The Beauty Of Democracy...!

One of the cherished beauties of democracy in the 'developed' countries is the freedom of expression. This freedom can be expressed in various and diverse ways.
I have watched the British citizens on national television, calling the prime minister foolish, stupid, idiot... and the directors of such programmes don't 'cut-off' the speakers...you know what I mean! And such people don't get arrested by the police or army or navy, and then beaten up and their entire family memebers don't suffer on account of their sons' misbehaviour...(I hope you understand what I'm saying)

Bottled up emotions can be expressed by the citizens through shouting and name calling of ministers or public figures...and sometimes, the public individual fights back like John Prescott-the former deputy prime-minister in this video...
I think the video says it all: I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE!

Wole Soyinka Speaks...

24 hours after Steven Sackur of BBC HARDTALK interviewed Ojo Maduekwe-the Foreign Affair Minister of Nigeria...Steven travelled to Lagos-Nigeria to talk to Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

As part of a season of programmes examining the question "Why democracy"...and how can Nigeria overcome its endemic corruption..."?

Watch the Interview here

I'm UnComfortabe With Marriage Ceremonies...!

I don’t really like wedding ceremonies.-especially the ones organised or celebrated in Nigeria.
However, I found my self attending one two weeks ago- just to ease tension from the political embarrassment happening back home.

Wedding ceremonies are boring and pretentious in most cases. They are marked by an extravagant outward show that do not reflect the sanctity of marriage-rather, these ceremonies ostentatiously, portray the vanity of man.

There I was, like a fish bobbed out of water. I immediately knew I didn’t belong to such showy gathering full of ‘notice me’ people. I had to suffer for three quarter of an hour-punishment I overtly deserve for being the cousin of the bride. It was the most boring three quarter of an hour I have spent in a long time!
I would have preferred watching or reading the unfolding comic drama taking place in the national assembly in Abuja.

What I witness was a carnival of some sort- not a marriage ceremony. How people can participate in a such a show of hypocrisy still beats me. Mark you, I am not anti-marriage. What I despise is the carnival-like splurgy and misplaced ceremonies that follow the so-called union of two people.

Most marriage ceremonies are insufferably outlandish-especially if the couple or one of them is a ‘money miss-road’ fellow. My cousin (the bride in this case) is a lawyer. A budding lawyer for that matter. So, she couldn’t have raised seven hundred and fifty (N750,000) thousand naira (about $6,000) just for the venue for the reception as I gathered.

The groom whom I hardly know and have never met before the wedding day is a business man. His line of business, I can’t tell…yet, there were over five hundred bottles of champagne and all kinds of wines…
Why they would rent or hire two live bands is beyond my comprehension. The ensuing idiotic theme tunes blaring from all spheres made the already humid air intolerable. Meaningful conversation was an impossibility.

I asked an extended relative if she knew the groom well enough. By that I mean the groom’s line of business.
To this I got …’he is very powerful business man…’ I see. May be this chap is the one who got the award for the controversial contract for the renovation of the speaker/deputy speaker’s residents in Abuja. Otherwise, ‘na proper money -mis-road be dis’…

For the better part of forty-five minute, I saw the stupidity and folly of some Nigerians. A man actually stood out in the crowd by spraying hundred($100) dollar bills on the couple and the sycophant musicians-who went on rampage drumming and crooning loudly for attention. The whole scenario was a bedlam of starchy igeles and the overbearing smell of new clothes mixed with cheap and conflicting fragrance of expensive perfumes.

Everyone seems to be happy. To be more appropriate, everyone was pretending to be happy. Or were they really happy?

I guess I was the only sad soul there. I feel so sorry for my cousin. She looked tired and frail too. May be she fasted for forty days and forty nights for the this wedding to actualise . Well, I wish her all the happiness she deserves…and her husband too.
And I hope this stupendous ceremony was not a make -believe…and a reflection of our folly!

NIgerians Cry Too Much...!

Nigerians are the most difficult human-beings to please on the face of the earth.
Why? They are never satisfied. They always grumble about their leaders and about anything under the sun.
Take for example the last elections. Nigerians -mostly populated by drawers of water and hewers of wood cried foul.
What do they know about the conduct of free and fair elections. Who are they to say the elections were rigged when the likes of Obasanjo and most PDP stalwart say it was fairly free.

As if this is not enough, these ignorant and mostly illiterates dare to raise their voices and question the honesty of the ‘elected ‘ president and that of his vice when they both openly declared assets-gotten through long and tedious years of hard work.

These Nigerians also attempted to tarnish the image and reputation of the immediate past president-general Olusegun Obasanjo - accusing him of attempting albeit cunningly to change the constitution to permit a third presidential term and to thwart the efforts of opposing contestants like Atiku.

One thing that annoys or probably baffles the ruling class is that majority of the Nigerian electorates/ followers are naïve, uneducated, gullible or plain stupid.
The ruling class cannot comprehend the naivety of the so-called followers when they cry foul each time they try to make life more comfortable for them through their leadership and examples.

Nigerians would question and cry about just anything done by politicians-especially when it comes to money spending. When the former president-Olusegun Obasanjo came to the conclusion that the fleet of aircrafts attached to the presidency were not befitting enough for a man like him and decided to add a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) 737-800, bought at the cost of about $7.9 million or N1.04 billion, Nigerians went over the top-screaming their lungs out asking-was it necessary? The vintage Obasanjo asked them to shut up.
Do Nigerians expect him to squeeze himself and all his special assistants into one small box? They are not serious!

I will digress a little. If you are a Nigerian and you have (of course you must have!) attended one of the ubiquitous ’owbanbe’ parties in and around the cities of Lagos or Ibadan or Benin-City or Port- Harcourt or Kaduna…then, you must have noticed young men and women and children- who go about with nylon bags collecting leftovers from the tables and floors. Most of them look wrenched, unkempt and emaciated. Some them even scramble and argue over who saw the leftover plate of food first. They may quarrel and sometimes fight over these crumbs.

