The life of Muhammad Ali 1942-2016

As a boxer, Ali will be remembered as a three-time world heavyweight champion who won 56 bouts over a 21-year career.

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Ali suffered a decades-long struggle with Parkinson's disease [R. McPhedran/Hulton A

By

James Reinl

James Reinl is a journalist and world affairs analyst who has reported from more than 30 countries and won awards for covering Haiti’s earthquake, Sri Lanka’s civil war and human rights abuses in Iran.

New York - Of all the tributes being paid to Muhammad Ali, few can match the praise that the former boxer heaped upon himself.

Muhammad Ali, 1942-2016

Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Macellus Clay Jr on January 17, 1942, in Louisville Kentucky
Aged 22, he took on heavyweight champion Sonny Liston in Miami. He won and proclaimed to the world: "I am the world's greatest!"
Ali was the first man to win heavyweight titles three times
Ali attended his first Nation of Islam meeting in 1959 and converted to Sunni Islam in 1975
In 1967, he famously refused to fight in Vietnam, citing religious reasons
Married four times, he had seven daughters and two sons
He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984, at the age of 43
Ali died late on June 3, 2016, in a hospital in Arizona after being admitted with respiratory problems
Ali's funeral will take place in Louisville
Ali is survived by his wife, the former Lonnie Williams, who knew him when she was a child, along with his nine children

Ali, in his own words, was the "prettiest, the most superior, most scientific, most skilfullest fighter in the ring".
Elvis Presley was the 20th century's king of Rock 'n' Roll, and Ali was the Elvis of Boxing, he once said.
Most of the time, Ali dispensed with comparisons or complex superlatives. He was, simply, "the Greatest".
If anybody took this self-congratulation for arrogance, Ali had an answer ready. "It's hard to be humble when you're as great as I am," he said.
He died on Friday aged 74, after a decades-long struggle with Parkinson's disease - a slowly worsening brain disorder that never wholly subdued one of the sporting world's biggest personalities.
As a boxer, he will be remembered as a three-time world heavyweight champion who won 56 bouts over a 21-year career.

READ MORE: Muhammad Ali quotes on boxing and racism

Ali also made headlines outside of the ring with critiques of racism in the US, his conversion to Islam and a refusal to fight in the Vietnam War.
He was born in the American South of 1942 and the segregation era, taking his original name, Cassius Clay, from his father, a sign and mural painter. His mother, Odessa Clay, was a housemaid.
In 1954, it was Ali's quick tongue that got him into boxing.
The skinny 12-year-old sought out local police officer Joe Martin to report his red bicycle as stolen in his home town of Louisville, Kentucky.
Ali said he would whip the thief who had pinched his Christmas gift. Martin - who also ran a boxing gym - said Ali had better learn how to fight to come good on his threat.
Six years later, he won a gold medal in the 175-pound division at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome and launched his professional career.

Nation of Islam phase

A title fight against Sonny Liston won him fame in 1964. Ali was an underdog who became world heavyweight champion by pounding his rival to defeat in six rounds - a big upset in sports history.
Two days later, he shocked the US again by embracing the Nation of Islam - a religious group that seeks to improve life for blacks in the US, but has been criticised for black supremacist ideas.
He also dropped what he called his "slave name" and became Muhammad Ali.
Ali's links with activist Malcolm X and his spiritual mentor, Elijah Muhammad, worried conservatives, but he was an inspiration for many.
"As a child, the first action figure my parents got me was of Muhammad Ali. For my generation, he was perhaps the largest and most influential pop culture icons for African-Americans and Muslims," Dawud Walid, from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an advocacy group, told Al Jazeera.

Ali fighting heavyweight champion Joe Frazier in 1971 [Getty]

"In the civil rights era, he stood against the discrimination we've all faced in the US. He crystallised that mind-set of resistance and a feeling among many Muslims not to submit to stereotypes; that being Muslim is just as American as being Christian or Jewish."
Ali risked his career - and his reputation - to oppose the Vietnam War. Citing religious beliefs, he refused to serve in the US srmy and was subsequently arrested for committing a felony. "I ain't got no quarrel with them Vietcong," he said.
The conflict was broadly popular in the US at that time, and Ali was stripped of his titles, had his boxing license suspended and was found guilty of an offence at a 1967 trial. The US Supreme Court reversed the conviction four years later.
"He was ahead of the curve in calling the Vietnam War wrong and he doesn't get enough credit for that," Michael McPherson, director of the anti-war group, Veterans for Peace, told Al Jazeera.
"He was an African-American Muslim who criticised US foreign policy. It's hard to do that today; but back then, black people had to prove their allegiance, patriotism and belief in America. I wish we had more people who speak out when something is wrong."
Back in the ring in 1970, Ali continued to "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" against the likes of George Foreman and Joe Frazier.
He lost the Fight of the Century to Frazier at Madison Square Garden after 15 rounds in 1971, but beat him back four years later in the capital of the Philippines - the so-called Thrilla in Manila.

Rope-a-dope trick

Fans have questioned Ali's style: he held his hands low and backed away from punches, rather than dodging and weaving.
His "rope-a-dope" trick of leaning back on the ropes to avoid blows helped him win a knockout victory against Foreman in a 1974 title fight - the Rumble in the Jungle - in Kinshasa, Zaire, now called the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As well as being able to take a punch, Ali fought with speed, courage and good footwork. He ranks among the greatest boxers of all time, alongside Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Henry Armstrong and others.
He fought his final professional fight and married his fourth wife, Lonnie Williams, in the 1980s. Having left the hard-line Nation of Islam, Ali embraced the mainstream Sunni faith and remained politically active despite the onset of Parkinson's.

Ralph Ali, Frazier & Foreman we were 1 guy. A part of me slipped away, "The greatest piece" https://t.co/xVKOc9qtub

— George Foreman (@GeorgeForeman) June 4, 2016

He met Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in 1990 and brokered the release of Americans who had been held hostage after the invasion of Kuwait. In 2011, he called on Iran to release the captive US hikers Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal.
One of Ali's most celebrated moments came in 1996, when he lit the cauldron at the opening ceremony to the Atlanta Olympics. His willingness to appear despite a visibly twitching arm touched many in the crowd.
It was a "moment of infinite sadness, yet supreme majesty", wrote Ken Rosenthal in The Baltimore Sun. Parkinson's Disease was "proving a more difficult opponent than Joe Frazier" for the champion.
The father-of-nine's less-frequent television appearances showed how even the cleverest and strongest men are worn down by a brain illness.
"Parkinson's sufferers say they can still think the things they thought before they had the disease - it just takes them a lot longer," Peter Schmidt, who heads research programmes at the National Parkinson Foundation, told Al Jazeera.
"You can imagine how hard it was for Ali, who joked around so much and for whom timing was so important. That's why he remained such an inspiration - even though he was so seriously affected, he was always joking and continued to have such an infectious personality."
While the sporting world has had many champions, few can match Ali for charisma and swagger.
In his own words: "I won't miss fighting, fighting will miss me."
Follow James Reinl on Twitter: @jamesreinl

Source: Al Jazeera

This is Micheal Jordan.

Michael Jordan was born in 1963, in the slums of Brooklyn, New York.

He had four  siblings and his father's earnings were not sufficient to provide for the whole family.

He grew up in a poor neighbourhood. Exposed to mindless violence and heavy discrimination in the slums, he saw for himself only a hopeless future.

His father saw in Michael, a lost soul and decided to do something.

He gave Michael, who was 13 years old, a piece of used clothing and asked: "What do you think the value of this outfit would be?"

Jordan replied,"Maybe one dollar."

His father asked, "Can you sell it for two dollars? If you can sell it, it would mean that you are a big help to your family."

Jordan nodded his head, "I'll try, but no guarantee that I'll be successful."

Jordan carefully washed the cloth clean. Because they didn't have an iron, to smoothen the cloth, he levelled it with a clothes brush on a flat board, then kept it in the sun to dry. The next day, he brought the clothes to a crowded underground station. After offering it for more than six hours. Jordan finally managed to sell it for $2. He took the two dollar bill and ran home.

