All the negative energy unleashed against Miss Chidinma Adetshina’s participation in the 2024 Miss South Africa beauty pageant would not have happened if the South African political elite had socialised their people to appreciate the sacrifice that other African countries made for them when they were under the bondage of apartheid. Those of us who were part of it all are scandalised that the same people for whom Nigeria became a frontline state are now the ones tagging Nigerians and other former benefactors as “those Africans”.

When a “coloured” or black South African calls a Nigerian or Mozambican “those Africans”, it shows that his elders and leaders failed in their duty to educate the younger generation about the various shoulders they stood on to catch a glimpse of the promised land before they were eventually empowered by the same coalition of brothers and sisters all over the world to fight their way to freedom.

Where Are Old Comrades?

Where are all those South African students who schooled in Nigerian universities free of charge in the 70s and 80s? If they are all too timid to speak out, why is a credible voice like that of Thabo Mbeki silent? Has he forgotten how student leaders besieged his office in Obalende, Lagos, for briefing and collection of anti-apartheid literature for distribution round major cities and all higher institutions of learning? Mbeki and his colleagues enjoyed diplomatic cover and were extended all the privileges of that status. A few of them were issued Nigerian passports because they were at the time considered stateless. Between 1960 and 1995, Nigeria spent over $61 billion on the South African liberation struggle. How can our respected comrade, Mbeki, watch as Nigerians, particularly, are demonised as “those Africans”?

To be sure, there are Nigerians who behave badly, just as there are South Africans of all races who are veritable outlaws. Every mother does have them. I never thought that I would live to see the day when my countrymen would be characterised as criminals or second-class citizens just because they have gone to seek economic opportunities in South Africa. No one is advocating that Nigerians should be treated any different from other foreigners, but it beggars belief that Nigerians could be treated worse.

Thank God for liberated minds like Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, who boldly speaks out against the evil of Afrophobia wherever it rears its head.

Malema

Malema was not born when we were pounding the streets as university student leaders and activists. How come he is better informed and more steadfast than his seniors about South Africa’s moral obligations to its erstwhile benefactors? The old guard of the African National Congress (ANC) has failed in inculcating the spirit of African brotherhood in its followers — the same spirit that rescued them from bondage.

In the heat of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, Malema’s intervention showed the clarity of his mind and his mastery of the issues involved. He debunked claims that foreigners were taking South Africans’ jobs.

“Stop your self-hatred. Stop attacking our brothers and sisters from Africa. We are one… Even if we expel them tomorrow, you will still not get a job. There are no jobs in South Africa because the whites have refused to invest money in South Africa. They’ve got too many savings in the bank. They’ve got trillions in the bank. They’ve refused to take them out and build industries.”

Continuing, he said, “I’m ashamed today to call myself a South African. You are beating blacks, slaughtering Africans… I’ve never seen you doing that to a Chinese, Indian or a white person who doesn’t have papers. But because white people taught you to hate yourselves, once they say it’s an African, you kill all the Africans. Stop that nonsense!”

It is because of the Malemas of this world that Nigerians find South Africa habitable. Because of the force of numbers, those who choose to be xenophobic would feel that Nigerians are choking them because they run into them whichever way they turn. They forget that Nigerians are about a fifth of the population of black people in the world. At times, because of their self-assuredness, they may appear domineering, but in most cases, you find that they are really citizens of the world. If you encourage a Nigerian, he/she could become more native than the native — and even add more value!

Chidinma’s Dual Nationality

Chidimma Adetshina was born in Soweto at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in 2001. Her father is of Igbo (Nigerian) descent, while her mother is reported to be a Mozambican who is now a naturalise.

South African. So much hot air was unleashed about Chidinma’s nationality in the Miss South Africa beauty contest, forcing her to withdraw her participation.

Even if Ms Adetshina had eventually won the competition and gone on to represent South Africa, she wouldn’t have been doing anything spectacularly unprecedented or strange. Her compatriots routinely bring glory to other countries in various parts of the world, as witnessed in the recent Olympics. Let’s check out the facts:

1. Germany won Gold in Shot Put through 25-year-old Yemisi Ogunleye
2. Spain bagged Gold in Men’s Football with 20-year-old Samuel Omorodion in the team
3. France won Silver in Men’s Football with Michael Olise, 22, in the team.
4. USA got Silver in Women’s Hammer throw through Anette Echikunwoke, 28 years old.
5. France won Gold in Men’s Volleyball with Barthélémy Chinenyeze, 26 years, in the team
6. Bahrain won Silver in Women’s 400 Meters athletics through 26-year-old Salwa Eid Naser whose original name was Ebele Agbapuonwu,
7. USA – Gold in Men’s Basketball: Femi “Bam” Adebayo (27 years old)

It is not strange to find Nigerians who, for one reason or another, change their names and adopt the identity of their adopted country, as the family of Giannis Antetokounmpo (Adetokunbo) has done in Greece.

Win-Win Situation

In that light, for example, one must understand the case of Bahrain’s 400-metre athlete, Eid Naser, who was born in Onitsha, Anambra State of Nigeria. Her original name was Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu. She picked up athletics early in Nigeria and performed at the 2013 School Sports in Port Harcourt and the National Youth Games in Ilorin. Two years later, at 15, she left Nigeria for Bahrain, converted to Islam, and changed her name. That was how Bahrain was able to claim an Olympic Silver Medal through her.

