Thursday, June 14, 2007
Pause and Ponder on Chxta's world
BIRTH DATE:- 10 May (He gave the actual year, but I edited it)
FAVOURITE
FAVOURITE FOREIGN MUSICIAN:- Nino
FAVOURITE NEWSPAPER:- The Guardian (
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Police to ban Okada from Lagos streets
Commercial motorcyclists, known in local parlance as Okada, will soon be banned from some major streets in Lagos State, according to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bashiru Azeez. Azeez said at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum on Tuesday in Lagos that the ban was to restore dignity to the areas that would be affected and reduce the crime rate in the state. The commissioner said the Command had already discussed the proposed ban with the state government. He said the police had discovered that some robbers used motorcycles for their operations, especially during traffic jams, adding that many commercial motorcyclists also flouted traffic rules with impunity. Azeez said a task force had been set up to decongest traffic jams on some major roads to reduce robbery and alleviate the sufferings of motorists. He disclosed that the police recently gave four motorcycles to each Area Command in the state for security patrol during traffic jams. Azeez, who stressed that the state police command was committed to guaranteeing security of lives and property, also said the state Police Command would soon recruit more personnel to improve security.
Has anyone started to pause and ponder over the implications? Especially in Lagos of all places!!!
Has anyone started to pause and ponder over the implications? Especially in Lagos of all places!!!
Monday, June 11, 2007
The Defiant of Okada Riders in Abuja
It isnt news that Commercial Motorcycle popularly called Okada was banned in Abuja last year, what is news is that the moment the Erstwhile Minister of Federal Capital vacated office as a result of the end of his tenure with the government of Obasanjo Administration, the Okada riders are back.
Most of them that were interviewed hinged their comback on the exit of former Minister, and of course the end of Obasanjo Administration. Of particular is the fact that, most of this okada riders believed that as long as Obasanjo and El-Rufai are no more holding forth in Office, the law banning their trade is no more enforceable.
This defiance caused the administration of Federal Capital to descend heavily on this and today, about 250 motorcycles had been impounded while a mobile court was set up to try offenders with over 20 already sentenced to 3 months imprisonment.
With the clampdown on them, one would have thought it will serve as deterrent, but some of them still remain defiant, choosing of course to operate early in the morning and of course in the evening when they know the task force would either not have resumed for work or had already closed for the day.
This defiance had caused this blogger to pause and ponder why they can subject themselves to such risk knowing fully well that they may be arrested and prosecuted. The truth however is that most of them are illiterates who does not believe that the law prohibiting their operations is still in force, other who are literate could not afford to leave the trade since it is a means of livelihood to them. One then ponders that there is indeed money in the business, no wonder some of the Okada riders does not own the Motorcycle, but are mere riders who are expected to deliver certain amount of money at the end of the day to the real owners. These types are the ones that remain defiant, believing that it is the Motorcycle who will suffer the consequences once it is impounded.
Despite the fact that it was only Abuja town that they were restrained from operating, they are however allowed to operate in Abuja town environs. One would have thought they will abide by this law, but they chose to remain defiant. Talk of New government, new sets of laws, at least, that is what the Okada Operators thinks.
Most of them that were interviewed hinged their comback on the exit of former Minister, and of course the end of Obasanjo Administration. Of particular is the fact that, most of this okada riders believed that as long as Obasanjo and El-Rufai are no more holding forth in Office, the law banning their trade is no more enforceable.
This defiance caused the administration of Federal Capital to descend heavily on this and today, about 250 motorcycles had been impounded while a mobile court was set up to try offenders with over 20 already sentenced to 3 months imprisonment.
With the clampdown on them, one would have thought it will serve as deterrent, but some of them still remain defiant, choosing of course to operate early in the morning and of course in the evening when they know the task force would either not have resumed for work or had already closed for the day.
This defiance had caused this blogger to pause and ponder why they can subject themselves to such risk knowing fully well that they may be arrested and prosecuted. The truth however is that most of them are illiterates who does not believe that the law prohibiting their operations is still in force, other who are literate could not afford to leave the trade since it is a means of livelihood to them. One then ponders that there is indeed money in the business, no wonder some of the Okada riders does not own the Motorcycle, but are mere riders who are expected to deliver certain amount of money at the end of the day to the real owners. These types are the ones that remain defiant, believing that it is the Motorcycle who will suffer the consequences once it is impounded.
Despite the fact that it was only Abuja town that they were restrained from operating, they are however allowed to operate in Abuja town environs. One would have thought they will abide by this law, but they chose to remain defiant. Talk of New government, new sets of laws, at least, that is what the Okada Operators thinks.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Running Scared
We all must have experienced this one way or the other. But this particular one I am about to narrate happened to a friend, it was indeed 'running scared'
My friend had stayed in 6 different places in Abuja here and have each place demolished. He was so unlucky. Here in Abuja before Mallam El-Rufai came in as Minister, it is a common practice to see people building illegal mud houses. It is usually mud houses because the land itself was illegal, they bought the land for a meagre sum knowing fully well that the government can come at any time to demolish it. So my friend was unlucky to rent such houses on 6 different occasions and on each occasions, have his house demolished. The most painful aspect is that he ended up losing his rental fees on such scenarios.
I think he fell into such circumstances because he is a low income earner who cannot afford to rent those flats or self-contained room which goes for exorbitant amount. Now my friend live in the outskirt of Abuja and still scare that perhaps where he is resident could be subjected to another demolition even though it is in Nassarawa State. Now that is what I called 'Running Scared' . Can you blame him, the fear of 'Demolition' is the beginning of wisdom in Abuja.
My friend had stayed in 6 different places in Abuja here and have each place demolished. He was so unlucky. Here in Abuja before Mallam El-Rufai came in as Minister, it is a common practice to see people building illegal mud houses. It is usually mud houses because the land itself was illegal, they bought the land for a meagre sum knowing fully well that the government can come at any time to demolish it. So my friend was unlucky to rent such houses on 6 different occasions and on each occasions, have his house demolished. The most painful aspect is that he ended up losing his rental fees on such scenarios.
I think he fell into such circumstances because he is a low income earner who cannot afford to rent those flats or self-contained room which goes for exorbitant amount. Now my friend live in the outskirt of Abuja and still scare that perhaps where he is resident could be subjected to another demolition even though it is in Nassarawa State. Now that is what I called 'Running Scared' . Can you blame him, the fear of 'Demolition' is the beginning of wisdom in Abuja.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
The Ceasefire that may not be honoured
The Niger Delta militant had again issued another ceasefire to incessant kidnapping of foreign national. In a statement issued yesterday, the joint militants group decided to recognise the government of Yar'Adua and decided to sheath their sword for another one month to allow dialogue. Amongst their demands is unconditional release of Mujahid Asari Dokubo, the leader of a militant group, release of Dieprieye Alamieseigha the former governor of Bayelsa State.
What this blog is particular about is the huge amount of money paid to this Militants as ransome. What happened to this large sum of money? who benefited from it, what was it used for and most importantly, can they actually stop this kidnapping in the event that ransom is involved and not more of proving of agitations.
What we are trying to say here is, at least some people have become rich as a result of this kidnappings, some large amount of arms have been procure with this ransom money and of course, it is becoming more of a quicker way to make money. If the above scenarios is wrong, then if eventually, the ceasefire is honoured and a truce was agreed upon, and the kidnapping stopped eventually, this blog is tempted to agreed that it was a political motivated unrest in the first place.
Truth is no matter the outcome of the ceasefire and truce with the federal government, this kidnapping has come to stay. Some people have seen this as a way of making it, and they will not want it to stopped. In all other places of the world where kidnapping is embark upon, it is always to agitate for a course, and mostly, where ransom demands is involved, it is not always a regular occurence as it is obtained in the Niger Delta.
However, let us give them the benefit of doubt, the ceasefire has already been declared, let us wait for the outcome of the truce and if indeed it happened, let us also wait whether the Militants will eventually make Kidnapping of foreign national a thing of the past.
What this blog is particular about is the huge amount of money paid to this Militants as ransome. What happened to this large sum of money? who benefited from it, what was it used for and most importantly, can they actually stop this kidnapping in the event that ransom is involved and not more of proving of agitations.
What we are trying to say here is, at least some people have become rich as a result of this kidnappings, some large amount of arms have been procure with this ransom money and of course, it is becoming more of a quicker way to make money. If the above scenarios is wrong, then if eventually, the ceasefire is honoured and a truce was agreed upon, and the kidnapping stopped eventually, this blog is tempted to agreed that it was a political motivated unrest in the first place.
Truth is no matter the outcome of the ceasefire and truce with the federal government, this kidnapping has come to stay. Some people have seen this as a way of making it, and they will not want it to stopped. In all other places of the world where kidnapping is embark upon, it is always to agitate for a course, and mostly, where ransom demands is involved, it is not always a regular occurence as it is obtained in the Niger Delta.
However, let us give them the benefit of doubt, the ceasefire has already been declared, let us wait for the outcome of the truce and if indeed it happened, let us also wait whether the Militants will eventually make Kidnapping of foreign national a thing of the past.
That Long Strike call by NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress has sound the drum of strike once again against the increase in fuel price and 10% VAT. In a statement issue yesterday, they warned that Nigerians should prepare for a long strike if the federal government refuse to play ball by reversing the VAT and Pump price of petrol back to its former position.
This blog wonder whether the strike can take effects at all. If indeed the ultimatum given by labour come to pass, it will be a testing ground by both the Federal Government and the Labour. This is because the Labour Union will be embarking on a strike first time after the erstwhile President Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has left the office, and also first time after the government has enacted a law making joint labour strike illegal. The labour will also want to test how this new government would handle labour strike compared to how it has been in Obasanjo era.
The federal government on the other hand would also want to test its newly enacted law banning strike by NLC and of course it will also be a test ground for how the new government and labour relations would be.
Whichever way, it is the masses that will suffer. Truth is, despite the hike in price of fuel, there is still some scarcity in certain areas making some people to buy pump price as high as 250 naira per litre. Some people believed, this is another way of government making the price to stay, since some people will argue that the price is still highly subsidised and that, that probably explained why it is still scarce.
This blog urge the labour to shelve its strike because it will still paralyse the economy. They should try and look for another avenue to make grievances known instead of strike. Strike, to me, should be the last resort after all available options have been exhausted. Using the joker of strike at any slightest opportunity by labour has beginning to make the strike action look old-fashioned, ineffectual and confrontational.
This blog wonder whether the strike can take effects at all. If indeed the ultimatum given by labour come to pass, it will be a testing ground by both the Federal Government and the Labour. This is because the Labour Union will be embarking on a strike first time after the erstwhile President Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has left the office, and also first time after the government has enacted a law making joint labour strike illegal. The labour will also want to test how this new government would handle labour strike compared to how it has been in Obasanjo era.
The federal government on the other hand would also want to test its newly enacted law banning strike by NLC and of course it will also be a test ground for how the new government and labour relations would be.
Whichever way, it is the masses that will suffer. Truth is, despite the hike in price of fuel, there is still some scarcity in certain areas making some people to buy pump price as high as 250 naira per litre. Some people believed, this is another way of government making the price to stay, since some people will argue that the price is still highly subsidised and that, that probably explained why it is still scarce.
This blog urge the labour to shelve its strike because it will still paralyse the economy. They should try and look for another avenue to make grievances known instead of strike. Strike, to me, should be the last resort after all available options have been exhausted. Using the joker of strike at any slightest opportunity by labour has beginning to make the strike action look old-fashioned, ineffectual and confrontational.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
What to write?
For the past week, I had wanted to write, but always short of what to blog about. But, I think I had gotten over that, by just reviewing event of the country during the week.
The new president Umar Yar'adua jetted out of the country today, signaling his first official visit outside the country since his inauguration.
The Senate President is now Gen. David Mark, and the only thing the majority Nigerians remembered about him was his remark when he was Communication Minister during the past Military regime where he said "Telephone is not for the poor'
Nigeria also has its first female Speaker in Mrs Ette. She was also sworn in Yesterday. Remarks from his co-legislators indicates that she is very good for the job.
