₦airaland Forum

tron23: Without mixing words, I do believe that she is qualified for the job.
1) She is intelligent.
2) Experienced,
a) wife of former President (8years)
b) Senator (8 years)
c) Secretary of State (4 years)

Besides, she is politically sound, and I do believe its her time, especially as we have had our first black President.

But you ended up mixing words

Replace 'mixing' with 'mincing'. Thank me later

Conspiracy theory: some guys stumbled on a nairaland thread of some Nigerian guy that marketed himself for some marketing job abroad. They went ahead to cook this scare thrash up. They actually need some local vigilante job in that neigbourhood.

adeoladrg: Why not give a young goon like Fashola or Oshioms the chance. The bane of Nigerian politics has always been greed.




Last bullet: Just read my signature.

Goon means a thug or a fool! Ol boy, some errors are suicidal.

Aregbesola is an error that God will remove like a tumor. Too autocratic to lead a democratic state. I live in Osogbo, and I can tell you people are tired of his draconian rule. You demolish people's houses and shops without compensation in the name of 'no c of o' even lawyers could hardly get a quarter of what is due them as compensation. You obliterate great schools both in form and identity in the name of school merger. You owe workers and pensioners till Fayemi's loss made you an overnight father christmas. who does that? Omisore may not have the best of reputation but so was fayose. Aregbe has battered the peoples heart. No human face. So after constructing mega road, we should make eba, use it to rub the road and swallow? Aregbe must go.

Man ought to tell money what the value of a thing is, and never vice versa. We shouldn't get an impression of the value of a thing from the price tag on it. This is because money, the means of exchange, is actually of little value in and of itself. It takes on the value of what it could purchase, or be exchanged for. The value of money is not intrinsic, but imparted. Without things to market, money is without value, but without money, things still retain their intrinsic values. A tree is a tree, a rock a rock, a diamond a diamond, and an education -an education.

If I paid a certain amount of money to educate my child, I would not equate the value of that education to the fees paid. I won't say my child had a 40 million or a 60 million education. The value of my child's education cannot be expressed in monetary terms, even though it was purchased at a particular amount. Educating my child has a value of its own that is very different from what it cost. So it is with everything of value in life. Money represents an accurate estimation of COST, but a rough estimation, and sometimes very rough, of VALUE.

Cost and value bear a certain relationship, but there is sometimes a whole world of difference. They are related to the extent that the more valuable a thing is, the costlier it should be. However value is an intrinsic quality and has several determinants and characteristics which money cannot measure. Something may bear heavy cost and be of little value and quite useless, whilst another thing may bear light cost and prove invaluable. Money therefore has a poverty when it comes to value, by virtue of its own lack of value, and the key is to separate these two, in the pursuits of life.

Therefore the lesson is to put value where value belongs, and money where money belongs. Money is useful therefore, not valuable. Certain things are valuable, but money is not one of them. Money is used to mobilize those things, and there it should end. It should not be at the centre of our endeavors nor the reason for rising early or sitting up late. Although very useful for the exchange of value, we must not get carried away to the point where we defocus from things of actual value and usurp their place by making money itself the reason for everything. It turns the course of society upside down. That is the lesson.

It is a very important lesson. It makes us never give up something of quality for the sake of money, something like honesty or a calling. It is the difference between ambition and vision, making money and serving a purpose, competition and innovation, the need to meet up with status and the simplicity of personal satisfaction. A thing which if understood, will change the world. It requires us to go for what is expedient, not what is imminent and pressing on us, with or without value. It requires us to go for what will outlast us instead of what will announce us. It gives us the freedom to make choices over what actually is, than what only seems to be. It considers posterity as a true measure of prosperity, by placing personal aggrandizement second to nation building. We are safe where value is the reason, but where money is the reason…..everything falls apart. In slow motion.

Placing value on things that are actually valuable, and letting money serve those things gives rise to a value system. When on the other hand, value is placed on money, having money, and making money; the value of things that actually have value decreases, sometimes to the point of insignificance. That is called a money system. In a money system, I could sacrifice honesty or integrity, the goal is to make money. I could buy beauty, or seek to sell sensitive information. It is the reason for every dirty and unsavory cut-throat event that occurs in the business world.

