THE RETURN OF ELIJAH.

“I’m trying to reach you now sir, they have blocked us, they have stopped us.”

“This is the police blocking the senate president from leaving his house on Lake Chad junction. He’s about to report to the force headquarters but then the police have blocked his convoy. Look at this everybody..this is Model Secondary School Maitama..”

The above is a  transcript of what two distinct voices said in the short video published on twitter by one of Senator Saraki’s aides to kickstart the defection storm that belatedly hit the house of assembly a few days ago.

Tweet by Saraki's aide Bamikole Omisore at 7.54am that set the ball rolling

From all indications, the men who spoke in the video knew that the senate president was not in any of the vehicles parked on the road outside the aforementioned secondary school. As far as I’m concerned, those were just vehicles in a convoy parked for a photo shoot. Two white squad cars allegedly donated by Dangote were in front and behind the vehicles belonging to the office of the senate president. Two Mercedes Benz cars, one ambulance, one white pick-up van and one black pick-up van containing a handful of mobile policemen made up the props.

Apart from a few armed policemen standing at strategic points on the street and one or two men dressed in suits, that scene did not look like a standoff. The Police Force public relations officer told his hounding interviewers on Channels TV that the senate president alone had over forty (40) policemen in his detail under the direct local command of the latter’s chief security officer and aide de camp. A previous story in the tabloids about the reduction in number of secret police operatives to the senate president and speaker of the House suggests that there are at least fourteen (14) operatives still with the Senate president. If the convoy was indeed obstructed on that day, I expected to see a chaotic scene and face offs between the obstructors and the protectors but there was nothing of such, just a short clip of stationary cars and policemen. We were in this country late last year when SSS officers resisted the arrest of the former SSS and NIA bosses by EFCC operatives. We observed how Governor Wike foiled the arrest of a judge with his police detail and how Governor Fayose did similarly and whisked apostle Suleiman to the Ekiti government house.

Forgive me if I can’t make any sense of the entire plot. Saraki was not in the vehicle so he could not have been headed in the direction of the police force headquarters and I do not think his residence is adjacent or proximal to Model secondary school Maitama. Saraki himself told the press he was barricaded in his house but one wonders how they managed to get his vehicles on the road and drive for a few minutes before eventually getting halted by just two cars. We saw the number of SSS operatives running alongside his open roof van when he made a triumphant entry into Ilorin after the Supreme Court judgement; I’m baffled that two squad cars did the trick in Maitama. I searched for the senate president’s residence on google map and plotted the distance of the Senate President's guest house to Lake Chad crescent even though I am not sure if that is exactly where he resides. It must have been at least a 3 minutes drive.

Senate President's guest house to Lake Chad crescent. Google

When the story of the  Ekweremadu siege where over 200 men allegedly held him hostage for over 6 hours in the same Abuja and time frame that Saraki was escaping in a rickety car is compared to the convoy blockade; one wonders if the 200 or more policemen sent to pin down Saraki were infants. Did the NPF send 200 to Ekweremadu (I wonder who did the census while he was held hostage) and far less to the Saraki who has even more protection?

After the Ekweremadu Siege with dino, Ben10, Brigadier David Mark and is that Kwankwaso eating rice on the left?

Governor Fayose it was who claimed to have been slapped and hit with the butt of a rifle by a policemen. He also got genetically engineered teargas treatment and all of these necessitated his doctors to fit him with a neck brace and keep his left hand in an improvised sling which was looped around his neck brace. He wept before cameras and collapsed in a heap surrounded by his supporters dressed in sparkling white attires. The video of him being transported in an ambulance to an intensive care unit is incredibly laughable. Mr Fayose appeared from all these shenanigans and was captured praying for his stooge who knelt before him to receive anointing to win the elections. Fayose even had his left hand planted on the head of the professor. How did that man even become a professor?

Fayose with his brace and sling surrounded by his supporting cast

It is my opinion that Governor Ortom is one of the weakest men ever to hold office in Nigeria. In terms of character, I think Fayose is even better that he is. Ortom launched an amnesty program soon after he got into office to take weapons from already armed Benue indigenes. One of them Tewase Akwaza aka Ghana was directly accused by the governor of attacking and killing people at the Zaki Biam market in early 2017. Ortom made this accusation on the day he visited the disaster site even before any investigations were done; he seemed capable of telling who did what without any help from the Police. Ghana and one of his associates who spoke to Channels TV late in 2016 when answering to accusations of murdering one of Ortom’s senior special assistants mentioned that the state had not fulfilled promises made to them on the day they surrendered their arms. Ghana even mentioned that he bought weapons at one time from one of Ortom’s key special assistants. The man who is a retired soldier denied the accusation, he said he’s a decent man.

