2011: Let’s ask Octopus Paul
Octopus is a silky, smooth aquatic animal with eight tentacles. During the last World Cup in South Africa Octopus Paul which was virtually used as a pet, stole the show as its gift of clairvoyance was manifested. The Octopus was the unofficial announcer of result of every major match Germany played, even before the matches were played.
The Octopus virtually predicted all the matches Germany played and the results were as it predicted. It rightly predicted the victory of Germany over Argentina, England, Australia and Ghana and the loss of Germany to Spain and Serbia.
Since the advent of Octopus Paul and its breathtaking predictions, so many nations including South Africa are saying they must have a psychic octopus like the one in Germany. Nations of the world are beginning to think that Octopus could be used to predict every activity of human endeavour. Politicians in Nigeria have developed soft spot for Octopus Paul to predict the 2011 general elections at all levels.
The live span of an Octopus is three years. Octopus Paul has spent two and a half years. By 2011 the world cup prediction Icon may have joined his ancestors. By the time the elections in Nigeria get under way in 2011, Octopus Paul would have been too weak to predict events.
Octopus is said to be the most intelligent of all the invertebrates. There are over 300 species of Octopus.
One lesson I learnt from the predictions of Octopus Paul, was that everything in the world is preordained to happen. It is a fore conclusion of what has probably been settled ahead of time. It means no human factor can change it. Nothing was able to change the results of the matches that Octopus predicted. Even the worst referees could not change the predictions of Paul.
On Friday, 9 July 2010, a day before the losers final at the world cup all eyes were on Octopus in a match between Germany and Uruguay. In fact, the prediction of Octopus was beamed live on some international television stations with tension and anxiety. The Germans who had not forgiven the Octopus since it predicted that Spain would defeat their country in the semi-final heaved a sigh of relief.
The biggest prediction of Octopus in the world cup was the final match between Spain and the Netherlands. It predicted that Spain would win against the Netherlands. Millions watched live as the creature descended upon a tank marked with Spanish flag, sitting for some minutes before grabbing a morsel and devouring it. The Octopus completely ignored the Netherlands tank. It was hope chattered for all fans of Netherlands because the Octopus had never failed.
The worst experience was that since Paul had acquired the fame of not failing in its predictions, players and their handlers were found struggling against the tide of Paul’s prediction. In the losers’ final on 10 July, even though Germany was trailing by 2-1, Octopus Paul had settled that Germany was going to win.
The match involving Spain and the Dutch was the first time Paul was made to pick a game that did not involve Germany as the Oberhausen Sea Life bowed to the aspirations of the millions of football fans who wanted to satisfy their anxiety and curiosity.
Octopus Paul is domiciled in Sea life Aquarium in Oberhausen Germany. Facts emerged that prior to the World Cup, it had been predicting games involving Germany and the prediction were about 70 per cent correct for German games in the 2008 European Championship. It became an international celebrity or an icon when it correctly predicted that Germany would beat Australia in their opening match.
The turning point came when it predicted that Spain would beat Germany in the semi final. When Octopus did the prediction, football fans in Germany went wild and boiled with anger. On the streets of Germany, football fans doubted the prediction Octopus Paul for the first time when it went against them. Some accused Octopus of unpatriotic attitude or betrayal of its country of trust.
Paul first developed its abilities during the 2008 European Championship in which he predicted five out of six games involving Germany correctly. But while it had only a community of local fans two years ago, his world cup outings have brought him worldwide fame.
The mode of prediction of the psychic Octopus is by lowering two glass boxes into the aquarium. One will have the Germany flag; the other will have that of the opposing team. Foods for the Octopus usually oysters were put in each of the glass boxes. Whichever one the octopus settled for is the favoured side to win the match.
The Octopus was born in 2008 in England. The life span of an Octopus is said to be three years. It means Octopus Paul may not be alive for Brazil 2014 World Cup.
People have not actually been able to say how come about the predictive abilities of the Octopus. Did the Octopus learn it or was it trained for it? Or is it the natural gift of all Octopuses?
Before the next World Cup, many Octopuses are going to emerge. Already, people are saying the octopus could be used for politics, marriage life and the economy. It can predict serious events that are still dicey with man. Going to Octopus Paul is like going to a herbalist.
Can Octopus be used to predict the outcome of an election? Yes it can. If Octopus can predict a match between two clubs or countries, it can predict the outcome of an election.
What can Octopus Paul do with Nigerian election? Does the Octopus take into cognizance the human factor in our politics? In South Africa, bad officiating could not stop the prediction of the Octopus to come to pass. Can we use an Octopus in our local league?
Currently, we do not know if President Goodluck Jonathan will contest the next election. If the issue is becoming dicey, can we ask Paul? Can Paul tell Nigerians from among the confetti of political office seekers who will carry the day eventually? Let us ask Octopus Paul if the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega will succeed. Let us visit the aquarium and tell the Octopus that his services are needed in Nigeria, urgently for the 2011 elections.
Nigerians can manipulate the octopus to do their will. In Germany Octopus could not help predict against its own country of residence.
Can Octopus predict who will win an election in Nigeria? Yes it can. But it will not come to pass! Ask INEC and the police. Ask also the thugs that are snatching ballot boxes. In Nigeria, even Octopus could be bribed to predict against one’s enemy. Predictions of Octopus could be tribalized in Nigeria. The prediction of Paul could be of no effect in Nigeria.

