Every Old Year Has Its Twist And Turns. Therefore, The Important Thing Is Not To Be Trapped By Them. It Is To Learn The Lessons They Teach So As To Forge Ahead As A Better Person In A New Year.
Today coincidentally is the last day of 2011. in other words, in some hours’ time, we will enter 2012, a new year. WEEKEND OBSERVER wishes you a happy new progressive year in advance while the paper proceeds to highlight major events in the outgoing year. The aim is an expose of the frills…thrills…frays….and chills of 2011. Ultimately, it is hoped that the insights provided on them, readers will be transformed into citizens in the New Year.
Great Sidelines
In 2011, there was a potpourri of earthmoving sideliners that were either educative, humorous, traumatic, immoral, unethical or disgraceful. Here are some of them documented by the magazine.
In October of the year, I saw the motto of a trailer driver written on the body of his vehicle. It reads: “If you want to be rich, you shouldn’t be afraid of bees.” Trust, the driver of the vehicle has not really experienced life in its hardness. That is why he chose this life philosophy. Who no go, no know. Him no sabi notin!! No one should pursue riches at all costs.
Enter Efe Osafuomwan, presenter of MAN AROUND TOWN programme on Independent Radio, Benin. He is a preacher of public morality and ethics. Each day his programme runs, he never fails to proffer advice on them. For example, in the third half of the year, he threw one of such advice at fathers. Hear him: “A good father always ask him pickin weda dem belleful. But a bad one dey ask them weda una don eat. To eat different from weda sombodi belleful. You fit eat but u no belleful?” wise words, indeed, in 2011 from the mouth of a seasoned broadcaster. Parents are you listening?
Well, in the outgoing year, not every broadcaster is like Efe Osafuomwan. Some are something else. One of them cannot pronounce CHAOS. He calls the word CHAUS. Also, some broadcasters don’t know how figures/numbers are pronounced after a decimal. Take 99.22, instead of saying ninety-nine point two, two, they mouth ninety-nine point twenty-two. What a horror!! It implies that they never did simple arithmetic in school. The subject dictates that after a decimal number, you pronounce any number behind it one at a time – never together. Pity, public educators in the broadcast media need education too. So, physicians go and heal yourself-ooo. Go back to school.
Much more of great sidelines. In 2011, BBC which is leader in global journalism, used the innovative term “youth quake” to describe the Arab Spring Youth revolt that is rocking North Africa, kicking off form Tunisia in late 2010. all journalists and writers should take a cue from BBC by being creative in syntax, grammar and style.
Also in 2011, we were informed on October 31st, that the world’s population was now about 7 billion by UN Population Fund. According to the fund, China and India constitute 37% of this population followed by Africa (15%). Relying on the information provided by the Fund, Nigeria is estimated to be 167m. it is said to have one of the fastest growing population in the world. Annual population growth rate is put at 2-3%. People like ex-governor of Kano State Ibrahim Shekarau in 2011, however, are interested still in increasing the country’s population. This year he added a fourth wife to his harem. He married Dr. Gaji Dantata at even a time decent, honest Nigerians are finding it difficult to take care of one wife. Before he became a governor and now an ex-governor, Ibrahim Shekarau was a public servant. A question being asked is this: would he have had the need, will and resources for four wives were he still a civil servant? One doubts. Hence, a friend observes that his marriage to a fourth wife in 2011, when times are hard, suggests that he maybe “only investing looted public funds for collecting women as a hobby.”
Birthdays
In 2011, Babangida turned 70 on August 16, 2011. His birthday was full of public drama because he partly decided to use the occasion to fire a verbal nuclear warhead at Obasanjo who like him was also a former president. Listen to Babangida: “Obasanjo is a failure…a comedian during his eight years in office as a civilian leader….” Obasanjo didn’t keep quiet. He returned fire, no retreat: “You are a fool at 70” Obasanjo hollered back.
Certainly, their actions were a public display of shame. Imagine they are senior citizens of age 70 and above who rose to the rank of generals in the army. Consequently they are supposed to have consummate self-control in the face of provocations. But what do we find? Both of them threw staccato barrack discipline and the wisdom of old age to the dogs. Openly, they began to insult each other, thus further polluting our delinquent youths.
