₦airaland Forum

GADHAFI: ASK NIGERIA FOR MERCY AND ASYLUM

Gadhafi, be careful what you pray for, Nigeria is still intact and you are in shambles. We can understand some Nigerians that still see Gadhafi in rebellious light against colonial and oppressive powers. But if everyone calls you a mad dog and then bark at everyone including using foreign mercenaries to kill your own people, help must come your way. If we take into consideration that the population of Libya is just six million and earns more from oil than Nigeria with a population of 150 million; Gadhafi’s praise based on better infrastructure than Nigeria is justified. Gov. Fashola is also praised, despite low world livability ranking of Lagos with 18m people to cater for, compared to Libya’s only 6m.

However, Gadhafi is a mad dog looking for ways to destabilize African countries so that he could install his own colonial puppets. He was a strong backer of Charles Taylor but could not offer him asylum he requested, yet Gadhafi had the nerve to criticize Nigeria on betrayal. Taylor not only killed Nigerian soldiers, he undermined Nigeria’s peace effort in his Country, Sierra Leone and Central Africa. It was an international agreement that got him asylum in Nigeria that betrayed him; and Gadhafi refused to take him in.

The seed Gadhafi is sowing in Libya right now by using Pan African Legion drawn from neighboring African countries or those trying to cross the desert originally aimed to destabilize African governments, as mercenaries against his own people is appalling because that will create future bitterness between Arabs in or out of Africa with Africans south of Sahara. Those well informed are familiar with ancient history where Arabs got the help of African “sharp shooters” to help them with their wars in the Middle East now Iraq only to pay them back in cruelty that resulted in revolt. The brave Africans ruled in the Middle East until a combination of Arab armies subdued them.

We must also remember that one of the greatest African Empire of Songhai was brought down by the Moroccans invasion. They came for gold but mosquitoes killed most of them and their horses stopping them from direct access to gold. It is why Nkrumah never failed to praise the role of malaria that killed off the Arab invasion in Africa south of Sahara. We need to know some of this history to put the role of Gadhafi into proper perspective. He is not the first Arab that destabilized Africans and others will try.

Nevertheless, the role of Egypt in the accommodation of African leaders and students must not be lost on us. They took in the families of Nkrumah and Lumumba when their own people turned against them. We must be grateful to Egypt because our historical ties from ancient days are worth celebrating. So we have to differentiate Gadhafi’s Libya from post Gadhafi’s Libya. He wanted to be African not because he loves Africa since he was rejected by fellow Arabs, but because he thought he could use some as his puppets.

Most Africans do not care how or where Gadhafi ended his life as a villain or a martyr. Power gets into the head of a dictator no matter how benevolent they might be after 42 years as the leader of Libya. We had our dictators in Nigeria but none of them lasted that long in office so they try to come back and run for election for the second or third term as Obasanjo to make the record. Babangida and Buhari recently praised the tenure of Abacha and by fiat, claimed that he was not corrupt, regardless of international documented evidence that he was. Dictators-in-common pledged for another dictator.

One of the police Abacha used to chase NADECO that later became the anti-corruption Czar also became a presidential candidate giving clean bill of financial cover to his new sponsor that also has international record as a drug dealer. The point here is, there are strange bed fellows when it comes to politics and if Nigerians do not learn from history, we are bound to make the same mistakes electing someone like Gadhafi or Abacha.

Many of these dictators like Gadhafi, started with some burning issues that are close to the people. The problem is the longer they entrench themselves in power, the easier it is for power to corrupt them. Ghadhafi have spent Libya oil revenue as if it is his personal assert enriching his children and preparing them for power until they got into sibling rivalry. If they have the fear that one day they will hand over and others would have to judge their tenure, they might have ruled differently.

In terms of benevolent dictator, Tito might have been good for Yugoslavia but he had to keep a strong arm to prevent eventual disintegration of the Country. Even closer to us was Nkrumah’s Ghana. There were dissenters in Ghana that had nothing good to say about him. Some of them were glad he was overthrown. Indeed, western propaganda had him as corrupt with millions outside the Country, when in fact he was a poor but a well balanced leader who had seen through neo-colonialism before his time.

Nkrumah desire for a united Africa cannot be compared to Gadhafi lip service to Africa. Nkrumah spent Ghana meager earning on freedom fighters in Central and Southern Africa out of the passion that an African must be respected and free to determine his economic independence. Gahadfi was looking for puppets and re- colonization of Africa as an Arab like they did in ancient times.

Therefore, Gadhafi is in a lonely position compared to other dictators in and outside of Africa not because he is a rebel but because he has personal ambition beyond the Arab world. When he gave up his quest for acquisition of nuclear bomb after being promised or duped by different countries, he spilled on them to the established nuclear powers. Whatever his relationship with Pakistan, he should not have told them about his deals with the father of Pakistan atomic bomb.

Whoever has sympathy for Gadhafi, “African king of Kings” as he calls himself, cannot afford to waste it on a mad dog that bites everyone and may now bite himself. So please let him die as he wishes and his people will pronounce him a martyr or a villain.

THE WILL - FAROUK MARTINS ARESA 28/02/2011 10:09:00
THE WILL

YORUBA RELIGIOUS FREEDOM MODEL FOR WORLD PEACE

The YORUBA of West Africa and Diaspora practice religious freedom to a fault remaining the most tolerant community of every religious belief in the world. It is always fun to study, admire and live the way Yoruba celebrate various religious events even those adverse to their well beings during the Slave Trade in the hands of their Arab Muslims or European Christian brothers. In contrast, Yoruba remind us that the same way a slave is born, so is a free child. The only community where a slave can aspire to be a king and a king can reduce himself to a slave. Though Africa remains the only Continent without its indigenous religion practiced freely and openly, Yoruba religious culture has not been so consumed.

The reason most Yoruba practice free religion can be seen in their children. These kids cannot wait for every religious holiday to contest with goat horns or on sticks, feast, dance, and put on Africanized masks in celebration. There are different masquerades and festivals that generate great interest amongst those that have been taken by other religions. They all celebrate at one another's houses. In short, they party all weekend on streets. Children grow up with this accommodating religious culture and pass it on to their children. Religious freedom became a cultivated custom from an early age.

The advantage of this religious freedom is that Yoruba have been able to get along without holy war in the name of Crusade or Jihad. Instead of war, Yoruba make love and marry across religious lines. As much as the rest of the world is obsessed with religious superiority or inferiority complex, those type of feelings exist but at a minimum in Yoruba communities. Whenever they are away, they miss religious freedom taken for granted at home and are constrained within religious tolerance in other communities.

When Yoruba claim that the world started from Ife, many people ridicule such belief as myth. The same people, however, cannot explain how Adam and Eve were created, if that is not myth by scientific standard. Before Adam and Eve, there was life in Africa as a scientific fact. It is the Continent where Eledumare created Obatala. The point here is not to ridicule or create any more controversy as we see daily between parents that insist their children should be thought traditional creationism of the Bible or Koran and those going for evolution in scientific theory or both. It suffices to point out that myth or science exists in Yoruba belief of how the world was created before those beliefs in the Bible, Koran or Hindu relative to scientific facts.

Looking at Yoruba culture, one of the problems is that of identity complex where we believe, if good persons did wonders in their communities, we must accept them in Africa as saints but our own prophets have no honor in their communities. The culture of Yoruba point to people that were prolific writers and mathematicians writing on every object they can get hold of including people's faces, back, forehead, calabash, sand, stone and people counting in thousands in their language. This cannot be the people some others, because they cannot read Yoruba writings called them illiterates.

Africans at home and in Diaspora have never moved far away from their own religion and the worship of one God is not new to Yoruba culture since each of the gods are related to one God, a few even married one another. The Yoruba religion is firmly embedded in Yoruba culture and language. They refer to it when they thank God for his blessings and also swear by it in their sincerity. As far as foreign religions are concern, they have limited use in the culture and language when it comes to authenticity.

There is no way you can get an African at home or in Diaspora to swear by indigenous God or god of Ogun or Osun. But put their hands on the Bible, Koran, Tora, or the holy book of Hindu; my brothers and sisters will swear freely in the name of God. Even during slavery, Diaspora Yoruba use Santeria to worship Ogun, Osun or Obatala while their conquerors thought they were praying to St. Anthony or some other saints. Yoruba have never departed from the God of Ife, cradle of Yoruba life, culture and religion.

