₦airaland Forum

For an Ibibio man I think that Ubong (for males) and Enobong (for females) are two of the most popular names. But then it may be disputable.

What about your tribe?

Ubong means honor

Enobong means gift

It depends, but dont be surprise if she chooses either her first child or last child.

Sometimes, we tend to overdo, critiquing people for their mastery of a foreign language, when the natives sometimes make mistakes when expressing themselves.

Still, your brother should have fought for His right! Invite the elders from your village, like the village chief. Best wishes.

Poster, abeg relax, hope you dont become paranoid and take your innocent baby to this pseudo organization who might then brand him a . . . and attempt to alienate you from him. Have you been reading reports on childwitches in Nigeria? Please relax, the baby is trying to get acquainted with his environment.

@poster, you are not yet ready for marriage if you are seeking the approval of others over your choice of a mate.

Na wao! Poster, what are you upt? Babies are just fun to be with and are probably getting acquainted with environment, hence their constant immersion at objects. Let me ask you this: Why do babies get attached to certain individuals they come in contact with regularly over others?

Not all are appalling, there are some Nigerians with almost perfect lingo.

janetjane:
i am sad to call myself a calabar guy ,cos my fathers people did something i can never forget.    as at 2007,my father was the oldest  deputy superintendent of prisons.   after his demise on earth, his family drove away my brothers and sold his house.  so now my brothers are scattered.   

              i am an efik from akpabuyo in cross river state.

                 what i want to know is , why do they do that

Sorry, it happened to you. But how come your brothers did not put up a fight over their own inheritance? How old are they, and how old are you?

Hey, did you know this girl, Azuna, at Wudil Camp? She was one of the food vendors. Very nice girl.

captured:
It is no more news that Nollywood and Bollywood have given HollyWood a run for thier money, but how will people especially nigerians respond to shows, movies and such projects between Nollywood and Bollywood.
Would we get the response level we get when you mention Hollywood stars?
For example: If Bollywood living legends like Anil Kappor of Slumdog Millionaire,  Dharmendra and Hemamalini were to come to Nigeria on a tour or something like that?

Funny comment in a while. Like Hollywood titans like Spielberg and George Lucas and the rest are so Worried that Hollywood would be overshadowed by Nollywood and Bollywood.

No second chance please. One month orientation at Wudil camp, in Kano state was enough. Yeah, I did have fun interacting with different faces from different universities, at the end of the period, I just wanted to move home. I fell ill in camp, survived boot camp, and the quality of the food was poor. But I did enjoy the night out at the local stalls in camp, playing draught, staying up late and all that. I truly miss my mates, we even exchanged addresses, but unfortunately, did not keep in touch with them.

Were you also in Wudil camp?

BAC:
My dear Tenants. We landLord are very sorry oooo.  Cement cost too much, Iron rod, Made in Nigeria Sand is even costly, C of O, Survey etc,  Omo - onile show us pepper too, When the mega city project is achieved you guys have to leave lagos ooo.

Not the landlords be problem na Government. And forget about prices going down. I suggest if you have the opportunity, just build. Anything will do, Even if it is only land in a remote location you can afford just try something, 
Lagos will become one of the most expensive cities in Africa,

Isnt it already?

I am just shocked by the swindling acts at changing currency. This is an eyeopener! Not worth the risk, especially at night. For daytime, maybe. I might as well hold onto my money till I get to my hometown.

With cashew nuts. I love it here in the USA

yoruba:

I dont understand da hype around A VISIT, I think africans have now portray'd him(Obama) as a god. I live in southern africa but I know he might never come to this area but it doesnt mean that the area is a disaster(except zim potentially), I respect Nigeria but shouldnt nigerians have better things to worry about than a visit?

I wonder what the whole hype is about Obama not visiting Nigeria or visiting Ghana first. I mean, what difference would his visit make in our lives, or the lives of ordinary Nigerians who are trying to eke out a living for survival?

lastpage:
@NdipeYes, its is. Means "my dear" in Ibibio.

Ma'abasi, l served my NYSC there, one whole good year so, l know what l am saying,
" Tan'kikor Ibibio, n'kopo m'akara!" 
U dig that?

