You appear to be rather biter about the whole thing…?
If I appear bitter, it is because our politicians have not learnt a
single lesson from the collapse of the first and second Republics Supposedly
reasonable people go prancing about the country, flaunting their stolen wealth
and fanning the embers of sectarianism, fanaticism and ethnicity; threatening
fire and brimstone if their demands are not made. Those who actually fought the
war and those who paid one way or the other appears wiser and sober. Take
General Adebayo (former Governor of the old western Region) he was at the
recent National Confab and when the issue of military coups were being
discussed, that distinguished soldier never hesitated but went ahead and
apologised on behalf of the army for the years of coups and counter coups. The
warmongers should be warned that no country in history has yet survived a
second civil war. Then the other thing to be borne in mind is that, the next
time, the fronts may not be in the East anymore. It may be elsewhere… maybe the
warmonger’s very community…that is the biter truth.
Any thought to share with us on the current mad rush
for wealth, the insatiable fashion craze and ubiquitous electronic gadgets
among the youth across the world?
It is a sign of the times … Money is nothing to me really…Okay, I need
some of it to buy the basic necessities of life, settle my bills and send my
kids to school, but that’s exactly where it ends. It is very wrong to use money
as an index of greatness. Consider this scenario: a rich man works tirelessly
all his life and amasses an incredible fortune but a prisoner in the
United Kingdom
strolls into a candy shop in
London
and picks a lottery
ticket for a dime. That ticket ends up as the winning ticket in the
UK
lottery draws totalling an amazing 250 million British pounds… just like that.
It was in the news recently. What do you make of that? Ten years from today no
one remembers what sort of car the movie stars of the 50s and 60s use to ride.
What brand of shoes they wore. I was in a class of about 20 students at the
international Law Institute in the
Washington
DC
, not a single person had a
wrist watch on. They all had cell phones, I Pods MP3 players. I cannot recall
the last time someone asked me for the time on the streets. What does that tell
you? Who could have imagined the wrist watch going out of fashion?
How do you relieve stress?
A healthy dose of humour is all I require. Let me make a reference to a
passage in my book: SMA Belgore: a 21st Century Realist, chapter
7, at page 156 where I wrote in 2003 as follows “English poet William Shakespeare- arguably the most talented author of
all times- wrote in his thriller “twelfth night” as follows: “Better a witty
fool than a foolish wit” and Malcolm Muggerridge posited that “Humour is the
difference between man’s aspiration and his achievement”. In a profession such
as the legal profession nothing can be more invigorating that a generous dose
of humour. In the courts, in chambers, at conferences and elsewhere, the drab
and boring atmosphere at such settings can be electrified by some ingenious
wisecracks. Often a grim court setting has been brought to life simply by a
good joke from the Judge or counsel. It is little wonder then that most
practitioners resort to this escape route into the clouds – away from the stark
realities of the boredom associated with long periods of research, listening or
(as often is the case) waiting for the chance to mention one’s case in court,
cross-examine a witness, address the court- mostly whilst standing” I still
stand by those comments. Besides these I spend some time in the gym twice a
week (I wish I could spend more time though)
Top five Nigerian public officers?
Emeka Anyaoku, Nuhu
Ribadu, Nasir El Rufai, Dora Akinyuli, Charles Soludo
Worst fear?
World War III or nuclear warfare … sadly am told it’s
already began in the
Middle East
Turn ons?
Polite people… flashy things do not impress me
really.
Turn
offs?
Uncouthness and rudeness are a drawback but people
who are down to earth easily win my confidence…which is why President George W.
Bush has managed to remain popular with me in spite of his numerous
shortcomings.
But you also have a very short fuse?
Long fuse really until it burns out... then you are
on your own…or shall we say short fuse but it burns out so slowly it gives you ample
time to readjust… if you are smart enough.
Happiness is?
Arriving home from work to meet my kids each day.
Sadness is?
Not being able to lend a helping hand to those in need due to reasons
of being able to afford the need required.
Any real worry?
Life is too short to accomplish all there is to do
hence we need to double our efforts
On the Christian/Muslim eternal divide
what’s your panacea?
No other two religions are as close as these two,
yet their adherents have continued to drag both religions apart over the years.
These divisions are pointless really because we all worship the same God. I’ve
read the Bible inside out ever since I was a kid but am yet to read the Qur’an,
that was a mistake. Am told that we even have Jesus Christ mentioned severally
in the Qu’ran. In my spare time I’ll take my time and study the Qu’ran and then
advise my children. The panacea is in the duty of parents, to build the bond
between both religions.
How do you stand
on the Pepsi or coke debate?
Can have both without a
fuss… but if I have both to choose then Coke...without a doubt.
Egg or chicken,
which came first?
I don’t know. It depends on
what you believe in. God did not create eggs. He created chicken and the
chicken then laid the eggs….lets leave it at that.
      
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