₦airaland Forum

It was a pool party with naked girls.

And they were there.

Men who have achieved.

Money, power and fame.

Men in their prime who tell time to hold still since they have refused to age and it grudgingly obeys in detente and in temporaneous.

They dress young, they dance young, they act young.

They are current on all fronts.

Most of them married with children but mentally and emotionally single.

At this party they threw in a high brow residence in an exclusive neighbourhood in Ikoyi there was an abundance of food, drinks, drugs and real youth.

The youth came exclusively from the girls that were in attendance.

Girls in their late teens and early twenties.

Well spoken and extensively travelled.

Daughters of the materially blessed.

Read this to help your children now. Their safety is your choice.All of them students.

All of them naked.

Some were in the swimming pool, some at the bar, some danced under the cabana, others were hobnobing with the swimming trunks clad men at various places in the specially lit pool area that stood under the starry night sky.

And I sat with one of them.

She was caramel smooth, finely contoured, delicately featured and doe like.

She was twenty going on twenty one.

And a sophomore at Babcock university.

To every question I asked, she took a drag from the reefer in her hand, blow out the smoke through her mouth and nostrils, took a sip from her glass of Hennessey and coke on ice before she responded.

Her voice was sweet.

And her smile was rapturous.

"I heard students need permission to leave your school. How could you get out this late and stay overnight?"

"We have our ways."

"We?"

"Yeah all of us."

"From Babcock?"

"Not all. Some from Covenant, Redeemers, Madonna, ABUAD, Pan African and stuff."

"No unilag or UI?"

"They ain't boujee."

"Boujee?"

"Yeah. They are crass. Men like you guys don't want to roll with local cats like those right?"

I looked at her silently as she took a drag from her reef.

The aroma assailed it. It was caustic yet not aggravating.

"What's that?"

"Comorado."

"What's that?"

She laughed.

"It's good stuff. Hits you slowly and then makes you soar like superman."

I looked around and saw the girls doing one thing or another in their nudity.

She was staring at me.

"Is this your first party?"

I nodded.

"No wonder you are asking all these hang questions."

"Why do you do this?"

"I'm young. I need to live life before it becomes too serious and I have to be all grown up."

"But why the drugs?"

"Because."

"Because what?"

"Because this is how we roll. Everyone has their poison. If you are not on reef, you do codeine or cocaine or heroin or speed or AZT or ecstasy or royfenol or fentanyl or meth or oxy or worst case you inhale glue and get your high."

I stared at her as she inhaled and exhaled languidly.

"Why the parties?"

"You get your hit for free here. You have fun. You make good money."

"But for you to attend those schools you must be rich."

"My parents are not me."

"But they give you money."

"They pay the tuition and all. Not like they can give me a million in cash."

"Do you get a million here?"

"Well two or three parties can make me that."

"Aren't you afraid of running into your Dad at places like this?"

"Naaaa... my dad is too square and busy but even if he is not then it is his problem after all he came here for what I came here for so he can't tell me nothing."

I fell silent and watched her inhale and exhale smoke.

"But you know, your folks put you in schools like that to protect you?"

"Too protect me?"

"Yes."

"They are too busy to even bother."

"No they are not."

"Yes they are. They think the school will be both my teachers and my parents."

"I think they are just worried about you getting corrupted."

"I was balling like this under their nose and they didn't even notice. Funny thing is that even the innocent Jane get influenced in school, so what was the use of all the headache of keeping us locked up in all these secondary schools that front as universities."

"They did it out of love and with the belief that those schools are way better than the public ones."

"Well they bleeped up."

"bleeped up?"

"Is this an interview or what?"

"No I am just intrigued."

"And I am Hot."

I fell silent.

She dragged, exhaled, took a drink from her glass, sucked on one of the ice cubes in her mouth and asked in a whisper.

"Are you going to do anything about it?"

-----------------------------

The best time to do core parenting is between ages 0-12. You simply cannot afford to be too busy at this stage. Schools, nannies, extra murals cannot replace core parenting at this point. If you are absent in your child's life at this stage, be sure someone else is shaping your child's worldview .

At 12 a child's curiosities are set. And they spend their teenage years exploring those curiosities and fantasies and experimenting with their identities.

If you attempt core parenting in teenage years, you will meet a brick wall and you might end up with a fractious relationship with your teen.

Your best mode as a parent of a teenager is to "befriend" them. At this stage you can't take anything for granted you will have to earn their trust. Seek to influence them not control at this point. They will resist control but will respond wonderfully to influence: yours or the streets.

Every Nigerian parents needs to read this. So share it and continue sharing it. Its very important.

Quote me anywhere.

#copied!

*Where is the President Nigerians Elected?*

We are in a world of this or the other: either of two things involved. You are either a male or a female. You're either a white or a black. You're either a millitary man or a civilian, and all that. The same way, in today's Nigeria, you are either a Buharist or a Wailer (no neutrality). If you are a Buharist, you are safe; but if you are a Wailer, it is either of two things involved: you are either a long-time Wailer or a Converted (New) Wailer ( let's get off the joke now). But by the day, membership of the Wailers faction seems soaring while the opposite is the case for Buharists. We now have the Wailers Club.

