THE NIGERIAN YOUTH AND THE MENACE OF UNEMPLOYMENT

It was a pitiful sight at the premises of the Supreme Court complex in Abuja today, which houses the office of the National Judicial Service Commission. Over 3000 unemployed youths gathered there in response to the advert placement by the National Judicial Service Commission for various vacant positions.

The multitude of graduates stood for hours under the blazing sun for an opportunity to pick up the application forms despite the abject lack of organisation, fairness and total disdain for Nigerian graduates. A microcosm of what happens in the larger society was apparent as clear cases of favoritism was the experience of these innocent but frustrated job seekers. Staffs of the commission were there to ensure those they knew bypassed all set protocols to obtain the forms while subjecting "the unknowns" through stressful conditions.

Several angry applicants who waited under the blazing sun wondered why the recruitment process was not put online to save them the hassle of coming all the way to Abuja just to pick up the application forms, especially with such dismal preparations for the process which has been ongoing for weeks. They recounted tales of how the recruitment process was just a formality to "fulfill all righteousness" as they were aware of persons who had already obtained employment and resumed official duties last month for this particular recruitment process.
 
They wondered why they had to be subjected to this psychological torture just to get applications forms of which employment was not even guaranteed as high ranking public officials have already filled up a large percentage of the available vacancies by "slots" allotted to them. Things got to a head and erupted in chaos when a staff of the commission made the mistake of physically assaulting a job seeker. His saving grace was the cool headed members of the crowd - he would have been mobbed. This little altercation disrupted the process that was shabbily organized to begin with.

This little experience is the reality of the unemployed in Nigeria. Graduates are spewed out of our Universities yearly without any significant attempt by government to alleviate the issue of high unemployment rate. They are compulsorily required to waste a year of their lives serving a nation that has no plans for their future or even interested in providing an enabling environment.

Adding this to the mind-boggling corruption and thievery uncovered everyday in the government and the civil service, one is forced to wonder if there is any hope for the youths who are the highly touted "leaders of tomorrow". 

Naija, na so we go dey dey?! 

Malcolm O. Ifi.

Engage on twitter @saymalcolm

CUTTING LOSSES

Yesterday, on the drive back home on the immaculate roads of Abuja, I happened upon a live action flick. Knowing the temptation not to speed on Abuja roads is a lost battle especially for young motorists with new and fast cars, its no wonder at the rate of accidents in the capital, especially at night. Thank God no life was lost but there will be no smiles when both motorists visit the mechanic workshop.

After a long day of hooking up with old folks I hadn't seen in a while, my cousin and I witnessed the funny incident. The offender was the driver of a "tokunbo" Toyota Sienna - numberless and probably just on the way from Kaduna, driving as recklessly as they often want to do in order to avoid being stopped by the "men in black".

The reckless driver rammed into the back side of a hapless cab guy, severely damaging his bumper. The dude didn't even bother to stop to sort out the damage; he just sped off! We had to swerve off to avoid being hit by the possessed madman. Infuriated, the cab driver followed in hot pursuit, his disfigured bumper scraping the tar and lighting it up with sparks. It was a comic sight! A sharp new Toyota Sienna space bus vs. an old, battered Toyota Corolla normally referred to as first lady. Your guess is as good as mine - it was a lost battle before it even started.

In a few seconds, the poor cab guy was forced to discontinue the chase as his car began to smoke massively but more from the fact that the Toyota Sienna was long gone. He must have reasoned that there was no way on God's green earth he was going to ever catch up. It was best to cut loses and move on.

Felt bad for him. He would curse the cause of his misery for a long time, especially today when he goes to fix his car at the workshop.

Malcolm O. Ifi.

Follow on twitter @saymalcolm

CAN & THE NEED FOR REASSESSMENT

CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor at his 40th anniversary celebration

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) under the leadership of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has come under heavy criticism in recent times for being too close to Aso Rock and President Goodluck Jonathan. Many have accused CAN leadership of selling out to the present administration and this came to a head in November 2012 when the CAN president and spiritual head of Word of Life Bible Church received a private jet as a gift from the members of his church on his 40th anniversary as a pastor. The event was well attended by dignitaries which included the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The gift raised quite a ruckus as it elicited mixed reactions from the social media networks, with many condemning the gift as ostentatious and extravagant. In a subsequent interview, the CAN president defended the importance of the jet citing several difficulties as a result of his busy schedule when he had engagements in different continents within a short space of time.

Many other pastors have rose in defence of the CAN president's controversial gift and equally, many others rose against it. In a situation where corruption and social injustice pervades Nigeria, CAN was once seen as a bastion of social struggle, a vocal critic of unfavorable government policies and an organization that was always stood on the side of the oppressed masses apart from its major preoccupation with the defence of Christians and Christianity. The gift of a private jet seems to have alienated further the association from the masses.

However, in a not-so-unexpected twist, the Catholic church - a prominent composition of the association, decided to temporarily withdraw from the association at the national level. A spokesperson of the church, Rev. Fr. Dr. Cornelius Omonokhua said the action will be reviewed after the annual meeting of the Conference of Bishops in February. Reasons attributed include the use of money in CAN elections, polarizing statements of some of its leaders and the incidence of acrimony which has lead to several court cases. He also stated that CAN leadership ought to show moderation in its material acquisitions.

