Why I Won't Write About Ibori... Okey Ndibe

I won’t zero in on Ibori, for he is, after all, a small effect of a vast, pervasive cause. I realize that to make him, this day, the core of one’s disdain is to forget a little the way in which he is but a speck in a universe of venal grubbers and bloody thieves. To fix on Ibori is to leave the impression that he is somehow exceptional in Nigeria’s political planet. We all know that there aremany Iboris out there. What’s worse, the Nigerian system daily manufactures and graduates many more Iboris. These new Iboris daily enter the leeching enterprise. They take to that despicable business of a few dispossessing the many, tiny cohorts aggrandizing themselves by seizing the public harvest and doing with it as they please. To fix on Ibori today is to risk falling into a foolish temptation. That temptation is to celebrate the comeuppance of a man who reaped where the people sowed, a man who reduced the sacred business of governance to the art, and act, of personal greed. One must by all means run away from the celebratory temptation. There is no cause for celebration in Mr. Ibori’s downfall today. I will go as far as declaring that there’sno victory for the people of Delta, for Nigerians. There is for all of usonly defeat and shame.

Short Story: A Stolen Identity

It was the formlessness in her eyes that endeared her to Ikem. The tedious flight from London to Lagos had not taken a toll on her elegant frame. The complexity of her attire was a bait that attracted any one around her. This was what caught Ikem's fancy. He had beenaway from Nigeria for ten years, but even a decade in an alien country had not infiltrated his sense of morals. He gazed at the girl again, to be sure it wasn'ta toy that sat next to him in the plane. But, she was human. Her face exudes a beauty that had been raped; raped by the quest to make it better. Ikem mustered the courage and began the conversation. 'Hi', he said in a voice that wasn't sure of itself. In response, she raised a part of hereye brow, adjusted her dress andblinked her eye lid swiftly. After much hesistation, 'Hello' formed in her mouth. 'I am Ikem Ezeji'. He said. She smiled, as if there was something hilarious about his name. 'Well, I am Paula Dixon, my parents are from Nigerian, but I consider myself a British...afterall I have lived in Britain for four years', she concluded. A sudden silence beclouded Ikem's thought. He took a hard look at Paula. 'Four years and you are now a Briton'. he whisper to himself in sheer wonder. As they arrived at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikem waved her farewell as he left with his hoovering thoughts.

United Edges Closer To Rewriting History!

From the word go, it was obvious that the Barclays English Premier League trophy was a tussle between Manchester United and City. Since the coming of Sheikh Mansour's petrodollars, the rivarly began to grow in temerity. City began to dream again. However, for all it's unpredictabilities, this season has been a mixed grail. Football has a mischievious way of defying our predictions. At the commencement of the season, City seemed like a class act. They destroyed teams with ruthlessness and minimum fuss. They banged in goals as if it were going out of fashion. And who could forget that 6-1 massacre they meted out to Man United at Old Trafford. A win that the bookmakers made us believe was a watershed and the beginning of a power shift. However, all that looks like a distant past now. As the season reaches home strech, City appears to have been gone with the wind. From five points clear, City are now five points behind their vastly successful neighbours. Few envisaged that Mancini's team will fall like a pack of cards at this stage, but as United have often displayed, they are the boss of Manchester. When push comes to shove, it is Sir Alex Ferguson and his red devils team that have endured the marathon with panache. This is not to say that the league is over for City, but anyone that memory serves right, will know that United are not a team to give away a five points lead with less than seven games to savour. It won't be an exaggeration to unequivocally say that only Manchester United stands on Manchester United's path to winning an unprecedented twenty league titles.

An Experience To The Palace Of The Sultan Of Sokoto!

The structure of the building said it all. It was an architectural work that dates back to scores of years ago, yet the simplicity of the palace was it's strength. A visit to the Sultan's palace is obviously not a routine trip. Thus, I was determined to make the most of the opportunity. Fleet of cars graced the vicinity. However, it is apt to mention that none of the cars portrayed a life of luxury. In truism, they were your everyday cars. Remarkably, the enviornment was a busy one. Men dressed in the Hausa attire moved to and fro. Their swiftness and sense of duty underlies the fact that the palace is a company of some sorts. While it will be stating the obvious to say that women were not seen around the palace, one is reminded of the reality in Islam, that the female folks are reduced to articles of procreation. As we entered the exquisite hall, my thoughts hovered carelessly. The edifice was a spell in itself. Unlike, the typical Nigerian politician who takes pride in arriving late for an occasion, the Sultan kept to time. With an entourage of about six, some chanting songs I couldn't decipher, Saad Abubakar 111 arrived. He looked young and full of life. Age was yet to take it's toll. There was a clamness about him that oozes through him, and when he eventually spoke, it was the stuff of dreams. 'Your behaviour is a reflection of the society you live in'. Those were his first few words. He stressed on the need for self employment and the imperatives of reviving the reading culture among youths. His words spilled out like that of a sage. He bemoaned the dearth in vaules that is evident in our society. However, in his moment of oratory prowess, he couldn't shy away from the obvious. The Sultan decried the spate of insecurity in the country. He began to choose his words, careful not to sound too critical of the menace that is Boko Haram. He concluded by expressing optimism that despite the condurum Nigeria finds itself, she will flourish again. I wished this moment will never end, but the Sultan had to go for his prayers. The meal that followed was a treat. We ate to not just satisfy our hunger, but mainly to help our greed. Penultimately, the visit gave me the rare opportunity to understand the Sultanate beyound the gimmicks and sensationalism of the Nigerian press .

