Tuesday 30 March 2010

STRIKE & SPLIT (Wed 31st March 2010)

INSIDE MY WORLD- STRIKE & SPLIT

Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world and is still recovering from a civil war. Health workers have demanded extra pay as their workload is set to increase as the country prepares to introduce free medical healthcare for pregnant women, breast feeding mothers as well as children under five years old. The Sierra Leone government had initially refused to grant the health workers wishes, so they went on strike. The president attempted to threaten the health staff by insisting they return to work or face being sacked. However, the staff stood their ground and after ten days of strike, the Sierra Leone president Ernest Bai Koroma agreed to increase their pay six-fold.

The stoppage of work led to the closure of the country’s main children’s hospital. Several wards at the main maternity hospital in the capital Freetown have also been shut while army and police nurses have been drafted in. The president reported that his main fear was that the industrial action may have led to some deaths in the country. The government had earlier said the most it could afford was to double the health workers’ pay. President Koroma had, however said their demands were justified. Doctors in Sierra Leone would now get a take-home salary of equivalent to $600 a month, up from $100. Nurses currently earn $27 a month. Sierra Leone has one of the world's highest rates of maternal mortality and is trying to reduce the number of yearly deaths and improve their health care facilities.



Similarly in Nigeria, I believe healthcare workers are severely underpaid. Something Nigeria lacks is a sufficient number of quality medical doctors. In general, medical training is the same everywhere in terms of academic subjects. Every doctor takes the basic classes such as biochemistry, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, genetics, pharmacology, etc. However, the availability of expensive equipments sets foreign trained doctors apart from doctors trained locally in Nigerian institutions. A doctor trained overseas is more likely to have superior knowledge, owing to his exposure to modern medical equipments. This is evidenced by the fact that the affluent in Nigeria travel abroad for major medical care. When I asked a few medical professionals and locals what could be done to improve our healthcare, there was a familiar response that, if Nigerian doctors resident abroad could return to Nigeria to serve the local community, our nation would be better off in healthcare. How is this a solution I wonder? Imagine this… you are abroad with constant electricity, water, civil law enforcement, good roads, working in a well-equipped hospital not to mention the fact that as a doctor you are highly respected and get paid over $40,000 per annum in comparison to $4,000 in Nigeria (if you are lucky). Why in your right mind would you return? Let’s be realistic. Until the average salary of a typical Nigerian doctor increases ten-fold, chances are that the plea for Nigerian medical doctors to return home would continue to fall on deaf ears. Here is my solution; drastic measures call for drastic solutions. If all doctors here were to imitate Sierra Leone and strike…I’m just saying.


It would be very unfair of me to report on the weekly world headlines without drawing attention to the highly controversial statement made by Libya's Muammar Gaddafi who said Nigeria should be divided into several states along ethnic lines. He said Nigeria should follow the model of Yugoslavia, after previously saying it should be split into two - along the lines of India and Pakistan.
He recently said Nigeria should be split into a Muslim and a Christian country to end communal clashes. That prompted a furious Nigeria to recall its ambassador to Tripoli. Nigeria's foreign ministry said Col Gaddafi's initial comments were "irresponsible". A Nigerian senator called Col Gaddafi, until recently head of the African Union, a "mad man".




Some Nigerians disagree with Gaddafi, some concur but everyone seems to have an opinion. Well here is mine…It is well known that the oil in Nigeria is mainly found in the south and east, however those controlling the finance that comes with being oil-rich are situated in the north. If the country splits into two or three some will have access to the oil, others in the dry north will not. What will happen when these people attempt to cross the imaginary line we call a ‘border’ into the territory to gain access to the oil wealth they are so used to being at their disposal- Death and social unrest. Whether you agree with Gaddafi or not, Nigeria will not split unless there is no more money, no more oil. The only thing I commend Gaddafi for is at least he is thinking, he is offering an idea – it may not be the best of ideas. Who else has come up with any solution to stabilize Nigeria? (Remember this is just my opinion).

Here's the Good News..(Wed 24th March)

INSIDE MY WORLD - HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS...

Over the past few weeks I have received numerous comments about my articles. Some praise my writing style and content while others have suggested that the focus of my work is often ‘dark’ and at times ‘negative’. Today I will not ask questions such as, how applicable is the 1999 Nigerian constitution to its people? Or, if we should set a benchmark on how often the constitution should be reviewed. Neither will I mention the fact that perhaps the constitution may not have any problems but the real issue may rather lie in the implementation of these laws. Instead today, I have decided to focus on the positive aspects of Nigeria of which I have experienced...

As much as I may complain about the police force, those I have had the pleasure of encountering are not so bad. When I am asked to stop, I simply explain that I am in a real rush and my father has ordered me home. I play to the audience and these family men often smile and bid me farewell on my journey- that may be slightly exaggerated but it does work.



