The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Celebrating

  • Celebrating God’s minstrel @ 50

    Celebrating God’s minstrel @ 50

    Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye, the wife of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, played host to the celebrated minstrel, Pastor Kunle Ajayi, on behalf of the church, on his 50th birthday. Ajayi, who is known for musically ushering in Pastor Adeboye  whenever  he wants to go and preach anywhere in the world, and has been handling this task for years, was described by the latter as someone whose gift of God in his life needs to be celebrated despite the fact the birthday boy wanted it low-key.

    The revered man of God also told the guests at the occasion that his relationship with the saxophonist is a partnership from heaven. Described as strict, hardworking and loyal, Pastor Ajayi said his first recorder was given to him by Pastor Mrs Adeboye who discovered the gift of God in him.

    The celebrator, who is the Director of Music of the Church, started playing saxophone around 1984/85 after he was healed of a lung problem as he had earlier made a vow that if God healed him, he would blow for Him.

    The music minister described his 50 years’ journey on earth as God’s faithfulness because he thought he would have died at the age of 20.  Popularly called Japala then, he was grateful to God that Japala who was  not even recognised in his family is known world over.

    Guests who graced the event included Senator Oluremi Tinubu; former Deputy Inspector of Police, Marvel Akpoyibo and wife; Evangelist Ebenezer Obey; Commissioner of Police, Moses Anitere; Evangelist Joseph Adebayo Adelakun of the Ayewa fame; wife of the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Otunla and top pastors of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, among others .

  • Ahmed: Celebrating excellence

    Despite the gloom that evil men have tried to cast over the nation by their acts of wickedness, the last few days have been one of excitement and rejoicing in Kwara State. Prior to the annual celebrations to mark the Children Day on May 27 and the anniversary of Nigeria’s current democracy two days later, the nation had been thrown into unimaginable confusion by the wicked kidnap of over 200 school girls from Chibok, in Borno State.

    This year’s anniversary marked the third edition of Democracy Day that the administration of Governor AbdulFattah Ahnmed would witness and but for the act of the insurgents, it would have necessitated the rolling out of the drums to celebrate a dream and a philosophy; the understanding that current administration can conveniently and comfortably  continue from its predecessor without the loss of progress that characterises succession in many parts of black Africa.

    But the dastardly act of the insurgents ensured that the usually boisterous Children Day celebrations was reduced to sessions of prayers and intercession by the youngsters and the banners some of them carried in support of the #bringbackourgirls protest only testified to the fact that these are not normal times for Nigeria.

    Few days before then, mothers in the state had gathered, under the leadership of Omolewa Ahmed, the humble and humane wife of the state governor, to send our heartfelt cries to heaven to intervene in the matters of the abducted girls.

    Yet despite the gloom, the people of Kwara still had reasons to celebrate. For the sake of moderation, the events lined up for the third year anniversary were significantly toned down. But it was the outward celebrations that were toned down, because as for the reality of progress on ground in terms of infrastructure and social amenities that the Maigida administration has added to the face of Kwara in three years, there was no way anyone could tone down those ones.

    There was no way, for instance, even the intellectually deficient  and jaundiced criticism of the opposition can tone down the reality of the 10,200 people the administration employed in the formal sector in the last three years. Indeed, 5200 of them collected their letters of employment on Democracy Day under the government’s Quickwin programme, a project designed take as many Kwarans as possible out dire unemployment.

    Or how could one tone down the reality of the two 2.5MVA, 33KVA/11kV Injection sub-station at Agunjin/Abayan community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state. That project, which cost a sum of N42.8 million, will provide electricity to some 36 communities. There is no way to tone down the quantum leap in sociability and comfort as well as the development that such a project would add to the people of the rural areas.

    And there was no way to reduce the intensity of joy among residents over the reality of the rehabilitated waterworks at Obbo-Aiyegunle in Ekiti Local Government Area. The project was first commissioned in 1977 and served the community for years before it broke down and was abandoned. But the Ahmed administration, with a policy of ensuring no resident lives beyond 500 metres of access to water, took up the rehabilitation.

    Again, except you would ask them to vanish into the thin air, there was no way to tone down the reality of the General Hospitals in Offa, Omu-Aran, Kaima, Share and Ilorin or the roads in Ijara-Isin-Isanlu-Isin in Isin Local Government Area as well as the rehabilitated Oro-Ijomu-Oro Road in Irepodun council area all of which are products of the three years of Maigida’s leadership.

    The various projects commissioned during the week and others before then are all proof of a promise fulfilled. As noted by both Ahmed and the Deputy Governor, Elder Peter Kishra while commissioning some of projects, they all represent the fulfilment of a promise made by the administration at inception.

    For instance, the provision of water was a promise Ahmed made on May 29, 2011 when he took over from the administration of Senator Bukola Saraki. Kishra was proud of this in his speech at Obbo-Aiyegunle: “when we assumed office three years ago, we made provision of potable water one of our core priorities. This decision was borne out of the conviction that water is life, it has no enemy and its availability and accessibility enhance good living. We pursued water supply programmes in all nooks and crannies of Kwara State and most of such projects have been delivered for the use of the people”.

