What is going on?

As the reports of the recent killings in kaduna, northwestern Nigeria
filter into my ears, I just think 'Its just absolutely crazy'.
Everyone should join in fighting this madness of killing innocent
citizens whether christians or muslims. This should not happen, we
ordinary citizens should not allow the callous and selfish leaders we
have use us as pawns in exterminating ourselves. I live in the midst
of hausa muslims in lagos and I don't feel threatened in their midst.
We can live together in peace only if we seek to find the true cause
of this atrocity prevailing in Nigeria instead of chasing mundane
issues and inflaming the polity further. Flipping through pages these
days is akin to read obituaries, editors no longer consider as big
news reports of 10 or less people dying. So much essence of life has
been eroded that life in itself now means little or nothing in
Nigeria.

The outraging thing about all these is that it was never this way.
Though I grew up knowing Nigeria to be a place where anything goes, I
never knew it would one day come to this sorry pass, where no one is
sure of seeing the next minute anylonger. The more I try to do the
analysis of the situation unpartially and passionately as my creed as
a de facto journalist behoves of me, the more hazy the situation
becomes.

Come to think of it. If the boko haram fundamentalists insist that
they are fighting for the entronement of sharia in their region, does
it entail exterminating others who are not inclined to their faith?
Though I'm not too versed in the Quran, I'm quite certain that no
where was it written by the Holy Prophet Mohammed (peace be unto him)
that arson, carnage, annihilation and destruction of lives and
properties without cause are proper ways to propagate the sacred
teachings of islam.

Its is also with much aghast I listen and watch the almost.
Irrelevant leaders we are unfortunate to be governed by comment
on the series of atrocities been committed in the country. I do
suspect that they may even have written their 'comdemnation' and
'consolation' speeches in advance since the killings are now a routine
affair akin to a past time or a recreation to the beasts who carry
them out.

Under no circumstances can the wiping out of whole families and
extinguishing lineages be justified. At the moment, Nigeria still been
a united nation gives every Nigerian the right to reside and interact
wherever he or she chooses so far no laws are been broken.
Come to think of it, we all cry of racism we suffer in some part of
the westen world, is what is happening in Nigeria not akin to racism
of blacks against blacks?. My recent travels around the south east
afforded me opportunities to experience so many things I had hitherto
seen only on tv. In the north, you hear of sabo gari otherwise known
as stranger's quaters, in the east, just after entering Abia state,
there is a settlement populated by northerners which can be rightly
termed as a strangers hub as no easterner resides there.

All these are the root of the conflicts since the country is already
polarised not just along religious lines but also along tribal
lines.the yorubas are gunning for regional autonomy, igbos fighting
for the actualization of biafra, northerners seeking a free state or a
untied Nigeria where sharia reigns. Its now scary since so many
Nigerians don't care about whatever happens to the country. Speaking
to so many people on the state of the nation, I could rightly say that
they all are frustrated if not completely hopeless on the state of
affairs in the country. Though I'm still an ardent believer in a
united Nigeria (just like PM Cameron is stuanch believer in the United
Kingdom), my hope is continaully be weaned of its potency that at the
moment I only hope that Nigeria survives beyond 2015.

On the last note, reading the comments made on so many online
platforms, I appeal to evryone, use your words well, as almost all of
what is happening is the fallout of a wrong word said and a wrong
meaning read into it.

(To be continued)

My tribute to the victims of the DANA air crash of 3 june 2012.

They may be gone but not forgotten, their lives cut short but definitely their memories live on. The passengers of the ill fated dana flight, and the occupants of the building that the plane crashed into on the 3rd of june 2012 though dead, deserve not to have died. The nationals from different countries but chiefly from Nigeria who perished in the crash did so because of the endless sleaze going on in Nigeria's aviation sector. Though I am not one of the many bloggers or columnist who just go on to apportion blame to whoever their pen or pad falls on, but in this case I think the actual cause of the crash that claimed a whooping 160 lives and still counting at the time of writing this report is NEGLIGENCE, on the part of the airline authorities, the aviation ministry and its attendant comatose (except in the area of collecting bribes) agencies, and the government.
Though, they are gone and can't be brought back, their memories should serve a worthy purpose, if not for anything but to make sure their souls find peace. To start with, a thorough investigation should be carried out to ascertain the culpability of everyone who is involved directly or indirectly with the crash. There should be severe consequences for anyone found wanting no matter how highly placed since none of the late victims of the crash was worth nothing-everylife been precious.
I am not advocating for a witch hunt but a thorough overhauling of the aviation sector, the team at the helm of affairs at the agencies should take the noble path and resign to pave way for those who would do a complete clean up inorder to avoid such carnage again.there should be upgrading of the facilities at our airports, its as shame for Nigeria despite its enormous resources to still be using outdated technology. The lives of the so many more who would travel through our airports should be protected starting from now. The victims of the crash should be given a fitting farewell not by the millions been paid to their relatives(though required to ease the pain) , but by an improvement in Nigeria's aviation sector so their untimely and most gruesome deaths would not be in vain.
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