These wrenched of the earth are not paid to do this job. They actually rely on the leftovers for survival. Most likely, that would be their only meal for the day if they are lucky…

The class of Nigerians whose picture I have painted above are not the ones that cry foul each time billions of naira is spent on frivolities by politicians. This class of Nigerians are too absorbed in the day to day struggle of survival of how to eat and where to sleep to know what is happening in Abuja or Aso-Rock.

The class of Nigerians who have become somewhat like thorns in the flesh of politicians are those who want to know how Patricia Olubunmi Etteh the speaker of the house of representative and her deputy-Babangida Nguroye could allocate and award contracts worth N628 million for the renovation of their official residents including the acquisition of 12 cars…

How on earth would any sane human being living in Nigeria today (let alone a public figure) justify that stupendous amount of money on renovation and cars given the excruciating and harrowing experiences of the poor in their midst…?

N628 million for renovation of houses/cars? Nigerians should note that these houses were refurbished in 2003 and were befitting enough for the speaker(s)/deputies who occupied them. Some stories are just too baffling to comprehend.

Whereas the Federal Government of Nigeria is threatening to cut by half the total number of graduates who are to serve the nation in the NYSC (National Youth Service Corp) because of fund, and whereas most Nigerian university libraries are filled with obsolete books and empty shelves, the Speaker of the House of Representative and her deputy have chosen to walk the path of honour by spending recklessly tax payers money on frivolities and lies…

It is sad and shameful that a country like Nigeria with so many talented and intelligent people would be saddled with some idiots- who call themselves politicians…yet, cannot put their priorities right…somehow they have become a source of embarrassment to the nation and her people…

When Asset Declaration Becomes Laughable...

When president Yar'Dua Musa declared his (questionable) asset of N856m(eight hundred and fifty-six million naira)and that of his wife at N19m, alot of Nigerians hailed this seemingly transparent act ...most people saw it as setting an exemplary example. I saw it as gimmick...a charade. My major concern then was...how did he (Yar'Dua ) amass so much wealth. And what happens if at the end of his tenure, he is ten times richer...? I asked, what will Nigerians do?

Then I felt I was alone in this trail of thought...but after the Vice President of Nigeria-- Jonathan Goodluck bowed to pressure from the people through journalists by declaring an asset base of N259m(two hundred and fifty nine million naira), read what some Nigerians are saying courtesy of ThisDay newspaper(8/8/2007)

Tunde Amos08.08.2007 23:51
We would only be fooling ourselves to think that this people do not have more than they are declaring. come to think of it there are a sizable number of them who have ensure that such assets are purchased/owned and managed by other people on their behalf. Who is fooling who?

Dayo
08.08.2007 23:46
Is there a way of getting the taxation people to tell us the amount of tax paid by all these fellows? Let\'s start from there and later we will investigate how they made these monies.

I hope all the ministers and advisers will follow suit

Daniel Elombah
08.08.2007 23:46
I now believe that \'the Lucky one\' has something to hide.
While Yar\'Adua included the assets of all his family, Goodluck excluded the assets of his wife and kids.

2 months after becoming the governor of Bayelsa Assets, The brother to the wife of Goodluck Jonathan, who had just then finished Youth Service, was used to transfer millions of Naira out of Nigeria using one of Nigerian Banks.

It was also widely reported, that the said wife was investigated by both the EFCC and the London Metropolitan Police for international money laundering.

Therefore, \'the lucky one\' is being clever by half. He should declare his whole family assets including his in-laws, the we should compare what he declared juust 2 years ago as a new governor of Bayelsa State.

It should be further noted, that Goodluck was a mere Lecturer just before assuming office as deputy governor in 1999 and served just 2 years as governor from 2006 to 2007.

Assuming without conceding that the declared assets is a true reflection of all he possees, Nigerians should be asking, how he earned more than 200 million naira a teacher, 6 years as a deputy governor, and 2 years as a governor.

If Nigerian Lecturers now earn so much, we all beter head back home.
Talade Kunle
08.08.2007 23:45
Its completely inconceiveable that GoodLuck would be worth this much. HOW UNDER THE HEAVENS DID HE MAKE SO MUCH MONEY. It is not enough to declare, there should be some explanations as well. It is people like GoodLuck that fuel the restiveness in the niger delta by such huge declarations of wealth that clearly suggests LOOTING..... this is very sad, in a country where pensioners are starving & dying, CRY NIGERIA CRY........

RENE OSAYANDE
08.08.2007 23:45
Most Nigerians seem to mis-place their piority what do we as a people stand to gain from this carefully tailored asset declaration.Instead of us to be asking for good roads,regular power & water supply,free education for our children.We are busy chasing shadows these politicians have perfected the act of stealing.All these assets declared are less from those aquired via proxy.

Ezera Agwu
08.08.2007 23:43
Mr VP, Thank you for showing good example. We in diaspora love your steps. So fellow Nigerians should accept this figure whether you said the truth on not, and repect you and your office for the sake of Nigeria

Udo 08.08.2007 23:31
Obasanjo had N20,000.00 in 1998/1999 but left office a multi-billionaire. Odilli went in with a Nigerian doctor\'s income, if you get my drift, comes out and is buying more planes than Virgin Atlantic. Talking about explanation.

Afolabi Wasiu (USA)
08.08.2007 23:30
Though it is a way to start however declaring asset is nothing if the sources are not decleared, and a thorough review of asset is not done. We all know taxation is a protracted disease in Naija. Levying taxes on their property will not only put money in goverment\'s purse but will also curb those who might declear an exaggerated asset to be filled while in the office.

frank 08.08.2007 23:29
The vp has finally bowed to the yearnings of the people.But little did I wonder why it took him this long after his boss declared his own a long time ago.It definitely shows that he has something to hide.At least now we have something to hold when we start seeing BILLIONS in his accounts.

E. E. I 08.08.2007 23:20
Good news, but I must say that the fight against corruption is nothing but a gimmick when Baba Iyabo is untouchable. The battle is yet to start.

Obinna Alozie
08.08.2007 23:17
No need deceiving people Mr. VP. Since you failed to make it known at first and waited for people to react before you do so. I can\'t believe this figure. And by the way, how did you make this money? Was it your share of the LOOT in Bayelsa under Alameyshia or what?? Stop deceiving yourself. You will somehow, someday be called up by God to repeat this figure you just put out to decieve people. Goodluck.

