₦airaland Forum

In the past few days, the buzz has been on about the British Prime Minister’s comments on corruption in Nigeria. Regardless of how we feel, most of us Nigerians agree with him. But the truth is that David Cameron missed the point, Nigerian corruption is not just fantastic, it down right sexy. In fact it’s the sexiest in the world given that no runway model ever born can compete with it for attention.

Nigerian corruption is sexy when you understand that an incompetent palm wine tapper can become a local government chairman from the palm tree and in the next nine months, marry two new wives (one doctor and one lawyer) and build three duplexes, one in his village and two in the city.

You’ll appreciate how sexy Nigerian corruption is when a politician’s son, whom you know used to sell okrika (used clothes) with his mother at Aswani market in Lagos to support the family, walks into a club and buys 17 bottles of Hennessy, each worth more than the average civil servant’s annual salary.

It is as sexy as the fact that a man who lived on your street and drove the oldest Peugeot 505 and also perpetually owed the garri woman by your house corner, now steps into church/mosque with police escort as a senator (after rigging and killing his way into office) and makes a onetime donation of twenty million naira, leaving the pastor or imam with no choice but to ask all other members of the congregation to pray for him so that God will bless us as he has blessed him. Even your wife/girlfriend at that moment admires the senator and for a second wonders why you’re not corrupt?

Nigerian corruption is so sexy that for most Nigerian pastors, their God (who was born in a Goat house) is not a poor God. He’s the God that flies in private jets, the God that wears the most expensive suits, shoes, perfumes and wrist watches while their church members who.....
http://www.mybeautifulnigeria.com/nigerian-corruption-is-not-fantastic-its-sexy

It’s been six years since President Umar Yar’Adua passed on; wow, its six years already? I can still clearly remember that day. It was the first semester of my final year in school, I lay on my bed listening to the radio on my ‘Nokia-torch light’ when the news came.

It was shocking, but again so many shocking incidents had occurred prior to that faithful day. I had a neighbor then whose birthday way on the same day May 5th. When I shared the grim news with him while he was singing praise and worship songs, his reply was “Thank God ooo!!! It’s a wonderful birth day gift ooo!!! It was at that moment that I felt the real shock of President Umar Musa Yar’Adua’s death.

Honestly, I was always a critic of President Yar’Aduar’s administration. I thought his government was too slow, with a long seven point agenda fraught with unrealistic targets. However even then, there were undeniable qualities of his personality that made the late president endearing to most Nigerians.

One of his most profound qualities is the uncommon humility and honesty he brought to presidential leadership in Nigeria. Umar Musr Yar’Adua was the first Nigerian president ever to admit that the electoral process that brought him to power was not good enough. The electoral reforms that were eventually implemented by former President Jonathan started with him.

President Yar’Adua was also the first Nigerian head of state to fully declare all his assets, under absolutely no forms of pressure, duress or demands, a precedent his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan never lived up to, neither can it be compared to the partial asset declaration of President Buhari which was done under very choice-less circumstances, given that he ran a campaign of change and anti-corruption.

President Yar’Adua also decisively fought corruption, but because his actions were noiseless and void of obscene publicity, so many Nigerians don’t perceive him in that light. Some of the first actions of his administrations were the reversal of the dubious sale of national assets including the refineries bought by the Dangote and Transcop groups. He also revoked the Certificate of Occupancy of a parcel of land in the F.C.T, allotted to him by the outgoing administration because due process was not followed.

He was also most intolerant of sacred cows – ask Iyabo Obasanj Bello, Adenike Grange, Bode George and many others if you think otherwise.

President Yar’Adua’s civil service reforms introduced tenures for directors and permanent secretaries of the federal civil service. A policy which was most unpopular in Northern Nigeria given that nearly 80% of all the directors and all the 9 permanent secretaries retired because of the policy were northerners. He also strictly implemented the policy of returning unspent funds of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to the federation account at the end of every fiscal year.

His Amnesty program (currently being copied by other countries) brought back peace to the Niger-Delta. It was an initiative that epitomized his humility given that the procedure for accomplishing the program required that Mr. President sit at a round table with people whom some critics described as miscreants who took up arms against the state. But for him it was Nigerian first before his ego and personal sentiments.

While President Yar’adua possessed these amiable characters, the same cannot be said of his wife who almost became de-facto president at the expense of her husband’s health and the Nigerian polity. Even after the strategy of smuggling her husband into the country just 12 days after the ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ paved way for Goodluck Jonathan’s acting presidency failed, she continuously denied the acting president access to his ailing boss, an attitude that further tore the nation apart along ethno-religious lines.

The drama that followed those months drained the country of good energy and free will, imposing a general sense of uncertainty and anxiety within the country. The summit of the drama includes a visit by a delegation of Muslim clerics who returned telling us that Mr. President was recuperating properly and that he even stood to address them and pray with them and a counter visit by Christian clerics, whom after the visit said little or nothing but however hinted that the President was gravely ill.

It seems President Yar’Adua in his quite moments on his sick bed assessed the state of the nation; of a people he gave so much for, who however returned the favour by politicizing and mocking his ill health. It couldn’t have felt good to be treated as such by family, friends and so-called well wishers; and while so many people were scheming and planning the next gains to make out of the dying man, he gave up his beautiful soul, unto Paradise, ending the stupidity and cheap greed that surrounded all the drama about his ill health.

Umar Musa Yar’Adua transformed Nigeria in numerous ways. His life and death tested the limits of divisiveness within the Nigerian polity, leaving us all with timeless fruits and lessons.

His administration was the first, in which for nearly three months, there was no Commander-in-Chief in the country and yet no military coup happened, proving beyond reasonable doubt that the Nigerian military indeed had either lost its appetite for executive powers or had found a way to control it.

We also have constitutional amendments being enjoyed by the current administration among other things to remember him for. The history books are yet to have enough space to absorb all of Umar Musa Yar’Aadua and everything he stood for in his life time and we will ever remember him.

May his gentle soul continue to rest in Paradise.

