Five World Cup innovations you might have missed

The excitement around this year’s World Cup in Brazil has been ratcheted up a notch now that we’re in the second round of group matches and the United States has already started off with an impressive 2-1 win over Ghana. While there’s been talk about the innovations in how we watch and follow the World Cup on TV and social media, it’s the technology innovations happening at the game level that viewers need to keep an eye on in Brazil.

A camera is attached to the net during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

1. Goal-line camera technology
One big story at this year’s World Cup is the new goal-line technology that claims to be 100 percent accurate. What that means is that goals will be called goals at this World Cup, and we won’t have to worry about controversies like we did at the 2010 World Cup, when a ball clearly crossed the line but was not ruled a goal. The goal-line camera technology (GoalControl) is better than instant replay technology in other sports because it can detect a goal in real-time – no waiting around for the referees to view different angles of a shot on goal and then conduct a conference on the field about a controversial call. Each camera is capable of taking 500 pictures per second and then instantaneously sending a message to a referee’s watch that a goal has been scored.

This vanishing white foam spray — seen here during the 2014 World Cup soccer match between England and Italy — is one of the on-field technological innovations to watch in Brazil. (Ivan Alvarado/Reuters)

2. The vanishing white foam
You’ve probably seen the referees spraying graffiti-like white foam in front of the players’ feet during free kicks. This is to make sure they don’t come too close to the ball – something they tend to do when the referees aren’t watching. The white spray paint — known as 9:15 Fairplay – is biodegradable and actually disappears after a minute. It physically appears on the field of play — unlike the augmented reality lines that TV sports broadcasters use to help viewers make sense of sports like American football. The Major League Soccer and the Brazilian leagues have been using the vanishing foam already, but it’s new to the World Cup.
3. High-tech jerseys and shoes
Nike, Adidas and Puma are collectively outfitting 27 of the 32 teams at the World Cup, and each of them claims that their clothing can actually help to improve on-field performance of their teams – and that especially means helping players stay cool in the Brazilian heat and humidity. Ghana, for example, was outfitted by Puma, which uses an innovative technology that claims to micro-massage specific muscle areas and boost overall stamina. Nike, which outfits the U.S. team, touts its Dri-FIT technology in its jerseys for improved breathability, as well as the superior ability of its jerseys to conform to the shape of a player’s body. There’s a fine line between real technology and fashion masquerading as technology, though, and that’s especially true for the shoes worn by the players: Color choice seems to be a big thing this year.

Cameroon’s midfielder Stephane Mbia controls the ball. (Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images)

4. The ball
Much has been made of the improved aerodynamics of the ball used in this year’s World Cup. Adidas claims that the ball it developed for this year’s World Cup – the Brazuca – is an upgrade over the ball used in South Africa in 2010, offering superior grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics. In short, players won’t be able to launch knuckleball shots that weave and wobble past goalkeepers. This appears to have been borne out by NASA’s aerodynamic testing of the ball, which does show clear airflows around the ball in mid-flight and less tendency for a ball to wobble in mid-air.
5. iPad scouting apps
If you see players or coaches holding an iPad on the sidelines, it’s probably because they’re taking advantage of state-of-the-art scouting apps. Prior to the World Cup, the team from England touted a new iPad scouting app specifically developed by the team’s head of performance analysis for Brazil that lets players check out the personal quirks and abilities of their on-field opponents. It’s not just data and statistics of the type mentioned in the book Soccernomics – it’s also video footage of specific players. That helps performance, of course, but is no guarantee of victory – England still lost to Italy 2-1 in its World Cup opener.
 By Dominic Basulto
LEKAN QUADRI FOR SPORT GROUP

 

