Achike Udenwa Emerges Minister of Commerce

 

Last night the Yar;Adua’s administration put all doubts about her unseriousness to rest when the Ministry of Commerce portfolio was Chief Achike Udenwa the immediate pass governor of Imo State, South East Nigeria.

Throughout his stint in Imo State, there was no industrial chimney belching smoke. As recent as yesterday, the Chief Press Secretary to his successor Ikedi Ohakim, stated that there was infrastructural decay under the tenure of Chief Udenwa, although the CPS was responding to the story of a High Court Uruall Judge sitting under a mango tree. If this is the true position of things in Imo State, what is the evidence of achievement that made this administration to nominate and insist that Udenwa be made minister?

It will be recalled that there was protest at the gate of the National Assembly Complex on the day the Senate was screening Udenwa. This protest if nothing shows that Udenwa does not have the support and loyalty of the state he ruled for 8 years. Forget his answer to the effect that all politicians have enemies. But what Udenwa failed to tell us is that no ministerial nominee had his enemies marching down the gate of the Assembly on the day of their screening.

Another thing we should not lose sight of is that Udenwa whose name was among the first batch of nominees was delayed at the SSS, implying that his credentials may not be as starling as some of his paid loyalists are making out. At this juncture, I cannot help but imagine what it was that delayed his security clearance. Nigerians should now understand why some politicians are hell bent on frustrating the passing of Freedom on Information Bill (FoIB)

The immediate past Minister of Commerce was Charles Ugwu, the PDP flag bearer in Imo State during the April 14^th guber election. Udenwa against party primary result that favoured Senator Ifeanyi Ararume aided Charles Ugwu despite a Supreme Court ruling declaring Ararume as the rightful flag bearer of PDP. Consequently, a new election was conducted on the 28^th of April and PPA led by Ikedi Ohakim became governor.

With this history fresh on our minds, one cannot help query the rational behind the compensation with a ministerial appointment to a sitting governor who could not deliver his state for his party.

If Charles Ugwu could not deliver will his godfather deliver? Their inability to deliver is plainly because there is no functional industry or mega commercial activity going on in Imo State. The Industrial Estate on Owerri-Onitsha road, is a grave yard with only NBC and a handful of pure water companies working.

Ugwu who was the head of Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), could not stem the tide of Chinese importations of substandard goods, especially textile.

Another draw back in this ministerial appointment is the generational question. Are there no able young men in Imo State that can fill the Imo State Ministerial slot? Why bring back an ex-governor? And an ex-governor that has nothing in terms of improved commercial activity during his ruin of the state to justify foisting him on the nation.

On a general scale, President Yar’Adua should quickly reshuffle his new lack luster cabinet as it is obvious that the present constituent of his cabinet will not move this nation anywhere near his 7 Point Agenda.

You need to see Dora Akunyili battling to keep a straight face while trying to spin out an image for the government.

How about the 72 year old Lukman? This administration is fast becoming a dump ground for recycled dead woods.

What are these ex-governors doing in the cabinet? Are they not tired that after 8 years they could not radically improve their states?

What new vigor will Ufot Ekaette bring to Niger Delta that he forgot to tell Obasanjo and other Heads of state he served that will warrant his appointment as Minister in charge of the virgin Niger Delta Affairs Ministry?

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3.2

Xmas; Ndi Igbo alago!

Finally, December 25^th is around the corner. For the past couple of months, I have been agonizing in prayers that the Pope will decree that Christmas has been postponed.

As the day dwindles to December 25^th, my hope to answered prayers diminishes. As I see my neighbours deforesting their bank account to buy Christmas ham pack to win their oga’s favour, my heart bleeds and I ask myself, why this subtle bribe and craze for Christmas?  Even the roadside chemist shop managed by Okoro(colloquial name for igbos), is winding down for Christmas, I am reliably informed that Okoro has made plans to migrated to Biafra(The Igbos when disenchanted with Nigeria , crave for a spiritual Biafra , where all their dreams will be met. Why this craze for exodus to the East? While musing on this, my wife quickly reminded me that the biblical Israelites moved east from Egypt towards their borrowed land.