My neighbor who happily celebrated the news of President Yar’Adua’s death is late today, he died two years ago. I’m just wondering how he would feel if someone shouted “Thank God ooo!!!” for his own death.
http://www.mybeautifulnigeria.com/remembering-umar-musa-yaradua/

When campaigns for the 2015 presidential elections rolled out, the PDP were not only looking for President Buhari’s certificate, they also unsuccessfully cited his age as a disadvantage to presidential leadership.

Some people argued that it was sheer hypocrisy to describe Muhammadu Buhari’s age as a disadvantage given that Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe were both septuagenarians when they pursued their presidential ambitions in the second republic (aborted by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari) and yet no one described them as unfit because of age.

While they may have had valid arguments, they never actually appreciated the fact that old age naturally comes with its own unavoidable conundrums, which the rigor of the highest office in the land can only complicate.

Fears the PDP uttered during the campaigns were confirmed when just a few days after swearing-in, Muhammadu Buhari began to wish he was younger, while lamenting about all the goodies he could have provided for Nigerians if he had the gift of youth with him.

Beyond the arguments, what has been most wondrous to me is the fact that Muhammadu Buhari, a retired dictator can come back 30 years after being ousted from a coupe and remain politically appealing and electable to Nigerians, a nation where nearly 60% of its citizens are less than 30 years old. It is this disaster that I’m yet to understand.

It was Nasiru El-Rufi who in 2010, while still suckling the milk and honey the PDP was providing, told us that Muhammadu Buhari was perpetually unelectable because of his age, ask the same man today (who is the De-facto Vice President of Nigeria) about his opinions in the past and he’ll tell you that Saint Buhari is the best thing that ever happened to us.

One way to assess issues that have made this factor possible would be from the perspective that generally, young people in today’s Nigeria have been raised to revere and defer to older ones. Our cultural systems promote these values so much so that if a man or woman has grey hair, we naturally attach wisdom/competence to him/her.

But the truth is that these cultural norms existed even in stronger forms when in 1953, 30 year old Anthony Eremosele Enahoro moved the motion for independence, M.T. Mbu was foreign affairs minister at age 26, 30 year old Kaduna Nzogwo and Co staged a coup and a 31 year old bachelor, Yakubu Gowon became head of state in 1966, just to name a few.

So why didn’t the value systems stop them in those years, it is simple, they lived in a Nigeria where for young people, principles and merit came before money and there was a higher sense of love for timeless achievements and legacies. Another undeniable factor is that over 4 decades ago, there were fewer well trained and educated Nigerians who could take up leadership positions in public and private sector so they had the best opportunities thrown at them early enough.

Another perspective is that as far as anyone can remember, the political elite devised the best ways to remain perpetually important in Nigeria. The broad strategy was to make sure that upcoming young people had less access to good education and skills and were dependent on them for social-political recognition and economic value. They God-fathered us in public and private life and went ahead to create all forms of ethno-religious distractions that ensure young Nigerians are never united enough to have a collective fighting chance, rather the daggers are drawn between us.

To seal it up, they amended constitutional provisions that would have made it natural for young Nigerians to aspire to top leadership positions in good time, a system that would have enhanced our leadership grooming and recruitment processes.

As a 28 year old Nigerian today, if I wish to represent my people at the state house of assembly, I will have to wait for at least two more years, if I want to be governor of my dear state, my waiting period will be for 7 years at least, in a society where most of the people I wish to serve are almost my age mates, yet are hounded by old men.

The ironic thing is that at age 30 my father represented Abakaliki region at the 1977 constituent assembly and he wasn’t the youngest delegate. If 30 year olds could once upon a time draft our nation’s number one document – The Constitution, then why is it illegal today for me to represent my people at age 28.

The fact that Muhammadu Buhari is president of Nigeria at age 73 is the worst indictment on us young people of Nigeria. It is a reflection of how docile we’ve become, choosing more distractions in every field we currently handle. Choosing to react to our society by going aloof with the easiest band wagon available, with little or no scrutiny, instead of responding to our issues.

Choosing to help build a society where there are more churches and mosques than factories because we imagine God has a quick fix antidote for the problems we have caused for ourselves. Choosing to hate and kill each other because some old men have some peanuts to offer.

I’m quite sure that Muhammadu Buhari is the last ‘grandpa president’ to be elected in Nigeria for a long while because his change is indeed affecting us. For the first time in Nigeria, young people are learning how to become tired of old leaders, especially those purported all-problem-solving-messiahs. The best Mr. President can get is a second tenure and if the PDP is to have a chance in 2019, a relatively young flag bearer must be fielded.

It’s not because we Nigerian youths have all of a sudden become more principled, but simply because the time when old age could easily be sold to us as a reflection of better wisdom and leadership capabilities is dying. It may not be as fast as desired but is a trend whose time has finally come.

In the average young Nigerian, there is a deep yearning for love and understanding from our leaders in every sector and the so called tested and trusted senior citizens no longer convincingly paint the picture of a loving answer/solution.

The best these baby boomers have done for us is to judge and condemn us, constantly reminding us of our faults and flaws (which they exploit for selfish reasons), always talking about how incapable, ill trained and ill mannered we are and how they had already achieved more by our age. They go ahead and blame us for problems they caused even before we were born and curse and tag us as the problem with Nigeria, as if without us there would be any Nigeria to rule.

When it comes to leadership, they tell us to be patient and take things slowly, so that they may have enough time to recycle themselves. They curse our impatience out of fear because they realize how powerful it is, because its making us tired of their old people’s lies and antics.

It was the same impatience that enabled Muhammadu Buhari and the APC gain the support of millions of young Nigerians on their journey to Asorock. But it is the last chance that has been given and as at today, he is squandering it for leaders of his generation — the truly failed generation as former president Goodluck Jonathan once described.

Muhammadu Buhari has used up the last ticket available for grand fathers in Nigerian politics and the reality of this bitter pill will be felt in 2019. The Nigerian youth can and will make a venomous impact when the time comes, but there is a lot of work to be done amongst us.

