Intelligence First

Poor Customer Service In Nigerian Media Houses

2008-02-07T12:22:00.000Z

Like the saying goes 'it is a thousand times easier to criticize that to create'. The veracity of this saying can not be better proven than in the nigerian media. The media in Nigeria has the penchant for criticizing anything and everything and in most cases without even a proper Understanding of the issues on ground.

If one limits his judgment of our media houses to the contents of the news and articles they churn out daily, weekly and monthly as the case may be, you will be forced to think the media is a perfect place on earth and as such your dealings with them will leave you blindfolded by the contents of their papers.

Without a close relationship with them, you will never know how horrible they are in terms of customer service. Especially one one considers the kind of criticism they (the media) pour out on the various telecom comapnies in Nigeria.

Vanguard for example is reputed to be a strong voice in Nigeria and you'll always expect that for the sake of wanting to practice what they preach, everything possible will be done to avoid customer dissatisfaction.

Adverting is a major source of income for the media houses and why they treat their advertisers with so much disdain baffles me.

My personal experience with two of Nigeria's foremost newspapers is something you will love to forget.
Around june last year, i paid for a 3 months advertisement with Vanguard to place a text ad on their website. Behold my advert was removed before the expiration of the advert. When i called the advert department i was told some disjointed story which i could not comprehend. Alero one of them finally told me she was going to look into it. However nothing was done till this moment.

Just about a mounth ago, i also sent payment and advert to Success Digest Newspaper.
The targeted edition came out and my advert was not there. When i called the Lady in-charge to lay my complaints, i was told i should have sent it to a different e-mail address. However, the email i sent the advert to was given to me by the same Lady Busola Adesoji. So i allowed that past and sent the advert detail to the specified email address, this time with a scanned copy of the bank pay slip. As i write this blog i am so pissed because, the current edition is just out and my advert is still no where to be found.

I will like you reading this piece to know that, after sending the email containing the advert, i also called her on phone to notify her that i have sent the email and she promised me she was going to get to it immediately. What else could ui have done? Help her do the publication my self?

Now they are the media and they take us for granted because we do not have a means to expose all the inefficiencies in that industry. Thank God for Blogs.

The media in Nigeria will never grow because of things like these. Take a look at the New York times, The Herald, the Economist and several other foreign newspapers. These ones are successful because they choose to go beyond the confines of their countries thereby exposed to greater challenges of satisfying a wider spectrum of customers. Nigerian newspapers on the other hand are satisfied with Lagos and Abuja.

What is The Law?

2008-02-05T13:07:00.000Z

The law is an incoherent, Inconsistent piece of mumbo-jumbo that has solution to nothing and does no good.

Is it not said that the law was meant for man not man for the law?

Every country has a big book of laws called the constitution, yet people commit offences and go scot free. There are uncountable cases in history when men have defied these laws and were yet defended to freedom with the same law they defied.

Till date, very few people in the world will be taken in by the story that O. J .Simpson did not kill his wife. The evidence was all clear, the attitude of the man which till date is unrepentant so much that last year he wrote a book elaborating how he would have killed his wife if he were the murderer. This mean figure was set free based on the tenets of the same law he defied.

The inquest on the death of Dodi and Princess Diana is yet to be concluded. So much is coming to the fore with the law appearing to be trying to cover up facts while the same law is working hard to bring the truth to light. While this is yet to be concluded, nothing stops a personal opinion, that whoever perpetrated this heinous act must have done so in protection of an aged long tradition of which probably forms the basis of a law.

In Nigeria, the constitution, and every other piece of its amendments smacks of so much confusion that you begin to wonder ‘what shall a righteous man do?’

There is hardly any page of the Nigerian constitution without a contradiction. I think one would have done nothing wrong if the words ‘law’ and ‘inconsistency’ are use interchangeably.

A typical situation is the law that claims to protect the right of the Tenant and Landlord. At the end of the day, it has caused more confusion that brings solutions. When will the law start proffering solutions to problems affecting real humans? What we have now is a law that tries to run the affairs of imaginary people.

Senator Nuhu Aliyu-Chickens Out!

2008-02-01T09:17:00.000Z

It is a shame that a man of Nuhu's status, a senator of the Federal Rebulic and a retired DIG of police could allow fear or favor make him condescend so low.

Nigerians were taken aback by his allegation that some senators in the house were people who in the past have been involved in advance fee fraud but today that he sees same people in the senate with him. He even said some of them were his prisoners.

As expected this act was commended by the senate President who called him a courageous Nigerian. Within just about 24 hours the same man was seen denouncing his statement.

I do not want to believe it was out of fear for what might become of him following this allegation.
But i expected a man of position, a senator, and former DIG of police to know that a man is not a convict until sentenced by a competent court of law. Just because someone slept a few nights in a cell dose not make him a convict as the constitution only forbids ex-convicts from contesting election. This assertion is presumptuous following his claims that his lawyers advised him to withdraw his statement.

Dose this mean that a DIG of police dose not understand this simple constitutional provision? Is this how he was condemning Nigerians while still in the Police?
For this to be coming from a DIG, it can only tell us the kind of law the police in this country are reeling out to Nigerians. Jungle justice that lacks due diligence. Nuhu Aliyu has just shown us how incompetent he was as a police man.

BILL AND THE PILL

2006-08-15T16:16:00.000Z

With his retirement, Bill Gates announced his intention to expend 95% of his wealth within the subsistence of his lifetime. (Certainly, he must have deduced his life expectancy from a statistical time machine).

With his estate valued in excess of $50 billion that certainly is quite some fortune to spend in so short a time. (Not that I wish him less than the layman estimate of God-given life contract average). At any rate, figures like that could change the face of Africa: that is if he had chosen to feed us pretty. Well, the man with the money chose to pay pharmaceutical bills.

Concerned as Bill may be for the plight of Africans and Indians especially, the question is: did medical science affirm these drugs to be curative? If not, Bill shouldn’t spend money on what isn’t bread. Till the science is fully developed into a cure, he will do well to invest in research rather than maintenance of the syndrome.

One should maintain health, not sickness.

Research should be made into the efforts of alternative therapy as well. The Nigerian President recently made request for a quest into efficacious local remedies; yet, his words were paraphrased to evince a poor appreciation of alternative therapy as a distinct practice.

The omissions overlooked by pharmacists should inform directive objectives for a cure.

The AIDS virus is subatomic matter, not microscopic.
The status of the syndrome must be distinguished clearly from the manifestations of a HIV victim.
Its appearance must be traced and established to be from internal or external factors.
What conditions of the inner terrain foster its breeding?
What cells do they incubate and why?
What can be gentle on the cell and tough on the virus?
What imbalances exist in the body electromagnetism of a victim?
What remedies exist for flushing acids to achieve the pH balance?

The biochemist, microbiologist and physiologist cannot be kept at a distance.

It is ironic that a man who took the world of technology by storm, always on the frontline should expend money acquired through ingenuity on a less than perfect scientific discovery.

Sympathy for mankind is one thing an insistence on standards is another.

A silver jubilee is too long a period to procrastinate. An attempt to pick up lose ends should be advocated while steps should be retraced to point of derailment.

An unseemly number of symptoms with the only common factor being their mysterious nature cannot be satisfactory manifestation of the syndrome. Scientific fact must be separated from speculation.

To the African AIDS is not so incurable. Wasting diseases have always existed with society. To the contrary, there are limits to which the body can tolerate chemical interferences of pharmaceutical brew. The smaller the virus or bacteria in the body the friendlier the cure needs to be.

Direct extraction from nature allows plants to give enzymes, nutrients, minerals and vitamins to the body.

The politics of wealth distribution transcends the lowest rung of science and society.

True concern for the plight of the sick and dying will hastily expunge allegiance to a certain field of science despite the assertion by this civilized branch of treatment that its cure isn’t available for such application.

Why not try the other less savory practice for a last resort alternative.

It is common knowledge among native Africans and Indians that local remedies, though despised by the elite class hold near miraculous solutions to some pressing adamant problems in bone and tissue treatment.

The invisible virus which incubates the white blood cells, undetected by the body devices, cannot be influenced by chemicals unless readily identifiable as body friendly food nutrients and enzymes. Extraction processes and application must have minimal adulteration with laboratory chemicals.

The virus must be seen as reversible when the root cause is understood to stem from an evolution of body microforms due to shortfalls in supply of essential health properties for the upkeep of the body.

AN EYE FOR A SORE (ISRAEL/LEBANON)

2006-08-15T16:10:00.001Z

War lingers at every turn in contemporary affairs. Endangered species strive for meager sustenance. Businesses stretch competition into the vagaries of espionage. Government force their way into a meaningful stand that makes their impression felt. Even a casual glance to the left encounters soul-shaking pornography as female clothing increasingly limit male freedom of sight: this is a violent attack on balanced male psyche.

Intuition naturally motivates commensurate response in violence to perceived attack. What in earnest owes to situation ethics winds up as a feud with a wider resolve that drags in other parties. Understanding requires one to get to know the perceived enemy; an exercise which will reveal the perceived threat to be no cause for alarm after all.

The need for coexistence is increasingly seen to be of collateral significance. The hurt of enduring a score-down in a scuffle can be more unbearable when the contender escapes scot-free. It seems that settling the score is of greater significance than winning a trophy in a chase that is never characterized by equals: only one can win.

Contending forces in the wider perspective sets everyone on edge, by reason of conviction. Sides are taken in a tense battle of interests in which factions stop at nothing to materialize their every will.

No one stops to think who stands to gain: temporal gains between parties ignore wider future ramifications. A win today invites a challenge another day until the score evens at all cost.

Unhealthy motivation like this, to win no matter what, was the bedrock of the ninja art. Its philosophy is riveted on winning and that alone. Contenders fall but others come in a never ending struggle of diminishing significance.

There’s a time to kill and a time to refrain.

One such endless struggle is that of Israel and Lebanon. They probably remember poorly the root cause of their perennial strife.

Laban played host to Israel when his father Isaac sent him off empty-handed to seek a bride in the house of the brother to his mother. Laban’s subtle dealings with Israel caused him to make a pact with Israel upon his departure: he was not to cross that spot to bring war upon him, just as he neither was to do that.

Today, that spot is in shaky agreement.

..and the struggle wins new adherents, hardening young Lebanese against young Israelis.

The Israeli who donated an eye to the Lebanese took on his sore by an act of human kindness. This milk of natural emotion supervenes the sentiment of resolute conviction.

AN EYE FOR A SORE (ISRAEL/LEBANON)

2006-08-15T16:10:00.000Z

EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP

2006-08-15T16:08:00.000Z

Nigeria is a multinational society of bewildering complexity the subsistence of which an erstwhile leader* had described as nothing short of a phenomenon; a befitting leader should bear qualities of a firm personality with an air of easy grace.

A big and diverse country deserves a strong leader. The force of a multiple criss-cross of contending interests between nations, tribes, classes, groups and religions is volatile enough to overwhelm a ‘pleaser.’ Decisions stand to be made, often on the spur of the moment and between two equally unappealing choices the combined sum of which add up to no option at all. Even when none believe in a certain course of action or ideal, conviction should give strength to a leader. The unpopular stand of a leader that relays new foundations may appear inefficacious; this inspires built-in self-inspiring devices.

A society saddled with a ‘babel’ of tongues needs a selfless leader that all can trust would take no sides on frivolous grounds based on sentiments and affiliations. Matrimonial affinity of cross-carpet inter-tribal knot indicates of such a trait. Prolific command of multilingual skills gives good testimony of unreserved cultural versatility. A record of active involvement in multiple communal development schemes or the vesting of awards and titles from a good spread of tribes rings true to call.

Nigeria needs a leader with honest motives: genuine interest for the good of society takes into cognizance facts not ordinarily available to the streetwise. Short-term policies seem attractive with quick benefits, but a good leader chooses to leave the glory of hard endeavors to future regimes while enduring the opportunity cost of painful-suffering for corrective measures to past errors: content with doing that right thing.

A leader should be accessible. Consultative efforts encourage popular participation. Grassroot initiatives exceed the most ingenious conceptions of what the people need. Adequate compilation of information eases the stress of decision-making processes on issues to mere commonsense application. Responsibility for errors made can be more readily acknowledged and derogated from in the future.

A leader should be encouraging. The reward of a smile or handshake with personality is fulfilling. It motivates people beyond their best skills. Personal presence at a function, mere mention of an achievement, gifts offered in acknowledgement of deeds, promotions, welfare packages, or even a show of concern evinced for a person’s interest all help to bestow a fuller sense of belonging. Credible persons are identified and associated with.

A leader should be just. Equitable standards should be meted out equally to all. All citizens, irrespective of allegation should be afforded access to court and fair-hearing. Appointments and promotions should be based on merit. Actions of a leader should foster peaceful coexistence rather than sectarian interest. A mediating influence preempts provocation and violence.

A leader should be compassionate. A visionary holds up an objective as a primary goal and all follow. Zeal should be adorned with reasonable knowledge of surrounding circumstances. A heart invested in a task shall not relent against all odds. Intuitive skills combine with experience to sharpen discernment of preemptive or corrective measures to be applied. Generosity adds to appeal.

A leader should have temperance. Balanced judgment as an image will keep many temptations at bay. Actions that evince reflection and in-depth appraisal elicit confidence. Abstinence from indulgence fosters good reputation and easy relations. A friendly mien communicates favorable disposition, which improves opportunities. Diplomacy, even under impossible circumstances gives hope.

A leader should be modest. An avant-garde sets the pace for others. Right habits stem from an attitude. A culture cultivated will survive that tenure. Personal and official expenditure should be austere to eschew waste and inculcate work ethics. Encouragement should emphasize local patronage.

A leader should have personality and presence that sets exacting standards. A firm personality exudes strength. Fear of sin and eagerness to please are the virtues so attracted. Common pride of the citizenry in its leadership would help to forge nation-building. Good personality profile of a leader extends the influence of the country and attracts goodwill amongst the comity of nations.

A leader should have experience in representative leadership skills. Performance in past leadership roles inevitably ensure better future performances. Experience acquired in positions at one’s place of residence, at school, at work and in sub-cultures makes good requisites for further engagement in the hold of the mantle of leadership. Of particular advantage are past exposure to control of funds and persons.

A leader should be a family person. Relationship is experienced at various levels of understanding and are best nurtured and acquired first in the home, before the society at large. The family is the smallest unit of a community of persons: capacity-building and the bane or demise of values all begin there. The value of sanctity of ‘God’, ‘life’ and ‘marriage’ are early imbibed from family tutelage on home etiquette and societal ethics.

Above all, a leader must be humble in orientation. A good leader should be a good follower. In careful instructions to guide the way, a leader must allow necessity dictate to him through a subordinate authority. Also the practice of tracing the right paths of predecessors helps for continuity in Government, which paves healthy pathways for future regimes to emulate.

My ideal ‘personality of virtue’ to emulate is Prof. Dora Akunyili, the Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control. I find her to be a woman of substance worthy of the highest calling. She strikes the on-looker with apparent deceptive appearance as nice, simple, tender, charming, good-looking and attractive. Close contact with her person superimposes other impressions.

Indeed, she is charismatic, yet, with superior allurement.

She stands out with the new-age image of Nigeria as a firm, unflinching unbendable character that appraises the impossible as ‘do-able!’ She cleaned our street of not-so-pure ‘pure water.’ Instituted standards of hygiene and quality in the jungle of fake and adulterated drugs, drinks and foods—health standards climbed. No sacred cows were spared in production and sale of bread, turkey, toothpaste, intravenous etc.

She is honest: in returning extra grant of Medicare fees in excess of a thousand pounds sterling! She is impartial, declining to assist an in-law to procure (NAFDAC) approval, even at the instance of dignitaries from that family.

She is detribalized, betrothed in holy matrimony to a groom of odd descent to her nativity. She is modest, with a dress-code that smacks of clean-pin model specimen and splendor, surpassing coveted designer labels with easy simplicity.

She is intelligent and rational: balancing exalted national responsibilities with humble family-life chores, without excuses for compromise on either. She is humble and selfless, expecting no more from life in return for her endeavors. She is bold and sacrificing, enduring threats and bravely daring full-metal jackets that swoosh by hardly, in service to the nation.

She is knowledgeable: with a culture of research she balances skill with zeal. Her passionate interest in the area of health encapsulates concern as well as a desire to expand knowledge. Authoritative are the facts she divulges.

She has temperance: with the pressure of workload she bears, she still manages a smile. Her affable disposition constitutes a genuine tool for firm diplomacy: it can unnerve and catch the unwary assailant off guard. She is never caught out of character by a seizure of fit: only laughter can change her facial expression.

She has a sense of purpose. With the disposition of a man-on-a-mission she pursues her cause in a pathway riddled with ‘the connected’ and desperados. An idea conceived is a course to be accomplished. She never quits: she ‘gree-die’ till she delivers.

She is devoted. With singleness of purpose she pursues her goals neither keeping in mind the price of reward or the reason to go on. A mind made up is a decision taken with her.

Most of all, I think she is easy to approach and large-hearted for her chosen role as a mother (of the nation), beyond the home.

* Former Head of State – General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida

CUBA without CASTRO

2006-08-15T16:01:00.000Z

For well over two score years, Cuba has known no other source of power but Castro. Fidel Castro was the law, the Government and the engine room of Cuba’s economic prowess. There is no conceivable Cuba without Castro – Castro is Cuba and Cuba is Castro. What happens with the supposed exit of Castro from power?

A monkey that breaks free of its chains only lingers on the walls never daring to venture a step further: it knows nowhere to go being set in chains from its earliest memories.

A dramatic twist in any direction will not augur well for continuity in Government. To continue in the same path of communism would require a different strand of communism as there exists no alternative personality nearly as powerful as Castro to wield the influence he controlled which made the fascist form of communism with a single powerful head successful.

