₦airaland Forum

B.M. Dzukogi, Prof. Remi Raji, Richard Ali and ANA Nig. Plc - Names Behind NGSG’s Missing 10 Million Naira!

By Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi

‘One does evil enough when one does nothing good’ - German Proverb

1. Synopsis:

On 11th December, 2012 at Legbo Kutigi Int’l Conference Centre, Minna; Prof. Wole Soyinka graced an invitation by Niger State’s Government (NGSG) wherein he delivered a lecture on literature and national unity; Executives of Association of Nigerian Authors’ – ANA – prior to the Laureate’s visit approached the Government of Niger State through its Governor; Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (CON) Talban Minna with a financial request of huge sum of 10 Million Naira which they told the Donor-Governor - Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (CON) Talban Minna – will be used to float a national literary series – Nigerian Writers’ Series (NWS).

On occasion of Prof. Wole Soyinka’s visit at Legbo Kutigi Int’l Conference Centre, Minna on this very day – 11th December, 2012 – the Governor in spirit of open-handedness and kindness granted this onerous request and handed over a whooping cheque with face value of 10 Million Naira in favour of Association of Nigerian Authors’ – ANA – to the Association’s President - Prof. Remi Raji.

A clear testament to this fact is a publication of Sunday Trust Newspapers; 16th December, 2012 wherein a snapshot showed the Donor-Governor – Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (CON) Talban Minna – hand a cheque of huge sum of 10 Million Naira to Prof. Remi Raji and other several publication circulated at the Int’l Conference Centre where this event held; specifically the programme of event gazette – Page 11, Item 13.

It’s been over 7 calendar months now that this said money – 10 Million Naira – was received by this association through its president – Prof. Remi Raji; this association had neither showed us a single publication from this said series – Nigerian Writers’ Series (NWS), the present condition of this said money – Missing 10 Million Naira - or neither has it told us under any available circumstance whatsoever progress this money had recorded in its hands for this 7 calendar months period presently under review.

The author considering the present countless body language(s) of the executives of the authors’ association – ANA – therefore considers this money presently missing, siphoned or better still embezzled and seeks to examine critically roles played by its incumbent operating executives in persons of its President – Prof. Remi Raji, General Secretary – B.M. Dzukogi and Publicity Secretary – Richard Ali as well as the generality of the association itself – ANA Nig. Plc – in taking this said money – Missing 10 Million Naira – to a state of absolute oblivion!

‘The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out.’
- Thomas Babington Macaulay

2. Tales of Sycophants’ Misdemeanours:

Former Minister of FCT – Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in a recent article titled: Fiscal Responsibility Commission – The Sleeping Watchdog; hitherto accused Nigeria’s Political Class for notoriety in diverting funds budgeted for capital and recurrent states’ projects; what Nasir El-Rufai failed to grasp is this - that it’s not only the political class that are notorious for this act, commercially incorporated group of individuals parading themselves as authors’ and never writers allegedly also could be said of being fully and likewise culpable of this same act too; this fact we shall soon establish as we continue this thrilling exposition.

(a) Prof. Remi Raji – Matters Arising Therefrom!

Prof. Remi Raji for the know is a man I didn’t just admire but also respect, this feat faded when I under the sun, moon and stars saw him romance failed politicians in dubious guise of developing Nigerian Literature and floating a seemingly plagiarized national writing series – Nigerian Writers’ Series (NWS) – and take crisp naira notes from them knowing fully well that by so doing; the societal mouthpiece tasked with responsibility of calling an(y) erring government (public institution) to order had shamelessly sold its priceless dignity for a depreciative entity – Money! – Just in the same way the association under his watch became lame and leprous during Nigeria’s 2012 oil subsidy protest.

On 11th March, 2013; I through the office of Chairperson, Association of Nigerian Authors’ – ANA – Niger State Chapter forwarded a request and subsequent reminder respectively to Prof. Remi Raji – ANA President - requesting information on status of this said money – Missing 10 Million Naira – citing certain provisions of Freedom of Information Act (FoI); up until the time of compiling this piece, Prof. Remi Raji in arrant display of impunity and showmanship deliberately refused to respond to my request and reminder. This scenario brings to fore how easily compromisable people are when power and money become juxtaposed especially when free and hard earned taxpayers’ money - Missing 10 Million Naira - is in the air freely for grab; silence psychoanalysts confirmed is always the first sign of guilt!

(b) B.M. Dzukogi – Issues Thereto!

‘Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on offices, a rottenness begins in his conduct.’- Thomas Jefferson

B.M. Dzukogi considering the Intel I had on him appeared to be the man behind the scene doing all the available dirty jobs for this authors’ gathering – ANA – and for the records is presently in a shameless bid to succeed Prof. Remi Raji as president of this gathering – Association of Nigerian Authors’- ANA.

When my piece made its first appearance on Sunday Trust Newspaper, 16 December, 2012; themed on this same issue; B.M. Dzukogi in desperate bid to exonerate his culpability in the issue points an accusing finger to my long time brother and friend Gimba Kakanda of instigating this accusations and disposed it as being politically motivated to serve some aggrieved interests; (Please Mr. B.M. Dzukogi) to set the records straight - I once more reiterates the fact that Gimba Kakanda or whomsoever imaginary third party that may be suspected is completely and absolutely free from whatsoever instigations and has nothing to do with the past, present and possibly future work(s) of author of this piece as it presently borders on this money - Missing 10 Million Naira.

B.M. Dzukogi a couple of months ago through a proxy informed me that the association – ANA – did not reply my earlier requests and subsequent remainder on status of this money – Missing 10 Million Naira – because it – ANA – is not a government agency and such bears no bound with Freedom of Information (FoI) Act.

Mr. B.M. Dzukogi, truly, Association of Nigerian Authors – ANA – is not a government agency as you claimed but I would want you to as soon as possible clarify the following facts for me.

- Why the Association – ANA – organize, officiate and co-ordinate official events for government and government functionaries – considering the fact that the last time I cross-checked it was not incorporated either as party planning or event managing association at Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) – taking clue from its present active participation at serial December events holding at Legbo Kutigi Int’l Conference Centre annually!

- Why the association’s secretariat/office would be accommodated/housed in a government owned property/facility taking clue also that Office of Niger State Chapter of the Association – ANA – presently is been housed in down-floor of Niger State Library Board’s Office Complex!

- Why of all funding sources/alternatives available; its only fund(s) from government source(s) (Niger State’s Government [NGSG} – in this case) that this association – ANA - deem suitable to float a seemingly dubious and plagiarized national writing scheme – Nigeria Writers’ Series (NWS)!

- Why a library is dubbed agency and its operating head addressed Destructor-General (DG) rather than a librarian!

B.M. Dzukogi we were told recently, rallied round the streets of Minna soliciting manuscripts from whichever scribbler available, this shameful, disgraceful and hopeless act prompts one to ask – if printing unpublishable and badly written manuscripts constitute an idea of floating a national writers’ series?

“When virtue is lost, benevolence appears, when benevolence is lost, right conduct appears, when right conduct is lost, expedience appears; expediency is the mere shadow of right and truth; it is the beginning of disorder.”
Lao Tzu

(c) Richard Ali – Gauging Lunacy of Sycophancy!

