SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE BLACK MAN´S MIND

  What is wrong with the black man, what is that thing impeding him from having a straight thought after a straight view? Why is he his number 1 enemy and the real antagonist of his likes? What is the black to black war all about? 

  Most of the time, we are so used to pointing fingers at others that oftentimes we neglect the fact that we could possibly be the problem we are blaming on others. The recent cheap violence and Afrophobic mayhem, if you like, in South Africa has again drawn my attention to this near innate tendency of Black people to exterminate their kind. I do not want to go too far back to the pre-colonial and colonial era in Africa or begin to re-narrate the consequences of Slave trade or even buttress upon the arguement by the white colonialists that it was indeed our kings who sold out their people into slavery and that they were merely facilitators who helped materialize the vicious dreams of our heartless monarchs. My real opinion to this claim will remain a topic for another day.   

  But with unfolding events recently in Africa, first with the tremendous and impetuous goof of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akinolu in the wake of the governorship elections in Nigeria, in which he threatened to throw the igbos who fail to vote for his own annointed candidate into the lagoon and the hate advocation by the King of the Zulus in South Africa Goodwill Zwelithini Kabhekuzulu, who called on his people to resist the coming into South Africa of other neighbouring Africans who he regarded as unwelcome visitors disputing the few available economic chances with his people, one is tempted to begin to ask what the real contributions of these outdated parasites are in our modern day democracy?

 Fortunately, in the case of the Lagos hate advocation by the Oba, bloodshed was averted because his annointed eventually emerged winner of the elections, some of us are still wondering what would have happened if his favoured candidate had lost in that election. The most painful and frustrating part of this incitation to terrorism and cheap violence is the impunity with which the issue was treated, the Oba, till date has not been officially questioned or called to order by the pertinent authorities of the State and the federation. 

  It is sad to note that scores of black Africans are currently being massacred in South Africa by the black South African people, who not too long ago were suffering injustice in the hands of their white dominators in the condemned apartheid regime. A regime which saw the whole of Black Africa unite to fight together until succeeding to bring the evil regime to its knees. As a Nigerian, I remember my quota in that struggle, a nationwide collection exercise, where pupils were asked to donate their tokens towards the ANC struggle in South Africa was a constant event in my primary and secondary school days, needless to begin to mention the brotherly assistance that Blacks in South Africa received from most african government, notable amongst them, my rich country Nigeria. 

  Today as I speak to you, black brothers who live in South africa are being roasted in macabre bonfire at strategic parts of South Africa with the passivity of the law enforcement agencies and the south African authorities. What a shame! If only Mandela could lift up his head from the depth of death to see the aftermath of his and our struggles. 

   

NIGERIA, THE BATTLE IS WON BUT NOT THE WAR

  This is that rare time when it is really stimulating and encouraging to be a Nigerian; showing the world that when we really desire, we could move mountains to our common good as a people. I have never been so proud of my people and my country as I am after the successful outcome of the general elections in Nigeria, undermining to which political party advantage the wind of success has blown since I consider the elections a successful one for all Nigerians.

  It would be recalled that cynics and international organizations and world reputable intelligence had said before this elections that it would likely be the last election conducted in a unified Nigeria, but once again, Nigerians have proved that we can rise above our differences as a people to teach the world the greatness, affection and strength in our diversity. 

  Unfortunately there has been some rants and uncivilized outbursts of declarations before, during and even after the elections, notable among these unfortunate outbursts were the ones brought about by the likes of Dame Patience Jonathan, Asari Dokubo, Fayose, Femi Fani-Kayode, AIG Mbu, Nyesom Wike, Godsday Orubebe, Oba Rilwanu Akinolu.... to mention but few.

  Fortunately for us, the quick intervention of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in immediately conceding defeat and even going out of the traditional Nigerian political mentality of never accepting defeat to congratulate the declared winner and president elect, Rtd. Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari served as the soothing balm that eased all impending tensions.

  It will only be wise for us to now consolidate upon achieved successes in the just concluded general elections which logically had some challenges that are subject to improvements in the years ahead, such as ballot box snatching, violence and intimidations especially during the State elections, I will like to implore unsatisfied candidates to seek redress in the law courts and also encourage our judiciary to rise above partisanship and undue bias in their convictions for justice. Let us continue to remind us of the wise quote by the outgoing president, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, "no man´s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian". We must be very careful with hate campaigns in the future, candidates and their parties should limit themselves to selling their party manifesto to Nigerians.

  On a final note, I would want to call on the President elect, Maj-Gen Muhammadu who has promised to fight corruption head on, to also bear in mind that election malpractices and rigging all constitute part of corrupt activities and should not be treated with impunity, defaulters should be made to face the long hand of the law, it will not be a bad idea to begin to suspend and even expel persons found wanting in this delictive acts from public offices. At the same time, persons engaged in hate campaigns should also be brought to book. Impunity should not continue to be a tradition in our country.