In a similar vein, the Administrator of Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Monsignor Christopher Ajala, explained the decision to pull out of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) was as a result of the organisation becoming too close to government. He stated this while speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta, which was organised to mark the 15th anniversary of the diocese where he pointed out that CAN, under the leadership of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, was now moving in a different direction from its laid down objectives. He explained that the Catholic Church had taken its stand before the aircraft was donated to him and expressed displeasure that CAN was being run as part of the government. He admonished religious leaders to be honest and upright in their dealings as the conscience of the nation and spokesmen of the masses.

The move by the Catholic Church has been applauded by members of the Nigerian public, especially on the social media who have viewed the antics of CAN leadership with suspicion especially in the wake of its close ties with Aso Rock. It is remarkable and commendable how the Catholic Church has maintained an unflinching support for the downtrodden masses and has continued be a voice against social injustice. 

CAN, since its inception was primarily an association formed to protect the interests of Christianity in Nigeria as well as encourage unity and co-operation amongst all denominations in the worship of God by speaking with one voice. It is hoped that the leadership of CAN will reassess itself in line with its objectives in the wake of this pullout and make amends where necessary in order to restore the confidence of Nigerian christians.

Malcolm O. Ifi.

Engage on twitter @saymalcolm

Photo Credits: The Internet

MOTIVATION

Eons ago, I thought I loved money more than anything in the world. And yes, just to play into the hands of the imbeciles who bandy about idiotic stereotypes, I'm an Igbo man and a proud one at that. Money was my motivator...in fact, it was my only motivation. Before I ventured into anything, I always asked myself a question which in many ways, has become a popular Nigerian response; "What's in it for me?" In all honesty, anything I ventured into with that mindset never yielded satisfaction as such motivation is the perfect recipe for greed. In my search for fulfillment, I stumbled on a certain truth: there is nothing as fulfilling and satisfying as putting a smile on someone's face without the expectation that they can repay in future.

This mindset unfortunately, represents the reality of millions of Nigerians. There was once a generation in this nation of ours where people were not motivated by money to work hard or do right for any kind of benefit. You had to work hard because it was instilled in you as the right thing to do as opposed to being a lazy bum. Of course, it lay at the back of every mind that a hard worker gets his due in due time but it wasn't even at the forefront of considerations.

So where did the monetized mindset come from? When did this emphasis on money or materialism take the fore front in our otherwise simple life. I can't exactly remember where it all began but somewhere along the line as we matured, we got stuck with the mentality of worshiping the purchasing power of money, or those who owned a lot of it. Considering the lengths members of the older generation have gone to acquire wealth, forget about 50cents; he knows absolutely nothing about his mantra "Get Rich Or Die Trying" compared to some of our old folks, especially in the political arena. It is the reason men like Tony Anenih are determined to loot more money even with a foot close to the grave. One would have thought that for such men who have illegally amassed enough wealth to last at least 10 generations, they would be seeking redemption and a more honourable meaning to life especially at the twilight of their prolific looting careers but no, they seem to just be getting started. So if you ever start to wonder why many young people today have no soul, don't look too far. 

The bad examples set by the older generation, especially in leadership, has eaten deep into the marrow of this current generation. It is the reason that men like IBB could say the Nigerian youth is not ready to take up leadership positions in Nigeria. It is because of the example they set; they wove corruption into the DNA of the younger generations by their thoughtless acts of unabashed roguery, forgetting that younger ones, being what they are, are impressionable and are excellent imitators.

I have come across a lot of young men and women who like Esau, would sell their birthrights for a morsel of what is rightfully is theirs. They sing songs of praise they do not believe in to elevate their loyalty standing in the eyes of their benefactors and cut off the tongue of their conscience for the sake of their stomachs. 

The greatest evil for a diverse nation as ours is to be motivated for the wrong reason because whatever motivates you, owns you and eventually consumes you. It was Professor Ibeh's motivation for fame and fortune and not his love for humanity that made him bypass all known protocols to announce an untested HIV/AIDS cure; It was Dr. Abati's motivation for his stomach that brought about his most infamous u-turn from acclaimed social critic to presidential praise singer. The list of the wrongly inspired and motivated is unending. It is as a direct result of our politicians, and more recently, our "men of God" being wrongly motivated that Nigeria is stuck in the quagmire it is today.

If Nigeria is to move forward, we all must shed the skin of self and its attendant greed and cease from the "what's in it for me" mentality to doing something good, something inspiring, something selfless - just for the heck of it. The true path to fame, fortune and greatness never materialized from pecuniary motivation. It always began with a passion to love, a passion to create, a passion to serve, a passion for mankind, a passion for positive change, a passion for sacrifice. American history is littered with such men. Obama would never have been sworn in yesterday for a second term were it not for the unmistakable passion for service he exudes. 

There is no greater acquisition than the gratitude and good will of men for good and inspiring deeds done. The self-satisfaction it brings is unparalleled. It is a shield against evil, a mirror for positive self worth. It is what brings back the meaning to life in an otherwise insignificant existence. It is not so much about helping the next man as filling that void within us that wealth can never fill.

