Signing off

Not just for Xmas, but possibly for good. At some point one has to evaluate the usefulness of one’s activities and make decisions. I love the blogging community; my RSS reader is made up close to two and a half thousand blogs. As a greenhorn writer, I have remarked mainly on Nigerian politics. From time to time, I add a few posts on my number 2 love – Soul/Funk music of the 80s, but generally speaking, my searchlight as been aimed at the hideously inept leadership we have in Nigeria. My irritation towards this failing state was finally marked with the recent judgements handed out in favour of Igbinedion and Ibori.

I don’t really want to rabble on. I will reflect over the Xmas period and make a decision thereafter. There are a number of projects I seriously want to work on. I will still be in this game in some other guise. It might just be the right time to move on, and thanks guys - it’s been great. I must apologies though for one thing - my blog etiquette – which was been slightly atrocious. I didn’t communicate well with my readers – respond to comments made on my blog. I however DID visit and will continue to visit your blogs - I never got ahead of myself.

I wish everyone a Merry Xmas and a happy new year.

xxx

FCT

Can anyone please tell me what the Federal Capital Territory stands for? Is it a state? Does it belong to all Nigerians?

Yesterday, Senator Adamu Aliero, a former governor of Kebbi State and an alleged Treasury looter, was handpicked by Yardy as the new minister of the Federal Capital Territory. My memory may be failing me, but I cant remember the last time we had a non-northern minister of this region.

Are non-northerners excluded from this office?

Nkiruka

In Igbo it means that what is in front is bigger (sorry to disappoint those who expected me to add Azuka). This was how Mike Ahamba (SAN), a legal luminary and General Buhari's lead counsel, summed up the Supreme Court’s judgement on President Umaru Yar'Adua's April 2007 election victory.

According to him it was a close call – 4/3 in favour of Yardy. Three judges ‘apparently’ didn’t believe there was a fair and free election. In Ahamba’s assessment therefore, the fact that there were three disloyal voices out of seven means tomorrow is brighter. I don’t quite buy that logic; I think it was a handy ruling, very convenient – The type that gets worked out in smoky rooms. A unanimous verdict would have conclusively picked holes in our faith in justice.

Now that Yardy has won - in boxing jargon - a majority decision, I guess the expected call will be to allow him maintain his clueless headship to nowhere. Nevertheless a day before the judgment, Yardy astounded me. He called for the removal of immunity from most serving officials. Yardy, the EFCC, Ibori and our other rulers have this recurring style of trying to make one believe that they have our interests at heart. It’s an orthodox misleading ploy - the fanfare about the rule of law and due process, the periodic press statements decrying corrupt etc quickly string to mind.

But on this day, our ailing President seemed genuine, and if he can pull this off he would have us on the right part. I couldn’t quite say the same about Ms Waziri, her assault on her chewing gum during the EFCC organised conference would have made Sir Alex Ferguson wince. I guess that doesn't matter, she might just be a fan of Bazooka Joe.

I don’t want to belabour this; I just wonder - Is what is in front bigger and possibly better? Does this judgement mean that in future we could see a sitting president toppled by judges of the Supreme Court? Why can’t we get all appeals out of the way before anyone is allowed to assume office?

Questions?

He's back with his family.

Doja's Nephew is back!

Thank God for that.....

Anyway, lets celebrate with the family. My vigil is over....time to start blogging again.

Whose child is next?

:-(

Praying For the Safe Return of ...

Doja's nephew.

Moments like this put everything into some sort of perspective. When a 6 year old is kidnapped you hate to think about how scared the kid is, what is going thru the minds of the kid's parents and close ones.

This is not the time to rant and curse. This is the time for our blog family to set other prayers aside ask God to ensure that this kid is returned safely.

God please.

Some week!

The fiasco between the enemies of our state and Ribadu sort of kicked off the week. While this hero (my interpretation) was being ‘shamed’ by a set of hired thugs, the people of Thailand were trying to force the prime minister's resignation. Something you wonder why we aren’t doing now. I guess life is too sweet and the idea of wasting time sleeping rough @ the airport isn’t a ‘Nigerian’ thing.

Then there was the ghoulish incident in Mumbai. I still haven’t heard from a couple of my colleagues who I know are in Mumbai, but I am not assuming the worst. Politics and blame trading seems to have taken over an opportunity to knock this one on the head. I just get the feeling that the guys I see on Sky News and Fox are hoping for a war between India and Pakistan.

Meanwhile @ Arsenal, Gallas and the armband did finally part ways. A young Spaniard was made captain – Cesc we can! Yesterday, the changeable season that Arsenal have had saw them see of a mediocre Chelski side 2-1. It was like the good old days when a victory at the bridge was a ‘given’

Back to Nigeria there was the news about baby teething mixture contaminated with diethylene glycol called My Pickin. Diethylene glycol is a toxic substance normally used in engine coolant! About 29 babies are now dead, and many more in hospital.

Armed Robbers are holding the fort in Ibadan taking no notice of the police. Who knows they may send Ridabu there to make haste his absolute disappearance.

And then on Thursday after a lull, religious riots kicked off in Jos, all under the cover of politics – vote rigging by the PDP (another enemy of the state). States as far from Plateau as Anambra, Abia and Imo are on alert – Revenge killings.

Is Yardy awake, you hope so…..

PLS. SPARE A MINUTE TO OBSERVE WORLD AIDS DAY