Klint's

Apologies to the leaders of the Bring Back Our Girls advocacy group for the return of the abducted Chibok Girls but I couldn't think of a more complete way to express my disappointment. At the peak of events leading to the Presidential Election of 2015, Nigerians were presented with the option of choosing between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: A Muhammadu Buhari who in his own words was a "Reformed Democrat" and a largely inept and ineffectual Goodluck Jonathan. Frankly, making a choice was torrid: Buhari had the antecedent of being an unrepentant oppressor of Civil Rights during his time as Military Head Of State while Jonathan had an unbeatable record of running the most corrupt Government in modern Nigerian History. Well, we couldn't help but make a choice and take a stand as the days of Lenre Peters were over. Ultimately, we chose to boot out the the Jonathan administration and we took sides with a Buhari who had come with a message of Change: frankly, the p

When President Buhari took over the reins of power for the fi rst time after three attempts, last year, we knew it wasn't going to be an easy job! Regardless of some impossible expectations we had of him, we were willing to give him a chance! We knew the Country was in critical condition but we expected him to slowly and steadily sanitize the sleeping giant of Africa! We knew that he would be taking over from a President who was described as an ineffectual and clueless buffoon: a Government known for their ineptitude, incompetence and tolerance for thievery! We knew that there was a crisis in the international oil market and that as a result, there was a sharp drop in the revenue accruing to the country's coffers which in turn led to States borrowing to pay salaries. We knew that he was succeeding a Government known for it's notoriety for incompetence, corruption, irresponsibility and sheer waste! We Knew all these! And we were willing to give him time! We didn&#

Aye! Another one: Another opportunity And we don't even hesitate to display our madness. As always, we've shown ourselves as a people with utter disregard and disrespect for the law and human dignity. The society we live in sickens me: a society that believes so much in oppressing the helpless at the expense of the powerful. A society that protects her rapists and oppressors but would suppress the helpless and the poor at every opportunity! Most frustratingly, a society with a short term memory: a society that is so quick to forgive and forget her woes. It's either we've all seen it or we will soon see it: the disgusting sight of a human being being burnt to death for "stealing" Garri or whatever. We can condemn it all we want but the truth is that deep down, we have this uncommon obsession with the idea of jungle justice. We are quick to condemn without giving room for the accused party to defend themselves but that is only one part of the story: th

It's America. The Most Powerful Nation in the modern world! Tomorrow, her people will decide who Governs her. Because of their strength and influence, whatever concerns them has it's own direct or indirect consequences on us! So, as Nigerians, it is not out of place for us to be concerned about who becomes the American President. The race is between two very opposite candidates: Hilary Clinton, the Democratic Party nominee and Donald J Trump, the nominee of The Republican Party. Those who have keenly followed American Politics since the new millennium will hardly be surprised that Hilary Clinton is in the race: this is because of her antecedents: In 2000, she won election to the United States of America Senate, thereby becoming the first former First Lady to occupy such a position: in 2008, she gallantly challenged Barack Obama for the ticket of the Democratic Party, albeit losing: between 2009 and 2012, she served as the United States Secretary of State. So, from all in

With all these sex tapes especially that of our purported upcoming celebrities just as it happened and still happening in Anambra now, I am moved to say a little. For sometime now, I have not been a fan of  that thing; beauty contest A.K.A modeling. Yes I have not, in fact it disgusts me when a friend tells me she or he is going for beauty contest. To tell you the truth, I have never also been happy even if such person wins. These are my reservations visa viz that matter: 1. That thing is a very big poof, its not as real as they present it. Its when you are one way into it that you can understand the intricacies of its glowing adverts. 2. It is an unnatural sexual ritual, luring participants into it not having the full disclosure of its sexual routine (this is reliable from previous "PARTICIPANTS") it has been shown that each participant who did qualify for the final stage would and must have slept his or her way, yes his or her way(including natural and unnatural sexual r

Our Wife of The President as he would have us call her has received praise and commendation from the strangest of quarters since she granted that interview to the BBC Hausa Service! She has been praised by very strong elements within the opposition People's Democratic Party that it is even being suggested in some quarters that she would be handed the Presidential ticket of the PDP to contest against her husband in 2019. For me, that's exactly the problem with the interview! She threw her husband to the wolves and they are currently devouring him. She showed tremendous courage in expressing her dissatisfaction with the way her Husband is running the Country. However, it would have been better if another Buharist had criticized the Government this openly. But the question is "Should She have done so"? Folks will say that what she did was the height of female emancipation in Nigeria and indeed anywhere in the world. But then, even in the United States of America,

