You see……for those of you in colder climates, observing afar the live rendition of the Nollywood script “Goodluck falls apart as Turai holds the centre“, directed by ….well now, who should we appoint as the director? Ibori? Anodoakaa? or Taminu? (all influential Presidential aides). No let it be Turai, our 1st lady. She will be perfect. Don’t you think so? And so we have it, the drama of Yaradua, Turai and the never ending plot.
I tell you, it is fun observing it all.
As captured on Silverbird TV Channel
Far from it, I am neither stressed nor burnt out by all that is happening around me. William Butler Yeats in his poetic rendering of “The Second coming” (no pun proposed) could not have put it better. Mind you, you could be forgiven if you think our President had inspired this rendering of his. Read what he had to say;
TURNING and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
In this plot, the Yar’aduas simply cannot hear Nigerians at all. It’s amazing what power can do.
A friend of mine, Niyi Abiona, whom I fondly call Omoba always remind me that a poor man, or that which fervently prays for more, financially, has a behaviour which is borrowed. His real behaviour, he gesticulates, is given birth when he gets the break through. The same can be said for Turai. Power can be addictive.
So don’t worry about us here in Nigeria. I can assure you that God is also having fun watching these megalomaniacs in the amphitheatre called Nigeria.
Oh talking about fun, it is the only way, delusional or not, that I employ to deflect the parasites that harbour the stress bugs. Honestly, you need to see me driving, watching all around me. I see so much now that I have been driving myself. I smile to myself. Laugh with myself. Sometimes talk to myself (wouldn’t want this to be a habit, you know what I mean?). I gesticulate. I whip my head from east to west. Stretch from North to South. I just have fun, listening to incoherent radio callers to Brilla FM criticising Nigerian Football Federal officials or the Super Eagles coach. I laugh at these callers who turn up their radios whilst calling in at the same time. You can imagine the echo that accompanies every word. The presenter says nothing. In fact, he encourages it. How irritating, but addictive.
I laugh at the horns that blare. I only get to know that it is coming from an okada (commercial cyclist) as he zooms pass me with excitement and unbeknown of his irritation. The mobile horns are such a part of life on the roads here in Nigeria that, if only you know what you are not missing. I still cannot get use to this indulgence of these thugs. Some drivers honestly think it’s a toy that needs to be fondled not every now or there, but by the nanosecond.
Two days ago, early in the morning, and I mean just before 6am, the horn executors were already at work. Yes, that early in the morning. There was this particular bus driver who was giving the smaller saloon car was attempting to change lane a hard time. The car, dutifully indicating a right movement turn in front of him. You could see he was pleading by now. But no way was the bus driver going to give him the opportunity. He drove on, blocking his path, sucking up the littlest of space, almost kissing the car bumper ahead.
I looked on at the drama as it played out live in front of me, and the smile and laughter visited drowning whatever stress may be lurking around at that early morning. With the sound of a locomotive horn, the bus driver adjusted what appeared to be a bandana with the American stripes. He was obviously very proud to have it as he tightened the knot on his forehead.
Suddenly my car was next to his bus, I looked at him. He looked back and accompanied it with a smile and a hoot blaring that locomotive double barrel sound.
It was the opportunity I needed. I turned down the volume to the car radio, looked across, and asked, demanding what the heaven sake was with the locomotive horn. With a smile, he replied “oga, na for make traffic move sir”. “Really?” I said with all the sarcasm I could muster up that early in the morning. “And all the cars wey day in front of you, na the horn go move am, abi?” I managed to ask. “Yes oh, oga”, he went on to say with the same plastic smile. “You see oga, the cars dey move now”, as we both drove off. Thank God he gave our little chit-chat some respect as I no longer heard the sound of the locomotive horn until I veered off into Adetokunbo Ademola road.
4x4 male driver versus Woman driver
Now that is Nigeria for you. The Nigeria that ditches out the stress and in equal proportion the fun to combat it.
I live in Nigeria and watch how things that are deemed impossible by other nations in the world are miraculously found possible in Nigeria while things that are equally deemed so impossible by the same nations of the world are found possible in Nigeria. That is Nigeria the land of opportunities that I so admire.
Welcome to a great nation called Nigeria, a nation full of good people.
Oh, just in case you are not aware. It’s a public holiday in Nigeria. We would be celebrating Mohammed’s birthday.
President Yar’Adua sneaked back in to the country in an air ambulance at around 1.46am and believe it or not, no single photograph to confirm this.
And my Questions:
How true is this story?
Could Segun Adeniyi, Presidential Spokesman and ex-ThisDay reporter confirm please?
How soon would he appear live to address Nigerians?No radio broadcast please.
What happens to Dora Akunyili – Minister for information and communication ?
How soon would Aondoakaa be promoted?
How about the 6 Ministers who had travelled to see Yar’Adua in Saudi? or the King?
When will the cabinet be reshuffled to reflect loyalty?
Has Goodluck’s luck dried up? What becomes of him?
Would the President apologise to Nigerians for his abrupt elongated sick leave?
What was the rationale behind switching the airport’s power supply from Grid to Generator? Reassurance of constant power I suppose?
President Yar'Adua and 1st Lady Turai
The drama has just begun…
Reports from THISDAY (Paul Ibe and George Oji in Abuja, 02.24.2010) plus my comments in red.
Exactly three months (Nov 23rd 2009 – Feb 24th 2010) after he left Nigeria for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, in a most dramatic twist, returned to the country in the early hours of today.
THISDAY learnt that the President, whose prolonged absence had generated considerable heat in the polity, left Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at 8.22pm Nigerian time last night and arrived at 1.46am today.
About 30 minutes to his arrival, the source of power supply to the airport was switched from public to generator – (what was all that about?). After the first, small aircraft arrived, another one, a bigger aircraft, landed a few minutes later. Both were unusually parked on the runway – virtually in the bush – instead of the parking area, for a very long time. It was not clear which of the two aircraft carried the President as the entire area was covered in darkness – (more drama. Now comes James Bond, or so it seems).
An ambulance was seen moving towards the two aircraft shortly after the arrival of the second one. A bus also moved in a few minutes later.
At the airport to receive Yar’Adua were Governors Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Namadi Sambo (Kaduna) (More of starring actors Yuguda, Shema and Sambo). They had earlier met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Dimeji Bankole, at his residence in Abuja. (with special guest appearance, Dimeji Bankole who is in on the act.)
Soldiers were deployed on the route from the airport to the Presidential Villa. They all took strategic positions, fully armed. The trucks that conveyed them bore the sign of Brigade of Guards.(What for? To avoid a kidnap? Or assassination attempt? or what?)
THISDAY learnt that all the soldiers, who came in two companies, were asked to drop their phones, thereby rendering them incommunicado.(really?)
Airport staff were also ordered out of the presidential wing as soldiers took over the place. The only thing that could be gleaned from the aircraft was the flashing beacons. (Hehnn!)
At 2.56 am, the ambulance left while a convoy of about eight cars drove towards the aircraft. After 3am, the cars left the airport. They drove at moderate speed on the way to Aso Rock. There were about 16 cars in the convoy that headed for town. (16 cars? Are you sure? Not 20? Or 30?)
The presidential jet eventually moved to park at its usual place at 3.20am while the unmarked smaller aircraft, presumed to be an air ambulance, also parked at 3.25am.
Yar’Adua returned to the country in company with his wife, Turai; his Chief Security Officer, Yusufu Tilde; and Aide-de-Camp, Col. Mustapha Onoedieva.
The President’s return came as a complete surprise as the public had no prior notice or indication to that effect. The six-man ministerial team set up by the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) to pay him a visit only left for Saudi Arabia Monday night.
A source said yesterday that the ministers flew directly to Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, and met with a representative of the King, Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, to “express deep appreciation for the excellent and generous attention the government and people of Saudi have given to the President“.(ohhhhhh? So that was what the trip was for? To thank the King for looking after our President? Do you get it?)
However, before the team could move to Jeddah – about one and a half hours by flight from Riyadh – the President had begun his journey back to Nigeria.(Forget it!Who is fooling who?)
There were unconfirmed reports, however, that Yar’Adua flew in an air ambulance provided by the King of Saudi Arabia.(Who cares how he jetted in? He is here.) The presidential jet that flew him out of the country on November 23, 2009, was still at the Jeddah International Airport after he left, but it was believed to have taken off shortly after.
The air ambulance had been on standby for the past five days to bring the President back, THISDAY learnt, and airport authorities in Nigeria had been put on alert in the last two days to prepare for his return.
Members of the ministerial team, namely the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed; Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman; Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN); Agriculture Minister, Dr. Abba Ruma; and Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, are expected to return to Nigeria this morning straight from Riyadh. (Mission accomplished, abi)
Nigeria’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Abdullah Garba Aminchi, had said on Monday that doctors were preventing visitors from having access to Yar’Adua. (No brainer there.)
Aminchi said he himself had visited Yar’Adua on Saturday and that the condition of the president was improving after treatment for a heart ailment.
“I saw him the day before yesterday… He’s really feeling better now,” Aminchi had told AFP.(Hurrah, and let somebody shout Hallelujah!!!!!)
Most news agency are quoting the ThisDay report…even Blomberg as seen below….
Nigerian President Returns From Saudi Arabia, ThisDay Reports
By Vernon Wessels
Feb. 24 (Bloomberg) — Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua returned back to the country after leaving three months ago for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, This Day said, without citing anyone.
Yar’Adua arrived at 1:46 a.m. local time at an airport in Abuja, where an ambulance was seen moving toward two aircraft parked on the runway, the Lagos-based newspaper said. The ambulance left more than an hour later with a convoy of about 16 cars, which were guarded by soldiers on the route toward the Presidential Villa, it said.
Last Updated: February 23, 2010 23:47 EST
This was how BBC reported the news. Did you notice the inverted commas that accompanies ‘returns home’? Oh you must have! They found the story so outrageous even by Nigeria’s standard that they had to play safe. As there was no recorded voice, this time, they were not so such it could really be him.
Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua ‘returns home’
Ailing Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua has returned home secretly after three months’ medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, reports say.
A plane landed from Jeddah at the presidential wing of Abuja airport in the middle of the night, where an ambulance was waiting on the tarmac. Earlier this month, Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan became acting leader as fears mounted of a power vacuum.
Mr Yar’Adua had been suffering from a heart condition and kidney problems.
There has been no official confirmation of his return, although Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed government source as saying: “He just landed at Abuja airport on a Saudi plane escorted by the presidential plane. He is on his way to the [presidential] villa now.”
His state of health is unclear, and it is not known whether he wants to return to his post. Soldiers were reported to be lining the main road from the airport to the city.
A delegation of Nigerian ministers had travelled to Saudi Arabia on Monday for an update on Mr Yar’Adua’s health.
They had been expected to report back to a weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday, and reports suggest they arrived back on another plane shortly after that thought to be carrying the ailing leader.
The BBC’s Ahmed Idris in Abuja says the next three or four hours will be crucial, as Nigerians wait to see whether the president himself turns up to the cabinet meeting.
If he does not appear, questions will be asked as to whether Mr Yar’Adua is fit enough to resume his duties.
