A very risky business in Nigeria – and more, in today’s news round-up with Cheta Nwanze

by Cheta Nwanze

untitled

That four students died, from bullet wounds, has not been denied. What appears to be the problem however, is the identity of the organisation that pulled the trigger. Army parrot, Brig. Gen Attahiru said, “Soldiers were not deployed, and could not have carried out the shootings.” Police parrot Mike Ada on his own part claimed that the police only cleared the road for free flow of traffic.

Depending on who you listen to, protesting in Nigeria can be very risky business. You see, such a venture can give you a broken head or two, land you in the cooler for a brief holiday, or in extreme cases, escort you to an early grave. Such was the case yesterday as students of Nasarawa State University, took to the streets to protest a lack of water and power on their campus. A few minutes into the protest, four of them were dead.

That four students died, from bullet wounds, has not been denied. What appears to be the problem however, is the identity of the organisation that pulled the trigger. Army parrot, Brig. Gen Attahiru said, “Soldiers were not deployed, and could not have carried out the shootings.” Police parrot Mike Ada on his own part claimed that the police only cleared the road for free flow of traffic. Err, clearing the road probably involved rolling four corpses off the road. May the souls of the dead students rest in peace.

A protest is not quite what would happen in sections of the PDP following the brilliant maneuvering by the Prez. In a beautifully played slight of hand, the Prez and his men got their candidate, Uncle T, he who was born before Adolf Hitler became Die Furher, into his second concurrent job. What is significant to me, is that while Uncle T was being handed his second job, myself and Dr. Seyi Taylor were having a chat with a chap who told us that he is the President of the Association of Unemployed Youths of Nigeria. My blood temperature is still quite low…

You see, the truth is that this chap who styles himself as the President of Unemployed Youths would kill and/or die to protect his patch. Which is why news such as the FG scrapping FERMA would not be very happy news for him. Is it happy news for me? Is it happy news for us? Yes it should be because theoretically at least, a constant renewal of road building and road maintenance contracts would mean more youths off the streets and less of our cars going to Ladipo.

Ladipo spare parts market, that eyesore that blights a good section of the Oshodi/Isolo axis of Lagos has apparently been closed down by the Lagos state government. Good? Bad? Let’s see how things shape up first.

Bits and bobs

Afolabi Adeniyi, the Oba of Iro-Ekiti in Ekiti state has decided that his life is more precious than lordship of his domain. As a result, he has high-tailed it out of there.

Former Intercontinental Bank suit, Erastus Akingbola appears to have about as much luck as snow in the Sahara these days. He was picked up again yesterday. Who should he beg?

Those niggaz at the NFF have pissed off the wrong person. Pat Ekeji is about as seasoned a sewer rat as any in the Nigerian Civil Service, and when he announces that he gave the NFF the nice sum of N794 millions, someone will soon have to cough out that money.

————————-

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail