There are all sorts of scenario-building games going on about Nigeria. From friends to foes of our country to those neutral observers reading events here. Then, of course, our very own citizens home and abroad - very concerned citizens - who are worried and weary! Truth be told, there is enough worry to go round.
But wait a minute, haven't we confounded ourselves before? We always dance around the precipice, and very promptly retreat - returning to sanity. Okay, but must we constantly flirt with disaster, with disunity, with snares & flares - even disintegration? That's what more and more people are asking. My answer is NO! Our collective response must be NO!
If you don't mind, I propose that no motion for separation can pass in this land. It just will not happen. We are so interwoven and intrinsically united at the peoples-level than our so-called leaders recognize or admit. Let me also suggest that the reason most regimes have failed is their failure to imbibe this reality, rather than their divide-and-rule agenda. It is the same reason West Africans stay together despite the abysmal performance (or is it non-performance?) of ECOWAS - a fact its Authority has now acknowledged by launching an "ECOWAS of People not ECOWAS of States" initiative.
Nigeria is SAFE! She is agitated but stable at core.
Nigerians are together! We are depressed but optimistic for our country.
All the worrying and wearying shall pass. We will not crumble or disappear. And we will soon show it -as early as the 2011 General Elections!
Stand by us if you really care.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill
We must ask the Nigerian parliament to pass the FOI Bill into law soonest - as it has done with the electoral act and constitution amendment. We must regret that civil society, Labour, the Bar Association and Nigerian students have not taken on the politicians to stop their blatant disrespect for, and total insensitivity to, our collective call for the law in the last 12 years! Now, they must.
We ask the Save Nigeria Group to place this case on the front burner. This National Assembly must not expire without passing the bill into law, and President Jonathan needs to announce his eagerness to assent today!
Though this is not a media-only law, we must call on the Nigerian Press to rise to its full height and bring this matter to either an early resolution or an early confrontation. We cannot fight for democracy and its biggest beneficiaries treat the nation with such contempt. Not allowed.
FOI is now an election issue: Vote for it and you may return; vote against and you are gone! This is the message every medium, all media, must make a banner clip each and every day - as we countdown to Election Day 2011.
We ask the Save Nigeria Group to place this case on the front burner. This National Assembly must not expire without passing the bill into law, and President Jonathan needs to announce his eagerness to assent today!
Though this is not a media-only law, we must call on the Nigerian Press to rise to its full height and bring this matter to either an early resolution or an early confrontation. We cannot fight for democracy and its biggest beneficiaries treat the nation with such contempt. Not allowed.
FOI is now an election issue: Vote for it and you may return; vote against and you are gone! This is the message every medium, all media, must make a banner clip each and every day - as we countdown to Election Day 2011.
Friday, November 12, 2010
The CONVERGENCE
The CONVERGENCE is here!
There is a new dawn on the horizon. It will renew the world. In its wake, dear friends, many things – both known and unknown - will change, or be changed. It is knocking on all doors! I call it "The Convergence".
The new generation of world leaders will become barriers and burdens to the old generation, thus engendering self-searching and enforcing self-immolation! I call it "The Convergence".
Women will rise in a quantum leap from Africa to Asia, with such speed and much surprise that will upset and unsettle so much in governance and economic strangleholds. Then, the sea change! I call it "The Convergence".
The media is no longer just about journalists, though the press is powerful and here to stay, New Media is about citizens and nationalists with increasing consciousness of the "Think Global, Act Local" reality. I call it "The Convergence".
World corruption is the real corruption. There are forces on the run. There are new forces on the hunt. And both forces have no hiding place! I call it "The Convergence".
The final convergence is the Children. You undermine them, dear leaders, and they know! I call it "The Convergence". It is knocking on all doors!
There is a new dawn on the horizon. It will renew the world. In its wake, dear friends, many things – both known and unknown - will change, or be changed. It is knocking on all doors! I call it "The Convergence".
The new generation of world leaders will become barriers and burdens to the old generation, thus engendering self-searching and enforcing self-immolation! I call it "The Convergence".
Women will rise in a quantum leap from Africa to Asia, with such speed and much surprise that will upset and unsettle so much in governance and economic strangleholds. Then, the sea change! I call it "The Convergence".
