FORGIVE MY INTRUSION.

FORGIVE MY INTRUSION

A few individuals have accused me of being too aggressive with regards to my published opinions on Nigeria and the forth coming presidential elections. They have accused me of assuming my opinions are superior to others who do not share them and must be regarded as sacrosanct. A good proportion of my accusers are either outright supporters of the incumbent or “pseudo-federal lawmakers” who remain perched on the gate and refuse to fall to any side.

I have explained in the past the reason(s) why I am vocal and in a way very loud in support of the opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari. The major reason is because I campaigned aggressively for him in 2011 against the other candidate who I was too sure was incapable of doing the job. Four years on; it should be clear to all and sundry now that those of us who campaigned against a man who was devoid of any zeal to fight for what was right and sensible against the Yar’adua cabal have been vindicated. The shutting down of the Abuja airport and deployment of soldiers without the knowledge of Goodluck Jonathan during the landing of the former president from Saudi Arabia convinced me that a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) victory in 2011 was going to be a mighty step backwards for Nigeria.

I was denied the opportunity to vote in 2003 because of the prolonged University strike and subsequent evacuation of the campuses nationwide. The strike miraculously ended shortly after Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn in for a second term and we were back in school by June. I voted in 2007 for Chris Okotie because I was really impressed at the time that a “young” man could demonstrate remarkable intelligence and eloquence; I imagined such a fine speaker and celebrity addressing the United Nations on behalf of Nigeria. At that time, I reasoned like many Jonathan supporters reason now. I did not like Obasanjo and the PDP but I also did not entertain the idea of voting for Buhari. Buhari to me was that coup plotter who set Nigeria back in time to the dark ages. I only saw him as a sectional aspirant unable to have such vision highlighted by the likes of Pat Utomi.

What changed? I started to take Buhari really serious when he selected Pastor Tunde Bakare as his running mate for the 2011 poll. Apart from that, I decided to do away with my idealism and join the resistance against the emergence of the clearly unfit Jonathan. I was very optimistic that Buhari would win in 2011 and this was based on the impression that Nigerians would see clearly through the fog of the “I had no shoes” campaign. I was indeed very disappointed when the results were announced and those I thought were tired of the stagnation started to confess that they voted for the man and not the party. I thought they were insane and essentially gave up on Nigeria. The figures generated from that election were clearly rigged; a careful analysis of the voting pattern from 2011 highlights that and the approximately 10million votes margin certainly exaggerated.

There was a chance for a late alliance in 2011 between the Action congress of Nigeria led by Bola Tinubu and the CPC led by General Buhari which did not materialize. Many said after the 2011 election that Buhari would have done better if only that alliance worked out. Many thought his chances prior to the election were already bleak so they opted to hold on to their votes while some wiser ones never believe that their votes would ever count in any election carried out in Nigeria so they find more beneficial things to do on election day. The major opposition parties have since fused and brought forward what I consider to be the most practical pairing and the best chance to sweep the polls in February. I believe they represent a step in the right direction to manage the complications that have rendered this colossus moribund and on life support.

I believe a vote for Buhari is a vote for common sense; a vote that puts an end to rewarding outright failure and incompetence. Someone asked me to inform people of what Buhari would bring to the table that is different from the incumbent. The thought of having predominantly competent people around a Buhari presidency excites me. The chance of better transparency and accountability works very well for me; instead of the daily revelations of missing dollar bills that only America knows about. We are a people now accustomed to irregularity and abnormality. We apparently thrive under chaotic conditions as long as we are benefitting financially big time. We need a strong figure to show example and liberate the Judiciary and law enforcement agencies to carry out their default functions. There will surely be an end to the culture of waste and extravagance; there will a restoration of work ethic and dignity of labour. A Buhari presidency would no doubt be adorned by a beautiful and highly dignified first lady as well as a sound and very useful wife of the vice-president. These two alone would help to liberate women and young girls in the entire country. What kind of fable would service chiefs be able to tell in order to deceive a General if they fail in their duties? We will not be having a president who visits Maiduguri today and after leaving with his heavy security detail renders the town vulnerable to sporadic attacks after only a few hours.

I do not apologize for taking on those who insist on rewarding a failed system. Many of these folks will shout “sack Wenger” or something related to the soccer clubs they support if they perceive or experience untold failure suffered by their favorite team. Those who hide their native sentiments behind a veil of intelligence are more likely to be confronted by me mainly because they directly mislead others and encourage them to nurture hate in their hearts particularly those who feel they have an axe to grind with Buhari for his 20 month military rule. The issues raised against the man would prompt a foreigner to assume that Buhari committed atrocities in the realm of the likes of Idi Amin, Pinochet or Charles Taylor. I have read quite a bit to realize that a failure to understand the actual dynamics of the Shagari government up to the reign of Ibrahim Babaginda would cause those who do not care to read to arrive at severely jaundiced conclusions about the man Buhari. Many have clutched tightly to largely misunderstood events of thirty years ago but cheerfully ignore the incompetence which threatens to engulf the nation. An incumbent president who gloats about diesel trains at a few routes and curbing corruption in the distribution of fertilizers has abandoned these seemingly lofty achievements to hinge his campaign entirely on smearing the image of the opposition candidate I believe they hardly know.

