₦airaland Forum

Unmitigated Youth Restiveness: Nigeria’s Apocalypse May Be Very Near

Apocalypse. Doomsday. These two words can be used interchangeably to explain what eventual days of evil mean. In a nutshell, they represent negativity, in fact the very height of which that can never be imagined. The understanding of these words best describes a fearful manifestation of things that are hitherto unknown. Still in its stock, there is widespread destruction or disaster; terrifying events that shows the coming of end-times. All of these above are not to instill a fear in any form. I am not an acclaimed prophet, let alone a prophet of doom. I am only trying to amplify the stance of the Bible and that of popular views. These are my words of admonition for the concerned authority. I am not the first neither will this piece be the last. Patriotism is not only shown with guns and ammunition by those trained to use them. Most times, pens can be mightier than swords. Here is my own show of patriotism! With the way our youth are becoming more idle and restive by the day, it is an understatement saying the country is sitting on a keg of gun power. The diffusive power of a powder is so strong that when it is released into the air; self-protection, status, distance that some Nigerians have been seeing as immunity will become powerless.

Popular opinion and our Holy books have fixated our minds that apocalypse which humanity will experience will come in the form of some sort of God’s wrath. That God will unleash terror in the land to intervene in the affairs of man as the case may be, or eventually calling it a day with the earth and the inhabitants thereon. Man may live on the surface of the earth for years to come, but Nigeria’s dilly-dallying with dangers will fast-track her own apocalypse.

When the substantial number of a country's young persons are made to believe that the future ahead of them is a bleak one, it naturally should pose a serious concern to the government that is desirous of prosperity and peacefulness.  Because in these youth's resolve, lies the will and strength to achieving these two aims. History tells us that virtually everyone in leadership positions in Nigeria benefitted from Nigeria's magnanimity in terms of her ecological greatness and solid foundation bequeathed onto them by first set of selfless leaders like Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr Nnamdi Azikwe. They all enjoyed free and qualitative education, good value system, well-organized and peaceful environment. These were gotten on a platter of gold, with Nigeria bearing the costs. Principle of reciprocity expects that this is passed to coming generations, even if it cannot be improved on. 

Nigerian youth are one of the smartest in the world. Lack of visionary leadership and bad public policies have hindered them from showcasing that prowess, thereby making them docile. Unfortunately for Nigeria's current leadership, that juvenile docility has been far taken for granted and in its place comes juvenile delinquency. The average Nigerian youth is a product of street struggle, societal neglect and lack of adequate care. He is left to cater for his needs and fend for himself. He struggles through school and comes out, with almost no value to add to his society. And yet the influence of social media keeps reminding him of what life has in stock for him to explore and enjoy. The 21st century Nigerian youth no longer wants to understand the teachings of due process because times without number, the leadership and elite are not leaving by examples. They don't see the leadership practise what they constantly preach. The average Nigerian youth is tired of the weekly sermons of religious leaders that are only meant for the poor to abide by. They believe strongly that less prayers and more responsible actions are what keep serious nations going. Rwandan economy which is one of the fastest growing economies on the continent doesn't parade the number of pastors and imams we have here in Nigeria. Tick, tick is the Nigerian clock!


Anger, bold defiance and anti-State behaviors among youths is enormously brewing. In far northern Nigeria, the youth are becoming increasingly aware of the helplessness of religious institutions and culture to their plight. They are now aware that certain age-long cultural laws and traditions are not being followed by the elite who live among them. Yet no consequences have been suffered by those elite who keep disregarding customary rules. Could there be an exemption to the rules? They are silently thinking about that. They are also curious to know why despite the region being the poorest in the country, their kinsman holds the numero uno position of the list of wealthy people in Africa. They are not blind to see the children of some northern elite displaying opulence with reckless abandon. And some of these elite have no professional careers to justify the amassment of such possessions. They have known that the government treasury to which everyone is entitled must have surely been terribly dealt with. In a country that is awarded the poverty capital of the universe, in a region where over million children are said to be out of school, in a country where IDPs have become normal places of abode due to the activities of Boko Haram which has also claimed and maimed hundreds of lives of locals. They are watching how some presidential aides use the Nation’s assets for personal engagements. Tick, tick says the clock!

