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  • Full text of Buhari’s Democracy Day broadcast

     
    ADDRESS BY MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA IN COMMEMORATION OF

    THE 2018 DEMOCRACY DAY CELEBRATION,

     

    My Dear Nigerians!

     

    Today marks the 19th year of our nascent democracy and the 3rd Anniversary of this administration. I am thankful to Almighty God for bringing us thus far.  This administration came at a time that Nigerians needed Change, the Change we promised and the Change we continue to deliver. We have faced a lot of challenges on this journey and Nigerians have stood by us in achieving the three cardinal points of this administration namely; Security, Corruption and the Economy.

     

    2.     The commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day is a celebration of freedom, a salute to the resilience and determination of Nigerians and a recommitment by Government to keep its promise to lead Nigeria into a new era of justice and prosperity.

     

    3.     Public safety and security remains the primary duty of this Government. Before this Administration came into being 3 years ago, Boko Haram held large areas of land spanning several Local Governments in the North East.             

     

    4.     Today, the capacity of the insurgents has been degraded leading to the re-establishment of authority of government and the release of captives including, happily, 106 Chibok and 104 Dapchi girls, and over 16,000 other persons held by the Boko Haram.

     

    5.     In order to minimize the impact of the insurgency on Internally Displaced Persons, Government has established secure IDP Camps and has improved the mechanism for the distribution of basic aid, foods and essential commodities using various strategies in collaboration with local and international Organizations.  

     

    6.     Efforts are in process for resettlement of IDPs in their home communities by providing schools, hospitals, clinics, water and sanitation to facilitate a quick return to economic activities. Government is similarly implementing de-radicalization and rehabilitation programmes to facilitate sustainable peace and development.

     

    7.     The unfortunate incidences of kidnappings, herdsmen and farmers clashes in several communities which have led to high number of fatalities and loss of properties across the country is being addressed and the identified culprits  and their sponsors shall be made to face the full wrath of the law. All the three tiers of Government are presently engaged with communities and religious organizations to restore peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

     

    8.     I want to commend members of the Multinational Joint Task Force drawn from Niger, Benin, Chad, Cameroon and our own country in collaboration with the International Community who are assisting in the fight against insurgency in the North East. I also commend the gallantry of members of our Armed Forces and other security agencies that have continued to provide security for lives and properties across the country.  State and Local traditional authorities are helping with much needed intelligence in this fight against insurgency.

     

    9.     This administration is pained over the grievous loss of lives and properties occasioned by the carnage of insurgency and other forms of criminality in the country. I wish to assure Nigerians that we will not rest until all criminal elements and their sponsors are brought to justice. Government is boosting the capacity of our security agencies through recruitment of more personnel, training and procurement of modern equipment, enhancement of intelligence gathering as well as boosting their morale in the face of daunting challenges.

     

    10.   The Niger Delta Region has enjoyed relative peace through social inclusiveness and cooperation of the Elders and the good people of the region. Government is committed to implementing the comprehensive peace, security and development plan for the region. The environmental clean-up of the region which commenced with the launch in Bodo, Ogoni in June, 2016 is progressing satisfactorily. Furthermore farming assets are being revived and investors in cocoa and palm oil plantations are showing serious interest. 

     

     

    11.   The second primary object of this Administration is to fight corruption headlong. Like I have always said, if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will destroy the country. Three years into this Administration, Nigerians and the international community have begun to applaud our policies and determination to fight corruption. We are more than ever before determined to win this war, however hard the road is. I therefore appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to support us in this fight.

     

    12.   Various policy measures already put in place to stem the tide of corrupt practices are yielding remarkable results. Some of these key reform policies include:

    a.  The Treasury Single Account (TSA) has realized Billions of Naira being saved from maintenance fee payable to banks.  N200 Billion has also been saved from elimination of ghost workers in public service.

     

    b.  The Whistle-Blowing Policy has helped to recover over N500 Billion;

     

     

     

    c.   The Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit set up with a mandate to validate controls, assess risks, prune personnel costs, ensure compliance with Public Financial Management reforms has helped to identify and remove over 52,000 ghost workers from the Federal Government MDAs Payroll;

     

     

    d.  The Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) aimed at expanding tax education and awareness has offered the opportunity for tax defaulters to regularise their status in order to enjoy the amnesty of forgiveness on overdue interest, penalties and the assurance of non-prosecution or subject to tax investigations.

     

    e.     The Sovereign Wealth Fund project portfolio has been expanded with an injection of US$650 million so as to strengthen its investment in local infrastructure, power, health, re-construction of Abuja-Kano road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, East West Road (Section V) and the Mambilla Hydro-electric Power project as well as the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge.

    13.   The fight against corruption through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has resulted in recoveries of Billions of Naira, as well as forfeiture of various forms of assets. This alongside other efforts has improved Nigeria’s international image and regional cooperation.

     

    14.   We have retained the services of one of the world’s leading assets tracing firms to investigate and trace assets globally. This is in addition to the exploitation of provisions of existing Treaties, Conventions as well as Bilateral Agreements with Multilateral bodies and Nations. Nigeria has also signed Mutual Legal Assistance Agreements to ensure that there is no hiding place for fugitives.

     

    15.   This Administration has therefore focused on revamping the ailing economy it inherited in 2015.   In 2016, Government executed an expansionary budget and developed the Strategic Implementation Plan.  For the first time, 30% of the budget was earmarked for capital expenditure which represents an upward review when compared with the 2015 budget. The SIP was followed by the development of a comprehensive medium term plan – the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017 – 2020.

     

    16.   The broad strategic objectives of the ERGP were to; Restore and sustain economic growth; Build a globally competitive economy; and Invest in our people.  The implementation of the ERGP has started yielding results. The National Bureau of Statistics reports that  the economy grew by 1.95% in 1st quarter 2018, which is a good performance when viewed against -0.91 in 1st quarter 2017 and -0.67% in 1st quarter 2016 respectively.

     

    17.   Our foreign reserve has improved significantly to 47.5 billion USD as of May, 2018 as against 29.6 billion USD in 2015.  The inflationary rate has consistently declined every month since January, 2017.

     

    18.   Recently, Government conducted Focus Labs in three key sectors of the Economy namely, Agriculture & Transport, Manufacturing and Processing as well as  Power and Gas. These have yielded significant prospects for investments and Job creation to the tune of US$ 22.5 billion with a potential for creating more than 500,000 jobs by 2020. These investment generation initiatives are expected to increase capital inflows in the form of foreign direct investment. There is a high prospect that the cumulative investments from this first phase of the Labs will hit US$39.2 billion by 2025.

     

    19.   Under agriculture, Nigeria continues to pursue a strategic food security programme built around self-sufficiency and minimization of import dependency. As a result, rice importation from other countries has been cut down by 90% which has a direct impact on foreign reserves.

     

    20.   The Social Investment Programmes (SIP) has been created as a means to graduating our citizens from poverty through capacity building, investment and direct support. The major strategic objective is to restore livelihood, economic opportunities and sustenance for the poor across the country. The SIP programmes and projects include:

    a.              Home Grown School Feeding Programme – About 8.2 million pupils are currently being fed from 24 States of the Federation with over 75,000 Catering Staff engaged under the programme.

     

    b.              The Conditional Cash Transfer has so far recorded over 297,000 caregivers and being trained by 2,495 Community Facilitators in 21 states. Less privileged Nigerians are now being paid N5,000 monthly stipend in 9 pilot States of Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Osun and Oyo. Eventually the scheme will cover all the 36 states of the federation including the FCT.

