₦airaland Forum

Until The End - A Story Of An Open University Graduate
By: Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

My names are Abdulrazaq Oyebanji Hamzat popularly known as Mr.rights.

A graduate of Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution from the National
Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). Am called Mr.Rights not because am
always right, but because i always stand for truth and human rights.
It all started in 2007, i heard about the National Open University of
Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja and without doubting the integrity of the
institution, I enrolled right away. The school also didn’t disappoint
me, as after few months of my application, here comes my admission
letter. You are offered a provisional admission to study B.sc.
Communication Technology my letter reads.

I applied for Communication Technology and I was offered my admission
without any stress or help from any quarters. It is almost
unbelievable. That’s the quality of the institution, making you do the
unbelievable.

In other institution across the country, students mostly pay bribe to
get admission, they start on a faulty foundation, but in Open
University, we start with truth and sincerity. This is a major credit
and a way to start with the right mind set. No lobbying, no begging,
you don’t have to know anyone, you chose your desired course and gbam,
you get it. The process is 100% open, fair and credible. This is the
kind of spirit that can build a good and prosperous society. As the
name implies, Open University, I know it is special, it is ‘’first of
its kind’’. and by being a student in the institution, I am positively
and uniquely special.

I came into NOUN proud,purposeful and visionary. While there are
challenges obstructing mine and the school’s vision, I knew we (I and
the management) could solve it together if I am patient. So because of
this, i invested a lot of time and energy in knowing about the school
and many other information i believe could be helpful to students. I
give out these information to ensure that students don’t make
unnecessary mistakes. I carry everyone along and in my little way and
soon, lots of my colleague rely on me for any vital guidance or
information about school. At a point, instead of going to the school
for information, they come to me.

Additionally, sharing information with my colleagues in school is not
my only hobby, I took it upon myself to educate Nigerians through the
various online medium about the Open University. I became active and
vibrant online, dishing out vital information to the public and
recruiting students for NOUN. I was always online, correcting wrong
perception about the school, answering questions from people both
prospective and existing students. I have my phone number and email
address all over the internet. Since 2008 and even after graduation,
hardly can a day passby without me receiving at least 1 call seeking
information about NOUN. Some times, I get up to 20 calls in a single
day.

Without trying to exaggerate my activities, I would say that, I have
through my numerous engagements online, directed over 1000 students to
become NOUN students. This is apart from providing vital information
and guidance to existing students. In fact, I recall that through my
online activities, many who had earlier withdrew from the school due
to some complications and inadequate responses from the counselors
re-enrolled back and they mostly rely on me for guidance. Many of them
would say, it seems I know more about the school than their study
centre counselors.

Let me use this opportunity to call the attention of NOUN management
to the need to empower counselors with vital information. The school
need to always retrain the counselors, as they are the most important
officers. When they give wrong information, its hard for students to
get back on track. They should be re-orientated and provided with up
to date information about the school processes and daily needs of the
students. Many students had been wrongly misled by some counselors, I
was a victim and I suffered and paid dearly.

As a result of such misdirection, I wasted many years and at last, I
had to change my course. I applied for a change of programme from B.Sc
Communication Technology to B.Sc Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution
after I took transfer to another study centre.

Furthermore, many things have improved in NOUN since its
establishment. Those who had earlier withdrew from the school due to
various challenges would certainly jump back at it if they are aware
of the numerous improvement it has recorded since their departure.

Although, there are still much challenges that should to be worked on,
but despite that, the school is indeed improving every day. While most
students in NOUN today may not appreciate the current situation, those
who experienced the tougher and rougher period in NOUN back then would
certainly commend the management for such a giant stride within a very
short period.Professor Vincent Tenebe, the current vice chancellor
must be commended. For example, there was nothing like instant
admission before, you have to wait for some months before getting your
admission, but today, everything has been made more easier. You get a
provisional admission letter immediately you apply.

Also,there was nothing like E-exams or online Tutor Marked Assignment
(TMA), but today, we have E-exams and online TMA where students get
instant result to their TMA and exams.

