The dishonourable excellency's (Nigeria)

over the past six years, Nigeria have got an inexplicable joke for a government, with Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan at the helm of affair. The level of banters and comic activities by the aso rock occupants and friends of the family is seen to have over-shadowed their administrative accomplishments. I can start from all directions, but it would rather be boring if I don't start from the corner of our honourable first lady... Sorry former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, AKA mama peace. Her first port of call in contributing to the blonders of her husband's administration was from her home state, (river state) there's a popular say which goes thus "charity begins at home" so for the first lady to start it up from her country-home is not out of place or far from norm at all. She was serving two administrative duties, correct if I'm wrong, mama peace was working both as the first lady in Aso-rock and also the Governor of river state. Her no nonsense approach toward been usurped of her authority brought about some ruthless attacks on the lawfully elected Governor of the state Rotimi Ameachi. Issues bordering on reports brought to her from her home country by her kins-men about a location of a market in an ecologically vulnerable location in Okrika, that needs to be demolished, was received by her excellence as having her authority questioned, because of the Governors insistence on taking out his action plan. The other one was amaechi's habit of been sarcastic with answers, no matter how serious or highly placed the questioners are, another attribute the first lady would skin him alive for. Now back to Aso-rock, President Goodluck jonathan was the commander in chief, the first lady was the dictator in chief. Let me cut her some slack a-bit, the president was like a sleeping panda, some body needs to be up, if for nothing, to keep the wheels of humour spinning. We were a country that was having some body, some where, that was some how the president, even America knew that we had no Government, all we've got was just a confused figurehead, Who's been told by some other dishonourable excellency's around him, what is what in our imaginary or (only on paper) economic development. The fight against our nemesis called bokoharam was also been won on paper. Jobs amounting to three million from the fraudulent programmes like you-win or sure-P was been sang like a broken record every day by our dishonourable ministers of petroleum, finance and our fraudulent economic monitors. Jobs that Nigerians don't see, joke that Nigerians must crack. Close to three hundred secondary school girls where kidnapped in chibok by sworn killers, only for our president to call it politics, at-least the first lady was proactive enough to summon the principal of the school, to remind him that "there is God ooo" In line with the jonathan's styled Governance, stones must be let unturned because sleep is of the essence, Nigeria rained blood for six years, only for our outgoing commander in chief to receive a hero's fairwell. The career jonathanians where proactive for once, in branding and rebranding of their pay master, at-least for his out going party. What is left for them now is to push for him to get nominated for the award of Nobel peace price, which I know is not possible, because the awardee's are not Nigerians, such celebration of dishonour can only be possible in Nigeria. It is only in Nigeria you don't ask a rich man the secrete of his wealth, it is only in Nigeria a drug baron can become a senator, only in Nigeria a looser qualifies for nobel peace award for conceding defeat and making congratulatory calls. It is only in Nigeria we celebrate our dishonour.

BALLAD OF THE LOST CHILDREN (AFRICA)

Africa's ride through history is a perfect model of a story of a group of people shaped by stereotype and branding, the gains of the shredded african history is what we see on our streets, towns and cities today. Orphaned by our ignorance and timid submisiveness, the jungle called human existence are bound by histories shaped by blood and rearranged by cowardice and self-centred motives and agendas. Africa is historically the most victimised and down-casted. the history twisting meeting called the berlin conference organised in 1884-1885 by the european imperial leaders in order to legalise the slavery of Africans, is a move that is avoidable, had Africa known her onions. Factors such as human, strategic and technological stagnation of Africa was the main creator of the favourable terrain for that fraud called territorial division of the dark continent by european imperialist. The devastation that this single act of imperialism left behind is the reason why Africa is a house divided against itself today. The European slavers sat in berlin and divided Africa along the geographical boarders that suits their own rulership, without consideration to the cultural and regional differences that exists between the people. the sound of colonialism is devilish. African countries are destroyed along tribal and religious lines today, no thanks to that evil driven berlin conference of 1884. An Africa, weakened in knowledge, self realisation and the will power to fight was taken for a ride. The Abyssinia, the modern day's ethiopia, proves a tough nut to crack, so many attempts to take the last territory in Africa was met by resistance, the last attempt was the one made by an Italian imperialist called Benito Mussolini. In 1935, he ordered the final invasion, which was weakened by lack of support from the United States and Russia. The abyssinia's resistance could hold because of their desire, will power and technical improvement and know-how in open field war fair. Most of all, the catalyst that birthed that desire was the value placed on their cultural and political homogenity, The fight was a natural course for the people. The stereotype surrounding the image of Africa in the eyes of the ordinary people in the western world has left little to be desired. The western media has done little, right from history till date, to show a bit of a positive in the image of Africa. An average American kid sees Africa as a continent turned apart by war, plagues and acute starvation. This kids would grow with less attraction to any thing Africa, its natural, the trend of having Africa on the final loose-end of the human food-chain is bound to continue, with an image of this kind. Africa has played the victim for as long as history itself, the onus is on us as Africans to tell this different foreign cultures, religions and traditions to stop turning our territory into battle fields, they can settle their scores in their country. Believe it or not, islam or christianity are foreign religions, our peaceful heredity has been kicked aside. Theirs is a religion that gives room to extremism, we can practice but we must not let ourselves get consumed by the war and division it brings with it.

