tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59928655811291171932024-03-05T06:28:25.585-08:00Larigold.blogspot.comHome of InsightLanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-32170805330091369032014-06-03T05:46:00.001-07:002014-06-03T05:46:24.174-07:00Watchout For LariGoldEvents-TVL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHUq_N5pdenArr5gUzeTzbdkXwA88bNNCmaCm0S9SdD6L5BCMW2FPGJIBH75E911vbvFUHgFcKRl4ySNkahxDAnc8FbbAr-Y3BfuIawpchy4hUFSITOTV6N2zmozI0J8G8w9exgk8lS4/s1600/download+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHUq_N5pdenArr5gUzeTzbdkXwA88bNNCmaCm0S9SdD6L5BCMW2FPGJIBH75E911vbvFUHgFcKRl4ySNkahxDAnc8FbbAr-Y3BfuIawpchy4hUFSITOTV6N2zmozI0J8G8w9exgk8lS4/s400/download+(1).jpg" /></a></div>
<object width="720" height="437" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="flashvars" value="cid=18213689&autoplay=false"/><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"/><param name="src" value="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/viewer.swf"/><embed flashvars="cid=18213689&autoplay=false" width="720" height="437" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/viewer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.ustream.tv/" style="padding: 2px 0px 4px; width: 400px; background: #ffffff; display: block; color: #000000; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline; text-align: center;" target="_blank">LARIGOLDEVENTS-TV</a>Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-66074587369086537902013-06-20T04:02:00.002-07:002013-06-20T04:02:42.167-07:00The Church, the Mosque and Poverty in Nigeria – Japheth J Omojuwa<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: justify;">
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<i style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">And God is able to make all grace (every favour and <b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">[a]</b>earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need <b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">[b]</b>be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance <b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">for every good work and charitable donation</b>]. </i>2 Corinthians 9:8 (AMP)</div>
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Religious organisations in Nigeria have come under fire, some of it deserving while some of those are just a form of misplaced aggression. Many have designed the craft of abusing religious bodies, saying they are the bane of the society. While that is increasingly a popular path to take, it will never be the right path. The purpose of engagement is productivity and if we cannot say or do the things that’d make these organisations get better, we’d indeed be wasting everyone’s time by just blowing hot air without adding value. This piece is about how religious organisations can raise the ante and help bring about the much-needed change our country craves. I’ll be speaking mostly about what the church can do hoping that a reading Moslem or other believers can find a place for their beliefs in my ideas. This is for those genuine religious organizations that are interested in doing things better and improving on the good they already do. It is unfortunate that bad eggs in the midst make all the eggs look bad but the reason we have adulterated forms of anything is because the authentic forms thrive.</div>
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Contrary to some opinions, the Nigerian church has indeed done a lot! Many have had their lives transformed by choosing to apply some of the principles they picked up in church. People say they teach about prosperity but I’d rather that than poverty. People say churches collect people’s money but can we sit down and think; if the members had no money to give, would these churches be sustainable? That people give and give every week says something about the church and its style; it works! The church creates millionaires and billionaires who in turn give back to it. Like everything else, there’d be those that make money illegally who’d give to the church. I don’t think the church would start dividing its members into those who make legal money and those who make illegal ones. In my opinion, everything rests on what the church does with what it gets. That is the essence of this piece.</div>
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More often than not, those who knock the church are not those who make contributions to it. I am a Christian <a href="http://omojuwa.com/2010/09/god-does-not-exist-the-complete-edition/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #444444; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;">http://omojuwa.com/2010/09/god-does-not-exist-the-complete-edition/</a> and I believe I have earned the right to say some of the things I’d be saying because I am a Giving Christian. I do not give because I want God to bless me, God does not bless me because I give. I give because that’s who I am. God blesses me because that’s who He is.</div>
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The Nigerian church is doing a lot but the church is not doing anything near enough. Compared to its potentials, the church could start a revolution in this nation. By revolution I do not mean that of bullets and blood, that’d never work and Nigerians will never agree on those to kill anyway – federal character will end the debates about who to kill first (1966?). I expect the church to start a revolution of wealth creation and the development of education.</div>
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It is not always about the big system and its macro solutions, there is a lot the microcosms of the system can do in making the society a better place. In Germany, 25 per cent of the nation’s energy supplies come from renewable sources, while 51 per cent of the said renewable sources come from private homes. These are citizens essentially powering the nation from their homes. These numbers are expected to rise decade upon decade till the nation gets to source 80 per cent of its total energy needs from renewables. Citizens can indeed start revolutions and until we understand that the best revolution is that that places the responsibility of development in the hands of every citizen, we’d not have even started our march forward.</div>
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What if each religious organisations – in this sense I mean specific churches and mosques – have institutionalized systems of giving to the society? By <i style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">giving</i> I am not talking about the conventional ones that are often cosmetic in nature. We give clothes and food to the poor but as long as these ones remain in a position where we’d have to give them the same thing the following year nothing would have been done. We need to do better. We need to give in such a way that those who receive from us will not need alms again. A friend of mine told me of how her dad said and I will paraphrase “you should give so that they can come again tomorrow, if you give them too much they will grow wings and you will not see them again.” Our job is to give in the opposite sense of these words; give so that others can have enough to fly themselves. Give to productive activities.</div>
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What if we had a LIBRE Foundation dedicated to Education, Women and Entrepreneurship by a church called LIBRE? There is the Real Woman Foundation <a href="http://therealwoman.org/index.html" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #444444; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;">http://therealwoman.org/index.html</a> that provides shelter and rehabilitation for abused women and the orphaned children. Projects like these should not be outliers; they should be the norm. The work starts from within. There are dedicated members who are able to attend University but are indigent. We can create an Education Fund for dedicated members in this situation. There is a chance they will stop attending your church/mosque after such benefits but you have to understand that you are doing this for the society and not your church. Nigeria has the world’s highest number of children out of school. If we reduce this by half, we would have reduced by an even more percentage the number of armed robbers, sex workers, potential terrorists that’d be unleashed on the nation in the coming years. If churches build schools, they should have a dedicated admission percentage slot for indigent church members. It is essential to charge the rich while building world-class self-sustaining institutions but what is the essence of a church that does not give back?</div>
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What if we had a fund for small businesses to grow bigger after training the owners of these businesses? Imagine the revolution. When businesses grow, they engage more hands and more hands mean more productive activities. The engaged hands even save enough to start their own businesses. You eventually have a domino effect of productivity and job creation. We can decide as a church to grow a particular number of businesses to a certain size per year. The funding could be in form of single digit loans – for sustainability – and in some cases even equity funding.</div>
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What if the church had a food bank where at least indigent members of the church can access food in times of food shortage? Where other members who have “more than enough” can give of their abundant food, new clothes and what have you. I once attended a church during my University days where everyone was allowed to come for food if in need during the examination period. I knew I’d never need such but I felt glad knowing that whoever was in need of such would find a way out because the church made a way. I know Nigeria’s Lagos based Daystar Christian Centre does this.</div>
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What if each religious organization reduced poverty in its midst to say less than 10% of its membership? Yes Jesus Christ did say the poor you will always have in your midst but He never said “the poor shall be the majority in your midst.” The most important thing is to start. How many poor people do you have in your church? How many of them have jobs? How many of them can be empowered to start businesses? We cannot reduce the numbers effectively if we don’t know exactly how many people are in the poverty box we need to lift out. When your members succeed, your church succeeds!</div>
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Considering the number of Nigerians that go to church and the mosque every week, we can go beyond the promises of the intangible. I know these promises of Heaven are real but we need to attend to the issues of today. If we could do this, we will bring back the souls lost to the world that felt the church was too big but too big for nothing. We would win even more souls for the Lord because it is easier to convince a man you’ve just fed to “come to the House of the Lord” than it is to convince a hungry man. He is angry. It is also easier for cynics to see the essence of the church beyond promises of Heaven. What is the purpose of a church without earthly relevance?</div>
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We need a revolution in Nigeria, no not a revolution of guns and bullets – we will never be united enough to have a nationwide revolution of this kind – but we can always be united to fight against poverty.</div>
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What if we sold the private jets? Would the monies be useful to educate more children? to help more mothers? to make the society a better place? Yes religious fathers need private jets, only that need is not as needful as the fact that the brethren is hungry, angry and needs convincing that this service to God is not about a few fathers instead of being about the children of God. What is the beauty of a Limo-stretch riding pastor’s wife in a church of mostly poor people? Do not be deceived by ceremonial Sunday attires, there are more poor people in your church than you’d imagine. We have competed enough on who has got the most beautiful church and the most modern backdrop, it is time to compete on who has lifted more people out of poverty. This would be a holy competition indeed!</div>
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The giving of the church should not be about giving for the recipients to return for another morsel tomorrow, it should be about giving to empower the recipients to survive on their own and become givers themselves in a matter of months – the 8th level of giving. We’d not have fake pastors if there were no original ones, we’d not have fake churches if there were no original ones. We’d not have the adulterated version of anything if there were no original ones. I believe there are true men of God and I believe it is time these ones shine the light on this country’s seemingly perpetual darkness. Thank you for the prayers, it is time to work!</div>
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The purpose of being blessed is to bless. Blessings are designed to flow not to be stagnant. It should flow from the blessed to bless others and the flow must never stop. Blessings should not be destroyed by being hoarded; we can create even more by blessing others. The symbolism of Jesus feeding 5000 is that He cares about the tangibles of this world. It matters to him that stomachs are filled with food, as it matters to Him that our spirit is filled with Him. He gave examples of giving clothes to the naked, food to the hungry etc these examples even came in parables concerning the way to Heaven.</div>
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For Christians, the fundamental part of our faith is the tangible reality of a gift: God gave His only begotten son and that son gave His life. There’d be no Christianity without giving and it is time we use this to address Nigeria’s unwholesome socio-economic realities. The church has the powers to raise men, women and resources to help lift more Nigerians out of poverty than any system in Nigeria apart from may be the Nigerian government.</div>
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PS: I’d be willing to partner any organization that intends to follow this piece up with tangible projects. We are trying but Nigeria’s situation needs for us to do more than try, we must see tangible results. I can be reached on <a href="mailto:omojuwatv@gmail.com" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #444444; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;">omojuwatv@gmail.com</a> Thank you</div>
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Do me a favour, print and share this with your religious leader or forward as a mail</div>
Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-58674936930845224652013-05-19T12:13:00.001-07:002013-05-19T12:13:26.499-07:00Damage Control for Teenage Pregnancy By Modupe Olabenjo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The issue of teenage pregnancy has
always been on my mind, considering that the number of occurrence among
teenagers is escalating. Among a particular age group in each secondary
school, you can be sure to have cases of teenage pregnancy. I did some
research on available works about this issue and found out that majority
of the articles available talked about the causes and consequences of
teenage pregnancy. I was astonished to found out that only a few
actually talked about what really happens after the deed has been done
and a teenager is found to be pregnant. This brings to live the question
of what happens after a case of teenage pregnancy has been discovered
and more importantly, how parents and guardians of such children should
react.<br />
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The reaction of parents to situations
like this has been very devastating and that has not helped in making
the condition of such teenagers any better. Let’s imagine the reaction
of a typical Nigerian parent to their ward’s untimely pregnancy. The
most common reaction is firstly, to threaten to disown the child, or to
force the child into early marriage.</div>
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Now let’s analyze both options.</div>
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Talking about disowning the child, when
this happens, the child becomes rejected at such a time where she needs
so much attention and help, and in most cases, this leads to a drastic
decision to abort such pregnancy. Obviously, aborting the child would
expose her to severe complications that may damage her womb or even cost
her life. And come to think of it unmanaged teenage pregnancy to a
large extent is contributing to the increasing figures of maternal and
newborn mortality in Africa. When such a child has been rejected, after
aborting, in the bid to desperately get finances to fend for herself,
she might engage in delinquencies that could ruin her life. Say
prostitution. Eventually, a little mistake gradually leads to the
termination of a bright future.</div>
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Considering the second option of a
forceful marriage; forcing two people who probably because of a careless
one nightstand brought a child to life can actually go a long way in
marring the future of both the guy and the girl. The lady might end up
in a marriage void of love, and she’s very likely to suffer from
physical and emotional abuse as a result of forced marriage. There’s
also a great likely hood for resentment towards the child produced from
the union, because both untimely parents might begin to see the child as
an obstacle and the reason for their unfortunate situation.</div>
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This child in question grows without
adequate parental love from both parents in an odious environment, and
she’s prone to living on the wrong guidance of her friends and peer
group, which singularly exposes her to the same mistake that brought
about her birth. And then, the cycle continues!</div>
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Looking at this from the broader
perspective, what has the parent of the pregnant teenager achieved? It’s
very important to clarify that I’m not advocating that teenagers
neglect their studies and venture into delinquencies or pre-marital sex
and then get pregnant or STDs. All I’m saying is that in cases when the
unexpected happens, measures can still be put in place to ensure that
with adequate love, advice and attention, such a child gets his steps
back again. After all, we all make mistakes, foolish mistakes,
intentional mistakes, unintended mistakes. However when such a mistake
occurs, it’s definitely not the first or the last of such.</div>
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It’s so natural and expected that
parents would get angry at such child yet; brooding over it with
incessant regret and anger cannot reverse the mistake. The deed has been
done, accept it and look for the best possible solution, give guidance
and assurance and help the child regain self-confidence and a strong
self-esteem. A search for a solution to clean up the mess is the most
important thing, ensuring that she doesn’t lose her chances of a bright
and fulfilling future. Naturally it’s expected that the teenage girl
must have realized her mistake and would be passing through a very
difficult time, both emotionally and physically. This is her most
critical and vulnerable time.</div>
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I strongly believe that a mistake is not
the end of the world; parents need to learn how to handle the issue of
teenage pregnancy well, in order to stop the cycle and help the child to
rise up again. Help and support the child through the period of
pregnancy and after, encourage her to get back to school and continue
her race towards the great future she has ahead of her. Teenage
pregnancy is seen as the end of the world, but you can help to make it
the beginning of a better life. Tell me…who doesn’t deserve a second
chance?</div>
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<strong>Photo Credit</strong>: <em>lifechoicesrc.com</em></div>
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<em>This article was first published on www.bellanaija.com </em></div>
<br />Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-63028128496075140272013-05-19T12:02:00.002-07:002013-05-19T12:04:46.936-07:00This Is Why Women Matter To Us by Lanre Olagunju<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The fact that the first woman is the only creature created from an
already existing and living being tells a lot about a woman’s uniqueness
and strength. But in a couple of ways, the world is yet to harness the
power and strength of a woman. The saddest part is that instead of
appreciating and nurturing their uniqueness, women have been subjected
to some forms of hardship as a result of their gender.<br />
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You look around and you realize that violence on women and other
degrading acts has been on a steady rise lately. I’m really glad and
impressed that the Nigerian House of Representative has approved the
recommendation of life imprisonment for rapist, and a four year jail
term or a fine of not more than N200,000 or both for persons convicted
of performing Female Genital Mutilation-(FGM) on a woman. I think this
should bring some hope of restoring human dignity to our women.<br />
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I’ll like to share two stories to buttress the fact that women matter
in all aspects of life; that women have a lot more to contribute to our
society than just being regarded as mere baby making machines. They
practically bring joy and hope to our world. Women make our world more
exciting and pleasant. We’ve got to listen and take them a lot more
seriously if we’d attain economic or individual progress and prosperity.<br />
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For instance, there are several speculations as regard what would
have been the state of Lehman Brothers if it were to be Lehman Sisters
or perhaps, Lehman Brothers and Sister. Lehman Brothers was founded in
1850 by Henry, Emanuel and Mayer. Lehman Brothers was the fourth largest
investment bank in the US and with holdings of over $600billion, at
some point, it was considered as a company too big to fail.<br />
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Unfortunately, it became the largest bankruptcy filing in history when
it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008. It was actually forced to
declare bankruptcy when it experienced drastic drop in share prices
after so many clients departed, and also as a result of devaluation of
its assets.<br />
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The truth remains that the closure of Lehman Brothers played a major
role in the global financial meltdown that struck the world in 2008,
basically because many big banks all over the world that dealt with them
lost billions, leading to the crash of several millions of micro
investors.<br />
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When you consider that Lehman Brothers crashed due to the high level
of risk that were taken by the chief strategist at some points, amongst
other bad business approaches and decisions; you just might want to
assert the sentiment that our world, probably would have been saved from
the present global financial crisis, if such a great investment bank