Ortom and Ghana on Amnesty day 2015.

Ortom in my opinion is directly or indirectly complicit in the failure of security in his state. He spoke to the press at one time and accused certain community leaders of protecting Ghana but in the same report, Ghana himself was interviewed by Channels TV and mentioned where he was. How did Channels find him in Kastina-Ala and the governor couldn’t? Ortom must imagine he’s the state's chief coroner and not the chief security officer. If every governor were like him, there’d be civil war everywhere.

My opinion on the state’s law on open grazing is already known. It was made in bad faith and out of anger. The governor has his own ranch with exotic Argentine cows therein but he claims he’s doing the bidding of his people by enforcing a law that makes doing business extremely difficult. He is always quick to say “the people said, the people want..” yet he’s owing the people salaries. Like the biblical King Saul who made errors on account of focusing on the people, Ortom in my opinion has not done well to ensure peace in Benue. A grown man was on his way to Abuja with his full security detail and the press tagging along, only to then be stopped by ‘the people’ who ordered him to turn around and abandon the All Progressives Congress and he did. The people had several printed placards and the one that struck me was one with “APC is Miyetti party.” I fear the Benue people don’t recognize who their real enemies are. Suswam and Ortom have big ranches with sufficient water and food supply; their cows cost more than those from the herders but people think they are doing the Lord’s work. Kòkòrò tí ń jèfó-. Ortom is weak minded, come out and leave a party on your own terms and based on principles. No way, he left because they told him to and promised him that they wouldn’t vote for him if he ran on the APC platform. I think he’s done as a politician; I don’t see him getting returned as governor, at least he has his ranch to return to.

1 Kings 19 talks about Prophet Elijah fleeing into the wilderness after his life was threatened by Jezebel. This is also where Dino Melaye fled to after being attacked by a Sienna. He’s back like we expected and God was acknowledged for spearing his life yet again. Who needs security operatives, bulletproof vehicles or jazz when there is the God of Dino? How many people can survive more than two gun attacks, tear gas, a jump or push out of a moving vehicle and an attempted kidnap and yet return with back to back chart topping hits? Only a man of steel, a man of timber and calibre can go through all these and come out alive on a stretcher and in neck brace: Dino. The man is a cyborg.

Prophet dino and the legendary RMD

Mr commonsense Ben10 Murray-Bruce is playing multiple sides in all these. He’s the ultimate gambler, I wonder if he owns a casino. He’s already anointed Atiku as the next president but he is regularly at Dino’s side as his spokesman or healthcare aide. He was the informant of the recent episode titled “Sienna in the Wilderness” and his tweets are usually devoid of sense.

Ben10 Broadcasting services reporting emphatically

Throw Olisa Metuh into the mix

When you put all these individuals in the same movie and tell me they are the actors while Buhari is the villain; I can only do one thing and that is to laugh out loud. These are the people some intelligent people claim are on a mission to rescue Nigeria from what they perceive as tyranny. A group that uses ‘agbari’ to evade court appearances is the one that folks claim are on the side of the law? If you believe any of the plots from this crew, I can’t take you serious. It’s like those who still believe wrestlemania with Hulk Hogan and associates involved real combats.

I had to write this now before they introduce another twist. We await the move by the chief plotter, Saraki. Just look out for his social media guys and associates, you’ll find out the true content of their hearts. To those egging him on, don’t forget he’s a Northerner and a Muslim too like the one you despise. 

We now have a press who take the words of family members and social media associates of these politicians as truth over what the Police and Military say. The Channels TV early morning crew practically attempted to ridicule the Police Force PRO on their show by repeatedly asking the same question he had clearly answered and suggested that there was a loss of control by the police hierarchy. I don't know for now what their end game is but it is looking like 2011 all over again. I hope those who have chosen to be gullible or deliberately mischievous have been well paid or at least been sent promissory notes. 2019 will be LIT!!!

HUSH.

History is one subject that captivates me more than others. I have spent some time studying some of our West African neighbors and I am more than ever convinced that certain Nigerians need to talk less or not at all.

