This is my first post in this blog this year and I can only wish all bloggers a belated new year greetings.
Wishing all bloggers 12 months of Happiness, 52 weeks of fun, 365 days of laughter, 8,760 hours of GoodLuck, 525,600 minutes of Joy and 31,536,000 seconds of success. Happy new year
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Friday, November 17, 2006
Gone in November
Like a flash, he left me in November, and it is exactly 1 year today when the tragic event occur. I must confess that, I still cannot believe he is gone forever, each time I remember him. His demise certainly makes death a challenge to me, for since the time he left me, the great beyond had not been something I dreaded anymore. No days, weeks or months had ever passed that I had not remembered him, feeling the pain every day, weeks, months and the date of 17 November, 2005 ringing in my ears. There are certain places in the house we shared together, that I dreaded going to or touch some things that we both share in the house. I solely build my life around him, and alas, he had left me.
The best way to keep his memory alive is to remember him and adore his life and times with me in an occasion like this, and I am proud that he is my son even though, death snatch him too soon for him to realise the type of life I had planned for him. I had wanted to compensate him for my separation with his mother, and to compensate him for my seeming neglects because of his stubborness by the time he grown up to know I was merely trying to correct his way of life. I had plans with his name as my next of kin, and with him to benefit an insurance policy, the policy I had since lost interest in paying the premium ever since he left me. Were him to be alive today my son, he will have few months to his 14 years, I missed him so much.
At a time, I felt since he had gone, perhaps emptiness is what is left for me in this world, but the rapid growth of his brother who was 3 months old when he left us keeps me alive. To commemorate his one year demise today, I had started a blog in his name. Please feel free to visit the blog on Hazards of life See link since his demise is an accident that could have been avoided.
Rest in Perfect Peace my son. I Missed you so much. Adieu.
The best way to keep his memory alive is to remember him and adore his life and times with me in an occasion like this, and I am proud that he is my son even though, death snatch him too soon for him to realise the type of life I had planned for him. I had wanted to compensate him for my separation with his mother, and to compensate him for my seeming neglects because of his stubborness by the time he grown up to know I was merely trying to correct his way of life. I had plans with his name as my next of kin, and with him to benefit an insurance policy, the policy I had since lost interest in paying the premium ever since he left me. Were him to be alive today my son, he will have few months to his 14 years, I missed him so much.
At a time, I felt since he had gone, perhaps emptiness is what is left for me in this world, but the rapid growth of his brother who was 3 months old when he left us keeps me alive. To commemorate his one year demise today, I had started a blog in his name. Please feel free to visit the blog on Hazards of life See link since his demise is an accident that could have been avoided.
Rest in Perfect Peace my son. I Missed you so much. Adieu.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
American Citizens power lies in their votes
They have been drumming it into the ears of their President George Bush Jr. ever since he invaded Iraq, now the people of America have used their power to make a statement, No to the war in Iraq.
I mean no one who has a blood run run in his/her veins will not be disturbed with the daily occurence of bloodshed in Iraq. Day in day out, it is highly disturbing so much that questions are beginning to being asked as to whether the invasion was justified or not. The truth however is that, should Saddam is still on the throne, the daily killings will certainly not have existed. Further truth is that, Bush once again failed in this invasion, and it is only a matter of time before the world will summarise this failure to a disgrace. Just pause to ponder over this!
I mean no one who has a blood run run in his/her veins will not be disturbed with the daily occurence of bloodshed in Iraq. Day in day out, it is highly disturbing so much that questions are beginning to being asked as to whether the invasion was justified or not. The truth however is that, should Saddam is still on the throne, the daily killings will certainly not have existed. Further truth is that, Bush once again failed in this invasion, and it is only a matter of time before the world will summarise this failure to a disgrace. Just pause to ponder over this!
Thursday, November 2, 2006
Sir Alex Fergusson and Chewing gum habit
Each time I took great reluctancy to watch Manchester United Matches, (I am an Arsenal and Pompey fans) I noticed the rate at which the Scott man, Sir Alex chew gum, like Michael Jordan who also chew gum during games because he believed it help him concentrates. It was not long however when I ponder at the real reason why Sir Fergusson choose to chew gum. After careful research into internet I came to conlusion that, he probably resort to this habit because of the following reasons:
On a lighter note however, I ponder seriously as to when actually did the Scott man started chewing gum and of course what type of gum is his favourite and how many number of gum has he murdered to date? Another research also into internet yield no results, but I stumble on a rumour that he is known to a brand of gum call 'Juicy Fruit' and that to-date, he has been estimated to have consumed over million numbers of gum since he started the habit. Can you believed that? It was also rumoured that,the underneath of some chairs in dressing room of Manchester United is not without sticked chewing gum pasted after some matches. Ever Ponder whether those are true?
Lastly, pause and ponder along with me when next you are watching Manchester United play, watch Sir Alex Fergusson while chewing his gum and if you are lucky to see him smile at the same time, tell me how the Scott man look like?
