Have you ever wondered why few people take Nigerian newspapers serious? Is it just me or am i left wondering what "investigative" journalism really means after reading a copy of the Guardian, punch or Thisday?
The "news" is little more than a recap of boring conferences, meetings, communiques, reports, white papers. Everyone is "calling on someone", people are advising, some are warning, others are backing.
There is nothing proactive on the "news", everyone is either "going to", proposing, backing, hoping or wanting! The sports pages are a rehash of previous reports on foreign media, there are no thought provoking columns save for Rueben Abati's in the Guardian, interviews are conducted in a manner that reminds you of a 5 yr old asking questions from an equally unintelligent adult.
Some “smart” journalists have even gone one step forward into the world of journalistic vouyerism by putting up nude photos of a popular actress just to boost sales.

Indeed the state of our press is a reflection of the state of the nation. Nigerians do not read, Nigerians are poor, Nigerians do not care. Since Government does not generate revenue from citizen tax, it feels it does not owe them any allegiance, the people too have since adopted an i-don’t-care attitude. No one is bothered about government policies that are only geared at the pockets of the politicians themselves.
Nigerians are poor. Few of them can afford to a meal a day, why spend the meager minimum wage on pages of newspapers filled with politicians awarding themselves bogus honors, non-existent contracts and congratulating themselves for delivering the dividends of democracy to hungry masses.

Nigerians don’t read! They don’t need to read, there is nothing in the papers to read. All they see are discredited politicians who should be in jail vying for power. They see politicians win elections from jail, Ghana must go bags go from hand to hand while their children go hungry and the same politicians complain of lack of funds. They read about politicians commission projects that only exist on paper, they read of probe panels, committees, truth commissions, conferences and federal executive council meetings that have no bearing on their lives.

Nigerians do not care to read, they don’t have to, the news is really not about them.

Hizballah leader, Hassan Nasrallah recently appologised to Lebanese for the escalation of its conflict with Isreal which led virtually brought the Lebanese economy to its knees. Is Nasrallah really sorry?
Hizballah has promised to pay individuals for the reconstruction of their homes destroyed by Isreali bombs? Does Nasrallah really love Lebanon or is this just another propaganda gimmick?
Nasrallah himself betrayed his naivete when he said he would not have ordered the kidnapping of the two IDF soldiers had he known the magnitude of Isreal's response. Isreal may not have won the war outrightly and hizballah still retains the capacity to launch crudely made rockets into the North of Isreal but anyone nation still haboring terrorist elements bent of attacking Isreal from its borders will approach the issue with a lot more than the kid gloves the government in Beirut did with hizballah!

Of course we all know a leopard cannot change its spots, Nasrallah is NOT appologising to Lebanese, he is only using that as another PR gimmick to get more brainwashed Arabs to hizballah's hateful course! The building of houses in Lebanon is simply a ruse and the moment the Lebanese govt awakes to this hypocrisy the better. Re-building Lebanon is more than just rebuilding homes, it is about eradicating the hydra-headed monster that Hizballah has become. A situation of having a state within a state is incongrous.
Until hizballah is disarmed, Lebanon can rebuild as many times as it likes, destruction is bound to follow someday! Either from another Isreali retaliation or from Syria itself!!!

Lessons from a Nigerian politician

Indeed, no one better fits the maxim of "all talk and no action better than the Nigerian politician. Nigerian politicians have learned to talk, infact where it possible political language would be a part of our lingua franca.
Here are a few things that define the Nigerian politician:

· Politics: A deadly fight for unfettered access to the public treasury.
· Political party: A gathering of strange bedfellows used primarily as a tool to further selfish personal interests. see also Peoples Democratic Party
· Democracy: Power to a cabal, by a cabal and for the cabal
· People: A vague word used by politicians to describe an imaginary collection of individuals. Mostly used as an euphemism for election rigging.
· Grassroots: Words used by politicians to describe a collection of mainly poor and illiterate peasants who have been robbed and shortchanged by their political leaders. See also Nigerian masses.
· Election: Charade used by politicians as a smokescreen to mask purchase of political office.
· Elderstatesman: Senile old man currently on the payroll of the incumbent government. See also; Alhaji Shehu Shagari
· Power: A license to loot the treasury.
· Sedition: An offence that refers to any attempt to unmask the shady deals of the ruling cabal.

