I knew my mum when I was 18 and my dad at 22 -9ice

 by ’NONYE BEN-NWANKWO

Abolore Akande(a.k.a 9ice)

Abolore Akande, popularly called 9ice, talks to ’NONYE BEN-NWANKWO about his life and why he has been missing in music scene for awhile

These days, you are always seen with Don T, are you now under his management?

Don Tee is my new manager. I am now with Dicotyledon Entertainment management which has Don Tee as the head.

What is he really supposed to be doing for you?

He is in charge of 9ice, everything that has to do with 9ice, including his image. He even determines the kind of food I eat and the places I go. It doesn’t have to do with only performance. He is in charge of everything.

But somebody was doing it before?

Oh yes. He was managing me on stage and not off stage. He used to book shows and get shows for me. But now, Don Tee is involved in so many other things. So far so good, the experience has been so good.

Nothing much has been heard about 9ice, what is happening?

I went back to school. I decided to chill for a while and I decided to go back to the drawing board to see what new thing I can do that would set me apart from what I was doing 10 years ago.

In those moments you were ‘chilling,’ some other artistes came on board and they are doing absolutely well in the industry. Don’t you think they have taken your place?

The industry is very small but even as small as it is, it can take more than 10 million artistes. Going by our population in Nigeria, we are close to 160 million. Even if one artiste sells one million copies, more artistes can still sell that number. Don’t forget there are some artistes that may not be seen on TV or read about in the magazines but their CDs sell.

And now that you are back, should these artistes be scared?

We are not on the same level. They are in the river and I am in the ocean. Let them just do their thing. I am on a different level. They are making money. That is nice. They don’t disturb me and I don’t disturb them either.

You have a new album, E ke kan, how is it doing?

It is doing very well. It is produced by Don Jazzy. It has a video already.

How come you decided to go back to school?

I have always loved academics. To have a degree is very important. While I was back at the drawing board, I had an opportunity to go back to school and I used it.

We hear you are studying Criminal Law? What has that got to do with music?

I have always been a fan of Law. Now that I got the opportunity of going back to school, I decided to study Law that I have always loved. I didn’t want to go to school and just study ‘anything’.

Could you be preparing yourself for the future, because we heard you want to go into politics someday?

Politics is not something I came across all of a sudden. It was actually annoyance that made me want to go into politics. When you see people who are there and speaking ‘big’ grammar and not doing anything for the people, it can be annoying. You don’t have to earn a degree to make a difference in your community anyway. All you need to have is an understanding of what your community is yearning for.

Will you start with grass root politics?

Politics at that level is difficult. I want to be where I intend to make an impact. I want the change to be felt by the people.

Will you be doing music and politics at the same time?

I don’t want to be doing music when I am 40 years. I can’t do that. It is not for me. I can’t be 40 and still be jumping on the stage. This is a personal decision. I am not condemning those who are doing it. For me, when I am 40, I want to be doing something more challenging. I am too much of a serious person to be doing music at the age of 40. At 40, what I would be singing might not go down well with so many people. I would rather stay out of music and do another thing.

How come you don’t wear bling bling and tattoos like a typical Nigerian artiste?

It has to do with who I am. I just want to be in the midst of everybody. I want to blend wherever I go. I don’t want to be noticed. I want to dress like every other person. If I am on stage, that is a different thing. But once I am off the stage, I want to simply be like every other person.

Why did you deny you had twins when they were born?

I did say I didn’t have twins then because I believe it was personal. If I have N1m, I think it is only my account’s officer that should know how much I have. In fact, he wouldn’t even have the right to check my account unless I ask him to do that. He couldn’t just cull up my account details and start checking how much I have. This is not a car we are talking about, these are human beings.

But when they grow up, do you think they will forgive you when they read that you once denied them?

I will tell them the reason I did that. It was the same way my father gave me his own reasons. I didn’t know him until I was 22. I got to know my mother when I was 18. They gave me their reasons for doing what they did. I asked my father where he was all the time I was growing up and he told me where and how and when he was a part of my life. If my kids grow up to ask me why I did what I did, I would certainly explain to them.  I didn’t say I didn’t have kids just because I wanted to lie, No. I had my reasons. I had my life to live.

You are in showbiz, so you shouldn’t expect to have a private life…

But there are still some elements that are personal. I didn’t fight anybody when the stories came out. I just didn’t say anything because I wasn’t ready to talk about it. I wasn’t ready to share the story. When I got ready, I even shared the pictures of the twins. Who knows, I could have even used their pictures to make money and sell to a publication that wanted them. But I just released the pictures.

