The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Patriotism

  • Strike: CNPP praises ASUU for displaying patriotism

    The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has hailed the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for considering national interest and suspended its three months’ old strike to protect the future of the country.

    CNPP said the suspension of the industrial action has shown that ASUU’s members are patriotic Nigerians, who believe that dialogue could be a better means to settle differences rather than confrontation.

    ASUU had last year November embarked on strike to demand the implementation of pending Memorandum of Understanding signed with the federal government.

    The strike, which crippled academic activities in all the public universities, was suspended on Wednesday.

    The political group, in a statement by its Ekiti State Chairman, Com Olu Akomolafe, yesterday, called on the federal government to fulfil its own side of the memoranda of actions signed with ASUU to prevent future recurrence. He said the country may end up being destroyed, if universities that were designed for human capital training and development are being subjected to all manners of industrial challenges.

    Akomolafe added that allowing students to waste three months at home due to reconcilable and avoidable differences between the federal government and ASUU, may further recede the Nigerian universities’ ranking by the global community.

    The CNPP said while the government at all levels must prove to be responsible by acceding to the requests of university teachers, ASUU also must display patriotism by refraining from strike each time they have an axe to grind with the authorities.

     

     

     

  • Patriotism: The missing ingredient

    SIR: Nigerians have listened to the much anticipated vice presidential debate and they have heard the various agendas contained in their respective manifestos

    During the debate which took place between five vice presidential aspirants, the question that was repeatedly thrown out were those dealing with the economy, job creation and poverty alleviation and these are the same things our politicians have been telling us for the past decade

    Most of the candidates spoke on how they will revive the economy through the various means they deemed possible while others were claiming to be first class students by throwing out percentages but I want to draw the attention of my fellow Nigerians to the fact that while most of the candidates spoke on job creation and economic revival, it was only one candidate  who talked about the missing ingredient in the Nigerian system of government and the candidate was candid enough to even go ahead to mention the missing ingredient and she called the missing ingredient PATRIOTISM.

    Yes, patriotism is the missing ingredient in our system and without it, there will be no progress in this country of ours. Without patriotism, all the economic revival policies in their respective manifesto will never come to be.

    Let’s be sincere to ourselves. You and I know that it is one thing to say you will do something if given a mandate and it is another different thing to actually do what you have said. Please let’s free ourselves from tribal and religious sentiments to see the bigger picture ahead of us.

    Nigeria as a country have experienced the habit of recycling its leaders since independence. We have actually experienced being ruled by some of the people who fought the Nigerian civil war in the 60s. We have seen how some individuals would rule this country, go back to their respective villages or travel to other countries but only to come back after decades to rule our country which is fine by Nigerians. The problem is that these recycled individuals have nothing new to offer this great country. We shouldn’t expect things to get better when we are being ruled with ideas from the 20th century that have now become obsolete.

    I actually had the opportunity of listening to the debate and I heard how the two main political parties were laying blames on each other for the previous decade of bad governance. One candidate was busy throwing out figures that Nigerians found difficult to wrap their hands around.

    Nigerians need patriotic leaders. Nigerians need leaders who have the interest of their fellow citizens at heart and not leaders who have been recycled overtime. Without patriotism, the development of Nigeria would come to a stalemate. All the economic revival policies, the fight against corruption and the foreign direct investment in their manifestos will never come to be once patriotism is missing. The lack of patriotism is the reason why we find ourselves in this terrible situation in the first place and the sad truth is, we are not even aware of the lack of patriotism being our major problem. We tend to focus on people that would give us short term relief and solutions to our problems instead of doing the needful that would in turn change the narrative on a long term basis.

    I write these words because I am a concerned individual and I also know that there are many cornered minds out there. I want to draw the attention of my fellow Nigerians that it is time for Nigeria to be governed by patriotic leaders, leaders with the interest of this country at heart.

    If we continue to allow religious and tribal sentiments to cloud our motives, we will never get to where we ought to be in terms of development, peace and prosperity

    There will be no prosperity if there is no peace and there will be no peace if there is no progress.

     

    • Elabor Suleiman, Suleimanelabor@gmail.com

  • Party switching; patriotism or egocentrism?

    Sir: It is here again! That time of the season in Nigeria when politicians cross-carpet from one political party to the other in search of ‘greener pasture’.  However, as the 2019 general elections draws nearer, the tussle for representations and party supremacy in the Nigerian political arena is one that is perceived by many as egocentrism devoid of any sustaining and unifying theme or ideology.

