INEC: THE CARD READER GAMBLE

In a bid to avoid the (man-made) hurdles encountered during the 2011 general elections, Attahiru Jega, professor of Political Science and chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, gave his nod for the smart card reader. Jega was appointed on June 2010; the first northerner to head INEC. This giant step was seen as a welcome development since conducting free and fair elections had inevitably become a taboo and as tough as raw hide in this nation. Needless asserting therefore that Jega made up his mind to prevent electorates, candidates and political parties from painting his image with a tar brush. But this is not to say that some groups doubt the technical efficacy of the card reader. It is seen as completely experimental. They believe that this innovation, if proper caution is not taken, will damage Jega’s reputation. Little wonder why the Federal Executive Council, FEC, didn’t bat an eyelid before approving a jaw-dropping sum of 495 million naira for the master-class innovation. For the 2011 elections, INEC requested for 50 billion naira and 80 million dollars was also donated by development partners.

From a critical point of view, most Nigerians perceive the card reader as a catalyst of unprecedented efficiency in vote casting and credible elections. However, darts off complaint keep flying all over the country concerning the technical glitches of the card reader. Tension further sky-rocketed when the card reader technically-embarrassed President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife in his home town. The machine failed to read their biometrics after several trials. As he was sweating profusely, one could easily see the facial expression of the president as crossed as a bear roused by hibernation. The number one citizen had no option than to be manually-accredited.

  However, this is just a drop of water in the bucket of this issue because the Frankenstein monster was present. The training of Election Day personnel in line with the introduction of new technology for the polls was reported as not being extensive than was the case in the past. The use of “half-baked”, ill-prepared polling officers also caused ruckus in operating the gadgets. INEC was also accused of withholding the configuration of the card readers in some “key” areas. But those who eventually became triumphant after the announcement of election results still beat their chests on the integrity of the smart card reader. Before now, according to Inter-Society of Nigeria, 80% of elective offices occupants (13,700 offices) did not win their elections.

Although it can be safely argued that the card reader isn’t an all-success story, we should also be mindful of the fact that there is no perfect human institution in this world, albeit the computerized nature of the card reader has closed the gap of electoral flim-flam across the nation. We arguably had a spick and span election last week. Even the United Kingdom lauded the use of card reader because they are yet to introduce the method into their system. This was immediately followed by an Award received by Jega from the American Embassy.We all couldn’t help but ooh and ah! If you add value to something, you get valued for something. INEC also revealed that the commission had less than 1% incidents of electoral snag in the in the 155,000 polling units across the federation. Perhaps we have said our good-byes to “electoral abracadabra” in Nigeria.

By words and deeds, Jega proved to the watching world that things could only get better. He knows that a corrupt judge is deadlier than a hired assassin. He did the extraordinary in the face of very stiff laissez-faire. He cleared all fogs of negativity on the card reader. He kept his cool even when events were as hot as Hades. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. The truth has a way of bringing itself to the fore.

Conclusively, on very solid technical grounds, Elections 2015 results will unchangeably be as firm as a mountain because the card reader has opened a new page in Nigerian history.

RED LETTER DAY: RESURRECTION OF TRUE DEMOCRACY

FELLOW NIGERIANS.....Personally, I think the ousted President Jonathan deserves an accolade and applaud for accepting his sour fate (even before official declaration) in good terms and also honouring the collective decision of the masses. He is an hero of peace.He was a man once loved by all because of his name GOODLUCK, which we all thought would be registered on Nigeria's near-worse condition. But 6 years was enough to pray for change. I could still rekindle my love him, but for the group he pitched his tent with. Maybe things would get rosy in the future if he leaves the People Deceiving People clique. My regards to the ever-busy Madam Patience.

Baba Buhari, our President-elect, Nigerians have irresistibly given you their mandate, support, voice, blood and sweat. This is because of your enviably-impeccable record of integrity-cum-uprightness. Please don't ever let us down! Don't even think of it! Don't ever give room for those parties to make a mockery of this resurrection of true democracy. You already know the areas that need serious and urgent attention -economy diversification, job creation, Boko Haram insurgency, power among others. Pending the time you are on that hot seat, always bear in mind that this is a New Democracy where Nigerians possess the ultimate power to hire and fire any political leader.

