The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ‘Trust

  • How to create trust in relationship

    DEAR Harriet, I look forward to reading your article every Saturday. Keep up the good work. I find it difficult to trust in relationship because of my past experience.

    I need your counsel on how to build trust once again.

    Thanks.

    Juliet, Lagos.

     

    Your situation is expected because of your experience. Trust, as we know, is a very factor in any relationship. Many relationships have broken up over trust issues. Once violated, trust is very hard to fix and rebuild, so it has to be protected carefully and constantly nurtured.

    It can be compared to a plant that needs the right soil, water and temperature to flourish and attain full bloom. So too, trust requires the right conditions and environment to sustain a relationship through ups and downs.

    If partners trust each other in a relationship, there is no guarantee that it will continue to stay that way. Challenges might come that will make one a victim. Remember we are human and not perfect so you can never trust enough, nor can you take it for granted. You have to constantly work on it.

    However, before we go into details on how to build trust in relationship, it will be nice for us to quickly list out what can hinder us to building trust in our relationships.

    In a situation, for example, when one partner or the other seeks to be in charge and wants to achieve the upper hand, therefore, making it very difficult to meet on equal ground, trust cannot be established in such a relationship. On the other hand, if you are not happy in a relationship and constantly seek to change your partner and dictate terms, it is not an environment conducive to building trust. Your partner will withdraw and alienate himself or herself from you.

    Another factor that can serve as a hindrance to building trust is lack of honesty, hiding things from your partner  or lying by omission, or  telling him or her what you think he or she needs to hear. You are not just being dishonest with your partner, but you are not being true to yourself either.

    Remember that if you’re doing something wrong that you can’t talk about to your partner, it’s not about keeping it from your friend, but whether you can live with it is the question. For those who have conscience, the guilt can be very devastating.  Dishonesty destroys trust in a relationship, so whatever you do, have the courage of your convictions and there will never be the need to be dishonest.

    Next is self-indulgence; When a relationship is self-centred, that is, when the focus is only on personal needs, always about me attitude, without putting the other person’s interest into consideration, such action will definitely affect the relationship if not corrected. Note that if you have selfish motives, it erodes the trust that your partner has placed in you and causes a loss of faith. This, in turn, hampers the growth of the relationship and causes it to stagnate.

    Lack of effective communication can give room for doubt or assumption. For example, when you don’t talk freely with your friend or partner about everything, knowing that effective communication is the livewire of any relationship, it is the fuel on which the engine of a relationship runs, trust might be a challenge.

    Disappointment is one aspect that must not be neglected. Most people react to situations based on their experience. A person that has been disappointed will find it very hard to trust immediately. More so the act of suspicion can affect the level of trust in a relationship.

    Trust remains one of the most important elements in a relationship. Without trust in your relationship, failure is sure to follow. Trust in a relationship gives you a measure of peace and calmness that leads to satisfaction and security.

    To be continued.

     

    Harriet Ogbobine is a counsellor and a motivational speaker. Send your questions and suggestions to her on bineharriet@gmail.com or text message only 08054682598. You can also follow her on twitter: @bineharrietj, blog: liwh.com.ng

  • Building trust in your relationship

    DEAR Reader, You are welcome to the month of June. It is my prayer that this new month, God shall visit and give you a testimony that will make you to rejoice in Jesus’ name! This month, I want to teach on a subject I have titled: Building Trust in your Relationship and I shall be focusing on Trust this week.

    Trust is probably the most important ingredient in building a good relationship with others and in building an intimate relationship between husband and wife. Trust is something that can be cultivated and nurtured if you will follow the guidelines below. It is important for us to know that trust is an essential and vital ingredient in our daily living, whether family life or in our relationship with others.

    WHAT IS TRUST?

    The Oxford dictionary defines trust as the firm belief in the reliability, truth or strength of a person, confident expectation, obligation or responsibility. It is also a state of being relied upon. In a practical sense, trust means that you place confidence in someone to be honest and faithful to you, and not abandon you. Trust is not a gift; it is a virtue built through experience and over a period of time. Trust is reciprocal. The more you express your trust to others or members of your household, the more they respond to you in trust. Trust grows over time. It takes time to build trust and you need to show your partner that you are trustworthy, and that you trust him/her in return.

    WHY DO WE NEED TO TRUST?

