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.

Utomi: This Struggle is Now My Life (3)

After reading Pat Utomi’s after election intentions, I’m encouraged.

“As we reflect on dozens of lives lost in protest of election rigging, billions of Naira expended on campaigns even as many of our compatriots are dehumanized by dreadful poverty, it is important to extend gratitude, and commit afresh to the struggle on the long road to freedom for Nigeria”

Such words differentiate men wanting to change Nigeria and men wanting to milk Nigeria of her wealth.

This is why we have hope…

The Other Africa (1)

Crossroads back in 1960
In 2007, we are still at the crossroads

— Chippla has produced a 20 minute animated documentary on the candidates constesting the 2007 Nigerian Presidential election. (2)

2007 Presidential candidates (21)

Trae has a list of presidential candidates contesting the 2007 election in Nigeria. The list includes the usual suspects; Babangida, Atiku, Buhari and Marwa.

Remember Bashir Tofa, he’s back. Not heard a thing about him for the last 13years. Now he wants to be president?

— The Next President of Nigeria; The best comic strip I’ve seen so far this year! (via nairaland, thanks Seun) #

IBB for President? (4)

AllAfrica.com interviewed Alex Akinyele, a former minster who believes Ibrahim B. Babangida (IBB) should run for President. IBB headed a military government from 1985 until August 1993. The interview confirms some of the problems Nigeria is still facing in the very short term, only ex-military men will run the country for sometime. When Akinyele was asked about Obasanjo’s performance to date, he had this to say:

If an ordinary civilian was president, the military could have come out of their barracks about four times, because there were times when the government did things which the military would not have favored.

I agree with him on the fact that corruption is at an all time high in Nigeria with privatisation issues going on in Nigeria, however I found his comment on IBB and corruption astonishing.to say the least. (please bear in mind that he was the sport minister during IBB’s regime)

Babangida as a person is not corrupt. Corruption has come to stay with us in Nigeria for quite a long while. Babangida was not the one who introduced corruption to Nigeria.

I can’t help but feel he is suggesting that all Nigerians are corrupt, inherently IBB must be corrupt. I mean there is nothing wrong with that right. It is already in the blood.

Again he does speaks some true words:

Nobody could have given Nigeria political stability outside President Obasanjo. But after political stability, we need economic stability. We need social stability.
…
Ours is not the politics of philosophy or ideology. It’s “from where does Akinyele come?” After that, it’s “what is his religion?” These are the things that destroy political leadership in Nigeria. Some people in Nigeria now say that the Yoruba man who does not support Obasanjo is a fool. He is a traitor. That is the nature of our politics. Until we can get that out of the way, we cannot get the best for Nigeria.

I can only agree.