Mr Abati nor go fit sleep again
all e go dey think na "why i write that article"

Mr Capable a.k.a Banky W, i'm very very impressed
You are really Capable

I used to think Banky W will never disappoint me but after reading his response to Reuben, I am convinced he will never!!!

i never this article was causing issues back home, i read abati's article online, i was so furious that i immediately sent a reply to his guardian office! im happy he got the response from eldee!

Reuben Abati has never been more wrong. He belongs to the lost generation that derailed Naija with their lack of ideas and follow follow principles. Now its all about ORIGINALITY through STREET CREDIBILITY . I GET AM !

Banky W and Eldee are right. The Ruben guy is so wrong. Odds are also against Ruben Abati because Eldee and Banky W wrote better and more realistic pieces than him. I very much doubt if Mr Ruben Abati could sing better than them.If Ruben is CAPABLE then he should BOSI GBANGBA

This is the best rejoinder Ive seen so far

A Nation’s Identity Crisis – A Rejoinder

This piece is in response to the one written by Reuben Abati (RA) titled: A Nation’s Identity Crisis. I am making this rejoinder because he was, more or less, referring to my generation in that article.

After I managed to obtain a credit pass in English language in the West African School Certificate examination, I knew it was largely due to some divine intervention. This is because I went to one of the so-called “Jakande” schools for my primary education where I could hardly string together one correct sentence in English as at the time I left primary six (the last year of primary school).

Providence however smiled on me again when the same Jakande government of Unity Party of Nigeria (under the leadership of Awolowo) took the decision to take over missionary schools and some private secondary schools and converted them to public schools. With that single policy, I got the opportunity of a life time to be a student of Baptist Academy Secondary School in Lagos; this also enabled me to mix with children from privileged homes who had attended private nursery and primary schools and spoke the queen’s language as if they were born with it.

Disaster struck in 1983 when civil rule in Nigeria was terminated once again by the military. From Muhammadu Buhari to Ibrahim Babangida, it was a succession of military adventurers until 1999. During this period, the military government and their civilian collaborators looted the country’s treasury and destroyed the country’s value system. A four-year course in the University was prolonged by two more years due to continued closure of institutions of higher learning; the lecturers were on strike for half the year, cultism was encouraged in the university by the military government while the female students turned to prostitution for survival. The foundation for the gradual disintegration of the Nigerian educational system was laid during this period.

I and a host of others in my generation had both our secondary and university education during this perilous time. My generation bore the brunt of this period of misrule. Creativity and innovation was alien to my generation; it was a period of mere survival. Meanwhile children from more privileged backgrounds simply abandoned ship and ‘checked out’ of the country like Andrew. An example is the current speaker of the house of representative, Dimeji Bankole. Yes, he ‘ran’ to continue his secondary education and later University in the United Kingdom. He is unfortunately a member of this mal-aligned generation.

Fast forward by about three decades and surprisingly many of us still survived. Anyway, I did! I managed to become a dentist after donkey years in Idi-Araba but, like so many of my mates had to finally ‘abandon ship’ too when it became obvious that Nigeria has no serious plans for my generation.

I am not only a dentist but also have an MBA from a top school in United Kingdom, a country where I am not only resident but have two kids who possess the much sought-after ‘red’ passports.

The Abati article was well-researched and almost flawless, but I didn’t expect anything less from Uncle Reuben. According to the article, there is an identity dilemma in Nigeria and this is apparent in the gradual transformation of the country’s name and music. The younger generation, lacking in rectitude and patently indiscipline was to a large extent found culpable.

This rejoinder is probably unnecessary since RA was very careful to not place the whole blame on the younger generation. He was however unable to hide his disappointment at the turn of events in the country, yet he craftily agreed that this identity crisis is probably a sign of the times. His feeling of nostalgia for the music of the good-old-days was also very palpable.

Nonetheless, since I found the article very meaningful and educative, I have therefore decided to take some steps, which I am convinced, if followed by other Nigerians of my generation, both at home and in Diaspora, would lead to a better Nigeria. I would also recommend that the speaker of the house of representative, Dimeji Bankole, should also follow these steps too.

Firstly, I would start writing the name of Naija in full because I was not aware that the name was given to the country by the mistress of Lord Lugard, Ms Flora Shaw in 1914. My social studies teacher never taught us; she was a very lazy woman and was always on strike anyway. I have also decided to take it further by visiting the River Niger, which gave meaning to Nigeria. My only hope is that I will not end up inside the river because I heard the River Niger Bridge is now a death trap. Please let me use this opportunity to apologise on behalf of my generation for not repairing the bridge and looting the money meant for the repair.

