The Nation Newspaper

Category: Hannatu Musawa

  • Another fever with Lassa

    Another fever with Lassa

    Another year, another acute viral hemorrhagic fever threatening to clutch its claws in the population; endemic in parts of West Africa. Less than a year since the full outbreak of the dreaded Ebola virus, Lassa fever is proving that disease really is the biggest threat to humanity. With the outbreak of Lassa fever claiming the lives of over 40 people, across 10 states, Nigerians have got to be worried with the rising number killed by this dreadful virus.

    Lassa fever is a hemorrhagic fever (LHF) caused by the Lassa virus, which has occurred mainly in West Africa. The illness was first discovered in 1969 when some missionary nurses died from it while stationed in Nigeria. The virus is named after the town in Borno state, where the illness first occurred.

    Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease, meaning that humans become infected from contact with infected animals. The virus is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or droppings. Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in hospitals lacking adequate infection prevention and control measures. Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival.

    According to sources from the World Health Organisation, similar to the Ebola virus, “clinical cases of the disease have been known for over a decade but had not been connected with a viral pathogen. The virus is a member of the virus family, ‘Arenaviridae,’ and is a single-stranded RNA virus; it is, ‘zoonotic,’ or animal-borne.”

    Whether one has been directly affected by Lassa fever or not, Nigerians have got to be concerned with the perceived lack of awareness and preventative measures to protect people against Lassa fever. With the little noise being generated about the virus, it is presumed that many of the medical facilities and health workers in the country are not sufficiently equipped and prepared to provide standardized infection prevention precautions, containment, and treatment for patients infected with Lassa fever. If this is so, then medical workers are faced with the tenuous and difficult task of effectively treating Lassa fever.

    With the virus already spreading to ten states In Nigeria, in order to avoid the spread of Lassa fever, the measures that had been put in place last year during the Ebola scare must be revisited immediately. While it maybe hard to out-rightly impose complete travel restrictions from the infected states, as many preventative measures to test passengers as possible must be provided. More importantly, the government has got to employ all the necessary tactics to spread awareness and educate Nigerians on the symptoms to look for in order to identify Lassa fever.

    The signs and symptoms of Lassa fever occur 1-3 weeks after a person has come into contact with the virus. Even though the symptoms of Lassa fever can easily be under-diagnosed, Nigerians, especially in the affected states, should look out for the symptoms, which include, weakness, headaches, fever and general malaise.

    In the event that an infected person isn’t immediately treated, the disease might progress to more serious symptoms, which include hemorrhaging of the person’s eyes, gums, or nose – repeated vomiting, respiratory distress, pain in the back, chest and abdomen, facial swelling and shock. Neurological issues have also been described in relation to Lassa fever, to include tremors, hearing loss and encephalitis. Additionally, an infected person may die within a fortnight of their initial symptoms because of multi-organ failure. A common symptom of Lassa fever is deafness, in differing degrees.

    Due to the fact that the symptoms of Lassa fever are so nonspecific and varied, clinical diagnosis and detection of the disease in affected patients is often times difficult. Thus, Nigerians must be vigilant in detecting those who may have contracted the illness since we now know that the virus is in the country and spreading. Now that we are aware that scores of patients in 10 states have contracted Lassa fever, prompt isolation of affected patients, good infection protection and control practices and rigorous contact tracing must become a necessity.

    Quite similar to Ebola, prevention of Lassa fever relies on promoting hygiene. All measures should be taken to keep homes free from rodents. Actions such as, storing food in containers, not eating left over, unsupervised food, disposing of garbage from the home and maintaining clean households will go a long way in winning the war against Lassa fever. The use of hand sanitizers in the same way that was done during the Ebola crisis is also advisable. Those caring for sick people should try to avoid contact with blood and body fluids while caring for sick persons.

    In health-care settings, staff should always apply standard infection prevention and control precautions when caring for patients. Health workers should apply extra infection control measures to prevent contact with the patient’s blood and body fluids and contaminated surfaces. They should wear protective gear, such as medical masks, goggles and gloves when directly treating a patient with Lassa fever. And when hospital-staff see a patient who is suspected to have Lassa fever, they should immediately contact national experts for direction and to make arrangements for laboratory testing. Laboratory samples taken to investigate the Lassa virus infection should be handled by trained staff and processed in suitably equipped laboratories.

    In fighting the disease, the government can go further by setting up medical quarantine stations in the airports and highway borders of the affected States to test and monitor passengers in order to isolate and eradicate the virus. As many health workers as possible, all over Nigeria, especially in the affected states and their borders states need to be trained in detecting and dealing with Lassa fever. Military personnel and other essential persons may also need to be vigorously trained on the essentials of preventing, confronting and dealing with Lassa fever, if the outbreak begins to get out of control.

    Putting in place monitoring stations at the travel outlets of the affected states, for a short period, may impede the ability of some to travel back and forth; it may also add delays and annoyances for travellers but it will be worth it if it saves lives and stops the spread of the virus. The ban on the sale of bush-meat in Nigeria should be proscribed with immediate effect

    The government has got to be proactive on this issue. There can be no slip up or negligence in handling this matter. The authorities must work every day, all day to protect Nigerians from health, safety and security threats, of which the Lassa fever is one. The Nigerian disease control apparatus should increase the health security of our nation; they should save lives and protect Nigerians from such health threats.

    Even when the spread of the Lassa fever has been contained, our authorities must conduct critical science exercises and provide health information that would protect the nation against future expensive and dangerous health threats. No matter which disease we are threatened and faced with, Nigeria must be ready to respond when such a threat arises. As is the norm in developed countries, “whether the diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack,” our authorities should be able to fight disease and support communities and citizens to do the same.

    With minimal information being given on the characteristics and peculiarities of this particular bout of Lassa fever, there is a feeling that the authorities are being somewhat cavalier about it. From hence forth, every step of the way, government has got to be reactive rather than proactive. Anything short of that in handling this outbreak of Lassa fever, could amount to reckless endangerment.

    Another year, another acute viral hemorrhagic fever threatening to clutch its claws into our population. But, like we have done before, we can beat it if we follow the required steps. Lord knows, on top of all the other challenges of life, we don’t need another fever raised by Lassa fever.

  • The change we need in Nigeria

    It’s amazing to think that this time last year, Nigerians were deep in the fray of politics and the opposition was chanting the change mantra. Since then, a lot has happened. Now that the (then) opposition has become the, (present) ruling party, Nigerians are beating down the doors of government asking to see where the change that they voted for is. As I, myself, reflect on where exactly that change is, I want to tell you a short story…

     “…Some time ago, back when there was rabid fuel scarcity, I did something that I am not too proud of.

    Driving with a low tank of fuel, I was forced to head to a fuel station. Arriving at the fuel station, I met an incredibly long queue, of which I joined. With the queue not moving and having been there for a while, I concluded that queuing at the station indefinitely was not an option I was willing to embrace. So, I decided to leave the queue and drive up to the station. As I approached the station, lots of young men offering black-market fuel approached me. I thought about obliging the black-market trade fleetingly, but eventually decided against it. I settled on cutting my losses, going home and sending a driver to join the queue instead. But then, a well-dressed middle-aged man approached my vehicle and asked if I wanted fuel from the station.

    “Yes,” I replied without hesitation…“But the queue is too long. I will just go home and send a driver to join,” I said.

    “I work at the station and I can let your car in to fill your tank now, now Ma… for a small amount,” Offered the man.

    I understood perfectly what he was offering and, I must admit, it didn’t take me long to decide whether I was going to accept his offer or not. Yes, I was going to get the tank filled now!

    I had justified the trade in my mind; you see… It had been a long, tiring day and I had fasted. And paying extra to jump the fuel queue may have been a form of injudiciousness, but it was one I felt I deserved at the time.

    So, it was! I followed the man with my car and he led me into the fuel station through a separate entrance. After some motor acrobatics, I aligned my car with the fuel pump and within a few minutes, I had a full tank of fuel in my car. The whole operation took less than ten minutes.

    Satisfied and smug, I drove out of the station. Feeling a little guilty and sorry for those I had bypassed on the fuel queue, I turned to look at them. That was when I made contact with a woman in the queue sat in the driver seat. She had three young children in the back seat. The kids looked like they were all under ten years old. The youngest was crying non-stop and the two elder kids seemed to be fighting. Between trying to console the younger child and trying to mediate the fight with the older children, she turned and looked at me. She had the most desperate, forlorn and tired look on her face. She was sweating and looked overwhelmed. That was when a large surge of disappointment followed by utter guilt hit me.

