The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Wisdom

  • SANs sans wisdom

    SANs sans wisdom

    Senior lawyers’ unusual solidarity with a colleague

    What did Lagos lawyer Ricky Tarfa (SAN) think he was doing when he allegedly tried to foil the arrest of two Benin Republic nationals by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)? Also, why are dozens of SANs supporting him?

    For about five hours on February 5, Tarfa allegedly hid two Beninoise suspects – Nazaire Sorou Gnanhoue and Modeste Finagnon– in his Mercedes Benz Sport Utility Vehicle, following a move by the EFCC to re-arrest them. The men, Tarfa’s clients, were standing trial for alleged fraud. They were out on bail, but were also being investigated for alleged tax evasion running into millions of naira, which prompted the move by the anti-graft agency to re-arrest them.

    It was at this point that Tarfa perhaps forgot that he was not just a lawyer, but a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a title that placed him in the elite circle of legal practitioners in the country. He rubbished professionalism and professional honour by allegedly shielding the Beninoise from EFCC agents in such a spectacular manner that raised questions not only about his understanding of the ethics of his profession, but also about his appreciation of the meaning of justice.

    It is interesting that a report described Tarfa as “a lawyer with over two decades of experience at the Bar and runs a law firm with over 50 lawyers, 30 paralegal and support staff, as well as two retired judges as consultants-in-chamber.”

    Ironically, Tarfa staged the drama on the premises of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, Lagos. It was at the place of justice that Tarfa allegedly attempted to frustrate the process of justice.

    Lawyers usually describe their profession as noble, but there was nothing noble about Tarfa’s alleged conduct. Indeed, by his alleged action, he demonstrated that being a lawyer, or even a SAN, is no argument against ignoble behaviour.

    It is food for thought that Tarfa’s arrest and detention by the EFCC for alleged willful obstruction of the course of justice provoked narrow-minded reactions from some prominent members of the elitist circle of Senior Advocates who shockingly glossed over his alleged offence. A report said: “Former Presidents of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN), Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Prof. Kanyisola Ajayi (SAN) and Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) all condemned the detention without bail.” Dauda said: “We shall consult with the president and take a united action against that at the Bar to protect the interest of Nigerian lawyers.” Akeredolu attributed the arrest to overzealousness of the commission’s operatives. “This is utter disregard for the rule of law and the sanctity of the legal profession guaranteed by the constitution,” he said.”

    The report continued: “Ajayi said: ‘I don’t know what the allegation against Ricky Tarfa is, but if he was arrested for obstructing justice, then it would be most unfortunate if he isn’t given bail because it is not that serious an offence that should even require any form of detention.’” Ngige urged the commission to follow due process in carrying out its duties. He said: “Nobody is against the war against corruption, nobody is against the EFCC; we support the anti-graft war 100 per cent, but let due process be followed in doing this.”

    It is curious that the logic of these senior lawyers accommodated the illogic of Tarfa’s alleged attempt to hinder justice. Their skewed perspective does a great disservice to the concept of even-handed justice by overlooking Tarfa’s alleged anti-justice conduct and focusing on his detention that lasted almost 48 hours.

    It is noteworthy that Tarfa was released to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN), suggesting elite-circle solidarity. Would the NBA chief have been involved in the bail process if Tarfa wasn’t a SAN?

    The solidarity of seniors was also demonstrated when Tarfa took the EFCC to court barely 24 hours after his release, demanding N2.5billion damages for unlawful arrest and detention. Tarfa was reportedly accompanied by 32 Senior Advocates led by former NBA president, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), to file the suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    What was the objective of this army of Senior Advocates on this journey to the court? If it needed 32 of them to help Tarfa file the suit, how many of them would be needed to help him achieve his aim? It would appear that the Senior Advocates were on a mission of intimidation.

    It is reassuring that the EFCC is fighting back. The commission wants Tarfa tried for obstruction of justice and attempted perversion of justice. It was reported that he would also be arraigned for illegally and unethically communicating with a judge in a suit involving the EFCC and two companies.

    More importantly, this is not just about Tarfa and his alleged misconduct. EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu has urged the NBA to sanitise itself. Magu was quoted as saying during a meeting with members of the NBA Executive:  ”We must tell ourselves the truth: there are lawyers within the fold of the NBA who ought not to be among your noble ranks. Those people are not fit to be called ministers; rather, they are vandals of the temple of justice.”

    It is true that the temple of justice is desecrated by dishonourable behaviour.

  • WTD: wisdom is … empowerment through self-development

    Teachers must empower themselves by behaving professionally and seeking to be better each day in the impact they make on their learners

    For the fun of it, dear reader, I typed into the internet search engine ‘world’s wisest man’. It brought up King Solomon (belonging to the past) and a certain engineer Hobbs (belonging to the present). Among other things that qualify him was his recommendation that sex offenders be sent to Afghanistan as a distraction in order to get American soldiers out of there! Now, how’s that for wisdom?!

    Fayose in Ekiti State is nearly writing his way into another kind of Solomonic wisdom. The news gave it that he gave cars to teachers deemed outstanding in their performances. He also created the posts of headmasters-general and tutors-general, whatever those might mean. I don’t know, but you know Mr. Fayose is full of all kinds of wisdom. Of course, the recipients of those cars went home wreathed in smiles while teachers’ salaries and other emoluments remained unpaid.

    In spite of things like that, the teacher is expected to be full of all kinds of wisdom. You know him/her, don’t you? I once provided a cartoon depiction of (her) on this page that I had borrowed from the internet so I will not be repeating that here. It’s enough to know that s/he is that individual who is expected to impart knowledge into his/her wards by writing on the board and at the same time seeing everything the class is up to with the eyes situated at the back of her head. Uhn hun, s/he is that knowledgeable.