After that, everyday he looked for used clothing, washed and ironed it, and sold it in the crowd.

More than ten days later, his father again gave him a piece of used clothing, "Can you think of a way you can sell this for 20 bucks?"

Aghast, Jordan said, "How is it possible? This outfit can only fetch two dollars at the most."

His father replied, "Why don't you try it first? There might be a way."

After breaking his head for a few hours, finally, Jordan got an idea.

He asked for cousin's helpto paint a picture of Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse on the garment. Then he tried to sell it in the school where the children of the rich study.

Soon a housekeeper, who was there to pick his master, bought that outfit for his master. The master was a little boy of only 10 years. He loved it so much and he gave a five dollar tip. 25 dollars was a huge amount for Jordan, the equivalent of a month's salary of his father.

When he got home, his father gave him yet another piece of used clothing, "Are you able to resell it at a price of 200 dollars?" Jordan's eyes lit up.

This time, Jordan accepted the clothes without the slightest doubt. Two months later a popular movie actress from the movie "Charlie's Angels", Farah Fawcett came to New York for her Movie promos. After the press conference, Jordan made his way through the security forces to reach the side of Farah Fawcett and requested her autograph on the piece of clothing. When Fawcett saw this innocent child asking for her autograph, she gladly signed it.

Jordan was shouting very excitedly, "This is a jersey signed by Miss Farah Fawcett, the selling price is 200 dollars!" He auctioned off the clothes, to a businessman for a price of 1,200 dollars!

Upon returning home, his father broke into TEARS and said, "I am amazed that you did it My child! You're really great! "

That night, Jordan slept alongside his father. His father said, "Son, in your experience selling these three pieces of clothing, what did you learn about success?"

Jordan replied, "Where there's a will, there's a way."

His father nodded his head, then shook his head, "What you say is not entirely wrong! But that was not my intention. I just wanted to show you that a piece of used clothing which is worth only a dollar can also be increased in value, Then how about us - living & thinking humans? We may be darker and poorer, but what if we CAN increase our VALUE."

This thought enlightened young Jordan. Even a piece of used clothing could be made dignified, then why not me? There is absolutely no reason to underestimate myself.

From then on, Michael Jordan felt that his future would be beautiful and full of hope.

He went on to become the greatest basketball player of all times.

How can I increase my own value? I am finding it a very interesting thought. I am sure, you too, will.

100 Years of Adegoke Penkelemess Adelabu (1)

 

By Jaiye K. Randle |    

Adelabu

CHIEF Adegoke Adelabu, who died in a motor accident, at the age of only 43 years, at old Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ibadan, would have been a grand old man of 100 years. He was, without any doubt whatever, a legend in his time and his iconic status still endures. Many of us still have vivid memories of the shock and grief that his death triggered off. There were riots in Ibadan and its environs and potential for further escalation was sufficiently evident to compel the government of the day to embark on a vigorous campaign on radio and television.
Before we get carried away, perhaps we need to remind ourselves of not only what late Chief Adelabu Adegoke said or did; but much more importantly what he stood for. It is no exaggeration to assert that he was the embodiment of the heart and soul of Ibadan. Indeed, he was a fascinating advertisement of the enduring virtues and characteristics of those who proudly brand themselves as “Omo Ibadan” (the sons of the soil of Ibadan) – fearless, defiant and uncompromising. If Chief Adelabu Adegoke were still with us, the government would have neither peace nor slumber !! He was an unrepentant activist and brilliant orator rolled into one and when he famously declared publicly that the government of Western Nigeria was in “a peculiar mess” over the management of its affairs, the audience, who were not all endowed with fluency of the English language, went wild with their own version of what they had heard. They translated it as “penkelemess”. That is how “peculiar mess” was supplanted by “penkelemess” which has since become synonymous with not only the name of Adelabu but also a short hand, abbreviation or acronym for any government that is considered grossly incompetent or outrageously corrupt.
I have opted to resist the temptation to venture into singing: “Penkele O, Penkele, Adegoke mi o penkele” which the inimitable King Sunny Ade waxed in memory of Chief Adegoke Adelabu.
Instead, we should get back on track and recognise that the Chief whose life we are celebrating was in every sense a “Man Of The People”. When he became the Minister of Labour, he immediately drove his official car, an American limousine (I think it was an Oldsmobile or Chevrolet) all the way to Ibadan and challenged all his teeming supporters to share the car with him. He boldly announced to them that the car belonged to them and not him !!
Similarly, when he was provided with a government house as his official residence in Ikoyi, the most exclusive part of Lagos, he turned up with drummers from Ibadan much to the discomfiture of the largely expatriate (mostly English and French) residents of Ikoyi. They protested vigorously about the noise but Adelabu would not relent. He called a press conference and stoutly declared: “If they do not like noise and drumming, they are free to go back to their own country.”
That silenced the protest!! It is beyond question that Chief Adelabu was a genius in addition to being a gifted orator. Time and space will not permit me to dwell on his outstanding academic record while he was a student at Government College, Ibadan or his subsequent achievement at the Higher College, Yaba, Lagos. We have just enough time to pause and reflect on the disclosure which is the first page of Chief Adelabu’s autobiography:
“I Adegoke Adelabu entered Government College, Ibadan at the tender age of 19.”
He lived at a time when Ibadan was the magnet of the political dynamics of Nigeria in addition to being a major commercial centre. Chief Adelabu and Ibadan were indivisible. While the city was the magnet, Adelabu was not only magnetic; he was without doubt incomparable when it came to reading the direction of the compass.
He was robustly confrontational and fiercely ebullient and that was what made him a powerful force to be reckoned with. Even his worst enemies could not ever accuse him of guile or timidity.
He was truly the darling of the masses and his own battle cry was:
“I belong to you and you belong to me”.
He did not resort to mixed metaphors. His enduring legacy is his exceptionalism.
He thrived in Ibadan because Ibadan was then and still remains the largest small town in the world. Regardless of all the tribulations and travails, Ibadan and its people have somehow managed to preserve their social cohesion. Everybody knows everybody. Christians and Moslems cohabitate without any fear, suspicion or resentment. Among themselves, every sentence is preceded by “E dakun” (please forgive me)!! It is only the detractors who refer to Ibadan as a garrison town.
I must say that indigenes of Ibadan are naturally endowed with a unique sense of humour. It may be inappropriate for me to share with you the famous encounter between the late Olubadan, Oba Ashanke and the then Military Governor of Oyo State (with Ibadan as the capital), Colonel Oladayo Popoola who had brought the then Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Sani Abacha to the palace of Olubadan on a courtesy visit.
Apparently, the Olubadan took umbrage at being kept waiting until the Chief of Army Staff turned up two hours late. The Olubadan refused to be intimidated by the boss of the army particularly on account of his rather small stature which seemed to be at variance with his awesome reputation (as he had participated in several coup d’états). On the arrival of Major-General Abacha, a northerner who could not speak or understand Yoruba, the Olubadan took one look at him and promptly delivered judgement in Yoruba:
“A se ko ga ju igo lo” !!
The translation is that the man who has created so much fear is no taller than a bottle (pint size).

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI'S ADMINISTRATION: SYNOPSIS FROM THE GGI PLATFORM

On January 1^st, 2015, the unexpected occurred at the private office premises of General Muhammadu Buhari at Lobito Crescent, in Abuja.

Four individuals from different background – Hajia Hannatu Ali-Akilu, Mohammed Adebola, Ibrahim Dauda and Eddy Ogunbor – held a meeting under the auspices of the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO). Hannatu Ali-Akilu and Mohammed Adebola, came to Abuja on Baba Ahmed Joda’s instruction to set up a structure at ensuring that GMB’s presidency was guaranteed. That was the birth of GMB 2015 Support Group. The experience has been quite incredible.

