Dad
One of the high reasons I stayed out of partisan politics is the dog-eat-dog nastiness, the rabid hypocrisy and that queer winner-takes-all mentality which pervade its sinking domain. These days, Dad, friends easily become fiends overnight, and you won't know what hit you! Horrors.
The feuds between numbers one and two at all levels of power play out like fiction-on-wheels! For example, some governors and their deputies are so sworn to enmity that we must ask what brought them together in the first place! At the local government levels, the dramas are all so bizarre and outlandish you begin to moan for Nigeria. The tales are blood-chilling. Why would the lust for power push people to these depths? Where is the service they openly professed and gleefully promised the voters! Questions, questions...
Papa, the most worrisome part is at the presidency. In the last few days, both Numbers one and two have granted extensive press interviews to visiting editors from the United States. It was pure venom! Not that their own presidency is smelling of roses at the moment o! What with the Iraq and Afghanistan crises, the rejection by American voters, the hostile bipartisan Congress, increasing international isolation and the depressing opinion polls cum approval ratings? Bleak.
But we speak of Nigeria. The bottom line is that these leaders have now gone beyond the Elders' Court; no one motions, moderates or mends anymore! The Elders have simply given up, alas! It is now a season-for-all with reason in willful bondage! All is now fair, all be fair game, at last!!
What be next, who be next? Questions, questions, questions...
The next 100 Days will tell.
Yours in thoughts
Dayo
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Laugh Therapy
Dear Mum
I just thought that you folks need some laughter this season, to facilitate your consumption of the bizarre news that ooze from this land. We are presently gripped in the vicious vice of acute fuel shortages nationwide. This, after eight years of the president himself holding the oil and gas portfolio as petroleum minister! Now we are told that the shortages are caused by pipelines' vandalism, militants-actions, products-diversion, non-importation by licensed agents, etc. The cruel jokes in town are that people living next to refineries see no products; government is owing the so-called agents billions of naira yet was publicly offering them credit lines; and many touts brazenly hawk fuel around town while filling stations are empty!!!
Our roads have been nightmares over the years, yet the government promised to fix them for the 2006 end-of-year travel season. When that failed and we screamed, we were told there was no money; yet Nigeria has billions of dollars in foreign reserves!!!
They said they had refurbished and updated several of our university teaching hospitals, even as the president lavishly praised and inaugurated them as world class facilities. Same goes for the National Hospital. Yet, we keep flying patients, including government functionaries, abroad for tests and treatment!!!
They now say the president, by his endless junkets and extensive globe-trotting escapades, has restored our country's image within the international community, yet our citizens are routinely humiliated and denied legitimate visa requests at home, and immigration clearance cum entry abroad! Worse still is that our government does absolutely nothing about it!! And the worst part is that even African countries, including those which had enjoyed or still routinely benefit from our help and generousity, have become deeply entrenched in Nigeria-bashing!!!
I don't want to exhaust the Bag of Jokes in this post. Next time, mum, next time.
The final piece is, President Obasanjo, present and future Life-Leader of the PDP, and by the grace of God the post-May 29 chair of their board of trustees, publicly proclaimed that it will be a disaster if the party did not return to power in the 2007 General Elections!!!
Those who know and follow the president avow that his sense of humour is legendary.
Well, well...
Love you, Mom
Dayo
I just thought that you folks need some laughter this season, to facilitate your consumption of the bizarre news that ooze from this land. We are presently gripped in the vicious vice of acute fuel shortages nationwide. This, after eight years of the president himself holding the oil and gas portfolio as petroleum minister! Now we are told that the shortages are caused by pipelines' vandalism, militants-actions, products-diversion, non-importation by licensed agents, etc. The cruel jokes in town are that people living next to refineries see no products; government is owing the so-called agents billions of naira yet was publicly offering them credit lines; and many touts brazenly hawk fuel around town while filling stations are empty!!!
Our roads have been nightmares over the years, yet the government promised to fix them for the 2006 end-of-year travel season. When that failed and we screamed, we were told there was no money; yet Nigeria has billions of dollars in foreign reserves!!!
They said they had refurbished and updated several of our university teaching hospitals, even as the president lavishly praised and inaugurated them as world class facilities. Same goes for the National Hospital. Yet, we keep flying patients, including government functionaries, abroad for tests and treatment!!!