    Because trust is part of our daily lives and the very essence of life depends on it. For instance, you go to bed at night with a perfect plan for the next day, because you trust that you will wake up the next morning. You eat your food with confident that your body network is designed to digest the food.  You go to work daily trusting that the job you closed from yesterday is still there waiting for you.  You breathe freely without bothering to crosscheck the oxygen level or quality of the air.  All these actions are products of trust.

    There is no relationship that can survive an environment devoid of trust. If your marriage must work, you must learn to trust your partner. You need to trust your partner with your life, your past, present and future. Marriage is dependent on the belief that you are loved and accepted the way you are. This fact helps you relax and let down your confidence. Trust makes room for honesty without fear of rejection. The Word of God says: The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil (Proverbs 31:11). When a man trusts his wife, he has the confidence that his wife can take care of certain issues that affect the family. I can never forget some years back when my husband came to my office and handed over a cheque booklet, all signed.

    The reason is that he had found me trustworthy in the area of handling financial matters; therefore, he could trust me with the handling of the money in that account without regretting such action.

    HOW TO BUILD TRUST IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP

    You need to be truthful

    In building trust in your relationship, you must be truthful. Be truthful to your spouse and family members. Don’t be known to say one thing today and another tomorrow on the same issue. There is no substitute for truth! Your “yea” must be found to be yea, and your “nay” found to be nay. If you are a person with double standards, it becomes difficult to trust you.

    Constantly work on improving your communication skills

    Develop the skill of being a good listener, which is one of the hardest skills to develop. Being a good listener means you don’t interrupt your spouse. This requires great discipline and respect. Learn to ask, “Have you finished?” Always make sure that you’ve fully understood what the other person has said.

    Take responsibility to clearly express your needs

    When a person feels he or she cannot express his needs to the other person, it leads to a break down in trust. We often don’t express our needs for two reasons. Either we are afraid of rejection or a feeling of shame for having such needs.

    Keeping Your Promises

    One of the ways by which you can build trust whether in your family life or in other relationships is by keeping your promises. It will interest you to know that promises have a way of creating excitement. It brings anticipation and hope, and if not kept, it destroys trust. If for any reason you are not able to keep your promises, ensure that a thorough and honest explanation is given for it. It is, therefore, important not to make promises you know you will not be able to keep.

    To build trust in your relationship, you need to surrender your life to Christ first and foremost. You can say this prayer and be born again: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom”.

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

     

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Can we trust Eagles?

    I’m scared. Anytime Super Eagles players promise to beat any opposition the way they are sounding now, they falter. I’m worried about the loud noise of what they promise to do to the Pharaohs of Egypt. I would rather our boys keep quiet and allow their feet do the talking on the field instead of the words of assurances from everyone.

    Our players have caused us pains with their lacklustre approach to key matches. They have not shown commitment to our matches, especially the crucial ones, such as the two impending ties against the Egyptians. They prosecute these games as if they are doing us a favour.

    Make no mistake about my intentions here because our players are incredibly talented and formidable – if they play to their full potential like they do with their European clubs. They never produce a quarter of what we see them exhibit with their European teams, making most pundits tag the Eagles – big-for-nothing. Perhaps the only exception to this rule is that the Egyptians are no minnows, hence the Eagles could fight them to the finish – that is just a wish on paper which must be actualised over the two legs in Kaduna on March 25 and in Alexandria on March 29.

    With the players’ reassuring words, Eagles chief coach Samson Siasia may be tempted to parade the big boys – much to his peril. Our big boys have failed us when it mattered most. They hardly give their best. They jump before the tackle and run aimlessly on the field. Siasia needs to pull his ears to know what happened in the past. We need boys who can run for 180 minutes in the two-legged ties. We need boys hungry for glory, not millionaires who would be playing safe, securing their feet for their next European club’s match.

    Against Egypt, we want boys who place their feet firmly on the ground to win balls from the Egyptians. We need boys who don’t need any prompting to know that no Egyptian should be left unmarked in vital areas. We need boys who won’t spend the better part of the 180 minutes running to the sidelines to drink water to quench thirst. We need boys who won’t put their hands on their hips in the course of the match due to exhaustion.

    Simply put, Siasia should parade more of home-based players than these millionaires, who will simply walk away, if we don’t qualify (God forbid) and remain in Europe until the next national assignment. We are tired of seeing our Europe-based stars line up before games to apologise to Nigerians after a failed expedition. I insist Siasia that an admixture of home-based players and those millionaires who are actually playing for their teams should be fielded. No to 100 per cent Europe-based stars. Dare to take a risk with the home-based lads who have the strength and who live here and know what to expect from Nigerians if we fail to qualify (again, God forbid).

