MY 'BESTS' OF 2015

This year went well and I thank God for that.I was picked to be an observer for my NBA branch at the 2015 General Elections and being a founding member of the Kano state Young Lawyers Forum, i was glad to leave something to be remembered for when it held its inaugural congress.It was conceived and birthed within a week and that is no mean feat.
My articles got published at twice the rate they were last year when I first started out and that is a huge blessing.
Here are some of the other things that made my year thick.

BEST TV SERIES

I didn't do too many movies this year and the few I did just didn't cut it for me.However I binge-watched series dating as far back as 2012 to almost everything made this year and NARCOS takes my top spot.Pablo Emilio Escobar De Gaviria is probably the most infamous drug lord the world has ever known and to see his story depicted so well gave me fat thrills.Guy fought Colombia to a stand still, built his own jail which was more or less a resort and was making like $420 Million a week with about $2,500 spent on rubber bands to tie the cash.Stories don't come more intriguing.

COUPLE OF THE YEAR

Pique and Shakira.Gerard had what was perhaps his worst season ever under his Argentine namesake, Gerard Martino with a lot of people in the Barca fold attributing his bad form to his relationship with Shakira.They felt she was becoming a huge distraction and were always quick to cite his skating trip with her to the States contrary to doctors' instructions.
No one could wave off claims he was placing her above his career because he simply wasn't giving his best on the pitch. When reports surfaced that he had banned Shakira from having men in her videos, i kinda felt it was getting to him.It sounded too '10 years between the lovebirds'.
She wasn't only a superstar songstress but she was a latin one at that.Would've been better if he just made her retire.A top notch video for virtually every song she puts out would mean she shoots a romantic scene or two.
But then came Luis Enrique who afforded Pique the right climate for a rebirth and he has been giving his best without cutting down on 'Shakira time'.He helped the team win a treble and had another son with her in the process.
Their love seemed to wax stronger amidst the challenges and they are now reaping the rewards of their patience.They have been spotted getting cozy a lot more times this year and for a busy lady like Shakira, she sure attends quite a lot of Barca games these days.Sounds Shakespeare with a nice ending, donnit?

BOOK OF THE YEAR

As unbelievable as this may sound,it is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.Happenings over the last year have made me resort to it quite a number of times.Whether it was to recommend Kwarans recall Saraki instead of stoning him or when canvassing for a lesser number of Ministers to be appointed than the 36 a lot of people erroneously believed President Buhari was obligated to appoint in one fell swoop.
The 'quality time' I gave it opened up instances of highly regrettable lack of foresight on the part of the draftsman.In a polity like ours, the phrase 'Federal Character' ought to have been dealt with in figures.For example-No 10 appointments shall be made without each of the geo-political regions getting at least one each.PMB's total disregard for the ibos in the 29 appointments preceding the Ministerial ones opened up my eyes to just how shallow and inadequate some provisions of the grundnorm really were.We have always had cries of marginalization since the civil war so theres no possible excuse to hide behind.
Section 147 empowers the President to create offices of ministers as he deems fit and in a proviso, also obligates him to appoint one from every state.Both provisions contain the operative word 'shall' and that is most ridiculous.
If he creates just two ministries then he would have to keep changing Ministers every few months till he hits the 36 states mark.
A lot of work needs to be done on that document.

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

That would be Neymar Jnr.He along with Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi form unarguably the most lethal front three in World Football. So much controversy surrounded his move to Fc Barcelona.A case was instituted against the club and Sandro Rosell resigned as President but whats worse?-The player wasn't delivering the goods on the pitch then and the inevitable whispers of a transfer kept resonating round Camp Nou.Some felt he would have been gotten rid off after just a season if it wasn't going to speak too badly of the Club's transfer business.
The 2014/2015 season saw a young man whom many doubted his ability to shrug off a bad World Cup and off field troubles do just that in great style.He kept banging in the goals; second only to King Leo in the club's historic campaign and for the first time in quite a long while, Barcelona no longer look like a one man army.Neymar rose above every challenge to be counted and thats real champion stuff.
Floyd 'Money' Mayweather is my number two.He beat pacman in the most expensive boxing bout ever and whether or not you loved his 'Mourinho-tesque' boxing strategy, it doesn't change the fact the he is leaving the sport undefeated and with a lot of cash.As for saying he was better than Ali, please go at him all day.

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

Serena Williams.The best womens tennis player of all time no doubt.She stayed number one all through the year and became the first lady to have won each of the Grand Slams at least thrice.Sometimes I wonder if this lady still has any room for trophies in her cabinet.This year it was Wimbledon, Miami Open, US Open and....others.She wins, thats basically what she does.

COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR

I hand this to Dr Peregrino Brimah.Thing about the 'Good Doctor' is that most of his articles have a real feel to them.They don't try too hard to 'wow' you with knowledge and facts, its basically how you and I would discuss our problems in a bus, restaurant, bar or an ATM queue.
I laughed my head off when I read the beginning of his 'Legislooters' article.He cracked an old joke-'Master, Master Shaolin dey fight inside temple..and Master says-'Him chop belleful be that'.
The one on DECREE NO.4 was insightful.It came at a time a lot of stories were being fabricated against the First family and Hate it or love it, PMB had it enacted to check falsehood when he was Head of State and not what a lot of bandwagon activists tell us. His 2cents on matters arising are ones I take very seriously.

ARTICLE OF THE YEAR

Has to be Uche Onyebadi's WHY I'LL VOTE DONALD TRUMP.It was such a great read.Onyebadi took sarcasm to new heights and I hardly went five lines without cracking up.
Everything I had against Trump was encapsulated in Mr Onyebadi's article and like he succinctly put it-'Trump adroitly articulates nothing to his admirers and makes them appreciate the virtue in nothingness'.That was genius.
Ayisha Osori's A CASE FOR A TRANSITION ACT was sublime as well.An act like that would do us much good.It would put an end to the late submission of handover notes by outgoing governments and tackle a host of other problems awaiting a new government. 
The President had to work out of the villa for the first few months of his administration and that was really sad.A properly prepared legislation of that nature would handle issues like renovation and the sorts.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Yea,you guessed right-Fc Barcelona it is.The team won a treble with a new 'effectiveness over everything' philosophy.They blew everyone away in some style without playing maximum tikitaka.Messi, Suarez and Neymar had just over 120 goals between them and what strikes you most is the fact that they created most of the goals for themselves.
As far as stats go, it was a case of getting the ball to any of them and watching things fly from there for a whole season.But those are stats.Everyone was vital. They had legal problems, lost a President, got banned from transfer business for a year and conquered the world. The Victories illustrate the true character of champions.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Luis Enrique hands down.He modified Barca's tikitaka into a more result-oriented playing style.Nobody had the guts to do that since Cruyff put it in place and it was exciting to watch a man from the old brigade do so.He beat Pep Guardiola's record 40 wins in a debut season en route his treble with a few games to spare.
A lot of people overlook his neutralization of Barca's over-dependence on Xavi Hernandez for creativity and that is enough to earn any coach respect.

HAPPIEST MOMENTS

Watching my little sister graduate from elementary school was my best moment of 2015.Wouldn't trade the sight of her singing in her graduation gown for all the gold in Dubai.She wants to be a lawyer like her 'Yaya Umar' and she just took her first huge step towards realising that dream.
Watching the Golden Eaglets retain their U-17 World title felt really good too.

WORST LOWS

My momz was ill for a while and it really weighed me down.Nobody matters more in this world to me and to see her in such bad shape really demoralized me.I was shattered to the point of tears as I drove her to Kano and I thank Almighty Allah she recovered fully.Nothing beats her in her true elements.Alhamdulillah

MAN OF THE YEAR

Luis Enrique.A blaugrana old boy who returned home and achieved a record-breaking lot.In adding and subtracting from Barca's tikitaka style, he made the team play with longer passes and a much more efficient counter-attacking model while ridding the team of its defensive frailties.Barcelona has started 2016 well and seem destined for another great season.So beefers calm down,Its no fluke.
The short passes previously used allowed players swarm round an opponent when the ball is lost in no time.The team was left prone to vicious counter-attacks that caught almost everyone except the goalie out of place.
What Enrique did was to curtail the attacking forays of key defensive players especially the full backs and add Ivan Rakitic to an attacking midfield that had two of the most creative players ever known to the game in Xavi and Iniesta to make it steely.This effectively killed off Barca's defensive worries even with a longer passing style.
Xavi was relegated to second fiddle because Rakitic not only had a better eye for goal but also defended well.This style allows them stay in top shape all through the season.Barca is doing great even after virtually all its South American players featured in this year's Copa America and there are still no signs of fatigue.
It takes someone really special to pull that off in his first season and winning everything there is to win while doing so.

WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Zahra Buhari. Zahra'u like my hausa folk would say or Zahra-ouuuh!! if the good looks overwhelm you just as much as they do me.She is Ace Charity's ambassador and together they have accomplished quite a lot in just under 7 months.
This young lady with a heart of gold has gone to astonishing lengths to help the displaced victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.Over N12 Million was realized from the Ace Charity fundraiser and that sum is being used to build schools and libraries for kids.She is also an ambassador for a sickle cell NGO and is very enthusiastic about making our world a better place.
In an era where most women her age are more concerned with what the Kardashians are up to and what Chanel bags cost, its nice to see a First daughter worry about the plight of the less privileged.Her huge strides are unprecedented in the history of Nigerian First families and she has my unflinching love and admiration for them.

A STROLL THROUGH MY 2015 PLAYLIST

Foreign and local music had contrasting fortunes in 2015...or at least according to my playlist.While this will go down as a great year for a lot of our foreign artistes, the same can hardly be said for their Nigerian counterparts.No songs in the mould of DOROBUCCI,CARO or JOHNNY.When people start to think Korede Bello's GODWIN is a good jam,then you know we are in trouble.Only a handful of naija hits are worth my Nike this year.Songs like Kiss Daniel's WOJU and maybe Patoranking and Wande Coal's MY WOMAN MY EVERYTHING.

2015 kicked off for me with Yung  6ix's THIS YEAR which is a song I still love to bits.Speaks to me directly.The only person who believed in me probably more than I did was my momz.Sometimes I wonder if I would have made it this far if she didn't.Always told me the only problems I had were ones I made for myself and that it was in me to soar high if I give my life 100.
Well, these days its something like that Biggie Smalls JUICY line-'she loves to show me off of course, Smiles every time my face is up in The Source'.Yea, her boy doing big things now.Lol.
I showed 6ix some love a while back and he let me know the video will be out on December 31st.Can't wait.
Then Kid Ink's album dropped.Kid looked like he had something great up his sleeves and I couldn't wait to see Wassup.After all said and done, you'll tag him talented, not one to make it off a unique style in a saturated market but.....he really needs a good dose of cutting edge.It is better to have a single monster hit than have an album full of great songs.Wasn't disappointed though and I hardly go too long without listening to LIKE A HOTt BOY Feat Young Thug and Bricc.The punchline referenced Cash Money's Hot boys.Lil Wayne belonged to the group and created the slang 'Bling Bling'.Thugga came through in some style,great song.
Then you have Thugga's BARTER 6. 2015 was the year to see just how many shots on wax the Cash Money/Young Money feud was going to give us and it did a few...and then some from a gat as well.Wayne's tour bus was shot by an associate of Thugga's who claims he acted on Stunna's instructions and that was after Young Thug had named his mixtape BARTER 6 in what was perceived as a blatant mockery of Wayne's predicament-unable to release CARTER V till he sorts himself out with Cash Money.Thugga made a strong impression with that mixtape and NEVER HAD IT feat Young Dolph is one of my best songs this year.Made me look deeper into Dolph.Loved his style. KNOCKED OFF feat Stunna was dope as well.The boss strutted on it like one as usual and don't we all love him for that?.Well,It was time Thugga made a statement alone and Boy, did he make one?.
The much anticipated Phyno and Olamide 2 KINGS album dropped and it fell way short of expectations.It felt like a contract marriage where both spouses couldn't wait to get it done with and move on.It was that bad.But...I say this again BUT it had one of the best bangers this year-LADI which just happens to be one of the very few timeless dance tracks made here over the years. Their guest, Lil Kesh delivered a verse to further cement his status as Baddo's natural heir.Song made you want to forgive them for the other 'skippables'.
In Young John and Pheelz, Olamide Baddo has two of the very best chefs in his camp.Those guys make very insane beats.Lil Kesh's EFEJOKU was doing justice to one of such beats and quite incidentally, most of the club songs that measure up to or surpass it came from the YBNL camp.Had a long phone chat with my little sister and while I was singing along to her LADI acapella, she switched to OLAMIDE's BOBO.One of my fav songs out this year as well, nothing like a feel good song that really makes you feel good.Had another chat with her days later and she drew my attention to his MELO MELO, a song I hadn't heard before then..Nice to hear those lines that reminded me of Baba Fryo's hit when I was her age-'I no dey denge, denge, I no dey pose!!'.If there is an award for Camp/Crew of the year, It won't go to Don Jazzy's MAVINS, it will go to Baddo's YBNL (Yahoo Boy No Laptop.Lol).Nothing is reliant on massive promo, star power or anything of the sorts, it was just quality shinning through.
Anybody who thinks Big Sean's DARK SKY PARADISE isn't the best rap album of 2015 will really have to go a long way in convincing me.Dude stepped up big time without really changing much about himself.I always say Sean is the only testament to Kanye's talent-spotting skills-Signing him after listening to his 15mins freestyle at a radio station.Other than that, every other thing suggests 'Ye's business acumen sucks.All 'em other cats had something major one way or the other going on.BLESSINGS Is the most popular song off the LP feat Drake.The video had an extra Ye verse and if you watched Little Riley Curry interrupt her father's post-game news conference to say 'Waaay up I feel Blessed!!!', you know irr is warh irr is-Blessed!!.Strong message.
Then you also have STAY DOWN, a really dope song.Word in some quarters is that Sean's 'I gotta a million dollar chic with a billion dollar pu***' line caused his break up with Ariana Grande.A collabo was expected from both and they nailed it real bad.The RESEARCH song is maaad.The girl can really sing.
ONE MAN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD feat Kanye and John Legend is Grammy nominated and one of my favs for the year as well.It was a tribute to Sean's grandma and well....It had me emotional at times.
JJC aka Mr Skillz dropped THANK GOD feat Boi Wonda and Ice Prince during Ramadan.Boi Wonda was super-splendid on the hook and Skillz aka Mr Abdul Bello Dan Kano dropped lines strong enough to remind you just how grateful you should be.If No Be God.....
OT Genasis's DO IT feat Lil Wayne effectively pulled him out of the One-hit wonder ranks.Things with guys like that who stroll into the game with a distinctive style is they find it hard to last staying true to it.They tend to live off just that one minute of fame and fortune till they wither away (Mims,Trinidad James,Cash Out & 'em).So i was glad it just wasn't COCO and Bye bye from OT.
I love DO IT to bits and something like the song itself, it gives you that 'Pa Pa Pa' feel.Lol
Choc Nation dropped their compilation album titled INDESTRUCTIBLE and though it was safe to get into it with expectations of a heavy commercial content coz of 'market forces', you just knew you had to get a coupla good rap songs out of it.Why?.Choc Boiz is Hip Hop and Hip Hop is Choc Boiz round here.I wasn't disappointed.
DJ Lambo feat Milli and Moti Cakes-DRANK is my best naija song for 2015..Words can't possibly explain how I feel about that joint... $90 Billion is my best attempt.Critics always felt Loose Kaynon wasn't lyrically tight and didn't have it in him to make up for it in other departments like the Sinzus of this world but he had arguably the best showing of his rap career on GO HARD feat Milli and Ice Prince...'Kd boy, u f...ing wit a Kd boy, been about the flow since you was a baby boy.From city to city, am notorious no biggie now they got me in Gidi and nobody F wit me'.Loose had my best stars for his verses.Milli came through with a great hook and Ice...seems to have come full circle.Nothing good out of him these days.Last I felt was the verse on Kida Kudz's LE BOO Rmx.
Jesse Jagz RESTORATION is a purists' collector's item.Talk about Jagz strolling majestically back to the Choc City fold.Dude was on some Space issh and whenever I get talking with the pure heads, a lot of references will be made to this song.
Thugga's SLIME SEASON came in 2 installments and the only joint good enough for my archives was MY BABY; a bonus track off the 2nd part.There is just something so real about the 'hooooly ghost with an angel, hooly moly mingle' exclamation in his hook.Something like our 'Baba God you too much' reaction to a gorgeous lady on the streets.
2015 Young Jeezy season was most memorable. Foreplays don't come better than his POLITICALLY CORRECT mixtape.STREETZ is as crack as it gets with a really great slow feel to it.My best song off #JeezySeason was WHERE I'M FROM...we'll definitely be together for a really long time.There was so much talk, a lot of it from his camp about Jeezy switching up before the CHURCH IN THESE STREETS album dropped.The cover art for it suggested so as well..It was 'corporate' Jeez.But little change if you ask me coz Jeez stayed 'Streets of ATL' all through the work.My pick of the pack has to be NEW CLOTHES, he drags you into it till you start to sing along.
I have always felt Orezi was one of the most slept on artistes in Nigeria and the GHEN GHEN album release had me very excited.Asides BIG SOMETHING Feat MI and Flavour, other songs worth saving were ones I had listened to much earlier.His version of SHOKI and RIHANNA.Oh how I love RIHANNA...My Banana na na!!.Lool.Crazy stuff.
Weezy dropped 2 mixtapes and an album this year.A strategy maybe-flooding the market and creating a positive vibe till things are sorted out with Cash Money and CARTER V is released. Wouldn't be fair to keep the fans waiting just to create the right publicity when things are, so 'Considerate' Wayne wouldn't need anything extra before dropping it coz he never shied off the mainstream.Just Maybe.
Another thing about Wayne is he really loves the art and could do 2 songs everyday for years so it might also be a case of utilizing his creative zeal to the max.The FREE WEEZY album wasn't good and I have no memories of it in my playlist while the last offering, NO CEILINGS 2 mixtape was wack.
A lot of people base their criticism on the heavy and perhaps bad use of Future and Drake beats but mine is on the sheer lack of lyrical ingenuity we all love Wayne for.A trait only 2chainz and Tunechi can boast of right now-witty and hilarious lyrics.Dude seemed like he was teaching my lil sis nursery rhymes at times.FINESSIN is the only thing reminding me of it and its basically coz of the guy singing on it.But..i say this again ladies and gentlemen, BUT...the very first Wayne offering this year stood out.In other words, it was outstanding.
The SORRY FOR THE WAIT 2 Ep makes you want to give his 'I am not human' declarations a serious thought.From COCO to ALPHABET, it was a master painting a masterpiece. His HOT NIGGA is one of my best songs of 2015 and Whoever said Wayne takes your beat and makes it his was right here.
I always wondered what there was to love in Bobby Shmurda's original version other than the shmoney dance and King Carter came through with the right schooling.The energy made the beat his and not forgetting he dropped some bars for the archives...'Moneybags under my eyes, money over rest...Mama jumped outta the plane I was air born...Favourite subject was PE-Pablo Escobar!!'.Tune was on some star trek issh.
He also remade HipHop Royalty's DRUNK IN LOVE with his (ex?) boo, Christian Milian and it was just as hilarious as it was creative!!.Wayne had so much fun on it or better yet, skated real hard on it.Lol.
NO HATERS is HIV sick and will get played for a long time...'I got the hook up on 'em rocket launchers, I told Obama F wit me, you know I got it!!'..Crazy stuff.
BADDEST 2.0 by Ink Edwards feat Mi, Falz and Flavour was a great song and I hope to see more of him.Migos released its YUNG RICH NATION album and RECOGNITION is my number one off it..'same people doubted see me on television'.Crack joint.It had this really funny line-'I still get recognised by my old patients, with a snag or two, Smiley said he happy that I made it'.
Cynthia Morgan had a great year.A much lesser number of people argue with me now when I say she is the best reggae/dancehall artiste round here, not Patoranking.COME AND DO blew me away and almost as bad as her BABY MAMA song did.The cover art for BM was greeted with much controversy. I guess the sight of a Benin girl holding a baby and puffing spliff with the other hand didn't sit too well with many.Gal stood up to her critics and pulled an 'Only one I know' on Caroline Ekanem Danjuma...Rude gyal said the 'only' Danjuma she knows is Daisy.(Remember the MI line dissing Kelly Hansome on Choc Boiz's-NOBODY TEST ME..'Only one Kelly I know-Kelly Rowland?').
Loved her on Illbliss's JAMO and talking about 'Illy trafficante', he had a coupla good songs out but is still being slept on.I really felt the first verse of his MUNACHIMSO joint..Serious Boss issh right there.He also had a great collabo with Black Magic-FUNDED which had a fresh outta the bank feel to it.
Heard this song just weeks back and I have been tripping since-Chyn's BIG feat Falz.Dope!!..fiending for Falz's verse and the tight hook.
MGK's GENERAL ADMISSION was making a grand entrance and his MAKE IT HAPPEN officially supplements Eminem's LOSE YOURSELF as my 'Go get 'em ' song.Psyches me up with the right dose of adrenaline and WORLD SERIES is
one crazy Pac issh.Didn't let me down, great album.
In my opinion, Di'ja is the most talented artiste in the Mavin crew and her AMEN song was the best from the camp this year.Though Don Jazzy tries hard to give every artiste due attention very much unlike his old boss (abi na slave driver sef?); Kanye West, you can't compare hers with that of the other bankable artistes (and am not talking Dr Sid!!).She deserves a lot more for her game.This song is good and even passes a stronger message than Korede Bello's GODWIN if you ask me.Who God dey fight wey him win?
Then to WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE; a lot of people's album of the year.Future and Drake made collaborative EPs fashionable with this awesome piece of art.SCHOLARSHIPS was great.Hook was like tea on a winter morning and BIG RINGS had a great 'team' vibe to it.Future shone brighter and his JERSEY is my lucky bride.Song drives me Yaba nuts and has been my ring tone for quite some time now.
French Montana and Fetty Wap dropped theirs soon afterwards having been bitten by the EP bug, COKE ZOO they called it.
French went alone on FIRST TIME which I give bright stars to for creativity.Nice stuff.GANGSTA WAY feat Chris Brown is my fav song off the project coz Brezzy brought that Brezzy I love so much.French and Fetty went in alone on ANGEL.Though a really nice song, I found it hard to fight the thought that it wasn't just a glorified imitation of Fetty's break out hit-TRAP QUEEN coz It just kept reminding you of it.Mad love for them though when you finally remember to judge it on its own merit.
I used to think Ace Hood was the most underrated rapper in the game till I heard his 4da F OF IT mixtape and STARVATION 4 album. Guy sang more than he rapped for the most part and it made you wonder if someone was trying to be a Gangsta Drake.The other part was more an experimentation of a new rap style; shedding some punch for a more laid back delivery.Yea, you beat me to it-perhaps Ace was influenced by Caitlyn Jenner.Lool.When a rapper with a voice tailor-made for his delivery and a way more than decent lyrical prowess does that, you have to reassess.2015 Ace was not the one that made what I consider one of the best albums this decade few years ago-TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS..HAVE MERCY off that LP still remains one of my best Hip Hop songs of all time.
Well, 4DA F OF IT was average with 2 great songs out of a possible 5.Caught glimpses of the real Ace on CLARITY, a rapper's rapper and transgender Ace on COLD BLOODED MURDER..Sang really well on it.Kinda reminds you Caitlyn Jenner isn't that bad a chic...Need to get some therapy for my homophobia coz on the real, she still feels Bruce to me.Lool.
And as for STARVATION 4, its not half as good as TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. Its one thing to not measure up to the standards you set for yourself and its another to fall too far below it.But thing with genuine talents like Ace is that one way or the other, they just have to leave you something to remember them for.It all boils down to creativity sometimes and even if everything fails, it won't fail them.
954 Is also up there with my very best songs this year..the laid back delivery thing was on red bull here.Tight!!.A lot of people test the waters before a drastic change in style..like a few singles to see the fans' reaction; Memo To Ace Hood.i remain a fan. 