@Larez,
Ameey'an! ?(Greetings)
no problem with your suggestion.
if it helps a bruvda to advance his good course, the pleasure is mine then.
Cheers.

Anwan mi is "My wife"

Beaf:
Why the culture of "shout negativity loudest"? This problem to me is worse than corruption because we shout and hurl abuse at each other without trying and cooperating to address ways to sort the country out.

Yes things are bad and government is corrupt and lethargic. But how can we get changes if we are all fighting each other?

There are a lot of us in foreign lands with so much to contribute to the country in terms of science and high tech. We are doing things here that we would rather be doing at home. This thing just drives us mad.

I am Nigerian, but not negative, so dont assume that all Nigerians are negative. Even if they were, their criticism is valid, because the country has been descending downhill in each successive year.

Sweet T:
I don't think this democracy thing is for everybody. Some nations has too many sub-human residence. They only do the right thing by force.

Granted, it's not a one size fit all, but Tunku rightly stated that it helps prevent dictatorship that could occur when the incumbent leader dies with no heir apparent. And if its practise is enshrined in Nigeria, it will go a long way in ensuring transparency and accountability.

tunku:
The problem is one of institutions versus personalities. Military rule devolves into nothing but a personal fiefdom for whoever is ruling it, but what happens when that leader dies and he was running the state on a whim rather than building institutions that can survive bad leadership. I'd rather have the option of voting out bad leaders every four years rather than praying that colonell izzi is a kind leader. If you want to see the failure of military rule even when it is good just look towards Yugoslavia after Tito's death. Why do you think that Nigeria is in such a bind anyways if not for the misrule of military government? Democracies aren't perfect and occasionally you get very bad leadership but in the end it is a better system because it doesn't saddle you with people like IBB, Abacha, Obasanjo, and yes even Yar'dua for a lifetime.

Excellent point!

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On this page you will be able to read the stories of some of the children at the camp,



Mary's head shows scars from hot caustic soda burn





Mary's Story


Mary Sunday Dan, 11 years, hails from Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. She is the only child in the camp whose parents are living together. Her father is an Evangelist in a Pentecostal church and the mother is a Deconess.

Mary was found alongside five other children searching for food from a stinking garbage mount in a market. On interviewing her, she voluntarily told CRARN the following story:

" My parents took me to the church for a Tarry Night (Watch and Pray Night) in January 2003. It was here that one of the prophetess pronounced that I was a witch, along with two other children. Since then my parents began to hate and kept a close watch on me. They accused me and my brother, Elijah of spiritually destabilising their economic progress and killing our 3 month old sister. Elijah was later forced to drink caustic soda. He became ill and vomited blood and died later.

They also forced me to drink hot soda one midnight but I refused. They poured it on my head and body instead. I started screaming and crying. My father at once took me on a motor bike claiming we were going to the hospital. He rather dropped me in a far away forest. After 4 days, a man found me and took back home. The villagers who saw my situation became alarmed. They forced my parents out of the village accusing them of practising real witchcraft. My father took me on a bike and dropped me in a distant city where I roamed the street and met many other street children in a big market.

Every day at midnight a gang of boys would come and rape us several times and ask our boys to enter people's stores to steal for them.




Udoh, showing brocken arm with open wound emitting maggots





Helen 5 and Precilia 3 are sisters found in the bush




Friday, February 22, 2008
Pictures & Stories of the Children



Rev Mrs Philis Sortor of the Free Methodist Church, USA, presenting a wheel chair to Akpan Samuel who was picked by the Nigeria Navy, Ibaka Mbo, Oron Axis having been dropped by fleeing traffickers, but now in the CRARN Children Center.

Akpan Samuel who is undergoing TB treatment, in his new wheel chair donated by Rev Mrs Philis Sortor of the free Methodist Church, USA.



150 kids in the CRARN CHILDREN CENTER






CRARN's Children's Academy






Miss Enobong Samuel Charles Presenting a petition signed by more than 1000 people and more than 30 countries to Governor Godswill Akpabio to stop the stigmatisation and killing of children as witches. This petition was put up by Kelli Stowe, Califonia, USA.




