WE THOUGHT HE IS SLOW...

I was somewhat impressed when NTA aired a random opinion poll before President Yar’Adua’s speech on 29th May 2008 to mark this year’s “democracy day” General opinion about this former lecturer-turned-politician were majorly and impressively positive except for the fact that Nigerians are unanimously of the opinion that our embattled president is slow. Listening in-between the lines through his chat with the media I could see an intelligent and sly president. I take that for granted because afterall, he was a lecturer and not just a lecturer for that matter, a lecturer of analytical chemistry. It takes a smart head to hold that position and hold it well. I’m not surprised; he has done well so far in his new career.

That Yar’Adua is a “sme-sme” president is nothing but a delusion of the Nigerian populace fuelled and nurtured by the press. Babangida was a nice president until “Dele-Giwaism” and other atrocities started coming to light. That was a president that would put a knife at your neck and still hold the smile. He was indeed “nice”.

Recent revelations by Sahara Reporters reveal that our dear president may actually not be what/who he portrays himself to be afterall. It is tempting to speculate that the voice, though that of Jacob, the hands may be Esau’s considering the powers that enthroned Umaru in Aso-Rock but relationship with his predecessor and acclaimed god-father makes it crystal clear that Yar’Adua has attained political adulthood to be able to make up his mind contrary to speculations and fears before Obasanjo stepped down.

One characteristic of the president that tickled my fancy is his ability to stay cool and calm even when his roof is on fire. When rumours went round that he was dying in Germany and probably may not be able to address the nation on 29th May, Yar'adua’s demeanour when he eventually broke his silence did not show that of a man who was ruffled by public saying (Nothing less can be expected of a president anyway). He likes letting matters “cool off” before responding/reacting which I’d say is a virtue worthy of emulation because by then you’re in a better frame of mind to make “objective” decisions. Yar’Adua is off to Cairo to attend a meeting of the African union but one would wonder what thought would dominate his mind on his way to and during the meeting. Certainly, if he is not thinking of any of the plethora of controversies and issues calling for his neck at home, he would be thinking about Mugabe and his coronation as Zimbabwe’s new president and also about what to do concerning his “very close” friend, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, Nigeria’s Minister of Transport and recent allegation of her involvement in a N30billion scandal.

Investigations of the Obasanjo government took another turn when the National Assembly revealed massive withdrawals by Mrs Allsion-Madueke’s ministry late December 2007. Unsurprisingly, Mrs Madueke has been said to blame this revelation on an on-going plot to strip her of her current portfolio.

Behold some of Yar’Adua’s shady deals as uncovered by Sahara Reporters;

1. Obasanjo gave away import duties worth N1.6 trillion to political associates, businessmen, traditional and religious leaders as well as many female “friends”; there are revelations that Yar’Adua’s regime has given out concessions worth N85 billion to his business and political associates for the importation of cement and fertilizers in the last one year.

2. There’s a fresh PDP memo at the National Assembly calling for the extension of Yar’Adua tenure to 7 years – an official follow-up to senator Turaki’s campaign; a modified version of the third-term agenda you’d say.

3. Current minister o Agriculture, Alhaji Abba Ruma, is angling to become the next energy minister in a cabinet reshuffle due to be effected very soon. He is to re-invest “profits” from fertiliser concessions to play his role in the current PDP/Yar’Adua version of the third-term agenda.

4. Mrs Mdueke’s recent fashion transformation (to dress more like a Muslim woman) may not be unlinked with her “very close” relationship with the president.

5. In a sharp contrast to the case of former Minister of Health, Adenike Grange, and Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Yar’Adua is not keen to call in the EFCC to investigate the N30 billion scandal that has rocked the ministry of transport although reports say he is troubled by security reports that Mrs Madueke had purchased a multi-million naira house in Abuja in the name of her youngest son

6. Yar’Adua went against his transparency policy when according to Sahara reporters members of Adamawa state’s State Assembly were offered a mouth-watering N25m bribe each to drop their impeachment motion against the governor Mr Murtala Nyako.

7. A House of Representatives source also recently revealed that, contrary to his public posturing, Yar’adua did intervene in a failed effort to stop the impeachment of former Speaker, Patricia Etteh. His front was Dr. Aminu Shuaibu Safana, Yar’Adua’s former secretary when he was Katsina Sate governor, who slumped and died supporting Etteh during a rowdy legislative session. His death paved the way for Etteh’s eventual removal.

He may appear slow there is certainly more about this regime than meets the eyes.

These present revelations just leaves one wondering when the era of self-aggrandisement will end among African leaders.

Many opine that political office holders’ greed and selfishness which has been the bane of growth in Africa is actually an “African thing” but thank goodness for the likes of Nelson Mandela. The grandeur at his 90th birthday aired live by AIT is indescribable; it leaves me with the consolation that all hope is not lost in Africa.

