Sitting on the fence has been the common protest of the people. A culture and people that seek lasting change must be ready to fight for it. Freedom from oppression and tyranny is not won by “Sidon look” attitude. It is won with pain and tears and if necessary blood. Good things never come easily.

Protest and revolutions are concomitant, a distinction without a difference. Protests have grown into revolutions and vice versa. The aim is to alleviate a present predicament that is not working.

In the past, protests have rarely yielded any factor in the numbers that make the day. This is because most of the purveyors of such protests have been known to be selfish and often surrender or give up the protest at the slightest incentives or threats to cut short the mutiny, and with many casualties, and no result to show for the loss, hence people have become more and more weary of jumping into the protests boats. Or should we say that the lack of unity among the regions is the reason we can never have a successful protest. The North do not trust the South and vice versa. The South East do not trust the South West and vice versa. These assumption might sound good enough as a deterrent factor, however, given the overall gain, we have to rise above our basal state of bigotry and form a formidable force against this lingering threat.

                                   

Perhaps our complaisant nature was handed down to us by our ancestors, who do not see the need to challenge the leaders. The hope that better days will come keep surpassing the need for a deliberate move for change. Or is it the cryptic belief that God will come down to earth and save us from the leaders that we elected by ourselves? If the prayers of our fathers have not changed the course of the country for the better, isn’t it time for us to move for a change. When I was a kid, I remember my parents used to say “we look forward to a better Nigeria” Today we the children now long for the good old days. Jokingly, Even Andrew who asked us not to check out of the country, checked out long ago. Almost all The Artiste that joined in singing The popular Nigerian Song “Lift up Nigeria “composed by  Sunny Ade have left the country for greener pasture. This appear funny and irrelevant but sometimes truth are hidden in ridiculousness. Our forefathers handed us a failed country. Are we going to do the same injustice to our descendants?

If revolution or deliberate move for a change of government is not the solution because of the associative violence, please let’s have a solution. I agree protest and revolution often escalate into unforeseen larger scale. Perspectives drawn about revolution, using African revolutions as references has shown that it never really solves the problem. However, if we need to look outside the shores of our continents on how it is done, I think we should. Or should we just say we are not yet ripe for a revolution or demand for change because our body language speaks evil of it and as a result remain in our doldrums?

Or do we agree that we are just a rotten set of people who cannot actually make meaningful representation and change the course of our lives. The vicissitudes that govern or control our lives are complex but not that different from other countries that do better than us. Even though we know that there are cases of foreign influences to repress our growth, we nevertheless will benefit more from our growth than foreign powers and must come together to fight it tooth and nail to have it.

In the wake of Sowore’s call for a revolution (which in hindsight, a more politically acceptable tone or lexicon would have sufficed) the gusto and expected support was very low. One would have expected at least a handful of protesters (not revolutionists as the pie context might have it) on the roads with placards chanting at least “enough is enough” “Liberation at all cost” “Change the Change” but none of these happened. The turnout was very low but not because of the headline ‘revolution’ but because we are too comfortable with our state of penury, and that nonchalance is the bane of our choice for change. And to make matters worse, after Sowore was arrested, millions criticized him for wanting to burn a country where he has no filial commitment, especially nuclear. How many of our so-called leaders have filial commitment in Nigeria. They all have their kids, wives and even siblings abroad. They don’t even school in Nigeria or receive medical care in Nigeria, yet you vote for them every four years. How are they any different from Sowore who has his nuclear family abroad? 

We took to Social Media to beat down his integrity and sense of patriotism by reflecting on his past actions. Yes, Sowore is not a saint, likewise our so called leaders. But here is a man who has brought forward the common challenges of our government that we have all spoken about in secrecy of our homes but all we do to him is castigate him publicly. Shame on us!!! We think these leaders will change if they do not see the need to change. I see people bicker on social media over the better party between PDP and APC. I laugh in derision when I read their wrangling. It’s either they are ‘too blind’ or ‘too stupid’ to know that the battle is between US (the ruled) and them (The rulers). PDP and APC contain the same set of people with similar mindset. It is an illusion that has constantly moved behind the scene that the leaders cared about our welfare. We will continue to tolerate this political hegemony and feudalized government until the country breaks. Remember the story of the toad that refuses to leave the pot of water on fire. It continues to acclimatize as the water temperature increases until it was too hot and too late to leave the boiling water.

I remember when we protested in 2012 the increase in pump fuel price of petrol from N65 to N141, we got N75 out of it. What baffles me is that in a repeat of same scenario in 2016, we refused to protest and the pump price was jerked up from N65 to N145 more than a 100% increase in price. The reason for the increase is to stop fuel subsidy. Today fuel is still being subsidized and we are still paying for the excess. I don’t understand the cause and effect hitherto the need to inflate petrol pump price

I can go ahead and share with you several nations that have made meaningful impact in their societies by standing for their rights by revolting but I guess you can check the internet for that information

We are all in agreement with the fact that we have bad leadership and have shown regrets about this but still haven’t agreed on how to make that wanton aspect a thing of the past in our lives rather we remain silent in our referendum for a change. I have learnt in life that life is a continuous struggle. That nothing really gives if we do not demand it or fight for it. We fought for our independence from our foreign colonist and got sovereignty, now it is time to fight for freedom from our elite colonists and end the madness that has since ruled our lives

The Energy within

To a layman Our first breath after birth would mean the beginning of life. Where actually, life began the moment the sperm and eggs fused into one, creating a zygote, what would grow into a foetus and become that baby everybody understands as the symbol of the beginning of life.