The media is no longer just about journalists, though the press is powerful and here to stay, New Media is about citizens and nationalists with increasing consciousness of the "Think Global, Act Local" reality. I call it "The Convergence".
World corruption is the real corruption. There are forces on the run. There are new forces on the hunt. And both forces have no hiding place! I call it "The Convergence".
The final convergence is the Children. You undermine them, dear leaders, and they know! I call it "The Convergence". It is knocking on all doors!
BANKERS and OUR ECONOMIES
Somehow, I could not believe the way things went haywire with the world economy though I kind of knew it was coming. If anyone thinks we are out of the woods yet, let them beware!
All my training and instincts tell me that our bankers, home and abroad, have learnt precious little from their heist, and are chest thumping prematurely. Turning in profits so soon enough may be good enough, but turning a new leaf be the real relief the world needs and deserves. The business of banking is, in its proper setting, the business of humanity: safekeeping, economic productivity, backbone infrastructure, reasonable risks, currency and credits, among others. We cannot have banking profits in a banging or bankrupt economy. That is paper-profit!
Jobless growth is its political flipside: Where politicians reel out GDP and other macroeconomic data to celebrate their economic prowess while their citizens can't see or feel the bounty! For graphic examples, come to Africa, especially my very own Nigeria.
These bailed-out bankers must don new suits of humility and penitence. After the trillions of dollars their cataclysmic and unprofessional practices induced/compelled as bail-outs and stimulus packages across the globe, it would be utterly unthinkable not to see some turnaround in some national economies. If we worked out the return-on-investment of the financial cum political outlay can anyone justify the euphoria? If we crank up the opportunity cost, will we be anywhere this complacent?
Okay, let's be fair: Many of the key players have gone, most of them into infamy. So, we can allow some "well done" notes for their successors. But it should be a granddad's "grunt" not a teenager's "glee" as we now see!
All my training and instincts tell me that our bankers, home and abroad, have learnt precious little from their heist, and are chest thumping prematurely. Turning in profits so soon enough may be good enough, but turning a new leaf be the real relief the world needs and deserves. The business of banking is, in its proper setting, the business of humanity: safekeeping, economic productivity, backbone infrastructure, reasonable risks, currency and credits, among others. We cannot have banking profits in a banging or bankrupt economy. That is paper-profit!
Jobless growth is its political flipside: Where politicians reel out GDP and other macroeconomic data to celebrate their economic prowess while their citizens can't see or feel the bounty! For graphic examples, come to Africa, especially my very own Nigeria.
These bailed-out bankers must don new suits of humility and penitence. After the trillions of dollars their cataclysmic and unprofessional practices induced/compelled as bail-outs and stimulus packages across the globe, it would be utterly unthinkable not to see some turnaround in some national economies. If we worked out the return-on-investment of the financial cum political outlay can anyone justify the euphoria? If we crank up the opportunity cost, will we be anywhere this complacent?
Okay, let's be fair: Many of the key players have gone, most of them into infamy. So, we can allow some "well done" notes for their successors. But it should be a granddad's "grunt" not a teenager's "glee" as we now see!
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Anniversary Bomb Blast
I have only one appeal: The way to stop all violence is to stop all vanity. When we study the pains of mistrust, distrust and their effect on our distraught nation, we must promptly return to TRUST. And stoutly stay there!
Let the politicians and their foot soldiers stand for NIGERIA robustly. And patriotically. Bomb away discord and bond in one accord. What else? Hmm...
Well, this phase - like all mortality - will pass away. And NIGERIA will still be here.
History? Yes. Mystery? No.
Let the politicians and their foot soldiers stand for NIGERIA robustly. And patriotically. Bomb away discord and bond in one accord. What else? Hmm...
Well, this phase - like all mortality - will pass away. And NIGERIA will still be here.
History? Yes. Mystery? No.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
A Beauty and A Duty
Never before have I felt this upbeat about this land. Okay, I was "too small" in 1960 to really feel anything at Independence. Then I was upbeat anytime there was some transition to another administration or government. Well, we've been up and down. The story is well-known.
This feeling is different. It is coming in the wake of many realities about our incongruity and the untenable incongruities of our current reality. Put differently, things have changed! Those who do not see it will not have long to wait. Stay tuned.
