http://swam.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://swam.tigblog.org/post/670225


When most of the nation's dailies reported an attempt by the Federal Government to embark on another image shoring blitz ala the much-trumpeted 'heart of Africa project' that was the 'baby' of the previous administration. Reading between lines (which was something I was sure I did ), the Yar'Adua administration intends to deviate from Obasanjo's image laundering project in order to cut the picture of an administration intent on going about its own business and not kow-towing to the whims and caprices of the man from Ota. In one word, the administration intends to Re-brand Nigeria on a grander and more effective scale.
Branding has become such a mantra these days; it is fast becoming misunderstood. Branding, far from being a buzzword aimed at fixing any problem that is image-based, is a procedure aimed at entrenching certain beliefs about the brand in the prospect's mind. It connotes an attempt to create a lovely picture in the mind of the prospect about the brand. In other words, branding is first a careful and orderly process before it becomes a marketing appeal. The brand must have 'core values' which is in sync with those of the prospect or those which the prospect can relate with. Branding goes beyond the advertisement: An art that attempts to force the product into the mind of the prospect. A good brand does not necessarily have to shout from the rooftops to be heard, a good brand is self-selling and self- appealing. A good brand needs no hard sell.
'The heart of Africa' project even though laudable in its motive, violated all known laws of good branding. There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria needs more than a campaign designed by some agency to shore up what is internally and externally a blurred image. Grandiose campaigns aired on satellite television may appear to be effective on face value but could be counter-productive. The jury is still out on the gains derivable from the 'heart of Africa' project. But every day prospective investors shy away from becoming part of the Nigeria project, or we watch the news channels to witness another foiled attempt by our youths trying to get into Europe through the back door; any time we go through foreign tabloids to read about how badly the international community views this country and its citizens, we wonder if this country needs more than a re-branding to attract the gains of the free world.
There is a credibility crisis in the country's leadership at the moment and that is putting it very mildly. Apart from those who swoon around the corridors of power at all levels of government and their beneficiaries, it is debatable if the citizens of this country believe in their government. If we really intend to re-brand Nigeria, this would be the best place to start. For sometime now, the citizenry has become used to believing that what the government says is different from what it does. As one military regime gave way to another and one flawed election after another brought in a leadership without any moral substance, the basis for trust and accountability gradually flew out the window, giving way to cynicism and an utter distrust for whatever came out of government.
Add to this the ineptitude and an inability of government to fix anything, and you get the picture of a people completely at dissonance with the rulership. This widespread cynicism has become so endemic that it would take more than a mere 'academic re-engineering' of brand Nigeria to put things aright. Credibility is one of the pillars on which branding rests. If the government is really interested in re- branding the country, then a conscious effort must be made to restore trust among the citizenry. All forms of corruption which have over time contributed to the devaluation of brand Nigeria must be done away with. Credible elections at all tiers of government would also enhance the brand value of 'product' Nigeria.
Infrastructural decay in Nigeria is legendary. A near comatose health care system, a non existent railway system, deplorable state of inter-state roads and poor state of public schools would remarkably increase the brand equity of the country in the eyes of the international community and at home. The government has to show that things can work in Nigeria beyond the endless cabinet re-shuffling and jumbled portfolio designations. Outside of our borders, the perception that nothing works in Nigeria is so entrenched that it would take more than an ill-fated image laundering campaign to correct same. A year ago, I found myself in the unenviable position of trying to woo a friend to set up a small-scale business in the country. He acceded to my constant pressuring as we chatted on a social networking site and flew into the country almost unannounced. He wanted a detailed view of the Nigerian business terrain and felt it would not be a bad idea to visit the middle belt region which had a certain proximity to Lagos. We rode off to Benin in a private car at 7am and got into Edo state at 3pm. The roads were in a bad shape and the traffic situation left us perspiring embarrassingly in the heat. We got into Lagos the next day with my friend spending a week with me. He took off to England and never returned. I thought he was enjoying himself while his sojourn lasted, but with the benefit of hindsight, I now know he never enjoyed the power interruptions and the agony we had to go through each day on the roads as we embarked on feasibility studies.
