Tuesday, August 28, 2012

CYNTHIA OSOKOGU: A CASE OF FACEBOOK MURDER


"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:  who can know it?"
                                                                                                                                 Jeremiah 17 v 9 


As every other evil known to man, Nigeria has recorded its first case of murder by facebook with the senseless killing of  Cynthia Osokogu by 2 suspected undergraduates paraded by the police as Mr Nwabufor Okwumo a 300 Level student of accountancy at the University Of Lagos Akoka and Ezekiel Odera, a 300Level student of accountancy at the  Anambra State University, who lured her to Lagos with promises of doing business,  who then drugged, robbed, assaulted and brutally terminated the life of a promising young woman, who was the only daughter of Major General Frank Osokogu.  

In this part of the world, it is indeed its first and as usual it has brought to the limelight the use of social media in constructive nation building instead of practicing some of the evils that come with it.

In February 2012, an American couple Billy Clay Payne and Billie Jean Hayworth were killed when they deleted Janelle Potter from their “friends list”
Another case of facebook murder was recorded in the United Kingdom in March 2010 when Peter Chapman, who had a history as a sex offender  lured 17 year old Ashleigh Hall  for a secret rendezvous,  who he eventually murdered.
These cases seem isolated in a way, but ever since the inception of facebook, it has had a history of its own evils. From murder to domestic violence, burglary, fraud,  rape, arson, and a long list of hideous other crimes

It’s quite disheartening the story of Cynthia who could have been spared the terror she experienced the last few hours of her life, If only the hands of time can be turned around.
May her gentle soul rest in peace. 

Thursday, August 9, 2012

AN AUGUST POST

"before the kettle whistles, its hot bubbles have long started at the bottom"

Faced with more problems than she can handle, Nigeria is not only a laughingstock, but now a sorry reminder of what the face of failure looks like.
For the past few months, the motivation to write on the now usual occurrence has been as heart aching as the events itself.
First the bold, unending and widening reach of the boko haram group of companies, then the corruption rocking the fuel subsidy reports, pension scams, oil theft and bunkering, and the MASSOP declaration of Ogoni autonomy, have long relegated crimes like ritual killing, kidnapping, bank and armed robbery to the back burner, and most recently our disgraceful outing at the London 2012 Olympics, setting nothing but the worst records so far. Crowning it all up is the methodical harassment and intimidation of anyone willing to speak out against the excesses and un-synchronized behavior of the Goodluck Jonathan administration and the way he handles the affairs of the nation ( Pastor Tunde Bakare, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai). Not to forget our dear first lady, (sorry, Permanent Secretary) Dame Patience vs Turai Ya'ardua and the Africa's First Ladies Peace Forum conference held in Abuja recently, and her other antics such as, asking for the role of the first lady to included in the constitution so that she can earn salary for life as a one time wife to the president.
(remember village headmaster? Zebrudaya & Gloria, Giringory & Clarus? well, i say no more)

Whats sad about these developments is the fact that other nations that have walked these paths of collective injustice, have long been entangled in the complex web of civil war or an eventual breakup, which no one in the country right now wish for, but is seemingly inevitable should the situation keep up its present pace. It wouldn't be long before we all are engulfed with the fire already burning.

Fortunately today's write up isn't about these pressing issues and unfolding drama which is a sure path to destruction, its about Lies, cover-ups and carefully orchestrated deceit by the well known telecommunications giant MTN. I received this article this morning and decided to share .http://peacetalkquarterly.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-case-of-corporate-rascality-mtn.html

"its only in this country, that a gang of thieves gather together and point fingers at an innocent man, pounce on him, beating him publicly and label him a thief"
Prof Pat Utomi.
Speaking on the "The legacy of our generation" @the 60th birthday Celebration of Pastor Wale Adefarasin, 4th June 2012.