Nigeria, this Jubilee, has berthed rough and roughened, tough and toughened, wise and wizened on its predetermined shores. We have borne what needs to be borne, we will pay what must be paid. We are a proud and pantheon-people. We are through our wilderness.
What we do and how we go be the bounden duty of all, for the God-given beauty for all. This is not a mere wish but an emerging reality. I see it, I sense it, I feel it. It is here!
My congratulations - hearty and heavy - to all Nigerians and Friends of Nigeria on this Golden Jubilee of our Sovereign Motherland.
This feeling is different. It is coming in the wake of many realities about our incongruity and the untenable incongruities of our current reality. Put differently, things have changed! Those who do not see it will not have long to wait. Stay tuned.
Nigeria, this Jubilee, has berthed rough and roughened, tough and toughened, wise and wizened on its predetermined shores. We have borne what needs to be borne, we will pay what must be paid. We are a proud and pantheon-people. We are through our wilderness.
What we do and how we go be the bounden duty of all, for the God-given beauty for all. This is not a mere wish but an emerging reality. I see it, I sense it, I feel it. It is here!
My congratulations - hearty and heavy - to all Nigerians and Friends of Nigeria on this Golden Jubilee of our Sovereign Motherland.
My Very SPECIAL APOLOGY To You - On The Blackout!
Anyone who knows Nigeria and Nigerians knows that we are very passionate about our dear nation, and go the extra mile to mull over her. We will not be put down or held down. Ask the colonialists, ask the military, ask the Third Termists! Read up on the Nigeria vs Niger Delta conundrum. Ask the so-called "cabal" that held our late President Yar'Adua and his regime by the jugular! Just to add a more current scent, ask our soccer (mis)representatives - the Super Eagles (?) – to the just-concluded FIFA World Cup in South Africa: For earning us such a poor grade, and not rising to the challenge of making Africa proud in the first-ever mundial on African soil, they are being roasted! This, despite our criminal and incriminating absence of focus, bad and improper coordination, the palpable fraud in sports administration - not unlike everywhere else - late and inadequate preparation, and an ageing squad!!
Followers of this site may recall my passion and commitment when all was well. So, for me to be off - sort of AWOL - all these months is the most painful and depressing blow my country has dealt me thus far. Recall, dear friends, that we've had hitches and glitches before: Internet Access wahala. And the usual apologies followed. However, this time, it became very clear that there was a plot to "under-DIGITALize" the nation! The official national carrier, NITEL, had been "cornered" along with SAT-3, the submarine cable. As my preferred ISP and Nigeria's Internet backbone, we have been virtually crippled in the last 20+ months! I got very angry and decided to await the Glo-1 and Main One submarine cables being deployed by some great patriots Mike Adenuga (I told you before) and Fola Adeola (founder of GTB Bank) + Ms Opeke (a Telecoms Amazon). I will revisit this subject sometime soon.
If it cost these firms less than US$1.5bn to land their cables in West Africa, we could have wired up the Whole of Africa with US$5bn a few years back. Yet, Nigeria paid over US$15bn to exit her so-called "external debt", to the London and Paris Clubs of Creditors!! Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria & South Africa should have paid US$5bn to put their continent on a 21st Century Internet pedestal, under the proud auspices of the African Union. It would have been easier, cheaper and faster. Thank God for our conscientious compatriots and their likes around Africa, and within the African Diaspora.
Returning to my blogs, and remaining online, was my only condition for re-subscribing to any ISP. I have used most of what was on offer, and, along with other nationals, the story has been sad. So sad. Since you are reading this, it means I'm fairly confident I now have a good deal. Well, I hope!
My apologies to you all. If you had any lashes for my back for going AWOL, spare them: I've groaned under the harshest possible punishment: not being able to "speak" with you, "share" with you, in this privileged and enthralling zone of our Online Commons!!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Jubilee Knocks!
Thank God from both big and small mercies! I am writing with great gratitude myself, as with my
dear country Nigeria, for resuming my blogs on the eve of our Fiftieth Independence Anniversary.
Details will follow on why and how I've been off. But I apologize sincerely.