BLATTER, DISGRACED BY TRUTH

Posterity is a strong story teller, and its memory can not be compromised, the truth is the truth when posterity is involved. Like the sea's storm, tornado or whirlwind on the mind of every sailor, so is posterity in the natural justice system, it is a constant. When your cup of inequity is filled, just a rain drop of the consequences might hurt so severely. The name Sep Blatter gradually became synonymous to the world footballing system, doomed is our portion if we don't respect that fact, seventeen years at the helm of the world footballing authority is no mean feat. The politics in football is as dirty as any other form of politics around every sphere of human endeavour, and all the shenanigans involved in winning the FIFA's presidency is of no different shape. condemning your competitors and proving that you are of the whole world of difference is the technique, is that any different from how Barrack Obama became president of the United States to the detriment of Senator John mckane? Hell na I can dare to say that! In as much as I'm not the type to be in the know of how dirty deals are within the politicking in the footballing system, I can dare to say that the fall of Sep blatter is long overdue. I'm a young man within my mid twenties, I've not seen honourable Blatter downed in any context before, not even in a circle where all odds are stacked against him. I can't help but wonder sometimes if winning is some people's birthright. Blatter has been a subject of many scandals even during the first election that he came out victorious, his first case of call was the allegations about brown envelopes handed out before his 1998 election and the collapse of the ISL sports marketing empire. Blatter won't be blamed for the sit tight syndrome within the system as his predecessor, a controversial brazilian by the Name Joao Havelange was at the helm for 24 years. But nothing is wrong with the world replacing the wrongs with the rights, is it? Blatter is your old fashion workaholic, who fought doggedly for the global statues football enjoys today, but this efforts are never devoided of controversies, scandals, and lies. He told UEFA, before the 2011 elections that if he came out victorious, it would be his last context. He won it and flouted his own word and contested in 2015. the old dog at 79 is not tired, he want more. There is a popular say in Africa and it goes thus "if a vulture stays on one tree for too long, all he's going to get are carcases" the damnation to the status of the great Blatter built over the years through bends and curves could not have been dealt at the oddest of times. investigations are underway and he should be blaming himself for not bowing out when the ovation was the loudest.

BOKOHARAM AND THE NIGERIA'S FIRE ALARM

The bokoharam, originally called "Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'Awati Wal-Jihad"(" Group of the People of Sunnah for Preaching and Jihad") was formed in 2002 in north-eastern Nigeria by Malam mohammed Yusuf, who was killed by an uprising that ensued after a spate of incessant attacks, which investigations found that its existence has succeeded in radicalising men, boys and girls with the believe that western education and modern circularism is forbidden. The fire alarm's glass was left intact even while Nigeria could foresee a brewing trouble, the radicalism was at a controlled level until their leader, Malam mohamad yusuf got killed by security forces in 2010, this led to reprisals upon reprisals. The attacks was suppose to be a wake up call to the government of then President Goodluck Jonathan, who was slow in response with the believe that some northern elite politicians were behind the attacks, with the intention of disrupting the peace of his government. Politics in government, corruption in the security forces and outcry of human right abuses has conspired to put payed to the effort of bringing an end to the attacks by this elements. Bokoharam are also very active in Neighbouring countries like Niger, Cameroon and Chad, failure of the Government to instantly create a bilateral relationship with our neighbours to the north succeeded in sabotaging the effort been made by the government of those countries to curtail them. On the political front, efforts was slow as the government was reluctant to admit to the extent of the dept in strength of the insurgents, the government would not show how weak in experience he was with the fighting of the hostiles, the government was adamant about letting the international community in the know of the extent of the threats, the United states government also labelled Nigeria as lacking a vibrant government, not serious enough to earn their support. Corruption and impunity at the other end was actively playing its own part in buying the necessary time for bokoharam to count their losses and gains, to regroup and lunch more attacks. Millions of dollars from the Nigeria's yearly budget are directed specially toward the fighting of this insurgents, but complains from the frontline always tend be on the issue of deficiency in the supply of arms and ammunition. So many soldiers are charged for mutiny and cowardice, with some on the death row, infiltration of the armed forces by personnels loyal to the insurgents some times leads to leaked intel, which might lead to ambush and impromptu attacks on military bases and camps. Poor provision of logistics and welfare to the soldiers is also an issue, the leadership of the Nigerian army was highly politicised and left unchecked by the commander in chief, monies meant for the war was siphoned in billions by this leaders, it became a money making venture for them but a death trap for Nigeria and Nigerians.

IF AFRICA COLONIZED EUROPE

this is what you'll get if Africa was to colonize Europe, this could  be the German National anthem, you never know

Ghetto! The Lagos street story

From ojuelegba to mushin Lagos Nigeria, the stories and life style seems identical, every ghetto around the world have unique or common issues and all of it are like agents that conspire's to keep its inhabitants grounded. First off is the common element called poverty, it is even the main agent that warrants such an unfair but lively habitation in the first place. Growing up in akinikun street, Bolade oshodi Lagos, mushin was 20 naira away from my own humble but rowdy abode. To receive a breaking street bulletins about one of our own getting shot with the same story of engaging the police in a shootout, while attempting to rub business women returning from ojuwoye market in the evening is not much of a big deal, over a bottle of shnaps or ogogoro we pray for his troubled soul to rest in peace while we blame nothing not even the police for our conditions, their case is not any better. If some times we here of scenarios where the bad guys came out of the shoot out victorious living multitude of police dead bodies in their wake, what is the life of one street kid trying to run his illegality on a solo worth compared to a police officer who's wife is widowed and kids orphaned for trying to do his job? We don't grieve for too long, it is a certain end for all, good or bad we'll all die one day. We don't dwell on our life's moving in slomo, we used the help of other system lightner to fasten it to a pace we deemed alright, loosing control some times is not a choice, what you inhale or drink determines if that happen or not. Its a jungle in mushin and my guys in ojuelegba, agege, iyana-ipaja to abule-egba all the way to the Lagos island are my witnesses, Ghetto kids are products of broken promises, government failure and parental recklessness. At the sharp opposite of our misery lies how we get together, we don't spend too much to get owambe (party) underway, our low quality drinks such as the local shnaps and the one we called sapele-water AKA ogogro can be supplied without a lucrative budget. The spate of violence and killings that results from issues such as family against another family feud or disagreement, it gets messy when we decide not to snitch to the police about our discontent and threats to our life's, we let the street take its course, all other things like buerial and respect can get resolved later. Any Ghetto survivor would recall those days as dark days full of terrors, the days where life was having its back on you, the days the government were your enemies, and the days where the fortunates can't sneeze close to you without living you burning with paranoia. Ghetto kids are meant to triple their efforts if they are to succeed in life. I grow up to never hear some of my mates talk about their parents because they don't have one, the streets became their shelter and scavenging became their livelihood. How can a kid see self through school when to eat twice a day is a major issue. Subsidised schools and orphanages to give this forgottenand lost children some parental feel and hope is not a bad idea under their circumstance, Show some kindness, the real charity should be directed to the ghetto, no matter where you are.

