1 YEAR GONE - PMB's REPORT CARD

In exactly seventeen days, it would be 1 year since the current president was sworn into office. How has he fared so far I ask? What has he been able to accomplish? Is the office worse than he expected? Is it no more what it used to be in the early 80's? Well, that is for Mr. President to answer. Today, I just want to give my own personal appraisal of his time so far. For so reason, I don't have the patience to wait for seventeen more days. 

The last post I wrote before I took an almost 1 year holiday from blogging was one with the country in a terrible fuel crisis, funny that I should begin publishing  again with the same fuel kpalava. In the last one year, Nigeria has seen some of the worse fuel crisis in its history (well since I was born and that's a lot of years). Funny enough, sometimes I can't seem to rationalize the reasons behind these crisis. It's either the independent marketers are not satisfied or the Niger-deltans are blowing up the pipelines like they always do or just some other funny story. So, today you can imagine the feelings of many Nigerians when it was announced that the current price of fuel is N145/per litre since fuel subsidy has been removed. Well, let's all watch and see how it all plays out.

Secondly, let's take a look at the dollar, the exchange rate moved from N150 to $1 to well "they say the official exchange rate is N197 per $1 but I can't seen to find anyone who has changed at that rate in the last one year. Last I checked, a dollar was going for N320+. For a country that is highly dependent on importation, I wonder how we are suppose to fare. God dey.

PMB promised us security, well in that aspect, maybe there has been some improvement, because it's been awhile since I heard any gist on boko haram. So it's either really true that they have been slowed down or I don't really watch the news. But how do we explain these fulani herdsmen who are attacking people randomly all over the country? The worst part is oga president has not said a word to rebuke it. I'm not saying it's his fault oh! But when you are the leader of a large amount of people from diverse cultures who are maybe 50% ignorant and who get most news from hearsay/gossip (salt and pepper added), it is better to say a few words to pacify than to be quite.

The biafra issue of a few months ago is story for another day. I simply can't go into that now. (If you really want to know what I think of the matter, just hit me up in the comment box below).

Who can tell me the exact number of trips the president has been on in the past year. I've lost count and worse part is we mostly don't know the reasons for these travels. We still dey look.

Finally, the policies are killing us, and not softly. I think I believe PMB like GEJ has good plans for the country, the problem is the implementation. While GEJ couldn't seem to find the courage to implement and carry out "his plans", PMB is pouring his out without checks. He bans the ability of people to pay-in dollars to their domiciliary accounts, that plan backfires, then it's reversed. He bans the importation of generators, increase the light bill when PHCN (the Nigerian light company) carries out it's daily operations on generator. As I write this post, I'm running on generator. And so many policies I can't even bear to remember right now.

PMB may have great plans, but he can only succeed if he carries Nigerians along. That is one task I don't wish on anyone because frankly speaking, majority of us are a bunch of culturally, religiously, politically biased impatience people. My fellow Naija people try patient small,maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Like I've always said PMB is not the messiah of Nigeria, he may be the John the baptist or even Isaiah , who knows? We still have a long way to go.

I don talk my own. Talk your own make we hear.

Cheers...

FUEL CRISIS IN NIGERIA

Hello everyone,

I know it's been a while and it seems like I abandoned ship for almost one month now, however, I just have to take a break from blogging after the month long blogging challenge I got into for April. I never realized how tasking it would be. The reason for my sudden reappearance is nothing else but vent out my frustration. (Blogging helps me do that sometimes). Also, it wouldn't seem right to me if for the first time in my life, I was actively involved in Nigerian politics/electoral process and didn't see it through to the end. In other words, my reappearance is like a teaser. Kpele.

To start off, let's take a look at the nation 4 days to the handover ceremony. A picture is more than a thousand words and as such here is one such photo.

This is my city from my balcony. That little light is powered by a generator.

In the last 24 hours, many corporate bodies have issued warnings of an inability to function optimally should the current crisis continue. (photos of such warnings can be seen below). Some radio stations have shut down operations till further notice and so on.