Suarez the name on everyone's lips Suarez the name on everyone's lips

 Suarez the name on everyone's lips Suarez the name on everyone's lips

Over the past week, speculation surrounding the fitness of Uruguay striker Luis Suarez had been rife, with the man who topped the English Premier League scorers’ charts with Liverpool having undergone a knee operation less than a month ago. After sitting out La Celeste’s opening game of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, a 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica, many wondered just what kind of shape he would be in against an England team featuring a host of his Anfield club-mates?
‘Lethal’ was the answer given by the prolific front-runner on Thursday at the Arena de Sao Paulo, where Suarez scored both goals as Uruguay sank the Three Lions 2-1 to revive their Group D campaign. “We’d love to have ten players of his ability,” said Los Charrúas’ captain Diego Lugano. “But we’ve got a few guys who can make a difference, like he does with his brillance, and the rest of us are all grafters.”
Indeed, Suarez’s immense talent, eye for goal and the unique way in which, for good or for bad, he manages to stir the emotions of everyone watching the game – mean he is without a doubt a player that leaves no football fan unmoved. In Sao Paulo, when first going up to whip in one of his vicious corner kicks, he was the target of resounding boos from a large group of England followers in that area of the stadium. In contrast, at a corner at the opposite end of the stadium the second half he was given a standing ovation by the nearby largely Brazilian fans - even before he had scored his second goal.
Need we ask about the Uruguayan faithful? Well, shortly before leaving the field after the game, Suarez did not forget to pay a humble tribute to the Celeste fans, waving and applauding them for their support while, in turn, his Uruguay teammates – including Lugano, who missed the game through injury – raised their match-winner aloft in the centre of the pitch. “This is what we’ve seen from him for a while, right?” Lugano said.
“He’s phenomenal,” chipped in midfielder Egidio Arevalo. “To be honest, we should have expected this from him. We knew that he would be fit in time for this game, but we didn’t know exactly how sharp he would be, so he surprised us out on the pitch tonight.”
“Our team really revolves around him,” Lugano said, referencing how Suarez’s mere presence lifts the reigning South American champions, with Edinson Cavani – to name just one – enjoying more license to roam upon his strike partner’s return to the starting XI. “He did what he had to do,” Cavani said on his strike partner's performance. “But we know that it can’t have been easy for him, coming back from injury, with all the pressure that surrounds a World Cup and with everything that was being said and speculated about his fitness.”
Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera echoed Cavani’s thoughts. “There was a lot of criticism coming his way, saying that we’d be left with a player only 50 per cent fit,” he said. “But when I heard that I thought, ‘I’d rather have a player like him in the team anyway’. Even at three per cent fit he can still win you a game.”
What Suarez’s precise level of fitness on Thursday was exactly, we do not know. But, as Muslera stated, whatever the percentage, he can – and does – win games.

"ABUBAKAR SHEKAU FOR PRESIDENT..." By Deji Ajayi

"Ol'Boy, congratulations".

"What is it this time? What mischief are you up to?"

"Bring your hand first"

"Look, don't waste my time. I have very important things to worry about"

"I say bring your hand. Do you know what I want to tell you?"

"Please yourself"

"Hen hen. Look at this story. The Federal Government has declared total war against Boko Haram and all forms of insurgency. It said it is prepared to use all means possible to ensure security of lives and property in the country”

"And what has that got to do with me?"

"It means you can still have faith in this country and continue to live in Nigeria. Relocating abroad doesn't help anyone”

"Should somebody like you be telling me that? What do you know about live in a foreign land sef? You that has never been to an airport. Ah beg"

"Oh sorry, my master, I forgot that someone like you is so rich, and can afford to relocate abroad and pay huge taxes and help “whites” develop their own country at the expense of our own.

“But I heard that your sister works four jobs in America including SOS and Mortuary attendant. You wan go join am abi?

"It is grade A job compared to your “sit-down-look, jobless status" seven years after NYSC. You are not qualified to lecture me” Did you watch the network news last night?”

“Which one of them”? Network News of TVC News, Channels or AIT?”

“What do those ones know? The only Network News I know is the CNN. I hear Boko Haram kidnapped two first class traditional rulers in Borno state – the Emir of Uba, Ismaila Mamza and the Emir of Gwoza, Idrisa Timta. The two emirs were seized by gun-wielding insurgents while they were travelling to Gombe to attend the funeral of the Emir of Gombe, Shehu Abubakar, who died while undergoing treatment for cancer”

“You see, you are always watching the bad news about Nigeria on foreign media; that's all they know how to do best. Nothing more, more more”

“And that's why you, a poor graduate of mass communication have been sitting at home with your first class egg-head; and lecture me on why Isha Sesay should not conduct an interview”

“That girl should have gone to interview Baba in Ota and she for hear am. I trust Baba”

“Did you watch his your Baba's interview on why Boko Haram did not disturb his government?”