Again, there was nothing like online courseware (the online course
material) that students download in case they couldn’t get the printed
course material, but due to the improving nature of the school, NOUN
now has online course material as a remedy for those who couldn’t get
the printed material. Also, back then,NOUN do take 1 full year or more
to write first semester examination, but now, the school calender is
stable as students complete their two semesters in a year and even did
3 semesters a certain year. You will agree with me that NOUN is
certainly improving. While it is true that more improvement still need
to be done by the management, but you can’t find any institution that
is being better managed than the National Open University of Nigeria.

Issues of NYSC and Law school are prominent on the list of to do’s by
NOUN management, it must also ensure adequate availability of printed
course materials, empower the various study centers to be more
responsive and timely and finally, NOUN management need to officially
ensure the formation and recognition of a student association in line
with best practices in other Open universities across the world. NOUN
students must be organized, yes, they must be associated via a
nationally integrated student body dully recognized by the school.
This is the practice in other open universities across the world
including UK, China and others.

In the course of my numerous engagements,it occurred to me more than
ever that, the students need a voice and a platform to develop
themselves. Students need a platform to meet and share ideas. They
need people to talk to about their problems. Yes, students must create
a voice for themselves through an association. Freedom of association
is a universal right, it is a right guaranteed under the constitution
of Nigeria. As a result of constant thinking of how best to create a
platform for NOUN students, Congress of Noun Students (CONS) emerge.
It was a perfect solution to my concerns. When we resolved to start
the Congress of Noun Students (CONS), we talked to other students
about it and virtually everyone supported the idea.

Finally, the Congress of Noun Student (CONS) was established in 2012
and ever since, the story hasn’t remained the same. Students were
being helped, information is circulating, people are getting
direction, we are solving our own problems, we are sharing information
about our difficulties and studying in NOUN is becoming more easy. To
be able to engage the management on issue of student association with
intellect, the congress had developed a charter, which contain best
practices as seen in other Open universities across the world.

Before now, students have an impression that in other open
universities, there is no room for student associations, but with a
well researched document titled charter of demands. All over the
advanced world where Open university exists, there are student
associations contributing to the development of the school. We picked
U.K, India and China as case studies. In U.K for example, student have
representative at the institutions senate. That representative is
appointed by the UK Open University Student Association. With such an
expository document, it is impossible to claim Open university
students cant have a student association. Besides, Students
Associations in Open Universities in other countries are playing major
roles in popularizing the school and making the public recognize its
capacity. Through the activities of their Open University Student
associations, the public are able to access the quality of its
students.

I want to urge the management to re-consider it stance and allow
students have a central student association. If we are asking NYSC to
allow NOUN students participate in what other institutions are
participating in, if we are asking law school to accommodate NOUN
students like it accommodated other students, certainly, the
management shouldn’t be denying students a right to have a recognized
student union.

Similarly, I along with some colleagues whom I meet at the Center for
Peace and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) founded the Peace
Studies and Conflict Resolution Students Association (PESCORSA). These
people worked day and night to ensure the association became a reality
and through the understanding of our study centre and other students,
we made it a reality. Within 3 months of establishing the association,
we hosted the first ever Peace Summit in Partnership with Center for
Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin.

This is a landmark achievement which we believe our colleagues shall
continue to improve on in coming years. The resources spent is beyond
account, the time, energy and sleepless nights is also uncountable.
Other departments in the school felt challenged by our timely action
and are all working to learn from our example.

Also at the summit, we launched a project called child of peace (COP),
with its motto, educate a child (EACH). It is a campaign against
violence and out of school children in Nigeria. Child of Peace (COP)
is a project conceived to reverse the downward trend of out of school
children in Nigeria. The project is to campaign for the identification
of out of school children from less-preveleged homes and return them
back to school.

It is in my dream that in a not too distant future, an association of
Peace Personalities shall be established in form of the Nigerian Bar
Association (NBA). I look forward to such a day that it would become a
reality and we can all be re-united. My philosophy of life is that,
even if you cannot make the world a better place for all, at least,
make a life better for the world to
benefit. If you cannot feed the whole world, try to feed just one
person. If you can’t end poverty in this world, end ignorance of one
person by providing information and education. And even if you are not
educated enough to do this, try to always give people positive advice
to better their lives.

