NIGERIA, AFRICA’S FAILED ASSET?

The Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, surprised guests present at the Muson Centre for the launching of the book of Sir Olaniwun Ajayi at the Muson Centre in Lagos.

The book titled: “Nigeria, Africa’s failed asset?” attracted many important dignitaries, intellectuals and some governors. The argument by discussants centered on whether or not the colonial masters laid the foundation for the problems Nigeria is currently facing. Many argued that the British loved the North and that was why it gave more than 50 percent of the National Assembly seats to the North at independence.

Sanusi, however, stole the show when he spoke. His speech was anchored on the plank that the British and Nigerian rulers are responsible for the state of the situation Nigeria finds itself today. Below is his unedited speech.

“Let me start by saying that I am Fulani (laughter). My grandfather was an Emir and therefore I represent all that has been talked about this afternoon. Sir Ajayi has written a book. And like all Nigerians of his generation, he has written in the language of his generation. “My grandfather was a Northerner, I am a Nigerian. The problem with this country is that in 2009, we speak in the language of 1953. Sir Olaniwun can be forgiven for the way he spoke, but I cannot forgive people of my generation speaking in that language.
“Let us go into this issue because there are so many myths that are being bandied around.

Before colonialism, there was nothing like Northern Nigeria. Before the Sokoto Jihad, there was nothing like the Sokoto caliphate. The man from Kano regards himself as bakane. The man from Zaria was bazazzage. The man from Katsina was bakatsine. The kingdoms were at war with each other. They were Hausas, they were Muslims, and they were killing each other.
“The Yoruba were Ijebu, Owo, Ijesha, Akoko, Egba. When did they become one? When did the North become one? You have the Sokoto Caliphate that brought every person from Adamawa to Sokoto and said it is one kingdom. They now said it was a Muslim North.

10 US CITIZEN IN PRISON FOR KIDNAP

“PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Ten Americans were detained by Haitian police on Saturday as they tried to bus 33 children across the border into the Dominican Republic, allegedly without proper documents.

The Baptist church members from Idaho called it a “Haitian Orphan Rescue Mission,” meant to save abandoned children from the chaos following Haiti’s earthquake. Their plan was to scoop up 100 kids and take them by bus to a rented hotel at a beach resort in the Dominican Republic, where they planned to establish an orphanage.

Whether they realized it or not, these Americans – the first known to be taken into custody since the Jan. 12 earthquake – put themselves in the middle of a firestorm in Haiti, where government leaders have suspended adoptions amid fears that parentless or lost children are more vulnerable than ever to child trafficking.

“In this chaos the government is in right now we were just trying to do the right thing,” the group’s leader, Laura Silsby told The Associated Press at the judicial police headquarters in the capital, where the Americans were being held pending a Monday hearing before a judge.

Silsby said they only had the best of intentions and paid no money for the children. She said her group obtained them through a well-known Haitian pastor named Jean Sanbil of the Sharing Jesus Ministries.

Silsby, 40, of Boise, Idaho, was asked if she didn’t consider it naive to cross the border without adoption papers at a time when Haitians are so concerned about child trafficking. “By no means are we any part of that. That’s exactly what we are trying to combat,” she said.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE Vol. 4

Lesson 1:
A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower,
When the doorbell rings.

The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs.

When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbor.

Before she says a word, Bob says, ‘I’ll give you $800 to drop that towel.’

After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked
In front of Bob, after a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves.

The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs.

When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, ‘Who was that?’

‘It was Bob the next door neighbor,’ she replies.

‘Great,’ the husband says, ‘did he say anything about the $800 he owes
me?’
Moral of the story:
If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your
shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.

Lesson 2:
A priest offered a Nun a lift.
She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg.
The priest nearly had an accident.

After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.

The nun said, ‘Father, remember Psalm 129?’

The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he let his hand slide
up her leg again.

The nun once again said, ‘Father, remember Psalm 129?’

The priest apologized ‘Sorry sister but the flesh is weak.’

Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way.

On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. It
said, ‘Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory.’

Moral of the story:
If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.

Lesson 3:
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch
when they find an antique oil lamp.

They rub it and a Genie comes out.

The Genie says, ‘I’ll give each of you just one wish.’

‘Me first! Me first!’ says the admin clerk. ‘I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.’

Puff! She’s gone.

‘Me next! Me next!’ says the sales rep. ‘I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.’

Puff! He’s gone.

‘OK, you’re up,’ the Genie says to the manager.

The manager says, ‘I want those two back in the office after lunch.’

Moral of the story:
Always let your boss have the first say.

SHUT UP DORA!

Dora Akunyili

Those were the words of the ministers who shut Dora Akunyili up when she attempted to ask the Executive Council of the Federation for a vacation letter for President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. She was shouted down and there was murmuring and shouting in the chambers as the ministers disagree.

Our dear President travelled to Saudi Arabia for medical checkup in November last year without transferring authority to the vice president, this has led to power vacuum and is threatening governance. The minister brought the memo so as discussion pertaining the possibility of allowing the Vice-president Goodluck Jonathan to step in as acting President until the President returns from his never ending trip. It is strange that for the first time Nigerians are clamoring for a president, they are clamoring for vice president to take over, and to our uttermost surprise those who are gaining form the ill president are putting themselves first rather than putting their country and the overall good of the country at heart. I ask myself, why would a country stay without a President for over 65 days and expect things to go well? God knows how the budget was approved; just maybe a stranger signed the budget.

Some of the ministers who could not speak out but murmured all the way, said the Abdul Mutallab’s case was treated in less than 5 hours when the memo was presented, but why is this different? Why would this sensitive issue bring so much dust into the eyes of Nigerians, it is no news that the fuel situation as gone from bad to worse, you even can’t find black market to buy. Well this has opened another can of worms as it has further divided the cabinet, those in support of power transfer and those who want Yar’adua to hold on to power. The memo was however withdrawn from the ministers and they told her that if the memo leaks to the press, she would be held responsible for it. The secretary to the Government of the federation personally went round to collect the memo which was served to all 42 ministers.

Gossip has it that in the memo she restated her commitment to the President but was concerned about how his absence had stalled government business and led to some unconstitutional actions. She said some permanent secretaries are still waiting to be sworn in; as a result most ministers are working without a permanent secretary. Also she said the amnesty deal is under threat as the absence of the president poses threat to the militants as regards the credibility of the deal. The renewed threat is a danger to the country, I guess this all makes sense but because of the selfishness of people, they refuse to see beyond their pockets and their selfish interest. Still on the gossip, I learnt that some of the ministers were happy that someone had to step up to do this, but for the Nigeria I know, I won’t be surprised to hear tomorrow that she was changed to another ministry or just maybe an allegation was brought on her and she is been investigated, then she is in prison, just because she believed in something that is right. My Nigeria!! Na wa.

On the other scene, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari, has resigned his membership of the party as a result of irreconcilable differences. This is another dent to the party; politics is always politics as people would still try to outsmart others. It was a good end of deal as both parties claimed they appreciated each other’s contributions to the growth of the party and wish themselves well in future.

Just to add to the trail of events happening now, court has refused el-Rufai’s attempt to stop arrest. His move to stop securities from arresting, detaining and prosecuting him on the basis of the recommendations from the joint senate committee on FCT and housing. The worse is yet to be heard about this man who has done so well in bring FCT to the real state, who made the capital one of the most beautiful and planned place in Nigeria, now those who bought properties in the wrong places are after him, well so I think sha..lol 
Let’s keep our fingers together as the best would come of our dear country, we pray that the best would show soon.