The 1948 United Nation’s creation of the state of Israel has given the biblical Jah people a permanent state, though they are still fighting their landlords-the Palestines. But all over the world, Jah people are still searching for a home land that is corruption, tribalism, evil and unemployment free. This has been at the root of internally displacement of people and the brain behind regional conflicts. There is a constant movement of people but it becomes evident during the Christmas-New year celebration.

At this period of the year, there is a massive movement of people to their homelands to celebrate Xmas and be with their ancestral spirits to welcome the New Year.

Nigerians are not left out in this exodus. A visit to any city in Nigeria will evidence this mass evacuation. The air ports, motor parks and donkey tracks, all full to the brim with people wanting to go home. The Nigerians in Diaspora are not left out. Many dish washers and mortuary attendants in Europe and America, are also home bound, to escape the high cost of living through the harsh winter. Some are also coming home to find a “village girl” to dollar-mesmerise and break a long standing relationship. Village girls are getting wiser now as it is evident that USA has gone into recession and a good number of Africans in Diaspora are jobless and crave to come home but the shame of having nothing to show for the prodigal son years in Diaspora is keeping them far from home and those who will make it, will find to their dismay that the village girl knows where Wall Street is and may demand a glimpse of his Green Card before she will allow him “do”.

The local communities have dusted their leaking baskets of unfinished community projects, launching, fund raising and all sorts are lined up for this period. The rural churches and shrines are not left out. They organise abroad harvest and bazaar, despite having done first fruit harvest and the commencement of the un-earthening of the new yam sometime in October/November.

This is against the back-drop that our “illustrious son” has dispossessed foreigners and struck it rich in the last year and investing a token in the community is not a crime. Many questionable characters will be awarded chieftaincy titles, whose meanings are as dubious as the recipients.

This exodus is worst among the Eastern inhabitants of Nigeria. Most of them believe that they are the Jews of Nigeria and at the end of each year, they must reenact their fore-fathers escape from Egypt. A political angle to this is the exodus as a result of the pogrom of 1963-1966, that cumulated into the Biafran war. The current Jos mayhem has added a taste of nostalgia.

With this mentality, the average Easterner sees Nigeria as a land to be plundered and not a home. After all, on the eve of the biblical Passover, God asked the Israelites to ask of their Egyptian neighbours of anything.”…and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for and like a victorious army, they plundered the Egyptians” (Exodus 12:35-36)

In this exodus, many die on the road to the River Niger. The dilapidated federal roads are worst in the eastern part of Nigeria. The Bini-Ore road that conveys the conquering Alaba, Idumota trader is a death trap. Even with their latest modern day chariots, they still don’t make it to the “Promised Land”. The Abuja-Lokoja-Auchi/Onitsha strip is another killer to the dreams of those bent on exodus. A sore that has refused to be healed despite the crocodile tears by the minister for transport, is the Lokoja/Ajokuta road that leads to 9^th Mile. May travelling this Xmas, will spend at least a night on the road.

Those fortunate to escape into the “promised land” find at their ancestral homes, disputes, intra-family bickering and the fear of being poisoned, rules the day. Most of these returnees, fence themselves in and hardly attend to the needy widow next door, some go all out to secure the protection of the Nigerian Police throughout the two weeks they will hibernate at home. Crime rate swings from all time low in the villages to a record proportion and I ask myself, is it worth it? The dispossessed, come back to the City (Babylon/Egypt) in January and start scavenging for a living, commencing a new circle of saving for another waste come December ending.

So better be careful when Okoro comes borrowing in January to pay his children school fees.

Is this not a season of celebration of he who was rich and for mankind, he made himself poor? A man whose father has all things yet he was born in the lowest of places? A man whose first midwife was a dispossessed bull, who grudgingly kept awake after a hard day’s work at the trashing floor, through the labour cry of Mary.

