DAY BREAKS

Day breaks a thousand times
Before it breaks
When your mind is on a foxtrot
And stars glimmer and blip
In your head
As you twist and turn
In your bed.

Day breaks a thousand times
Before it breaks
When you search for love
But blizzards clip
Your wings in flight
And you sink
Beneath the night.

Day breaks a thousand times
Before it breaks
When lost and forlorn you lay;
Tripped. Exhausted. Unwanted.
And sleep eludes your eyes
And bubbles of tears
Trigger your prayers:
Oh God!! I wish I could find --
TRUE LOVE.

Written by Victor O. Sawyerr  12/09/2017

AND BUHARI TOUCHES THE PULSE OF NIGERIANS

           " Here on the pulse of this new day,

             You may have the courage to look up and out,

             And upon me ,

            The Rock,

            The River,

            The Tree,

            Your Country.

             No less to Midas than the Mendicant,

             No less to you now than the mastodon then

             Here, on the pulse of this new day,

             You may have the Grace to look up and out,

             And into your sister's eyes,

             And into your brother's face,

             Your Country,

             And say simply,

             Very Simply,

              With hope-- Good Morning!

                                          -------- Maya Angelou

                    (Award Winning African American Poet)

There on the Pulse of that fine day in 1993  award winning African American Poet Maya Angelou read this Poem to the world at the inauguration of Bill Clinton as America's  42nd President,  vocalizing the hope of Americans that the Clinton administration would bring freshness into governance.  

And on the pulse of another fine day,11th September, 2015, here in the business hub of Africa, Africa's most populous Nation,  the collective pulse of all Nigerians was touched by President Muhammadu Buhari for the first time since his inauguration as he allocated portfolios to his Ministers.  Although many felt disappointed by the " THE LIST" of ministers from the Executive, the allocation of portfolios evoked a different set of emotions altogether.

In much of Surulere, Lagos many were fixated on their TV sets  watching with rapt attention as President Buhari inaugurated his Ministers. Then he began allocating Ministries  to each and there was silence --- until he called out : Babatunde Raji Fashola, Minister of Works, Power and Housing -- and cheers erupted. People started clapping -- it was as if Nigerians were watching their under-seventeen National soccer team,  the Golden Eaglets score a winning goal in a FIFA world cup final. It was simply a spontaneous outburst of joy -- the first re-kindling of  hope that seemed to almost have been lost many a months ago. Two other names that drew some sort of applause also were Rotimi Amaechi (Former Rivers State Governor) named Minister of Transport and Kayode Fayemi (Former Ekiti State Governor ) named Minister of Solid Minerals.

For many with Fashola as Minister of works there is hope that at least some of this government's programmes will touch the lives of the masses in a positive way; there is hope that the many abandoned Federal Road Projects all over the country will be swiftly dealt with; there is hope that the national monster called Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) will be swiftly and comprehensively dealt with once and for all ; there is hope that the National housing policy will really and truly be available to all Nigerians, not just those fortunate to have 'godfathers' in high places.

And maybe we can re-echo Maya Angelou's words: "On the pulse of this new day, we did have the grace to look up and out, into our sister's eyes, and  our brother's face, our Country-- Nigeria, and say simply, very  simply, with hope-- Good Morning! 

                                        Victor O. Sawyerr

                                         12/11/2015

MUSIC AFRICA BEACH SPLASH 2015

MUSIC AFRICA REVS UP TO ROCK LASGIDI AGAIN

As the 'ember' months kick in and work accelerates to a frantic pace for all of us, somewhere at the back of our minds we are already planning for the yuletide -- strategizing on what would be the best way to catch some fun with friends and family.
For Music lovers all over the world, beach parties , indoor and outdoor music shows are the 'in-thing' and for Nigerians, Music Africa is already on a high-drive, pulling all the stops, to rock them once again at the Music Africa Beach Splash .
David Nwachukwu is the project Manager, Music Africa Beach Splash.

DAVID: In 2014, our first show, the theme was "Enjoy the Music". Music Africa simply wanted people to come out and have fun in a safe, secure outdoor environment. Something they had not enjoyed for close to 2 decades now in Lagos. We will keep the 2015 theme close to our chest for now until the full campaign kicks off soon but I promise you , this year's Music Africa beach Splash will rock like no other event has in a long, long while.

Will MABS 2015 be full of the same old, same old ?

DAVID: Here's the thing, In 2014 we gave our audience the likes of OritsheFemi, Jaywon, Malaika, LKT and many other show stoppers, but this year's show is going to be a once in a lifetime show : Think Ghanaian acts, think Tanzanian musicians, and a few other African countries plus a lot of your own home boys: Think Tu-Face, Vector, OritsheFemi, Olamide and a lot of others and comedians too, all on one platform. Tell you something, Music Africa Television has always prided itself in being Afro centric so we have decided to bring the African Music community to Nigeria, show them our beautiful country and generally have fun together.

That's a lot of different personalities to keep on one platform...

DAVID: Of course, but the show will be hosted by personalities that are guaranteed to keep the oil in the groove. It will be a mix and match no one can afford to miss.

