ON BIAFRA: NIGERIA GETTING IT WRONG AGAIN - Enenim Ubon

always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth” 2 Timothy 3:7; aptly describes Nigerians(or should I say Nigerian leaders). 

In 2009, Nigerian security forces engaged a group of persons whom they thought they could overpower without much resistance(events that have followed have proved otherwise); the groups leader was captured by the security forces and summarily executed. Prior to this several warnings had been given to the Nigerian forces about the activities of the emerging sect, as usual all the warnings were ignored. When the government eventually woke from its slumber, it took the wrong approach. Where this has left the nation is clear for all to see. 

Fast forward to 2015, the Nigerian government under President Buhari is again faced with a somewhat similar situation and is already making the same mistake made by his predecessors. From 1999 till date, no amount of intimidation or arrests has stopped Chief Ralph Uwazurike from carrying out his activities under MOSSOB. As a matter of fact, it seems MOSSOB members multiply after every arrest or attack. (Just as no level of intimidation and even the arrest of Asari Dokubo at a time, could stop the militancy in the Niger Delta). 

The emergence of Nnamdi Kanu with his radio Biafra has added a new dimension to the Biafra struggle(and I dare say has made more Igbos believe in the Biafran dream becoming a reality). His recent arrest and subsequent detention sparked protest in some cities including port harcourt - a pointer to what should be expected if he is detained further or dies in detention. The question then is, why is the man still been detained by security forced based on order from above? 

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly(paragraphs 27 and 28), president Buhari(of Nigeria) openly canvassed for self determination for the people of Palestine in accordance with the ideals of the United Nations. If mr Kanu is being arrested for canvassing for the same thing mr president is seeking for the people of Palestine, it is very unfortunate. Why should two people asking for the same thing be treated differently? One clapped for and the other detained. Some persons have accused mr  ‎Kanu of making treasonable comments hence the 'justification' for his continued detention without recourse to the law (in an era where change is preached), yet in this same nation we have seen people who've made similar/worse comments being elected governors and others being nominated as ministers. As stated in the UN chater, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic and Social and Cultural Rights and the African Chater, the right to self determination/secession is a right of any people who feel deprived where they are. 

The Nigerian government should not fall into the trap of further worsening the security situation in an already volatile nation. If Nnamdi Kanu and his followers(or any other group for that matter) want to renegotiate the terms of their remaining in the entity called N‎igeria or seek to outrightly leave the union for being unfair to them, nothing stops the Nigerian government from allowing and ensuring there is a referendum - as we have seen in other countries. In the end there is no gurantee whatsoever that ever igbo person will align with  Kanu and Uwazuruike's desires but the government would have avoided unnecessary rancor,tension and all that comes with such a situation. 

All the intimidation, arrest and illegal detention will not achieve anything other than worsening the situation beyond what it presently is. If it could not quell militancy in the days of Obasanjo(even if it did), it won't work now - not with the current level of awareness citizens possess and their “understanding of the times”. But if the Buhari led government decides to make the country ungovernable for themselves - no wahala! While they are at it, they should consider the capacity of our security forces to handle any security challange/uprising  that will be added to the present ones(boko haram, kidnapping, rampaging fulani herdsmen). No union is forced - if it was in the past, times have changed. Every union is negotiable. 

“Change does not come by wishful thinking and the leader who just sits and wishes for change is without doubt a failure”. 

The present government MUST exhibit the change it claims to represent, nothing else is acceptable. 

Enenim Ubon is on twitter @EnenimUbon

EMPTY DENGE, EMPTY POSE. - Enenim Ubon

Wetin dem get? Dem no get nothing.

Wetin dem be? Dem no be nothing.

Dem go dey pose, dem go dey denge!!”

The above lyrics are from Baba Fryo's hit song of the 90's - DENGE, POSE. 

Since assuming office on May 29th 2015, president Buhari has found it convenient to pose around the country/world, telling whoever cares to be deceived that Nigerians have already started enjoying change; well since change is a relative word, the change crew can believe whatever they choose to but in fullness of time, the cry of the baby will be heard down the street! 

During the campaigns we were told General Buhari had defeated terrorism before. Pa even bragged to us that age is a thing of the mind; hence his resolve to lead the war against terrorism from the front(whatever that means). After being sworn in as president, he right away launched the 'empty denge' campaign by declaring that the military high command had been moved to maiduguri, the 'denge - pose volunteer dance crew' hailed this 'world class' move; next, mr president brought on board a 'fit' chief of army staff(who demonstrated his fitness by showing off his push ups prowess on national tv) - how all these have helped the fight against insurgency, I am yet to see. 

Recently the terrorist group have intensified their onslaught against innocent citizens. We have seen for the first time, five bombings within 24 hours - a clear indication that our intelligence gathering has only gotten worse. The Nigerian military has also joined the 'empty denge crew' by steadily telling storie‎s that do not add up. All we hear is that terrorists are surrendering and are also being decimated. The army chief is always in the news with sweet bedtime stories, what they do not seem to realize is that all these stories have not detered the terrorist from striking at their convenience nor does propaganda/noise win wars. Majority of Nigerians have in the past(and will continue to) supported the military, therefore it would be better if the army tells less lies to these ones in order to be able to concentrate on the task at hand. 

The rampaging fulani herdsmen have gradually become a menace to Nigerian(north central,south west,south east and south south) farmers. The height of their recklessness being the kidnap of Chief Olu Falae after destroying over a kilometer of his farm, unsurprisingly the change government(like previous ones) have kept quite, preferring to look the other way(i wonder what change they represent then), while the fulani army march on farms mostly cultivated without any assistance whatsoever from government. I really hope the government will also maintain its silence when the farmers also begin to use whatever means necessary to protect themselves and their means of livelihood from these mindless invaders. 