It is common knowledge that our hospitals have for a long time remained mere consulting clinics. Whenever I pay a visit to my cousin who is a doctor at the university of Calabar teaching hospital, we would discuss to no end on how the hospital had become something of an eyesore. And while the president and a privileged few can disappear out of the country for medical reasons, the nation's healthcare situation is groaning under the weight of poor management and a dearth of basic equipment. As the nations of the world brace up to enter into a new age of medicine hinged on biotechnology, we are still groping with how to stock our hospitals with the basest of equipment. Little wonder, brand Nigeria is gradually eroding right under our noses.
Nothing taints 'brand Nigeria' like our epileptic power supply. No nation can be truly called 'industrialized' without a steady power supply. Our 'big brother of Africa' moniker which we delude ourselves with daily is under threat as we watch 'smaller' African countries in the west coast take giant strides towards economic boom while our generator driven economy takes several steps backwards. Branding Nigeria? Come on!!! If we can fix the power situation in this country, our brand equity would take further notches up the scale. Power is such a catalyst for economic growth that it is surprising that regime after regime boast about an illusory 10,000 megawatts and yet cannot achieve a paltry 2000 megawatts before their tenure expires. The world knows we are still struggling with power generation and some folks in the industrialized nations of the world still wonder if power outages are a possibility.
One of the enduring images of 'the heart of Africa' commercial was that of a smiling president Obasanjo well bedecked in his babariga with the visuals of some serene places in the country giving the picturesque feeling of a tourist haven. True, Nigeria's tourism is not completely dead yet thanks to the efforts of a few state governments, but it would be self delusionary to think the watching world did not realize that side by side those images are suburbs bearing the mark of under-development, the militancy in the Niger Delta, one of the lowest per capita income in the world, high level of insecurity and a people bruised from the effects of failed government policies.
While the relevant government agencies grapple with the idea of another image laundering blitz at tax payers' expense, it is worth noting that marketing and brand experts are deviating from traditional branding practices to what is now called 'experiential' branding and marketing; which is what can be seen and felt. There is a limit to how much advertising can project a brand. Sound branding practices are hinged on positioning and recourse to gaining a considerable mileage in the prospects' mind. The real brand ambassadors on whose shoulders the bulk of 'brand Nigeria' falls upon is disenchanted with the state of affairs of their country and is jetting out in droves for pastures green. Wherever and whenever you meet a Nigerian, the first thing you are most likely to hear is that righteous indignation with the state of being of the Nigerian nation.
That is the Re-branding the country needs. A re-branding that would first attempt to tackle the myriad socio-economic challenges facing the country. Only then can the Commander-in- Chief afford to look at the cameras with a grin and a throaty laughter and all the babariga in Kano and say 'welcome to Nigeria, the heartbeat of Africa'.
]]> Sun, 17 May 2009 07:29:00 EDT http://swam.tigblog.org/post/670225 7.7333333 8.53333337.73333338.5333333 http://swam.tigblog.org/post/507920
Positioning simply means placing an organisation’s product or trade identity side-by-side with a popular or accepted ideology, concept or icon in order to tap from the goodwill of the icon. For example, Guinness over the years has sought to promote its Gulder brand as a beer for the ‘strong’- a beer that gives ‘power‘ for action(whatever this means).So, in addition to several stunning adverts, in which a heroic figure (Michael Power) performs some obviously impossible feats to the admiration of credulous fans who are in turn lured to go for a Gulder, and in all probability end up in the gutter instead of the expected hall of fame, Guiness for the past three years has been sponsoring a game called the ‘Ultimate Search’. Participants are put in a jungle where they are expected to locate a hidden treasure. The lucky person who finds the treasure becomes an instant ‘millionaire’. Harmless, isn’t it?

