As Buhari Plays His Last Card [A Rejoinder] – By Enenim Ubon

As the general elections draw nearer, it is very important for every Nigerian to take a stand. Irrespective of our biases,our freedom of choice does not in anyway mean we should try to misinform the public especially about events that are already properly documented nor try to twist history in our favour.

Bashorun Dele Momodu has never hidden his sympathy for the opposition APC(and has in recent times used his weekly column to hype their activities). Blowing the trumpet of the party’s presidential/vice-presidential candidates is entirely his prerogative. If he believes the Buhari/Osinbajo combination is the best he has seen since 1993 – only time will tell. However this response is necessitated by certain comments made in an article published on ThisDay newspaper of 20,December 2014 with the same title, excerpts of which I will reproduce below while countering same which I perceive as a misrepresentation of facts.


•“Contrary to doomsday prediction, Governor Amaechi gave his total blessing and agreed to lead the campaign. The bond between Buhari and Amaechi is like that of father and son.”.
I believe Bashorun Momodu is a politician and should understand that no matter how aggrieved Ameachi is, HE HAS NO WHERE TO GO. To save his face, he has to play to the gallery- even if that includes dancing around with Buhari all over the nation.


•“The Buhari of today is no longer the badly maligned man who contested against us in 2011. He is not the Buhari who lacked national spread. The Buhari of today has metamorphosed into a megastar bearing the image of a Rock legend.”
Bashorun Dele Momodu has by the above statement shown that either he is surrounded by political like minds or is not in tune with happenings on ground. To say Buhari is no longer badly maligned is akin to saying Abacha never stole Nigeria’s money. Since history cannot be changed,what Buhari stands for is as constant in the hearts of many as the fact that President Jonathan has performed better than any Nigerian leader. All around Nigeria those who seek the prosperity of our nation know that Buhari does not represent any change but a return to the old order. In fact no one needs to malign Buhari, the truth about his character and his beliefs is just a click away.


•“His image-makers have worked hard to make him appear debonair and appealing to the young and old. His new swag is Presidential and takes attention away from his so-called old age.”
I wonder what swag is being referred to here, because I do not see any. If dressing in clothes representing various ethnic groups two months to election is the definition of swag and a signal of acceptance to both young and old, then our music and tv stars would all have won their party primaries a few weeks ago. The best the image makers of the General could have done, would have been to prevent him from embarrassing himself in a recent interview on channels television. That interview only showed clearly that the General is not in tune with the times. Since age is just a number I ask, would Dele Momodu be comfortable employing a 72 year old driver? The General hasn’t entered the kitchen yet is already suffocating as a result of heat from the chimney – what a pity.


•“Democracy has never been a monarchy which rotates appointments amongst Royals”.
I wonder who he refers to in the above statement; because certainly he cannot be referring to the Niger-Delta people, whom his likes believe have been given undue advantage during Jonathan’s term in office. I would also like to put it to Bashorun Momodu that ‘democracy is not a system of government where power should remain the exclusive preserve of a few individuals who believe they are born to rule, neither does Nigeria belong to anybody’s grandfather’.


•“This government made the fatal mistake of amplifying the religious confusion in Nigeria. Today Nigeria is more divided along religious lines than ever.”
In a long while I have not read such an insincere remark. Nigeria’s religious difference has NEVER been hidden throughout history. As a matter of fact, most of those who want President Jonathan out do so solely on ethnic and religious grounds. So because the christians have now realized they have to stand up for themselves after years of marginalization, Bashorun Momodu has suddenly become uncomfortable? So because for once CAN has stood up for christians both in the North and South, the President and by extension christians are now responsible for Nigeria’s religious division? Thank you sir. I would urge you to find out why Archbishop Jasper Akinola was refused a second term as CAN president in 2007. As one who is in the know of happenings in 1993, I would want you to answer sincerely if there would have been peace had any of the two political parties then considered a christian/christian ticket.


•“Muslims are likely to vote en masse against Jonathan while the Christians would be split down the line between the candidates.”
This statement betrays whatever political dexterity Dele Momodu lays claim to. So all muslims will sheepishly vote Buhari en mass, while most christians will foolishly vote against Jonathan – wonderful analysis. Well, assuming it turns out that way, who then will be dividing the country along religious lines sir?


•“Ethnicity is another source of worry. As soon as Jonathan got to power, his supporters developed the attitude of “it is our turn and we can misbehave as we like.” Insults were heaped on critics endlessly. Other ethnic groups were treated with disdain”.

Has ethnicity become a source of worry because an ijaw man is involved? The people who killed corp members in 2011, did they do so because they loved Nigeria or because a man from their ‘born to rule’ tribe lost election? Those who lived in Nigeria then know the answer. If you believe those who defend the president and ‘insult’ critics do so because he is from the south-south; wouldn’t it also be correct to say that those who constantly abuse not only the president but his wife and family daily do so because he is not from their tribe? Anybody who criticizes the government from an unbiased standpoint with facts should not be afraid to have his points scrutinized.


•“We saw the emergence of new oil sheikhs and the proliferation of private jets”.
I still do not understand what Dele Momodu means by this. Is it a crime for a new generation of wealthy people to emerge through favourable economic policies of a sitting government? Is it an abomination if billionaires should emerge from the younger generations? If the old order (which Dele Momodu seeks to return) favoured others, what is the crime in new people being favoured by the present administration. Nigeria’s wealth is not an exclusive property of the north nor a few persons, if it has seemed so in the past the tables have turned,sir – not necessarily because of President Jonathan’s policies alone but because people are getting more enlightened. As regards private jets, is it save to assume you have an issue with people you don’t know buying jets? Or is it reserved for those with generational wealth made from the proceeds meant for all? If more people can afford jets and are taxed heavily to feed those who can’t afford, what is wrong with that? I would also want to know the untouchables you are referring to sir and their crimes, so your readers could be more enlightened instead of you leaving them in suspense. I am also aware that so many people in the party you profess love for ought to be locked away forever in countries with(possibly) a better judicial system.