It is understandable if apprehensive candidates use porous logic and outright falsehood to run their campaigns; it become really pathetic when those who ought to be young and better enlightened also ride on this road with even more venom and without regard for posterity. I announce once again that I will barge in on your space if you deliberate deceive others for selfish gain. I do not think I am smarter than the fellow who remains astride on the fence; that fellow who wants to donate his vote to KOWA or to Eldorado where his dream and ideal candidate exists. I am not sure that Buhari would not “fall my hand” but I have chosen not to surrender to fear or cowardice. If my gamble fails; guilt would not plague my senses, I will simply arise and try again. To the fellow planning to stay indoors to analyse events without doing anything to alter the status quo they hope and pray will vanish; be informed that Tompolo and Boy Loaf are regrouping and safety may not be in that visa and ticket you are ready to deploy to reunite with your loved ones as long as you have a conscience.

My apologies again, I will however still be in your face till shortly after Febuhari. I have decided to vote for Buhari and Osinbajo; it is a risk I am willing to take, a Change I will not be sentimental to change if it fails woefully. 2015 is about Nigeria; it is about rescuing the soul of a nation. Jonathan may genuinely feel he is doing right for Nigeria; I am convinced he is not and we deserve much better. 2015 is perhaps the last chance I am willing to take on a Nation I believe is now ready for change; who knows?

Vote wisely, vote for change.

Joa

25115

A COMPLETE NON-ISSUE.

A COMPLETE NON-ISSUE

The problem many are having is that they do not read or are simply held captive by their shameful ethno-religious sentiments. Fani-kayode has now turned himself into 'Adrian Monk' and watching too many episodes of 'Crime Scene Investigation' looking for patterns and establishing what can be termed as forgeries even without conducting one scientific experiment. What baffles me more is the calibre of press people that we have. It seems they just appear like zombies before anyone capable of distributing brown envelopes even if such a fellow's mental state is questionable.

The press has encouraged this distraction tactic by the PDP instead of using their resources to search things out for themselves. Is it that difficult to find information on the Nigerian army pre- and immediately post independence? Is it that difficult to find information that tells of how and when Aguyi Ironsi became the first indigenous General Officer commanding of the Nigerian Army?

I will just go through some points made by General Alabi-Isama in his book 'The Tragedy of Victory.' He pointed out that as at Nigeria's independence; most of the officers who constituted the Army were British with the Nigerian population made up of about 37 from the old Eastern region, 10 from the West and 8 from the North (4 of whom were killed in the January 66 coup). The British commanded the army until Ironsi's appointment as GOC in 1965 as the conclusion of the Nigerianisation of the Army. The gulf between the regions contributing to the Officers corp had to be narrowed hence the need to somewhat lower the standards to ensure that the Northern bloc could have more individuals able to apply to join the army. The academic and physical requirements had to be lowered to encourage applications especially from the few Northern colleges at that time. It is no surprise that young school leavers like Alabi-Isama himself joined from Ibadan boys High school; Yar'adua and Buhari from the Provincial College in katsina and the likes of Babaginda, Vasta, Gado Nasko, Abdusalami all joined from their school in Bida. 

Godwin Alabi-Isama who is technically a Northerner described on page 22 of his book the requirements for gaining admission into the army at the time and how his origin allowed an exception to be made in his case. He wrote about the school certificate examination requirement in 1959 (when he applied) which was four credits including English and the O'level GCE which was a minimum of 4 passes. He pointed out that the Certicate credit requirements were lowered to passes by December 1959 and as at May 1961; alternative qualifications such as Teachers' Grade II certificate or a Royal Society of arts stage II Examination were introduced into the advertisement. 

Alabi-Isama stated that meeting these requirements was followed by sitting for and passing the Army Entrance examination which included English, Mathematics and Geography before a final selection by the army selection board. All these were required just to gain admission into the Nigerian Military training College (now the Nigerian Defence Academy). The entrance into the NMTS age requirement also had to be adjusted to accomodate those older officers who were already serving in the army as Non-commisioned officers such as Samuel Ogbemudia. NMTS was thereafter followed by training at cadet schools in the United Kingdom, Austrialia, Canada, India, Pakistan, Ethiopia or the USA.

