5 Hot Spots in NIJ

1. The Common Room: This spot is always on your face as soon as you walk into the campus. There are two common rooms, one for ND and the other for HND students. It is one of the hottest spot to hang out during break or when there are no lectures. But don't allow the endearing nature to lead you into truancy!

2. The Library (inside or behind): Every book worm in NIJ know where this hot spot is... not as inviting as it should be. But a strong hide out for those under pressure to research or finish up on assignment or two. If you want to maximize your time while on Campus, here is the spot to embrace.

3. The Cafeteria: Are you hungry? Or looking for a place to relax over a bottle of drink or a wrap of toast bread? Then, you won't miss out NIJ's famous cafeteria! It is located downstairs, strategically on the extreme end of the classrooms blocks.

4. Room 104: The smallest but one of the coolest classrooms on Campus. When not occupied, room 104 is where you just want to sit and relax, away from the noise in other classes. 

5. Under the Coconut Trees: Can you see the sit-on blocks located by the side of the field? Yes, it is a high-profile hot spot where students meet up before classes and after school hours, to catch up on the latest on campus; and/or relax during break, the shade provided by the coconut trees makes it more appealing.

The 5 hot spots listed above are not all there is to NIJ. But you definitely can't miss them throughout your stay on campus! Welcome Back to school! Happy resumption!

Word of Wisdom

The secret of our success is that we never, never give up.

- Wilma Mankiller

Under the Coconut Tree: Unladimejiable!

Riti: I am shivering and shaking, how awesome can God be!

Meto: What’s wrong this time around, what’s the cause of the sudden remembrance of God?

Riti: Finally the Lord has found the lost sheep.

Meto: the lost sheep? Oh that, it’s unbelievable, unimaginable, uncomprehending, un…

Riti: …there is no need for grammar; he is now the beloved son in whom the Lord is well pleased.

Meto:  hmmm…, it’s a story of crime to Christ.

Riti: He deceived himself by once living in sin,drinking and partying most of the night…

Meto: …believing in his heart he would be alright

Riti:  covering his sight with ...

Meto: ...yet the spirit said to him, "Come home to get your soul renewed."

Riti: I can imagine him saying “Oh no! Not me!” at first.

Meto: but it’s a game of no 50-50

Riti: No ask the audience

Meto: but phone a friend and that’s the spiritual leader.

Riti: Ladies beware!

Meto: For He is now a beloved and chosen one.

Riti: Be warned!

Meto: For he now walks with spirit from the most high.

Riti: Hide those skimpy outfit of yours

Meto: for he has the holy fire to burn them all

Riti: Its time for Repentance.

Meto: Talk, for I am ready to covey your msg to congregation.

Riti: Repent!

Meto: You mean that lady in ND.

Riti: Repent!

Meto: You mean those pieces of handkerchief she wears are not good for her.

Riti: Repent before it’s too late.

Meto: Repent! So that you could become a sister in the catholic.

Riti: choose this time because it’s a better track…

Meto: …one on which you could really depend.

Joke

A crowd gathered @ an accident scene and a smart nosey journalist wanted to get d story first hand as being d first to report…”make way, I am d victim’s first son” he shouted. Slowly d crowd paved way 4 him, on getting there, lying lifeless in front of a car was a goat…J

Word of wisdom

Those who won our independence... valued liberty as an end and as a means. They believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty.

- Louis D. Brandeis

RON: Armchair Journalism

RON: Armchair Journalism: "In my early years of learning journalism profession, I can remember my Lecture, Mr. Tolu saying journalism is not meant for lazy people. Yes..."

Armchair Journalism

In my early years of learning journalism profession, I can remember my Lecture, Mr. Tolu saying journalism is not meant for lazy people. Yes, I do not dispute to that fact because of the demands of the profession. But lets be sincere with ourselves, are our journalist of today not lazy? Is journalism of today so tasking like before? No, Journalism of today is totally different, what we have today is Armchair journalism. It is an easy form of journalism where you don’t go to the field to report. You simply sit down in the comfort of your office to write stories base on hearsay, based on gossip, base on twisting facts and finally coming out to boast that “I have got by lines”.

These days, the internet has even made things easier and made journalists even lazier, later we would complain that we are not paid well. Dear fellow journalist in the making, lets reduce armchair journalist to when necessary. Let’s spend time for stories on the field. Let’s spend time cultivating the reading habit, so that our effort can be recognized tomorrow just like: Segun Adeniyi, Reuben Abati who found themselves in the presidency as Media Adviser to the president.

Remember Ali and Simbi? Is Simbi still a girl?

Give your comments below

…even if civil servants in the state embark on strike for one year,i would not be able to implement the controversial N18,000 minimum wage- Suswam

After an examination of what he referred to as the reality on ground, Benue State Governor, Chief Gabriel Torwua Suswam said even if civil servants in the state embark on strike for one year, he would not be able to implement the controversial N18,000 minimum wage. 

Suswam, who described the national minimum wage issue as a time bomb said the reality on ground dictated that about 90 percent of the states in the federation would not be able to pay the wage .

He spoke with Daily Sun in Abuja at a reception organized by Senator Barnabas Gemade in honour of two serving ministers from Benue State, Chief Abba Maro, minister for Interior and Dr. Samuel Ortom, minister of State, Trade and Investment.