Science has taught us that perception is probably an illusion, until an empirical revelation provides evidence of the perception. On the other hand, feelings, a form of perception, although subjective to psychological states of the perceiver has been neglected, as such leaving some untapped information that exist within our cosmos. Because it is beyond our frequency of perception or un-unique to us doesn’t mean it is non-existent.

Because science cannot explain it then it is not real, has been the significance of our reality. This is perhaps the reason why most people who claim to have seen, heard, felt, dreamt some inexplicable, unfathomable elements, have been locked away behind bars forced to undergo repressive therapies to realign them with the reality formed by science.

Although this argument seems to have no bearing to my subject matter, it is however important to address how the real and the seemingly unreal world interact on the surface. It is a nuisance to note that Governments all over the world would do all in their power to repress or refute any upbringing that might upset the psychological order such as the bearing of ghosts, apparitions, fathoms, enigmatic substantive dreams with physical evidences. I myself have seen quite a few unsettling things in my life, although not for the lack of pursuing the supernatural. My encounters and revelations are accounted in another essay.

The energy in us, what some call the spirit, the ghost, and within some primitive demography described as luckless phantoms is the mainstay of our existence. That material being that you can touch, the face that smiles at you and body that ails and heals is just the element that manifests the existence of the energy in us. The lack of this energy is the death of the material being.

I have had quite a few experience to substantiate this metaphysical aspect of life. I will take my account from the most recent. Some of them perhaps might elicit in my audience, my ability of clairvoyance or premeditated séance, one of absolute configuration within their perspective could be described the prospect of achieving vain reality.

On the 28^th June 2007, I witnessed an event that would perhaps strengthen my belief of re-incarnation. A man (Solomon Iviwehe) who lived in Makurdi, had an accident, died and was buried by his family in 1996. His wife (Sara) after the burial relocated to her parent’s house in another part of Makurdi with the children. 

10 years later, Sara kept getting report from a woman from the same town in Makurdi, where she and Solomon used to live. The woman trader who buys things from Benue and sells in Lagos claimed that she had sighted a man who looked like Solomon in Lagos. Sara didn’t believe her. It was possible the man only resembled Solomon. She thought. She never believed the man in topic could be her deceased husband. A year later, in 2007, the trader woman, who was deeply convinced that the man must be Solomon, took a picture of him and showed it to the brother of Solomon in Makurdi. The brother knew immediately this was the picture of his deceased brother and thought the woman was playing a sad practical joke. He collected the photograph from her anyway and showed it to his mother. Mothers know their Children. His mother asked him to contact the trader woman and they arranged to pay Lagos a visit.

The mother with two of his sons (Solomon’s siblings) planned the trip and decided not to inform Sara as they do not want to stir bad memories. They needed to see for themselves before alerting her or taking actions.

On the 27^th June 2007, they were preparing to leave for the motor park as early as 5am, when they heard a rattling knock on their door. It was Sara. She had heard the story. Although with doubts, she decided to brave the journey and see what lies beneath the base of the black pot.

The company of four set out on the journey, amidst plea to Sara to stand back. She remained adamant and continued with them to Lagos. They arrived Lagos much later in the night than they expected. No thanks to the unbecoming traffic and extremely bad Nigerian roads.

They looked for cheap hotel in the heart of Ebute metta and all four squeezed into a room for the night. At the early of hours of the next day. They took their bath and called the trader woman who came over to the hotel and helped them through the hectic commuting from Ebute metta to Jibowu.

This was the 28^th June. They approached the house where the trader woman claimed the supposed reincarnated Solomon lived. They demanded to see Solomon. The mea-guard (An Hausa man, named Baba) who also owns a small shop located precariously between the setback and the gutter, was wearing a dirty white colored toga, which apparently hadn’t been cleaned for a while, as it oozes of pungency in spite of the perfume, told them that there is no one by the name Solomon and asked them to check the next house as there is a possibility they have missed their destination. The mother brought out the photograph and showed it to Baba. Baba took the picture and told them that he knows the man in the picture and that he is actually one of the tenants inhabiting the house but they must state their mission with him. Just as the mother was about to respond, the brothers were actually calm and their faces blunt with suspense, Sara snatched the photograph from Baba and scanned through it. Her face lit up. A mixture of fear, surprise and horror beamed her face into confusing frown. She yelled in monologue an incoherent syllable and some words in her local dialect. As she raised her head from the photograph, she looked longingly at the house as if a long lost memory was beginning to form a union between her, the house and her deceased husband. One of Solomon’s brother (Not sure what his name was) perhaps knew Sara was about bursting into uncontrollable feat, hastened at her and held her tight before she could.

