Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Re: Shaibu Husseini of The Guardian Versus Publisher of Nigerians Report and the award of CNN/MULTICHOICE BROWN ENVELOPE...

Re: Sunday, August 8, 2010 Shaibu Husseini of The Guardian Versus Publisher of Nigerians Report and the award of CNN/MULTICHOICE BROWN ENVELOPE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

'Sorry, there is no CNN/MULTICHOICE BROWN ENVELOPE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR.......'

Dear All

First let me tender my unreserved apologies to the publisher of Nigerian Report over the harsh tone of my text-repost to him. I have never been this insulted since i started writing like he did with his text opener which i qouted above. I pray you all, what does that first line mean or suggest? especially from somone i dont know, have never met and who didnt even introduce himself before barging into my inbox..

But i am honestly sorry and apologise if i insulted a senior colleague..... but i must confess that i was enranged by the fact that Mr. Publisher reached a conclusion without seeking clarification from a junior colleague. I dont know how he got my number but if he could go the whole hug to source my number, i thought he could have called me up as a senior colleague and would have drawn my attention to what he observed as 'a lie'.

This is not a defence at all.....i was taught to allow the reader write in a rejoinder or to honour the right of reply if anyone feels indiferent about a report i have written. And i stressed that in all my text-repost. But i need to correct some impression, basically because My senior colleague has CC'ed some of my seniors in the profession and teachers who i am sure would be wondering if it was the same Husseini they know that is being talked about here.

First i dont blog...i repeat, i dont. i know what it is and i know how to do it, but i dont have the time and have never posted any material i have written in the Guardian to the web. But i do know that most materials published in the Guardian are linked to certain blogs created by people. i have on so many occasion read my articles on people's blog. The report in question was published in the Wednesday Guardian of August 4, 2011 and had a web version...so it is possible that it was linked to the blog where my senior colleague read the piece which was purely and simply a report of an event i was duly invited covered.

Again, i would have wished that Oga Chima culled the full text of the report and not just that section he qouted so that his readers and all those he copied will be well informed about the context in which the report or the section he qouted was based.

But quite honestly, i recieved an invitation signed by Mr. Paul Obazele, President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) to cover the unveiling ceremony of the AMP/EKO International Film Festival logo. I was told in the letter to be at the venue at 3.30pm because the Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN was to perform the unveiling ceremony and so the security details had asked that everyone be seated before the governor arrives.

But the governor didnt show up eventually. We were told that he sent a commissioner (Home affairs and Culture) Alhaji Tunde Balogun to represent him and even the commissioner confirmed this when shortly before his adress and shortly before he performed the unveiling ceremony on behalf of the Governor, he told the audience that the Governor would have been around, but he asked him a few hours ago to represent him and to qoute him:'because of how dear the festival is to him (the governor)''. Oga chima, read the full report published in the Guardian where two expressive photographs of the event were used---there was no where i said the Governor attended the event. Rather i noted from the start of the article that he was represented and because he was represented and the person representing him said he was delievering the message of the Governor, i merely reported the governors message to the people. I think where the confusion came was when in trying to continue with the governors charge to filmmakers and in trying to affirm that the unveiling was done, i used the 'governor who performed'...... But pray, check the context in which that sentence was used. I cannot say he was represented in the start of the story, use pictures showing the commisiioner and representative of the Minister of Information performing the unveiling and then lie that the Governor performed the unveiling! Haba!

Again, Oga Chima said i reported that Lagos State Government endorsed the festival and that i should have verified from the Lagos State government before going to press. First, what was reported on Wednesday August 4 was a straight report of an event....i wasnt treating any issue that required my verification. What verification do i even require about lagos state government endorsing the event when the man that spoke at the event and performed the unveiling on behalf of the Governor is a senior member of government and long standing commissioner? I have him on tape and even spoke to him after the event and plan to use part of his comments in an issue based article i am working on, on the matter over trade mark infringement between AMP and the publisher of Supple magazine.

As for the matter between Oga hope and AMP. I was following the trade mark theft scandal since 2009 but i dropped anchor same year for reasons that i will explain to you after now. But i picked it up now again because i sense some foul play soon after the unveiling ceremony. Ask Oga Hope, shortly after the unveiling ceremony, I buzzed him and requested for an interview which we did the following day so that i could get his views to balance the report i had proposed that i will do as a follow up to the straight report on the unveiling. He honoured the interview request but even after transcription, certain issues came up and i thought it was neccessary to do some findings. Only this evening i got an advice from the Corporate affairs commission and the ministry of trade following an enquiry i made and i have equally sought clarification and am waiting for an advice from the Lagos State Film Office and the Commissioner which should make me have a balanced report by the time i run Hope's interview. so sir, do i appear like someone who is biased or who has been bribed so much that it merited a CNN AWARD?