    Sometime ago, I listened in on a conversation that did not really concern me. (I can’t help it if my ears insist on picking things up). A child made a sentence in English that was a little off in its grammatical status and promptly, an adult asked, ‘what are they teaching you in that school paa pa?’ A little later, the same child was asked where Australia was, and he said Africa. Again came the retort, ‘what do they teach you in that school?’ I believe if I had stayed long enough, I would have heard that refrain used more times in the day if the child talked while eating, slept too well, did not sleep well, had fever, did not have fever, played too hard, did not play hard enough… In short, the school would have been blamed for whatever wisdom (or lack of it) the child displayed.

    No doubt, we are in the era of the one-stop school system; you know, like a one-stop store where you get everything from a cow to a car. This means that this country has now bred parents who expect the school system to cater for all the child’s developmental and intellectual needs. It’s a kind of cure-all, like food. You know how our grandmothers always believed that food was at the root of all our problems. If a child was too quiet, shove a slice of yam in his hand. If a child was running fever, give him a slice of bread. Even fainting fits could be fought with soaked gari. And if the child had nose-bleed, why, the boy does not have enough cereal in his system; make him a bowl of akamu. Seriously, those were the days when children were well fed.

    The proverb that says if hunters have learnt to shoot without missing, birds will learn without perching remains one of my favourite marching philosophies. It teaches me to raise my expectations of myself and also my goals at the same time, such as being able to fly without perching.. If the country has come to believe that the classroom should be a one-stop shop for the learner, then it is up to the teacher to go to his drawing board and see what s/he can do. The teacher must see behind that attitude that Nigeria is asking him/her to do more.

    I believe that there are two things s/he can do. One, s/he can agree that indeed, the classroom can be the child’s superstore of knowledge and stock up the blessed shelves. Then s/he must device ways of helping the child load up on his trolleys from every shelf on every level until the child cries ‘enough!’ I say blessed is that teacher who is able to do this: his pate will soon be bald, his muscles wasted and we will soon be looking for him on the scales.

    Alternatively, and I believe this is more reasonable, s/he can sit at the drawing board and share out the tasks between him/herself and the parent of the ward, no matter how literate or illiterate. If anyone can send a child to school, they should also be prepared to point out Australia to him/her on the map. The teacher must increase parental involvement in the education of the child. Parents must be made to have occasions to visit their children’s school: on days of bad behaviour, school plays, craft days, project showing days, family days, children’s lazy days … This is a way of keeping a child’s score card public and at every turn, the parent knows exactly what his child knows, should know or should not know. I think we have reached that point where parents should be given homework, no matter the level of their literacy.

    But, I despair of this ever happening, for several reasons. To start with, many teachers, headmasters and principals are afraid of the parents of their wards. After all, a child is as powerful as a parent who can get one fired from one’s job or beat one up or get one a better job. The teacher knows this; unfortunately the children also know this. So, badly behaved, unmotivated children soon become landlords in the classroom and the controlling cane changes hands invisibly. This unauthorised control gets worse if the teacher is having dishonourable intentions towards the child.

    Worse, our classrooms are so filled now that I hear many teachers don’t even give homework. Indeed, I hear many teachers don’t even bother to teach. They show up in school, spend the time chatting with other teachers, then go home. Naturally, the children get themselves other teachers: they are called peers, internet or gangs. Excellent teachers, those; incomparable – their lessons are endless, their methods brutal, and few are the children who do not learn fast under their tutelage.

    The one reason that scares me most is the fact that this country does not even see teaching as a respectable profession; consequently teachers do not see themselves as professionals. Professionalism begins with self-worth, self-valuation and self-esteem, all of which confer on the individual self-pride in what one does. In these days of unemployment, many young graduates who are teaching always never say they are teachers. They always say ‘they are managing somewhere until something comes up’.

    The teacher brings a great deal of impact on the personhood of a child by being his/her role model.  Scant are the individuals who can beat their chest and cry like Tarzan that one teacher or the other did not have a hand in the making of him or her, one way or another. Those individuals never passed through a school. I remember all my teachers and I think I have paid homage to them on these pages a few times. Truth is, I will not be with you today if my teachers did not inspire me, conventionally or unconventionally, to learn.

    This year, the WTD theme is ‘Empowering teachers, building sustainable societies’ and I think this could not be more apt. Teachers must empower themselves first by taking pride in what they do. To do that, they must seek self-development. Self-development leads to self-respect. They must seek to behave professionally and be better each day in the impact they make on their learners. That, to me, is true wisdom.

  • Yoruba Ronu: These times demand wisdom

    Hubert Ogunde sang his great song, ‘Yoruba Ronu’, at a time of great trial and stress for the Yoruba nation in Nigeria. For us Yoruba, it has been our lot in Nigeria to suffer trials, stress and distress from time to time to time. That is because, having been made part of Nigeria by the British in 1914, we have been forced to live for a whole century in a Nigeria whose standards are weird and unacceptable to us as Yoruba people. To us today, as the Nigerian presidential election of 2015 approaches, the Nigerian situation is not merely weird and unacceptable to us; it absolutely threatens our peace and security.

    Sure, we understand when our political leaders and political activists urge us to focus our attention only on the election that is coming. That is as it should be. As long as we Yoruba as a nation are part of Nigeria, we must be involved in her political processes, and our politically active men and women must do what politicians do in elective politics. They must seek to win our votes and, in the process, they will talk to us as if voting in the coming election is the most important thing in the world.

    But, as one of our proverbs says, even as one’s eyes sheds tears in the act of weeping, one still see through one’s eyes. Today’s situation demands that our politicians must give a big part of their attention to the needs of peace and security in our homeland. They must not ignore the very manifest fact that many prominent citizens in other parts of Nigeria have been talking volubly about violence and war, and that some of such prominent citizens have been importing and amassing weapons of war. Our politicians also must not ignore the stories circulating in recent months that some hostile elements, well armed for destructive purposes, have already entered into our homeland.