             Octopus Paul

                     P-o-s-t-s-c-r-i-p-t
Haba Smart!
If Senator Smart Adeyemi knows the extent of tribal disaffection and bad blood he touches on sensitive issues he would probably shies away from it. I hope Senator Smart is aware of the problem his consistent attack on Igala people and their interests create? I hope he knows that he is creating political problems for 2011. I hope he knows that ethnic consciousness and mistrust is heightening.
Definitely somebody is misinforming Senator Smart from Kogi State public service. The person that told him that the proposed Green Field Petroleum Refinery was scheduled to be located in Lokoja or between Lokoja and Ajaokuta can cause Third World War.
The NNPC had their criteria which they presented to the state government. One of the conditions was the availability of a rail line and proximity to power plant. For avoidance of doubt, the NNPC and its foreign technical partners did not state categorically a particular place.
Itobe is just about 4 kilometres to the 330/132 KV Benin-Ajaokuta power line as well as the 414 MW Geregu Gas Turbine Power Plant. The distance between Lokoja and these facilities is about 32 kilometres.
Is Smart aware that Itobe had enough quantity of raw materials for establishment of cement industry before Prince Abubakar Audu consented to locate it in his constituency? Haba Smart!
For avoidance of doubt, Itobe is in the master plan of Ajaoukta Steel Company as a catchment area or industrial layout. It is only the River Niger that separates Ajaokuta and Itobe. The two places have been earmarked to be one town when the steel plant takes off. Come to think of the area, between Ajaocuta and Lokoja belongs to Kogi Central, what is Senator Smart’s business?
Even if Smart was convinced that the State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, cheated his people, he has a more diplomatic way of approaching it without generating unnecessary ethnic tension. As Senator of the Federal Republic, nobody should teach him about diplomacy and maturity. We cannot continue like this as a people.
This State belongs to all of us. Smart does not care even if all the federal projects are in his constituency, without any in Kogi East. If Smart loves Okun people as he claims, I don’t know how many of his personal investments are in his senatorial district.
Senator Smart is quietly introducing poison into the diverse people of the state he calls his own. This may be out of frustration because he may not come back to the state after the tenure. He has nothing to lose whether or not Kogi is at peace. I hope also that he is not speaking the mind of his people over the refinery. This is sad.
Imagine if somebody like Smart becomes the governor of this state.

       Sen. Smart