had some feminine administrative influence. See I’m not critically
saying that women don’t take risk at all, but the truth is that they are
a lot more cautious than men who can be excessively driven by
testosterone.<br />
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Several studies have supported the notion that women are more risk
averse than men. Experts have also researched that women are more
trustworthy and altruistic, most essentially when negotiating for
others. Going by a though-provoking hypothesis by a Canadian researcher
at the University of British Columbia business school, it was discovered
that “high testosterone level in men of a certain age are associated
with more aggressive decisions that throw caution to the winds.”<i> </i>It then becomes wise and imperative to include and respect the views of women as well in economic matters.<br />
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The second story is the sad story I was told about a family who lost
three kids in the December 10, 2005 Sosoliso air crash. I learnt that
the mother of these kids had a dream prior to the crash. In her dream,
she saw coffins and that got her troubled. After she prayed about the
issue, she had a premonition that her kids would be involved in a
disaster. When her kids were returning home for Christmas holiday, she
became more afraid and she prayed that if her kids will be involved when
coming home for the Xmas holiday, may God not let them get their flight
tickets. Somehow, the kids later called and said they couldn’t get
their tickets for one reason or the other. So she agreed and made
provision for them to come by road. But her husband won’t share in her
premonitions, so he disagreed to the kids coming by road. He later made
arrangement to ensure that they travelled by air; unfortunately the
family lost all the kids.<br />
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The two instances might help to emphasize that men need to build a
culture of listening and appreciating women and that involves
acknowledging their views and opinions on crucial matters, be it in
economic, political or social issues. And this goes beyond celebrating
them on women/mothers’ day alone.<br />
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The issue is not about erasing the natural differences between men
and women, the point is to acknowledge those differences and then
harness them as a tool for our collective good.<br />
<br />Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-76868434166861978992013-04-10T17:38:00.000-07:002013-04-10T17:38:36.809-07:00There’s No Law Against The Granting Of Pardon To Any Criminal But...By @Lanre_Olagunju<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: arial; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Just when you manage to allow yourself think that things can’t get worse with governance in Nigeria, you can be always sure to get one rude shock or the other. But with President Jonathan’s hopeless administration, you can be so sure of an overdose of rude shocks as each day brings up fresh absurdities and insane anomalies.</div>
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The unfortunate side of the story is that we the governed allow ourselves to dwell in the delusion that President Jonathan is clueless. I beg to say that he’s not. He has an agenda and he wouldn’t mind to undo the little good deeds of past administrations to ruin Nigeria of any good that remains in it.</div>
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Who actually defends and speak for a thief, if he himself is not a thief. Beside the media debate over the pardon of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former governor of Bayelsa state, and the crazy excuse of “there’s no law against the granting of pardon to any criminal” the Presidential spokesmen have uttered, Nigerians need to query and look deeper into the bigger plans of these charlatans. I strongly believe that there’s more to this generous act of pardon than meets the eye</div>
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<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: arial; line-height: 20px;">Though we must acknowledge that it’s a lawful act, but with what moral prism does President Jonathan justifies such act of pardoning a symbol of national disgrace who was arrested in Britain in 2005 on charges of laundering more than $3 million? He also jumped bail and flew to Nigeria where he was prosecuted, becoming the first ex-governor to be convicted of corruption. Report has it that he fled the UK to Nigeria disguised in a woman’s clothing.</span></div>
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What severe punishment has he undergone that the presidency says he has become remorseful? Alamieyeseigha was released in 2007, two days after receiving a two-year sentence, because he had already served two years in prison since his arrest.</div>
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Yes, we can’t stop President Jonathan from having a thief as a mentor and former boss, but he must be reminded that this country doesn’t belong to him and his family alone. Neither does it belong to the PDP. The state pardon granted Alamieyeseigha and other criminals shamefully reduce his hypocritical transformation agenda to a lousy joke. And not only that, it has also gone a long way in trivializing the previous war won against corruption in Nigeria. Now Nigeria’s shame isn’t limited to her geographical boundaries. Globally, we have lost the small reputation that we are yet to build, making us all look like a people of no value and collective morality.</div>
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The pardon Alamieyeseigha and his other corrupt allies now enjoy means that they can now run for political office come 2015. And that in every way is so very absurd! If we can’t clear away present corrupt office holders, why should we bring back their godfathers? Obviously, President Jonathan seems to be paying Alamieyeseigha for favours he has enjoyed in the past or for his personal and selfish 2015 ambitions. He certainly intends to achieve one thing or the order at the expense of over 160 million people.</div>
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In the words of Prominent Nigerian human rights lawyer Bamidele Aturu, he was quoted as saying “it is better to fling open the gates of all our prisons and ask all the inmates to walk out into the warm embrace of their relatives than pardon those who force otherwise decent Nigerians to take to crime as a way of life,”</div>
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My simple advice to President Jonathan is that he can as well declare Nigeria a lawless nation so we can bigheartedly pardon and give equality to all criminals. Because how many criminals in Nigerian prisons have stolen as much money as Alamieyeseigha?</div>
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I deeply think that the major prayer Nigeria needs at this point is to survive President Jonathan’s administration. The only fear is that no one can rightly ascertain that the worse of this administration has happened yet. We need not forget that we are being governed by a President who publicly made it known that he doesn’t give a damn.</div>
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I am @Lanre_olagunju</div>
Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-173496118507185012013-01-28T00:41:00.000-08:002013-01-28T00:41:33.947-08:00Leadership Lessons from Martin Luther King Jr. By @Lanre_Olagunju<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last Monday, the world again celebrated the Martin Luther king Jr. Day which is habitually celebrated every third Monday of January. As an eloquent preacher, Dr. King was the orator and leader of the non-aggressive civil rights movement of the 1960s. His <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have a Dream</i> speech has remained a phenomenal point of reference for leaders all over the world. Let’s draw some lessons from his speech and outstanding leadership approach.</div>
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<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lesson #1 Great leaders don’t keep quiet on issues that matter.</b></div>
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When we keep quiet on important national or personal issues, we give permission to the oppressor. We deny ourselves the opportunity for freedom. Martin Luther King said “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </b>During the course of the week, a couple of social media giants in the country decided to raise the issue of dying one-thousand-five-hundred children of Bagega in Nigeria’s Zamfara State. Within a short time, the awareness went viral on social media.</div>
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These kids have been afflicted by Lead poison, and their life is in danger. Restoration and remediation of the environment has been unnecessarily delayed by the government. Speaking up for these kids brought the issue to the desk and minds of the government officials concerned. People were made to see the reality of losing these young ones if the prevailing deafening silence wasn’t crushed.</div>
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<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lesson #2 Leaders know how to communicate their vision to the mind and heart of their followers.</b></div>
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Leadership in the real sense goes beyond just having a plan and knowing how to execute it. The work of a true leader lies in his ability to have a vision, share the vision, lay the path to achieve the vision, and then inspire others to follow the vision while he takes the lead role. Martin Luther King knows how to engage the heart of his followers. He does that by harnessing the use of stories and metaphor.</div>
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<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lesson #3 Brave enough to reject the status quo and not be indifferent about it.</b></div>
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The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b> The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference, says Elie Wiesel. Refusing to be indifferent is a defining characteristic of great leaders. They are not passive people. They are reactive and sometimes proactive, depending on the circumstance. They always take a stand and they ventilate it openly without fear. “But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so we have come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.” were the brave words of Martin Luther King.</div>
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<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lesson #4 <strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fight your course on the high plane of dignity and discipline.</strong></b></div>
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Good leaders know how to struggle out their course within the boundary of dignity, ethics and morality.. And this is one area where I so much respect Martin Luther King. It’s quite difficult to imagine how to lead so much people in a struggle against injustice and segregation and yet eschew violence “But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must ever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” Martin Luther King said.</div>
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<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lesson #5 Use picture words to articulate the desired end.</b></div>
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Another quality lesson from MLK is that he harnessed the power of what I call picture words. Words that make followers see beyond today’s struggle but the benefit of the struggle, and how posterity will be pleased with their actions. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today! I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right down in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today!”</div>
Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-79801341030814228882013-01-23T11:44:00.001-08:002013-01-23T11:44:51.481-08:00Five Simple Steps To Becoming More Intelligent By Jesse Ford <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDgbCOjj63YE0SLFXjd50cnzbPJxaXy9pML2iKpQ8shfXn7W9YM2uBYDQ7YTH4mK5fXZGIGH6rAOjFlsb9xYH2kGGr5pKdjsfyZQ59mEAotKiwnev2Kv3EpGbtAyDrtGl_XmzNvY3TYw/s1600/Playing-Free-Chess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDgbCOjj63YE0SLFXjd50cnzbPJxaXy9pML2iKpQ8shfXn7W9YM2uBYDQ7YTH4mK5fXZGIGH6rAOjFlsb9xYH2kGGr5pKdjsfyZQ59mEAotKiwnev2Kv3EpGbtAyDrtGl_XmzNvY3TYw/s320/Playing-Free-Chess.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The brain is an amazing organ; the coordination centre of sensation
and intellect. There used to be a misconception about our brains, our
intelligence, and our IQ. We used to think that we were bound to live
with the intelligence level we had at any given time. New research has
shown that we can become more intelligent, smarter, and increase our IQ
levels by taking some specific yet simple actions. These are the actions
to take to become smarter and more intelligent:<br />
<br />
<strong>Action #1: Reshaping The Brain<br />
</strong><br />
Lets start with our brains. Our brains have elasticity and plasticity.
Over the course of your life, your brain has the ability to reshape
connections when faced with new experiences. At any age, the brain can
grow new neurons and the more mental stimulation you get, the more brain
function is improved. By brain training exercises and games you can
improve your attention, problem solving skills, memory, and processing
speed.<br />
<br />
<strong>Action #2: Learn a Foreign Language or Two</strong><br />
New research suggests that learning a foreign language gives you a
mental boost. It also protects you from age related mental decline and
lowers the risk of developing problems of memory loss or mental decline.
Those who speak several languages have a reduced risk of developing
cognitive problems. Learning a foreign language provides the brain with a
mental workout that fine tunes the brain and makes your brain more
powerful.<br />
Nowadays you can learn a foreign language in the comfort of your own
surroundings and just by devoting about 20 minutes a day over a period,
you can learn to speak a foreign language. Learning new languages
contribute to make you “smarter”. Let’s face it, it makes you appear to
be more sophisticated as well.<br />
<br />
<strong>Action #3: Do Mind Mapping</strong><br />
Mind mapping is a visual thinking tool that helps you get information
out, generate ideas, and analyze information. Mind mapping jogs your
creativity and helps you think in a more lateral way. It helps with
cognition and maximises the power of the brain. When you need to think
and generate information which is something that we do very often, mind
maps help you to make the most of it and really use the power of your
brain. At work and at home, you can use mind mapping for your thinking
and analysis of information.<br />
<br />
<strong>Action #4: Diet and Exercise</strong><br />
There are certain types of foods that help to boost your brain power
like blueberries, oily fish, whole grain foods, tomatoes, leafy green
vegetables, brown rice, and broccoli. Talk to your doctor about your
diet and about exercise so that you can get a diet and exercise plan
that is scientific and really works for you.<br />
<br />
<strong>Action #5: Increase Knowledge<br />
</strong><br />
Your brain has the ability to do more and you can stimulate the brain
through brain training, brain games, and learning foreign languages. In
addition to improving cognitive ability, you should also increase your
knowledge while stimulating the brain. Read books and explore new areas
of study. It helps to keep your brain sharp and makes you more
knowledgeable while doing so. Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-70054626281218455642013-01-12T19:37:00.001-08:002013-01-12T19:37:29.510-08:00It’s Sex Time by Yinka Akoleowo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpZ8zEkO8A4NCd65NxIbNU5Be-whRy_nnaj8g6RFqRfUhP7cnGrRaTIjSFRU5WSXsq_UWm_X4WSGrga929L97XQAJSUbgElJ0CkDTASKTcMqb8Q3T5t53rpsBnRo35QK4vnoGNEQ7NK4/s1600/romantic-photography-by-kitty17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpZ8zEkO8A4NCd65NxIbNU5Be-whRy_nnaj8g6RFqRfUhP7cnGrRaTIjSFRU5WSXsq_UWm_X4WSGrga929L97XQAJSUbgElJ0CkDTASKTcMqb8Q3T5t53rpsBnRo35QK4vnoGNEQ7NK4/s320/romantic-photography-by-kitty17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<strong>Yinka shares some values I endorse about sex, hear her
personal perspective to sex and marriage. Kindly do well to drop your
comments too, whether you agree with her or not. Enjoy!</strong><br />
<br />
Right from childhood, I’ve always carried the knowing that I am
unique, and that I need no one to affirm it. My thinking has always been
far above average even among my peers. I seem to always have an idea
about many things, if not the full picture, at least far more than half
of it. Early enough, I told myself “no to premarital sex” as soon as my
mum told me I was capable of bringing forth a child. Mum explained that
“Having a family is no child’s play; no matter how old or prepared you
are, there is always an element of surprise at each turn”.<br />
<br />
Up until now, premarital sex didn’t use to be a celebrated thing in
many Nigerian cultures, not among teenagers! As a teenager, I didn’t
want to make community headlines, dragging my family name into the mud,
by being the next teenage mother. So I made up my mind to do the right
thing. This is what I told myself; the only man that will know how
good, bad or ugly I am in bed will be the man that has taken me to the
altar.<br />
<br />
Not that I will run off with any man I see, but he must be
approved by my parent, my parent necessarily don’t have to choose for me
but he must be the man I love, and above all, he must love Christ, ‘cos
I believe that a man who loves Christ can’t be struggling to love his
wife, he should know how to love her right, give her the respect she
deserves and help her in every way he can without being a tyrant. Simply
because amidst so much love, respect, honour & humility is abides.<br />
<br />
When a woman loves, it’s with all her heart. Nothing is left.<br />
<br />
My stands on premarital sex and marriage might sound like a childhood
fantasy, but believe me, it has helped me bottle up well. Not one of
the above lines can be skipped; it must be truly followed to get the
expected result. It is true that we live in a world where everything
wrong now seems right, essentially because we erroneously choose to
believe that everyone is doing it. Please snap out of it! Yeah it might
seem as if everyone is losing their ability to discern from what is
actually good or bad, yet, it’s important to note that it’s only in
mathematics that negative * negative = positive. Our society might be
losing its didactic values but we must pause in a while and then whisper
some sensible truth to ourselves! Many things in life are worth waiting
for, and to every single/unmarried person reading this; sex is part of
it. How do you feel after doing it? So many adults are now in abusive
relationship because they put the last thing first. Premarital sex can
be likened to a man who wants to build a house & the first thing he
buys is the paint far before getting the land. Even if you are doing it
or you’re struggling with it, it’s never too late to put things right.
Believe me no one says it’s going to be easy, but it’s worth the effort.<br />
<br />
Our parents are the angels sent to guide us; they have lived long
enough to know where the tree a child is cutting will fall. Never
despise their warnings or frown at their rebukes because that which they
see while laying you probably won’t see even when you climb the top of
the tallest mountain.<br />
<br />
The role of God cannot be over emphasized, always put God first in
all you do then you will be great in life. Marriage is a sacred thing,
where you do it with God’s blessing then you have the license to have
sex in its full package. Old habits die hard but with God all things are
possible including abstinence.<br />
<br />
<strong>Yinka Akoleowo</strong><br />
<br />Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-28818750110825803422013-01-12T19:35:00.003-08:002013-01-12T19:45:36.104-08:00How to Procrastinate Positively In 2013 by Lanre Olagunju<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN19bbuLJ3iQspKKrstFQsF6nqBoUYdH8ajOS_Ypt50puq7sCHAvkohEam1nb23Xeee07oDHRbI_WgYoUKvZMGTpySc9Drrv1ozkbVSdPSK0m5dyiqX9wzpS8Z3He06wM65YF8uSVl5Q0/s1600/2013-anne-hathaway-33188648-2560-1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN19bbuLJ3iQspKKrstFQsF6nqBoUYdH8ajOS_Ypt50puq7sCHAvkohEam1nb23Xeee07oDHRbI_WgYoUKvZMGTpySc9Drrv1ozkbVSdPSK0m5dyiqX9wzpS8Z3He06wM65YF8uSVl5Q0/s320/2013-anne-hathaway-33188648-2560-1600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Killing
time is not killing, it’s suicide—Myles Munroe.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%;">One way or the other, procrastination
must have waddled its way into your goals for 2012, constituting an hindrance
to some of the unachieved goals. We all are unavoidably preys to
procrastination, essentially because we live in a world governed by the
principle of space-time, in which anything that must happen will have to take
time. Yeah time is an asset, a very vital resource at that, which is vastly
needed in converting dreams into reality. But in another sense, time is also a
restriction to man, essentially because we as humans can only do much within a
specific time frame and then defer and hope to do other things much later. Can
you now see why I said we all are preys to procrastination?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Just like there are two sides
to a story and also two sides to a coin. There are basically two sides to
procrastination. Many writers and self-improvement consultants who write and
talk about procrastination only talk about how bad it is, how it kills
opportunities and ideas and why one must be cured of it. Nevertheless, I wonder
if any of these motivational experts have been able to come up with a cure for
procrastination.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I vehemently disagree that
procrastination has nothing good about it, specifically because many of the
impressive and ambitious achievers procrastinate intelligently by choosing to
give priority to the most important task. On the other hand, non-effective
people are chronic procrastinators who neglect or defer important tasks as a
result of laziness and lack of focus. Yet, it would be stupid to argue </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">that of all the many ways to avoid personal success,
the most sure-fire way isn’t </span><span style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%;">procrastination. I’ve discovered that lazy
procrastinators who squander time are awkwardly optimistic people who think
they would still perfect a task by delaying it commencement to the tip end of the
deadline. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Therefore, they make
unrealistic statements like "I’m more creative and productive under
pressure." Or “I'll do it tomorrow when I’ll certainly be in the mood”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> When we procrastinate,
it’s not really because we actually lack the ability to estimate time. So it’s
not actually a problem of time management like many think. I like the way Dr.
