THE SEA GIVES OUT FISHES TO THE PEOPLE

This river is giving out free fishes to the people. Go get yours:
Click Here to see video. If you were there, would you have also taken home?

NOLLYWOOD BEGINS FIGHT AGAINST FILM PIRATES

After several cries to the government and individual lovers of Nollywood films in Nigeria, the filmmakers themselves have decided to take the bull by the horn. Husseini Shaibu reports how it all went yesterday. 

"Today, some members of the Coalition of Nigerian Entertainers walked the talk as they embarked on a peaceful and very successful anti piracy rally. They took off from Ikeja under bridge, made some seizures along the road, stopped by the Lagos State House of Assembly and then they finally laid their complaints before the listening governor of Lagos state Babatunde Raji Fashola. The governor was at an EXCO meeting when his 'friends' came calling. He excused himself, received them and assured them of his support for the struggle. Foremost filmmaker Tunde Kelani was appointed coordinator of the group. They are to meet with BRF in a matter of days to articulate a strong position on how to tame the scourge in the new dispensation. Well done Yemi sodimu, Yemi solade, Yinka Akanbi, igwe gabosky, uncle TK, Kunle Afolayan, Prince Jide kosoko, Oga Bello, Mosun Filani, iyabo Ojo, Abiodun Aleja, Dr. Tunji Azeez, Biodun Olakanmi Kupoluyi, Funsho Arogundade, Victor Akande, uncle tunji bamishigbin, stephnora Steph-Nora Okere for the good work of mobilising people at such a short notice. Like the governor remarked, you guys need sustain the struggle and the awareness".

Photo credit: Husseini Shaibu

THE LAMENTATION OF LANCELOT ODUWA IMASUEN

Mr. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen is obviously a major stakeholder in the Nollywood film industry. With the increase of film pirates' activities in Nigeria, he couldn't help but spit out his pains against those he called Evil men. This is what he said, which speaks not only for himself as a producer, but also for genuine Nigerian filmmakers. Below is his lamentation: 

"I operate in society where my works are always criticised by people who know nothing about how my craft is put together, they have no idea  much pains I go through to bring one new film out,that no bank is ready to lend money to me, for film business because it's too risky. Then I struggle on my own to raise some few millions of naria to make a film,half of the money goes into buying fuel,and we  beg neighbours to allow us put our generator near their houses trying to avoid its noise get into our filming,but it sure will get into it,reason for most of the bad sound u hear when watching our films,which you also complain about.

It's hard 4 me 2 actually hire the real professionals because I cannot afford to pay their fees. when I manage to round the so called movie up, I try all I can muster to get it acceptable to play in the cinemas, where I must personally fund all the promotion, which in most cases, will amount to nothing compared to what you actually Will need to make a meaningful impact !The cinemas, just about 20 plus cinemas to service 160 million people!  After 2 weeks in the cinemas, it's time up and to God be they glory if one million will be yours to have,VAT,Lagos state Entertainment tax,sharing to this and that and if your movie is so good. Our friends from Alaba, and other  places around the country with some other Evil people to get hold of the film and off to the  road and traffics around lagos,Pirates takes over! Flood everywhere with my sweat, forgetting I paid to the Nigerian copyright commission to register my film,now they are as helplessly as  myself. I am left high and dry,in pain and in penury. We only carry big names,with small pockets. After the stars are exposed, they are taken by the big companies for endorsement leaving me and my likes to weep! pls join in  rebroadcasting this msg till it gets to those who can really help!"

Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen
(Nollywood filmmaker)

HOUSEMAID WHO KIDNAPPED THE OREKOYA KIDS ARRESTED

The housemaid, Mary Akinloye, who abducted the Orekoya kids is said to have been arrested last night by the Police. The arrest was confirmed this morning by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, who said the DPO report that to him. The Police did not give further details on her arrest.

The housemaid had taken away the kids she was supposed to look after. A Day after, she and her conspirators demanded a N15 million ransom for the three kids who were just 11 months, 4  and 6 years. The family bargained and the kidnappers reduced their demand to N13 million. 

Later the 3 kids having been with the kidnappers for eight days, were found in Egbeda Area of Lagos, wrapped in bags. The family disclosed some ransom was paid to secure their kids back, but it's not clear how much. 

The family said they were really traumatized since the incident occurred but they are grateful to God that they have their kids back.

