Tuesday 31 July 2012

HARD VIEW (FROLIC OF THEIR OWN)

Hard View
FROLIC OF THEIR OWN

In the eyes of the law, an employer is generally ‘vicariously liable’ for the unintentional tort of his agents. However, when that agent makes a departure from the service of which he was employed or acts on his own and for his own benefit, the law considers him to be on a ‘frolic of his own’. In such an instance, the law relieves the employer of vicarious liability, which is usually assessed through the doctrine of ‘respondeat superior’ for torts committed by the agent.

To constitute a frolic, the activity of the agent must be unrelated to the employer’s business. However, in order for liability to be absolved, the agent must be engaged in a frolic, and not simply a detour. For example, when Nigerian governors take breaks during council meetings to watch the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games or to watch some of the events on television, they have merely taken a detour from their primary role as agents of the state and thus are not personally liable. Contrariwise, if the same governor decided to take an entourage in order to travel all the way to London in a jamboree of sorts to watch and enjoy the Olympic Games, that governor’s actions have constituted a frolic, and his actions occurred in furtherance of an act wholly separate from his employ. That frolic becomes all the more grave when the governors are supposed to be managing states that are chaotically in the middle of ravaging floods and threats of sectarian violence.

Following the pronouncement of the federal government last week that there would be no government official delegation to the 2012 Olympics, it was surprising to see governors Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa accompanied by some of their officials, family members and associates in the middle of the celebrations and festivities that marked the opening of the Games in London. Either the federal government forgot to pass to governors Ajimobi and Yakowa the memo that there was no room for a jamboree, which had been the usual practice in the past where officials with little to do at sporting events are dispatched, or the governors just had a strong craving to eat fish and chips in London.

Whatever the desire that drove the governors to go for the Olympics, unless they were part of the limited Nigerian Olympic Committee delegation sent to support the Nigerian Olympic team, no serious-minded government official at the national or state level should have considered it fit to waste public funds and venture out to attend the Olympics. Instead, they should have sat down at home to attend to their duties in their states and the plethora of obstacles that is burying Nigeria.
When one compares the attitude of these governors and other Nigerian government officials with their counterparts in other areas of the world, it’s not hard to see the kind of work ethic we have which is responsible for the regressive nature of our evolution as a nation. When the UK government minister, the business secretary and potential chancellor of the exchequer, Mr Vince Cable, was asked by reporters last week why he was not attending the Olympics, he replied that he couldn’t go for the ceremonies because of the work and duties that required his attention in his office. One can only imagine that every one of government officials, their wives, children and cousins would have probably taken a leave to abandon their duty posts in order to stay at the stadium had Nigeria had the opportunity to host such an international event.

Of course, nobody is denying the fact that every Nigerian that can afford to do so has a right to go and watch the Olympics in their private capacity. But when the vast majority of the Nigerian population are wallowing in poverty and unemployment because the past and present governments have paid a deaf ear to their cries, it becomes irresponsible and insensitive for state and federal officials to jet out on such a shindig. Olympics or not, government officials should stay at home and put more effort in trying to improve people’s welfare by addressing security threats and poverty by creating jobs and wealth.

It is even more demeaning that the governors can venture out on such a mindless and sinful wingding and attach to it the bogey of investment in light of the scarcity of funds. In a statement issued by the governor of Kaduna’s aide, it was revealed that Governor Yakowa went for the Games in order to honour an invitation to attend the opening ceremonies and also follow up on investment opportunities. The governor’s aide would have best been advised to tell the likely tall tale of the governor honouring an official invitation to the opening ceremonies to the bell-boy, because the truth is that nobody, not even Michelle Obama, was given an official invitation to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics. With the exception of those that were given an official duty during the ceremony such as UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon, ex-Beatles Paul McCartney and boxing hero Mohammed Ali, no one was given an official invitation to attend the opening ceremony of the Games – not Governor Yakowa, not his aides, not his family and certainly not his friends.

In regards to the explanation given by the adviser that the governor was further travelling to London in order to follow up on investment opportunities, the adviser himself should have advised Governor Yakowa to delay his investment opportunity trip to London till a more appropriate time when there would be no major national distractions such as the Olympic Games.
Better still, the adviser should have queried, and informed the public whether the money that the governor and his entourage spent to go to the invitation-investment-Olympics trip was budgeted for. If it wasn’t, the adviser should be advised that extra-budgetary spending for this kind of venture is a breach of the constitution.