Only last week, his Niger State counterpart, Governor Babangida Aliyu called for an upward review of the revenue allocation formula for states, saying only such increase would sustain the payment of the minimum wage to civil servants.
Aliyu was reported to have stated that it would be difficult for state governors to pay the wage with the current revenue allocation formula to states, unless their allocation was increased.
According to Aliyu: “As we’re today, we won’t be able to do anything with either revenue formula or with fund that we expect will come from deregulation.”

But Governor Suswam stated: “The change in the revenue formula could be one of the solutions but I’m not sure that if they change that formula, may be what I will be getting in a month will be N5 billion and if I get N5 billion, it won’t solve my problem because out of it, I will spend N4.8 billion. In my own case, even if I shelve it, plus my hair, I won’t be able to pay that minimum wage, that is the fact, it is not sustainable.”
“The fact of the matter is that the reality on ground dictates that about 90 percent of the state would not be able to pay this wage. Apart from six states that would be able to pay, about 30 states in the federation would not be able to pay the minimum wage and that is the reality of it.

“We are all stakeholders in the affairs of this country, what I have advocated for is for us to be realistic on this issue. Let us sit down, the Federal Government, National Assembly and governors so that realistically, we can address this issue, otherwise, it is a time bomb. Let us use my state as an example, my state, Benue has a wage bill of N1.4 billion, what I take from the federation account averagely is N2 billion. So if you spread N1.4 billion, you are left with N600 million to run other things.

“So for me to implement the minimum wage, I need about N4.8 billion, so how do I pay that? The reality on ground is that even if they go on strike for one year, there is no way I can pay.  There are only two options and they are not palatable to anybody. The first option is to rationalize the service and nobody wants that because it creates social problems. And so the reality of the situation is that the Federal Government needs to do what it has to do for the states to be able to attend to these problems. 

“I was discussing with the Governor of Kebbi State and he said he needed N3.6billion to pay the minimum wage, where will he get that money? In every developed society, you cannot borrow to service recurrent expenditure, you borrow to service capital expenditure because you expect that there will be returns on that. Once you begin to borrow to service recurrent expenditure, that society will collapse eventually.
“I’m not somebody who would want to play politics with the welfare of people. People are trying to play politics with us, but it will not help us. If there is confusion, the confusion would not know whether this is Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ACN or CPC, confusion will consume everybody, so let us sit down and put politics aside and address issues of welfare and not politics.”

“And so, I just want us to be realistic and stop playing politics. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governors, I read in the newspapers have agreed to pay, but I don’t believe anyway. You can’t play politics on this issue, it is not a political matter.
“It is an issue that we should sit down together and address. I was surprised that ACN governors said they will pay. Apart from Lagos, no other state can sustain the payment of the minimum wage. So I don’t think it is right for any group of persons to play politics with it. It is better for us to sit together, so that we can address it realistically.

“You know in the council of states, where this minimum wage was tabled and eventually forwarded to the National Assembly, all the governors were there. Yes, we argued against it, the President felt that the National Assembly should also look into it. The National Assembly eventually approved what was sent to them. The recommendations came from the civil servants, without consultation with the state chief executives because in the meeting, majority of the governors said they were not aware of it. And so it has been approved, they say it is national minimum wage that is the law.

“So if it is national, it is not Federal Government alone, it encompasses all the components parts of the federation. If it is minimum wage for the federal, it is national minimum wage. It has already been signed by the President for the country and so whether you like it or not, you must respect it. 
“But the efficacy of every legislation is very important. Now, whether this piece of legislation is efficacious, is another point entirely. But the fact of the matter is that the reality on ground dictates that about 90 percent of the states would not be able to pay this wage.”

“Before this minimum wage was passed into law, one would have expected that in a country where statistics are important, let us know the cost implication of passing a minimum wage of N18, 000 and if you take statistics across the states, Benue for instance, how much do you need to pay if we pass the minimum wage, that would have guided us. That was not done and nobody has the statistics, most state governors don’t even know what they need to pay.”
 Culled from Sun Online News

Student Week Award Winners

NIJ Fact File

NIJ Student Week Award Winners

Best Behaved Male- Ibrahim Fatoyinbo

Best Behaved Female- Aidoo Theodora

Best Dressed Male- Ayelabola Biniyamin

Best Dressed Female- Adewara Grace

Best Class Governor in NIJ- Ola-abraham Emmanuel

Overall Best Behaved Student and Ambassador of NIJ- Jennifer Ehidiamen

Under The Coconut Tree

The conversation between AYO and his classmate:
Classmate asked Ayo if he did not write test in class. Ayo responds in
Yoruba saying he had no pen, no paper! Hmmm does it mean some HND 2
students are now developing lackadaisical attitude towards academic
work?