    Historically, party-switching among Nigerian politicians is dated back since independence and had over the years become a norm. In fact, you can’t possibly explain the nature of Nigerian politics without reference to cross-carpeting of politicians. It is a norm as former vice president Atiku Abubakar seems to have made it, though not the pioneer of party-switching but indubitably the man with the highest number of ‘switches’.

    Atiku Abubakar was member of the PDP serving as the vice president to President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007. He walked away from PDP’s umbrella for the first time in 2006 amidst irreconcilable rift with his boss and joined Action Congress — AC to pick the party’s 2007 presidential ticket which he lost to the PDP candidate, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (now late). As an ardent politician as he could be described, he returned again to run for the PDP presidential ticket in the 2011 election which he lost yet again to Goodluck Jonathan who was incumbent president.

    Away from Atiku, the recent massive defection in the National Assembly between the PDP and the ruling party – APC, and their enticing universal claim for dumping their respective party is questionable. It has subsequently become a routine as no week pass by without any defector from across the country. While the political superstars who doubled as godfathers simply divorce to marry another political suitor, their loyalists are not left out as they also defect alongside with them in a show of solidarity.

    As it is often said in politics: No permanent friend, no permanent enemy but only permanent interests. The emphasis here is not on developing economic infrastructure that will benefit the entire country but it is rather based on self-interest at the expense of the poor masses.

    This political opportunism has become a dominant trait among political juggernauts who at all costs are always in a quest of quenching their burning desires for power.

    The way and manner in which politicians operate, one can say that they lack ideology and none actually represent the interest of Nigerians.

    All in all, we await the next “Defectives”.

     

    • Tijani Sanni, Bayero University, Kano.

  • NYSC  tasks employers on welfare, security of corps members

    Mr Remigius Amaefule, the State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Scheme ( NYSC )  in Kwara,  has advised employers to make the  welfare and security of corps members deployed to them their  priority.

    The coordinator gave the advice on Wednesday at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area, at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Batch ‘A’ orientation course.

    He said the 1,940 corps members were posted according to their disciplines across the 16 local government areas of the state based on the NYSC policy.

    “I wish to state categorically that the optimum welfare and security of our corps members is paramount to us.

    “Therefore, we shall not hesitate to repost any of our corps members from any corps employers  if we discover they are not well taken care of, or are under-utilised,” Amaefule said.

    The coordinator also implored the corps members to accept their posting in good faith, warning them not to induce their rejection.

    “My appeal to you is to settle down in your respective local government areas and contribute your own quota to the development of our great nation, Nigeria, through Community Development Service Projects ( CDS ),” he said.

    The coordinator also advised the corps members to make use of the skill acquisition ventures that they were exposed to during the three-week orientation course.

    “You are ambassadors of your families, state and NYSC, never do anything that will bring their names to disrepute.

    “I advise you not to embark on unauthorised journeys outside the state as it may attract sanctions apart from other associated risks,” he added.

    Amaefule encouraged the corps members to study the culture and tradition of their host communities.

    “You must as a matter of courtesy respect their norms and values and steer clear of their taboos and local politics,” he said.

    Read Also: Disclose health status, NYSC DG urges corps members

    The coordinator commended the state government for the donation of 300 mattresses, 300 plastic chairs and 150 double bunk beds.

    “I also appreciate the State Muslim Welfare Board and the Osun State NYSC for releasing some mattresses to us at a time we were in dire need,” he said.

    In his address, Govcommended the corps members for the successful completion of the 21- day orientation course.

    The governor, represented by the Head of Service, Mrs Susan Oluwole, saluted the courage, patriotism, doggedness and loyalty demonstrated throughout the orientation exercise by the corps members.

    “As you set out to go and report at your places of primary assignment, I urge you to follow the indelible footprints of your predecessors by acting as catalysts of physical and socio-economic development of our state and nation in general,” he said.

    The governor advised the corps members to make use of the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development initiative with the hope that many of them might be motivated  to go into self-employment after service.

    Ahmed told the corps members that in as much as government at all levels was making effort to solve the perennial unemployment problem among Nigerian youths, the few opportunities cannot go round.

    “Therefore, it behoves on you to take advantage of your service year to prepare yourselves toward  self-employment and becoming eventual employers of labour,” he  said.