Joseph Ferrari, a </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">world leading
expert on procrastination, who is an associate professor of psychology at De
Paul University in Chicago</span><span style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> puts it when he explained that </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"Telling someone who procrastinates to buy a
weekly planner is like telling someone with chronic depression to cheer
up," That’s actually not the case. One of the reasons why many indulge in
procrastination is that they lack the ability to overcome the inertia to get to
work. And from my personal experience as a writer who has to churn out at least
two articles every week, I’ve realized that the bigger the task, the harder it
is to get yourself to work. But once you overcome that resistance, it becomes a
lot easier to follow it through. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Another reason why people procrastinate when there is
a big project at hand is fear of failure or do I call it fear of wasting time
in case the project fails. They erroneously think that would automatically amount
to waste of time spent. Like one of my brilliant teachers would say, “failing
after trying your hands on a mathematical problem would have shown you ways of
how not to solve that problem”. And in fact, working on big projects always
leads to somewhere, whether the desired result is achieved or not.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">One more form of procrastination which is quite deadly
is the one some experts refer to as “unacknowledged-procrastination”. They call
it unacknowledged because you might not realize that you’re deferring major
task basically because you’re getting other things done, most times things that
aren’t necessarily related to your major task. There are times when I need to
write an article and I lazily spend so much time surfing the internet all in
the name of research. At other times, I find myself replying emails or
returning text messages. Or you just find the need to clean up the house, visit
a friend or take the dog on a walk, so you can avoid doing the main
thing. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I ask myself this question and most times it helps
“What's the best thing you could be working on at the moment, and why aren't
you? This should be the most vital question any ambitious person should be
asking in 2013. And the amazing thing is that once you ask yourself this
question and you follow the sincere answer that presents itself in your head,
you will not need to bother about procrastination anymore.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: ""serif"","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As I close, there’s a positive side to one’s ability
to intelligently defer some tasks. For Instance, when you get inspiration or
ideas on a particular project and you know that it’d pay off to set other
important things aside, it’s wise that you give attention to this fresh idea
which would in-turn, eventually increase your net productivity.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-60359312104614531702013-01-12T19:09:00.001-08:002013-01-12T19:09:21.507-08:00Of New Year Goals and Resolutions by @Lanre_Olagunju<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLTMltp420M5EXWg3fTxAcBB9qTpOCqiZ30qa-LQrnFNv342_9cR6FJ-gpzIZVrlyk5squlJp21ZgSQcwSYZ0wc2N9c3ydsr9s0d4fgd_U0ZJVxpRL_bmKhfpZx9_1cL0N_RxGBKS6o8/s1600/Insight+pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLTMltp420M5EXWg3fTxAcBB9qTpOCqiZ30qa-LQrnFNv342_9cR6FJ-gpzIZVrlyk5squlJp21ZgSQcwSYZ0wc2N9c3ydsr9s0d4fgd_U0ZJVxpRL_bmKhfpZx9_1cL0N_RxGBKS6o8/s320/Insight+pix.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I want to specially congratulate all my ardent followers
and readers for making it into the New Year. You honestly should find
some time to expressly ventilate an heartfelt thank-you to your guardian
angel for a job well done. Most essentially when you consider that as a
nation, 2012 was such a long year with several collections of
disasters, gruesome killings and drama.<br />
<br />
You might not necessarily be at a vantage point to dictate all the
happenings of 2013, but to a great extent, you personally can still tell
2013 that which you want it to do and the role it should play in this
chapter of the unconscious biography of yourself that you’re writing.
Moreover, 2013 is still a very obedient child.<br />
<br />
It’s actually a lot safer to pilot one’s life with clearly written
goals than to depend on any autopilot of any sort. It becomes easier to
persevere, remain focus and be persistent when goals are set and clearly
written. Nothing boosts the self-confidence of a person striving to
achieve a dream than the clearly written goals which clearly shows the
end from the beginning. Goals help in mapping out sharp and intelligent
problem solving strategies. Research conducted by sport psychologist
reveals that world’s best athletes have concise and simple daily
targets. They brilliantly understand how their daily targets connect
with their long term goals.<br />
<br />
I suggest that instead of a resolution which majorly focuses on
things you actually struggled with in previous years, in 2013, do goals.
Without any iota of doubt, you’d agree that many resolutions don’t live
beyond the few days of the first month. And the adverse effect of this
is that it makes you look incapacitated too early in the year, losing
your self-confidence and self-esteem over your inability to stay true to
them.<br />
<br />
So why focus on what you don’t want to do when life has given you a
plane slate where you can essentially write the things you want to see
yourself do and achieve. In fact, research says that only 8 percent of
those who actually make New Year resolutions truly keep them. I like the
way the author of The Word For Today daily devotional puts it. “The key
to breaking stubborn habits is not fighting them in your own strength.
That only keeps your focus on the problem, intensifying its power.
Changing your focus and submitting to God moment by moment is the key to
winning, whether it’s a problem or a hang-up’”<br />
<br />
It’s not just okay to come up with goals for the entire year in your
head. As a matter of fact, it’s as good as a waste of time, definitely
because they won’t live beyond the first few weeks of the year at best.
When goals are written, they become so real, easy to interpret and easy
to follow through. The case study of the three percent Harvard alumni
who wrote down their goals at graduation, and thereafter thirty years,
made more money than the 97 percent who did not; divulges that
successful people write down their goals. No wonder the bible said
“Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that
reads it.”<br />
<br />
It’s also important that you remain flexible as you go despite your
goals. This is important because things do not always go according to
plan, circumstances beyond your control might crop up, giving way to the
unexpected. At such times, flexibility will help in re-adjusting your
goals to suit into the unforeseen situation. In the same light, life
would throw opportunities you never planned at you, by being flexible,
you’d be able to respond and make the best use of them.<br />
<br />
Do have my best wishes in 2013!<br />
<br />
I am @Lanre_OlagunjuLanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-66830860454722965702012-12-01T04:06:00.000-08:002012-12-01T04:06:34.131-08:00Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Chinua Achebe at 82: We remember differently<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiAUrSBapKwGvapA6qyOo-pccytmfai4H1BNwq5pTmZ8GU_spE_8LQuuRQoqaZGdhcy77S5i-VllXLCMUQIP7oXcZ-a22UD3XDlFVOh0_tS3IrtMx_l08QrST2GLIRhkM0kUF1mPfsIg/s1600/adichie.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiAUrSBapKwGvapA6qyOo-pccytmfai4H1BNwq5pTmZ8GU_spE_8LQuuRQoqaZGdhcy77S5i-VllXLCMUQIP7oXcZ-a22UD3XDlFVOh0_tS3IrtMx_l08QrST2GLIRhkM0kUF1mPfsIg/s320/adichie.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I have met Chinua Achebe only three times. The first, at the National
Arts Club in Manhattan, I joined the admiring circle around him. A
gentle-faced man in a wheelchair.<br />
<br />
“Good evening, sir. I’m Chimamanda Adichie,” I said, and he replied, mildly, “I thought you were running away from me.”<br />
<br />
I mumbled, nervous, grateful for the crush of people around us. I had
been running away from him. After my first novel was published, I
received an email from his son. My dad has just read your novel and
liked it very much. He wants you to call him at this number. I read it
over and over, breathless with excitement. But I never called. A few
years later, my editor sent Achebe a manuscript of my second novel. She
did not tell me, because she wanted to shield me from the possibility of
disappointment. One afternoon, she called.<br />
<br />
“Chimamanda, are you sitting
down? I have wonderful news.” She read me the blurb Achebe had just
sent her. We do not usually associate wisdom with beginners, but here is
a new writer endowed with the gift of ancient storytellers. Adichie
knows what is at stake, and what to do about it. She is fearless or she
would not have taken on the intimidating horror of Nigeria’s civil war.
Adichie came almost fully made. Afterwards, I held on to the phone and
wept. I have memorized those words. In my mind, they glimmer still, the
validation of a writer whose work had validated me.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfheLCM7HGjfdD4CW7MkdiljPHvdQqCx0PtGkre04RJbNy-hqMvkJ1-xqfc-CQ44zRTIpLOZaFZ3OSYUJ3wGIM_KzmPmAflcDtoxpBYjp3wiew6Lb6XVH-FkAPAS71Vj9TGYF7BJs6fwg/s1600/Chinua_Achebe-300x215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfheLCM7HGjfdD4CW7MkdiljPHvdQqCx0PtGkre04RJbNy-hqMvkJ1-xqfc-CQ44zRTIpLOZaFZ3OSYUJ3wGIM_KzmPmAflcDtoxpBYjp3wiew6Lb6XVH-FkAPAS71Vj9TGYF7BJs6fwg/s1600/Chinua_Achebe-300x215.jpg" /></a>I grew up writing imitative stories. Of characters eating food I had
never seen and having conversations I had never heard. They might have
been good or bad, those stories, but they were emotionally false, they
were not mine. Then came a glorious awakening: Chinua Achebe’s fiction.
Here were familiar characters who felt true; here was language that
captured my two worlds; here was a writer writing not what he felt he
should write but what he wanted to write. His work was free of anxiety,
wore its own skin effortlessly. It emboldened me, not to find my voice,
but to speak in the voice I already had. And so, when that e-mail came
from his son, I knew, overly-thrilled as I was, that I would not call.
His work had done more than enough. In an odd way, I was so awed, so
grateful, that I did not want to meet him. I wanted some distance
between my literary hero and me.<br />
<br />
Chinua Achebe and I have never had a proper conversation. The second
time I saw him, at a luncheon in his honor hosted by the British House
of Lords, I sat across from him and avoided his eye. (“Chinua Achebe is
the only person I have seen you shy with,” a friend said). The third, at
a New York event celebrating fifty years of THINGS FALL APART, we
crowded around him backstage, Edwidge Danticat and I, Ha Jin and Toni
Morrison, Colum McCann and Chris Abani. We seemed, magically, bound
together in a warm web, all of us affected by his work. Achebe looked
pleased, but also vaguely puzzled by all the attention. He spoke softly,
the volume of his entire being turned to ‘low.’ I wanted to tell him
how much I admired his integrity, his speaking out about the disastrous
leadership in my home state of Anambra, but I did not. Before I went on
stage, he told me, “Jisie ike.” I wondered if he fully grasped, if
indeed it was possible to, how much his work meant to so many.<br />
<br />
History and civics, as school subjects, function not merely to teach
facts but to transmit more subtle things, like pride and dignity. My
Nigerian education taught me much, but left gaping holes. I had not been
taught to imagine my pre-colonial past with any accuracy, or pride, or
complexity. And so Achebe’s work, for me, transcended literature. It
became personal. ARROW OF GOD, my favorite, was not just about the
British government’s creation of warrant chiefs and the linked destinies
of two men, it became the life my grandfather might have lived. THINGS
FALL APART is the African novel most read – and arguably most loved – by
Africans, a novel published when ‘African novel’ meant European
accounts of ‘native’ life.<br />
<br />
Achebe was an unapologetic member of the
generation of African writers who were ‘writing back,’ challenging the
stock Western images of their homeland, but his work was not burdened by
its intent. It is much-loved not because Achebe wrote back, but because
he wrote back well. His work was wise, humorous, human. For many
Africans, THINGS FALL APART remains a gesture of returned dignity, a
literary and an emotional experience; Mandela called Achebe the writer
in whose presence the prison walls came down.<br />
<br />
Achebe’s most recent book, his long-awaited memoir of the
Nigerian-Biafra war, is both sad and angry, a book by a writer looking
back and mourning Nigeria’s failures. I wish THERE WAS A COUNTRY had
been better edited and more rigorously detailed in its account of the
war. But these flaws do not make it any less seminal: an account of the
most important event in Nigeria’s history by Nigeria’s most important
storyteller.<br />
<br />
An excerpt from the book has ignited great controversy among
Nigerians. In it, Achebe, indignant about the millions of people who
starved to death in Biafra, holds Obafemi Awolowo, Nigerian Finance
Minister during the war, responsible for the policy of blockading
Biafra. He quote’s Awolowo’s own words on the blockade – ‘all is fair in
war and starvation is one of the weapons of war. I don’t see why we
should feed our enemies fat in order for them to fight harder’ and then
argues that Awolowo’s support of the blockade was ‘driven by an
overriding ambition for power for himself in particular and for the
advancement of his Yoruba people in general.’<br />
<br />
I have been startled and saddened by the responses to this excerpt.
Many are blindingly ethnic, lacking in empathy and, most disturbing of
all, lacking in knowledge. We can argue about how we interpret the facts
of our shared history, but we cannot, surely, argue about the facts
themselves. Awolowo, as de facto ‘number two man’ on the Nigerian side,
was a central architect of the blockade on Biafra. During and after the
war, Awolowo publicly defended the blockade. Without the blockade, the
massive starvation in Biafra would not have occurred. These are the
facts.<br />
<br />
Some Nigerians, in responding to Achebe, have argued that the
blockade was fair, as all is fair in war. The blockade was, in my
opinion, inhumane and immoral. And it was unnecessary – Nigeria would
have won anyway, it was the much-better-armed side in a war that Wole
Soyinka called a shabby unequal conflict. The policy of starving a
civilian population into surrender does not merely go against the Geneva
conventions, but in this case, a war between siblings, people who were
formerly fellow country men and women now suddenly on opposite sides, it
seems more chilling. All is not fair in war.<br />
<br />
Especially not in a fratricidal war. But I do not believe the
blockade was a calculated power grab by Awolowo for himself and his
ethnic group; I think of it, instead, as one of the many dehumanizing
acts that war, by its nature, brings about.<br />
<br />
Awolowo was undoubtedly a great political leader. He was also – rare
for Nigerian leaders – a great intellectual. No Nigerian leader has,
arguably, articulated a political vision as people-centered as
Awolowo’s. For Nigerians from the west, he was the architect of free
primary education, of progressive ideas. But for Nigerians from the
east, he was a different man. I grew up hearing, from adults, versions
of Achebe’s words about Awolowo. He was the man who prevented an Igbo
man from leading the Western House of Assembly in the famous ‘carpet
crossing’ incident of 1952. He was the man who betrayed Igbo people when
he failed on his alleged promise to follow Biafra’s lead and pull the
Western region out of Nigeria. He was the man who, in the words of my
uncle, “made Igbo people poor because he never liked us.”<br />
<br />
At the end of the war, every Igbo person who had a bank account in
Nigeria was given twenty pounds, no matter how much they had in their
accounts before the war. I have always thought this a livid injustice. I
know a man who worked in a multinational company in 1965. He was, like
Achebe, one of the many Igbo who just could not believe that their lives
were in danger in Lagos and so he fled in a hurry, at the last minute,
leaving thousands of pounds in his account. After the war, his account
had twenty pounds. To many Igbo, this policy was uncommonly punitive,
and went against the idea of ‘no victor, no vanquished.’ Then came the
indigenization decree, which moved industrial and corporate power from
foreign to Nigerian hands. It made many Nigerians wealthy; much of the
great wealth in Nigeria today has its roots in this decree. But the Igbo
could not participate; they were broke.<br />
<br />
I do not agree, as Achebe writes, that one of the main reasons for
Nigeria’s present backwardness is the failure to fully reintegrate the
Igbo. I think Nigeria would be just as backward even if the Igbo had
been fully integrated – institutional and leadership failures run across
all ethnic lines. But the larger point Achebe makes is true, which is
that the Igbo presence in Nigerian positions of power has been much
reduced since the war. Before the war, many of Nigeria’s positions of
power were occupied by Igbo people, in the military, politics, academia,
business. Perhaps because the Igbo were very receptive to Western
education, often at the expense of their own traditions, and had both a
striving individualism and a communal ethic. This led to what, in
history books, is often called a ‘fear of Igbo domination’ in the rest
of Nigeria. The Igbo themselves were insensitive to this resentment, the
bombast and brashness that is part of Igbo culture only exacerbated it.
