Still on Boko Haram | President Bush’s Address to Congress and the American People: A Lesson for My Country.

Lately, I have had to rethink my position on the Boko Haram menace i.e. cause(s), effect(s), and government’s response/course of action. On many of those occasions I got confused on what conclusion to draw. I have heard speeches from the David Marks and Goodluck Jonathans of this world; messages like the bikinis of this world which promises much, but reveals little. We have had three years of unbroken stretch of attacks from the deadly group and we still seem to be lost on the way forward. Though I do not want to be given to the buck passing business, I however grow sad every passing with the sheer irresponsibility on display by all stakeholders in the matter. Recently I was refreshing my world affairs knowledge when I stumbled on the excerpt below:

On September 20, President George W. Bush addressed a joint session of Congress to discuss the 9//11 tragedy and the U.S. response to it. He spoke of the country coming

George W. Bush: "Freedom Is Under Attack"

On September 11, 2001, the United States suffered the most devastating terrorist attack in its history. Hijackers seized four commercial jets and crashed two of them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing the collapse and destruction of both towers. A third jet crashed into a section of the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., and the final jet crashed into a field southeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. More than 3,000 people were reported dead or missing. On September 20, President George W. Bush addressed a joint session of Congress to discuss the tragedy and the U.S. response to it. He spoke of the country coming together and the need for patience in the face of a long battle against terrorism.

President Bush’s Address to Congress and the American People

Mr. Speaker, Mr. President Pro Tempore, members of Congress, and fellow Americans:

In the normal course of events, Presidents come to this chamber to report on the state of the Union. Tonight, no such report is needed. It has already been delivered by the American people.

We have seen it in the courage of passengers, who rushed terrorists to save others on the ground—passengers like an exceptional man named Todd Beamer. And would you please help me to welcome his wife, Lisa Beamer, here tonight.

We have seen the state of our Union in the endurance of rescuers, working past exhaustion. We have seen the unfurling of flags, the lighting of candles, and the giving of blood, the saying of prayers — in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. We have seen the decency of a loving and giving people who have made the grief of strangers their own.

My fellow citizens, for the last nine days, the entire world has seen for itself the state of our Union—and it is strong. Tonight we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.

Of The Wanton Killing and Boko Haram: A False Flag Operation or A Genuine National Migraine?

Save my article ‘Nigeria at 51: My Reflections on security’, in which I dedicated a few lines to the Boko Haram menace, I have maintained a disturbing silence on the issue since the first suicide bombing incident took place in the country. I mean whoever will jump into analysis in a country once regarded as the happiest people on earth; a country where the romance between an average citizen and life is so hot that the mention of death will bring their heart into their mouth. Though the infamous Abdul Mutalab drama should have served as an eye-opener, one cannot readily accept that truly, a Nigerian can commit to blow himself up for whatever cause!

I have tried, over a period of fourteen months, to analyze and understand the

My Idea of Protest: Reaction As Seen From My Binoculars.

I've read about scores of them, and I've also seen few of them. Protest I mean! While some are effective, many proved to be no more than rabble-rousing. I would have love to mesmerize you with another historical epistle, but time is a big issue. What choice do I even have, I'm feeling the effect of the subsidy already as I cannot afford a new pen, hence the need to be stingy with the almost inkless pen I presently boast of. In view of this, I'd go straight to what moves me to purpose here, MY IDEA OF PROTEST.

Without wasting much of your time, I propose a protest in the shade of the 'Bolsheviks Revolution' of 1917,

Nigeria at 51: The Mentality of A People.

It took me five good drafts to get a moderate version that will retain the philosophy of this piece, and at the same time discarding the initial construct adjudged too controversial by a colleague. I hope this still pass across the intended message.

