WORDSHOT

30/01/2024

IF NIGER, MALI, AND BURKINA FASO WERE TO LEAVE ECOWAS HERE ARE THE IMPLICATIONS

Economic Implications: These countries would potentially lose access to the economic benefits of being part of a larger regional bloc, including trade advantages, shared economic projects, and development initiatives. It could increase trade barriers, affect cross-border commerce, and potentially slow economic growth.

Political and Diplomatic Consequences: Leaving ECOWAS could isolate these countries politically within West Africa. It might reduce their influence in regional decision-making and limit their ability to participate in cooperative political and security endeavors.

Security Challenges: ECOWAS plays a role in regional security and conflict resolution. Departure from the bloc could hinder these countries' ability to effectively address security challenges, such as terrorism and insurgency, which are significant issues in the Sahel region, including Mali and Burkina Faso.

Impact on Regional Stability: The withdrawal of these countries might destabilize the region by setting a precedent for other member states to exit. It could undermine the collective ability to address regional issues, including political instability, economic development, and security threats.

Social and Humanitarian Effects: The potential increase in border controls and trade barriers could have social and humanitarian consequences, affecting the movement of people, access to goods and services, and possibly exacerbating humanitarian issues in the region.

Influence of External Powers: The departure of these countries from ECOWAS might open the door for increased influence from non-African countries and organizations in the region, which could shift the balance of power and the nature of international engagements in West Africa.

Internal Dynamics: Within the departing countries, leaving ECOWAS could have various internal impacts, including potential political destabilization, economic hardship, and social unrest, depending on how the exit is managed and perceived by their populations.

It's important to note that such a move would be unprecedented and its full implications would depend on the specifics of how and why these countries chose to leave ECOWAS, as well as the responses from remaining member states and the international community.

If Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso were to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), it would have significant implications, both for the countries themselves and for the region as a whole. ECOWAS is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries located in West Africa, created with the aim of fostering economic integration and stability in the region. A departure of any member states, particularly three such as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, would have multiple dimensions of impact:

30/01/2024

WHY WIKE'S WAR WITH FUBARA IS UNENDING DESPITE TINUBU'S INTERVENTION

With the latest moves against the Rivers State governor, Sim Fubara by the Rivers State House of Assembly, populated more by Nyesom Wike's acolytes that rejected his latest set of appointments, it is obvious the peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu between the godfather and his godson governor is not having any effect.

But, why is neither of the parties willing to give in and let peace prevail even for the sake of the state and the people? Well, the reason for this and indeed most other political fights between godfathers and those they made could be numerous. However, it would require a deep understanding of the current political context in Nigeria, involving Wike and his extensive ambitions and the current influence he wields.

Generally, political disagreements or conflicts, even after attempts at peace deals, can be driven by:

1. DIFFERING POLITICAL INTERESTS: Wike might have different political goals or strategies that clash with those of Fubara who wants to be rid of the overbearing influence of his autocratic godfather, leading to continued conflict despite peace deals.

2. LOYALTY AND POLITICAL ALLIANCES: Changes in political alliances or loyalties can influence the dynamics between political figures. Fubara having acquired executive powers with which he can dispense patronage in the state, would certainly find many gravitating to him

3. PERSONAL AMBITIONS: Individual ambitions can sometimes lead to conflicts if they are not aligned or if they compete with each other. Both Wike and Fubara have their personal political ambitions which the current dispositions of the other are threatening.

4. IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES: Disagreements based on ideology or policy can persist, even if a peace deal addresses more superficial or temporary issues. However, as Nigerian politics is hardly ideological, many commentators believe personal interests rather than anything ideological, are behind the conflict.

5. PUBLIC PERCEPTION AND INFLUENCE: Political figures often have to consider how their actions and alignments are perceived by their constituents, which can influence their decisions and actions in alliances and conflicts. Nyesom Wike is a man of big ego and extreme narcissism. He wants total dominance and hardly brooks anything otherwise. He wants to be the new Jagaban and lord of Rivers politics and it pleases him to be seen as such by the world.