This blog however warn the principal officers to beware of the legendary "banana peels" especially in the senate that has characterise those who are first appointed on the first day of inauguration of Senate but never make it to till the end of their tenure.
There is more, but more gist later.
The new president Umar Yar'adua jetted out of the country today, signaling his first official visit outside the country since his inauguration.
The Senate President is now Gen. David Mark, and the only thing the majority Nigerians remembered about him was his remark when he was Communication Minister during the past Military regime where he said "Telephone is not for the poor'
Nigeria also has its first female Speaker in Mrs Ette. She was also sworn in Yesterday. Remarks from his co-legislators indicates that she is very good for the job.
This blog however warn the principal officers to beware of the legendary "banana peels" especially in the senate that has characterise those who are first appointed on the first day of inauguration of Senate but never make it to till the end of their tenure.
There is more, but more gist later.
Friday, June 1, 2007
A Fast one by Petrol Attendant
As if the increase in fuel prices is not enough, those Petrol Attendants would not stop trying to extort money from you by playing a fast one on you any time you are filing your tank at Petrol Filing Stations.
The computerised Pumping machine installed does not even detar them from pulling a fast one. One Petrol Attendant played a fast one on me today and actually got away with it, I discovered this because I paid for over 25 litre of fuel and yet my tank revealed he did actually play a fast one on me. He punch 2,000 naira worth of fuel on the computerised pumping machine quite alright, when the machine had dispensed 1,000 worth of fuel, I was carried away with the serene environment of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, and was distracted from monitoring the transaction. By the time I was jolted back to the transaction, the pumping machine merely read "preset" and I thot it has finished dispensing, since it will stop after the programmed input amount has been dispensed. It was when I enter my car that I knew he had play a fast one on me. Probably the machine stopped or he corniously tamper with it, the amount of fuel dispensed does not commensurate with the amount I paid.
Fellow bloggers shoud learn from this experience. Try and glue your eye to the pumping machine until the quantity of fuel you paid for is dispensed.
Has anyone pause to ponder that everyone has gone crazy with this get rich quick syndrome through this Oil money, even the petrol attendant are not exempted.
The computerised Pumping machine installed does not even detar them from pulling a fast one. One Petrol Attendant played a fast one on me today and actually got away with it, I discovered this because I paid for over 25 litre of fuel and yet my tank revealed he did actually play a fast one on me. He punch 2,000 naira worth of fuel on the computerised pumping machine quite alright, when the machine had dispensed 1,000 worth of fuel, I was carried away with the serene environment of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, and was distracted from monitoring the transaction. By the time I was jolted back to the transaction, the pumping machine merely read "preset" and I thot it has finished dispensing, since it will stop after the programmed input amount has been dispensed. It was when I enter my car that I knew he had play a fast one on me. Probably the machine stopped or he corniously tamper with it, the amount of fuel dispensed does not commensurate with the amount I paid.
Fellow bloggers shoud learn from this experience. Try and glue your eye to the pumping machine until the quantity of fuel you paid for is dispensed.
Has anyone pause to ponder that everyone has gone crazy with this get rich quick syndrome through this Oil money, even the petrol attendant are not exempted.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Well done - Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
As you bow out of office today, I cannot but concluded that you have done your best. You have taken Nigeria out of wilderness you met it 8 years ago. When you started your campaign in 1999, the slogan back then was HOPE. Your dream for Nigeria back then was that you see hope and you set out to bring hope to Nigeria.
You have ruled Nigeria according to who you are, according to your conscience and according to how you want to achieve your dream for this nation.
By handing over today, I am so happy that you have accomplished another 1st in the history of Nigeria. The feat of handing over today is not a mere feat, history was made again, the feat which you first achieved by being the first Military to hand over to a civilian President back then in 1979, the same achievement is being recorded again today, by being the first civiian president to hand over to another civilian.
Like I used to say in this blog, your legacy and achievement will be felt long after you leave office. I hasten to add that, whereas your critics may have falter along the way with the challenges and voluminous of Nigeria burden, but you came out triumphantly.
Ijo tabaku ladere, Omo Eniyan Osunwon laaye.
Well done Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR.
You have ruled Nigeria according to who you are, according to your conscience and according to how you want to achieve your dream for this nation.
By handing over today, I am so happy that you have accomplished another 1st in the history of Nigeria. The feat of handing over today is not a mere feat, history was made again, the feat which you first achieved by being the first Military to hand over to a civilian President back then in 1979, the same achievement is being recorded again today, by being the first civiian president to hand over to another civilian.
Like I used to say in this blog, your legacy and achievement will be felt long after you leave office. I hasten to add that, whereas your critics may have falter along the way with the challenges and voluminous of Nigeria burden, but you came out triumphantly.
Ijo tabaku ladere, Omo Eniyan Osunwon laaye.
Well done Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR.
Monday, May 28, 2007
The Alibi of the Vice President
One thing that is synonymous with our politicians is the way they palter with us in double sense, the way they keep the word of promise to our hear and break it to our hope. A classic example is the outgoing Vice President. One would have thought he will remain in the country to see to the end of his tenure, but he chose to absent whether with or without leave.
For him to perform his last responsibility as the Vice President, by attending the inauguration of the new President elect, he also chose to stay away saying that he cannot dignify such a hollow ritual with his presence. What an alibi of saving face! The truth is he is not sure of what will happen to him after his tenure in office, perhaps the existing EFCC who still remain in the incoming administration may be on his trail, so he chose to remain abroad.
I wonder when our politician will cultivate the habit of resigning honourably especially when the ovation is loudest most. Truth is, the VP relevance in office is no more necessary, the moment he chose to be at logger head with the President, and he should have resign since then. Can any one ponder along with me, and point out any tangible and cogent thing he had undertake in office since the impasse he had with the President.
The yoruba had an adage which says, "Bi aba nja, Bi kaku ko" meaning 'we do not fight to the point of wishing someone dead' Perhaps I am wrong, but I thought the VP is more closer to the Yar'Adua family than what is obtainable from the VP. Methinks that he is expected to rally round Yar'Adua in this handing over than any other person, sweeping under the carpet his ambition to be president which had already been truncated. Methinks, he should have use this opportunity to warm his way into political relevance in Nigeria again instead of choosing to be confrontational by going as far as not only refusing to recognise the administration of Yar'Adua, but went as far as challenging his election at election tribunal and also refusing to attend his innauguration.
His alibi for staying away from the inauguration isnt genuine enough and to me is a face saving. The truth is if the election is free and fair and he lost, he still will not attend one way or the other because he has lost credibility of his office to the impasse between him and the President. The letter he wrote to inform Nigerians of his absence at the inauguration is a gimmicks to make us believe that his alibi is genuine, but it is a classic case of face saving to conceal the loss of his political relevance in Nigerian polity.
Past experience should have taught him and revealed to him by now that nothing, (and I hasten to add too that it has never been) come out of his election petition with election tribunal. That too, to me is also an alibi of face saving to conceal loss of political relevance, no wonder he is not around to supervise and file the appeal himself.
I beg, enough said.
For him to perform his last responsibility as the Vice President, by attending the inauguration of the new President elect, he also chose to stay away saying that he cannot dignify such a hollow ritual with his presence. What an alibi of saving face! The truth is he is not sure of what will happen to him after his tenure in office, perhaps the existing EFCC who still remain in the incoming administration may be on his trail, so he chose to remain abroad.
I wonder when our politician will cultivate the habit of resigning honourably especially when the ovation is loudest most. Truth is, the VP relevance in office is no more necessary, the moment he chose to be at logger head with the President, and he should have resign since then. Can any one ponder along with me, and point out any tangible and cogent thing he had undertake in office since the impasse he had with the President.
The yoruba had an adage which says, "Bi aba nja, Bi kaku ko" meaning 'we do not fight to the point of wishing someone dead' Perhaps I am wrong, but I thought the VP is more closer to the Yar'Adua family than what is obtainable from the VP. Methinks that he is expected to rally round Yar'Adua in this handing over than any other person, sweeping under the carpet his ambition to be president which had already been truncated. Methinks, he should have use this opportunity to warm his way into political relevance in Nigeria again instead of choosing to be confrontational by going as far as not only refusing to recognise the administration of Yar'Adua, but went as far as challenging his election at election tribunal and also refusing to attend his innauguration.
His alibi for staying away from the inauguration isnt genuine enough and to me is a face saving. The truth is if the election is free and fair and he lost, he still will not attend one way or the other because he has lost credibility of his office to the impasse between him and the President. The letter he wrote to inform Nigerians of his absence at the inauguration is a gimmicks to make us believe that his alibi is genuine, but it is a classic case of face saving to conceal the loss of his political relevance in Nigerian polity.
Past experience should have taught him and revealed to him by now that nothing, (and I hasten to add too that it has never been) come out of his election petition with election tribunal. That too, to me is also an alibi of face saving to conceal loss of political relevance, no wonder he is not around to supervise and file the appeal himself.
I beg, enough said.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Handing over the Jailbirds to the President-Elect
Am I the only one pondering over the post 29th May handing over to the new President? Well one of the thing I am highly interested in is the faith of two jailbirds during the reign of the President. Major Al-Mustapha and General Bamaiyi are in jail during the reign of the president, with their respective cases still in court with so many adjourned cases, what happened to them after the departure of the Obasanjo regime?
Making it interesting is the role the two played in the alleged coup case leveled against Obasanjo during Abacha regime, there are also some people apart from Obasanjo who earn from brutality of the two during the period. One would then wonder whether with the depart of the Obasanjo, the two jailbirds would be released during Yar'adua regime, considering the fact that the two came from the northern region like the president elect.
Making it interesting is the role the two played in the alleged coup case leveled against Obasanjo during Abacha regime, there are also some people apart from Obasanjo who earn from brutality of the two during the period. One would then wonder whether with the depart of the Obasanjo, the two jailbirds would be released during Yar'adua regime, considering the fact that the two came from the northern region like the president elect.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Handing over Strike to President-Elect
The Oil workers (both Pengassan and Nupeng) embark on strike to protest the sale of Refineries which has paralysed activities in Nigeria. The strike which enter the 3rd day today has made it impossible for lifting of oil from fuel depots all over the country. There has been long queue of vehicles at filling stations, reminiscent of years before the present government took over power in 1999.
As if that was not enough, the ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities) are also on strike to protest the government refusal to honour the agreement they had with it in 2001. This present strike is largely about funding of the universities and university autonomy with tangential emphasis on staff salaries, staff and student welfare and teaching aides. In addition, ASUU has resolved that the sacked 49 lecturers (some have died from complicities arising from poverty and hopelessness) be restored in the mainstream University of Ilorin academia, having committed no other offense than going on strike.
The PHCN staff are also gearing up for strike as they have issued notice of strike to also protest the sale of Egbin Thermal station.
As far as I am concerned, however genuine the strike may seems like, the strike is political in nature, there are some people somewhere that just want Obasanjo government to hand over power the way he met the country 8 years ago. They dont want everything to look business as usual when handing over to Yar'Adua. The truth is, this people in government that this strike were targeted would not be the one bearing the pain, it is we Nigerians. I continue to Ponder on whose behalf the oil workers are protesting the sale of refineries or the PHCN protest of sale of Egbin Thermal station when there had been sale of other institutions int he past. This Government had made it known that they wish to privatize some institutions that government had been funding in the past and Refineries and Thermal stations are just a small number of them. The exercise had been going on a long time ago by BPE, so I dont see the reason for this strike at all, it is just not the right time. Perhaps because the oil workers, ASUU and PHCN knew they can hold the nation into ransom, that is why they are doing this. I can just recalled correctly, but I know as a fact that this present administration had spent a fortune trying to turn around this Refineries, and up till today, they are still not refining at full capacities.
As for the ASUU strike, methinks they should have hold on till the new administration assume full duty, and then tender their grievances again to see whether he has a listening ear, by welcoming him to office with strike means they are not ready to cooperate with his administration. Same reasons goes to the Oil workers. The PHCN staff are probably trying to utilize this avenue before embarking on their own strike.