Those that study Yoruba culture could not but wonder how much of Yoruba God or prayer is incorporated into these other religions inadvertently. There has been suspicion that this incorporation was intentional just as the Santeria in Diaspora. Yoruba Alfa and Reverend praise God in these other religions as if they were praising the God that created thunder, river, iron or forest. Realizing that Yoruba have gods for each of these relating to one God, it becomes easier to understand if some of them were intentionally or inadvertently confused. It is very difficult to take Yoruba God out of Yoruba culture.

Even those that called themselves Yoruba atheist just like Christian and Muslim, exclaim in the name of Yoruba God. Aware of this fact, some of the religions have made Latin and Arabic compulsory for prayers since God only understand each as the only way to heaven or perish. So in order to get a direct message or prayer to God, it has to be in one of those languages through their Prophets. Unfortunately, many Africans mastered these languages and more without understanding the full meaning as it is crammed or used for nothing else but prayers. African children are sent to prayer houses early before they could learn how to think, write and speak in their languages. But man cannot live by bread or prayer alone.

The real Ifa priest cannot be bought or monopolized if you want to know the truth. They will tell you the consequences of your evil proposition against your fellow man and woman, since every action has a reaction. Evil men know this and are initially prepared for such consequences. Some find solace in foreign religions that preach forgiveness for every sin. It is not uncommon to see a rich man build a church or mosque as part of his home where he prays before and after his evil deeds.

The Ifa priest, that introduce Oracles to the world through the Greeks and the Romans sojourn in Africa, will let you know in advance how the evil you sought for others will hunt you to the end. Nevertheless, most religions have cleaned up their fetishes to be relevant in modern days. The Bible and Koran no longer ask for Crusade and Jihad. The Abrahams of today no longer use their first and only son as sacrifice. So has and must be Yoruba religion to clean up fetishes and demystify all religions. Chicken, goat and cow are good enough for sacrifice unless you are a vegetarian or animal activist.

Of course, there are ardent Yoruba Christian and Muslim believers that passed to the children of next generation their English, Arabic and Ari Krishna names and ways. The fact that the freedom exists in Yoruba communities, even in Diaspora point to the religious freedom enjoyed. In the same nuclear and extended family amongst Yoruba, are people of different faiths and religions. If Yoruba start hating one another or just tolerating one another as the rest of the world, blood will run in many families. In some countries Christian, Moslem, Hindu and Jewish faiths are hardly freely practiced because they are barely tolerated out of fear and religious insecurity.

Those that are familiar with religious violence in Africa will quickly point out that the Yoruba are mostly found in the western part of Nigeria. They cannot reconcile religious freedom in the western part to religious riots in other parts. Religious riot in the western part of Nigeria is very minimal and not internally generated. As soon as any riot raises its ugly head, Yoruba are reminded of who they are and are quickly extinguished by greater interest of preservation. Tolerance for such riot is low because every member of a family will suffer the consequences. Each member may practice a different kind of faith but remain loyal to Eledumare, the father of Oduduwa or Adimu amongst other Yoruba cousins and communities throughout West Africa and Diaspora.

The real myth about Nigeria is that in spite of our differences, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and a mixture of other ethnic groups are all related. It may be difficult to understand by the way ethnic riots break out which are mainly for political and economic dominance. The history of Yoruba is assimilation and accommodation of other Africans. Even going by the history of Hausa and Igbo that may not be flattering to Yoruba, Hausa history claim one of their sons was “illegitimate” Yoruba. Igbo claim they were the original owner of Yoruba land. Somewhere in their histories, they admit their relationships.

Yoruba history also teaches us that Hausa and Igbo are Yoruba brothers with the same distinguishing Ijebu mark or scarification on their faces or foreheads as described by Herodotus in the 5th century BC in Egypt and still seen today in Sudan or Waddai. Igbo accept Obi of Onitsha as one of them where Yoruba dialect exists as in Diaspora Cuba and Brazil. But when it comes to division of national cake, the way they go after one another, nobody would believe they ever met one another in the same country on their way to or from Egypt. In reality these are indigenous Africans that have lived with one another peacefully in Ghana, Mali and Songhai empires.

These days the mental faculties of some ethnic groups have been taken over to a larger extent than others by different religions from different communities outside Africa and some are ready to kill one another for their adopted foreign religions. Not the Yoruba. There are scholars that will argue that foreign religions that some charlatan Africans are loyal to have divided Africans more for economic reason than to what ethnic group they belong to. Affiliation due to economic inadequacy and sense of belonging in solidarity with prosperous religions outside of Africa for succor contradict the scientific proof that man sojourned out of Africa, not into Africa.

Yoruba culture and religion confidently defy all these and remain strong in Africa and Diaspora while at the same time accommodating others religious freedom and getting involved, faithfully or not, conveniently or not.


Source: Farouk Martins Aresa
Story from Modern Ghana News:
Published: Friday, June 03, 2011

ak47mann:
^^
what are you talking about mr man igbo s offered abiola for help what did that international thief theif did? he look at  nzeribe and said i can win without igbo s and what happen after Yorubas have been looking down on igbo s even before the civil war we all know already so pls save that talk for efulefus

My friend,

Do you make any sense to yourself? Abiola and Nzeribe what?

Please go on celebrating. This is not your first time.

You may not like OBJ, but he is the only one that has been able to challenge the power status quo and also backed Joe in spite of all threats.

Note the difference in reactions though. Whenever the Igbo are not included in power structure at the center. The greatest protect come from Yoruba prominent persons and Yoruba on the streets.

Igbo are rejoicing here and justifying elimination of Yoruba.

Pity.

Calculia:
This is very Good, maybe the yorubas can have some basic sense now. This Northern 'born to rule' nonsense was something that together with the cooperation of all ethnic groups in the south would have been dealt with and the north taught a very good lesson a long time ago but no the yorubas are envious of Ndigbo's. I dey laugh o, because without zoning it is practically impossible for a yoruba to be president of this country in the foreseeable future.

Please, I am curious.
What is there to be envious of? I think both should look for ways of getting along instead of trying to destroy the other's opportunity only to end up as second best. May be that is worth envy.

On the contrary, to look for ways to move forward without offending one another.

When you sow the seed of distrust and expect reward in future, we are fooling ourselves. It seems that it is ok for one group to live peaceful within another group, even claiming right. But impossible if it is the other way around. If you want to live with others, do not make them look and check their backs, not knowing where you stand.

As for your own blokos, may your gods preserve it so that your children can learn not to scuttle one another chances.

Just be constructive, period.

Rule one another in the same city, state or the same house without destroying the place.

It is obvious to those that are not fools -

Tinubu will drive a hot shaft through his mother's guts just for his personal interest.

Eko-Ile,

Good job, working according to your master's voice. You too must be from Iragbiji.

Why ACN Supported Tambuwal – Tinubu

Leadership

Tue, 07/06/2011 - 5:18am | JAMES UME Cover Stories

Former Lagos State governor and national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu has named national interest as the reason ACN members in the House gave a bloc vote to the candidature of Tambuwal, which led to his subsequent emergence as Speaker. Tinubu gave this insight at a reception in honour of ACN House members at the Ogun State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

He said that the party’s took its position in order to advance the interest of the nation in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.
Tinubu, who drove into the reception venue in company of Chief Segun Osoba, said he was under tremendous pressure to toe the line of the PDP to support a South West candidate for the position but had to halt his support for any candidate based on his conviction that the legislature was a separate arm of government that should be allowed to produce its own leaders independently.

He hinted that he personally instructed all ACN members to vote for Tambuwal and not to collect a kobo from any other candidate.
In his speech, Chief Bisi thanked the lawmakers, noting that he was proud of them and that the ACN would continue to play such formidable role in this administration.

NIGERIA HAS NO BAD ARMED FORCES BUT BAD OFFICERS

The first time the Commander-In Chief of the Armed Forces said there were no bad soldiers but bad officers, some of us did a double flip because it came from no less a man than a general that became the head of state in a democratic setting. We all know that was OBJ talking as the head of the Army and leader of “elected” government. He also alerted us to the fact that Nigerian Police were recruiting creeps that became armed robbers. Praise or knock the man, we got that much out of him.

God is not coming down to save Nigerians, only Nigerians can save Nigerians. When soldiers kill police and officers kill officers in a coup we know they are coming after us to get their hands into our pocket or drain the living souls out of us. They will not limit it to themselves, once indiscipline creeps up, it knows no bound. If these brute can kill members of the Armed Forces, what defense does unarmed civilians have?

