Soyinka vs Abacha and the Nigerians' Amnesia by Semiu Ayobami Akanmu

The recent scuffle that the Abacha versus Wole Soyinka generated in our cyber space is another evidence pointing to the artificiality of the country called Nigeria. It further cements the counter-fitness of the one-Nigeria slogan. We have known some regionalists from time immemorial to have never for once publicly condemn any kleptocrat from their region. History is there to judge where Olusegun Obasanjo had his most tense attack during his third term political invention.

We are what we are, and we shall remain so. In as much as I remain an ardent believer in a class structure based on our relationship with the machinery of wealth production, any re-configuration of our country that does not include regional autonomy will fall as the wall of Jericho. In this stance, we have to dilute Marxists' democratic centralism to appeal to the social reality of the Nigeria demography.

Increased Tempo of Boko Haram/Terrorist Activity in the wake of Sanusi Saga by Wendell Simlin

|Note| The text you are about to read was the press release sent to journalist by one Wendell Simlin. Not a single word was re-written|
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In the wake of the saga involving the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, there has been an increase in the tempo of terrorist activities carried out by the Islamic Terrorist sect, Boko Haram.
Taken together with some historical facts, there is a strong case that this increase in tempo and other activities are not coincidental.
The following Timelines may throw some light on the likely linkages;

Nigerians ask #whereisourmoney

Allegations that billions of dollars in oil revenues are missing has Nigerians online demanding accountability from their government.
Central Bank governor Lamido Sanusi has repeatedly called for an investigation into the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Sanusi initially charged that nearly $50 billion went missing in 18 months, but an audit ordered by the Senate finance committee estimates the amount to be closer to $20 billion.
President Goodluck Jonathan suspended Sanusi on Thursday, describing his leadership of the central bank in a statement as "characterized by various acts of financial recklessness and misconduct".
Sanusi plans to appeal the suspension in court.
Many used #WhereIsOurMoney to debate the suspension and criticize the government for failing to account for the alleged missing revenue.

#WhereIsOurMoney NNPC

Misbahu Chedi
@Emtee_chedi "please some journalist should ask him tonite. 200Billion USD no b small money."
Read more...

Lobbying, lobbying and the Nigeria economy. Read Erastus Akingbola's letter to President Jonathan?

Just read this letter purportedly written by Erastus Akingbola to GEJ on how Saraki had a meeting with him back in 2009, asking for a merger between Intercontinental Bank and Societe General Bank. He, Akingbola, said he declined because a background report shows that Saraki's SG is no match in Market value to IB.
To cut things short, Sanusi came in and in 3weeks, a review of banks was conducted. Prior to this, a similar review, 4 months earlier gave IB a 'clean bill' but on that occasion, the report was 'negative'. A quick rap with one of the examiner, by Akingbola, revealed that "Sanusi was bent on removing me".

Akingbola, in the letter, said he met Saraki to help mediate with Sanusi and he, Saraki, came back to tell him that Sanusi accused Akingbola and one other person of trying to block his CBN with a N6billon bribe.

After Akingbola's removal, former SG Bank's Manager, Saraki's employee, was purportedly chosen to head IB and in it first few weeks, the new management "wrote off about N40billion Saraki loans, returned collaterals to Saraki" among other stuffs.

This is really, really disturbing and warrant a strong response from EFCC, ICPC with close monitoring and pressure from the Fraud Division of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Nigeria economy is getting knocked from all sides by selected few (I am not speaking on the context of this letter but from events that have played out between 2006 to 2010, especially during the shares buying era where companies of 6 months old are given concession to be listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange.)

Prosecuting is one thing, making culprits pay is another.

All these allegations and cross allegations, bad deals, siphoning, selfishness coming to the surface while about 160 million people groan under bad economy load? It is a matter of when? When will the people say "it is enough."

What will you do for £300,000 a week? Ask Rooney

Talking football, especially on this platform, is not something that occur often but for £300,000 a week? Ah! Today, we are talking football.

Desperate Manchester United is not new to grazing headlines; from record losing streaks to other clubs breaking their winnings records after two, three decades and now, the premier league struggling club have paid over the odds to keep Rooney.

The amount? £300,000 a week for the next 5 years.

Wayne Rooney whose existing £250,000-a-week deal ran into its final 18 months, had twice walked away from negotiating tables due to disagreement over how much should be his new earnings.

The fallout of 'no agreement', United feared, is losing Rooney for nothing at the end of next season.

IS ROONEY WORTH £300,000 A WEEK?

Chimamanda Adichie: Why can’t he just be like everyone else?

I will call him Sochukwuma. A thin, smiling boy who liked to play with us girls at the university primary school in Nsukka. We were young. We knew he was different, we said, 'he's not like the other boys.' But his was a benign and unquestioned difference; it was simply what it was. We did not have a name for him. We did not know the word 'gay.' He was Sochukwuma and he was friendly and he played oga so well that his side always won.

"If we are part of a majority group, we tend to think others in minority groups are abnormal, not because they have done anything wrong, but because we have defined normal to be what we are and since they are not like us, then they are abnormal." ~ Chimamanda Adichie

In secondary school, some boys in his class tried to throw Sochukwuma off a second floor balcony. They were strapping teenagers who had learned to notice, and fear, difference. They had a name for him. Homo. They mocked him because his hips swayed when he walked and his hands fluttered when he spoke. He brushed away their taunts, silently, sometimes grinning an uncomfortable grin. He must have wished that he could be what they wanted him to be. I imagine now how helplessly lonely he must have felt. The boys often asked, "Why can't he just be like everyone else?"

Dons flay WAEC over 39 new subjects BY ARUKAINO UMUKORO

Academic dons have questioned the introduction of 39 new subjects by the West African Examinations Council in its curriculum.
In an interview with our correspondent on Friday, the Vice-Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, queried why so many subjects were introduced at once by the examination body.
He said, "I believe the introduction of vocational studies, business studies, and technical studies into the curriculum is a good idea; but it is not just the introduction of those courses that is the issue; it is whether we have competent teachers to teach these subjects, the requisite equipments. Do we also have the appropriate learning environment for the students?

Click http://t.co/j0T6hOsQtr to read what our columnist, Sunday Odedeyi, said about the new 39 subjects.