It is uncharitable for the governor or any of his aides to put out that the governor went to the UK for potential investment at the backdrop of a state where sectarian and religious skirmish is very palpable. How could he have gone on an audacious adventure in this period of serious chaos and confusion? Kaduna, at present, is a state where people are existing under an atmosphere of fear and suspicion; it’s a state that requires the 24-hour attention of its governor. In view of these crises, it is understandable for people to be upset at the fact that their governor is frolicking in London.
If the governors or any of their counterparts wanted to go for the Olympics, they had the option of taking their annual leave and spending their personal money to enjoy the Games. A governor travelling with a horde of family, friends and associates to attend the Games seems nothing more than cronyism that thrives in Nigeria.

This clear case of frolic yet again brings us face to face with the leadership crisis Nigeria continues to struggle with. We have now been muddling through a series of predicaments for nearly six decades. The causes are well-known: inept governments with unfocused leadership, no articulated vision, and an underachieving and over-politicised people at the helm of our affairs. This cocktail of problems is topped by an apathetic government motivated by the short-term interests of ‘me, myself and I’, rather than the long-term stabilisation of the country and the respective states.

Time will tell whether there will be a backlash for the Nigerian officials who have taken detours from the service of which they were employed by the electorate. Whether there is a backlash or not, the real legacy of the Olympic Games for the globetrotting government officials might not be the heroic efforts of Team Nigeria’s basketball team, the valiant achievement of Chika Chukwumerije or the potential of our greatest rising star, Blessing Okagbare, but the fact that they dishonoured their states and travelled for the Olympics, not for the betterment of their people but on an erroneous frolic of their own.

Twitter- @hanneymusawa

HARD VIEW (Going For Gold)

HARD VIEW

GOING FOR GOLD

London is set to welcome athletes from all over the world into its beautiful city. Between July 27 and August 12, the eyes of the whole sports-loving world will be fixed on London. A once-in-a-lifetime event is taking place in this historical and unique land – the Summer Olympics, the glory of modern sporting events. To welcome the world, Britain will put on an extravaganza with music, fireworks, dancing, acrobatics, and the runners that carry the Olympic torch will light the Olympic flame to signal the beginning of the games. As the representatives of the participating countries flamboyantly parade their nations in a rainbow of colours, there will be only three colours on the minds of every country as they go for bronze, silver and, ultimately, gold!

Between the basketball, wrestling, boxing, athletics, taekwondo, weightlifting, relay and football categories, the London games will see Team Nigeria compete in more sports and disciplines and present the largest single team to represent the nation than at any other games in the last 50 years. As our extraordinary sports men and women make their outing, the hearts of millions of Nigerian supporters will be pounding and racing, fretting and praying for some recorded victory at the Olympics.

Since the 1952 Olympic Games, which Nigeria first participated in, till date, Nigerian athletes have won a total of 23 medals, mostly in athletics and boxing. And, in the greatest and most rewarding victory that we have ever recorded, our national football team beat the Brazilian national team to take home the Olympic gold medal in 1996. One would imagine that witnessing Team Nigeria participate in this veritable instrument of national integration, amidst the enthusiasm, it would be easy for one to convince himself that Team Nigeria will excel in some of the disciplines we are known to be good in and bring home a couple of medals. Memories of great moments such as the success of Chioma Ajunwa in Atlanta 1996 when she won Nigeria’s first gold medal propel thoughts of triumph in our minds.

From Los Angeles 1984 to Barcelona 1992 to Atlanta 1996 to Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008, there have been memorable moments of pride for Team Nigeria. To this day, one can remember watching several of the events including Chioma Ajunwa, Mary Onyali and Falilat Ogunkoya outrunning their opponents in the athletics. I can also remember Ruth Ogbeifo and Duncan Dokiwari flexing their muscles to take home the silver and bronze medals in the weightlifting and boxing categories respectively. Then, there was the national football teams that have brought home gold and silver medals for Nigeria in at least two Olympic games. Watching and remembering those and many other events, it is difficult not to feel hopeful, patriotic and optimistic about Team Nigeria’s prospect in London.

As suppositions as to why our rivals in our strongest categories will ultimately fail flood our minds, the final outcome can never really be accurately analysed and may turn out to be something totally unexpected. That doesn’t stop us though, because forecasts are part and parcel of the Olympics, whether they are accurate or not. By the time the competition starts in a couple of days, when all the 204 participating nations emerge on the centre stage with a fortuitous shot at glory, it becomes clear that no one can accurately predict the winners of the categories because the Olympics is a platform where anything can happen.

