₦airaland Forum

For many who have been co-opted in the mob and cultic followership that some of these politicians have been able to weave, very few of Odumakin’s statements would resonate or engage critical thought.

Indeed, Nigerian politics, owes its preservation and failure to the sheepish and partisan construct of our polity. And as a result, many are less wary of the potential political deceit and elitism that stares them in the face, and are content with dreamed bliss and salvation- buoyed by a well-oiled propaganda machinery, in so far as the present trauma that the ruling party represents is history. Truth be told, the present landscape offers little, other than the illusion of change, even with the options currently dangled.

It is instructive to remind ourselves again that social and political change has been asserted throughout history as originating from an awake and enlightened people, and not from the political class. It would do well to further and encourage discourse and an examination on all political and economic issues, in the hope for the rebirth, revival or survival of this country. Hero worship, sectarian and religious bigotry tarnishes such opportunities and could well lead to a cul-de-sac that bodes an ill wind to all.

The simple truth is clear and irrefutable: divorce and settlement laws, here, are heavily tipped in favor of the woman; it matters little what contributions or merit opportunity costs her espousal period to you is; the courts would ensure the stripping of everything with glee.

I believe much of these would remain the status quo, until the demographics of wealth distribution and responsibility tilts towards the female, then we may have a real test of its provisions and neutrality. But given the crass opportunism and leeching that defines today’s social order; I would not be holding my breath.

P.S
The escape path from state backed plunder seems obvious: if you’re wealthy, stay out of marriage.

There is very little in the excerpts of this interview that detracts from the position long held and expressed in the body language, posturing and tacit approval, that these insurgents have enjoyed from characters like this with hegemonic interests. It also shouldn’t come as surprise for some of us who are appalled at the revisionism and character rehabilitation of these personages, which is currently underway, and the attempts to sell a deodorized past to a gullible people.

Pray tell, how does militancy-morphed from environmental rights activism, after untold years of neglect and environmental degradation, compare to insurgency that is hinged on obtuse grudges, with affiliations in fanaticism and grisly carnage to boot.

More worrying, besides these objections, is the security and divisive implications, these unguarded utterances pose for a people who would do with less hate, ethnic bigotry and religious intolerance- which are sure to be interpreted from them.

They should also point out to those who seek rapture from the challenges that beset the country- with blind kowtowing and romanticism with messianic propaganda-that, the burden of development rests heavily on an informed and committed followership, who must seek and rout elements that seek their destruction while waving the flag of deceit.

One hardly needs to follow any moniker and their comments here to grasp where their political loyalties and sympathies lie. More worrying, is the stridency of these persuasions, even when it is obvious their principals may have run a sorry and poorly conceived intervention.

Granted, the ruling party may have had its failings in meeting the expectations of a broken people, with the delivery of good governance, in the true sense of the word; it does however appear mischievous or naive to permanently condemn any action of government and impugn on its effectiveness, with hardly any air of evidence or rational alternatives.

There also is the suggestion that the “opposition” is blessed with infallible wisdom, and are poised to deliver with deux machine aplomb, when the saddle is in their hands. Maybe, the effectiveness of propaganda or the sheer short memory of the average Nigerian ensures the distortion or the perpetuation of the lie that governance has exclusively being a PDP affair. At various levels and degrees of collaboration and connivance, these “heroes”, critics, and their underlings or foot soldiers, have had their share in the misrule that dot the landscape. You only need undertake an examination of the background and antecedents of these people to understand their construct and political designs.

Anyways, if anything, one action that deserves the commendation of all, is this effort by government to curbing a growing terror. Or perhaps, the murderous campaign by these insurgents is one with the expectations of the “opposition”, or their actions tie with their ultimate agenda; but this unfaltering romance with a messianic complex would only serve an albatross, and ensure the perpetuation of despair for both the gullible and sheeple.

It gets stranger by the day. Hitherto crusaders of anti-corruption and nationalism fail to see the contradictions in their stand, utterances and political persuasions. In one breath, this former anti-corruption czar lampoons the government for rewarding corruption and sleaze, with the pardon extended to some politicians, and in another, just couldn’t wait to catch the chorus train of those drumming support for “amnesty” for a murderous group of insurgents, with a backing threat of civil war if not heeded. Anyways, politicians do not make a fascinating study for inconsistencies and multiple moralities. The real sympathy is with the gullible and naïve who queue up behind these heroes, messiahs and solution providers.

