Tuesday, 6 June 2017

MY TOP 10 AFRO-POP SONGS OF ALL TIME

1.Maga don pay-Kelly Hansome

2.Shayo-Durella / Back in the days-Sound Sultan feat Lambo

3.Little Money-9ice

4.Oko Ashewo-Eedris Abdulkareem / Successful-Runtown

5.E dey pain me-Black face

6.Dats whots up-Wande Coal

7.Bugatti-Hakym The Dream / Dance for me-Wizkid

8.Dem Mama-Timaya

9.Dami duro-Davido / Pretete-OJB Jezreel

10.Tuwon Shinkafa-Runtown / Dance For Me-Eugy feat Mr Eazi

Bonus Tracks

I Think I Like Am-VIP

Give It to Me-Dprince feat Dbanj

Booty Call-Mo Hits Crew

Go Low-Wande Coal

Monday, 5 June 2017

MY TOP 10 NAIJA HIP HOP SONGS OF ALL TIME

1.Nobody test me-Jesse Jagz feat MI and Ice Prince

2.Sanboribo (Yebariba)-Sauce Kid

3.African Rapper Number 1-MI feat Flavour

4.Talking To You (Ruggedman diss)-Mode 9 feat Banky W

5.Idi Nla-Dagrin and Lala / Segarin Kano-Eedris Abdulkareem / Fast Money-2shotz feat Ay.com

6.Thank God-Dagrin feat Omawunmi / I'm Leaving-eLdee tha don

7.Sitting On Top-Naeto C / Carry am Go-2shotz

8.Bullion Van-MI feat Phyno and Runtown / Man Of The Year-Phyno

9.Respect Me-eLdee tha don / Been There Done That-eLdee tha don

10.TKG Freestyle-Phenom/NAIJA BLOOD-Maye Hunta feat eLdee,Sinzu,Kelly Hansome,Morell & Bils

ALTERNATE SONGS

I'm Hot freestyle-MI

BalaBala-Ikechukwu feat Wizboyy

Damn!!-2shotz feat Funbi

Ashewo-Phenom feat Reminisce

Exit Strategy (Godwon diss)-Sauce Kid


Thursday, 1 June 2017

MY TOP 10 HIP HOP SONGS OF ALL TIME

1. Like Dat Dhere-Heavy D

2. Got Beef-The Eastsidaz

3. Whoa!!-Black Rob

4. Thug Angels-Wyclef Jean

5. Jigga dat Nigga-Jay Z / This is why I'm hot-MIMS / Do It Like Me-Young Buck

6. Cluck Cluck-The Product G&B feat Wyclef Jean / Hello-Ice Cube feat Dr Dre & Mc Ren / Beautiful-Eminem

7. Back dat Azz Up-Juvenile feat Lil Wayne and Mannie Fresh / React-Eric Sermon

8. Hotel-Cassidy feat R.Kelly/Mirror-Lil Wayne feat Bruno Mars / No Matter What They Say-Lil Kim

9. Momma Got A**-Juvenile / Over-Drake / Grown and Sexy-Chamillionaire / Let Me In-Young Buck

10. St.Louis N***as-Chingy feat Gena & Huey / Reggaeton Latino-Don Omar feat Fat Joe, NORE & LDA 


Bonus Tracks

Lay Low-Snoop Dogg feat Dr Dre,Master P and Nate Dogg

Kinda Like A Big Deal-Clipse feat Kanye West

Together-Busta Rhymes feat Rah Digga

Lean Back-Fat Joe feat Remy Ma (Terror Squad)

Mad Fo Remix-Ludacris feat Meek Mill,Chris Brown,Swizz Beatz & Pusha T

Monday, 29 May 2017

BUHARI: A 2 YEAR JOURNEY TO NOWHERE

Its half way through the Buhari Presidency and its performance can best be captured in these words of Prof. Charles Soludo : "They inherited a bad situation but they have made it several times worse".

