That anyone could even think of waging war on internet/online sources of information is the height is tyranny. Let it be heralded in Nigeria that the era of global voices is here. Let it be told to stereotyped buffoons that freedom of speech and expression will never be tamed again in the present digitalised world.

If it is not yet known at the global centre of corruption aka Aso Rock, let them get it now that there is nothing they can do about blog, blogging, bloggers and freelance online journalism. It doesn’t matter if the information is junk, real, imagined, true or false. The most important thing is that information is flowing continuously in our global village. It is left for the consumers to discern or filter their intakes. Therein lies one of the toughest challenges for a daft leadership.

What responsible governments do when wrong information is flowing is to issue press statements or address press conferences to state their sides of the stories and clear the air of ambiguities. The unnecessary arrests, detention or persecution of journalists without trials are the elements of dictatorship, tyranny and undemocratic governments. To which of this category does Yar Adua belong?

Mr. Yar Adua should be told that not everyone recognises him as the president of Nigeria and there is also nothing he can do about. People have rights of association or dissociation and you cannot force your wish on all people. The era of complete dominance is over as far as the information and knowledge industries are concerned. No amount of threats, detention, persecution, arrests and killings can stop the truth.

If Yar Adua and his cohort are not aware, there are people who are now prepared to die for the truth about what is going on in Nigeria. Those are the people who know that the people’s democratic mandate was not given to the PDP in the 2007 (s)election. Many Nigerian activists and pro-democracy bodies believe that the country is on a free fall due to the absence of a legitimate and purposeful leadership.

There is no amount of Supreme Court judgements that can equate to the absence of election in Nigeria in 2007. There is nothing anyone can remove from the fact that the worst (s)election process known to mankind took place in Nigeria in 2007 under the watch of two heartless Nigerians-Obasanjo and Iwu using the ruthless machinery of the nest of killers aka PDP.

No amount of persecution of bloggers and online information services can take away the fact that Yar Adua’s government is oiled by corruption. Who does not know that Yar Adua is paying lip service to the war on corruption? Prove us wrong: tell Farida to arrest Ibori if you’ve got the liver! Show what an anti-corruption Czar is made of: go after Babangida, Obasanjo and the other corrupt governors together with whom you looted the country for 8 wasteful years! You cannot even return to any viable clinic or hospital in your home state where you held sway for 8 years! Igbinedion only has to refund a mere 3million naira after looting Edo State for 8 years. What a joke! Who is fooling who?

The person I pity most is Dora Akunyili who has refused to see and read the handwriting on the wall. Money, fame and power cannot be it all-there ought to be a time to say goodnight. As the new Minister for propaganda and misinformation, she’ll have to do silly errands and destroy the reputation that she built as the boss of NAFDAC. She will be at the war-front against bloggers and online journalists. She would be forced to explain the government’s position on the reasons for illegal arrests, detention and torture of innocent Nigerians. She will contribute to the slow death of some of the people she saved from fake drugs. She may even have the misinformation about the next lesser hajj made only for Nigerian leaders. Soon, she will find out what online warriors can do to people who mislead the public.

I wish Dora all the best in the new arena. Umaru, leave Nigerian Online Warriors alone. At least we are not competing with you and the other cronies in the looting game. We are happy travelling home to Nigeria in economy class as we do not have 12 billion dollars to fix private jet to Monaco or Minna. We are happy to tell the truth. We did it before you and we plan to do it after you. This is one battle you’ll lose because there are no bias judges or diminishing witnesses.

Thy Glory O’ Nigeria…!

Robot  # 1 | 20.12.2008 05:49

Adeola AderounmuIf there is one war Yar Adua will NEVER win, it is this one he has decided to wage on bloggers and internet/online news services. Let no one be deceived, this regime is going down as one of the worst in Nigeria's history. This government is not only clamping down on regular information providers (like we saw in the case of CHANNELS TELEVISION), it is also spreading its evil tentacles across the global web service. That anyone could even think of waging war on internet/online sources of information is the height is tyranny. Let it be heralded in Nigeria that the era of global voices is here. Let it be told to stereotyped buffoons that freedom of speech and expression will never be tamed again in the present digitalised world. If it is not yet known at the global centre of corruption akaAso Rock, let them get it now that there is nothing they can do about blog, blogging, bloggers and freelance online journalism. It doesn’t matter if the in...Read the full article.