Nigerians may be perceived as harsh, even aggressive people but we are simply expressive by nature. The hand gesticulations and facial expressions we use may seem belligerent to the innocent passer-by, but it is just our way of communication. This does not mean we are not good natured people. Lagos is a very close-knit society. In London you could go for weeks without a single person greeting you or even seeing your neighbour. In Lagos it is the norm for family members and friends to eavesdrop at your home just because they were in the area. We tend to look out for each other more as a community, which I must admit is heart-warming and comforting. Here, I find that when amongst strangers; if I know just one person everyone else tries to make me feel welcome. (I must quickly interject; the above rule does not apply in fast food restaurants or supermarkets where the staff are permanently miserable!) That said, there are lots of other benefits of living in a close-knit community. Everyone knows everyone; if you own or work in a particular field you know or have heard of others within the same business. A lot of my peers were given jobs based on who they know, sometimes their skills were applicable to the job most times they were unrelated. Usually I would complain about how unskilled and under qualified employees are detrimental to any business, but not today. I shall not complain because I am a firm believer of hard work. Besides, if that is what it takes to pay my bills, my lips are sealed and I am happy.


My favourite pastime in Lagos is the nightlife. From around dusk till dawn is my most enjoyable time of the day. I love the weather at night, there are no sunrays beating down on my brow, the hustle of the day has drawn to a close and there is less congestion in the streets, providing the cool breeze with space to breathe. It seems a lot more tranquil and sane at night. In the words of Banky W ‘Aint no party like a Lagos party...’



I like meeting new people, laughing and forgetting the stresses of the day. Most importantly, I love Nigerian music after all music is a universal language. There may be over 400 different languages spoken in Nigeria but when a good song is playing, I feel the atmosphere charge with vivacity and harmony.
As much as I may think my parents are not contemporary, I understand the statement they have almost driven me insane with: ‘Nigeria is full of potential.’ This is true but it takes action to achieve potential. You cannot expect to pass your exams if you have not studied. Nigeria is full of potential, yes but is there enough action being taken to help realise this? In my opinion...No.
To my beloved readers who enjoy my critical vantage point of Nigeria and the rest of the world, fear not. You are probably more like myself and therefore understand bad news is the news. Only when one’s weakness is red-flagged can one set a benchmark of standards. That has been the aim of my articles this far: To highlight and inform not only to raise critique but, to provide idealist solutions regarding Nigeria and various other troubled parts of the world. I have now expressed the good news about Nigeria but did you know that in Switzerland this week, a male Nigerian asylum seeker on hunger strike died on the tarmac at Zurich airport. Swiss police say they had shackled the 29-year-old man, who was being forcibly deported along with 15 other Nigerians whose asylum bids had been rejected. The asylum seeker would rather die than be sent back- what does that say about Nigeria? If only he had read this article perhaps I could have dissuaded him.

Tuesday 16 March 2010

LIGHT UP NIGERIA

INSIDE MY WORLD - Light Up Nigeria

President Umaru Yar’adua provided a 7 point agenda of which he promised to fulfil if he was in power for the full two terms of presidency until 2015. The first agenda and perhaps the most important is power supply. President Yar’adua said in 2007 “Our plan is to launch a national emergency programme on the power sector because we believe that there cannot be any meaningful industrial development without steady power supply.” He said more than 30,000 mega watts of electricity would be released during the first 5 years of his administration. The increase and steady supply of power would help to ensure Nigeria develops as a modern economy and gives it the chance to grow further into an industrial nation. It has now been three years into Yar’adua’s first term it seems we have regressed as a nation. We have more problems than we did before his leadership role commenced.




Nigeria has been experiencing inconsistent power supply for over three decades. Why? A combination of corruption, unsuccessful government and selfish attitudes seem to be the concoction for instability. It seems the fight for constant electricity is one which must be fought by us- those being governed, not the government. A group of Nigerians have taken on the responsibility of attempting to realise this one agenda which appears to be a daily topic for Nigerians.

“LightUpNigeria is a movement which has arisen out of necessity in reaction to the current problem with power supply in Nigeria. The movement aims to highlight the problems caused by the lack of constant power supply in Nigeria and raise awareness of the situation globally.”

I ask, what will it take to provide constant electricity to homes and businesses? Electricity should not be seen as a luxury; it should be as basic an amenity as air and water. Light Up Nigeria was an initiative created by the youth in our society, it does not aim to be a political campaign or organization they can see that lack of power supply is crippling the growth and economy of our country and the movement is demanding attention and action from the government at all levels. I understand there are enormous potentials and investment opportunities in various Nigerian sectors from tourism to telecommunications. But, I agree that the one main impediment to the development of this country is power supply, more specifically, the lack of it.
Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly attempted to rejuvenate and actualize the target of producing 6000 megawatts of electricity. The likelihood that this will be achieved alongside the President’s proposed “Vision 2020, ″ is currently unimaginable. Nigeria is often commended as the heartbeat of Africa, but compare us to Ghana that exhibits stable governance and electricity… Electricity seems to be the major restriction towards any country’s progress, without ample electricity supply we cannot achieve anything substantial. Nigeria misses new investment and business opportunities due to the intrinsic power issues. Companies already in Nigeria have also cited that the power shortage is a major reason they are willing to relocate; it is financially viable for them to be in a country that provides constant electricity so as to reduce costs. As companies leave the country, they take job opportunities with them, which inevitably affects the country’s rising unemployment state.