The 2015 Presidential election has come and gone.  Muhammadu Buhari is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Therefore, the GMB 2015 Support Group transformed into the Good Governance Initiative (GGI) Group.

In May, 2015 the Group had a sit-out talk at the coffee Bar of NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja after Baba Ahmed Joda, our Convener, hosted some members of the Group in Abuja. At the sit-out, members of the Group, including those from diaspora, brainstormed and decided to host a Group Summit in Abuja during the Presidential Inauguration week. This brought together great patriots, minds and intellectuals of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Summit was a huge success and widely celebrated. The GGI Platform is celebrated as a TEMPLE by members because of the intellectual content of opinions and analysis.

Undoubtedly, members from diverse background – social, religious, ethnic, profession etc, on daily basis present divergent views, opinions, analysis of the nation’s problems and proffer solutions to the problems.

Today, 29^th May, 2016, marks the first year anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration in office. The President made an early morning broadcast at about 07.00 hours. Naturally, the GGI Platform members reverted to the Group’s whatSapp platform to analyse the President’s speech to comment and share opinions on the speech. (ref. President’s Speech @ eddyogunbor.blogspot.com).

Surprisingly, there was convergence of opinions and comments, even from the most critical and antagonistic pair (TMZ & Chief Azek on the economic and financial front); the legal minds (BYD, Afropreneur, Umehfrank, Udems & Austin); the oil industry gurus (SMS et al); the poetic and extraterrestrial minds (FBN, FD, Prof. Achara et al); our Queen Aminas (BS1, AaD, BS, TFaj et al); the subtle and gentle minds (MGM, BayoJ, NR, AL et al); the advisors (Haj. Zak, CEO, OA,  Ishaq K et al); and of course the vibrant and political activists (MA, Abudugana et al).  The general and unanimous opinion was that, PMB has achieved a lot , despite flaks from predictable angles and opposition and will need more time to consolidate and deliver the dividends of CHANGE he promised Nigerians.

It is therefore, in celebration of the one year anniversary of Mr. President’ s Administration the synopsis of comments and opinions from the GGI Platform (THE TEMPLE) is compiled for posterity.

 HAPPY DEMOCRACY DAY.

The president is a patriot  and an honest man who finds himself among one of the most corrupt and difficult  people  on the surface of the earth
As he is trying to solve one problem  another is raising its ugly head. As Boko Haram is being silenced so are the heardsmen coming  out boiterously to avenge the always unbroadcasted  killing of their folks
As solution  is being sought for the fulani cattle  rearer onslaught then the Avengers of Niger Delta started bombing  pipelines through  the instigation  of those  of their leaders who stole the Nation blind. I was almost in tears when the old man was reading  his speech today.
He is tired and sick  because a microscopic  minority  of his team are on the same page when it comes to the issue of the change we all shouted to high heavens  we want to effect. A lot of those with us on the campaign  trail who are now in the corridors  of power have become inaccessible and some have become as corrupt  as the PDP and the president  is aware. How do you give honest advice to people who are inaccessible? Some who are accessible already have a mindset to become wealthy which means whatever suggestions  you give if it will not turn them to billionaires overnight would find its way into the dustbin few minutes after you take your leave. So why would the old man not be sick. I am amused when I see criticism  of the old man in the social media. This country is too complex  and I sympathize  with the president  who thought  most of those around him have the same philosophy  with him of moving the country towards the path of greatness. The president  needs prayers and needs to weed away the PDP still in
Power who seems to have blinded him through some spiritual  forces. These  are those sabotaging  the country  from within
I hope the problems  of Nigeria  will not kill this great man with an uncommon  integrity
- Ishaq Kunle

@Ishaq Kunle. God bless you for your summary on PMB. You captured the one year of PMB perfectly. The President is weighed down not only by the magnitude of problems inherited, (never anticipated) but mostly by the PDP subversive elements working with him and sabotaging him. The attitudes of those that were with us in the struggle and now appointed into various positions, had their personal agenda not different from that of the PDP elements. So, it is business as usual and not different from what we patriots fought against. For PMB to help himself, one year is more than enough to continue to harbor the PDP elements in positions at his own risk and health. It is also enough time to put in check those he gave appointments and weed them out. When he does these, PMB will enjoy good health and govern in happiness and satisfaction that he has a team of his own that will deliver as promised to Nigerians. I wish the President good health and success from this day hence. My thoughts and prayers for him always.
- Eddy Ogunbor.

 As we celebrate 17 years of unbroken Democratic Governance in Nigeria. I congratulate my great and progressive family. We may not be there yet but definitely we shall get there ...It is a work in Progress...The difference between Here and There is the T.....Positive Change is here loading! It's a gradual process... It's our collectives effort that we steer the positive change we desire for our generations born and  unborn...We owe it to future generations that we leave planet earth  better than we met it...sustenable abundantly in everything good...Happy Democracy Day with all my love..

-Binta Saheed.

FIXING THE BLAME IS EASY. FIXING THE PROBLEM IS CRAZY.

Good morning Patriots and happy anniversary.

PMB has etched hope in the heart of  weakness and given strength to the pillars that held our existence together  since May 29th 2015.
Falling Forward, we must rebrand, re-strategise, reinvigorate and add our values to remain relevant. Knowledge without sharing is useless, it creates pit that consumes the owner.

Our challenge remains undaunting and tasking in the coming days. We already  know our problems...many of us boast of having the knowledge and solutions...on paper. But are shy to share!

On a serious note we prefer offering solutions in the beer parlours, boardrooms, village squares, classrooms, dinning tables and even in our drawers. And not on door step of thinkers and doers.
I strongly believe PMB's nature situates him as a man of wisdom and our modern day Moses. You could tell from his swags and pronouncements; he knows where the vault is and I trust his wit.

I have long refused to be trapped with the blame game because I have come to understand his weaknesses; very shy at sharing and very old school but stubborn to let go when he knows the truth.

For us believers in the brand, we must give our best in thoughts and actions. WE MUST SHIFT FROM BLAMING TO FIXING AND FROM KNOWING TO DOING.

Our problems could be simply solved if we bend a little backward and contribute our know-how.

May we smile again and shake hands across the high terrains of the North through the plantations of the West to the rising sun of the East across the tributaries of the Niger Delta.

WELCOME TO THE REAL PMB DEAL!

God bless Nigeria.

Mazi Charles Eze.

 Good morning Patriots and Good people of the federal Republic of Nigeria.

On this Special Day, I salute and celebrare all my comrades in this awesome struggle to procure social, economic and political justice for all Nigerians.

This is a very special celebration, nothing like we have seen in this generation, that with the help of the ALMIGHTY GOD ordinary citizens of the federal Republic of Nigeria overthrew the wicked rukers and removed them from presiding over their lives.

Congratulations Nigerians.
- Dr. Phillip Ideawor (London).

 PMB is a worried man in charge of a country whose citizens hate themselves and don't care if the nation goes to blazes while they secure their selfish/personal interests. Despite how tired he looked during the broadcast am happy to hear that he will negotiate peace with Niger delta leaders and definitely bring to book those criminal avengers engaged in bombing our oil installations. We shall move faster now in the next one year. The economy will respond positively to oil price deregulation and a flexible exchange rate. PMB is on track.
Good morni all.
- Chief Lawson Omokhodion.

Here is a Statesman guys. He talked about his international work, Ebola, desertification and environmental. Thanks was given to our biggest international partners including Gates Foundation & ICRC in health, first time, for a change. We are not an ungrateful "taker"
- TMZ (Micheal Oluwagbemi.

Courtesy: Afropreneur.
 "Today is democracy day. One year after Buhari got into power. Honestly have I been impressed? Absolutely no. Maybe I was too hopeful, too hopeful for a man who has attempted it thrice and kept an outlook of honesty. A virtue scarce among Nigerian leaders. Things like "we will hit the ground running" or "we will immediately" endeared me so fast. Having Osinbajo, a learned man, gave me that confidence.

