KIVOrg

I have most respectfully read views across sections and camps as the divide of government and opposition determines. I will however choose to respond to leaders in the government quarters of the moment. This is to say that my response is more in addressing the position held by the supporters of the present government in Imo State. Many of them have argued especially that upon the dwindling economic fortunes of Nigeria, it has become practically impossible to to pay the salaries of Civil Servants and pensions to pensioners. For them, the FAAC share of Imo State has made it unrealistic and impracticable. In reply to the above avowals of the sympathizers of Imo State government of the day and, by extension, all debtor governments like Imo State, I say this; I think it is by this very clear as to why we fail in government here in Nigeria and, perhaps Africa. We see leadership only and exclusively from the perspective and prisms of power and its grabbing. For this reason we ...

I wish to begin this piece by thanking the anonymous writer who woke my mind and tickled my attention to this area of our nation and national life and history. The unnamed author was able to make a thought provoking outline of Nigeria and her economy in the 1980s. And the following is largely from that writer though with modifications being mine. The writer began by asking us not to be surprised to know that Nigeria was by far better in the 80s than today. According to the writer, in 1980 the key metric are as follows: 1) we are a net exporter of refined petroleum products. Today we import all our refined petroleum products. 2) We ride in locally assembled cars, buses and trucks. Peugeot cars in Kaduna and Volkswagen cars in Lagos. Leyland in Ibadan and ANAMCO in Enugu produce our buses and trucks. Steyr at Bauchi producing our Agricultural tractors. And it is not just Assembly, we were producing many of the components. Vono products in Lagos producing the seats. Exide ...

Art by Ugonna Ibeji  Greed and laziness are the two main enhancers of crimes, poverty and being cheated. This is the current problem that threatens the future of our society today and indirectly endangering the development of our youths who are the future and hope of tomorrow. This is also found, even more dangerously, in our political class. One may be asking how greed and laziness are killing the future, destroying the youths and threatening development in our society. They enhance crimes by making one to want what he or she does not deserve. This inevitably leads to crime of all kinds. It also makes them to assume that those who have succeeded in the past were merely lucky and never put in anything. They also make people lack self worth and reduces self esteem. And when these happen, human dignity will quickly start to diminish. The greedy and lazy do not want to take a stand because they do not want to offend anyone even if they are wrong. They do not speak the truth....

KEMKA S. IBEJI  When a man is called a warrior, he is expected to have fought and won some wars or even one. When someone is called a leader, he should at least or would have had a group of people he has taken from one point to the other. But whenever you want to be called a human being, though it does not come by want, you must have rationality which enables you to make choice and stand responsible for such choice made. This makes one a human being. In the presence of alternatives, you have rationality to consider and choose from available options and thereafter stand responsible for the choice (good or bad). We also have to understand that responsibility is dualistic by which it encompasses good and bad, praise and blame, commendation and condemnation. So when we talk about being responsible for your choice, it means being ready to receive both praise and blame for your action. Most times our politicians are ready and willing to get only the praise and avoid the blame; that ...

KEMKA S. IBEJI  Some weeks ago, the social media was awash with a writeup with headline - Why Niger-Deltans do not want to be part of Biafra. In less than 48 hours, a disclaimer was seen also flying about on the same social media saying that the author which the writeup claimed has disowned both the writing and the writer. In this case, it is only reasonable to assert that the fine piece is a fake news - it was not written by the former president Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. I may not want to grapple with whether it is fake or not since we do not, for now, understand what makes a writeup fake or real - whether the author or the content. While I understand that those who have declared that writing as fake have based their judgement on the falsehood of the claim of authorship, we will agree to that extent. I however will disagree with them when they wish or agitate that we see it as trash. I therefore will prefer to take the message therein and forget about the messenger since, ...

KEMKA S. IBEJI  Our matter was today, the 5th of June, 2020 dismissed at the Court 5 of the Federal High Court in Abuja on the grounds that it was a pre-election Matter and that 180 days has caught up with us. According to the Federal High Court, the case has become time barred and the court has lost jurisdiction over the matter. For us, this expected as it is the usual game of Nigerian political parties. This is nevertheless seen by our team as a miscarriage of justice orchestrated by laziness by the court who failed to critically look into the matter on its merit. Our team is however hopeful and believe in the judiciary of our country. We are resolute as ever to ensure that justice is done, not only for our leader and Thinker - KEMKA S. IBEJI, but for the entire country especially the youth who will want to go into leadership. The old and retiring generation of politicians have seen party politics as a gap to frustrate political, social and economic development in Nigeri...

Spl. Snr. Ap. Jamike Ibeji  Like the breeze we feel Life is nothing to hold on When you think you have it It strikes venomous to leave The toiling, the hustles The bustling and cravings They're all wishful and no more Vain as null are all I see Those who make peace die Those who wage wars die Those who save life die Those who murder also die Who's friend is death? Who do I ask this thirsty question? You gave life and hope You lifted minds with peace You made homes gain love You made worship a fun Your life was never idle You were an example A star that pierced the dark Woe unto death It's at peace with griefs Woe unto death It laughs when crying louds But where does death live? What's her nature? A thing, being or nothing? Her movement is blind It hits as it goes It doesn't matter where you sit or stand Hello Power! Can you still hear your name? Gentleman of peace Lover of so many Meek and wondrous Those who hate you don...

