‘Phantom’ claim of Islamic desecration,’ I’m Muslim and I stand with Nike

It is sometimes NOT understandable how global corporations manage to get themselves embroiled in trade-linked furores – especially on religion, gender, race and even nationality.

One would think that these outfits knowing their reach will painstakingly do all it takes to avoid such crisis of offending sensibilities if for nothing at all, to continue doing their business with the global public in peace.

Reasons for landing in such ‘minefields’ include a failed public relations move or even a deliberate scheme to offend and subsequently apologize – whiles at it milking the press attention.

The latest I have come across is of how Nike, the US-sportswear manufacturer, is accused of Islamic desecration because of how its logo for a new footwear is crafted.

I so disagree with persons advancing the claim that Nike had set out to offend Muslim sensibilities with its logo for the Air Max footwear.

The claimants say if turned a certain way, the logo depicts the name of God, Allah, as is spelled in Arabic. They are further incensed that it is located under the sole of the footwear and thus Allah’s name will be trampled, dirtied etc.

For the records, the logo if read as expected will read AirMax, with the “r” and “m” merged somewhat - picture 1. Why then will anyone decide to read the logo upside down and take offense? - picture 2, where the circled portion resembles the Arabic writing for the term "Allah" - i.e. God.

In any case, the spelling of AIRMAX on the side of the shoe is in capital letters and doesn’t give any cause for outrage because it doesn’t give room for interpretation and wild conjecture.

Nike has in a statement stressed that at no point did it set out to violate any sensibilities and that it respects all religions and takes such concerns seriously.

“The Air Max logo was designed to be a stylized representation of Nike’s Air Max trademark. It is intended to reflect the Air Max brand only. Any other perceived meaning or representation is unintentional,” a spokesperson said.

There is currently an online petition calling for Nike to withdraw the product with international news outlets leveraging on the tendency to attract readers perhaps.

I’m Muslim and I believe we must learn to stay clear of suspicions as taught by the Quran and our blessed prophet. Nike doesn’t force anyone to buy their stuff, it’s a free market.

To those still trumpeting the boycott calls: just as Nike’s logo says “Just Do It,” I want to modify that in my message to them, “Just Stop It!” To y’all that love Nike, keep going – it’s 100% halal.

All praise is due to Allah! May the peace of Allah be on our blessed prophet, members of his household and all who continue on his path till the last day. Ameen.

Jumadal Uulaa 24, 1440 = January 30, 2019

[Review] “Show Me The Money,” Deadly chronicles of Nigeria’s anti-graft czar, Ribadu

Summary

Book Title: Show Me The Money – Leveraging Anti-Money Laundering Tools to Fight Corruption in Nigeria.

Chapters / Pages: Seven / 59

Author: Nuhu Ribadu

Book Type: E-book

Publisher: Center For Global Development, 2010

Introduction

Reading is fun – more so when the subject of the material is of interest to the reader. January 2019 reading wise has gone just according to plan. Two e-books, read and dead (pun intended.)

The first book on anti-corruption and the second, on terrorism – two plagues that continue to bedevil Africa. If I had a third on misgovernment, I could effectively label January – my Africa month.

This review centers on the anti-corruption “stunts” of an ill-equipped man (lawyer and police officer) who set out to fight corruption in Africa’s most populous nation and its largest economy, Nigeria.

Cover of the book along with a 2011 photo of Ribadu back to contest for presidential polls - bid failed.

The book

The book titled “Show Me The Money” allowed Nuhu Ribadu – the former head of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to produce a tell-all tale of the four years he led the body in ‘combat.’

The book puts under the spotlight how change can be engineered from outside – It took a 1989 legislation passed by the G-7 group of nations to push Nigeria almost a decade and a half later to take the fight against endemic corruption seriously.

Buoyed by the US-based Center for Global Development, Ribadu told the backstory of how the EFCC started out and how its carefully crafted strategy – legal, structural and internal mechanics – made it the standout security agency in a matter of four years.

“Show Me The Money” does show a lot of money – from the way advance fee fraudsters fleeced unsuspecting clients and how the body chased the monies, retrieved and compensated some victims.

More money is uncovered in the chase to arrest oil bunkering, smuggling especially via the ports, and the audacious clean-up of banks plus the daring minefield of chasing Nigeria’s “junior presidents” – State Governors.