As I write, there is optimism in the air and in my own heart. If we cannot speak for the past, we can certainly play a worthy part in the plans for the future. These are indeed challenging times, exciting times, momentous moments.
Your humble blogger shall do his bit. May God's Plan be fulfilled for country and citizen in Jesus' Name. Amen.
dear country Nigeria, for resuming my blogs on the eve of our Fiftieth Independence Anniversary.
Details will follow on why and how I've been off. But I apologize sincerely.
As I write, there is optimism in the air and in my own heart. If we cannot speak for the past, we can certainly play a worthy part in the plans for the future. These are indeed challenging times, exciting times, momentous moments.
Your humble blogger shall do his bit. May God's Plan be fulfilled for country and citizen in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Sunday, August 01, 2010
The MAN in the FALCONETS
Gender crusaders and feminists may wish to regale us afresh that, "the best man for a job is a WOMAN! Haven't our Super Falconets proven it today - at the Under20 Women's FIFA World Cup, losing narrowly to hosts and now two times champions Germany? What the Super Eagles failed to achieve in South Africa our girls did for the nation! They could have lifted the trophy. Well, they came proudly second. We are proud of them. Bravo!
We salute and celebrate the Nigerian Spirit in the girls. It reminds us of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics Soccer Gold Medalists, led by Nwankwo Kanu. They, like the girls, were shabbily treated and given no chance at all of getting anywhere. Today, we have a feeling of déjà vu. There is creeping evidence that Nigeria will use these two canes to whip sanity into our football and general sports administration in this era of mandated restructuring. To do otherwise will be criminal lethargy, even suicidal.
Back to the girls: They flew the Nigerian, Ecowas and African Flag into the final. And yes they did us proud. Having stopped USA - the defending champions - many were rooting for them. Those "not-so-sure" touted the high-scoring record of the hosts to predict a routing of the Falconets. It ended 2-0; it could have been 1-0! Pray, the Germans were the better side. And they fully deserved their win.
Now, to the lessons: It is not news that most of our glory has had great lacings from our female athletes. Who can forget that glorious high jump gold - our first Olympic Gold - by Chioma Ajunwa? Or the great exploits of long-reigning queen of African tracks, Mary Onyali? Right now in Kenya the women are making us proud again! It is time to acknowledge this, and move strategically to give them full support at all levels.
Make no mistake, all of sports need transformation; what we advocate is a non-discriminatory and robust approach.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Leaders Gone and Leaders Going plus Leaders Coming
Argentina.
Dateline: Transfer of Presidential Power.
Dateline: From Husband to Wife.
Proudly!
United States.
Can da same happen in "God's own country"? But with its own unique variant: A wife taking office as President two-terms after her husband?
How many spouses can be proud running on the records of their spouses? And proudly hope to succeed them?
Germany.
Is it likely that a Chancellor will be so outstanding that her husband may be "drafted" to run in succession?
Academics, weren't they both? Put nothing past professors and da cosmic realms!
Proudly.
Dateline: Transfer of Presidential Power.
Dateline: From Husband to Wife.
Proudly!
United States.
Can da same happen in "God's own country"? But with its own unique variant: A wife taking office as President two-terms after her husband?
How many spouses can be proud running on the records of their spouses? And proudly hope to succeed them?
Germany.
Is it likely that a Chancellor will be so outstanding that her husband may be "drafted" to run in succession?
Academics, weren't they both? Put nothing past professors and da cosmic realms!
Proudly.
Nobel Peace Prize: Al Gorenation of da IPCC!
Thanks to ICT advances, no one should miss watching the CNN special on this year's Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies.
Superbly anchored by Jonathan Mann, the laureates did justice to their "coronation outing"!
Get thee online for da taste, or...retaste!!
Deserved.
Superbly anchored by Jonathan Mann, the laureates did justice to their "coronation outing"!
Get thee online for da taste, or...retaste!!
Deserved.
Subprime Signals
Make no mistakes about it, the world's financial system is in some real trouble. Big trouble. All we are told is not all, and much is being "hedged" or "hidden" by hope and hype.
Helped by surging oil prices and earnings, suppressed by surging "other" economies (read East, et al), the West is in some - at least banking - straits.
