far reaching. The leadership of INEC would have to work wonders to convince Nigerians it is not an electoral arm of the ruling party. The ease with which Mr. President tagged the cancellation as a sacrifice leaves yet another mark of mendaciousness; he even asserted that he had to rush back, so funny!
It should be on record that if things keep going this way, we are simply headed for a crisis situation which clearly, our current crop of leaders don’t appear to be capable of handling. We are yet to receive any report on the various bombings and other crises across the country. All these too prepare a good ground for the leadership of this country to call off the whole elections on the grounds of security.

This is where we are but we all can make a decision as to where we want to get to. It is unarguably frustrating but then we need to keep pushing to make our impact felt. We need to go out en masse as demonstrated today to get accredited and cast our votes to make rigging very impossible for these elements. If we don’t, for whatever reason we want to give, we can as well kiss the next eight years good bye and look farther beyond.

We don’t have to wait for people to march out on the street before we start taking actions, the deeds of this government is likely to throw us into rounds of civil war if it is not confronted head on.

Prof. Jega for all I care has not disappointed me; he has on the contrary made me appreciate the fact that human beings like every other creation of the most Supreme are unstable and prone to change whether for the good or otherwise. Past credentials might be enough to make people invest little respect but the true respect is that which we live to earn everyday; that is what explains who we truly are.

I might be wrong as I have earlier stated but I seem to be comfortable coming from behind to get to see the good side of things than having my hope raised like the Prof just did. This man is yet another agent of the April Conspiracy.

STOP PRESS:

This article was about going to press when Prof Attahiru Jega again announced that elections previously slated for tomorrow have been postponed again for another few days and would now hold on the 9th of April, this should have been the right step after the last embarrassment.

I would save that for another day. From my blackberry, someone asked if it would be safe to make Prof. Jega your wedding planner; I for one would not. He is likely to postpone it when I am about to answer Yes, I do!!!

God Bless Nigeria.

OPEN LETTER TO DR. GOODLUCK JONATHAN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

Dear Mr. President,

TRUTH IS A FUNCTION OF TIME: IN THE DEFENCE OF MY STATE

Sir, I finally made up my mind to write your esteemed office on the subject matter after I have carefully watched things degenerate over a period of time in my state, Ogun state.
My dissatisfaction with this spate of event especially as they affect the coming elections would have had nothing to do with you but the selfish ranks of leaders we have back home if at the time leadership was lacking and your input were needed, you did the needful.
In my humble opinion, it would sound far from reasonable to hold a man from Bayelsa responsible for the crisis in Ogun state; but your position, and to a large extent the dire situation in the country that you are in charge of makes it impossible to overlook your roles, actions and inactions.

Sadly, it is possible to limit this crisis to PDP and one may have to answer questions has to why the lingering PDP crisis should be made to represent the Ogun people. The answer is simple; your position in PDP puts so much on your shoulder that you can’t afford to dodge. Besides, how you are able to deal with your immediate challenges as a party leader determines to a large extent how well you would deal with the Nigeria leadership problems.

Also, as our President, we must at every point in time be able to tell where you stand on issues bothering on integrity, rule of law and respect for the democratic institution.
Sir, does it bother you as the number one citizen that the Ogun state house of assembly hasn’t sat for about six months? Have you ever asked how the allocation of the state is being spent over these months? How come your silence isn’t golden but deafening?

Mr. President, did you bother to ask why two parallel primaries were held in Ogun state with men of the Nigeria Police and other security agents and also INEC officials in attendance? Can we safely assume both primaries were legitimate? That sounds like a no to me because you already did your internal permutations and presented the flag to Chief Tunji Olurin as the legitimate candidate of your party. There was no panel to investigate what went wrong, where is the place of fair play and equity?

Sir, the committee you sent afterwards to meet with the two factions; what was it supposed to achieve after you have stamped the candidacy of your master’s choice? That we as a people would mistake that for a move to encourage peace is a mistake; we didn’t buy it. Your committee was configured from the inception to fail and it did. One thing your committee was obviously set not to achieve is pronouncing another gubernatorial candidate; that would obviously pitch you against your boss, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. I bet you don’t have the luxury to confront his venom at a time when you seeking to get re-elected.

Ogun state is contending with a leadership crisis that portends so much danger in times to come and openly you have denied us true leadership and direction. However, we shall sail through this troubled waters and place your ‘men’ where they belong. We are peaceful people being held hostage by blood thirsty gladiators.

