How to stop Jonathan from bankrupting Nigeria!

The mistake of former President Olusegun Obasanjo did not end with installing an incompetent successor. In addition to our misfortune, he got us a speculator who deals on both sides of the national question. President Jonathan holds a long position on Nigeria as the President and Commander-in-Chief and a short position as an Ijaw irredentist, protector of economic saboteurs and an enabler of terrorists.

Jonathan’s tenure is officially the most corrupt in the history of Nigeria. Under his watch, his minions steal on his behalf and for themselves with the greatest impunity ever known in the history of this nation. The quantum scale looting they engage in, is no longer about kickbacks, over inflation of contracts, budget padding and adding digits to withdrawals. Those are for the boys in the ministries. The scale of stealing now is designed to bankrupt and splinter Nigeria. It is the collusion by the Petroleum ministry, Finance and the Presidency to openly rob Nigeria by giving 24 percent of what the country earns while they pocket 76 percent. The NNPC do not remit oil receipts into the federation account; NNPC spends money with appropriation; Excess Crude Account is depleted without anything to show for it. Nothing is going to change until Nigerians show interest in holding public office holders accountable on the issues of public finance, transparency and responsibility.

We must find a way to create a short squeeze on them because the cost will be too high if we continue to let this President, his advisers and party apparatchiks take a bet against Nigeria. Do not be deceived that this is stealing for enrichment only, it is not. They are amassing obscene wealth in the belief that Nigeria is built on quicksand. They are hedging their bet in the event that Nigeria crumbles. If it does, they will profit; if it doesn’t there is nothing to lose because of their long position. Their bet seem reasonable since the cost of rebuilding their lives will be significantly less than the cash reservoir they have built. They believe Nigeria’s constituent parts are fungible having hedged their bets on its unity or disunity by holding both positions. What can we do so we won’t catch a falling knife? We can refuse to be led by these saboteurs. We can recall erring representatives, we can impeach this president. We can call his bluff in massive protest – organized mass action in civil disobedience.

We can say no to the mortgaging of our future and that of our children. The $20billion dollars that was not remitted to the federation account could have paid for lifelong healthcare for every man, woman, and child in this country. We have sunk further down the impunity dungeon with NNPC under the untouchable; Her Royal Deepness Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke. The NNPC under her stewardship is bigger than the state and constitute law unto itself. The NNPC has castrated us and we all look on helplessly and can do nothing because the triumvirate of Jonathan, Allison-Madueke and Okonjo-Iweala wills it so. The shocking truth is; the NNPC is NOT remitting all the monies it is legally and constitutionally required to remit to the federation account. Whenever NNPC wills, it transfers monies from crude sales to private entities like Atlantic Energy and Seven Energy. These are companies with well known links to the Petroleum minister. At other times, NNPC will claim the money was spent (again without appropriation) on kerosene and fuel subsidy, contrary to the 2009 presidential directive eliminating subsidy on Kerosene.

While other African countries of smaller means are recording humongous successes, Nigeria is facing the double jeopardy of depleted Excess Crude Account (ECA) and a dwindling foreign reserve. The ECA went from $8.65 billion in January 2013 to $2.5 billion in January 2014. To local and international analysts, Nigeria’s financial future evokes pity given the squandered riches and lost opportunities. Our current federal fiscal trajectory courts disaster that will significantly impact our nation’s ability to stay united. If anyone is in doubt, going through the 2014 budget proposal; What new strategic vision and direction does the budget bring? Does anyone care how this budget will affect the education of children? What implications does our expensive democracy hold for the country’s fiscal health? What will happen in a country without modern infrastructure, explosive youth bulge and untamed unemployment? These questions and a lot more bite every right thinking citizen daily.

The worst challenges of our world are facing us because the country has refused to do the right things and do things right. Our leaders have not learned any lesson and they refuse to see the consuming power of the impending conflagration. The country is bleeding dollars from government approved oil theft, militancy is on the rise, ethnic agitations, terrorism, unemployment, religious intolerance, communal clashes, drug trafficking, human trafficking, criminal gangs etc. despite our vast oil wealth and huge human capital, we have managed to emerged as a symbol of black Africa’s ungoverned space, waste, corruption and hopelessness. We have managed to evolve as a people who do not encourage hope and progress, health and good government. We have managed to be the breeding ground and a net exporter of terrorists who contribute to insecurity in the world. Jonathan and his party the PDP are complicating Nigerian interests. It is our constitutional duty to stop them.