Globacom, in what they claim to be an attempt to compensate their faithful customers, have supposedly given away hundreds of new cars to ‘winners’ who participate in the reload-and-win promotions. Customers are encouraged to load as much credit on their phones as possible to increase the ‘chances’ of winning. Needless to say, while the operator rakes in billions of naira through this promotion, at the end of the day some few winners emerge from some curious ‘lucky’ draws. Those who don’t win are encouraged to try again in subsequent promotions and the cycle continues.

These games come in various forms and concepts. It could be in form of beauty a pageant, a lottery, lucky dip, scratch and win (under crown caps) or reality show. All these have one thing in common, that is, they are games, reliant in the main on luck. An exception however needs to be made of reality shows and beauty competitions in which talent also plays a role. Even then their gaming nature cannot be disputed.

In Nigeria, where it appears we have been endowed with the peculiar anointing to excel in the wrong things and everything that has negative impact, this culture has been taken to ridiculous levels lately. All sorts of pageants have been introduced in Nigeria ranging from the normal to the bizarre. From the Miss Nigeria or MBGN, we now have Miss Nollywood and The finest Girl in Nigeria. Almost every industry is craving to have a beauty contest is its name. Miss Banking, Miss Insurance, Miss Hospitality, Miss Radio Television . And very soon we may be having our girls lured to come out and contest for weird pageants like, the ugliest girl in Nigeria, the dumbest girl in Nigerian or The fattest girl in Nigeria.

In the area of reality shows too, we have not fared badly. Since 2003 when Bayo Okoh returned from Big Brother Africa in South Africa without the crown, we have had Big Brother Nigeria, Next Movie Star, Street to Star, Amstel Malta Box Office and it’s still counting.

But what is wrong with all these seemingly harmless games? To the ‘lucky’ few who happen to ‘win’ in these competitions, there could hardly be anything better or worth doing. What with the sudden fame and wealth? Who does not want to be a star?

Perhaps the well known evil of beauty contests and reality shows especially the Big –Brother-Model, is the promotion of nudity with attendant negative impact on moral sanity. It was this perception that caused the riots in the North in protest against the plan to host the 2002 edition of the miss World competition in Kaduna in November of that year. Interestingly Christians were targeted in this violence as if beauty contests are a Christian religious rite. But the reason is not farfetched. If the contest were planned for Lagos, there would have been approbation from the people of the south, who are predominantly Christian instead of protest. This is a silent query on our loose Christian values.

But that was just a diversion; I was trying to highlight the subtle dangers innate in the booming gaming culture. Our younger generation is gradually brainwashed with a different value system: A value system that dovetails with the fast-food-syndrome. We want fast fame, fast money, fast success, fast certificates, everything fast and just at the scratch of a card. Success in life is taking a different meaning. You don’t really need to excel in anything to become a star; one only needs to win a game. Success is now a gamble!

Unfortunately instant stars also vanish instantly and that is why one could scarcely count a beauty queen that has created any impact on national development beyond the one-year pet projects during their reign, which also vanish at the end of their tenure. No wonder the Bible says in Proverbs 31:30 ...beauty is vain. Come to think of it, the women who are creating positive impact on our national life are not the beauty queens. The Ngozi Okonji-Iwuelas, the Dora, Akunyilis, the Farida Waziris, are all the product of diligent scholarship and many years of hard work which the gaming culture tends to downplay.

Nigeria has indeed produced real stars in various fields of human endeavour but none emerged through gambling. Great men like, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Chike-Obi, Sunny Okosun, Ernest Okonkwo, Bishop Idahosa, all of blessed memory, did not emerge through winning a lottery or a reality show. If Chief MKO Abiola was alive, he could have born me witness that real wealth (and of course fame) is created by great hard work and vision rather than winning a game that transforms one into an instant millionaire.

Cases of examination malpractice, 419, drug addiction and smuggling, prostitution on our campuses (they call it called RUNS for style) and even armed robbery among our youth could be traced to this gaming culture. Our students want to pass examinations instantly without effort; so they cheat. The young school leaver, who graduates through cheating must also make fast money through 419 or do drugs and armed robbery because indeed he has nothing to offer society. The female students also want instant cash so they go for RUNS.

Our youth must be reoriented to understand that life is not just a big gamble. The era of hard work and academic excellence should not be antiquated. Their models and mentors must be chosen wisely. For example, a wise girl should rather make Professor (emeritus?) Grace Alele-Williams her mentor, than Agbani Darego because being a beauty queen is not a career. Instead of struggling to win every lottery or enter reality shows, the wise youth should understudy the lifestyles of successful businessmen like Aliko Dangote, Mike Aadenuga, Bamanga Tukur and make one of them his models. Society must also strive to recognise and reward diligence over and above instantaneous and effortless prosperity, which is the root of corruption.