    Of all the goalkeepers, Carl Ikeme stands out. The team’s defenders, I dare say, should include many home-based players since the Egyptians are fast and operate best from the flanks. Home-based players can slide, tackle the Egyptians and won’t bat an eyelid to check their bodies for bruises. Our turf’s grass is rough, not the carpet-like ones that our foreign legion are used to in Europe. None of our Europe-based stars dares celebrate sliding on our pitches. He will leave the pitch immediately into an ambulance – no hyperbole. We need Trojans to fight the Egyptians. We need men who will stand toe-to-toe with the Egyptians and play as if their lives depend on the two ties. I won’t pick them for Siasia because he is better qualified than I am, but he should heed my plea.

    I don’t blame Siasia for inviting 42 players to camp. I must commend him for having the courage to sack two home-based players who reported late to the team’s camp. I hope he has the guts to send home any foreign-based player who comes late. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Siasia must not encourage any Animal Farm setting in the Eagles camp, if he hopes to succeed.

    If I were Siasia, I won’t parade Oguenyi Onazi in the first team. He hasn’t played for Lazio FC of Italy in the last five games, although I suspect that the Nigerian is being punished for daring to inform the club’s management that he should be allowed to join Liverpool FC of England during the last January transfer window. I feel strongly that John Mikel Obi should be allowed to function in the team’s holding midfield position like he does for Chelsea. A situation where coaches give Mikel a free role in the midfield is laughable because he doesn’t look like one who can score goals effortlessly. Anytime Mikel scores a goal, the world celebrates because it is a rarity. Make no mistake, Mikel is talented. But such free roles should be given to more enterprising players who score goals with aplomb. Oghenekaro Etebo is strong and quick. He is a master at hitting the balls on rebound and marks tightly. Onazi can perform this role too, but I doubt his fitness level. I also hope that Onazi has learnt how to control his temper after the needless red card he bagged in the game against Swaziland in Kaduna.

    I will suggest we rush the Egyptians from the blast of the referee’s whistle, taking advantage of the inclement weather. The Egyptians will take us to high altitudes in Alexandria, which should suit our foreign legion. Early goals will unsettle them since we need to win the game and set the stage for the fight-to-the-finish clash in Alexandria, four days later – not enough time for either side to prepare adequately.

    Siasia is already talking about making Victor Moses and Mikel the pivot of his team against Egypt. Good talk coach, but Moses’ fitness level is questionable. He has not played for West Ham recently. Even when he is fit, Moses plays in the second half or plays for not more than an hour if he starts a game. This should worry us, especially for a player who has been out of the Eagles for a while. Siasia needs to ask Moses critical questions, if he wants to function at the team’s pivot in Kaduna and Alexandria. Moses functions best as an impact player – one who sits through the first half and goes into the game in the second half to destroy the opposition. But will Moses not feel hurt, if he is asked to sit on the bench in the first half? Moses won’t dare say a word if he is asked to start a game from the bench but for Nigeria, he would think that he is too big to sit on the bench. Pity. That is where the Nigerian has a problem and I hope Siasia can massage these big boys’ egos while selecting his team for the two matches. Siasia could play Simon Moses, who did well in Genk’s UEFA Champions league game on Tuesday. He played for 69 minutes which means he is fit.

    I share in Siasia’s sentiment that we should believe in this team and support them but he needs to plot his strategies right, including ensuring that key men, such as Saleh in the Egyptian side are rendered otiose. If he thinks that the Egyptians won’t man-mark Mikel, Moses, Ighalo and Musa, he has a shocker awaiting him, first in Kaduna, then in Alexandria. These players play in Europe and Egypt’s manager, Hector Cuper, is too experienced to allow the quartet enough space.

    The Egyptians collectively don’t need anyone to show them who the best players are. An intriguing line of home-based players would serve as the first shock for the visitors in Kaduna. It would also send them thinking about what to expect in Alexandria. The element of surprise is critical. I urge Siasia not to pick a predictable line-up that would suit the game plan set by the visitors.

    I expect the Eagles to attack from the referee’s whistle – vintage Siasia. But what kind of system would he opt for? Frankly, if Mikel plays as the holding midfielder, then the coach can parade Ahmed Musa, Ighalo and Moses, with the West Ham loanee dropping into the midfield intermittently.