Now that you mention it why does Music Africa integrate so many Fresh Artistes into its programmes and shows?

   DAVID: Music Africa has always taken pride in developing artistes. How can we sustain the tempo that the entertainment industry has today, if we do not support fresh artistes? The entertainment industry in the country today is contributing hugely to the country's GDP and it is responsible for the reduction of non-graduate youth unemployment. This infact is the thrust of my boss's passion, the MD of Music Africa, Philip Trimnell.
  He says to me all the time: "David we have to give some of these fresh acts opportunity. That's all some of them need -- opportunity."
  And that's why you see them a lot on our shows and our programmes. We know that if we do not provide a platform for some of these talents they will just fizzle out. So we give them that platform to showcase their talent -- to perform alongside the established Stars and learn a few things from them. We give to them their 15 Minutes of fame and hope they will yearn for more.

 Tell us about the Venue:

  DAVID: Before I say anything about the venue let me say this -- The Miiusic Africa Beach Splash caters to the family. We plan it in such a way that you can come out with your whole family and enjoy the show, have fun and stay as late as you can afford to without worrying about security, or where to buy food and drinks or long drive back home?

The Chaka Beach resorts is a secure and safe environment. It offers a beautiful landscape view and a serene atmosphere, and If at the end of a long, exhilarating day you decide you want to give your family a 5-star treatment in a first class facility, the hotel gives a decent discount for the yuletide season. If on the other hand you decide you simply want to laze on the beach, it costs you nothing. You are secured.

CHAKA  BEACH RESORTS -- AERIAL VIEW

CHAKA HOTEL SWIMMINF POOL VIEW (NIGHT SHOT) 

So why should anyone partner with you on bringing on a show like this ?

DAVID: Think about this: Music Africa Television alone commands a proven 6 Million Viewers on a daily basis ,
  and an approximate daily cumulative followership of 20,000 on facebook, twitter, Instagram and the Music Africa Online TV.

We have strong media partners , Silverbird Television, Trace Urban Television, and several Radio Stations. If you partner with the Music Africa Beach Splash, you have a choice of these platforms to showcase your products. But I tell you this, nothing beats branding the venue with your products: Not only will you have the attention of the audience, but every time snippets of the show is aired you're likely to get an infinite mileage. Trust me people are more receptive during the festive period, and we provide the platform that would give your product the mileage you'd love for it to get.
Thank you David.
  DAVID: Thank you. It's been great talking to you. Make sure you come party with us at the Music Africa Beach Splash 2015. Don't miss it , or you'll miss out.

               

A VIEW FROM MY WINDOW : PITTING THE VP AGAINST THE PRESIDENT

                                    "A war of attrition destroys the morale of soldiers"

A VIEW FROM MY WINDOW : NIGERIA IN FOCUS:

PITTING THE VP AGAINST THE PRESIDENT: Is History about to repeat itself?

The National Assembly inauguration on June 9th 2015, which saw the emergence of House leaders who are not the preferred candidates of either the ruling APC Party or the President, has provided enough cheese for us to nibble at, for weeks on end.

Political intrigues and an increasingly bold, vibrant Media constantly 'attriting' , constantly searching, and posting on all media forms, make for a really interesting first term in office, on President Buhari's second coming.
Early as it is in the life of this regime, the political meteorologist's report is already showing that thunder storms may be gathering in the clouds not too far ahead of us :

The scenario? President Buhari has twice excluded Vice President Osinbajo from crucial security meeting with security chiefs, where matters of State , critical to the operations against Boko Haram are discussed.
The Problem? Watchers of politics in the country, political commentators and the media are beginning to insinuate that there must be some underlying trust issues between the President and his Vice when it comes to Security. Others believe that the VP has a right to be in those meetings and that being excluded was a way of limiting his rights as a VP. The matter has become another talking point and before long either the President or his Vice will be forced to address it.

For those of us however, who are intrigued by the power play between Presidents and Vice Presidents across Africa, this is yet another drama in the making. Some, as a matter of fact, really do believe it's just a matter of time before history repeats itself leaving us with a Vice President estranged from the Presidency. How it pans out in the long run may just depend on what point the trio of loyalty, common sense and selflessness come to intersect with each other .

But while this drama continues to play out internally within the Party confines, and externally, in the media and public space there is need to search out for precedents, and seek out the legality or otherwise of the President's action.
Nigeria operates a democratic system patterned along the American style of democracy, and although today, America's Vice President seems to wield considerable power as well, this was not always the case.
 Infact John Adams , Vice President , 1789 to 1798 had this to say about his office :

         "The office of the Vice President, is the most insignificant office ever the               invention of man contrived, or his imagination conceived"

It was only since after the 2nd World War that the US Congress and the President began to assign more roles to the VP. For over 100 years , Vice Presidents of the United States of America were simply marginal figures along the corridors of power.

Important to note is that it was not until 1933 when President F. D. Roosvelt, (32nd President of US) began to include his VP in cabinet meetings that other Presidents after him started including their own Vice Presidents in cabinet meetings.