    This vigilance and readiness to defend our towns and cities and villages is a duty for all of us, members of the Yoruba nation in Nigeria. It is a duty for all our politicians from all political parties. It is a duty for our traditional rulers and chiefs. It is a duty for all our state governors and state governments. And it is a duty for all of us common citizens.

    As an example of what we should all be doing, a powerful Yoruba intellectual organization, Oodua Foundation (O.F,), headquartered in the United States but with members in various countries of the world, has been very busy mobilising the Yoruba nation towards a peaceful outcome for the Nigerian presidential election.  Oodua Foundation (O.F.) has, since its inception in 2006, adopted a strictly nonpartisan posture. Its objective is to work for the progress and prosperity of the Yoruba nation – as they usually put it in their writings, “within Nigeria if possible, without Nigeria if necessary”.  Their approach to the service of their Yoruba nation is based on a strong foundation of knowledge and facts; and it is tough and hardheaded. They see every prominent Yoruba person as a God-given instrument for the advancement of the Yoruba nation, and they have no interest whatsoever in any kind of partisan divisions among Yoruba people.

    In the past few weeks, they have been intensely busy trying to ensure that, if the presidential election leads to violence, their own Yoruba people must not get involved in the violence. They are calling and holding long-distance conferences with prominent Yoruba leaders and urging everyone to commit himself to the promotion and preservation of peace in Yoruba land. They are in contact with many foreign governments and international agencies.

    They have issued a jingle for airing on radios. And they are now beginning to circulate a Clarion Call, urging their Yoruba nation to exercise full Yoruba wisdom and commonsense in the developing Nigerian situation. Part of the Clarion Call reads:

    From all indications, this coming election seems likely to produce conflicts, violence and bloodshed on a larger scale than ever before in Nigeria’s elections. Many important Nigerian leaders (happily excluding Yoruba leaders) have been threatening violence and war; and many have been importing and amassing dangerous weapons. And, from experience, the Nigerian government is unlikely to have the readiness or ability to contain and stem such violence should it occur: Oodua Foundation calls on all Yoruba in Nigeria to remember that we Yoruba are a freedom-loving people, with ancient and sophisticated political traditions, and that we honour the right of every citizen to support any political party or candidate: Oodua Foundation calls on all Yoruba registered voters to go out dutifully and peacefully to vote on Election Day, and to strictly avoid any kind of violence.

    After we Yoruba have voted for candidates of our choice, we must strictly avoid any kind of violence, and strictly avoid being drawn into any violent act, in any part of the Yoruba homeland in the Southwest, Kwara, Kogi and the Itsekiri part of Delta State: Oodua Foundation calls on the Yoruba nation to resolve now in advance, and to pass it from mouth to mouth in our land, that any Yoruba person who starts or supports violence in any part of Yoruba land shall be regarded as an enemy of the Yoruba nation and be treated as such: Yoruba people are aware that, among the many non-Yoruba Nigerians who reside in Yoruba land, there may be some who may have their own reasons for choosing to instigate, start or support violence. If such should happen anywhere in Yoruba land, we Yoruba owners of our cities, towns and villages must promptly unite together and use our traditional community strength to stop and suppress the violence and to uphold peace.

    We Yoruba should remember the pains we have suffered in the political history of Nigeria, especially in our resistance to Nigeria’s culture of election fraud. We are owners of an ancient, orderly and highly respectable system of selecting our rulers, and consequently, we seriously respect the modern system of elections, and we find it difficult to tolerate election fraud of any kind. But we must remember the losses we have suffered in our resistance to election fraud in various Nigerian elections in the past – the lives and properties that we lost, and the hostile divisions that all were thereby generated in the life of our nation. We must now have the wisdom, as a nation, to recognize that we have always contended against envy, enmity and marginalization in the affairs of Nigeria, and that we have nothing to gain from inflicting pain on ourselves.

    If the violence in other parts of Nigeria continues uncontrollably or if it threatens to spill onto any part of our homeland, thereby threatening the well-being of the nearly 50 million Yoruba people, the leading citizens of our Yoruba nation must immediately set aside any Nigerian political and partisan roles, unite in the interest of our nation, and set in motion serious considerations and measures for safeguarding the peace and well-being of our homeland and people as well as the destiny of our nation. We call, in particular on all Yoruba leaders and functionaries of all political parties and groups, to speak out courageously in support of this clarion call.

  • Wisdom: The winning key (3)

    Dear reader, welcome again to another time of refreshing in the Word of God. This week, we will be looking at Communicating in Wisdom. Wisdom tells you when to talk and when to keep quiet, what to say and the right time to say it, where to go and at what time, etc.  It is possible to say the right thing at the wrong time, thereby causing a lot of trouble at home.

    Someone came to ask me a question sometime ago.  She and her husband got married as Christians, but somehow, they were having many problems with the relatives of the husband.  One day, they decided to go and bare their minds to those relatives.  Ah! Ah!!  By the time they finished their discussion, there was more trouble “on ground” than they could handle.  The more they spoke, the more everything seemed to “scatter!”

    “What was the problem?”,  they asked me.  I told them that it was their presentation.  It was simply done in foolishness.  They knew what to say, but said it wrongly, so it ended up adding more salt to the injury!

    Knowing how to apply the knowledge of the Word of God is wisdom.  It will help you to know how to speak positive and edifying words to your spouse.  It will also help you to relate well with your in-laws.

    There is no way you can separate a man’s wisdom from the words of his mouth.  Just listen to somebody speak for five to 10 minutes, and you can easily pick whether he or she is wise or foolish!

