Blogging highlights of 2014
This is what the
year 2014 was on my blog, with a blog or blogs from each month of the year.
In January, I completed
the celebration of a decade of blogging with the publication of 35 blogs
written by friends from the 8th of December 2013.
In February, I continued
my concerns about the alleged human-trafficking exclusive apparently
investigated by Tobore Mit Ovuorie and published by the Premium Times, my
conclusion; the human trafficking stories were true, but none of them were Ms
Ovuorie's personal story or experience.
In March, I wrote about
many life topics but one was inspired by William Shatner, popular for being the
captain of Starship Enterprise in the Star Trek series and yet declined a real
opportunity to travel to space.
In April, Why? Was the
question and the answers were unacceptable. Why are so many young ethnic
minority LGBT persons homeless?
Blog - Why?
The Big Question With Unacceptable Answers - Homelessness Amongst Young LGBT
BME Persons
Also, it was when I
wrote a series of Save The Children blogs (Part
I, Part
II, Part
III), one of which was related to the abducted Chibok Girls. The plight of
the Chibok girls became the global social media campaign to #BringBackOurGirls,
sadly, the girls have not yet returned.
In May, I wrote a few
personal blogs, some on my work
life, however, I cannot make the case enough to separate the religion and
state, consequently the need to remove the criminalisation of religious
opinion, especially apostasy and blasphemy.
In June, I donned the orange
colour of the Netherlands for the World Cup, in my view they had the best
chance from the choice of England, Nigeria and well my adopted country of the
Netherlands where I lived from almost 13 years.
I was also in
Berlin for my annual summer visit which usually falls during the Christopher Street
Day parades, the name for the gay prides in German speaking countries of
Europe. Yet, we must never forget the persecution
and the disease.
Street
prostitution, homelessness
and Nigerians
were some of my Berlin topics.
In July, I was in Dublin
for a wedding;
I never really got to write about my sightseeing, I guess it calls for another
visit.
I guess the coming
out of Ian Thorpe was most significant, and then came Apple’s
CEO Tim Cook in October with his article for Bloomberg Business Week. I
really should have written about that too.
In August, it was a
different kind of coming out, Kellie Palace Maloney who we once knew as Frank Maloney,
the boxing promoter.
Yet, there was a
personal story too, when suicide did cross my mind. I took a well-deserved
holiday with my friend of 30 years.
In September, many
holiday stories, just 11 days because my friend thought two weeks was too long
to be away, that was the compromise, and for me, it was too short. Phew!
If only we all had
parent who were as perceptive and understanding as those of Gareth Thomas, not
only on the issue of sexuality, but other issues that present difficulty,
trivial to many, yet quite serious to us as individuals.
In October, as a
blogger, I could not stand by and watch as the most popular blogger in Nigeria
was accused of plagiarism. Much as I am happy to share material I have written,
the simple courtesy of asking rather than stealing is all that matters.
Unfortunately, as
with many issues that are blatantly wrong in other societies but acquiesced to,
accepted and celebrated in Nigeria, the outrage was short-lived, the gossip
reincarnated as more sophisticated player at thievery. C’est la vie.
Despite the drama,
in my view it was still about plagiarism and it should be fought and defeated
everywhere including in Nigeria regardless of who is involved.
In November, I co-hosted
with Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim a conversation
with Boko Haram knowledge expert and journalist, Ahmad Salkida with the hashtag #WhatDoesBHWant, a very
insightful discussion that attracted extensive global interaction, in days, it
generated over 3,000 tweets, it was probably the most discussed topic of that
week.
In December, the race to
ensure I publish more blogs than I did in 2012, I have not prospect of catching
up with 2013.
I look forward to
many dates in December; I always try to write something for World AIDS Day,
then one for the anniversary of my blogging, it was the 11th
one, this time. My
birthday came on the 21st with Bisi Alimi hosting a party in my
honour, Tokunbo Koiki, Kola Akinola, Babatunde Rosanwo and Olushola Ajayi came with friends,
drinks, food and gaiety to make it a wonderful day to remember.
A summary of 2014
The year 2014 was a
rotten year for girls and women
[Boko Haram abducting the Chibok girls and the judicial travesties of Oscar
Pistorius and Shrien Dewani trials in South Africa].
Terrorists created
a state of anarchy, caliphates, they said, a state nonetheless within sovereign
states with little consequence [Boko Haram and ISIS doing well in North-Eastern
Nigeria and Iraq/Syria respectively.]
Incompetence and
impunity set up stall in Nigeria, ministers and advisers making it up on
international television, lying through their teeth about vaccinations for
Ebola and the Nigeria Army in pursuit of well-armed terrorists, the army was
equipped with the equivalent of cudgels. When the soldiers protested, they were
numbered for execution.
Vladimir Putin became
the Napoleon Bonaparte of the 21st Century, vertically challenged
and challenging order bringing ruin to Ukraine and by extension the shooting
down of MH17, the despots of Africa still sit on their thrones dispensing suffering
to the people in the name of leadership.
A church guesthouse
collapsed on over 80 South Africans in Nigeria and the prophet of doom has
stood in the
way of justice, we may never know why.
Just an increasing
sense of injustice and carnage with every criminal getting away with it, including
the gangster bankers or Banksters
to be more exact, they have been paying fines and resigning rather than going
to jail.
Yet, some
celebrated release and freedom by accepting who they are, coming out and
encouraging others. Selfless healthcare workers went to the Ebola stricken
countries to help out; there is still faith in our humanity.
Let us hope for a
better 2015, elections in many countries the results of which might spell doom
rather than hope, yet since God is not a democrat, people have to get out to
vote for posterity rather than for a perishable morsel for their bellies.
I hope to continue
blogging, probably be more prolific than this year.
Friends, readers,
far and near, I wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year.
Thank you.