Boko Haram dares SSS

Boko Haram: OUR STRENGTH AND SUPPORT IS FROM THE PEOPLE

THE NIGERIAN STATE AND THE STATE SECURITY SERVICES CAN ONLY BARK BUT CANNOT BITE
LET IT BE KNOWN THAT;
a. WE DO NOT LIVE IN CAMPS
b. WE ARE WELL KNOWN BY THE LOCAL PEOPLE
c. WE ARE SUPPORTED BY THE LOCAL PEOPLE
d. THE LOCALS LOVE US
e. THE LOCALS SUPPORTS US
f. THE LOCALS WILL NEVER BETRAY US BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN OUR CAUSE
g. SSS, WE ARE NOT FAR AWAY FROM YOU, IF YOU CAN GET US, COME FOR US
h. WE WILL NOT RELENT UNTIL WE ACHIEVE OUR AIM
i. THE BANNING OF MOTORCYLCES IN MAIDUGURI AND ENVIRONS WILL NOT HINDER OR DETER US
j. DESPITE OBSTRUCTIONS TO OUR SEVERAL OPERATIONS IN KADUNA BY THE SSS,WE ARE STILL DETERMINED TO BE GUEST OF THE BROTHERHOOD MEMBERS IN KADUNA
k. WE HAVE PROVEN OUR RESOLVE BY OUR TWO RECENT ATTACKS OF POLICE STATIONS IN BAUCHI STATE EARLIER IN THE WEEK
l. WE MAY BE FORCED TO LIBERATE INNOCENT CITIZENS WHO ARE BEING DETAINED AND ALLEGED TO BE OUR MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY THE MEMBER OF THE KADUNA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY WHO IS UNDER CUSTODY UNDER FALSE ALLEGATION THAT HE IS OUR MEMBER/FINANCIER. A MAN WHO WE DO NOT EVEN SHARE THE SAME RELIGION, BELIEFS AND CULTURE WITH US
MORE ATTACKS ON THE WAY!
MORE ATTACKS ON THE WAY!!
MORE ATTACKS ON THE WAY!!!

BANKY W APOLOGISES TO REUBEN ABATI!

 Sometime last year the chairman of the editorial board of Guardian Newspapers,Reuben Abati wrote an article called A Nation’s Identity Crisis, the title is quite self explanatory.In this article he mentioned a few things about how Nigerians and artistes embrace foreign identity’s and so on and he particularly mentioned Banky W’s name amongst others but Banky W being Mr Capable couldnt take the insult just like that and decided to write back and you know how our culture is,there are certain things you do not say to elders but oh well,Banky gave Mr Reuben a piece of his mind. 
   A Nation’s Identity Crisis by Reuben Abati

You may not have noticed it: Nigeria is suffering from an identity crisis imposed on it in part by an emergent generation of irreverent and creative young Nigerians who are revising old norms and patterns. And for me nothing demonstrates this more frontally than the gradual change of the name of the country. When Flora Shaw, Lord Lugard’s consort came up with the name, Nigeria in 1914, she meant to define the new country by the strategic importance of the Niger River. And indeed, River Niger used to be as important to this country as the Nile was/is to Egypt. We grew up as school children imagining stories about how Lugard in one special romantic moment, asked his mistress to have the honour of naming a new country in Africa. Something like: “Hello, sweetheart, what name would you rather give the new country that I am creating?”     

“Let me give it a thought? ….Awright, how about Ni-ge-ria darling?”     

“That would do. That would do. How thoughtful, my fair lady? You are forever so dependable”     

And the name stuck and it has become our history and identity. But these days, the name Nigeria is gradually being replaced by so many variants, that I am afraid a new set of Nigerians may in the immediate future not even know the correct spelling of the name of their country. For these Nigerians whose lives revolve mostly around the internet and the blogosphere, the name Nigeria has been thrown out of the window. Our dear country is now “naija” or “nija”. What happened to the “-eria” that Ms Shaw must have thoughtfully included? The new referents for Nigeria are now creeping into writings, conversations, and internet discourse. I am beaten flat by the increasing re-writing of the country’s name not only as naija or nija, but consider this: “9ja”. Or this other name for Nigeria: “gidi”. There is even a television programme that is titled “Nigerzie”. In addiiton, Etisalat, a telecom company has since adopted a marketing platform that is titled: “0809ja.” Such mainstreaming of these new labels is alarming.     

This obviously is the age of abbreviations. The emerging young generation lacks the discipline or the patience to write complete sentences or think through a subject to its logical end. It is a generation in a hurry, it feels the constraints of space so much, it has to reduce everything to manageable, cryptic forms. This is what the e-mail and text message culture has done to the popular consciousness. Older generations of Nigerians brought up on a culture of correctness and compeleteness may never get used to the re-writing of Nigeria as “9ja”. Language is mutatory, but referring to the motherland or the fatherland in slang terms may point to a certain meaninglessness or alienation. What’s in a name? In Africa, names are utilitarian constructs not merely labels. Even among the Ijaw where people bear such unique names as University, Conference, FEDECO, Manager, Heineken, Education, Polo, Boyloaf, Bread, College, Summit, Aeroplane, Bicycle, Internet – there is a much deeper sense to the names. But the name Nigeria means nothing to many young Nigerians. They have no reason to respect the sanctity of the name. They don’t know Flora Shaw or Lord Lugard, and even if they do, they are likely to say as Ogaga Ifowodo does in an unforgettable poem: “God Punish you, Lord Lugard.” Eedris Abdulakarim summarises the concern of young Nigerians in one of his songs when he declared: “Nigeria jagajaga, everything scata, scata”     

