"...to build a nation where peace, and justice shall reign.""...Help us to build a nation Where no man is oppressed,..." - Words from Arise, O Compatriots (Nigeria's Anthem, 1978-date) and Nigeria, We Hail Thee (Nigeria's Anthem, 1960-1978) respectively. As promised, here's my sequel to the post on Legitimacy or Sovereignty. In this case, we discuss … Continue reading Legitimacy or Sovereignty – The Niger Delta
“The Great Nigerian Armed Forces”
My primary school years, I wanted to become an astronaut. I still hope to visit space someday, hopefully as part of the construction team for the first human space colony. These dreams made me study hard. My parents encouraged this as the way by which I could eventually give life to my dreams. I wrote … Continue reading “The Great Nigerian Armed Forces”
Legitimacy or Sovereignty
The Sovereignty of Nigeria shall not be up for debate Quoted above are words used each time a National Conference has been convened in Nigeria. The benefit of those words are yet to be seen, as are those of the National Conferences. Could it be that these Conferences failed because of the limitations on discourse? … Continue reading Legitimacy or Sovereignty
Nigeria’s 2015 Elections: Funding the Campaigns
The preparations towards the 2015 elections in Nigeria have been fraught with many scandals already. While these are problematic, they are frequent occurrences in our politics which have played out several times between 1999 and 2014. There is however a subtle shift occurring in the preparations for this election rounds. This shift is in the … Continue reading Nigeria’s 2015 Elections: Funding the Campaigns
Nigeria’s 2015 Elections: Before the Numbers Game
Temporary Voter's Card (with Incomplete Biometric Data Capture)"Democracy is a game of numbers, and we have those numbers", is a familiar cry to many Nigerian political observers. Those who use this cry however, show no desire to acquire those numbers, at least not legitimately. Have you heard a statement from any political party concerning the … Continue reading Nigeria’s 2015 Elections: Before the Numbers Game
Political Party Funding & Nigerians
Been a while, today's post is inspired by talk in my home state, Rivers State. It is common to hear "Amaechi don carry Rivers State Oil Money go give APC people" in political discourse. For clarity, he officially left the PDP to the APC in November 2013. The flaw of this argument can be found … Continue reading Political Party Funding & Nigerians
#APostADay Day 5 – Nigeria: The Dignity of Humanity
...that all may be treated with the dignity of humanity... Contemporary Nigerian society appears to be chaotic. Citizens believe it's a dog-eat-dog world. A common mantra amongst Nigerians is 'this life na OYO (On Your Own)'. So, we go on as best we can, minding our own businesses, fighting against attempts to derail us. Sometimes … Continue reading #APostADay Day 5 – Nigeria: The Dignity of Humanity
#SCOANGATE: We have an enforcement problem
In light of the recent SCOAN building collapse, YouTube Video here, many have complained that the church failed to obtain a permit from the relevant Building Regulatory authorities. For clarity, a two-storey building had been modified by the addition of four storeys; thereby making it a total six storeys. Federal and State laws and statutes … Continue reading #SCOANGATE: We have an enforcement problem
#APostADay Day 4 – Choice!, LOVE
"Over the others, over my pride Over the faults/flaws, I have in my life I Choose You, I Choose You, I Choose You" - Ryan Leslie The words above are from one on my favourite musicians. I was (don't know if I still am) a firm believer in those words. To me, love is a … Continue reading #APostADay Day 4 – Choice!, LOVE
#APostADay Day 3 – Knowledge and Access to it…2
Hello! It is Day 3 of Saatah Nubari (@Saatah) and my #APostADay Challenge. Day 1: Saatah wrote on Not Much...but there's hope, and I wrote on Homogeneity and Heterogeneity of our Society Day 2: Saatah wrote on The Events of his Day. I wrote on Nigerian Confraternities: Names, Symbols & Deductions Day 3: Saatah wrote … Continue reading #APostADay Day 3 – Knowledge and Access to it…2
#PostADay Day 2 – Nigerian Confraternities: Names, Symbols & Deductions
Hello! Welcome to Day 2 of Saatah Nubari (@Saatah) and my #APostADay Challenge. Day 1: Saatah wrote on Not Much...but there's hope, and I wrote on Homogeneity and Heterogeneity of our Society Day 2: Saatah wrote, like in a diary, on The Events of his Day. A good, honest account. This is my Day 2 … Continue reading #PostADay Day 2 – Nigerian Confraternities: Names, Symbols & Deductions
#APostADay Day 1 – Homogeneity and Heterogeneity of our Society.