Also in 2011, the reliable revolutionary Fidel Castro was 85. It is 45 years ago; he led a guerilla movement that overthrew the corrupt, pro-West Batista government in power in Cuba. But till date he has remained an unchanged revolutionary. No shaking. He shows that you don’t have to be a “comrade” to be close to the people’s heart with active populism. A highlight of his successful life as a professional revolutionary is his iconic discipline and ideological purity that are scarce today among comrades in Nigeria and the civil society.
In 2011, there is a lot of talk about the “coming revolution” by some Nigerians if President Goodluck Jonathan removes the oil subsidy. Revolution? Not really, except a miracle occurs. From rational scientific analysis, Nigerians cannot grow, culture and nurture a revolution. It is only possible if you pitch your analysis on religious grounds which accepts that only God, not man, maketh a revolution. Given this fact, you can understand why rationalists laugh when some Nigerians talk about revolution under our current circumstances. One of such rationalists is Pini Jason. In his column in Vanguard of December 20, 2011 he derisively wrote: wake me up from my slumber when Nigerians embark on a revolution.
Of course, he won’t say this of Fidel Castro, a man with a true sincere revolutionary spirit. It was not only Castro who celebrated his birthday in 2011. her Excellency Roli Sheila Uduaghan, wife to the Delta State governor, was 50 on September 27, 2011. check out Vanguard newspaper of this day to see how advertisements insertions celebrated her birthday. You will find that her admirers spent over N7.5m to place advertisements in the paper wishing her well. That is how to be a Nigerian. Where she an Oba market tomato seller, will anyone give her this lavish treat? Who-side!! Once again, the year 2011 showcases the hypocritical and ironic character of man. He spends his money where his heart is, not where a clean soul directs. In the days of Mrs. Remi Tinubu as first lady, she ordered her admirers not to waste their money celebrating her birthdays. Give the money to the needy, she counselled. Different people, different strokes.
Deaths
2011 isn’t all about birthdays. Several personages passed on. To start with, my friend Chuks Egbo died in May 2011. Till date, Methinks the GSM masthead near his apartment at Okpanam in Delta State must have contributed to the death of this great writer and English graduate of Fourah Bay University, Sierra Leone. God save you if you are living near a masthead; run your highly-sensitive radio on weak dry cell batteries, sometimes and allow your mobile handset to be on one-bar battery level at any time. These acts of omission and commission of toxic radiations into your body.
Chuks Egbo was a possible victim of these radiations because 2011 was a year PHCN was still unable to give him the light he needed for charging his handset and powering his three radios, being a news buff. In addition, he was a victim of the unjust system ex-governor James Ibori operated in Delta State. Ibori asked his cronies to compulsorily retire Chuks Egbo from his job at The Pointer newspaper for writing an editorial lambasting absentee governors junketing around the globe with public funds. Chuks Egbo didn’t take his sack lying low. He protested it until he died, refusing to collect his retirement benefit. Simply put, therefore, 2011 witnessed the death of a conscientious objector called Chuks Egbo. He died with a God’s smile on his lips. Meanwhile, Ibori who ordered his removal from office is in the United Kingdom awaiting trial for money laundering and sundry crimes. Who is the loser?
Chuks Egbo, apart, many people died in 2011. how many you wan count? For instance Boney M died this year. His tracks are musical anthems played all over the world when it is Christmas. Similarly, Joe Frazier kicked the bucket. He was a heavyweight champion of the world from 1970-73 and was the only boxer who beat the great Ali during their fight in 1971.
A sad year 2011 really is. See, Prof (Mrs.) Wangari Maathai also died. She was 71. The woman founded the Green Belt Movement to help protect the environment. Through this movement a record 43m tree were planted in Africa. For record purposes in 2004, she became the first African woman to win a Nobel Prize. Also, she was the first Kenyan woman to obtain a Phd as well as the first Kenyan woman to become a professor.
Adieu great woman, Maathai for dying as an achiever. Now let’s remember Christie Essien, the lady of songs. She is gone too. Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu and business icon/newspaper publisher Alex Ibru have equally transmitted to the next world.
