Posted in corruption, governance, Moral conduct, Poetry, Politics

Good bye to sense by Noel Ihebuzor

Notes scatter, flung high above the heads of the celebrant, come falling down like boozed butterflies in disordered clusters to the unclean floor, gradually being overrun by notes in disarray. The more affluent hurl bundles at willing shoulders, some other bundles are thrust into welcoming arms by photo-savvy gifters

The long arm of the law looks on, powerless, the law has been long settled, sorted, and so now is broken, breakable

The space knows no balance, this place knows no balance, peopled by hollow souls with no restraint, who know no restraints, know and respect no limits, the leash on the impunity of the rich has no limits, so we ball on, big ballers kicking restraint, morality, conscience, common sense further down the slippery road of riot, ruin, and rot.

Posted in Prose

Intellectuals and society

The relationship between intellectuals and society has been and remains a troubled and troubling one. What should their roles be? What should be their relationship with political class and the rulers? Watch dogs, gadflies, change agents, critics, advisors, collaborators, associates? Should they engage or should they just watch from the safe comfort of the sidelines? When they engage, are they jointly liable for the errors of the administrations they serve or served in? Can intellectuals engage and still come out with clean hands?

Jimanze Ego-Alowes explores this difficult subject  here using the roles intellectuals have played in the troubled history of Nigeria to argue his case.

Enjoy!

Noel