Secondly, I am in full agreement with Uncle Reuben that my generation is always impatient and not disciplined enough to follow up any task to a logical end. We are too unfortunate to be living in the internet age. He rightly blames the effect of e-mails and text messages on the popular consciousness. In view of these, I am determined to resort to writing letters and abandon the computer and the internet altogether because it is an evil that is destroying the creativity of my generation. Imagine the rise of ‘yahoo yahoo’ boys in Nigeria; the porn culture is also on the rise. All these vices are due to the internet culture.

I have since dumped my blackberry in the bin after reading RA’s article. Besides, I heard on good authority that the Nigerian postal service is now more efficient than royal mail in UK. My mate who wrote a letter to Nigeria couples of days ago told me that the letter got delivered on time, although it was already ripped open, probably in UK before it got to Nigeria. I initially planned on buying the new IPhone to be released on June 29, 2009 (am sure Uncle Abati has heard of it) but that is no more possible because I love Naija so much and all these gadgets are hindering my sense of patriotism. I can now understand why President Barrack Obama has identity crisis - he is not sure whether he is Kenyan or an American. It is because he uses his blackberry to text USA instead of writing it in full.

Thirdly and the scourge of my generation are these new talentless hip hop guys. I, like Uncle Abati can’t bear the profanity that they spew from their mouth in the name of music anymore. Although I enjoy Tuface, D’banj, P-Square and the rest and I have danced ‘yahooze’ at so many owambe parties in UK, but since I am now aware that their kind of music is noise and has created an identity crisis in Nigeria, I have decided to send all my pirated CDs to boot sales. I hope every right-thinking Nigeria of my generation would do the same. There are millions of job openings in our banks and oil companies that they can easily take up. The older generation have actually done so well for the country that we have nothing to complain about. Besides, if they are unable to get a job of their choice there is job-seekers allowance for them to leave on pending the time they are able to find something to do.

I would also like to advise the government of Nigerian that is filled with knowledgeable and creative geriatrics to send a strongly-worded letter to UNICEF for making Tuface and D’banj an ambassador. How can they be role-model for our children when we have the likes of Etteh (former speaker of house of representative), David Mark (who once said that telephone is not for the poor) and ex-president Obasanjo, who has been quite busy ‘shagging’ his son’s wife

Although it is true that the Nigerian music industry and Nollywood have succeeded in creating thousands of job, but this is small to the millions of job that the geriatric government of the older generation have created in the last two decades.

Finally, I have made a decision to not only learn our national anthem all over again but to also teach my two children how to sing the anthem and recite the Nigerian pledge. Why shouldn’t I do that? My children and I owe Nigeria so much. The child benefits that my children are paid every month are remitted into my account from the Federal Inland Revenue in Nigeria. The free healthcare under the NHS that I and my children currently enjoy is paid for by the oil revenue derived from the Niger Delta in Nigeria.

My generation is a huge disappointment to Nigeria; we have to retrace our steps and start identifying more with Nigeria by writing Naija properly, start dancing Ayinla Omowura at Owambes, and stand at attention when reciting the national anthem because our fathers have done so much for our generation that even the likes of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln are turning in their graves and wished they could have bequeathed a more worthy nation like Nigeria to their descendants in America who write USA in full.

Jeez! I can't believe someone actually compared 9ice to KING SUNNY ADE.

@ Asha80

U lucky se we no dey the same room or the kain slap wey I for woze u ehn ,

semid4lyfe:

Jeez! I can't believe someone actually compared 9ice to KING SUNNY ADE.

@ Asha80

U lucky se we no dey the same room or the kain slap wey I for woze u ehn ,

Bone dat thing

Even as much as abalti is wrong, you dont go comparing 9ice to King sunny Ade

Thats taking our argument overboard.

KSA has more Grammy nominations than 9ice has got albums so kill that noise immediately!!!!

cabali:

Even as much as abalti is wrong, you dont go comparing 9ice to King sunny Ade

Thats taking our argument overboard.

KSA has more Grammy nominations than 9ice has got albums so kill that noise immediately!!!!

Na my choice be that.Bite me.