Numerous unanswered questions still plague my mind- how can Nigeria be the 7th most crude oil producing country in the world, yet we suffer from petrol scarcity and inconsistent power? We produce energy yet we do not spread the good energy amongst ourselves. We extract and extort; only allowing a minority of Nigerian citizens reap the benefits. How can we accept the uncertainty about the current condition of our president, which to me is simply unheard of? At such a critical time, I would expect a real leader to stand up and advise his nation and speak honestly about his questionable health. If he cannot stand firm in the face of adversity how can we take his policies seriously. After all, Nigeria still has power supply issues; in my house, I have not had any form of light for over three weeks. How is this an improvement? I beg of our next leader, do not stand up and deceive the nation. Humility is a far more respectable trait to possess than dishonesty.





The time has come my fellow Nigerians, where we take matters into our hands. We should no longer have to complain without any action being taken. We can be the livewire to inject electricity into our beloved country. The power we can supply as a united community is the initial step towards tangible change. Lets us join the revolution to Light Up Nigeria! If you only do one thing this week, please make sure you visit: www.lightupnigeria.org and show your support. It is time we are heard and our voices are shouting, Enough is Enough! Light up Nigeria!

Monday 8 March 2010

Facebook vs. Faceless (Wed 10th March)

INSIDE MY WORLD: FACEBOOK vs. FACELESS
Hundreds of people, including many women and children, were killed in ethnic violence near the city of Jos, Nigeria at the weekend, officials say. They said villages had been attacked by men with machetes who came from nearby hills. Troops have now been deployed in the area and dozens of arrests are said to have been made. Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered security forces to prevent more weapons being brought into the area. Jos has been under a military curfew since January when at least 200 people died in clashes between Christians and Muslims. The latest attacks are said to have been reprisals for the January killings. These killing occurred during the military curfew, I beg the questions: Where was the military doing these inhumane attacks, why were they not doing their jobs correctly? Is this just pure lack of negligence or is it something more sinister?

Mark Lipdo, from the Christian charity Stefanos Foundation, said Zot village had been almost wiped out. He said: "We saw mainly those who are helpless, like small children and then the older men, who cannot run, these were the ones that were slaughtered." A resident of Dogo-Nahawa said that the attackers had fired guns as they entered the village before dawn on Sunday in defiance of a curfew.

“The shooting was just meant to bring people from their houses and then when people came out they started cutting them with machetes," Peter Jang told Reuters news agency. Some witnesses said villagers were caught in fishing nets and animal traps as they tried to escape and were then hacked to death. Mud huts were also set on fire. Mass burials took place on Sunday and scores more bodies were laid out in the streets of the three attacked villages, awaiting further burials on Monday. Figures given for the death tolls in the ethnic clashes have varied widely, sometimes to achieve political ends or to reduce the risk of reprisals, or simply because victims are buried quickly.

During the attack in January, the largest losses were suffered by the Hausa Fulani community. In the village of Kuru Karama more than 100 people were killed and their bodies thrown into wells and sewers. Grave accusations were made that the local government had stoked the violence. Who was prosecuted, arrested or even accused of the wrong doings? Are the killers still left free to roam the streets after they had committed these heinous acts? No wonder there are rumours that these recent killings are retaliations, if there is no system of justice, people take matters into their own hands. If the government is refusing to police and implement drastic actions, it seems as if they are turning a blind eye. I think the lack of reaction by the government as well as reduced accountability causes the locals to react. No reaction is a reaction! If the government is unable to protect us perhaps we as a community should implement our own form of mobile policing in order to put a face to these so called faceless murderers.
These killings are often painted by local politicians as a religious or sectarian conflict. In fact I think it is a struggle between ethnic groups for fertile land and resources in the region known as Nigeria's Middle Belt.

Meanwhile in the UK, a sex offender has been jailed for life after admitting the kidnap, rape and murder of a teenage girl he met on the internet. Peter Chapman, 33, was told by Judge Peter Fox QC he must serve a minimum of 35 years in prison. Teesside Crown Court heard he met and befriended 17-year-old Ashleigh Hall on Facebook by posing as a teenage boy. Chapman, who had a history of sex assaults, at first denied the charges, but earlier changed his plea to guilty.

Last year a Nigerian navy officer was prosecuted after causing grievous bodily harm to a young woman. Footage of the shocking event was recorded on a passer-by’s phone. The evidence made its way onto the social networking site, Facebook and after millions of people petitioned against the navy, they were forced to pay millions in compensation. This shows the competence and proliferation of the internet. In this instance, we were able to identify beyond reasonable doubt who the culprit was. I think that the internet and modern means of communication can help reduce and prevent crime.


I urge any bystander, in the event of an emergency, please attempt to record evidence of the event. If we feel that we do not have a voice or we are not represented as a democracy, I think the internet provides a platform. The internet easily enables you to find like minded people and share opinions. Perhaps Facebook can put faces to these faceless criminals. Issues that affect Nigeria usually ripple and enable millions of individuals to freely provide their opinion and sometimes support. The more support we get, the louder our voice becomes. We want a stable, humane democracy. We want our voice to shout; equality and fairness!