SAD BUT TRUE, WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE

Imaging what it’ll be like pre-birth for an unburned to receive the news that it is going to be allowed to have a shot at life, I assume it is going to gladden its unburned heart. I assume one would be so grateful to whoever the creator is.  A chance to be in human flesh, a chance to be a mortal, a chance at reality, a chance at joy and pain, a chance at lucks and ills of human reality and vanity, a chance to own your destiny either ill or pretty, either ways, I assume the emptiness and the boredom that one suffers pre-conception is much more than that obtainable in life. One can only stay and paint a picture of what replaces daily activities such as sleeping, eating and sex in the pre-life realm, maybe better or maybe not, either way. This leads me to the main aim of this narrative.

                The day one is born should be seen as one’s misery day, I call it misery day because that is the day you start living your reality and heading for your vanity, life is spent defending our flesh selfishly, we do what needs to be done to keep our flesh nourished and our heads on our shoulders, the reasons are unknown because we are all going to die. That is the only area in vanity that humans have been actively busy without considering what it’s worth. It is for the serenity of sunshine that humanity takes the chills of rainy days, it is only in a wait for the days of pleasure we take that of pain, it is even for the worth promise of paradise some of us gets religious.

                What is the worth of all this protection of our flesh and keeping our heads on our shoulders religiously, when after all we are going to get old and die. This absolute stupidity in human existence has always been preserved. When do we expect the generational trend of human race preservation to come to a shot? Is they any time the creator is planning to close shops , bang the final gavel on the titanium made human life reservoir and say “enough of this circle of nonsense, its time ya’ll come back and be my tenants in my hollow space”  to mark the end of this circle of selfishness called humanity. It is only in life you’ll take what belongs to many and make it yours for the fear of lack, it is only for the selfishness in human nature we see countries using war as a form of hussle. The recipe called survival is the worst amongst what makes up human nature. Disease is spread at will because some people have got the cure, it is spread across continents as plagues so you’ll need their help. You’ll feed your vanity till burst because you have the fate of others in your hands. Human’s quest for relevance, survival or call it “staying afloat” is the reason for issues such as islamophobia, xenophobia or christianophobia if you will, humans don’t have the luxury of choice pre-birth, but once they got on it, they wouldn’t want to slip off it, not even at times that we are defeated by uncoutious phenomenon such as sleep.    The fire signs and alarms are never nudged for the sake of the others, it can only become an emergency if your head is involved.

Human’s quest for survival is fueled by dreams and the build-up to the sweetness that tomorrow holds, wishes and that grand plan that we believe would make our existence worth the time spent is why we must survive every day. The agony behind living is the fact that the constant companion of life is death, one cannot write a song or a book on life without reference to that certain end called death, they are a constant, they love each other.

                When I see a child walking hand in hand with his or her mother, to myself  I’d say; the end of this woman’s life marks the of that one individual that can kill, die or make a full time sacrifice for this child, motherhood is one true purity in human nature, I wish it could be that religious in all the spheres of our existence. Motherhood depicts generosity, motherhood depicts commitment, and it depicts a high level of tolerance that should serve as a template in human Endeavour in general. Motherhood is all about giving life, nurturing and growing it in order to give a chance for the continuation of human race, selfless and generous it is I tell you. How can one cherish the chance at life when the essence of it is shot down before it even started? Having children roaming our streets homeless is selfish, having them going to bed every night on empty stomach is not motherly of mother nature at all. Having our citizens traumatized with wars and disillusionment isn’t too. We need to mend humanity. JUST THINKING             

Suicide bomber shouted sai buhari before detonating self in maiduguri

The police in maiduguri said a suicide bomber said "sai buhari" before detonating self killing five people with several injured in her wake. The police commissioner, Mr Remi opadokun disclosed this while adressing the media in maiduguri. The suicide bomber who reportedly said "sai buhari" while dancing and playing around the abattoir detonate himself when people have gathered around him, Mr opadokun said that the police made it there on time to evacuate the bodies of the dead and also moved the injured to the hospital.

PDP, THE CORPORATE SPOILT BRATS

As it went down, all the other misfortunes is expected to take shape, but I wont continue to the aspect of the Nigerian's primary expectations without reference to the ludicrous "spoilt brat" attitude of the PDP. The reckoning is here and the media is expected to chew to burst about the difference between actual rulership and election promises, in reference to the high level of expectation placed on President Mohamadu Buhari's administration, mind you, this administration is not up to a week old yet. The people's democratic party (PDP) is a composition of political scavengers that capitalised on the high level vulnerability of Nigeria as a system before 1999. Nigeria was fresh out of General Ibrahim Babangida's June 12 shocker, to the General Sani Abacha's high-handed dictatorship, that left Nigeria treading on a political land-mine, the Abdusalam's administration ushered in democracy, it ushered in hope, it ushered in redemption. Little did we know that it was a false dawn, a false cock crow, we where still in the mid-night. This PDP politicians should be in the military uniform, the devastation brought by their level of corruption is a fraction lesser than that of the military, even some military regime could still compete with this PDP's brand of democracy, a brand characterised by praise singing and over bloated egos, a brand filled with static delusional leaders, a brand filled with high level merriment in contrast to administrative functionality. They where spoilt by the low level expectation set by Nigerians. We allowed them to put their ambitions over their functions, we don't hold them to account, we only watch and create a way to cope, we spoilt them with our tolerance and some times with our timid nature, we where scared to die. We never bore in mind that the only way to break any mysterious element is confronting the unknown element headlong. The level of fratanity between this government officials left us with nothing but fear to challenge, also with fear to even come forward with disapproval when they rig their ways to power, it was appalling and degrading to the Nigeria's humanity. They see any opportunity in power as one to chop (loot treasury) the exchange of chop batten between four administrations came to its waterloo under President Goodluck Jonathan. The untold hardship meted on Nigerians was able to drain the level of patience in deposit, we became unforgiven, we where like a goat been pushed to the wall, but they didn't expect us to bite back. In the year 2010, we lost president Umaru Musa Yaradua, (may God bless his soul) we forced the First lady Turai yaradua and her cabal to vacate power and hand over to the then vice president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, we protested to get him to power with a promise of fresh air. In 2011 the elections was here and with this same promise of fresh air we voted massively and got him to power, little did we know that we where signing for a long haul of frustration and dejection. On january 1 2012, the present we got from our new president brought nothing with it but a true picture of greed and a glaring foundation to siphon public fund, he increased the prise of premium motor spirit (fuel) from 63 naira to 140 naira. I was part of a protest in Lagos appealing to the president to have mercy and live the prise as it is (63 naira) we protested for days, he and his cronies sat in Abuja with their tails between their legs, they told us that we where having a carnival in lagos, that instead of shutting down the economy illegally, we would have applied for a week carnival break, from monday till friday we protested, only for them to come in with the army to clear us off the streets. We told them we where waiting for them in 2015, we told them they shall hear from us in 2015. Patiently we waited, patiently the day came and my people face their worst fear, they confronted it headlong, the villain was kicked out of power. They where devastated, to follow was the blame game. They where too dumb to know that their failure in the 2015 elections was no body's fault but credit to the administrative faults and greed, the election was lost since 2012, period!!! Killing of adamu muazu for their common failure is murder. The country's patience was pushed beyond its bearable limit and a revolution took place without bloodshed but on the ballot papers.