The most likely form of Government would be of a collegiate nature whereby a group of aristocrats shall rule with their claim to power being their knowledge and experience.

The most agreeable system of government for now would be continued communism at least for a while not to upset the tempo of government.

A sudden jump of a moving bus would require a run for a while to maintain balance.

A tunnel of darkness is inevitable for the void in Government and the absolute want of an alternative personality of power.

I guess Castro foresaw this situation and desired it that he may be missed. To look to the brighter side whatever comes will definitely be better than where Cuba was not because Cuba didn’t fare well under Castro but because he forcefully negatived entirely the reality of human greed.

Yet, the challenge of adulthood is better than the mock security of childlike innocence.

Cuba’s major foreign exchange earner was its human resource. What with its battery of doctors with the efficiency of German doctors under Hitler. Motivation unto innovative skills was not born of material gain as all income went into state coffers. In Cuba the income of a world acclaimed sports icon accrued to the state for the training of other great talents for the future. The individual had to suffice with the fame of being a national hero within the state and a global personality without!

FOOLS RUSH (GSMania)

2006-08-15T15:29:00.000Z

It is truly amazing the way technology holds an attraction for people. Its grip is almost mystical; females are especially susceptible. Little notice is taken of the fact that this technology is but an evolving science yet to be fully developed. Though they come at a small price, their effect on human health might be more than some would have bargained for, had they been given a choice in the matter in the first place.

It is no gainsaying what benefits this innovative gadget has brought to everyday life: coupling has been made easier, tall tales have been made smoother, flash-access was made for freedom to badger others for free.

For these small benefits that bring life’s delights closer to the heart mankind would give anything to keep the ring-tones beeping, though they come with corrupting influences. This of course does no harm to the cell phone company earnings. Indeed, these conglomerates encourage the more dogged addiction to such a lucrative indulgence.

What about the health hazards?

Ironically, many of the expensive brands prove to pas on higher levels of exposure to radioactive waves. No label is sacrosanct.

In style is forgotten the sublime ramifications of radioactive signals received from satellites in space. For a call between two persons in Calabar to connect, radio signals must get to and fro the US via cosmic commercial communication satellites.

For every funky ‘I love you’ is three second exposure of your brain cells and bone marrow to radioactive influences that leaves your life never the same again (but not as your pastor said it would be).

Leukemia lurks nearer with every call. I read in someplace where it was said that with each incoming call is the equivalent an X-ray shot. (Humans are not expected to take more than ten X-ray shots in a lifetime!)

MARGINALIZATION OF THE SOUTH—SOUTH: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

2006-08-15T15:24:00.000Z

The entity Nigeria is often construed to be an error of judgment or at best a conception of the colonial master to promote their pecuniary interest. To look to the brighter side, opportunity made the best of a bad situation. Common experience has bestowed shared destiny to its odd peoples. To seek separate ways after a journey this far together would seem as though to desire to be born afresh into a new beginning with old obstacles.

Resource control, power sharing, marginal representation at all levels of participation as well as equitable distribution of wealth between the states of the country in North/South dichotomy, are the pivotal issues that press for recognition and forum within the polity.

Unfortunate as it may seem, it is noteworthy to mention that the proper forum has been afforded Nigerians by an apparent unintentional means, while the timing of the event may well be said to be both haphazard and typical of the ‘fire-brigade approach’ the Nigeria Government is wont to bulldoze its way through obstacles.

Enter 1999, talks were rife about the necessity of the imminence of a ‘Sovereign National Conference’. Debate stuck on the nominal character of the event: the decision of the Presidency prevailed over all exigencies: it was intolerable to conceive of shared dual sovereignty by two separate entities, with the first which is the State Government being legal and the other the demanded National Conference extra-legal. The source of sovereignty of the former was of the Constitution, while that of the latter was of popular sovereignty of the people, or at least so His Excellency thought.

The sovereignty of the state, which derives from the people abides with the state, from which the Constitution derives its supremacy. Persons in Government under a democracy merely exercise state powers on behalf of the state, but do not to wear its sovereign character. The Constitution itself which vests state powers on office-holders is not itself sovereign in character, thus cannot bestow the quality it lacks.

In a hierarchy of power, the character of each legal entity is thus:
State ---------------------- Sovereign
Constitution-------------- Supreme
Executive----------------- Limited Agency(by checks)

The provisions which vest power to office-holders also restrain the exercise within discretionary and mandatory limits.

Sovereignty of the State is only usurped by dictators who ascend into power by totalitarian means.

At any rate, it was sad that history failed to record an address of fundamental issues of the Nigerian character which would have given precise definition to opportunistic phenomena such as the practice of the Sharia in many states of Northern Nigeria.

Such a practice, irrespective of its benefits, exists in express inconsistency with the supreme law of the land. This embarrassing situation dents the legal efficacy of constitutionalism and the rule of law in Nigeria: say nothing of the many acts of Government that emphasize the notion.

It is unheard of that a country’s constitution runs inconsistent to its Grundnorm.

In the light of such inconsistency, the constitution falls short of its efficacy for failure to represent properly the will of the entire people. The psyche it proffers is bound to be warped.

This unfortunate situation still does not justify the more unseemly prospect of a hastily adopted constitution. That would be jumping out into another hole.

Fundamental first steps demand the setting up props for new foundations. Popular forum must be provided to give voice to the aspirations of the people. Next in issue comes the appropriateness of the time of National Conference.

Regrettably, the eight-year span of the incumbent civilian regime would have given ample opportunity for trials and errors to experiment on the art of forging a Nigerian psyche which would be acceptable to all. The present stability was, however, not predictable at the beginning of the first tenure.

As to the means of deliberation, it was probably wisdom in then eyes of the Executive which saw the consequence of one more straw to a heated polity, and opted for an open approach to a peoples’ parliament at the appointed time. The conscience of the people, moved by popular facts commonly shared with respect to the need to rectify power imbalances in access to wealth, power and representation is now the efficacious means by which common notions that lack forum in the polity find vent to evolve speedy changes that would implement social justice.

It will be gainsaying though to presume this will all come to pass on a smooth bed of Roses. The political terrain is not as level as it was seven years ago: societal inequalities are accentuated by more rigid class separation and aggravated poverty.

The rich talk tough so more force will be required to give the poor a voice.

Contemporary Nigerian polity is riddled with anomalies and misnomers of such questionable origin the hearer is left with an airy feeling. What makes it more bewildering is the fact that these misconceptions emanate from supposedly right-thinking minds. The repercussion on lesser minds is better imagined.

Where persons from a certain sector of the country feel that power is a natural vesture to be worn by them with their innate claim being the region of the state they hail from.

Where other persons speak of rotational presidency, an apparently equitable concept, which upon closer scrutiny raises questions of efficacy and practicability; given that Nigerians were never given the forum to deliberate on such issues, what structures are on ground to implement this system? Who are the persons to represent the sovereign will of the people and what authenticates their appointment?

No matter how lofty the notion any act extralegal can only further anarchical practices.

The people of the South-South, disenfranchised as they may be are at best left at the mercy of the state to exercise their prerogative of pardon and sympathize with their cause. The deepest sympathies they should seek by humble non-violent means rather than strive as of right to righten wrongs of half a century. Past silence for so long suffices for acquiescence on their part, a sudden violent outburst in quest of a stale claim will seem a drunken pursuit of a strongman awakened from sleep.

Justification of rational thought and action is absent in this awakened state of derelict!

The fate of the people of the South-South was neither circumstantial or borne of ill-fortune. Short memory seems to fail many militants who forget the ancient landmarks of the colonial masters remain an engrained legacy. As a parting gift, they bestowed power to the nations with more compatible customs to the practice of indirect rule. From this knowledge the braggards speak of claim to power as a birth rite.

The South-South was not in the good books of the colonial masters: yet, I wonder why this should matter half a decade into so-called sovereign rule. The real issue to be decided now is:are we truly independent and self-sufficient to rule over our affairs?

To be or not to be, that is the question. Neo-colonialism or self-subservience is no option whatsoever for the new day.

2006-08-15T15:16:00.000Z

There exists a steady trend in world affairs to the observing eye. In the contest for global domination between Capitalism and Islam, much of the fighting is done in subterfuge and under-the-sheets. Hardly does tranquility run skin deep between bouts of breach of peace.

Though it remains unfathomably amazing to decipher how religion and politics cross swords in contemporary times as this. Upon closer scrutiny interlocking spheres of interest render theocracy and democracy strictly incompatible just as much as free market forces and the laissez faire attitude cannot confirm well with the less tolerant restrictions of liberty in Islamic law and customs.

Unfortunate for posterity, issues such as this are not subject to round-table deliberations as conviction borne of orientation runs deeper than logic. Reason must bow to belief any day.

This double-right syndrome, ironically subsists even with persons of no religious background. In the absence of belief patterns logic takes the place of ideals. The holder of a view believes his perspective to be the right stance.

The human error exists in the supposed assumption that one’s custom and practice is the correct thing to do. Room is not made in child orientation to accommodate a different perspective of a neighbor next door. The fear probably exists in the threat that the foreign culture may present to posterity and the possibility of a future rejection of self and culture in much the same way hybrid species wipe out completely local strands.

Take away the espionage and politicking through lobbyists, what really gets irksome is the breach of established international conventions for smooth noninterference of civil life in the eventuality of the outbreak of war between countries.

The latest in this trend is the hiding behind battle-line as well as the use of human shield in the pursuit of serious ideals. How could persons bold enough to sign off self on suicide exploits turn around and use women and children to awaken international sentiments to further their cause. Ninja tactics such as these eschew honor which is a supposedly high factor on their religious agenda.

The Taliban nurtured itself like a fat worm under the Afghanistan Government which took a toll on civilian life to expunge and now it’s Hezbollah that costs Lebanon this much to undo.

Israel speaks on a table with the Lebanese authorities and exchanges rockets in the field with Hezbollah: it all makes little sense at law.

Maybe international law should be rewritten to incorporate possible engagement between forces of a given country and militia bands from another coming under ‘armed attack’ in international warfare.

SHOULD THEY STAY…..SHOULD THEY GO? (U.S AND CAPITALISM)

2006-08-15T15:10:00.000Z

It happened in the past that the US desired that all the world should be capitalist economies: indeed, democracy was the recommended system Governments were to practice in the absence of a more appealing option. Communism, she thought, was an evil empire to be demolished at all cost.

What with the pavement of ‘white roads’ with human bones due to the excessive abundance of that resource as a result of the human carnage that accompanied daily administration of social justice within that system, America in her somewhat balanced outlook of legal administration could dimly perceive of any good arising from the quagmire.

The USSR believed in and practiced communism as an antidote to the Western indulgence of materialism. The failing in her eyes was the bane of ancient empires, which when imported into private lives interprets for vanity. Vanity is simple parlance spells as wasteful abundance which was in the first place unnecessary, for which others others re held to ransom for.

Russia by building this empire of brotherhood thought to overcome man’s single root source of every vice: greed. Little had she taken into cognizance the reality of man’s non-mechanical disposition: man in all his inclinations is governed more by emotions than by reason. Feelings bear greater significance than any higher appeal of perception.

Though the man may be your convict yet he is my savior.

So also people walk about swinging their prejudices along with them. What strikes one at first instance sticks and stays.

Jack was known to ride just bikes, so him in a jeep seems quite a waste of machinery.

So those who make the best of life invest more in appearances rather than form.

Communism felt in its citadel, Russia, but was substituted in China for capitalism without any attendant demise to the smooth running of Government. Indeed, the switch over of systems was so smooth that it all appears as a win-win for China. This does not seem to have gone down well with the US. This climb from communism to capitalism would seem to align both systems as stages within a development plan that span unfathomable periods of time.

This unexpected smooth transition came as a poorly concealed bad surprise to the US who had expected a falling and rising to which they could relate.

Some events are indeed phenomenal and must be appreciated as such. Were China better off communist in a conservative market approach or is she to adjust her polity to suit Western style Governments to qualify as a capitalist. Could it then be true to adduce that capitalism cannot be approached without a resort to democracy?

What does the fall of the Berlin Wall go to prove about this truth?

It would seem a clear instance of the end justifying the means when the toll on costs is considered vis-à-vis the benefits to be derived. Feasible cost with a bent towards humane solution would favor a strand of capitalism with minimal interferences.

US… to be or not to be…that is the question.

Instead of such much ado about China’s innovative reforms and the attendant need for the world to bend backwards to accommodate her leviathan-burden, China should be applauded and the stress left to another chapter.

….lest this becomes a clear case of lamenting the dirge and not eliciting tears and singing sweet songs and not eliciting laughter…

GIRLS, SEX AND THE CITY

2006-07-26T17:03:00.000Z

GIRLS, SEX AND THE CITY(2)

The many issues involved in the topical discussion of sex portray one motion in a bewildering multiplicity of milieu. From the conservative religious perspective to the slack freelance outlook of everyday people; the objective approach of this analysis is devoid of ethical standards of appraisal.

RELATIONSHIP – Sex is, generally, a presumed outcome of relationship, otherwise it is commercial. In religion it is the necessary incidence of marriage to consummate it. Relationships are based on trust; thus sex eschews infidelity. Over time, the harmony of souls produces one musical flesh. Interferences can produce metallic notes are rap strains.

PLEASURE – The common impression is that sex is God’s gift to man as reward for union. This, however, raises problems of the types of union approved of by Him. May couple consent to engage in unnatural sex? No scientific proof is needed to establish the efficacy of pleasure in sex. The issue is should the ‘delight’ be engineered for ‘fun’ as an end, or should the sensibilities enjoyed be a means to an end – procreation.

FERTILITY – The design of sex as merely a machinery of production would incriminate many who have no delight in making seed. Stone-age mentality. The question is, are couples not at liberty to decide on the use of their lives and size of their families? Indeed it is poor logic to say, ‘as was bestowed on you so you ought to endow another with life.’ Life hinges on a sequence of decisions made; there have been kids that terminated marriages, or worse still, shortened the lives of their parents.

SECRECY – One hallmark of maturity is the ability to hold in reserve certain matters marked ‘only you.’ The temptation to belong pulls the weak to divulge matters retrieved from an inner degree of separation. This ‘sin of Saul’ that makes the ‘parroter’ small in his own eye is mock humility and debases the one betrayed in trust. Values between two are inherent in mutual ‘understanding’ and image, which are not extrinsic.

TYPE – A mate to qualify for sex ought to be of one’s type to evince taste. The world is full of sick characters. A random tester skirts and trousers is sure sign of one. He fills his flesh with bad electricity. Electromagnetism in humans is an undiscovered area that leaves people in ignorance of problems in health and business. Contrary to popular view type relates in no way to class. Two from different cadres of lives may belong.

STATUS – Position, authority and power are strong lines of attraction along which persons are drawn to associate naturally. This in no way nullifies the possibility of excellent partners outside one’s class of peers, however rarely they come without problems. Once decided on a partner of humble estate, one unequivocally assents to descend from his high horse. A further air of superiority will be condescending and unacceptable.

MATURITY – To become a man takes more than a barrel chest and deep drawl. Financial foresight is all about love as females see men as ‘walking-wallets’: no romance without finance. ‘what have you done for me lately’. Perform and shut up: a talkative is wrong number.

PROWESS – (1) Economic prowess defines manhood before all considerations. Pay the piper and dictate. When the music fails to charm the serpent, it just bites.
(2) A one-minute-man should sooner apply for sex change. I found out that a man who refrains from sex not by divine grace but by his might, or the lack, soon enough loses physical prowess…the poor get poorer. Young ladies feel safely drawn to attached men. Where the carcass is there the vultures gather.

MOTIVATION – Sex is the highest vehicle of adrenaline release. Aggressive inspiration is sourced and found in loved ones. Unfortunately, this virtue does not subsist in commercial sex. Indeed, the exact opposite of this blessing is the case. The ‘fake’ charge of comfort purchased poisons the cells to acidic discharge and keeps the infected victim coming back for more addictive ‘pre-paid sex.’

GRATIFICATION – Some couples conscientiously utilize sex as a token of reward for accomplishment achieved. In the movie ‘White Men Can’t Jump’, Wesley Snipes exploited successfully this resource to his benefit. It is, however, shortsighted and ill-advised. A union where the ‘red-light special’ is reserved for days a man gets paid is commercialized. A hubby should be well sexed always. Everyday is Christmas.

ASSAULT – In the combat movie, ‘Boys In Company C’ the troops of Tyrone Washington’s platoon were told in training: ‘Your penis is a weapon.’ Even in peace time, some Johns in vengeance cane close female affiliates of another. In ‘The Best Man,’ Harper thought his dick a mallet of Nemesis for the promiscuity of the Groom.

INTIMIDATION – Some persons in authority trade their amorous desires for gratification of their preys in need. The consideration that constitutes bargaining chip for offeror is his authority, the momentary enjoyment of which the subject/prey must pay for in electric charge.

THE UNITED STATES WAR ON TERROR

2006-07-26T17:01:00.000Z

THE UNITED STATES WAR ON TERROR

International law, unlike municipal law, deals with matters between state parties. Municipal law is concerned with matters between persons or person and state. The war on terror defies both applications to engage person versus state, at the international level.

On September 11th, 2001, the United States witnessed the most dastardly acts mankind had hitherto experienced. These acts, in concerted effort ushered in a new day—an age of terror. Blind rage was unleashed upon innocent citizens, for no just cause, to no specific end but to cause grievous harm. The body count was awesome.

Since then, the war has raged on a different battlefield.

War in Iraq and the Camp Delta, Guantanamo is where we are now. The former is a whole in the wall, while the latter is a stain in the sheets. What is the way forward? How did we get here? Notable is the profound silence from the legal arm of the law and the loud noise from the ‘Police’ functions of the US, extended into an ad hoc military exploit with inexplicable provisos.