Yesterday, the President was at his witless and tactless worst. This time, not in Daura but in faraway Germany where in the company of perhaps, the most powerful woman in the world, he stated that his wife, Aisha belongs to "the kitchen and the other room" in response to a question from a journalist on his views about his wife's exclusive interview to The BBC Hausa Service where she implied that the Buhari administration had been hijacked by some anti progressive forces and that she might not campaign for her husband in the event that he decides to seek reelection in 2019. Overtime, most of the President's comments have been unPresidential which might be a good thing considering that his comments affirm his sincerity but on the other hand, his sincere and often unguided comments expose him to incessant attacks by mischief makers(not necessarily well meaning members of the opposition). Needless to say, the President's remarks yesterday have thrown up emergency f

Yesterday, news flew in that there had been a clampdown on "corrupt" Judges by men of the now notorious Department of State Security (DSS) which also doubles as The Secret Police of the Federal Government. Naturally, that Gestapo styled raid by the DSS has elicited rife reactions and has polarized us into Rightists, Leftists and Centrists. Some have argued that the Buhari led Federal Government is waging a war on the Judiciary in order to make it(the Judiciary) amenable to it's(Federal Government) whims. To them, it's an outright war on the Judiciary as an arm of Government. It has even been suggested that the arrested Judges like Justice Nwali Ngwuta of the Supreme Court, Justice John Okoro of the Supreme Court, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court and the other arrested Judges are being persecuted for the decisions they gave that went against the ruling Party, the All Progressives Congress. However, it is important to state that the Judges were arr

Last night, a friend of mine called and told me "Kene this can't be happening o, seems am dreaming" and I quickly responded with the usual Ogini kwa and he said "you remember some years back when my former girlfriend called me a useless boyfriend for one small "swaggy hanky" carrying class boy of hers" and I said yes that's true. He continued "Kene today, same situation came up and my lover, bae and bestie, told the guy 'look I've got not just a boyfriend but someone I can't ever trade for you or anyone else'. Bro, remember you told me back then to relax that God is sending the best, Kene you be prophet o and I believe your ministry " Guys I felt wow, I don't know what you make of the testimony Shaa, but for me there are lessons I've picked: 1) never insist on staying in a relationship when God is clearly showing you signs you need to move on 2) in a relationship never talk down of your partner to guys or babe

Apologies to Mr Peter Obi for using this catchy but thought provoking phrase that he used the very first time he contested for the Governorship of Anambra State. Apparently, that question he asked over ten years ago still hangs over not just his Anambra State but Nigeria as a whole. On a Night like this, 56 years ago, there was probably a sickening nostalgia all over the then British Colony which would later become the Country, Nigeria about the endless possibilities that accompany Independence, especially in a Country that is as endowed as ours. Well, Tomorrow will be exactly 56 years since Nigeria attained independent status from Great Britain. At Independence, our founding fathers such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello and Obafemi Awolowo had such lofty goals and dreams for our progress, prosperity: they conceived a Nigeria that would maximize her enormous human capital resources: A Nigeria that would truly cater for the hopes and aspirations of her diverse peoples: A Nigeria that

I don't think that I've ever been divided within me about writing a piece as I am about this one. Should I write or should I not write? Anyways, I traverse! Barring any last minute "boju boju", the Edo State Governorship election will come up tomorrow, the 28th of September, 2016. And that is the source of my dilemma: I really don't know whom to support or if I should support any. Should I support The PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu who happens to be a UNIBEN Law graduate and who is immensely popular among some of my folks or should I support the APC Candidate, Godwin Obaseki who is the anointed of incumbent Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Really, I doubt my stakes in the election: I'm not even from Edo State but perhaps, it won't hurt to lend my voice. The PDP candidate I hear is thoroughly grounded in the Politics of Edo State and he has an in depth knowledge of the internal workings of Government, and to that end, would make a perfect fit for t

A few days back, I was walking through a beer parlour when I heard some of the men talking in an overly enthusiastic manner. From my experience, alcohol does not arouse such enthusiasm and excitement, especially with the shape of our economy. I took a pause to understand the reason for their excitement and to say the least, I was ashamed. I was ashamed that grown up Nigerian men were excited because of a blind piece of news that the notorious Niger Delta Avengers were killing Nigerian soldiers in the Niger Delta. I couldn't understand what special joy they derived, and really, at that moment, I couldn't help but question the possibilities of a once again strong and United Nigeria. These were Nigerians (I don't care whether they claim otherwise) who were rejoicing at the "exploits" of a band of economic saboteurs. The other day, a senior cousin ecstatically affirmed that the Nigerian army in all their might and firepower would never defeat the avengers. Now,