This was how Reuters reported the Presidential home coming…
Nigerian president returns from Saudi hospital –
Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:09am GMT
“The state of his health is very important for the unfolding political dynamics … It’s almost impossible to keep such information secret now he is back,” said Kayode Akindele, a director at Lagos-based Greengate Strategic Partners.
By Nick Tattersall and Felix Onuah
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua arrived back in Abuja on Wednesday after three months in a Saudi Arabian hospital, government sources said, renewing uncertainty over the leadership of Africa’s most populous nation.
There was no immediate word on the condition of the 58-year-old leader. It also was unclear if he would be fit enough to resume office or whether Vice President Goodluck Jonathan would remain as acting head of state.
Yar’Adua’s absence brought sub-Saharan Africa’s second biggest economy to the brink of constitutional crisis and threatened to paralyse the business of government, until Jonathan was sworn in as acting leader two weeks ago.
Jonathan has since adopted the mantle of leadership, reshuffling ministers, pledging to tackle chronic power shortages and forge ahead with an amnesty in the oil-producing Niger Delta. Some politicians have said he could win support to run for president in elections due by April next year.
“The news of the president’s arrival is reportedly causing a lot of anxiety in Abuja especially among politicians, many of whom had prepared themselves for a post Yar’Adua era,” Nigerian newspaper NEXT said on its website.
State television said Yar’Adua was back but the presidency spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. One presidency official said there still was uncertainty about what the president’s return from Saudi Arabia would mean.
Information Minister Dora Akunyili had no immediate comment.
“I heard about it this morning and I am yet to be briefed,” she told Reuters.
CABINET MEETING KEY
Analysts say those close to Yar’Adua were growing concerned about Jonathan’s assertive behaviour after the Senate and House of Representatives recognised him as acting head of state two weeks ago and wanted to bring the president back quickly.
“The Senate resolution was very clear. It says the acting presidency lapses once the president sets foot on the shores of Nigeria,” a government source close to Yar’Adua said.
“We now have a president and a vice president. The president can choose to delegate or carry out his functions directly.”
The cabinet, which has twice passed resolutions that there are no grounds to declare Yar’Adua unfit to govern, is due to hold a weekly meeting later on Wednesday.
Splits have emerged between Yar’Adua loyalists and ministers who feel he should step aside. Any new pronouncements after Wednesday’s meeting could be key to his political fate.
Yar’Adua arrival was shrouded in secrecy.
Two planes arrived at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport in Abuja in the early hours of Wednesday, one of them met by an ambulance which left under a heavy police escort shortly afterwards, a Reuters witness said.
Soldiers lined the main road from the airport to the city, a standard manoeuvre when the president is travelling.
Jonathan could continue as acting president until such time as Yar’Adua’s health recovers and he is fit enough to resume office. Should his condition be so serious as to render him incapable of holding office, he could step aside, allowing Jonathan to be sworn in as leader and name a new deputy.
TREATMENT FOR PERICARDITIS
Yar’Adua has been receiving treatment for pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart that can restrict normal beating, and also is known to suffer from a chronic kidney condition.
Neither the presidency, the ruling party nor the cabinet have given any details on his health since shortly after he left, fuelling speculation about the gravity of his condition.
The libel suit and Aondoakaa’s letter of Apology as seen below is sure to take another twist with the arrival of our President. Let’s see how long Dora would remain Aondoakaa’s “dear sister”.
How I wish this quote was thought of by my humble self, however the credit must go to Pastor Emeka Nwankwo.
Oh yes, Sunday Nuggets. It’s been quite a while now.
Anyway, Pastor E, as I fondly call him, in his sermon yesterday titled, “The God of Gideon” with reference to Judges 7 in the bible (the book of all books) pointed out that “sometimes God doesn’t make sense”. I quite agree with him you know.
Just don’t go there, with all that religious blasphemy mumbo jumbo. It wouldn’t wash with me.
All am’ trying to get across, that is to those who just can’t be patient with me (and thanks to you if you are not in the slightest offended) is that, let’s be honest, God is the master planner. He sees it all, doesn’t he? What he sees ahead, you don’t. What you have pre-determined to do, he most definitely would have seen the end and would lead you (that is if you can hear him because of the relationship you have) otherwise if it will get you to where he wants you to be. Agreed?
Ok. But in our limited vision, because we can’t see what God sees, we therefore conclude that God doesn’t make sense. And in this nonsense that we can’t see is pregnant with all the sense we would eventually see. Do you get my point? Pheeww!!
Pastor E went on to ask if “we want him (that is God) to make sense or for him to make it happen?” I thought that was a thought provoking Q.
However, God thought and said otherwise. He categorically told Gideo that “the people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands”. Can you just imagine that? Commonsense would have said these people were not enough, not too few. Or what do you think?
If Gideo had not developed a relationship with God Almighty, he would have been casting out demons precisely at that point.
The bible has it that, out of about 32,000 people considered for war, God opted for a mere 300 to fight this battle. God did not only drastically reduce the number, he also equipped them, not with rifles or atomic bombs, but, guess what? These guys went to war with “trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them and with torches inside.” How comfortable would you be with just that idea? How in the world does that make sense? You tell me. Guys that is God for you. this is how he operates. When you are expected to fight a battle and it doesn’t make sense, know God Almighty is at play and about to surprise you.
It was God that said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands”. Well, Gideo had the victory, but even he needed some convincing.
So in Pastor Emeka’s words, “the miracle that is yet to be manifested is done and all that is required of us is to raise our level of faith to get it.”
I thought the sermon was so uplifting and believing.
I will leave you to take a breather and go over what you have just read and make sure you read Judges 7 for a better grasp of references.
No matter, I repeat, no matter what you may be going through, take it from me, you have to pass through it first. And as it gets hotter, it means, the cooking is almost done, soon to be enjoyed.
1 x 8 + 1 = 9 12 x 8 + 2 = 98 123 x 8 + 3 = 987 1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876 12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765 123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654 1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543 12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432 123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321
1 x 9 + 2 = 11 12 x 9 + 3 = 111 123 x 9 + 4 = 1111 1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111 12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111 123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111 1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111 12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111 123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111
9 x 9 + 7 = 88 98 x 9 + 6 = 888 987 x 9 + 5 = 8888 9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888 98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888 987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888 9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888 98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888
Brilliant, isn’t it? The power in numbers.
And look at this symmetry:
1 x 1 = 1 11 x 11 = 121 111 x 111 = 12321 1111 x 1111 = 1234321 11111 x 11111 = 123454321 111111 x 111111 = 12345654321 1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321 11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321 111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321
Now, take a look at this…
101%
From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:
What Equals 100%?
What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?
We have all been in situations where someone wants you to GIVE OVER 100%.
How about ACHIEVING 101%?
What equals 100% in life?
Here’s a little mathematical formula that might help
answer these questions:
If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:
L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%
Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:
While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, It’s the Love of God that will put you over the top!
HOW ABOUT LITTLE JOHNNY?
The naughty, Little Johnny comes home from catholic school with a black eye.
His father sees it and says, “Johnny, how many times do I have to tell you not to fight with the other boys?”
“But Dad, it was not my fault. We were all in church saying our prayers. We all stood up and my teacher in front of me had her dress in the crack of her butt. I reached over and pulled it out. That`s when she hit me!”
“Johnny,” the father said. “You don`t do those kind of things to women.” The very next day Johnny came home with the other eye black and blue.
Johnny`s father said, “Johnny, I thought we had a talk!”
“But Dad,” Johnny said, “It was not my fault. There we were in church saying our prayers. We all stood up and my teacher in front of us had her dress in the crack of her butt. Then Louie who was sitting next to me saw it and he reached over and pulled it out. Now I know she doesn`t like this, so I pushed it back in!”………
…. AND FINALLY
Sex in the car. Look closely at how this powerful lens caught this act in motion…….
What appears to the natural lens is a parked car under the shade. abi?Guys, have you seen what I see? Look closely....Don't tell me you still can't see what am' seeing?Oh!!Gotchaaa!!!
How the mind works hehn?
What exactly were you straining your eyes to see through the window?
This is good news for Nigeria, good news indeed. Not a “419” deal. Nothing close to it. This was an international transaction, a business deal which a Nigerian led and succeeded.
I can announce to you today, if you haven’t heard already, that anytime you travel through Gatwick Airport, always remember with pride that it is owned by a Nigerian.
Bayo Ogunlesi
The new owner of one of the world’s most recognised airport – Gatwick – is Adebayo Ogunlesi.
Bayo, as he is fondly called, 56, is the chairman and managing partner, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), an independent investment fund based in New York City with worldwide stake in infrastructure assets.
According to report, Bayo, the son of an 86-year old professor of medicine has presided over a great number of sweet deals that made him the envy of his peers abroad even if his forays into the brisk world multi-billion dollars deals are barely talked about in Nigeria, his home country.
GIP will be investing through Ivy Bidco Limited, a limited liability company registered in England, established for the purpose of making the acquisition. Bidco will pay cash consideration of £1,455 million for the entire share capital of Gatwick Airport Limited on a cash-free, debt-free basis.
Bayo says the acquisition of Gatwick is a landmark deal for GIP and adds another quality asset to his firm’s rapidly expanding portfolio. He said, “we see significant scope to apply both our strong operational focus and our knowledge of the airports sector to make Gatwick an airport of choice.”
In an exclusive interview on Sky television with Jeff Randall, Bayo Ogunlesi, said he is going “to make Gatwick a truly first class experience”. However he cautioned it would take “somewhere between 12 and 18 months” before passengers started noticing a difference at the airport. GIP agreed a £1.51bn deal with Gatwick’s current operator BAA last week, which represented a “good price”, Mr Ogunlesi said.
The fund, which invests in the energy, transport and waste sectors, has already spent over £1bn so far this year, encouraged by falling asset prices. Mr Ogunlesi said the UK’s strong regulatory framework and attractive assets made “Britain a wonderful place to invest”.
“We love Britain,” Mr Ogunlesi added.
The sale of Gatwick to GIP, which is subject to approval by the European Union, is due to be completed by the end of the year.
The airport is currently run by BAA, which posted a pre-tax loss of over £780m in the first nine months of the year.
The airport operator said it lost £225m on Gatwick after being forced to sell the airport by the Competition Commission.
So you wondered why Bayo hadn’t brought his skills to play in Nigeria. But did you notice what Bayo said? He said “We love Britain”, not because of anything but the STRONG REGULATORY FRAMEWORK. Period.
Bayo’s Bio
Adebayo Ogunlesi, called ‘Bayo, by family and friends, was born in Nigeria in 1953, the son of the first Nigerian-born professor of medicine to earn tenure at a medical school in his own country. Ogunlesi went to England in the 1970s to study philosophy, politics, and economics at Oxford University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree with honors. He was accepted by Harvard Law School as one of three foreign students in his class, even though the school did not usually admit students who had been born and educated outside the United States at the time. At Harvard, Ogunlesi and W. Randy Eaddy became the first two editors of African descent to serve together on the prestigious Harvard Law Review .