While our optimism of victory is largely based on the sentiment we feel for our country, one must balance that with reality. Although I feel a sense of nationalistic pride that Nigeria will make an appearance at this global gathering, at the same time, stark reality fills my heart with anxiety. My sense of patriotism bullies me into believing that Team Nigeria must, at least, match the success we had in the 1996 games in Atlanta.

Although some might argue that the Team Nigeria of today is a far cry from those glory days of the mid 1990s, with focus, organisation and hard work, I believe, several members of our team can recreate the magic that our wonder athletes in the 1990s displayed. No matter what the result of the tournament eventually turns out to be for Nigeria, it is imperative for the nation to scout out and develop young and vibrant talent. Nigerian athletes are blessed with raw talent but lack in direction, encouragement and basic technical aspects. Sport is a way to promote positive social values and a great teacher of discipline, dedication, perseverance and teamwork, to name only a few, for young people. For many of our idle, yet talented youth, finding something as active and healthy as sports becomes for them and for Nigeria a great gift. We must empower our young sports men and women and encourage them to appreciate the virtues and values of striving for the lofty goals of the games.
The anticipation that goes with the start of the Olympics is quite exhilarating and the hopes quite high. While I support Team Nigeria all the way and have hope that they will record some measure of success, I know for a fact that any hope we may have must be tendered with a huge amount of finger-crossing and prayer.

The Olympics is a great event that manifests all the positives in sports at its highest peak. It is about one being the best one can be: the pursuit of excellence. Those that have had the talent and privilege to represent their country at that level have been given an opportunity to impact the lives of others simply because of what the Olympics represents. As our athletic representatives emerge on the arena in their green-and-white attire, as they stand tall and sing our National Anthem, I shall be joining every Nigerian in supporting Team Nigeria, wishing them the very best and praying for their success in London and their safe and jubilant return to Nigeria in the next three weeks.

With days to the games, lady luck seems to already be in sync with Team Nigeria, as the International Olympic Committee announced the men’s 4x400m relay team of Nduka Awazie, Jude Monye, Clement Chukwu, Sunday Baba, Fidelis Gadzama, Enefiok Udo-Obong, the gold medal winners from the 2000 Olympics, following the disqualification of the previous gold medal winners, United States, as a result of a confession of doping by one of the US team members.
Congratulations to Team Nigerian on this early gold medal. We hope and pray to see more medals draped around their necks at the end of the games. Good luck to Team Nigeria and every other African team at the London Olympics in this special moment as they go for the ultimate gold!
Twitter- @hanneymusawa

Saturday 21 July 2012

Hard View (BEER MATH)


HARD VIEW

BEER MATH

Here’s a conundrum for you:

·        Firstl, pick the number of times a week you would like to have a mineral drink. (It should be more than 1 but less than 10).

·        Multiply this number by 2.

·        Add 5.

·        Multiply it by 50.

·        If you’ve already had your birthday this year add 1762. If you haven't, add 1761.

·        Now subtract the four-digit year that you were born.
You should have a three-digit number
The first digit of this was your original number of the number of times a week you would like to have a mineral drink.
The next two numbers are.......
YOUR AGE!

When a friend told me that she could work out my age using a formula known as beer math, it initially sounded strange. When she started working it out using the above formula, the whole ‘add this’, ‘subtract that’ and ‘multiply those ‘seemed complicated. But at the end when I saw that the formula added up to my age and the number of drinks I had chosen in my mind, the whole complex process seemed to somehow make sense. The fact that the answer to the puzzle is accurate no matter the number of drinks chosen and the age of the person I tried it on reinforces, in my mind, the notion that sometimes one is confronted with situations that, on the face of it, seem unworkable, but in the end, the result makes sense. Much like the way I view Nigeria, a country of 250 different types of people lumbered together in one geographical location. A country with so much difficulties and dimensions but in the end, despite our troubles, it’s a country that makes sense to me.



Presently this nation exists within an atmosphere of divide and blame; so much so that people are calling for the separation of the country openly. The game where we blame each other for all the evils in our country never resonated more than a millisecond with me. I have always believed that the past and present government officials who have fluffed up the affairs of the country and the extremists that have chosen to exact a culture of violence should be responsible for their own acts and it is not fair to extend guilt by association to everyone else.

It is a fact that every decision, embezzlement and indiscretion made by our governments and leaders have been made by people from the various different parts of the country as they assemble a government of national character. It is no news to Nigerians that kidnapping, 419, armed robberies has been carried out by the different array of people across this country. Even the bombings and violence now predominantly carried out by Boko-Haram first reared its ugly head when the Niger-Delta militants unleashed terror on civilians in the FCT, Lagos and Port Harcourt. It is unlikely that at any point a region, as a collective, has endorsed the destruction of another as a matter of policy. It is a belief fuelled purely by dogma, self-delusion, ignorance and bigotry in varying levels.