WHAT MANNAR OF OPPOSITION "PDP"

In a true sense of reality, political competitiveness is healthy for any democracy, no matter how mature, keeping a ruling party on its toes is the main function and tools with which an opposition can drive her way into the heart of the people that would finally vote her into power. I want to use this opportunity to bring to our consciousness that the peoples democratic party (PDP) is not the main opposition in Nigeria, if I where to be a politician in the other weaker oppositions, such as the APGA, PPA, AD the SDP etc, I would see this as a window of opportunity to pounce because the PDP as a party does not possess the political fire power to keep the ruling APC on its toes, the PDP had the whole chance in the world and religiously they bided their time, they had the whole country in their grasp, they stare through their rare views and see that no one is watching, they ran the country as they like because they felt Nigerians had no choice. What manner of opposition would a failure of a party pose to a political party with a manifesto full of promise and a working plan that is glaringly in favour of the people, what manner of opposition poses a political party that uses the whole institutions of the state against the people and in return promotes political bigotry, regional and religious polarisation to score political points, what manner of opposition would they be, when its last drop of goodwill is only from the southeast and the south-south, what manner of opposition would condone absolute impunity and corruption while in power and still possess the voice to condemn such when it is perpetrated, what manner of opposition would tolerate insecurity, injustice and absolute breech of our sovereignty in the name of political witch-hunt, what manner of opposition would hand over a country with economic chaos and an account (or call it debt) of $-60,000,000,000, what manner of opposition would display absolute in-consideration to the plight of the people in order to satisfy their beneficiaries and an economic cabal known to only them. Playing the opposition is a daunting task, it takes absolute resilience and political patience. and the tools you've got are points from their administrative loop-holes. as an opposition, you are a target, you are been pushed by the forces in power, the manner of politics in Nigeria is the type that all the institutions of the state would be used to fight the opposition. Under the PDP government, politics sinks down to every corners and institutions of the country, institutions such as the police, the army and the DSS was completely politicised, it is an act I see as desperation on the part of the PDP to cling to power, playing the opposition now would be foreign to them, for as long as they've existed they have the army, the police and all other forces playing their dirty games, ranging from assassination, torture and election rigging. The PDP is not a party in an average Nigerian's good book right now, getting the people to listen and playing the victim might be met by scorn and questions such as "while you where there how did you handle it" any member of this party is seen as Nigeria's political enemy, so lending them attention and fair hearing might be difficult, this Mohamadu Buhari's government lacks a formidable opposition. The fact that I'm writing about it does not mean that it's a trend I'm happy about, it is a trend that is politically dangerous to the ordinary Nigerians, it is a trend that can propagate political savagery and retain the clueless in power. Under this trend, any action that is suppose to breed condemnation is condoned and the people are forced to adjust, it is not a trend that should be associated with a modern Democracy. The level of scavenging and ruthless opportunism that characterised the rulership of the PDP would not grant them the justification to play the major opposition, the PDP sold their future to corruption, impunity and immediate self agrandisement. They had over bloated egos that have consumed their chances at truth and goodwill. PDP is finished!!!