Down the road, one didn't get it that it will require six months to form a cabinet, keep a sycophantic CBN Governor, maintain a disastrous currency peg when realities have happened or than 700 people will be killed in Zaria, act indifferent for herdsmen and it still feels normal. I am now measuring my excitement, using every angle to demand accountability.

To be fair, the macroeconomic environment was hostile to Buhari with falling oil prices. However from Churchill, Lincoln, Reagan, FDR, Lee Kuan Yew etc. great leaders are crafted in difficult times. That's the faith I kept in Buhari, a valid faith.

Now you see that loyalty is trumping competence, you see that same sycophancy that heralded GEJ is spun around. One finds people more interested in klieg lights and imaging than substance, so that a patchy 75 achievements were quick pieced together.

However, the people feel it more. We have stagnated contracting for one year. Public sector not funding projects. If we are fighting corruption, must we ground the country?

I have learnt deep lessons. We need to raise the bar higher when it comes to electing and vouching for people. It can't all be about blind trust but stay on the facts.

The next two years will matter a lot to the legacy of Buhari. He won't be another Awolowo "The best President Nigeria never had". He better starting looking for more competent people and start running. I still believe in him but just lost all that emotion. I will rather judge him by facts. I hope in the end he comes out well. Right now, his tenure is less than average."
-Seun Onigbinde

 Fellow Members, good morning to us all. As we approach May 29, let us reflect on the following positive facts.

All over the world Nigerians are setting the pace and becoming the standard by which others measure themselves.
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In the US, Nigerians are the most educated immigrant community. Google it and you'll see it. Not one of the most educated, the most educated.
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60% of Nigerians in the US have college degrees. This is far above the American national average of 30%
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Nigerians in US are some of the highest earners, typically earning 25% more than the median US income of $53k
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In Ivy League schools in Europe and America, Nigerians routinely outperform their peers from other nations
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A Nigerian family, The Imafidons, have officially been named the smartest family in the UK. Prof. Chris Imafidon has been referred to as a world intellectual icon by Harvard Professor William Maxwell. Prof. Imafidon grew up in Nigeria.
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The designer of the famous car, Chevrolet Volt, Jelani Aliyu, is a super talented Nigerian from Sokoto State. The Volt has been described as an American Revolution and one of the hottest concepts in the design line. Jelani grew up in Nigeria & graduated best in his Architecture class from Birnin Kebbi Polytechnic after abandoning the same course at ABU because he preferred the course content. He only left for Detroit in 1990. The rest is history. 🇳🇬

The wealthiest black man and woman on earth are Nigerians, Aliko Dangote and Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija 🇳🇬

South Africa couldn't have ended apartheid & achieved Black rule if not for the leadership role Nigeria played. Of the 3 Presidents who ruled South Africa after apartheid, two of them once lived in Nigeria under asylum- Nelson Mandela in the 60s and Thabo Mbeki in the 70s. Nigeria gave financial & human support, boycotted an Olympics and our politicians, musicians and activists campaigned relentlessly.
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Nigeria spent over $3 Billion and lost hundreds of soldiers to end the wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone that the world ignored because they have no oil.
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When there was a coup in São Tomé and Príncipe in 2003, Nigeria restored the elected President back to power President Obasanjo initiated talks with the military junta & personally took the ousted president who was visiting Nigeria at the time, back home to be reinstated. 

Before there were street lights in European cities, Lagos had electric street lights. The ancient Benin kingdom also had street lights fueled by palm oil

500 years ago, Benin casted metal alloys to create magnificent art including the world famous Queen Idah Mask
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Amina was a warrior queen who ruled the Zaria Emirate in Kaduna state, Northwest Nigeria 400 years ago in 1610
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We gave monetary gifts to Ireland during our oil boom years

The first television station in Africa was Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) in Ibadan in 1959 long before Ireland had their RTE station.

The greatest comedians on earth are Nigerians. Just walk the streets of Warri and you will die of laughter.

Wherever you look in this great country Nigeria, heroes abound both now and in our recent and ancient past.

If all we do is help  mainstream Western media, to bash us in the Press by bashing ourselves, we will never be great again. We have a rich and proud Nigerian heritage. Others envy us but we destroy ourselves.

Not all Nigerians are criminals. We're not a nation of scammers, drug pushers & corrupt Govt. officials but a people with a verifiable track record of greatness.🇳🇬

Bad leadership over the years has brought us where we are but we now have a second chance to CHANGE the narrative & we should seize it.

Throughout history, nations have gone through their dark patches and emerged stronger. The western nations we idolise today & seek to emulate have gone through periods they are ashamed to recollect. They keep silent & put their best feet forward. So should we. 🇳🇬

What CNN, BBC, Aljazera and western media will not tell you about Nigerians is that apparently on the 7th May, 2016 at Howard University in Washington D.C history was made. Out of 96 graduating Doctor of Pharmacy candidates, 43 of them were Nigerians and out of 27 awards given, 16 went to Nigerians. Also a Nigerian Dentistry candidate, Queenate Ibeto was chosen to be the Valedictorian and welcome the Commencement Speaker, President Obama. But you will hardly see anything about that in the press.

Olympic medallists that didnt get to the UK until they were almost adults are "Nigerian-born British" but terrorists who were born & bred in the UK and have no ties at all to Nigeria save for their names are "British-born Nigerians". Oyinbo sef like better tin!

The under 17 Nigerian football team are the most successful in the history of teenage football in the world🇳🇬

If we don't believe in ourselves, why should anyone else? If we don't believe Nigeria can change, who will? If we don't blow our trumpet, who will blow it for us?

We are NOT a criminal nation. Be proud of Nigeria. Be proud of our heritage. Be enthusiastic and optimistic about our future greatness.

If we believe it, we will say it.
If we say it we will act it.
If we act it we will begin to show it.🇳🇬

I am a proud Nigerian and I believe in Nigeria!
#Change the narrative
#CelebrateYourNigerianness
#VIVA NAIJA

We are a GREAT people and a GREAT nation.
* Each one tell one!
*Let's share more stories of who we REALLY are.
*Let's stop complaining about where we're not and start celebrating where we are and where we are going.

Let's stop saying and start DOING something to change Nigeria's narrative.
GOD BLESS.
- Binta Saheed.

 HEAR THE THIEVES
1- I acted based on Jonathan instruction- Dasuki
2- I didn't give order- Jonathan
3- I collected 350M from Dasuki for consultation-
Iyorchia Ayu
4- I only collected $30,000 from Dasuki not
N100m- Bode George
5-I got N4.6b from Dasuki for spiritual purposes-
Bafarawa
6-I got N650M from Dasuki for my Abuja burnt
office- Thisday Obaigbena.
7-I got N2.1b from Dasuki for publicity- Dokpesi
8- I got another N100m from Yuguda he didn't
tell me from where- Bafarawa
9- I gave N100m each to Odili, Jim Nwobodo
Bode George and others- Yuguda
10- The president asked me to change N10B to
foreign currency for PDP delegates- Dasuki
11-My boss asked me to get $11M from the
CBN- Dasuki account officer.
12-I got order from above to pay Tompolo N13B
for Maritime university land.- Nimasa DG.
With all this looting and many more revealed some people are still shouting no sign of change yet, they even say it's political persecution. But I believe, it is the right thing to do. The fight against corruption is a task that must be done.
- Binta Saheed.

 This Estate: A Year Later
=================

I'm a son of a 56-year old polygamous father. I don't even know how many step mothers I have. Our dad is well endowed in many ways. He deals in black gold & easily makes a lot of money for our upkeep.

For 16yrs, the children of one of the wives were in charge of the estate. They were supposed to run our father's business, feed us & maintain the estate.

Sadly, they got drunk on power & alcohol. We watched helplessly as they ostracised the rest of us, squandered the income, stole some, stashed some abroad and vandalised every house in the estate, ripping off all fittings, including those connected with earning us money.