    He assured the corps members of his government’s readiness to place more priority on their welfare and security throughout the service year.

    “No stone will be left upturned in ensuring that you have a smooth and hitch-free service in the state.

    “The state government will continue to improve facilities in the orientation camp in order to make it more habitable for the ever-increasing corps population,” he said.  

    NAN

  • Akeredolu tasks youths on patriotism

    Akeredolu tasks youths on patriotism

    Ondo State governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has called on the nation’s youths to imbibe the spirit of patriotism.

    He asked them to endevour to prepare themselves at all times to serve the country selflessly.

    Represented by his deputy, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, Akeredolu spoke during the launch of the 2018 Armed Forces Emblem Appeal, at the Cocoa Conference Hall, Alagbaka, Akure.

    He praised the armed forces for their resolve to keep Nigeria as one, in spite of unpatriotic agitations and insurgency in some parts of the country.

    He also praised the armed forces for keeping at bay the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, the activities of IPOB and MASSOB in the South-East, as well as similar groups in other parts of the country.

    Akeredolu, however, sought the material support of the public for the families of the fallen heroes and the families of those who survived various military operations.

    He said: “The celebration also affords us the opportunity to encourage and assure those still alive and serving that their efforts will always be recognized and appreciated.

    “This will definitely give the serving officers a sense of purpose and also spur the younger generations to national service and hence, nation building.

    “There is no gainsaying the fact that these great Nigerians who lost their lives in the course of wars and peace-keeping missions left behind families and dependants, especially their widows and children who have since been exposed to deprivation and untold hardship.”

  • Promote national unity, patriotism, Gowon tells filmmakers

    Promote national unity, patriotism, Gowon tells filmmakers

    Former Head of State, Gen.Yakubu Gowon, has urged filmmakers and other stakeholders in the movie industry to use their works to promote national unity and patriotism.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Gen Gowon made the call yesterday in his address as the Chairman of the Annual Film Lecture of the 2017 ZUMA Film Festival (ZUFF) holding in Abuja.

    The theme for this year’s edition is “Sustaining Socio-Cultural and Political Integration in Nigeria: The Film Perspective.”

    According to the retired General, the Nigerian motion picture industry is a veritable tool that can be used to drive nationalism, build values of love, peace and tolerance among.

    “Film should and must be used to sustain our conversations on issues that bind us together. Motion picture practitioners must sustain the current narratives with positive images and stories that cast Nigeria in good light and reinforce tendencies that promote our diverse cultures, economies, languages and dialects.

    “I believe that the industry has the power to encourage citizens to see themselves as friends of Nigeria, and friends are always loyal to one another, “he urged.

    Gowon, however, frowned at the practice of using films to put Nigeria and Nigerians in bad light, which was an increasing trend among many filmmakers in recent times.

    He lamented that such negative images often reinforce negative tendencies in people, and therefore urged film stakeholders to use their works as tools for positive social mobilization of citizens for national integration.

    “Through film, the vision of  a nation is articulated, opinions are shaped and characters are moulded. There are situations in which creative individuals have lent their talents to the propagation of hate and other divisive tendencies that threatened the unity of our nation.

    “Owing to the popularity of these people, ordinary citizens on the street have now tended to believe that the short term benefits of evil are to be preferred to the long term good of  society.”

    Gowon, therefore, urged relevant stakeholders to use films to shape opinions, propose and set agenda for government and mobilize citizens to work towards a better Nigeria.

    Also, the keynote speaker at the event, Femi Shaka, Professor of Film Studies, University of Port Harcourt, stressed the need for the establishment of Film Commission, and encouraging Industry-University Partnership, among other things, for effective development of the sector.

     

    NAN reports that the  Annual Film Lecture, now in its 9th edition, is a flagship component of the  ZUMA Film Festival holding from Dec. 1to 3.

    It provides opportunity for stakeholders in the movie industry to engage in narratives and conversations geared towards strengthening the sector.

    The lecture brings together filmmakers, captains of industries, the academia, relevant government functionaries and other stakeholders to share thoughts and brainstorm on contemporary issues of importance to the growth of  the Nigeria movie industry.

  • First lady calls for patriotism, prayers

    The President’s wife, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has urged Nigerians to be more patriotic and prayerful in the interest of peace and growth of the country.