Though the perpetrators of 9/11 neither tendered apologies or proffered reasons, it may be deduced that gross dissatisfaction of an aggravated nature must have inspired so unnatural a motive that moved men to undertake years of research and planning that would have impressed Albert Einstein and Romeo. The carnage though, only the likes of the Jackal could appreciate.

Demonic wisdom of inordinate capacity must have designed the possibility of reversing such a colossal metallic edifice at twice the heat of the sun, within minutes. Why should a man love his enemy dead so much as to lay down his own life to that effect? Even Samson would have refrained had he so much as a ray of hope to depend upon!

Could the strikers hail from roots in worse conditions than Samson’s? Are their ‘heroic’ deeds futuristic for the liberation of their people?

This is not very likely by the claims and circumstances of the prime suspect. The Al Qaeda and its leader represent no known people or nation. Unfortunately, the random and systematic attack of the US since then would seem to single out nations, races, cultures and a religion. This at best is a recipe for disaster.

The European press recently felt at liberty to give vent to its fury by inciting publications that ridiculed a religion. This is pardonable because Europe is reputed to be ‘Godless,’ so would hardly know what it feels like to have one’s religion ridiculed; especially one riddled with several militant zealot arms, at that.

Religion is a paraffin: it capitalizes on human sentiments rather than reason. In an age when leaders exploit their control and religious affiliations to perpetrate mayhem, the resultant progress is a drunken sway between extremes of polarized convictions. Two wrongs must work out and find one right solution.

As petty grievances culminated into a deadlock, which erupted in grievous conflict so small measures will bring about gradual solution. What situation could be worse than Samson’s: captured, gored, taunted, humiliated and ridiculed publicly. A complex knot of the sort should first be broken into distinct areas of human endeavor for appropriate measures. Political, economic, social and religious issues should be addressed on each front by persons most versatile in those areas.

The earth is ours to share equally. The days of pushing some out are over: a gun shot, now is a bullet expected back. So, though you answer a fool not to have him think himself wise; do not answer him always lest you be one such as he!

'I DO' OR NOT TO BE

2006-07-26T16:58:00.000Z

‘I DO’ OR NOT TO BE

Marriage is the highest level of status a man can attain in the home. It comes with little or no fee at all, yet is no menial task to accomplish. As the topmost rank in family life, it can afford no further promotion. All trophies brought home must be laid at the feet of the bride. This is done with all pride at first, when love speaks a fresh language.

However, with time sentiments wear thin as responsibility grows. Some partners indulge less while others completely forget to say ‘I love you’. Love is a tender spirit that feeds on flowers. One sweet word missed, one act left undone bear fatal consequences.

A spate of divorces mars society today as unhappy ends to pleasurable bliss. The kids are the unfortunate victims that bear the brunt of such misadventures. A string of single parenthood is the inevitable consequence that breeds many-a-problem child.

I put it to you: love is a faulty foundation to base marriage on.

It is first unafrican to wear one’s emotions on one’s sleeves. Love openly expressed in pre-colonial times was show of weakness on the part of the male. This is not to solicit a return to cave time practices, but is an attempt to retrace undue influences of Western style civilization upon our psyche and to show where to throw in the towel.

Christian marriage as is understood today is a deliberate rejection of the African native cultural practice and goal of life, which accords more with the Islamic faith. To the African the goal of life is ‘procreation’ and marriage is a means towards that end. Unfortunate is the ‘Dyna’ who finds herself incapacitated. From unhappy matrimonial life to accusations of witchcraft her betrays to total rejection of the strict liability to fruitfulness.

So indeed in the subconscious what Nigerians actually practice is an outward manifestation of Western style of wedlock and an inward profession to recognize African belief patterns and usages in marriage.

The ‘White-garment’ ‘I do’ wedding practiced as ‘Christian Marriage’ in church is a subterfuge of a crafty intrusion of English culture into the civilized customary norm.

Christianity was founded by Jesus, the Christ known to the world and given to the Jews who was rejected in wait of their own messiah even unto this day. All through His lifetime His ministry sought to win the awareness of His race; they lacked an understanding of His mission right from His birth. After His death, He instructed His disciples to spread the gospel in a partial Diaspora. His disciples did just that taking it in the stages: from Judea, Samaria …to the rest of the world.

Soon enough the Christian faith came to become an ‘ownerless’ religion not being recognized in the place of its nativity. The welcome contributions of King James in support of the German reformer who boldly questioned the current practices that characterized the faith under the Middle-Age Papacy, was quite timely. Though the demise of the royalty saw an end to security for the reformer, the King had etched his name in the worthy work of interpretation of the Bible that bears the seal today as the most authentic study Bible irrespective of human error.

With time came more worthwhile contributions of the English while criticisms heaped on Roman state religion which in the first place had had a crude adoption as a political gambit to appeal to popular adherence to the rule of law in the empire. This healthy environment created for spiritual transformation in England, away from the reach of the tribulations of Rome; saw a resurgence of faith with the formidable strides of the likes of the Wesley brothers, St. Thomas, the Waldenses, the Jesuits etc.

Close association of Christianity with the English was stretched to the extent that it was believed the first man ‘Adam’, must have been English, as the original translation ‘Ish’ is found in no other language but ‘English’.

England became the new springboard for resurgence of study and worship after a thousand years of the Dark Ages. From there the Pilgrim Fathers set sail to found America ‘In God We Trust’, while missionaries came to establish education and agriculture as good substitutes for Slave Trade in Nigeria.

Since missionary activity was limited to Southern Nigeria, the Christian goal of life in the South soon became ‘union of man and wife to the exclusion of all others’. This exclusive culture of the English has also been stretched far to exclude all Nigerians from state welfare by the malpractices of indulgent leadership.

Exclusive tendencies are foreign to native Nigerians who partake of shared meals, beds and fate.

Polygamy is now interpreted as a profound evil from the pulpit though Scriptures records bear no such evidence. God’s promise to David was:

‘And I gave thee thy masters house, and thy masters wives into thy bosom; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things..’2Sam:12;8

Some pastors argue that times have changed with structures; well how come the practice of tithing has not gone down with the Aaronic Priesthood and Temple worship.

The New Testament simply says that a leader in church should not be a husband of more than one wife: depicting polygamy as an unadvisable practice.

Alternatively, the vow ‘I do’, found nowhere in the Bible is so often broken with damn consequences. It is better not to make a vow to God than to do so and break it on the flimsy grounds such as one’s need for an offspring irrespective of the wife’s barrenness. Unlike Abraham, it would amount to covetousness to desire a child without sufficient faith to obtain healing for a fertile wife. Abraham who though was under no vow but was singly married to his wife out of love, when she permitted him to marry her maidservant found nothing wrong in a second wife; though God had then bowed to his desire for a son, he took his slave maid at his wife’s consent.

THE DAY AFTER........NORTH KOREA

2006-07-26T16:50:00.000Z

THE DAY AFTER….NORTH KOREA

Pyongyang’s leader is a man of reported erratic behavior. His consistent acts in maladjustments have earned him an image of one disconnected from the rest of the world. He follows a pattern already sketched out by history. It seems in good taste to tolerate a comic character as a Head of Government that craves for global recognition. Beyond this façade lurks the pressure of high powered lobbying in international politics.

The flimsiest of causes that delineates nations into factions is the last straw that will usher in the Third World War.

The world would have thought it a ridiculous story that a second-rate art school drop-out whose hatred for his dad even in death was surpassed only by a shared hatred of the Jewish race. This suspended motivation was to give him zest after his full employment of giving lectures to drunks at pubs finally paid off. The alcoholics, too glad to enjoy elitist wisdom which held the Kaiser in disdain could at least accept to march out on a certain day and take over the realms of power. This man was Hitler.

Shooting missiles for fireworks is but the latest in his exploits of expensive play-games within a despondent economy. Seven missiles, with one long range, should prove a point to an unbelieving world. Should that not communicate loud enough a warning, the follow-up would.

Iran, backed by Russian word of power, is bombarded with consolatory offers for forestalling plans on an attempt to build a nuclear power reactor. The bigger the threat the greater the consolation – so seven launches go up in smoke.

A guilt complex begets fearful hearts in the less than holy.

Russia affirms that it was communism and the USSR that fell and not Russia. Japan sues for sanctions, but China says no.

Divided loyalties redefine allegiances forming Blocs. Convictions crystallize around extra-perceptive causes. Nervous factors get quickly imported into feuds by leftists to achieve popular poise among the undecided. The final brew comes in a blend of socio-political, socio-economic mix.

The most nauseating fact is the way economic factors overwhelm all other reasons. Any taboo that involves money is hard to abandon. Any activity mingled with money is quickly overtaken by cash concerns.

Mercenary warfare quickly subverts military prowess. Economic interests breed new strands in violence. New-age militia with suicidal bent adds carnage to volition. Worse is the fact that these life-bombs amazingly come at a price: payable to next-of-kin after death.

Why should ideals be pursued on an equated platform alongside pecuniary profits to self?

This dearth of idealism promotes realists of Machiavellian school to seem quite rational in the light of double-standards both ways. More disturbing is the thought that even in the heat of clanging metal contenders still find time enough for on-the-spot assessment of loop opportunities to make cash. Life would seem of subordinate significance to the booty.

The deifying of lucre operates to subjugate the sanctity of a human life.

In a vicious circle, the rat race operates in a puzzle with power stifling cashflow to a stranglehold at the lower rungs, while creating a buzz that presents opportunities to higher levels. Wealth created is equitably distributed among membership of both sides of the same class—the rich and powerful. Such preoccupation engenders in the user of money the profound ethereal significance of money to life and preeminence. This renders possession the equivalent of a new birth into a world of mission.

The experience remains untold within the ranks of those bestowed.

A cabal of wealth and power is born a syndrome of the marked generation—X. Unseemly and seemingly odd affiliations mark the terrain of human activity. Any nuisance would amount to a speck of dust in the nuzzle, while contending interests between factions would amount to problems for the world beneath, not party to or in consequence of any bargain worthy of their demise.

Power without control rules the world of broken foundations and twisted standards. What happens to one extra venture of inordinate proportion and ill-timed according to world events? Would his crime be breaking the norm by ‘unreasonable force’, even when that force were merely applied as a threat rather than an attempt? Or would new standards be imported to control sudden attempts to rise to preeminence by braggardo?

ZIDANE vs MATTARAZZI

2006-07-14T14:38:00.001Z

ZIDANE vs MATTARAZZI

Zidane headbutts Mattarazzi. Why? Are they wrestlers?

Hell no. They are footballers: soccer players of the highest ranking—World Cup Finalists.

Soccer is the New Age battlefield for nations. Germany brutally defeats Italy in battle decades ago; Italy retaliates on the field of play. Soccer in many ways sets the pace in human conduct. Kids pick up conduct quickly from role models they place before their parents. A questionable precedent was set which already enjoys distorted fun versions on the internet.

Certain issues were left ignored too long.

Who are the culprits? Are they equals? What went wrong?

B made seditious remarks which incited anger in A. What place has words in a silent game of action. A, the three-time FIFA Most Valuable Player was no equal to the infuriating upstart. Since actions speak louder, the credibility of the FIFA World Ambassador will precede that of the ‘assailer of words’.

Who attacked first, the ‘assailer with words’ or the headbutter?

Provocation by inciting statements has been recognized as serious enough crime to merit disqualification of a player from further engagement for life.

The pressure of a World Cup Final match is intense and serious enough in consequence to deserve no need for further distraction from the primary objective.

The act should be separated from the offence. The act was incited by careful premeditated devise to attack and misbalance the premium player. This is a high crime that runs contrary to soccer objectives, breaking the norm. The offending sight of the longest serving ambassador of world soccer setting the pace in ‘ninja tactics’ rings foul of all FIFA professions: to end that career on that note leaves a permanent mar, at that.

FIFA should clean her house up before terrorism finds expression and vent in her chase.

From racism to wrestling, what next in violent intrusions into the sport, stampeding or genocide?

2006-07-05T12:28:00.000Z

KEREWA (NIGERIAN EDITION)

Bang, bang, bang o. Bang, bang. Bang, bang, bang o.
Na who dey enter for mummy’s house o.

David Ayoka Atim*, the poet from Bakassi captures vividly the plight of the people:

do we tell our ancestors that the land they laid their bones now belongs to someone else? do we tell our progeny that we broke the strong chain of heritage…..
…………..that their land we couldn’t defend?
do we pay taxes to a strange master whom our fathers never knew?
Oh! World that passed judgment.

Community land in Africa belongs not to the present generation alone but the believed active ancestry as well as posterity on behalf of whom they hold feudal agency powers. Incidental to this privilege is the presumed responsibility not to act inconsistent to proprietary rights of owners in absentia.

A situation where a world not privy to this arrangement or believe pattern steps in to decide on who takes valid title to land in Africa by importing standards of Western feudal system. More disturbing is the fact that that title to the land was not in dispute between two rival native tribes: two sovereignties disputed over title to the said land in utter disregard of its residents whose unquestioned inhabitance dates back over a hundred years. Such flagrant breach of people’s rights sets a dangerous precedence to title claim on communal lands in Africa.

Any village could be subject to possible scrutiny of odyssey, proprietary attachment and claim to title of its present location irrespective of duration of residence.

The foundations are broken.

It is like remarking a graduating student’s papers right from his first year in order to determine the end grade to categorize him.

Certain forms of proprietary possession of land presently occupied by persons are now obsolete. In weighing present claims questions as to validity of title are limited to authenticity of claim as at time of possession. The essence of this adoption by law is to avoid chaos, encourage continuity and to prevent forceful occupation in present times.

The ouster of the people of Bakassi amounts to an infringement of native title rights by a violent intrusion of superior principles of international law into land law. This conflict of law is an unwelcome fagging of native laws and customs, with an attendant indifference to the presumed malingering of displaced persons. Such bullying if nurtured will see a dearth of local laws replaced by a plethora of high-sounding hybrid laws of international status.

I thought it was the work of the UN to resettle displaced persons?

* davisgraphicsus@yahoo.com Tel:08023815054
The preservation of grass-root structures has been the trend of the march of civilization.

The world has decided; a child has been born in a manger: who owns this fatherless child? The fact remains that the child was conceived by ‘Person’ since he made mummy fall ‘yakata for bed’. The issue now is: which household does it belong to?

By global standards, the choice is left to it upon majority. By decorum, carved out of home etiquette in that traditional setting the father decides on legitimacy by acknowledgement, or the refrain: besides, where is the child to abide till it attains majority at adolescence?

In real terms, the basic issue is one of time. The time of the decision that determines the child’s status. That is to say, if the time is late who should have decided on the status of the child? When should this have been and how?

To the matrix:

The facts before the court told that the towns in Bakassi have Cameroonian names while the people were undisputedly Nigerians. Fundamental essence should have weighed the facts: does land own the people or the people land? Though plants eat up insects no land ever laid claims to anything. How come about the alleged shunt and prejudicial trespass of natives of Bakassi upon an unoccupied peninsular by the Government of a neighboring country?

Did the people successfully stay on by force against all measures throughout the customary duration of decades that the doctrine of ‘original trespasser’ states would vest ownership rights upon the domicile?

Maybe the land wasn’t much to worry about, but has come to acquire a status that justifies its moneys worth in legal prowess and international politics.

History says France obtained the land from Germany by ‘acquisition’: both countries possessed at the time titles that were presently valid. France ‘ceded’ the land to Cameroon upon attainment of independence. Straight titles all.

Nigeria on her part came up with maps dating back to the 50’s which evinced the penin sular to be ‘annexed’ to her. That was a fatal move because rather than try to prove ‘superior title’ she should have opted for a referendum.

A want of ‘continued possession’ would have negatived any proof of earlier title.

Tacit acceptance of the present possession of Nigerians on location would have been interpreted for acquiescence.

Unfortunately, no international lawyer was there to follow the resignation of his tenure on the committee of the ICJ. The patient bird broke its thirty year silence with an armory of facts to launch an offensive on the sleeping giant bogged down with political turmoil.

A very old write-up by our renown Prof. Elias stating Bakassi to be a non-Nigerian territory; proof of population statistical data oblivious of any cognizance of the territory; water-tight proof of successive link of property passes in a chain of valid proprietary claims.

The culminating evidence gives proof of the fact of an ‘authentic efficacious Government on ground’ sealing all loopholes to an attempt towards proof of ‘superior title’. Unbelievable as it may sound, Nigeria foolhardily plunged headfirst for proof of superior title.

Nigeria’s weak attempt gave evidence of effective administration by proof of collection of taxes; awards of honorary and chieftaincy titles; periodic activities involving bureaucratic presence: there the Titanic sank.

Now a deviant is born a rebel with a cause for being pronounced an illegitimate child of his non-biological parents. Or is she truly a legitimate child of donor parenthood by test-tube semen.

Is it scientifically possible to separate land from the people found on it in peaceful possession or can attachment to land be spliced by claims to land and person reverting to opposite sides?

Fairness now calls on the people to make choices: not much of a choice is left in the difference between refugee status and strange servitude as English-speaking citizens of a French country.

It’s like singing ‘By the River of Babylon’.

So one could wake up one morning and find oneself non-Nigerian? This all happened because ‘Daddy go for journey’. Maybe Nigeria should never have played Big Brother to Zimbabwe with South Africa when her backyard was an outhouse. Maybe those in glasshouses should keep their curtains drawn.

But what if the very name ‘Bakassi’ truly originated from the Etung-Abakpa phrase:
‘Mba akasi’
which interprets for: ‘ a road hasn’t gotten here’.

Why were the aged never consulted to confirm the truth of the fact that the little island was used by the Quas as a vantage trading location for sea foods. Fitted with makeshift structures for temporary bush-market sites, the location was reserved to trade and depart.