Chewing gum has been identified with improving memory according to various studies. Also, it is known that gum-chewers scored 25% higher than the control group on immediate word recall tests, and 36% higher on delayed word recall tests. Scientists point to three, non-mutually exclusive reasons, the simplest of which attributes the higher scores to the gum-chewers' increased heart rate (and, by extension, increased blood flow to the brain). [3] Despite this, chewing gum is banned in many schools. The chewing process expends approximately 12 calories per hour (14 watts) and chewing gum when travelling on an aircraft can counteract the irritation caused by changes in air pressure. [4] Gum containing the sugar alcohol xylitol can help counteract tooth decay. Minty chewing gum can help clear nasal passages.
On a lighter note however, I ponder seriously as to when actually did the Scott man started chewing gum and of course what type of gum is his favourite and how many number of gum has he murdered to date? Another research also into internet yield no results, but I stumble on a rumour that he is known to a brand of gum call 'Juicy Fruit' and that to-date, he has been estimated to have consumed over million numbers of gum since he started the habit. Can you believed that? It was also rumoured that,the underneath of some chairs in dressing room of Manchester United is not without sticked chewing gum pasted after some matches. Ever Ponder whether those are true?
Lastly, pause and ponder along with me when next you are watching Manchester United play, watch Sir Alex Fergusson while chewing his gum and if you are lucky to see him smile at the same time, tell me how the Scott man look like?
Funny Ringtones and Catchy Adverts et al
Trust Nigerians, the ringtones craze is the in thing now. There abounds different types of ringtones manufacture to suit Naija settings. I have heard of the famous one - I dey ring o, there is also the phone is ringing, and of course This is a phone call for you.
Of all those ringtones, I love I dey ring o, the part I love best is 'I don cut o' Has anyone heard of all those ringtones? It is a pity I cant upload them here for readers. But, mail me if you need any of the ringtones.
However, talking about catchy adverts, while I hate MTN adverts though they are somehow very sweet, interesting and entertaining, I hate those adverts because what the MTN knows how to do best is advertising, so each time they come up with those sleaky adverts, I ended up watching it once and each time i come across them again, I change my channels. But of particular advert I love to watch nowadays is that of Skye Bank. Check the lyrics:
I wish I had a friend
helping me grow in everyway
Saying Yes to my needs
I wish that I knew it feels
like to be free
Oh, to smile everyday of my life
and I wish I can go far in life without stress
Skye Bank always there
saying yes to your needs.
Now isnt that interesting?, not to talk of the tunes which nimbly and swiftly drums nice sounds into your gentle senses.
Ever pause to ponder what I enjoy about that advert of Skye Bank, try and catch the advert when next it is being air on TV.
Of all those ringtones, I love I dey ring o, the part I love best is 'I don cut o' Has anyone heard of all those ringtones? It is a pity I cant upload them here for readers. But, mail me if you need any of the ringtones.
However, talking about catchy adverts, while I hate MTN adverts though they are somehow very sweet, interesting and entertaining, I hate those adverts because what the MTN knows how to do best is advertising, so each time they come up with those sleaky adverts, I ended up watching it once and each time i come across them again, I change my channels. But of particular advert I love to watch nowadays is that of Skye Bank. Check the lyrics:
I wish I had a friend
helping me grow in everyway
Saying Yes to my needs
I wish that I knew it feels
like to be free
Oh, to smile everyday of my life
and I wish I can go far in life without stress
Skye Bank always there
saying yes to your needs.
Now isnt that interesting?, not to talk of the tunes which nimbly and swiftly drums nice sounds into your gentle senses.
Ever pause to ponder what I enjoy about that advert of Skye Bank, try and catch the advert when next it is being air on TV.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
MTN sponsorship of Who Wants to be a Millionnaire
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? is a general knowledge television quiz programme that started in the United Kingdom in 1998 and has now been exported to over 100 countries including the USA, Germany, Japan, Mexico, South Africa and Saudi Arabia; making it the most popular television programme in the world. Nigeria is the 104th territory. I want to believe that something is wrong with the MTN sponsorship of that programme. For God's sake how can they limited the participation in that programme to MTN subscribers only? That to me is a fraud, a fraud of telling Nigerians that MTN has the highest number of subscribers, a subscribers who merely bought MTN line just for the purpose of pariticipating in the programme and probably discard it the moment the goals of purchasing it is achieved.
Besides this, I dont see the reason why the organiser of the programme should deviate from its principle of making the participation available to all Nigerians afterall the programme is for all Nigerians. MTN on the other hand is becoming notorious of sponsoring programmes for their selfish interest other than the love of Nigerians at heart. Are we now saying that should for instance Nokia or sony ericsson decided to sponsor the programme, it should be for only Nokia or Sony Ericssson users. The organiser should not have compromised that aspect of the sponsorship, it left so many colour off the programme.
By the way, have you paused to ponder too that those who are being call on the lifeline of friends and family are always MTN subscribers? I guess participants are warned before hand to supply only friends or families with MTN line only. Na wah o!