One year ago, the children of another wife of our dad won the right to run things. They won because they convinced the rest of us that there would be a change. We were excited & highly expectant. We waited...

Exactly one year ago, they opened the gate to the estate. They met scum, vandalised houses with a lot of cracks. At the same time, our father's business - black gold - started to lose value. The new managers became confounded & for several months didn't know where to begin.

Finally, the new "boys in the hood" decided to go after the previous (mis)managers of the estate.

For example, one of the past chief "mai-guards" alone cornered  $2.1b meant for protecting us all & shared it among other step brothers. They & those in charge of the main (black gold) business have castles in the UK & the US, using "oyinbo" as "boy-boy", flying around the globe & within the estate in chartered jets, helicopters & bulletproof, exotic cars. They shared some money to cronies & even the umpires for choice of managers (i-Neck).

Things started to fall apart as the yam eaters refused to vomit our yams without a fight, black gold's value fell, money became scarce, utilities stopped working, servants working in many houses within the estate could not be paid... Trouble!

Not unexpectedly, sympathisers of the old order started wailing. They're selling the idea that the rut that took 16yrs to make should have been fixed in a day or two. To them, a year is too long.

Intelligence took flight from "intellectuals", logic stood on its head & here we are, still lacking basic needs, including food.

Then came some "avengers" destroying everything in sight that could earn the estate some money. To avenge what? Loss of power by their siblings?

The wailers would cheer on the "avengers" & keep telling the new managers to stop "complaining" whenever an attempt is made to explain the situation.

I'm scared! The wailers who are siblings of our father, who live in the same desicrated estate & suffering equally like the rest are doing all possible to make the new managers fail so that the old order could return. Are they bast bastards?

They call the new managers names, curse them and even "pray" for more chaos & failure.

Get this right morons! One year on, the estate is being redesigned, reinforced & repaired. We have to bear the inconveniences typical of renovations before we fully get what we need. We need to pray that God should guide the new managers to lead us to the change for the best.

Two-three years of sustained efforts will only go a long way to get us out of the mess, but not completely. Let the wailers wail!

[No apologies to anyone offended with this piece. I live in the estate & I pay my dues!]
- AbduRahaman Lekki.

One Year In Office: NOI Poll gives Buhari 64% approval rating

May 30, 2016

Muhammadu Buhari in an Aljazeera Interview

Nigerians have given President Muhammadu Buhari 64 per cent average in its overall job performance rating after one year in office.
The latest polls results by NOIPolls Limited released on Monday revealed that President Buhari’s approval rating between June 2015 and May 2016 ranged from his highest of 80 per cent in October 2015 to the lowest of 42 per cent in April 2016.
NOIPolls regularly conducts periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria.
Compared to one year ago, the poll said 44 per cent of Nigerians now believe the country was currently moving in the right direction under President Buhari, against the opinion of 37 per cent of the sample population that said the country was moving in the wrong direction.
Only 19 per cent said the country was neither moving in the right nor wrong direction.
Further analysis of specific indices of the study showed that Nigerians rated as average at 55 and 47 per cent the president’s performance on corruption and national security respectively, while 14 per cent rated very poorly his performance on job creation and handling of the economy (21 per cent).
On the most important issue(s) the administration should focus its attention on over the remaining three years, the poll said Nigerians identified unemployment (21 per cent), power (17 per cent), and the economy (16 per cent) as top priority areas.
Details of the findings based on geo-political zones indicated that the North-West and North-East geopolitical zones with the highest proportion of respondents gave the president 81 per cent each, while the South-South and South-East zones accounted for the highest proportion of respondents who disapproved the president’s performance with 35 per cent each.

The report said the average overall approval of 64 per cent by respondents cuts across all age groups, with more male respondents (67 per cent) approving his performance than female (60 per cent).
On why they approved or disapproved the president’s job performance, the result showed that the open-ended answers, particularly in May 2016, cited the improved security (31 per cent), the fight against corruption (17 per cent) and the president’s good intentions (16 per cent), among other reasons.
On the other hand, those who disapproved the president’s performance cited the worsening economy (30 per cent), the unrealized expectation for change (29 per cent) and the increase in prices of goods and services (21 per cent), to mention a few.
On recommendations for the most important issues the administration should focus on in the remaining three years, 21 per cent of Nigerians said unemployment; 17 per cent rooted for power/electricity, while 16 per cent were in support of economy.
Other categories included food and agriculture (11 per cent), education (nine per cent), and security (seven per cent), among others.

 ONE YEAR of CHANGE......The Good, The Bad, The Ugly and The Way.

1959 Elections were imperfect, full of hate displays and regional restrictions of campaign but Awolowo went with his helicopters to the core north, distributed his handbills in the north. Some were reportedly fell on the roof of Emir palace in Kano.....This angered Sardauna and warned Awo to desist and go back to his SW base. But Awo said "I want to be the Prime Minister and not SW Premier, so I will campaign here!". Awo's men in the north were beaten up, arrested and thrown in jail.....The elections came and gone, Balewa won through the Alliance of Igbo dominated NCNC and the Northern Peoples Congress NPC. And therefore, NCNC and NPC formed the government and Action Group Awolowo became the Leader of Opposition.

Before the 1964 elections, NCNC and NPC had fallen apart due to lack of trust, unrivaled greed and acute tribalism....And both NCNC and NPC saw the SW dominated by the AG as their battleground or should I say their spoil to be shared. Whoever has it will surely form the next government!

And indeed, Yoruba dominated AG played to their hands due to misunderstanding between Awo and his Deputy Akintola. NPC grabbed Akintola, NCNC grabbed Awo but Awo wanted to stay alone so NCNC supported the Central Government to kill Awolowo politically and dialogue with whoever succeeded him. The battle began. Yoruba were killing themselves, houses were burnt down.....Sardauna even with the reluctance of Balewa ensured that Awolowo was killed politically and Akintola became the only reference point.

We must never forget to remember that Balewa actually loved Awolowo....Even Awolowo said so. The wish of Sardauna prevailed. However, that wish led to the total destruction of the first republic as bloodbath refused to seize in the SW.......Yoruba wanted their leader back from the prison. Also, the 1965 election was thoroughly rigged, it was the worst election after 1983 general election.

Then coup. The military  in their speech promised to remove the 10% slogan of corruption then but only succeeded in making it 90%. Then NCNC and NPC took their political battle to the military and Nigeria went to war. People died for nothing because by 1979, the NCNC/NPC had come back again to form another democratic government. And Nigeria was at peace.

SW will never cause a national trouble or go to physical war because it wants power.....NO! The region always strategise.

In 1984, just as it was in 1964, the alliance failed again between the duo. Then the military came. In 1993, free and fair election which the AG has always campaigned for became a reality and produced MKO Abiola a Yoruba man from Abeokuta Ogun State Nigeria. Abiola won in Kano, a place where Awolowo had been prevented from campaigning in 1959. Nigeria has woken up. New thing had started.....It's like we want to start loving one another.

In the June 12 election,  remove the entire SW votes, Abiola  still won. Remove the SE or SS, Abiola still won. Remove the NW NE or NC, Abiola still won. Then this song by Sikiru Ayinde Barrister;

Hausa d'ibo e f'Abiola
Igbo d'ibo e f'Abiola
Yoruba d'ibo e f'Abiola
Kaka kan gbe fun Moshoodi
Ko ba wa se
Oyinbo Annulment lo w'aye!

That is, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba voted for MKO but instead of handing over to him, what we heard was annulment! LOL....Even that annulment was used for the first time in our politics. I remember I was asking for the meaning after IBB's speech.

Then SW and other well meaning Nigerians started protesting. No destruction of lives expect those killed by the junta. No destruction of properties. No insurgency No Vandals but All the Press, Civil Societies,  Students,  Workers Union etc joined in the fight.

NB: It was an intellectual struggle. A papa port was never bombed!

