Pieces, bits

I've just spent the past hour reading The Guardian and This Day. Its quite an odd experience; after reading mangled English, incorrect grammar and the lowest possible standards of journalism in every sense for a sustained period, one comes out quite disoriented. But you've heard me complain about Nigerian journalism before so what's new? It would be lovely to read a Nigerian paper and learn something new or incisive about the country, but unfortunately, this doesnt seem possible. Instead, one reads a mixture of hagiographic encomiums from sycophants, planted stories and over-long letters from various marginalised souls. One learns more about the country from talking to everyday people, not from getting ink rubbed off on the hands from the papers..

A couple of stories did however leap out at me. The first is that Covenant University, an evangelical institution run by the Winner's Chapel crew headed by Pastor David Oyedepo, has just celebrated their first graduation ceremony. Curiously, all graduands were asked to submit a blood sample before they could go forward to graduate. Quite why the sample was needed was not explained. Perhaps its yet another example of the practice of covert HIV screening that seems to be gaining ground in the country. A case against covert screening needs to be made loud and clear. This being Nigeria, it will probably come out quiet and muddled.

The second story concerns another pastor in Lagos, who has a practice of setting sinners alight, by setting fire to the ground and then getting fallen flock to roll in it. Meanwhile, the papers are all leading on the story that British Police have come over to help the investigation into the Funso Williams assassination. There seems to be some prestige attached to the fact that police from overseas are involved. Perhaps this reflects a genuine determination to find the culprits (after so many unsolved political assassinations). I wonder how easy the job will be if the murder scene was not left intact? The obvious question that no journalist bothers to ask is what does it say about the Nigerian Police force that outside 'experts' have to be brought in?

By the way, this entry comes courtesy of Millenium Park, the only free functioning wifi left in Abuja. Nagode Mr Rufai..