GENERAL MOHAMADU BUHARI'S INAUGURAL SPEACH

I am immensely grateful to God Who Has preserved us to witness this day and this occasion. Today marks a triumph for Nigeria and an occasion to celebrate her freedom and cherish her democracy. Nigerians have shown their commitment to democracy and are determined to entrench its culture. Our journey has not been easy but thanks to the determination of our people and strong support from friends abroad we have today a truly democratically elected government in place. I would like to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of statesmanship in setting a precedent for us that has now made our people proud to be Nigerians wherever they are. With the support and cooperation he has given to the transition process, he has made it possible for us to show the world that despite the perceived tension in the land we can be a united people capable of doing what is right for our nation. Together we co-operated to surprise the world that had come to expect only the worst from Nigeria. I hope this act of graciously accepting defeat by the outgoing President will become the standard of political conduct in the country. I would like to thank the millions of our supporters who believed in us even when the cause seemed hopeless. I salute their resolve in waiting long hours in rain and hot sunshine to register and cast their votes and stay all night if necessary to protect and ensure their votes count and were counted. I thank those who tirelessly carried the campaign on the social media. At the same time, I thank our other countrymen and women who did not vote for us but contributed to make our democratic culture truly competitive, strong and definitive. I thank all of you. Having just a few minutes ago sworn on the Holy Book, I intend to keep my oath and serve as President to all Nigerians. I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody. A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming back to office I shall go after them. These fears are groundless. There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue. Our neighbours in the Sub-region and our African brethenen should rest assured that Nigeria under our administration will be ready to play any leadership role that Africa expects of it. Here I would like to thank the governments and people of Cameroon, Chad and Niger for committing their armed forces to fight Boko Haram in Nigeria. I also wish to assure the wider international community of our readiness to cooperate and help to combat threats of cross-border terrorism, sea piracy, refugees and boat people, financial crime, cyber crime, climate change, the spread of communicable diseases and other challenges of the 21st century. At home we face enormous challenges. Insecurity, pervasive corruption, the hitherto unending and seemingly impossible fuel and power shortages are the immediate concerns. We are going to tackle them head on. Nigerians will not regret that they have entrusted national responsibility to us. We must not succumb to hopelessness and defeatism. We can fix our problems. In recent times Nigerian leaders appear to have misread our mission. Our founding fathers, Mr Herbert Macauley, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Malam Aminu Kano, Chief J.S. Tarka, Mr Eyo Ita, Chief Denis Osadeby, Chief Ladoke Akintola and their colleagues worked to establish certain standards of governance. They might have differed in their methods or tactics or details, but they were united in establishing a viable and progressive country. Some of their successors behaved like spoilt children breaking everything and bringing disorder to the house. Furthermore, we as Nigerians must remind ourselves that we are heirs to great civilizations: Shehu Othman Dan fodio’s caliphate, the Kanem Borno Empire, the Oyo Empire, the Benin Empire and King Jaja’s formidable domain. The blood of those great ancestors flow in our veins. What is now required is to build on these legacies, to modernize and uplift Nigeria. Daunting as the task may be it is by no means insurmountable. There is now a national consensus that our chosen route to national development is democracy. To achieve our objectives we must consciously work the democratic system. The Federal Executive under my watch will not seek to encroach on the duties and functions of the Legislative and Judicial arms of government. The law enforcing authorities will be charged to operate within the Constitution. We shall rebuild and reform the public service to become more effective and more serviceable. We shall charge them to apply themselves with integrity to stabilize the system. For their part the legislative arm must keep to their brief of making laws, carrying out over-sight functions and doing so expeditiously. The judicial system needs reform to cleanse itself from its immediate past. The country now expects the judiciary to act with dispatch on all cases especially on corruption, serious financial crimes or abuse of office. It is only when the three arms act constitutionally that government will be enabled to serve the country optimally and avoid the confusion all too often bedeviling governance today. Elsewhere relations between Abuja and the States have to be clarified if we are to serve the country better. Constitutionally there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments. Not least the operations of the Local Government Joint Account. While the Federal Government can not interfere in the details of its operations it will ensure that the gross corruption at the local level is checked. As far as the constitution allows me I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country. For I will not have kept my own trust with the Nigerian people if I allow others abuse theirs under my watch. However, no matter how well organized the governments of the federation are they can not succeed without the support, understanding and cooperation of labour unions, organized private sector, the press and civil society organizations. I appeal to employers and workers alike to unite in raising productivity so that everybody will have the opportunity to share in increased prosperity. The Nigerian press is the most vibrant in Africa. My appeal to the media today – and this includes the social media – is to exercise its considerable powers with responsibility and patriotism. My appeal for unity is predicated on the seriousness of the legacy we are getting into. With depleted foreign reserves, falling oil prices, leakages and debts the Nigerian economy is in deep trouble and will require careful management to bring it round and to tackle the immediate challenges confronting us, namely; Boko Haram, the Niger Delta situation, the power shortages and unemployment especially among young people. For the longer term we have to improve the standards of our education. We have to look at the whole field of medicare. We have to upgrade our dilapidated physical infrastructure. The most immediate is Boko Haram’s insurgency. Progress has been made in recent weeks by our security forces but victory can not be achieved by basing the Command and Control Centre in Abuja. The command centre will be relocated to Maiduguri and remain until Boko Haram is completely subdued. But we can not claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents. This government will do all it can to rescue them alive. Boko Haram is a typical example of small fires causing large fires. An eccentric and unorthodox preacher with a tiny following was given posthumous fame and following by his extra judicial murder at the hands of the police. Since then through official bungling, negligence, complacency or collusion Boko Haram became a terrifying force taking tens of thousands of lives and capturing several towns and villages covering swathes of Nigerian sovereign territory. Boko Haram is a mindless, godless group who are as far away from Islam as one can think of. At the end of the hostilities when the group is subdued the Government intends to commission a sociological study to determine its origins, remote and immediate causes of the movement, its sponsors, the international connexions to ensure that measures are taken to prevent a reccurrence of this evil. For now the Armed Forces will be fully charged with prosecuting the fight against Boko haram. We shall overhaul the rules of engagement to avoid human rights violations in operations. We shall improve operational and legal mechanisms so that disciplinary steps are taken against proven human right violations by the Armed Forces. Boko Haram is not only the security issue bedeviling our country. The spate of kidnappings, armed robberies, herdsmen/farmers clashes, cattle rustlings all help to add to the general air of insecurity in our land. We are going to erect and maintain an efficient, disciplined people – friendly and well – compensated security forces within an over – all security architecture. The amnesty programme in the Niger Delta is due to end in December, but the Government intends to invest heavily in the projects, and programmes currently in place. I call on the leadership and people in these areas to cooperate with the State and Federal Government in the rehabilitation programmes which will be streamlined and made more effective. As ever, I am ready to listen to grievances of my fellow Nigerians. I extend my hand of fellowship to them so that we can bring peace and build prosperity for our people. No single cause can be identified to explain Nigerian’s poor economic performance over the years than the power situation. It is a national shame that an economy of 180 million generates only 4,000MW, and distributes even less. Continuous tinkering with the structures of power supply and distribution and close on $20b expanded since 1999 have only brought darkness, frustration, misery, and resignation among Nigerians. We will not allow this to go on. Careful studies are under way during this transition to identify the quickest, safest and most cost-effective way to bring light and relief to Nigerians. Unemployment, notably youth un-employment features strongly in our Party’s Manifesto. We intend to attack the problem frontally through revival of agriculture, solid minerals mining as well as credits to small and medium size businesses to kick – start these enterprises. We shall quickly examine the best way to revive major industries and accelerate the revival and development of our railways, roads and general infrastructure. Your Excellencies, My fellow Nigerians I can not recall when Nigeria enjoyed so much goodwill abroad as now. The messages I received from East and West, from powerful and small countries are indicative of international expectations on us. At home the newly elected government is basking in a reservoir of goodwill and high expectations. Nigeria therefore has a window of opportunity to fulfill our long – standing potential of pulling ourselves together and realizing our mission as a great nation. Our situation somehow reminds one of a passage in Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life, Is bound in shallows and miseries. We have an opportunity. Let us take it. Thank you