Some West African nations have fought civil wars in recent years just like Nigerians did for more than 24 months in the late 1960s. Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast and Nigeria all have danced naked and bloody before the world and one thing that is common is the focus on divisions above real issues. All these countries like most African states have been bedeviled by corruption, greed and other vices which successive governments vowed to tackle but where conflicts arose; those who sponsored them appeared to always engineer the discussion to be about ethnicity, religion or social status.

Military coups occurred in many African countries mostly backed by either foreign and/or local sponsors. In many of these cases, these activities were carried out to correct some real or imagined ethnic imbalances. Ghana had more than her fair share of coups but she somehow was spared the waste of a civil war. I don't know why this is so but where wars happened, it appeared fracture lines were made more apparent.

Liberia is a story of settlers (slaves who returned from America) dominating indigenes until Samuel Doe struck in 1980 killing the president before him and executing majority of his cabinet (Johnson Sirleaf and a few others managed to escape). A young non-commissioned officer soon promoted himself to general alongside other opportunists. They practically turned against one another till all things fell apart. Thomas Quiwonkpa, Charles Taylor and Prince Johnson were prominent players from 1980 in Liberia. Quiwonkpa before turning 30 fled the nation and returned in 1985 to overthrow Doe. He succeeded for about 6 hours without realising the Americans had given Doe a hint of the planned move against him. Quiwonkpa was killed, decapitated and all sorts of unimaginable deeds were done with his body. All these happened barely a month after Doe had organized elections and won. He is reported to have gotten over $500million dollars from the USA and met with Reagan. It seemed all a nation needed to do was to tell the U.S. that money was needed to fend off the Soviets. Doe turned on his former colleague's people and killed many of them. It became a 'we versus them' and the aggrieved only required a commander.

Taylor was acknowledged by U.S. intelligence to be one of their assessts while undergoing a trial in a U.S. court in the mid 1980s on account of money allegedly stolen from his role in Doe's government. He broke out of an American prison aided by American intelligence and somehow ended up in Libya with Gadaffi. He returned to Liberia a war Lord in 1989 and it became a 'free for all.'

With ECOMOG presence, Doe who had expected American intervention berated them for not doing so because they didn't want development in Liberia which he as president wanted. The U.S. under Bush snr were only interested in evacuating US CITIZENS which they did. So Nigerians, when next anyone incites other Nigerians or preys on our differences, please find out if they have dual or multiple nationalities. Don't be deceived, those big countries will only save those who have their travel documents which your pastors, imam or social media god may already have or be in the process of procuring.

Prince Johnson was with Charles Taylor as they approached Monrovia but soon broke away. He had been with the commander who had tried to overthrow Doe and seemed to have a personal score to settle. They soon captured Doe and the man who the US had planned an evacuation for was begging for mercy. The once boastful man was castrated and murdered gruesomely. Johnson kept repeating to him all his atrocities and how he didn't show mercy to his opponents.

The Americans were undecided on Taylor and let things play out. It's easy to call on America and other world powers for intervention when fecal matter hits the propeller, it's another thing entirely for them to budge. Ask Syrians. Taylor soon became president and a disruptor in the West African subregion. What he did cost Nigeria cash and blood; Obasanjo hoodwinked him and he got 50years for all his troubles. Prince Johnson is a senator.

I didn't realise how much Sierraleoneans sounded like Nigerians until I watched a YouTube video about their own version of civil war. Some of their names even look Nigerian like Joseph Momoh, Yahya Kanu, Solomon Musa etc. Settlers from slave pasts also stayed in Sierra Leone like they did in Nigeria. They are called Saros in some settings and were found across southern and central Nigeria. They were disputes back in the day with disrespect, land grab and it is on record that they were on different occasions pursued from Lagos and Abeokuta but they returned later.

Ethnic issues also played a role in their war but external influences weighed in considerably. A Nigerian businessman who lost both hands to machetes in Freetown [January 1999] recounted to Channels television in a 2012 interview how his limbs were chopped off by a Liberian rebel and how other Nigerians suffered similar or worse fates in only a matter of days. He said those rebels had francophone accomplices, soldiers of fortune more like. The subregion is that fluid and mercenaries for hire are available. I think we need to be addressing the real issues of poverty and underdevelopment in the region before we forget ourselves in disputes about who is a settler or indigene, black or mixed race and jew or hindu. They deliberately sought for Nigerians in Freetown because of ECOMOG. We have hemorrhaged enough as a nation on account of others. Let's not even for a second wish to bleed again from our own cuts, who will form the ECOMOG that will patrol our mangroves up to our Savannahs? Benin Republic?

