Finally justice has been done. Today, an appeal court sitting in Ibadan declared Rauf Aregbesola as the bonafide winner of the 2007 Osun State Gubernatorial Election.
While I rejoice at this news (because I'm hoping to get an appointment in the new cabinet), I'm also saddened because this is only a reflection of the rotten electoral system we run in this country.
My suggestion on this issue is that whenever such cases as this arise in the future, there should be a sort of punishment for the culprits... Like a jail sentence or something. Imagine a mandate-thief walking free after after 4 years of unlawful occupation of the Governor's office; making policies for the state and all that.
What do you think?
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
The Library Vs The Internet
The topic of this post has been a topic of debate in recent times.
Although we might try to ignore the fact that there exists a sort of competition between the Internet and the traditional library as a place for research.
While some people prefer to make their research with the ease provided by the internet, others claim that they would rather stick to the traditional library simply because they wouldn't want to miss the feeling of holding a book in their hands.
This post seeks to sample your opinion.
Although we might try to ignore the fact that there exists a sort of competition between the Internet and the traditional library as a place for research.
While some people prefer to make their research with the ease provided by the internet, others claim that they would rather stick to the traditional library simply because they wouldn't want to miss the feeling of holding a book in their hands.
This post seeks to sample your opinion.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
A DAY WITH THE POLICE Contd.
That same day, When I closed from work, I went to Computer Village with my friend (that was around 4:00pm). As we walked past the Police Station inside the Computer Village, I heard someone whistling (a sign of calling). At first, the lagos boy instinct in me prompted me not to look back but the curious mind that I have made me look back and by the time I realised that it was a mistake, it was too late. One of the policemen in mufti beckoned at me but I ignored him.
Seconds later, the same man tapped me on the shoulder and said "police. We'ld like to see you". Almost as if he knew the next thing I was going to say, he brought out his identity card and I just nodded in defeat. All this while, my friend who was already shoving his way ahead didn't notice all the drama so I had to shout his name among the crowd.
As a law abiding citizen who respects the uniform a lot, I followed the policeman to their post and there a asked me what was in my bag and I told him it was my laptop and he asked me to show it to him. I brought out the laptop, handed it to him (and that was another mistake). He then asked for the receipt...
At this point, I think its really better if I tell you all about the laptop itself. I bought the laptop on the second day of January 2009. I bought it at a company inside the Awolowo House Building close to the Ikeja bridge. The reason most of these policemen ask for receipts is that, they believe that any young man with a laptop probably bought it off a friend who naturally wouldn't issue any receipt for the purchase. If they confiscate your laptop because you were not able to present the receipt of purchase of the laptop, they'ld simply say that someone reported a stolen laptop case to their station earlier that day and that your laptop fits the description of the missing one. If you don't know your way out of such matters with the police(no be my mouth dem go hear say teacher mama don die), you might be on your way to being charged in a case of theft, robbery or even burglary and you know what that means?
Now, as the policeman asked for the receipt, I just kept a blank face and simply said I didn't have it on me. Immediately, he gave it to one of the constables on duty and she went inside the office. So for the second time in one day, my laptop has gone into custody.
Thoughts of the things I could do and say to the policeman just kept streaming through my mind but I noted that he would already be anticipating such move from me and that might be a mistake (take it from me, if you have better things to do, avoid arguing with a Nigerian policeman). I decided to disappoint the man.
The company where I bought the laptop was just 5 minutes away from the police station and specifically I patronise that particular company for my computer products because of their finmesse in record keeping and afer sales service.
I walked up to the lady constable and demanded that a tag be placed on my laptop and before I left, I remember telling her how much trouble she'ld find herself in if I come back to find anything has gone wrong with my laptop. It was almost 5:00; the official closing hour for most private firms. I wasn't sure if the office would still be open at that time but I couldn't leave my laptop in custody either so I sprinted over to Awolowo House across the road and to my own advantage, the company was still open and it took less than 3mins for them to find my records on their database of customers and my receipt of almost 2 years was reprinted for me and stamped.
