MULTIPLE RANTS.

MULTIPLE RANTS

In the past few days, I have had to engage many species of humans particularly  on the subjects of the forthcoming elections and the boko haram insurgency. I do not want to tag what I do as daily rants it's just that when i start out to write one passage,  a dam of thoughts just break loose and most times I get swept away by the flood. 

I have had to engage old secondary school peers who specialise in selective comprehension reading to arrive at the summary of any article concerned.  I remember that a specific question during ordinary level WAEC examination was a summary which had alloted to it a whopping 30 marks;  at least that's what our teachers told us then.  It required the students to read through a comprehension and summarise in 3 sentences the contents of the passage.  I perhaps didn't know the importance of that task until now.  My friends will see an opsonized caption and scan through to find any group of words that suit the plot they intend to direct;  they cut it out of context and paste it on their timelines like they had just discovered that the earth is not geoid but hexagonal. 

Attempts to redirect these folks usually prove futile even when they are pointed to the source of their information.  These sadly is the current state of many Jonathan apologists;  I fear we may have a major rehabilitation crisis in our hands when this election process is all over. 

I have also had to engage military officers who in my opinion assume they possess untold wisdom regarding Nigeria more than the average civilian which I am.  One in particular questioned what I knew about morale because I observed that president Jonathan may have a guilty pleasure which is parading himself in military attire.  Another translated my criticism as being in opposition to the grounds gained in conquering the terrorist group,  the fellow even went on to conclude that I had never been in northeastern Nigeria before amongst other assumptions.  

I was accused of being overly emotional and partisan by making reference to the belated efforts in the northeast and the thousands who have already paid the ultimate price when the commander in chief was busy underestimating the scale of insurgency.  The officers from time to time mentioned that those of us not buying their view were scrutinising the visit of Jonathan to Baga wearing combat fatigues,  black boots and bouncing with a black walking stick through political lenses.  These same fellows on the other hand voiced out their approval for the deployment of troops for the elections. I asked them if the military actually had constitutional studies as part of their curriculum. 

Mr president has appeared in the full regalia of all the 3 arms of the military at one time or the other. He is the commander in chief of the armed forces of Nigeria sadly but I do not think appearing at Baga and environs 2 weeks after the initial date for the presidential election in combat and stick can be separated from politics.  My point which the officers found difficult to grasp was that I didn't care if the president had been wearing white singlet and pawpaw leaves to the northeast once every month for the past 12 months (which he rarely visited);  it was his duty to have been boosting the morale of the military since he took office. The barrel bellied superiors and the chronically sentimental ones in the military may have seen the entire exercise as morale boosting but like someone said; what will happen to the soldiers on death row who were not visited by their khaki wearing president when things were really hot and uncertain? 

I have referred these officers who think I don't have any regard for the military to what I wrote for my blog on the armed forces remembrance day which is titled "January 15" but I doubt if they'd click on the link.  I cautioned them to be mindful of not ascribing exclusive knowledge of the nation's security issues to themselves and to be truly patriotic. If our military officers were that sophisticated and cerebral;  they would not have repeatedly killed the ever elusive Shekau and his stunt doubles neither would a certain brigadier's life be made bitter by a "bloody" civilian minister of state.  Would it not be naive if I thought that the anticipated duties of soldiers during the elections would be strictly professional soldiering business? 

I read a piece by the music maestro "lagbaja" yesterday where he advised Nigerians to awaken to the seriousness of the electoral process.  Some are still losing sleep over the "striking" similarities between the two parties which has informed their perpetual camping on the political barbed wire fence. They really do think that such a stance is highly processed and valid.  I guess their fears and anxieties will never leave them. 

It is almost two days now without power supply not even a flash of the sacred resource.  As I drove this afternoon in search of a dealing fuel station,  I caught a glimpse of a woman filling her generator with fuel from a small jerry can and later I saw a man holding a little girl with one hand and he had about a 4 little keg of fuel in the other. The need for fuel is almost like the need for water, that's the harsh reality in Nigeria at the moment. I got fuel alright after going through what appeared to be a panic queue at the filling station. When one buys an equal amount or twice as much petrol into a black jerry can than into the vehicle's tank then the one should realise that there is a major problem in need of urgent change. 