“No. I don't watch bad news”

“That's bad news in itself”

“Look, don't insult me o. If you want to travel abroad to go and be washing plates and dead bodies, suit yourself. Set forth quickly. Leave us alone. The President has assured us time and time again that it is well”

“Yeah, it is well, even a well without water. Sit-down there and think it will pass. Did you hear of the diffused bomb in Broad street two weeks ago? Did you hear why Lagos state government shifted the passing out parade of outgoing youth corps members in the state? The fear of Boko Haram, my friend. Pack your bags and leave this country before Red Cross packs you in a bag”

“Things will not continue like this forever.”

“That's what Jonathan told us five years ago; same o same! Remember, it's over 2 months now that those small poor girls where forcefully invited to excursion in Sambisa forest. Yet your president said they are on top of it. You are too gullible to read between the lines? This government cannot even protect itself”

"I see that you are bent on running away from this country”

"If that's what you call setting forth for my destiny, please yourself. I will not be here and let Shekau use me to act his film”

"Which film”

"Haa. You don't know Abubakar Shekau is acting the next season of 24? That guy should win TIME's man of the year. For daring Jonathan and even Obama”

"Craze dey worry you o”

“Person wey dey craze dey for Aro”

“Believe it, Abubakar Shekau is ruling this country. When he sneezes, Jonathan shivers. My brother, shine your eyes. Let's leave this country and send dollar home to our people. Did you hear that Dare is now in New Jersey? That poor boy in your class, way back in secondary school is now earning dollars. You are here wasting and rotting away, believing in a ill-equipped military to bring back your girls”

“Our millitary will defeat Boko Haram soon”

“That's what every government official has been telling us since 2009, looks like a bad copy of a familiar one.”

“Believe”

“Believe me, that 2015 will be worse. APC will make live miserable for Jonathan and all you “faithless-believers” will suffer for it in the hands of the Bomb- man Shekau” dey there, dey believe o”

“Oh, I see you are now supporting the opposition. Are they better off?”

“PDP has been ruling this country since I was in school; are we better off”

“na you sabi”

“No. Answer me na”

“You can say all you want, am not going to leave this country for anywhere. Nigeria is my fatherland”

“Point of correction, am not leaving for just anywhere. I am leaving for America, the land of possibilities; where freedom is free and everyone either black or white can be president”

“Ha. Ha. Ha. Where every man at the grocery store can call you a Negro....”

…..interruption....radio plays the national anthem

Announcer: In what appears as a coup, unconfirmed reports say Boko Haram is waging serious attack on the Aso Rock; the president is believed to have been assassinated while all effort to reach the state house proved abortive. We enjoin all to be careful and pray for the....

“You see, what am talking about? I knew it. I knew it. Shekau is now officially the President. He has finally overthrown the government”

“Shut up. Set out if you want to and stop this false prophecy. It will not come to pass”

“By the way, I need to re-book my flight. America here I come!

CHIBOK & NIGERIAN MEDIA By Deji Ajayi

Once again Nigeria is in the eye of the storm, the whole world is talking about us and as usual, it is for a negative reason. For a number of weeks the world has been stunned and angered at the abduction of over 200 girls in Chibok, Borno state.

This abduction has further exposed the massive security problem we have in Nigeria. That these numbers of students can be taken from their school in a state under emergency rule is cause for worry. Beyond the security loophole that this abduction has revealed, we have also seen a failing of leadership, even though this failure is not peculiar to this abduction. The government showed poor leadership in the first couple of days of the abduction by playing the ostrich and only reacted when #BringBackOurGirls went international. It took the Nigerian government almost three weeks to make any kind of comment about the abducted girls. Granted that the government might have been working behind the scenes to free the girls, but it seems grossly irresponsible to keep quiet on such a subject. Also, the Nigerian media has performed below par in it’s covering of the abduction in Borno.

The Chibok abduction has revealed that the Nigerian media is either not prepared or unwilling to provide quality, up-to-date information to the Nigerian public. The media, some would argue has been as confused as the government in the handling of this matter. Nigerians have had to rely primarily on international news outlets for ongoing information on the abduction of the girls. This is because the media only rely on the military press releases to report anything on the matter; nothing on their own; and when the military goofed and the public knew the media provided them with false information; attention shifted to whatever the international media had to offer. This again provided the "parachute" reporters and the CNN, Aljazeera with the right to file their "Sheraton-Hilton" reports about the matter.