     

    c.               Under the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme – About 264,269 loans had been disbursed to 4,822 societies in the 36 States and FCT, while another 370,635 are awaiting release of funds. 

     

    d.              N-Power Job creation Scheme – is targeted at providing jobs for unemployed young graduates and has so far recruited 200,000 youths while the next batch of 300,000 have been selected, verified and would soon be deployed across the 36 States and the FCT. Furthermore, 20,000 non-graduate volunteers have also been selected to kick off the N-Build programme in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council and the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria.

     

     

    21.   In the area of power generation, Nigerians from all parts of the country continue to report better power supply and less use of generators. This underscores the effectiveness of the methodical plan to deliver incremental and uninterrupted power supply to our homes, markets, offices and factories.

     

    22.   The country achieved 5, 222.3 MW representing the highest peak of power generated onto the national grid and delivered to customers in December, 2017. With new facilities, repairs and rehabilitations by Government and private investors, generation capability now exceeds 7,500 MW.

     

    23.   This Administration is committed to lawful interventions to ensure the operators of the distribution business live up to expectations especially in the areas of distribution capacity, service delivery, collection efficiency, and metering to eliminate contentious estimated billing.

     

    24.   The Transportation Sector continues to undergo a series of reforms in order to sustain the international best practices and ensure safety and security. The nation’s major airports have witnessed reconstruction of runways, installation of navigational equipment and new international terminals due for commissioning in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Enugu. Bilateral Air Services Agreements between Nigeria and the Governments of other countries will significantly open up new flight routes.

     

    25.   As a result of strict regulatory and compliance policies, Nigeria retained her Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category 1 status, after a routine international audit.  Recently, a new Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility with capacity for aircraft C-checks and other comprehensive levels of maintenance was established in Lagos. This would save the country an estimated $90m annually.

    26.   Giant strides have been recorded over the past three years to improve road transport infrastructure in all geopolitical zones of the country.

     

    27.   The Railway Sector has also received tremendous attention as this Administration is committed to the goal of linking all State capitals in the Federation by rail network to ease the movement of goods and passengers.

     

    28.   The Education Sector especially at tertiary level has continued to witness expansion in order to improve access to higher education by millions of youths in Nigeria. Over the last three years, Government has approved the establishment of 1 new Federal Polytechnic, granted licenses for the establishment of 4 State and 14 private-owned Universities as well as 12 private Polytechnics.

     

    29.   Government has also continued to support the implementation of various initiatives aimed at improving the quality of Basic Education delivery. Thus, it has ensured proper funding at the Basic Education level with the disbursement of N42.2 billion UBE Matching Grant to 26 States and the FCT, N851.5 million Special Education Grant disbursed to 23 States and private providers of Special Education and N2.2 billion Teachers Professional Development Fund to 33 States and the FCT. 

     

    30.   The Federal Government has continued to support fiscal sustainability at the sub-national governments through the implementation of the Budget Support Facility which was accompanied by the 22- point Fiscal Sustainability Plan. Thus, bailouts funds were made available to States to ease their fiscal challenges and other obligations including payment of salaries.

     

    31.   In addition, a total of 73 Ecological Fund projects for the control of gully erosion in different communities across all geopolitical zones have been completed in the last three years and are undergoing commissioning while 53 other projects are ongoing. The execution of these projects has generated 357 skilled jobs and 1,350 unskilled jobs during this period.

     

    32.   It is pertinent to also make mention of the immeasurable contributions of the Nigerian woman to national development and advancement of democracy, over the last three years. The government and people appreciate you all as mothers of our great country.

    33.   My dear country men and women, as we all celebrate our democratic experience, let us resolve to avoid hatred and intolerance; we can only achieve our objectives in an atmosphere of harmony and peaceful co-existence.

     

    34.   Finally, the up-coming months will usher us into another season of general elections. Let me use this opportunity to urge us all to conduct ourselves, our wards and our constituencies with the utmost sense of fairness, justice and peaceful co-existence such that we will have not only hitch free elections but also a credible and violence free process.

     

    35. In few days to come, I will be joined by many promising young Nigerians to sign into law the “Not Too Young to Run” Bill

     

  • Seventy Black Americans trace roots to Oyo

    Last Saturday, seventy Black Americans traced their ancestral lineage to the ancient town of Oyo. BODE DUROJAIYE reports.
    At a civic reception organised for the visitors,  the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111  urged the Federal, States Governments and other  individuals to, as a matter of utmost concern, embark on re-integrating Yorubas across the globe back to their ancestral roots, in order to save their souls from continued trauma. .
    He also stressed urgent need for world leaders to conserve Oyo Yoruba traditions as international heritage of exceptional value.
    According to him, ‘’concerted efforts must be intensified at increasing inspiration to become national or to recognise nationhood. So with that, we see the Yoruba in the diaspora, as it is popularly called, to be the Yoruba that will greatly guide and influence the Yoruba in the ancient homeland, who for the most part are tending to move away from a sense of preservation of their own culture and tradition, particularly religion’’.
    ‘’As a people, our culture, politics and religious experience have been extremely unfulfilled. The Yorubas are now falling in the same condition through which the African Americans had allowed themselves to be seduced by preachers of a foreign gospel. We know that the universalist inspiration which has come to the Yoruba through Christianity and Islam has reduced their concern or allegiance to their own god and by extension to their own nationality. The Yoruba will be very much reduced in their political, cultural and spiritual development by their seduction into these alien religions,” he said.
    He pointed out that today, the Alaafin is duty bound to stand for and in defence of every Yoruba soul either on  the continent of Africa or in the Diaspora in a  globalized world.
    People, the monarch, noted, carry in their veins the rich, strong, virile Yoruba blood that has refused to be polluted or diluted by many years of contact with the outside world, adding that they are not only devoted, courageous but devotional in preserving the  sacred intellectual property and  the  foundation of the Yoruba knowledge system, despite the orchestrated condemnation of its relevance.
    ‘’Oyo Empire was in possession of all the land. Oyo was very fast in expansion and became one  of the earliest states with  a  central authority  system. This makes Oyo, probably the  greatest of  the  forest states in West Africa. At   the highest of its existence, having fully developed a sophisticated internal system of government, Oyo dominated all other Yoruba kingdoms namely; Ife, Ekiti, Ijesa, Egba, Ijebu, Ondo,Sabe and Owu. It stretched into Dahomey, Togo and parts of the Ashanti in Ghana.
    ‘’This  achievement marked a new phase in the history of the Yoruba; for it witnessed  the effective  transfer  of power from  Ile-ife to Oyo which became the  Centre  of a new powerful empire  with  far flung cultural, political and linguistic influences.. Oyo soon became the seat of government of the Yoruba  people. Interestingly, the new identity of Oyo was diffused to all parts  of Yoruba land with  overwhelming adoption’’.
     Lamenting on how scores and scores of Africans, particularly the Yorubas are being encouraged to disrespect ,dishonour and abandon anything African by the Western world, Oba Adeyemi said African religious beliefs are demonized and discarded to  the extent that some misguided Africans now abandon their family names  in preference to names without bearing to  their backgrounds.
     Oba Adeyemi took a swipe of European colonisation and their hegemony, saying that the colonization  of Africa was indeed a cultural project, while the hegemonic cultures of  Europe actually set out to destroy other cultures and super-impose their own cultures and values on the people, in order to perpetuate the relationship of inequality and inequity.
    ‘’In spite of the assaults, African culture ha demonstrated its resilience and beyond that relevance in a troubled and confused world. Yoruba culture is today spreading and attracting many studies. It has been said that Yoruba is the best studied African civilization and has attracted the attention of the largest number of scholars, leading to the production of impressive number of publications.
    ‘’Without doubt, we can find strength in unity. This has become imperative so that whenever our brothers and sisters in Diaspora come home, they won’t be complainers about how things are not working, but rather, they would see themselves as partners and partakers in the overall development for a better future of their home land. Partnership is a voluntary collaborative agreement between two or more parties in which all participants agree to work together to achieve a common purpose. Partnerships, he explained, share interest, concerns and create visions for the future’’.
    In his address, Co-ordinator of the visit tagged as ‘ancestral homage ’, Segun Olaleye, said the Yorubas from the United States under the aegis of THE NIGERIA BLACKOUT is a yearly trip during which  hundreds of Black Americans travel to Nigeria to experience the Economic and Cultural Powerhouse of West Africa.
    ‘’The Nigeria Blackout Mission is to encourage Black Americans to trace their roots, and to regularly visit and embrace the culture of West Africa’’.