The Nigerian Psyche

2006-07-04T16:42:00.000Z

THE NIGERIAN PSYCHE

There is an absence of a Nigerian Psyche among its citizenry. A total lack of self-image subsists in the mind of the people. This problem is congenital and has resulted in an attitude that affects the mind-set. To encourage a child to work hard a father must exemplify the act. My dad encouraged me to prominence by informing me of his top performances in class; but then, I came to find that the fathers’ of my friends in school were all also top guns.

A leader hell bent on reform is held in suspicion, while another that makes away with the booty gets the titles. The youth lives in perpetual wait of the day, his day when his time shall come: and he isn’t doting on thousands. Would his turn bring about a change? Not very likely: why should things change when he holds the four aces?

A lie gives birth to two, and the chain stretches. A people get the leader they deserve because the leader arises from among the people. Honor points in the direction that society should follow.

With the pre-colonial native, honor to the family name was sacrosanct. Anything to derogate from that was taboo. Responsibility was a matter of honor and a calling of duty. Concern for the neighbor reached inquiries into his health and meals, while collective responsibility overlooked personal gains.

With the partial imbibe of Western culture a hybrid attitude is nurtured to a fault. Community lands held in custody by the head on behalf of the people may now be commercialized for individual interest. Service to the state in the capacity of a civil servant presents opportunities of self-aggrandizement. Public service is attended by persons who know that to return home without substance to build a home is to be esteemed low as a fool.

The fear of sanction for embezzlement was a prospect no man would brave to drag his family name in the rough for good. With the new day, with money as the god of the age, anything goes for the cash. Concern for the generality is thrown to the dogs.

The ultimate sacrifice for the nation is uhuru. Nigerians are natural lovers of life so would need a good reason to die for: service to the nation does not number among such. Why should monkeys die for baboons to wax fat?

The classification of the ruling class as ‘them’ reflects their understanding of their political ostracism. The near absence of material stakes to lose gives little reason for a cause to fight for. Worldly possessions divide citizens like in the latter days of the French Empire when the rich got so wealthy they had no need for a further coin and the poor were so wretched daily bread had to be thrown out of windows for their upkeep. The poor were not inspired to fight for the empire when the fall came.

The more tender youth in the streets are increasingly of the understanding that progress cannot be made by a strait path.

Hasty generalization holds tribes indigenous to Nigeria to possess characteristic traits. This holds little truth, if any possibly among the unschooled minds. Outside the country, Nigerians identify simply as Nigerians and bear common traits.

Another categorization follows age and generation gap. From one generation to another relationships and behavioral patterns change. Each generation has next to nothing to pass unto the next. It takes very firm parenthood to break the jinx.

Unquestionable respect for elders, though wears thin with generational ascendancy, is a vantage tool exploited for personal interest. Top jobs are clinched to almost unto time of death. The fairest of females are colonized by these ‘Aristocrats’ who pay the drummer. The frustrated youth is turned aside against his peers for no cause he consciously is aware of. Some find vent in accolade courses, while others take to a life of crime to prove to themselves and others that they were always something.
The bulk of average Nigerians simply look away and take nothing to heart. Satisfied with the love of their lives, they preoccupy themselves building walls around their world. Raising stronger kids to face the future is the job most Nigerian do best. Questions on how to make things right hardly bother them in a silent surrender to destiny in God’s

How To Rob A Bank

2006-06-18T17:46:00.000Z

I used to love the signature ad: ‘This is CNN’ in its rich hue, well delivered to remind the viewer; I wonder what befell the voice-over artiste. The background instrumental for the four-day weather forecast, like soft Yanni, used to make my day, that all changed as well. Now I don’t feel so charmed anymore.

I followed her progress from the days the established broadcast houses, such as BBC and CBS, thought the upstart to be Chicken ’N chips Network, till she etched a place for herself and burned a niche that cut into movie scripts. I wonder, however, if overachieving success has gotten to her head to make her mindless of base degrees when she strokes. It may be American culture to hurt as Eminem’s ratings portray: you’d do well to limit that terror intrusion into other cultures. You ought to know better you live in a glasshouse.

It is one thing to wear an attitude on American Edition broadcast and quite another to broadcast world-wide free-on-air.

Your freedom ends where my noise begins. Your liberty with words eschews rational thought and suggests hasty generalization when you fish out Nigerians as slippery expert fraudsters. I am Nigerian and hardly understand bank operations beyond savings withdrawals. Were Nigerians afforded half the opportunities your glorious nation accords performance will certainly fare better than to backstroke on viewership. Another thing, who does your scripts anyway, ’cos I poke holes in usages everyday and didn’t go to Harvard.

I have heard negative assertions about CNN’s unbalanced judgment and their never-say-good stance against Nigeria: which they try to cover up by the very obvious Femi Oke. We are proud of her and you should have been more mindful of her hurt, making black horse of her nation. It reminds me of the UN worker who couldn’t save his family from the massacre of Muslims traded in Kosovo.

Nigerians are a hard working race, in case you didn’t know. The nation has been robbed silly by corrupt leaders who hurry to invest ill-gotten wealth in the eager West, nothing spoils. Conmen defraud the West and bring back home the dollar, and that hurts; when in economic parlance that undermines our GDP, and incites inflation by unaccounted injection of funny money, to the better life of prostitutes living large. Less than one percent give a country a bad name and that state is an outright write-off, hey?

So the art disorganizes carefully organized life in the West, it brings us here no benefit. The Russian youth, driven by poverty and harsh economic policies are mobbing foreigners: don’t point an accusing finger on a single nation lest you be guilty of genocide. The Rwandan crisis evolved from no less motives.

Have you never come across a noble Nigerian, your career must be taking down the wrong tracks because Nigerians are the race in Diaspora now. There are certain to be Judas’.

Have you never heard of any Italians: a Wesley Snipes movie, ‘Sugarhill’ should teach you all you need to know. The Nigerians portrayed were the bad guys the Italians were the first practitioners. Have you considered a feature presentation on any Italians? Maybe it’s safe enough to lash out where one is certain of no backlash. Deeds like this inspire the present day terrorist that smokes himself up in world cities. No Nigerian would do a thing like that, absolutely not one.

Who taught the Nigerians Advance Fee Fraud anyway, the art certainly didn’t begin with the birth of the nation. Or is the high crime the sin of perfecting the vice.

Do your research. It is dignified to work as the media.

I once had an interesting joke book, it had just one joke about a Nigerian from the 6o’s, and that joke was about falsifying a check. I wonder what waves your writers pick their stories from about Africa. From medieval times Western representation of Africa has always had more vivid application of the imagination than Mungo Park. It’s sad the cave-life or twisted impressions they perpetuate.

As recently as 1976, my aunt’s English friend she met that holiday asked for a last favor: ‘Please show me your tail’. Without the slightest intent to hurt, curiosity killed that cat. She had been told Africans live on trees. The colonialist called the native leader an ‘ogre’ and we adopted ‘ogar’ as a title connoting ‘sir’. The same legacy is propagated through the Western media, framers of global public opinion avowed in a contrivance to report ill ‘news’ to the extent the imagination can stretch the ‘truth’. That sounds new to them.

I thought cable networks were all about variety!

Elections in Nigeria: nothing on CNN. Riots in Rigachikwu, Agwangwari village, Kaduna: live macabre pictures of corpses on CNN every hour on the hour, though local media haven’t wind of it. Is that what you came all the way here for? The media may thrive on bad news, yet isn’t that a little off the edge? Besides, to have attained this status, one would have expected aggressive salesmanship to be an attitude relegated to history. Don’t feel it a thing to borrow a stricken pose.

The English press is done with castigating the Arab religion and making sport of the belief: I would have said better a dead god than no god at all, if you ask me; one loses track of sanctity. The American premium press has taken on the state of Nigeria, face off: would they never stop. To be short of a feature presentation is no excuse to denigrate others for kicks.

Henceforth, its fire for fire; because the American press is well known to leave absurdities unnoticed in its backyard to lambaste at the same ‘phenomenon’ elsewhere.

‘How To Rob A Bank’

Quite a catchy title worth staying up for. What a subterfuge to belie its primary purpose: to catch the unwary eye that skipped two presentations, including the brutalized Nigerian spectacles, beaten to an engrained disappointment, for all his anticipated entertainment.
Surely there must be honorable pressmen to survive the exit of a veteran in CBS, otherwise let the internet run its course. To play with your job in a world of many options could be expensive: don’t outlive your usefulness before the time.

THE UNITED STATES WAR ON TERROR

2006-06-18T17:33:00.000Z

International law, unlike municipal law, deals with matters between state parties. Municipal law is concerned with matters between persons or person and state. The war on terror defies both applications to engage person versus state, at the international level.

On September 11th, 2001, the United States witnessed the most dastardly acts mankind had hitherto experienced. These acts, in concerted effort ushered in a new day—an age of terror. Blind rage was unleashed upon innocent citizens, for no just cause, to no specific end but to cause grievous harm. The body count was awesome.

Since then, the war has raged on a different battlefield.

War in Iraq and the Camp Delta, Guantanamo is where we are now. The former is a whole in the wall, while the latter is a stain in the sheets. What is the way forward? How did we get here? Notable is the profound silence from the legal arm of the law and the loud noise from the ‘Police’ functions of the US, extended into an ad hoc military exploit with inexplicable provisos.

Though the perpetrators of 9/11 neither tendered apologies or proffered reasons, it may be deduced that gross dissatisfaction of an aggravated nature must have inspired so unnatural a motive that moved men to undertake years of research and planning that would have impressed Albert Einstein and Romeo. The carnage though, only the likes of the Jackal could appreciate.

Demonic wisdom of inordinate capacity must have designed the possibility of reversing such a colossal metallic edifice at twice the heat of the sun, within minutes. Why should a man love his enemy dead so much as to lay down his own life to that effect? Even Samson would have refrained had he so much as a ray of hope to depend upon!

Could the strikers hail from roots in worse conditions than Samson’s? Are their ‘heroic’ deeds futuristic for the liberation of their people?

This is not very likely by the claims and circumstances of the prime suspect. The Al Qaeda and its leader represent no known people or nation. Unfortunately, the random and systematic attack of the US since then would seem to single out nations, races, cultures and a religion. This at best is a recipe for disaster.

The European press recently felt at liberty to give vent to its fury by inciting publications that ridiculed a religion. This is pardonable because Europe is reputed to be ‘Godless,’ so would hardly know what it feels like to have one’s religion ridiculed; especially one riddled with several militant zealot arms, at that.

Religion is a paraffin: it capitalizes on human sentiments rather than reason. In an age when leaders exploit their control and religious affiliations to perpetrate mayhem, the resultant progress is a drunken sway between extremes of polarized convictions. Two wrongs must work out and find one right solution.

As petty grievances culminated into a deadlock, which erupted in grievous conflict so small measures will bring about gradual solution. What situation could be worse than Samson’s: captured, gored, taunted, humiliated and ridiculed publicly. A complex knot of the sort should first be broken into distinct areas of human endeavor for appropriate measures. Political, economic, social and religious issues should be addressed on each front by persons most versatile in those areas.

The earth is ours to share equally. The days of pushing some out are over: a gun shot, now is a bullet expected back. So, though you answer a fool not to have him think himself wise; do not answer him always lest you be one such as he!

AFRICAN DUBAI

2006-06-17T12:23:00.000Z

Duke’s Tinapa transcends in vision the ability of the ambitious dreamer. Dropping milestone upon milestone, until he finally touched stone; the Governor constructed a network of premium tourism hotspots that will arrest the unwary tourist in subjective addiction.

Calabar has fast acquired the status of a small get-away resort-metropolis for those who wish to shake the stress off life picked up in unnatural cities. It consists of a continuum of grass lawns tapering into puffy clouded blue skies. What was felt by a Californian lady beside me in a flight was the clean fresh air and different tasting fruits. The airport, also, she preferred to that of Lagos.

The road to the resort deviates at the city entrance. A sprawl of resorts and white sand greet the eye with sufficient distraction from intended quest for low prices. The secret appeal of the place lurks in its history.

The town was a docile location of no activity, no natural disaster, low population and as a result, low crime rate, just before the tenure of the present administration. Though crime rate remains low, the rest conditions couldn’t be improved by the wave of a wand.

The new problem presented last year was the regular dropping of airplanes out of the Nigerian skies. Though these were local commercial planes, while Aero Contractors charter flights are responsible for tourist trips to Cross River State, the dent on the country’s image mars its reputation with a negative impact on tourism potentials.

What moved these planes to affright? Why was debris twice found without Black Box? Could it really be that the country’s Aviation system is plagued with worn out planes?

The country has, since its earliest history, bought and used almost only fairly-used and unfairly used planes. They never did drop out of the skies? Why all of a sudden are they dropping like it was the habit in vogue? Why this fever? What’s the new element?

Tourist destinations, not bedeviled in political gambit make excellent spots to let time slip itself away. Dubai, where the skyline changes overnight, is but a stone-throw from war-torn Iraq, yet has witnessed no incident of bombing. May Nigeria, a peace-loving nation abide thus stainless: laudable steps in that direction should be applauded.

Tourists are sure to turn sojourners at the sight of visions that were better witnessed personally than told.

THE ENERGY CRISIS

2006-06-17T12:19:00.000Z

Driven by machines and electronics, the world faces a major energy crisis as population explodes of both man and machine. Food is fast becoming a secondary necessity. In a world dominated by robot-produced gadgets, mortal costs lose significance to hi-tech maintenance needs on the production line. The law of economies of scale regards the more sensitive issues of output and costs above the politics of who gets what.

Key on this issue of recurrent cost ranks that of energy. This comes in a diversity of forms: petroleum products, coal, and gas. Within the backdrop of the debilitating consequences of global warming, sustainable clean fuel has surfaced as alternative necessity for good source of power generation. Countries with potentials in coal now assess their highest common factor. An odd consortium of nations such as Russia, India and Germany now stand queued in prospective brotherhood.

An observer of times would have thought the era of ‘puff-a-train’ was relegated to nursery book pages. Though shoveling men were replaced by machines, what about the health hazards of excavation processes? The fast replicating world population is bound to take its toll on hills of reserves, at that, as cities spread into countryside.

What one would have thought most convenient in a world addicted to ‘machine-snacks’ should be a resource inexhaustible that deals little damage to the environment and causes minimum interference with normal daily life.

Oil very well suits the description as a fuel of minimal interference since it comes from beneath the earth’s surface. Significant exploration little tampers with the balance of the ecosystem. Gas flaring, its major nuisance ranks below the combined devastation from chloroforms emitted by jeeps, refrigerators and air conditioners—secondary luxuries.

Flared or not gas was bound to burn, anyway. Incidental damage to farm lands and surface waters by periodic spillages are high collateral for locals to pay for global benefit. Diplomacy and humanitarian gestures are the centripetal devices to be imported to ameliorate the situation.

As to the fact of inexhaustibility, statistical data depicts depleted world resource by another half a century. Let’s borrow a thing or two from history; Malthus, the economic genius predicted economic doom for the world long before the mid twentieth century. He knew nothing of the future contingency of the Industrial Revolution. What wonder he would have suffered to have witnessed for the first time in human history, world population explosion in vertical progression by 1960, which was naturally assimilated

. Yet, that oil-doom, according to geology now lingers four decades ahead.

There is a God, I believe, that won’t close shop before we leave. He centralized West African reservoirs beneath the greatest African congestion long before Nigeria was conceived. It certainly is well.

Let’s go back: the statistics of prospecting, placed before the British Government in the 1950’s certainly weren’t a-tenth as attractive as they are today, otherwise Nigeria would have had to deal with problems of power-sharing in an Apartheid government. Data of oil prospecting released in the 1990’s, using cutting edge technologies evinced the presence of oil in all but one state of North-West Nigeria. Though many sites were not of commercial quantities yet; large reserves were found in surprising areas such as Lagos and Maiduguri.

What this goes to prove is that alternative factors exist to the ‘sudden overturn’ theory of the earth’s crust requisite for oil to form within mind-boggling ciphers of years. In 1990, the Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola discovered a well that made the combined potentials of all oil companies in Nigeria like a smile. Presently, Shell Nigeria has sited a well with hitherto unprecedented potentials in Nigeria, and the beat goes on.

Since profit is the major constrain of commerce, turn-over and productivity should be the focus. Coal ought to be mined with no less vigor. The talk, however, of a substitute to oil is wishful thinking. Say nothing about Hydrogen fuel, least we suffice with more than 21% of Oxygen in the atmosphere and the attendant puzzles that holds for the ecosystem.

As unlikely fields of interest merge in a world that forges weapons of manipulation out of any unseemly advantage, set policies must be fixed between buyer and seller nations to protect the interest of investor multinationals who undertake to spend billions of dollars in investment. The recent episodes up between Russia and Ukraine on gas as well as Bolivia and Brazil on oil prospecting are evidence enough how energy resource may constitute a greater tool of political weaponry then nuclear arsenals.

A quest to avoid facing up to a difficult decision often enough leads to dangerous addictive practices. When the mirage of fuzzy figments are gone the problem abides unscathed. The shortcut around a payment due may well be the further route around the problem. Communities in distress caused by spillages ignored for too long, it will be discovered in retrospect, are proving to be more unyielding than they would have been for a much smaller fee at an earlier date.

BLACK GOLD AND THE PETRODOLLAR

2006-06-16T19:09:00.000Z

BLACK GOLD AND THE PETRODOLLAR

The Oil Embargo of 1973 turned around the resource and wealth sharing formula of international trade. The world was a better place for developing countries with the related potential. The developed world was not ready for this: it still evinces this unreadiness.

What really went down? In lay terms, some of the strong among the hungry of the earth got tired of a mouthful of nothing. As Golda Meir cited from the Talmud: if I don’t speak for myself, who will. What the world witnesses today seems relative more to the second phrase of her quote: if I am for me only what am I? Greedy.

Greed is not a subject entirely new to man. It is an insignificant sub-topic under ‘might is right.’ Man didn’t lose much of his cave-time tendencies in pecuniary concerns of civilization. The ‘winner-takes-all’ tendencies ensure good sleep for Richie Rich.