Besides this, I dont see the reason why the organiser of the programme should deviate from its principle of making the participation available to all Nigerians afterall the programme is for all Nigerians. MTN on the other hand is becoming notorious of sponsoring programmes for their selfish interest other than the love of Nigerians at heart. Are we now saying that should for instance Nokia or sony ericsson decided to sponsor the programme, it should be for only Nokia or Sony Ericssson users. The organiser should not have compromised that aspect of the sponsorship, it left so many colour off the programme.
By the way, have you paused to ponder too that those who are being call on the lifeline of friends and family are always MTN subscribers? I guess participants are warned before hand to supply only friends or families with MTN line only. Na wah o!
The Aftermath of GSM Free Calls
If you have not not noticed this, try and observe it, Nigerians who indulge in staying awake to make free calls are easy to notice nowadays, it is either they doze off while in the car, bus or come late to office or schools.
Ever since two GSM operators Glo and MTN announced free calls from midnight until early in the morning, nigerians who had been noted to love free things have swoop on the advantage. They now stay awake till midnight to make their calls free of charge. As a Glo subscriber, I noticed that one is able to put a call through at several trials before one can succeed, and it is no more safe to make calls as from 12 midnight because there are so many subscribers trying to make a call.
The danger inherent on this is that, even in emergency, there will be problem of getting your call across to seek for assistance.
Ever Pause to ponder that some decorum need to be put into this free calls facility?.
Ever since two GSM operators Glo and MTN announced free calls from midnight until early in the morning, nigerians who had been noted to love free things have swoop on the advantage. They now stay awake till midnight to make their calls free of charge. As a Glo subscriber, I noticed that one is able to put a call through at several trials before one can succeed, and it is no more safe to make calls as from 12 midnight because there are so many subscribers trying to make a call.
The danger inherent on this is that, even in emergency, there will be problem of getting your call across to seek for assistance.
Ever Pause to ponder that some decorum need to be put into this free calls facility?.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Retro Reflective Sticker Craze
In Nigeria, pasting of a retro reflective sticker at the back of your car, is the new craze going on now, and this stickers came in two form, either it is original or a fake.
El-Elyon Limited, producer of the original argued that it can reflects from a distance of 300 metres and lasts for a minimum of five years. They insisted that one can easily identified a fake ones because it breaks immediately when you use your finger on the red portion, while it is more shining than the fake ones. Motorists are advised and encouraged to go for the original retro-reflective sticker, as it help during rainy season and in a pollution atmosphere.
That is Nigeria for you, where the different between the rich and the poor is always a major necessity in the scheme of things. An original stickers go for as much as N1,500 while one can get the fake ones for N500. Now an unsuspecting motorists can pay for the fake ones with the amount of original if they are not careful enough.
The truth is every vehicle already comes with reflective points on its rear lights, so I dont see the idea behind the sticker anyway, but the public are not grumbling, so it seems, or nobody wants to be heard. ever pause to ponder that, since nobody complain but instead comply generally with this order, it will be a matter of time for another order to perhaps ask the motorists to start painting our vehicle in a particular colour to either differentiate the rich from the poor or better still, to reflect our categories of vehicle.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Aftermath of Okada Ban in Abuja
A visit to Queen ebong's blog Read here reminded me that I need to comment on the aftermath of the Okada Ban in my blog. Being a resident of Abuja, I found out that the aftermath of outright ban of commercial motorcycle operators (popularly called Okada) in Abuja is taking its toil on everyone. While the non car users are complaining seriously of exorbitant fares they have to coughed out to Kabukabus (private vehicle used as commercials) for their daily business transactions, the car owners too are into some serious experience of hold ups, go slows and traffic jams.
The available buses could definitely not go round, so those who will want to abandon their cars and pursue their daily business transactions with Okada had no alternatives than to go with their cars nowadays, the result is perennial hold ups, traffic jams and go slows. This normally occurs in the morning, afternoon and closing hours.
The truth is the government did not do their home work very well before discarding with Okadas. I had always ponder that, the move is a life saving for the Okads operators, but another look shows that, the commercial motorcylce operator business needs careful regulatory in the capital city, less the rate at which things are going on now, we will witness a real traffic congestion, worse than that of Lagos, that at the end of the day, government might be tempted to ban the use of certain categories of transporation again.
The journey that will take you some 5 minutes drive in the past now take you up to 20 - 30 minutes because of hold ups, jams or go-slows. I had just contributed the habit of driving in the outskirts of towns to get to my house, because that is more free and faster even though it is a long route.
Though the menace of Okadas is now a thing of the past, the menace of the Taxis, Bus drivers and the Kabukabus are the next nightmares on Abuja roads nowadays. Dont jump into conclusion, I am not saying those too should be ban to ease the traffic hold-ups, jams and go-slows. I just pause to ponder aloud.
The available buses could definitely not go round, so those who will want to abandon their cars and pursue their daily business transactions with Okada had no alternatives than to go with their cars nowadays, the result is perennial hold ups, traffic jams and go slows. This normally occurs in the morning, afternoon and closing hours.
The truth is the government did not do their home work very well before discarding with Okadas. I had always ponder that, the move is a life saving for the Okads operators, but another look shows that, the commercial motorcylce operator business needs careful regulatory in the capital city, less the rate at which things are going on now, we will witness a real traffic congestion, worse than that of Lagos, that at the end of the day, government might be tempted to ban the use of certain categories of transporation again.