Jane Ikpe Essien whose mother used saw to cut her face then bannished her to live and fed by a mad woman, having been identified as witch. She is expressing her joy and bitterness at the UNICEF/NAPTIP workshop at Uyo-Nigeria.






'Reunification of children with family' shows Mr Sam Ikpe Itauma President of CRARN paying an unscheduled visit to a family at Oron to ascertain the fate of a reunited child, Good news.




Children protesting to the Governor: Almost 200 stigmatised children prosting their innocence as witches to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio and demanding the Childs Right Act to be passed into law.





These are some of the many street children yet to be rescured from the streets. They are currently camping at the Eket Sport Stadium and the Mobil Petrol Station (Mobil Mart)



Comfort Bassey who was burnt by the Brother using petrol.



Uduak Eyo who never new her father from Adam and the mother travelled to Lagos while she was 7. She was taken care of the grand mother. Uduak aunt, Rachael was seek, got swollen stomach; a witch child (Abednego) was brought to screen Uduak if she was a witch. He confirmed Uduak a witch. Since then Uduak began to face torture. She was 'tied with rope on her leg and hanged upside down for weeks in Bible Believers Church in Esit Eket, ' where the rope injured her severely.


Jane Ikpe whom the mother used saw and cut her claiming for making her to lost her husband and causing the poverty in the house. She was abandoned at 6.


A child who was attacked and ran to CRARN. And the resurrected Michael who was beaten to a state of coma in Eyobia, Oron, bundled and dumped at Ikot Ubo, Nsit Ubium when presuming him death.


Children who escaped death and took refuge at the Forward Operation Base (FOB) Nigerian Navy, Ibaka Mbo LGA - Oron axis having watched as their colleagues were pierced hot pokers into their anus by adults and they died.


A girl (Happiness),9, opposite Exxon-Mobil Terminal Ibeno, soothing her broken bones. She was picked to the CRARN Centre through a distress call from one passionate Capt Nat Ovuerherhe of the Mobil Aviation Dept who started, and was willing to fund her medical bill. She was later taken to the Commissioner of Women Affairs & Social Welfare, Akwa Ibom State at the instance of Dr Eleanor Nwadinobi, a UNICEF Consultant who visited CRARN on the way forward of these children's issue.
And the other picture is Edidiong Affia, still in CRARN who was tortured by the father and step-mother claiming she has taken all their belongings to witcraft coven and caused them to poor.



A child rescued by the Nigerian Navy, Forward Operation Based (FOB) Ibaka Mbo L.G.A and issue a distress call to CRARN.





Richard who is bleeding profusely from injury deliberately inflicted on him by a colleague in their carpentry workshop outside CRARN.






A child who suffered assault on the street now receive treatment at the Immanuuel General hospital Eket.



A child of about 12 years lying down in her urine at Ibaka Market in Mbo L.G.A. She sub-conscious at the moment I (Sam Ikpe-Itauma, President of CRARN) just picked her to the hospital. A Naval Officer at forward Operation Base Ibaka yester sent a distress called on her behalf for CRARN to come and rescue. She has wounds all over her body and cannot eat solid food at the moment.




Arrival of Sam Ikpe-Itauma, President of CRARN
and the yet-to-be identified child from Ibaka Market
Beach, Mbo to the CRARN Children Camp.






UNICEF Chief, 'A' Field Office, Enugu Zone
Mrs Pelucy Ntambirweki presenting food items,
TV, DVD and other items to the CRARN children she is in
company of Mrs Nneka Oguagha and other staff.






UNICEF crew and the CRARN children
and some members and volunteers.