The post-modernist, deconstructive temper of emergent youth culture is even more manifest in the cynical stripping to the bones character of today’s Nigerian hip-hop. It is marked by a Grunge character that shouts: non-meaning and alienation. On my way to Rutam House the other day, I listened at mid-day to a continuous stream of old musical numbers from 93.7 Radio FM. Soulful, meaningful tunes of Felix Lebarty, Chris Okotie (as he then was), Mandy Ojugbana, Christy Essien-Igbokwe, Onyeka Onwenu, Sony Okosun, Alex O, Ras Kimono, Majek Fashek, Evi Edna-Ogoli, Bongos Ikwue, Veno Marioghae, Uche Ibeto, Dora Ifudu, Mike Okri, Dizzy K. Falola, and Tina Onwudiwe. Onyeka Onwenu sang; “One love, keep us together”. Veno Marioghae sang: “Nigeria Go Survive”. Even in the romantic offerings like Chris Okotie’s “I need someone, give me your love”, or Felix Lebarty’s “Ifeoma, Ifeoma, I want to marry you, give me your love” and Stella Monye’s “Oko mi ye, duro ti mi o”, or Tina Onwudiwe’s award-winning “Asiko lo laye”. there was so much meaning and polish.     

This was in the 80s. That generation which sang music under its real names, not abbreviations or slangs, was continuing, after the fashion of T.S. Eliot’s description of “Tradition and the Individual Talent”, a pattern of meaning that dates back to traditional African musicians and all the musicians that succeeded them: S. B. Bakare, Victor Olaiya, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Dan Maraya of Jos, Osita Osadebey, Ayinla Omowura, Victor Uwaifo, Geraldo Pino, Rex Lawson, I. K. Dairo, Haruna Ishola, Yusuf Olatunji, Inyang Henshaw, Tunji Oyelana, Bobby Benson, Tunde Nightingale, and even the later ones: Shina Peters, Dele Abiodun, Y.K. Ajao, Ayinde Barrister, Kollington Ayinla, Batile Alake, Sir Warrior, Moroccco Nwa Maduko, Orlando Owoh, Salawa Abeni, KWAM I (Arabambi 1 and please include his disciples- Wasiu Alabi Pasuma et al), Oliver de Coque (Importer and Exporter…), Ayefele, Atorise …. But there has been a terrible crisis in the construction of music. The children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of these ancestors have changed the face and identity of Nigerian music. As a rule, gospel musicians, given the nature of their form, sing meaningful lyrics, but the airwaves these days have been taken over by the children of “gidi”,”naija”, “nija”, “nigerzie” and “9ja”. I listen to them too, but everyday, I struggle to make meaning out of their lyrics.     

Music is about sense, sound, shape and skills. But there is an on-going deficit in all other aspects except sound. So much sound is being produced in Nigeria, but there is very little sense, shape and skills. They call it hip-hop. They try to imitate Western hip pop stars. They even dress like them. The boys don’t wear trousers on their waists: the new thing is called “sagging”, somewhere below the waist it looks as if the trouser is about to fall off. The women are struggling to expose strategic flesh as Janet Jackson once did. The boys and the girls are cloaked in outlandish jewellery and their prime heroes are Ja-Rule, Lil’Wayne, Fat Joe, P. Diddy, 50 Cents, Ronz Brown, Chris Brown, Sean Kingston, Nas, Juelz Santana, Akon, Young Jeezy, Mike Jones, T-Pain, F.L.O-RIDA, Will.I.am, Beyonce, Rihanna, Ciara, Keri Hilson, Jay-Z, Ace hood, Rick Ross, Birdman, Busta Rhymes, Cassidy, Chamillionaire, Soulja Boy, Young Joc, Kanye West, R. Kelly, Kevin Rudolph, T.I.P-king of the South, Ludacris, Plies-The real goon, The Game, Young Rox, Flow killa, Osmosis (2 sick), Flow-ssik, Raprince, Bionic, Fabulous, Jadakiss, Nas, Swiss Beatz, Dj Khaled, Maze, Yung Buck, Maino, MoBB Deep, Lloyd Banks, Olivia, Lady Gaga… Well, God Almighty, we are in your hands.     

And so the most impactful musicians in Nigeria today, the ones who rule the party include the following: D’Banj, MI, Mode Nine, Sauce kid, Naeto C, Sasha, Ikechukwu, 9ice, Bouqui, Mo’cheddah, Teeto, P-square, Don-jazzy, Wande Coal, 2-face, Faze, Black Face, Dr. Sid, D’prince, K-Switch, Timaya, Dj-Zeez, Dj Neptune, Banky w., Big bamo, Art quake, Bigiano, Durella, Eldee, Kelly Hansome, Lord of Ajasa, M.P., Terry tha rapman, Weird MC, Y.Q., Da grin, kel, Roof-top Mcs, Pype, Niga Raw, Ghetto p., Kaka, Kaha, Terry G, Ill Bliss, Zulezoo, Pipe, Dj Jimmy jatt, X-project, Konga, Gino, Morachi… Well, the Lord is God. These are Nigerian children who were given proper names by their parents. Ikechukwu bears his real name. But who are these other ones who have since abandoned their proper names? For example, 9ice’s real name is Abolore Akande, (what a fine name!), Tu face (Innocent Idibia), Sauce Kid (Babalola Falemi), D’Banj (Dapo Oyebanjo), Banky w. (Bankole Willington), P-Square (Peter and Paul), MI (Jude Abaga), Timaya (Enetimi Alfred Odom), Sasha (Yetunde Alabi), Weird MC (Adesola Idowu). But why such strange names? They don’t sing. They rap. Most of them don’t play instruments, they use synthetic piano.     