Holygenesis1  # 2 | 20.12.2008 07:51

When we talk of world economies going into recession and we put Nigeria into the equation following, the stupid leads of those in the corridors of power, saying that Nigeria is not going to be affected or that Nigeria is insulated from the world economic events, I really marvel how pedestal most of us, the so called educated and enlightened Nigerians, can really be in our analysis of issues and I wonder sometimes whether the reason is not that we are so lazy to actually reason constructively or that we have been so beaten by the economic realities in Nigeria that we are ready to accept just any excuses what so ever. Now, how can you be talking about Nigeria going into or not going into recession like is now happening all over the world, when in actual fact we have been in recession for well over 20 years plus. What do you call the incidents that happened during the regime of General Babangida and the devaluation of the naira. I believe the events that followed so empowered Nigerians that their purchasing power trippled so much so that brand new products find their way to Nigeria before going elsewhere. The so called intellectual in the CBN Mr. Soludo, some weeks ago came out ranting and threatening to deal with ("himself") those who made the naira to crash and then only a few days back at the National Assemby he claims that the crash was intentional, that it was designed to protect the naira. wao! what a country, what a bunch of rulers and the ruled. Now let me talk directly to the likes of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and General Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo (men I admire for reasons very very strange and entirely apolitical) who believe that they have the destiny of Nigeria in their hands to beware the ides of March. When the country will implode they and their families will be the first casualties. There will be no time and no opportunity to run and it will happen so spontaneously that no one person can be responsible for it. The cosmic in their usual way have shown the world an example of what can happen in a country where men think they can manipulate destiny against the wish of the cosmic. Zimbabwe. The ruler and the ruled are all in the same quargmire. Talk about world economy, talk about Nigeria, talk about recession hmm!

edoji  # 3 | 20.12.2008 08:52

The democratisation of the information highway means that Nigerians need not depend on the propaganda spewed forth from the NTA with their "30 million viewers" of yore to learn about the malfeasance that goes on, in and around Aso Rock. Thank God for the internet and brave men like Omoyele Omosere, Nigerian conscientous journalists need not publish from underground like the TEMPO of yore to serve as the conscience of the nation. the print media is going out of business, wellcome the internet; no boundary, no territory, no censure! Neither prison, nor letter bombs can stop us now from learning about their decadence. Leaks will always come out and be posted on the internet. afterall, these thieves still depend on ordinary men and women to process their evil deeds, men who knows they would one day give account to their creator, their conscience might still prick them to turn and become our own, 'deep throat'. Someone please tell Yar'Adua: you ain't seen nothing yet!

datuouwadaberechi  # 4 | 20.12.2008 15:00

a war doomed for failure

Norris  # 5 | 20.12.2008 15:29

Adeola, may God bless your endeavours. There is nothing like getting it spot on. The woman has been packaged for destruction and failure; fifth columnist have perfected their plans well. Dora it is that will defend the pack of lies that will follow Yar'adua's oncoming next treatment to Germany; that is when her free fall to oblivion will start.

greateam  # 6 | 20.12.2008 16:54

It's a lost war..........

peterosa  # 7 | 20.12.2008 18:45

is allready a lost war to yar adua if he intend to stop the bloger,the bloger will keep on blogging and nigeria will surely keep moving ahead,, up up nigeria the gayant of africa.

Bannister  # 8 | 21.12.2008 09:50

It beats me hollow that an accomplished professional in the mould of Prof. Akunyuli will trade off a high profile job for a ministerial appointment in a lackluster, no drive and rudderless government. Goes to confirm what late Adedibu said of the woman: that she lobbied him for a ministerial appointment and when that did not happen went after his fake drugs business. This woman loves the limelight. She has lost whatever respect most Nigerians had for her.