I got home and settled down before activating the generator to catch most of the second half of the Manchester United - Sunderland match.  The game was lethargic until a brilliant move by Radamel Falcao earned United a deserved penalty kick.  That moment was ruined seconds  after when the referee who sees only Brown when out in the sun sent off the former Manchester United defender Wesley for an early shower.  The chaos that ensued thereafter was indeed very sad especially for the officials.  Sunderland and United players appealed the harsh decision and the guilty party even identified himself to the centre referee and at a time took off his armband in preparedness to depart the pitch in the stead of Wesley.  This is one of the reasons why I will continue to advocate for the common sense use of technology and challenges like it is done in tennis.  

What would it cost officials to check a quick video replay to know that shear butter and brown are not the same like oxlade and kieran are not twins? The only technology employed by the referees was their communication gadget which they used to speak in tongues to themselves and thereafter insisted on Wesley taking a walk but not before assuring him that the card would be rescinded; didn't you hear that part? John wasn't actually the last man when the offence was committed. 

I hope people now see reasons  why I stuck on in the defence of David Moyes during his short reign as United boss and why I was positive that Mourinho was never going to succeed Sir Alex. I suppose we have little choice now but to stick with Van Gaal.

I think i should start putting my papers together in order to relocate to America to start my boxing career. I may not have much time left to navigate the welter weight category but I reckon that in 2 or 3 years I should be ready to take on the "money man" Floyd Mayweather who would be over 40 by then but still viable to command the cash.  The much anticipated fight with the Pacman has finally been agreed and it's billed to command mega money in the region of $250 million with egbon Floyd taking 60%. Now I understand why that Bolton boy Amir Khan was calling out Floyd. If Amir can be so bold and confident of defeating Floyd what is stopping your mouth? what is stopping me? 

I don't even think I need 10% of the honeypot to prove I can challenge Floyd; 1% of the $250 million is enough reward as long as I defeat him which for me would be the greatest accomplishment. With Midday Awo as my trainer and sparring partner; who be Floyd?

Am I awake now? Slept off while watching a CNN report on the money man versus Pacman fight. :P

THE FAILED NANNY.

THE FAILED NANNY.

Isn't it interesting that Goodluck Jonathan has been in and around the Lagos axis this week launching or commissioning one item or the other ranging from refurbished vessels to revived electricity generation plants.

I'm wondering why he couldn't get to launch these projects before Valentine's day? Was it the distraction of the hectic campaign around the country or simply the late finish work for all the projects?

The amount of traveling and unveiling the man has done in the week following the former date for voting must surely be the main reason for the postponement and not the failure of the military hierarchy to guarantee security for the polls; I may be wrong. Jonathan appears to have greatly miscalculated concerning his re-election bid; everything he has done seems to derail his desperate attempt to return to the villa (that place appears to greatly amuse his wife). His strategy to demonize  the opposition candidate and deflect his incompetence and failure has served only to energize the campaign of General Buhari more than anything else. He has since been reported to have fired Reno Omokri and has been  captured visiting family members of deceased soldiers and re-commissioning stuff over the past few days.

Why has it taken him so long to pay visits and equip the military to do their duties? Many have come to his defence hailing the progress made so far as a mark of the great warrior that he is. When someone like me criticises the sloppy security structure in the nation which has let down fellow Nigerians for the 5-6 years or even more, they accuse us of sympathizing with boko haram and never seeing anything positive about the present administration or the military who are exposed to the stench of death on a regular basis. They insist that buhari is the main backer of the radical sect and therefore anyone who publicly identifies with the General must also be evil.

What would you call a father who watches idly as his son/ daughter gets burned by a fire which the father could have put out even before it came close to a strand of hair on the child's body? Of what benefit is a belated measure to extinguish a fire after it has already left destruction in it's wake?

I recall the video of the "devilish" nanny who dealt severe body blows to an infant, shoving the  crying child with food in her mouth off a couch to a hard ground and even trampling on the back of the prone frame as if to snap her into two. I watched the first few seconds of that video and couldn't bear to go on because of the sheer immorality of what that adult did to a minor. Majority if asked to preside as judge over that case would easily declare a guilty verdict based on that video evidence alone without considering any possibility of it being fabricated.

I am certain that that nanny subsequently picked up that child, cleaned her up and arranged everything in the house prior to the return of her parents. Can we for one second imagine if that nanny's case was confronted in court by an appeal for leniency based on the fact that she still in one way or another watched over that child and took care of her? Can we imagine if a defence lawyer pleaded that the nanny be forgiven and handed back her job because she hailed from the same region as the family suing or practiced the same religion?