UNICEF AND CRARN








Twin boys Itohowo and Kufre stand surrounded by angry villagers who believe they are bringing evil to their lives

Photograph: Robin Hammond/The Observer





Eleven-year-old Mbet was abandoned by her mother when she was six after being accused of being a witch



Photograph: Robin Hammond/The Observer

Mary Sudnad is 10. She was seven when her mother poured scalding water and caustic soda over her in a bid to cleanse her of witchcraft

Photograph: Robin Hammond/The Observer





A large nail was driven into this girl’s head. Nwaeka is about 16, and now badly brain damaged

Photograph: Robin Hammond/The Observer

Gerry is eight. His father spat petrol over him and set him alight - he blamed Gerry’s sorcery for the loss of his job

Photograph: Robin Hammond/The Observer


Angry villagers set upon Udo, 12, with a machete, accusing him of being a witch. His arm was nearly severed

Photograph: Robin Hammond/The Observer

Ekemini Abia is 13. Her father tied her to a tree by her ankles and left her there. She was found, half-starved, over a week later

Photograph: Robin Hammond/The Observer


Nails were driven in around the top of Etido’s head - he is about nine and rarely speaks




Sisters Victoria, four, and Helen, seven. They were left alone in an old shack and survived by eating leaves and grass


Photograph: The Observer



Twin brothers Utomobong and Mbotidem are 11. They were blamed for their parents' separation, beaten and thrown out of their home

Photograph: Robin Hammond/The Observer



Siblings Samuel, 11, Esther, 14, and Sarah, 10, were all abandoned by their parents to a life on the streets after a ‘prophetess’ - female preacher - said they were witches

Photograph: Robin Hammond /The Observer




Twelve-year-old William was abandoned after being labeled a witch

Photograph: Robin Hammond/The Observe



Twelve-year-old William was abandoned after being labeled a witch

Photograph: Robin Hammond/The Observe

Posted by Kelli at 12:45 PM
Reactions:

1 comments:
bbysunnyD said,
WOW,,
This old world, can be cruel sometimes,when your looking for ans you can't seem to find,No one understands, what your going through, but you just have to be strong,i know it may be hard to believe, but it gets better, Have faith kids. If i could i would take you ALL in. Trust me. juust have faith. I love you all! <3

October 21, 2008 7:38 AM
Post a Comment



WRITTEN BY:
EJIRO OTIVE-IGBUZOR, COUNTRY DIRECTOR, CEDPA, NIGERIA
Senator Emem Ekaette Must Hear This!
Published in July 28th, 2008
Posted by admin in Uncategorized


While conducting a Needs Assessment in Akwa Ibom State two years ago, my team stumbled on a group of marginalized people. Thrown out by their families and rejected by society, they roam the streets during the day half-naked or clad in dirty, smelly clothes, living as scavengers – searching through waste bins and drinking from pools of water by the roadside, for they have no one to provide food or clean water for them. They sleep on bare floor at fuel stations at night because they dare not go anywhere near home. Many are sent to untimely graves by cold, hunger or disease. Some are simply washed away in the gutters when it rains heavily. Meet the Street Children!



In life, some stories are simply unbelievable. This couldn’t be happening in 21st century Nigeria. I am familiar with the plight of Street Kids in Northern Nigeria but this is a different kind of situation. I’m told that the street kids of Eket cannot mix with real people. Some parents threatened to withdraw their children from school when a kind-hearted proprietor mentioned that he would give the street kids scholarship. Are they lepers, HIV infected or crazy? No! This time, it is a different kind of stigma – these children are perceived as witches and wizards! Some of them were accused in church. How ridiculous! If indeed these children are witches, whose job is it to deliver them from the stronghold of satan? Can’t these parents see that the so-called ministers of God have failed in their duties? Oh! The things that people do in the Name of Christ!



My curiosity took me to a place called IKot Afaha in Eket LGA where a group of young people under the auspices of an NGO called Child’s Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) are providing shelter for these kids. As we drive into the premises, a multitude of bright eyed, beautiful and lively children – numbering about a hundred, troop out excitedly and surround us. The younger ones (some less than 3 years old), hungry for a mother’s love hold my hands and my legs and smile lovingly into my eyes. Those tiny beautiful eyes bear a passionate plea. Love me. I deserve some love, they seem to be saying. I fight back the tears. Ejiro, be strong! You have not come to increase their sorrows. Some of my team members hide their faces. We can’t afford to let these children see us cry. CRARN has given them hope. So we put up a bold face.