    According to the Deputy Governor, government has in the last few years been able to achieve a radical improvement in water supply situation in the state such that today, the water accessibility gap has reduced to 700m in 2011 down from 3,500m across the state. “The present administration”, he pointed out, “has continued sustained effort in this direction since inception. In 2012 government unveiled a programme to rehabilitate not less than 34 of the existing 94 water works spread across the state. While the scope of works in some of the waterworks was to upgrade them to their designed capabilities, works in others were actually to expand their capacities. The first phase of the programme, comprising 14 water works has been completed.” There is no way to tone down the reality of such achievements.

    Nor can any one  tone down the Joy of Mr and Mrs Abdullahi Yushau of Kuntu in Ilorin who had the first baby at the remodelled Ilorin General Hospital and got automatic employment from the state government in addition to the N200, 000 support for the family from Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

    And as the governor himself pointed out, the achievements of this administration are not on paper but on ground; they are not lip service political sloganeering but projects that anyone can verify. As he has done in the area of rural road and electrification, so has he done in the area of health and human capital development.

    Hear him: “While we have left no one in doubt as to our determination to build our people’s human capital through functional education and entrepreneurship, we are equally resolved to complement that drive with access to quality healthcare. This is because there can be no development without a healthy population which is the most critical factor of production”.

    How can one tone down the joy of the people of Offa who thronged out en masse to celebrate the commissioning of their rehabilitated, modernised and equipped general hospital? The words of Hon. Justice E. A. Adegbite, speaking on behalf of Offa community, that “we are overwhelmed. We are grateful that our perceived political difference has not influenced the Governor Abdulfatah’s administration distribution and spread of infrastructure and other dividend of democracy” cannot be vague.

    Ahmed insists “ with all sense of pride” his administration’s reform and promises are not mere lips service, but are visible and concrete all over the state.

    The concrete evidence surely include the State-of-Art Kwara Advanced Medical Diagnostic Centre, Ilorin, recruitment, training and re-training of health personnel and expansion of Community Health Insurance Scheme across the three senatorial districts among others. At all the occasions, during the week, he promised to do more.

    And when you realise that the current successes have come within a very constrained funding allocation, then one would surely rise up to salute the financial wizardry of Maigida. And as the saying goes, Kwarans can take the governor’s promise “to sustaining the current upgrading of infrastructure across all sectors” to the bank and come back next year to reap the yield.

    Surely, in Kwara, it is good here.

    • Oba is the Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor
  • ‘We are celebrating in sadness’

    ‘We are celebrating in sadness’

    The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has urged the Federal Government not to exchange the captured Chibok girls for Boko Haram prisoners.

    NAPPS Ajeromi Ifelodun (AJIF) chapter seized the opportunity of the Children’s Day to remind the Federal Government to commit every effort to freeing the over 200 girls abducted by the Islamic sect Boko Haram on April 15.

    NAPPS  Chairman, AJIF chapter, Mrs Rosemary Omaghomi, said at the event held at the Kirikiri Prisons training ground, Kirikiri Town, Lagos that the children should not be involved in politics.

    “What are we celebrating?  Our children should be left out of political trauma. We appeal to the government to settle their scores with this people and the children should return unconditionally. What we are saying as school proprietors is that our children should neither be used for any exchange nor any political reason,” she added.

    She added that the abduction dampened the excitement that is usually the hallmark of the Children’s Day, noting that the nation celebrated the day in ‘sadness.’

    The theme of the event was “The challenge of the Nigerian child in the attainment of qualitative education and the role of stakeholders”.

    NAPPS National President, Chief Abayomi Otedola, represented by the National Secretary-General, Deacon Lawrins Oke urged stakeholders to ensure the security system is beefed up for pupils to learn without threat of insurgency.  He also urged the government to subsidize private schools.

    “It is indeed a wonderful experience to have you all gathered to celebrate the rights of our beloved children and to make these children have a sense of belonging in our society. It is quite saddening that the Nigeria child today is faced with a myriad challenges and obstacles in their quest for qualitative education.

    “Challenges facing the Nigerian child include poor state of insecurity in the country, nonchalant attitude of teachers, parental negligence and quest for materialism,” he said.

    The event featured a march past with schools displaying placards with varying inscriptions appealing the release for of the abducted girls, and a prayer session led by Deacon Oke.

    The head teacher of Goodage Nursery and Primary School, Ms Okoligwe Obianuju, advised the government to be careful in their strategies over the rescue of the abducted school girls.

    Anthonia Okezie, a pupil of Cardoso Catholic Secondary School, also enjoined the government to have faith in God in their attempt to bring the girls.

  • Celebrating illusion of hope

    Celebrating illusion of hope

    As Nigeria celebrates 15 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, stakeholders are lamenting the gap between expectation and reality, reports Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN.

    On May 29, 1999, the expectation was high. But, 15 years after, the hopes appear to have been dashed.

    Security of lives and property cannot be guaranteed. Job opportunities are elusive. The standard of living is low. Corruption has assumed an alarming proportion. Cravings for wealth among public officials appears to be the norm. Government has also failed to create a conducive environment for business and foreign investment.

    It appears the government has been overwhelmed by the problems facing the country. Observers argue that the situation is even worse than it was before the advent of democracy.

    On the economic front, the story is depressing. The World Bank has ranked Nigeria as the fifth poorest country in the world. About 75 per cent of the populace live on $1 per day. The irony of it is that Nigeria is the sixth largest producer of crude oil in the world. The oil wealth has translated into mass poverty.

    It seems the country is broke. The states’ monthly allocations from the Federation Account have been dropping. There is panic  over the state of the economy. Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has attributed the shortfall in the national revenue to the oil theft in the Niger Delta, which has led to a grossly diminished accrual to the national treasury.