Unfortunately today an average schoolboy or girl is more likely to respond eagerly to an invitation to participate in a reality show than a writing or science competition! If this trend is not halted, then the future of our youth is in serious jeopardy.

Those who hunt instant fame and wealth through the gaming culture would only wake up belatedly to realise that, it’s a mirage. Promoters of these shows do it for what they could gain from the participants and fans and not vice-versa, even though they paint the picture of the former. It is part of the whole game. The more you look the less you see.
]]> Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:57:00 EDT http://swam.tigblog.org/post/507920 7.7333333 8.53333337.73333338.5333333 http://swam.tigblog.org/post/494601
Is it not surprising when you are praying, you cannot find a word to say, but when you want to talk to a friend you have many words to say?
Is it not surprising that we believe everything that newspaper said but we question the word of God in the bible?

Is it not surprising how two hours seem so long when you are praying, and how short it is when you are watching a movie?

Is it not surprising that a student fears his fellow student than his parents?

Is it not surprising that someone can use five thousand naira (N5000) to buy shoes or cloth but to buy Bible at the rate of Eight Hundred naira (N800) you find it difficult?

Is it not surprising that everybody wants to go to heaven but struggling for it is a problem?
It is boring and difficult to read one page of the scripture, but how sweet it is to read 100 pages of a novel.

Isn’t it advisable to switch off handset when in church but many find this difficult?




]]> Sat, 04 Oct 2008 06:32:00 EDT http://swam.tigblog.org/post/494601 7.7333333 8.53333337.73333338.5333333 http://swam.tigblog.org/post/494599 “Wow”! Said the five naira note. You’ve really had an exciting life! So tell me, says the one thousand, where have you been throughout your life time?
The five naira note replied: oh, I’ve been to the apostolic and Methodist churches, the redeemed Christian church, the deeper life bible church, the Catholic, the C and S church, CCC Lutheran Church… “What is a Church”? Interrupted the one thousand naira (N1000) note
Please help the one thousand Naira go to church!!!

]]> Sat, 04 Oct 2008 06:29:00 EDT http://swam.tigblog.org/post/494599 7.7333333 8.53333337.73333338.5333333 http://swam.tigblog.org/post/399659 withering our cloudy mist
piercing the darkness through and through

My impossible possibilities
manifest its alluring coloure



]]> Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:54:00 EDT http://swam.tigblog.org/post/399659 7.7333333 8.53333337.73333338.5333333 http://swam.tigblog.org/post/389503
dressing well reflects kinds of persons you are3. it takes some thing so incredibly small to make your entire out fit look completely dated, old or out of style; but most at times our dressing makes us end up looking like a complete fashion disaster.

a great number of nigerian youth ape what they see on TV, Vedios, internet and other media, they watch raunchy musical videos where ladies are often scantily dressed in super skimpy outfits that leave eve3rything hanging out while ironically their male counterpart are fully dressed and 100% covered. they think the half naked ladies look cool and thereby emulate them.

our eyes are always under attack. so every where you turn, there is so much flesh on display: on the streets. at parties offices, TV, billboards. all kinds of shape assault the eyes-the classic hourglass, the pear shape, the apple shape, the pencil shape and the no shape.

shocked i screamed what a restless slide back to Eden, what street pornographic shows we have with all causion thrown to the winds. what kind of outfits made from flimsy, ultra transparent tulle materials, so revealing which leaves the body and all its natural assets on display.

on one of my outings, i tagged "TOASTING SPREE" aimed at carrying out survey on the reasons why lots of girls on Nigerian campuses go for the skimpiest outfits; spaghetti tops, super shot skirts, low rise jeans, low cut jeans, low cut tops and dresses with thigh high slits revealing tops among other things, the reason put out to my dismay was " LOOKINGT GOOD" my next question was to impress who? unfortunately answers i got where insults.

the question now is do we want to slide back to Eden? where are we heading to? most of the youth i met have big dreams beyound their years, but a great number of them are dreamless, they believe in illusions, which will only evaporise sooner or later.

i wake up every day celebrating God's goodness , kindness, and faithfulness. i believe in Nigeria and the Nigerian youths, i believe the God of Nigeria, i look forward to a Nigeria where our women and young ladies will know the respect and dignity and wealth that COMES OUT OF DRESSING AND LOOKING GOOD, they will always know that " the race is not for the swift, or the battle to the strong, nor does good comes to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favour to the learned but time and chance happen to them all.


