Tuesday, November 27, 2007

The Pretenders (1)

Apart from corruption which has eaten deep into conscience of Naijas, Pretending is another vices well noticed by this blogger but hardly noticed by most Nigerians.
From the top, I can count the number of pretenders on the part of our leaders who pretended not to want the coveted seat of leadership as President, whereas they are scheming underground to realise their ambitions. The irony however, is that it is always those who pretends not to crave for it that ended up getting the job. Of recent example, while the Odilis and co. were busy touring the country lobbying for the mission to succeed the OBJ, the present President hardly consults wide enough, and he ended up getting the job. Same story with the past President.
Now to the issue of nudity, sex and pornography, Naija people are known for their pretences that such should be discouraged. They achieved this pretences by making it loud and clear that no obscenity should appear on our local TV stations. That probably give room for inquisitiveness, as a lot of people are known to imbibe the habit of watching the pornography movies. A visit to those selling pirated CDs and DVDs will butress this point. A recent interactions with a vendor of this pirated CDs and DVDs revealed that the pornography CDs and DVDs sell like hot cakes. Now what would have happen to their market if such obscenity is permitted on local TVs?.
In the last Big Brother Africa, if Mnet were to release the figure of Nigeria women that seek to participate in the event, I am sure the figure will be alarming, despite the fact that they known there is going to be shower hour on the reality show which will make them revealed their nakedness. One would also be amazed to known the number of parents who does not care whether their daughter participated in such an event.
Having said this however, this blogger continue to ponder why we pretends that all is well, while in actual fact, we all know it is a mere pretences. As long corruption can never be nip in the bud, pornography too can never be nip in the bud. Government probably know they cant control the racketeering surrounding pornography, no wonder the only fight they can muster is to pretend to us all that Nigerian prefer not to publicise owning to love watching pornography.
Visit any of Nigerian forum and you will be amazed with the rate at which Nigerian pretends in their views and opinions. When an issue that is very common in our daily life crop up for discussion, Nigerians are quick to condemn such acts while in actual facts, that is exact replica of what is happening in their lives. I guess Pretending is entrenched on our psyche right here in Africa.
Look, I gotta go, I must however confess that, if anyone read this piece and hiss or believed it is another figment of my imagination as regard the points raised, I guess the bug of pretending also reign supreme in your life. How sad!!!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

This is cool - So who was driving?

I got this in my mail box. It is cool though.

One night Jack Evans, along with his 3 university friends went out drinking till late night, as many college students are prone to do, and didn't study for their test, which, of course, was scheduled for the next day. In the morning they thought of a plan. They made themselves look as dirty and weird as they could with grease and dirt. They went up to the dean and explained that they had gone out to a wedding last night and on their return the tire of their car burst. They continued to explain how they had to push the car all the way back and that they were in no condition to appear for the test. The dean, being a compassionate human being said that they could take the test after 3 days. The students graciously replied that they'd be ready by that time.
On the third day, they appeared before the dean. The dean explained that since this was a special test all four were required to sit in separate classrooms for the duration of the exam. They all agreed as they had prepared well in the last three days. The test consisted of 5 questions with total of 100 points: MID SEMESTER COURSE WORK EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS : All questions are required. Any inconsistencies on any of the questions among the four students will result in all the candidates getting a zero mark.
Q.1. Write down your name. ----- (2 POINTS)
Q.2. Write the name of the bride and bridegroom at the wedding you attended. ----- (30 POINTS)
Q.3. What type of a car were you driving? ------(20 POINTS)
Q.4. Which tire burst? ------- (28 POINTS)
Q.5. Who was driving? ------ (20 POINTS)

Saturday, November 17, 2007

2 years....... Still very much in mind.

The incident of 2 years ago today, is still very much in my mind. A day hardly pass without thinking about the incident. May the lord continue to forgive your sins. Rest in perfect peace my son. I missed you very much in my life. Adieu.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

HAZARDOUS - Emissions From Cell Phones and Base Stations

Fear of uncertainty still envelopes users of cell phones as to whether radioactive emissions from cell phones really endanger their health.