Why this craze for Christmas? The cost of everything has doubled. Even the transport fare to the east will reach the Iroko top. Why can’t these bus owners help their brothers who want to go home? Is this commercialization the essence of Christmas? Why can’t the Pope for once, postpone Christmas?  

 

 

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3.2

Yar’Adua Knows Fate Today!

The event going on today in the hollow chambers of the Supreme Court ideally should have been earth quaking. But the absence of robust opposition has taken the quake out of the would have been historical day. Nigerians are disillusioned and careless in whichever the scale of justice tilts. By 10 am, the Supreme Court is set to deliver a requiem on the worrisome 2007 Presidential election in the appeal of Buhari/Atiku Vs. Yar’Adua.

Despite flashes of erudite and electorate favourable judgments, a good number of the pronouncements on the 2007 General Election have been a stab on Justice. I still bleed at the remembrance of Osun State and the questionable SMS between judge and Counsel. The shameless rape of procedure in Ohakim Vs. Ararume. What is holding the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal from delivering judgment? Why should the Court allow herself to be arrested by an appeal in Abuja Division commenced by Agbaso whose petition had been thrown out? With due respect to the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal Port Harcourt Division, I smell the hands of Esau and the swindler voice of Jacob. To ice the suspected fraud, the adjournment was at the instance of a letter and not a motion on notice; hence the lawyers and litigants were not informed about the abracadabra adjournment.

I wish today’s judgment will be different from that of 2003 or 1999 before it but should my wish come true which I doubt, Yar’Adua will get two years awuf and will not leave in 2011 as PDP will win any bye election with David mark as acting President for 3 months. God forbid! General Buhari the best presidential candidate in 2007 is now a political orphan with massive defection from ANPP into PDP’s GNU. Should the Supreme Court rule in his favour, on which political platform will he rule? Bear in mind that the Supreme Court in Rotimi Amaechi Vs. Celestine Omehia ruled that it is political parties that contest elections in Nigeria.

For ex-VP Atiku Abubakar who is more in USA than in Nigeria. There is no a formidable opposition built by him to make a dent should the judgment be in his favour and the election is nullified. Does AC have the following outside Lagos State to command a nationwide victory in a bye election? Forget Edo State. Adams won because of the labour movement and not because of AC. Had Adams ran as independent candidate, he would have still won. So AC should not beat her chest that in a free and fair election that they will scratch PDP. The problem with beating PDP is that Nigerian opposition parties are paper tigers with pseudo teeth. We all don’t like PDP’s indecisive go slow style of leadership but there is no credible alternative. When was the last time Yar’Adua commissioned any project? All we see is Tura traversing the length and breadth of Nigeria launching her NGO while Yar’Adua is marooned in Aso Rock. If Atiku, Buhari and Mike Ahamba (SAN) are serious, they should start building an opposition movement that will kick out PDP in 2011, if not the 60 years reign of PDP will be real and every election will be a violent storm in a tea cup to unseat PDP. Whatever be the outcome of today’s judgment, let us stop crying over spilt milk; start now to build a party different in structure and content from the current social /ethnic clubs masquerading as political parties.

 

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2.5

Devil On The Cross

Apologies to Nugigi Wa Thiong’o the author of a classic novel of the same title but there is no better expression to explain the event going down in Kaduna today. The Nigeria Police Force Disciplinary Committee among other cases of accidental discharges and fraud against serving officers will look into the dent on the discipline of the force by Nuhu Ribadu.
While contesting his demotion, Ribadu who had limited respect for the Courts, went to court to restrain the Police from refereeing to him as DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police) and the authorities of NIPSS from stopping him from graduating. The Police reacted by forcing him out of the graduation hall for not being properly dressed. I wonder in which custom were they expecting Ribadu to appear. In a DCP’s ceremonial cloth or that of the AIG? DCP’s means he has accepted the demotion and the AIG’s it would have meant he was in direct confrontation with the establishment that made him. Although this was the devil’s alternative, not choosing any showed the coward in Ribadu. If I were Ribadu, I would have won the AIG’s ceremonial cloth since my matter is in court but a serving Police officer in a graduation sponsored by the NPF appearing in mufti, is the greatest disrespect for the institution that made him.
There is no reasonable Nigerian who doesn’t believe Ribadu started on a good footing his chairmanship of EFCC in the quest to rid Nigeria of her 419 image. What people know and refuse to accept about our one time hero is that he is a tragic hero and like Icarus he forgot that he owned his appointment and astronomical promotions to the whim of an old fox called ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo. Ribadu the fearless, who inspired some of us, lost our respect when he became a willing tool in the hands of OBJ against the enemies of OBJ’s self destruction called third term. Ribadu turned himself into INEC-disqualifying officer and where he cannot get to the target, a whole state’s House of Assembly members will be his guest till they are willing to relocate to their “base” with police protection to impeach a constitutional elected governor, protected by Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