CHANGE IT IS

It rings melodiously to the hearing of the deaf, it filled a mind that has given up hope with a sense of "we've made it" making the rounds is love humility and hope, all other thing don't make sense, we are finally winners. We can tell them what we want and we won't die for it, we can protest if they wrong us because we are free Nigerians, we are no longer seen as just those other people, we've forced our way into the system. Armed with our votes they are now the victims, armed with our votes we are part of the policy makers, armed with our votes they can't go there without us, armed with our votes they are not completely victorious, armed with our votes they pray for our understanding, armed with our votes they win to work not sleep. We shall cast them to the background if they fail our terms of trusting them. With impunity we have been wronged, with a sense of "they can do nothing" they close our towns and cities when they come around, from the pits in our hearts the pain raged, from the crust of souls it burns like lava. But I hope with this our victory they are brased for the change. Happy democracy day, victory and most of all "change" Welcome to the helm Mr Mohamadu Buhari. Baba oyoyo!!!

BUHARI: my covenant with the Nigerian people

My dear Compatriots: The Vice President and I have just taken the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance because you have deemed us worthy to serve Nigeria with all our strength, to defend her unity, and uphold her honour and glory. We humbly accept the responsibilities, with much gratitude, at a time of great security, moral and economic tribulations in our country. Our condition now is comparable to America’s during the Great Depression. But just like that great American elected to lead his country then, Franklin D. Roosevelt, I say to you now, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” My covenant with you today is commitment to the cause of Nigeria’s unity, peace and progress. At 72, I have no reason to violate this covenant, and I urge everyone else to keep it by accepting the National Orientation Agency’s slogans "Do what is right" Upon those four little words will this government’s action plan depend for the next four years. Since April, we have received hundreds of proposals on how to put Nigeria on the right track. Indeed, our nation has not lacked beautiful ideas. What we lack and now seek are good people – honest, selfless, compassionate and hardworking individuals that are ready to do what is right for our country. So everyone who wishes to be in our administration’s good books MUST imbibe our philosophy: Do what is right. We shall not befriend deviants, and deviants should have every cause to fear. Let me not bore you with a long speech today; otherwise I could spend the next four years narrating what we shall do. I will now outline some of our administration’s agenda, which are embedded in the quest to do what is right. Nobody is leaving this world with money, a political party, a religion or a tribe. To begin with, let no one be rattled by any of the vote-winning pre-election antics peddled by political opponents: I, Muhammadu Buhari, will never seek, and have no powers to “Islamise” Nigeria. Buhari cannot befriend any murderer or gang that slits the throats of innocent villagers in their homes or kidnaps young women for sex-slavery. Buhari will not treat the Hausa/Fulani differently from the way he will treat Ndigbo or the Itsekiri. Our No. 1 priority is to secure our people and their property, and to deliver death to anyone that undermines another’s right to life, freedom of worship and other freedoms guaranteed by our constitution. Corruption is stealing; anyone who steals shall have no place anywhere on earth to hide. We shall pursue looters, big or small, to the last gates of hell. We know that stolen money has been recycled in the so-called privatisation of NEPA, Nitel, paper mills, steel mills and others. All transactions pertaining to the sale of these public assets shall be reviewed. The oil industry shall be made transparent. Needless to add, oil thieves are among those I expect to return what they have stolen. So are oil block owners and importers of petroleum products. There is no oil subsidy now, but future fuel importers will not be allowed to short-change buyers at the pumps. In the long term, nobody would be allowed to import petroleum products or export our God-given resource in crude form anymore. All agreements reached with foreigners and foreign companies will be respected. Our constitution, which we have just sworn to uphold, affirms that government exists to provide the good life. After 16 years of our latest experiment with democracy, such a government has been born. We shall strive to lift the over 120million Nigerians trapped in the poverty hole through power, education and agriculture projects dedicated to putting them back to work. To realise these goals, we shall plug all loopholes. And now, I want everyone to listen: We have accepted advice to give people time to return what they stole. Next week, we shall open a special account into which stolen funds should be paid. Those concerned have up until the end of this year to return the loot hidden in banks and properties both in Nigeria and abroad. We heard that some recently returned some money to the treasury; those who have yet to comply should get wiser before it gets too late. After the deadline, we shall stop at nothing to seize all stolen assets and prosecute suspects, if they are still alive. They either prove their innocence or show us trees in their compounds that grow money. Everything will be done in accordance with the law, however. There are enough laws already that can be used against armed robbers, terrorists, thieves, kidnappers and murderers who are in the same league as treasury looters. Where there is a lacuna in our statutes, an enabling legislation shall be put in place before the expiration of the deadline. Luckily, we now have a professor of law as Vice President. I expect to see at least N100trillion in that account by December 31, 2015. I am aware of doubts about my moral authority arising from sponsorship of my election. But if I had rejected funds from suspicious sources, would I have emerged President today? What I promise you is that all those that invested in my election have lost their investments. In the anti-corruption war that begins immediately, nobody found with skeletons in their cupboard would be spared. After almost 30 years, we are reviving the War Against Indiscipline. Let us restore the queue culture in motor parks, fuel stations, airports, markets – everywhere law and order is needed. Every compound and every street should be kept clean. Parents and schoolteachers, teach children moral values; do not let them go astray. Traditional and religious institutions, stop worshipping money; report those who live above their income for prosecution. Only people who do what is right deserve honours. We should isolate criminals. We shall reform our politics so that money would play little role in determining who stands for election or who gets elected. Let me confess again: Even this year’s polls were neither free nor fair, though the results reflected the wishes of Nigerians. Political reform is inevitable. A new regime of tax collection is coming too. Not a kobo will henceforth miss from the NNPC, Nigeria Customs Service, FIRS, NIMASA and others. Every adult shall pay tax, no matter how little. A new ICT-driven database will ensure that only Nigerians who are up-to-date in tax can vote at elections, do government contracts, receive salaries or enjoy other privileges as citizens. We shall reduce the cost of governance. Gratuities for serving and former presidents, governors and legislators or “severance” allowances will be abolished. Lawmakers shall no longer receive “constituency allowance” or any other allowance outside of what the RMAFC recommends. Jobs will be created when power supply is adequate and stable, when food imports are forsaken, and when our education system is transformed so that schools produce job creators. My dear compatriots, there is a lot of work to be done. I end this speech as I ended my first address to the nation as military head of state, 31 years ago: “This generation of Nigerians and indeed future generations have no other country than Nigeria. We must stay here and salvage it together.” May God bless and guide all of us. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