HORRIBLE PHOTOS OF SOUTH AFRICANS BUTCHERING AND BURNING OTHER BLACKS (WARNING - GORY PHOTOS INSIDE)

Some infuriated South Africans took to the streets to loot businesses belonging to people from other countries. They also burnt the black foreigners alive, butchered them and kill a lot of them like they are no humans. 
The reason for the attack is that the locals feel the foreigners are prospering in their land and making mockery of the South Africans as lazy people. The photos below were sent to us from South Africa. These dastardly acts should be condemned by all. You can join in the condemnation by signing a petition that would be forwarded to the South African government. Click here to sign petition: http://goo.gl/ayWAEU

Machete cuts

Foreigner set ablaze

Foreigners to be burnt Alive

SA Police---not doing enough

Already burnt to death

His head split into two

Black South AFricans matching to kill black foreigners

Victim of Xenophobia is South AFrica

Victim of Xenophobia is South AFrica

Victim of Xenophobia is South AFrica

Black South Africans beating up foreigners

Nigerians in South Africa arming to defend themselves

South African ladies looting shops of foreigners

Why and how did black South African get this wicked and inhuman? Sign the petition now: http://goo.gl/ayWAEU

THEBAHATIZZ RECOGNIZED BY THE CANADIAN GOVT AS PEACE ADVOCATES

They are so determined and unrelenting in their goal to spread the word of PEACE, not only in DR Congo, but all over the world where peace is highly needed. And their efforts are yielding fruits and are being noticed by people that matter.

TheBahatizz - Peace Advocates

Today TheBahatizz were recognized in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly as peace advocates in ‪#‎DRC‬ and using music to raise awareness of what is happening in The Congo
We are so humbled to be honoured by the Canadian government and Manitoba legislative Assembly. Seeing all the members in the chamber rise to clap for us is really huge. Thanks to MLA @Dave Gaudreau and Mp Flor Marcelino for Being Part of the Change... Join us in the Campaign ‪#‎ThatCouldBeMeCampaign‬ ‪#‎StopVIolenceSpreadLove‬

TheBahatizz is a group of sisters who had escaped from the war in Congo and are now No-Violence Peace singers based in Manitoba, Canada. They are embarking on collabos with top African musicians and would be touring Africa soon. They are expected in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.

For contact details, call Emdee David: +234 8034756015 or Email: makezela@gmail.com

DON R COMES BACK WITH ANOTHER HIT "LIKE WOOH"

The best songs are not only from the superstars, and not just from Lagos. This has well been proven by Arewa's Finest, the creative, smart, agile and promising musical act.

The "Rewind" crooner Don R makes a comeback since his last single in 2013. This time he features dancehall maestro Blaq Shyne to deliver a dance-hall tune which would get you on your feet “Like Wooh”.Enjoy “LIKE WOOH” by Don R a.k.a Arewa Finest featuring Blaq Shyne as produced by Mc Julius. @iamdonr2 @blacqshyne

Listen and download music here: https://soundcloud.com/africa-entertainment-netw/like-wooh

UNBELIEVABLE PHOTOS OF THE BLACK ROOSTER

These are the photos of the rare specie of cock, having all black feathers, black internal parts of the body and it's female counterpart lays black or brown eggs. 

The egg of hens belonging to this specie is said to be brown

Some allege the eggs are black too

Now, what do you think about this? Would you eat its egg or its flesh?What if the yoke is equally black?

COMEDIAN AY'S LETTER TO THE POLICE ON FILM PIRATES

Dear sir,

It is with the deepest sorrow that I pen these words. I have never understood the true meaning of the saying “only the one wearing the shoes feels the pain”, till recent times. Since the advent of Independent Producers, piracy has become the bane of the industry because as the saying goes ‘monkey de work, baboon de chop’.

The excitement that greeted the movie industry through the Box-Office success of 30 Days In Atlanta has quickly turned to sorrowful awe as I heard the news that the result of my sweat and sleepless nights has been sold by a traitorous miscreant, yet unknown, to a dubious marketer in Alaba. The news that would have made not just more Nigerians but also foreigners invest in Nollywood, has been dampened by the nefarious activities of intellectual pirates who hide in Alaba.

I have contacted Silverbird Film Distribution (whom I submitted the master of my movie to), Mr Afam Ezekude DG National Copyright Commission and Mr Ahbu Ventures who heads a session of Alaba where the Criminals are operating, Yet nothing visible has been done to take my movie off the street.

I have always heard of the risk faced by honest producers of loss of revenue due the activities of the incessant piracy cabals operating freely, without fear of the law in Nigeria and within the past few weeks, this has been my experience as I heard of the leak of my movie to various nefarious elements. Enough is enough of the economic hardship that is created for hardworking movie producers by some of these Alaba pirates who would do anything to reap from where they did not sow.

Sir, it has been argued that the impressive figures posted as revenue accrued to Nollywood are a mere drop in the ocean if the malaise of piracy is properly nipped by the effective implementation of the anti-piracy laws by the relevant governmental agencies. Alaba is part of Nigeria and as such the activities therein ought to be governed by the laws of Nigeria.

Even the laudable financial facilities made available by Mr President to be accessed by producers towards the development of the industry both as an employer of labour and a growing contributor to the annual revenue of Nigeria will be for naught if the piracy vampires continue to have a field day. The continued dominance of piracy will either lead to producers refusing to make more movies for fear of loss or that producers who go ahead to make movies using such funds will then be forced to become indigents because they will unable to pay back the loans accessed due to these vandals.