Phyno's CONNECT is a feel good song I really felt to the bone marrow.Gets me in the right mood.Tekno had 2 great songs out as well-DURO and WASH.Luv it when I hear him say- 'My love na Karate combo!!'.
And to other shores,Meek Mill dropped a bomb LP.Probably the most slept on for the year 2015.He matured from that rapper with nothing going for him other than a peculiar voice and an MMG affiliation to one who is a much better all round artiste.
Before now the only shred of Meek i still had left was his verse on the Classic Remix to Ludacris's MAD FO, arguably my best rap collabo in recent times. 2015 saw a new Meek; much better composition.Guy worked hard on himself and ended up with catchy hooks, far better lyrics and the ability to make it all come together for him.RICO was everyone's favourite even before it birthed the beef with Drake but there were other great joints as well.CHECK is a DJ's favourite and one for the clubs; conventional and unconventional alike.Check! Check!...Classic pole stuff.Lol.
I GOT THE JUICE is as insane as it gets and THE TRILLEST has an excellent 'We made it this far against all odds' feel...In his words-'Shii I had to work for it, they talking about taking trains and taking planes, i put the work in and made a name'..Capped it off in some style as well.Millie had a lot to prove and he did it on 'em real bad.
Omeeka has his entire first name so ain't no doubting who the man is....even though Drake had to go say 'hit him with a pre-nup'.Loool.Memorable album.
Dbanj's FEELING A N***A was a really nice song.Like it a lot and also 50's GO LOW feat 2chainz, TI and Jeremih.Slim Thug stayed a bonafide OG through and through on his HUSTLER OF THE YEAR album and GET IT IN feat Beatking had me lit as F.
Then you had Dre's COMPTON soundtrack which deserved all the positive reviews it got.How the Doctor was able to do him and still stay 2015 will never cease to amaze me.Dre is day and night at the same time-timeless.He featured the right artistes and on the right songs.ANIMALS was my best of them all.
Ask me to tell you my best song of 2015 and I just might tell you Dave East's KD.Some cats don't really try to hard to show you their trap roots.Dave is certified trap.Copasetic Joint..from the lyrics to the beat and composition, it was simply flawless.The HATE ME NOW album was dope and hate him or love him, you just had to respect what he put together.

