The Nigerian political elite, the professional wing that is, has over the years destroyed this country. The political field is peopled by hypocrites who exploit people’s poverty. The people themselves have become dangerously cynical. When we campaigned on the streets and gave exercise books to mothers and their children, we were told: “Ko si owo, ko si ibo” – “no money, no vote.” Nobody was interested in exercise books! If people said as much as hello, they wanted you to pay for it. There were endless requests for mobilization fees, transformers, vehicles and all kinds of things. Two days to the election, the situation became almost unmanageable. I was asked to pick up bills at drinking joints. People stopped by and asked for money to “enjoy the rest of the evening”. Others came with requests for money to pay hospital fees, to take care of a newly born baby, to bury a relative, or to make a girlfriend happy. One political associate told me that every request was valid because as far as the Nigerian people are concerned, only a thief goes into politics and it is better to “take their own share” before the election.

bionixs:
Some fools and sons of nobodies above you say otherwise. they are still displaying their self destructive hates,playing free of charge tribal politics. They are still flexing the remaining change from ballot box snatching and faning snatchers

keryj:
My thoughts sometimes is how do one gather all the politians in one place and set them ablaze

Then Nigeria and Nigerians can think of starting afresh

donifez:
Damn! This guy can write.

Officialgarri:
And after 4 years, the pigs won't give up wailing . Are they paid for wailing all the time ?

Mitsurugi:




No. You're wrong. They are unlettered buffoons who abhor rational enlightenment. Reading pieces like this is an egregious source of migraine and blurred vision.

morikee:
Long epistle

Oxb90:
or even take them to the highest shrine in the country and force them to swear before they start their " mandate". My reason is that Nigerian politicians have no fear or respect forTHE ALMIGHTY GOD. The same thieves will go to church this coming sunday for "Thanksgiving" of their stollen mandate.

Ravon:
[b][i]

If I felt any sense of loss at all, the morning after, it was in fact, the shocking report of the death of Pius Adesanmi, Professor of English and African Studies at Carleton University, Canada, in the ill-fated Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft that crashed a few minutes after taking off from Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Pius was a member of our community, and he was one of the best and the brightest. He wielded a sparkling, lyrical and polemical pen which he deployed with the ease and confidence of a well-cultured intellectual. I was his fan. I enjoyed reading him because it was not difficult to see that his talent was original and that his intellect was solid and that the respect and admiration that he enjoyed was well deserved. He criticized me on many occasions but he was that kind of critic that left enough room for your dignity. I read many of his comments on my choices and interventions without feeling diminished. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do flowers wither? Why Claude Ake? Why Pius Adesanmi? Ethiopian Airline has the best and the largest fleet in Africa. And now this… But who are we to question the Master Builder, the Great Architect Of The Universe who in one breath creates and in another breath, astounds us with the unexpected? Pius Adesanmi made his mark. If he were here, he would have had a lot more to say about the just concluded Nigerian elections. He was a significant public affairs commentator and a credible voice on all platforms. He was right: Nigeria remains, as he put it, “a nation in progress.” His death is a sad loss to the intellectual community.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/03/12/nigeria-2019-notes-from-the-field-by-reuben-abati/

donifez:
Damn! This guy can write.

StephenJoseph:


Yea, he is very articulate and a sincere individual. I love to read his write-ups. I also enjoyed reading one of his write-ups "THE DARK SIDE OF ASO-ROCK". Try read it, it's very informative