•“To make matters worse, insecurity became a permanent feature in our daily lives. A chunky part of Northern Nigeria has practically been donated to terrorists with no hope in sight”.
Sir, are you be this statement saying that Mr President is responsible for the death of his people? Or that he is doing absolutely nothing about the issue. As it is said “the internet never forgets”, we know those who made (pre/post 2011) and are still making inflammatory statements till date. The army we are told has not been equipped for decades, is that also the fault of President Jonathan? You are also aware of those who were against the proscription of Boko Haram as a terrorist organization as well the refusal of certain countries to sell arms to Nigeria. In spite of all these challenges and limitations, the Jonathan administration cannot not be said to have abandoned its people in the face of danger. We are well aware of efforts being made by this administration to equip our military and improve their capacity to challenge this fundamentalist who dress in plain clothes like any other citizen and cannot be identified by the merely looking into their eyes. Our military is rising up to the challenge as recent victories have shown

.
•“As if we’ve not suffered enough; our economy is receiving its own battering so mercilessly. The price of oil has collapsed and Armageddon has arrived. While government is trying to paint a picture of all is well, it is becoming increasingly clear that we have landed in big trouble”.
Sir, are you in anyway blaming the president and his team for the falling price of crude oil? Or are you saying the government should tell its citizens that they are all gonna die because of the drop in oil prices? Furthermore are you blaming the government for the failures of successive governments(Buhari’s inclusive) to diversify our economy? If the revolution currently witnessed in the agricultural and automotive industry was done by previous governments as a means of shifting focus from oil to other sectors we would not be afraid of the effects of drop in oil prices neither would you be predicting doomsday. The responsibility of government (amongst other things) is to assure citizens that though rough days are ahead, the nation will pull through the difficult times; and that’s exactly what this government is doing.


Nigerians are getting wiser and can distinguish between change and backwardness. No one government anywhere in the world has been able to fix all the problems of a nation, what governments do however is to set foundations, for which successive governments can build on. Change in life is constant, but any change that would return Nigeria to the dark days is no change.


Enenim Ubon is on twitter @enenimubon.

WHAT HAS MR PRESIDENT DONE? - Enenim Ubon

That President Goodluck Jonathan is one of the(if not the) most vilified president in Nigeria's 54 years, is stating the obvious. This to an extent, can be said to be an evidence that our democracy is growing. Citizens are getting more aware of the duties/roles of government and naturally expectations are getting higher daily(I believe the next president will have a tougher time), most importantly the new media has given so many people an opportunity to air their opinions - leading to the emergence of overlords & tin gods; hitherto parlor talks have become matters for public discussions. THE STAKES ARE HIGHER!

While this is a welcome development and a sign of growth in our democratic process; what continues to baffle me is the inability of persons to distinguish between hatred and criticism. That a living being who has been in Nigeria since 1999 can say that President Jonathan's administration has achieved nothing over the last couple of years is undiluted hatred. In this category is an ex president who has openly tried to rubbish all the efforts of President Jonathan and possibly besmirch him in the process, despite his(the ex president's) several failings - top on the list being his inability(for 8 years) to fix the most important road in his region.

This hatred over the person of Jonathan seems to me as chiefly an ethnic and maybe religious issue. The illusioned 'born to rule' class are yet to come to terms with the fact that a southerner from a minority tribe is president(and most likely to remain so till 2019) in this 'their Great Grandfather Uthman Dan Fodio's estate'. Having failed to prevent the DIVINE change of power in 2010, have resorted to fulfilling their threat of making the country ungovernable combining same with messages of hate being preached in street corners and worship places. These ones can't come to terms with the reality that someone from the 'conquered' south is president.

I have my personal wishes, I hope Mr president would grant before May 29 2019. Most of which concern the welfare of his immediate people(The Niger Delta). I would like to see a bridge linking the Yenagoa jetty to Asaka(in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State - one of the areas that contributes to the nations wealth). Others include, implementation of the UNEC report on the Ogoni oil spill, the full take off of both the Brass and Bonny LNG projects,reconstruction of the Calabar section of the Calabar-Itu highway, completion of all sections of the east-west road,completion of the 2nd Niger bridge amongst other wishes. In spite of all the above, I would be exhibiting gross ignorance to say the President has done nothing, not when I was in this country while an ex general who is having difficulty staying in retirement ruled for 8 years.

I do not belong to the Presidents media team and will not bother you with his accomplishments(as regards infrastructure) which you are already aware of (unless you belong to the group of blind talkers, who hate for no just cause other than personal gains, those whose "god is their stomach"). His giants strides aimed at strengthening our economy and democracy which cannot be ignored is my major concern:

a)The significant improvement in our electoral process is worth celebrating. Today it is possible for persons in relatively unknown parties to dream of winning elections. Compare this to 'tsunami Obasanjo' witnessed across the country in 2003. Through Jonathan, Yar'adua's promise to strengthen the electoral process in 2007 has become a reality.

b)Non interference with judicial matters. I lived in this country when it seemed acceptable for the President/Presidency to disobey court orders. Serving ministers were laws unto themselves; one even demolished a judges house despite a restraining court order. President Jonathan is ensuring that the Judiciary is truly independent,an effort worthy of commendation.

c)How about the agricultural revolution which remains a positive step towards the diversification of our economy(this was embarked on long before the global decline in oil prices). Now farmers receive fertilizers directly, eliminating the fraud that once was associated with fertilizer distribution. The rice pyramids are back and in the words of Agriculture minister Akinwumi Adesina, “Nigerians will stop thinking of agriculture just as a means of livelihood, but more as a business”. Nigeria has reduced its food imports by over 40% as of 2013, moving the country closer to self sufficiency in agriculture.

d)Under this administration, Nigeria has been opened up to the global business community and is fast becoming Africa's number one destination for foreign investments. Between January and June this year, a total of US$9.70 billion(N1.51 trillion)flowed into the national economy as foreign direct investments. Proceeds from non oil exports rose to 2.97billion by December 2013, up from 2.3billion in 2010.

e)The YOUWIN program initiated in 2011 has been a blessing to hundreds of unemployed persons who hitherto lacked capital to start their own businesses and has so far created thousands of jobs for others within only 3 years of its launch.

f)Prior to this administration, the automotive industry was non existent. Today due to the automotive policy of the federal government, global auto-giants like peugeot,nissan and hyundai either manufacture or assemble all kinds of cars in Nigeria(thus creating jobs for citizens). Nigeria's flagship indigenous auto-maker Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company begun the sale of their made in Nigeria cars in August 2014 - with the support of a president who understands the need to support the growth of local businesses as a means of growing the economy. Alhaji Aliko Dangote has attributed the increase in his monetary worth to the “favourable economic policies of the Goodluck Jonathan administration”.

g) Revival of the comatose railway transportation - that was long forgotten in Nigeria.

h) The modification of the almajiri system of education in northen Nigeria can only be done by a president who understands the importance of education and its benefits to the individual(in particular) and the society in general.

i) Completion and commissioning of the Omotosho1&2 power generating plants and Geregu power generating plants.

j) Under this administration, the whole national transmission grid has been rehabilitated and upgraded - only a myopic mind will downplay the importance of this achievements.