General Buhari applied to join the army in 1961 the year he sat for his certificate examination. His application was backed by a recommendation letter from his principal who I believe was not Nigerian. He sat and passed the entrance examination into the NMTS in 62 and began his training there. He went to Aldershot for further cadet training in October 62 and returned in January 63 when he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. The army spokesman Brig. Laleye told the press a few days ago that no one got commissioned into the army without filling a form and credentials verified. Xerography was introduced to the market in 1959 and I want to believe there were other means and methods of duplicating documents prior to 1963. It baffled me when the army categorically said that the only evidence that Buhari has an examination result was the form 199A he filled after he was commissioned as an officer in the Nigerian Army. Is Laleye saying that the British officers at the time did not follow that protocol or that the Army entrance examination conducted at the time was not utilized to determine who got entry into the Army at the same time Buhari did? Could there be a chance that Buhari's file was tampered with by someone within the ranks of the army? 

The present reputation of the army can best be described as tattered if one looks at it strictly from the angle of their conduct in the face of the current insurgency. The utterances made by their spokesperson(s) regarding the Chibok incidence and the many obituaries released about Shekau and his never dying clones have not covered the army in glory. The issues of weapons constantly getting into the hands of insurgents and the constant ambushments and killings of our soldiers especially young field commanders like it was nothing does not pacify my skepticism regarding the position of the army in this certificate super story. I watched the video of the President's visit to Maiduguri and he was captured asking two very young female army officers how long they had been stationed in Bornu and both of them replied "8 months." Where on earth is that done? Prior to that, he had asked a fully geared soldier in body armour and helmet if he was infantry. The insensitivity and partisanship exhibited by the top brass of the military is clear for all to see. I remember watching the report of the Goodluck campaign rally in Lagos and was shocked when a visibly upset president went on and on visciously attacking the opposition and its candidate. He got to points when he sounded like he was stammering and struggling to complete sentences; he needed to remember the number of years Buhari suggested as jail terms for corrupt people and then his ADC who is a Colonel in the Army said "300 years" rather arrogantly which the president picked up to finish his statement. When did it become the duty of a military ADC to complete the sentences of a politician during a campaign rally?

I have always felt that Buhari really had no reason to respond to this certificate issue but I may be wrong. Many who are clamouring for evidence may only be doing it to hide and reinforce their resolve to vote for incompetence again based on their inability to rise above the ethnic and religious 'supremacistitis' they suffer from. It is a complete non-issue and a futile attempt by the incumbent and his goons to distract the voting population from focusing on the failures of the past 4years 11months of the full presidency of the Jonathan Clan. They want to engineer a second term without meriting it, the boss is surrounded by hardcore Muslims yet they go around telling Nigerians in the South that Buhari's sole mission is to Islamize Nigeria. Are Mu'azu, Babaginda Aliyu, Sule Lamido or Asari Dokubo born again, demon chasing Christians? Yesterday on the news, a well known Niger-Delta militant Ateke Tom was leading the chants at the PDP rally in Rivers surrounded by his crowd and policemen. These are the exotic individuals who have been empowered by the state to turn common sense on its head and attempt to woo me to vote for Goodluck Jonathan whose PhD we do not even bother to contest. We await the new twist in the PDP propaganda plot.

We shall Overcome!!!.

Buhari and Yar'adua at the Katsina Provincial Secondary School. (culled from twitter)

Joa

230115

PAUSE AND RE-EXAMINE

PAUSE AND RE-EXAMINE.

Let's assume Buhari is a bad man and Jonathan is irresponsible. Let's assume Jonathan wins because some Christians who are afraid to die voted for him on the premise that both candidates are bad and there is no better alternative.  Let's imagine that Jonathan makes it to 2019, who will be that dream candidate then? On which party platform would he/she run? Would it be a new party formed and funded by these present day idealist and dreamers?

Would the PDP still be vulnerable as it is now? Would there not still be a clamor for a power shift to the north after 18 years out of 20 of southern rule because the PDP say so? Would the northerner not be Muslim? Ribadu would be on the cusp of turning 60 then; would it be Lamido, Babaginda Aliyu, Shekarau or IBB's son? Would the thing we greatly fear not end up hotter in our laps?

My people despise a people who practice a religion which is very similar to theirs in many respects; a religion with very blessed roots in the father of faith. My people fast and pray; like Jabez they pray for God to turn away their shame and bless them indeed.  Their pastors tell them to strive for excellence and never settle for less yet they doggedly queue behind a proven mediocre president because they fear the unknown. 

At times I wonder if my people are afraid of the North or of sharia.  When it is convenient, my people will say stuff like the north have a born to rule mentality and have had their sons spend more years than the South as head of state or president.  In other cases, they boast about their brethren in the north Central region who will no doubt join them to vote for their spiritual brother who will protect them from fundamentalists. They are quick to dismiss every northerner as primitive and a "senseless aboki" because they attended school and go to church.  It is easier to forget that Gowon who ruled for 9years is a Christian from the North-central state of Plateau and Babaginda who spent 8 years is a Muslim from Niger which is also a North-central state. We can also add the 11 months of Abdusalami Abubakar also a Niger state indigene into the mix and we would realize the “North” that is readily despised has really not ruled for that long.

