The Nation Newspaper

Tag: letter

  • Open letter to Aregbesola

    Open letter to Aregbesola

    The plan by the Osun State government to move students of Ikeji-Ile High School SSS (Classes) I – III to another school should be given a second thought in order to save the Ikeji-Ile community and the students from hardship.

    Time was when there was no post primary school in Ikeji-Ile Ijesha (presently in Oriade Local Government Area). This made the indigenes that were yearning for higher education to embrace Ipetu-Ijesha Grammar School and the Local Authority Secondary Modern School located in Ipetu-Ijesha after the completion of their primary education.

    Unfortunately, because this period was when the availability of commercial vehicles in this area was sparse, coupled with the poor financial standing of the farmer-parents, indigenes, which made the tedious daily journey to and from the schools (about 13 kilometers) hard.

    This tradition was passed down by several generations of Ikeji-Ile Ijesha indigene-students until succour came in 1976 when the then Military Governor of old Oyo State, Major General David Jemibewon, established Ikeji-Ile High School, with the first set of students coming from various cities and towns of the federation .

    The public announcement of this long expected creation of a saving grace in the name of a grammar school was welcomed with spectacle which culminated in mass street dance by the entire indigenes.

    However, the community saw in the establishment of the school a great relief from the pains and anxiety of parents anxiously waiting and praying for the safe return of their loved children from the neighbouring community schools without coming home hurt from scuffles along the roads (which usually ensued then over frivolities).

    While the likes of High Chief I. O. Akinmokun, late Pa J. O. Oluwatudimu, late Chief George Esan, Chief Olabode Akinyele (an ebullient principal of several notable secondary schools), late Chief T. A. Awe, High Chief I. O. Morakinyo (the current Orisakeji of Ikeji-Ile), Pa Philip Fagunleka and Mr. Olubayo Ijaseun, among others, provided firm leadership, the community rose into action like a wounded battalion to contribute ‘hugely’ as to the capacity of each one to put the gargantuan edifice that was the pride of the community in place and which is still standing there today anyway, but with dilapidated structures. The community also procured for the school a brand new Toyota Coaster Bus which was the envy of all the schools within Ife-Ijesha axis of the then Oyo State; being one of the first to acquire that wonder-on-wheels as against the then popular Austin/Bedford Lorries which most of the secondary schools in the state were noted for.

    In October last year, a Save-the-School letter for the rehabilitation of the school buildings together with adequate provision of teaching staff and security personnel was written to the state government by the Old Students Association; a copy of which was acknowledged by the Governor’s Office.

    It is based on efforts of the community and the old students that I appeal to Governor Aregbesola to have a rethink on the ‘rumoured’ proposal to move some students of the school to Ipetu-Ijesha that has about five government owned secondary schools as well as private ones.

    What could be ideal at the moment is for government to set in motion machinery to rehabilitate the decaying infrastructure within the school and to expedite actions in providing the school with adequate qualified teachers. With these in place, one can be rest assured that many Ipetu-Ijesha parents as well as those in other neighbouring towns will again start to send their children to Ikeji-Ile High School; which was the practice during our time there because we were always on top in academic, sports, debate and cultural competitions, among others.

    Therefore, I join other well meaning sons and daughters of the community both at home and in the Diaspora to appeal to our Ogbeni Aregbesola to live up to being the first true Omoluabi of the state by sparing us the pains and anguish of subjecting our children to the unpleasant voyage of trekking several kilometres on daily basis to and from Ipetu-Ijesha all in the name of becoming educated citizens of the state.

    Osun a dara!!

    ‘ ‘

    By Samuel Oloyede Oriowo,

    Ikeji-Ile, Osun State

     

  • Obasanjo’s most inspiring letter to me, by Afe Babalola

    Obasanjo’s most inspiring letter to me, by Afe Babalola

    Though his relationship with former President Olusegun Obasanjo has spanned decades, the legal icon and proprietor of Afe Babaloloa University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe babalola, has never had his long time friend rain encomiums on him.

    Aare Babalola had invited Chief Obasanjo to his conferment of honorary Doctor of Law by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) during its Golden Jubilee Convocations on Friday last week.

    Aare Babalola, was Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of UNILAG between 2001 and 2008 during which he won the best Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council Chairman award from the National Universities Commission (NUC) twice.

    Obasanjo could not make it to last Friday’s convocation as the day coincided with the launch of his foundation – Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation – in London. However, what shocked Aare Babalola was a letter of acknowledgement sent to him and signed by Obasanjo.

    “Of all my years of relationship and interactions with him (Obasanjo), I have never received such commendation. This letter, I must confess, made me feel highly honoured, and I want the world to see it,” Aare Babalola told this reporter.

    The letter made available to this reporter reads: “It is my great delight that I received the news of the decision of the authorities of the University of Lagos to honour you with the doctorate degree of the university at its Golden Jubilee anniversary celebrations. This is, indeed, very good news and I write to felicitate with you on this worthy recognition. No doubt, it is an honour well deserved.

