Nationalism/ Chauvinism: A Threat To Nigerian Nationhood!

The campaign for the recognition of the Biafran nation recently marked its 50th Anniversary on 30th of May. Articles expressing individual and group opinions, floods the dailies. Each article succinctly pointed out factors they thought stunted the Biafran attempt and if there are hopes of its actualization in the future. A remarkable factor noted in our previous publication was that of "nationalism or chauvinism". 

Biafra protesters

The struggle for an exit might sometimes seems easy, especially when underlying factors like- ethnic, economic, religious and cultural factors, which cuts across Nigeria as a whole and which threatens the existence of the unity of the larger group appears not thoroughly examined.

Fifty years on, the above listed remain major challenges that threaten the Unity and Peace of not just the country as a whole but ethnic groups. An instance is the on-going friction withing the Catholic Church in Imo state, eastern Nigeria, where Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke, from Anambra state; who was appointed Bishop of Ahiara, by the the Pope Benedict XVI, in 2012. According to reports, Bishop Okpaleke was rejected by the Clergy on the grounds that he is not from the Mbaise ethnic group in Imo state. A ridiculous and rather mischievous stand as both states (Anambra and Imo) are in the eastern region of Nigeria, part of the supposed Biafran territory. 

This development prompted Pope Francis to give objecting Priests a 30-day ultimatum to either accept Bishop Okpaleke or face suspension; but not after much fuss had been generated. Nationalism, which bothers on the long neglect of the need to recognize and respect the diversity that characterized Nigeria as a multi-ethnic nation. Like the saying goes: our strength, lies in our diversity.

Calling for destruction at the slightest provocation by mischievous groups and individuals, instead of dialogue; or tout-arming to kill and destroy has never been a solution to any challenge therefore unacceptable. If an Imo state man cannot accept an Anambra man as Bishop in his community, to the extent that it took Rome's intervention to remind us of "respect and acceptance" of ourselves as brothers in a common struggle, then perhaps the journey is farther than it was thought to be. 

Like the Animal Farm novella, the seemingly underlying questionable attitude which masks the agitation for the Biafran agenda, if, and when it does happen, pose a menace. For it wouldn't be long thereafter before there arise yet again, a demand for further segregation by ethnic groups who would've feel cheated of the Power/ Resource-control sharing formulae. 

Obianuju Mbanusi writes

In The Campaign For The Constitutions Of Lekki-Peninsula Alternative Routes!

The recent commissioning of the Lekki/ Ajah Flyover Bridge, "Jubilee Bridge", is laudable, however there is need to ensure that attention is not diverted from the Ikota By-Pass, constructed to ease traffic along the VGC/Ajah end of the Lekki Peninsula express way, during the Fly-over construction.

Jubile Bridge ascent

From the look of things, currently Jubilee Fly-over seems to have solved about 60% of the challenge as traffic continued in-wards Ajah, while the Ikota By-Pass from its current state appeared abandoned.

Ikota By-Pass road before the rain

The Ikota by-pass is a sort of 'make-shift' route that helped ease the traffic menace on the express way, between Ikota - Abraham Adesanya areas, a focus on sustainability requires that this route be constructed into one of the 'long over-due' Lekki-Peninsula major alternative roads, if the traffic problem is to be completely solved.

Ikota By-Pass Road

Lekki Scheme 2 area, by Ogombo road

We applaud the efforts of the Lagos state Government geared towards making the Lagos metropolis a comfortable and safe place for its citizens and enterprises.  

From the construction and rehabilitation of roads across the state, lifting of Lekki Roundabouts to decongest traffic, construction of Fly-Over foot and motor bridges where none existed, the state is indeed much better. We however continue to use this medium, among others to canvass for provision and sustainability of basic infrastructures across Nigeria, to make life easy and better for the citizens. 



Links previous stories on the canvass for Lekki-Peninsula Alternative Routes: 

http://rovinginformant.blogspot.com.ng/2016/12/succour-atlas-for-lekki-nightmarish.html

http://rovinginformant.blogspot.com.ng/2016/09/ikota-ogombo-by-pass-route-needs-urgent.html

Flood/ Traffic Induces Transportation Hike, Labour Union/ Government Needs To Sit Up!