These ex this and that are now on the driving seat of this administration and for Ribadu is payback time. More also a good number of those Ribadu disgraced, like Senator Chimaroke Nnamani ex-governor of Enugu State whom we read hid in the Senate President’s office to avoid arrest by EFCC and Senator Sani Yerima, whom Ribadu accused of directly stealing from the Zamfara treasury are in the Senate. More worrisome for Ribadu is that Yerima under the GNU has President Musa Yar’Adua’s ears. Well no need to inform that the ex-governors where Yar’Adua’s colleagues and when Ribadu said over 32 governors were corrupt, if Governor Yar’Adua as he then was, was not one of them, most of his friends in the them Governors Forum must be gold medallist on Ribadu’s corruption stable.
Though I feel for him, he should have just resigned from the police rather than this tango of shame he is dancing with the police and sure won’t win. In other to keep the morale of the rank and file, the police should dismiss Ribadu from the force, before accidental discharge while cleaning the armoury happens or a friendly fire finds the wrong friend. Imagine what it will mean for the Nigeria Police for Ribadu to go scot-free? Any Constable can disobey order or posting to a particular district in Nigeria.
Another apparition that will be on the cross today, is Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Central Bank. The five South-East states in conjunction with the Sun Publishing Limited will commence her median economic summit in Owerri, titled igwebuike. This Summit is to brain storm on how to harness efforts for South-East Economic & Social Renaissance. This is a laudable initiative, especially with the absence of Federal Government presence in the South-East despite the pyramidal contribution of people of South-East in the development of Nigeria. From your neighbourhood chemist shop to auto spare parts shop, the South Easterner is there. To show how important these group of people are to the economic development of Nigeria apart from is, it is a trite travellers wisdom that no city is safe to sleep in if there is no igboman in it. Use your tong to count your teeth and tell me if there is no igbo man in your village. It’s these unappreciative gestures by the other geo-political zones, especially in denial of access to Aso Rock that has made today’s summit a beginning of more summits to come.

In as much as I agree with the spirit of the summit, my heart is pained that Charles Soludo is not one of the “confirmed speakers” or is he one of the discussants (Saturday Sun November 28 @ Pg 30). How can the modern day red caps of igboland gather without the brightest of the red in attendance? The United Nation in reaction to the economic meltdown of which USA has entered recession already gathered 10 best economists in the world to think out a way. Yes Soludo the economic agwu nshi is the only African/Blackman in that team. Yes the Soludo that bailed out the dying Nigerian banks and made investors comfortable and now banks are expanding their sphere of activities to other sectors. When the started the idea of consolidation, some sceptics though Soludo was playing Ludo with the bank. But now everyone is happy but none wants to pay due respect to the wizard who had the courage to implement his dream.
If the South East wants to brew a potent economic portion that will reduce the casualty of ndi igbos whenever a religious/ethnic/political murder breaks in any part of the geographical expression called Nigeria, I will not make case for the exclusion of Okonjo Iweala the economic witch at World Bank but Soludo’s name should have been listed, even if he won’t be there. There are some big masquerades that any deity who wants to be taken seriously by mortals must not afford to offend. Soludo has danced in the evil forest that the best brains in world dare to trade yet he has no honour among his people. If Nigeria is a killer of his heroes as is happing to Ribadu, must ndi igbo kill hers knowing that they are in the political minority? That the Nigerian nation has failed to congratulate Soludo is bad but his non-inclusion in Igwebuike has shown that ndi igbo are joining outsiders to say that their mother is a bad cook. If this grievous error is not corrected is akin to arming the enemy with the nail to crucify our saviour.