So after you read this, take a long and hard look at the mirror and ask yourself what motivates you.

Malcolm O. Ifi.

Engage on twitter @saymalcolm

Photo Credits; The Internet

BEYOND SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVISM: WE CAN DO MORE!

So much has been said about the power of the social media. Technological advancement and innovations have revolutionized communication and has allowed for massive flow of information which in itself, has empowered millions of people world wide. Even more, the social media platform for self-expression is free of political censorship in most parts of the world thus creating a viable platform for political activism and engendering the growth of public advocacy.

The effect this information revolution has had in the world in recent times have been nothing short of tremendous especially when you consider the Arab Spring which began in Tunisia, spread to Egypt, Libya and then Syria. The mounting oppression and suppression by various the governments gave rise to social media activism, notably via Facebook, Twitter and Youtube which in turn, metamorphosed into catalysts of cataclysmic proportions for social change. The mental barrier of fear of oppressive governments was overcome when citizens of these nations took to the streets to demand for freedom.

In Nigeria, regardless of poor infrastructure, the social media has taken prominence as well. This was well manifest in the Occupy Nigeria protests that resulted from the government-approved increase in the pump price of PMS amidst mind-blowing corruption in the Oil sector and its protracted insensitivity to the pitiable plight of the masses.

Sabotage prevented the much desired change but since that time, the social media has become an avenue for Nigerians to criticize the shortfalls of government, engage a few of the policy makers in government, influence policy decisions and create proper dissemination of information amongst others.

However, the impact of the social media, though impressive is highly limited in its reach. Independent statistics conducted by SocialBakers has revealed that out of Nigeria's population of over 170million, a miserly 11.49% have access to the internet. 3.32% of the population accounts for active presence on Facebook and from 400,000 users in 2008, the total number of Nigerian users is now at least 5,052,300. In the ranking of all Facebook statistics by country, Nigeria ranks #32 globally and #3 in Africa, according to SocialBakers.

Also, a study carried out by Kenya-based Portland Communications and Britain-based Tweetminster in January 2012, tagged Nigeria as the #3 most active African nation on Twitter based on a survey of 500 of Africa’s most active Tweeters and 8th in the world with a huge percentage of these users accessing these social media service via internet enabled mobile phones, especially as Nigeria has the fastest growing mobile market on the continent.

Similarly, the Nigerian Communications Commission recently released statistics in April 2012, that the country has 99.1 million active subscriptions in the GSM and the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators’ domain. As at January 24, 2012 Blackberry users in Nigeria hit the 2.4 million mark.

While the above statistics is admirable, impressive and encouraging, it is hardly enough. What spurred this article was an interaction I had with an Uncle who is a rural dweller. On the few occasions our discussion veered into politics, I got to find out that he is a staunch supporter of the present administration, albeit for the wrong reasons. I got to discover that he was blissfully unaware of the massive scale of roguery and corruption being perpetuated at the higher echelons of government. Even after giving instances of the challenges posed by corruption that has very nearly paralyzed the economy, he still persisted in his unwavering support citing tribal sentiments.

Of course, I was highly disappointed. Tribal sentiments is the bane of our existence as nation and a factor that continues to make the much talked about "peace and unity" an utopian illusion but more importantly, it made me realize that inasmuch as political activism has taken giant strides on the social media, there's still a long way to go. Information is an empowering tool and as empowering as it is, it is quite scarce among the Nigerian populace.The Occupy Nigeria rallies which were majorly co-ordinated via the social media provided a more public platform with a wider reach to Nigerians, especially the youths. Both informed and the uninformed turned out en masse and had the rare opportunity of being educated with hard facts concerning critical issues at stake. The one year old Occupy Nigeria Movement bequeathed a more vibrant political consciousness among our youths but the job is only half done.

To create the Nigeria we truly desire, efforts must be intensified to reach out to the less informed. We must engage anyone and everyone to get them interested in the way our dear nation is run; It is our collective responsibility. As Nigeria stood in unity in January last year, regardless of ethnic sentiments and religious affiliations, we must take advantage of the ties that bind us together and revive the spirit of patriotism. We need more outdoor outreaches to add to the what we have. January should be a month where public rallies should be held to commemorate the awakening of our political consciousness.

The spirit of nonchalance and "siddon-look" attitude must be buried for the rebirth of active interest in the affairs of this country, even as the countdown to 2015 has already begun. The grunt work lies beyond the social media; as we have flooded the social media, we must also flood the streets.

Malcolm O. Ifi. 

Engage on twitter @saymalcolm

Photo Credits: The Internet

UNMASKING THE OLYMPIANS

If you are a guy who has been actively pursuing a lady you intend to date, ever noticed how things change in January? That lady you've been chasing with fervor who previously had no interest in you or was even downright rude suddenly begins to see you in a new light and begins to reciprocate your interest in her. Well, ordinarily you ought to pat yourself on the back for a job well done, right? Of course! You've been persistent, you've been dogged and you've been determined and here's your reward!

But hold it right there! Don't be so bowled over by your success yet...take it slow and think it through; why now? You've been on this case since April last year and it suddenly unfolds now. What changed? 