Ifiok is a handsome, intelligent boy of about 9. I’m told that this boy can draw anything and everything. According to Sam, the CRARN coordinator, his mother, a graduate of English Language abandoned him because there was a prophecy in church that the child was a wizard. Listening to the mother’s recorded voice, I felt a sharp pain in my heart. I have tolerated him enough! I don’t ever want him again in Jesus Name!! She screamed. Even as I write this, the tears are welling up again.



Denis is a handsome boy of about 8. When we met him, he was well dressed in jeans and boots. He looked really auspicious compared with the other kids. I suspect that he is from a rich background. Why would anyone abandon this lovely boy? His father had brought

him to CRARN on one fateful day and signed that he never wanted this boy again. The boy’s offence? He is a wizard! How did the father confirm this? Cockroaches and spiders have invaded his home and the man thinks that Dennis is responsible for it. Hmm! Clean up your house man!!



Eti was picked up from the street. He had a nail as well as several cuts. In addition, he had burns on his leg and had been in the gutters for two weeks without food. Someone dragged him out and left him on the roadside opposite Mobil Housing Estate, Marina Road, Eket.



Inyang is mentally ill. A young man was clearing the gutter and he made an accidental discovery. It was a boy’s head covered with grass. On pulling him out, he was found to be alive. This boy needs medical attention urgently.



Inyang is not the only mentally sick child in the home. Nwaeka was picked with a nail in her head. Her body was covered with a church banner bearing the inscription – I am safe! The point where the nail was taken off healed badly, leaving keloids. This girl of 16 is mentally ill. Here is a typical case of man’s inhumanity to man. She badly needs a psychiatrist.



Another little girl, May had also suffered a similar fate. She had deep scars on her face. Her mother poured hot caustic soda on her and threw her into the bush to perish. A hunter found her and brought her back to the village. The villagers at Efoi frowned at the assault and banished her parents from the village.



Two sisters, Abi and Ela (5 and 3 respectively) were abandoned by their father. They were picked by CRARN and now live at the home. Priscilla is 3 and half years old. She and her sister were abandoned at the market in Esit Eket. They previously lived in Cameroon where their father died.



Upon relocation to Nigeria, their mother married another man. This man did not want the children and so they were thrown out to perish.



Listen dear friend, these are not tales from Nollywood. I would never have believed that such cruelty existed anywhere in Nigeria had I not gone to Itok Afaha to see for myself. With a sharp pain in my heart, I summoned courage to ask Mary and Magdalene if they would love to be re-united with their families.



May: [immediately becomes jittery] No. They will kill me! I had to reassure her that I hadn’t come to take her home.



Meg: [Eyes lowered] No. They will pursue me!



Well! Well!! Well!!! This is what I call the shame of a nation. That nation comprises you and me who pretend that nothing is wrong. It is indeed by a stroke of luck that we were not born to such wicked parents. Can you imagine seeing cockroaches and claiming that a child is responsible for that?



It is painful that while these children are dying, plus the fact that Nigeria has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the world, a Senator from this same Akwa Ibom State is more concerned about legislating on dress code. Madam Senator, could you please channel your energy towards saving these children from the grips of death?



Sam Ikpe Itotuma is the coordinator of the Child’s Rights Rehabilitation Network (CRARN). He, along with two other friends founded the centre 3 years ago. They now have 15 members. The government donated buildings to them to house these children. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has donated a Girls’ Hostel for which the Church paid a three-year rent and provided 15 double bunks, mattresses, blankets and bedsheets. An NGO – Stepping Stones picks almost 50% of CRARN’s bills. Private individuals also donate food and money. There is no sustained funding and they sometimes run out of food. Sam says it costs N150, 000.00 (One Hundred and fifty Thousand naira) to feed the children every month. This may be a lot of money to CRARN but chicken feet if we all join hands to give these children a future. Do you want to write your name in gold by making a commitment to CRARN? Call Sam Itauma on +2348026693099 or +248050547730.