I remember watching the film adaption of the John Grisham novel "A time to kill" sometime in 2001. Samuel L. Jackson portrayed a man whose very young daughter who wasn't even a teenager was gang raped by white boys affiliated to the ku-klux-klan somewhere in Mississippi. It was apparent that an all-white jury was never going to ensure a conviction for the young men so he had his own alternate plan to guarantee justice. He burst into the court room once the case was done and pumped several shells from his shotgun slaying the men. I am certain many would approve of the measure carried out by the aggrieved man in that movie just as they would have approved of any extreme measure carried out to punish the evil nanny; it is just being human.

The president who had watched on for several months as at least six states suffered  various degrees of violence and thousands cut down while exporting blame and claiming abandonment by world powers is that Nanny who has been battering that child she was paid to take care of. He takes the blame for the young men cut down in their prime because the nation they swore to defend with their lives let them down and left them exposed to perish some with their heads taken. He is responsible for the widows, widowers, the orphans and also the displaced. 

Those asking that we return Mr Jonathan are simply asking us to accept the nanny who has cleaned up the battered baby and acted as if nothing happened.  The onslaught against insurgents has now been reported to be intense with necessary gear and arsenal available for the push. Why exactly did those states have to wait for months till after the postponement to witness a  concrete federal government led plan to erase the terrorist?

If we are competent to judge the matter of a nanny and a battered baby, how much more the affairs of a country that has been like that baby battered and bruised repeatedly without any help in sight? The incumbent has been weighed in the balance and found wanting on many levels. He should not be rewarded for abundant failure and incompetence. He has clearly exhibited nonchalance and a huge sense of irresponsibility abdicating his primary duties of security and economy to other people he appointed and who are answerable to him as the commander in chief.

This election remains about the Nigerian people. It is not about electing a sectional president that suits a particular stereotype. We should be able to dwell above rudimentary sentiments and take active parts in the electoral process. We should not be creators and peddlers of falsehood; some have already sold their consciences and those wages will soon be exhausted.

Joa 210215

ARMY ARRANGEMENT: Another Scandal In View.

ARMY ARRANGEMENT: Another Scandal In View

A few people have contested the stance of the All Progressives congress against the deployment of soldiers for the coming election.  Some have described such resistance as myopic and unreasonable because of the ongoing insurgency and the recent threat by the boko haram poster boy to disrupt the elections.  I couldn't help but wonder why Shekau did not have his usual back up cast of veiled machine gunners and 4 wheel drives in the background. 

The fear of violence and possible civil unrest appears to have captivated the minds of many who ought to be ideally very reasonable and critical of any spanner tossed at their wheels by the chief strategists in this plot. What does the constitution of the federal Republic say about the role of the armed forces regarding elections and civil matters? They never bother to check. 

Some folks have asked why the soldiers should not be drafted for elections considering the dearth of policemen across the nation. They readily point to the relative peaceful nature of the two gubernatorial elections held last year without considering the actual number of troops deployed to both states.  This year's elections goes beyond 2 states and one wonders if we have enough boots on the ground to cover every blade of grass across the country just to guarantee security. 

The recently released audio recording of the meeting that occurred prior to the Ekiti election allegedly between politicians of the ruling party and the commanding officer of the troops deployed to Ekiti should sufficiently inform Nigerians that the military have no place in overseeing the conduct of elections in the country.  Although the authenticity of the recording is disputed; I am convinced that the narrative of the meeting is real and would have required great ingenuity to create. 

Why do some people really want the army for these elections?  The news of armed soldiers patrolling the streets in anticipation of Atahiru Jega's election postponement announcement clearly betrays the intentions of those who unleash them. What can the army do that the police cannot replicate? Legend has it that the soldiers are fearless and obey the last command.  They are rumored to be incorruptible but that may not be the case for Nigerian soldiers who have since inception been exposed to the radiation of politics and excess crude. Nigerians obviously are more scared of soldiers than policemen. We know that it is easier to appease a policeman with a 50 naira bribe or a bottle of drink than pacify a soldier with any amount of money. But what if the soldiers' services are already paid for before the day of their assignment? 

The Wikipedia page of the Nigerian armed forces has the number of active personnel as 130,000 with the army responsible for the largest chunk of that pool. This figure if accurate means than the external security of  Nigeria depends heavily on less than 0.1% of the nation's population. How then do we expect the army to be also responsible for internal security all by themselves because the police is corrupt and inefficient? 