With the 2015 elections less than 2 months away, it is expected that those seeking to sell 'bad products' will attempt to discredit ALL the achievements of the Jonathan administration. It is okay for individuals to express their biases but making a mockery of oneself for any reason is unacceptable even in politics. Considering the efforts this administration has put into restructuring the nation, it is foolhardy for anyone to say president Jonathan has done NOTHING unless such a person was either born in 2011 or just got out of coma. We haven't arrived at our destination yet but we are steadily on course.

If you have decided not to show love to President Jonathan on Valentines day next year, choosing to cling to the old and outdated order; kindly ask yourself the following questions:

1)Am I making my choice because he has done nothing at all?

2)Is it because power must return to where it all should reside?

3)Is it because of his religion?

4)Is it because I do not like his face?

because in the end the joke will be on you for taking a stand from an uninformed and myopic perspective. There is no middle ground.

Goodluck to Nigeria.

Enenim Ubon is on twitter @enenimubon.

EDIYE.

On the hills,
In the valley
A love like yours
I never knew still exists.

O goddess
Of beauty,
Warmth
And Love.

You drew
Me in,
I have never
Longed to leave.

Your charm disarm
The toughest of men.
The hearts of stone,
It melts with ease.

Ediye eyen awan
Come closer to me.
Your kiss I need,
On mornings so dull.

Your bosom
Gives comfort,
The kind (even) Arcadia
Cant offer.

My dearest
Filled with pleasure,
Wit
And wisdom.

What word
Or name
Can describe
Your sweetness?

Arewa obirin,
Pelu emi ati iwa
Aye mi ti dara.

Where we'll go
You will decide.
If you look away,
I'll accept with grief.

But till then
You still remain,
My smiling
Pearl of wisdom.

MOTEL BLUES(PART 1) by Anny Justin Udofia

"I'm getting married next year", she said as she busied by the dressing mirror.

I froze as her words hit me. She instinctively turned my way and continued.

"I'm getting older and I need to be out of here soon. I shouldn't be telling anybody this, but I trust you".

Her face was angelic. Strands of the Brazilian weave she fixed over her husk-like hair curled around her ear lobes. The undergrowth was showing- stiff and wispy, at the ridge of her forehead. We gazed at each other for a long while.

"Who's gonna marry you", I asked, patronizing her.

"Naturally, someone will come-by. But if somebody doesn't, I will find a way to make it happen. I still have my charm, you know- Oga Chris even said so", she concluded, turning her face back to the mirror. She was beginning to apply mascara. Something to hide the age-lines that etched across her beautiful face.

I felt pity for her at first. I've known Bella for years, even before she lured me into this unholy trade. As I peeped over her shoulder, I realized she was actually looking older- her image on the mirror was proof. There was a jowl forming beneath her jaw-line. Her buttocks were flatter than I had known them to be few years ago (I knew because I occasionally smooched her behind, the way call-girls do each other). Years of beings constantly ravaged by drunks and randy men had done them in. The skin between her belly and waist-line was dotted with blue hued webbed veins. Stretch-marks littered the sides of her belly, underneath her armpits and atop her sagging breasts. Her shoulders sloped a bit too steep. She looked tired. If she were to retire now, she could save some crumbs for whichever man she would lure into marrying her. But that was bullshit.

Bella had no right to shit-talk in my presence. Call-girls shouldn't be saying dumb things- like talking marriage. I wouldn't mind if it were Cindy or some of the other girls that said such. Anyone but her. She had no right to indulge in stupid fantasies. Bella was our "Madam". It was Bella who introduced me to this body hawking. She, who used to preach that there is dignity in this labour. Dignity and ecstasy too. How could she turn around now?

Then suddenly, an idea materialized. I could see things in a different light. Here was a chance to deny her of the usual service- charge. I had to grab the opportunity.

I stood from the bed and walked up to her by the table. I brushed a weave off her bare shoulders, kissed and fondled her from behind. She giggled a bit as I dropped the room keys on the dressing table and made towards the door.

She stood up after me inquiringly. I knew she expected her percentage from the money I had in the clutch under my arm. Bella was entitled to a tenth part of our earnings. She paid for the room we used- I and the other girls; she arranged most clients for us, even Oga Chris. She was our procurer, and we were mere hustlers on her turf.

I smiled at her as she looked on.

"Bella, you should lead by example; instead, you talk a lot of shit. I am not paying your cut this time, or ever again. Don't make a fuss or the other girls will hear about this awesome conversation we just had", I paused waiting for her anger to build up. She didn't loose her composure. If she was angry, she didn't show it. I didn't mind, anyways. Like me, she was a prostitute, and years of practice should have made her to be proficient in hiding emotions.

I walked majestically towards the door, yanked on the knob, turned and added.

"Prostitutes shouldn't talk marriage. I'll be the next Madam after you've gone to find a hubby next year."

She hissed momentarily as I strode out to join the other girls at the bar.

I had four thousand naira in my clutch and I wasn't paying Bella a dime. After all, it was my body that Oga Chris defiled, not hers.

©Poet Razon-Anny Justin

December, 2014.











Anny Justin Udofia, 28; is a Food Technologist and an African Poet/ Writer who hails from Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. Apart from this, he has a flair for flash fiction and short stories. He speaks Ibibio, Igbo and English. His poems have appeared in RedParrot Magazine in Owerri- so too has his articles. He has also been published online on www.kalaharireview.com; www.poemhunters.com etc.
"The Metamorphosis and Other Poems' is his unpublished poetry collection.
He writes under the name Poet Razon-Anny Justin too.