Richard Ali – ANA’s incumbent Publicity Secretary - from knowledge of my brief interaction with him appeared to be law graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; the legal profession I’m often being told is one that strives to achieve justice and fairness for all, why a young law graduate in Nigeria of today will rather opt to run dubious errands for some self-serving individuals rather than tow paths of Legal Luminaries likes of which includes but not limited to Falana and Fawehinmi (SANs) really jolts ones consciousness to impact of dire poverty on aspirations of present crop of graduates in the country.

Richard a couple of months ago via social network – Facebook while forwarding copy of the association’s rag-constitution sent this message to me:

“Dear Tajudeen Amusa Lasisi/”Ana Nigeria Plc”,

Thank you for your recent Facebook friend request to join your page [https://www.facebook.com/ananigeria.plc?fref=ts]. I have gone over the posts on your timeline and wish to thank you for bringing your posts to my notice.

I have read your posts and every single one of them is libellous, slanderous and in extremely bad taste. I also consider the posts injurious to the brand of the Association of Nigerian Authors which I am constitutionally sworn to protect in my capacity as a Publicity Secretary. I am open to criticism as are members of the EXCO of the Association of Nigerian Authors but personal attacks such as the ones in your essays go beyond what is acceptable as constructive criticism. These enter the legal ambits of Libel and Slander and I would advice that you seek the definition of these terms from your legal adviser, lawyer or solicitor.

Further, and in compliance with Item 5 of the Facebook “Statement of Rights and Responsibilities”
[HERE https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms ] and the spirit of the Facebook Community Standards [HERE https://www.facebook.com/communitystandards], I am asking you to PROMPTLY delete the Facebook account “Ana Nigeria Plc” and seek other means for participating in the activities of the Association..

I have also attached a copy of the 2012 Constitution of the Association of Nigerian Authors to this email and I hope you will read it and understand the Association the better to criticize it.

I am sending this email as a personal warning and advice. I have, however, copied this email to relevant officials of the Association for record purposes.

I look forward to seeing your compliance.”

While Richard Ali in his message threatened and is presently on course to have Facebook’s owner – Mark Zuckerberg – sued to a(ny) US Federal High Court and have him sentenced for life, it became obvious too that Richard Ali’s message had had the ‘dismal impact’ also of impeding my nose from breath, mouth from food and feet from trampling the face of mother earth; I therefore on this note apologize and hitherto adhere to his earlier counsel thence present my ‘critique’ in extreme sweet taste by openly challenging that he utilizes his capacity as the publicity-secretary of the association – ANA – furnish me with statement(s) of account of the association – ANA – or a(ny) third party account as the case may be; that this said (NOW) Missing 10 Million Naira was deposited and domiciled for the 7-months presently under review being 11th December, 2012 – 11th July, 2013; and not a rag-constitution that was plagiarized, copied and pasted from an unsuspecting source just in the same way and manner Prof. Chinua Achebe’s (Blessed Memory) African Writers Series (AWS) model was plagiarized and sold out for a huge sum of 10 Million Naira no one can now find!

(d) ANA Nig. Plc – A Pen’s Irreparable Pain!

‘Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.’- Alexander the Great

Association of Nigerian Authors’- ANA Nig. Plc – in my opinion became fully wrecked when well meaning membership within the association folded their hands and watched things retrogress nay spiralled out of control particularly after series of calls and summons to common sense failed; the association from close view conducted itself the way animals in a typical animal kingdom/farm did, the association opt to upholding toxic standards vis-à-vis noxious ego contests, high-scale gossips, unnecessary showmanship, poisonous intimidations, repugnant arrogance, disgusting ignorance, vain ostentation, ad infinitum, rather than pursue goals and objectives of its founding father - Prof. Chinua Achebe (Blessed Memory); one fact the association – ANA – ought to consider amidst its seemingly incurable madness is that the northern axis of Nigeria which mostly comprise its coverage space is severely plagued with literary-illiteracy in addition to damning Wassce/Neco/Jamb failure rates recorded year-in, year-out by the various measuring examination councils; how they intend to lift this literary-disadvantaged class of people out of this plague ought to be the cusp of its agenda and not taking hard earned taxpayers’ money – Missing 10 Million Naira – to thin air. While I’ve tried all I could to resist temptation of mentioning more names; it did became obvious that I have no option but to drag one of ANA’s dignified own in personality of - Sir Abubakar Gimba – into this!

11th July, 2013.
Dear - Daddy Abubakar Gimba,

Sorry Daddy, I had no intention whatsoever to disrespect, disregard, disturb, and interrupting your siesta especially after a hard day’s work at the office considering your endless emphasis and caution against doing such; for by so doing would present me as no other than a prodigal who after speaking abomination to his parents prides himself for uncommon courage; Daddy, if you would remember very well at Legbo Kutigi Int’l Conference Centre, Minna on 11th December, 2012 when your friend in letters – Prof. Wole Soyinka – visited; Prof. Remi Raji that very day collected a cheque with inscription of 10 Million Naira from your brother Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (CON) Talban Minna (Sunday Trust Newspaper, 16th December, 2012) which he alongside Association of Nigerian Authors’ (ANA) said would be used to initiate and float the Nigerian Writers’ Series (NWS) Project just like Prof. Chinua Achebe’s (Blessed Memory) Model - African Writers’ Series (AWS) – Daddy, it’s over 7 calendar months and nothing whatsoever had yet been done and this money unaccounted for or literarily is now ‘missing-in-action’ as the case may be. Daddy, reading try-outs and rehearsals with one book titled ‘Once Upon A Reed’ clearly showed what accountability meant to your person and how far it had - to our collective pride - made you who you are today – Shakespeare of Northern Nigeria – Daddy, I therefore respectfully and dutifully implore you to consider looking into this issue as your standing as a renown (macro) economist presents you as one who would strive to whatsoever extent to get value for money however how it is especially when public interest is involved.

It is on this note Daddy that I end my letter in anticipation that you’ll look into the issue and intervene favourably to the collective interest of the public which you represent.

Sorry Daddy for whatsoever mistakes encountered on course of reading this letter, I’m yet to round up my bachelors programme in linguistics and also perfect my syntax utility.

Thanking you in earnest and best of Ramadan Wishes Daddy.

From your humble Grand (Sorry Daddy - Great Grand) Son. – Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi

‘Conviction is worthless unless it is converted into conduct.’- Thomas Carlyle

3. Recommendations:

While awaiting court summon(s) in lieu of tort, character/personality slander/defamation (claims) by (any/all of) the parties named in this piece; I do in my opinion recommend the followings: -

(a) That Association of Nigerian Author’s (ANA) President – Prof. Remi Raji – come out clean by either replying and responding to my earlier request of 11th March, 20 13 forwarded to him through office of chairperson, Association of Nigerian Authors’ – ANA – Niger-State Chapter or issue a press statement about his present knowledge of the money in question – Missing 10 Million Naira – for this 7 calendar months period presently under review.

(b) That B.M. Dzukogi – General Secretary of the association – ANA without any further delay relinquish/resign his membership with Association of Nigerian Authors’ – ANA – tender an apology to the entire membership of this association for his role in diluting/eroding/weathering the integrity while he served as treasurer (auditor) and presently general secretary of the association – ANA – distance himself from the vague ambition of emerging president of the association – ANA – come clean about his role on this money saga – Missing 10 Million Naira – rescind his shameful moves of printing badly written manuscripts and substituting same for publication of a seemingly dubious and plagiarized literary series – Nigerian Writers’ Series (NWS) –.

