FOR IMO STATE, IT IS NOT YET UHURU

The political conundrum in Imo State is symptomatic of the general political malaise across the country occasioned by the abysmal political leadership provided by the ruling party.

Yes the vultures in Imo have gathered to devour one of their own but the question is: after that what next?

For Imo State it is like moving from frying pan to a bigger frying pan. It is now left for the people to ensure that the disaster of moving from the current big frying pan to fire does not happen. The people must salvage their state from the hands of evil men whom God in his mercy has gathered together for a purpose: for the people to see and know that the enemies of the state are still wide awake. It is time for the people to rise and reclaim the state to restore some semblance of hope to the children, born and unborn.

The way the ruling party has carried on in the state and in fact across the country gives the impression that once you are able to secure the nomination of the party at the primaries, you are as good as occupying whatever office you are vying for irrespective of the people or the opposition parties. This of course is delusional thinking. Things do not just work that way.

The gladiators should not forget in a hurry that Buhari was already a president in the wings in 2015 when Wike of Rivers State spanked him and the current Minister of Transport.

This feeling of deja vu and fait accompli of office seekers in the ruling party is leading to unwarranted lawlessness across the country and making the current political hustling a national calamity.

To Imo people I say you have done it before and you can do it again and again. You showed Ikedi Ohakim the way out when he became arrogant and pig headed with power. Okorocha cashed in on this sentiment and came with the guile of a serpent and deceived the people just once, while the people under rated and underestimated his capacity for mischief the second time around.

Ndi Imo you have wider choices now than before, NO EXCUSES!!!

TASTE AND LIE

Growing up, we hardly knew of any other medicine other than M & B and APC. For sugar, it was Tate & Lyle, that sugar made by a very ungrateful Company that gave nothing back for the monopoly it enjoyed. One needed a sledge hammer to dissolve the sugar in either hot or cold water. Even the ants kept off the sugar because they could not get a grain off the cube.

Later in life, one got to know that M & B stood for May & Baker, the pharmaceutical company that made M & B the medicine. What does APC stand for as a company and as medicine today?

If M & B is still standing today as a Company, what then became of APC and its sugar counterpart; Tate and Lyle?

Ironically, APC has reincarnated in the country today, not as medicine but as a political party, and that is where the problem lies. This Party has turned the country inside out and upside down with lies and arguments that are as funny as they are absurd.

If this Party will fizzle out like APC the medicine, the country might still be saved but the danger is that the party is hell bent on putting everything asunder.

Look at less complex elections requiring less logistics roll out than general elections, this Party has turned it into a frightening nightmare for citizens. We were gradually ascending to the point where elections could be taken for granted; that is no more.

What change are we really talking about if some National Institutions that have in spite of the chaos that the country has become gained some mileage in international best practices be dragged down and taken back to the starting point?

If this change being touted by APC the Party and APC the government is not transformational, has no positive and progressive impact or influence on government institutions firmly under its control, then we do not need it and we affirm that the Party will go into oblivion like APC the medicine and Tate and Lyle the sugar.

PRESENTING OBED “WYBRO” ARIRI

It is with pride that I present to you, OBED “WYBRO” ARIRI, one of the greatest players Nigeria would ever produce. From the ashes of the Biafran civil war emerged a team of proud Igbo boys with the scars of the war written all over them and the famous Holy Ghost College Owerri grounds which the Nigerian Soldiers converted to an open sewage pit during and after their occupation of the premises.

This team comprising of such notable players as Obed Wybro Ariri, Patrick ‘Ukwunyere Ugwu” Ekeji, School Boy, Layiola, Kelechi Emetole and others was molded into an all conquering squad by one of the finest players of the 60’s in the then Eastern Region of Nigeria in the person of Grant Francis Oti a strict disciplinarian as the Coach of Holy Ghost College Owerri.

Wybro’s dribbling runs attracted ovation even from the opposing teams and their fans.

The core of this team proceeded to form the nucleus of two great teams from the Land of the Rising Sun that took the Nigerian country by storm after the civil war; the flying Antelopes, Enugu Rangers and the P & T F C also of Enugu. The major cups on offer, both at the Academic and Senior levels were theirs for the picking.

Wybro left the shores of this country for the United States and from the pictures I have seen, subject to confirmation may have switched and played American Football also.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to announce to you that Obed Wybro Aliri is my friend. Any questions?

SOUTH EAST AROUSAL; AWAKE, ARISE AND SHINE

The news filtering out of the South Eastern States of Nigeria and their Brethren across the Niger River is heartwarming; the formation of the South East Leadership and Development Initiative (SELDI).

The move being initiated by the mainstream of Eastern Think Thank though will contain the good, the bad and ugly, the list we have seen contains the names of some men and women of conscience in the Region.

If Nigeria refuses to restructure for progress, the Eastern Region could lead and show the way.

As a matter of fact the South East has never enjoyed the full trust of its neighbours in the former Eastern Region of Nigerian for a bigger and more robust Economic, Social and Political integration but such wait cannot be indefinite. The decision of the South East to move on is most welcome.