While the commotion was going on outside the house, one of the inhabitants came out to find out what was going on. He was shown the photograph. He nodded and immediately said his name is Mr. King and promised to help them call him. He began walking back into the compound, oblivious of these people’s mission. He hadn’t walked far when he stopped, turned and ask Baba if Mr. King was home and Baba said he is home and pointed to his car. He added that he saw him and his wife earlier when they were trying to start the electric generator.

He disappeared at the back of the house, and after a while came out with the wife (Anu). They showed the picture to Anu and her nod was enough to affirm she knew him. She confirmed he was his husband but wanted to know who they were. One of the brothers told her her husband is their brother and needed to see him and Anu told them she has only met her husband’s father and no other relative. She asked the brother if they were coming from Sierra Leone (Apparently Mr. King had told his new wife, he is from Sierra Leone). The brother immediately answered Yes. The wife looked at them suspiciously for a while, then she told him he believes him, pointing at him, because he looked like Lawrence (Apparently Mr. Kings first name is Lawrence). The plot thickens. Anu went into the house and came back looking frantic, carrying some clothes in her hands, and shouting her husband’s name. She moved from flat to flat asking from every neighbor and none of them could help with his whereabouts. Anu paced towards Baba, who had moved into the compound to help search for Lawrence.  She wanted to know if Lawrence had gone out and Baba said he never stepped out of the gate and he must be in the compound. The cloth she was carrying was the one Lawrence was wearing that morning. She found the singlet and cut-out jean-shorts on the floor, at the door post between the living room and the adjoining passage, leading to  the two rooms in the apartment. The singlet and shorts were laid out on the floor in a manner that would suggest that he disappeared while wearing them, as they were laid out in torso-and-limb format on the floor.

The search continued for another thirty minutes, with every inhabitant joining in the search party. While the search went on, Sara was crying profusely. It would appear Lawrence (Mr. King) had disappeared. Anu and three other neighbours came towards the party at the gate and invited them into the compound. In less than thirty minutes after been ushered into the compound, three armed policemen entered (Apparently one of the neighbours had alerted the police that something strange was going on in their compound and their presence was needed). The police demanded from Sara and the brothers to state their mission in the house. Sara jumped forward and told the police how her husband (Now Lawrence) had died in an accident and was buried more than ten years ago, only to resurface, married to another woman and alive. The police couldn’t believe her and asked her to prove it. She produced Marriage pictures showing her and Solomon (Now Lawrence). He showed them pictures of her, Solomon and their three girls. In addition, she showed them pictures of his funeral; the lie-in-state and obituary. The brothers and the mother attested to all this. The trader woman told her side of the story. How she had noticed the semblance and decided to tell her former family about it. The Police took everyone to the station to avoid possible attack on Sara and her accomplice, as the matter was beginning to attract some street miscreants. Everyone wrote a report and described the events in vivid details. Will save you the details of how Lawrence had lied to her wife that his whole family had been wiped out during the Sierra Leone civil war except him and his father. He told of how he had been rescued by ECOMOG and found himself on asylum in Nigeria since 2001. He told her of how he worked as a tailor and was fortunate to have met a rich man who invested in him and bought a sewing machine for him and got him a shop. Anu in her report confessed that she had been married to Lawrence for more than 5 years. They had only one baby girl who died two months after birth due to congenial complications. He had no friend and was always in the house sewing clothes. She had never met any of his customers. She only delivers the finished clothing either early in the morning or late at night on his motorcycle. He claimed that these are the times that he could meet his customers at home as they all go to work in the morning and only return in the evening. He never attends parties or go anywhere unless it is very important. She said that her family never truly liked him. Her father thought he was abnormal. He shied away from interactions and most importantly avoided taking pictures.

Solomon or Lawrence never showed up again. I know this because I interviewed these people and spoke with the police afterwards and the case was still open last time I checked nine years ago. I had this report on file for more than three months awaiting publication. My supervising editor (Chux Ohai) wouldn’t publish it. According to him, it was lacking of assessable evidence and my eye witness account or the police’s wasn’t good enough. Perhaps, someday someone like the trader woman would see him again.

Sara and Anu were both married to the same man at different life times of the man. I learnt later that Anu had a girl child for him but the child died two months after birth as a result of congenial complications.

Lawrence or Solomon has gone somewhere else possibly to complete the remainder of his life before he passes on.

This Phenomenon is a common belief in Africa. When people die suddenly at an un-appointed time, such person often reincarnate to live the remainder of his or her life before he or she can pass on. I was never a believer of this phenomenon until this day. Some call it familiar spiritism, Others believe it is pure black magic, while some believe it is evidence of an evil spirit(s) transmogrification into a vessel. Whichever it is, this incident reflect the interactive dynamism between life and death.