Why are the police corrupt and largely viewed as incapable of ensuring effective security during the 2 days of elections in March and April? If the police are seen to be ill equipped,  should drafting the department of state security,  NSCDC, FRSC and even the Man O' war not be enough to provide a coordinated sufficient security cover for just 2 days? Why must it be the army to join the electoral process considering the ongoing military activity in the northeast which threatens the integrity of the nation?  Why is the navy not the first in line to provide added security especially in zones far away from the ongoing conflict?

The navy are more or less redundant at the moment since they are  without the resources to launch missiles from under the water off the coast of the southern states or lake Chad to hit targets in Sambisa or enclaves harboring the insurgents. Mr Jonathan has since acquired 4 toys for them to perhaps keep them occupied.  These ships are largely refurbished decommissioned vessels from other nations; this should grieve the hearts of inhabitants of a nation previously colonised by a nation rich in shipyard capabilities and maritime history. What exactly did we learn from the British in terms of industry and technological advancement?  I presume we only inherited the monarchy mentality;  the master and servant syndrome which has ravaged the psyche of our people and which encourages impunity to thrive. 

A former minister of police affairs said in May 2012 that the police had a capacity of 380,000 officers at the time.  He announced plans to expand that figure by 270,000 to make it a total of 650,000; I do not know if they achieved that ambition. Do the armed forces in Nigeria have 300,000 commissioned and non-commissioned officers?  Do we have reserves that could make that figure go up even higher? Let us assume that the police population is set at 400,000; why are we so obsessed that the police need the army for the elections with the number of soldiers felled by insurgent bullets and those facing the death penalty for mutiny and other offences?  How many planes and military aircrafts do we have?  Do we have any kind of submarine or heavy duty aircraft carriers requiring  massive naval and airforce recruitments? 

The police can handle the election by themselves once the officers guarding Tafa Balogun and other past inspector generals are redeployed.  Once the police officers standing behind government officials and politicians including those driving their children to school and carrying the handbags of the dignified women are pulled back to do their primary duties;  then the true number of officers would become apparent.  The police have been rendered incapacitated for decades now via a deliberate and calculated mechanism to cripple law enforcement and justice. Those who enlist are left disillusioned without any clearcut vision of what their primary duties are.  Those who get to the top are those willing to play ball with the politicians.  They become incredibly wealthy,  arrogant and partisan.  I watched one light skinned and heavily built police inspector the other day on the television addressing politicians in his zone to be law abiding during the elections and the fellow in his camouflage was carrying a swagger stick. What really is the use of a swagger stick to a police man? The utterances of the indomitable  AIG Mbu since assuming control over Lagos and Ogun would have led to his sack in a sane environment however we don't reside in one.

Those planning to have soldiers at polling units and roads on election day especially in states with low security threat levels only need them to aid election manipulation.  They control all the security outfits in the land and are able to deploy them at will and as them deem fit.  The police have proven to dance to the "shoki" of the ruling party exhibited by the tear gas launched at the "rogue" speaker Tambuwal amongst other signs.  It is more than enough having to deal with this force but having to confront the likes of brigadier Momoh is an even greater kettle of fish with plenty bones which can choke. The president of the federal Republic publicly dismissed the audio recording as fabricated without launching any investigation;  those who still hold brief for such a man are either irreversibly gullible or desperately evil. 

I believe the moment of change is here,  those who believe in God must know that we have another shot as a nation to get it right.  The police will not be left behind in the change,  at least the opposition's candidate knows how it was when the special branch of the Nigerian police functioned back in the days. 

Make army wey no dey Sambissa and environs stay for barracks.


Joa~200215

NAIJA LEFT!!!

NAIJA LEFT!!!!

I have just returned from the Lagos international airport where I witnessed one of the most absurd symptoms of national insanity I have ever seen in my life. 

I had to drive up the road to the departure lounge so that my wife could disembark and then I spun around quickly to the distant parking area since the new car park is still under intense construction. Unlike my last visit on the first of February, I did not have to walk this time as there was an airport shuttle waiting.  I was immediately impressed when I noticed that the bus looked very new and just ahead of us were two other buses apparently working just a few meetings apart.  I wondered for a second why it took these airport managers so long to deploy the buses which had been left parked for so long to relieve passengers and visitors of the enormous stress of reaching and leaving the airport. 

