THE BBC AND NDIGBO - NO LOVE LOST

Don't let the prominent use (abuse?) of the pictures of Nnamdi Kanu fool you. The antipathy between the British colonial overlords and the stubborn Igbo race has outlived most of the major players in the fight for Nigerian paper independence. This is why modern day British diplomats and the business class like Paul Arkwright, who were not born when it all started, take a stark anti-Igbo stance that seems ingrained in their DNA.

If the current struggle for #Restructuring of the Nigerian polity is restricted to the demand for #TrueFederalism, the attitude of Whitehall would be exactly the same, as it has been over the past 50years of the London sponsored Gowonian legacy. That is why Ndigbo elite who loudly proclaim a lack of interest in the breakup of Nigeria are not getting any support whatsoever from the British establishment. THE UK WANTS NIGERIA TO REMAIND THE WAY IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF QUEEN AND EMPIRE. Many southern Nigerians feigning sophistication, with a British passport or visa to boot, get carried away with the deceptive reportage of BBC which refuses to provide the necessary gravitas for dealing with Nigeria's many dysfunctions.

Take the following report for example. Was it an editorial or a narrative of a young journalist sent on an all expenses paid safari to check out Biafra land or whatever name they call Igboland out of earshot. Could it have been for the silly purpose of providing an unnecessary update on disabled Biafran war veterans, a story that is of absolutely no interest to the members of Parliament or the young operators in London Financial Sector? He couldn't even include his/her name.

The BBC falsely claims to take no side in any revolution. Of course the current turmoil in Nigeria does not measure up to that billing. Or does it? Worse that there is an agitation emanating from Igboland of all places. Such insufferable upstarts!

I have never regarded the peoples of India as submissive. However I just wonder what would have happened if Brittannia had to cope with a colony the size of India populated by Ndigbo. I just wonder. The Mau-Mau rebellion in Kenya would perhaps have appeared like a picnic in comparison. Oh, how the British loved and still love the north of Nigeria in contrast, in spite of the depressing human development indices in a place comparable only with post Siad Barre Somalia.

The unrelenting negative attitude of the government, institutions and media of the UK towards Ndigbo is simply payback. Nnamdi Kanu, the poster child and enfant terrible, and of course this current agitation for Biafra, have got nothing to do with it. The British perhaps hate Ndigbo more than the Hausa-Fulani. Yes, that's a strong allegation. I am old enough to make it.

'Nigeria treats us like slaves' - but is Biafra the answer? - BBC News - http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-40506251

IS THE NIGERIAN ARMY BACK IN THE LEGISLATIVE SADDLE? . ONLY IF WE LET THEM

THE NIGERIAN ARMY? 

Check out my comment on January 14, 2017, on the army's bizarre opinion of itself. From all indications, it is only getting worse. .
Our fault! 
Despite all the swashbuckling, our military remains OUR HIRED HELP!
Nothing more.

Five years at Sandhurst or US Army War College does NOT change that fundamental fact. . Haba!
** ***** **
IS IT THE PEOPLE'S ARMY,
OR THE ARMY'S ARMY?
The Editors at Premium Times referred to "the constitutional guarantee of civilian control of the army, etc"
I wonder how many otherwise educated Nigerians, even those warming their seats in the House and Senate, understand this simple concept. The way our people mindlessly defer to "our" military is most disconcerting. Does anyone treat his megadi that way? No.

These long years of military rule have done irreparable damage to our psyche. We still act like zombies. The late Kayode Esho, JSC, lamented in those days that a new breed of lawyers were coming of age, who had neither the experience nor a recollection of the rule of law, which adversely limited their scope.

Let me take one final shot.
Is the NYSC a military or paramilitary establishment?
Neither.
Granted the lofty goals of fostering national unity by scattering university educated Nigerian youth to far-flung outposts, it's overall objectives dovetail more closely with the functions of the National Orientation Agency and the Ministry of Information. A road walk drill for a forthnight, worthy of proud Boy Scouts, does not overnight turn the NYSC into a military establishment, which it is not.

Can anyone then explain why we have retained the notion that the Director General of the NYSC must be a soldier, typically of a rank of Brigadier? This is intellectual laziness and mental slavery. Under the military, that posting was job-for-the-boys. Those days are long gone. We have no single good reason to retain that charade. A civilian must henceforth head our NYSC, if indeed we want to retain that setup.
God bless Nigeria.

TELEVISION COVERAGE OF THE MILITARY INVASION OF THE SOUTH-EAST

I need help here. 

For over a decade, my television station of choice has been ChannelsTV. This is not unique to me otherwise they would not consistently win the Station Of The Year Award over and over again. I watch ChannelsTV especially when I need to put certain conflicting reports to rest. One cannot count on NTA for factual reportage.

Now some people have recently been accusing ALL major television networks, including ChannelsTV and of course TVC, of colluding with and being on the payroll of the Federal Government. This is a weighty accusation which I would want to dig into over time before I can take a definitive position.

However, apart from any editorial position and posturing on these happenings in Aba, Afara-Ukwu in Abia State and other parts of the South-East, has our favourite ChannelsTV been providing viewers with footage out of the South-East, hence allowing them draw their own conclusions? The surfeit of self produced videos by interested parties has been a source of serious concern. People weep over them. Others condemn them as untrue or true but sensational, and since they affect our sensibilities need to be suppressed. Meanwhile ChannelsTV and others REFUSE to give viewers authentic coverage.

If indeed the IPOBians are as bad and violent as reported, we need to see the pictures, together with records of the "justified" reactions of the military supposedly "just passing by or minding their own business." Without these, I sense a serious cover-up. Those who have been shouting themselves hoarse that a pogrom, (if genocide is too harsh a word for you), is in the offing, see in these developments the evidence they have been looking for.

ChannelsTV is fully on the ground in Awka, Enugu and the rest of the South-East. It provides blanket coverage for the activities of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State. I have the sneaky feeling that the monsters at the Abuja military high command and 82 Division Enugu instructed them to stay away from their areas of operation. Otherwise all military exercises are newsworthy and are thus given comprehensive coverage. That was how I got to know the popular NTA military correspondent Muhammadu. In the heat of the Fulani campaign in Agatuland, ChannelsTV's Charles Erukaa kept us updated on the happenings there despite the obvious risk to his life. Why then are all the stories about the carnage emanating from Operation Python Dance in the South-East coming only from the "enemy" side?
This is sinister.