There is the Wailers Association of Nigeria, even Wailers Blog, and anytime soon, the Association of New Wailers might be unveiled (at least, online like the rest). The Buharists too, despite their membership deficit lately, present a rare show of courage. They have good writers and apologists, good orators and analysts that fill the media with counter (and more or less already made) responses to every single accusation Nigerians put up against the Person of and/or the government of Muhamadu Buhari.

Talk of hunger in the land, and a Buharist will tell you how it had happened in Spain. Mention the rising poverty, the nose-diving value of Naira; and another will tell you it is just too good for a healthy economy. Even the mass massacre in the North east, you would be told it was worse under the past administration. Buharists work morning to night to feed you with the slightest of their Principal's moves and hash tag it "Buhariisworking".

When the Government changes a car tyre, they quickly put it in graphics and share. When Buhari sleeps 8hrs uninterrupted in the Villa, it is in the media as an unprecedented development. Who says Buhari is not working? That is the reason Nigerians pay his monthly dues after all. That is the reason they feed him and his family from the common purse. Yes, Buhari is giving the Nation's railway a new look. No doubt, Buhari has made the EFCC less dormant.

Laudably too, Buhari has constructed roads and he's sure still working on some others. He has purchased tucano jets, It is also no news that Mr. President is re-awakening Nigerian airline. These are all good projects, but they are the least Nigerians looked forward to. Nigerians want the President they elected in 2015. A president that would have provided about five million jobs by now. Could that same President have been watching the daily loss of thousands of Jobs that we now have? I guess No!

Nigerians elected a President that would have banned medical tourism by politicians, he definitely can't be the one who patronises UK Doctors himself. Nigerians want their President, who would have equated a naira to a dollar. Where is the President Nigerians voted, who would have made a litre of petrol fifty naira? Or could that same man have watched a litre move from less than a hundred naira price to a hundred and fifty?

The retired General re-introduced to Nigerians in the pre-election days wouldn't have looked-on while herdsmen become a threat. He in fact would have brought permanent peace and solution to the insurgency issues in the North-East; the Niger Delta; and other conflict prone states and areas such as Plateau, Benue, Bauchi, Borno, Abia, Taraba, Yobe, and Kaduna in order to engender national unity and social harmony.

The president Nigerians elected in 2015 would have fixed electricity within his first six months in office. He would have Increased the quality of all federal government owned hospitals to world class standard. He's sure not the same man, who watched Aso rock Clinic die under his very nose. The Man we used to know would also have revived and reactivated our minimally performing Refineries to optimum capacity.

The Buhari for whom Nigerians sent away a sitting President promised to revive and restructure the Nigerian Football League and put incentives in place to make it as competitive as other national leagues. The Man Nigerians cheered 'Sai Baba' would have Initiated action to amend the Nigerian Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties, and responsibilities to states in order to entrench true Federalism and the Federal spirit, to mention but a few.

He would have established a Conflict resolution commission to help prevent, mitigate, and resolve civil conflicts within the polity rather than declare harmless IPOB a terrorist group and launch a deadly python dance against the Igbos.

Lastly, should things be different from his views when seeking votes, should he have found it impossible to fulfill his promises and activate the magic wand for which Nigerians voted him, I trust the man Nigerians elected to have willingly relinquished power and resigned honourably. I doubt if such a man of integrity would bum around seeking a second term, after a first term of woes and woes and groans.

So, Nigerians where is the President you elected?

Ayeni Faith Damilola
faithdamilolaayeni@yahoo.com

*Where is the President Nigerians Elected?*

We are in a world of this or the other: either of two things involved. You are either a male or a female. You're either a white or a black. You're either a millitary man or a civilian, and all that. The same way, in today's Nigeria, you are either a Buharist or a Wailer (no neutrality). If you are a Buharist, you are safe; but if you are a Wailer, it is either of two things involved: you are either a long-time Wailer or a Converted (New) Wailer ( let's get off the joke now). But by the day, membership of the Wailers faction seems soaring while the opposite is the case for Buharists. We now have the Wailers Club.

There is the Wailers Association of Nigeria, even Wailers Blog, and anytime soon, the Association of New Wailers might be unveiled (at least, online like the rest). The Buharists too, despite their membership deficit lately, present a rare show of courage. They have good writers and apologists, good orators and analysts that fill the media with counter (and more or less already made) responses to every single accusation Nigerians put up against the Person of and/or the government of Muhamadu Buhari.

Talk of hunger in the land, and a Buharist will tell you how it had happened in Spain. Mention the rising poverty, the nose-diving value of Naira; and another will tell you it is just too good for a healthy economy. Even the mass massacre in the North east, you would be told it was worse under the past administration. Buharists work morning to night to feed you with the slightest of their Principal's moves and hash tag it "Buhariisworking".

When the Government changes a car tyre, they quickly put it in graphics and share. When Buhari sleeps 8hrs uninterrupted in the Villa, it is in the media as an unprecedented development. Who says Buhari is not working? That is the reason Nigerians pay his monthly dues after all. That is the reason they feed him and his family from the common purse. Yes, Buhari is giving the Nation's railway a new look. No doubt, Buhari has made the EFCC less dormant.

Laudably too, Buhari has constructed roads and he's sure still working on some others. He has purchased tucano jets, It is also no news that Mr. President is re-awakening Nigerian airline. These are all good projects, but they are the least Nigerians looked forward to. Nigerians want the President they elected in 2015. A president that would have provided about five million jobs by now. Could that same President have been watching the daily loss of thousands of Jobs that we now have? I guess No!