At the start of President Buhari's reign in office, he made diversification of the economy a priority and agriculture seemed destined for a major boost.But the thing is,every government from 1999 had promised us that and where it was impossible to defend their failure with fictitious figures , they have resorted to taking the only out-"diversification won't happen overnight, its a gradual process".While other administrations may have had the luxury of not being under any pressure due to the steady influx of petro-dollars,Buhari's was a peculiar case as he was not only coming in at a time when oil prices had taken a massive hit,he was doing so at a time majority of Nigerians felt they had voted out the PDP for a man of integrity and honour who would restore back lost glory.

So far,we have not seen a '911' approach to agriculture.A lot of people expected the government to identify key produce and work assiduously towards upheaving their production. Sadly, the government seems to have identified just one and that is rice.While agreeing local rice will reduce our dependence on foreign rice and consequently boost the economy,emphasis must be placed on more exportable produce as well if indeed agriculture is to become an alternate means of income.A critical look at the international players in the rice market will reveal we aren't going to be close any time soon even at thrice the  rate we are moving and it would be better if we focus on a lot more.Even with a tiny scope of focus,it amazes at how the government has still managed to underwhelm as far as 'rice' is concerned.It has failed to keep its promise of making the country fully rice sufficient by 2016 and its promise of food suffiency by 2019 appears unrealistic as well.Its decision to ban rice importation through the land borders was greeted by heavy criticisms that have proved justified.It was too early in the rice 'project' as was proven by the recent decision to lift the ban and it sickens to know that many suffering Nigerians didn't have to have their problems compounded by that ban.

The transport minister,Rotimi Amaechi commended the previous administration for embarking on a number of meaningful projects and I wonder if at this rate,anyone in the next administration would do same to Buhari's.On paper it has sang its praises for devoting record funds to capital expenditure but that is where it has stayed; On paper.Nigerians are yet to see an effective utilization of those funds as this government can hardly point to any tangible achievement befitting its allocation for capital expenditure.

A lot of people scored Buhari high on security this time last but I didn't think he deserved it.The herdsmen killings and pipeline bombings wiped away whatever points he had accrued from seriously depleting the capabilities of Boko Haram to wreck havoc.Quite interestingly, he has truly excelled in this regard over the past year but with only a lot fewer people to sing his praises.A lot more nigerians are starting to become too frustrated by other aspects to notice the very few positives.One of the biggest accomplishments of the Buhari administration so far is being able to get the Niger-Delta militants, particularly the Niger Delta Avengers to cease attacking oil installations.The question wasn't whether the government would win the war,it was whether we would have any installation left by the time it eventually did.Having to worry about a virtual half production level at a time when oil isn't too lucrative is the worst problem we could possibly have.

Nonetheless it is worthy of note that Nigerians have had to hear many excuses on why power supply has not improved, chief among them,the vandalization of oil installations.Our installations have been safe for about 5months now and that is ample time for any serious-minded government to fix whatever may have been affected and improve the deplorable state of power supply.Sadly,that has not been the case.

The Fulani herdsmen have been contained to a large extent by our security agencies as there have been a lesser rate of attacks compared to last year.The President's proclamation of a Boko Haram defeat is erroneous and misleading as a lot more needs to be done in checking the insurgents.The  University of Maiduguri has been attacked thrice in this year alone and it speaks ill of our security agencies.Three hits on the same location obviously means something isn't done right.

Contrary to what many may think,the Buhari administration hasn't waged a particularly decent war on corruption.There have been glaring loopholes.It still baffles me to no end that the EFCC would go about seizing Patience Jonathan's properties without prosecuting her for any of the offences they feel she may have committed. She has not as much as even been invited for a chat.About 9 months ago,the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau acknowledged receipt of a list of Nigerians named in the #PanamaPapers scandal where shell companies were incorporated for the purpose of evading tax.While a number of nations have secured high profile convictions, nothing has been done here.Not a few think the probe into the Paris Club Funds will tow that path as well as our authorities seem unenthusiastic in their approach.The Senate President is reported to have been implicated alongside his deputy chief of staff in a letter the EFCC wrote the Presidency but mum has been the word.