What is needed most now is a good measure of personal sacrifice; the type exhibited by Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige in wrestling Anambra State from Obasanjo and his gang after all the structures put in place by Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife for good governance were rubbished by the group.. His life and political survival were put on the line. Peter Obi and Willie Obiano sustained the momentum and have taken the State away from dependence on the flawed Nigeria Federation.

People should think less of contracts and appointments at the center for this noble project to take root. It has become expedient to take a passionate look at the issue of leadership failure in the Region. The Region has come a long way from the events of 1999 that left the coast clear for many undesirable elements to emerge as political leaders. It is time to set politics aside and look individuals in the face and tell them the wood from which they were carved since some of them have constituted themselves into deities.

It is well with the South East.

 

FOOL’S PARADISE

The news media in Nigeria, mostly the Social Media Arm have been awash with a list of the sponsors of the militant group; the Niger Delta Avengers.

Looking at the list, it is nothing other than the list of the last Opposition Political Elements still standing though they may be standing on one leg.

My take on this is simple; it is a list compiled by FOOLS, sponsored by FOOLS and for the consumption of FOOLS living in FOOLS’ Paradise.

The Nigerian situation has gone beyond blames and scapegoatism. It is time to face the real issues confronting the Nigerian State. Concentrating on temporary gains and advantages will only acerbate the situation and to no one’s advantage in the long run.

 

THE REMITA CODE

If you are in a Banking Hall and a student rushes in, panting and shouting; “Please help me, my Remita Code is expiring” If it is one of those “Old Layer” Banks that have refused to deploy appropriate technology for crowd management, then the student will be in for a routine institutional problem.

I went to the Remita platform to acquaint myself with this Mystery Code that appears and disappears. The closest I got was what they call RRR (Remita Retrieval Reference) which sounded like the post Biafra War 3Rs; which was all sound and no substance for the targeted sector.

In answer to my inquiry about the validity period of RRR, the answer was that it will not expire so long as it had not been used through any of Remita’s payment channels.

Some users of the Remita platform believe it has a validity period of 48 hours, others are not sure of the period while the answer provided by the platform on FAQs was neither here nor there granted that RRR is the mystery code. So where did the student get the word Remita Code and its validity inconclusiveness?

Now so much for the code let us revisit the brouhaha that greeted the takeoff of TSA through Remita and the remuneration they remitted to themselves since neither the CBN, the Finance Ministry nor the National Assembly knew who authorized the payment to Remita and the amount thereof.

In the spirit of the new order of transparency and undue process, can we ask how much on average Remita rakes in daily, weekly or monthly into the National Treasury? How much is now paid to Remita for its services? What compensatory measures are in place to match the drain from the system by Remita so that the lag between the time Remita takes out and the time of replenishing is not unduly extended given that this has implications for the shrinking economy?

This question is pertinent because some Departments and Agencies will tell you they have not received operational funds from the government and therefore cannot offer basic secretarial services like typing or photocopying and would ask the visitor to provide if he wanted to be attended to. This could open another vista for corruption.

We plead with the Nigerian Union of Journalists to take advantage of the Freedom of Information Act and do investigative follow ups on such critical National Discourse to keep the Citizenry abreast with developments especially in the face of a shrinking economy tottering on recession while Remita’s activities are still shrouded in secrecy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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STEPHEN KESHI; ENEMIES AS CHIEF MOURNERS AND UNDERTAKERS.

When a Coach is on the field of play, during a competitive match, his Blood Pressure could rise as high as 200/120. This could climb down in a matter of hours if the match is won. If the match is lost, it could take days, weeks or even months because a non-tolerant Press is there to rub it in.

Then add the pressure that comes from the tardiness of Football and Government officials during preparations for important National Football Assignments.

Add the pressure from the meddlesomeness of Football and Government officials in the management and general affairs of Football in the country.

Add the pressure from the misdemeanor of some players who have Godfathers in high places who show no respect to the Coach and flout camp and general administrative regulations without suffering sanctions. Add to this the foisting of players on the Coach for Federal Character permutations.

When you finally add the pressure from unfulfilled Contract of Employment Terms, delayed and oftentimes nonpayment of salaries and emoluments, you will understand what I mean.

ADIEU STEPHEN OKECHUKWU KESHI; ADIEU SHUAIBU AMODU.

MAY THERE BE NO NEXT VICTIM.

FASHOLA; STOP THIS BLACKMAIL

The issue of Privatization in Nigeria since the return of Democracy in 1999 can best be described as the continued sharing of the peoples’ patrimony by the same disgusting gang of vision-less leaders. A case in point is the privatization of NEPA to PHCN and then to DISCOS, GENCOS and what have you.