I will tag Maye Hunta's NAIJA BLOOD feat Eldee, Sinzu, Morell, Bils and Kelly Hansome my best naija rap collabo.
Waited for almost 6 years before I got what could go toe to toe with Choc Boiz's NOBODY TEST ME and lucky me didn't miss it when it came along.Every verse was tight.
I have only two songs by R&B artistes and they are Trey Songz's #FWYB (which is pop by the way..Vintage Trigga.Great song) and Justin Bieber's SORRY which technically is my only slow song for 2015.My player dudes just got another 'game' anthem; a JB formation.Lol.Love it to bits.
Flo Rida's WOBBLE is my joint best pop song of the year along with FWYB.Awesome stuff.
Fabolous remade the LL Cool J Classic-DOING IT WELL alongside Nicki Minaj and Trey Songz.I remember listening to the original non-stop on the cassette player as a kid..'She represent Queens and i was raised outta Brooklyn'.Made me fall in love with LL.
Fab retained the best part of the old beat and killed it cold-Murder one!!.Nicki did her thing and Trey brought his A-Game..It was Hiroshima on wax.
And to albums like Asap Rocky's A.L.L.A, Snoop's BUSH and Kendrick Lamar's TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY (Yea, you heard right) that chopped my barex and data,I say- God pass una.Lool.

THE ECONOMICS OF REWARDING THE GOLDEN EAGLETS

While I watched the victorious Golden Eaglets clinch the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, a part of me just couldn't wave the thought that it was coming at the worst possible time-Would the government be able to dole out rewards befitting their record-breaking exploits or cite 'harsh times'?.
On the day they will be celebrated and handed their gifts, it is going to go one of either ways; a session where they get overdosed on accolades and handed a hefty bounty or one where they are told it would be insulting to attempt to reward such a phenomenal feat monetarily and handed 'transport fares'.
Reports have been surfacing over the last week quoting an unnamed official of the sports ministry as saying that the Presidency has rejected a proposal to reward each of the young lads with the sum of N750,000 and that a fresh one recommending N150,000 has been submitted.With due regard to the present economic state, i still deem the first proposal ridiculous and the second unthinkable.
The country is facing without a doubt, the hardest time in its history. We are struggling to shed our old ostentatious lifestyle for a more prudent one and when I say the victory came at the wrong time for the golden eaglets, I also take into perspective the man at the very top. President Buhari has always been known to be frugal in nature and wouldn't necessarily climb mountains to reward sports heroes.In retrospect, perhaps the Skpe call to the team before the Final match was just to make them understand how appreciative he and the nation were of their heroics so they don't feel otherwise when we zip open the goody bag.If at all there is a time to miss the frivolity and carefree spending of the previous government, it is now.
A leader must know how to kill two birds with one stone. I can't say Obasanjo is the best president we have ever had, but he has my respect for that.Though he fought his enemies and whipped his sheep back into line with the EFCC, he will go down in history as a man who was tough on corruption.
If President Buhari had good advisers in his camp, they would tell him, he can kill more than one bird from this situation. First, with the attendant accolades that would accompany publicly urging his ministers, the representatives and senators to give up at least N500,000 of their monthly wages for rewarding our eaglets. Second, by reiterating in a subtle manner, the current state of our finances and what we should expect next year by so doing and then finally, by demonstrating just how competent a leader he is.
It is most insulting to the accomplishment of these young men to drag our feet over less than a million naira gift each while our leaders still pocket their fat wages.The most honorable thing to do is to part with a little to give honor to whom its due.Money realized from that can put N1.5 Million and the keys to a brand new Peugeot 406 in the hands of every member of the team and crew.Most of these 'kids' won't be going back to school except they are offered scholarships and there couldn't be a better incentive to make the most of their lives on the path they have chosen.
We have the most genuine footballing talents in the whole world as our record number of U-17 World Cup wins have shown. The talents only start to tail behind others when we can no longer cheat factors necessary for a healthy development-tips on diet and lifestyle, right training, right facilities, and the requisite coaching expertise.The least we can do is to encourage these teens since we don't have an enabling environment for their continous growth and development. 
The corporate bodies haven't been forthcoming either.One would have expected a lot from them considering that there are no longer in a position to do much promotion as a result of cash crunch. An August opportunity such as this is a marketing department's dream; an opportunity to advertise and do good PR by rewarding our schoolboy heroes for a lot less than they would have to cough out from a leaner purse over time.I expected the phone and electronic companies to hand out android phones, tablets or ipads in exploitation of the new craze for them.I am not a trained marketing expert and I would have to talk to one to find out if the government's body language and the reluctance of the companies to reward the eaglets are in anyway related.
Ultimately, i don't think anyone would fault them but the government cannot wriggle itself out of this from a holistic point of view.
Yes, these are very bad times for us but if ever there will be a time to reward World cup winners with anything less than a million, it has to be when we aren't paying lawmakers more than N10 million monthly and maintaining 9 presidential planes.

CAMERA PHONES, THE MILITARY AND US

The advent of the camera phone will go down as one of the best innovations of man in recent times.We caught the bug a bit late due to our placement at the 'last floor' of the globe but nonetheless, seeing it work first hand only heightened the thrill.From being excited over the ability to capture great moments on our phones, we stepped up to talking mega pixels and picture quality.
As we got used to these gadgets and their dosage of adrenaline, we have come to appreciate their usefulness much better.A countless number of crimes have been caught on camera phones and so have numerous acts or statements that would have been conveniently denied by those in a position to do those.
On a scale of pros and cons, it has made the world a better place. But as a Nigerian who loves his country from the heart, the camera phone could very well turn out to be the worst thing to have ever crossed into this country.As things stand, it has a great tendency to plunge us into situations we ultimately regret not nipping in the bud.As ridiculous as it sounds, this same gadget could be the reason why there is no longer us as an entity; especially if our Soldiers still capture their exploits on them and allow the images or videos sneak into other hands.
It was with great dismay that I viewed the sad images of a badly beaten Sheikh Ibrahim Elzakzaky, the Shiite Sect leader when he was arrested by the Military.He was bleeding badly from both sides of the face leaving the white vest underneath his shiite ceremonial attire badly soaked while his legs being held up by Military personnel.While it was hard to tell whether or not his eye was broken, it was very obvious he had being severely tortured.This came at a time Shiites were starting to stage protests in other places outside Zaria and had had 3 of its members killed in an ensuing shoot-out with the police after its refusal to call off  one.There couldn't be a more sensitive time. A time when Northerners and indeed Nigerians at large are worried about the probability of the Shiite situation escalating into another Boko haram war that still hasn't been won.
The Shiites have a far more superior followership scattered across the North and with an absolutely legitimate outlook very much unlike the Boko Haram.Elzakzaky has always been rumoured to receive financial backing from the Iranians and a lot of Shiite bodies worldwide.I doubt if there would still be a Northern Nigeria if we had a war with the Shiites to compound the ongoing one against Boko Haram.
I am fully aware of the challenges the Military has had to face in their effort to protect our territorial integrity over the years and I understand they have witnessed some of the most unpleasant times.But they have made some costly mistakes that could have been easily avoided and this tends to wipe out whatever sympathy we feel towards them.
After telling the world they had killed who they believed to be Abubakar Shekau; the Boko Haram leader some time back, a video surfaced of the killing of a man who a lot of people believed looked more a lookalike than the original before it was so confirmed. A soldier was heard ordering his subordinates to go and shoot him; a man who at that time posed no threat whatsoever. The real Shekau turned up on YouTube weeks later.They lost some more of whatever little trust Nigerians had in them and embarrassed a government, who had run out of lies to tell in foreign lands other than-'We are Capable'.
The Americans subsequently refused to sell us arms on grounds of human rights infringements by our Soldiers even after promising us all the help in the world in the search for the Chibok girls. Thanks to soldiers who go into battle with their camera phones  to record their exploits, we could no longer conveniently deny human rights violations on their part.
And not to forget good 'ol Camera phone arguably kick started the Boko Haram saga when overzealous policemen this time,thought it wise to record their gruesome execution of its former leader; Sheikh Muhammad Yusuf after eliciting a long narrative.Perhaps the sect might have found it hard to gain sympathizers at the onset if the story was different.
The authorities need to act fast before what otherwise is a huge technological leap turns a habitual catalyst for doom.It is most unprofessional on the part of Soldiers and law enforcement agents to allow sensitive materials leak into other hands at the worst possible times.The best move would be to rid them of the temptation to do such by outrightly banning them from taking photos or recording videos at battle scenes or anywhere of the sort.
The rules of engagement and all other rules or laws governing their  conduct in combat situations must incorporate such a measure and a stiff penalty for its violation.
We can't afford to keep overlooking such despicable negligence on the part of those who should appreciate more than anyone, the drastic consequences of their actions. 