Sir, Nollywood is a multi-billion-naira industry and the opening of new cinema houses across the country is indeed cause for the celebration for both producers and lovers of Nigerian movies but the major challenges of the Nollywood industry from its birth till date has been the issue of transparent distribution channels and the malaise of piracy.

No more should a miscreant be celebrated or allowed to rape intellectual properties of honest hardworking citizens with impunity while the owners of the property impotently look on. No more should movie producers and other intellectual property owners scrabble to quickly make the little they can before ‘Alaba boys’ get their hands on the content and turn a goldmine into a dunghill.

I urge you to use your good office to use your actions in arresting the illegal spread of 30 Days In Atlanta as a standard for changing the status quo and letting the miscreants know that no one is above the laws of Nigeria.

I wait your intervention sir.

LAYE DROPS HIS SINGLE: "MY CALLING"

Laye releases his first official single titled "My Calling". This afro pop singer in the footsteps of Fela longs to bring good and true music to the world. "My calling" which has sponsored the trending hashtag #datsmycalling on social media was produced by the fast rising producer Dr.Roy...

Connect with laye on INSTAGRAM/TWITTER: @its_laye @gluckgist

Management contact: gluckwenas@gmail.com, +2348072748245

To download "My Calling" click on the link below:
www.gluckgist.com/2015/02/new-musicdownload-my-calling-laye.html?m=1

WHAT NAMADI SAMBO SAID ABOUT WHICH PARTY HAS MORE MUSLIMS?

Nigeria's Vice President and the running mate of President Jonathan in the 2015 election, Namadi Sambo, said in Minna, Niger State, yesterday during the presidential campaign, that PDP has more muslims than the opposition party, APC. 

Speaking in Hausa, Sambo said:

“When people bring the issue of religion to deceive you, our party has more Muslims than APC. Therefore if this (is) the yardstick, we then have an edge.

“Our chairman is a Muslim; the Director General of our campaign is a Muslim likewise. I Namadina Namadina Sambo am a Muslim. It is only our presidential candidate that is a Christian.

“In APC, their chairman is a Christian, their Campaign Director General is a Christian and the Vice President is a Pastor. Now let me ask you, which between the parties has more Muslims?

“Nigeria belongs to both Christians and Muslims. During Tafawa-Balewa, he worked with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe a Christian, during Shagari he worked with Alex Ekweme, Obasanjo with Atiku, Late Umaru Yaradua with Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and now Goodluck with Namadi.”

Though it appeared he was urging Nigerians not to vote by considering religious inclination, but indirectly, was that the message he was really passing across to his fellow hausa and muslims?

TODDLER RESCUED ALIVE AFTER TAIWAN PLANE CRASHES TODAY

Taiwan plane that crashed after take off

A Taiwan plane carrying mostly Chinese tourists has crashed into a river within the city killing 31 people and injuring some others. The plane was said to have lost power and eventually crashing into the river. The plane was just delivered to its owners just last years, so it is surprise why it lost power. Investigation is still ongoing on the ill-fated craft. 

By some miracle, a toddler was rescued from the wreckage.

Toddler rescued from the wreckage

According to a report, "The ATR-72 turbo-prop plane had just taken off from Taipei Songshan Airport and was heading to the Kinmen islands, just off the coast of the south-eastern Chinese city of Xiamen".

The fuselage lifted out of water by another plane

Again, this calls for question: why is there, it seems, increase in number of plane crashes in the Asian continent lately? 

ON SOLUDO, BUHARI, JONATHAN AND THE ELECTIONS ~Pat Utomi

In response Charles Soludo's report on the economy during President Jonathan's first tenure, the renowned economist and former President Aspirant, Prof. Pat Utomi writers as thus:

"The firestorm generated by Chukwuma Soludo’s well reasoned commentary on the place of issues in the 2015 electioneering campaign has somehow become the core of the campaign. What a way to come from outside and define agenda.

Of course I do not agree with all the points marshaled by the erstwhile CBN Governor and Patito’s Gang member, but not to commend his citizen duty of engagement or indicate as reprehensible the resort to ad hominen bashing of the former Economic Adviser instead of providing Facts to counter the views he had raised. That is issues based campaign. I will myself raise logic to support and dispute some of the points in the Soludo intervention.

I do agree with Soludo that issues matter. I also think that those who turn to divisive emotion-laden typecasting of others rather than issues pertaining to the well being of the Nigerian people do a grave disservice not only to democracy but to the long term common Good of all. 

