Labaran Maku’s Funeral By Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo
Posted: December 5, 2012 - 16:21

If you want to kill a politician, make him or her the minister of information.

At this year’s Nigerian Independence Parade in New York City, I listened to Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, as he addressed Nigerians. The drama of his experience at the podium reminded me of that line in William Butler Yeats’ famous poem, The Second Coming.

“The best lack all conviction, while the worst/Are full of passionate intensity.”

Maku was full of passionate intensity that day. But it did not rub off on his audience. At times he was booed for making outrageous claims. It happened when he claimed that electricity supply in Nigeria had improved so much that some places enjoyed 24-hour power. It happened again when he claimed that great trains were running again in Nigeria.

He was talking to a special audience. Gathered there were patriotic and optimistic Nigerians. They were not whiners. They were not Nigerians who hated their country. Many of them were very young, boiling with enthusiasm. In their protected innocence about the Nigerian project, this group was itching to forge ahead and do great things in spite of the challenges. They could take bad news as long as they could sense a genuine focus on the dream.

But Maku was more interested in fooling them. He was ignorant of his audience’s sophistication. He was unaware of his audience’s deep network inside Nigeria and their clear understanding of the ‘situation on the ground.’ He deployed old-fashioned propaganda in an ipod age.

You don’t tell people who stepped out of the New York subway that the second hand trains Nigeria has been picking up from junkyards of the world would amount to the best train system in Africa. You do not tell people who had not experienced power outage once in ten years that some parts of Nigeria now enjoy 24-hour power supply and expect them to clap for you. Certainly not when many of them spent their summer holidays in Nigeria and did not experience such anywhere.

Maku had the best audience he could find anywhere in the world -boys and girls who wore green and white attires, painted their faces the color of the Nigerian flag. And he blew it. And right there, I lost hope in his ability to make it anywhere.

I was, therefore, not surprised that, while hanging out in London with the former British Minister for Africa, Lynda Chalker, Mr. Labaran Maku declared, "The Nigeria media is so negative about the country. They are not interested in believing the progress being made in the country. They are running the country down".

Mr. Maku is a child of the media. He surely knows something about how the press works. He knows that “the only countries where newspapers are full of good news are those countries where the prisons are full of good people.” Maku is just not letting it out. Or maybe not. Maybe he was living a lie all these years that he was a Student Union activist and reporter. Maku, a former editor, knows that editors worship the devil. And politicians do everything in their power to keep the devil around the political arena. It is a symbiotic relationship.

Mr. Maku, in case you have forgotten, this is how the press works -the press reports the news. In a developing country like ours, the bulk of the news comes from the government- in this case, your government. The rest comes from what members of the press see around them.

Here are your typical news story headlines of each week:

Boko Haram bombs this church killing this number of people.
This international organization ranks Nigeria last in this or that development index.
Kidnappers pick up this prominent Nigerian and are demanding tens of millions
An investigative committee unearths billions of naira stolen from this government agency
Nigeria borrows this millions of dollars from China for development
Police officer kills bus driver for refusing to give N20 naira bribe
A pregnant woman dies at the hospital because she couldn’t pay N20,000 deposit
“90% of rape cases is self-inflicted,” says this state Attorney-general
Former government official buys billions of naira home in Abuja
Youth unemployment rises to 75%
Government official flown to Europe for medical treatment

Maku, these are the typical news story of every week in your Nigeria. Which of them makes the media negative? Which of them do you want the media to underreport? Wait, wait, wait, don’t tell me. I know what your answer will be. None. All you want is for the media to balance it up. Publish the good news as well as the bad news.

Ok, lets go through your typical good news of each week.

The eight wonder of the world, the Eko Atlantic Project, is in progress.
JTF has killed another Boko Haram commander
Nigeria’s GDP grows by 7.8%
Bank ABC has declared a profit of hundreds of billions
Another pastor buys a private jet.
Nigeria’s foreign reserve grows

Maku’s job of selling good news is made difficult not by the cynicism of the Nigerian people but by the epic river of corruption swelling around the government he defends. In Nigeria, bad news does not interrupt good news, instead it is good news that interrupts a stream of bad news. People feel the pulse of the nation based on what they see in their family and their corner of the country. It is not based on GDP figure.

To compound Maku’s problems, the mainstream media has lost its control over what people read, view or hear. While Maku’s predecessors could buy up the media, it is hard to bribe millions of citizen reporters who are busy on their cell phones snapping pictures and twitting away. Poor rankings of Nigerian in healthcare, education, life expectancy and infant mortality are not just statistics. There are people behind the figures. And these people now have a means to have their say about what they feel. In a connected world the expectations of these people are increasing. Just the same way President Jonathan was entertained in Ethiopia with beautiful cutleries and he came back and added hundreds of millions to Aso Rock budget for kitchen wares, Nigerians are becoming aware of the standard of life in other parts of the world and they want a piece of it.

In a government full of tragic individuals, Maku is the most tragic of them all. He spent years fighting the establishment. But once he became part of the establishment he finds himself screaming at the top of his voice that there is no establishment anymore.

Maku has the right to use his life-long mastery of the language of compliant to feign ignorance and self-righteousness. He does so while he tortures the truth, sacrifices the wretched and flatters the corrupt. It is falsehood that demands spin. Truth ascends to the surface no matter how many heavyweights fighters are holding it down. Haunted by a dark desire to keep the irony of his existence private, Maku is left to marvel at his unflinching failure to convince.

Maku is already guilty of intellectual dishonesty. He is capable of much more. But not to worry, it is his own funeral.

[url=http://saharareporters.com/column/labaran-maku%E2%80%99s-funeral-rudolf-ogoo-okonkwo]Source[/url]

He who pay the piper dictates the tune.

You can't eat with the devil and still reason like an angel. He is only speaking what he receives 'pay' for.

If you see anybody fighting for the masses in Nigeria, be sure he is fighting for his elevation to the cabals. Ask Hon. Dino, Hon Faruk (fadollar) and TUC chairman.

A well-written, interesting editorial...there aren't many reporters who write with this much panache and zing.

Labaran is only 26? In so many ways, he needs to grow up.

Maku has the right to use his life-long mastery of the language of compliant to feign ignorance and self-righteousness. He does so while he tortures the truth, sacrifices the wretched and flatters the corrupt. It is falsehood that demands spin. Truth ascends to the surface no matter how many heavyweights fighters are holding it down. Haunted by a dark desire to keep the irony of his existence private, Maku is left to marvel at his unflinching failure to convince.

They find it difficult to understand why people will not buy their lies anymore. They have blamed Tinubu, at a time they said it was Buhari and El-Rufai, now they blame it on OBJ. They have even gone to the extent of using what Sonala Olumhense calls "condescension as an instrument of state policy", "Shut up! We are making progress", you see it everyday on Nairaland. Jona even went on air to say "Nigerians are always looking for negatives", President of the Federal Republic?

However you can't suppress the truth, young people are becoming more and more aware of happenings around the World and they can benchmark what should be as against what Maku and Co want them to believe.

fourth to comment again...r.i.p labaran maku

ballabriggs:


They find it difficult to understand why people will not buy their lies anymore. They have blamed Tinubu, at a time they said it was Buhari and El-Rufai, now they blame it on OBJ. They have even gone to the extent of using what Sonala Olumhense calls "condescension as an instrument of state policy", "Shut up! We are making progress", you see it everyday on Nairaland. Jona even went on air to say "Nigerians are always looking for negatives", President of the Federal Republic?

However you can't suppress the truth, young people are becoming more and more aware of happenings around the World and they can benchmark what should be as against what Maku and Co want them to believe.

Word!!! Though expect the Villa Courtiers to come label you as an "opposition" and enemy of the state!

Unfortunately a lot is lost on the expectant patriots gathered to listen to this cataclysmic buffoon - however all is well with our leadership.. after all the boat (nigeria) is sinking, they have got nothing to lose. Labaran and his ilk can sit comfy and jet off when the impending calamitous-shit finally hits the fan.

take dat: Word!!! Though expect the Villa Courtiers to come label you as an "opposition".

How else wld you describe someone that makes a quote from Salielie Reporter's Sunola Olumhense the fulcrum of his argument?

^^^
Mr man crawl back into Maku's room and continue butt licking him fast, animal!!!

Did Sonala give Maku the mediocre address he read to the people in New York?

Those guys have a life, you go and get a life away from butt licking.

If you had any brain, you will know Maku is a big idi0t. Yes he is, when everyone thinks you are because an idi0t like David Mark says you are a big idi0t, then sorry Mr, Maku can't be helped.

Another useless propaganda stunt by a guerilla online newspaper. I wonder how these people still manage to vend falsehood to gullible Nigerians.
Sometime last 2 months, Sahara reporters sold these lies and it was heavily poop pooed on this platform.
They resiled and when it appeared that the dust had settled, they brought it up again under this piece. Very unintelligent of Sowore.

There is compelling evidence to show that Maku Indeed led a succesful parade on the streets of new York. Even the organizers came out publicly to deny Sahara reporters and affirmed the success of the rally.

