Dear lovely Nigerian girl:
I hope you and your family are wonderful. How is your little brother? He must certainly be grown up now. I remember our younger days when both of us would run around with no hindrance. I was always (and still am) in awe of your beauty, and I always said to my friends that when the two of us grew up, I would marry you. Your flawless dark-brown face was always lit up with your endless smile, and I always feared your lovely eyes could see through me. It has certainly being a long time since the both of us talked.
I am writing you because I recently read an article saying that well more than 60% of Nigerian women bleach (or 'tone') their faces so that they can become whiter (Effects of skin-lightening products report). They use endless supplies of whitening creams and mixtures of chemicals they hope will make them look white. They claim that the whiter they are, the more successful they will be because it would be easier to find jobs. Or that it makes women more beautiful and confident in themselves, and easier to find a husband.
It is very sad to hear these things, and I hope you do not believe any of these lies. The Black skin is as beautiful a skin as there ever was. And when you tone yourself, you deny yourself that beauty, and most importantly deny yourself your identity. Our skin is our first form of identity; it makes us who we are, contributes to our image, and should make us special. I hope you know this. If you tone yourself, who do you become? You lose your pride and the beautiful skin that gives every Nigerian boy sleepless nights. Don't let any one deceive you by saying that it will become easier to find a husband. If a man prefers that you whiten your skin, try to find him a visa so that he can go to London. He is a wannabe oyibo, and if he thinks so lowly of you to allow you to change your identity, what more will he ask you to sacrifice... your life? You might become whiter, but at what cost? Those chemicals kill (kidney damage) and maim many. You may gain the job you desire, but you are no longer you. It was a different person that got that job.
I want to be able to recognize you as the girl I used to love, and although this love may not be reciprocal, just know that there is someone out there who loves you just as you are; especially those sharp dark brown eyes of yours. As Tuface once beautifully sang, you are an African Queen. For Black is indeed beautiful.
With love,
A Nigerian boy
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
The perils of amnesty
Amnesty, Amnesty, Amnesty... It's one word that Nigerian politicians never get tired of saying. Ever since amnesty was granted to the Niger Delta militant groups years ago, amnesty has become the solution for any terrorist group that arises in Nigeria. Amnesty has now been suggested as a possible solution to solve the Boko Haram menace.
First, what is amnesty? Amnesty is defined as an "official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses," or "an undertaking by authorities to take no action against specified offenses or offenders during a fixed period."
Pardon me, but I don't understand how a group like Boko Haram, who have bombed and killed thousands of Nigerians, qualifies for amnesty. Murder doesn't qualify as political offenses. Children have lost parents that were killed for no specified reason other than 'Western education is evil.' Fathers, mothers, children, friends have been lost to a group we still don't know too much about. And yet, our president is welcoming the idea and even pushing the idea that amnesty be granted to Boko Haram. Nonsense.
Some might say: "But, amnesty worked for the Niger Delta militants." That's true. The Niger Delta militants e.g., MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta) were fighting for goals all of us can agree is an important one; they were fighting for their ability to live. Their lands, water, villages, and way of life were being destroyed by the oil companies that drilled for oil in those areas. MEND and other militants were fighting for their right to live. And, although they kidnapped foreign workers (most of which were freed) and damaged oil pipelines, they did not resort to random bombings. Boko Haram are not fighting for their right to live (come to think of it, what are they fighting for?), and so Boko Haram cannot be treated in the same way as MEND.
Discussing the prospect of amnesty to Boko Haram is one way the Nigerian government is saying that they have given up. They have realized that they cannot control the group or hunt down their members. And so, the government is planning to wave the white flag and sign their letter of defeat called amnesty. But, how do you solve the Boko Haram menace, you ask?
It's all about intelligence. Instead of the government always acting on the defensive, now is the time for the government to create a task force specifically with the aim to establish contacts and a network in the north and even the Niger Delta. Start strategically sending members of the SSS (State Security Service, the Nigerian version of the CIA) to regions in Nigeria with the goal to monitor communities. These agents shouldn't go and start flashing their badges, but blend into the community as new community members. Live with the people, complain with them, and collect information about daily activities. You can think of them as spies. The more years these people embed themselves in communities often prone to violence (i.e, Jos, Kano, the Niger Delta, Borno etc.), the more prepared the government will be when violence does strike. The end goal would not be to make an arrest within months. But, when trouble breaks out in three, five or more years, the ground work that had been done numerous years in advance would pay off. The intelligence that would have been gathered would be so enormous that it would be easier to pinpoint who might be involved, how the group recruits, what communities should be focused on. Even if the perpetrators are not known immediately, the fact that there have been agents on the ground will aid in familiarity of the terrain and eventually how best to conquer any future group like Boko Haram.