    A woman shared this testimony:

    “Some time in 1990, my husband lost his job and from then, our struggles started.  Later, a sister in Christ gave me some money to start a business. Since then, I began to ignore the teachings of the Bishop and his wife on pride, and I no longer respected my husband.

    I insulted him whenever he talked to me, because I was the one fending for the family.  He began to complain of the way I talked to him, saying that there was no sign to show that I was born again, that I was behaving like one of the worldly women.

    However, I came for one of the International Women Convention, and there was a miming presentation on the use of the tongue. I learnt how to speak correctly to my husband, and regretted the indecent ways I had treated him in the past.

    On reaching home, I knelt down to greet him and he was surprised, because I had not done that before. There and then, he believed that something good would come out of the convention.

    Formerly, whenever he wanted us to have our morning prayers, I would shun him and tell him to say his own prayers that I would pray whenever it pleased me.  However, the next morning, I was the one that woke him and the children up for prayers.”

    Omotosho, O.

    Let me say that the reason a lot of people get into trouble in their homes, is that they know the right thing to say, but they say it at the wrong time and in the wrong place.  So, instead of bringing solutions, it causes more troubles. God’s Word says: A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards (Proverbs 29:11).

    Whenever you are faced with a situation that requires wisdom in your home, ever before you take any step, just pray a simple prayer, asking God to give you wisdom to handle the situation, and it shall be given you. God’s Word says: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him (James 1:5).

    The word of prayer may be for just a minute, but you can trust God to send you the wisdom to handle the situation. May be as a man, your wife has said something that has really annoyed you, instead of slapping or abusing her, use wisdom. That is why Proverbs 19:11 says: The discretion of a man differeth his anger and it is his glory to pass over a transgression

    Woman, watch your words! One word spoken in wisdom can dissolve any tension building up in your home. Similarly, one word spoken foolishly can destroy the peace in your home.  It’s time to apply wisdom to your words, and as you do, I know your home will be preserved!

    Are you born again? For you to be born again, you need to confess your sins and accept Jesus as Your Lord and Saviour.  If you are set for this, please say this prayer of faith: “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, and conselling@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).

  • Wisdom: The winning key (2)

    DEAR Reader, wisdom is hearing the sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ and doing them. It is the correct application of knowledge. It demands that you take steps in applying correctly all you will learn from God this month, concerning your home. Only then, will you begin to reap the fruits of a sweet and a successful home.

    The Bible says: Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock (Matthew 7:24). The place of wisdom in building a successful home cannot be overemphasized. The Word of God says: Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).

    Last week, we saw what wisdom is.  This week, we will be looking at The Application of Divine Wisdom in Sustaining your Home.

    Wisdom is the principal thing on which all other things rest. A home is meant to be built, in order for it to be successful. The Bible says: Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established (Proverbs 24:3). Therefore, to build a successful home, wisdom is required. A wise man said, “Courtship brings out the best, marriage brings out the rest.” That is why you need the God-given wisdom to know your spouse, adapt to him or her, and bring out the best that God has designed for your home.

    If you expect success in your home, then apply the wisdom of God. Be a doer of the Word. Do whatever He tells you to do. This is wisdom. When you do your part, God is committed to making your home a success. He can never fail.

    The Bible instructs all husbands to dwell with their wives according to knowledge (1 Peter 3:7). Understand her nature. When a man understands the nature of his wife and works according to that understanding, challenges are less likely to arise in that home.

    Realise that she is a wife, mother, and homemaker all at once, and these place demands on her. Be considerate towards her, and be available to minister to her needs. Don’t wait for her to play her part first. Live by example. Wives are not to be treated as slaves or inferior human beings, rather, they should be held in respect. This is the wisdom of God! Men who beat their wives exhibit folly and sin against God.

    God has placed the building of the house into your hands. The Bible says: Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands (Proverbs 14:1). Don’t operate in foolishness. Don’t pluck down your home; operate in the wisdom of God. Abide with God’s instructions. They are not grievous. Even if you happen to be married to a man whose level of understanding is lower than yours, remember Abigail. Through her wisdom and understanding, she saved her home even though she had a foolish husband.

    Identify your husband’s weaknesses, and help him to work on them. Learn to appreciate his good points, point out his mistakes in a kind and loving manner.  This is God’s wisdom. Embrace it. If you abide by God’s instruction, it will make your home precious before God and before men.

    As husband and wife, you are the builders of your home.  Marriage can be likened to a physical house.  Houses in the physical don’t just happen; they are consciously built.  You don’t just wake up one day and see a physical house grow up somewhere.  It takes conscious effort and input to make it happen.  In the same manner, and even much more, a good marriage doesn’t just happen, it is consciously made to happen.  The Word of God says, Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established (Proverbs 24:3).

    You have the duty to build it the way you want it to be.  Stop shifting your responsibilities to God.  As my husband would always say, “Any faith that makes God absolutely responsible for the happenings of your life is an irresponsible faith”.  The act of building is your responsibility.  You must fulfill your own part for God to fulfill His own.

    You need wisdom to build your home and God is the source of that wisdom.  In case you are born again and you need the wisdom of God to build your home, God is no respecter of persons; He will give you. If you are not yet born again and you want to do so, you have to surrender your life to God by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.  You can say this prayer of faith and you shall be born again: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner.  I believe You died for my sins and rose on the third day.  Forgive me of my sins.  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, and conselling@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).

  • When fear of Ebola is not beginning of wisdom

    When fear of Ebola is not beginning of wisdom

    After surviving the deadly Ebola Virus, many would have expected British nurse William Pooley to stay away from Sierra Leone where he contracted the disease. But, the nurse is not afraid, as he has returned to the Ebola-stricken country to help fight it

    He should be afraid. But fear seems to have no slot in his heart. At the heart of his boldness appears to be the belief that once you have been cured of Ebola, you are unlikely to have it again.