As for the 49 Universities lecturer that was sacked at Unilorin, I don't see that being reversed, Government or Institutions are known to be adamant on such matters, I guess that is the sacrifices the concerned lecturers will pay for participating in strikes. The only person who can do that is the incoming administration, and with the strike the ASUU is staging now, which looks like a confrontation, it does not help their matters one bit.
The government had indeed warned that any striking workers would not longer be paid for the period they are on strike. They had similarly directed NUC not to pay the ASUU during the period they are on strike, same decisions will be binding on all other body on strikes.
This is what this blogger keeps saying, the situation in Nigeria is volatile as it is, it will degenerates the more if oil workers, PHCN and ASUU continue with their strike. It may only point to uneasiness for government, but the striking workers (as could be seen withthe fate of 49 Unilorin workers) and we the masses are the one that suffer.
As if that was not enough, the ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities) are also on strike to protest the government refusal to honour the agreement they had with it in 2001. This present strike is largely about funding of the universities and university autonomy with tangential emphasis on staff salaries, staff and student welfare and teaching aides. In addition, ASUU has resolved that the sacked 49 lecturers (some have died from complicities arising from poverty and hopelessness) be restored in the mainstream University of Ilorin academia, having committed no other offense than going on strike.
The PHCN staff are also gearing up for strike as they have issued notice of strike to also protest the sale of Egbin Thermal station.
As far as I am concerned, however genuine the strike may seems like, the strike is political in nature, there are some people somewhere that just want Obasanjo government to hand over power the way he met the country 8 years ago. They dont want everything to look business as usual when handing over to Yar'Adua. The truth is, this people in government that this strike were targeted would not be the one bearing the pain, it is we Nigerians. I continue to Ponder on whose behalf the oil workers are protesting the sale of refineries or the PHCN protest of sale of Egbin Thermal station when there had been sale of other institutions int he past. This Government had made it known that they wish to privatize some institutions that government had been funding in the past and Refineries and Thermal stations are just a small number of them. The exercise had been going on a long time ago by BPE, so I dont see the reason for this strike at all, it is just not the right time. Perhaps because the oil workers, ASUU and PHCN knew they can hold the nation into ransom, that is why they are doing this. I can just recalled correctly, but I know as a fact that this present administration had spent a fortune trying to turn around this Refineries, and up till today, they are still not refining at full capacities.
As for the ASUU strike, methinks they should have hold on till the new administration assume full duty, and then tender their grievances again to see whether he has a listening ear, by welcoming him to office with strike means they are not ready to cooperate with his administration. Same reasons goes to the Oil workers. The PHCN staff are probably trying to utilize this avenue before embarking on their own strike.
As for the 49 Universities lecturer that was sacked at Unilorin, I don't see that being reversed, Government or Institutions are known to be adamant on such matters, I guess that is the sacrifices the concerned lecturers will pay for participating in strikes. The only person who can do that is the incoming administration, and with the strike the ASUU is staging now, which looks like a confrontation, it does not help their matters one bit.
The government had indeed warned that any striking workers would not longer be paid for the period they are on strike. They had similarly directed NUC not to pay the ASUU during the period they are on strike, same decisions will be binding on all other body on strikes.
This is what this blogger keeps saying, the situation in Nigeria is volatile as it is, it will degenerates the more if oil workers, PHCN and ASUU continue with their strike. It may only point to uneasiness for government, but the striking workers (as could be seen withthe fate of 49 Unilorin workers) and we the masses are the one that suffer.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Segun Odegbami, His Daughter and Figure 7
During his playing days in the 80s, everyone knows Engr. Segun Odegbami is always sporting Jersey Number 7, he is so popular with the number that every aspiring soccer star in those days prefer to sporting shirt No. 7 just like Pele make popular the shirt number 10.
Since then, Odegbami has been synonymous with figure 7, so much that he ended up giving birth to a daughter on 7th May. The daughter popularly called May 7ven is a born singer. She also chose the figure 7 to be her stage name. May7ven, grew up in both Nigeria and England and her music is currently on German top chart.
Her talents has been invited to work with and support a number of artists and producers around the world namely Blue Cantrell, Dark Man X, ATL, Wu Tang Clan, Jamelia, Steve Brookstien, KRS1, Phoebe 1, Mary J Blige, Wayne Marshall, Ebony, Tiwa, Adina Howard, Horace Brown, Rick Clark, Joe Thomas, Sean Paul, Angie Stone, So Mean production, Ryde, Incicive, Rockwell, Colin Emmanuel and many more.
Chief Segun Odegbami has not done yet with figure seven, his outfit is also coined out of the figure seven. 7mathematical is the name of his website where he is promoting sports and also other sports related materials.
Her daughter too not done with the figure seven, stormed Nigeria in 2007 to exhibit her music to all family and friends and Nigerians as a whole. May 7ven is happily married and her record is due for release next July.
That call by 48 Nobel Laureate
The call by the 48 Nobel Laureate that the last April election should be re-run or else it will portends violence is seriously not expected of high calibre individuals that the world hold high in esteem. The fact that they predict a warning that not doing so could lead to violence is to say the least an unguarded statement.
For God's sake I have been saying this times without number that those who do not stay in this country or are frequenting abroad and Nigeria should not light the ember of violence in Nigeria. All the 48 Nobel Laureate needs to do is to conduct an opinion poll whether there should be re-run of this election or not. Majority of Nigerians are not ready to embark on any violence to protest an election that was won by one of the candidates, afterall the one they protested for on June 12 1991 election is still fresh in their memory, and still achieve the desire results.
If the48 Nobel Laureate predicted and warn about violence, who is starting the violence? Are they saying they will lead the violence together with their families who lives abroad? Are they saying the aggrieved Presidential candidates would lead the violence with their families? Of course none of the above is going to be the scenarios, we dont want violence in this country, because we dont have anywhere to go in the event of total collapse of law and order compare to them who had all their families scattered abroad.
While we appreciates their condemnation of the last April election as was done by everyone, this blogger inclusive, the truth is no election is perfect, therefore, let us move on. None of the candidates had anything against the winner in Yar'Adua as a person, nobody has come out to doubt his integrity or his past misdemeanour, then let him form his government. The aggrieved presidential candidates has filed their appeal at the Appeal Court Tribunal, let us wait and see the outcome instead of inciting violence.
For God's sake I have been saying this times without number that those who do not stay in this country or are frequenting abroad and Nigeria should not light the ember of violence in Nigeria. All the 48 Nobel Laureate needs to do is to conduct an opinion poll whether there should be re-run of this election or not. Majority of Nigerians are not ready to embark on any violence to protest an election that was won by one of the candidates, afterall the one they protested for on June 12 1991 election is still fresh in their memory, and still achieve the desire results.
If the48 Nobel Laureate predicted and warn about violence, who is starting the violence? Are they saying they will lead the violence together with their families who lives abroad? Are they saying the aggrieved Presidential candidates would lead the violence with their families? Of course none of the above is going to be the scenarios, we dont want violence in this country, because we dont have anywhere to go in the event of total collapse of law and order compare to them who had all their families scattered abroad.
While we appreciates their condemnation of the last April election as was done by everyone, this blogger inclusive, the truth is no election is perfect, therefore, let us move on. None of the candidates had anything against the winner in Yar'Adua as a person, nobody has come out to doubt his integrity or his past misdemeanour, then let him form his government. The aggrieved presidential candidates has filed their appeal at the Appeal Court Tribunal, let us wait and see the outcome instead of inciting violence.
Monday, May 21, 2007
A Protest in Futility
The Nigerian Lawyers last week Friday embark on boycott of court to protest the last April Election, and from the coverage by daily newspapers, it was indeed a success. But like Lawyers they are, one begin to wonder whether boycott of court is an antidote for the last election. The lawyers are known to believe in the rule of law, one would have thought that taking the right step of contesting the election in the law court would have been the civil way, resorting to court boycott is seen to me as somewhat accepting defeat even if the matter is challenge in the court. Because if the lawyers do believe in the rule of law, they should not have agreed on court boycott knowing fully well that, they can right the wrong of the election in the court.
A protest in futility is perhaps the right way to captioned the Lawyers boycott and it can only come from a body that has a human right activist as its head, no wonder the boycott is expected, but methinks fighting it through what they believed in i.e rule of law should have been the best way to protest.
Having said this, it looks like Yar'adua will get away with this mandate and get sworn in come May 29th, all is set and endorsements of his administration from foreign countries has been witnessed. The two runners up in the last election had not yet also submit their petition to the election tribunal while we await the judgement in the case of Agoro challenging the swearing in of the president elect come this week.
Definitely, I cant and wont join any protest, neither is over 60 million Nigerians that voted for Yar'adua, and I am sure that millions of Nigerians who did not come out to vote on the election day would not also participate in the protest, not to talk of Millions of Nigerians who are ready to give peace a chance.despite the fact that they believe there is shortcomings in the election.
Therefore, the planned protest by the civil right groups slated for May 28 and 29 and the last protest by the Lawyers last week Friday seems to be a protest in futility. I continue to ponder over this, and I cant just continue to ponder in silence. Like we always said in the last popular June 12 debacle, On June 12 we stand, if I may borrow that, On April 21 we stand, protest or no protest.
A protest in futility is perhaps the right way to captioned the Lawyers boycott and it can only come from a body that has a human right activist as its head, no wonder the boycott is expected, but methinks fighting it through what they believed in i.e rule of law should have been the best way to protest.
Having said this, it looks like Yar'adua will get away with this mandate and get sworn in come May 29th, all is set and endorsements of his administration from foreign countries has been witnessed. The two runners up in the last election had not yet also submit their petition to the election tribunal while we await the judgement in the case of Agoro challenging the swearing in of the president elect come this week.
Definitely, I cant and wont join any protest, neither is over 60 million Nigerians that voted for Yar'adua, and I am sure that millions of Nigerians who did not come out to vote on the election day would not also participate in the protest, not to talk of Millions of Nigerians who are ready to give peace a chance.despite the fact that they believe there is shortcomings in the election.
Therefore, the planned protest by the civil right groups slated for May 28 and 29 and the last protest by the Lawyers last week Friday seems to be a protest in futility. I continue to ponder over this, and I cant just continue to ponder in silence. Like we always said in the last popular June 12 debacle, On June 12 we stand, if I may borrow that, On April 21 we stand, protest or no protest.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
First Clay win for Roger Federer in 2007
About an hour ago, World Number one Roger Federer defeated his counterpart, the world number two ?Rafael Nadall on clay court of Hamburg in this year 2007 ATP Masters Series in Hamburg. Watching Federer, he prove to everyone that he has arrived to stamp his superiority on clay court. Federer started his clay-court season by reaching the final of the Monte Carlo Masters, he lost to second seeded Rafael Nadal. Federer lost in the 3rd round of the Rome Masters to Filippo Volandri 6-2, 6-4, a player who was at the time outside the world's top 50. The loss marked the 4th straight tournament Federer failed to win, making it his poorest career stretch since becoming World No. 1 in February 2004.
Today's win is his 6th win on clay court since he has become world number in 2004. It is hoped that he would take this win to French Open which seems to be the only Gram Slam that eluded him in his career.
Before the UEFA Chanpions League is Won by Cheats
Yeah, before UEFA champions league is won by cheats, the AC Milan of course. Call it that I am scared that they will win come Wednesday night, the truth is, there are so many things at stake. First, the two teams Liverpool and AC Milan are meeting in the final two times within 3 years, in the last final between the two, AC Milan is the favourite to win, before they lost scandalously through penalty kick after they had gone up by 3-0 in the first half before Liverpool equalised in the second half and went on to win through penalty kick.
The second is that once again, Liverpool had been written off by football experts, so the scenario of the last final between the two can still come into play. The last issue that bothers me much is the fact that AC Milan has been dubbed "cheats" for their role in match fixing in the 2006 Serie A league. The acts that earn them deduction of points thereby losing the title to Inter Milan. My worry is that should they win this year champions league, the truth is they do so by cheating, thereby putting disrepute to the game. Enough of the flimsy excuse that they had been punish, the truth however is they qualify for the league by cheating.