The journey that will take you some 5 minutes drive in the past now take you up to 20 - 30 minutes because of hold ups, jams or go-slows. I had just contributed the habit of driving in the outskirts of towns to get to my house, because that is more free and faster even though it is a long route.
Though the menace of Okadas is now a thing of the past, the menace of the Taxis, Bus drivers and the Kabukabus are the next nightmares on Abuja roads nowadays. Dont jump into conclusion, I am not saying those too should be ban to ease the traffic hold-ups, jams and go-slows. I just pause to ponder aloud.
My Birthday
I just added another day today. As usual, as in the past, I will be celebrating alone with no any fun fare. I cant remember celebrating any of my birthday, I mean I had never celebrated it with all those cacophonous or with epicentre of celebration. Instead, I always mark it with just some sober reflection that I just added another year. Recently, I will continue with my work and at the same time let the music of King Sunny Ade (Birthday) play on, and as I am writing this, the music is playing in the background.
I also put on my wife's birthday present, a beautiful suit, which she presented to me. The fact that I dont celebrate my birthday also explain why I dont remind people when my birthday knocks my door. Perhaps this explain why I hardly receive birthday greetings in form of cards, gifts or text messages. To me, I believe, if I meant a lot to you, you should remember my birthday without reminding you. So among my friends, who make it a duty to send birthday greetings to me even without reminding them, I used to appreciates such gestures, no matter how it is sent.
Have you ever pause and ponder what birthday celebration is all about? I remember my boss telling me in one of my past birthday that, the fact that one is alive to witness another year is enough a celebration. What is your own perception of celebrating birthday?
I also put on my wife's birthday present, a beautiful suit, which she presented to me. The fact that I dont celebrate my birthday also explain why I dont remind people when my birthday knocks my door. Perhaps this explain why I hardly receive birthday greetings in form of cards, gifts or text messages. To me, I believe, if I meant a lot to you, you should remember my birthday without reminding you. So among my friends, who make it a duty to send birthday greetings to me even without reminding them, I used to appreciates such gestures, no matter how it is sent.
Have you ever pause and ponder what birthday celebration is all about? I remember my boss telling me in one of my past birthday that, the fact that one is alive to witness another year is enough a celebration. What is your own perception of celebrating birthday?
Wednesday, October 4, 2006
Kanu Nwankwo
By the time I come of age, I am oblivious of who I adore as a person, similarly I had always wonder at such truism as adoring someone you had never met as a hero. Equally in my amazement is to have someone you love to meet in person, all this I only wanton in fantasy by choosing either those who are heroes at that time or personalities that are popular.
However, by the time the Nigerian U17 triumph in Japan in 1993, I remember there is one Nwankwo Kanu, who perform excellently well at the tournament. As if that was not enough, his sojourning at Ajax Amsterdam together with Finidi George makes him an instant public figure. The Nigerian Dream Team triumph at the Atlanta 96 Olympic put him into final limelight as a world celebrity.
I had to confess here that my likeness for Nwankwo Kanu dated back to his playing days at Ajax, there I make sure I monitor his progress. By the time he won Gold at Atlanta 1996 soccer events, I have loved him with everything in me.
Like I said earlier on, Nwankwo Kanu must be the only person in my life that I love and does not know I existed. I adore him so much. I always pray for him consciously or unconsciously, monitoring his progress daily and eager to hear news of his sojourning in every premiership games.
I remember what I went through at the beginning of this season, I need step by step progress reports on his tranfer, so I had to add his name in Google alert to enable me monitor any available net news about him, this is to monitor his transfer progress to assuage my fear of him leaving England. I know it as a fact that he will prefer to stay in england and i keep monitoring whether there is any available club in England that is willing to sign him.
I am always devastated anytime I learnt of any negative views, comments about him. My entire household knew quite well that I am accustomed with one phrase about him - "I JUST LOVE THAT GUY".
My house, desktop, laptop, mobile phone are adore with his pics. Kanu is my man. The only opportunity I had to see him physically was at Abuja Stadium. I think we were playing against Malawi, I went to the stadium purposely to see him, and I am glad I did. The only thing i could do to stamp my presence was the shout of Papillo as he was returning to the dressing room after the match. I remember him waving back, probably not to me, but the waving back did a lot of consolation to me as if I am the one he is acknowledging.
My friends are in the habit of making jest of me because I dont have a particular club I support in England except any club that Kanu Nwankwo play for, So you can see that I have been and still be an admirer of Ajax, Inter, Arsenal, WestBrom and recently Portsmouth.
Ever ponder why football is a passionate game? I guess one of the reason is because we all have one or two of the players we adored, like I have in KANU NWANKWO.