We can begin by sending them a message that it can no longer be business as usual. Let us tell them in action and in words that Enough is Enough! Unalloyed and brazen thefts like we are seeing deadens our national conscience. It turns Nigeria’s relative prosperity into a charade. It threatens commitment to our unity as one nation and changes the dynamics among ethnic nationalities from a union of enhancing opportunities into a union of demanding obligations.

This rape of our land should offend us and move us to action. If we do not act, if we do not remove these amoral instincts of dispossession and primitive acquisition from our national psyche, we may remain a country but we will not be recognizably Nigerian.

By Bámidélé Adémólá-Olátéjú

• 
  

New Egyptian militant group claims responsibility for Giza bombing!

A newly formed militant group has claimed responsibility for a bomb attack targeting a police checkpoint in Cairo's twin city of Giza that wounded six people.

In a statement on Friday night, Ajnad Misr, Arabic for Egypt's Soldiers, said it had carried out the double bombing that hit a police vehicle on a bridge earlier in the day.

It said its "soldiers reached the heart of the criminal apparatus … to send a message to them that they are not safe from retribution."

Its fighters were monitoring the movements of the police and the headquarters from which "they launch their attacks every Friday killing and abusing innocent people", it said.

The group issued its first statement last week, claiming responsibility for several such bombings including one on 24 January that hit police just as they returned from clashes with Muslim Brotherhood supporters protesting against the removal of Mohamed Morsi as president.

Ajnad Misr vowed to continue its attacks on policemen, urging them to defect and repent. It said it would not keep quiet until "justice prevails and a state accepted by God is established".

It said police should "leave the service before being overpowered because the events are accelerating and the chance to defect might not last long".

The authenticity of the statement could not be verified, but it was posted on an al-Qaida-affiliated website frequently used for militant claims.

Militant attacks have increased in Egypt since Morsi's overthrow. Many of the deadliest have been claimed by the Sinai-based Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, or Champions of Jerusalem.

National Conference: Yoruba To Seek Regional Autonomy!

As the South West geopolitical zone of the country readies for the National Conference, some of the things the zone will advocate for at the conference has been revealed.

Speaking yesterday, after a National Conference Preliminary meeting on Yoruba Position, held in Ishara Remo Ogun State, at the residence of Afenifere bigwig, Sir. Olaniwun Ajayi, prominent Yoruba leaders agreed on the need to reach out to more Yoruba people, for wider consultations for the region in order to articulate its position before the conference.

While reiterating its support for the proposed national conference, the group however resolved to make regional autonomy, true federalism and resource control its priority.

According to Dr. Olajide, the Yoruba are going to demand regional autonomy. “We are going to take a second look at the issue of resource control and revenue allocation and a lot of other issues. But we haven’t taken a definite decision yet. That will be finalised on the 17th.”

The group however lack the backing of some prominent politicians in the zone who apparently have ‘bigger dreams’ ahead of the 2015 elections.

The group disclosed it has done everything within its capacity to reach out to the leadership of the South West zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande, but they were shunned.

Addressing newsmen, spokesman for the group, Mr Yinka Odumakin said “This is assembly of people who are political, people who are non-political and from various cadres of life, nobody should see it as a political thing. It is about the Yoruba nation, we are here to take a position on the planned national conference.”

“We have reviewed the modality for the conference. We do not accept the idea that we would be having 75 per cent vote at the conference where we don’t have consensus. We want that where we don’t have consensus, two-thirds should suffice.”

He disclosed that leaders at the meeting deliberated on a position to be adopted for the conference, but said “we have not concluded yet.”

Speaking on the efforts made to bring Tinubu to the forum, Chief Ayo Adebanjo alleged that the former of Lagos state, Asiwaju Tinubu and other APC chieftains, shunned them.

“We have done everything to bring APC, go and ask General Alani Akinrinade. We have done everything to bring in Tinubu. Some people wanted to meet him two days ago, he gave them an appointment, twice, he didn’t keep.