Although in the eyes of a scientist, logic would portend that Solomon did not actually die but cleverly staged his own death to escape a life he probably hated. He, of course would change his identity (Lawrence) and location to minimize the possibility of unravelling his ploy. And when he was found out, disappeared again, although without much antic to support his recent disappearance. What science would have failed to notice is that, the former wife (Sara) identified the remains of Solomon after the fatal accident, and a number of family members and friends saw his face and could confirm he was dead. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance is evident to suggest a ghostly inclusion, however without solid and confirmed evidence, the loophole is gaping.

How does this story express evidence of the metaphysics? How does it shape the belief of life after death? How does it describe that our spirit is not only an amorphous matter in a liquid or gaseous form within us and would only seep or float away after the physical material dies, and subsequently congeals, emerging into a new living structure, similar to the old structure?

Stabilizing Corruption in Nigeria

If Nigeria is less corrupt than the vison of ending it, then we are in for a longer era of it. The ideology that corruption can be eradicated is only what it is and not a realistic tendency. Corruption can be stabilized and managed but that is what most Vanguards fighting corruption have failed to understand.

The world would not nod to a change that marks against our totem. Man is infinitely selfish and grown to maximize his own need for survival. Satre and Hobbs argument on the true state of man clearly shows that, if not for government and imposed rule of law, we would all be in the state of chaos. Civility is an agenda to repress man’s state of nature and bring out what is deemed the state of affair for the wellbeing for all in man.

Conflicts arise when the foreseen symptoms of characteristics seemed to eradicate or impede the perceived state of wellbeing of a society. Laws and justice consequently become the weapon to fight such characteristics. However, unfortunately these characteristics are all human. Such characteristics as murder, arson, rape, robbery, fraud, genocide, cronyism etc. are all innate but because of the need to maintain order and civility, we repress them. And not only because the law exist or because we want to abstain from those actions but mostly and primarily because we are aware of the consequences and cannot suffer the consequences.

Since consequences have become notorious among evil characteristics, the need to create a more effective, tougher consequence to maintain order in society has become imperative, such that most countries establish capital punishment for very grievous crimes. How every country defines or determines what is grievous is endemic of their sociocultural vices.

Nigeria for example must start considering corruption as one of its most grievous crimes and begin to instill tougher punishment against, especially cronyism and financial misappropriation. Any vanguard seeking to fight these two crimes must first change the laws of Nigeria by writing sensible judicial reforms, undressing government off both existent and imaginary immunities. Until these are done, the fight against corruption will only be a fairy tale

Of course, even after these laws are extant, executing these laws by the judiciary could be a problem. A wise man once said that Justice is in the interest of the most powerful. It is therefore a case of the egg and the chicken. Unless the vanguard is radical enough to get rid of the power bloc behind these crimes, the new laws will amount to nothing.

TRUMPISM

I love Trump. His self-styled rule is peculiar to his person. One who spits out his guts, raw and transparent. A look at Trump’s face while talking to him about a particular matter or idea already would suggest to you if he is buying the conversation or not. His mien is not calculative. He just sits and listen to you for a while and if he likes it, in his characteristic expression, would say “I like it, where have you been, you are an asset to this nation” or if he doesn’t like it, without any doubt or muffle in his speech. His outburst would be “That’s some bullshit idea”. He speaks no bombast. Although not conventionally articulate and lacks the programed diplomacy rigged into most leaders, his schmaltz disregard for convention is one yet better for his government and aims

I love Trump. His attempt for want to change status quo and rescue us from a rut that has not only embellished us with a ghoulish loss for human appetite and morality, but has given us pseudo-evil forms and surreal realities. He seemed a mediocre and idealist moderate. A confederate flag bearer and a gun totting admirer, he is however not a liar about who he is. He is never guilty about his mornings or afternoons greeting. He throws you a perfunctory if that is all you deserve and doesn’t even care to know your thoughts about it or anyone else’s for that matter

I love Trump because nobody understands him. He is an enigma, a prized maverick who is both aloof and attentive.

I love Trump. You call him a racist because he is keen at his enterprise and faithful to his “Make America Great Again” campaign. You think he is deeply flawed, yet he is a Billionaire with many judgment on his heels and yet surpasses them all and became the President of perhaps the most powerful Country in the world.

I love Trump. He is an alloy of desire and contempt. A scalding hot honey, yet cool on the tongue, if you care to taste.

I love Trump. He is perhaps the most unpopular man in The U.S and yet secretly adored my Hundreds of Millions in the same country for bringing back government cutbacks and better jobs. You can ask the DOW and NYSE

I love Trump. He is angry because the world does not understand his ways. He is human after all. He didn’t win the election any different a man from what he is today. He has stayed through and would not allow the paparazzi with their parlance of correctness shove him from his pedestal.

I love Trump. He has not told you why he is what he is. He has not told you why he is doing what he is doing. And he will not tell you today or tomorrow. You can listen to the News because that is all you can believe.

I love Trump. He had never fought any life taking wars but had sure fought and won libelous and deadly corporate wars and has sent foot soldiers to conquer corporate fiefdoms.