We must stop hating each other and rather hate the people that have trapped us. We must stop barking only on social media and come out to the streets bark at those incompetent old men. We must become more self aware from within and stop defining our lives by the ethnicity, religion and tribe bequeathed upon us at birth and while growing up by these old people and start defining our lives by the timeless values, goals and desires we wish to achieve.

Finally, we must unite as young people of Nigeria and understand that we are endangered species, that diversity is a gift and not a curse, that oneness is not about sameness, that left does not become wrong just because right is right, that if you disagree with a man, you mustn’t fear or hate him; and if you love a man, you mustn’t agree with him always. Today it is Muhammadu Buhari’s turn, tomorrow it must be ours.
http://www.mybeautifulnigeria.com/muhammadu-buhari-the-last-grandfather-to-rule-nigeria/

Since the inception of the present administration, Mr President has spent over 35% on the first year in office travelling. The rational continuously given by the presidency is that the positive image of my dear nation is being laundered through this Jonny –Walking leadership style.

In the past few weeks, the ‘Panama Papers ‘ have been hot news globally and Nigeria of course is not left out of the party of countries whose citizens are operating shell companies and accounts, and in the process, denying and defrauding their nations of billions of dollars in tax revenue.

Honestly, the greater global shock would have been if out of the 11.5 million leaked documents, there were no Nigerian names on the list. The shock would have been bigger than the Panama scandal itself.

Since the names were published almost a month ago, denials and denunciations have been flying in the air. From the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to religious leaders (pastorpreneurs and Imamnopreneurs) and the oil barons, with every section of the country equitably represented in the saga.

In fact, one would wonder if Mossack Fonseca, the main law firm and corperate services provider involved in the Panama scandal, observes our federal character principles while dealing with Nigerian clients.

The distribution is quite impressive given that the APC and PDP have not argued over which party has more members on the list, or whether the list was politically motivated. The ethnic jingoists have also not complained about more names on the Panama list coming from the north or south.

As it stands today, the leaked documents are said to be just a tip of the iceberg and that is why President Buhari must travel to Panama. In fact this journey must be undergone soonest if he is to fulfill his...........
http://www.mybeautifulnigeria.com/president-buhari-must-travel-to-panama/

I decided to post the whole article so we could all expand the context of our discussion, every opinion is very welcome[size=8pt][/size][color=#000099][/color]


A few days back, I was hanging out with a friend and she brought up the story of Chidi and Ada (not real names) who just got engaged after dating for seven years but are about to break up. Their reason is simple, they just found out they’re both of AS genotype and this discovery came just one week after Chidi and his family went for formal introductions at Ada’s family home.

The pressure is on from family and friends and as at today, the love, trust, dreams and hopes; shared and cherished for the last seven years are about to be thrown away on the altar of genotype and I just can’t help but wonder if it’s really worth it.

Chidi and Ada’s story is not new; we all know someone or some people who have suffered such fate. My friend Kachi who brought up the story believes the best option for the intending couple is to go their separate ways and find new love with time, but I humbly choose to disagree.

My reason is this; advancements in medical sciences and technology have given millions of people options to have children of any genotype and sex and at any age. It is these advancements that are today making it possible for HIV positive parents to have and raise HIV negative children, the same advancements are giving women who hitherto were declared barren the opportunity to bear children of every size and those same options are available and applicable to couples with genotype issues.

Why many Nigerians faced with the AS/AS genotype challenge are not taking these options today is what worries me and all the reasons accountable for this are essentially stereotypes.

A popular stereotype is that children born through In-Vitro fertilization (IVF) popularly known as “test-tube babies” in Nigeria are not real or original children. People who still think this way should please check the story of Miss. Hannatu Kupchi, one of the first test tube babies in Nigeria born at Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja on February 11, 1998.

This beautifully grown woman is now a first year medical student at a Hungarian University. Can a human being be more real/original than this?

Another stereotype is that IVF is against God’s will (their pastor or Imam said so). First and foremost, is not God that gave researchers and scientists the knowledge, insight and perseverance to develop these medical solutions? When these children born through IVF pray to God does He not answer them? When God showers his blessings on us does He deny them any? Is IVF really against God’s will or against the will of your self-righteous religious leader who also uses contraceptives developed by scientists for family planning?

These same perceptions preventing Nigerians from embracing relevant options in addressing genotype issues, promotes the mentality that still prevents many Nigerian woman from accepting caesarean operation at child birth, it’s the same mentality that drives Nigerians to prayer houses instead of hospitals when they are sick. Ironically, the pastors and prayer warriors they run to for healing, sprint to the nearest clinics for their own healing when they have just Malaria.

We have to change our perceptions about AS genotype and how much impact it should have in our marital decisions. There are new available options today for every Nigerian to handle these challenges.

Ada and Chidi and so many others like them today are considering throwing away years of love and friendship because of their God given genes when they don’t have to.

The truth is, if Chidi or Ada were hypertensive, diabetic, had cancer, or was a carrier for other inheritable genetic conditions with serious implications e.g. Down’s Syndrome, epilepsy, etc; there wouldn’t be any pressure to abandon the relationship, rather there would be compassion and understanding from both family and friends, positive suggestions and opinions would be offered and in the end, available medical (or even spiritual) solutions will be sought and accepted.

It is the same mindset that we must activate while handling AS and AS nuptial issues. In my humble opinion break-up is no longer a choice or solution for two AS genotype lovers. IVF many be expensive today but it works. Its only as expensive as that car or vacation you wish to pay for, but in all, the love shared between both of you and the possibility of having wonderful genetically-safe children will always worth more.

Moreover, genotype compatibility is not a guarantee for a happy marriage. Imagine some day in future when your son or daughter introduces the person they wish to marry and it’s a human born through In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), at that moment you'll realize what options you should have taken, or be glad that it was all worth it.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the ones you did do – Mark Twain.

Are you faced with this genotype challenge today or do you know someone who is? Do you think the relationship is worth keeping given the available options or would you rather abandon the relationship?

A few days back, I was hanging out with a friend and she brought up the story of Chidi and Ada (not real names) who just got engaged after dating for seven years but are about to break up. Their reason is simple, they just found out they’re both of AS genotype and this discovery came just one week after Chidi and his family went for formal introductions at Ada’s family home.