Many guys get carried away by this change in attitude that they actually forget that sometimes, its part of a grand scheme. Recently, a lot of friends gloated about having finally "conquered" their object of affection. It was a coincidence when four guys who had been in the race for 8-6-4-2 months respectively suddenly became winners in January. A phenomenon I find familiarly odd because it always happens in January. Its always in January when prospects turn to new flames and old flames automatically rekindle to infernos. Why now?

The reason for this "sudden change" invariably manifests as February draws closer; when on more than one occasion, you're asked, "What are you going to get me on the 14th?"; a tentative reminder of expectations that come with a day which is acknowledged world wide as Valentine's Day or Feast of St. Valentine. 

St. Valentine's Day began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. The most popular account tells of a Saint Valentine who was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry, and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. During his imprisonment, he is said to have healed the daughter of his jailer Asterius and before his execution, he wrote, "from your Valentine" as a farewell to her.

Its association with romantic love grew in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer, the English poet in the High Middle Ages when the tradition of courtly love flourished and by the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines").

In Nigeria, though not a public holiday as in many parts of the world, it is a day well marked by both the younger and the older generations as lots of couples, families and friends throng fun spots to share in the fun. For the more romantically involved, its a day to exchange gifts with one you love and basking in the euphoria of companionship. For others, its the Olympics; a time to assemble gifts (not your average simplistic greeting cards, confectionery and certainly, not flowers!) from as many "wooers" as possible, while for some, its a time to play hide-and-seek!

A serious argument erupted as a result of my theory. Many ladies put on their best behaviour to influence their chances of what they get and conversely, many guys spend their best to influence what they get on that day. Intent is what sets it all apart and only time can tell, for there is no art to finding the mind's construction in the face.

Exciting theory, isn't it? Not very far from the truth. But seriously, what's all the fuss about? All for a day set aside to show love that's not even a public holiday. What's the big deal really? Never really made much sense to me especially as it has taken on a whole new dimension today but then, never underestimate the power of crowd mentality.

Malcolm O. Ifi.

Engage on twitter @saymalcolm 

Photo Credits: The Internet

THE GHOST OF OYERINDE OLAITAN AND THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE

Comrade Adams Oshiomole

I was moved yesterday, as I always am when I happen upon the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole giving a speech. I leave whatever it is I'm doing immediately and sit in front of my TV set, glued to his purposeful gestures that complement his confident and fearless demeanor accompanied by such vocal eloquence delivered with passion and unshakable authority. It invariably almost always turns into a masterpiece of an oratory.

The slain Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde

I was particularly moved yesterday and once again, further convinced that Nigeria could do with a president like Adams Oshiomole, when he openly and fearlessly castigated the unbelievable but well-known incompetence of the Nigerian Police Force. Adams Oshiomole without mincing words expressed his displeasure at the incompetence and unprofessional manner in which an innocent civil rights activist, Rev. David Ugolor, was wrongly arrested and detained for two months without trial, in defiance of a court order over the gruesome murder of his personal secretary, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, who was shot dead at his residence on the 4th of May, 2012 in Benin City by suspected assassins. 

He made this known on Thursday while delivering a keynote address at the launch of the Code of Conduct and Professional Standard for officers and men of the Nigeria Police at the International Conference Centre in Abuja which was well attended by the Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo who represented President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and top brass officials of the Nigerian Police Force.

Adams Oshiomole called for the dismissal of the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Peter Gana, who supervised the investigation for bungling the investigation into Oyerinde's murder and further added that the police either had a hand in the death of Oyerinde or were shielding his murderers. In Oshiomole's words:

"I am aggrieved over the murder of my Private Secretary and the way in which it was trivialised."
"My secretary was murdered in cold blood and you dispatched a DIG to supervise that investigation."
"They came to Benin and they did what Fela (Ransome-Kuti) would have called police magic."
"The DIG Force CID has a case to answer. It is either he is guilty of conspiracy to murder or is guilty of conspiracy to shield murderers or both. Whatever be the case, he cannot continue to wear his police uniform. He must be dismissed,"
"At the end, they went for a civil rights activist and charged him for the offence of murder."
"If I, as a governor cannot get justice over the murder of my private secretary, what will happen to the anonymous Nigerian?"

This last statement was what struck a cord within me as food for thought. Apparently, being a highly placed representative in government does not shield one from the inadequacies of an incompetent police force. How much more the anonymous Nigerian, as pointed by Oshiomole, who lost a child, husband or wife to brutal and senseless violence which have become rather frequent in recent times because of the all too common inability of the Nigerian Police Force to effectively carry out proper investigations?

In response the Oshiomole's allegations, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar described the Governor's accusation as unfounded, adding that the police authority will "respond to the claim appropriately". He said this on Friday in Abuja at a meeting with senior officers to discuss the new Code of Conduct for the Nigeria Police.

IGP, Mohammed Abubakar

However, fresh facts reveal that Adams Oshiomole has threatened to publish the police report on the investigation should the IG continue to deny any malfeasance on the part of the DIG, Force CID. Now, this is persistence! I highly commend the Edo State governor for the dogged manner in which he has hounded the IG of Police in this matter. Hopefully, something good will come out of it and will inspire a general change in the casual attitude with which such matters are handled.




Malcolm O. Ifi.

