HERE comes again that time of the year when we pause to take count of what had happened and project into the future as if we know tomorrow. Valedictory weeks of the year and early one are often the circus of pundits. For some awkward reasons, the world sits behind and watches them play god ' picking the pulses of departing year as if they have everything that happened and why they occurred counted in their palms, forecasting the coming one with such confidence or assertive certainty that would belittle a Nostradamus.We are there now, and my colleagues in this trade and I are catching our fun, playing god. Do you blame us' Too bad. Blame the world where men and women want it easy and would want others to think for them. Hence, the rush to gobble through every analysis or projection into a new season. Nobody wants to be caught, unaware. And everybody would wish there is somebody else who would do his thinking and study for him.However, let's not dodge the job you expect me to do. Getting it done well is another matter because, truly no one can explain how this year ran like this ' tensive, explosive, vitriolic yet not dry in wit and not lacking of success tales. From the global to our local scene here, things have clearly headed for the wonga and topsy turvy to the level that seeing ourselves here, at the end of it, is but a miracle. In fact, not many would articulately explain how they made it. I remember that my first article in this column for the year was entitled, 2011: Wake Up Running' It was a two-part piece in which I foresaw an active year that would be characterised by a lot of activities that could pose formidable challenges to us, particularly in Nigeria and in the international community. I had no crystal ball because it was there for one to discern if not 'see' then through just a thoughtful observation. And the year proved it right. A simmering tension over harsh government policies and biting economic situation detonated in downtown Tunis, Tunisia in December 2009 when a young man Mohamed Bouazizi (a.k.a. Basboossa), 26, said he has had enough and set himself on fire. Like Ms Rosa Park (of 'my feet are tired' fame which put paid to the bus sitting racial segregation and spurred the 1960's blacks' struggle in U.S.A.) Mr Bouazizi's self-imolation changed things radically in his native Tunisia and further turned things around internationally as it rode on the waiting back of a blossoming youths' zest and angst (due to lack of opportunities) across globe to stir the Jasmine revolt now dubbed Arab Uprising (among other names) that marked the entire 2011.According to reports, Bouazizi a Tunisian street vendor (Nigerians would prefer the the word, hawker), set himself on fire on December 17, 2010, in protest against the confiscation of his wares and the harassment and humiliation that he reported were inflicted on him by a municipal official and her aides. His action became a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring, inciting demonstrations and riots throughout Tunisia in protest against social and political issues in the country. The public's anger and violence intensified following Bouazizi's death, leading then, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to step down on January 14, 2011, after 23 years in power.Success of the Tunisian protests inspired protests and (in some cases) removal of sit-tight governments in several other Arab countries, such as Egypt, Syria, Libya, Yemen, as well as several non-Arab countries. Some men even emulated Bouazizi's act of self-immolation, in an attempt to bring an end to their own autocratic governments. Massive street protests in Spain, Greece, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, United States of America, including those under the tag, 'Occupy Wall Street' or 'Occupy...' whatever place took their steam and mobilisation methodology from the Bouazizi-spurred protest. Interestingly, all through 2011, the protests raged around the world and continues. To imagine that this was the year the mythical Osama Bin Laden was killed, same as phenomenal Muammar Gadhafi and tsunamis ' environmental and social ' happened yet we still have the Arab Spring mood spreading in several guises, nails home the matter. 2011 was the year of Domnic Struss Khan saga; the year of eventual torpedoing of the Italian capone Prime Minister, Serbio Berlosconi; the jailing of Dr Conrad Murray, Jacques Chirac; death of Steve Jobs and the worst droop of Euro zone and their Euro currency. Yet the Jasmine rage still boils in Syria, Yemen and Russia against the dreaded Vlademier Putin. The Times of London has already named Bouazizi its person of the year 2011. Some other international publications have given it to 'the street protester', a proxy reference to Bouazizi. Hence, I deem it apt and fit to give the Basboossa my man of the globe 2011 crown. Down home, here in Nigeria, the Boko Haram tension sought and still seeks to upstage the Bouazizi inferno in our memory. Any time they felt we were about to ignore them, they threw bombs anywhere they deemed fanciful ' pub, school, police station, UN building, youth corps members' hostel, market, church, et al. And they sent the public panicking and members of government fidgeting to the disruption of the rhythm of the land, politically and economically. The Boko Haram bedlam ran though 2011 seeking all manner of odd handle to project their blood-stained demaguogy. Keen to do everything insane including bombing infants they sustained their agenda of derailing Nigeria to topsy-turvydom such as last Christmas' bombing of St. Theresa's Catholic Church, Madalla, Suleja, Niger State (killing over 60 and still counting), and yesterday's attack on mosques in Maiduguri, Borno State, among others, in their zanny pace through the year. And those acts point towards what 2012 has in kitty for Nigeria. With such possible tension spinners as the removal of feul subsidy; cashless (or is it now cash light') economy; toll payment on slated road routes, withdrawal of import waiver on some already customary goods; the likelihood of more tax on citizens who may have less money to spend, among other headaches, 2012 may just be an interesting if eventful year. More so, the said very Northern Boko Haram bunch are still charging the social tension to the level of rattling sleeping dogs in other zones of Nigeria. All these put in same pan with unceasing opposition politicians' 'attack Goodluck from all angle' propaganda which they are, unfortunately, winning, makes one sense a sensitive year ahead.But like we did 2011, we shall survive it. My inner mind says: ' we will win not just survive it'. Take which ever option you prefer. However, note: I am not a Nostradamus. chukacater@yahoo.com 08026472357
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