We like to throw big words around as Nigerians but we should weigh them before writing or speaking such. Some people through their craftiness have succeeded in manipulating entire groups of people against other tribes and faiths. Educated folks who should examine and correct many of these inaccurate descriptions and stereotypes unfortunately do nothing. The more seeds of discord are sown the more trees of deception grow and block the sighting of truth and restraint.

People don't wait to verify news, they rush to broadcast and spread distrust, hate and rebellion. Some opinions are toxic enough to equate arson and these really don't have to be uttered. Don't even suggest any scale of violence because nothing can be guaranteed; the progression or the end. What some people think is freedom of speech seems to me like licences to kill; such should not be celebrated in any way. Don't play politics with everything, just hush from time to time.

JOA8072018

DEATH THREAT 2.

The story about Ciroma elicited an internal investigation by Premium Times PT which got their Plateau reporter fired and an apology extended to Ciroma. In order words, some guys plucked news from Pluto's atmosphere and tagged Ciroma to it. It is unfortunate that some people still did not get this memo at all or they got it but found it difficult to accept they were duped so they carried on with the narrative.

Some people praised PT for apologising and even attacked Nigerians who didn't spare PT because none of the other media houses who ran with the reprisal story didn't retract or apologize. Like how the gist about Arabic in Police screening exams got into church sermons, Ciroma was prayer point headline and the gates of curses were torn down on account of him and the people he represents. The gates of hell were also opened earlier in the year when two priests and about 17 others were killed in Benue. An appointee of Ortom was arrested for this carnage and Benue has gone cold.

It is baffling how rumour, conspiracy theory and faulty material gets served as sermons these days. When people can justify a 'pastor' calling on his members to take heads and offer them to God, what is the small matter of just accusing an entire tribe of planning to dominate about 250 others?

I listened to the clip about Fulanis not being able to rule in Guinea and Senegal and how they are all being summoned to Nigeria a few days ago. I was disappointed that such could have been said. One wonders if those who got killed or displaced in Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and Cross River a few days earlier were non-Christians. It appears there is nothing the incumbent Fulani President can do to convince those whose minds are made up already.

I commented on a certain post where this video was attached and a certain young man who attends the church of the pastor concerned decided to be famous. He called someone "pisshead" and then faced me posting daddy and mummy abuse. He later on posted "I am about to make you lose your life," "...if I see you physically, what happen (sic) to those people in Jos will happen to you," "..don't be worried, the shivering will soon stop. The dead don't shiver."

I have been laughing all day today because a Yoruba man from Ekiti like me can boldly make threats to commit murder on social media because of his love for his pastor. This is unfortunately what some Nigerians have become; we were supposed to debate on the validity of the history lesson but sense does not always go side by side with packaging.

Where do we all come from sef? Who is the indigene and who is the non-indigene? I have learnt a few things about my lineage from my mother and if you haven't asked your people any questions before, perhaps it is high time you did. I know a friend and colleague with incredible history that extends into Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Brazil, USA, Benin Republic and a few other West African nations. Why do we go about with arrogance (if I must call it that) like we are superior to other people? We keep talking about 1804 and an age where we did not have formal boundaries defining nations. Major tribes in Guinea for example have origin in Ancient Mali, some ethnicities are divided by national or state boundaries. Should such related people end their affiliation simply because of boundaries? Should we build walls like Trump proposed or should we divide Africa all over again so that we don't have any mixing?

It's easy to say this is our land and others are settlers but what is the gain? Should original Lagosians say non-indigenes in Idi-Araba, FESTAC, Aguda, parts of Surulere etc ask 'settlers' to vacate because their forefathers before Dan Fodio owned the land? Should we not work with those of us alive at this time and find out ways that the disputed lands and waters will be efficiently utilized?

I am convinced that blacklisting people who don't share our ethnicity, culture or religion does not proceed from love (of even ourselves and family members) but from paranoia and a supremacist ideology. We are not any different from the Ku Klux Klan or slave traders.

As for the wannabe murderer, I can only pray for him and hope his friends and family help him. You are not more human because you think one cannot condemn killings in Nigeria and at the same time support Mr President.

