Tuesday 30 October 2007

Nigerian House Speaker Bows Out in Disgrace

After being told by their colleagues to resign or be impeached, Mrs. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh and Mr. Babangida Nguroje yesterday resigned as the House of Representatives Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Their action brought to an end a tortuous journey that spanned weeks of anxiety, fisticuffs and, even death in the legislative chamber click and read more

Hungarian Students Raise Money to Build Hospital in Africa

SANKOFA GROUPE & SOME STUDENTS
By Archie Bonka

As thousands flee the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, we Africans in the Diaspora are watching these events on our televisions without standing up or raising any eyebrow. It is so sad that none of our intellectuals have something to say about this pathetic situation.

But it seems hope has not lost on the other side, for in a small quiet town of Panon Halma, young students of Bences Catholic College answered a call on St. Martins Day. They graced the occasion being organised by Rev Hardi Richard as part of a charity and fund raising concert to assist in building a new eye clinic in Kabinda.

SANKOFA, our cultural groupe was invited which gives me the opportunity to see things for myself. We were sad as well as marvelled at the students' compassion to assist in alleviating sufferings in our dear continent, Africa. It is ironic to see that Hungarian youths are succeeding where our intellectuals have failed. I mean by lending a helping hand to build the Kabinda Community Hospital which is being run by an organisation called the Eight Happiness from the Saint Benedict School in Kabinda.

Arriving at the school which is on top of a hill with its natural beautiful landscape brought memories of those old boarding schools in most West African countries, especially Ghana and Nigeria.

Seeing our posters being displayed all over the campus, and the enthusiasm among the students who have never been to any authentic African cultural concert before or African band performing live, make the night more interesting.

The College auditorium was jammed packed - shoulder to shoulder. And thus we mounted the stage with a typical African war song with African king leading the entourage. The applause was just enough to cause an ear drum defect. We held the crowd to a spell bound for an hour with rhythm coming from our African drums, while the dancers swing, jerk, sway and shake their bodies in different dimensions.

It reached a tempo when some of the students couldn't hold themselves anymore thereby compelled to rush and jump on the stage to shake their bodies as the masters. The joy and smiles on the faces of these crowds were our only gratitude to these young students for their human touch.

At the end of the day, they were able to raise up to 5000 euro to help build the new eye clinic in Kabinda.

Monday 29 October 2007

A Nightclub Forbidden to Africans(A Rejoinder)


By Archie Bonka

Since you have decided to be the mouth piece of the people, then we will be very glad if you could do us a favour by doing more research in your articles so as to give us something up to date to chew.

Your article on RIO NIGHTCLUB/CAFE is hundred percent true. Most of us have been denied entry several times, but this summer the tide had to be changed when they tried to deny D.J.EDWARD, a senegalese who is a naturalised Hungarian.

On that fateful night, D.J.EDWARD was in the company of his Hungarian friends. The event shocked everyone. Fortunately, one of them is a journalist. So the defunct SZINES LAP newspaper wrote about this incident with a picture of D.J.EDWARD standing in front of the RIO NIGHTCLUB/CAFE.

The funniest thing is that, the city of original RIO, which this nightclub adopted is a bubbling and shuffling city twenty four hours non-stop. For example, one can actually say that every soul on earth is being represented.

I mean just check out the Samba Carnivals; its full of joy, love and happiness. Perhaps the owner of the nightclub does not really know what RIO means.

Lastly, we Africans have to take part of the blame simply because some of us do not know how to socialise or rather comport ourselves in such places. Therefore just a minor incident does affect us. Surely the owner would not like to lose his business which is probably a lifetime investment. This is the main reason they often play it safe by telling you "it's a private party or frankly I am sorry, you are not allowed."

For further information try to contact D.J. EDWARD or pay a visit to the RIO NIG.HT CLUB/CAFE.

Archie Bonker resides in Budapest, Hungary



Sunday 28 October 2007

A Nightclub Forbidden to Africans


By Hakeem Babalola

On that summer night, Dan P and Prince had gone to Café de Rio at Petofi Híd in Budapest to enjoy themselves. At the gate, two muscular men - apparently bouncers - stopped them. The two gentlemen were refused entry while other party goers got a warm welcome. Dan P and Prince demanded to know the reason for being fenced. The bouncers’ explanation deeply shocked these two Africans click and read more

Saturday 27 October 2007

France’s new anti-black African immigration law

Elie Smith

France has just introduced another new anti-immigration law. The new law requires that, any legal immigrant, resident in metropolitan France, and who wants his family or her family to join him/her, must have three times, the standard minimum wage and if he/she has children, they must also undergo a deoxyribonucleic acid test, in order to ascertain that the children are truly his/hers. At this stage, there seems to be no reason to cry. But the deoxyribonucleic acid test or DNA test has sparked anger within a section of the French population. For the DNA test is reminiscent to what happened to the Jews in France during German occupation. And surprisingly, those leading the protest are not the traditional opposition, but the civil society, led by former Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, and the writer and philosopher, Bernard Henri Levy. The only other star member of the non-official opposition, who is vehemently opposed to the new law and who has made it known, is Olivier Besancenot, the boyish face leader of the extreme left.

As for Mrs. Segolene Royal, the erstwhile flag bearer of the Socialist party, the official opposition, she has not said anything about the new anti-immigration law, for she doesn’t have a fixed opinion on anything, as she did during her failed campaigns for the top job of the land. If one was surprised why she could not win, she has now provided a clear answer. She was and she is still incompetent. The new anti-immigration law is the fifth such law, introduced by the government, within a span of four years, with the aim to effectively control the influx of immigrants. Even tough the French civil society is vexed with the new immigration law, and within the ruling Movement for a Presidential Majority (UMP), and its government, there has been signs of mountaineering, as illustrated by the recent declaration of Miss Fadela Amara, a junior minister, in charge of town planning, who is herself of North African ancestry and opposed to the new law, what is clear is that France has every right to accept or reject any immigration on her soil.