THE SIMPLE HISTORY OF FUEL PRISE INCREAMENT IN NIGERIA

HISTORY OF FUEL PRICE INCREASE IN NIGERIA Gowon: 1973 (6 kobo to 8.45 kobo) Murtala: 1976 (8.45 kobo to 9 kobo) Obasanjo: 1 Oct., 1978 (9 kobo to 15.3kobo) Shagari: 20 Apr., 1982 (15.3 kobo to 20 kobo) Buhari: No Increase or Decrease Babangida: 31 Mar., 1986 (20 kobo to 39.5kobo) Babangida: 10 Apr., 1988 (39.5 kobo to 42kobo) Babangida: 1 Jan., 1989 (42 kobo to 60 kobo) {Private Vehicles} Babangida: 6 Mar., 1991 (60 kobo to 70 kobo) Shonekan: 8 Nov., 1993 (70 kobo to #5) Abacha: 22 Nov., 1993 (#5 to #3.25k){price drop} Abacha: 2 Oct., 1994 (#3.25k to #15) Abacha: 4 Oct., 1994 (#15 to #11){price drop} Abdussalam: 20 Dec., 1998 (#11 to #25) Abdussalam: 6 Jan., 1999 (#25 to #20){price drop} Obasanjo: 1 June, 2000 (#20 to #30) Obasanjo: 8 June, 2000 (#30 to #22){price drop} Obasanjo: 1 Jan., 2002 (#22 to #26) Obasanjo: June, 2003: (#26 to #42) Obasanjo: 29 May, 2004 (#42 to #50) Obasanjo: 25 Aug., 2004 (#50 to #65) Obasanjo: 27 May, 2007 (#65 to #75) 'Yar Adua: June, 2007 (#75 to #65){price drop} GEJ: 1 Jan., 2012 (#65 to #141) GEJ(Labour strike forced him): 17 Jan., 2012 (#141 to #97) FROM GOWON TO JONATHAN BUHARI IS THE ONLY NIGERIAN LEADER THAT NEVER TOUCHED THE PRICE OF FUEL, 'YAR ADUA was the only leader who did not increase, rather he reduced the pump price from #75 to #65 (May his soul rest in perfect peace)

Nigerians learning Enlish language in the southeast in 1949

we are born of this struggle, they went through this
 to make us a nation, the struggle of our heroes past shall not be in vein

THE DEATH OF "E GO BETTER" THE SIGH OF RELIEVE

The anger that accompanies broken promises should never be allowed to boil over the top, we are a country, we are a people, we are Nigerians, all the fars about our states, local governments and our villages of origin are a complete hugwash when it comes to the issue of common national interest, the shape of hunger in Bayelsa is not different from that in Borno or Sokoto, its not also different from that in plateau or kwara, polarisation is our doom, they are no two ways about it. Safe heaven for the greed of this politicians does nothing but birth hell for the rest of us the ordinary, the unending promise of a better life and the routine failure on their part, if taken to heart can drive a sane man bizarre, it is a routine, they fail as they promise, powerless we are rendered, novice we are seen to be, at the slightest opportunity, lies are played to our ears like the african gong-ho, don't take this to heart if you want to live long, I'm only trying to trigger that rebellious part of your mind that can go dark and live your mouth no choice but say "enough is enough" Like the 80's classic by the whispers "and the beat goes on" so does their lies, so does the darkness and so does the hope and the saying "e go better" this popular saying in Nigeria was inherited by us from our fathers, if we slumber about and not do anything about it, believe me, it shall be inherited by the next generation and the one to follow, by this it includes mine and your children, My own side of the story might be different from yours but it leads us to our only and ever known destination, the sidelines, it is called poverty, it is called frustration, joblessness, black out, unfair living and injustice, we are seen as the peasants and they belong in the elites, their beat of lies and prejudice never ends, the show of shame called the Nigeria politics is equivalent to dancing naked in the market place, the approach is bound by unholiness and uncautious no holes bared battle, every thing (both carrots and stones) are thrown in the cause of the context, carrots are for those willing to eat and the stones are thrown at the disgruntled, its either you are for the carrots or the stones, there are no in-betweens. Blessed remains the name of the God that created Nigerians, we thank him for overdosing us with patience and tolerance, we thank him for granting us some loftilly sound shock absorbers, we thank him for mixing us with the recipe called "flexi" Nigerians can bend when it curves, we get slim when it thickens, and we can flex our muscles when its thin, if not for this attributes, human cruelty is in huge supplies in Nigeria, if you are not killed you might self-destruct, don't give up my people for the death of "E GO BETTER" is near, support GMB for he is the change By Yakubu O Yakubu Online political and social activist Based in Abuja Nigeria Follow me on twitter @yakey85