Gombe State Governor, Mohammed Danjuma Goje on Nigeria's diversity:
"...but God put us together in diversity. If we want to continue that diversity, then we must regularize our diversity.”

Gombe State Governor, Mohammed Danjuma Goje on why power must shift to the north in 2007:
"...there is no way we, leaders from the zone, can explain to our people in the streets that power should not return to the North after the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo next year,"

Dr. Alex Akinyele on Whether the criticism of corruption leveled against Gen Ibrahim Babangida is justified:
"The criticisms, coming at this time, you will appreciate that they were not meant… To me, the criticisms, coming from the directions they are coming, reminds me of an incident in the life of the tortoise. Tortoise got up to pay a courtesy call on his in-law. When he got there, he was given a meal of porridge. He enjoyed it so much that he stole part of it. His in-law detected that he had stolen part of the porridge. So he tied the tortoise and put him out for the public to see on the market day. All the people who were going to the market saw him, and asked why he was tied and he said he stole. They all abused and derided him. In the evening when they were returning, they were surprised to still see him tied up for the same offense. Enraged that he was still tied up, they condemned his in-law. In fact, they said your in-law is a hopeless man who has no shame. He could have taken you inside, abused and smacked you instead of this public ridicule. So all those coming from the market gave their sympathy to the tortoise and condemned his in-law..."

Yobe State governor, Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim on his reasons for joining the Presidential race;

"he is eminently qualified to rule the country". - Special Assistant, Media, Alhaji Ibrahim Jirgi
"I want to become President so that government will be brought to the doorsteps of the common man" - Gov. Bukar Ibrahim.

Dr. Alex Akinyele on the question of corruption being leveled against Gen Ibrahim Babangida:

"Thank you very much. That question is excellent. And let me answer it by telling you another story.It was a day in the life of Jesus Christ, where he was attending to the people. The Sadducees and the Pharisees brought a woman before him whom they accused of adultery, as they’re accusing Babangida of corruption, is that not it? They accuse this particular woman of adultery. They were making a lot of noise and Jesus asked them what the law says about people who commit adultery. They told Jesus Christ that the law says she should be stoned to death.
Jesus said okay, any of you who has never been guilty of such sin should cast a stone at her let me see. Jesus Christ bent down and was writing (listen to me young journalist). Jesus was writing, and all the people who surrounded Jesus were looking into what he was writing. They saw that he was writing their names as being guilty of adultery at one time or the other. Behold, anyone who saw his name made a u-turn and left, until they all disappeared. And when Jesus Christ looked up, He said to the woman, ‘where are your accusers?’ and she said ‘they have gone.’ Then He said to her ‘you can go, but sin no more’. "

What makes IGP Sunday Ehindero tick? He is one IGP who has never failed to "bemoan", "lament" and "express concern" over the poor state of the police force. Ever since he took over from former IGP Tafa Balogun, arguably the most corrupt IGP the country has ever had the misfortune to appoint, he has always made it a point of duty to remind us that he met the force in a "deplorable" state. The problem is that, years after, the force still remains the same ill-motivated and corrupt force we have always had.
What is wrong with the NPF?

Since the political murders of two governorship aspirants, Mr. Ehindero has been going round holding "Crucial meetings" with politicians on the "need to stop the assassinations". Even Mr. Ehindero tacitly acknowledged the hopeless state of his men when he allowed three officers from the London Metropolitan police to take over investigations into the murder of Chief Williams.

According to Mr. Ehindero, “Aspirants are not entitled to more security than the security that is generally provided for all Nigerians." Pray, which security is Mr. Ehindero refering to as that "generally provided for all Nigerians?" vigilante groups? Infact can we boldly declare that there is any semblance of security in the Nigerian state today?

There is one thing i still like about uncle sunday though, he is probably one of the high ranking government officials without the official title of "chief". Perhaps he is waiting to retire before taking a title to celebrate his years of "meritorious" service to the Nation.