When commentators and terrorists publicly refer to Nigerians in “us and them’ terms; when they suggest the separation of Nigeria in order to rid the country of ‘the bad-people’, it amounts to the pursuit of an agenda to revoke the full civil liberties of other Nigerians. Also, the people who think they are defending their freedom of speech and action by unreasonably reducing every mishap and tragedy in this country down to ethnic and religious indices, have not the ability to exercise these freedoms responsibly, or judge whether others do so because they are equally segregating others.

The truth is that anyone who continues to spread disharmony and promote dichotomy between the different regional and ethnic groups in the name of fighting for freedom, is kind of similar to those that set out to harm innocent Nigerians through violence or otherwise. They play a large part in perpetuating the bloody ethnic conflicts and tense inter-religious hatred we see today. We demonize the extremes of violence, but each form of violence exaggerates an endemic process of persuasion by those at the top of the social order. Most violence is not idiosyncratic: An irresponsible and careless expression by influential members of a society has the greatest potential of taking on a physical form. If those of us who are better informed continue spreading inaccurate information of negative rhetoric and stereotype, then Nigerians, together or apart, will never overcome.

We need to start addressing the real issues that have decayed this nation and apportioning blame where blame is due rather than allowing primitive sentiments to oppress our minds. If individuals in government loot our coffers, they, and not their village folk, should take individual responsibility for their misappropriation. If some crazy fanatic goes on a murderous rampage and blows up guiltless Nigerians, the blood of the innocents should be on that individual person’s hands and not on all the people who read the same scripture as him.

In the 52 years that we have existed as an independent country, terrible things have happened to Nigeria; gross amounts of corruption have underlined our existence. But with the bad, comes the good because in those 52 years, wonderful things have also happened. I have always believed Nigeria’s main asset is its people and diversity. Whenever I meet a Nigerian abroad, the tribe they come from or the stereotypes that their region is burdened with has never been a consideration for me. The fact that they come from Nigeria always gives me a sense of camaraderie. Yes, we are different; different customs, different foods, different languages, different features and different beliefs but not so different that we cannot respect and embrace those differences.

I am a Hausa/Fulani from Katsina who is absolutely proud of my identity. But before that, I am a Nigerian to the core with the spirit and soul of my motherland. I am more than happy to come from the most populous and diverse country in Africa.

This nation is very complicated, but through God’s Grace we exist as a nation. And just like Beer Math, although we are a complicated formula, the different and various people fated together under this nation in theory do make sense. So if anybody tells you that Nigeria can add and multiply its worth by subtracting a certain region and dividing the country, despite the fact that their words sound like it’s emanating from a beer parlour, tell them about the unconventional logic in this Beer Maths!

Hannatu Musawa

Twitter- @hanneymusawa

Wednesday 18 July 2012

HARD VIEW (FORCED INTO THE LIONS DEN)

HARD VIEW

FORCED INTO THE LIONS DEN

When I read that the minister of youth development, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, was trying to force young people into the lion’s den by insisting that the National Youth Service Corps members must be posted to any state, including those that are highly volatile at present, I had to do a double take. I couldn’t believe that any person, least of all the minister in charge of the national welfare of our youth, could make such a careless, insensitive and irrational decision. To force Christian corps members from the south to go to some selective northern states where they may be the target of extremists or to force Muslim corps members from the north to go to some selective states in the south where they could be the target of reprisal attacks is not only careless, it is incredibly cruel.

Wearing his expensive attire with a stomach full of rich food in a nice protected environment, much like most of the gung-ho pencil pushers in government who haven’t any idea what it’s really like for the ordinary man to be surviving in the danger of several Nigerian cities today, the minister did not easily betray his seriousness. Was he speaking with a straight face when he compared the NYSC participants to military personnel whose calling was to be posted for security duties because they signed and were prepared for that duty? Was he joking when he tried to make the case that the corps members had no choice but to report to the posts assigned to them regardless of the danger of the location?