Do we see you getting married to their mother soon?

I will get married soon. But it might not be tomorrow. It might not be as early as people expect. It might even be earlier than people expect.

So, will you be getting married to the mother of the twins?

It is very possible.

But is she the one you are with at the moment?

I am not saying anything on that. No comment.

What of your first son?

He is very fine. He is in America at the moment with his mum. Education is good in Nigeria but we wanted him to grasp a higher quality of education. His mum decided to go back to America so he had to go with her.

Do you communicate with them often?

Oh yes, I was even in America last month.

How involved are you in his welfare?

I have never been left out. I have always been involved in his welfare right from the time he was born till now. It will be like that till I give up.

You have not really talked about your marriage with Tony Payne?

News is always about assumptions and rumours and gossips. It is left for people to pick out the meat. The media has already stolen the show from me. There is nothing to talk about again. I was one of the crowd and I was watching as the news were flying.

Do you regret that marriage?

I don’t. I have never regretted that marriage. I have so many reasons.

What are the reasons?

It is not only because of my son. Without that marriage, I will not be here today. I see life from a different perspective now. There are things that are inevitable. So, many things are bound to happen in life and there is nothing you can do about it. When such things happen, you have to face it. You only have to manage it when it happens and from there, you move ahead. If you don’t move ahead from that situation, you will never go to the next level.

Is it likely you will get out of the marriage institution when you go into it again?

I pray I don’t. I always say that marriage is not for this generation and a lot of people question me when I say it. My mother would always be in the house by 5.30 pm.  Whether my dad gave her feeding money or not, there must be food on the table when he got home. My mother would give us school fees whether my father gave her or not. But women of these days, even when the husband is at home, the wife can come home later than 10pm and nothing would happen. She would even stop by the eatery and buy dinner instead of cooking. The principles God lay down for this institution is not there again. What we have now is ‘manage institution.’ So, whatever situation we find ourselves in, we should manage it and then there won’t be any trouble. Now, how many marriages last? Because it is 9ice’s marriage, everybody is talking about it. Check your neighbour. It happens everywhere.

Let’s go back to what you said earlier on about not knowing your parents until you were a young man, how did it happen?

It is going to be in my autobiography. I am going to make money out of the story. I am not divulging it. Nobody knows about it yet.

You also ventured into acting some time ago…

I was ‘pushed’ into acting. It was a one off thing so that people would not say I didn’t do it. That industry is another thing entirely.

What happened to all those artistes signed under your Alapomeji label?

That is a misconception. I never signed on any artiste. I only gave them a platform to showcase themselves and go on their own when they are established. Nigeria music industry is not ripe enough to sign on any artiste.

Punch

Kanye West Says Obama "Used" Him

The rapper also has pledged to never mention the president's name again.

By Joyce Jones

Kanye West has imposed a gag order on himself when it comes to President Obama. In an interview that aired on Philadelphia's Hot 107.9 Monday, he said, "I'm not gonna mention him no more. I'm past that. That’s out my thoughts. That’s lowering my priority of thinking at this point.”
When West hears Obama's name, the memory of the two times Obama has referred to him as a jackass likely still stings.
One of the hosts asked whether he could imagine himself and his fiancée, reality television star Kim Kardashian, on a double date with the president and First Lady Michelle Obama to "break bread" while Malia and Sasha babysit his daughter North. But the rapper suggested that was not in the cards and that the president likes to use "icons" like him to make himself seem hipper.
“Oh, you mean like how he used to come and visit me and my mama and tell me that he’s about to run for president? Break bread like that, like back in the day?" asked West, who grew up in Chicago. “I just think that we’re pop icons, and the president likes to use that type of thing just to be down and stuff."
“I don’t care if someone’s the president or not,” he added. “I care about thoughts and how you helping people and what you bring to the world.”
BET Politics - Your source for the latest news, photos and videos illuminating key issues and personalities in African-American political life, plus commentary from some of our liveliest voices. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

BET

How Tony Elumelu Made $123 million In 3 weeks From The “Cheap” Purchase Of Nigeria’s PHCN

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Nov. 23, 2013
NewsRescue- Forbes has described how Tony O. Elumelu, former United Bank of Africa’s MD’s Transcorp just made millions with him personally raking $123 million on his 22.26% shares, thanks to increased purchase of their Transcorp shares after he acquired Nigeria’s Ughelli Power plant. His stock jumped from N1.87 ($0.01), before purchase of the national public asset to N5.35 ($0.03).