And so leading Igbo families entered the war as Nigeria’s privileged
elite but emerged from it penniless, stripped and bitter.<br />
<br />
Today, ‘marginalization’ is a popular word in Igboland. Many Igbo
feel marginalized in Nigeria, a feeling based partly on experience and
partly on the psychology of a defeated people. (Another consequence of
this psychology, perhaps, is the loss of the communal ethic of the Igbo,
much resented sixty years ago. It is almost non-existent today, or as
my cousin eloquently put it: Igbo people don’t even send each other.)<br />
Some responses to Achebe have had a ‘blame the victim’ undertone,
suggesting that Biafrians started the war and therefore deserved what
they got. But Biafrians did not ‘start the war.’ Nobody with a basic
knowledge of the facts can make that case.<br />
<br />
Biafrian secession was inevitable, after the federal government’s
failure to implement the agreements reached at Aburi, itself prompted by
the massacre of Igbo in the North. The cause of the massacres was
arguably the first coup of 1966. Many believed it to be an ‘Igbo’ coup,
which was not an unreasonable belief, Nigeria was already mired in
ethnic resentments, the premiers of the West and North were murdered
while the Eastern premier was not, and the coup plotters were Igbo.
Except for Adewale Ademoyega, a Yoruba, who has argued that it was not
an ethnic coup. I don’t believe it was. It seems, from most accounts, to
have been an idealistic and poorly-planned nationalist exercise aimed
at ridding Nigeria of a corrupt government. It was, also, horrendously,
inexcusably violent. I wish the coup had never happened. I wish the
premiers and other casualties had been arrested and imprisoned, rather
than murdered. But the truth that glares above all else is that the
thousands of Igbo people murdered in their homes and in the streets had
nothing to do with the coup.<br />
<br />
Some have blamed the Biafrian starvation on Ojukwu, Biafra’s leader,
because he rejected an offer from the Nigerian government to bring in
food through a land corridor. It was an ungenerous offer, one easy to
refuse. A land corridor could also mean advancement of Nigerian troops.
Ojukwu preferred airlifts, they were tactically safer, more strategic,
and he could bring in much-needed arms as well. Ojukwu should have
accepted the land offer, shabby as it was.<br />
<br />
Innocent lives would have been saved. I wish he had not insisted on a
ceasefire, a condition which the Nigerian side would never have agreed
to. But it is disingenuous to claim that Ojukwu’s rejection of this
offer caused the starvation. Many Biafrians had already starved to
death. And, more crucially, the Nigerian government had shown little
regard for Biafra’s civilian population; it had, for a while, banned
international relief agencies from importing food. Nigerian planes
bombed markets and targeted hospitals in Biafra, and had even shot down
an International Red Cross plane.<br />
<br />
Ordinary Biafrians were steeped in distrust of the Nigerian side.
They felt safe eating food flown in from Sao Tome, but many believed
that food brought from Nigeria would be poisoned, just as they believed
that, if the war ended in defeat, there would be mass killings of Igbo
people. The Biafrian propaganda machine further drummed this in. But,
before the propaganda, something else had sown the seed of hateful fear:
the 1966 mass murders of Igbo in the North. The scars left were deep
and abiding. Had the federal government not been unwilling or incapable
of protecting their lives and property, Igbo people would not have so
massively supported secession and intellectuals, like Achebe, would not
have joined in the war effort.<br />
<br />
I have always admired Ojukwu, especially for his early idealism, the
choices he made as a young man to escape the shadow of his father’s
great wealth, to serve his country. In Biafra, he was a flawed leader,
his paranoia and inability to trust those close to him clouded his
judgments about the execution of the war, but he was also a man of
principle who spoke up forcefully about the preservation of the lives of
Igbo people when the federal government seemed indifferent. He was, for
many Igbo, a Churchillian figure, a hero who inspired them, whose
oratory moved them to action and made them feel valued, especially in
the early months of the war.<br />
<br />
Other responses to Achebe have dismissed the war as something that
happened ‘long ago.’ But some of the people who played major roles are
alive today. We must confront our history, if only to begin to
understand how we came to be where we are today. The Americans are still
hashing out details of their civil war that ended in 1865; the Spanish
have only just started, seventy years after theirs ended. Of course,
discussing a history as contested and contentious as the Nigeria-Biafra
war will not always be pleasant. But it is necessary. An Igbo saying
goes: If a child does not ask what killed his father, that same thing
will kill him.<br />
<br />
What many of the responses to Achebe make clear, above all else, is
that we remember differently. For some, Biafra is history, a series of
events in a book, fodder for argument and analysis. For others, it is a
loved one killed in a market bombing, it is hunger as a near-constant
companion, it is the death of certainty. The war was fought on Biafrian
soil. There are buildings in my hometown with bullet holes; as a child,
playing outside, I would sometimes come across bits of rusty ammunition
left behind from the war. My generation was born after 1970, but we know
of property lost, of relatives who never ‘returned’ from the North, of
shadows that hung heavily over family stories. We inherited memory. And
we have the privilege of distance that Achebe does not have.<br />
<br />
Achebe is a war survivor. He was a member of the generation of
Nigerians who were supposed to lead a new nation, inchoate but full of
optimism. It shocked him, how quickly Nigerian fell apart. In THERE WAS A
COUNTRY he sounds unbelieving, still, about the federal government’s
indifference while Igbo people were being massacred in Northern Nigeria
in 1966. But shock-worthy events did not only happen in the North.
Achebe himself was forced to leave Lagos, a place he had called home for
many years, because his life was no longer safe. His crime was being
Igbo. A Yoruba acquaintance once told me a story of how he was nearly
lynched in Lagos at the height of the tensions before the war; he was
light-skinned, and a small mob in a market assumed him to be ‘Igbo
Yellow’ and attacked him. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos
was forced to leave. So was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of
Ibadan. Because they were Igbo. For Achebe, all this was deeply
personal, deeply painful. His house was bombed, his office was
destroyed.<br />
<br />
He escaped death a few times. His best friend died in battle. To
expect a dispassionate account from him is a remarkable failure of
empathy. I wish more of the responses had acknowledged, a real
acknowledgement and not merely a dismissive preface, the deep scars that
experiences like Achebe’s must have left behind.<br />
<br />
Ethnicity has become, in Nigeria, more political than cultural, less
about philosophy and customs and values and more about which bank is a
Yoruba or Hausa or Igbo bank, which political office is held by which
ethnicity, which revered leader must be turned into a flawless saint. We
cannot deny ethnicity. It matters. But our ethnic and national
identities should not be spoken of as though they were mutually
exclusive; I am as much Igbo as I am Nigerian. I have hope in the future
of Nigeria, mostly because we have not yet made a real, conscious
effort to begin creating a nation (We could start, for example, by not
merely teaching Maths and English in primary schools, but also teaching
idealism and citizenship.)<br />
<br />
For some non-Igbo, confronting facts of the war is uncomfortable,
even inconvenient. But we must hear one another’s stories. It is even
more imperative for a subject like Biafra which, because of our
different experiences, we remember differently. Biafrian minorities were
distrusted by the Igbo majority, and some were unfairly attacked,
blamed for being saboteurs. Nigerian minorities, particularly in the
midwest, suffered at the hands of both Biafrian and Nigerian soldiers.
‘Abandoned property’ cases remain unresolved today in Port Harcourt, a
city whose Igbo names were changed after the war, creating “Rumu” from
“Umu.” Nigerian soldiers carried out a horrendous massacre in Asaba,
murdering the males in a town which is today still alive with painful
memories. Some Igbo families are still waiting, half-hoping, that a lost
son, a lost daughter, will come home. All of these stories can sit
alongside one another. The Nigerian stage is big enough. Chinua Achebe
has told his story. This week, he turns 82. Long may he live.Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-15082482850766758282012-12-01T03:55:00.000-08:002012-12-01T04:12:02.528-08:00PREPARING FOR JOB APTITUDE TESTS? THERE’S NOW AN APP FOR THAT<!--[if !mso]>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikD5q7bI__xFqmIqenIqmtG9wDtvdEj9uLty3BxNi-bulip_dDrqk_3ksN4qtrza4d_QU0gpqrRRWyan0RLVRfh2OwJi7pTIz2cL9vyn1BLtXOrdjjw8ayBC4QVW2915b9vE4bresM2LY/s1600/360+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikD5q7bI__xFqmIqenIqmtG9wDtvdEj9uLty3BxNi-bulip_dDrqk_3ksN4qtrza4d_QU0gpqrRRWyan0RLVRfh2OwJi7pTIz2cL9vyn1BLtXOrdjjw8ayBC4QVW2915b9vE4bresM2LY/s320/360+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Every year, over half a million university graduates seek
carrier opportunities at blue-chip companies in Nigeria. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Majority of these companies subject graduates
to job aptitude tests to gauge their quantitative, verbal, data interpretation
and spatial reasoning skills during the first or second-stage screening process.
Feedback from many of these companies showed us that about 80% of the job
candidates fail the exam irrespective of the class of degree held. The number
one cause of this is poor preparation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Enter 360jobtest, the first-of-its-kind mobile app
that lets users practice up-to-date relevant test questions currently used by
blue-chip companies in banking, oil and gas, insurance, consulting, auditing
and consumer-goods industries. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
provides advanced mobile features that allows users to study rigorously and
practice strictly to test time, as well as provide a summative result analysis
that shows whether the candidate is ready to take the real job test or not.
Here are some of features in a list:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Works offline after download</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Up-to-date questions used by top companies, with carefully
explained answers</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Test simulation with timing feature that allows candidates to
practice to test time</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Adaptive results analysis that gauges preparedness for real
test</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">News about upcoming job tests and a closed forum to discuss
them</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF7OjZnWwHpEvmx0WLiaDIKOXGNuUfcYI9diC6bflWyMIN82LsFQrLUBcui20f0f_-hz8LeT3WgkB1eukKc6nJBFFPCX0jZ7x7_2F0mgWxLbcedoGUO-Z2Qv2KTHX3rSvu_xTrn3FMnA/s1600/360+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF7OjZnWwHpEvmx0WLiaDIKOXGNuUfcYI9diC6bflWyMIN82LsFQrLUBcui20f0f_-hz8LeT3WgkB1eukKc6nJBFFPCX0jZ7x7_2F0mgWxLbcedoGUO-Z2Qv2KTHX3rSvu_xTrn3FMnA/s320/360+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Launch Date</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The app is expected to
debut online on Friday, 30<sup>th</sup> November, 2012. This will mark the
first release of unlock codes for paying users who want to upgrade from the
trial version (with just over 30 questions) to the full version (with over 1000
questions).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">N.B:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> It cost N1,000 to buy an unlock code. We are presently
taking orders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Partnership
With Jobberman</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jobberman.com is the
leading jobs website in West Africa with over 250,000 unique monthly visitors.
The company behind 360jobtest, Youngsoul Ltd, has made a strategic partnership
with Jobberman Ltd, which makes the company the sole distributor of the mobile
app. According to the CEO of Youngsoul Ltd, Mr. Boye Oshinaga, “Partnering with
Jobberman gives us the ample opportunity to have conversation with about
500,000 fresh graduates, and possibly make customers of most of them”. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the words of the
Co-founder of Jobberman and Product Lead, Mr. Opeyemi Awoyemi, “Youngsoul has
produced a fantastic product which appeals strongly to their target market; we
are excited about the possibilities of the partnership and the results that can
be achieved through the Jobberman platform”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">About
Youngsoul</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Youngsoul is Nigeria’s foremost digital test prep
company, our products include Nigeria’s first Interactive DVDs for UTME and
SSCE, we’re presently selling thousands of copies to DVD retailers all over the
country as well as companies and education arms of government. Youngsoul
Nigeria also produce mobile applications for professional exam preparation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Our vision is to become the foremost e-learning
company on the continent. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Contact</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For
more information, or for an interview, please contact:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wale
Hassan, Chief Marketing Officer </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">+234
807 730 4925, contact@360jobtest.com</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-60055081197575704692012-12-01T03:31:00.000-08:002012-12-01T03:31:11.455-08:00BURNA BOY COVERS THE SECOND ISSUE OF THE SCENE MAGAZINE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZltggZNsxrwIhxwbcGeqHtiJKwPFcdo3GX9030IXuE9ut9eaNBIBmSajlaTQnzkAbI7Tey7GeWIxqeIZokcW5qXb4AUVY3Xa8uaUCf7CyYN_bf7SXX3CfEVnxPGYB97EXn1JjQdCU93o/s1600/the-scene-2nd-issue.pdf-Adobe-Reader-786x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZltggZNsxrwIhxwbcGeqHtiJKwPFcdo3GX9030IXuE9ut9eaNBIBmSajlaTQnzkAbI7Tey7GeWIxqeIZokcW5qXb4AUVY3Xa8uaUCf7CyYN_bf7SXX3CfEVnxPGYB97EXn1JjQdCU93o/s320/the-scene-2nd-issue.pdf-Adobe-Reader-786x1024.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />
Burna Boy graces the cover of the 2nd Edition of THE <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1354358502_0">SCENE MAGAZINE</span>.
The rising afro-hiphop artiste is popularly known for his hit single
'LIKE TO PARTY' which has taken over radio and T.V stations across
Nigeria. Also in the magazine are exclusive interviews with music stars
Flowssick, Rilwan and Iyanya. The 'BE INSPIRED' column also features
former Presidential candidate and Ovation magazine's editor-in-chief,
Chief Dele Momodu.<br />
<br />
This edition also includes exclusive coverage of some
of the hottest concerts and parties between September and November as
well as interesting articles on Fashion, Style, Sports and Beauty while
also managing to celebrate Nigeria's 52nd birthday with an independence
day theme added to the magazine. You surely don't want to miss out on
this edition. With the magazine now also available online it's only a
laptop or smartphone away.<br /><br />The link to read online is:<a href="http://www.pageflip-flap.com/read?r=IabE1WKCSSh95xjD" target="_blank">http://www.pageflip-flap.com/read?r=IabE1WKCSSh95xjD
</a>Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-90356156804096755252012-11-22T04:43:00.003-08:002012-11-22T04:43:50.616-08:00#PASTORSJETS: MY ISSUES WITH NIGERIAN PASTORS AND THEIR JETS BY @LANRE_OLAGUNJU<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5fQNTgNAIv0Rku3bOGbYXJe15qRUJgddmaMP44EPTlVuyNqcc0EgQfrozBMujZz3acRtZS3GEw3OgIcSJleie0idUxbYXfMvl2Y1kFPouf4ojQiw5-nTP6-H8q-fj2gRjcbBXerpZTA/s1600/oritsejafor_jet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5fQNTgNAIv0Rku3bOGbYXJe15qRUJgddmaMP44EPTlVuyNqcc0EgQfrozBMujZz3acRtZS3GEw3OgIcSJleie0idUxbYXfMvl2Y1kFPouf4ojQiw5-nTP6-H8q-fj2gRjcbBXerpZTA/s320/oritsejafor_jet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The most controversial issue on my TL this week was the issue of
Nigerian pastors and their new quest for private jets. Just like it’s
said that there’s no smoke without fire, the CAN president, Pastor Ayo
Oritsejafor’s jet gift was actually responsible for firing this
controversy. On the occasion of the senior clergy’s birthday and the
celebration of his 40<sup>th</sup> anniversary in ministry, he was given
a private jet as a gift. It’s interesting to see Nigerians, most
especially Christians get interested in issues that concern the
extravagant lives of their pastors. It proves that the days of <em>“sidon dey look”</em>
are over. On the present issue of extravagant living, I earnestly think
that God is actually speaking to pastors with the voice of their
followers.<br />
<br />
Though pastor Oritsejafor’s jet was a gift, yet many argued that he
could have rejected it. The past week’s controversy has revealed many
other pastors who have quite a number, and the questions of “<em>what’s the use</em>?”
keeps coming to mind. If we are advocating the need to hold our
political leaders and office holders accountable, honestly speaking,
pastors and Imams shouldn’t be excluded. To those who think it’s rude or
ungodly to re-examine the things “men of God” do and say. I say wake up
and take a cue from the Berea Christians in the bible. This guys do not
just receive the word with all eagerness, they daily, personally,
search out the scriptures, to check whether the things the preachers
said were actually so.<br />
<br />
Many of the preachers obviously claim and want us to believe that they
need the private jets to spread the word of God round the world. The
question is what are some of them doing with two, three and even four
jets? As a child who was brought up with the Foursquarian doctrine,
where moderation is a watch word. I keep finding it difficult to see our
recent day clergies struggling with the biblical instruction of “let
your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” It’s ok to
eat from what you do and be comfortable, be it circularly or in the
religious circle but moderation is key.<br />
<br />
During the #OccupyNigeria protest in January, Nigerians were clamouring
that presidency should reduce the cost of running government,
essentially when it became known to all and sundry that the presidency
feeds on almost a billion Naira per annum. It’s sad that some religious
leaders are also misplacing their priorities. The fact that Nigerians
expects more from them than the dirty and heartless politicians is the
reason why they purchasing private jets is becoming a bone of
contention. Religious bodies should be thinking of more ways to
eradicate poverty, speak truth to power rather than just eating and
dinning with the political class and then claiming that all is well!