She is a former world champion, running 48.14s —the fastest time in 34 years— to claim the world title in 2019. In 2015, she won gold at both the Military World Games and the World Youth Championships for Bahrain. She also became the youngest woman to claim a silver representing Bahrain as a 19-year-old at the 2017 IAAF World Championships. Now, with an Olympic Silver for Bahrain, she is paying back her adopted country with laurels. What a win-win situation!

Since she has dual South African and Nigerian citizenship, Chidinma Adetshina has now been invited to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant to represent Taraba State. When one road closes, another opens.

In the universe of parables, what fib will the Afrophobic builders in South Africa tell the rejected stone if it becomes the cornerstone?

Sowore Hails Success Of #EndBadGovernance Protests, Cites Three Waves Of Victories

Former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and the convener of the Take-It-Back movement, Omoyele Sowore, has commended the success of the 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria.

During an X Space discussion titled "#EndBadGovernance in Nigeria Protest: What Next?" held on Saturday, Sowore highlighted the achievements of the protests, which he said were strategically planned and executed.

The convener of #RevolutionNow Movement explained that the first 10 days of the anti-bad governance protests were announced almost a month in advance, giving the movement ample time to gain momentum.

"The oppressed Nigerians succeeded before the protest, during the protest, and continue to succeed after the protest," he emphasized, noting that this marked three distinct waves of success.

“Before the protest, we knew what we were doing despite concerns that the announcement might allow the government to sabotage it. As the saying goes, "’Anything not properly planned is planned to fail,’ but we were prepared. We identified 15 different tactics used to try and sabotage the protests,” he said.

Sowore said in the South-South, they brought out former militant Asari Dokubo, who threatened that no protests would occur there.

He said, "In Lagos and the Southwest, they distributed money street by street and threatened people with thugs. They even announced that all secret cult members had been relocated to Lagos.

“In Abuja, they used heavy-handed tactics, but despite these threats, we prevailed.

He noted that the protests started strong on the first day, especially in Abuja. I must praise the participants in Abuja for their courage.”

Sowore said that despite initial skepticism, by the end of the day, the protests had spread, with thousands joining in Kano, Maiduguri, and other places.

He said by 4 pm, it was clear that the protests had gripped the entire nation. Those who thought it would fizzle out were surprised.

He said, "On the second day, the military was drafted in to intimidate people. Our northern colleagues faced harassment in Sokoto and Kaduna, with arrests in Kano, but we managed to get them released in time for the protests.”

He said the army even threatened the media to prevent coverage, but this didn't discourage people. More cities, including Port Harcourt, Kano, and Yobe joined in full force. Abuja continued to erupt in different parts.

According to Sowore, "This was one of the most extensive protests we've seen in Nigeria in a long time, both in terms of geographic reach and the unity of the oppressed”.

"I want to keep thanking those who participated, especially those on TikTok who kept mobilizing people. Thanks also to those who protested in London, New York, and other places I haven't mentioned. In terms of reach, impact, and demography, this was a protest that spanned all generations," he said.

He said, in Lagos, for example, there was a judgment that restricted protests to Ojota, and in Abuja, to the MKO Abiola National Stadium.

"We see this all the time whenever there's a mass revolt—the ruling class often overreaches. One of the first casualties of these protests were those court orders. As soon as the protests began, people broke through any barriers,” he said.

Sowore added that in Lagos, the protests at Ojota were well attended, but there were also smaller groups in Alausa and other places. In Abuja, the court orders quickly became irrelevant.

He said a federal judge even refused to issue more orders because they were starting to sound ridiculous. Ogun State had an order, but protests still happened there, not confined to the designated areas.

"These court orders failed completely to prevent the protests. The intention was not to manage where people could exercise their rights but to prevent protests altogether,” he said.

He said that when the protests succeeded, even those at the designated areas like Ojota and the National Stadium were attacked by the police and Department of State Services.

According to him, the judges didn't care about this, showing that these orders were not legitimate.

"As I've always said, if the law keeps breaking the people, the people will eventually break the law to free themselves," he added.

Listen to the recording here:

 x.com/timiblaze/stat…

Listen to the recording here:

 https://x.com/timiblaze/status/1824868164976488668?s=46Listen to the recording here:

 https://x.com/timiblaze/status/1824868164976488668?s=46

Many distinguished Nigerians, including Vice President President Kashim Shetima; former president Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo are expected to attend the launch of a book co-authored by Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman on Thursday, September 26 at the Musa Yaradua Centre, Abuja. Dr. Usman was Minister of Finance between 2007 and 2009; Minister of National Planning between 2009 and 2013; Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He was also the pioneer DG of TCPC (now known as BPE), among other positions he has held.

The book titled, Public Policy and Agent Interests: Perspectives from the Emerging World is a unique publication on both the impetus for, and impediments to growth and development in emerging economies. It provides a fascinating and penetrating insight into the workings of government and the boardroom, in terms of policy formulation and implementation, economic management as well as the overall growth paradigm in the developing world, with Nigeria as a case study. It is also an account of the interactions between the government, its agencies and the private sector and how such engagements impact national growth, investments and the overall performance of the economy.

