Friday 30 October 2009

Golden Eaglets Beat Argentina, Top Group

By Hakeem Babalola

Nigeria beats Argentina by two goals to one and thus leads the group with seven points; but must show more determination in the knock out stage read more

Monday 26 October 2009

MENDing Yar'Adua's Amnesty

By Hakeem Babalola
I was a guest on Al Jazeera's Inside Story TV programme recently. The topic centred on the amnesty granted to the militants by the Fed Govt. I submitted that the so-called amnesty would fail if the Govt's intention was to play game. That money inducement won't solve the Niger-Delta.read more

Tuesday 20 October 2009

Nigerian Woman Awaits Deportation


By Hakeem Babalola
News Report

 A Nigerian woman who is married to Hungarian is set to be deported to Lagos for violating the Hungarian immigration law, according to a reliable source read more

Sunday 18 October 2009

Corruption: Death Penalty The Answer

By Sammie Adetiloye 
(Nigerian Affairs)
"DEATH PENALTY – AXE TO ROOT OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA"

My conviction is so strong that the application of death penalty to deal with corrupt public office holders is what we badly need to begin to level axe to the root of corruption in Nigeria. Those driven by raw patriotic ardour to serve their people sincerely have nothing to fear.

When we go to the polls to choose our representatives, we do so with great enthusiasm and high hopes. We vote with the expectation that the dawn of a new era will see our country on the road to economic progress and political stability.

This expectation often persuades the common man, who labours from morning to night, whose children are in rags, who lives in sub-human conditions, to make it to the polling station to cast his vote. But the leaders who always emerge are of doubtful reputation, and are hell bent on rendering asunder his hope and expectation. They have nothing to offer the common man in return for his toil other than a frightful spectacle of poverty and mismanagement. And the common man has no right to ask why his country has become a den of iniquity with a cocktail of corruption and ineptitude – the malignant cells in the body politic of Nigeria.

I went to Nigeria last September for the first time in 16 years. Immediately I got off the plane, the wind of corruption started blowing across my face from the airport. As soon as I left the baggage collection point, I was stopped on my way out by a young woman in mufti with a badge of her department on her chest. She said: “You are welcome! Find me something before I let you go!” Lo and behold, I was forced to part with the only £5 note in my wallet. I had already sent the bulk of my money home through the Western Union. And when I was giving her the money, she asked me to give it to her tout sitting next to her. After doing that I looked around for any CCTV camera, and I saw one sitting overhead. But the lady and her tout couldn’t be bothered. The same was the case at the departure hall on my way back to the UK.

While in the country, I visited my home town, Ise-Ekiti, the headquarters of the Orun/Ise Ekiti Local Government in Ekiti State. Except that the town is now numerous in people, there is nothing to show that the local politicians there have any human sagacity to improve the socio-economic prosperity of their people. I was told that the King of the town, the Arinjale of Ise-Ekiti, who is so angry at the insensitivity of the politicians to the sufferings of his people, had vowed to fight those who engage in political pornography in his domain with the spiritual resources of his forefathers.

I also visited Suleja, a town near Abuja. When I entered the town, my optical nerves were disturbed by the sight of the poor environment people are living in. Gulley erosion is eating deep into many houses. The area is foul with dirt of years which threatens the article of water people drink with pollution. Examples of human suffering are ubiquitous.
Sadly, Nigeria revenue from crude oil is just enough to meet the voracity of the country’s politicians and Army Generals who believe that Nigeria is just for them alone.
Money is readily available to send their children abroad to study, and treat them with all manner of luxurious indulgence. At home they can afford to shut down our universities and colleges for months.

Nothing is available to build basic infrastructure for people in the area where the oil is coming from. Nothing is left to construct good intercity roads to reduce motor accidents on our roads. Police are found wanting. They can no longer curb the enormous array of crime in our towns and cities. The ordinary man in our country today feels that his future is not secure in his fatherland. He feels that the future of his children has lost all semblance of clarity. No Nigerian abroad can feel confident that the watchful eye of his country will protect him against injustice and abuse.