At public functions, they mime. They are not artists, they perform. They are not necessarily composers, they dance. The more terrible ones can’t even sing a correct musical note. They talk. And they are all businessmen and women. They are more interested in commerce and self-advertisement, name recognition, brand extension and memory recall! They want a name that sells, not some culturally conditioned name that is tied down to culture and geography. But the strange thing is that they are so successful. Nollywood has projected Nigeria, the next big revelations are in hip hop.     

Despite the identity crisis and the moral turpitude that we find in Nigeria’s contemporary hip-hop, the truth is that it is a brand of music that sells. Nigeria’s hip hop is bringing the country so much international recognition. All those strange names are household names across the African continent, so real is this that the phrase “collabo” is now part of the vocabulary of the new art. It speaks to an extension of frontiers. In Nigeria, it is now possible to hold a party without playing a single foreign musical track, the great grand children of Nigerian music are belting out purely danceable sounds which excites the young at heart. But the output belongs majorly to the age of meaningless and prurience. The lyrics says it all.     

Rooftop MC sings for example: “Ori mi wu o, e lagi mo”. This is a very popular song. But all it says is: “my head is swollen, please hit it with a log of wood.” X-Project sings: “Lori le o di gonbe (2x), e so fun sisi ologe ko ya faya gbe, ko ya faya gbe, file, gbabe, se be, bobo o ti e le, wo bo nse fe sa hale hale niwaju omoge, ha, lori le odi gonbe, …..sisi ologe ki lo di saya o, so fun mi ki lofe, o wa on fire o….” Now, what does this mean in real terms? But let’s go to Naeto C: “kini big deal, kini big deal, sebi sebi we’re on fire”, or D’Banj: ” my sweet potato, I wanna make you wife, I wanna make you my wife o, see I no understand o, cause I dey see well well, but dey say love is blind, see I never thought I will find someone like you that will capture my heart and there will be nothing I can do….”. Yes, we are in the age of sweet potato. And so Art quake sings: “E be like fire dey burn my body, e je ki n fera, oru lo n mu mi. Open your hand like say you wan fly away. Ju pa, ju se, ka jo ma sere, alanta, alanta.”     

And here is Zulezoo, another popular Nigerian musical team: “Daddy o, daddy, daddy wen you go for journey, somebody enter for mummy’s house, person sit down for mummy bed, person push mummy, mummy push person, mummy fall for bed yakata, daddy, o daddy, the man jus dey do kerewa kerewa…kerewa ke” And Dj-Zeez: “ori e o 4 ka sibe, ori e o 4 ka sibe, 4 ka sibe, 4 ka sibe”. And MI: “Anoti, anoti, anoti ti, anoti titi.” And Konga: “Baby konga so konga, di konga, ileke konga, ju pa pa, ju pa, konga, ju pa pa, ju pa, sibe”.. And 9ice: “gongo a so, kutupu a wu, eni a de ee, aji se bi oyo laari; oyo o se bi baba enikan, kan, i be double now, aye n lo, a mi to o, gongo a so, oti so o, e wo le e wo enu oko…” Or Tony Tetuila: “U don hit my car, oyinbo repete, u don hit my car o”. Or Weird MC: “Sola lo ni jo, lyrics lori gangan, awa lo ni jo”. Sheer drivel. So much sound, little sense. Is this the future? Maybe not.     

Most of the music being produced now will not be listenable in another five years and this perhaps is the certain fate of commercial art that is driven by branding, show and cash. But we should be grateful all the same for the music, coming out of Nigeria also at this time in the soul, gospel, hip, hop genre: the music that is of Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, Lagbaja, Asa (there is fire on the mountain/and no one seems to be on the run/ there is fire on the mountain now…”), Ara, Sam Okposo, Dare, Sunny Neji, Infinity (now a broken up team), African China, Alariwo of Afrika…. We suffer nonetheless in music as in the national nomenclature, an identity crisis. A country’s character is indexed into its arts and culture, eternal purveyors of tones and modes. Nigerian youths now sing of broken heads, raw sex, uselessness and raw, aspirational emotionalism. A sign of the times? Yes, I guess.     

I find further justification in the national anthem, many versions of which now exist. I grew up in this same country knowing only one way of singing the national anthem: from “Nigeria we hail thee” to “Arise o Compatriots”. The singing of the national anthem is supposed to be a solemn moment. Arms clasped by the side, a straight posture, and the mind strictly focussed on the ideals of patriotism and nationalism. Stillness. Nobody moves. And the national song is rendered in an unchanging format. But not so any longer. There are so many versions of the Nigerian national anthem these days. Same lyrics but different musical rhythms. I have heard the national anthem sung in juju, in fuji, in hip hop, in Ishan’s igbagbolemini, in acapella mode, even reggae. I attended an ocassion once, the rendition of the national music was so enthralling, people started dancing. Even the photographers and cameramen danced with their cameras. For me that was the ultimate expression of the people’s cynicism. The prevalent mood is as expressed by Dj-Zeez: “ori e 4 ka sibe, 4 ka sibe”: an epigrammatic, onomatopoeic, market-driven diminution of language as vehicle and sign. What kind of people are we? A dancing nation? Dancing and writing away our frustrations and caring little about sense, in this country that is now known as “naija”, “nija”, “9ja”, “nigerzie,” “gidi”?