Normally, I would have analyzed the whole situation for you,. How PDP is accusing APC (the incoming government) is sabotaging everything. How the so called transition committee is refusing to transition properly and waiting till May 28th, a day to the handing over, (who does that by the way). How people somehow want to blame Buhari the president elect for not handling this problems very well and even having to grant an interview where he said he doesn't believe in the subsidy (something he has always said by the way). Normally, I'd even write on how an oil producing country like Nigeria shouldn't have fuel crisis as one of its major problems at all.

No, none of that today. Today, I give you funny photos which Nigerians have used as a source of comic relief. Something I now realize has become a part of Nigerians when faced with stressful, near impossible situations. We did the same thing with Ebola, remember? Enjoy!

This is what the filling stations that have fuel look like these days

We got lucky though and the strikes, (plenty of them going on at the same time) have been called off. Hopefully, we look forward to a better and brighter future.

Cheers... 

SAY NO TO XENOPHOBIA

What?! What is all the rubbish that I hear? My ears must be deceiving me, though it has never once failed me. South Africans, what did we do to you? Why the racism against your very own brothers and sisters? This news indeed is very sad. It is heart breaking. What wrong could they have done by seeking asylum in your country? Is this xenophobia or hate for the black race, I wonder?

South Africa bleeds

The map looks crooked? Maybe that is what will become of Africa if we continue like this. We speak of being one great African nation. is that even a realistic dream? Is it possible? Citizens of SA, if your fellow South Africans were treated this way in other countries, how would you feel? Do you think that there are no South Africans in other parts of the world? There are, and they enjoy every freedom. By the way what is xenophobia? For those who don’t know;

“Xenophobia is the intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries”.

Last year I wrote this post when Nigerians were being attacked in India. I asked a few questions, stated some facts. Those facts still hold today. I blame the Nigerians for always fleeing from their country. No, I don’t blame them. Instead, I blame the Nigerian government who has made life difficult for its average citizens. They have to seek for greener pastures outside the country. These same government that has refused to implement stringent immigration rules like other countries. Hmm… I may not blame them so much, for even when life was a bit bearable, Nigerians always found their way out of the country.

Who should I blame then? Yes, I know. I’ll blame you and me, not for moving around and relocating (that’s part of human life), but for being unaccommodating. Everybody wants to lock up their borders (with good reasons too). However, we need peace. It is the only way forward.

But wait oh, is it not these same South Africans that were oppressed for so many years by the white men in the name of colonialism? I don’t see them asking the white folks to leave their country (kindly or otherwise) – no offense. Finally, maybe this is just transferred aggression.

Say no to Xenophobia, speak out loud against it. Everyone is a foreigner somewhere.

Peace.

NIGERIA HAS DECIDED

Finally! The collation of the much awaited and anticipated results of the presidential elections of Nigeria 2015 is over and we have a winner in the person of General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB), despite many troubles caused by both parties. Nigerians and the world can breathe at last. In my experience, this is one election in Nigeria that got almost everyone involved. Many friends fought verbally on facebook and twitter, unfriending themselves and so on, even family members were opposing themselves. People were glued to their radio and television sets with their pen and paper, writing out the results as it is being announced, myself included. (We didn’t need any foul play at all!)

Prior to the elections, I had no idea that to win, a candidate was required to have 25% of the votes in 2/3rds of all the states. Let’s take a look at the results for each of the state. This is for the benefit of mostly the Non-Nigerians, Nigerians in diaspora and the very few Nigerians too busy to get in contact with a radio or TV. 

*Please these results are strictly for APC (General Muhammadu Buhari – GMB) and PDP (Goodluck Ebele Jonathan – GEJ). For the results of other political parties, kindly visit a news blog or online newspaper or INEC website. Thank you.