    A university lecturer, Dr Adetunji Ogunyemi, described the situation whereby oil thieves have held the nation to ransom as shameful. He said the government seemed to have given up and accepted that oil theft is a way of life.  He noted that the activities of these criminals have forced some states to go borrowing before they could pay civil servants.

    In his reckoning, an economist, Henry Boyo, said the economy was trapped in a paradox of deepening poverty, despite the increasing export revenue. He said: “It is inexplicable that Nigeria became listed among the poorest nations of the world. A careful analysis of the process of infusion of our export earnings into the economy will show that this anomaly was made inevitable by the Central Bank’s practice of capturing export dollar revenue and substituting naira at its unilaterally determined rate of exchange before the payment of consolidated naira allocations to the three tiers of government.”

    To Boyo,  the monetary framework is faulty, and there is urgent need for its fundamental restructuring so that the economy can be rapidly transformed  to induce vast expansion  in industrial activity with single digit lending rates. If this is done, it will also increase employment opportunities and lower single digit of inflation and the exchange rate mechanism. He observed that the government’s efforts to achieve these parameters, reduce poverty, enhance the social welfare in the last 15 years have failed woefully.

    Another economist, Dr Lanre Dada,  said the lack of planning and respect for the budgetary process are apparent. He said successive governments are culpable.  Dada said while the three regimes have applauded themselves for managing the economy very well, the economic indices tell a different story. He observed that Inflation has been skyrocketing, adding that the purchasing power has also fallen. He regretted that neither of these issues is being addressed by the government.

    Dada said it was disheartening that billions of dollars could not be accounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). “For a nation that relies on earnings from the oil export to have failed to account for this huge amount speaks volume about the level of mismanagement in the oil sector,” he added.

    The economist frowned at the Federal Government’s indifference to the oil theft in the Niger Delta on daily basis, noting that the activities of the criminals are affecting the economy, because the nation’s earnings from oil have dropped drastically. “What the states and local governments get from the Federation Account on monthly basis has dropped. They are short changed by the oil thieves,” he stressed.

    Dada said the so-called rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that the Federal government is celebrating is meaningless to the common man because it has not impacted positively on his standard of living. He asked: “If Nigerian economy is ranked the largest in Africa, what does this translate to for the economic indicators such as the industry? Will it result in the resuscitation of moribund industries? Will it result in the return of those who left the country because of harsh operating environment?” The economist warned that the emergence of Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa may not necessarily trigger financial inflows, unless there are good policies and prospects to woo foreign investors.

    The fight against corruption by the government has not fared better. According to stakeholders, the anti-graft war is selective and is geared more towards dealing with perceived enemies of government. The high profile corruption cases include the Malabo oil deal, Halliburton contract scam, the fraud in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Communications Commission, particularly as it relates to an estimated N1 trillion debt owed the NITEL for telecom operators’ use of NITEL’s facilities at the inception of GSM, the fraudulent conversion of operators’ universal access license to a national carrier license.

    To public affairs analyst, Mallam Aminu Abdullahi, the anti corruption war is not just dead; its remains have been interred. He said the President’s body language encourages and protects corruption. “Remember the case of Stella Oduah, former Minister of Aviation, and the use of over N250 million to buy two bullet-proof cars, which were not provided for in the budget. Besides, the amount was in excess of the market price. Despite the public outcry against her continued stay in office, it took President Jonathan several months to sack Oduah,” he said.

    Abdullahi added: “Now, another minister has been alleged of misappropriation. Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs Deziani Alison-Madueke was alleged to have spent N10 billion on a private for her personal use. While the matter was still pending for investigation at the National Assembly, President Jonathan stoutly defended the minister by saying she is entitled to a private jet because of the nature of her work.  The minister said she would appear before the House of Representatives Committee, if the President approves.

    Upset by the President’s comment, Abdullahi said: “It appears our President doesn’t know that corruption is an impediment that stunts the growth of nations. No nation has ever developed or made any meaningful progress without tackling corruption head-long. I am not expecting any positive change or determined effort from Jonathan in the anti-graft war”.

    Dada aligned himself with Abdullahi’s position. He said government has refused to arrest and punish corrupt officials, thereby promoting the lack of accountability in public life. Noting that transparency and accountability are fundamental to good governance, the economist urged the President to eradicate the rot in the oil and gas sector.

    The 1999 Constitution states that the security and welfare of the people are the primary responsibility of government. It appears that government has failed in this respect.  The security challenges are enormous. The Boko Haram insurgency, the armed robbery and kidnappings have overwhelmed the government.

    A social critic, Charles Edebiri, is of the view that the Federal Government, which controls the Armed Forces, should guarantee an atmosphere of security, peace and tranquillity. He said a government that is popularly elected by the people, and still enjoys the currency of tenure, should handle security challenges because it is expected to have plan, vision and will power.

    Edebiri said: “Instead, our President only talks and complains about terrorism without pro-active measures to contain the insurgence, robberies, kidnappings and other crimes. Though the Federal Government has declared a state of emergence in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe and it has ordered a full scale military operation against the Boko Haram sect, the social critic raised some puzzles: Are we getting the desired results? Are the soldiers well equipped? Why has the Federal Government decided to seek the help of foreign countries to subdue the insurgents?  “These questions must be addressed, in view of the army mutiny in Maiduguri recently and the protest staged by the wives of military personnel over the welfare of their husbands,” he added.