Ogunlesi also enrolled at the Harvard Business School at the same time that he was studying law. Although he did not intend to pursue a business career, he thought that courses in finance would help him overcome his fear of numbers. He finished his MBA program in 1978 and earned his law degree magna cum laude in 1979. Ogunlesi then served as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall from 1980 to 1983. He was the first non-American ever to clerk at the nation’s highest court.
In 1983 Ogunlesi became an associate of the prestigious New York law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore after having worked for the firm as an intern. He had been practicing law for only nine months, however, when he was called by First Boston, an investment bank. The bank was helping the Nigerian government finance a $6 billion liquefied natural gas project. Its contact in Nigeria was a personal friend of Ogunlesi. The bankers at First Boston asked Cravath, Swaine if they could borrow Ogunlesi for three months to facilitate the deal.
MOVING TO FIRST BOSTON
Three months at the investment bank turned into 20 years. Ogunlesi’s superiors at First Boston were pleased with his work and offered him a permanent position even though his homeland was in turmoil. He told the New York Times on one occasion, & Six months after I got here, there was a coup in Nigeria, the government got tossed out and my friend almost went to jail (March 14, 2002). He rose through the ranks at First Boston from associate to head of the project-finance group. Ogunlesi spent much of his time traveling through countries regarded as emerging markets, where he brokered deals among lenders, governments, and firms developing such large projects as oil refineries, natural gas plants, and mines. The lenders recovered their investments from the proceeds of the projects funded.
Ogunlesi was soon promoted to managing director of the project-finance group at First Boston. Over time his team absorbed several others, including the power, oil and gas, and chemicals groups. In 1993, this amalgamated unit was officially renamed the “Global Energy Group, but was informally dubbed -The Bayosphere. Known for his competitive spirit, Ogunlesi installed a foosball table in his office and had his name painted on one of the goalies; his way of saying that he was taking on the competition.
KEY PROMOTION
In 1997 First Boston was acquired by the Credit Suisse Group and renamed Credit Suisse First Boston, or CSFB. Ogunlesi became the head of the new firm’s global investment banking division in 2002 at the age of 48. At that time global investment banking was one of CSFB’s most influential divisions, employing 1,200 bankers and managing $2.8 billion in assets. Ogunlesi was also given seats on the bank’s board of directors and its powerful 15-member operating committee. The chief executive of CSFB, John J. Mack, praised the new appointee in a press release. ‘Bayo Ogunlesi is a banker of powerful intellect, integrity and innovation. He has a broad global perspective and keen understanding of complex financial transactions. Our clients worldwide have benefited greatly from his strategic insight’s (February 20, 2002). Another colleague put it more simply,He’s the smartest guy in the room ( New York Times , March 14, 2002).
Other accolades quickly followed the news of Ogunlesi’s appointment. Time magazine named Ogunlesi to its 2002 Global Influentials list of the 15 most-promising young executives, while Fortune ranked him as the Seventh Most Powerful Black Executive in the United States.
Ogunlesi’s first task after his promotion was to cut costs in the investment banking division, which had lost nearly $1 billion the previous year. The division was overstaffed as well as ineffective. Ogunlesi furloughed 300 bankers and 50 managing directors in the first few weeks of his new job. He also asked the remaining staff to accept pay cuts and reduce expenses. His economy measures showed some success when the bank’s revenues in the following quarter increased by 25 percent.
NEW CHALLENGES
The early years of the twenty-first century brought more difficult challenges. First, a bear market that started in 2000 made new financing difficult to find. Next, off-balance-sheet financing lost public favor when the energy company Enron abused the technique in order to hide its debts and risky investments, which contributed to its collapse in the winter of 2001. Still another scandal erupted in 2002, when some analysts at CSFB and other large brokerage firms were accused of openly giving some stocks a buy rating while secretly telling their larger clients to steer clear of them. CSFB and nine other firms eventually paid out $1.4 billion in 2003 to settle the charges without admitting guilt. Ogunlesi told New Zealand’s Dominion Post that new rules had been enacted to create a very clear separation between equity market research and investment banking functions. Those rule changes would limit future conflicts of interest and help restore confidence in broker recommendations.
In addition to Ogunlesi’s work at CSFB, he served as cochair of the Global Economic Forum’s 2003 Africa Economic Summit and as an informal adviser to the former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo. Ogunlesi also raised funds for education and African charities (Black Herald – September 9, 2007)
Today is February 15th and its 364 days to the Valentine 2011.
Guys, how did it all go?
In Nigeria, the Valentine Craze took another turn.
On Friday, I stopped to buy some plantains on my way home and lo and behold, I had to interrupt a Valentine related heated discussion between two girls whom you would have thought, forgive if I may say so, should have no clue or business with Saint Valentine. But, business, they made it, to prepare for the big lovers day. They were really into it and I was so sorry to interrupt them. It was so hilarious to me to think that the Valentine craze had also enraptured these road side sellers.
The restaurants I was told were packed and obviously town was painted red. This is why I like Nigeria so much, any excuse to postpone niggling thoughts and hug fun, even if it’s for a few hours.
As for wifey and I, well…. let’s just say we had a good laugh as usual.
“Talking With Funmi”
Swiftly moving away from the saint…..I was so looking forward to watching the maiden edition of TWF (Talk with Funmi) on Sunday evening, however, I got the timing wrong and only managed to catch the last 15 or so minutes.
TWF, did not disappoint, I must say.
The bit I saw with Governor Fashola explaining his government’s policies for the disabilities was captivating. I liked the fact that it was so informal and appeared so natural. I really liked that (not far from my thoughts).The concept for TWF is brilliant. As Ignite Production, the production company behind the programme in a press release pointed out. “It was a sojourn around Nigeria for Funmi, capturing people of various ethnic colours and their conversations around and about Nigeria”.
Ignite Production went on to say that TWF is meant to “provoke discourses on Nigerian life, illuminate and entertain at the same time, as it manifests the Nigerian life in a Nigerian environment”.
As Funmi Iyanda journeys from state to state all over Nigeria talking with people from all spheres of life, TWF thus captures discussions that range from the hard hitting stories of our time to the everyday challenges of Nigerian life sprinkled with some light-hearted banter and fun along the way.
It is as natural as it gets, as Funmi gets to talk to people everywhere, from ordinary citizens going about their business to celebrities in unusual but natural settings.
Funmi Iyanda
I thought the production was high spec, no quality was spared and having read her diary from her blog, you could see that a lot had gone into this production. I am really looking forward to subsequent editions. I am all for celebrating success. Well done to you Funmi and see you at the top as there is still plenty of room left.
Nigerian viewers can watch “Talk with Funmi” on African Magic Channel – a satellite channel on DSTV – on Sunday at 6pm.
On life generally….
Well, what can I say…we thank God. Many are complaining about the economy which is at a standstill. Many, especially the bankers, are not happy with the way the Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has gone about tackling the crippling economy issues. “At least”, many pointed out, “Soludo (immediate past CBN Gov.) knew of the situation, but managed it in way that allowed business to go on as usual.”
I must say though, business is really at a standstill. The oil marketers are screaming at lack of loans. There is a shortage of cash in circulation, hence price of properties are crashing. Don’t even go there, I mean with shares. They have crashed, and I mean crashed.
What else? You know…. Nigerians can be so resilient to a fault. You hear statements such as “it is well,” “God dey”, etc. And life really just continues.
The problem with this is that, there are so many cracks covered up. If you ask me what the solution is, my answer will be that I simply don’t have an answer.
Except, to continue to do my best, influencing those under me, so to say, and work very hard at increasing my sphere of influence.
It can be very dizzy when I think deeply of the situation at hand, but, hey life continues.
So what is so happy about St. Valentine that millions across the globe spend a fortune to make themselves happy for the day or make others happy? Where did the celebration of Valentine’s Day really come from?
When you think of February 14th, what immediately come to some minds are thoughts of naked Romans, paganism, and whips. Some have likened the celebration of Valentine to Halloween (which I do not subscribe to).
There are so many stories about the myth of St Valentine leaving curious minds such as myself undecided which story to adopt as official.
Some have traced this dedicated lovers’ day to raucous annual Roman festivals where men stripped naked, grabbed goat- or dog-skin whips, and spanked young maidens in hopes of increasing their fertility, said classics professor Noel Lenski of the University of Colorado at Boulder.
The annual pagan celebration, called Lupercalia, was held every year on February 15 and remained wildly popular well into the fifth century A.D.—at least 150 years after Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.
“It is clearly a very popular thing, even in an environment where the [ancient] Christians are trying to close it down,” Lenski said. “So there’s reason to think that the Christians might instead have said, OK, we’ll just call this a Christian festival.”
The church pegged the festival to the legend of St. Valentine.
So that is one story. There is another one.
It claims that Saint Valentine is said to have lived in Rome during the third century. That was a long time ago. During this time Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. Many people did not like the ruler.
Claudius was having trouble getting men to serve in his army. He felt many men would not volunteer to join because they did not want to leave their wives and families. He thought that if men were not married, they would join the army. So Claudius passed a new law which did not allow any more marriages. Most people thought this law was cruel. Valentine, who was a minister, did not support the new law.
Even after Emperor Claudius passed the law, he kept performing marriage ceremonies secretly. One night he was caught and thrown in jail and told he would be put to death.
Many young people came to visit Valentine. One was the daughter of the prison guard. On the day of his death Valentine wrote a note to the daughter signed “Love from your Valentine”. This was on February 14, 269 A. D.
Some say this started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine’s Day. Thanks to Arthur Community site for the story.
So there you go. I bet there are still many other stories dedicated to Saint Valentine which I am unaware of.
However, what I have chosen to believe in is this: Why wait for the 14th of February or any month for that matter to do whatever you are going to do for your partner. So why spend a fortune on that day only? So what happens on the 15th hehn?
In the U.K and America, a fortune is made and lost on this day.
How, you may ask?
Shops customise every item to reflect Valentine, applying fancy marketing gimmicks millions fall for. In the process loose (oh sorry, spend) a fortune on gifts that would either go unappreciated, undeserved, risked, even half heartedly appreciated or better still appreciated on the 14th.
My point? It costs a fortune and according to the Telegraph.co.uk, an estimated 1 billion St Valentine’s Day cards will be sent worldwide this year, making it the second most card-heavy celebration after Christmas.
For your information, the retail market love these dedicated days. Valentine is the first of many to come. Correct me if I am wrong, we still have the following to come not in the following order though:
Easter
Mother’s Day
Father’s Day
May Day
Thanks Giving Day
Christmas
Boxing Day (what on earth does this mean? Anybody?)
Countless Birthdays of friends and family
Muslim festivals
Spring Holiday
Summer Holidays
etc
Wifey knows how much I care and love her (oh no, I am not in any way preparing an excuse. Trust me.). She also knows that after the 14th of February, my love for her would neither diminish or increase.
Having said all that, I will like to take this opportunity to wish YOU……..a Happy Sunday
We are in the 21st century and one of Nigeria’s major handicap is power shortage. For those non Nigerians, I know, you would never understand. You just would not be able to comprehend the fact that some parts of Nigeria generate electricity 24/7 by generator.
