2016 EUROVISION: Continued Vilification of the Russian Bear.

by Eze Eluchie,

The pettiness of the West in its relationship with Russia is getting quite worrisome, particularly when it is realized that Bears have a tendency to strike back when pushed to the wall.

From the maligning of FIFA over its choice of Moscow as host of the FIFA World Cup (under the guise of probe into corruption in FIFA, a FIFA which has corruption embedded in its ethos and creed since its inception), to aggressive efforts at rubbishing the gains of preventing the ouster of Syrian President Al Assad by extremist Islamist groups and now rewarding a song which makes reference to sordid events in Russia’s history with its Tatar ethnic group with the Eurovision Song contest prize for 2016, there appears to be a deliberate effort to provoke some sort of reaction from the Russian Bear that was near-mortally wounded by the collapse of the Soviet Union.

At a period when the world is facing perennial threats from extremist terrorist groups when unity of purpose amongst global powers is vital to ensure victory against forces who wish to impose retrogression on the world, it is unnecessary, bothering on being foolhardy, to continually seek to provoke an entity that ought to be an ally or in the very least a partner in eliminating extremists terrorists.

It is not unlikely that if the current posture to discredit, embarrass and vilify Russia continues, internal forces therein will opt for a backlash, that may be deemed disproportionate by some, against the several unfriendly acts. Such backlash will certainly not be in sync with efforts at defeating Islamist terrorism and sustaining global peace and harmony.

It is hoped that soon enough commonsense will prevail.

Picture: EUROVISION 2016 logo

Nigeria’s Ruling Oligarchs and Extremist Islamist Jihadists

by Eze Eluchie,

Ibrahim Uwais, son of Justice Muhammadu Uwais, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, who had joined the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), was killed earlier today in a US airstrike on ISIS in Aleppo, Syria;

Umar Farrouk Abdulmutallab (“the underwear bomber”), son of Umaru Abdul Mutallab, a Nigeria Billionaire banker, is serving multiple life sentences for trying to blow up the Northwest Airlines Flight 253 enroute Detroit, Michigan from Amsterdam, The Netherlands on Christmas say, 2009;

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has severally posited his lifelong ambition and commitment to the implementation of Shari’a (Islamic jurisprudence and lifestyles) throughout Nigeria, and had warned the previous administration of President Jonathan that attacks against Boko Haram were attacks against northern interests;

Muslim Governors of Nigeria’s northern States have just okayed, in line with extremist Islamist philosophies, legislation effectively banning religious (Christian) preaching across northern Nigeria;

When one realizes the feudalistic nature of rulership in Nigeria's northern region and the reality that the scions of some of the rulers mentioned above, and their cohorts, have found themselves into the top echelon of administrative and political offices in Nigeria,, it is only natural to wonder how many of our 'top government' officials are sympathetic, or indeed closet members of extremist Islamist jihadist outfits.  

Routinely, hordes of Islamist extremists are encouraged and sponsored to stage public protests to express sympathy for extremist Islamist issues occurring in the Middle East or other areas far removed from Nigeria and the African continent;

Is the world missing any connections here between international extremist Islamist jihadists and the ruling oligarchs in Nigeria?

Yes! The international community appears to be playing the ostrich and at times unknowingly and surreptitiously supporting a hydra-headed monster that is bound to visit ill-will on all.

Is there anything that can be done to forestall repeating the carnage caused in the Middle East by extremist Islamist ideologies in the African continent generally, and West Africa in particular?

Certainly Yes! Containment and neutralization of oligarchs who feast on the pains and blood of their subjects has never been a problem to a determined international community.

Picture: Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Uwais; and Billionaire banker, Umaru Mutallab.

Destroying Cash - As Kenya Burns Raw US$30+ Million

by Eze Eluchie,

Did the Republic of Kenya really, as in practically and truthfully, burn US$30 Million worth of Ivory?

Good gosh!! What must have come over the system?

The Elephants were already dead! Why not convert the Ivory to Cash and channel the proceeds of such auction to other areas where the monies realized can be put to some good use for the population – perhaps to even training more personnel for the ‘Conservation Industry’, to enhance the public health sector or even pay more teachers salaries.

This folly is akin to what  goes on in my country, good old Nigeria, when the Customs Border services seizes contraband foodstuffs (Rice, Cooking Oil and so on) and rather than redistribute these items {which are in edible and good condition}, they prefer to destroy the seized foodstuffs in huge and wasteful bonfires, further desecrating the environment. This happens in our clime where several thousand’s go to bed on empty stomachs unsure where the next meal will come from and the thought processes of our rulers are twisted after years of aggravated malnutrition during their infant and childhood years.

Some may proffer some arguments to try and justify the folly of Kenya’s decision to burn Ivory, all such arguments amount to bunkum! Burning cash in a poverty stricken neighborhood or any neighborhood for that matter, simply defies logic!

If an earlier bonfire of 12-tonnes of Elephant tusks in July 1989 by former Kenyan President, Daniel Arap Moi, did not serve to stem the practice, what makes the present regime think that burning 150metric tons (as they did today) or a 1000 metric tons will make any difference?   

Will this act of folly stop poaching of Elephants for their tusks? No! Will more Elephants have to be killed to augment the demand for Ivory following the destruction of so many of Ivory? Probably yes!

Then what really was the rationale for this act - an act which is unfortunately replicated, in one form or the other, across Sub Sahara African countries and other territories which allow themselves to be swayed by nuances of some over exuberant activists.

After this wasteful bonfire, I would not be surprised if the Kenyan Government approaches some international financial institutions seeking for a US$20 Million loan facility.  My suggested response to any such request for financial assistance for any territory that engages in burning cash is better not printed here...

Picture: The 105 metric tons of seized ivory (Elephant tusk) burnt in Kenya earlier today.