Its the rainy season and like precursory years, most parts of Nigerian cities experience flood. Lagos -state metropolis is not exempted, Tuesday, June 6th, 2017 rain which started in the early hours of the day and continued all through left its infamous signature behind. 

Mobile Road, off Ilaje bus-stop

 Major roads, residential and business districts was flooded. The drainage where the water was supposed to flow through was not spared; Left, Right Centre all you see is Flood. 

Mobile Road, off Ilaje bus-stop

 Commuters were stranded as transportation fare increased. Reason given by bus (danfo), Motorbikes (okada) and tricycle (Keke) drivers were: Traffic and Flood. 

Mobile Road, off Ilaje bus-stop

 Since there are obviously no 'Governmental/Labour' organisations to protect citizens from gratuitous developments as these, passengers are left with no options than to either 'grudgingly' pay or risk trekking the distance to their destinations ...in the rain. 

Mobile Road, off Ilaje bus-stop

For how long will this continue?

What is the Nigerian Labour Union doing to address baseless increase in transportation fare imposed on helpless Nigerians?

What is the Government, whom the people trustfully voted into 'Power' doing to address flood and exploitation in the form of inexplicable increase in transportation fares when ever it rains?

Evil: Health Worker Abused Special-Need Toddler In Her Care!

A recent story and video published on Bellanaija blogspot, left readers astonished. Why would an individual identified to be Bisola Anthonia Abayomi Ojo, a physiotherapist, believed to have taken the medical oath to treat diseases, injury or deformity by physical methods like massage, exercise and heat treatments, simply decide to instead use her esteemed office to perpetrate heinous crime against a helpless toddler? 

The story below, as narrated on Bellanaija blog, by the victim's mother identified as Bukola Ayinde, Founder of  P4:13 Foundation and Author of Diary of a Special Needs Mum, whose daughter was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy leaves one wondering what has come over us...

The Narrative: 

"I’m Bukola Ayinde, Founder of P4:13 Foundation and author of Diary of a Special Needs Mum.

Getting a diagnosis which says your child has Cerebral Palsy is a parent’s worst nightmare. I had my period of living in denial; wishing the problem would go away, like it was all a dream, but the reality stared me in the face.

My husband and I decided to face the challenge before us squarely.

We engaged different specialists; Neurologist, Paediatrician, Physiotherapist, Speech therapist, Occupational therapist, Special Needs Care Givers. At one point we were scouting for a very good physiotherapist.

A parent of a special needs child recommended a young lady to me. I mentioned her name to one of my daughter’s therapist who confirmed that the lady was very good at her job. However, she also confirmed that the lady could be arrogant. I spoke with another therapist on the field who also confirmed that the recommended Physiotherapist was good at what she does but she could be rude.

Well, at that point of my life, I didn’t mind if she was going to be rude to me or arrogant as far as she was as good as everyone had said, I was fine with that. All I wanted was to see was my child’s improvement, I could take any sh*t in between.

She came on board as my daughter’s physiotherapist. She was very professional and dedicated, but she didn’t come cheap. She didn’t come cheap at all.

My daughter attended a mainstream school that allowed her to use the sickbay as her pullout room for her physiotherapy session.

In June 2016, my daughter’s school proprietress requested that my husband and I should make out time to see her. When we eventually did a week later, she told us that the physiotherapist had manhandled our daughter and she was going to show us a CCTV recording to prove it.

At the back of my mind I felt the woman was exaggerating because therapy could be demanding at times. My child may cry, if she didn’t like the exercise or if the exercise was tasking.

However, when I watched the video, I was shocked beyond words that someone I trusted with my daughter could treat her worse than an animal. I believe that even an animal shouldn’t be treated that way.

I mean, she came highly recommended; she is a Masters degree holder. She is not an illiterate.

Apparently she didn’t remember that there was a CCTV in the room or she felt nobody would be checking the TV at that particular time.

It was heartbreaking to see my daughter treated by a health worker in such a barbaric act.

I watched my daughter as she fell down several times hitting her head on the tiles. There were times she hit her head on the edge of the wooden bed before falling to the ground.