Mr. President, long before now, I have had my doubts in your ability to manage this country and you have proved this to be true several times. For all you care, it is now more obvious than ever that what matters to you above salient issues is getting back to office whether or not before that time there would be people left to govern.

I have gone into the archives to evaluate the Jos crisis, the number of casualties recorded over these period of neglect, how our brothers and sisters have had to live with watching their people massacred right before them; I limited my research to Jos to save myself tears. It all boils down to lack of representative and qualitative leadership. In a sane situation, there should have been no need gracing posters with your pictures, men of conscience would not only have resigned, they probably would have committed suicide.

Despite the killings, destruction of property and insecurity, Mr. President, we can’t really point to one thing that you have done to bring the perpetrators to justice. Are we to wait until another militant group is formed to take revenge for their own people? What has happened to all your promises to end the crisis? Is that supposed to be a second term project?

Sir, I, like every other Nigerian, would have expected you show some level of commitment not only in words but action to secure lives of people rather than running around to gather votes. Of what particular benefit would your second term be to a common man? Sleeping and waking up in Nigeria is a very expensive privilege and not a right. Stealing and administrative recklessness is the order of the day. Communities are set against communities killing one another for no particular reasons and when your stooges and ‘boys’ are out to campaign, the fly the banner of unity.

What exactly does unity have to do with you exonerating an organisation from a bomb attack? Could Henry Okah be saying the truth when he alleged your men called him to ask his MEND comrades to disclaim the attack so that you can rope some northern leaders as the ones behind the October 1 attack? The confession facts are there all over the internet. How does unity work when your campaign highlight promotes more of ethnic bias than what your programmes would be in office? What does unity have to do with people losing their jobs by the day? What does unity have to do with decaying infrastructures? What does unity have to do with lack of direction? What does unity have to do with religious intolerance?

Mr. President, I write today not to have you come back to Ogun State to do the right thing; that is asking for too much. Unfortunately, your boss and lieutenant in my state are as vicious, directionless, nasty and arrogant. Go back to Plateau State, where you have gone to campaign without addressing the real issues and do the right thing. Go to Maiduguri and do the right thing, address the Nigerian populace and tell us the truth. We can’t get it any worse.

Mr. President, today, we would have to go through the elections with the fear of things getting worse; with my people sitting on a keg of gun powder while in the corners of your room, you seek to win Ogun State. If our votes at this time would count, you won’t win! You really do not deserve to win because you have not shown leadership where it was most required. You have turned your back against the people of Ogun State to secure your selfish aim. You have at different times taken a position that pitches you against that of the masses but represent your personal gains only. You have continuously massaged the egos of individuals who ideally should be behind bars because they are crucial to your victory at the polls. The situation has not totally degenerated into what we have in other states not because your leadership has made any sense of the situation but because we are a people who despite our differences remain civil.

I am not sure if during your visit to the Redeemed Christian Church of God camp ground, the General Overseer told you power on this world is ephemeral. If he did, there is no sign you are yielding to that warning and if he did not, let it be known to you today, that the most brutal of rulers are now only read about on the pages of history books. Yours won’t be any different.
Your agenda to extend the four year tenure you currently seek to a 7-year single term is not unknown to many Nigerians. Take this fragile situation for liberty and graciously write your name in the books of history in the colour you so wish; the day of accountability is just around the corner.

As an Ogun indene and a Nigerian, I have learnt not to expect too much from any government, yours would not be an exception but I, like many others, owe it to history, to make this known to you, it is a mere transition but engaging enough to distract men of little knowledge and no conscience. Look back at your own history, wait not to be told; where were you pre-1999? I am not sure you could have predicted your current position today. If the divine blackmail that graces your elevation is anything to go by,, then you should be the most sober and people loving leader, is that who you are?

When favour smiles on men, they hastily forget the past and dine away the remaining part of their lives as if there was never a yesterday. This is a moral you have successfully taught.
Mr. President, the good people of Ogun state, who by providence, have been kept under the leadership of mindless individuals like every other Nigerian would one day be free; we shall overcome and deep in my heart, deep in our hearts, we believe this to be true and we are sure change is coming. We are also sure; you are not the change we talk about.
While you continue to propagate your empty promises across the land, there are some questions you should ask yourself.