If you can't stand him, get your PVC, identify a candidate and campaign peacefully and vigorously for him or her to win. it's not war and like I tell people, I won't mind to see the drama and action a Sowore presidency will bring. Do you think i won't enjoy watching him jail Jonathan, Atiku, Obasanjo, Dezieani, Tinubu etc etc?

JOA3072018

DEATH THREAT (1)

You see, I have used my facebook wall to call out at least two 'men of God' who say political stuff that I consider prejudicial and inappropriate for the office they occupy. I have done it before and I will do it again.

No one can tell me stereotyping any group or ethnicity is the ideal response in Nigeria considering our history and volatility. Telling people to spill blood, behead people or simply making accusations based on conspiracy theories cannot and I repeat cannot be justified. I have heard sermons or parts of such since before 2015 which have been based on fake news and propaganda.

Christopher Wylie of Cambridge Analytica blew the whistle earlier this year on how his group sought for hacked material on President Buhari's health status for representatives of the previous administration. In his testimony to a UK parliamentary committee, he mentioned how they provided a canadian firm: Aggregate IQ with violent video content to distribute in Nigeria' cyberspace aimed at intimidating voters. He said they had throat slits, burning bodies, hijabs etc all to convince Nigerian voters that it was cool to be anti-Islam for that election but what some people still believe till 2019 is that Buhari was the one with the propaganda.

I have seen supposedly cerebral individuals talk about the rallying call to Fula people worldwide to approach Nigeria and reign. The Fula people they say have their origin in Futa Jallon, Guinea and have been unable to dominate there so they moved all the way to Northern Nigeria where they have found refuge. What they fail to mention is that there are at least four countries in West Africa where a Fula individual presides or jointly presides but that won't be sensational enough. There is just something special about Nigeria that the west coast nation of Guinea and the Futa Jallon highlands doesn't have.

We are constantly reminded of what Usman Dan Fodio did in the 1800s which was halted but has somehow resumed. The spirit of Dan Fodio lives on and some people probably believe it is now upon the 75 years old Buhari and herdsmen who some say he funds. What is certain about Nigeria is that we have many tribes that have stood the test of time. An age of savagery could not wipe them out or subjugate them (we must acknowledge that kingdoms were subdued by Dan Fodio's movement) but civilisation appears to have brought along the fear of domination. This I find perplexing.

Nigeria has experienced numerous episodes of severe conflicts and bloodshed especially since the return of democracy in 1999. I won't go into mentioning Yelwa, Kaduna, Langtang, Jos, Dogo Nahawa, etc because it is now an offence in Nigeria to talk about the past; some consider it as an exhibition of a subhuman state and a lack of empathy so I will let it slide so I am not misunderstood. One of such unfortunate events happened on the 23rd of June 2018 in Plateau state which had otherwise been relatively quiet for the past few years when compared to what neighbouring Benue state experienced for extended periods.

Like most recent conflicts in Nigeria, this one was quickly tagged as the activities of Fulani herdsmen. For someone like me, I do not like this hurried descriptions even before investigations are done. If I am correct, the newspapers were already buzzing the next day with a report that Miyetti Allah had somehow taken responsibility by acknowledging it was a reprisal attack for lost cattle. Governor Ortom of Benue was reported in the Vanguard newspaper joining others to ask for the arrest of the Miyetti Allah spokesman who repeatedly denied that he gave the quotes published in the tabloids.

This Miyetti Allah spokesman Ciroma, represents the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders' association MACBAN. The group is the one Ortom had praised for cooperating with his state's anti-open grazing law (or whatever it is called). Ortom had (he still did in a Channels TV interview a few days ago) repeatedly accused the other Miyetti Allah group Kautal Hore as the culprits in just about all the Benue clashes except the ones he claimed without any investigations were the handiwork of a Benue indigene Gana. MAKH have repeatedly denied involvement as claimed by Ortom and I wonder if we should not grant them fair hearing.

The MACBAN Plateau state chairman granted an extensive interview a few days ago and one online newspaper gave a completely inaccurate headline of the content of that story. Nura Abdullahi mentioned that he is Fulani but an indigene of Plateau state. His opinion of the events of the 23rd of June was that it was his people who were actually at the receiving end on that weekend. He reeled out the names of villages where attacks on Fulani and their herd had taken place in the past and recently and accused some Berom people and other locals of attacking them. He denied the involvement of his people in the attacks but that is his opinion. Should we deny him or his people fair hearing because of prejudice?