They now say the president, by his endless junkets and extensive globe-trotting escapades, has restored our country's image within the international community, yet our citizens are routinely humiliated and denied legitimate visa requests at home, and immigration clearance cum entry abroad! Worse still is that our government does absolutely nothing about it!! And the worst part is that even African countries, including those which had enjoyed or still routinely benefit from our help and generousity, have become deeply entrenched in Nigeria-bashing!!!
I don't want to exhaust the Bag of Jokes in this post. Next time, mum, next time.
The final piece is, President Obasanjo, present and future Life-Leader of the PDP, and by the grace of God the post-May 29 chair of their board of trustees, publicly proclaimed that it will be a disaster if the party did not return to power in the 2007 General Elections!!!
Those who know and follow the president avow that his sense of humour is legendary.
Well, well...
Love you, Mom
Dayo
Friday, January 19, 2007
Being Nigerian
Dear Dad
Every time I look back at being a Nigerian, I have mixed feelings. I wonder how I would have fared if I came from some other country. Depending on which part of the world, it may have been fun or furnace! So, I give thanks to God for creating me, and to you and mum for having me here. Thank you.
Each time I look ahead, I am happy being a Nigerian. I have no doubts about that. Never! My love for this country surpasses all the trials and tribulations, treasures and trivialities that we endure today. It is rooted in the certainty of Nigeria's greatness, a point attested to by all the discerning souls that have seen and spoken from before your own time. The reality is a given, and it ripens this year as we head for the real transition: 2007 General Elections.
I wonder at the great many wonders that my compatriots are performing around the globe and I feel good. Oh, isn't there some bad egg doing their damnest worst to tarnish the nation? You bet! But I resist their lot and say, so what? Every country has its share! Just this week, I was savouring the sterling performance of our football stars in the English premiership. So sweet. Oh, those Nigerians! Sweet, Dad, so so sweet. And we have even bigger stars in other sectors and disciplines! Some sung, some unsung. Yes.
All the times that I have surveyed our debts and dues, I have never had a doubt that the net is good and solid gold. In the bosom of our deepest conquests is the slaying of the greed and rising of creed: the crest and crown of democracy. It took a while, its toll, but alas it cometh now! This land has come into its own...its Nigerian own. Alight at last! Believe.
When you were explaining the momentous 1960 Independence to me that year, it registered in my tentative psyche. This year, it blossoms in my marrow and soars in my soul. The future and the past will blend in contest and complement, and the renewal of our destiny shall be manifest in all things small and beautiful. In all things old and new. Yes, in all things far and near.
Thank you, Dad, for making me a NIGERIAN.
Love you
Dayo
Every time I look back at being a Nigerian, I have mixed feelings. I wonder how I would have fared if I came from some other country. Depending on which part of the world, it may have been fun or furnace! So, I give thanks to God for creating me, and to you and mum for having me here. Thank you.
Each time I look ahead, I am happy being a Nigerian. I have no doubts about that. Never! My love for this country surpasses all the trials and tribulations, treasures and trivialities that we endure today. It is rooted in the certainty of Nigeria's greatness, a point attested to by all the discerning souls that have seen and spoken from before your own time. The reality is a given, and it ripens this year as we head for the real transition: 2007 General Elections.
I wonder at the great many wonders that my compatriots are performing around the globe and I feel good. Oh, isn't there some bad egg doing their damnest worst to tarnish the nation? You bet! But I resist their lot and say, so what? Every country has its share! Just this week, I was savouring the sterling performance of our football stars in the English premiership. So sweet. Oh, those Nigerians! Sweet, Dad, so so sweet. And we have even bigger stars in other sectors and disciplines! Some sung, some unsung. Yes.
All the times that I have surveyed our debts and dues, I have never had a doubt that the net is good and solid gold. In the bosom of our deepest conquests is the slaying of the greed and rising of creed: the crest and crown of democracy. It took a while, its toll, but alas it cometh now! This land has come into its own...its Nigerian own. Alight at last! Believe.
When you were explaining the momentous 1960 Independence to me that year, it registered in my tentative psyche. This year, it blossoms in my marrow and soars in my soul. The future and the past will blend in contest and complement, and the renewal of our destiny shall be manifest in all things small and beautiful. In all things old and new. Yes, in all things far and near.
Thank you, Dad, for making me a NIGERIAN.
