ADEREMI'S NOTEBOOK

Internet and Kenya Elections (0)

Since the announcement of the “flawed” elections results in Kenya, the country is now on the verge of becoming a police state. Apparently there has been a complete media blackout. White African has post about how the internet is making all difference in Kenya. Blogs, skype and forums (via sms) are now the only sources of news.

World’s Most Influential People (1)

Source: Delicious, original artist unknown
World’s Most Influential People: check it out. Some faces are missing and you will probably wonder what some heads are doing there, Mike Tyson?
Update: names now available

Evelyn Waugh said (0)

Punctuality is the virtue of the bored

Evelyn Waugh’s quote brings two things to my mind. Ignore the first, the second-Naija parties!!! (via Paul Kedrosky)

Branson’s letter to Virgin Atlantic cabin crew (0)

The Times has published Richard Branson’s letter which was sent to Virgin Atlantic cabin crew as they prepare to strike this month.

Virgin Atlantic has never had any handouts and therefore to survive we have to keep our costs under control.
…
I’m afraid that those in the union who compare Virgin Atlantic with British Airways are being very unrealistic. It’s like comparing chalk with cheese
…
For some of you more pay than Virgin Atlantic can afford may be critical to your lifestyle and if that is the case you should consider working elsewhere. For the vast majority of you, the pay rise you were offered was the best in the industry this year, which is why the union strongly recommended it. I’d urge you not to put at risk our ability to solve this dispute by messing up our customers’ travel plans.

Considering the number of airlines (especially the American ones) that have gone bankrupt in recent years, Branson and his management have drawn the line. Virgin Altantic has suggested that “unhappy workers” should look elsewhere if they want a bigger wage packet.

— New Yorker has a long piece on Benazir Bhutto from 1993. Also check out the interactive timeline by NY times. Jemima Khan writes in the Telegraph about Benazir’s time as prime minister. #

EFCC chairman goes back to school (0)

Nuhu Ribadu, EFCC Chairman (André Clark Utvik/NA24)

It was always a question of when. Last thursday, Federal police head Mike Okiro said the EFCC chairman, will take a compulsory leave to enable him participate in the management course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Study, Kuru.

Nothing wrong with sending Ribadu back to school. It is routine for high flyers to be redeployed into other roles. However, the timing is somewhat convenient. Since the begining of the year, the commission has been focused on gathering evidence to prosecute former states governors. In December, the commission arrested James Ibori, over allegations of corruption and money-laundering. The former governor of Delta state is considered a close ally of Nigerian president Umaru Yar’Adu.

Ribadu built the commission from nothing back in 2003, putting momentum and confidence back into fight against corruption. The EFCC is an institution and should not be dependent on one man. As Wole Soyinka noted this is not the issue at hand;

Ribadu’s removal is not an individual predicament. The situation here does not permit of the familiar cliche of any one individual being less than an institution or agency - no, that is not the issue! The issue is that an effective agency has been tampered with, unnecessarily, but with transparent motivations that constitute an assault on the corporate integrity of the nation. The trust of the nation has been abused - that is the issue

A new chairman needs to be appointed quickly. Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, the operations director would have been the obvious choice to lead the charge. I hear he is also going back to school.

— 101 Things You Need To Relocate To Nigeria by Godson Offoaro #

— A short story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was featured in the FT over the weekend. (PDF). #

— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala talks about the opportunities in Africa. #

Sound Sultan - Motherland (4)

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I finally found this tune by Sound Sultan. Enjoy!