Afolabi Wasiu
08.08.2007 23:10
Do you need to wait to see what the public opinion will be before you do the right thing?. The President has led the way, why he held back? Well, thanks for following the right path, it is a point to start. It is all about nothing but accountability.

JOHN AJEWOLE (U.K)
08.08.2007 23:07
Public declaration of assets is not enough. Let them explain also how this wealth was accquired. Let Obasanjo, Atiku and a host of others declare their assets too after leaving office. I believe the code of conduct bureau stipulates that public office holders should declare their assets before and after holding an office.

Jare 08.08.2007 23:05
Thank God VP bowed to pressure. Thank you Nigerian Jurnalists. You jurnalisst have a lot to do by going into archive and find out the true statement on ground on the asset declared.Let Nigerians know where and when these assets were acquired. You can find out from their PRO.
We want to know how a school teacher can become a millonaire in Nigeria. How many companies has he,share and landed property. Please investigate.. We are waiting for you people to build our country on honesty, integrity and good governance.

chris 08.08.2007 23:02
Vp\'s asset declaraation is welcome although I believe it must have been a directive from above. It\'s however difficult to reconcile the asset declared with his legitimate earning both as a lecturer, deputy governor and later governor. Still its a start. If we now find his asset in billions afterwards he will have a lot of explaining to do.

Ifeanyi Uhuegbu
08.08.2007 22:52
Each time a public officer declares his assets, we applaud him for doing what he is statutorily mandated to do. How laughable can this be. Have we bothered to check if those assets exist? After serving, do we cross check the person\'s new assets and how he aquired them? No wonder Ibori\'s aide had the temerity to say that his boss acquired the said frozen London assets before he became governor

Similarly how much tax did those who declared assets pay. Don\'t we have column for property tax. Head Federal iinland revenue, this is an assignment for your organisation.

Ifeanyi Uhuegbu,
Author, African Wisdom,
www.africanwisdomonline.com

Emeka Ekwosimba
08.08.2007 22:42
From the goings on, I think Nigeria may just be gradually getting to that democratic latitude that we all pray for. Change in decisions by the government and those at the helms of affairs have been coming in droves once the masses protest. It may soon be uhuru afterall.

Dozie (USA)
08.08.2007 22:39
That could be how much Goodluck acquired for sure. The ultimate winner and hero is Obasanjo! Thanks for carefully choosing governors that were worth under a billion naira. This is poverty compared to the colleagues. The difference between President\'s assets and VP is property inherited from Yaradua dynasty. At least we have an idea of what an average Nigerian leader should own, and what is stupid.

chuks Okoye
08.08.2007 22:37
Good!!............ Now God will get on with what He\'s planned to accomplish in the new Nigeria that will soon evolve.Thank you V.P

Innocent Agbodike
08.08.2007 22:35
Bravo Mr VP you are indeed a good follower.

A good servant follow the master\'s footstep.

Now I believe you are qualified for your post.

Thank you for making Nigerians proud.

Ugwuja,Emmanuel
08.08.2007 22:32
I find it pretty difficult to believe that the VP legitimately acquired personal assets of over N250million.When and how? He has to explain the sources of this wealth otherwise there is no point waging war against corruption.It takes an entrepreneur in the class of Dangote,Otedola,e.t.c.to have that kind of money.Because he is never a business man.It is a pitty corruption has become a way of life.Our children are watching us.

Solomon Joseph
08.08.2007 22:26
I think this is a very good development. I wondered why he (VP) delayed. Now the VP has done his, all other officers should follow, this will help us (Nigerians) to monitor their wealth during their tenure and after. I am looking forward to Mr. President asking all his SAs and ministers to join the queue.

oluyemi Erastus
08.08.2007 22:19
This is wiliwili declaration. This is an extreme example of Gbenga Daniel\'s case. These people should stop assaulting our intelligence.

vitalio
08.08.2007 22:16
As a Nigerian, you can ask the questions yourself, the press cannot do everything for us. the VP has already started wrongly, he has given an opportunity for doubts on his transparency and integrity. What Bayelsa collects in a monthly allocation, Lagos gets it in 2 or 3 months. We just pray that his new found romance with bowing to people\'s demands continues.

L. U. Emesara
08.08.2007 22:13
The Nigeria constitution (amended) should compel public office holders to declare their assests publicly.Bravo Mr President for setting the pace.

temitope adeyemo
08.08.2007 22:10
This is good, let the \" game\" begin. We need to know how he got all this. Maybe...I say maybe again, a new Nigeria might be on the way soon...God Bless us all.

abimbola kumapayi
08.08.2007 22:07
Mark it, you can\'t enjoy your tenure as you will at all times come under watch.
Why did you consider this latest option?
We thought you have strong-head.

L. U. Emesara
08.08.2007 22:07
It is high time we began to know who our leaders are.The VP should be investigated to asertain the source of his wealth.Leadership in Nigeria should be made uncomfortable for those back yard millinoairs.
Chief Gbenga Oyedele
08.08.2007 22:05
Nigeria a nation with one of the lowest per capital income in the world, a nation that can not supply its citizens with basic infrastructures that they are entitled to, even common constant electric supply , pipe bone water, safety on the streets, that these other shameless politicians and hardened crimanals are declaring all these mind boggling income statements is alarming. How did this man, VP, get N259 million, how did YarAdua get his loot. How did the Governor of Ogun state get his billions? Until a revoliution is started in that country, Nigerians will still languish in the bottom of world good life. EFCC is a tip in the icebag. Ribadu is one good Nigerian. I am sure there are many more like that scattered all over the world looking at their beloveth country in ruins.
Money, wealth and greed.The whole truth is out here. These are all stolen money. Period.
No African heritage is rich enough to command all that money.
Even Abiola we all know how he got his money. What happens to the common man on the streets. What about the down trodding? The powerless? I pity our leaders. They are no good sons of bitches.
No atom of patriotism, decency or nationalism.
Just simple greed.
These says something about the average Nigerian. Not very good. A Nigerian is probably a boot licker who will sell his brother or sister for even food. Remember thats how slave trade started and today millions of American, Canadian and Carabien blacks are livivg proof.
The love for self gratification and money is driving our shameless leaders off the roof. May God have mercy on their poor miserable souls.
I hope they dont one day suffer from a cardiac arrest and by the time they get to their planes to fly to London they collapse are end their miserable greedy existence.