Love you
Dayo
Friday, January 12, 2007
I Am Upbeat
Dear Dad
As I survey the wide world this day, there is confidence in my strides and gait. I am happy and hopeful. I believe in the future, and in my place/role in it. I believe in the human race, and in our capacity to fulfill our nature-ordained role, including our God-given destinies as both individuals and nations. In all, I see challenges and tough measures ahead; but I see the rewards, the plain beauty of service and sacrifice...for all who persevere and prevail.
As the sage said, it's work and gain!
Pray, dad, I shall be part...a proud part...here and afar.
Love
Dayo
As I survey the wide world this day, there is confidence in my strides and gait. I am happy and hopeful. I believe in the future, and in my place/role in it. I believe in the human race, and in our capacity to fulfill our nature-ordained role, including our God-given destinies as both individuals and nations. In all, I see challenges and tough measures ahead; but I see the rewards, the plain beauty of service and sacrifice...for all who persevere and prevail.
As the sage said, it's work and gain!
Pray, dad, I shall be part...a proud part...here and afar.
Love
Dayo
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Some Quick Update
Mama dear,
I won't bore you with the loads of excuses and issues that have kept my mails to you as slow and intermittent as both our water and electricity public utilities. Nor would it be any more useful to let you know how our nation has been dispatching both distinguished and hapless souls to the great beyond, either in plane crashes, pipeline fires, pathetic roads or simple malaria: you see them up there - in droves!
If you think that things are rough or tough here, you will be stunned at how other unfortunate countries exist. In addition to bad leadership, they have to contend with frauds, strifes, diseases, famine, high oil prices and droughts. How some of those poorer countries cope is pure mystery!
Oh, the richer nations are not all glowing on beds of roses o! Floods, heat-waves, snow blizzards, wild fires, aging populations, diminishing traditional values, inelegant politics, home and foreign terror threats, resurgence of right-wing nationalists, trade wars with emerging economic powers like China, India and Brazil, and the politics of diplomatic arrogance & global intolerance. No, the rich isn't free at all. Indeed, as they say, the rich also cry!
So, I welcome you to 2007. Am I despondent? Haba mama, you know I'm a boundless optimist. How much store do I place on the new year? Oh, a store-load! Our moment of God's promise is here. By May 29, a new crop of leaders will emerge...I assure you. And I will keep you posted.
Posted, you may ask? Now, don't rub it in. I know I don't control the inefficient public ISP, but it was finally privatised late 2006. Who to, is a story for another day. Actually, the initial public offering of Transcorp, its new owners is currently on. Google has been running some of the adverts on my blogs! So, there is hope.
I apologise of course for my poor postings to you and dad in 2006. Please bear with me. It will be well in 2007.
Love you
Dayo
I won't bore you with the loads of excuses and issues that have kept my mails to you as slow and intermittent as both our water and electricity public utilities. Nor would it be any more useful to let you know how our nation has been dispatching both distinguished and hapless souls to the great beyond, either in plane crashes, pipeline fires, pathetic roads or simple malaria: you see them up there - in droves!
If you think that things are rough or tough here, you will be stunned at how other unfortunate countries exist. In addition to bad leadership, they have to contend with frauds, strifes, diseases, famine, high oil prices and droughts. How some of those poorer countries cope is pure mystery!
Oh, the richer nations are not all glowing on beds of roses o! Floods, heat-waves, snow blizzards, wild fires, aging populations, diminishing traditional values, inelegant politics, home and foreign terror threats, resurgence of right-wing nationalists, trade wars with emerging economic powers like China, India and Brazil, and the politics of diplomatic arrogance & global intolerance. No, the rich isn't free at all. Indeed, as they say, the rich also cry!
So, I welcome you to 2007. Am I despondent? Haba mama, you know I'm a boundless optimist. How much store do I place on the new year? Oh, a store-load! Our moment of God's promise is here. By May 29, a new crop of leaders will emerge...I assure you. And I will keep you posted.
Posted, you may ask? Now, don't rub it in. I know I don't control the inefficient public ISP, but it was finally privatised late 2006. Who to, is a story for another day. Actually, the initial public offering of Transcorp, its new owners is currently on. Google has been running some of the adverts on my blogs! So, there is hope.
I apologise of course for my poor postings to you and dad in 2006. Please bear with me. It will be well in 2007.
Love you
Dayo
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