A few minutes later and I was back at the entrance into departure. Then the Federal airport authority man and a bomb squad cop demanded that all luggage should be passed through the scanner at the door.  I wondered to myself when this development began although I remembered seeing these same scanners lying fallow only 15 days ago. The traveler just ahead of us seemed to have a crew of young people with her but she was only permitted one individual to accompany her in. 

My wife displayed her travel documents and walked through.  As I made my approach, the skinny FAAN official stretched his hand to stop me and said "only passengers" which was echoed by the cop who had a metal detector in its case strapped to his waist. I was stunned; I said "but I'm with her" yet they insisted on only passengers.  I asked them when such a policy was passed into law and why I would not be allowed to help my wife with her luggage and see her off.

The cop asked me if I didn't know the situation in Nigeria and went on to narrate an incident where a young lady strapped on  herself an IED and detonated same in a packed motor park. I stretched my hands out to him and asked why he didn't use his metal detector to check if I was strapped with an IED but they asked me and a few others who were also trying to gain entrance to move back and away from the doors. 

My wife at this point was also trying to persuade them to allow me accompany her for her check in procedures but it fell on deaf ears.  I remained standing before them and more than once exclaimed loudly "what kind of country is this" and I told them that there was no where in the world where such was done; where a spouse or relative was barred from venturing into a departure zone prior to check in. 

Our exchanges were interrupted by airport officials waltzing through the doors with people familiar to them; one even passed through with a Caucasian and the clowns did not say a word.  A young man standing behind me and somewhat sympathetic to my cause asked that I begged them to let me pass or maybe find a blessing to appease them; to this I replied "God forbid". At one point two men clad like Niger delta politicians with their Jonathan-esque Black hats walked through like angels without displaying any documents and they were even saluted by the men. 

Oh my, "these guys must be mad" I thought to myself.  We must have been there longer than 20minutes when a man who was probably a relative of a passenger tried to go in with another man.  They stopped him and insisted that only one despite his pleas.  The first man went through while the second stayed backed.  I confronted them again and made a reference to what had just transpired.  I told them they were unfair to let a passenger with more than one relative or friend have one go through while another with only a relative; a spouse for that matter was prevented. At this point, a second FAAN official with Omirin on his name tag and who had been seated just behind the door spoke for the first time and asked that I be let through.  He must have been bored by my reluctance to play ball with them and my stand against a ridiculous action devoid of common sense. Mr Omirin did not fail to mention that my passage through was not based on what I had said about the other people who had been let in while our impasse was ongoing. 

I walked through the doors despite a late attempt by the other FAAN man and the cop to overrule Mr Omirin. The cop had probably proposed in his heart to show me who was boss even if it would require force. Check in went on as usual and my eyes gazed from the policeman to the NDLEA officials checking luggage before passing them through and into the plane.  It seems the check in tables are the only points we would ever find smiling para-military officers just because they are expecting a blessing from the travelers.  I left the airport and a shuttle was waiting back to the parking area.  Everything else was uneventful. 

I am more than even convinced that insanity prevails in this nation.  Many people just appear normal but the truth is that in one way or the other, we are governed by abnormalities and have surrendered our rights to primordial instincts which are completely incompatible with normal human existence.  This is the reason why some people will readily suggest that it is ideal to bribe one's way through any issue even if it is to use one's own property.  It is no longer difficult to explain why some people find it impossible to decipher the folly inherent in the logic of the goat and tubers of yam to justify stealing which in our case has nothing to do with corruption.  Why is it just impossible for some people to believe that it is absolutely possible to live content lives without stealing or demanding for bribes? Why can't the NDLEA and customs guys at the airport just simply do their jobs without an open bag under their table for manna from heaven? Must the immigration  official checking passports raise one eyelash because he sees a passenger travelling to Lome or can the policemen on our roads and security men just stop using the phrase "happy weekend Sir". 

I would not want to talk about the incredible civil service or the many other peculiar cases of frank insanity that plagues the people like a virus.  Such that has made supposedly sensible young people sell their souls because of transient monetary inducement. The same folks turn common sense on its head and fabricate falsehood to smear the innocent; Oh what madness!!! 

This is simply not sustainable; like Yaba left, this house of commotion called Nigeria needs urgent rehabilitation. 

PVC update and the secret audio .

PVC update and the secret audio .

I woke up this morning with great optimism that I would finally have my permanent voters card in my hand before midday. 

