Sambo and the politics of Fatiha

Also published in Daily Trust

The widely circulated audio clip in which the vice president, Architect Muhammad Namadi Sambo was heard apparently incorrectly reciting the most famous, the most important, one of the shortest and arguably the simplest chapter in the Holy Qur’an i.e. the Fatiha, at Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign rally in Kano, generated a barrage of satirical comments against him especially on social media.

I listened to the audio clip and, even though the chapter he recited has only seven short verses, I detected at least ten recitation errors that are serious and inexcusable, many of which do not only violate the basic rules of Qur’anic recitation but actually distort the meanings of the verses also.

Boko Haram and Nigeria’s Neighbours’ intervention

Boko Haram and Nigeria’s Neighbours’ intervention

Also published in Daily Trust

The recent military cooperation between neighbouring Chad and Cameroon to jointly raise combat troops with a view to hunting down Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria’s territory is a welcome development.

In fact, it is quite overdue in view of the inexcusable and embarrassing failure of Nigerian government to contain the insurgents’ continued conquests of towns and villages in Nigeria, let alone reclaim the conquered areas and/or crush the insurgents. Chad and Cameroun have always been affected by Boko Haram terror activities. Cameroon in particular has suffered from their recurrent intrusions into its territory.

A tale of two flights

Also published in Daily Trust

The persistently escalating and increasingly overwhelming Boko Haram terror in, particularly, north eastern Nigeria continues to cause massive and chaotic displacement of people across the region and forces many others to seek refuge in neighbouring countries.

Meanwhile, due to the growing worries and uncertainties over the future of the already fragile security situation in the country during and immediately after the next month’s general election, many Nigerian families are planning to temporarily relocate overseas for the duration of the election period, lest they be caught up in post-election violence, God forbid. In fact, many of them might have already temporarily relocated.

Countdown to yet another dawn

Also published in Daily Trust  

Though Nigeria has squandered many opportunities to achieve sustainable socio-political stability and economic prosperity, the bloody military coup of 1966 that overthrew the promising, though admittedly imperfect, first post-independence democratic system in the country, and which was carried out by some reckless military officers motivated by sheer ethnic bigotry, was the first major setback the country suffered in its national endeavour.

Besides, even after surviving the ensuing bloody secessionist war and crushing the secessionists in 1970, the country continued to drift aimlessly under General Yakubu Gowon military regime until another dawn of hope arose on the horizon with another military takeover in 1975 by the strong-minded late General Murtala Mohammad whose regime, though equally undemocratic, was nonetheless uncompromisingly committed to the principles of social justice and transparency in governance. However, that dawn was unfortunately short-lived as it was eclipsed by the brutal assassination of General Murtala on the streets of Lagos in the following year after less than seven months in office.

Nigerians on holiday in Dubai

Also published in Daily Trust

Towards the end of every year and all through the first few months of the following year, the ever-thriving tourism/business sector of the superfluously rich Dubai flourishes even more as millions of holiday-makers escaping the largely freezing temperatures of Europe, the United States and some Asian countries pour into the city to spend their holidays under the moderate winter temperatures at this time of the year.

Of course, they are also attracted by the city’s particularly glamorous tourist attractions, world-class infrastructure and luxury landmarks among which are the largest, the most luxurious, the tallest or simply the world’s most modern. This is in addition to the exciting shopping, sporting, entertainment festivities and other events, which many visitors and residents alike find too irresistible to ignore.

Though Nigerians are among the top all year round visitors to Dubai, which explains the high number of passenger flights shuttling daily between Dubai International Airport on one hand, and Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Enugu international airports on the other, yet this particular season normally attracts many Nigerian families on leisure and shopping trips.