The reason why we have a failed state is that it operates a money system instead of a value system. Say politics and money comes to mind. A friend who gets a political appointment is perceived as one connected not to leadership, nor nation building, but one connected to money, and one who would soon become very rich. At the back of the rush for government projects and contracts is little to do with the passion for nation building. The main deal is that at every junction along such business is the opportunity for money to be gained. That is a money system. While it may be obvious that such a system is partly the reason for a failed state, it mightn’t readily be seen that on a personal level, it equally gives rise to failure.

If one wants to have a lot of money and it is to be meaningful eventually, one would have to have a lot of value, and get money to work it. Like a business with one worker, which as it expands gets more workers. Or a house with servants. The wealthy men today, and from time, get to a point where they give out almost all the money they have, and make even more in no time. They operate, not a money system, but a value system. Like a servant, they send money around; and it comes back. Those who have obtained riches otherwise, even though they now have the means to make wealth, find it extremely difficult because they do not understand value. They have to hold on to what they have rather tenaciously, and are afraid to lose any of it. By the second generation, all is wiped out and forgotten.

Money is needed (yes, it is needed) as a means of exchange for value, but itself is not worth much. It is not worth living for, and it is not worth dying for. It is not worth your family, friendships, esteem, or your health. It is a means of acquiring value, transferring value, transporting value. Value is the substance, money is the means. So if at the end of the dance, one is left holding on to cash, and only cash, it has been a pointless exercise, and waste of good music. Set up a value system that money can serve, as it exchanges value from one level to another, instead of setting up a money system, where the main point is to make money, and then make some more. It destroys people, families, legacies, and nations -eventually.

A simple and common way to express this thought is to go acquire real estate, buying up property with money. What is the cost of a plot of land? Can you tell me? You'd say it depends on where. It could be 40 thousand here and 40 million there. And the latter may not be as good or well situated as the former. Actually land, like the best things in life, is both free and priceless. The price tag on it does not tell us its value, but its man-made cost. That is a simple way of expressing the thought behind the economy of value, but such an economy system goes beyond real estate. It does not merely acquire land; it mobilizes value and improves the quality of life for the next generation. It makes the world a much better place to live in, all things considered; a thing only achievable where money is removed from the reason-for-all-things position in the equation of life, and placed where it should be, as one of the main parameters in the service of value.

Credit: Ebele UzoPeters

The trending topical issue in the University of Ibadan currently is not just the just concluded election of the Student Union but the alleged involvement of the joint christian body in the political process.

Bulk sms was reportedly sent by the President of the joint fellowship, Assembly of Unibadan Christian Fellowship (AUCSF) to the electorates, canvassing their votes for a presidential candidate who eventually emerged.

In mainstream politics, CAN has been scathingly condemned for being partisan. Tunde Bakare, Chris Okotie have at one time or the other been derided for plunging into the murky of politics.

Clearly, this is a moral issue- and not a legal one. The freedom of expression and association are fully guaranteed by the constitution. And since these bodies also double as organisations with peculiar interests, should anyone upbraid them for doing the needful?

Religious bodies/leaders involvement in politics, how much is too much?

koonbey: You don't know what you are saying,that's my humble Assessment.

Rather than make your point, you decided to sit in judgment over my opinion? Ba damua.

berem: Assurance of safety? What is he afraid of, or is Bola Ige's ghost haunting him?

Omisore,if you like eat one bag of roasted corn during the debate,it won't erase the fact that you're a murderer and a loser in the waiting!

You can't be so sure unless you were his accomplice. The framers of the rule that a suspect is innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction were not dim-witted. Pepper sellers may be excused for making such unguarded statement, but not you. You can't afford to be shallow in reasoning. You just can't!

mployer: Your problem is wrong notion about divine Intervention. Divine intervention isn't sitting down and waiting on God to act, It is acting along with God. It is waiting to get idea and wisdom from God and acting on it.
The result is always amazing when you work and walk with God.