I’m going to attempt in this piece to share some perspectives on why the media in Nigeria seems to be a non-starter as far of the Chibok abductions are concerned. Not because i have had the priviledge of travelling to Chibok community but as a concerned Nigerian. A substantial part of my missive will focus on what has caused the Nigerian media to seem docile and also touch on some of what we need to do to improve the quality of the work we put out.

Let me emphasize that to a great extent my use of media in this article refers to the broadcast media, radio and television.

Many Nigerians, particularly on social media and on many radio talk shows, have vilified the media for failing to take the lead in the coverage of the Chibok abduction and have allowed international news companies such as CNN, BBC & Aljazeera to take the shine off them. This is sad, but painfully true.

Why aren’t we taking the lead in reporting this abduction as well as carrying out investigative reports that could help unravel not just the location of these girls, but also the identity of their abductors? Like many knotty issues in Nigeria, the answer is embedded in the question.
This was a big story in all its capacity. Good enough to give any channel a break it desires. Did you watch Aljazeera's Listening post on media coverage of Boko Haram war in Nigeria?

First of all, many of us fear for our life. A journalist’s life, some would say life in general, in Nigeria isn't worth anything. Think Dele Giwa (Newswatch), Bagauda Kaltho (The news), Enenche Akogwu (Channels Television) to mention but a few. For all of these journalists, nothing has been done to bring their killers to books, no one has been prosecuted, no commission of enquiry has been set up, not even a committee has been constituted and we love committees in Nigeria. And you think more journalists will want to experience the same fate? If we want our journalists to go to the farthest end of the earth to unearth ground breaking stories, we must also ensure they are protected from any kinds of hazards and molestation, by ‘we’ I mean the state and their employers.

It seems odd that the Nigerian leadership will rather talk to some crappy second-rate foreign media company, instead of spending a couple minutes with a local media outlet and when they do, it is at news conferences where select journalists only are invited. For example the Information Minister, Labaran Maku has spoken to Isha Sesay twice in the last couple of days, as a matter of fact virtually everyone has queued up to talk to her. But how many times has he or anyone in this government spoken particularly to any Nigerian journalist on the Chibok abduction? But sadly, should we expect otherwise? Virtually all journalists expect or even demand gratification before doing what are their professional duties. It’s impossible to expect respect and recognition when many of us are on the payroll of these same people we seek to scrutinize and we go about it in the most shameless manner. A report on Al Jazeera’s Listening Post referred to what is practiced in Nigeria as “Cheque Book Journalism”

So what has happened to being on the side of the people, on the side of truth? Most of us are on the side of our pockets. Poverty and greed has driven us to a point where we would not touch a story that will not bring us any financial reward, sadly it has become a culture in the industry.

Remuneration is also an industry wide problem…they say, “If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys as workers”. This saying to a large extent characterizes the Nigerian media landscape. People are not paid for several months, in some cases, years.  I have experienced it and I can tell you how! Topic for another day. And in cases where they are paid the amount is barely sufficient to live a dignified life. So what you find is many of us fall into the rat race of daily existence and forget that society needs us to rise to the occasion especially in times of distress to provide clear and insightful reporting.

Then there is the matter of capacity. There is a huge hole to fill in terms of technical and professional skills. CNN and the likes did not arrive where they are overnight; it took many years of spending on not just technology, but also on manpower development. Many journalists still can’t type their own stories and we think we can effectively report Boko Haram?

Nigerian media companies need to spend plenty of money on training of their staff. Unfortunately it is not priority for many of them. Keeping the place running for many of them is a struggle, so to push for training might just be shooting off the mark. But if we can constantly train our journalists, the task of proper reporting of events in our country wouldn't be such a herculean one. Aside other constraints, it is important that journalists continually up their skills, especially as the process of news gathering and dissemination continue to change.

All of us giving local media the stick for poor coverage of the Chibok abduction have to realize that it’s easier for foreign journalists to come here and cover these kinds of events. For one their companies invest a great deal of amount to provide security for them when they go to dangerous territories, it is standard procedure, the same can’t be said for local media. Also the host government would go the extra mile to ensure they have easy passage, the last thing you want is to suffer an international PR disaster. So foreign journalists are well protected and as such enjoy the latitude to get the job done a lot more than their Nigerian counterpart. Also because their reach is international they get plenty of cooperation from government officials who ordinarily would have stonewalled local journalists.