When one asks that we are cautious about how we react to the cycle of violence and weigh all arguments, one is quickly brandished as a sympathiser of blood thirsty, privileged terrorists. One is seen as a mere defender of government and any attempt to try to explain that pushing a one-sided narrative helps no one is quickly met by a barrage of insults and curses. Should we deny that the much vilified Fulani have not suffered incredible losses on the Plateau cattle or not? The Human Rights Watch have detailed documents on past clashes in Plateau and Kaduna state especially and many of the stories therein are too gory to mention here. These events have hardly been confronted with justice and only get to have repeat performances from time to time. It is folly to keep saying the muslim incumbent is the one killing people when we had far worse cases under Christian presidents. We need justice urgently and that is a legitimate demand.

JOA3072018

My English waka.

Even though some people thought I was a good student from primary to tertiary levels, it was normal for me to approach a new class or phase with trepidation. I'm not one to deceive myself when I'm by myself. I was always aware of and respected those with academic prowess at every point in time and I think what gave me palpitations was losing respect.

The initial uncertainties would quickly dissipate; I'd eventually make progress and wonder if I alone had these struggles. English language was one subject I struggled with at a certain time in my life.

Junior school English language was fairly easy in my opinion largely because the curriculum involved literary texts along the way which I found easier to cope with. I'm not a fan of examinations with multiple choice answers, essays and other forms of writing are what I consider my strengths. Preparing for the English language examinations in the last year of Junior secondary school during my time involved reading three works of literature: The Drummer boy, The Lion and the Jewel and Time Changes Yesterday; all written by Nigerian authors. There was also a book on poetry we had to master as well.

I wasn't in any way fazed by these books, I was confident that I would be able to answer any question set from them. It was the same feeling with the Yoruba language texts we had to study which were Abé Àbò, Jé n lògbà tèmi and Kúyè. That English examination was passed with a distinction but in the first term of senior secondary school, I realised I was in for a major struggle.

English language had become separated from literature so there were no Lambtales from Shakespeare, Koku Baboni or Kwesi Brew poems to buffer my English grades. I don't know I managed to get in distinction zone during that first year but what I know is that I didn't understand in-depth, most of what was taught. There were definitely more than 20 individuals out of 52 who did better than I did during the three terms that first year.

Mrs Ediale became our English teacher in SS2N; I don't know if seating closer to the front of the class than in the previous year helped but all I know is that I always felt like the only student in the room when she taught the class. I moved from my previous bottom half position to top 5 in the class. My scores improved but beyond that, my understanding improved markedly because the language was no longer abstract.

I took this breakthrough into the final year and came in contact with another female teacher Miss Otrofanowei. She was very good and I also connected with her teaching methods. Things were good between us until one day she asked me to see her after the class. She asked me a vague question about what I did wrong which may have upset another teacher. I did nothing wrong and it was later I realised one of the chemistry teachers who doubled as the dormitory house master must have said a thing or two to other teachers about collected house dues money which was stolen after unknown classmates broke into my wardrobe. I informed Mr Uka about this development and he ensured I paid for it out of my own pocket. Why he went on to speak ill about me is still a mystery. My episode with the chemistry teacher didn't end there, there was a major bust up weeks later which ended before the vice principal and stardom for me. That is a story for another day.

It was clear the English teacher took what she heard to heart and it was clear to me that I was relegated in her mind. This didn't bother me at all, I loved English language and her classes were always fun. It wasn't economics class where I didn't take down any notes for a whole school session in protest. We sat the mock examinations at the end of the second term in preparation for the grand finale during the next term. Miss Otrofanowei had worked her gowns off to ensure we did well and exceed what her counterparts did in the other classes. I performed very well and then she met with the class to review our performances.

She talked about those she expected to do well and those she had little hope for. She confidently said those who she expected to do well were guaranteed top distinctions in the main examination. She then moved on to talk about people like me who was 8th in the mock examination. I was just glad to have done well and my praise was that I was one of those who suprised her. I obviously had a wide grin on my face, at least I got a commendation I thought. It was then Mayowa who was sat to my left said to me "Olee, that was a yab o... It means she wasn't expecting much from you." I thought about what MT said and realised it was truth. I didn't get angry at her, I was more than ever before determined to prove her wrong.

