Dem don Start Again o!

Papa

Na you do politics small before you come leave us go for YONDER! Please, one small question: Where are POLITICIANS from? Is it heaven...or...is it hell???

This memo is a "top secret" o! Don't let them here or see it o, abeg! Don't even discuss it with Mama because part of the crises down here now concerns or are caused by Madam Speaker!!
And you know, they seem to thrive on rumours, these politicians. So, this is Strictly Confidential.

The reason I asked in this season of "begin again" governance is because we had thought that our political class will dump the crass ways of the past, and become "born again" leaders and rulers. Alas, like many lip-service believers, they seem to have returned to their vomit! And it is a very stenching, very putrefied vomit!

One quick and so far good point is that they will soon "re-consume" and be consumed by this smearing vomit. Why? Na because the Umaru Yar'Adua wey dem rig put for office no be dem gang-mate! Dem don misfire, mis-rig, mis-calculate, sotey......dem mis-CHOP! The president no go save dem, lailai....forever and ever, fa!!!

Okay, back to my question, Dad: where da hell or heaven; abi is it heaven or hell; are politicians from? And I mean ALL politicians o! Not just them African lot - they have Siamese counterparts elsewhere in da third world. I mean especially, particularly, specifically and pin-pointedly our NIGERIAN politicians - da unique breed from, well.....???

Papa, if these folks are from heaven, then they really just make themselves, family, fronts and friends...really have heaven-on-earth, at our full expense! Now, Dad, if they be from hell, wow!, their testimonial is one long endless stretch of hellish looting (not leading) and ruining (not ruling) misrule!!

I don't like joining the traducers of former president Obasanjo. Not because his eight years in office favoured me, or that I can understand how the Niger Delta fared & flared under his rule, or agree with his blatant disobedience of court orders (including the supreme court!), or his do-or-die April 07 electioneering - especially when you count the actual deaths! It is just that his own party members - including those who he rigged into office - are already washing their benefactor's dirty linen in the market square! And they have only just begun o. Watch out!

As I was saying, sir, these politicians came from that...okay, make I kuku call am im name... very rotten era, promised to NOT be business as usual, are still fighting legitimacy at election tribunals, and begged to be given a chance/time to correct/change things. The citizens mellowed things to give peace a chance.

Now, what do we hear and see? Business as usual. Arrogance of power. Contractgate. Endless and senseless travels. Connivance. Fraudulent-compromise. Refusal to declare & publish their assets as the president has admirably done. Looting-by-corner-corner-style, Lies and dodging.

The saddest part is that the system is rotting from the head: Our PARLIAMENT in Abuja! The folks seem quite determined to live in opulence, in a do-or-die manner and primitively greedy fashion. They are awarding obscene contracts for the renovation of official quarters in sums that will make you stomach churn and coil and curl in puke! They thought they had it all wrapped up before the dutiful Nigeria press - yes o, the same hell-raisers that helped killed their Baba's third term/tenure elongation agenda! - railed against them. Yet, we are still no nearer to the truth, the WHOLE truth.

They are at once confused and contemptuous. Dem dey dodge!

Papa, that's why I really want to know a little about where these incorrigible class graduated or emerged or evolved or mutated or emigrated from. Is it heaven or hell? No mind my long, big grammar, abeg sir, I don tire for this kine people, jare...haba...ki lo de?!

Okay Dad, see what I mean: EFCC is everywhere. Even the hitherto sleepy ICPC has woken up from its slumber. The Code of Conduct Bureau that was buried in its own bunker during the last law-disobeying regime now issues threats, day and night. By the way, Papa, na dem advise Mr President sey make im no publish im asset declaration form o! At least they seem now to have finally remembered that many many public officials have yet to or really never declared their assets in the first place!!! Thank God for the president's stern rebuff.

Then, we have the "stench" of the rigged elections hanging in the air. Plus the close attention of the international community, especially the anti-corruption agencies. And, hallo hallo o, the fearless and angry Nigerian Press which rightly feels that the politicians - reaping power from where they did not sow (as in actively colluding with, rather than fighting, military dictatorship cum enslavement in the blighted past!) - must be closely tracked from now on.

Papa, with ALL these forces arraigned and arrayed AGAINST them, how could the politicians go on as usual??? Me, I want to know.

And, as one old song says: everybody wants to know!

I remain your curious son
Dayo

Prayer Works!

Dear Papa & Mama

This is my first joint note/memo to you. Why? Because I'm upbeat. Why? Because Prayer does WORK!

You remember how you put us firmly on the narrow path of Faith & Belief? Right from infancy?
I can still affirm that me and my siblings are there o! We are rooted on the route of unfailing faith and unwavering hope. We are assured in the grace of our God - The Almighty.

Now, I write this confession this day because things, many good things, are unfolding in Nigeria! Not unexpected alright but nice that they are, and many bad things are unraveling as well. What a double-barreled blessing!

Speaking with friends, contacts and colleagues home and abroad the mood is bated-assurance. We can all see the light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, da silver lining.

We don't know how things will proceed as such, but the end-game has begun! Yes. God has now taken over. HE has answered our prayers. HE is supplying mesmerising results to our flowing supplications. HE is simply awesome! Repeat, the end-GAME has surely begun...

And it will be messy on many fronts.

I'll post.

Love
Dayo

Lagos-Benin Expressway

Dear Dad

How now? Long time no post! Please bear with me. I will post you on that subject fully and surely later. Just a few talk points this day:

a) The road to your dear Niger Delta is now completely muddy, muddled, mangled and thoroughly mismanaged. It is a crying shame!

b) The business lives of our Igbo brethren have been dealt a huge blow by the deadly potholes, gashes and gullies on that road. Movement of their goods and merchandise is so tortuous and traumatic that they are now regular sitting ducks/targets for men of the underworld!

c) Well, there is some hope. Apologies have pour out to Nigerians from both the president and his minister of transportation. This is a welcome departure from the past "state of denial" that pervaded and characterised the previous regime! They are now heavily mobilising palliative measures/intervention.

Be that as it may, I hope that they will kindly and promptly take stock of the huge loss of lives and livelihood with a view to comforting/compensating the victims. We need to.

By the way, the new minister is a daughter of the Niger Delta o! So, we keep our fingers crossed.

I love you Dad, especially now that men are hardly men.

Stay well, and pray for us.
Dayo

(S)ELECTIONS 2007

Dearest Mom,

Dem say dem do election o! But na selection we see. Dem praise themselves tire. But almost the whole world don damn dem finish! True true, dem pursue "do or die" election, come land with moon-slide victory wey dem no gree/fit celebrate!!!

Anyway, make we leave matter for mathaias today. Plenty case dey for court and tribunal. Make God abeg help all de judge wey e go JUDGE de matter, amen.

Mama, how are you doing up there? I miss you and Papa so much, and can now understand why man looks up to Heaven in prayers...and for peace.

If you were down here in April, you will almost change nationality! Our people really disgraced us in the eyes and ears of the world!!!

More later.

Love
Dayo

I Apologise

My absence was caused by problems at our ISP. I regret the inconvenience and blackout visited on all my readers and patrons.

Well, I am back!

I intend to do catch-up work in humble and token compensation.

Kindly bear with me.