Then Abiola was killed in detention. Abacha too ate apple. And NCNC/NPC Alliance resurfaced but cunningly used OBJ as the President. It was never a successful Presidency. Nonsense!

PDP ruined Nigeria the more for another 16 years. It was a terrible period of wedlock between corruption, poverty, sorrow, tears and blood!

Before the death of Awolowo, precisely during his 77th birthday leccture in Ikenne, he carefully spoke about his death. He also predicted that one day the good hearted Nigerians will come together from the north and south to save Nigeria from the unending evil alliance of the NPC/NCNC. Two years ago, the prophecy came to partial fulfilment. Alliance, realliance, merger, acquisition etc brought up APC which unanimously produced Muhammadu Buhari, a man who eventually  took over a dead nation and must now revive her hurriedly.

Unfortunately, some goats still managed to pretend as sheep in the boat of APC.

APC had planned how it will rule the country but little can only be done if the NASS politics was not properly played. The first failure of Change and first successful attack on change by NPC/NCNC Coalition was the election of the NASS principal officers. It was a suicide mission. Buhari ought to have belonged to somebody if only to save Nigeria from destruction. That mistake turned the Jet of Change to a mere Suzuki Motorcycle. I am of the opinion that Buhari shouldn't have allowed Saraki to emerge. He should  have insisted on the Party's choice. The party was in the majority. That singular act killed the discipline and morale of change. And Change began another struggle after winning election. It has never recovered till date. Buhari was politically naive. He is still receiving punishment from the NASS till date. Prevention is  better than Cure.

Fortunately for him, his military acumen has no rival. Anywhere there's no politics, Buhari will excel maximally. That was why he was able diminish boko haram and combed the nooks and crannies of Sambisa. Anybody can criticise Buhari’s one year in Office but the people of the NE will never do such. Buhari has given them opportunity to sleep at nights again. Therefore, his success against Boko haram is unprecedented and cannot be denied. One of the Chibok girls had returned, a sign that hope is still there for others.

Buhari received tremendous help from the judiciary unlike the terrible NASS of evil. Buhari’s success on war against corruption is another area where only the devil's incarnate will deny. He has opened two gates......Arms Fund and NNPC. These two had affected majorly members of the PDP. I'm not surprised because no one would have died from poison if the person had not eaten poisonous food. By the time other gates are opened too, it may spread beyond PDP.......Mark my words! The rain that hasn't stopped, only God knows how many people it will beat.

Buhari has stopped the culture of waste. We are used to waste especially when it is government resources. Many daily millionaires are broke. Those who are not broke yet will soon be broken when the searchlight come on them.

Buhari has a lot to of  reversals to do because the direction we faced until  2015 was a destructive one. So, there will be a reversal before the speed. When you're reversing, you do it carefully.

Buhari promised 3 things during his campaign. 1.Security which he has done in the NE, unfortunately, we now have killer herdsmen and ND Avengers. The former is not new anyway but I have no doubt  that Buhari is capable of handling them. He is doing well on security  judging by the success recorded on war against boko haram. 2. Fight Corruption  which obviously he's doing religiously. Money is being returned,  MOUs are being signed by nations and we have secured the first conviction. Blocking of loopholes among others.

3. Economy. This is where the failure of the last one year actually resides. Free fall of Naira,  double digits inflation, loss of jobs, bad infrastructures, power problem, acute poverty and of course oil sector instability. All these are effects of the massive looting and robbery of our treasury, policy somersault by the OBJ and Jonathan governments, dollarisation of political corruption by Goodluck Ebele Jonathan especially in the last election. 90% of the corruption during these period  was done in dollars. Ekitigate, Arms Fund and NNPC. People were stealing dollars  from the CBN, selling  it to the BBC and nothing $1 was spent in infrastructures. Effect has come to live with us. No one plants cassava and harvest cocoyam even if the planter is different from harvester. It is still what the planter plants that the harvester harvests.

Corruption is also fighting back through Niger Delta Avengers while Terror is fighting back through Herdsmen!

Going forward, I expect the Peoples General to start meeting those that matters, apart from on corruption issues, in the ND. He must be seen with a lot of carrots first before using the stick if need be. He must visit SS more than visiting other nations because charity begins at home. He must fight the killer herdsmen the same way he's fighting boko haram. Killer herdsmen are terrorists. Whether they're Nigerians or not, tackle them, afterall they are in our territory. We need peace of mind in Nigeria.

I expect full deregulation. We don’t need to dress it. You can only kill oil sector corruption by deregulation.

He must be involved  in politics, else he will  destroy APC. He's a politician. Politics is not a disease, that's the vehicle that brought him to power when the military failed him. His negligence has given us Saraki who has now become a big shame to change and a stumbling block to this government.

I expect your government to be a target driven one. Hire and fire. Don't tolerate complacency.

Nothing short of full implementation of 2016 budget is the only thing that revive this economy. Infrastructures, that will provide jobs for people. Power that will reduce cost of business and dependence on petrol.

The next one year will surely be good for Nigeria. If we kill poverty and corruption, our unity will surely come because it is the masses not the elites that will unite this country.

Muhammadu Buhari........You will succeed, the spirit of our forefathers will help you to carry this load. God will strengthen you. You will not die in the process. You will sure be triumphant. Nigeria will enjoy prosperity. There will be light, jobs and other good things of live. Almighty Allah that stabilises Mecca for the Prophet will stabilise Nigeria for you.

Happy Democracy Day.....D ONE AYEKOOTOGreat Patriots

Happy Democracy Day

I was moved to tears to see PMP in that state of physical wellness, he looks terribly emancipated

As Alh KUNLE Sanni earlier posted, we must all be really worried

He needs our prayers for strengths

The corrupt system and people in and out of Government are fighting back and having their tolls on him

I salute those who sympathize with him and even suggest we give him time and a breathing space

I appeal to people like MA who are deservedly disappointed to please put it all in the right contexts and perspectives and realize that PMB is just human like us all

He is inundated with host of comments, opinions and recommendations daily that are capable of overwhelming any mortal

I don't think he is on analogue mode, although he may also not be digital yet, he is just plain GMB that we know with uncommon standard of characters that may sometimes be seen as "inflexibility"

I reecho and commend to us all the elderly wisdom of OmoLaw earlier posted this morning

"@eddyogunbor as you can see TMZ and I actually argued from two different angles to achieve congruence on economic transformation. We have arrived at the same answer because this platform is for patriotic Nigerians who truly love Nigeria. Reforms take time. If one begins a reform process from the south pole you may end up in the north pole in search for an answer. PMB has finally found the answer. The second quarter GDP will grow by .05%. All variables are in place. Crude oil at 1.5mbp for $50 per barrel is fine for us. In six months rice, wheat and grains harvest will be on the market and that is food sufficiency being tackled. Ministry of Science and Technology has woken up to the challenge of tomato pest the socalled "tuta absoluta". The journey has truly begun. Let's see progress going forward.
@lekki if you cast your mind back I always said that we should allow the federal budget to be in place before we tinker with other variables in the "change" process. Everything is now set for a takeoff. PMB will tackle insecurity and we are then ready. God bless Nigeria."

Let us take solace in the positive progress made so far

In the end, we as humans will always do better if we live in the hope of God's mercy than in the despair of his judgment

This is because His Mercy and love for us all is greater than His anger that brings His wrath and punishments

Once again, happy Democracy Day.
- Haj. Zak.

 On PMB Speech:

1. His priorities are spot on and next steps too. Just that speed is crucial now.

2. His remarks about structural change and changing the economic spine is seminal; after 30 years, its a long walk from Militarism to Democracy and from Socialsm to Capitalsim.

3. Having fully embraced the double helix of modern progress without abandoning the compassion of social justice we hope that speed in recruiting more competent hands make Public Service reforms gain traction will be applied.

4. The Social investment program is bold expirementation. We can only urge that it be bolder and more persistent!

5. PMB deserves defeaning applause for the war on corruption and insurgency and for the political flexibility to talk to Niger Delta communities.