Monday, September 25, 2006
The long absence
Ever ponder why it took me long to update this blog. I have no excuse but to apologise. I guess I got carried away with so much works in the office, and perhaps because of lack of apettite to write again. I guess I am tired of the political atmosphere going on in my country, or the war in Lebanon or better still, the sudden uprising of Taliban in Afghanistan. It may perhaps be the unending death in Iraq and the looming of civil war or perhaps another mistakes of leveling Iran under the pretext of amassing nuclear power even though Tehran has constantly said it is for energy. The same denial Saddam keep telling those who cares to listen when it was accused of having WMD, until after he was overthrown and the world were made to understand that he neither possess WMD, nor has any link with Al-Qaeda. So why was his government toppled? of course the answer is because the Bush government want the Shites and the Shias to be at logger heads resulting in daily dozens of deaths.
I hope to have more time on this blog as time progresses to shed more lights on all the above.
I hope to have more time on this blog as time progresses to shed more lights on all the above.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Nigerians reaction to CNN Low Blow
CNN recently aired a programme that portrayed Nigerians in bad light which has led to reactions from Nigerians. You can read the report on this link if you dont have the privilege of watching it. http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/18/identity.theft/.
Here are some reactions from Nigerians
"why should CNN aired a programme that focused solely on Nigerian fraudsters and made absolutely no mention of the fact that fraud in the United States is not a Nigerian-created industry. ‘Anyone, particularly the less knowledgeable - who watched this programme would probably come away thinking that Nigerians are all fraudsters because this programme completely ignored the crimes committed by the other ‘foreigners’ that make up the diverse American culture. It’s a good thing Nigerians are not responsible for the collapse of world giant companies such WorldCom, Enron, Arthur Andersen among others, resulting in the lost of billions of dollars by innocent shareholders, customer and so on".
One Nigerian questioned why we have not seen or heard CNN generalise and make stereotypic attributes about Italian Americans because of a few who are involved in organised crime; or portray all Colombians in America as cocaine dealers or drug lords, because of the act of a few Colombians. ‘CNN knows that it would be wrong to portray every Afghan in America as a Taliban terrorist! So why would CNN paint Nigerians with such negative broad-brush generalisations? Why should CNN be engaged in such pedestrian journalism? Could this be attributed to racism? What was the motive behind this negative portrayal?’
"The truth of the matter is that the credit card fraudsters, the con artists, the drug couriers who seem to attract the attention of the international media constitute a minority. The majority of Nigerians is made up of honest, hardworking persons who are trying to earn a living. There may be problems in terms of the value system, in terms of an obsession with money for its own sake. But there is nothing in Nigeria that is so different from other countries. There are more criminals in America than there are in the whole of Nigeria. How about the ENRON scandal, the mismanagement of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, the robberies and killings on the streets of America: do these necessarily make every American a gangster? Indians and Koreans come to this country to do business and they treat our people badly but I don't consider either Indians or Koreans superior to Nigerians. If the CNN were to investigate Italians and Hispanics, its investigators would find a lot to put on air, except they may not consider it politically correct to do so.
Malawians and Kenyans complain about too much witchcraft in Nigeria: they are responding to fiction not reality. Nigerian home videos are shown on MultiChoice, so they base their impressions on what they see on television. American films are full of violence but it hasn't stopped people from thinking that it is "God's own country". Nigeria is not as Hellish as they imagine. South Africans are flocking to Nigeria and setting up businesses through which they exploit the population to make huge profits! Average Americans come here and live in big mansions that they would never dream of owning in their own country. Indians, Lebanese and Koreans set up factories here and they never want to go back home. The Chinese are also flocking to Nigeria, and setting up Chinatown everywhere. Other Africans from Benin, Cameroun, Ghana, Togo, Niger and Chad struggle, illegally to obtain Nigerian passports and identity cards. Portfolio investors from Europe and the United States are all over our hotels, looking for business. It may well be that they are exploiting the country's limitations but if this was truly Hell, they wouldn't stay this long!"
"I work eighty hours a week in New York City and there are many Nigerians who hold two jobs in America. The great majority of Nigerians in America are decent and dignified persons and we have no apologies to make to anyone for the behavior of a few Nigerians. We resent being measured and grouped with miscreants or criminal elements.
Unless the new logic is that all Americans should bury their heads in shame because of the frauds and criminal acts of Mr. Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling of Enron? All Americans should be ashamed for the criminal behaviors of the executives of Enron which joins WorldCom, Adelphia and Tyco, AIG, Halliburton etc, all of them, American companies that have engaged in the most egregious corporate frauds.
Unless the new logic is that all Americans should now bury their heads in shame for the brutal killings by some American soldiers in Haditha in Iraq, and the now infamous abuses by American military personnel in Afghanistan or Abu Gharib in Iraq and at Guantannamo Bay prisons in Cuba or the Mai Lai massacre in Vietnam. Decent Nigerians in America and worldwide have nothing to apologize for or be ashamed about!"
"CNN has engaged in pedestrian journalism with its generalizations about Nigerians. We are sure than CNN would not generalize about Italians Americans because of a few who are involved in organized crime or Mafia. And I am sure that CNN will not portray all Colombians in America as cocaine dealers, because of the act of a few Colombians. CNN knows that it will be wrong to portray every Afghan in America as a Taliban terrorist!"
Nigerians worldwide object in the strongest of terms, to CNN’s false and stereotypical depictions and negative portrayal of Nigerians carte blanche.