Having said this, ever ponder whether Liverpool can re-enact their last performance of 2005 final against Milan, even though this year there seems to be no any history backing up their attempts at a shot to the cup.
If AC Milan won the cup, let anyone believe and know that the cup this year goes to cheaters of the game in Italy which enable them to qualify for the league in the first place and I tell you, if they do win, then this year Champions league is not won by a worthy winner, because I am beginning to doubt if they did not fix the matches up to winning the cup.
The second is that once again, Liverpool had been written off by football experts, so the scenario of the last final between the two can still come into play. The last issue that bothers me much is the fact that AC Milan has been dubbed "cheats" for their role in match fixing in the 2006 Serie A league. The acts that earn them deduction of points thereby losing the title to Inter Milan. My worry is that should they win this year champions league, the truth is they do so by cheating, thereby putting disrepute to the game. Enough of the flimsy excuse that they had been punish, the truth however is they qualify for the league by cheating.
Having said this, ever ponder whether Liverpool can re-enact their last performance of 2005 final against Milan, even though this year there seems to be no any history backing up their attempts at a shot to the cup.
If AC Milan won the cup, let anyone believe and know that the cup this year goes to cheaters of the game in Italy which enable them to qualify for the league in the first place and I tell you, if they do win, then this year Champions league is not won by a worthy winner, because I am beginning to doubt if they did not fix the matches up to winning the cup.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Abolition of Jumbo Pay
The Federal Government yesterday after it rose from Federal Executive Council meeting abolished the jumbo pay enjoy by some of its agencies and parastatals like CBN, NNPC, BPE, NCC etc warning that they are not henceforth allow to approve jumbo pay for its staff. It has therefore directed the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) to issue out a circular to all the establishments concerned for immediate compliance with the government directive.
It is not however clear whether the existing salary scale will still be maintained or they will be revert back to be at par with other Ministries.
If this directive see the light of the day, it means the banking sector, telecommunication sector and other sectors affected by the above directives will be hit with mass exodus of staff, as it is evident that the parastatals would not be able to compete with the demand of best hands in the job market. In the Telecommunication and banking sector for instance, poaching of good hands will be the order of the day. Big companies who are already paying jumbo salaries like Globacom, MTN, Celtel are poised down to poach some highly trained and best hands of NCC, while big banks like UBA, First Bank, Union bank etc are also going to start poaching some best hands in CBN.
Also, those parastatals involved would not be in position to hire good hands since those they are regulating would be paying better salaries than them. It is certainly not good for government parastatals that are regulatory body like CBN, NCC, NNPC as those they are regulating could afford to poach their staff at any slightest opportunity, while such staff so poached would carry the knowledge of regulatory to such establishment. It certainly wont work, and if it does, it would be counter productive.
Ever ponder that we are going to start to witness the scenarios that do always play out in the Ministries in the Government agencies and parastatals that the above directive will directly affects. The era of corporate discharge of duties by this parastatals is beginning to come to an end. 100% devotion to duty as the case is presently with this agencies/parastals will fade away while the mentality and attitude of 'civil servant' will set in.
It is not however clear whether the existing salary scale will still be maintained or they will be revert back to be at par with other Ministries.
If this directive see the light of the day, it means the banking sector, telecommunication sector and other sectors affected by the above directives will be hit with mass exodus of staff, as it is evident that the parastatals would not be able to compete with the demand of best hands in the job market. In the Telecommunication and banking sector for instance, poaching of good hands will be the order of the day. Big companies who are already paying jumbo salaries like Globacom, MTN, Celtel are poised down to poach some highly trained and best hands of NCC, while big banks like UBA, First Bank, Union bank etc are also going to start poaching some best hands in CBN.
Also, those parastatals involved would not be in position to hire good hands since those they are regulating would be paying better salaries than them. It is certainly not good for government parastatals that are regulatory body like CBN, NCC, NNPC as those they are regulating could afford to poach their staff at any slightest opportunity, while such staff so poached would carry the knowledge of regulatory to such establishment. It certainly wont work, and if it does, it would be counter productive.
Ever ponder that we are going to start to witness the scenarios that do always play out in the Ministries in the Government agencies and parastatals that the above directive will directly affects. The era of corporate discharge of duties by this parastatals is beginning to come to an end. 100% devotion to duty as the case is presently with this agencies/parastals will fade away while the mentality and attitude of 'civil servant' will set in.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Saved by Arsenal
There is that premonition that something will go wrong before the end of the day, but I just dont know where to place it until when I was driving this afternnon when it eventually happened.
First it was one Nissan Laurel that gave me the baptism of fire by hitting my car because he cannot control his car on a hilly hold up, before he could accelerate to move forward, his car made a dent on the front bumper of my car, the damage is not much though. He did not even bother to come down from the car, neither do I, because the hold up was tense.
But when I drove out again later in the day, I had a break failure that resulted in denting another car with Arsenal football club logo conspicuously display at the bumper of the car. The car owner came down to access the damage so as to determine my bill. I did not even do any argument, I simply ask him to let me have how much it will cost. We were on this when he said he need to call his mechanic but did not have credit on his phone, so I handed him my Sony Ericsson P990i to make the call. He was about to make the call when he noticed the Arsenal Theme on my phone and he exclaimed, you are an Arsenal Fan too, and I replied, sure, Gunners for life. He went further to admire the phone and the Arsenal theme which gave the phone a nice look with Arsenal logo display conspicuously in the background. He forgot completely the Mechanic he wanted to call, but continue to admire the Arsenal Theme. So I show him more of my Arsenal wallpapers until he now came back to life to remember that he needs to call his mechanic. He put the call through, but it kept ringing, when he tried about 3 times, he gave up and dismiss the whole matter with a wave of the hand that I should even forget the whole matter, that I should go, he will effect the minor repair himself, because I am an Arsenal fan.
I was grinning with smile and thank him profusely. I had an instant relief because my mind had been doing some calculations on my budget on where to place the cost of his Car repair. We exchange phone number and even ask me to assist him in searching for Motorola Razr Arsenal themes.
I know you will ponder that I was left off the hook because I was an Arsenal fan, but like Oliver Twist, I cannot but ponder if he would suggest a repair on my own car too. Probably that will be pushing my luck too far dont you think so?
First it was one Nissan Laurel that gave me the baptism of fire by hitting my car because he cannot control his car on a hilly hold up, before he could accelerate to move forward, his car made a dent on the front bumper of my car, the damage is not much though. He did not even bother to come down from the car, neither do I, because the hold up was tense.
But when I drove out again later in the day, I had a break failure that resulted in denting another car with Arsenal football club logo conspicuously display at the bumper of the car. The car owner came down to access the damage so as to determine my bill. I did not even do any argument, I simply ask him to let me have how much it will cost. We were on this when he said he need to call his mechanic but did not have credit on his phone, so I handed him my Sony Ericsson P990i to make the call. He was about to make the call when he noticed the Arsenal Theme on my phone and he exclaimed, you are an Arsenal Fan too, and I replied, sure, Gunners for life. He went further to admire the phone and the Arsenal theme which gave the phone a nice look with Arsenal logo display conspicuously in the background. He forgot completely the Mechanic he wanted to call, but continue to admire the Arsenal Theme. So I show him more of my Arsenal wallpapers until he now came back to life to remember that he needs to call his mechanic. He put the call through, but it kept ringing, when he tried about 3 times, he gave up and dismiss the whole matter with a wave of the hand that I should even forget the whole matter, that I should go, he will effect the minor repair himself, because I am an Arsenal fan.
I was grinning with smile and thank him profusely. I had an instant relief because my mind had been doing some calculations on my budget on where to place the cost of his Car repair. We exchange phone number and even ask me to assist him in searching for Motorola Razr Arsenal themes.
I know you will ponder that I was left off the hook because I was an Arsenal fan, but like Oliver Twist, I cannot but ponder if he would suggest a repair on my own car too. Probably that will be pushing my luck too far dont you think so?
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
System Down
The new slogan of banking inefficiency in Nigerian or perhaps the new wave of sign of incompetences on the part of our banks is 'system down'. If you are a regular visitor to various banks in Nigeria, pray you dont encounter the 'system down' problem of those banks. They delay you for hours. Yesterday alone, colleagues in office narrate their ordeal with 2 different banks (Fidelity and UBA) their system is down and so noone was able to transact business yesterday, probably there are other banks that has the same problem yesterday.
Most of them that do claim that they run online banking to make services faster indeed always end up making their services longer. I just dont get it, it is now becoming a regular occurence of Nigerian banks to fall into this problem most of the times.
As if that is not enough, they boast that with the online system, you can draw your cheque anywhere in Nigeria and cash your money, but the reverse is the case especially when you are trying to cash interstate cheque. They first collect the cheque from you pretending you will be attended to, but later on draw your attention to their inability to honour the cheque with smart excuse of 'signature irregular' The truth actually is they dont want to go into the strenuous task of having have to contact the branch of where the cheque originates by faxing the cheque to them to verify the signature, whereby the branch will also call the account holder to confirm if indeed he draw such cheque. But if it were to be receiving payment, it does not entail all this protocol. Has anyone pause to ponder whether Nigerian banks are indeed ripe for online banking?
Most of them that do claim that they run online banking to make services faster indeed always end up making their services longer. I just dont get it, it is now becoming a regular occurence of Nigerian banks to fall into this problem most of the times.
As if that is not enough, they boast that with the online system, you can draw your cheque anywhere in Nigeria and cash your money, but the reverse is the case especially when you are trying to cash interstate cheque. They first collect the cheque from you pretending you will be attended to, but later on draw your attention to their inability to honour the cheque with smart excuse of 'signature irregular' The truth actually is they dont want to go into the strenuous task of having have to contact the branch of where the cheque originates by faxing the cheque to them to verify the signature, whereby the branch will also call the account holder to confirm if indeed he draw such cheque. But if it were to be receiving payment, it does not entail all this protocol. Has anyone pause to ponder whether Nigerian banks are indeed ripe for online banking?
Monday, May 14, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Successful Launch of NIGCOMSAT-1
By the time of writing this, Nigeria has successfully launch its first Nigeria Communications Satellite, into the space, the first in the continent of Africa.
NIGCOMSAT is backed by federal government and was undertaken by a Nigerian company, Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited. It was launch into the space in China which undertook the whole project. The satellite has 28 transponders which will enable it to cover the whole of Nigeria, Africa and some part of Europe. About 2 stations that will control the satellite was also set up by the China and over 50 Nigerians technicians has also been trained. I will keep you posted.
NIGCOMSAT is backed by federal government and was undertaken by a Nigerian company, Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited. It was launch into the space in China which undertook the whole project. The satellite has 28 transponders which will enable it to cover the whole of Nigeria, Africa and some part of Europe. About 2 stations that will control the satellite was also set up by the China and over 50 Nigerians technicians has also been trained. I will keep you posted.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Obasanjo cleared in PTDF Probe
The Senate yesterday absolves the President of all blames in the PTDF Saga. But it seriously indicted the Vice President Atiku Abubakar over the PTDF issues. The Senate had indeed did the right thing because it is clear from every point of view that someone who use the government for his own personal business is different from someone who uses the government money for government project. While Atiku was guilty of using the PTDF money to enrich his business interest, the President merely use it for what it is meant for - government projects.
Now that the President is exonerated, has anyone pause to ponder that the indiction of Atiku is becoming too many now, at least we now know that he is indeed guilty as charged. The EFCC, The Bayo Ojo panel, the Ndoma-Egba Panel, the Tsauri Panel and now the Senate all indicted the Vice-President. Do we need any more proof?
Now that the President is exonerated, has anyone pause to ponder that the indiction of Atiku is becoming too many now, at least we now know that he is indeed guilty as charged. The EFCC, The Bayo Ojo panel, the Ndoma-Egba Panel, the Tsauri Panel and now the Senate all indicted the Vice-President. Do we need any more proof?
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Some of my unsolicited e-mails that do tickles
A Middle aged woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. While on the operating table she had a near death experience. Seeing God she asked "Is my time up?" God said, "No, you have another 40 years, 2 months and 8 days to live." Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a facelift, liposuction, and a tummy tuck. She even had someone come in and change her hair color.