The problem with the new law is that, it is a racist law. Those she is targeting are predominantly black Africans. The specification is necessary here because in France, according to varying statistics, there are between 400 and 800 thousand black Africans. What the statistics doesn’t say, however, are the numbers of blacks in France, who are French citizens and those who are not. Another figure about Africans in France is those of North African ancestry (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia). According to various sources, there are about two million North Africans in France, with Algerians being the largest African community. To compound matters further, the weekly French magazine Le novel Observateur N° 2241 of October 18th-24th 2007 claims that the total figures of immigrants in France stands at five million. And it adds that immigrants in France are principally from two African countries: Algeria and Morocco, and the magazine concludes that, the only European and EU member country, with large number of immigrants in France is Portugal.

While black Africans, especially, those from French-speaking Africa are now the target of the new anti-immigration law, it doesn’t in any way mean that the other segments of Africans: North Africans, are in the good books of the new soft Nazis-like government either. There exists already other subtle ways to expel North Africans from France. What is shocking with the new law is that, without shame, it targets a section of the population, in particular, black Africans from France’s former colonies of French-speaking West and Central Africa. In these two communities, those from Muslim West Africa are dominant in terms of population. Furthermore, they face different problems, but with one common constant: discrimination.

Paradoxically, French-speaking black Africans from Christian and animist parts of West and Central Africa, are generally well educated, urbanised and integrate easily into the mainstream French society, whereas Muslim West Africans and North Africans, are rural, mostly undereducated, (especially their boys) and do not seem to be interested in integrating into the mainstream. But it must be pointed out that, these attitudes are mostly found amongst older generations; for those who were born in France, go on well in their country of birth. It must also be made clear that the reasons of their (Muslim North and West Africans) occasional negative reactions are borne out of the fact that, they are discriminated against and thus, have the highest number of the unemployed. France’s new anti-immigration law is just a diversionary tactics from leaders, who are leading a country that has been in deficit for 26 years in a row. As the Prime minister, Mr Francois Fillion, recently said, his country is gone Argentina, a metaphor for bankruptcy. She has a third world unemployment rate, strikes are rampant and she is not respected by her European peers. And as funny as it would appear, the French-speaking black Africans that France now hates are the only group of people on earth, who love France and give her due respect.

But like a drowning man, who never knows he is drowning, until he disappears under the current, the new law is tactics hatched out by the ruling party to appear as though, they are working. And it is always easy to shift blames for your errors and failures onto another person. And as always, the whipping boy is the black African. In France, it has sadly been noticed that history keeps repeating itself. What brought Adolf Hitler to power in Germany was economic depression and what made Nicholas Sarkozy de Nagy Bocsa to be elected president last May 6th was a mixture of lack of credible rival and economic depression. When he was elected, he promised to make France big again, to make France to be respected and he also promised to give France a three per cent annual economic growth. And since wishes are never horses, it appears he won’t get any, or at best, may get 1.8 per cent annual growth. And the people who seem to deny France to become a big and respected nation again, are black Africans; hence, they are no longer wanted. The other parts of France where there are many blacks are her dependencies in the Caribbean and in the African Indian Ocean. Soon, a new law will be introduced, to bar them from coming to metropolitan France.

That way, the only blacks that will be accepted in France, will be sports men and women and musicians. But do we need to bother? Yes, we do. For when the attacks on blacks are over, the next targets will be Jews. Remember, in France, it is generally claimed that, Jews are hybrids of Negroes and Mongols. And since they have betrayed Jews in the past, there is no way they won’t do it again. What is strange with the new anti-immigration law is that Mr Sarkozy who has an opinion on everything and knows how to stage his success has been mute. What he has instead done, is try to celebrate the new simplified EU treaty, which, it must be said, is the coronation of a soft third Reich. The author of the controversial new anti-immigration law is a local star called Thierry Mariani MP, who, with the passing into law of his pet project, has been propelled to stardom.

Now, is there any difference between the disparaged Far Right nationalist party of Jean Marie Lepen and the ruling UMP party? Yes, there is a difference; the first provides the ideas, while the second implements them.

The Triumph of the Vulture(A Short Story)


By Bonka Archie

The kingdom of Agbado lies in the central part of Africa. Dense with tropical forest and abundance of natural resources including fertile land. During the reign of king Agbakpa, his charismatic, wisdom and hard working motivated the whole people of the kingdom to be highly efficient. For example, by making use of the abundance in fertile lands and natural resources wisely. As a result of this, the kingdom became more prosperous among other kingdoms around and beyond its territory click and read more

Friday 26 October 2007

Bad Breath Is Bad Business

By CHICHI ANIAGOLU-OKOYE

STRICTLY OPINION

Our mouths stink in Nigeria and it is plain disgusting! I believe that at least one in five Nigerians has bad breath, not from any genetic disorder, but simply from poor dental hygiene. I have come to the odd conclusion that many unemployed graduates may not be finding work due to bad breath and body odour. I have had a few come to me for work and much as I sympathised with them, I could not concentrate on what they were saying because all my senses were being assaulted by the stomach-churning rotten smell that seemed to be coming from the bowels of a pit latrine. All I could do was try hard to shorten the interaction and pray for them to leave.

Perhaps we can pardon the unemployed. Maybe they have no money to buy toothpaste and chewing gum for periodic refreshing of the breath, but what can we say about public servants, including governors, special advisers, ministers, top civil servants and the like? I have never seen more ungroomed public representatives of a country than I have of Nigerians. I was at the airport once and saw this bunch of ragtag Nigerian officials going abroad to look for investors. Their hairs were unkempt, their suits looked hand-washed, the collars of their shirts were dirty, and yes, you got it, they had body odour and their mouths stank. It was so comical I asked one of them, whom I happened to know, if it was the circus they were going abroad to bring to their state. He did not get it, of course, and I did not bother to explain.