Some people continue to absolve the ruling party and its prince of any blame in the escalation of Boko Haram. They go ahead and accuse Buhari and the northern elite of financing the terrorists. It is clear that many have never read nor have a clue about how fundamentalism metamorphosed from the 1970s through the subsequent decades and up till now. I can bet that these people do not know about how previous regimes have made attempts to crush these ideologies in the past due to the fact that they felt equally threatened by any kind of uprising. It is the level of force meted out by the Sani Abacha government that most likely led to the exacerbation of the Niger-Delta militancy. Karl Maier in his book “this house has fallen” described a somewhat friendly and long standing relationship between Sani Abacha and Ken Saro-Wiwa which became completely irrelevant when Abacha’s fists came crashing down on the Ogoni activists. Goodluck Jonathan cleared the present day Niger-Delta militants of any wrongdoing describing them as activists who fought and kidnapped for legitimate reasons.

Let us even assume that Buhari is directly or indirectly responsible for the insurgency in the Northeast zone of Nigeria. Is he also responsible for the incapacitation of the Nigerian military? Is he responsible for the dearth of sound intelligence on the activities of Boko Haram? Are these armed insurgents werewolves or vampires who move around under the cover of darkness? What relationship does the Nation have with those who control these drones and satellites that capture our towns after they have been razed to the ground by fire assuming that those pictures are genuine? Where exactly is the nerve center of Boko Haram? Where do they advance from and retreat to when they have done their evil? Are our men just holding the line or taking the initiative to the insurgents? Did Buhari put a gun to the temple of the heads of Bade and Olukolade when they made statements on rescuing the Chibok school girls and agreeing a ceasefire with Boko Haram? Why is it not clear to us who the exact people taking us for a ride are?

Some are still clamoring for Buhari's certificate and one fellow even suggested a lack of such document may suggest his disdain for education when he becomes president.  Buhari must abhor education so much that his wife holds several degrees and qualifications and even runs a thriving beauty business.  He must hate education so much; he had to select a very experienced professor of law as his running mate just to show the world that evidence.

What are we really scared of? Going to jail if and when we are caught stealing public funds or facing untold persecution and trials? It is high time we realized there is no room for our idealist candidate at the moment.  There isn't going to be a third horse and jockey to turn the tide in the Valentine’s Day race, there is no crude oil beneath the ground in your backyard. You have to choose between a serial falsehood peddler and established “waster” of resources and a Mandela-esque elder who has recited the same tune for 30 odd years.

He may be old and rickety but I'm certain he'd surround himself with the best available in the land and not sycophants who would cheer him on to an early grave.  That I'm glad to say is good enough for me; the thought that there'd be no first lady office to have Nollywood auditions greatly gladdens my heart as well as having only the state of one's residence on documents is proof to me that these guys mean serious business. Someone wants to extend “first-ladyship” up to local government level; I suppose his vision for women must be somewhere between perpetual baby factories and house helps. Why some women are unable to realize that doing away with the unconstitutional office of first ladies means total liberation for Nigerian women is beyond me. Women would be unhindered from aspiring for any office in the land as long as they are competent and qualified but the highly primitive and opportunistic ones do not see things that way.

If the major issue that is resolved from a 4year Buhari tenure is fear and mistrust; it'd be a good platform to forge ahead from.

Just some of my thoughts.

Joa

150115

JANUARY 15

JANUARY 15

"Today we remember our fallen heroes..."

I remember deciding to attend a church service in the early hours of Sunday the 9th of November 2014 at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool. It was going to be my second time at that particular predominantly "white" church so I looked forward to fellowshipping with a different breed of people than what I was already used to. The bus ride from Stanley Road to Queens square was uneventful; I alighted and made my way towards the hotel via Lime Street. The mammoth crowd gathered to my left and right in front of the World Museum caused me to pause for a moment. "I thought they said these fellas don't believe in God or go to church" I said to myself.

The reverence observed by the thousands of people with poppies pined to their clothes that morning as prayers were said was awesome and priceless. It was all in honor of every slain military personnel killed in battle and in defence of their union. I thought it would have felt out of place if I sauntered towards them and joined in the ceremony so I turned right towards the train station instead to join the church service. A good number of those at the hotel also had poppies on as a mark of solidarity; in fact the entire nation observes this ritual for weeks prior to the grand event which involves multiple marching bands and veterans.