Her Physiotherapist slapped her three times; the third time with her cell phone. She left her head hanging upside for 5 minutes. She twisted my daughter’s hands several times; at a point she sat on her hands, at another point she tied her hands behind her head. I watched as my daughter fell from her chair while her neck was stuck in between the space at the vertical back rest and the flat wood used for sitting down. I watched on as this lady typed on her phone 90% of the time only taking some time off to torture my daughter. Did I mention that she took out time to take her selfie? Up to five times.

After we watched the recording, my husband could not control his tears. My heart bled.

My daughter’s Neurologist said we cannot ascertain the level of damage to her brain because we did not bring her immediately it happened. He said an MRI would have been done to ascertain any damage.

I got her arrested.

She said she was sorry

She claimed depression and ill health

I didn’t believe her then, I don’t believe her now.

I had to make a decision, to leave my daughter in the hands of her nannies at home (which may be another source of abuse) and follow through to ensure the physiotherapist was duly punished. (Bearing in mind the justice system in Nigeria) or drop the charges lodged at the police station and allow Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board at Yaba to handle the matter.

I dropped the police charges. I decided to stay with my traumatized daughter.

I handed the Physiotherapist over to the Registrar at Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board at Yaba.

Her punishment:

• Three months withdrawal of her practicing license.

• Three months work in a general hospital under supervision without pay

• She was to undergo a psychiatric test

Like seriously? Are you kidding me?

She had been practicing for a year without renewing her license and all you could do was to withdraw her license officially for a mere three months?

She went back to the Registrar at Medical Rehabilitation Therapists to ask for permission to travel to USA to get treatment.

I called to check on the case, and I was told she had travelled for treatment

I was told not to worry as she cannot practice anywhere else in the world without a letter from the board.

Some months later, I was told by a reliable source that she was not taking any major treatments but attending a Masters programme in US.

So she got away with child abuse, assault, battery, in fact attempted murder.

This is only possible in Nigeria right?

I went back to Medical Rehabilitation Center, I was shocked to find out that the case had gone cold.

What stops her from coming back into the country and working with other children?

How many Nigerians ask for practicing license before employing a professional?

I strongly believe that the least the board should have done was to declare her unfit to work with children.

In respect to my daughter, the signs were there: She had been withdrawn for a while in fact she had stop smiling, interacting with anybody in the house or attempting to answer questions in school. I kept asking the care giver that followed her to school about the sudden change. The caregiver said she had no idea. I came up with my own theory and I brushed it aside.

How would I have known that a health worker, someone I trusted with my child could be so cruel? The Physiotherapist had been with us for over two years. I can only imagine….

Well, I pulled my daughter out of school and started her own mini school at home. I let go of my current caregivers for good reasons and got new ones. With care and love, she added weight, came out of her shell and got better. Right now she attends a school three times a week and we are making progress.

Child abuse is real…from the people you least expect. Protect your children."

Bukola Ayinde wrote.

This is absolutely unacceptable and should not be condoned in any way. 

This lady (health-worker) should be identified and brought to book as soon as possible. 

The Biafran Movement In Review!

May 30th, marks the anniversary of the once existence the Biafran Nation, officially known as the Republic of Biafra. Bordered by the lower part of the River-Niger on the west and the Republic of Cameron on the east, Biafra was made up of the then eastern Region of Nigeria.

The name Biafra was derived from its southern Atlantic bay- "Bright of Biafra". History has it that the Biafran secession, which lasted between 30th of May, 1967, to January 1970, came about as a result of ethnic, cultural, religious and economic tensions across Nigeria. The Biafran story is, to some extent, known by almost every Nigerian through: personal experience, handed-down tales, or from history classes. 

 

The aim of this piece, is not to go into History, but to take a glimpse at the noble aim of the ideologists in the vanguard of the Biafran movement. They were the un-sung 'Nigerian' men and women who joined not only in the Biafran struggle, but in the struggle for Liberation, Unity and Development of the African State. 

The impact of these (mostly unacknowledged) youths, who traveled the length and breadth of Africa, Asia, and the United States of America; in search of allies in the campaign for the liberation of African, can not be over-emphasized. Men and women in their prime, from all walks of life, some of whom have had the privilege of being mentored by some of Africa's finest. The likes the Kwame Nkrumah, and Kenneth Kaunda of blessed memories, to mention a few. Then were times when noble ideologies informed the struggle for emancipation. 