And as for Nigerians who are in Diaspora, I know also. It is one major excuse, oh sorry, reason if I may correct myself, why Nigeria does not show on your radar.
The cartoon below as captured by RALPH perfectly captures this ill of our nation as it not only distorts our progress but our growth.
* NEPA officially stands for National Electric Power Authority.
* NEPA unofficially stands for Never Expect Power Always
Let me begin by telling you that, in as much as this diary was set up to chronicle my new life in Nigeria, after almost two decades living in the United Kingdom, I have found myself in recent weeks writing more about the political drama as it unfolds in my beloved country.
This was never my intention. I had deliberately avoided this passion of mine for many months, but hey, I just could not help it.
I owe it to my readers who have invested their time to read my views, to write as I see, feel and discover it. Anything I believe would upgrade, influence and promote Nigeria in any form or manner is part of what I feature.
Hence, emails sent to me that I think would be of interest to the world, or articles and interviews I believe would shed more light on the characters of major players in Nigeria are posted.
Today, as are about to read, is a transcript of CNN’s AMANPOUR which aired on Tuesday.
I would implore you to read the script and then be the judge.
I just could not hide my irritation towards the agenda of CNN and the BBC of this world towards Nigeria and the Africa in general. Then again, what did I expect? When the likes of Michael Aondoakaa , once the lawyer to several former governors who had been facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for crimes of looting, assumed office as the number one legal mind in the country. What does that say about us as a nation?
The Nation newspaper online was spot on when it pointed out that “It is indicative of how low his stock has fallen that one of the first acts of Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, is to kick Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, out of his prized position.” The paper added that “this point is significant, given that this is a man who is just ‘acting’. But he felt so strongly about Aondoakaa performance as AGF that he moved against him the first chance he got.” That says it all.
I am not naive to believe the west – U.S, U.K, etc have the very best of interest at heart when it comes to the affairs of Africa. After all, there ought to be a continent so rich but so disorganised in the world that the rest of the world, led by the U.S would have to rally round to pretend to save.
Thank God Professor Wole Soyinka came to the Nation’s rescue with his eloquence at explaining the true state of affairs. Thank God. What a luminous mind and a true ambassador to Nigeria. Thank God.
As far as I am concerned, Amanpour’s report, not to her credit, had put on view two astonishing minds and your guess is as good as mind who the dull one is.
Sorry, I am going on and on….here is Christiane Amanpour’s report.
Christiane Amanpour
CNN’S AMANPOUR
Nigerian Leadership Turmoil Could Lead to Violence
Aired February 09, 2010 – 15:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:00]
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, an attempt to head off the political chaos engulfing one of the world’s biggest oil-producing nations: an absent president, a government divided, and a reignited insurgency. Tonight, Nigeria is our focus.
Good evening, everyone. I’m Christiane Amanpour. Welcome to the program.
Nigeria’s parliament has had enough. Today, after weeks of political conflict, a dramatic vote to suspend its Muslim president, Umaru Yar’Adua, who has long been missing in action, and to hand power over to his Christian vice president, Goodluck Jonathan. The vote isn’t binding, and the cabinet still has to respond, but it could spark an explosive new power struggle between the country’s Muslim north and its Christian south.
President Yar’Adua went to Saudi Arabia in November, he said for treatment of a serious heart condition, but he hasn’t been seen since in public. His departure left peace efforts in the troubled Niger Delta hanging in the balance. He was also absent when a Nigerian man, Umar Abdulmutallab, allegedly tried to blow up a U.S. airliner with a bomb that was hidden in his underwear on Christmas Day.
So it’s a volatile situation, and no one can predict just how it will end, as CNN’s Christian Purefoy reports from Nigeria.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTIAN PUREFOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nicknamed “Old Soldier,” Nehud Balagi (ph) fought to keep Nigeria together during the country’s civil war in the 1960s. Sixty-five years old now, he’s a taxi driver and says the present state of Nigeria is not what he fought for.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The people who is ruling Nigeria, they are so corrupt, so corrupt.
PUREFOY: Nigerians are angry at rampant corruption and now political paralysis. President Yar’Adua was flown to a Saudi Arabian hospital last November with a heart condition. He’s been there ever since, not seen in public once, yet he has refused to hand over power to his vice president.
Nigeria’s attorney general insists it’s all constitutional.
Ex-Attorney General of Nigeria - Michael Aondoakaa
MICHAEL AONDOAKAA, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NIGERIA: No single provision of the constitution has been violated. Nothing has been violated. The government has no vacuum.
PUREFOY: But lawyers and civil rights groups are challenging that claim amid public outcry that Yar’Adua is being kept in office for the personal gain of corrupt government officials.
OLUWAROTIMI AKEREDOLU, PRESIDENT, NIGERIA BAR ASSOCIATION: What our attorney general is dishing out to the public and every other person (inaudible) he’s fit enough to be in office, and he’s not been around for 80 days.
PUREFOY: And since the president has been absent, armed groups in the country’s oil-rich Niger Delta region have resumed attacks and kidnappings on oil facilities. The military has fanned out across the north after religious clashes left hundreds dead last month. And tensions are rising as nationwide fuel shortages have meant people must queue for hours to buy petrol in this oil-rich nation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All the time you are supposed to do your work, you are wasting time in the petrol station.
PUREFOY: Military coups have been frequent in Nigeria, but this old soldier believes now is not the time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Democracy — let the democracy rule Nigeria to look after the welfare for poor man.
PUREFOY: But democracy has never looked after the poor in Nigeria. And for now, it just means growing uncertainty over whether the country can avoid an accelerating spiral of violence and economic collapse.
Christian Purefoy, CNN, Lagos, Nigeria.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
AMANPOUR: We’ll be talking with the Nigerian Nobel Prize-winner Wole Soyinka in a moment, but first, joining us on the phone from Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, the attorney general, Michael Aondoakaa, at the center of this political crisis.
Mr. Aondoakaa, thank you for joining us. Can you tell me, why has it taken the system so long to fill the power vacuum of the president’s absence?
MICHAEL AONDOAKAA, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NIGERIA: Absolutely there has not been a power vacuum. But clearly, the courts in Nigeria are the ones vested with the duties of interpreting the constitution.
[15:05:00]
And they clearly ruled that there has not been a power vacuum. The (inaudible) clearly that when the president was leaving on the 23rd of November, 2009, it delegated all his (inaudible) power to the vice president, on the basis of which the vice president has been exercising the powers of the president.
AMANPOUR: OK.
AONDOAKAA: So there has not actually been a power vacuum, so–
AMANPOUR: So just to confirm, the cabinet will approve this, and this will take place now, that the vice president–
AONDOAKAA: Well, we have to look at the resolution first, but as I’ve indicated, the president has already — since the president left — recognized the vice president as the leader of the country pending when Mr. President returns.
AMANPOUR: Let me ask you, what does the — what does the — the houses of parliament, what do they base their ruling on? Because it seems that they base it on a radio interview that the president gave, you know, a couple of weeks ago.
AONDOAKAA: Well, incidentally, I don’t go much into what they did, because, you see, what they did can override a decision of the court. But what is important now at this stage is to move the country forward. The most important is for the three arms of government to come and certainly support the vice president to carry out his duties and move the country forward.
AMANPOUR: All right.
AONDOAKAA: I think that is the paramount consideration for every Nigerian.
AMANPOUR: OK. Just before I get to some of those challenges, has anybody — has any minister, has any Nigerian official actually seen the president since he went to Saudi Arabia?
AONDOAKAA: No, precisely. People — he spoke to some people. He spoke to the vice president himself. The vice president confirmed to us (inaudible) president spoke to him briefly–
AMANPOUR: When?
AONDOAKAA: — and also — that was (inaudible) about three weeks back.
AMANPOUR: Did the vice president see the president?
AONDOAKAA: No, he didn’t say he saw the president, but he’s told us that he spoke to the president.
AMANPOUR: Isn’t it strange, Mr. Attorney General, that the president of a country can disappear for months and that nobody has seen him and — and these decisions are being taken? Isn’t that just strange?
AONDOAKAA: No, no, no, no. The issue of it being strange is not right. The issue of whether people have seen him is not a main issue here. Of course people have seen him. The (inaudible) president was delegated to go there when the issue of budget accord, and he went there. The president signed the budget. He saw him, and he reported back to us.
But that is not the main issue. The main issue is that (inaudible) paramount, is that there must be ways of resolving our problems constitutionally, and that is — I feel that the system is working fine, because nobody has taken up arms. The most important point is that the three arms of government are working out a way to have a situation that we come out in the best interests of Nigerians–
AMANPOUR: Mr. Attorney General, thank you very much, indeed, for joining us from Abuja.
And now–
AONDOAKAA: Well, thank you.
AMANPOUR: — let’s turn to Wole Soyinka, who’s in Los Angeles. For six decades, Mr. Soyinka has been a leading figure in Nigeria’s literary and political life. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize — or, rather, the Nobel Prize in Literature — in 1986.
Thank you very much for joining us, Mr. Soyinka. You heard–
Professor Wole Soyinka
WOLE SOYINKA, NIGERIAN AUTHOR AND NOBEL LAUREATE: You’re welcome.
AMANPOUR: — what the attorney general just said, that everything’s OK, there’s no power vacuum, there’s no risk of — of armed violence. What do you make of the vote by the legislature today?
SOYINKA: Well, let me begin by saying that I — I just sit here astonished that someone in a responsible position, like Aondoakaa, can come here and talk from all four compass points of his mouth. He’s told so many untruths.
He suggests, for instance, that there is absolutely no breakdown in the amnesty procedure in Nigeria. That is a lie. Everybody knows that.
He’s now blaming the (inaudible) on different causes from what he’s said before. At the beginning, he said — and he said this publicly — that there was no need to be excited, that the president could rule from anywhere in the world, anywhere in the world. And he’s–
(CROSSTALK)
AMANPOUR: So what’s really going on, then? Why is it — whose interest is it that there be this absence, this vacuum?
SOYINKA: That’s very — a very good question. Yes, whose interest is it? Now, let me begin by saying that it’s not a regional interest, because I noticed you kept referring to the Muslim north and the Christian south. No, no, no, no, that is not the issue.
The issue is that certain elements within the ruling party love this hiatus. They love the headlessness of government because they can proceed to loot and create their own little empires while the president is away.
[15:10:00]
AMANPOUR: So can you tell me–
(CROSSTALK)
AMANPOUR: — why — what — I mean, when you think about it, what do you think is going on? Why is the president away for so long? And why hasn’t anybody seen him?
SOYINKA: I have my theory. My theory is that the president is in no position to sign anything at the moment. I have a feeling that he’s so ill and those who are around him know very well that he’s very ill.
There’s a huge contention, for instance, about the signing of the appropriation bill, that, in fact, it was forged. I mean, this one has not yet been thoroughly examined by an independent commission, so all kinds of lies, all kind of manipulations are going on around somebody whom I suspect doesn’t even know what is going on.
AMANPOUR: So where do you see–
(CROSSTALK)
SOYINKA: — like Nigeria.
AMANPOUR: Where do you see the next few weeks, the next — oh, I don’t know — few days, now that the legislature has voted, that they’ve put Mr. Goodluck Jonathan as acting president? Do you think this will calm things down?