SAHARA SHOPRITE OF LIES don come again ooooo! I just wonder whether these guys are jobless or have sworn on oath to live on blackmail. What is this rubbish that they wrote about Maku? What is RIP? This is clearly a bareface malicious attack on the personality of the minister.
If it were in a saner clime, Saharareporters would have closed shop because of multiple judgement debts incurred in defaming people's character. I'm serious. This rubbish cannot be tolerated in UK.
SAHARA has misled a lot of Nigerians with false information for a very long time. This particular issue came up recently and was addressed satisfactorily on Nairaland. It was established that Nigerian citizens in US usually hold street parades in New York annually to celebrate independence.
This year, they invited Maku to attend as a guest of honour given his remarkable performance so far in managing public information.
Maku attended the rally alongside Nigerian ambassador to US and permanent representative of Nigetia to UK, Joy Ogwu.
Maku was seen addressing the crowd peacefully. There was not any protest nor abuse as SAHARA SHOPRITE OF LIES reported. In fact, the pictures showed a very ecstatic crowd that was happy with thier guest.

It now remains to be seen where SAHARAREPORTERS generated their fake stories from. I will dig into the archives to get links to threads on Nairaland on this issue.
We must put an end to lies by Sahara

Who is this miffed who Is not only walloping in ignorance but obviously dying in jealousy of man who is and will be better than him even in another life? A well composed article, full of sound and fury but signifying nothing. shame on you Rudolf for taking your resentment too far and also for not understanding the responsibility of certain offices. You should be more than a tool for propaganda and on this note, I say RIP Rudolf for your intellectual foolery.

Rest In Peace to all you dolts in Maku's office. Here is the video go to 57:27 and listen. All you shameless liars will go with Maku one by one. This is an ipod age and not an NTA age.

Did Rudolf lie when he said this

Maku was full of passionate intensity that day. But it did not rub off on his audience. At times he was booed for making outrageous claims. It happened when he claimed that electricity supply in Nigeria had improved so much that some places enjoyed 24-hour power. It happened again when he claimed that great trains were running again in Nigeria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT7x5GUv93Y

ballabriggs:


They find it difficult to understand why people will not buy their lies anymore. They have blamed Tinubu, at a time they said it was Buhari and El-Rufai, now they blame it on OBJ. They have even gone to the extent of using what Sonala Olumhense calls "condescension as an instrument of state policy", "Shut up! We are making progress", you see it everyday on Nairaland. Jona even went on air to say "Nigerians are always looking for negatives", President of the Federal Republic?

However you can't suppress the truth, young people are becoming more and more aware of happenings around the World and they can benchmark what should be as against what Maku and Co want them to believe.

And you are such an I.mbecile like the writer who wrote a piece bereft of any form of logic, facts and figures.

Arobam:

And you are such an I.mbecile like the writer who wrote a piece bereft of any form of logic, facts and figures.

Bore off!!! Who has time for a low life like you.

ballabriggs: Rest In Peace to all you dolts in Maku's office. Here is the video go to 57:27 and listen. All you shameless liars will go with Maku one by one. This is an ipod age and not an NTA age.

Did Rudolf lie when he said this



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT7x5GUv93Y

Lol. You just shot yourself in the foot. I'm sure you didn't even play the YouTube video you posted. Look at how you have come to embarrass yourself publicly.
Shebi you said Maku did not address the public? But that video clearly shows that he indeed address the public and left the stage to a thunderous applause by the joyous crowd.
Shame on you. This job of blackmail will not get you anywhere. It will only lead you to the path of more ridicule.

Arobam:
Lol. You just shot yourself in the foot. I'm sure you didn't even play the YouTube video you posted. Look at how you have come to embarrass yourself publicly.
Shebi you said Maku did not address the public? But that video clearly shows that he indeed address the public and left the stage to a thunderous applause by the joyous crowd.
Shame on you. This job of blackmail will not get you anywhere. It will only lead you to the path of more ridicule.

You are still a low life, that is why you cannot read, lower than Maku who employed all you dolts. When an idi0t employs idi0ts, you have a disaster. Dispute the fact that he was not booed when he made those claims.

diva_tosin:

Another useless propaganda stunt by a guerilla online newspaper. I wonder how these people still manage to vend falsehood to gullible Nigerians.

Sometime last 2 months, Sahara reporters sold these lies and it was heavily poop pooed on this platform.

Dollarman101:

SAHARA SHOPRITE OF LIES don come again ooooo!

If it were in a saner clime, Saharareporters would have closed shop because of multiple judgement debts incurred in defaming people's character. I'm serious.

