Several people were killed Monday when suspected Nigerian Islamists opened fire and set off bombs at a market in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, witnesses and the military said.

“At about 1:30 (1230 GMT) this afternoon at Baga market of Maiduguri metropolis some gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram attacked and shot civilians at the market,” Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Mohammed, spokesman of a special military unit in the city, told AFP.

- via AFP

Several people were killed Monday when suspected Nigerian Islamists opened fire and set off bombs at a market in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, witnesses and the military said.

“At about 1:30 (1230 GMT) this afternoon at Baga market of Maiduguri metropolis some gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram attacked and shot civilians at the market,” Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Mohammed, spokesman of a special military unit in the city, told AFP.

- via AFP

It has been a crazy few days, as I have worked along with EnoughisEnough Nigeria and the YNaija editorial team to stay on top of the historic protests via Twitter and through the site. So much, I have been unable to Tweet, sadly.

YNaija’s shaping up to be the go-to online for young people in framing the issues around the subsidy removal and the protests – breaking news constantly and giving comprehensive updates – and it’s exciting to be part of history, especially as this is part of it’s focus to provoke thought, and inspire action.

There are some updates that cannot go up on the website; because of the speed of the issues and the many sides that have fallen out. You can follow the #FuelSubsidyRemoval widget on our homepage, or you can follow this blog where I will try and capture the opinions, personalities, oddballs, interviews, issues, and reactions. And, hopefully, great pictures!

Things are moving so fast – I might even break this promise in the next hour – but I will do my best!

 

It is the Nigeria that we have now. Any attempt at balance is viewed with vicious suspicion – “you have been bought!” Iet is understandable – we are angry, we’ve been taken for a ride too long – we probably can’t afford room for error. So at this moment of the deeply unpopular fuel subsidy removal policy, even some of the people who endorsed and produced songs for Goodluck Jonathan find it necessary to express public regret.

There are some of us who did no such thing, even going as far as to stay neutral during the elections,and some of this set do not think Goodluck Jonathan is “evil” and “clueless”, just because he is now, all of a sudden, unpopular.

So here, a flag towards balance.

This is good policy badly executed, not because of timing necessarily as because of trust. The trust deficit is one Dr. Jonathan inherited, not one he created, but ultimately one he has to deal with regardless. When I have been asked for my opinion on policy, I have often ventured in public and private that the subsidy needs to be removed, and when it is, it should make it without the usual prevarication -in a single step.

But then the process leading to that decision is Public Policy 101. Build trust, create a frame of understanding; deepen goodwill. Win the public over – how about cutting the cost of governance even just a little and using that as a communication tool to show sincerity of purpose? Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. How do you ask people to tighten their belts when you run an obese system? It isn’t right. In fact, it is so wrong, it cries to the high heavens.

It is offensive.

And then someone somewhere obviously decided that a surprise move will work best?! That’s what the anger is most about – people feel taken for granted; people feel the government has treated them with blatant disregard.

The removal of subsidy as a policy is sound economics as far as my untrained eyes can see (and I regard the “there is no such thing as subsidy” a tenuous argument), but the how is as important as the what. Let the government revert to the old price – and let the communication begin.

I have said it before in a NEXT column about a year ago and I will say it again: there are people who want to trust Dr. Jonathan and want to give him the benefit of the doubt. He is making it hard.

 

 

Vogue Magazine gets a hang of US, um, presidential candidate Jon Huntsman.

I don’t agree that Sarah Palin is one of the losers in 2011.

This really moved me. Someone an open letter to the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi Lamido.

Kai! I don’t know Dr. Reuben Abati can read this and not be worried. It’s the peril of being an iconic columnist in another live. It’s tooooooo spot on.

Vanity Fair does to/with Mitt Romney, what it does best.

Following reignited opposition movements, is democratic change a real possibility?

What happened in Kano is amazing! Who woulda thunk it?

And, no, those BB broadcasts are lies – Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala did not threaten to resign.

But you have to wonder, does the Presidency have any communication strategy – how on earth do these pictures get out?!

 

 

Yesterday, I defied illness as the times called for it – and joined other Nigerians for the JAF rally on Ikorodu Road. It was an exhilarating time – protests are always energising: the simple act of doing the least you can.

There’s a CNN report on the protest, and I offered my thoughts: “There is a searing anger across the nation – and it’s not just about the fuel subsidy: marching with the hundreds today, this much was clear – Nigerians deeply distrust this government and it has squandered the goodwill it had barely a year ago.

“The demand is clear — return to the old price. You cannot ask us to sacrifice while you run a government obese with waste and corruption. I don’t think Nigerians will back down from this, and we shouldn’t.”