With all the money in display, they should build schools that are
affordable in the real sense of the word “affordable” just like the
missionaries of old did.<br />
<br />
Over 70% of the people they lead constitute the poor in the society and
realistically it’s from the financial donations of these people that
they accumulate their wealth. The major challenge with leadership in
this part of the world is that it’s void of sensitivity and human
feeling. Or how else do you explain that a religious leader who; flies a
private jet in the worth of billions of Naira, who pays the Pilots
thousands of dollars per year, pays for hanger charges at least
$4000/month, Insurance, maintenance, jet fuel and the rest… has many of
his congregation hungry, jobless and even homeless . Even Jesus was
mindful of the belly of his congregation; hence he had to miraculously
use five breads and two fishes to feed the multitude. By the time the
fearful revolution former president, Olusegun Obasanjo predicted during
the week comes, I’m afraid the mass of unemployed youth, in anger, might
not be able to differentiate political leaders from religious leaders,
because you don’t widen the gap between the poor and the rich and say
all is well.<br />
<br />
Beside that some of these senior pastors with their quest for privet
jets are fulfilling the prophesy of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, they are
actually refreshing the relevance of some of his controversial sayings.<br />
<br />
With this private jet issue, Fela’s suffering and smiling song , where he said <em>“Archbishop na miliki, Pope na enjoyment, Imam na gbaladun” </em>becomes much more than just a controversial song. <br />
<br />Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-22206378391614354352012-11-06T13:41:00.000-08:002012-11-06T13:41:44.167-08:0010 SIGNS HE’S NEVER GOING TO PROPOSE BY FUTURE SCOPES <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9ugaw5oOrHgRf2H4RBVM8RH9sGSevyUkWUmTQqlIu4eVUMXtu2M5OYHZmypq6xPUpHsY7KVmDziHQzFEx0aLWGgW1AKw4oFU5fk-StLLZGNgEETlS4osLdCCw2dxXvp_H-TA2Vp8lKs/s1600/Couple-proposal560x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9ugaw5oOrHgRf2H4RBVM8RH9sGSevyUkWUmTQqlIu4eVUMXtu2M5OYHZmypq6xPUpHsY7KVmDziHQzFEx0aLWGgW1AKw4oFU5fk-StLLZGNgEETlS4osLdCCw2dxXvp_H-TA2Vp8lKs/s1600/Couple-proposal560x350.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the biggest dating
questions which haunt women is whether her boyfriend is ready to commit. She
may be sticking around with him for almost a couple of years now, hoping that
he will make up his mind and still waiting for the elusive engagement ring. If
you don’t want this to happen to you, learn to pick up ten signs which tell you
that he’s not going to propose marriage in a hurry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He never discusses marriage: </span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is perhaps the first
hint that should start ringing warning bells in your mind. Your boyfriend
cannot be caught dead talking about marriage as an institution or even
commenting on commercials for wedding products and services. He won’t mention
it even if his own brother is getting married and he is going to be the best
man. His aversion to the M-word should be indication enough that marriage does
not figure anywhere in his near future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; direction: ltr; line-height: 19.2pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 15pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He is hugely ambitious: </span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Guys whose only mission
in their lives is to reach the top of their professional ladder are likely to take
their time settling down. This is because emotional commitment to a partner
might force them to cut down on their working hours and make networking with
business contacts or frequent out-of-town trips difficult. Though this is not
to say that married guys don’t find success – witness President Obama and Bill
Gates – super ambitious men who are perpetually looking for the next bigger and
better thing are more likely to consider marriage as leading to professional
stagnation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; direction: ltr; line-height: 19.2pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 15pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All his friends are single: </span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is as sure a sign as
any that your boyfriend is not going to propose marriage. If you notice
that his social circle is exclusively made of bachelors and divorced men, it is
evident that he is uncomfortable around married couples and has no plans to
join their ranks in near future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; direction: ltr; line-height: 19.2pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 15pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He has strong sexual needs: </span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A guy who places great
emphasis on sex and considers it the most important part of a relationship is
unlikely to settle for a single partner. Gone are the days when men could be
baited into marriage on the lure of sex. The dissociation of sex and marriage
as well as sexual freedom for women has also made it easier for men to keep
sleeping around unless they wish to marry for other reasons. And if your
boyfriend has a large sexual appetite, it is unlikely to be satisfied by a
single person. He will sooner or later get tired of being with you and move on
to someone else he can go to bed with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; direction: ltr; line-height: 19.2pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 15pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He lives out of a suitcase</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Men with unstable
living conditions usually have priorities like work and travel which are bound
to clash with a stable married life. You may be thrilled to have a
high-flying war correspondent or wildlife photographer as a boyfriend,
but such people are unlikely to settle down to tame domesticity. Far easier to
spot – and avoid – are guys who are in and out of jobs or in trouble with the
law and thus perpetually on the move. Rather look for men who have stable lives
since they are the ones more likely to be looking for stable relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; direction: ltr; line-height: 19.2pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 15pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He does not take you to meet his family</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: This is an unmistakable
sign that a guy is not considering marriage even though he may be dating
someone. Men usually discuss their families only with those who are close
enough to be let into their inner lives. If your boyfriend has never suggested
that you meet his parents and even appears to be uncomfortable talking about
them to you, then perhaps he is not ready to make you an intrinsic part of his
life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; direction: ltr; line-height: 19.2pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 15pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You don’t figure in his plans</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: When talking about his
future, does your guy merely discuss his goals of starting a business someday
and are his dreams limited to retiring by the sea with his very own beach house
and luxury boat? If so or something similar, then this is an indication that
you are not part of his future plans and thus unlikely to be his wife any time
soon. Unless of course, he goes through a life-changing experience and realizes
the value of a committed relationship which is again putting too much store by
chance and therefore not worth wasting your life for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; direction: ltr; line-height: 19.2pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 15pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">8.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He doesn’t ask you about yours: </span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a reversal of the
above point, a guy unwilling to commit will also be uninterested to know about
your life goals and hopes for the future. The present – comfortably carefree
and uncomplicated – is good enough for him. He does not want to know if you
want to eventually settle in the suburbs or how many kids would you like to
have and whether you would prefer little girls or boys. Hell, he doesn’t even
want to know where you have always wanted to go for your honeymoon! If you find
all this true in case of your boyfriend, then you can kiss your dreams of
marrying him goodbye and start looking for a more suitable guy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; direction: ltr; line-height: 19.2pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 15pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">9.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He is divorced: </span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While divorced men are
technically single and thus seeming candidates for a committed relationship, if
your guy has gone through a particularly messy divorce, then probably he cannot
bear the thought of marrying again. To be sure about this, pry around gently to
see how badly he feels about his breakup and whether the scars are deep enough
to be permanent. Other than emotional issues, a divorced man may also be caught
up in child support and alimony so as to make any further commitments
completely out of the question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; direction: ltr; line-height: 19.2pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 15pt; text-indent: -0.25in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">10.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He is not forthcoming about personal
information</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Have
you ever wondered why your boyfriend is always vague when you ask him about his
work and where he lives? You might have a rough idea that he is into finance
and that he commutes from the suburbs but if he is unwilling to clearly share
his personal information with you, probably he has something to hide – a spouse
or a lover maybe. Or more likely he is determined to keep you away from the
rest of his personal life. Not exactly marriage material, is he?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No one can say for sure
what goes on in a person’s mind and what influences his/her decisions. But if
your boyfriend displays all or most of the above signs, then more likely than
not, he is not yet ready to propose marriage to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-74871930955259588852012-11-06T12:21:00.002-08:002012-11-06T13:00:51.591-08:00#OKADABAN: THE TERMINATION OF A NECESSARY EVIL BY @LANRE_OLAGUNJU<div class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEQvx-NEsWwdhIOB5XozX-t9QqBKJbB_t_g8mOPGQXzamxckgW3ieJ_PupDdyUGPL20EBcR_kd_0NsiyEgIMUbO3g7MIo4_rmD0hDC7LQPLZpMFjsE6e4nROqlBMaohp5khY-mqtm6GY/s1600/Okada-protest-418x215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEQvx-NEsWwdhIOB5XozX-t9QqBKJbB_t_g8mOPGQXzamxckgW3ieJ_PupDdyUGPL20EBcR_kd_0NsiyEgIMUbO3g7MIo4_rmD0hDC7LQPLZpMFjsE6e4nROqlBMaohp5khY-mqtm6GY/s320/Okada-protest-418x215.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It might be difficult to look beyond
the poverty and backwardness in our society, but only when we try, will it
become intelligible that the use of motorcycle for commercial transportation
has to stop. Aside that it’s unsafe, in the real sense it’s an abuse of the
product itself, essentially when you consider that it was originally never
meant for commercial transportation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Motorcycles were initially not part of our transportation
system. Institutional failure gave room for them in the first place. Okada came
to being as a result of government’s failure to create adequate jobs and
transportation facility that can cater for the growing population. No
developing city can permit the nuisance they constitute on our roads, let alone
the threat they pose to safety and security, security in the sense that it aids
the easy movement of weapons and ammunitions and also the sudden influx of many
okada riders who came into Lagos after they were banned in Abuja, Port
Harcourt, Uyo and other states. This in itself is a threat to the city of
Lagos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Despite the
annoyance in many Lagosians, we can’t but agree with Governor Fashola when he
said “visit the hospitals and emergency wards and see those who have lost
limbs, arms, those who had lost children or those who had become orphans by the
recklessness of the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">okada</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>riders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Honestly, Nigerians should expect that if we must progress as a
nation, many more difficult and unpopular laws and decisions would be needed.
The only challenge is that our leaders have a knack for doing good things in
bad ways, which majorly questions the sanity in their policy. Look at the fuel
subsidy issue that put the entire nation to a stand-still in January for
instance, and here again is Fashola destroying bikes. They shouldn’t have
destroyed those seized bikes. Not for any reason! That in my opinion is cruel.
Like some other states did, they should have made plans for them to pay more to
receive brand new tricycles instead of their seized bikes. Nigerian politicians
need to develop sensitivity and a human face to leadership; hence of what
essence is democracy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Trust they say is built on antecedents. Until Nigerians have a
higher level of trust in their leaders, unpopular decisions taken by
politicians will always be yelled at and seen as anti-people. This same
spontaneous Governor in collaboration with his party gave out free crash
helmets to okada riders during the 2011 general election and now it’s a
different ball game entirely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Fashola actually once said it’s only a dumb student that repeats
a class. The denotation of this statement might actually be responsible for
many of the overzealous laws that have characterized the second term of his
administration. Or how else do you explain that a governor who doubles as a
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who in every sense should actually know better,
will zealously and unreasonably criminalize traffic offenses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Lagosians are not dumb. All they are angry and mad at is that
Fashola and his group of advisers are yet to understand the concept of creating
alternatives. And that for every action there will be several equal and
opposite reactions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Many of these
okada men used to be artisans; welders, carpenters, tailors and the rest. Just
like a welder I spoke with asked me “when there’s no light to work, how do I
buy diesel and still make money? So I’d to settle for okada.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">No be say me self won die now</span></em>”. Lagos state government
needs to think deep about the aftermath of the widened gap between the haves
and don’t haves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Fashola recently in Lagos urged business executives and
corporate leaders to be mindful of the type of ventures they support,
emphasizing that tricycles known as Keke Marwa represents the sign of India’s
age of poverty which the country is doing so much to do away with by busy
manufacturing TATA buses. Fashola said he wonders how Nigerians are now embracing
it wholeheartedly. On the contrary, I wonder why he can’t learn the simple
lesson of creating alternatives from the same Indian government he used as
example.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In a society majorly comprised of the jobless and the poor, with
no hope of social security, a society where hunger beat many soft like clay,
you just don’t preach normalcy and order by banning a bad thing that comes with
several good benefits. Moreover the ruling class will never have a feel of the
consequences of such drastic actions. So how on earth do they expect people to
see sanity in their decisions?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQTkCTQjYKz9VoqISDBYbDqsPLFdXpMiUhm5QWDBAMObdQL_VxKQoPz7yKP9DDN1_5mxvx1PkLs9OBBwY6vSHzwXXlcSBnaciKGlUznL-EmnoxWaZyh_xqXICb0te-h8viL8sV7Kikes/s1600/DSC001472-300x178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQTkCTQjYKz9VoqISDBYbDqsPLFdXpMiUhm5QWDBAMObdQL_VxKQoPz7yKP9DDN1_5mxvx1PkLs9OBBwY6vSHzwXXlcSBnaciKGlUznL-EmnoxWaZyh_xqXICb0te-h8viL8sV7Kikes/s1600/DSC001472-300x178.jpg" /></a></div>
<div dir="LTR" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Many of our roads are so bad and un-motorable. I had to
take the picture of this part of Mushin road, a route I take almost every day.
When you consider the traffic caused by such roads especially when it rains,
okada becomes the available alternative if you must meet up. Ijegun road,
Jakande Estate in Oke-afa in Isolo to Ejigbo road got some attention after so
much complains, yet it hasn’t been completed donkey years after the contract
has been awarded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="RTL" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span dir="LTR" style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Lagos State
government needs to do more in terms of infrastructure, transportation and good
roads, before coming up with harsh laws and decisions. Fashola needs to be
reminded that his tenure made all Lagosians, including bike men who pay for
various nameless tickets, pay more in tax than any previous administration.