Tuesday 2 March 2010

GLOBAL HEALTH (Wed 3rd Mar 2010)

INSIDE MY WORLD - GLOBAL HEALTH
This week, Natural disasters have been occurring all over the world; from earthquakes in Chile, to storms in Western Europe. Alarm bells are ringing in my head as I cannot help but think these are all related to global warming. How long can we avoid the truth about changes in the temperatures, ozone layers and sea levels? We may not be prone to earthquakes, but what about rising sea levels and flooding?

About two million Chileans are believed to have been affected by Saturday's earthquake, the seventh most powerful on record and the worst disaster to befall Chile in 50 years. The death toll currently stands at 711, but Chile’s president Michelle Bachelet warned that number would rise. There were scenes of destruction in isolated coastal towns engulfed by monster waves that were triggered by the 8.8magnitude quake. Bachelet, due to hand power to, President-elect Sebastian Pinera on 11 March, said "We face a catastrophe of such unthinkable magnitude that it will require a giant effort," Food and vital aid are needed in badly-hit areas, especially those which have been cut off by the quake and are only accessible by plane. Chile did not initially request foreign assistance, but Ms Bachelet has subsequently said some offers of aid would be accepted. She said Chile needed field hospitals, temporary bridges, water purification plants, damage assessment experts and rescuers to relieve those already working to find survivors. The Chilean military is attempting to restore order in the country's second largest city, Concepcion, amid looting after Saturday's devastating earthquake. Looters have targeted food warehouses and supermarkets. A curfew has been imposed and police fired tear gas on thieves to protect supplies until deliveries can get through to the hard-hit area. Concepçion, 40 miles north-west of the epicenter, people used bamboo and plastic tubes to siphon petrol from tanks at closed service stations. A pitched battle erupted inside one supermarket, only ending when police and the owners allowed people to take essential items without paying.
Messages were sent to 53 nations and territories by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii after the magnitude 8.8 quake struck. In Japan, the biggest wave hit the northern island of Hokkaido. There were no immediate reports of damage from the 4ft surge, although some piers were flooded. By the time the tsunami hit Hawaii – a full 16 hours after the quake – officials had already spent the morning sounding emergency sirens and ordering residents to higher ground. In Tonga, up to 50,000 people fled inland and there were reports of a wave up to 6.5ft high hitting a small northern island. On New Zealand’s Chatham Islands, officials also reported a 2m wave.
France has declared a national disaster after Western Europe's worst storms in 10 years left 62 people dead. Hurricane-force winds and flooding battered south-west France, leaving more than a million homes without power. The storm also hit Belgium, Portugal, Spain and parts of Germany. There were 51 deaths in France, about half of which were attributed to the breach of the sea wall off the coastal town of L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer, where ocean waters surged up to the roofs of some homes. In Paris, where hundreds of buildings were damaged, winds of 100mph were recorded at the top of the Eiffel Tower. President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and praised the work of rescuers. He will visit the worst-hit areas. "It is a national disaster, a human drama with a terrible death toll," he said.
The health of the world seems to be in great demise, we have been warned about global warming and its deadly effects for decades- which is beyond man’s control but I do not think enough is being done to reduce or reverse its effects. Is it just me or have you noticed that the Harmattan haze, wet and dry seasons all occur in one month? These climate changes are definitely significant and should not be ignored. The last thing Nigeria needs is to find out that our coastal lines are under threat and on the verge of flooding. It seems everyone is more concerned about the current state of President Umar Yar’adua’s health than the health of our country, which affects us individually.




Recently, US President Barack Obama, urged Yar’adua’s health status to be transparent and disclosed to the public. There may be concerns about Obama’s smoking habit and high cholesterol, but at least the entire world knows his health condition, so if he began to deteriorate, we would all know why. In general Obama’s health is great. Nicotine was the only real blemish in the medical check-up published yesterday which concluded he was in excellent health. Doctors at the White House urged him to continue his ‘smoking cessation efforts’ and said he should consider tweaking his diet to help bring down his cholesterol level, which is borderline high.
I hope we begin to take global warming more seriously; we cannot take for granted our geographical position as a blessing. If we do not look after our country, there may not be a country for future generations to come. Once the ozone layer depletes, harmful sun rays are exposed which can cause skin cancer and increase temperatures to uninhabitable conditions. Once such issues are put into perspective, the health condition of one man does not seem nearly as important.