Nigerians elected a President that would have banned medical tourism by politicians, he definitely can't be the one who patronises UK Doctors himself. Nigerians want their President, who would have equated a naira to a dollar. Where is the President Nigerians voted, who would have made a litre of petrol fifty naira? Or could that same man have watched a litre move from less than a hundred naira price to a hundred and fifty?

The retired General re-introduced to Nigerians in the pre-election days wouldn't have looked-on while herdsmen become a threat. He in fact would have brought permanent peace and solution to the insurgency issues in the North-East; the Niger Delta; and other conflict prone states and areas such as Plateau, Benue, Bauchi, Borno, Abia, Taraba, Yobe, and Kaduna in order to engender national unity and social harmony.

The president Nigerians elected in 2015 would have fixed electricity within his first six months in office. He would have Increased the quality of all federal government owned hospitals to world class standard. He's sure not the same man, who watched Aso rock Clinic die under his very nose. The Man we used to know would also have revived and reactivated our minimally performing Refineries to optimum capacity.

The Buhari for whom Nigerians sent away a sitting President promised to revive and restructure the Nigerian Football League and put incentives in place to make it as competitive as other national leagues. The Man Nigerians cheered 'Sai Baba' would have Initiated action to amend the Nigerian Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties, and responsibilities to states in order to entrench true Federalism and the Federal spirit, to mention but a few.

He would have established a Conflict resolution commission to help prevent, mitigate, and resolve civil conflicts within the polity rather than declare harmless IPOB a terrorist group and launch a deadly python dance against the Igbos.

Lastly, should things be different from his views when seeking votes, should he have found it impossible to fulfill his promises and activate the magic wand for which Nigerians voted him, I trust the man Nigerians elected to have willingly relinquished power and resigned honourably. I doubt if such a man of integrity would bum around seeking a second term, after a first term of woes and woes and groans.

So, Nigerians where is the President you elected?

Ayeni Faith Damilola
faithdamilolaayeni@yahoo.com

Lalasticlala, Mynd44.

Our Priest Said Woe to Buhari

I was late to church today, and it sucks. The choristers also worsened matters; they sang the psalms really bad: you know how a pianist feel when a singer wanders aimlessly from one key to another. But the scripture readings were nice. The first was taken from the 23rd chapter of Jeremiah, and it reads: Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture, says the LORD. Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who shepherd my people: You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds. I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have driven them and bring them back to their meadow; there they shall increase and multiply. I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble; and none shall be missing, says the LORD...

Immediately after the Gospel reading came the homily(your Catholic friends know that). Then the priest, in a green chasuble, preached. He first took us through the historical background of the first reading and made us understand that the shepherds talked about weren't more of religious leaders. Zedekiah was the King of Judah who watched rebellion suffocate his own people. He wasn't wicked(kind of) himself but lacked the moral strength to put his kingdom in order. He watched the powerful take on the poor and vulnerable. Under his watch some citizens of Judah were oppressed and some others humiliated. Then the people began to flee. They sought succour and safety in foreign countries, away from the injustice in Judah.

The same can be said of Nigeria; her citizens also flee to anywhere possible. Some desperately travel en route Libya to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea; many a time lives are lost in the process. Those that remain in the country dare not sleep with two eyes closed. Herdsmen massacre at will, and the leader(s) watch on. Terrorists keep citizens in captivity and would not release Lea Sharibu, when the Muslims find favour. The masses are subjected to hardship; hunger, penury, homelessness, with hunt, injustice and all that. Government would rather concentrate on re-election than sweat out solutions to our problems, so, the priest continued: woe to all the leaders who keep arms akimbo while their subjects suffer. Woe to all, who hold Nigeria to ransome.

In all honesty, our priest never mentioned Buhari's name but I can be sure he meant all who either by ommission or commission brought Nigeria this far. He meant Buhari, he meant Jonathan and all others. He meant the pastors that extort their congregants, those who preach no salvation without tithes and sell miracle oils and water for mouth tearing sums. Have a wonderful sunday.