In a very ridiculous move,the Presidency asked the Attorney-General of the Federation to probe the now suspended Secretary of the Government of the Federation,David Babachir Lawal and embattled EFCC boss,Ibrahim Magu over allegations of corruption.The AGF is a trained prosecutor and not an investigator.The evidence against both was very compelling and it appeared more a bid to sweep the cases under the carpet than anything else.Though the Presidency later did the right thing as far as the SGF was concerned by setting up a committee including the National Security Adviser, the sincerity of the anti-corruption war was compromised.

The Presidency as of today, is still insisting on having Magu as EFCC Chairman despite a damaging report by the DSS indicting him.

It must also be said that over the past year,a part of President Buhari many people never knew existed came to the fore.The man's utter disregard for the exploits of our sportsmen has been shocking.After the embarrassment our Olympic athletes were put through by having to appear in their tracksuits at the opening ceremony of the 2016 olympics because the sports ministry had not made their costumes available and the record breaking outing of their paralympic counterparts, President Buhari didn't as much as host them upon return,talk more reward them.

More heart breaking was the plight of the national female football team,the Super Falcons.They had to beg and ultimately protest before they were paid their entitlements after winning the 2016 African Women Nations cup.When the Sports Minister,Solomon Dalung said no money was kept for the falcons because they weren't expected to win,you had an idea just how lost and overwhelmed the Buhari administration was.The President didn't attempt to mitigate the damage by having the Sports minister sacked, he just went about things like it didn't matter.At the very least,each of these heroes deserved national merit awards and a dinner with the President for what they were able to achieve.

Two years is enough to know what course a government has charted and the Buhari administration has so far appeared to be on a journey to nowhere.

Thursday, 25 May 2017

WHOSE INTERESTS COME FIRST, THE PEOPLE OF KANO OR SANUSI AND HIS POWERFUL FRIENDS?

I had just one fear regarding Sanusi Lamido Sanusi's suitability for the Kano Emirship when I was supporting his candidature for the exalted seat and that fear has proven justified.He simply cannot transit from a suit and tie 'do good' advocate to the royal father of one of Nigeria's most historic states.Certain extraordinarily high standards are expected of such men.They are not to be seen criticizing other leaders in public before at the very least, a botched attempt at advising them in private. If at all they must speak on governance,they are expected to urge government to explore more productive policies instead of criticizing existing ones.Their status in a few words can best be captured in this hyperbolic statement-"Other mortals may bleed red but royals bleed blue". 

He has attacked the Buhari government at every opportunity, delved into sensitive religious issues and sent his daughter to represent him at a public function.He not only had her do that, he sang her praises in a video message introducing her for once slapping a boy that had disrespected her.That was just about how much anyone could stomach and when the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption commission decided to probe alleged misappropriation of funds by the Emir, many lauded the state government for acting in line with good conscience. As far as moat in the ancient city were concerned,it didn't matter what he was been accused of,what mattered was someone somewhere recognized the fact that the sanctity of the throne was being violated and that there was a need to act fast.

No one bated an eyelid when the State house of assembly took over the probe of Sanusi as the common perception was that it was in a better position to look into the non-financial aspect of the investigation which more or less happen to form the reason for his travails.In addition to embezzlement of funds,he was being accused of tarnishing the image of the Emirate by having his daughter represent him at a public function and repeatedly attacking President Buhari in a manner unbecoming of the custodian of his seat.

To my utter dismay,the house in a session on Monday,suspended the probe of the Emir based on a letter written it by the Kano state Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje requesting that the probe be halted in the best interest of peace as some prominent nigerians had interceded on Sanusi's behalf.Particularly shocking was the shamelessness involved in the disgusting acts of both the governor and the house.The Sanusi inquiry was going to stop not because he had been cleared or had publicly apologized to his people but because he had some very influential friends and no one even bothered to keep that secret.Their names were reeled out.Whose interest would peace suit most if he stayed on as Emir,the people of Kano who stood a high chance of being incited by their Emir's false claim that the Governor and members of the house spent one month in China wasting taxpayers money or by his disrespect for the Emirate by having his daughter represent him at a function instead of any ranking official?. The City's reverence for culture is legendary and as it is,the Governor is lucky to have had no revolt against the 'unEmirly' Emir.A lot of people still feel it would have been better for Sanusi to urge his fellow Muslims to delve into polygamy only when they can cope with its rigours than to outrightly suggest the government makes laws determining who should and should not marry more than one wife.Religion is quite a sensitive issue down north and an emir neglecting caution in that regard is a recipe for disaster.