The pressure is on from family and friends and as at today, the love, trust, dreams and hopes; shared and cherished for the last seven years are about to be thrown away on the altar of genotype and I just can’t help but wonder if it’s really worth it.

Chidi and Ada’s story is not new; we all know someone or some people who have suffered such fate. My friend Kachi who brought up the story believes the best option for the intending couple is to go their separate ways and find new love with time, but I humbly choose to disagree.

My reason is this; advancements in medical sciences and technology have given millions of people options to have children of any genotype and sex and at any age. It is these advancements that are today making it possible for HIV positive parents to have and raise HIV negative children, the same advancements are giving women who hitherto were declared barren the opportunity to bear children of every size and those same options are available and applicable to couples with genotype issues.

Why many Nigerians faced with the AS/AS genotype challenge are not taking these options today is what worries me and all the reasons accountable for this are essentially stereotypes.

A popular stereotype is that children born through In-Vitro fertilization (IVF) popularly known as “test-tube babies” in Nigeria are not real or original children. People who still think this way should please check the story of Miss. Hannatu Kupchi, one of the first test tube babies in Nigeria born at Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja on February 11, 1998.

This beautifully grown woman (whose pictures appear below) is now a first year medical student at a Hungarian University. Can a human being be more real/original than this?

Another stereotype is that IVF is against God’s will (their pastor or Imam said so). First and foremost, is not God that gave researchers and scientists the knowledge, insight and perseverance to develop these medical solutions? When these children born through IVF pray to God does He not answer them? When God showers his blessings on us does He deny them any? Is IVF really against God’s will or against the will of your self-righteous religious leader who also uses contraceptives developed by scientists for family planning?

These same perceptions preventing Nigerians from embracing relevant options in addressing genotype issues, promotes the mentality that still prevents many Nigerian woman from accepting caesarean operation at child birth, it’s the same mentality that drives Nigerians to prayer houses instead of hospitals when they are sick. Ironically, the pastors and prayer warriors they run to for healing, sprint to the nearest clinics for their own healing when they have just Malaria.

We have to change our perceptions about AS genotype and how much impact it should have in our marital decisions. There are new available options today for every Nigerian to handle these challenges.

Ada and Chidi and so many others like them today are considering throwing away years of love and friendship because of their God given genes when they don’t have to.

The truth is, if Chidi or Ada were hypertensive, diabetic, had cancer, or was a carrier for other inheritable genetic conditions with serious implications e.g. Down’s Syndrome, epilepsy, etc; there wouldn’t be any pressure to abandon the relationship, rather there would be compassion and understanding from both family and friends, positive suggestions and opinions would be offered and in the end, available medical (or even spiritual) solutions will be sought and accepted.

It is the same mindset that we must activate while handling AS and AS nuptial issues. In my humble opinion break-up is no longer a choice or solution for two AS genotype lovers. IVF many be expensive today but it works. Its only as expensive as that car or vacation you wish to pay for, but in all, the love shared between both of you and the possibility of having wonderful genetically-safe children will always worth more.

Moreover, genotype compatibility is not a guarantee for a happy marriage. Imagine some day in future when your son or daughter introduces the person they wish to marry and it’s a human born through In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), at that moment you'll realize what options you should have taken, or be glad that it was all worth it.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the ones you did do – Mark Twain.

Are you faced with this genotype challenge today or do you know someone who is? Do you think the relationship is worth keeping given the available options or would you rather abandon the relationship?

Please let us know, your comments and contributions are most welcome below ......
http://www.mybeautifulnigeria.com/should-genotype-decide-your-marriage/

Lately I’ve had to ask myself and even wonder aloud, asking who actually voted for President Muhammadu Buhari in the last general elections? Where did the over 15 million votes come from?

I have to ask because as at today no almost one is accepting that he or she was once or is currently a supporter of The APC or Muhammadu Buhari. Even the people that used to ‘Stand With Buhari’ are now very unrecognized by his administration, so I ask again as we do in our local palace, "abeg na who even vote for Buhari sef?”

Some of the most popular sayings in Nigeria today are, “no be una say una want change?”; “no be una vote for am?; or “Shebi the change don come and una dey run?” just to list a few.
A great number of people saying this today were some of the fiercest critics of Goodluck Jonathan and the staunchest APC and Sai Baba supporters alive during the last general elections.

Many Nigerians are sounding different today not necessarily because they are disappointed by The Buhari Administration, it is simply a function of our natural human tendency to be hypocritical when whatever it is we hoped for doesn’t come as fast or in the shape and manner we imagined. It is simply because today Muhammadu Buhari appears to be the dirty baby in the dirty bath water that we want to throw away. For many, his administration has become the terrible stench of failure and dashed hopes that must be avoided.

As it is today in Nigeria, there are about three groups of people who are consciously avoiding Muhammadu Buhari and his administration.

The first group are Nigerians who are both directly and indirectly happy that The Buhari Administration is not living up to its uncountable campaign promises. Yes they are happy and almost pride themselves as soothsayers and prophets who warned us all that Buhari won’t achieve much in Nigeria.

They are happy that ministerial appointments never went well as scheduled, yes, they are glad that there will be no N 5, 000 monthly for anybody, that power generation is crashing, that the fuel crisis is unending, the dollar is flying against the naira, workers are being owed salaries, the Chibok girls are still missing and ultimately that Muhammadu Buhari is travelling nearly more than the average pilot. For them, it is a confirmation beyond reasonable doubt that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was a better president and leader.

On the other hand, the next group of people who do not want to be associated with Buhari’s change are those who feel cheated and swindled by the multiple changes made to the campaign promises of Buhari since inception of office and are utterly frustrated.

They are the Nigerians who dearly wish that N 5, 000 will be paid monthly beginning with arrears calculated from May last year, that fuel could be available and sell at N 100 per liter even if it can’t sell for N 86 and that power will come once a week even if it won’t come daily.