The book will therefore be a veritable reference material for policymakers, technocrats, business leaders and public officials on the workings of government and governance and the tradeoffs they have to make in in designing and implementing public policy.

It is without doubt a go-to publication for universities; public and home libraries and for students, academics and public and private sector officials.

Other contributors to the book are experts in their own fields, carefully selected, based on their impressive records in the public and private sectors, to share their experiences in key areas of policy making and development. Their unique contributions helped to broaden the book’s scope and impact, and give it its unique character and flavour.

The high-profile event will also witness the formal unveiling of the Shamsuddeen Usman Foundation (SUF) founded and registered by his children in his honour and dedicated to the promotion of education in the country. The foundation’s mission is to create a collaborative that empowers individuals, corporates, researchers and students to explore and develop advanced AI and technological solutions for real-world challenges. Its signature project is the establishment of an AI and Technology Development Centre whose main focus will be skills development, innovation and economic development. The foundation will be formally introduced at the event.

The proceeds of the book launch would be used to support the activities of the foundation.

"We are expecting the cream of the society in large number to come together to honour, Dr Usman, who is one of the nation's most respected elder statesmen for his meritorious service to our fatherland", said Sadiq Usman, the Chairman of the Planning Committee.

The event would be attended by many dignitaries and distinguished Nigerians, some of whom are: His Excellency, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shetima, who will be the Special Guest of Honour; His Excellency, the Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who will be the Chairman of the Occasion; His Excellency, the former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; former and current State governors; Senators and other senior political leaders. We are also expecting some first-class traditional rulers and many other iconic personalities, including media executives.  

Other personalities expected at the event include state governors; senators and industry chiefs.

ETIM ETIM

Chairman, Media SubCommittee

August 19, 2024

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It’s been going on for years, maybe three, maybe more or less. Everybody expects the journey to culminate at the usual final bus stop. And true to peoples’ expectations it looks like the normal thing will definitely happen. The invitation cards are out, the wedding trousseau complete. She has made trips and trips to the fashion designers for fittings and more fittings. The cows have been paid for and a five-tiered cake ordered.

His people have chosen their own ‘aso-ebi’ and so have the bride-to-be’s friends and family. The reception take-away plates are ready and all members of the bridal train are set for rehearsal.

Then comes the morning of the D-Day! The day breaks like any other day. Everybody is up at dawn, attending to the final details. Some are supervising the caterers, the bride’s brothers and uncles set up the canopies and arrange for the drinks to be iced. As early as eight o’ clock, the sun is out. The bride’s friends lay out her beautiful dress and accessories, arguing over the appropriate colour of lipstick she should wear. The make-up artist arrives with her million-naira make-up suitcases. The photographers have two cameras each hung around their necks.

More than an hour later, the bride steps out, into the gleaming white Mercedes Benz G-Wagon decorated for the occasion. It rolls out of her parents’ compound and heads for the church. She is leaving her home of over 28 years for the last time as a spinster. When she comes back, she’ll be wearing a wedding band that binds her to her heartthrob. Behind her veil, she smiles and heaves a sigh of relief.

At last, the search is over. She has a man to call her own now and is set to keep her marriage vows no matter the size or shade of thorns involved.

Smiling for the cameras (both photo and video), the bride-to-be majestically walks into the church. She’s totally breathtaking as she should be. She looks around for her groom but was told he’s yet to appear. Well, and he was the one who repeatedly told her not to be late or else he’ll marry one of the choirgirls. It was a joke they’d both laughed at.

The time is already a quarter after 10 o’ clock – the appointed time for the ceremony to take off. Poor bride is trying to hide her fear. Her father gets up to inquire while the chief bridesmaid fans her friend. The officiating ministers too are getting impatient and complaining about the young men of today.

11 o’ clock! The groom is yet to surface. Throwing convention to the winds, the bride lifts her veil and starts pacing up and down, her lips moving in prayer. God, where could he be? Maybe he has a huge hangover from yesterday’s bachelor’s eve party. Maybe their car broke down. God, don’t let him be ill. May be his suit or shirt got burnt when it was being ironed.

11:30! The family and friends of the next couple who are getting married at noon begin to arrive. The emissary sent to the groom’s house returns, wearing a long sad face. He calls the bride’s father aside and tells him the bad news. The groom has left town under the pretext of going to gas up the car for the day’s activities. The old man’s face said it all. The bride slumped to the ground in all her sad glory.

Half the church erupts in tears in tears, cursing the groom. The end of a dream! There won’t be any marriage vows now. No till death do us part. Poor girl’s dream of living happily ever after with her prince is shattered – maybe forever. The wedding is off!

It’s a tear-inducing sad movie. It has happened to many women – may be more like it will still occur. Why do grooms bail out at the last minutes? Is it callousness or cowardice?

Is it juju or mental problem? According to a friend and medical doctor, parents’ pressure sometimes causes this heart-breaking saga.

“Some parents are high handed and  overbearing, especially where they are rich. They are used to getting what they want and descend as low as using their own sons as pawns or business strategy.