    Also read :  2019: Obasanjo deceiving Nigerians again — Yoruba Ronu

    According to him,’’African Americans attempting to find their own roots will be better served by adopting the Yoruba tradition which for over 30 years, we have been able to introduce into the U.S. We see the African Americans have a profound desire to re-identify with their ancestors and with an ancestral tradition. We know that among vast numbers of African American intellectuals, there is a lack of fulfillment in their development and advancement in the Yoruba-American economic world. They found also that Christianity is unfulfilling and that Islam is misleading. So in consequence, African Americans are better served by a knowledge of the custom and tradition of their Yoruba ancestry’’.

    Convener of the programme and Founder of Arewa House of Culture, Princess Folasade Adeyemi, who described the visit of the Black Americans as ‘’ historic and identification with their roots’’,  charged Younger Yoruba generation ‘’to advance to the extent that they increase the knowledge or institution among African Americans, who will serve the need for knowledge improvement through television and resurrection and introduction of stories and background images that established a sense of celebration of their African ancestry’’.
    Glamour was added to the colourful event with Oba Adeyemi’s unique dance steps, as the visitors were elated and could not hold back their excitements.
    The event which coincided with the Children’s Day has in attendance members of the Oyo Traditional Council [Oyo Mesi], Baales [village heads], and selected secondary schools’ pupils.
    Highlight of the event were cultural dances and display of Yoruba metaphysical powers.

  • Children’s Day: Our kids, Our future

    A child in Nigeria is any youth/citizen between the ages of 0 to 17 years. At that period, the individual is not responsible for him or herself, and therefore has to be taken care of by parents or guardians

     

    It cannot be debated that children are the future of every country. They are the future of a great nation only if given a solid foundation on which a better society can be built. The direction of a nation therefore can be gauged by the importance that nation places on its children and youths.

     

    Children’s Day is annually observed in Nigeria on May 27. The holiday is celebrated by government and non-governmental organizations. The standard practice is to select children from each school to participate in a match-past to salute the state leader in the stadium in competition with other schools.

     

    The government of Nigeria also organizes an annual parade and selects schools or any other organization that can participate in this event. Sometimes primary and secondary schools participate in military parades and children have an opportunity to do jobs that adults would normally do.

     

    Statistics has shown that about 42% of the Nigerian population are children and 1/3 of children aged from 6 to 14 don’t go to schools. Many children leave schools for different purposes and children’s rights are often violated on daily basis. Unfortunately, the government of Nigeria don’t make much to solve the problems connected with children’s right violation and imperfect system of education.

     

    More also, Seventy percent of children live below the poverty line with Nigeria also having a very high infant mortality rate of 93.93 per 1000 births. (This compares to 6.3/1000 in the US).

    Read Also: Sweet Sensation to feed 5,000 Indigent Children on Children’s Day

    The children are also exposed to kidnapping, street trading, lack of qualitative education, malnutrition and a host of others.

     

    Meanwhile, the idea of dedicating a day for children’s day in Nigeria started in 1964 through the endorsement of the United Nations children’s effort. This initiative was introduced as a way of protecting the children’s rights against violation of any kind within the member states of United Nation.

     

    Going forward, the current pathetic situation in Nigeria should sincerely propel us to inquire about the rationale behind this year’s observance of the Children’s Day celebration where the Boko Haram insurgent group kidnapped some Chibok girls, while in a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State where they were writing their West African Senior School Certificate examination since April 14, 2014.

     

    It is therefore the opinion of the writer that the 2014 edition of the celebration should have been shelved in solidarity with the adverse prevailing circumstances weighing heavily against Nigerian kids. This would not have diminished whatever achievements the government is making against being held hostage by the Islamic militants, but rather portray the government as sensitive and caring for citizens it swore an oath to protect.

     

    Nigeria has in the past made many mistakes where it concerns her citizens, it might not be too late for government to start showing empathy and commitment to things that will make the ordinary Nigerian have a sense of belonging and regale in the thought of being a Nigerian. We are indeed waiting for the end to this whole drama.

     

    However, this year celebration should be channeled towards protecting the children’s rights that are being violated by the rather seem unruly evil men covered in human skin. The children of today are the leaders of tomorrow and we can’t avoid ruining their future on the altar of killings, kidnapping, and child trafficking among other anomalies in our society.

     

    In summary, as we celebrate this year children’s day, we should have this in the back of mind that the greatest asset we can ever invest for our future is to make a champ out of our children by giving them the best gift they would ever imagine. Remember that our kids are our future and they must be cared for if we must achieve our dream as parents or guardians.

  • In the Name of our Father: Tragedy of a Soulless Society

    In the Name of our Father: Tragedy of a Soulless Society

    Reading through the pages of the novel was like responding to a summon by a kindred spirit. A true pleasure. The alluring beacons of a dreamland, urged me on, as I effortlessly journeyed along with the author.

    Through the scotching hardship of the slum dwellers; to the city, taking in, with pleasure, the seductive rhythmic wiggles of the Allen night nurses; to horrendous death beds; dreadful shrines and evil alters; ostentation. Treachery. Deceit. Tears. Laughter. Dingy cells. Suspense!

    The inscription : “To Eddy, the first copy taster. Thanks for the suggestions. ‘Korede”, written on the opening pages of my autographed copy of the recently released debut novel of my good friend, and colleague, Olukorede Yishau, entitled, “In the Name of our Father”, exploded bubbles of pleasant memories of the past, as I recollected that I had read the first draft of this book, 16 years ago. Our past in The Source. Brilliant. Productive. Unforgettable. Challenging. Nostagic.

    A past where restlessness of youth, as well as uncertainty and harshness of a wobbly economy, foisted on the nation by successive failures of leadership, were not enough to smother the blistering passion for writing, undying love for journalism, and the quest for excellence.

    The humility to learn and the uncompromising temerity to interrogate authorities and people in leadership positions, in a bid not only to hold them accountable, but also seek justice and equity in the society.

    A factor that has kept Yishau in the front role journalism till date. And shaped the writer that He has become. This glowing portrait of a committed writer, activist and social crusader, interestingly find subtle but potent expressions in this his debut novel.
    If literature is the mirror of the society, In the Name of our Father, showcases Nigeria in its ugly nakedness.

    The novel tells the tragic story of a critically sick nation. A soulless society, drowning in a sea of moral, ethical and cultural decay. A nation of banal, disappointing, disdainful, ruthlessly insensitive, abysmally irresponsible, and self-serving leaders, at different levels and diverse spheres of authorities.