In other countries, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida would be answering for various crimes that include murder of his childhood friend, mamman J. Vatsa and Dele Giwa, theft of Nigeria's $12bn gulf war oil windfall and the criminal annulment of Nigeria's freest and fairest elections. But this is Nigeria, a country where anything is possible, a country where even former jail birds can be president. Nigeria is a country where we negotiate with corrupt officials to return stolen public funds in exchange for their freedom, it is a country where people in detention for a murder charge can run for office and win.

Babangida has finally come out to "declare" what we have all known all along, that he will be running for office in 2007. It is ironic that those who denied us the priviledge of democracy in 1993 are now using the same avenue to get themselves back into the corridor of power "under the banner of the Nigerian people" whose votes where disdained thirteen years ago. As with the usual empty rhetoric, Babangida has accused the present administration of fueling the present ethnic and religious crisis, it is hard to see what kind of crisis can compare to the one he and his dark goggled friend put us through between 1993 and 1998 where Nigeria virtually became a pariah nation.

Babangida has reminded us that "the challenge of the next leadership is to make Nigeria whole again", it will be interesting to remind him that he is the man who institutionalised corruption, nepotism and laid the foundation for the present decay that pervades society, it will also be worthwile to remind him that thanks to his Structural Adjustment Program, the only thing that has "adjusted" has been the size of his bank account and the ever shrinking middle class. Thanks to SAP, the gap between rich and poor has never been wider.

In the Nigeria that anything goes, it would not have been preposterous to imagine that had Abacha still been alive, he might be a senator today or even be aspiring for the office of President.

thanks to the attempted terror attack on about 10 US bound aircraft from heathrow airport in London, the whole world has suddenly gone into panic mode again. Once more terrorists have succeeded in shutting down airports, delaying or canceling entire flights, and sending everyone into a panic frenzy, the long search lines at airports are back and those who do not need to travel as a mater of urgency are being turned back.

The era of "hand luggage" might be fast fading into history, passengers are now required to carry transparent plastic bags (all na nylon!), at least Nigerians can now carry their ghana must go bags with more dignity on flights. There, my dream of spending time watching DVDs on my laptop while flying has just been dashed. There will be no liquids allowed on board again, toothpaste sef has been banned. Nna, what will bros use to clean his teeth when he has to make those 18 hr flights to Nigeria and back?
No soap allowed (as if i would ever dream of carrying that), no coffee allowed (man shall not leave by coffee alone anyway!), no shaving cream, no deodorants, no make-up, pray what is left in the transparent plastic bag?

What in God's name do these terrorists wish to achieve by killing poor pilots, passengers and those delectable air hostesses? Now that we can no longer take carry ons aboard aircraft, i'm looking forward to more boring times in the air, that is if the sons of Ishmeal do not decide to act out their ghoulish fantasies. Soon even books will be banned on board aircraft and the only thing allowed will be just the individual.

Maybe someone will think about reinventing sea travel, at least that will work until the men from Yemeni caves figure out how to carry out bomb attacks on board sea vessels.

Who really is a "moderate" muslim? One who lives a pro-western lifestyle? In order to remain politically correct, top world leaders and muslim leaders are quick to attribute terrorist activities to the handiwork of a "radical minority", but are they really in the minority? From Africa to the middle east, from the Danish cartoon riots to the carnage in Darfur, radical islam has proved time and again that it is the very antithesis of its much vaunted "religion of peace".

Islam and "peace":



The double standard of the islamic world remains all too glaring, while the whole world was rivetted on the 54 dead in the Qana attack, few remembered the continued carnage in Darfur and the more than 100 daily deaths recorded in Iraq thanks to Islamic millitias. The Islamic world screams blue murder at Qana, many are "concerned" for the innocent women and children killed daily in Lebanon, but few are worried about the death of "innocent" civilians in Isreal, infact thousands celebrated on major streets after the killing of over 3000 innocent Americans on 9-11.