PRAISE & CONTROVERSY (Wed 24th Feb 2010)

INSIDE MY WORLD - PRAISE & CONTROVERSY
Nigeria has had its fair share of trials and adversity. The foreign media chastise our country as being corrupt and dangerous. However, this week during a conference held in Abuja to mark 50 years of independence for Nigeria, of which ex-president George Bush and ex-prime minister Tony Blair attended; Nigeria was praised for this week's handover of power to the deputy leader after two months of political deadlock over the president's health. "We believe that the principle of democracy has been served well," said a statement from the US embassy… Finally Nigeria is getting positive global recognition.
Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan is now formally acting president until Umar Yar'Adua can resume his duties. Nigeria is not normally seen as a beacon of democracy - recent elections have been riddled with fraud. The country was ruled by the military for many years and Mr Yar'Adua became the first elected Nigerian leader to be handed power by another in non-military rule in 2007. Relations between the US and Nigeria have been fraught in recent months - especially after a young Nigerian man was caught allegedly trying to blow up a plane over the US in December 2009 and President Yar'Adua went to Saudi Arabia to be treated for heart problems in November, leading to a political vacuum in Nigeria. For two months, the government refused to let Mr Jonathan be recognised as acting president. Although the authorities won a court case that the president was not obliged to hand over power when sick, this week the National Assembly passed a motion recognising Mr Jonathan as the country's interim leader. US ambassador Robin Sanders praised "the leadership shown by the National Assembly, the Governors' Forum, several Ministers, and the courts in finding a way out of the political impasse. The best interests of the country and the future of Nigeria have been well served by this action."
The ceremony in Abuja was not as completely peaceful as we would have liked: A Nigerian rights campaigner has criticised the police for arresting him and his colleagues during a protest over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Shehu Sani and 80 others held a peaceful rally to coincide with the visit to Abuja by former leaders of the US and UK - George W Bush and Tony Blair. Mr Sani said police had wrongly claimed that he and others had had no permit. Mr Sani, who was freed on bail, said all the requirements had been met and he called the arrests "very wrong". He and his colleagues, who have also been released on bail, said they wanted to draw attention to the human rights legacy of Mr Blair and Mr Bush. "It was a peaceful protest," he told the BBC. "I was officially invited to the banquet - so I wasn't going to throw any shoes. But the police came and used force to shove me into their vehicles along with about 80 others."They said we needed a permit - but according to the constitution all we have to do is write to the police and tell them about the protest. We had done that." I feel this is unfair, Mr Sani is known for his peaceful protests, so why now should he be arrested, after all he did receive an official invitation to the event. Perhaps, it was all for propaganda, to make international media believe no one opposed to the former Western leaders' proposals, such as the ‘war on terror.’

At the Ceremony, Former US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice spoke about the way elections were held in Nigeria, although she too praised the National Assembly in the case of Mr Jonathan’s acting leadership role, she questioned Nigeria's progress in tackling corruption and to urge free and fair elections. "The world is watching," she said. "They are tracking the coming elections very closely. Nigerians demand that this democracy functions in a transparent way that these elections are transparent." Elections in Nigeria - at a local and national level - have been tainted by vote-rigging, electoral fraud, ballot stuffing and intimidation. The world will be watching to see if we have taken heed from our neighboring country Ghana and if we are pushing for a stable transition of governance…I will not only be watching, I shall be praying. Until the elections all I can say is good luck to you Mr. Jonathan!
At least we are not the only country contaminated with controversy, recently, the head of Germany's Protestant church has admitted drink-driving, after she was charged with passing a red light while three times over the legal limit. Bishop Margot Kaessmann, appointed the church's first female leader last year, was arrested in Hanover at the weekend. She told Germany's Bild newspaper: "I am shocked at myself that I could have made such a grave error." Leaders of the 25 million-strong church are discussing how the incident affects the 51-year-old's official position. Ms Kaessmann, who became the first bishop in Germany to divorce in 2007, allegedly drove her VW Phaeton through a red light in central Hanover on Saturday night while "completely unfit to drive". The mother of four daughters told Bild: "I know how dangerous and irresponsible drink-driving is. I will of course assume the legal consequences." We are all human and we make errors, but the one thing we should take away from Bishop Kaessmann is we should be ready to admit our mistakes and change our ways for the better, that is the first step for the improvement of our attitudes and our country.

LOVE & WAR (Wed 17th Feb 2010)