Reuben Abati definetely got it all wrong here,the younger generation should be encouraged and praised for using their time and talent well,and for promoting this Country for once in the positive light.Kudos to the Generation Next

To be honest with you guys, I think what R.A has done is to popularise his page on the guardian newspaper. Imagine the amount of hits he would have got since this article went out and the rejoinders? His employers must really be proud of him now.

Nice strategy. Ingenous!

asha 80:

Na my choice be that.Bite me.

U obviously then dont know what the hell u r talking abt so I'll just do what should be done to ur type all along: Ignore you.

I have always liked Banky W because of his diction, fashion style and carriage but his response to the article lifts my admiration to a whole new level. If it were in some countries he could be asked to feature as a guest writer in a newspaper.

Continue to make sensible music, Bankiii (like my mum calls you) don't mind anybody.

Point made already. Why overflog with unnecessary, repeated entries? Please move on to something else.

I would have supported Mr.abati becos he his in the same field as my dad and are both respected journalists, I think He (Abati) should continue writing about his folks in Aso rock and leave we young folks alone. Banky I'am not a really big fan but 2 thumbs up for the reply. Its time we young folks stand up and challenge these old folks that always think they are always right.

@Kay_ Pumpin… 9ice doesn’t in any way put Yoruba on the map. He just started and I have never seen anything cultural in his mode of dressing or ways he glorifies Yoruba. If Western world cannot celebrate you, I don’t think you are among. Check this list: Fela Anikulapo, Tony Allen, Sunny Ade, Lagbaja and so on. 9ice is by no means got there already buddy!

Nigerians have started again, when someone does 20 all-ups and does 2 all-downs, my people would be blinded to the all-ups and started ranting about the all-downs.

Mr. Reuben Abati is making sense but should have made his points clearer and didn’t have to be too ostentatious or voluble and got himself in trouble, where little kids would feel disdain for him. I guess he might need to apologize in public and the concerned body needs to openly accept that too.

I used to read many of his articles and I would say he represents epitome of good people in our society.
He’s a critic, get the point straight, he had written many stuff about bad government, politics, and education and so on. It’s quite unfortunate at this time, but don’t forget that criticism is part of life. Matter of fact, it’s a solid culture in overseas; because it does give birth to improvement.

Jeez,

Believe me I wrote a piece on this in 2006 Titled the wasted generation in reference to Wole Soyinka calling our generation a wasted Generation.

Rather I would say the generations ahead of us are the wasted ones they were the generation who brought our country into this mess.

They were the generation who killed their parents(Our grandfathers) because they wanted to rule at a young age when they should be learning.

Ahmadu Bello, Akintola, Tafawa were killed by this overzealous generation.

This was the generation our grand fathers invested a lot into but ate everything and gave their children nothing back.
Their mates in Japan and Malaysia who had the same investment took their nation to greater heights
This was the generation that enjoyed schorlarship anywhere in the globe but what did they give back? Which of them didnot enjoy Free education or schorlarship
Before their time, our country was respected everywhere in the world but they were the generation who brought corruption and drug trafficking that gave our dear nation a bad name.
They were the generation who enjoyed free education but could not give it back to their children.
They were the generation after being fed in Universities brought cultism into the system
They were the generation who went on rampage when their meal of chicken was halved, Ask them what they gave back
They were the generation who got a guaranteed car and job after graduation but handed down massive unemployment to their children
They were the generation who started ruling in 1967 and clung to power till 2007 bringing our country to ruin.

They were the generation who led our country to a need less civil war.
They were the generation who shut their parents down at will saying their parents were not educated and in their old age still wanted to dominate the next generation
They were the generation who wore bellbottom and mini skirts with giant afros and would complain about sagged jeans and spagghetti tops
They complained that we are immoral as if Fela wasnt one of them
Ask me who represented Nigeria better DBanj and 9ice or Ras Kimono and Majek Fashek

kill it !!!!!!!!!!

idiot abati

i love the doctors letter most

my people it is only when u reach better countries that u know how bad naija is

members of parliament in uk resign over expnses legitimately paid but inappropriate , in naija they just got visa to visit 5 countries onn fact finding for the haliburton saga

and more than 6 months after the thing blow open not a soul has been arrested

[b] Re: Reuben Abati Vs Banky W: A Must Read!
« #64 on: Yesterday at 05:09:23 PM »
chei! children of nowadays no get respect again. Na Uncle Rueben una dey call by name so

Uncle Rueben no mind them jare. Its part of the thing you are talking about abi? We are following the americans and british by calling our father's mates by name. no respect at all!