The USA's uncontrolled (perhaps uncontrollable) spendings on the so-called war on terror, led by huge costs in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as mind-boggling misspendings at home (read the GOA's reports), are subsumed under the historical toga of "da world's largest economy" to fuel mega-huge foreign borrowings.
Because of the unprecedented embarrassingly humongous foreign reserves of several sovereign states and corporates, the global system seems so elastic to accommodate the seeping scandals now masquerading as "write-offs" and "charge-taking".
Oh yes, heads are rolling alright, but what else do we know will roil...and roll? Plenty.
When da chickens start coming home to roost - as the sun sets on subsisting political careers - and the political batons prove to be poisoned chalices, more shocking things will happen, alas!
21 Months.
Helped by surging oil prices and earnings, suppressed by surging "other" economies (read East, et al), the West is in some - at least banking - straits.
The USA's uncontrolled (perhaps uncontrollable) spendings on the so-called war on terror, led by huge costs in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as mind-boggling misspendings at home (read the GOA's reports), are subsumed under the historical toga of "da world's largest economy" to fuel mega-huge foreign borrowings.
Because of the unprecedented embarrassingly humongous foreign reserves of several sovereign states and corporates, the global system seems so elastic to accommodate the seeping scandals now masquerading as "write-offs" and "charge-taking".
Oh yes, heads are rolling alright, but what else do we know will roil...and roll? Plenty.
When da chickens start coming home to roost - as the sun sets on subsisting political careers - and the political batons prove to be poisoned chalices, more shocking things will happen, alas!
21 Months.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
MNCs: Bribes-for-Contracts Worldwide
Wilbros (USA) and Siemens (Germany) have been convicted at home for paying huge sums as bribes-for-contracts in Nigeria, among other places. Thanks to the judicial systems of the United States and Germany, we now have another reaffirmation of the corruptive power of Western multinationals.
When the history of bad governance at BOTH country and corporate levels shall be finally done, the world's conscience will be seared and scarred.
It is slush fund sucking blood money, galore!
When the history of bad governance at BOTH country and corporate levels shall be finally done, the world's conscience will be seared and scarred.
It is slush fund sucking blood money, galore!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Democracy on my Mind
As we are now witnessing, democracy is under stress and test around the world. Leaders who came to power through elections are undermining the necessity and inviolability of the vote! Those who came to power promising early and free & fair elections are sitting tight in office! The world is being threatened by actual, pseudo and aspiring dictators. Human rights are now game, fair game, in the onslaught against da people.
We, in Nigeria, just escaped the sit-tight monster by whiskers! Thanks to progressive, patriotic and selfless forces in our Senate.
All parliaments around the world must deny their leaders such ambition. Democracy must be defended and rejuvenated by free and fair elections, in which people cast their votes and in which their votes count! Period.
The UN must speak up on this matter. No diplomatese, please.
Let each nation decide if it needs term limits (which I think is best!) or not. No problem. Once they do, this must be assured and enforced. Life presidencies and dictatorships be no longer fashion or currency. They must end.
We, in Nigeria, just escaped the sit-tight monster by whiskers! Thanks to progressive, patriotic and selfless forces in our Senate.
All parliaments around the world must deny their leaders such ambition. Democracy must be defended and rejuvenated by free and fair elections, in which people cast their votes and in which their votes count! Period.
The UN must speak up on this matter. No diplomatese, please.
Let each nation decide if it needs term limits (which I think is best!) or not. No problem. Once they do, this must be assured and enforced. Life presidencies and dictatorships be no longer fashion or currency. They must end.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Two Worlds: The GENERALS Head Apart!
And they came: Generals in civil cloaks
singing da song of freedom
waving banners of peace
and vowing democracy...
at last!
And they ruled: Generals in mixed suits
Now in mufti, then in jackboots
raising hope, sealing deals
and baiting da powers...
that-be!
And they sailed: Generals in golden guild
Courted abroad, loathed at home
creating the craters for free minds
and breeding da herds...
of hate!
And they smiled: Generals in smoke-screens
Fixing ballots, feigning freedom
They give hope-in-straits
and take back da scent...
of vote!
And they railed: Generals in utter rage
Smashing patriots and politicians
banning mullahs and monks
and sinking da grundnorm...
at last!