ON EVANGELISTS, MILITANTS, HERDSMEN AND TERRORISTS

My friend, intellectual soul mate and guest writer DR IK MUO reminds us:
** *** ***** *** **

Twenty months ago, I commented as follows.
The Nigerian government has over the years made it more attractive for people to express themselves violently. Whether it is OPC, MEND et al or Boko Haram, those who go violent get away with it while those who sing, dance, deploy flags or organise marches are shown the short end of the stick.

The events of the past few days have made it imperative to revisit that treatise, which was published in The Guardian of 21/2/16. Please do refresh your mind as I wish you happy python dance.
Ik Muo

EVANGELISTS, MILITANTS, HERDSMEN AND TERRORISTS
By Ik Muo on February 21, 2016 3:45 am

Fulani-Herdsmen THESE are categories of Nigerians operating in our social space. The evangelists are those spreading the good news, even though others, including those in authority, may not see the news as good. But there is nothing strange about this; it was so in the days of Christ. Herdsmen are migrant cattle rearers who originally were harmless. Nowadays, however, they have become seriously armed and are a threat to their hosts. Militants are those in armed opposition to certain government actions and policies. They have some public sympathy because they are believed to be fighting for a just cause. Terrorists are at war with everybody and anybody including the government and those who think they are safe with them.

Now, these categorisations represent a kind of continuum, from the most harmless to the most harmful. And under normal circumstances, the society should be most concerned about the terrorists; but that is under normal circumstances.

In December, 2015, IPOBians (Indigenous People of Biafra members) in Anambra State were engaged in evangelism, informing people about their agenda when ‘the police people started shooting…We asked in surprise what we had done, because we were not with any gun, knife or weapon, not even a stone,” Chidiebere Nnaji, one of the surviving evangelists after the Head-Bridge massacre, said. It was from him I learnt that what IPOBians were doing was actually evangelism.

Many people do not accept their evangelism and are indeed hostile to the messengers and their messages. But like other evangelists, they were armed with flags, phones, tracts and Bibles. Those murdered in that deal-with-them season included Nkiruka Ikeanyionwu, Chima Onoh, Kenneth Ogadinma, Angus Chikwado and Felicia Egwuatu.

Two weeks later, those celebrating the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, were also shot by the same security forces. Of course, Kanu was not released because President Muhammadu Buhari, who knows more than the judges, felt that his offence was too serious to merit a bail! How come soldiers, armed from our common purse, murdered those IPOBians who were just evangelising?

I then recalled the order given by the then Delta State Commissioner for Police, Mr. Ekpoudom, that all MASSOBians be treated as armed robbers (Vanguard, November 9, 2005 Pg. 7). Of course, the self-appointed loquacious northern spokesman, Junaid Muhammed, recently referred to them as terrorists who were going to be demolished as is being done to Boko Haram. But even the most shameless liar must at least, admit that from MASSOB to IPOB, they have been non-violent; they only sing and hoist flags, flags which every kindred, company and society has!

There are also the evangelists in Zaria, who aggressively promote their message and who refused the army a free passage. I have watched the plea by the soldiers for passage; I have also compared Rufai’s reaction this time with his reaction when similar incident occurred in 2014. But that is not the issue here. The fact is that the soldiers attacked the evangelists. Within 48 hours of the ‘Shiite war’, government and their agencies, the Senate, House of Reps, National Human Rights Committee, had set up investigative committees while the NBA later weighed in.

For Kanu and IPOB, no nothing! A few Eastern based human rights groups were the only voices crying in the wilderness over the murdered peaceful demonstrators. The difference is clear!

As this was going on, it was time for the Bayelsa election. The Police deployed 9000 men while the entire security apparatus was on standby. But the election was disrupted, bloody and deadly because militants were in operation! Our security apparatus in Bayelsa became helpless; their guns went quiet and they even became victims in the process. ‘Generals’ and pirates were publicly negotiating vote-sharing formulas and nobody dared stop them. When the negotiation failed and war broke out, our own Generals were found wanting.

In the rerun of January 9, 2016, the militants still had a field day, operating unchallenged across land and sea. The security operatives forgot their rules of engagement, which they had been threatening to unleash on pro-Biafran protesters!

Tompolo has refused to obey court summons but he has instead overrun the media space, declaring his innocence, giving conditions for court appearance and even advising Buhari to “allow the people of the Niger Delta Region to know peace, otherwise he will not know peace as well.” (Daily Post, January 16, 2016)! After all, one government cannot order another Government around! Even the warrant for his arrest has not been affected as I write. A coalition of militants (there is a coalition for everything nowadays) has even declared that the government MUST negotiate with them or else…By the way, I thought these militants have been demobilised and rehabilitated!

We all know the story of the Fulani herdsmen, who have been unleashing mayhem across the land. Recently, they looted and burnt villages and murdered a DPO and 29 others in Adamawa state. Our security apparatus have been helpless, incapable or unwilling to take them on. Indeed, the atrocities of these so-called herdsmen appear not to be captured in our security radar. Instead of responding in kind to their ferocious murderousness, the government plans to import grass for them and continue to persuade them to adopt other means of raising their cattle. A group of people destroys farmlands, kills, kidnaps and maims, and the President’s strategic response is to persuade them! Of course, that should be expected; after all, we are willing to negotiate with bloodthirsty Boko Haramists!

The Nigerian government has over the years made it more attractive for people to express themselves violently. Whether it is OPC, MEND et al or Boko Haram, those who go violent get away with it while those who sing, dance, deploy flags or organise marches are shown the short end of the stick. That is why Tompolo is giving conditions for court appearance while Kanu who appeared in court has not been released despite several court orders. Boko Haram was merely rascally in the beginning but found that the government preferred brute violence and that is why we are where we are. IPOBians and KANUists and Zakkysts are mowed down while militants and pure terrorists have a field day or are begged to repent. What do you expect when maximum force is deployed against the armless and harmless while those who are armed and murderous are treated with kid gloves. Indeed, all men are equal…

Martin Luther King is of the view that those ‘who engage in non-violent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We bring it out in the open, where it can be seen and dealt with. Like a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must be opened with all its ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light, injustice must be exposed, with all the tension its exposure creates, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion before it can be cured’ (Letter from a Birmingham Jail April 16, 1963). That was more than 50 years ago.

That position is still valid today!