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:14"


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bp2.blogger.com/_vE0khkPC7XE/SG4L-pWUNKI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/wzOsim4djOg/s320/SANY0057.JPG&imgrefurl=http://crarn.tripod.com/id4.html&usg=__66R_XiKDtqAVNmjLTx76EPVx_FM=&h=320&w=240&sz=28&hl=en&start=13&um=1&tbnid=KzPivSeynIlztM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dafaha%2Beket%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

tunku:
not even close, democracy hands down. When Nigerians wake up they will appreciate the institutes of democracy that they have if they choose to stick with it. Look at India, Brazil and (America in the late 19th century) All of these places don't  have the best democracies but they've been strengthened over the years. Nigeria's democracy will get stronger if allowed to grow and mature. Military rule and top-down rule in General is bound for failure.

Bound for failure? To me, I'd rather be governed by a caring leader, irrespective of whether he is a military or civilian leader. I am sure that most people would agree with me. Of what point would it be to elect a democratic president and he proves to be a disappointment, unlike, lets assume a military leader, who has the welfare of the masses at heart?

lastpage:
Larez nwanmi (as we say in Akwa-ibom!)
You have gone far and above my expectation. I am not disappointed neither am l surprised.

I wondered aloud in another forum-topic, when l asked whether it would be correct to say "Nigerians are the most selfish people around"?

You mentioned Iranians taking their destiny into their hands, and for an Islamic Republic, thats quite a challenge!
What excuze do we Nigerians have for suffering under these yokes placed on us?

The only answer l could come up with, is that it has to do with the cliche that says "everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die" , an impossibility that explains the cycle of suffering in Nigeria.

, and our "self-centered-ness"  reminds me of Fela Anikulapo Kuti when he sang that Nigerians are always ready with loads  of excuzes NOT to "protest injustice" (as Iranians are doing today) when meted-out to them by saying "Mama dey for house, pickin dey for school, l never marry, l never build house, l still wan go school, e.t.c" , just to avoid doing what is necessary, to safeguard our future!

Doing away with advance rent is very desirable but it has to be well-planned, methodical and in consonance with infrastructural development in other facets of our economy. Remember "files" do get lost and do get burnt at EFCC, as secure as that place is, so says the chairperson!!

What you experienced at the Quarry replicates right across our National life, Mafia Generator sellers that would ensure Nepa does not function, Mafia PMS Marketers that would ensure unending increase in fuel price, without commensurate development of local content and refineries, Mafia borehole water sellers that will ensure the state Water Works pipe gets broken regularly, Mafia boss that fix commuter bus price at Bus stops, Mafia Pepper Grinders that would say you cant grind less than ten pieces of pepper at less than #20, even if you felt like doing so and many more!

Everywhere, its "organized crime" and we know them, we see them yet we remain hapless and allow a few band of cabals to hold about 140million intelligent people to ransom!
My prayer is that we would put things in perspective and order our priorities. Policies have to be focused and articulate in implementation, not just populist.
A reference to Abraham Maslow's Hierarchical Pyramid of human needs might do our policy makers some good.
The Guv'nor is not doing badly but like Oliver Twist, l think he can still do more and do better.

Peace & luv (you remember that, dont you?)

That's not Akwa Ibom.