State                              APC                             PDP

Abia                                   13394                             368303

Adamawa                         374701                           251664 

Akwa Ibom                       58411                              953304

Anambra                            17926                             660762

Bauchi                             931598                            86085

Bayelsa                              5194                               361209

Benue                                373961                             303737

Borno                               473543                              25640 

Crossriver                         28368                               414863

Delta                                    48910                              1211405

Ebonyi                                19518                               323653

Edo                                     208469                               286869

Ekiti                                    120331                              176466

Enugu                                 14157                                553003

FCT                                    146399                                157195

Gombe                              361245                                  96873

Imo                                    133253                               559185

Jigawa                                885988                               142904

Kaduna                              1127760                              484085

Kano                                  1903999                                215779

Katsina                               1345441                                  98937

Kebbi                                   567883                                 100972

Kogi                                       264851                                149987

Kwara                                  302146                                  132602

Lagos                                   792460                                  632327

Nasarawa                              236838                                 273460

Niger                                     657678                                   149222

Ogun                                      308290                                 207950

Ondo                                      299889                                   251368

Osun                                      383603                                   249929

Oyo                                         528620                                   303376

Plateau                                  429140                                    549615

Rivers                                      69238                                   1487075

Sokoto                                      671926                                   152199

Taraba                                    261326                                    310800

Yobe                                           446265                                     25526

Zamfara                                  612202                                     144833

TOTAL:                                     15424921                               12853162

The interpretation: PDP got 25% of the votes in 25 states and APC got 25% in 27 states. However, GMB had more votes than GEJ with a difference of almost 2.6 million, hence making him the winner of the 2015 presidential elections and president elect of Nigeria.

Permit me to analyze the entire campaign and electoral process till date, In my opinion, GEJ shot himself in the face. While the APC campaigned with manifesto of what they intend to do if they are elected, PDP campaigned with things they thought they have achieved. For example, you can’t come out and tell me that you have improved power by 4000megawatts or so and I don’t see light for up to 7 hours in a week. He also campaigned against APC with GMB’s past, throwing more light on GMB, portraying him as a formidable contender. The Final blow was becoming so desperate it pissed off many of his supporters. The areas that I think GEJ failed are in fighting corruption, providing power and security. I have to pay my respects to 2 important people that made this election a success;

• Firstly to Prof. Attahiru Jega for the best elections held in the history of Nigeria. Thank you, Sir, for a job well done.

• Also, kudos to you Sir, GEJ, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for conceding defeat honorably to forestall any unnecessary violence.

My elder said something that I think we should take away from these elections, “never give up”. GMB has refused to give up since 2003 and now he has made as the president of Nigeria. Congrats to GMB! Long live Nigeria! Let’s wait for the next four years. If we get an unsatisfactory result sheet from GMB, then we also vote him out.

Salut!

NIGERIANS AWAIT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS

Finally! The elections havecome and gone *phew*. Jega and the INEC (independent electoral body) are busy collating the results while Nigerians have their hearts in their throats. So far, nobody knows whih way it will swing. Especially not when Jega gets up every 1 hour, to take an almost 6 hours recess, after reading results for less than 10 states.  I wonder if he is pregnant. Anyway, so that we don't die from hypertension before the end of the collations, some very talented Nigerians decided to ease off some of the tension. Check out what they have done.

One thing is certain though, come tomorrow, there will emerge a victor. I'd love to encourage you to spread word of peace no matter the outcome. #votenotfight

Cheers......

INEC POSTPONES NIGERIAN'S 2015 ELECTIONS

This post may seem like it came late by many standards, but I'm not a newscaster, I'm a blogger, and as such, delivering news with speed is not my forte. Yesterday, Nigerians woke up to the bittersweet news that the elections scheduled for February 14th has been postponed to March 28th. I say it was bittersweet because, while some people were jubilating, others were frowning.

Prior to the postponement of the elections, many already speculated that it would be so. The initial reason though, was that General Muhammadu Buhari would be disqualified because of the whole school certificate fiasco, (story for another day). When the courts called off the strike, the story hit that the president had ordered them to do so, so that the PDP could sue GMB to court, thereby either disqualifying him or postponing the elections. I don’t know how true this is, but you know what they say, "there is no smoke without fire".

Two weeks later, the news came that indeed INEC (the electoral body) was been asked to postpone the elections. Of course, that was another topic for debate. Many citizens including my humble self were convinced that it would be almost impossible. We wondered as to the possible reasons that the president would have now to be calling for a postponement. We didn’t have to wait for long. The reason was simple, the military and police force said they would not be able to guarantee the security of Nigerians, if the elections were to hold come February 14th since they would be too busy fighting boko haram and overthrowing them. Prior to this declaration, we saw on the news how suddenly the sect released about 190 people, (heard they were actually Camerounians) and how the army had killed about 5000 BH  members. I’m so sorry to say this, but I took those info with a pinch of salt. My simple reason is; they didn’t show us on TV, these 190 people released, or capture of any BH members. I still think it’s all part of the campaign/election rhetorics.