“Before we came here that was the battle we first had, that we wanted to get everybody that this is not a political matter, but he wouldn’t respond. What are we discussing that he (Tinubu) shouldn’t be there, we are talking of federalism, is that for our selfish interest, we talk of resource control and these are the things we have been agitating ever before he became the governor of Lagos State in 1999. I was the chairman of the party that made him the governor. These are the agitation we have been doing 20 years ago and you now have the opportunity to achieve it,” Adebanjo said.

Also speaking, Dr Tunji Braitwaite explained that the planned conference is a great opportunity once more opened for Nigerians to address the anomalies in the present federal structure.

“It is not just for our generation but for the generations coming,” Braitwaite said.

While he urged Yoruba and other well meaning Nigerians not to allow this opportunity slip without fully utilising it, he reiterated the need for the conference to hold before any elections is held in the country.

The Southwest is expected to send 15 delegates to the conference.

How a miscarriage almost tore a beautiful friendship apart!

When my boyfriend and I decided to try for a baby, I was bursting with excitement – and trepidation. I decided to confide in my best friend, Jane. We met at journalism college when I was 19 and she was 22. Jane was just about the coolest person I'd ever met. We bonded like sisters – and in the years to come we'd sometimes bicker like sisters too. But we always made up.

Anna (left) and Jane

After college, Jane moved to San Francisco but we stayed best friends: we chatted on the phone, visited each other and later Skyped. From either side of the ocean we saw each other through some major life changes: my marriage break-up, her multiple sclerosis diagnosis, my father's death, Jane's divorce.

But there was one tragedy our friendship could not weather. In fact, it tore us apart. When I told Jane that I was trying for a baby, she was naturally delighted for me. She already had two children, Emily, now 13, and Elliot, 11, from her first marriage. And now, she confided, she and her new partner, Tavis, were hoping to have a baby.

A few weeks later, I rang Jane to tell her I was pregnant. Six weeks later, so was she. I couldn't have been more excited. We'd go through pregnancy together, give birth weeks apart and, with luck, our babies would grow up to be friends, just like us. As always, we chatted weekly, swapping complaints about morning sickness and indigestion, though poor old Jane seemed to be suffering far more than me. I worried that the pregnancy might take a toll on her often frail body; I'd seen her bloom through her pregnancies before, but once those hormones left her body, the MS made her crash.

But Jane has always been so brave, so strong, so super positive, and I knew she and Tavis wanted this baby more than anything.

There was even better news – like me, Jane was expecting a girl. I remember the day she told me the name they had chosen: Daisy Rae. She sounded so sweet already. And Jane loved Gracie, the name awaiting my daughter.

Then, disaster. Jane's mother, Pam, emailed to say her baby had died. Jane had gone for a routine checkup at 20 weeks, and Daisy was no longer alive.

Doctors thought she had been strangled by the umbilical cord. I reached down and put a protective hand over my own bump. As sad as I was for Jane, in that moment part of me felt selfishly terrified for my own baby. What if she died too?

I dialled Jane's number and left a message to say how sorry I was. But no amount of emotion or emphasis in my voice could have come close to letting Jane know how I felt for her in that moment. I think she texted back the next day and thanked me for the message. I called Pam again, and asked how Jane was, which I did every few days over the months to come. She very carefully and kindly told me that Jane couldn't speak to me. That I, with my growing, healthy bump, was the last person Jane wanted to hear from.

I remember the tears pricking my eyes. I knew it was a hard thing for Pam to tell me. I knew it made sense and that I was selfish to think any different. I also knew that there was a weak and cowardly part of me that was afraid to speak to Jane, that didn't want to hear that a baby could just "go away". And I wanted to be there for Jane when she needed me most. In those moments, it was hard to accept that my best friend didn't want me anywhere near her.

The weeks went by and I kept in touch with Pam. I was careful not to mention my pregnancy on Facebook too much. I knew when I put a picture up that Jane might see it, so I did so only a handful of times over the nine months. I sometimes checked her profile to see if she'd deleted me. Pam told me that, instead, she had hidden me from view.