• NewsRescue-Is Africapitalism Good Or Bad For Africa?

We have recently published several stories that explain how Nigerian government makes its friends wealthy by selling or giving them Nigeria’s public assets at cheap prices. The power plants sold to Obasanjo’s Transcorp boys was refurbished by the Nigerian government for over N3 Trillion and then sold to Transcorp for just N404 billion. The jump in the value of his shares is predictable and it is expected that gains will be tremendous because the people in government are privately invested with the cabal who are literally dashed assets and then supported to milk the populace with exorbitantly priced sale. Dangote cement is one such example we have published on.
Nigeria is again in the process refurbishing its refineries for trillions to sell them again to these government friends for paltry figures, so as to shoot up their stock value and guarantee immense wealth status for all in bed together in these deals.

NewsRescue

If you don’t enjoy your career, change it — Deborah Odutayo

 by Kemi Ashefon

Deborah Odutayo

She is the President, Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria. She is also the Executive Director of Royal Roots Communication Network Ltd. Deborah Odutayo bares her mind on sundry issues in this interview

What is your background?

I am Deborah Odutayo and an experienced television producer. I am a graduate of Mass Communication and also earned a certificate in TV production and another in marketing. I have attended several TV and media workshops, courses all over the world which has helped me to broaden my scope in my chosen field.

Can you relive your growing up days?

Growing up was not a bed of roses. My father, a retired air force officer, was very disciplined. I am the firstborn and was expected to show a very good example to my siblings. Then, my father was an elder in his church and we had to attend church service, bible class and choir practice. We are Catholics and I am proud of my faith.

How did you get into television production?

I think it is the ability to tell a story in a picture form. I wanted to make a difference and prove that women could also tread the path alongside the men in our industry and be accepted. I started work as a contract staff in NTA in 1986. Then, whenever, we were on vacation, I would always rush back to NTA to work on any available production. I worked with all the producers- Enebeli Elebuwa; Sadiq Daba; Danladi Bako; CY Okonkwo and a host of other NTA great producers.

A woman in a career like yours would have experienced intimidation especially from male colleagues. How were you able to cope?

I have been very lucky and not experienced such.  I love and enjoy my job. That passion in me for what I do always gets the best out of me. Truth is, I have never applied for a job in my life. I was offered three jobs before I joined my husband at Royal Roots Communication. He asked me to leave MINAJ TV and join him when he saw all the energy I was putting into another man’s business. That’s who I am- when I take up anything, I give it my all.

Meanwhile, when your counterparts and male colleagues see how passionate and committed you are, they usually give their support.

You work with your spouse in the same organisation, how have you coped?

I get this question all the time and I guess it’s because we have worked together for 16 years now. It has been bitter and sweet but the good thing is that we are both very passionate about the job. We have great respect for each other’s responsibilities. We do not take the home to the office but we have had to take the office home. My husband is MD (My Dear) but he is also the Managing Director. The running of the company lies on his table. I supervise all the departments and we both make and take decisions in consultation.

Are there challenges in such a partnership?

Challenges? I’m not sure that we can call it a challenge. We disagree on professional principles and work ethics but we always reconcile at the end of the day. He is the boss and I accord him all the respect that he deserves. At work, I am the Executive Director / Producer, while MD is our Managing Director /Creative Director. When we have a shoot, MD wants to have all his creative requirements and everything he needs to make the production unique and outstanding but as the producer, I manage the production and the budget. There, we are always at logger heads especially when he wants something like an helicopter shot. My goodness! We will argue over and again but at the end, he sometimes gets his wish done. Sometimes, I stick to mine and say, ‘no sir, I can’t afford this with my budget.’

As president of EMCOAN, what are the achievements so far?

The Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria has been able to sensitize content owners of their importance in the industry. Content is king and we have made our presence felt in the industry. We are now partners with most of the television stations in Nigeria and most of them have cooperated with us. The same would be said of our media partners but unfortunately, majority of our members are being owed monies. This is a phase we are gradually trying to handle and deal with very consciously. We are hoping that with the new Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Emeka Mba, content owners will be able to sing a new song very soon. He happens to understand the industry and challenges we are facing. We are putting together workshops and orientation classes for all our members, especially the young content owners. Our members have been so wonderful and cooperative. It’s not all well yet but the battles are being fought together by us all, we believe that we will win on all fronts.