AVOIDING A TREADMILL WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION

The Anti-Corruption war has gathered momentum and the will power of the government is most commendable.We have transited from probes that lead no where exactly.In other words, ones that die the 'Nigerian death' to ones that end with immediate prosecution of those found wanting. However, we must proceed from this point with extreme caution as the determination to see those who have looted us punished could turn out counter-productive if the requisite expertise is not applied in handling corruption cases.
If at the right time, we sit down to evaluate our performance in this war, we wouldn't only be counting convictions but also how much we let slip through our grasp.We must avoid a treadmill war against corruption,which in essence means running on the same spot.
The EFCC arraigned Chief Raymond Dokpesi on Tuesday 8th December 2015 on a 6 count charge bordering round the receipt of N2.1 Billion for media/publicity of the Presidential campaign of the PDP with Attahiru Bafarawa reportedly set to follow.While I am not disputing the fact that government funds may have been given to people like Dokpesi and Bafarawa, I am worried about the chances of securing convictions against them.One need not be a legal luminary to know you can hardly prove wrongdoing against a man who received money for unspecified purposes as there is no law requiring him to turn down monetary gifts or ascertain the accounts they emanated from before receiving.
Attahiru Bafarawa's son is alleged to have received money on his behalf for no stated reason.I'll try to depict my fears in the simplest of ways.His son,Sagir was sitting on his sofa at home watching a soccer game when he received an alert from his bank that he had been transferred N1.5 Billion.If the depositor's name doesn't read Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), then the EFCC has a lame case against him.It would be most difficult to prove any wrongdoing on his part.
It is important to note on the other hand that Chief Raymond Dokpesi allegedly entered into a contract with President Jonathan or the PDP and not the Federal Republic of Nigeria.Similarly, if the details of the transfer don't expressly state that payment into his First Bank Plc account was made with public funds then we have a problem.'Knowledge' or mens rea ( the mental element) is a key ingredient in the commission of a crime and by this I don't mean knowledge that what they were doing was wrong as ignorance of the law is no defence.
If it can't be proved that the Accused persons/suspects knew they received money from the ONSA, then we would be shooting at shadows.Without completely ruling it out, I find it a little too hard to believe (without full knowledge of the evidence against him), that a seasoned ex-serviceman like Col.Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) would transfer money from his office account to private individuals in commercial banks.Even not for anything but for the fact that he fully understands the drastic consequences of a leak in any of the banks.A scandal of that nature involving the NSA would be most embarrassing to the Government he represents.
As much as I would want to see every thief who has stolen from us pay for doing such, there are cases where it would be in our best interests to exploit other means outside the courtroom. Our most skilled interrogators must be deployed in cases where the EFCC wouldn't win in court in place of high price Senior Advocates of Nigeria.The right bluffs and 'Carrot-Stick' interrogation techniques could have suspects agreeing to return substantial parts if not all of their loot.
Though the EFCC clearly lacks the Power to plea bargain by virtue of Section 13 (2) of the EFCC Act, Section 14 (2) in the typically hilarious fashion in which some of our laws are drafted, allows them to compound (agree for a consideration not to prosecute) any offence punishable under the Act by accepting any sum of money as they deem fit exceeding the maximum amount to which that person would have been liable if he had been convicted of that offence.In as much as I agree that a lot of corrupt politicians and government officials have looted us dry and would want to see formidable cases built against them, there is a need to thread wisely and exploit other means where nothing we have on them will stick.
It would be most painful to watch our thieving leaders set free by the courts to go and enjoy their loot when we had a chance of recovering most of it.A treadmill war is as good as lost.

DASUKIGATE: WE HAVE OUR ONE DAY

Sometimes I feel the pathetic state we are in today would have deteriorated to most of the country surviving on food aid from good samaritans if Goodluck Jonathan had lasted another four years.It seems all the more a possibility with dwindling oil prices leaving our economy very exposed.Those of us who underestimated the effects of his stewardship needed Prof.Osinbajo's pre-inauguration debt figures to set our thoughts straight.
It is one thing to run a corrupt government and it is another to accumulate a huge pile of debt in so doing.It is killing the country so to speak.
Asides the activities of Allison Madueke as Petroleum Minister; the herdswoman of our cash cow, the other place one would naturally look into for corrupt practices would be anything tied to security. Trillions have been looted in the name of curbing the Boko Haram scurge and Yes,I would agree with Sambo Dasuki, Jonathan's National Security Adviser that a late onslaught proved fruitful but the money expended on the War (as investigations have shown) should have bought us much more than we got and in a much better time.Dasuki sat behind a desk in Abuja, made extra-budgetary withdrawals from the CBN,not only awarded bogus contracts but also gave out gifts to his friends and that of the government all in the name of fighting a war that has claimed the lives of many thousands of his countrymen and also rendered many more homeless. 
A breakdown of how this man withdrew and spent over N643 Billion of our money is crazy.More contracts to contractors who hadn't performed earlier contracts to a N4.6 Billion gift to Former Governor of Sokoto, Attahiru Bafarawa which was received by his son.Bafarawa has reportedly claimed the money was for 'spiritual purposes' and I can't wait to see if Dasuki will tell our courts he fought Boko Haram from the spiritual angle as well.Dasuki's father is a former Sultan of Sokoto so I wonder how Bafarawa, a politician, would be a better 'prayer warrior'.I take solace in the fact that somebody is serious about making Dasuki pay for his sins.
While every other person asides Dasuki, his accomplices in government, and 'contractors' could all get off via the 'We couldn't care less where the money came from' route, the principal actors seem to be between a rock and an even bigger one.
Jonathan has hung him out to dry by denying the authorization of any such withdrawals for the purchase of arms and though everyone knows it would take a magician of immense talents to take such funds out of the CBN without the knowledge of the President, so far one can only tie him to this on the 'team leader' moral clause.This scandal has effectively put all doubts to rest as to the extent of damage done by the GEJ administration which is unarguably the most corrupt and incompetent we have ever had.
The Former NSA's haul could have cleared the subsidy claims of petroleum marketers, fixed every bad road in the country, cleared the salary arrears of civil servants and improved the conditions of all teaching hospitals.This is if at all Dasuki felt spending all of it on what he claims he did wasn't necessary.$2.2 billion is roughly the budgets of 5 states.It is easy to understand why we are in the mess we are in today.
As a Nigerian who witnessed first hand the hardship we were subjected to in the twilight of the Jonathan administration, I must reiterate that I don't envy President Buhari one bit because it is twice as hard to get our feet firmly back on the ground with the drop in oil prices.
Its breaks my heart to think of the innocent lives lost to Boko Haram including the many soldiers who were 'sacrificed' and those punished one way or the other for refusing to fight with 'bare hands'.Dasukigate has vindicated a lot of people who believed the previous government lacked the will power to tackle the Boko Haram menace.It is obvious a lot of money was being made by those whose responsibility it was to do so and wiping out Boko Haram meant shutting down their 'Enterprise'.The Security of the Nation was the least of the Former NSA's worries.
Sambo Dasuki and everyone found complicit must be made to pay not only for conspiring to loot us dry but for the blatant disregard for the lives of their fellow countrymen.They have had their 99 days, now we as owners have our 1.

KANU AND UMAR: A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE

Management is doing things right,Leadership is doing the right things-Peter Drucker

Decisiveness is a trait all great leaders possess.President Buhari must create time to ponder and move fast on two issues that may appear light on the face but have the tendency to spiral out of control.First is Nnamdi Kanu's continued detention after being granted bail and second, the weighty allegations against Justice Danladi Umar; the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Few people remember today that Boko Haram floated into our consciousness only after an altercation with the police on the way to bury a dead member of theirs.I don't think anyone would need any expert analysis before conveniently citing about 3 stages where the threat could have been effectively exterminated.Having watched how the Yar'adua Government underestimated Boko Haram and President Jonathan admitting he did as well, the importance of caution in the Nnamdi Kanu saga cannot be overemphasized.
What started as some jester broadcasting from a shack in God-knows-where could very well end up in a war we could easily have avoided.While I would say I don't agree with the Magistrate Court's decision to grant bail, I fault the decision of the authorities to still keep him in custody.My disagreement with the court's ruling is premised on decisions like the one in DOKUBO-ASARI V FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA(2007) ALL FWLR (Pt.375) 588 where Justice Mohammed of the Supreme court held thus:

'Where National Security is threatened or there is the real likelihood of its being threatened, human rights or the individual rights of those responsible take second place...The corporate existence of Nigeria as a united, harmonious, indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation is certainly greater than any citizen's liberty or right. Once the security of this nation is in jeopardy and it survives in pieces rather than in peace, the individual's liberty or right may not even exist'.