What is more curious, is ever since the Sultan, voiced this suggestion, there has been a surge of support from several camps including those touted as the alternative; contrast this with the criminal silence that attends the actions of this group intent on furthering a murderous agenda with religious and political undertones, whenever they decide to overrun a community and people. If history is any good indication of hindsight, the choir of amnesty apologists would force some expediency or volte-face, at the very least, by government.

At least one point has been validated, which avers that the average Nigerian has never risen above their ethnic and religious loyalties, and it brings to question the nagging issue of Nigeria’s identity crisis and nation definition. By all accounts, project Nigeria seems more clobbered with each unsure step and, in search of resolution by its constituents-expressed under varied mutinous cloaks and agendas. There are still roads to take, peaceable coexistence under various umbrella-confederate, republic or dismemberment-whatever the negotiated choice, or the highway that leads to Rwanda and the Balkans.

Sometimes, you have cause to query the distinction we so much like to claim exists between humans and animals-this is one of such.

Pound for pound-violence and hate, affection and friendship-we may be no more different as we love to think.

It may be a good start to have some database of fingerprints, eye and hair descriptions-and the nuances that make up any citizenship pool repository as demonstrated by even the smallest of East African nations. One venture- overtaken by unbridled corruption that defines almost every initiative- scaled to having a semblance of this, was the botched National ID project.

That project if it was completed would have put into works the definition of citizenship and human normative behavior, as it would have enabled recourse for forensics and other scientific legs of the police. It is with the absence of any surveillance infrastructure, a loose definition of the Nigerian, imaginary borders and the regular embarrassment that comes with the passport at our local terminus- by your own, that the prayers for crime management would remain at best wishes-or concede to an ushering of the rule of the jungle. If the ID project could just set sail, then the question of matching vehicular history and background verification would assume easy relevance and prove long time effectiveness.

Despite all these, any hopes for a responsible, accountable and humane polity can only emerge when the understanding of rewards and sanctions, a fair share of opportunities or inclusions, is reinvented both for community and country. This is where leadership-at all levels-family or institutional, must take ownership and responsibility.

Something is terribly wrong with Nigeria, so much that almost nothing counts for value or worth. All through this nation’s history, I have never encountered human life so cheapened-in peace time, and the ready equation of everything to pecuniary concerns, as displayed on the streets and our body language.

Everything about this incident and the victim suggests a car hijack and the mindless elimination of the owner, for reasons, that still makes me query what side of the moon brought forth these criminals and the depravity of their actions- the possession of an SUV and this brilliant man was just killed!

One can only pray that consolation comes to his immediate family, the now fatherless child, and colleagues.

There are few things coarse than the language of hate and extremism. Whatever the agenda is, the end result, surely, would be unpleasant both for Nigerians, in the shrinking world space that have made drone wars a newfound reality, and a government schooled on deceit and propaganda.

One can only pray for the release of the abducted and hope some wedge or consciousness emerges, on the dangerous descent that so clearly is in sight.

@op
A nice piece there and quite timely, too. These observations and submissions, as convincing and poignant, as they are, would hardly pass the grain of current realities and pomp-read “pop”, and hero worship-whatever that is supposed to mean, that assails society.

As proof of how warped our value system is, run a quick check of front page entries and see which commands the most traffic.

It does seem there is the presence of a strain or mindset, here, which profits and is well adjusted to mischief or the fanning of warped linchpins. I understand people can be broken, damaged or permanently bitter; it however runs against healthy community to have an agenda portrayed under the premise or launchpad that suggests reconstruction or rehabilitation, when such is not the driven construct. Anyone experienced in any therapeutic exercise, understands that securing the case history of a patient can make or mar diagnosis and treatment. Certainly, not with this endeavor, and on a faceless forum, where conclusions are reached from one party, with hardly any forensics-or balance, and the tendency for factoids to be deployed and polished, to entrench the stereotypes people have of the other- gender, race etc.,

My fear has much to do with the very impressionable, who would swallow the bait, and engage in navel-gazing, distrust, garbled suggestions, habits and ultimately, some deviant character, that could undo/reverse gains previously made and enlarge the burgeoning community of the broken.