On the flip side, isn't it funny that many of these international media companies either work with local journalists or use local journalists to get many of these stories? A friend of mine traveled the length and breadth of Nigeria as a stringer for an international news agency, he wasn't supervised by anyone, yet he did a great job for them and went to many very dangerous places. My belief is that the money he was being paid motivated him. Beyond the financial benefits however, we must start to insist on collaborating with these international media companies and not be content with just being in the background. Media managers have to start looking at synergies that can help them improve their capacity as well.

Newsgathering and dissemination is expensive and is expected to be a form of social service, so who pays for it? For us to be able to do what many of these international news companies are doing, someone has to fork out the cash, usually it’s the owner, but for how long can one individual continue to do that? Even Al Jazeera had to be given a loan of $137 million dollars by the Emir of Qatar during its first 5 years of operations and they didn’t start making money immediately. news and the technology used in putting it together is not cheap. While we might want to argue that media companies in Nigeria are making money, it only seems that way because we have developed our peculiar Nigerian way of getting by.

Some years back, Liberty FM in Kaduna was fined N2 million by the NBC for a phone call that was aired where a caller criticized Labaran Maku’s Good Governance Tour and because they didn’t give the minister right of reply. In a country where your regulator has all the power to punish you without question, you have to be careful about what you report…remember the SSS swooping on Channels Television and arresting staff a couple of years ago for carrying a story about the late Yar’Adua and the suspension of the operating license of AIT for showing the site of a plane crash. So censorship or regulation if you like, is another reason why Nigerian journalists seem to take a measured approached to these matters.

In closing many of us would like to do more and be a shining light for our profession and I’m optimistic that we’ll soon see a massive turnaround. A few Nigerian stations are beginning to fill the void, the likes of TVC News and Channels Television seem to be making a positive attempt, they can and should do more though; I hear Bloomberg TV will soon start operations in Nigeria and many more might come as Nigeria continues to grab the attention of the world. Nigerian media is not the toast of the world yet, but I’m hopeful that we’ll get it right and soon too, but there’s plenty of work to be done.

States, LGs and management of federal allocations

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By Our Reporter on June 9, 2014 · Editorial

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, recently challenged Nigerians to hold states and local governments accountable on how they manage the funds allocated to them from the Federation Account. Speaking at the convocation ceremony of Babcock University in Ilisan, Ogun State, the minister said it was high time the citizens began to ask questions about the roles and responsibilities of the states and local governments in the nation’s development matrix. According to her, it is not only the federal government that should be accountable to the people, all other tiers should also be.
The minister’s charge came with the revelation of the ten states that received the highest allocations from the Federation Account in 2013. They are: Akwa Ibom (N260 billion), Rivers (N230bn), Delta (N209bn), Bayelsa (N173bn) and Lagos (N168bn). The other states, based on figures from the Federal Ministry of Finance, are Kano (140bn), Katsina (N103bn), Oyo (N100bn), Kaduna (N97bn) and Borno (N94bn). Based on these allocations, the finance minister urged Nigerians to demand for an investigation of the financial management of the states and local government areas, in relation to their level of development. In her words: “it is clear that we should be expecting more from the states and local governments”.
The financial data released by Federal Ministry of Finance excludes Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) of the states, which are quite significant in states like Lagos and Rivers. Also, the per capita incomes of some of the top ten recipient states such as Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Delta States, which stand at   N84,500, N55,600, and N42,000 per annum, respectively, are better than that of neighbouring countries such as Ghana, Benin Republic, Liberia and The Gambia.
We share the concerns expressed by the Finance Minister. At the root of her worry is the level of development in the states and the apparent disinterest of the citizens in holding the governors and local government administrators to account on the financial resources entrusted in their care. Although some of the top ten recipient states have done well in terms of development of their states, and improved the welfare of their citizens, a number of them and many of the local government administrations are profligate in their spending, accumulating personal wealth at the expense of their states and the people on whose mandate they are in government.
For our democracy to succeed, those in leadership positions should see their jobs as a sacred responsibility. It is a public service that should centre on people and development efforts that will improve lives. Sadly, millions of Nigerians, including those from the “rich” states have not felt the impact of the huge financial resources that accrue to their states monthly. Across the states, people are feeling the pinch of poor governance despite the revenue allocations to the three tiers of government.
There is an urgent need for our leaders to appreciate the essence of governance, which is the deployment of human and financial resources to improve the lot of the people and the country. In many states, governors and council bosses have turned the allocations meant for development purposes   into their personal property.
Our country’s poor governance ranking will not end anytime soon, if our leaders at all levels do not change their attitude to public service, from the present perspective of self-aggrandizement, to selfless service for the good of the people and the nation. As the Finance Minister correctly stated, while a few states have done relatively well with their federal allocations, many of them have not put in place any sustainable measures to drive the economic development of their states.
Undoubtedly, one of the challenges of our democracy is how to enforce a social contract between our leaders and the electorate. At present, many political office holders are accountable to no one but themselves. Therefore,   we need a social contract in which the people will agree and insist on some standard deliverables from the government to the governed. For this to work, and to check corruption, both government and governed need to be acutely aware of their rights and responsibilities.
We agree with the Finance Minister that Nigerians need to be more demanding of their leaders to guard against mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds. At the moment, most Nigerians are reluctant to ask questions about how they are governed. Some have been compromised to keep quiet. This laid-back attitude needs to change especially at the sub-national level where the bulk of government spending takes place.  In all, we expect the state and local governments, and all Nigerians, to take the Okonjo-Iweala challenge seriously. Let the leaders at these two tiers of government use federal  allocations judiciously for the good of their people, while the people, also, should not relent in demanding financial accountability from their governors and local council leaders.