Engage on twitter @saymalcolm

Photo Credits: The Internet.

THERE WAS A COUNTRY; A PERSONAL HISTORY OF BIAFRA - MY REVIEW (Part Two)

By Olowogboyega Olumuyiwa.

 

Chinua Achebe

 Post-independence proved thorny for the fledgling nation as the ideals of a new nation contrasted horribly with political realities. Controversial elections, a disputed census and, the General strike of 1964 a general atmosphere of misrule were the sad post-independence realities. 

The long chain of disappointments eventually led to a Coup d’état on January 15, 1966. The coup was said to be led by a group of junior officers, most of them Igbo. Their ringleader was Major Kaduna ChukwumaNzeogwu. This coup was quickly crushed by Major-General AguiyiIronsi who became the Head of State; his infamous Decree No.34 sealed his fate and led to a counter-coup.

   

The “Igbo Coup” led to a thirst for revenge among the Northern section of Nigeria. This resulted in a “counter-coup” in July 1966, led by soldiers of Northern extraction who installed Lt. Col Yakubu Gowon as Head of state.Sadly, the coup resulted in mass killing of Igbos in many areas In the North. This prompted mass migration of many Igbos back to their home-towns.

According to Achebe, the Igbos were major achievers, the fore runners in the move for independence and an ethnic group hated by the rest of Nigeria… 

"Nigeria’s pathetic attempt to crush these idiosyncrasies rather than celebrate them is one of the fundamental reasons the country has not developed as it should and has emerged as a laughingstock.The ploy in the Nigerian context was simple and crude: get the achievers out and replace them with less qualified individuals from the desired ethnic background so as to gain access to the resources of the state”

Achebe described a “pogrom” with over thirty thousand men, women and children slaughtered, hundreds of houses burnt and destroyed-with no questions asked.

The resulting effect of the aforementioned was a deep dissatisfaction among the Eastern section of the country spearheaded by the Premier of the Eastern region, Lt.Col. Odimegwu Ojukwu. The efforts of the Federal Government to address the Eastern concerns were encapsulated in the “Aburi Accord”.

A growing frustration with the inactions of the federal government led to a feeling Achebe coined as “Nigeria did not belong we”. Thus, on May 30, 1967, Eastern Nigeria was declared an independent state by the name “Republic of Biafra” named after “The Bight of Biafra”- an expanse of water. Naturally, the Federal Government of Nigeria repudiated the secessionist move by Biafra and declared a state of emergency and eventually, war.

 

Of the war, Achebe paints a grim picture and understandably so. From the blockade of aid and relief supplies by the federal government, to the “Asaba massacre”, Achebe paints a gory picture. The Biafrans found themselves under armed and fatally unprepared for a war of such magnitude and soon came under heavy assault. The Federal Government of Nigeria did not help matters by imposing an economic blockade on the Republic of Biafra.

 

Achebe’s deepest emotion is captured when he narrates the death of his close friend, the poet, Christopher Okigbo. He narrates how he broke the news to his family; 

“When I finally got myself home and told my family, my three year old, Ike, screamed: “Daddy, don’t let him die!”

The mood of Achebe’s book is rather pensive. Being an active and useful servant of the Republic of Biafra, it is difficult to detach his sentiments as a former Biafran. Thus, we are provided with an arguably bitter account of the attempt of Eastern Nigeria’s quest for self-determination. His celebration of Biafran victories on the war front while painting victories by the Nigerian side as gory and inhuman has a somewhat shallow ring to it.

 

We can further ask ourselves, how accurate is Achebe’s account, given the fact that it’s coming almost more than 40years after the end of the war? Achebe’s contention of a collective hatred against the Igbos is somewhat spurious and ill-considered. In his words, 

 

“Nigerians will probably achieve consensus on no other matter than their common resentment of the Igbo. The origin of the national resentment of the Igbo is as old as Nigeria and quite as uncomplicated”.

With some contentions of superiority reminiscent of Hitler’s “Super race”, Achebe further contends,

“The Igbo culture, being receptive to change, individualistic, and highly competitive, gave the Igbo man an unquestioned advantage over his compatriots”

He further posits that the lack of inclusion of the Igbo’s in the Nigerian setup is the root of Nigeria’s failures. In a country like Nigeria fraught with ethnic awareness and intolerance, I find Achebe’s contentions inflammatory.

Perhaps, he has a case in the morality of the Federal government’s economic blockade policy against Biafra. He did not mince words in describing Lt. Col. Gowon’s Chief of Staff, Obafemi Awolowo,

“It is my impression that Chief Awolowo was driven by an overriding ambition for power, for himself in particular and for the advancement of the Yoruba people in general….However, Awolowo saw the dominant Igbos at the time as the obstacles to that goal, and when the opportunity arose-the Nigeria-Biafra War-his ambition drove him into a frenzy to go to every length. In the Biafran case it meant hatching up a diabolical policy to reduce the numbers of his enemies significantly through starvation”.

It is surprising that a man of Achebe’s genius would make such ad hominem remarks. In an earlier part of the book he describes Awolowo as a “radical” and “an upstart”.

It is conceivable that the failure of the Republic of Biafra connived to make Achebe paranoid and instilled in him a belief that Nigeria as a whole is out for the heads of Igbo people.