    This immunity and the love of the people of Sierra Leone is making British nurse William Pooley return to the country where he was hurriedly flown out after contracting the deadly virus.

    Pooley is now back in the country where he caught the deadly virus as he prepares to rejoin efforts to tackle the epidemic.

    Pooley said he was “delighted” to return to Sierra Leone as he attempts to prevent “as many unnecessary deaths as possible” from the disease.

    The 29-year-old is due to arrive in the capital Freetown tonight before he resumes work tomorrow in an Ebola isolation unit run by UK medical staff, King’s Health Partners said.

    He became the first confirmed Briton to contract Ebola and was flown back to the UK in August. He was treated at the Royal Free Hospital in London.

    Pooley said: “I am delighted to be returning to Sierra Leone to join the King’s Health Partners team. I would like to once again thank the team at the Royal Free Hospital and the RAF who provided me with such excellent treatment and support.

    “But the real emergency is in West Africa, and the teams out there need all the support we can give them.

    “I am now looking forward to getting back out there and doing all I can to prevent as many unnecessary deaths as possible.”

    Pooley will be working in the isolation unit at Connaught Hospital where he will train local staff and help to set up new isolation units, after previously treating patients in a government hospital in Kenema.

    He will join the King’s Health Partners team, a partnership between King’s College London and three NHS trusts – Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley.

    Dr Oliver Johnson, programme director for the King’s Sierra Leone Partnership, said: “It is fantastic that Will has chosen to join our small team here at Connaught Hospital.

    “The situation here in Freetown is getting worse by the day and so Will’s experience and commitment will be vital as we do everything we can to stem the flow of cases.

    “The best way of stopping Ebola spreading even further is to fight it at its source and I look forward to working with Will to do just that.”

    Last week, Pooley said he was preparing to return to West Africa to help deal with the Ebola epidemic because it is “something I need to do”.

    Speaking in Whitehall in central London, he said he knew his family and friends would be worried but they should be reassured by his potential immunity to the virus.

    “There is still a lot of work to do out there and I am in the same or better position than when I chose to go out before,” Mr Pooley said.

    “I know my mum and dad are worried but they support me because they know this is something I have to do.

    “My potential immunity is very reassuring for them, or at least it should be, and I will be returning in a more organised fashion than when I was out there originally.”

    Last month Mr Pooley, from Eyke in Suffolk, reportedly flew to the US to undergo a blood transfusion to help an American being treated for the virus.

    More than 4,500 people have died from Ebola, mainly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

    Britain’s latest Ebola aid flight carrying vital medical supplies landed in Freetown yesterday, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said.

    It was the UK’s sixth aid flight and carried almost £900,000 worth of medical equipment needed for the 92 bed treatment facility in Kerry Town, including blood banks, centrifuges and protective equipment such as goggles and gloves.

    Mr Pooley was treated with the experimental drug ZMapp and left hospital on September 3 after making a full recovery.

    The UK, which has committed £125 million to tackling Ebola, has put pressure on other wealthy countries to do more to combat the spread of the virus.

    The Prime Minister has written to European Union leaders calling for them to double their contribution to one billion euro (£800 million).

    Ms Greening said: “As part of Britain’s £125 million response we are building six treatment centres across Sierra Leone which are vital to controlling and defeating the Ebola outbreak.

    “We will provide direct care for up to 8,800 patients over six months and this latest flight has delivered the kit needed to provide treatment for Ebola victims.

    “Britain is committed to helping Sierra Leone defeat this terrible disease and we are calling on the international community to ramp up its efforts.”

    Meanwhile, Ms Greening told Sky News’ Murnaghan programme that the UK was “well prepared” for the “handful” of cases experts had predicted were likely to occur in the country.

    “The risk to the UK remains low,” she said. “In the meantime the most effective thing we can do is the work that we are doing with Sierra Leone to help them combat Ebola there.”

    Shadow international development secretary Jim Murphy said the UK was “doing well” in the scale of its response but other countries had to do their bit.

    He told the Murnaghan programme: “The fact is the founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg has given many more times the donations than countries like Italy. Ikea, the furniture warehouse, has given more or about the same as Italy.

    “So there are countries that aren’t doing enough and we have to say that publicly and we have to try and persuade them. But if countries like Italy won’t do their bit we have also got to embarrass them.”

    His return to West Africa coincided with the U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel order for the creation of a 30-member expeditionary medical support team to be able to provide emergency help in the event of an Ebola crisis in the United States.

    A Pentagon spokesman said  yesterday the team of five doctors, 20 nurses and five trainers could respond on short notice to help civilian medical professionals. A statement from Rear Admiral John Kirby said.

    Three cases of Ebola have been diagnosed in the United States, prompting widespread concern about the potential spread of the virus. A Liberian man fell ill while on a trip to Dallas, Texas, and died on Oct. 8. Two nurses who treated him contracted the disease.

    Kirby called the team “an added, prudent measure to ensure our nation is ready to respond quickly, effectively and safely in the event of additional Ebola cases.” He said it would consist of critical care nurses, doctors trained in infectious diseases and trainers in infectious disease protocols.

    “They will not be sent to West Africa or elsewhere overseas and will be called upon domestically only if deemed prudent by our public health professionals,” the statement said.

    The team is drawn from across the military services include 20 critical care nurses, five doctors trained in infectious diseases and five trainers in infectious disease protocols.

    The team will go to Fort Sam Houston in Texas for training in infection control and special protective equipment. Training is expected to start within the next week.

    Kirby said the team won’t be sent to West Africa or elsewhere overseas. He said members would be called up for service in the U.S. only if needed by public health officials.