    Thinking that I had dishonestly paid a bribe, jumped the queue and shortchanged law-abiding Nigerians, while a woman in her situation had done the right thing by following the queue, despite her circumstance, made me feel so bad, guilty and disgusted with myself. It was then that I had an “A-Ha moment’ about what the change, that so many Nigerians fought to have was. What it symbolized!

     …By God’s Grace, as I sit here, in this crispy New Year, watching my fellow countrymen and women ask where exactly the change is, I am reminded of my misadventure that day in the fuel queue.

    The question shouldn’t be ‘where’ the change is; it should be ‘what’ the change is. So what is the change? The answer is… ‘For every single one of us in this nation to commit ourselves to make a change for the better! As Mahatma Gandhi said, every single one of us in this country has a responsibility to be the change we wish to see in Nigeria!’

    So, when we speak of Nigeria’s urgency to see ‘change,’ whom do we expect that change to come from? The expectation for change has been fixated on the government. A long ‘To-Do’ list has been placed at the foot of the President. But in reality, the wind of change that ushered in a new government in the last election wasn’t so much about voting one man into office. It was about the need of a people to see a change in the very fabric and marrow of their country. And if that is what it was, then it includes every single one of us that considers ourselves a member of the collective known as Nigeria!

    We live in a time when people speak about requests in terms of needs, needs in terms of rights, and rights in terms of entitlements. Government, and government alone, is thought compelled to provide the expected change. And while such an expectation maybe valid to a large extent, we have to refer to the very concept of responsibility and accountability when we speak of the mantra of change that recently took hold of and shook Nigeria.

    To be responsible is to be answerable for one’s action. When one acknowledges a legitimate call to do something, one has a duty to react. Accountability rests not only on a genuine call for action, but also in the ability to heed the call. Just as the president and the government has a responsibility to us and to the nation, we each also have a responsibility to every other Nigerian and to the nation at large. Once both the government and Nigerians accepted the call for action, which we did when we voted for change, then we all have that responsibility to heed its call. What happened in the elections of 2015 was Nigeria’s call. What we did in voting for change was to heed that call. Now we have a responsibility to follow it through.

    Indeed, elections of 2015 saw a nation’s call for change. Nigerians heeded and opted for that change. But our responsibility didn’t stop after the inauguration.

    Responsibility doesn’t usually come from one single establishment or one union. Individuals in a family or a community bear the responsibility to care for its members, in the same way that the friends, neighbors, leaders and governments do.

    Although we should all have expectations for the government to implement policies, which will make our existence as Nigerians more comfortable, we should be aware that we each have a role to play in that journey to change. Every single Nigerian has a role to play in actualizing change.

     While government has a great responsibility to attain the parameters needed for us to grow and flourish, one must be realistic and keep in mind that government isn’t ‘solely’ liable for taking care of every single one of us in our communities, neighborhoods and families. That obligation is the responsibility of every single one of us as participants in a variety of relationships and overlapping communities. One will intrinsically be indebted to fellow members by a shared principle, which unites their community and, as members of a shared community, we must rely on each other to attain common objectives. That would entail making claims upon each other as we collectively strive to satisfy the ideals our society struggles to actualize.

    A government safety-net is there to make available, liberty, service and social justice, but it cannot give personal attention, on-the-ground instincts, or the flexibility sometimes required in an emergency situation. Governments’ responsibility and accountability has to be met by each of our communities and each one of us individually.

     The fact that we are aware of government policies being put in place to effect the much-needed change may work to our disadvantage if we don’t value the social contract we have with each other and our communities. Because it may lead us each to relax our own social responsibility in the misleading belief that someone else is holding the forte.

    As a nation, we are persons existing in a community, not self-standing individuals. People are not islands and we deny an important feature of our humanity once we approach it as such. Each of us shares some manner of link to one another; every one of us exists in a human society. Our actions have a domino effect on Nigeria and, thus, each have central moral obligations towards our collective.

    Part of the government’s role is to employ public judgment when it comes to justice. The connection between government and its citizens is one of equal standing and protection under the law. We have got to understand that the government’s responsibility is not to be the ‘sole’ harbinger of change. We each have that responsibility also.

    Let us say that the government is able to achieve some of its main objectives in its change manifesto and I, as a part of this huge collective, continues to jump the fuel queue, as does the next person and the next person, then the expectation of change is incapacitated and untenable; purely because we didn’t play our part. It is like a big jigsaw puzzle and we each represent a piece of it. Any of the expectations we have towards government, as far as change goes, has got to start with us… each one of us!

    If every single one of us, in our capacity as Nigerians, can make a change that will make Nigeria better, then we will see the change we so yearn for. If not, then it doesn’t matter what policies the government puts in place; there will never be change!

    Having been part of an opposition movement since 2003, I am not sure whether I am truly being objective about this concept of change, now that a former opposition forms the government. I cannot say whether I am being fair to all the governments that came prior to this present administration. But, here and now, I honestly see this concept of change as being the responsibility of each and every single Nigerian.

     I don’t believe that change only comes in the form of a rescue package by government nicely wrapped in a bow. It no longer only means a list of executives with the exquisite cerebral capacity to make decisions to transform the economy. It is no longer who makes or doesn’t make the Ministerial, Ambassadorial or Executive lists. It is about each and every single one of us doing the right thing by making a change in an area that we know disadvantages the nation.

     As long as we are talking about government responsibility to deliver change, we must also examine our own personal irresponsibility, which has an effect on that change. Besides government, we also have a collective responsibility to provide a better example so that those who come after us aren’t propelled toward bad choices.

     While I am waiting to see the government finish putting into effect its policies of change, I’m determined never to jump a fuel queue or any other queue again.

    When it is clear that Nigeria will never change if we sever our desire for change at the threshold of government alone; when we know that our self-destructive behavior batters the mantra of change that Nigerians chanted for one year ago, is it not time we end our own personal unprogressive conduct? The change that Nigeria desperately needs starts when I don’t pay a bribe to jump the fuel queue; the change starts with every single one of us!

  • The Muhammadu Buhari Odyssey

    In Homer’s Greek poetic masterpiece, The Odyssey, the hero, Odysseus, was, by and large, depicted as a man of outstanding endurance, courage, wisdom, eloquence, loyalty, honour, magnanimity and skill. From his heroic feat during the Trojan War to his wandering travails, which lasted for 10 years as he struggled to return home after the Trojan War and reassert his place as rightful leader, Odysseus’ bravery and skill are represented throughout the epic.

    Every so often, through the ages, providence points out a person with the conclusive resolve, features or personality traits of a great leader.

    In the case of Muhammadu Buhari, his odyssey started from birth, continued through his career and did not end after his retirement.

    The name Muhammadu Buhari means different things to different people. Some erroneously claim he is an Islamic fundamentalist, while others say he is an ethnic bigot. However, the vast majority of the Nigerian people regard him as one of the most incorruptible individuals in the country and the man that can pull the country back from the precipice of self-destruction to which it is heading. This pervasive impression is founded on the performance of the military administration he once headed almost a generation ago. During election times, his person and reputation are consistently targeted. In other words, he is viewed in some quarters as one who loves his religion, Islam, and is proud of his Hausa/Fulani ethnic identity. But that does not automatically mean that he has an aversion to other religions or ethnic groups. As is usual, when trying to get a better understanding of people, it is important to look back at their origins.

    General Muhammadu Buhari was born on a Thursday, the 17th of December, 1942 at house No 14 Waziri road in Daura town, Katsina State, Northern Nigeria to a Fulani father and a Hausa mother. His mother was the daughter of Musa Sarkin Dogarai (Head of the Daura Infantry) who was also the son of the Kauran Daura Lawal (Head of the Daura Armed Forces) during the period of fierce battles between the Hausas and Fulanis for dominance in Daura in the early 1800’s. His maternal great grandfather, Mallam Adamu, was the son of a Kauran Kukawa, who was the head of the army during the fierce battles with the Rabe of the old Borno Empire. So it could be said that soldiering is in his blood. At the time of his birth, the world was still reeling from the horrors of the Second World War. On that day in December, 1942, the Allies issued the Joint Declaration by Members of the United Nations. This was the first time the Holocaust was publicly acknowledged.

    Unlike many other Northerners who were born into aristocratic or royal families, and rose to prominence by riding on their family names and prestige, Buhari was born into a noble but humble family. Having lost his father, Ardo Adamu Buhari at the age of three or four, there were limited opportunities for the young Buhari as he was the 23rd child of his father and the 13th and last child of his mother, Zulaihat. His mother was a widow with seven children before she went on to marry his father.

    Muhammadu Buhari lost his father early in his life at the age of four. All he could remember of his father was that he was tall and fair in complexion. Though his father was the Ardo of Dumurkol Village near Daura, the title didn’t have much bearing on his life, neither did it elevate his status in any way. At the time the only feasible alternative was to be a cattle herdsman. Muhammadu Buhari, not being one to cower in the face of adversity strove hard to excel in primary and secondary school.