That's all. When a premise is faulty, a faulty conclusion is inevitable.

Amya: Go over the article again. No where was it written that SANs who represents corrupt judges are going to be prosecuted. All she said was when such high profile SAN's are quick to come and defend these judges, then they are probably working in "tandem". Which is the honest truth! Her major complain was that the lawyers are so quick to point the judiciary as corrupt, but they don't point out the bad eggs even though they know them, but defend them.

For the article, what I got was that she wanted to say that corrupt judged work hand in hand with corrupt lawyers. She wasn't in any way trying to go against the constitution by implying that such judge shouldn't get a defence. Read again.

And you're really dumb for making such spiteful statements against female legal practitioners. You think a road side mechanic. Pompous arrogant prick!

How come you know too well what she wanted to say when even the devil does not know the mind of a man? See? Rather than fix culpability where culpability is, you try to desperately excuse an inexcusable goof, sadly using invectives and rantings as tools. Again, you affirm the assertion that females are more of emotional beings than rational beings. It's not a slight- just who you are. Live with it or go for sex-change cos you evidently can't deal with it.

Goof of life.

When the supposed most learned in the land starts speaking like a road-side mechanic, you don't need a seer to tell you we're in trouble. Elementary law should have told her that in a common-law legal system like ours, there is rebuttable presumption of innocence. We'd perpetrate more injustice if we allow sentiments to becloud our sense of reasoning. The worst of criminals deserve the best legal representation. Little wonder females were not allowed in the legal profession for a very legal time- hard as they try, emotional sentiment superimpose itself on their sense of reasoning- most times!

Weah96: Thanks for the invite, but for me, my conscience reigns supreme. I refuse to tell a lie to myself.

I'd be praying for you. Don't hesitate to come here and share the testimony when you see the light.

Weah96: Yea, they often underestimate the implications of their belief systems. There should be no distinction between the atheist and the Muslim, from the Christian perspective. As far as Jesus is concerned, you either follow him as instructed, or he uses your corpse to make suya. Believing in God doesn't help.

That should tell you Christianity is just not another religion. No one born of a woman ever uttered such words: I am THE way, THE truth and THE life; no one comes to the Father but by me.' and still has legions of followers. He was either mad, bad or truly God.

He that believes on him is not condemned but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Weah96, Wisdom calls. Rejecting Him is accepting eternal damnation. Accept him today. Tomorrow may be too late.

You are either a confused naïve girl or an unrepentant attention seeker. You either don't know what it means to be born again or you were born of the CORRUPTIBLE seed. You need to go seek out Jesus before it is too late...Nairaland will bear me witness on the Last day that I gave you my two cents!

Afam4eva, I must first commend you for consistently maintaining a polite language and disciplined mien inspite of some provocative comments and abusive attacks on this thread. Kudos. You are one of the few lone voices of decorum on this forum. May you produce more of your kind!

To the topic, I quite agree that the political state of a nation largely defines its economic and developmental life. However, I am not convinced GEJ is sincere enough to wear the shoes you graciously bequeath him. I rather think his recent squabbles with OBJ is a fall out of the latter's threat to his ambition. His pretentious corruption crusade, his little economic growth stories, and his fight with some of the old cargoes are all targeted at returning to power. GEJ, like most- if not all- Nigerian politicians are all about personal interests, and not our common interest.

Where did the prophet warn GEJ not to contest? Comprehension skill is not for all, anyway.

Pastor Olu T: Dont really listen to Naija gospel, though I have listen to a few.

Why is that?

dino2006: Sinach's i know who i am definitely tops the list

Virtually everyone listened to it. Nice lyrics, great melody.

Jesusalltheway: Meanwhile I enjoyed
I am your God - frank Edwards
Moni baba kan - lara George
I know who I am - sinach

Seems the trio are contemporary Nigeria's best. 'Moni baba kan' doesn't seem to be Lara's original lyrics. She's good at 'me-rixing' songs though.