Ayeni Faith Damilola
faithdamilolaayeni@yahoo.com

June 12:  Many Questions Yet Unanswered

Just like the initial post-independence election, 1964, nigh every presidential election in Nigeria's history has refused to meet the acceptable global standard for a democratic electoral process. The 1979 election that instated Shehu Shagari irked international observers, the same way, that of 1983 was associated with massive rigging, political violence and a number of breaks and holes; a development that culminated in Buhari/Idiagbon military take-over. Down the line, 1999 saw another Nigerian election that wasn't a far cry from the offbeat norm, then in 2003, a number of people; prominent politicians and common men alike, fell victims to the many killings perpetuated by political thugs in the midst of ballot snatching, chaos and manipulations that spilled over to the presidential election of 2007, which was so marred by fraud and rigging that the winner himself, President Yar'adua admitted it lacked credibility. The ugly trend outlasted 2011 ballots, and after 2015, a student of history would acknowledge the second nature of Nigeria- electoral malpractices- which dated back to the pre-independence legislative council elections in Lagos and Calabar, when British Colonial masters allegedly put decisive measures in place to rig massively. However, a different Presidential election was conducted in 1993 and Nigerians have since refused to draw a blank on June 12. On the said day, old and young, soldiers and civilians, clerics and lay faithfuls queued to participate in what has been adjudged the fairest and freest presidential election in the history of Africa's largest nation. It was the lead off, since the coup d’état of 1983, and Basorun Moshood Kashimawo Abiola of the Social democratic party (SDP) outflanked Bashir Tofa, candidate of the National Republican Party (NRC), although, the winner was only presumed and the election later annulled. As a result of the strange unity advertised, and the lamentable after-effects, the day lingered on in the hearts of Nigerians, and consequently, was declared a public holiday in all southwestern states of the country. Meanwhile, it has remained shrouded in controversy, what the anniversary stands for, free and fair election or Abiola, the Abeokuta born Chattered Accountant whom some believe had no grounds for being called a hero in the first place. Abiola was born in August 24, 1937. He trailed western education through Baptist Boys high school Abeokuta to Glasgow, Scotland, as a student of political economy, commercial law and management accountancy. On his return to Nigeria in1966, Abiola toiled; first, as senior accountant at the University of Lagos Teaching hospital, then, at Pfizer; a multinational pharmaceutical company, and later, at the International Telephone and Telegraph corporation (ITT), where he served as Vice president, Africa and middle east. Bashorun did so much for Nigeria in investments as he registered his fingers on a number of sectors. Notable of his stakes were Abiola Farms, Abiola bookshop, Africa ocean lines, Habib bank, Radio communications Nigeria, Wonder Bakeries, Concord press, Concord airlines, Africa ocean lines and Decca W.A ltd. He was also chairman of the G15 business council and the President of Nigerian stock exchange at different times. About 121 churches and mosques, 63 secondary schools and 41 libraries were reportedly built by M.K.O, who later contested the June 12, 1993 presidential elections which eventually landed him in solitary confinement, where he breathed his last in the close of July 7, 1998.  

The annulment, by his friend, General Ibrahim Babangida, of an election that posited Abiola for the presidency, calls to mind the famous statement of Aristotle the philosopher, “O my friend, there is no friend!” Their intimacy dated back to 1974, when Abiola was selling radio system to the military and the then Lt-Col Ibrahim Babangida was sent to evaluate the quality of devices that were being sold. From that time, according to Babangida, "the relationship developed," and outbloomed till hitting the rock, after a widely acclaimed victory was sacrificed. Babangida's historic annulment has been tied around many reasons, among which is the complexion of the winner himself. Abiola is said to have been prominently corrupt. He's said to have clapped hands on Nigeria's money in the American International phone and Telegraph corporation, and so desexed a project that would have tossed Nigeria into a tech-rich state, by supplying refurbished telephone boots; the inspiration behind fela's song , 'International thief thief' (1980). He's also considered the unnamed, well known business tycoon behind the December 31, 1983 Military coup that overthrew a democratic government of Shehu Shagari. Also, Bashorun allegedly sponsored the counter coup that brought his friend, Babangida to power in August 1985; and earlier, at the constituent assembly, he's gossiped to have refused to sign the 1979 constitution because Sharia law was not included. Obasanjo once said, Abiola was not the messiah Nigerians were looking for, while Brigadier Halilu Akilu, the then Director General of military intelligence, was also quoted as saying “Abiola will be President over my dead body,” even, the then minister of transport, Umaru Dikko, rebuffed his candidacy, to him, the presidency was not for sale to the highest bidder, and lately, in an interview session with vanguard in 2013, Senator Stephen Ovie revealed that the annulment of June 12, 1993 election was a repayment of evil to Abiola, sighting the Maroko land deal with which he chattered and scattered Awolowo, among other evils. Meanwhile, Babangida had insisted his friend lived a very honest and straightforward life, not given to sentiments and that he was only compelled to void the said election results in view of security threats to the enthronement of a democratic government at the time. Still and all, the federal government has refused to immortalize the late sage, not a single University or airport has been named after him, not even a road in the federal capital territory, and this can only suggest that more is hidden than unclothed on the issues of June 12 and Abiola. There are just too many squabbles around his person, the source of his wealth, and death. While autopsy reportedly held his demise as a result of congested heart failure, some Nigerians have continued to surmise the tea he took with U.S Ambassador Susan Rice that preceded a violent cough, an hour of silence and final death. The story recently got a back-up rick when Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Chief Security officer (CSO) to the Late Gen. Sani Abacha revealed in a 14-paragraph sworn affidavit filed at the Ikeja high court registry, that Abiola actually died as a result of severe beatings he received from agents of state after he was denied treatment by those who locked him up. When asked on channels television, questions related to the June 12 election, Babangida rightly hoped, and said from a  likely pained heart, that "...One day, the younger generation will say they have heard one side and want to hear the other side of the story. Maybe by then we will have a better society that is prepared; that is well -informed of what happened within a period of their existence. They will then be able to say this is the true story.”  History, they say, never really says goodbye, but see you later. It is, therefore, important that the younger generation knows which story to believe as regards the events of, before and after June 12, 1993, and the time is now, when many of the key players are still hale and hearty. The likes of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida himself, Shehu Shagari, Muhammadu Buhari, Olusegun Obasanjo, Babagana kigingbe, Femi Falana, Adulsalami Abubakar, David Mark and Bayo Onanuga among others, and from them we ask the many questions yet unanswered. Was Abiola a true heroe of Democracy? Did he die of natural causes? Why was the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history annulled? Lastly, what do June 12 stand for, Free and Fair Election or Abiola?