Now to the issue of AMP .......MAIDEN EDITION OF EKOIFFAND NIGERIAN JOURNALIST......Let me clarify that i dont belong to any clique in the industry. i dont even have the time. Ask people who know me, i dont go to events that i am not duly invited to attend. I was never invited to Eko International Film festival which i was told (Hope Opara himself told me a few days back) held this July in Lagos and i didnt get to hear about it even though Oga Hope and I, met for a few days in May at the Cannes Film Festival and in February at the berlinale. He has my email and phone number.....he didnt contact me or even send me materials which i would have gladly used because if you check we dedicate a strip every sunday for publicising festivals and movie events. I was not invited and I didnt know about it and i am suppose to be covering that beat. anyway....

Let me end by once again tendering my unreserved apologies for my harsh text repost..... i was terribly vexed that you could consider me fit for the award of cnn/multichoice brown envelope journalist of the year without asking me to send in entries for the competition. I tried to call back to know who sent the text but the number was disconnecting and that added to the anger.

Thank you for finding time to read from me.

~ Shaibu Husseini


Monday, August 9, 2010

Obama / Africa / Fact Sheet: The President's Engagement in Africa

Obama / Africa / Fact Sheet: The President's Engagement in Africa


WASHINGTON, August 4, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Fact Sheet: The President's Engagement in Africa


“I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world, as partners with America on behalf of the future we want for all of our children. That partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility and mutual respect.”


President Obama, Accra, Ghana, July 2009


In 2010, seventeen countries across sub-Saharan Africa celebrate fifty years of independence. In honor of this important historic moment, in acknowledgement of the extraordinarily young demographic profile of the region, and as part of an effort to forge strong, forward-looking partnerships in the years ahead, President Obama is hosting a forum for young African leaders in Washington, D.C., from August 3 – 5. These 115 young leaders come from civil society and the private sector and represent more than forty countries in sub-Saharan Africa.


In Accra, the President highlighted a “simple truth” about our country's connections with Africa: Africa's prosperity can expand America's prosperity. Africa's health and security can contribute to the world's health and security. And the strength of Africa's democracy can help advance human rights for people everywhere.


He emphasized that “this mutual responsibility must be the foundation of our partnership.” And over the past year and a half, we have been focused on four areas that are critical to the future of Africa: strong and sustainable democratic governments, opportunity and development, strengthening public health, and the peaceful resolution of conflict. Here are some examples of actions the Administration has taken:


Addressing Global Issues


The Administration's approach to development addresses issues at the core of Africa's agenda.


Feed the Future: In 2009, President Obama announced a $3 billion global food security initiative that has the support of the world's major and emerging donor nations. To date, the United States has led international efforts to review nine comprehensive country strategies, commit new resources in support of those strategies, collaborate in the establishment and initial capitalization of the World Bank-led Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, and launch a new research and development program.


Global Health Initiative: In May 2009, President Obama announced the Global Health Initiative (GHI), a six-year, $63 billion initiative which builds on the progress and success of PEPFAR (the President's Emergency Program on AIDS Relief) and also expands our global health effort and impact by including investments to strengthen health systems, improve maternal child health, address neglected tropical diseases, and foster increased research and development.


Climate Change: The United States and nations across Africa are addressing the challenge of global climate change through the Copenhagen Accord and a range of international partnerships promoting clean energy technologies and climate-resilient development for Africans. The United States has more than tripled climate assistance this year. Support for international climate adaptation has increased tenfold, with a focus on helping the most vulnerable nations in Africa and around the world. U.S. climate-related appropriations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 total $1.3 billion, and the Administration has requested $1.9 billion in appropriations for FY 2011.


Strengthening our Partnerships


The United States has elevated engagement with emerging and existing African powers, and has recently launched three new Strategic Dialogues to that effect:


The United States and Angola have signed a new Trade and Investment Framework Agreement and have launched a new Strategic Partnership Dialogue, setting the stage for improved cooperation on energy, trade, security, and agriculture.


Over the past year and a half, the U.S. relationship with South Africa has gone from strained to sound. We have institutionalized the new era of cooperation in a formal, ongoing U.S.-South Africa Strategic Dialogue and are working together on a range of issues from nonproliferation to agricultural development.


April 2010 saw the formal establishment of the U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission, a high-level mechanisms to address issues surrounding governance and transparency (including preparing for upcoming elections), energy and power, food security, and regional security.


Throughout the region, through diplomatic engagement and support to key institutions and civil society organizations, the United States has promoted good governance as a critical priority for the region.


In Kenya, the United States has led international efforts to support Kenyan civil society and the reform agenda developed in the wake of early 2008 post-election violence.


The administration launched the first ever high-level bilateral discussions with the African Union. In April of this year, Secretary of State Clinton and National Security Advisor General Jones, Ret., welcomed African Union leaders to Washington to hold the first annual high-level consultation with the AU. Attorney General Eric Holder followed up on this initiative by addressing the AU Summit in Kampala in July. At the ninth U.S.-sub Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, also known as the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA), being held in Washington this week, USAID will sign a new partnership agreement with the African Union to advance prosperity, peace and stability.