This is the conclusion that I have to, after engaging in some debates and discussions;

• Why did I see on TV that while 30000 troops were sent to battle bokoharam, 75000 troops were sent to Osun state for elections. Are they trying to insinuate that one state could become more violent than the bokoharam sect because of elections? Or maybe it was a typographical error. It probably was the other way round.
• How come the Nigerian government and military can suddenly contain bokoharam, as they have promised us BH will be an issue of the past in the next 6 weeks.  If indeed this happens, then Nigerians, bear in mind that you have a very wicked man as president. Because he has allowed fellow Nigerians perish in the hands of bokoharam for 6 years for no good reason. Ehen, let me ask this question, "was the government finally able to get all the sophisticated weapons they needed to fight the BH? Abi na the same old weapons them wan use? hmmm...... *smh*.
• Another reason sited for the postponement of the elections was that INEC hadn't provided the citizens with their PVC (permanent voters card). As such marginalizing them and a certain percentage won't be able to vote. Almost, the same reason for fighting BH at this time, (to enable people in the north eastern part of the country to vote). They said they didn't want any cause to have to render the elections null and void. I just want to know at this point, if it is job of INEC to distribute these PVCs. Some states declared a couple of days as public holidays so that people could collect their cards. I can almost assure you that lots and lots of people used those days to do house chores and not to collect PVC. Also, many individuals don't even know which centres to go to for their cards.
• The only solid reason I got from my many discussions, to postpone this election was that elections shouldn't be held earlier than 90 days or later than 30 days prior to the swearing-in day. This info is in the constitution, and these political parties and INEC were either not aware of it or they decided to ignore it. Because by my calculations, the previously chosen date was invalid as it was about 2 weeks off the mark.

My people, there is a saying that "when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers". So, as these politicians continue to play their games, keep calm and wait for March 28th (God willing, it would hold), to cast your vote for your best candidate.

Cheers....

5 Reasons why Nigeria May Already be Prepared for Islamization

As the elections draw closer and closer, conversations are becoming heated with everyone trying to make the other person see reason as to why they should vote a certain candidate and not the other. Friends and family members have been torn apart because they hold different views of who to elect. There have been name calling on facebook and other forms of social media, even by those who don't know a thing about each other. Prominent among these arguments are the issues of religion, ethnicity and political party. However, I think I should point out (just for the record), that we should focus more on issues like security and corruption. These are the main reasons why many people who took to the deep blue sea (GEJ) in 2011, in hope of a rescue ship, are running straight for the devil (GMB), even for the chance of a little warmth from the freezing cold.

Right at the top of the religious arguments, is the fact that GMB would Islamize Nigeria once he gets into office. It is the strategy that many southerners and Christians have used to garner votes for the incumbent president. Severally, I have said that one thing Nigerians fear most (after starvation) is death. We would rather retain the status quo than fight for freedom. We watch and allow them take all our money and waste our resources. We say' "they can only kill the body and not the soul" in the name of Christianity, not thinking that we are losing our souls by condoning and concealing what is killing and would possibly kill many more Nigerians. 2 weeks ago, I received a message on bbm, it wrote on how GMB would islamize the country if he ever became the president of the country. The message talked about how countries like Turkey, Egypt, Libya, Sudan e.t.c. became islamized and every Christian eradicated. Being a person who doesn't just swallow everything I'm told hook, line, sinker, fisherman and boat, I decided to read up on the histories of these countries. Let us back track a bit if you please. From childhood, we have read the Bible stories, we had read about Egypt and Israel, and then we read about Jesus Christ. So from history, the Egyptian weren't Christians to start with. What we had were Jews and gentiles, maybe some pagans. Christianity spread throughout the world after Jesus Christ came. Islam came after Christianity. The difference is that while the Christians gained followers by preaching the word, the Muslims took it by force (much like what we are seeing in most parts of northern Nigeria), the same way the above named countries became islamic nations. What I see therefore, is that the Christians in Nigeria can only be islamized or wiped out by force (combat). If this is the case, then let us take a look at what has been happening in our country. These are the reasons that made me decide that we may already have been prepared for islamization.