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said over 50 per cent of Nigerian youths is jobless. The World Bank puts the figure at 56 per cent. Considering the country’s estimated population of about 160 million, the 80 million jobless Nigerians are endangered species. These are grim figures portend danger to economic growth and development. Experts have warned that 56 per cent unemployment rate is too high for comfort, alluding to the fact that the Arab Spring was triggered by a 25 per cent unemployment rate.

    A lecturer in the Department of Economics, The Bell University, Ota, Ogun State,  Oluwatosin Oyetayo, blamed the high rate of unemployment on government policies, infrastructural decay and the neglect of the manufacturing sector. She said that the economy is not viable, in terms of job creation. “Our production has reduced to almost zero level as a result of erratic power supply. The implication is job loss and Nigeria turning into a dumping ground of finished goods from foreign countries. The economic implication is that we are unable to manage our balance of payment. The social implication is that our youths are engaged in criminal activities”, Oyetayo added.

  • Celebrating ‘a man of character’

    Celebrating ‘a man of character’

    The atmosphere was serene. There was Country music in the background, as guests eagerly awaited the arrival of the man of the moment. Venue was the Oriental Restaurant, Victoria Island Lagos, where friends of Edo State Information and Orientation Commissioner Louis Odion organised a 40th birthday bash for him.

    The atmosphere became charged when the Master of Ceremony (MC) announced his presence. Many rose to catch a glimpse of him.

    Odion was dressed in a black Agbada. It was an evening of encomiums from those who know the birthday ‘boy’. The celebrator shed tears as accolades were showered on him.

    A band, the Manifest, thrilled the audience. Upcoming comedian ATM ensured that there was no dull moment. The MC read the citation of the celebrator. The birthday cake was cut and a toast made to the celebrator.

    Managing Director, Leadership Azubuike Ishiekwene’s accolades on Odion were moving.

    Odion broke down in tears, when Ishiekwene told what he called the ‘unknown Odion story.”

    He said Odion was a friend who sticks closer than a brother, a family man and an astute professional.

    Narrating how the celebrator helped salvage his relationship with a mutual friend of theirs, Ishiekwene said Odion is endowed with wisdom that is above his age, adding:“he is a young man with the heart of a lion.”

    As a family man, Ishiekwene said Odion carries a lot of responsibilities gracefully.

    ‘’When we hang out as friends, you never know the burden that each of us carries because the clothes that we wear cover a lot. The role that Louis plays in his own family is far beyond him but, he carries it with dignity. He is doing a lot and I keep praying that God will strengthen him and give him the resources to keep doing well,‘’ Ishiekwene said.

    Former Health Secretary Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi described Odion as a man of character, adding that he needed no special notice to come and celebrate with him.

    Adelusi-Adeluyi said: “The voice of Nigeria is wholesomely represented here and that is how it should be because we are honouring one of your own. We are honouring a young man who has a very good name, born in a good month and has attained a unique age.

    ‘’His name, Louis, has a very proud pedigree. In French, it is given to describe someone as a famous warrior. Odion is very dear to me and I cherish him a lot because he is a man of character and it is only a man of character that can be trusted. He has been a good ambassador for the journalism profession.”

    Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello said his relationship with Odion dated back to 1989 when the Sunday Concord was established and strong hands were needed for the political desk.

    ‘’We discovered that there was this man who has been writing and every time he writes, it gets published. So, we decided to look for him and discovered it was a young boy inside Concord. He was with the advert department. So, I met the advert manager and told her she has to let Louis join us and that was how it started.

    ‘’When our newspaper was shut down and other papers were wooing us to come, I was surprised that somebody like Odion who was still very young stayed with us. He was not willing to go while some others left until the paper was reopened. It was later shut within six months but Louis still stayed with us.

    ‘’So, we became very proud of him because we thought that someone like him should look for something else to do. Even when Abiola was in detention and things were very difficult for the paper, he stayed and we advised him to take up the offer with ThisDay,” Bello recalled.

    Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji, described Odion as a young successful fellow who knows his onions, adding that he is gifted.

    Ikuforiji said: ‘’If these elders can come here to celebrate with Louis, and I know I am not the only elderly person who has Louis as his friend. Even my own leader, the national leader of our great party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), is a friend to Louis and I am sure if not for his own very tight engagement, he would have personally been here with us.

    ‘’I do not know him at the professional level that the likes of Tunji Bello know him. But the much I know of Louis, I feel very grateful for the invitation that was extended to me to be here because truly, he is a man of character.

    ‘’The very day I met him, I knew he is a special breed. When you think of somebody like Louis, you will be happy that all hope is not lost. There is a generation coming that represents hope. Nigeria is in dire need of the help of ’men of the pen.”

    Chairman, Edo State Internal Revenue Board Chief Oseni Elamah, also spoke glowingly about the celebrator. Odion, he said, conquered fear on the palace ground of the Oba of Benin, when he came out to make the threat to his life by a politician, a media issue, adding“and that was how he gained his freedom.

    He described Odion as “Mr. Character and Integrity,” adding that he brought a professional touch into the Adams Oshiomhole administration with which they have been able to achieve many things.

    Overwhelmed by the outpouring of emotions, Odion said: ‘’I am honoured by such great love. I do not even know what to say but I can tell you that I was fortunate to have a great boss in Tunji Bello, who aside mentoring me, gave me the opportunity to go back to school while working.