]]> Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:39:00 EDT http://swam.tigblog.org/post/389503 7.7333333 8.53333337.73333338.5333333 http://swam.tigblog.org/post/261211 dread to the bereaved it bring
a dark bell to ring
instead of a song to sing

Causing pain-oh it always does
but return to dust we must
it hurts to utter goodbye
but lets face it, we're all passing by

Death seem unfair,
that we tag it red
it gives no appointment
even sting the anointed.

Determined to conquer the human race,
taking us to a whole new phase
but the refining process we fear
and so detest to bear.

AIDS withers a blossomed flower
render skies asunder,
a dark bell it rings
and a dirge we sing.

We are light and heavy
our tongues speak silence
we sweat with wrath.

You unhurried rising movement of doom
harbinger of gathering darkness
we borrow courage from sorrow,
and defeat
our unwanted gift.

]]> Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:56:00 EDT http://swam.tigblog.org/post/261211 7.7333333 8.53333337.73333338.5333333 http://swam.tigblog.org/post/261201 more striking than pearls
reliable in all her bidding
an anchorage for the gliding.

In her lives comfort
encouragement and resort,
nothing compares to her compassion
the wonder of it is our passion.

Her face adorned with the grace of the creator
her elegance a great motivator
an achiever she has always been
co's her hands have never stayed still.

in seasons of plenty
with reason she stores up plenty,
what more can be said
we have proof that is not dead
these virtuers are found in her
who is sound
now she could be a heart.

]]> Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:40:00 EDT http://swam.tigblog.org/post/261201 7.7333333 8.53333337.73333338.5333333 http://swam.tigblog.org/post/191803
Part One

Post traumatic slavery disorder derives from the official american psychiatric associations manual diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder. its a condition which comes from exposure to a traumatic stress incident such as police brutality, rape, a car crash and, yes, slavery.
Originally this disorder was characterised by symptoms of anxiety, depression, flashbacks, anger, parania, nightmares sleep and appetite disturbance. these were symptoms american servicemen also developed shortly after a tour of duty in vietnam. these soldiers developed coping behaviours such as drug and alcohol abuse, promiscious sex and other anti-social activities to deal with micro alienation, seperation from loved ones, fear of death and the experience of killing.
These functional activities helped ease our pain in the shortrun. over time though, these coping mechanisms proved harmful, because the signs of post traumatic stress because worse when they returned to the states. thats how the disorder works. if symptoms arent treated, they become corrisive, since there's no longer a need for these survival behaviours.
A similar pattern is still playing out with ordinary black folk, you see, many of the bahaviours that we criticize in one another results directly from defense machanism we adopted in order to cope with the trauma of slavery. during slavery, the black man and woman could not ctreate lasting partnerships and families. instead, our forefathers and mothers were bred like prize animals, according to the whims and requirements of the slave master. some slaves did manage to form family units, only to see them torn apart as children, mothers and fathers were sold off to distant plantations. they had no hope of ever meeting again.
Infact, from the moment the very first slave stepped unto the auction block, black men understand that commitment to a woman would likely bring them heartache and trouble .
Why? several reasons. first, slave master could sleep with his woman - the mother of his children -anytime he pleased. Also, a black couples love for each other bound both of them to the plantation for life, defeating any motivation to escape. Remaining staunchly uncommitted to love was the only psychological defense against that certain prospect of pain.
As for the black woman she soon learned that her man could not protect her or her children. Infact, her surest means of survival was through her sexual alliance with the slave master.
No wonder black men are still reluctant to make long term commitments, and black women have so little faith in them! These defensive behaviour may/and has always caused inappropriate and untold heartaches in relationship.
And because we are either unaware or in denial of our post Traumatic Slavery Disorder our mental health/and our day to day lives are suffering. I have news for you: it wont yet better untill we got help. Our PTSD is like an open sore that’s left untreated and continues to fester. Our harmful actions within our relationships increase our isolation and anger, exercerbating our post traumatic slavery disorder. This creates even more anxiety, depression and parrania: sheesh, its as ugly as those plaid polyester bellbotloms and platforms we used to wear in the seventies!
With all this disease runing though our hearts and mind, where can we find mental energy and stability to form hearty relationships? How can we make love connections without first loving ourselves and
Seeing the good in each other? We simply cant embrace these restive virtues if we lack the mantal flexibility to deal with the emotions and conflicts that are a part of every day life.
Can we rid ourselves of this mental disease so we can stop the insanity and find true love? Can our men pull up to the bumper of a honey and stay hitched? Can our women find a good black man who values a healhty relationship more than his ego?
The answer is yes! But yet still lies in silence how can we heal our post traumatic slavery disorder?