franko
08.08.2007 22:00
Its all in the politics..
For me, the issue here is the responsiveness of the upper echeleon of the Naija political class to varying degrees of pressure from the people, which has to be commended, rather than the actual act of declaration or not.
I believe the time has come for those especially within certain (upper) ranks of the civil service and especially the local government chieftains to be required by law to (publicly) declare their assets.
Hopefully, the EFCC and similar-minded organisations can and will begin to monitor anticipatory declarations of assets to prevent situations where these guys just declare something they dont have and then fill up the void by the usual unashamed roguery...
Well done Messrs Yar\'Adua & Jonathan.

okey muoh
08.08.2007 22:00
All ministers working with the president and the VP must do the same thing too as the oga and deputy have set the pace now.This must include special advisers too.I expect senators too and house of rep memebers to show openess and wisdom in making public theirs with the executive governors ....

We expect probe and checks on all these bogus asset declarations especially OGD of Ogun state and Fashola Pls?

oziengbe joseph
08.08.2007 21:57
It is not enough to declare assets we should find out where and where all these guys have worked before,how much they were making then,if it is business let\'s see their records,payment voucher,contract awards and all of that to set the record straight.Thankyou.

ranni 08.08.2007 21:56
This is a gross understatement of the ill gotten loot by your looting excellency. He deliberately intends to deceive the populsce and conceal his wealth. He is responsible for the crises in Niger delta because he stole the resources that should be used to develop the area.

austine popo
08.08.2007 21:56
False declaration, capital lie, I dont believe it.
nosa
08.08.2007 21:55
Nigeria is a country where criminals transform themselves into politicians and wealth can be acquired through various means; through I eat you eat and shutup.
Olaosebikan R
08.08.2007 21:42
This is a good thing for democracy in Nigeria.Mr President has fired the first shot.He is leading by example and Goodluck has eventually bowed to the people\'s request.Let the ministers, Governors,Law makers etc follow Mr President.
This is a new era of transparency and accountability. Whosoever refuses to do this has something to hide. So far so good with Yar Adua. The victory belongs to the people.

james
08.08.2007 21:25
THIS MEANS HE STOLE LITTLE OR NO MONEY AS GOVERNOR

Omo Oba Olubukun Akinyebo.
08.08.2007 21:17
What can I say? I am not sure whether we have started the journey to transformation of this nation.

Has the VP paid tax on his wealth? And how has he acquired this wealth?

The press should be investigating right now as to his tax records for the past five years, whether he has paid the appropriate rate.

It is time that we start asking our leaders questions

Remembering Fela Kuti...2

2nd of August every year would be remembered by conscious music lovers and activists the world over as the day that great son of African--Fela Anikulapo-Kuti passed away…
Fela was loved by many--especially the down trodden in our society.
He was seen as the voice of the masses and a thorn in the flesh of those in authority…

Not so many people would agree with the assertion that Fela was the greatest musician to emerge from the soil of Africa…
Some saw him as a pervert who encouraged the youths to smoke cannabis and created a haven for miscreants and layabouts in his kalakuta republic--a place where he acted as a king and demigod…

From whatever standpoint one looks at this enigmatic social activist and crusader, a lot of people would agree that Fela left his footprint in the ‘sound’ of our time…




He was the creator of the genre of music known as Afrobeat--a combination of Yoruba music, jazz, Highlife, and funk rhythms, fused with African percussion and vocal styles…
It was said that Fela was awakened into this style of music after a meeting with an African-American lady-SANDRA IZSADORE… she was the one responsible for igniting the revolutionary fire latent in him…
You all will know and recognize her powerful captivating voice as the only female vocalist to ever grace a Fela song…”UPSIDE DOWN…

Fela touched so many lives with his brand of music. Today, a lot young people attempt to play Afro beat… some even dress, talk , act and sing like him…but you and I know that there can only be one Fela Anikulapo-Kuti because, he carried death in his pouch…so that his work might live forever.

Remembering the Greatest of Them All...

...Life's Challenges

Life's challenges are like the wind that blows from all corners. There is no sitting on the fence. You are either mobile and active--making progress or you are sliding down the slope with horrifying speed --then, there is nothing to wedge in -between. Progress. Upward or downward…

Do you wish to be the challenged or do you wish to be the challenger? Do you wish to listen or do you wish to speak? Do you wish to be a spectator or do you wish to be a player? Life is a challenge, yes. But life Itself is challengeable nonetheless – either you challenge it, or it will challenge you.

Imagine a person so ashamed to acknowledge his own identity; or, sadder yet, a person who doesn’t even know his own identity. Picture a soul so lacking in self-confidence that it cannot look you in the eye; or, sadder yet, cannot even look itself in the eye (if that were possible). Think of a mind so devoid of education that it rots away in its own ignorance, but not ignorant enough for the rotting to be in bliss.

More than 80 million children under 15 are estimated to be labouring in the poor countries of the world. According to one study, one in three children under 15 in east Africa is working and one in four children in west Africa is working. Their families are too poor to afford fees to send them to school. And often the countries themselves are too poor to provide schooling for all their children. In addition, the families need the extra income from their children’s labour in the poorest areas of the world where the average income can be less than $1 per day. Can you picture that?

Do something extraordinary today...and start changing a child's life for the better.
The problems children face in the developing world differ, but the cause is always the same - poverty.

It's easy to feel hopeless, but through child sponsorship, you truly can do something about it, something extraordinary.
You can personally reach out and connect with a child and their community and follow their progress as they overcome incredible hardships and build for the future


WHATEVER YOU ARE...AND WHATEVER YOU DO...PLEASE ,CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE EDUCATION OF A CHILD THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY YOURS TODAY!