Master Jega, I doff my hat to you and your INEC team! Exceptionally, I greatly admire your unmovable calmness, composure and determination (even when Orubebe and the "blind" prof from Rivers state tried to pour sand in our meal). Also worthy of mention is the high level of professionalism, objectivity, clarity, precision and transparency with which you conducted, collated and declared election results. You're truly a good son of Mama Nigeria.

Finally, you and I should support this new government so that we all enjoy the solid dividends of democracy. Ethnicity and tribalism should be kicked out. We should not stop praying for our Fatherland. Our votes should not be in vain! If this project fails, we shall all suffer for it, irrespective of your party or state of origin. Be wise!!!

WHAT YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT GSM

Arguably, quite a lot of people carry mobile phones about without really getting acquainted with the technical terminlogies and/or multiple service-rendering xteristics of the GSM (irrespective of network provider). For your delight, here are some info that will add more 'sense' to your phone usage: 

GSM (2) GSM is the most popular standard for mobile phones in the world. GSM also pioneered a low-cost (to the network carrier) alternative to voice calls, the Short message service which is now supported on other mobile standards as well.

SIM

Subscriber Identity Module. This is a Smart Card installed in every GSM handset. Within the GSM application the three primary roles of the SIM are access control to the network (authentication & ciphering), service personalisation (SMS, advice of charge, etc.),

Caller ID — The “called from” name and number that is transmitted and displayed over PSTN lines. The caller has the ability to block delivery of this information by dialing 67 before dialing the destination number.

signal (or reception) is the strength (measured in dBm) of the connection to the mobile phone with its network.

A dialer (American English) or dialler (British English) is an electronic device that is connected to a telephone line to monitor the dialed numbers and alter them to seamlessly provide services that otherwise require lengthy access codes  to be dialed.

Bearer service is a telecommunications term referring to a service that allows transmission of information signals between network interfaces

LINK in telecommunications a link is the communications channel that connects two or more communicating devices.

called party (in some contexts called the "B-Number") is a person who (or device that) answers a telephone call. The person who (or device that) initiates a telephone call is the calling party.

In telecommunication, a message format is a predetermined or prescribed spatial or time-sequential arrangement of the parts of a message that is recorded in or on a data storage medium.

Carrier frequency isThe nominal frequency of a carrier wave for modulation signal.

AVAILABILITY The degree to which a system, subsystem, or equipment is in a specified operable and committable state at the start of a mission.

Trunk — Phone line or voice path that can be used or shared across multiple voice applications.

Redirect — Destination number associated with a toll free number. Is typically the customer’s main phone number.

              

Busy Hour — A 60-minute period during which the average volume of telecommunications traffic is at its maximum.

Caller ID — The “called from” name and number that is transmitted and displayed over PSTN lines. The caller has the ability to block delivery of this information by dialing 67 before dialing the destination number.

Carrier — Telecommunications provider which owns or operates a long distance telephony network within the PSTN.

Local Number — Same as a telephone number. Any 10 digit LEC-assigned (non toll free) phone number that can be dialed from anywhere in the world. Includes all types of local numbers, such as ANIs, DIDs, and RCFs. If a caller must dial a “1” to reach this number, the caller is responsible for the per-minute costs.

Redirect — Destination number associated with a toll free number. Is typically the customer’s main phone number.

Private Line

A telephone line that is linked directly to a user and is used exclusively by that user.

Private Network

A network that is designed for use exclusively by a person or organization and usually does not have points of access from users external to the company.

Interconnect

    A company or vendor selling customer premises equipment, generally PBXs and other types of office telephone systems.

Switch — Large-scale telephony platform used to route phone calls through the PSTN.

Call Transfer

    A feature allowing a call to be transferred to another phone

Cellular

    Refers to communications systems, especially the Advance Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), that divide a geographic region into sections, called cells. The purpose of this

GPRS

    General Packet Radio Service is a standard for wireless communications which runs at speeds up to 150 kilobits per second, compared with current GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) systems' 9.6 kilobits.