‘Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those who we cannot resemble.’- Samuel Johnson

(c) That Richard Ali – Publicity Secretary of Association of Nigerian Authors’ – ANA – apologise openly in not less than 4 national tabloids for objecting my right to access a social network - Facebook and question the content of my timelines – present an original and authentic statement(s) of account of the respective or third party account(s) that this said money – Missing 10 Million Naira – was deposited and domiciled for this 7 calendar months period presently under review.

(d) That I with all due respect request Sir (Daddy) Abubakar Gimba, a dignified patron of this association – ANA – to consider the - Missing 10 Million Naira – issue in contention; adopt a fatherly approach in resolving the issue amicably thence ensure the establishment of this national literary series – (NWS) – and see it emerge a firm and workable reality.

(e) That the Government and People of Niger State through its Governor – Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (CON) Talban Minna (all due respect) alongside Sir (Daddy) Abubakar Gimba, kingly, consider the issue – Missing 10 Million Naira – through delegation of relevant committees/agency to investigate the issue and resolve amicably and if otherwise bring offender(s) found guilty/culpable to book/justice as the case may be.

Earshot: I with due respect for readership bring to note that the persons mentioned in this piece are at whatsoever time possible; free to draw my attention to whatsoever slander/insult/libel that is detected to ensure commensurate apology(ies) and compensation where deemed necessary.

Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi is of Federal University of Technology, Minna and can be reached via Tajudeen4ac@yahoo.com

Why Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) can’t be Nigeria’s President!

By Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi

“When the people are scared of
the Government there’s tyranny;
But when the Government is scared
of the people there’s freedom”
Anonymous

Nigerian Guardian Newspapers of Sunday 24th February, 2013 in its front page pitched Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) as one amongst possible contenders who wants President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s job come 2015.

This piece therefore does not in any way debunk the possibility or better still likelihood of Governor Aliyu’s emergence as President of Nigeria come 2015 as his Party’s Headquarters had not in any way told us that they aren’t selling him the Presidential Form nor had Nigeria’s dexterous electorates and political group(s) inform us that they too aren’t supporting the Governor neither also had Prof. Jega and his INEC disqualified Governor Aliyu nay delisted his Party with few ones earlier deregistered a few months earlier as the writer shall not under any circumstance whatsoever accept being misinterpreted and quoted out of context; consequently shall not hesitate proceeding to a(ny) law court for redress in event of possible breach.

Suffice also that this piece is born solely of drive for free expression and never a gimmick intended whatsoever to attract attention of People, Government and particularly Governor of Niger State; Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) or hitherto sponsored by a(ny) person(s) or group(s) as might be cynically conceived by some quarters; thence caters for unwarranted situation wherein elements of state aggression becomes also unduly attracted; considering especially how well this familiarity might make my person an unusual guest in its interrogation chamber(s).

This piece in earnest therefore examines the prospects and idiosyncrasy of Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) if eventually voted into office as President of Nigeria come 2015 from a relatively trifling perspective – his personality as lover of writers’, promoter of literature and advocate of contemporary literary inclusion for all.

Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) during 2nd Annual Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (MBA) National Literary Colloquium which held in Minna on 11th December, 2012 at Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre gave generously the whooping sum of N 10 Million Naira to Association of Nigerian Authors’ (ANA) through its President Prof. Remi Raji for Introduction of Nigerian Writers Series (NWS) (Sunday Trust Newspapers; Sunday, December 16, 2012 [page 31]; Programme of Event Gazette [page 11, item 13]) a seemingly rare gesture in Nigeria’s present socio-political atmosphere; taking a clue from ‘Jesus of Owerri’ – Governor Rochas Okoroacher one might be tempted also to crown Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) Nigeria’s all-time ‘Genius of Philanthropy’ considering the impact such huge amount of money will bear on revitalizing the operations of this Association (ANA) and fortifying this Series as well.

But problem(s) with gestures of this nature just like I had earlier highlighted in my piece titled ‘ANA Nigeria Plc: The Incorporation of Sycophancy’ published by Sunday Trust Newspapers of Sunday 16th December, 2012 [Page 34] are these:

(a) Credibility of this Fund’s Handlers: The Governor prior to presentation of the Cheque ought to seriously scrutinize the credibility of people within this Authors’ Association (ANA) that is/are to oversee the utilization of this money for this proposed Nigerian Writers Series (NWS) Project as it became clearer from experience that the Association (ANA) especially its treasury arm are composed mainly of individuals known for instituting treasury crises as past donations that this association received are today either unaccounted for or dubiously siphoned greedily into private pockets; a true testament to this fact is this; the Association (ANA) for the last 10 years (2002-2012) had not in any way or under any circumstance made condition(s) of its account and health of its treasury open for public scrutiny, audit and examination either via a print (newspaper) or electronic (website) medium.

(b) Possible Prospects of Poor Treasury Administration: Another critical fact Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) should have considered before dishing out this money to this Association (ANA) is this; are there evidence(s) on ground complimenting the Association (ANA) for a job-well-done in utility of previous donations received; does the membership structure(s) of this Association (ANA) include person(s) that are well-versed in excellent treasury administration by which I mean persons that are duly certified by professional treasury watchdogs like ICAN et al nay this Association (ANA) literarily does employ the services of both audit-quacks and account-crooks to oversee seemingly huge funds of this amount!

(c) Comparing ANA’s Plagiarized (NWS) Model with Prof. Chinua Achebe’s Original (AWS) Model: this Project ‘Nigeria Writers Series’ (NWS) wherein the Association (ANA) presented to Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) as new and well-thought-out literary model was nothing other a plagiarized and domesticated version of Prof. Chinua Achebe’s own original model ‘African Writers Series’ (AWS) as record never had it anywhere and anytime that the professor prior to establishing and editing the original model ‘African Writers Series’ (AWS) collected huge sums of money from either Military-Administrators or Eastern-Government considering how well connected and influential he was; to do such at that time; what then would warrant this Association (ANA) taking clue from Prof. Chinua Achebe’s illustration go soliciting hard-earned taxpayers’ monies for a seemingly dubious series that aspires to operate at a National (Nigeria) level as against that of Prof. Chinua Achebe that encompasses a continent-wide (Africa) coverage which might even end up in greedy private pockets?

This foregoing little tale and illustration above showed somewhat that in favorable event wherein Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) eventually emerge President of this great country Nigeria come 2015; the ensuing likelihood shall entail scenarios where unscrupulous elements around him say Association of Nigerian Authors’ (ANA) in 5th Annual Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (MBA) National Literary Colloquium present yet another dubious and seemingly plagiarized model ‘World Writers’ Series’ (WWS) and have the Governor donate the entirety of year 2016 National Budget which I believe might have sky-rocketed to double-digit(s) trillions of Nigeria’s Hard-earned Crisp Naira Notes thence plunging the Nation into absolute bankruptcy!

