The astronomical increase in food and cement prices are cases in point. When the Government banned imports, gave fertilizer, loans and grants to encourage local production, local farmers and dealers raised prices above imported goods. Their greed and excessive profits did not benefit the locals. So it is not only the leaders or politicians that steal legally and illegally by padding salaries and allowances, big and street traders hoard goods making them too expensive for the common man. It is a political malpractice to blame the populace for voting against their own self interests. There is the fear they would…
Author: Farouk Martins Aresa
We need a successful not a failed state, region or country in Africa right now. The bottom line; it does not matter which state or country takes the leadership in Africa. Africans at home and in the Diaspora should be able to rely on opportunities to succeed at home. Western Region in Nigeria is the latest successful Region managed by Africans for Africans’ success. We know how it got to be and we can retrace our steps for future success. All of us cannot depend on any failed state. There is no doubt that if foreigners seek opportunities and success…
Infectious absolute Power is orchestrated all over the world. The world needs to connect the increasing rise of world’s Dictators to the Sacrifice African “Buffalo” and Minority Soldiers paid with their lives in June 6th 1944 80th Year Memorial D-Day Anniversary at Normandy, France. Europe generally. Africans are the last to get the benefits as their fellow soldiers got in Europe and America The U.K Home Office destroyed thousands of landing card slips recording Windrush immigrants’ arrival dates in the UK to make it harder for older African and Caribbean-born residents in their 70s and 80s, to gain residency and…
Evolutionary psychology (and biology) find that men and women differ in the characteristics they seek in their partners. Several studies from psychologists in many countries, consistently found that men prefer looks in women over resources, but women value men’s resources over their looks in “normal” situations https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/talking-apes/201907/do-women-really-prefer-men-money-over-looks What accounts for this sex difference is mate’s choice in the theory of evolved preferences. It boils down to ladies looking for strong men in their most productive age and later, agile older men capable of producing. In the case of men, they want the most attractive body shapes of ladies for fertility (figure…
How can local currencies appreciate when we have excess hidden in graveyards, warehouses, bullions vans and safes that can flood the bureau du change at will? We all know this, yet we keep on ignoring the obvious. By repeatedly ignoring facts and expecting different results is the height of hypocrisy. You cannot quench fire without turning off the source. As African politicians punish us with impunity, instead of fighting back, we back into the wall and melt into the wall. Why are Africans so wicked to their own people and disloyal to their countries? There are no consequences or deterrence…
Rwanda is being offered a sweet deal that is supposed to end up in a win-win deal for the United Kingdom and Rwanda. If you believe it, we have a beautiful Trojan Horse to sell you. Africans are weary of superpowers’ sweet promises of subsidy or aid to the developing countries. When you negotiate in an adverse disadvantageous relationship, it always ends up in regrets, exploitation and nightmares. The reason foreigners and foreign investment into Africa have not lifted the economic plight of the masses is because these are foreign mules used to launder African meager foreign reserves and impoverished…
Who can afford foreign currency no matter what the cost is at the black market? The hegemon leaders can go to the Bureau Du Change market and convert their surplus local currencies to dollars for laundering. When caught overseas, they abandon millions and run home. The recent fluctuations up and down against the dollar demonstrates that the leaders know how to enforce existing laws, tighten loopholes and regulations. But if you have surplus local currency stored in the graveyard, cabinets and storage bins, you can wait until law and regulations enforcers relax, then upload again at the Bureau du Change.…
African politicians knew that some wealthy and middle class voters sought a foreign country they could relocate to, with one to ten million local currencies. One politician started thinking about election promises. He promised to make traveling overseas easier to divert attention from their failures, if voters would elect him. He would then govern over deserted country so that he could loot it blind without opposition. After all, he had sent all his children and wife abroad too. Many Africans are worse than the leaders we always blame in order to excuse ourselves for the same actions we blame leaders…
Seriously? Yes. Every foreigner in Nigeria will tell you there is more money to be made in Nigeria than in their own countries. Otherwise they would not leave their comfortable countries to make bigger profit and live majestically in Africa. All they have to do is distinguish frausters from greedy local partners and hold their noses long enough until they drain Africa’s Central Banks with the help of African enablers. This is the reason Virgin/Nigeria Airways died when politicians demanded more shares than real investors. The only problem in Nigeria are those ready to defraud you. While waiting to sell…
There are many reasons to respect our adult children when they are focused and well behaved but hardly any reason to fear them. All cultures preach respect and honor for our parents especially in their old age. It is the responsibility of parents to take care and provide for children. When we can, children should take care of their parents and if they are not able, show them kindness and love, even if they are financially independent. Women have to be protected, not only from abusive husbands but also from their own sons that may have gone haywire. The same…