They are those who imagined that by now the Chibok girls would have been......................continue.................
http://www.mybeautifulnigeria.com/who-voted-for-muhammadu-buhari/

The past few months have yielded different realities for many Nigerians. For some it’s been good, for most of us however it’s been terrible as the economy is definitely ‘on a long thing’.

For Olajumoke Orisaguna however, it’s been fame and grace all the way. The attention accorded the casual mistake that made her famous continues to incite mixed reactions, some of the most trending being reactions from Samira Bello of TheOtherStyle.com, who described Olajumoke as non-model and non-super.

According to Google, Olajumoke is currently the most Googled person in Nigeria, now that’s quite a feat for a pretty bread seller.

It actually just struck me that about two months ago a UNILAG student graduated with a 5.0 CGPA, and I wonder, does anyone remember his name? Not likely (I actually googled his name for this post). And the question is why isn’t Ayodele Daniel Dada, the 5.0 CGPA guy even half as popular as Olajumoke?

For me it’s not really surprising that Olajumoke’s story is virally popular in Nigeria. It’s not because it was T.Y Bello who was taking the pictures on that faithful day. It’s simply because her story fits into many likeable Nigerian concepts, the most important being that she represents the idea of “an easy success”, the most desirable form of success for every Nigerian.

The idea of get rich quick or making it big without hard work is the kind of success almost every living Nigerian desires. It’s the kind of success we pray for daily in our churches and mosques. The “posses your possession” type of miracles we wish for, the “it is my turn to shine” and “God will embarrass you with blessings” manner of testimonies pastorpreneurs promote daily to earn money for their private jets. It is simply a story absolutely loveable by Nigerians.

Olajumoke’s story has been sold and bought in such a way that is has struck a positive note on the nerves of millions of us Nigerians whom are either naturally struggling form pay check to pay check, or sell bread and bread-like articles like Olajumoke once did.

The tomato seller at Mile 12 market likes Olajumoke because she gives her hope that someday her own miracle could happen. The carpenter at Katako market in Kano loves Olajumoke because she gives him a vision beyond sawdust. The fish seller at Ogbete main market in Enugu adores Olajumoke because she is the dream she had.

The yam seller in Gboko Benue state and the akara woman at Choba – Port Hacourt believe in Olajumoke because they understand her pain and struggle before now and wish they were like her.

What of my dear bread sellers nationwide, Oh!, their joy knows no bounds. Finally one of their very own has made it and who says its not another bread guy's turn next. In fact the leadership of the National Association of Bread Sellers has issued a directive; that all bread sellers must dress very well before venturing out especially in the evening.

They are to particularly watch out for picture taking events and if they can’t find one, get a photographer (who can work on credit) to create one for them.

Are these the only class of Nigerians in love with Olajumoke, Oh no, absolutely not. The white collar worker loves her story because it’s the same kind of effortless promotion he/she has been praying for at the office, Corporate Nigeria love Olajumoke because she is the perfect publicity......................................................... continue......................................
http://www.mybeautifulnigeria.com/diary-of-a-bread-seller/

By the evening of March 31st last year, Prof. Attahiru Jega was just a few states shy from completing announcements of results as they trickled in from INEC collation centers nationwide. Elder (clown) Godsday Orubebe was probably rehearsing his dramatic Nollywood action scene which he later sordidly displayed to the dismay of both local and international media.

The social media battles (which we Nigerians are wonderful at) began, with every man to his own trench of identity, by the time the gun powder smokes had settled, the words Jega, Jegaquine, Orubebebola and many more almost had made it to the Webster’s online dictionary as proper nouns.

While all these were going on, a humble man made a phone call, a simple act that changed the political history of Nigeria forever.

When the news, of the historic phone call to President Muhammadu Buhari by former President Goodluck Jonathan filtered in on the evening of march 31st 2015, a surge of mixed feelings ( some of which I can still feel vividly) went through me. On one hand I was happy that something had indeed changed in my Nigeria, a certain kind of maturity gene had been activated in our politics, one good enough for history. However the man I was rooting for, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, had just conceded defeat, it was heart break on my birthday.

I’m still alive one year later and have the privilege to reflect on the events that have followed since the phone call and the question remains has Nigerian changed since that phone call or is the change an April fool's joke? Absolutely yes is my reply.

Apart from the comical changes The Buhari Administration and APC have been making, away from their numerous impractical campaign promises (which many Nigerians fell for), one of the essential changes I’m grateful for is the total distortion and reordering of our reality; the gradual curing of our messianic mentality.

The first distortion to our reality is the believe in the imagination that Nigeria is a breakable country, an idea to which many prophets and wizards of old made predictions on. Most of them were very sure there would be no Nigeria after the 2015 general elections. I wonder where they are today, but I tell you they have changed.

Another distortion of our gullible reality is the perception most Nigerians used to have of former president Goodluck Jonathan. Before these recent months, there were millions of Nigerians who readily described President Jonathan as clueless, inexperienced, a sponsor of terrorism, a drunk, etc. Such people today are either................................continue below....................
http://www.mybeautifulnigeria.com/has-the-april-fool-change-come/

On Easter day, Christians all over the world will be celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Pascal feast will mark the climax of the Lenten season that began over 40 days ago. In my very religious (but ungodly) Nigeria, we Christians will not be left out as various activities have been lined up to effectively mark the day.

The preparations have been interesting from all quarters, while churches and affiliated religious institutions are planning and promoting hallowed, spiritual events for the day, the entertainers are working very hard to take care of the social aspects of the celebration and of course with preconceived economic benefits. While all these are going on, I just can’t help but wonder, “Which Jesus is resurrecting this Easter day?”

I choose to believe that I’m not the only Nigerian wondering, because the truth is that in Nigeria, there are different Jesus’ for different people.

Which Jesus is resurrecting for Nigerians I ask? Is it the one that was humble enough to be born by a poor virgin in a manger, or the one that is not a poor God (according to most Nigerian pastors)?

Which Jesus will be resurrecting, the one that loved and respected every woman in his life, so much so that he began his ministryWhich Jesus will be resurrecting, the one that loved and respected every woman in his life, so much so that he began his ministry almost prematurely because of a woman, or the one who believes women are items and tools to be bought and used?