The Soludo thrust of criticism sounds like an attack on the statist perspective that intervention can generate jobs and economic growth. Even as one who likes to see government out of the way, I find the approach worrying because beyond the Keynesian logic that brought the ultimate capitalist state, the US, out of the Great Depression with initiatives like the Tennessee Valley Authority in Infrastructure, there is more recent example of post 2008 global financial crisis and the stimulus packages of the Obama Administration, and now Europe turning to Quantitative Easing, not to knock the wall street / Main street tag team approach to ensuring prosperity. Soludo’s solutions sometimes sounded like Deepak Lal on the poverty of Development Economics. I think that if we see current oil price slum as an opportunity rather than a threat then we have to see a role for government in the way Lee Kuan Yew used state intervention when Singapore was prostrate in 1965, as Nigeria is today.

This leads to another point I am not in agreement with Soludo on. He talks about cost of programmes and the fact that low oil prices mean you cannot finance a big idea. In 1965 Singapore’s main revenues came from rent for the British Naval Base and the British had decided to shut all bases east of Eden. The decision of leaders of the United Malay, National Organisational (UMNO) to eject Singapore from the Federation that was thought to be the only hope left. Singapore, out of pocket, and all dressed up with nowhere to go. Then they rolled up their sleeves, got creative, transmitted the right values and found leadership that inspired and had integrity. Today the small country probably has the largest concentration of billionaires per capital on earth.

Here in Nigeria, shortly after self government, in the 1950’s, Nnamdi Azikiwe as Premier of Eastern Region was anxious to match the free education policy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Palm Produce did not fetch as much as Cocoa in the Market. The civil servants led by the new Permanent Secretary in Finance, Chief Jerome Udoji thought it could not be done because of limitations of money. Zik insisted and accused Udoji, in Parliament, of trying to sabotage his government. After 40 percent of the Eastern Nigeria budget of 1957 had gone to education and was still inadequate, the Ugoji team suggested the introduction of fees for Primary 1 and Primary 5. But leadership kicked in. A philosophy called “Ibu anyi danda” raised a formula that created a partnership between government, the communities and missionaries that enabled the East leapfrog the gap in education between the East and West.

In both cases the difference was leadership. At the centre in Abuja for some reason that may be from exposure, or whatever, does not inspire as Lee Kuan Yew, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Michael Okpara did. Money is not everything in making dreams come through.

Among the many lessons we will learn, if we begin to operationalize the cash transfers initiative of APC, a concept that helped Inatio Da Silva pull Brazil out of ‘potential’ into a global economic powerhouse, is that we may not need as much cash as Soludo projects and that corruption and goal displacement is so high in a bloated public service that the savings will more than be adequate. Besides from Kayode Fayemi and Rauf Aregbesola we learn that with such programmes in Ekiti and Osun that the numbers projected are often exaggerated. Given our abuse of census we are likely to find much fewer people in those brackets. Check with the Bill Gates Foundation on satellite imagery studies of target population groups.

Having stated my major point of disagreement, it is useful to reflect on some other points raised by Soludo.

His broadside on austerity measures pronouncement and the road to austerity is a true, fair and proper read. No question that we walked with our eyes open into a repeat of 1982. In many of my speeches and my 2006 book WHY NATIONS Are Poor, I recall how the Iranian revolution pushed oil prices into the stratosphere of USD 40 a barrel. We went reckless with champagne and even importing sand and big men bought Rolls Royces. We managed to borrow ourselves into a dept trap. On this round we moved up private jets and buying up Dubai.

When this current boom started with India Rising and China producing I recall on several occasions calling for fiscal responsibility compact in which flows into the distributable pool, the FAC account, not go above $40 a barrel, with additional revenues up to $70 a barrel price going to a stabilization fund. This fund would be available were prices to drop below $40 to be used to ensure a constant budget funding up $40 in lean times. Beyond $70 it should flow into a future fund. I have been singing this song for several years but the technocrats say the politicians insist on sharing the whole money and say of talk about saving for a rainy day that it is pointless planning for the rain when it was already pouring torrents. My retort was what is so wrong in resigning to make a point and force public conversation to educate the people because these politicians may be greedy but they surely do not hate their children. They have only acted in ignorance. I point them to young Mahathir Mohammed in Malaysia who disagreed with the position of the then Prime Minister and spoke up. He was dropped from the government where he was a junior minister, and expelled from The United Malay National Organization (UMNO) the dominant party at that time. Out of government he wrote a book: The Malay Dilemma. That triggered soul searching that finished with the resignation of the Prime Minister. He was brought back into the Party. Not long after Dr Mahathir Ibn Mohammed became Prime Minister and the history of Malaysia changed for good.

What does it take to lead such change- Genius? No. I draw from the Ronald Reagan experience in the US. President Reagan was not a genius. Some think he probably already had Alzheimer disease when he entered the White house. But his values were clear as was his vision. He found the right people and an America, in retreat, was revitalized, opening the way for teen and twenty American young stars to create a new industry with the .com revolution. Ironically, I have said elsewhere that the Buhari movement somehow reminds me of the coming of Ronald Reagan.