    “My dear chief, being quite familiar with your abilities and achievements, I have no doubt this nomination is in recognition of your immense contributions and commitment to education and national development. I can testify that this award is well earned, more so by your contributions to the development of the University of Lagos when you placed it on a very high pedestal of administration and academics, to various facets of our country’s life and the role you have played and you continue to play in the legal profession as well as the political development of our great country.

    “I personally thank you for the support you gave me for the success of my administration and for the establishment of the Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), which emerged from your involvement in the University of Lagos.

    “To generations of youths, who have been directly moulded one way or the other, you are a role model; you are an example and symbol of what the young people could achieve with commitment to hard work and the pursuit of excellence. You are a reference point for distinction, diligence and devotion to duty as a great reformer which makes me proud. Your winning the much-coveted Best Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council award for 2005 from the NUC clearly attests to the professional, mature, forward-looking and innovative ways in which you have managed the affairs of the university as the Pro-Chancellor of the institution at that time, to the extent that the university rose from its unenviable state to become one of the shining examples in the African continent.

    “Before now, I was convinced that your place in the Hall of Fame was assured as one of the men who can genuinely be described as benefactors of mankind for your enormous contributions and for making the world a happier place. It is thus not surprising that you have been conferred with so many honours by institutions across Nigeria and Africa, among which is the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) by the Nigerian government. It is my expectation that this recognition will spur you to greater heights in your service to Ekiti State in particular, and Nigeria in general and beyond

    “On behalf of my family and my own, I wish to congratulate you most heartily as you accept the recognition that is being given to you by the University of Lagos.”

     

  • Open letter to VC, University of Agriculture, Makurdi

    Open letter to VC, University of Agriculture, Makurdi

    Sir: I would like to congratulate you, Prof E. I. Kucha, on your appointment as the fifth vice chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi. Your appointment deserves a special mention and commendation because it is the first time Minda, the host community will be producing the vice chancellor of the great institution.

    Professor, you have been entrusted this responsibility at a very crucial time when the University is in deep coma and is gasping for survival. In medical parlance, coma is a state of extreme unresponsiveness, in which an individual exhibits no voluntary movement or behavior. The founding fathers of this university modeled it after Harvard and Oxford, and dreamt that like Harvard and Oxford,it will also attain glory as one of the best in Nigeria, Africa and the World. But unfortunately, today, the university is not even ranked among the top 10 universities in the country.

    Dear Professor, as you are aware that the academic standards of the university are declining day by day and the issue of cultism has assumed alarming proportions. The havoc being caused by violent cult activities has become a source of worry and concern to students, lectures, parents and the government. It is not that the situation is completely out of control; even today a lot can be done only if one has the determination and the will power to do it.

    Sir, the country and the good people of Benue State hopes that as the captain of the ship, you will rise to the occasion and take necessary steps to stem the rot, to restore the old glory of the university. The host community, Minda have high hopes and they believe that you shall not let them down.

    As you are well aware, the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi has produced brilliant graduates in the past. Today, the reverse is the case. I therefore, hope that unlike your predecessor,you will demonstrate greater courage and will to take necessary action to surgically remove the cancer of cultism and academic bastardization of the university and save the institution from slipping in to oblivion.

    Finally, I appeal to all stakeholders and the senate of the university to take time to learn from the honey bees. At theheart of hive,which house as many as 100,000 is the “Queen”. Each bee has a special duty to perform. Some are ‘Forager Bees’ who encounter the perils of the outside world in order ro collect food. ‘Guard Bees’ protect the hives from intruders. Some bees serve even as ‘Undertakers’; these are responsible for removing dead bodies from the hive. Others are ‘Water Collectors’ who bring in moisture to regulate humidity. In addition the, ‘Plasterers’ make a kind of cement to repair the hive, and ‘Scent Fanners’ station themselves at the entrance and fan the scent outward to signal the location of the colony to lost or disoriented one. The ‘Scout Bees’ keep the hive alert to opportunities and dangers from the outside world.

    From the above analysis, it is safe to ask: what is our contribution to the safety, progress, growth and protection of the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi? As bona-fide sons and daughters of this great institution,we cannot afford to sit and watch. The job of building the university will not be accomplished unless every one cooperates.

    • John Akevi,

    Nitel Qtrs. Bauchi.

     

  • Letter of thanks to God in New Year

    Letter of thanks to God in New Year

    SIR: Dear Lord, thank you for seeing another New Year. And a big thank you that we did not wake up to fuel subsidy removal. Thank you for making our New Year joy full.

    Thank you for those that matter to us. Thanks for mum and dad, a loving family, old folks, and good friends. Thank you for safe journeys, and home comings.

    Thank you for the gift of life, for a sound health, a good appetitive, second helpings, thanksgiving, non-Dutch treats, and a bountiful harvest; for birthday cake, wedding cake, and national cake.

    Thanks for weekends and winks, good news and good grades, controllable hypertension and uncontrollable laughter. Wine, without the hangover, fried food without the flab, and candies without dental caries.

    Thank you for hiccoughs that stop and hearts that go on; for presidents that smile, and the people that laugh.