How would you feel if by the time you return to office, if you ever do, there is no more a Plateau state on the Nigerian map? That Muslims and Christians can no longer leave together in Bornu or that there are more prostitutes than teachers in our country?

Mr. President, take out some time to think about this. Ponder on it like you have never done before, seek the opinions of aides who would tell you the truth as is and risk losing their jobs and not the jokers you carry around. You are likely to get just one answer.
Whether or not you would be fair enough to deal with the answer and take the right step is yet another seminar discourse.

Finally Mr. President, may I advice that it is never too late to take actions and save the state and the entire country another round of embarrassment. We have no problems that you have erred, our problem is that it is almost becoming your trademark and you have no history of being apologetic even when your goofs stare at you in the eyes.

Thank you.

God bless Nigeria.

ABUJA BOMBING: THE PRESIDENTIAL DEFENSE

This is likely to be a very short message and the essence is to point your minds to the carelessness of our leaders when anything happens and their rush to cover up same when people are referring to history.

Events like these says one thing above many others, we have a leadership system that is managed by blood thirsty individuals who if closely watched, don't seem to have any regards for our lives not to talk of our yearnings as a people.

Many of my articles puts me in a position that paints an anti-Jonathan picture and this I am not sorry about. Where my facts are found wanting, I would retract it and render an apology to that effect. Sadly, Mr. President has so many goofs that makes making erroneous allegation look almost like making a prediction. Even if he hasn't done it now, you would have him do it sooner before you are attacked as spreading a false story.

I have after the Abuja bombing accused Mr. President of defending MEND, a group that kept warning they would wreck havoc on the independence day celebration. Such defense could only have presupposed Mr. President knows who did the bombing. The manner of defense was so confident and post bombing discussions also showed that Mr. President seem to have so much interest than meets the eyes.

The whole idea behind this particular article is to put individuals who have continuously defended the utterances of the President. I didn't make this up; the good side of information technology, you would agree with me. You can't have your cake and eat it!

If you want to be part of this, there is a major requirement, a very fast internet connection. If you don't have that, let me share a little tip with you.

Open the link and once the video is about to start, pause it and go on with other things. It would take sometime to buffer; come back to it after sometime and then you can watch.

Pay attention to the words of Mr. President and that of Henry Okah and Asari Dokubo.

Someone obviously is lying, and someone is also very careless while someone is both careless and also a blatant liar.

WHO BOMBED ABUJA-PART 1

WHO BOMBED ABUJA-PART 2


If you have to speak for Mr. President, you have a first responsibility of telling him to mind what he says and where he says it.

This is it, this is what we get from people we call leaders. This is what we get from people who come to our towns and street asking to be voted for.

This is what we stand to get from Dr. Jonathan Ebele Goodluck.

Vote for trust, vote wisely.

SPEAK, GEJ, SPEAK!

It is almost becoming a norm around developed and developing countries especially those that have a relatively stable democracy to have contestants appear on TV programmes to articulate their manifestos and also convince the electorate on the need to vote in a particular direction.
I am not so versed with democracies around the world; I may begin to consider taking a second degree in International Relations and History to balance that aspect of my life; I am however comfortable with my knowledge of the Nigerian brand of democracy and have a fair idea of its slips. A particular trend I have observed in our own kind of democracy is that political parties don’t necessarily make people; individuals stand out to prove whether or not to they are fit to hold any given office save rigging and other induced electoral anomalies.