E-mail: razon_anny@hotmail.com

Phone: +2347036647700

Twitter: @Poet_Razon, @Razon_daPoet

DIABETES: THE SILENT KILLER. By Enenim Ubon

(This article is in commemoration of the 2014 WORLD DIABETES DAY).


Diabetes: Any disorder of metabolism causing excessive thirst and production of large volumes of urine.

Diabetes has over the years cut short the lives of millions of people around the world, especially in countries where the awareness level of its danger is quite low. (In 2002, the direct medical expenditure for diabetes was $91.8billion - an indication of how serious tackling diabetes is). In Nigeria for instance, diabetic symptoms are often times said to be attacks from witches and wizards, thus instead of seeking medical advise, prayers(only) are offered resulting in the death of the diabetic patient.

Diabetes can be traced to a variety of factors which include: Overweight,Obesity,Physical Inactivity and Pregnancy(Gestational Diabetes); but as the American Diabetes Association put it, diabetes “continues to be a mystery”.


HOW PHYSICAL INACTIVITY,OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY LEAD TO DIABETES. The pancreas secretes insulin which takes sugar from the blood to the cells. Under normal circumstances, sugar meant for the blood streams go right into the cells of the body - insulin 'opens the door' of the cell to allow sugar inside before 'closing the door'. With increase in fatty diets this pathway is blocked; sugar begins to build up in the blood unable to enter the cell(because the channel it passes through is blocked). A person with 'normal' weight will produce the right amount of insulin for their body weight. A slight increase in body weight can result in the blockage of insulin intake by the cells. The pancreas will then respond to this anomaly by producing more insulin, thus over-working itself. Some individuals can move around for years with an overworked pancreas without being diabetic, but after a while the pancreas gets tired - unable to keep up with the “unnaturally high demand of insulin, which it cannot maintain for the rest of its life; it begins producing only twice as much insulin as a normal person would need, which becomes inadequate because of the extra weight gained”. Heightened insulin in overweight and obese people is a high risk factor for heart attack, which is sometimes the first symptom of diabetes.

TYPES OF DIABETES: There are 3 main types of diabetes which include: a) Type 1(insulin dependent) Diabetes Melitus. b) Type 2(noninsulin dependent or maturity-onset) Diabetes Melitus. c) Gestational Diabetes. There is also a rare form known as Diabetes Insipidus.

Diabetes Melitus(DM): is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism in which sugars in the body are not oxidized to produce energy due to the lack of the pancreatic hormone - Insulin. The accumulation of sugars lead to its appearance in the blood(hyperglycaemia),then in urine; thirst,loss of weight and excessive production of urine are the major symptoms. Use of fats as an alternative source of energy leads to the disturbance of both the acid-base balance and ketosis(raised levels of ketone bodies in the body tissues,resulting from an imbalance in fat metabolism)resulting in diabetic coma.
TYPE 1, usually starts during childhood/adolescence. Patients are entirely dependent on injection of insulin for survival.
TYPE 2, the pancreas retains some ability to produce insulin, but not enough for the body's needs. In some instances, the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin, in this case oral hypoglycaemic drugs may be required. This type of diabetics usually occurs after the age of 40 but a rare form, Maturity-onset diabetics of the young(MODY) develops in people under 25.
GESTATIONAL DIABETICS MELITUS(imparied glucose tolerance) is usually diagnosed during pregnancy. Almost all women have some degree of impaired glucose intolerance as a result of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. Increased levels of certain hormones made in the placenta (the organ that connects the baby by the umbilical cord to the uterus) help shift nutrients from the mother to the developing fetus,during pregnancy. Other hormones are also  produced by the placenta to help prevent the mother from developing low blood sugar. They work by resisting the actions of insulin. Over the course of the pregnancy, these hormones lead to progressive impaired glucose intolerance (higher blood sugar levels). In trying to decrease blood sugar levels, the body makes more insulin to get glucose into cells to be used for energy. Normally the mother's pancreas is able to produce more insulin (three times the normal) to overcome the effect of the pregnancy hormones on blood sugar levels. If the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin, blood sugar levels will rise, resulting in gestational diabetes which might result in a miscarriage or  birth defects that may affect major organs like the brain and heart of the baby.(N/B: several factors, including obesity are responsible for gestational diabetes).
DIABETES INSIPIDUS, is a rare form of diabetics that is caused by the deficiency of the pituitary hormone - vasopressin(which is an antidiuretic hormone)

PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF DIABETES: Lack of awareness about diabetes combined with insufficient access to proper health care services can lead to various complications like blindness, kidney failure and amputation. The first step to prevent and control diabetes is screening.
At least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days, coupled with a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of diabetes. Weight loss is equally very important in the prevention/control of diabetes, the fatter you are,the greater the risk of developing diabetes along with its complications. A 'normal' body weight helps lower blood sugar as well as blood pressure and cholesterol. (N/B: not all body fat is created equal). Those with weight around the abdomen are at a higher risk as opposed to those with weight around the hips and thighs. 'Apple' shaped people are at more risk than 'pear' shaped people('pears' store most of their fat close to their skin, while 'apples' store weight around their middle - surrounding the abdominal organs). Studies have shown that waist size is a better predictor of diabetes risk than BMI(Body Mass Index). A woman with a waist circumference of 35 inches and a man with a waist circumference of 40 inches or more stand an increased risk of developing diabetes. Calories obtained from fructose (found in sugary beverages such as soda, energy and sports drinks, coffee drinks, and processed foods like doughnuts, muffins, cereal, candy and granola bars) are more likely to turn you into an 'apple' by adding weight around your abdomen. Cutting back on sugary foods can mean a slimmer waistline as well as a lower risk of diabetes. Moderate alcohol consumption is advised, one drink per day for women and two for men is appropriate.