Ayeni Faith Damilola is a writer, public speaker and eulogist.
faithdamilolaayeni@yahoo.com

Lalasticlala, Dominique and Mynd44 ; What do you guys think?

Are You The messiah?

An Open Letter To Omoyele Sowore.

Of this I'm sure, that if Nigeria refuses to be fixed this one time, heads will roll, blood will flow and many will die. Not the heads of Christmas fowls nor the blood of Ramadan sheep, but those of the oppressors and suppressors, those of the fake messiahs, their Children, and their Children's Children.

It is on this note, that I write you, Mr. Sowore. The 2019 presidential election is in a spitting distance, and as usual, politicians are warming up. While the incumbent puts on gloves, a number of people are also throwing hats; the former Vice president, Atiku Abubakar, and Ayodele Fayose, Governor of Ekiti, among others from the opposition. While the aforementioned are of the ruling class, a host of new faces are also in the ready, Ahmed Buhari, 38, from Niger State, Fela Durotoye, 46, from Ibadan and You, Omoyele Sowore, 47; all prospects for Nigeria. However, among the promising young aspirants, your person seems more enticing at the moment, but, before considering you for my vote, should you win your party's primary, there are things to chew over, and prior to discussing those, this is a brief of your prospective friend. I am of the view, that there is hope in the sky for Nigeria, and that all we need is a college of young, brilliant and selfless leaders. The human resources we need might not be the richest, the most popular or the most read, the reason I decided to find my way to the depth of aspiring leaders' hearts, with a view to figuring them out. To this effect, I first engaged Tosin Ajibare, a 35 years old governorship aspirant in the early days of 2017, challenged him and his team, and let loose all of my ploys in knowing his real intention; if he was really ready to serve the people, if he was one of such leaders that Nigeria needed. I visited him in his office many a time, and we discussed the way forward for Ekiti. It was in the course of my relationship with Ajibare that I had a renewed faith in Young people and their ability to bring the real dividends of democracy to Nigerians. Subsequently, I engaged Ahmed Buhari's team, his National campaign manager also responded, and gave me a front sit invitation to his Town hall meeting in Lagos. All these to let you know, that I have been a genuine seeker of good leaders. That said, let's talk about the real issues.

In 1983, it was no bother for Buhari to answer of course to a question such as: Are you the Messiah? That time, the only solution Nigerians seeked for their heaping challenges was a resolute disciplinarian and corruption fighter. In August 27, 1985, Major Gen. Ibrahim Babangida poised, yet, another messiah to a people that was visibly hungry, maltreated and abused, but, they soon learnt that man was not made for bread alone. In his November 17, 1983 speech, General Sanni Abacha also told the populace the messianic flavor behind his takeover, in his own word, "... in a bid to find solutions to the various political, economic and social problems which have engulfed our beloved country, and which have made life most difficult to the ordinary citizen of this nation...," but, when the people became victims of hunger, killings and maiming, they cried hard for another messiah, and down the line, Obasanjo came on board, then Yar' adua, Jonathan and now 'the super messiah' Muhammadu Buhari under whose watch we enjoy unprecedented hunger, mass massacre and divisions along religion and tribal lines. In all those years of trial and error, Nigerian youths were the most stung, most bitten and most deprived. In Bayo Oluwasanmi's usage, "Nigerian youths have long been marginalized, long abandoned, long abused, and long disinherited by the political leaders". 'Nigeria has devoured her youths, She has terrorized them. She offers no hope, no life, no dream, and no future. She's a dead country full of dead youths.' Hence, the cry and call for a young saviour, to which you have answered Yea with your 'takeitback' mantra. Meanwhile, anyone can make a script of all the loop holes in the past and present administrations to get voters on his side, but I must tell you, all the past leaders were lucky, even the incumbent, as they all had a patient and permissive people to deal with. From the look of things, Nigerians would no longer be so patient as they are now but an inch away from the wall, and if you well remember one proverb of our people, "when a goat is chased to the wall, it bites." The truth is: Nigerians are stretched to the limit, they well know they have been fooled over the years and are ready to fight henceforth. Nigerian youths are ready to try one from among them now, but if he should bite them again, would they call for a child President? No! They would rather kill, they will maim, they will destroy, and that time, the victims would be the political class, who had decieved, and kept deceiving them. There would definitely be a revolution, the President, ex Presidents, Governors, Senators Reps, Ministers, other prominent politicians and their offsprings may not survive. God Forbid.