    During his childhood, Muhammadu Buhari was fondly nicknamed and called “Leko.” This was due to the fact that he was born after a set of twins that died. Leko was the Hausa nickname given to a child born after twins who died. He spent his early childhood days playing around the dusty lanes and tree-lined roads of the vibrant Daura Township. Muhammadu Buhari’s most vivid childhood memory, which he still recalls hitherto was falling off a horse (a strawberry roan) on his way to the village well. He still recalls the fright he felt lying down between the feet of the enormous animal. He could see the horse’s big belly heaving and the five-stripes on its forelegs flashing before his eyes. At that instance, he thought to himself that the beast could kick or trample him to death. Still in pains, he hurriedly stood up, dusted his clothes, remounted the horse and continued his journey to the well.

    He commenced his primary education at Mai Adua Primary School in 1948-1952, where his senior brother Mal. Dauda Daura was the head teacher of the school. As a child Muhammadu Buhari was known to have a childhood disdain for going school and this resulted in naughty and mischievous behavior that often got him into trouble. Consequently, his break time was usually forfeited as punishment. According to his nephew, Mamman Daura, who is two and a half years older than Muhammadu Buhari and was also his senior in primary and secondary school, “Buhari was above average academically and more than usual naughty.” Similarly, Muhammadu Buhari himself also adds; “I was a truant in primary school. I spent a lot of my time playing around, but when I went to secondary school, I changed.” His classmates in primary school still fondly remember him as a fast runner and the centre-forward for the school’s football team. Another major attribute of his, which he was known for since primary school and which has stayed with him is that he is always very smartly dressed and neatly turned-out.

    He later attended Katsina Middle School in 1953-1955, Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Government College, Katsina) 1956-1961.

    His uncompromising knack for sticking to his principles no matter what, go as far back as when he was in secondary school. A story was related of how the young Buhari became a lone ranger of sorts when he refused, on a matter of principle, to join in a strike of his classmates despite the fact that he was the youngest and the smallest in the class.

    Some of his classmates recall some of his glowing attributes: Malam Mukhatri Zango, a former classmate of Muhammadu Buhari once stated, “He used to baffle me. He was strong-willed and principled. He always stood his ground and would not follow the crowd.”

    Another childhood friend of his, who grew up with him in Katsina before they joined the Military and rose through the ranks together, and who was the Deputy head boy to Muhammadu Buhari, the late former Vice President, General Shehu Musa Yar’adua also opined that, “He was reserved. He was one of the few boys in the school that was trusted by his classmates and who was quite dependable.”

    Some of his classmates at Katsina Provincial Secondary School included the former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi as well as the former Inspector General of Police from 1993 to 1999, serving under the military governments of Generals Sani Abacha and General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Ibrahim Comasie. Inspite of this evidence of fact, during the campaigns that preceded the 2015 elections, it was alleged that Muhammadu Buhari did not attend or finish secondary school.

    General Muhammadu Buhari is one of the most decorated Generals in the Nigerian Army. He is the recipient of numerous awards such as the Defence Service Medal, National Service Medal, General Service Medal, Republic Medal, Loyal Service and Good Conduct Medal, Forces Medal, Independence Medal and Congo Crisis Medal.

    ‘Coming soon,’ a thoroughly gripping and intricate insight into the full journey of a fascinating patriot; born to lead a nation towards positive change, the services he rendered to his country in various capacities, the challenge that saw him rise above incarceration, suspicion, defamation, persecution, to show the strength of character to be the ‘change’ he desired for his country, the ideal upon which he built a movement that, once again, gave a people a reason to believe.

    It is the odyssey that defines the calling of General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR from military leader, to head of state, to military/political prisoner, as well as the long political struggle that saw him, against all odds, emerge as the 16th president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    This article was first published on this page in August 25, 2015.

  • Non-issue of the gay rights issue

    Recently, the US Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is a legal right across the whole of the United States. With that ruling, 14 states with bans on same-sex marriage would no longer be able to enforce them bringing an end to more than a decade of bitter legal battle on the matter.

    While that US Supreme Court ruling was America’s interpretation of ensuring that human rights is available to every American, African counties invariably do not have the same interpretation of those rights. For sometime, Western countries with America at the fore have continued to pressure African countries to recognise and legalise gay rights.

    As part of its foreign policy agenda of the highest priority, America had adopted protection of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. On his recent trip to America, it was reported that the subject of gay rights and the reversal of the anti-gay law in Nigeria was touched on in a veiled manner to President Buhari.

    Last year, the signing of the Same-sex Prohibition Act by the last administration on January 7 2014, elicited negative reactions from Western countries such as the US, member countries of the European Union and Canada. They have consistently mounted pressure on the federal government over the signing of the Same-Sex Prohibition Act 2014, claiming that the law is a violation of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians with same-sex orientation.

    Notably, that law that was signed last year does not only criminalise same-sex marriage, it also makes public displays of affection and even socialising in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and inter-sex community illegal. At the time that the law was passed, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle threatened that his country would scale down its support for HIV/AIDS and anti-malaria programs in response to government’s position on the gay rights issue. Thereafter, it was reported in the Vanguard newspaper that the US had committed “substantial” resources to fund the emergence of gay clubs and advocacy groups in Nigeria. As part of the fallout then, the Canadian government cancelled a scheduled state visit by the then President Jonathan. The Canadian government’s action was believed to have been that country’s reaction to the president’s assent of the bill, which had enjoyed popular support in Nigeria.

    On the US President, Barack Obama’s, recent trip to Africa, the subject of legalising gay marriage came up. President Obama was very categorical in his condemnation of discriminatory practices against gay and lesbian people and urged African leaders to treat the issue of homosexuality as a universal human right, comparable to the fight against racism or sexism. However, in return, all the African leaders he conversed with emphatically told President Obama that the issue of legalising gay rights in Africa is ‘out of the question’ and a ‘non-issue.’ They made it clear to him that, there are certain subjects and values which Africa does not share with America, legalising homosexuality being one of them, and as such, it would be impossible to impose on people principles, which they do not recognise or accept.

    This is not the first time America and the West have tried to pressure Africa into accepting homosexual unions. Since 2011, certain Western countries have been considering and implementing laws that limit or prohibit general budget support to countries that restrict the rights of homosexuals. Regardless of this, many African countries have continued to refute pressure to legalise homosexual practices. Many African leaders feel that gay rights are against Africa’s culture and religious value systems and believe that they have the sovereign right to reject what is seen as an imposition by Western nations that attempt to affect national sentiments via aid. While some of us may disagree with the laws that impose the death penalty on those who come out as homosexuals, the reality is that same sex acts are illegal in about 38 African countries and actual enforcement varies widely and punishment ranges from prison sentences to the draconian sentence of the death penalty.

    In Mauritania, Sudan and Nigeria, homosexuality is a serious punishable crime. In Uganda, Tanzania and Sierra Leone, offenders can receive life imprisonment for homosexual acts. South Africa’s constitution is the most liberal towards gays and lesbians within the continent, with a constitution that guarantees gay and lesbian rights and legal same-sex marriage. However, even there, gay rights have been described as an “exclusive privilege of the whites and well-heeled, a small but high-profile subset.”

    The raucousness from Western nations that has been accompanying the banning of same sex unions in some parts of Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia has risen to a crescendo. And in their bid to ram the freedom of same sex unions down the throat of more traditional and conservative nations, the West has discarded high-minded rhetoric for bullying tactics dressed in the guise of human rights mantras. The result? Hypocrisy has taken centre stage as the preferred response of the West in its bid to redefine the limits of marriage, privacy and religious freedom in some African, Eastern European and Asian countries.

    The sheer hypocrisy of the West regarding their stance on the banning of same-sex unions is most apparent when considered next to the position taken on polygamy under western laws. In most western nations, the practice of polygamy is not only frowned upon but has been criminalised. The Western countries pass laws that limit the boundaries of marriage, privacy and religious freedom in line with their value system while they employ strategies and tactics to intimidate, harass, undermine, threaten and abuse other countries for doing the same.

    In the case of Reynolds vs. United States, the American courts declined accepting polygamy as a legitimate religious practice, dismissing it as “almost exclusively a feature of the life of Asiatic and African people.” American courts have declared polygamy to be “a blot on our civilisation” and compared it to human sacrifice and “a return to barbarism.”

    Not only is the practice of polygamy one of the common threads between Christians, Jews and Muslims, studies have found polygamy present in 78 per cent of the world’s cultures. In the same way that countries that accept polygamy have no right to force western nations to legalise polygamy, western nations have no right to impose same sex unions on the countries that ban it.