Let me in passing cite the gubernatorial debate held at the Muson centre yesterday March 2nd, 2011 as an instance, beyond the respective party each individual represented, most comment and reactions that have trailed the debate have mentioned more of individual names that parties. It is therefore not enough to be a member of PDP, ACN, ANPP, CPC or whatever it is the party is called but being a clearheaded person. The ability to demonstrate administrative acumen, leadership skills and the understanding of the servant leader concept of governance would to a large extent speak more volume than the colours of your party.
Even at the level of students’ union elections in Nigerian universities, that of OAU, I am so sure of, debates are specially held for contestants well before the elections. The essence of this is to allow for the electorate to have a first hand idea of how grounded their aspiring leaders are. You, as an aspirant, would not be expected to know everything you are asked; that confirms the human aspect of you, but certain questions should be considered a piece of cake for any man who under whatever guise is being slated for elective posts.
I would not expect to see a contestant dumbfounded when asked how he intends to combat poverty or job creation; it has nothing to do with the number of books one has read but so much more with how aligned is has been with issues bothering on people’s welfare. That way, a man can represent his own ideas and opinions, merge same with the overall party agenda if any truly exists and then put forth a pragmatic road map we can fairly call manifesto.
As usual, so many organisations would come up with time table for debates at different level but trust Nigerians; we know which of these different debates to watch out for. By chance, NN24 seem to have won the heart of many Nigerians and we can’t but wait to see our four major presidential candidates slug it out on issues of national and international interest.
May I quickly add that, the outcome of the debates may not necessarily determine the eventual winner of the elections but it guides people’s decisions. This in my own idea of a people oriented democracy.
What then could be so mischievous in the eyes of the Jonathan-Sambo campaign organisation that they are threatening not to participate in the debates slated for March 8 and 18? Such stance would only further confirm the mediocrity that pervades the camp.
The representative of PDP, Dr. Doyin Okupe, made two very interesting demands; that the advance copy of questions be made available to candidates. It also requested an outright stoppage of the studio audience from posing questions to the candidates.
Do I have to say anything more on these? Really I should not and I want to guess you understand why.

Whatever the suspicion is, one thing that comes to my mind is that the hardest question to field is that to which its answer is obvious.
There is nothing democratic about demanding that people are not allowed to talk or ask questions. Where is the place of accessibility and accountability?
To demand an advance copy of the questions is in itself a reflection of how shallow our leaders are. Within the context of grammar, I have always asked if it would be right to refer to our own David Mark or Iyiola Omisore as a Senator if the like of John McCain is also referred to as a Senator in the United States. The gap is wide and almost irredeemable.
We have built our leadership structure of sheer show of masculinity and material strength way ahead of intelligence, selflessness, ideology clear-headedness, nobility, and local content. The person who in my opinion stands the greatest chance to hold the floor and spend so much time talking is President Jonathan being the incumbent; sadly, their fears are far from academic but performance related.
The whats, whys and hows that would trail the very many inflated and bogus contracts, judicial recklessness, abuse of office, insecurity, unemployment and wasteful spending is what stands between Mr. President and attending the debate without a fore knowledge of the questions.
Mr. President would rather hide behind his still profile picture on facebook than meet with us and debate with other contestants.
I am not so very disappointed; I have known this long before now what problems we have with our current President. My shame lies solely in the fact that while we are battling the menace of examination malpractice and favouritism in job interviews, our own Jonathan-Sambo camp are openly aligning with this decay. The same way they celebrated Bode George.
In conclusion, this is my verdict, it is better to keep silent and let people guess whether you are a fool or not than speak and clear their doubts. Mr. President and his boys are taking a clinically deft decision to conceal something that would in the final analysis embarrass the country and the good people therein.
On page 1 of the Tribune of June 14, 1958, the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo said, ‘Democracy demands that the truth be told always. Charlatans and Saints should be called by the proper names.
God Bless Nigeria...

A CLEAR TOMORROW

A short while after the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt plus the ripple effects across the Arab world, so many people have mouthed the possibility of same happening in Nigeria. Some I have heard and ignored, some I have debated the possibilities.

I have previously mentioned that there are lessons to learn from these events; one of such lessons which may appear irrelevant is that there is a proof that such movement can be built. A fact that people can actually rise against their leaders and make demands way beyond the imaginations of the leaders has been proven.

This particular piece is informed by a quick succession of events in the last one week and I just have this feeling that some reference be made to them for the benefit of history. I actually have written about one but its relevance has made it yet another issue to be mentioned.

Bode George’s return from prison above all things confirms his status as an ex-convict who in my humble opinion should still be held in close doors to help him properly reintegrate into the system he left two years ago.

His return and the fiesta that greeted it would not have bothered me if I were to consider only the old men and women who were mobilised to dance around with an ex-convict. They, the old folks, are a clear representation of how they spent their youthful days; hence, the provider of the red oil and salt that has been sustaining them sure deserves a welcome. I am less concerned about the rented thugs, that is about what they are alive doing.

If for any reason, I would have to think about revolution, these set of people would not even cross my mind as comrades. I have never mistaken joining issues with them; it would end up leaving a bitter taste in one’s mouth and amount to sheer waste of time and human resources.
My pain is informed by the set of people who have a semblance of what could be readily transformed into future leaders also joining this shameful dance in public glare.