THE IGBO'S RAGE, DECIETE AND CONSEQUENCES

Driven by deceit, driven by the fear of the unknown, the Ndi-igbos have committed a political suicide, what an agony! Before they could see the enormity of the devastation, it was too late, the negative twist to the political reality of the Ndi-igbos began the day they accepts the gimmick of the outgoing president as an igbo because of the name "Azikiwe" in his wardrobe of nomenclatures, this child-like gullibility never seizes to stun me since the day Mr Jonathan became the president of Nigeria, they took the bait and I trust politicians, they'll let it sink, swallow the bait hook and line and you are left to choke on your own misery. The notion that an Igbo is the man in power is a source of an all in all feeling for the Ndi-igbos and any criticism of their reincanated "Azikiwe" is meted by insults and damnation from the hells pit, what a loss! Woe unto those who takes advantage of a fellows weaknesses, for he shall be seen as the ultimate coward, it was a political white wash and a rip off, they where taken for a ride. Come to think of it, how does a fellow from the creeks of Bayelsa can ever be seen as the bonafide son of the Ndi-igbos? It is only a kind of lie a myopic brain would let sink. After the voting out of the Jonathans administration, the Ndi-igbos where aggrieved, rage took control of the whole of the southeast, they were angered by what they termed "the housa and the Yoruba's conspiracy" they felt marginalised for having their own kicked out of power, not thinking about the reasons why Nigerians would contemplate such action, they felt fulfilled that one of their own was in power, to the extent that they tend to turn blind eyes to the high level of corruption, insecurity and the absolute failure of his administration, they could die for him if need be. They were aggrieved to an extent that they fail to consider what the political reality of the region would be after Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP lost out of the presidential election race, one by one they voted against any body that contested for any position under the platform of the APC in the region, by this I can categorically tell you that there's no single APC law maker out of the 15 seats from the south eastern geo-political zone, the consequence of this action is dire to the position of the ndi-igbos in the rulership of Nigeria (at least for the next four years). The president elect General Mohammad Buhari is a notherner, the vice president elect Professor Yemi Osinbajo is from the south west, automatically, the seat of the president of the senate or the speaker of the house of reps should have gone to the south-east. The APC is the majority in the houses (both the lower and upper chambers) right now, consequently, the igbos that have voted against every single senate and reps contestant from that region under the platform of the APC has got no chance of producing the leaders of those lawmaking congregations dominated by their detested APC, did some body just shot himself in the foot or what!! All my life I have seen anger and rage, but I have not seen any type that has led one to fight against himself. At first they were blinded by the falsehood from president Jonathan, secondly they were overwhelmed by the anger caused by a nonexisting conspiracy against their son as they thought. As they said, the sound of the gun that kills a fellow is never heard by him, their eyes and their analytic sense was over-ran by the blood for vengeance, the stethoscope that is used in checking the heart beat of a dying person is often seen as telling a lie in the ears of the attending doctor, again and again he'll check for authentication before the confirmation of death, but how could a whole tribe be fooled for years without any going for fact finding?

GENERAL BUHARI AND THE KNOWN CANKERWORMS

General Mohamadu Buhari Nigeria never had it this good, they never got it this right, breaking away from the chains of the usurpers is seen as an unachievable feat in just about a year ago, finally here comes the fresh air, fresh out of the burden from the tension that accompanies the election as a result of the expectant violence that never come to fruition, the fulfillment of getting it right filled every well meaning Nigerian with pride, it was a thug of war, it was we against them, it was our turn to win. I hope we’ve won, I hope it’s our victory I hope its our chance, the saying “no man is an island of its own”  is the reason why you'll achieve the upright from the curves and bends, it is the reason why you’ll find diamond in the dirt, so is the nature of Nigeria’s victory, deep within our familiar foes, we saw an upright incorruptible leader, among our familiar foes, we’ve found a jewel, the only person that can chat the course of this great nation to a meaningful destination, in the midst of corruption, impunity and insecurity, we dig deep and look inward for a historical solution, a decision Generations to come would thank us for, Nigeria is a country filled with opportunities and a lofty opportunism to match, ruthless opportunism is the reason why we are this broken today, among the forces that produces General Mohamadu Buhari, we can see some familiar faces that has betrayed us before, we’ll forgive bearing in mind that our able general can not be taken for a ride, incorruptible, resilience, passionate and humility characterize the jewel and we know this qualities are well proven over the years  right from his days as a military head of state and the chairman of the petroleum trust fun, he’s proven as an incorruptible individual, but the big question is, who are we going to be calling our ministers, ambassadors, senators and the secretary to the federation? Are they as incorruptible as the general? They’ll look familiar because obviously, we must have seen some of them before, they’ll be many we have vowed not to trust again, pop and plain. General Mohamadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar                           How would the general ever made it to power without the help and commitment of this individuals, they where helpful, no doubt about that, but I cant help but ask, where this individuals committing their money and time into an investment they have in mind to rip heavily from? There was sufficient fund for the generals campaign, all from the donations of this individuals, is it going to be a case of them trying their lucks and the general giving them cold shoulders, or better still we can assume that the uprightness and the sincerity of the general would sink from the top to bottom among the rank and files of this individuals, only time will tell, to get the leadership that Nigerians yearns and deserves, the general needs to be uncompromising on his vows to Nigerians, he must be ready to condone and tolerate unhappiness among his friends for the pleasure and betterment of Nigeria. He must design a people oriented policies hence the faith of the outgoing administration is a lesson, any form of mischief among his friends that would wash the love and trust he enjoys from Nigerians shold be cast to the shadows, as an average Nigerian is a rebel and a challenger.                         Nigeria politics is a story of a parasite eating its host without living any remnant, the kills the administration by inviting the wrath of the people, thereby killing the administration that hosts them, it is like the story of the canker worm, the rest of the apple tree is not safe, the brains we've ever had in the presidential cabinets both then and now are not the best Nigeria can provide, opportunities beacons and they are called upon, so their low worth for dignity, honour and love for country would turn them into saboteurs and political parasites, we should expect to see those parasites in the next administration and if our expectation of the general is anything to go by, he shall fish them out on time before they eat deep into his administration.