    The book also lays bare the heartbroken tales of human cruelty, injustice, corruption amorality, deceit and spiritual fraud in the society in general, with biting references to some sections of the Christendom. It as well X-rays the brutality of military tyranny of the nation’s recent past. And a debased society and people in dire need of redemption.

    Written in captivating, easy flowing, short sentences, spiced with enchanting phrases, that make a pleasant reading, and easy to understand, the issues addressed in this book by the author, are nonetheless, audacious and vital in contemporary Nigerian society. While the book, catalogues various societal ills in the land, Yishau’s obvious controversial choice of the military and Christian faith ( he is a Christian) as vehicles to expose and query the myriad of social malaise bedeviling the society, is a bold statement that underscores his fearlessness as a social critic that has essentially resolved to stand with the people, in pursuit of truth, fairness and justice.

    For instance, the novel in part, zeroed in on the controversial topic of fake prophets and questionable miracles, which many might consider very touchy, obviously because of the suffocating power and influence of religion in the Nigeria society, as well as how religion has become an escape vehicle to many, who appear to seek sucour in religious folds as a result of personal, societal or economic woes.

    The major character in the book is one of such fake prophets! He is Prophet T. C Jeremiah, who was formally known as Alani, a mere abjectly poor cleaner, who was unable to feed himself or take care of his wife and only son. But his libido only matched his crass irresponsibility.

    He impregnated a young girl, the girl died during abortion. He escaped to his village where his son and wife had been abandoned. Tragically, he lost his son the same day he got to the village. Sadistically he Left a note to inform his wife that he was no longer interested in the marriage, barely few hours after their son was buried, and ran away to lagos to join a fake pastor friend.

    He was taken to a deadly cult where he was initiated and given diabolical powers to excel as a pastor, renewable every year with human sacrifice.Soon he became a mega popular and successful prophet, patronised by the high and mighty in the society, including the head of state. His transformation was swift as his propensity for evil was shocking.

    Apart from financial fraud and other forms of deceit that became the pastime of the fake man of God, the novel graphically chronicled other sordid tales of the self-professed Prophet as he got involved in murder, infidelity, blackmail and sorcery, in his desperation to retain his ill-gotten spiritual power, patronage by the rich and powerful, and relevance.

    The author of the book, a multi-award winning journalist, had said in a recent interview in Thisday, that his intention was to use the novel to “shake tables” and probable add to the discourse about the deceitful application of the word of God by some con artists masquerading as men of God, whose true and only intents is to fraudulently use the name of God to enrich themselves in the expense of gullible and desperate miracle seekers.

    Yishau stated: “I agree absolutely with Chinua Achebe that stories are not innocent. My debut In The Name of our Father is certainly not innocent. It is meant to shake tables. I am a Christian, not by birth but by conviction. I wrote the book to examine the relationship between the pulpit and power. It was also written as a way of preserving our recent past with the military. So many people are messing up Christianity and mixing it with fetish tendencies and our people are still falling for it. Even people in power fall for this. They are blinded by ambition and they seek solutions anywhere, including in the hands of fake pastors like Pastor T.C. Jeremiah. They don’t bother checking the background of the people they are seeking miracles from.”

    The novel went further to cast light on one of these fake prophets’ probable fraudulent enterprise in the form of annual new year predictions, which it suggested are only programmed to ensnare their victims, especially, big players in the political circle, thus: “At that instant, his published ‘Book of Prophesy’ came to his mind.

    In there, he too had made some claims like five serving ministers would die, petroleum scarcity would prevail; the government would insist on deregulating the downstream sector of the petroleum industry; and so on and so. And he had made quite a fortune from virtually all the serving ministers. Since he did not mention any particular name, almost all of the ministers, either directly or through proxies, visited him seeking means averting death. He had prayed for them and assured them that the host of heaven had reconsidered their plight. And to show their happiness, fortunes in the form of cash, gilts and so on, had rained down on his domain”

    In another part of the novel, questions were raised over the issues of whether churches should be made to pay tax and the money used to provide public amenities, given that some of them are run like big business enterprises, especially as some of the owners live ostentatious lifestyles.

    I consider In the Name of our Father, an interesting and relevant work. Having been privileged to have read the first draft of the book, 16 years ago, I can attest that the final work has greatly benefited from Yishau’s continuous quest for perfection and excellence and wealth of experience over the years. While many would agree that the book could produce two separate interesting novels, the creative way he fused the two plots into one enthralling narrative is ingenious.

  • In the name of our father: A bird eye view

    In the name of our father: A bird eye view

    For those who are not writers, lovers of literature or those who are not inclined to read novels beyond the surface, the debutant work of excellent journalist and Associate Editor with The Nation newspaper, Olukorede Yishau, titled in the Name of Our Father may be mistaken in its entity for the story of a fake prophet, a diabolical man and murderer who sees the calling into the vineyard of God as meal ticket and a means to end his poverty problem once and for all.

    But Yishau is a clever man. He has managed to sell the story as a call out to the shenanigans parading our religious circles. At the same time, closely woven at the beginning and ending of the story beside the story of the Prophet T.C Jeremiah, is the tragedy of Justus Omoeko, an idealist, moralist and uncompromising journalist, who realised much too late that his society is not ripe for the kind of ideals he propagates.

    Prologues are written for a purpose. They serve as kickers to the main story, but if you are like me, always in a haste to delve into the chapters, you might have missed out on Yishau’s kicker “Prologue to disaster.” It was on these pages three to seven that laid the foundation for the story, here it was that we get to know that Omoeko was the one writing about Prophet Jeremiah and that what we see as In the Name of Our Father, was a clever arrangement by the author to bring us into the just concluded novel of Omoeko titled “ Angels Live In Heaven.”

    Two worlds seen through the eyes of one man but carefully brought together, tying all the loose ends in a paragraph, in a sentence and all making sense. Genius.

    The sudden re-introduction of Omoeko following the madness of the prophet at the end might come as a huge jolt and a disconnect if you did not read the prologue, but actually that is where for me, the story began. A clever but vainly disguised reference to our recent military history, it is a story of the journalist who in my opinion represents a vast number of uncompromising Nigerians who stood against a deadly dictator and who did not soil their conscience at a time peoples’ soul was going to hell.

    The story also brings to our memory -for those old enough to remember those years and a history for those who are not- the terrible past and legacy of one of Nigeria’s most autocratic and sadistic ruler. We were treated to a first-class account of what prison life would have been under the despotic ruler.

    It is however sad to see that much of the conditions described in the prison are unfortunately still with us or they have become worse. Also, the optimism, the hope enthused by Omoeko about the future is now a mirage.

    Reading the enthusiasm of the soldiers, that a better tomorrow beckons once the maximum ruler is out of the picture makes me feel I wasn’t reading about Nigeria, but some far-away country where hope can become a reality. If this book claims anything of a prophecy about the future of Nigeria, in that it failed and we will expect another, a sequel perhaps that will not be so sanguine about the prospects of a failed giant of Africa.

    The author has done us a great favour by writing In the Name of Our Father, in simple, easy to read language. He also related it so well by using contemporary everyday imagery and storyline to convey a very important message that we all feel we are actors in the book and one can pick his or her own roles.

    Take this, for instance: “They bundled me to the car, a 504 salon car. We passed Obalende; we joined the Third Mainland Bridge; and I kept wondering where these people were taking me to. I did not know. But I was sure danger was very close. Not with the kind of thrash Biliaminu had earlier discussed with me.