Is it the Jesus that wore sandals and simple linen robes all his life or the one that wears the most expensive gold cross, shoes, cassock, and walks with expensive crosiers that is resurrecting?..........continue below........
http://www.mybeautifulnigeria.com/which-jesus-is-resurrecting/

Today marks The Good Friday, a day that has been commemorated for over a millennia. For many Nigerians, Christ died today in his torturous voyage to berth salvation for mankind. For the faithfuls who began the requiem season with fasting, abstinence and prayers, the journey is coming to an end soon, as for the multitude (like me) who haven’t made any obligatory or voluntary religious efforts expected of the season, we’re just preparing for another religious party, with rice, chicken and beer (I honestly can’t wait for Sunday).

We in this category are also not going to miss out on the entertainment shows and events lined up in all forms and manner by musicians, comedians, hotel owners, etc.

The day in itself is ironic because we have a tragedy on a Good Friday. More so, this “Good day” is set aside to remember the betrayal and heinous murder of a man by his own people. A day in which adherents are supposed to mourn, wear sackcloth, appear and act stricken, pray and remember their dead, eat no meat, drink no strong wine, bear no joy, and its alleged to be good, how wonderful.

I guess we Christians are supposed to be happy while we undergo the dirge, as it is the foundation of the salvation we hope and believe in. without the tragedy, there would be nothing to believe in.

Beyond the irony of the somber day and the attendant dramatic engagements associated with the season, what is most pertinent to me is the fact that the tragedy is not just a religious symbol or tales of a biblical sojourn, it is real, continuous and most hypocritical.

The tragedy of today’s Good Friday lies in the fact that by tonight, millions of Nigerians will sleep hungry, not out of fasting or dieting, but because they can’t afford even the cheapest cup of garri/rice or even cassava bread. Ironically, most of their pastors and priests will break their fast with 10 course meals for dinner in honor of the lord and I ask which one?

The tragedy of today’s Good Friday is in the fact that we now have to...................
http://www.mybeautifulnigeria.com/if-the-friday-is-good-then-why-is-it-tragic/

Barapistis thanks

barapistis:
God bless you my brother,
The dollar must go higher to 3500/$1 so nigerians can become real thinkers

Omenti yes, i just started fish farming with 50 fingerlings, thanks for the comments. will you play your own crucial part soon?

omenti:
I hate it wen people come to dis forum and create topics like dis.. .. OP... I wanna ask u sumtin.. . have u really produce sumtin locally for consumption... have u planted vegetables at d back of ur house... ma point is try to do wat ur advising us to do

Wikipedia defines rape as a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration against any person without the person’s consent. Rape is as old as humanity itself, an act that has been perpetuated against humans (mostly women) by their fellow men.

It has been discussed and considered for ages from many different angles and perspectives. Rape has been examined as a gender issue given that significant amount of violence against women and girls border on rape. Its application as a weapon of war has also come up prominently as topics for discussion by the UN, Amnesty International and other international and local Civil Society Organizations. It has also been assessed as a cultural affliction in some societies and much more, but in all of history, rape is and has been known and observed by humanity as a heinous act unleashed on humans by humans.

In Nigeria today, rape statistics though largely inaccurate due to under reporting of cases and lack of actual data taking are unforgivably high and the numbers are growing at a rate that could make anyone believe it has become beautiful. According to a survey conducted by the CLEEN Foundation released in 2013, the South -east region interestingly has the lowest incidence rate in the country with one in every 100 women (quite a dangerous figure for a lowest rate); the South-west and North -west regions both have statistics of one in every 25 women – four percent each; the North-central followed with three per cent – one in every 33 women polled, followed by the North-east – 6 percent. With 10 percent incidence of rape or attempted rape, the South-south region ingloriously is the rape capital of Nigeria.

The main reason why rape has become beautiful in Nigeria today, to such an extent that it seems to have come to stay is simple, it is because people get away with it, period. The level of sexual assault in Nigeria will increase in the next few years because the systems for handling such issues in Nigeria are designed to promote it. It is essentially designed to blame the victim and not the offender; it functions to reward the oppressor with more impetus to repeat his or her crimes with more tact and vigor.

If the average rape victim summons courage to walk into a police station in Nigeria today to report the evil done to her (its usually a her), some of the first questions or responses she will likely get from so called security operatives (including female officers) will come in forms such as:

What were you doing with a boy in a room or by the street corner? What were you wearing? Or how won’t you be raped look at what you are wearing and so on and on and on….

For me such questions express the height of stupidity employed in addressing the issue and why it’s a long way from reduction/eradication. The mindset in itself is treacherous and far worse than the act. Blaming a woman for rape on the account of her dressing is as stupid and callous as blaming a shop owner for his stolen goods, asking him why he showcased them for people to see. It is as wicked as blaming a robbery victim for having money, phones, cars or other valuables that could be stolen or a murder victim for having life that could be taken. Under this mindset, a larger percentage of energy is spent on trying to prove the victim is guilty of her own rape, leaving little or no room for the perpetrator to be punished.

If indecent dressing is responsible for rape then why was it not rampant in the old days when our great-grand parents walked around nearly naked. Yes in most modern day Nigerian towns and cities today, there was a time when women walked unaccompanied to the stream, farm, market and every other place bare-chested with their beautiful, succulent, attractive breasts and thighs totally bare and open and yet rape was not rampant then. It was largely because the traditional justice system in the past though quite crude was very effective. In some communities in those days, to think of raping a woman was as good as literally planning to loose your genitals, your life or total banishment from the land and in almost all cases, no one went unpunished.

If indecent dressing is the excuse for rape then why are minors being raped rampantly everyday in Nigeria? What possibly can a 2 or 4 year old girl do or wear to appear sexually attractive to a man. But we’ve spent so many years blaming matured rape victims for rape while letting the perpetrators get away and now little children are the new target and we are shouting. We still haven’t stopped the blame game anyway, we have just changed to blaming the parents of the children, and I ask, when will the evildoer ever get blamed for his evil? I do not imagine that parents shouldn’t be doing more to protect their children, but if a man is murdered in cold blood, will you blame the man for being kill-able or his parents for giving birth to a child that could be killed or will you hold the murder responsible.