    As a sovereign nation, Nigeria and other African nations have a right to ban same-sex unions in the same way the West has banned polygamy.

    The previous leadership in Nigeria has taken a position on a practice that is alien to its culture and its religious and traditional institutions and the current leadership is likely to uphold the same. The public relations officer of the northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had in the past stated that Christians and their counterparts in other religions had unanimously expressed gratitude to the last administration and National Assembly for passing the Anti Same-Sex Marriage law, despite opposition from Europe and the US. Similarly, the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State, had also commended the administration for signing the bill into law. The group applauded the Nigerian leadership for standing its ground, despite pressure to reject the anti-gay bill by some international organisations and foreign countries.

    In the scriptures, marriage is a sacred contract between a man and a woman that cannot be redefined and it is the cornerstone of family life. In the Bible, passages in the book of Leviticus prohibit homosexuality. Chapter 18:22 states, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” Similarly, chapter 20:13 also states, “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” Jews and Christians have historically interpreted these two verses as the clear prohibition of homosexual acts. Furthermore, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah has historically been interpreted as condemning homosexual acts.

    In Islam, the traditional schools of Islamic law based on Qur’anic verses and hadith consider homosexual acts a punishable crime and a sin. The Qur’an cites the story of the “people of Lot” (also known as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah), destroyed by the wrath of God, because they engaged in “lustful” carnal acts between men. The Qur’an contains seven references to the people of Lot; 7:80-84, 11:77-83, 21:74, 22:43, 26:165-175, 27:56-59 and 29:27-33, and their destruction by Allah is associated explicitly with their sexual practices.

    In 2012, the Nigerian parliament approved a bill banning same-sex marriage despite threats from the US and UK that they would consider withholding aid if the country didn’t recognise gay rights. Curiously though in the US, 17 states out of 50 (less than half) have endorsed same-sex practices and others reject its legality. This means that even in the US, not all its citizens are in support of same-sex practices.

    It increasingly seems that the Western countries’ mandate is to coerce African states to institutionalise behavior systems that they frown upon or deem illegal. There is the urgent need for these African states and the Nigerian leadership not to be dependent on foreign assistance for governance. If foreign aid coming from the West to Nigeria of other African Countries is contingent upon obliterating the core values of Africa, then Afrian nations have no choice but to liberate themselves and get their act together.

    Nigeria and the African Continent should use its net worth to dismantle the entrenched dependence syndrome and to also say ‘No,’ no matter how many times they are accused of not adhering to the value system of the West. Aid given with strings attached is not worth it, especially if those strings are repugnant to one’s values and belief system.

    Just like with the case of polygamists in Western countries, a day of social acceptance is unlikely to come for homosexuals in Nigeria and most African and Asian countries.

    May each country be free to preserve the value systems they wish to be defined by and adopt the laws of which they wish to be governed.

  • Bobbi Kristina; gone too soon

    It is with a heavy heart of melancholy, penning down this article. The world awoke to the news of the death of Bobbi Kristina Brown, who tragically died on the 26th of this month, roughly three years after her late mother, the great songstress, Whitney Houston passed away. Upon hearing news that Bobbi Kristina had lost the fight I prayed so hard for her to win, sleep eluded me, words failed me, emotions flooded me and sadness overcame me.

    The death of Whitney and Bobby Brown’s daughter, who died at the young age of 22, made headlines when it was reported that she sadly passed away in a hospice care facility in the U.S. where she has been since June 24 … when her family decided to take her off all medications. Bobbi Kristina was found submerged in her bathtub on January 31, and police believe she was underwater for anywhere between 2 and 5 minutes. Paramedics were able to resuscitate her, but she was in a medically induced coma and placed on life support. The family says Bobbi Kristina was surrounded by family and, “She is finally at peace in the arms of God.”

    Throughout her teenage and adult years, Bobbi Kristina Brown had been the focus of reports about her purported drug usage. It was even speculated that she was under the influence of drugs the morning she was found unresponsive in her bathtub. Multiple sources who knew her have confirmed that she regularly used heroin, cocaine and Xanax, especially in recent months. In addition, she was also said to be a heavy drinker. In a particular report, it was said that she often appeared to be high in some instances, slurring her words and seeming incoherent. Her death was déjà vu all over again when her mother also died in a bathtub in 2012, from what was later ruled an accidental drowning with cocaine use listed as contributing factors. Indeed, what happened to Bobbi Kristina is a textbook exemplification of the impact a parent’s death, linked to drug addiction can have on their children. Growing up in a household or an environment where illicit or hard drugs are frequently used exposes a child in picking up the insidious habit. One can only imagine the demons she must have grappled with in an attempt to avoid using drugs like her parents. Arguably, she stood little chance once surrounded by drugs and it was inevitable that she was also going to pick-up the habit from her parents.

    Coming closer home, over the last decade, the consumption of hard drugs has drastically increased in Nigeria. The sorry case of popular reggae singer and guitarist, Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly known as Majek Fashek, who is currently a wreck as a result of drug addiction speaks volumes. Due to his addiction, Majek Fashek, was seen roaming the streets of Lagos aimlessly and had resorted to begging to satisfy his urges. This is indeed a very sad story for such an accomplished musician and icon in Nigeria’s entertainment industry. It’s disheartening to know such a talented person is seen on the streets of Lagos looking for petty change to buy food, drinks and drugs. Recent sightings and pictures of him show a sickly, frail and haggard looking Majek. How can a national hero be left on the street like that? We must do something to save and take care of him. I wish to use this avenue to implore on well-meaning Nigerians and also the government to help one of our illustrious musical icons to get into a reputable rehabilitation centre in an effort to help him kick the habit.

    Substances such as alcohol, cannabis, heroin, cocaine among others are now being taken frequently and in large quantities by youths in our society. Sadly, among these youths, teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 30 constitute the high risk groups. Other drugs taken by our youths which also constitute drug abuse are legal substances such as prescription drugs like valium, chloroquin, cough syrup, etc, when used in excess or without medical prescription. Given the enormous damage narcotics do to humanity, no effort should be spared in curbing this menace. A drug can be said to be any substance used in medicine. It can also be said to be any substance taken by some people to get certain effect, such as happiness and excitement. Driving from these definitions above, drugs can be classified into two categories; 1] the soft Drug e.g. antibiotics and analgesics. And 2] the hard drugs e.g. cocaine, marijuana heroin e.t.c. Consequently, a drug addict is said to be someone whose life has become dependent on drugs, hence drug abuse.

    There are two primary causes of drug abuse among youths. These are peer pressure and Depression. Through the former, youths associates with different types of people otherwise known as friends. Through the pressure from these friends, they can be lured into having a taste of these drugs. And once this is done, they continue to take it and become addicted to it at the long run. The latter can lead to drug abuse when certain things happen to someone that is considered very sad and disheartening; the person starts thinking of the best way to become happy once more hence the use of hard drugs will come in. This later on turns to a habit, hence drug abuse. Other major causes of drug abuse are as a result to the high rate of unemployment among youths, economic depression, social deprivation, anxiety, frustration and parental/family influence. The effects of drug abuse amongst youths can be viewed from firstly, the social aspect. The hard drugs make the taker hyperactive at the point of taking this drug. This make the taker to behave abnormally, contribute to immoralities such as armed robbery, rape, sexually transmitted diseases and many other societal vices. Second is the financial effect. An addict tends to spend more money on the purchase of these drugs. This can make the addict to become bankrupt or start searching for money by all means. Third is the health effect. The addict becomes unstable and starts behaving abnormally.

    Addiction to drugs/substances can be emotional, psychological, biochemical dependent or a combination of the three. Users who are psychologically dependent feel that they need drugs in order to feel good about themselves, whereas those who are emotionally dependent need increasingly larger doses of drugs in order to achieve the initial effects and will suffer from withdrawal symptoms when they stop. Cannabis and Indian hemp are the most frequently abused and used drugs in Nigeria, followed by amphetamines and to a lesser extent heroin and cocaine. Organic solvents are also becoming increasingly popular especially among street people.

    With the high percentage of youths in Nigeria addicted to drugs, drug abuse can totally be overcome and eradicated in Nigeria through government intervention projects and incorporating a nationwide program to help addicts. Also, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), saddled with the fight against illicit and hard drugs in our county can still raise the cadence of its effectiveness by investing heavily on technological devices that can enhance its ability to detect drug traffickers or consumers to effectively thwart their efforts. The agency and relevant stakeholders should also embark on sustained public enlightenment campaigns against consumption of illicit drugs using bill boards, radio/TV jingles, fliers, banners, pamphlets etc. The suggested plan to introduce the campaign against the use of hard drugs into primary and secondary school curriculum should also be encouraged and fast-tracked. Government via the NDLEA should also embark on an aggressive extinction of all the sources of these hard drugs including the farms where they are planted. Parents should monitor the kind of friends their children keep and guide against bad company. Lastly, stiff penalties should be meted against anybody found dealing on hard drugs.