1. In the last 6 years, starting from 2009, when that female corper was killed in Borno state, very little has been done to combat the actions of the boko haram sect. The activities of BH didn't start with GEJ'S tenure, but it certainly became worse. I have heard of many excuses from how it is an impossible task to fight terrorism to how GEJ is been sabotaged by the northern rulers. One question though, did president Barrack Obama inherit the al qeada? Yes. Did he do something about it? Yes. It's supposed to be that simple. Long story short, BH has gained more spunk in the last 6 years.
2. How often have you heard that the Nigerian army has been compromised? Frankly, it is disheartening. To think that the people we should look to for protection, are the ones selling us out. Remember the Chibok girls kidnapping and how the foreign community came to our aid? Have you ever wondered why they couldn't continue with their rescue mission? Think am. 
3. Recently, there has been rumours of soldiers from the south been sent to the north to combat BH, (in the name of the northern soldiers refused to kill their brothers) only to meet their doom, because someone somewhere slipped the information of the attack to BH. So constantly,  the lives of southern soldiers are on the line and been lost while their northern counterparts are sent to the south. If a war on islamization broke out today, which group would be defenseless? Just saying.
4. Talking about, notherners moving down south, ask Governor Adams Oshiomole to tell you the reason behind his decision to suddenly ban the use of bikes and 'keke' in Benin city. In every southern state, there have been large influx of northerners. The Mosque have also increased in number. Didn't we hear of the story where a trailer load of northeners entered an eastern state at night. Whatever their reasons are, entering any state enmass especially in the face of terrorism,  can be scary.
5. Finally, consider the geopolitical zones in Nigeria, there are 3 in the north, (north-east, north-west & north-central). In the south, there are also 3 geopolitical zones, (south-east, south-west & south-south). However, have you noticed that we are more divided in the south than in the north? Divided by these same issues of religion and ethnicity. If it ever gets to islamization, will the souťh-west stand with the south-east or will the south-south come together with the south-east? 

To summarize,

1. We are divided along geopolitical lines
2. Nigerian army is compromised 
3. The southerner armies are been killied so no protection for the citizens in the souths.
4. Large numbers of northerners trooping into the south
5. BH has gained momentum.

Before I go though, I'd like to ask you 2 simple questions. 

• Why didn't this issue of GMB islamizing the country come up in the 2011 elections? 
• Why didn't he islamize the country when he had the chance to do so as the military head of state with absolute powers to do so. He didn't sign us under OIC, and he could have.

Think deep and vot wisely......

NAIJA! DUMB, DUMBER AND DUMBEST

Hello everyone,

This week, I thought I was going to let politics lie but, stuff just keeps coming up everyday that makes it difficult to ignore. Everyone has heard of the Buhari's school certificate saga. We have also heard and seen different religious ministers parading themselves on TV and dishing out prophecies from the LORD like it was a hot pot of soup. I’ve decided to take these two topics together though they seem unrelated. However, they both bother on the Nigerian politics of today

Religion:

Of note among the religions in Nigeria, the Christians have decided to take this particular election to new heights. And of these Christians, the pastors and priests. Notably, Rev. Fr. Mbaka of the Catholic denomination and more recently, Pastor from the Redeemed Christian Church of God. The new year ushered in one of the most broadcasted and widely shared (on social media and otherwise) catholic masses held in recent times. It was one in with Rev. Fr. Mbaka had so badly castigated president Jonathan after “endorsing him” as the next president of Nigeria weeks before when he was paid a visit by the first lady, Patience Dame. His outburst only brought attack on him by a few not so forgetful Nigerians.

Fast forward two weeks later (just a few days ago), and the Redeemed pastor is on the pulpit saying he got a revelation from God. He ended up dishing out reasons why Buhari shouldn’t be voted into power.