Just to avoid responsibility, some so called unknown soldiers were responsible for the senseless killing of policemen and some unknown policemen might also have been responsible for the brutal killing of civilians. How many of these officers have been publicly humiliated for riots, civilian abuse or taking bribes? But if they staged a coup and their superiors got a wind of it, they are executed. So it is more honorable for soldiers to kill police; for soldiers, ratings and police to kill bloody civilians than to stage a coup.

It goes to show that if we are determined to solve a problem, we know what to do but will not do it. When we tolerate indiscipline in such places as the Army, Navy or Police where law and order is paramount to the command structure, we should not be surprised that it flows into the polity and reaches our future generation, which are our precious children. They watch us, want to be like us and emulate our ways. The message they are getting from politicians and top brass of the Armed Forces is that violence pays, as our society full of civilized people.

A few years ago, some junior police officers went to the House of Representative in Abuja explaining the reasons they had to take bribe to service their vehicles, bribe their way into juicy posting at road blocks and make returns to the officers. Nothing has happened since these junior police risked it all to testify and the Commander-In-Chief so noted in separate circumstances. We know what the problem is in our Country and we also know the solution. We have to shout and write about so many times hoping some newly elected president would listen.

We are trying to transfer to a civilized form of Government with minimum use of force in the polity, prove to the world that cabinet system of government started in Oyo Empire before others came about it. However, as we take three steps forward, some evil forces want to pull us back one or more steps than achieved. Africa was not born yesterday so we are not young democracy but people full of intellect and culture behaving as if we are in civil training asking others to help us save us from ourselves. Our violence to one another is repulsive.

Can anyone hear us? We yell, complain and write to death hoping some powerful man will finally pick it up as Sanusi, Governor of Central Bank did on jumbo pay. The same goes for all political appointments not only for House and Senate. Our Armed Forces and our politicians abuse, milk and dimed from us for every little blood in our veins, every little kobo in our pocket and drive our precious children out through the desert looking for greener pastures where there is none.

Ebele, do you see us, hear us or you do not know what you are elected to clean up? We voted for you massively irrespective of our political or ethnic leaning. Please do not betray us. Many of us want to see Nigeria at its best right now, not tomorrow, not in ten years, not in fifty years. We want it while alive not in our graves by the time it is too late. Pensioners waited forever and died in their grave receiving nada! Nigeria is the only country where politicians from Abuja and different state capitals brag about how much they collect in taxes, take cocoa bags to collect salaries but nothing to show for it. So soldiers and police make theirs by road blocks.

We can raise consciousness against violence by public announcements (PSA). Some of the states use it when they pay public relation officers and advertisers more money to trumpet paying salaries to their workers, constructing roads, providing buses, schools to children, building hospitals and elephant projects. What are politicians suppose to be in government for in the first place?

Violence prevention have to be introduced to children at an early age in school at home to gain ground on the street but more importantly by example of those in responsible positions. Even business men use advertisement with warped logic to sell at outrageous prices the same commodity they sell for less outside the Country and raise the cost of everything beyond reach.

The way to reduce violence is to stop making money by violence like shooting someone to death for refusing to give 100 naira at road blocks. Taking a life to satisfy greed cannot be the way to enjoy life. If those with guns are so brave, why don’t they shoot their superiors that hoard their allocations instead of coming to the street to shoot poor civilians?

Farouk Martins Aresa

Timely article, MARTYRS indeed. Name state government buildings the haters use after them to remind them everyday of their despicable acts.

May God bless you.

Anyone that loves Fashola or Lagos knows he can vote for Fashola and still vote out ACN by voting for labor or some other good candidates in the Senate and House.

Voting for ACN is voting to impeach Fashola if he disobeys Tinubu for the good of Lagos. So think deep and vote wisely.

frenex:
i dont vote for party,i vote for credible individual.Fashola is coming back not ACN

Fasehun, Dokubo, Others Appeal Against Reprisal Attacks
Tribune
Written by Adewale Ajayi, Lagos
Saturday, 23 April 2011

LEADERS of ethnic nationalities, including the founder of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, have appealed to all the ethnic groups in the country not to launch reprisal attack over the violence going on in the Northern part of the country.

Addressing a joint press briefing in Lagos, which had in attendance the leader of Hausa communities in Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Dan Lado; Seriki Hausawa in the state, Alhjai Aminu Yaro; leader, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Sanni Yerima; leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari and leader of Igbo Youth Congress, Bright Ezeocha, they said that the mayhem going in the North was uncalled for, just as they urged members of their groups to remain calm and should not launch any reprisal attack.

They noted that Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic nationalities or their place of abode, should learn to live in unity, and that was the only way to keep the country together.

Dokubo-Asari also appealed to those behind the killings in the North to desist from the act, just as he berated politicians who were not willing to accept defeat.

Dr Fasehun noted that Nigerians were too good a people to be involved in self-destruction, and therefore appealed to all and sundry, saying that all fighting and any thought of fighting by any group or individuals should cease in order that democracy, peace and progress, happiness and contentment and good governance may reign.

He warned those who believed that war-mongering should be the case to consider the consequence of it.

”If on the other hand, we think war-mongering is the only alternative, let us realise that violence will only lead to the destruction of this beautiful country,“ he warned.

thenigerianvoice.com NEWS

ONLY NIGERIANS CAN SAVE NIGERIA

If Nigeria can conduct a free and fair election and teach the world how to elect an individual without necessarily agreeing with the philosophy of his party, we can do a great deal more. Revolution do not have to be bloody, it can also be brainy. Corruption is the number one enemy in Nigeria just as terror is for other countries. Corruption has eaten so deep in our mentality, we almost give up that a fair and free election can take place in our Country. We have just been proven wrong. If we can do this, we can whop corruption. The same power that backs Jega, can back anti-corruption Czar. Africa and the rest of the world can revolt, the Nigerian way.

The rest of the world must note that Nigeria has given them a shining example of African way of presidential election where the winner made impressive gain North and South, between atheist, Muslim and Christian and more important between conservatives and liberals. The will of the people is so pronounced, we do not need interpretation of the Supreme Court or hijacking of the electoral process by extremists on either side. Nigeria is ready to lead again.

This is the finest hour in Nigeria because it took individual Nigerians to accomplish a free and fair election. Our apologies and condolences must go to the families of our fallen brothers and sisters that have paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives in some parts of the North and other places in the South. The complaints from these rioters are that some leaders have sold them out to the winner, not that their votes did not count. They won in their states with their votes but it was not enough to persuade opponents. The popular man won. What a change, eh!

You cannot blame the winner of this election for all the injustice, lack of infrastructure, poverty or little education and diseases that have been perpetrated in your state. Reset the button and start from a clean slate. If we did not riot because when we won in our states all these years, there is no reason to riot when others won in their states and you won in your states. Power by fiat or by dictatorship is coming to an end in Africa. We can take over the same corrupt parties and clean up Nigeria. PDP, ACN and CPC must be taken over to discard the vagabonds.

The Peoples Democratic Party must be very careful how they construe the result of the Presidential Election. Individuals voted for Ebele and not necessarily for his Party. If this can be repeated in this gubernatorial election, Nigeria will be on the roll. We are tired of “you chop and I chop more” type of parties. They have destroyed our Country and everything we have accomplished since the day of Independence has been washed ashore.

Enough is enough but we have to learn from Odi and Zaki-Biam massacre so that we do not fall into the trap of enemies of free and fair democratic election that lost the power play and want nothing more than chaos. There are different groups of ethnic communities all over Nigeria and some of them are running to the Army and Police barracks out of fear of reprisal. Nigerians, be careful, that is what they want so that we can start another civil war. We are wiser and we have learnt. Civil war will not happen but instigators must be fished out and brought to justice.

If these youths that became messengers of individual ambitions, only knew the history of Hausa States and proud of it, they would not be attacking their own African blood and kin in disguise for religion and ethnocentrism of one drop of blood rule. They use Hausa youth in the Northern States to kill, maim and scare the hell out of their brothers and sisters that have invested all they have in the North and have no place to run to. General Buhari was right; this election was not about religion or ethnicity but about who can move the Country forward. Yet, when they say it is not about the money, you can bet your bottom naira, it is about the money.

The shallow promotion of history in our schools and colleges as a compulsory subject second to no other religion and culture anywhere in the world will be paid for with our blood and sweat. Any culture and religion that does not define itself, will be incorporated within other cultures and religions and defined for us. Of all continents, Africa is the only one that has no indigenous religion. There is Christian in Europe, Hindu in Asia and Muslim in the Middle East but there is no definable religion indigenous to us. We import religion and culture like everything else. So we take order, guidance and encouragement about prayers from outside, but God is in Nigeria and everywhere.