By the way sef, Uncle Rueben, where were you when Kwara State Givernor (a man from your own generation) brought in Beyonce and JayZ to Nigeria and named a street after JayZ in Kwara state? or have you not attended several ThisDay shows organised by Nduka Obaigbena (another member of your generation) with all the american 'role models' in attendance, the most recent one with R.Kelly who just escaped jail for sexual offences. Maybe you did not hear that one of the governors (another sad reminder of your generation) flew in 50cents for his wife's bday party?

And you also talked about us having the wrong role models. Please sir, name one role model from your generation. From all the 36 thieves who call themselves governors to the numerous ministers or even you journalists from your own constituency who go behind and collect brown envelopes and plots of land in Abuja from Waziri and co. Are these the people we should model ourselves after?

Like Banky rightly said, we are willing to learn but where are the teachers?[/b]

again i say gbam!!
i wonder why no one has seen the errors in Nduka Ogbiagbena's ways but keep finding the time to write un researched crap about the youth.
go see the videos of thisday concerts and see senators and governors shaking their fat bellies to busta rymes and snoop.
are these the role models?

@ All

Ori e foka sibe!!!

Hmm…my 2 cents?
We SHOULD be happy when the opportunity for a debate with a respected member of the older generation presents itself. It means that we both have an opinion about the “same subject” and even though the opinions of our generations differ, rather than hurl invectives at Mr. Abati we need to understand his perspective, analyze the information, and make corrections in a way that his entire generation will understand.
He is an elder, and an accomplished one at that. When elders that have shown themselves to be worthy of the title in the past make a mistake, they deserve to be corrected with respect and in a way that will allow for them to maintain their dignity. Insults, curses and swearing definitely don’t provide Mr. Abati the opportunity to make an about turn.
Banky W has done just that and has gained my respect for the manner in which he responded. I can’t say the same for Eldee. Genuine corrections are much more difficult to accept when they are laced with cynicism, sarcasm and scathing rhetoric. Responding in such a way is tantamount to duplicating Mr. Abati’s error.
By the way, Mr. Abati is an outstanding columnist who has garnered respect on the local and international scene. That he fell down on this one is obvious, especially since he has a responsibility as a journalist to ensure that the information he puts out is an accurate depiction of the truth. Still, let’s use this as an opportunity to provide him with the right information to change his mind. It may be that when he is “converted”, he will serve as the perfect evangelist for the cause of the “Naija music industry”.
I hope that some TV station uses this opportunity to provide a forum that brings together some key members of Mr. Abati’s generation and the Nigerian music industry for a tête-à-tête. That way, some good may yet come out of all this.

A barely 3-yr-old girl came back from school and started singing ''ori e o foka sibe''

The parents had to withdraw her from the school.

For real, we need meaningful and moral-provoking songs and not these jagbajantis

The vehicle chasis (sound) may be good but they should fix the engine (lyrics)

Some people happen to like the song "fokasibe" very much, myself included. I wouldn't let a 3yr old listen to it, but I appreciate DJ Zeez for the song.

plzzzzzzzzzzzzz

stop comparing 9ice and sunny ade i beg, what's the meaning of dat.

9ice has even started of dreaming to come to this world when sunny ade was touring the whole of Europe.

I think Mr Abati write up is misunderstood and read with shallow mind. The truth of the matter is that most music these days do not last while the musicians of yesteryears make evergreens song these days the music fade off months after release, also most of current musics are too identical in beats and lyrics that one would need to see the album to identify the artists.

Remii:

I think Mr Abati write up is misunderstood and read with shallow mind. The truth of the matter is that most music these days do not last while the musicians of yesteryears make evergreens song these days the music fade off months after release, also most of current musics are too identical in beats and lyrics that one would need to see the album to identify the artists.

IMO that wasn't a critique of music. From what he wrote it is fair to assume he hadn't even listened to the songs. Let's call a spade a spade, please.

That "highly respected" journalist is a confused man. Flora Shaw can kiss my Naija ass!

porka:

so much for morality and generation. this is abati's friend and a prominent member of his generation. what did he say to him. they are both getting land allocation from left, right and centre.

Hm,Porka,Porka,Porka
Hope you're not whistle-blowing as something tells me you know Prince Obaigbena and RA on a personal level and they maybe short-changed you in one of those land deals