FIBRE FREE CARBOHYDRATES THAT DON'T INCREASE BLOOD SUGAR: Brown rice(instead of white rice), sweet potatoes,yams(instead of white potatoes), whole wheat or whole grain bread(instead of white bread), high-fiber breakfast(instead of sugary breakfast), bran flakes(instead of corn flasks), peas or leafy greens(instead of corns) etc. It is safer to know the glycemic load(glycemic index and amount of carbohydrates) in any food you eat frequently.


HOW DIABETES KILLS: High level of blood glucose damages the veins, capillaries and arteries. Which may result in stroke,blindness,heart attack,muscle wasting,peripheral vascular disease or embolism.

In conclusion, the number of diabetic cases is on the rise daily and it is estimated that by the next ten years there will be a 50% rise in the number of diabetic patients worldwide. Getting screened remains the first step to prevention; and endeavour to seek proper medical advise if need be. Diabetes can be prevented,controlled and life prolonged if only we do the right things at the right time.



Enenim Ubon is on twitter @enenimubon

BRAVERY, COMMITMENT AND AMBITION. - by Kuby Uyanga.

I am in the bus among the myriad of other vehicles slowly crawling along Badagry Expressway toward Surulere and CMS. It's not one of those smaller buses, I am in a big Molue with hard wood backed metal framed seats whose engine sounds like a fifteen year old brown bear attempting a menacing growl while suffering from the late stages of whooping cough, it would seem to die out and the bare bodied driver would put foot to the gas and it'd gurgle back to life. This bus is large enough to give the conductor the 'right' to cram us up to five passengers in a seat. It is warm and I'm already perspiring, the beads of sweat on my forehead have gathered into rivulets and coursed down to form a thin pool in the hollow of my neck.

This is Lagos and in Nigeria we have a high tolerance for suffering so I'm not crying. I rather switch seats into a more comfortable position when an elderly lady with an afro of greasy grey hair disembarks at Mile 2, plug in my ear piece, set my 'Soul' playlist and settle down with hawk eyes watching the sidewalk keenly hoping to catch a glimpse of my friend.
J. Festus is my very good friend. He also has no knowledge whatsoever of my existence. I know him because his name along with his staff number, 003115 is clearly stitched above the ragged monochrome epaulets of his white and leaf green NURTW polyester uniform.

He is the highlight of my morning bus rides to Orile. I usually spot him before my bus gets to that stretch of sidewalk he usually prowls. I admired and befriended him the second consecutive morning I found him at about the same Coker bus stop shaking down bus conductors for the daily N200. He usually does not lead the charge but is very committed to the mission of revenue collection as his own contribution to the Lagos the mega city project by putting up the appearance of a tough lieutenant and echoing all the threats uttered by their black faced mustachioed ring leader. Tax must be raised even if a few side mirrors have to break.

He would stutter, stamp his feet encased in Nikes of indeterminate shape that had a window that ventilated his right big toe while making menacing faces that would not quite hide or take away the probability that he would flee if the altercation progressed from verbal to physical, his hesitant body language suggests. When he his not contributing his coarse Yoruba bawls to shaking down defaulting motorists, he does a gangster lean on the concrete Nepa pole beside the Julius Berger JB sign plate on the edge of the bridge. I have never seen him squat or sit on the concrete bareer like his colleagues usually do. In his heart he wants to be the bad guy, the boss and has to live the part. Or so I think.

I am a people watcher and after a couple of J. Festus sightings I have observed some traits in him. I may be wrong but I've noticed he's neither physically strong rather particularly brave. I respect that! I have also seen a fire in him, an ambition to be that which he naturally is not as a result of his circumstances. I admire that! And he acts the part (he's an amateur actor), I love that! Asides from the money he makes to assuage his physiological needs like Ewa and Orijin for breakfast, I see he feels the need to contribute to a worthy cause and establish his niche on this highway. Maybe he wants to be the NURTW chairman someday, I hope he self actualizes that or any being need he has.

Yesterday I did not see him when I passed and that was unusual. He is usually as true as time, he'd never missed a day before. Was he sick? I wondered. Had he travelled? I doubted. Is he dead? I prayed not under my breath. My friend's welfare had occurred to me a couple more times during the day but my own personal worries had soon relegated the thought. But this morning he sprints into my consciousness the moment I catch sight of the electronic billboard at Festac 1st gate while I ride the molue. So I leane away from the stifling body odour of the middle age man who has just boarded and of all the empty sits has chosen to sit next to me. I ignore his garlicky sweaty ooze while I point out hawk eyes keenly observing the side walk hoping to catch the blunt features and squinty eyes of J. Festus, 003115. I wonder whether the J in his name stands for James, Jeremiah or Japhet like Omojuwa's. I am fast losing hope when we go past his usual lamp post and he isn't there but I heave a sigh when I find him munching an egg roll and moving his oily lips in animated conversation with the hijabed girl hawker while she counts out his change. I heave a sigh of relief because my friend is fine, I wonder where he went yesterday. I admire him because he personifies bravery, commitment and ambition at the grass roots. To me he is a model of sorts.
There are role models on every level.





Kuby Uyanga holds a degree in Civil Engineering. He is a writer who uses words in different formats to impact positive change.
A certified Competent Communicator by Toastmasters International, he speaks professionally on Leadership, Personal & Organizational development.
He is also a Negotiator, Screen Writer and Film Director who functions as CEO/Director of Letters at Kuboid Communications Limited, Lagos.

A Strange Romeo - Kuby Uyanga

The rhythmic guttural groans of the 911 truck outside the shelter which had arrived thirty minutes before dawn added to Aisha's fever of excitement as she hurriedly packed together her few belongings and tied them in a in the dog tooth patterned shawl Hassan Suicide had given to her the last time he returned from Damaturu. Her excitement was not really happiness but a pantheon of a sense of unfinished business, dread of another major change in her life which she had no control over and fear of the unknown immediate future which created an emotion that made her heart flutter, her eyes cloud over and her thirteen year old mind wander. The strap of one of her scruffy black brassieres poked out of the hole in the scarf she'd always procrastinated on stitching, she poked it back in and went to peep outside using the curtain at the door for shade.