Let me close with a caveat. My response is a citizen response. My prism on this is not partisan. But I am a card carrying member of the APC. The emergence of the APC is a culmination of my life’s quest as an institutionalist to see the dynamic of two balanced political parties. I was sure that without competition between parties that are equals progress would continue to elude Nigeria So I longed for and worked for the scenario we have today. But I see in the torrent of abuse on Chukwumah Soludo for speaking truth to power and worry this thing we have worked hard for, not in any pursuit of any self interest, but for the advance of the common good, could be threatened by those who fail to understand the very idea of the public squares and the triumph of the ideas rather than emotional outbursts that result in tension and violence. I have read unprintable things on line and in so many e-groups, some more offensive than Charlie Hebdo cartoons from both sides. This is poison we must curb. It is a double blow when those who follow this track are well educated. So let us leave this business of certificates and uncompleted PHDs and hateful portrayals of opponents in caricature from the cross to throw backs of earlier life of candidates that seem like Hitler’s Goebbels at work let’s examine vision of society of challenges and the record of incumbents. Lets ask people, regarding incumbents, is your life better today than it was four years ago and to the challengers how can you make these same lives much better four years from now. To win elections from intimidation, a shower of insults and trying to diminish opponents rather than engage their minds can only produce pyrrhic victory. The worst such “victory” would be to win an election and lose a nation through bitterness that makes it difficult to get people to work together to advance the shared good of the people. For people like me the public sphere is about the pursuit of the elevated immortality. This comes when you do what is right and if providence beckons, as it did for Mahathir Mohammed, lee Kuan Yew and Ronald Reagan then you live a name that time cannot find an eraser to rub off. Those who negate the opportunity for progress to blossom and the triumph of the human spirit to bring progress deserved die a thousand times while they still inhale and exhale no matter the title they get for their place is in infamy". ~ PU

CHIEF OKOYA-THOMAS DIES AT 79

Late Chief Okoya-Thomas

Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU) and Chairman of CFAO Nigeria Limited, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, is dead, at 79.

Chief Okoya was a Billionaire, businessman, the Asoju Oba of Lagos, Babasuwa of Ijebu-Remo, and the Odofin of Ife. 

Cause and other details of his death are still sketchy. Rest in Peace, Okoya.

HAUSA-FULANI ARE A BURDEN TO NIGERIA ~ ASARI DOKUBO

In a video message, Alhaji Asari Dokubo says the Hausa-Fulani are a burden to Nigeria. He sternly warned the North that Jonathan's tenure must end in 2019 or the militants will go into violence, adding that if arrested, Nigeria will become history.

Click to watch the video message on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBBxXmUwOcE

WOMAN GIVES BIRTH TO AN ELEPHANT

A woman in her 20s has reportedly given birth to an infant elephant in Roperi, Pradesh in India. She had previously given birth to three other babies, all of which had some form of deformity. Her forth is an elephant. No explanation is yet given concerning this strange birth, but many suggest she must have slept with an animal (bestiality). 

Wonders shall never end in this world.

BUHARI IS NOT A NIGERIAN ~ FFK

As politicking heats up towards the February 14 Presidential elect in Nigeria, more "dirts" and secrets are being dug up by the two main contesting parties against their various candidates. One that made much headline was an attempt by the PDP to disqualify the APC candidate with the revelation that he did not have the minimum qualification, which is Secondary School certificate or its equivalence. The latest one coming from Femi Fani-Kayode, the Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization, is that Buhari is not a Nigerian and so should be withdrawn from the race. 

In his words:  “Buhari is not a Nigerian citizen, he is from Dogondoutchi Town in Dosso Niger Republic, he must be disqualified for contravening section 28 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

We await APC's response to the above accusation.

FESTUS KEYAMO EXPLODES: THE ELITES MUST NOT SIT ON THE FENCE

Festus Keyamo

Barrister Festus Keyamo, the Delta-born lawyer and activist today in a Press release addressed some pressing issues about the ruling party, PDP and the state of Nigeria. Below is press statement:

This is a season of hire-wired deceits, misinformation, campaign of calumny and spewing of outright falsehood and lies – all to hoodwink and deceive ordinary and gullible Nigerians for their votes.

I am not worried about these antics of the politicians. It is their way. For them, their business is politics and their politics is business. No scruple. My real worry is that many Nigerians who are the elites can see through some of these outright falsehoods but have decided to sit on fence and keep an embarrassing silence. They forget that millions of ordinary Nigerians who are confused and hoodwinked by these falsehoods and who do not have access to facts depend on their voices and guidance to make their choices. This is, therefore, a message directed at those silent Nigerian elites who should speak up at this time. For me, I have decided that enough is enough. This is the time to speak up.