In all this tragedy, the best part is still the unkempt look; if you want the ultimate disgrace, attend a function abroad where these government “dignitaries” are hosted to a dinner. You will find clanking cutleries, drinks being slurped and people talking with their rotten mouths full of more rot-inducing food, even when someone is making a speech. Should the meal involve bones, then you see people battling to crush the bones and suck out the bone marrow, while periodically licking their hands. The end of the meal signifies the beginning of the war of the “revenge of the toothpick”, where toothpicks are used to attack the teeth in the full glare of everyone and food participles are intermittently flicked out of the mouth, not caring where it lands, and fingers are used to wipe the tip of the toothpicks. No wonder many of these investor-chasing trips, even when they are best intentioned, are hardly ever successful.

Can you imagine if you were a businessman and a group of people come to ask you to invest in their country, say from Cambodia, a country you know very little about and the little you know is all negative? You take one good look at them and despite being the top officials of the country they look so unkempt, would you not wonder who in that country would be able to purchase your products, if the top officials know nothing of deodorants and toothpaste? Perhaps I am being too simplistic and trivialising the many reasons people may not want to come and invest in Nigeria, but those who say that first impressions matter know exactly what they are talking about. If people hear negative things about Nigeria and you send top flight Nigerian executives who are intelligent, articulate, well groomed, smelling nice, with good table manners and so on, will it not begin to cast doubts in the minds of those who had heard only negative things about Nigeria? But when you send those who look like the decay they have heard Nigeria to be, who will come here?

It is a pity that public officers in Nigeria have never understood that looking good is good business, especially when representing Nigeria abroad. If government officials are to be sent abroad for whatever reason, they should be given grooming and etiquette lessons. They should get speech lessons and be taught how best to present their state or federal government internationally. Believe me, other countries do it, even developed nations, because everyone is competing for the same investors. So only the best prepared win the game.

Government officials aside, the private sector is not left out, especially the restaurants and hair salons. Nothing can be more disgusting than going into a restaurant and having a stinking waiter come to serve you or going to a salon and having a hairdresser whose armpit smells come to wash your hair. Ladies know what I am talking about. It’s really bad business.

We in Nigeria have to learn that being clean and well groomed is as important in governance, gaining employment and running a successful business, as the core business itself. So take the bold step and buy that new toothbrush and if someone offers you chewing gum in the middle of the day, take it, they are probably trying to tell you something that words cannot explain!

Thursday 25 October 2007

Does African Man Love Himself?

By Hakeem Babalola

Being in a deep study of the African man would expose him. It seems he hates himself. No, he does not hate himself but he does not want to be himself. He likes to copy other types of men. He has completely forgotten that the only way for him to command respect is to be himself; to find a course of plan suitable for him and his environment.

When a man voluntarily throws away his culture, language, religion, and ways of thinking, he is actually burying himself in a fad that will likely hound him to his grave. When a man surreptitiously believes the aggressive propaganda of other men that labels him a third class fellow, then he is implicitly placing his children’s children in a sky-high tomb.

One of the worst thing that could happen to a man is to watch other men rape his daughter or mother or wife or sister. When that happens and such a man laughs it off, then he has only cowardly postponed the date of his death. And then he dies every day afterwards. When he is on his knees begging those who have stolen his properties and raped his mother, he is invariably saying I am unworthy and I am at your mercy.

The African man likes building castle in the air. He derives pleasure in building a house without foundation. He enjoys being treated with excessive indulgence, making him believe the world has been invented for his entertainment. He naively believes others while he passionately mistrusts himself. He is ever ready to follow other men’s perspective of life at the expense of his own.

Other men have been using their low but beguiling voices into making the African man abandon his self. After the partition, his religion, language, lifestyle, and even ways of thinking were taken from him. When other men told him that his religion was evil, he echoed evil and abandoned it. They accused him of being too masculine and he accepted femininity. He has blasphemed his own religion and now the gods are angry with him.

Where and who should he run to? He is confused. And he does not know himself anymore. He could neither go forward nor backward. He is stagnant. So he is ready to accept anything including femininity as defined by other men. See what they have turned the African man to. They have inspired and helped him split on himself. Hum, their enslavement has always been a solace to him like a prayer.

Is the African man cheating himself? Because he often collaborates with his deceiver to steal from himself. He goes all about using Africa’s name in vain. Sometimes he hides under cultural promotion and, or helping African poor children whereas he’s only satisfying his inordinate ambition and that of his deceiver. And he does this with impunity and deadly ignorance. When will he come to his senses? When will he know that every step he takes in this direction annihilates his type; even himself?

Most of the time, the African man thinks he is very smart and thus helps other men to mock his roots. He shows them the smooth and blistering pace to go about it. He provides them with the necessary logistics in order to increase the suffering of Africa. The African man is ready to sell his brother and sister for mere porridge. And then he complains of not making any progress!

When African man shuns the curable leaf in his garden and pays a fortune for other men’s leaf, he is willingly saying his own medicine or herb is quite inferior. When he siphons his people’s money to other land, he is telling the whole world that he is a perfect idiot. When he traffics his own people to other land for money, he is saying that he is as useless as those he traffics. But he is too greedy and violently involved to understand.

What should he do? Let him sit himself down. He needs to meditate. He needs to look in retrospect and highlights where things have gone wrong. He must go back to his own gods and repent. He must resist the temptation of serving other gods. The African man must start afresh. Let him teach his offspring the culture, language, religion and social life of his ancestors.