Yet our leaders cannot be bothered. Their actions, pronouncements and decisions on what it takes to commit them to the need to improve the quality of life of their people are inimical to rationalism. I think the time is now to wrestle our country back from the leaders who are hollow, shallow and empty in knowledge of good governance. They are just out there feeding their grasping greed. Their inability to shake off their love affairs with corruption is permanent in duration.

One of many notorious examples is Chief Olabode George who was convicted and sentenced to two years in gaol on October 26, 2009 by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of the Ikeja High Court on 35 out of the 68-count charge bordering on contract splitting, inflation, abuse of office and disobedience to lawful order. There are many others like him, still enjoying their swag, but yet to be brought to demanding justice, which is why we cannot call for celebrations, or be tempted to think that Nigeria has started launching a new crackdown on corruption. What happened to Bode George and Tafa Balogun, a former police IG, is what we often see whenever any of the ‘big men’ steps on toes of more powerful members of his clique.

The kid-glove treatment – two years in prison – of Bode George for his role in the N85 billion frauds, and the fact that he is allowed in prison to hold political meetings from morning to night is like adding insult to injury. When finally his conviction is confirmed by all appeal courts, the representatives of the press must keep an eye on him. We might witness a situation where he is smuggled home in cassock at night to sleep with his family and returned to prison before the break of day.

Such is the level to which our leaders can go to frustrate our system and render it ineffective. In our country, judges are constantly under undue pressure. The EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes commission) is still bound in fetters. Its officials are at the mercy of political crude idols who can remove them upon grounds of private interest and personal feeling.

How do we then wriggle Nigeria free? I must say that we need to secure the invigorating alliances of all Nigerians both home and abroad in support of death penalty for guilty corrupt officials. Some western countries may make noise. Damn it! Anything short of that will not diminish our permanent state of worry and nervousness about the future and the greatness of our common country. Nigeria will survive.

Sammie Adetiloye wrote in from UK

Kwame Nkrumah: African Man Of the Twentieth Century


By Archie Bonka
Celebrating A Visionary

As we celebrate the 100 years of Kwame Nkrumah, one should cast an eye over the activities of African leaders who came after this great son of Africa. It's a shame, for none of the new generation of African leaders emulates Kwame vision of scientific and industrial age read more

Saturday 17 October 2009

Ghana Beat Brazil, Make History



By Hakeem Babalola

Ghana has made history by becoming the first African nation to win the U-20 Youth Soccer Championships when it defeated Brazil 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out on Friday night in a thrilling match the Black Satellites played with ten men read more




Friday 16 October 2009

Concert Against Racism Held


By Hakeem Babalola
Special Report

Music Against Racism (ZARE) and Jewish Meeting Point jointly organised a music event to combat racism in celebrating the end of the year Hanukkah 5770 and Christmas 2009 on Tuesday December 15 on A38 Ship lying safely at anchor on Pethőfi Bridge Buda side.

The event, sponsored by the British Embassy, was attended by different races many of who claimed they have once experienced racial sluts.

Zariget Virág, 21, who came to Hungary from Mongolia when she was five, recalled her experience in the street. "I always shut my ears whenever strangers ask rudely what am doing here, or tell me to go back home," she said. "It is sad because my thinking is in Hungarian and not in Mongolian. I attended primary school, secondary school and college here”. 


Miss Zariget sings Hungarian folklore.

John Paul said that he was attacked and beaten by skinheads at Hero Square in 2007. "They asked me where I come from, and I told them it didn't matter. They punched me and I almost lost my tooth. It was scary”.


Lorincz Marcell, ZARE founder and one of the organisers, explained that racism “is a social problem and that it's not new but we have to act against it. We have to make small steps”. He added that music has different styles and one concert can unite several people.

His assertion was supported by Mbaye Ndiaye, Afro Magic Band leader. He said: “concerts against racism are very important because music is the key of communication; the most effective arm to fight racism. It is the world language and if every musician sings about it, it will definitely stop”.