  • Fear of female suicide bombers beginning of wisdom

    Fear of female suicide bombers beginning of wisdom

    MIA BLOOM, a professor of security studies at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and the author of “Bombshell: Women and Terror” and “Dying to Kill: The Allure of Suicide Terror”, in this piece for Washington Post  argues that female suicide bombers are not a new phenomenon

    There were four suicide bombing attacks by young women in Kano, Nigeria. Especially worrying is that the reported ages of the suicide bombers are getting younger and younger. A 10-year-old girl strapped with a suicide bomber’s explosives belt and her older sister were taken into police custody. The attacks raise concerns that Boko Haram has doubled its mobilisation base.

    These attacks and others led the city of Kano to ban public worship and celebrations of Eid, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan. Local police have issued warnings about women covered in hijab.

    Who are the female suicide bombers in Kano?

    Three narratives have emerged about who these young bombers were. A handful of reports originally suggested the women were among the Chibok girls kidnapped April 14 and other women and young girls abducted by Boko Haram over the past year. Another report instead alleges the young women are actually impoverished Kano beggars who have been outlawed by Kwankwaso. But a Nigeria-based security analyst says the suicide bombers are more likely to be the offspring of Boko Haram members.

    The truth is we don’t know who these female bombers are, and we likely won’t anytime soon. In contrast to male suicide bombers, few female bombers leave “last will and testament” videos that could provide positive identification. What is clear is that regardless of whether the young women were girls abducted in Chibok or poor women picked up off the streets, Boko Haram has now embraced this tactical innovation quickly and with deadly results.

    This is not a new phenomenon.

    Nigerian scholars have echoed what I have claimed in my own research on women and terrorism – that female suicide bombers are not a new phenomenon, even in Africa. As early as December 2009, Al Shabaab began to disguise themselves as women in order to effectively carry out suicide-bomber targeted assassinations. Al Shabaab began to pair a male and female operative to give the appearance of a couple on a date. This was particularly effective when the group would attack soft targets like hotels, restaurants or markets.

    Women have been involved in terrorism since the 19th century, but religious groups previously eschewed the use of female bombers. The innovation in tactics by these groups introduces new challenges to those defending against terrorism. As scholar Nojeem Shobo of the University of Lagos has said, including women as perpetrators in terrorist attacks brings a “disturbing twist to the fight against insurgency.”

    The nature of the organisations that employ female suicide bombers has changed.

    Female suicide bombers were active in the 1980s in Lebanon and in the 1990s in Sri Lanka, Turkey and Chechnya. And by the turn of the century, female suicide bombers had spread to conflicts around the globe. What changed was the nature of the organization that employed them. Initially, leftist groups or secular organiSations were more likely to employ a female in suicide attacks. Time and time again, they proved to be deadlier and more effective than men.

    Bruce Hoffman illustrated how effective female bombers were in The Atlantic in June 2003:

    “A person wearing a bomb is far more dangerous and far more difficult to defend against than a timed device left to explode in a marketplace. This human weapons system can effect last-minute changes based on the ease of approach, the paucity or density of people, and the security measures in evidence…In April of last year a female suicide bomber tried to enter the Mahane Yehuda open-air market—the fourth woman to make such an attempt in four months—but was deterred by a strong police presence. So she simply walked up to a bus stop packed with shoppers hurrying home before the Sabbath and detonated her explosives, killing six and wounding seventy-three.”

    Most Islamist groups (besides the Chechens) were slow to adopt the strategy of female bombers either because they assumed they had more than enough men for the job or because the social limitations of women traveling without a chaperon (Mahram) required additional considerations and planning for female bombers. Some feminist scholars (e.g., Andrea Dworkin) assumed this reticence might also be a function of wanting to limit women’s roles in political violence lest this influence women’s power in a patriarchal society and politics as a whole.

    The Islamic groups had an infinite ability for adaptation and doctrinal flexibility. Starting in 2004 with the release of a Web-based magazine called al Khansa’a, the evolution of religious ideology on female suicide bombers changed from advising women what to do while their men were on Jihad to telling women they, too, could be Jihadis and even be suicide bombers.

    Why have Islamic groups recently taken so enthusiastically to including female suicide bombers?

    I highlight four primary changes.

    First, there has been an ideological shift. Debates emerged on-line and fatwas were issued stating that women’s obligation for Jihad is equal to that of men. This was largely led by Sheikh Yusuf al Qaradawi, an Egyptian cleric living in Qatar who has legitimized the use of women as suicide bombers.

    Second, Al Qaeda’s structure changed. As the central core of Al Qaeda gave way to a host of regional affiliates, those affiliates were more inclined to involve women in front-line violent activities. While al Qaeda’s leaders swore that there were no women in the organization, Al Qaeda in Iraq, al Shabaab, Chechen militant groups in Chechnya and Dagestan, and groups in Pakistan and Uzbekistan and others began using female bombers as early as 2005. It’s only recently that female bombers have emerged among the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan, relatively late adopters compared to the affiliated groups killing Western contractors or people in line for food aid.

    Third, there were changes in targeting. Women are ideal operatives when attacking soft targets and blending in with civilians. As terrorist organizations have shifted from attacking military targets (hard targets) to civilian targets (soft targets), women have been especially useful. When an improvised explosive device is strapped around a woman’s midsection, it gives the impression that she is pregnant, throwing off security forces who don’t expect a woman — let alone one who is pregnant — to be carrying a bomb. As a result of the existing stereotypes we have of the inherent peacefulness of women, they are less likely to be searched at checkpoints and if the security services are too invasive (and reports of sexual violations at checkpoints is common in many of these conflicts), then invasive searching of women in traditional settings only helps the terrorist organisations recruit more men who are outraged that women are being abused. Mobilising men to protect the honor of women is hardly a new tactic and was extremely effective in the 1960s and 1970s for the provisional IRA who used the strip-searching of Republican women in Belfast by the RUC to motivate men to join the movement.