Jonathan and Buhari

Unfortunately, many of our elites do not want to speak up now because they do not want to be caught on the wrong side of any government in the next four years; they prefer to play safe, not wanting to be tarred with the brush of partisanship. But, I ask: what is wrong with partisanship in a country where you and your children have a huge stake? What is wrong in speaking up and standing up for what your conscience tells you is the right thing to do? What is wrong in being caught on the wrong side of the government in the next four years, if only you would be caught on the right side of posterity?

Buhari visits IBB in Minna

Except for a few class of persons like INEC officials, security agencies and those on the Bench, every other Nigerian has a duty – yes, a duty – to speak up now for our country, and to come down from that fence on which they are sitting regarding the 2015 general elections. Those elites who do not speak up now for fear of being branded partisan and losing face upon defeat are enemies of the people who are looking up to them for guidance.

My message to those silent elites today is that whilst they are sitting on the fence, people are being killed like flies in some parts of the country on a daily basis; whilst we are on that fence, our foreign reserves are going down, corruption is growing like cancer, poverty is growing even in the face of dubious economic theories and figures, and we continue to live without adequate power supply. Yet, those who should speak truth to power are sitting on the fence in anticipation of personal gains. I am sorry, but today I have come down from that fence because my buttocks are already hurting from sitting on it.

President Goodluck Jonathan

Do not forget that I am from the Niger-Delta region and all my close friends and associates are the main supporters and aides of Mr. President. Two or three Governors who are either my former classmates or colleagues are the main backers of Mr. President. It is so easy, so convenient and so seemingly logical for me to get into that political mix and forget about the good of my country for personal gains. The disgusting message we hear all over the streets of that region every day at this time – promoted by the hirelings of the President – is that Goodluck Jonathan is “our son”, so we have no choice but to support him. In fact, I see some of my “brothers” from the Niger Delta region these days strutting all over the place, denigrating people from other regions. It is typical of what the Yorubas call “omo oju ori ola ri” (a person whose eyes have not seen wealth before).

But the question I ask those who tell me such nonsense and behave in such a manner is that, after the next four years, what is next for us? Is our entire future and that of our children dependent on a South-South President for the next four years?

Kindly note that in getting down from the fence and speaking up at this critical time, I do not mind if you speak up for Goodluck Jonathan. Yes, you have a right to do so as a Nigerian. But, as an elite, your stand must be known so that when the massacres continue because of cluelessness, when the unrestrained stealing of our public resources continue, when darkness continues to befall the nation because of lack of power, it is important we all remember those who betrayed their conscience and the people because of ethnicity and self-aggrandisement and for posterity to record it as such.

We have a President who has no single appetite to fight corruption – yes, none. Imagine a campaign that is dominated by the theme of corruption, yet the President has decided to appoint a person facing trial for money-laundering as his Director of Media and Publicity. If nobody would say it, I will say it because I am the one prosecuting the fellow in court and the case has been adjourned to February 23 and 24 for trial. Part of the lies told is that the fellow has been freed whereas some of the counts in the Charge were just struck out and the court held that he has a case to answer on some other counts. Yet nobody is asking the President these hard questions.

The President only mouths anti-corruption. The other day (December 23rd, 2014, I think) the President said he would like to erect a Hall of Shame for Nigerians who engage in corrupt and unwholesome activities that bring the country to disrepute. But he was the same person who brought a convicted criminal, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, out of the Hall of Shame to the Hall of Fame by misusing his power of Prerogative of Mercy when he granted pardon to this self-confessed ex-convict. Imagine the pain, the efforts and resources that go into securing a single conviction for corruption in this our clime. Yet, the President decided to spoil the party for anti-corruption campaigners. On top of that, he displayed corruption within corruption by selective pardon when the likes of Tarfa Balogun, Lucky Igbinedion and others who were convicted about the same period did not enjoy his Presidential pardon.

Yet nobody is asking these hard questions on the campaign trail. The funny thing is that, nearly six years into his tenure as President, Goodluck Jonathan said the other day that he is just coming up with a plan to tackle corruption!! Haba, Jona !

To add insult to injury, President Goodluck Jonathan decided to tackle the corruption of stealing of our resources in the high seas by empowering small-time crooks and criminals to police our waterways. This is because he has no idea as to how to revamp, re-organise and re-invigorate the Nigeria Navy to perform its constitutional duty. These days, it is an eyesore to see our military chiefs and officers kowtow to these empowered small-time crooks and criminals for appointment and promotions and other privileges. The disaster about this initiative of empowerment of crooks and criminals is that crude oil theft has never been so high, so rampant in the annals of this country than it is now. Why? Because the President has put a rat as a watchman over a morsel of fish. It is sad to say, but the President, by his actions, has shown no spine, no appetite, no nerve to fight corruption. He just continues to sink into an abyss of moral debauchery.