A purplish haze hung over the camp. It came from the exhaust fumes of the truck outside and several other Hilux 4X4 vehicles returning from the surrounding forest with grotesque metal contraptions in their tail pan. Girei Jimeta the plump baby faced bomb specialist jumped down from a Hilux that abruptly turned the corner and startled Aisha, "mai ki ke yi anan?" he bleated at her in his thin effeminate voice. "Dan alla, kiya kuri mallam, mai wan chan acicin mota?" she asked in reply. Girei ignored her and ordered her back inside, "wan chan ba damuwa n ki, shiga gida yanzu!".
She went back inside and retreated into her corner in the chiselled out cave. She had decided not to remove the faded superwax wrapper she spread as bedding. She dusted off the sand and sat with her back to the wall, her arms clutching her tied damask shawl and her mind thinking about Hassan Suicide.


Hassan would have explained to her what the ugly looking metal objects were and why they had earth on them as if they had been exhumed from the ground. Hassan was the love of her life. The first man who'd told her that he loved her after making love to her. Not the first who'd made love to her, her father, the righteous looking Mallam Nasiru was her first. Home had become a nightmare since that night in primary 4 when Mallam first crawled alongside her in the dark hut when Mama had gone to her parents to give birth to little Ali.


That was why she cried along with the other girls only with her eyes when they were taken. In her heart she rejoiced that someone, something had come to take her away from her immediate horror of the staccatic incestous thrusts her father forced on her . She thought about that first night, how she noticed that the dreaded Hassan Suicide liked her when three turns before it would be her turn to be forcefully penetrated by three drooling fundamentalists, he pulled her out, gave a broom to her and ordered her to clean out the shelter they would occupy.
Later that night he came back dressed in a white jalabiya not his frightening camouflage fatigues and woolen face mask. He took her to a clearing in the forest which was shaded from direct view of the lookout posts and unwrapped kilishi which they ate while he allowed her to tell him about herself and estranged family. That night Hassan Suicide made love to her not like the other girls were raped but with tenderness after obtaining her permission, like a responsible Muslim man.


He became her champion and made her sojourn in Sambisa bearable, even enjoyable at times. Finally someone loved her. He had convinced the Boss that Aisha was not a good candidate to include in the YARINYA BOMBER SQUAD. When the air force jets had bombed the first camp she had heard him bellowing her name above the din of the propellers and anti-aircraft gunfire even before he appeared to lift her and run zig zag through the splintered Gmelina trees into safety. Incidentally, he was the one who noticed her first period when he saw the blood on his phallus after ejaculating and withdrawing on one of those nights in the clearing...their clearing. She'd screamed with horror and only then did he realize it was her first time, he'd calmed her, comforted and explained to her. He'd always brought back presents for her. A set of Hollandis wrappers when he breezed into camp two days after planning the Nyanya job, a carton of Tampax that took her a month to figure out how to insert when he returned from Saudi Arabia and the shawl this last time. Her eyes clouded up as she reminisced and feasted on the memories.


She had feverntly prayed to Allah that he came back from their big meeting with the federal government in Saudi Arabia before they were ferried to Maiduguri and onward to Abuja as rumor that preceded their return and recent unusual activity predicted.
She had also hoped to see the mysterious Boss for the first time. Only a handful of trusted high level men like Hassan Suicide had ever seen Shekau not to talk of knowing of his whereabouts, she suspected that only one or two people at a time knew where the Boss was.
What would be out there for her? Hassan had not been able to find her mother when he went searching the last time he went to Chibok. She wasn't interested in finding her father.
Would the federal government provide a house and pay school for her? she pondered. Or would she have to resign to a life of penury, begging and depending on charity like Hajiya Samira who used to sit by the south gate of the Bama road mosque with her outstretched plate back in Chibok? What was out there for her? Anything? Nothing.
She made up her mind and decided she would not join the rest of the excited chattering girls who were keen to go back, back to what? The fools, no she would stay back.
She got up and went out in the warm early morning sunshine to search for Girei Jimeta so she could tell him she was not leaving with the bevy. She would negotiate with him. She would offer her services for free. She would cook, wash, cut firewood, clean a gun, do anything to stay. She was determined. She would stay.
She would wait for Hassan Suicide.



Kuby Uyanga holds a degree in Civil Engineering. He is a writer who uses words in different formats to impact positive change.
A certified Competent Communicator by Toastmasters International, he speaks professionally on Leadership, Personal & Organizational development.
He is also a Negotiator, Screen Writer and Film Director who functions as CEO/Director of Letters at Kuboid Communications Limited, Lagos

Dear General Buhari, Nigeria Has Moved Beyond Your Era.

“The length of our days is seventy years – or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow,for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” – Psalm 90:10(NIV)

General Muhammadu Buhari, was Nigeria’s 7th head of state from 1983 to 1985; a child born within that period would be between 29 and 31 years old today(some having produced their own offspring). These kids(at the time) were told that “they are the leaders of tomorrow”, 31 years after their then head of state once again aspires to be president, to perhaps cement his place in history as a leader of Yesterday,Today and Tomorrow.

 

The scripture quoted above is apt for the situation GMB finds himself. A man who attains the age of 70, should consider himself lucky for so many reasons and should put his house in order having already groomed a successor, to take over from him. Nigeria’s civil service rule makes it mandatory for all civil servants to retire at 60 years, because it is believed that at 60 plus an individual can no longer give his/her best. The above reasons explain my reservations about the candidacy of the General in the forth coming elections. At 72, contesting for a record fourth time to be president, should not be paramount in GMB mind. Aside the fact that he has failed three times already(and is likely to add one more number to that), by now the General should be able to tell Nigerians boldly “after my fifteen years of political sojourn, I present to you —–, whom I can vouch for and have nurtured to lead Nigeria, the way I would have done if I was given a second chance”; after all in leadership it is said that “a leader has not completely fulfilled that role until a successor is ready to take over”. If at 72 GMB has not found that successor, then obviously his claim to being a leader has ‘k leg’.

I have heard many of GMB supporters make reference to the number of times Abraham Lincoln lost elections as the basis why GMB should keep contesting at 72 and maybe 77, what they miss or maybe deliberately refuse to mention is that Lincoln(after all the defeats) was 52 years old when he was first inaugurated as President. Another propaganda of GMB’s supporters is that the man has no ‘skeletons in his closet'; unfortunately those who should ‘know better’ like Professor Wole Soyinka and Nasir El-Rufai disagree with them.