    The trio can outrun the Egyptians. Their speed can compel the visitors to commit fouls in vital areas. This raises the poser if Siasia has the men to convert dead ball situations. Aside, the coach’s message to the trio and indeed his players should be a selfless approach to the game. The freest person in front of the goalpost should be given the ball to tuck into the net. Even if he misses the first chance, he shouldn’t be denied a second bite at the cherry.

    With 43-year-old goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary recalled for the Nigerian assignment, Siasia needs to stress the need to hit the ball on target whenever they need to do so. Asking an elderly man to man the goalpost means that they have problems in that area. Such an ageing star should be retired from the goalpost in Kaduna with a dozen goals. Wishful thinking? That is the spirit, dear reader.

    If you don’t crack the ball to beat the goalkeeper, you don’t win the game. Our players must not play to the gallery because goals come from direct efforts towards the goalpost to beat the goalkeeper.

    We need goals because they could count in our favour, if both teams tie on the same points. The head-to-head rule will apply. Siasia must ask NFF men for the rules of the competition. We don’t want a repeat of what happened in 2012 where the Eagles surged forward to score more goals rather than hold tight to their 2-1 lead against Guinea in Abuja.

    If Siasia and indeed the boys knew the rules, they would have sat back to defend the lead, which was relatively easier than to look for more goals. It was the search for goals that gave the Guineans the leeway to score the equaliser and send Nigeria out of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

    Good luck Super Eagles.

  • Governors: we trust Sheriff to reposition PDP

    Governors: we trust Sheriff to reposition PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Governors Forum yesterday  expressed confidence in the ability of National Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff, to reposition the party and make it more inclusive.

    A statement by the Coordinator of the forum, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, yesterday in Abuja quoted the governors as saying the choice of Sheriff, ex-governor and senator, came after a careful deliberation, given the battle ahead.

    “Sheriff is coming on the job with immense wealth of experience and will, no doubt, use his vast network to rebuild the party.

    “He will restore members’ confidence and act as a counterforce to the many antics of the present APC regime.”

    The governors urged the national chairman to avoid all diversionary tactics and work toward uniting all aggrieved members and fashion out modalities to woo new party faithful.

    “We urge you to shun all diversionary tactics that might be thrown at you and concentrate on how to bring all aggrieved party members together; as well as fashion out ways to woo new members, especially the youths.

    “The forum is solidly behind you and will deploy its support to ensure that the shared vision for our party is realised as we prepare for 2019.”

    The governors said the situation in the country was an opportunity for Sheriff to show that the PDP remained the only truly national party that could reunite the country.

  • I’ll earn your trust, Ayade tells Cross River residents

    I’ll earn your trust, Ayade tells Cross River residents

    Cross Rivers State Governor Benedict Ayade yesterday assured the people of the state that he will earn their trust through good governance.

    Ayade spoke at an interdenominational service at the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Calabar, the state capital, as part of events to celebrate Nigeria’s 55th Independence anniversary.

    The governor urged the people to have faith in him but not trust.

    He pledged to earn their trust through purposeful leadership.

    Ayade said: “With time and patience from you, I will earn your trust by the achievements I will record. But, please, don’t trust me until I earn your trust.”

    The governor was presented with a holy Bible and rosary.

    Ayade said he inherited a “state rich in character and quality men”.

    He added: “I believe I inherited a wealthy state with great potentials. The potentials need to be nursed and harnessed. I come with the intellect, the capacity, humility and fear of God to harness all of these resources for the betterment of the people of Cross River State.”

    Ayade said he had a clear picture of the direction he was taking the state‘.

    The governor noted that he had kept to his promise to pay workers’ salaries before the 25th of every month.

    According to him, salaries have been paid frequently on the 25th of every month, despite the meagre resources available to the state.

    He said Cross River had not borrowed in the face of the current financial challenges.

    Ayade called for a reversal of the nation’s privatisation policy.

    The governor described it as unacceptable because it did not augur well with the true African philosophy of providing a shoulder for fellow brothers to lean on.

    He added that Nigeria’s current state of development does not support privatisation.

    Ayade listed the reasons for his stance on tax exemption for low income earners.

    The governor said his background played a vital role in shaping his philosophy of governance.

  • ‘Justify people’s trust in you’

    Political office holders have been urged to justify the people’s trust in them.

    Minister-in-charge of St. Anne’s Catholic Church, Igangan, Oyo State gave the advice at a victory thanksgiving of Gbenga Ojoawo, the lawmaker representing Ibarapa North/ Central at the National Assembly.

    The cleric advised politicians against pursuing personal agenda, which could terminate their political career abruptly, but seek to arrest decadence in the education, power, and other ailing sectors of the economy to make the country a safe haven for all.