Honestly, these actions by men of God are embarrassing. It is not my place to judge any of them and if they have taken any bribes to see visions and prophecy; that is entirely their cup of tea. My problems are simply and as follows

• Why are they getting different messages from my God (who I’m very sure doesn’t lie)

• It is their right to have an opinion, it is also their to express themselves. But, please not in a way to try to influence their church members whom a large number of, may be uneducated.

• I don’t see our Muslim Imams showing up on TV and airing their thoughts. It doesn't make them less of a person.  Don’t they have followers too?

Education:

My point here is very simple. We have mainly two candidates running for the position of the president of the country. One is a Ph.D holder, but is referred to as Nigerians most idiotic president by most people. His wife can barely make a sentence without some mistakes and she was awarded a B.Sc in Bayelsa University. The other candidate is a secondary school certificate holder which has been questionable from the entire certificate saga (up until yesterday when he produced one). The one I saw in a newspaper today, showed his 1960’s certificate with a 2014ish passport photograph on it, (and on the wrong part of the certificate too). No one know much about his wife except that she's beautiful. The citizens are mostly schooled (not educated), and mostly poor. So, now we have DUMB and DUMBER between the presidential candidates, (not sure who should be dumb or dumber). And we have the citizens as DUMBEST for allowing a constitution that states that a primary or secondary school certificate holder can be their counselor, local government chairman, governor and even president when they can’t land a proper job with only first degrees these days.

Are we still asking and wondering why we are in the dark ages with the rest of the world in 3010? Wise up Naija!

Adios…

15 PROBLEMS WITH GMB's FAKE LAB TESTS

Over the weekend, some lab results surfaced on the internet, supposedly said to belong to one of the candidates running for the position of the president, (general Muhammadu Buhari). When I saw them, my heart sank. Not out of sympathy for him or anything, (because the results are fake). But out of pity for a country that I call home. It reminded me of the reason why many good people of Nigeria leave the game of politics for those who can get their hands dirty. The reason why politics in Nigeria is viewed as a "do or die" affair. The reason why we are still in this backward movement with corruption thriving like no man's business.

Any medical doctor with half a brain, any good lab scientist, infact, any properly trained medical personnel who sees this results should know that they have been fabricated. Whether the fabrication was done by a very jobless individual as a prank, or whether it was a well plotted plan by the opposition, it makes absolutely no sense. We should focus on a better tomorrow no matter who wins the elections come February, 2015.

For the benefit of millions of the non-medical Nigerian population who wouldn't know what the interpretation of this report could mean, I have decided to analyse it. The first report is that of a kidney function test and prostate test. Let's start from the form;

1. For starters, there is no such hospital in Nigeria as "Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital",  what we have is "Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital".
2. When you are unsure but almost certain of a diagnosis, you query it. That 'query' is written in form of a question mark, before the diagnosis not after. So, it's supposed to be "?prostate cancer" not "prostate cancer??".
3. The department should have corrected a mistake like "chemical pathology report from" by now to "form". 
4. Results of kidney function tests (e/u/cr) is gotten within hours even in a very small private hospital (like the one I worked in). Unlike the 4 days indicated in this lab report. 
5. On the other hand, a psa (prostate specific antigen) result can take up to a week to get ready, but let's assume that they are extra fast in processing psa results.
6. In analysing the e/u/cr report, first the values and even SI unit of some of the parameters are wrong e.g. the SI unit for creatinine is in umol/l not mmol/l. The range of potassium is (3.5-5.0) not (30-5.6). Correct values.
7. Notice that there is no result for chloride.
8. At a potassium of 7, the patient would be dead not campaigning around the country 3 months later. 
9. A psa result is non-specific for a cancer of the prostate. Also, certain procedures elevate its values, e.g. passing a ureturethral catheter or performing a digital rectal exam before blood samples are collected. 
10. You don't suggest a diagnosis in a chemical pathology report. But, even if you want to, wouldn't you draw attention to the sinister e/u/cr, rather than a psa?

