Dear Boko, #BringBackOurGirls, Sterling Stellar Disgrace

#BringBackOurGirls: Can It Get Any Worse?

This is a rare case that is only capable of occurring in a failing state such as Nigeria. Over 200 innocent, young, hopeful and helpless girls fell into the hands of a blood-letting religious extremist group, and all the government does is play Russian Roulette with the responsibility of rescuing the ladies.

It’s a classic case of ‘who will bell the cat?’ Or rather, who will catch the Boko?

This state of ineptitude has further ben highlighted and amplified by the concern of the citizens. The #BringBackOurGirls social media campaign has millions of people all over the world lending their voice, (and their twitter account) to raise awareness, and push the government to grow a pair of balls and rescue those kids.

Where on earth does the government need prodding and petitioning to make the lives of its citizens safer? Welcome to Nigeria.

What’s more touching, the foreign superstars and people of influence have thrown their weight behind it. Mary J Blige, Russel Simmons, and Chris Brown (who tweeted from behind bars) have all taken up the cause. Peaceful protests have also been held within Nigeria and beyond, to push the government to rescue the girls.

I hate to point fingers at the government. Not because they’ll never notice my little clammy digit wagging at them, but because it feels cliché to ‘blame the government’ for all ills. But in this sad episode, the onus lies on their fat, money-guzzling shoulders and potbellies.

But they are dropping the ball.

Even though the girls are yet to taste freedom, but we can draw positives, right?

Okay, here’s one major one. Nigerian citizens have shown a rare unity of purpose and spirit in this case. Forever have we been divided by our heterogeneous bias and latent dislike, choosing to exist along religious and tribal lines. But on this case, we have pretty much been united. All every Nigerian want is for the girls to be rescued and returned home to their families.

Every Nigerian, except their captors. They’re also Nigerians right?

Amaka Igwe’s Curtain falls

I already have mused about Nigeria’s great loss. It was too touching to wait for a Monday to express my deepest thoughts. Read it below.

Joey Akan: In Memoriam Amaka Igwe: An Ode To The Last Of Nigeria’s True Commercial Filmmakers

Fare thee well, great teacher!

Donald Sterling: Racist Scapegoat

Everyone feels a sense of closure and justice over the Donald Sterling incident. A racist has been punished by the law, the voices of the good enlightened people have worked their magic, and now we can breathe fresh air.

Why not? He’s a racist who have been found out. All these years of service to the game of Basketball and his pocket mean nothing. He has been found, called out, shamed, banned and disgraced out of the sport.

While the rest of the media-fed world can sit in their far-flung houses and feel a sense of right over the entire incident, I think we need to be more circumspect about the details of the case.

White old Donald Sterling, a wealthy cancer patient, who via his money and influence, had found a pretty young lady who could look beyond the societal laws of love and be with him. Donald knows he didn’t get her because he was handsome and virile. He understands if he were poor and destitute, she wouldn’t as much as throw him a useless bone.

He becomes paranoid, stays paranoid, feels threatened by a star who was spotted with his girlfriend, and has a ‘private conversation’ with her. Of course he believed he was having a regular couple fight, where he could swear, take the name of the Lord in vain, and bark racist commands.

That conversation was supposed to be private, but it found its way to the media, and then boom! His world came crashing down. All his years of hardwork and contributions to better the earth do not count. All that matters is to give a dog a bad name, and hang it.

How many of us have in a fit of rage and panic, uttered words that weren’t fit for civilised ears? All of us.

Can we find a man who haven’t had a dirty conversation that stayed within private circles of communication? No!

When put in this light, we begin to feel a sense of sympathy to the man, but we still justify his punishment. Why? It’s because it helps us sleep at night. Nice, easy, and guiltless.

Donald was wrong, he touched an inflammable subject, and got burned. But the facts remain that he was unfortunate.

We should feel something for him. At least, anything….