Even though some were yet unborn at the time when certain political events happened, folklores and fables narrated by older generation have been helpful. Their social media activity is also not for the fun of it. There are intellectuals among them who use the search engine "Google" to enquire the "hows and whys" of some current realities. Nigerian youth know quite well that there was a time when a former head of state had almost nothing before he was chosen by some cabals to lead their beloved country. They still cannot pretend not to know the wealth and avalanche of mouth-watering property linkable to his name now. Youths in one of Yoruba states cannot be reminded that one ex-governor can hardly boast of a known professional career before and after leading the state in two separate regimes of 4 years. And yet his lads brazenly show opulence to provoke the emotions of thousands of youths that daily start and end their days on the streets, doing nothing tangible for themselves and families. Will they continue to sleep till eternity? The clock is still ticking!

The audacity and carefree attitude and disposition by the elite is further explained in the way the law interpreting arm of the country has been compromised. The youth in one of the Eastern states cannot pretend that it was the judiciary that imposed their current governor on them, and not what people decided at the polls. They still keep in mind that an ex-governor from that same region of the country, who was initially accused of misappropriating the state's funds was surprisingly asked to resume to walk freely. Not only that, he was told to continue representing his people with all his emolument reinstated. Imagine the lives and future of the nation's youth being toyed with, all to settle some stupid political scores. Tick tick I say again, is the clock!

In Nigeria, one is either poor or rich. The place of the middle class in the Nigerian economy is subject to debate. This is because they represent a very tiny percentage of the total population. They are the relatively comfortable ones. They should be concerned that these idle youths cannot be happy seeing them and their families cruising every day. The I-better-pass-my-neighbour kind of lifestyles which makes them think their status is higher, should even be more worrying. My submission is that, when the clock stops ticking, the next neighbour will be the first target. No matter how hard one tries to domesticate a wild animal, the tendency to show some occasional brutality to his owner cannot be looked away with. It is easy for a restive youth to assemble other collaborators to carry out dastardly acts. And this can actually be done in the same neighborhood where one stays. So think about it. Good life is not an exclusive right of anyone. Everyone, irrespective of how life has been unfair to him, lack of parental care while growing up, incomplete education, individual ill-decisions and so on, knows the taste of a good life. Those restive youth cannot always be happy with the cars you drive around. They are also not happy that you go out in the morning and come back at night.

In its September report, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics whose reports on unemployment rates no longer move Nigerians a hoot, also added that working class are losing will to continue working. Two things would have made this happen: under-employment and psychological pressure. A country that sets her workers' minimum wage at 30,000 naira; a bag of local rice at N30,000; inflation rate at 12.82%; petrol price now at N160 per barrel; electricity bills also jump-started, has already killed the morale of whoever sees themselves a worker in Nigeria. An ill-spirited worker does not only reduce his loyalty to his employer which he does by deliberately under-performing, he never stops being on the lookout to places where he can better channel his energy and experience. If the frustration keeps waxing stronger, he joins the guys in the streets for get-rich-quick options.
Concluding this piece with some optimism, public servants, government officials, the elite and our various religious leaders can help avert this looming danger. Youth restiveness can still be arrested before it gets out of control. In my own little ways, I suggest the following:

a. Going forward, vocational skills should not only be made learnable in our tertiary institutions of learning. They can actually be made mandatory starting from our secondary schools, and every student must show some appreciable level of proficiency before passing out.

b. Government can help pass a bill and ensure it is enforced, that public servants must monitor the attitude exhibited by their families both online and offline. The country is in a precarious state where almost everyone and every region is pursuing one agitation or another. They should be responsible and sensitive whenever they come online.

