Nigeria

Switzerland Kills Another Nigerian..!

/ Adeola / 9 Comments

Adeola Aderounmu

In 2007 Spain killed Osamuyia Aikpitanhi as he was about to be deported. There was an outrage by Nigerians Worldwide.

Since then we have read about other Nigerians killed in Russia, China and possibly other places.

The news on friday that Switzerland has committed one more murder by killing another Nigerian is disheartening.

Why do European Police have to killed asylum seekers set for deportation?

Is it not enough to arrest them and put them on the flight back home?

Why do they have to use extreme measures like covering their faces and tying them up like animals just because they want to deport them? Seriously even animal right groups would protest if animals are treated like that.

But these are the things they do to Nigerians and other immigrants on deportation list-they tie them up and often they inject them with poisonous substances!

Switzerland should be ashamed of itself for this murder!

The Nigerian embassy in Switzerland should take up this issue very seriously. The policeman or woman who committed this crime should be dismissed with immediate effect and place on trial.

If they consider it a state murder the government of Switzerland should tender an unreserved apology to the family of the victim and to the government of Nigeria. The government of Switzerland must take measures to stop these state murders as this is not the first time. One hopes that this will be the last.

I do not in any way encourage illegal migration of Nigerians to Switzerland but I strongly believe that the human right conventions should be allowed to take its course when there are violations. Invariably there are no provisions that asylum seekers should be killed.

I do not also encourage Nigerians who are involved in drug traficking in-and-out of Switzerland. In that case the law should take its course. I am also sure that Switzerland would not have instructed its law enforcement agents to be agents of state murders in that case. No one should act above the law.

After all is said and done, we should never forget all these events. We must take measures that will promote the rights and privileges of the ordinary citizens regardless of whether they are legal or illegal immigrants. Life has no duplicate and the dignity of all must be respected.

Back home in Nigeria the government must do all it can to improve the economic and political situations. We owe it to ourselves as Nigerians to develop our domain, our country and our motherland. No one will do it for us.

We must do these things to encourage Nigerians to return home and to reduce the urge of desperate migration flow to Europe and other places.

In this particular case, some of us are watching and waiting for Justice.

May the soul of the departed find peace!

__________________________________________________________________
Story from BBC, Friday 19th March

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8576085.stm

Switzerland has halted special flights to deport asylum seekers after a Nigerian man on hunger strike died on the tarmac at Zurich airport.

Swiss police say they had shackled the 29-year-old man, who was being forcibly deported along with 15 other Nigerians whose asylum bids had been rejected.

When he fell ill on Wednesday the police took off his shackles and a doctor tried in vain to revive him.

Swiss authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Police said they had shackled the man because he had resisted deportation.

Two Nigerian witnesses quoted by the Swissinfo news website accused the police of inhumane treatment.

“They treated us like animals,” said one, called Emmanuel.

“They shackled our feet, knees, hands, hips, arms and torso and made us wear a helmet like those worn by boxers. It was simply impossible to move,” he said.

The man who died was a drug-dealer who had been on hunger strike for several days.

It is the third such death in Switzerland since 1999.

Last year there were 43 special repatriation flights from Switzerland, deporting some 360 people, mostly to the Balkans or Africa, Swissinfo reports.

Nigerians Abroad-The Shame We Bear

/ Adeola / 3 Comments

Adeola Aderounmu

It is quite difficult to explain to the people we meet in Europe, America and elsewhere that Nigerians are decent people.

The recent madness and genocide in Jos gives us a huge burden that is too much for us to bear or carry. True we don’t own anyone any explanation. But it is still shameful and disgraceful to associate with a country where children and women are slaughtered like animals.

The Killings in Jos add to the shame of the Nigerian suicide bomber that we were yet to get over.

Nigeria is gradually overtaking Somalia as one of the worst places on earth. That is an unbearable burden if you live in the US or Europe.

You go to work everyday and you meet people who start to look at you against the backdrop of what is happening in Jos. They might be thinking: could he/ she possibly have such a tendency-to kill or maim?

I’m wondering how many Nigerians have been placed on unofficial watchlist at their various workplace worldwide.

I have spoken to many Nigerians abroad and we share the same feeling of shame. It appears that we carry the cross for the madness of the handful of idiots who have perpetrated genocide and massacre in Jos.