Still in the mood of the new year, can you list 3 Nigerian gospel songs you played most in 2013, and why?

I'm a stickler for good lyrics with good rendition. Frank Edwards' songs would have filled the log but I soon got turned off with his I'm-D-banj-like intro: 'Richboy in the building' stuff. Lol.

For me, it was:
1. I know who I am- Sinach
2. El- Elyon- Chris Delvan
3. I lavish my love- Chris Morgan.

10 points on the ASUU wahala: It is all about the data and communications by Pius Ikhide

Nigeria is on my mind. Specifically, I am thinking of the crippling strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that is almost six months now. It is common knowledge that the situation in the campuses is grim (see a grisly report by ThisDay here, sobering pictures from a “NEEDS assessment” here, and these particularly upsetting photos on Linda Ikeji’s blog of university facilities in utter disrepair). I have weighed in on numerous times, since 2009 (read my last rant here). The situation is dire and both ASUU and the federal government are fiddling. Meanwhile Nigerian students are at home. Well, not all of them. Private universities are still in session.

ASUU was created for good reason and at a time when Nigeria had very few universities, all of them government funded. Today, there are more than ten times that many universities, several of them privately owned (ironically by the thieves that ran the public universities aground). ASUU as a central force is a behemoth that must go. There is a compelling reason why ASUU must be disbanded at the national level and strengthened at each institution. A cookie-cutter approach to advocacy using strikes that shut down all public universities while the private universities stay open introduces an inequity. It is this: The children of the poor are disproportionately impacted by these shut-downs since they are the ones most likely to attend the public, decaying tertiary institutions. The children of the rich are either in private schools or abroad in good schools.  Indeed it is the case that the children of many professors do not attend public universities. They are either in private institutions or abroad. It is the truth. Your guess is as good as mine as to how they can afford to raise their kids in private schools or abroad. They can’t. They do. This is all so sad. And Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the man who gave me a free and appropriate primary education turns in his grave. The legacy of Nigerian leaders will be to prove through corruption and incompetence, that a free and appropriate public education is a myth. It is a shame that no one on either side seems to give a tinker’s cuss about this. Our leaders have lost the plot. Elsewhere real leaders are dreaming of and implementing the classroom of the future, It is called Skype. It is free, Ask our children. They would know. They live there freely. On Skype.

I must concede as many people keep reminding me, that I am not there in Nigeria and much of what I have been saying is informed by my stay in the West where as an educational administrator, I have everything at my disposal to ensure that every child in my local community has access to a free and appropriate public education, in a wholesome and nurturing classroom. I will also concede that in that respect, coming from a different culture, I would be at sea in Nigeria, and with my imported ideas, I would fail. For good reason. There are clearly serious challenges in Nigeria’s educational sector that are exacerbated by poor attitudes among labor, management and government. Many of us who have spoken out loudly against the deleterious antics and tactics of ASUU (largely Diasporans) have strained to offer common-sense suggestions, but have been met with comical retorts. This is a crying shame.

Regardless of where you are, there are certain things that must happen, to maintain an appropriate standard of education. With the current ASUU wahala, all sides appear unwilling or unable to learn anything new and refreshing. No one is willing to accept responsibility, and in my view, ASUU is the worst culprit. Let me simply observe that these dysfunctions did not start yesterday, they were already manifesting themselves robustly in my time at the University of Benin, Benin City, in the late seventies. It is hugely hypocritical for anyone now to suddenly wake up, look around and smell decay. And by the way, ASUU, Ikhide has been telling you to clean up something as simple as your website since 2009, yet not a typo has been touched. What gives Ikhide or anyone the confidence that anything will change when you get some more money? The culture of abuse and mediocrity is pervasive. There needs to be a Needs Assessment done in that area. Seriously.