    Thank you for Nigeria. Thank you that our journey of nationhood has not overwhelmed us. Thank you for failed suicide attacks, for failed kidnapping attack, and for failed rape assault.

    Thank you for the ties that bind, for unity in diversity, for being “one” without the”chance”; for unlike charges attract, like charges repel, and wazobia.

    Thank you for the blessing in human and natural resources, and for those things that make our country beautiful. Thank you for names like Azikiwe, Balewa, Bello, and Awolowo.

    Thank you for Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Kanu Nwankwo, Genevieve Nnaji, D’Banj. Thank you for Olumo Rock, Zuma rock, Gurara Falls, and the Yankari Game Reserve. Thank you for Argungu Festival, Eyo Festival, and the New Yam Festival.

    Also for Papi Luwe, Baba Sala, Samanja, Ibu, Osuofia, Basket Mouth, I go die, Teju Baby face, Aki and Pawpaw, And yes, for Oruka, Lori Lori, and Akanchawa, and a Nite of A Thousand Laughs.

    Thank you for Ajegunle, Oshodi, Ojuelegba, Upper Iweka, and Okrika (wake up).

    Thank you for”enter with your change,” “nothing spoil,” “odiechi” and “abeg”. For “Up-NEPA!”, “It’s a goal for Nigeria!,”and”God is a Nigerian.” Not leaving out, MAMSER, NAPEP, INEC, EFCC, and ICPC.

    Thank you for “No overtaking.” “Many have gone.” “I am serving a living God”. “Are you my God?” “Beware”. “God dey”. “It’s not my portion”. “I reject it”, “Back to sender”. “My miracle is on the way”, “Jubilee hour”, and “Power must change hands”.

    Thank you for questions like, “What state are you from?” “What tribe are you?” “Who will you vote for?” “You wan try?”, “You wan die?” and “Who wants to be a millionaire?” Also, “water no get enemy” and “water don pass garri”.

    Thank you for coups that leak, and oil pipelines that don’t, laughter that explodes, and bombs that won’t; mother Africa without her mosquitoes, and the rains without the flood, and for the Harmattan without the dust;

    Thank you for free immunization, free and compulsory education, free and fair election, for freedom, for human rights, and for the rule of law

    Thank you for the sun that shines on everything Nigeria, thank you for the bees in the hive that work so hard to make our honey flow;.

    Thank you for peaceful coexistence, for religious tolerance, for national integration, for peace and unity; and that north and south can get along.

    Thank you for the ongoing Constitution review, and for bright spots. Thank you also for Jeans that fade, and love of Nigeria that doesn’t. For our biggest hurts (Nigeria) and for our highest hopes (Nigeria).

    Thank you for a better tomorrow, and for a whole new Nigeria. Amen.

    • DrCosmas Odoemena

    Lagos

  • Open letter to IG Abubakar

    Open letter to IG Abubakar

    SIR: In spite of the security challenges facing the Nigeria Police, your administration is already painstakingly working towards giving Nigerians the kind of police they have been yearning for. Your efforts at giving the police a human face through training aimed at inculcating respect for human rights is noteworthy. It is a known fact that there is no organisation without its share of bad eggs who fail to appreciate the need for a good image for the establishment they represent.

    Your administration battle to redeem and restore the battered image of the police seen as pathologically and irredeemably corrupt is commendable just as the cancellation of the practice of mounting road blocks otherwise known street as ‘toll gates’ is a step in the right direction.

    Another area which urgently requires your attention is the practice whereby people are intimidated to part with large sums of money as pre-condition before bail could be secured for sometimes spurious and unfounded allegations.

    It is noteworthy that the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State has already taken the bull by the horn in this direction. He recently issued stern warnings to all the men of the police in the state command to stop the practice or be shown the way out of the police.

    One of the problems is that a leader may mean well but along the line, there are usually some black legs in the system whose preoccupation is to sabotage and make nonsense of the leader’s good and lofty intentions. A situation where the Commissioner of Police is preaching sanity on one hand and a group of greedy and corrupt officers under him are doing the opposite does not augur well for a good image for the police.

    The bitter truth is that until the police force is effectively purged of corrupt elements, the people will remain glued to their negative perception. It is pertinent to draw your attention to a popular saying that in Nigeria that ‘Behind every wealth there is a crime”. Without doubt, this is the extent to which corruption has driven our country. Effective checking of corruption in the force will no doubt have a knock-on effect on the capability and success of checking the cankerworm in the larger society. It is noteworthy that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a body set up to fight corruption has, since inception drawn its leadership from the Nigeria Police.

    My candid advice to you, sir, is that you must not relent in your efforts at sanitising the Nigeria police by putting the squeeze on the corrupt elements in the force. You have done it before as Commissioner of Police and you can also achieve the same feat as the overall boss. Apart from the cracking of the whip, there may be need to go an extra mile by drawing a line in the sand to come up at the end of the day with a police that will actually be seen to command the respect and become true friends of the people in the real sense of the word.

     

    •Odunayo Joseph

    Lagos