For African man to live in this new world order, he must believe in himself. He must design a way of life suitable for his type. For instance, if democrazy is being practiced in other land, he may want to find the system that best describe him and his environment. Even if other men are going forward, he may want to go backward. The point is not to be like them since he can never. This is the only way other men would respect him. Let him endeavour to think independently.

It is also important for him to know that he would remain the scorn of other men if he continues to borrow money or asks for favour of any kind. Let the African man go back to his roots. Let him read his history. Let him discover Kwame Nkrumah. Let him listen to Bob Marley and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Let him want to be.

African man needs penitential through arduous journey to holy places to seek forgiveness for his sins, and he should not do it by proxy. Let him go on a journey barefoot. He is to pray, fast, and to give alms to the needy. Most especially he must remain chaste during this peregrination. This isn’t a punishment in a way since confession plays a more important part in people’s spiritual lives, as they turn inward to assess the state of their souls.

It can also serve as a luminous experience, which takes him to the margin of a new reality. When he comes back he shall be on a higher level. As he goes along, he must take pen and paper. He must write in capital letters, and swear before gods:

HENCEFORTH, I SHALL STOP DECEIVING MESELF. FROM NOW ON I SHALL STOP COPYING OTHER MEN. NOW I KNOW ONLY MESELF CAN BUILD AFRICA. NO OTHER MAN WILL BUILD IT FOR ME. TIME TO BE. TO BEEEEEEEEE.

Author’s note: The african man in this article is a parody of African leaders with the exception of Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere and a few others. Come to think of it, why should Africans need visa to go to other African countries?

Copyright 2007 - mysmallvoice@yahoo.com

African Woman Sets Herself on Fire to Protest Racism

By Real Rap Talk

The horrifying sight which traumatized shoppers and office workers in the centre of Luxembourg City last week has now been labelled as a protest against racism. The Belgian woman of Congolese origin who set herself alight in the middle of Place d’Armes told witnesses that she was doing it to protest against racism, moments before she carried out the desperate act which has left her in hospital fighting for her life click and read more

Tuesday 23 October 2007

Wole Soyinka's return to Biafra



Forty years ago, Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka travelled to Nigeria's secessionist Biafra region to try and calm growing tensions. The visit saw him thrown in jail, forced to spend 22 months in solitary confinement. Now he has returned to meet those who ordered his detention
click and read more

Fear Rising Among African Community in Turkey


By KRISTINA KAMP

A few weeks ago, İstanbul's inner city experienced a pretty unusual
scene: a small group of around 30 people, mostly African, poured down the center of İstiklal Caddesi to demonstrate against racism. The occasion was the death of Festus Okey, a 21-year-old Nigerian who died under still unexplained circumstances after being taken into custody by police on Aug. 20. Despite the fact that it was the first time such an incident garnered widespread public attention, it is obviously not a unique case click and read more

Sunday 21 October 2007

Fekete Pákó: Symbol and Victim of Media Hatred for Africans in Hungary

By Hakeem Babalola

The Hungarian tabloids knew their mission from the moment they discovered and created Fekete Pákó. A great deal of media hype has surrounded the making of this African till today. Fekete Pákó is what the local media circus needs to placate the Africans as human eaters, polygamous, and perhaps dummies. Hungarian tabloids need a figure, an African to generate intense media interest. They found the figure in Fekete Pákó. click and read more

Saturday 20 October 2007

Nigeria's Under-17 World Cup Winning Coach is Dead


Nigeria Football Association (NFA) announced on Saturday that Theophilus Adeyemi Tella, who led the national U-17 male team, Golden Eaglets to win the FIFA World Cup in South Korea only 41 days ago, had succumbed to the cold hands of death after valiant efforts to save his life failed click and read more

Odegbami, Onigbinde, others mourn Tella
Taofeek Babalola reports from Nigeria

Following the death of Nigeria’s Under-17 world Cup winning coach, Yemi Tella on Satu
rday, Nigerians have reacted with shock and disbelief with many paying glowing tributes. Nationsport spoke with some coaches, administrators and ex internationals click and read more

NFA to Immortalise Tella

Nigerian Football Association (NFA) has set plans in motion to immortalize under-17 national team, Golden Eaglets late coach, Theophilus Adeyemi Tella, who died early Saturday at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). click and read more

Friday 19 October 2007

Lucky Dube Shot Dead

Reggae musician Lucky Dube was shot dead in a hijacking on Thursday in Rosettenville, Johannesburg police said. Captain Cheryl Engelbrecht said the incident took place at about 8. 20pm when Dube (43) was driving a blue Volkswagen Polo in the Johannesburg suburb. She said Dube was dropping off his son in the area when he was attacked. “His son was already out of the car. When he saw what was happening, he ran to ask for help.” Click and read more

Thursday 18 October 2007

Intellectual Bankruptcy of the African Elite

By Dr. Chika Onyeani

"The African scholar is intellectually dishonest. It is quite amazing that even in the field of history, our African elite has failed us in not producing well-researched publications on the history of the African continent. African scholars are the same the world over. You cannot point to any research they have come up with which has elicited comment which could be regarded as controversial. No African scholar in America is called upon as an expert on matters affecting Africa. All this is due to the shallowness of our "education," a non-commitment to the study of knowledge for the benefits of the p
eople." click and read more


Chika Onyeani is the author of the No.1 bestselling book, "Capitalist Nigger: The Roa
d to Success - A Spider Web Doctrine," as well as Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the award-winning African Sun Times. Onyeani is a Fellow of the New York Times Institute for Journalists. His blockbuster novel, "The Broederbond Conspiracy," has been published to great acclaim and now on all stores where books are sold.