Robert Mugabe and Nelson Mandela belong to the same generation (Mugabe is 84, Mandela is 90) It is actually a mater of choice whether this generation would choose to be agents of positive change or vice versa. I refuse to be heart-broken by our leaders’ lack of direction for Africa and Nigeria in particular. Rather, I will position myself to be that agent of change which the world has been waiting for.

What about you?

Who is a Happy Man?

"The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs..."

I woke up this morning feeling "somehow". I managed to get out of bed, said my prayers, carried out my morning routine and off to work. 7:55a.m, I was seated behind my desk. Officially, I start work at 8. I booted my computer and while the computer was making up its mind on how long it would require to come fully alive, I realised, after some lines that I was humming "one day at a time sweet Jesus..." For some reason I can't explain, I kept repeating the line "Lord FOR MY SAKE teach me to take one day at a time..." Tim, my colleague walked in. "Morning Femi, how are you?" "Morning Tim, I'm good" I guess he was surprised. "Oh, that was a change! You either are not sure or not bothered but today you're good!" Well... I didn't know what to say but then I realised that I had made an impression which will last with Tim (probably) forever. Unconsciously, I have voiced my feelings, mainly driven by cirumstances and feelings.

4p.m, I tidied up my desk, saved my work for the day, made mental note of the milestones on my ongoing project and shut down the PC. My friend Abi had rang just a few minutes before then and I was still on the phone with her. I connected my handsfree and headed for the car park.

By 4:18p.m I was in my room and the laptop just finished booting; I am still on the phone with Abi, catching up on how her Pre-Induction at our new job went. I checked my e-mail and opened a mail from my friend Lanre.A portion of that mail spoke to me directly and I thought it may be speaking to so many people in my shoes and so I decided to share it on my blog.

I have copied and pasted the mail unedited below (I don't know who the Lateef guy is but Lanre is my friend and brother, he is indeed my blood). Read the mail from Lateef;

Dear all,

I got the piece below from a colleague and I found it thoughtful.

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On examining it I saw it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors and got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while! As she is a victim of Alzheimer's disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me but I still know who she is.' I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life. True love is neither physical nor romantic.

True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

I hope you share this with someone you care about, I just did. Life isn't about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain.

The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs.

But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called Almighty God, you will make it to a place called Success.

Cheers,

Lateef

To serve Nigeria is not by force

I pledge to Nigeria MY country
To be faithful Loyal and Honest
To serve Nigeria with ALL my strength
To defend her unity
And uphold her honour and glory
So help me God

As a little boy, I heard that when every American wakes up in the morning, the first thing they say is “God bless America” Because of this I always wondered how much they must love their country. I even attributed that to the success of the nation as world leader and police.

I have never been to America and recent happenings that we read in the tabloids and see in the news may tempt one to assume that there may be a bit of exaggeration in the above truism. Nevertheless, the fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, the obsession to de-arm Iran, the fight for “the right candidate” to succeed President Bush all point to one common interest in America – Americans will always put the interest of America first in anything they do. Although American presidents would argue that they are trying to protect the world against these tyrants, Iran, Iraq or the Taliban will remain priority on any American president’s agenda as long as they pose themselves as threat to America.

Considering the foregoing, it saddened my heart when one of our “celebrities” in Nigeria released an “anthem” a few years ago - “Nigeria jagajaga”. Unfortunately for the rascal, he released the song during Obasanjo’s regime and I love Obasanjo’s response to the song. Charity they say begins at home, it therefore did not come to me as a surprise when a few months ago, I met a young man who had no single positive thing to say about his fatherland. I visited one of the electricity generating stations in the UK with some undergraduates from my place of work. The undergraduate who received us at that station turned out to be another undergraduate, a Nigerian whose father works at NEPA (Now Power Holding Company of Nigeria). I’m not sure what Mr Akande’s motive was that day, whether he was trying to gain the approval of the white folks in my company or he was trying to prove his level of intelligence (he strikes me as a pompous empty barrel), I am not really sure to be honest. He went on to boast about how he received a delegate of “top NEPA officials” the previous week. His father was among the delegates.

Mr. Akande was supposed to make a presentation, giving us information about their station’s mode operation and the reasons for its uniqueness (Combined Heat and gas). Instead of going to the business of the day, he went on telling us how horrible Nigeria and the Nigerian system are. At some point, I had to speak up to correct some of his misconceptions and misinformation which he was dishing out to the audience of which two of us were Nigerians. After arguing with him for a few minutes, I realised his level of reasoning and intellect and immediately let sleeping dogs lie. But I made my point. Nigeria is bad. We all made it what it is today (you may say you’re not one of them but trust me, we all are responsible). At the end of his presentation (eventually), one of the delegates that went with me remarked; “that was the most unprofessional presentation I have listened to” The Nigerian argument apart, it was a shoddy presentation, I felt ashamed. My team unanimously agreed that the time spent at Connah’s Quay that day was a wasted time.