arojamanja:
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=145932

I spent most of last week in Washington DC and the days were well spent. Everywhere I went, the topic was always Nigeria. Nigeria seems to have become a major burden for most of its citizens. Wherever two or more Nigerians are gathered, there is usually nothing else to discuss than the failure of leadership, and our steady slide into apocalyptic state. To say everyone is worried is an understatement.
There is nothing to suggest that Nigerian politicians appreciate, or even care, about the dangers that ominously hang over us. The way they are carrying on suggests that these reckless fellows may once more endanger the democracy we suffered so much to attain. When a nation is incapable of transferring power from one civilian to the other, in an atmosphere of peace, then we are all doomed.
Politics for us is a matter of life and death. Elections remain a theatre of war, and opponents must be crushed without mercy. If a whole BAT (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) could cry out so stridently about the manner some powerful forces in Nigeria have been threatening him with EFCC, then we are indeed in trouble. This confirms what we heard during the electoral malfeasance in Ekiti State, that the federal government had warned Tinubu to stay away from causing trouble for the ruling party in Ekiti.
Failure to heed this blackmail may lead to his files being revisited at EFCC. What nonsense? We thought we had seen the end of this type of abuse of power. While some files are being closed, the underprivileged ones like Tinubu have theirs being kept for regular oiling in the cabinets. The brave man had to outsmart the foxes by taking the battle to their doorstep, and exposing the shenanigans of vindictive politicians.
We’ve never been lucky with most of our rulers. It is no longer news that we have very weak, incompetent, ineffectual, corrupt, wicked, ruthless, visionless politicians in Nigeria. What is news is that Nigeria parades some of the brightest people on the surface of the earth and yet cannot elect such people into office. The few good people who manage to get into power are never allowed to make a difference. They are often suffocated by those who joined politics for personal gains. We tend to complain a lot, but without visible results.
Every Nigerian knows what is wrong with us. Even theoretically, we all seem to have the solutions. Why then is it impossible to apply our knowledge to finding lasting answers to many questions begging for attention? How come we are so used to “suffering and smiling”? Could there be a spiritual dimension to our problems? It is baffling that we can endure so much pain. It is amazing how we simply shrug our shoulders to very serious issues, and move on with our lives as if nothing happened.
There is not a single thing that we can point at that our rulers have generously done for us. We lack good roads, yet we drive the most expensive cars on it. We build houses we cannot maintain in the most expensive slums in the world. We all have our individual boreholes at home to serve as private water corporations. Generators fight loudly for attention in every single home or flat. There are no sacred neighbourhoods.
Abuja, our brand new city is already collapsing. Nowhere is our rulers’ lack of vision so palpable than Abuja. It is obvious we have again missed an opportunity to build a city that can rival Canberra in Australia, or Brasilia in Brazil. We seem to suffer irredeemably from poverty mentality and can never copy the right things that we are so used to seeing elsewhere.
This was the platform on which we rested our discussions during a beautiful brunch which was hosted for me last Saturday by a young 26-year old Nigerian, Bankole Omisore, at The National Press Club, on 14th Street, Washington DC, a very historic edifice that has played host to the crème de le crème of American politicians and showbiz personalities. For me as a journalist, it was the perfect environment to enjoy the best of American burgers, and jaw-jaw on the issues of serious concerns to all of us.
I had struck a beautiful relationship with Bankole last year, at the Annual Nigerian Reunion Summit in Baltimore, where I gave a talk, and interacted with thousands of Nigerian youths. Bankole had chaperoned me on that occasion, and demonstrated his incredible love for Nigeria even at that tender age. He would later introduce me more forcefully to Facebook, a monster that has now taken over the world.
Today, I have the privilege of over 4,000 friends, with another 4,000 waiting for me to confirm them. Interestingly, Bankole controls the Ovation International magazine (loud for a purpose) group on Facebook, and has already attracted over 5,000 members, and growing at an average of 100 new members per day. This whizz-kid has opened my eyes to the awesome possibilities of technology. He was able to register and tutor me on the latest craze in town, Twitter. The generation of Banks, as we all fondly call him, is so determined to change Nigeria through technology. They have vowed never to allow Nigerians to be slaughtered on the streets while campaigning for enduring democracy and good governance.
Their strategy is to use the Internet to reach as many enlightened Nigerians, at home and abroad. Believe me, these guys are winning, slowly but surely. They post my column on Facebook every week, so that those who may not be interested in reading newspapers on-line can have access to the serious issues we tackle these days.
I cannot thank these Nigerians enough for their selfless contributions to nation-building. They have contributed largely to my unbounded optimism lately. We must pay special tribute to these unsung heroes who are working round the clock to achieve positive changes for Nigeria. These are guys who combine their regular jobs with sitting on their Blackberries to send messages at the speed of light. We must encourage them to carry on for they are the salt of our world. One can only hope that more Nigerians would also take advantage of the many stunts that technology has put on parade today.
Back to our brunch, Bankole was able to hook up his group with the older generation by attracting the famous Professor Bolaji Aluko of Howard University and Mr Muyiwa Sobo, a distinguished Attorney in the Washington Metropolitan area. It was a meeting for about a dozen people and we had very useful insight into the problems of Nigeria through Professor Aluko. He was of the opinion that the decision of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to move from the Western Region to the center robbed Nigeria of the opportunity of every region developing at its own pace.
According to him, the South-west would have become like the Singapore of Nigeria, while offering the other regions the spirit of competition. He lamented that all the enviable legacies of Awolowo and his vibrant team have come to ruin in the hands of the carpetbaggers who have taken over the whole place. He wondered why nothing concrete has been added to the innovations brought into governance by Awolowo.
We talked about the dearth of good people in politics. It was agreed that that decent people have allowed themselves to be intimidated by political upstarts and thugs. We have inadvertently transferred the levers of power to most of the certified crooks that are ready to play the game by any means necessary, while we are busy running away from what we call the dirty game. The simple analogy is that of beauty contests. We always complain that Miss This and Miss That are very ugly, yet we keep our own pretty daughters under lock and key. It is the same with politics.
We cannot continue to complain about the poor quality of politicians we have when none of us is ready to join the fray. As for those of us who may not be ready for elective office, there is always a positive role to play. We can start to effect change by helping to mobilize voters for good candidates. We can also help to recruit foot-soldiers who would help to protect the votes of the right candidates. It is very clear that useless candidates would always spend huge fortunes to amass guns and cutlasses but there are lessons to be learnt from the past. You can only rig where you are popular. That is the main reason PDP amassed all its votes predominantly from one zone.
In the future, we must never allow ourselves to be caught unawares. Since we know Maurice Iwu is a beautiful leopard who can never change his skin, all hands must be on deck to beat this master at his the game. We must put a lie to his brazen propaganda. Everyone must come out to vote. After voting we must stay around to ensure no hanky-panky is introduced. We agreed at our brunch to take this campaign to all our friends and families.
Nigeria cannot afford another four years of this dangerous drift. All over the world, Nigerians are crying. Most people want to come home. But they are worried about the state of affairs. They hardly receive good news from home. A friend said he was trying hard to cajole his young kids to visit Nigeria, and where they refuse; he may have to apply pressure. All the kids are complaining about lack of steady electricity.
The news that the ruling government is pumping more money into that sector is being scorned at by most people. They are of the opinion that the problem was never that of funding. It is that of a perpetual sabotage by those satanic profiteers who are benefitting from our collective misery. There is also the issue of awarding contracts to those who will never get the job done after collecting full payments. Examples of such unexecuted contracts abound in our country. Yet the contractors are usually untouchable.
There is also a consensus on the issue of getting rid of our traditional politicians who have failed us so woefully. After ruling us for about 50 years, we must begin to ease them out of the system. Most of them started their political careers when they were in their twenties. Now some of us are nearing 50, yet we are being looked at as “small boys”. When are we going to mature enough to be able to serve our dear country? The same politicians are being recycled over and over again, as if the rest of us are idiots. We must challenge the retrogressive system that makes it possible for the worst politicians of our society to force themselves on us.