I went to my polling unit with my temporary card as well as my wife's and found a short queue so I joined in. As usual, Nigerians were too impatient and tried to jump the queue. It eventually got to my turn after a young man from the locality had made a small scene after being denied the opportunity to collect cards for other people who were most likely at work. 

I handed the lady who had created a burdensome distribution protocol my card and also showed her my wife's card as well. Then she went on and on about not being able to hand over any card by proxy. I said, "even my wife's own?" but she insisted despite my contest. She must have looked through the entire stack of cards twice but did not locate mine. She then handed my card back to me and told me to come back. I looked at her like "are you serious?". I told her I wasn't moving a millimeter until I left with my card. She attempted to move on to the next person on the line but I was having none of it. She had made so much noise about not giving me my wife's card which I had spotted when she was checking. 

Nothing happened next for almost one hour largely caused by her suggesting that I visited another polling unit to check as a mix up during sorting could have occurred. I asked her what the odds of actually finding the card there were. I referred her to her statement that one person could only collect one card so she had no choice but to give me what was due to me from wherever it was. The people on the line had become very restive and the fellow who caused a scene earlier  returned to have another shot at the lady and almost got physical with her and other local boys who were hanging around to ensure things were in order.

I gave her a piece of my mind and only left the area when one of the guys I was familiar with in the area assured me that he would personally help sort things out. 

The latest about my PVC is that it is missing and needs to be found. I will be prepared for another ultimate search tomorrow or on Sunday and that lady would be advised to get things properly sorted out.

I departed that chaotic scene sweaty and angry only to stumble on the story about an audio recording that clearly tells the tale of how certain PDP stalwarts arranged the Ekiti heist a few months ago. I understand that Fayose and Obanikoro have separately denied the audio features them but it is clear to any good hearted individual that they are simply wasting their time. 

The audio has Fayose, Koro, Omisore and a certain federal legislator scolding a seemingly reluctant brigadier like a school boy. They also strategized on how to effectively execute their master plan crafted in Abuja to ensure victory for fayose and his principal in Abuja. The utterances of the men clearly indict Goodluck Jonathan and several kabiyesis and civilians in Ekiti. I seriously wonder what my  jonathanian friends in real time and cyber space make of this recent revelation. 

This is the stuff that marks the demise of political careers and ensures heads roll spontaneously. It clearly shows how moribund all our security forces have become in the hands of a few individuals whereby a mere Obanikoro would suggest to a brigadier that his rise up the army food chain rested in whether he was happy or not.

I have said it before, the plot for the American series Scandal cannot match what goes down daily in Nigeria. I am not sure if what cost Nixon his presidency is as bad as this; the Abuja principal and producer of this noxious events will still continue  to go around making promises of a better tomorrow for the youths instead of resigning.

You  deeply embarrass your generation and all who have invested time and effort to train you if you still listen to that audio and talk about certificate or an Islamist agenda.

Chaii, chaii, chaii!!!!!

Joa

060215

SOME DEEDS DONE FOR "LOVE".

SOME DEEDS DONE FOR "LOVE".

So I heard AIT have been airing a blockbuster damage inducing documentary about Buhari.  I understand they decided to conduct an online poll to probably assess the immediate effect of their hypnotic remedy on the seemingly gullible Nigerians but the expected damage was friendly fire. 

I understand Buhari was winning massively with over 75% of polled votes prompting the network to pull the plug on the poll claiming hacking by APC geeks to inflate the votes of Buhari.  It is reported that they released a document that was supposed to bamboozle people that IP addresses used to execute the deed truly existed and must have been the handiwork of the APC. 

Those who know about these things have since proved beyond every doubt that the AIT created this bogus lie and must be working in concert with the PDP reelection campaign that has also fabricated a histopathologic report, several emails and documents as well as producing a truly lacklustre and falsehood riddled documentary all to ridicule Buhari and the opposition. 

But why are the AIT so desperate to prove their romance with Jonathan at the expense of their integrity? They must have seen the benefits that were accrued to the Channels TV who I believe were sympathetic to the Jonathanian campaign in 2011. I recall the regular frequency that Reuben Abati appeared on channels Tv programs towards that election as well as other obviously partisan commentators who poorly disguised themselves as unbiased. Channels are capable of so much more these days; broadcasting capabilities have expanded and accompanying the incumbent and his crew to the economic summit in Davos and being the host broadcaster at the Abuja leg of the summit were just candy in addition to the cake they now enjoy. The NTA seems to be for internal propaganda for rural people while channels is for the sophisticated and perhaps more intellectual people.