Whiles hailing the commitment of staff whiles at the helm, Ribadu who chose exile in the face of attempts on his life underscores why and how no matter how hard a task, it needed people to step up and to take bold decisions.

Ribadu emphasizes the extent to which the fight against corruption needed political shield – in the case of Nigeria, the executive. Aside the legal and structural cover he stresses the need to have the media, civil society and citizens on board in fighting the scourge of corruption.

When the political shield was lifted off the EFCC in 2007 after a change at the top, Ribadu was left exposed. Though still with a fight in him, the people he was going against were not ready to fight but to kill. He fled but looks back with pride.

Click to download a copy of "Show Me The Money."

Ribadu hits some top quotes on corruption relative to its impact of the ordinary Nigerian and its wider effect on the subregion when it is perpetrated by Nigeria. Below are my top six quotes.

Corruption weighs on the poor more than anyone else. They are the least able to absorb its cost and depend the most on the very public services that corruption destroys. Economic development is stolen from them, and they suffer from decaying infrastructure and greedy government agencies, which, instead of serving them, seek to further empty their pockets. - Page 2

Most crucial of all is to have both investigative and prosecuting powers under one roof. A key factor to the EFCC’s success was to have the commission be responsible for prosecuting cases it investigates. Experience across the developing world has shown that separating these two functions is a recipe for failure when it comes to financial crimes. - Page 12

The best laws and structures are useless without the lifeblood that moves and operates them, however. The EFCC could only succeed if staffed with highly skilled investigators and prosecutors imbued with a mission to salvage their country from the plague of financial crime. In other words, the EFCC needed selfless crusaders. - Page 15

Corruption and fraud run very deep and powerful roots in Nigerian politics. I understood how Hercules must have felt standing in the Augean stables that hadn’t been cleaned in decades. - Pages 41, 42

Next were state governors. These de facto presidents of Nigeria’s 36 states wield enormous power and money and therefore greatly weigh on the lives of ordinary Nigerians. About half of the national revenue is controlled by the states, which enjoy broad constitutional autonomy under Nigeria’s federal system and are in charge of education, health, local security, and infrastructure. This gives enormous power to governors. - Page 44

A successful Nigeria would do more for the subregion than any amount of foreign aid ever could. The same is true of other parts of Africa. - Page 57

Jumadal Uulaa 23, 1440 = January 29, 2019

 Likely can't read photo below but it's written notes whiles I read - the freshest leg of my reading escapades, noting keep points aside underlining, bookmarking and taking screenshots. And to the main point: This Chinese notebook, a gift from a reading friend.

Make friends with readers eh, secret is; if they don't lend or buy you books you can read, they'd give you stuff to take notes as you read. On to the next read.

Air travel 'miracle': Our borga uncle and rare airport visits

Ghana till date still has a single one main (emphasis mine) international airport, the Kotoka International Airport, KIA; of course located in the capital, Accra.

The closest an ordinary public school child came to the airport was on rare class excursions. I was once such an ordinary school child, only that I never went on one such excursion.

But I schooled for almost 12 years close to the KIA. Nine years in Burma Camp we had to endure the noise of planes arriving and departing - taking off and landing, that's more appropriate.

Then three years in St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High, where we waited almost 30 seconds for planes to pass before teaching could continue - approximately five times daily. Still, I never once dreamt of air transport.

Our holidays were usually spent in the neighbourhood, if we were lucky with an auntie outside Accra.

For us the Shaban kids, the closest we came to air travel was thanks to our "borga" uncle, Mustapha Idriss - he is the last born and only male on my mother's side. HRH Hajia Fati is the firstborn - Fati no dey carry last.

Ze Shaban SIX: Rayhann (R), Somebody, Fuleira (top left), Mariam (L) Sherifa (bottom left), Sherif

A borga is local parlance for someone who travels overseas in search of greener pastures. Such a person has all the necessary documents and routinely returns home. Connection: his return home from Italy and later Switzerland were the closest we came to air travelers. He stayed with us whenever he was in town.

He always sprang a surprise when coming back, either called our big brother Rayhann to supposedly receive his friend or said he needed some stuff picked from a friend at the airport then, boom; there he was. Later we figured his pranks and always guessed right on his coming.