Intelligence gathering is the key to solve Nigeria's security problems, and it needs to start now. What people need to realize is that after amnesty is granted to Boko Haram, the resulting peace would be temporary. Until the next group rises up and torments Nigerians again. The rise of another group is an eventuality, and amnesty is NOT the way to treat every Nigerian militant or terrorist group and solve our security issues.
P.S. And I don't want those Boko Haram members walking alongside the people whose lives they have forever altered. Those who died should not have died in vain.
First, what is amnesty? Amnesty is defined as an "official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses," or "an undertaking by authorities to take no action against specified offenses or offenders during a fixed period."
Pardon me, but I don't understand how a group like Boko Haram, who have bombed and killed thousands of Nigerians, qualifies for amnesty. Murder doesn't qualify as political offenses. Children have lost parents that were killed for no specified reason other than 'Western education is evil.' Fathers, mothers, children, friends have been lost to a group we still don't know too much about. And yet, our president is welcoming the idea and even pushing the idea that amnesty be granted to Boko Haram. Nonsense.
Some might say: "But, amnesty worked for the Niger Delta militants." That's true. The Niger Delta militants e.g., MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta) were fighting for goals all of us can agree is an important one; they were fighting for their ability to live. Their lands, water, villages, and way of life were being destroyed by the oil companies that drilled for oil in those areas. MEND and other militants were fighting for their right to live. And, although they kidnapped foreign workers (most of which were freed) and damaged oil pipelines, they did not resort to random bombings. Boko Haram are not fighting for their right to live (come to think of it, what are they fighting for?), and so Boko Haram cannot be treated in the same way as MEND.
Discussing the prospect of amnesty to Boko Haram is one way the Nigerian government is saying that they have given up. They have realized that they cannot control the group or hunt down their members. And so, the government is planning to wave the white flag and sign their letter of defeat called amnesty. But, how do you solve the Boko Haram menace, you ask?
It's all about intelligence. Instead of the government always acting on the defensive, now is the time for the government to create a task force specifically with the aim to establish contacts and a network in the north and even the Niger Delta. Start strategically sending members of the SSS (State Security Service, the Nigerian version of the CIA) to regions in Nigeria with the goal to monitor communities. These agents shouldn't go and start flashing their badges, but blend into the community as new community members. Live with the people, complain with them, and collect information about daily activities. You can think of them as spies. The more years these people embed themselves in communities often prone to violence (i.e, Jos, Kano, the Niger Delta, Borno etc.), the more prepared the government will be when violence does strike. The end goal would not be to make an arrest within months. But, when trouble breaks out in three, five or more years, the ground work that had been done numerous years in advance would pay off. The intelligence that would have been gathered would be so enormous that it would be easier to pinpoint who might be involved, how the group recruits, what communities should be focused on. Even if the perpetrators are not known immediately, the fact that there have been agents on the ground will aid in familiarity of the terrain and eventually how best to conquer any future group like Boko Haram.
Intelligence gathering is the key to solve Nigeria's security problems, and it needs to start now. What people need to realize is that after amnesty is granted to Boko Haram, the resulting peace would be temporary. Until the next group rises up and torments Nigerians again. The rise of another group is an eventuality, and amnesty is NOT the way to treat every Nigerian militant or terrorist group and solve our security issues.
P.S. And I don't want those Boko Haram members walking alongside the people whose lives they have forever altered. Those who died should not have died in vain.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
The leader Nigeria needs
The leadership qualities that an organization or a country needs often varies from organization to organization, and from activity to activity. Is the best leader the one who controls everything by the sheer force of his personality or who allows and trusts his deputies to carry out their assigned roles? Is the best leader the one who retains his usual personality (remains 'who he is') throughout his leadership tenure or does he change his personality to fit the role he has been assigned?