Two interesting things happened back at the police station. First, I went to the lady constable and I showed her the receipt. What she said coupled with the expression on her face when she said it really amused me "na wa for you ooo. Why you go collect receipt now?". Although I was amused, I showed no sign of it. She still refused to release the laptop and insisted that I wait for the mufti man. When the guy came and I presented the receipt to him too, he looked at it like he wanted to tear it to pieces... The show of frustration and anger really gave me a good laugh. He scrutinized every alphabet and every word on the invoice and then he said the second dumbest thing I heard that day "shey na this one you dey call reciept?".
At the end of it all, they released my laptop to me while I laughed my way out of their tiny container turned police station...Phew!!! What a day!
Seconds later, the same man tapped me on the shoulder and said "police. We'ld like to see you". Almost as if he knew the next thing I was going to say, he brought out his identity card and I just nodded in defeat. All this while, my friend who was already shoving his way ahead didn't notice all the drama so I had to shout his name among the crowd.
As a law abiding citizen who respects the uniform a lot, I followed the policeman to their post and there a asked me what was in my bag and I told him it was my laptop and he asked me to show it to him. I brought out the laptop, handed it to him (and that was another mistake). He then asked for the receipt...
At this point, I think its really better if I tell you all about the laptop itself. I bought the laptop on the second day of January 2009. I bought it at a company inside the Awolowo House Building close to the Ikeja bridge. The reason most of these policemen ask for receipts is that, they believe that any young man with a laptop probably bought it off a friend who naturally wouldn't issue any receipt for the purchase. If they confiscate your laptop because you were not able to present the receipt of purchase of the laptop, they'ld simply say that someone reported a stolen laptop case to their station earlier that day and that your laptop fits the description of the missing one. If you don't know your way out of such matters with the police(no be my mouth dem go hear say teacher mama don die), you might be on your way to being charged in a case of theft, robbery or even burglary and you know what that means?
Now, as the policeman asked for the receipt, I just kept a blank face and simply said I didn't have it on me. Immediately, he gave it to one of the constables on duty and she went inside the office. So for the second time in one day, my laptop has gone into custody.
Thoughts of the things I could do and say to the policeman just kept streaming through my mind but I noted that he would already be anticipating such move from me and that might be a mistake (take it from me, if you have better things to do, avoid arguing with a Nigerian policeman). I decided to disappoint the man.
The company where I bought the laptop was just 5 minutes away from the police station and specifically I patronise that particular company for my computer products because of their finmesse in record keeping and afer sales service.
I walked up to the lady constable and demanded that a tag be placed on my laptop and before I left, I remember telling her how much trouble she'ld find herself in if I come back to find anything has gone wrong with my laptop. It was almost 5:00; the official closing hour for most private firms. I wasn't sure if the office would still be open at that time but I couldn't leave my laptop in custody either so I sprinted over to Awolowo House across the road and to my own advantage, the company was still open and it took less than 3mins for them to find my records on their database of customers and my receipt of almost 2 years was reprinted for me and stamped.
Two interesting things happened back at the police station. First, I went to the lady constable and I showed her the receipt. What she said coupled with the expression on her face when she said it really amused me "na wa for you ooo. Why you go collect receipt now?". Although I was amused, I showed no sign of it. She still refused to release the laptop and insisted that I wait for the mufti man. When the guy came and I presented the receipt to him too, he looked at it like he wanted to tear it to pieces... The show of frustration and anger really gave me a good laugh. He scrutinized every alphabet and every word on the invoice and then he said the second dumbest thing I heard that day "shey na this one you dey call reciept?".
At the end of it all, they released my laptop to me while I laughed my way out of their tiny container turned police station...Phew!!! What a day!
A DAY WITH THE POLICE
It was one of the days during this holiday. I was going to work and I saw Hursh Puppies (nickname for one of my brothers Moshopeoluwa Ayomipo Osho) as he was about to board his car. Seeing that it would be an opportunity to join him for a free ride to Ikeja, I hopped into the car. Little did I know that it would be a real interesting one.
As we left home, Bro. Shope picked two other colleagues around the estate and the four of us hit the road. He stopped over at the filling station for gas and the action of the day started immediately we left the fuel station.