Unless Alhaji Inuwa has been existing under a rock for the past one year, in a hibernation of sorts where he has had limited knowledge of what has been happening in the world around him, he would know that there is a serious security breach in certain parts of the country where it would be highly ill-advised and reckless for the government to send other people’s children for the NYSC scheme. More than anyone else, he should know that the government rhetoric of “we will protect you” is no longer fooling anyone because the administration has already fallen short of its duty to adequately protect, support and compensate the families of the corps members that were butchered while on active duty last year. He should be conscious of the fact that the state has failed miserably in protecting the lives and property of thousands of victims across the breadth of this country. The minister should be aware that even trained, professional security personnel posted to some of the troubled areas are lobbying to be reposted to alternative states. Yet he wants to compel promising young men and women, at the dawn of their lives, to put themselves smack in the face of danger.

It’s aggravating that the minister would take such a draconian stance in relation to Nigerian youths from the safety of his plush Abuja office while blustering armchair machismo. In using terms like “national integration” and “constitutional issue” to justify the irresponsible deployment and cheerlead from hundreds of miles away in his recliner, he seems not to be bothered about exposing these young men and women to this kind of danger. It is alright for him, I suppose, to harrumph and cheer the benefits of the national integration achieved through the NYSC far away from the dangers because he doesn’t have to go there himself. I’m sure the minister wouldn’t even consider sending one of his own kin to a known volatile place where their lives will be in danger. Better still, as the minister in charge of youth development, why can’t Alhaji Inuwa offer to move his ministry and personnel to the vicinities that are known to be the hotspots for the brewing offensive? After all, it is in those areas where a lot of idle youth are being indoctrinated into guerrilla warfare that the close presence of the minister in charge of youth development would be much needed.

Some weeks ago, it was reported that President Jonathan had expressed apprehension about flying to Maiduguri for security reasons. If a whole president, with the full regiment of security shields all around him, can have reservations about travelling to an area that has perilous security challenges at present, why on earth would Alhaji Inuwa think it’s all right to expose other people’s children to such danger?

As the minister gears to recklessly compel youths into an unnecessary scenario that presents a heightened possibility of danger, he must remember that the government is 100 per cent accountable for its decisions and actions. This would mean that any decision the administration makes regarding the welfare of our youth must be made taking full cognizance of the fact that the decision could relate directly to the life and death of another person’s child.
Obligation in Nigeria should not be a one-way street. The government cannot expect to hold people accountable for their obligations under legislation or otherwise while the government, itself, does nothing to uphold its primary liability to protect the Nigerian people. The main duty of the Nigerian state is to guarantee the safety of lives and property of its citizens.

Although the NYSC is a constitutional duty and, in theory, the kind of integration tool needed in a nation with a growing harmony gap, the scheme’s mandatory service has become an issue of much debate following the tenuous security situation in some areas and last year’s murder of corps members during the violence that trailed the general elections. Having been first introduced through a military decree in 1973 in order to integrate and bring about harmony amongst Nigerians, six years later it was enshrined in the constitution. However, the reality of the increasingly volatile atmosphere, general anger that government contractors are selfishly lobbying for the scheme in order to maintain their business of supplying equipment for the programme and several incidents of attacks against corps members has compelled Nigerians to question whether the scheme has any remaining worth, whether it is still accomplishing the function of its formation to promote co-existence and national integration.

There is no doubt that the NYSC has its benefits. Apart from its purpose of national integration, it exposes young people to practical experiences and the reality of the world after the theory that was taught in schools. Millions of us have passed through the scheme and have profited immensely from the national integration and exposure offered by the system. Many people remember and speak of their NYSC days fondly: it was a time that offered excitement, adventure, the promise of fresh opportunities and the beginning of a new and independent life. However, since then, Nigeria has regressed significantly in terms of security and economic arrangements.

Whatever the future of the scheme will be, the current decision of the minister of youth development to force our young men and women into the lion’s den will certainly not betide well for the NYSC in the long run. As the drama of the NYSC deployment continues to intensify, one hopes that the government will consider the welfare of our youth, be reasonable and take a position different from that of the minister. In the event they don’t, concerned corps members should take a leaf out of the book of the UNILAG students when the government wanted to force a name change to their prestigious institution and consider their legal option to compel the federal government to uphold its constitutional and cardinal purpose: to ensure the “security and welfare of the people”.
Twitter- @hanneymusawa

Thursday 12 July 2012

Hard View (NIGERIA WE HAIL THEE, IN MERCY GOD´LL BAIL THEE)


28th September 2011

NIGERIA WE HAIL THEE, IN MERCY GOD´LL BAIL THEE.


Behold, Verily the world stop and see, the “fortunate tragedy” that befell thee.

The former our freedom gained 1st of October, the latter our canker, our grime yet moreover,

It was 1960 our fathers did pray for God to release us from the Queen and her say.

And after a struggle we gained independence, “Oh my” how the stories of Nigeria’s confidence.