 

“The grounds for which General Buhari is being promoted as the alternative choice are not only shaky, but pitifully naïve. History matters. Records are not kept simply to assist the weakness of the memory, but to operate as guides to the future…” – Wole Soyinka. What the professor is simply saying is MOVE ON Nigeria, let Buhari remain history.
As the ‘Accidental Public Servant’ put it “General Buhari has remained perpetually unelectable because his record as a military head of state and AFTERWARDS, is a warning that many Nigerians have wisely heeded. His INSENSITIVITY to Nigeria’s diversity and his PAROCHIAL focus are already well known…”. El-Rufai’s statement was made in 2010, four years after those words still echo the reality that GMB is not the shining star of a nation seeking to embrace a glorious future.

GMB at this time should follow the foot steps of the Sardauna as advised by Sheik Ahmed Gumi. In the words of the cleric “your weakness is your inability to control men(age could further worsen this weakness)”. “Good intentions are never enough”, if GMB has good intentions as he and his supporters want us to believe, he should step aside and allow this nation move to a future, far away from the ghosts of a past so terrible. If he did not groom a successor, he can start now ahead of 2019. If he decides to go ahead with his ambition(assuming he gets his party’s ticket), it’s all good – but the result won’t be different from the last three.

Enenim Ubon is on twitter @enenimubon

The Mysteries Of Love.

I once heard that “Love is a symbol of Eternity”, then I believed and loved,
but now I doubt and care not.
Can we really love anyone?;
not to imagine our love lasting till eternity.
Some say we can, and to such I ask
Why would we love someone today
our lives seem like it would end without them tomorrow,
yet the day after we just cannot bear the thought of waking up to see them?
Why would wives wish they married another,
not the one whose ring they longed for anymore?
Why would husbands leave their wives (some still adored by other men)
to profess love to another woman?
Why would boys love one girl today and crave for another tomorrow?
Girls fighting over one guy today and wishing he does not come around tomorrow.
Many have called it different names - Lust, Infatuation even carnality.
Wherever it is our belief lies;
It takes only a noble mind to love one for a lifetime without blinking.
Such noble minds, the earth has got very little room for.
For we all may have in us that poison that prevents our lovers from loving us till eternity.

Regional Autonomy and Resource Control, the Way Forward For Nigeria.

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” ~ Nelson Mandela


When President Goodluck Jonathan announced to the nation, that he would convene a national conference, I belonged to the group of persons who believed such a conference was very important considering that the amalgamation treaty of 1913 had expired on 31st December 2013. I viewed the conference as an opportunity for various groups and ethnic nationalities who were forced to come together by the British, to renegotiate their future, and avoid the mistakes of the past.


As a nation already dangerously polarized, President Jonathan had given the people a chance to liberate themselves and possibly create a ‘people’s constitution’, but we all watched as some of ‘yesterdays men’ tried to scuttle the whole arrangement; whether they succeeded or not depends on the perspective an individual decides to consider. Personally, I do not think the conference failed totally, at least the government made it possible for the people to voice their grievances without agitation. The conference made huge progress in certain areas, although the most important issue that ought to have been addressed was left ‘uncompleted’ and thrown back to the President. Whether we accept it or not, the most important committee in the national conference was the DESOLUTION OF POWER committee – which had a duty(amongst other things) to set a new revenue derivation formula for ALL natural resources found in ANY state of Nigeria. That the committee/conference could not arrive at any conclusion on this, are a pointer to how important the issue is and an indicator to how dangerous trying to sweep it under the rug could be.


The map of Nigeria shows that the whole nation sits on the Niger-Delta region and by coincidence, the Niger-Delta has bear the burden of the entire nation pre and post independence. This has led to agitation in various forms by the Niger-Delta people for a better deal from the Nigerian state, a demand that has been vehemently and selfishly resisted by the other regions that contribute NOTHING to the national cake. An injustice the national conference was expected to address but failed to. Nigeria has 36 states, only 6 states(Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Cross-River, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa) contribute almost the entire wealth of the nation, with another 4(Lagos, Imo,Abia,Ondo) contributing a ‘negligible’ percentage and yet the others feel, they should dictate to the contributors to the national cake what to get and when to get it. How this has continued till now is unfathomable.
This group has failed to realize, that those who make equity impossible, make the dissolution of Nigeria seemingly inevitable. The current state of unitary Nigeria is a fraud, aimed at perpetually putting in bondage the very same set of persons who feed the nation and who have suffered and will continue to suffer in event of any natural disaster coming through the atlantic; a situation totally unacceptable. Every state of this country is blessed with natural resources; therefore there is no reason why a state should not contribute to the national cake yet takes (in some instances ‘lion share’) from what it did not contribute. Revenue sharing and derivation are alien to federalism. You don’t take from a group of people to pay another group of persons.


Regional autonomy/100 percent resource control seems like the only way forward for Nigeria. Regions should be allowed to develop at their own speed, contributing a certain percentage to the centre. Dubai would not be as developed as it is today but for the autonomy it enjoys to harness it resources, just like other states of the UAE. The ‘death’ of the current type of Nigeria is what should matter most to every discerning mind. We have failed so far and will continue to fail until we begin to do something different.
It is rather ironic that states are deriving benefits from things they are opposed to; Zamfara state for instance operates a law that bans the sale of alcohol, yet shares part of the money coming from a state like Lagos(that accepts the sale of alcohol and cigarettes and taxes the retailers/producers/importers of such products) in the form of federal allocation. Bayelsa state contributes a large percentage of the money shared to local government areas in Nigeria, yet it receives the least share because it has only 8 local government areas, while Kano state which contributes nothing takes more because it has 44 local government areas. This to me is the height of injustice to the contributors.


What Nigeria needs now is outright reconstruction. An already collapsing structure cannot be restructured. In my opinion regional autonomy/total resource control is the way forward. That way every state/region will know they have to work hard so as to generate money to take care of themselves rather than lazying around simply because they are sure of getting something and feeding fat at the end of the month.
Since the amalgamation treaty has expired, to move forward, the Nigerian state must do the needful, to avoid the people doing the necessary. We have to start rebuilding – and a key part of the process, is allowing people use what they have to develop themselves. The present arrangement is meant to favour a few and will always lead to chaos.