    “Soon we were on the way to the airport. Could they be taking me to the airport? I asked myself. The only way to be sure was to ask them. But I was not ready to risk another slap again.

    “Time soon clarified the misty circumstance, as the car glided to a halt at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Some soldiers were there waiting. The SSS boys handed me over to them and vamoosed.

    “Thirty minutes later I was on board a presidential jet, it was a very small jet. And I guessed it must be the smallest of all the jets in the presidential fleet. But I did not know where they were taking me to. After about ten minutes of being in the air, the soldier who was sitting close to me started chatting me up.”

    Also, it is easy to assume that the end of Prophet TC Jeremiah was madness and a one-way ticket to the Aro Psychiatric Hospital in Abeokuta. Far from it, the eventual end of the prophet was concealed from us till the very last paragraph of the book. “I also forgave his now pauperised ex-boss, who committed all sorts of atrocities and performed fake miracles in the name of our father-our father in heaven,” Yishau wrote.

    Overall, I think it is two books in one, through the name of our father, we see indeed that angels live in heaven and earth is no abode for the celestial.

     

  • High consumption of vegetables, olive oil treats depression- Research

    High consumption of vegetables and olive oil and moderate consumption of protein, will not only help treat depression, but also can save consumers and patients money as a more cost-effective treatment, according to latest Australian research.

    “Our new analysis looked at comparative costs in things like counselling, healthcare visits (or general practitioner (visits), medicine, food, travel, and lost productivity to evaluate whether a dietary intervention like this provides value for money,” Dr. Mary Lou Chatterton, a research fellow from Deakin University, said on Tuesday.

    “The lower cost was partially due to fewer health professional visits, such as to doctors, dentists, and psychologists.

    “The participants on the dietary intervention also reported less time lost from unpaid activities such as housework and childcare.”

    Read Also:Depression and rising cases of suicide in Nigeria

    The university’s latest findings build on what it said is ground-breaking evidence that it published in 2017 to show how diet could be used to treat depression.

    The move involved patients switching to a Mediterranean diet-like regime of increasing the consumption of vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, legumes, fish, lean red meats, olive oil and nuts, while reducing their consumption of unhealthy “extras” foods, such as sweets, refined cereals, fried food, fast-food, processed meats and sugary drinks.

    The latest economic analysis on the simple dietary improvements, published in the journal BMC Public Health, factored in dietitians’ wage costs as well as food, with costs for consumers of the healthier diet estimated at 26 Australian dollars (19.70 U.S. dollars) per week lower than their normal consumption before they started the trial, according to the researchers.

    “We already know that dietary counselling is cost-effective when it comes to the management of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes,” Chatterton said.

    “But these results indicate that providing support for people with depression to improve their diet may be a cost-effective strategy to reduce mental health symptoms too.”

    “There is a strong relationship between depression and the development of other chronic health conditions like these.

    “So a dietary improvement strategy could have multiple benefits that translate to wider health and well-being,” he added.

  • How to stay fit even when you work a 9-5 Job

    I still remember when as a medical student, I was sharing questionnaires about a project I was working on to oil company workers in the Lagos Island area.

    I found something that was a bit eye-opening to me.

    The people I asked questions clearly knew most of the things to do to lead a healthy life, the only thing was that they weren’t practicing it.

    They knew they should be healthier, they just didn’t think it was practical to adopt a healthy lifestyle when being so busy. If you are familiar with life in Lagos, you will notice that the city never sleeps, most people in the labour force wake up around 5 am, rush to beat traffic, stay at work till about 5 pm, only to endure another 2-3 hours of traffic before getting home.

    Staying fit for most people isn’t an option, they claim to have little control over one of the most important aspects of their lives- their health.

    Well, the truth is this: there is a way.
    In this post, I will explain 9 practical tips you can use to stay fit and healthy even when you think you have no time. As long as you are willing, you can certainly do it.

    1. Set A Goal

    This is where it all begins. I tell my patients routinely that if you don’t have a target, you can’t actually measure any progress you are making, and you can easily lose motivation. So, you should set a SMART fitness goal and write it down. Here’s what smart means:

    S- Specific: You need to choose a specific parameter you want to improve in per time. Let’s assume you don’t do any exercise at all during the week, your goal can be to spend just 15 minutes exercising every morning before having your bath.

    M- Measurable: Your goal needs to be something you can measure. For example, if your doctor asks you to lose about 10 kg, you can choose to set a target of losing 1.5 kilograms a week. This helps you track down your progress and can motivate you.

    A- Achievable: When setting your fitness goals, don’t go overboard with something that is not practical, be real with yourself. If you think you can really only spare 40 minutes to work out per week, be honest with yourself, start with that and gradually scale up once you are able to consistently reach your goal.

    R- Relevant: One simple way to avoid losing steam when trying to achieve something is by ensuring your goal is relevant to you. Don’t go with your friend’s or sibling’s fitness goals. They may be more or less fit than you. Let your fitness goals be in line with what you are personally convinced to do. This will make you more likely to stay committed to your plan.

    T- Time-Bound: You should make time a factor when setting your fitness goals. It can’t be open-ended. For instance, you can decide to attempt to lose 10 kilograms over a 3 month period, or declare to yourself that you will work out for 15 minutes each day before going to work for a period of 6 months. After the 6 months, you can then decide renew your plan or even go higher. Always make your goals time-bound.

    2. Speak To A Professional

    Before you take any action that involves your health, it is good to speak with your doctor or any other certified healthcare professional. Your doctor can use the BMI scale to tell you if you need to lose weight or just keep fit.

    You may be wondering: what is BMI?

    BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is a universal scale that is used to judge whether a person is underweight, overweight, obese, or of normal weight. It is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in metres. Here’s how to interpret the result:
    Underweight- Below 18.5
    Normal weight- 18.5- 24.9
    Overweight- 25-29.9
    Obese- 30 and above
    So, it is important to discuss with a healthcare professional before starting a fitness plan. Also, due to the number of myths around, it is good to be sure that your own fitness plan is healthy and safe.

    3. Have A Good Eating Pattern

    One thing people misunderstand when trying to stay fit is the importance of a good diet. To be honest, what you eat is more important than working out when it comes to weight loss. If you exercise for several hours every day but don’t eat healthily, you’ll probably not lose any weight.

    It is often painful to see people register for a gym membership, spend hours weekly working out but complain that the weight isn’t going anywhere. They get frustrated and give up on staying fit.

    So, what then is a good eating pattern?

    Well, you need to understand that what we eat contains energy in the form of calories. Carbohydrates and fats have high-calorie counts, proteins have fewer calorie counts. So, you should still have a balanced diet that contains all the nutrients but reduce the amount of carbohydrates and fats you take in and replace them with proteins.

    You can choose to decrease your intake of bread, yam, rice, and cassava while increasing your fish, and chicken intake. You don’t need to avoid eggs, you can take the white part, it is highly proteinous.

    I also suggest that you don’t skip meals, skipping breakfast would mean that you will compensate for it by taking a heavy lunch. You should try to avoid late dinners too.

    4. Set A Practical Workout Schedule

    Let your workout schedule be practical in line with your available time and capabilities. We know its easy to admire those celebrities on Instagram who seem to consistently spend hours in the gym every day, but your own schedule is different.

    To see maximum results, include a period of working out to your daily schedule (you can keep about 1 or 2 free days to avoid burnout). Even doing some jump ropes and aerobics in the morning for about 10-15 minutes can make a whole big difference in your fitness levels.

    As time goes on, you can adjust to include more intense and specific workouts. A little exercise is by far better than no exercise at all.