I love Trump. His name is revelation of his many achievements.  

I love Trump. What you love is not my business. I just love Trump because he makes the difference in the difference we have been seeking.

Donald Trump and his 7 States

I have had so many questions concerning the US travel ban of seven Islamic Nations, signed Executive order by Donald Trump. I will start by pondering on the assertions by populist factions that the travel ban would ultimately stabilize ISIS’s recruitment for the Jihad. The Jihad is a movement that has been existing long before the enthronement of the US as a world power. The Jihad is an Islamic foundation, although not part of the 5 pillars of Islam, serves as a vehicle to instil the culture, and was acceptable as long as there are no associated significant casualties (Collateral damage) arising from the jihadist travails. I really don’t see how the Travel ban would accentuate Jihadist recruitment of Arabs. The blow back on the travel ban probably was due to the person behind it more than its implication. Everything is politics. The Democrats, along with the disgruntled Republicans, like McCain, would do anything to repeal major crusades by Donald Trump’s administration. Although most claim that his actions would buoy more Arabs towards joining the murderous ISIS and the rest of the Jihadist groups, why, because an average Arab’s escapist plan from the jihadist is fleeing to America? How many citizens (from these seven states) eventually get into the US? According to Statistics by the United Nation on Refugees in-flux to The US carried out in 2015, showed that more than 70% of applications of citizens from these seven Islamic regions are rejected annually and another 7-13.8% of the 30% whose application scale through are deported, after post-travel background check. So who is fooling who? It is unfortunate that a travel ban by another country on another should be this worrisome. I expect these seven states to issue and implement a retaliatory immigration policy against the US instead of raising hell about it.

Secondly, why would an Arab seek to become a jihadist if he does not share the same views with them? Remember some civilians travelled from Europe to join ISIS. In spite of the nomenclature, distance and the inherent danger, they struggled to join the group. Isn’t it then crystal clear that the Jihadist groups appeal to emotions rather than reasons? A psychologist or psychiatrist cannot truly begin to understand a mental disease unless it understands its pathology. Have we truly understood these evolved Jihadist? You could perhaps begin to learn by surveying why young and sane, non-Muslim European citizens would join a murderous group. You can add it up. I won’t explain the definition.  Joining the course isn’t by proximity rather by volition. Or perhaps referring to those who are conscripted to the course; knowing this, shouldn’t the US be setting up a refugee camp for all potential ISIS member in one of their precious islands. No they wouldn’t since there is isn’t any pecuniary or diplomatic gain in that. In a nutshell, Donald Trump’s ban is only a daring revelation of the US immigration stance towards these seven Arab nations.

Thirdly, terrorism in these regions were merely as a result of western incursion on a people’s culture, which over a period has culminated into religious warfare. Even among the religion, there is the domineering squabble among the Kurd, Sunni and Shia militia’s fomenting terrors against one another. So, technically, the populist believe that advancing these people to US would quell their affiliations. Or perhaps, over a period of time, an increased number of each group could engender another bloodbath on US soil.

Fourthly, the US have suffered waves of terrorist attacks in the past. Apart from the 9/11, all the others were internally planned. I would imagine the logically thing was to ban those countries from travelling to the states. It is also worthy of note that some of the Jihadist heads like Osama Bin Laden and Anwar al Awlaki  had either US training or Education background. So wouldn’t we agree it is even more injurious for the US to allow these people in their country?

I believe the Democrats, the media and judiciary have been a little biased about the Travel ban of the seven. The unsavory dedication to political correctness is no longer an agenda in the White House. There is a new mayor in town. The travel ban I believe should be lauded by Americans rather the belligerent protests on the streets. Until the world develop a device or equipment capable of detecting Radicals from Liberals, I believe the US should keep the travel ban gifted them by Donald Trump. It would seem that all US citizens are unhappy with the travel ban, but statistics have shown that 31% are in support, 26% against, 33% apathy and 10% Unsure of outcome. Question is, where are the 31% that are in support? Why aren’t they on the streets buffering the campaign against the travel ban? They would rather stay silent behind Trump and watch? I asked a supporter of the travel ban (a reader of my blog) who resides in US, why they aren’t on the street fighting for what they believed in, and in support of Trump. He replied “You know the American dream and ways seemed to have blocked our thinking into believing in the Ideal more than reality. Yes… hmmm the travel ban is undiplomatic of the US, but hem… hard decisions come with harsh realities. How long do you expect us to keep our borders open to this menace? Do you know the number of people that have been killed by these f…king people? You need to check before you start condemning our President’s perfect decision. You know Obama…” he stopped and seemed to retract the last part his statement. He completed by saying “Obama is another matter for another day… let’s focus on this matter” Curious that he should mention fatality resulting from Terrorist attacks, I was forced to ask him if he knew that more Americans have been killed by fellow Americans who have access to guns. What is the US doing about the NRA, who had always repealed the policy for gun control and access? To which he replied; “You know… that is another matter of its own. It is not related to this. Gun control measure is a domestic problem we intend to solve with time…., and… and,… and God knows we do not have common resolve on the issue now but for Islamic Terrorism, the solution of course is to stop them from entering our country. Your question on why we are not on the street protesting the travel ban is funny. You know. The media is the problem. They are not covering our bit and even if they do, they run it with sarcasm and criticism. The media control the people’s emotions. I think one thing Trump need to improve on is to end the media battle. This would be helpful to his government. You know that if this travel ban was implemented by the democrats, that is if they have the guts to do it, there wouldn’t be as much criticism as you have on the media today. It is a shame the media aren’t objective in their reports. I also think….” He got caught off and I couldn’t reach him afterwards. That ended the interview.