It is really all about data and with respect to financial data; there is not a whole lot to see from anywhere that would inform good decision making and objective analysis. What little has been only proves that funding for the university infrastructure is beyond woeful; it is appalling and disgraceful by any standard. Focusing strictly on the decayed infrastructure, inspired by the (lack of) data and transparency that we have witnessed on the ASUU government tug of war, here are my closing thoughts:

1. There should be an annual Needs Assessment done on each university institution. There is a structural and systemic way to do this. It is called a yearly capital budget and a capital improvement plan which is an annually updated Multi-year strategic plan that, using demographic and revenue projections anticipates an institution’s capital needs. This document is typically a volume of data and visioning and implementation prose that is designed with multiple audiences in mind.

2. There should also be a facilities maintenance budget in the annual operating budget that funds maintenance workers, supplies, contractual obligations and maintenance equipment (if it is not budgeted out of the capital budget).

3. Again, a university is a university anywhere in the world and it must be kept up to acceptable standards. No one is going to cut you slack because you are in Africa, what does that even mean? There should be guidelines: How much should it cost to build a classroom? That is easily attained. In my community here in the US, one classroom costs $500,000. It is expensive I know, but there are code specifications that must be adhered to, technology upgrades that are mandated by law, etc. and of course, labor is prohibitive in the US. I say to ASUU and management: You must know your numbers; how many students are projected to come in next year, the next 10 years? Are the facilities capable of absorbing them? If you don’t know these things, you are driving blind. Data. Demographics. Start simple. How many students do we have today? Add a multiplier for each year. In the long run, hire experts in demography.

4.Example, in our local school district here in the United States, we are faced with capacity issues. In the next several years, thousands of kids are coming in, most of them elementary school kids. The school system has done a Needs Assessment and has figured it will cost about $600 million to get the classrooms. They might either tax the citizens or borrow the money by floating bonds or a combination. Floating bonds might cost $50-60 million annually for 20 years. There is a communications plan that includes a document that breaks everything down and there was a press conference trumpeting this initiative. The local government will fund some, but the school district needs help from the state. Collaboration is crucial. The unions were of course standing with management and politicians at the conference. You need information and mass communication experts. All this beret wearing, comrade calling, hands pumping the air nonsense belongs in the Cold War era. Get an attitude update, while you are at it.

5. Facilities management is expensive. A new building that is not maintained will give you the kinds of horrid pictures of Nigeria’s institutions that have shocked the world. There is no going around this. You will need an army of maintenance workers for every institution, with teams parked in every facility.  A roof leak should not last a day; you are asking for trouble.

6. Competition will force a culture change. There is ample dysfunction on all sides. Clearly ASUU has its challenges, government is clueless, corrupt and inattentive, and management is comically imperial and inattentive. If they all had to compete for attention and resources, if they had to face daily parents, politicians and others armed with reams of data asking hard questions they would all sit up.

7. I cannot overemphasize this: The top-down approach, the overly central bureaucracy is killing Nigeria, ASUU, education, health, and pretty much everything that sustains nations. ASUU and university governance and management must be decentralized. I would restructure the National Universities Commission (NUC) to be truly independent and robust  (read this good editorial on NUC and ASUU’s expose on the TETFUND) and make it truly an office that ensures adequate standards, accountability and oversight.

8. Nigeria urgently needs a Marshall plan to restore tertiary institutions (actually all institutions) to acceptable standards. There are huge capacity issues, and near-insurmountable infrastructure (renovation and modernization) issues. We are talking about a huge infusion of cash and a lot of work being done in a fairly short period of time. That would require expertise and an existing structure and infrastructure that can absorb the build-up. I would not release a penny to the tertiary institutions without a road map to the future that includes structural changes that will make our universities real universities, one that protects staff and students. Doing anything less would be irresponsible. And while we are at it, where is the vision? Have we looked at other innovative approaches to building institutions? Should we build smaller, more manageable institutions? What is wrong with a small community university that is well-run, meets all established standards and is wholesome and welcoming to students, faculty and staff? Why don’t we build institutions that amplify our strengths (that rugged individualism) and minimize our weaknesses?