    Finally, including women offered a new mobilisation strategy – not just of women, but also of men. Women serve a unique purpose in helping mobilise men into terrorist organisations. It is a powerful narrative when women (especially online) accuse men of being unmanly unless they step up and join the Jihad to protect their sisters in Islam. In addition to tapping 50 percent of the population, recruiting women is an effective strategy of goading men into participation. This also explains the effectiveness of women online as propagandists, fundraisers and recruiters for terrorist groups.

    When are female suicide bombers used most often?

    That said, my research suggests that terrorist groups tend to gravitate toward female operatives not when they are at their strongest but when they are at their weakest. Terrorist groups include women either because they are having a difficult time accessing hard targets — which are more valuable in the long term for their struggle — or because men are not signing up unless they are guilted into it. The fact that Boko Haram is using women may be an indication of their weakness more than their strength.

  • Omisore’s excuse for absence at debate lacks wisdom, says APC

    Omisore’s excuse for absence at debate lacks wisdom, says APC

    •Group flays candidates’ nonappearance

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has decried the reasons adduced by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, for not participating in the pre-governorship election debate in Osogbo last Saturday.

    It described the PDP candidate’s arguments as “the wisdom of a fool.”

    Omisore had reportedly claimed that he was supposedly superior to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, which made it a match “between two unequal parties.”

    He also inferred that the “weaker of the two parties may resort to physical assault and harassment.”

    But the APC observed that it was disheartening that Omisore’s remark came after the event, which it said “Aregbesola was majestic and at home with facts and figures on how his administration had prudently managed the state’s economy.”

    It added: “Omisore sounded mean and shallow when he tried to denigrate Aregbesola’s academic qualification that the governor ‘presented O’Level (certificate) to INEC’. Again, that’s the wisdom of a fool; but for the foolishness embedded in that piece of information is that Omisore’s current certificate presented to INEC was a court affidavit in place of his primary and secondary school certificates.

    “In particular, we challenge Omisore to produce his certificates from St John’s Grammar School, Ile Ife and Owo Polythecnic, Ondo State.

    “What moral authority then has a man who till today presented court affidavit to show that he went to primary and secondary schools to denigrate another person who he said presented his O’Level certificate to INEC?”

    Omisore, the APC said, has missed his chance to convince the world that he was mentally and intellectually mature enough to handle difficult situation under pressure in a robust and critical debate.

    “The truth of the matter is that, like all inadequate personalities, Omisore was and continues to be afraid of confronting Aregbesola who can expose his lies with incontrovertible facts. That was why he ran away from the debate – simplicita!” it stated.

    An association, Oranmiyan Support Group, has condemned the actions of Omisore and others who refused to attend the debate organised by a United States (U.S.)-based organisation, the International Republican Institute (IRI).

    The group also decried candidates who rely on material inducements to woo the electorate rather than intellectual engagements.

    The group’s leader, Mr. Ayo Akinola, who spoke in Osogbo, said: “Debates are used all over the world to sell political programmes and manifestoes to the electorates.

    “It also provides opportunities for candidates to argue and correct erroneous impressions about themselves and even foster bond of friendship among contending political figures, as this is about the only opportunity that enables candidates to meet one-on-one.”

  • ‘Wisdom has kept us together’

    ‘Wisdom has kept us together’

    They sang their way to the hearts of many. They gave an exciting zest to folk music. Now, the spotlight is on them. Adunni & Nefretiti is seven.

    Founded by Orobiyi Motunrayo Abiodun a.k.a. Adunni, the all-women folk singing group has worked hard these past seven years, thrilling fans with folksongs from South-west, some part of the South-south. Whether it is a capella or in the accompaniment of traditional instruments, it is always ready to thrill fans. The group has also been around the world, promoting African culture and values through theatrical medium, leveraging on its richness. Their colourful costuming, makeup, voices and genre of music always leave the audience captivated with positive media hype following the troupe’s performances.

    To mark its seven-year anniversary on stage, come Friday and Saturday, the troupe will hold a concert in Yoruba. It will be celebrating culture through music, poetry and drama at the Amphi-Theatre, Freedom Park, Lagos. The show, the organisers say, is an indigenous project for Nigerians and Africans at home and in Diaspora It will feature performances they have done across Nigeria and abroad. It will also showcase prominent artistes, old members of the group, musicians, actors, traditional instrumentalists, African oral poets and dancers. There will also be a play Iyan Lounje by the late Femi Fatoba, featuring an operatic performance in total theatre style involving an infusion of music, dance and drama.

    According to Adunni, the show is a start of a new era in their promotion of African culture and values. “W e enjoy and love our genre of music because it is classical; it attracts and excites people’s scene of creativity and is for the matured minds.”

    But, how has it managed to stay on top of its game all these years with the challenge of other modern genre of entertainment , such as hip-pop, she was asked.

    Hear her: “Hip hop? No wahala! We are up to the challenge. Bring hip-hop on, we’ll sing with our local language; it’s no big deal. We have a root/source deeper than such contemporary music – our folkore such as waka, oriki, etc. Although some call it local/primitive, that primitive genre of music has taken us round the world. “

    Adunni, like the other women in the group, is a bundle of talent. She acts, sings and writes songs. This graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), is peaceful and strict at the same time.

    As young women on the spotlight, advances of the opposite sex are inevitable, but, Adunni said: “As stars, there is no need to be rude when men make advances at us. We respect them; but discharge them (one-time), politely. It’s all about wisdom.”