Inside My World- LOVE & WAR
February is the month of love, or so we are told. Valentine’s Day has been stigmatised as being all about sharing love, enjoying flowers, cards, chocolates and gifts galore. However, all over the world, as some are receiving red roses as a symbol of love, others are forced to give white lilies to their loved ones who have passed away. On 13th February 2010, at least ten people were killed when a power cable fell on a bus in Port Harcourt and electrocuted passengers. Although police are unable to confirm how many people were on board the bus, locals and members of the press confirmed sightings of unidentifiable charred bodies in the hospital. Twelve others who attempted to assist the victims also suffered severe burns and were hospitalised.
The day after Valentine’s was the last for twelve civilians in Marjah, Afghanistan. Two ‘stray’ US marine rockets fired from a truck a few miles away suggests something more than an unfortunate blunder in the heart of the battle when civilians are killed. Air Chief Marshal Sir Jack Stirrup said the aim of Operation Moshtarak was to provide security for the Afhgan population “and you don’t protect them when you kill them.” Lt Gen Nick Parker, the most senior British officer in Afghanistan, told the BBC it was absolutely unacceptable to have civilian casualties, whatever the circumstances, and that announcing the offensive well in advance had helped save lives. "There is still sporadic Taliban firing from residential areas in the north of the town, but we are not using air power or heavy bombardments to dislodge them because we want to avoid civilian casualties," he said.
How many times have we heard the US pledge to minimise the possibility of accidental fire on civilians? It seems to me that US troops find it difficult to discern if groups of Afghans are gathering to engage in war, celebrate a wedding or merely families foraging for food and fuel. The difficulty to differentiate comes from the technical equipment used- IMARS system. The systems of batteries of six rockets are the latest precision weapons of the US marines and Infantry. In theory, the IMARS is capable of pinpoint targeting images of about 8 to 10 miles by satellite and radar. However in the fields, groves and muddy ditches that make up the confused terrain around Marjah, “precision” weapons like IMARS are far from precise. How can a machine tell whether a huddle of humanity sheltering inside a mud walled compound are mother and children hiding from the fighting or Taliban preparing a counter attack? The simple answer is that they cannot because no machine can look into men’s minds.
The deaths of the Afghan civilians are a serious setback and there are now talks of banning the use of rockets and artillery. This means more soldiers would have to put themselves in harm’s way, to go to the centres of population rather than wait outside to see what the Taliban will do next. In Helmand for instance, at least 32,000 more soldiers will be needed for a year to help local people rebuild their lives and to secure their trust for the future. This may conflict with the much publicised speech of US President Barack Obama, to withdraw troops from the frontline. Perhaps the US military are stuck between a rock and a hard place: use more artillery and risk lives of innocent civilians, or send in more troops and risk the death of more soldiers at the hands of the Taliban enemy. I would personally choose the latter and abide by the mantra of Horatio Nelson- “engage the enemy more closely.”
So, this February, I will not be reflecting on why I am single, what my ex-boyfriend is doing, or who is dating who...Love goes beyond that. The love I want to express will be towards everyone in my life that I care about. I will tell my parents and siblings how much I love and appreciate them, my friends will know how much they mean to me and how they have positively influenced my life. For me Valentine’s Day is a reminder that I am loved but unfortunately some have also lost their loved ones. Just like any other month, people fall in love and sadly to say people pass away. Love and grief are two emotions that cannot be confined to a specific time of year; as we mourn death all year round, so too should we celebrate and express love. I believe that we should spend as much time as possible giving unconditional love, because we do not know what lies around the corner. Parents, when was the last time you told your children you love them- Six children were among those killed when two US missiles struck a house on the outskirts of Marjah on Sunday. Husbands do not wait until Valentine’s Day to shower your spouse with gifts. Do not wait until it is too late to give roses and your loved one can only receive lilies. Why put off till tomorrow what can be done today? After all for thousands all over the world, tomorrow may cease to come.

ABOVE THE LAW (Wed 10th Feb 2010)

Inside My World - Above The Law

Ali Dizaei, a Metropolitan Police Commander in the UK was this month sentenced to jail for four years. Dizaei abused his power by attempting to pervert the course of justice and by providing false evidence. Dizaei was approached by a website designer, Waad Al-Baghdadi who simply asked Dizaei to pay the £600 he was owed. Commander Dizaei refused to pay the balance and threatened the 24 year old civilian. An argument broke out between the pair and the uniformed police officer challenged Mr Al-Baghdadi to a fight in public. Dizaei then made a call to 999 emergency services and requested backup; lying that Al-Baghdadi had stabbed him.
Dizaei seems like a criminal in uniform who thought he was above the law. His actions were clearly a wholesale abuse of power for entirely personal motives. Had Dizaei not been independently investigated by the Independent Police Complaint Commission (IPCC), the innocent civilian would have been sentenced to jail for assaulting a police officer. It is comforting to know that in some societies having money and power does not exempt you from the law. I believe that nobody should be above the law.
How I wish this was applicable to Nigeria’s armed forces. The Nigerian police have a terrible reputation for corruption and brutality. In many mortuaries all over the country hundreds of corpses are stacked naked, one on top of the other. The mortuaries are in a sad state of chaos and many of the corpses’ records simply state ‘suspected armed robber’ or ‘unknown thief.’ Perhaps one of these bodies is 13 year old Emmanuel Egbo whose body is yet to be recovered and formally identified. He was a keen student who one day was playing with other children when three policemen came along and shot him. This seems to me like cold blooded murder. Is it part of police training to kill first and ask questions later? Emmanuel was an unarmed youth, how could he have posed a threat to three armed policemen? Surely they could have arrested him and investigated the claims of robbery. Is this just an easy way to cover dirty tracks?
I understand that policing is a dangerous job and many officers have lost their lives in the line of duty but with the mounting numbers of unidentified corpses; perhaps these poorly trained officers practice punishment without trial and take the law into their own hands. After all, who will question their authority, who will investigate their corruption, who will stand up and demand that unjust killings are unconstitutional and anti-democracy?
A few miles away from where Emmanuel was slain, a 22 year old boy Matthew Onovo, was gunned down on his way to his computer class. Police were searching for an armed man in the area and shot Matthew. Again, the young man was unarmed. So what proof did the police have that he was their target suspect? How can they justify their actions? It is a shame that these criminals in uniforms are not sent to trial in front of a jury to provide evidence. In the unlikely event that they were sent to court, I would not be at all surprised if they fabricated evidence. It is well known that police officers’ wages are very low and corruption in the force is endemic. I cannot recall how many times I have been stopped and asked, ‘Aunty, anything for the weekend?’ The answer to this question is a 100 Naira pay-off. So often are police more concerned with making extra money than their job of protecting the community. If I were an armed robber, at every check point I would hand over money knowing I would be free to reach my destination. It is evident that the police have immense problems with their technical capacity to fight crime. The main method used against fighting crime is to stop cars at random and look for guns; this needs to be overhauled and reformed. The system is an utter shamble, all over Nigeria; there are questions over the misconduct of the security forces. Which begs the question: Can Nigeria’s police ever be reformed?
Kemi Okenyodo of police reform group the Cleen Foundation says that the police need more than just expensive gadgets to improve their ability to work effectively. “The police capacity to investigate crime is next to zero,” she says. Officers are not trained in policing techniques- if they do have qualifications, they are often irrelevant to police work, she says. The police force needs better training, better educated applicants, better communication equipment, more pay and a promotion hierarchy needs to be put in place. The serious issue of political independence also needs to be tackled; whereby the police do not just take matter into their own hands. All their actions should be documented and reported to someone in a higher position who effectively manages the team.
The police as it is now came out of military administration. I believe the biggest challenge the police probably face is turning it from a force into a service- a public service. It is important that when you are in a job where society regards you as the cornerstone of the law, integrity and justice should not be negotiable.