Since she had so much more time to live, she figured she might as well make the most of it. After her last operation, she was released from the hospital. While crossing the street on her way home, she was killed by an ambulance.
Arriving in front of God, she demanded, "I thought you said I had another 40 years" Why didn't you pull me from out of the path of the ambulance?" God replied, "I didn't recognize you."
************************************
Our Baba who art in Aso Rock
Balogun of Owu is thy name.
Thy handover has come
Thy will be done in Umaru, as it is from INEC
Leave us this May 29th, your departure date
Forgive Turaki his disloyalty
As we forgave your failed third term plot
Lead us not into anarchy
And deliver Ekiti from Emergency Rule
for Otta is thy destination, whether you do or die
With thy bags and thy baggage
forever and ever
Amen
Balogun of Owu is thy name.
Thy handover has come
Thy will be done in Umaru, as it is from INEC
Leave us this May 29th, your departure date
Forgive Turaki his disloyalty
As we forgave your failed third term plot
Lead us not into anarchy
And deliver Ekiti from Emergency Rule
for Otta is thy destination, whether you do or die
With thy bags and thy baggage
forever and ever
Amen
*************************
The Obasanjo in Tinubu
I had always said it that those who are championing fight for democracy today are not indeed fighting because of it, but for their own selfish interest. First, when OBJ was at logger heads with his VP, a lot of sympathy goes to the VP from a lot of people, but the truth is, if we were in OBJ shoes we would probably have done more than what he did.
Truth be told, it is not only OBJ that has a score to settle with his deputies, there are other state governors who also have the same problem with their deputies. I always ponder how soon we forget that the battle indeed started with Governor of Lagos State Mr. Tinubu, when he fought tooth and nail to impeach his deputy Kofoworoola Bucknor-Akerele, and thereafter appoint the incumbent Femi Pedro.
It is clear from the above that the intolerance of disloyalty from deputy is something that is not common in Nigerian politics, it further shows that, had it been that Governor Tinubu share the control of the house of assembly with his then deputy, then he will also run into trouble waters like OBJ and Atiku scenarios.
Having said all this, as if Tinubu has not learnt from the lesson of Bucknor Akerele, he is also on the verge of removing his present deputy Femi Pedro, and at the time of writing this, a 7 man Panel had been set up by the Chief Justice of the State and infact, Pedro has resigned, the resignation that Tinubu refused to accept preferring to impeach his deputy even when handing over date is less than 20 days because he dare contest an election he Tinubu did not deem he should contest.
Now those of us that is condemning Obasanjo, we can only do that from far away because we dont know what goes under the carpet, Tinubu who join hands in condemning the PDP government could not have done better if he was in OBJ shoes, at least by their actions we shall know them, having use 2 deputies in the spate of 8 years, and the third is even around the corner if he succeeded in impeaching Pedro.
Now, Pause and Ponder, is it not the Obasanjo in Tinubu that is showing now?, and I am sure, there are so many Obasanjo in many of us, it is because it is easier to criticise from far, than when we are actually involved.
Truth be told, it is not only OBJ that has a score to settle with his deputies, there are other state governors who also have the same problem with their deputies. I always ponder how soon we forget that the battle indeed started with Governor of Lagos State Mr. Tinubu, when he fought tooth and nail to impeach his deputy Kofoworoola Bucknor-Akerele, and thereafter appoint the incumbent Femi Pedro.
It is clear from the above that the intolerance of disloyalty from deputy is something that is not common in Nigerian politics, it further shows that, had it been that Governor Tinubu share the control of the house of assembly with his then deputy, then he will also run into trouble waters like OBJ and Atiku scenarios.
Having said all this, as if Tinubu has not learnt from the lesson of Bucknor Akerele, he is also on the verge of removing his present deputy Femi Pedro, and at the time of writing this, a 7 man Panel had been set up by the Chief Justice of the State and infact, Pedro has resigned, the resignation that Tinubu refused to accept preferring to impeach his deputy even when handing over date is less than 20 days because he dare contest an election he Tinubu did not deem he should contest.
Now those of us that is condemning Obasanjo, we can only do that from far away because we dont know what goes under the carpet, Tinubu who join hands in condemning the PDP government could not have done better if he was in OBJ shoes, at least by their actions we shall know them, having use 2 deputies in the spate of 8 years, and the third is even around the corner if he succeeded in impeaching Pedro.
Now, Pause and Ponder, is it not the Obasanjo in Tinubu that is showing now?, and I am sure, there are so many Obasanjo in many of us, it is because it is easier to criticise from far, than when we are actually involved.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Did the labour struggle die with Adam Oshiomhole reign?
Ever since erstwhile Nigeria Labour Congress President Mr Adams Oshiomhole step aside after 8 years of two terms ends, one beginning to wonder whether the labour struggle must have ended with his reign. Everyone is aware the type of person Oshiomhole was, he is a no nonsense person so much that at any slightest trampling on the rights of workers, he will call his congress to start nationwide strike. We can all recalled the incessant strike at any slightest increase in petroleum products during the Obasanjo regime, it got to a stage that the government decided to democratise the union of Labour congress, the outcome of which a new Labour Act 2005 introduced new provisions in subsections (6), (7), (8) and (9) to section 31 which seek to make or to ensure that the process of calling out workers to embark on strike becomes an uphill task for the trade unions. the new Act apart from preventing general strike action on a nationwide basis by all members of the trade unions under one umbrella. It also signifies that gone are the days where all the different Federations of the trade union could come under one umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress to confront or negotiate with the government for the general welfare of workers and interest of the millions of masses of this country.
Subsection 6 of the Act provides:
“No person, trade union or employer shall take part in a strike or lock out or engage in any conduct in contemplation or furtherance of a strike or lock out unless:
(A) the person, trade union or employer is not engaged in the provision of essential services;
(B) The strike or lock out concerns a labour dispute that constitutes a dispute of right
(C) The strike or lock out concerns a dispute arising from a collective and fundamental breach of contract of employment or collective agreement on the part of the employee, trade union or employer.
(D) The provisions for arbitration in the Trade Dispute Act Cap 437 Laws of the Federation, 1990 have first been complied with; and
(E) In the case of an employee or a trade union, a ballot has been conducted in accordance with the rules and constitution of the trade union at which a simple majority of all registered members voted to go on strike.
Sub Section (7) provides
“Any person, trade union or employer who contravenes any of the provisions of this has weakened the power of the trade unions to use the weapon (strike) which they know how to use best to fight government or employers' policies that is unfavorable to workers and the masses
Sub Section (8) provides
“The provisions for arbitration in the Trade Disputes Act Cap 437 Laws of the Federation, 1990 shall apply in all disputes affecting the provision of essential services and the determination of the National Industrial Court in all such disputes shall be final”
Sub Section (9) provides
“For the purpose of this Act:
(A) “disputes of right” means any labour dispute arising from the negotiation, application, interpretation or implementation of a contract of employment or collective agreement under this Act or any other enactment or law governing matters relating to terms and conditions of employment.
(B) “essential services” shall be defined in the First Schedule of the Trade Disputes Act Cap 437 Laws of the Federation, 1990. By virtue of the provision of the First Schedule to the Trade Disputes Act Cap 437 Laws of the Federation 1990 Essential Services include:
1. The public services of the Federation or of a State which include service in a civil capacity or persons employed in the armed forces of the federation or any part thereof, and persons employed in an industry or undertaking (corporate or incorporate) which does or is connected with the manufacture of production of materials for use in the armed forces of the federation or any part thereof.
2. Any service established, provided or maintained by the government of the
federation or of a state, by a local government council, a town council or any municipal or statutory authority or by private enterprise:
(a) for or in connection with the supply of electricity, power or water, or of fuel or any kind;
(b) for, or in connection with sound broadcasting or postal, telegraphic, cable, wireless or telephone communications;
(c) for maintaining ports, harbours, docks or aerodromes, or for in connection with transportation of persons, goods or livestock by road, rail, sea, river or Air;
(d) for or in connection with the burial of the dead, hospitals, the treatment of the sick, the prevention of disease, or any of the following public health matters; namely, sanitation, road cleansing and the disposal of night soil and rubbish;
(e) for dealing with outbreaks of fire.
3. Service in any capacity in any of the following organizations (a) Central Bank (b) The Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company Limited
(c) Any body corporate licensed to carry on banking business under the Banking Act 1969.
As a whole the provision of Section 31 of the Act 2005 has make it difficult for workers to jointly protest for their rights when such rights are breached by the government. Certain categories of workers cannot even join the strike because they are engaged in essential services as defined above. It needs no soothsayer to tell that once these categories of workers are left out from joining in strike, there cannot be any effective strike actions that would make the government respond to the needs of the workers.
It is evident from the new provisions that the amendment to the existing Act has strip the power of the trade unions to use the weapon of strike to fight government or employers' policies that is unfavorable to workers and the masses.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
17:59 - Time to share greatness?
Here in Nigeria, by those that knows and treasure the value of greatness, 17:59 is the time to share greatness. That is the slogan Guiness had put into the lips of Stout lovers. What about the advert? They run on local TV from time to time, all trying to make sure, the sign of greatness is put on, with a bottle of Guiness.
Ever Ponder whether Guiness can actually bring out the greatness in us? I dont drink, so I wouldnt know. Those who do, can you answer this question?
Ever Ponder whether Guiness can actually bring out the greatness in us? I dont drink, so I wouldnt know. Those who do, can you answer this question?
Monday, May 7, 2007
Gardener's Daughter and my households
Ever since African Independent Television (AIT) started airing the foreign soap operas , my freedom at home has been limited within those 1 hour period. When they aired the PALOMA soap last year, it was the beginning of the dominance of my abode for a whole 1 hour. One would have thought that at the expiration of the soap, it will end there, but rather, AIT continue again to air the Gardener's Daughter. I am not the outgoing type, so I always remain indoor, and I enjoying doing so, watching TV mostly, but when it comes to Gardener's Daughter soap opera hour, my households will take over the Television and dominate the next 1 hour. Mostly, I compensated myself surfing the net or better still, made do with the TV in my bedroom.
Has anyone ponder along with me, or was it only in my households, that whenever the soap opera Gardener's Daughter is on air, nothing we do can make our spouse miss the episode. One painful thing about it all is that, AIT is gearing up to continue another foreign soap once this edition of Gardener's daughter expires. I guess my one hour freedom will be trample with for a long time to come.
Has anyone ponder along with me, or was it only in my households, that whenever the soap opera Gardener's Daughter is on air, nothing we do can make our spouse miss the episode. One painful thing about it all is that, AIT is gearing up to continue another foreign soap once this edition of Gardener's daughter expires. I guess my one hour freedom will be trample with for a long time to come.
France goes the right wing with Sarkozy
Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy won France's presidential election on Sunday, defeating Socialist Ségolène Royal by a comfortable margin. Sarkozy's win in the race marks a generational shift, because the 52-year-old will replace 74-year-old Chirac, in office for 12 years. His emergence as President will probably not reflect any changes in francophone countries of Africa, as he may not likely to romance with francophone countries because he is a hardliner criticised by most for his stance on many issues including immigration.
Nicolas Paul Stéphane Sárközy de Nagy-Bocsa was born Jan. 28, 1955, in Paris, the son of a minor Hungarian aristocrat who fled Communism after World War II. His mother was a law student, herself the daughter of an immigrant, a doctor who had arrived a generation earlier from Greece.
Sarkozy was the middle of three sons, but his father left the family when Sarkozy was 4, marrying twice more and fathering two more children. (The mother of those children, Christine de Ganay, went on to marry Frank Wisner II, the son of a celebrated spy and now U.S. special envoy to Kosovo. Her son, Sarkozy's half-brother, Oliver Sarkozy, is Joint Global Head of UBS Investment Bank's Financial Institutions Group in New York.)
The abandonment marked the Sarkozy family, leaving its members largely dependent on Sarkozy's maternal grandfather, with whom the family lived in the 17th Arrondissement of Paris. "I was fashioned by the humiliations of childhood," he told Catherine Nay, author of his semiofficial biography.