    ‘’If he did not give me such an opportunity, I would not be here today. It is not just about talent because there are so many talented writers out there who have not excelled. So, I remain grateful to Tunji Bello and my other friends, who believed in me as a young man.”

    Former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba; Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation Sam Omatseye; Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Gbenga Adefaye; Ekiti State governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Mojeed Jamiu; publisher, Global Excellence, Mayor Akinpelu; Special Adviser to Lagos governor, on Media and Publicity Hakeem Bello; General Manager, Mobil, Captain Victor Iriobe; Publisher, Encomium Kunle Bakare; Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Kehinde Bamigbetan; Chairman, Bevista, Benny Obaze; Yomi Idowu; Ted Iwere; Omisore Abiodun and Ogbeni Goke Odeyinka were at the event.

  • Celebrating a rewarding year

    Foam giant Vitafoam has held a cocktail to round off its 2012 business year, reports Nneka Nwaneri.

    Vitafaom, has held a cocktail to round off its business year that ended on January 30. It served as an avenue to celebrate another successful business rate.

    The firm’s directors were among the guests who gathered by the poolside of Protea Hotels, GRA, Ikeja for the event.

    At the over 60 minutes event, guests mingled and chatted as they sipped wine. The environment was inviting and calm.

    In the background, a DJ played some old tunes.

    Welcoming guests, the Managing Director, Mr Joel Ajiga shared his thoughts on plans for the company.

    He spoke of the progress the company made last year despite the economic hardship. He praised the company’s board for its fortune.

    “We are determined to do better next year”, Ajiga said.

    Chairman Board of Directors, Chief Samuel Bolarinde announced his exit from the board. Mr Bolarinde expressed optimism that those in charge will ensure continuity.

    Goodwill remarks were made. Guests and shareholders proffered tips on how the company can do better in the coming year.

    Managing Director of Insight Communications, Baale Jimi Awosika described Vitafoam as a firm that has the concept of partnership.

    Chairman of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Sir Sunny Nwosu said the evening was as an opportunity to thank the out-coming board chairman for what he has given shareholders and stakeholders. Wishing him strength as he retires, he led all guests to sing “For he is a jolly good fellow”. While everyone stood and sang heartily with all eyes him, Bolarinde sat beside his wife beaming with smiles.

    Proposing a toast, former chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Otunba Femi Deru thanked Bolarinde for his diligence and steadfastness.

    He also praised Vitafoam for providing comfort to Africans from birth to death.

    In attendance were: Chairman of Omatek Computers, Mrs Florence Seriki; a non-executive director of the company Mr Hassan Usman and some former Managing Directors.

  • What is the government celebrating exactly?

    What is the government celebrating exactly?

    Like everyone else, I have heard stories about the activities of various orders of monks in various erstwhile monasteries to develop or show their faith. Some have sounded just plain incredible. There was, I learnt, the order that chose to walk barefoot. Fair enough, I think, when you remember that the cost of shoes has a habit of rising astronomically and not necessarily in direct proportion to their functions or aesthetic qualities. Another order prefers to walk some minutes a day on hot coals. Honestly, you couldn’t pay me to even look at hot coals. Most horrendous of all, why, I always think, would anyone choose to belong to the order that indulges, I say indulges, mind, in self-flagellation? I would have refused to believe it if they did not have the stripes to show for it. If I had a choice, I would have chosen to belong to the order of those who get together once a year to eat very costly satisfying dinners in order to raise funds for the hungry poor and wretched of the earth. You see, pity is pithier and more cynical when you are able to do it from a certain detached height.

    I believe that cynical kind of pity is what our federal government is feeling for its citizens right now. We the citizens are bursting our sinews protesting the decision of the government to go ahead with the centenary celebrations. I don’t believe that the government suddenly developed an inability to understand English. I think that the problem rather is that the government has as usual gone deaf in one ear. It tends to do that many times, mostly when the people are speaking or when the people are saying what it does not want to hear. That’s when it turns the bad ear to the public and the good one to the other side where it hears itself speak. This is why the government perpetually sees the people’s lips moving but hears itself speaking.

    So, you see people, the government has no idea that there is any opposition to the centenary project because it cannot hear us. It can only hear itself humming a joyful tune sometimes made into song by bus ‘conductors’, ‘Go on soun jare, o wo mbi’ (the road is clear here). Clearly, it fails to appreciate what people say about the road which is that the light is always green when they see a fool coming. Please don’t look at me; people say it, not I. Anyway, because the government has failed to hear, understand and appreciate our opposition to the centenary project, we simply must make our arguments more vociferous and pass them through strident voices; that’s all. No violence please; I hate violence. There is absolutely no need to go jabbing stubby fingers at the chest of the president’s dog. Everything else apart, you might get bitten.

    To start with, I had a hard time comprehending what the centenary celebrations were about. I asked everyone around me, what centenary? The last time I counted, Nigeria was fifty-two. No, explained someone very patiently, clearly believing he was speaking to a dumb one, independence is different from amalgamation. I coughed, reluctant to ask, what amalgamation? Luckily, the bright one read my thoughts and further patiently explained that the amalgamation was when the north and south of the country were joined together to make one. The natural question that should follow that, of course, is how come I never heard of this before?