Some of us have to explain to our colleagues that Abdulmuttalab was a Nigerian abberation. A typical Nigerian youth from a wealthy home (whether the wealth is stolen or not is irrelevant here) will always try to impress it on others that he is from a rich family. He drives the best car, uses the best of everything and at Muttalab’s age, he picks the best girl-the most beautiful even if her brain is empty.

We have not even finished explaining how stupid Muttalab was when the genocide in Jos escalated. What explanations are we going to give for this religious extremism overshadowed by economic and social reasons?

Me, I am tired o. Personally I have contemplated doing stuffs to erase my Nigerian roots but I haven’t found the courage to denounce my origin. Yea, I finally find the courage to write about it today. It might mean the beginning of greater decisions.

Apart from these stupid events, I still cannot also find the similarities between myself and all the thieves who have looted Nigeria’s monies since 1960. To this day I don’t see a single similarity between myself and all the useless senators and legislators scattered across Nigeria.

Mr Jonathan is trying to employ new ministers and already there are indications that for every minister nominated the Nigerian Lawmakers will receive millions of naira as (what?) kickbacks or bribe or allowance.

If they receive 1 dollar for that, they are stupid enough!!!

But they want milllions!!!

Who are these people? Eh?

Seriously Nigeria is a failed country!

I don’t know what is left of that country and where it is heading.

Sometimes I just think- well, they are mad people and so they don’t even think about what they are doing or saying.

We are 140-150m, over 90m living in poverty. There are millions of Nigerians who are short-changed daily by these evil administrators-looting, stealing and just sharing money.

What happened to governance?

I am short of words these days…Something needs to be done otherwise this collective shame will not stop.

How long will the rest of us bear the pain and shame of these few people destroying Nigeria? Just how long will the madness continue?

Nigeria, the issues at stake

/ Adeola / 1 Comment

Adeola Aderounmu

The news that Mr. Jonathan has dissolved the cabinet today is not to be received with any form of jubilation. If anything it is a new cause for worries.

Mr. Jonathan unfortunately does not have the choice of handpicking the executive members. For several years the system of governance in Nigeria is not based on merits or knowledge of the individuals in their chosen fields.

Right now what is going on is lobbying (which is normal and fair enough) at the different states of the federation where the new cabinet members will come from. At the end of the (new) long wait-which is a serious deficiency of the system-names will be drawn up from the different geographical areas of Nigeria.

The people who will get nominated will be happy for the invitation or re-invitation to loot and steal from the masses. This is the process since 1960-bring in people and let them lie and steal!

The Nigerian National Assembly will also be bubbling by now. We have seen these shameless people in the past soliciting for bribes from nominated candidates so that they can be confirmed by the senate.

For me, history is just going to repeat itself. The senate members will collect bribes, the new executive members will be square pegs in round holes or the other way around. The cycle of idiocy will continue.

There is nothing wrong in dissolving or re-shuffling the cabinets. I’m just afraid that I have seen thousands of that before in my life time. Things only get worse.

We run a system where everything we do is too cosmetic and irrational.

Rather than cabinet reshuffling I would have called these ministers to give an account of their stewardship and achievements. I would have recommended them for prosecution for all the monies that they have stolen. I would have used them as examples of how “not to steal and loot”. I would, as a leader, try to give good examples of what it means to lead.

These men and women will walk away from governance with all the monies that they have stolen and looted. They will be replaced with new categories of thieves. The whole nonsense will continue.

Mr. Jonathan is trying to ascertain his command, but in the end, he will get new people around him that he barely knew.

There are more pressing issues to face in Nigeria.

There is war in Jos. Niger Delta is waging war against Nigeria. There is poverty, millions of Nigerians-more than 70% of the population are extremely poor and living on less than 2 dollars per day. We are talking about approximately 90m people or more. It is one of the biggest human tragedies of modern times. Highly overlooked, but the consequences will make Biafra and Somalia to be children’s plays if Jos and Niger Delta escalate into full blown wars. The rest of the world will not be spared, and this is not going to be the price of gas only.

These grave problems dwarf the significance of the cabinet change in Nigeria, no matter how relevant it seems to the present occupiers of the seat of power.

Nigeria is on a brink, the gun-powders are leaking. Add the wars to the unemployment, insecurity of lives and properties and the uncertainties of everyday life, we are starring at a human disaster on the rise.