What of the issue of marital rape, for so many people (including many women interestingly) it does not even exist, even in the dictionary. So many people believe that any manner or type of sex a married man has with his wife is absolutely legal. After all if a man bought his wife with a bride price, he has the constitutional right to do whatever he wishes with his property/tool. A farmer has the right to milk his goat anytime or season he pleases, it is no one’s business. The irony is that the law protects women from battery by their husbands, why shouldn’t it protect them from being raped by their husbands? If a man can beat and kill his wife why can’t he rape her?

Rape has become beautiful in Nigeria today not just because we have progressively moved away from our values of old, but because we have unconsciously built a society where the victim is guilty once she speaks up, where we systematically enable rapists get away and walk as free as constitutional layers while looking for their next prey.

Much should not be expected from security agents and judicial officers responsible for prosecuting rapists because apart from being ill equipped and ill trained technically, emotionally and socially, they are also part of the larger society that has learnt to blame the victim and therefore reflect such mentality within the system.

Everyone must speak up against rape, yes; men, women, children, natives, foreigners and most importantly victims and their families. We must all speak up with the mindset and perception that channels every bit of resources at destroying the perpetrator. Victims of rape should not live with the mindset of “no one wants to give me justice”, they should rather live with the mentality of “let someone try stopping me from getting justice”.

If our collective mentality does not change, then the new Sexual Offenses Bill passed by the national assembly which gives a fraction of "mock-able hope" to victims of sexual assault will be as useful or as useless as the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act. An Act which even years after being signed into law to protect information seekers and managers, we still see journalists being beaten to pulp by police men at public offices and institutions and almost no one has been punished based on the provisions of the act. It is not about having good laws, good laws do not enforce themselves; and with the mentality of the law enforcers skewed, all the laws in the world will not make any difference.

Parents should never raise their children (both boys and girls) to believe that aggressive jealousy is a sign of love. If a girl is raised to find aggression from the opposite sex attractive, then she will most likely grow into a woman who will not just be abused in future, but will also accept it. Likewise if a boy is raised with the same notion, he may grow into a partial or serial wife beater or rapist.

Rape must be made ugly in Nigeria, but first, the mind set must change.

A victim is a victim and not an offender.

http://www.mybeautifulnigeria.com/why-rape-has-become-beautiful-in-nigeria/

On March 28 2015, I did not vote, not because I did not want to, or didn’t have a voter’s card, but because I was too broke to travel from Keffi to Gwagwalada where I registered and voted in April 2011. When news of the historic phone call filtered in on the evening of March 31st 2015, which incidentally was my birthday, it was a mixture of feelings. On one hand I was grateful that something significant had changed in Nigerian politics forever, but on the other hand, the man I was rooting for, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had just lost and I was heartbroken.

Today however, I’m even more grateful that Jonathan never won the elections, because Nigeria indeed may have collapsed afterwards not because we as a nation could not have handled whatever manner of outbursts, outflows or aftermath that would have proceeded a result in the favour of the PDP, but simply because of what we Nigerian would never have agreed to or believed if Jonathan were still president of Nigeria.

We would never have believed that the free fall of the naira against the dollar today is largely an economic issue, a direct result of the falling price of crude oil in the international market. The APC would have convinced us that it is because the administration is clueless or on autopilot and that if their candidate had won, he would have easily equaled the naira to the dollar by now.

We would never have believed that insurgency would still be existing in Nigeria, or that the Chibok girls would still be missing, Lai Mohammed, the APC and indeed millions of Nigerians would have been absolutely sure that it was because Jonathan was weak or inexperienced and lacks a military background and the APC would have been sure that their candidate would have written off all these wrongs by now.

If Jonathan were still president of Nigeria, no one, absolutely no one (especially in the north) would have believed that the Nigerian army was provoked on the day that Shiites were massacred in Zaria. The likes of el-Rufai and Adamu Ciroma would have been living at The Hague by now, in the name of protesting the massacre of Muslims. But since there was no Christian president or Christian Chief of Army Staff from Rivers or Abia state to politicize, the catastrophe moved from being classified as category 1 – “an attack on the north” to no category at all, at best, a simple and Sunni and Shia feud.

Who would have believed that Mohammadu Buhari actually has a certificate in his army file or that the budget was not actually missing, who? Who would have had the tolerance to listen? We all would have been sure that President Buhari never finished basic education or also that the
http://www.mybeautifulnigeria.com/thank-god-jonathan-lost/

In the past week, the story of 14 year old Ese Oruru is the latest jist. Every accessible media platform in Nigeria today, both mainstream and social have been filled with numerous versions of the story, which has in the meantime over shadowed The Dasukigate and all other ongoing probes. Claims and counter claims are emerging, with gory unimaginable revelations, some of the latest being the 5 month pregnancy package the young bride has returned to Bayelsa state with and her father’s intended TB Joshua visit which can only further traumatize and destroy the girl.

Also some of the half truths about the roles of so called respectable people are continuously unfolding, denials of wrong doing are flying in the air and before the whole #Esegate ends, the actual decisive roles of all the actors will be fully revealed.

Currently, many people are seeking and getting different forms of mileage from the issue. For some, the story of Ese is a political tool to antagonize Hausa people and Muslims, for some others, it is for media or publicity stunts as the Daily Sun and Punch newspapers, and many others are at loggerheads as to which media platform broke the news first or put up more effort at bringing the matter to public attention.

The economic aspect of this whole abduction saga cannot be over looked; end time magazines are already making profit from sales of both real and photo-shopped pictures of Ese and her family, and the handsome Inuwa or Yinusa or whatever name he bears. Nollywood magicians will definitely in the next few days churn out versions of a dramatic, action, love, romantic, kidnapping movie, parts 1 – 5 or seasons 1 – 10 about Ese The Beautiful Bride, Love in Bayelsa, Keke lover, Kano love or whatever typical nollywood title one can imagine.

