J K Randle

The complex puzzle was whether we were confronted with a case of reverse amnesia, selective memory or false recollection. At any rate what would have been an otherwise perfect day in the English countryside was ruined by “BREAKING NEWS” on BBC:

It was relayed directly to us in the Dining Room:
Front page headline: “ThisDay” newspaper of July 6, 2016
“NIGERIAN STUDENT STABBED TO DEATH IN LONDON”
“A Nigerian student, Fola Orebiyi, was reportedly stabbed to death on Sunday in Notting Hill, London, by a gang of youths.

According to the UK-based Evening Standard, Orebiyi was stabbed in a street clash close to Westbourne Grove just yards from the Portobello Arts Club.

The 17-year-old was reportedly involved in a fight on a nearby estate with a gang of youths, who chased him into the busy road where he was attacked.

Police and paramedics tried to resuscitate him for a long time but to no avail. He collapsed and bled to death.The deceased’s neighbour, Osman Sahal, told the police: “He was a nice boy and very considerate; none of us can understand how this could have happened.

As far as I knew, he was never in trouble. I suppose we must now wait for the police to investigate.”

Orebiyi, who completed his General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) at Holland Park in London, was studying for his A levels at the Chelsea Academy before his death.

After the incident, a yet-to-be identified 15-year-old boy was arrested by the London police in connection with the death.

An anonymous teenager was quoted to have told the police: “I know what happened, he was
protecting a friend over a silly beef which turned violent.”

A teenager, who also pleaded anonymity, said Orebiyi was stabbed in the neck in front of shocked passersby and tourists.

An eyewitness, Mark Gettleson said: “People saw him fall down and try to get to his feet again. Police and paramedics tried to resuscitate him for a long time. They did everything they could.”
“It’s absolutely tragic another young man has died on our streets,” Gettleson added.

Another witness, a mother of one, said she stood by and watched as the police tried to save the bleeding boy. She added that the ambulance wasted time in arriving at the scene.

She said: “It was traumatising. It took half an hour for the ambulance to arrive even though there are hospitals all around. I spoke to the person who called the police and he said it took them so long to get here.

The police were all over him trying to resuscitate him. All I could see were his feet and lots of blood. I’m a mum, for me this is so sad. That’s someone’s child. That’s someone’s baby.”

This was followed by another “BREAKING NEWS” on Independent Television (ITV) accompanied by the theme song: “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” by Neil Sedaka.

Shakespeare

Front page headline: “The Nation” newspaper June 26, 2016.
“NIGERIA’S BREAK-UP WOULD BE WORSE THAN SYRIAN CRISIS – US Ex-Rep.

“Former US Congressman Frank Wolf (Republican, Virginia) has warned that if Nigeria breaks up, the resulting humanitarian crisis would dwarf the ongoing refugee crisis in Syria.

After a recent trip to Nigeria where he met with government officials and victims of the Boko Haram terror, Wolf said Nigeria had the largest increase of terrorist (caused) deaths than any other country in the world.

“There’s 180 million people in Nigeria. There’s 3 million in Syria. If Nigeria unravels, imagine the impact on Europe and the world. It would be unbelievable,” Wolf, who is now a senior fellow at the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative, said this during his first public address following the group’s June 9 release of the official report of their trip at an event sponsored by the Ronald Reagan Lecture Series.

The Institute is asking the Obama administration to appoint a special envoy for Nigeria and neighbouring countries under assault from the terror group.

“According to the 2015 Global Terror Index, more than 51 percent of all global deaths attributed to terrorists were committed by Boko Haram,” Wolf said.

“Boko Haram, as you may very well know, has signed an agreement and pledged its allegiance to ISIS,” Wolf said.

“Nigeria has had the largest increase of terrorist (caused) deaths than any other country in the world. Nine of the top 20 of the most fatal attacks in 2014 occurred in Nigeria.

Of the deadliest terror organisations in the world, number one is Boko Haram. Number two is ISIS.

Keep in mind they’ve pledged their allegiance to ISIS and there’s a connection there with ISIS.
Number three is al-Shabaab, which is in Somalia, and number four is a group that I’d only heard a little bit about and that’s the Fulani militant herdsmen.

In essence, they’re the fourth most dangerous terrorist group in the world.
So Nigeria, a country of 180 million has the first which has pledged allegiance to the second and they have the fourth deadliest terrorist group in the world,” Wolf pointed out.

In April 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped over 200 teenaged girls from The Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State and “married” them off to the group’s jihadis.

Despite worldwide media coverage of the kidnapping, only two of the kidnapped girls have been found.”

On the train journey back to London, we could not but reflect on Shakespeare’s sublime turn of phrase and majesty of language.

At Euston Station, London, we were met by a top official from Number 10 Downing Street (The Prime Minister’s office / residence) who jolted us with the news:
“Your President is here in London.
We have warned him that when he returns to Nigeria, he will
face a revolt and possibly impeachment by the Senate. It
is going to be a drama of Shakespeareandimension. It is
not so much “As You Like It” but more of “As We Want It.”

Then he added with a mischievous wink:
“Our Prime Minister David Cameron (an Oxford graduate) is on his way out. He will be replaced by another Oxford graduate – Theresa May supported by yet another Oxford graduate, Boris Johnson as Foreign Minister. Indeed, the new Chancellor of the Exchequer (Minister of Finance), Philip Hammond studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at University College, Oxford. Oxford graduates are all over the place including the chap over there wearing the uniform of a porter!!

As we went past the porter, he tipped his cap and with an unmistakable Oxford accent accosted us:
“Sir, if you gentlemen would like to have Shakespeare for dinner, your table has been booked at the Savoy Hotel and paid for by KPMG”!!

Bashorun J.K. Randle is a former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and former Chairman of KPMG Nigeria and Africa Region. He is currently the Chairman, JK Randle Professional Services. Email: [email protected]