And Four Other Things…

SCHOOLBOY ERROR

Mrs Lauretta Onochie’s nomination as an INEC national electoral commissioner was opposed because she is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) — but the senate said it rejected her on the basis of federal character. Delta state, where she comes from, already has a national commissioner. Now, this is serious. When President Buhari was nominating her, was he not aware that Delta already has a commissioner? Can one state have two of the 12 slots for national commissioners? How did that pass scrutiny before her name was sent? There are just too many things about this government that expose its quality of thinking and decision making. Appalling.

TAKING EXEMPTION

When a court ruled recently that Mrs Kemi Adeosun, former minister of finance, did not have to do national service because she was “technically” not a Nigerian when she graduated in 1989, the headlines said “court clears Adeosun over NYSC saga”. She even issued a statement promising to take legal action to “clear” her name — a veiled threat at Premium Times, the news website that investigated the saga. I am somewhat confused. The allegation against Adeosun was forgery — not citizenship — and she admitted guilt in her resignation letter. What exactly is this “court clears Adeosun” narrative about? And, please, what exactly will she sue any newspaper for? Bewildering.

DANGER SIGNAL

The house of representatives on Thursday asked DStv to reduce its subscription fees following recommendations from an ad–hoc committee. The Nigerian government itself has increased petrol prices, raised electricity tariffs and hiked the toll and parking fees at airports. The exchange rate has fallen from N305/$ to N410/$ (remember broadcast rights are paid for in dollars). Prices of garri, palm oil and yam, along with transport costs, have hit the roof — all of which have eroded the real income of Nigerians. However, the critical issue for our dear lawmakers is the subscription fee of a luxury product like DStv. Meanwhile, the lawmakers have not reduced their own allowances. Joke.

SOUND OF SILENCE

Role models don’t come better than Lanre Fasasi aka Sound Sultan, who unfortunately died last week after a battle with lymphoma, the extremely aggressive cancer of the white blood cell. I actually wept when the news broke. A Nigerian patriot to his bones and a responsible husband and father, the multi-talented artist and satirist was never named in any scandal. He never engaged in media wars. He was just a cool guy, whose personality and art I admired greatly. It is also so unfortunate that the basketball aficionado was not alive to witness the incredible victory of D’Tigers of Nigeria over the world’s greatest team, the Dream Team of USA, in an Olympics warm-up. Life!