Watch out for the second and concluding episode.
]]> Fri, 27 Apr 2007 04:25:00 EDT http://swam.tigblog.org/post/191803 7.7333333 8.53333337.73333338.5333333 http://swam.tigblog.org/post/189943 Most Nigerians conclude that the future of Nigeria lies in a silence filled with pessimism and vagueness, most are domant and in active with a maxim of "GOD DEY" called a poor mans prayer.
The inactivity of Nigerians especially the youths has carefully woven a wreath of fear, hunger, rape of the land and oppression which is psychologically designed on the theatre of our minds ready to be laid at the graveside of our heroes and heroins past.
The major slogan/maxim on the signing lips of Nigerian when the anthem escapes our tongues “The labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain has been converted to be the labour of our heroes past shall EVER be in vain, this has raped our souls and robbed us of our Nationalism, and today our river of sweet drown us.
State and local elections in Nigeria last weekend (14th April, 2007) was a demonstration of how not hold a democratic election. Ballot boxes were stuffed, some pulling places opened only hours before they were scheduled to close and in some communities especially in BENUE STATE, no voting took place at all because of a lack of supplies and rampant intimidation.
One thing that is very glaring even in the sight of the blind is how our people were disenfranchised by the recent elections, individuals through the help of youths have ursuped victor; but my question still remains, how does victory without mandate feel?
Our country is plaged with poverty, not poverty of money or resources generally but the poverty of thwarted ideologies which open our old wounds letting loose rivers of emotions.
INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC).
Like blood-thirsty vampires, death pounded on those who stood in its way, the predators on his harmless pray, sniffed life out of them through various methods, premeditated car accidents assassination and torturing.
Most times, intimidations assassinations and rumors of assassination comes people and hinder the of the truth to be blown, but at least one has to say something, I promise to take the lead, though not with violence, but with the power of writing.
Since our pen must be used to increase the anxieties of the oppressive regimes, at the very least, the pen must be used to murder their sleep by constantly reminding their conscience of their crimes they perpetuate against humanity.
Most of our fellow writer/media practitioner indulge in blood money, thus selling their conscience to our oppressors for a plate of sauce. Why don’t we reject food to spite hunger? Why cant we prevent wantom corruption by saying the right-right and the wrong-wrong?
My souls bleed when I see youths been coaxed to stop low for the price of N5000 to steal the peoples mandate secured in ballot boxes.
If only Nigerian youths recognized their position in the polity, if only we know our relevance to the development of our nation, if only we begin thinking towards National development not personal recognizing that a thriving country is a function of thriving citizens.
It is of great value and importance for our youths to realize that, they are the needed catalyst that Nigeria need to bring about the required reaction, which is vibrant enough to fight the scourge of sycophancy, which will stop aiding and abeting the rigging and disruption of the election process.
We should learn to choose to stand for the truth and not necessarily the popular way, untill then, our dream Nigeria will never be a reality.
the world today has a lot of Maxims on which we rely find solace, Maxims like "Na God", "God Dey", and "lean on me when you are not strong" but, on whose shoulder do we lean on when our tomorrow is vague?
Our leaders, have turned our natural treasure into national burdens, and the follows have promoted wantom criminality through silence due to fear of phychological rape from our predators.
Most times, wake up at night with words of our leaders echoing in my head, YOUR FUTURE is bright. optimisticallym, i say yes it is but realistically i question the words is it?
The question comes out with a smile on my face not a smile of pride but a smile of distain at the credibility of Obasanjo/Iwu's Independent National Electroral Commission, i ask how independent is INEC when it is a toothless biulding which only barks when its owner commands.
The 'Zaki-Biam election was not an election, it was only a ginic of between Obasanjo's PDP and INEC where thugs were already planted on roads and conveyor cars described to them for action.
This game by INEC in collaboration with the PDP began in December 2006 and followed by the series of blatant manipulation of the process of selection by INEC in order t ensure that Atiku could not contest, it became more glaring to any one seeking tp challenge the status-quo (PDP dictatroship).
The situation the vice-president is wombling in today is as a result of PDP manipulation on INEC. Since the INEC officials whose open hostility towards Abubakar Atiku has been placed on record are still ones who are supposed to provide fair and impartial judgement, i ask how independent is Independent National Electoral Commission?
I am not out just to sing, shout or write for writing sake, but sweet sonourous nonsense of our leaders has to be voiced out even to the deaf, the hopeless feelings, of belonging to a wasted breed has to be at least wiped out or more imprisoned.
Let our youths really see a bright future, not a future full of vagueness, and unpredictability which causes hunger, fear, rape, oppression and victimization which leads to neferious activities.
]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:55:00 EDT http://swam.tigblog.org/post/189943 7.7333333 8.53333337.73333338.5333333 http://swam.tigblog.org/post/171737
Nobody in Nigeria can categorically state how many citizens nigeria has not even the Nigerian population commission, though it can be said that for the past eight (8) years in nigeria has been very eventful and moving at such a fast and dizzying pace that anyone,at least almost everyone in Nigeria is convasant with the rush of events in the country.