Perhaps he is right.

Perhaps the media should be mindful of what they write or broadcast, not to spark an already enraged Arab community or implore the emotions of Americans by pointing out absolute chaotic examples.

Perhaps, dramatizing actions inferred from the White House would ultimately lead into another war rather than peace.

Perhaps, it is the media that should be more concerned about sociopolitical correctness as it is easy for people to be inspired by their pictures and implications. 

The Trumpy Effect

African Leaders and their Puppets

Leadership roles in Africa are unfortunately bereft of leaders. Most simpletons who find themselves in positions are more enthused by the position than the roles of the position. They enjoy the fame availed by their positions, fanning their ego to oppress their peers and adversaries. It is not only a common thing at every sector of the government but also common with the so called followers who have watched their leaders squander positions for personal gains. They in turn want similar positions in order to repeat the fraudulent and opulent lifestyle their predecessor led.

This uncanny way of life has been parading the vicissitude of the African Continent and has been responsible for politicians whoring positions to satisfy their egotistical affections. This recidivist leaders have no cause to change because their followers are the mediocre that fuel their desire to remain in office amidst glaring failure.

One of the major problems in Africa is that the masses (the down trodden, the hewers of wood and drawers of water) are a complacent lot, who are not ready to exchange force for change. A good example of such is the Nigerian citizenry. I have never known any people that is so indifferent to their future. For example, If a Nigerian buys a loaf of bread today at N100 and the next day, the price of the same size and quality of loaf bread has increased to N200, a typical Nigerian will never ask question or show any signs of outward protest but willingly and grudgingly seek an immediate truce. He will simply ask the bread seller to slice him N100 worth (Half) of the same bread he bought yesterday for N100. Compromise is a common character of a Nigerian. He never asks questions. He does not want to rock the boat. He cannot confront a lingering situation inimical to him and descendants. He would rather remain at status quo than create a fuss that could possibly lead to the exoneration of his predicament.

Perhaps the Middle Class and the Elites who can be categorized as narcissistic and lunatic have had a good run at the expense of the masses or they are simply an art that the masses need to keep their hopes sturdy and alive. It is an assumption by a larger proportion of the masses that their time will come when they will overcome their wants. Their endless hope is ever suppressing.

An unknown crusader once said “Every citizen deserve its leadership”. The masses, who form more than 80% of the electorates can choose their leadership by voting their conscience and not their immediate needs. A constituency that chose its leadership on performance will do well than one who chose based on popularity or common charity. Here in Nigeria, people choose their leadership definitely not on performance but generosity and popularity. It is true that the eyes don’t see the essential but here in Nigeria, the eyes can see the non-essential, for the basic essentials are non existent. Unfortunately it is the non-essential that they endorse.

Nepotism and Racial Bigotry is another problem on another level. I partly agree with Achebe, the egalitarian prodigy, that Nigeria is not a country but a people existing with inward antagonism. A people suffering from Cultural Schizophrenia, Eurotoxification and a Lunatic Elite. The Leaders have used tribe and religion as an instrument to manipulate the emotions and sentiments of the governed, to an extent that the latter have become oblivious of the bigger picture. Every tribe in Nigeria is striving to protect a culture that has since been receding into the crevices of their memory. Morality should be the order of the day, but morality counts for nothing in the face of religion and tribe.  The Hausas who are predominantly Muslims are driven more by religion and live in a closely knit culture controlled by Islam. The Igbos, who are predominantly Christians are semi-influenced by their religion but are fiercely individualistic, materialistic and industrious. The Yorubas, a melting point for all the races and religion are tolerant in a flagrant manner and egotistically bias. We race to keep our race at the top but we forget about nation building. At the expense of race dominance, we forget to live but merely exist to keep the elites living off our puerile and gullible existence.

Education was meant to alleviate poverty but has created more confusion than enlighten Nigerians. Half bred educators teaching mindless students would only create a jejune mind. The sheer banality of setting out to school is being defeated at the end of the day, for more than many are a misfit of what they acclaimed. It is a nasty experience to butter the face of a bread that has lost its bromate to expiration. Most of the knowledge taught in school are dead. I remember back in the university; my lazy lecturer taught us exactly the same way, same examples that he taught students seven years ago; Thank heavens I was able to borrow one of the notes of a seven-year-old graduate from the same department. I need not write any notes of his, for the notes I borrowed from the alumnus was a perfect replica. The education system is recursive and not advancing, typical of the country. Education is supposed to make us better but I guess it is just an instrument too. An advance citizenry should be the target of every educational system and not make you half boiled egg. Making you a side dish, to be eaten or discarded. The system, if at all had achieved anything, had made us nothing but appendages, seeking succor from the elites or privileged, creating a corrosive cycle.