Life's Struggle...

A guy who lives at Lake Macquarie (50 miles north of Gosford) saw a ball bouncing around on the lake--kind of strange...so he went to investigate.
It turned out to be a flathead catfish who had obviously tried to swallow a basketball which became stuck in its mouth! The fish was totally exhausted from trying to dive, but unable to because the ball would always bring him back up to the surface.
The man tried numerous times to get the ball out, but was unsuccessful. He finally had his wife cut the ball in order to deflate it and release the hungry catfish.

You probably wouldn’t have believed this, if you hadn’t seen the following pictures…

Be kinder than necessary. Because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.’

When Medical Doctors Become Agent of Death...

"...I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:
I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.
I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.
I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug..."

That is part of the 'Hippocratic oath' which is taken by graduates of many modern medical schools. And history has it that Hippocrates-a Greek physician fashioned out this code of ethics for physicians.

Hippocrates died many centuries ago. It will come as no surprise to learn that Hippocrates is utterly, unabashedly ashamed in his grave of what modern medicine has become.

There are now doctors who will not even attend to a patient unless seventy percent of the bill is paid in advance (this is very rampant in the developing countries). As if that is not bad enough, there are now doctors who conspire to put an end to people's lives through genocidal means otherwise known as terrorism.

It was the most pathetic sight last weekend seeing a man in flames having attempted ramming a jeep car loaded with gasoline bomb into the Glasgow airport gate.
Reports have it that both the driver- who was severely burnt and his passenger are medical doctors--both are from the middle-east and they work in the National Health Service of Britain.

Five other people-all in the medical field were also arrested in connecttion with the plot to bomb and kill people in Britain in large numbers.

Medical doctors, plotting to kill. These doctors are hypocrites. They have turned their back on the Hippocratic oath...and they have desecrated that profession-medicine!

Terrorism as we knewn it or as it appear to us before last weekend, was an act of wickedness to kill or maim as many people as possible for some tainted reasons.

And we have come to also know that those behind such plots are very intelligent people. So, while the intelligent ones hide under the discomfort of some obscure caves planning and plotting, the not-so-intelligent dumbasses are used to execute such plans after drum tight brainwashing.

Bottomline, blow your sorry arses to pieces and take as many 'infidel' as you could possibly drag along.

Last weekend however, a new twist was added to the blind rage of these fanatics. Doctors. Highly trained and intelligent medical personnel are now the executors.

One begins to wonder what could possibly make medical doctors who have sworn to an oath to save lives--turn around to attempt to bomb people in large numbers.

Did the doctors have the hidden plans to kill people enmasse as soon as they qualified as doctors before going to medical schools? Or were they initiated and brainwashed into becoming suicide bombers as a result of their fanaticism...? Or is it sheer hatred of a people who welcomed them with open arms...?

From whichever angle we try to look at this ugly phenomenon called 'terrorism' and its lastest attempt in Britain, it is crystal clear that we have a huge problem in our hands...

Medical doctors are suppose to save lives...not blow them to pieces through bomb and terror.

THREATS FROM ALL ANGLES...

-Last week, Britons in part of Yorkshire and Sheffield woke up to find themselves afloat--after a torrential down-pour-which killed five people including a 68yr old county Judge.

Insurers estimate the cost of this week's flooding to run into hundreds of millions of pounds. But the overall cost to the British economy could eventually reach several billions.

Apart from the damage caused by the rising water to private homes and properties, businesses have suffered huge interruption costs. Tens of thousands of people were displaced and couldn't get to work. The closure of several junctions on the M1 alone would have cost millions. Rail and other transport links were also affected.

Yet,the weather forecasters say the heavy rain and flooding are not done.
People should brace themselves for the worse--this weekend especially.








-Londoners were on edge Friday after two explosives-packed cars were found in the city's theater district just a week before the second anniversary of a bombing onslaught that killed 52 commuters...

An old man from Jamaica dare to suggest that the gods are angry with these people.
I say these are trying period...

...Are Orators Born...?

You can almost always recognise the power associated with a leader through his voice and speech...
In this regard, American Presidents come top of the list of leaders who can convince their citizens to drink the ' herbaceous hemlock'--and they (citizens) will do so before asking questions...

As a young lad, I loved the late president of America--Ronald Reagan so much--not necessarily because of the substance of his speeches, but because of the gusto and confidence that radiates from and around him whenever he mounts the podium...
Hear him:

" ...Government is the people's business and every man, woman and child becomes a shareholder with the first penny of tax paid. ...we who live in free market societies believe that growth, prosperity and ultimately human fulfillment, are created from the bottom up, not the government down. Only when the human spirit is allowed to invent and create, only when individuals are given a personal stake in deciding economic policies and benefitting from their success -- only then can societies remain economically alive, dynamic, progressive, and free..."


Wheras, Mr Tony Blair could be labelled as one of the most charismatic British Prime Minister to lead the country for a decade, most of us have come to love him not for going to Iraq, but for his charm and ability to make you listen whenever he speaks...

Tony Blair in 1997:

"...As I stand here before 10 Downing Street I know all too well the huge responsibility that is upon me and the great trust that the British people have placed in me...this administration shall be a government rooted in strong values, the values of justice and progress and community, the values that have guided me all my political life...this government is ready with the courage to embrace the new ideas necessary to make those values live again for today's world -- a government of practical measures in pursuit of noble causes. That is our objective for the people of Britain..."


Only two African leaders in recent times have come close enough to the mark of been labelled as good orators--

Nelson Mandela (again) and Jerry Rawlings of Ghana.

Some may want to argue that Babangida of Nigeria was also a very good orator or speech reader...

But this a man I dislike so much for his sly and conning nature. And I hated him more when he was branded as 'maradona'...

General Olusegun Obasanjo--the immediate past president of Nigeria would fall into the worse categories of speech makers. Oratory, Obasanjo has a way of irritating, annoyingly his listeners by trying to clear his 'kola-nut' infested throat seventy- nine times in a single speech--terrible!
And he never raises his from the paper whenever he reads...


So, what do Nigerians make of their new President-- Yar'Dua ? (is that how to spell the name...I'm not being funny)...