In the build up to the 2015 Presidential Election of Nigeria, my younger brother, Jeff was perhaps the most passionate supporter of the then candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhhamadu Buhari, who is now addressed as President Muhammadu Buhari. It was not just him; every member of my immediate Family with the exception of my Mother was almost driven to the point of fanaticism in their support for Buhari; Jeff in particular took the pains of reading Buhari's biography and his committed support for Buhari was surprising to me, at least for his age. Well, it's almost 16 months since General Buhari became President Buhari and Jeff has become critical of him and his performance. Of course, that's the way it should be! When the Government is underperforming, it is only normal for us as citizens to complain and criticize. Without a doubt, the President has let a good number of us who supported him down! This is hard to admit but in all honesty, even the mos

                                                                                                                    It is true that Nigeria is plagued with corruption, not to mention other malignant factors aiming to halt the growth of the economy materially, technologically, spiritually,what-have-you? An attempt to adopt an eclectic solution to all of the nation's problems is an act of tilting at windmills; it is nearly impossible, given that the problems are an overwhelming glut.  Therefore, this piece will be exposing us to the ills that have seemingly overcome the Nigerian economy, hence its apparent decay. The idea is clearly not pro-Biafra but a mere eye opener to some of the critical sectors of our economy, its inability to put smiles on the faces of us all as well as the inefficacy we did and in fact, still experience. This brings us to the concerns for the day.                                    ELECTRICITY The first of these cumbrous issues that strikes good rest is

I really struggled to muster up the courage to write on this topic because I know it's an area that is quite sensitive and knotty, and also because regardless of the direction of this piece, the topic will lead not a few to question my Christian faith. However, I choose to Traverse! About a year ago, I had my first real brush with the bad side of alcoholism:it was a beautiful Saturday night and we were all together in the house in what you'd refer to a party mood. However, my intention was to just take a few shots of the alcoholic beverage on display just to have a feel once more:of course, this was before I got irked by something I can't really remember or which I just choose not to mention. The moment I got angry, my very casual desire to just have a taste of alcohol turned to an unquenchable thirst and sickening desire to on the one hand, 'forget my sorrows' and on the other hand, prove myself as one whose head can 'carry' any quantity of alcohol. I

I am very gutted. Really, I'm angry. I'm not surprised though. Neither am I disappointed. The thing is that we have consistently disappointed ourselves. We make nonsense of our potentials. I totally expected it. In fact, I would have been surprised if it didn't turn out this way. It's sad that I am lamenting now given that in the words of one of my very respectable Classmates, all the Lamentation has been done in the Bible! I'm sure that by the time you are reading this piece, The games of the 31st Olympiad in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil would have ended, and "let us go back to the drawing board" which is by far, the most used phrase in Nigerian Sports would reverberate across every Radio and Television Station in Nigeria. Anyways, the Olympics has ended and Nigeria surpassed all expectations by winning the 'Golden Bronze' medal in the football event. Yes! That bronze medal was truly golden given that it was the Country's first medal at t

By Udomo Ali The incessant attacks on the female gender by the domineering male category with regards sexual violence have become rampant. Sexual violence, particularly rape, is an offence against the integrity of a person that tends to humiliate the charisma and personality of the victim in a dehumanizing way. What is the reason behind rape? Can it be said to be the advent of technology whereby people try to put in practice their sexual urge from the viewing of pornography on the media? Or can it be traced to poor parental education and defective upbringing? More recently, it has been attributed to the exposure of sensitive body parts by the females thereby arousing the sexual urge of the males which results in them satisfying such desire by all means. A close study of these possible reasons cannot humanly justify the offence of rape. What then, can literally, be ascribed to be the reason for the commission of rape? Rape has been adjudged by most jurisdictions around the world as a

Controversies and political ruckus has been the unfortunate identity of Nigeria's politics. Very much recent is the re-awakening of the BUDGET PADDING PALAVER even in the present face of technical recession. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara in a speech sometime ago alleged that he cannot be tried for the alleged budget padding. He hinged his argument on two points. The first was that he, as a law maker (particularly as Speaker), is protected by Section 30 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act. That Section states as follows: "Neither the President or Speaker, as the case may be, of a Legislative House nor any officer of a Legislative House shall be subject to the jurisdiction of any court in respect of the exercise of any power conferred on or vested in him by or under this Act or the standing orders of the Legislative House, or by the Constitution". Going by the clear wording of this section, it would seem that Speaker Doga