As a young boy, I grew up among traditional politicians and political analysts alike on the streets of Ibadan; traditional places such as Fòkò, Pópóyemoja, Ìdí-Arere, Sàkápénà, Ìsàlè-Ìjèbù and the environs. Trust me; in these places you get raw, factual, and unbridled analysis of issues both within context and out of context. Someone is saying this boy is an original Ibadan boy. While these analysis and arguments are going on, one common denominator I could always spot is a particular popular line: “our government is irresponsible…” It does not actually end there as they go on to use all sorts of unprintable adjectives to qualify this imaginary person called government. So your guess is as good as the truth; I grew up as a young boy who sees the government as a slaves master and we all as slaves and that the slaves master should provide all the needs of his slave. I grew up thinking this government is an alien from another planet with supernatural powers. I grew up thinking I have no obligations whatsoever towards this superman, rather, he owes me everything.

However, over a decade thereafter, I began to see things differently. I began to realize that I am that government whom my fathers have always criticized with so much candor and vigor. I began to see that government as my walking stick towards which my unflagging direction is required. I began to see the perceived flaws of the so called government as a sheer reflection of own irresponsibility and indiscipline.

It is so pathetic that Nigerians wanted a better score card of the nation at 51; yet, the score card of our duties and obligations as presupposed good citizens towards the country is disappointing. The country is blessed with so much wealthy citizens, though Forbes list-pursuing, who sit s atop colossal investments and companies, who could have through genuine CSR efforts help out in the areas of infrastructural developments in their environs. Help out with the provision of basic health facilities, a little investment in the education sector. I recently read in one of our national dailies about a particular dilapidated secondary school in the V.I, VGC, and Lekki axis of Lagos. The pathetic caption on the front page of the newspaper reads “a poor school in a rich neighborhood.”

Our sense of decency and modesty as a people has been pathetically replaced by a culture of materialism. A Swiss friend once chide me over the internet saying “…you Nigerians are superrich people. We read in our newspaper here that our banks are filled with cash from your people…” our way of life puts so much pressure on the nation. An average Nigerian wants all amenities provided, but he does not want to pay his tax; all he says is “the money will end up been embezzled.” We forget so quickly that it is only in the dictionary that success comes before work, privilege before responsibility, and right before sacrifice! An average Nigerian youth’s definition of success is quick riches, while their formula to achieving this is corrupt practices. I give kudos to those young revolutionaries, whom in their numbers are getting involved in social and development works, setting up NGOs and initiatives with the aim of effecting positive change in the country. And by this I do not mean the ones who delved into such endeavors, seeing it as another perfect trick to achieving their get-rich-quick ambition.

It is only human for Nigerians to want to pass the buck of a “national failure” to the government. Admittedly, an irresponsible government imposes a lot of difficulties on its citizens; these difficulties notwithstanding, we all must not develop a wrong impression that there are magical alternatives to sacrifice. We must realize a bad followership equals a bad leadership. Study all the major revolutions that has taken place in history both in the 17/18th centuries, and the ones recently experienced all around the world; be it intellectual, social, economic or political, you will clearly see a common denominator; good citizenship.

Perhaps I should end on this note by saying, as much as we will like to see our population of 150 million people, and almost innumerable mineral and natural resources as a blessing, it could well mean a curse if we all do not turn a responsible and disciplined people.




Long live Nigeria.

Alamu Samson.



I have some historical treasures to give out such as a video of Nigeria’s last 7 days as a Colony, including maiden speech of past leaders and many more. To win some of these prizes, click subscribe to get regular updates and post Ur comments on all the articles in the Reflection Series. It fit be you o!

Nigeria at 51: My Reflection on Education.

“The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in another.” Abraham Lincoln.

Putting my best foot forward on the subject matter, I will do well by saying I write to critique education in relation to the role it should play as touching national development.

In most civilized countries of the world, the most important instrument of achieving a sustainable national development is education. These countries usually align their educational system to aid the achievement of their national philosophy and objectives. This view is also true of Nigeria, at least, as documented in the National Policy on Education (NPE, 1981 revised) where it reads “…the Federal Government of Nigeria has adopted education as an instrument per excellence for effecting national development…” In other words, Nigerian government agreed to tailor the educational system to aid the achievement of our national philosophy and objectives as stated in the second national development plan; 1970 – 1974:
A free and democratic society.
A just and egalitarian society.
A united, strong and self-reliant nation.
A great and dynamic economy.
A land of bright and full opportunities for all citizens.
This the National Curriculum Conference endorsed as necessary foundations for the philosophy guiding the National Policy on Education.