If we think about the time, emotional and cultural investment we put into relationships, it is not surprising that marriage lasts longer in Africa than in Europe or America. We just don’t check in at the Registry. There are introductions, engagement, traditional Nikah or white weddings. No matter how we get into relationships, African and Asian cultures still support and encourage longer partnerships than European and American relationships. You do not go through all these to file for divorce the following day! The difference between when a man wants to settle down to when a lady wants, generally shows a…
We have heard so much about ethnic strife and loyalty in Africa and Europe based on tribe. We saw it in Yugoslavia, Myanmar etc. and lately in Ukraine. The only Ethnic group in most parts of our ethnic world that has ever rejected their own son and kin as the Presidential candidate while voting for others, are the Yoruba of West Africa. Yet, it is not yet Uhuru since some Africans have become selfish as cash mules that care less about their people. Unexpectedly, repressed tribal politics has also raised its ugly head in the United States of America. Well,…
We are witnessing how African leaders use their country’s land, resources, infrastructure as collateral for Odious Loans which both lenders and borrowers know are impossible to pay back. Humans are in a mental siege between wars and corruption of indifferent men who devise all kinds of ways to stay in Power to distract us, by any means necessary. Lenders do not give loans unless it will be used to create jobs, materials, goods and services in their own countries. Even when International lenders like IMF or World Bank is involved, exorbitant fees to foreign accountants, lawyers not to mention kickbacks…
Where in the Civilized World do the Poor and Peaceful People that want to Live and let others live go to find Sanity? We cannot hide. Devoted Muslims and Christians bombed Churches, Mosques and Hospitals calling us: Collateral Damages. When the powerful and the rich have no more disenfranchised and poor folks left within them, they would eat one another. We are no more civilized than we were a century ago. The powerful, bombed the people, even hospitals back into past ages to install cronies after mass destruction. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the hands of Barbarians on all sides would…
Japajantis (migrators) take heed. God is not coming down to save Africans. Heaven helps those who help themselves. God gave Humans the skills, intelligence and knowledge to use technology for transforming natural or artificial resources into usable and valuable products. There is a list of countries with the least natural resources: Vatican City. Costa Rica. Switzerland. Belgium. Taiwan. Japan. Hong Kong. Gibraltar. Our darkest time in life, if we don’t forget, can spur us into a better future. Necessity is the mother of invention, we say. Many people fall, it is those that get up and move on that make…
Nigerians have turned into a case study of how money could turn a rich country into abject poverty. The worship of money and greed for more without knowing what to do with it has made Nigerians the laughingstock of fellow Africans. Yet, we glorify ourselves as the most educated, richest and successful Blacks in foreign land. It is actually authenticated and used against other Blacks by those who never wished Africa well in the first place. What they hide in the success of Nigerians abroad is that to live the same “comfortable” life their colleagues enjoy; they have two or…
It is indisputable who the owners or Omo-Onile of Lagos are: The Olumegbon, Suenu, Ojora, Onitolo, Onitana, Onido and others. They know their own history before the first Europeans or Arabs set their foot in Africa on their mission to pillage our resources, capture slaves, debase African cultures and people with religious platitudes. Most historians trace the Ogunfunminire Awori, Aresa, Onikoyi and Olugbon from Ife to Oyo, Ilesa, Oshogbo, Ogbomoso, Abeokuta to Lagos. Ife is the cradle of Yoruba Civilization. Igbon_Iresa_and_Ikoyi_A_Pre-Historic_Relationship_Till_Present_Time Leyin Orun Olugbon, Orun Aresa, Orun OnIkoyi, Orun oun lori ile: apart from the authority of Olugbon, of Aresa and…
How can African Militricians, especially Nigerians without the knowledge of history, Agreement and contract suddenly become such Experts for Power? Those ignorant of how the French imperialists crippled Haiti for daring Independence, cannot understand the devastating effects of the French Agreement with West African French Speaking countries. Though the British do not spell out their Agreement with English Speaking African countries with such impunity, the opium effects are no less disadvantageous. Ironically, it was the far Right Italian before she became Prime Minister that challenged France on this. The more they sugarcoat their inhumanity to man, the more they exposed…
The Niger military junta must be left guessing if ECOWAS is going to invade or not. Right now, there are more African countries under civilian rule than military rule. Economic sanctions from each of them against Niger is more effective than war, but must always be an option on the table. War is less productive because it is a double edge sword. Any strong man, no matter how ambitious, should not impose his will on the whole country. May African God forbid another proxy war in Africa generally and the Niger Republic in particular. ECOWAS is struggling to find a…
Victims of Modern Slavery are not only illegal migrants used as slaves and sex workers in the Middle East, Europe and Americas. While African and Indian physicians have gained sympathy from the International Press in the United Kingdom, one of the most exploited legally, are the Care Workers. Modern Slavery gang masters have taken advantage of the shortage of health and care workers to channel Africans into the United Kingdom through relaxed legal means by unscrupulous agents inside and outside the U.K and USA. One of the Care Workers was told her salary would be 29,000 British pounds. She was…