9. This is about mass communication. Remember, Achebe keeps reminding us, until the lion tells his own story, the hunt will always be glorified by the hunter. In the 21st century, you can do it yourself. And it is cheap. I say to ASUU, get a blog, get a Facebook account, get a Twitter account and post what you need to post to as many people as you want. ASUU is blessed with many people I know who are some of the world’s best recognized experts at Internet technology and social media. One of them is Dr. Obododinma Oha. I don’t know of any scholar that is as good as that man when it comes to using technology and social media for sharing his art and communicating with the world. He is at the University of Ibadan.  And before you start saying, no light, no water, armed robbers, e gba mi, etc., this blog was created for me by Kola Tubosun, over the phone and on chat; he dreamed of it, designed it and created it for me. For free. I don’t know how these things work. Ask him. He is in Nigeria in the Lagos-Ibadan axis. We have a lot of resources, we have incredibly gifted people, there is this thing that happens to us once it is not our personal initiative. ASUU is losing the PR war because its strategy belongs in the 60′s which is simply this – wear an ill-fitting French suit, call yourself a comrade, make some horrid noises, etc. They are not going to win with such ancient methods. They need to partner with young folks, they need to get rid of patriarchy, gerontocracy and misogyny, and invest in a real PR machine.  That website is their enemy, trust me. It is not helping.

10. We know why we should invest in schools and a quality education for the children of our communities. It is about community, it is also about the health and national security of a nation, as has been said here ad nauseam. I must admit I am pessimistic. Can it be done? Yes. In Nigeria? Yes. Look to the prosperity churches in Nigeria. They have everything I have just talked about. Do you know why? They know the meaning of competition. They have functioning and impressive websites. Do you know why? They know the meaning of competition. If they don’t compete, they die. Like our universities. Again, imagine how perversely efficient Nigerian prosperity churches are. There is a motivation. Competition to “save souls” because each “saved soul” is dollars. Ka ching! Ka ching! Imagine if the federal government owned the churches. The congregants would be at home half the time! I have said my own.

        Notes: The full report on the Needs Assessment on Nigeria’s universities may be accessed here.  The 2009 ASUU- Government agreement may be accessed here. The January 12, 2012 memorandum may be accessed here. Professor Bolaji Aluko’s website is useful for monitoring information and data on the ASUU wahala (here).

Op, are you a Christian. If by chance you are, I think the use of 'born again' in your topic is not only inappropriate but an aberration. Being born again is the sole ticket to entering into eternal life. That goes to show that anyone who hasn't been born again is not a Christian. That's not something to be trivialised.

'Spirikoko' sisters can be used to differentiate it from the truly 'spiritual' sisters.

To the topic, I think you're guilty of some sorts of generalisation. You perhaps find such characters in few conservative denominations like deeper life, mfm, cac and the likes. A vast majority are faced with the threat of extreme worldliness. You hardly can discern a Christian sister by her dressing or comportment. Provocative dressing and uncouth language are second skins to many. Even the few conservative ones are influenced negatively on campuses. These form the larger chunk of the evil that assail the christian sisters.

Wallade: On your case, my people will say "eni ti a ntori e gba awe to n je osan". Some students just don't understand ASUU is also supporting the long term interests of students via this strike. Some are just interested in graduating anyhow as unfinished products - empty and largely defficient of employable skills unless subjected to extensive training again by employers - that has always been the case.
For Gods sake, we are tired of strike suspension and resumption on the same issues. If this current strike will compel govt to address the issues and solve it, then I think ASUU should continue. FEC/FG/SG kept creating more tertiary institutions without adequately developing, equiping and funding the existing ones. There must be change from graduating persons with certificates that they can't defend.

The term 'mother of all strikes' is a farce and a cheap political statement void of any substance. It would be naïve to believe that this will be the last of strike actions. The educational system is so rotten that a single intervention by federal govt will not remedy it.