You would recall that speaking at the West Africa regional conference on youth employment held in Dakar, capital of Senegal in 2012, Obasanjo warned of imminent revolt, he said, “Unless the government of Nigeria takes urgent steps to arrest the menace of youth unemployment and poverty, it is a certainty that Nigeria will see revolution soon.” That's actually the truth. From my conversations with young people in the streets lately, it was crystal that Nigerians were ready to go the way of China, Russia and Cuba, but only cooled their heels, awaiting the right time, and I can tell you, that the incoming administration will either avert this nearing Moira or hasten its coming. Therefore, Mr. Sowore, while your campaign gains momentum and your name travels far and wide, answer my question, not with a well prepared manifesto like your forerunners, but by examining the very depths of your own heart. Are you the messiah, or should we look for someone else? Can you actually tackle our chain of problems or you are just an opportunist who wants to ride on the horse of 'not too young to run' and the many failures of the present administration? Nigeria right now is too tense for a joker and anyone who plays citizens, from this time onward, may not be so lucky. Apart from being young, the leader we need now must be selfless, uncorrupted and incorruptible, he must be detribalised, sensitive and impatient; ingenious, industrious and straightforward, he must be vibrant, up-to-the-minute and tech-savvy. He must be approachable, unrigid and commited. Lastly, he must be courageous and well surrounded by the best brains from within and without. This is the kind of president we need this time and if you do fit in, good. If you do not, instead of attempting to sit on a time bomb, kindly opt out of the race and join me in searching for the right man, for I'm doubly sure there's a man out there for the Job. Let me conclude in the word of Tambuwal at the 2013 Distinguished Management Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) : "due to the rampant corruption, injustice, crushing poverty coupled with the general disaffection of the people with the ruling elite, a revolution is due in the country." May Nigerian youths not break Coconut in your head. This is no time for comedy, Mr. Sowore. I wish you well and look forward to getting the hang of the real you.

Sincerely,


Ayeni Faith Damilola.

The Historical Review of Nigerian Health System and The Coming To Life Of Afe Babalola Multi-System Hospital.

In the days before now, in Africa, the quick fix to diseases and illnesses of any kind was believed to be a perogative of Herbalists, Orators, Soothsayers, Palmists, and Seers. For a black man, illness could only be a reparation for one's sins, an affliction by the enemy, or simply, a penalty for making the gods angry. The African foregoers undeniably did their best towards curing diseases, and sometimes giving to patients the empathy unfound in Many Nigerian Modern medicine professionals of today. However, African Traditional medicine was not diagnostic, and; as a result, there were not many natural causes known for health challenges, but unfleshy reasons, many a time said to require sacrifices backed up with locally prepared solutions, often prescribed without dosage. The first recorded entry of Western-styled medicine into Nigeria was in 1854, when Dr. Baike used quinine to shut out the growing mortality of white expeditioners inclusive of the Legendary Mungo Park. Down the line, in 1880, the first health centre was built by the Church Missionary Society(Anglican), and, the first hospital; Sacred heart, by the Roman Catholic Church in Abeokuta, 1885. It did not stop at that, the inaugural Government of Nigeria, under Lord Lugard, also advanced Modern medicine, by establishing the first government-owned hospital, St Magaret's, in Calabar, in the year 1889, aside the many health centres previously built to serve the Millitary. Today, it is an unequal story, as Nigeria is home to thousands of Health centres and Hospitals owned by Governments, Missions, Associations and individuals. Nevertheless, it is out of luck and/or unfortunate to learn that after 150yrs of the entrée of Hypocrate's medicine into Nigeria of over 35,000 certified medical Doctors, the health system is still in the pits. What could be guilty of the unshrouded deficiency in our health sector? Nigerian hospitals have since the coon's age lost the confidence and trust of citizens on account of faulty hospital infrastructures, insufficient medical equipment, ineffiicient health service providers and dearth of drugs and some other medical necessaries. Lack of empathy on the part of Doctors and Nurses, and, round-the-clock industrial actions are also among the many visibles that fit out those who can afford quality medical care abroad for the next available flight, at the slightest show-up of ailment, a development that makes Nigeria lose about 50 billion naira to medical tourism every year. Beyond is the Inappropriate funding of the health sector and ravaging corruption that makes Nigerians stare in the face, horse and buggy machines, dilapidated hospital structures, unhappy Doctors and Nurses; while developed countries enjoy the use of Modern equipment, Up-to-the-minute infrastructures and the passionate delivery of well paid service providers. It is so bad in Nigeria, giant of Africa, that even the Aso rock clinic cannot be unmentioned in our history of blues, as Aisha, wife of the President, recently mourned its scandalous state. Yes, Our story was that of hopelessness, in that, if the government could find it incredibly titanic, the bread and butter of a clinic, for which about 3 billion naira was budgeted; what is the fate of other hospitals, especially those in the rural areas of the country? The world health organisation ranked Nigerian health system 187th out of 191 countries in year 2000 just as the life expectancy in Nigeria is currently 54.05yrs, which is 216th position in the world and 16th in Africa. Furthermore, the executive director of the National primary healthcare development agency ( NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, put children and women yearly mortality, caused by preventable diseases at 3,000, among many other deaths which would have been nonexistent should we have a befitting health system. How many can we acknowledge from the stream of misfortunes brought about by our behind-the-times health system?