A friend of mine did the disappearing act a few years ago. His father wanted him to marry a business associate’s daughter – a kind of business merger. The marriage would have brought huge financial gains to my friend’s father but he already had a girl he wanted to marry. The girl he loved was in America and he too is an American citizen.  When his father told him his plans, he protested. The old man started blackmailing him. Knowing he couldn’t win otherwise, Kay went on with the arrangement. He couldn’t tell the girl involved because she seemed to be in love with him and she would have messed up Kay’s carefully laid out plans . So, while his bachelor’s eve party was on, he took the midnight flight out to New York. It’s sad for the girl but what’s the point of living with a wife you don’t want, least of all love?

But many women think men who do it are callous. And I agree too. If a man has no intention of coming to say his own part of ‘I do’ then he should be brave enough to tell the girl instead of leading her on. Why let a girl order a bridal dress, cake and the lot when you have no intention of showing up on the wedding day? It’s pure meanness. A man who can do that is capable of killing. Some even go to the extent of abandoning a pregnant bride! Can you imagine the pain? Such men should have their necks tied to a moving ‘molue’ and dragged through the busiest road, so he can die slowly. No other punishment is good enough.

And I can assure you that many women won’t let a man who abandons them on their wedding day go scot-free. I can’t imagine why any woman should feel anything but hatred for a man who humiliates her in such a way, in front of family and friends and even ex-boyfriends. Gosh, it’s the presence of ex-boyfriends at such scenes that is the worst. Imagine, the guy you’ve spurned and told off, having the last stupid laugh!

Oh, I’m sure the men will come up with different reasons why they do it. Let them. I can come up with a long list of horrible consequences of such reasons. A man who is not man enough to show up on his wedding day is an animal. He deserves nothing but painful, slow death. He should be made to pay bit by bit, until he begs for mercy. Even then, does he deserve mercy? What would you do to a man who abandons you on your wedding day?

As another August 12 quietly slipped by almost a week ago, it is worth asking: who remembered Sam Okwaraji? For most, the date holds no particular significance, but for Nigerian football enthusiasts, it marks a poignant moment in the nation’s sporting history, a day that should never be forgotten. On this date in 1989, Sam Okwaraji, a promising young footballer, collapsed on the pitch during a World Cup qualifier match against Angola at the National Stadium in Lagos and tragically lost his life. His untimely death left a void not just in Nigerian football but in the hearts of millions who had witnessed the rise of a true patriot and sportsman.

Sam Okwaraji was more than just a footballer; he was a symbol of dedication and selflessness. Born in Orlu, Imo State, on May 19, 1964, Okwaraji’s passion for football was evident from a young age. His talent on the pitch was matched by his intellect off it, Okwaraji was a law graduate, having earned his degree in Europe while simultaneously pursuing his football career. His commitment to the national team was unparalleled, often sacrificing his personal ambitions for the greater good of Nigerian football.

On that fateful day in August 1989, Okwaraji played his heart out for his country, just as he always did. With the Super Eagles locked in a fierce battle with Angola, Okwaraji collapsed in the 77th minute. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead shortly after, with reports indicating that he had suffered from congestive heart failure. The shocking news reverberated across Nigeria, plunging the nation into mourning. Okwaraji was only 25 years old, yet his legacy was already cemented.

However, as the years have passed, it seems that the memory of Sam Okwaraji has begun to fade. Unlike other football legends who are celebrated annually, Okwaraji’s name is often overlooked, his contributions to Nigerian football slowly slipping into obscurity. There are no grand memorials, no national tributes, only a few die-hard fans and sports historians continue to honor his memory. The question remains: why has Nigeria forgotten Sam Okwaraji?

Part of the answer lies in the nature of collective memory. In a country where political and economic challenges dominate the national discourse, the achievements and sacrifices of sportsmen and women often take a backseat. But Okwaraji’s story is one of resilience, patriotism, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, qualities that should be celebrated and emulated by future generations.

It is high time that Nigeria renews its commitment to preserving the memory of Sam Okwaraji. His name should be etched in the annals of Nigerian history alongside the greats who have shaped the nation’s identity. August 12 should not be just another day on the calendar; it should be a day of reflection, a day to honor a hero who gave his life for his country. The government, football authorities, and the public at large should come together to ensure that Okwaraji’s legacy lives on.

Perhaps the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) could introduce an annual Sam Okwaraji memorial match, with proceeds going towards supporting young talents who embody his spirit. Schools could include lessons about his life and career in their curricula, teaching students about the values of dedication and patriotism. Media outlets could run features and documentaries that highlight his contributions to Nigerian football, ensuring that his story is told and retold for generations to come.

In remembering Sam Okwaraji, we are not just paying tribute to a fallen hero; we are also reaffirming our commitment to the ideals he stood for. As we move forward, let us ensure that August 12 becomes a day of national significance, a day when Nigerians of all ages come together to honor the legacy of a true patriot.

At this juncture, it is germane to opine that in a nation as culturally rich and historically significant as Nigeria, one might expect its heroes to be revered, their legacies celebrated, and their contributions etched permanently into the collective memory. Yet, time and again, Nigeria has shown a troubling tendency to forget those who have served and sacrificed for the country, leaving their stories to fade into obscurity.