Response to Mr Reuben Abati’s article in the Guardian Newspapers entitled “A Nation’s Identity Crisis” by Banky W

   Dear Sir,     

In the immortal words attributed to P.T. Barnum, “I don’t care what the newspapers say about me, at least spell my name right.” My name IS Banky W, full name being Olubankole Wellington. Not Willington, as you stated in your article entitled “A Nation’s Identity Crisis”. I read the piece repeatedly, and found that misspelling my name wasn’t the only error. At it’s worst, the article seemed like an attempt to discredit and slander an entire generation of artistes and consumers, and at best it came across as having some valid points but being grossly misinformed, prejudiced, and hypocritical; definitely not what we would expect of a highly regarded publication as The Guardian, or from a person in Mr Abati’s position.     

In the very least, the article warrants a well-informed response. I have little doubt in my mind that it will generate a slew of responses, positive and negative, and as one of the many subjects that was mentioned in the write-up, I feel compelled to voice my opinion (with all due respect) on some of the issues that were raised in your piece. What I’m going to attempt to do is to directly address issues that stood out and resonated most with me.     

The writer asked “What’s in a name?” and went on to honor a “…generation which sang music under its real names, not abbreviations or slangs”; this would have been a valid point if he had not himself mentioned Greats like King Sunny Ade (real name: Sunday Adeniyi), I.K. Dairo (Isaiah Kehinde Dairo), and Ebenezer Obey (Real name: Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Fabiyi- Wow!!!). We could also point out other legends like Ras Kimono and Majek Fashek as others who, for creative or other reasons, saw it fit to have stage names that happen to differ from what’s on their passports. Shortening of full names and/or the crafting of stage names is not something new from our generation of artistes that “lack the discipline or the patience to write complete sentences” as you said; rather, it’s the creative right of an artiste to go by whatever moniker he sees fit. And if we want to talk about the names of today, we can highlight a few: Eldee – actually L.D. which stands for Lanre Dabiri, similar to Isaiah Kehinde Dairo’s transition to I.K. Dairo. Naeto C and Banky W are simply short forms of their full names. In my case, my father’s nickname among his friends is actually Banky as well.     

Furthermore, on the topic of Names and abbreviations let’s set a few things straight. Nigerzie is actually spelt Nigezie and is not an abbreviation for Nigeria. It’s a TV Show, much like Soundcity or Hip TV, except they choose to incorporate “representing Nigeria” in their name. It’s like the “United Colors of Bennetton”, or DKNY, both companies that choose to represent their locations or origins in their name. Also, for the record, Gidi doesn’t mean Nigeria either. It’s a term for Lagos… coined from “Las Gidi”. And as far as the popular term “Naija” goes, who remembers Shina Peters singing “♫ Naija lo wa yi o o o, wa jo, afro juju lo gb’ode ♫” I hate to point out that our generation did not come up with that term… the “golden age” that you long for did.     

As an editorial head of a National Newspaper, you owe it to your public to at least do proper and accurate research before printing an article. The risk in not doing so, is you might unknowingly mislead your readers, and you might actually come across as being ignorant or out of touch. A quick look at all the reference names of artistes and songs mentioned in the article goes to show that the author was sadly way off base in his accusations and examples. For instance, to make a point on how today’s Nigerian artistes lyrics are meaningless and prurient, he referenced the Rooftop MC’s song “La Gi Mo”. What he failed to realize or crosscheck, is that the said song is probably one of the most meaningful and important songs that have been released in the last few years on the Nigerian Music Scene. The Rooftop MC’s are actually a Rap Group that leans to the Gospel or at least Socially Conscious side of music, and their songs always have a positive message. That song itself talks about the errors we make by trying to take God’s glory for our success… getting caught up in the limelight and asking God to bring you back to reality to know that HE deserves the praise for where you are.     

The author mentioned other songs like D’banj’s “Fall in Love”, and doesn’t realize how hypocritical he sounds by attempting to ridicule some of our most popular love songs. Felix Liberty sang “Ifeoma, ifeoma, I want to marry you”, D’banj sang “Omo U don make me fall in love” and Banky W sang “Till my dying day, I’ll love you”. Barring a difference in musical styling, are these songs not cut from the same cloth? Why can’t someone in Mr Abati’s position be proud of the fact that at Nigerian and African Weddings nowadays, couples are choosing these songs to mark their first dances instead of previous choices like “Endless Love”? Why can’t we appreciate that the days of going to Nigerian Parties and clubs and celebrating to foreign music “all night long” are long gone? Despite these facts, you still see International festivals and concerts being held in Nigeria where the foreign acts are paid 30 to 40 times what some of our biggest stars are allowed to charge.     

I have to disagree with the author’s views. We are not all one and the same, but we ARE artistes. We may sing, rap, dance, mime, perform, play instruments or whatever else; but we are artistes. And Composers. And musicians. We may not all play the piano or the guitar, but neither does Michael Jackson, arguably the world’s greatest artiste/entertainer. That’s why he teamed up with producer Quincy Jones to create some of the best music anyone had ever heard. We have our own producers that have shaped Nigerian sound…people like Cobhams Asuquo, Don Jazzy, I.D. Cabasa, Dr Frabz, Tee-Y mix, Eldee, Terry G etc. That list goes on. These music minds are no less credible than those of Mr Abati’s time, like the great Laolu Akins.     