The Bayelsa and Kogi gubanitorial ‎elections risk being postponed and all the work being done so far by both INEC and the respective political parties would amount to nothing, because the president who has a SAN as vice president does not understand the relevant laws relating to the constitution of INEC. Since the president is not a learned fellow, if there is any substance in their leadership the vice president ought to have know that two INEC commissioners and an (then)acting chairlady cannot form a quorum to take any important decision regarding an election. I join the 'denge -pose dance crew' to congratulate the vice president on his numerous achievements since assuming office beyond what previous vice president could ever do - including his failure to advise his boss on very simple issues regarding the law until yesterday(thats assuming he was the one that told his boss the need to do the right thing, at least this one time) and hoping the damge has not already been done. 

The fate of the judiciary is yet to be known. How independent it will be in the next four years only Nostradamus can accurately predict! The Bukola Saraki, court of appeal and code of conduct tribunal drama of monday has exposed what the Buhari presidency has in its play book. The presidency and the judiciary can keep up with the denials - which for now are not necessary; but if the baby died in the morning after the witch cried at night, would it be improper to accuse the witch of killing the baby? Time will indeed reveal more. 

It is two months to the end of the year, a serious government which promised to hit the ground running on assumption of office is yet to appoint ministers. It took the president four months of dancing around to come up with his star list of noise makers. If this move on the 30th of September was not one of those characteristic playing to the gallery attitude of this government, one wonders why more than eleven ministerial nominees already confirmed by the senate have not been assigned portfolios by the president. Perhaps mr president is still waiting on the contractors to deliver the saintly robes of his ministers. Equally there are parastetals whose functions are higher than that of some ministries and which the president does not need confirmation of his nominees by anybody before he can appoint such persons; why has the president not gone ahead to do the needful? Or will he keep studying the handover notes for another six months before he can find suitable people for such offices. 

Since taking over power, this administration is yet to embark on ONE project by whatever name. State governments sworn in on the same with the president have already began doing the needful. From Udom Emmanuel(who has embarked on the task of industralizing his state) to Nyesom Wike(who is making visible impacts aimed at correcting unexplainable actions of the immediate past governor and 'star' ministerial nominee Chibuike  ‎Amaechi) to Professor Ben Ayade(who two days ago, made the president experience first hand what it feels like to flagoff a capital project, the same project some mischevious persons have tried to ascribe to the federal government) et al. Graudally we are beginning to see those who have a grasp of what promising and delivering on their campaign promises is all about. What the presidency is yet to tell us is where the revenues that have accrued within these five months is and what it will be used for subsequently. 

While the economy is dancing “go down low”(from all available local and international financial indices) and the president and his crew busy 'dengeing' and 'posing' all over the place; those who have not allowed themselves to be deceived by the lying tongues are earnestly waiting for the rainy season to begin in December(as mr president has predicted) and praying the rain washes away all our problems - the inconsistent body language inclusive; while bringing in its wake a better economy and the fulfillment of at least the 5,000 Naira monthly stipend promised jobless youths. 

For now fellow citizens, let us all 'denge and pose' till the rain of change begins to fall! 

Enenim Ubon is on twitter @EnenimUbon

Independence Day Musing - Akanimo Eyibio

While Nigerians mourn...

It is another anniversary! Yea! Let's recall some soldiers from the (boko haram) war front to come and parade for us. Let's cut cakes, release pigeons and give inspiring speeches, after all we have come a long way. Let inspiring messages flood social media and newspapers. “55 years no be beans”, is it? 

What has changed? Why should we celebrate? Have the chibok girls been found? Do we have steady electricity supply(there has been some improvement I must say)?. Why is our economy going down the drain? Remind me, how many jobs have been created?

This article is just to prove that once in a while, we should 'suspend' our dreaming and look reality in the face. Someone compared the huge amount of money spent by previous administrations at anniversaries like this to the 'paltry' 70 million budgeted for this year. And I say, imagine how many kids with holes in their hearts who surgery that amount can pay for?

Our president just returned from a 'holiday' well deserved at the UN with imperialist nations and other countries. By other countries I refer to the likes of Kenya's Kenyatta, Zimbabwe's Mugabe (his 'we are not gays'  shout makes me remember with nostalgia the days of pan africanism, but I digress) etc. Is there anything new that was said this time that we haven't heard before? Each year, they gather to recycle promises like war stories without actually  DOING something.

We should mourn - I am serious. On October 1st next year,a public holiday should be declared, but this time it should be called 'national mourning day'. For the millions of youths still jobless (we await the presidential explanation on the fate of the 2000 recently recruited immigration officers, men who have faced the odds for the job - having left all other engagements behind, only to be dispersed forthwith like primary school children), again I digress. For the Chibok girls who may/may never be seen again; for the Nigerians being killed daily by rampaging herdsmen, 'accidental discharges from our military men and police officers, for my younger brother who couldn't get admission in Nigeria because he didn't have 'long legs', for my doctor friend who has not been paid his salary since joining the federal civil service, for our statesman,Olu Falae, who was embarrassed(being kidnapped is embarrassing for a great man who retired from politics to farm). For my breast feeding neighbor who is about to be evicted because she does not have the rent(her husband a soldier died in maiduguri). You can add yours. 

My name is Akanimo Eyibio(@preciouseyibio), I am from Akwa Ibom state. Mme ndakaanda!