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Jos Boils Again

 In Africa, we want to be more Catholic than the Pope. I wonder in which of the gods name fellow Nigerians murdered each other.  The way between Israel and Hamas is not religious nor is the war in Syria being carried by Hezbollah. It is simple the fight for land and resources under or asses to water/sea port. And these areas have the holiest sites of most religions bodies in the world, yet they do not fight base on religious differences. Why do the bidding of a foreign god against your brother? If your god is God, let him call down fire or any natural disaster to fight his battle. Let us stop murdering in the name of any god.

Just recently, this is country went overboard in celebration that Barak Obama won a historical election in USA against all odds yet we could not solve a common local government election. Even the National Assembly was agog with Obamania and some State Honourables have perfected a looting plan to witness Obama’s inauguration on January 20^th 2009. If I were to be the USA Ambassador to Nigeria, no Nigerian politician in office will get a visa to USA. We must clean our acts; Nigerian politicians must show to the world that they have mastered the science of playing politics by the rules. It is a shame that the settler indigene dichotomy, will still rear its ugly head in Nigerian politics of the 21^st century. Before this current combustion, Jos first went up in smoke in 2001 and another in 2004. Instead of getting to the root of the matter i.e settlers right against indigenes rights, Obasanjo played politics and declared state of emergency to get to Dariye. This carnage if not resolved for what it is (the political rights of settlers in their new home), it will reoccur and as is typical, will be worst than this year’s own. Let it be enshrined in the constitution that once you pay your tax in any part of Nigeria, you are entitled to the highest office that zone can offer. We must start building a nation rather than this ethnic loyalty we are trying to masquerade as nationhood.

  For those crying when will a Nigerian Obama emerge, this madness in Jos has shown that we are far away and until a man’s place of birth is of no significant, until a man in Nigeria is judged by the quality of solutions he brings to bear on the problems confronting his constituency and not how long he has settled in that area, a miracle called Obama will never emerge in Nigeria political sphere. For those carrying Obama stickers, they should tell the myopic ones that, Senator Hillary Clinton representing NY was Arkansas first lady before Bill became president of USA. USA has a fluid political movement where only your ideas and integrity of character can stand you out. Furthermore for these religious bigots in Nigerian politics, who throws religion into the fray when they have no manifesto to offer, should know that Obama walked out of his pastor when it became obvious that the pastor’s racial sermons is miles apart with Obama’s political solution to the race question in USA.

Before Lai Mohamed National Publicity Secretary of AC blames the Jos amok on PDP, let me quickly remind you that the flood gate of LGA rigging in 2008 was opened by AC in Lagos State. During the just concluded 57 LGA election in Lagos State, local government areas that had predominantly non Yorubas had a Yoruba candidate in AC winning. A stark example is Amuwo Odofin (Mile 2, FESTAC, Amuwo Estate) You don’t need to live in Lagos to know that ndi igbo controls FESTAC or that Ajegule and Amukoko in Ojo LGA is the hobnob of non indigenes in Lagos, yet AC shamelessly cleared the seats with Yoruba candidates that are not Lagosians. Ndi Igbo, the ever victim of political marginalisation took it in good fate and now a political misadventure in Jos by PDP  to clear all the 18 LGA as  AC did in Lagos, has brought ndi igbo and other political minorities to bear the brunt. The Hausa/Muslim settlers are more in number in Jos North and rightly thought they should win. But PDP showed immaturity in the role of ethnicity in Nigerian politics and attempted to rig in a son of the soil, who is in the minority in Jos North as the Chairman. I am not in support of the violence but the facts have to be stated the way they are before we politically colour it.   