Fast forward to when the WAEC results were released. The highest grade in English language for our school was earned by four people. Only one of the four was taught by Miss Otrofanowei. I remember being at the school to do the necessary clearance and collection of result. Miss Otrofanowei was walking towards me and I stopped to greet her and to acknowledge her role in helping me be one of the four. She barely acknowledged my greeting and didn't even make eye contact; she just kept her head titled backwards and her nose pointed to the sky. She rejected her medal because the horses she backed to win the race didn't bring it home. I watched her as she walked away and I promised myself never to do likewise to anyone.

There is a lot of good about our people, we have good people everywhere but who from time to time allow sentiments cripple them. We let religion, ethnicity and other categorizations to dampen our humanity. We reject honor due to us because the bearers are unexpected. Let's treat every young one with dignity instead of using them to transfer our aggression and corruption. Fight against injustice and don't be a bearer of falsehood. Ensure equality and equity; don't be the one guilty of negative stereotypes, chauvinism and hypocrisy.

We have been exposed over the past few years for who we really are but that is not the end of our stories. Bad students can still become good, hateful people are not beyond redemption as long as they acknowledge their failings. Fear and failure is not the end of the road, these events shouldn't bring out the worst in us but should rather point us to those who are better than we are so we can be like them or even better eventually. Take the setbacks, the put-downs and the sticks you have gotten in life to challenge yourself to change the narrative for the best. Overcome evil with the good in you.

JOA24042018

MY PEOPLE

Long before President Muhammadu Buhari became the flag bearer of the APC, Femi Fani-Kayode said Boko Haram was the militant wing of the APC.

The kidnap of over 200 Chibok girls happened in early 2014 and most Nigerians got to know about this event only, days later. I was stunned and didn't believe this happened until the former president confirmed it to Nigerians during his now infamous media chat.

Some plots followed this unfortunate event and top of the list was that it was a grand conspiracy by those opposed to Jonathan's re-election bid to discredit him. The APC and therefore Buhari arranged for the disappearance of the girls. Another popular plot was that it was a made up event; a scam they said like the '419' we are used to.

Many of those who have contracted their thinking to the likes of FFK, Reno Wendell Omokri and Fayose believed these narratives and still do till tomorrow.

Just like the Chibok sign was hung on Buhari's slender neck, so were herdsmen attack and election violence. Like a modern day make-up artiste, they decorated the Fulani president and his entire race as demons solely responsible for all the woes in our country. He was at fault for everything even before he took his oath of office; even the responsibility of all the war crimes from the Nigeria-Biafra impasse were placed on him.

These are some of the things President Buhari has had to deal with. If he talks, he's in trouble and if he doesn't, he's still in trouble. Those who labeled him a dictator before May 29th, 2015, preempting how he was going to hound his political opponents and even kill them are now asking why we are being told President Jonathan shared huge sums days before the 2015 election when he should be charged to court. These same individuals more or less blamed the president for the bombings of oil installations in 2015/16. They challenged him for halting amnesty payments. It is the same individuals who form the core of those who abuse the president for ordering the investigation and arrest of corrupt judges yet they ask why no 'one' has been sentenced for corruption. They tell him to 'live' mama Peace alone with her inheritance and insist that Alison-Madueke had a platinum spoon before changing her diet to Brent crude. Some of these individuals have now become referees or ‘atikulate’ time keepers.

If we ask folks to drift mentally back in time, they'll insist on the present. Boko Haram, herdsmen-farmers' clashes, unknown gunmen attacks, Niger-Delta militancy and other local clashes did not start nor escalate with the entrance of Buhari. Some just take delight in forcing this narrative. My people don't want any security or economic failures carried over from Jonathan's time but when Buhari commissions any carried over project, they are quick to remind us of who initiated or began such.

So Buhari and his APC crew facilitated Chibok and intermittently released Chibok girls from their safe houses to pacify Nigerians especially when news headlines were bad. Let's fast forward to February 2018; over 100 female students were taken from their school in Dapchi, Yobe state about 4 years after young boys were executed and some girls taken from the federal government college Buni Yadi, Yobe state.

Those who mock the president for technically defeating Boko Haram went to town and screen to celebrate the 'fallacy' of that claim. "How on earth are schools in the zone without security...." they asked.”The president has failed...we said it." Some even asserted that Dapchi meant that the president would fail if he opted for re-election.