Now the generals in two lands are heading their different ways. Pakistan heading for chaos...! Myanmar coming from da cold!!
Paradox.
singing da song of freedom
waving banners of peace
and vowing democracy...
at last!
And they ruled: Generals in mixed suits
Now in mufti, then in jackboots
raising hope, sealing deals
and baiting da powers...
that-be!
And they sailed: Generals in golden guild
Courted abroad, loathed at home
creating the craters for free minds
and breeding da herds...
of hate!
And they smiled: Generals in smoke-screens
Fixing ballots, feigning freedom
They give hope-in-straits
and take back da scent...
of vote!
And they railed: Generals in utter rage
Smashing patriots and politicians
banning mullahs and monks
and sinking da grundnorm...
at last!
Now the generals in two lands are heading their different ways. Pakistan heading for chaos...! Myanmar coming from da cold!!
Paradox.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
UNFAIR World: California Fires and Nigeria's Niger Delta Disaster
As we condole and commiserate with the prosperous US state of California and its traumatised and distraught citizens, especially residents of the fire-ravaged counties, we must reflect on our times and our texture. The richest state in the richest nation on earth is suffering the wildest and harshest forest fires on record! The toll is mounting and the trauma is brimming. May God help California!
You know what? As CNN's legend, Larry King, reminded us starkly the other night - quoting JFK - "Life is unfair!". California and its humane governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, have been on the front lines of environmental protection and in the vanguard of getting America onto the climate change/global warming action train. Hollywood has been a key partner in the global crusade, and has promoted and spoken up for world peace, human rights and banishing poverty. California has been good to immigrants, and is at once pro-women, pro-culture and modernist! With these wildfires, how so unfair!!!
Brings us to another unfair share of a nation's black gold, and even more grisly share of human and environmental degradation. Where else than my native Nigeria, and its now-very notorious Niger Delta Region! Noted worldwide as volatile and violent these days, with many negative and some offensive "Travel Advisories" from benefiting nations, you are struck by the unfairness of both nature & nation, in the abject poverty and untold suffering so visited upon the oil-rich land!
After sacrificing so much for an ungrateful country, it hurts to be the butt of consumer-mockery and operators' oppression as the Niger Deltans now endure!
California and da Niger Delta give so much to both their nations and the world. They should not be this pained. Not by nature, not by nation, not by man. As Governor Schwarzenegger stated at his joint press conference with the US president, "follow-through" with promises is da key. If we all learn from the Tsunamis, the Earthquakes and Katrina, this point must resound!
Thank you to all the fire-fighters, security operatives, first responders and the media for all the good work done in California. Kudos to President Bush for his prompt actions and his emotional official visit to the zone. As for the governor, you can't have a better man. Well done Gov!
In closing, we must ask others to learn from the horrors and humanity of the California Fires; even as we challenge both the Nigerian authorities and the consuming world to promptly and humanely revisit, and remedy, the Niger Delta Question!
Life is truly...UNFAIR!!!
You know what? As CNN's legend, Larry King, reminded us starkly the other night - quoting JFK - "Life is unfair!". California and its humane governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, have been on the front lines of environmental protection and in the vanguard of getting America onto the climate change/global warming action train. Hollywood has been a key partner in the global crusade, and has promoted and spoken up for world peace, human rights and banishing poverty. California has been good to immigrants, and is at once pro-women, pro-culture and modernist! With these wildfires, how so unfair!!!
Brings us to another unfair share of a nation's black gold, and even more grisly share of human and environmental degradation. Where else than my native Nigeria, and its now-very notorious Niger Delta Region! Noted worldwide as volatile and violent these days, with many negative and some offensive "Travel Advisories" from benefiting nations, you are struck by the unfairness of both nature & nation, in the abject poverty and untold suffering so visited upon the oil-rich land!
After sacrificing so much for an ungrateful country, it hurts to be the butt of consumer-mockery and operators' oppression as the Niger Deltans now endure!
California and da Niger Delta give so much to both their nations and the world. They should not be this pained. Not by nature, not by nation, not by man. As Governor Schwarzenegger stated at his joint press conference with the US president, "follow-through" with promises is da key. If we all learn from the Tsunamis, the Earthquakes and Katrina, this point must resound!