    5. Increase Your Physical Activity

    This is not about working out. It is about embracing physical activity in its totality when carrying out your daily routine. An example is walking or riding a bike to work.

    The beauty of this is that it compels you to do some form of exercise every day without consciously taking out time to workout. It is passive, you get to work after completing several helpful movements that can help you stay fit.

    If your workplace is far from your home, you can alight from the bus or park at a location that is about 15 minutes walk from your office so that you can enjoy some fitness boost on your way to work.

    Apart from these, if your office has several floors, you can choose to avoid the elevator and walk up and down the stairs instead, the little extra calories you’re burning will add up to make a significant change, also, your muscles will be more active.

    A sedentary lifestyle increases the chances of developing diseases like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, and stroke. People with some of these chronic conditions may have issues with their mobility as time passes, especially as bones become less dense, requiring some aids like crutches and scooters.

    I once heard someone say “What you do to your body before you turn 50 is what it will give you back after 50”. So, if you don’t want to be a senior riding around in an electric scooter all the time because of knee problems from arthritis, you should prioritize physical activity today.

    6. Drink Water Regularly

    Many people underestimate the power of drinking water regularly. Your body is made up of 55-65% water, hence, drinking enough water to maintain your body’s water balance is not an option, it is necessary.

    You should try to drink at least 3 litres of water every day if you are an adult. If your job is outdoors or at a field, you’ll definitely need to drink more than this amount.

    Drinking water helps you stay fit by helping your food digest well, keep you from overeating, and help your organs to work properly. You should also take a bottle of water with you when at the gym to prevent you from getting burnt out quickly.

    7. Get 7-9 Hours Of Sleep

    Sleep is a human necessity, but the truth is that most of us are sleep deprived. According to researchers, adults need about 7-9 hours of sleep for your body to function properly.

    A good sleep helps your muscles and joints recover well for the next day’s workout and occupational activities. It also improves your mood, making you cheerful and positive.

    8. Keep Good Friends

    A huge part of our lifestyle depends on the friends and company we keep. The more you stay around people that care about their health, the more likely you are to pay attention to yours. I am not saying you should throw away all your friendships because they don’t work out, that won’t be good.

    What I am suggesting is that you could ask your friends to join you to eat well and workout. That way, you all can motivate each other, encourage a healthy diet, and stay accountable to each other when trying to achieve your different fitness goals.

    9. Keep Alcohol Intake At A Minimum

    Alcoholic beverages contain a lot of calories. So, if you still take beer when on a fitness or diet plan, it is likely to fail. You should try to lower your alcohol intake to almost zero when you are trying to stay fit or lose weight.

    Another thing people don’t know about alcohol is that our bodies treat it like a toxin and tries to eliminate it from the bloodstream.

    The liver is specifically assigned this role. This is why chronic alcoholics are more likely to have liver diseases than those who do not take alcohol.

    Conclusion

    While it may seem quite hard to think of being fit when you have a 9-5 job, it isn’t impossible. Using these practical tips, you can actually stay healthy and live a more balanced life.
    As long as you desire to be fit, you can take it a step further by drawing up your personalized fitness goals and plan, discuss with your doctor, and start. As time passes, you can measure your progress, and adjust your plan as you deem fit.

     

    Guest Article by Dr. Charles-Davies Omiete, a medical doctor based in Lagos.

  • The real price of changing the change (1)

    Top opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members have been granting press interviews and addressing zonal political rallies talking about “CHANGING THE CHANGE” in next year’s general elections, without defining what exactly that means.

    As the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) gears up to celebrate the completion of three years of the Buhari government in the centre on May 29th, Nigerians need to be reminded of what the reversal of the achievements of this administration will amount to.

    The real meaning and cost of the “Changing the Change,” is that if they win the next election, they will not take us back to where we were in 2015, they will mostly reverse the progress the APC has brought to the nation. The main reason for the defeat of the PDP in 2015 was corruption. The present administration at the centre led by President Muhammadu Buhari has so far presented a corrupt-free image of itself. It has also succeeded in abolishing grand corruption at the top and as attested to by the American President, Donald Trump. The government has significantly brought down the level of corruption in the whole country. It has, however, warned over and again that corruption was fighting back.

    Many who are discerning would have read this from President Buhari’s speech when he inaugurated the impressive new headquarters building of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a week ago. He narrated how and why he was overthrown as a military Head of State in the 80s.

    In that speech, he said not only was he kicked out because he fought corruption, the ones who took power freed all those that he had jailed, and whatever they stole was returned to them. He took their place in prison and stayed there without trial for 36 months, until that day when a journalist in Benin, now in Edo, broke the story that he had lost his mother. That was when he was allowed to go home.

    The real difference between the PDP and the current APC administration is that although they mouthed a flood of rhetoric against corruption, in fact rightfully lay the claim of founding the institutions now in the forefront of fighting corruption as a government, the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, they had intended to keep them as toys, or bulldogs which teeth had been removed. No, they never intended that the war against corruption would be taken this far.

    To change the change would mean that the teeth of the bulldog will be removed. It would then only bark but not bite.

    In this country, politics is often considered as synonym of corruption. The previous government came under huge criticism for scandals like that discovered in arms procurements in the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA which transformed itself into a major source of funding of the PDP; NNPC crude oil thefts, broadband spectrum licensing scandal, oil subsidy scam and so many others but the present government has not faced any such corruption allegations.

    Although he said he was unafraid and would not bend, the President’s concern, and fear on the part of many is that if a corrupt leader takes over, it will be happy days all over again for former Oil Minister Diezani Allison-Maduekwe who has so far forfeited USD 153 million, N23.4 billion, and USD 4m and USD 5m in separate accounts. “Change the Change” would mean she will get the money back. So would the former Managing Director of the maritime agency, NIMASA get back GBP 578,080 seized from him and the Ikoyi apartment owners have back their USD43.4m; N23m and GBP 27,800.

    The hidden owner of the Lagos cash shop may then step forward to reclaim their N449.6 million; the ex-Naval Chiefs will have returned to them the already forfeited N1.8 billion; the Governors Forum paid back their N1.4 billion and the major oil marketers, from whom the EFCC has so far seized N328.9 billion will smile their ways to the bank.

    The banks themselves will equally join the party, happily getting back N27.7 billion they “ate” from taxes they failed to remit; the scion of the Akinjides, Jumoke will have N650 million awarded to her while those scammers in INEC who coughed out N1 billion will equally get money back and charges standing against them in court may be dropped.

    But the happiest of them all will be Mrs. Jonathan, who will get the first priority when the refunds start coming for obvious reasons. The former First Lady would not anymore need lawyers to keep her mountain of gifts, counted in huge millions of dollars, billions of Naira, hotels and buildings.

    The list of people who oppose the Buhari government and yearning to ‘‘change the change’’ include a number of parliamentarians, policemen, customs officials, immigration officials, civil servants now rooting for other political parties, not leaving out those various businesses and platforms owned by these political parties directly or indirectly.

    The Buhari win in 2015, and the possibility of four more years have crumbled their dreams of endlessly looting the state and the growing list of achievements of the administration is not doing any good for them.

    “Change the change” means also that the biggest tax revolution since independence, the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) now being implemented, and about which many of our rich citizens are unhappy may be scrapped. A recent report shows that there are four million new taxpayers, including companies and individuals, resulting in N700 billion increase in tax revenue in 2017.

    The early casualties of ‘‘changing the change’’ may include initiatives like the Whistle Blower policy by which the government is able to recover stolen or concealed assets through information provided by citizens. This has changed the ethical and moral tone of the business transaction space in the country. The whistle blower is entitled to between 2.5%-5.0% of amount recovered.