Here are some reactions from Nigerians
"why should CNN aired a programme that focused solely on Nigerian fraudsters and made absolutely no mention of the fact that fraud in the United States is not a Nigerian-created industry. ‘Anyone, particularly the less knowledgeable - who watched this programme would probably come away thinking that Nigerians are all fraudsters because this programme completely ignored the crimes committed by the other ‘foreigners’ that make up the diverse American culture. It’s a good thing Nigerians are not responsible for the collapse of world giant companies such WorldCom, Enron, Arthur Andersen among others, resulting in the lost of billions of dollars by innocent shareholders, customer and so on".
One Nigerian questioned why we have not seen or heard CNN generalise and make stereotypic attributes about Italian Americans because of a few who are involved in organised crime; or portray all Colombians in America as cocaine dealers or drug lords, because of the act of a few Colombians. ‘CNN knows that it would be wrong to portray every Afghan in America as a Taliban terrorist! So why would CNN paint Nigerians with such negative broad-brush generalisations? Why should CNN be engaged in such pedestrian journalism? Could this be attributed to racism? What was the motive behind this negative portrayal?’
"The truth of the matter is that the credit card fraudsters, the con artists, the drug couriers who seem to attract the attention of the international media constitute a minority. The majority of Nigerians is made up of honest, hardworking persons who are trying to earn a living. There may be problems in terms of the value system, in terms of an obsession with money for its own sake. But there is nothing in Nigeria that is so different from other countries. There are more criminals in America than there are in the whole of Nigeria. How about the ENRON scandal, the mismanagement of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, the robberies and killings on the streets of America: do these necessarily make every American a gangster? Indians and Koreans come to this country to do business and they treat our people badly but I don't consider either Indians or Koreans superior to Nigerians. If the CNN were to investigate Italians and Hispanics, its investigators would find a lot to put on air, except they may not consider it politically correct to do so.
Malawians and Kenyans complain about too much witchcraft in Nigeria: they are responding to fiction not reality. Nigerian home videos are shown on MultiChoice, so they base their impressions on what they see on television. American films are full of violence but it hasn't stopped people from thinking that it is "God's own country". Nigeria is not as Hellish as they imagine. South Africans are flocking to Nigeria and setting up businesses through which they exploit the population to make huge profits! Average Americans come here and live in big mansions that they would never dream of owning in their own country. Indians, Lebanese and Koreans set up factories here and they never want to go back home. The Chinese are also flocking to Nigeria, and setting up Chinatown everywhere. Other Africans from Benin, Cameroun, Ghana, Togo, Niger and Chad struggle, illegally to obtain Nigerian passports and identity cards. Portfolio investors from Europe and the United States are all over our hotels, looking for business. It may well be that they are exploiting the country's limitations but if this was truly Hell, they wouldn't stay this long!"
"I work eighty hours a week in New York City and there are many Nigerians who hold two jobs in America. The great majority of Nigerians in America are decent and dignified persons and we have no apologies to make to anyone for the behavior of a few Nigerians. We resent being measured and grouped with miscreants or criminal elements.
Unless the new logic is that all Americans should bury their heads in shame because of the frauds and criminal acts of Mr. Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling of Enron? All Americans should be ashamed for the criminal behaviors of the executives of Enron which joins WorldCom, Adelphia and Tyco, AIG, Halliburton etc, all of them, American companies that have engaged in the most egregious corporate frauds.
Unless the new logic is that all Americans should now bury their heads in shame for the brutal killings by some American soldiers in Haditha in Iraq, and the now infamous abuses by American military personnel in Afghanistan or Abu Gharib in Iraq and at Guantannamo Bay prisons in Cuba or the Mai Lai massacre in Vietnam. Decent Nigerians in America and worldwide have nothing to apologize for or be ashamed about!"
"CNN has engaged in pedestrian journalism with its generalizations about Nigerians. We are sure than CNN would not generalize about Italians Americans because of a few who are involved in organized crime or Mafia. And I am sure that CNN will not portray all Colombians in America as cocaine dealers, because of the act of a few Colombians. CNN knows that it will be wrong to portray every Afghan in America as a Taliban terrorist!"
Nigerians worldwide object in the strongest of terms, to CNN’s false and stereotypical depictions and negative portrayal of Nigerians carte blanche.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
With 4,300 Naira, You cant Watch the World cup on DSTV
I am a lover of Soccer that is perhaps the main reason I subscribe to DSTV so I can watch the English Premiership Live. For those readers of this blog outside Africa, DSTV is an acronym for Digital Satallite Television being run by Multichoice South Africa, they are the only DTH who can transmit Live Premiership matches to Africa.
With their full buoquet of N9,000 naira every month, you can watch the premiership live, while you wont be able to do so with their N4,300 mini bouquet. I am used to subscribing for their full bouquet as I stated earlier on in this blog, but on this particular occasion, i thought since Premiership will be on in August, let me save some cost and subscribe to Mini bouquet. It is very sad that, when the world cup kicked off, there is no any single channel on DSTV that is showing the match either delayed or live. So I have to resort to watching the matches on the local TV stations.