The education we so speak of here do not mean more literacy – the mere ability to read and write; it means a process of physical and mental culture whereby a man’s personality is developed to the fullest. He is what he is because the three main constituents of his entity – body, brain and mind – are fully developed.

In the words of the sage – Obafemi Awolowo - “if a man’s physique is fully developed but his brain and mind are left undeveloped or only partially developed, what we have is a being powerful enough to hew stones and draw water for others, and discernment that he is unable to appreciate and assert his human rights. If the mind alone is developed and both the body and brain are neglected, then we have a sorry figure of a religious fanatic who condemns everything, and everybody but himself, and whose only prophecy is one of pessimism, catastrophe and gloom for mankind. If his body and brain are fully developed whilst the mind remains undeveloped or only partially developed, then we have a shattered soul. By his lack of a sense of spiritual values, he denies freedom to a class, and by doing so, brings about a situation called revolution in which the freedom of all is seriously threatened and in some cases completely submerged by a deluge of war…”

It is against this background that I posit that Nigeria has done badly in her 51 years of existence; no apology. In the case of us Nigerians only bodies are fairly developed. Our brains and minds largely remain undeveloped, and only partially developed in a few cases and this explain why our national philosophy and objectives stands unachieved, and perhaps unachievable.

For instance, a national objective believed to be instrumental to the much needed national development is the creation of a just and egalitarian society in which justice, fairness, trustworthiness interplay with equal opportunities for all citizens. The curricular offering at all educational levels should be responsive to the development of such attributes in the scholars. What do I see around me however? A legal/justice system which seems to crisis-ridden and as such, the defense of ethics and the poor masses is in jeopardy. Square pegs in round holes; consequently, a lot of lopsidedness and imbalance permeate our socio-economic and political life.

One would think at 51, Nigeria should be getting it right already. One argument I have been getting lately is that “…even America never got it right at 51.” I beg to disagree with that line of argument. I advise Nigerians undertake a brief journey into the history of the United States of America that they may learn to argue and analyze rightly. Oh, sorry. I have forgotten we do not even know or pay attention to our own history. I remember when I went to the University some years ago to study history, many frowned at my desire. I doubt if they still teach history in our secondary schools. An unnecessary subject you say? What a nation.

Even as I made to halt the flow of my pen, I will not sign out without making a suggestion. One major landmark in the historical development of education in Nigeria, even predating her independence was the Phelps-Stokes Commission reports of 1925 which recommended among others that: (1) education should be adapted to local needs and conditions, (2) moral and religious education is fundamental to the total development of scholars. So, I suggest a total recalibration of our educational system, this time around with all sense of purpose and not seeing it as another shot at registering a political point or wetting the throats of political jobbers. It is on record that Nigeria produces communiqués without commensurate actions. Let us set a new tone from now on.

Long live Nigeria.

Alamu Samson.


I have some historical treasures to give out such as a video of Nigeria’s last 7 days as a Colony, including maiden speech of past leaders and many more. To win some of these prizes, click subscribe to get regular updates and post Ur comments on all the articles in the Reflection Series. It fit be you o!

Nigeria at 51: My Reflection on Governance.

“We seized power to stamp out tribalism, nepotism and regionalism…” These are the words of the Late Major C.K Nzeogwu led group, which struck on the morning of January 15, 1966, the first military coup in Nigeria. Like the Yorubas will say “Ìjínjí ayé won… (From the inception of their existence)” it was from the beginning of our existence as a free nation that bad governance has etched into the fabric of Nigeria. As early as the 1962s, mismanagement of resources, corruption, and bad leadership was already a clearly noticeable trait militating against the future of Nigeria as it were then. However, one would be forced to admit, at least, hat such a false start is still permissible or excusable; not even when you put into consideration the perceived ineptitude of our political leaders at that time in the art of governance. The Yorubas already excused them when they say “Owó tómodé bá kókó rí, àkàrà ni ó fi je.” A child spends his first earning on frivolities.