It is ironic that rich nations churn out bundles from Microsoft by the instrumentality of the Anti Trust Law!

Each nation strives in its diverse strengths to obtain its greatest bite from the global economy. The capitalist twist takes all in its stride, left or right wingers. The weak, characteristically, are dealt a hard blow with none to speak for them. Since the UN lacks a legislative arm, they have to suffice with food hand-outs.

This has not gone down well with some, even ‘ungrateful’ beneficiaries of such aids such as the Government of Niger that said ‘our people are not hungry’, amidst graphic pictures on CNN and BBC that depicted gory sights the world did not witness in the Holocaust.

Other more outspoken, or rather action prone, self-accredited groups garner popular support, justifying their cause by such debacle.

In the Middle East, popular belief holds that Allah bestowed large reservoirs of Black Gold within Arab borders for the propagation of Islam. The first consideration was to reinvest the tremendous outflow of stupendous wealth right back into the American economy where it came from. Religious strategies culminated into economic policies, which spilled into political agendas and eventually now, military tactics.

A struggle of desperate proportions mingles emotions in a shout of rage. War chants, squeals of agony and frustrated murmurs and fearful shrieks are all weaved up in one.

Tables were shun too long, swords were whet too sharp and cunning was forge in ever-new mettle. This is a cat-knot of wool most knitters would prefer to do away with. One wrong chapter of human history stands to be erased, in penultimate time!

Buyer and seller ought to have a relationship first. Trade is secondary to trust. Force is external to interactive sessions. Sometimes it can be quite annoying to be menaced by a condescending look and words that expect one to act of less intelligence. It is no fault of the lesser that the greater can’t keep in time with development in intellect as he does in power!

Each voice that speaks on the global scene is representative and as such noble. That basic understanding must be respected. The name ‘dad’ and the title ‘Your Excellency’ are sweet to the ears, dividing allegiance of those gathered to get split shares on the global arena. Ethics that underline the Anti Trust Law should guide and alleviate unequal bargaining power to preempt a show of militia prowess.

Innovative demands have hurled the Hulk (China) on the rest of the world. The hitherto dormant giant has got to get what’s hers now she’s demanding. Bargaining power, market, purchasing power, resource, she has all. Chaos could arise from an unprepared ness to meet present realities.

New definitions, new products, new relationships, new attitudes, new goals should be advocated, leaving the past behind. Mankind never had it better: no dirty corners of the earth, an enlightened global community, leaders in one playing-field…. that requires leveling.

FROM IMMUNITY TO HUMAN DIGNITY

2006-06-16T18:52:00.000Z

FROM IMMUNITY TO HUMAN DIGNITY

Sequel to the demise of colonial occupation the new menace to human development in Africa was the Immunity Clause. An empowerment meant to give privileged footing to persons in power to enable for easy efficacy with minimal legal interferences, rather gave vent to more insidious notoriety than that the successful nationalists had succeeded to cause to retreat. ‘Animal Farm’ was born for real in Africa.

‘Squealer’ was here to stay and in no hurry to relinquish hold to power or popular sovereignty. From the appointment of ‘Yes men’ to massive pre-paid campaigns in his support. The conscience of the electorate was mortgaged by sell-outs. The uphill task of opposition was further roughened by the threat of stigma or outright violence.

Enter the O.A.U., with sub-regional potentials to network the ‘suzerain will’ of its component national leaders against each individual citizenry. ‘Independence’ was defined around a sub-culture of closed membership, whose mandate it was to reserve the exclusive identity to privileged personality, irrespective of claim to power or propriety of ascendancy

It was an organization that held in greater jealousy the autonomy of each member’s cherished dominion rather than it was concerned over the welfare of their subjects and how these Governments fared in their responsibilities. Inadvertently, membership to it, in practice, was of the participating personalities, rather than of states, as in theory. The memories of colonialism were to close for comfort to permit for restrictions of any kind from Western quarters.

State powers were worn like a garment with little respect for constitutional supremacy. The threat of sanctions by the wider international community was met with the steel will of the combined leaders’ forum, comprised of over-feds surer of their meals. Each was reluctant to interfere with the internal matters of the other such that come another day he may enjoy equal liberty of extra-constitutional preeminence.

Increasingly, their consultative forums bore the hallmarks of a cabal of self-accredited persons, intent upon doing the wrong thing. The devil took care of the rest more-than-hungry souls. Something had to give to righten this spring-of-evils: it was merely a question of time before the world community stepped in with juicy incentives that encouraged the transformation of the O.A.U. into the A.U.

Fundamentally the same in structure, priorities changed from centripetal interests of members statesmen to the perennial engaging problems of a materially challenged transnational society. The physiopathology of the menace left in its wake practices enshrined in certain hearts zealous to enjoy their late entry.

Sudan slaughters its citizenry in hope of instituting faulty structures for resource control of crude oil wealth along tribal preferences and expects the world to understand. So far, so good: that has been heard before. Nigeria may ‘keep the peace’ while the UN may not: this sounds more like a village scene with a tyrant, out of a cartoon; in an arena where the fouler determines the rules The Niger-Delta youth has picked up arms, where the military left off: in a country where constitutionalism is determined by the interludes between the change of magazines and the crack of gun-smoke.

The last straw that tipped with Rwanda seems comfortably far enough behind to accommodate another scandalous mayhem in human memoir. It is regrettable to know that the jus cogens of international convention permits the UN interference only after notable damage has occurred

Now the West has chosen to downplay on installation of heads of states or regime changes and to give respect and recognition to African leaders, why must the turntable register a crack in the record again? Wherein are built-in systems of inherent checks and balances to be installed among African leaders?

It will appear that the conscience and superego were lost in an improper disposition to self and the neighbor evaluated through values imbibed from Western standards that neither quality the hybrid for a Blackman and, even less a White.

The mirror makes a better image than the shadow can cast.

How ironic it is to know that the importation of equitable Western standards prescribed by the world community was superimposed by the irresistible dangle of carrots eagerly accepted by African leaders as the panacea to the self-inflicted African-vice of the Super-self. Even more paradoxical is the fact that greed for the gains of acceptance was the vehicle by which this ogre was renamed Goliath. ‘Ogre, sir!’ the beloved title was sacrificed for enfranchisement of lowly David.

Should the White-world care more for humanity than Africans care for their own brood?

Soon enough a voice shall be heard casting the blame for slave trade on the buyer rather than seller. New age slavery, which is ten times greater in volume, has the Blackman in the significant role of being both buyer and seller of souls: White inducement is mainly for sex. The tables have turned full circuit again.

JOKES

2006-06-12T08:49:00.000Z

One Million Naira Is Better Than Nine Hundred Thousand

A man thought to give his wife ten thousand naira for shopping for the month. He proceeded to give her four as the entire sum some for the month. She returned from the market with stories of woe, due to rising prices. Two weeks later she asked for more money on other grounds and got four thousand. After another week, she suffered entirely different circumstances that called for urgent cash disbursal: she got two thousand. She went about light hearted telling whoever cared to listen how her husband loved her.

Another woman got ten thousand naira from her husband. When she asked for more that same month she was denied flatly. She spent the rest of the month sulking. When her husband met with the first husband he was advised on ‘woman finance.’

The next month the first husband received a windfall and began to live large. When he gave his wife a million for the month, she came back broke mid-week. Nonplussed, he shared his surprise with his driver. The driver advised: ‘Sir, with women one million is better than nine hundred thousand; I gave my girlfriend twenty thousand, still she succumbed to the street trader for a hundred naira. Twenty thousand one hundred is better than twenty thousand.

NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS

2006-06-11T19:09:00.000Z

What passes for a word we call a child at birth goes to bear ramifications that propel the fate of that child within the discretionary limits of destiny. What may seem a careless ‘fault’ or sheer ‘lucky break’ might in actual fact be mere destiny fulfilled. Fulfillment by way of extension transcends centuries through congenital ascendancy as well as an accompaniment of fate that attends one to accomplish feats beyond human discernment.

There is more to a name than meets the eye. A simple, nice word such as ‘Joseph’ (add one), added one unlikely child to the family, at the expense of the hitherto barren asker. The name Joseph was dropped from the tribes of Israel: two offshoot names ‘Ephraim’ and ‘Manasseh’ were added in extended fulfilled.

The wise father changed the accursed name ‘Ben-noa’ (son of my sorrow), bestowed by the dying mum, to ‘Benjamin’(son of the south/son of my right hand).This name proved too true within a few generations when all eleven tribes of Israel ganged up against this single tribe in judgment for its evil. Despite its wrongful stance in a war of blame, the Benjamites single-handedly defeated the combined tribes with prolific skills as the ‘right hand’ of that race. Each warrior was an unusually skilled ambidexter that could take a hair’s breath from point blank range.

The reflexive name ‘Moses’ (I took him out of the water) came with introspective qualities that distinguished the bearer from the sea of people. His orientation was of the finest standards the then world knew. The wisest philosophers as teachers, conducive environment for child upbringing afforded vantage opportunity to cultivate the finest gentlemanly manners and a balanced disposition, irrespective of the corrupting influences of the surrounding perverse society. Fate accomplished the essence of that name, raising the child in its mother’s humble hands early and then passing on the beneficiary unto her the benefactor to be refined in grandeur and to be taught to fare naturally in splendor.

‘There was not a man as humble as Moses on the face of the earth.’

Striking was the fulfillment of the name ‘Issachar’ (hire). Because an unloved wife lacked access to her husband who had been usurped by a prettier sister as second wife, an herb believed to be invaluable for fertility which her son brought home was to be the price for a one-night stand with her husband. Noteworthy of mention is the lot of ‘Issachar’ when Israel blessed his sons on his deathbed. An early generation acquired the status of serfs due to their delight in the dignity of labor, regardless of the price that ought to be paid.

‘Issachar is an ass’s colt couched between two burdens. He saw that the land was good and bowed his back unto forced labor’

The name Kunta Kinte (the only thing greater than yourself), in the movie, ‘Roots’ challenged his ‘manhood teacher’ who was supposed to be the greatest thing in a child’s life until then. The child grew into an overachiever despite impossible conditions that took him through slave trade, chopped leg, sale of an only child: his descendant was to return in his place, to the place of his capture, in fulfillment of the chicken-sacrifice of a loving father for his return. His was the only returnee story traced back through medieval generations to Africa. He was the only thing that defied the four century long macabre debacle—slave trade.

The Good Book, though, abounds with names attached to high destiny. Top among these include:
MALE FEMALE

1. BENAIAH ESTHER
2. DANIEL MARY
3. DAVID RUTH
4. JOSIAH DORCAS
5. THEOPHILUS RAHAB
6. JOHN ABIGAIL
7. PAUL ELIZABETH
8. PETER DEBORAH
9. STEPHEN NAOMI
10. MICHAEL/JOSHUA MATHA

DOG

2006-06-11T19:02:00.000Z

A dog is not a g-o-d. If divine functions do not include dogs, what constitutes best uses of a dog? As man’s best friend, dogs are best at security functions. Guard duties and crime detection are top priorities that highlight dog intelligence. That a dog can save a life places it first in essence among domestic creatures.

DOG HYGIENE

For a household companion, a need exists for a dog to be cultured in hygienic conditions. Unlike humans, a dog’s fur is compromised by daily baths. How then can it keep in hygiene? First, priorities for dog health must be noted:
1. fur care
2. dog place
3. dog habits
4. table manners
fur care
Dog fur must never be brushed too often: two times a day is just right. Stroking will do just fine to keep fur and skin healthy, communicate love and garner excitement for health. Each morning, dog powder should be applied evenly before brushing.
dog place
Particular attention should be given to where the dog spends most of its time.(It is improper to share a bed with a dog for health hazards.) Dogs must avoid wet or moist conditions always as that fosters easy infestation. If a dog lays out on a smooth hard surface(especially in warm or hot conditions), that spot must be mopped severally within a day with disinfectant. Fly larvae sprout quickly and incubate their skin with lethal maggots. Dog pillows should be dusted and sunned daily.
dog habits
A dog must be trained early not to regurgitate or to swallow its vomit, at that*. This is characteristic of dogs and would prove habitual if not timely checked. Dogs turn around one spot and finally snuggle into a cozy, comfortable position: usually on the same side. Discourage a dog from sleeping on the same side, especially on hard surfaces as it gives bacteria more time to act on the skin. Discourage your dog from being too playful, especially with strangers, it distorts its focus.
table manners
Feed a puppy 5 times a day, reducing frequency to 3times to stop at once a day by full grown six months old. It must only feed from a plate, always. It is advisable to make it the same plate all the time. Train it early to test the water for temperature with its leg before drinking. Never throw food at it or feed it from your palm, it weakens its resistance and exposes it to temptation. Make it drink water 5minutes to meal-time. Do not tease it with food or heighten its anticipation. Food must never be served raw. Canned foods are best served seasoned with vegetables (such as spinach) in a little rice. Bones must not be served at mealtime with the main course.

*charcoal tablets ease vomiting.
health-tips
n Serving bone-marrow of cows cooked with meals improves dog’s strength immensely.
n Go dog-walking at least for thirty minutes each day, preferably in the evening, within the same area.
n Teach your dog tricks, patiently demonstrating your expectation.
n Stroke your dog several times in a day.
n Speak to your dog, repeating a word many times with action, where necessary.
n Prevent your dog lying on bare ground. Teak infection is easier than imagined.
n Control contact with other dogs. Dog-to-dog diseases are preventable.
n Bathe with warm water fortnightly.
n Spray teak powder regularly.
n Do not mate a 6 month old female. Leave it till a year old.
n Do not mate two dogs of the same parenthood. The pups will die.
n Avoid cross-breeding. Seek out pure breeds for best results.

puppy care
puppies are vulnerable to teak infection. They may not be served teak baths but should be administered teak powder lightly, on regular basis. Areas of concentration include; inside the ears, between the paws, beneath the body, on the head and around the neck.
tips
n Puppies should be kept away from poisonous plants and chemicals.
n Should be provided with plastic or leathern objects to chew on.
n Should have regular playtime and should be tossed, using the feet.
n Should be lifted up severally by the skin of the back.
n Should be fed exclusively at first with milk.
n Should be separated from mother at ten weeks.
n Should be prevented from biting each other at play.
n Must be bred fat early and maintained through 16 weeks.
n Should take all three shots within recommended time frame.

PREFERRED BREEDS
Poodle(French)
Dalmatians(Americans)

GUARD DOGS
PIT-BULL—prone to recognize one person—the feeder. Attacks anyone else.
BULLMASTIFF—Huge and ferocious.(unpopular).Like Pitbull, grab-bite once.
ROTTWEILER—Popular. Very jealous. Meticulous about starting cars with keys.
DOBERMAN—(Scooby-doo stupid) swift, playful,with more bites than Rottweiler.
GERMAN SHEPHERD—Big, proud, confident, handsome. Good for appearances.
ALSATIAN—Rich colored. Most intelligent dog(a species sniffs cocaine).Right size.

*First 4 breeds should have their tails cut early, professionally. Guards dogsmust be trained and keep away from the family. The last two breeds are versatile and may be nurtured as pets or guard dogs. Their orientation goes a long way to determine their function.

THE JOKE CALLED BLACKMAN

2006-06-09T12:36:00.000Z

To be a man is no day’s-job: it’s a contract, for life. To be a Blackman is a mission. A look around the world would reveal salient facts not apparent to the unobservant eye. The African-American is either quick to the defensive( the man of honor who has imbibed Western culture), or differently hurls back or shrugs off all insult on his person, blaming his woes on his color(the muthuth-f**kin’ hustler). The American black is a hypothetical scientific curiosity

TuPac speaks:
‘wake up in the mornin’ and I ask myself
is life worth living should I blast myself’

Question: if you blast yourself do you solve the problem or add to it?
50Cent runs himself down, calling himself a PIMP and the world lifts him all up. Most love him with passion, basically, for success as a survivor of bullet wounds.

I feel a lot safer restricting this research analysis to the black African. This, of course, does not aptly extend to some South Africans, like the great Mandela, for similar reasons of effective exposure to Western value system.

Born close to nature, the Blackman was destined to rule in wisdom. As closest companion to the elemental spirits, he possessed the power to unlock the mysteries of all puzzle and sickness. Unfortunately, his fate differed succinctly from his destiny. Before he had the chance to prove his mettle, fate nipped his potentials in the bud.

Someone preached that the longest curse in the Bible subsists in the generational curse of Ham by his angered father whose nakedness he had mocked in his drunken stupor.
‘Cursed be Canaan.’

Things would have been different had the curse alighted on Ham himself rather than his generations to come.

A renowned professor on African studies (Prof. Allot)once observed that to the African, the concept of sin exists only in the act of being caught. Nigerians will best appreciate this reality in the paradox of propriety of a military coup d’etat. With success comes power and privilege; with failure comes the death sentence for high treasonable. The implication here in everyday life suggests the absence of conscience and equitable standards in a repugnancy test.

Consciousness of equitable standards bears little persuasion to a family in need of a grandchild. The African goal of life is procreation, not union; it is irrelevant to them by no fault of hers a bride is sterile: up and run, she must go. ‘Take a walk.’

The Whiteman may be a bit detached and impersonal, but it helps for progressive strides: he doesn’t need to know you to help you. Specialization entails separating units for improved efficiency; even God does this. The masterly touch of a maestro is detached.

Not so the Blackman, he is warm but egocentric: maturity entails that he helps his own alone. I, me and myself. The easy-going Unoka, in Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’ would have been an open-handed success in the U.S., appreciated only for his musical excellence rather than be faulted on his laziness to farm. Kanu Nwankwo can’t be much of a farmer with his wiry frame: yet, none speak of him as lazy. The inviting villages did not pay a good price for Unoka’s skills.

