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.

She Loves Books, and That Didn't Come by Chance, Mark A. Israel

Few years ago, a caretaker chairman for my local government built a library in the three towns making up the local government. A day after the one in my town was commissioned, the books grew wings. All the books.

28th March, Our Finest Hour, By Mark Ademola Israel

On 18 June, 1940, Wilson Churchill delivered a speech at the British House of Commons. This speech, Their Finest Hour, was delivered two days after the German forces recorded huge successes in France and were certain to invade Britain. "The Battle of France is over," declared General Maxime Weygand, the man who was called upon - two weeks too late - to Ward off the German invasion, when it was clear they'd lost.

One Truth At A Time - By Mark A. Israel

Can one be right, and wrong at the same time, on the same subject? We were told, in Physics, that the value of g -acceleration due to gravity - varies across the universe. Its value on earth is different from that on the moon. Even its value about the earth surface is dependent on location, altitude, latitude... etc. As one goes higher above the earth surface the value of g decreases. In essence, at a particular location, irrespective of who does the measurement, the value is constant.

. . . Anybody, Anything But The President, By Mark Ademola Israel

Honestly, I think it's unfair to blame the president for every heap of rubbish we come across on the streets of Nigeria. It's like blaming the broom for the poor job done by the sweeper. OK, just imagine that #CNN lady - whatever her name was - blaming Mr Jonathan for the unprecedented and perpetual rise in oil theft since he took over as president. Did she not know that Nigeria is bordered by an infinitely endless mass of water? 

Is Buhari Too Old? By Mark Ademola Israel

Some years ago an 80years old Kenyan, a man, made history when he started school. He wanted to learn how to read and write at 80. This man sat in the class with children who were younger than the youngest of his great grand children. I told my uncle he was wasting his time. But that was then, I won't say such a thing today.

Lesser Heads, By Mark Ademola Israel

In 1776, Thomas Jefferson was nominated by a committee of five, known then as the Continental Congress, to draft a statement or a declaration If you like, of independence. In the opening of this declaration, Jefferson wrote: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. . ."

My Encounter With Bribe Taking Soldiers

Time was 6:03am; Place, Zaria road check point close to 7up factory, Kano.

"You dey make call for check point abi?" He roared.
I was holding a book on my left hand. My phone was on the right, and I had earpiece on. But I was not talking; just staring at my phone. So this soldier must be talking to someone else. It can't be me - Maybe the driver beside me. 

That strange Aircraft...

Gone are the days when witches and wizards take the form of black and ugly looking birds in order to travel from their domain to urban centers just to harm their enemies. In today's world, there's need for speed, the kind of which not even the king of birds-the crowned eagle-can provide.

Our witches have gone scientific.......

In today's world, evil spirits have the capacity to unleash terror even through the mobile phones. Thank God our men of God are up to the task; we only need to touch our television while they pray. And we are healed. That's all!