    Mrs. Buhari said this in a goodwill message read by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dr.Hajo Sani, on yesterday in Abuja.

    “I appeal to all Nigerians to show true sense of patriotism for national cohesion to ensure that Nigeria attains the greatness for which it was destined,” she said.

    She urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the President’s well-being.

    According to the president’s wife, the Sallah celebration is imperative as it marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

    “I felicitate with Nigerians and the Muslim Ummah over this opportunity to get closer to Allah,’’ she said.

  • Patriotism of the Nigeria military 

    A recent research by a UK risk analysis firm, Maplecroft published by CNN. showed that growing levels of conflict, terrorism, and the toppling of regimes in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as political violence in East Africa, are driving a rise in political instability not only in those sun continents, but worldwide. ‎

    The report showed that since 2010, one in ten of the countries surveyed have experienced a significant increase in the level of short-term political risk which ‎ includes “governments asserting control over natural resources, regimes being ousted by popular uprisings and the expropriation of foreign investors’ assets.”‎
    This is a confirmation of the fact that  the level of political instability affects the business environment in countries and the extent of its negative impact is according to the level of the severity of the situation in that area.
    Not surprisingly,  Syria and Somalia, which have become notorious for political upheavals currently have the worst business an investment climates in the world as nobody wants to enter or do business under a highly risky and volatile environment.

    The rest of Africa has not fared better as there have been scores of regime changes, attempted coups and other forms of political activism that have given rise to fear and trepidation in the last decade leading to malnutrition, hunger and starvation ‎
    Recently, the Nigerian Army Chief, LT. General Tukur Buratai raised an alarm over a possible coup in the country and warned officers and men in the military  who have been meeting with politicians in apparent attempt to stage a coup, to perish any thought about a possible regime change in the country and to be loyal only to the Nigerian State.‎
    This intervention has cast the Nigerian military, hitherto seen as hungry for power and desperate to grab power in a different light, it has revealed another aspect of the military institution showing that its men and officers are patriotic, selfless and progressive minded.
    It has also put a lie to the claim that they are self serving and lacking in civility who always prosper in at atmosphere of chaos.‎
    The Nigerian military has proven that it’s support for democracy, the deepening of the rule of law and strengthening of all democratic institutions in the country are not just values it believes in but ones it is prepared to go any length to uphold. ‎
    This is against the backdrop of the fact that an incursion into the country’s political space would have been beneficial to few in the ranking of that institutions who would have distributed top political positions to themselves and used other plum positions to settle a section of the restive civilian populace as was the practice in the past.
    But the Nigerian military this time around, chose to look beyond personal gains and assessed the impact on the entire nation and seeing the effect another round of uncertainty would have on the ranking of Nigeria among the comity of civilised nations, the confusion it would bring into the Nigeria political space and the attendant hardship on the populace  due to the instability that would be entrenched, chose to act in the most patriotic manner by exposing the intentions of a few rotten eggs within its fold. ‎
    It is said that Nigeria would have advanced further than this in both democratic experience and the shaping of its destiny if not for the first military incursion into politics in 1966.
    Like most adventures of that nature, not only did the coup not help solve the problems it identified, it further raised suspicions among the various components that make up Nigeria and the ensuing 30 month civil war which shook Nigeria to its  foundation. ‎
    Subsequent attempts at regimes changes have also had their negative impacts. Then overthrow of Yakubu Gowon by Murtala Muhammed gave cause for middle belt officers led by Bukar Dimka, to try and stage a counter coup leading to unnecessary bloodshed and tension within the country.
    The coup that brought Buhari in as head of state in 1983 was sacked unceremoniously with another that brought in Babangida in less than two years worsening the political climate then.‎
    So the nature of coups the world over especially in Africa and Nigeria has not been palatable.
    They serve to weaken democracy,, usher in dictatorship, destroy the business climate, introduce fear and in the end leave matters worse than they were.
    That is why this recent revelation by the military on the attempt by few to take us back to those dark ages and the effort it has so far made to check such adventure must be commended. I‎f  other countries and indeed Nigeria had in the past  had such early warning signs from their military such incidents would have been averted and the world would have been the better for it.