6. INTERNAL PARTY DYNAMICS: Conflicts within a party, including leadership struggles or differences in direction, can lead to ongoing disputes. This is more so in Nigeria where the party is just a mere platform available to the elites ascension to power. Wike is in PDP serving as a minister in an APC government as an influential member of the Tinubu's government. These are bound to throw up certain contradictions with some effects as are being seen.

30/01/2024

AFCON 2024: WHY VICTOR OSIMHEN WAS HAULED OFF TO DRUG TEST AFTER CAMEROON MATCH

Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian footballer, was selected for a drug test due to his exceptional performance in a match at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Typically, in major football tournaments, it's standard practice to conduct drug tests to ensure fair play and compliance with anti-doping regulations. In Osimhen's case, several factors likely contributed to him being chosen for testing:

Outstanding Physical Performance: Osimhen exhibited remarkable physical prowess during the game. His speed, stamina, and overall strength on the field were notable and, in some cases, might have appeared extraordinary compared to his peers.

Significant Impact on the Game: His decisive actions, including dispossessing a defender leading to a goal, and his consistent threat to the opposition's defense, made him a standout player in the match.

Random Selection Process: It's important to note that drug testing often involves a random selection process. While his performance might have drawn attention, it's also possible that his selection was part of a routine procedure.

Ensuring Fair Play: Drug tests are a crucial aspect of maintaining the integrity of sports. By testing players who show exceptional abilities, governing bodies like CAF ensure that the achievements are purely a result of natural talent and hard work, not due to prohibited substances.

Deterrence Against Doping: The practice of drug testing, especially for high-performing athletes, serves as a deterrent to others who might consider using performance-enhancing drugs.

In summary, Osimhen was likely chosen for testing due to a combination of his remarkable performance, the need to uphold fair play standards in international sports, and possibly as part of a random testing protocol. It's a routine procedure in professional sports to ensure all players adhere to the rules and maintain the integrity of the competition.

29/01/2024

Rev. Fr. Mbaka: Must One Undergo Avoidable Suffering to Show Good Christianity?

I drove through the Emene-Adoration link road last Sunday and saw hundreds of stranded members of Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka's Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN) waiting for vehicles. One woman frantically waved me down. I stopped as they swarmed around my car desperately trying to come inside. I rolled my window and told them I could only carry five persons.

I picked the lady, two others, and their two kids. Seeing how much they had suffered standing in the sun was easy. The kids were dehydrated and could barely stand. As we moved towards town, I kept passing many more trekking. The traffic was standing still at a point, which made it impossible for commercial vehicles to reach where they were.

I asked them why they chose to leave the churches close to them to come all the way to the outskirts of Emene, to attend Fr. Mbaka's church. They said he was a true man of God. I said fine, but were we not told God is everywhere, including in those other catholic churches around them they could have easily gone to worship? Are the other reverend fathers there not also men of God? Does God answer prayers more at Fr. Mbaka's church?

I told them that since they acknowledged that God was everywhere but left him there where they were to come looking for Mbaka, they were merely following Mbaka and not God. They didn't talk again until I dropped them off. Meanwhile, over ninety percent of those I saw were mostly women and children.

Many people who attend these programmes are not in the best of health. Some have high blood pressure which makes more exposure to the kind of pressure they endure to go to church risky. Church services are now conducted virtually for wider reach and convenience. Apart from being accessible from anywhere, worshipping God is not meant to be hell on earth or a death sentence.

24/11/2021

Four of the newly inaugurated judges are children of serving and retired judges in the country while one other is the sibling of a serving judge.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, has inaugurated 22 new judges of the Federal Capital Territory. Four of the newly inaugurated judges are children of serving and retired judges in the country while one other is the sibling of a serving judge. The inauguration comes barely a year after p...