    Wisdom, she added, is the ingredient that has kept the group together all these years. “Managing human beings is the most difficult thing in life, not to talk of managing an all female group. But the watchword is wisdom,” she said.

    She has numerous productions to her credit. As a woman bubbling with creativity, her theatrical journey began with Crown Troupe of Africa by Segun Adefila in 2006, after which she branched out to form her own. “I worked with Toyin Ali-Balogun (my first manager), and other wonderful ladies at the early stage of the group: such as Christy Okosun, Rita Benedict, Iyabo Payne (my P.A), Agnes Okogie, Imisioluwa Maria Oyebanji-Tofowomo, Nneka Emeka till this present members – Yemisi Julius, Shade Orobiyi, Barbara Babarinsa, Moni Eniafe, Bukola Orobiyi. We have come a long way, travelling all over the world with Tony Allen, at the Olympic, London 2012, Shakespeare’s Globe to Globe with Wole Oguntokun , Prof Femi Osofisan, Biodun Abe, lgwe Laz Ekwueme to mention, but a few,” she said

    Since 2006, the group has performed at high-profile events across the country and abroad. They have performed at Macau with MGM at Royal Opera House London, on Europe tour with Tony Allen and others; Itan Oginnitin (winter’s tale in Yoruba dialect) at Shakespeare Theatre (Globe to Globe), London Olympic, with Renegade Theatre by Wole Oguntokun); Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 60th Birthday both at the National Stadium and at Eko Hotel and Suite; at the 70th Birthday ceremony of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; at the yearly Felabration organised in honour of late Afro-beat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and African Queen Amina with Masoma Africa, Lagos; the 80th birthday party of Walter Carrington former US Ambassador to Nigeria; The Kennedy Centre, US, by Don Pedro Obaseki, an Evening of Arts with Olaniwun Ajayi Law Practice as she clocks 50 and more.

    Becoming a household name, she said, has been the dream of every member of the group, adding that the rough road brought them to where they are today. “We couldn’t have predicted where we’re today. The journey has been smooth and rough but all glory be to God,” she said. “Still, we love the rough part of it. Because it is what has prepared us for the present and the future, to know more about life and the business aspect of what we love doing. It is not all about money. Our motto has been: “Slow and steady wins the race” i.e. it is about patience, focus, determination, humility and hard work. And it has paid off because through it we have been all over Nigeria, West Africa, and abroad; and we’re still counting,” she added.

    The choice of name, the founder said, is deliberate. “Africa’s civilisation is centred around Egypt. The choice of name after Queen Nefertiti also known as Nefretiti, goes to show our music/group is not mainly for our tribe (Yoruba) but to represent Nigeria and Africa as a whole. She co-ruled with her husband, she was the most favourite, the most favoured, and the most sacred wife of King Akhenaten. As young women and mothers, representing womanhood in our appearance and in teaching morals etc to our generation through singing, we are without colour/language/ethnic barrier,” she said.

     

    Other members of the group

    Aside from being members of the group, each are involved in other profession such as marketing, fashion designing, event planning, costuming and printing and more.

    Eniafe Moninuola’s love and zeal for arts and culture brought her to the group and has been a part of many performances and productions. She is a melody singer and also an event planner, costumier and into creative works. She is a graduate of Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.

    Orobiyi Folashade Deborah is a soprano and tenor singer. She started her musical career with the group and after going through series of trainings, she established herself as a professional artiste within and outside the group. Apart from singing, Deborah, who is an undergraduate of creative arts at University of Lagos Akoka, Lagos, also performs the role of the welfare/logistics officer in the group. She has taken part at productions, studio recordings and life performances such as Abuja Festival in 2006; Lets’ Dance organised by Mnet, Nigeria; Performance with Total Nigeria Plc among others.

    Julius Oluyemisi Esther is an excellent make-up artiste and doubles this with her role as an alto/melody singer in the group. She has several studio recordings, stage productions, band and stage performances to her credit. She is an undergraduate of Business Administration at Lagos City Polytechnic, Ikeja Lagos State. She has performed at Republic of Benin premier of Awoulath Alougbin’s album entitled Ife in 2013 and Oshodi Tapa both written and directed by Wole Oguntokun, among others.

    Orobiyi Oluwabukola Odunyemi, from Ogun State, is a graduate of Marketing from the Lagos State Polytechnic, Surulere, Lagos. She has been a member of the group since its inception. She is a singer and also doubles as the Personal Assistant for the group since 2007. She loves printing and does it to the best of her ability. She has since performed in Ajai The Slave Boy written and directed by Wole Oguntokun; Moore Harlequin produced for the Black Heritage Festival 2011 and Oshodi Tapa written and directed by Wole Oguntokun, among others.

    Payne Iyabo Sandra is an graduate of Creative Arts and has a Masters degree in Managerial Psychology both from the University of Lagos, Akoka Lagos. She has been a member of Adunni&Nefretiti since its inception in 2006 as a singer and personal assistant. She later became the Administrative Personnel. She created the concept for an ‘Evening of Arts’ during the 50th anniversary of the firm ‘Olaniwun Ajayi Law Practice’ in 2012 and 7th Macmillan Literary Night in 2009, among several other successful performances of the group.

    Babarinsa Barbara Iyaniwura, a graduate of Creative Arts, University of Lagos. Barbara is a melody/alto/tenor singer in the best female singing folkloric group ‘’Adunni&Nefretiti’’. Besides, she’s an actress, dancer and a choreographer. She’s the group’s choreographer and the public relation officer with several productions to her credit such as Women of Owu by Prof. Femi Osofisan at the National Arts Theatre; Moremi Ajasoro by Lekan Balogun; Olurombi for Nigeria 50th independence by Aboriginal productions; Launch of MTN’s ‘Go join the Winning Team’ and Stanbic IBTC pensions rebranding at Abuja, etc.