White Elephant Projects: White Elephant projects, sometimes called iconic or mega projects, are projects whose financial costs exceed their utility. In most cases, they are expensive to maintain, have limited or non-egalitarian purpose, and are prone to failure or breakdown due to lack of maintenance culture. Such projects are ostentatious and plenteous in most African nations, especially in Nigeria . In Bayelsa State for example, there is not a single high school with first rate science laboratory, has a ghetto-university, no water/sewage treatment plants, and without a viable public or private transportation system, yet the government is thinking of building a seaport, a airport, a five star hotel, and an American- style shopping mall.

What purpose are any of the aforementioned iconic projects going to serve in a state were more than 60% of the populace does not have college education? Under such a situation, the most sagacious thing would have been for the government to invest intelligently in elementary and secondary schools and in other types of educational institutions. The government also needs to invest in clinics and hospitals. What great purpose is an airport going to serve? How many Bayelsans travel (by air) within and outside of the state and country? And since the vast majority of the people reside in small villages, good water transportation, along with good road/bridge network is, in my opinion, the most sensible projects to undertake.

Andy Uba versus Okey Ndibe: Every time I meet or see an Andy or Andrew, I think of Andy Uba; and then there are times when I instinctively think of Dr. Andy Uba wherever I read Dr. Ndibe’s essays. I wonder what goes through his mind considering the constant barrage from his main critic. I hear that he (Andy) is a nice and easy-going fellow. I hear he is kind and unpretentious. I hear he is about the best of a best friend anyone can ever hope for. If he is that nice and kind and brilliant and all that, well, I think he should find ways to connect with Okey Ndibe: he should look for ways to be nice and generous to him. If I were Andy Uba, I’d have headache and high blood pressure coupled with nightmares as a result of the constant attacks. How is he able to weather all that Okey throws at him?

In a few days, Okey Ndibe will come at him again (for losing the case at the Nigerian Supreme Court). Okey will throw jabs and uppercuts. Okey will ridicule him; make him look and sound like a nonentity. When did Andy Uba first became aware of Ndibe, and when did Okey Ndibe became aware of Uba. It is too late to separate both of them now. I think it is time Uba comes out swinging at Ndibe. Common, for how long is he going to remain silent? His honor and honesty is being questioned. His sense of self and personal accomplishment is being rubbished. It is even being said that he did not graduate from a mere community college even though he’s been telling people he earned a doctorate degree. The former chief of Anambra and of Aso Rock should hold a World Press conference to prove Ndibe wrong. As for me, I am afraid of Ndibe, Andy should be, too.

Awolowo, Buhari, Obasanjo: The vast majority of the Nigerians I know, who are fortunate to have been alive since the days of General Yakubu Gowon, regret the fact that Chief Obafemi Awolowo never got to be the executive president of Nigeria . His failings aside, he is generally considered the greatest Nigerian of his time. There is not a single Nigerians who measures up to him in terms of his vision and leadership capability, integrity and stellar character, and his brilliance of mind. And in fact, one would be hard pressed to find a greater African of his generation. We can only wonder. And then there was the duo of Buhari-Idiagbon. Theirs was a regime for Nigeria at the right time. Once it was sacked, Nigeria embarked on a slippery slope to damnation within 3 years.

The more one thinks about post-1985 Nigeria , the more one long for the Buhari-Idiagbon administration. President Obasanjo was handed Nigeria on a platter of Diamonds. He had the unique opportunity to right some of the wrongs that was ailing the country; but more than that, he had the opportunity to set Nigeria on the right course. At the very least, he could have diversified the economy, resuscitated our educational system, rebuild public infrastructures, and strengthened our institutions. It was also expected that he will stem the tide of corruption. Sadly, under his watch, corruption became a national pastime. The nation’s infrastructures became zones of danger. Our educational system lost its luster. We became more depended on and continue to be a rentier economy. He also conducted elections that are now regarded as the most dissolute in the history of the country.

Celebrating Crooks and the Crooked: Most Nigerians don’t celebrate their heroes. They don’t celebrate their intellectuals. They don’t celebrate their best and brightest. They don’t celebrate the honest and the hardworking. They don’t celebrate the Achebes, the Fawehinmis, and the Umars and very many others. They don’t celebrate the first-rate. Unlike a time that once was the vast majority of Nigerians no longer pay attention and deference to the learned and the philosophers amongst us. Today, it is the Aba traders, the Mushin money-doublers, the Lagos dream merchants, and the political prostitutes in Abuja and all spots in between that have become our national heroes. We doff our hats to these groups of people; we prostrate before them; we kiss the ground they walk on. We hail them and encourage our children and the younger generation to look up to them.

It is as if Nigeria is bereft of honest people. Day after day, all we hear about are corrupt and thieving governors and minister and other high ranking public officials. It is as if you don’t have to be smart to be somebody. Illiteracy pays. Duplicity and mediocrity bears benefits. Lying and cheating and raping and exploitative behaviors are now perfectly acceptable. It is almost as if you don’t have to be anybody to be somebody. Striving for the best and for excellence is almost a crime. I am thankful for the life that I knew in the Nigeria of my youth. I thank all the men and women who had profound influence on my life, i.e. Adebola Sehindemi Adeboye, the late Col. Ibrahim Adetunji Taiwo, and Smart Likolo. But of course, there were others. I remember them all.

