The Media on Nigeria's 2011 Elections

I have a secret wish: I hope all the friends of Nigeria will help her confront all the enemies of her democracy! And do it fast and furious, faithfully and fearlessly, with pride and honour, as once and future. Oh, I pray for the total routing of those brigands, those unbelievers, those barriers, those barracudas, who have sworn to keep her down for aye! Una don fail this time.

If I were the Nigerian Media, I will be doing what our forebears did in the beginning: they fought the colonialists to a stand-still, and won! The media should be fighting the enemies of state, the enemies of our democracy, the enemies of The Press, the looters and launderers of the nation's treasury. Deny them space and spin. Elevate the just. Celebrate true patriots. Fight, folks, fight the good fight!

Why? Why not - isn't that our constitutional role, out patriotic duty? See how horrendous it costs to consume media products in Nigeria, including ICT which is its modern backbone! Deliberate strangulation to keep the press impotent, and the people ignorant, isn't it? But dem go fail this time.

If I were the Nigerian Media, I no go gree o! We will join the battle to free the land, again. This time, for good.

Our tool? 2011 General Elections.

Expose 'em! Period.

Apologies Again? YES!

Anyone who knows Nigeria and Nigerians knows that we are very passionate about our dear nation, and go the extra mile to mull over her. We will not be put down or held down. Ask the colonialists, ask the military, ask the Third Termists! Read up on the Nigeria vs Niger Delta conundrum. Ask the so-called "cabal" that held our late President Yar'Adua and his regime by the jugular! Just to add a more current scent, ask our soccer (mis)representatives - the Super Eagles (?) – to the just-concluded FIFA World Cup in South Africa: For earning us such a poor grade, and not rising to the challenge of making Africa proud in the first-ever mundial on African soil, they are being roasted! This, despite our criminal and incriminating absence of focus, bad and improper coordination, the palpable fraud in sports administration - not unlike everywhere else - late and inadequate preparation, and an ageing squad!!

Followers of this site may recall my passion and commitment when all was well. So, for me to be off - sort of AWOL - all these months is the most painful and depressing blow my country has dealt me thus far. Recall, dear friends, that we've had hitches and glitches before: Internet Access wahala. And the usual apologies followed. However, this time, it became very clear that there was a plot to "under-DIGITALize" the nation! The official national carrier, NITEL, had been "cornered" along with SAT-3, the submarine cable. As my preferred ISP and Nigeria's Internet backbone, we have been virtually crippled in the last 20+ months! I got very angry and decided to await the Glo-1 and Main One submarine cables being deployed by some great patriots Mike Adenuga (I told you before) and Fola Adeola (founder of GTB Bank) + Ms Opeke (a Telecoms Amazon). I will revisit this subject sometime soon.

If it cost these firms less than US$1.5bn to land their cables in West Africa, we could have wired up the Whole of Africa with US$5bn a few years back. Yet, Nigeria paid over US$15bn to exit her so-called "external debt", to the London and Paris Clubs of Creditors!! Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria & South Africa should have paid US$5bn to put their continent on a 21st Century Internet pedestal, under the proud auspices of the African Union. It would have been easier, cheaper and faster. Thank God for our conscientious compatriots and their likes around Africa, and within the African Diaspora.

Returning to my blogs, and remaining online, was my only condition for re-subscribing to any ISP. I have used most of what was on offer, and, along with other nationals, the story has been sad. So sad. Since you are reading this, it means I'm fairly confident I now have a good deal. Well, I hope!

My apologies to you all. If you had any lashes for my back for going AWOL, spare them: I've groaned under the harshest possible punishment: not being able to "speak" with you, "share" with you, in this privileged and enthralling zone of our Online Commons!!