Please fellow compatriots and especially the professionals in the house, can any organized institution run without a budget? Is it right for any institution to make expenses or appropriations beyond and outside the budget of such such institution? How do we explain expenditure beyond the budget of an organisation, institution or government in a fiscal year? Now why do I ask these questions above and why it is important that I get your answers to them? The Federal Government of Nigeria keeps making annual budgets which are turned into law by the processes of the legislature. These budgets have their sources of funding with benchmarks especially from the Crude Oil which is, as we are made to believe, the major source of funds for the country. Most of the time, these benchmarks are overshot and we have excesses. Whenever there is downward shift in the price of the Crude Oil, the budget will be rebased. Yes! But in recent times as in many years of our experience, we have not h...

KEMKA S. IBEJI  You know I have grown with the pains of the experiences of our fathers, mothers, forefathers and maybe those who can be called now, our ancestors. These pains mostly were so irrational to be suffered by any human from any of his or her kind except from beasts, barbarians and cannibals. Most of the pictures of these times are gory and most of all very stupid. Dehumanising as they are to the sufferers, it is much more to their oppressors. Whenever I glance through some of those pictures, the scorn they raise in me develops so high and mighty that it quickly stifles jestful inclinations. It most hurriedly gets me mad and sore angered. Yes! They inflict beyond foolishness every iota of hate and anything worse. I may tear up my Bibles one day and perhaps encourage the Muslim folks to do same the Quran! Who are these idiots who came into our lands, destroyed our places of worth, values and worship stand therein all manner of mundane and immoral matter?...

Part 1 Friday June 5, 1998, was a cool bright day. Before we left the Villa, the Press Corps was informed that the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, Yasser Arafat, would be making a brief stop-over at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, enroute Morocco. And he was expected to hold a brief discussion with the General Sani Abacha. We were therefore expected to be at the airport to cover the event on Sunday, June 7. It was a topical assignment in view of Nigeria's neutral position in the Middle East conflict. Besides, the rest of us were keen to meet Mr. Arafat, the man at the centre of the storm. That Sunday morning, the Press Corps headed for the airport to await the arrival of Yasser Arafat. We did not have to wait for too long before the Palestinian leader arrived, accompanied by a very modest delegation. President Arafat and General Abacha immediately went into private discussion at the VIP lounge of the Presidential wing of the airport. The Pre...

Your power is amazing How you deal is still a mystery Your strength is a wonder How silent and so charming You refresh the past Bring it to life You wake the dead Bringing it to near life You win distances Doing that without a sound You've not been at the fronts Doing it though at ease Yeah! Even pains and angst Unforgiveness; you help Yes! When you play wrong Unending experiences You're good and ungood Respecting love and hate You carry joy and pains Relish and repugnant Time is nothing When you come to work Tilling all grounds into fertility Weary worthy and hungered In classrooms, you're prayed At wrongs, you're unwanted In merriment, you're a bride At all times, you've two sides For your sake, we hope Without you, we despair Furthermore, we shall keep you Wittingly, for good or bad By KEMKA S. IBEJI When thinking about memory; how it works and performs for both good and bad. 

Possess me oh spirit of wisdom Take over the streams of my blood Make thyself my garments and my cover Overshadow the thoughts in me Be turned into all the words of my mouth And be situate on my tongue Interpret the sights into my being And empress in my heart the real See through my eyes and listen from my ears Abide in me that I have no other time without thee That I may build a nation of peace In the times of woes & wars A house for the uncommon wonders to ponder upon That I may rise even among Kings of reckoning unblemished Turn my heart into your tool to brew without end Order my feet and Guide my steps along the roads Even in the wilderness of knowledge Be the grass around me Nourish my being and beingness Let me be that oasis of you Within the strongest deserts Above all, Grant me thy power of language That I may tell clear Even to the understanding of the fool The awe of innocence And the charm of most difficult foolhardiness. Bear me acr...

Stars are known by their acts and spectra Greatness is surely of birth and being The heavens are full of showers in armies Just as the earth bows in utter veneration Let the sky be lifted and its charms glow And the earth blaze in sweet fires To melt heart together Get the fabrics and horizons Even of life trembling Shake the foundations of human stay Even let them be in awe It is all about the reality One that burdens even the wisest Remarkable as this day in your life More remarkable it becomes Today I ought to make a vow Such which follows life along pathways Spending life in two and above one in singleness Alas! It's not our fate Your birth gladdens my heart It granted that noble help I celebrate you nilly willy I celebrate this day as particular The blessing you have been is lifted Founded further with light and life NMA-DI-OGO!!! 'Twas with an immeasurable LOVE I wish you a wondrous living memorial That we gather in tens of years to come...

KEMKA S. IBEJI  Our enemies came then Yes, they're here again! Our masters in our land You know them maybe I think  They came with valour Matching down sacred places They placed their God(s) therein Matched us to pray by force. Yes! They came with pretence Of friends who traded goods They talked sweet with wares Oh! That wasn't their goal. They brought us down But we received them with love They gave us nothing but took all Believing such as exchange? They either killed to come in Or they cheated to stay They're our enemies from then  All around again they're coming Their colours don't matter What they do identify them Don't take their gifts anymore What else'll you learn? We're their betters Only a fool begs his inferior When it's not for forgiveness Or did we offend anyone Our enemies are here again Lurking with gifts at hands Luring to gift away our goods Our goods a...