Have you pause and ponder along with me that with the sum of N4,300, it is a shame on the part of DSTV that its subscribers canno watch FIFA 2006 World Cup on Multi Choice DSTV!
With their full buoquet of N9,000 naira every month, you can watch the premiership live, while you wont be able to do so with their N4,300 mini bouquet. I am used to subscribing for their full bouquet as I stated earlier on in this blog, but on this particular occasion, i thought since Premiership will be on in August, let me save some cost and subscribe to Mini bouquet. It is very sad that, when the world cup kicked off, there is no any single channel on DSTV that is showing the match either delayed or live. So I have to resort to watching the matches on the local TV stations.
Have you pause and ponder along with me that with the sum of N4,300, it is a shame on the part of DSTV that its subscribers canno watch FIFA 2006 World Cup on Multi Choice DSTV!
Monday, June 5, 2006
Big Brother Nigeria and my Narrow Escape
A nearly tragedy could had befell me just because of Big Brother Nigeria. It happened that my DSTV subscription expired on 25th May, but I don’t intent to subscribe for another full bouquet because I can always watch World Cup in local media or even in ESPN which is available in the mini bouquet. So I was left with a dilemma whether to subscribe for full bouquet or mini bouquet, because of Big Brother Nigeria which is just 3 days away. Having converge with my kitchen cabinet members, I decided to subscribe for mini bouquet and wave the idea of watching the Big Brother Nigeria in my home. So on the final grand finale day, I decided to watch it in a friend’s house. After the show, we set for home, and the heavenly gift started pouring down. Couples with the fact that it is in the night and the rain was pouring down heavily, lots of motorists were cautious on the road. I was about a stone throw to my house when this car came on rushing to my car. Before I could avoid it, it crashed into the car am driving. The passenger door is a write off, but we are all hale and hearty to continue the gist of the joy that Katung won. It was indeed a narrow escape. But I am left with the wrath of my wife whose car we took out on this fateful day.
I continue to pause and ponder that, had it been I decided to subscribe for the full bouquet of DSTV, perhaps, I wouldn’t have gone out at that particular time, moreso when the full bouquet subscription and the repair to be performed on the car is almost the same.
I continue to pause and ponder that, had it been I decided to subscribe for the full bouquet of DSTV, perhaps, I wouldn’t have gone out at that particular time, moreso when the full bouquet subscription and the repair to be performed on the car is almost the same.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
No, Not Agbani Darego
The controversy generated by a recent event where it was alleged that our own Agbani Darego was topless catches my attention. The pictures which was carried by www.ronkeapampa.com which wrongly put a caption as if to say it was Agbani that was topless in the picture whereas, it was another model. Trust Naijas, they had been feasting on it that our own Agbani was topless in a recent event in Lagos, Nigeria. Of particularly cruel was the headline of Nigerian daily newspaper Daily Independent which not only carry the alledged picture in its weekend paper, but wrote a cruel and wicked epistle on Agbani without backing its facts. If you take a careful look at this link,http://www.ronkeapampa.com/photogallery.htm that is where the whole scenarios emanates. Scroll down and you will notice that in the column 13, 14, 15 and 16, there are different pictures in the gallery, the picture on gallery 13 is the bone of contention now. The caption under the gallery was "Agbani and another model on the run way". Then it said "14, 15 and 16 models on the runway". Now this shows that Agbani was the model in black outfit in the gallery picture number 13, as could be shown with this link. http://www.ronkeapampa.com/u5.jpg
I had wondered what happend to this misrepresentations because as far as I am concerned, the model that is topless from the above link and as could be seen below is not and does not represent our own Agbani Darego. The Daily Independent writer that wrote that wicked write-up also claimed he saw the picture not that he was there and witness Agbani at the event. Haba, This is wicked. Nigerians are the worst pretenders I had ever seen, they love nudity, but will be the one to condemned one when they see it. I challenged anyone that is in doubt to check the pictures once again, it wasnt our own Agbani Darego, it was indeed another Model in the same runway with Agbani Darego. Has anyone pause to ponder on those pictures again, look at the alledged picture and Agbani, It wasnt certainly our own Agbani Darego.
The write up of Daily Independent newspaper is done in bad faith and is very wicked about Agbani. As if that was not enough, a lot of readers do not take it upon themselves to cross check the facts and get the true picture of the whole matter before passing judgement. They all jump into conclusion that, it was indeed Agbani that was topless. I said it once again, take a long PAUSE AND PONDER, take a long look at the picture of the real Agbani and the alledged topless picture, certainly, that is not Agbani Darego. I may not possess a recent picture of Agbani Darego, but the topless model wasnt her at all. And this bullshit about make-up on her, is not true, Agbani had always maintain her black beauty. How come none of the people that present at the occasion comfirm that it was indeed Agbani that goes topless. The Daily Independent Newspaper article does not categorically stated there is anyone who confirm she was the one that is topless. See this link http://www.independentngonline.com/?c=72&a=2120
Like Seun, the Administrator of Nairaland said, "If Agbani is guilty of anything, she is guilty of mingling with topless models. Creative critics should consider questioning her sexual orientation if they run out of ideas for criticism." Shame!