Lagosians are playing their part. We can’t wait to see the tax collected transform
the whole of Lagos and not some designated areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="RTL" style="direction: rtl; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed;">
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<span dir="LTR" style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Follow
@Lanre_Olagunju on Twitter</span><span dir="LTR" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-4317713453472106472012-11-03T10:37:00.001-07:002012-11-03T10:37:50.066-07:00NIGERIA WON’T CHANGE, UNTIL WE ARE TIRED BY @JIDELEIGH<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgxX3TWD47V_52Qp-X2RF1Jde0bPscCHM1_Xk0oCd17I98qeN-iJlH0-jEVi8ewAO_k_bOukzI3tvU8mEsQb6orrH1fWMfPARw5sl6ILVVcdYDO68nh2eQBicG9PxW-PERM6t5DLxDiw/s1600/images1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgxX3TWD47V_52Qp-X2RF1Jde0bPscCHM1_Xk0oCd17I98qeN-iJlH0-jEVi8ewAO_k_bOukzI3tvU8mEsQb6orrH1fWMfPARw5sl6ILVVcdYDO68nh2eQBicG9PxW-PERM6t5DLxDiw/s1600/images1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Just as darkness is the absence of light, so would I attribute violence, extra-judicial killings, acts of terrorism and every other social vice that has plagued this supposed great nation of ours to idleness. An idle mind isn’t just the devil’s workshop; it’s the devil’s headquarters. A hungry man can’t but be angry. So what happens when you have a hungry idle man? What a combination! You see him harassing commercial bus conductors, leading mob actions, waylaying helpless citizens etc.<br />
<br />
“It must be clear that the Nigerian government cannot protect your workers or assets. Leave our land while you can or die in it…. Our aim is to totally destroy the capacity of the Nigerian government to export oil.”MEND warned the oil industry giants in January 2006 via email. They were true to their words as we know how many expatriates, civilians and law enforcement agents lost their lives ever since.<br />
<br />
I rack my brain, trying to figure out the cause of these terrible happenings that befell Nigeria in the past few weeks, the #Aluu killings and that of Mubi amongst others. Despite that I don’t want to hastily conclude, I still want to say that idleness has a hand in it all.<br />
<br />
I find it hard to comprehend the logic behind why the so-called trained police force, will have to be assisted by Vigilante groups, a group of uneducated, untrained men. Some states even go as far as passing laws to legitimize them. Sometimes, I wonder if deep thoughts were put into these decision making processes. The most bizarre twist is that these vigilante groups are answerable to no known authority, they are absolutely free. This however means that whenever they decide to go rogue, then nation better start preparing another amnesty plan.<br />
<br />
Aint we tired of how emergency services arrive too late at emergency scenes or are we just going to sit in our “tokunbo” cars and pretend to be comfortable on roads that claim more lives yearly than even the Boko-Haram sect has ever done.<br />
<br />
The judicial system has failed to the height that we now find enemies in the police force and friends with the devilish instinct to lynch our fellow citizens. Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, former attorney general of the federation in his speech at October 1st Platforms 10.2 event, said categorically that Nigeria has the lowest number of convicts in record in the world, despite our population of over 150 million. It’s either that Nigerians are one of the most well behaved people in the world or the criminals are here with us. Don’t ask me! We all know which is correct.<br />
<br />
As many of us who think that the best way out of this ‘naija’ palaver is to lay low, stay out of trouble, get a good education, don’t owe any debt, say your prayers and get a decent life, you just need to think again, because the stench from the rotting system will definitely catch up with you, either in the form insecurity, poor healthcare system, unemployment, injustice or insensitivity.<br />
<br />
We must be reminded that democracy is a government of the people, for the people and by the people. The ‘people’ in the definition actually refers to the over 150million of us all, and just like the numerous parts of a motor, we are all just as important as one another in our functionalities, right from the president, through to the market women and the almajiris.<br />
<br />
One mistake common to us Nigerians is thinking that the responsibility of managing this nation and our lives solely lies with the government, forgetting that we all have a part to play. Moreover, our government has not minced words in telling us that they don’t give a damn, and that we are all on our own and that not until our existence affects the daily production of crude oil or the ambience in the presidential villa, we are considered non-existent.<br />
<br />
A system that doesn’t have measures for check and balances is one that is about to run aground. The Nigerian system was originally designed to check and balance itself (executive, judiciary and legislative) and curb one another’s excesses but what do we have today? The three arms have formed a coalition, taking us as far away from the promise land as we could get, what is worse is that they seem not to be relenting. No thanks to corruption.<br />
<br />
A couple of weeks has passed as Lagosian are still trying to adjust to the new traffic laws which in my opinion is not the best our legislature could come up with. Let’s neglect that it is loaded with so much fine to the tone of #30000 and #50000, which makes me conclude that Fashola’s government is broke, the laws are victimizing, incomplete and also serves as a tool for harassment.<br />
<br />
In 1972, right hand vehicles were banned, it became a law that anyone found on the road would be impounded and the licensing officers that registered such vehicles would be prosecuted. This law clearly states the object of concern (right hand vehicles) and who will bear the grunt should it find its way to the road (the owner of the vehicle and the licensing officer).<br />
<br />
It’s high time we all manned our duty posts, screaming, praying, resisting, criticizing, encouraging, #occupying till things change, be law abiding, vexing because we all have a part to play in the betterment of this ‘great’ nation.<br />
<br />
Jide Niyi-leigh<br />
<br />
Jide_leigh@yahoo.comLanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-38082225568500785282012-10-18T10:46:00.000-07:002012-10-18T10:46:34.217-07:00MY FELLOW JUNGLE MEN BY @LANRE_OLAGUNJU<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGRUCZ15m6ONeiLbJudOhLrx0H255aZaRNpdidaiFsbbc356PP0aTNFesA3xJ83IsjCJz7DCPwrMumRDwWh22Gf7z4K3fSUviK5k_tZr6jW6EJAdk3ch_LXaxruJ_gqlVvEILnsiKWA4/s1600/Candle_burning2-225x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGRUCZ15m6ONeiLbJudOhLrx0H255aZaRNpdidaiFsbbc356PP0aTNFesA3xJ83IsjCJz7DCPwrMumRDwWh22Gf7z4K3fSUviK5k_tZr6jW6EJAdk3ch_LXaxruJ_gqlVvEILnsiKWA4/s1600/Candle_burning2-225x300.jpg" /></a></div>
When you ponder on the recent cycle of madness epitomized by mad
leadership and disordered followers in a jungle damned by its people
such as ours, you just want to wish that the year 2012 be erased out of
the history of this big jungle which never seems to be tired of
constantly hearing the worst of itself.<br />
<br />
When you look into the massacre of the over forty students in Mubi in
Adamawa on Independence Day, and the heartless killing of the four
young and ambitious UNIPORT undergraduates, you definitely want to agree
with Shakespeare that “hell is empty and all the devils are here.”<br />
<br />
Some who have condemned the sad Aluu killing have said our thieving
politicians should be the ones Nigerians carry out jungle justice on. I
can’t but disagree vehemently. We should rather advocate for law and
order. If the law says anyone found guilty of stealing public funds be
put to death by hanging. So be it! ‘cos that is the law. Our society
can’t afford to operate like this; else we completely lose our human
feeling and then birth more Hitlers than the world can bear.<br />
<br />
Jungle justice is a prevalent occurrence in our jungle only that
social media, at this time, has amplified our nakedness and brought the
picture of ourselves and our failed system to us in a manner that we are
finding hard to accept.<br />
<br />
It’s evidently clear that we are not safe in this country and that we
all are on our own. There’s a limit to which we can rely on
“self-government” by that I mean the type of government whereby citizens
virtually provide every amenity including security. It so sad that I
sometimes, out of anger, feel that one day Nigerians would be able to do
without the government. We provide our own water by drilling boreholes
all over the place not being mindful of the environmental hazard it
might bring. We provide our own power with our generators, despite that
the fume they generate is hazardous to health. In many communities,
people contribute money to fix roads so the roads might be quite
motorable. We just can’t continue to wait for the inept government.
What a shame!<br />
<br />
When you need the fire men to salvage a fire accident, you can be
sure that they won’t show up, and when they do, they either don’t have
water or don’t have enough of it. When we need the police to show up at
crime scenes, they either don’t have a van to come with or they don’t
have fuel in it. And when you expect that the police or law enforcement
agents show up and salvage a case such as that of the senseless Aluu
killing, they’d rather look on, laugh with the mob, and then approve
that the mob burn the boys alive. Only to later release fabricated lies
and annoying unguided statements like “we were overwhelmed by the crowd,
we didn’t have sufficient bullets in our guns”. Just to scare away a
mob with sticks?! It was Chude Jideonwo, Chief Editor of Y! Magazine who
said “we are living like animals in this country” while narrating the
series of horrible experiences he had with the Nigerian system a couple
of hours after the death of his father, not excluding the gruesome one
with that of the ruthless members of the Nigerian police.<br />
<br />
One would naturally expect that Mr President in his speech on Tuesday 9<sup>th</sup>
of October, would at least mention the Aluu killing and that of Mubi in
Adamawa and then talk about strategies in place to bring about justice.
Infact, if it we were in places where things work, the Commissioner of
Police in Rivers State should have tendered his resignation by now while
all the police officers who were present at the scene be charged to
court.<br />
<br />
We earnestly can’t afford to continue like this. To sit and patiently
expect that God will come down to save us from many of our man made
troubles including the act of carrying out jungle justice, is to wait
till the anger of His judgment come upon us. Most especially when we
later realize that many of those who are murdered in such acts are most
times innocent of the crime they were accused of.<br />
<br />
We can do a lot to ensure that this case is not swept under the
carpet. Justice must be done. Else we approve of this and more of it in
our society. I advocate that the statue of these guys be erected in Aluu
community as a memorial, so generations to come will always be reminded
of the wickedness and innocent blood that was shared on that land.<br />
<br />
May the souls of #Aluu4 find true rest.<br />
<br />Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-60899760354909974272012-10-03T07:40:00.000-07:002012-10-03T07:48:03.786-07:00PARENTING BROUHAHA: ARE PARENTS ALWAYS RIGHT? BY @LANRE_OLAGUNJU<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_6m-tBPyWCAMEhyphenhyphenJyE4curLAaDds8kuXZcl9-S3kKaaJ3m778RhZt0Cx06JcF_6lRn1CIjJZGhDx5z61iuv4VI1s5GM_NCIyCEjeVx01HzIHfTdYFyUjkvu3KiZlF_GntQedpRNagSs/s1600/parents_and_children.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_6m-tBPyWCAMEhyphenhyphenJyE4curLAaDds8kuXZcl9-S3kKaaJ3m778RhZt0Cx06JcF_6lRn1CIjJZGhDx5z61iuv4VI1s5GM_NCIyCEjeVx01HzIHfTdYFyUjkvu3KiZlF_GntQedpRNagSs/s640/parents_and_children.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Years back as a teenager, I could remember raising this issue at an
interactive forum. The topic, to my surprise, boiled beyond the boiling
point I could have speculated.<br />
<br />
“The task of raising kids can sometimes be overwhelming, essentially
because parenting is technically self-thought and majority of the things
learnt are through practice, experience, loads of sacrifice, then also
trial and error” A single mother who was willing to be plain explained. I
couldn’t have agreed more with her, after all there are no professional
parents.<br />
<br />
Even if there are courses in parenting, would they fit the
distinctiveness of each child, considering that every child is unique
and would apparently produce a different result to the same mode of
parenting that worked out well for others?<br />
<br />
Not all parents have subscribed to the philosophy of giving their
wards a chance at expressing their individuality, while they help by
guiding and curbing them from excesses and juvenile distractions. Some
parents are still bent on forcing a career, course of study or in
extreme cases, a particular lifestyle on their kids.<br />
<br />
These days, young people get to discover their passion faster than it was with the older generation.<br />
And to a large extent it shows in the involvement of young people in politics and governance and the wave of global happenings <i>as nobody wan carry last</i>. The desire to be heard is getting stronger by the day. And with the help of social media the limits are limited.<br />
<br />
Here, my bone of contention lies with young adults or kids who grow
up way too fast. By that I mean young people who early enough know what
exactly they want to achieve in life or practically what exactly they
don’t want. I’m not in any way referring to folks who neither know their
left from right or who are just wasting away in juvenile delinquencies
or sheer youthful exuberant.<br />
<br />
I read the Facebook’s missing millionaires’ article lately and I was
quite stunned and irritated by the story of Joe Green, a friend,
roommate and hacking buddy of Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook co-founder.
Green has helped Mark in creating “Facemash”, a web application that
asks users to rate the attractiveness of Harvard coeds. Though this
landed the two friends in trouble with the school administration,
Green’s dad, a professor at UCLA, like many parents, won’t even give
them a chance. Probably because he wasn’t seeing the bright side of the
idea or simply because he was just trying to avoid his name being
soiled. “I don’t think you should do any more of these Zuckerberg
projects” he advised.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately Green couldn’t intelligently or doggedly struggle it
out with his father, rather he yielded to his father’s advice and
refused to run the business side of what is now called Facebook, when
Mark asked him to.<br />
<br />
The opportunity cost of Green’s adherence in this case is the
forfeiting of four to six percent of the company; a stake that would
have been worth at least $3 billion today. Though Green has moved on to
co-found Causes a profit oriented site that has raised $50 million in
assets to help users donate to charity, yet he confessed that “every
once in a while you can have a moment of bitterness,”. Anyway, he said
he’s made peace with it. But what more can he actually do?!<br />
<br />
Imagine that the sultan of software, Bill Gate wasn’t able to win his
parent on the issue of his dropping out of college, despite his
brilliance and the fact that his parents threatened to use up the saved
money for his education for other purposes. If he did, probably I won’t
be writing this article using Microsoft word.<br />
<br />
While discussing this issue with a couple of friends, a friend with a
large opinion who lamented how his mum wouldn’t allow him join the
#OccupyNigeia protest in January said “if Christ had his kind of
parents, out of sheer love, most likely, “pankere” (strokes of cane)
would have deprived the world of having a messiah in Jesus, because at
the pretty young age of twelve, when the entire family went for a
festival in Jerusalem, without the knowledge of his parents, Jesus
decided to stay back in Jerusalem with Jewish teachers, listening and
asking them intelligent questions, which served as the starting point of
his remarkable earthly mission. They searched for him for complete
three days and you can imagine how devastated his parents were.”<br />
<br />
Somehow, I’m deeply tempted to call this “holy disobedience”.<br />
<br />
We really will never become the parent of our parents; and sincerely
young people need to find intelligent ways to make them see reason. I
also discovered that parents are likely to resist strongly if you take a
“parent-like” stance with them on critical issues. And as a matter of
fact any child who has a huge record of making series of irresponsible
decisions can’t gain trust over-night. Like my friend also emphasized
“trust is based on antecedent”.<br />
<br />
You see, parents aren’t all-knowing. Sometimes they’re probably just
as confused on their job as a parent as you are on your job as a kid. So
it’s essential that you don’t give up your own opinions, yet, you
respect theirs, even if you don’t fully agree. And in some cases you
might want to review your own decisions as well.<br />
The bottom line is that anyone who will be a world changer, will have
to carry his own cross by making decisive decisions and must look out
for intelligent ways that are out rightly outside the box to make
parents see reasons or else….Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-57596011156980803112012-09-22T05:07:00.003-07:002012-09-22T05:14:16.963-07:00GREAT LIFE LESSONS FROM ABRAHAM LINCOLN BY @LANRE_OLAGUNJU<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeagYIR0YXRyFVIGVeQoVLnAJdqeIJYRK7pYhBf81MVfd4Jr3KKHeJdcRZ7Pqv4T2O9xDDSvK6AnZIMEL3a_1ajV-I6zuKZNyw9Akq3W2uqOp5UajCAGPL9bRAwGu_AN6A9eG5ztbBW8/s1600/lincoln1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeagYIR0YXRyFVIGVeQoVLnAJdqeIJYRK7pYhBf81MVfd4Jr3KKHeJdcRZ7Pqv4T2O9xDDSvK6AnZIMEL3a_1ajV-I6zuKZNyw9Akq3W2uqOp5UajCAGPL9bRAwGu_AN6A9eG5ztbBW8/s1600/lincoln1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
It was his powerful and super eloquent Gettysburg address that I
first encountered. It still remains fascinating that Lincoln’s simple
and clear two minutes speech of 271 words could achieve so much and then
become the most quoted speech in history of the United States, over
Edward Everett’s 2 hours speech, with 13,000 words.<br />
<br />
The exploit of that speech lured me into googling and digging into
Lincoln’s biography via the internet, in those days when all I knew
about the internet was to simply type in notable names and then scoff up
resulting stories and biographies like hot Indomie. One can hardly read
through the life of the tallest president America ever had and not
become emotionally attached to the story of a great storyteller.<br />
<br />
The success or failure of every man lies in their story. So let’s
look into the stuffs that characterized the success of Abraham Lincoln
and then learn from his depth of emotional intelligence.<br />
<br />
<b>Lesson #1 Reading prepares one for success.</b><br />
One of the most fascinating aspects of Abraham Lincoln’s life to me
was his unrelenting and strategic ability to position himself where
success can be attained. In the real sense of it, nothing happens by
chance. Nothing! Those who succeed always have a good record of things
they do consistently that put them in a successful position. For
Lincoln, one of such things was reading. As an avid reader, he will
walk several miles to borrow a book. He read a lot of literature. Most
especially works of Shakespeare and the family bible. At the point when
he decided to become a lawyer, Lincoln thought himself law by reading
Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England, hence becoming a
lawyer. He was admitted to bar in 1837.<br />
<a href="http://omojuwa.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Lincoln-in-Top-Hat-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright wp-image-12473" height="174" src="http://omojuwa.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Lincoln-in-Top-Hat-1.jpg" width="116" /></a>To stay and remain sharp, Lincoln knew that studying and learning outside politics was vital for preparing him for the leadership challenges ahead. <i>“I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” </i>was
one of his adages. It was documented that Lincoln carried letters and
notes in his tall stovepipe hat so he could constantly scribble his
thoughts and store them there. Apparently so he can always have his
thoughts back when he needs to revisit and regurgitate over them.<br />
<br />
<b>Lesson #2 Self Control </b><br />
You’d agree that those who are brilliant at playing on words are also
a genius at using it to the detriment of others. At a political
gathering in 1840, Lincoln was provoked to the point that he mocked his
opponent Jess Thomas, to the soothing of the crowd. At that event, it
was recorded that Thomas was in tears and people kept referring to the
occurrence as “the skinning of Thomas.”<br />
<br />
<b></b><br />
Later on, one of Lincoln’s friends reported that he felt so bad about
his own conduct “…the recollection of his own conduct that evening
filled [Lincoln] with the deepest chagrin. He felt he had gone too far
and to rid his good nature of a load, hunted up Thomas and made ample
apology,” according to an excerpt in <i>Benjamin Thomas, Lincoln’s Humor : An Analysis</i>.<br />
<br />
There was this other story according to a 2005 Time magazine article <i>The Master of the Game</i>
about a congressman who had received Lincoln’s authorization for
something to be carried out by war department. When war secretary
Stanton, refused to honour the order, the disappointed petitioner
returned to Lincoln, telling him that Stanton had not only contaminated
the order but had called the president a damn fool for issuing it. “Did
Stanton say I was a fool?” Lincoln asked. “He did sir, and repeated
it” At which point, the president remarked “If Stanton said I was a
damn fool, then I must be one, for he’s nearly always right and
generally says what he means. I will step over and see him.<br />
<br />
There were other times when we’d become angry and write a hot note,
but will think over it again and ensure that such notes were never
signed nor sent. Many of them were later discovered in the president
desk.<br />
<br />
<b>Lesson #3 The power of surrounding yourself with intelligent people</b><br />
One of the smartest ways to evaluate a person still remains looking
into the caliber of people they refer to as friends. To ascertain if a
leader will succeed, look into his cabinet. But an uncommon angle to
Lincoln’s personality was that he doesn’t neglect rivals and oppositions
as long as they are intelligent and fearless.<br />
<br />
In 1862, Lincoln appointed Edwin Stanton into his cabinet as
secretary of war knowing fully well that Stanton wasn’t just resolute
but also very secretive compared to Lincoln who was considered
excessively kind and so open to a fault (as evidence in one of his
famous quote, “On the whole, my impression is that mercy bears richer
fruits than any other attribute.”). Yet their conflicting characters
balanced out lending credence to another of his sayings “Hold your
friends close and your enemies closer” At points where Lincoln was too
kind and all forgiving, most especially with soldiers that went against
the rules and discipline of the military. Edwin Stanton was there to
relentlessly punish cowardice. Yes pardons were still issued, but not at
the rate it’d have been if it were to be Lincoln alone.<br />
<br />
It might be hard, but when you surround yourself with people who can
argue and intelligently disagree with you on issues, it helps to
question some of our long gathered assumptions.<br />
<br />
<b>Lesson #4 Learning how to relax</b>:<br />
Yeah it’s so good to be hard working and emphatically there’s no
quick fix to success. But on the other hand, if care is not taken,
relaxation might just gradually be going into extinction in your
vocabulary. Especially in an era like ours where there’s so much to be
done. And moreover technology has made it possible to work round the
clock whether in office, or out of office, in traffic and in some cases
even in your sleep.<br />
<br />
With a long list of daily to-dos with screaming deadlines and several
blog links on twitter begging to be read and shared. You realize that
in the mix of the drive to achieve our utmost goals, we forget the other
small but beautiful things of life like reflecting and also relaxing
with friends and family, thereby replenishing energy for the hustles
that lies ahead. What a real loss!<br />
<br />
Lincoln went to the theatre about a hundred times while he was in
Washington. And as a matter of fact he was assassinated at Ford’s
Theatre, Washington, D.C. becoming the first US president to be
assassinated. He had a tremendous sense of humor. And as a brilliant
storyteller and jokester he’d entertain people long into the night with
his stories. There are a couple tales about Lincoln playing with his
children on the White House lawn and other times chasing the children
through the White House. This exceptional ability to recharge your
batteries in the midst of stress and great workload is extremely crucial
for success, health and leadership.Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-15653734372127576142012-09-10T15:10:00.001-07:002012-09-20T05:32:42.520-07:00IS RELIGION ACTUALLY A CURSE? 2 BY @LANRE_OLAGUNJU<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ09zQEfMj6zOgCjoUVkPW-CewUWWR44mu7k2DFBz1pKEMdCLppK8xwlfKuVRA7txFVYBJz40QvewcFVxUfLWqNbH1s8-iPG-Repj5BZp8NdEZeojANM2rJzn6E-EVtgvsVE9P_8oh9GM/s1600/Religion2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ09zQEfMj6zOgCjoUVkPW-CewUWWR44mu7k2DFBz1pKEMdCLppK8xwlfKuVRA7txFVYBJz40QvewcFVxUfLWqNbH1s8-iPG-Repj5BZp8NdEZeojANM2rJzn6E-EVtgvsVE9P_8oh9GM/s1600/Religion2.PNG" /></a>The expectation that the religious would at least, hold to certain
beliefs that are morally upright, intelligent and informed, about the
basis and foundation of his/her faith can be most times mocked by
huge disappointment. As it is out rightly possible for a man to visibly
identify with the church or mosque community and yet, not fully accept
it teachings.<br />
<br />
It is only the truth that you know and practice that can set you
free. Many actually know and belief. But not everyone can afford the
discipline that it takes to live according to what they claim to belief.<br />
<br />
These days, to boisterously render assistance, or out of little or no
thorough examination, vouch for a person, simply because he/she claims
to practice the same religion with you, is to risk the chance of getting
one’s hands burnt to the elbow. It is much safer to look into a
person’s character deeply rather than approve of them because they claim
to be a Muslim or Christian. It’s a waste of time. A very big one!<br />
<br />
As a nation, we’ve been gullible in this area. It’s expected that by
now, we must have learnt our lessons. It amazing to see how good for
nothing politicians go to religious places for endorsement during
electioneering. All they need do is to claim to be God sent, and then
the votes flows in their direction. Only for the populace to later
realize that the so called “God sent” doesn’t in anyway know the way to
the promise land. He who doesn’t know the way, how can he lead it?<br />
<br />
Apparently, one of the most uncertain things in the world is the
funeral or extinction of religion. It’s also important that we note that
religion doesn’t have it in its capacity to build or redeem a nation.