Another participant, Eperjesi Boglárka, said that there is racism against the Jews and especially strong against Gypsies, but quickly added that racists are in the minority though they are loud.  

The participants include NGOs, musicians, journalists, and minority groups.

Thursday 15 October 2009

The Swiss Silenced Nigerians

Switzerland defeated the Golden Eaglets by one goal to nil to deny the host country the opportunity to make history by being the first country ever to win the trophy for the fourth time.

Although the Golden Eaglets got the Fair Play trophy, they watched with tears as the European boys took the coveted cup away from the Nigeria's backyard.

The Eaglets started with determination and looked as if they were going to carry the day, but lost several chances in the first half. It got worse as the Nigerian coach, John Obuh, threatened from the sideline to remove Sani Emmanuel if he continued to play selfish football.

Emmanuel had shot wide when he should have passed the ball to another player who was perfectly positioned in front of the goal. Such selfishness terribly angered the coache who later substitutes him with Olanrewaju Kayode who almost scored immediately he entered the field.

Switzerland did not play their best football as well but of course they managed to curtail the pressures mounted by the trio of Obinna Okoro, Sani Emmanuel and Edafe Egbedi.

The second half looked dull as both teams cooled than the tempo probably waiting for each other to make mistakes and then capitalise on it.

It was the Eaglets who committed the mistake in the 63rd minute when Haris Seferovic headed home the winning goal from a corner kick.

After the epic goal, the African boys tried to equalise but the European boys put up a superb defending which invariably disorganised the former who now looked desperate to find the net.

What could have been a goal and the last chance for the host resulted into scrambling inside the Swiss net after Okoro's header had hit the post, and a well taken shot caused melee. Although a replay showed that it was a goal, the referee thought otherwise.

The reality was getting too much for the fans who had been silenced by that lone goal which gave the Swiss their first-ever world title.



Tuesday 13 October 2009

The Ladies Are Marrying The Men

 By Odimegwu Onwumere

Don’t tell anybody that I said this; it is what I have been observing in the society. Nigerian ladies, are marrying their Nigerian men. This is becoming a norm in our country, as against the axiom that, “He who foundeth a wife foundeth favour in the sight of God”. The reverse is the case. It is now, “A lady who foundeth a husband foundeth favour in the sight of the society”. The unmarried ladies are desperate due to the pressure the society put on them. So, they are ready to meet every necessary thought to marry the man who they might not naturally like.

What happens is that since finding relationship has gone digital, many of our people, even the married ones, do a lot of unprintable things to satisfy their LOVE life in the absence or knowledge of their loved ones. Name them: Internet sex, Internet dating, newspapers dating GSM dating etc.

Sometimes I become confused that people have taken to promiscuity and call it DEMOCRACY – the shameful government that allows everybody to behave any how, in any way, without discipline.

How can somebody publish his or her name (some fake names but the mobile numbers are not fake) and say he or she is looking for a man who would take good care of her, financially? This person has already told the world that he or she loves money. One can see that such relationship, if it begins to germinate, is based on material tendencies.

The heinous aspect of our marriage institutions today is that many men are lazy, but are bent on looking for ladies who are established. You can see someone marrying a lady as old as the mother. The man’s interest is that the lady has money and he could ‘survive’ through her. But this is bad? It seems that no one is marrying for LOVE in recent years but for material things. Is the dearth of material things in marriage that make many married couples put divvy to their marriages in recent time? The world is going gaga! Some even travel to Europe and marry their grand mama’s mate. It is unbecoming. I am watching.

Odimegwu Onwumere is the Founder of Poet Against Child Abuse (PACA), Rivers State. 08032552855. apoet_25@yahoo.com  

Monday 12 October 2009

The Trials of Ambassador Tunde Adeniran

By Hakeem Babalola

The professor was preparing to transport himself to the God Own country when his tribulations began. News gradually filtered around that America had rejected him. "What is wrong with this Obama people," I yelled. What is their grudge against the Giant of Africa? What are they up to this time around? Why should America reject one of the best brains in the country as our ambassador? Best brain?read more

Friday 9 October 2009

Where Is The 6000mw Electricity?