When he was going was the best opportunity we had to go to the airport. He usually went in the evenings when we had returned from school, lucky you if you get chosen to join the loaded taxi. He checked in and came out for last meeting chats till boarding time.

Ours was to look up (ask kids) when the airplanes flew miles above us and make the childish wish that the pilot and passengers will buy us stuff on their return journey. The inside of an airplane was known to us only via the television and books.

Seeing uncle's passport and bulky air tickets - Alitalia, Lufthansa and Swiss Air, it never crossed at least my mind when I'd also get to travel needing so many papers. Then times we lived and dreamt of making it at home - after school, work, marry, get kids, grow old and ...... die.

The only time travel popped up was when we thought of the fifth pillar of Islam, Hajj - pilgrimage to Makkah. Even with that believed it was best done when we grow old and go discharge it - we have revised that position.

Talk of Hajj, it was the event that brought us our first air travel. Hajia Fati hustled boys and girls till we did "susu" - savings, and footed the bills of her Hajj years back.

Hajia Fati - our boss since way back till date

At the time I suspect only our big brother had a passport. He also did his Hajj just last year. Me and my Congo Republic sojourn entering the third year and it's been good, the third to fly out and in.

I find it an experience that everyone must have a feel of. The fact that one gets to leave behind the on-ground means and gets to savour the skies is indeed a sign of how God has given man knowledge to conquer and to boss nature and improve our affairs.

The journeys between Ghana and the Republic of Congo has exposed me fully and partially to airports in four countries. Fully to KIA and Agostinho Neto airport in Pointe Noire.

Partially to Houphet Boigny airport in Abidjan and the Bole International airport in Addis Ababa. Four different experiences. This is what I'm about discussing in joint writings with a reading-writing boss - Ewurama Judith Kodjo, the curvy one.

17 Jumada Thanii, 1440 = 23 January, 2019

My 2019 reading plan: On the mark, ready and reading

Reading, without it one wonders the extent to which one’d be heeding to events in the past, present and future. Read, a four-letter-word holds a strong spot in our daily lives whoever we are.

Almost all religions have scriptures that adherents read. Students, categories of workers – be they male or female, young or old, rich or poor, strong or weak; all sign onto or sign up for reading for different reasons.

Every avid reader will most likely have some history of how they became hooked to burying their eyes in the pages of books – soaking the stories, the thoughts and ideas of others.

2018 was a defining year for me with respect to consistency in my reading routine. An intentionally calculated effort to read largely turned out as planned. The lessons thereof for the basis for my 2019 reading plan.

In an era of information overflow, I should have an estimated 100 e-books on my phone and laptop. The plan is to dispatch a minimum of ten this year.

Given that last year, my readings were largely restricted to Ghanaian, Nigerian and Liberian authors, I am looking to break out to East Africa this year. I’m waiting for three hardcover books – two Ugandan and one Somali.

Late December came on board with my first Ghanaian book, “NURUL-ANWAR, The Light of the Lights,” a book on Islamic Religious Studies published by a childhood friend.

But 2019 is well underway with a stampeded read, “Show Me The Money,” a book by Nigeria’s former anti-corruption czar, Nuhu Ribadu. Chanced on an e-copy and as an admirer of his works, self-arrested myself to read within the context of Nigeria’s upcoming presidential elections. I'm done with it though.

Last year, a reading pal, Ugandan colleague Amelia Martha Nakitimbo brought up the idea of “co-reading,” which I’d look to largely leverage on this year.

The idea is to do with reading two books instead of one book per month, – that way if one book drains her, she has another one to keep the momentum going. It came up in the wake of our collective hustle with Taiye Selasi’s “Ghana Must Go!”