SOYINKA: I don’t believe so, because those who are behind this game, this very sinister, bizarre game, are not about to give up very quickly. They’re going to find other forms of delaying tactics, and I’m talking about certain criminal elements within the ruling party, the PDP. They are the ones really responsible for this.
AMANPOUR: And what — what is the solution that you’ve been calling for?
SOYINKA: Well, we went there, for instance, and asked them, you know, had a rally, and there have been other rallies, and we demanded that the constitution be followed.
Now, the constitution demands very clearly that when the president is going to be away, it’s a very smooth, temporary transition. The president writes to the assembly saying, “I’m going away on sick leave,” “I’m going away on annual leave, and my deputy takes over.” When he returns, he writes a letter.
Now, I’ve met Yar’Adua. He’s not a stupid man. He’s an intelligent man. And he knows what he ought to have done.
But, unfortunately, I think by the time he realized — that’s my theory — by the time he realized that he was very ill, it was really too late for him to do anything. He’s become incapacitated. And that’s why I don’t believe, for instance, that he signed the appropriation bill.
AMANPOUR: All right.
SOYINKA: And that is when the assembly should take action and formally invest his deputy–
AMANPOUR: Well, they seem to have done that now. Stand by, Mr. Soyinka. We’re going to take a break, and we’ll be back with you in just a moment. And we’ll also be talking with a mediator in the Niger Delta.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:14:40]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Before the coming of oil, we had good fishes, good, rich estuaries, good coastal lands. We had no pipe-borne water, but we had fresh water that was floating, unpolluted that our parents and our grandparents had. And we held it. They were just living, and they were getting by. And then this thing called oil came.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AMANPOUR: That was a clip from the documentary “Sweet Crude” that tells the story of communities living in the Niger Delta, surrounded by Nigeria’s vast oil wealth, but not sharing in its bounty.
Joining us now on the phone from the Niger Delta is Joel Bisina, mediator between the rebels and the Nigerian government.
Mr. Bisina, thank you for joining us. Tell me, what do you think the effect of this legislative vote to transfer power to Goodluck Jonathan, what will the effect be in the delta there with the — with the rebels?
JOEL BISINA, FOUNDER AND REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF NIGER DELTA PROFESSIONALS FOR DEVELOPMENT: First, I can say thank you very much for the opportunity to be on this program. As far as I can say, the vote in the national assembly and (inaudible) vice president to have (inaudible) doesn’t make any difference. I don’t see the vice president (inaudible) significance.
AMANPOUR: Give me, in a nutshell, the heart of the conflict as it stands today.
BISINA: (inaudible) lack of direction. The — the militants (inaudible) laid down their weapons (inaudible) direction as to where to go. No one (inaudible) what to do. And my (inaudible) the impact this will have on peace and security in the Niger Delta.
AMANPOUR: All right. Mr. Bisina–
BISINA: Yeah, and–
AMANPOUR: Thank you so much there for joining us. I appreciate that. And we wish you good luck with your mediating efforts there.
BISINA: Thank you.
AMANPOUR: And we’re joined again by the Nigerian Nobel Prize-winner, Wole Soyinka, who’s in Los Angeles.
So you heard a mediator there, Joel Bisina, say that he didn’t think the latest political twist would make any difference in the Niger Delta. What do you think?
SOYINKA: Well, let me say straight that it’s a major challenge for Jonathan — if he does, indeed, become the substantive acting president — because I can tell you that, in early November, I met together with the so- called errand team (ph), of which I’m just an observer — I’m not a negotiator exactly — we met the president. And the president actually outlined a timetable for discussions.
Afterwards, I heard the — I met the president on a one-on-one, together with his secretary only, in which he affirmed what had been decided with the entire team. And this meeting was supposed to have begun immediately after the Muslim Ramadan. The time was actually set down.
AMANPOUR: OK.
SOYINKA: Now, it’s up to Jonathan to pick up that — to pick up that program and run it fast.
AMANPOUR: Because — because you heard Joel Bisina say that they’ve put down their weapons, those who have, and yet there’s no direction, there’s no answers, they don’t know where to go. Is that legitimate?
SOYINKA: It’s always a legitimate comment. And this is what I’m saying that Jonathan has to do. He has to pick up where Yar’Adua left off. Too much time has been wasted. The militants are disgusted. They also — they’ve begun cynical. And, of course, they’ve called off the cease-fire.
AMANPOUR: So in general — in general, where do you see your country going now? I mean, you’ve got this huge oil-producing nation, you’ve got this huge population, you’ve got a bit of a power vacuum, to put it mildly, and you’ve got a reignited insurgency. All of those combined, where does it — where does it go in the next, let’s say, week, now that Mr. Goodluck has been named officially the acting president?
SOYINKA: Well, let’s hope it doesn’t go where the ruling party is going to take it.
We have the PDP, an illegitimate, unelected, corrupt, and murderous party, as I’ve said at home over and over again. Now, it’s the civil society now which has to rise and put a stop to the machinations of the PDP.
Anything short of that — don’t forget that part of the plans of the PDP is, of course, to perpetuate itself by making sure that there is electoral reform, which, incidentally, Yar’Adua has also put in motion to ensure that next year’s elections are credible.
Now, if the country goes to election next year under the present law, the present system, with a corrupt electoral commission, headed by a totally discredited individual in Professor Iwu, I cannot predict where the nation will end.
AMANPOUR: Now, you spoke about some of — you spoke about leading, you know, demonstrations and things. Are you calling for civil disobedience now?
SOYINKA: Well, we begun with rallies, as you know, and we have warned that the next stage will be civil disobedience.
[15:20:00]
There will be civil disobedience if the various measures to put this country back on a democratic path — this includes, as I said, the electoral reform, a panel was set up. Its recommendations have been accepted by the majority of the nations, from the media commentary, and all that needs to be done is to implement it. Then there has to be a constitutional review.
We’ve seen, for instance, through the absence of the president, how very weak and imprecise the constitution is in many aspects. There’s got to be a review.
Failing all this, the citizenry will embark on a civil disobedience campaign. I see no other course for the nation.
AMANPOUR: And what exactly — what form will that take? What does that mean, a civil disobedience campaign?
SOYINKA: It’ll mean a de-recognition of the government, to start with, flouting the laws wherever possible. It will begin on a — on a small scale, and then it will escalate until these so-called legislators are made to rise up to their responsibilities.
AMANPOUR: Are you not concerned that that will escalate into violence, rather than into political reform?
SOYINKA: No, I think we’re getting practice in the strategies, the tactics of civil disobedience. I do not think — and we’ve demonstrated in the last few rallies that the rallies need not be violent as long as civil rights are not trampled upon. I think exactly the same kind of discipline will be maintained. We’d just withdraw recognition in various ways from the government.
AMANPOUR: And in the meantime, the whole premise of Nigeria’s vast oil wealth that is not being, you know, shared or at least enjoyed by many of the people in the delta, how — do you have — do you have plans to — to deal with that? What do you think should be done about that?
SOYINKA: Well, this is why I agreed in the first place to act even just as an observer in the process of negotiations between the government and the various militant groups. Discourse, debate, the usual, to offer a cliche, give-and-take, that system of — of negotiation is what has to be embarked upon as quickly as possible.
AMANPOUR: Now, the U.S. has obviously got a big role to play. It’s very interested in Nigeria’s oil and — and pursuing democracy there. Hillary Clinton, secretary of state, was recently there, and the assistant secretary for Africa has just met today with — with Goodluck Jonathan and talked about the importance of the democratic process and the political process.
What influence do you think the U.S. can exert right now? Will it be effective?
SOYINKA: Putting pressure on the ruling party or members of the ruling party, including the vice president, whatever title is given, the legislators, assisting us in getting rid of irresponsible ministers like Aondoakaa, compelling, for instance, a change in the composition of the electoral commission, insisting on the adoption of the Uwais panel (ph) report on electoral reform, and insisting on the prosecution of corrupt, exposed, patently corrupt officials.
Now, if we receive that kind of moral pressure — we’re not talking about intervention now; we’re talking about moral pressure being exerted on these various arms of leadership — then it is possible that this make-or- break period — because this is what it is; this is a make-or-break period for Nigeria — it is possible that we may just come through it still intact.
AMANPOUR: Wole Soyinka, thank you so much, indeed, for joining us. What a fascinating story, and we will stay on top of it and keep watching. Thanks for joining us.
And next, more on the human cost of exploiting Nigeria’s oil wealth, when we return.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:25:55]
AMANPOUR: And now tonight’s “P.S.” We have one more look at the very human cost of Nigeria’s oil wealth. One community activist in the film “Sweet Crude” describes how much it’s changed her world, and not necessarily for the better.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (inaudible) animals used to have (inaudible) describe to our children (inaudible) big fishes we used to have in this river (inaudible) we see them on movies (inaudible) watch TV, we see dolphins and all that. We can’t see that (inaudible) used to be here.
We don’t know what we are going to leave for our children, because the oil company wants to stay and operate. They don’t care about the human beings who are here. All they care about is the money they make. Let them leave our lands.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AMANPOUR: And to see a longer clip from the documentary, check out our Web site, amanpour.com.
And in a shocking look at the power of text messages, you can also find out about a massacre in Nigeria last month that left 300 people dead. Text messages were used to incite the violence.
Now, Nigerians are one of the most active communities on our Facebook page, so we’re asking people with accounts of that violence to share their stories at amanpour.com/facebook.
And that’s it for now. Tomorrow, we’ll have a fascinating discussion that includes fashion legend Diane von Furstenberg. It’s about truth in advertising and the industry’s obsession with an unattainable beauty.
Now guys, I know there will be loads and I mean loads of conspiracy theories emerging about our “Super Lucky” Acting President and we all know, with his record, this position would soon be permanent. What is really in a name? Your analysis is as good as mine, even though I am almost tempted to “funky-fy” Kayode my middle name, to Ko’Ayo’de and do away with “Jide”. Serious food for thought.
Seriously guys, let me be the first to post this first of many theories circulating cyberspace on the rise and rise of Goodluck, our acting President. Bayo Olomodosi, thank you once again for the email. I know I can always rely on you. Here we go:
Dear Friends,
In your own (best) interest, no matter the position you are offered in ANY organisation (Office, Church, Meeting/Club, Party Planning, Tenants’ Association, Activist, etc), if your Deputy is named“Goodluck”,PLEASE DECLINE… even if it is UN Secretary General or Head of African Union, whatever,JUST DECLINE!
Should you think I am joking, check these facts:
Goodluck was Assistant Head Boy in primary school. The Head Boygot expelled. Goodluck took over.
Goodluck was Assistant Senior Prefectin secondary school,the Senior Prefectdied, Goodluck took over.
Goodluck was Deputy Local Government Chairman.The Chairmangot implicated in corruption and got removed from office. Goodluck took over
Goodluck was deputy governor to Alameiseigha. We all know that story. He took over and became the Governor.
Goodluck was Vice President to President Yar’Adua:-PERICADIATIS!. He is now the Acting President.