In the same vein, many-a-rural African Queens are burned out in their villages by their virile overworked counterparts. Little appreciation is given for her vital statistics as a virtue worthy of notice. I remember the celebration of Oluchi, the Face of Africa and even the Hall-of-Fame, Jane Kennedy, who made Black Beauty legend at a tender age.

Sad to say, in all his artistry, the Blackman lacks a sense of aesthetic appreciation.

To peak his many shortcomings is the fact that the Blackman is inherently lawless by nature. Endowed with a natural ability to tap into the forces of nature, he manipulates his way to possession of a diabolic fetish. His inability to abide by laws, characteristically, would lead him to violate the expected rule of the fetish. After destroying his next-of-kin, he gains possession of his family estate alone. Stopping at nothing, he will eventually cross the borderline and offend the charm to irrevocable doom. So he will die and go, leaving behind no knowledge of the technology he so acquired and abused to his demise.

With the Whiteman, the fetish fares differently. He inherits it from the Blackman; though he knows not how to tap into such resources from nature, he cherishes what he stands to gain from it. He satisfies it and follows its laws. By fulfilling its needs he enslaves it by its addictive need, thus subjugating it under his control. So by following after its law, the Whiteman is able to generate and draw power from the fetish for his use. His orientation is progressive, not destructive.

A soldier goes and another comes. Leaders are chosen from among the people, so the problem perpetuates itself. From a common orientation stems the problem of leadership of black nations. The poverty syndrome called ‘poverty mentality’ survives the trappings of success, if not carefully managed it could course one’s path in pilgrimage right back to the nativity of his origin.

FOOTBALL RACE

2006-06-06T18:57:00.000Z

Here came a prophet out of Nigeria, well approved in France--Fela; he crooned:
‘This uprising will bring out the beast in us’
There went forth a prophet from the US, TuPac Shakur; he rapped:
‘Still I see no changes, all I see is racist faces
Misplaced hatred, a disgrace to races
Take the evil outta the people they’ll be acting right
Both Black and White can ***** **ack tonight’

Who would have thought that negative elitist tendencies could slip into the field of skills!

Soccer as a game evolved from the native pastime of the Welch, Anglo-Saxon royalty. In its early crude form, kings engaged in kicking a human skull, which they chased one-way down hill. Indeed, the reveling chants of cheering English fans, today, is reminiscent of the vulgar version of its past English-vernacular of the Flintstone days. This is expressive of the passion that spills over in fountain-flow, from the originator to the spectator of the world’s greatest event.

Racism stems from the abusive use of Africans in plantations of the New World. Natives stolen or forcefully evacuated without cause by local chiefs were traded in exchange for alcohol, tobacco, mirrors metal bars, as well as more guns and gunpowder unto greater exploits.

Through what influences did plantation prejudices of the Yankees infest European Football that preoccupies the world twelve months in a season?

Europeans traders attracted the interest of their home governments. Consequent to the American Civil War, Abolition of Slave Trade and the Renaissance/Industrial Revolution, the Scramble For the Partitioning of Africa was the unavoidable incidence to the presumption that no one’s home!

No form of ‘Government’; no defined boundaries of ‘State’; no standing ‘Army’ was tantamount to no ‘people.’

The relegation to sub-human status was a gradual suggestion of time and self-aggrandizement. The combined effect of two lethal instruments of forgetfulness and delusion worked to blind the prospective imperial powers to the fact that the advance mechanisms of ‘checks and balances’ of the Yoruba Empire surpassed in efficacy and practice any concept of civilized structures and systems democracy had to offer!

The networking of Common Law usages, practices, customs and values, systematized bias and sentiments in synchronized indulgence. It was only a question of more time and contingency before the Arian race will force further the borders of superiority complex beyond the apex of human sentiments, to an anticlimax that leaves the more liberal nationals with a misplaced guilt complex. Ironically, Germany hosts the World Cup.

The rise of a more organized form of specialized prejudice in professional and career circles world-wide evinces a negative pattern of ‘globalization.’

An apparent indicator of this syndrome is the delineation of the main character from the foil: the good guys from the bad.

Arsenal, under Prof. Arsene Wenger, has painfully inculcated a culture of discipline for the English youth to emulate. Those who know say it’s not all about winning and the money, but image and the status represented. Britain remembers to respect its role as model to the rest of the world.

Spain, differently seems little bothered by the fact that the prolific Ronaldo’s spirit-of-football is wearied to grief for want of appreciation that runs skin-deep. Eto’o, the current two-time African Footballer of the Year threatened to walk out of the field of play in the same country despite the pleas of his team-mates—the current best in the world. No less than the consolation of his team coach brought succor. The football luminary and current two-time World Footballer of the Year, whose words failed to ease the hurt of Eto’o, was later affirmed to have said he would have followed, had Eto’o left.

Somebody seems to miss the whole point of the entire exercise.

Or could there exist a calculated attempt to rubbish the world’s highest paying attraction? TuPac counseled: negative the evil and the people’ll act right. Could the evil be that some persons are implementing kitchen discussions out in the field of play? Referees identifying with jerseys? Fans ganging up against players along sectarian sentiments?

A stitch in time could save a global money-spinner and lots of jobs. Think of the mind-boggling incidents of crime that are suspended world-wide for perpetrators to indulge in their favorite pastime. Many crimes are averted by outcomes of matches: at the very least, some lives are extended an extra ninety minutes—for the football race.

TENURE-ELONGATION AND THE NIGERIA SAGA

2006-06-05T11:43:00.000Z

It sure feels good to blame it on the rain when you feel under-the-weather. To face facts, is this the first leader we have jettisoned on this count, in straight succession? When is a Christ to come? Let’s get real, is it then the persons in power that are to blame in a chain, or could it by any chance be that the fault may lie rather in a faulty system, or the lack of one?

To face broader issues of analysis, contemplation demands an assessment of possible root causes of fundamental basis which border on nation-building.
§ Nigerian Leaders
§ Nigerian Character
§ The Nigerian Constitution

NIGERIAN LEADERS

Persons under this group may be classified into two categories: leaders past and present.
PAST
Nigerian leaders of the past were men of steel-will, motivated by the conviction that a just cause for the nation was worth every drop of blood that coursed through their veins. Willing to dote their hopes on history, they pursued after justice, laying all on the line. They turned out whiter than snow. Yet, these men were mere flesh and blood: they had their shortcomings.

The preoccupation with self government which acted to forge interests under a common goal, came at a price under a smart suzerainty not too eager to leave. The ‘divide and rule’ regime dealt a hard knock on the rude upstarts, which left their heritage in reduced potentiality. Tribal-warlords was at best the status the British could afford their eager faces.

At their departure, ‘independence’ was the gift the colonial masters bestowed upon their ungrateful subjects, at the expense of open-eyed democracy. They were left a constitution—an ‘Independence Constitution’: an oxymoron of a rare sort. They were given a structure—a British structure of Government in an American setting. They were endowed with a system—with claims to power and upward mobility based less on credibility and more on sentiments and affiliation.

All these in place, the Nigeria nation was born a nation of English parenthood fashioned after Yankeedom. A pariah of nations, designed not to work. This didn’t quite seem contrary to their purpose: our patriots had us a raw deal.

CONTEMPORARY LEADERS

Contrary to popular view, our present leaders seem to have fared better under the mortgaged political terrain they inherited. Though less endowed with the zest to die, fortunately, armed with greater military intelligence to both survive and live large, they have taught us to do just that. Take the Three Wise Men as prototypes of the New-Age Nigerian leader: IBB, Abacha and Obasanjo. Happy reminders of the imposing statues of stability at the entrance to the City of Lagos, these men proved with buffeting strokes to be no less in mettle than their predecessors. All shared a common instinct to survive the power shift in perpetuity. Their virtues, which they chorused beyond the lizard that survived the Iroko fall, are too quickly forgotten by the hard-to-please Nigerian populace. These should be carved in stone for on-coming leaders to emulate as blue-print.

IBB—Concentrated on infra-structural development (Third Mainland Bridge/Calabar River-like gutters). Made significant cuts on Western influences and control mechanisms. Implemented noteworthy indigenization of multinationals and conglomerates, setting meager share holding standards and austere purchasing license for petroleum products exports. Promptly whittled down almost to nothing Nigerian importation of American wheat, flour and rice. Pursued a course of improving the per capita income of individuals. Improved trade alliances with East Bloc nations for cheaper products. Curbed inflation and strove to achieve self-sufficiency. Extolled the virtues of intelligence, choosing to identify with prominent members of the elite. Recognized the pivotal role of native chiefs. Left a nation with heightened social awareness.

ABACHA—Concentrated on tremendously improving Federal Reserves at all cost in a deficit period. Strove to counter the effects of abuse of the Naira. Significantly achieved a stabilizing effect on sliding exchange rates. Promoted a culture of military discipline and blunt sincerity. Aggressively clamped down on influx of funny money. Curbed crime meaningfully. Brought sanity and professionalism to journalism. Continued much of the noble works of his predecessor in etching Nigeria’s place in peace-keeping, while improving trade ties with the East Bloc. Sold Nigerian soccer to the world. Revived the Educational Trust Fund.

OBASANJO—Introduced contemporary telecom innovations (GSM). Made the boldest and most sincere exploitation of Nigerian human resource (home/abroad). Overhauled the despondent financial sector. Ignited the private sector as an active participant in community development. Re-engineered the ETF to yield enviable results. Initiated noteworthy strides for development of the Niger-Delta region through the NDDC. Brought professionalism into the civil service. Granted autonomy to universities. Improved Nigeria’s status and international relations greatly. Privatized, commercialized and conceded near-defunct parastatals. Brought sanity to counter the indiscriminate erection of structures in urban settings. Made active contributions in the stability of African nations. Instituted accountability in public service.

All three men fared well. In a country with the stubbornness to yield of a Rottweiler and the attendant impossible-to-please syndrome of a spoiled child, to accomplish these feats in the background of strong and disruptive external influences evince more than an ordinary zeal to achieve.

Greater index of success is in the recognition by Western powers that Nigeria, like South Africa, has come of age.

NIGERIAN CHARACTER

Two angles shall be taken of this topic:
§ Character of the Nation
§ Character of its peoples

THE NATION—The nation Nigeria is an epitome of paradoxes. At best, its existence was a ‘divine error.’ Its earliest organ, the Police, from which emanated the forces was a conception of the Royal Niger Company, to improve its administrative efficiency. This was adopted by approval of the Queen into a formal guard. Representatives of the Home Office were then sent, whose opinions were sought as to what was most convenient to safeguard British interests on the protectorate.

British interests were mirrored in successive constitutions up until independence. The erroneous culture of repeated trial and error legislation to find a perfect match was preserved as a political culture unto this day. The physiopathology of this syndrome has left the judiciary tucked into tacit acceptance of a legal anomaly, legitimized by practice.

As a result of a lack of consultation with the populace, which should have been a true reflection of the…’We the people of Nigeria,’ which begins every constitution, the non- representation of the will of the people bestowed upon them a placid participation in political affairs; thus separating a ‘political class’ from the followership class of the ruled. This further creates a want of a sense of belonging and a psyche of apathy from ‘them’ the ‘stakeholders.’

The lopsided political terrain proceeds to leave all nationalities marginalized by sectional interests of a ruling class. In a succession of culminating consequences, the country is left with but one qualification as an entity: proximity. Common geographical continuity remains her only claim to nationhood. The question arises: who stands to gain now in this quest for ‘divide and rule’ tendencies long after the exit of the British. We need to measure our mirror images against our shadows. What must be missing?

Are the leaders to blame or the situational evil of a void in the vesting of leadership? Why is it a lose/lose chance for the people, irrespective of fortune and outcome? Is there no better way forward? Who is to take the initiative?

Now is a good time to start: better late than never, when each nationality shall take its destiny into its own hands. Each with a say in issues of Government gives a sense of accomplishment. There will arise no need for compromises and ad-hoc legislation when all have political bearing.

THE CHARACTER CALLED A NIGERIAN

The average Nigerian out in the streets has a criminal tendency as well as an innate conviction that things aren’t meant to move in a straight path. He would beg, steal or borrow, never to pay just to get by. He acts impulsively out of a reserve of wrongly motivated reflexes. He very often justifies his means by his end.

He needs to tell a lie or two to himself to make a success of the only opportunity before him. He is of an irrefutable impression that God understands his actions and would have been stuck in his shoes.

He is made all wrong, from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet. He knows without a doubt he would get what is to come to him; yet, is not the type to hang around and wait for time. He makes things happen, briskly: he runs things. Friends and peer groups will celebrate his day. The enemy shall surely mark his strides from behind. In summary, he is stress-free and cleaned-up. It’s always harvest time with him. Someone’s home and he stands alone.

THE NIGERIAN CONSTITUTION

What passes today as the Nigerian Constitution is merely the latest in a series of legislations, of British and Nigerian origin. Like the woman of many husbands, the existing perusal lacks authenticity of a claim to supremacy.

From the Luggard Constitution right down to the Independence Constitution, the legal documents cannot possibly qualify as constitutions as they lack the participation of the natives. An occupying suzerain lacks the capacity to vest the people with a constitution. A constitution must be home-grown to be autochthonous.

From the Republican Constitution to the 1999 Constitution, there exists no legal Grundnorm for Nigeria. The military have been the source of efficacy in one and all. The military cannot be a source of law just as much as one can’t give what one lacks. Universal Adult Suffrage and Enfranchisement bestow the right to vote and be voted for. The military may vote but cannot be voted for, so lack franchise: they can constitute no source of law.

This is what it takes to have a Constitution:
A CDC (Constitution Drafting Committee)
A CA (Constituent Assembly)
An aware and participatory public to whom the debates of the Legislature on the Constitution is published for a prolonged period
A presidential ‘adoption’
This adoption process has never been followed not because the rulership do not know. Repeated promulgations by their plethora cannot by their multitude replace the efficacy of one document that is reflective of the character of the people of Nigeria. That character changes not. Have you known a people that changed their god? Look around you, how many nations have had so many as two constitutions?

At the rate of our frequency, by the age of the U.S., we shall have had approximately 30 constitutions! Would you know that in practice the courts still recognize the efficacy of the replaced constitutions in matters poorly addressed by the existing constitution: dig the mess.

The word ‘sovereignty’ is a god-like quality that hails from the ‘vox populi’—the voice of the people is the voice of God: the people are never wrong. The people surrender their popular sovereignty to the state. Since the state, though a legal entity, cannot speak for itself, the Constitution does. The supreme constitution speaks in graphic detail for the state prescribing systems and structures. The Constitution, though a legal entity cannot act for itself, so surrenders its delegated authority to the government. The authority of Government is a borrowed supremacy to be exercised within the limits of carefully stipulated ambit.

The complexity of Government exists in divided loyalty between the people and the state. Both equal allegiances often pull in two extremes. The interest of the state often calls for sacrifices from the people. Also the rich and powerful are represented by nominated members of the Upper House of parliament, while the electorates are by the elected Lower House: often characterized by conflicting interests. Good governance strikes a balance between both contending interests.

Our beloved country shall some day witness the beauty of harmony in the balance of power, now that we have for once achieved a notable civilian administration that has overcome the temptation of whistling for the boys in kreplin. You don’t so much as need to call for them, just display intemperance enough and oiled guns shall scratch out the Ouster Clause over the Supremacy Clause—Section 1. of the Constitution. And there we go again.

GLOBALIZATION AS I SEE IT

2006-06-03T15:30:00.000Z

Globalization engenders the active integration ofnational economies, which ordinarily ought to besegmented. Whatever the term may mean precisely, fromthe stand point of a layman, I think the world isglobalizing, if you ask me; yet, from the facts andwhat experts present, it seems what is apparent is buta forced coercion of unsynchronised needs, with therich nations on one hand not willing to compromise andthe poor nations on the other, compelled to accepttheir fate for want of more appeallimg options.Advanced technological innovations intelecommunications and the consequential boost incommerce has supervened the necessity to reduce pricesfor competitive edge in the economies of scale.Large-scale production has fewer demerits in an age ofrecorded vertical population explosion. Multinationalsmore than double the output of world GDP and have manytimes over increased the volume of internationaltrade.*Countries are only too eager for a shift in fiscalpolicies, which allow foreign companies toindigenalize and thus boost their economy.Specialization finds certain countries better off for'cheaper is better' products, thus giving way to'outsourcing.'It is merely a question of time beforebarriers such as place and boundries matter little tocommerce and engagement entirely.From a scale of personal preferences, demand shallgive rise to utility and supply. Presently, frompersonal preference data: french nationals impact onBritish soccer, differential tastes in the US forforeign labels in cars has inspired mind-bogglingmergers and acquisitions,Chinese and Arab appreciationof American foods and dress code have triggeredadjustments in social and political lifestyle,increasing recognition of the autonomy of Africanleaders in sub-regional matters is creating aconsciousness of the evil of facist regimes.*David Begg, Stanley Fischer, Rudiger Dornbusch,Economics(Seventh Edition), Berkshire, Mc Graw Hill,2003,(pg.92) 2Until countries are prompted to desist from unfairtrade practices that subjugate poor nations in beggarstatus by the grant of foreign aid and emergencyreliefs rather than the much needed removal ofagricultural subsidies, which grant to Western farmersthe leverage that affords them unequal bargainingpower against their counterparts in poor countries, ina highly competive global market, much remains to beachieved*.Rude interference of Governments with internationalprice mechanisms, which ought to be phenomenal, to theextent of lobbying, undermine smooth transition inthis nascent stage of development for globalization. The IMF, the World Bank, the German Central Bank andAmerica's Federal Reserves, including a chain of localand international banks and consortiums, in a cartel,form a culture of power brokerage on the internationalscene. By mechanisms suited to their interestsmanipulations are effected without recourse to theneed for a set standard international value system asfixed global foreign exchange index and instrument.Less Developed Countries are currently under pressureto increasingly open their borders to domineeringconglomerates and monopolists. This forced compromiseis merely a passing phase. Needs shall compete toprove greater autonomy until between when China comesto self realization and actualization as the drivingwedge of necessity between two extremes. Necessityshall have given birth to utility, thereafter, allmechanisms shall fall in place, with price as acardinal tool of trade, when fixed by the phenemenonof demand and supply, alternating between the East andWest Blocs, not due to political reasons but, forpurely economic and commercial purposes, internationaltrade shall balance in the start of a new day.Then, jobs shall be apportioned according to prowess,while wages shall be determined by value of work donerather than by local legislation. Welfare benefitswould wear a more global perspective with competiveedge to meet demand. Then, the problems of fullemployment shall not negate balance in foreignexchange rates, while GDP earnings shall be forgottenfor the more economically essential GNP with cashflowhighways established by communicationnetworks.Personal wealth and standard of living shallbecome the true index to replace mercantilism, therecording of another man's wealth for other people'smoney.Marginal utility need not be limited to fixities ofregular job and location.Once again, as the Malthusiantheory was supervened by the Indusrial Revolution,taking advantage of population for increased market,so true and unfettred globalization shall reversediminishing returns to saturated diseconomies ofscale. BIBLIOGRAPHYThe Economist, April 1st 2006Cartelization,www.gold-eagle.comDavid Begg, Stanley Fischer, Rudiger Dornbusch,Economics (Seventh Edittion), Berkshire, Mc Graw Hill,2003.Robert Frank, Benanke, Principles of Economics, NewYork, Mc Graw Hill, 2001*Robert Frank, Ben Bernanke, Principles of Economics,New York, Mc Graw Hill, 2001, (pp.544, 763, 557, 556,558)

Mutually-Friendly Globalization

2006-06-03T15:01:00.000Z

Why so much ado about globalization. Basically, the fundamental issue is similar to one little-known problem shared by Nigerians and the Nigerian Christian: an issue of faulty definitions, or the lack thereof. It is like a man who seeks to make all fingers equal. Indeed, such an operation would surely prove a lot easier than to ‘globalize’ a world riddled with a marginal history of unsolved discrimination and other discrepancies of sentimental frivolities that border on favor.