5. We wish him the very best!
- FBN

Professor Who Plotted Armed Struggle Against Abacha Dying Of Cancer

Radical don, Prof. Adesegun Adebanjo, speaks on battle with cancer, fears of a wasted effort, an endangered nation and why the emergence of one honest president is not the issue.

---

by Adewale Adeoye Jun 07, 2015

He is a Professor of Anatomy, practised medicine and worked in some of the world’s best hospitals and universities. In 1995, Prof Adesegun Adebanjo, younger brother to the late Col. Victor Banjo, bought  arms worth millions of dollars with his entire life savings. He was shipping them to Nigeria with the hope of starting a war of liberation for the Yoruba and Itsekiri nations, when his dream was cut short by Beninoise gendarmes. Adebanjo now lives in extremely poor conditions. Worse still, he is battling with cancer without succour. He speaks with Adewale Adeoye in an exclusive interview. Prof. Adesegun Adebanjo

It is now 20 years since your arrest in Benin Republic over the June 12 annulled election. How do you see Nigeria’s democratic experience since your return?
Our major problem is rooted in our differences and the futile attempt to build a nation out of many nations. For a long time right from independence, the ethnic groups have always had different agenda. This is why we hardly can develop given the structure and superstructure of Nigeria. Since independence, the fundamental problems are the same. You need to see what is going on all over the world, while Nigeria continues to squelch in the mud with an illusion of development. Nothing fundamental has changed since 1999. For me, what I saw in 1962 on the streets in the South West convinced me that there is a section of the country that has the agenda to bring the whole country under its domination. Imagine, we had to fight 38 years of military rule and nothing fundamental has changed.
What propelled you to take such deadly risk of arms struggle during the June 12 crisis?
Before then, I had witnessed series of events during the operation wetie in the South West. I saw how soldiers of Northern origin shot and killed my people with glee. I was  living witness. I saw people shot and the soldiers were laughing. During the June 12 crisis, I was in the United States and a friend told me that they had a good intelligence report that the June 12 election result would be annulled.  I came back into the country. One day on the streets of Lagos, people came out in large numbers to protest. Suddenly, I again saw these same non-Yoruba soldiers open fire on innocent people. A lot of people fell and there was a stream of blood. The soldiers were excited. They were so happy. It happened around the Yaba area. I was a witness. Then I told myself that this had to stop. It was that day I said that the Yoruba people must fight back.
How did you organise the armed resistance?
Throughout that week, I was ill. It was sickening. I had depression due to the killings of the people that I saw on the streets of Lagos. I went back to the US. Then at a conference on poor nations that I attended in Philadelphia, there was a debate on whether Nigeria’s debt should be written off. I spoke and said that the debts should be written off. Then one adviser to President Bill Clinton stood up and said that Nigeria is one of the richest countries in the world and that one person can write off the debt. He said the solution was for Nigerians to change their leaders. Then one Fulani man stood up and said his people were born to rule and that there was no point changing the leaders. He said handing over power to the South was like committing suicide. I got up again and said that we were going to resist the hegemony and fight. He thought it was a joke. I put aside my medical research. I started reading books about dictators, about wars, about guerilla warfare. I read about Adolf Hitler, about the revolutions across the world. In the past, I had personal contact with some of the dictators like Idi Amin. I knew him. I was a lecturer at Makerere University. I also knew Museveni who was my junior in the school. I started reading about different types of arms, how to procure and ship them. I read about training guerilla and the theory and practice of combat. I pushed away all the medical books. The question then was: Will the average Yoruba person fight? So, I came back to Nigeria and started scientific research on whether or not the Yoruba would fight. I was amazed to discover that many Yoruba people were ready to carry guns and fight for their liberation. I discovered that 90 percent of people I interviewed were ready to fight if armed. I discovered that even old women and people above 70 years were ready to fight if armed.
How did you raise the money?
It was my entire savings in the US, about 4million dollars. It’s really not about money, but about determination. Museveni started with only five people. He had only one pistol. All you need is a core group of committed people. So I invited some people in Nigeria, they were enthusiastic, but when the issue of arms came, slowly, slowly, they backed down. I decided to lie low for months, then started with another group. In planning, you train ten people; the ten will train another ten people. In guerilla army, you don’t train too many people. You train them on how to access and recruit more people. So, I spent my savings on buying the arms. I bought rifles, AK-47, which is a very good rifle. If you put it in water, it would stay there for years. I bought SKS; with that you could shoot from long distance of about 1000 meters, equipped with laser beam, telescope and silencer. I bought Uzi, the Israeli weapon you could keep under your Agbada. We had machines that could cut arms too and several medical utility. I was bringing the weapons, when I was arrested in Benin Republic.
What happened, how were you arrested?
At Cotonoue, we were asked to deposit 5,000 dollars. The other option was to off-load and bring them by trailers. One custom rating saw the stub of a gun in the carton and decided to pull it out. He sent it to the gendarmes. They pounced on the containers. I was not there then. I was in Nigeria. My comrades said I should not show up in Cotononue, that they would go there and take responsibility. That was an error. One mistake I made was to go there. I came forward, with my wife, Ngozi. They ransacked the containers throughout the night. We had bullets that could penetrate armoured tanks or steel. The Benin Republic soldiers saw the weapons, but they had no such weapons in their own armoury. They actually did not know how to use the weapons. I was later arrested and detained with my comrade wife.
How did they treat you in detention?
It was traumatic. We were given gari to eat for the over one year.
Did the Sani Abacha regime get to know about your plans and what did he do?
Immediately Abacha heard, the Beninoise authorities told us Abacha was scared. He sent Col Frank Omenka of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, (DMI). The first thing they did was to arrest members of my household, including my younger brother. We were informed that Abacha could no longer sleep. He sent emissaries to me, offering 100 million dollars to the government of the Republic of Benin, to bring me back to Nigeria. The military high command in Benin Republic held a meeting and said ‘Let this man go.” But the then President of Benin Republic, said “No, we won’t allow him to go.” A top military officer came to relay everything to us that Abacha had given them 100m dollars to bring me back into Nigeria and for me to give up arms struggle. I was about to be brought to Nigeria; it was President Bill Clinton who intervened and asked Benin Republic not to deport me to Nigeria on human right grounds. The top military officer then told us that Abacha was planning to invade Benin Republic. He said this prompted the US government to send two war ships into Benin Republic, though it was said that the Clinton administration was so worried over how someone could have taken so much arms out of the US without the knowledge of the FBI or the CIA. The US intelligence community felt it was an extraordinary venture. Clinton called President Neociphoe Soglo on phone, telling him not to send us back, that if he did, he would be sending us to death. I was then taken to Wida, in the North of Benin Republic. I was begged not to escape since “you are bringing money to our country.” Each time Benin was broke, they would ask Abacha for funds, which he gladly released.
How did you secure your release?
We were not registered as prisoners, because under the ECOWAS rule, what we had were goods in transit; they could only be accompanied to the border, not opened or seized. Benin Republic had no right to inspect the goods. So, the detention was illegal. We were taken to court later and charged for attempt to overthrow the government of Benin Republic, but they had no evidence. The judge, a Yoruba woman later released us. But the Beninoise President, Soglo called the judge and asked her to order our detention.  It was Abacha at work.  I said this was wrong. She said it was political. We stayed for several extra months. Mathew Kerekou had become the President and the country could not pay salaries of its soldiers and police. Using us as blackmail bait, they rushed to Abacha for money again. After the third adjournment, we were released. It was Moshood Fayemiwo, a Nigerian journalist, then Publisher of Razor Magazine and former Students’ Union President of the University of Lagos that assisted me in escaping to Ghana and later to Uganda and then to Zimbabwe. It was in Ghana that I met other exiles like Dr Bunmi Aborisade who now lectures at the Afe Babalola University. He was declared wanted by Abacha regime, and many others that took refuge in Ghana at the time. In Benin Republic, there were lots of traitors. One of them was an official of the United Nations who took money from Abacha and promised he would ensure our capture.
Did Abacha stop pursuing you after your escape to Ghana?
No. As soon as we escaped to Ghana, Abacha was after us. A meeting was facilitated between me and Abacha’s aides. The meeting was held in Ghana, where Abacha’s agents offered me 50million dollars to call off the arms struggle. They asked for my account number and that the money would be paid in days. The Abacha agent said everybody has a price and that I should take the 50million dollars. He said “I have permission to offer you even a billion naira if you can give up arms struggle.”
Your arms were seized. You had no money. Why didn’t you take the 50m dollars offer?
No. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself, with my conscience. I just told him, no deal. At the negotiating table, the Fulani man said something I will never forget. He said “I’m Hausa-Fulani, for the first time I have met a Nigerian who cannot be bought.” I was contented. The game was not over. Abacha continued his witch-hunt. He sacked over 200 soldiers of Yoruba extraction. He took the Yoruba as his enemy. I had to flee to Uganda.
When did you return to Nigeria?
I came back in June 1999.
How have you been coping?
It’s been really tough. I’m now suffering from a type of leukemia. It is a kind of cancer that affects parts of the blood cells when it goes crazy. They displace some cells in the marrow.
What happened? How did you discover that you had cancer?
It happened some years ago when I travelled to the United States. It was through a routine check that the physician discovered that I had this kind of blood cancer.
How have you been treating the disease?
It requires a costly treatment like all cancers and I don’t have any money. The drugs are expensive. You need Ritusimah or Ritusin or Bendamusin. One vile is 10,000 dollars. I will need about six vile. It is a specially prepared drug which kills the cancer cells that contain CB 20. I need series of treatments over a period of six months. The experts have said that I need between six to eight million naira, going by the various drugs and the tests. There are so many cancers of the blood. This is just one variety of the blood cancer.
Does it mean that no help has been forthcoming from any one?
Well, I have not told many people. I thought I could raise money from friends but they are not forthcoming.
One would expect you to have had some savings, having worked for so many years as a Professor of Human Anatomy?
I worked at the Obafemi Awolowo University as a lecturer until the early 1990s. But I didn’t get my gratuity. I worked at a private university; I also was not paid my entitlements. I have worked all my years without entitlements. The one I got in the US was what I plunged into the liberation struggle.
You are the immediate younger brother of the late Col Victor Banjo. What do you think of his place in history?
There have been a lot of distortions about Nigerian history. For instance, Prof Grace Alele Williams, when the Federal Government gave her an award, was listed as the first Nigerian woman professor. This is not correct. My elder sister who is still alive, Prof Adetoun, is the first woman Professor in Nigeria and in Africa. My eldest brother, Dr Ademola Adebanjo, was the first General Manager of the old Electricity Commission of Nigeria, the precursor of National Electricity Power Authority, NEPA. He was the best student in the world among those who sat for the London GCE in 1948. My immediate elder brother, Col Victor Banjo, was a brilliant engineer and soldier. He was the first Nigerian military engineer. He was arrested and detained by Gen Aguiyi Ironsi. He found himself on the side of Odumegwu Ojukwu. I can tell you that Col Banjo was responsible for the design of all the locally made military weapons of Biafra. He did the design and construction: the bunker, the armoured tanks and all the ingenuity. He was an engineer and was responsible for converting tractors and other equipment into military equipment in Biafra. He was instrumental to the building of Ojukwu bunker as an engineer. Biafra has failed to acknowledge his skill and inventions and in fact consciously subverted it. He was one of the best graduating students of his set in England.
Why did he lead the campaign to invade his own fatherland?
The Yoruba had very few people in the then Nigerian fighting force. This is the first time I’m releasing this information. The first Nigerian Engineering Ordinance was to be established in Ibadan, Col Banjo was to be the head. The idea was to manufacture military weapons locally in Ibadan. During the war before he came to Ore, my brother had plans to defend and protect the Yoruba people, even as Northern soldiers were stationed across Yorubaland. Col Banjo made secret arrangement to ship arms into Yorubaland from one of the Nordic countries. The arms were actually on board. He was working on establishing the first military ordinance in Yorubaland. He had also started to train about 200 members of a core group that would defend Yorubaland under his command. I think at a point……..(breaks the conversation)”
When was the last time you saw Col Banjo before his unfortunate execution?
He was executed by Col Odumegwu Ojukwu. I saw him some months before he was detained. But we were communicating with him throughout the time of his detention until he was murdered by Biafra.
Did you ever find out where he was buried?
We did our own private investigation.  He was buried in Enugu. We know.
As it is now, what is your dream of a greater Nigeria?
For development to make any meaning in Nigeria, we must go back to the old regions. We need a loose federation. The emergence of any decent or honest man as president is not the issue. There is something fundamentally wrong with the foundation. We need to rebuild the foundation for any meaningful development to take place. The world has left us behind. For instance, scientists have just discovered the gene that is responsible for aging and they want to tamper with it to be able to increase the lifespan of man. Here, we are still talking about basic needs like light, water; what kind of development is that?  What we have are people looting the country dry and blind without sanctions. For me, I’m most concerned with the Yoruba people and their leaders. We must realise that freedom is not free. People who desire freedom must be able to make sacrifices. We cannot get the best without fighting for the best, without suffering, without sweat, without making sacrifices, if possible, death. If we want good life without any effort, it is like expecting to harvest without planting and tilling the soil. There is nothing more difficult to handle today, nor more daunting, nor more inevitable than to establish a new order in Nigeria, through restructuring for regional autonomy.