I felt helpless. All I could do was hope that Pam was telling Jane I was asking after her, but it did feel as if I was being punished for my pregnancy continuing. I could almost feel the resentment coming across the Atlantic in waves. Because I needed Jane too. This was my first baby, quite possibly the only one I'd have, and, after all, Jane already had two who were alive and well. I didn't want – or deserve – her to resent me or my baby.

Gracie was born in August 2012. Jane says she contacted me when she was born, but it's all a blur – I nearly lost her at the last hurdle and she spent her first week of life in intensive care.

Then, suddenly, Jane sent some wonderful gifts for Gracie – I knew choosing them must have been hard for her, but hoped it might be an olive branch. There was a glimmer of hope that I might get my best friend back.

But there was a long way to go. By then, with a new baby to show off, I couldn't hide my pride on Facebook, I couldn't censor the pictures I posted – I had to wait for Jane to come round.

The breakthrough came last summer when she met Gracie. She shed some tears, we both knew why. But although Daisy wasn't there, Emily and Elliot were and it gave us so much pleasure to see our children playing together.

The other day, when I called Jane excitedly to tell her that Gracie had taken her first steps, I knew she must be thinking, "That's what Daisy would be doing now." But although it hurts, perhaps it keeps Daisy alive too.

Jane's story:

When I got pregnant two years ago, the person I was most excited about telling was my best friend, Annie. Not just because we shared every part of our lives, but because she was pregnant too. And despite the thousands of miles between us, we were going to experience our pregnancies together.

Tavis was – is – the love of my life, and though I had two children from my previous marriage, I'd always pictured myself with three, so this was going to be perfect. To share it with Annie only made it more exciting. In my imagination our babies would be best friends: they'd spend summers together, live in the same town and, one day, we'd hang out together with our grandchildren – one big, happy extended family like something out of a movie.

Annie and I had been best friends for 16 years. It was tough on our friendship when I moved to San Francisco, but we kept in constant touch. In fact, I was with Annie on New Year's Day 2000 when I found out I was pregnant with my first baby. I did a pregnancy test at her house – she knew before my husband did.

With my third pregnancy, Annie and I found out we were both having girls. Then, without warning, it was all over for me. Daisy Rae died, a few days after I'd felt her kick for the first time. I went for the five-month checkup and there she was lying inside me as if sleeping, but with no heartbeat. My life came crashing down. My baby had just ... gone.

I had to wait a week to have her body removed under anaesthetic in hospital. The alternative was to be induced and give birth, but I couldn't bear to do that. I had to accept that I'd be leaving the hospital with nothing more than sorrow.

I was heartbroken. I'm not sure how I made it through that week, and have little memory of it. There was a lot of crying, sleep and medication. But a few weeks later, I knew I had to try to make it out of the fog and rejoin the real world. But it was filled with pregnant women and newborn babies – I couldn't bear to see them.

And how could I still be friends with Annie? She was getting bigger and more beautiful by the day: I only needed to go on to Facebook to see that. I felt it wasn't fair.

I sent a text to tell Annie I couldn't be in touch with her any more, crying as I composed it. Was I mourning the loss of my friend or that she had what I so desperately wanted? She replied to say that she understood and stayed in touch with my mum.

At first Mum tried to persuade me to talk to Annie. She told me how much Annie cared about me and needed me. But I just couldn't. I couldn't stand seeing her pictures on Facebook either. I hid her profile so it wouldn't come up in my feed, then I hid every one of my friends who popped up with a pregnant status. Which, it seemed at the time, was everyone.

My happiness for Annie hadn't gone, but in the space where I'd once felt my baby kick, resentment towards her – and any pregnant woman – grew. All I had was an empty belly.

I tried explaining to Tavis how I felt about her, but he found it hard to understand. Of course he knew I was grieving – he was, too – but he didn't understand how I could resent my best friend. And he didn't want me to appear mean. But my feelings were so complex that only a handful of people understood. One of those was my grief therapist, who promised me they were normal, and most importantly, they would change in time.

Sometimes I'd send Annie a text to say hi and send love, to reassure her that I hadn't left completely. She always responded, but I could tell from her tone that she didn't really know what to say. Often I felt she seemed apologetic for still being pregnant and I felt bad for putting her in that space. Other times I felt she was angry at me for being selfish and not being there for her.

