The End Of An Era

Lai Mohammed enjoys ‘bow-and-go’ screening

The Cable: October 13

….“Ndume Ali, senate leader, moved the motion for‎ Mohammed to take a bow and go.

Godswill Akpabio, senate minority leader, seconded the motion, but not before he had said Mohammed should be allowed to express himself because he was known for propaganda. ‘We are sure that before he leaves here, he will drop at least two propaganda,’  Akpabio said amidst thunderous laughter by members of the chamber.”

Read more at: https://www.thecable.ng/lai-mohammed-enjoys-bow-go-screening

President Buhari Meets Former President Babangida

What came to mind when I saw this photo was the classic phrase, “So, we meet again, Mr Bond” which has appeared in a number of James Bond films. Its variant is “I’ve been expecting you, Mr Bond” or “I’ve been waiting for you, Mr Bond”.

The phrase is usually uttered by the antagonist (mostly of the villainous kind) of James Bond who may have been humbled in a previous encounter and has now finally found an opportunity to exert revenge or to stage a rematch. The outcome of the rematch is always devastating to both parties but always more disastrous for the challenger. 

If you remember, on 27 August 1985, the Chief of Army Staff Major General Babangida led other disgruntled officers to overthrow the barely twenty-month-old government of his boss, Major General Buhari. He promptly kept General Buhari in detention and literally threw away the key! The two were never to cross paths again until this meeting, thirty years later, which Buhari was chairing as the newly democratically elected President.

Buhari and Saraki Fraternize At Independence Day Celebration

MTN: Thirty-Nine Steps to cancel your subscription

MTN: Thirty-nine simple steps to cancel your subscription

This cartoon was inspired by my experience with the MTN call centre yesterday. I got a text advising that my callertunez service would expire in a couple of days. I called the centre to complain that I thought it was dishonest of them to make it difficult for me to stop the service which I did not subscribe to in the first instance and for which they would have been deducting money dishonestly from my account.

The agent ignored my complaint about being fleeced for the service I didn’t ask for. Instead, he concentrated on apologizing, albeit insincerely, for the long process I was made to go through to unsubscribe and he promised to bring it to the attention of his boss. And to appear that he was being helpful, he advised: “Try texting NO to 4100 and I think that should stop the service, sir.” I was livid, and I asked why the first MTN text on the subject did not simply say that, instead of introducing so many unnecessary steps to follow. Was their intention to confuse customers and force them to abandon the process?

His reply was a no-brainer, which he must have been tutored to repeat to callers, “Sorry, sir! Like I said, I will bring it to the attention of my boss! Can I help you with anything else, sir?”  Even when I warned him I will also bring their despicable act and our conversation to the attention of the public, he simply repeated the same no-brainer, ’Sorry, sir!.. Like I said, I……….”