Festac Town Resident, NEPA and a Wicked Government

The Festac Town Resident Association (FTRA) has sent out a circular in which the body instructed residents of Festac Town not to pay the NEPA/PHCN* bills starting from May 2008. The reasons stated for this line of action are as follows:

• Lack of electric meter reading by NEPA
  
• Extortion through estimated coded and crazy bills
  
• Epileptic power supply
  
• Refusal of NEPA to install pre-paid meter to Festac Town Residents
  
• Failure of Festac Town NEPA District Business Manager to improve on the power supply and to facilitate the installation of pre-paid meter to Festac Town Residents as promised by him
  
• Failure of NEPA to respond to the letter written by the Resident Association to Eko Zone Chief Operation Officer for dialogue
  
  
  The Resident Association thereby advised Festac Town Resident not to pay NEPA bills with effect from May 2008 until further notice.
  

  ---

  
  The problem of power supply in Nigeria is now a national embarrassment. Nigeria generates exceedingly less power that she needs. Almost every home and business in Nigeria now thrives on the use of own power generators and various types of loud machines contributing endlessly to both noise and air pollution. In a nut shell, the power situation in Nigeria is a monumental disaster.
  
  
  Rather than finding ways to ameliorate the sufferings of the masses in this area of gross social neglect, successive (and disruptive) regimes in Nigeria have done almost nothing in the positive direction to take the bull by the horns. Instead, the power sector in Nigeria has prevailed as one of the most corruption-ridden segments of the society.
  
  
  One year after Umaru was illegitimately bundled to the realm of political power, the electric power situation has gone from worse to worst. The scenario clearly indicates that Umaru and his gangs have no idea of what the electric power sector in Nigerian entails. Indeed, almost 365 days since this wrong government emerged, there are no clear indications of its vision or mission.
  
  
  Festac Town residents are not alone in this suffering; all the masses in Nigeria are experiencing similar fate. Endless blackouts and extreme frustration is the order of the day. The neglect in the power sector affects us at home and it also plays a significant role in the unemployment situation.
  
  
  In present day Festac Town, it seems that the availability of electric power is almost entirely reduced to personal generators. This means that the power supply from NEPA is virtually non-existent. It is true that cockroaches now thrive in units that are supposed to serve as refrigerators and freezers. It also cost more than N6 000 per month to procure fuel to run your power generating unit if you live in a 2-bedroom flat.
  
  It is not clear if this struggle by the FTRA will succeed or not. In Nigeria the masses have been rendered powerless and voiceless. Indeed, they always end up suffering more in the end than at the beginning of the struggle. In a persistent fashion, one can pessimistically predict that in the end, NEPA will make Festac residents to crawl on their knees. It always happens like that at the individual level.
  
  It is not a secret that salaries of NEPA workers are paid from the estimated and crooked bills that they extort from their fellow Nigerians. But if all the residents of Festac (the common people that is) find a common rhythm this time and if everyone plays to the tune/ dictate of the Residents' Association, there might just be a chance to change the pattern. A change must always begin from somewhere or someone.
  
  
  But how long can the people go without paying bills? Would they not end up accumulating unpaid bills in the end? If the power situation improves, how will reconciliation of the billing system and the severed relationship with the district NEPA be mended?
  
  
  
  I still have hope in Nigeria but I have a problem on whom to address my suggestions. Almost all the politicians in Nigerian got to power through crooked means and they remain unaccountable to the people. Many of them are very busy every weekend jumping from one wedding to another. Several of them simply do not comprehend what serving the people entails. They preferred to be served. In general, governance in Nigeria remains at a level simply devoid of purpose.
  
  
  
  A few days ago, some Nigerians were almost in tears as they expressed fears and anxiety over the announcement by the Umaru led government that the tariff on electricity will be increased. As one citizen puts it, “we are paying for electricity that we don’t use and still they want to increase the tariff, it is wickedness”. Indeed, it is only a wicked and a heartless government that will increase the cost of what is not available!
  
  
  
  *The use of NEPA instead of PHCN is deliberate.
  
  
  
  
  Acknowledgement: Useful information from Abayomi Efosa Omoruyi.
  
  
  
  

The Three Musketeers

Adeola Aderounmu.