Source: sunnewsonline
Posted By Crescent University, Editorial Department (400 PT)  Oguntayo Ezekiel

Military siege on the press

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By Our Reporter on June 13, 2014 · Editorial

In the last one week, Nigeria has experienced a throwback to the dark, sad days under the jackboots of its Armed Forces, as soldiers, acting on the directive of the Nigerian Army, launched brazen attacks on newspaper distribution channels in different parts of the country.
The onslaught against newspaper distribution points, vans and vendors in Maiduguri, Ibadan, Minna and several other places, and the seizure of major newspapers in some instances, began on Friday, June 8.
This crude descent to the use of military tactics against newspapers is an unconscionable affront to press freedom and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). Section 22 of the Constitution, under Chapter 2, which outlines the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, provides that “the press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.”
The bid to silence the dissemination of opinion in the media, evidenced by the destruction and seizure of newspapers, also flagrantly flies in the face of Section 39(1) of the Constitution, which states that “every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference”.
This disruption of the normal business activities of newspapers is, therefore, illegal and actionable.  Already, the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have condemned the development. The newspaper houses and the NPAN must not waste any time in legally challenging this tyrannical action of the military.
The government’s explanation of this assault on the press is decidedly spurious. Dr. Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs, described the attacks as the military’s response to intelligence reports that newspaper distribution vans were being used to convey weapons across the country by insurgents.
This position, apparently, does not explain why newspaper vans were delayed for hours on end after they had been searched with no weapons found in them; why sales points and vendors were attacked, and certain newspapers seized.
This siege has achieved nothing other than bringing the government and people of Nigeria to odium, and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms. It is not only impetuous and poorly thought out, it is a relic of Nigeria’s sordid military past. No country that is governed by a written constitution, whose provisions are explicit and unequivocal on press freedom, should be caught in the web of such barbaric conduct. In essence, such clampdown should not happen under a democratic government.
This, we believe, is the reason the Presidency has been laborious in its attempt to justify the noxious act. But, its explanation falls irredeemably flat on its face when juxtaposed with superior logic. For example, the military, under civilian rule, has no business continually disrupting the distribution of newspapers under the guise of a nebulous security report. The proper thing to have done if such report is received is to promptly check the vans and let them go about their business. In civilized climes, even this would have been done with the most profuse apologies to the van drivers. Again, the continuation of the searching of the vans, several days after the searches became public, does not make any sense. Certainly, no sensible group would continue using such vans for such sinister purpose, even if such a thing ever existed. The continuation of the searches lend credence to the argument that the target of the military is not to check the movement of arms, but to stymie the dissemination of unfavourable news and opinion articles by the press, the explanation that the authorities have nothing against the contents of the newspapers, notwithstanding.
If the government has any concerns at all about the contents of newspapers, the proper thing to do is to report offending publications to the NPAN, and the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), which is empowered to look into complaints against journalists and the media.
Harassment of newspapers is conduct unbecoming of a civilian government, and Nigerians must watch out as this may be the first step   towards authoritarianism.  This situation also calls for a reminder to all Nigerians to follow due process in everything they do.  If newspaper vans must be checked, it must be done with promptitude and civility, and the vans released.
We urge President Goodluck Jonathan, as Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to call the military to order because the buck stops on his table. He is expected to come out and be explicit whenever government agencies step outside their bounds.