“If a minister just twists my
arm I'll just stand there and
have it twisted, but it'll be a
long time before it falls off.”
Sir Denis Rooke

EARSHOT

Today 11th March, 2013 clocks exactly 3 calendar months (90 days) that Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna) handed a whooping N 10 Million Naira to Association of Nigerian Authors’ (ANA); The Association (ANA) since then for a period over ninety days had neither told us through a(ny) press statement(s) or communiqué(s) the progress this money had made in its hands; this undue silence about whereabouts of hard-earned taxpayers’ money by the Association (ANA) by all standards suspiciously translates to nothing other than expression of guilt and intuition that some shoddy dealings might have occurred as the Association in record-time had come to be established for notoriety of greedily diverting donations of this kind into pockets of its kingpins.

I therefore with all due respect dutifully implore People, Government and particularly Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu CON (Talban Minna), to dissociate his collaboration and cooperation with the Association (ANA) if after due consultations by relevant state monitoring/advisory mechanism(s) a productive account nay report is not tendered about the position of the money (N 10 Million Naira) for this 3 calendar months (90 days) period under review being 11th December, 2012 – 11th March, 2013.

Lastly, let me use this opportunity once more to state categorically clear that; I under no circumstance whatsoever begrudge a(ny) Nigerlite emerging President of this great country Nigeria and shall be one of (if not) the happiest person to hear such a wonderful report on Network News as I’ve lived, grow and still growing on the sweet soil, wonderful air, tastiest salt and magnificent waters of Niger State all my life.

Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi is of Federal University of Technology, Minna and can be reached via tajudeen4ac@yahoo.com

Reforming ANA Nigeria Plc (2): PAUL LIAM – Lunacy of ANA’s Wretched Errant-Sycophant!

By Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi

Disclaimer: Reader(s) are strongly advised not to read this piece if they’re in any way reverent of feature of the piece – Paul Liam or Association of Nigerian Authors’ – ANA Nigeria Plc as by so doing shall infringe on the writer’s right of free expression which might attract dire legal consequence(s) as the writer is therefore not liable thereafter for whatsoever reaction that might arise and shall not entertain any undue query.

“Madness isn't just an illness;
it can also uncover areas of
thinking which are normally
shrouded in darkness”
Antoni Tàpies

In a preceding piece of this thrilling series titled “Reforming ANA Nigeria Plc (1): B.M Dzukogi – A Wretched Cog in ANA’s Pathetic Wheel!” we identified, simplified and discussed in details the wretched and hopeless roles played by B.M Dzukogi in stalling the motion of Association of Nigerian Authors’ – ANA Nigeria Plc wheels; Also we taught and recited severally to an Ex-superintendent of Government’s Researches and Documentations Bureaucracy and currently ‘Dearest Destructor-General’ (DDG) like we usually do in crèche and nursery school’s sections how to construct and write simple citations in National Gazettes especially those that criminally gulp-up hard-earned taxpayers’ monies in dubious print and publishing scams and thence recommended him for measurement and evaluations via forthcoming July/July 2013 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) conducted either by National Examinations Council (NECO) or National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
In continuation of this series, we shall tilt our lens this time around to one amongst B.M Dzukogi’s errant-disciples – Paul Liam; just like his ancestor-sycophant – B.M Dzukogi; I knew Paul Liam in 2007 through a peer-writer and friend Gimba Kakanda when he paid a seemingly impromptu and unsolicited visit at his Minna residence; Gimba in gesture of kind host-manship introduced him to me as an ‘upcoming teen-author’ with future promising prospects of treading the path of either Prof. Chinua Achebe or Prof. Wole Soyinka; I on that very day if I could remember vividly upon extending my hand for a shake knew at an instant that this seemingly unusual guest of Gimba seems somewhat amusing in ways I just could not understand and rather still explain as my spirit just did not coincide with his and the rest since then between I and Paul are tales way too needless for this critical discuss.
The foregoing little narrative above shows that Paul Liam as he is so-called unfortunately had been in spotlight just like B.M Dzukogi for quite a handful of pathetic mannerisms and hopeless antecedents which somewhat presented him before me more or less a personality who was yet to come with terms with contemporary realities of life and as such could not have in any way fit perfectly well into the promising crop of the apparently ‘upcoming teen-author’ Gimba had earlier mistakenly placed him.
Like the preceding issues; we shall examine this subject – Paul Liam from different perspectives possible whence we can arrive at logical inferences on the magnitude of lunacy that he is presently suffering from, romance with his ancestor-sycophant – B.M Dzukogi and its attendant implication in morphing Paul Liam into a well-gluttonized and pathetic errant-sycophant and lastly hope possibly of a(ny) salvage through emergency psychiatry intervention.

(A) Paul Liam as ANA’s teen-author – Historical root-cause of a chronic Lunacy!
Just like I had exhaustively detailed earlier in a twin publication – Revolutionizing ANA Nigeria Plc (2): Bemoaning a pathetic membership structure! Association of Nigerian Authors’ – ANA Nigeria Plc appears to comprise basically of two calibers of scribble-gatherers’; the first caliber comprising basically of old-for-nothing vicious-looking crop of sycophants who actually think they know what writing is all about but unfortunately seems to be in sole reality only with pen-scribbling and a second caliber that are mainly young and vibrant teenage personalities struggling desperately to cope with psychological realities associated with puberty and adolescence; my accidental encounter with Paul in 2007 at Gimba’s residence wherein my spirit out-rightly rejected him seems a clear fact that Paul by all standards possible truly belongs to the second caliber of this pathetic and woeful scribble-gatherers’. It became obvious too that Paul who was himself confused with the mystery of hormonal activities in his body and erroneously misinterpreted this pubertal phenomenon for some kind of literary genius thence unfortunately fell prey to high-handed and first caliber ancestor-sycophants like B.M Dzukogi who also was actually struggling to cope psychologically with a seemingly decreasing level of hormonal activity albeit osteoporosis due to aging and caught in complex web of schizophrenic delusions – a clear case of two mad men claiming sanity over themselves – A seemingly unimaginable, horrible and pitiful psychiatric scenarios…! In these delusions evolved ANA’s teen-authorship scheme; This scheme considering huge amount of energy, time and resource that got injected in it failed woefully was later as we all knew produced nothing other than touting Saddiq M Dzukogi as its proposed President and may be Paul Liam himself Vice-President as the case eventually chose to become.

This apparent scenario that brought together two seemingly hormone-struggling individuals that are each pretending to the other as writer or better still scribble-gatherer is actually the genesis and historical root-cause responsible for Paul Liam’s incurable and all-time award-winning lunacy as detailed in the fraudulent and dubious publication ‘Book of Citation’ that greeted the 2nd Annual Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (MBA) National Literary Colloquium; on Page 45 is Paul Liam’s citation and I quote part thus “He is the Author of INDEFINITE CRAVINGS and co-editor, DEWDROPS an anthology of teen authors published by the Hilltop Arts centre.” Aside main inferences which we intend to extract at the end of this exposition are two sub-inferences from the quote above which are:
- ‘He is the Author of Indefinite Cravings’ - by which I mean he must have overtime considering possibilities of diffusions or sycophantic cross-pollinations got sickened with this horrible disease of craving lunacy indefinitely complementing his ancestor-sycophants nay scribble-gatherers’ crave for hard-earned tax-payers' monies which culminated catalyzing sales and concession of Association of Nigerian Authors’ – ANA Nigeria Plc stocks cheaply to failed politicians and simultaneously quote it on floor of Legbo Kutigi International Stock Exchange (LKISE).
- ‘And co-editor, DEWDROPS an anthology of ‘teen authors’ published by the Hilltop Arts centre.’ – by which I also mean; Paul is a fully fledged ‘teen author’ seeing that it was even a National Gazette that brought this fact to our attention and shall not under any instance aside this particular exposition reply and interact with errant-sycophant of his class since teen authors are teenagers like their ancestor-sycophants who are yet to grasp parts-of-speech and alphabets in English Language and such need not waste my limited time lecturing two supposedly-grown individuals what terminologies like this entails as they are solely at will to explore this area of study and in so doing can freely apply for Basic Education Course in English Language in a(ny) nearby Federal Government of Nigeria Approved Junior Secondary School.