Don’t sit down while condemning people standing, you should standup to
understand their position. Even when you are standing with them in
distress, be the hope that is holding them up,not the falling pillar
that would bring them down. Even if you can’t stand up with them in
distress, in your sitting or crawling position, raise your voice up
with them and give them hope to stand up tall. You may not have stood
up with them shoulder to shoulder, but your voice may become the
needed tool to keep them standing firm.

Finally, let me conclude this writing by telling all NOUN students in
confidence that by the grace of God, you are special. By being a
student of this first of its kind University, you are indeed a very
special person. Don’t betray the specialty in you by acting contrary
to your rightful being. And talking about quality, you are unmatched.

You are first academically and must be better in conduct. You are from
Open University, the first of its kind university.

You can follow the writer on twitter @Abdool101

FAYOSE’S ADVERT AND THE DEATH OF BUHARI
By: Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
http://mrrightsng..com/2015/01/fayoses-advert-and-death-of-buhari.html

The death advert of APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari on two national dailies (punch and Sun Newspaper) by a sitting PDP Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose is no longer a news. We all saw it, we all read it. While some people take it to be a mere desperate move by the Governor to further demonize Buhari who is obviously the favorite to win the 2015 presidential election, I wish to draw the attention of the general public to certain revelation that must be carefully considered based on the message of the advertorial. The purpose of this publication is not to criticize General Buhari’s death advert or its sponsor since many have done that already, my concern is to ask vital questions about the motive behind the advertorial. According to the advert placed on the front page of the two national dailies, the Ekiti State Governor featured 3 past head of states from the north, namely Murtala Muhammed, Sani Abacha and Musa Yaradua who died while serving as commander in chief. Please note, none of the 3 past head of states mentioned in the advert were up to 60years when they died,neither did any of them have records of ill health except Yaradua. So, why were the less than 60 year old dead leaders who died in controversial circumstances be compared to a 72year old aspiring president? It was expected that, if the concern of Mr. Fayose is about the health of general Buhari, he wouldn’t mentioned Murtala and Abacha who were assassinated and poisoned respectively, he would only mention Yaradua who died of ill health, but the Governor went ahead to mentioned Murtala, who was assassinated at 37years, Abacha, poisoned at 55, plus Yaradua and then put a question mark on the head of general Muhammadu Buhari, indicating that he his the next who may likely suffer similar faith as those three (3) previously mentioned. We must then ask, what message is Governor Fayose passing across to the nation? If Fayose his saying General Buhari is ill based on the false media propaganda about his health, was Sani Abacha whom Fayose mentioned in the advert also ill before he was reportedly poisoned? Was Murtala Muhammed who was also assassinated ill? certainly no. There is more to the message than a mere campaign desperation, the APC must act quickly to prevent any negative agenda against General Buhari. For the records, Governors Fayose mentioned Murtala Muhammed who was assassinated in 1976 at the age of 37, he was young and healthy. General Murtala Ramat Muhammed (November 8, 1938–February 13, 1976) was a military ruler (Head of the Federal Military Government) of Nigeria from 1975 until his assassination in 1976. Fayose mentioned Sani Abacha who was reportedly killed by poison at the age of 55. Abacha died in June 1998 while at the presidential villa in Abuja. He was buried on the same day, according to Muslim tradition, without an autopsy. This fueled speculation that he may have been executed extrajudicially by way of being poisoned by political rivals via prostitutes. Then, Governor Fayose also mentioned Musa Yaradua who died of ill health. The question all well meaning Nigerians must ask is that, Is Fayose telling us the 3 likely means in which General Buhari might be killed should he emerge president of Nigeria in the presidential poll? or, is he telling us that those 3 he mentioned who previously died in office were murdered by certain forces? The same forces who might likely do what they did before to General Buhari? Is Fayose simply telling us that if Buhari fail to die as a result of ill health like Yaradua, he would be poisoned like Abacha? And if he fail to die via poison like Abacha, he would be assassinated like Murtala. Am asking, what message is Fayose passing to Nigerians? Isn’t right if we ask Ayo Fayose, who killed our past leaders he advertised in his death advert for General Buhari? Who assassinated Murtala Muhammed? Who poisoned Sani Abacha? I believe Fayose must have answers to this questions. Murtala was assassinated at 37, why did Fayose mock his death by comparing him to a 72 years old man? What did Buhari have in common with Murtala to warrant the comparison? Yes, Murtala died in office, he was assassinated. Will Buhari be assassinated like Murtala? Abacha was poisoned at 55, why did Fayose mock his death by comparing him with 72 year old Buhari? What did they have in common to warrant such comparison? Yes, Abacha died in office, he was reportedly poisoned. Will Buhari also be poisoned like Abacha? And again, Yaradua died of ill health, is there more to it? We must ask Fayose. If Buhari didn’t die with ill health like Yaradua, will Fayose poison him like Abacha? If he refuse to die, Will he be assassinated like Murtala? We need answers to this question. On this note, let me call on all Nigerians not to take this death advert likely, there is more to it. I also call on the security agencies to get to the root of this situation. It was on record that, Murtala Muhammed was killed, aged 37, along with his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa, on February 13, 1976 in an abortive coup attempt led by Lt. Col Buka Suka Dimka, when his car was ambushed while en route to his office at Dodan Barracks, Lagos. He was succeeded by the Chief of Staff, Supreme HQ Olusegun Obasanjo, who completed his plan of an orderly transfer to civilian rule by handing power to Shehu Shagari on October 1, 1979. Today, his portrait adorns the 20 Naira note and Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos is named in his honor. Sani Abacha (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian Army general and politician who served as the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998. Early in 1998, Abacha announced that elections would be held that August, with a view toward handing power to a civilian government on 1 October. It soon became apparent, though, that Abacha had no intention of permitting an honest election; by April he had strong-armed the country's five parties into endorsing him as the sole presidential candidate, but he died before the date. The government identified the cause of his death as a sudden heart attack. It is reported that he was in the company of two Indian prostitutes imported from Dubai. It is thought that the prostitutes laced his drink with a poisonous substance, making Abacha feel unwell around 4:30am. He retired to his bed and was dead by 6:15am.