On the other hand, In the thick of our health dilemma as a Nation, the establishment of Afe Babalola Multi-System Teaching Hospital is a balm on sore to Nigeria as a whole and to Ekiti state in particular, just like the Yorubas would say, that When a Man's head would favour him, it takes him straight to a problem solver. The hi-tech, ultramodern 400-bed hospital, built on 60 hectares of land is the first of its kind in sub-Sahara Africa as a result of its state of the art infrastructures, latest medical equipments and highly qualified Professionals brought in from within and without Nigerian borders. Afe Babalola University teaching hospital, a 9 block architecture set up with a view to stemming medical tourism in Nigeria, by providing for citizens every medical service available anywhere in the world, is proving true to its calling, as it has kicked off with a bounce by reportedly being able to offer up to the following medical services in the very first month of its life span: Fluoroscopy, which displays the interior of a patients body on a fluorescent screen, thereby allowing real-time viewing and examination; Endoscopy, which creates an avenue for Doctors to examine the inside of a patient's body with the aid of an endoscope, and operate on it(if necessary), without surgery, but with the use of a specialised equipment; Nuclear Medicine, in which a tiny radioactive material is used to diagnose a disease, determine its severity and also bring about its cure; Bone Densitometer, Pet-scan, ECG and Threadmill test among others. Besides, the hospital has confessed to offering Cancer Treatment, Transplant Surgery, Joint replacement and Dental surgery; the four cardinal defense for Nigerians' Medical visits to India, Germany and the US. Recently, the Multi-System Hospital got a tele-medicine equipment that would allow her pitch into tele-consulting, tele-diagnosis and tele-management, i.e experts from Dubai would complement the efforts of their Nigerian counterparts working in the hospital, by attending to patients right from their base, through an unscreen session; that is in addition to an automated device that transports blood, drugs, and other medical necessaries through a prematic tube. This up-to-the-minute machine connects the Pharmacy, Laboratories, Modular theatres and other operating theatres, Radio Frequency Cage, and wards, therefore, bringing about a drift to what the situation is in many Nigerian hospitals where patients and their family members have to go buy drugs from Mercury and submit samples in Jupiter. The hospital which has also entered into partnership with reputable international organisations such as the renowned Abbot laboratories, Aster hospital group, Dubai, among others, can best be described as a world of medical facilities and it is one reason enough to make Nigerians beat their chest with pride. Of the many contributions of Aare Afe Babalola to nation building, the hospital in review is indeed a milestone; even, for the whole of Africa, and, in addition to accolades from inland and foreign bodies, counting the prestigious University of London, he is well deserving of respect and champagne from every single Nigerian. Babalola, who had handled over 10,600 court cases as an attorney, has enriched Nigerian Judiciary, contributed to farming, education and now health. As Pro-chancelor and chairman governing council of the University of Lagos, Afe discharged his duties so passionately that he was decorated the best Nigerian Pro-chancellor in two consecutive years, before moving on to establish Afe Babalola University, which he nurtured, first; to the fastest growing private University, and, now the best in the whole of Africa. If there is anything to teach Nigerian big men, who would rather buy for themselves unprecedented luxuries in expensive cars, private jets and Multi-billion naira houses which have no positive impact on a people and country that wallows in abject poverty, it is Afe and his investments in humans. If his hospital alone, would employ 2,000 people, how many fortunate few like him do we need to make Ekiti and Nigeria a place of diverse employment opportunities? The man of many Doctorates has done his part, actually, to bring the Nigerian health system to global reckoning, what is left now is for the Government to excite such a selfless move by prohibiting medical tourism, especially for politicians who take many Nigerian billions to Foreign hospitals in the name of treatment. Never again should Nigerian leaders travel abroad on tax payers millions to cure sicknesses of any kind, we've got in Ekiti a Multi-System hospital that will take care of, even, the President not to talk of Ministers, Governors, Senators and all who seek the kind of medical care the Queen of England enjoys. Long live Aare Afe Babalola, Long live his beautiful hospital.

Ayeni Faith Damilola is a Writer, Public Speaker and Eulogist.
faithdamilolaayeni@yahoo.com.

_*The Race Of The Umbrella Kingdom:*_
*Only a warrior can recognize the true Victor.*
_By Tosin Ajibare Gold._

In the umbrella Kingdom, A race was declared and a price was attached. From onset the emperor declared an anointed candidate and to aid him in winning he gave him the kings personal modified race chariot, fitted with new wheels, new axles and fresh mounts and organized training sessions.
To further strengthen him, he made him rehearse the course and proclaimed him throughout the land while at the same time declaring other contestants as outlaws. Any citizen of the umbrella Kingdom seen fraternizing with any of the other contestants was treated as an outlaw.
At the close of the race, the judges were reshuffled to suit the emperor for assured victory.

And it came to pass, on the day of the race, the emperors boy maxed 1,191km despite the modified, reinforced and articulated race chariot of the emperor, while the outlaw ran barefooted, devoid of training sessions and maxed 741km.

Emperors machine: 1,191km
Outlawed and persecuted contestant effort: 770km
Difference: 421km

Hail Ho, great is the emperor, his machine and his boy within the umbrella kingdom. ���

_Stay tuned for the race in the Broom Kingdom. Can't waste my time analysing those ones until they can successfully conclude an internal affair._

*Buckle up comrades, this so called powers are over-hyped, it's time to end the reign of the corrupt and parasitic blame traders.*
_A New Beginning Beckons_

*Today's Date is Tomorrow*

I hardly write and publish these days, and It's not OK with me. I do not seem to know what to write anylonger, as everyone seems to make sense. Meanwhile, Just yesterday, a respeted young man talked about this 'leaders of tomorrow' phrase, and it brought memories of one Nursery school marching song:
Parents Listen to your children, (pah pah pah)
We are the Leaders of tomorrow, (pah pah pah)
Try to pay our school fees, and
Give us sound education.
You sang that song in those days and I did too, in Fehintola Nursery and primary school. But one thing is troubling in the golden oldie. It was a request made with a promise, but, while our parents kept their part of the bargain by paying the school fees we asked for, and so; gave us the sound education, we've refused to fulfill our own promise of becoming leaders. Instead, We have grown to be unused little draggies, a do-nothing young people. Maybe because tomorrow has refused to come, then, when will tomorrow come? In Bayo Oluwasanmi's usage, 'Nigerian youths have long been marginalized, long abandoned, long abused, and long disinherited by the political leaders. Nigeria is a country that devours its youths. It's a country that terrorizes its youths. It's a country that offers no hope, no life, no dream, and no future. It's a dead country full of dead youths.'