Far be it from us to claim that we are perfect and flawless in our art… we know that we are still growing and have lots of areas to improve, but the truth of the matter is we have worked very hard to create the industry we have now, and some people choose to criticize and lambaste most of us, instead of helping and teaching us. That is unfair. Yes, some artistes sag their jeans… however, a glance at the pages of THISDAY style or the recently concluded awards shows will show you very clearly that others wear three-piece suits and traditional attires just as proudly, myself included. This music industry that you have very clearly disapproved of has partnered with and given rise to the fashion industry in Nigeria as well. Just ask Designers like Mai, Babs Familusi (Exclamations Couture), the Okunorens, Muyiwa Osindero and countless others. Everything from the t-shirts and jeans rappers wear, to the shoes and suits are made by young Nigerians, where in previous years people preferred to shop in London. The youth-driven industries in Entertainment and Fashion have teamed up to thrust Nigeria into the world’s positive spotlight, when for many years our dear country was mostly known for corruption, lack of infrastructure, and security issues.     

Our country has not yet given us steady electricity, adequate education, safety from armed robbers or standard healthcare, yet artistes have risen like the Roses that grow from Concrete… and these very artistes love and represent their country proudly on a global stage. This music industry has given hope, jobs and income to countless youth of today. We are Rappers, Singers, Producers, Sound Engineers, Managers, Promoters, Marketing Consultants, Record Label Owners and we will not apologize for making the best of our circumstances; and all this in spite of the fact that we have Marketers that exploit but refuse to pay for our Musical pieces, Royalties and Publishing income that hitherto has been non-existent, a Government that is just now very slowly starting to enforce anti-piracy laws, and Event Organizers that would rather pay 50 Cent One Million US Dollars than give D’banj or P-Square 5 Million Naira.     

You were right on some counts. We ARE businessmen and women, and we ARE interested in extending name recognition and brand extension. You were also right in that we look up to people like Jay-Z, who took their music and created multimillion-dollar empires. Since when did ambition and desire to succeed against all odds count against a person’s moral character? Shouldn’t we be encouraged to pay more attention to the business side of “Show Business”? Shouldn’t we want this music industry to provide for our future and the futures of our children?     

We know we have a moral responsibility when it comes to our Creative works. Some of us pay more attention to it than others, and there is lots of ground to cover up. But how about a little appreciation and help, instead of trying to tear us down and discredit us? Time will tell whose music will last and become evergreen, but it is not in anyone’s place to judge; and for the record, can we just accept that fact that hip hop music is an artform that is probably here to stay… I mean for goodness sake the Grammy’s has!! Instead of fighting the change, we should learn to embrace it. I thank God for people like the great Adewale Ayuba that have reached across to our generation to collaborate with, bridge the gap, and help us improve.     

We want to learn but your generation has to teach. We want to read but the Government must provide libraries. We want to go to school but the lecturers keep going on strike. We want to travel but previous generations messed up so they won’t give out visas. Most of prefer having our own live bands but the income needed to support that is not forthcoming.     

You speak of meaninglessness and prurience, identity crisis and moral turpitude. You praise Legends like Fela Anikulakpo-Kuti and you ridicule us. 9ice does not drink or smoke. eLDee is married to one wife. Olu Maintain does not drink. Naeto C is currently obtaining his Masters’ degree in England. The ironic thing is, we look up to and praise your generation too. You seem to forget that Baba Fela had 27 wives, smoked marijuana in public, was himself half naked at shows (as well as the women around him) and allegedly died of HIV. However we look past what some may consider shortcomings and respect and emulate the immense contributions he made to our history. We are in awe of him despite personal choices that some may or may not agree with. All we are asking for is to be appreciated and afforded similar tolerances.     

You danced to Shina Peters. Let us dance to our music. And for the record: for every “Anoti” by MI, he has a “Crowd Mentality” or a “Talk about it”. For a Naeto C’s “Ki Ni Big Deal”, he has a “The Devil is a Liar”. Just because an artiste uses a particular song to promote his album for commercial reasons, doesn’t mean they should be judged on that alone. Anyone that is familiar with the cost of promoting an album (videos, press, etc) would know that you end up making hard decisions in terms of what you have to push and promote, for your best chance at success. I suggest that you buy whole albums and look at the body of work. Listen to the entire CD’s. I think you’ll find that more often than not, Nigerian artistes are doing a pretty good job of representing this great Country of Nigeria. Naija Till We Die. Yes Boss.     

Sincerely,
~ Banky W.

Culled from 

Word of Wisdom

The first step in the acquisition of wisdom is silence, the second listening, the third memory, the fourth practice, the fifth teaching others.
Solomon Ibn Gabriol

…honour her with a landmark-Onyeka Onwenu

One of Nigeria’s famous female singers, and a former colleague of the late Chief Christy Essien Igbokwe, Onyeka Onwenu has called for the immortalization of the late Christy, as well as other fallen heroes and heroines in the entertainment sector.

According to Onwenu who paid a condolence visit to the Igbokwes’ Ikeja home yesterday, Christy must be immortalized by Nigerians. because she was a complete Nigerian. 