Self adulation and cheap promotion.

It's expected for Indian women to pay dowry to their men to marry them. Some of them even get burnt to death if they default on the dowry payment.

Not true that behind every successful man, there is a woman.

Which has served Nigeria better? The military regime or the civilian regime? Babangida and his cohorts milked the country dry, but really were they worse off than their civilan predecessors, Shagari and the other guy who crowed that Nigerians are yet to eat from the dustbin? Buhari and his partner, Idiagbon's attempt to restore order and dignity in the lives of Nigerians were met with strong criticism and allegations of abuse of civil rights. There, Nigeria went downhill with the regime of Abacha who pilfered the country so badly that his death was met with celebration from some quarters. Obansanjo, hailed as an agent of change descended into ignominy when he tried to run for a third term. Yaradua, whose ascent was also greeted with aplomb and dismay has managed to stay away from the limelight. But governors like Fashola and Duke, all products of the civilian regime have done remarkably for their home state.

Which regime is suited best for Nigerian? To me, it's irrelevant (though in an ideal world, democracy, which is the govenment of the people by the people ,  Guess America does not live upto that idealized image it portrays with the electoral college in part), as long as the right person rules the country. He could be a military guy, a civilian guy, or even a socialist guy!

I will never ever send my child to a primary school boarding house.

Mactao, I am impressed by your writeup!