Source: Sunnewsonline Posted By: Crescent University Mass Comm (400 level PT) Editorial Department ,By Oguntayo Ezekiel

CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEL : THE BEAUTYFUL ONES ARE NOT YET BORN

CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEL : THE BEAUTYFUL ONES ARE NOT YET BORN

The beautyful ones are not yet born is a reflection of a lifestyle situation that takes place in Africa. The novel tells the story of a nameless man who was finding it difficult to settle himself with the reality of Ghana after it gained independence. The main character, “The Man” as referred to throughout the whole novel, refuses some temptation as people tried to bribe him, but his actions of trying to be clean angered his wife and his mother in law. The Man kept a humble occupation, and regardless of the constant scorns from his wife, he lived an honest life, even if that condemned him to a life of poverty. The author used the man to represent some common man in Ghana – who has no choice, but to live in the poorest slums and live from hand to mouth. The author used the novel to expresses his disappointment and sarcasm engendered in Ghana in the times after Ghana gained independence, between Passion Week in 1965 and February 1966. The author used different reinforcement of literature to depict his feelings. He used exaggeration to express his bitterness, the themes and characterization as well as some symbols and tone or words to show his sadness towards the government of Ghana.

The main theme of the novel is corruption. In the novel, people seemed to have lost war against corruption.The theme has been elaborated on so many cases and with so many different implications. These levels and implications were the result of an unusual and unique approach where we can easily depict a consistent attempt to link the morality with the physical in relation to space and time. At home, work or naturally, corruption leaves no make a real differentiation between places, let alone times. Throughout the novel the places changes with time but likewise, corruption is always there to stimulating the writer’s bitterness and attitude of protest and disapproval towards the government of Ghana. With this he showed it by arousing the man’s eagerness to resist corruption and bribes that he was offered. Like in the novel, (Armah, 1969) “the rotwhich imprisoned everything in its effortless embrace…”

Corruption is all over the African countries as depicted in the novel and people who are in higher positions are the ones engaged in it the most.  Both the presidents and the ministers and their subordinates are all involved.  Even after countries gained independence corruption never stopped instead it became even worse, like (Armah, 1969) wrote, “The sons of the nation were now in charge after all. How completely the new thing took after the old.” The bookdebates about the politics of everyday life we see happening around the world, especially the continent of Africa. Most countries who have gained independence “bowls into the throes of corruption and the national coffers, wealth, treasure became a free for all scramble by men whose thought and learning rested and ended only within the grumblings in their stomachs. There is something so terrible in watching a black man trying at all points to be the dark ghost of a European...”(Armah, 1969).Some modest of corruption are seen all over the continent as we see some people being promised some developments by their candidates and they never happen. Even the money for the projects is being released. Like from the novel “in the end not many of the boxes were put out, though there was a lot said about the large amount of money paid for them.” Some people live by bribes and pretend as if they are doing the right choices.

As the novel prevails, there are elements of deception as people are deceived into thinking that their promises will be fulfilled. Like what happens in the real world, Candidates will come to the public begging them for their support to win the elections and promising them a lot of things that they never do. Hence the reluctance of some people votes during elections. This is due to the fact that elected candidates never deliver their promises. Just like (Armah, 1969) outlined in his novel when he wrote, “What will I be demonstrating for… all new men will be like the old.” Some people view deception as a way of making a living like (Armah, 1969), “what was there to reply to tricks and deception of the innocent.” They call up the rally and tell people lie so that they can get away with what they want.