I am highly disappointed in the Kano state governor for willing to discard Sanusi's probe just because some influential people begged him to.What he has made categorically clear is that the wishes of Ag.President Osinbajo,Abdulsalami Abubakar,IBB and Aliko Dangote and a few others override the best interests of his people.It doesn't matter whether anyone has embezzled funds or whether the throne is being dragged to disrepute, as long as they have powerful friends,it will all go away.Sad

Sunday, 30 April 2017

MAKING A HERO OF KANU

President Buhari breathed legitimacy into every agitation for secession in the South East and South South regions of Nigeria when he promised to favour those who voted him en masse ahead of those that didn't shortly after assuming office.There couldn't be a better justification than the President pledging to make them 2nd class citizens in violation of their Constitutional right to freedom of association and from being discriminated against.

The strong will of the majority of the people of both regions to remain a part of this nation especially the South East,which seemed to have waited forever to get its first non-ministerial appointment must be commended.

When Nnamdi Kanu,the arrowhead of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) was arrested at a hotel in Lagos about 2 years ago,no one would have ever thought he would step out of Kuje Prisons on bail in the manner he did.He has gone from whom many thought a semi-lunatic spewing what even a lucid him wouldn't make any sense of on radio to a man that has had people like Prof.Charles Soludo,Pat Utomi,Peter Obi,the entire South-East governors and virtually every human rights activist call for his release.Ayo Fayose was in court on the day his bail application was being ruled on and he was dressed in red to show solidarity.The Buhari administration made a hero out of a villain.

At every point it kept denying him freedom after being granted bail from the magistrate court where he was first arraigned to the subsequent orders for same by other courts,it had more people rooting for him.For an addendum, his followers were massacred in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for doing nothing other than celebrating Donald Trump's inauguration as U.S President.

This administration by its flagrant disregard for the rule of law, has swapped places with its adversaries in the fight between good and evil.A lot of people are starting to forget this man started a radio station with the sole aim of disuniting this nation.He distorted facts and used highly unsavory words in propagating his message of a Biafra nation.What people now see is a man oppressed by the Buhari regime and one that deserves some sympathy for his travails.What we now see is a man who is starting to garner more support from his people as his 'oppressed' status has pumped an air of righteousness into his struggle.

A lot of us have been calling on the government for the last 2 years to put a halt to its human right violations and abide by the dictates of the laws governing us because of the possible far-reaching consequences.

I took up this matter with the National Bar Association President in person and even suggested lawyers go as far as boycotting courts until court orders are obeyed.It amounts to double standard for a government to claim the judiciary is uncooperative in its bid to sanitize the system when it doesn't obey the courts lay down.

The negative implications are starting to manifest and I sincerely hope they don't spiral out of control.

With Kanu decked in the caparison of the oppressed, everything seems to be attracting sympathy to his plight and even the worst PR specialist will tell you how crucial a role sympathy can play in moulding public opinion.And in this case where the man wants to disunite Nigeria,that is most undesirable.

The stringent conditions attached to his bail last week by Justice Binta Nyako only made matters worse as it only sprang up conspiracy theories of the government interfering to ensure he stays under lock and key.That a man granted bail for the purpose of seeking proper medical care would be required to produce a jewish high priest, 'someone as highly placed' as a Senator and someone who owns a property in Abuja as sureties to deposit N100M each is ridiculous.It is despicably sad that the conditions didn't reflect the dire need to allow him go and look after his health and if not for the compassion the authorities had managed to spring up on his behalf,the man could quite easily have been still locked up in his ill state.