With the Isreal - Lebanon face off now almost a month old, it is gradually becoming evident that most western media reporting has been heavily biased. Most reports save a few have largely focused on Isreal's onslaught on Beirut. Very few report about the over 3000 Katyusha rockets that have killed many Isrealis and forced thousands to take shelter in bunkers well before the present conflict began.
While headlines scream about the war on a daily basis, it is actually hard to get any piece of information on Isreali casualties of the war both civilian and military. The skewed reporting has largely focused on a belligerent Isreal using its military might to destroy an "innocent" Lebanon simply for having the "misfortune" of haboring the old Iranian revolutionary guard now morphed into the terrorist organisation called Hizballah.
It is so difficult to obtain details of the initial unprovoked Hizballah attack that pre-emted the war, very little is reported on the tense situation that Isrealis have been forced to put up with after more than 6 yrs of having rockets raining down on them, on the other hand, photos of "innocent civilians" from Qana have become posters for the current war.

Reuters news agency recently fired its Beirut freelance photography for actually doctoring most of the pictures displayed on its site.
Reuters drops Lebanese photographer over doctored image

On the BBC, there are features on how the war is taking its toll on those in Beirut, no such report is made about Isrealis living in fear of daily rocket attacks from an enemy whose only goal is to inflict as much pain on the Isreali civilian populace.
Hizbullah remains a terror organisation wholly set up with the motive to obliterate the Jewish state. Many have accused the IDF of using "disproportionate" force, it is hard to imagine if Isreal would still have been standing today if Hizbullah had the same type of weapons at their disposal. One of the important lessons Isreal may need to learn from this war is that it is not only fighting a warped ideology, it is also up in arms against a global anti-semitic propaganda, a war that is not likely to be won on the battle field.

It is sad that media organisations that cowered during the recent cartoon riots continue to pander to the whims and caprices of a terror group with a well oiled propaganda machine. Sadly no one seems to be treating Hizbullah as what it is, a terror organisation like al-qeuada, rather it is being portrayed as a ragtag band of Lebanese "freedom fighters" wholl at the mercy of the IDF.

Now we know that news may not be actually all about information, disinformation might just as well be more important. At least Hizbollah seems to be winning that war thanks to the likes of the BBC.

What is the first "proud" statement you hear off the lips of the parents of a newborn tot?
"Hey, we are proud to announce the birth of baby XYZ, weighing 17lbs 6st, measuring ....."

Why is everyone obsesed with weight in this country? From the 4 yr old kid to the 80 yr old great grandfather, all share one common malaise; obesity.
The average American is fat, every male 25 and above is proud to show off his spare tires, the women have thighs that would put a baby elephant to shame. Most waddle like ducks just out of water and are walking sacks of cellulite.
Every street corner has a macdonalds, wendy's, papa johns and burgerking. Many are no longer content with just a hamburger, we now have the double whooper. Every girl has a chocolate tooth, cakes and ice-cream are more like dinner to some. Is it any wonder that babies are now battling with obesity and early onset type II diabetes?
Coronary heart disease and hypertension is steadily on the rise yet americans keep putting on the pounds. In Africa, obesity was once a sign of good living, today it is associated with increased health risks. More kids are dying of SIDS, sleep apnea is on the rise, yet soda, cheese and candy remain the staple diet for the American youth.
Americans dont walk, eveyone has a car even to go as far as the bathroom. What else do you expect? It is only in America that one storey buildings have lifts.

When next an American reminds you of AIDS and malaria in Africa, dont forget to tell him to take care of the deadly disease of obesity in his country first!

There are always two sides to a coin and for every action there will always be a reaction. Reading through the posts on this topic, it is clear everyone is divided NOT BASED ON COMMON SENSE BUT ON RELIGIOUS DIVIDES. The attitude of "i am muslim so hizbollah must be right" has and will remain the cross that the world has to bear for years to come as millitant Islamofascism begins to rear its ugly head.It is so easy for the whole world to get "queasy" about the carnage that occured in Qana but after all said and done, all the outrage will amount to is the ultimate in hypocrisy. The same people shedding crocodile tears over the children of Qana burnt flags and celebrated the murder of 3000 innocent Americans on 911. Let us not begin to mention Madrid, 7/7, Java, Nairobi, Bombay e.t.c.Is the outrage over Qana really an outrage over Isreali "aggression" or a cheap public relations stunt by hizbollah? Over 100 people are killed by islamic militia in Iraq on a daily basis and yet no one has raised an eyebrow, aljazeera does not seem to have reporters in baghdad and no one seems to be calling for a "UN backed immediate ceasefire". Is agression only when "zionists" kill "innocent" lebanese human shields for terrorist? What of the hundreds killed since Hizbollah started throwing thousands of rockets at Isreal? why has the Isreali govt taken the pains to keep its citizens in bomb shelters and yet the so-called lovers of Qana only seem to derive pleasure in showing off the dead, mangled bodies of their human shields?