Civil society organizations and churches are falling over each other to be the first to offer support, prayers and even scholarships to Ese and her unborn child, and finally Nigerians are competing on social media to be crowned the greater activist for Ese and child rights. While all these are odiously going on, another Ese somewhere close by is being abducted for whatever reason.

Ese Oruru’s story is being taken seriously all of a sudden by millions of Nigerians not necessarily because of the humanitarian aspects of the situation or for the fact that she is a minor, but because it is a symbolic story and can/has easily been politicized.

FACTS:

The girl is from The Niger Delta and the abduction happened in Bayelsa state; both are southern and largely Christian parts of Nigeria and home of Immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan – symbolic.

She was forced into Islam and marriage by a Northerner which are some of the most unpopular issues in southern Nigeria – political.

Emir Sanusi II played and inglorious role in the saga, at a time when Muhammadu Buhari, a Fulani Muslim is president – political.

What more ingredients does anyone need for strategic political attention in Nigeria? In fact, this pattern of storytelling has taken hold as the Daily Sun news paper and many others have in the past
http://www.mybeautifulnigeria.com/ese-oruru-the-story-of-a-nigerian-girl/#more-179

FreemanDave thanks and its the Epistle of Buchi and not St. Paul. cheers too

FreemanDave:
Epistle of saint Paul ...

Domopps the moral of the story is use Nigerian Condom, do Nigerian girls and drink Nigerian beer. thanks

domopps:
And the moral of this thread is.......?
Cheeeeeers

Lately the naira has sold for as much as N400 to the US dollar and indeed things are falling apart. Everything and everyone seems to be affected, from the palm wine tapper in my village, who cannot even to the identify, spell or even correctly pronounce the word dollar (they call it dalla), to the CBN governor himself, everyone is wailing.

It started with the fall of the price of crude oil in the international market, an issue that has actually affected all national economies that are dependent on crude oil as primary source of revenue. The emergency restrictions introduced by the federal government through the CBN continue to yield mixed effects. On one hand, the rate of depletion of the foreign reserves has slowed, on the other hand however, the black market is booming and the key players (especially commercial banks) are making a killing this season. The best part is, Nigerians are speculating against their own currency for profit, how typical.

We may go ahead and blame Muhammadu Buhari, Goodluck Jonathan or Dasuki and Co for the situation (and of course it should be another man’s fault, we haven’t done anything wrong abi?), but the reason why the dollar is high is common sense economics that even a lay man like me can understand. If we do not produce what we consume and do not consume what we produce, we cannot have a strong currency or economy even if oil sells for one thousand dollars per barrel.

We are quiet lucky as a nation that the factors necessitating this fall of the naira are giving us some soft landing. We are in a situation in which it is only the price of crude oil that is falling, even with a practical hope that it may bounce back soon, we haven’t gotten to the point where there is no more crude to sell, which is why I sincerely hope and pray that this dollar must go higher.

This dollar that has for the first time made the federal government base most parts of the funding for the 2016 budget on non oil revenue must go higher, in fact it must remain higher, so that the culture of focusing on non-oil revenue will at least be entrenched for the next 4 years. This dollar that is making Nigerians realize that we have to start producing pencils and tooth picks must go higher, it must, to enable us reduce the rate at which we employ people in other countries while we have no jobs of our own.

This dollar that is making Nigerians realize that there is something called Innoson Motors must continue to increase. Finally we are now beginning to appreciate what many people for whatever reasons, described as cheap toy cars with no real design. The appreciation is so much that even the Nigerian Air Force (kudos to them) now have a spare parts manufacturing contract with the automaker.

This dollar that is making Nigerians discover the rich wonderful taste in Abakaliki rice must double and triple indefinitely. At least we are learning to reduce the rate at which we consume cow feed brought to us from Thailand and Malaysia as staple rice, which continuously cause numerous un-identifiable illnesses at best.

This dollar must go up so that Nigerians can understand that University of Jos, University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria Nsuka and many more teaching hospitals in Nigeria also perform kidney transplant, heart and brain surgery and many other complex operations and medical procedures. It must remain high so that many parents will realize that Nigerian schools, from nursery and primary to secondary and university also offer good quality education like the ones they spend billions on abroad, and if our schools do not, we’ll collectively try to fix them. It must go higher so that we can begin to focus inwards habitually as citizens of nation that is endowed abundantly by God to be blessing every other nation on earth, but yet live worse than beggars.

Ordinarily, if we were a producing nation, a weaker naira would have meant the best of times for us because we would earn more in foreign exchange. In fact, countries like India and China intentionally devalue their currency against the US dollar to boost exports, but as a dumping ground nation, we must feel the heat from the other side.

Since it is the average and poor Nigerians like me that are mostly affected, then we must learn to produce and consume those things that are imported into our country, no matter how little, for our own safety and survival. We must begin to have more fish ponds in our back yards and feed them with local feed. We must begin to have small gardens in our compounds to farm very basic vegetables imported into Nigeria. We must farm and eat our own rice, fruits, palm oil, ogbono, etc. We must make and buy our own shoes and bags, from local crafts men and women, we must buy our own clothes (especially pants and boxers) from local tailors, at all times, we must add value to them.

The times may be tough, but in my opinion the best approach is not to shout, wail and complain. The best approach will be to decide which of the issues you can handle or solve and to what extent and then begin from there.

Over N90 billion naira is spent on fish importation annually, how much of it do you want to produce? Over N70 billion naira is spent rice importation, how much rice can you farm? About N10 billion is spent on importing furniture, over N9 billion on clothes, N80 billion on milk, N1 billion on toothpicks, etc, how much of all these amounts do you want to earn from these products and more? More importantly, how much made in Nigeria products are you currently consuming, and how much will you consume before the year runs out?

The dollar must go higher and remain higher so that we can finally learn to eat, drink, dress, live and die Nigerian. The best solution is not barking on social media, it won’t bring down the price of pure water, produce and consume Nigerian goods and services, GBAM!!!