We noticed a car trying to overtake ours and someone from the car was pointing at the tyre at the passenger's side. All of a sudden, the car just crossed us on the road and Bro. Shope was forced to slam both legs on the brake. Four policemen alighted from the vehicle and they demanded that we all alight from the car. "wetin dey inside your boot?" one of them asked. "Nothing" replied bro. Shope. "Open am make we see". As bro. Shope took the inquisitive policeman to his boot, we were also being questioned. The one with me was a confused albino (not sure if he should be an albino). He first said "wetin dey inside your bag?". "My laptop" came my frustrated answer. "Who get the laptop?" he asked. Again I said "na my own". Then came the dumbest question I have ever heard in my life "can I search the laptop?". I didn't even know how to answer the question. To cut a long story short, one who seemed to be the leader of the team of morons in new police uniforms, called out to the others and they let us go.
Back in the car, we were still expressing our surprise at the embarrassing stop and search and wondering if it was a tipoff or just a random thing. They didn't even ask for the car particulars as usual. Not even for the tinted permit... Can you imagine? I was even happy that the one asking to search my laptop didn't ask for the receipt of the laptop for then I would have been in trouble (that day I was carrying my laptop in a new bag and the receipt was in the old bag).
And that was just in the morning... Wait till you hear my ordeal in the evening of the same day...
As we left home, Bro. Shope picked two other colleagues around the estate and the four of us hit the road. He stopped over at the filling station for gas and the action of the day started immediately we left the fuel station.
We noticed a car trying to overtake ours and someone from the car was pointing at the tyre at the passenger's side. All of a sudden, the car just crossed us on the road and Bro. Shope was forced to slam both legs on the brake. Four policemen alighted from the vehicle and they demanded that we all alight from the car. "wetin dey inside your boot?" one of them asked. "Nothing" replied bro. Shope. "Open am make we see". As bro. Shope took the inquisitive policeman to his boot, we were also being questioned. The one with me was a confused albino (not sure if he should be an albino). He first said "wetin dey inside your bag?". "My laptop" came my frustrated answer. "Who get the laptop?" he asked. Again I said "na my own". Then came the dumbest question I have ever heard in my life "can I search the laptop?". I didn't even know how to answer the question. To cut a long story short, one who seemed to be the leader of the team of morons in new police uniforms, called out to the others and they let us go.
Back in the car, we were still expressing our surprise at the embarrassing stop and search and wondering if it was a tipoff or just a random thing. They didn't even ask for the car particulars as usual. Not even for the tinted permit... Can you imagine? I was even happy that the one asking to search my laptop didn't ask for the receipt of the laptop for then I would have been in trouble (that day I was carrying my laptop in a new bag and the receipt was in the old bag).
And that was just in the morning... Wait till you hear my ordeal in the evening of the same day...
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
AFFIDAVIT!!!
Although today is not the first day I've witnessed this menace; infact, I've been subjected to it for quite a while now, but today, I feel so compelled to talk about it.It's about the menace in the name of affidavit.
Anybody who walks or works around Ikeja GRA or High Court or even the General Hospital Ikeja , would be aware of my obvious irritation.
See, since I'm on holidays and I get bored easily, I got my self a job at Ikeja Old Secretariat and thus I inevitably have to go past the General Hospital and then the Lagos High Court every morning. Now here's where the problem is, it happened like this the first time, I'm walking on my own jeje like the honourable man that I am (winks) and suddenly I hear affidavit from my right; I look and I see a man waving a sheet at me. As a confirmed lagos guy, I understood and I shooked my head in the negative. One would think that after that, I'ld be left alone in peace but alas! after just two more steps, I heard affidavit again! I looked and shooked my head again. Between the General Hospital and the Lagos High court, I got the same call more than 20 times.
Everyday this is what I go through. But the question is... Is it legal for this people to be touting affidavit? If not, then why isn't anyone doing anything about them? Even though they are right beside a police station and a High court for that matter!
Affidavit...
Monday, November 1, 2010
OUR CHANCE!!!
Although I hate to sound like a politician and I don't really enjoy being refered to as an activist; however, on this day, I'm going to be a little bit of both.
Recently, I have taken my time to follow the election preparation process right from the stylish layoff of Prof. to the appointment of the expected messiah Jega. I've seen different organizations springing up and claiming they care about the resuscitation of democracy in Nigeria when there only real care is in creating awareness for their own candidates. I've seen manipulations and puppeteering by the powers that be. I've also been around long enough to see my people being cowered and cheated. I've seen my people refuse to fight back against those who steal what rightfully belongs to them.