Take the case of Rashidi Yekini for instance, who was Nigeria’s all-time leading goal scorer and the man behind the country’s first-ever World Cup goal in 1994, is another example of this national amnesia. Despite his remarkable achievements on the international stage, Yekini’s later years were marked by illness and isolation. When he passed away in 2012, there was an outpouring of grief, but the promise to honor his legacy has largely gone unfulfilled. His death was a poignant reminder of how quickly Nigeria’s sports heroes are forgotten once they leave the spotlight.

So, as August 12 has come and gone, the question lingers: who remembered Sam Okwaraji? If the answer is not enough of us, then perhaps it is time we start.

THE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration likes to psychologically anesthetize Nigerians who are grieving from the hurt of its economic policies (petrol price spike, electricity tariff hike, devaluation of the naira, etc.) by saying Nigerians are only undergoing transitory pains in the service of a forthcoming permanent prosperity.

I have repeatedly called this an intentional lie. I have done so from the benefit of my knowledge of the outcomes of such policies in other countries, including in Nigeria from 1986 to 1993 when Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida implemented a Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) as dictated by the World Bank and the IMF, which is similar to Tinubu’s “reforms.”

I have also made recurrent references in the past to countries that have made progress precisely because they defied the economic template Tinubu is implementing now. I highlight the case of Malaysia in the late 1990s.

Let’s start with SAP in Nigeria. In 1986, self-described military president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida was persuaded by the IMF and the World Bank to “restructure and diversify” Nigeria’s economy.

The restructuring and diversification led to the removal of subsidies on petrol (all past regimes called petrol price spikes “subsidy removal”), devaluation of the naira (now it’s known by the fancy term “floating of the naira”), deregulation (that is, allowing market forces to regulate the economy while the government takes the back seat), privatization (i.e., selling off of Nigeria’s national patrimony to a few moneybags), etc.

The immediate aftereffect of this IMF-endorsed “restructuring” (Tinubu calls his “reform”) of the economy was a never-before-seen inflationary conflagration, which eroded the purchasing power of the average Nigerian. It produced widespread hardship similar to what Nigerians are going through at this moment.

Petrol price spike and privatization led to job losses and a deepening of the unemployment crisis. Reduction in government spending, particularly on social services, led to declines in healthcare and education quality. Poverty rates also increased as a direct consequence of the removal of subsidies for fuel and basic services.

I distinctly remember all the rhetorical maneuvers that officials of the IBB regime used to fray nerves, and they are awfully similar to what honchos of the Tinubu regime now use: it will get worse before it gets better, there is light at the end of the tunnel, there is no gain without pain, Nigeria simply can’t afford to fund subsidies, our economy would collapse if we don’t restructure the economy, the current system is unsustainable, we’ll all smile and appreciate the wisdom of this temporary sacrifice when the gains start coming, etc.

By 1993 when IBB left power, Nigeria became firmly secured in the economic toilet. Manufacturing collapsed, social unrest rose, and brain drain (which is now called “japa”) started and blossomed, and hopelessness was democratized.

Someone very close to IBB who nonetheless opposed his IMF-backed economic “restructuring” told me he asked one of IBB’s IMF/World Bank-appointed finance ministers a few years ago what happened to the “gains” they promised would replace the “pains” people underwent between 1986 and 1993?

He reported him as saying the gains didn’t materialize because the “restructuring” wasn’t implemented faithfully. Meanwhile, thousands of people died, and millions of people were destabilized because of this “restructuring.” I can bet that Tinubu and his defenders would give the same excuse when they dig Nigeria deeper into the depths of despair at the end of their “reforms.”

In a 1995 report titled “Structural Adjustment and the Spreading Crisis In Latin America,” we see the same scenario repeated throughout the developing countries of South and Central America. Everywhere subsidies were removed, currency devalued, and so-called market forces given a free reign, the result is always the same: devastation, poverty, hopelessness, death of the middle class, etc.

The report instructively noted: “Mexico is one of many cases worldwide where adjustment and the free market have not only failed to alleviate poverty, but have further polarized the country and led to disaster, economic and social. World Bank and IMF officials continued to say — right up to the current crisis — that adjustment’s attack on poverty would take time, but, after more than a dozen years of adjustment in Mexico, things have never been worse than they are today, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. There must be a point at which these institutions acknowledge that their strategy has failed and needs to be abandoned, and that a new, more democratically determined approach to the country’s development has to be taken.”

But it’s not inevitable that governments in developing countries should follow the IMF/World Bank’s ruinous prescriptions. Many countries with leaders who have guts and who care for the welfare of their people resist these institutions. And it often turns out that the only countries that are witnessing inclusive growth and development are countries that have chosen to depart from the hell-paved path created by the IMF and the World Bank.

For example, in 1997, when Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Korea faced economic headwinds and turned to the IMF and the World Bank for financial bailout, they were offered help with the usual conditionalities attached: budget cuts, subsidy removal, currency devaluation, etc.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed rejected the conditions. He said they would choke off economic growth, bankrupt companies, and cause massive unemployment in his country.  So, he went counter to the counsel of the IMF. Instead of budget cuts, he increased government spending. Instead of currency devaluation, he defended the ringgit, Malaysia’s currency, by fixing it to the US dollar. Malaysia recovered from the economic crisis faster than its IMF-obedient neighbors.