Religion is a powerful link to God and believers are willing to wage a crusade or jihad to deride or kill nonbelievers for their religions. Unfortunately, religious beliefs anoint political leaders. Nigeria does not have Mecca or Jerusalem, the head of Catholic Church is the Pope in Vatican, the head of the Anglican Church is the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sultan, Caliph or Ayatollah for Muslim, Jesus and Mohamed are their most powerful link to God. The closest to God in Nigeria are Pilgrims and Alhajis (traveler and foreigner). Any political leader that is not in their favor is not fit to rule!

How can Chukwuma (Chukwu = God) be devil's name? Our fathers named us and we give the same names to our children, perpetuating the religions that blessed us into slavery and justify crusade and jihad. This election is not about religion and ethnic group but religions that we were brought up with that anoint our political leaders. Listen to African children quoting Koran and Bible word for word in Latin or Arabic but hardly speak their own language. The time spent learning Latin or Arabic could have been spent on Hausa States and religion, Igbo Ukwu, Oduduwa, Adimu or Kanuri, Ibibio, Barone religion.

We have come a long way but we still have more to go. This election is a first step in the right direction and we must seize this opportunity to encourage the political system with our votes so that they do not relapse into their old ways. We need vigorous but not destructive parties in opposition. No party has all the answers and no party can dominate a state indefinitely.

The best we can accomplish in next week election for the governors is to repeat what we did for Ebele. Vote for the best candidates, not their parties. Vote for Labor, CPC, ACN, APGA, PPA and PDP candidates that are sincere and willing to serve the people not their pockets or put feathers in their kingdom of corruption.

Source: Farouk Martins Aresa

Adieu Bola Tinubu, today begins the end of your looting in Lagos.

Fashola is stuck between Tinubu boy boys in the House and Senate.

Abeg mak una comot jo.

Any man or woman dey wey nor dey f+ck?

Ojukwu no be rascal?

Revealed! Gov. Fashola`s Financial Extravaganza
huhuadmin

Facts have emerged about an alleged financial recklessness on the part of the Lagos State government headed by Governor Babatunde Fashola.For almost four years that the governor has been at the helms of affair in the state, his administration has made it a policy to keep secret every financial dealing relating to the state.

But the revelations show huge contract inflation and financial recklessness.

Among these is the cost of the demolition of the collapsed Bank of Industry which the government allegedly put at a whooping N1.5 billion.

Huhuonline.com learnt that the rehabilitation of two kilometres portion of the Funsho Williams Road, formally known as Western Avenue, cost the government N7.7 billion.

The LASU-Iba Road, a project handled by the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCEC) which contract was first awarded by former governor Bola Tinubu at the cost of N5 billion was jerked up by another N5 billion by the current administration. Yet the company did a shoddy job as few months after the construction, a part of it caved in forcing the members of the State House of Assembly to raise alarm.

The awareness that residents of the state have knowledge of the substandard project has been the reason the project has not been commissioned since completion.

Huhuonline.com also learnt that the governor who is alleged to have spent N2 trillion in the past four years, claims he spent a mind boggling N5.2billion on the renovation of the City Hall which was gutted by fire sometime ago. The structure was only rehabilitated and not rebuilt.

Controversy is still trailing the state government's purchase of a helicopter at the cost of N5billion the sand-filling of the Badagry-Marina foreshore was done at the sum of N1.5billion without transparent bidding process even as the State Assembly was not considered before the project was embarked upon.

The governor in the midst of the controversy had stated that the helicopter was meant for security in the state.

The state governor has also been accused of giving out N250million to the Rotimi Akeredolu-led executives of the Nigerian Bar Association, N420million of tax payers money to hire private security for just six months and another N135million to fuel 225 vehicles within six months.

Fashola had further allegedly spent N290million to send text messages and make phone calls in six months just as he also allegedly spent N1.5billion in the demolition of the Oshodi Market to ease traffic congestion in the area.

In the last six months, N183million was spent on press coverage for the state government while N600million was allegedly spent in the last two years for Christmas decoration in the state.

Some unspecified organisations have received grants and subventions totalling N2billion according to a statement released to Huhuonline.com by sources close to power.

The governor, who has also allegedly spent $62million for a CCTV project which has not been seen to be executed and another N100million to produce a documentary on him is said to always earmark N30million per trip for the governor's wife for six trips per year.

All these, last year, forced the state House of Assembly to set up a probe panel to investigate some of the allegation which was first blown open by some people privy to the financial dealings in the state.

Twice, the House set up panels and twice they were stopped by a court sitting in the state after a lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, sought the court for a perpetual injunction to stop the house from carrying out its proposed investigation.

A lawmaker confided in Huhuonline.com that majority of the allegations may be true as the House has a dossier of financial dealings in the state under the current governor.

"Does it not baffle you that he has been frustrating us from carrying out our oversight functions of investigating him?" He asked. "If we do, the lid would be blown open and Lagosians would know that the saint is not actually what he claims to be."

Also, early this year, at a legislative get-together at Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji's official residence, the number one lawmaker in the state accused the state executive arm of corruption adding that its officials were more corrupt than the legislators.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ade Dosunmu, has also thrown the questions before the governor.

In his case, he alleged that the state government earmarked N50billion for the construction of 50 kilometres of the Lekki-Epe Expressway. Only six of the entire stretch of the road has so far been constructed.

Two of the state government officials contacted for the reaction of the government said they were in no position to say anything. The Commissioner for Information, Opeyemi Bamidele, who was supposed to react, has resigned to pursue his House of Representatives ambition on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ekiti state.
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DEBATES BY CHIEF POLITICAL LOOTERS MAY DISTORT ACHIEVEMENTS

Africans know who to trust with their personal income or resources. We are also known for our esusu and which of us to trust with collections. We even find trusted family and friends with our estate in case we die. Americans, like Africans trust no load mutual funds, nonprofit organization managers, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates with their money when it comes to investments and charity. But when it comes to the resources and the income of the state, some countries are taken advantage of by well established or armed political looters.

There is nothing more deserving than dedication to public service mainly because it is a sacrifice to abandon the desire to make money and serve the people. Not in Africa. Looting treasury empty is the goal. Unfortunately, we have company in the world. There are other political and religious conservatives in the west and communists gone awry in the east. The goal of each of these is not far from raiding their treasury. They win political debates in election campaigns pandering to what the people want to hear but loose on integrity when it comes to governing.
Africans like the rest of the world have been blessed with skilful managers of resources and money of the state. No matter what our differences were with some past leaders, in retrospect, Nkrumah was dedicated, Awolowo was a skilful manager, Pa Ojukwu was a good businessman, Aminu Kanu was the best political leader and Mandela’s goodwill is world class. Nevertheless, when we are faced with a choice of leadership, we allow extroverts to snatch debates by appealing to our hearts.

Many of us have called for part-time political leaders in Africa with the hope that the attraction to loot will be curtailed and minimized. However, when we see men that have served the country with no expectation to be paid back in salary or gratuity, we discard them as losers. We have a string of human right activists, philanthropists and professional students or professors that cannot be elected. There is no doubt that our interpretation of achievement is skewed.

This was demonstrated in the first Lagos State debate for the governor recently. The incumbent Governor reminded us that what is important is the age of ideas in achievement, not chronological age. A very insightful observation because in that group are those who have served Lagos State in different capacities without taking a kobo, those that worked hard to become a partner with international companies in Nigeria in their thirties, regional African manager in their forties and those that have never participated in “loot and go” in Africa.

Who could the Governor be referring to, we must wonder? Certainly, not in a country where one eye man is the king; where we have the highest internal generated income; but also the biggest debt ever generated for a state. Yet, there is very little to show for it. If we were Dubai with so much debt, at least they have the infrastructure in Dubai and if they refuse to pay lenders back, foreign banks and lenders cannot take the infrastructure away from the people.

Political debates and campaigns have gone high-tech. Most of the electorate are still far behind and can be easily manipulated by sweet talkers and public relation officers. Most parties have designated media savvy officers on line to the internet. They exaggerate and blow up every project that should have been in place anyway and pick individual causes that will generate maximum media coverage. Indeed, a government has to be foolish these days if they do not invite media coverage for conspicuous project even those without any beef or shelf life.