Her words ‘She cared, loved and lived for Nigerians. And it is time we began to recognize and appreciate our heroes. She was one of such Nigerian heroes. We need to honour her with a landmark. It is not just good enough naming streets after her, but create a landmark so that future generations of Nigerians can learn from the life of Christy, who pushed herself up from an obscured background and made herself an International star.’’ 

Asked about a specific award for which the late lady of Songs should be remembered, Onwenu said ‘I cannot say anything now but we have to collectively think of something that would be a permanent reminder of her great achievements. In this way, those children who are now growing up can look at her life and say, ‘if she can do it from a humble background, then there is hope for the rest of us.”

Explaining further, Onwenu said ‘Much as we look at our President today and say ‘he came from a poor background and look at where God has taken him to’. The same way, Christy came from a poor background and this is where God had taken her. Let her immortalization be one that will inspire the future youths of Nigeria.

Onyenu who was equally popular as a leading female voice at the time Christy reigned as Nigeria’s Lady of Songs added ‘ Christy was one of a kind and there can never be anyone like her. I think about her commitment to duty, she was a wonderful mother, wife and citizen of the country. Her care for other people knew no bounds. She was an artistes’ artiste. One who took it upon herself for the survival of the music industry, beginning from her stage performance, and her kind of music.

The issue of what will be the form of the immortalization should be left to a committee to decide. But it must be a permanent one. It should not be something that will be eroded with time. It must be visible.’’

Boko Haram kills LG boss, 4 others in Borno

*Al-Qaeda plans base in Nigeria, British security agents allege

*As Yuguda, Goje apologise to Boko Haram

ABUJA - British security agents have alerted British Prime Minister, David Cameron, that terrorist group, al-Qaeda was determined to make Nigeria a base for plotting terror attacks on the Western nations just as an explosion believed to have been carried out by Islamic sect, Boko Haram, yesterday killed five persons including Mallam Mustafa Baale, a prominent  leader of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in the state and injuring 10 others at a bar close to a police barracks in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

The group had on Saturday shot and killed 7 persons in Umarari area of the state capital.

Alhaji Baale, a former member of the Borno State Legislative Assembly was the caretaker chairman of Jere Local Government area before he was killed.

Commander of a Joint Police and Military Task force on Boko Haram, Major General Jack Nwachukwu, who confirmed the attack said “five people have been confirmed dead while 10 others sustained various degrees of injuries.”

Yuguda, Goje apologise

Meanwhile, Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State and former governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Danjuma Goje have offered apologies to Boko Haram for any rights violations suffered during military crackdown on its armed uprising in 2009.

They made their apologies in separate statements:

“I apologise to the members of Jama’atu Ahlussunnah lidda’awati wal Jihad for perceived injustices caused them as they have the full rights to be protected by the law,” Yuguda said in a statement released on Saturday.

“I hope this will further the healing of the trauma on Jama’atu Ahlussunnah, …open the door to meaningful dialogue that will end hostilities and usher peace for which the religion of Islam is all about,” he added.

Goje, now a senator, said “as a true Muslim, who believes in peace and brotherhood … I hereby tender my public apology to the organisation for any wrong done to it in the course of performing my duty as the then govearnor of Gombe State.”

The statements from the politicians appeared to be in response to the Boko Haram’s demand for apologies as a precondition for dialogue with government.

The group’s spokesman, Abu Zaid, had said they would hunt down the governors of Borno, Bauchi and Gombe states in comments published a week ago

“We would not relent in our efforts of searching for them until they come out publicly and apologise,” Zaid had said Kashim Shettima, the newly elected governor of Borno State had already made overtures to the group.

He offered an amnesty to those of its members who renounced violence, a move backed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Ihejirika vows to deal with terrorists

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, yesterday, vowed that terrorists apprehended with explosives for sinister motives or offensive weapons with intention to cause dangers to lives and property will be prosecuted in accordance with the anti-terrorism law.

General Ihejirika who was speaking during the Interdenominational Church Service to mark this year’s Nigeria Army Day celebration at the All Saint’s Military Protestant Church, Mogadishu Cantonment, said:“We are happy that currently, the Anti-Terrorism Bill which makes it an offence for any one engaging in terrorist’s acts like kidnapping, throwing of bombs and other life threatening activities is in place. The days when people were apprehended for unpatriotic terrorists act and nothing happened are over.

 So no matter the connection, any body caught for terrorist act will face the law as stipulated by the Anti-Terrorism bill”.

General Ihejirika who was speaking during the Interdenominational Church Service to mark this year’s Nigeria Army Day celebration at the All Saint’s Military Protestant Church, Mogadishu Cantonment, commended the Federal Government for the passage of the bill, saying: “The passage of the terrorism bill is a major achievement towards encouraging security agencies to be more serious and committed to their jobs.”

He regretted that “previously, there have been cases during which saboteurs’, kidnappers and other persons had been arrested for these acts and they were released under one excuse of the other because the law had not provided adjudication on issues like this”.

Reiterating the Army’s readiness to tackle unfolding security challenges in the nation, the COAS said, “As soldiers, we have got all what it takes to do our job. We have got good salaries, good welfare, and good motivation.

Now the anti-terrorist bill has made it possible for terrorism related offenders to be apprehended and dealt with. The days when such persons get away easily because there was not law to mete out punishment, is gone”

Culled from Vanguard newspaper.