For every little thing the world wants to do, it fixes a date. A wedding date, a graduation date, a naming date, a burial date, a resumption date and so on, but, the day young people will become leaders, Tomorrow! Again, When actually is tomorrow? Even, the next sun rise has its own date. Anyways, Yoruba foregoers said it all, 'Owó ara eni la fi í tù Ìwà ara eni se.' Tomorrow, therefore, is that day, when young people will wrestle power, that day when we would retire those who have kept on making life difficult and still tag us 'Lazy,' that day we would come together and say: Enough! Tomorrow is now, actually. In other word, today's date is tomorrow. Nigerian youths, arise this minute. Let's advance to the throne, let's aspire, and support those from among us, who want to be Senators, Governors or President!

Ayeni Faith Damilola is a writer, public speaker and eulogist
faithdamilolaayeni@yahoo.com

coolscott:
It was never about APC and PDP in the last elections.
If a good candidate had emerged in the APC, I would have voted him and Nigeria would have been a better place for it.

I vehemently opposed Buhari in the last elections (even though I planned in 2011 not to support Jonathan in 2015) because I clearly saw the kind of man he was. He had actually revealed it in the years and months of build up to the 2015 elections

I will say it again. It is about making the best choice of the emerged candidates.

Many saying vote PDP and APC out are just ashamed that they invested themselves in the emergence of the misfortune that the country now endures.

I tell you, if you see the best candidate in the APC or the PDP, vote that person.

I don't think the candidate will emerge from the APC.

There is a chance someone in the PDP with some credit will emerge.

There is a much more greater chance that someone outside the mainstream parties emerges (which is what I am actually optimistic for).

But why I must say that it is not about the party is that...

I fear that if a bigger horror than Buhari finds another party to run on, he actually can deceive all those who are thinking it is about parties.

Actually, it is because folks were all blinded for their hate for PDP that they could not see that keeping Jonathan in power would have prevented us from sliding backwards the way we have these few years. It made them make a bad decision.

In conclusion, if former gov. Fashola was president under the APC, do you think Nigeria would have slid backwards?

I do not know who will emerge outside the PDP or APC but while we all hope a much, much better option emerges, if a horror does emerge, let us not blindly choose that horror because we like certain insects, cannot differentiate between safe light to gravitate to and scorching fire to keep away from.

As much as I would have agreed with you, I think the structures would actually strangle the good plans of anyone coming from among them.

I'm Beginning To Love Fayose!

Nothing lasts till blue in the face. Not hate, not disgust. Besides, there was no time I actually shuddered at his Excellency. In fact, I so much looked forward to his second coming, especially during those times, when Ekiti seemed given away. Just that, it was not far into Osoko's second tenure before I started finding it difficult to see in his eyes, the Man the masses truly had a picture of. So many causeless and/or beside the point projects. Who would not be angry with his former sweetheart, when he does the unexpected? Fayose did thesame thing for which his predecessor was tossed out on ears, and with that, I was disappointed. I really was. I thought Ayodele would, instead of spending lots of Money on Overhead bridge, invest in Igbemo rice, so that Ekiti would feed the whole nation and beyond, then, the proceeds used to actually create jobs for the many unemployed products of Ekiti Parents. Yes, I also saw nothing actual and/or sustainable in an Ultramodern market built for a people who had been made dusty, outworn, old-hat, and gasping by hunger. Nothing good is fine when the timing is wrong, you know?

Anyways, I have forgiven Mr. Governor.Yes, I have actually. His love has suddenly come to life in the graveyard of my bowels. You need listen to Fayose on Radio to get the hang of my love story. Not many politicians could be that straightforward and sincere. He said, you should go get your permanent voters card. He did not stop at that, "...òun lo lè fi lé ìjoba aninilára tàbí Ìjoba tó ní kí òsìsé máa se ìdánwo...," he continued. I know you don't still get. Do you? Now, listen and listen good. The goverrnor said: Go get your PVC with which you can send packing, a government that makes 'life difficult' or the one that makes examinations compulsory for workers. Now, let's play this game. Which government can make life difficult more than the one that owes workers more than six months salary, and pensioners, more than nine months? Which government can make life up for grabs like the one that demolishes people's houses and gives them money enough to buy them garri and groundnut? You, also, are aware of the Ekiti government that set up bull crap examinations to get Ekiti workers down. Simply put, Fayose, Apesin ola, has just told you to go get your voters card to actually send packing the PDP and the APC. If you are still an ardent supporter of a candidate in any of the two parties, Fayose is simply saying: Don't be stupid. If you like, join Maize party. If you like join Yam party, you may even join Garri party. The point remains, the PDP and the APC has failed and should be buried for good! Thank you Fayose, your excellency.

Ayeni Faith Damilola is a writer, public speaker and eulogist.
faithdamilolaayeni@yahoo.com