When is enough is enough?



Also published in DAILY TRUST

The current controversy over the removal or otherwise of fuel subsidy is basically an issue of mistrust between the rulers and the ruled in Nigeria.  Obviously, most Nigerians rightly believe that, the expected proceeds from the exercise will simply end the same way previous proceeds realized went. Interestingly enough, it has been confirmed for instance that, 80% of all government’s privatized enterprises are grounded, and the proceeds have predictably developed wings and flown.

A guide to survival in Nigeria

Also published in Daily Trust

Nigerians are understandably fond of lamenting their largely leadership-inflicted predicaments. Every Nigerian has endless tales to tale in this regard, including the rich.

Lamentation has virtually overshadowed the points of discussion among Nigerians. Majalisa, Mai Shayi or Suya spots, markets and even commuter buses etc; are all virtual platforms for Nigerians to share their lamentations over various problems ranging, for instance, from issues as critical as chronic poverty to the relatively less important ones like a dismal performance of the Super Eagles.

Nigeria @ 51: Counting the cost continues

Also published in DAILY TRUST

Just as almost everything Nigerian in nature is typically ironic, the country turns 51 year “young” tomorrow. Equally ironic is how such annual event in Nigeria is largely overshadowed by counting the cost accrued over the decades of being a country as such. Incidentally, ever since her independence, the very issue of whether the country should remain together or not has never died down. The situation escalated in the mid 60s when a civil war erupted that lasted for about four years through which millions of lives and properties were lost. Though ever since then, there has been no any other civil war again, counting costly costs has never ceased anyway, and is not likely to cease either, in view of the recurring breakouts of ethno-religious and other social conflicts all over the land.

Our Collective Hypocrisy

Also published in DAILY TRUST 

                   PEOPLES DAILY 

It is an unmistakable fact that Nigeria is in a deep self-inflicted mess. Equally the resultant misery needs no further explanation, because as a Hausa proverb puts it “Jiki magayi” which more or less means physical suffering says it all.

Ironically also, there is a general apathy despite the common agony, which some analysts attribute to a pervasive hopelessness. Perhaps it is such hopelessness that gave rise to our obvious collective hypocrisy, which makes us pretend to not know the very cause of the mess let alone tackle it. Instead we beat around the bush to find a scapegoat to blame. In fact some of us (out of sheer naivety) even attribute it to God the Almighty Himself, claiming that it is actually our predestination, hence it is beyond our control.

I Want to be a Nigerian Citizen, Please!

 Also published in DAILY TRUST

                          NIGERIAN PILOT

Modern civilization has among other things redefined the concept of citizenship as the right of belonging to a sovereign political entity, where citizens’ rights and obligations are defined in the context of the appropriately enacted laws of the land. It therefore abolished the old concept of subordination that used to define the relationship between rulers and the ruled.