The North And The Rest Of Us (2)

To answer the question of how the North inheritated such an inimical image, is a landmine on it's own. Despite having the bulk of the nation's population, the North have tussled with a plethora of anomalies. Crass illetracy continues to spread across the region like wild fire and infrastructual delapitation is a pathetic reality. Without mincing words, the Northern elites have not also helped the course of the region. Rather, they have continued to expliot the ignorance of their people, and like parasites, they have used the creed of religon and the song of ethnicity to keep their people in captivity. However, it is time to redeem the North beyond lip service and prejudice. History suggests that they have dominated the ruling echelon of Nigerian politics, and this hindsight cannot be treated with kid gloves. Contrary to the perception of many, the people of the North are not savages. While it is true that Boko Haram and it's kingpins have their foothold in the North, their intents and scheme are entirely alien, and should not be associated with the innocent majority of it's citizenry. The search for a united Nigeria is one that should be devoid of unfounded criticisms and misconcieved perceptions. The North are a part of Nigeria, they are needed to make the Nigeria project work, and that is a truth that the rest of us must accept.

The North And The Rest Of Us (1)

On June 1978, the famous historian, Chinweizu wrote what was to be a best-seller and a book for all seasons, 'The West And The Rest Of Us.' However, while this article draws inspiration for it's title from the book's own title, it does not share any resemblance to the work. It was the mandatory pandora's box (NYSC), that thrust me upon the Seat of the Caliphate, Sokoto. Unspeakable fears and petrifying doubts gripped my heart. A sojourn to the North, was an adventure I'd never embarked on, yet, for factual and ficticious reasons, I concluded it was a poisoned chalice. Having stayed at Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, Enugu and Ogun states, to mention a few, Sokoto was one region I dreaded. However, as I was later to find out, my fears weren't just borne out of the alarming rate of insecurity in the North, it was a perception that has been moulded by ignorance, forged by hear-says, and propagated by the media. The Northern image has been battered prior to the advent of Boko Haram. Perhaps, the first myth that has to be demystified is the notion that the North refers to one people. There is obviously a malady in regarding nineteen states as being equally babaric, nasty and bruitish. Pathetically, this is what many of us do, unconsciously. Coming to Sokoto, I saw how severe and deep rooted this damage has gone. Almost every of my fellow Corps members came to camp with that preconcieved mindset. In fact, many went as far as to blame their 'misfortune' of being posted to Sokoto on the gods and some form of supernatural forces from 'home'. While I cannot deny that I didn't actually feel good about coming to serve in Sokoto, I strongly believe that the flurry of hatred for the North, is a threat to the Nigerian project. It is a truism that some states in the North are very volatile and relatively insecure, but hatred for the region, will not resolve the menace. Perhaps, it will be apt to first ask the question: How and why did the North inherit such a soiled image over the years?

Nigeria: To Divide Or Not To Divide?

The Nigerian news media have recently, witnessed a flurry of advocacies for the country to go the way of secession. This call is not a novel one in our nation. However, the harsh realities of the times, the plague that is Boko Haram and perhaps, the death of the Dim (Ojukwu), have renewed the conviction for many to be divided. Having listened to the 'pros' and the 'cons' of the debate, it dosen't require a clairvoyant to see that the both sides have got plausible points. Having said that, our democracy hinges on fragility and in a nation where primordial and ethnic sentiments still holds sway, one cannot afford to treat this subject with kid gloves. The call for a Soverign National Conference, also constitue a condurum of some sorts. While the idea to concieve this conference seems noble, the motive is to be scrutinized. Also, on what basis will representation be sent to such conference. It will not be cynical to suggest that a Soverign National Conference might merely succeed in fanning the embers of hostilities in our country. Morever, it has been said and not without reason, that such a conference could end up being a 'talk-shop' or at best, 'a rallying point'. One cannot also deny the fact that either way the country goes, some 'few' are bound to get the spoils. It is these 'few' that are the real enemies of the state. Suffice it to say, it is salient to dismiss the perception that secession will ultimately be the albatross of the North. It is simply myopic and unfair to sit here and conclude the fate of the North in the eventuality of Nigeria's division. Conclusively, rather than keep advocating for the division of the country, both leadership and followers must give their all in solving the plethora of anomalies confronting us. Division might appear to be the answer, but the consequences are certainly going to be severe!