One major prerequisite of revolution is a people bound by a collective aspiration whose energy is fuelled by the government’s irresponsibility and goal is guided by the belief they share. A people not bothered by colour, accent or ethnical divide. A people singing the same chorus even at the point of death, yet marching ahead. Sadly, that is not what we are. As a matter of fact, we are all that is anti-revolution. So, thinking of Egypt, Tunisia or Libya and at the same time thinking Nigeria is scoring low the ideologies and resolution of these great people of history.
I have seen young men of sane mind defend the celebration of Bode George’s return and that to me tilts our future to the rotten end of the lever. Every man has his right to opinions but certain things would just not need extra explanation before it is hastily wrapped and dumped into the trash can of history. This is another challenge for those who have long abandoned participation and allowed shenanigans to take the stage and call the shots.

President Jonathan Goodluck for the record time has shown afterall that he doesn’t stand for anything in particular. This is a man who would argue he wants to combat corruption celebrating corruption. Bode George in his words has attended the University of Life, referring to his experience behind bars and it is only reasonable to expect he gets a certificate from the President in form of a state pardon so that he might again be put in an office.

This cycle is almost as sure as tomorrow’s sunrise, what manner of future then are we looking at, why do we have to fold our arms and make these individuals take us for a ride?
What sensible leader would choose to hold a rally on a working day like Tuesday? Of course, a leader that knows he has enough unemployed youths to mobilise. Both the ACN who held some form of rally at the following centres; Teslim Balogun Stadium, Volkswagen, Gbagada and Agege Stadium and PDP, who chose Tafawa Balewa Square, are culpable. It is a reflection of insensitivity.

They wouldn’t have expected lawyers who had one or two matters in court or doctors who should be checking on patients or even artisans whose workshop are busy to grace those rallies. They had a clear understanding of the character of people attending.

Traffic diversion was enforced and a major part of the road cordoned because Mr. President was going to drive through those roads. While I have great regards for security protocols, I feel they should be observed when appropriate and not when GEJ is coming to celebrate Bode George. I am not sure Mr. President has an idea of how much man hours he wasted today in Lagos as a result of traffic and its attendant implication on the country’s GDP, I can bet he doesn’t.
We have to make a decision as to what kind of future we intend to set for our children. It is quite clear that the gains of doing the right thing may not necessarily be enjoyed by this generation but our names shall be written in the gold ink as people who stood by and for the truth.

We cannot pretend all is well when it’s obviously not. Mr. President should have spent time to visit hospitals to see his people dying as a result of poor facilities. He should have gone to schools to access the rot in the system. That is however not meant to be. All these have nothing to do with good luck but a strict sense of servant leadership and administration.
We also should not close our eyes to the fact that the current elitist civil rule would only pitch common men against one another doing the bids of the warlords. Let’s not be misled into the lies that one party is better off; individuals have to an appreciable extent been able to stand out and not parties.

Until elections and office holding in established based on merit and not material possessions, we can only talk and talk, change won’t come.
On the final note, I hope to once again emphasise that what would solve the Nigeria problem of unemployment, insecurity, lack of infrastructures, lack of qualitative delivery health care services and all others has nothing to do with good luck but pragmatic programs that represent truly the thinking process of our leaders and not the over plagiarised booklet they call manifestoes.

With these crop of people warming up to continue ruling, we should by now have a clear picture of what out tomorrow would be.

For me and those who care to listen, it is NO WAY TO FRAUD AND POWER ABUSE.

God bless Nigeria.

STOP PRESS:

I saw a poster along CMS/Apogbon tagging Bode George the Joseph of our time. Are we now not sure how much trouble we are in?

RETURN OF THE MACK

Have you heard of it before?
You probably have. It was a very popular song that came out in the early 90’s sang by Mack Morrison.

This is not really about the content of the song but the title. It makes it sound as if Mack had been out of circulation for a very long time and is now back.
Guess who our Mack is here in Nigeria? The man called Bode George.
For the purpose of this write-up, let me just remind you that BG was charged along some 5 other guys for conspiring to inflate the contract price for the rehabilitation of Kalmar Container Handler from 215,555.52 Euro to 269,965.71 Euro and also the contract awarded to Dateks Ltd for the replacement and installation of six 11KVA High Tension Panels with accessories at Sub-station C, Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, from 310,500.40 Euro to 345,925.00 Euro.
Take care of the mathematics and see just a little of what people pocket in the name of holding offices. They got a 2 year jail term after that. No doubt.