Anyways, I guess its Friday- and the weekend, the theater of the absurd couldn’t have found a better time and place for public roistering.

The concept of education derives much from problem resolutions, a taking for peculiar interests-social, economic and the scientific, some exposure and improved interactions. Although, a temptation often exists with the arching burden of self-sufficiency and societal standing, but truth be told, no degree is a meal ticket. The substance of an academic achievement lies much with any verifiable benefits that an engaged environment admits or dismisses, and, it is here that your education places you in a position to negotiate or concede- when that scrutiny or appraisal is concluded. Society only rewards what it deems beneficial to it; the volume or make is essentially the individual’s initiative to take or project.

In all honesty, a major fault line exists in reasoning that the drive for any degree, diploma or certificate, should be linked to monetary concerns or rewards, and it would ultimately lead to frustrations and discouragements, if such formed the premise of the enterprise.

Interests such as research, innovations or ideas formulations, for industry or the academia, in my view, should form the overriding motivations.

@Sisi_Kill
A fine diagnosis there of the survivalist lurch that defines the average Nigerian. How we manage to work through and still evince a smile, however plastic and shallow, still puzzles me. From the security operative with a finger on the trigger- cajoling and threatening; to the market trader-warming up to the habitual rain of invectives and worship on passers-by and customer; to government officials, who have made their stock with a dentition parade for every photo session, however grave or sublime the occasion, etc. These aberrations appear unique to the Nigerian- denial is strong, so also is reality.

One thing is certain, anyway; this condition is unsustainable and would reach its terminal end-either from the natural decay of time or a forced re-negotiation, when breakdown is complete.

It’s in applications like these, that you really must admire/salute the human spirit, for good or bad; our ability to find ways to press and concede, just to find that standing, acceptance or praise, regardless of the route taken or attending consequences. A well pursued feat- nonetheless, and I guess numerous shampoo corps must have sent her loyalty cards, at least.

@op
While you are at it and content with playing to naysayers, or secretly in wait for the knight in a shiny armor and castle, please let the poor guy be so he can berth in surer waters.

P.S
Men really go through the most inanities in finding a mate-from the ridiculous, absurd and selfish, the filtering criteria is unbounded, and can reach depraved depths; no wonder exhaustion and wear defines the best of them.

If there’s anything I respect and adore about males, it is this: their clarity and frankness, in placing on the table, the motivating preferences in the choice of a mate. Not so for broads and their well-oiled doctrine of denials, obstructiveness and self-deceit; it matters little what the agenda is; the outcome is always the same. It will save your sanity to dismiss their regular tantrums and condemnations-a secret desire and praise might be lurking in them. Anyways, to the new couple-happy “married” life.

All professions are not without their frustrations, joys, humiliations and strengths. Quite a handful of the traditional professions, have had their high expectations gone the way of history. The dynamics of today’s world weigh in heavily on pecuniary values and quick rewards-and, frankly, a salaried and engaging profession just won’t cut that image of today’s success yardstick.

If anything is to be learnt or understood from shared pains- and experience- as expressed here, it is this: Grooming, absorbing, nurturing and living a profession, with verifiable impact on a community, is sufficient for satisfaction.

@op
No one should be surprised at the French intervening in this conflict. The motivating canons are essentially political and economic-and, more for an erstwhile colony. The French are without doubt the most shepherding of all former colonial powers, and the action only became inevitable after a major landing platform became threatened with the capture of, Konna, by the insurgents.

An inventory of the political health of hitherto capable African countries- Nigeria, South Africa, etc.,- would return a deficit: a run of manipulated succession bids; a crisis of quality leadership; an abundance of pocket extremist groups- dictating death, the headlines and political discourse; the lingering food and energy shortages, etc.,. Any honest observer would readily admit that most states are hobbled and are only in delayed anarchy.

