NIGERIA IN 2014: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY.

To some, 2014 was a year to remember as it marked a big break in their career, especially as witnessed by majority in the entertainment industry. To young itinerant, they did call it a bad year but not entirely though as there were some good times shared, so to them lets just say it was a “not so good year” and sure, they all must be feeling pleased that the year had finally come to an end especially on the ground of their short-comings owned to bad government policies that had stiff-neck effects on them, talking about the economic situation of the country (despite the so called GDP grading)...

Sadly, the ugly one at that however no doubt was experienced by much of the people residing in the northern part of the country. 2014 to them was a nightmare, a year they will want to try forget all their foes and woes or might never be able to forget at all for being the sole victims of the Boko Haram attacks; The dreaded terrorist group claimed to be fighting against western cultures and in turn, Islamize the country by force and every means of cruelness and wickedness deemed fit against threats.

Several of the most famous, good, bad and ugly events of 2014 are however outlined below incase you are stoical about putting yourself into any of the categories titled above.

In Entertainment;

1)      DAVIDO’S AYE ALBUM RECORDED A MASSIVE SUCCESS – This was however one of the biggest breaks in our entertainment industry, 2014. The “Dami Duro” crooner released the song on valentines day for fans and they all loved it, not only them I will say as the song attracted world audience such that it got him the BET African artiste of the year, Headies artiste of the year, Most heard RnB in Nigeria in the year 2014 too as it stayed on chat for several weeks on TRACE TV Africa top 10 countdown, Soundcity Africa rox and more. It was a big thing for the artiste and our music. For Davido, I’m sure he will say 2014 was good.

2)      THE SEKEM AND SHOKI DANCE REVELATION - Some said there did never be a dance step more versatile and creative in the likes of skelewu and azonto but Azonto showed to be a shocker! Several artistes claim to have invented the dance but could not really defend the step themselves. How the dance came about nobody really knows but will give all the credit to YBNL’s Lil’Kesh. Sekem undisputedly was created by Hypertek’s signee, Mc Galaxy and enjoyed the hit wave too but with the likes of shoki there was really no much to exploit in the dance and in a way these two dance step have become the trade mark of our music to all parts of the world. Thanks to the Duos.

3)      THE DEATH OF GOSPEL SINGER, KEFEE – News heard it that she was coming back to Nigeria after an exhausting show abroad only to collapse, slummed in an air-plane and shockingly, was announced dead later. The “Kokoro Ko” hit maker had several awards to her credit as an acclaimed gospel artiste and was survived by her husband and child.

4)      THE LINDA IKEJI’S BLOCKED ONLINE ACCESS – Just few weeks after acquiring her 2014 range rover sports, controversy broke out as this generated envy from her said past mentor who blocked all her internet access, resulting into the blogger running into loss with all her named host sites annulled in just a split of one second. Although the case had been said to be resolved, Linda is still yet to fully gain her ground back on the internet as she only just run one blog channel at the moment.

Nationwide;

5)      THE CHIBOK GIRLS – About 263 female students were kidnapped early 2014 Borneo state by the members of the Boko Haram and many lives were lost in the process, families put to grief and adding to it was the huge media controversy generated by Mr. President and His Wife, of what was a sore flaw on our image on media.

First was Mr. President calling it a decoy, rumour and a way the opposing party was trying to ruin his government reputation disclaiming that the kidnap was not true on international television, only to again had to re-address the world confirming the kidnap and promising solution but till date there is still no seen progress about recovering the girls and the First Lady, addressing the federation in a meeting became more popular with the viral “With all this blood you are sharing, Dairis, God o” phrase.

The hash tag #bringbackourgirls to show how well informed the world is about the situation in our country was supported by top international reputes in government and entertainment worldwide. We hope we still recover the few left as news about how the girls were sold out and some used as suicide bombers is still hitting the air-wave and everyone is badly afraid for them, praying that the news be false.