AIT I must admit have had it really rough and one cannot help but sympathise with what her staff have gone through since the network was established in the early 90s. They have had fires, been unable to pay salaries, lost staff to horrible deaths and have been shut down. Dokpesi worked to burnish the image of his friend Ibrahim Babaginda in order to make him appealing for a presidential run.  This failed so it is understandable that he has leaned towards the generous but desperate incumbent. I do not know what AIT as an Organization is going through but I really do not think it's sufficient to risk one's integrity for that is if such ever existed ab initio. 

Buhari has opted to pull out of the scheduled debate powered by AIT and other federal sponsored broadcast networks both radio and television citing the collective conspiracy by these networks to constantly use their platforms to systematically murder the image of the people's general and turn the undecided voting bloc against him and reinforce the sentiments of those who are hell bent on promoting and defending their ethnicity and religious supremacy which they have convinced themselves are at risk of facing extinction from an unchanged disciplined and whip wielding general. Some have said the general is afraid of debating Jonathan as both candidates are not particularly eloquent which is rather weird considering that Mr Goodluck claims to have completed a PhD in 1995. 

Why should Buhari be afraid of debating Jonathan? Why should anyone at all be afraid of debating Jonathan? For crying out loud, the general faced two younger and by far wittier foes in the debates organized by NN24 in 2011 when Jonathan was busy having a chitchat with the now diminishing entertainer D'banj. He then turned up for the debate arranged by the present organisers of this year's version and most likely lost to 3 empty stands. I believe Patience Jonathan would defeat her husband in a debate. 

There is still time I believe for a change of heart by the Buhari camp to engage in the debate; I'll like to witness Jonathan tell Nigerians again that stealing isn't corruption and a jail sentence is not a suitable deterrent to corruption. Perhaps president Jonathan would substitute Buhari for the professor from the KOWA party hoping to defeat her in a one on one. 

It is amazing that people see these things as clearly as daylight but still choose to trust their "wayo" sense to label Buhari as an Islamic fundamentalist and other distasteful tags.  These ones choose to ignore the inappropriate jabs at Buhari's personal life especially with the deceased members of his family and embrace the threat by the Niger delta shooting stars to cripple the nation if their man fails to win. They have clung on to events that happened more than 3 decades ago embracing grudges and searching for "vengeanceville".

Na wa for our people o!

Joa
300115

ANYTHING FOR WEEKEND?

ANYTHING FOR WEEKEND?

Here I was on another adventure to the Lagos international airport this evening to drop my mother off.  We got to the airport early enough to avoid the now mandatory snail paced traffic due to the barricade of blue painted drums manned by airforce men some bearing bionet rifles.  

I had to drop her off with her luggage at the departure platform before rushing a few hundred meters to the makeshift car park to ditch my car.  I decided to walk the distance back to departure since I missed the shuttle which was already on its way towards the airport. I had to evade the airforce men at a point when one of them shouted at me from far to get off the main road and across a wide drainage which was thankfully dry.  I made my way unto a walk way under construction close to the site of the main car park undergoing reconstruction and eventually made it up the flight of stairs to help my mother into the lounge for check in procedures. 

A few minutes and luggage weighing later, we made our way to the blessed table of the customs and drug law enforcers.  They checked the bags and one of the men tried to ruffle my mother by making a pass by a very small bag of smoked fish but she did not buy it.  The second bag got to a presumably more senior female officer who then looked to my mother and asked for a weekend tip. I am normally never in any mood for chitchat with Nigerian airport officials so I didn't even bother to look at any of them as I pulled the zippers of the travel bag shut. I did not realise my mother had pointed to me in response to the woman's question; she then proceeded to throw the same request at me.  

"The government has not paid me since December" I responded; perhaps I should have said November which was more accurate.  I expected that these federal workers would have understood my drift but the woman pressed on with her questions as if to profile me if I was indeed a federal worker.  "Where do you work", "so you are a doctor"...."which department?"..."Do you know one Dr Ojo?".... All these questions to squeeze out money from me which I did not have. My responses must have convinced her to quit and move on to her next victim; I just packed the bags and headed off to get the boarding passes. 