Several unconfirmed reports from local and international research have put confusion in the minds of users, as some reports suggest that emission from cell phones and base stations could cause health risk such as dizziness, headaches, cancer, brain tumor, hearing defect, among others. But some research reports suggest otherwise, claiming that the amount of emission from cell phones and telecommunication base stations are too small to cause health risk in humans.

The cloud of confusion was, however, cleared at the weekend in Lagos, where the National Association of Telecommunication Subscribers (NATCOMS) held a one-day seminar on "radiation health risks associated with the use of mobile phones."

National President of NATCOMS, Mr. Deolu Ogunbanjo, said in his opening remarks that the seminar was organised to clear the confusion about the perceived health risk associated with emissions from cell phones. According to him, the seminar was not meant to raise fears, but aimed at enlightening Nigerians and cell phone users on the need to play safe, while communicating with cell phones.

The seminar was attended by officials from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), telecom operators, and radiation emission researchers, and cell phone users.

Presenting a paper at the seminar, Dr. Moses Aweda, research medical physicist of the Department of Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, described cell phone communication as voice transmission from the antenna in form of radiofrequency radiation. He insisted that continuous use of cell phones could pose health risk to users.

According to him, frequency of cell phone radiation is between 800 and 1,990 mhz, and that the human brains may absorb up to 60 per cent of the radiation energy.

He explained that much microwave or cell phone radiation exposures could adversely affect health. Radiation, he said, is electromagnetic and consists of waves of electric and magnetic energy moving together through space at the speed of light.

"We live in a world of radiation and we are exposed to both natural and man-made radiations," he said.

According to him, Nigerians are exposed to all forms of radiations such as ultraviolet light from the sun and radio waves from radio and television broadcasts, and that the effects of cell phone radiation may be immediate or delayed. Some tissues are highly radiosensitive and each tissue has its own risk factor, he said.

Aweda advised cell phone users to spend the minimum possible time on phones even when the call is justified.

When people are not making calls, they should be able to keep the set at the farthest possible distance from the body, he said, insisting that the use of headset hand free is highly recommended, as well as other devices that reduce the power of emission reaching the body.

He, however, said that a cell phone user's level of exposure to radiation depends on several factors which include amount of cell phone traffic, quality of the transmission, how far the antenna is extended, size of the handset, among other factors.

He called on cell phone users to consider using cell phones with low power rating and ensure that they do not use cell phones with power rating higher than the national/international standard limits

Another researcher, Dr. O.B. Eletu, an associate professor of Radiation Oncology, who presented a paper on the effect of cell phone radiation on youths and children, explained that the widespread use of mobile phones is a recent phenomenon and that the use of cell phones and related technologies will continue to increase for the foreseeable future

Wireless devices such as cell phones, utilise radio waves (radiofrequency or electromagnetic fields) to transmit information, adding that reports have suggested that cell phones radiation may impact on children’s health.

Although he said the use of cell phone is important to man, he stressed that a mobile phone provides an "emotional and functional prop" for children as well increased vulnerability of preadolescent children.

According to Eletu, pre-adolescent children can be expected to be (potentially) more at risk than are adults for the following reasons:

Absorption of microwaves of the frequency used in cell phones is greater in an object about the size of a child’s head - the so-called head resonance – than in an adult’s. Smaller skull of a child allows more penetration of the radiation into the brain than in an adult. The developing nervous system and associated brain-wave activity in a child are more vulnerable to the pulses of microwaves used in GSM than in a mature adult

The increased mitotic activity in the cells of developing children makes them more susceptible to genetic damage.

The increased mitotic activity in the cells of developing children makes them more susceptible to genetic damage.