6)      NIGERIA’S FAILURE TO QUALIFY FOR 2015 AFRICA NATIONS CUP – Title-holder and defending champions, the Super eagles of Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2015 nation’s cup under the same coach that won the nations cup for them in 2013. It was like a joke but in a different way sort of, as people blamed the coach, not directly though has it had Mr. Presidential influence coming on back to coach the team for the qualifying stages after he was sacked by the NFF for his failures. The decision to retain him as coach however cost us from qualifying for the 2015 AFCON. News also reported that the eagles lost out on top deals from sponsors.

7)      THE SENTENCING OF SOLDIER’S CHARGED WITH MUTINY TO DEATH BY THE NIGERIA DEFENCE – “Why on earth were the soldier charged for mutiny and sentenced to death for simply refusing to go to the battle fronts with armory not a match against the terrorist group they were assigned to go face? This is the question the nation is yet to have answers to as there are speculations that the sentencing of the soldiers had Boko Haram influence (people that saw them as threats and enemies). Unfortunately, these soldiers fought to victory before their death sentence and recovered one of territories captured by the group only to meet with a cruel faith at the end of the assignment.

I do not myself believe that the soldiers were wrong to disobey orders in the first instance and will call it an unfair decider of their faith for they were such dedicated and loyal servants in the service of their motherland who do not deserve such a cruel way to die, at least it did be honorable to die on the battle field being killed by an enemy as a soldier than by killed by their own people. We pray for their sincere souls to rest in peace.

8)      THE SEVERAL BOKO-HARAM BOMBING – According to the President’s new year address, the Boko Haram attacks have made several of their victims, widows, widowers, orphans, childless and without siblings

Evidently, he was right as many have become refugees even on their own fatherland and motherland after losing their homes and belongings to the insurgence. It was reported severally how the group entered schools, churches and homes in the results were always a massive death toll and massacre. Bomb blasts were reported in the news like every week that it was no longer breaking news to many and many that also survived the several blasts died in the hospital because they were not cared for and other cases there are still pending up till now. In all, we hope it will all be resolved come 2015.

9)      THE POLITICAL BIG-WIG DRAMA – 2014 was a year of controversial crisis and drama amongst the political big-wigs talking about the Ex-CBN Governor and now Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and President Goodluck Jonathan, Noble prize winner and literate, Professor Wole Soyinka and Dame Patience Jonathan over her installment as permanent secretary in her state, River’s state Governor Rotimi Amaechi and President Jonathan over the first lady’s discontentment of the use of her office, the Speaker of the federal House of representative Tambuwal’s deflection from PDP to APC, the APC and PDP pre-election personality based clashes, Obasanjo and His daughter Iyabo over a letter written to President Goodluck Jonathan that was disregarded and thus separated the two from being on same team and sides, The Minister of Aviation acquiring a multi-million naira bullet proof limo and was not probed, the missing of $20billion from excess oil account, the amendment of constitution crisis, Governor Ayo Fayose and his seven man judiciary and many more just to mention a few amongst the every famous political dramas in 2014, hilarious, I will say as they all take the country for a joke, GOSH!

10)  CORRUPTION AT PEAK – From the uncovering of oil theft, diversion of federal funds by some power leaders, top female political big-wigs wasting million on Cars and Jets, the grading of unrealistic GDP and not talk of the fall of the naira currency, the South-Africa’s claim of not being aware of the federal fund transferred into their account on the note of the Nigeria government wanting to purchase arms and ammunitions from them and many more of what I will say it was a thing of corruption at its peak such that corruption was constitutionalized and debugged from stealing, where people complained of no money in circulation and some were lousily calling billions as if it were coins to them. God save Nigeria from the unjust!

11)   EBOLA – Here is the good one and all thanks to God and the efforts of the health sector in quickly controlling the deadly ebola virus from spreading out of control. The virus entered Nigeria through Liberian traveler, Patrick Sawyer and some top health workers lives were lost in the process but in the end the sacrifice was not a waste. Although, the virus is still said to be very incarnate in other West Africa countries, WHO already acclaimed Nigeria as ebola Free states.