REALITY DOSAGE FOR GULDER ULTIMATE SEARCH

Admittedly, when Nigeria Breweries Plc initiated Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) TV reality show programme in 2004, one would be pardoned to hastily presume that a typical beer-producing company has nothing worthwhile to  offer the Nigerian youth populace who are seen as the nation’s future leaders, considering the repelling relationship between moral instructions and alcohol consumption in our highly-religious society. But as series of events began to gradually unfold in the show, many couldn’t resist the urge of saying: “Thumbs up Gulder!” We finally came to realize that the aim of the programme is to entertain, educate and expose Nigerians to various state cultures and places of tourist attractions in the country. Viewers keep confessing that they can’t help but remain glued to their seats during the episodic actions embedded in GUS. The programme concept appears to be unprecedented in the history of TV reality game show in Nigeria. I wholeheartedly throw my heart out to the fun-sparking visuals and sound effects; natural setting of locations; draconian rules and regulations; military-like atmosphere; competitive spirit of participants; brain-tasking puzzles; friendly disposition; communication and language style; high-pitched tension; the passionless (but outspoken) anchors and struggle for survival and triumph. The entire programme concept is superbly breath-taking.

From a marketing strategy point of view, GUS is also targeted at relaunching the Gulder brand, considering the rivalry nature of the large labour market which calls for consistent brand repositioning and rebuilding. An innovative attempt in topping the table of beer market demand and profit maximization breakthrough, which I believe has long been actualized.

Nonetheless, GUS puts the mental and physical fitness of applicants to different tests by unraveling a quest and locating a hidden chest in the heart of the jungle. Surprisingly though, the energy-sapping show is not gender-based, as the females keep flooding in year-on-year, despite the fact that no female has ever won the great treasure. Therefore, inorder to choose the best of the best out of a massive pool of applications, the applicants must scale through online and physical screening process in regional screening locations. The physical hurdles include mandatory swimming, fitness exercise and thorough medical examination. On the successful completion of these series of tests, the applicants are invited to the Sea School in… …Lagos, where they are being interviewed and assessed before the last 10 standing are finally announced.

For the records, since the inception of GUS (2004) till date, a total of 6 winners have emerged, not less than N32 million naira have been won and more than 5 SUVs car jeep have been driven home. Some of the winners are Ezugo Egwuagu (Season 1), Lucan Chambliss (Season 2), Hector Jobarteh (Season 3), Dominic Mudabi (Season 4) and others. The programme is shown daily (10pm or 11pm) on AIT, Arica Magic, NTA, STV and DBN. It can also be watched live on the internet at www.tvpulseonline.com.

Since GUS is a reality show that involves a lot of strength and energy in the forests of Nigeria, adequate medical and security facilities are put in place for the duration of the show. Critical Resque International (CRI), private security companies and the Nigerian Police Force are on standby.

Albeit the organizers of the programme need to readjust and improve in some grey areas: Firstly, the time at which the programme is being aired is too odd, perhaps they beat it down to 8pm or 9pm because most people would be in bed by 11pm. Also, the Celebrity Season was a total misfit because viewers, immersed in Nollywood, believe that these actors and actresses are only acting out a script and doing only what they are being told to do, hereby toying with the emotions of the confused audience and taking their viewership for granted. Finally, the programme need not be intermittently bombarded with Gulder advertisements since we already know who the sponsors are. The slots should be reduced to the barest minimum. Quod Erat Demonstrandum!

THE SHAMBLES OF NYSC ORIENTATION CAMPS: FOCUS ON OKADA CAMP, EDO STATE

“Youths obey the clarion call

Let us lift our nation high

Under the sun or in the rain…”

Thus goes the morale-boosting, short-versed, mission-inspiring anthem of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). It is arguably a gigantic scheme which was set up on 22^nd of May, 1973 by the Federal Government of Nigeria to boost patriotic leadership and citizenship amongst Nigerian youths, based on the collective ideology that youths constitute a dominant force for national mobilization, growth and ethnic bonding.

In more than one ways, the NYSC scheme has greatly contributed in raising the moral tone of the youths; developing communities; shared experience; promoting national unity; mobilization in the national interest; building the spirit of self-reliance after school; with positive national ethos-leadership; producing a sound, result-oriented organization that is alive to set responsibilities and responsive to the economic needs of the its country among others.