Mr. President eventually visited some trouble spots in the country but my people were still angry. He went to Plateau and they were angry many people poured into the streets to welcome him. He went to Benue and they rejoiced that the roads were empty. Buhari visited Yobe and they were angry that he was given a red carpet reception. "How dare him walk on a red carpet in a town were parents were sorrowful over their missing children?" Then he spoke in Hausa to the parents and they went ballistic. This was an official trip with foreign journalists on the train, he was supposed to speak in English and not speak vernacular. I wonder if interpreters have gone into extinction.

The former US foreign Secretary visited the president and then lost his job the next day; he got the notice on Twitter. Nigerians hailed Trump and blamed Buhari for the sack. One of the issues mentioned was a move to negotiate the release of the Dapchi girls but Nigerians didn't hear that part.

So Dapchi girls got released with 5 deceased (may they rest in peace) and my favorite Nigerians have been writing episodes for the upcoming season of the popular TV series '24' starring Jack Bauer as actor and Mo' Buhari as the boss.

Those who insulted the president for walking on a red carpet before parents of the formerly kidnapped girls suddenly remembered when they said that Dapchi was a scam. Those who bothered about the use of language suddenly got the vision of how the president and his party planned the "excursion" for the unwilling girls and returned them to earn the applause and votes of Nigerians. How is it possible that a similar event used to discredit the former administration has now become one to increase the approval rating of the current government? What kind of wisdom is this? Would it not have made better sense if a pursuit and overtaking of these kidnappers was done and broadcast live via a drone like the O.J. Simpson-Police chase? Would that not have earned the present more credit?

My people went on to discuss the nature of the return. They asked why security operatives didn't confront the bandits who returned the girls and they insisted that money changed hands. The funniest people are those who keep screaming what they hear on TV, "we don't negotiate with terrorists." You better wake up to reality.

Those pushing photos and videos and saying locals welcomed the terrorists and cheered them or that the girls returned with bags and goods given to them by Boko Haram, may falsehood not consume you.

I don't know why, but I'm convinced my people will be alright... one day. I had an encounter with a middle aged police woman yesterday. Phil Enwerem of Divisional headquarters Olosan Mushin. I will try to write about that event soon. That woman is the evidence of all that is wrong with Nigeria. She doesn't deserve to wear a uniform and curing this illness will require a complete eradication of probably 90.0% of the police force so we can start afresh. This may not be practical but we have to do something and I'm not talking about the primitive ethno-religious nonsense my people are fond of spitting. Good pay and hairdressers to prevent the creation of more Phil Enwerems will be a good start.

My people will be alright ‘last last.’

JOA..... [22/03/2018]

Practical Questions.

Do you have a candidate for the 2019 general elections to challenge the incumbent president?

It doesn't matter if you have one now or not, here are some important questions you need to ask him or her.

1. How will he/she end the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the 1st year of office?

2. a. How will he/ she ensure effective prosecution and sentencing of all corrupt politicians, their family members, civil servants and dollar depositors within the first two years of office?

b. How will all loot since 1999 or since independence be recovered in the first 2 years?

3. How will he/she ensure that appointments [of ministers, political appointees, security chiefs etc] are balanced while adhering to the federal character and merit?

4. How will he/she get to influence the choice of leaders of next house of assembly especially if his/her party isn't in the majority or if his party members are very few?

5. How will he/she ensure the slashing of the salaries of federal legislators?

6. How will he/she get to motivate the armed forces to recover the rest of the Chibok girls and all others kidnapped from Buni Yadi and other locations within 3 months?

7. How will he/ she handle corruption in the judiciary?

8. How will he/ she ensure the construction of at least one refinery per geographical zone within one year of taking over?

9. How will he/ she ensure the construction of high speed rail tracks connecting the country within two years?

10. How will he/she ensure the generation and transmission of electricity, ending power cuts in the country within two years?

11. How will he/she take Nigeria from an import dependent country to a major exporter of home made goods within two years? [Goods inclusive of vehicles, electronics etc produced from raw materials sourced locally]

12. How will he/she transform the health sector to world standard within two years?

These are only a few questions I think answers must be provided for. I haven't included high sounding items like space travel because such can't be achieved in two years even if we had the money.

I have only highlighted items that we currently have more than enough money and brains for.

Don't be carried away by big grammar and fine faces nor by old money or activism. Ensure you ask the questions and get good enough answers before you pledge your support.

15/02/2018