Government should be of laws, rather than of men or religion. That we
expect too much from our being religious is why we get deceived and
frustrated. Then with the victim mentality, we cry and say religion is a
curse.<br />
<br />
I checked some bible versions, and I absolutely didn’t
see the word religion after trying hard to search it out. So it
probably doesn’t have much to do with spirituality. As a matter of fact,
in no way is religion and spirituality the same. To equate them, any
attempt to hazard the risk of associating them with each other is a huge
contradiction.<br />
<br />
<br />
You necessarily might not have chosen your religion yourself; you
most likely, adopted that of your parents automatically. But when it
comes to spirituality, personal conviction and choice is required.
Spirituality is neither a state nor place. It’s more of a process.
Religion has to do with carrying out the set of rules and practices of a
particular faith.<br />
<br />
It’s also good to note that religion can be manipulated upon to
achieve personal or even political purposes including violence. This is
usually the case with those who gathered their beliefs and convictions
at second hand from authorities who also got theirs at second hand,
without any form of thorough examination. It’s sincerely quite
amazing how religious followers take everything their leaders say hook,
line, and sinker.<br />
<br />
That’s not right. There’s this group of Christians I
so much admire. They are the Berea Christians. This guys do not just
receive the word with all eagerness, they daily, personally, search out
the scriptures, whether the things the preachers said were actually so.<br />
<br />
The basis of any true religion is love and not essentially a big
place of worship. Like a writer rightly said “…there is no need for
temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own
heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness”<br />
<br />
In conclusion, I must emphasize that religion isn’t a curse. It might
have its good and bad sides as a result of abuse. Yet, to a reasonable
extent, religion has succeeded in providing purpose in life to people.
Many have been able to strategically overcome despair and hopelessness. I
as a person can conclusively say that I’ve been able to connect to who I
am through my early exposure to the doctrine of Christianity.<br />
<br />
This article was first published on www.omojuwa.com Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-72423877197143244452012-09-10T15:06:00.003-07:002012-09-10T20:26:00.529-07:00IS RELIGION ACTUALLY A CURSE? 1 BY @LANRE_OLAGUNJU<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ09zQEfMj6zOgCjoUVkPW-CewUWWR44mu7k2DFBz1pKEMdCLppK8xwlfKuVRA7txFVYBJz40QvewcFVxUfLWqNbH1s8-iPG-Repj5BZp8NdEZeojANM2rJzn6E-EVtgvsVE9P_8oh9GM/s1600/Religion2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ09zQEfMj6zOgCjoUVkPW-CewUWWR44mu7k2DFBz1pKEMdCLppK8xwlfKuVRA7txFVYBJz40QvewcFVxUfLWqNbH1s8-iPG-Repj5BZp8NdEZeojANM2rJzn6E-EVtgvsVE9P_8oh9GM/s1600/Religion2.PNG" /></a></div>
To say in the affirmative that religion is a curse is to
intelligently throw out the bath water, the bathtub, and the baby all
together. What hasn’t been abused by man in the real sense of the word
‘abuse’? Think of it, is it drug, food, money, or our environment? And
to crown it all, man has also perfected how to abuse man. Or isn’t that
the basis of child abuse? So with what side of the brain do we now
categorize money, man, food as a curse?<br />
<br />
In the words of Abu’l-Ala-Al-Ma’arri (973-1057), a Syrian Poet, “The
world holds two classes of men – intelligent men without religion, and
religious men without intelligence.” His brilliant articulation and
classification finds deep and absolute expression in the Nigerian
society most especially the former. Over here lack, destitute, poverty
and ignorance has partially wiped out the space to marry intellect with
religion if not totally.<br />
<br />
It’s quite understandable that the level of lack, hunger and
ignorance has been solely responsible for the total dependence on the
divine for the most mundane things of life. It is here that we
essentially have to pray that our roads be fixed, when God himself has
abundantly provided all that we need in terms of natural resources to
fix them. It’s here that you have to pray that your rights as a citizen
come to you on time and in right proportion. In this part of the
world, we only haven’t perfected how to abuse man, we’ve also learnt to
abuse God, too.<br />
<br />
There’s this old saying that says that when the knowledge of a things
is lost or deficient, the abuse of that thing is out rightly
inevitable. Anyone who must use a drug and get the desired result must
be willing to abide by the terms and condition of prescription
administered by the pharmacist. It’s so easy to lazily blame religion
for the backwardness in our nation or the inability of people to stay
true to what they claim to believe. Wait and think, how many of those
who claim to belong to one religion or the other actually know the
basics of such religion, and how many have thwarted and amended the
tenets of their religion for personal gain?<br />
<br />
The Bible and the Koran are the two religious books that has its
tenets well documented. I’m yet to see any compiled book or document
that compiles the tenets of any of our local deity be it Ifa, Orunmila
or Amadioha.<br />
<br />
“My point of view is this, and I sincerely care less if you regard it
as radical. Both camps would get a lot from reading their religious
book as far as they don’t murder its interpretation in any way. If
Islamist scholars are saying that Islam doesn’t in anyway support the
killing of innocent people in God’s name, then it shows that some people
are getting things twisted somewhere.<br />
<br />
Yeah many Christians
actually love the bible, though till date many only use it as a guide,
well placed under the pillow. But how many actually read or know what it
truly says? Many just carry these things around and probably feel that
carrying and claiming to know what it entails is more fanciful than
reading it.<br />
It’s so very uncalled for to say that one religion is more perfect
than the other or say that the good things in Nigeria were done by a
particular religion as Sheik Gumi pointed out during the course of the
week. To be candid, both religions are well represented in the group of
charlatans who have brought big setbacks to this nation.<br />
<br />
Do well to join me as we discuss other angles to this topic in my next column.<br />
<br />
But till then if you must practice religion, be truth to yourself and
the tenets of your faith. Also learn to respect the other fellow’s
religion.<br />
<br />
This article was first published on www.omojuwa.com Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-68945001318873747202012-09-10T14:44:00.001-07:002012-09-10T14:48:35.551-07:00THE REAL REASON YOU’RE NOT LIVING YOUR DREAM LIFE (AND IT’S NOT TIME OR MONEY) BY ALEXIS SCLAMBERG<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJP9YTUq1FkZVFlORnnqRpphBscKz2SUE2e-AAecgFhX6lJAM9fukVs_u8TaGwZPKGwHgW0Fd9B3L3LPKRQMpo6whpYq6Im7kEq8tRcAjQQe0aU6Cic75timGQX-4oWbzY4i-AIy3_4sI/s1600/9-reasons-move-on.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJP9YTUq1FkZVFlORnnqRpphBscKz2SUE2e-AAecgFhX6lJAM9fukVs_u8TaGwZPKGwHgW0Fd9B3L3LPKRQMpo6whpYq6Im7kEq8tRcAjQQe0aU6Cic75timGQX-4oWbzY4i-AIy3_4sI/s320/9-reasons-move-on.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
If you’ve <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alexis-sclamberg/career-advice_b_1598504.html" target="_hplink">read my work</a> or <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rea-wilke/2012/07/19/life-is-good-with-guest-author-alexis-sclamberg" target="_hplink">heard me on the radio</a>,
you know that I’m crazy about inspiring people to live their dream
life. I cringe when people tell me they’re doing jobs they hate, or
slugging through daily routines that drain their energy and make them
miserable. I think you can make any life possible with the right mix of
persistence and patience, and I can’t wrap my head around even the
thought of waking up every morning to a life that’s not right for me.<br />
<br />
It may be obvious to you that when I ask people who are not living
their dream life why they’re not living it, they offer up a slew of
excuses. It’s as though a laundry list of reasons roll off their tongues
and out the door. Before I can reply, they’ve convinced themselves for
the umpteenth time that that dream life is unrealistic, impractical, and
totally far-fetched. It’s the life reserved for their imagination — not
a reality that they have the power to create. Sound familiar?<br />
<br />
Excuses are just excuses, though. They’re not truths; they’re only as
real as you make them. They’re artificial creations that mask the real
fear and doubt lurking underneath your skin.<br />
<br />
So to prevent the excuses from holding you back from your dream life
for even one more day, I’ve compiled a list of the top excuses I’ve
heard, and some ways you can bust through each.<br />
<br />
When you’re done with the list, you’ll have nothing left but your
dream, and hopefully a lot of refueled inspiration to go for it. You’ve
got the power to make anything happen — just put one foot in front of
the other and take action.<br />
<br />
Drumroll, please… the top seven excuses:<br />
<b>Excuse #1:</b> <i>I don’t have the money.</i> Consider
how much money you actually need and find creative ways to get it. I’m
going to guess that you you haven’t even spent the time figuring out how
much money you need to actualize this dream. Don’t compromise down your
dream before you even explore it.<br />
<br />
<b>Excuse #2:</b><i> I don’t have time.</i> You can make
time for the stuff that matters to you. You get to choose whether or not
you prioritize your dreams. What are you doing that’s a total
time-waster? Do you spend three hours a day on Facebook or mindless
moments in front of the TV? What can you accomplish more efficiently?
What can you outsource to someone else? Rearrange your day and think
outside the box. You’ll find you have more time than you think.<br />
<br />
<b>Excuse #3: </b><i>I’ve already started down one path; I can’t change direction. </i>Every
day you make decisions about how you live your life. Give yourself
permission to change direction — no matter how much time, energy, or
money you’ve already invested in another endeavor, relationship, or job.
Life is all about twists and turns — be open to a new direction.<br />
<br />
<b>Excuse #4:</b> <i>I’m too scared.</i> It’s natural to
be scared of the activities that most excite you. Use fear to move you
forward — follow your fear, don’t resist it. Push yourself so you can be
proud of yourself.<br />
<br />
<b>Excuse #5:</b> <i>People will judge me if I fail. </i>You’re
giving everybody too much power. Frankly, people care a lot less about
what you’re doing than you think. You’re just a blip on their radar
screen. Make the decisions that are right for you. The people who love
and care about you will support you; the rest don’t matter anyway.<br />
<br />
<b>Excuse #6:</b> <i>I’m not _____ enough.</i> Not young
enough, smart enough, or good enough? These are just limiting beliefs.
Catch yourself when these doubts pop up, and find something positive and
encouraging to say about yourself instead.<br />
<br />
<b>Excuse #7:</b> <i>I’m not ready yet. </i>If you’re
waiting to be perfectly ready to pursue your dream, you’ll never go for
it. We all start one (shaky) step at a time. Don’t wait for perfection
to move forward, just do it.<br />
<br />
This article was culled from www.ynaija.com Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-53548701131178773882012-08-30T21:32:00.000-07:002012-09-10T14:51:10.558-07:00THE NIGERIANS THEY DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT – BY AYO SOGUNRO @AYOSOGUNRO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
“They”
in this title refers to all the defense men, the pen-brandishing king’s
men, the unrelenting, self-appointed applauders, the cozy and
established, comfortable, myopic and collective children of corruption,
the distant crowd of Presidential addicts, the any-government-in-power
cinema crowd of Nigeria, who seem to be in competition among themselves
to achieve the favours of President Goodluck Jonathan.<br />
<br />
This army of sponsored and self-appointed sycophants is so diverse;
many of them don’t even know why or how they should defend the President
and neither do they understand, or “give a damn” about, the views or
complaints of Nigerians.<br />
<br />
The clear danger to public affairs commentary is that we have a lot
of intelligent people initiating stupid clichés and too many
unintelligent persons wasting public funds occupying offices established
to lend relevance to these thoughtless clichés. Hold on. I don’t want
to be misunderstood. I am not saying nobody should defend the Nigerian
President. I’ve spent some time understanding that social maxim: “He who
pays the piper calls the tune”. Public position comes with its own
share of sycophancy and grovelling. But the defending, praise singing,
“Special Advisers” and “Senior Special Assistants” crowd of the Jonathan
regime must be guided by facts.<br />
<br />
Let us gather our well rounded stones. I have spent all my life as a
Nigerian. I have watched the leadership of this country since I was
capable of understanding such things. I can write a whole book on the
Occupy Nigeria movement, but you won’t get to read that until much
later. I am certain that some government people will not buy the book
if it gets written. Well, your choice. What I can state, for now is,
that President Jonathan and his praise singers grossly misunderstand
Nigerians. They think Nigerians are unfair to them. They criticize
Nigerians as “ignorant”. They accuse everyday Nigerians as mischievous.