The judgment delivered by the presidential election petition tribunal on Nigeria’s Super Tuesday was highly questionable. It cannot be based on the pieces of evidence that showed that the presidential selection process of April 2007 was a complete sham. To the best of my knowledge, that selection process remains the most shameful charade of all time. It cut across human history as the worst attempt to enthrone a democratic leader. However, in the court of law, every man is expected to prove his case beyond the so called “reasonable doubts”.




In recent weeks, a section of Nigerians have continued to praise the Judiciary for asserting its independence and authority. Nigeria has never had it so robust that the Judiciary can nullify fraudulent electoral victories. In some court decisions, the judgments have defiled logic but they fall in line with the rhythm of popular expectations. I am tempted (perhaps wrongly) to assume that the judgments delivered to date are actually not based on the rule of law but on the individuals involved and the expectations of the majority.




It would be nice to feel the rhythm of the general population in Nigeria through an opinion poll so that one can ascertain if the judgments given on the 27th of February followed the same pattern (which is the expectation of the majority). From my own myopic angle, what I see is a preferential judgment based on the three musketeers who are vying for the nation’s top job. I see a judiciary that would rather not add an additional baggage to a boat already in a rocky motion.




I think the judgment was rather an answer to a simple question: between Atiku, Buhari and Yar Adua, in whose hands is Nigeria safer and less corrupt in the next 4 years? The opposition as represented by Buhari and Atiku does not signify anything good for Nigeria.




Buhari was a former coup plotter who had violently and forcefully overthrown democratic governments in the past. He has no business to aspire to be a democratic president. People like him and Babangida should be facing charges relating to treasonable felony. He has been faulted for his religious inclination and apparent non-tolerance of people of divergent beliefs. He must never be allowed to be a civilian president. He has contributed enough to the destruction in Nigeria as a coup plotter and military head.




Atiku is a very corrupt man. As a civil servant he became stupendously rich probably looting and stealing government funds. How can he defend all the wealth that he amassed while in public service? As the vice-president who masterminded the rigging of elections in 1999 and 2003, he has no morality on the issues at stake. He stole so much that he dipped his hand into Petroleum Development Funds and got carried away with it. All the monies stolen by Atiku and his boss Obasanjo were made public knowledge during the third term war of Obasanjo with the rest of the country. How can we forget? When will the likes of Obasanjo and Atiku answer for their corrupt charges. They are the ones who told us how and when they stole!




Somehow, no matter how devilish and anti-democratic the judgment of the court appears, we are still left with very bad people trying to take control of our lives. Let Buhari and Atiku go and sit down. They should return all the monies that they have stolen from Nigeria. Rather than going to the Supreme Court and wasting more looted money, they should give the money to charity or to the 90% of Nigerians who don’t have 2 dollars to spend in a day.




Yar’ Adua must be smiling now. He has a right to be the president of Nigeria but it is good that he has acknowledged that the process (not election) that brought him to power were very fraudulent. His emergence in 2007 points to the persistent power play among those who are hell bent on using Nigeria’s wealth to their selfish benefits. Maurice Iwu, the disconnected umpire must also be celebrating now, probably having a party to laugh at his perceived enemies. No doubt, in Nigeria, the reign of evil is the norm.




This is a country that claims to be the giant of Africa but all that is radiated from her are the attributes of a clown. Beyond this political impasse, ordinary Nigerians want to feel the benefits and dividends of democracy. We want water in our homes, good food on our tables and we long for the basic infrastructure that will add meaning and quality to our lives.




Our schools are dilapidated and they have lost their glories. The primary, secondary
and tertiary institutions are mere shadows of their old selves. The worst roads in the world are probably in Nigeria! Fraudulent activities abound, corruption is a way of life and lawlessness is an acceptable concept. Unemployment is a major problem and our life expectancy points to the poor state of health facilities. We are not tired of recounting our woes as we continue to live with them daily.




While we endure this illegitimate government, one hopes that those who are its beneficiaries will not get carried away by the undue victory at the court of law. In Nigeria, the law has a very short arm and cannot yet deliver all the oppressed and suppressed people. We don’t expect too much from the beneficiaries since they didn’t emerge from our votes but let them not make our lives more miserable than it is at this moment.