I wrote a piece a while back in honor of the Nigerian Military partly inspired by what I thought was inadequate recognition of their sacrifices especially by the government in power and partly by what I observed during the remembrance day parade I was privileged to watch on January 15^th 2009 on the streets of Langtang, the seat of the Tarok nation in Plateau state by several old and maimed retired soldiers from that town alone. It seems the central government only performs wreath laying ceremonies and do nothing significant until the next year. I must admit there are resettlement centers, housing schemes and other measures to ensure military officers and their families are taken care of but this to the best of my knowledge is grossly inadequate. The greatest damage which I believe has been done to our current and ex-service men (inclusive of women) exists in the psyche of the people they were commissioned to protect.

There is a huge possibility that the Nigerian people especially those who are not directly affiliated to the military have little or no regard for whatever the military has ever achieved and to some extent; they cannot be blamed. Today marks the 49^th year since the day a group of predominantly Igbo army officers stormed sites in Lagos, Kaduna and Ibadan to halt the stagnant wheel of the 5year old nation called Nigeria. The many misconceptions and assumptions from that era have allowed for the demons which those brave officers claimed they wanted to exorcise then to graduate to principalities that have become somewhat immovable. Nigeria has become a nation whose foundation is corruption, impunity and injustice. The volume of blood shed is beyond measure and the hemoglobin reserves are presently facing extinction. The entrance of the military into governance and the subsequent games to enthrone and unseat dynasties has contributed to the depletion of any affection towards the military. The war, the numerous conflicts; the accusations of massacres and the diverse dictators have not helped to improve the image of the armed forces in any way.

Why would the people remember the exploits of the military in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Congo Kinshasa or in Sudan. Why would the people remember the pilot, who was shot down, captured and beheaded by Boko Haram or the many young officers left exposed to die in the Northeast in defence of Nigeria’s territory. It is easy to forget those fathers, sons, fiancés and many highly intelligent officers cut down in their prime because they signed up to defend us. Many must be wishing a speedy execution for those of them who dared to question their commanding officers and were thereafter court-martialed. It is understandable why Nigerians will ignore any officer carrying a piggy bank for contributions towards the armed forces. Who will give money to an establishment whose personnel beat up and humiliated a certain woman in traffic? I remember a friend having his side mirror smashed by a soldier because he was prevented from twisting and turning in traffic. Many have been harassed for wearing camouflage themed outfits or black boots similar to military issued gear. The numerous people who have been sent to the stars by vicious slaps will never wear a poppy for the Nigerian military neither will anyone who has been intimidated or humiliated by anyone with a belt, beret, sweater or car sticker indicating military status.

Today also marks the official surrender of the Biafran army 45years ago after Lt. Col. Ojukwu fled Uli. The history of the nation has been corrupted and distorted ever since. The schools do not teach this part of our history and subsequent cases of injustice have been repeatedly swept under the carpet of wishes. Sadly, the civil war has persisted in the minds of many and the previously strictly ethnic battles have been corrupted by religion. We all lost and we were all vanquished because we have seemingly failed to learn fundamental lessons from an avoidable war and continue to repeat the same mistakes.

One major disservice done to the armed forces is the failure of the system to record and display the efforts of the average soldier, airman or seaman. The major tales are those of the generals who benefitted from the system they helped to create and reinforce. The authorities themselves are locked up behind their high barb wired fences and sand bags unaware that they ought to open themselves up to the people they serve. I am not sure who the commanding officer of the Northeastern offensive is; the only fellows we see are barrel bellied service chiefs and an army spokesman who appears to me like a political spokesman of the president of the federation. They turn out information and figures which end up being heavily disputed or inaccurate; the people do not realize if they indeed have an effective military capable of defending them but one which would be readily deployed to stop a harmless civilian protest against the central government. The events of January 2012 come readily to mind when soldiers were sent to Ojota to stop the Subsidy protests.

How about the Military having a museum? How about displaying the relics of the Northern and West African Frontier forces in a huge building for Nigerians to walk in freely and get educated. Of what significance is a bullet ridden black Mercedes Benz car at the National Museum in Lagos when very little truth is known about the occupants of that vehicle. Why do Nigerians not have a clue of the truth about the men who moved on the government in the early hours of this day 49years ago? Apart from Majors Nzeogwu, Ifeajuna and Ademoyega; I doubt if the photographs of the others exist in any document. I saw a video on the Biafran war a few days back and a well-spoken young man was said to be Tim Onwatuegwu. Even the stories of villains and tyrants are told; how much more those who risked it all for their country and for what they thought was right. It is the relative absence of this type of information that must have encouraged some Nigerians to believe a certain politician who suggested that the Military regimes before his entry as president did not buy a single rifle for the army. I wonder if the problem is that most things remain classified but I wonder if that is the reason why we do not have monuments in every state where the names of service men from these states killed in action are inscribed for the sake of their families and posterity. It is not enough to name airports, stadia, streets after a few and have a couple of roundabouts and statues for the likes of Fajuyi and Ademulegun. The current group should be adequately supported to do their jobs. It is not enough to increase the recurrent expenditure of the military while the basic tools for their duties are inadequate, obsolete or nonexistent. The fear of empowering the military enough to move against a civilian administration like it happened under Shehu Shagari may have led to a deliberate marked decrease in the capital expenditure required to equip the military to become a modern day fighting force they ought to be.