During “A Meeting of Minds” dialogue organized by Forbes magazine in 2009, the magazine’s chief executive officer and editor-in-chief, Steve Forbes, asked Mahathir how and why he bucked the IMF and did better than countries that slavishly obeyed it.

“Fortunately, I am not a financier,” he said. “I know very little about economics, so I do things which are not quite off props. When people tell me that the right way to handle a crisis like that is to obey the IMF and the World Bank, I thought otherwise. I actually examined their prescriptions, and I found that those prescriptions would actually make matters worse, so I didn’t see why I should be following them.”

I am glad Mahathir attributed his success in standing up to the IMF to his not being a financier and knowing “very little about economics.” It’s as if he was talking about Nigeria’s gaggle of slavish, brain-dead, self-impressed, IMF-controlled know-things who pass themselves off as “economic experts” and who have popularized the aggravating idiocy that subsidies are bad and must be removed because they are supposedly bad for the economy and don’t benefit the poor.

Now we know the truth. We need more people who “know very little about economics” and a lot about commonsense to make economic decisions for Nigeria.

The questions people with lots of common sense and very little knowledge of “economics” should ask are, what does it profit a national economy if a government increases the cost of production for manufacturing companies through sharp spikes in the cost of petrol and electricity?

What benefits does a country derive from a policy that causes mass pauperization, which ensures that everyday citizens can’t afford the basic things of life, not to talk of discretionary spending?  Recession kicks in when people have no money to spend.

How does a country get light at the end of the tunnel when its policies trigger inflation and a once-in-a-generation cost-of-living crisis because it devalued its currency under the instruction of far-flung economic institutions notorious for instigating mass misery in developing countries and that are concerned more for “their loans, not on growth,” as Mahathir once put it? How can a country surrender its economic sovereignty to a foreign entity and tell its citizens to expect a bumper harvest in an undefined future?

The only benefit of the ongoing “economic reforms,” according to Tinubu and his officials, is that it is bringing in more money for the government. And what does the government do with the money? Fritter it away in frivolities while people starve and die.

Even if the money will be used to build or renew infrastructure—we all know it won’t—if this is achieved at the expense of pauperizing the great majority of our people, it is still worthless.

Only people who are alive and healthy use infrastructure. The time to know very little economics and have lots of commonsense is now because the lofty “tomorrow” Tinubu’s IMF economic policies are promising will never come. It never came for countries that implemented similar policies.

The Police Command in Benue said yesterday that  no fewer than 20 medical students from University of Jos were kidnapped in Otukpo on Thursday evening.

Benue Police Public Relations Officer Sewuese Anene told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday by telephone that the incident happened at 5.30 pm.

Anene said that the students who were traveling to Enugu for their annual Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students convention were ambushed and kidnapped in Otukpo.

“A report was received that medical students from Jos were on their way from Jos to Enugu and were kidnapped around Otukpo.

“No fewer than 20 students were ambushed and kidnapped around Otukpo. They are coming from Jos,” she said.

[TheNation]

It’s typical for the average Igbo man to think his life is incomplete without a male child.

Read this man’s message to me on the matter:

“A friend of mine is in a mess. His problems started when his wife left him. They had been having issues because, according to him, the woman was cantankerous, and he often dreaded their bedroom because she had a habit of stripping herself naked to lay curses on him and those she claimed were enabling him to break their home.

“She would do this while walking around with flaming-coloured candles in hand. It got so bad that he rented a small apartment where he often stayed to relax. In no time, he found himself a companion in a young lady he had assisted in the past.

“Meanwhile, his wife had to travel to her hometown with their son (who has special needs). Some days later, he was told that the boy (aged 15) accidentally drowned in a swimming pool.

“His wife came back, accused his lover of being behind their son’s death, packed her belongings, and left their matrimonial home. The boy was their only son; the others are girls.

“The lady now occupying his rented apartment had been pregnant for him a few times but had miscarriages. One day, the same lady returned from a prayer outing and told him it was revealed to her that due to the curse his wife placed on him, he would never be able to get any woman pregnant again.

“He said he was so disturbed (because he truly wanted a son) that he took a break from the lady for a while. Around that time, he met another woman (a one-night stand) but found himself really drawn to her, and in no time, he rented an apartment for her.

“The long and short of it is that this new lady became pregnant around the same time he realised his other lover was also pregnant. Both women have since given birth. The second lady had a baby girl, but the one living with him had a boy. He is planning to marry her, but he doesn’t have the support of his family.

“According to them, the person his wife accused of killing their brother’s son shouldn’t become part of their family. He actually likes the second lady more but is grappling with guilt concerning the other lady.

“He claimed she has gone through a lot trying to give him a son. Otherwise, he has a lot of complaints about her. For example, he said she nags as much as his first wife.

“And their space has become a home to her lazy siblings and their mother. Almost all of them live in that house now, and all they do is eat and watch television daily, as none of them work.

“He also said this lady does not work, yet she has very expensive tastes. According to him, none of the hair she buys is less than N350,000. She also defrauds him by inflating household expenses.

“He said it’s actually in the space of the other lady that he finds a semblance of peace, coupled with the fact that she is very clean and a good cook. What’s your advice to him? He is an Igbo man.”