By Odimegwu Onwumere
 
Months before December, 2009, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led government of Nigeria, promised Nigerians that by December-ending, 6000mw would be fad in the Nigeria’s power sector and every Nigerian will enjoy none-stop power supply. But today, that promise seems to be a deception, following the lack of evidence in sight for that promise. All we keep hearing from the government now is that the 6000mw is achievable before the year runs off.
 
One thing keeps on battling me: If the PDP-led government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is yet to prove to Nigerians that it can keep to the much-touted Vision 2020, how come about the 6000mw is still a mirage, a tall order? It’s surprising that this government keeps raving its odds on the matter of 6000mw through its power minister, Dr. Olanrewaju Babalola, who keeps on promising Nigerians of this “tall order” till thy kingdom come. If this government is talking about making Nigeria a no-poverty- relevance nation by 2020, how come about it has failed to start with the cradle issue such as constant power generation which will help Nigeria in the socio-eco-development? No country survives running its economy with generating sets. That is even detrimental to human health, with fumes so hazardous to the environment.
 
It’s always surprising that this government has given priority to mundane things thereby leading much vitality that would enrich Nigerians unsolved. For example, the Nigeria roads are pit-of-hell, the railway cooperation is begging for attention, poverty is every where in Nigeria except in Aso Rock, education system is in comatose, and the petroleum sector is in a war of lack-of-decision, name then. Yet, we have a government, the one that the people voted?
 
Just recently, VP Goodluck Jonathan reportedly said that foreign investors vital to vision 20:20-20 (Compass, Thursday December 3, 2009). “We want to accelerate the growth rate of our economy towards our 20-20 target and we need foreign direct investment in various sectors of our economy. We will examine areas where both countries can cooperate,” Jonathan had said.
 
That was Jonathan‘s assertion of the Federal Government’s readiness to do business with foreign investors towards the gaining of the vision 20-20 mandate. As good as that may  be, so in the early months of this year the 6000mw promise was made, it seemed as if December was too far but here it is, on our doorpost, without anything making strong of our power sector in place. While the 6000mw proposal or promise is in the pipe, what is on the pipe today is the supremacy tussle of where Mr. President would present the 2010 budget, with the Senate and the Representatives locking their horns in “cold war” thereby making Nigerians of goodwill to sweat more than excepted. This government is not even in readiness to protect the Nigerian environment from the climate change.
 
This government may not help its hapless citizens. Nigeria may not survive as a nation with deceitful agenda and policies such as the unachievable 6000mw promise before December which is probably to gain praise from the unassuming populace.


Odimegwu Onwumere is the Founder of Poet Against Child Abuse (PACA), Rivers State. +2348032552855. apoet_25@yahoo.com

Thursday 8 October 2009

Photo Story

By CHUDE JIDEONWO

Nigeria Shouldn’t Have Lost To Germany

By Hakeem Babalola
Soccer

The Flying Eagles had the better chance in every aspect of the game. But 10-men Germans came twice from behind to prevent what could have been the biggest shock of the tournament. Germany 3 Nigeria 2 in the U-20 second match in Egypt
read more

Saturday 3 October 2009

Egypt U-20: Flying Eagles Still Can Fly

By Hakeem Babalola
Talking Sports

I disagree with Coach Samson Siasia who said that this was the worst team ever. The boys are not that bad. In those matches they lost to Spain and Venezuela , our boys showed some skills but couldn't find the net. Of course I agree that if a team played two games and lost two games, the team should be written off
read more

Abdulmutallab: The Product of Ill-gotten Wealth?