Crisis Prevention and Response


The Obama administration conducted a comprehensive review of our policies in Sudan and developed a strategy focused on addressing our multiple policy objectives in Sudan and the region, including resolution to the crisis in Darfur and implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. We have named a full-time Special Envoy who has re-energized and broadened the multilateral coalition addressing Sudan's challenges.


Following a comprehensive review of our policies on Somalia earlier this year, the President issued Executive Order 13536, the first E.O. focused on addressing the underlying factors contributing to instability in Somalia. The Administration's policy on Somalia is the first comprehensive approach to addressing the counterterrorism, counterpiracy, humanitarian, and security and political concerns facing the beleaguered state.


In central Africa, Secretary Clinton has elevated the issue of sexual and gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to a top priority, personally visiting eastern Congo in August, 2009, and directing that additional resources and innovative approaches be employed to combat this violence, end impunity and assist those affected.


In Guinea, the United States was an international leader in condemning the September 28 massacre, supporting a return to constitutional order, and assisting in the electoral process that gave Guineans their first opportunity to vote in credible elections since their country became independent in 1958.


Encouraging Private Sector Growth


The United States is currently hosting the ninth United States - Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum (AGOA Forum) in Washington, D.C., from August 2 - 3. Unlike previous Forums, this will be held not only in Washington but also in Kansas City, Missouri, from August 5 - 6, to allow for a deeper focus on agri-business. We are also emphasizing the role of women through a two-week AGOA Women's Entrepreneurship Program to provide tools to better integrate African women into the global economy. In addition, as a follow up to President Obama's Entrepreneurship Summit this past April, the Board of Directors of the United States Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) approved on June 24 up to $150 million in financing to support the establishment of a private equity investment fund designed to invest in companies in West Africa.


High-Level Engagement


The most senior representatives of the Obama Administration have actively engaged on African issues.


President Obama directly laid out a comprehensive vision for U.S.-African engagement in Accra, Ghana, in 2009 during the earliest visit to sub-Saharan Africa by any President in his first year in office. In addition to holding a meeting with 25 African heads of state and African Commission Chairperson Jean Ping at the United Nations General Assembly last year, President Obama has also held bilateral meetings with President Zuma of South Africa, President Kikwete of Tanzania, President Mills of Ghana, President Jonathan of Nigeria, Prime Minister Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe, President Khama of Botswana, and President Sirleaf of Liberia.


Last summer, Secretary Clinton traveled to seven African countries (Kenya, South Africa, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Liberia, and Cape Verde). She continues to host and reach out to African leaders on a regular basis.


In June 2010, Vice President Biden traveled to Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa to address important bilateral issues in addition to holding numerous in-depth discussions on looming challenges in Sudan and Somalia.



Source: The White House


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Sunday, August 8, 2010

Shaibu Husseini of The Guardian Versus Publisher of Nigerians Report

Shaibu Husseini of The Guardian Versus Publisher of Nigerians Report

The controversy over the trademark piracy of Eko International Film Festival has exposed the bad manners and personal bias of Shaibu Husseini, a senior Arts writer of The Guardian newspaper of Nigeria.

The Publisher of Nigerians Report sent a text message to question the unverified report of Shaibu Husseini on Film as purveyor of pristine cultural values and Mr. Husseini got all riled up and replied in a gutter language that would rubbish and tarnish his public image as a professional journalist. Nobody accused him of collecting any brown envelope as he simply jumped to that conclusion and resorted to insulting the Publisher of Nigerians Report from his own erroneous deductions based on his assumptions of the publisher.


Mr. Husseini lied that Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola unveiled the logo when Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, never even attended the event held on July 29, 2010, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. It was the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Honourable Tunde Balogun who came to the event to represent the Lagos state government.


The governor, who performed the unveiling ceremony of the new AMP/EKO International Film Festival logo - a logo which the president of AMP Paul Obazele explained, was redesigned to reflect the collaborative agreement the AMP, under his leadership, had entered with the Lagos State Government over the staging of the annual festival.
http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18930:film-as-purveyor-of-pristine-cultural-values&catid=74:arts&Itemid=683


The following is the exchange between the Publisher of Nigerians Report and Shaibu Husseini.

Publisher of Nigerians Report: Sorry, there is no CNN/MULTICHOICE Brown Envelope Journalist of the Year Award.
When did the Governor of Lagos state endorse the trademark piracy of Eko International Film Festival by the Association of Movie Producers (AMP)? That was a false report on your blog.

Shaibu Husseini: Are u sick! U think u are talking to your child? U know what to do if you feel indifferent about a report. I was at an event where the governor sent a rep and I reported what transpired and ur talking rubbish. Why dint u say no event held and I just reported from my imagination. U think I started writing today? Pls go away and don’t disgrace urself. See who is talking about brown envelope. I know the quarter dis is coming from and I will address it squarely. Opportunist! Write a rejoinder if u feel strongly that I over reported instead of trying to intimidate urself with the title ‘publisher’! U think I will cringe abi?


Nigerians Report: Go to the library of The Guardian as far back as 1988 and check The Guardian Literary Series for Chima Eke, Member of ANA.