Why does hizbollah, not a national army, have 13000 katyusha rockets? Self defence?

A lot of people have ignorantly asked Isreal to leave the civilians alone and go after Hizbollah. Pray! How does Isreal go about doing that when terrorists dress like civillians, hide bombs in mosques and fire missiles from residential homes? Apparently the IDF has learnt a big lesson from the Americans who tried that tactic in Iraq. The consequence? The Americans have lost at least 5x more men than during the war itself.These terrorists are no brave fighters defending a nationalist cause, they do not respect their own countries and are only fighting the cause of their religion. It is sad that most everyone has jumped on the back of Isreal, it is hard to see how lenient you can be when you have had to defend yourself from those sworn to your destruction for the past 58 years of your independence.

There will be no ceasefire until hizbollah is completely rooted out. I do not support the shuttle diplomacy trip of Condi Rice, the same men she is meeting in Lebanon will not hesitate to sponsor terrorists to bomb the white house at the slightest opportunity. Those who claim Isreal is treating palestinians like dogs should please tell me how a jew can even dream of ever walking away with his life in palestine. Countless arabs are citizens of Isreal and are thus protected under the Isreali constitution despite the fact that they support the terrorists against their "nation". While Isreal, despite threats and suicide bombs has developed to become a major world power surrounded by illiterate war mongers whose only idea of public education is filling their children with anti-semitic vitriolic.

"Moderate" muslims on the other side of the divide are the worst hypocrites. When western govts came to ferry their citizens away from Lebanon, suddenly those who are now crying over Qana where quick to wave their "foreign" passports to escape to relative safety in the cozy comfort provided for them by the same infidels they would not hesitate to destroy. Why did the "moderate" muslims not stay back to defend their home country? Why are muslims denigrating Isreal and the west and yet do not hesitate to flaunt their US and European passports at the slightest opportunity?

Many "moderates" are quick to say they are only interested in the innocent caught up in the conflict. They lie! It is hard to see how any lasting cease fire can be achieved with nations that are sworn to your destruction. No one likes war, but if that is the only way by which you can guarantee a future for the next generation of jews, then so be it. That Isreal has chosen not to hypocritically put the mangled bodies of their ow children on international TV does not make hizbollah innocent of war crimes too!

"We don’t know from where this came. If we need to pray, we will pray; if we need to work, we will, for God to show us the killers. Funsho was a peace-loving person. He believed in politics without bitterness. Sorrow will not cease in the home of the perpetrators of this act," - Pres. Obasanjo

Pres. Obasanjo, on a visit to the family of slain Lagos state governorship aspirant, Engr. Funso Williams, has rained curses on the killers of the political activist while praying God to reveal the killers.
Once again our political leaders have exposed their complete inefficiency with their frequent turn to "God" and the supernatural in the face of the duty for which they were "voted" into office and for which thousands of tax payers money has been expended.
President Obasanjo's statement is a tacit endorsement of his distrust in the police unravelling this murder. With prior unsolved murders of other high profile politicians still hanging, it is clear that the Ota farmer has more trust in the ability of his God than the men he pays every month to secure the lives and property of the citizenry.
How does the president expect God to show him the killers? In his dream?
Why has the police remained inefficient 7 yrs into the democracy that was touted to reverse the years of decay under millitary despots? Where has all the money pumped into the police over the years gone?
It is not enough for IGP Sunday Ehindero to continually "lament" the decay in the force as he has been wont to do ever since he was appointed head of a force he has been a key member for donkey years. It is not enough for Mr. President to rain curses on murderers and pray God reveals them to him in a vision. Government officials must be held accountable for tax payers money wasted on futile attempts to protect the tax payers. It makes no sense for citizens to pay tax and then have to pay for vigilantes to do the job of the FG.