All these said, I like to take us back a while outside the time machine. A time when we all knew what RIGHT was. A time when everyone respected the others' opinion. A time when you know that your won right to live ends where someone elses' begins. A time when the future was bright for all that looked. What went wrong and how did we get here?
We are Africans, we are tough and we are rugged (to life). But we have been cowered and humbled by poverty and fear. We have allowed fear to rule us and we have refused to advance. It should however be noted that advancement in this context should be taken to mean RISKS and SACRIFICES. Yes RISKS and SACRIFICES! Today, we all look upon the westerners and we praise their level of advancement in technology and science. What we fail to see are the risks and sacrifices that have been made by those countries. America for example is founded on some peoples' blood and today we hear "God Bless America". Tell an African man to die for his country today and he'll tell you he has his family to consider. What does it profit your family when you are alive and worth nothing?
Good thing in that the sacrifice we can make today can be in the form of going hungry for the sake of tomorrow. If casting the right vote means you won't be paid by a politician today, then it would definitely mean that you children would have an assured future tomorrow.
Today is our chance... Lets all go out and register for the coming elections and most importantly, lets make the right decision...We all know what we need in Nigeria...Lets set our priorities and not be taken for FOOLS any longer...
Your Vote is Your Voice...It is Your RIGHT!!! DON'T SELL YOUR RIGHT!!!
Recently, I have taken my time to follow the election preparation process right from the stylish layoff of Prof. to the appointment of the expected messiah Jega. I've seen different organizations springing up and claiming they care about the resuscitation of democracy in Nigeria when there only real care is in creating awareness for their own candidates. I've seen manipulations and puppeteering by the powers that be. I've also been around long enough to see my people being cowered and cheated. I've seen my people refuse to fight back against those who steal what rightfully belongs to them.
All these said, I like to take us back a while outside the time machine. A time when we all knew what RIGHT was. A time when everyone respected the others' opinion. A time when you know that your won right to live ends where someone elses' begins. A time when the future was bright for all that looked. What went wrong and how did we get here?
We are Africans, we are tough and we are rugged (to life). But we have been cowered and humbled by poverty and fear. We have allowed fear to rule us and we have refused to advance. It should however be noted that advancement in this context should be taken to mean RISKS and SACRIFICES. Yes RISKS and SACRIFICES! Today, we all look upon the westerners and we praise their level of advancement in technology and science. What we fail to see are the risks and sacrifices that have been made by those countries. America for example is founded on some peoples' blood and today we hear "God Bless America". Tell an African man to die for his country today and he'll tell you he has his family to consider. What does it profit your family when you are alive and worth nothing?
Good thing in that the sacrifice we can make today can be in the form of going hungry for the sake of tomorrow. If casting the right vote means you won't be paid by a politician today, then it would definitely mean that you children would have an assured future tomorrow.
Today is our chance... Lets all go out and register for the coming elections and most importantly, lets make the right decision...We all know what we need in Nigeria...Lets set our priorities and not be taken for FOOLS any longer...
Your Vote is Your Voice...It is Your RIGHT!!! DON'T SELL YOUR RIGHT!!!
I'm Back!!! and better...
Hello everyone,
Guess who's back on the block... I know you would be wondering where I've been all these while. Well, I can't complain but you'ld understand if I say it's the economic situation of the country that's been keeping me away.
Good news is, I'm back for good and I promise not to keep you hanging anymore. Got a lot of good stuffs for you this time. So much that I'ld keep you glued to your computer screen (or your mobile).
My advice to you is that you bookmark this page so you don't miss any of the fun and excitement that's coming your way.
Peace...
Guess who's back on the block... I know you would be wondering where I've been all these while. Well, I can't complain but you'ld understand if I say it's the economic situation of the country that's been keeping me away.
Good news is, I'm back for good and I promise not to keep you hanging anymore. Got a lot of good stuffs for you this time. So much that I'ld keep you glued to your computer screen (or your mobile).
My advice to you is that you bookmark this page so you don't miss any of the fun and excitement that's coming your way.
Peace...
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