And when Nigerians dare to protest, they simply attribute it to the work
of the opposition parties. How unfair!<br />
<br />
Nigerians say he is a clueless President. A paid employee in the
service of the President says Nigerians are wrong. Between Nigerians
and the employee, who then is clueless? Nobody is more committed to the
Nigerian Project than Nigerians themselves. In spite of unforeseen
challenges, in spite of decades of brutal military rule, in spite of a
bloody civil war, in spite of continuous government corruption,
Nigerians have done their best to remain one and fend for themselves
both in private and public enterprise. And this year alone, President
Jonathan has done his utmost best to increase the burden of Nigerians
with a fuel price increase and its attendant consequences. Ordinary
Nigerians protested against this. Let it be known now that those
parading themselves as “special advisers” to the President, and who
claim that the President still has the support of Nigerians, represent
only themselves and their selfish salaried interests.<br />
<br />
They say President Jonathan is a clever, methodical and intelligent
man, and yet he is very adept at wrong footing majority of Nigerians,
confusing the issues and distracting from the main agenda. They say he
understands the complexity of Nigeria, but he uses it to his advantage—
for example, by turning May 29 into an opportunity to raise unneeded
dust over June 12. But that aside, Nigerians do not care about his
acutely conscious sense of history nor his personal reflection as a
representative of all common persons. Nigerians only care about the
results of his government policy-making processes. Nigerians are not
interested in sentimental expressions about the children of all blue
collar workers who never wore shoes or got a chance to eat three-square
meals, and whose mothers and aunties could never be part of
policy-making processes.<br />
And yet they say he understands Nigerians.<br />
<br />
When Nigerians deride Jonathan about not wearing shoes as a child,
they meant that as a metaphor for the irony of the President’s purported
penurious past contrasted to his clearly comfortable present, and the
urgent need to redress such social inequalities. But I have read a
“Special Adviser” responding literally that Nigerians meant that people
should never vote for a man who never wore shoes. How simplistic!
Attention needs to be drawn to the fact that a party-sourced President
who has given no indication of how to transform Nigeria, and yet who
campaigned on a platform of transformation, will always definitely be
defended by those who consider themselves the children of the new
regime, those who think that their descendants will inherit Nigeria.
Wrong.<br />
<br />
The Ijaws, the fourth largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria, have as
much right to have their son as President as do the Nupe, the Tiv, the
Efiks, the Ibibio and so many others—and nobody expects Jonathan to
dwell on this. He may never have uttered an ethnic statement and he is
not expected to do so. Must Nigerians applaud him for this? He is
expected to see himself as the President of all Nigerians, which is why
he lives in Aso Rock and not Bayelsa. He is expected to be at home with
every group which is why he should listen to writings such as this.<br />
<br />
They say he is focused on the challenges of nation-building but what
about reinstating the President of the Court of Appeal? They say he
wants to transform Nigeria, but this is based on an agenda only he knows
about. They say he wants to unite the country but yet he is creating
avenues for popular protests, strikes and demonstrations. They say
Nigerians want regular power supply and that he is working at it—but
Nigerians don’t want to cross 4, 400 MW on paper, they want to see it
everywhere with their eyes.<br />
<br />
Nigerians want infrastructure not a President who knows they want it.
Nigerians want the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway fixed not an empty threat to
the contractors. Nigerians want the East-West road fixed quickly not a
mysterious directive to a particular nameless minister. Nigerians want
to see corrupt people in jail, not just ineffective directives to
government agencies. Nigeria’s have no issue with foreign relations—they
want charity to begin at home. They say he is transforming the
agriculture sector, yet Nigerians still suffer expensive food items. The
reason Nigerians do not go into a song and dance routine for President
Jonathan is because they know that true rebranding of a nation is the
actualisation of positive things—things that are already happening and
not just a projection.<br />
<br />
They say he is not ‘tribalistic’. True. But how many Ijaws voted for
President Jonathan compared to the rest of the country? Very few, I can
tell you. Jonathan was voted in by Nigerians. Well, there are of course,
all kinds of persons, special advisers and the like, who go about
telling people that they have the President’s ears and eyes. I have
since learnt that some Nigerians consider it fashionable to wear the
false garments created by public office.<br />
<br />
They say the Presidency qua Presidency is staffed by key officials
from all parts of the country, but are these officials efficient? They
say the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is from Ebonyi
State—but is he the best man for the job? They say the Chief of Staff
and the Head of the President’s Secretariat are both from Edo, but do
they realise they have a wasteful budget? They say the Protocol Liaison
Officer and Principal Private Secretary are from Adamawa, the Chief
Detail is from Borno, the Aide De Camp (ADC) is from Kogi, the Perm Sec,
State House is from Benue, the State Chief of Protocol is from Kwara,
the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity is from Ogun, the Chief
Physician to the President is from Rivers—but Nigerians want to know the
criteria for their selection! They say only the Chief Security Officer,
the Special Assistant, Domestic and the Special Adviser, Research and
Strategy are from Bayelsa but Nigerians don’t care about where they come
from—Nigerians only care about what they have achieved!<br />
<br />
They say when the President is in the office, he gets there early
every day, and works till very late, and that he is exposed to all
categories of Nigerians, but the same is true for even the market woman,
especially the market woman. They say he runs a modern and open
Presidency and yet he sends soldiers to the streets of Lagos. If he is
on Facebook, Twitter, email, SMS, BB, and reads like they say, then he
would realise that he has lost the approval of his initial support
base—the people they call “idle and idling, twittering, collective
children of anger, the distracted crowd of Facebook addicts, the
BBM-pinging soap opera gossips of Nigeria”. This is not even a
provincial President—he is a cabal president. The purported
intelligentsia in his immediate community should advise him to step out
of office.<br />
<br />
They say President Jonathan is the first Nigerian leader to appoint a
woman as his Chief Economic Adviser as well as the Nigerian leader who
opened up the Nigerian Defence Academy to women, but is this the meaning
of progress? They say he took affirmative action in political
appointments to a higher level by reserving 35 per cent of all
appointive positions in government for the women folk, but is this why
the First Lady must take a post as Permanent Secretary?<br />
<br />
All these facts they point out may be incontrovertible but they are
very irrelevant. Nigerians are not interested in whether a man occupies a
position or whether a woman occupies it. Nigerians are not stupid! If
it is a goat that will do the job well, Nigerians are happy to support
the goat as a Minister! It will certainly not do any worse than the
current ones are doing. They say the President’s commitment to Nigeria
is total, but what about his appointees? They say the President’s
children school in Nigeria, but do the children of his Ministers? Let
the President wear any attire he enjoys, it is not his dress code that
will promote Nigeria.<br />
<br />
They say the President doesn’t drink. Well, maybe he had better start
drinking if that would make the administration more effective—what with
all the choice drinks on every trip. What’s the use of people who are
not allowed to touch alcohol and yet have nothing to show for it?
Alcohol is not served during official duties, but neither is it served
at anyone’s workplace either. Should we applaud the President for not
drinking on the job? Even a student knows not to take alcohol in the
classroom. Now they praise the President for not drinking alcohol and
try to distort the issues at hand.<br />
<br />
The budget states that the Presidential household intends to spend
millions on feeding. Well, I have not enjoyed the privilege of eating at
the President’s table. But they say he eats fish pepper soup, Cassava
Bread, slices of yam, rice, boiled plantain, fruits and vegetables. If
this is the case, then why does the budget require millions of naira for
his table? They sat he fasts when he chooses, and fasts all month
during Ramadan and Lent—this is all good, but we have our Bishops and
Imams to do that for us. Nigerians do not care about his culinary
habits or physical fitness regime. Let him drink kain kain if it will
make him stronger, let him drink water if that would boost him. Let him
fast if it will strengthen his arm, let him eat roasted turkey, and
every delicacy under the sun if it would fire him up. Nigerians are not
concerned whether the President is a glutton or not. Nigerians want a
disciplined, hardworking president who has an effective plan for the
country without burdening the people further.<br />
<br />
Here is a man who started a New Year with indiscretion and
insensitivity. The thing about the President’s men is that they just
cannot accept that Nigerians are intelligent enough to know what is
right and what is wrong. This is the King George Complex. King George
of England could not accept the fact that the simple colonial Americans
were sophisticated enough to decide how they wanted to be governed. And
just like the colonial Americans gave chase to King George and his army
of redcoats, Nigerians will eventually throw away these yes-men and
promote a nation with men of integrity at the helm.<br />
<br />
Let me end by saying that Nigerians, especially the “idle and idling,
twittering, collective children of anger, the distracted crowd of
Facebook addicts, the BBM-pinging” Nigerians may be a simple people but
simplicity is not naivety. If simplicity were to be naivety then the
world would not be where it is today. It is simple people who gave shape
to the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King,
and Kwame Nkrumah, simple people gave a mission to men who listened to
the voice of the people—even when the special advisers around them were
cajoling otherwise.<br />
<br />
<b>Ayo Sogunro</b><br />
<b>Follow @ayosogunro on twitter</b><br />
<br />Lanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5992865581129117193.post-1583404870402151222012-08-30T21:21:00.000-07:002012-09-10T20:27:12.475-07:00THIS SHIP IS SINKING, YES – SO WHAT DO WE DO? – FULL TEXT OF @CHUDE JIDEONWO’S SPEECH AT THE FUTURE AWARDS 2012<div class="bottomcontainerBox" style="background-color: white;">
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<img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-79512" height="264" src="http://ynaija.com.nyud.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Chude-Jideonwo1-670x377.jpg" title="Chude-Jideonwo" width="469" /></div>
<br />
<i>Being an address given by Chude Jideonwo, executive director of
The Future Project at The Future Awards 2012, Port Harcourt, Rivers</i><br />
<br />
It occurred to me for the first time as I sat in the car’s front seat
and felt my father’s cold corpse in the back seat in May 2007. The
nurses at the Ikorodu General Hospital had just said no to his body. He
had died from heart failure an hour or two before. They needed a police
report.<br />
<br />
I could hardly believe the utter coldness of it. But I had yet to see
– or hear – the worst. Because I am born and bred in Nigeria, I knew
that, at 11pm, the body of my dear father might rot if I sat there
pondering the inanity of the request or stood up to argue its
inhumanity, so I led the convoy to the nearest police station.<br />
There, with the most pointed lack of compassion I had ever witnessed
up onto that point, the police proceeded to haggle with themselves over
how much they would extract from a 24-year-old who had just lost his
father – a father whose dead body was only a few meters away.<br />
<br />
As they dropped my father’s body in that unkempt, abominable mortuary
(one in which I had to tip the caretaker daily on my way to work so
that the corpse would not be left to decompose), I could only think of
what an abominable country I was so unfortunate to come from, and to
live in.<br />
<br />
I recalled that scene as I came across pictures of rotten corpses
stacked on each other in a room – victims of June’s Dana Crash;
“rotting carcasses of human beings stacked on each other, fluids
mingling.” That is when it hit me. We are living like animals in this country. I
remember my father – and how he, and I, were treated so terribly
because our country does not care for any one.<br />
<br />
These Dana Crash dead bodies weren’t victims of a serial killer
locked in a room for months or of a brutal civil war with shut-down
health-care services – these were citizens of a country, who had just
been visited by their president a day before, nonetheless treated in
death with relentless disrespect. They had been killed by their country –
and it couldn’t even pack their bodies well.<br />
<br />
It could have been you, or me. It’s not just that it could have been
me. That’s not the worst part. This is the worst part: I could have been
the one in that flight waiting for 20 minutes after a fatal crash;
sitting there in mind-numbing agony, knowing the plane would soon
explode and kill me because I live in a country where emergency services
would arrive only about an hour after, and people will die who could
have been saved.<br />
That’s the part that gets me. And as I watched officials scramble to
protect their irrelevant jobs so that they could make enough money to
buy First Class tickets on airlines that might crash and kill their
children tomorrow, I realized how hopeless we had become as Nigerians.<br />
<br />
So I ask myself; why are we still in Nigeria – a country that does
not deserve many of us – even when we have a choice? Why are we not like
the generation that left town? Why are we living in a country that
cannot protect us, has not supported us, will not satisfy us?<br />
<br />
The logical thing to do is to leave fastest way we can; once the
opportunity that turns up. But we stay and we come back, because <i>e go better</i>, because <i>it is well</i>, because <i>God dey</i>; because <i>somehow somehow</i> we think we can survive it; maybe even improve it .<br />
<br />
But let’s tell ourselves the truth – many of you in this hall have
already given up on Nigeria. Many of us are convinced that this ship is
sinking, this country cannot change. We do not trust our politicians,
but that is even cliché. We do not trust the activists. Everyone is seen
as searching for a piece of that national cake. That’s what we have
become as a country: an unending race for a part of that cake.<br />
<br />
It is difficult to have faith in this kind of country; difficult to
tell yourself with a straight face that you are proud of being a
Nigerian. Proud of what? A country where accusations fly over bribery
and both the accuser and the accused are walking free, where dead men
are found in Emir’s palaces, pastors chant songs of war, men go into
churches in Jos and gun down hundreds. Thousands die on the highways
without acknowledgement, power deadlines are postponed without
consequences, a country where its president, accused of lacking
transparency, could say to his people ‘I don’t give a damn?’<br />
<br />
It is difficult to have faith even when you look at the young people –
scrambling for crumbs of the table, buffeted by the need to avoid the
poverty of their fathers, changing principle on whim just like those
before them; perpetuating scams in the name of advocacy, running
businesses long on hype and short on substance. It is difficult to have
faith in that kind of country. It is herculean to believe in it. It is
almost impossible to be proud of it.<br />
<br />
We doubt ourselves all the time, believe in the worst of the other,
convinced that they are the enemy, that success is driven by fraud,
passion driven by the percuniary; it’s every man for himself. It is
understandable – this is a country where we have placed hopes in so many
time and again, and they have disappointed us. We thought we had people
with their hearts in the right place, only to find their eyes were
always on their pockets.<br />
<br />
No, Nigeria, is not a great country. It wasn’t great yesterday it
isn’t great today. It can be great, it should be great, it could have
been great, and if we sit down and get serious, it will be great.<br />
<br />
After the Dana Crash, I gave up hope in this country; I lost my
faith, I struggled with my love. But two day later, I was back working
for the country, and that is the real story.<br />
<br />
It is okay to fall out of love, it is okay to hate that love every
once in a while, it is okay to condemn, to criticise, to react, to
fight, to protest, to demand; but you must return to loving it, you must
return to being pained.<br />
<br />
It is the reason despite Governor Amaechi spending two hours debating
fiercely with us that our generation is only interested in continuing
the “chopping”, he decided that it is crucial to get the brightest of
that generation here to inspire the young people in Rivers State and
across Nigeria – moving it from an idea in 2006 that couldn’t even pay
for the hall in which it held to a movement in 2012 that has taken over
this Port Harcourt.<br />
It’s because beneath a tough talking governor lies a tender spot for
his country and its future – and I see it daily across this country even
from the lips of those who curse it. Even in those who appear to be
ripping the country to shreds, every once in a while you see that
wistfulness for what might have been.<br />
<br />
But, this is the good news, it is not too late. I do not come as a
prophet of cliché, I come here as a student of history because other
countries have done it. This shipping is sinking, but it hasn’t yet
sunk. As long as we are in Nigeria, as long as Nigerians live in Nigeria
and work in Nigeria, and fight for Nigeria, and refuse to give up on
Nigeria, there is hope.<br />
<br />
We cannot ever lose that pain that we should feel for a country that
continues to fail us. No matter how disappointed we are in our country,
we cannot abandon it. We cannot use Nigeria as an excuse to fail
Nigeria.<br />
<br />
Pehaps we should handle Nigeria the way a mother handles a
drug-addicted child – with tough love sometimes, with deliberate
gentility at other times; demanding at one time, encouraging at the
other.<br />
<br />
Listen guys, we are all we’ve got, and this should be the Turning Point Generation.<br />
<br />
I don’t come here to excite you; I come here so we can encourage one
another. I come here to remind us that, after all said and done, you and
I are still here. And ‘cause we are still here, we have no choice but
to keep working.<br />
<br />
Let’s keep the faith. If we stumble, let’s rise. When we fall, let’s
rebound. Let’s refuse to let Nigeria go, let’s insist that it must work.
Let’s keep working until it changes; let’s keep changing until we tear
down these walls.<br />
<br />
Because we can. Because we have no choice. Because we love this land.<br />
<br />
God bless Nigeria.<br />
<br />
*Parts of this speech have been reproduced from a previous article by the author on www.ynaija.comLanre Olagunjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11687688286740768262noreply@blogger.com0