Shaibu Husseini: And so what? Is that why u will cast aspersion at me. What has CNN brown envelope got to do with your feeling indifferent about a report when there are avenues for seeking clarification. U tink everybody is like u. ‘As far back’ my foot. Do you know what u have just done with ur very first line and am going to take u up on that. Haba, bicos u are supporting a position (which I know about) and because the piece ran contrary that is why you think I got brown envelope abi? I won’t take this lying low. Sebi, u say u are in ANA..,- I must follow up this matter. U must prove award me that CNN prize at all cost. I know what to do.


Nigerians Report: With all pleasure.

Mr. Husseini’s reported that the Lagos state government has endorsed the illegal AMP-Eko International Film Festival and it’s a lie, because the Lagos state government cannot endorse any illegality and in fact never endorsed the trademark piracy of Eko International Film Festival by the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) of Nigeria. I wonder how the representative of the Governor of Lagos state will endorse such an illegality.

The Lagos Film Office had a meeting with Mr. Hope Obioma Opara, the President/Co-founder of Eko International Film Festival where the neutral position of the Lagos state government was clearly stated and the Lagos state government will soon make its official position known.

Shaibu Husseini should have verified from the Lagos state government before misinforming the public and he has to report the fact no matter what the rep said at the event. The Hon. Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili recently sacked his senior aide for misrepresenting her. So, may I advise Shaibu Husseini to contact the Lagos Film Office for the true position of the Lagos State Government.

Hope Obioma Opara, President/Co-founder of Eko International Film Festival and Publisher of the Supple magazine has all the documents to prove the ownership of EKOIFF and nobody has challenged or contested it until AMP tried to hijack it.


The Nollywood gang of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) has been using their clique among Nigerian journalists to compromise professional ethics and they deliberately did not report the inaugural Eko International Film Festival held earlier in July 2010, at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, The Palms in Lekki, Lagos, but rushed to report the so called unveiling of the logo of the illegal AMP-Eko International Film Festival held on July 29, 2010, at the National Theatre in Lagos, Nigeria.

Mr. Husseini is obviously mistaking the Publisher of Nigerians Report for someone he assumes he knows. And he said he does not blog! Then what is he doing on blogger blogging for The Guardian Life magazine? So, a seasoned journalist for a major Nigerian news daily does not know what is a blog?


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

About the Author:
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima is the most prolific African blogger and a prize winning writer and author of four books and many other publications. He directed the first docudrama "Sleepless Night" on the June 12 Crisis in 2002 and in 2007 he published "The Mandate of M.K.O Abiola" written by Adeleke Adeyemi. His next book is on President Barack Obama. More.



Saturday, August 7, 2010

The American Documentary Showcase in Nigeria

The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the US Consulate General in Nigeria and the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACi) in West Africa hosted American Documentary Showcase in Abuja, Kano and Lagos.

The showcase was coordinated by notable award winning American documentary filmmakers Bart Weiss and Kim Synder .

The Lagos event was held at the Ozone Cinema in Yaba on Thursday August 5, and at the Public Affairs Section on Broad Street, Lagos, on Friday August 6, 2010. Followed by a cocktail party attended by the participants, including the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Renée Sanders.


Kim Synder's Welcome to Shelbyville got a well deserved standing ovation.

Welcome to Shelbyville is a glimpse of America at a crossroads. In one small town in the heart of America's Bible Belt in the South, a community grapples with rapidly changing demographics. Just a stone's throw away from Pulaski, Tennessee (the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan), longtime African-American and White residents are challenged with how best to integrate with a growing Latino population and the more recent arrival of hundreds of Somali refugees of Muslim faith.

Set on the eve of the 2008 US Presidential election, the film captures the interaction between these residents as they navigate new waters against the backdrop of a tumultuous year. The economy is in crisis, factories are closing, and jobs are hard to find. The local Tyson chicken plant is hiring hundreds of new Somali refugees, and when a local reporter initiates a series of articles about these newcomers, a flurry of controversy and debate erupts within the town. Just as the Latino population grapples with its own immigrant identity, African-American residents look back at their segregated past and balance perceived threats to their livelihood and security against the values that they learned through their own long struggle for civil rights. While the newcomers, mostly of Muslim faith, attempt to make new lives for themselves and their children, leaders in this deeply religious community attempt to guide their congregations through this period of unprecedented change.

Through the vibrant and colorful characters of Shelbyville, the film explores immigrant integration and the interplay between race, religion and identity in this dynamic dialogue. The story is an intimate portrayal of a community’s struggle to understand what it means to be American.