Are there challenges being the president of the body?

As the first female president of this great association where 90 per cent of our members are men, it has been very encouraging. They don’t see me as a woman but as their president. We have been and are all working together very well.

How do you juggle your different parts-a wife, mother and career woman. How do you strike the balance?

Everyday, the grace of God sees me through everything in my life. Be it at work, home, church and my associations. I am able to manage my time because I love all that I do with a passion. I am a trained and disciplined producer. Managing projects, people, budget and time is now a hobby for me. It comes so naturally. My mantra is, God first, my family and then my work. I don’t compromise.

What will be your advice to any woman who is in a career and aiming higher?

Give it your best shot always. Don’t be intimidated by anyone, trust your heart and enjoy whatever you do. If you don’t enjoy it, then, change career. I spend 80 per cent of my time in my office. Life is too short not to make the best out of it. My husband would always say, ‘we are paid to enjoy ourselves.’ Truth is, we do not see our job as a job anymore, we see it as having fun.

Punch

Behold the world’s largest Slave Republic – Nigeria

By Dele Sobowale
“A democratic republic; if you can keep it”,
James Madison, 1751-1836.
James Madison, one of the founding
fathers of the United States, who along
with Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826, laid out
in the famous book, The Federalist Papers,
the outlines of the American constitution,
which was later adopted on September 7,
1787 gave that reply to a reporter who had
asked him: “What form of government have
you given to the American people”?
Madison knew from historical experience
that freedom and democracy don’t exist
simply because a constitution had been
written. Madison and the founding fathers
of America and their descendants, till
today, knew too well that “eternal vigilance
is the price of freedom”.
By contrast, when Nigeria became a
republic in 1963, neither the Prime Minister,
Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, nor anybody else,
warned Nigerians in the same vein. It was
just assumed that a democratic republic,
once pronounced and a constitution
written would guarantee and perpetuate
liberty. Unfortunately, for our founding
fathers (Ahmadu Bello, Awolowo and
Azikiwe included), they were the first
victims of their collective folly. The
democratic republic they pronounced in
1963 was demolished by a small band of
armed adventurers; who promptly sent
democracy in Nigeria to the dustbin of
history. It has remained there till today.
In fact, what we are practicing today is a of
combination banana and slave republic.
You ask how? Then, let me count some of
the ways we have become the largest slave
colony on earth. And why any National
Conference, Sovereign or not, will fail.
No government, at any level, national,
regional or state, calling itself democratic,
treats its citizens with such disdain as
Nigerians are treated. I am writing this
article on Saturday, November 16, 2013,
while the election for Governor of Anambra
State is underway. It is known world wide
as a bye election – an election taking place
outside the normal cycle of national
elections. It happens all the time in the
United States, whose constitution we
borrowed, without caring to learn the
collective attitudes that would make the
constitution work. I challenge anyone to tell
Nigerians when the President of the United
States, the Federal Bureau of Investigations,
FBI, which is the national law enforcement
agency in America and the Electoral
Commission had closed the borders of any
state holding a bye-election. Yet, the day
before the Anambra election, the Nigeria
Police, hopefully with the consent of the
President of Nigeria, staged a constitutional
coup by taking away one of our
fundamental rights – The Right to Free
Movement.