I must add that the issues at stake are complicated. The opposition is represented by undesirable elements. Still, based on democratic principles and the enthronement of proper standard for governance, the judgment of the court was simply absolute nonsense. On this particular case, history will judge them as supporting the disenfranchisement of 140m Nigerians. It is not worthwhile repeating all the atrocities and illegalities that went along with the selection process of April 2007. They are too shameful and too scandalous to recall every now and then.





Finally, it is difficult to know where the hope of the common man lies in Nigeria. It is a dilemma having to always choose between the devil and the Dead Sea. The people who are sincere and who can lead Nigeria out of the doldrums have never been given the benefit or opportunity to steer the course of Nigeria. It has been the same sad story, the same sad song since 1960.





The hope and the emancipation of Nigerians remain delusionary but we must keep the dreams alive. We’ll see where we go from here!

The sad thing about Valentine’s Day

By Adeola Aderounmu.



On the 14th of February every year, people fool around the world in the name of love. Teenagers are well indulged in the rituals of expressing their love to their boyfriends or girlfriends as the case may be. It is quite possible that girls and boys use the prevailing atmosphere of perceived love on this date of the year to throw away their precious flowers. Who knows how many get their infectious first kisses on this worldly date? Adults are not left out of this love game. Incidents have revealed that in as much as the message of Valentine is love, there are a lot of elements of diabolism associated with the event.



I cannot deny the fact that I have sent 1 or 2 valentine cards in my entire life. I have also made out gifts few times to express my warm regards to the people that are dear to me. But each time I have done that, I have not differentiated the love that I’d radiated on that date with the type of love that I try to radiate for the rest of the month or year. I have tried several times to extend fellowship of love and affection to the people around me or others that I meet throughout the year.



We live in a world full of hatred, racism, war and general indifference. We have been unable to extend the euphoria of the good times to indefinite lovefulness. This world is full of hypocrisy and the expression of hatred abound.



The saddest thing about valentine minus Christmas day is its emphasis on expressing love just one day in a normal year and leaving the remaining 363 days to be enveloped by hatred, wicked criticisms, selfishness, indifference, loneliness and broken heartedness.



It would be a wonderful world if we live everyday of our lives like its Valentine’s Day!

Do you remember when a cup of rice was 30kobo?

By Adeola Aderounmu

I have published this story on my blog at wordpress and I also sent it to the Nigerian Guardian Newspaper and it was published on the 6th of Feb 2008.




So what happened to a cup of rice at 30 kobo in Nigeria?

The mother of all inflation!

A $10 million Zimbabwean Banknote. Picture courtesy of the Time Magazine.

By Adeola Aderounmu.

Blame it on the West! That is the popular slogan of Mugabe and his supporters.

But the people are suffering anyway and that is what really hurts!

If I was 80 years and full of ideas and energy, I'd rather spent it on a quiet farm or in a quiet town somewhere.

When an 83 or 84 year old man believes that he still holds the key to the rejuvenation of his country (from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe [what next?]), then there is a serious problem.

10 million dollar bank note! This is the pinnacle of ridicule. Is that for a loaf or bread or to build a mansion?

Please let the WEST leave Mugabe alone!

Please let Mugabe lead his people to the promise land.

To me personally, I see the role of the West as a secondary issue in the mess that Mugabe created.

Generally, African leaders continue to display lack of leadership skills needed to bring the much anticipated and needed progress to the African continent.

Under a more purposeful and sincere leadership, Africa will return to its rightful place on the global map as the cradle of civilisation.

Mugabe and his likes (Kibaki, Yar Adua, Obasanjo) who are ruling /forcefully ruled the people are definitely not part of the ingredients that will sustain and deliver Africa.

Kenya: Enough is enough!

By Adeola Aderounmu.

The bloodletting is Kenya should stop and the leaders should start to reason like humans with brains, flesh and blood.

Enough of the blood of the innocent that have been slaughtered for nothing!

Let's work together to make Kenya and Africa great again.

Is a word still enough for the wise?

We hope for the best

Adeola Aderounmu.

We are still hoping for the best days of our lives. Nigeria can be a great country. All the potentials to accomplish the greatness abound but the corruption and political madness continues.


Welcome to thy Glory O' Nigeria (part 2) on blog spot.



See you around on the countdown to the greatness of Nigeria...

May the glory of Nigeria come, soon!