However, like a rational being would do, attempts were made to salvage Nigeria as portrayed by the spirit of the first military coup, and the efforts of the successive administration. From the Aguiyi Ironsis to the Gowons, different dimensions of repositioning efforts were attempted. For those of us reveling in the positives of that era, our joy of a hope of a greater and better Nigeria was however short-lived when the one widely regarded as the messiah, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, fell to the bullets of Dimka in a failed coup. From then till now, it has been a tale of one bad moment to another.

Even though we all may take personal consolations in some few positives, the largely disappointing state of governance in our nation cannot be overemphasized. At 51, with a population of 150 million people, a huge human resource base and almost innumerable mineral and natural resources, to say Nigeria should be rubbing shoulders with world powers such as the U.S.A, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, and even Japan is an understatement.

Like my mother would say, I do not have the luxury of time to rub powder for a dolly; a short man with a taller ambition best describes Nigeria, if we will keep putting up with the form of leadership put on offer by the crops of politicians we presently boast of. A people, whose idea of governance is massive looting of public treasury, and gross neglect and abuse of fundamental human rights; a people, whose crux of leadership is self-immortalization. With so much finesse, they institutionalized corruption and made it a culture.

I say without apology that the labours of our heroes past have gone in vain; so it seems, at least in the temporary. Heroes, who with unflagging commitment, truest of intention, and purest of heart fought for our independence. Worse still for Nigeria, save the few untainted young revolutionaries, the soul of her youths, and even the young children has been infiltrated by their concept of governance. They patiently wait the day they will have the opportunity like their fathers, just to wreck further havoc.

Anyway; I refuse to be frustrated by all these, and I take my personal joy in that Nigeria is still blessed with the untainted young revolutionaries I speak of. The young revolutionaries, whose idea of governance is “resist the dangled carrot and corruption, even if it means taking a mortgage to own a house after service.” To these ones I say let us fight on, for the Nigeria of our dream is realizable. It does not matter the degree of havoc they would have wrecked before their extinction. After all, God says “if only I can find a few untainted ones, then I will not destroy the land.”


Long live Nigeria.

Alamu Samson.


I have some historical treasures to give out such as a video of Nigeria’s last 7 days as a Colony, including maiden speech of past leaders and many more. To win some of these prizes, click subscribe to get regular updates and post Ur comments on all the articles in the Reflection Series. It fit be you o!

Nigeria at 51: My Reflection on Security.

Undoubtedly, the most cumbersome task to attempt is the analysis of the state of security in Nigeria. How does one prepare a conclusive report card on a nation that has been peaceful, at least relatively. However, going by the spate of security issues that has bedeviled Nigeria in the last 2 decades, the job then becomes easier than thought. It would amount stating the obvious saying our security as a people, and as a nation is in serious threat. While reflecting, a few issues possibly responsibly for the present state of insecurity in Nigeria popped up on my mind, and these issues I will be x-raying in their chronological order of influence.

Politics no doubt has always constituted a security threat to Nigeria, even right from the beginning of our existence as a nation. As early as the 1959s, Nigerian politicians with their political concept of ethnic nationalism always throw the nation into a state of great panic. With every of the 3 major ethnic groups always determined to take control of the nation, caution is always thrown to the winds. The “weties” of 1965s in the West still lingers in the memory of traditional historians. A new dimension was however recently introduced into the system with the doctrine of do-or-die politics as espoused by a former president, who still shamefully pride himself as an elder statesman. Many have even attributed the emergence of private, ethnic, and religious militias to the activities of these apostles of do-or-die politics. A Punch Newspaper front page caption, September 27, 2011 reads “violence is fuelled by existence of private militias that were established, funded and used by politicians and individuals.”

Coming right after politics is religion, and perhaps it will even be better to weave a third leg in ethnicity into the equation to make a complete case. Religious intolerance, with largely ethnic nationalism coloration has always constituted a threat to our collective security. The resultant crisis from this religious intolerance has always come with a huge price. We remember the 1980 Maistatsine Islamic uproar in Kano during which 4,177 people were reported as slaughtered with properties worth millions of naira destroyed. Do I have the freedom to weep? General Ibrahim Babangida said in New Nigerian, October 19, 1988, page 3 “…one should be reasonable enough to know that God, like the father of any household, can never be satisfied with members of his family who quarrel, fight, undermine and sometimes kill one another in His name. The hypocrisy of such statements, from our leaders, in this category I will not attempt verifying. The spate of killings witnessed in Plateau State in the past 3 years clearly reveals one cannot successfully separate religious intolerance-induced security unrest from ethnic nationalism-induced.