Tipped as the nation who´ll Africa lead, the pivot, the glory of blackman indeed.

We had all the numbers, we had the resources, the livestock we had ranged from sheeps, goats and horses.

If a nation was ever as lucky as we, then it had the hallmark of a superpower to be.

But what´s the reality of poverty, its gravity, did our nation maintain a level of sanity?

The answer is known to those who understand, the cry of the innocents in Nigerian land.

For those who think otherwise in their government abode, just take 2 minutes, consider my ode.

-------------------******-------------------

Nigeria we hail thee,

Albeit thy children fail thee,

In mercy God´ll bail thee,

Before thou thus derail thee.

-------------------******-------------------
The fanfare on Saturday starts with the President’s address, followed by a march past to mark our fabulous mess.

Undoubtedly the government will claim “history, victory”, oblivious as always of the people’s misery.

Corruption it’s said has been fought with all might, yet the return of the looters is plainly in sight.

The greedy, the selfish with single intentions, have raided our governments like virus infections.

They appoint all their sidekicks, their sons and their daughters as government officials & live in plush quarters.

They have houses abroad, they have watches of gold and may God forgive me, “their souls they have sold”

To the “Babylon beast” who does nothing but feast on the riches of Nigerians from north, west and east.

This whole business of fighting corruption´s a charade, a farce that our governments and media made.

For if it was genuine, then why don’t we start with those that are known to be at its heart.

But no, it is used against political opponents, who rub PDP wrongly and mess up their moments.


-------------------******-------------------

Nigeria we hail thee,

Albeit thy children fail thee,

In mercy God´ll bail thee,

Before thou thus derail thee.

-------------------******-------------------

When 12 years ago we were promised democracy, we welcomed the end of the military hypocracy.

But little did we know that a democratic dictatorship, would smell even worse than a rotten patato chip.

Now over a decade of the governments we’ve met, the armed forces look like a beautifull pet.

One if you see you will shout out with glee, “you are my saviour, you´ve just set me free”.

Is that a solution with our histories of past? But it will be the outcome if this conduct lasts.

The conduct of committing on democracy rape, the conduct of elections that leave us agape.

Of all the three times that we went to the polls, fake ballot sheets in rolls were stuffed in holes.

The government went all out and with vigour did cheat, because they had sworn they would never be beat.

With NEPA and their stations, the worst of bad nations, Nigerians have honestly run out of patience.

Now there’s talk of a single term of just 6 years, but the argument to and fro has brought out many fears.

Cause what if this system and governance proposal, is really a symbol for some master disposal?

Gee Whizz, I don’t know and I shudder to guess, All will be revealed as we continue to progress.


-------------------******-------------------

Nigeria we hail thee,

Albeit thy children fail thee,

In mercy God´ll bail thee,

Before thou thus derail thee.



-------------------******-------------------

In the last couple of months we’ve had much to handle, from worrisome tragedies to disgraceful scandal.

The gloomiest came with the serious blast, which killed many innocents and left us aghast.

But the most shocking thing of the ghastly death mask, was the fact it was done as a suicide task.

Cause who would have thought that Nigerians were willing, for fulfilling their lives with such un-thrilling killing.

My take on this crisis with Boko Haram, is that they are young men who noticed a sham,

Of all the mis-governance that led to bad fate, and unemployment rate in each of their state.

They practiced their faith in the way they saw fit, in a manner that the governors just did not permit.

But they were mishandled quite harshly, quite cruel, and it was from this misrule that their anger was fuel.

But that’s no excuse for them choosing to kill, some innocent people for having free will.

By using religion, they give it a name, one which does inflame, one that does doth defame.

In order to end this nasty impasse, we must look to the root of the problem; Yuguda and SAS.

Cause they can’t create such a violent battle, then sit on their backs like oblivious cattle!

-------------------******-------------------

Nigeria we hail thee,

Albeit thy children fail thee,

In mercy God´ll bail thee,

Before thou thus derail thee.

-------------------******-------------------

Already desperation is clear in the air, because two thousand fifteen is a “do or die” affair

Such are the sycophants who´ve completely hijacked our political system, the good guys they sacked.

No ill is forbidden, all crime will be ridden, the bastardization of Nija won´t be hidden.

Cause the deck of elections lies with the big wreck, the nemesis of our nation, Prof Jega´s INEC.

For its not a secret that they get their kicks, from giving elections a mighty big fix.

I saw this first hand when I tried to compete in the just gone elections for the National Assembly seat.