I read somewhere that Mr. Yar'Dua was asked about his immediate priorities. And all he could come up with was..

"...'My first priority is the economy, my second priority is the economy and my third priority is the economy..."

What, in hells name does that mean...? Can't he come up with something more qoutable and a little bit more educated than that...?

How did Nigerians get themselves saddled with a taciturn, below-average fellow --who is also economical in ideas, speech and style...?

And where are all the speech messiahs and publicists like Fani-kayode, Wada Nas, even Kingibe.
Somebody should please sit president Yar'Adua (my younger sister just gave the correct spelling) down and polish him a little bit...

He is the president of the nation for crying out loud--even thou he was not generally elected, he has the mandate now...
He should convince the people that he knows what to do and he is ready to do it through his speech, character and style...or is this not his will?

Now that the Elections are Over, Let Us Celebrate...

I think Nigeria and Zimbabwe and Togo and Cameroun and Liberia(maybe the whole of Africa) are the only countries in the world where the electorates are disatisfied with the dividend of democracy, yet, they keep voting for the same polical leaders..
.
The elections in Nigeria have come and gone. The peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) have swept the polls--winning majority of the legislative seats--(states and national) and the apex position--presidency or haven't they?

Now, let Nigerians roll out the drums and celebrate. Let the ruling-class and the elected politicians pat themselves on the back for a successful conduct of a semblance of an election...

President General Olusegun Obasanjo must be very proud of 'Ewu' Maurice--the INEC(Independent National Electoral Commission) chairman. Maurice must score very high in Obasanjo's rating. Why not?

It is only a genius of Ewu Maurice calibre who can hoodwick the people--local and international with INEC's electoral abracadabra -the more you look, the less you see.

The unfortunate history of democracy in Nigeria would not be complete without mentioning the contributions of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo and the Peoples' Democratic Part--PDP. A party of greedy, selfish, shameless and corrupt men and women.

Now that the spurious elections are over, and PDP have swept the polls, let the obese, funny looking figures with starched brocades mount their jeep cars and ride in roads filled with potholes to their numerous palatial mansions in the villages...while the children of the down trodden stare bewildered, thumb in their mouths--with shining kwashiorkor bellies thrust forward and thread bare underwears with gaping holes--line the streets. Nigeria's tourist attraction!

Now that the elections are over, let the 'haves'--with stupendous material wealth change their generating plants and the noise that emanate from these machines continue to deafen the downtroddens. Let the 'have-nots' continue to inhale the air saturated fumes...

Let Nigerians congratulate their elected representatives. The very men and women who came humbly to their door-steps--promising to make the sun shine twenty four hours a day and rebuild their demolished stores. Saying that policemen will no longer harrass their souls with--'wetin you carry' and 'park' as they return from their hinderland markets--with tired bodies and arthritis joints...

Nigerians can now sleep with both eyes closed--without the fear of marauders at night and broad daylight.

Now that the elections have been won and lost, the scoundrels who were used as body-guards by PDP politicians can now return to their villainy--harrassing innocent and law abiding citizens...

Now that the elections are over, let Nigerians celebrate the decay and rot of their society; while the elected officials pillage the treasury--its pay back time for the godfathers who financed the 'area boys' who were used to disrupt normal voting process...

Bring out the champagnes and choice wines. Let us drink to the dividend of democracy in Nigeria.

...And I would like to propose a toast...

...to the success of PDP, the largest fraudulent political party in Africa; to Maurice Ewu--for being the most unbias umpire in this political abracadabra; I'm not done yet, I would also like us to toast to the fact that--the electoral tribunal is there for all aggrieved parties...

Finally, I would like to say this--the international community and its bias observers can go to hell--Nigeria is a Republic.

Hip...hip ...hip...hurrah!...Hip...hip...hip...hurrah!

Has Nigeria As a Nation Failed...?

What is the definition of a failed state? Is Nigeria a failed state?
This is a question put forward by Imnakoya...grandioseparlor as it relates to another post by African Shirt...

I'm going to rephrase this question thus: Has Nigeria as a nation, failed? I am positive that, if you put this question before millions of Nigerians(aside from the ruling class and an isolated few) the answer would be...YES!

What would any 'reasonable' citizen regard as failure in respect of governance?
Failure as it relates to the governance of a state would mean any of the following:

1.The condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends...
2.The condition or fact of being insufficient or falling short...
3.A cessation of proper functioning or performance...
4.Nonperformance of what is requested or expected...

Now, if you look at the above definitions of failure properly, most people would agree that no.3...(i.e, a cessation of proper functioning or performance) and no.4.(.i.e, nonperformance of what is requested or expected) best describe the present and past state of Nigeria as a Nation.

Is Nigeria a failed state? YES!

What are the basic things that the citizens expect from the ruling class?

a)...Security: Security of lives and property. Would anyone assert that Nigerians are secured?

b)...Employment: As resourceful as the citizens are, the unemployment rate is very very high. Apart from the privileged few who are lucky to be employed, majority of the masses are barely existing... Check this out ....and this too...


c)...Free and Fair Elections: Does anyone want me to say anything here?

That is the succinct report sheet of Nigeria. Brief as it is, the sheet encapsulate the utter failure of this state...

Scratch your head, twist and turn as you wish...these facts on ground can not be wished away by high sounding words or logic.

Where Do We Go from Here...?

Honestly, I love politics. However, the way this game is played in Nigeria, one's interest begin to wane not gradually but steadily with horrifying speed.

Last Saturday evening, after the elections, I called a friend in the volatile Niger-Delta region...
He gave me a blow- to- blow account of what happened and how the military with armoured tanks were used to disenfranchise thousands of would -be voters...

Since then, every page you flip, every article on the pages of Nigerian newspapers speak of gross irregularities and dissatisfaction by many...
So much so that a coalition of the opposition has called for an outright cancellation of the gubernatorial and state assembly elections held on the 14 of April...

The coalition group has also decided to boycott the scheduled presidential elections next Saturday...