Tuesday 16 October 2007

The Rights And Obligations Of Union Membership


By Wole Soyinka

Try, whoever can, to imagine the following scenario:
A military unit is planning a public event – let us say the commissioning of a new standard, the award of long service medals, feats of bravery in action, or maybe simply commemoration of a military campaign. A war historian, a journalist, a human rights activist or maybe even a writer is invited to deliver an inspirational speech for the occasion. click and read more


Wole Soyinka won the Noble Prize in Literature in 1986

Monday 15 October 2007

FEAR (A Poem)

By Bonka Archie

People go through phases of life, wanting to be phenom
Chasing, grasping the wind and building emotions as crafty
As a fox with soak brain, waiting to be drained and shouting
Out to the voices from afar, multiple times but it wasn't fun.

Being helpless, I need to call 911 but no way. They can't control this fear.
Going through this diary of life and flipping through pages
Of changes, not knowing the position of the contents.
Oh!fear, oh!fear, oh!fear, this fear

Its like a razor blade that cuts through you and there is a place
In there where only few people can find their strength back.
That is through their pain, blind folded with their fury and just making
Reality like a punching bag.
Oh! fear, oh! fear, oh! fear, this fear.

There is only one life to live and many roads to follow
Whilst the wind has no bounds , no colours and no limits
Just taste the smell and follow the vane.
Are you lost in time? No, wake up! Time is our most valued asset
Get more plunder, but no more time. Get out and rise above this fear
Oh! fear, oh! fear, oh! fear, this fear.

Bonka Archie sends this poem from Budapest, Hungary

Remembering Fela Anikulapo Kuti (October 15, 1938 - August 2, 1997)

By Hakeem Babalola
In the early 70’s or thereabouts, a young man knew something was amiss in the land where one person is allowed to steal a horse while another must not look at a halter. The man opened his “basket” mouth and “talk and talk”. He sang and sang about the pervasive diseases in the land of his birth. The obsessive theme of his struggle was for so long centred on government brutality and insensitivity, injustice, human suffering, corruption and embezzlement. He observed a touch of insanity in the system, a sense of lugubrious drollery everywhere that would not dissipate sooner. click and read more




First published by the Nigerian Tribune under the caption: If Fela had been

Saturday 13 October 2007

Bill Gates Denied Visa To Nigeria

by Pointblanknews.com

World Richest man, Bill Gates recently applied for a visa to visit Nigeria and was denied. But there were some issues. Apparently, Nigeria needed proof that the richest man in the world wouldn't be collecting any form of social services money.

In the end, Nigeria wouldn't budge until it received a a certified letter from Gates' bank affirming that he was financially independent.

If it's this tough for Bill to get into Nigeria, the rest of us don't stand a chance. By the way, Microsoft's revenues equal close to 30% of Nigeria's GDP. According to Forbes, Bill Gates currently holds a net worth of $59 billion.



Bill Gates was recently visiting Africa, probably for his Gates Foundation charities, wanted to travel to Nigeria. He needed a visa from Nigerian Government, so when he applied for the visa, Nigeria denied him. The Nigerian government required proof that the Bill Gates would not stay in the country for a long time and become a burden to Nigeria’s social services and immigration.

Nigeria because of its oil wealth, many from other African countries immigrate illegally, so the Nigerian government required assurances from Bill Gates that he will not be in the country for long.

A travel document expediter CIBT helped the billionaire Bill Gates overcome the hurdle by helping him with his application, obtained a letter from Gates’ bank that reassured the Nigerian authorities, who later approved his visa.

More being forced out of U.S.



The federal government says it has steadily increased the number of illegal immigrants it removes from the country annually, but critics say the effort is still shackled by a critical lack of personnel and detention facilities.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently released its latest data on the number of illegal immigrants deported.

In fiscal year 2007, which ended Sept. 30, ICE deported 221,600 illegal immigrants, including 84,700 who were convicted of criminal offenses. In the previous fiscal year, 204,200 were deported, although a greater number — 89,500 — of immigrants with criminal convictions were deported.

Critics say those numbers are only a small percentage of the nation's undocumented population. They also say ICE still doesn't have the manpower or detention facility space to remove thousands of undocumented immigrants held in local jails.

''Even the most obvious candidates for deportation, people in jail whose sentences are coming to an end, we don't even get most of them thrown out of the country," said Mark Krikorian, director of the Center for Immigration Studies, an organization based in Washington, D.C., that favors limited immigration.

''The majority of criminal aliens finishing their jail time are still released into the community, rather than being deported."

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman did not dispute those claims.

The Department of Homeland Security estimated 302,500 illegal immigrants would be detained in state and local jails in the 2007 fiscal year, according to a report last year by the Office of the Inspector General.

"Most of these incarcerated are being released into the U.S. at the conclusion of their respective sentences because (ICE) does not have the resources to identify, detain and remove these aliens," the Inspector General reported.

Friday 12 October 2007

Between Prof Soyinka and General Babangida

By Hakeem Babalola

These two men are Nigerians whose paths have crossed. They suppose to hate each other but somehow they romanced each other to the utter surprise of the right thinking populace who violently believe in what the professor stands for, which apparently is in antithesis to that of the General. One is an intellectual, a foremost dramatist who became the first African laureate of the Noble Prize – in Literature. The other is a retired soldier who swore to protect his country from external aggression but later betrayed his country by becoming the 8th President of Nigeria. click and read more

Thursday 11 October 2007

Re: Where was the National Flag on "Independence Day"?


By Dr. John Sessi




Dear Hakeem,

While reading all your observations about Nigerian issues in Hungary, I am at a cross road with myself. It will be noticed that you have very good ideas about how things can be done in a positive way which is very encouraging.

However, it beats my imagination that criticism is the first watchword of your writings, which is also fine. I am of the opinion that if you really care for the positive development and welfare of our citizens in Hungary, it is not enough to criticize. It will really be welcome if you can also come around personally and contribute to the implementation of your wonderful ideas.

There is nothing wrong in you coming around on the said date with a flag in your hand to actually plug the loop hole. While staying aside to comment that there was no flag at the occasion, which is absolutely right, I see nothing stopping you in taking your own fair share by providing the flag, as a Nigerian.