From Oby

If male children were destined to play more important roles in your life, life would have given them to you. But if all you have are daughters, know they are the ones you will need in your life.

God knows what He is doing, and what He is doing is something that only time will reveal. It took my parents’ old age for me to understand this Igbo adage, “nwanyi bu nwa” (a daughter is worth it).

At a certain point in a parent’s life, it won’t matter which child is male or female. What will matter is which child cares.

So, the child life has given you is exactly who you will need in your life.

If this man conducts a DNA test on those newborns, he may be shocked that one or even both do not belong to him because he is dealing with desperate women who see him as a meal ticket and would do anything to latch onto him for economic survival.

I hope he has done a complete check on his health status!

Cacophony fills the Nigerian sports space. 

From the ashes of the country’s participation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games springs the shrill of anger and condemnation. In the past one week, Nigerians have collectively vented their anger and frustration at those they perceive to have caused the country’s failure to return from Paris with a single medal. They are baying for the blood of sports officials, especially that of the Sports Minister, because the buck of the calamitous ‘failure’ of the athletes stops at his desk. They ask: How can a country of over 200 million people that expended N12 Billion Naira fail to win a single medal? 

Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Movement, will be quivering in his grave: since when has winning medals become a matter of size of a country, or population, or amount of money spent on the eve of the event, or wishful thinking, or unearned expectations? 

Fundamentally, every country goes to the Olympics with all the athletes that achieve the qualifying standards through pre-Olympic competitions, and not on their likelihood to win medals. That’s why Nigeria went with 82 qualified athletes. Of this number, how many, realistically, were expected to win any medal? 

In Paris there were 10,500 athletes from 205 countries. How many can win the 329 medals at stake? Are the other over 10,000 athletes failures? 

To win any medal is not a stroll in the park. It is earned on the fields of competition. To even get to the Olympics is a painstaking ‘journey’. The 100 metres finals will last only 10 seconds. What is required to get to that point is training hard for 6 to 9 hours every day for several years; surviving health, fitness and unforeseen challenges; competing against hundreds of the best athletes around the world for those many years; securing funds to train, hire personnel and compete in high level events; securing the services of experts to successfully navigate the athlete through the treacherous terrain leading to ultimate success; to be self-motivated and to be favoured by the elements. Which of these did Nigeria do to prepare its sprinters and earn the right of expectation to win a medal? 

At the end of all the above, those that successfully navigate the minefields and win medals, hardly ever do so coming from the blues, or by accident. They pass through the crucible of fire. 

Sentiments aside, in all facets of life, including sports, Nigeria should be one of the leading lights of Africa, providing leadership that will steer away from under-development into the bright light of success. The evidence of this possibility has always been there, a musical tune that has been played for decades in the corridors of international sports. It is only unfortunate that successive Nigerian governments have been deaf to the lyrics of the song. 

Meanwhile, we must not confuse the little incidents that happen during every Olympic Games to all teams as any measure of their success or failure. Administrative lapses will always occur. Without accepting or embracing them as normal, what we should never do is use them as a basis to throw away the baby with the bath water, or to smear the performance of the athletes with that tar. These issues must be separated, each bearing its own responsibility. We have history to take lessons from. 

In attending the 1980 Olympics, Nigeria went with the best set of sports administrators in the history of the country – a Sports Ministry and an NSC complete with Isaac Akioye and that whole generation of stakeholders and seasoned administrators. 

The world was embroiled in a crisis that rendered the Moscow Olympics one of the worst in history. Nigeria did not even qualify in many sports but were invited to take part at the last minute. 

The country did not win a single medal despite having a crack number of great athletes in several sports that were to blossom in latter years. 

Yet, what dominated the media on return to the country was a ‘sex scandal’ that never happened, an imaginary relationship between an athlete and an official of the National Sports Commission created by a journalist gathering information from the Olympic Village through the telephone from his hotel room in Moscow. 

That report fuelled the anger of Nigerians and was attributed for the country’s failure to win any medal. The country went into a frenzy, calling for heads to roll. 

Heads eventually did roll. A judicial panel of enquiry was set up headed by a respected legal luminary. Many innocent administrators were fired and the whole sports architecture of Nigeria, well-founded and running well, were dismantled and destroyed. 

Till date, Nigeria has not found its feet again in sports administration for proper sports development.

Since then, Nigeria has been groping, unable to pick the pieces of that moment of madness, seeking answers to the perennial failure, since then, of the sports sector. 

Forget 1996, the glorious year of Nigeria at the Olympics. The victory of that campaign was not deliberate or earned by any deliberate policies, or program. People forget easily that even the ‘Dream Team’ that mesmerised the world and created Olympic history went to the Games in administrative shambles. That team was the assembly of some of the most gifted footballers in Nigeria’s history. That’s why they eventually won. 

Nigeria’s first ever individual Gold medallist came from the blue, in a totally independent pursuit by a lady wronged and condemned by the system and the country. Chioma Ajunwa was not a product of Nigeria’s successful program. 