We were finally done and decided to walk away from the check in area.  The male airline officer who manned the barrier in and out of the area was about to let me pass when he smiled and asked me for a tip. I was really angry at this point but I just remained silent and let his request pass.  Do we have to grant a tip before anything can be done in Nigeria? How can people doing their regular jobs assume that anybody they see coming their way is Bill Gates and free from every kind of economic troubles? I know folks would say that those at the bottom need to change their ways before any serious change can happen to Nigeria but I insist we need a landmark change at the top first to model the kind of change that we want which the people can thereafter mirror and reciprocate. 

I left the very uncomfortable departure lounge and made my way for the shuttle station.  I met a shuttle loading human beings but which was already packed like a tin of sardines.  Another walk back was my decision and I decided to observe the signs of airport transformation claimed by the incumbent president.  The car park seems to be undergoing steady progress after the holiday break embarked upon by the workers there.  The huge billboard of the president's reelection campaign stood elegantly on the road and elaborate enough for visitors and newly arrived passengers to see after enduring some of the worst conditions ever experienced in an international airport. The traffic had become very extensive at that time as I made my way past the 6 apparently unused shuttle buses of the Federal airport authority and about 4 or 5 broken down or fairly used but still broken down buses. 

That is how my latest airport experience went; incident free and 300naira spent for two hours parking.

Joa

010215

THE AGE OF PHOBIA et al.

The Age of Phobia et al.

The things our ossicles pick up in a danfo can really be mind blowing.  You see, I was in this danfo about 45 minutes ago and sat behind the driver who had a very good friend with him in the passenger seat.  The journey commenced from ojota and I was going to alight at Jibowu. 

Their conversation became interesting to me as the driver's friend started to relay incredible scenes of violence he had either witnessed or heard about over the past few weeks and leading up to the coming elections.  He talked about a few young men who had access to weapons and who have in certain locations in Lagos used them to maim others or simply cut short their lives on this earth. 

He talked about the gun wielding crew that regularly escort the Jimi Agbaje campaign team just as the bus passed by what seems to be a strategic headquarters of that team very close to the Obanikoro bus stop on Ikorodu Road. He talked about how that team was beaten back by another gang at a particular campaign location in Lagos.  He gave graphic detail of how thugs cut down each other at the Shitta and Empire areas of Lagos like it was a scene from a wild wild west movie.  

The young man paid glowing tribute to the feats of certain high profile thugs one of whom he said was young, very humble and part of the security detail of Ambode. He made mention of certain OPC and "Eiye" fraternity confrontations and I heard names of high profile gangsters in Lagos like "Phobia, 50cents and Sego". 

Na wa for Lagos o, it is possible that the young man in the bus with me today was just reciting fables but I had also heard of killings in the Shitta axis of Surulere sometime last week so there's a chance he knew what he was talking about.  There was also a reference to an understanding between certain high profile gang kingpins and their police counterpart. 

It's sad that we have to endure this volatility and uncertainty.  The upsurge of violence and proliferation of numerous thugs and gangs cannot be separated from the decades of decay the nation has suffered especially to family values, education, unemployment and dearth of recreational facilities.  Education goes beyond being in the four walls of a classroom hustling for a degree; vocations and trades can also be learnt appropriately after a baseline and universal education is made available to every child without discrimination. 

I hope Nigerians who ought to be educated and enlightened see reason why we need to try something else from this year onwards. We have a president whose deputy is canvassing for votes by playing the religious blackmail card and who is actively and vocally being backed by multi millionaire armed militants without any whisper of condemnation.  The candidate I'm supporting on the other hand has said he's about providing jobs for the jobless and restructuring the system which is currently operational but certified flawed and detrimental to the survival of Nigeria.  Should we not at least give him a chance and see if his educational policies would put a lasting stop to our culture of strikes and  unproductivity? Should we not give a chance to the man who will most likely put a lasting stop to the vaporisation of billions and trillions? 

If we are content with a culture of astronomical waste and are willing to stay in the confines of our rooms fanning ourselves with TAN provided plastic fans when there is no power supply or watch (with our generators that is) Patience Ozokwo (did I spell that right) and Ramsey Noah act school principal and Doctor respectively while our schools and hospitals experience perpetual strikes; then we can choose to vote for ineptitude.  If we are content to stay home with our children who are deprived of education because of strike or fear of insurgents listening to jokes by omo Baba, aki and pawpaw; then let us kontinuu with status quo.  May we never experience a clash of supremacy between "Phobia" and "boyloaf".

Vote right.



Joa
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