Sarkozy's mother finished her law degree, took a job with the mayor of the upscale suburb Neuilly-sur-Seine and sent her sons to a private Catholic high school.
Sarkozy eventually earned a law degree and became a member of the Neuilly town council at the age of 22.
But he got his real start in politics as a long-haired, bell-bottomed youth leader of the Union of Democrats for the Republic, a Gaullist party led by Jacques Chirac who was serving his first term as prime minister.
His brash manner and strong oratory style caught Chirac's eye and won him the patronage of other party leaders. Yet Sarkozy was not afraid to outmaneuver his elders when the opportunity arose.
He unexpectedly challenged a senior Gaullist, Charles Pasqua, for the job of Neuilly mayor in 1983, becoming the youngest mayor in France at the age of 28.
He leapt to national attention in 1993 when he negotiated to free schoolchildren taken hostage by a deranged man who called himself the Human Bomb. The man was eventually killed by the police, and the children were freed.
Sarkozy served as budget minister under Prime Minister Edouard Balladur but betrayed his mentor Chirac by backing Balladur's rival bid for president in 1995. When Chirac won, Sarkozy was shut out of the new administration.
He has had a strained relationship with Chirac since then, but his political skills were too powerful to ignore: Chirac brought him back into the government as interior minister in 2002.
Sarkozy has been unstoppable since then, dominating the media and often stealing the spotlight from the president with his projects, including a high-profile law-and-order campaign.
After a cabinet rearrangement in 2004, he served as finance minister, overseeing the government bailout of the bankrupt engineering giant Alstom - a move that marked him as a dirigiste of the Gaullist tradition in many people's eyes.
A new dawn just climaxed in France with the emergence of Sarkozy as the new president, because he is the first President of France to have been born after the World War II.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Mourinho - Manager of Running Mouth
Here are many quotes of Mourinho, which earn him from me of course, the best Manager running mouth.
On Liverpool champions league 2007
’If you are not a big club, you choose one competition and you fight in that competition and forget the others. We have Essien suspended and a lot of players with two yellow cards and it would not surprise me if they chase Drogba for 90 minutes to try and get him suspended for the second game.’
"We are on top at the moment, but not because of the club's financial power. We are in contention for a lot of trophies because of my hard work."
On Liverpool champions league 2007
’If you are not a big club, you choose one competition and you fight in that competition and forget the others. We have Essien suspended and a lot of players with two yellow cards and it would not surprise me if they chase Drogba for 90 minutes to try and get him suspended for the second game.’
"We are on top at the moment, but not because of the club's financial power. We are in contention for a lot of trophies because of my hard work."
"I have read I have to prove a lot in English football. Sir Alex Ferguson is the only European champion in this country, nobody else, so I have to prove what?"
"Do not tell me your movie. I am in a movie of my own."
On his arrival - June 2004
I intend to give my best, to improve things and to create the football team in relation to my image and my football philosophy.
We have top players and, sorry if I’m arrogant, we have a top manager.
I’m not a defender of old or new football managers. I believe in good ones and bad ones, those that achieve success and those that don’t. Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion and I think I’m a special one.
I don’t want special relations with one of them (his players). I hate to speak about individuals. Players don’t win you trophies, teams win trophies, squads win trophies.
On his new job - July 2004
If I wanted to have an easy job…I would have stayed at Porto - beautiful blue chair, the Uefa Champions League trophy, God, and after God, me.
On Tottenham - September 2004
As we say in Portugal, they brought the bus and they left the bus in front of the goal. I would have been frustrated if I had been a supporter who paid £50 to watch this game because Spurs came to defend. There was only one team looking to win, they only came not to concede - it’s not fair for the football we played.
On Arsenal after their 5-4 win at Spurs - November 2004
That was not a football score, it was a hockey score…in training I often play matches of three against three and when the score reaches 5-4 I send the players back to the dressing room, because they are not defending properly.
On Thierry Henry’s quick free-kick in 2-2 draw - December 2004
I am more than unhappy. Unhappy is a nice word.
On Sir Alex Ferguson - January 2005
Maybe when I turn 60 and have been managing in the same league for 20 years and have the respect of everybody I will have the power to speak to people and make them tremble a little bit.
On Sir Alex Ferguson - January 2005 (a few days later)
People want a storm but there isn’t one. I respect Sir Alex a lot because he’s a great manager, but he must follow the procedure. I don’t speak with referees and I don’t want other managers doing it, it’s the rule. One thing is to speak, one thing is to shout.
This is nothing against Sir Alex whatsoever. After the game on Wednesday we were together in my office and we spoke and drank wine. Unfortunately it was a very bad bottle of wine and he was complaining, so when we go to Old Trafford for the second leg, on my birthday, I will take a beautiful bottle of Portuguese wine.
But he is a great manager, he is clever and used his power and his prestige. The referee should not allow it. I have a lot of respect for Ferguson. I call him boss because he is the manager’s boss. Maybe when I become 60, the kids will call me the same.
On David Beckham - January 2005
He is someone I respect as a man and as a player. He is the captain of England and has been a European champion. I have never been critical of him and reports implying that are incorrect as I’ve never made comments about him.
On Blackburn - February 2005
During the afternoon it rained only in this stadium - our kitman saw it. There must be a micro-climate here. The pitch was like a swimming pool.
Look at the blond boy in midfield, Robbie Savage, who commits 20 fouls during the game and never gets a booking. We came here to play football and it was not a football game, it was a fight and we fought and I think we fought fantastically.
On leading the title race - February 2005
We are on top at the moment but not because of the club’s financial power. We are in contention for a lot of trophies because of my hard work.
On losing to Barcelona - February 2005
When I saw Frank Rijkaard (Barcelona coach) entering the referee’s dressing room I couldn’t believe it. When Didier Drogba was sent off (after half-time) I wasn’t surprised.
On… your guess is as good as mine - March 2005
The moral of the story is not to listen to those who tell you not to play the violin but stick to the tambourine.
On Roman Abramovich - March 2005
If he helped me out in training we would be bottom of the league and if I had to work in his world of big business, we would be bankrupt!
On winning the Premiership title - May 2005
This is the start of a process not the end. I want more for me and Chelsea.
On Liverpool after Champions League loss - May 2005
It was a goal that came from the moon - from the Anfield stands.
The best team lost. After they scored only one team played, the other one just defended for the whole game.
Liverpool scored, if you can say that they scored, because maybe you should say the linesman scored.
They are in the final and from my heart I hope they win it. The night belongs to them and I don’t want to criticise them.
On Manchester United - May 2005
I saw their players and manager go for a lap of honour after losing to us in their last home game. In Portugal if you do this, they throw bottles at you!
On Arsenal and their vice chairman and FA board member David Dein - July 2005
A person who works in the club should not work in the FA. The FA is the FA and the club is the club.
I am not concerned about how Chelsea are viewed morally. What does concern me is that we are treated in a different way to other clubs. Some clubs are treated as devils, some are treated as angels. I don’t think we are so ugly that we should be seen as the devil and I don’t think Arsene Wenger and David Dein are so beautiful that they should be viewed as angels.
Is Jose Mourinho the only one who can look at the fixtures and find something very strange?
On the Champions League - September 2005
I won’t hold back. What I did last season was the consequence of something. So, if the competition is absolutely normal without anything strange, I would love to be a good boy and to behave well.
On Chelsea’s start to the new season - October 2005
We have eight matches and eight victories, with 16 goals, but people say we cannot play, that we are a group of clowns. This is not right.
On the loss of their 100% league record at Everton - October 2005
Everybody is crying that Chelsea keep winning and winning and winning so I think that draw at Goodison Park makes everyone more happy. It gives people more hope and brings to the Premiership what everybody was waiting for.
I may look stupid saying this, but I think we should be going home with three points because we scored two great goals and usually, when you score two and concede one, you win the game.
On losing to Charlton in the Carling Cup - October 2005
I want to give my congratulations to them because they won. But we were the best team. We didn’t lose the game. Ninety minutes was a draw and it was a draw after two hours. We lost on penalties.
On winning ways - October 2005
Everybody was waiting for Chelsea not to win every game and one day when we lose there will be a holiday in the country. But we are ready for that.
On Arsenal’s French farce of a penalty - October 2005
You have to wonder why they did that penalty. Because they have so many penalties in the season, that’s why. They have to do something special and different.
On Arsene Wenger - October 2005
I think he is one of these people who is a voyeur. He likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families. He speaks, speaks, speaks about Chelsea.
"Look, we're not entertaining? I don't care; we win." - on Chelsea's performance at the start of the 2006-07 season
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
The Muscle Flexing - Who actually won?
It is no more news that the President and his Vice at each other's throat, the 2007 elections actually brought to light what both of them had been hiding from the public. We all witness the roforofo fight and mudslinging between the two and I had always ponder times without number who actually will win the power tussle.
The tussle can be put into two ways, the power tussle to gain public sympathy and the power to dominate each other. While the Vice won convincingly on the first, the President seems to have overcome his vice on the second. Most of the support garnered by the VP from the public is not based on the sympathy the public has for him though, it is probably because of so many toes the president has stepped on, and this has resulted in so many people wanting him to go at all cost.
Now that the election has been won and lost, the VP seems to have lost everything. He was in the ruling party before, with a bright prospect, but he is now in the opposition. With all the rented crowd in his campaign train, he should be licking his wound now that those crowd does not actually reflect the true position of his political popularity.
The truth is nobody had been known to fight the government to a standstill, even the VP was still unable to achieve this despite the series of court cases that he won against the government, at the end of the day, he is still on the loose end. He is being used by a lot of people that want the President to leave by May 2007 at all cost, now he is in political oblivion, the structure he thought he had on ground has blow up right on his face.
Has anyone pause to ponder what is the next line of action for the Vice President after he lost out in the muscle flexing between him and the President?
The tussle can be put into two ways, the power tussle to gain public sympathy and the power to dominate each other. While the Vice won convincingly on the first, the President seems to have overcome his vice on the second. Most of the support garnered by the VP from the public is not based on the sympathy the public has for him though, it is probably because of so many toes the president has stepped on, and this has resulted in so many people wanting him to go at all cost.
Now that the election has been won and lost, the VP seems to have lost everything. He was in the ruling party before, with a bright prospect, but he is now in the opposition. With all the rented crowd in his campaign train, he should be licking his wound now that those crowd does not actually reflect the true position of his political popularity.
The truth is nobody had been known to fight the government to a standstill, even the VP was still unable to achieve this despite the series of court cases that he won against the government, at the end of the day, he is still on the loose end. He is being used by a lot of people that want the President to leave by May 2007 at all cost, now he is in political oblivion, the structure he thought he had on ground has blow up right on his face.
Has anyone pause to ponder what is the next line of action for the Vice President after he lost out in the muscle flexing between him and the President?
More Mourning for Mourinho
Yeah, that is the suited title for Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho whose third attempts for Champions league final as Chelsea Manager crumbled right before his eyes by a stunning defeat by Liverpool the second in his career as Chelsea coach. I have no sympathy for Mourinho, who must have employ all the experience he has as a Coach to outwit his fellow Coach Rafael Benitez, but wasnt successful. Benitez, a master tactician could achieve such feat of allowing Mourinho team to score just a single goal in 360 minutes of regulation time they have met in the past 2 champions league they both guarged their teams. During Yesterday match, Benitez handed Mourinho another tactical lesson by preventing Chelsea start studded side from scoring a single goal in 120 minutes. That is not a mere feat.
Mourinho can now know how it feels to lose two important competition within the spate of 5 days. His launch into the challenge for Premiership titles is now a tall order while that of Champion league is dashed. Mourinho is now left with final of FA cup against Manchester United, a trophy he is eager to lift for the first time for the Blues as a Coach.
Has anyone pause and ponder whether Mourinho can now also moan like Arsenal who also loss all challenge to 3 titles within a spate of 11 days. It is indeed more mourning for Morinho and the mourning could continue if he eventually lost in FA cup against Machester United.