Nigeria’s sprinters of that generation, both male and female, had for years been demonstrating individual capability on the international circuit prior to the Olympics – Onyali, Ogunkoya, Olopade, Alozie, Egbunike, Ezinwa Brothers, Sunday Uti, and several others, talented athletes that came through the web of Nigeria’s limited development programmes, hinged mostly to training in America, through self-help or federal government scholarships. 

Nothing was properly structured before and after 1980 to produce a steady stream of the best sprinters embedded in our genes. That’s why 2012 in London was another perceived ‘failure’. Nothing had changed. 

That’s why, as a bona fide member of Nigeria’s pool of Olympians, over 700 strong throughout the country’s history, I appreciate how only a handful have Olympic medals around their necks to show for their place in history. Yet, we all lay claim to being ‘successful’ Olympians. 

We must be humble and appreciate all Olympic athletes. Even on the Nigerian Olympians platform, I read strident condemnation of officials and athletes considered ‘failures’ as a result of administrative lapses. These are distractions from the main issue, clouds that hide the real culprit of Nigeria’s failure – a country that does not take sports as seriously as it should. Throwing money at the last minute without a solid development program, not making sports a priority area for the government’s attention, and just hoping that medals will be won, are wishful and unproductive.

Lets step back from what happened at Paris 2024, look again at where the country stands in the area of producing a rich and consistent line of world class athletes, encourage the great performances (even without medals) that some of the athletes put up in some of the sports (recognised by the rest of the world but not Nigeria), do the things we should have done that we know but lack the courage to confront, stop the lamentation and move on to the next steps along the path to deserved success.

The Nigerian government must wake up and take sports very seriously. 

The country must demonstrate this by declaring a State of Emergency in the sector. 

The President should sign the bill that brings back the National Sports Commission immediately, separating the Ministry of Sports Development from the Commission with clearly defined roles. 

A board of the Commission should be constituted comprising tested, experienced and qualified stakeholders, technocrats and private sector players. 

Amongst other things, the National Sports Lottery initiative should be re-jigged as a major means of raising funds for Nigeria’s sports development. 

The constitution of Sports Federations should be amended under the supervision of the Sports Development Ministry to reflect Nigeria’s best sports interest and needs, with a clear and achievable development agenda. 

Nigerians are angry. They have a right and justification to be, but they should not vent their angst against the wrong persons, or for the wrong reasons. 

Quote: Forget 1996, the glorious year of Nigeria at the Olympics. The victory of that campaign was not deliberate or earned by dint of any deliberate policies, or program

Chelsea’s new coach Enzo Maresca has a Premier League baptism of fire when champions Manchester City visit on Sunday as the Italian scrambles to form a cohesive team from another chaotic transfer window for the Blues.

In keeping with Chelsea’s transfer policy since a takeover two years ago, fronted by LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly, the London club have embarked on a spending spree focusing on promising young talent.

Winger Pedro Neto’s £54 million ($65 million) move from Wolves is the standout from nine new arrivals for an estimated £160 million.

But after splashing well over £1 billion on signings over the past two years, Chelsea’s website lists 43 first-team players and over 50 are still contracted to the club when those on loan are included.

Many have been sidelined from Maresca’s pre-season training to focus on finding moves before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

“At the moment if I start to think I have 43 players it is not a good thing,” Maresca said on Friday.

“(Co-sporting directors) Paul (Winstanley) and Laurence (Stewart) they are there in charge of finding solutions for these kind of players. I’m not the guy in charge of finding solutions for loan players, otherwise they have to pay me double!”

To add to Maresca’s task he has to win over a discontented fan base.

Many in the Chelsea support were craving some stability as Mauricio Pochettino turned around a poor start to finish strongly and climb up to sixth in the Premier League.

Instead, the club’s hierarchy had more change in mind as Pochettino departed after just one season in charge.

Supporters are also unhappy at seeing players that have come through the club’s youth system sacrificed to balance the books.

Conor Gallagher is not available for selection on Sunday despite the collapse of his move to Atletico Madrid.

Maresca has been handed a five-year contract following his success in leading Leicester back to the Premier League in his only season at the King Power.

– A ‘double squad’ –

The 44-year-old’s only other senior managerial role was a short-lived stint at Parma in 2021, but his time working alongside City boss Pep Guardiola was also crucial in helping him land the Chelsea job.

“All the managers need time,” said Guardiola on Friday.

“I don’t know if Chelsea is the place to do this but give him time and it will work.”

Despite working at some of the world’s richest clubs, Guardiola’s preference has always been to work with a smaller squad to maintain harmony among his players.

And he has sympathy with the situation Maresca inherits.

“When you see a double squad, yeah it’s a lot!” Guardiola added. “But the reason why they do it is not my business.”

The last time Chelsea beat City was in the 2021 Champions League final.

Just over three years on and only Reece James and Ben Chilwell remain from the Chelsea team that night in Porto.

Maresca believes the Blues are now on the right track to eventually get back to challenging City for the Premier League title.

“The big difference in this moment between us and other teams that are dominating English football, is just a matter of time,” he said.

“Clubs that have worked with the same manager nine years, eight years. We’re working with the same manager for one month.

“For sure with time, we are going to close the gap. Hopefully it can happen very soon.”

The question looming over Chelsea’s season, though, is whether Maresca will get that time to come good given the club’s history of trigger-happy owners.

[Vanguard]