How does that sound to you? For me, it is enormous and in any sane gathering of homo sapiens where moral values are not up for sale, anyone coming from such a background should either be in the corners of the bedroom, begging for forgiveness or still, in front of the pulpit asking to be delivered from the blood of the innocent and wrath of God.

Chief Bode did that and now people are making noise, why?

I have an answer; because we are sane people and we understand that it doesn’t end at going to the church but what exactly was the message from the church and what the possible impact could be.

Before you read too far, if you are this person that has the hyper-craze for religious sentiments, don’t read any further; for the content of these piece, there would be neither apologies nor regrets.

I have not being a fan of Pastors in Nigeria. It has nothing to do with being a Muslim because I have compared notes with Christians and I have come to see we share the same opinion on the conduct and utterances of these celebrated men of God as they claim.

The church has no reasons to discriminate. In fact, if I were to be plain, the church is meant for the sinners so that they may make contact with God and have a change of heart. That is the essence of Jesus coming to this ‘sinful’ world to die on the cross of Calvary; a journey made to redeem the lost sheep. These are the lessons preached from the pulpit and I am going to leave it at that.

As against what I have witnessed at similar gatherings, I would have to respect the sermon of the cleric at the thanksgiving of BG. Whatever the PDP has decided to make of it and in fact, the chief image maker of the MEND, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is a mere reflection of the kind of future we are getting prepared for. It's a lot convenient for GEJ to send representatives to celebrate BG, a convict but not convocations where he is a Visitor by Law!

Many Pastors and indeed, General overseers should learn from Venerable Tayo Aduloju who gave a clear, plain and direct message to Bode. Nothing else should come after that kind of sermon beyond GO AND SIN NO MORE.
Click here for excerpt of the sermon from Tribune
I don’t have facts as to whether or not BG came out openly to give his life to Christ after the sermon. I however have this feeling that he didn’t. The message has been passed and there is evidence of that.

Religious leaders by now should understand that they have a role too sacred to play that does not leave room for them to frolic with criminals, murderers and political warlord as a measurement of their relevance. It serves no purpose to lay hands on a President without telling him to be Godly in his ways and step up his responsibilities to the people as bestowed upon him by his office.

The blood of Jesus is not meant to be something people can be made to feel they can afford to buy some quantity and rub it over their bodies after committing heinous crimes. Let the messages from the pulpit be clear, firm and basic. The spade has no reason to carry a different name if the person in question is a big man.

I don’t buy the blackmail of God would do it that has pervaded the mentality of the average Nigerian man without making conscious efforts to get things done properly.

Most men of God from all divides and faiths spend more time emphasising wealth than addressing the decay in our societies. While the government have successfully grounded to public schools to make their private counterparts thrive, churches and mosques have joined the race to rake in as much money as they can, not minding whether or not the same people who pay tithes and zakat as mentioned in the scriptures can afford to bring their wards to that school. So what is left for us as a people? Where do we turn to for direction?

My message is simple, until we begin to reason as a people and not let the religious leaders who are making efforts to assume the position of deputies to GOD Almighty who needs none and none would ever be, enslave our thoughts and commercialise our fear of God, we are in trouble.

Unless other men of God begin to thread the steps of Aduloju, saying the truth whether or not it is palatable, we are in trouble.

Unless people turn to God truly for repentance and that is seen of them as genuine, we are in trouble.

Unless we understand that we owe it to ourselves as a people not to celebrate decay, eulogise thieves, and consciously set a regrettable example for the younger generations, we are in trouble.

Bode, you have been told, go and sin no more. Now tell, how do you intend to win the Lagos state for PDP as an ambassador of Christ that you have been admonished to be?

Time will tell.

Welcome back, BG, the latest Christ Ambassador.

I DEY THINK OOO

For some reasons, I have always thought top notch politicians were great tacticians. Not particularly because they deliberately dye a portion of their hair grey nor they are superhuman but that they have considerable hands on experience in the game.

It has however become clear I need to have a rethink if the various political calculations and miscalculations are anything to go by. I may have one reason or two to mention issues affecting the Nation as a whole but I would prefer to spend time thinking about my dear state, Ogun.

I am trying to in the first instance understand what went wrong all of a sudden between Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and his political Son, Gbenga Daniel. What exactly brewed so much bitterness? I also want to have a clear idea of how it extended to Jubril Martins Kuye and Chief Alani Bankole, father of Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole.