Follow me on twitter @Abdool101

?

Obasanjo call Fayose bastard over mockery of former heroes

noted

BUHARI’S PRESIDENCY IS THE HOPE FOR NIGERIAN YOUTHS
By: Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
http://mrrightsng..com/2015/01/buharis-presidency-is-hope-for-nigerian.html

‘’Buhari’s presidency is the hope for Nigerian youths, yes, it is the only hope for democratic governance in Nigeria. When Goodluck Jonathan murdered democracy in PDP, Buhari in APC gave it life. In other words, when Goodluck Jonathan killed the only hope through which youths can fulfill their political dreams, Buhari through APC revived it.’’

My name is Abdulrazaq O Hamzat, popularly known as Mr.Rights. I represent the Nigerian Youths who stands for truth and human rights. Over the years, I have always insisted on the need for youths to take a stand especially in the choice of who leads this nation. This is so because,I believe that being youth is an opportunity to effect the changes we deserve in our society. If we fail to effect the changes we deserve as youths, we shall live the rest of our lives hoping on others. For this reason, I have been a major promoter of rights of youths to leadership. Few years ago, precisely in 2012, I made a publication titled, ‘’WHY NIGERIAN YOUTHS MUST TAKE A STAND IN 2015’’ (http://saharareporters.com/2013/03/11/why-nigerian-youths-must-take-stand-2015-abdulrazaq-o-hamzat) , the article clearly captures what the youths must do in their own capacity as responsible youths of Nigeria. Since that publication which was a wake up call to my fellow youths, all my activities in collaboration with other responsible youth leaders in Nigeria have been geared towards that act of youth responsibility. The youths must not be blind followers, we must be able to articulate a sound position, we must be democratic, politically oriented and most especially, we must support the best available candidate for Nigeria. Through our engagement over the years, we have demonstrated responsibility by questioning our leaders rightly in their leadership of the nation. We have condemned and advocated against the wrong practices of our political leaders, we have made adequate input to the choices of our political parties, we have cautioned our religious leaders, we have encouraged our traditional rulers and in all, we have shown that youths can make valuable input to the society without relying on any individual. Through the social media, we have championed public education and sensitization. We have politically orientated thousands and millions of other youths across Nigeria, we have stood for truth and Nigeria’s unity and finally, we have maintained that only the best available Nigerians are good for Nigeria. We defy the call to join one political party so as to stand as check of the excesses of all parties and so far, we have served as check indeed and now, its time for decision. Let me inform those still sitting on the fence that, election is your business, you can’t sit on the fence when its your business interest, else, your business would be jeopardized. Nigeria’s interest must not be allowed to be jeopardized. Don’t forget, bad leadership can destroy everything that matters, including the fence you want to sit on. Your fence is crushing, get up and fix it. Since the youths couldn’t stand on an empty floor without our guiding parents and others, we did what we should as political youths, while other veteran politicians also did what they wanted. The two prominent political party in the build up to the election under go the process of choosing a standard bearer. One party (APC) was democratic, the other (PDP) was undemocratic. Like we all know, the process is vital. If we follow the good process, it is likely that we would have a good government and if we allow the bad process to succeed, there is no doubt, the government would be bad. The APC in an open primary election that was well contested by all those who showed interest through a decent democratic process produced a winner, in person of General Muhammed Buhari. The PDP on the other hand through an undemocratic process denied all those who showed interest in contesting the presidential primary, only Goodluck Jonathan was undemocratically allowed to via on the platform. Apart from those who were forcefully silenced from picking the interest form such as the Jigawa State Governor and others, worth of note are those who actually paid for the forms and were never allowed to contest the primary election. This is the height of undemocratic practice, yes, this is against reason. It is against humanity. The PDP denied all its members a fair chance to aspire for the number one job, they denied