The coming on board of Ibe Kachikwu and Babatunde Fashola being Lawyers as Ministers raised the hope of citizens especially electricity consumers for a revisit and thorough review of the terms of the contracts that gave away critical National assets to individuals and groups that have caused so much misery for citizens. This high expectation from these erudite lawyers was hinged on the fact that the Nigerian bureaucracy can endorse a blank contract so long as their pockets were adequately padded.
The average citizen believed that the Privatization Process and outcome envisaged massive investments into the sector by the new inheritors because so much bundle was sold for so little.

First it was the issue of meters that were supposed to be supplied free to consumers by the inheritors, the regulators barked, the National Assembly barked but nothing came out of it.
Second was the issue of tariff increase; again it was No!, it can’t happen, yet it happened.
The real blackmail is that the so called DISCOS are escalating peoples’ electric bills far and above the 45% or so approved by the spineless Regulatory Authority. They do this to the point where it becomes impossible to pay and when you now pay for the meter they will not activate it until you have paid to the last kobo all the fictitious and fraudulent bills accumulated in your account.

The most intriguing aspect is the presence of European and Western Elements among the Operators. Does it mean they have a different conscience for their home countries and another for foolish African counties? Is it right to set revenue targets and draw huge salaries by taxing the citizens? This is precisely what is happening now because the DISCOS set revenue targets without rendering commensurate services. They do not show any interest in reading meters where available because it will lead to a drastic fall in their revenue because this will be based strictly on service rendered.

Who will defend Nigerian citizens since the Leadership is busy fighting the same old political wars that have left the country at the mercy of every other country on the planet. Citizens from other countries less endowed in human and intellectual resources become experts in Nigerian because our own home grown disabilities. It is a big shame.

THE NIGERIA DEFENCE AVENGERS

In whose interest is the present drama, theatre, stupidity, idiocy and foolishness of the Nigerian Police in arresting Emeka Ugwonye of the Due Process Associates for his individual efforts in fighting the cause of defenseless Nigerians? For those who have not followed the story, Emeka Ogwonye has been on the trail of the suspects in the case of the disappearance of a woman with a name that sounds more like a creation of theater ; Chacha DHarmmer.

If the name of the woman turns and churns the stomach of the Police, it is not enough to declare a war of vengeance against anybody who asks of what happened to her.
Mr. Emeka Ugwonye has done all he has done in this matter in the public domain and had ever declared his willingness to collaborate with the Police to unravel the circumstances leading to the disappearance of the woman.
For the Police to turn round and arrest him, charging him for concealment smacks of absurdity and heightened desperation and makes a mockery of the role of intelligence in good policing.

World over, the Police maintains a discrete but healthy relationship with Private Investigators who are closer to the people in more relaxed relationships without the fear of complications arising from the dubious nature of the Police in all climes.
Though Mr. Ugwonye has been released, would it not have been more reasonable and reassuring to invite the man to find out all he knows about the matter and encourage him to go the extra mile?

How come the more we shout and hope for change, the more things remain the same and even get worse in some cases? If the Due Process Group could come to the defense of hapless Nigerians so be it.

EXCERPTS; IVORY TOUR(2)

“It is just like you Dr. Harry. I know you were not born into the Church denomination you presently belong to because your former Church will embarrass you each time they preached against examination malpractice, admission racket and sex for mark in the Universities. When people feel choked and caged with dogmas and doctrines of dos and don’ts in any organization they look for the easy way out especially when alternatives abound. All these cult groups are splinters from the Seadogs. They are no longer answerable to anybody but to themselves and their subdued conscience”.

“You are going judgmental Dr. Lucas and I am surprised that you are talking as if you are not part of what is going on. You sit by while others do the odd job while you harvest the spin-off s and reap the benefits. Do you want to tell me that you are oblivious of the happenings in the Medical School where you belong? You do not have space for more than one hundred students but every admission year you take over six thousand students into Basic School each hoping to study Medicine. At the end of the exercise, you take about twenty students from the lot to add to the so-called merit list. The rest of the candidates are denied admission and have to struggle for the few other spaces in the other Faculties.
In the Teaching Hospital, you cannot tell me you are not aware of the blood transfusion fraud going on. Every expectant mother or any one slated for surgery is forced to pay for at least two pints of blood, which may or may not be used; no receipts are issued. In-patients with inconclusive cases are prematurely discharged and their bed spaces sold to highest bidders, patients are encouraged to shun the Teaching Hospital and go to your private hospitals scattered all over the place. You were so uncharitable with your comments when the Senior Staff of Universities started the battle to raise the retirement age from sixty-five to seventy years wondering if they wanted to die in office and receive state burials when they were not politicians. Now you are the greatest beneficiary as you were already due for retirement in a few years. I can go on and on.

Remember the joke of the man with scrotal hernia who threatened to puncture the calabash of a little boy. The boy dared him to go ahead and provoke a puncturing spree since he too was carrying a balloon that could be punctured. So; why not let the sleeping dog lie”.

“Look; I am an ordinary Lecturer, you should aim your missiles at the Management Board of the Teaching Hospital”.
“I know but as a social crusader I expected you to speak up like Dr. Abdul”. “Let’s take your advice and let the sleeping dog lie’