    Drugs or substance addiction can affect any family or person, regardless of creed, age, status, gender, education, or ethnicity. Once a person becomes an addict, they never have full control of their actions; the drugs take over. They are hooked for life; hence, love, care, understanding, and kindness must be adopted in dealing addicts.

    I am completely devastated at the passing of Bobbi Kristina. I gave birth to my daughter not long after Whitney Houston gave birth to Bobbi Kristina, so I have always viewed her through the eyes of a mother. I have loved her from so far as any mother would. When I saw the turmoil and the dark cloud that surrounded her throughout her life, I prayed for her to find a way to overcome it. When I witnessed the grim seduction of drugs overcome her, I hoped she would somehow come through it. But it was evident from the very start of her life, that Bobbi Kristina stood a very little chance at life. The slim element of life and happiness that beautiful child had, seemed to evaporate the minute her mother, Whitney Houston died. After her mother died, I wrote an emotional tribute to Whitney Houston and sent it to her. Bobbi Kristina responded to me directly.

    Since I learnt that she had fallen into a coma, I sent her several messages and prayers every couple of days, willing her to pull through. I prayed so hard that she would somehow make it, wake up, maybe see some of my prayers and respond to them in the way she did after her mother died. But it wasn’t to be.

    ‘The death of Bobbi Kristina has rendered me numb; the tragedy that claimed her, she could not overcome; now almost like Whitney she did succumb.’

     Her death devastates me because although she was Whitney Houston’s daughter, she could have easily been mine.

     I send my heartfelt condolence to the Brown and Houston families and to all those who loved Bobbi Kristina, even though she struggled in a drug-fest. Now that we know that she did die, this is our time to say Goodbye.

    Bobbi Kristina has gone too soon…

  • Be the change you want to see in Nigeria

    The 2015 general elections has come and gone. The hullabaloo and fretfulness that characterised the period leading to the elections and during the elections is but a distant memory. The doomsday prophecies, fifth columnist and divisive elements that wished and propagated the collapse of our dear country have been left to eat their words. Teeming Nigerians proved them wrong by overwhelmingly voting for the All People’s Congress, Muhammadu Buhari/Yomi Osibanjo and “change”. The change majority of us clamored for is finally here. The change in the status quo especially on how government was formerly being run has begun. All that those who we gave our mandate need to do now is to appoint/employ capable hands with proven track-records who would help deliver the change discerning Nigerians have been yearning for. No more of the customary placing of round pegs in square holes. We need tested and trusted individuals, with qualifications corresponding to their portfolios, irrespective of creed, ethnicity, gender and party affiliation, to be put at the helm of affairs.

    However, the bulk of the change we have been yearning for and voted for shouldn’t rest on only the shoulders of those we voted for in government. The change should also be a responsibility of every individual, every Nigerian. The renowned Mahatma Gandhi, preeminent leader of India’s independence movement in British-ruled India, who employed non-violent civil disobedience and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world, once said that “you must be the change that you wish to see in the world.” This simply means that if you want to see the change you seek, you must start with yourself first. For each of the changes that Gandhi brought to India and to the world, he brought them first to himself. If he expected another to do something, he was willing to do it too. When he called upon others to love their enemies, he loved them first. To those that wished harm upon him, he wished them well. Even to the British usurpers, he showed respect. When he called upon others to willingly endure imprisonment for non-cooperation, he was also willing and eager to do so. To effect change, you have to believe that you have a unique purpose and potential in the world. Believe that you can and will make a positive difference with this potential. Everything you do, every step you take, every sentence you write, every word you speak–or don’t speak–counts. Nothing is trivial. Our county Nigeria may be big, but there are no small things. Everything matters.

    To be the change you want to see in the world, you don’t have to be loud or vociferous. You don’t have to be silver-tongued or eloquent. You don’t have to be elected or selected. You don’t even have to be literate or well educated. You do, however, have to be committed. Also, we need to individually take personal responsibility. Never think that it’s not your job or responsibility. Never feel because you are only one person, hence what can you do. Despite the fact that you are only one person you can indeed do a lot. You don’t need everyone’s cooperation or anyone’s permission to make changes. Remember, if it’s to be, then it’s up to you. Don’t wait for things to be right in order to begin. Change is disordered. Things will never be just right. The 26th President of the United States of America, Teddy Roosevelt, once said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” In order for things to change, you have to change. We can’t change others; we can only change ourselves. However, when we change, it changes everything. And in doing so, we truly can be the change we want to see in the world.

    We can all individually contribute and tap-in-to the change phenomena gradually sweeping across the country by becoming more patriotic citizens of our great country Nigeria. We must not wait for Mr. President to effect changes before we begin to change. We must not wait for Mr. President to appoint ministers before we begin to be the change we want to see in Nigeria. Our attitude, patriotism, comments and speeches, can go a long way in contributing our own little individual quota to the change phenomena in our country. Changing an attitude to one of patiently staying on the queue without trying to outsmart other motorists by jumping the queue (the usual norm) when at the filling station is a good form of positive change. Being punctual at your place of work at all times is another good source of positive change. Stopping the attitude of always throwing refuse in unauthorised or illegal places, or while driving is change. Curbing the habit of bribe taking, corrupt practices, giving kickbacks is also change. Being your brother’s keeper, seeing everyone and oneself as first a Nigerian before ethnic or tribal affiliation is also change. Protecting one another in times of violence, mayhem or crisis, regardless of religious beliefs is also change. Cautioning oneself in writing or making abusive, divisive or inciting statements, articles, comments or speeches is change. Becoming a better father, a caring mother, a loving Uncle, aunt, nephew or niece is change. Becoming a good friend, an honest individual, a better person and a patriotic Nigerian is change. Adopting these will go a long way in helping those at the helm of affairs in achieving what they want and need to achieve, and also in making our dear country Nigeria a better place to live in, for us, our kids and unborn generation.