You may think this is coincidence, but don’t you think the coincidence is too much?
Maybe this last one will convince you:A friend of mine just called off his Church Wedding. Why? His Best Man’s name isGoodluck!!! My friend has insisted that he will only have traditional marriage, and the Best Man will not know when…
I have been a true friend. Goodluck (minus the Jonathan) to you.
The Memo Bombshell 7 days before Goodluck took office.
“If I die I die”
By Pade Olapuju padepoju@yahoo.com Sunday, February 7, 2010
When Information and Communications Minister, Prof Dora Akunyili, presented her memorandum asking her colleagues to wake up to their responsibility to the Nigerian nation, tempers flared and voices were raised. Some of the ministers rose from their seats so their voices would carry in the chambers of the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF). Some rained insults on her. A few asked her if she had weighed the risks of her presenting such a position paper.
There were also threats of sack from those who felt Akunyili should not continue to stay in council after submitting such a strong-worded memo. Sunday Sun findings showed that the memorandum took the ministers by surprise and if the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, had not had the presence of mind to ask for the copies already in the hands of the members, it would have been difficult to calm frayed nerves at the meeting.
There were 42 copies of the document with all of the members but when the ministers were told to return them, the SGF discovered that three copies were missing. It took another round of search and persuasion before the missing copies were retrieved.
According to one of the ministers sympathetic to Akunyili’s stand, “I salute Dora’s courage because it takes courage to look your boss in the eye and ask him to step down for his deputy. Many of us are also not comfortable with the way things have gone in the country these past two months, which is why we are supporting her.”
A source at the meeting also told Sunday Sun that the memo took the ministers by surprise.
“We all thought it was just another presentation from her ministry until she started reading. You should have seen the faces of some of the ministers. They shouted, hurled insults at her and some pointedly told her her days were numbered in the council. They asked her if she had weighed the risks of her action. It was really a hot session.
“The meeting ended formally around noon but when I sent one of my aides to the Villa around 4 o’clock later that day, he told me some of the rattled members were still cooped up in a meeting, trying to figure out their next line of action,” the source revealed.
After the meeting ended, ministers were seen standing in groups discussing the memo, most wearing frowns on their faces.
But another minister angrily told this reporter when asked if he thought Akunyili was sincere or grandstanding: “What does it matter now if she is grandstanding? She has boldly stood her ground. Let others also boldly step out and grandstand. All I know is that four Katsina boys cannot continue to hold this nation to ransom.”
Why I did not tell Jonathan – Akunyili
Getting Prof Akunyili to speak on why she seized the EXCOF by the jugular last Wednesday was like trying to squeeze water out of a stone. But after a lot of persuasion, the protagonist agreed to speak with Sunday Sun for a few minutes, with a promise to speak more elaborately on all the issues later.
What prompted the bombshell you dropped on the Executive Council of the Federation on Wednesday?
Let’s just say I got tired of the whole thing. It just got too much for my mind. I could no longer live with myself. I was not sleeping well. I was depressed. My husband thought it was malaria but I knew it was not. I went for tests and nothing was found. I simply knew I could not continue to live a lie. On Tuesday night, I could not sleep at all and I spent half the night praying. That was when I decided to do the memo. I wrote and typed it myself. I only told my Assistants and Special Adviser on Wednesday.
What was their reaction?
Naturally, they thought it was too loaded, too much. They wanted me to tone it down. They were worried about something happening to me but I was resolute. I told them ‘if I die, I die.’ I was not afraid. I know that God who protected me through all my battles in NAFDAC is still alive.
Did you tell the Vice President?
No, I did not tell the VP. I felt he would discourage me if I told him what I wanted to do. I did not tell anybody. It was just a burden I wanted to do something about. It was my burden, my decision. While I was praying on Tuesday night, I remembered one sermon given by one bishop. He said, all the time people were screaming ‘crucify him, crucify him’ at Jesus Christ, nobody spoke up for Jesus. If one person had had the courage to say ‘no, Jesus does not deserve to die,’ perhaps he would not have been crucified. Maybe if someone had mustered the courage to speak up for Jesus, the course of history would have changed. But no, everybody joined the multitude to do evil. Remembering that sermon was instructive. I had to stand even if I was standing alone.
Did you at any point in time try to reason with your colleagues in the cabinet, convince them to join your stand?
Oh yes, I did. About four weeks ago, I tried to talk to some ministers but I did not get any encouragement.
What was the reaction of the ministers when you presented that memo?
I’m sure you can imagine it. Everybody voiced his opinion. Tempers rose but I was not bothered. I am happy with myself. I feel good. I feel like a heavy load has been lifted off my chest. That night I slept well.
Now that you have submitted the memo at the council secretariat, what should we expect next?
I am hopeful that the letter transferring power to Dr Goodluck Jonathan would finally arrive so that the tension in the country can be doused. I also expect that when President Yar’Adua returns, he will take over. The VP cannot stop him from returning to his office. It is not possible. Let me also state clearly that nobody wants Mr President dead. No child of God will wish a fellow human being dead. I don’t want my boss to die. Only evil people want him to die. He will return. So all this tension in the country is unnecessary. We all know what is right and that is what we should do. (culled from http://www.sunnewsonline.com)
What is my take?
This is it. I don’t care what anybody says about Prof Akunyili been a “self-seeking office holder who wants to make herself a cheap” or not. The point is, this lady has exhibited a rare nerve few Nigerian Politicians can only dream of. Her conscience pricked her so much that she felt she needed to act. As for the other Ministers, shame on all of them.
Whether she knew before hand that Goodluck would eventually takeover is immaterial. The fact that she spoke up, whether for her selfish interests or not ought to be applauded.History would surly judge her kindly and that she was not a coward.
AS we all know, our dear President, His Excellency, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, has been receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia for some time now. Naturally, his absence from the country has generated considerable interest and a heated national debate.
Today, the National Assembly passed a resolution mandating me to act as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In following the extant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to arrive at this decision, the leadership and members of the National Assembly have shown great courage, statesmanship and patriotism. I salute them all.
In the same vein, I will like to commend all the other political actors and national leaders, particularly the former heads of state, elder statesmen, governors of the 36 States and other leaders of political groups, civil society organisations, the media, and, indeed, all Nigerians, for their invaluable contributions and counsel. Our security services also deserve our special commendation for their loyalty and devotion to duty during this trying period.
The circumstances in which I find myself assuming office today as acting president of our country are uncommon, sober and reflective. More than ever, therefore, I urge all Nigerians as a people of faith in God, to pray fervently for the full recovery of our dear president and his early return.
The events of the recent past have put to the test, our collective resolve as a democratic nation. I am delighted to note that our nation has demonstrated resilience and unity of purpose. Today affords us time to reconnect with ourselves and overcome any suspicions, hurts and doubts, which had occurred. In all these, there are no winners and no losers, because by the Grace of God, we have, once again, succeeded in moving our country forward. We have all shown that our unity as a people, our love for this country, and our hope for its great future cannot be shaken.
It is now time for us to move on in a more determined manner to tackle the various challenges which we face as a nation. Our march towards Vision 20:2020 is irreversible.
Therefore, we see a need to prioritise on a few of the most critical areas which continue to plague our effort at engendering meaningful economic growth and development.
Some of these critical sectors include power, infrastructure, security, generation of employment and business opportunities for our teeming young men and women.
Fellow Nigerians,
The Federal Government will take every step necessary to consolidate the gains of amnesty in the Niger Delta and execute the post-amnesty programme. I, therefore, appeal to all concerned to be patient, as there can be no meaningful development without peace and security.
As regards the Jos crisis, government will endeavour to sustain the peace and find a lasting solution to the recurring crisis in Plateau State. In the meantime, culprits of the heinous crimes committed in the recent incident will face the full weight of the law. I want to restate that government will not tolerate the culture of impunity that is fast becoming an unwelcome part of our socio-political life.
Our commitment to ensuring the security of lives and property in all parts of the country will also be pursued with renewed zeal. The Nigeria Police and other security services would be given new impetus to perform their duties, even while respecting the human rights of Nigerians. They are fully expected to produce corresponding results. There shall be no excuses for failure. Nigerians deserve to be fully protected at all times nationwide.
Fellow Nigerians,
One of the cardinal commitments of this administration is our commitment to good governance, accountability and transparency. We shall continue to pursue these policy objectives with all the seriousness they deserve. In particular, the war against corruption will be prosecuted more robustly. We will, therefore, strengthen the capacity of the anti-corruption agencies and give them a free hand to prosecute the anti corruption war.
Let me, once again, commend the people of Anambra State for the successful conduct of the recent gubernatorial election. This has shown that Nigerians can conduct free, fair and credible elections. The Anambra election has, however, exposed some weaknesses in our electoral system and government is determined to plug these loopholes as we approach the next general election in 2011. I want to reassure all Nigerians and our friends around the world that our determination to ensure that the sanctity of the electoral rights of our people shall not be compromised.
Let me, on behalf of the Nigerian people, appreciate the international community for their goodwill and understanding in our efforts at national development and consolidation of our democracy. Nigeria will continue to play a deserving role in regional and global affairs.
On a personal note, I am deeply humbled and honoured by this great call to duty. I am fully aware of the responsibilities reposed in me and I want to reassure all Nigerians that this is a sacred trust, which I shall discharge to my fullest abilities.
Thank you and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Oh yes, Nigeria is buzzing once again, now that we can be officially called a nation with GOODLUCK.
But hang on a minute?
The combination of the names “Goodluck” and “Patience” can be said to be deeper than we all think. If there is any proof that there is nothing in a name, then our Acting President Jonathan Goodluck tells us otherwise.
Acting President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in a broadcast to the Nation last Night
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who was once the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa got his chance when his then boss Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was impeached. Alamieyeseigha was kicked out and he smoothly rolled into position.
The same scenario seems to have played out once again. This time, his boss, President Musa Yar’Adua is incapacitated by health and he has assumed power as the most powerful man in the country.
Yes, Mr “Acting Presido” (let’s stopping fooling ourselves, Musa ain’t coming back) may have bagged a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Zoology, which gives me some hope, I am here to write and inform the world that, in the history of our Democracy, no man has ever had this sort of opportunity to engrave his name on the souls (never mind heart) of every Nigeria, dead or alive.
I am not about to write a lengthy letter to Mr Goodluck, inspite of our patient nature as a people (pardon the pun), but mehnnnnn, you know the baggage, you know the score, you know the fools that are in Abuja (the political capital of Nigeria), you definitely know how to play this game.
You are right in the midst of them. You have sat and studied and observed all that has ensued before your eyes. Yes we are aware that “baba” – ex-President Obasanjo single handedly picked you for this role, which goes on to add credence to this man’s superb ability to play us all. Inspite of that, let “baba” play the politics, protecting your back, while you get on with the real work.
My single advice to you is this.
If you can pump in all your efforts and energy and …..what else…into getting our electricity problems right. I mean, Mr Goodluck, if you can sort out this mess with our power, never mind what history will say of you, because all newborn babies would be named after you, you would instantly become an International hero as well.