all youths a fair chance, denied all old a fair chance, denied all women a fair chance and in the process denied all Nigerians a fair chance to contest, only one man Goodluck Jonathan was allowed on the platform. This is the end of democracy as far as PDP is concerned. I call it, the one man democracy. Even the almighty Olusegun Obasanjo never ended democracy this way, he allowed everyone who wish to contest against him do so. He allowed all those who wish to contest the primary, but when democracy is to be murdered under the Incumbency power of Ebele Jonathan, all interest must be killed to accommodate the incumbent president. This is a practice that no youths should be associated with. For no reason, should any sane youth be associated with a man who denied every other man their right to aspire for office. No political injustice under a democratic government can be worse than such denial. The simple truth is that, Buhari’s presidency is the hope for Nigerians youths, it is the hope for the old, the hope for women and even the hope for children. Yes, it is the only hope for a decent democratic governance in Nigeria. When Goodluck Jonathan murdered democracy in PDP, Buhari in APC gave it life. In other words, when Goodluck Jonathan killed the only hope through which youths can fulfill their political dreams, Buhari through APC revived it. Because President Jonathan’s intent is to kill democracy where no other person has a right to aspire against him, because his interest has been placed above the interest of the nation, because he gave no one a chance to dream and pursue their dreams under his leadership, because he coerce a party to abandon democracy for his selfish interest, because the youths will cease to exist in the context of ‘’youth’’ the day we all accept to support the monopoly of one man’s desire is the democracy, therefore, Nigerian youths must reject the ‘’one man democracy’’ as introduced by Goodluck Jonathan. One man democracy is a situation where the interest of only one man is tolerated in a political party. I shall write on that later. In 2015 election, Nigeria only have two choices to chose from, its either the undemocratic Jonathan or the democratic Buhari, its either we support insecurity, or we end it. If we chose Jonathan, we want the insecurity to continue, we want the unemployment to continue, we want the tolerated corruption to continue, we want the undemocratic practices to continue, we want all the negative things like pardoning convicted criminals,presidential double standard,death to teeming unemployed youths etc, but if we support Buhari, we are embracing change from the status quo. By choosing Buhari, we are choosing a decent democratic practice that produced him a presidential candidate. This is what i refereed to as doing what you get right over and over again. APC got the process of choosing their party flag bearer right, PDP got theirs wrong. We must encourage APC who did the right thing by voting for that decent process. Probably, PDP would learn that Nigerian are now better informed to make right choices and they would learn to do the right thing in the future . While it is true that Buhari is indeed old in age, he has proven himself young in principle by diligently following the decent way of democracy. Goodluck who is much younger in age has also shown himself to be too old in principle by forcing himself on the PDP. Force is old fashion. In a nutshell, Buhari is old in age, young in ways, Jonathan on the other hand is young in age, but old in ways. We can tolerate the old age of Buhari, but never the old ways of Jonathan. We can tolerate the old age of Buhari, but never the corruption of Jonathan. It is corruption that kills a nation, not old age. Buhari embraces fair contest by all those who desire, Goodlcuk embraces only me is fair. Buhari rejected corruption with all its ramifications, Goodlcuk embraces corruption and pardon convicts. Buhari is moving with time, Goodluck Jonathan is stock behind time. To conclude this, let me call on all Nigerian youths to chose right, this is the time we have been waiting for. A time where there will be equal chance, a time when everyone of us is free to aspire. Buhari and the APC have provided a platform where you and I are free to aspire without any force to unjustly prevent us. Just like Buhari emerge today in a free and fair primary election, you can also emerge tomorrow through the same process. And just like Jonathan prevented other PDP members from aspiring against him, he will prevent you and me from our aspirations. Don’t be prevented from your dreams, support Buhari for the presidency. We are all born free and equal in rights and dignity.