Featured Films 2010

Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy
Bronx Princess
Burning the Future: Coal in America
Come Back to Sudan
The First Kid to Learn English from Mexico *
Freeway Philharmonic
How to Fold a Flag
King Corn * & Big River *
Neshoba
New Muslim Cool
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos
Notes on Liberty
Oh, Saigon
Racing Dreams
Reading the Water
Soundtrack for a Revolution
Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo
Trouble the Water
A Village Called Versailles
Welcome to Shelbyville
Which Way Home *
Whiz Kids
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Thursday, August 5, 2010

American Documentary Showcase in Lagos

Today, we were at the American Documentary Showcase at the Ozone Cinemas in Yaba, Lagos. It was coordinated by Benny Uche of the The Public Affairs Section of the United States Embassy and Mr. Madu Chikwendu, Regional Secretary of the Pan-African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI). Mrs. Daisy Chikwendu, the famous Nigerian author Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Hope Obioma Opara, the President/Co-founder of Eko International Film Festival and Publisher of the Supple magazine were among the notable people and others at the event.

The documentary Street Fight on the 2002 Mayoral run of Cory Booker against longtime mayor of Newark, New Jersey, Sharpe James was very interesting. Cory lost, but in 2006 he got elected as the Mayor, becoming the 36th mayor of Newark.



Sunday, August 1, 2010

President Jonathan Show Your Resiliency to Self-Confidence with a Yes or No to the 2011 Presidency

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Jonathan Show Your Resiliency to Self-Confidence with a Yes or No to the 2011 Presidency

President Jonathan recently expressed that should he declare his candidacy now either in the positive or negative towards the 2011 Presidential election, his statements could ignite instant political readiness in others including the Governors.

The President noted that some of them could quickly take their respective stand with regard to their candidacy for the next round of elections. What is wrong with such move, Sir?

That is the way it should be in any right thinking democratic society. What has your active or inactive declaration got to do with a State government and a Ministerial agency in terms of governmental functioning on behalf of the people?

Why a ministerial or any other governmental work should, becomes suddenly inactive because the political season is on?

Sir, this concern of yours, while it could correctly validate the sentimental nature of Nigeria’s political mindset and state, it also shows the picture of a society with lack of political commonsense and directions.

Sir, the fact that you expressed grave concern about the possibility of the shortage of functional output in government work during election activities, sends an awful message to any person who believes he or she is capable of simultaneously and efficiently handling any line of multiple tasks including running for office and serving the people.

Sir, don’t say Oh, that is “Oyibo” or the White peoples’ way, no it is the commonsense human way! Since, the affairs to a nation must go on irrespective of the political and electoral climate at the time.

Sir, if this type of thinking is part of your defense games or mechanisms, you need a better line of operative, seductive and influencing defenses that will cause convincing reactions from the people.

Mr. President, heating up the political pot of any democratic election is diametrically even with the impulse of presidential debate and energy.

Sir, admits your rationalizations, it is time to unload on the people, a yes or no answer as to your candidacy in the 2011 Presidency.

It will show you have nothing to hide, and further that you certainly have confidence in the Nigerian polity in terms of its maturity to leave the cycle of governmental functioning intact.

Sir, declare now as there is bound to be some degree of distraction any time to fully focusing on office work by incumbent Governors or other officials running in during an election cycle.

Your declaration today or tomorrow will in fact reduce the level of distractions towards the spirit of active governance which you tend to be attributing to other public officials and offices.

Sir, a more aggressive body of advisers will tell you that with the time highly limited and against you with regard the 2011 presidential election, the apparent waiting game of yours could on a personal level allow you to assess the people’s relationship to possible opponents of yours. But at the same time, this tactics could backfire.

Sir, there is very, very minimum time for the Chairman of Elections, Attahiru Jega to fully carry out voters registration, direct the political parties and constituencies’ with political education and position the necessary infrastructure in regards to the workability of the voting machines as well as maintaining full security.

Sir, with the political and electoral atmospheres lacking adequate time to adjust to an already fierce, bamboozled and misunderstood social surroundings, political turbulence could set in which may attract the need for security by and means possible.

Sir, in your own words, the world is watching the continued state of ambivalence on your part, no matter the strategy you may be employing in this election cycle.

Sir, what is clear here, is the question about your state of self confidence, possibly in the collective mind of all Nigerians and in the view of the global world.

Sir, if the assumption by some that your current silence is a sign that you may be equally waiting for an opening from a native doctor, a prophet or a divine path from God, pray for the message to come real fast. The time is now.


~ By John Oshodi

John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D , DABPS, FACFE, is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and the Interim Associate Dean of Academic Affairs--Behavioral Science, North Campus, Broward College, Coconut Creek, Florida. joshodi@broward.edu

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Nigeria Should Develop Forensic Hospital and Confinement Institutions for Corruption Suspects and Convicts

Nigeria Should Develop Forensic Hospital and Confinement Institutions for Corruption Suspects and Convicts who could be described as Corruptomanics

The yearly, monthly, weekly, daily and minute by minute changing reports on corruption are overwhelming.

The perpetrators’ minds and bodies that energize corruption crimes are certainly overbearing for an emerging society like Nigeria.

The amount of public money misappropriated by many of these individuals for their own personal use is always so huge that in their respective lifetime they will not be able to use it up.

So could their misconducts be solely corruptly and mentally driven, if so what could be done to reduce their dangerousness to society.