Remember, somebody once said that you should not only ask what your country can do for you. You may also ask yourself, what can you do for the advancement of your Country. Noble ideas such as yours are welcome, but please make yourself available not only on the pages of write-ups, but also physically and personally.

Regards,
Dr. John Adeniyi Sessi

Dr. John Sessi is the General Manager of Fromm Packaging System, Hungary

Tuesday 9 October 2007

Dispatches from Swearing in of Nigerian Union Executive Members (Hungary)Part 3

Where was the National Flag on "Independence Day"?

Hakeem Babalola



Introduction

The Nigerian National Flag, which is governed by the Flag and Coat-of-Arms Ordinance of 1960, is also the symbol of authority and instrument of state power. Next to Mother earth, it is the only National symbol worth dying for. It tells the history of a people and their aspirations.

Treatment of the National Flag

The National Flag is hoisted and flown ceremoniously and briskly in the morning and at sunrise and lowered slowly in the same manner in the evening at sunset (6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.). A flag does not sleep. The National Flag should always be hung and only on very rare occasions should it be laid out flat horizontally. The National Flag is usually flown at the peak of the hoist except on memorial days or during state funerals as a mark of respect. At such times it is flown at half-mast.

When the National Flag is in a room or hung anywhere, no other flag, emblem or insignia should be place higher than it should. Old or worn out flags must never be used or displayed. When a Flag becomes soiled, old, torn or mutilated, the cloth should be destroyed by burning or any other method with decorum and respect.

Nigerian National Flag Law

The law makes it an offence for the National Flag to be improperly used or displayed. Section 5 of the Law states; "any person who flies or exhibits the National Flag in a defaced or bad condition shall be guilty of an offence against this Ordinance."

Comment

I have taken pain to conduct some research on this topic simply to remind and, or educate the reader about the significance of Nigerian National Flag, which is divided vertically into three equal parts. The central part is white and the two other parts are green. The green of the flag represents agriculture and the white Unity and Peace. The white is immaculate white and the emerald green is popularly known as the Nigerian Green.

If the occasion in question was not dignified by the presence of Her Excellency, Ambassador Adeola Adebisi Obileye, I might not have worried myself too much. But since she said in her speech that the occasion was also to mark the 47th Independence Anniversary, I presume the day was important; even though we should make sure we celebrate Nigerian Independence Anniversary exactly on the day it falls. Methinks that is the beauty of such celebration.

I have to confess that I have a grudge to bear but against whom? I don’t know. Although I was not present at the occasion, I observed through pictures taken that the Nigerian National Flag was missing on the day it should be prominently displayed. However, if the flag was hoisted at the entrance, then it was not extensively done since, according to the displaying of the National Flag, certain rules must be followed.

For an audience in auditorium or hall, the flag should be on the right end of the first row.
For a speaker on the platform, the National Flag should be on the speaker's right hand as he or she faces the audience. Other flags can be on the left and take their position sideways both left and right. Unless the picture does tell lies, no flag was displayed on the right end of the first row or Madam Ambassador’s right hand.

Perhaps we should borrow one or two things from Nigerians in New York. During the 47th Independence Anniversary on Oct. 1st not Oct. 6th, Nigerians in New York followed the rules of displaying the National Flag by hoisting and carrying it along in a procession. What is worth doing is worth doing well.


copyright 2007 mysmallvoice@yahoo.com

Yar’Adua’s Exit in Perfect Order

Hakeem Babalola

Yar’Adua’s hold to power is a distortion. Of course we all know this fact. Each day he represents Nigeria as the president is a mistake of misrepresenting the facts. But of course Nigerians can hail him in order to prove that the end justifies the means. Is the end justifies the means or should it?

From the day he was sworn-in as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I had also sworn not to recognise him as such. For the first time in my life I strongly believe I have had enough. Yes, enough is enough. I felt that unless people like me take such stand, certain class of people would always take us for a ride. Will you please join me in my quest not to recognise Mr Yar’adua as president!

You can now imagine my shock when Nigerians, especially those famous newspaper boys who had earlier believed that Yar’Adua was not qualified to be the President, started speaking on his behalf as spokesperson. It ruined my ego as a writer as well as a citizen to hear them calling him Mr President. Then I wonder why the sudden change from those who should know better. This is a food for thought for those calling for revolution.

Most especially when Musa Yar’adua himself has acknowledged that the 2007 elections that produced him as the president were fraught with problems (although fraught shouldn’t be the appropriate word). Surely he was not the one who conducted the election. He was not in charge of the police, the Independent National Electoral Commission or any of the security branches; the fact that he benefited from the fraud perpetrated by these organisations makes him an accomplice. Therefore I violently believe he should not have become the president. He should not.

But Musa Yar’Adua had an ambition. It seems to me that the man had wanted to taste the presidency, even if only for one day. He might have dreamt being in the book of history alongside Tafawa Balewa, Aguiyi Ironsi, Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Mohammed, Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Ernest Shonekan, Sani Abacha, Abdusalam Abubakar, and Olusegun Obasanjo. From the look of things I supposed being in the history book as one of the Nigerian presidents is enough for Yar’Adua.

Look at him very well and tell me what you have seen. Though it was pre-judgement on my own part, I had in the very beginning of his administration, compared him to Shehu Shagari, another President imposed on Nigerians by the same Obasanjo in 1979. To compare any person to Shagari means one thing: incompetence and unqualified.

However, I am more into how he got to the throne than his performance. Unless of course we want to sweep this under the carpet. Thank God Nigerians know that Yar’Adua is an imposition. This factor alone disqualifies him as the Nigerian president. Now let me hear you saying it disqualifies him…it disqualifies him…

Yar'Adua is enjoying himself as the president irrespective of how he came to power; irrespective of his charade as someone who respects the rule of law. I mean the trips to their homeland called America and Europe and the meeting with their boss called American President. I am sure such rendezvous is part of the struggle to taste power – if only for a while. They must pay homage to their masters.