Something must give way, otherwise Nigeria will give way and hundreds of nations may arise. No one knows what the consequences and repercussions will be. It’s time for those in the rock to wake up. Even the rock is not immune from weathering. It can happen..!

The Genocide In Jos: The Killings Continue!

/ Adeola / 1 Comment

Adeola Aderounmu

Reports from Nigeria indicate that more christians have been slaughtered last night.

Mad men dressed in military uniform invaded Riyom area and slaughtered their victims. It is not known how many people have been killed. The figures are between 12-50.

At this point, a state of Emergency should be declared in Jos. Dusk to dawn curfew should be imposed.

The governor should probably be impeached or sacked.

I have suggested in a previous post that Jonathan should move his office to Jos temporarily. Right now, he doesn’t seem to understand the nature of the problem.

Setting up committess and setting up panels to investigate bombings and genocide are outdated approaches to problem solving. The one who is a leader must move, he must go to places, see things for himself and show that he has solutions and ideas about what needs to be done.

Nigeria is collapsing and the rate is alarming. If Nigeria continues at this rate, Somalia will be a child’s play.

We have more than 300 nationalities in Nigeria and the current trend of events and extreme lawlessness indicate an imminent disintegration unless something extraordinary is done.

To do nothing but set up committees is the height of foolishness and ignorance.

Why are the mad men who carried out the latest attack dressed in military uniforms? This is an indication that the present war in Jos is a total war. This is a confirmation that some people in Jos are hell bent on killing on the christians in the state. It shows that they are on a mission called-No going back until all the christians are dead.

It is a sad situation but I am convinced that more attacks will follow in the days ahead. It is too obvious to see and too foolish to ignore.

Christians in Jos should start thinking of where to relocate. The governor cannot guarantte their safety and the president is not visiting to sympathise with them. They are at the mercy of the war criminals.

I,of course, condem the killings of muslims in January. All forms of genocide should be condemned and investigated. But I will really advise the Christians to do something to help themselves.

(To be edited and continued)

The Question is: Where is Mr. Jonathan?

/ Adeola / 4 Comments

By Adeola Aderounmu

Nigerians are still asking: where is Mr. Yar Adua? Silly question.

Yar Adua belongs to the past. As far as Nigeria is concerned Yar Adua belongs to the history books as one of the several illegal rulers. He was foisted on us by Mr. Obasanjo-the man who means many things to may people. To me, he’s just one of our biggest shames. A thousand years from now, there will probably be nobody in history that would have the same opportunity that life gave this man. He screwed up-big time. I cannot recount here, I’m sick of his shortcomings.

Right now, Nigerians should be asking: where is Mr. Jonathan?

Mr. Jonathan should face the reality or get out of the way!

Nigeria wants a leader. In the short term he has, he cannot afford to concentrate on wealth accumulation and signing contract. He is not even allowed to be pleasing any stupid member of the cabal or pro-Yar Adua organisations.

His task is simple: Make yourself visible and lead.

Go to Jos and show sympathy and empathy with the people of Dogo Na Hauwa. They need consolation. You cannot hide in Aso rock and pretend that you are in control. Actions speak louder than words. Go, be among them and console them. Help them bury their deads and fish out the killers. Put them where they belong.

If they are from Niger or Chad or Sokoto, go after them, sniff them out and bring them to Justice. Now, not later!

Make sure that this never happens again..!

Jonathan, you can’t afford to take it easy. If you do, Nigeria will go up in flames under your carelessness.

Jonathan, get out of your shell and end the useless power game in Abuja. Sack the sackables and step on toes to move Nigeria forward.

You can’t spend one year trying to please everyone. Please the poor masses, give them electricity.

Make their votes counts, give us total electoral reform.

Give us a referedum-it has eluded us for 50 years-let us decide how we want to live in a National Conference. Let us formulate our lives and make collective decisions on the type of lives that we want to live.

Mr. Jonathan, stop acting like a coward. Acting president in word, put it into power and action.

This is one of the rare opportunities for any Nigerian ruler or leader when the majority of the people seem to be on the side of the ruler (we have no leaders). The way you use this moment will define your political future. It will define your roles in the history books.

Corrupt you are, but you have a fine moment to clean up things and redefine yourself. This may be your last chance to make an impact.

You have been idle and the ball is staying too long in your court. Kick it or get knocked out..!