[Dr. Muo is of the Department of Business Administration, OOU, Ago-Iwoye.]

Who will tell Rivers elders that I too am not Biafran!

BIAFRA? TO BE OR NOT TO BE. 
THAT'S THE QUESTION 
I can hardly believe that I wrote these lines 2+ years ago. 
.........................................

We suddenly have a new industry in town. I am referring to the stampede to disown the still non-violent agitation of probably misguided but clearly disillusioned 40-something-year-old Igbo youths for the rebirth of Biafra. Apparently nobody wants to be left out. At least not this writer. I hereby stand up to be counted.

I condemn and oppose (not violently) the renewed agitation for the moribund republic which for three years was sustained by the blood, sweat and tears of my age mates. Those of us favoured to still be alive are now between 64 and 73 years of age, proud grandparents. We are grateful to God, but not necessarily to Nigeria in which we have had varied and traumatic experiences these past 45 years. We are not complaining. We have mellowed, with reduced expectations.

But the youth are complaining, seriously. They never saw what we saw, the hide and seek in Lagos, the gauntlet at the Makurdi bridge, the surge of arrivals at the Enugu Railway Station (one without a head, need I remind anyone?), and at the various motor parks at Onitsha, Aba, Owerri, Port Harcourt. Since that generation is rightly or wrongly accused of being far less cerebral than its predecessor, it will be safe to assume that its teeming members most likely never dug into the vast post-war writings of Igbo intellectuals in the mould of Fourth Dimension publications. I can boldly ascribe to the Emir of Kano the clear articulation of the realisation that these young scions of Ndigbo learnt the sad aspects of walking the streets of Nigeria “while Igbo”, where else, in the streets of Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

When the Rivers Elders and Leaders Council (RELEC) distanced itself from the struggle for the realisation of Republic of Biafra, they are not saying anything new. Most governments and citizens of the Southeast geopolitical zone have said as much. I hereby publicly ask them to count me in.

However, that does not in any way indicate my agreement on the proper response from the government and the security agencies. I have earlier written and actually commended the Rivers State Police Command on this. They should keep up their restraint. Those who think otherwise are the real warmongers, looking for blood when none is called for.

Albert Horsfall and his chiefs have faulted organisers of the pro-Biafra protest, IPOB, described it as uncalled for, adding that Rivers people were not Biafrans. That’s correct. Neither indeed am I.

As for the yet-to-be-proven allegations over the transport of Igbo youths in trailers and buses from the five states in the Southeast zone to protest in Port Harcourt, I wonder when millions of Igbo youths resident in Rivers State got discounted. One cannot be counted absent in one’s presence. This could and should have been an MKO proverb.

Which reminds me, what on earth are the Chibok women and their supporters doing in the heart of Abuja? Don’t they know where Chibok is? Or Gwarzo for that matter? I recall that Ogoni activists boarded aircrafts and descended on Shell and UN offices in The Hague, London and New York. We hailed them for their brave, unrelenting and forthright social and political activism. The Dutch, British and Americans tolerated them or at worst ignored them. But in the case of IPOB or MASSOB, we conveniently forget long-established and accepted norms. This unwavering knee-jerk reaction to matters Igbo will never get Nigeria anywhere. Quote me.

FORBES: WHICH WAY BUHARI'S NIGERIA?

"The good news is that the reality is already much better than the perception and continues to improve every day."
Really?

Amy Jadesimi must be living in a Nigeria located in a parallel universe. Since the above is a recent report, most people will wonder about the ability of President Buhari to achieve all these gains listed while he ways away on his serial medical vacations in the UK.

We are grateful that Jadesimi has pointed out that in the main, Nigerian entrepreneurs achieve whatever they can IN SPITE OF government. As a failed entrepreneur myself, in a teeny weeny aspect of the Electrical Power industry, who also like everybody else needed reliable power to operate, I have had one long sad story.

Buhari, just like his predessessors, has no clue of what to do regarding Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution. Since the government "sold" the power companies, bailed them out, reinjected more funds in the form of various subsidies for gas and other supplies, together with other guarantees, while vehemently calling the shots on tariffs, is it any wonder if people ask, "Did we not just privatize?" Based on what is on the books, who owns these power companies? I am still scratching my head over that.

Going to the other areas covered by Amy Jadesimi, I regard her narrative as no more than a wish list. On the matter of investor confidence, Nigeria is yet to live down the bad-mouthig it got at the hands of President Buhari, often delivered ill-advisedly on foreign soil. Nigeria cannot advance only on the perceived good intentions of a leader, populist or not. Even on the matter of Buhari having good intentions, the jury is still out.

Nice try Amy.

https://www.forbes.com/…/nigeria-separating-fact-from-fict…/

From a guest Writer LESSONS FROM US…AND ALSO FROM KENYA

Ik Muo, PhD, FCIB; Department of Business Administration, OOU, Ago-Iwoye

We always say that experience is the best teacher but experience is actually the only teacher because even the teacher teaches out of his own learning and experience. However, a smart fellow learns from the experiences of others because if s/he waits to leverage only from his own experience, he would not have gone far before he goes to the land of no return. Thanks to the www et al, we all know what has been happening around the world real time in the past few days and as smart as we are, we should leverage from these experiences. I wish to start from the US.

In the past two weeks, it has been all about Hurricane Harvey, which has done one of the greatest natural violence to the oil capital of the world, Houston/Texas. It is unprecedented and only reminds me of the ruinous case of Techloban, a few years ago. We have all seen nature’s fury at its worst and have seen people literally moving from affluence to miserable wretchedness, from having almost everything to having almost nothing and living on public charity and benevolence. That, of course, is a lesson for all of us, reminding us that nobody knows tomorrow and that no condition is permanent. But my concern is about government and governance. President Trump, despite all his baggage, unprecedented poor rating and governance by tweets, has visited the place twice, thanked those involved in the rescue efforts and presented a now-now budget of $7bn+. The affected Americans were evacuated by the government which also set up a hands-on rescue team supported by volunteers. The governor has estimated the cost of repairs at $189bn and I am sure that the rescue strategy has been prepared, including action plan, timelines and assignment of responsibilities. Other details are readily available, including the number of distress calls which peaked at 15000 in a day, and the number of citizens in need disaster relief, which is about 500000

