Izuu's Turn

OIn Igbo, they say: "Uche onye adi ya njo," meaning that "Every opinion doesn't look bad to its owner." The issue of Baifra, to me, has two sides. The first is negative, the other somewhat not very negative, at least to all concerned. I will start with the first. Any agitation that is tainted with sectionalism, becomes suspect and offensive. I do not know how this movement became so bold and violent but I sure know that it is not in our culture to attack others in order to make our case. One can have a peaceful demonstration without attacking places of worship or harassing people who are going about their normal businesses. It is simply not in our characters as Igbos. Unfortunately, some people are hijacking very laudable projects for their own selfish ends thereby making a good thing look bad. Check the Niger-Delta agitation for resource control, it was derailed when kidnappings and destruction of oil installations commenced. The society became so mone

1. They promised us unemployment benefits during elections. They took it to the legislature and struck it out. 2. They promised us that the price of fuel in the international market will be hiked and stabilized for more revenue, and reduced locally But they won't even sit down at their posh residence in Aso Villa to do anything about it. Neither are they concerned about the fuel scarcity that has crippled the nation for almost a month now.  3. They promised us that they will boost our economy and put money in our pockets through job creation and employment. Now their governors are threatening that they either cut down the meager N18,000 minimum wage or they retrench.  4. They promised to end insurgency within three months. Yet they won't come out to tell us that our soldiers are being massacred in their hundreds. Haven't they moved the army headquarters to the Notheast? What is happening now?  5. They promoted a campaign of calumny against the previous government w

It is shocking that a fellow Nigerian who goes through the pains of this fuel crisis will wake up and write a piece which says that Nigerians are to be blamed for the shortage in fuel supply. As I read that article, I was speechless especially given the examples the writer proffered to support the claim. For me, this is taking freedom of expression too far. It is like seeing a child in her mother's lap wailing at the top of its voice and then a passerby goes to blame the child for crying while condoling with the mother. A mother may not know what is wrong with her child but it is solely her responsibility to make sure the child stops crying. As such, she must do all she can to ensure the child is at peace. I recently spoke with a friend who duly absolved this government of blame. His own response is that the marketers stopped lifting fuel because the President is insisting that their vessels must be sighted before subsidy payment is made. He claimed that under the previous governme

Before we start blaming others, let's compare the Paris shooting and tyesterday's bomb explosion in Yola.  (1) The press is allowed full access to the sites of the the tragedy in Paris but in Yola, we are yet to see actual pictures in the Nigerian media. Of course, the army would have cordoned off the entire area. (2) Within 24 hours, the Chief Prosecutor has addressed the world to give a timeline of the Paris shooting in a press statement. In 9ja, enh? Did you say Chief what? Did you say press statement? (3) Under 24 hours, suspects names started emerging in the Paris shooting. Here, respect yourself if you want to blame a specific religion or tribe. In fact, yesterday, I saw a "John" in the names of BH kingpins. We are watching to see where that will lead. (4) President Hollande canceled his G20 trip, addressed the nation and within 48 hours addressed a joint session of their legislature. As if these weren't enough, they picked up an EU charter that has never be

I am listening to T. D. Jakes' message titled, "Destinies Flock Together" as I write this and I am enthralled by his definition of rhythm and how it plays out in destiny. For him, destiny has a pulse and those whose destinies must work/walk together must fall in tune with each other's rhythm. He says: "Everything that is great has a rhythm ... life has a rhythm ... life is controlled by rhythm." For us to succeed in life and get the rhythm of champions, we must pick up the pace in order to walk in tandem with them. And this makes me understand everything that is wrong with the present administration: it is a government that is yet to find its rhythm! A government of innumerable false starts! A government that is better in opposition than in power! A government that was so busy with attacking their predecessors even after winning the elections, that they did not see fit to prepare to turn their promises into realities. There are so many inane comments and act

Now that the presidential election has come and gone, friends are once again becoming friends while erstwhile enemies are now looking for and getting newer fraternizations. People who once belonged to one camp are now quickly re-adjusting and re-aligning themselves in order to be better positioned for the next four years and beyond. For the first time in my country, a ruling party is about to become an opposition party. I watch my kids throughout these events happening before our very eyes, and I wonder how they will appear in their History textbooks and eventually how their own teachers will coin them as exam questions. I just can't help imagining that we are today living our nation's future history. Am so glad am a part of it. I am not glad because I am overwhelmed by the CHANGE mantra. Not at all! At least, I am old enough to know that my country's specie of politicians talk from, not only both sides of their mouths, but from all sides of their bodily orifices.

This is my first post here this year. Apologies for the long silence. It's deliberate because I have tried not to be drawn into the wanton arguments following the campaigns of the two gladiators I earlier warned should relinquish their ambitions in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. An advice they spurned, being prodded by their supporters and deluded follow-followists. I am compelled to write this because for the first time in a long while, I watched NTA Network News tonight. As usual, the first five news items were about former President Shehu Shagari. Initially, I didn't turn the volume on. You can guess why, I think. And seeing the face of these man all over my TV, I thought maybe one other party has chosen to field him as a presidential candidate in the re-scheduled election. I had to quickly turn the volume on, only to realize to my chagrin that it is this wonderful stateman's birthday.  Happy birthday to you, sir. May you continue to live long to