    Within the  period of this administration alone, the Nigerian military has fought fierce battles to keep Nigeria one by degrading and weakening the base of insurgency in Nigeria.
    It has sacrificed many of its  gallant men and women as well as officers to achieve that. ‎
    It has also  lived up to the promise of the current administration to rescue the 276 school girls abducted in Chibok, Borno State in 2014  and has succeeded in rescuing alloys half that number so far with indications that it would more in that direction in the not too distant future.
    Within the same period, the Nigerian military has also succeeded in reoriented  its personnel to interact and interface with the civil populace in a manner that is a fresh breath away from its previous image of an institution that is intolerant to orderliness and decorum
    Add to this its recent donation to Nigeria, this exposure of a coup and the stern warning for men and officers to steer clear of politics and you will see a refreshing, highly professional and patriotic institution emerging.
    Nigeria must do all it can to sustain this attitude in the military and support the emerging culture of its officers for the country and it’s democracy  to grow to a stage where Nigeria would become a reference point for good governance, strong institutions and infrastructure development .‎
    ‎
    ‎‎Ugo, peace and conflict resolution expert writes from Canada Water, United Kingdom.

  • Akpabio charges on patriotism

    Akpabio charges on patriotism

    Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, has felicitated with Christians across the country on the occasion of the Easter festivity.
    He called on them to imbibe the lessons of love and sacrifice, which Christ’s death and resurrection symbolise.
    The former Akwa Ibom governor charged Nigerians to emulate Christ by not only loving others but also by loving their country and continuing to seek its progress and well-being as patriotic citizens.
    The Akwa Ibom North-West senator, in an Easter message by his media aide, Jackson Udom, maintained Nigerian leaders and followers alike must make sacrifices and continue to pray to God to guide the ship of the country to its fair haven.
    “Easter is symbolic for the quintessential lessons it teaches on the love of God for humanity and the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
    “These lessons should also spur us all to love one another and be ready to make sacrifices for the well-being of others and our fatherland, Nigeria.”

  • Innocent Oparadike: A rare gem in courage and patriotism

    Innocent Oparadike: A rare gem in courage and patriotism

    The death penultimate week of one of Nigeria’s veteran journalists and nationalist is one sad chapter of Nigeria’s precious loses

    In the parlance of Journalism, a forte late Chief Innocent Oparadike held sway until he breathed his last two weeks ago, what his sudden exit from the social space amounted to is called ‘stop Press’. This happens when a very topical news event thrusts up at the heel of production, when the paper is just in the middle of press or is just a blink of an eye to pressing hall. In the broadcast media, it is just when the newscaster has rehearsed every line or is already casting news, and the producer just smuggles in that script mid-way. It just flabbergasts. You must have been an expert newscaster or production man to accommodate flawlessly that sudden-ness. That is just how the sudden demise of Sir Innocent Oparadike, Chinyereugo I of Umuorie, in Mbaitoli Ikeduru LGA, Imo state threw the Nigerian media and social space when the news broke. Not only media practioners were troubled by the thought that the good man would not be around again, but also news makers, politicians, policy-makers, religious leaders, students, numerous towns unions men and women and other distant peoples whose lives he has touched were shocked.

    For a journalism colossus and social builder who has made indelible contributions in building people, institutions and societies, it is unimaginable not feeling the presence of the human dynamo and intellectual giant chief Oparadike around anymore. His deep insight into national issues, his presence of mind, his sheer energy and the zeal and perfection he brings to bear into any assignment he is involved in are some of the noble qualities Nigerians and most Africans whose lives he has touched in various capacities would direly miss.

    Chief Oparadike, whom most of close associates fondly address as “Oparadyke” is a man whose brain is on constant accelerator dissecting issues of our time, marshalling practical implementable solutions, (not just theories) and discerning matters with a Socratic sense of judgement. These qualities he brought into many of his various engagements in all the public positions he has ever held.

    On the Turf:

    In the profession of journalism which he is famous, Chief Oparadike was a journalist’s journalist. He not only read its theory up to its nourishing apex when the discipline was just new in Nigerian tertiary institutions academic syllabus, Oparadike was a much sought after innovator and turn-around expert which of many  media houses. He is never short of innovations. An all-rounder, human encyclopedia, Chief Oparadike has spent much part of life resuscitating ailing media houses when such media were at the point of their obituary. Of course those media he worked before that are no longer existing now, went their lane to dustbin after Oparadike had revived them. And this came about because either those taking over failed to follow his instructions meticulously to ensure their continued existence, or they allowed an overdose of the usual disease that cripple media houses to murder them:- which include politicization and overweening investor/proprietor interest. That is why, the man has in spite of the high mortality rate of media enterprises managed admirably to live an integrity-filled and purposeful life both as a public servant media and publicity manager and as an independent consultant.