By an unfortunate twist of fate, natures furry also paid an unscheduled visit to Makurdi, a state that has almost been laid desolate by unknown herdsmen. The victims evacuated themselves and camped in cramped locations where they sleep on the bare floor; a typical refugee scenario. The president has been busy recuperation and sallah-ing in Daura and the highest FG official to have visited was NEMA DG and that was probably because his organization was directed to act. NEMA will not do much until it has been directed! Nobody is sure of anything and at first, Benue State government agencies were busy trading blames as to whose negligence had caused the havoc. And you can be sure that nobody has a full grasp of what has happened or what will happen and there is no rebuilding plan, after all Benue State, like most others is just struggling to pay salaries. The victims are also the one telling the government what to about the catastrophe and I did not see much of volunteers. And just the other day, victims who came to register at the make-shift camps were turned away because registration has closed! Now, like the ubiquitous herdsmen, the floods have overtaken 21 out of the 23 LGAs in Benue

You see, when people say that all is calm, that’s when destruction comes upon them like labour pin on a pregnant woman and there is no escape( 1st Thess:5, 3). That was what happened both in Houston and Makurdi; disaster struck as usual, without any forewarning. But there are governments and there are governments and we have seen how both federal democracies handled the two similar tragedies. Yet, when Americans are patriotic, we are also asked to be patriotic; forgetting that patriotism is a two-faced coin; the peoples side and the government side. It is the extent to which the government trusts and supports the people and the extent to which the people trust and support the government. And when Americans are willing to die for their country, they expect us to also die for Nigeria but while you see what the government does for the Americans without searching, you cannot see what government does for Nigerians, even when you use a microscope. Of course the connected and aligned individuals and groups in Nigeria will always have an unfair share of everything. We are where we are at the development ranking because we are woefully deficient in intangible assets; the policies, actions, values and attitudes that cement a society, make it efficient and facilitate the attainment of prosperity. That is what played out in the above scenario

But comparing Nigeria with US is not fair because as NPP operatives sang during the NPP/NPN era, there is no need jostling for the top position when you know very well that you position is at the bottom. So, let us compare apple with apple and this lands us in Kenya where the Supreme Court took the unprecedented step of annulling a presidential election won by a powerful incumbent. The judgment was passed within 14 days( it will surely take 14 years in Nigeria); the judges examined the process (and not just the technicalities like the date of filling the case and the colour of the biro with which the petition was signed); Kenya Electoral Commission has set in motion the process of identifying, replacing and prosecuting their staff who caused the national embarrassment (unlike here where even those caught in the act are left in a see-nothing-say-nothing scenario, and the President declared that while he was not happy with the judgment, he was bound by it(though he eventually started behaving like Trump, calling the judges names and threatening fire and brimstone). Yes, in 2015, GEJ accepted defeat but that was because he was/is GEJ; no institution played any role in the process. Our courts are even afraid to tamper with LG chairmanship elections not to talk of the all powerful governors and in most cases as my friend, Chief Tony Ejieji said, electoral tribunals are turned into ATMs by those who are supposed to ensure justice and fair play.

So, as Zeburudaya would ask: are you see what I am saw? At the global level, we cannot compare with others. At the local level, we still cannot compare with others even though we are the giANT. It is obvious that we still have very FAR to go but I still believe that we shall get there someday, if those in power will know why they are there and the citizens step out of their cocoon of lethargic indifference and hold the leaders or dealers accountable.

Meanwhile, there are three matters arising. Number 1:ASUU is on strike; NARD is on strike; all the unions in the tertiary education are going on strike from 11/9/17. What is responsible for this gale of strikes? It is simply lack of trust in Government, which just makes the kind of promises some men make to women so as to have access into their holy of holies. Governance by deceit, bereft of integrity and awash with do your worst mentality is one of the key challenges in Nigeria. Nigerians trust the government and we are very easy to satisfy because we don’t need much from Government. But the government usually takes the people for granted and that is why we are where we are.

Secondly, Nigeria is out of recession. It is the lords doing… Yes; it is the lords doing that we are out of recession with the level of confusion, contradictions as well as adhocracy that characterized governments approach to the whole war against recession. We are now waiting for the end of recession to impact on the stomach of the ordinary Nigerians. Note that this same NBS that announced the end of recession had also announced just the other day, that food inflation, at 20.28% is the highest since 2009. So, we may way be out of the woods but we are still very far from town!

Finally, my generator is complaining of being underutilized. The truth is that for the past 4 weeks, my generator has not been on duty for up to 4 hours. I think that something is wrong but whatever it is, let it keep on being wrong! It appears that the DISCOS have started dancing disco! But I don’t want to celebrate too early

[I have concluded this article before news came that the Vice President visited Makurdi today(6/9/17) over the flooding which started two 10 days ago! ]

MY DEAR NDIGBO,

I have often taken on the duty to criticize my fellow elite, (I hope that the really big boys will agree that I am one of them), on matters of grave importance to the polity, whether in the pan-Nigerian context or local as in the quest for Power Devolution/#Restructuring or the agitation for #Biafra. My conclusion has been that most of our people, who could jolly well go by the title "Onwanetilora" or several variations of it, have fully abdicated their responsibilities to their own people.

Whereas the political class can be accused of contributing nothing to the commonwealth, it will be wrong to conclude that every other hard working and successful entrepreneur has got his act together. Such a conclusion will be hasty, especially if the individual in question has an obscene attachment to a mechantilist worldview where the individual counts for nothing. Even competent operatives who get jobs, opportunities and privileges that they do not deserve contribute in distorting the landscape for the professionals to thrive. Ndigbo have more than their fair share of such. They only lower Ndigbo in the esteem of our compatriots. That other groups, say the Yoruba, are doing the same thing in varying degrees, does not invalidate my observations. The entire system is rotten.

My first reaction on reading the following vicious attack by Dr Nicky Okoye of Anabel fame on Nnamdi Kanu and his own Igbo people was to ask in street parlance, "Dem send you?"

I have managed to read a measured rejoinder to Nicky Okoye, written by one Charles Ugwu. He has calmed me down enough to put down the following lines.

God bless you.
There is so much background noise out there. I just got to read Nicky Okoye's insult to Ndigbo only yesterday. The complaint of Ndigbo all these years was not a matter of bread and butter. Based on Okoye's personal succeess, not to mention Coscharis, Slot, Leo Stan Ekeh, Ihenacho, INNOSON, etc, etc, it is clear that what Ndigbo want goes beyond individual successes. Our compatriots fear and resent our success and our tendency to strive, regarding the later as a capital offence. Meanwhile Okoye is busy counting Igbo billionaires! .Haba! . When your dirt poor Okada driver has been groomed to look down on you, what kind of life is that? That he can stick a knife in you even in the heart of Lagos or Umuahua, not to mention Gusau, shows you how little your billions count.
Ndu-ka-ego!