I met some resistance from the Yaradua Cabal; Tanimu the “mad-dog” that has no morale,

Used much of his pilfer, the money he loot, to dispute and uproot the winner absolute.

To pollute and dilute and cause disrepute in order to re-boot and salute his recruit.

But God in His mercy doth change the permute, by giving the underdog, and rendered us all mute.

-------------------******-------------------

Nigeria we hail thee,

Albeit thy children fail thee,

In mercy God´ll bail thee,

Before thou thus derail thee.

-------------------******-------------------

It all sounds so gloomy, it all sounds so dark, 45 years of Independence but look at our mark.

I´m glad it’s not witnessed by all our forefathers who lived and died for this nation as martyrs.

One hopes they will not roll in their grave for our gain of the hopeless and loss of the brave.

Our cultural structure is a social disaster, we´re regretting not staying with our colonial master.

Nigerians are downtroden but side with ethnicity and choose from ones tribe regardless of ones atrocity.

This I believe is the cause of our sorrow, when will we learn and change for tommorow?

Our problem´s not tribe but visionless kleptomaniacs who loot us all blind and fill up their banking sacks.

Nigerians regroup let´s take back our country, together we´ll form and make a new visionary.

As one with a stake I state with equivocation, one thing we shant do is go into disintegration.

Some words to consider during the celebration, may God help Nigeria to remain one great nation.

-------------------******-------------------

Nigeria we hail thee,

Albeit thy children fail thee,

In mercy God´ll bail thee,

Before thou thus derail thee.

-------------------******-------------------

But I do believe Johnny is a good man; let’s give him a chance to do what he can.

Whatever will happen we must look up to God, he giveth and taketh with merely a nod.

We must increase faith, boost our love and our fear, be sincere and revere and adhere to persevere.

We must believe in this nation and love it unconditionally, keep our ethos, our culture and our virtues traditionally.

Nigeria is beautiful, our homeland is glorious. She’s known internationally as somewhat notorious.

Her children are maimed as rather inglorious, but in truth for 5 decades she has been laborious.

And with help from above she can be meritorious, so our nation can rise and at last be victorious.

On this fateful day I do wish you well, from the tone of my ode I hope you can tell

My wish for my nation is goodness attendance. To every Nigerian, Happy Independence!

-------------------******-------------------

Our sorry tale of independence that comes with a fee,

My heavy heart “Oh Verily”,

Nigeria thy still on bended knee.

The “Babylon beast” laid a snare for thee

and spread his net with cords of glee,

There´s a storm in the affairs of your man

If taken at its stride it can

and leeds thee into deepest sea.

For those of we who weep for thee

and pray to see thee finally free,

we ponder on the only key...

Rebel and hapily set thee free?

But rebellion is a sin of life,

can nurture freedom gives way to strife.

(The only victims would be the poor)

Then dark fortune stops we giving our life!

Nigeria we hail thee,

In mercy God´ll bail thee.



Article Written by Hannatu Musawa

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Hard View (DEHUMANISATION OF OUR HUMANITY)


DEHUMANISATION OF OUR HUMANITY

I have watched many crime shows and horror movies, mostly because I struggle to understand what could possibly possess someone to commit atrocities against another human being. The trail of death and violence that has characterised several communities in the north is so shockingly unimaginable one is almost lost for thought when trying to contemplate what could possibly be running through the minds of people who decide to slaughter others so brazenly.

The memorials of the slain that now sully several Northern towns and villages provide only small glimpses into the collective insanity that has gripped the society. It deeply saddens one to think of the horror and pain the victims and the families of these spates of violence have gone through. As for the people who can easily take another’s life, and be so pompous to think that that life had no value or light in this world, and that their existence was worth destroying are an abomination of our species.

From murder of sleeping families in their homes, to bombing parishioners, to reprisal mass extermination of innocent people, to eating the flesh of those murdered, to extrajudicial slaughter, to decapitation, it is almost impossible to imagine how so many Nigerians could have turned into coldblooded butchers. There is no doubt that a fragment of our society has completely lost its humanity. That loss happened the moment we stopped fighting for each other and started fighting with each other. And within that fight, came the madness that we see unfolding before our very eyes.

For how much longer are we supposed to take this violence that has submerged our society? How long can we take the things that we are not supposed to take? Nigeria today has become like the body of a chronic substance abuser. The body is not naturally made or prepared to take any external, toxic substances. It is not natural and is against natural justice. And as the substances and drugs continue to be forced into the body; that body will eventually stop to function properly and the mind will give way to madness. Sooner or later what the body would be left with will be the shadow of a junkie; a mad man aimlessly roaming shoddily on a winding road to nowhere.