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the body saddled with conduct and organisation of the elections, yesterday, asked those not satisfied with the results of last Saturday’s elections to seek redress at the election tribunals, affirming it would not be moved by reports of irregularities to cancel the elections.

Then, you begin to wonder, whose interest INEC represents...?

Renúncia

I have just noticed that someone under the guise of anonymity is pasting some kind of nonsense on the comment section of my blog...
I appreciate comments from 'friends' and relatives who would want to remain anonymous...but 'copying and pasting' irrelevant materials as comments--I don't find funny at all.

I don't know who you are, but I am using this as an appeal , please, STOP IT!

...Who is the Head of the Home...?

I haven't seen Tejiri--my nephew in six weeks. He is eleven. And they are on holiday. So, when I stopped -by this afternoon, he was ecstatic. He almost knocked me over.
I'm the superman--who can do anything, answer any and all questions in the eyes of this young lad. Before I could ask...where is your daddy, he shot me with a barrage of questions.


TJ: uncle , who is the head of the home...?

ME: ...which home,,? Daddy is the head of course...

TJ:...no...no.. I mean who is the head of a home in a family...?

ME: [without weighing the question]...I said the ' father' is the head of any home'

TJ: [with a clenched fist thrust into the air]...yes, yes, I said it...my teacher was wrong...

ME: [absolutely scared of the import of this idea...that his teacher is wrong,]...junior, your teacher cannot be wrong..why do you say your teacher is wrong?

TJ: [looked very excited]...uncle, we were having 'Citizenship'...and { Ms Louisa} my teacher asked the question...'who is the head of the home?'
...and I said the 'father' is the head of the home...she said I was wrong. And we argued. And everyone was blaming me for arguing with the teacher...

*Phew!

*I have to tread carefully here. otherwise, I 'll be 'miseducating' this young lad...teachers are not, under any circumstance suppose to be wrong. If teachers are made to appear wrong, the student(s) suffers...

ME: ...junior, who did your teacher say is the head of the home...?

TJ: ...she said both parents are the head of the home. They are equal she said...

ME: [let me try and confuse this small boy with some grammar..hmm ..hmmm..I cleared my throat..]...you see junior, your teacher was right. In a home,em, both parents(mother and father )...have what is known as complementary equality. It means they both help each other mutually...they put heads together in the decision making..they both weigh everything together...you understand?


*Junior with arms folded across his chest was looking passively--disinterested in my explanation. I guess....

TJ:...uncle, but the Bible says that the 'man' is the head of the home. And that women should be submissive to their husbands. Are you saying the Bible is wrong?

ME:...(Chineke!)...you know what junior, let me see your dad...we'll continue this discussion immediately I finish with your dad ..ok?

TJ: [..nodding his head...]...ok!

* That was how I temporarily escaped from the young inquisitive mind...Anyway, they are on holiday right now, I intend to make my research and go back to 'floor' him in this debate. The teacher must/cannot be wrong!

Virgin(al) Media Lapses...!

For awhile now, I've been in a spiral battle with the above broadcasting media...and I forsee the outcome--court! Please don't laugh.

I was with Ntl Media for some years...then, Virgin(al) Media (which would be referred to hereafter as VM) took over. I was not informed formally of this take-over...yet, I'm supposed to be a customer(who is supposed to be always right)...

This seeming problem with VM started in February 2007-when three of my services were disconnected. I came back from work one evening and tried to make an international call...the phone line was dead. What! Just to double check, I switched on the TV--most of the channels were unsubscribed...still in doubt of what was happening, I decided to switch on the PC--nagative was the result.

To say the truth, I wasn't surprised. I was actually expecting the disconnection(s) to happen.Why? Because, I didn't pay the bills for January and February.Take note, my not paying the bills was not a deliberate act--VM did not send me a bill. The last bill I paid was in December 2006...

Anyway, I went to the phone booth and placed a call to customer services. Take another note, it wasn't a free call. Anyone who is familiar with the routine can picture what I went through.
After being put on hold, and forced to listen to an off-key version of Vivaldi's Four Seasons for what felt like twelve seasons to me, I finally got in touch with someone, a human being.

We went through the usual but boring and annoying formalities--of name, account number, address and password. Then finally, he said his name is Steve Lapses' and asked how he could be of help...
I told him that my services were disconnected and I want to know why. He asked me to hang on for another minute. I waited. The 'slot machine' kept swallowing my coins. I kept adding more. Steve eventually woke up from his latent slumber and said..." I'm afraid you owe £115.21 for January and February.

I said very well. But I want you to look at that same record, and tell me if you people(VM) sent me a bill for those months you just mentioned.

All of sudden, Steve became a stutterer... "em..em ..we..re'..so..so.sor..sor..rri...rry". You are sorry for what ? I scream at him. You didn't send me a bill and now you want me to perform magic...and don't YOU dare ask me why I didn't set-up a direct debit...

Somehow, both us kept quiet for an ackward fraction of a second... Then, I decided to reprimand him by letting him know that it was VM's duty to provide the bills and my responsibity to pay such bills... I told him that the next time they fail to perform their duties and make me suffer, I will cancel the contract...its not an empty threat.

Instanter, I brought out my debit card and gave Steve the card number-with the stern warning that, it was a 'one-off'' payment. And that my services should be reconnected within 24 hours. He gave me his word. The TV came on four hours after, but the telephone and broadband were not reconnected until the next day. Fair enough.

I got the shock of my life when I came home three days after the above ordeal... and saw a reminder bill of £68.67 from VM. This was the 8 of March. My telephone was working, so I called VM immediately. I was told to ignore the bill. It was a mistake. And I said it had better be.

On the 14 of March, I received another bill...£115.21. This was an obvious mistake because that amount was the exact amount I paid for January and February over the phone. So, I ignored the bill.

Three days later, I was at work, my mobile phone rang...it was an unknown number. I answered. The voice at the other end said..." my name is Mr Horrible and I'm calling on behalf of Virgin(al) Media.." I said yes...
"...em, we calling to remind you of your outstanding bill of £115.21...and what you intend to do about it..."

I want you to imagine my state of mind at moment. All I could remember saying was..."are you mad...what bill...?" The bill that I paid two weeks ago?...what is wrong with you people...?

