Month: February 2010

Treason in Nigeria and other stories

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Adeola Aderounmu

We need to continue to remind ourselves of the nature of our problems and our frustrations concerning our inability to solve our national problems. And for me it becomes a personal burden that as much as I’ve tried to stop, I still find myself in this position of criticizing the Nigerian government and politicians because of what I see as willful acts of wickedness and evil machinations on their parts.

And I don’t want anybody to tell me about proffering solutions. It’s simple, if those who are destroying Nigeria do not have the common sense of how to govern a country and how to tackle our national woes then let them get out of the way. I reserve my rights and freedom of expression to continue to say that in Nigeria most of the people in power are empty-skulls whose only idea of governance is to steal and loot. And that is so disgusting!

Take Dimeji Bankole for example, you will never understand why such an individual have made himself the new face of corruption in Nigeria. I am so ashamed and disappointed in him that I cannot express myself enough in words. That young man is a disgrace to his generation (my generation) and on a broader scale a serious embarrassment to his race. And let me make it clear that on my honour I would rather quit a political post than accepts bribes or make decisions that will destroy the lives of other people. I have done that before, it doesn’t matter that I did it as a student leader at the University of Lagos, way back in ‘95.

In recent days we have seen how crazy and foolish people can be in our public institutions. Those people who brought Yar Adua to Abuja are stupid and should even be facing treason charges by now. It was purely an attempt to destabilize the country and throw it into turmoil. If they brought Yar Adua to Nigeria in an ambulance, why not take him to his house in Katsina? Why Abuja?

All the military men from Kebbi State who participated in the criminal activities perpetrated during the wee hours of Wednesday and those who gave the orders for the deployment of military men in that unsuccessful bloodless coup should be arrested without further delay. Delay is dangerous. And this is not a question of arresting Military men from the north. No, far from it. This is a matter of arresting military men irrespective of their tribes for participating in a coup. They and their sponsors must face the law. To do nothing is to imply that a coup will be accepted in Nigeria today or tomorrow.

Yar Adua remains sick and probably unconscious. He cannot make his own judgments-and if he could- they are probably not sound enough. Why did the members of the kitchen cabinet plan a coup against Goodluck Jonathan? They gave orders to military personnel and they compromised the security of 150m Nigerians. No greater coup, no greater acts of treason! They should be arrested and tried in the court of law.

To let them get away with this act will be the greatest mistake Jonathan has made so far as acting president or president. Jonathan should try all he can to be a hero. He needs to make bold decisions and he needs to show the traits of a leader. Nigerians are tired of rulers and dictators. They want a leader. How can Jonathan, against the backdrop of his massively corrupt past, provide good leadership morally and socially? Time is short but it will surely tell. History will not forgive those who stood on the same side as tyranny and those who refused to make the decisions that could have sharpen our lives for the better.

This nation is falling apart for many reasons that we have highlighted before now. What has happened, since 2007 especially, gives us reasons to worry and ponder about now and the future. Corruption has increased, ineptitude is on the rampage. Poverty is spreading like wild fire. Unemployment became firmer than ever and the banking industry has not been spared.

Education is dead as public institutions are mere shadows of themselves. Brain drain continues unabated. Roads and other infrastructure are not being provided. Road accidents are common and traffic congestion remains a public health hazard. Nigerians are at an all time low. Motivation is zero and the struggles are tiring and sickling.

Social security remains at zero level. No one is talking about vulnerable women, children and old people. Pension schemes are death sentences and health care does not exist, not even for Yar Adua! He was in Saudi Arabia for more than 90 days. Mariam Babangida died in a US hospital. It doesn’t matter that his husband was a ruler for more than 8 years in Nigeria. These wicked and evil rulers even forgot to take care of themselves! Otherwise they would have provided the health care for themselves and the rest of us right here on our own soil, in Nigeria.

With all these national problems, it becomes worrying that rather than we focusing on how to solve these problem, the best we have done is to remain in conflicts fighting for political powers and political positions. Why? Because the winner takes all. Those who win political offices steal all the monies and make themselves richer and richer. In Nigeria the politics is about politicians getting rich and stealing. The masses have no say since the politics is bridled in violence and arson.