SAHARA has misled a lot of Nigerians with false information for a very long time. This particular issue came up recently and was addressed satisfactorily on Nairaland. It was established that Nigerian citizens in US usually hold street parades in New York annually to celebrate independence.

There was not any protest nor abuse as SAHARA SHOPRITE OF LIES reported. In fact, the pictures showed a very ecstatic crowd that was happy with thier guest.

It now remains to be seen where SAHARAREPORTERS generated their fake stories from.

We must put an end to lies by Sahara

Sahara Reporters lies! Sahara Reporters fibs! But Sahara Reporters told you your First Lady was in Germany when your Government told you she was well and trying out to play for the Knicks.

Oh, a few days ago your darling GEJ also admitted that Sahara Reporters knew BEFORE HIM that his own blood brother had passed away right there in Aso Rock.

Yep, Sahara Reporters indeed relies on fables. You guys are freaking clowns.

P.S: @Dollarman101, stfu! I was there that day and it was only because some elders begged restraint that the young boys in the crowd refrained from pelting Mr.Maku with eggs and rotten tomatoes that they brought in plastic bags.

ballabriggs:

You are still a low life, that is why you cannot read, lower than Maku who employed all you dolts. When an idi0t employs idi0ts, you have a disaster. Dispute the fact that he was not booed when he made those claims.

Mr FOOL, Shame no dey catch you? Are you not tired of doing this dirty job for your paymaster-SAHARA LIARS. The same liars told us that protesters disrupted the Rally and prevented Maku from presenting his speech. E never reach 3 months when una blow dis lie finish. Today, una don go find way amend am come out. That's your stock in trade. Nigerians don see una finish.

kingoflag:



Sahara Reporters lies! Sahara Reporters fibs! But Sahara Reporters told you your First Lady was in Germany when your Government told you she was well and trying out to play for the Knicks.

Oh, a few days ago your darling GEJ also admitted that Sahara Reporters knew BEFORE HIM that his own blood brother had passed away right there in Aso Rock.

Yep, Sahara Reporters indeed relies on fables. You guys are freaking clowns.

P.S: @Dollarman101, stfu! I was there that day and it was only because some elders begged restraint that the young boys in the crowd refrained from pelting Mr.Maku with eggs and rotten tomatoes that they brought in plastic bags.

^^
shatapp dia crackhead!

re@lchange:


^^
shatapp dia crackhead!

Off course that'll be your only response.

I bet anything though, that standing next to your Father, I'll look like the supplier, while you Father---and Grandfather....and even Great-Grand Father--- will look like the fiends.

Dollarman101:
Mr FOOL, Shame no dey catch you? Are you not tired of doing this dirty job for your paymaster-SAHARA LIARS. The same liars told us that protesters disrupted the Rally and prevented Maku from presenting his speech. E never reach 3 months when una blow dis lie finish. Today, una don go find way amend am come out. That's your stock in trade. Nigerians don see una finish.

Another dolt employed by the Chief dolt, Maku. Where you in New York with Maku? Dispute what Rudolf wrote or take your gayness into Maku's office and continue the romance, animal!!!

kingoflag:

P.S: @Dollarman101, stfu! I was there that day and it was only because some elders begged restraint that the young boys in the crowd refrained from pelting Mr.Maku with eggs and rotten tomatoes that they brought in plastic bags.

Truth don dey come out small small. Confession time! So you follow for those people wey Saharareporters use dey blow lies for us?
Devil don't catch you today. Why una dey lie like this? Must you lie to survive. We appreciate there's unemployment but it must not push you to make a proffession out of lying.
For this very forum, una argue say they pursue Maku comot for stage. Did such a thing ever happen? Why una dey behave like this? Why una dey mislead people?

kingoflag:

Off course that'll be your only response.

I bet anything though, that standing next to your Father, I'll look like the supplier, while you Father---and Grandfather....and even Great-Grand Father--- will look like the fiends.

na you fagging ijoittt smoke crack and give some to ya countless kids scattered all ova da face of da earth.
yu are da reaaal scum of da earth!

Dollarman101:
Truth don dey come out small small. Confession time! So you follow for those people wey Saharareporters use dey blow lies for us?
Devil don't catch you today. Why una dey lie like this? Must you lie to survive. We appreciate there's unemployment but it must not push you to make a proffession out of lying.
For this very forum, una argue say they pursue Maku comot for stage. Did such a thing ever happen? Why una dey behave like this? Why una dey mislead people?