Out of annoyance, I called and cancelled the contract with VM.
One of their technicians came to my house with a report(my name and account no. was on it) saying he has been asked to come and fix a digital cable TV. I laughed. Do these people know what they doing...?I told him that I just cancelled my contract. He was suppose to pick up the digital box. He did picked up the box...after a confirmation call to the office.

My telephone and broadband are still working even though, I have officially terminated the contract.

They still insist that I owe them £115.21. Unfortunately, I don't have a receipt for the transaction (of the payment) I made over the phone...although, I was given an authorization number... and the reflection on my bank statement of the same amount...

If I'm owing anything at all, it should not be more than £40 for the month of March... going by my record...

I need the advise of a lawyer. If you are a lawyer reading this, please advise me for Free... because there is no point charging me for an amount which will be more than the purported bill...

Standing Out in the Crowd...

Recently, I started seeing the face of Mr Ofoluyawo everywhere I go...especially when I'm watching indecent movies. I see his toothy but wicked smile.
I see his grey parted hair that slants to one side like the sixteenth century slave driver.
I also notice his sparkling starchy white shirt that usually takes Okon --his houseboy six grovelling hours to iron.

To meet Mr Ofoluyawo is to meet fear itself. He embodies all the characteristics of a man who must be revered. You either quake before him or you crumble--there is no other option.

Once a group of students decided to dare him-- by staring directly into his eyes... The next day, everyone spoke hushly--Mr Ofoluwayo's eyes emits fire like the fork tongue of a snake...and that, the more you dare to stare, the more you are drawn into his spell unwittingly...

In spite of these dreadful conception of Mr Ofoluwayo, he was loved by all for his morale and outstanding character.
Then, we learnt under misconceived duress--
Now, we appreciate the high standard set for us and we would like to (under pressumed maturity) assimilate these lessons again and again...

Mr Ofoluwayo taught us ..." that in the face of all impossibilties, you can NEVER use Light to look for Darkness "...both are arch- enemies. Wherever there is light, darkness must be repelled...Good must triumph over evil... even if evil tends to have the upper hand for a long time...don't be deceived!

I can still recall some of the hard truth he tried to impart into our thick skulls... truth that were meaningless then...but today, stand as the bedrock of our very existence...

There was a night a group students incuding yours sincerely tried to sneak out of school(at about 11.30pm --after lights-out) to a birthday bash in town--- standing at the other side of the fence was the 'life statue' (as it seems) of Mr Ofoluwayo...
He gathered us into his arm. It wasn't a warm embrace. It was either suspension or outright expulsion.

He took us to his house in the masters' quarters. In fact, he took us into his sparsely furnished living room and delivered this lecture:

"... I know without any doubt in my mind, that you are all well brought up children...but the values which we, as custodians are trying to inculcate into you will be lost if we allow you to continue the way you are going..."

"Life, is very tough...even though I know that some of you are privileged...but these 'privileges' won't amount to anything if each and everyone of you cannnot stand up for the values which we teachers and your parents have strived to inculcate over the years..."

After this collective lecture which brought tears rolling down my cheek, Mr Ofoluwayo further nailed my coffin as it were by pulling me aside... and he continued...

"...I know it is not easy standing up for your values in a large room where everything tends to be directionless; and majority of the people valueless.But remember whose son you are...and try to keep your identity even if surrounded by people who would rather bow to peer pressure..."
Holding your head up high when majority bows theirs low makes you stand out...It is the greatest of challenges!

These words have become more like a rudder blade to me and others in this journey call life...

Imagine this...!

...why are there so many trolleys outside...? I don't know. Get down and find out...It was like a military command--a 'General' giving orders to one of his subordinates...That was the brief conservation between Tracy (my boss) and I on Saturday...

So, I left whatever I was doing and trudged like a zombie downstairs. And truly, there were trolleys all over the place-- some in the middle of the road, others directly behind parked cars...it was chaotic!

I immediately rang up the supervisor in -charge. Paul, thats his name. He came sweating.
Paul, why is there no one picking up these trolleys and returning them to base...I asked.

With an exasperated sigh, he started collecting the trolleys almost immediately.Within a short time, the mess was cleared. But I wasn't satisfied. I intend to find out who was lagging. I went straight to the office to look at the time sheet.

Only two peple signed -in. What happened to the other two...? I asked Paul again.
I can only give account of one he responded defiantly...
And who can you give account of...I asked patiently.
Smith. He is very sick--he replied.What happened to Mr Kwoofie? I asked. I don't know sir... Paul shot back...

I got the message. Tracy and Paul are trying to pass the blame on me.I was the one who personally brought Mr Kwoofie--vouching for his good conduct and character...

This is not the first time he has abstained from work without permission or calling his supervisor....but I'm going to make it is the last...

After work, I stopped over at Mr Kwoofies' place to find out why he was absent....
I met the wife Nana. And from all indications, she's been crying.
Without beating about the bush, I asked her the whereabout of Kwoofie...
Between sobs she told me her husband was arrested that afternoon. what for...? I asked.

She then went on to narrate the most ridiculous story that I have heard in years...
Kwoofie and Nana have a thirteen year old daughter--Aisha.
They all move from Africa to the UK two years ago...Aisha is that type who looks bigger and smarter than her age. Most people(including me-when I saw her the first time) assumed she is seventeen--thats how big she is...

Kwoofie caught Aisha in bed with a guy. A white boy. He decided to take the law into his own hands. He flogged Aisha until she fainted. And when she came to, she had the temerity to call the police...The white boy? He escaped the wrath of a vexed Ghanian.

Mr Kwoofie was given the opportunity to make a phone call... He didn't call me nor Paul his supervisor at work...instead, he chose to call the chairman of his tribe union in the UK...

That was why trolleys were scattered all-over the place...and because I was the one who recommeded Mr Kwoofie for the job, My integrity is at stake.

The funny thing is, I cannot repeat this story before my boss--it would appear as if I brought an irresponsible man for the job --Most of the people at work won't understand--that in Africa, MOST parents beat up their children if they step out of line...and this is quite often....