Nigerians were told that we could not
travel through Anambra State for two days
for security reasons. I will bet anyone any
amount of money that no Police officer and
no President of the United States can issue
such an order and have it obeyed. The
Americans would just ignore “the nut”, as
he would be called, and those wanting to
go to that state will go anyway. Why?
Because America is the “land of the free
and home of the brave”. Here we are a
nation of slaves and cowards and our
leaders know us. Even the National
Assembly, which should see the coup
against the people, for what it is, kept
silent. David Mark, I can forgive, he never
went to law school. But, the Speaker of the
House of Representatives is a lawyer. Why
their collective silence is pregnant with
danger will be revealed at the end of this
article.
At state level, the same disregard for
citizens is patently manifest as examples,
drawn from two political parties will
illustrate. Let me start with Ogun State,
APC, where massive demolition is
underway. The last time the Southwest
experienced such inhuman demolition was
when Colonel Raji Rasaki (rtd) descended
like a Typhoon on the people of Maroko in
Victoria Island and now Lekki and
mindlessly rendered hundreds of
thousands homeless without
compensations or alternative means of
abode. We shook our heads in disbelief
and shrugged it off. What do you expect of
Mad dogs (as late Chief MKO Abiola had
called the military officers who invaded his
house) anyway. But, this Governor
Bulldozer, and called “progressive”, only in
2011 was begging the people for their
votes. How many would have voted for
him, if they knew that by 2013 they would
be rendered homeless and asked to come
and collect compensations unilaterally
determined by government afterwards? Is
this democracy in practice? And where is
the State House of Assembly in all these?
When the mind turns to Governor Wada of
Kogi State, it immediately thinks Convoy
Terrorism. His convoy’s collision with
Iyayi’s vehicle, killing the Professor and
halting FG-ASUU talks, was the third
involving the Governor since December 28,
2013. So, it has been one crash every four
months and the year is not over yet. I can
testify that Wada’s Convoy Terrorism has
become legendary in Kogi State. In
February this year, on my way from Enugu,
heading for Abuja, I encountered the
menace near the Confluence Hotel in
Lokoja. The road was terrible; but that did
not deter Wada’s convoy from speeding
like demons. Even when vehicles moved off
the road for them, some of the policemen
in the convoy will still kick out or hit with
the butt of their guns, vehicles which failed
to drive into the ditch fast enough so that
Kogi’s Lord and master can move as fast as
the Devil will drive his convoy. Several
deaths have occurred on account of a man
whose first duty is the safety of the citizens.
And, where is the State Assembly? Where
are the people in Kogi saying enough to a
governor who apparently cannot control
his delirium of power?
In my ten years in the US, I found myself
stopped at traffic lights, in Boston, four
times with two Governors of Massachusetts.
None violated the red light stopping every
citizen. But, I forgot. Those governors were
human beings leading other human beings
not the political monsters we have created
to rule over slaves.
Since the Police can order us to stay away
from Anambra for three days “for security
reasons”, what stops the Army from closing
the borders to Abuja for a week or month
for the same reasons if they choose? The
black man is backward because he, alone
among races, cannot think deeply until the
precedents they allow come to haunt them.
These are only examples.
LAST LINE: Despite the coup against the
people, the election will still be disputed.
So what was the use of violating our
constitutional rights?

"The New Nigerian" - By Mohammed Bashir Ahmed (aka Pilot)

Back in 1973, as a fresh student who had secured admission into the highly acclaimed Kings College in Lagos, I was initiated as a full member of the school community. The initiation process was to purge me of my prior negative identity, re-programming me with that of a Kings College boy. With the benefit of hindsight, I believe this singular process of transformation assured that I will never return to just being from "the bush village of......." and confirmed to all and sundry that I had really "discarded all my rustic and outlandish behaviour" thereby transmuting, if you will, into " a true Kings College boy".

This brief history of my transmutation and transformation from a "northern Hausa-Fulani provincial boy" to the suave, cosmopolitan, sophisticated and detribalised KC boy is important in the context of our ethno-religious, socio-cultural and political situation in present day Nigeria.

I ask a simple question: Who is a true Nigerian? Why do I ask such a rudimentary question you may most likely reply. I ask because I find it difficult to identify one and urgently need your help in honestly and earnestly seeking out one and introducing him to all the other "Nigerians".

The most profound discovery is that Nigeria is populated by tribes, ethnic nationalities, fanatics of all shades and colours, religious bigots with little faith, shady and criminal entities, regional champions and their minions and non - believers in the existence of a Nigerian State and of course decent people and true pseudo-nationalists. Yes, there are "nationalists" marinated in their tribal and ethnic agendas. Who then is a real Nigerian?

Currently political discourse has focused on the need to re-evaluate the terms and conditions of membership of the Nigerian nation by "ethnic nationalities" as the protagonists believe the amalgamation by the British in 1914 was not properly initiated and consummated. Their view being - that the diverse peoples were forced into a sham arrangement of nationhood and were never consulted nor did they willingly give their consensual approval. It begs the question as to what rights did the colonised people have in determining their fate or having a say in the ultimate objective of their colonisers? Clearly none at all.

Perhaps for us to understand how our lack of an accepted concept of nationhood deepened and widened over time, we need to briefly recap the key milestones in our journey to nationhood from that fateful amalgamation of 1914. We also need to examine our experiments with different political systems as our nation evolved into its present crisis-ridden condition. This approach may probably illuminate our path.