1. Again, the above report for a "histology" of a prostate biopsy belongs to an institution that is clearly not in Nigeria.  *wrong name of institution*. 
2. The is no request for this prostate biopsy, which is why I put histology in quotes in number 1. For all I know he might have requested a cytology.
3. The request is also staging the disease. You can't stage cancer of the prostate before biopsy ( before confirmation of a cancer), and definitely not by a DRE. Staging is done using bone scan, MRI, CT Scan e.t.c. 
4. The staging is also wrong. There is nothing like prostatic intra-epithelial neoplasm, it's not the cervix. The TNM method is used. Besides that "DRE" done, the person should be thinking more of stage 2 or 3, not a pre-malignant stage. Haba! 
5. Finally histology reports in Nigeria take weeks not 4 days to get reported. Unless, again, ABTH is so fast.

This is the correct ABUTH histology request form.

Please Nigerians, this is not a get in or die trying situation. The Niger-deltans are already threatening fire and brimstones should GEJ lose and the bokoharam, well, will continue their terror should it go the other way. What should other tribes who have never been given an opportunity to rule the country do then? Burn it to the ground? Please let us #votenotfight. If you kill yourself over election wahala, remember that the politicians would still be alive and well, chopping the money that you are hoping to get a pinch of. Be wise!

Cheers....

CHECK OUT THE DILAPIDATED STATE OF ROADS IN ABIA STATE

Hey there everyone,

Yes, it's time for some serious business. This might seem like an over-flogged issue, but then, if you haven't travelled by road in Nigeria in recent times, then, you probably won't understand my pain. For many years, the citizens of Nigeria have cried out to the leaders for provision of basic amenities (good roads, potable water, electricity e.t.c.). For many years, these leaders have turned a deaf ear to the cries of the people. They have come up with promises in their manifesto during election campaigns that they never execute. As is the normal cycle, the people vote, the elections get rigged and things remain the way they are. With the advent of democracy in Nigeria, many thought things would change for the better (it did start to change), but then how far have we come in the last 15 years of democracy?

A few months ago, (during the rainy season), I travelled to the eastern part of Nigeria, (sadly I'm from there) and it was a disaster. I visited Owerri, Umuahia and Aba, for several other reasons, and I was disappointed at the state of the roads in most parts of these cities, especially Aba. For the purpose of the non-Nigerians who read my blogs, Aba is a very commercial city after Lagos and Onitsha. (Let's compare Lagos to New York, then determine the next two commercial cities in the USA - that's Aba.) Aba is so industrialized that they are able to compete with some products made by companies from outside the country. For a country like Nigeria, where the poor only gets poorer and the rich gets richer, such products afforded people the ability to get some necessary things, like clothing at an affordable price.

Entrance to the city of Aba (Osisioma junction)

Today, Aba is a shadow of itself, mostly because there are no roads. Who wants to do business in a place that they have to either soil themselves or spoil they vehicles to get to. Who wants to live in a city where you might regularly miss important appointments in the name of bad roads.  We went shopping for some items in Ariaria International market and it was an unfortunate incident. Ariaria International market is supposed to be one of the biggest markets in Nigeria. People from many parts of the country travel to Aba to get goods for sale. When we (my husband and I) got to Aba, the first thing we were told about getting to the market was that it wasn't motorable. They said, "drive to a place where you can park your car, then, look for a taxi to take you there". We thought it was an easy task until we started looking for a taxi. No one wanted to go that way, including 'keke napep' (those 3-legged cycle-like thingy). To make it worse, we were on the same road as the market but the other part of the road was so bad with lots of traffic that no one wanted to go. 

Kent road

This road leads to the general hospital

Faulks road by Okigwe road

After about 30 minutes of looking for a means of transportation to the market with no avail, we decided to try an alternative route with less traffic (MCC road). Finally got a keke napep that agreed to take us close to the market for an exorbitant amount. He charged us N1000 for something that should have cost no more than N200. The good part though, I got all these photos. We got as close as the tricycle could get to the market without capsizing, got down and walked the rest of the way to the market. A few times on the journey, I actually thought the tricycle would turn over.