http://mrrightsng..com/2015/01/buharis-presidency-is-hope-for-nigerian.html
Follow me on twitter @Abdool101

.

hum

.

.

Hum

Hum

?

?

Hum

WILL JONATHAN GET 5% VOTES IN LAGOS?
I spent the last 3 days in Lagos and i can tell you authoritatively that there is nothing like GEJ in Lagos.

In my 3 days stay in the center for excellence, i visited different areas. From V.I to Ikeja, Bariga to Iganmu, Ojota to Ikorodu and even straight to Berger. In all those places, hardly can you see any GEJ's poster, not to talk of bill Boards. I saw Jimi Agbaje's posters, though not as much as Ambode, but oga Jona was no where to be found.

When i inquired about the reason, i was informed that,while it is true that Agbaje enjoys certain support from Lagosians, he his fast losing the support as a result of his campaign for Jonathan and for that reason,they quickly concentrate of his own campaign, rather than campaign for Jonathan.

Agbaje, who is loved by many before is now fast losing support in his srong hold, not necessarily because people do not love him again, but because he is campaigning for GEJ whom the people now dislike greatly.

I was made to understand that, its hard to sell Jonathan, he his unsellable, a PDP chieftain told me in Lagos.

The PDP stalwart confess to me that,the focus is now to concentrate on Agbaje's campaign and forget about GEJ, hoping that some how, it would make the people change their mind about the president.

You mean, GEJ is cow?

?

hum

This is an original sick man with an original presidential visit.....


This political presidential visit no work ooo...Oga Gej, thereisGodooo

This reelection campaign go cause Wahala oh . "Wounded" or "sick" soldiers in full regalia in hospital bed? And being visited by the C-in-C?

GEJ, this one no work.......Next

Arragee govt. As though the patients just got admitted on d day of the visit.

this name real nollywood movie scene .I can't stop laughing .see a supposedly wounded or sick soldier fully dressed in a khaki and on a hospital bed ,1 even have his wristwatch on.

If he is going for campaign let it be campaign and not some fake visit showing supports to the military.does this fully dressed military men on bed look injured or sick to you ?haba diaris God in everything we are doing

Hum

Hum

If Asari dokubu is not arrested, why would he be arrested?

arrested by who?
forget it