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Parastatals Merger
Ever since the government made it known that it intended to merge some of its parastatals, a lot of some voices in the public had been calling for merging of NCC i.e Nigerian Communications Commission with NITDA i.e National Information Technology Development Agency and of course NBC – Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation.
Coming mostly from stakeholders in the ICT sectors, they argued that the three agencies had inter-lapping functions, and that in some countries, all three are under the same roof of an agency.
I wonder why NCC should be among this type of argument when it was establish by a decree which had since been re-enacted by National Assembly with the advent of Communications Acts, 2003. An Agency that was so well established by an Acts should be exempted from such merger even though it is big enough to accommodate other government Agency.
Coming mostly from stakeholders in the ICT sectors, they argued that the three agencies had inter-lapping functions, and that in some countries, all three are under the same roof of an agency.
I wonder why NCC should be among this type of argument when it was establish by a decree which had since been re-enacted by National Assembly with the advent of Communications Acts, 2003. An Agency that was so well established by an Acts should be exempted from such merger even though it is big enough to accommodate other government Agency.
Having said this, I forsee it practicable that NCC absorb NITDA, but certainly not NBC. But come to think of it, it would be a wonderful combination should the 3 be merge together, as in the past, NBC are encroaching on the activities of NCC by giving licence to some Telecom Operators to broadcast some radio stations through their network which to me seems exclusive jurisdictions of NCC.
Let us pause and ponder over this, that should the 3 be merged together, isnt the masses that are going to gain, or the worse of it.
Let us pause and ponder over this, that should the 3 be merged together, isnt the masses that are going to gain, or the worse of it.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Six months today, I still feel the pain
My Son, it is exactly six months today when you left me, you left for the journey I have never been to. You left me with deep scar and I can only lick my wounds everyday by shedding deep sob for your demise. No days ever passed without me pondering over you, and mostly I pause to ponder where and what you are doing at that point in time. I missed you so much, if only tears and grieve can bring you back, I have shed more than enough. Your demise left me so much pain, that even when I took great pain to write this, I am still shedding tears. Adieu my son. I really, really missed you.
Suppose OBJ third term was a ruse?
Now that the Senators had burried the third term amendment bill and the bills that goes with it. Suppose OBJ does not really mean to go for third term? Has anyone try to look the matter from that perspective? Suppose third term was only use knowing fully well that it will generate a lot of uproar to kill the passing of other bills vis-a-vis the immunity for President and Governors? the Derivation formula etc. Suppose what OBJ really wants was to show to the world and that incoming government can never amend the constitution to elongate their stay in government in Nigeria as compared to the rest of africa. Suppose OBJ did all this to let Nigerians know that his government will be the last government with two terms and that the two terms syndrome is not feasible again. Suppose the target of OBJ is 6 year single term for incoming president and governors, suppose all the hulla balloo of the 3rd term is just a wild goose chase just to let incoming government know what they will face should they decide to stay put in office in Nigeria. Suppose OBJ is also working underground to defeat third term. Has anyone pause to think about this?
Pause to ponder whether any sit tight government in Nigeria and indeed in Africa does not goes to any length to achieve their dreams. Pause to ponder whether or not there are thousands of ways for OBJ to continue in office if desired to do so, he would have done his homework very well, know those who will work against him and take care of them with EFCC and ICPC. Pause to ponder whether all the 3rd term imbroglio was to wake Nigerians up that the Vice President who had since abandon his office to plan for third term is not fit as our President and that with the defeat of the third term now, a credible candidate is what Nigerians will be looking for which perhaps is what OBJ really wants when he knew those whom he might propose to succeed him may never see the light of the day? Have we pause to ponder that the impasse behind the 3rd term was another good work of OBJ to show the world that Nigerians is ripe in her democracy so much so that no government can try to elongate himself in office, and thereby setting a precedence to oncoming government. Whichever way you look at it, it is when OBJ leave the office that you will realise the work he had done and the good face he had given our democracy. Long live Nigerians and Long Live OBJ.
Pause to ponder whether any sit tight government in Nigeria and indeed in Africa does not goes to any length to achieve their dreams. Pause to ponder whether or not there are thousands of ways for OBJ to continue in office if desired to do so, he would have done his homework very well, know those who will work against him and take care of them with EFCC and ICPC. Pause to ponder whether all the 3rd term imbroglio was to wake Nigerians up that the Vice President who had since abandon his office to plan for third term is not fit as our President and that with the defeat of the third term now, a credible candidate is what Nigerians will be looking for which perhaps is what OBJ really wants when he knew those whom he might propose to succeed him may never see the light of the day? Have we pause to ponder that the impasse behind the 3rd term was another good work of OBJ to show the world that Nigerians is ripe in her democracy so much so that no government can try to elongate himself in office, and thereby setting a precedence to oncoming government. Whichever way you look at it, it is when OBJ leave the office that you will realise the work he had done and the good face he had given our democracy. Long live Nigerians and Long Live OBJ.
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