Direct target and elimination of opposition is part of Nigerian politics. It is well known that some politicians send assassins to kill their opponents as part of the dirty game of politics in Nigeria. Intimidation or the ability to intimidate and instill fear is a plus factor. These are some of the reasons why decent people do not participate in Nigerian politics. I make bold to say that in Nigeria, we do not have democracy. Our politics is complete nonsense. This is why some people think that the black race is cursed or non-intelligent.

In Nigeria we have the largest concentration of the black race. 1 out of 4 Africans is reputed to be a Nigerian. Therefore what we do or don’t do in Nigeria reflect on the black race. What we do in Nigerian politics is pure madness. We don’t even count votes and in several instances we know who will win an election before the actual voting.

Since 2003 many people have won (s)elections simply for 2 reasons. One if that Mr. Iwu who is in charge of the results can decide who wins or loses. The other reason is that the ruling PDP has the federal machinery, ex-military dictators and stolen monies to influence the results of elections. But that is not to say also that some opposition parties are beginning to learn some tricks to counter these scenarios.

So, here we are. We remain at a crossroad for most part of our history. We have the resources. We have the money, we have everything to make Nigeria the greatest country on earth but we have not done enough in that direction.
Nigeria remains in the hands of a few people who will never give us our freedom if we don’t fight for it. We have oil. But we also have pains and sorrows. We have no refineries and a cabal has held us hostage for 50 years. Our 1960 independence from the British was actually the beginning of internal slavery. We have one more fight to go. We must earn this freedom and with that we will (hopefully) be able to do some of these things:

• Be able to install true democracy where our votes will be counted
• Be able to say no to corruption and yes to prosecution of all those who have stolen our money
• Be able to plan our lives through participation and recognition of our common rights, social justice and fairness
• Be able to rebuild this nation through a sense of oneness and belonging
• Be able to respect the religion and rights all and sundry
• Be able to relegate tribalism and nepotism and give the jobs to the best man or woman
• Be able to do all that is necessary to enjoy our lives and live as decent people
• Be able to tackle problems without fear and favour
• Be able to raise our heads high and say YES, I’m a Nigerian and I represent the black race.

If these things don’t happen in my life time, we have succeeded in breeding three wasteful generations. What hope is there for our children and children’s children?

Nigeria Appoints Lars Lagerbäck As Coach of The Super Eagles

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Adeola Aderounmu

Lars Lagerbäck has been appointed as the coach of the Nigeria Super Eagles. Shuaibu Amodu has been sacked from that position because of the poor performances of the Nigerian team at the Angola 2010 African Cup of Nations. The sack is also connected to the pattern of play and the unconvincing manner in which Nigeria qualified for the world cup.

This is not the first time that Amodu would qualify for the world cup. He did it before and was sacked. The reasons and the circumstances are exactly the same. In fact the administration of football and sports in general in Nigeria has gone worse under the same period of time.

By sacking Amodu the NFF is actually sweeping the dirts under the carpets. NFF did so in France 98 and Korea Japan 2002, the outcomes were disastrous. More devastating when we lost our qualifying spot to lowly rated Angola in 2006. Not that Amodu is indispensable or that he could not have done better, but the fact is that there is more to sports and football in Nigerian than the use of Amodu as a scape goat. Goodbye Amodu, I hope the day will never come when they will ask you to come and help Nigeria to qualify for the world cup again.

The baton has now been passed to Lars Lagerbäck. I have followed Swedish football since 2002. That year Sweden defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the Japan-Korea 2002 World Cups. That was after Aghahowa put Nigeria ahead with a beautiful header off Yobo’s cross. Henrik Larsson and Fredrik Ljungberg got a goal each for Sweden.

Before 2002 I knew Martin Dahlin, Henrik Larsson and Tomas Brolin. Brolin was a huge success in the Italian league and he has a famous way to celebrate his goals. I don’t have any problem per se with the appointment of Lagerbäck. I think his track records give him a good edge for that position.

Sweden has not produced several big names in recent years but Zlatan remains outstanding. Sweden failed to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa. Lagerbäck was relieved of his position. Lagerbäck was not a failure but I am convinced there are a few things he would have done better as the head coach for Sweden. Sweden does not have many skilful and talented players as Nigeria.

As the coach of a Nigerian team Lagerbäck has entered into a position where non-performance will not be tolerated. There are 140m football analysts in Nigeria. His seat is even hotter than that of the president. Does he know that? Nigerians don’t care about the presidency as much as they do football-football is the number one religion in Nigeria.