    Sometime last year, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, told the world, “we are going after those who have stolen our money. We have put in place a very successful whistle-blower programme that is delivering results and allows those who report illicit activity to receive up to five per cent of any funds that we recover.” The response has been so fabulous that in just four months, it yielded N17bn, as revealed by the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

    Another formidable group unhappy with the change and wish it reversed are the importers of diesel and generators. Nigeria ranks as the second biggest importer of generators all over the world.

    Buhari is bad business for them because he has raised electric power availability from 2,600 MW in 2015 to 7,000 MW and is targeting 10,000 megawatts by the year’s end. Increased power availability means less purchase of generators and less consumption of diesel. Noticeably, they are rooting for parties that are bent on changing the change. Rooters of ‘‘Changing the Change’’ campaign also include the beneficiaries of the malaria economy which costs Nigeria N132 billion and 300,000 lives annually, an economy now threatened by the administration’s National Malaria Elimination Programme, NMEP, by which tens of millions of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (ITN) are being freely distributed. A part of this order is now made in Aba, Nigeria.

    The government’s moves on ease of doing business which has attracted international attention and investment and significantly improved the ranking of Nigeria as a place of doing business, in fact achieving a place in the World Bank’s top 10 reforming economies would suffer a hit from those bent on proving that on-going change is not working. But this is how the World Bank saw Nigeria: “Overall, the 10 top improvers implemented the most regulatory reforms in the area of getting credit, starting a business, dealing with construction permits and paying taxes,” the report said.

    It’s really hard for the beneficiaries of the old order to see and appreciate what the Buhari government is doing considering that they ran an economy based purely on oil, the price of which was as high as US$140 per barrel. They reticulated oil revenue through personal spending and corruption, wasteful expenses and salaries. Nigeria did not record a single major infrastructural project in the 10 years before the Buhari administration. The money was mismanaged. No savings were made. To compound the problem, they borrowed heavily and owed contractors, and international oil companies.

    The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II and Professor Chukwuma Soludo, both eminent former Central Bank Governors had had occasion to warn the government of the day about the wrongful way of doing things and the accompanying wastage but they were clobbered. The dire warnings of the dangers to economic health and the wellbeing of the people were both ignored.

    Increase in government spending in infrastructure which is beginning to show results with sectors like employment, and returning growth to the recessed economy may equally suffer. Under the 2017 appropriation budget which is about to lapse, government’s capital spending is expected to hit N1.5 trillion. In the PDP years, the highest this got to was N450 billion or 21 per cent of the capital allocation in 2014. Doing more with less.

    The Railways, on which the common man travels, is being changed for the better. The 3,500 monorail that had existed has been leased to the American company, General Electric. They are to refurbish it and are bringing new locomotives and hundreds of coaches. All trains and coaches are being modernized. New standard railway tracks are being laid linking Ibadan and Lagos. Kaduna-Abuja, partly completed when President Buhari took over is now in use and contracts for the entire stretch, Lagos to Kano have been awarded. Lagos-Port Harcourt will follow and by the Presidential directive, all state capitals are to be linked by the new, standard gauge railway.

    “Changing the Change” means that we will go back to the old ways of doing things. A strong and diversified economy has been on top of President Buhari’s achievements. Key drivers of the economy such as agriculture and solid minerals have been progressing with over 7% growth rate, an indication of positive signs for the future. Is everyone happy with this? No. We cannot say this of the importers of rice who have seen their import business go down following the tremendous success of the home-grown rice schemes. Over two billion USD have been saved as a consequence.

    Then, you must also count those who got USD 200 million every year from the Central Bank and ended up bringing in low standard fertilizers. They lapped a government subsidy of N60,000 annually and sold a bag each for between N10,000-N13,000. Now, a government-approved price, by the common consent of local producers is N5,500 per bag. Those who fed fat on the perennial shortages and the subsidy regime would desire nothing but “Changing the Change.”

    There are many today who take for granted the declared victory over the Boko Haram terrorists, forgetting the reign of the bomber who made it almost impossible for regular attendance in markets, Churches and Mosques in many of our cities, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    But again, as we have seen from the heist in the national security establishment, even Boko Haram was an industry from which money was scooped. Boko Haram was the hallmark of a flourishing business of corruption. The beneficiaries won’t like that the security threat is eliminated. Yes, for them, “Changing the Change” is an opportunity for a resumption of business as usual.

    Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity)
    May 20, 2018

  • Eating right and keeping well during Ramadan: An expert guide

    Swapping fried food for grilled goodness, ditching samosas, swerving sugar and salt, and spending nights drinking as much water as possible could help millions of Muslims across the globe tackle the challenges of Ramadan.

    Students and academics at Birmingham City University in the UK have come up with a guide which aims to help people observing the month of Ramadan to make sure they eat right and look after their systems.

    Academics and students on the University’s Sport and Exercise and Nutrition  courses, including Dr Huda Al-Kateb, Dr Matt Cole and PhD researcher Ayaz Safi, have written up a guide featuring tips on nutrition, hydration and exercise to help people fasting for Ramadan to keep to a regular routine as much as possible.

    The points were written up based on analysis of the common foods consumed during the month, along with reflection on what foods are best at providing sufficient energy throughout the day. The experts have also featured advice on energy and activity to support wellbeing.

    The experts have written up a guide on tips for things to try out, avoid or swap for the month to look after the body:

    · WATER, WATER AND MORE WATER DURING NIGHT TIME HOURS –

    Experts advise to drink as much water as possible during Iftaar and Suhur times, especially if hot weather is expected during the day.

    · LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF BALANCE –

    When fasting your body is deprived of nutrients that your system needs. The experts emphasise that it is soimportant to make sure that when you can eat, you keep your meals balanced so that you feed your system enough nutrients from each group.

    · THINK ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVES –

    Swap deep frying for grilling, baking or shallow frying and swap heavier foods for lighter alternatives. For example, swap cake and chocolate for fruit and yoghurt.

    · FITNESS AND FASTING CAN WORK TOGETHER –

    Gym enthusiasts can stick to their routine of working out every day. Light exercises are great to keep blood flowing and the system working. Cardio exercises are also fine to do when fasting as long as you don’t overdo it.

    · EXCESS SALT CAUSES EXTREME THIRST DURING THE DAY –

    Experts say that meals with high salt are not ideal to eat during night time hours because they can cause thirstiness during the day and is best to be avoided.

    · KEEP ENERGISED WITHOUT WATER OR SNACKS –

    Experts advise that there are small things you can try each day to keep you alert and maintain your energy. Things like taking small breaks from revision or work and going on small walks, writing daily to-do lists or listing what you’re finding difficult and working on combatting these, and planning meals to make sure you’re eating the rights things to get good energy levels can all have a bit impact.

    Dr Huda Al-Kateb, Programme Leader BSc Food and Nutrition at Birmingham City University, said:

    “During Ramadan, the hunger and dehydration might affect our cognitive abilities which often means that our ability to make wise choices when it comes to what food and drink that we consume during after the period of breaking the fast.

    “We as a generation are much more aware of our health and wellbeing now so it is a good time to make people aware of what is and isn’t good to eat during Ramadan.”

    The month of Ramadan,  sees a large number of Muslims across the world observe 30 days of fasting during daylighthours, which means they cannot eat any food or drink any water or other drinks until the sun sets. The month teaches self-discipline, resilience
    and awareness of what it can be like for those living in poverty.