Like them, Nigeria’s celebrated athlete Sunday Bada is dead. He passed on December 14, 2011 while the world was preparing for Christmas. A twist of irony. More of it was waiting for not long afterwards a boat mishap occurred at 9.30pm in Rivers State killing 40 persons on board. Among the dead was Mrs. Nebari Samuel Bema, a corper, married three months ago. Overloading caused the boat accident. One hopes this gallows incident in 2011 will teach the world the lessons of proper boat loading, the danger of scrambling on board boats and at park rush; as well as the benefit of a postponed journey instead of risking an overloaded boat ride. It is better to be late than be Mr. or Madam Late of a careless accident.
All said, as we bid bye-bye to 2011 today, it is wise to remember that no mortal knows the wheres, hows, whens and whats of his death. All he knows is that one day he will certainly die. Because of these facts, we should resolve to live our lives with candour and the fear of God so that when death eventually calls, we will be found worthy of paradise. Well, people like the North Korea leader Kim Jong Il thought he wouldn’t die. He lived and acted as God’s deputy for 17 years he was in office. At the end of the day, he died on December 8, 2011 – not in his palatial building but in a train while on a guided fielded tour. How you are. No man is God or his deputy!!
Face-offs
Several major face-offs occurred in 2011 but only few of them would be mentioned. Of first interest is the face-off between homosexuals and other Nigerians. The former are testing the popular will and comparative geo-cultural identity of most Nigerians. However, the homosexuals are losing the battle. On November 26, 2011 the Senate voted unanimously against same-sex marriage which anyway is alien to our culture. The upper house imposed a 14 year jail term for anyone who aids or abets such marriages; or any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs; or directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationship.
An American lobby to pass the marriage Bill in the house failed. But America was unrelenting. It has in place a Global Equality Fund worth 3m dollars for supporting civil society organizations working for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. Furthermore, America has directed its agencies abroad to combat the criminalization of these rights and order their protection to be incorporated into US diplomacy and foreign assistance packages. From this support of sexual abomination in 2011, not a few Nigerians are considering renaming America Satan’s Own Country, not God’s Own Country anymore. It is only Satan that endorses transgender, gay, lesbian and bisexual rights – Certainly, not God. He gave feminine Eve to masculine Adam, not another Adam, to keep him company in the Garden of Eden. Neither did God ask man to mate horses as American lawmakers now endorse for US troops in foreign lands.
In 2011, also, there was a face-off between Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State and Nigerian nationalists. The Governor sent non-indigenes packing from the state public service as a face-saver for the minimum wage of #18000 the law says he must pay to civil servants.
How about Justice Isa Salami ex-president, Court of Appeal and former Chief Justice of the Federation, Kastina-Ala? Both of them had a clash that shook the judicial foundation of the country. Salami was promoted to the Supreme Court by Katsina-Ala. The offer was rejected by Salami on the ground that it would make him work under his juniors already sitting as supreme court judges. He went on later to accuse Kastina-Ala of “bad belly”, revealing that Katsina-Ala wanted to use the promotion to get rid of him in favour of a proxy that will dance to his music and implied that of President Goodluck Jonathan. In addition, Salami accused Katsina-Ala of being angry with him for refusing his entreaties to doctor the Sokoto Gubernatorial trial in favour of incumbent Governor Wammako.
Justice Umaru Abdullar’s panel was constituted to determine the facts of Salami’s allegations while another Justice Auta’s panel was mandated to study Abdullai’s report and make recommendations to the National Judicial Council for action. A really long work.
Eventually, Salami was ordered to apologise to Katsina-Alu, Salami defied the council which subsequently called for his suspension and compulsory retirement. Only 5 out of the council’s 8 members who attended the council meeting voted for these decisions. Sixteen of the members didn’t attend the meeting in protest against “perceived victimization of Salami”
Invariably, there were no quorum decisions made in the council. Nevertheless, government hammer fell on Salami. He was compulsorily retired. But he emerged as a conscientious objector in 2011. In the judgments of legal activists and anti-PDP advocates, he was axed also because as chairman of the tribunal hearing CPC’s petition against the election of President Goodluck Jonathan, his rulings so far were warning signals that Jonathan may not be declared as winner of the April 2011 election. To prevent the mishap, Sallami was sent packing, sources said.