  • General Danjuma’s advice & militant violence devise

    So, that constipated, arrogant and obnoxious blubbering militant, who seems to continuously consume extra bowls of foolish every morning, has taken it upon himself to attack General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma GCON FSS psc (rtd)? Recently, General Danjuma ‘rightfully’ advised the Nigerian authorities to consider arresting some militants for making provocative pronouncements on the 2015 elections and threatening to plunge Nigeria into chaos, if President Jonathan was not re-elected come February 14th. The militants General Danjuma was referring to included, the loudmouthed budding sociopath, who is the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Victor Ben Ebikabowei, a.k.a, Boy Loaf, Government Ekpudomenowei, a.k.a., Tompolo, and some other individuals. On the 24th of this month, the militants and their supporters allegedly met at the Government House of Bayelsa State, where they were reported to have threatened to unleash violence on the country and take back their ‘My Oil, My Oil…’ Niger Delta, should President Jonathan lose the election. They also allegedly stated that any attempt to dethrone President Jonathan would be seen as a direct attack on the Ijaw nation. General Danjuma’s statement was made in response to this. More than many, one fully understand the need to periodically ‘check’ some of our leaders and disrespectfully ask them to ‘take a seat,’ when they behave and speak out of turn! But when our seasoned statesmen necessarily and reasonably speak their truth, from a wealth of experience, it is proper to heed their words. So, when General Danjuma gave the appropriate and proper advise in relation to provocative statements made about the unity and security of Nigeria, it did not warrant the response given by ‘Mujahid I am the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force.’ This ignorant and despicable Wally disrespectfully and unreasonably replied the General in the kind of opprobrious manner, which has now become his trademark. Since this Yeti stumbled onto the public scene by ‘starting at the bottom… it has been downhill ever since!’ The Nonsense-Level of this, one man is so overwhelming, it is almost unbelievable! Notwithstanding the fact that he appears to be getting up on the wrong side of his cage every morning, for him to make the kind of threats he has been making to Nigerians and address General Danjuma in the way he did, this unpalatable figure must have a very, very low opinion of Nigerians… if he really thinks they are his equals! It is an insult to any reasonably minded person that cherishes Nigeria for this ridiculously misinformed nut case to think that he can continue to publicly threaten Nigerians and square up to a decorated Nationalist, such as General Danjuma. Imagine him chiding and insulting the General and humanitarian; an elder statesman; a talented soldier and veteran of the Nigerian civil war, who patriotically fought to see that the unity of Nigeria remained intact, and who also led a battalion that freed Jaja Wachuku, first speaker of the House of Representatives? Imagine him spewing hate against the first Nigerian Ambassador to the UN and first foreign affairs minister; former platoon commander in our peacekeeping efforts in the Congo; former chief of army staff (1975 1979); former Minister of Defence (1999- 2003)? Imagine this yob insulting an accomplished entrepreneur; Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council, nominated by president Jonathan in 2010; current Chairman of the Victims Support Fund Committee, which supports the victims of terror attacks by insurgents; and the founder of the T.Y Danjuma foundation, which seeks to alleviate poverty in communities by providing basic amenities, education for children and young adults, and providing free medical care for indigent people? What has this unsavory character done for this country lately? What has he ever done for this great country of ours? What has been his contribution to the unity and development of Nigeria? Not until a few years ago, this clueless individual was a mere university dropout, perhaps, paddling a Leaky-Canoe in the creeks of the most rustic part of his village. When he entered politics, he woefully failed at both attempts, running for two offices in Rivers State in 1992 and 1998, before he infamously rose to prominence when he founded the NDPVF, which emerged as the major catalyst for unrest in the Niger- Delta region. It was then he began violently terrorizing oil installations and oil companies, attacking oil wells and pipelines in the region. If it were any other country, this indeterminable nugget would likely have faced or be facing war crimes charges, crimes against humanity or crimes against constituted authority. Even though this aggressor’s mind is probably sprained and not just twisted, one can be sure that, even his basic comprehension must have understood that President Jonathan is the President of Nigeria and not only the Ijaw-Nation. To any reasonably minded person, lawfully, morally, patriotically and personally, it is in order for General Danjuma, an accomplished and seasoned statesman, to call on the authorities and security agencies to take interest in miscreants who are threatening the unity of our country. It is expected for a man of General Danjuma’s standing to do so. The threats by ethnic bigots, like Mujahid Tyrant, supposedly claiming to represent the Ijaw nation, are capable of plunging the country into further chaos and war. It certainly is not out of context for the General to advise on the arrest of identifiable people making provocative statements, especially given the fact that the Nigerian police force and the State Security Service had earlier threatened that they would move against anyone who makes inciting statement in the run up to the February election. With the tense and ominous atmosphere in this election period, such statements by supposed ex-militants or anyone else are uncalled for. This dismal example of a freedom fighter masquerading as an ethnic champion has been very vociferous, threatening violence if the president, who is also of Ijaw extraction, is not re-elected. Does this vindictive, close-minded coward not know that, in a democracy, public officials are elected into office through elections and via ballot boxes? Is his brain so filled with ‘false’ images of the ‘black gold’ in his father’s backyard that he fails to comprehend, with over 170 million people, 250 ethnic groups and about 774 local government areas, Nigeria does not belong to any region, ethnic group or tribe? Is he too darn thick to understand that, him, his threats and myopic rants have contributed to alienating every part of Nigeria that isn’t Ijaw? Does this fool not get that the disdain some feel towards the President is caused as a direct result of his outbursts? As daft as he must be, even, he must know that, come February 14, the next president of Nigeria will be decided by the totality of the Nigerian people and not some glorified ethic bigot with his caricature threats! Should President Jonathan loose the elections, one hopes that this unpleasant character will find the courage to go back to base and explain to his brethren how his reeking diarrhea of the mouth might have contributed in messing up President Jonathan’s chances! If his current intention is to stand and speak for the rights of a regional interest, he has managed to do even more damage to his interest than the barbaric bomb strapping lunatic mass-murderers in the North East, with outrageous delusions of a New Caliphate. His constant and consistent threats are indeed punches to his interest. As far as his actions, my sympathies go to those he ‘supposedly’ stands for and to President Jonathan. By opening his humungous gob the way he does, this simian has done so much damage to them. And as a President who, in the last six years, has been very understanding, generous and lenient with him, President Jonathan deserves so much more than the negative baggage that this militant is stacking on his door step. Honestly, if one didn’t know any better, they could be excused for mistaking this loud mouth as a spy for the opposition, an advocate for President Jonathan’s political rivals. Every time he opens his mouth, he scores an own goal and advances the chances for the opposition to win the upcoming election. In a cruel irony of life, his actions are much more beneficial to the Northern Hausa Fulani and the opposition, which he seems to despise so, than they are to the interests he claims to speak for. If, in the upcoming elections, the opposition is victorious and a Hausa Fulani emerges as the victor, it should be nationally recognized that this genius played a large part in making it so. If only this moron could take a minute and reflect on how different his effect and influence could have been Nationally. Having the rare combination of being a Muslim from the South-South region, this militant could have been a Nigerian bridge builder for all of his interests, had he chosen peace and love instead of hate and conflict. This ungrateful biped was once looked upon as a champion to the majority of Northern Muslims. He was once a voice that many Northerners identified with and listened to. He could have been one of the greatest assets, as opposed to being a liability, to President Jonathan and to all his other interests in the run up to this election, if he had just conducted himself in a decent and respectable manner, instead of trying to berate and belittle other human beings and Nigerians who have the same struggles that the people he speaks for have. He had the potential of having a strong cult following had he just restrained himself from lunging onto our T.V screens issuing generic, irrational threats while spitting at the poor journalists trying to interview him. He has managed to, single handedly, incur the wrath of virtually every regional group and socio-cultural association across Nigeria. From the Middle Belt Forum, to the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), to the Yoruba Youth Congress (YYC), to almost every regional interest, including some from the South-South, this Basket-Case has been asked to stop overheating the polity. Time and time again, leaders, civilians and groups have been pleading with him to tone down his excesses and be careful with his utterances, as it was capable of setting in more sentiments and crisis that would not be beneficial to the country. The utterance of this hate-filled bigot, spewing venom with a complete disrespect for anything and anyone that represents the variety and beautiful diversity of Nigeria, is appalling and unacceptable. He exhibits how deep in the trenches of absurdity and hate some Nigerians have descended. Anyone who encourages the loathsome cause of hate and fear that this bully is exhibiting cannot be working for the betterment of this country. The kind of radicalization of ethnic allegiances he disgorges has gotten so disgustingly out of control, it is high time for the authorities to take the advise of General Danjuma and, literally, ‘arrest’ this erratic behavior. It is time for the authorities to put a stop to anyone and everyone in this country who continues to stir up mobs and engages in the kind of scare tactics that this cretin does. Just as he has the right to support President Jonathan for another term in office, many other teeming Nigerians also have the right to support and vote for any of the other current presidential aspirants of their choice. A single individual cannot vociferously continue to threaten the unity of our country while nothing is done to stem it. There is nothing wrong with standing for the rights of any interest, especially if they feel and are disenfranchised. One just wishes this Humpty Dumpty had found a way to express his concerns without giving the impression that he had no raising and without behaving as if he belonged in a cage. There is no doubt that poster child of shame is a hungry empty vessel that makes the loudest noise, suffering from a chronic inferiority complex so dire it has morphed into a hatred that has eaten so deeply into his heart that it has now turned him into a borderline sociopath; and he is a huge ugly embarrassment to this country! The current insurgency in the Northeastern part of the country has lingered on for this long because it wasn’t accordingly nipped at the bud. Failure to reprimand and arrest a violence prone terrorist that this militant is, for his constant incisive and divisive statements, might come to haunt the country in the nearest future. If one had a chance to give Brother-Man three pieces of advise, the first would be, for him to go on a very strict diet of mind, mouth and body! The second would be to remove the oil-laden chip from his shoulder and get with the program; “Yes, there may be oil shooting out of his great-great grand father’s court yard, but guess what brother… No one cares!” “The whole of Nigeria, including WE, the lazy, Hausa-Foolani almajirai, illiterate, parasites, Aboki’s, sheep and goats, ARE all benefiting from the wealth directly on his land. It is what it is, mate; get over it already, and turn to the next page…!” The last is probably the most important to him, most valuable to President Jonathan and most useful to Nigeria. It would be, whenever this Paragon of Buffoonery feels like he has something to say, he should raise his hand and ever so carefully and tightly… place it over his mouth and keep it there! In every one of our journeys, we all eventually learn that there are times in a person’s life when one instinctively knows when to sit still, keep their mouth shut and remain schtump. Mujahid must have missed that memo; one hopes he gets it now! With any luck, this annoyingly pesky lump will stop with his vociferous loud noise, embrace peace and do some SOUL-SEARCHING…. Maybe he’ll eventually find one!