Then Gracie was born. I knew her due date – part of me had dreaded that news – and Mum called to say the baby was in intensive care, which shook me. I sent Annie a note, but didn't hear back, which was no surprise considering the situation.

I knew that if Annie and I were to ever be friends again, I had to send a gift to acknowledge Gracie's birth and, more, despite my grief, I wanted to share in her joy.

I took Emily shopping for Gracie's gift, to have at my side one of the babies I hadn't lost. We bought Goodnight Moon, which was Emily's favourite book as a baby, a soft white owl and some fridge magnets with Gracie written on them. That was my way of showing Annie I was sorry for not being there during her pregnancy or birth, that I was happy for her and wanted us to be friends again.

Little by little, Annie and I were in touch more often. I knew she understood and eventually she told me how sad she was that Gracie and Daisy wouldn't grow up together. Her acknowledgment was all I needed.

Then, some really wonderful news. Eight months after I lost Daisy, I got pregnant again. But again I miscarried, this time at 12 weeks. I knew I wouldn't try again.

Last summer, four months after losing this second baby, I met Gracie. She was 11 months old and perfect. We spent a magical day together at my parent's country cottage. Among the rambling roses and bumble bees, Emily and Elliot took turns pushing Gracie on the swing. They were wonderful with her, as I knew they would have been with Daisy.

Jane with Gracie

During the day, I looked at Gracie, and Daisy came rushing to my mind. The tears flowed. Annie and I looked at each other, but didn't say anything – there was nothing to say. I fell in love with Gracie that day and was able to move on with Annie. This day was about me meeting this beautiful little girl with the whole world ahead of her, and with an incredible mum showing her the way.

That's what Gracie and Annie are to me now. They don't represent my loss any more, but what we've all gained.

The Pendulum by Dele Momodu!

Fellow Nigerians, one of the most frequently asked questions by friend and foe is: why do you want to be President and not a Senator or Governor? The answer is very simple. You need executive power in the hands of a committed and determined change agent to be able to regenerate Nigeria. The Governors can do as much as the omnipotent and ubiquitous President allows these days. Governors have to pay obeisance to Him on High in Abuja as frequently as possible or face the wrath of the almighty. The lack of proper Federalism has made it impossible for the Federating units to operate at optimal speed and value. Everyone looks at the body language of the President and must know how to decode the subliminal messages emanating from him lest something bad begin to happen to you and yours.

The Legislators also understand the game. In reality they can’t be too independent. They are regularly bullied or compromised by the omniscient executive. Is it not curious that no legislator has been able to reject the atrocious remunerations being allocated to them? That is the bait the executive uses to hook, implicate, placate and tame the shrew. The Judiciary has been struggling to free itself from the stranglehold of the executive arm of government but it has not been too easy. The executive has the power to hire and fire via subterfuge. Everything has become politicised and no institution is too sacred to be desecrated. I do not want to be specific but we are all witnesses to the deluge of contradictory judgments dissembled by our Judges in staccato fashion.

The story of the Fourth Estate of the Realm is almost similar. Despite the preponderance of electronic and print media, most organisations require government patronage to survive in a turbulent market. The situation is worse for the electronic media. You have to behave and tread softly or get yanked off the air. Government remains the veritable source of news in Nigeria. Most journalists have to camp inside and outside various government houses and make sure they are chummy with the government spokesperson or miss out on the goody train. Our job is too delicate. Societal expectations are not often realistic. Everyone goes about their businesses and expect the reporter to be the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the Earth. And when the media organisation dies due to lack of patronage the same society moves on casually and leaves the casualties to stew in their own juices. We’ve seen it too many times.

Where then do we turn? You would say the civil society. Even that is not an easy route. That road is paved and littered with thorns. There is nothing any one can do for his country that the likes of Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), Mr Femi Falana (SAN) and others of their ilk did not try. Gani could not be made a President despite being called the Senior Advocate of the Masses while Femi could not become the Governor of Ekiti State. The principalities that control the levers of power in Nigeria cannot be easily uprooted and upstaged. They have their secret weapons that are so potent and recyclable. If they drop the spectre of ethnicity and it fails, they will drop the bomb of religion. If that fails to explode, they will try the whiff of money or throw all the three aces at once. Trust me, it works like magic. How many people can resist the lure of lucre in a largely impoverished environment? I’m sure these facts are known to you all.