Our country was formed by the British administrative action of amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914, consequently they ruled indirectly in Northern Nigeria through the established systems that they met there and more directly in Southern Nigeria. This was a period of European Partition of Africa by the major powers. Definitely mistakes were made in carving out borders that bore no relevance to the local tribes and communities they were uniting or dividing. It is important to remember that there was no representation of ethnic local people nor was their participation and subsequent endorsement sought. It was an act by arrogant and insensitive victors inflicted upon a defeated, traumatized and victimized people. The subsequent country created and recognized as Nigeria was essentially a British trading post and a vital economic interest. It's people were not important in the scheme of things; and education and training were initially rudimentary and were tailored to serve the administrative machinery created for the smooth exploitation of economic resources that will enrich the colonising nation and its citizens.

A period of liberation came in the late 1950's when the local elite agitated for independence from the colonising powers throughout Africa. By this time there was substantial political awareness and optimism for opportunity to attain self rule and to subsequently carve out an identity as a nation translating into a peaceful, progressive and prosperous entity.

Independence was won in 1960 by our regional political leaders, some say on a platter of gold because there were minimal tears and sorrow but apparently no bloodshed. Independence came with great promise. Our leaders were respected, admired and even adored. Those were glorious times to be a Nigerian, true Nigerians proud of our heritage and very much anticipating a journey to national greatness. Regional governments embarked upon accelerated manpower, systems and infrastructural development. Healthy competition towards the attainment of excellence and the fulfillment of the aspirations of citizens were vigorously pursued. Nigerians were collectively striving with a "common cause". Then the catastrophe of 1966 derailed everything. The seeds were sown for the journey to perdition that has metamorphosed into our current crisis. Nigerians ended up fighting each other upon the declaration of the State of Biafra and its subsequent rejection by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Nigerians became divided and bitter adversaries that had been egged on by their tribal, religious, political and regional leaders to destroy each other and to take back what was perceived wrongly or rightly to be "theirs". An avoidable and terrible civil war that decimated a very high percentage of our population ensued, resources that should have gone into a national development programme were utilised for the war effort and a substantial portion of national infrastructure was destroyed. The bond between citizens of a young, promising country was broken.

Apparently the transfer of power by the British to the Nigerian political elite in 1960 was interpreted, by those who felt they were more qualified and had more rights to rule, as a deliberate attempt to hold back the country; and to anoint uneducated and unqualified leaders upon a more educated and sophisticated people that believed in their perceived cultural superiority. This perhaps had been the catalyst for the brutal action of the military officers that subverted our first republic quashing a seemingly bright national future and thereby reinforcing the tribal and ethnic divisions that have negated our national unity ever since. Nigeria has never been and will never ever be the same since that civil war that ensued for 30 months. Nigerians found themselves under a new dispensation of military rule. Officers trained in military affairs without the requisite knowledge of statecraft found themselves saddled with the responsibility of stabilizing and catapulting a young country into a modern nation. They started out well enough with a sense of duty and patriotism. They were, however, ill equipped for the task at hand and bungled all the hopes and aspirations of an expectant citizenry through coups and counter-coups culminating in a corrupted social, political and economic system. I do not blame them, they tried to do their best under those prevailing circumstances but were products of a society that had essentially made a wrong turn from its founding fathers right trajectory.

Experimentation continued with a democratisation process conjured and nurtured by the military and crafted by civilian advisers and public servants with vested interests in the outcomes. From the independence and post independence parliamentary system, to the more exotic and wasteful executive presidential system that turned out to be an extremely bad copy of the idealistic American Presidential System; we have since been traumatized by the politics of bitterness, perfidy, self service and winner grabs all mantra. The nation and its people have been held captive and blatantly sidelined by an insensitive and rapacious elite that cannot seem to feel any empathy even for "future generations".

Due to an entrenched culture of mis-governance and the subversion of the rule of law, the foundation was set for the failure of state institutions and services, Nigerians have since gained notoriety as a people with expertise in all that is rejected and abhorred by decent people all over the world. Armed robbery, ritual murder, terrorism, extra-judicial killings, illegal oil bunkering and theft, sabotage of vital national economic infrastructure, 419 scams,contract and pension scams, examination malpractice, judicial recklessness, kidnapping, fake medicine manufacture, fake / substandard foods and sundry goods manufacture, political thuggery, massive official corruption, election rigging and electoral violence, fake holy men and sundry false prophets.