Word is the South East Caucus of the Senate met in a bid to help perfect his bail conditions and that tells you the extent to which Kanu's popularity has soared.He has come a long way from someone whose cause didn't seem likely to spread any farther than the container his radio station was transmitting from to having the system justify that cause with its excrescences.The villain has become a hero.

Thursday, 20 April 2017

HAVE THE JONATHANS BEEN GRANTED IMMUNITY?

The decision by the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating allegations of corruption and breach of due process in the sale of the OPL 245 oil field more popularly referred to as the Malabu Scandal,to consider inviting Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to answer questions on the role he played in the saga elicited joyous reactions from a lot of Nigerians.The status quo which suggests Mr and Mrs Jonathan have no case to answer with the authorities despite been mentioned in a couple of investigations is totally unacceptable.The Buhari administration has shamelessly looked the other way on the occasions the Jonathans' name have come up.

Revelations after Dame Patience Jonathan filed an application through her lawyers to have a freezing order on her account with Skye bank overturned showed the EFCC knew or ought to know at the time it arrested persons associated with the account, that she had the ATM card for the said account and had been withdrawing money from it since 2010.These facts were ascertainable at the most preliminary stage of investigations and it was obvious the EFCC had deliberately skipped her.The woman had been overlooked and saved possible jail time and humiliation but it was nothing to be grateful about.

The audacious public claim of ownership prompted many to think her and her husband had Buhari by the balls and were not scared of squeezing hard if need be.Moreso when the EFCC as a face-saving measure, began to seize her assets without ever inviting her to answer any questions talk more prosecute her.Facts available to the anti-graft agencies were enough to necessitate the seizure of her properties but not enough to warrant prosecution. How rational does that sound?.

During investigations into the $2.1 billion arms deal,the former National Security Adviser,Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) said every payment he made was authorized by ex-President Jonathan and Doyin Okupe,a media aide of the former President said his former boss approved the sum he received.No questions were asked of GEJ, we just went about our lives like it was no big deal.There has been a nauseating disinterestedness and incuriousness on the part of our anti-graft bodies towards the Jonathans whenever a significant need to look into their activities has risen.

President Buhari promised to prosecute any one found culpable of embezzling money including those who return their loot and even though he has chewed back those words, if such a will ever truly existed and even if the Jonathans were among the exceptions, then he ought not to have condoned Patience Jonathan's arrogance in overlooking the 'favour' done to her because of the need to send a strong message to those who think they can take for granted,the benevolent gestures of his government.

He should have still held on to the funds returned (if any) and gone ahead to prosecute her.Everything adds up to the fact that the Jonathans,who ran the most corrupt government this country has ever seen seem to be enjoying a special immunity sanctioned from the highest of places.

Even after the promise by the House of Reps committee Chairman,Hon.Razak Atunwa to look into summoning President Jonathan to clarify his part in the lingering Malabu scandal where a Russian middleman,Ednan Agaev who helped negotiate the transfer of OPL 245 to SHELL and ENI by the FG, told the FBI and Italian prosecutors that Jonathan may have gotten as much as a $200 million bribe, a disturbing report emerged hinting that the committee has succumbed to pressure mounted on it by 'concerned' Nigerians to dispense with his attendance and accept a written submission instead because of the negative implications inviting him could have on the polity.Though it has stayed a rumour, it serves as a perfect illustration of the lengths to which GEJ and those covering his backside can go to thwart the only genuine effort made at looking into his dealings as leader of the most corrupt government we have ever had.

President Buhari's emergence in 2015 was more down to Jonathan's inadequacies than the belief majority of Nigerians had in a 72 year old's abilities to turn things around.If there was any consolation, it was his stance on corruption.A lot of people didn't really believe every indigent Nigerian would get N5,000 monthly or that the naira would rise to equal the dollar as was promised by the APC.Fighting corruption sounded the most realistic of their targets and it was the one a lot of Nigerians eagerly looked forward to but so far, the war hasn't been as straight as expected and it is really sad that the leader of the most vicious gang of pen and paper bandits ever known to us seems to have been shielded.