To think this is not enough, a new puzzle was recently presented to our nation in the guise of Boko Haram. This is no doubt the biggest issue in Africa presently. Launching what can now be safely regarded as guerilla warfare, scores of analysts still find it difficult placing what the real issues are. While some will say it is basically an act of religious fanatism, others opine it is another violence scheme from politicians who believed it is the sole right of a particular ethnic group to rule this country. Whatever be the case, the underlining issue here is that our politicians understood perfectly well the huge influence religion has over the soul of men, so all they do is whip up religious sentiment around their scheme. The puzzle for me here is how come Nigerians buys the evil plots of these politicians hook, line, and sinker. This takes me back to my piece on education where I stated: “…if the mind alone is developed and both the body and brain are neglected, then we have a sorry figure of a religious fanatic who condemns everything, and everybody but himself, and whose only prophecy is one of pessimism, catastrophe and gloom for mankind. If his body and brain are fully developed whilst the mind remains undeveloped or only partially developed, then we have a shattered soul. By his lack of a sense of spiritual values, he denies freedom to a class, and by doing so, brings about a situation called revolution in which the freedom of all is seriously threatened and in some cases completely submerged by a deluge of war…”


I have asked myself a question repeatedly since the emergence of the much dreaded Boko Haram; is it that impossible for our government to secure us? Is it that impossible to break the strong hold of Boko Haram on this nation? It did not take me long however to discover that our government has laid the groundwork of survival for the Boko Haram sect.

One of the plus for Boko Haram is that it takes root and operates I he core Northern part of Nigeria where we have the Hausas; a people spread across the nooks and crannies of West Africa (Mali, Senegal, Chad, Niger et al.). Added to this is the cultural proximity and affinity between Hausas and Fulanis. As it has been alleged, it is difficult to out rightly say the Boko Haram sect is entirely made up of Nigerians. I read in one of the national dailies recently that the federal government in conjunction with security agencies intends checkmating the heavy inflow of persons (mercenaries) cum arms and ammunitions into the country through strict border control measures. This is no doubt fallout of our government’s shortsightedness. I belong to the class of analysts who posited Nigeria should have opted for a gradualist approach in her pursuit of socio-economic and political integration of the West African countries (ECOWAS project). Rather, in her bid to play the self-bestowed “big brother” role in the ECOWAS project, Nigerian government indiscriminately opened up her borders, invariably exposing the security of her citizens to risk. It is a source of great worries considering the rate at which arms and ammunitions, foreign Islamic fundamentalists, religious fanatics, and terrorist groups infiltrate the country. This act of terrorism, or civic unrest as a political scientist friend of mine would say, is however not an exclusive preserve of the Boko Harams; we have over a score sects as well spread across the Niger-Delta region.

I look around me, and almost everything I see constitute an intense pressure on the security of this nation; even unemployment. Research has it that Nigerian youths are now shifting their focus to the Nigerian Force (Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Police Force.) in a bid to circumvent the unemployment-induced hardship in the country. This sharply contradict what obtains in notable countries of the world (U.S, U.K, China…) where citizens enlist themselves in the Army and Police Force based on passion for the protection of territorial integrity, dignity, an pursuance of internal security of their country. Such then is our plight as a nation when we place our security concerns in the hands of such misfits. What more to say when they have even told us that the Army and the Police Force has been infiltrated by the Boko Haram sect. I think with a total of about 120 Chief Security Officers spread across the nation, Nigeria should have a solid grip on such matters as this. What best describes our 51st birthday is that; it was the year we recorded the first suicide bombing in the history of Nigeria. We can only hope there would not be any again. A facebook friend asked, albeit jokingly “if Boko Haram suggested we stay indoor, and the federal government commands we do same, whom are we likely to obey?” Your answer should wrap this piece up, but permit me to ask, what does your own score card reveals?