The sacrifices of these men and women should be adequately recognized and documented for all to see. The names of all those who fell (as much as possible) in the Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone should be inscribed in the public squares and not left to just imagination of the Nigerian people trying to put a face to the Unknown soldier.

LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

Wing commander Chimda Hedima.(RIP)

Joa

150115

WE FAIL OUR LAND

WE FAIL OUR LAND

There is a reason why those who are going to be entrusted to manage the health and save the lives of human beings have to meet certain standards.  There is a reason why pilots have to undergo proper and specific training to fly planes.  There is a reason why a woman does not just agree to marry any XY chromosome on the road if she indeed wants a peaceful and content life. 

I have had opportunities to engage fellow Nigerians over the past months both physically and in cyberspace on issues that particularly have to do with what I consider the most important issue at the moment: Nigeria. The politics of our great nation has sadly been drenched in the pools of ethnic and religious sentiments. 

There are more than a few of my medical colleagues who hide behind a facade of a high cerebral capacity to analyse the issue of the coming elections exclusively through the lenses of the primordial sentiments which plague them. Some will accurately describe the political landscape as very corrupt but conclude with the point that both gladiators are sides of the same coin hence their justification to remain neutral and avoid any chaos. 

I have regularly advised  them that there is no middle ground in this matter but they insist on remaining perched on an imaginary fence.  Many folks I have related with however baffle me beyond words can express.  These are folks who are supposedly educated, privileged to have been through the four walls of learning institutions where minds ought to have been activated and configured to process information and deliver a more refined and quality output.  

We were taught how to avoid and eliminate errors, how to adhere strictly with laws and adjust within the ranks of discipline.  We learnt to compete, we learnt teamwork, how to win with hardwork and how to lose with dignity.  We learnt how to respect ourselves and those without.  We were supposed to learn discernment and how to exist beyond the limits of our default settings. It is a fact that those of us who had these opportunities are indeed fortunate. We should not take it for granted and exist for only ourselves alone oblivious of the millions who the system have failed and still continues to fail.  Should our learning not be to ensure we stand for the best interests of all and sundry even in the face of inconvenience and blackmail?

Many have sadly chosen to stick doggedly with someone I consider occupying a position that far exceeds his capacity to comprehend.  I want to think that many are ethnic and religious bigots even if they deny vehemently.  Some are just primitive naturally while a few others are genuinely naive. The more dangerous ones are those who have benefited or are still benefitting and are simply dancing to the tune played by their benefactor. 

If many were undecided since 2011, they had a chance yesterday to listen closely to the words of an "orator" when he visited the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos to flag off his campaign.  From the clips I have watched and transcripts I have read; those words were a flaccid disaster.  Any serious minded person would have found that performance appalling and shambolic to say the least.  I want to believe that only those with probable genetic disorders would commend the speech and applaud the source. The Incoherence, blatant lies and unfounded accusations in lieu of campaign assurances and schematics must have vibrated in their middle ears as the words on marble by Martin Luther King or Barak Obama. 

How can anyone still vouch for a man with possibly gonads who does not know how to shoulder responsibility but indulges like an infant in blaming his misdemeanors on an older sibling or some goblin in the attic or "bushbaby" in his village? It is a shame that those of us who should know better are busy indulging in spreading false news which could have been thoroughly verified by clicking on Google to read and view archival materials. 

I understand if anyone says this is a democracy and everyone is entitled to his/ her decision considering that we are meant to be mature people.  It would really have made great sense if we were trying to decide between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo or between Chelsea and Manchester City.  We are talking about the lightweight husband of Patience and a heavyweight general with an intimidating history.  We are talking about rating someone who thinks what Nigerians are calling corruption is in fact common stealing; someone who wondered why a former governor was jailed because he "stole" what could not have perhaps equated the cost price of a Peugeot car at the time. 

This is the same fellow who went on national TV to tell Nigerians that the Niger delta militants were activists and not terrorists only to come before Lagosians almost with a look of self pity and announce that Henry Okah who has been locked down in South Africa was paid by certain disgruntled elements to eliminate him.  Was I meant to jump for joy and curse Henry? He opined that Okah had gotten jailed for that attempt on the president's life; what about those killed and maimed in that blast? Is the sentence on Okah as well? What about the many thousands killed and maimed by insurgency? Do their lives not equate that of the president?