Abdulmutallab: Product of Ill-gotten Wealth?
By Sammie Adetiloye


On Christmas Eve, 24 December, the Christian world was alive with Christmas spirit. Mothers were preparing the holiday feasts and wrapping gifts, and children were waiting in expectation of the visit of Santa Claus. That same day, impelled by maturity of his desire, a 23-year-old Nigerian man in the employment of unrelenting enemies of mankind began his journey from Ghana with a mission to blow up an airliner with other 277 passengers on board over US soil. 

December 25, the day Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab chose was sacred to God and the pitying heavenly stars watching the innocent people on the plane frustrated his fiendish plot when the acid in the syringe he was using to detonate the device strapped to his thigh merely set his clothes on fire. Had he succeeded, the plane would have been blown off and its human content would have been spilled on hard surface down below in Detroit, Michigan.

The young terrorist, Abdulmutallab, born in 1986, is a graduate of Mechanical engineering and a son of a former Federal minister and First Bank Chairman, Dr Alhaji Umaru Mutallab. The young boy started his secondary school education at the British International School in Lome, Togo. In 2005, he was admitted into the prestigious University College London where he obtained a degree in Mechanical engineering in June, 2008. While in London as a student, he was living in a £3.1 million luxury mansion block in Mansfield Street in London’s West End. We also learnt that his father has houses all over the world including one in Maryland, USA.

In spite of all his education and wealthy background, this little boy had no inclination to pursue a legitimate career, and he refused to conform to a required standard of behaviour. His access to free money offered him the opportunity to junket from Nigeria to London, from London to Dubai, from Dubai to Yemen to find food for his profound religious impulse until he ended up offering himself as a conveyor belt to forces of evil obsessed by the inveterate and invincible propensity to bring planes down, sink ships, blow women up in market places, and children on buses to or from school.

This can serve as one of many pointed examples of how our corrupt leaders – the drones that rob the bee of her honey – are squandering our money by building their houses on shifting sands. The wealth of this young terrorist’s parents can’t have been acquired based on their salaries in public service alone. 

We often see how our leaders lavish the funds committed to their management on our behalf on plastic surgeries to correct flat and snub noses, or to remove pimples. We know of how they are spending the proceeds of their ill-gotten wealth to update the wardrobes of prostitutes around the world. We know of how they are treating their children studying overseas with luxurious indulgence while millions of their fellow citizens, living under the jurisdiction of poverty, are going about with backs bent by hard labour, faces burnt by poisonous sun in their daily struggle to raise money to send their children to local universities and colleges that are not even functional because the funds to make them functional have been stolen.

They siphon our money into foreign banks in Dubai and other big cities to build estates and hotels, while at home our young men and women are condemned to idleness on account of unemployment. And our government cannot talk us through the steps they are taking to relax the squeeze. It is like Nigeria is running an obscure political religion which requires corruption as part of its daily ritual. 

A small problem in the eye is a great one indeed. I have no scintilla of doubt in my mind that Abdulmutallab’s incident has humiliated and wounded the pride and respect of every law-abiding Nigerian. Our government must take a vast parade of measures to ensure that this does not gain irretrievable notoriety among the local Taliban in the northern part of Nigeria so that we can reassure the world that Abdulmutallab’s case is an isolated one.

I am encouraged that Nigerian Government has always responded swiftly to threats and build-ups of the local equivalent of Taliban and Al Qaeda. We are lucky that we are yet to see those trained in bomb setting coming to our towns and cities on a dynamite mission. The likes of Boko Haram are responsible for the usual bloody clashes between Christians and Muslims because of their various attempts to wipe out Christians and impose rigid Sharia law on their fellow Muslims to conform to their own version of God’s will. They want a ban on Western education. They want to close schools down and forbid girls to attend. They say the time is now for us to begin to live in caves.

Mr. Adetiloye wrote in from UK


Thursday 1 October 2009

Hurrah! Nigerian President Supports Revolt

By Hakeem Babalola
The President's Interview

In this exclusive interview, Umaru Yar’Adua calls for revolt. But describes James Ibori’s criminal past in England as youthful exuberance saying, “I am unaware of those charges against James”, challenging anyone, especially Nigerians in the Diaspora to cast the first stone read more