Dokpesi vs Jonathan

Nigerians are being treated to a weird drama: A prominent media mogul seems determined to face down the president of the federation! They are both important sons of the Niger Delta region, and are both interested in the 2011 presidential election - one as aspirant, the other as campaign manager for another aspirant; all three members of the ruling party!! Throw the Oct 1 bomb blasts in the mix, including the security-quizzing of Dr Raymond Dokpesi, and we have an intriguing saga in the making!!!

Now, allegations and counter-allegations are flying and clashing around, making things messier and somewhat murkier. The final truth is weeks or months away. Is it years? We wait.

President Goodluck Jonathan must do his job as president and avoid negative politics, Dr Dokpesi must keep his focus on his job as campaign manager of ex-military president Ibrahim Babangida. Let the security agencies do their job on the bomb blasts, and AIT management do their job on the FIFA Under-17 bills charged to the FGN.

If I were these gentlemen, I'll put NIGERIA first in all thoughts, posturing, actions and prayers. Both of them can do with some intervention from GENUINE Nigerian Elders. Now.

If I Were American Voters

There is something great about believing and doing CHANGE. America has both the capacity and the capability. They must exercise these uncommon qualities NOW, and beyond.

The first test is the November mid-term elections: voters should change the wrong people - as persons, individuals - not scapegoating political parties. There are good and bad legislators in all parties, fair and foul governors in all regions. We read the opinion polls but this is my humble view.

The second test is OBAMA: voters must help him lead America confidently by protecting their mandate - his presidency. This, both within his own party and amongst the opposition. Change is not easy - Americans must endure and persevere.

The final test is REALITY: voters should realize and recognize that our world is changing, and the old order is waning. No nation can go it alone - as the world economic crises have shown. With two wars and low image ratings home and abroad, voters must put America back where she belongs: strong, fair and favoured - promoting justice, prosperity and a true Global Village.

Get the right "politicians" into office and the right policies will verily follow. Technocrats and bureaucrats do what they be asked.

If I were American Voters, meaning ALL AMERICANS, the window opens this NOVEMBER!
As an admirer of this great nation, and a fellow Global Villager, I say "May God Bless America and lead her aright". Amen.

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!!

If I Were Israeli and Palestinian Leaders

Hardly anyone can feel the absence of peace, and thus the urgent need for it, than the peoples - the natives, citizens and residents - of Israel and Palestine. We their friends and well-wishers can both empathize and sympathize but we can only help them to make peace. We cannot make the tough decisions for them!

The world is changing and the leaders of both peoples must rise to the challenge this intractable project poses. Where will we be in 20 years if we do not make peace today? What will our dear children and their children say of us if we hand them this ticking time-bomb? Pray, who be the ultimate loser of this endless strife? Where else will Israel and Palestine be if not TOGETHER, as two peaceful and cooperating neighbours living side by side, meant to live together in PEACE?

The cost of leadership is pain, excruciating pain. Both Prime Minister Benjamin Nethanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbass painfully and personally know this - and thank God they do! We must then assure them that we also know THEY can make the toughest decisions because we know their "strength". We are grateful that the two cabinets have enough links and reach to back them. The peoples are yearning. The world is pledging. What an opening!

If I were these men, I will seize the moment. With the current realities of our globalizing world, they will find unfathomable goodwill in every country for the task. Would there be opposition? Of course. But we must listen to all sides and FIRMLY side with peace. Then, we must proceed to lovingly bring dissenters on board.

Dear Leaders, time is short! May God guide and guard you, help and honour you.

We wait.