There are many qualities that we desire in a leader, especially our Nigerian president. A leader should be able to inspire us, make us believe that we control our destiny. He should be able to tell us everything is going to be okay because he wants to bear the headache himself. The leader should be able to sacrifice the things, and the ones dearest to him to fulfill the goals that he set out to achieve.
One thing our Nigerian leaders lack is the goal they set out to achieve. They rarely concretely mention their goals for fear that they set a clear marker of failure. I don't want my Nigerian president saying every single time that he wants to stop corruption or improve electricity without giving specifics. It is much better if he says by the end of 2013, the country should have 5000 Megawatts (from 4000 MW currently) than for him to say "our commitment to improve power is working." Instead of providing vague statements, find a way to quantify our improvement in power and when you then say power is improving, people won't doubt you.
Even better, tell Nigerians what needs to be achieved at the end of the year. This should give the government enough incentive to 'get their act together' and also something to brag about if they achieve their goals. Tell us that you are going to build only one road (from Lagos to Kano for example), and if you do, that is success. But, if you claim you will 'improve our roads' but do none of that, you are failing us.
I remember reading an article sometime in 2011 when Dr. Jonathan was elected president. He was asked a question of this nature: "Dr. Jonathan, you are a quiet and reserved man, but if Nigeria needs a leader that is fierce and domineering, are you willing to become that leader." He replied 'No', and that he would remain who he was. If a country needs you to be a one man show; a man who will send corrupt officials to jail immediately they are accused, stop creating committees to solve problems but start asserting mandates, then BECOME THAT MAN.
If Nigeria needs a democratically elected dictator, that is what our leader should be. Inspire us, fight for us, send your corrupt friends to jail, personally punish companies exploiting us and decimating our environment. Our leader needs to realize that when he says something, and backs it with the power he has, Nigeria will change.
There are many qualities that we desire in a leader, especially our Nigerian president. A leader should be able to inspire us, make us believe that we control our destiny. He should be able to tell us everything is going to be okay because he wants to bear the headache himself. The leader should be able to sacrifice the things, and the ones dearest to him to fulfill the goals that he set out to achieve.
One thing our Nigerian leaders lack is the goal they set out to achieve. They rarely concretely mention their goals for fear that they set a clear marker of failure. I don't want my Nigerian president saying every single time that he wants to stop corruption or improve electricity without giving specifics. It is much better if he says by the end of 2013, the country should have 5000 Megawatts (from 4000 MW currently) than for him to say "our commitment to improve power is working." Instead of providing vague statements, find a way to quantify our improvement in power and when you then say power is improving, people won't doubt you.
Even better, tell Nigerians what needs to be achieved at the end of the year. This should give the government enough incentive to 'get their act together' and also something to brag about if they achieve their goals. Tell us that you are going to build only one road (from Lagos to Kano for example), and if you do, that is success. But, if you claim you will 'improve our roads' but do none of that, you are failing us.
I remember reading an article sometime in 2011 when Dr. Jonathan was elected president. He was asked a question of this nature: "Dr. Jonathan, you are a quiet and reserved man, but if Nigeria needs a leader that is fierce and domineering, are you willing to become that leader." He replied 'No', and that he would remain who he was. If a country needs you to be a one man show; a man who will send corrupt officials to jail immediately they are accused, stop creating committees to solve problems but start asserting mandates, then BECOME THAT MAN.
If Nigeria needs a democratically elected dictator, that is what our leader should be. Inspire us, fight for us, send your corrupt friends to jail, personally punish companies exploiting us and decimating our environment. Our leader needs to realize that when he says something, and backs it with the power he has, Nigeria will change.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Can we change?
Let me tell a very short story: As I walked around on a rainy day, the rain is pounding hard on the wet sand-filled path. Then, I notice a cat (or I think it's a cat) cringing from the force of the rain. Feeling pity, I pick up the cat and bring it home with me. I construct a cage where the cat can stay and live. Before one gets sentimental, there are some things one should know about the cat. It is a carnivorous cat; one that has never eaten vegetables before. The cat has always lived in the forest where I found it, and that is the only home the cat has ever known. But, now that the cat lives with me, the only food I place in the cage are vegetables and water. I place different vegetables for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But, no trace of meat at all. Now, there are only two possible outcomes: either the cat becomes a vegetarian or the cat dies. What outcome is it? Does the cat adapt or does it die? Should it adapt? Or, better yet, can it adapt?
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