The liberation struggle cuts across continents, and has overtime produced greatness in the persons of: Nelson Mandela, Kenneth Kaunda, Steve Biko, Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmed Sekou Toure, Haile Selassie, Marcus Garvey, Malcom X, Mohammed Ali, William Edward Burghardt, Martin Luther King, to list goes on.

In Nigeria,  they were the: Mary Nzimiros, and dozens of inspired young men and women, among whom was my late Uncle, Comrade Chinye Prince Ononye, a member of the Afro-Asian Movement. Young and Old, in their out-standing qualities, were all in the front-line of the Biafran-movement, through their various organizations.

Regrettably, along the line, this noble struggle for a holistic Pan-African economic freedom, slowly slid into the monstrous grips of anti-socialists "ti'gbuo-zo'gbuo" movement we currently witness. 

 

A situation where guerrilla combat is employed, for a share in the natural resources, using ethic-emancipation as camouflage. Killings, kidnappings, the hustle for Oil allocations, became the order of the day. Albeit, can the nobility which informed the Biafran crusade be revived, the answer is up to us. 

The actualization of a true 'Biafran State' entails that the movement be examined within the spotlight of African freedom; embodied in specific program. As Comrade Chinye Ononye, in one of his letters, during the unset of the civil war in 1968, suggested: "The (Biafran) struggle should be transformed from that of mere emotional tribal nationalism, varying on chauvinism, into a Pan- African Economic and Political Liberation struggle". 

 

I think the above suggestion is necessary, particularly in the on-going feud across the nation. Otherwise, if left unchecked, might result in a situation where the wronged, and currently un-organised masses of the Biafran territory, may suffer yet more unnecessary hardship; because of the reactionary policy of the current propagandists. 

For the progress and triumph of the much talked about Biafran Revolution, late Comrade Ononye suggested, that instead of the resources serving just a few cabals incumbent in corridors of power, the wealth should instead, serve for the economic development of the Biafran Region (as against the existing condition), the country as a whole, and possibly, seek ways of attaining a truly United, and developed Africa. The Biafran movement needs to champion an integral cause, without which the struggle is impractical. The ultimate destiny of the Biafran revolution should be philosophical consciensicm, or the blood of our heroes past, have been shed in vein. 

Obianuju Mbanusi writes.

Nigeria Soars by S$500m And US$87m In Sovereign Wealth And Excess Crude Accounts Respectively!

Nigeria's Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo reiterated the Government's commitment to actualise President Muhammadu Buhari's vision of the NigerDelta environmental clean-up beginning with Ogoniland. What is termed a long over-due step to ensure that the "wealth of many will no longer be stolen by or reserved for a few", in order words, to guarantee that the people from the NigerDelta region benefits fully from the Nation's wealth.  

In addition, the vision includes making certain that the impunity of corruption , be it in the public or private sectors , will no longer be standard operating practice; and the vision of a Nigeria devoid of "bandits and terrorists".

In a speech to mark the 2nd anniversary since the Muhammadu Buhari led administration, the Acting President mentioned some key areas the Nigerian government is focused on, they include: 

• Bringing accused corrupt persons to Justice
• Working on strategies to deal with Headsmen/ Farmers clash 
• Saving and Investing to Nigeria's future
• Creating an enabling environment for Small and Medium scale businesses across the countries through soft loans  among others.

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo further disclosed that this administration has in the last two years, added the sum of US$500m to Nigeria's Sovereign Wealth Fund and US$87m to the Excess Crude Account. As against the situation before now, when according to the Acting President, "rising oil prices failed to translate to rising levels of savings and investment".

Prof. Osinbajo ended his speech by imploring for continual prayers for the restoration to full health, strength and the safe return of President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently in London on medical grounds.

Nigeria returned to democratic rule on May 29, 1999, after thirty -three years of chiefly Military regimes. 

Attention LASEPA, Ilaje Bus-Stop Is In A Mess!

Pictures below taken on Saturday, May 27th, 2017, show the messy current state of Ilaje bus-stop at Ajah area of Lekki - Peninsula, Lagos state, Nigeria. 

Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) Ilaje bus-stop and Ilaje community environment is in a sorry state and needs swift attention.