    Don’t get me wrong. Every beggar in this country has heard of how Lord Luggard sauntered into the territory, looked left, right and then left again, then declared, the north and south will be one; you know much the same way we are told that day and night and conjoined twins came together. So, I knew all that, but I had no idea the fact was worth celebrating. Frankly, every pair of conjoined twins I have ever read about has always rued the day it was born; none has ever yet gone to church or mosque to thank God for joining their two heads or two bodies together. The inconveniences you get from any joining are just too many and painful to rejoice over. For instance, when a priest declares a couple as being ‘joined’ together, I think he does so in a manner of speaking. For I am yet to see a couple happily going about their business literally tied together at the waist. So, no thanks, this amalgamation thing is nothing to rejoice over but something to weep over, for it has resulted in a troublesome case of conjoined triplets or quadruplets or any number of lets you might care to use. Ideally, the country should be in the hospital where the doctors would be trying their best to prise it apart as carefully as possible without losing too much blood.

    In any blessed case, who the deuce are the celebrators? The government? Hmm, yea, I guess. The government and all its functionaries are well cared for so they do not lack. Indeed, I think they have every reason to rejoice. I have never been to Aso Rock but I imagine PHCN is not allowed to practice the profligacy it flagrantly displays on the rest of us there. Therefore, since they have electricity all the day and year round, they do not need to fend for themselves; they do not need to go looking for fuel; they also do not even need to look for food – food comes to look for them.

    So, why are the people not celebrating? I am the people, and I say I am in no mood to jolly around but rather to weep for the many problems I have to get myself out of. Right now, I am busy extricating myself from the generator fumes of people who cannot sleep (poor things) without relief from the heat through their fans powered by their generators because there is no electricity. I am likewise busy extricating myself from the high cost of fuelling my car now because the government cannot rein in its friends and friends’ children who are robbing the country dry through fuel scams and I must pay. Yes sir, I am too busy extricating myself from the hunger forced on me because the prices of foodstuff in the market have aimed for the sky. So, pardon us, government for not celebrating this centenary thing with you but please go ahead, don’t let us stop you.

    It is time, however, that we raised the level of our national intelligence. Believe me, the world is not mocked when Nigeria portrays herself as a wealthy nation when everyone but the government knows that people here are hungry, tired and getting angrier by the day. To go around celebrating something that should be swept under the carpet for now does not send a very good message to the world. It posits that there isn’t a sufficient level of intelligence in the country so that our children do not stone our graves.

    To be sure, a time may still come when this kind of celebration will not only be auspicious but will suggest itself. At that time, the people will lay tables of food, produced on the land, along their streets and invite passers-by to join them. They will waive the national flag with joyous abandon amidst the smiles and coos and laughter of freedom from want. Today, however, is not auspicious because there is too much want in the land. For now, I think we should do well to let the government celebrate alone and we the people should just wish them happy celebrations.

     

  • Celebrating a ‘worthy life’

    The sleepy Iruekpen-Ekpoma community in Edo State hosted dignitaries as the remains of Mrs Maria Ezekiel-Ikhureigbe, mother-in-law of Senator Jubril Marti-ns-Kuye, were interred. SULAIMAN SALAWUDEEN was there.

    It was a show of class. The gold-edged white casket was gleaming; the zebra patterned Ankara clothes were sewn stylishly; chauffeur driven posh vehicles ferried guests; the canopies enclosures festooned in attractive linen which dot several spaces. And the cuisines served at various points – all bore stamps of class and trend.

    Tradition was recognised as apparent in the moving ancestral songs rendered by local bands at the Christian wake and in the outfits worn by some people.

    The lively faces decked in attractive wears showed that it was an occasion essentially for the blue bloods and not mere mortals.

    While the men among the grandchildren appeared mostly in white, the women enjoyed some freedom in their choice of colours as reflected in their handbags, head ties, shoes and other accessories that complemented their looks.

    It was all for the late Mrs. Maria Ezekiel-Ikhureigbe (aka Odede) whose funeral was held at Iruekpen-Ekpoma, Edo State.

    According to the second daughter of the deceased, Mrs. Tekobo Dongo, “mama deserved all these. She loved her children and enjoyed fashion even though she was not in any way worldly.”

    Odede, which means ‘grandma’ in Iruekpen’s version of Edo language, as fondly called by everyone, died in November, last year at 97. She was born into the noble Egbondion family of Ehor Quarters in Iruekpen-Ekpoma.

    She married the late Pa Ezekiel-Ikhureigbe in Lagos and had two children, Otunba Iyabo Martins-Kuye and Mrs Dongo.

    A good dancer in her youthful days, Odede reportedly brought under her care and successfully mothered more children than just her two biological daughters.

    She would often tell anyone who cared to listen that “doing good is good business. The good you do today is an investment for tomorrow.”

    Recognising the attributes of the deceased, Revd Fr. Mathew Ihensekhien from All Sants Seminary, Ekpoma, said, at the service held at Stella Marris Catholic Church, that most people fear to die and wish to live endlessly not because of the uncertainties of life after death but perhaps essentially because of the evil they had done.

    Revd Ihensekhien said: “We love to live endlessly because of the pleasures of the world, the pleasures then blindfold us to the ultimate wealth of eternity. We want to go to heaven but don’t want to die.”

    He said even at 97, the children, family and other associates of the deceased would have preferred she lived longer.

    The cleric enjoined all to emulate Mama’s hardwork, friendliness and hospitality.

    After the sermon, Dr. Christopher Abebe said the people gathered to celebrate a woman who lived a good life and single-handedly gave the Marian Grotto to Stella Maris Catholic Church.