To ‘globalize’ would mean to make one world of men, where all countries bear fair representation, which will away with the further need of restrictive municipal interests. Internal national concerns will give way to international transcendent dimensions that breach all holds to go beyond the horizons into an abyss of mundane prosperity.

It is no gainsaying the need for new definitions to human endeavor considering the dilemma of evil greed has delineated the human race into: the malnourished and the overfed; all in a row of woes. A stack reminder of the concomitant features of the feet the great Image of Daniel.

To go by the authority of the ‘Good Book,’ ‘nothing shall be impossible unto men’—says the Lord God, when they achieve that place of realization to act as one man. Unfortunately, education, in its many bestowals does not expunge the civilized mind of petty sentiments that make for humanity. In economic parlance, the fear of human overpopulation as predicted by Malthus, which was supervened by the Industrial Revolution, shall be once again negatived by the triumph of the entrepreneurial spirit in the pursuit of true globalization.

This raises the cardinal issue of the American fear of fast-rising economic giants of ‘outsourcing’ and ‘enterprise’. This goes to show the extent to which anxiety can undermine tremendous wealth of knowledge by distractions to the trappings of success. As the creature that digs for food is instinctively moved to dig when faced with a problem, the American waterloo, is really no problem at all. Its long history of manipulating its way to the top keeps it in peril of plotting to stay up, against all natural laws. There is a better way: their money can work for them, if only they keep in focus of ‘‘makin’ mo’ money.’’ With mind on the money and money on the mind, there’s business enough.

The key tool of globalization is the ‘entrepreneurial spirit.’ To define the word beyond the Ordinary Level Textbook, would place the ‘entrepreneur’ in a class of his own. He is not ‘labor’. Labor comprises of both ‘skilled’ and ‘unskilled’ hands. With the entrepreneur, it takes more than skills: developed instincts for cutting edge innovations, the eye-of-the-tiger alertness for new markets, intuitive dexterity for futuristic products, and the aggressiveness of an Isale-Eko hawking-hustler for competitive edge in global marketing. This all define the hallmark of ‘entrepreneurial skills.’

Armed with credentials tutelage cannot bestow it is no bother who gets the ‘blue’ job. The problem arises from a tangle of words by injecting political targets into purely economic statistics. Counting job losses takes more than numbers. Getting the populace gainfully employed involves also an assessment of income logistics. A problem stems from extra-socio-economic factors. When foreign media claim to have better grasp of ethno-cultural problems of one’s native country, doling out negative reports in a chain formation of an axis of evil, the resultant effect is a concentration of highly intelligent creatures, home-grown in a revel, that eschews age-old exploits into uncharted lands, which characterized the pathway to pilgrimage of ‘God’s Own Country.’ A house full of idle children waiting to be fed, while they make jest of the rest of the underdeveloped world certainly won’t do just fine!

The parameter of trade imbalances would be a thing of the past if American exports include superior skills to needy countries willing to pay. Long-term investments in Bonds make for better stability on the Long-run. Federal Reserves, the demand and supply of dollars on the Foreign Exchange Market and the fiscal and financial policies of the existing Government, are a non-issue in globalization, or at best a paradox. How can one speak of addressing the evil of unequal bargaining power between countries by retrospective assessment of internal Purchasing Power Parity indices that strengthen the dollar? This is tantamount to saying: ‘let’s play soccer, guys, but I’ll also be the referee’
Nominal exchange rates should be hinged on standardized indices of international trade for centripetal benefits. Even gold, when made as such should be made to have a controlled source not subject to manipulations by a cartel of nations or international institutions. International trade will fare well when stripped and totally divorced from politics and trans-border concerns. All barriers must fall down on a level-plain terrain.

THE ROLE OF THE NIGERIA POLICE IN THE MAINTENANCE OF PEACE AND SECURITY

2006-06-03T14:53:00.000Z

I wrote this as a paper but it now looks like a book to me.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

Before the advent of the British colonial masters, tribes indigenous to present day Nigeria practiced law enforcement for social order through the means of subcultures with privileged membership, which held sway over political, economic, social and religious matters.

These societies commanded respect and difference through the instrumentality of fear and intimidation. Membership was exclusive and informal. Its first priority was the protection of its image and its members’ interests. Questionable as these motives may sound, it ensured orderly running of society for generations.

The Ekpe was a sophisticated society of sorts with a developed language system based on signs and sounds. Its political authority was unquestionably supreme in the Calabar community, regulating law like the Government of the day. Its jurisdiction was, however, limited to the state of Calabar.

Besides exercising the functions of the three arms of Government, through the enforcement of law, the Ekpe filled the void of a lack of executive staff. Orders and decisions of Ekpe were implemented through agents in the capacity of members or persons disguised as spirits of the community.

With the authority of Ekpe, which derived from the membership of all heads of families (thus granting fair representation in Government), heads of clans as well as the Obong of Calabar, discipline was ensured strict observance and sanctions were enforced with impunity.

Forms of sanctions included: arrest, payment of fines, detention, interdiction, boycott or ostracism. Property was protected at the cost of punishment for defiance by any man who tampered with any estate tied with the Ekpe insignia. For reward it conferred membership or title membership to anyone who achieved an act worthy of honor.

As a medium of inter-group relations, the wide diffusion of Ekpe membership over the Cross River area gave immunity to members and fostered unity. As a caucus of distinguished and influential persons of privilege, its subsistence was preemptive of disruptive political struggles for power and authority, which is characteristic of modern day systems with frequent changes in Governmental power.

In Igboland, Okonkwo was a derivative of Ekpe. Introduced by Arochukwu, the cult penetrated the Bende and evolved modifications. In the eastern and western axis of the Ibibio, existed the most dreaded cult of unparalleled status – the Ekpo. With its centrality on ancestral worship, it meted out extremely violent sanctions for default.

All three societies enjoyed unquestionable authority as the Government of the day. As agents of socialization they forced conformity to social norms and also offered the general public recreational and relaxational performances for occasional entertainment.

Scope and Objective of the Study

The purpose of the present undertaking is to highlight the contributions of the Nigeria Police to the development and coercive running of Government under a democracy. Attempt is also made to show the disparity of functions between pre-colonial and contemporary police structure and system. Improvement of primary purpose and objective of the Police as an institution of enforcement of social justice and as an agent of society for the general good of all, is made most apparent.

Statement of the Problem

With the attainment of independence in 1960, the tide of allegiance shifted loyalties towards home-grown leaders and the society in general, thus redefining devotion around new ideals. The Police force had, over the span of a century, earned itself a reputation as notorious in subservience to the will of the colonial masters at the expense of the loss of respect with natives. The change from white supremacy to black sovereignty had families revoking their vows never to be represented in so obnoxious a force. This, however, was not to be without problems. The crisis of confidence, change of persons in authority, shift in power from the ruling caucus, nepotism, favoritism, tribalism, sectarianism, that were rife, interfered with smooth running of Government obstructing proper appointment of credible persons for job placement and due promotion for deserving staff, by preferential nomination for staff appointment and promotion and dealing summary dismissals to unprotected persons, discredited along trivial personal or tribal sentiments.

Significance of the study

The purpose of this study is to show the relationship and true function of the Nigeria Police to society under a democracy. Also it is suggestive of ways by which the force may be rid of ‘bad eggs’ with minimal consequences. Improving public image of the force is also deemed to be paramount priority.

Methodology of the Study

Systematic operation of the Police is taken in the background of traditional settings. Successive and comparative analysis is made of the force under the colonial masters, military regimes and civilian Governments. Function, purpose, mode of operation and relevance to society to carefully evaluated.

Literature Review

A rule not obeyed is of little consequence, thus, without punitive sanctions, the law would be neglected as fear is a major coercive instrument for regulating order in society. Though others may yet obey the law out of a desire to be law-abiding, the absence of a code of conduct that prescribes expected behavioral patterns and that prohibits stipulated deviant tendencies in society, to which attaches sanctions for default, will amount to mere anarchy. Liability for default is the only hope to keep wrongful acts of social misfits in check and to discourage future deviation of such who ordinarily are law-abiding.

It is the duty of the Police to bring all culprits to book as well as their accomplices. A crime is a wrong which affects the interest of the community in general, for which due punishment is meted as a deterrent. For a crime to fall squarely under Police jurisdiction, it must categorically qualify as a stated act clearly defined as an offence under Nigeria’s municipal law or Constitution or be a prohibited act contrary to acceptable conduct in Nigeria. The consequence of such act is clearly stipulated along with the weigh of sanction and the proper authority to determine the same.

CRIMINAL LAW

Law is a rule of action prescribed by a superior to which an inferior is bound to obey. A breach of obedience attracts a sanction for the enormity of the offence. Criminal responsibility encapsulates two elements:
(a) the overt act
(b) the guilty mind

To constitute an offence, the overt act must be clearly linked to the guilty mind, which must be proven on a balance of probabilities.

Chapterization

Chapter One

Chapter One makes a general overview of the study of early forms of policing in traditional societies indigenous to Nigeria. It also encapsulates a synopsis of the aim, purpose, format and evaluation of law and offence.

Chapter Two

Chapter Two dwells on the origin and historical background of the formal institution of the Police as a force. It follows the progressive development of the force from small militia bands, formed according to necessities that presented themselves. The mergers that forged these small autonomous bands into one amalgamated force were encapsulated in legislation.

Chapter Three

Chapter three deals with the role of the Nigeria Police as an agency for social justice, stability and peace, for all classes. Both civil and criminal functions of the Nigeria police are put forward in technical detail.

Chapter Four

Chapter four shows the improvement democracy has brought to the enforcement of law. Development of functional methods of regulating law in society is highlighted. It evaluates Police accomplishment of primary purpose so far.

Chapter Five

Chapter five offers an analysis of the problems of Police/public relations and suggests ways in which Police image and role can better impact on society. It also presents Police as “the long arm of the law” for enforcement of social justice.

Chapter Two

Historical Background of Nigeria police

Long before the British occupation of Nigeria, communities indigenous to Nigeria had evolved authorities and institutions with values that enshrined accountability and transparency through punitive measures. This was effective to regulate society and effectively keep obnoxious activities in check almost to achieve perfect coercion.

Though certainty may not exist as to when natives began to live in nations under some of defined political organization; (as law enforcement has always been a necessary fiber of social regulation for the upkeep of society) when precisely these communities evolved into societies that necessitated law enforcement for maintenance of law and order cannot be too thoroughly ascertained .

Heraclitus held the state to be the direct result of subjugation of the weaker members of society by the stronger. “War” is, therefore, the sole principal factor for state creation, and “force” the means that sustains it in growth into a larger political organization.

The evolution of the state involves the function of variable factors: political, intellectual, and religious. The social dynamics therein involved often downplay the role and importance of the Police who are the backstage workers. Popular assumption holds the seeming harmonious factors of social life to be prone to contradictions with forces that thrive for unity.

The systematic account of the interaction of elements of social life when viewed from closer quarters will reveal a methodical integration with unified treatment of variables—economic, social, political, legal and religious. Both vertical stratification and horizontal morphological categorization reveal a careful balancing of factors of equality of rights and difference of importance. Risk of loss lies heavier with the privileged. With increased risk comes increased liability. The law, therefore, leans in favor of the upper-class of society.

Police allegiance has been consistent—in the direction of the source of power. In each epoch of Nigeria’s history, pre-colonial, colonial and post-independence, the Police served different objects of loyalty.

From the native title chiefs to the occupying suzerain power to the sovereign Nigerian government, the force was faithful to it’s calling to protect the ruling class as a first priority.

Colonial Police Force In Nigeria

The present day Nigeria Police had it’s origin in the Colony of Lagos in 1861. In June of that year, the Consul John Beecroft, the then representative of the British Government sort permission of the Queen to enlist a Consular Guard of thirty men. The request was granted and the name “Consular Guard” was adopted for an operational force for the Colony of Lagos.

Hausa Police

Two years later, in 1863, this small guard of thirty men was renamed “Hausa Police”; then consisting an additional enlistment of run away slaves captured at Jebba by Lieutenant Glover R. N, which blew up the number of the corp to six hundred men. In 1879, the force was renamed again “Hausa Constabulary” due to the further enlargement of newly recruits mainly of Hausa origin, which brought the number of the corp to one thousand two hundred men. The command was then headed by an Inspector-General.

Duties of the corp were mainly military, though with a few civil functions. One of such military duties was the provision of a detachment of Two hundred and fifty one men and eight officers for the proclaimed Arochukwu Expedition.

The Lagos Police Force

On the 1st of January, 1896, the Lagos Police Force was created. Just like the Hausa Constabulary, the force was armed. It consisted of a Commissioner, two Assistant Commissioners, a Superintendent, an Assistant Superintendent, a Pay Master and a Quarter Master, a Master Tailor and Two hundred and fifty Other Ranks corp.

The commissioner of police was called a sheriff (i.e. Officer-in-charge of Process.) He was also the Inspector of Weights and Measures and was also in charge of Prisons. This force operated mainly in the Lagos area, while the Hausa Constabulary operated in the hinterland.

The Detective Department

This department was formed in 1898, and consisted of one Superintendent and fourteen Other Ranks corp. From this grew the present branch of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The Fire Brigade

This was formed in 1901 and consisted of a Superintendent, an Engineer and twenty men placed under the command of the Commissioner of Police of the Lagos Force.

The Niger Coast Constabulary

The Oil River Protectorate was declared in 1891, with headquarters in Calabar, where an armed Constabulary was established under the command of British officers. In 1893, the Oil River became the Niger Coast Protectorate and in the following year, 1894, the Niger Coast Constabulary was formed.

It was modeled after the Hausa Constabulary, but with greater emphasis on military rules. It was brought to existence while development was taking place in Lagos and Western Nigeria and was structured mainly for engagement in active service on a major expedition against Benin in 1896.

Southern Nigeria Police

With the proclamation of the Protectorate and Colony of Southern Nigeria in 1900, majority of the men in Niger Coast Constabulary joined the Southern Nigeria Regiment (Army). The remainder of this force, as well as, that of the Lagos Police Force, was absolved into the Southern Nigeria Police Force, which came into existence in 1906.

At the head of its command was an Inspector General of Police who was also responsible for prisons. Southern Nigeria Police duties included the prevention and detection of crime, the repression of external disturbances and the outright defense of the colony and protectorate against eternal aggression.

Royal Niger Constabulary/Northern Nigeria Police

In 1886, the Royal Niger Company set up an armed constabulary in the North, with Headquarters at Lokoja to support its authority and to provide protection for the companies stations along the River Niger. It also kept a mounted company of horsemen then known as “Carroll’s Horse”. This constabulary achieved distinction in Bida and Ilorin. In 1900, it was disbanded with the proclamation of the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria and the transfer of administration from the Royal Niger Company to the established political Government of the day. Some ranks were made to join the Northern Nigeria Regiment (Army), while others joined the Northern Nigeria Police, which by 1903 consisted of a Commissioner, twenty nine officers and a hundred Other Ranks corp. In 1914, the establishment had become twenty three officers and one thousand two hundred Other Ranks.

The Nigeria Police Force (Amalgamated)

Until 1930, Northern and Southern Nigeria maintained individual forces that operated separately. On the first of April 1930, the Nigeria Police was formed with Headquarters in Lagos under the command of an Inspector General, Mr. Duncan. In 1937, the title “Inspector General” was changed to “Commissioner”.

With the administrative division of the country into East, West and Northern Regions, the force was likewise divided. In 1947, the post of “Assistant-Commissioner” was created, appointing one in every region. In 1952, with the introduction of the new Constitution (McPherson’s), the Police was again headed by an Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Maclughlan, who was assisted by a Commissioner in charge of each of the three regions, as well as an Assistant Commissioner in the Southern Cameroons.