I’ve answered my opening question so many times that I can almost write a doctoral thesis on it. I’ve come to the conclusion that majority of our citizens would love to have a good President in Nigeria. However, I’m not sure they want him even if they find him and recognise him as the one they’ve been awaiting all along, for several reasons I will explain shortly. Wherever two or more Nigerians are gathered the topic of discussion must dovetail into politics. We are all experts in political science and it is strange that we each shout about corruption until we’ve been tested. Those who have no opportunities of getting close to the national cake call everyone in government rogues. I often wonder why it is so easy for radicals of yesteryears to decay and disappear into oblivion. This has made the search for that special leader very cumbersome and frustrating. So where do we go from here?

Let us begin with definitions to be sure we are all on the same page. Who is a good Leader? A good Leader is that man or woman who was born to lead or acquired the skills along the way. He is not a Saint but possesses saintly inclinations. He loves unconditionally. He’s detribalised. He has religious tolerance. He has the ability to manage people and resources. He is a man of vision with a sound mind to see what most people find difficult to decipher. He is a man of modest means who has managed his life prudently and is humble in success. He is very educated not by just going to school but by being exposed to great knowledge about the complex world in which we live.

He is God-fearing without being a religious bigot. He is an ideologue who’s flexible enough to consider other principles of governance where applicable. He is charismatic and must be a good representative of his country wherever he goes. He is eloquent and can communicate with his people effortlessly. He is inspirational and can galvanise his people into dreaming big. He is trusted to the extent that his people are ready to make any necessary sacrifice required of them. He is a man of the people, in short.

Why do we need that one leader and not many leaders? The answer is simple. No nation is governed by a multitude but by one powerful and clear-headed leader whose ideas and ideals percolate down the entire fabric of society. He knows his onions and is ready to risk his all to succeed glowingly where others failed woefully. Other leaders would naturally queue behind him to tap into his uncommon wisdom, determination and resilience. History is replete with stories of such monumental figures.

My favourite example is Mao Tse-tung, former Chairman of the Communist Party of China. He was a revolutionary who’s often referred to as the founding father of the People’s Republic of China. The irony of his life is that he was never born poor being the son of a wealthy farmer who was greatly influenced by Marxist-Leninist theories. It is interesting to note that Chairman Mao declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949 under the control of a one-party socialist movement. Against all odds, and after several cultural, economic and political battles, he was able to build a new China into a super power. The lesson in his life is that change can never be a tea party. A leader who is only interested in enjoying the paraphernalia of office would never be able to transform his nation. The population of China alone was challenging enough yet he was able to put China on sound footing.

My next example is Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore. Like Chairman Mao, he is also regarded as the Father of Singapore and was its first Prime Minister. At the time of his attaining power, Singapore was a miserable Third World Country but through discipline and determination he was able to rebuild a dilapidated nation into a First World country and a remarkable Asian Tiger. The lesson again is that a true transformational leader must be ready to put his nation above earthly treasures and pleasures. The story of Lee Kuan Yew is a must read for all aspiring politicians who wish to make the much-desired difference.

Mahatma Gandhi’s name can never be omitted in world history because of the sacrifice he made for the emancipation of his country. He was the major promoter of nonviolent civil disobedience and led India to Independence in August 1947. Interestingly, his birthday which is now a national holiday is on October 2. The man practically starved and fasted himself to death while protesting against man’s inhumanity to man. He was imprisoned on several occasions in India and South Africa. His was a life of sacrifice for the betterment of his larger society and humanity in general.

Please, endure one more example in contemporary history, The Great Madiba, Nelson Mandela of South Africa. Everyone is fascinated by the life history of Mandela yet we can hardly point at one African leader today who is willing and ready to make the necessary sacrifice for his country like he did. All those who went to shed crocodile tears at his funeral forgot his legacies as soon as they returned from the photo opportunity. The man would not have suffered in vain if his painful existence gave birth to others like him. Such is the irony of life.