If murders in Jos were political, which I want to believe, why didn’t these angry mob burn down the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission or the zonal party secretariat of the rigging party? Why wasn’t the protest march taken to the Government House? At what point did the cheapest currency in Nigeria (religion) get involved and Churches torched? The death toll is rising with some media outfit putting it at tens of hundred yet no group has been identified as responsible. It is a shame to the Nigerian security outfit that they couldn’t gather enough intelligence data to forestall this out brake, yet they waste national resources in hunting down journalist for articles they deem detrimental to national security. Whosever is in charge of internal security of Nigeria, should resign. He has failed Nigerians. I have been following the terrorist attack in Mumbai India and the political casualties. Nigerian Minister of Interior  and Plateau State Commissioner of Police should take a bow for not being able to predict and prevent this calamitous waste of lives.

In as much as we do not pray for a reprisal attack(s) in any part of the country; as no group owns exclusive right to violence, we want this lukewarm administration of President Yar’Adua to be firm on security of lives and properties in Nigeria. Despite his pre-election campaign promises on Niger Delta, that region has been turned into a theatre of mutual criminality with a thin line dividing the Nigerian Armed Forces and oil bunkerers.

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3.2

World AIDS Day;A celebration of True Confession

Today, I got the greatest news of my life. The result of the H.I.V. test I did has just arrived. Having been a “smart” guy all my philandering years, I joyfully tore open the result in the presence of my friends, who have gathered to celebrate my employment letter.

It was a joyful gathering, as I have been unlucky with numerous CV deposited in many countless offices. The entire vendor, in my area knows me as Mr. Tuesday Guardian. My popularity is not only limited to the vendors. I am also on first name bases with Aboki and meyshoe. All my caterpillar soled shoes have realigned themselves; giving me a permanently bow-leg posture each time I cruise into them to beat the dusty streets of Lagos in search of answer to the vacancy adverts on the pages of Newspaper.

Hard as it was, I a graduate of over 4 years experience as an applicant took to running a mobile phone call center. Honestly, this was degrading, as most callers are uncultured and abusive. All these I took in good faith till the till the service providers “bellviewed” their rate and my monthly income, couldn’t afford to pay for booster cards.

I had a stint with my uncle who has a bus. The bus is as disjointed as Nigeria! Every part is forcefully tied with a piece of wire, it is a sorry sight when a mischievous angel decides to piss uncontrollable on earth; the bus becomes a watering can and are Nigerians colorful with language when it comes to raining abuses on conductor? Any attempt to remind them “me too, go School”, brings out the “best” in them.

Now you know the joy of a provisional letter of employment will bring to a weathered senior applicant. Mind you, I have altered my age many times to conform to below 30, as to be attractive to the personnel department, of many companies.

With this euphoria, I started celebrating and called my close friends to follow me say bye bye to suffer head. I quickly surrendered myself to the conditions and rushed off to Federal Medical center for comprehensive medical examination. My only fear being that the doctor should not discover that my certificates are three years older than the age on my curriculum vitea. Nothing prepared me for the rude shock I got.

I tore open the envelope with reckless abandon and the tiny cross was larger than the crucifix at St Peters Rome! Who will believe my story?

I have been careful in all my philandering; there must have been two occasions that the raincoat tore. In my younger days, when my skills have not been fine-tuned, Asawos (whores) provided makeshift/make-believe love congress. But in my University days, I made up for the denials, cruising through any willing in sight. Young girls hawking orange and all sorts were not spared.

While looking for the elusive job, I became born again. Brother, “body no be wood” I made some incursions, carefully selecting church going girls and when the golden time presents itself, my cream de la cream, are pastor’s daughters.

So I could not understand this crude joke of cross against my H.I.V.status. I tried holding myself but courage failed me. I broke down singing Shaggy’s ‘Why me lord’ The gathered friends walked up, read the death sentence and silently fizzled out like a foul fart, to spread the news.