  • Not in my name

    IT is virtually impossible for me to put into words the shock, devastation and horror I have felt since hearing the news of last week’s attack on the towns of Baga and Doron Baga in the North Eastern Nigerian State of Borno by insurgents and Islamic militants. A heartbreakingly catastrophic attack that left over 3,700 structures in North Eastern Nigeria destroyed, a whole town that was almost wiped out, and thousands of innocent Nigerian families murdered in cold blood. Since learning of the details of this horrendous attack in Borno State, it has virtually been impossible for me to watch the news, read the papers or face the reality of the horrors innocent Nigerians went through. I know that I am not alone in feeling this devastation.

    The more frequent these mass murders in Nigeria become, the sicker one feels to the pit of their stomach. How anyone can justify the cold-blooded murder of innocent men, women and children is beyond me. Apart from the disgust and anger that Nigerians feel; the fear, the foreboding we have of more violence — is so thick in the air, you could almost slice it. Granted, it’s no secret that the country is at its most unsafe, but even with our present anemic security situation, nobody could have imagined that our society could descend to such a low where barbarians go as far as butchering whole families in their villages, in their homes and wiping out whole populations in towns. That, these insurgents continue to wreck this catastrophic havoc, wrongly, using the name of Islam is wicked, vicious, sinful and evil. These acts of violence has put the entire country into a heightened state of fear and suspicion and warrants peace-loving Muslims to come out and condemn the acts in the strongest term possible.

    Any Muslim that understands the spirit of peace in Islam knows that there is nothing and nowhere in the teachings of Islam that condones the kind of violence where one is given a carte blanche to murder innocent families who were celebrating their day of significance in a place that they considered to be their sanctuary. Any Muslim that knows the overwhelming message of hope, justice, faith, and peace among human beings of the Holy Qur’an is completely devastated. When one sees the phrase in the Holy Quran, which ‘unambiguously’ states that innocent people, regardless of their race and faith, must not be killed in any circumstance, one wonders which interpretation gives credence for some to commit such aggression. It is clearly mentioned in the Holy Quran that, “if anyone kills an innocent human being “who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people.”

    Even during wartime, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) told his followers not to harm non-combatants. It was understood, if The Rasul’s followers (PBUH) had to go to enemy territory for war, the soldiers were not to harm elderly people, women and children and also must not destroy farms and fruit trees as people may suffer because of the shortage of food. In His teachings, he emphasized the right to life of people, animals, birds, and even ants. And if it is prohibited to harm even an ant, what could make anyone think that it is all right to kill a fellow human being? The expression in the Holy Quran, “there is no compulsion in religion” is known to even those who continue to insist that Shari’a law must be applied in the whole of Nigeria. But Nigeria is not made up of only Muslims and, even if it was, one section of the community does not have the right to decide the fate of the rest. If the Holy Prophet (PBUH) provided assurances to non-Muslim minorities living in Muslim majority countries and ordered Muslim minorities living in non-Muslim majority countries to abide by all laws and the rules of the country, there is no reason for any Nigerian Muslim not to abide by the law of this land. Our ardent belief is that Allah is a just Allah. Our Islamic belief is that Allah welcomes those who believe in Him and leads righteous lives, by whatever name they call themselves, should be enough reason for us to co-exist peacefully. In the Holy Quran, it is written: “Surely, those who believe those who are Jewish, the converts, and the Christians; any of them who believe in GOD and believe in the Last Day, and lead a righteous life, have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve. [Quran 5:69]

    When small minorities of the Muslim population interpret the teachings of the Holy Quran in a manner that is unknown to the majority of the other Muslims, it affects us all. And it makes life worse for Muslims who are striving to live by the peaceful teachings of Allah and peacefully co-exist with their Christian brothers, sisters and neighbors.

    If the purpose and genesis of the violence and intimidation that we have seen so far in Nigeria is to achieve some sort of political gain or a part of some convoluted conspiracy theory, then it really is heartless, because it is horrifically and mortally affecting innocent civilians who are merely trying to survive day to day. While those in government, the happy-go-lucky opposition members and others continue to protect themselves in bullion vans and bulletproof homes, the victims will continue to be the poor who are already suffering. ‘Violence begets violence’ and the only possible outcome of such aggression will be the furtherance of more violence. Perhaps the saddest part of this awful saga is, now that violence has become so deeply entrenched in our every day reality, Nigerians have almost become desensitized to it.

    Our humanity, as a people, has been reduced to a level of barbarism that cannot be dealt with in any position of serious negotiation. Using the fear of death and destruction to motivate people to do what one wants furthers this epidemic and cycle of violence. Pointing an AK47 in a person’s face and forcing them to do something will probably motivate them to do it at that time, but it will quickly devolve into something much worse. The death and destruction in Nigeria today has forced us to enter into a deep abyss that none of us could have ever imagined. The people who continue to exact this kind of violence must have families of their own that they love and protect. They need to put themselves in the position of the victims and imagine, just for a moment, the pain people feel when they lose their families in such a violent way.

    We are all brethren — descendants of the same Adam and Eve, from the lineage of the same Prophet Abraham/Ibrahim. We have been created of distinct peoples, beliefs and tribes ‘that we may recognize one another.’ There is no reason for us to hate, kill and main one another. Both of our sacred books, The Holy Quran and the Holy Bible, speak of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

    In the Holy Quran it says: “Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered” [Quran 2:136]. The Holy Bible says: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” [Corinthians 10:31-32].

    Our lives must be held sacred. Our unity must be held strong. Life is granted by God alone and no person has a right to take it without justifiable cause. We have NO room for a religious war in Nigeria. We must all pray and speak up on behalf of those targeted and hurt in these heinous attacks.

    As for those who continue to unleash violence, may they know that every last drop of blood that (God forbid) comes from any reprisal attacks is fully and squarely on their hands! May they remember that, sooner or latter, in this life and in the Hereafter, they will have to answer to the Almighty and pay for every last life that they have directly or indirectly claimed. I pray for those who continue to unjustifiably murder and exact terror on innocent Nigerians to NEVEREVER know peace, in life or in death!

    As I reminisce and mourn for the innocents and lives unnecessarily taken, my thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their lives to the wicked barbarism of a handful of extremists. I offer my heartfelt condolence to the families and friends who continue to suffer the great loss of their fallen loved ones. As for those who continue to unleash violence in my Islamic name, I, as a very proud Muslim, hereby stand up and declare, “Yes they act but… not in my name!” “Dear God, Oh Allah! Please, Oh please, bring healing to this nation, and make it a peaceful land again.”

  • Debut of time, the year is new; I pray that Nigeria will pull through

    THE New Year has come with its all of its tidings, When friends and family are relationship binding. Resolutions will be made for positive guiding; For goodness-abiding and charity-providing. But weeks into New Year the devotion will be sliding, Then begins the deriding, colliding and chiding. We want to loose weight, we want to pray more, We want to stop smoking and all we abhor. We vow to our family to increase our rapport, To adore each other like never before. It all seems so rosy at the celebration galore, Until the reality dawns of our world full of war. All the gore that we witness is pretty hardcore, It has tore many nations, now we cannot ignore. Every time news comes, someone has died. Especially in poor nations, where death-tolls are wide. We must stop our divide and constant collide. Leaders must decide to join a peace and unity side. In two thousand fourteen, disease implied, despite our pride, it can destroy us worldwide. Humans should understand our fate is all tied; Being, ‘Our Brothers Keeper’ should be our main guide. Last year was a rough ride; half the world cried. As we enter a new era, hope we put strife aside.

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    It’s the debut of time when the year is new. When it’s cue for the crew to bid history adieu. The mysteries of the future nobody knew. Go through twenty fifteen with wisdom accrue. We should allow life to go down a treat, Retreat from all cheat, defeat the deceit, So as to greet virtue and meet a righteous feat. Only one life for living; it can’t be repeat! ************************* Twenty fifteen marks Nigeria’s very own bustle, In the form of elections and polling hustle. I fear for this nation from February to May, Because politicians are poised for the ultimate betray. I’ve no doubt in my mind on Election Day; We will witness the mightiest contest display. In-fact, when one asks in a general survey, There is angst of a fallout which could lead us astray. Neither party is ready to give power away, Not now or tomorrow or any other day. The set-up is one of havoc and vast disarray; Nigerian elections will not be a much fun soiree. There is talk that there maybe a shadow government, If it appears that there’s rigging to some extent. But who is to say, who can make that assessment, since there’s likely to be a definite wide-malcontent? One can’t say for 100 but at least 80%; There will be some skirmish if there is discontent. Politicians play with fire, they are baiting torment; They are inviting violence as a way to vent. We must all keep in mind that our ultimate intent, Is to stand by Nigeria in any nasty event. Give us free and fair elections so those who we present, Are the choices of the people who they represent.