After spending the better part of my life struggling to contribute to Nigeria's development, it was with sadness that I decided a number of years ago THAT NONE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE INVOLVED IN ANY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY NORTH OF ABUJA. Fortuitously, the Arewa Youths have shrunk that envelope further. Let me see someone blame me for that.

By focusing on our financial successes, Nicky Okoye has given more credence to that false narrative that for Ndigbo it is all about money. For those of us with a strictly inellectual bent, it does not occur to his type that the structure of the current system makes it impossible for us to soar. I will personally forgo N1b just for the privilege to shake this country to its very faulty foundations. Many others, Ndigbo and non-Igbo alike will give an arm and a leg to keep things the way they are. There you have one of the several faultlines.

Charles Igwe wrote about, "those of us equipped with the greater vision and understanding of the adjustments and alignments that create and preserve the fair rights of the Igbo and others caught up in the Biafra experience to participate in Nigeria as currently constituted or subsequently restructured." . That is grammar. .
We should proceed with an apology to the youths that we have abandonned without leadership. To show up now only to complain about the rough edges of Nnamdi Kanu is highly insensitive. Where was Nicky all this while? Where are the others?

I am so bitter about the attitude of late comer to this struggle for #Restructuring, #TrueFederalism or #Biafra. (Take your pick.) They think that the world and the struggle will stay on "Hold" until they return from their latest trip to Tokyo and have unpacked their bags! What arrogance?

One last thing. Contrary to the insinuation by Nicky Okoye, nobody gave a microphone to Nnamdi Kanu. He grabbed it by himself. It has been stated time without number on these pages that NATURE ABHORS VACUUM!

https://www.google.com/…/the-igbo-nation-by-dr-nicky-o…/amp/

VERY SAD. HOW LOW NIGERIA HAS SUNK very LOW BAR!

IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO BE SEEN AS A “GREAT PRESIDENT” IN NIGERIA
Yomi Kazeem June 07, 2017

For the past month, with Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari away on his second medical vacation to London this year, Yemi Osinbajo has been in charge. With the country mired in a recession, Osinbajo faces a tough task but the acting president has already won plaudits for his proactive, hands-on approach—a stark contrast to Buhari’s slow, delibrate approach.
In fact, Osinbajo is seen to have done so well, early talk of a possible shot at the presidency in the 2019 elections is starting to emerge.
Much of this is down to the acting president’s decisive actions. Under his watch, Nigeria has kicked off reforms at local ports, famed for their congestion and corruption, and as part of his drive to improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria, entry visa rules for investors and tourists have been relaxed.
Beyond those, Osinbajo has also scored points for attending a recent forum to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s civil war. Largely regarded as a taboo topic, the war is scarcely discussed, especially by government officials. Osinbajo’s keynote speech appealing for unity was well-timed as secessionist calls have grown louder in parts of Nigeria’s southeast.
Osinbajo’s visit to Nigeria’s volatile oil-producing Niger Delta communities in March was also applauded. In a region that’s frequently been at odds with the federal government, his pacifist rhetoric was timely as Nigeria looks to boost its oil production.
The acting president’s charming photo-ops while mingling with traders at local markets and visiting school kids have also proven popular.
But the fawning over Osinbajo’s leadership and gestures reveals a deeper truth: Nigerians have very low expectations of their leaders. In part, that’s down to the kind of leaders the country has had.
Nigeria has been ruled by military heads of state for more than half of its 56 years since gaining independence in Oct. 1960. Indeed, Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, two democratically elected presidents, are former military heads of state. As civilians, both men will have ruled for a total of 12 years if Buhari completes his current term. Essentially, for much of its existence, Nigeria has been led by military rulers or by former military rulers.
With local politics anchored less on competence and more on ethnicity and religion, there’s been little room for smart, issue-based politicking as well as long-term visionary leadership. Last week, Osinbajo, a senior pastor at one of Nigeria’s largest churches, was forced to deny claims that a majority of his aides are Christian.
As such, conditioned by decades of charmless, often corrupt, leadership and ethnic-focused politics, Osinbajo, a charismatic London School of Economics-trained professor feels like a breath of fresh air.
Of course, no one should be deemed worthy of being president on the back of nice photo-ops and a few speeches. While he’s said and done the right things, there simply isn’t anything tangible to celebrate just yet, in fact, quite the opposite. Unemployment has risen for the ninth straight quarter while inflation is beginning to tick upwards again. Ordinary Nigerians struggle to remember a worse economic environment.
The new policies are yet to fully get off the ground, though the acting president’s team is quick to point out these policies are not new, but those of president Buhari. Over time, Osinbajo might well turn out to be a great (acting) president. For now he appears to already be swaying public opinion his way mostly by being seen to take action rather than the details of his policies. Again, it shows how little Nigerians have come to expect from their leaders.
Being from a certain part of the country, practicing a certain religion or looking and acting presidential should not be enough. The bar to lead Africa’s largest country should be much higher.

Postscript: President Buhari has a fortnight ago abruptly ended his medical tourism in the UK, and returned to his home in Aso Rock, Abuja. This has been greeted with mixed reaction from Nigerians who still overwhelmingly rejoice with him over his "recovery." Regarding the impact of his return, the jury is still out.

THE BIBLE NATIVITY STORY STATED ...

...that the wise men came from the east. The sun, we know, rises in the east. It would therefore not be strange if the salvation for the moribund Nigerian Aviation Sector comes from the East.

It is on record that the Kenya Airways/KLM alliance and Ethiopian Airlines had expressed interest to buy into the then defunct Nigeria Airways and subsequently Air Nigeria when Richard Branson's Virgin Group pulled out of Virgin Nigeria. I have no interest in relitigating the sordid performance of the Nigerian Government in the pact with Virgin.

However it would be interesting learning from Dr Kema Chikwe and her boss OBJ how they tossed aside the bids from two of Africa’s leading, well managed and profitable airlines. How can anyone explain away the Jimoh Ibrahim disaster?