Today, is 7 years into my acquired stigmatized state of living hell! All my friends have left me. All the symptoms of AIDS have manifested. I cough and belch more than a locomotive engine. My strength fails me. Rashes on my body will make Julius Berger’s German floor a child’s play. I stool uncontrollably, highly dehydrated. Even this dictation is tasking me. I daily regret my indiscretions and wish I were a eunuch. At other times I wish I had infected others with this illness. After all, it was a “gift” given to me in quest of Love. But each time I think like this, I reprimand myself and pray for forgiveness, after all I am on my way to meet my maker. As expected, I have become more religious, better than my first born again outing. I spend my conscious hours praying that a second chance be given to me to amend my ways. Honestly, I didn’t have my fill of women.

With the new job in view, my status in the neighborhood was rising and list of girls I charted to nail are now a torture for me to remember. But here I am, relegated to a corner of the house and the look on the face of my family shows they can’t wait to get rid of this stigma. I over heard them talking about where they will like to bury my skeleton. Tears swell in heart but I don’t have the strength to shed them.

These tears are at a brim when I heard that the NACA Director, Prof. Osotimehin has been fingered for ministerial appointment. Who will give us retroactive drugs? Who will make sure that the drugs disbursed are not fake now Dora Akunyili wants to be minister also? My tears choke me; whenever I read Western presented report, placing this epidemic among the black community. In my active days for search to cure, I never came across any investigation done by African blacks on the H.I.V./ AIDS “epidemic” among the white population. Yet the governments of African nations are voting money towards western governments sponsored “investigation”, massively encouraging HIV/AIDS NGOs without addressing Malaria, Hunger and Polio

My search for cure, took me, as you would have guessed, to many healing homes. Time and time again, many around me were healed. This went on for some time and I confronted the “man of God” and was promptly admonished for lack of faith. I did all the things the others did. I allowed myself to be paraded on TV, with a placard, describing myself as H.I.V. positive, did the required fasting and other unprintable spiritual exercise. After two years of this, I gave up. This faith healing business is like a slot machine and the coins can only roll out to whom the gods favour.

The retroactive drugs are too expensive for an ex conductor, an ex mobile phone call operator. My family was helpful but as the days dwindle without my condition getting better, they gave up hope and I started a speedy spin towards the grave. The cocktail required is nothing but a bottomless pit contribution for the two leading multi-national drug companies. I went begging at motor parks, exposing my rash infested body and solicit money. What I rag in every day, is not enough to feed me how much more buy retroactive drugs.

As each symptom rears its ugly head, the neighborhood chemist prescribe a combination of make shift pain relief drugs, whose potency fizzles out before I slip into unconsciousness and a dreamless night.

Now my strength fails me. The day mingles with the night, and the night keeps me awake as I fight one bout of attack after another. The mosquitoes that bug me, I guess they have communicated to each other that I am toxic! The stench of my excreta, makes me wrench, having eaten nothing all day, I throw up nothing. It is frustrating; my third leg still wants a “dip”. I hallucinate and times see myself floating away from my body. I stand out from my decaying flesh and look at my shrunken body and hiss all is vanity. At times like this “astral travel” I remember how I have nourished my body. Despite my next to nothing income, I still took time out rob cream, manicure and pedicure (at the Malam’s) and here I lie, dying and cant wipe my arse.

Though I have known that these moments will come, I still feel unprepared to go. If I can help it, I will give everything to still be among the living. When I think of the conversation I over heard about my final resting place, goose pimple competes with the rashes for a space on my skeleton. My family wants under a cotton tree, so that my spirit will be dispersed like the cotton without my ever reincarnating into their lineage.

Nobody is talking about a coffin for me. The mat, on which I’m pining away, has been designated as my coffin.

I wonder if the church will file behind my skeleton and hypocritically pray for my departed soul. Through out my degradation, the Church left me offered me no food or word of comfort, rather gossip reaching me affirms that my condition is a choice topic for the pastor’s sermon.

My indiscretion has brought me death. I await to be fed on by the worms and pray you learn from my mistake and be mindful of hole you pot as well as the rod you allow to ram you.

 

 

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