From time to time, this Blog has reported a few news items almost as soon as they broke though it’s not meant to be a news blog.
Here are a couple of stories that are in the news which some of you may have missed.
There is hot-hot news from Mali and it is a strange political story:
The following may have been released by the improbably-named <ipaidabribenaija.com> in April but it rages on because the subject, Governor Oshiomole was a labor leader who was well respected.
May 22, 2012 at 2:09 am
Could he have got the money from his security votes? if ”No”, then it confirms once again that : “MONEY IS THE EXCRETA OF SATAN, BUT FERTILISER OF SOUL”.
May 22, 2012 at 11:52 am
Dear Prof.,
Thanks for this. I believe “Comrade” governor owes not only us but the world an explanation of where he got the money for this obscene place. Lenin and other comrades – and even our own beloved Late Pa Imoudu, a real original Comrade – must be turning in their graves; Imoudu more than the Lenins!
Now, as a medico rather than a literary person, how in the world do you always come up with these outrageously pithy remarks???
Regards,
TOLA.
May 22, 2012 at 7:20 pm
I made a strong, youthful and unprintable remark when I read the story but I could not know how I mistakenly deleted it when I was writing it in the night. Probably, God did not want me to spill out the venom.
On a lighter mood, what does he want to do with such a magnificent building. I started smelling a rat when in Jan, Oshiomole of all governors, said removal of oil subsidy is justified. The money that will be consumed by that building will be enough to tar some kilometers of road; could be enough to give scholarships to some University graduates; will be enough to buy some drugs if not equipment to the State Hospitals; it could even be used for investment to create jobs for our youths. The list is endless. Does he think of its maintenance in the future even after he becomes food for the termites? After all he is not going to be buried in one of the rooms when he dies because should that happen, the whole house will be a ghost building.
I am confused: an acclaimed “progressive” building such an edifice. Of course, I am not saying he should not live comfortably, but a simple and modest building is enough. Hun, we should praise the likes of late Pa Umoru, late Pascal Bafyau who were also Labour Leaders who went into politics and still had their names written in gold. Of course Alh Hassan Sunmonu is still there and a host of others.
It is true absolute power corrupts absolutely. Whom can we run to.
May 22, 2012 at 8:07 pm
Thanks, Fatai.
You describe the buildings and premises as “magnificent”; it would be if it belongs to somebody who has actually earned the resources to put such up but if the premises really belong to Oshiomole, then “obscene” would be the most benevolent description. The fire right now OR The fire next time comes to mind.
Regards,
TOLA.
May 21, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Papa Awolowo said one time that the masses shall rise up day to liberate themselves. It prediction is happening all over Africa and the Arab spring now. Only that, that of Nigeria is a matter of time. It will come sooner that later. Just what the Malians did to rubbish the advice of the ECOWAS is what we should do in this country. The African leaders know how to fend and defend themselves because they are birds of the same feather when it comes to corruption. This advice is just to try and prevent such insurgences in their domains.
Whether it is civil revolution or genuine military coup (because we cannot rule out a coup in this present day Nigeria), we should not listen to ECOWAS, AU, EU, US or UN. If they suspend us from comity of nations, they will run after us when they see we mean business to run our affairs to the promised land. The last three will not want Africa to be liberated to become a super continent while the corrupt leaders in AU or ECOWAS would want to continue lining their pockets with ill-gotten wealth. I am sure that at the back the EU and US would be biting their fingers and lamenting, now that their economy is running down fast without money to support it from Africa as a result of their waging war against money laundering.
Coming home Jonathan should broadcast to the nation that he is a failure and cannot solve the problems of the country as he himself admitted in the Sunday Tribune story of May 20, 2012 when he said that successive governments have failed to solve our problems. Does he think the seat in Aso Rock is just to be occupied to wine and dine? Did he not promise during his campaign to make life more comfortable and abundant to Nigerians on his way to the rigged elections of 2011? So it was deceits and empty promises. Does he not know he is there to serve Nigerians and preserve our humanity? If he does not know what to do with power, let us continue to drum it into his ears that he should solve the problem of corruption and bring all those oil subsidy cartels implicated by the House probe to book and prosecution. If only this can be done he would have solved most of the county’s myriads of problems.
May God deliver us.
May 22, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Dear Fatai,
Thanks for weighing in.
I agree the Malians are showing what the “African Spring” should be.
As for President Jonathan, I’ve written several times that the man may be a decent person as many keep telling us but I think he’s way in over his head, pardon me and generations unborn would revere him for throwing in the towel IF his inability to move the country forward is because of his swimming in the shark-infested waters of Africa’s most corrupt party, the PDP which Nigerians name People Destroying People.
Just now when I finally summon the energy to fight malaria that has weighed me down and check these comments, I have trashed ten that do not meet the standard I set for this Blog: contribute to a discussion without abusive words. The proxies are all over the web who answer back against anything not praising the president, who dare criticize Ngozi Okonjo, et al.
I believe it’s time for him to be his own man, free himself from PDP sharks and be bold in tackling corruption and other problems facing Nigeria so that he would become counted with Nigeria’s great: Murtala, Awo, Aminu Kano, Balewa, Zik, etcetera – OR it’s time for him to go.
Regards,
TOLA.
May 22, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Honestly Anti, something in me is telling me that Jonathan will not change. He can’t hold the corruption-bull’s horns because his hands are also not clean. Why has he failed to declare his assets since? He has breached the constitution, and the Senate and House of Reps do not care. They are birds of the same feather. When we have a God-fearing and peoples’ man, they all will be probed and as I said sometimes, Jonathan has scored many firsts, but he may add another first by becoming the first Executive President of Nigeria that will go to jail. We cannot escape African Spring or military coup in this country that will usher peoples’ choice. It’s a matter of time. Or the country is doomed.
May 22, 2012 at 6:34 pm
Dear Fatai,
I appreciate the time, energy and thought you put into these comments and I also appreciate your youthful vigor and passion but never say ‘never’. Saul changed to Paul on the way to Damascus, remember Fatai. I know that you know even though a Moslem! Our much-beloved Murtala Muhammed was also a convert because he wanted to lead by example, and my, what a leader he was! While many still criticize the way he governed, he did show that Nigerians were not a rudderless lot.
While I think he should resign, I still hold on to the hope that since “the life of man is subject to accidents and changes …” in the words of my late father-in-law, a real old Andrian (Class of 1924) who used those words in reference to a boy he knew well as a pilferer but for whom he held the hope he could still change – President Jonathan could still shame us critics and non-believers.
Regards, and thanks,
TOLA.
May 22, 2012 at 6:55 pm
This your comment re-kindles my hope and mase me remember my motto those days in the secondary school whenever we were losing a match. I never gave up hope until the last whistle. I wish just like you said, Jonathan shames those of us that have written him off. Human beings never know the worth of something until it falls out of their grips.
The six month Murtala ruled can be adjudged to be better than the years since 1999. The brief periods Buhari/Idiagbon ruled, though tagged as draconian, is still better than since 1985 when they were toppled by the smiling and the dark-goggled generals.
How I wish we can drag the hands of the clock back or we wake them up from the grave. Well, may all of them rest in peace. Amen. The struggle definitely continues. Have a blessed day.
May 22, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Thanks, Fatai. In the words of Jesse Jackson, we must “keep hope alive.”
Regards,
TOLA.