Africans traded with one another before the arrival of the Europeans. Trade by barter was the world’s most common form of exchanging goods and services, locally and across the seas. Cowries replaced trade by barter. Later, coins and gold replaced cowries. The way to strengthen African currency is to increase its buying power within our big population. What we are doing right now is weakening each African currency with euro and US dollar exchange to trade with one another. Illogically, we are making foreign currencies our common currency. Once we have our one currency, there will be an adjustment period…
Nigerians have just elected a new leader. No matter our differences with Tinubu as a person, his character or our party affiliation; we should accord him the goodwill and benefit of doubt given to new leaders for the hope of a better country. Africans have had their share of bad leaders but Nigerians always have this optimistic view of new leaders, even the military ones: he go better. It could be an indication of how bad the situation had been before they came. The first coup d’etat by Nzeogwu gave hope after condemning the corruption of our “ten percenters”. Some…
There is no substitute for love of relatives and friends. Our love for one another is paramount but we cannot be blinded or take the rewards for granted before euphoria sets in. It is at this point where we are caught unaware and flat footed. At the same time, we cannot be on alert all the time, weakening our defense mechanisms that are needed in case of real threats. Unfortunately, many people have succumbed without adequate defense mechanisms because we did not learn how to prevent, run or move far away from threats. We must distinguish the times to run…
This writer has never been a supporter of Tinubu but accepted that he won more votes in the North and South, fair and square. Regardless of our past reservations about his character, born out by the people of Lagos, his adopted state and Osun, his home state. Tinubu can still join world philanthropists that gave most, if not all their money away, after making it through some vile and dubious means. Tinubu would then restore Nigeria’s glory, taking Africa along. Nobel Peace Prize donated by Nobel, like other capitalist venturers made their money from the spoil of wars, slavery and…
Sudan leaders powerplay today is not different from Somali, Rwanda, Sierra Leone or Biafra/Nigeria wars. It has blinded our Youths, desperately jumping from the frying pan into fire. They usually realize too late that they have an African country that can rescue them in Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Ukraine and Asian countries. While those in Nigeria wanted to fight for Ukraine until they were asked to pay to be recruited. It shows how cheap African life is. Africa was progressing and building needed potential after Independence, we must constantly be reminded. Arrested development started when these same soldiers that were trained…
There was this popular Radio Talk show host diagnosed with cancer at the peak of his career. We all felt bad and scared that he was going to die. Surprisingly, he was the one reassuring us that he would enjoy and spend the rest of his time fulfilling his activities with all the time left in him with grace. After all, we are all getting closer everyday to the day we die. This wonderful guy told his listeners that none of us know when we are going to die, not even the doctors that predicted his time because he could…
One of the most important prayers of our parents was: our children would grow to achieve more than they did. Those prayers and struggle to accomplish better goals for our Youths bestow admiration and respect for elders everywhere, not only in Africa. Even when we disagree with elders, our Youths always had a way of expressing their objections without being disrespectful. We have opponents among learned cultures and reasonable people like ours, they leave enough room to disagree without being disagreeable. Youths everywhere are the social conscience of their communities and countries. It is no longer valid that most Youths…
Scholars throughout the world that have studied the Yoruba Culture and Religion have been intrigued by the ancient history of YORUBA of West Africa. German explorer Leo Frobenius came across some sculpted bronze heads and terracotta figures in Ile-Ife, convinced he had discovered remains of the mythical lost city of Atlantis. Beyond the way Yoruba accommodate other religions and cultures without giving up their own, they have surprised other scholars, so much that doctoral students must be careful how they present dissertations for approval. You may see within the same family a Reverend father, a respectable Imam and a prominent…
There is a President-Elect in Nigeria, but most do not believe any of the 3 candidates could restore our dignity. We dearly missed the days when Nigerians were welcomed and respected around the world. Nigerian institutions from Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Professionals to Police and Military were invited to prestigious institutions in and outside Africa. We contributed to Peace Missions around the world, building and developing budding institutions in Africa. The face of poverty has shifted from Asia to Africa. Compared to when Nigerians were furious at Umaru Dikko for insinuating that he had never seen people picking food from the…
What is clear in this Election is the utmost impunity of the selfish interest groups claiming to be acting as the representatives or leader of the people they have failed woefully! Presidency is back to the South. This writer predicted that by hook or crook, Atiku would be installed as President by the Oligarchy that had always chosen the leaders. If Atiku had won, hell would then break out making it easier to split the country into Regions. Even the few members of the Northern Oligarchy that were using Fulani grassroots to buttress their bases have been rejected. They intentionally…