Achebe’s emphatic and extreme views and his failure to consider Nigeria as a whole stands as the “Achilles heel” in an otherwise brilliant work. For a self-professed proponent of “One Nigeria”, it is ironic that Achebe writes first as a Biafran, secondly as a Nigerian and lastly as a writer.

 

We can excuse Achebe in the Latin maxim “nemodebetesseiudex in propriacausa”, no man should be a judge in his own case. Could Achebe ever be objective in an account that features him as a key figure? 

This book also beggars the question, for a country on the brink of collapse with deep seated distrust; does not diplomacy suggest that Achebe should have toned down his wild allegations? Should Achebe have developed a “God complex” and presume to know the intents and thoughts of men such as Obafemi Awolowo?

After waiting for such a long period to put his thoughts on paper, does wisdom and common sense not compel us to question the veracity of his claim? An emotional story withheld for later re-telling takes on romantic and slightly skewed proportions.

It is instructive however, that Achebe provides practical solutions to Nigeria’s myriad problems. The simple yet complex way of choosing our leaders has been fingered by Achebe as the solution to Nigeria’s problems. Free and fair elections and a set of rules to make corruption a stern offence.

 

Achebe’s work stirs up questions and it is advisable that before coming to a conclusion, Achebe’s work should be juxtaposed with other accounts of the civil war.

 

The writer is on twitter @moscomoet

THERE WAS A COUNTRY; A PERSONAL HISTORY OF BIAFRA - MY REVIEW (Part One)

By Olowogboyega Olumuyiwa.

Chinua Achebe is at best a shadowy figure to many Nigerians of this present generation, popular and successful author, "rejecter-in-chief" of two national awards. He is notably known for his Magnum Opus, "Things Fall Apart". Achebe is quite rightly a figure to reckon with in Africa, and indeed the world.

 

Recent uproar about his new book "There was a country; A personal History of Biafra" prompted me to hunt down and read this literary "hot coal". Needless to say, the book made the hunt well worth it. In this book, Chinua Achebe bares his mind in a forthright albeit, simple manner, the language and form of this work is as simple as always.

 

Achebe starts off his book by acquainting us with his family.We're introduced to his father's Uncle, Udoh, "a very generous and tolerant man". He received the first batch of English missionaries in His compound, eventually paving the way for his nephew, Chinua Achebe's father, to associate with the Missionaries. Achebe's father received an education and became one of the early Christian converts.

Despite receiving the foreign religion, Achebe's father still held a deep and profound respect for his "heathen" Uncle. On a few occasions, he tried to convert him to Christianity, "Uncle Udoh"; a proud traditionalist would have no part in this. This religious "tension" between his father and Uncle Udoh would influence the young Chinua Achebe's views on religion in his formative years.

Achebe's mother is the "Strong silent type", educated up to Primary level (unusual for women in those days), a competent helpmeet for her catechist/teacher husband.

We're taken through the author's early life and education, his Primary Education at St. Philip's Central School where he judged himself as being a "hardworking pupil". He provides an illustration of an event

"On a hot and humid day during the wet season, our Geography teacher decided to move our entire class to the cool shade of a large mango tree. After setting up a blackboard he proceeded to give the class a lesson on Geography of Great Britain. The Village "madman" came by, and after standing and listening to the teacher's lesson for a short while, walked up to him, snatched the chalk from his hand, wiped the blackboard, and proceeded to give us an extended lesson on Ogidi, my hometown…..

Looking back, it is instructive, in my estimation, that it was this so called madman whose clarity of perspective first identified the incongruity of our situation"

The young Achebe sat for an entrance examination into Government College,Umuahia.  He was offered a full scholarship to this newly established School.

It was at Government College he met Chike Momah, Ben Uzochukwu and a man who would become one of his long-time and closest friends, Christopher Okigbo who he calls an "extraordinary person", "energetic and so fearless".

Achebe's good fortune persists when the colonial government announced its intention to start a University College in West Africa. After coming first in yet another entrance examination, Chinua Achebe received a "major scholarship" to study medicine at University College, Ibadan. He studied alongside a crop of remarkable Nigerians; Gamaliel Onosode, Flora Nwapa, Igwe Aja Nwachukwu amongst others.

The author points out that his decision to study medicine was purely based on external pressures, and his decision to switch allegiance to the Faculty of Arts would come with a dire price; the loss of his Scholarship.

It is important to note at this point, that the author starts to provide an insight into the country that was once functional, effective and administratively capable. He tells us that after his graduation from University College, he had no worries about unemployment that plagues every young Nigerian graduate of this present age…

"The system was so well organized that as we left University most of us were instantly absorbed into Civil Service, academia, business or industry. We trusted-I did, anyway-the country and its rulers to provide this preparatory education and then a job to serve the nation. I was not disappointed. I went home to my village at the end of the holiday and visited a secondary school within my district, called the Merchants of Light, in Oba, near Ogidi. I asked the principal to give me a job as an English teacher. And he did!"

The young Chinua Achebe later joined the Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBS) and was privileged to rise through the ranks and in time he was appointed "Director of external broadcasting". Joining the Broadcasting service at that time helped the young author hone his writing skills and it was at this time he wrote his Magnum Opus, "Things Fall Apart". In his own words… "I was conscripted by the story, and I was writing it at all times…it felt like a sentence, an imprisonment of creativity. 