 The leaders would not encourage an advance citizenry. They will never better education in this country because they know that it is their adversary to leadership. The more naïve the people are, the better for their cusp of leadership. I cannot remember a time when military and Civilians (Politicians alike) have ever campaigned without including Building Good Roads, Power restoration, Good Schools and Hospitals. I believe at this time, our leaders should be campaigning with more advanced global issues like Global Warming, Economic diversification, urbanization of rural areas, effective depopulation of urban areas. Nuclear program for power and medicine. Scientific discoveries and technological advancement, Space exploration etc.   A citizenry that know its right and seek change is a revolutionary and advanced citizen. ‘Our sidon look’ attitude will only earn us nothing but freedom from glory and subservience to poverty.

We attack each other at election time to install crooks and brigands in positions. Many potential soldiers of freedom lose their lives, fighting on the streets in support for politicians who would soon forget them as soon as election is won. What have we done with ourselves? Only to seek improvement by groveling and ingratiating from the same set of people we queued up to elect. We need to wake up and put tribalism. Religion, status and nepotism aside and elect egalitarian leaders.

I agree. It is difficult to know a true leader. They are wolves in sheep linen. Vote for performance and track records and you will see a change in leadership. Do not vote for popularity, showmanship, group or individual success. It is only here in Nigeria that people detained for corrupt practices are declared winners of election, even while in detention. People who are wanted for international crime and have serious litigation pending against them, win elections. With our eyes opened, we pluck, wash and eat bad apples and expect not to purge. Who are we fooling? Poor choice in leadership begets poor administration. We have lived in deepening anarchy for years to support a fragile peace. It is about time we purge the anarchy and perpetuate good governance and peace.

Remember my brethren, we need to break the circuit in order to reset it. 

Nigeria in the Cross-Strait fire

Only a few would stop to think about Nigeria’s overwhelming decision to suddenly severe diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The demotion of Taiwan by the Federal Government of Nigeria to a trade state and not a sovereign state developed from China’s influence on Nigeria.

Perhaps Nigeria at the moment, in recession, has little to offer in terms of holding decision against certain economic power countries like China. Nigeria has to weigh her options between supporting Taiwan as a state and losing China as an economic ally.  The frontier of the cold war between China (PROC) and Taiwan (ROC) has seen different supporters from different states and even region depending on the government affiliation. Taiwan has been known to be secretly supported by Right hand government while same Right hand governments have not had the effrontery to take the mantle to the UN. China has enjoyed both leftist and controversially right hand governments’ supports. The latter has been due to the need to manage a fragile state of affairs with China. Starting a face-off with China on Taiwan is almost nearly starting one with Russia. Even though Russia and China have disagreements on a number of issues, they share similar feelings on Taiwan remaining a buffer state.

China stands at an advantage both because of her economic and military dominance in the region as well as influence at the UN. Drops of criticism from different quarters have not been able to reverse                                                                                   

    

China’s stiff control over Taiwan. As long as Taiwan remains a buffer state and not claim sovereign title or seen as a sovereign state by other UN accredited sovereign states, China bears no grudge against them

But with Nigeria dabbling in this 68 year old crisis, with little or no understanding of the international effect (or so I presume) on her diplomatic relations with other countries is yet to be seen. Leaning towards America’s (under Trump) indignation over China’s resistance to Taiwan’s rise to sovereignty, which is a potential cold war between America and China, might drag Nigeria (a less perceptive and ill prepared country) into a cold war.

Hong Kong suffers similar state of affair with China. Typically, it is a ‘one country two systems’ system of affairs in both situations.

From the inner thoughts of Yahya Jammeh (An innocuous appeal to the world to see reason) Hear him if you can.

Perhaps Jammeh’s resistance and call for a re-election might have presented the erring factor in the electioneering process of the Gambian 2016, Dec 1^st election.  From a more eclectic point of view, Jammeh’s resistance to the result was not premeditated for he had initially conceded defeat and even congratulated the President Elect, Barrow ("you are elected president of The Gambia, and I wish you all the best”, I have no ill will.) to the extent that he planned to convene a transition meeting for Barrow’s new presidency. More in Jammeh’s defense; the moment he got the result of the election, he released the opposition leader of the Coalition for Democracy and eighteen (18) others as a sign of good fate and acceptance to the new dispensation.

However, unfortunately the Gambian Election Commission,  after the previous reading of the election results on the 2^nd of December, came out with a modified result on the 5^th December bringing the margin between Jammeh and Barrow from 8.8% to 3.7%, and a 9.1% reduction on the total votes cast.  