Lagerbäck who has been used to organised environment and structured attitude to work has now suddenly entered into a position where he may probably be looking for jerseys on match days. Lagerbäck will be shocked to know that his salary will not be paid on the 25th of every month. He will have to get used to be living in advance as the salaries will drag and drag. He needs tolerance, endurance and perseverance to survive the 5 months that have been handed to him.

Lagerbäck will inherit players of different ratings and attitudes. Obviously he needs to get used as quickly as possible to the Nigerian football ages and get rid of tired legs as soon as possible. He will see players who think they are doing Nigeria a favour by playing in the national colours. Lagerbäck will see players who are dying for their club sides because of the money they earn and strolling on the pitch when they play for Nigeria. He will be shocked! In fact he will see players impressing in training but posing on match days.

I have suggested in a previous post that we need to work on the mentalities of our players. But the complexity of the problem is that our players are Nigerians and we cannot isolate their mentalities from the national mentalities. Most of the people in governance or administrative roles in Nigeria are doing things that will profit them and not Nigeria. We have an attitude that has robbed us of our pride and duty to nation. Nigerian players are not exceptions!

I don’t know the nature of Lagerbäck’s contract but if I could just imagine-it would be wonderful to have him bring some organisation and structure into our football. If they could employ him not just as a coach but as a “tool” to institute the organisation that is missing in our football, that would be great.

Imagine if our democracy is structured like Swedish democracy-where you can vote at a post office or at designated centres before the Election Day-and your vote will still be counted. Imagine if we could sack corrupt people and let good and knowledgeable people run our sports, our football and our government-the world will be at our feet.

I wish Lagerbäck the best of luck. I wish I could meet him and give him some solid advice and information about his new task and terrain.

I wish Nigeria goodluck in South Africa. And I sincerely hope that Amodu will find the place in his heart to forgive Nigerians, we are a bunch of _________people..!

Nigeria is obviously not a democratic country

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Adeola Aderounmu

My work is not allowing me to blog out my heart concerning the TOTAL MADNESS in the Nigerian seat of power.

Mad men are back to power and a probably insane woman is about to uproot the weak foundations of Nigeria.

I shal blog more over the weekend after I have taken a closer look at the ABSOLUTE MADNESS going on in Nigeria.

I hope to hit out hard at Nigerians including myself that we have totally lost the plot and maybe it is time for everyone to return to his/ her mother’s house.

I cannot believe how insanity has taken control of the rulership in Nigeria.

Anyone who says Nigeria is a democratic country would need an immediate psychiatric evaluation.

As I write Nigeria is like a jungle where some fools and idiots are holding the rest of us to ransom. For all they care, the rest of us can go to hell.

This is unbelievable. What a crazy dilemma.

These are probably the worst of times for sane Nigerians. We are all down no doubt!

NIGERIAN PRESIDENCY, AS CONFUSED AS EVER

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Adeola Aderounmu

Nigerian presidency is the most ridiculous institution in Nigeria. If you want to know why Nigeria is usually disorganized in many things look no further than the seat of power. It is so true yet unbelievable. It took so long before Goodluck Jonathan could be given the mantle to lead Nigeria.

When he was supposed to get out and lead the people, he sat in Aso rock receiving local and international visitors. All the former corrupt rulers came to him. What do they want? Were they paid for the visit? That is a possibility in the Nigeria that I knew.

Goodluck has spent the entire period of his reign as acting president, no matter how short it is, to talk, receive people and did almost nothing like going out and leading. We have no leaders and our heroes are dead.

Now check this out. Military personnel were deployed to the streets of Abuja without the knowledge of Goodluck Jonathan. Mr Jonathan had no knowledge that Yar Adua was to be smuggled into the country at midnight of 23rd Feb 2010. All the actions and activities that brought back Yar Adua is an ambulance were unknown to Goodluck Jonathan.

The Nigerian presidency is a divided house. It is in disarray and believe it or not Nigerians are in trouble. The sufferings and poverty in the country are nowhere near being tackled. Nigeria is now a confirmed field for fight for political supremacy and winners takes all. Probably the Winner will stand alone like in Paulo Coelho’s book.