Also, in 2011 there was a face-off between Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State and the ICPC. He left office in 2007 but on September 21, 2011 the ICPC dragged him to court for operating over 16 foreign accounts between 1999-2007 while he was a governor of Lagos State. Few weeks later, he was discharged and acquitted of the allegation. He went home a “clean man” not on merit but technical grounds exploited by his defence team. Once again, what went on public display in Nigeria in 2011 was what the Hausas call “aiki farafara” of ICPC. Yes, the anti-graft agency rushed Tinubu to court without first painstakingly studying the case against him. The agency used a fish net to catch Tinubu a Shark. It is not surprising he broke free from the ICPC’s captivity. And so ICPC turned the whole incident into a Nollywood, cinematographic tragic-comedy, not a serious war against corruption.
Judgment days
In 2011, judgment days smiled with diabolism. The Arab youth spring revolt gathered moment at the beginning of the year. Following the state brutalization of Mohammed Bouzazi, a Tunisian graduate and his subsequent death through suicide, youths in Arab nations took to the streets demanding democracy and an end to political hegemonic rule in their respective countries.
The protest led President Ben Ali of Tunisia to flee to Saudi Arabia for safety. His 23-year rule of the country collapsed like a pack of cards. In Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak was forced to step down after about 30 years in power. Similarly by pro-democracy protesters, Gaddafi of Libya refused to listen to his country men and women demanding his exit from office he had clung to for 42 years. Because of his recalcitrance, his people took up arms against him using Benghazi as a staging post. Relying on NTO and UN support, eventually, Gaddafi lost out. Furthermore, he died in the macabre struggle to keep power along side his son Muttasim in the decisive battle for Sitre, his hometown.
The event in Libya suggests that people are entitled to seek the armed overthrow of any undemocratic government which serially has rejected peaceful call for change to vox populism.
Libya apart, 2011 witnessed revolts in Yemen, Quatar, Syria and other Arab countries. Judgment days came for them. Everyday is for the political thief, one day is for the true owners of a country, nay the people.
In the same vein, judgment days arrived for other people. For instance, Osama bin Laden was killed in his hiding place in Pakistan by American special troops. Dr. Conrad Murray was jailed 4 years for the voluntary murder of pop-star Michael Jackson. Former President Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast was on December 5 2011 arraigned before the ICC, Haque to answer to charges of rape, human rights violation, war crimes amongst others. He allegedly committed them during the 4-months of disputed presidential election between him and Alhassane Qualtara that led to the death of over 3000 people.
It is however not Gbagbo alone that should have been dragged to the ICC. He wasn’t the only one that perpetrated mayhem in Ivory Coast. Other Ivoriens did, too. So why single out Gbagbo for trial? A case of selective justice in 2011 endorsed by the world superpowers with France under Nicolai Sarkozi’s leading the pack.
Last things
Also, it was judgment days in 2011 for nations which neglected the environmental challenges of flood control and erosion. In Lagos and Ibadan, the worst flood disasters were witnessed. Because of them, Nigeria has woken up from slumber. It is re-arranging its policies on the environment to ensure its protection and sustainability.
It was not all bad news in 2011, through. There were good ones here and there. For example, it was rumoured that world statesman Nelson Mandela had died. However, it was joyfully discovered that death was not even near him. South Sudan got its independence on July 9, 2011 leaving Western Sahara as the last colony under the imperialist rule of Morocco. Japanese women team won, the world cup held in Germany on July 18, 2011. By its victory, it became the first Asian women team to win the cup. It beat USA team in the final, robbing it of a historic chance to win the cup a record three consecutive times. And on October 1, 2011 it was reported that Malaysian investors had arrived Abuja to partnr with Nigeria on resuscitating our palm oil plantation. In the 70s, Nigeria mentored Malaysia in the business, but now the nation is here to teach it to us.
Great!! Can you see that 2011 has mega bites, and twists and turns that are loaded with lessons for all of us? Therefore, learn from them so that you can be a better person or nation in 2012. happy New Year.
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