As always sycophants putting up billboards of how much the governor is working

In the market, there is a very popular line (aisle), A-line, where you get almost anything you could require for daily living, (that is where we were headed). Halfway to our destination, we find a flooded road and there was nowhere to go. We were then told the only way to get to that line was to pass through another line (entrance to the line shown in the photo below), and go round. What pissed me off wasn't just the fact that I might have to waddle through the murky water to cross to the other side, but the election campaign poster hanging on the gate. People are swimming in dirty water to make ends meet and someone who had it in his power to prevent such a situation is telling them that "they'd cross the bridge when they get there come 2015". Like seriously?! Lucky for us we got another keke napep to take us across the river all the way to our final destination. The story of our journey back is much the same as getting to the market. Multiple keke drives and walking the rest of the way. At some point, I had to get my legs dirty (since I can't fly, at times like this you wish you were a ssuperhero, lol).

This is supposed to be an international market, one of the biggest in the Eastern part of Nigeria. Painfully, this is A-line.

Enough of casting all the blame on the government, we, the citizens are not helpful, throwing things on the roads expecting the government to clean up after us. As I left the east back to base, I was fuming in the bus when something caught my attention. A passenger from another bus threw a snack wrapping out of his window, I hadn't gotten the words of protest out of mouth, when the driver of my own bus threw out his empty can of malt, followed by his empty bottle of water. I guess it was Nigeria express road litter day. 

There is a part of the Onitsha - Owerri express road that has become a major dumping ground, converting a 3-lane road to 1-lane. The government provided the dump site but instead of these citizens to go in and throw their waste products, they throw everything on the roadside and begin to cry that the government has abandoned them.

Finally, what exactly does FERMA (Federal road maintenance agency) do? Because I don't see them maintaining whatever few good roads there are. People of our great country, Naija, I beg you, place your part so you can have the right to ask for more.

Cheers

SEE WHAT NIGERIANS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN! #JOHESUSTRIKE

Hello everyone,

Sorry for being away this long. That wasn’t the original plan. I got too busy so suddenly with work. It is same work business that has brought me back to you, plus I couldn’t just let the year go by without celebrating the Christmas holidays with you. This post is not intended to castigate or lay blame on the health workers, but to remind Nigerians of how insensitive and one sided their judgment can be. I am a medical doctor, and I am not ashamed of that fact neither do I regret it.

For at least 5 weeks now, the joint health sector union (JOHESU) has been on a strike and now embarked on a nationwide strike action. The details I heard, has something to do with salary increment, precisely the hazard allowance (since that of doctors have been increased) despite being granted their consultancy wish. Let me refresh your memory once again to the reason that the Nigerian Medical Association went on strike about six months ago with this post. The doctors hadn’t been on strike for up to a week when I started hearing comments of how wicked doctors are for abandoning the healthcare system and allowing patients die. How greedy we are for going on strike because of such a thing as relativity and increment in hazard allowance and fighting over such a trivial matter as to who should be the chief medical director of the teaching hospitals.

I work in the private sector and even though everyone can’t be 100%, I am happy with a majority of the people I work with including the attendants (orderlies). I have also been in the system long enough to see certain things that the layman would never understand. So when the general public decides to argue or quarrel over health care issues, they must gather the correct facts first. Noe, fellow Nigerians, why are you not yelling for JOHESU to come back to work? By your silent action, are you indirectly calling them incompetent and easily dispensable? (Because I know that they aren’t). Are your relatives no longer dying from lack of healthcare? Because I know the federal hospitals are barely functioning. The emergency rooms are closed down for now. Does it mean you are totally ignorant of this situation, your relatives are not falling ill or you have decided to turn the other way.

Many times during the NMA strike, doctors were reminded of the hippocratic oath they'd sworn to and how they weren't living up to their words. Now I ask you, did the pharmacists or nurses not swear to an oath? Why haven't I heard songs about those yet?

Finally, consider the singular fact that JOHESU, (meaning everybody that works in the hospital except doctors) are on strike and the nation is carrying on like it’s a normal day at the park, but the doctors went on strike and became devils for fighting for what they deserved. What does that tell you about who should be at the top of the food chain in the health sector? (Not bragging, just saying).  Naija, before you start lending your voices to any argument that may lead you to choosing sides, please think deeply, if possible, write down your argument and do it objectively, not emotionally. Do not be easily influenced by someone else’s well thought out plan (most of the time, not to your benefit). It is the same reason most of us are undecided who to vote in the next elections.