Hello! So I've been off for a while, not for lack of things to write but because I have failed to Overcome Inertia . However, this is about to change as for the next week, I and Saatah Nubari (@Saatah) have challenged ourselves to #PostADay. His posts would be on http://www.nubby.wordpress.com. I hope our posts … Continue reading #APostADay Day 1 – Homogeneity and Heterogeneity of our Society.
Gaining Impulse/Overcoming Inertia
Brutus: There is a tide in the affairs of men. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures. … Continue reading Gaining Impulse/Overcoming Inertia
Herald of the Statesmen
The 2015 general elections are around the corner. As is now common, the media would be filled with accusations, counter-accusations, critiques, and endorsements of potential candidates or political parties by supposed "statesmen". This is what I refer to as the herald of the statesmen. Who is a Statesman? Chamber's 20th Century Dictionary defines a statesman … Continue reading Herald of the Statesmen
Politics: Keeping ‘Em Out 101.
Last week I stumbled upon this article about Aisha Eniola, a 19 year old Nigerian (by birth), who is currently a Town Councillor (equivalent of ward councillor) for Brent Council in England. I am an advocate for youth participation in government, especially as we are the ones who feel the brunt of ineffective governance the … Continue reading Politics: Keeping ‘Em Out 101.
The Luxury of Shared Opinions
With new information (knowledge), opinions are reviewed; they could be strengthened, weakened or retracted.
Where are the employees?
I have this job opening. However, I am yet to find someone competent enough to meet the job requirements
Society: The Foundations
Society: A community of people (persons or individual humans) who share the same customs and laws. I find myself pondering on the foundations of our society; starting from the smallest unit, the family, to the country/nation, Nigeria. Do we share the same customs and laws? I don’t think so. The laws and customs are agreed … Continue reading Society: The Foundations
Knowledge and Access to It
Knowledge is something we all crave for. I have a life motto which is Learning Is For Ever. Learnt that from one of my favourite musicians Josh Osho. A thirst for knowledge is something I really admire. Lack of that thirst in an individual - especially a young one - evokes pity on my part. … Continue reading Knowledge and Access to It
A Celebration of Life – The Felabration 2013 Example
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is greatness. A man’s ability to continually inspire a lot of people many years after his death earns him the right to be addressed in the present tense. In our remembrance and memorials however, do we look at the good examples one set? Or do we, for sake of commercial viability, conveniently ignore … Continue reading A Celebration of Life – The Felabration 2013 Example
ASUU Strike 2013 Four Months Commemoration
In three days, we commemorate the four month milestone of the ASUU 2013 strike action. This brings to a total of at least 8months an engineering, agriculture, and medical sciences students have spent at home from 2009-2013. I am one of such students and I am spiffed beyond measure. However, I won’t be completely emotive … Continue reading ASUU Strike 2013 Four Months Commemoration
The “Am I Your Mate?” Syndrome
"See this small boy o! Am I your mate?" Someone has probably said these words to you if you were brought up with/or have Nigerian (maybe African too) heritage. We live in a society set up with prevalent hierarchies. Isn't age a good basis for distinction? I don't believe it is. Here's why I say … Continue reading The “Am I Your Mate?” Syndrome
The Greener Pastures Conundrum
Some days back, a friend’s personal message on her BBM read, “the grass is greener on the other side, but the water rate is higher”. It got my interest piqued as there is always a seemingly “greener pasture”. This is the basis of this post, a documentation of my thoughts on greener pastures. Imagine for … Continue reading The Greener Pastures Conundrum
A Discourse on Tertiary Education
I had started an article some days back on the structure of our tertiary education institutions in Nigeria. This is a spill off from that article. In the time between, I had read a series of articles concerning the on-going ASUU strike from two thinkers in particular. There was a three part blog series from … Continue reading A Discourse on Tertiary Education