For the first time in modern Nigerian history has a President, as in the case of President Goodluck Jonathan, publicly admitted that corruption is presently retarding the nation’s “growth” and “development”.

While the Chief Prosecutor of the nation, Mrs. Farida Waziri has also publicly admitted that acts of corruption are scaring off foreign investment from the nation. As part of the Wazirian theory on corruption reduction, she has recently called for the legal endorsement of death penalty for convicted corruption offenders.

In the same vein, the Oshodi theory on this national predicament as previously written by this author in various news outlets, is for the legislature to pass very harsh anti-corruption laws with the Sharia type punishment meted on corruption convicts.

Now the nation is clearly under national and international threat as a result of endless number of cases of corruption spanning from those currently on prolonged bail, long-drawn-out trials, on mounting appeals as well as those on runaway status or in local prisons.

Therefore, it is time to start managing these persons in a whole different way. Nothing seems to be working on their minds!

Also, is it time for a corruption offender registry? The answer is a resounding yes, and it must be a public registry.

Is it time for a Forensic Hospital and Confinement Center for Corruption Offenders (FHCCCO), of course yes, and it could become operational as soon as possible in form of private therapeutic wards or as correctional treatment ventures.

As the above institutional name indicates it could be a two-tie system, with the first for those with active cases in court but need a form of treatment and confinement as they remain dangerous to witnesses and informants.

The second phase of hospitalization and confinement is strictly for the already convicted corruption offenders in need of rehabilitative and punitive environment.

He or she should have been diagnostically assumed to suffer from what could be called “Corruptomania”, an apparent impulsive and anti-social personality like syndrome that calls for ongoing study for the sake of objectivity and proper classification.

For the purpose of definition, a battery of psychological testing should be conducted on the individual to determine if he or she meets the criteria of being classified with one or more mental diseases in the areas of impulsive and social personality related ailments.

That is, psychological disturbances in the likes of the anti-moral personality, authoritarian personality, impulse control disorder and other related mental diseases with a clear and revealing picture of a criminal corruption offender.

Possible diagnosis like “Corruptomania” could be reached on the individual and the offender could be characterized as a “Corruptomanic”; however these are presumptive classifications by this author.

The battery of test must be carried out by qualified doctoral level Psychologists given their lengthy training and extensive practicum and experience in intellectual, projective, affective, personality and neuro-psychological evaluations.

Clinicians with training mainly in Psychiatry, a specialty that is related to the application of medicine to mental illness should be fully involved with the committed or confined offender only for the purpose of psychotropic medication assessment and maintenance.

For the sake of efficiency, it is emphasized that private ventures should be authorized to open and manage the forensic Mental Health Hospital-Confinement structures.

But mean while existing university teaching hospitals with some of them almost sitting empty or lacking adequate clients and clinical students should be used by the supervising private companies on contractual bases.

The atmosphere must be that of maximum security environment. This will reduce the chance of these corruptomanics threatening informants, witnesses or prejudicing their case by flying to overseas.

The goal of their being hospitalized is : 1.To keep the public safe as many or some of these offenders are known to put fear and danger in those who try to bear witness against them; 2. To stop their continued impulsive spending with all of the monies, in billions of naira or millions of dollars that they reportedly pilfered; 3. Under involuntary hospitalization, they are more likely to become out-of-pocket, and prone to freely engage in confessional and penitent-related behaviors; 4. For the convicted corruptomanic ,instead of becoming a bearer of State Execution, long-term detention would help provide the development of guilt, responsibility and controllability.

The Forensic Hospital and Confinement Center for Corruption Offenders must be expanded into a full blown phase for convicted corruptmanics where they will face both punitive consequences and therapeutic applications, all pointing to moralistic restoration.

The benefit of the this proposed system of dealing with corruption suspects or convicted corruption offenders is the allowance of not putting them in regular jails or prisons where they could face fatal and deadly acts from the general inmate population because of their crimes against the public treasury.

They need to be placed in special environments like the FHCCCO because they are corruption crime offenders and nothing else. As we all know they are highly malevolence in their advances to the public order.

While in the first or second phase of placement their seductiveness to shady or crooked money must be therapeutically addressed, so as to assist them develop an understanding of the societal, financial, and other destructive harms they have caused to the general population.

The most essential goal of corruption offender restoration is that he or she refrains from committing corruption offences in the future. This goal is more important than feelings of recovered self esteem and well-being when they return back to the society.

To reduce their temptations and recidivism rate or future reconviction, long term probation is recommended as well as the need to deny them entry into any job that calls for financial contact.

The treatment and penal direction of this proposed system of justice could help reduce the dreadful nature and consequences of corruptomanics and help them develop humane behaviors and caring ways to their nation.


~ By John Oshodi

John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D , DABPS, FACFE, is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and the Interim Associate Dean of Behavioral Science, North Campus, Broward College, Coconut Creek, Florida. joshodi@broward.edu

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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Beyond Setting Up The Ambrose Alli University’s Sex Probe, Institute A Crisis Drop-In-Center Now

Every faculty, student and family share a common priority in an educational center like the Ambrose Alli University, and that priority is leaning.