How can the acting president not know about the “smuggling in” of the fake president who left 90 days ago on “AWOL”? There are fundamental issues that threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria.

These issues are serious and they bring to the fore once again that Nigeria is not a united country. Those who say that Nigeria is a geographical region are perfectly correct. It is a region that the winner plunders and takes home the profit.

If the presidency is so disorganized, selfish, wicked and corrupt, it means we are still in a hopeless situation. Who is going to explain why Goodluck Jonathan, the man who is supposed to be in charge of Nigeria, was not aware of military personnel being deployed across the streets of Abuja?

Who ordered the provision of security for the return of Yar Adua? Why was the security measure necessary? Was there any risk to the return of Yar Adua? Why is Yar Adua in an ambulance? Why was the light put out on his ambulance air plane? What is all these secretive moves and rubbish all about? What is the purpose of all these devilish maneuvers?

If Goodluck could be caught off guards on security measures, we can now understand the spate of political assassinations in Nigeria. We can get a picture of the unending riots in Jos and other parts of Northern Nigeria. We can have an idea of how one Muttalab could sneak around with bomb in his pants. We can understand our collective grief when people like Dipo Dina and all the defenders of human rights and freedom of speech have been gunned downed in broad day light.

All these things are linked and interwoven to make our lives complex and complicated. They add to the problems and obstacles that we face. They dim our hopes and blur our aspirations.

The political situation in Nigeria today is a “heart breaker”. It calls for urgent measures. Where do we go from here? How do we get out of the dilemma. The presidency is confused and in disarray, where is our hope?

Yar Adua should be taken to his village..!

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By Adeola Aderounmu

You can tell who the real enemies of Nigeria are. They include individuals like Yar Adua and his so called evil kitchen cabinet.

Just when we are about to settle down to do something meaningful after over 2 years of recklessness and waste Mr Yar Adua was smuggled into Abuja amidst tight security. It makes you wonder if he is a civilian ruler or an outright dictator.

We don’t know if he came back to Nigeria on his own or if his kitchen cabinet wanted to give us a stationary dude for a fake president for the second time in 2 years. Time is the revealer of all things-hidden or secrets. But that he is resident in an ambulance speaks volume!

Time will tell if Yar Adua is bold enough to appear in public by conscious effort. When he claimed to be well, he was very ineffective, slow and very insignificant to the lives of millions of suffering Nigerians. It doesn’t matter his condition now Yar Adua is already down in history as the worst president/ruler ever in Nigeria.

Nigeria is not ready for the present dilemma which the kitchen cabinet has now orchestrated. We were just looking into the future and thinking about how to adopt electoral changes, how to conduct free and fair elections and how to enthrone genuine democracy.

We were just thinking about how we can help Mr. Jonathan with the fight against corruption in his family and nationwide. We were putting on our thinking caps about the electricity problem in Nigeria. We live in darkness and our businesses are crumbling for obvious reasons.

Suddenly, we now have to stop and think once again, not about 100m Nigerians living desperately on less than 1 dollar per day, but about Mr Yar Adua who held Katsina and Nigeria in bondage for 8 and 2 years respectively. We are back in trouble waters.

This is what I think, some idiots may probably use Yar Adua as a decoration somewhere and pretend to us that what they are doing is following the instructions from Yar Adua. They tried this several times saying that our fake president was ruling and giving orders from Saudi Arabia.

Since that ploy failed with the elevation of Goodluck Jonathan, they decided to bring Umaru home-dead or alive. It’s the same old trick.
I have written before that Yar Adua should be taken to his village if he ever returns to Nigeria. I maintain that stance. Mr Yar Adua, the illegitimate ruler of Nigeria, is not fit for the presidency. No matter the condition under which he has returned to Nigeria, he should be taken to his village.

He needs to continue to rest. If he is conscious, he needs to think about his health and family. He should never prioritize Nigeria. Nigeria and Nigerians can do without his nonsense inputs. He should just go and leave Nigeria alone.

I am waiting anxiously to see his unveiling if he thinks that he has the strength again to lead Nigeria.

A word is enough for the wise but never enough for the foolish. The dog that will get lost will never hear the hunter’s whistle. AND those whom the gods will destroy, they first make deaf. I think someone or some people are probably deaf now.

The next few days will be exciting in Nigeria. There will be no dull moments. We keep our fingers crossed..!