The “No Be My Own Bad Pass” Syndrome
DISCLAIMER: This is me venting. If you're touchy, do not read any further. 'tis at your peril. Yes, perhaps, you're one of the very few that have access to me. This might feel like a subliminal message. 'tis your decision to either take offence or .... The words in quote in the title of this … Continue reading The “No Be My Own Bad Pass” Syndrome
Our Loyalty – The Costs
"Bros! I dey loyal o. Anything for your boy?" The above can be heard on almost every street of Nigeria countless times daily. Though this "loyalty" is without value. We learn from our homes to be loyal to the family - the first societal unit we know - and so we stick together. Blood is … Continue reading Our Loyalty – The Costs
Our Classless Political Class
"I no be gentleman at all o" The words to a classic Nigerian song. Actually, the only words I remember from it. The past year has been full of activity in our political institutions. From the State Houses of Assembly, to the Governors Forum, and the National Assembly. Words spoken in anger, threats made on … Continue reading Our Classless Political Class
Access
Prov. 4. 23 "Guard Your heart with all diligence for out of it comes issues of life" "Access! Access!! Access!!!" I can hear myself talking to her. She complains but then she always does. In anything we commit to, there's bound to be many others which try to distract or derail us. However, these detractors/distractions … Continue reading Access
Comp(l)e(ti)tion
Life is a Journey Not A Competition These are words from a fave singer of mine, India.Arie in her song "A Beautiful Day". Taking records of activities at work today, it was evident how the good, the bad and the ugly can be seen even in the smallest of groups. Three groups were assigned same … Continue reading Comp(l)e(ti)tion
Ex- Experience
Some days back, a broadcast message was circulated on bbm "If you were to have a thousand bucks for every ex you've had how much will you have now?" Now, this was pretty much a simple innocent message and I did forward to my contacts. Got to get to know some a bit too. My … Continue reading Ex- Experience
Mediocrity 1
Daily I think of the different ways we could be better as a country. Advancement first requires an acknowledgment of lagging. So, why are we behind? In all my thoughts, the word which repeats itself is "MEDIOCRITY". The state of being mediocre-medium quality, neither good nor poor-is largely a state of the mind. We decide … Continue reading Mediocrity 1
3 quick thoughts on Buhari’s ‘loan’
Response to
Point 1. I’d like a reference to where the PDP nomination form costs N10million. No, I’m not trying to cause trouble. I read here http://www.thenewswriterng.com/?p=13328 that the PDP’s Rivers State gubernatorial nomination form is about N10million. Forms have varying prices across states. This I think is good as it considers disparity in state income.Point 3: The APC was a merger of at least two parties, ACN & CPC. A merger means that assets of individual entities should belong to the new party as agreed upon. This invalidates the new status of the APC. The only excuse one would give is that the former parties were run as sole enterprises by their administrators. If that is the case, then there is dishonesty on the part of the constituent parties and new APC leadership.
Again, these are thoughts open to discourse.
This from the Vanguard is generating quite a bit of discussion:
Buhari meanwhile, yesterday procured the party’s N27.5 million expression of interest and nomination forms at the national secretariat.
Lamenting that the costs of the forms were high, he said that it took the understanding of his bankers in Kaduna and Abuja to raise the money.
“It’s a pity I couldn’t influence this amount to be put down as in the case of ladies and the disabled that intend to participate. I always looked left and right in our meetings but I could not read sympathy, so I kept my trap.
“But I felt heavily sorry for myself because I don’t want to go and ask somebody to pay for my nomination forms, because I always try to pay myself, at least for the nomination.
“N27 million is a big sum, thankfully I have personal relationship with the manager of…
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