I had posited somewhere that Yar’adua’s slow poison approach may be a policy of appeasement. We may see the real Yar'Adua after the court might have legitimized his presidency. No, the court won’t disrespect Nigerians by legalizing illegality that produced him. Please say No. Say No to selection or imposition.

Therefore Umar Musa Yar'Adua should stop ridiculing himself and his family by defending the rule of law. He simply lacks the moral or integrity to do so. Gone were the days when one could even fool all Nigerians all the time. Not anymore, and definitely not in this Age of Information Technology. I have since concluded that if Nigerians should allow Yar’Adua to remain as their president, then there may be no hope at all.

Every time I examine this man, I always come to the conclusion that, here is a man who feels guilty about something - something profound. His recent pronouncement that he would not appeal Election Tribunal decision is a testimony in this regard. The guy is smart though. I think the only way to become part hero is for him to respect the Tribunal unlike his godfather who was/is famous for disobeying the law of the land.

Yar'Adua may be the opposite of his predecessor, a character that has drawn public sympathy. I say the guy is smart, for the only way a successor to Obasanjo could swindle us is by being his opposite. And that is exactly what Yar'Adua is doing. But I am not impressed simply because he was imposed on us by this godfather who was trying to protect being probed.

I have changed my mind. Yar’Adua is not a bit smart. If he is smart at all, he should not have stayed longer than a day on the throne. The former chemistry teacher should have cited massive rigging as the main reason for such decisiveness. If he had done that, one thing would have worked in his favour: being the shortest and the most honest president we have ever had. History would have been very kind to him. Nigerians would have affectionately remember him as they remember Murtala Mohammed. But now he would go down in history as one of them. It serves him right.

Now that the Owu man has warned him to take tough decision, will he change? I don't know. All I know is this: I have no respect for anyone directly serving under Yar'Adua as the president. Neither do I for anyone calling him Mr President. I strongly believe that the appropriate title should be Mr Caretaker President - at least for now.

So I am waiting anxiously for his resignation or exit. But tarry a little, who becomes the president after the court might have annulled the elections that had helped him to be part of our own peculiar history? Oh, Nigeria.

copyright 2007 mysmallvoice@yahoo.com

Dispatches from Swearing in of Nigerian Union Executive Members (Hungary)Part 2

Beware of Busybodies...Ihaza told Her Excellency
By Hakeem Babalola

When God created Eve and Adam, we were told that a serpent searched for them in the garden of Eden, told them some rigmarole about God. The serpent had perfected his plan which was to set the battle line between God and those He loved dearly. The serpent deceived the first man and woman probably out of jealous and malice. Too bad that our antecedents fell for Satan.

The reason for using the above allegory is mainly to exaggerate how treacherous a busybody could be to peace and justice. I would liken a busybody to the serpent in the above horrifying allegory. He is a threat to the development of human and humanity. He goes here and there to meddle in the affairs of others.

Why does he do it? It may be because he is insecure or malicious or ignorant. What matters to the busybody is his innate ambition. He wants everything in a rapacious manner. He is incomplete unless he opens his mouth like basket to spit the venom of half truth or even outright lies. I ask, how does he do it? For even those who should know better often fall for a busybody's hanky-panky.

Dear Nigerians, how could someone even in his wrong senses proclaimed there was no Nigerian Union in Hungary? The Nigeria Union, Hungary was formed in 2001 and yours truly reported it in the defunct For African Abroad, a monthly Journal. I was appalled at the dramatic and climax of Peter Ihaza’s speech when he intoned: "Contrary to what Her Excellency might have been told that there was no Nigerian Union in Hungary..."

At first I thought he was merely joking until he added: "Half the harm that has been done to the Union has been caused by some omnipotent moral busybodies."

Who are these omnipotent moral busybodies that Ihaza was referring to in his speech? Were they present on that day? And were they called to the high table? It would be disingenuous as well as hypocritical if these people graced the occasion. Thus one can easily see through a busybody; he neither has shame nor conviction. He seems to indulge in eating with both hands and does not care a hoot.

I agree with Ihaza when he cautioned the ambassador to beware of these people. Hear him in his eloquent best: "I am sure on your arrival, you have met people like those. Whatever you hear, it is important to listen to all sides before you draw your conclusions."

Now that the ambassador knew what she witnessed on that day was not actually history but continuation of history, what would she do? Is she still going to respect the so-called busybodies who might have surreptitious misled her? Is she still going to associate or do business with them? The choice is that of Her Excellency but she should always remember that Nigerians are watching with keen interest.

Meanwhile if someone had posited that the union was having problems, I would have understood, for yours truly had criticised the Union on some occasions; but to declare there was no Nigerian Union in Hungary before now is a joke carried too far, it is a vicious attack on the history of the union. That's by the way. May God save us from the tantrum of a busybody.

Moving on to something profound. Although Ihaza told the audience that, he did not wish to dwell on "the achievements of my administration", he did just that when he looked in retrospect.

He said: "Chairing the Nigerian Union together with the members of my administration has been a great honour for me. Together with my executive members, we have always been in the forefront of the efforts to forge unity amongst the diverse groups of Nigerians and to promote dialogue, understanding, and meaningful cooperation between Nigerians and citizens of Hungary, which is a second home to most of us. It is within this overall strategic context that we have made our contributions."

