Why The Media Must Help Governor Fayose

I think there's a conspiracy against my governor. I've not heard or read that he has commissioned any road or hospital or school since he became governor. If he's not attacking Buhari, he's eating amala in Iya alamala shop or paying #10,000 for one roasted plantain.

Radio Biafra: We Must Avoid This Impending Bloodbath

On Monday, 10 May, 2004 i was in school when parents besieged our school gate demanding the release of their wards. Earlier, the alarm had been rung by the timekeeper who happened to be in the same class as myself, but the principal wouldn't allow us leave. Some youths were rioting in the city centre and, although the school was located north of the city, a distance of about 15km from the centre of the violence, the principal wouldn't allow us go home on our own because he couldn't guarantee our safety. He insisted on releasing us only to our parents or guardians. He didn't envisage that it would be an arduous, if not impossible, task. How would the principal and few teachers begin to sort about three thousand students? We didnt have the luxury of time and parents were impatient, so, he gave in and opened the gate.

Why Buhari Can't Afford to Fail, By Mark A. Israel

Let me start by telling you a short story as told to me by my friend who heard it from his friend.

Few weeks ago, I was in Lagos for an aptitude test. We were about five hundred - my rough estimate - in the hall. Ventilation was good enough, the chairs were comfortable, and the instructors, friendly. As expected, I was nervous. To my right, was a young lady who seemed to me to be too comfortable, and to my left, a guy who appeared to be distressed; he kept on adjusting his chair and robbing his wet palms against his trouser.

"Your own good o! You see, I graduated with a first class, so I can't afford to fail this test."

This is my interpretation of the above: it's pardonable for me to fail but it'd be a tragedy if he did. The difference is in our class of degree; being a first class graduate, he's constantly under pressure to prove himself. His reputation was at stake.

That was his thought though. And when, an hour later, he failed and I passed, I wondered why a first class would fail such a test.

End of story.

One of the many reasons some Nigerians voted for President Muhammadu Buhari in the last general election was because of his military antecedents. Boko haram militants had become a torn in the flesh and Jonathan had not being able to bring an end to the insurgency. So, it's believed that a retired military general, who in 1983, just months before Shehu Shagari was overthrown in a coup, pushed back Chadian forces who had invaded Nigeria through Borno state and is credited for bringing an end to Maitasine violence in parts of northern Nigeria would perform better than a civilian. Buhari was once governor of the north-eastern Nigeria, and incidentally, that's the same zone where we have the insurgency issue.

One other reason that endeared Buhari to Nigerians was his austere nature; unlike most Nigerian leaders and politicians, he's not obsessed with wealth accumulation. Even his critics agree that he's the least corrupt of all former leaders - they just won't buy the idea that he's incorruptible.
Jonathan's government was already competing for the top spot in the list of the most corrupt government in our history, and NNPC's corruption and inefficiency had become unbearable.

Again, we agreed that an 'incorruptible' Buhari, one who was between 1976 and 1978, minister of petroleum and natural resources and chairman of NNPC, would stem the rising tide of financial recklessness and impunity that was bringing the country to its kneels.

Just like any human being, Buhari has dark spots. His twenty months rein was repressive. The ruling party warned us, like a leopard, Buhari couldn't change his spots. Unknown to them, that was what Nigerians craved for; am improved version of the no nonsense Buhari, one that will come down hard on terrorism and use the courts to send treasury looters to jail. And so, his many sins were forgiven.

The reasons why Buhari won are the same reasons why he cannot afford to fail; his reputation is at stake. But unlike the gentleman to my left who was nervous, Buhari seem too comfortable, like the lady to my right. But the clock is ticking.

In four years time, Nigerians will compare his achievements with that of his predecessor who was neither known for competence nor discipline. It'll be a tragedy if he fails.

-Mark Ademola Israel.

When The Defecator Forgets

It's easy to denounce the white man's violence against the African. It becomes tricky however, If the violence on the African is by another African.

Is there anything as 'No Man's Land'?

Few days before the Presidential election, thousands of non northerners, mostly Igbos, moved out of Kano for fear of violence. They went 'home'. But the northerners remained - to them, Kano was 'home'.

I noticed the same thing during the 2006 census. Large number of Igbos left Kano because they were "going home to be counted."

Who owns Kano? What about Lagos, Onisha, Abuja and Porthacourt?

When the Shekarau administration wanted to enforce the Shari'a law in Kano, the Igbos in Sabon Gari area of the state said the community should be exempted because it's a 'No Man's Land.' In effect, they were saying, since no Hausa lived in the community, it's technically not part of Kano, and so, Kano law can not take effect within this No Man's Land.

To exact its authority, the state government used the Shari'a police, Hisba, to crack down on hotels, brothels, beer parlors and relaxation spots owned by the Igbos in Sabon Gari. They brought the Igbos to their kneels within days just to prove a point: Sabon Gari is not a No Man's Land.

However, to show how accommodating Kano can be, an Igbo and a Yoruba were appointed into the cabinet as advisers and another Igbo went on to become a councillor in Sabon Gari. In fact, an Igbo man contested the last local government elections in Fagge, Kano. That's how welcoming Kano can be.

So, how can you call parts of Kano a No Man's Land and then call Onisha, Akure or Uyo, home? How can you call where Aminu calls his home a No Man's Land just because he allowed you stay?

Would it be fair to look the Original inhabitants of Abuja in the face and say, this is not your Land, it's a No Man's Land. I don't think so.

I'm on Twitter,
@Ademola_israel

The President's Terrorizing Visit To Kano

When president Jonathan visited Kano on Saturday to commission a flyover, a poorly constructed one for that matter, he brought untold and unnecessary hardship to the people. All link roads - and some with no connection with the venue of the commissioning - were blocked hours before his arrival, hundreds of police men and soldiers barricaded the roads, some lined the streets, fighter jets, and at least two helicopters, roamed the sky. 

The Swing Voters Will Decide, By Mark A. Israel

President Jonathan has achieved so much in the last five weeks. He seems to have finally decided to be the commander in chief we wanted him to be. The military has been reclaiming towns and decimating the Boko Haram threat since the February elections were postponed, and Mr president has been visiting the reclaimed 

communities and assuring them of their safety.