(B) PAUL LIAM as Staffer, Niger’s Research and Documentations Office – Pathetic Miscarriage of
Appointment, Gross Official Abuse and Prospect of Punishable Misconduct!
In this generation where government officials like B.M Dzukogi in shameless display of impunity nepotizes official positions, grossly abuse official privileges and get promoted nay rewarded for doing so through – ‘DDG-rization’; I just couldn’t reconcile the conditions or circumstance under which a Nationally Identified Teen Author like Paul would be employed and engaged as a staffer of Niger’s Research and Documentations Unit and worse still smuggled into the pay roaster of Niger State’s Government at expense of hard-earned taxpayers’ money; what prospects actually qualified Paul for this position seeing that the last time I checked; Paul was yet to have his five O’level credits completed in just a sitting and JAMB cut-off points required for consideration into a(ny) Nigerian University or may some mantra was done and fake-prospects were forged into his hands just for sycophancy-ing to continue and secondly also; how does extending literary capacity to a teen-author correlate with giving him government’s appointment letter or once you emerge a teen author that automatically qualifies you as staffer of Niger’s Research and Documentations Unit; to set records straight – I reproduce a typical facebook post of our subject below culled from his wall;

“Much as i respect and hold nothing against anyone airing or owning their opinion
on anything.i'll however not entertain any nuisance or childish enactment for
any reason. senility has never been a companion of mine.
WHAT THE Bleep IS ANA NATIONAL PLC?
The sender of this crass foolly should desist at once from wanting to have
anything to do with me, i'll not hasitate to react otherwise should
this joblessness and lack of purposeful direction continue”

Paul Liam | 27th Feb., 2013.

Unlike scenario of his ancestor-sycophant B.M Dzukogi’s where I painstakingly took my time to correct, right and appropriate the phrase of Government’s Incumbent DDG; I shall not waste such quanta of energy on Paul considering his present status as an upcoming teen author but all the same call attention to five key errors with this brazen junk Zuckerberg prefers to call post;
(i) Paul; please and please - in an(y) instance(s) where “i(’s)" is/are to be used in a(ny) given grammatical context as (a) pronoun(s); kindly have them capitalized like this! – “I” as WASSCE/NECO marker(s) and examiner(s) shall call your attention to this only after F9’s becomes guest(s) to your O’Level prospects – you can as well peep this in your files at home to confirm my counsel and prove my point clearer; at least B.M Dzukogi ought to have told you this! Didn’t he? Why? Ok…! – sorry I forgot earlier that he was actually busy preparing papers needed in shamelessly quoting Association of Nigeria Authors’ – ANA Nigeria Plc on floor of Legbo Kutigi International Stock Exchange (LKISE) that he missed the basics and essentials of morphing errant-sycophant into persons that at least ought to know how pronouns are used in seemingly little grammatical circumstances like cyber social network in this case facebook.
(ii) Also Paul; the first letter that appear in a word (or words) after a full stop should be capitalized like this! – i.e. “Much as I respect and hold nothing against anyone airing or owning their opinion on anything. I'll however not entertain any nuisance or childish enactment for any reason. Senility has never been a companion of mine.” and never “Much as i respect and hold nothing against anyone airing or owning their opinion on anything.i'll however not entertain any nuisance or childish enactment for any reason. senility has never been a companion of mine.” Less I forget too Paul – kindly space this word (or words) after this full stop once and not twice by tapping gently the longest button on your keyboard once; by so doing at least you might possibly be considered in class of Nigeria’s teenage population that actually knows how well modern electronic gadgets properly are used.
(iii) Thirdly Paul; endeavour to write down what I’m about to tell you in your diary that is if you even have one and practice concurrently any time you’re free to do so – this word ‘foolly’ which you brazenly wronged and miss-spelt by adding an erroneous ‘o’ is correctly spelt ‘folly’ please don’t forget this little fact it might be very helpful when you’re ready to tidy up those O’Level prospects of yours in just a sitting.
(iv) Hmm… Paul; this one almost passed me by; just like the diary-thing we talked about in (iii) above; kindly include this word ‘hesitate’ unlike ‘hasitate’ that you unfortunately was used to – don’t you think this was actually the reason why in WASSCE/NECO your result especially in English Language appeared laced with a fanciful F9; don’t worry Paul I shall unlike your sycophantic pay-master B.M Dzukogi call your answer booklet up and see whatever it is I could possibly do to correct this teenage-related kind of error at least by so doing I shall possibly get your result reconsidered for say a befitting E8; or what’s your likely take on this? Please let me know in due course and don’t tell anyone about it – it’s a secret we now both share!
(v) And lastly Paul – don’t you think that there is a close relationship between lunacy and glaucoma even though ophthalmologists or better still psychiatrists are yet to confirm this fact scientifically because it became obvious that your case shall be a better illustration and possibly present you in Guinness Worlds Records as a better 21st Century successful test-experiment in that you actually cannot differentiate between ‘ANA Nigeria Plc’ and ‘ANA National Plc’; this fact I shall inform the world about via publication in an(y) International Journal of Psychiatry and/or Ophthalmology; I so humbly beg of you to be steadfast henceforth so as not to distort the ‘test-quality’ of an Internationally Acclaimed Psychiatric Discovery; this could be the bomb the world has been waiting for! Paul I so believe I can confidently count on you in this… Please don’t fail me – I do sincerely beg of you!

“Insanity in individuals is something rare; but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs it is the rule.”
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844 - 1900)

(C) Paul Liam as ANA’s wretched photographer – Exodus into eternal doom!
During 2nd Annual Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (MBA) National Literary Colloquium that held in Minna in month of December 2012, Niger State’s Education Resource Centre (ERC) was venue where scribble-gathering parley sessions took place – Lo and Behold the photographer as the whole world saw was no other person but Paul Liam; I just could not believe this unimaginable shame and disgrace! What has scribbling down junks got to do with photography or could snapshots be the only available antidote to this seemingly persistent and seemingly incurable lunacy! That not even been the only displayed infamy; Paul Liam during the parley sessions became a principal distracter wherein he like a digitized-robot took unsolicited snapshots from one table to another! This is the greatest unimaginable disaster I had witnessed since the origination of Talba’s Colloquia Series; There and then it became obvious to my person that the once touted teen-authorship scheme that Association of Nigerian Authors’ and B.M Dzukogi et al spearheaded with intent mission of raising future Atta’s and Habila’s is nothing other than a well-adorned scam morphing young and unsuspecting teenagers into photographers, cameramen, errant boys & girls, waiters, waitresses and most notably wretched errant-sycophants!