11/05/2021

Time for Wike to Be Lent Some Wisdom

Governor Wike has just declared a 7pm to dusk curfew in Rivers State. This was actually an extension of an earlier one that lasted between 9pm to 6am he had imposed after the previous attacks of the unknown gunmen that led to the death of about seven members of the security forces. Governor Wike is right to want to protect his people. After all that was what he swore to do after they elected him.

However, my fear is that he is gradually getting bogged down, getting increasingly dragged into an avoidable war of attrition that could expose the people in his state to more danger and leave them more frustrated and in a state of perpetual fear. The least thing any discerning leader would want is a guerilla warfare in his domain. Guerrillas are difficult to fight as they are difficult to root out. If some of our leaders are attuned to history, they would have been familiar with what happened in Latin America and some parts of Africa in the 60s through to the 70s and early 80s.

Wike's rash and brash responses to the security problem in his state, going back to the End SARS period, were as unneeded as he had needlessly heightened the whole situation through unhelpful combativeness. The only thing this has earned him is to now run from pilar to post, launching blind punches at enemies that are as invincible as they are unpredictable.

As a result, he does not realize that by quickly imposing the curfews, not only are the outlaws already driving the narrative and keeping everyone on edge, they are also gradually but effectively shutting down his state, making it ungovernable as it is certain they exactly wanted. They have sent him and everyone else scampering indoors, a battle tactic that would soon, in the indefinite duration of the curfew, weary out the citizens.

Soon people will start grumbling, complaining and riling against the government, for keeping them hunkering indoors and away from their night time life and livelihood. And once the curfew is lifted as eventually it would at the end of whichever time the government chooses, during which time the attackers may also lie low, nothing stops them from striking again, thereby starting the viscous circle all over. That was what was the case with Boko Haram. I see the case of the Unknown Gunmen and others terrorizing us playing out same way.

Governor Wike and the rest of our leaders need to be realistic enough to go for the root causes of these symptoms. These sporadic conditions of violence now threatening to overwhelm us are clear symptoms of our grave ailments. They need to call Nigerians together for dialogue, which I liken to practical diagnosis, to lare bare what trouble us on the table so we can fathom how to deal with them. Why dialogue? After ten years fighting and not defeating Boko Haram, its obvious we lack the capacity to deal with these militarily. America the government had been reluctant to approach for help eventually turned down our request they move the command headquarters of Africomm from Germany to mainland Africa, to be nearer to probably weigh in on our side. This is not surprising as they cannot be disengaging from war in other more strategic parts of the world only to come to Nigeria they are no longer buying her oil that much.

So, Wike should borrow a leaf from someone like Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State who rather than make noise about issues and create enemies everywhere, work silently to secure his state. Enugu is unarguably one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria today due to Governor Ugwuanyi's deft management of security matters in the state. Enugu is largely at ease with itself not because there are no potentials for outlaws to operate like elsewhere. The engagement of proactive diplomacy the government adopted renders the state unattractive to such dark forces.

Rivers people should do well to remind Wike of what Chinua Achabe told us in Things Fall Apart, that we often stand at the homestead of the coward to point at the ruins of the home of the brave man. Wike needed not be a coward here. He only needed to be more discretional as the world watch him land a trouble he could have only cleverly flipped over his head. He is a warrior for sure, but the best warrior choses his fight wisely.

26/04/2021

Wait A Minute!

State of The Nation: Restructure Now (1)

Buhari, or those ruling on his behalf, should know that impunity, being the lawlessness of those in the corridors of power has its immediate consequences in spurning the lawlessness of those in the streets, as a protest-response. There are no longer incentives to be obedient and lawful since those who are disobedient and kill as terrorists are not in prison, which is rather filled with the victims of the lawbreakers. Since outlawry attracts the patronage of the Buhari regime who rather than punish, sequester and pamper terrorists, appoint and protect their sympathiser jihadists in power, while farmlands, villages and ancestral homelands are empty of their inhabitants who have been killed with survivors now residing in IDP camps, this violence that has erupted everywhere is the centrifugal consequences of this official impunity, and the total fulanization of Nigeria, that made some groups agitating against injustice terrorist organisations and killer Fulani herdsmen innocent patriots. The government must be unthinking indeed to have deliberately dashed our already cracked porcelain against their rock of bigotry and are aghast that Nigeria has shattered into the uncountable fragments we are seeing today. The only way to go, the only thing to do, that will save Nigeria, is to urgently heed the calls of well meaning Nigerians, now more amplified by the reasonable voices of the South East Governors Forum and leaders, to earnestly begin the processes of restructuring. We must talk our way out this imminent war we are walking into with open arms. Or, watch us completely slide into full anarchy and the end of Nigeria!