Why do you insist on sounding like the illiterate dummy which you obviously are? SMH

Well, personally, I hope GEJ rigs himself in again in 2015.... and rules for life. Maybe when yall die in droves from the pangs of hunger then some sense will be attained, because to say you guys are amongst the most foo.lish beings on this planet is a very big compliment.

Dollarman101:
Truth don dey come out small small. Confession time! So you follow for those people wey Saharareporters use dey blow lies for us?
Devil don't catch you today. Why una dey lie like this? Must you lie to survive. We appreciate there's unemployment but it must not push you to make a proffession out of lying.
For this very forum, una argue say they pursue Maku comot for stage. Did such a thing ever happen? Why una dey behave like this? Why una dey mislead people?

they lie for a living.
murafukkers

kingoflag:

Why do you insist on sounding like the illiterate dummy which you obviously are? SMH

Well, personally, I hope GEJ rigs himself in again in 2015.... and rules for life. Maybe when yall die in droves from the pangs of hunger then some sense will be attained, because to say you guys are amongst the most foo.lish beings on this planet is a very big compliment.

yup! he'll do just that and you will die cus you are weak!

re@lchange:


na you fagging ijoittt smoke crack and give some to ya countless kids scattered all ova da face of da earth.
yu are da reaaal scum of da earth!

Well, I dont have "countless kids" scattered all over the face of the earth so you internet rants are of no use. Even if I did, I'd still be able to provide for them the basic social amenities needed to develop normally; my Government has assured this. WHAT HAS YOUR GOVERNMENT PROVIDED YOU?! Apart from supporting the dunce leading you guys (to a bloody and catastrophic civil war) because of tribal and religious affiliations give me just one reason why youre staunchly supporting him!

Scum of the earth?! GEJ's meal today cost $30,000.00. His meals for the year will cost N1.3Billion; and he claims that amount his not enough. Now, you freaking cow that has learned to speak and walk on your hind legs, tell me: HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK YOUR WHOLE LINEAGE HAS SPENT ON MEALS FROM 1950 TILL DATE?!

Ahhh..... Ok, then.

kingoflag:

Why do you insist on sounding like the illiterate dummy which you obviously are? SMH

Well, personally, I hope GEJ rigs himself in again in 2015.... and rules for life. Maybe when yall die in droves from the pangs of hunger then some sense will be attained, because to say you guys are amongst the most foo.lish beings on this planet is a very big compliment.

Your s.tupididity on this forum is grossly underestimated and that is why you could still summon the courage to talk over this issue.
If I were you, I would be more penitent and sober over the exposure of the blatant lies you told on Nairaland about Maku.
You are completely shameless and it takes someone like you to repeat these lies after such embarrassment

re@lchange:


yup! he'll do just that and you will die cus you are weak!

Youre a waste of time, 3 replies and all youve done is spew fecal matter from your speaking orifice. What a dunce. How much do they pay you for your Online battles? I hope its well worth it because if youre projecting your idiocy to the world for free...well, I dont know what to tell you.

Dollarman101:

Your s.tupididity on this forum is grossly underestimated and that is why you could still summon the courage to talk over this issue.
If I were you, I would be more penitent and sober over the exposure of the blatant lies you told on Nairaland about Maku.
You are completely shameless and it takes someone like you to repeat these lies after such embarrassment

Imbeci.le, what lies? That I was there or that they were gonna shower your godfather with eggs and tomatoes as rotten as your brain?

You guys are just dead mentally and I hope when the time comes people like you are identified and dragged in the streets like the rotten dog carcass yall really are.

kingoflag:

Well, I dont have "countless kids" scattered all over the face of the earth so you internet rants are of no use. Even if I did, I'd still be able to provide for them the basic social amenities needed for them to develop normally; my Government has assured this. WHAT HAS YOUR GOVERNMENT PROVIDED FOR YOU?! Apart from supporting the dunce leading you guys to a bloody and catastrophic civil war (because of tribal and religious affiliations) give me just one reason why youre staunchly supporting him!

Scum of the earth?! GEJ's meal today cost $30,000.00. His meals for the year will cost N1.3Billion; and he claims that amount his not enough. Now, you freaking cow that has learned to speak and walk on your hind legs, tell: HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK YOUR WHOLE LINEAGE HAS SPENT ON MEALS FROM 1950 TILL DATE?!

Ahhh..... Ok, then.

My Friend, stop confusing issues and developing Escapist strategies.It will not help you. Come out and tell Nairalanders that the lies you concorted with Saharareporters on Maku is now exposed.
You came out here months again lying that Maku was booted off and the rally disrupted by protesters.
Unknowingly, you brought out a video evidence that has contradicted your claims.
You literally shot yourself in the foot with that video. Shameless liars!