DEATH & CELEBRITY (Wed 3rd Feb 2010)

INSIDE MY WORLD - Death & Celebrity

A plane carrying 90 people crashed off the coast of Lebanon. The Ethopian Airlines passenger plane crashed into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after take-off from Beirut Airport, the plane was heading to Addis-Ababa. Most of the passengers were either Lebanese or Ethopian. At least 21 bodies have been found, all dead. Whilst rescue operations continue, we must not give up hope. Some people have said hope has left Nigeria and relocated to Haiti -as the death toll increases to almost 200,000- where it is needed most. In Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince the dead lie in piles on street corners, the living are crowded in tents and as many as 20,000 still await food, water and medical attention. However, through this grim scenery, hope still lives. Amidst the heartbreak and tormented city, rescuers are still combing the mounds of rubble and pulling people out alive. Thousands of Haitian locals are begging the Haiti government to continue the rescue mission and search for survivors. Since the earthquake on January 12, over 130 people have been rescued including Wismond, a 24 year old man, who was found hours after United Nations officials called off the hunt for trapped survivors. They believed no one else could possibly be alive in the ruins of Haitian capital. Rescues such as this have sparked hope among families of the missing. However, disaster experts consider the first 72 hours the most critical period of finding survivors. Over a week has passed and rescuers are still defying the odds. Let’s not give up hope. If you are reading this, I ask, what have you done to provide aid? Not even to those suffering in distant Haiti, we have thousands of less fortunate around us. I see it every day sitting in traffic: people begging, naked children, malnourished adults, swarms of handicapped people of all ages infiltrate our streets. We have become so accustomed to this spectacle we close ourselves to the reality that this way of life should not be accepted as normal. I urge you this week to provide aid in any way you can. Give to charities, non-government organisations, to your church, or even distribute can food and unwanted clothes. I would love to hear that on every street corner people setup a stall or even distribute items of clothing from the boot of their cars and help the needy. If you are unable to provide financially, giving your time is also priceless. If you see a lady around Surulere parked in the middle of the road causing traffic because she is distributing food to the homeless, it is probably me, so I apologise in advance. My aim is to eradicate the notion of extortion which is the premise of today’s society; take as much as you can from whoever you can. I hope to encourage equality and humility towards one another.

God Bless until further notice...

Celebrity News

The movie Avatar was the big winner at the 67th annual Golden Globe awards in Hollywood. Sunday night proved lucky for James Cameron, who won best director for Avatar and also took home the Best Motion Picture Award. The sci-fi blockbuster became the first film of the century to claim 5 weeks at number one. It is now the third biggest grossing movie in America and has made over a billion dollars globally. The Hangover claimed the award for the Top Comedy whilst actor Robert Downey Jr was awarded the Best Actor trophy for his role in Sherlock Holmes.
The Golden Globe award evening was bittersweet for many celebrities who had the earthquake disaster in Haiti on their minds. Whilst collecting and presenting awards, many stars took the opportunity to urge everyone to give generously to charities. George Clooney and Wyclef Jean have joined forces to host a telethon to raise money for the people of Haiti. Artistes that will attend and perform include: Bono, Sting, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Alicia Keys.
The parents of pop diva Beyonce have almost finalised their divorce proceedings. After 30 years of marriage, Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles took legal actions against her husband on Nov 11, 2009. Beyonce keeps tight lipped about her family, but she has announced she is going on a six month break after her tour ends next month. Beyonce and her husband Sean Carter aka Jay-Z were named by Forbes to be the top earning couple of 2009. They reportedly earned a total of over $122 million. Interestingly, Beyonce is the one who brought home most of the money. She earned $87 million to his $35 million. While this is a huge amount of money, it’s actually much less than these two made the previous year, when they pulled in $162 million cumulatively. Judging by how hard the 28 year old Beyonce has worked over the past decade, perhaps her well deserved six month break should be extended to a year. After all, she can afford it.
The much loved Sade Adu is one of the distinctive voices in pop music. She has developed her unique, inimitable style which sets her apart from the average pop singer. The sensational songstress is releasing a new album on the 8th Feb 2010. The whole world is eagerly anticipating her sixth album. The first single to be released from her new album is entitled ‘Soldier of Love.’ I will definitely be purchasing a copy of her album as soon as it is released.
Popular twin duo P-squared have now released a video for their track ‘I Love You’ from their Danger album. The video is available to view on YouTube.com. Keep an eye on your TV screens because this simple yet effective video is set to be a hit!
Soon to be a house hold name, Oladotun Alfred Taylor, is a producer, director and script writer. He has directed and produced numerous films and music videos, but his latest achievement with ‘One Thousand Miles’ film, has gained him critical acclaim. One Thousand Miles is a cleverly written and beautifully directed love story which has been recently nominated Best Captivating Movie and is currently out in the cinemas.