    Addressing reporters, Ojoawo promised to make his constituency the envy of all by pursuing development programmes.

    He thanked the people for the opportunity to serve them while assuring them of quality representation.

  • Nigerians urged to trust God for restoration

    Nigerians were told yesterday that the country’s old glory will be restored if they believe in God “and work hard to ensure that selfish interest is substituted for national interest”.

    Senior Superintendent Gabriel F. Akinadewo (Omo Jesu II)of Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide gave the advice during a special sermon to mark the church’s 51st founder’s anniversary.

    The church was founded by Archbishop Isaiah M. Akinadewo on June 14, 1964.

    The anniversary was celebrated with special thanksgiving in all parishes of the church, including the international headquarters in Ondo, Ondo State.

    Speaking at the Restoration Parish of the church in Akute, Ogun State, Akinadewo said: “Nothing is too hard for the Lord, the God of all flesh to do. If and when Nigerians change from their evil ways, Nigeria will, once again, become the darling of all in the comity of nations”.

    Quoting Jeremiah 17:5, the cleric said that Nigerians, for decades, had put their hope in human beings “and they have been disappointed. For this country to grow financially, spiritually, economically, politically and industrially, we must start to put our hope in God and, at the same time, do the right thing.

    “According to Jeremiah 29:11, God has good plans for this country and its people but Nigerians are their own problems by deviating from God’s plans because of selfish interests. With the natural resources that abound in the country, there is enough for all Nigerians. Let us commit our ways unto God, trust Him and He shall bring His plans for us to pass.

    “Nigerians are prayerful. In every street, you will see one, two or three churches. But it is not only the truth we know that will set this country free but the truth we do. We know the right thing to do and once this is done by removing selfishness from our thinking, God will move mightily to restore the old glory of this country”.

  • Bitterness,  trust and 2015 elections

    There  is  no  doubt  that  the postponement of  the February  14  and 28 ,  2015  elections  to March  28  and  April  11 has  created  a huge  political  divide  of  bitterness  and  mistrust  amongst Nigerians who  constitute  the electorate  of this great  nation. It is  a huge gulf of sharp  disagreement on the pros  and  cons  of the postponement and  tempers  run  high  on any discussion  on the postponement  depending on whether  you  are  for  it or  against  it.

    Today  I want  to do  some  fence  mending  quite  voluntarily  . Not because  I regret  any  thing  I have  written on  the  postponement for  which  I blame  INEC  for negligence and  inevitable disenfranchisement  of about  20m  Nigerians  if  the elections  had not  been  postponed,  but  because  of  the  admission  of the INEC boss  Professor  Attahiru  Jega at  his Senate appearance  this  week at  which  even  he admitted  that the post  ponement  has  been  a blessing . It  with  that  as a premise  that  I appeal  to  Nigerians especially  those    who  see  nothing wrong in  going  ahead as earlier  scheduled,  to  shield  their  hatchet  of condemnation of  the  other  side , and concentrate  on  pooling our enormous resources on  having a free  and  fair election as rescheduled  or open  themselves  to  charges  of  being more  catholic  than  the Pope  on the postponement .

    Perhaps  then  it  is with  this  background that I want  to  compare a  financially  beleaguered    nation  like  Greece that  has  used

    it  last  elections  to  position itself  against  austerity  measures  imposed  on it  because  it  borrowed  money like  Nigeria and other

    developing  nations from the IMF ,  and  in  the case  of  Greece from the EU  and  the  European  Central  Bank .  In  Greece  at their

    last election  in  January  this year  the  party    called  Syriza and  led  by  Alexis  Tspiras won    but  campaigned  on  an anti austerity agenda  to  renegotiate  Greece’s  loans  and won  the election massively  to move Greece to  the  left  politically .This has put  Greece  in direct  confrontation with  the EU and especially  Germany the  frugal and  very strong financial  member which  had  been  adamant  that the  Greeks  must  cut their  coat according  to their cloth and  swallow  the  bitter pill  of austerity  in  paying their  over due loans  and  debts However  it is in the way  that Greece’s  new  finance  Minister Yanis  Varoufakis  has been  pursuing the anti  austerity agenda against  a very  uncomfortable  and  highly  embarrassed  EU and ECB establishment  that has  caught  my  fancy . Especially  his  choice of words which can  provide succour  for us as Nigerians as we too face  an  election on which the main  issues to determine  who  to vote for are  corruption  and security . In  Greece’s  last  election the issues  were  austerity  and  corruptio. I  believe  that the issues  that  I  will  draw  out    from  the  Greeks  metamorphosis from  a  helpless  but  involuntary    austerity swallowing  nation to  an anti  austerity nation arising from a democratic  election, can  provide  some  impetus  for us  as  Nigerians ,  to  steer  our nation on a  decisive  corruption  free  and  secured  environment course,  similarly  arising ,  very  hopefully  from  the