Suffice also | Niger’s Education Resource Centre (ERC) prior to its unfortunate hijack by unscrupulous elements within Association of Nigeria’s scribblers’-gathering’ served as a veritable educational resource outlet where book fares are held and books disbursed to Niger’s reading audience at considerate and affordable costs and in addition housed the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) Minna Zonal Office; the centre prior to this hopeless hostage conundrum was more or less established as an educational resource base that eases-out increasing needs of educational consultations in the state – why high-handed sycophants and hopeless scribble-gatherers’ would unanimously conspire, cow and deceive the government just for selfish and vain sake of being paraded as Destructive Destructor-Generals (DDGs) is just so unimaginable, horrible and chaotic; the most nauseating being the scale of hard-earned taxpayers’ monies that were wasted, looted and stolen all in name of renovating or better still destroying this one time beautiful state edifice as it is now a norm wherever and whenever in Nigeria that refurbishing projects of this nature are mostly doled out at criminally bloated costs!

“Madness is a final distillation of self, a final editing down.
It's the drowning out of false voices.”
Don DeLillo

(D) Paul Liam as ANA’s errant-sycophant – Carcass far submerged beyond rescue!
In concluding this little exposition wherein we leave the impending inference(s) in court of our dear readers; we shall consider the subject of this piece Paul Liam as Association of Nigerian Authors’ – ANA Nigeria Plc wretched errant-sycophant; his longtime loyal role as deputy albeit vice errant-sycophant next to Saddiq M Dzukogi – the possible next feature of this thrilling series and how the permeating circumstance of a growing poor child in Nigeria’s pathetic socio-economic space can alter his sanity towards a negative nose-dive and resultant consequences inherent in the socio-economic mannerism of such a child.

Paul Liam immediately after close of 2nd Annual Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (MBA) National Literary Colloquium in December 2012 shocked each and every one of us with a fairly-used motorcycle popularly known as ‘rubber-rubber’ which upon valuation worth no more than N 40,000 a paltry sum that translates to negligible 0.4% of the criminally acquired N 10,000,000 Association of Nigerian Authors’ – ANA Nigeria Plc stole from coffers of Niger’s taxpayers’; what Paul didn’t know and ought to have known is this! – 0.4 out of 100 is way too little and negligible to be called a gift; how for goddamn sake would B.M Dzukogi, Association of Nigerian Authors’ – ANA Nigeria Plc et al hand Paul this paltry sum be-littering Paul to nothing other than a fairly-used human creature that doesn’t deserve something better and new or were there just too many hands after this money that he had after serious fighting, quarreling and deliberations at ANA’s hopeless meetings with other top-sycophants luckily squeezed this sum for Paul; I see now how far B.M Dzukogi actually went to make Paul the proud owner of a fairly-used and second-handed ‘rubber-rubber’ motorcycle. But Paul mind you please! – Kindly recall that it’s not over yet and don’t be too glad as President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan upon seeing that your ancestry-sycophants Association of Nigerian Authors’ – ANA Nigeria Plc actually supported fully the partial removal of Oil Subsidy in January 2012 shall in the nearest future say 2014-2015 remove completely oil subsidy possibly as a parting gift nay exit legacy; Hope the tank of your new found toy won’t go dry then as Niger’s taxpayers’ might not again fall prey or be anymore fooled again into putting their hard-earned crisp naira notes freely into your pockets; Paul this and other issues you consider well as posterity shall hold you severely accountable for whatsoever sin you commit now; Well Paul; all hope seems not to be lost as miracles do happen and yours could just be one of such; I henceforth therefore pretend I don’t know you as a ‘carcass far submerged beyond rescue’ but rather as an individual that God himself could still rescue considering your divergence with B.M Dzukogi in faith that is; if you reconsider giving him a chance! Paul act while you still have the opportunity to do so; a word they say is enough if not for the wise at least for the foolish…!

“As soon as he ceased to be mad he
became merely stupid. There are
maladies we must not seek to cure
because they alone protect us from
others that are more serious.”
Marcel Proust (1871 - 1922)

Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi is of Federal University of Technology, Minna and can be reached via tajudeen4ac@yahoo.com

Revolutionizing ANA Nigeria Plc (2): Bemoaning a Pathetic Membership Structure!

By Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi

“The man who gets angry at the right things and with the right people,
and in the right way and at the right time and for the right length of time,
commended”
Aristotle (384 - 322 BC)

In continuation of this series, we in a preceding piece titled - Revolutionizing ANA Nigeria Plc (1): Probing Brazen Fiscal Recklessness painstakingly explored the level of abysmal rot and decay within Nigeria’s foremost Authors’ Association (ANA) by probing with all available parameters possible fiscal irresponsibility of the association.

We shall in this issue bemoan the pathetic membership structure of this seemingly hopeless authors’ gathering; in 2009 when the newly appointed Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria in person of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi jolted this great nation Nigeria with a whooping sack of some MD/CEO of the country’s leading financial institutions, many quarters and interests notably a consortium of corporate critics known as renaissance professionals bemoaned Sanusi ruthlessly for what they termed an abuse of official privileges and powers but events as we all saw from various docks in different judicial divisions in the country proved these seemingly vested interests otherwise and made Sanusi a demy-god worthy of worship within the nation’s corporate circle.

The foregoing scenario therefore seems a pointer to the fact that when entities are taken public, the resultant convention is for them to nose-dive towards ruin; Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA) when initially founded operated as a responsible and viable literary model standing-tall with virtuous potentials of expanding, developing and amplifying literature in the country yet with a much more higher and nobler responsibility of keeping the society abreast with the activities of the governing machineries and crisscrossing it when the need arises.

But along the line like I in my earlier piece iterated, its founder conscientiously asserts thence – things fell apart and ANA’s centre could no longer hold; notwithstanding therefore, Africa’s leading Literature Giant – Chinua Achebe owes apology to no one since it became evident that he became seriously preoccupied with his region’s calling and a literary series – African Writers’ Series (AWS); a series which today became reputable for best of classics and masterpieces in the continent and made Africa amongst comity of nations distinguished for crude-deposits of unsurpassed publications with no stories or news of dubious acquisitions of 10 million naira from failed politicians, eastern governments and military administrators at that time.

Association of Nigeria Authors’ (ANA) has upon its brazen display of gross fiscal recklessness overtime now pathetically constituted of toxic and nauseating membership structures comprising of three main classes of ineptly incorporated sycophants – vicious-looking & overly-incorporated sycophants, sanity-deficient & majorly-incorporated sycophants and minor newly-incorporated sycophants which we shall analyze below.