The other tragedy of this President is that, even as he is on the campaign trail, in the last one month, the omnipresent insurgents have attacked towns like Baga, Damaturu, Biu, Askira-Uba, Konduga, Marte and Gombe. Even as we speak, the Boko Haram insurgents are in total control of the whole of Borno State except Maiduguri, Monguno, Dikwa, Konduga and Biu. The insurgents are in total control of towns like Baga, Bama, Gwoza and Banki.

Before Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Boko Haram was nothing but a rag-tag group of extremists living in enclaves like Sambisa, while our proud military boys patrolled the towns. Now, under Jonathan, the reverse is the case. Our military boys are now in enclaves while Boko Haram patrol our towns. Is it not shocking that insurgents have a free reign to enter cities, abduct young girls like in Chibok, burn houses like in Baga, slaughter people for hours like in Konduga, Gwoza etc, yet our military men are nowhere to be found and they do not even give hot pursuit to the retreating insurgents? What is really going on?

One obvious flaw is that our President has lost control of the military and the top hierarchy of the military is merely feeding fat on this unfortunate situation and the President seems to be totally helpless in the face of this.

The only response the President and his handlers can proffer is to hide this glaring and crass incompetence under political gymnastics; they blame the opposition on the one hand and in the same breath, they say it is a world-wide trend and Nigeria is just having its fair share of a global malaise. Is this true? As President, you are the Commander-In-Chief. If you have evidence against the opposition, just come out with it and arrest the ring-leaders. Do not cry like a baby as Commander-in-Chief. Deal with the situation. That is why you occupy that seat. Till date, no single evidence has been produced against any of the opposition leaders linking them with the insurgency. Rather, what we see is a President who is supposedly bent on fighting insurgency but who is wining and dining with someone who has been directly linked with sponsoring the insurgents and even traveling with such a person to Chad at a time when the State Security Services officially invited that person to answer questions relating to the insurgency.

Another calamity and embarrassment is that our President, his Service Chiefs and security advisers were all led into wasting public funds by entering into a phantom cease-fire deal with fake Boko Haram leaders that left them with bloodied noses. Not to also mention the short-lived public celebration of the supposed killing of the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, by the President and his security team, only for the outlaw to appear in subsequent videos posted online, taunting the Nigerian government. Any four more years of a Jonathan Presidency can only lead to more carnage by the insurgents. He just does not have the requisite capacity to tackle this problem of insecurity. The truth must be told.

Yet you hear the President say that the nation will appreciate him better after he has left office. I am sorry, but we have seen enough bloodshed and incompetence in the last six years to know there is nothing more to expect the next four years and we have seen enough to do an assessment right now and not in the future.

In all his campaign tours, the President is already sounding like a broken record. He says he has made the rails to function again. He mentioned this so much that you imagine that he was primarily elected to revive a few train lines. It sounds very funny when you hear such things, whereas the primary duty of government is the protection of lives and properties. If that primary duty fails, then the government has failed. It is like an undergraduate hoping to be promoted to the next level by barely scraping through the ‘electives’ and failing the core courses. It will never happen. So, is the President providing train coaches to be transporting the dead bodies from the North to the South? Are the trains to be occupied by living human beings or dead human beings?

Make no mistake about it, like the President always says, it is true that we have a rise of terrorism around the world. But, we have all seen how governments around the world respond quickly and decisively to any attempt for terror to rear its ugly head within their society and how they quickly crush it. We saw it happen in the United States after 9/11; we saw it happen in Britain after the July 7, 2005 bus bombing; in the last few days, we have seen it happen in France and in Belgium. In all these cases, all attempts were nipped in the bud. Even, here in Nigeria, previous governments have nipped insurgency in the bud. The ONLY government that has allowed it to fester, germinate and grow into a full-blown war leading to a successful secession of some parts of the country is that of President Goodluck Jonathan. It is so bad that hardly a day passes by without reports of one insurgent activity or the other leading to loss of lives and limbs.

The President is also quick to mention that his administration has made the Nigerian economy the number one in Africa. He forgot to mention two things, though; one, that some of the major sectors of the Nigerian economy, that is, the telecom sector, financial services and the Nollywood industry that were taken into account to re-base the economy were sectors not created or grown by his government. Secondly, he forgot to mention that the so-called re-basing has no impact at all on the ordinary Nigerian as the 2014 World Bank Survey still shows that Nigeria is ranked third among world top five poorest countries with sixty-one percent (61%) of its citizens living below $1.25 dollar per day. No government can boast of any economic growth or theory that does not have a direct impact on the lives of its ordinary citizens. It is like a father coming home to announce and jubilate about a pay rise and promotion at workplace, yet the wife and children cannot eat or live better many months later.

The Nigerian people have tolerated too much and taken too much battering from the PDP-led Federal Government since 1999. Under the Jonathan Government, the situation in the country has sunk to an all-time low, except for the few benefitting directly from the government. They are blind to criticism and blind to healthy opposition. They hurl abuses at anyone who dares to point out these acts of maladministration. In saner societies, the President will not be allowed to campaign in many parts of the country. The people will rise against him and chase his convoy away.