Part of my reason for quoting from the Court's ruling in that case is to help highlight the magnitude of this situation.Our National Security was already being threatened when Kanu was preaching divisiveness and disharmony in his container and the President wasn't appointing Ibos prior to the release of his Ministerial list.We must thread with caution.
Continuing to detain a man who has been granted bail and refusing to produce him in court when required to do so appears to me to be deliberately inciting his followers and winning him more sympathizers.Last I checked there were 'Biafrans' from as far as Sweden soiling the image of the Federal Government in the name of Protests.In all honesty, the government cannot absolve itself of any blame.The protests staged in eastern states that have already resulted in casualties could escalate to killing non-ibos and trigger reprisal killings across the nation.
The President having witnessed the Civil war first hand,should know how precarious a situation this is and must atone for looking the other way as Commander-In-Chief by ordering his release or at least ensuring his attendance at the next court date.The consequences of Kanu's continued detention are a clear indicator of what could be lying ahead for us.We are still fighting Boko Haram 8 years later.A word is enough for the wise.
The Justice Danladi Umar situation, though of lesser magnitude in the scheme of things is also one that calls for concern.As Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal which has been in the news lately (thanks to the Saraki trial), it is no suprise that his past is under close scrutiny at this point in time.
The allegations have been pouring in from left, right and centre which I must say makes it understandable for the President to thread softly but it is also the more reason he should move fast.Who knows when somebody would hit another bull's eye?
Shots don't come cleaner than a letter by his fellow benchers at the CCT urging the Former President to investigate him as they find sitting with him on the same tribunal embarrassing following an alleged N10 Million bribe.The evidence against him can at best be described as circumstantial but it is enough to convict him in the Court of Public Opinion where judgment is based on facts only and there are no legal technicalities or burden of proof.
Allowing a man like that continue as Chairman of the CCT demeans President Buhari's anti-corruption stance.It contradicts all PMB stands for.
The President can be cut some slack on the ground that the petitions and allegations could have been orchestrated by corrupt Politicians to destabilize the War against Corruption but the evidence of dirty dealings are overwhelming.Perhaps the EFCC threw his PA under the bus because Jonathan later felt he needed people like Umar to safeguard the interests of his dirty cronies.Who knows what anyone else could dig up and when?
A lot of politicians are reportedly been lined up for prosecution in his tribunal and my fears are two if he is still in charge.Firstly, we don't know what a dirty politician or his allies could find out if they continue from where the digging stopped and Secondly,you know what they say about a thief-Beat him today and he would still dip his hand in the cookie jar tomorrow if its still there.
Umar is innocent until proven guilty but the merits of removing him from that seat far outweigh the demerits of doing so.
Fortunately, the Senate has beaten President Buhari to ordering a probe and if the verdict is damning, then he shouldn't hesitate to ease him out as it is his call to make subject to their ratification.And it would be most appropriate for the 'new' EFCC to conduct proper investigations that won't end where the line Umar used to communicate with the bribe-giver and claimed to have lost is to be subjected to a forensic test.
The Senators are doing what he should have ordered done a long time ago and whether or not, the probe is a revenge mission, it serves the best interests of the President and Nigerians at large even more than it does theirs.
The process of kicking Danladi Umar out should have been kick started by the President himself earlier and I hope to God he won't spurn the chance to do away with him if the Senators present him a chance in the name of fighting back.
A stitch in time saves nine.The time to act is now.

RE-BRANDING THE PDP:WHAT IT TRULY MEANS

A lot certainly has to change about the Peoples Democratic Party for it to pose a formidable opposition to the ruling APC and more importantly, seize back power from them.This much they appreciate and as such, convened a 're-branding' Conference to that effect on Thursday 12th November 2015.The party suffered from its worst leadership during the Goodluck Jonathan era that saw 7 of its Governors forming a faction along with some stalwarts with 5 of the Governors crossing over to the other side.
Blaming the Party Chairman before forcing him to resign and publicly accusing its NEC of sharing what was left of their Presidential campaign funds was how the PDP responded to its drubbing at the General Elections.It had a leader who seemed to be learning on the job.He had made his mistakes and they proved fatal.
There had been little to suggest the Party was actually serious about patching up its umbrella even merely hours to the re-branding conference with the committee Chairman,Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi apologizing to Nigerians for fielding Goodluck Jonathan in the March 28th polls in a very reckless move and that drew a quick counter from Mr Olisa Metuh emphasizing that Dokpesi was speaking for himself and nobody else.

The conference itself held with absentees as notable as Goodluck Jonathan, Namadi Sambo and David Mark.This may not be a problem but there would be one if the prominent members left Abuja without making some crucial decisions in any 'after-conference' meeting.Decisions that would ultimately portray it as truly re-branded.
Some of those decisions should include how to regulate the utterances of members especially key ones.
The Party is not loved by a majority of Nigerians and sounding petty and overzealous in criticism of the APC all in the name of playing the active opposition would do more harm than good.Ben Murray Bruce saying Fashola shouldn't use generators and recommending that Amaechi use public transport is most ridiculous.If only Olisa Metuh would concentrate more on the many constructive criticisms available and not trivialise a moment as glorious as an U-17 World Cup triumph by talking 'APC and de-marketing'.The PDP has done a lot of damage in the last 6 years that would take a lot of time to fix so i don't think finding things to criticize the barely 6 month old government for without coming across as being petty should be too difficult.
Portraying the party as serious-minded and business-like starts with regulating public utterances.Who knows?.A lot of people might just start to forget the bad governance meted out to us in the past and make recourse to the absence of the notable absentees at the conference as having purged its helm of bad elements. 
Secondly, the Party must draw up a list of all the states, political climates and capabilities of their present leaders.They stand a good chance of winning quite a number of states that aren't theirs if they put in the right type of work ahead of time.Not a few governors are now hated for their inability to pay salaries before the bailout by the new government.Whether or not it is to be blamed on the mentality of the average Nigerian is a topic for another day.Take for instance, Kwara State.The Senate President was stoned at an Eid Prayer Ground not only because he is alleged to have looted them dry but also because Civil Servants were being owed about 7 months Salaries.The governor is seen as Saraki's 'Yes Man' and whoever they present next would be a hard sell.
With the withered influence of 'Jagaban', any of the APC South West states can be captured.Even Lagos I dare say.
If after 4years, Ambode isn't spectacular, then a formidable PDP candidate like Jimi Agbaje may just clinch it.It would take another Rochas to win again in Imo and there are quite a number of northern states that have governors who look like they will sleep for most their tenure.
An overdose of early preparation doesn't kill.The ideal new look PDP would look to empower the media/publicity teams of its State chapters to ensure grievances against the incumbent governments are heard as loud as possible so as to whip up the right sentiments.This aspect is key to resurrecting the party.Staging legitimate and peaceful protests could also prove useful.
The Party seriously needs to consider a new approach as regards membership.With a leaner purse to work with,targeting a lot of money bags and convincing them to stand for elections might turn out to be very productive.Many Ayo Fayose style 'Rice Campaigns' could just do the magic.It is most (Un)fortunate that this wasn't deployed during the last General Elections.
The PDP needs the north badly and much won't change if a lot of work isn't put into changing the status quo.Preying on the APC's weaknesses,exposing them and capitalizing on the 'bandwagon' mentality of the northern electorate is what it takes.The right buzz in the weak spots would have a lot of people jumping ship.Like I always tell people; no one reason can be adduced for the sudden volte face for Sen.Kwankwaso before the 2011 Kano guber elections other than a hausa song urging him to return.
These are probably the worst times the PDP has had to face since inception.Only time will tell if re-branding meant gathering its people in one room or actually changing how things are done.