   

After the standard fare of rejection from publishers, Achebe's book got into the hands of Alan Hill and Donald McRae, executives of Heinemann. Under their guidance, Heinemann published Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" to mixed reviews with kind words from the Observer and Time and Tide.

  

Achebe soon takes us down Nigeria's road to Independence, he contends that in the period between the '40's and the '50's, there was a silent anticipation in Nigeria, a sense, nay, an expectation of great things to come. This feeling was further heightened when Nigeria's neighbours Ghana, gained her Independence in 1957, as friendly but competitive neighbours, this further heightened the sense of expectation among Nigerians.

   

We are further introduced to someone Achebe calls the "Father of African Independence", popularly known as "Zik", NnamdiAzikiwe, a prominent political figure of that period and the founder of the newspaper, "The West African Pilot", a newspaper that would gain credence by speaking the mind of its masses as well as for its clear and simple written manner.

   

Worthy of Achebe's mention is also Herbert Macualey, the "father of Nigerian nationalism" and the first President of the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) founded in 1922.

   

Awolowo is also singled out as an erudite lawyer, learned but considered "radical and a bit of an upstart".

In Nigeria's race towards Independence, these three played pivotal roles.

(To be continued...)

The writer is on twitter @moscomoet 

OF WEDDINGS AND MARRIAGE IN TODAY'S NIGERIA

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Genesis 2:24.

The injunction of marriage is a sacred one and for avoidance of ambiguity, marriage is the matrimonial union between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others. Marriage is the ordained tool for procreation and also, a status symbol. More importantly, it comes with the assurance of God's blessing.

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord." Proverbs 18: 22.

It is therefore surprising that with all the blessings promised, a lot of eligible young bachelors are single. Why is that? I've been hounded in recent times by my elders as to why I'm still unmarried. Someone once said to me, "You're old enough. I don't see what you are waiting for." Of course, you won't see what I'm waiting for because you obviously can't see through my eyes. Truth is, as a teen, I always thought that I'd be married before 25. I have never fancied having my first child by age 30. After all, my dad had his first child in his early 20's. Sadly, that is the reality for many young men today. What changed?

After pondering deeply on the subject, I conclude that our parents had it easy. In the old days, life was simple and even more so for those who got an education. An education to secondary or tertiary level guaranteed you an instant job with attractive trappings. Today, a BSc, a Master Degree and even a doctorate is hardly enough guarantee. The economy of Nigeria today is so crippled that it has been unable to provide employment for the ever increasing mass of graduates churned out of our schools every year. Do you expect a man who has no job to take on a wife? That is courting calamity.

Secondly, whilst our elders had women from Earth, ours are from Mars. Let me explain: Many of our dads started with a bicycle, moved to a motorcycle and graduated to a car finally; a Volkswagen beetle first, then a Peugeot 504. This progress was slow and steady but it was not the focus. All that mattered at the time was potential. Their wives, our mothers, (God bless them!) are super women juggling the roles of motherhood, career women, home keepers and exceptional cooks. 

Today, a lot has changed. Many young ladies are not patient enough to be with the guy who has potential. They'd rather have a guy who drives a Range Rover Sport, can afford "Brazilian hair", take them out overseas for shopping and the like, even though they can't really tell the source of his wealth. There was a time when women used to be bothered about that. 

However, it is amazing too that for these new generation women who demand so much, they have so little to offer. There has been a steady decline in appreciable wifely skills. I have a friend who had hoped that marriage would free him from the shackles of Indomie, the bachelor's best friend but alas, how wrong he was! The girlfriend that refused to cook for him till he married her now cooks Indomie for lunch and they still eat out a lot! I was talking to a young lady recently who told me she couldn't marry a man who couldn't afford to hire a maid. Not only was she not ashamed of the fact that she had no culinary skills, she was brazen enough to say it out loud. Some of them get lucky, and get a man who marries them and hires a maid and impregnates them both! 

I was at a friend's wedding recently where he attempted something new: after his bride had done the bouquet throwing, he ordered us, the "unrepentant bachelors" out and told us he would be throwing his bow tie for us to catch. Apparently, the "bouquet throwing myth" is something highly regarded. You should have seen how we all dodged the tie! The best man was our saviour on the day. One of the guests, an elderly man, remarked that "these young men of nowadays are afraid of responsibility". That is hardly the truth. I'm of the view that the cost of maintaining a girlfriend today is much more than the cost of maintaining a wife as was applicable in their era. The emphasis on materialism has taken a new dimension that they will never understand.

Which brings me to my personal favorite; the wedding ceremony. Today, it would seem the wedding ceremony has become more important than the union. I have attended numerous weddings and as a guy hoping to get married soon, I make enquiries. The expenses involved is enough to make one consider a celibate oath. I have never really understood the need for so much fanfare for such a solemn ceremony especially as divorces have become quite rampant. People spend ridiculous amounts for a wedding to impress the world who really don't give two about how you survive afterwards and start off a married life neck-deep in debt. Is it really worth it at the end of the day? And you wonder why the grooms hardly ever smile.