    results  of a free and  2015  election  as  now  rescheduled.  It is  a tall  order  but  it is a possibility very  much  after  my heart . Let  me now  dissect  my admiration  of the new anti austerity  leaders  voted  into  power  against  all  odds in Greece .

    On  austerity measures  against  Greece  the  finance  minister Varoufakis  complained  that it is as if  the EU  has    decided  to place the greatest  burden  of bankruptcy  in human  history  on  the weakest shoulder  in Greece and that is the Greek  tax  payer and that is unacceptable . When  Syriza  won  the election Varoufakis said notably  that the Greeks have refused ‘to go  gently  into  the night’.  The  outcome  of the election  in  January  he said meant that the Greeks ‘ have angrily  refused  to allow anyone  to put out  their  light’.  On  the austerity  measures and loan agreements he  said  Greece  was like a customer  who  checked  out of an  hotel  but  can  never  really  leave  because  it  could  not settle  its  bill.

    The  Greek  Finance  Minister  has  since  become  a champion  of the masses  in  Greece because  of  the way  he  is brilliantly taking  on Greece’s  debtors  and  leading the way  to  renegotiate  the terms of Greece’s  loans  so  that it  does  not ruin all  Greeks

    economically  .  On the past  leaders  that brought Greece  to its present debtor status Yanis said  that  his  government  is  going to

    destroy  the  network  and  basis on which  for decades they  have sucked  the energy  and  economic  power  from  every  body  in society.

    Varoufakis  is a Marxist  Professor  of  Economics  who  has taught in Australia  and the US  before  returning to Greece  to  join  the party  that won 36%  of  the votes  to take  power  on  an anti austerity  ticket last January  . He  has  shown Greeks  and  the world  that there  can  be life outside  the IMF  conditionalities that  have ruined  nations  like Somalia and  have crippled  others fatally    and  economically  like  Nigeria. He  has shown  that nations can  renegotiate    their  debts  with  dignity  and that austerity  measures  can  have  a human  face without  the present very  high  social  costs.

    At  the outset  of the Greek  debt  crisis  I  gloated  that at  last the Europeans  were  having  a bitter  taste  of their  palliative for  repaying  debts  this  time in  the Euro  zone  their  own backyard . Varoufakis  has  shown  that the  past  and  present  fears of  the  developing world  that  IMF and  World  Bank  repayment terms were killing their  economies  were  human  and  genuine.  It  is economists  like  him that  should  run global  financial institutions  and bring debt  reliefs  that do  not cripple debtor nations  like  Nigeria  which  imported Nigerian  expatriate  World

    Bank  experts  on  austerity economics  to run and ruin our economy even  as they got paid  in hard  currency which  too  perhaps  was an  austerity  reward  for their  open  rape  of our  debtor  economy. For  now Varoufakis  had blazed  a trail in debt  renegotiation  and repayment at  low  social  costs and  I urge  Nigerians  to  take note    judiciously and  vote a party  in that reflects  that  way of running the  Nigerian  economy at the  2015  election .

    Undoubtedly  any  party  that favours the  present bunch  of Economic planners  and Coordinators  of our present prostrate  economy  should not  be allowed anywhere  near  the corridors  of power  in  Aso  Rock after  the elections.

    Again since  no less a person  than  the  INEC  boss  has  admitted that the  postponement  is  a blessing ,  one would assume  that this  is an opportunity  for  the  electoral  body  to  put  its house  in order  in terms  of getting as many as possible  PVCs  to the electorate  to maximise  voter  participation  in the elections.

    However the  scenes  or  pictures  of Nigerians  protesting on  not having  seen  or received  their  voters  cards have  multiplied  in the media  since  the postponement  .  Such  scenes  should  decline rapidly  if  INEC  fulfils  its  obligation and raise  further concern , mistrust  and distrust  of  INEC ‘s  intention  and capabilities  if they persist  too long into  the six week  relief  or postponement . In  which  case  what  has been  deemed  a blessing and accepted in  good faith as such  can  be  another  signal  for resurrecting    bitterness  and rancour.