African looters and eastern communists go straight into the government to loot treasury with impunity but their western brothers are sleeker during debates. They starve government of funds and declaw the regulatory bodies so that private sectors can grow like beasts that feed and prey on ordinary people. As for the religious conservatives, they invade our space with the same big government they despise: teaching us morals, who to marry, when and how many children we can have so that they can be starved of milk. Yet, they are for small governments.

Whichever method they use, they end up accumulating and monopolizing most incomes for a privileged few while majority of the people scatter for whatever trickles down. They do not care about the inconsistencies in their arguments or logics. As long as they are in power, they have achieved more than the dedicated public servants or those who served government or charities for free. It is why political looters think they have achieved more than teachers, government or union workers whose dedication they must ridicule to deprived them of bargaining power.

Well, their point is that individuals know how to spend her money better than government, which is valid. So their gold platted toilet is an individual choice while babies go hungry. During recession, they claimed it would be counter-productive to take money out of the economy by taxing the excesses of the filthy rich. After election, they are willing to take money out of the economy by cutting government spending for the working class children and the poor. This is what they preach to developing countries. Just as defense contract is the welfare for their rich, foreign contract is Africa’s welfare for the rich. Ghana was made the exemplary economy.

Ghanaians rejected that and gave Rawlings his greatest shock when the party he supported lost the election. He never failed to hunt them until his favored party regained power. The change of party and leadership no matter who we support also helps cub corruption and sends a signal to state political looters that there will be accountability for their actions. It is healthy for Africa as it is for other countries because as in Ireland; sometimes a long occupying party becomes stale of ideas and may need a jolt to cool their heels and come up with new ideas in opposition.
The debate between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale in the United States taught us something different: that if you are likable, no matter what information your opponent had, you were good if you can just squeeze by. Whether Walter Mondale should have won or Al Gore declared winner by the Supreme Court of United State is now for the history books. What is clear is that the party that won already got its way.

There are more debates to come in Nigeria because of the coming elections to sort out the men from the boys or women from girls or people of ideas from opportunists. We must be warned that as informative as debates are, they can be more destructive to a doer than to an extrovert. Since we want our politicians to have it all: presentable and able to think on his or her feet.

Farouk Martins Aresa

Some of you may have forgotten Alhaji Dokubo from Niger Delta and his trainers got "educated" in Libya and other Arab countries.

Obasanjo Wanted Ribadu To Jail Me - Tinubu

Thursday, 17 February 2011 05:34 Sunday Isuwa, Abuja “PDP is finished” || Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, said yesterday that former President Olusegun Obasanjo plotted to send him to jail by all means.

Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State for eight years, alleged that Obasanjo vowed to jail him at all costs and instituted false and fictitious claims that he owned several foreign bank accounts.

According to Tinubu, the allegations which were forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) prompted the Commission’s chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu to investigate him but could not find him guilty.

“Ribadu’s investigation of my administration followed a fictitious allegation by the Obasanjo administration. Ribadu did not humiliate me. He investigated me over and over and did not find me wanting”.

“Obasanjo wanted to send me to jail or exile because of my acceptance in the South-West and my transparency. So, if one is not corrupt, he has nothing to fear in Ribadu’s government. He is a competent person that is ready to bring the needed change in the country”.

“I was the most haunted person by the Obasanjo administration. They made claims but after the investigation carried out by Ribadu, they did not find anything dirty on me.

“Ribadu, who was not close to me because he was in the camp of Obasanjo, did not humiliate me. So, If you are corrupt, you are corrupt and you should not join politics.

I want all Nigerians to support Ribadu in his quest to become the next president for the betterment of our country” Tinubu declared while unveiling the party’s manifesto and agenda in Abuja yesterday.

Tinubu added that some people were afraid of Ribadu’s presidency because of their hidden corruption profile. He appealed to Nigerians not to be afraid. “Ribadu investigated me severally when he was the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but did not find me wanting.

“We are different in the ACN. The PDP always blackmails people and asks them to join their party. But it is now time for us to sweep them out of governance,” Tinubu stated.

According to Tinubu, the Edo state governor, Lagos state governor, Ekiti state governor and that of Osun state have proved to Nigerians that if ACN was given a chance, the country would be a better place to live in.

Tinubu described Ribadu as a courageous and competent person who could champion the affairs of the country insisting that, “PDP government is not a government but a gathering of election riggers and power abusers. I want all our gubernatorial candidates to be strong and give out the message to the people that ACN was out to sweep hopelessness away from the country.

On his part, the ACN presidential candidate, Malam Ribadu, declared that the unveiling of the party’s manifesto was a new foundation for Nigeria and stressed that they would not lose sight of what was happening in the developed world. “The ‘failed ideas, policies’ of the PDP will be a thing of the past. Our country is moving forward and ACN will unseat the PDP in the 2011 presidential election”, Ribadu stated.

Ribadu argued that he was aware of the reasons why a lot of money had been spent on power generation without result, and conceded that, “Any one who said there will be electricity without fighting corruption is telling lies. The PDP government has failed. I slept last night without light and the house was very close to the villa.

“The PDP government doesn’t keep promises even to themselves. ACN has shown it in the states we control what governance should be. If I emerge, I will stand by what the party said and will not resort to buying delegates and we will run our government through radicalism not through rascality.

“Not long ago, we left over N60 billion as foreign reserve but now the money has been shared without anything tangible thing to show for it.

“The most important priority of the ACN was to protect the life and properties of every Nigerian, and create jobs. Agriculture and housing would be taken as a priority to ensure that over 30 million jobs will been created every year.

“The Nigerian education system which has been in total crises would be a thing of the past. If ACN government emerge, milk and food would be given to all school children which will attract all the children begging in the street to go back to school. Health will also not be left behind. Travelling abroad for medical check up will be over because new hospitals will be built while several medical doctors will be employed,” Ribadu declared.

Meanwhile, the four governors of the ACN said yesterday that they were not rascals but radicals who will soon make poverty in Nigeria a thing of the past.

The governors of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, said individually that they were not rascals but radicals who will soon take over the affairs of Nigeria.

According to Fashola, the days of PDP administration were numbered because of unfulfilled promises to Nigerians. The Lagos state governor who was speaking on the challenges of governance in Nigeria, said that the PDP government has no manifesto and has been deceiving Nigerians while few individuals have been carting away the resources.

“Since 1999 the federal government has not built a single bridge nor constructed a road in Lagos State. All the bridges and the roads are been built by radicals who will soon effect changes in the country”, Fashola stated.

In his opening speech, the National Chairman of the ACN Chief Bisi Akande said that for the first time in the history of Nigeria, his party unveiled its plans to the people. Akande who was represented by his vice, Alhaji Boss Mustapha said that they will redirect the polity of Nigeria from the ‘big men’ and will make poverty a thing of the past.

Others in attendance include Chief Audu Ogbe, Baba Tella, former Jigawa state governor, Saminu Turaki, former Anambra state governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, Sen. James Kolawole, Chief Abiye Sekibo, Tom Ikimi, Alhaji Yusuf Ali and others.

DON’T CALL AN IJAW MAN DRUNK SAILOR FISHERMAN

The self styled Asiwaju Amoda Yekini Ogunlere called Tinubu heightened the insults by referring to President Ebele imprudent choice of words in the West as slighting our parents. Of course, it is all politics. We just have to ask most Nigerians who is more of a rascal by reputation between Asiwaju Amoda Yekini Ogunlere and Ebele Jonathan. The crook of “international proportion” is the obvious winner.

Instead of turning this into ethnic bashing as usual, Nigerians have to be careful so that politicians do not play on our emotions for fun and power to loot the treasury. Some party members have been trying to milk blood out of this unfortunate choice of words by Ebele and the more he tries to get out of it, the more his opponents suck it to him. If the choice of words is going to determine this election, Asiwaju just goof big time also.

Lagos State may have benefited less than other states from the oil boon from the same Ijaw “drunk fisherman” ethnic group but that is not a reason to bash their son while complaining about someone bashing your parent. The last time we check, Asiwaju threw his parents from Iragbiji, Osun state under the bus. So Ebele could not even touch his parents and we did not feel he insulted our parents either.

Ebele has been going round the Country campaigning drawing attention of different ethnic groups to what he has in common with them. He made sure the Igbo understand his name is Azikiwe, that Hausa realized he was loyal to Yar’adua and that Yoruba know how much he admired the economic genius of Awolowo. No matter what he does, many of us are not so impressed with his PDP and their “nest of killers”.