The Southern Cameroons

Formerly administered as part of Nigeria, after a vote (referendum), in 1961, to join the Cameroons, members of the force were given the option to join the Western Cameroon Police Force in the Cameroon Republic, or return to Nigeria and enlist in one of the forces.

Post Independence Police Force/ Federal Force

Under the Nigeria Independence Constitution, Order-in-Council, the Police was established for the first time as a federal force charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order throughout the federation.

The Constitution also set up two bodies: the Police Council and the Police Service Commission (then known as the Police Force Service Commission.) The former dealt with general problems relating to the force, while the latter was concerned merely with promotions and appointments in the senior cadre.

In December 1960, a detachment of Police, commanded by Mr. L.O.Edet, joined the United Nations peacekeeping force in the Congo Republic, where they gained high reputation for efficiency, which was enjoyed by successive detachments, up until the recent expedition to Yugoslavia. In August 1963, a new region known as the Mid-Western Region was created, necessitating a new command for the region.

The Republican Force

On the 1st of October 1963, Nigeria became a republic. The Force continued to be administered on a Federal basis as was promulgated in the Republican Constitution. On May 27th 1967, Nigeria was divided into twelve states, pursuant to the Military take-over of January 15th 1966 and the aftermath.

The Force followed all necessary adjustments to power change and form of command of the existing Government under a military regime. Conformity to the military junta as a source of superior command was to mar the service for a long time to come. With a Police Area Command in each of the states, commanded by a Commissioner of Police, the job of regulating law and order was continued under limited constrain of military dictation until the Third Republic.

Chapter Three

Police As An Agent of Public Order

It is the responsibility of the Police to maintain law and order in society. This may be attained by the use of force where all necessary civil attempts have proven to be abortive. Such instances would include taking an individual who resists arrest or in dispersing an unlawful crowd or assembly.

A person is deemed to be a suspect or defaulter upon reasonable suspicion by an officer of the law, or when he offends by the breach of a law of the land. Police duties under the maintenance of public order, involve both civil and criminal functions. Crimes may be mere attempts or the actual committal of a wrongful act. A person is presumed to be innocent, and abides as such until the contrary is proved in a court of law. Thus, a suspect is deemed to remain a suspect until proven guilt establishes him as a convict by an established court of the land. The law gives preference to none except law officers. The definition of the term “officer”, in the eye of the law, refers to members of the Police force and excludes military personnel who are deemed to be civilians. The law also gives preference to political leaders by the granting of immunities. Such a profound privilege, when abused, proves an unfortunate anomaly to rectify. Crimes could be either violent or political. According to the express grant of constitutional police power, an officer of the law may make an arrest upon reasonable suspicion.

A police officer may search and detain anyone in questionable possession of things believed to be stolen. No exhaustive test exists to provide ambit or grounds for “reasonable suspicion”. Strong inclinations for grounds take careful consideration of the following:
1. Time, place, circumstance and demeanor of suspect.
2. The fact of theft in the area or facts that establish an attempt
3. The type of property conveyed in relationship with status of the bearer.
4. A description that fits that of a wanted person

Carrying a television set in the small hours of the night, within a residential area constitutes sufficient grounds for reasonable doubt of theft. A bearer of an expensive mobile phone, of low status, yet is evidently not a repairer with owner’s consent makes for reasonable suspicion.
When suspicion is established on flimsy grounds tact is expected to be exercised by the officer. A few pointed questions directed to reveal the authenticity of the claim will serve to allay fears or confirm doubt.

Dispersion of Rioters or Other Violent Assembly

In dispersing rioters or other violent assembly, the Police may use “all such force as is reasonably necessary” A mere proclamation of the name of the Federal Republic is the first attempt required towards amiable resolution of impending crisis. Beyond that each partaker is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years.

Whosoever may commit acts liable to cause a breach of the peace or disturb public tranquility may be brought before a Magistrate by the Police with the information on a Charge, on Oath. The Magistrate may summons a person to show why he should not be ordered to enter into a recognizance, with or without sureties, for keeping the peace, for such periods as the Magistrate may deem fit. Such a person, however, must be within the state and either himself or the apprehended disturbance must be within the jurisdiction of the Magistrate’s assigned district.

Injury to Public Property

Upon injury, or a design to cause injury to public property, a police officer may, of his own authority interpose to prevent any injury attempted against public property, movable or immovable.

This also applies to attempts to remove or cause injury to any public landmark, or busy or other mark for navigation. An Officer of the law may arrest without order from a Magistrate and without warrant.

Police as an Agent of Crime Prevention

The primary function of the Police is to protect life and property. To ensure proper measures towards safety and crime prevention, duties are divided into smaller areas.

Introduction to Beat Duty

Beat duty is a practical aspect of Police patrol functions. It entails civil functions specifically to ensure crime prevention.

Definition of Beat

A beat is an area or portion of land within an area or city allocated to a Constable to take charge of. He’s made responsible for any occurrence within his shift period.

Kinds of Beat

Beats or circles vary in size according to the strength of the detachment, local conditions and class of property to be protected. There are also different ways of patrolling a given area.

Fixed Route System

By this system, a Constable is detailed to patrol along a given area with a fixed route and to arrive at a definite place at a definite time.

Semi-Discretionary System

By this system, a Constable is expected to be at a certain place at a certain time, but between the periods of his arrival at these spots, he may patrol his area at his own discretion and need not follow any fixed route or point or be supervised according to time.

Discretionary System

By this system, a Constable is expected to patrol his area at his own discretion and need not follow any fixed routes or points or be supervised by time.

Aberdeen System

This system is name after a town in Scotland and is used where man-power is inadequate. By this system, a patrol car conveys a number of men to a certain part of town. The Constables then leave the vehicle and patrol the area. At an arranged time, they are picked up and conveyed to another part of town, where the same procedure is followed in continuous rounds.

Rules and Methods of Patrolling Beats

1. Beat walks must be executed at two miles per hour.
2. A Constable must be civil and polite to the public.
3. Special vigilance is required at early morning hours.
4. On no account must a constable idle or gossip.
5. Careful attention must be accorded to life and property.
6. Suspicion must be keen while discretion should inform challenge.
7. Special care must be accorded to children and aged.
8. Smart appearance is required at all times.
9. Beats must not be deserted before relief.
10. Drinking or eating is not allowed.
11. Lying, sitting, leaning or sleeping on duty are prohibited

Where a person has twice been convicted of a felony, he may be subjected to Police supervision for a period not exceeding five years.

Police as an Agent of Investigation

In his book ”Criminal Investigation”, Gross states:
“It goes almost without saying, the investigator should
be endowed with all those qualities which every man
should desire to possess: indefatigable zeal(unbeatable
application), self-denial and perseverance, swiftness
in reading men and a thorough knowledge of human
nature, education and an agreeable manner and iron
constitution and an encyclopedia knowledge.“

Points of A Good Investigator

1. A Police officer never forms a pre-conceived theory
2. Lateness may be fatal to evidence
3. The Police pointedly seek to verify truthfulness of a complaint.
4. The investigator must stop, look and think
5. Exhibits are taken, labeled and located.
6. Scientific approach involves the taking of finger-prints.
7. Methodical approach requires no haste.
8. Relevant names and addresses are taken without details.
9. Local enquiries are made.
10. Detailed statements are taken thoroughly.
11. Hearsay evidence is of secondary importance
12. Constant and careful study of a case is required
13. Corrections are admissible to make progress.
14. Advice and guidance is necessary
15. An Investigator is very pro-active and reactive.

Serious cases, generally, require two Investigating Police Officers (IPO). It also requires two or more officers when dealing with cases not directly under Police command (e.g. Investigation in a Military barracks, or an investigation involving a political leader).

Investigation of Murder

Proof of a murder charge, must be established on grounds beyond all other offences. Though it suffices to establish guilt of an offence on a balance of probabilities; in a case of homicide a murder charge must be proven beyond all doubt. Investigation points are:
1. Someone was killed (with evidence of corpse).
2. The deceased was killed by another person
3. Direct or circumstantial evidence exists of intent to kill.
4. Cause of death was medically ascertained

Five questions are to be answered to unravel every mystery of death by murder. They are:
1. How did the deceased meet his/her death?
2. When was he/ she killed?
3. Where was he/she killed?
4. Why was he/ she killed?
5. Who killed him/her?

To achieve these answers, certain indices must be recognized and observed. Relevancy of facts regard:
1. Had the deceased a quarrel with anyone?
2. Had anyone offered threats to the deceased?
3. Was the death resultant of a robbery?
4. Had anyone left the area suddenly afterwards?
5. Was anyone notably absent at the time of the murder?
6. Had anyone been seen with or washing off blood stains?
7. Did anyone stand to benefit in the event of death?

Relevant exhibits constitute anything capable of being used as a weapon in that case. The presumption is that all murders follow a motive, which motive must be unraveled. In examining the body, vital points are:
1. kind of instrument used in the murder
2. Whether the injury was self-inflicted.
3. Whether the blow was left-handed or right-handed.

Marks of violence should reveal struggle, height of assailants, direction of attack, time and suddenness of attack.

Chapter Four

Police in Democratic Order

Among many changes the practice of democracy brought to the Police was the shift of authority from a military source to the Inspector General of Police. The status of an “officer” recognized under law as an “Officer of the Law”-- which interprets for a policeman—a status denied the Police under successive military regimes was finally established under a civilian government in 1999. Under this dispensation a military personal bears the status of a civilian under the law and is treated as such by the Police. This has not gone down well with the Military and has had its many consequences (such as the fatality of the Ojuelebga incidence).

The title of “force” which status was denied it by the military was removed in principle in 2002. The “Nigeria police Force” was renamed “Nigeria Police”. The Police was more than compensated by recognition of a claim to a role with direct relevance to the regulatory function of law enforcement in society, a function usurped by the military soon after the departure of the colonial occupying power.

Though detachment of troops are still dispatched to quell serious intertribal clashes and insurgency (such as Udi Community and the Niger Delta crisis), soldiers, though they work side-by-side with the Police, or sometimes replace them entirely, finally recognized the pivotal role of the Police as the Chief Law Enforcement Agency for society. Much restiveness, which is non-political now falls under the jurisdiction of the Police. Time is evolving change.

Early rejection of Police functions at the wake of civilian rule, in 1999, witnessed the upsurge of militant groups of vigilante command. Patrol commands were established without Police approval or recognition. These groups were mainly of cultural and tribal background and were very popular with their host communities. The O’dua in the West, the Bakassi in the East and the Arewa in the North. The use of diabolic fetish to implement their purposes was not beneath their contemplation. Recourse to repugnancy test was not a means to evaluate measures towards social justice with them. Brutal sanctions and crude investigation based on parapsychology constituted equitable means to palliate the predominant social vice of armed robbery and theft, which to them seemed the bane of welfare and security.

Presently, the popularity of those groups long outlived their usefulness as their shortcomings have proved to have a higher opportunity cost on society than the vices they seek to ameliorate. Current intrusions into Police functions include the “illegitimate” establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). Though their establishment may be backed by valid legislation, their functions are ultra vires the Constitution, by duplicating functions of existing Constitutional organs of the Criminal Justice System. The legislation establishing them is viod ab initio, to the extent that its enabling powers, by necessary incidence, usurp Police functions and circumvent the Criminal Justice System as a whole by laws inferior to the Constitution. The duplication of functions are not only without the contemplation of the law, but also are undesirable in principle as they point to the fact that society implicitly and unequivocally recognizes and accepts the fact of inability and complacency on the part of the Police and the Criminal Justice System to address issues of criminal wrongful conduct.
A good constitutional system precludes structures that aid its functional operation by extra-legal machinery superimposed upon established governmental agencies with a view to circumvent their constitutional functions.

Chapter Five

Summary

The present day Nigeria Police evolved from a corp of men recruited and trained for formal service by colonialists for the purpose of protecting their selfish interests. First, the Royal Niger Company and later an accredited British consul recruited most of these men from captured slaves set free from the north. These men, naturally, owed their unalloyed devotion to the authorities that saved and armed them.

A shift of allegiance, with the turn of independence, was not likely to engender equal loyalty to autochtonous factions of the ruling class, coupled with the fact that the British practice of “divide and rule” had made tribal sentiments more keen.

Successive changes in leadership and forms of government did not do much to help continuity and efficiency. From imperialist to nationalist and then to military regimes in their plethora, saw the Police Force buffet waves of change in a zigzag allegiance in source of command.

Constitutional failures did not leave much blue print to follow for law enforcement. Frequent changes in Government occasioned power struggle and changes in constitution. Contention for positions of preeminence engendered bitter conflict within the political class, which constituted squabbles outside the jurisdiction and handling capability of the Police. Consequential breakdown of law and order in a chain of command from party stalwarts to thugs bastardized social order with many vagaries.

The supervening involvement of military juntas in successive takeovers operated “in a cauldron of necessity to castrate the Police in its ability to maintain public order and regulate social justice.”

Affairs of the ruling class were mostly highly political or tribal matters oftentimes to sensitive to dabble into. Other grave offences involving the use of fetish and diabolic exercise go to question the voracity of societal dogmas.

These all find no definition under stipulated offences within any “Nigeria constitution.”

As a mere participant in the Criminal Justice System, riddled by all the inadequacies of successive constitutions and police power, the Police in its attainment of its observer role, is an umpire of circumstance as a mid-agency of investigation and arrest. Where conviction for an offence is dependent on Criminal Justice system, or the lack thereof, riddled by corruption and favoritism, the ineptitude of insistence upon strict adherence to the law can only cause an overzealous cop his job.

Falling To Power

2005-12-13T19:21:00.000Z

There exists no evidence to indicate the notion of a rise into power. Overwhelming volume of facts substantiates the suggestion that an individual adorns himself with influence and control over men by a fall to power.

In his journey through earth life, a man of influence recognizes first the seed of destiny planted in him. He is entitled by choice to one of two reactions: either to conform to the forces of nature and yield his will as an instrument of instruction or to revolt against the idea of man as a prostrate spirit and conceive of his own notion of what can be done and should be done to etch his name in history.

The tragedy of such conception of an alternative source of ideas to materialize his every will by the use of men to fulfill all purposes comes with a high price that must be paid for in blood. Almost always of the rivers of blood that excludes that of the “nature rebel”.

The craving for power manifests its ugly head right from the wrangling of the foetus in mid pregnancy. A twin circumventing another to take the place cardinal of first borne; the periodic and regular kicking of a child against the mother for attention; the excitement of an unborn child at the sound of an important voice all tell of a desire to be associated with power manifesting in yet-to-be born-babies. It doesn’t take intelligence.

Intelligence is associated with the constitution of the human body formation. This makes it probable beyond all doubt that a superior intelligence exists which orders the running of natural functions according to natural laws without and beyond the knowledge of inferior mortals. Interferences with such laws and a consequently disbalance of an excellent system struck on a delicate superstructure is the only possible contribution mortal minds are capable of.

What is deemed to be scientific advancement is wisdom interforetes for rude intrusions into the intricate complexities of a world culminated from a placement and subsistence of mind boggling infinitum of dimensions.

Two ultimate desires fight for pre-eminence in the hearts of men. Power and Intelligence. Power is the sound of a rushing mighty mind or the sound of a massive burst of water. Intelligence is the smooth running of matter according to function in operation or the regulation in the invisible realm of order according to law.

Whole intelligence is concerned with mathematical outcome by the working of laid down structures and systems to achieve the desired effect; power is occupied with the end alone: what unequivocally interjects “the end justifies the means”.

This does not , however, make black horse of power. The pillars of the spiritual world were planted on power. The kingdom of God is established by power. From heaven God ordained a settled law: that this world shall be ruled by power.

The difference, however, between God’s purpose for the earth and what obtains today is the fact that he intended for power to be achieved through the application of wisdom or intelligence. Now the race is not to the swift and power is unto the forceful. The violent possesses by force.

Force equals work done: what is achieved no matter what. This desperate exercise to achieved power at all cost finds justification by the adornment of authority .Yet, whole force focuses on power as an end to a means, the rightful vesting of power should be as a means to an end. Force never lasts in power as it is at its end right from the beginning of the vesting of power.

Every step leads in a progressive decline afterwards. Time is the only traveler that testifies of the fact of destiny.

Potential power lies dormant until it is upset by a call of nature to make a twist of fate to fulfill destiny. Purpose is usually foreign to power. A natural course of action adorns power with ability and purpose. The desire to yield is the ultimate test The willingness to be used as an instrument of fate to improve ability beyond natural prowess.

The human element is a variable factor: Ego, pride, natural attachment and a sense of responsibility to bring about fulfillment. Responsibility links directly to life and thus to power: all other negative factors downplay the degree of chances. Success must attach to survival without interference for empowerment to surmount the threshold to power. Natural count a lot less than prowess in subjugating personal shortcomings Human tenderness towards error must give way to divine ability towards equity. The minds pre-occupation must be its inability to achieve the great feat which must be achieved by all means. Not at all cost but by all means: including means foreign to the one desirous of such a feat.

This presupposes the need for divine assistance. By an unconscious endeavor , divine favour is elicited by an inner longing beyond prayer. A desire so sublime it speaks volumes in communication to a higher intelligence unknown to be involved and indeed responsible for the leap of fate. So a man is made to speak in tongues of an understanding beyond both his mind and tongue. A hearts language both seeks and finds hidden truths about the reality of treasures.

Opportunity often presents itself in a natural form that defies the range of possibilities acceptable to the human mind. This adds to the adventure of life when one looks back in time. Always in the present, the gravity of situation never affords such luxury of aesthetics and comic relief.

Ironically, time rather impresses the mind about the fatality of the stake at hand. It also seems like now or never.

The basic nature of the man is realized in the equivalent value one attaches to life itself. Where the stake is dangled in excess of life’s value the “movable” move.

That leaves the unmovable qualified for use by the Unmovable Mover.