But here is a situation we can draw parallels from: President Roosvelt even though he allowed his VP attend cabinet meetings, he did not allow him attend National Security meetings, and particularly did not inform his VP about the highly important National security project called "The Manhattan Project" which at the time was a top secret project to develop atomic weapons. Ironically, President Roosvelt died in 1945, and the war was still going on. His VP, Harry Truman suddenly became a war time President and found himself in an extremely difficult position (to put it mildly) because he did not have firsthand knowledge of all the available National Security information . He had to depend on daily briefings from the Secretary of War to make critical decisions that could affect not only America but the World in general.

How did the American Congress deal with this anomaly ? Simple. The American Congress realized that a situation where a sitting President did not have firsthand knowledge of the country's National Security options was absolutely untenable, and a very big security risk. In 1947 congress then included Vice Presidents as one of the four statutory members of the National Security Council . The sense behind it is this: If at any point in time the President is unable to continue being President, the VP who succeeds him would be fully equipped to discharge most of his duties without hang-ups.

This is good precedence and I would think the new Senate, and Representatives ought to, as a matter of urgency, look into passing laws that clarify and specify  some of the critical responsibilities of the Vice President  as a way of minimizing an unnecessary attrition that could destroy the morale of the nation.

                Written by Victor O. Sawyerr
                  June 12, 2015

NASS INAUGURATION , MATTERS ARISING

MATTERS ARISING
10/06/2015
NASS INAUGURATION: THE PETULANCE OF APC
Talking points from the inauguration of Nigeria's National Assembly yesterday continue unabated. All media forms are still feasting on the dismembered remains of an outcome that threw political permutations of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the wind leaving party forces reeling and squealing.

APC spokesman, the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in a vitriolic reaction on June 9th 2015, 16:24[Nigerian Time] , almost two hours after Dr. Bukola saraki had emerged unopposed, as President of 8th Assembly of the Nigerian Senate , published on the party's website that :
  "... The APC has described as totally unacceptable and the highest form of treachery, the conduct of Tuesday's inauguration of the National Assembly that led to the emergence of... "
         ...Alhaji Lai Mohammed
         National Publicity Secretary,
          APC

Alhaji Lai Mohammed

Speaking for a party that recently won an election from a position of opposition, and using words like 'totally unacceptable' and 'treachery' for a proceeding that was conducted in public view, within the ambits of the provision of the constitution, not only smacks of petulance but may imply to close watchers of politics in Nigeria that the 'Change' mantra may simply have been a smoke-screen of sorts, and that the Party has no intention of changing the practice of 'ruling by special arrangement"
The extraordinary length to which the Party's leaders went to invoke a Presidential intervention, by summoning him to the failed (? mediation) meeting, to wield a 'presidential' big stick on the Party's senators so they tow they party line in electing their Principals within the Senate , flashes a red flag as well and brings to question the Independence of the President.
Whether Mr. President, by design or fortuitously failed to attend the meeting, this should also be a signal to him that there are still a thousand and one strings attached to his tailcoat and some of those strings are in the firm girps of some cold calculating magicians.
With all this background drama still playing out it is comforting that mr. President has accepted the outcomes of the proceedings at the National Assembly . A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity , Femi Adeshina indicates that: "... the President would rather that the process of electing leaders as initiated and concluded by the APC had been followed. Nonetheless, the President took the view that a constitutional process had somewhat occured... "
Put this way, this also flashes a red flag. "Somewhat" within the context of statement may have been used to show highlight the President's unwilling acceptance of the outcome of proceedings yesterday, but it casts a whole different spectrum of interpretation of procedures and proceedings going forward. Is this President going to henceforth question the constitutionality of all proceedings that do not favour his or the party's wishes?
It is the burning hope of the masses that mr. President would realize sooner than later that it is necessary to cauterize more than 80% of those strings on his tailcoats for him to truly belong " to everyone and to no one" as he proclaimed in his inaugural speech.

                                                        [Written by: Victor O. Sawyerr]
P.S. : The preferred  APC candidates for the Office of President of the Senate , Senator Ahmed Lawan and a group of about 25 Senators who missed the  proceedings yesterday indicated after todays session that they would be heading to the courts  soon to contest that proceeding.

CLAMOUR WE ALL

CLAMOUR WE ALL 

Clamour we all
For Power
To act
To Change
To deify
To 'demonify'
To wield absolutes
Over lesser
Mortals.

Clamour we all
For Power
To stand
As Kings
To soar
Like Eagles
Roar
Like lions
To own
The jungle.

Clamour we all
For Power
To depose
Like gods
Repose
Like angels
Wave wands
Like fairies
And wrest
The universe
Into
Our Private Domain.

Clamour for,
But the ultimate
Aphrodisiac ;
NAY
The final
Psychedelics:
                 The Trappings
                 Of Addiction, and
               A conundrum
                                    of altered self perceptions
                                    Inebriated self consciousness...
...A GALAXY
   That revolves
   but in the palm
   Of our little hands.
    [Written by Victor O. Sawyerr. June 1st 2016]
[Acknowledgement: "Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac"... Henry Kissinger Former Secretary of State, USA ]