We are at it again. This time with Arik Air. I believe that as usual Chief Arumemi Ikhide is probably still strutting all over Abuja, Lagos and Benin without being answerable for the waste of our common patrimony. Everybody is aware of the sweetheart terms under which Arik took over the hard assets and routes belonging to Nigeria Airways. And they still blew it! ! We have no shame.

If AMCON is serious about reviving and stabilizing Arik Air using best practices, why then are we not hearing of a robust competition between Ethiopian Airlines and Kenyan Airways in this regard? This process must be open/transparent and speedy. We cannot afford anymore foot dragging.

THIS BIAFRA THING HAS SO MANY MOVING PARTS. . ARE WE KEEPING TRACK?

Biafra: The American Lawsuit Against Key Nigerian Officials

QUOTE:
"LIKE NIGERIA, SUDAN ALSO FANCIED ITSELF INDISSOLUBLE JUST BECAUSE IT'S CONSTITUTION SAID SO. "
Written by Russel Andrew Crowe
Created: 25 August 2017.

A LANDMARK CIVIL DAMAGES AND HUMAN rights lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against sixteen Nigerian officials for their direct or indirect complicity and in the extrajudicial killings or torture of Igbos who were protesting marginalization based on their ethnicity, political viewpoint or religion.

The Igbos organized themselves as the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), which is as nonviolent as, if not as symbolic as - for instance - the 'agitation' for Republic of Texas, or of California in USA; and even Scotland that its own Premier is the one leading the charge for a referendum of autonomy from Britain. In all these cases, the agitators are not being shot at, tortured or killed by the army and police.

I determined from my inquiries that service of the summons and complaint, as well as the initial orders has been accomplished by certified international courier on all defendants. They are currently in default for failure to file a response within 21 days of service as stipulated in pertinent United States federal rules of civil procedure. The lead defendant is Nigeria's army chief, General Tukur Buratai.
The claims of the plaintiffs are grounded under two muscular United States’ statutes - the Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA or ATS - the Alien Tort Statute); and the Torture Victims Protection Act (TVPA). Both laws have extraterritorial reach, meaning that they allow US federal courts to assert long-arm jurisdiction that extends beyond the borders of United States.

Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) provides that 'the district courts shall have original jurisdiction of any civil action by an alien for a tort (or civil wrong) committed in violation of the law of nations or a treaty of the United States'. Since 1980, courts have interpreted this statute to allow foreign citizens to seek remedies in US courts for human rights violations for conduct committed outside the United States.

Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991 is a statute that permits civil suits in the United States against foreign individuals who - acting in an official capacity for any foreign nation - committed torture and/or extrajudicial killing.
Both laws, especially the TVPA endow individuals or their legal representatives to sue foreign individuals, including officials, to collect damages for extrajudicial killings or torture committed “under color of foreign law.”

In the instant case, the plaintiffs already won first round as the United States District Court has granted them leave to file anonymously as “John Does” after making a ruling that they have a well-founded fear of retribution/persecution by the government of Nigeria or its agents or officials if their identities were disclosed. Violence against Igbos by individuals in the military/police and directed and encouraged by their superiors is notorious and well-known to the international community.

The defendants would be foolhardy to believe this lawsuit will be difficult to win in the United States or stultify and drag on as might have been expected if filed in Nigeria. Judicial independence and the rule of law, as well as speedy trials are the hallmarks of United States jurisprudence. There are legions of US judicial precedents pointing to the high likelihood of a summary judgment for the plaintiffs.

Defendants will have no defense of official immunity because they are being sued in their individual capacities and as officials who purportedly 'acted under color of law'. They are not sovereigns or diplomats. Further, extrajudicial killings or torture are crimes against humanity. Upon the prompting of the aggrieved, US courts will task any foreign government officials that perpetrate atrocities of the kind visited on the Igbos of Nigeria. It's not a secret that Nigerian officials had, in the past, engaged in misconducts that resulted in monetary judgments against them - in the millions of dollars - in the United States. This case appears bound for the same predictable result, unless handled differently from the inexplicable bravado and laches that doomed Nigeria in the previous suits preferred against its officials in the United States.

The factual case against the defendants is convincing. All Nigerians know of the widespread beatings and slaughter of Igbos by elements of Nigerian security forces for merely and peacefully exercising their fundamental human right to protest marginalization and urge a new political dispensation. Indeed, beyond Nigeria, Amnesty International and other credible foreign sources have confirmed those killings and torture; and to be sure - their reports will be deemed probative and admissible under standards of evidence long established in US federal courts in cases of this nature. Plus, plaintiffs are all on standby in the United States to air their tearful testimonies in open court. It even makes it worse that the Nigerian army is reported to be denying and covering up an atrocity that was so open and notorious.
It doesn't make it any better that the Nigerian government - so far - appears to have condoned the wanton killings by failing to publicly discipline the officers that pulled the trigger or the commanders that gave the order. It's even worse that President Buhari, upon his return from vacation, reportedly ordered his troops to renew their crackdown on Igbo protesters. That VP Osibanjo gave no such orders when Buhari was away is noticeably demonstrative of the widespread notion that Buhari - a Fulani core Muslim - has profiled the Christian Igbos for persecution because of their ethnicity, their love of freedom, and the perception that they did not vote for him in the 2015 election that saw him to power.

At present, the savage mentality that is directed against Igbos in Nigeria of this era is widespread and underscored by the notorious threat to expel or destroy millions of Igbos and seize their properties in the Muslim northern states of Nigeria if they refused to surrender their right to reside and work peacefully in that part of the country. And the federal, state, and local governments appear as spectators to the looming genocide - a spectacle that is not lost on a wary international community; and which might as yet make Nigeria a 'state actor' in the ultimate fallouts. Such fallouts will surely raise the specter of an International Criminal Court intervention that may engulf the present crop of Nigerian leadership at the very top.

The Nigerian defendants are mistaken if they believe they can defend from the safe confines of Nigeria. If the case goes to trial, they will be required - under penalty of default or even contempt - to appear in a United States court to testify under oath and dangerously probing cross-examination that will dwell on the details of the Igbo killings and the complicity of other unnamed Nigerian officials, which shall include whether they received their orders from the presidential levels of security leadership to use lethal force on unarmed protesters. This evidence could be used in a sequel criminal prosecution before the International Criminal Court or a special court of the likes employed in the prosecution and conviction of Chad’s former dictator, Hissene Habre in Senegal. The State governors - of Abia and Anambra - where these killings largely occurred will also be ensnared by virtue of being the 'chief security officers' of their States. Those two governors are also listed as defendants.