    Ayaz Safi, a PhD Researcher and Assistant Lecturer in the Sports Science department, has also contributed to the list of tips. He said:

    “Ramadan is a very challenging month for everyone who observes it and we’re fortunate to have experts in the University who can advise on the do’s and don’ts to make sure people look after themselves, eat the right things and overcome another challenging month.

    “I regularly fast, so many of the points are what I have learned along the way. Making small changes like swapping foods, balancing your meals and doing light exercise can help you stick to as normal a routine as possible and make a difference to how you get through the day.”

     

  • A cap on their brains: How parents limit their children by neglecting local languages

    Given their penchant for choosing native names with quintessential meaning for their children, one would be forgiven to vouch for the cultural identity consciousness of Nigerian parents. This is because most given names across the various tribes of Nigeria tells a story. However, the essence of the identity consciousness pales the moment one realizes that a four -year-old born in the south western part of Nigeria, who has been named Oluwafirewamiri (God has located me with favour), cannot hold a conversation in a mother tongue but English.

    There is a growing trend in Nigeria where parents shy away from speaking their native languages to children while adopting English as a means of communication. The tendency is fueled by the belief that English, as the world’s foremost language of wider communication and opportunity, signifies upward mobility and class. However, research suggests that putting a cap on the number of languages a child is exposed to is a disservice, as such children are denied the ability to acquire language skills which can be beneficial to both local and global communities.

    A language expert, Ignatius Usar, told The Nation that the child language acquisition theory clearly explains that children are born with a capacity to learn various languages while growing up, since their minds is a tabula rasa–plain slate.

    “It is as a child grows that experiences, including languages, are written on that slate. That is why a child has capacity for many languages than adults”, he said.

    Describing the decision of parents who neglect communicating with their children in the mother tongue as poor judgement, Usar also lamented the fact virtually all indigenous Nigerian languages are threatened since parents are not interested in the generational transfer of language as part of the cultural identity.

    Agreeing that intermarriages could be a reason why some parents insists on their wards speaking English, he also conceded to the fact the acceptability of indigenous languages for early childhood education has not been helped by the apparent lack of a language policy by the Nigerian government.

    “Nigeria’s language policy is geared towards English and to make matters worse, we are

    promoting French and Arabic. When we do that as a matter of policy, we are keeping our languages down and promoting other languages. For instance, we have a Nigerian French language village in Badagry, then we have another one for Arabic somewhere in the North, but we do not have a centre for the study of any Nigerian language,” the linguist lamented.

    The low acceptance of indigenous language as a medium of instructions for childhood development is a global problem not limited Nigeria. As English continues to gain preeminence as a global language, some countries around the world come up with deliberate language policy to ensure their indigenous languages do not go into extinction. change of status quo. However, that is not the case in Nigeria where English has continued to gain more grounds, to the extent that many parents, both literate and illiterate, invest time and money in ensuring their children learn to speak English, even though scientific evidence suggests that children who first learn to read and write in their native languages learn all subjects faster.

    Nigeria’s national policy on education, initiated in the 80’s, also recognized this and there was a resolution that early childhood education should be taught in a child’s mother tongue or language of the immediate environment. Till date, the resolution has been a policy in paper that has not seen the light of the day. One of the major hindrance to the policy is that except in remote areas, many teachers do not speak the language of the immediate community since Nigeria has over 400 languages. Another practical consideration is that text books and instructional materials are written in English. Majority of the indigenous languages are not codified; hence they are not available in written documents.

    Despite these challenges, Usar believes that progress can still be made if there are deliberate attempt to ensure that indigenous languages are preserved.
    “Language is a living thing. It is born, it grows, and it dies. If you want to keep a language alive, what we suggest is that you codify by ensuring there is a literature for it that can be transferred from one generation to another. This is the area where Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo, the three major indigenous languages edges out other languages”, Usar submitted.

    The Craze for British and American Accent

    The apathy for indigenous languages amongst Nigerian parents is not only restricted to the preference for English as language of communication. It’s also extended to the point that parents want their children to speak in British and American accent.

    Ayanfeoluwa Lawal, a diction and elocution coach, has created a niche for herself in the business of teaching people how to speak well. What confounds her, however, is the encounter of parents and school owners who approach her to teach their children the British accent. “We are in a generation of parents who want their children to sound differently. It’s a misplaced priority and I’m so against acquiring a foreign accent when it’s not coming to you naturally because the best you can be is fake. This is the in-thing in schools right now”, she said.
    Lawal also offered that the in-thing amongst elite schools in developed cities around the country is that children are taught to speak in British accent, on parents and school owner’s insistence.

    “The focus should be on the proper enunciation and articulation of words. It is sounding your words accurately. What should be emphasized is social intelligibility, which is the ability to be heard anywhere in the world. Nobody cares about your accent when you are eloquent because nobody expects you to have a British accent when you are not a Briton.

    “The thing with parents is ignorance and social pressure, so a parent sees a child speaking differently and they also want to transfer that to their children. When I teach children elocution, I start from the science of elocution so that they can understand how sounds work and come together to make words and also how they have to produce the sounds in a particular way.”

    Ms Lawal, who manages Quints, a foremost communication and social polish organization in Lagos, said she has encountered situations where parents literary caution their children from speaking their mother tongue in public. Lawal, who never spoke English at home while growing up, said even illiterate parents want their children to speak English in the public so that they can feel important.

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    “I have a full mastery of my indigenous language, yet I speak English better than those who have spoken it all their lives. First, it’s a thing of the mind because we feel our language is inferior; we feel it’s vernacular; it’s not good enough so we feel that English language is better. I am an advocate of people speaking impeccable English but not at the expense of their local language. If you speak English language so well and you cannot speak your local language, you have lost your identity. One should not affect the other”, she submitted.

    Whither a comprehensive National Language Policy?
    Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba have long been regarded as Nigeria’s major languages. However, English remains the sole official language in almost all spheres of national activities.

    Segun Awonusi
    Segun Awonusi

    Scholars like Segun Awonusi of the University of Lagos suggested that language policies that favour indigenous identity should be implemented on a sustainable basis. Another linguist, Emmanuel Emenanjo, also declared that Nigeria does not have a language policy but a document that could be called a statement of intention of what a language policy could be.

    Since his appointment as the chairman of the National Technical Committee on language policy in Nigeria on 10th of April 2018, Adeniyi Harrison, a professor of Linguistics and African languages at the Lagos State University, carried a weight of high expectations. Harrison who is also the president of the Linguistics Association of Nigeria wants the Lagos State Language Policy which mandates all schools to teach Yoruba in Lagos, replicated in other parts of the country.

    He said the Linguistic Association of Nigeria has been advocating that parents, irrespective of the linguistic environment, should teach their children at a tender age to read and write in their various indigenous languages.
    “Except from the fact that some give their languages social status, there are some languages in Europe whose speakers are not as populated as speakers of Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo, but for their social status in the society, these languages are enforced on us. Indigenous languages are embodiment of the cultural repository of knowledge. When the languages are not spoken, the language die and the identities are lost,” he said.

    Prof Harrison said when children continue to bear English and biblical names, it does not allow for information on the family background, especially in the African context where people’s names are stories of the family.
    “If the person does not bear the name, how do people trace one’s family?”, he asked, adding that same goes for food where there could be a loss of identity and economic opportunities when there is a neglect of local delicacies.

    “The more languages a person is able to speak, the more the horizon widens. We are advocating for a multi-lingual society where Nigerians learn each other’s language in order to ensure national unity and cohesion”, Harrison submitted.