Here is a sneak preview into how I hope the first half of 2019 will be like:

January: Show Me The Money by Nuhu Ribadu
Co-read: Inside Al-Shabaab by Harun Maruf and Dan Joseph

February: Nurul-Anwar, The Light of Lights by Abdul Mannan Yusif
Co-read: Islam In Africa Throughout History by Sh. Mohammed Aman Al-Jami

March: Sowing The Mustard Seed by Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
Co-read: 1984 by George Orwell

April: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
No co-reading this month

May: I Think Therefore I Play by Andre Pirlo
Co-read: Rereading My Reflections on Life by Sh. Ishaak Ibrahim Nuamah

June: Anthills of The Savannah by Chinua Achebe
Co-read: Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff

Over the course of the year, I’d be undertaking "side reading" tasks:

a. The life story of Prophet Mohammed – Ar Raheeq Al Makhtum
b. Every month, I’d read brief profiles of companions of the prophet – one man, one woman.
c. Each week, read at least an analysis of top world news stories – in the past weeks, it’d be about the US shutdown and the new Congress.

It’s all about hardwork, there is room to reset goals along the line. The challenge is on. Dear self, let’s do this. Thanks in advance. Sincerely, me.

Jumadal Uulaa 2, 1440 = January 7, 2019

My 2018 reading list: A year well-read, mind well-fed

Back in October 2018, I wrote in my review of Africa Under the Prism, that reading was hardwork that required three main ingredients: hardwork, hardwork and discipline. That’s reading for you.

Since the days my late dad borrowed books from the British Council Library for us to read at home in turns, through to the other books he bought for us and those we borrowed from friends, reading has and continues to be a good ally.

I was pleasantly surprised that in a list of 100 top books of all time as published by the BBC, I had read about 20% of the books – this thrilled me because these were in fact books I read way back.

My reading attitude over the years could best be described as erratically sporadic – emphasis mine. It wasn’t until beginning 2018 that I set out to undertake a more organized reading schedule – one book, one month.

It undoubtedly got off to a rocky start, faltered along the way and had a strong finish. A fine blend of the hardcover and e-books read from my phone. And oh, I bought my first ever e-book this year, $3.5 ‘The Story of Us’ accidentally done reading it – a story for another day.

The rocky start to 2018 reading was when I decided to start by reading “Fire and Fury,” by Micheal Wolff, I failed. Pages in, I felt I couldn’t expect any less as a journalist in close proximity to covering the Trump presidency. I’d get back to it this year – all things being equal.

Below is a list format of how the reading year went down.

a. January: FIRE AND FURY by Michael Wolff – FAILED
b. February: HALF OF A YELLOW SUN by Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie – PASSED
c. March: February and April readings overlapped into this month.
d. April: TAIL OF THE BLUE BIRD by Nii Ayikwei Parks - PASSED
e. May: THIS CHILD WILL BE GREAT by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf - PASSED
f. June: MY FATHER’S SONG (Papa Ayivi’s Song) by Efo Kodjo Mawugbe - PASSED
g. July: MY REFLECTIONS ON LIFE by Sheikh Ishak Ibrahim Nuamah - PASSED
h. August: GHANA MUST GO by Taiye Selase - FAILED
i. September: YARTELEY’S DREAM by Joseph Otu Larbi - PASSED
j. October: AFRICA UNDER THE PRISM by Hatje Cantz – PASSED
k. November: GHANA MUST GO by Taiye Selase - PASSED
l. December: BECOMING by Michelle Obama - PASSED

Other books read outside reading plan:

NO LONGER AT EASE – Chinua Achebe
THE STORY OF US – Hanna Ali
PIECE OF MY FART – Adjei Agyei Baah

Acknowledgements:

Shout out to friends that shared books, those ones are indeed invaluable. Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey availed two books – April and June.

Boss lady, Judith Ewurama Kodjo, also availed February read and was an invaluable ally in the area of story analysis as posted on my blog.

Then there is Brigette Uzezi (Macron) who afforded me a weird read and page flipper in October – for the record, she has yet to come for her book.

A Whatsapp group I belong to also provided the Chinua Achebe piece and then the e-book of Michelle Obama came via a Turkish-based former boss, [h]editor Verr Narkk Kwabb.

Michelle’s book had been released barely weeks, it was a hot product at the time. I protested that such unofficial zipping around was injurious to authors and publishers (others not an Obama, maybe) – but I had it and I enjoyed breezing through it.

In part two of this piece, I delve into a planned 2019 reading itinerary. Bought three books and an e-book last year. Already placed copies for a Somali and two Ugandan writers for 2019 – sharing that next. Till then, get reading.

1 Jumadal Uulaa, 1440H = 06 January, 2019