The Decline in Courtship: I am beginning to think that time has left me by, otherwise, why does it appear to me as though some people I know are no longer interested in long, eventful and explorative courtships. Somehow, I miss the movie dates, I miss the long walks, I miss the conversations, and I definitely miss getting to know my prospective girl friend. I tell you what else I miss: I miss writing love-notes. It was fun and instructive penning some of those love letters -- expressing ones intentions and ones everlasting love and devotion. It was just plain fun having a girl friend to introduce to friends and neighbors. The swagger of having a girl friend is almost gone. The knowing, the journey, the adventure, and the thrill of getting to know a girl is almost gone. It is so bland and uneventful these days. The speed can be blinding. From the first date to consummation can be as little as 24-hours. And in fact the entire relationship may be over in another 72-hours or 27 weeks. How sad. Whatever happened to courtship?

Sabidde@yahoo.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 You must know what White Elephant projects are. You also must have been paying att...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 29.01.2008 19:35

Exxcuzme  Villager

# 2 =Robot;4294984678>: I am beginning to think that time has left me by, otherwise, why does it appear to me as though some people I know are no longer interested in long, eventful and explorative courtship. Somehow, I miss the movie dates, I miss the long walks, I miss the conversations, and I definitely miss getting to know my prospective girl friend...Read the full article. You cannot be Sixteen again, Mr Sabella. You remember you're 69 :wink: Posted by Exxcuzme| 29.01.2008 20:03

ozion ozumba  Villager

# 3 There is a project going on in Abuja now, I can’t remember what they call it, Millennium Towers or whatever. Huge amount is budgeted and the sword turned by the last administration. What’s their motivation, they want to beat Emirates – Dubai in their own game by beautifying Abuja skyline. Well, clean portable water is still an issue in the nations capital. The flogging of Andy and his cohorts at the Supreme was long expected. Anambrarians can do without the irritant who tried to prolong their misery of yester –years in connivance with Iwuruwuru. Prof ON remains a hero in Anambra, nay Nigeria for standing up to be counted in the fight to liberate his dear home-state. You may not know, but people like Okey give Mr Peter Obi the elixir to continue working for Anambrarians despite attempt to distract from political jobbers. ‘Dr’ Andy is past tense in Anambra, period. Now the battle ground shifts to the House of Assembly where nothing would be spared to flush-out the pretenders foisted on the people with a stroke of INEC biro. On Awo, perhaps it could have been. Remember Ikemba’s – ‘the best President Nigeria never had’. By the way, whoever forgets the very first kiss…. Nigeria is evolving for the better. Surely we will get there… Posted by ozion ozumba| 30.01.2008 04:16

Olamide  Villager

# 4 Please always read between the lines when interpreting the:D motives for these white-elephant projects. Siting an airport, 5-star hotel and American-style shopping mall in Bayelsa has its purposes. These are being established to enable the "militants" and the kidnappers (I don't know the difference) have somewhere nice to negotiate the release of their captives/hostages, have a nice rest and spend some of the ransom payments on real quality goods. The ordinary Bayelsans don't need all those 'foreign' things like clean, safe water, roads or improved health care system. They have their canoes and are happy with the government. How many over-weight people have you seen in the creeks? Andy Uba is a born loser. He may have the stolen billions but no respect. Okey Ndibe should just leave the ***** alone and concentrate on better things. Philosophers don't thrive on empty stomachs. Nigeria does not have philosophers again but "philo-jobbers". In case you are not aware, these are men and women of ideas who uses their skills, education and personality to praise-sing, baby-sit, back-scratch and hunt for contracts by simply telling the animals called men (apologies to the founder of modern Nigeria) they are the Messiahs Nigerians have been waiting for. Awolowo was in a class of his own and remains an icon. So also are great personalities like Ahmadu Bello and Azikiwe. Have you heard anything about these noble Nigerians leaving mansions and billions in foreign accounts? The death of courtship is not only in Nigeria but all over the world. We should blame the girls, ladies and women for the attitude of the men nowadays. You were conservative by suggesting that the period between 'toasting' a girl and taking her to bed could be as short as twenty-four hours. Twenty-four minutes is more like it these days. Moreover, you don't want to buy a whole cow with all the attendant responsibilities when the milk is already being supplied free. I have landed. Posted by Olamide| 30.01.2008 07:17

salford  Villager

# 5 Quote: In Bayelsa State for example, there is not a single high school with first rate science laboratory, has a ghetto-university, no water/sewage treatment plants, and without a viable public or private transportation system, yet the government is thinking of building a seaport, a airport, a five star hotel, and an American- style shopping mall. END QUOTE What are the people of Bayelsa doing about this? Are Bayelsa elites trying to educate their governor that White Elephant projects cannot take the place of basic necessities for the masses? Maybe Oga SOD fit expalnate dis without dragging in the Federal Government and the other so called ennemies wey no want Bayelsa to prosper :lol: On the courtship matter, na world of fast food we dey. Everything na instant, so courtship sef na fast track. Posted by salford| 30.01.2008 15:03

kako  JJC

# 6 it is alway with heavy heart when ever i read and think about the problems in bayelsa state. I served as a youth corper in bayelsa state sometimes ago. On arrival i was shock by what i saw, the level of underdevelopment was so much i couldn't comprehend i couldn't but wonder how the people were surviving without basic amentities, i know the problem is peculiar to nigeria as a whole but what i witness in bayelsa was on a different scale.. I made enquiries from the locals and they gave reason starting from there been marginalised under the old river state, bad governs etc . Reading your article after so many years again that the problems still there, am of the conclusion that bayelsa as been unlucky will there so called leader who are not only wicked but callous or how do you rationalize this in the absence of schools,hospitals and roads a sensible government is now proposing airports and five star hotels. Posted by kako| 30.01.2008 16:40