    INEC  must  ensure that the social  capital  of trust  that the INEC boss  bought  for it  by calling the postponement a blessing  is not whittled  away by daily reports nation wide that  people  have not been  getting their  voters  cards or are  getting  them in trickles .

    That  will  erode  that trust which the INEC  boss has awakened d  and retooled  . It  is the type of trust that creates goodwill  and progress for any society especially in a  testy  election period such as this.

    It  should  not  however be allowed to degenerate to the  type  of trust that the Mafia  man  taught his son when  he took him  up a wall and asked him  to jump  down promising to catch  him when he did.

    When the son jumped the Mafia  boss  did  not catch him but allowed him  to fall. Actually what he wanted  his son  to learn is not to trust  anyone including his  family . With  these  rescheduled elections  Nigerians  need  no such  lesson  on  mistrust  and distrust . Our  rendez  vous with a free and fair  election requires that  we trust  ourselves  on  this 2015  elections and that every Nigerian  does  his or her duty  to  that effect,  especially INEC.

  • Can we still trust the military?

    MY heart aches over what is happening in the military today. Our armed forces, which used to be the envy of their counterparts in sub-Sahara Africa,  have turned to something else. Our military, sorry to say, has become one of anything goes not because it does  not still have thoroughbred professionals in its rank, but because of its top echelon’s new found romance with the nation’s leaders.   I write with a heavy heart because I never thought that a day like this would come in the life of our military.

    What is happening in the military calls for concern. As stakeholders in the Nigerian project, we cannot afford to keep quiet while a few people are toying with one of the institutional fabrics that holds the nation together. We agree that for the military to function well, it must not distance itself from the corridors of power, but such relationship should not turn to that of master-servant. Its top brass must know where to draw the line so that the military does not become the foot soldier of the government of the day. Many believe that this is what is happening today.

    As an institution, the military is bigger than its leaders. It is even bigger than the sovereign leader, the president, who is its Commander-in-Chief (C-i-C)  because presidents come and go, but the military will remain forever. This is what our military leaders should bear in mind at this critical juncture of the nation’s life. Should we destroy the military  in order to help some people to realise their  inordinate ambition of retaining power? The military is there to protect democracy. At least, this is what the armed forces of nations, which appreciate democracy, do. Our military cannot afford to be different in this age and time.

    Despite its claim of impartiality, the truth is the military has not been  neutral in the countdown to the forthcoming general elections. It has been working hand in glove with the government, which fished for excuses in order to postpone the elections from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11. If the military does not know, I think we should let it know  that  the Jonathan administration used it  to get the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the elections. INEC was set for the elections despite its challenges with the ongoing  distribution of the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs).

    Those seeking polls postponement were initially asking that the elections be shifted because of INEC’s inability to ensure 100% distribution of the cards as if there is anywhere in the world where 100% distribution of voter’s card is achieved before elections.  National Security Adviser (NSA) Sabo Dasuki was among those seeking postponement on that ground. Having lost that argument, he came up with the issue of  insecurity in the Northeast. Insurgency has been part of Northeast since 1999, yet elections were held there in 2011 as noted by President Goodluck Jonathan during his media chat last week. If elections were held as scheduled in the Northeast in 2011, why can’t they hold as scheduled in 2015?

    The NSA does not have an answer to that, but to satisfy his masters, who do not want the elections to hold as scheduled for reasons best known to them, he came up with the insecurity gambit and the military brass fell for it.

    If the military had stood its ground the first in the series of elections would have been held last Saturday. The six-week postponement they got would soon run out and the elections will come and go, but the military’s role  will long be remembered and it may in future become a research topic. Although the military denies its involvement in politics, there is ample evidence that it is  neck deep in it. It was used to malign its former C-i-C, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate during the orchestrated noise  over his school certificate. Now, it is being used to also abuse another  former C-i-C, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

    What is Obasanjo’s offence? He accused the military of plotting tenure elongation for Jonathan by using the insecurity ploy to get INEC to postpone the polls. In an unsigned statement posted on its website, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said Obasanjo’s unguarded utterances were becoming an embarrassment to the military. The DHQ took Obasanjo to the cleaners, saying : ‘’Much as the military desires to respect the old General and his views, it has become necessary to point out that his conduct…of late has fallen short of the standard of discipline expected of an individual who has had the privilege of service in the military and risen to the status of a general. The behaviour of General (Chief) Obasanjo has been so unbecoming and continues to constitute a serious embarrassment to the military…we feel constrained to remind the old General that the world has moved beyond that parochial and self adulating reasoning and mindset, which he seems stuck to.