“It always seems impossible until its done.” ~ Nelson Mandela


Enenim Ubon is on twitter @enenimubon

Youths Deserve Inclusion In Politics

Since coming to self-realization, the popular cliche I have always heard elders and political leaders use to pacify the youths in Nigeria is that they are the “leaders of tomorrow”. The tomorrow that is seemingly elusive. Going by this postulation of our elders, I fall into the category of 'leaders of the day after tomorrow',since tomorrow in this context is more likely to favour my brothers and sisters in their 30s and above.

Over the last couple of years, youths through various platforms and mediums have constantly agitated for inclusion in the scheme of things in their various political parties. A quest which has not been completely successful;considering that some political parties still have youth leaders whose ages are far above what's stated in the National Youth Policy.


For youths to be carried along in the political scheme of things, we must first identify who a youth is. Presently the National Youth Policy recognizes a person who is not older than 35 years as a youth. I have seen 50 year olds and above being referred to as youths - this to me is one of the major reasons why those within the recognized age range cannot be active players in Nigeria's political sphere. If a 50 year old is a youth,then an individual below 35 years can then be referred to as a 'baby', not fit to sit with elders when decisions are made but good enough to do the 'dirty jobs' or run errands for handouts when the need arises.


This mentality has constantly robbed our nation of ideas from the most productive,adventurous and promising class of citizens, who after the frustrating experiences of trying to get to the top abandon their original values and beliefs for new ones,passed down by their elders as the norms and criteria for being allowed into the 'inner chamber', a situation that perhaps would have been different if these young persons were carried along from the onset.


To a certain extent also, the non inclusion of youths in the core activities of political parties, can also be blamed on the youths, some of whom see certain minor privileges accorded them by some politicians as the best they can ever get, to the extent that some of these youths falsely consider themselves as kings who are free to trample on their contemporaries. Elders and party leaders capitalize on this flaw, making the youths belief that inclusion is a rare privilege exclusively reserved for the chosen ones - a situation that should not be so.


I do not know what structures exist in our various political parties for youths to grow through the ranks to the top,without being overwhelmed by circumstances(like change in leadership,their party's loss of a state through elections etc), as obtained in both the Democratic and Republican parties in the USA. The only way youths can be prepared for higher responsibilities is by entrusting them with lesser tasks. This way we are sure of producing individuals READY to lead, not those to whom leadership is accidentally thrust and are overwhelmed by the demands of such office.


In conclusion,it is important that youths be involved in the core of politics,as only a youth can interact and have a full grasp of the challenges being faced by other youths in his/her generation. Nigeria can boast of youths who are eminently qualified to be the 'leaders of today', the energies of these young persons should be exploited to the service of their fatherland, lest they channel such into activities that may pose great danger to the nation state.



Enenim Ubon is on twitter @enenimubon

A REJOINDER: WHY THE GANG UP AGAINST UDOM WILL FAIL. - Enenim Ubon

“He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”

Prior to this, I have refrained from writing about the politics of Akwa-Ibom State nor the chances of any of it numerous governorship aspirants for personal reasons; but lately I have noticed a deliberate attempt by some persons seeking cheap relevance to mislead the public and thus decided to set the record straight for history and posterity.

Aniekeme Finbarr in an article with the above title, made a deliberate attempt to distort facts and misinform Akwa-Ibomites, that there is a gang up against the anointed candidate of Governor Godswill Akpabio, Mr Udom Emmanuel, however what Finbarr failed to do was to mention the names of those involved in this gang up,at what fora they discussed this plan and what modalities the execution will take.

I do not understand why a legitimate attempt by qualified citizens of a state who aspire to lead their people should be misconstrued by Finbarr as a gang up. Does he expect his preferred candidate to contest the PDP primaries unopposed? During the Democratic Party Primaries between Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama, the whole world watched as both candidates antagonized each other in the race for the party ticket, which Obama finally won. Would it then be fair to say that Bill and Hillary Clinton along with their followers were carrying out a conspiracy theory against Obama? If you can't stand the heat, leave the kitchen !

The story of how Udom is not a stooge to Governor Akpabio, should only be told to children in kindergarten as a bedtime story. I would want to remind Finbarr that in 2007,they were about fifty governorship aspirants in Akwa-Ibom State, and that Udom's principal was not the anointed candidate but in the end, he emerged victorious defeating the preferred choice of Obong Attah. Can it then be deduced that Udom's boss and the other candidates conspired against Obong Attah? If yes,then maybe judgment day is here, and I can understand the desperation of the present hill top mansion team to demonize anybody who seems to be more popular than their anointed candidate.

The Udom camp should look inward and call themselves to order, rather than pointing their fingers(already soaked in oil) at others. Since their principal and head of the 'Udom must succeed me by all means gang' has decided to attack personalities instead of issues, they should also expect the same or maybe even more measure to be given back to them. Its nothing new, just the law of sowing and reaping. I do not want to believe that both Udom and Finbarr are not aware that their principal has at different occasions called other aspirants unprintable names, from prodigal sons to angels of doom seeking power through the back door, and even going ahead to lay curses on them and their followers for no just cause, other than their decision to pursue a right guaranteed them and Udom by the 1999 constitution. Our God is a just God and as the bible says “The curse causeless shall not come(Proverbs 26:2)”. Therefore I will advise the Udom camp to focus more on campaigning and presenting their unknown candidate to the people of the state rather than resort to becoming false prophets(proclaiming blessings and curses) overnight.

If intimidation could not dissuade Godswill Akpabio from challenging the anointed candidate of Obong Attah in 2007. It is the height of political naivety to think that,such a failed strategy will work in 2014 with the level of enlightenment of our people.

Finally I would want to refer Mr Finbarr and co to the story of Saul and David. Saul being anointed by God to lead Isreal may have had in his mind his preferred successor and also may have rolled out a succession plan; but God had already chosen David to take over;irrespective of the hatred from Saul, David still ascended the throne. Therefore if Mr Udom Emmanuel will not be the governor of Akwa-Ibom State, there is nothing they can do to change that because “power belongs to God”.



Enenim Ubon is on twitter @enenimubon