However, the default party is not ACN led by one of the biggest rascals soiled by drug plea bargain in the United States but hailed and elected Governor in Lagos State of Nigeria. It is beyond imagination how anyone with that reputation can be elected as a dog catcher anywhere else. But then, and again, we are talking about Nigerian politics. So what do you expect, eh?

Boy, those Lagosians! This is the same rascal the people of Lagos allowed to field his wife Remi Tinubu for Senator Lagos Central, his daughter Sade Tinubu for Agege Lagos State House of Assembly, his son in-law Oyetude Ojo for House of Representative and Lola Akande, Remi’s senior sister for House of Assembly. This is what is called family plan, abi no be so?

Nigerians have to be careful and must watch out for those trying to use our ethnic base to divide us. Even worse is to personally insult the parents of an African. Ebele has never done that, it is a spin to get maximum political juice out. When people go to vote, let us hope they will do so from their head, not their feet.
Moreover, the Ijaw and the Yoruba are the sons and daughters of Adimu or Oduduwa so the Yoruba versus the Ijaw brawl that those uninformed have been trying to create will not work. Indeed, Nigerians are more related to one another than those they claim are their ancestors from outside Africa. So please chill!

If we are serious about changing Nigeria and we think only PDP and ACN can gather enough geographical spread across the Country to unite us, we need to take over both parties from cabals, drug dealers and “nest of killers” to make them useful to us. As long as both parties are led by these children of god, rather than calling them children of devils, we will keep on making the same mistakes expecting different results.

All parties and politicians must concentrate on what they can do for Nigeria, not how much they can loot out of it. It is not enough to get a university professor to carve out a mission or plan that nobody will look at once in power. Other professors, taxi and mule drivers must be able to discern it, appraise it and even tear it into pieces if it will not work. That is the way to hold them responsible once in power. Even military men know how to fool us with their initial mission statement. So watch out brothers and sisters!

Farouk Martins Aresa

MANDELA SHOULD HAVE BEEN FLOWN TO NIGERIA FOR TREATMENT

Thank God Mandela is not a Nigerian. He is the most respected and revered African alive today and he must stay alive. We are also very proud of the medical tertiary care he received in South Africa otherwise Mandela could have been flown to some foreign Country where they would install some microchips in him so that all state and personal secrets would be revealed. Nobody does that in Nigeria so let Surgeon General Vejaynad Ramlakan of South Africa know that there are hospitals in Nigeria that can treat world leaders in confidence.

Before some smarty pants wonder why we do not treat our VIP (Vagabonds In Power) that run overseas for headache first before treating Mandela, we say: don’t be ignorant. We now live in a world of free trade with one another and we cannot discriminate against mental or medical patients that need treatment. It is even more important to share some of our knowledge of rich men diseases that cannot be cure outside of Africa with foreign countries by sending out guinea pigs for experiments no matter how much it cost us. We export cash and diseases together.

In the case of those uninformed, Nigerian medical facilities are so good they have attracted the greatest and the best from all over the world. One of our foremost and well recognized medical treatment centers is located here in Abuja called Sekiseki & Alao Miracle Medical Center. It is a tertiary hospital under the skillful supervision of another great medical icon that was a primary care expert in his previous life but comes back in his ghost as tertiary miracle worker.

Professor Ransome Kuti was well known around the world and his presence in Sekiseki & Alao Miracle Center has attracted people like a King of Saudi Arabia that had multiple organs failure. By the time he was rushed to Abuja in air ambulance, he was almost dead. In short, he left the Center whole and hearty enough to walk to Saudi Arabia. These specialist hospitals are located at our reputable teaching hospitals all over Nigeria. We do not need to fund our hospitals like those our VIPs run to abroad since they are self generating money making hospitals.

Mandela is a very old man at 92 years of age but that does not mean he could not live for many more years. Many foreigners did not realize that at our University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Nsukka, patients that are been given up for dead are brought back to life. Under the skilful supervision of the great Professor Ikejiani during the war in Nigeria, Biafran and Nigerian soldiers given up on were brought back to life there and returned to the battle field to fight one another to death again and again. This was was why the war lasted that long.

University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital specializes in upstairs diseases like Alzheimer, Parkinson, brain injuries etc with a well established center in Abeokuta called Aro Miracle Center manned by none other than the ghost of Professor Lambo. Near Aro is Lagos where Baba Mokelegbe Mental Home got several awards for treating the crazy guys like the one that shot Ms. Gabrielle Gifford in Tucson Arizona. He needs to come to Nigeria for mental treatment to be sober before facing murder charges in the USA.

Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital under the capable ghost of Professor Ishaya Audu has a well established unit for pocket, foot and mouth diseases to treat people suffering from kleptomania like Wall Street pyramid swindler Mr. Madoff before sentencing. Since USA believes in due process like Nigeria, people like Madoff and Jackoff need to be flown-off for treatment in Nigeria first. This is the problem with lack of information about Nigerian teaching hospitals that our VIPs do not advertize enough.

Se you get?

As soon as sick and important personalities start coming to Nigeria for treatment, there will be no need to send our VIP abroad with their ailments. Nigerian psychologists, doctors, medical engineers, pharmacists, nurses, social workers do not poke-nose in other peoples’ business and have no need to employ computer wizards to installed microchips and other gadgets in sick people in order to get information from their countries.
Our health aides, cleaners and orderlies are very dedicated to their jobs and will never sell or spill information about sick people to the press. So, please if you are well connected in your countries and need medical treatment for the men of timber and caliber, Nigeria hospitals are the best place for your VIPs.

Farouk Martins Aresa

RELIGIONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

The few worst Nigerians by nature are not suicide candidates for money they cannot spend or male/female companies they cannot enjoy on earth. If anything they are conspicuous spenders and other Africans know that much. Indeed, international crime watchers know these Nigerians shy away from violent crimes that forsake cashistic on earth. A clear evidence of that was a man paid to drive a truck loaded with explosive into a building in Abuja. He wisely put a stone on the accelerator to burn with the truck so that he could enjoy his life with the money he was paid.

History is full of instance where religions have been introduced as anesthetic to people's brain so that they cannot use their minds. Anyone that questions slavery, wars, division of labor by ordained class, caste, right to subjugate others, inherent privilege and domination by land and resources has challenged the will of God and will be punished by the devil. If you obey and do as you are told, your reward in heaven is immensely abundant in ecstasy. If it is not a fair world, you are reminded that here is a temporary abode, our permanent home is heavenly bliss.

Where we find ourselves these days in terms of religion of mass destruction is not by accident. The preachers of doom and reincarnations of the devils like tin gods are consequences of lack of confidence in our own abilities as followers. In order to be seen and accepted as worldly and heavenly versed, we impersonate others religions without any control of where it leads us. We abandon ours that we understand and revere because Africans can swear in Mosque or Church without hesitating; but take him to Oshogbo or Okija shrines, you would notice the fear of God.

This is what we need to know to understand how a respectable preacher of faith in some of these foreign religions can stoop so low preaching war, annihilation and the destruction of one another in the name of God or Allah. If you cannot believe that a man of God can steal you blind while he lives in luxury, accommodate looters in the front row of his church or mosque and pray for suicide bombers, armed gangs and robbers before they leave for mayhem; now you know he only fears the God of Thunder and not foreign religions.

So when you see an African killing a fellow African in the name of some foreign religion, he has a motive beyond loyalty to that religion. He wants you under his spell so that he could dictate to you the way his master dictated and consumed his mind. If he has been conquered by one of these foreign religions, that is the way he his trained by heart to conquer his fellow Africans for them. It is by remote control operated from outside our Continent. But no African can control others the way we are used to maim our bodies, steal our minds and resources out of Africa.

When we talk about God and devil, the only fear is the wrath of man that wants to be held in awe capable of unleashing famine and pestilence in anger for daring to question his authority. If God is for peace, fear no evil from him but be wary of the devils that usurp his power religiously all over the world to cause mayhem. Indeed, if we are saved from the religious wars by jihadists and “crusaders” quoting from these books, the world may be a better place.

Nevertheless, without God, people are intentionally wicked because they fear no repercussion for abusing their fellow men. So benevolent people have created God in every culture to warn erring creatures of his wrath if they stray and jail or ostracize those that must be punished for their sins against humanity. The process from heavenly bliss to hell differ from one culture to another but as the world becomes smaller and some domineering religion take over smaller ones, heaven and hell are becoming universally accepted.