These are not the best of times to be a Nigerian, especially abroad. "A good people and a great nation" is the official sound bite encouraging foreign direct investment and tourism development. The reality is rather warped - the societal vices enumerated above have created a rather ugly picture in the minds of our target investors and tourists. Surprisingly when it comes to these negative labels no ethnic nationality rears up its head to identify its "citizens" as the perpetrators of such heinous activities, instead such acts are blamed on unscrupulous "Nigerians". One asks again who really is a Nigerian?

Fast forward to our current situation. A country of aggrieved tribal and regional groupings all seeking means of extraction of resources without the commensurate commitment towards creating more avenues of creating greater national revenues and boosting our country's wealth. Competition is unhealthy and presently not for growth and development, but for massive looting sprees and unbridled primitive accumulation by those holding our collective commonwealth in trust for all of us. All sorts of characters have been thrown up by a defective system and are claiming messianic leadership qualities necessary to transport their various ethnic and regional communities to the "promised land". The reality so far is completely at variance with this utopian pledge, it is greed personified by massive private jet acquisition, multi-billion Naira mansion development, bulging foreign bank accounts, designer labelled clothing / accessories and conspicuous consumption of exotic foods, wines and spirits. Our people have been collectively deceived by these ethnic champions and their looting collaborators and are wallowing in excruciating poverty. What a shame - a rich country populated by poor people.

This is our current pitiful situation. The relevant crux of the matter is what next? Do we not need to go back to the first principle of identifying the requisite qualities of who a true Nigerian really is and should be? I had earlier related my denunciation of certain qualities that were a negation of the character of a true Kings College boy at my alma mater those many years ago. Why can Nigerians not collectively denounce all that is bad in our character and adopt this redeeming act? It is time to ask ourselves honestly and objectively - are we ready to be true Nigerians? Are we ready to denounce our unprogressive tribal and ethnic jingoism? Are we ready to accommodate our differences in language, ethnic identity, cultural values and religion? Are we ready to rise up above wanton materialism and unbridled corruption? Are we ready to roll up our sleeves to build a virile, economically viable, technologically capable nation conditioned and immersed in equity, justice and fairness?

Are we ready to be good people determined to build a great nation? Are we ready to fashion out a great new Nigeria for a New Nigerian? This should be our focus and not the diversions of an irresponsible political elite that have proven their inhumanity, incompetence and gross negligence to the attainment of our most sacred ideals of a peaceful, strong, united and prosperous nation.

Mohammed Bashir Ahmed, an architect sent this from his vacation spot in the UAE.

Oritsejafor Is Not A Christian Leader But A Politician! – Primate Ayodele

General Overseer of INRI Evangelical
Spiritual Church, Lagos, Primate Babatunde
Ayodele, has slammed the president of the
Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, for
operating as “Christian politician”, rather
than a Christian leader he was expected to
be.
Speaking to Vanguard over several national
issues, the cleric said CAN is nothing to write
home about as the association is now
political.
“Truth is bitter but you have to say it! CAN is
political! Ayo Oritsejafor is not operating as
CAN but as a Christian politician. CAN is
blindfolded and there is no leadership in it.
That’s why we’re getting so many things
wrong in Christendom.
“CAN doesn’t know how many churches we
have in the country, it has not created any
youth empowerment or pastors’
empowerment. CAN should be scrapped.
“Christianity is not how rich you are but how
well you’ve been able to touch the lives of
others. CAN should employ not less than
20,000 youths and should do something
about women, widows.
“The truth is: Ayo Oritsejafor is a politician
and not a pastor.”
Primate Ayodele said further that Oritsejafor
never honours invitation from white garment
churches.
Wondering why, the cleric asked, “Is he God
to say a church is not genuine? Any man
who does that is not a pastor! It’s not your
right to say you are holy!
“But the Bible says God has blessed us with
the spirit of discernment…
Can Ayo see? Is he a prophet? How can he
tell me his spirit discerns?”
He rated white garment churches to be
among the best worldwide.
“White garment churches are among the best
worldwide! That’s why you see influential
men and women going to them for prayers!
Why don’t they remain in their Pentecostal
churches?
“Even pastors from Pentecostal churches go
to white garment churches to consult
privately and get spiritual powers.
“I am a godfather to many Pentecostal
churches but I have no godfather! God is my
only father in the Lord!”
Primate Ayodele submitted that CAN needs
change of leadership.
“We need somebody who is more vibrant as
CAN leader,” he said.