Thank you to all the fire-fighters, security operatives, first responders and the media for all the good work done in California. Kudos to President Bush for his prompt actions and his emotional official visit to the zone. As for the governor, you can't have a better man. Well done Gov!
In closing, we must ask others to learn from the horrors and humanity of the California Fires; even as we challenge both the Nigerian authorities and the consuming world to promptly and humanely revisit, and remedy, the Niger Delta Question!
Life is truly...UNFAIR!!!
Up South Africa...on the Rugby World Cup!
Bravo to our brethren in South Africa for bringing us great honour by winning the Rugby World Cup so convincingly! Great for AFRICA!!
Coming so soon after Nigeria won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, things are looking up. Make no mistake about it, Africa is staking for its rights and rightful place in world sport.
Mark my words!
As our continent's leaders in both cricket and rugby, the rainbow nation should move quickly to fully integrate all races, especially blacks, into both its national teams and the grassroots spread. It should also vigorously promote the sports in other countries, especially Nigeria and DRCongo.
We countdown to 2010, brethren...
Keep it up!
Coming so soon after Nigeria won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, things are looking up. Make no mistake about it, Africa is staking for its rights and rightful place in world sport.
Mark my words!
As our continent's leaders in both cricket and rugby, the rainbow nation should move quickly to fully integrate all races, especially blacks, into both its national teams and the grassroots spread. It should also vigorously promote the sports in other countries, especially Nigeria and DRCongo.
We countdown to 2010, brethren...
Keep it up!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Nobel Peace Prize: So Fair for...Al Gore/IPCC!
We must ask a few questions, post a few posers:
Why do we take out insurance? Is it to die, crash da car, lose the house...or just in case we do??
We eat not just to stop hunger (which we must) but to live well, and longer!
We are so good at being wary and dubious about so many things, including investments, living and faith....that we hedge against them. Rightly.
Why do we have vaccines? To hopefully avoid plagues and debilitating health crises. Sensibly.
Why do people of faith pray? To be worthy of the now, and ...the hereafter! Who knows??
As for the environment, especially the huge debacle of GLOBAL WARMING, the Nobel Peace Prize has rightly gone the right way in 2007....
To Al Gore and the UN Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Hearty CONGRATULATIONS!
For 2008, I suspect, even predict, that Bill Clinton, Bill Gates/Gates Foundation, Bono and Bob Geldof will gain the prize...in a unique Coalition of Non-State Actors for Global Good!
So we can start scoring quality action, valuable wealth and value of giving.
Why do we take out insurance? Is it to die, crash da car, lose the house...or just in case we do??
We eat not just to stop hunger (which we must) but to live well, and longer!
We are so good at being wary and dubious about so many things, including investments, living and faith....that we hedge against them. Rightly.
Why do we have vaccines? To hopefully avoid plagues and debilitating health crises. Sensibly.
Why do people of faith pray? To be worthy of the now, and ...the hereafter! Who knows??
As for the environment, especially the huge debacle of GLOBAL WARMING, the Nobel Peace Prize has rightly gone the right way in 2007....
To Al Gore and the UN Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Hearty CONGRATULATIONS!
For 2008, I suspect, even predict, that Bill Clinton, Bill Gates/Gates Foundation, Bono and Bob Geldof will gain the prize...in a unique Coalition of Non-State Actors for Global Good!
So we can start scoring quality action, valuable wealth and value of giving.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Russia-US Tortuous Relations: Step Back, Folks!
The turbulent and worsening relations between the United States and Russia must worry us all. There are of course more areas of cooperation, including robust partnership on the International Space Station (thank goodness!) and the so-called war on terror to mitigate our fears. Yet, it is on this question of security (both national and global) that things are coming badly off!
Oh, never mind the photo ops: things are falling apart between Moscow and Washington. And we better call these folks to order before they fall totally apart. The build-up is not funny at all. A domineering USA and a resurging/reasserting Russia: typical clash of the titans? Tough.
The saddest part is that things are drifting dangerously towards the "ego zone" which can very quickly escalate into the "cold war realms"!!! God forbid.