Still on the issue of loyalty and patriotism, I stumbled on a TV program tonight (18 June). It was an AIT show. Unfortunately, the program for on schedule was different from what AIT broadcasted, so I didn’t get the exact title of the program on screen. But the segment of the program which I stumbled on was when the presenter conducted a random interview of some Nigerian Hip Hop “stars”, asking them to recite the national pledge. Out of about thirteen “stars”, only three could recite the national pledge correctly. To tell how bad the situation is, out of the three successes, the second success (Slam) missed “honour” in the 2nd to the last line. The most pathetic part of the story is that they ALL laughed about it and some of them shamelessly said “don’t blame me”. For crying out loud, if they went to school, we all recited the national pledge for at least 11 years of our growing up life! Perhaps stardom has eaten that bit of their memories.

Commitment to Nigeria and its growth starts from little things as knowing your national anthem and pledge correctly. It is like your religious mantras which you recite every morning or night. This reinforces your faith in whatever you believe in.

I have been in company of people in the past who sarcastically recite a portion of the national pledge as “to serve Nigeria is not by force” if you ask me, it is the same attitude with which such persons would handle any national issue if committed into their hands. I used to do the same in ignorance. But that was then. Now I know better. I know that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth thus speaks and as a man thinks in his heart so is he. The things which we utter out of our mouths or wish for are those things which we see manifest in our day to day life. Yet in ignorance, we blame it on our leaders. A nation that is great is made of patriotic citizens. It is patriotism that will drive out the canker worm of selfishness which is the bedrock of corruption and all its consequences in today’s Nigeria.

I pledge to Nigeria MY country
To be faithful Loyal and Honest
To serve Nigeria with ALL my strength
To defend her unity
And uphold her honour and glory
So help me God

So help me God

God bless Nigeria

Jungle Justice for Woman-Cat in PH: Nigerian Police goes superstitious

This is yet another instance of jungle justice. If we can lend any credibility to this report which I think it merits, considering the source (Nigerian Tribune), then such fight against terror which the western world is finding difficult to “win” would have been a very easy win.

I say to people that it is only in places like Britain and the US that people would have debates upon debates as to how long a terror suspect should be held for and what should be their lot upon conviction.

While I would personally not condone evil, I think whoever inflicted the (cutlass) injury on this woman’s face is far from humane. I would recommend the maximum possible punishment for any offender who is convicted under the law. In the case of Miss/Mrs Cat, there is absolutely no proof whatsoever that she committed any crime and I condemn this inhuman act which has become order of the day and Nigerians no longer think anything of it to take law into their own hands. Were this event to occur in a more civilised society, I can assure you that the Okada rider would be under police interrogations and possibly investigations by now. He may possibly go to jail if convicted of dangerous driving (Or is it riding in this case?) and for hitting a “cat” in the process. It is that serious. It is a serious offence to kill an animal in the western world, probably more serious than to kill a human being.

If what Nigerian Tribune’s source said about Miss Cat and her confession about their mission in PH is true, then I congratulate the “pastor” in question. Definitely, the scripture concerning him was fulfilled. “Touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm”. The humour in the entire story is that even the police have unconsciously convicted this woman before trial and are wary that she actually has the capacity to "disappear!" That I find preposterous.

Read the full story below;

Cat turns into woman in P/Harcourt
Bolaji Ogundele (Nigerian Tribune correspondent), Port Harcourt - 22.05.2008

WHAT could be described as a fairy tale turned real on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as a cat allegedly turned into a middle-aged woman after being hit by a commercial motorcycle (Okada) on Aba/Port Harcourt Expressway.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that three cats were crossing the busy road when the okada ran over one of them which immediately turned into a woman. This strange occurrence quickly attracted people around who descended on the animals. One of them, it was learnt, was able to escape while the third one was beaten to death, still as a cat though.
According to a source who witnessed what happened, the cat-woman said she and the two other cat-fellows had travelled from Abuja to Port Harcourt to kill three people. "The woman said they came to Port Harcourt from Abuja and that they came to kill three people. She said they had succeeded in killing two people, but the third person, whom I guess might be a pastor, was difficult for them and that they were preparing to go back to Abuja ," said the source.
Another witness, who gave his name as James, said the woman started faking when she saw that many people were gathering around her. "I have never seen anything like this in my life. I saw a woman lying on the road instead of a cat. Blood did not come out of her body at that time. When people gathered and started asking her questions, she pretended that she did not know what had happened," he said.
When the Nigerian Tribune got to the scene of the incident near Garrison Junction, the cat-woman was seen sitting on the ground with blood all over her body. The right side of her face had a deep cut from what was gathered to be from a cutlass.
She was later taken to a hospital for medical attention. It took the intervention of policemen to prevent the mob from killing her.
When reached for information from the police, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State police command, Mrs. Rita Inoma-Abbey, said she had been taken to the hospital.
"She has been taken to Teme Clinic. Police will still be guarding her so that she will not disappear," she said.