*whatever*

I feel inclined to write, hopefully, this short piece of art, that’s how I choose o view my writings, to prove to no one in particular that I can still do it whenever I please.

The topic on which I should write then becomes a little bit contentious. Oh and that is not because there is nothing to write about... You cannot live in a society such as ours, Nigerian if you are international observer (chuckles), and not have at least four things or the other to preoccupy your thoughts enough to fill vast pages of books. And though I often try not to be bothered with the technicalities, o yes, of living day to day in such an environment, the practicality of such thinking is far more onerous than imagined.

So why don’t I just write on something that is not so relevant to my existence… But looking at it I bet I will only end up talking about issues that plague our country. Well let’s talk football, soccer if you want to be ‘tush’

Why did we have to drop out in such an unfashionable manner whilst Ghana will go on to win the 2009 championship? Why would we field players above twenty in a tourney for under twenties? Why would the jerseys of our players have just numbers and the names be omitted? Why should we continue to mouth-of as a ‘footballing’ nation when all we can do, at the very best, is drop out in the second round? Really, I’m beginning to sense that I’m embarking on a torturous journey that would only reveal more and more the depravity in our society. And that is a trip I choose not to take. So you can if you so wish, try and unravel the ‘JAMB’ questions and if you do find an answer that is justifiable, I’m willing to listen if, and only if, your answers have sufficient clarifications and do not have the tendency to lean towards the ‘Nigerian’ factor. I know enough about that to not want to hear it being said too much any more.

As I watched the Ghanaian boys put up a very impressive game against the Brazilian boys, and I thought they really looked under 20 compared to our boys (sorry men!) that were fielded who, sincerely speaking could not have been any day short of thirty, I was really hoping that the shift of focus from Nigeria is not being totally completed by the showing of the Mensah boys. First it was the discovery of oil and their plans to ensure that the likely scenario of our Niger-Delta does not ever happen, then the elections that took place in such an orderly manner such that the 1st black president and the number 1 president, if I am allowed to be so brazen, would bypass the most populous black nation and the number one country in Africa (only in the minds of some tired Nigerians) and stop for 24 hours in Ghana.

And now these nicely branded, well dressed boys doing the unthinkinable.

Of course it would be impertinent to think that they just arrived here. That would be just what those in the ruling class would want us to believe: To forget that some years ago Nigeria was the place of refuge for those who fled this same Ghana when their economy was ‘trash’; to forget that it was the critical decision of the ruling class in that country to make a change that began the rise to fame of that nation... That the collective oneness of the country as kept them going only stronger whilst we grow weaker due to our laissez-faire attitude in putting our foot down and nipping the wrong in the bud, and I’m not just thinking Boko Haram or the Niger-Delta rebellion. That is going too far!

Let’s just start where they make the laws or probably if you think that an ambitious project, start in the rock house - Aso Rock.

All the talk of fight against corruption has remained just that - talk. Talk, however, is very cheap. And the effect of corruption has crept into the one source of unity this country knows, soccer. I’m not even going to allow myself to be tempted by the thought to go on and speak or write about the influence of corruption. If you can’t see it – guess what? You are living in denial. And that is none of my business.

Like I said earlier all I wanted to do was write and I have written. And now here, I rest my case.