Rewane asks: How come militants returned after Buhari stepped up anti-graft war?

Bismarck Rewane, a renowned economist, is bothered by the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region, wondering why the attacks on oil installations started after the current administration “stepped up its anti-graft war”.
Speaking on a special edition of Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, Rewane encouraged the government to focus more on intelligence gathering because the attacks could be a “massive conspiracy”.
“Who are the avengers and what are they avenging? The Niger Delta struggle was about self determination, resource control, about environmental pollution, all the way from Isaac Boro to Ken Saro Wiwa,” he said.
“The destruction of assets at this time happen to coincide with the step up on the anti-corruption war. Is there a link between the anti-graft war and the militancy? What is this all about? There’s a riddle that needs to be unravelled.”
Rewane said the attacks have been more disturbing because oil installations where Nigeria generates huge revenues have been the main targets.
He said the disruption in oil production is capable of affecting the economic programmes of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
“The reality is that the disruption of oil production and its impact on our fiscal revenue and our foreign exchange resources, on our exchange rate, and our external reserves is profound. Really huge!” he said.
“Now, what is more disturbing is that oil assets that have been disrupted are those where Nigeria gets it highest revenue, so the impact on the fiscal revenue of Nigeria is beyond comprehension.
“One asks the question: ‘Who are these people, and what do they want?’ Is this a proxy war for the politically disgruntled? Because this is a very elaborate attack, they go deep into the water, and they are well sophisticated. These are not people who are talking about amnesty.
“So, we need to talk about intelligence. There could be a massive conspiracy. This is crunch time for Nigeria. The last thing we need now as a bullet in our head is a drop in production.”
Analysing the different reactions that trailed the increase in the pump price of petrol under the previous and the present administrations, Rewane said while former President Goodluck Jonathan had “trust and fiscal deficits”, his successor had “a trust surplus and a fiscal deficit”.
Rewane explained that labour unions could not organise a successful strike under Buhari because of “trust surplus”, but advised the president to work on “fiscal deficit”.
“The reason why this time the strike on petroleum failed was because the president has what is called a trust surplus, but has a fiscal deficit. The combination of both made sure that everything failed,” he said.
“What Jonathan had was a trust deficit and a fiscal deficit. What is happening now is that because of the trust surplus, we’ve been able to right that but the trust surplus is being used and you have to build on that and you have to reduce that fiscal deficit as you go along, so there’s an equilibrium there.”
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