    Oparadike was one of the earliest Mass Communication students to graduate with a First Class degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He obtained his M. SC degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos. He made history as the first Southerner and Christian to become the Editor of the Kaduna-based, Federal Government-owned New Nigerian Newspapers. He capped this up by becoming the Managing Director of the Daily Times. He served as the Commissioner for Information and Culture during the administration of Governor Evan Enwerem in Imo State. The death of Chief  Oparadike has robbed Nigeria  one of its most cerebral and courageous journalists to navigate successfully without running into trouble with  the  publicity-conscious military despots editing a Government-funded tabloid and at the same time protecting peoples interest by making the pages of the paper available for them to articulate their interests. This manifested profoundly during the debates for return to military rule during the late 1980s and the series of interminable Babangida-Abacha interminable constitutional conferences. Throughout all those periods, especially between 1984-87, Chief Oparadike then as editor of the New Nigerian, an unpretentious pro-caliphate/ military establishment mouthpiece, did not fail to make the pages of the paper available to the generality of Nigerians to air their views.

    He was made the editor of New Nigerian by former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. The late journalist said much on this development in his moving article on Babangida last year: He wrote: “In 1985, Babangida broke a glass ceiling. He brushed aside threats, blackmail and high-level conspiracy to make me the editor of the Federal Government-owned New Nigerian Newspaper. I thus become the first and only southerner and Christian to edit the New Nigerian.”

    Born in Owerri, Imo State on November 22, 1950, the deceased attended Ogwa Central School, 1956-62 and Obazu Community Grammar School, Mbieri, Owerri, 1963-71. He later went to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1972-76 and University of Lagos, 1980-81. He served at the Programmes and News Department of Radio Nigeria during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from 1976-77. The deceased was a Management Trainee, Centre for Management Development (CMD), Lagos, Kano, 1977-78. Later, he became Editor, News Agency of Nigeria, 1978-80 and Columnist/Group Political Editor, National Concord Newspapers, 1980-83. He worked as the Editor of The Democrat, 1983-84; and Deputy Editor, Editor, New Nigerian Newspapers, 1984-87. Oparadike was the National Director, Information and Publicity, Directorate for Social Mobilisation, 1987-90; Leader, Freedom Communications Ltd, 1990; and Group Managing Director, Daily Times of Nigeria Plc, 1995-96. He was Consultant, Technical Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation; Council Member, Commonwealth Press Union, and Governing Council, Imo State Orientation Agency.

    Oparadike was also a member of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs; Nigerian Economic Society; Nigerian Union of Journalists and Nigerian Guild of Editors. He was a Knight of the Order of St. Christopher and held the traditional title of Chinyereugo of Amurie Omanze.

    The late Oparadike will be remembered for giving his best to his chosen profession and using it as a veritable tool to serve his fatherland. He was a good role model and mentor to many journalists in the country. He should be immortalised for his numerous contributions to the journalism profession and national development.

    It is a testimony worth writing in the nation’s hall of fame that Oparadike’s exploits in social mobilization when he held sway as National Director, Information and Publicity in the then Federal Government outfit called MAMSER then under Professor Jerry Gana that metamorphosed today what is called the national orientation Agency (NOA). The innovativeness and diligence Chief oparadike brought to bear on the grassroots motivation which led to increased food production across every length and breadth of the country has remained an evergreen template successive governments have been using in galvanising people to support growth policies:viz, the Patronise Made-In-Nigeria campaigns of Babangida regime, the Failed Contracts Tribunals and the various task Forces  campaigns which the military governments of the 80s and 90s had ever used in their various public engagement and participation processes were largely drawn from the policies formulated by this erudite journalist while he worked with MAMSER

    As the intellectual community and the progressive community in the nation mourn the loss of this great Nigerian, It behoves all of us , especially emerging leaders of this generation to imbibe the qualities of this great genius who is an acknowledged asset not only to Nigeria but to the black race. Adieu Sir Oparadike, Chinyereugo 1 of Amurie, the voice of the talakawas, the minorities, the kings and even of princes. Adieu, Great Nigerian