It is shocking that some of my Christian brethren find absolutely nothing wrong with the message by a certain preacher who encouraged his flock to embark of acts of radicalism if provoked to do so.  Many of us are so absolved in our spirituality that we have lost sight of the essence of salvation.  We have become extremists in our ways and in no way different from the Islamic fundamentalists we condemn daily.  Those ones get to visit extremist nations to get radicalised; we on the other hand remain in the comfort of our cathedrals to get the same treatment administered.  If you have no problem whatsoever with that video, I'm afraid that there is a very serious problem which requires  deliverance though not the type where retrograde prophecies are declared. 

Those who are professionals and feel above the intricacies of dirty politics must realise they fail the nation as long as bandits and vandals rule and determine our fates. If we are unable to reach beyond our default settings and clearly see the big picture of a possible and viable Nigerian state; we'd end up endorsing mediocrity and reinforcing failure.  Dr.  Ben Carson is accomplished in his field as a medical practitioner but deemed it necessary to write a book and contribute his quota to the perceived shortcomings of his country America.  He has overcome whatever issues of racism and discrimination he faced in his youth and embraced the dreams of the founding Fathers of America.  

We may not be able to write a book perhaps because we do not understand a word of all I have written thus far. I urge you not to dismiss this or imagine that I am too small to draw your ears.  I ask you to search your hearts again and wash your eyes to see the clear difference between day and night with respect to the Nigeria political landscape.  Do you want a manipulative conman whose utterances and actions betray his educational claims or a general whose message on eliminating corruption and indiscipline has not changed for 30 long years? 

If you fail to act right, Patience Jonathan will claim her right to the throne in 2019 and remain Queen Mother afterwards. 

Joa

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WHAT SHOULD WE REALLY BE ANGRY AT?

WHAT SHOULD WE REALLY BE ANGRY AT?

I have come across several posts on social media condemning the decision of the opposition candidate; General Muhammadu Buhari to keep his cap on during an interdenominational Thanksgiving service of the Lagos state government a few days ago.  He was a special guest having honored the invitation of his host and outgoing governor of Lagos state; Raji Fashola.

Bro Raji who is himself a Muslim was captured on tape singing loudly and dancing while the praise songs were being sung.  His Christian and Catholic wife was on his left hand side also dancing while the General stood elegantly with his hands clasped and motionless. The video clip clearly captured several dignitaries including Anglican and Catholic Bishops, Rotimi Amaechi, Pastors Adeboyes and the APC vice presidential candidate alongside his wife.  I observed that a few other men had different types of head gear on just like the General. 

Why are people angry? God must have expressed disapproval that a non-Christian dared to venture into His sanctuary and they felt impressed upon to relay the message.  Does the presence of a head covering really halt the move of God? Do angels really bypass any man who covers his head? I think it's actually Jewish custom to pray with skullcap and shawl on; it's normal to have Bishops clothed in flowing robes and skullcaps as well. It must be easy to tolerate Muslim women in hijabs within a church premises because it somehow conforms to the teaching of women doing stuff with their "heads" covered but a Muslim man who is perhaps respecting his God by having his head covered is not viewed that way because he steps into a church or an open field for a  non denominational service.  

Does uncovering one's head equate a healthy fear of God? The subject of head covering as it pertains to what Apostle Paul described in the book of Corithians has been subjected to various interpretations just like the issues of wearing garments belonging to other genders and men having long hair.  Many times literary interpretations are done without ever considering the context and audience to which such epistles were written.  If we paused a moment and put things in proper perspective, the things many of us lose sleep over will be revealed as folly eventually.  Does Goodluck Jonathan taking off his cowboy hat before any type of preacher mean he fears God? The results of his actions and inactions despite his unchanging pious demeanour I'm afraid does not support that theory.  

Would we turn back Shekau from entering our church as long as he is unarmed with weapons or a bomb? Would we let him just sit in the pew to listen to a regular message of hope? Would we turn back a scantily dressed harlot because we fear our pastor would fall into temptation? Would we professionally ask a drunk man with bad breath to kindly sit at the back of our church away from the celebrities and bank executives who have deposited for front row seats? Would we make our churches inaccessible to people who cannot afford to sew the dress code and pattern for the next service?

I was watching the broadcast of the Latter rain assembly on Sunday evening and was very shocked when it was terminated with about 10minutes to go and replaced with a report on power supply in several areas of Lagos. I watched on for about 5minutes hoping that the channel would tender an apology citing a break in transmission due to an unexpected power outage or some trick like that.  It didn't come and I realised that the perennial best TV station in Nigeria winners had pulled the plug on Pastor Tunde Bakare's new year message/ press conference where he expressed his irrevocable support for the candidacy of General Buhari and a step by step analysis of the nation's current economic, political, military and religious predicaments.  