He said in Oct 2004, a Swedish research concluded that those who used mobiles for 10 years were almost twice as likely to develop an acoustic neuroma - a tumor on a nerve connecting the ear to the brain and that in Jan 2005. He advised parents not to allow children under nine to use mobiles because of potential but unproven risks.

However, in December 2006, a Danish study of people with brain tumors concluded there were no increased risks for heavy users.

Apart from cell phones, there have also been conflicting reports that emissions from base stations can pose risk to human health.

Celtel, however, said it holds tenaciously, the company’s electromagnetic emissions compliance policy.

According to mobile operator, the objective of the Celtel electromagnetic emissions policy is to ensure that the general public is, at all times, exposed to safe levels of the radio frequency fields known to emanate from its base stations. It further explained that in line with the position taken by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on what constitutes safe radio frequency exposure, Celtel shall at all times adhere to the International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) public exposure guidelines.

Culled from Independent Newspapers

Monday, November 12, 2007

Big Brother Africa II - Where Immoral triumphs over Moral

The Big Brother Africa II reality show ended yesterday, and as was expected and unexpected, the Tanzania candidate, Richard won by a slight margin. He beat the Nigerian contestant Ofunneka to the 100,000 dollars prize.
The outcome of the results clearly shows that Immorality triumphs over Morality. Richard it was, that is very popular with the reality show for his glaring immoral and uncare attitude while the shows lasted. His love escapdes with the Angolan contestant Tatiana is well known to the followership of the reality show. One would have thought that, following the patterns of voting from the beginning of the show, where those who throw immoral to the wind ended up being evicted, Ofunneka who is more decent and represent a true African Women with her disposition, character and conduct, should have won the prize, but, it was Richard, who epitomises all the names calling that has the face of immorality that won the prize.
My candid opinion however is that, it wasn't Richard character or his popularity that earn him the prize, but his supporters did the outside job for him. This is possible because of the voting patterns adopted by the Big Brother. All participating country represent one vote each, while the rest of Africa represent one vote. In all, there is a total number of 13 votes, since there are 12 countries participating. A look at the voting pattern of the grand finale clearly shows that the southern African countries voted in favour of Richard, and I hasten to add that, it wasnt because of his popularity, but because of the background work of Richard's supporters. His supporters resides in countries in the Southern Africa i.e Tanzania, it is easier for them to garner supports for him by travelling to the participaing southern african countries, buy phone credit, and vote massively for Richard in each of the countries.
As far as I am concerned, if the rest of Africa were unbundled, to represent various number of votes, Ofunneka would have beaten him to it. To buttress my point, if Richard indeed won because he "entertained" us with his immoral performances as his supporters would want us to believed, how come his co-adjutor in the immoral acts i.e Tatiana ended up with only one vote from her own country, Angola. The fact that Ofunneka captured the "rest of Africa" vote means that, she won the heart of African people who truly appreciates moral values.
From the outcome of the grand finale, it clearly shows that there is no any single lesson from this Big Brother Africa, It means it promotes immoral values, encourages and rubber stamped adultery as seen with the way Richard who suppose to exhibit great caution being a married man, throw caution to the wind and had sex during his sojourn in the house. The only losers amongst them is the Angola contestants, who was seemingly used by Richard and ended up with only one vote and of course may lose Richard to his wife, and probably lose (Gustavo) her boyfriend too. To those who believed the lady in this picture is Ricki, Richard's wife, she is not, she is Linda, Richard's sister.
There is also Richard wife's antecedents while the show lasted. At a time she open a blog in the name of her husband where she updates Richard fans. But as soon as Richard started having immoral acts with one of the housemates, she withdrew from the blog, but later issue a statement towards the end telling whoever care to listen that she intend to open up as at when due to the media. Now that Richard is a rich man, and Tatiana has confirmed to the whole world that she and Richard will hook up and continue if their both lovers abandoned them, the BBA II continues. This blog will keep you posted.
I hasten to add however, that this blogger and his entire household do solemnly declare henceforth not to watch or participate in the programme again.
Those who were greatly dissappointed with the outcome of the grand finale are beginning to wonder whether Ofunneka would go ahead and sue the organiser of the reality show for the ugly incident that involved her and the eventual winner Richard during the show. Ofunneka sure did her best, and it should rest on the conscience of those who know what true moral values are to mourn her loss of the prize money. Truth is, she did earn a much more coveted prize than the 100,000 dollars - a true African Woman whose moral values will be well respected and cherished by all African, as seen with the way the rest of Africa voted for her.