36 MINISTERS AND THE FAILED THEORY OF CUTTING COSTS

A lot of Nigerians wouldn't have believed anyone who told them President Buhari would end up appointing 36 Ministers after he was sworn-in on May 28th 2015.Nigeria was being run at an outrageously high cost and his man message on every pulpit he stood to preach was 'Change'.His then Vice-President Elect gave astonishing figures of how neck deep in debt we were and PMB himself not only promised to cut costs but appeared to be fully acquainted with the need to do so when he said the 2015 budget was 90% recurrent expenditure and 10% Capital expenditure.
To state it analogically, a man who spends almost all his money on day to day living expenses isn't on the right path because he has little left to better his life.
In an article I wrote before we ushered in Mr President titled CUTTING THE COST OF GOVERNANCE which can be read here-http://umarfarukhassan.blogspot.com/2015/04/cutting-cost-of-governance.html, I advised against appointing Minister of States if indeed we are worried about costs.To say i am disappointed is only stating the obvious as there wouldn't be 36 appointees if we didn't still leave room for 'deputy Ministers'.Quite frankly, even before things got this bad, I never saw any need for them.
The same Constitution which provides for an indigene from each state to be appointed Minister also empowers the President in Section 147 (1) to establish such offices of Ministers he deems fit.If you apply the right rule of legal interpretation, that supercedes the 'Every State' proviso to Section 147 (3).
Contrary to a widely held belief, Mr President isn't obligated to have 36 Ministers in one fell swoop.There is no better 'deputy Minister' than the Permanent Secretary.He, in conjunction with his Directors are enough to provide all the assistance a Minister could posssibly need.Believe it or not, the monies alloted to Ministers of State as part of our 'recurrent expenditure' over a 4 year period is enough to fund a tangible project worth remembering any government for.
There has been a lot of talk about diversifying our economy as the President himself has said the 2016 budget will be geared towards that.But only few realize you need money to open other doors.To have a second means of livelihood means to invest towards that.We just can't get into agriculture or any other source of income and expect to be major players overnight.We need to develop and have enough to survive on till it becomes a viable second means.And we can't do this if we are struggling to pay salaries and ward off petroleum marketers.Please note that these salaries are not that of the Senators, Governors or the President but that of Civil Servants.The recommendations of the committee set up by the Senate to review its entitlements looks set to die the 'nigerian death'; gradually being ushered out of our consciousness and you wouldn't argue much if the President said he was helpless over that but he definitely isn't when it comes to the Ministers.
I had already started to dream of a Nigeria that would cut its coat according to its cloth before the lists of Ministers were submitted to the Senate and I envisioned us without a Women Affairs Ministry as all it does can be delegated to others.A Nigeria without a Niger-Delta Ministry that has clearly outlived its usefulness.I thought we would no longer laugh at the joke called the Special Duties Ministry and its sister in 'Beautiful Nonsensicality'; the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.We might as well create a Ministry of Civil Defence affairs if anyone thinks its wise to still maintain the Police Affairs Ministry.
Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying they aren't in anyway useful, all I am saying is that their functions can be properly carried out without them being in place.For someone who has always had that belief, retaining them in times like these appears very ridiculous.Well, they are likely going to still be around for a long time from the look of things and without any alteration to their structure if we are going to have ministers and deputies.
With both sets of lawmakers still commanding way more than N10 million a month, the President has shot down all hopes of a drastic reduction in the cost of governance by appointing this many Ministers as all other measures would only amount to emptying a river with a cup.

MINISTERIAL LIST:THE FALLACY OF A NEW SCHOOL

President Olusegun Obasanjo might not be the best leader we have ever had.Maybe not even among the top 3 but one thing I love about the 'OBJ Brand' is the intrigue surrounding it.He is among the elite few we can allow to get away with anything because of his immense Star Power.We listen whenever he speaks.From elaborate tales of how he bettered our economy with impressive figures without a commensurate improvement in the lives of Nigerians to ones of President Jonathan training snipers.He never ceases to amaze me.
When a man has entered old age, there are two sets of words he speaks-Ones you let go down the drain and Ones you should never forget.OBJ spoke words for the archives when he said years ago that the younger generation had failed us too.He went on to mention the names of some leaders under the age of 50 who served under him with nothing to show for it except EFCC Cases in Court.I was keen on reactions to President Buhari's Ministerial list and the most ridiculous of all were ones criticizing it for having too many recycled faces and less new blood.What is 'Change' with these same faces forming the Government?
While one may agree with those who feel that Femi Adesina, the Presidential Special Adviser on Media should have left his defense at competent faces and not proceed to give us 'Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense' lectures (Apologies to the Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti) about the difference between chronological age and mental age, I agree with the crux of his submission-Competence over Age.
The average nigerian in his quest for a better nation has been blinded to some harsh realities.Anyone who hasn't served in any previous government automatically appeals to him.Tell him the person is not even in his Mid-Fifties and he will cut you short with stories of the most recent young leaders in the world and how that person is best suited for any job.But that does not in anyway guarantee a new way of doing things.
It is imperative we look at the bottom.The many Youth bodies around these days are set up for one goal-Visiting and Collecting stipends from politicians to share among themselves in an era where every Nigerian Senator can afford to empower 10 youths every month with N500,000 to better their lives.That would be a better goal.The young politician is thinking of selling his support to the highest bidder or aligning with the Kingmaker no matter how corrupt during elections.Gone are the days  you would wake up to screams of 'Greatest Nigerian Students' and watch NANS demonstrate over a bad governmental policy.We seem to really think too highly of the Young Nigerian. 
The majority of the biggest thieves in recent times are young leaders whom we expected nothing short of astuteness,dynamism and a better understanding of how things should work from at the beginning. But the manner in which they looted and flaunted it makes you want to wish for the 'Seniors' who seem more honourable in the art of stealing.Lucky Igbinedion employed house helps from the Philippines and seemed to want to own every property he loved,Saminu Turaki robbed Jigawa State blind and Ibori owned a private jet and Bentley in Office.We have seen what Bukola Saraki can do and Our immediate past new blood and highly educated President oversaw what is arguably the most corrupt Nigerian Government ever.Those are some of the Young Leaders who have served us and though there are exceptions, I don't think anyone can categorically say the majority of those who have shone bright belong to the new school.
'Change' to me is a better life for Nigerians and not new faces in Government.A deep dig into the careers of some of the known faces in PMB's ministerial list would reveal some very impressive details.Govs Amaechi, Ngige and Fashola all served their people well and as far as petitions go, any bitter rival can file them.The man at the top is what really matters to me and he hasn't disappointed me so far.He will co-ordinate and oversee the affairs of the Ministers and drop who necessary.The focus should be on the credibility and integrity of those listed to be Ministers and not hating them outright for being old faces.Only in the Super Eagles do you need to replace tired legs with fresher and hungrier ones.
We must abide by the 3 Cs in selecting leaders-Competence,Credibility,Capability.Nothing more. 

WHEN THE CONSTITUTIONAL THING DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT

The Nigerian Senate is statutorily obligated to confirm nominees intended to be appointed Ministers  by the President and for the first time in our history, a Senate has insisted on screening a President who has appointed himself Minister of Petroleum (President Obasanjo did as well).Sen. Bukola Saraki has played the 'victim' role perfectly well and has succeeded in making his colleagues believe they are standing up to witch hunt and intimidation as far as the Presidency is concerned.They'll win because I don't see anyway around the Provision of Section 147 (2) of the Constitution which encompasses every ministerial nomination or 'appointment' made by the President because the President appointed himself.You can't blame a man for doing the right thing but you can love him for foregoing it for a greater good.
It would be most degrading to the office of the President to have him stand before people who set out just to prove they could have him there.I hate to imagine what he could be subjected to on National TV just because someone sees it as a chance to throw back some punches and win a round.Well, maybe it is indeed a fight.
But even if one sees it from that perspective,it is a fight between good and evil.The President's first sin was not interfering in the Senate Presidency tussle like a true democrat should.Second would be promising to work with anybody as long as they weren't corrupt and third, convening a meeting to help mediate between winners of the Party's NASS leadership primaries and aggrieved factions.Lastly, punishing a corrupt Senate President who abstained from the settlement meeting with his cohorts to stage a 'coup' of an election.Evil in this case is subjective-The Constitutional thing or The right thing?.Pick a Side.
The Senate has come out to say everyone will be subjected to proper screening and that the days of 'Take a bow and Leave' Ministerial screenings are over.Well, it could mean they are starting to do their job well but it could also mean they are creating a perfect atmosphere to prey on their victims.You get a feeling this could be the most dramatic Senate Screening ever and even if all nominees are eventually cleared, they would leave there wondering if questions could get any more obnoxious.
That is what the President of the Federal Republic could go through in addition to perhaps singing the National Anthem and reciting the ABC.All because someone has their one shot and they have to make it count.
Ordinarily, PMB is of the 'Take a bow and leave' category not just because he is President but also because he served the country meritoriously well when he held the portfolio in question and also made huge strides in the Oil sector as Head of State.Strides that include building refineries, establishing about 20 depots and laying more than 3,000 pipelines to connect them.You couldn't wish for a better person to man the affairs of the Ministry.Least of all,now when it is at its worst.He has earned every iota of the respect he commands.The Senate President could very well end up in jail for a long time and it wouldn't be out of place for him to seize every opportunity to vent his frustration on the President.The Senate have every right to insist on screening the President as our Constitution says but is it right in these circumstances?.I don't think so.

DON'T STONE SARAKI, RECALL HIM!