Tourism & Peace (Wed 27th Jan 2010)

Inside My World

Tourism & Peace

Since President Barack Obama who is of African heritage was elected and the 2010 Football World Cup to be held in South Africa was announced, tourism in parts of Africa has increased. The head of the UN World Tourism Organisation says, “There has been a shift in the way people look at Africa.” Africa was the only continent to see an increase in tourism since the recession. In 2009 international travellers increased by 5%.

The top two African countries to receive the highest influx of new tourists were Ghana and South Africa. However, President Obama’s father originated from Kenya which has led to a small increase of American tourists. There has been a steady rise in the number of global visitors to South Africa, with more expected once the football competition begins in June of which 32 nations are taking part.

Last July, Obama visited Ghana but not Kenya his own homeland. Why? Ghana has had five successive elections since 1992. The peaceful transfer of power after a close presidential election is more attractive to president Obama. This is in stark contrast to Kenya’s continual political crisis since 2007 where post election violence led to more than 1,500 deaths. Ghana is a model of stable governance. The nation serves as a backdrop for Obama’s push for more democratic and economic developments across Africa.

Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since its independence. Both 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and similar to Kenya, with violence. Did you know that in 1990, a tourism policy was produced in Nigeria with the basic objective to make it the ultimate tourism destination in Africa? (I can hear you laughing and asking, how this can be possible.) I understand there are enormous potentials and investment opportunities in the Nigerian tourism sector. But, I believe the one main impediment to the development of this country is the same reason Obama did not visit Kenya: Stability.

Like Ghana we need a viable democratic system that guarantees political stability. We need a governing body that improves international relations and promotes respect for human rights; these basic fundamentals would enhance investment opportunities in our country. Where was our president when Nigerians were labelled as “terrorists” and the world black-listed us? Who stood up for us then to improve international relations? Where was our respect for human rights and human life when 200 people were killed in Jos this past week? What image are we portraying to the world? How can we possibly become Africa’s most popular destination when we lack infrastructure, bad roads, terrible drainage and waste management system, we have electricity that is as stable as our president’s health and an education system that teaches illiteracy? As it is, we may be a country, but we are far from a nation and even further from a united nation. Until attitudes change and those in power, genuinely want to serve the country and improve its condition, those in power will only serve themselves. I hear people every day, from various walks of life complain about what is wrong with Nigeria; the list is endless. It saddens and frustrates me that nobody feels like they can make a difference, that their voices, sentiments and opinions are all gone with the wind. So they all complain but no-one changes and everything remains the same. Without each individual person that voted for President Obama, there probably would never have been a black president in America...every vote counts, every voice is heard and everybody can make a difference.

Plateau state is often referred to as ‘Home of Peace and Tourism’. How absurd! Jos, the capital of Plateau state, lies at the point where Nigeria’s Muslim north and predominantly Christian south meet. The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Ignacious Kaigama, told the BBC that religion was not the real cause of the violence. “It is a struggle for ethnic and political superiority in Jos” he said. “If this issue is not resolved then we will witness a cycle of violence. There has to be some political solution”. I ask, why wait for incompetent political leaders to resolve this matter? After all in Rome, there is rising tension between Catholics and Jews. The current Pope Benedict XVI decided to visit the main Jewish synagogue; he is the first pope in 24 years to visit the Great Temple. He called on both religions to talk more and focus on bigger problems such as poverty and disease, rather than fighting each other. The root of this ethnic-religious-political problem needs to be established so a resolution can be put in place. My only fear is that it is a deep rooted angst, where one solution is almost impossible. If political leaders cannot step in, then perhaps religious leaders in Nigeria should take a page from Pope Benedict’s book and visit other religious places of worship. Perhaps they can influence and encourage their followers to get along better by setting an example. After all have you ever heard of Pastor E.A Adeboye visiting the National Mosque in Abuja and discussing with the Chief imam Ustaz Musa Mohammed, the current state of affairs of our country and how they should encourage their followers to work together and focus on bigger world issues such as eradication of poverty and hope for world peace. Not to fight against each other and to believe that Nigeria is big enough to peacefully sustain more than one religion. These are my hopes and dreams for this country: Peace.