Out of all the continents, only Africa has predominantly accepted religions that are not indigenous to Africans as the rule of worship while Christian, Muslim, Indus, Jew and Buddhism remain the principal religion of their areas. The only exception is the Africans Santeria in Diaspora. This is very important in the analysis of human behavior that calls for adherence to our culture only in the face of adversity. The same is true about African food outside Africa. Do all Africans have to be deprived to appreciate our God given blessings?

Just for the sake of those unfamiliar with Santeria. These are Africans free men and women before Columbus and slaves after Columbus that still refuse to allow their religion to die. Even in the face of punishment to adopt the religion of other continents, these Africans used symbols of Christianity to deceive their captors while actually praying to Sango, Oya, Oduduwa, Ogun or Orisha. When the Africans at home and those in Diaspora meet, we can guess who are more surprised at which religion the others are practicing.

The idea of one and only universal religion can never work because there is too much at stake for those in control of others destiny and are bent to impose on them. When it gets to the point of either you lose your life or the Bible, Koran and Torah; religion has lost its meaning. Religion is supposed to culture us, allow us to live in peace and harmony with the fear of God. No matter where you are and who are, God can hear you in your language not just in Latin or Arabic.

This is how we lose focus and wrap religion around us the way others wrap the flag around themselves to justify whatever their wish. Exploitation of man by man will always go on and will be justified by whatever it takes, and if that is religion, so be it. Nobody is closer to God than your fellow man and the way you treat him or her show how close you are to God. So pass on an act of kindness.

Source: Farouk Martins Aresa
Story from The Nigerian Voice News:

Published: Thursday, January 06, 2011

OJUKWU THE PRESIDENT NIGERIA NEVER HAD

As we pray for the recovery of Ikemba for the good old days just before the war, the man is a leader amongst equals in and outside the military. It has been said and written many times that we should not wait until a man is dying before rushing them abroad for treatment when we can provide a suitable hospital in each of the six geopolitical zones of the Country specializing in different areas. The wear and tie of taking them abroad only make their situations worse since they must have some stability to make the journey. Let us hope this is not a goodbye as others.

Children tend to have certain memories adults forget or care little about; and for those children in the Eastern Region then, it was when Ojukwu became a military Governor that he abolished differential treatment on scholarships for none indigenes. Fair to say, school fees in the East was not waived or free for indigene and scholarships had to be reserved. No matter how long it lasted, that temporary relief gave many Nigerians a head start. Yes, Western Region had the same thing in place, but that did not take away the intention of Ojukwu as a dedicated Nigerian.

When Ojukwu had a master, it did not make a difference in what but it came from some far place like Oxford in England when many of his cohorts were happy with high school education. Many of them got to the height of their careers in private businesses and government while this man settled for the Army. In those days, the caliber of children going into the Army was those from poor homes and with no opportunities. Asking us to go into the military is like forsaking your dearest. The only exceptions were doctors and nurses because their humanitarian services were not limited. In the case of Ikemba, we just could not wait to hear him speak wondering about the vocabularies that would come out of his mouth.

It must be quickly pointed out that in the North, the royals go into Army and many of them were highly educated in Arabic. The problem is transferring Arabic training which was geared to prayers into English practical adaptation of everyday life. In other words, most Arabic scholars were Muslims religious men while most English scholars may not even be Christian religious men. Indeed, some of those that went into the Army from both South and North had political power in sight, as some would later say of Ojukwu.

There was this aunt of ours that told us if she had known that Ojukwu was going to be the rebel leader, she had the power to crush the little kid with her foot on his way to primary school in those days. She never suspected that the little tiny kid would become Ojukwu the war hero to many of us. The way she talked, you would think she had that power herself. Ojukwu later gave us his own story about growing up in Lagos and how he had to be sent home to Nnewi because he was behaving badly with difficulty identifying with Igbotic ways.

Don’t blame our aunt, she must have heard us singing the praises of Ojukwu just before the war as secret lovers of that young handsome man. We used to listen to Radio Biafra and sometimes got carried away with Ojukwu propaganda.

You come by road we finish una
You come by sea we finish una
You come by air we finish una
What did we know until Ojukwu bombed Row Park and our eyes become opened that this war was for real and could have taken many of us as it did many people that lost their lives as the war itself progressed or degenerated.

The man Ojukwu hardly talked. In those days, men that attended universities had so much knowledge, only God has more. The fact that he was a soldier did not diminish any of his polished or imagined sophistication. So it is strange that some of us will grow up to disagree with this man in any area of his philosophies. Could that be the same Ojukwu or we just grew up and become educated like him?

Our point was made when he took those soldiers to Aburi. It was a mismatch from start. An Oxford educated hero taking some soldiers to Aburi. We actually forgot that he was a soldier too or refuse to accept that he belonged in that khaki uniform. Even when we see him as a military governor, this one has a touch of class and decency. If it has to do with his father and upbringing, children like us cared very little about those. The man himself is a dignified hero.

As we waited for the result from Aburi, we knew he had them by his fingers. When they brought the agreement to bureaucrats they yelled and threw their hands in the air. He had them real good. It could not be implemented as it stood and had to be renegotiated. He must have known that he took advantage of their soldier mentality and low caliber of class and education. On Aburi we stand, declared Ojukwu.

Therefore no matter what our differences is with Ojukwu later in life, that awe we had for him never disappeared completely because it actually inspired many of us as children. Some of us rationalized that if Ojukwu had not gone into politics after he returned from exile, he could have remained bigger than life. When he returned, Lagos was at a standstill no matter what part of Nigeria we came from. Everyone wanted a glimpse of him. He remained majestic, quiet and thoughtful or so we imagined.

So the first mistake was joining the National Party of Nigeria. Though many of us might have been greatly disappointed, we still gave him the benefit of doubt. That was, if he had not agreed to their terms he would still be in exile. Knowing Ojukwu as we did some thought that would not be him. Nobody dictates to Ojukwu. No way!

As Ojukwu went further into politics, he fell from grace of a national hero loved or respected for his stand no matter which part we sided with during the war to a regional hero. Even then, there was no agreement on him within his region. In retrospect, many wondered if it could have been better for the Igbo Nation if he had accepted compromised Aburi agreement instead of insisting on everything.


Source: Farouk Martins Aresa
Story from Modern Ghana News:

The Asiwaju of Barawo

Which other country has a drug baron been able to cross over as a political leader, tell us. Not even in Colombia or Mexico.

Date Published: 10/15/10

Happy Days are here despite old haggard distractions

By Farouk Martins Aresa
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Nigeria can now boast of some new leaders determined to move us forward than ever. It is better late than never. We are so lost in bad news we hardly have time to smell the roses. If we look around the Country, there are some leaders we can be proud of. They have certain common denominators and we as a people have a choice between these dedicated young men and women willing to go all the way to make Nigeria glow.

They are dark horses that have outdone their predecessors and can be elected in any party of their choice. They have performed comparatively well in the face of adversity and in the midst of corruption that should have retarded ordinary politicians. These are not opportunists that jump in front of the crowd shouting barawo, only to turn deaf and dumb to sleaze when seeking power. It does not mean they are perfect either.

The reason Governor Mimiko of Ondo State is one of the unique fellows is that he came with a party that no one was willing to give a chance. It was speculated that the Labor Party did not have what it takes to make electable governor or president. The former leader of Labor said as much refusing to contest under its banner in Edo State. Mimiko, could not wait to make immediate difference, so he made the mistake of firing those he considered parasites. He learned very well from that, but still has a task ahead of him.

So the myth has been broken that one can only win election under the banner of a party that accommodates some or most of the corrupt politicians. The people of Anambra got up and decided that their salvation is not in the status quo or established party of the heavyweights. APGA was able to produce a Governor for that State. Those familiar with the struggle in Anambra will admit that it was not an easy place to govern. Yet Governor Obi slugged it out with opponents of progress and prevailed, with scars to show for it.

We did not say the most desirable would be the easiest obtainable. Our Country needs leaders that will never give up or relent on progress made. Otherwise, wild grass will overtake a well cultivated farm. Indefatigable leaders must continue to press while fighting off distractors from so many corners. There are those who are incapable and will not let capable people function. Like Anambra, we have so many states in Nigeria that can turn a new leaf.

Governor Shekarau of Kano State is a member of ANPP that can rightly claim to be Northern opposition Party. If the people of Kano are not idol worshipers, many have claimed that he is the best Governor they have ever had. Of course a city like Kano share the traditional elites and some of the poverty we see in other parts of Nigeria but what makes these new leaders stand out is their achievements in a very difficult situation.