In more civilized climes, the marriage ceremony is a solemn affair which involves a few family members, friends and associates, not an entire village or clan of hungry people who don't give a damn about anything but "Item 7". Why will a groom spend more than he can afford and more than is necessary to impress his guests or his wife's family? That's tantamount to deception, if you ask me. A potent recipe for failed marriages. 

Most times, potential wives don't make it easy. They want fancy and classy weddings, complete with a horse and carriage if possible to show off to their friends that they have finally "arrived". I feel sorry for men who allow themselves to cajoled into weddings they can barely afford because after all said and done, none of your "well-wishers" will stand by you when the creditors come calling. In fact, they will be the first to laugh at you for being unable to take care of your wife. 

The old saying, "cut your clothes according to your size" is irrelevant in today's world. "Cut your coat according to your cloth" is a more realistic view. That said, for those who can afford a massive wedding ceremony, by all means, spend that cheddar without looking back. The ceremony ought to be a memorable one and if you feel money will make it so, spend money. For the not so buoyant or financially prudent, I see nothing wrong with a quiet court wedding and a small but classy reception for less than a hundred guests. Makes more sense to me.

Malcolm O. Ifi.

Engage on twitter @saymalcolm 

Photo Credits: The Internet.

NOW THAT WE ARE DONE WITH THE FESTIVITIES...

Christmas has come and gone and the new year has begun, so what next? As the euphoria of the festive period dances into oblivion till it returns to cheer an angry nation, it is the slow and steady descent into the abyss of mismanagement called Nigeria. For the common man, the hustle continues as he battles to eke out a living in a system that is at war with him. The smiling masks worn during the holidays is now replaced with what truly lies beneath: a frowning face, red eyes of rage and thin, unsmiling lips.

2012 in retrospect was a very bad year. In Nigeria especially, it was terrible. It began with the introduction of the most insensitive policy of fuel subsidy removal by the Jonathan administration. This sparked up protests and a nation wide strike that crippled the already crippled economy further. Some of us were killed by over enthusiastic agents of our "democratic" government who failed to realize that what we fought for during the Occupy Nigeria protests was our collective rights to live in an enabling environment.

The sell-out compromise that stemmed the rising tide, the mind-boggling corruption revealed afterwards in the oil sector showing serving public officials and friends of the presidency who were complicit in the unreserved plundering of our common wealth, the unbelievable extravagance of the presidency and the baffling cost of running a democracy in Nigeria, the indicted oil marketers and the Herman Hembe and Farouk Lawan/Otedola scandals (of which none, NO NOT ONE has been imprisoned till date), the Dana crash, our abysmal performance at the London Olympics, the unrelenting onslaught of Boko Haram in the North and the inability of this administration to provide adequate security life and property, the increasing spate of kidnappings and armed robbery, the ever increasing unemployment rate, the flood and my personal favorite; the fanfare that followed the completion and commencement of an over inflated project that provided a locomotive train in 2012 just to mention a few. These are some of the highlights of 2012. What a shame!

The best word to qualify 2012 in Nigeria is TRAGIC. The unwillingness, nonchalance, the total detachment from reality of the Jonathan-led administration to the plight of the citizenry and its refusal to make any meaningful impact on the life of Nigerians is an absolute tragedy considering that he was touted to be the messiah. In fact, it would appear that the objective of the so called Transformation Agenda is to inflict further hardship on the masses and push further an economy that has hung tenaciously at the edge of a dangerous cliff. Nigeria is run by a group of people who seem determined to render her insolvent.

Now that the holidays are gone, we are cast back to the dark dungeon of reality. That we have a government that doesn't give a damn; that steady power supply is going to remain a myth because the government is ready to borrow N178billion more to sink into this white elephant project that the search for power has become, despite billions of Naira previously pumped; that unemployment is going to skyrocket further because the highly decorated co-ordinating minister of the economy seems to be just as clueless as her boss, having created millions of jobs...on paper; that the untouchable cabal will continue the plundering of our resources with kind assistance from government; that the lies by Maku, Abati and Okupke will continue unabated as they continue to praise the non-existent revamping of our steadily deteriorating infrastructure that has killed many; that the reign of terror by Boko Haram and its splinter groups will continue...

We all came into 2013 with high hopes, as we often do when we approach a new year and we can especially be hopeful now as it would appear that the cry of the blood of the innocents have reached the high heavens. The tail end of 2012 was filled with "high profile" tragedies which I sincerely hope has instilled the fear of God into the hearts of these godless men and women who pilot the affairs of this nation. It feels reassuring to know that stolen wealth is no guarantee to safety. While I do not wish evil on any man, these high profile tragedies should serve as a wake up call that even though the eyes of the human concept of justice constantly peeps through the blindfolds to serve the powerful, the wrath of God is no respecter of persons.

Now that we are done with the festivities, we would like our public officials to look into our unsmiling faces and know that we are watching and waiting. Mr President has said that our attitude to government is the problem of Nigeria; not corruption and the lip service he pays it. He said that his administration is threading cautiously so as not to make mistakes while making calamitous blunders in the process. As 2015 draws closer, we are watching and waiting...

Malcolm O. Ifi.

Engage on twitter @saymalcolm