It appeared the broadcast got under the dermis of the incumbent and his sympathisers enough for them to leverage on whatever deposit they had invested into the "independent" network to shut down a paid for broadcast without any explanation.  Are we really in a democracy? Did the exposition on the Okonjo-Iweala voodoo economics by the supposedly "doomsday" prophet equate an act of terror or a stimulant for widespread violence and anarchy? 

I took to Twitter and Facebook to demand answers from the network but no response has come forth till tomorrow.  I left thereafter for the Lagos international airport and had to endure an almost 1 hour crawl along a short stretch of road which must have been last than 500meters.  The road leading up to the drop off zone was jammed with vehicles of all sizes, those with sirens could not maze their way through.  As I got closer, the presence of military men and drums used as barricades became more apparent.  I wondered if we were in a conflict zone when I saw sand bags to my left.  It was soon very shocking when passengers who were running late alighted from their vehicles and either dragged their luggage or hurled it up over their shoulders in a race up to the departure terminal to beat their respective check in deadlines.  I looked to my far right and saw foreigners also rushing to meet the cut only for a young man to appear near my car and pushing an empty luggage cart seeking for anyone willing to pay over the top to have his or her bags pushed up the incline in record time.  

It was really shameful to behold what my nation has degenerated into.  The ongoing remodeling of the car park has been obviously mismanaged without proper and adequate safety nets to cushion the effect of the inconvenience.  What kind of report would those foreigners made to endure hard labour because of an irresponsible system tender when they return to their home nations? A nation where policemen stop you to ask for a token and a customs officer demands that you "bless the table" because you have carried a bag of garri in your check in luggage.  

A man accused of being an intolerant dictator and an Islamic fundamentalist was able to attend a "Christian"  Thanksgiving service without feeling uncomfortable from divine fire and that is not even enough to dissuade skeptics and rumour mongers.  Do they expect him to remove his clothes, dance just like David did and prophesy like Saul before they believe him?

I decided to listen to a video posted by someone this evening and could not stand its content. It was about a preacher's views on Nigeria, the north and Boko Haram. I must say that the views of this man are dreadful, myopic and disgraceful.  I am not sure if anyone in his right senses could have listened on in that auditorium without cringing.  It was shocking to say the least; I expect those who attend that church to begin to question their leader otherwise I will assume they are all cut from the same cloth. 

In our bid to become people of genuine faith, it seems some of us have degenerated to become bigots and fundamentalists; the brood of vipers our Christ called the pharisees.  We have become intolerant and have given room for those who don't believe to further drown in their unbelief.  We have misrepresented our God and are angry at the wrong things.  

Joa

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MY PRAYERS HAVE CHANGED

MY PRAYERS HAVE CHANGED

Some of my people and many others on social media get very quickly spiritual when they read me or anybody lambasting the fellow who currently presides over Nigeria.  They quickly absolve him of blame and transfer it upon our heads because we aren't praying enough for the president like the Bible instructs. 

I actually wonder who is presently in Greater need of prayers; the president, his economic team, the opposition, the Chibok girls and all others kidnapped and unaccounted for or the people of the north east who face extinction because the government cannot protect them?

Do the people who ask me to pray for Jonathan feel compelled at all to pray for the northeast of Nigeria or even if they do pray; does the region just get a mention or equal intensity as they do for Jonathan and Pacie? Do they really care at all if the Chibok girls return intact? One fellow I encountered sometime last week compared the "forgotten" Biafran tragedy to Chibok and suggested we simply move on just as we have apparently moved on from Biafra. How insensitive? Should we burn down our own houses because our Fathers burnt down theirs decades ago?

From utterances on social media, people from certain regions and ethnicities openly and codedly rejoice at the misfortune of the northeast hence the reason why they shamelessly queue behind a failed president whose actions and inactions have threatened to completely disintegrate the union.  We need someone whose message has not changed for years now; someone who believes we are a sinking and rudderless ship in need of a captain.  Vandals have sabotaged this nation and bandits have looted her gold.  The present watchmen claim they have our interests and are promising to do what they couldn't do in 6 years in another 4 years.  

For those asking me to pray, my prayer points have changed and it is for God to expose and disgrace those who are complicit in the vandalising of this great nation.  That God would raise for us competent and prepared men and women who have the fear of Him instilled in their DNA and make room for them to access public office.  Another prayer point is that Nigeria will never witness such mediocre and primitive leadership ever again and that our children will not insult us for allowing a great nation get ravaged by scoundrels. 

I really want to know the people that pray for the leadership of the Arab Emirates; they should advise Jonathan to contract them for marathon prayers since all the laying on of hands and legs at various Nigerian camp grounds over the past 5 years have not had any significant therapeutic or intellectual effect. Not even an encounter in the tomb where our Christ was laid could stir up a "humble" president to perform.

Joa

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