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    It’s the debut of time when the year is new. When it’s cue for the crew to bid history adieu. The mysteries of the future nobody knew. Go through twenty fifteen with wisdom accrue. We should allow life to go down a treat, Retreat from all cheat, defeat the deceit, So as to greet virtue and meet a righteous feat. Only one life for living; it can’t be repeat! ************************* So what’s there to look forward to at present, As we live our lives in lament and torment? As aspirants try to reach using rhetoric speech, They must refrain from words which continue to leech. Muslim-Ulama and Christian-Clergy I do beseech, to refrain from politics whenever they preach. These elections should be argued straight on the facts; No need to use, bellow-the-belt tacts. No more negativity that is likely to feed, Our combustible oven of citizens greatly in need. Manifestos should speak of shelter, it should be about food; What we need are aspirants who will try and include: Hospital, medicine and hope well renewed, Education for our children, with no ethnic feud. Nigerians are clever, we are very alert; We’re the greatest black nation, therefore must reassert. This dirt being thrown in the campaigns will invert and subvert; The core of Nigeria and leave it more hurt. But as one we must stand and must know not to take, This quake that is brewing, “…please, for Heavens sake!” Anyone who partakes in a national mistake; History will record as fake and does, honour-forsake. Now’s it’s our chance to awake and our future retake, No doubt it’s a crucial time, one of “make or brake”.

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    It’s the debut of time when the year is new. When it’s cue for the crew to bid history adieu. The mysteries of the future nobody knew. Go through twenty fifteen with wisdom accrue. We should allow life to go down a treat, Retreat from all cheat, defeat the deceit, So as to greet virtue and meet a righteous feat. Only one life for living; it can’t be repeat!

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    For eleven years, I’ve written my column, I stand by my views and opinions solemn! Sometimes they are harsh, sometimes they are nice, But each time I try for, downright and precise. I’ve written of villains and heroes alike, I’ve poured out my heart on my likes and dislike. Our government’s misdeeds, I speak of a lot. Poor women and children I never forgot. The topic that’s always deep in my mind, Is how women and children are confined and maligned. When kids are abused, wives beaten by men, I pray for Almighty to save them; ‘Amen.’ I’ve written of disease, HIV and sport. I try to write stories, touch on rules of court. I write to assure the deprived and the poor. I hope that my message and views will endure. I’m told that many don’t like to see, Any critique about them and their bourgeoisie. People I meet say, “Hanney don’t you worry?” “Wallahi I don’t and I’m not even sorry!” Fun, fiction and fact I define to combine, So my columns can have a design that is mine. All those I offend, I hope understand, My intentions are pure; not ridicule-planned. One-day things will change and the poor will have power; ‘That’s the prayer, Dear God, of Hanney Musawa!’ I hope that my writing sometimes touch a nerve; It’s one of the ways I feel I can serve. My contribution to Nigeria is a New-Year Resolution; Where I will dig deep in self-revolution. I’ll not judge in totality, people’s mentality; When they act in a way I consider an abnormality. I’ll extend congeniality to those showing me brutality, By keeping in mind, ‘perception is reality.’ I’ll search for the key to boost my esprit; And free more self development so I can, #BeABetterMe If we each strive to be, ‘the change we want to see,’ We can pull up this nation from that bended knee. I will sign out this piece, but before I do cease, I wish all Nigerians, God’s guidance and peace. It’s the debut of time when the year is new; I pray ‘beloved Nigeria’ will eventually pull through.

    “…I am so, so proud to be a Nigerian, I identify with every variety that is representative of Nigeria, I am grateful to my motherland, I love this country with all my heart and will give anything to see my beloved Nigeria rise as one…”

  • President Obasanjo, take responsibility… or take a seat

    President Obasanjo, take responsibility… or take a seat

    THERE has been much hullabaloo over former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s autobiography, titled ‘My Watch’. The exhaustive autobiographical three-volume book, contains several national issues from past to present, chronicling the life of the former president from birth till date. The book has presently aroused political interest, by its unflattering portrait of the current president. The former president via the book accused the current president of surrounding himself with aides and political associates with corrupt tendencies; dedicating several parts in the book to pointing out some of President Jonathan’s actions and inactions Obasanjo considers ill-advised or disastrous for Nigeria and several instances of policy somersaults by Mr. Jonathan as well as deliberate actions by the incumbent president that have imperiled Nigeria’s progress. The book also took swipes at former President Umaru Yar’Adua, former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, Bukola Saraki, among other political foes.

    In the book, the former president also stated that he was never interested in pursuing a third term while in office. The book has undoubtedly attracted a lot of acclaim and criticisms respectively, the latest being a court order for copies of the book to be confiscated by the police, DSS and the customs; also restraining media houses from publishing excerpts from the book.

    As a citizen of this great nation of ours, the former president has every right to air his views in a verbal or written form, or whatever means available at his disposal. Under Chapter IV of the Nigerian constitution, every citizen has the “right to freedom of expression and the press”. As a former president and an elder statesman, Obasanjo has every right and is entitled to his own views, pointing out certain anomalies within the polity which he feels should be addressed. As a two-time president, he has an obligation to speak out when and if he feels the nation’s present leadership is erring in its policies, actions or inactions. However, this is increasingly becoming the norm with Nigerian leaders, in that, as soon as they vacate office, they castigate, find faults and point accusing fingers at their successors.

    In most cases, these former leaders have ample opportunities in creating a positive and vibrant long-lasting legacy while in office, but mostly fail to do so; consequently blaming their woes on their successors. Another appalling norm widely practiced in our clime is “godfatherism”. As soon as incumbents cease to dance to the tunes of their godfathers or cease to be puppets in the hands of their puppeteers, all hell is let loose; the godfathers and puppeteers begin finding faults and become vociferous, chastising their successors at every available opportunity.

    In his book, the former president supposedly “revealed” how late president Yar’Adua deceived him about the gravity of his illness, which he never recovered from till he died in office. Obasanjo maintained that the late Yar’Adua gave him the impression that he had overcome his health challenges. Needless to say, this sounds preposterous, as it was a well-known fact that President Yar’Adua was periodically ill while he was governor of Katsina state.

    It is also a widely known fact that Obasanjo was instrumental to late Yar’Adua ascension to the presidency. From all the other capable and fit candidates for the presidency in 2007, President Obasanjo took it upon his merry self to choose who would rule after him. There were 35 other governors and so many other capable Nigerians, which the former president could have chosen from. But he made his choice and opted for an ailing candidate. The former president erred in his action of single-handedly making the choice that was the fundamental right of 170- million Nigerians. He deliberately imposed the Yar’Adua candidacy on Nigerians, evident in the highly controversial 2007 general elections which saw the emergence of Yar’Adua as president, viewed by local and foreign observers as one of the worst elections they had ever seen anywhere in the world, with “rampant vote rigging, violence, theft of ballot boxes and intimidation”. This was also acknowledged by the Late Yar’Adua on assumption of office. Honestly, it beggars belief that President Obasanjo is now crying over the tank of milk that he spilt himself. Not then, nor now does President Obasanjo have any moral right to play the victim, accusing the late president of deceiving him about his health, when he failed to oversee a free, fair and credible election which brought the ailing president into office.

    Just when one though that President Obasanjo’s bellowing couldn’t get any worse, one is confronted with the his alarming declaration of who was responsible for the third term agenda. With regards to that infamous agenda bid in the twilight of his presidency and in a manner reminiscent and common with African leaders who never want to quit office, the former president in a curious twist in his book stated that “selfish PDP governors were behind the third-term agenda”. He accused the former governors of masterminding the plot to extending his tenure in office. This is indeed a laughable excuse and a pathetic attempt at absolving himself of blame. It would be difficult and almost impossible to convince anyone that the former president played no part in seeking tenure elongation while in office. The same unashamedly ploy has and is still paying out in different African countries. The former president should indeed own up and accept responsibility for the state the nation is currently in today. The death of President Yar’Adua in 2010 (Obasanjo’s anointed candidate), paved the way for current President Goodluck Jonathan who was then vice-president to become acting president and now president.

    Ultimately, the former president cannot extricate himself from the responsibility of inadvertently sponsoring President Jonathan’s rise to political prominence and the Presidency. Why crying foul now when you had an invincible but efficacious hand in the current’s president’s rise to power? As a former president for 8-years, while his administration had its merits, amongst the demerits includes the legacy of “do or die” political atmosphere and the failure to adequately tackle corruption; salient national issues still plaguing our nation hitherto. There are few challenges that this nation is going through presently which do not have a direct link to choices that President Obasanjo single handedly made for all of us. So instead of huffing and puffing, sulking & throwing out the bath water, while he continues to spill secrets of the Obasanjogate era, I’m respectfully going to ask President Obasanjo to take responsibility or…. Take a seat!