The modified result of the election led to Jammeh’s rethink about leaving office. On the 9^th December,  he challenged the result of the election on Gambia National TV saying “He has decided to reject the outcome of the election due to serious and unacceptable abnormalities during the election process.” This of course was met with criticism and jeered uproar from the citizenry and international communities.

…and from a more eclectic perspective, Jammeh would not have conceded to an election result that is fraught with abnormalities. Maybe Gambians are tired of his government and perhaps seek a change in power according to some popular views, but it is worthy of note that it is immoral and unlawful to quest the removal from power, regardless of years on the throne, through an obscured  election.  Are Gambians so desperate to see Jammeh out of power at the expense of justice? He has every right to challenge the results. He did not say he will not leave power irrespective of the judgment.  He has simply petitioned the GEC and the election result and until he is heard there will be no transition.

We should not be too hasty to advance our indignant stereotypic psychic that African leaders are hard to leave power. Remember he had conceded defeat but after the modification of the result, he chose to reject the result and asked for an enquiry into the abnormalities.

The AU and the UN and all other foreign bodies should not stoke a civil war in Gambia, rather they should ensure a speedy judgment of the matter.

We should strive to promote an Africa that displays erudition and candor, and not one that is flawed by misguided emotions and unruly decisions. About (60.5%) of those who heard about the Gambian Election did not read about it. They merely relied on hearsays and elicit empathy for the Gambian citizens, who out of sheer remiss want Jammeh out of power at all cost. 

Unsalable Hillary or Sagacious Trump

                                                      Unsalable Hillary or Sagacious Trump

In between reality and forecast, the epiphany that Donald John Trump would trump his competitor to the white house is far-fetched.  This eye opener is scintillating to the seeming reality that what glitters is not golden. The façade that paraded the debates, the call ins, the innuendoes and facets of fracas between Hillary and Trump, with the endless badgering of Trump as an insensitive and unstable option for the white house reflected the entire opposite of the election result. I personally wasn’t shocked by the result. There had always been that inherent applause within the Trump campaign and his nefariously deemed ideals. He spoke astutely, the minds of White Supremacist Americans, although with unguided perversions. He yet misfired, but among his misfires, the origin and mindset of his proposal shone like a golden coin in a mud. How, with his egotism, bigotry, narcissism, he won the coveted election, remains a foggy mystery on the minds of billions.

Many still find it difficult to believe that Hillary’s email scandal compared with Trump’s aberrations and inexperience could have won the election in favour of the latter.  Perhaps the media support for her in spite of email scandal range, where 61% respondent in the Quinnipiac University poll barely 3months ago revealed Hillary as dishonest and untrustworthy, blinded her to address her Achilles’ hill. Her Adviser Joel Bennenston, a renowned strategist and pollster, possibly should share in the blame for her failure. He failed in his job to bring to the fore, the latent hindsight that had consistently been swept beneath notice.

Hillary was built a jetliner by the Polls pooled by CNN and other Medias and she rode on it like an ignorant peacock to an oblivious failure. Marred by the undetailed FBI investigation of the email scandal which was described as an unethical political interference by the White House to salvage her electoral integrity,  her several cosmetic preservation of diplomatic and political prowess neither worked in her interest for the white house nor flipped her personality image-wise. In spite of the conspicuous White House and Media support, she couldn’t swim through. Guessed the Americans saw through her thinly veiled façade and the media propaganda. It is hard to believe that anyone could have lost to Trump, much more Hilary. It’s as if she was fated to lose the election.

The outcome of the election is the voice of Americans. And they must accept the fate that awaits them.  Americans, perhaps chose a rookie over a rocker, time would tell. Global distrust might not reflect the true identity of Trump. He however, actually reflected his own identity with his unmentionable abominations. His victory crystallizes the views of almost 65% of Americans to keep an inbred culture rather than a diversified one.

The only formidable weapon Trump wielded, which in hindsight was Bernie’s against her in the Democrat’s primaries, reared its ugly head in reality to topple her from achieving her coveted position. A Bernie versus Trump run perhaps would have given the Democrats Olympus. The democrat, amidst the fierce scandal against Hillary, exchanged a golden coin for rusty one. The election was lost because of their choice, which was promoted by Obama and her Husband. Sentiments are Politics, and won with it but not without the right permutations.

Trump’s triumph was in his campaign model. The most common campaign, similar to Adolf Hitler in his pre-second world war crusade, (Tell them their problems, Tell them who is to be blamed for it. Tell them how to eliminate those responsible). He told majority Americans what they needed to hear; how he hopes to salvage their future by cutting taxes and giving them back their jobs, which according to him have been stolen by immigrants from Africa and their Latin neighbours. Trump harnessed this model and won the election battle against all odds, and in the U.S for that matter, a country whose bedrock foundation for peace and message of freedom for all pervades the entire globe. It seemed this value is headed for the rock, with millions of African and Mexican immigrants (especially Nigerians) awaiting repatriation or imprisonment.

Except for Trump’s experience in Business, Politics was never his forte. The world is waiting to see what will emerge from his Chrysalis. And the reactions, acidic, indifference or a shocking awe are yet to be born