If the defendants refuse to appear, default judgments will be entered against them, in addition to the prospects of undefended huge damage awards that will run in the millions of dollars. The ultimate loser - diplomatically and financially - will be the Nigerian and State governments that presumably control the officials who acted under color of state law when the Igbo killings occurred. In the end, it may snowball to the government of Nigeria being listed as a state sponsor of terrorism in the same manner as was done with Sudan, etc. In the interim and despite the continuing menace of Boko Haram, the United Nations Security Council (or the US - under the Leahy Act) could vote an arms embargo on Nigeria to prevent the diversion of military weapons that could be geared to perpetrating more official violence against the Igbo people.

Christian lobby groups in the United States were largely responsible for making Sudan a pariah state, which culminated in the creation of South Sudan through a referendum organized and supervised by the United Nations. Like Nigeria, Sudan also fancied itself indissoluble just because its Constitution said so. That same political dynamic will be at work against Nigeria if the TVPA/ATCA litigation is not resolved amicably before Nigeria’s dirty linen is exposed at trial in an open United States courtroom for the entire world to see.

Better yet, there's a third way - a time honored window of opportunity the defendants can exploit to end the case early and avoid the severe rigors of a foreign trial. US trial lawyers and the courts within which they operate are known to have a proclivity for encouraging any alternative dispute resolution path that brings closure through a pre-trial fair settlement of suits. Though this suit has progressed to a point of some disadvantage to the defendants, it's not too late for them to begin now to seek out plaintiffs' lawyers and start talking to them.

Credit: The Whistler

EZEIFE, NDIGBO & NNAMDI KANU

EZEIFE, NDIGBO & NNAMDI KANU
Which rule of which law?
Overstepping which bounds? Who told Ezeife, or any others, that Nnamdi Kanu WANTS TO BE ADORED?

There are only two ways to rein in Nnamdi Kanu's so-called excesses.

1) Join IPOB in superior numbers, resources and intellect so as to overwhelm him from within. You cannot do this from a distance, with a couple of online newspaper articles or blogs, from the comfort of your leather seetees.

2) Quickly establish a formidable (parallel) organization with unimpechable credentials, membership, financial and human resources with clear focus to address ALL the pet issues that make Nnamdi Kanu tick. Of course the membership must make out more time than Kanu has done so far if it will succeed in weaning away his current followership in IPOB. This is no job for quislings.

None of these two options is easy. If Ndigbo cannot commit to doing this, we have necessarily decided to let Nnamdi Kanu be. Sniping at him from the sidelines is not policy. It is abdication.

http://dailypost.ng/…/igbo-leaders-must-tell-nnamdi-kanu-…/…

NA WAA-O FOR THE CHURCH MILITANT

We are all God fearing, respectful, loving Catholics. Right?
Not so fast.

Some "good" US Catholics argue along with a large swathe of the US Political Right, that it is unhelpful railing against the controversial Confederate Statues. The statues should be left alone for many funny reasons. The following is my response to one of the riled contributors.

OUTRAGE WAXES AND WANES OVER TIME. It is interesting to note that some of these statues were installed by the descendants of the losing side as recently as the late 1950s, long long after the American Civil War was won and lost. These descendants knew enough history which they strove to revise with the strength of their numbers against the aspirations of blacks just straining to break loose of reactionary Jim Crow restrictions cooked up to counter the advance of liberating Federal Civil and Voting Rights legislation. Fortunately and unfortunately over time the demographics are ever so gradually changing.

EXAMPLE: There is no way the bright son/daughter of a former or current member of the KKK or even a family not so overtly racial, can leave his family cocoon to attend college at Caltech, Stanford, Berkeley, Northwestern, Yale, Columbia or Harvard, and return home, if ever, and remain the same. To do so will render him/her a social misfit incapable of operating in the modern world. Let me avoid using the word haters. However the demographic trend is such that the stock of those who think that the "good old days" were fantastic is thinning out. The protesters for retaining "our heritage" deliberately refuse to acknowledge that the various city, county and state legislatures spent agonizing years and decades, often out of the public eye, debating IF AND WHEN THESE STATUES SHOULD COME DOWN. And they succeeded without shooting anyone in those hallowed Chambers. That a group of free speech advocates, from as far afield as Montana and Wyoming should descend on Charlottesville, VA, in battle gear, to counter a vote legitimately taken by its own councillors, is a most bizarre development.

Free speech does not equal to free murder. Even before the murder of Heather Heyer, the Nazi-inspired intimidation by flaming torch bearing roughnecks is an experience no adult not to mention a child, Jew or not, should have to endure. I understand that a couple of priests, not just the one that recently confessed about his past, have spoken from the pulpit against it. CM should stand up to be counted.

One other thing, if the white supremacists are truly desirous of maintaining the status quo, they should desist sending their kids to school. That is where the evil seed of equality, inclusiveness and (horror of horrors) interracial marriages are planted. #https://www.churchmilitant.com/…/vortex-eclipse-of-morality…

"UNU N'AGBA K'ODAGBUE ONYE?" AGAIN ON NIGERIA'S ELITE AND REVOLUTION

I sent the following to a friend, relation and contemporary a few minutes ago. The issue concerns us all. As they say,
"IF THE CAP FITS, WEAR IT."

Dear Nnam'ochie, I greet you.
I have been consistently following the forays of the renowned Prof Ben Nwabueze into pan-Nigerian political controversies and those concerning Ndigbo. As a result I have had cause to use his superior understanding of the story of Nigeria as a prop for my own exertions. Thanks for sending this new comment. I will dig into it shortly. I can assure you that I would have come around to it eventually even if you didn't draw my attention to it.

However, my question is this. What is YOUR own opinion on the happenings in this our bedraggled, unhinged, dysfunctional Nigeria? I hope that you don't hold the view that it is only Prof Nwabueze, Nnamdi Kanu, Chuks Iloegbunam, Eddie Iroh, my humble self and a good many others who have the duty to stay put in this debate. Perhaps you are happy with the representation that you are getting at Abuja? When last did you try or succeed in talking to or exchanging ideas with your Rep in Awka or Abuja. Your Senator nko?

We can criticize Nnamdi Kanu as much as we like from behind the safety and anonymity of our wide screen TV. That is not going to help in resolving the litany of contradictions besetting this sorry republic. I recommend once again that you go read my RE: NIGERIA'S ELITE AND REVOLUTION.
I insist that owe so much to our grandchildren.