At various times in the last few years especially counting from the beginning of Daniel's second term, many actions and utterances painted a clear picture of discord between these individuals.

I have always maintained that if the reasons behind their rivalry are not in the interest of the people which in almost all cases are not, to hell with whatever the interest they stand to protect. I therefore do not readily pick interest in their matter. At the end of the day, it is a question of power play and string pulling.

This rivalry which above every other things further describes how unruly and disorganised the Ogun State chapter of the ruling party is and also her members got so embarrassing that separate full fledged primaries were held producing two different candidates for virtually all offices. The comedy is that each primary was so tailored that no one from within individual faction is contesting the outcome.

While I must admit my bias for respective candidates and also make it known that I had a preferred candidate amongst the lot, something more than obvious is that both primaries were based on the regular padi-padi arrangements.

I am still thinking how Dimeji Bankole settled with the Governor Gbbenga Daniel at the eleventh hour and became part of his faction's primaries held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium. That to me is an unforgivable goof.

Certain things might explain such immature move. First, we should understand that a man can't give what he doesn't have, not even to himself. Mr. Dimeji has not being particularly known with intelligent ideas all through his reigns as the Speaker of the National Assembly. If I would forgive him based on this, what about his Dad who had virtually ran the office from Abeokuta residence or the retinue of political advisers and think-tank?

They still luckily have another opportunity to retrace their steps and help poor Dimeji get a ticket to return to the National Assembly. That also is based on the outcome off the general elections. As it stands, winning a PDP ticket doesn't guarantee victory at the polls anymore. People are wiser and more committed to participating in this process.

I am thinking they, (the Bankole's) all the while might not have had any principled reason to lock horns with Daniel; that must have made the resolution so easy. If on the other hand, they claim to have, I am dead sure no attention was paid to the strength of their allies in the marriage of convenience against Daniel.

For the Martins Kuye and Obasanjo camp, I am thinking there was an understanding to properly harmonise and define who the Boss is. That also would mean that one of them understood the need to concede leadership and nomination forms were shared without noise.

Obasanjo, the man who is in the middle of the whole crisis played a fast one by presenting Tunji Olurin who incidentally is a Yewa indigene as against the rumours he was going to impose his daughter, Iyabo, (coincidentally, she also is a ticket holder for the Senate). That's a mark for the General. This doesn't endorse such criminality but gives me great joy to watch the key players within the elitist democratic stage in this country play a fast one on each other.
Hard as I find it to bring Mr. President into this, I have once again come to understand his weakness and desperation to hold on to power judging from his presentation of the party's flag to Tunji Olurin as the party's candidate in Ogun State.

I would've expected GEJ to ensure the crisis was resolved and have the state produce a unity candidate but what would have been the need for it in the face of a stooge serving his master's orders.

How he intends to manage the crisis of the Niger Delta still beats me as well.

I would've given full credit to Gbenga Daniel for not attending the Ibadan jamboree but for his excuse that he was stopped by his supporters. Would he have gone to witness such presentation or stop it from happening? He is not in any way better than Mr. Bankole who must have attended to resound his desperation to get a ticket by a way of identifying with the true Boss.

INEC's list-in-motion approach to the contestants' list stamps the fact that so many things would still happen before the elections thereby leaving a room for prodigal sons and daughters get on the list.

Based on the power indices, Chief Obasanjo has been able to prove his hold not only on Ogun State chapter of the party but also the National Body. This as well, marks Baba's desperate attempts to remain relevant by proxy at all levels.
Gbenga Daniel should not feel so bad in any case, as he is a product of the same system and approach and also, he is set out to achieve the same thing Baba wants to achieve which brings me back to the point that none of these issues points to any other thing beyond the selfish political gains of this men.

My loss would not be measured by either Olurin or Gboyega losing at the polls; something tells me Daniel and his Governor to be Boy would move out of PDP to contest the elections, afterall there are so many parties that can afford to step candidates down for the right price. My loss would be if the Yewa/Awori project is killed because of set out individual gains.
Whatever happens at the end of the day, I think anybody who would truly serve the interest of the people should win the elections and put the state on the right track rather than have the Yewa/Awori project politicised by the state-born gladiators.

For all its worth, I will like ly spend so much time thinking about the damages they have caused our state.

I still dey think and the process is continuous.