Long live Nigeria.

Alamu Samson.


I have some historical treasures to give out such as a video of Nigeria’s last 7 days as a Colony, including maiden speech of past leaders and many more. To win some of these prizes, click subscribe to get regular updates and post Ur comments on all the articles in the Reflection Series. It fit be you o!

Nigeria at 51: An Invention to Understand.

While an undergraduate of history, I was always forced to write on Nigeria as a patriot. My lecturer will always ask me to discuss Nigeria before the amalgamation of 1914, an endeavor that must reflect my acceptance of its existence even before its conception. But then, I longed for a day I will be able to write objectively, and that this piece is affording me on a platter of gold.

At 51, Nigeria seems to me an invention yet to be understood by her citizens. As a nation, we are still bewildered by scores of problems, many of which we should have been rid of, if only we understand what Nigeria is. Perhaps things may take a positive turn if we re-configure Nigeria to address the present challenges; but if the present configuration is what we still intend pushing then there may be no end in sight to the heartache of this nation.

In 1914, the British government invented an antidote, Nigeria, to a headache experienced in one of her many colonial possessions in West Africa. This possession transverse the four corners of Niger and Benue River area, which influenced British reporter Flora Shaw’s suggestion that the “country” be named Nigeria. At the peak of this invention process was the amalgamation of the constituent regions in 1914. Welcome Nigeria!

Disheartening however is the fact that, while it seems on the surface that the amalgamation was done in the interest of Nigerians, it was actually done in the sole interest of the British government. Historians in my mould will tell you the amalgamation of Nigeria was nothing more than a fiscal measure. During the colonial period, the Northern Protectorate of Nigeria constituted a financial burden on the Imperial Treasury. With a large area of land, high population, no direct access to the sea, the North could not generate enough revenue to fund the railway construction and river dredging projects needed. The Imperial government has to part, always, with grant-in-aid running into millions of naira. The South on the other hands possesses multiple streams of income from her coastline, ports et al. So it was thought that the amalgamation would make it easier to utilize the revenue and wealth of the Southern Protectorate for the development of the whole country. Coupled with this also, was their intention to avoid the duplication of technical and administrative departments such as treasury, railways, surveys, post and telegraph, and audits, which means more personnel requirements and financial commitment. Whatever be the case however, we have Nigeria at hand.

Important for us to note here however as Nigerians is that, the British government never lumped all the constituent parts into one because we so desire to be treated as one. Consequently, the difference in socio-economic, religion, and political beliefs and institutions of these constituent parts were not taken into consideration. They created Nigeria, a people with no common philosophy and objectives. What we know we as Northern Nigeria today is known in history as the Sudan regions of West Africa. Every constituent part existed then as a State. So, it is not enough for us to just say we are one. Ahmadu Bello once told Nnamdi Azikiwe “…let us not forget our differences. Rather, let us remember and respect them. I want to remember you are a Southerner, a Christian and respect that; while you also remember that I am a Northerner, a Muslim and respect that…”

It still beats me till date, why we are still selling Nigeria, even though the factors threatening our existence from inception are still present. Factors such as: perpetual mutual suspicion, ethnicity bitterness, and sectarian nationalism to mention but few. I still wait the day our leaders will explain why they so much dread the proposed Sovereign National Conference. I do not the white men who lumped us together, knowing that the resultant friction from the imbalance created by the amalgamation will always make us a pawn on their chess board; I blame our leaders for not spotting that, and liberate us. I do not blame the “Aboki” who lives with me in constant suspicion because he felt I will attempt exploiting his perceived inferiority; I blame our leaders who failed to realize that Chukwudi, Obisesan, Ahmadu, Tega and all others treated as minorities need be summoned to town hall for meeting, where all must express whether they want this or not.

Though it is a fact always seen by many Nigerians as unpatriotic, but that does not stop us from being reasonable. We have options on our hand here; options such as: outright peaceful disintegration of Nigeria in case of continual irreconcilable differences; Sovereign National Conference where both the big 3 and others regarded as minorities come to a table for discussion, making a commitment or otherwise as to whether Nigeria should stay or not, adopting the best form of government for Nigeria. They must decide whether it is best to opt for Federalism or Unitary system. The Federalism in question here does not connote the usage of federal principles to incorporate some levels of decentralization in system of government as presently practiced by Nigeria. Rather, it connotes federalism in its full vigor. And in case of Unitary system, all must hold out to sacrifice all things necessary for its success.