My friend Shade Ladipo, also of EnoughisEnough Nigeria, shares her thoughts. See the piece HERE: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/03/world/africa/nigeria-fuel-protest/index.html

Below, from Linda Ikeji’s blog, a young man on Facebook who seemed to liveblog his own suicide: his own Tweets are as striking as the responses from friends and
associates.

Diano Ovie Richy <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002518509589> ‎@abigirl. Na lie. God no day watch me. Na only wen we day fuck na him day watch us.
God too like blue film self. God don go club go flex o. Make u take holiday 4 ur prayers o.

Diano Ovie Richy: My xmas gift 2 u all is d news of my death. By d time u are reading this story i should ve being dead somewhere. Pple say i should get a job,
save b4 achieving my enterpreneural dream. How do get a good job i can save from without my B sc result dat delsu has wickedly refused 2 issue me. I ve had failure
in all aspect of life. I invested 10yrs for a Bsc yet Umukoro, Oboreh n Odirin ate it up. Any biz i run always fail usually due 2 DUEX EX MACHINE. Some say i need
deliverance cos day say am cursed. Last month getting married was aborted though am an expecting father. I hate God 4 allowing d demons 2 continuously destroying my
hardwork. @ this point i want 2 appreciate some pple. Mudiaga my elder bro, Pawon & Nehi my only true friends 4 always understanding me. Lastly my Unborn child (
omoovie ). Please show my unborn child Omoovie when born in 2012 some love, kindness n favour in anyway u can. I took the best decision cos i don’t want to see my child
suffer 4 me not 2 b tempted 2 take other persons’ life. Did u say am a coward? 9ja, what a pple dwelling there. What are u doing 2 help that person that is stil alive?

Share
<http://www.facebook.com/ajax/sharer/?s=22&appid=25554907596&p%5B0%5D=100002518509589&p%5B1%5D=197147930379156>
· 25 December at 19:16
<http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=197147930379156&id=100002518509589>
via Mobile <http://www.facebook.com/mobile/?v=web> ·

*
* Diano Ovie Richy <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002518509589> likes this.
* 2 shares <http://www.facebook.com/shares/view?id=197147930379156>

·

* <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002518509589>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/370727_100002518509589_1924136345_q.jpg

Diano Ovie Richy <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002518509589> Harriet take care.

25 December at 19:36

* <http://www.facebook.com/eseejohwemu.clarke>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/174042_100001525556290_3821419_q.jpg

Ese Ejohwemu Clarke <http://www.facebook.com/eseejohwemu.clarke> omo ovie means child of a king.u v a potentials 2 b gr8 n ur unborn wil truly represent dis name.
al u nid is patience n prayer.

25 December at 19:42

* <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002050750462>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/260942_100002050750462_1633692_q.jpg

Bernard Oghenetega Akpofi <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002050750462> Mr Richy,hv you taken ur problem to God in prayer? If not,plz do.

25 December at 20:03 · <http://www.facebook.com/browse/likes/?id=197167520377197>
http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v1/yw/r/drP8vlvSl_8.gif1

* <http://www.facebook.com/governor.kelvieno>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/274020_100002743747474_442111912_q.jpg

Governor O. Kelvin <http://www.facebook.com/governor.kelvieno> Hmmmmm,,,,,,,stp complianing GOD is incontrol, he knows de best, and his time is de best when his
time comes nobody can stop u ………BE PETIENCE

25 December at 20:34

* <http://www.facebook.com/agbroaghogho>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/70916_100001822038923_665594_q.jpg

Agbro Aghogho Emma <http://www.facebook.com/agbroaghogho> D lyrics of a song i heard,goes lik dis”maybe d reason why all d doors are closed,is so dat u open 1 dat
leads u 2d perfect light,jst ignite a spark in u n let it shine.d reason y u r alive n nt dead is bcos wen theres life,theres hope,but wen u giv up den its ova.quitters
dnt win n winners dnt quit.many great men were sch dropouts..u r a great man,dnt giv up.

25 December at 20:52

* <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002961881975>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/368929_100002961881975_1396105750_q.jpg

Pricelessjewels Magasine <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002961881975> Don’t give up ön God cos he won’t give up on u he’s able.

25 December at 22:08

* <http://www.facebook.com/abigailome>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/371013_100002469446927_1066445035_q.jpg

Edward Abigail <http://www.facebook.com/abigailome> ‎@ovie,al dis story way u dey give na fake.i knw u wel.God dey watch u.rededicate ur self.