Of course, all Nigerian graduates (maybe home or abroad) dream to wear the NYSC khaki. They want to take the great salute, for better, for worse; putting the nation first and help build their father land. They contribute their quota, based on the knowledge acquired from educational (and religious) institutions.

Nevertheless, the NYSC story has greatly-transformed from a happy-starting to an unpredictably-intending horror movie. The situation has gradually evolved from good, bad to worse. As usual, we know how fresh graduates swim through the muddy waters of graduation, mobilization, screening, orientation programme, Place of Primary Assignment (PPA), Community Development Service (CDS) and the final winding up activities for Passing out Parade (POP).

However, the discourse of this write-up will focus on the sorry-state of the NYSC Orientation Camp (Okada) in Edo State; an indescribably-appalling place to be; an oddly-disorienting orientation camp.

Apparently, I was opportune d to serve in Edo state, passing through the temporary, make-shift, prison-like, much-dreaded Okada camp. The three weeks in camp could be simply tagged as “hell on earth”. When we arrived camp, it was like a long dream-come-true. We didn’t have the faintest idea of maggots in the offing. Infact it would be an under-statement to say the camp was in a sorry state. Corp members were forced to sleep in classrooms (hostels) which were grossly overcrowded and filled to the brim. The windows in the hall I stayed were far from normal, coupled with the clash of body odours and ceaseless-sweating, since there was no cooling fan, let alone air conditioners. We spend most of the hours in the hall lamenting about our inescapable predicament. Thank God the Ebola virus was yet to me fully confirmed as at then.

To be upfront, the heavy downpour in camp worsened the situation. Those of us who came to camp with designer-cum-expensive tennis shoes had to lock them in their Ghana-must-go bags and wisely purchased the rubber ones that flooded the camp. Even the Mammy market traders made more than enough profits, as the price sky-rocketed expectedly when demand was higher than stock. Things were as tough as rawhide. After washing our near-white uniforms, looking for where to sun-dry them is another task, akin to Guinness ultimate search. Though some wise dudes displayed “otondo creativity” by hanging clothes on tree branches, doors, water pipes, poles and etcetera. Some very desperate ones sneaked into nearby villages to get some space. Even when the camp soldiers cajoled us repeatedly to be as strong as Mustangs, we all felt we were being short-changed in a Maximum Prison Quarters.

Without apology, the food “pasted” on our plates (of different sizes) was a far cry from quality and quantity. I saw mini-protests where corp members who don’t joke with their stomachs engaged in a theater of harsh words with the passionless kitchen stewards. It even reached a climax whereby the camp coordinator ordered for a reasonable increment on quantity, but nothing was done about quality. I could use my Ogbono soup as a mirror. To crown it all, a handful of the camp officials were impenetrably hard. In the soldier’s diary, you only get lucky if you are not as slow as a porcupine on the parade ground.

Lamentably, the cash-loaded ones amongst us never used their meal ticket. They became regular customers in mammy market, where your money can fetch you desired taste.

From the benefit of hindsight, the convoluted truth is that, Edo state needs a real orientation camp (permanent site) and not a make-shift secondary school. Infact I wouldn’t be surprised a bit if this is being added as part of the manifesto for 2015 elections in Edo. The government should borrow a leaf from other beautiful NYSC camps we have in this country. Oshun state should serve as a blueprint. Environment and health hazards should be taken into consideration in this period where Ebola is on “popular demand”. The camp must be disease-cum-virus free, spick and span and home-away-from-home. The FG and NYSC should right the wrongs and stop playing the ostrich.

Conclusively, objective nay subjective, I hope this discourse would be treated as a positive catalyst of unprecedented efficiency in the NYSC quarters, and not like a dynamite thrown into a pool of supposedly calm water. Q.E.D.

ARRESTING CARDIAC ARREST

It is not gainsaying that, in life, prevention is more preferable to cure. But in most Third-World countries, the latter appears to have gained ground. Such is the painstaking issue of cardiac arrest (cardiopulmonary arrest or circulatory arrest).

As the name implies, cardiac arrest have been erroneously used interchangeably with heart attack, which is medically incorrect. A cardiac arrest is a result of heart attack, where blood flow to the muscle of the heart is impaired. The coronary arteries produce oxygen and blood to the heart. If the blood flow is blocked, the heart is starved of oxygen; and the end result is the death of heart cells. This process of arrested blood circulation leads to loss of consciousness, before an encounter of abnormal or absent breathing.