    Abebe, father of the former First Lady, the late Mrs Stella Obasanjo, described Iruekpen as a wonderful community where people irrespective of tribe and religion love one another.

    After the service, the pallbearers went into their stunts, doing acrobatics with the coffin. They stopped at two places said to be Odede’s ancestral homes before proceeding to lay her remains at the family residence. It was a charged moment as Iyabo and Tekobo, wept uncontrollably.

    At the Abia Primary School, venue of the reception, the guests were treated to exquisite local and continental dishes.

    They also engaged some of the children and family members in a dancing competition of sorts, spraying them with naira notes as the popular music maestro, Yinka Ayefele and Eno Loius’ Afro Jazz Band dished out irresistible tunes.

    In her tribute, Mrs. Martins-Kuye said: “How could I adequately describe my mum. She was beautiful, adorable, vibrant, kind, honest, loving, and above all, she was virtuous.

    “Odede was one of the best mothers in the world. She spent her life caring for us and other people around her. She did not discriminate. She took everyone as her own.”

    Mrs. Dongo said: “My dearest mum, you were the greatest thing that happened to me. I shall always remember how you shaped my life. I am grateful for the life you lived. For those you touched; for the love and care you always showed; for your generous spirit and big heart.”

    Others including mama’s in-law, Alhaji Kehinde Dongo; Elder Tina Amzart; Folakemi Banire; Bukola Aboderin and others joined in the rain of tributes to a “mother of mothers.”

    Dignitaries at the event included former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye; former Chairman, Ikole Local Government and successful business woman, Chief Titi Oluwatuyi; Alhaji Kehinde Dongo; the Olomo of Iyin-Ekiti Chief Michael Ogundare; Mrs. Bola Ogundare; the redoubtable iconoclast, Chief Ebenezer Babatope; Otunba Doyin Ogungbe; Mr Wole Koya and Mr Kayode Otitoloju.

  • Nation-branding in nation-building: Celebrating a nation at 100

    Nation-branding in nation-building: Celebrating a nation at 100

    On January 01, 2014, Nigeria will be 100 years old as a nation but the pervasive question remains: who are we and where are we heading? Granted, the celebrations may have different meanings to different people; what with some saying there is no cause for celebration while others are saying that the celebration is not about accomplishments but the enactment of a ritual.

    The first school opines that the celebration is a waste of scarce resources, or at best a way of siphoning money. This school of thought is of the opinion that Nigeria still totters among the comity of nations and being a toddler at 100, the milestone should be spent taking stock and bemoaning the failed leadership that got us to this sorry-state.

    The second school sees the anniversary celebration more as an opportunity to celebrate our existence as a nation given all the rough paths we have travelled in the last 100 years. This school cites the two coup-d-tats of 1966, the Nigerian Civil War and the periods of Military interregnums and failed attempts at democracy that dogged the last 100 years while concluding that despite these great socio-political tremors, it is a miracle that we are still together as a nation. This school enthuses that nations that went through less of these trauma have disintegrated or are still at war. They cite Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, USSR, and Myanmar. Nearer home in Africa, they cite Somalia, Liberia, Sierra-Leone, Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and a host of others.

    The first school, which I call the school of reflection, takes a birds-eye view of what obtains in other nations and the path nations have taken to greatness – sacrifice, knowledge, imagination, the will to act in the interest of the greater majority, the building of strong systems rather than strong individuals and god-fathers, the prevalence of justice, equity and fair-play – and sees very few good examples in Nigeria. Borrowing from man’s existential quest at conquering his environment, this school enthuses that Nigeria is off the mark as electricity is about individual generators here and not about a process that works, water is plenty here but none good enough to drink; land is abundant here but not enough is cultivated to guarantee food security; and the roads are available but not good enough for safe passage. This school therefore concludes that celebration should be about accomplishments and not survival.

    The second school, which I nick-named the ritualistic school, sees more a need to decree our greatness through role-playing as opposed to reality. Taking a cue from the early man’s penchant for rituals which seeks to conjure reality through stylised plays, as seasons and cycles come and go, while little or no explanation is given as to the reason for the difference  in seasons and cycles, and the celestial rather than the existential is appeased and faith become more about inertia than action.  To this group, everything falls or rises without human intervention but by a divine unction, akin to the big bang theory.  This group concludes that the path to greatness is in celebration.

    While the school of reflection and the school of rituals are at each other’s throat regarding Nigeria’s 100th anniversary, the nation Nigeria must yet prepare for the future and in preparing for the future use the opportunity of the 100th anniversary to begin to reposition our nation by rising up to the challenges of building a modern nation state, one which is audacious in its quest at greatness and competitive within the comity of nations.

    The second question then is what path are we taking in our second attempt at nation building? Because in 100 years of our existence, the world has moved on from the agrarian age that precipitated the exportation of slaves from Africa to the New World, the industrial age which led to the signing of treaties which ceded authorities of our erstwhile traditional institutions to the British Colonial powers, to the age of Crude Oil which came just before our independence, to the information age which came in the wake of globalisation.

    I am asking this question against the background of a constantly changing global order. What this implies is that our strategy must change in alignment with what is happening around us. This is where knowledge comes in. We need to observe global trends and ask questions as to our place in it. We need to develop our educational system and make it more oriented to our development needs as opposed to being just about certification. This is where imagination comes in, as without conception, there can be no accomplishments. This reminds me of the space-race. Starting with the United States and Soviet Union, with each acquiring the knowledge required at conquering the space and putting their imagination to work, it did not take long for success to come. Today, every ambitious nation has caught the space bug with each either sending men into the orbit or launching a satellite. Today, the world is different because of this out-of-the-world knowledge and imagination. So where does this leave our own dear Nigeria?