CHINA WANTS TO BUILD NIGERIA'S NEW RAIL LINES, LOCK, STOCK & BARREL

This post was originally meant for Ozalla Nwachinazo, who earlier today raised a number of issues concerning Chinese interests and methods in the recolonization of Africa. He specifically addressed the Nigerian East-West OR more accurately the CALABAR - LAGOS Coastal Railway. However on second thought, I have decided to offer it up to a wider audience.

The following is an incisive review in the Wall Street Journal of the recent book by Howard French on the topic at hand. It will make a good introduction for those new to this area of study. About a year ago our very own Olusegun Adeniyi of Thisday stable had raised a similar alarm. I was compelled to address his concerns privately.

Much earlier I had written, as part of my series on industrialization, a broad essay on the RAILWAYS AND HEAVY LIFT TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE. My emphasis was on planning, in the national interest. If we do not undertake such planning, other nations will do so in their own interest. We can hardly blame the Chinese. They love their country much more than Nigerian leaders can ever love theirs. It has often been asked if indeed we have a nation.

Which brings me again to the unlearned lessons from the life and leadership of late Singaporean Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew. This is so tiresome.

For more, please go to my blog.

[Book Review: 'China's Second Continent' by Howard W. French - WSJ] is good,have a look at it! https://www.wsj.com/…/book-review-chinas-second-continent-b…

RE: BUHARI CANNOT IMPOSE RESTRUCTURING ON NIGERIA – PRESIDENCY

Every so often these jokers at The Presidency come out with the truth. One thing is missing here though. There is the other side of the coin so to say. As much as Buhari, the president, cannot and should not impose #Restructuringon Nigeria by military diktat, for which he has no powers, it is another matter altogether that he has consistently and unashamedly sought not just to oppose but to undermine any moves toward Restructuring or even discussing same. The agitation by the Nnamdi Kanu led IPOB for #Biafrahas obviously constituted the last straw. How can a despot with borrowed democratic robes, with barely concealed despotic tendencies that with each passing day prove extremely difficult to whitewash, deal with the Biafran affront within the context of the Rule of Law? This has proved impossible.

Hence, with or without the goading of The Arewa Consultative Assembly and their youth offshoots, President Buhari has been doing what comes naturally to him. The scorched earth response to IPOB, MASSOB and any agitators out of Igboland have proved to be Standard Operating Procedure.

It is therefore well nigh unlikely that President Buhari will stand aside and let even a reluctant National Assembly to finally discuss #Restructuring, #TrueFederalism or #Biafra. These discussions are different parts of the same whole. One outcome automatically precludes the others. The APC led administration, the Presudency, The Arewa masters of the polity, the Niger Deltans and even the Fence Sitters in Igboland are not stupid. They all know that it is all one huge discussion that we must have.

There was a time people made reference to the body language of Mr President. That time has long passed. He has clearly stated his position. The greatest tragedy is that in the coming #Repuduation of the membership of the National Assembly, the people cannot count on the "military" president, who appears hell bent on seizing the title of Father of Modern Nigeria, whatever that means, from Olusegun Obasanjo, to be on their side. This is sad. I cannot predict how this will pan out.

OH YES, BUHARI COULD DO WITH AN EXTRA $30B

Who wouldn't do better and perhaps even succeed with a purse of $30b?

As the agitation for #Restructuring and #TrueFederalism gathers steam and maintains momentum, it becomes necessary to determine the following.
1) WHO IS BORROWING WHAT, AND FOR WHICH PROJECTS. 
2) WHO IS GOING TO REPAY THESE LOANS?. .

Every state should be perfectly free to borrow whatever loan it desires, and from whatever financial institution it so desires, World Bank, AfDB, Arab Development Bank, Islamic Bank, Kuwait bank for Reconstruction, Japanese Development Bank, US-Exim Bank, Etc, SO LONG AS THEY DO NOT EXPECT SOME OTHER POLITICAL ENTITY TO REPAY SUCH LOANS. This requirement, which is a no-brainer, is just one of the items on the plate for political #Restructuring.

I wouldn't want Buhari to borrow on my behalf, EVEN for a project ostensibly meant for the South-East ie Igboland. He and his team do not possess either the cerebral capacity or the reservoir of goodwill to plan ANYTHING for the benefit of Ndigbo, OR even Lagos State for that matter.

Yes, it is as bad as that.

DEVOLUTION - GOV AMBODE SEEKS THE HELP OF LAWYERS. REALLY?

Is this supposed to be a joke or what?

Akinwunmi Ambode is the governor of Lagos State, the largest economy in Nigeria and indeed the whole of West and Central Africa. He is, (unless he can successfully deny it), part of the inner workings of the ruling party, the APC. Ambode has both the yam and the knife in his hands. Why then do I get the impression that, despite the intellectual structures available on the ground, he is feeling lost?

First, one of the arrowheads of the O'Odua groupings, Dr Jide Oluwajuyitan, recently floated the diversionary kite of Lagos needing some external power (at Abuja?) to grant it Special Status. I have dealt with that in the past. My attitude has been this. If Lagos is currently NOT special, then I am certainly from Mongolia.

The Lagos arm of the APC had found it impolitic to robustly pursue an item on its long established manifesto ie to pursue the Restructuring of the polity. Anyone who can do ordinary arithmetic will easily deduce that Lagos State, and to a lesser extent its neighbour Ogun State does not need Nigeria, OR Ndigbo, OR Niger Delta oil money. With these as a given, the Lagos delegation would have an easy time contributing to the renegotiation towards a more perfect union. However in an inexplicable pivot away from displeasing one man, President Buhari, our friends in Lagos have demurred on the very vital issue of addressing the facts on the ground.

As an Igbo, living in Lagos and laying claim to some cerebral capacity, I find myself repeating over and over again that proper Restructuring of Nigeria is neither an Igbo thing nor a Niger Delta issue. It needs to be stressed that what our president Buhari thinks or wants are completely irrelevant in this determination.

Hence I am most amazed that Gov Ambode has this late in the day sought the "help" of lawyers who are not necessarily at his beck and call. The political class in Lagos, comprising the Ambode led Executive, the Legislature and the political structures (of both leading parties) have all the tools and power they need to successfully address this problem.

Lagos State cannot afford not to lead. 

Period!