ASUU keep telling us FG can't be trusted. They are shameless to have refused to honour their agreement. Seriously? Is that news? What is news is that ASUU itself can't be trusted. In ASUU's fold are opportunists who feed fat on students in the name of handouts and textbooks, perverts who sleep with anything in skirt, lazy bones who hardly attend classes, dubious folks who spend more time doing 'private practice,' globetrotting, politicking than teaching. Same ASUU that called off previous strike actions when salaries were increased though infrastructures remained moribund. Why on earth should I trust this ASUU? Wait, are GEJ and Rukayyatu Ruffai not products of ASUU. They are in fact pointers to ASUU's lack of integrity.

onyeka205: Those that would be employed would form another ASUU only to start another strike by next year. You can see that sacking lecturers and employing others is not the solution to the problem. Conversely, all the lecturers will go back to class and school fees would be raised to N200,000. This is the option the FG is giving the lecturers. They may accept that option.

When we get to that bridge, we'd cross it. Who knows who will be president then. In Nigeria, we've learnt to live for each day, not for tomorrow.

Gabbysky: You've said it all, and it's a very legitimate approach

Thank you.

wallex1983: Thank you. Exactly what iڪ on my mind to post. Ask Unilorin..... They've never gone on strike since that incident. NEVER. Even now, they are in school.

Anyway, if management in my own school open †ђξ register, I will be the first lecturer to sign. I have never supported it. But I can't go to class because I find myself under the so called ASUU....

Thank you. I'm sure there are many other reasonable lecturers like this. ASUU is but a spoiler.

plendil: We've been down this plan B road before, and as I can clearly recollect, being a student at that time, it didn't turn out as expected. Registers at all institutions were indeed opened and VCs ordered to take note of those lecturers that report to duty. ASUU however called their bluff and so in all the universities, the classes all were virtually empty - with the exception of Unilorin.

The strike was eventually called off when a frustrated OBJ took ASUU to the court of arbitration and it was the court who then ordered the union to 'revert to the status quo'. That was how the inglorious six month old strike came to an end.

FG has continually made the mistake of underestimating just how formidable a union ASUU is. Threats, blackmail, stoppage of salaries etc, didn't work in the past and are unlikely to now.

I bet the realities of today are not the same as what obtained under that regime. ASUU isn't as united as it would have us believe. Many of her members (junior workers especially) are disatisfied with the present arrangement. They are miffed at the dishonesty of the professors and the lousy officials. While they rot away in hunger and misery, they teach in private institutions and galivant around the globe in the name of fellowships. I tell you, many within the ranks of ASUU will embrace an FG offer without blinking an eye.

Between, GEJ is getting agitated and will get desperate with 'security reports' not in favor of his reelection bid.

Popowaa: Get her a cute teddy bear,i love teddy bears and i think most girls like it too.To me the size wont matter that much since it's from someone who cares about me and i can also the person anytime i pick the bear.

Do Nigerian ladies still fancy this? Thought teddy bears are for kids. Wonders shall never end.

This is how Plan B will work- that's if this news is for real.

Managements will open register for as many lecturers are willing to resume work. Others will be relieved, and vacancies put up. New lecturers will be appointed and wholla, sanity will be restored.

Meanwhile, disgruntled aggrieved sacked lecturers will sue FG to court. The case will be decided in their favor but appealed till it gets to the supreme court. That will be about 10-12years from now. Ask Ilorin 49.

Wait, did Fashola at any time re-name Lagos State as State of Lagos, like Ogbeni Aregbesola did? If not, the prosecution counsel dug their own pit. Why complicate matters for themselves?

Secondly, the untold story about Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola's name change was to facilitate a bond contract with islamic banking. He's surreptitiously pursuing his fanatical sharia policy.

Thirdly, if there is nothing sinister about the name change, it wouldn't be carried out in the first place. Isn't it cosmetic re-christening Osun state or Lagos state as state of Osun or State of Lagos? What do they stand to achieve by so doing?

Lastly, the law could be very technical and sensitive to issues considered pedestrian. The constitution validates Osun state/Lagos state and not state of osun/state of Lagos. Can you indiscrimantely change your initials for instance from T.O. Badmus to O.T. Badmus and the courts won't raise an eyebrow, knowing fully well you can deny the latter identity at will?

I submit.