    ‘’Indeed, he needs to be told that by virtue of their better training , exposure, education, assessment and environment the military personnel of today are already far beyond his level in their appreciation of democracy and its indispensability for the stable and prosperous society which Nigerians cherish’’. It is, however, curious that nobody signed the statement. It was like the June 23, 1993 statement annulling the June 12 election, which was not signed by the Babangida  administration  because it knew it was embarking on a wrong course of action. If the military knew that it had a strong case it would have signed that statement to prove that its heart is in what it is doing. How are we sure that it was not handed that statement by superior authority and asked to issue the release?

    The military has a lot of self cleansing to do. What does  it make of the revelations of Army Captain Sagir Koli, an Intelligence officer, who was lately of the 32 Artillery Brigade in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on how the military was used to rig the Ekiti State governorship election last June 21?  To borrow DHQ’s words, does that show a military that appreciates democracy and its indispensability for the stable and prosperous society which Nigerians cherish? Is that a military which conduct has not fallen short of expected standard and discipline? Is that a military which behaviour is not unbecoming? Koli was an insider, who knew all that transpired during the Ekiti poll. Because he cannot in good conscience continue to live a lie, he spilled the beans.

    As the captain rightly noted the military has a role to play in the sustenance of democracy. We agree with him totally. This is why the military should not be a party to the killing of democracy with the kind of rigging it purportedly lent support to during the Ekiti election. There is no gainsaying the fact that our democracy is in the military’s hands. If it thrives, it will be to its  glory, but if it fails, it will be to its eternal  shame.

  • ‘Lack of trust inhibiting digital trade’

    ‘Lack of trust inhibiting digital trade’

    Global telecommunication solutions provider, Ericsson has said its studies have shown that lack of trust remains a major hindrance to uptake digital trade such as ecommerce.

    Its senior Advisor, Consumer Insight, Ericsson ConsumerLab, Rebecka Cedering Angstrom who spoke via video conferencing in Lagos during the media presentation of Ericsson’s 10 Hottest Consumer Trends for 2015: Connectivity Integrated into Daily Life, said consumers are becoming more comfortable with ideas that once seemed beyond imagination such as robots in the home and mind sharing, adding that consumers want technology and connectivity to be integrated into all facets of their daily life – in everything from bathroom mirrors, to sidewalks and medicine jars

    Head, Research, Ericsson ConsumerLab, Michael Björn, said: “The cumulative effect of smartphones becoming part of mainstream society is astonishing. As consumers, we try out new apps and keep the ones we think improve, enrich or even prolong our lives at such a rapid pace that we don’t even notice that our attitudes and behaviors are changing faster than ever. Services and products that quite recently seemed beyond imagination are now easily accepted and believed to rapidly reach the mass market. With only five years until 2020, the future really does seem closer than ever before.”

    The firm said next year and beyond, media use patterns are globalising. Viewers are shifting towards easy-to-use on-demand services that allow cross-platform access to video content. It said next year will be historic as more people will watch streamed video on a weekly basis than broadcast TV.

    It added that consumers show high interest in having home sensors that alert them to water and electricity issues, or when family members come and go.

    “New ways to communicate will continue to appear, offering us even more ways to keep in touch with our friends and family. Many smartphone owners would like to use a wearable device to communicate with others directly through thought – and believe this will be mainstream by 2020.

    “The idea of smart cities is intriguing – but a lot of that intelligence may actually come about as a side effect of the changing everyday behaviors of citizens. As the internet makes us more informed, we are in turn making better decisions. Consumers believe traffic volume maps, energy use comparison apps and real-time water quality checkers will be mainstream by 2020,” Ericsson said.

    The firm said as the internet enables people to efficiently share information with unprecedented ease, the idea of a sharing economy is potentially huge. Half of all smartphone owners are open to the idea of renting out their spare rooms, personal household appliances and leisure equipment as it is convenient and can save money.

    For digital purse, 48 per cent of smartphone owners would rather use their phone to pay for goods and services while 80 per cent believe that the smartphone will replace their entire purse by 2020.

    Although sharing information when there is a benefit is fine, smartphone owners see no point in making all of their actions open to anyone. 47 per cent of smartphone owners would like to be able to pay electronically without an automatic transfer of personal information. 56 per cent of smartphone owners would like all internet communication to be encrypted.