The aim of this reflection is not to arouse unnecessary agitation from Nigerians; it is to help politicians, technocrats, social strategists, policy makers, and Nigerians alike decide what the real task should be. Is it project re-brand Nigeria or re-calibrate Nigeria? In my candid opinion the Nigeria we presently projects is still that British invention. We must recalibrate it to suit our will.



Long live Nigeria.

Alamu Samson.


I have some historical treasures to give out such as a video of Nigeria’s last 7 days as a Colony, including maiden speech of past leaders and many more. To win some of these prizes, click subscribe to get regular updates and post Ur comments on all the articles in the Reflection Series. It fit be you o!

Another way to lead: The British Hacking Scandal Example.

Perhaps the first time anybody, or most people on this side of the world heard about the British Hacking Scandal, was when the Wayne Rooney side of the story surfaced some months back. One of British’s most sought after tabloid, The News of the World, was enmeshed in a Phone Hacking and Illegal purchase of Classified Information; albeit largely a journalistic goof, it however has its political side and implications.

What would now be termed a preliminary or pseudo investigation, though conclusive then, was conducted and appropriate conviction and vindication made. In the heat of this scandal came the resignation of the once politically influential former Editor of The News of the World, Andy Coulsin. Saving you an epistle however, the aim of this piece is not to bore you with the details of the scandal, but drive home a particular message.

After the whole scandal had subsided a little, Andy Coulsin was appointed by British Prime Minister, David Cameron, as his Chief Spokesman (Director of Communications), a job he recently resigned from again. I was watching Sky News International on July 8, 2011 however, when the driving force of this piece struck me. The Hacking Scandal is back on spot, and there are fresh facts to nail Andy Coulsin as an accomplice. This is coming against his initial testimony, where he claimed ignorance of the scandal. Obviously, this influenced his resignation again from Cameron’s appointment. The Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband had demanded an apology from Mr. Cameron for bringing Coulsin into the heart of the British government, which he responded to by addressing a ‘non-simulated’ team of pressmen from across Britain. These pressmen churned out loads of ‘non-simulated’ questions and queries, responded to accordingly by David Cameron.

There and then, my country, Nigeria, came to mind and I started asking questions: when will Nigerian political leaders develop the Political Will needed to move this country forward, placing us on the path to assuming our destiny? Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was arrested for questioning the integrity of the Nigerian Police Force, and raising doubt on their competence; yet, British Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband still works the streets of U.K with no intimidation or harassment from the government or Cameron.

While an undergraduate, I studied and understood the politics of executives standing in front of the parliament, answering simulated questions from engineered legislators, clearing doubts and coming out an administrative hero; at least, to the unsuspecting novice around. This is a microcosm of the national experience. While Cameron will not play politics with real issues, one wonders why at this stage of our nationhood, or statehood as you may say, Nigerian political leaders still exhibit ignorance of the real task at hand.

Perhaps I should briddle the tongue of my pen, and tame my sagacious mind at this stage, lest I suffer El-Rufai’s fate. Yet, I will not sign off without asking a question that has been on my mind for a while now: What is the real task on the desk of Nigeria’s present crop (2011 – 2015) of leaders? I know of radical infrastructural development, power (electricity), fundamental educational revival, wholesome economic rethink, corruption, good governance, and mass employment generation (not asking graduate to sell recharge cards by the roadside, or join traffic management for 10,000 naira a month). Oh! Lest I forget; I also know of post-election violence, Boko Haram, Dimeji Bankole, cabinet constitution et al. Sorry, a friend seated next to me here said the latter is too trifling to attract too much of symposium, seminar, and communiqué; it only requires political willingness. But I also ask: where are those types of leaders?

There are still many more lessons to be taken from the British Hacking Scandal, so I’d suggest you stay in touch.


Alamu Samson.