Long before all these leaders, the world had men who became deified and whose names continue to reverberate globally. Prophet Mohammed and Jesus Christ remain the biggest iconic figures in religion. It is noteworthy that many of us call their names but easily forget what they stood for in world history. Their lives reflected how one tree can make a forest. The essence of my preamble is to demonstrate why we must continue the search for that elusive man or woman with the true capacity to transform our country from its penurious state to a prosperous haven.

Is it possible to have such a leader in Nigeria? The answer is yes. We tend to think our liberator would have to descend from heaven. It is never going to happen in that manner. The kind of man we want exists already but we are too blinded by many primordial sentiments that we can’t even see or identify such a person. Indeed, several of them exist.  I will go into our sordid history to pick a few examples of how we missed the boat in the past and hoping such mistakes would not be repeated over and over again. The choices I’m going to pick will be controversial but so be it. In a country where everything is quotalised, I expect many people to kick but my choices are by no means exhaustive. They are just glaring glimpses of missed opportunities due to our collective myopia.

I will also endeavour to prove that apart from our wasted heroes we have many heroes wasting away at the moment. Until we unburden our souls and purge our minds of long-held prejudices, that man we need would continue to elude us. The land is filled with bitterness and volatile anger. Is this the solution? I sincerely don’t think so. Many are saying the country should break up. But this is a worse option. They tend to forget that the greatness of China, India, America and several others stems largely from their substantial population. The secret of America is in absorbing and tolerating people of all races. Our intolerance level is abysmal and extremely dangerous. We hate our next door neighbour with such venom and only God knows who would restore peace, love and joy to this land of great men and women.

I believe all hope is not lost. My duty is to pursue the line of argument that Nigeria has many great men and women who can lead her to greatness. Most times, politics is a game of trial by error. There are no hard and fast rules. Until you try a particular leader you may never know his capabilities.

I shall start with the living generation of potentially great leaders simply because they can make a difference whilst we can only rue what might have been regarding those that have passed on.  Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State epitomises one of such miracles and positive accident of Leadership. He has confounded all those who queried the wisdom of the then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he backed him with all his might. We must give Tinubu some credit more than his critics are willing to do. He knows how to identify good materials.

Our search for that man of our dreams must begin with seeking our best materials with a fine toothcomb. We must find and encourage them.  Gold is usually rough before it is polished. We have a unique opportunity to turn ourselves into miners. If we do not participate in one form or another, we have no reason to lament later.

By Dele Momodu

Fall 2014 Hair, Makeup & Nails trends!

Sure, the clothes garner all the hoopla but the beauty at New York Fashion Week is also exciting, if not unique.

Unfortunately it can be hard to get a real good look at the hair, makeup and manicures unless you're lucky enough to score a backstage pass. Which is where these tips come in handy.

E news is zooming in on all the best Fall 2014 beauty looks at NYFW and also sharing the exact products used to create each one. 

Photos below:

What Do Nigerians Really Want In 2015?

The next elections are just a fresh calendar away. And so far the chaos of our choices is loud, sufficient for even a stubborn optimist to admit to the cynicism of citizens who have long predicted another case of our vulnerability to polarisations. Observing the ongoing political drama, and interacting with fellow Nigerians from across various parties, religions and ethnic groups, validates the fears of the cynical.

I have challenged such cynicism on reading a commentary on the evil that is democracy in Nigeria by the poet Khalid Imam, who expressed a view shared by many Nigerians, thus:

“Politics is amoral! Politicians always defecate on the mat of morality. Politics is but a war fought by politicians to satiate the greedy … ogre they always worship. At whatever cost, what matters most in politics is the protection of present selfish interest and having an assured relevance in tomorrow’s political games. Nothing more, nothing less. Today, politics seems to be about self, for the self and the self alone. The dramatic defection of politicians from one party to the other is all motivated by selfish interest, not common interest of the majority. Democracy is insane as it always serves as a reliable vehicle for transportation of capitalism and godlessness to every clime. May God save the poor from the hands of his foes parading themselves as his leaders.” – Facebook (31/Janauary/2014: 16:59)

With this mindset, I highlighted, how would we redeem the system? Isn’t this defeatist? Aren’t we all politicians in our own different ways?