He continued: "Since its inception in 2001, the financial burden of the Union has been borne by the members of the executive. This has prevented us from carrying out some of our planned activities. Despite this shortcoming, the union has been able to help Nigerians by representing them before the authorities mainly by aiding in the language translation, being present during interrogations, helping with job search, visiting detained Nigerians, successfully appealing deportation orders, advising (to the best of our knowledge) Nigerians on matters affecting their daily lives, responding to negative news articles about Nigeria in the press and communicating the needs of (that we know of) Nigerians living here to the Nigerian Embassy as well as visiting the Nigerian Embassy in Vienna in our search for a solution to the endemic passport problem . Together, we were able to launch and sustain many initiatives. Most of them succeeded. Others are work in progress."

The former Union President then eulogised the first patron of the union, Chief Abayomi Akintola, former Nigerian Ambassador to Hungary whom he described as honourable, helpful and a perfectly reasonable ambassador. He added that Akintola was never too busy to meet any Nigerian who requested his audience. Ihaza also paid tribute to the late Ambassador Greshen Guyit whom he said had a clear vision and meant well for Nigerians in Hungary but was mis-informed by his advisers.

He advised the new officers-elect to comport themselves as well as capitalise on the present momentum to rejuvenate the Union. "You should be example to all Nigerians," he said, adding that he believed the outgoing leadership had sent a spark to the new executives.

Monday 8 October 2007

Confessions of a Virgin virgin

Ronke Macaulay


Did the above title get you going? All I meant was the story of the very first time I flew with a particular airline…


A while ago, on my way back to Lagos from London , I had to book my flight at very short notice during peak season. I was nerved, having decided to make a quick internet booking. Alas, once again, I had neglected to take the Naija factor into account. For those who are unaware, the equation is as follows: (Nigerian destination + credit card) x internet/ telephone reservation = 0 (mission impossible).

Having made several fruitless attempts via the website of “the world’s favourite airline” (perhaps in their eyes Nigeria belongs to another planet) and others of that ilk, including some which quite frankly should be paying passengers to patronise their flying coffins, I began to despair. It seemed I would have to drive all the way to Heathrow Airport to be able to purchase a ticket – simply by virtue of wanting to fly to Nigeria at short notice.

Perhaps we should digress for one moment to ask, “Why Nigeria?” When I rang up to ask the reason for the embargo, a snooty voice on the telephone informed me that Nigerians are known to be hugely fraudulent and are therefore not to be trusted with credit card bookings – this despite the fact that the passenger does not disappear into thin air and eventually has to turn up at the airport with his or her passport! The tone of this “customer services agent” reminded me of one of the major reasons why Nigerians abroad often yearn to return home – sick to the stomach of being treated like the scum of the earth (or whatever planet it is they think we Nigerians come from).

Back to my story: I eventually ran out of Heathrow options and reluctantly decided to go for Gatwick, which is a lot further from where I live and has therefore not been my London airport of choice for many years. Virgin Nigeria’s website was simple and user friendly. That was a good start. The pleasant experience was heightened by the revelation that credit card details were readily accepted. And then suddenly, just as I clicked on Enter to complete the transaction… the whole thing crashed! No way of knowing if my payment had been accepted and my tickets purchased.

Frustrated and a little anxious – perhaps this was some new 419 scam? – I rang up the advertised telephone number. “We have a problem with our website at the moment and we can’t take credit card payments. But I’d be happy to take your payment over the phone.” At that point something (call it a discerning spirit), told me the polite-friendly voice was being economical with the truth, but I decided to let it pass, as long as I could get the wretched booking out of the way.

Imagine my shock the following day when I received a call back from Virgin Nigeria to say there was a problem with my credit card payment. They ran through the information I had given them verbally and “found” the address details had been incorrectly entered, which had led to the card being declined. On pressing harder, I formed the distinct impression that it was a kind of subtle screening process. Then the helpful-caring voice let it slip that in fact internet credit card bookings were not accepted at all. Which begs the question: is Virgin Nigeria – our national carrier – also discriminating against Nigerians, albeit in a slyly accommodating way?

Finally, I made it to the airport for my flight. Gatwick airport was deserted, the shops were all closed, and the only sign of life was the cleaning crews hard at work, and of course the passengers struggling with vast amounts of luggage at the Virgin Nigeria check-in desk. Feeling like a leper banished to the small hours of the morning far away from civilized travellers, I then discovered that our flight was delayed for three hours, so we would have an interminable wait until take-off at 3am. No explanation was given, and our “compensation” was limited to a miserable 5 pound voucher which we could only spend at McDonald's, since every other place was closed. (However, the pilot later informed us that the delay was due to late arrival of our plane from Lagos .)

Despite all this, I was pleasantly surprised by the demeanour of the airline staff. They were warm, and immensely patient with the endless packing and repacking many passengers were forced to do “on ground” to comply with the strict luggage requirements – one piece of hand luggage only weighing a maximum of 6kg; two pieces per passenger to be checked in weighing a maximum of 32kg each., a pretty generous allowance.

I was a little taken aback to be addressed as “dear” after getting used to the formality of being called “Madam” in Nigeria. The slightly patronising tone continued on board when we were sternly informed that if any passengers were reading a newspaper or book during the safety demonstration they should put it down and pay attention because, “Every plane is different.”

Perhaps all this is nit-picking, because we had a happy, comfortable flight, with the captain promising to take care of us, and they certainly did. The cabin crew were mostly Nigerians, with an English (female) Service manager, who kept an eye on things but generally left the others to get on with it. The atmosphere was very cordial and relaxed, which any frequent flyer knows is not always the case on board.

So, Virgin Nigeria, if you sort out your internet credit card bookings, I personally promise to defect from those Heathrow based airlines who love our money but treat us like aliens, and instead make the trek to Gatwick just to hear you call me “dear” and tuck my blanket in during the night.

Ronke is the Creative Director of Basepoint International, a Media Communications Company based in Lagos and London. She is a Member of the Institute of Linguists (UK) and Mensa.


This article was first published in NVS