As for the passiveness and the absence of a well-articulated response from the African Union et al, regarding the insurgency, the answers stare you in the face.

@op
This thread reminds me of two male colleagues back at our Lagos office; formerly cheerful folks until they were wedded, and how in a bid to escape, set up permanent residence in the office, under the guise of night shifts and uncompleted assignments. One was brave enough to mutter to a few friends, how he had been deceived and wished the step was never taken.

Sadly, the neglect of the right to protection, redress or equal hearing and treatment, of the adult male extends even to male children. Rarely do you hear of admitted abuses, by the women folk, to these kids earn their deserved rebuke; at best, a few days probation, a fine or warning, or worse- blame could be placed on the shoulders of the victim’s parents. The last case in Florida, which I followed, to see how fair and unbiased the laws could be, turned out to be the same cavil and a waste of time- the lady walked away free and was told to sin no more. You need not picture the scenario were a man the defendant or suspect.

This violence and abuse is not new. Men rarely are encouraged to find redress or evince even the most casual signs of abuse. Society insists his role is to slave and fend for the other, regardless; and goodness-“What are his brawns for?”, some will ask.

Today’s band of laws, and our docility to its basis, seemed to have given further tenor to that. We have seen legal imprimaturs to fleecing, under various divorce scripts that dot the books. You may be far from understanding the impact until you know some folk or may have been there yourself.

As to the possibility of a having these issues, earn some deserved attention or correction-I really doubt. It’s the duplicitous world we have patented-one that denies the human capacity for violence regardless of gender or race, one the insists of the entrenchment of a doctrine of entitlement, where nothing was sowed, one that submits to power without responsibility and, one that would likely be borne until retributive violence ensures society's demise.

Another warped logic that denies the moral burden of the consequences of choice, self-worth and responsibility-alas; akin to laying blame at the doorsteps of car manufacturers for building engines capable of Mach speeds.

There is little anyone can do to dissuade a mind already commodified- at least the marketplace ensures that anything can be up for hire or purchase, but the very little one can expect is the ownership of responsibility for such choices employed.

There are values that cannot be obtained off the shelf of materialism, greed and self-denial; they peg the human as a product of some intricate mixture of worth and dignity in his interactions with community. They are in themselves, self-evident and filling, for anyone on a sincere enterprise with morality and sincerity. They underpin a society’s moral compass and define how that community is viewed and labeled. Sadly, much of the erosion of today’s values spring from the erection of price tags on the individual and life in general. It grew from piecemeal adoptions of the barter system in simple conversations and interactions, extending, as it were, into social structures and the family.

If the goal is to reconnect with those core values that ensured our former humanity and described stable and healthy communities, then we are without options than to return to them and build from scratch.

@op
Despite all these signs, you just should brace for misreadings, unreciprocated leanings or outright offence- not, with the distrust and subtle undercuts in today's ‘relationships’- almost anyone could be there and still be absent.

Humans are complex social beings and even with most worded messages and clear tones, the substance could still be lost or distorted. I guess one may just have to remain tactful, and to hope for the best in whatever associations we eventually choose to embrace.

@op
Times have changed. The environment and laws have beat men to a retreat and rejig of their priorities and substitutes.

Here in the West: a stare-a call- some test message, could be read by the feminist gang to be anything and, your sorry bottom could do serious time for that. Besides, the overall destination, at least-in the estimation of most broads- for most ‘relationships’ is the now unattractive marriage institution, that again has the man in permanent deficit and at the mercy of the woman and the laws-sincerely, it’s a lose-lose situation. Why bother giving a ‘chase’, robbing oneself of valuable success making time, when you would still get the short stick at the drop of a hat. Clearly, in all fairness and in this present dilemma-the man should be the game.

Secondly, one common denominator in the laws of attraction is your degree or measure of success-regardless of the route employed to obtaining it- contrary to the denials made by the female folk here. Any sane bloke would rather invest quality time in building a chest that would ensure his desirability among broads than waste time giving a ‘chase’ and, be labeled- ‘broke ass’ and ‘NFA’ as some are wont to describe it.

So here it is-the 21st century and its new rules. You, certainly, are stuck with the times and, it would do well to sense the tide or be left at the harbor.