    Indeed, I have heard people say it will take centuries for us to catch up with the developed world, but my response is always that it does not take time, it takes will; the will to get on the road, the will to get our hands dirty, the will to act! But what defines will, if not imagination, what defines imagination, if not knowledge?

    Let’s look at the Asian Tigers, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and the others in comparison with Nigeria. In 1960, we were all classified as Third World nations but by the 1980’s the tide had started to turn what with the designation changing to emerging nations for the Asian Tigers and Nigeria still keeping the tag “Third World”. By the 1990’s the Asian nations had taken the path of sustainable growth and were in fact, almost at par with the developed world on the prosperity index and today, the talk is no more about the Asian Tigers but about Brazil, Russia, India and China – what has been rightly termed the BRIC states. Even with the current global recession, these states are still recording quarter-on-quarter growth and are fast catching up with the so-called developed world. What these examples point to is that it does not take centuries to catch-up, it takes a virile strategy based on knowledge and imagination and above all it takes collective will.

     

    The Path to Nation Building

    A friend once said to me that the path to greatness is arduous when a nation emerges outside of the consent of its constituent societies. The friend goes further to reveal that before 1776 there was an American society with affinity and engagements although under British rule unlike the Nigerian situation where a nation was decreed based on British administrative convenience rather than the agreement of the constituent societies. He enthuses that it was the collective agreement of the American society acting under the leadership of George Washington that led to the defeat of the British overlords and the adoption of a collectively created constitution in the quest at having an immutable union. In the Nigerian situation, there was first a Nigerian nation before attempts at forging a Nigerian society, hence the constant bickering about federal character and  fights over the sharing of the national cake as opposed to a collective agreement at baking a bigger and better cake as was the case in the American context.

    Although critics are quick to point out that despite the collective resolve at forging a nation in the American context, there was a near succession by the agrarian South from the Union leading to the war with the industrial North in what was known as the American Civil war from 1861 to 1865. Critics went further to assert that if this can happen about a 100 years after agreeing to come together, then Nigeria may be on the right path to nationhood. The risk at taking this standpoint is that it is always easy to cite the wrong examples. Back to my friends point, nations rise to greatness on the platform of a collective agreement. Again critics will point to diversity of cultures and religion, in the Nigerian context, as being the bane behind the failure of a collective agreement citing more homogeneous settings like China where a collective agreement was easy and national cohesion and development had moved apace. Again this appears    a wrong thesis as culturally heterogeneous communities too had also forged a collective agreement which has survived the test of time. America being a good example, the United Kingdom being another and under the current world order we see a further boost for diversity as a platform for progress in the coming together of disparate states to form the European Union with a single monetary union in mainland Europe. Back to my friend’s assertion that for progress to happen, societies in coming together to forge a nation, must have a collective agreement and this collective agreement can happen under a homogeneous or heterogeneous cultural and religious setting. All it takes is sincerity of purpose, a good sense of history and the will to agree to work together for the common good. What this essentially means is that in the Nigerian situation, development and progress can come through despite the heterogeneity but the constituent societies must, outside the whims and caprice of Lord Lugard, Sarah Shaw and their British masters, forge a collective agreement which will chart a way forward for a bigger and a better union.

    • Okusaga, a company executive writes from Lagos

  • Stop celebrating vanity during Christmas, bishop charges Christians

    The Anglican Bishop of Amichi Diocese, Nnewi South Local Government Area, Right Reverend Ephraim O. Ikeakor, has advised Christians to stop using the period of Christmas to celebrate vanity but Jesus Christ.

    Ikeakor tasked Christians to always use the period for genuine spiritual revival, share gifts with loved ones and reconcile with people around them in the manner Jesus admonished in the scriptures.

    He asked, “The question is, are we still celebrating Christmas? It is now seen as a social event for fund raising and various other engagements by Christians who are supposed to know better.

    “Christmas should be celebrated with Christ at the center, because if you remove Jesus Christ, there is no Christmas and what you are celebrating is vanity, nothingness, emptiness. There is no value in Christmas without Christ. It is a time of special genuine spiritual reflections. Christmas is a time of sharing gifts and reconciliation with people and visiting people for them to have a sense of belonging.

    “I  implore our people not to see Christmas as a period of engaging in vainglory , wasteful celebration , engaging in crimes and criminality and not a time to hike prices, but a time to celebrate Christmas in righteousness , Godliness , simplicity of life and time for making peace , reconciling with people and making amends with our enemy.

    Meanwhile, Bishop Ikeakor has ordained six priests with a charge for them to cultivate in the vine ard of God at all situations.

    Performing the 4th advent ordination of two priests and four deacons at the Cathedral Church of St Andrews, Amichi on Saturday, Bishop Ikeakor insisted that the tribulations against Christians, including the attacks from Moslem fundamentalists will not diminish Christianity but improve and strengthen it.

    Those ordained as priests were Reverend Godson Chinedu Ugochukwu and Reverend Nelson Chukwunonso Chijindu, while those ordained as Deacons were Promise Mbanefo Alor, Chuka Nnaemeka Emenike Nwosu, Kennedy Ifeanyi Chukwuka and James Mbonu.