Vicious-looking & overly-incorporated sycophants
This class of scribble-gatherers nay sycophants is nothing other crops of gluttonous literary-bigots parading themselves as pathetic authors who think they know the art of writing rather authoring even though at a pathetic level and are desperately seeking political relevance at whatever dubious cost possible without recourse to the fact that writing can and would never be a trade of gain or gain for trade; this crop often after scribbling down badly-written, poorly-edited and ineptly-typed scrolls sprint like squirrels to any available open government-door seeking fund and aid for publishing in pledge that this horribly-scribbled scrolls will be dedicated to the funder(s) and sponsor(s).
This class of sycophants unfortunately have also in record time turned a well-conceptualized authors association into a scribblers’-gathering who are nothing-less-than project managers for who’s-is-who in Nigeria’s socio-political space in addition to the fact that aside being fully incorporated sycophants; they’re also fully functional event planners for virtually any available open government-door; all painstaking efforts made to orient this sets of pathetic sycophants that their hopeless activities shall in the near future wipe-out approved and formally-authorized event planners and project managers out of business had not only fell on deaf ears but also on dumb heads.
The worsened aspect of this horrible class is that; they in their myopic literary-foci perceive themselves to be quasi-philosophers of sorts and can be seen in any accidental opportunity given; philosophizing recklessly! A goon of this class in defence – stated categorically that there can never be quasi-philosophers; he continued by asserting that – you can only be a philosopher or not! Considering the shameless prospects of this awful class of sycophants I think in my little opinion that there had never been even a quasi-philosopher talk-less of a philosopher and there would never be! – even though – ‘there was a country’.
William Blake in his acumen has this to say on this class of vicious-looking and overly-incorporated sycophants;

“Cruelty has a Human Heart and Jealousy a Human Face; Terror the Human Form Divine, And Secrecy the Human Dress”.
William Blake (1757 - 1827)


Sanity-deficient & majorly-incorporated sycophants
The second class of sycophants making up ANA’s dismal membership structure are a crop of sanity-deficient & majorly-incorporated sycophants; sanity-deficient in the sense that this crop actually knows the truth and are so much in tune with the present realities of happenings within this pathetic scribblers’-gathering but outrageously chose to tread the path of insolence, disgrace and shame; a typical sample in this group was a onetime fierce, fearless and ruthless advocate of commonsense; he alone took the responsibility of informing the nations literati that the gang of ANA’s so-called authors’ in the northern part of Nigeria are nothing but a bunch of scribblers searching desperately for political attention and social relevance; he took on the never-have-been quasi-philosopher and placed him in the category he belonged – Psychiatry Complex!; only later for the whole literati in Nigeria see the duo dine and wine together with the devil in the evil feast. Consequently, tears flowed, mouths wailed and tongues wagged but it became evident that this seemingly advocator of commonsense had feasted so much on compromise beyond redemption and also had eaten-up his own words – A brazen marriage of shame, catastrophe and disaster!

Another wanton feature with this class is that like the vicious-looking crop are so much in love materialistically with vanity and follies of power; to them, power is all that matters in the world and that which only failed politicians can give to you and never a virtue inherent in service and dedication to the general wellbeing of humanity.

Similarly, Dale Carnegie also in his wisdom emphasizes that;

“When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity”
Dale Carnegie (1888 - 1955)

Minor newly-incorporated sycophants
The third class of this pathetic scribblers’-gatherings are the minor and rather newly-incorporated sycophants; this group actually cannot be held guilty for the doings of its pathetic ancestry; they in their tender innocence are out ambitious to tread the path of an Achebe, a Soyinka and Sefi Atta and might be too young to realize that this wretched scribblers’-gathering are far more political than politics itself and politicking within this tragic gathering is much more apparent than that of standing political party’s headquarter.
Meanwhile, recent observations coming from this class had hitherto indicated that some of this toddler-scribblers’ are now also inept like its ancestry; in 2nd Annual Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (MBA) National Literary Colloquium which held in Minna in December 2012, some members of this class were seen hanging tags on their necks like Glorified Christmas Goats performing idle tasks that are solely the responsibilities of waiters and waitresses had ANA and its classes of pathetic goons not hijacked the jobs of duly approved and formally authorized project managers and event planners in Nigeria with the most visible taking unsolicited snapshots about and distracting audience during parley sessions and distributing drinks from one table to another; this shows how the ANA leadership had descended pathetically low beyond salvation as to morph highly-spirited youths in search of literary capacities into underpaid and extorted photographers, waiters, waitresses and errand boys and girls all in the name of giving them a part of the Greek gifts that are not more than any pittance that cannot even buy cheaply available mathematical-sets they deserve and dictionaries failed politicians ought to provide as prescribed under the Universal Basic Education Program.

Upon classifying this three pathetic class of structures making up the ANA membership; I shall also cull an experience to crown my stand that the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria (CAC) should after thoughtful considerations strike out the certification of this body as it does not fit any longer to be an association rather a scribblers’-gathering except if the commission shall review its laws through amendments by the national assembly and commence the onward registration of pathetic scribblers’-gatherings of this nature as formally approved corporate entities.

In 2009 in the election that saw Jerry Agada emerge president of this risible scribblers’-gathering (ANA) which held in Shiroro Hotels Minna, I alongside Terfa Danjuma Nenga (ANA’s present assistant PRO) were a few minutes before voting forcefully sent out of the hall where the election took place by sets of tyrannical and heartrending scribble-gatherers, the reason being that we don’t have any publication or book as they strangely called it to our names and as such don’t qualify or fit in the class of those called ‘authors’’. The question that now arises therefore is – who then is a writer and an author? – These and other issues we shall detail in the next publication of this thrilling series as we distinguish prolific writers from pathetic authors.

Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi is of Federal University of Technology, Minna and can be reached via tajudeen4ac@yahoo.com

Revolutionizing ANA Nigeria Plc (1): Probing Brazen Fiscal Recklessness!

By Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi

A question of a writer's moral responsibility...!

“While writers don't hold the baton to correct ills,
they owe the society a debt of honest documentation
of events. And... future generation is definitely bound
to a certain doom when writers are no longer socially
relevant, when they've sold their dignity for material
gains, when they're seen as a unit of the nation's failure,
when their voices no longer din through the conscience
of the society.... National Philosophies are evidently
dead in the absence of ideologically sound literatures!”

Gimba Kakanda – Dec., 2012.

In my piece titled - ANA Nigeria Plc: The incorporation of Sycophancy; earlier published by Sunday Trust Newspapers of December 16, 2012. Page 34 alongside several Newspapers, blogs and websites; I detailed emphatically how the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA) had now shamelessly establish itself as a Public Liability Company despite that it fraudulently misled the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria (CAC) into incorporating it as an authors’ association; A trend now commonplace in Nigeria as observed by the former economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC) kingpin Ms. Farida Waziri.

This pathetic anomie and hydra-headed nosedive from status-quo had therefore necessitated a fraught revolution in this epileptic authors’ association (ANA) as well-meaning stakeholders within the literary industry in Nigeria will never even under the attempt and circumstance of any possible compromise, victimization, cajole and intimidation accept this horrible, sickening and nauseating trend. Leading United State’s Civil Rights Hero Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) asserts that “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it.” An assertion that pricks the very pillar of my conscience and blatantly presents me as nothing other than a literary sell-out and traitor devoid of spirit of statesmanship if by any means whatsoever I’m found wanting of violation or better still a felon guilty of very high and humanly unimaginable felony.

Probing the wretched and brazen fiscal recklessness of ragged-association (ANA) of this nature would be fragmentary without peeping discreetly into Law-books of the Nigerian Legislatures; therefore by power conferred on my humble self as a federal scholar and law-abiding citizen of this great country Nigeria cite sections 1 (1-3), 7 (1-5) and 10 of the Freedom of Information Act (FoI), 2011 gracefully passed by the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and graciously Assented by Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR; President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as follows:

Section 1 (1-3): Rights of access to records.

1. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, law or regulation,
the right of any person to access or request information, whether or not contained in any written form, which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution howsoever described, is established.
(2) An applicant under this Act needs not demonstrate any specific interest in the information being applied for.
(3) Any person entitled to the right to information under this Act, shall have the right to institute proceedings in the Court to compel any public institution to comply with the provisions of this Act.

Section 7 (1-5): Where access is refused.

7. (1) Where the government or public institution refuses to give access to a
record or information applied for under this Act, or a part thereof, the institution shall state in the notice given to the applicant the grounds for the refusal, the specific provision of this Act that it relates to and that the applicant has a right to challenge the decision refusing access and have it reviewed by a Court.
(2) A notification of denial of any application for information or records shall state the names, designation and signature, of each person responsible for the denial of such application.
(3) The government or public institution shall be required to indicate under subsection (1) of this Section whether the information or record exists.
(4) Where the government or public institution fails to give access to information or record applied for under this Act or part thereof within the time limit set out in this Act, the institution shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to have refused to give access.
(5) Where a case of wrongful denial of access is established, the defaulting officer or institution commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N 500, 000.

Section 10: Destruction or falsification of records.

10. It is a criminal offence punishable on conviction by the Court with a minimum of 1 year imprisonment for any officer or head of any government or public institution to which this Act applies to willfully destroy any records kept in his custody or attempt to doctor or otherwise alter same before they are released to any person, entity or community applying for it.

It is evident therefore from the foregoing (citations) that well-meaning stakeholders in Nigeria’s literary industry would in no way violate or infringe on the rights of the association (ANA) as established by this law if it requests for the records of all its transactions, dealings, and general operations for the last ten years being 2002-2012 as per the period under review.

In line with corporate traditions all over the world associated with all publicly quoted corporate institutions; it is vital that leading and credible audit firms in Nigeria notably Ernst & Young and KPMG request for the general operations records of the association (ANA) and exercise a thorough forensic audit of its books for the last ten years being 2002-2012 as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) owed this great country Nigeria as an association (ANA) that knows how well to trade on the floor of Legbo-Kutigi International Stock Exchange (LKISE) to tune of 10 Million Naira should considerably also have no problem declaring its operations records for thorough forensic audit and scrutiny.

Another thing that comes to mind with this ragged-association (ANA) are issues of tax remittances to the statutory tax-collection authorities in Nigeria notably the Federal Inland Revenue Services of Nigeria (FIRS); has this ragged-association (ANA) been faithful in remitting the taxes due to the Federal Inland Revenue Services of Nigeria (FIRS)? - seeing that it is now a fully functional publicly quoted corporate association. Is its tax clearance certification intact and current or has this ragged-association (ANA) been fraudulently evading tax remittances to the Federal Inland Revenue Services of Nigeria (FIRS) and therefore short-changing the people and government of this great nation Nigeria like the oil-cabals did? – Is this ragged-association (ANA) now part of the Nigerian oil-subsidy cabal? Seeing that it became toothless and lame during January 2012 Oil Subsidy Protest in Nigeria; or has the Federal Government of Nigeria also removed literary subsidy regardless of the fact it is also non-existent in the first place? These and other issues the National Executive Committees (NEC) of this ragged-association (ANA) put to consideration in its annual sham brazenly mistaken for conventions rather than being an unsolicited errant-gang.

Does Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria (CAC) know about the wanton metamorphosis of a body registered as an association now operating as a fully functional public liability company? Is it reviewing its laws to accommodate this unwarranted drift? Is it also alongside the Federal Inland Revenue Services of Nigeria (FIRS) being short-changed of its dues? Does it now know that this ragged-association (ANA) shouldn’t be categorized anymore as an association but rather as a public liability company feeding greedily fat on hard-earned tax-payers money? Is this ragged-association (ANA) remittance current in its register? These issues we shall pend till outcome of yet another seemingly periodic scam bleakly erred for summit by National Executive Committees (NEC) of this ragged-association (ANA) alongside inquiries that well-meaning stakeholder in Nigeria’s literary scene puzzles-out in event that the audit firms fails in exercising their corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Does this ragged-association (ANA) operate a functional and active internet website? – seeing that it is now composed mainly of super-headed authors with nothing to show other than fraudulent proceeds of its stock trading. Does this website contain information about its fiscal objectives and budgets? Has also this ragged-association; ANA Nigeria Plc been faithful to its social corporate responsibility by publishing its annual budgets in Nigeria’s Tabloids for the reading audience which it claims authority for to scrutinize and vet? - If Yes! – where and when? - If No! – why? Does it have proper accounting and risk mechanisms to ensure thorough fiscal discipline and monetary prudence? Does this ragged-association (ANA) consult with other sister-body like the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) for its account and audit needs or literally employs the services of account-quacks and audit-crooks? Does it even streamline its annual literary activities to tally with the fund at its disposal or bloat its activities to parasite unsuspecting tax-payers’ money? This and other issues shall be elaborately discussed in the next publication as we settle in our respective cocoon to soliloquize and ponder soberly on the likely outcome of the forensic audit and how well the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and other related offences (ICPC) will get distracted from their respective businesses pursuant to the brazen fiscal and reckless activities of some lazy literary-bigots parading their gluttonous selves as authors.


Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi is of Federal University of Technology, Minna and can be reached via tajudeen4ac@yahoo.com

Birth of a Heralded Giant

Nyen – Nyen – Nyen
Cries that begets laughter – Paradox
Laughter! Laughter! & Laughter!
I ask! How thou cast forth laughter from cries?
This is Insanity!… - doubt me not!
Did I reason? I queried!
Reflections…
* * * * *
27 – 09 – 1954! Hmmm…
Many calls this numbers
The wise calls it Time!
Yes! Time – time it is
Hmmm! For time begets destiny
Yet – destiny begets life
Puzzles…
* * * * *
Life for Birth
Yet – Birth for Life
Soliloquy…
* * * * *
I’m Bishop David Olaniyi Oyedepo; I’m me
This is my time!
This is my destiny!
This is my birth!
This is my life!
This is my Fate!
Ponderings…
* * * * *
I’m a Giant! – truly I’m
Mystery! – yet deciphered
Fact…
* * * * *
I’m Great!
I’m Life
I’m Fate
Oh! Yet fate heralded by faith
Silence…
* * * * *
Yes! I’m Life
Life for faith
Faith for Life
Riddle?...

Shhh… I’m LIVING FAITH

GLORY
* * * * *


Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi – 8th April, 2012.


This Poem is written and rendered by Amusa Tajudeen Lasisi on 8th April, 2012 1300 hours GMT at Brighter Int’l Schools Minna on Occasion of 2012 Living Church Worldwide Annual Easter Youth Camp held 5th-9th April, 2012.

guy men, how am i sure that, if i virtually win the competition, i would be given the money!
At least we should'nt be a sacred cow again after all this lessons learnt from obj administration

Really Impressive please keep it up! infact i think soyinka & Okri ought to give you their Nobel & Booker. You really deserve it.
Keep it up
Tajudeen Amusa from Minna, Niger-State.

Ben Carson

To be sincere Chimamanda is really a worthful feminine genius worthy of emulation