The Ambrose Alli University will not be the first institution of higher learning in the world to be faced with incidents of corrupt sexual behaviors between unprincipled students and dodgy lecturers or professors.

What is likely to be the first across the globe, is that on July 23rd, 2010, there was dramatic moments of a student, one Judith Okosun, in a chaotic encounter in the latter’s tiny room.

The videotape was flashed everywhere by the Sahara reporters, an internet newspaper.

There is a human side to this tragedy, which is the possible shocking response that could occur in persons directly and indirectly involved in this all time and highly published live video.

At the time of his writing, one wonders what the said lecturer and student, their respective families, the administrators, faculty and the student body of the university could be going through emotionally and morally.

There is a feeling of dishonor, indecency and shame that could be robbing on those affected by this hurting incident.

In what manner could the lecturer be thinking at this time even if he is being viewed as dishonorable, what could be streaming through the mind of the student even if she is being described as vicious?

At on point in the video, in what seems to be expressions in the Ishan vernacular, an Edo State dialect of this writer, a female voice, possibly that of a female on-looker or Ms. Okosun could be heard admonishing the highly distressed and near-naked engineering university lecturer; “Oya gbe’, tell me yes mar, Oya gbe (meaning shame on you, tell me yes madam). At which time the visiting but physically shaking, distraught and fenced in lecturer, replied through a nervous laughter, “Yes Ma”.

In the moment to moment recording were traumatic mentions of his wife, and daughter by the streaming and noisy voices of on- looking students. The identified student, Ms. Okosun, could be noticed periodically showing fluctuating display of facial pain and anger, in between phone calls.

At the point of this ugliness, what about their families out there in their respective homes, what could they be thinking is this a real or a fake episode?

For the lecturer’s wife, adult children and other family members, this apparent devastating event could form into an emotional storm and an overbearing event.

There could be feelings of traumatic horror equally manifesting in the affected student’s family. Even the co-female residents of Ms. Okosun, as well as the male students operating the video could be heard periodically mounting off screams of frustration and fury.

And there is no doubt that the families of the video operators could be feeling a sense of traumatic worry over the whole explosion.

How does any one make the families and the faculty, the males faculty mostly, understand the institutional tragedies flowing from this experience.

In the live footage, is a middle aged husband, father and lecturer with a full and open display of his penis per the order of both the female and male students.

So clear, from the entire image is a display of alarm, shame and helplessness beaming across the nation, and globe into various homes, offices, markets, dormitories and other settings.

Under these situations, the need for clear and cool heads through some form of clinical help becomes paramount.

The Nigerian culture historically has little attraction to helpful outlet like professional counseling and therapy, and instead many Nigerians rely much more on religious, tribal and family support or remain indifferent to painful related experiences. Certainly these outlets are part of the African reality.

However, the current institutional traumatic grief stands out markedly, as it is first of its kind, therefore calls for a much more different understanding, assessment and emotional support.

The Psychology department of the University with the help of the two or three Clinical Psychology faculty should set up a Crisis Drop- in- Center in safe like settings. It should be open to any one related or involved with the university.

In matters like this one there are natural responses of all types which could include guilt, exhaustion, apprehension, bewilderment or catastrophe.

The overall set up for help should revolve around Institutional Tragedy Assistance. The lecturer in question should be encouraged to receive urgent individual counseling to deal with possible feelings of acute stress, hopelessness, insecurity, gloom and loss.

On a separate basis his wife and children could be scheduled for a critical or an immediate family therapy, and in future another line of therapy with possible inclusion of the dishonored father and husband should be offered.

The student in question, given her reported past frustrations and dealings with this lecturer, and her current feelings of mixed, disgusted emotions and all of her overwhelmed undertakings ,she could gain from a cooling out related crisis intervention.

Her own family could also gain from some sort of supportive counseling. The faculty, administrators and other university staff should be encouraged to come in for counseling focusing on ‘this could have being me’ session.

Also, other students like Ms. Okosun’s co-residents, the students’ video makers and other on-lookers to the graphic scene, could gain from a safe environment like the drop in center to vent their anger and worry over their aberrant acts, the videoing of the episode especially.

And for those whose assessment and intervention showed to be in need of further help, a psychiatrist could become involved for medication evaluation and possible psychotropic medication maintenance.

There is the need for the Vice-Chancellor Sam Uniamikogbo and his administration to realize that crisis intervention is of high importance as it could help the affected players and individuals, the lecturer and the student especially. Immediate therapeutic assistance could help them learn better coping skills, develop good problem solving behaviors, and avoid negative ways of coping such as engaging in self destructive acts like self injury, drug or substance abuse as well as help return the individual to their previous level of functioning.

The commission of inquiry and the probing panel of this incident by the State of Edo under the administration of Governor Adam Oshiomhole, and through an investigational team at the university are certainly required.