25 December at 22:17

* <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001881829071>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/273325_100001881829071_503661_q.jpg

Imirhe Ochuko Julia <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001881829071> By d time u all will be reading dis Ovie is already DEAD

Monday at 14:19

* <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1158015410>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/274831_1158015410_8250084_q.jpg

Osaghae Nehikhare <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1158015410> ‎@How Come no body Informed me of dis Posting,i did not open my FB Page that yesterday evening,i
would have tried contacting his Family to go down to the house,and check him out,and take him home to be with his Family members.Well,the Ways of God are not that of
Man,God knows Best.

Monday at 16:45

* <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1158015410>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/274831_1158015410_8250084_q.jpg

Osaghae Nehikhare <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1158015410> Or Contact Christain his Friend and Room mate in the Same house,to down to the House to meet
him.Though Christan did not Sleep in the House that Yesterday,he was with his Family members Enjoying the Christmas.Like i said the Ways of God are not the Ways of
Man,God Knows Best why it Happened.

Monday at 16:48

* <http://www.facebook.com/abigailome>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/371013_100002469446927_1066445035_q.jpg

Edward Abigail <http://www.facebook.com/abigailome> am nt hapi.ovie wht u did is bad.how wil i see sum 1 like u?

Monday at 16:48

* <http://www.facebook.com/ogbodu.jonathan>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/260620_100002100528189_809805753_q.jpg

Ogbodu Jonathan <http://www.facebook.com/ogbodu.jonathan> May His Soul Rest In Peace. Ado Ovie Daino Richie

Monday at 17:14

* <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001221081516>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/369760_100001221081516_889121735_q.jpg

Akpomughe Vivian Jite <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001221081516> Ovie i will miss u so much and no one on dis earth can ever fill d vacum dat u ve created
in my heart, rest in peace my gud friend.

Monday at 18:25

* <http://www.facebook.com/governor.kelvieno>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/274020_100002743747474_442111912_q.jpg

Governor O. Kelvin <http://www.facebook.com/governor.kelvieno> ‎@Jite, is ovie dead?

Monday at 20:38

* <http://www.facebook.com/whatxandy>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/274968_1848037898_8059878_q.jpg

Anyasi Andrew <http://www.facebook.com/whatxandy> They cant insult d dead, so postpone till d last day. NB: u fall our hand

Monday at 20:42

* <http://www.facebook.com/spicyobo>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/372413_1303426814_210932648_q.jpg

Eloho Blessing Eyoboka <http://www.facebook.com/spicyobo> ‎;(Why why why ooh why???am just so pained…;(

Monday at 22:24

* <http://www.facebook.com/spicyobo>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/372413_1303426814_210932648_q.jpg

Eloho Blessing Eyoboka <http://www.facebook.com/spicyobo> Pls tel me dis isnt true

Monday at 22:26

* <http://www.facebook.com/egwugreat>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/370586_100000857954396_1677364677_q.jpg

Emmanuel Egwuenu <http://www.facebook.com/egwugreat> Another defeated soul at the gate of destiny. Beaten to and fro by the battles of life. And finally overpower by
d battles of life.

Am not crying cos u were deafted by the battles of life but am crying becos of what awaits u at the other side. R.I.P

Tuesday at 00:01

* <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001221081516>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/369760_100001221081516_889121735_q.jpg

Akpomughe Vivian Jite <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001221081516> ‎@ Governor, its true i confirmed it from his sis and she said he has been buried, i
dont want to believe dat Ovie is now six feet below its so painful.

Tuesday at 01:18 · <http://www.facebook.com/browse/likes/?id=197847720309177>
http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v1/yw/r/drP8vlvSl_8.gif1

* <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002050750462>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/260942_100002050750462_1633692_q.jpg

Bernard Oghenetega Akpofi <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002050750462>
Ovie Richy Diano, may ur soul rest in PEACE.Anyway,U took a very wrong decision by taking ur own life which God gave 2 you.

Tuesday at 13:35

* <http://www.facebook.com/faith.arthur1>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/371614_100003273456972_1574896419_q.jpg

Faith Arthur <http://www.facebook.com/faith.arthur1> ovie richy diano its so unfortunate dat u hav to take ur life. Anyway God knows best.May ur gentle soul rest
in perfect peace amen.

Tuesday at 13:49

* <http://www.facebook.com/Zikkyash>
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/186016_100000479343079_5623166_q.jpg

Ashiofu Isaac <http://www.facebook.com/Zikkyash> Y did u do ds

Yesterday at 10:54

TBottom of Form

Many of his friends say he has died. There is also a possibility he didn’t kill himself. Still. There is a distinct absence of heartfelt compassion that’s worrisome. But more importantly, there are so many unhappy people around us. People so unhappy and lonely that taking their lives is the only option. God give us the grace to see – and to help.

I hope someone somewhere reached out to Diano – whether he is crying for attention or not, there is piercing sadness to his messages.