The preventable state of cardiac arrest is certainly cum potentially entangled in the cessation of normal circulation of the blood, due to failure of the heart to contract effectively. It can also be referred to as sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

According to medical statements, the most recurring and common factor that causes patients to die suddenly from cardiac arrest is heat disease. Coronary heart disease is the chief culprit. In the U.S. (2005), it claimed 445, 687 lives. we also have alcoholic heart disease, congenital heart disease, hypertensive, valvular, inflammatory, dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, to mention but a very few.

However, cardiac arrest is unrelated to heart problems in 35% of cases. Some non-cardioac causes are trauma, non-trauma-related bleeding (such as gastrointestinal bleeding, aortic rupture and intracranial hemorrhage), overdose, drowning and pulmonary embolism. On the other hand, the risk factors are smoking, lack of regular physical exercise, obesity, diabetes and family history.

For the umpteenth time, medical experts have revealed that the signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest can be easily ascertained as evidenced by the absence of a palpable pulse. Prompt intervention could reverse the case, but without such intervention, death is certain. Sometimes, it is an expected outcome to a serious illness. Signs could be coughing, chest pain, seating, short breath, anxiety, fainting, light-headedness and etcetera.

The treatment for cardiac arrest entails medical emergency, which is done via cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to provide circulatory support, followed by defibrillation, if a shockable rhythm is present. But if it is absent, after CPR and other interventions, clinical death is inevitable.

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is the act of engaging mannered chest compression and mouth-to-mouth breath, 30 chest compressions to the heart and 2 mouth-to-mouth breaths. While defibrillator is a CPR device that sends electric shock across the patient’s chest. It is an act of using electricity to shock the heart back to life. Moreso, the use of Aspirin, Thrombolytics, anti-hypertension drugs, anti-cholesterol and etcetera, can be used for treatment after attack.

In the final analysis, cardiac arrest can be proactively arrested by eating a balanced and healthy diet, low intake of alcohol, keeping blood cholesterol at opium levels, plenty of body exercise, good night rest, quit smoking, among others. A word ought to be enough for the wise. Many people have missed their happiness in life, not because they never found it, but because they didn’t stop to enjoy it.

Horses for courses!

NIGERIA: A LESSON FROM THE FRENCH PRESIDENT!

NIGERIA: A LESSON FROM THE FRENCH PRESIDENT! 

Admittedly, it sounded like another script from Hollywood when I stumbled on the news that the 24th president of France, François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande declared today, Monday, as the deadline for his reportedly-corrupt ministers to declare their assets publicly.  

Unbelievably, the morality play followed the “scandalous revelation” on former Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac, who is charged with tax fraud over a secret bank account. This lone happenstance has triggered the wrath of the Socialist President earlier this month when Jerome admitted he had hidden about 600,000 euros (£509,000; $770,000) in a Swiss bank account and eventually went ahead to deny the claims and counter-claims. 

To strain more nerves, each of France's 37 ministers have to obey the call by going on-line (internet) to publish details of their personal finances on their government websites (including details of bank accounts, property and other expensive items such as cars, art works and antiques). 

In contrast, in Nigeria, such things might cause a blood-laden uproar in high and low places. Things will threaten to fall apart! In short, such a thing will never see the light of day but die in mere imagination of the morality crusader. 

Not long ago, it was reported that no fewer than 10 ministers could be sent out of their beats. In that story, the newspaper reported that while Jonathan may show some ministers the way out of the cabinet for corruption allegations and petitions, other with political ambition would be eased off too as well as others that are non-performing. But what was the eventual outcome of the political saga? Was it a total success story? You have your response for the begging! 

In a country where millions of people are drowning and frowning in stark poverty, a single person owes 104 properties worth 87 billion naira!!! Why then must we complain about kidnapping, armed robbery, militancy, terrorism in a country where many educated youths no longer know how to smile? 

Conclusively, if this nation must move forward, she must cleanse herself of parasitic-cum-corrupt leaders by urging our weak President to follow the French-Hammer-Style by setting a date for these “Agbada” thieves to declare their assets on live air coverage!!! No more….no less!!!