I think that this “politics is a dirty game” perception is the reason we’re still unable to rescue this country. These politicians are humans, like us, and thus I referenced Hon. Abdullahi I. Mahuta of Katsina State House of Assembly, our mutual friend on Facebook and a politician who has defied the logic Khalid appealed to in that post. Hon. Mahuta has shown us the merciful side of politics, and has paid a price as a victim of the game, for challenging flaws in budget allocations as the Minority Leader of the State Assembly—that allocations to named schools were not as proposed by the Governor. For this heroism, he earned a suspension.

But that isn’t what makes the Honourable Member a hero in my books. He also champions an advocacy called “Ni ma na yarda”, as reported by columnist Auwal Sani Anwar,  that challenges public office holders to have their children enrolled in public schools, and his own children are already in these under-funded schools. This pro-education advocacy, expected to have adequate attention drawn to our structurally and academically collapsed public schools, will also demystify class divides, rousing the essence of a generation of the haves and the have-nots existing along blurred social strata.

You may think that the memories of all we have witnessed and experienced, including the disappointing stink of this government’s Fresh Air, may be hard lessons for us in this last year of a disastrous term? But our attitude indicates otherwise. Our attitude to the activities of the opposition parties and the stunts of candidates who have shown interest in the race to Aso Rock so far, assure me that we are still not serious, and for this baffling un-readiness to get it right this time, I ask: what do Nigerians want?

Obviously we don’t know what democracy is. Yet. We have taken democracy for a magic wand that makes everything all right with a streak of our criticisms from our air-conditioned rooms and offices, tweeting randomly against communal troubles that are also our responsibility to eliminate. This hatred towards, or misperception of, democracy, acquired from our history of misbehaving politicians, is no doubt the cause of this chaos in reaching a consensus on what we want, who we want, and how we want it realised.

If we want to practise democracy, we have to be democratic. How do we expect credible leaders when all we do is criticise without taking part? And because we see one another in the same image, every praise of a presidential aspirant is seen as sponsored. If I write in favour of one, I’m bought. If I announce my support for General Babangida as President, I’ll be accused. If I announce my support for Governor Rochas as President, I’ll be accused. If I announce my support for Mallam Ribadu as President, I’ll be accused. If I announce my support for Governor Fashola as President, I’ll be accused. If I announce my support for Alhaji Atiku as President, I’ll be accused. All because we do not understand that the product of politics are our effort and sacrifice. And the accusers, as usual, would not name a candidate decent enough to be a popular choice; this is where we undermine the power of our number and the possibilities of team work. Overseas, it’s patriotic to give your all in supporting an admired presidential candidate. Here, you mention “Buhari”, you’re an APC member or a northerner or a paid publicist!

Sometimes, the most stones are cast by the actual sinners: our journalists. Though it’s advisable for our journalists to remain reasonably objective in covering and gauging the pulse of the nation, this is hardly the case. Our journalists are more ethically confused. They preach against corruption, yet they won’t cover your story if they’re not paid. And the fact that they expect private citizens to not get involved in the political process, considering such as a compromise, is a disturbing delusion. Private citizens should free themselves from the lie that they are not allowed to express public support for candidates in whom they see their hope of a new Nigeria.

The second set of Nigerians that must never be our models are some of these critics overseas whose ideologies hardly encourage citizen participations in our political processes, as such is seen as complicity in the looting of the country. Some of us have been hoodwinked into adopting their “never join politics” development thesis as we celebrate these consistently loud voices that quote Karl Marx and Adam Smith in vilifying an entire nation for the sins of a few.

We are different from them. We are the direct victims of any failed political experiment, and screaming and writing about failed governments without struggling to infiltrate the ranks of our “laboratory politicians” whose incompetence cause these troubles means we are complicit in the fall of this nation.

If a UK-based critic, for instance, sets fire to his green passport, out of disappointments in Nigeria, it’s understandable. He has another home. You don’t. There’s a limit to his participation in the evolution of our democracy. You live in Nigeria, and so you must walk the talk!

So, dear countrymen, we have to change our methods of engagements. Politics is not as dirty as the fabric of the hypocrisy we exhibit in boycotting the system. Yes “all politicians are thieves”, but I have not seen your poster, nothing to tell me that you’re in the race. How can I vote for you, sir? Your absence, my most reverend saint, means my vote is invalid. 

May God save us from us!

by Gimba Kakanda