Yes, our reality is as simple as that! You see, the simplicity of madness is this; There is good in the world and there is evil. There is light and there is darkness. There is hope and there is despair. And we all get to decide where to stand. The barbarians within us that tread the road of malevolence and wickedness choose to stand on the side of evil, darkness and despair. They choose to slaughter and main other people’s children, wives, husbands, fathers and mothers despite the fact that they have children, wives, husbands, fathers and mothers of their own that they wish to keep safe. They choose to indict reasonable minded, objective and innocent people in the community because of the association of guilt that Nigerian ignorance attaches to tribe, ethnicity and religion. The barbarians chose the dark side and as a result dehumanize our humanity.

From neighbourhood communities, to social networks, to communal gathering, our lives have become ravaged by crimes against humanity, overtaken by fighting against the evil chain of hatred. We don’t all have to stand exactly the same. We can stand in different ways, with varying opinions. But we should stand against the hatred that is ripping our societies apart. At this point, Nigerians no longer have a choice but to take that stance so we can show the barbarians within us where the majority of us stand.

Even for those who do not ascribe themselves to the violence enacted against fellow Nigerians, as long as they are part of keeping the chain of hatred strong, then they are part of the problem, because hatred is where it all starts. In the movie ‘Star-Wars’, one of the characters, Yoda, in advising his pupil against fear, anger and hatred said, "Fear leads to anger, Anger leads to hate, Hate leads to Suffering”.  He was correct because when one has fear, there's the instinct of fight or flight. When they choose to fight, it manifests itself in a form of anger; Anger then leads to hate in some form. Hate turns to suffering very quickly and when one has all these emotions running high, they suffer or strive to make someone else suffer. Hating one thing could easily turn into hating many other things and that’s the vicious circle within which the barbarians within our society exist. That’s the vicious circle that those within us will find ourselves as long as we continue to nurse hatred against each other. So long as we have a desire to salvage what little strain of humanity we have left, the choice of the overwhelming majority must be one where we break the hatred chain and stand together against the dehumanisation of our humanity.

Every day we speak about the lack of justice in Nigeria, breach of rights, corruption, rigged elections and the cost of living. But how can we even talk about rights, democracy, politics, aesthetics and philosophy when we are murdering our neighbour’s children and training our children to kill our neighbours? The hatred we preach and the violence under any circumstances is unjustified and impure. It reduces us to something less than human; puts us on a slippery slope to the pit of destruction and damnation. More worrying is the lingering effect that the present activities will have on the next generation who will invariably be the product of a civilization which produced and dwelled in violence, hatred and destruction. That generation will be moulded with a consciousness of partial rationality and twisted moralities.

What is happening today in Nigeria is indicative of the fact that we have lost control of our lives and we have traded on the road of self-destruction. As the cost of living in Nigeria continues to rise to something that is beyond the reach of the ordinary Nigerian, the cost of life plummets to absolutely nothing. The mass death of our neighbours and kin is now such a daily occurrence; it has become the natural order of our present existence. And as the insane and barbaric murderers continue to be guilty of mass murder, let the rest of us not be guilty of murdering rationality, liberty, equality, morality, natural justice, understanding and purpose. We must give way for our conscience and mortality to get back that purpose of humanity that we were all created with.

Our children are yearning for peace, looking for peace, and are in desperate need of peace. Yet, we cannot have peace while our communities are in pieces, shattered and battered. The violence has got to stop! It is totally unacceptable, it is an obscenity and completely out of order. It has become the grave evil of our time and all good people in Nigeria have a duty to be rational, understand and work together in order to eradicate it. No matter what one community has done to another, there can be no justification for violence in any form. Responsible and respectful communities handle their disagreements with understanding and patience, not rage and violence and that is what we have to strive to get back to.

The leaders in the affected communities and the government have to provide a common ground where all identifiable factions of any communal clash can share their opinions and needs in a civil exchange that can ultimately lead to an acceptable outcome for all. At the very least, the communities involved should keep in mind that compromise and understanding is necessary to make their community a place worth living in.

I have watched the scariest and goriest horror movies imaginable and I still don’t have an understanding as to what could possibly possess one human being to commit terrible atrocities against another human being. And even though many of us will never be able to understand the way the deformed mind of murdering barbarians operate; we each have a duty not to allow ourselves to be part of the vicious circle that leads to the dehumanisation of our humanity.

Written by Hannatu Musawa
I invite you to follow me on Twitter- @hanneymusawa