Monday, April 30, 2007
When someone saw you in the dream
Have anyone pause to ponder about those that will just call you and tell you, they dreamt about you and you should continue to pray. Those were the scenarios that happened to me last week, ever since then, I had not pause to ponder what exactly the person dreamt about me, even though I refuse to ask for the details neither did she told me the details.
well, since I am the type that believed so much in God, I quickly pointed to her that my believed in God is unshaken, and that He will see me through. The mere mention that it has to do with my job send a shiver down my spine, afterall, everyone knows nowadays how hard to get a job.
So, fellow bloggers reading this, should also help me pray to God, to save my job, I dont want to be out of job, at least not now. One thing I noticed about dreams of such nature I was the one that dreamt it is that, it is always the opposite. So my prayer is that, the negative thing she said she dreamt about be opposite, that is a good thing to come. Did I hear someone said Amen?
well, since I am the type that believed so much in God, I quickly pointed to her that my believed in God is unshaken, and that He will see me through. The mere mention that it has to do with my job send a shiver down my spine, afterall, everyone knows nowadays how hard to get a job.
So, fellow bloggers reading this, should also help me pray to God, to save my job, I dont want to be out of job, at least not now. One thing I noticed about dreams of such nature I was the one that dreamt it is that, it is always the opposite. So my prayer is that, the negative thing she said she dreamt about be opposite, that is a good thing to come. Did I hear someone said Amen?
Sunday, April 29, 2007
This my DVD Player sef!
My DVD player is surely making weekends and after work hour boring for me. It is playing a fast one on me. Sony DVD player that I bought a year ago is now giving me problem, refusing to play most of my DVDs, it is always complaining 'cannot play this disc' . But if it were to be VCDs, it will gladly play them. I am hesitating taking it to electronic shop for repair, because if I give it two knocks at the top, it will eventually play the DVDs. A stitch in time saves nine, is a popular proverbs, I guess I am only proscrastinating taking it to electronic shop for repair. I was reliably informed that, it perhaps has to do with the lense of the player, it may need total changing. Whatever it is the problem, I guess it has to pack up finally before I make effort to either repair it or change it entirely.
I have loads of unwatched DVDs as a result of this problem. FRIENDS, 24 and LOST are still pending on my shelves. Pondering..................
I have loads of unwatched DVDs as a result of this problem. FRIENDS, 24 and LOST are still pending on my shelves. Pondering..................
Crying over a spilt milk
I felt like writing today, but what to write about has eluded me. Then as I was on this quagmire, a friend of mine call as she always does, from the tone of her voice I knew instantly she is at it again. Times without number I had always encourage her to face her problems by being strong, but being a woman she is, she is always breaking down at any slight of setbacks.
The truth is we all have ups and downs in life, and it is said that the way we manage to face the challenges actually is what life all about. Griefing over a problem or setbacks can never and would never solve our problem, but will only disturb us from taken action. I told her to think back at each time she has break down and cried over her problems, whether those crying ever solve her problem, I therefore encourage her to always tell herself each time she is down that, this is her problem and she will never cry, and she will have to deal with it.
I guess these words of encouragement is surely doing so many things to her psyche, no wonder she is always better each time she spoke to me. Ever pause to ponder for once that each time we have something to make us feel low, it is extremely useless to cry unrelentlessly over such things, cry a little to relieve the tension, but always be strong to face the challenges.
The truth is we all have ups and downs in life, and it is said that the way we manage to face the challenges actually is what life all about. Griefing over a problem or setbacks can never and would never solve our problem, but will only disturb us from taken action. I told her to think back at each time she has break down and cried over her problems, whether those crying ever solve her problem, I therefore encourage her to always tell herself each time she is down that, this is her problem and she will never cry, and she will have to deal with it.
I guess these words of encouragement is surely doing so many things to her psyche, no wonder she is always better each time she spoke to me. Ever pause to ponder for once that each time we have something to make us feel low, it is extremely useless to cry unrelentlessly over such things, cry a little to relieve the tension, but always be strong to face the challenges.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Kanu Nwankwo's Hangouts for Footballers
I read this in the Nigeria Daily Independence, and thought fellow bloggers could also learn about it. There is a in Victoria Island Lagos owned by the Portsmouth Striker and Nigeria Super Eagles Captain Kanu Nwankwo, the joint was said to be the hangouts of the Nigeria footballers each time they are in the country. Read more about it in this link
For those who could not get to the link, see the full story in the comments below.
Ever ponder what the name of the joint should be? PAPI is the name, coined from the nickname of the football star - Papillo.
For those who could not get to the link, see the full story in the comments below.
Ever ponder what the name of the joint should be? PAPI is the name, coined from the nickname of the football star - Papillo.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
The PDP Acronym
I read this in the Daily Guardian of today, and it is damn funny. Read along:-
Permanently Deaf President... President Disturbs Peace...Purely Draconian President... President Dupes the People... Permitting Dangerous Practices... President Deregulates Palaver... Parade of Deranged People... Particularly Dubious People... President's Dummies and Puppets... Power Destroys Passionately... Progressively Despotic President... Poorly Democratic Pile... Politicians Daft on Purpose... People Destroying Panthers... Painstakingly Disseminating Poverty... Perfectly Deranged Party...
Permanently Deaf President... President Disturbs Peace...Purely Draconian President... President Dupes the People... Permitting Dangerous Practices... President Deregulates Palaver... Parade of Deranged People... Particularly Dubious People... President's Dummies and Puppets... Power Destroys Passionately... Progressively Despotic President... Poorly Democratic Pile... Politicians Daft on Purpose... People Destroying Panthers... Painstakingly Disseminating Poverty... Perfectly Deranged Party...
People Devouring Politicians... Psychologically Deluded Pack... Publicly Disgraced People... People Demanding Psychiatrists... Pioneers of Decadent Politics.
Perpetually Destructive Pestilence... Primitively Dignified Pigs... Professors of Devilish Policies... Permanently Delivering Poverty... Preferring Disease for the People... Plainly Dishonest Pack... Penchant for Detrimental Practices...Playing Dangerous Pranks... Possibilities of Disasters Persist... Poisonously Decimating Policies...
Pharaoh + Deceit = President... Plainly Demented People... Parade of Dunces and Predators... Pot-bellied Descendants of Plunderers... Powerfully Debased Potentates... Party Dancing with Perdition... Precisely Destroyed Pack... People Displaying Pride... Patiently Devouring Parasites...
Persistently Deceiving President... Plainly Defective Personalities... Papa Doubles Poverty... Pensioners don't Deserve Payment... Pounding the Dough of Problems...
Processing Difficulties for People... Properly Distributing Poverty... Persistently Disastrous Party... Perpetually Destructive Perspective... Politicians Dedicated to Plundering... Proscribing Decency in Politics... Perfectly Dangerous People...
Pledging Disorder for Politics... Pinnacle of Dire Perversion... Prevention is Dreadful than the Problem... Putting Democracy in Pieces... Pacing in Deadly Paths... Pervasively Devilish Platoons... Parade of Discredited Politicians... People Dancing Palongo... Proudly Demented Pack... Peopled with Disgusting People... Processing the Drift to Peril... Piously Devoted Pharisees... Pastors of Dubious Parishes... Preschoolers Drooling Phlegm... Perverts, Dictators and Prowlers... Pack of Disgraceful Psycophants... Plentiful Disaster Persists... Pledging Disease for the Public... Profusely Donating Privation... Putting Dindinrin in Power... Pursuing Demonic Policies... Privatisation, Draining our Purses... Petroleum Deregulation Pitiless...Punishing the Disabled and Pensioners...
Punishing Different Peoples...Plenty Doses of Pain... Perennially Divulging Pestilence... Preparing Disaster for the Populace... Panorama of Desolation and Poverty... Phoney Devotion to Progress... Pretended Dedication to Progress... Phobia for Due Process... Public Display by Prostitutes... Protagonists of Decadent Politics... Psychosis Driven Party...
Phobias Diverse in the President... Psychopaths Directly in Power... Politicians Destroyed by the People... Populace Disgruntled by the Psychopaths... Please Disband PDP... People Demand Progress... Pogrom Day Prowls... Painstakingly Designing the Perdition... Plotting the Disaster in Private... Paying Due Price... People Demolish Power... PDP Dies Permanently...President Dethroned by the Populace... President Destroyed Publicly... Put Democrats in Power!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
High Expectations - When and For how long?
The above topic was inspired by my last post, which has earned me bashing from 2 fellow bloggers, I bet a lot more are still coming. Their vituperations are long awaited though, because of my own perspectives of weighing Nigeria scenarios differs in a long way with lots of bloggers on the net. Having said this, when and for how long would the intellects of our country continue to rule this country from far away, all by being among the elites that criticise the government, believing that nothing comes out of the government of the day. One funny thing is that, one outgoing government is always worse than any incoming government according to the manner of criticism coming out from them, I was jolted the other day, when I read it somewhere, where somone was even proving that Abacha days are even better than Obasanjo regime, can you believe that?
The truth however is that, Nigeria has a long way to go, and no matter how we progress on the journey today, we are learning, and we will continue to learn. There are so many thing that is wrong with this country, any little achievement should be encouraged, less we all have to abandon this country and criticise anything about it from a far - outside the country.
The further truth is that, even if some of us doing the criticism today were privilege to be in the helm of affairs today, others will also criticise us by pointing out the evil in our government.
Like Akin replied in his blog, our high expectations posture had actually earned us the best in Africa since independence, it has given us the best man to rule us since independence and it has also prevent some cabal to rule us even though we prefer Abiola in 1992, Gani Fawehinmi in 2003 and Pat Utomi in 2007. Our high expectations posture has even make the likes of Akin to blog from outside the country (I hope I am right) and criticising the government from diaspora.
What is on ground now is the real Nigeria, tell me who has succeeded in sterring its course away from low expectations to your Akin's high expectations since Independence. I live in real Nigeria, and i dare say, I live with it.
Like I always said elsewhere in my blog, the best way to fight for Akin's seeming mirage high expectations in this country, is to join the system and fight within, if we cant fight them, join them. If we fight for this 'high expectations' till thy kingdom come, those who had made us do with low expectations will continue to have their way, while leaving us to expect the 'high expectations' and probably transfer the expectations to our next generations.
So, I ponder again, When and for how long will this 'high expectations' come? Perhaps Akin had a good answer.
So Like I said yesterday, the election observers/monitoring group should shut up, less they ignite more trouble for us with their utterances, I guess this is the best Nigeria could afford as an election giving what is on ground compare to their own country where everything seems perfect, no wonder Nigerians migrate to their countries. I stand by my write-up and I hasten to add that, everyone is entitled to his own opinion, Akin and Imnakoya inclusive.
The truth however is that, Nigeria has a long way to go, and no matter how we progress on the journey today, we are learning, and we will continue to learn. There are so many thing that is wrong with this country, any little achievement should be encouraged, less we all have to abandon this country and criticise anything about it from a far - outside the country.
The further truth is that, even if some of us doing the criticism today were privilege to be in the helm of affairs today, others will also criticise us by pointing out the evil in our government.
Like Akin replied in his blog, our high expectations posture had actually earned us the best in Africa since independence, it has given us the best man to rule us since independence and it has also prevent some cabal to rule us even though we prefer Abiola in 1992, Gani Fawehinmi in 2003 and Pat Utomi in 2007. Our high expectations posture has even make the likes of Akin to blog from outside the country (I hope I am right) and criticising the government from diaspora.
What is on ground now is the real Nigeria, tell me who has succeeded in sterring its course away from low expectations to your Akin's high expectations since Independence. I live in real Nigeria, and i dare say, I live with it.
Like I always said elsewhere in my blog, the best way to fight for Akin's seeming mirage high expectations in this country, is to join the system and fight within, if we cant fight them, join them. If we fight for this 'high expectations' till thy kingdom come, those who had made us do with low expectations will continue to have their way, while leaving us to expect the 'high expectations' and probably transfer the expectations to our next generations.
So, I ponder again, When and for how long will this 'high expectations' come? Perhaps Akin had a good answer.