Goodluck, your name has said it all. You have successfully used it for your personal gain. Now we need you to transfer or better still, share some of it with the nation. I am assured that we are already in possession of one of your assets. By that I mean, we are a loving people, the majority of us, as well as being very patient. So we have the Patience attribute, its the Goodluck aspect…ehmmn that I am not so such of. We really need that, just a dose of it would kick start this great nation.
Of course, I am not kidding you Mr Goodluck, if I told you it would be easy, but you know what, just give us “POWER” – electricity to the people – and your position could just be made permanent. Trust me.
And who was it that said, God is sleeping?
Nigeria is Buzzing again, with GOODLUCK. It’s exciting times here.
You must have noticed that I have chosen not to bore you with section 145 of the constitution and all that crap. Not that our constitution is, but, hey, I just cannot be bothered. I just want some peace and direction. If you were residing in the country, you would understand better. Nigeria was not only headless, it was directionless with all the looting that has gone on and still going.which for now is under wraps.
In his speech, he said he was “deeply humbled and honoured by this great call to duty”. I bet you are.
Get on with it Goodluck and God would bless you all the way.
…..and Google.
My dear Google. I just love these guys. They never stop do they?
All they had was an idea, a search engine that would be better than all, and now, they have countless products and applications in operation. The brand is undeniably one of the biggest in the world. The very latest Google application I woke up to this morning is called “BUZZ”. Basically it allows Gmail users to write status updates which other users can see.
Let me put it another way, it may have been called “GoogleTwit”, and no one would have bat an eyelid. It’s twitter all over without the 140 characters restriction. This is my take on activating my account this morning.
My weekend went past very quickly. Nothing new there.
Had a hair cut at my second choice barbing saloon. Could not face the traffic to V.G.C in Ajah for Ike, my preferred barber to pamper me. I had to make do with Lawrence, who is very good at what he does. He is also very good drinking beer with his jobless pals. I had tried to talk him out of this boring habit, but hey? I wouldn’t stop, though. I owe that to myself to continue. I will keep at it.
So, when I call him to alert him that I would be coming over for a haircut, you could see the effort he makes to look sober. This was the same barber who had cut my hair half way some time ago, but could not continue because of power failure. And guess what? The saloon did not have a generator at the time. With my “Mr T” hair cut already in place, he had to escort me home to complete the task of giving me a decent haircut. Wifey could not stop laughing.
Anyway, on Saturday, he was sober, even though he was on his way to having his lunch at the back of the shop when I arrived. He saw me approaching, with a sheepish smile, he announced to the whole world, even though the message intended was private, that he was about to have his lunch.
What’s the point in telling me that, I asked?
“Oga, I just dey tell you, make you come inside sir” he responded. With his mouth salivating, he grudgingly mustered all effort to redirect his stomach towards the saloon.
I asked him, if he had been busy today. From his long winded answer, you could tell, he was trying to tell me that he expects to be busy later. How about now, with me, as your customer? He is fond of smiling, with his goatee beard perfectly carved on his masculine jaws, he gave me the nod to suggest I was making some sense.
I sank into his chair that could no longer swivel and subjected myself to a “Lawrence of Hunger” treatment. You could tell, this guy was hungry. His usual patience of seeing to the few strands of hair that survived the clipper were superbly ignored. An hungry man is an angry man, they say. I looked at myself in the mirror. I was reasonably satisfied. I immediately jumped out of the seat to his amazement and did not need to encourage him to go back to his lunch. He half-heartedly asked after the boys and wifey as he got paid. I gave him a tip for the inconvenience caused. I had never seen an hungrier barber in my life as he made a dash to the back yard for lunch.
That was Saturday.
Sunday was good. At church, Pastor Mrs Ekoko gave an exultation sermon, is how I would describe it, on simply praising God. It was a message worth hearing.
Most take praising God for granted, wallowing in what ought to be instead. If only, we knew what God Almighty had saved us from. If only?
Pastor Emeka Nwankwo who travelled to India narrated to myself and Pastor Niyi Akenzua his plight on the Emirates plane on his way back to Nigeria. He told us how bad the journey was. He knew he was very tired and with so much hysteria in the plane due to the turbulence and the unsual noise coming from the engine, he immediately thought of his wife and children, said a prayer, and headed to the empty seats to sleep. His sleep was in the hope that if he wakes up, he would either be in heaven with the Lord or on earth on his way to meet his beloved family. Thank God he woke up to meet his family. That was how bad the flight was, he said.
You see, we just take life for granted. How on earth we board such a heavy machine, knowing fully well that it was going to take off, to steady itself in mid air above the clouds for a considerable number of hours, is beyond me. It is the ultimate application of faith, if you ask me.
We need to apply this faith a step further. We need to go after the things that we are so passionate about.NOW!! Honestly. What is the point in not doing so?
You see, I have really conditioned my mind not to be bothered by the fact that my country Nigeria can do without a President for 78 days? I can do without thinking of the fact that I would have to sleep in the heat due to lack of electricity. I just bloody well get on with it. Its pointless complaining. If I cannot stand the heat, then I know what to do. Innit? As the English would say!
Oh, the traffic yesterday. Oh my God? You expect me to go on and on about that? What is the point?
So my point is Time is of Essence.
Do not waste it complaining. Do your bit and watch others engaged in the rat race as they sweat it out. As for me and my family, we would not complain but live to enjoy and tell the stories…..
You just could just tell, that I am having fun, no longer getting as bothered as I would have been in the past. Can’t you?
I tell you, it’s such fun observing things as they unfold in Nigeria. Honestly, it’s so unreal, but so real. You get my point.
Take for instance, the NFF (Nigeria Football Federation), they eventually agreed to demote the National coach Shuaibu Amodu to look after the home grown footballers that would be called up to the national camp. Wait for it. They then shortlisted 5 foreign coaches who they have selected for interview for the sudden vacant position that would guide our National team to the world cup in 4 months time.
Now guys, what’s is the point in even trying to understand or analyse if these guys, Taiwo Ogunjobi and Sani Lulu Abdullahi are from this planet or not (the top guns at the NFF)? I can see you are either shaking your head and laughing or as the case may be crying for Nigeria.
You get my point now?
Guysssssss, just have a fantastic week ahead and God bless for passing by. Let me get back to living the life and having fun.
French scientist, Louis Pasteur, lived at a time when thousands died of rabies each year, so he worked day and night on a vaccine that could save them. Just as he was about to begin experimenting on himself, a nine-year-old boy called Joseph Meister was bitten by a rabid dog. The boy’s mother begged Pasteur to experiment on her son. Pasteur injected him for ten days and the boy lived. Decades later, of all the things Pasteur could have had etched on his headstone, he asked only for three words: Joseph Meister Lived!
Who have you lived for?
Who are you living for?
If you are honest with yourself, how would you describe Nigeria if that question was put before you? How?
Your description of Nigeria, inspite of how realistic you may think it is , is exactly what you are living.
I have been driving myself for almost 4 weeks now, on a daily basis, yes, my choice, as good drivers are now becoming extinct and do you know what I have noticed? A careless attitude to life. A desperation by motorists. A disregard for, don’t even call it high way code. High way wetin (what)?
It is extremely easy to be persuaded to become as crazy as most of these motorists are, but to whose detriment would that be? I know that I would travel the world where I would be required to drive and be civil, so I have chosen to stick to my decent driving skills. It’s challenging, but, hey, it is either that or become as crazy, if not crazi-er.
What am I saying or trying to get across here? Go out of your way to be different. Do not join the others. After all, how would you stand out from the crowd? Yes, let others laugh at your lonely voice. Just keep at it and endeavour to enrich lives that come across yours. It is no coincidence that you come across some lives.
I agree, you cannot always get it right, I mean, your decisions. But it will not be for lack of trying. Ask yourself, what is unique about you? You must be able to answer that question before you are able to utilise that gift for the benefit of others.
Can you imagine that after many many years, we are still reading and learning from the French scientist, Louis Pasteur, for his gift to Joseph Meister. What would you be remembered for?
I quite like what Bruce Burtch said, he said “do well by doing good.” Hmmmnnnn
Enough of that deep stuff…let’s have a laugh. It’s Friday, the first one of the month of February 2010. Have a good weekend. I shall be spending part of my weekend with a dear brother. Someone I quite like and have high regards for. There is just something about this guy that makes him stand out. His name is Charles O. Abraham, Group managing Director/CEO of LTC, an advertising company. Dapo, as I call him would be 50 years old and how time flies as I can still remember his 40th. I say Amen to all your prayers in Jesus name. Happy Birthday my main man, Dapo.
What a Luxurious ride for a loved one!!!The real Hummer!!
You all know how I feel about doing your bit. Well this is exactly what Simon Cowell of X-Factor fame and Quincy Jones, the legendary producer have just done. They have called on their superstar pals to come together to record charity songs in aid of the devastated Haitians.
And then we wonder why things work in American and U.K? It is all a mind set. These guys are not politicians, in fact, the Americans and Brits do not wait for Politicians to take the initiative. They go out and do what they need to do and then invite the Politician for photo opportunities and guess what? The politicians knowing all the hard work had been done are only too happy to be associated with a project that has received the public’s backing.
21 artists were involved in singing the cover of the REM classic, “Everybody Hurts,” project including Robbie Williams and Take That, who have not recorded together since Robbie left the band in 1995. X Factors Alexandra Burke, Leona Lewis and Joe McElderry, Jon Bon Jovi, Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey, Rod Stewart, JLS, Cheryl Cole, Susan Boyle and Miley Cyrus are also involved in the charity single.
With all proceeds going to the cause for the Haitian earthquake relief, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has waived VAT on the sales of the charity single, which will be split between the Helping Haiti fund and the Disasters Emergency Committee. This is where the Politicians come in. I told you, didn’t I?
Is this formula so difficult to understand?
So my take is this – guys, just do your bit. The politicians need you. They need your creativity.
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State was the first to donate $1m to the Haitian Fund. He did not need to wait for the Federal Government to take the initiative. I would have expected some of our Nigerian stars, especially now that our Music Industry is on the up to gather themselves and put out a charity single, but hey!
I was talking to a producer friend of mine last week about such an initiative and, well there were many excuses for now……Let me leave it at that. Excuses not on his side but on the artists side – ego and money and what have you. We shall see….
So the battle is set. Which single would sell the most? There is only one winner and that is the Haitian fund.
I remember with nostalgia the original “We are the world” co-written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson 25 years ago, I also have goose pimples when I see how these guys, super selling artists in their own right, left egos aside and devoted their time for such a good cause. It was in Aid of the Ethiopian famine, and now Haiti Earthquake has brought together 75 super selling singers to reproduce the magic.
In Nigeria, the famine and earthquake and Tsunami are all self inflated. Have you ever thought of how uniquely located Nigeria is? Plenty of Sunshine (no snow), no hurricane, no tsunami, no earthquake, plenty Oil, plenty gas and plenty cocoa. One of the main irritants we have is plenty Mosquitoes which we have left Bill Gates to tackle. What in the “heaven”(damn it, hell) is wrong with our genes?