The clear alternative to this monumental mess is the person of General Muhammadu Buhari. Let us be clear that Buhari does not present the total package Nigerians want at this time. He is human, he is not perfect. But at this point in our history, at this time, at this moment, he presents the only viable option and avenue for the people to vent their frustrations and anger against an inept and clueless Federal Government. He represents the rallying point for the frustrated and teeming masses of our people. He reminds me of MKO Abiola (with some of his imperfections) who became the rallying point in the struggle against military rule.

That is the change we are talking about. It is not a change from imperfection to perfection. It is a change from hopelessness and cluelessness to some hope and to some expectations.

All the personal attacks on the person of Buhari in the last few weeks have only convinced me that he is the best available option at this time. Anyone on the weaker side in any argument always resorts to personal abuses and attacks. Have you noticed that on corruption, the only accusation against Buhari is that, he was too high-handed in fighting corruption in the past? In other words, nobody can/has accused him of lacking the courage, zeal and will to fight corruption. On the other hand, the President eats, sleeps and wakes up with corruption. In one of his famous interviews, he did not even see stealing as corruption. That is why he does not see the point why he should not appoint a person standing trial for corruption as his Director of Media and Publicity. He just does not care.

So, Nigerians, we must decide what we want. When Buhari fought corruption and was supposedly high-handed, he was ruling with Decrees. Now, he has the Constitution, the National Assembly, and the Judiciary without ouster clauses to guide him. It is therefore only an idiot that will believe the propaganda that he would throw everyone suspected of corruption into jail. I feel so sorry at times for the gullible masses of this country who fall for such cheap propaganda. But it is his type of appetite and revulsion against corruption that we so dearly need at this time.

You may say whatever you like about Buhari, but in terms of the character, the steel, the competence to lead the nation out of this period of insurgency, nobody can compare a Goodluck Jonathan to a General Buhari. Just imagine the Service Chiefs (who were probably in secondary school when Buhari and others fought the Civil War) sitting in front of Buhari to brief him about the situation in the North East, and attempting to mislead him about movements of artillery, brigades or troops and, the strategy against the enemy!

The attack on Buhari’s certificate is most unfortunate. Only fools can be deceived that a sworn affidavit in place of a certificate that you cannot readily produce is not sufficient for certain purposes. What is important is that the school(s) and dates are mentioned in such affidavits which can be subject to verification. But unfortunately the President’s team has carried on as if leadership is a function of academic degrees and qualifications. This is so sad. Leadership is a divine quality, almost always bestowed at infancy so much so that even in primary schools, we see traits of leadership amongst pupils. If it were not so, then there would be no need for elections. We should just look for the most qualified professor in our Ivory Towers and make him President because that would be the best material for President.

Besides, what moral right has Jonathan got to discuss Buhari’s certificate when I have since informed him that his Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko forged all his certificates, yet the President has not even ordered a simple investigation into the matter. He has turned a willful blind eye to the issue.

The orchestration of the age of Buhari is just another mischief, symptomatic of the weaker side the President’s team find themselves in the argument. Agility and strength and good health is not exactly a function of age. Yar’Adua did not die in power because he was an old man. Abacha did not die in power because he was an old man. Obasanjo ruled until he was seventy (70) years and it is the same set of PDP big wigs that are now criticizing the age of Buhari that were promoting and supporting the third-term bid of Obasanjo that would have taken him to, perhaps, seventy-eight (78) years as President. Today, Obasanjo still jumps about at nearly eighty (80) years or perhaps more. Professor Wole Soyinka, at over eighty (80) years, still travels everywhere, delivering lectures.

The relevant question here is that, is the age more important than the character or the character more important than the age? For those who are Christians, remember that the Bible says in Proverbs 16:31 that grey-headedness is a crown of beauty if found in the ways of righteousness. It is idiotic to deride an elderly person who is still agile and upright in character, instead of us praying that we live up to that age and we are blessed with such strength at such an age. During the Second Republic, the South-West and South-East massively voted for Awolowo and Azikiwe respectively who were both over seventy (70) years old, yet nobody raised an eyebrow.

Finally, this is not the time to adopt the herd mentality by joining the so-called “winning train” because the ruling party is always expected to rig elections in its favour. What we are witnessing with the large followership of Buhari is a revolution, a mass movement, a display of anger by the people against Jonathan and his government. This is a time for well-meaning Nigerians, the elites to rise up and speak truth to power, regardless of whose ox is gored. We can halt the slide to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, etc by our simple votes. We must vote out incompetence, cluelessness and corruption.

The epitaph that will be left for the Presidential years of Goodluck Jonathan is this: HERE IS A PRESIDENT WHO DESTROYED PDP AND ALMOST DESTROYED NIGERIA.

I have purged my conscience. Now, I can sleep.

Festus Keyamo, ESQ.