So Like I said yesterday, the election observers/monitoring group should shut up, less they ignite more trouble for us with their utterances, I guess this is the best Nigeria could afford as an election giving what is on ground compare to their own country where everything seems perfect, no wonder Nigerians migrate to their countries. I stand by my write-up and I hasten to add that, everyone is entitled to his own opinion, Akin and Imnakoya inclusive.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Election Monitoring/Observer Group should shut up
I had always felt a jolt in my stomach each time this election monitoring/observer group open their mouth to condemn our election. What always come to my mind is, do they actually observe the election from Nigerian perspectives?
The fact that election actually held is enough to say, the INEC had did their best. For God's sake, they cant compare their country with Nigeria, there are so many things in this country that is not working perfect compare to the country they came from, this election is not an exception. Besides, there is no election that is perfect anywhere in the world.
We have tried our best by conducting an election that will see us transisting from one civilian government to another, we want to see it through. Whoever that ponder along with me on this, should help add a voice that they should shut up.
The fact that election actually held is enough to say, the INEC had did their best. For God's sake, they cant compare their country with Nigeria, there are so many things in this country that is not working perfect compare to the country they came from, this election is not an exception. Besides, there is no election that is perfect anywhere in the world.
We have tried our best by conducting an election that will see us transisting from one civilian government to another, we want to see it through. Whoever that ponder along with me on this, should help add a voice that they should shut up.
My Vote Counts
I voted for Umar Yar'Adua in the last Presidential election, and from the result released so far, just like I anticipates, indicates that my vote actually counts.
The truth is, a lot of people stayed away from this election, and I felt have they participated, it could have make a difference. At the polling station, those that we queue together with, have different story to tell about the way they will vote. While some of them believed that PDP had failed us as a party, they insist they will vote for PDP so that their vote counts at the end of the day since it is evident from the last Governorship election, that PDP will surely win going by the pattern of voting.
There are some who still vote in their preferred candidates, but still insinuates that, they know very well that, their candidate will not win. To me, those constitutes the real electorates. Contesting in an election is not all about winning, it is sometimes a test ground to see how far one can go in an election. Had it been everyone came out and cast their vote according to their conscience, it will be a yardstick for the candidates to determine their next step in the next election.
Ever ponder what goes on in the minds of electorates when casting votes, well, in my own case, I voted for PDP and my mind kept pondering whether this time around, Yar'Adua will get it right.
The truth is, a lot of people stayed away from this election, and I felt have they participated, it could have make a difference. At the polling station, those that we queue together with, have different story to tell about the way they will vote. While some of them believed that PDP had failed us as a party, they insist they will vote for PDP so that their vote counts at the end of the day since it is evident from the last Governorship election, that PDP will surely win going by the pattern of voting.
There are some who still vote in their preferred candidates, but still insinuates that, they know very well that, their candidate will not win. To me, those constitutes the real electorates. Contesting in an election is not all about winning, it is sometimes a test ground to see how far one can go in an election. Had it been everyone came out and cast their vote according to their conscience, it will be a yardstick for the candidates to determine their next step in the next election.
Ever ponder what goes on in the minds of electorates when casting votes, well, in my own case, I voted for PDP and my mind kept pondering whether this time around, Yar'Adua will get it right.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Virginia Tech Rampage - A Christian Extremist?
A gunman massacred 32 people at Virginia Tech in the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history Monday, cutting down his victims in two attacks two hours apart before the university could grasp what was happening and warn students. Officials identified Cho Seung-Hui, 23, as the gunman in Monday's shooting rampage on Virginia Tech's campus. He killed 32 and then took his own life.
If the shooter was to be a muslim, he would have been branded a muslim extremist, or that he commit the act on religious ground.
It point to another reason, where the US Gun laws need a quick review. Ever pause to ponder that you may not be able to stop a lunatics from going on killing sprees, but armed citizens can keep the body count down.
Nigerian elite society attitude to election
I was reading the above caption in the Web Poll of Nigerian Guardian, and I was impressed with the opinion of Paul Mosi, so much that I decided to reproduced it below.
We should stop decieving ourselves, 80% of Nigerian electorate belong to the non-self willed who will collect as low as N500 and vote for who gave the money. The elite like you reading and myself form only 20% of the electorate. Guess what! Only half of these elites votes. When asked why, you hear all kinds of different reasons. But this other 80% will stay with the long queue in polling stations to vote. Democracy is a game of number not by the amount of grammar we can write on the pages of newspaper.
The fundamental problem with our society is the decay of our system all atributed to poverty. I still believe "Good name is better than riches".
In Nigeria, "Riches is better than good name". Irrespective of how you get the money, money is money.
95% of these politicians (for or against) are money (not necessarily power becos power will give them access to our money) bags who want to loot the treasury of these nation.
Again, lets listen to ourselves when we write. EFCC is Economic and Financial Crime Commission. EFCC has no duty at preventing election rigging on an election day.
Our "so called leaders" are products of our society. We have a societal problem !!! You don't solve a problem from the head, you start from the very root.
I could not agreed less to the above opinion. A lot of elite like us that do a lot of criticism of government action hardly vote during the period of election.
Has anyone pause to ponder that perhaps much of criticism is what the elite can show in this dispensation, instead of actually participating to change the system. I am of the opinion that joining the winning party, PDP and try to change their orientation should be the next thing, if you cant beat them, join them.
We should stop decieving ourselves, 80% of Nigerian electorate belong to the non-self willed who will collect as low as N500 and vote for who gave the money. The elite like you reading and myself form only 20% of the electorate. Guess what! Only half of these elites votes. When asked why, you hear all kinds of different reasons. But this other 80% will stay with the long queue in polling stations to vote. Democracy is a game of number not by the amount of grammar we can write on the pages of newspaper.
The fundamental problem with our society is the decay of our system all atributed to poverty. I still believe "Good name is better than riches".
In Nigeria, "Riches is better than good name". Irrespective of how you get the money, money is money.
95% of these politicians (for or against) are money (not necessarily power becos power will give them access to our money) bags who want to loot the treasury of these nation.
Again, lets listen to ourselves when we write. EFCC is Economic and Financial Crime Commission. EFCC has no duty at preventing election rigging on an election day.
Our "so called leaders" are products of our society. We have a societal problem !!! You don't solve a problem from the head, you start from the very root.
I could not agreed less to the above opinion. A lot of elite like us that do a lot of criticism of government action hardly vote during the period of election.
Has anyone pause to ponder that perhaps much of criticism is what the elite can show in this dispensation, instead of actually participating to change the system. I am of the opinion that joining the winning party, PDP and try to change their orientation should be the next thing, if you cant beat them, join them.
Prayer & Goodluck can save Nigeria
Prayer and Goodluck is a strong combination that can save Nigeria, and going by this two, the PDP Presidential Candidate Alh Umaru Yar'Adua and his Running Mate Dr Jonathan Goodluck are a perfect example. So, what is in a name? Yar'Adua whatever it means sounded Arabic, and I can authoritatively deduced from that name that 'Adua' in the name means prayer in Arabic. Goodluck on the other hand is what every individual, corporate body, nation and continent needs to achieve success.
There is no gainsaying that God Himself has ordained the candidacy of Yar'Adua and Jonathan Goodluck come this forthcoming Presidential election. While we continue to pray and seek luck to see us through the promise land. If elected, Yar'Adua will be the first graduate to rule this country since Independence, and no doubt, we will see the difference.
So come this saturday, my vote is for PDP, I would not want to waste my vote, I am voting in the winning party, and am voting a combination of Prayer and Goodluck, same that I need in my life.
Has anyone pause to ponder that Prayer and Goodluck is very essential in life occurences? Seek it.
There is no gainsaying that God Himself has ordained the candidacy of Yar'Adua and Jonathan Goodluck come this forthcoming Presidential election. While we continue to pray and seek luck to see us through the promise land. If elected, Yar'Adua will be the first graduate to rule this country since Independence, and no doubt, we will see the difference.
So come this saturday, my vote is for PDP, I would not want to waste my vote, I am voting in the winning party, and am voting a combination of Prayer and Goodluck, same that I need in my life.
Has anyone pause to ponder that Prayer and Goodluck is very essential in life occurences? Seek it.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Obasanjo and Powerful Toes
Now that it is just a matter time before the President leave the office, I have always hold the belief that he did his best, and in fact that his best is even better than what any of us could muster if we are to be in his shoe.
In the course of being the number one citizens, and in carrying out his work, he had stepped on toes, and indeed powerful toes, some of which has earn him adversaries and make his second term in office unpopular. Some of the toes he stepped on has rubbished his achievement in the last 8 years as if he did not achieve anything.
One thing for sure is that, there are instances where he has to take some decisions as the chief helmsman, and in the best interest of the people he governed, but will entails some sacrifices, and such sacrifices will take its toil on the masses, so much that he get more enemies. Perhaps, if he has limits his tenure to only 4 years, people would perhaps still be agitating that he should come back to rule us again.
Below is a list of toes that Obasanjo had stepped on, feel free to add in the comments, if you feel the list is not exhaustive.
In the course of being the number one citizens, and in carrying out his work, he had stepped on toes, and indeed powerful toes, some of which has earn him adversaries and make his second term in office unpopular. Some of the toes he stepped on has rubbished his achievement in the last 8 years as if he did not achieve anything.
One thing for sure is that, there are instances where he has to take some decisions as the chief helmsman, and in the best interest of the people he governed, but will entails some sacrifices, and such sacrifices will take its toil on the masses, so much that he get more enemies. Perhaps, if he has limits his tenure to only 4 years, people would perhaps still be agitating that he should come back to rule us again.
Below is a list of toes that Obasanjo had stepped on, feel free to add in the comments, if you feel the list is not exhaustive.
- In Abuja, FCT Minister demolition of houses has left a lot of people homeless
- Ban on importation of certain items
- Limiting the age grade of vehicles into Nigeria water to 8 years
- Continue incaceration of Al-Mustapha, Bamaiyi and others
- NAFDAC efficient performance of their duties
- EFCC efficiency in fighting corruption and allied matters
- Face off with Vice President Atiku Abubakar
- Witholding of Council funds in Lagos state
- Kidnapping of foreign nationals in Niger Delta
- Sabottaging of PHCN, leading to incessant power outage
- Lack of good roads, due to lack of constant maintenance culture
- Decamping, Expulsion of some members of PDP
- Alleged Third term agenda
- Blocking of some Senators from picking the party ticket for second term.
- PDP domination of most state of federation during poll
Double Standard (2)
Now that the Supreme court has ruled that INEC has no power to disqualify candidate contesting election in Nigeria, let us examine the implications of the ruling. What it is however not clear is whether the ruling includes that INEC also dont have power to verify and screen candidates.
That being said, it goes on to show that, all the categories of people stated in the constitution that are not eligible to contest election in Nigeria cannot be disqualify by INEC, except the disqualification come through the court. By a layman's interpretation, it means INEC has to take candidates it wishes to disqualify to court until the court disqualify them. Going by these scenarios, it means that those who are suffering insanity, even though we all know they are still needs to be taken to court for disqualifications, same goes with a non indigene of this country especially a white man, that we all know is not a Nigerian. Just like the learned SAN Chief Gani Fawehinmi said, I also dont agree with this ruling, it is political in nature and will not stand the test of time.
Has anyone pause to ponder how our newspaper publish sensational stories of any of Atiku's triumph in the daily compare to that of the President? A double standard you will agree wth me, dont you?
That being said, it goes on to show that, all the categories of people stated in the constitution that are not eligible to contest election in Nigeria cannot be disqualify by INEC, except the disqualification come through the court. By a layman's interpretation, it means INEC has to take candidates it wishes to disqualify to court until the court disqualify them. Going by these scenarios, it means that those who are suffering insanity, even though we all know they are still needs to be taken to court for disqualifications, same goes with a non indigene of this country especially a white man, that we all know is not a Nigerian. Just like the learned SAN Chief Gani Fawehinmi said, I also dont agree with this ruling, it is political in nature and will not stand the test of time.
Has anyone pause to ponder how our newspaper publish sensational stories of any of Atiku's triumph in the daily compare to that of the President? A double standard you will agree wth me, dont you?
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