Original cast of "We Are The World"
Legend has it that Harry Belafonte originally wanted to put together a benefit concert featuring black musicians to raise money for Africa. Ken Kragen (who became president of the organization United Support of Artists for Africa) thought an American version of “Band Aid” would be a better idea. Ken Kragen is an owner of a personal management and television production company. One of his clients was Lionel Ritchie, so he called him with the idea. Lionel’s wife talked to Steve Wonder’s wife and arranged to line him up for the song.
Quicy Jones was lined up as the producer, and Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie were the song writers. The recording took place on the night of the American Music Awards, January 28th, 1985. This was the perfect way to assure that most of the artists would all be free on a single date.
The instrumental tracks were recorded ahead of time and sent out to the interested musicians. With each tape, he sent a letter that stated they should “check their ego at the door.” When they arrived in the studio, there was a piece of tape on the floor for each person to stand on, arranged around six microphones in a semi-circle.800,000 copies arrived in stores on Tuesday, March 7th 1985. There were sold out by the first weekend.
Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie
I know that I Jide Salu will rise. And I shall rise to assist as many people as possible. My hope and prayer is that many others shall rise with me for the same purpose. After all, how many shoes, cars, houses can you take with you 6 feet down under? How many, I ask? So what exactly is the point of this accumulation?
I will leave you with Maya Angelou’s “STILL I RISE”… and the original lyrics of “We are the World”. Enjoy and I thank you for taking the time to pass through JSD. God bless you.
STILL I RISE
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
“We Are The World”, U.S.A. for Africa (lyrics to the original song)
Lyrics: There comes a time when we heed a certain call (Lionel Richie)
When the world must come together as one (Lionel Richie & Stevie Wonder)
There are people dying (Stevie Wonder)
Oh, and it’s time to lend a hand to life (Paul Simon)
The greatest gift of all (Paul Simon/Kenny Rogers)
We can’t go on pretending day by day (Kenny Rogers)
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change (James Ingram)
We’re all a part of God’s great big family (Tina Turner)
And the truth (Billy Joel)
You know love is all we need (Tina Turner/Billy Joel)
(CHORUS)
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving (Michael Jackson)
There’s a choice we’re making we’re saving our own lives (Diana Ross)
It’s true we’ll make a better day just you and me (Michael Jackson/Diana Ross)
Well, send ’em you your heart so they know that someone cares (Dionne Warwick)
And their lives will be stronger and free (Dionne Warwick/Willie Nelson)
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread (Willie Nelson)
And so we all must lend a helping hand (Al Jarreau)
(REPEAT CHORUS)
We are the world, we are the children (Bruce Springsteen)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving (Kenny Loggins)
Oh There’s a choice we’re making we’re saving our own lives (Steve Perry)
It’s true we’ll make a better day just you and me (Daryl Hall)
When you’re down and out there seems no hope at all (Michael Jackson)
But if you just believe there’s no way we can fall (Huey Lewis)
Well, well, well, let’s realize that a change can only come (Cyndi Lauper)
When we (Kim Carnes)
stand together as one (Kim Carnes/Cyndi Lauper/Huey Lewis)
(REPEAT CHORUS)
We are the world, we are the children (Everyone)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving (Everyone)
There’s a choice we’re making we’re saving our own lives (Everyone)
It’s true we’ll make a better day just you and me (Everyone)
(REPEAT CHORUS)
We are the world, we are the children (Everyone)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving (Everyone)
There’s a choice we’re making we’re saving our own lives (Bob Dylan)
It’s true we’ll make a better day just you and me (Bob Dylan)
(REPEAT CHORUS)
We are the world, we are the children (Everyone)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving (Everyone)
There’s a choice we’re making we’re saving our own lives (Everyone)
It’s true we’ll make a better day just you and me (Everyone)
(REPEAT CHORUS)
We are the world, we are the children (Everyone)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving (Everyone)
Oh There’s a choice we’re making we’re saving our own lives (Ray Charles)
It’s true we’ll make a better day just you and me (Ray Charles)
(REPEAT CHORUS)
We are the world, we are the children (Stevie Wonder/Bruce Springsteen)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving (Stevie Wonder/Bruce Springsteen)
There’s a choice we’re making we’re saving our own lives (Stevie Wonder)
It’s true we’ll make a better day just you and me (Stevie Wonder)
(REPEAT CHORUS)
We are the world, we are the children (Stevie Wonder/Bruce Springsteen)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving (Stevie Wonder/Bruce Springsteen)
There’s a choice we’re making we’re saving our own lives (Bruce Springsteen)
It’s true we’ll make a better day just you and me (Bruce Springsteen)
(REPEAT CHORUS)
We are the world, we are the children (Everyone)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving (Everyone)
There’s a choice we’re making we’re saving our own lives (Everyone)
It’s true we’ll make a better day just you and me (Everyone)
(REPEAT CHORUS)
We are the world, we are the children (James Ingram)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving (James Ingram)
There’s a choice we’re making we’re saving our own lives (Ray Charles)
It’s true we’ll make a better day just you and me (Ray Charles)
(REPEAT CHORUS)
We are the world, we are the children (Everyone)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving (Everyone)
There’s a choice we’re making we’re saving our own lives (Everyone/Ray Charles)
It’s true we’ll make a better day just you and me (Everyone/Ray Charles)
Lionel Richie (who co-wrote "We Are the World" in 1985 with Michael Jackson), Wyclef Jean, and Lil Wayne were just three of the more than 75 stars that gathered to re-record the charity anthem for Haiti earthquake relief. photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.comBusta Rhymes and will.i.am sung their hearts out. The Black Eyed Pea reportedly contributed some new raps to the song as well. Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/WireImage.comLater, Celine took on a solo, performing the "Well, well, well, let's realize that a change can only come" lyric originally sung by Cyndi Lauper. photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com
It was Florence Shinn who said that “The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later, with astounding accuracy”.
I just cannot help repeat saying that “it is the real life that I have come to live in Nigeria”. Honestly.
There was just something artificial, something too straight, something….., I just cannot seem to place my hands on that makes living in the United Kingdom unreal.
It could be the fact that everything, well, when I say everything, I mean the basic necessity a human being requires to ease the effort to live is readily available without blinking an eye. Is it electricity or water (be it good or bad, that is water required to flush and drinking water) that are all available? Talk of good roads and shops at every corner, just to make life comfortable and relatively easi-er. That must be it. There is comfort in the mist of its peculiar stress, because whilst all these amenities are available, you pay through your nose to enjoy them. Don’t you guys? Come on, I am asking you a question?
That is where those on the queue at the British or American or Vietnam embassies do not need convincing. They just do not want to hear. They want out. They have had enough. God, definitely did not create them to live a life of misery of this magnitude they seemed to have agreed in unison.
And when you look closely at their grievances, they do have a point you know. The point however, is this. No amount of running as far away from Nigeria will mitigate you from challenges. I will not even bug you with the challenges of the U.K or U.S. Having said that, the level of the challenges in Nigeria, is …..how can I put it o…..on another LEVEL!!!
You see, let me take you on a peep of living in 9ja, or Naija as this generation has come to describe it. But before I do, I have often wondered how Nigerians see and view Nigeria.
How would we describe Nigeria to a foreigner? How would you sell Nigeria to someone who is considering visiting for the first?
These are the real tests, because if we keep bad mouthing the place you call home, how on earth would it be a tolerable place to habit?
How on earth do you think it’s possible to co-habit with a wife or husband you keep on “badmouthing” to your friends? My friend, it is simply not possible, unless you want to die early, hence I guess, the long queues at the foreign embassies.
Life in Nigeria can be very tough for the ordinary man on the street. We often say, without thinking about the repercussion of the statement that Nigerians are very resilient. But to what extent? We just cannot be pushed against the wall? Do you know why? It is for the simple reason that we would break the wall and extend our space, hence the tolerance for rubbish in the country. When we ought to react, we do not. We justify every unimaginable senseless act to the will of God.
We have been without a sitting President for 61 days today and life goes on. No big deal. So, my question is this – what do we actually need a President for if the country can survive without one for this length of time?
We have been without fuel for over two months, and so what? We have all gotten used to it. I now send my meguard (gate man) – Musa – to the petrol station with N2, 500 to queue to buy a 25 litre gallon that would have cost me N1, 750 some weeks back. That is the solution to spending my precious hours on the queue. Believe me If I tell you that cars can be on the queue for up to 5 hours. Why should I spend that long on a queue?
The black market is booming in the open. Boys that are otherwise jobless connive with petrol attendants to fill up bottles, kegs, whatever with fuel to hawk right in front of the petrol stations for sale to motorists like myself who could not be bothered to spend time on the queue. However, the problem with this black market fuel is that it is usually mixed with water or some other artificial liquid, which can pose problems to vehicles. It is such a dilemma. I give Musa, enough to meander his way to buy me 25 litres and not enough to buy from the black market. Can you believe that I now lay my hands on the car offering special prayers on it. This is what it now takes. To add to all the fuel palaver, I still need fuel to generate electricity through our generators. But guess what? We are now used to it, I mean the scarcity.
Graduates now apply for driver roles or loiter the streets with C.Vs in hand visiting one office to another, unsolicited, mind you. To be gainfully employed, you must really know someone on the inside and for those who are employed, they dare not step out of favour with the boss.
Transportation is an issue. Another major challenge. Workers leave home as early as 4.30am to get onto commercial buses to work. That is to work. Leaving work for home is another nightmare journey. I observe these helpless citizens of this rich but bitter nation waiting endless hours for the few buses who have now doubled travel fares due to fuel scarcity. It goes on and on.
Food – another major challenge. The increase in food stuff is down to the fuel scarcity and the religious up rise in Jos, Plateau state – a state that feeds the nation. Emergency road side caterers that cook, sell and accommodate customers that eat beside gutters hewed with rubbish. To say it is unhygienic would be putting it mildly. But hey, as many there are fast food joints opening up, that is how unaffordable they are to the average man on the street. It is unimaginable for a graduate on a salary of N30k per inconsistent month to spend N1k on a meal. That will be a damnation on his conscience. So they have to make do with the “gutter” caterers. Another situation where the nostrils has gotten accustomed to the stench oozing from the gutter.
I can go on and on, but I shall stop here for now.
My point, as tough as it may be, one is still living. Count yourself one of the privileged and endeavour to assist whoever at any given opportunity. Watch carefully what you mutter to yourself, for without realising it, you are living it. It is too late to give up because you are still alive unless you want to terminate your life.
Someone once said, “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. “ Forget yesterday, for it is long gone. If the memories are bad, use it as leverage to get to heights that will produce for you good experiences in future. Once you are alive, you have a duty to yourself to live it. How you go about that is a matter only you have to decide. Your choice.
You know I will tell it as it is. This is how it is today. Tomorrow I do not know of.
Before I go, let me direct you to a close friend’s blog. His name is Dr Tola Sobande and believe me you would soon hear a lot more being said about this very passionate Nigerian who has on several occasions for the past few years, visited Nigeria with free Diabetic kits for members of the public. Talk about doing your bit. So when he talks and writes, it is not theory. This is a guy talking the talk and walking the walk. Introducing you to Tola 101.
Jide Salu’s Diary 