In the beautiful ones are not yet born the author used harsh words and vulgar language to show his sadness. He used words like “shit” and “stupid” to show his anger. Some people are even illiterate and yet they tend to be the ruling people. What one might ask himself or herself is how can one rule without even the knowledge of ruling. What exactly will they be doing that they are knowledgeable at. Armah used the man as his educated people and Koomson to represent the corrupt uneducated people. In the novel we notice the man feeling bitter about the fact that Koomson is rich and is a minister yet he (the man) was more intelligent than him. (Armah, 1969) “Shit he was actually stupid...” even if there are some who will reject corruption, there are those who will support it even though they get nothing in return. In the novel we notice that the teacher was supporting corruption even though we will expect him to be against it. This is what happens in real life situation, people who are supposed to be fighting corruption are the same people who encourage it.  Just like in Saro Kiwa Awa’s short story of Africa kills her son, the priest, lawyers and the prison guards all were involved in corruption.  This shows that even the people who charge others for corruption are at its high most hands. They are just hiding behind the government uniform. Saro Kiwa Awacontinued to outline that those who think that they know what they are doing about their government are the ones living in the dark.

In the beautiful ones are not yet born, the author used symbols to depict his concerns. He used the bus to mean Ghana, the bus drive to stand for the president of the country, the bus conductor to stand in place of the ministers and the man to stand for those who are against corruption but yet do nothing to stop it, or even if they do say something it would not change anything due to lack of power and support to make a change. This is supported in the novel (Armah,1969) “…if the old stories aroused any anger, there was nowhere for it to go.” The bus drive spitted some dirty on the bus wheel. This was an indication of the dirty work the presidents are doing to their countries. The bus conductor was still passengers’ and the driver said nothing to the act because he too was in support of the action. This is to outline the acts of members of parliament and other people who have been given power to protect the public but tend to misuse it and oppress people.  The man in other hand in the incident of the bus remained quite regardless of the insults that were halt unto him. This is to show that even though some people see corruption, they turn to ignore it and live as if everything is normal. They make no attempt to end it.  The author also used some harsh words and vulgar languages to depict the dirty of corruption around the country and people do not care about it at all, or they pretend not to care about it.

The author chose to use certain characters in the novel to depict the double standard of certain people in the real world. In the novel the Teacher, whom 'the man' referredto anytime he had problems, the only person who directed the man to fight back the annoyances of his wife and mother-in-law, was in support of corruption. The perceptualdeterioration that described the period is outlined by a woman named Maanan.It was this lady who thought of the coming of apowerful man, who exposedsigns of knowledge and not just knowledge but having understanding of the track, of having influence not granted upon him by the white man, and when this man (named Nkrumah) failed her, she became insane. These are all incidents that show elements of double standard in the society. It is clear that some people believe the “the do as I say, not as I do” motto and use it to oppress others. They turn to be cleaver but this is what at the end leads to their downfall. Even if there are those people who want to miss lead other people, Armah tried by all means to show his stand and the stand of those who are true to themselves. This is to say that some people still do not believe that it is the cause of the colonialism that made African countries corrupt. It is us, the Africans who enjoys being like the Europeans. This is outline by Ngugi wa Thiogó(164), “blackness is not all that makes a man ... a Whiteman would always be a white man but a black man trying to be a Whiteman is wicked…”

The beautiful ones are not yet born, the title itself is ironic. The title means that the beautiful people are present but they are hiding behind their backs as they are afraid to be eliminated. In most African countries, when someone tries to report a corruptive action, he or she is killed. This is evident in Ken Saro Wiwa’s short story of Africa kills her son. The main character (referred to as Bana) was expelled from work for trying to report corruption but rather killed at the end. Even in the novel, there is an incident that the man (called Koffi Billy) was killed by a rope and instead of the Whiteman standing there to help him; he rather let him die and said he deserves it because he was moving too fast. The fast movement was not merely the physical movement but rather the advanced way of knowing the truth. The production of sign-writing is occupiedtypically by semi-literates and such insignificanterrors in signifying proliferate. However, even though it spoke literally to the driver or owner of the sign, in its misspelt state it was a mystical message to the novelist. Thus, in its foulness it became natural, attractive, knowledgeable, representative and beyond all eloquent in all its traits. For in that retro the only source of consolation is to know that 'The Beautyful Ones' of Africa, meant the men who would stand corruption and fight it to the dispatch at the expense of their lives, leaders who have dreams to take the country beyond into development and not to see the true end of politics as wealth, those who are spiritually in-tuned with the way and knows the route have not yet been born. This makes room that they would be born. The author have hope that one day Africa will be a better continent and be free for all sort of misconducts and misfortunes, as it is in the novel, (Armah, 169), “an end to this…a beginning to something else.”

LEKAN QUADRI