However along side the investigation should be the urgent set up of short term assistance like the recommended Crisis Drop- in- Center.

This whole matter appeared to have come upon the university silently and swiftly, and let’s hope that this extraordinary problem goes out in the same way.


~ By John Oshodi

John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D, DABPS, FACFE is a practicing Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and the Interim Associate Dean of Behavioral Science, North Campus, Broward College, Coconut Creek, Florida. joshodi@broward.edu.



Honorable Fatima Raji-Rasaki the matter with Police is the lack of Psychological Connection and Clearance

Honorable Fatima Raji-Rasaki the matter with Police is the lack of Psychological Connection and Clearance



Madam, public service is all about attitude. Even when an individual is imbued with the best conditions of education, remuneration and lifestyle, if the individual’s mindset and outlook to his or her work and the community they serve, is representative of negativity and indifference, then the nation is in trouble. This is what you are dealing with in regards to the current brand of police workers and officers in your midst.



This is why a candidate for any national and state security-related job should to go through an extensive battery of intellectual, personality, visual-motor and ethical testing. Thereafter, routine and periodic psychological assessment should follow on serving officers in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) beginning with the lowest rank of constable to those at the commanding levels.



Also there are those who need to benefit from random testing and retraining depending on the test outcomes. Madam, take for example, the recent announcement of mass transfer of police personnel from the South-East to other geographical zones, following the kidnap debacle.



Of course, you can transfer the individual’s body but the same mindset remains active just like it has been, and with time that mindset is equally acted upon in any new environment. Such has been the case of the Nigerian security forces including the Police, Prisons, State Security Service, and others.



Madam, there is a reason why police psychological service within the police administration is important. For decades there is no independent or fully staffed doctoral level psychological testing and readiness unit in the Nigerian police force. None!



Madam and you wonder why, just last month in Abuja, why a police officer started shooting at a bus conductor after been asked for his 30 naira bus fare. Madam, that victim could have been my or your family member!



The formation, structure and functioning of attitude require special identification through the guidance of a licensed or certified Clinical and personality psychologist. Certainly, Police personality and competency testing must not be carried out by psychiatrists as they are by law and norm mainly involved in the medical model of verbally questioning, and mentally observing a client as well assessing their need for medication.



This understanding is important as the colonial mentality of sending troubled persons to psychiatrists mostly still persist in Nigeria. As a result there is little awareness of psychology in the institutional framework of the society. And by the way, these problems include the law making bodies like yours, where mental health course of actions are hardly raised or opined upon.



While there are some like you that see attitude change as indispensable in police work, the system remains closed minded to the methodological, clinical and ethical improvement that comes from the psychological measurement of a candidate preparing for a ‘life and death’ job.



Madam, we are talking about persons with the power of guns, sticks and badges, which could be misused by any ill-cultured persons attracted to security agencies like the Police Force, EFCC, SSS and others.



Madam not until you and your colleagues mandates Psychological systems in the Police force as expected in the 21st century, you are wasting your free time and space.



There are a few persons that see the clear need for psychology and have come to the realization for psychological clearance, and that person is Chairman Parry Osayande of the Police Service Commission. But the apparent loosely tight communication and relationship between the essential sub systems like the Ministry of Police Affairs and the NPF remain remains a strain on the entire system.



There are high level psychological experts (not the recent recruitment of persons with first degree in psychology, and calling them psychologist!) who are willing to exhibit patriotic, volunteer, and altruistic-related assistance. But they are ignored. Why, that is the way it is, in a system where strict rules of coordination, of ethics and shared understanding remain absent or lacking.



Madam, the work of policing certainly is demanding and risky, therefore one want officers who have the attitudinal power to relate with the people of the community. Since an attitude of good neighborliness makes fighting crime much easier. Madam, a monthly salary of at least 35,000 naira for a psychologically prepared constable would enhance the mindset of professionalism.



Madam, a systemic talk with the Chairman Parry Osayande will inform you that prior to an applicant being accepted into a police academy either as rank and file officer or as a cadet for inspector or superintendent position just taking an aptitude test, a physical exam, meeting the federal character or meeting entry qualifications like secondary school or others are not enough.



To be accepted into a junior or senior academy a battery of evaluations conducted by a doctoral and certified clinical psychologist is paramount. The number of test administered should cover personality, drug, lie-related test and other psychological related measurements deemed essential by the psychological examiner.



A detailed historical, personal, family and work background check is important. As a criminal background check is part of the pre-employment requirement, Madam you and others at the National Assembly, should provide the resources for the technology necessary for workable fingerprinting, and for data collection and banking of a citizen’s social history.



Madam, there is opportunity to advance the society towards peace and sanity, but it must start from your official end, and a cooperative relationship between the appropriate agencies will transform into the making of an officer with good attitude to security related services.


~ By John Oshodi


John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D, DABPS, FABFE, is a practicing Forensic/Clinical Psychologist, and the Interim Associate Dean of Behavioral Science, Broward College, North Campus, Coconut Creek, Florida, joshodi@broward.edu