'Vox Populi Vox Dei' (The Voice of the people is the Voice of God)-Archbishop of Canterbury,Walter Reynolds (1327)

The truth is Bukola Saraki's tenure as Senate President was always going to be an unpleasant one.The man and his cohorts abstained from a meeting convened by President Buhari, conducted an 'emergency' election and made their party look like clowns performing on a monday morning.The President ended up not attending while the lawmakers who did ended up watching the NASS elections on TV.It was a comedy that just wasn't funny.
The Modus, no one could say but we all knew Saraki had a bull's eye on him from that moment onwards.He is not a man with an exceptional pedigree as far as governance is concerned and most nigerians' first reaction when a bully cracks the whip via allegations of corruption against such elements is- "Na God Catch Them".
To make it easier to hate Saraki, the late patriarch of his family and the man to whom he owes his political career,infamously ran the family bank to the ground in an epic bid to oust an incumbent Governor and have him installed in his place.Naturally, the only people guaranteed to be in his corner are the political class and not the average nigerian on the streets still rejoicing over the effects of an improved power and fuel supply on his finances.One who can now afford slightly better clothes for his wife and kids.
One who when he wasn't certain of the same today tomorrow, is been told Saraki was busy declaring assets he was hoping to get and his wife mistook the Kwara State treasury for the defunct family bank where monies could be withdrawn and spent on anything.
While we were waiting to see how Saraki would be roped into his wife's investigation at the EFCC,things took a rather interesting turn when he was hit with a 13 Count Charge all bordering round shady declaration of assets and arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Like I love to say, every nigerian politician is guilty until proven innocent and if they choose to use our anti-graft bodies to wage war against one another, then we are the better for it.Our leaders loot us dry and neglect the little things capable of deflecting attention from their booty sharing.It doesn't really need an extraordinary effort to make Nigeria work.This much has been proven by President Buhari in just less than 6 months in office on a budget that isn't his and is almost entirely recurrent expenditure based.
The Senate just passed a vote of confidence on Saraki with 84 Senators in support and though the CCT seems likely to nail him on at least a few of the Charges, it is pertinent to note that we are now at the mercy of Saraki's colleagues (for the time being at least) and most,quite frankly are not in the sad position he is now because they didn't get a chance to be where he was or because the searchlight hasn't been beamed on their previous dealings with us.
Nigerians rarely seize the windows our laws provide to drive home our grievances.What is the essence of the countless twitter hash tags if the support garnered isn't put to the best use?.Do we start purposeless social media campaigns only to enjoy the 'activist' feel accruing from it and then wait for the next one to evolve so we can grab our 'high'?.If as much effort is put into mobilizing his constituency to initiate a 'Recall Bukola Saraki' campaign as is being put into talking all the talk, we just might kick him out of the Senate and not just its Presidency.This would pass a strong message to all lawmakers that we would no longer be at the mercy of their 'ayes' and 'nays'.
The Saraki family is no longer the darling of Kwarans and Kwara is no longer 'Saraki Plc' where anybody other than them was just a mere shareholder.This much we can tell by the disgrace meted out to the Senate President at the eid prayer ground on Sallah day where he was pelted with stones. A lot has changed since the late scion of the dynasty got pushed back by his heir in what can best be described as a modern day Shakespearian tragedy. The person who ended up demystifing the 'Oloye' of Kwara politics was none other than his son and you know what they say about crowning a new king in the lifetime of another. The traditionalists would have a field day talking about how the chickens have come home to roost. One thing is certain -Saraki isn't a loved man there.
The Nigerian Constitution clearly spells out the procedure for a recall of a member of the National Assembly in Section 110.A petition signed by more than one-half of the persons registered to vote in that member's constituency alleging their loss of confidence in that member must be presented to INEC which then proceeds to verify the signatures and conduct a referendum within 90 days of the date of receipt of such petition and if it is approved by a simple majority of registered voters in the member's constituency, then the member ceases to be a member of the NASS.
Would a 'Recall Bukola Saraki' campaign succeed? It should if properly executed.
An individual getting pelted with stones and sachets of pure water on a festive day at a prayer ground speaks volumes of the rage and dislike people have for him.Giving them a legitimate medium of expressing such emotions should be an easy task.
Our destiny as a people should be ours to shape whenever it is in our hands.

HATE PRESIDENT BUHARI OR LOVE HIM, HE IS MAKING NIGERIA WORK AGAIN.

When former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was asked what he had been able to achieve in his first 6 months as President during a Presidential Media Chat, he said those months were for 'Laying the Foundation'.There and then I knew we were in trouble.
Whatever skyscrapper he had plans of building would last a lifetime if Nigerians hadn't witnessed any huge stride in about 180 days.He ended up leaving the nation far worse than he met it.
In the first 100 days of a Nigerian Presidency, there are usually 2 sets of voices.Those singing the praises of the President with a 'Rome wasn't built in a Day' chorus and those reminding us just how much impact could be made in that time.Both have an almost equal chance of swaying anyone with their arguments.So when every genuine well-wisher of Nigeria; ones totally devoid of negative sentiments have cause to applaud the performance of a President in roughly 4 months,it sure is a champagne moment.
President Buhari has performed exceptionally well if you are viewing from the right lens and not one tainted with political,ethnic or religious bias.
I for one have vehemently criticized his lopsided appointments and regrettable utterances in the US promising to treat those who voted for him better than those who didn't so I can conveniently say,at the risk of sounding immodest,that my lens couldn't be more clearer.
He may have his flaws but they don't seem to have taken his eyes off the prize-delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
The most valid yardstick for assessing my assertion would be simply put-the state he met the nation and the state it is in today.He met the nation in what was unarguably its most terrible state in recent times.Power Stations were shutting down as a result of scarcity of petroleum products with banks and GSM companies at their heels and the average man on the streets was buying fuel for as much as N300 per litre.Today, there are no queues at filling stations and nigerians are celebrating a most remarkable improvement in power supply.I ask people who argue for the need to let some more time pass before reaching a conclusion based on reports doubting its sustainability and attributing it to raised water levels as a result of heavy rains if we lacked rains during the previous administrations that squandered trillions of our money in the name of improving power supply?.The fact that won't change is that we are witnessing perhaps the best power supply in recent times and this progression kicked off in just under 1 month of PMB's assumption of office as President.
We now have a President truly determined to fight corruption.One who understands focus shouldn't be on the EFCC alone but the judiciary as well to ensure the courts dispense justice speedily.
If you take into consideration the fact that the nation was as pathetic as the President saying before he was sworn-in, that he needed up to October to make any meaningful impact (just to be on the safe side perhaps),he deserves plaudits for what he has done in barely 4 months.I believe in the Buhari Government and what it is building unlike when the 'foundation' laid seemed to exist only in the sub-conscious of our former president after 6 months in office.
It is a good thing for the opposition to be restricted to the barest of constructive criticisms.This means that things are moving just as they should.They have come out to say the President hasn't laid down a viable plan for the economy forgetting that no positive economic transformation can take place without the basics-steady power and fuel supply which are been immaculately addressed and also insecurity which is a little more complicated but has been commendably contained to say the least considering our capabilities viz-a-viz what we are up against-bombers ready to die with their victims.If ever we lack weapons to fight the insurgents, I expect to hear from the defence chiefs themselves who are more or less actively involved in the war and not just dishing out orders from an air-conditioned office somewhere in Abuja as was the case.
While I may not say the President isn't late in appointing his Ministers,I ask-Can anyone effectively get around excuses that go thus: time needed to study the 800 page Ahmed Joda Committee report and streamlining it with plans to cut down the cost of governance by reducing ministries and agencies and time needed by the new SSS boss to purge the outfit of bad elements before embarking on proper screening of nominees?.While holding firm to our opinions,it is also important we keep our minds open and not argue blindly.As a lawyer and minister in the temple of justice,I watch people go scotfree for wrongs I strongly believe they committed because the law places a certain burden of proof on me and whoever I represent.What is sometimes isn't just what is.
A successful war against corrupt government officials is one in which they are not only prosecuted and jailed but also dispossessed of cash and assets they looted.Though one can't fully assess the war till the outcome of most probes are made public and we see how thorough prosecution is when the courts are back from vacation, preliminary steps taken have been quite convincing.This administration has gotten the US to commit itself to helping it retrieve stolen funds and one wouldn't doubt the potential of the union to yield fruits if US officials can categorically state that an unnamed former minister of ours stole as much as $6 billion even before the war has fully gathered momentum.
I respect the fact that PMB means different things to different people.Some parties have even refused to hang his portrait on their walls which reminds me of what President Obasanjo once said-"If I am doing what is best for Nigeria and you feel taking my portrait off the wall and smashing it would make you happy, then please do so".
You may call him an ethnic bigot or any of the sad things you deem him to be and have people nod to your reasons for doing so but in your heart of hearts and indeed every Nigerian's heart, he is making Nigeria work again.That we cannot deny.