10/04/2021

NIGERIA IS INDEED ONE: Response to Governor Bello Matawalle

By Wordshot Amaechi Ugwele

Governor Bello Mohammed's attempted rebuking of the south, for no longer being peacefully disposed to the North, reveals his narrow gauge evaluation of the whole situation in the South, particularly concerning what the region is going through in the hands of the North, in security and lack of justice and fairness that have become most unbearably pronounced under the current regime.

Who would help me tell him it is an immutable truth that wherever justice is allowed to depart, as has recklessly happened in Nigeria, that it goes with peace. A careful perusal through his statement, and his reference to the constitution as the only one we have, was a sort of admission of its defectiveness. It is a sort of an immoral but technical alibi to escape culpability in all they have meted out to the South in the name of that obnoxious document. It really shows they knew what they intended to do right from the day Prof. Auwalu Yadudu had certified the 1999 constitution, for the Abdusalam junta, well fitting, if I should describe it as a piece of clothing cut, measured on the body of the North and sewn for it.

The Governor, like everyone among their elites knows that the constitution, as against a true legal principle holding us together, is a mere contraption that held us bound helplessly where we are, squirming to be free. This squirming that is getting more pronounced into a serious struggle is what he is referring to as violence against the North. By the way, who wouldn't struggle against forces holding him down? It is ironical he is also talking about reciprocity of violence, like he is unaware what is happening in the whole of the South is a naturally spurned response, mostly in self preservation, to the wanton killings and destruction the central government has clearly shown both unwillingness and incapacity to control.

He was pained some people refused to honour police investigation. How many arrested killer herdsmen are in jail for the horrors they have visited on Nigerians, nearly everywhere? Who would they want to answer police invitation under a government that would release terrorists that were captured in battle in the name of rehabilitation? Who would obey the police where it is the preferred option of the government to hobnob with bandits they say they negotiate with for circles of ransoms that spurn more banditry?

If law enforcement successfully facilitated the punishing of criminals in the North, crossing into the South to wreak havoc, it would be understood when the Governor demands those he styled criminals in the South, simply for defending themselves against Northerners in their midst attacking them, are required to explain themselves to the law. Maybe it never occurred to him law enforcement has becomes selective in the country. What happens in the North, like many other aspects of our national life, is not what happens in the South. And who are behind that?

And to his threat the North would start attacking Southerners living in the North, I ask him, over what? Do Southerners living peacefully in the North maim, r**e, kill and chase away from their ancestral land the host communities that accommodated them? What does he think would happen should South Easterners in the North, for instance, chose to do a fraction of what the herdsmen have been doing in their homeland? How long would it take the Governor to know that rather than attack Northerners, Southerners are merely protecting their lives as it has not even reached that point it could be termed defence? And they were forced to do so in order to survive. It's only natural.

He said Nigeria is one! That is true when it comes to making available to the North and Northerners what they want from the rest, like all the lands in the South for open grazing, a private business model for cow rearers the South has repeatedly said is detrimental to its survival as farmers. Nigeria is one, to the extent when the government makes appointments and everything going to the North, in clear breach of even the same constitution the Governor was hugging, telling us whoever doesn't want should pack and leave the country, it is only natural the basis of such oneness is queried.

Well, as for packing and leaving the country, let him know that if the genuine grievance of those who make up the country are not addressed and the violators of their humanity would want to go on, he is guaranteed of that. But then, they would not leave their lands they had before Nigeria became for him and his people. That is assured.