Our greatest worry is that the world is rather so polarised these days that it will most readily shuffle and melt into opposing "camps", to the eternal dismay and regret of the non-aligned us. We better rise promptly to the challenge NOW.
As the statesmen they ought to be, Presidents Putin and Bush should rein in the forces, return to their friendship, prepare for their political transitions, cement their superpower cooperation and give the world true leadership.
We need both to solve the world's intractable problems, NOT become one!
Oh, never mind the photo ops: things are falling apart between Moscow and Washington. And we better call these folks to order before they fall totally apart. The build-up is not funny at all. A domineering USA and a resurging/reasserting Russia: typical clash of the titans? Tough.
The saddest part is that things are drifting dangerously towards the "ego zone" which can very quickly escalate into the "cold war realms"!!! God forbid.
Our greatest worry is that the world is rather so polarised these days that it will most readily shuffle and melt into opposing "camps", to the eternal dismay and regret of the non-aligned us. We better rise promptly to the challenge NOW.
As the statesmen they ought to be, Presidents Putin and Bush should rein in the forces, return to their friendship, prepare for their political transitions, cement their superpower cooperation and give the world true leadership.
We need both to solve the world's intractable problems, NOT become one!
Monday, October 08, 2007
Myanmar...on my Mind
We must wish Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari, UN envoy to Myanmar, unqualified success this time around. He's been there before! Tough job, alright; but he must NOT fail, again. Period.
The military leadership must be truly sad and sorry for what it has turned a people's peaceful march into: Gory sights and sounds of state-unleashed violence, tears and blood, including that of the revered monks and a Japanese journalist! Sad.
Let's not beat about the bush. Myanmar must move to full democracy NOW. There is no choice and there is no more delay permissible. The seed of such a sensible reality was sown many years ago when Aung San Suu Kyi won the elections reluctantly called by the military. She has been languishing under debilitating house-arrest for two decades. Denying her the dignity of paying her last respects to her late Oxford don husband, who died in England, was a cruel stab. That was in tandem with the military leaders' jitters when they equally refused her passage to receive the Nobel Peace Prize earlier. For both acts, the world was stunned and outraged.
This is no longer about one prisoner of conscience or political icon. It is the case of spiritual and legal convergence, with the diplomatic and moral commitment of all of humanity. ASEAN, the UN and both China and India must front for us, and work for the people of Myanmar. Japan and Russia need to back this new move in very creative ways, right away.
Professor Gambari is absolutely competent and capable of serving. But he should be the real peace-bearer this time, not pall-bearer...again! Enough be enough.
We must thank Thailand for its pain and perseverance in housing and helping refugees and da patriots fleeing Myanmar. Other neighbours need do da same - until da coast be clear, and is fully cleared.
Condolences and commiserations to all. May the departed souls rest in perfect peace.
And may our world leaders make that happen, SOOOON!
The military leadership must be truly sad and sorry for what it has turned a people's peaceful march into: Gory sights and sounds of state-unleashed violence, tears and blood, including that of the revered monks and a Japanese journalist! Sad.
Let's not beat about the bush. Myanmar must move to full democracy NOW. There is no choice and there is no more delay permissible. The seed of such a sensible reality was sown many years ago when Aung San Suu Kyi won the elections reluctantly called by the military. She has been languishing under debilitating house-arrest for two decades. Denying her the dignity of paying her last respects to her late Oxford don husband, who died in England, was a cruel stab. That was in tandem with the military leaders' jitters when they equally refused her passage to receive the Nobel Peace Prize earlier. For both acts, the world was stunned and outraged.
This is no longer about one prisoner of conscience or political icon. It is the case of spiritual and legal convergence, with the diplomatic and moral commitment of all of humanity. ASEAN, the UN and both China and India must front for us, and work for the people of Myanmar. Japan and Russia need to back this new move in very creative ways, right away.
Professor Gambari is absolutely competent and capable of serving. But he should be the real peace-bearer this time, not pall-bearer...again! Enough be enough.
We must thank Thailand for its pain and perseverance in housing and helping refugees and da patriots fleeing Myanmar. Other neighbours need do da same - until da coast be clear, and is fully cleared.
Condolences and commiserations to all. May the departed souls rest in perfect peace.
And may our world leaders make that happen, SOOOON!
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