I have no clairvoyant ability. No one does. Psychic and related “abilities” are all bull. No one really knows what tomorrow holds. All we can do is observe, poke the data, mix-and-match, and hedge our bets. And that’s exactly what I am about to do: render educated guesses based on systemic observation of past events and attempt to predict future trends. This year is going to be a trying time for Nigeria. There would be tribulations in scales that will task the nation’s continued existence. Some of these upheavals could be avoided, or the attendant effects mitigated if the president, the ruling elite and her agents do the right things. With that in mind, I hereby render 27 predictions for the year 2006.

Two Attempts on Obasanjo:

Some might say Obasanjo is living on “borrowed time.” Data shows he is more hated than Ibrahim Babangida and the late Sani Abacha. To be this despised, to be this hated even more than the two ex-Generals combined is a monumental “achievement.” Indeed, this president has set the country back two decades in terms of growth and development. If one considers his background, the amount of resources at his disposal, and the amount of prayers and goodwill he received in 1999, this president has been a huge failure. My fear is that a group of people may spew their anger his way…twice…

Adedibu or Ladoja: Death or Alive?

Is President Obasanjo afraid of Chief Adedibu? Everybody but Governor Ladoja is scared-stiff of the man. No one can or is willing to confront him. He acts as though he is bigger than the state. And in fact, he controls part of the government apparatus. What manner of a man is this? He is fighting a properly constituted authority not in a court of law, but in the streets of Ibadan; he is fighting not because the governor has abridged his human rights; no, he feels aggrieved mainly because the governor would not give up part of his constitutional authority and part of the state’ treasury. This crisis will engulf the state — with considerable spillover. But at the end of the day, one man must leave…one will give up his post or his life. Who is it going to be?

Bombings in The Niger Delta:

Without the oil there would have been no modern Nigeria. In other words, if Nigeria didn’t have oil, Western Nigeria would have held on to her cocoa and tell the rest of Nigeria to jump into the Atlantic. Northern Nigeria would have protected her groundnut pyramids and ordered the rest of the country to shove it. But today, with marginal cocoa and groundnut cultivation, the country is greedily feeding on oil. But where is the justice when the whole country is covetously feeding off the oil, and the first-owners of the resources live in abject poverty? Sooner or later, the owners are bound to demand what’s right. Is this the year the majority group in the Delta tells Nigeria: “justice, or shove it!” In the absence of political solution, “Bang…bang…bang.” Is this that year?

Other Predictions:

1. Rumored, attempted, and successful military coup d’etat?
2. Two Governors arrested overseas
3. Three or more Governors prosecuted locally
4. Three arsons in Abuja: one hotel, two government buildings
5. Two plane crash…two emergency landings
6. Inspector General of Police fired or retires
7. Alhaji Asari-Dokubo: negatively impact
8. The Bakassi Peninsular crisis is finally resolved
9. The EFCC or some other organ invites Babangida for questioning.
10. The encroaching sea or submerging of some part of VI after a heavy rainfall
11. Two high-profile Ministers — one male and one female — faces marital crisis
12. Togolese national team eliminated at the 2^nd round of the World Cup
13. Vice-President Atiku leaves…forced or resigns
14. Uprising in Ilorin…Governor and Emir’s safety in question
15. The harm being done to the economy by the Lebanese and others brought to light
16. Indecent romantic dalliance at Aso Rock exposed
17. One major media house runs into huge financial and ethical crisis
18. High profile Churches and pastors continues to rip off the weak and the poor
19. Bribery and corruption scandals hits the Senate and House of Assembly
20. Inferno on Lagos-Ibadan express way
21. The Abacha-loot dragnet will ensnare four highly placed Nigerians
22. Israeli-related contracts and security scandals comes to light
23. Two literary giants pen essays for the Nigerian Village Square
24. Continued clash between secessionist movements and the federal government

Concluding Remarks:

What if none of these predictions came to pass? Oh well, don’t feel bad and don’t feel sorry for me; but instead, join me at the Sidney harbor at 11:45PM, December 31, 2006. We’ll drink to it! And if I am right? Oh well, let’s meet at the western end of the Marina, Lagos, t

o usher in 2007…until then be well, be safe and have a great 2006!