A lot of campaings go on in nigeria with primarily the aim of change, but the issue of sustainability is the problem plauging our beloved country today.Everyone remembers the lowering of the union Jack on 1st October,1960.and the triumphant hoisting of the GREEN WHITE GREEN flag of indepenent Nigeria, and the stiling of the piped music of God Save the Queen and the introduction of the drum based Nigeria we hail thee. Many disillusioned Nigerians changed the tune to Nigeria We Hate Thee. It is just a measure of how unhappy Nigerians have been in the recent times with regards to the movement of the nation.

Unemployment, the most favorite son of poverty which according to Beveridge of Britain is the idleness of the man who depends on the employment for a lively hood and can not get the type of employment which he is suited when he wants that kind of employment and is fit for it.This social problem has created a lot of vacuums in thee society, the social structure of our beloved country has also given us a reason to sweat for not creating a very condusive environment for private enterpreneurs to thrive well.

I woke up with a throbing headache, an attempt at reminiscing over the previous days activities got my mind floded with momories of a spiteful encounter with an adult who made a comment that ‘YOUTH ARE USELESS IN OUR TODAY NIGERIA’. Most of the adult forget that todays youth problem is the sill over of their orientation, and a disappointment to the youths.

Most youths today carry around with them emotional bagages that would cripple most adult, at times the youths prefer to face turture, the problem arises when theylet go of their problems to the adults whom they regard as role model but then all they hear is the youths are chicky.

WHAT DO WE THE YOUTHS DO IN SUCH A SITUATION?
]]> Sat, 24 Mar 2007 06:48:00 EDT http://swam.tigblog.org/post/171737 7.7333333 8.53333337.73333338.5333333 http://swam.tigblog.org/post/163033
Our awareness of the crime situation in nigeria excludesdetail information on the fundamental parameters such as the causes , nature and the category of persons that feature more prominently on the crime scenario. the phenomenon of crime cnnot be adequatly understood or disscused without conbsidering these parametres.

by incorporating the above parameters in the crime phenomenon,we will be more abreast with the reasons why there is a rising crime rate in the contemporary Nigeria and which category of the Nigerian population is more involved in the criminality. we will also know which category of the populationthat features more on the Nigerian crime scene.
Again know the fundamental causes(both remote and immediate) of criminality in the nigerian siciety will help policy makers and law enforcement agencies in designing appropriate crime prevention and control measures.

Primarily, the subject matter is just to say how the Nigerian Scial Structure is causing problems to NIGERIANS.
]]> Wed, 21 Feb 2007 06:06:00 EST http://swam.tigblog.org/post/163033 7.7333333 8.53333337.73333338.5333333 http://swam.tigblog.org/post/43783 Wed, 20 Sep 2006 02:10:00 EDT http://swam.tigblog.org/post/43783 7.7333333 8.53333337.73333338.5333333