Changes have come to Kano and the people of that State are proud of those changes. It remains to be seen if those changes can spread into the neighboring states as some progressive movement. We used to have an old politician that said he only wanted to do what he did for his region for the rest of Nigeria. If Governor Shekarau is another leader, the whole of Nigeria can depend on, it remains to be seen.

Lagos State cannot be classed with other states struggling to make a difference. There are internal generated revenues open to Lagos State that is lacking in other states. It is not how much a state makes in revenue that matters but how it is managed and spent. Most Lagosians are happy with Governor Fashola because he delivers and manages the resources available to him well. Nigeria needs that type of manager.

If Fashola can do that much with the money he controls, Lagosians wonder how much more he could have done if he was not under the constraints of Tinubu. Many of us believe that no politician survives in ACN without paying fat dues to Tinubu. So if Lagos State has more revenue than other states and Tinubu is the instrument to spread that wealth for his influences across Nigeria, many people except Omo-Eko, are happy.

President Ebele is another new crop of leaders from poverty, educated as a PhD holder, and experience from his State as Governor. It is true that education is not common sense but those with common sense and means will pursue education. The advantage of PhD is the research and disciplined thinking that come with it, not necessarily a subject matter. As for those who think, his area of zoology is irrelevant to politics, others have answered that Nigeria is a zoo and we need a zoologist to deal with it.

Until President Ebele gets his own mandate and free of most inherited encumbrances, he has to compromise with others to get to where he wants. So far he has done well by the way he steered us away from turbulence during the death of his predecessor, Umar Yar’adua. That was a delicate period of transition and if he had listened to hot heads and not a man of his own, the story could have been different. Some of the activists that ran out of the Country have been able to come back and even vow to contest against him. Like Fashola in Lagos State, if he cannot tame his party, he needs a new one.

Nevertheless, PDP like the AC or ACN are parties unfit for a relatively decent Nigerian whose goal is to change the Country. Both parties favor business of patronage as usual and whoever comes out of those parties has a heavy burden to pay back into them. The advantage of ANPP is that it is constantly changing and domineering powers in the party are not comfortable. Unlike PDP and ACN, ANPP can still be changed from within.

The best is the Labor Party because it is closer to the ground or the masses and change can come from the ground up instead of the top down as in entrenched parties. It is the only way to change the system because it is an uphill battle for an individual to change the Country when the system remains the same. The type of revolution an individual can accomplish, even amongst loyalists can go wrong as we saw in the case of Nzeogwu.

If these new leaders have their ways, Nigerians have a great deal to celebrate.

How Community Police & Civil Defense Can Reduce Crime

Crimes are in every society but in order to reduce it to a minimum, Operation Show Off Force must plan to be proactive instead of reacting. Indispensable part for crime busters is reaction to crimes, and no one can deny that but it is not the only tool. If it is all Police Force does, crime would wear them out as it has in many of our cities. Some resources devoted to proactive civil defense is overdue, as elite force. But military decrees vestige of State Security Service obsessed with journalists, academic and political opponents tolerate notorious crimes, religious kingpins and cults to flourish right under our noses.

We have six geographical zones. Each of these sections must have, a special community trained force sniffing out potential crime in their own section of the Country but only for a limited period before exchanging with those of other zones. Their main duties would be to permeate brutal organizations, kidnappers and outlaws to eradicate them before they can lug out mayhem and to train civil defense. Neighbors and police know the rogue dens. Indeed when mob is sick and tired of reporting to police, they burn down thief’s homes.

Irate mobs can be tamed into civil defense force and licensed security guards in partnership with the non-profit institutions and private sectors to create jobs and protect our institutions. Their mutual cooperation would prevent opportunistic attacks on our professionals, students and middle class that could not be protected police alone. As for the business side, many organizations are already paying vigilantes for protection. Our law abiding university students and Youth Corps must be trained and empowered in the first line of defense. It could have been wiser to pay the militants as civil security guards than idle them. Better still, we may as well recall our university students from South Africa that stood down the armed mobs.

Ideas work better when they set pace for excellence. The six zones must coordinate and share information. We have so many graduates coming out of universities and untapped professors in each zone that can brain storm and put in practice what they teach in their ivory (or decayed) towers. We have lawyers and other professions in the force but only using their brain for naked power and sharing bribes instead of teaching civil defense. What is needed now is partnership and confidential criminal information shared with the Police.

If alerts such as those of superior army officers’ are ignored for political patronage: infiltration of ethnic champions, Road Transporters, militants, Boko Haram, kidnappers, etc would not prevent violence later. Police Force may say government already has SSS and State Special Anti-Robbery Squad. Well, it is not working, maybe because they all take orders from one chief from the center. We need to break them up, coordinate them and subject them to different brains and ideas from each of the six zones. Ideas are not limited to one maximum ruler, one police chief or one Czar from the capital.

As simple as it may look on paper, this demands heavy and arduous commitment from all political parties, most leaders of thoughts and most local heads. But the common ground has to come out of sincerity to solve the wave of crime in our society rather than the use of power to subdue opponents or other political parties. Situations where police force of 5,000 or 250,000 cannot wear uniforms home or go on foot patrol, is a failure.

The most deadly criminal organizations are not formed spontaneously but created after planning and recruitment. Spontaneous crime will always break out, the police handle that now and will continue to do so. But the most devious gangster and subversive ones that paralyze our Country are well planned to attack the police themselves. They get weapons locally and from organized international outlets, so transactions are not made in a hurry. This is why we need a force in each zone solely devoted to pre-empt crimes, not to chase it after the fact. Police have failed if big crimes always happen predictably.

In countries where governments change according to ideologies and frequently by the will of the people, it is easier for one party to investigate another no matter which party is in power. But in most African countries, where a political party can dominate and also perpetrate itself in power for a long time, we have to look for another means to balance police power. It is the only way proactive crime busters can effectively reducing menace.

Recognizing this, some people have asked for local police in each state. In spite of National Army, opponents of that position point out that we may end up fighting ethnic wars and diminishing the role of the Federal Government if national interest cannot be enforced fearing resistance from better armed rival local police force or thugs. We already have some problems right now within the Police. They cannot even curb militants as effectively as Oba’s raining curses. How effective can the police be without community information and cooperation?

Others have proposed a compromised force in each locality or we may say in each of the six geographical zones. There is no doubt that each local area of law enforcement would be more familiar with dens of crime in its area than those from other zones. However, there is the advantage of using informed officers from a zone without local bias or favor to quell trouble before it rears its ugly head; instead of local bribe to look the other way.

If this compromise can be worked out and each state or local area of each geographical zone equally contributes to their force with the option of bring police from other zones as the situation demands, we may be on our way to curbing crime by being proactive and preventing crime rather than expending all our resources fighting crime after the fact. At a point, robbers got so bold they were sending letters of their impending visits.

One consensus is that Nigeria Police as it is presently constituted is not working. Police corruption at the federal level is more difficult to deal with than in the localities. If police funds disappear before getting to the local level, there is little states can do, even if they want to. Without favoring any city, some local traffic enforcers are known to shun bribe. We must pay to get our cars back if anyone violates road safety regulation. The only way to break national corruption in the police force is to break it up into six regional forces competing with one another for good community policing and civil defense training.

The six zonal heads of the police may report to a rotating chair of the governors in that zone but the president will still retain some funds for national issues to the four regional police chiefs. It is important that the rotating chair of the governors has the right to fire and hire the police chief in his zone since the chair would rotate every year within the four year political term. While a police chief must strive to be fair to survive many bosses, it would be transparently high-handed to change the police chief every year.

Story from The Nigerian Voice News:

Published: Sunday, September 19, 2010

Most of the the real Lagosian families around Popo Aguda still know them and their extended families. Note that most Lagosians are related anyway, especially around the Brazilian quarters.

Apart from the fact that he was the richest man, he was never a conspicious spender. Actually some people thought he was too frugal.

There is nothing wrong in admiring the work of the gods from outside as long as you known when it is vile inside.

What a shame. Every honor, scholarship or position given to Africans or Nigerians in Diaspora is published with ceremony.

Professor Hill, Dan Hill's father, the singer. His father was a professor at University of Toronto in the 70s.

In the 80s there were at leat 4 profesors at York University, one of them from Ghana others from West Indians.

Please Canada is not that backward. Take it or leave it.

If it makes the Igbo brothers feel good, Ikejiani went back back to Newfoundland in the 70s to teach medicine, I am not sure what his title was. But Please stop this lie.