And Four Other Things...
It’s exactly two years that President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office, signaling, as it were, a new dawn for Nigeria. Promises were made during electioneering, hopes were raised after his victory and aspirations were renewed with his inauguration. Two years on and the enthusiasm is dying down. To change Nigeria is never going to be easy, and with Buhari failing to take off on a supersonic note, a bad situation became worse. Many have eagerly concluded that Buhari is a failure, but while I am also not too impressed with what I have seen far, I am conscious of the fact that good things take time. God granting him good health, I believe Buhari will come good. Halffull?
In case you missed this, this is the highlight of what Chief Nnia Nwodo, leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said at the Biafra colloquium on Thursday: “Every part of Nigeria can survive as an independent country. The north with its mineral and agricultural potentials can build a strong nation. The west with its cocoa, oil, indomitable intellectual knowhow and commerce can build another Britain. The south-south with its oil… can transform before oil ceases to be a major FX earner. The east with industry, outstanding innovation and little oil may still emerge as the African wonder. But none of these little enclaves will rival the capacity of a united and reconciled Nigeria.” Brilliant!
On Tuesday, Customs told us they seized 100 pieces of black tornado single barrel rifles, 75 pieces of silver magnum single barrel rifles, 50 pieces of altar pump action rifles and 215 pieces of black single barrel rifles illegally imported in Nigeria. They were classified as plaster of Paris by the importer. In January, Customs said they intercepted 49 boxes containing 661 pieces of pump action rifles. What came out of it? They are still investigating? How long does it take to identify an importer, the shipper and the clearing agent? Is it me or does any other person feel there is no use telling us Customs has seized illegally imported arms when nobody ever gets punished? Nigeria!
Death has paid journalism a morbid visit yet again, taking away one of our brightest. The death of Chukwuma Onuekwusi of Channels TV came as a big shock to some of us who did not know he had been down for a while. We interviewed President Muhammadu Buhari together in London last year and while I felt he did not look particularly healthy, I just thought it was part of the stress that comes with our job. He was one TV journalist I respected and admired so much, and one sad thing for me is that I never paid him that compliment and I will never have that opportunity again. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones. Adieu.