Friday, November 9, 2007

BBA II - Would Ofunneka follow the footsteps of Cherise?

After 98 days of intense maneuvering and backbiting among housemates, the curtain finally falls this weekend on the M-Net Big Brother 2 Television Reality show. Without a doubt, the big question on the lips of every BBA fan in the continent is, who among the trio of Nigeria’s Ofunneka, Angola’s Tatiana and Tanzania’s Richard, will clinch the coveted $100,000 or N12.6 million on offer this Sunday?
I am not good at predictions, but sometimes, I do predict silently to myself which most times come into pass. I remember, I had supported Katung during the BBN, and he won gallantly. As for this BBA 2, my support is with Ofunneka, the Nigeria contestant in the house. Each day I think about how the voting will look like, I ended up finding it difficult to believe that she wont win. All the aces are on her side. But if recent text messages by Richard fans which are being shown on the screen, is anything to go by, I am beginning to have jitters. However, the contest is certainly between Ofunneka and Richard. I have to say it with all sense of modesty however, that I believe that Ofunneka will win and join the Cherise the winner of BBA first edition. If Ofunneka wins, it will be the second time in the running that female would win the Big Brother Africa.
Most of the evicted housemates has come out to say that Ofunneka would win, One of them even said it recently that she is the only housemates who had stick to her game plan since the beginning of the show.
What is more, something keeps telling me that Ofunneka would win comes this Sunday. Best of luck Ofune-Mama.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

HAZARDOUS - Liverpool Fan Kills Arsenal Supporter

This should be the third or fourth time this is happening in Nigeria. That is of course those that were reported. The hazards of supporting English premier League has claimed another victim. This was reported in the news newspapers yesterday. I had also reported 2 of such incidence in another blog operated by myself but now merged with this one, where a Bolton fan also stabbed an Arsenal fan in the last year Carling Cup. Is this madness not getting too much?

Here is the story.

A 28-year-old fan of Arsenal FC of England, Mr. Femi Ajibola, has been stabbed to death by a Liverpool FC supporter. P.M.News learnt today that the incident took place at Afijuomo area of Mile 12, Lagos, after the 1-1 draw between the two teams last Sunday.

Sources at the scene of the incident told P.M.News learnt that the suspect, Mr. Wahebi, a fan of Liverpool FC, engaged Mr. Ajibola, an Arsenal fan, in an argument over which club is superior.

“The heated argument led to a fight but the intervention of neighbours and other fans, brought the situation under control. Ajibola and Wahebi thus went their separate ways,” he said.

It was learnt that not satisfied, Wahebi went to his house, picked up a knife and went to Ajibola’s house where another fight ensued and Wahebi stabbed Ajibola.

Ajibola, P.M.News learnt, was taken to Ikeja General Hospital but he died on the way due to excessive bleeding.

It was further gathered that after Wahebi learnt of Ajibola’s death, he fled the area along with his entire family.

When P.M.News visited Wahebi’s house this morning at 20, Afijuomo street, Mile 12, the two storey building where over six families lived before the incident was completely deserted.

P.M.News learnt that tenants and Wahebi’s family fled for fear of being arrested by policemen from Ketu who are investigating the murder.

It was gathered that after the incident, the youths in the area attempted to burn Wahebi’s house but were advised by the elders in the area not to take laws in their hands.

The atmosphere in the area this morning was still tense days after the incident happened.