c. Religious leaders should not be seen as preachers of wholly prosperity-based sermons. As they are repository of morals and societal values, they should see themselves more as pro-masses than pro-elite in the ways they relate with people.

d. Relevant authorities should be serious fighters against corruption. They should be ready to live by what they preach to the youth and the entire Nigerian people. For the youth of nowadays watch their deeds and actions more than their preaching.

e. In delivering the dividends of good governance, basic amenities like food and shelter should be made the cheapest items that can be affordable by every Nigerian family. Studies show that the greatest concern of an average family-head on the street is to feed and house his household.

f. All efforts must be made to discourage our youth from pursuing illegitimate wealth. In fact, the success of item (e) above will significantly help here.



Written by KeenKola

Piston65:

600k and to pay today

I have digital marketing skills and would love to have another sellable one to be doing as a side hustle. Doing business is what I really want to do.
Is there any on ground?

blackpanthar:
Do you have any marketable skills?

I mean like

Digital marketing
designs
normal marketing of goods and services

is your location lagos or abuja or where

to move your 300k to 500k is easy in 6months via INVESTMENT...but not BUSINESS.

Any you want to venture into sir, would need serious marketing... so I suggest you consider and sort that out ASAP

I really appreciate how u are coming in to advise.
Well, I work with a company which I am also planning to leave cos there is no future there, even after I have spent more than 8 years there. Take home too is relatively poor, at least that 90k. There is a business am planning to go into and in which I see good prospect. All I need to kick-start it is around 500k. Hopefully, if all plans work well, I would have no choice but to involve myself in full before year ends. I don't really plan working anywhere else. Though married, I believe it is better I take bold decision about my life before time leaves one behind, which may already be too late, by that time.

quote author=blackpanthar post=92687440]

Many of you who come here asking for advice NEVER ever give complete story.

See, WHO ARE YOU, WHAT DO YOU DO... WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT COST OF LIVING OR TAKE HOME SALARY....

we need to know these things before we can advice you in anyway.

Someone else may know how to sell it in this same lagos for 900k and use the 900k to make 1.4m in 5 months based on what he/she knows.... so to that person... we would say SELL IT.

Another person may not have a steady good paying job and may not even know how to multiply 650k and how to drive.... we can not be wicked and say he should sell his only means of livelihood na.

yet
Another person may painstakingly find a good driver and keep earning on the vehicle till he pays off.


So bros, next time explain yourself very well if you want us to understand your situation enough to help you with advice.[/quote]

In February this, I bought this bus from an uncle at a price that was most favourable to me, because he needed some money so badly and also the driver that collected it on hire purchase always had one or two stories to give him. He himself actually bought it as foreign used in one of these ember months last year. All necessary documents on the bus were collected too.

Fast forward, after buying it from him in February, I also gave it on hire purchase and same problem he had with his own driver continued with me. Despite the fact my own bus driver couldn't work for three good months due to covid19 total lockdown, I had to take it from him almost immediately after total restriction was lifted.

Now my problem is this: I dont really know what next to do on it. The bus is in a very good condition with almost no problem apart from back light and little body work, to the extent that any one that sees it in the area always beg me not to sell it. They also add that I should not give it to any driver again, but be driving it myself. I never knew how to drive before, but I have used it to learn how to drive in the last one week. In my work, it is one week on, one week off. With this work arrangement at my work, people have advised that I should be using it to work in the week am at home.

This bus is a hotcake now in Lagos, cos its price has gone up since total restriction was restricted (ranging between 900k and 1.1m). The lowest price interested buyers have been coming to buy it 650k due to its good condition.

Doing transport with it, I don't think I can do that. So people, what decision do u think I can take on it that is the best. Pls I await ur advice o.

There is no how one would still not do some things on it. N450k?



quote author=handzomee post=92666725]2003 Clean Honda Odyssey,Chilling Ac,Sound Engine amd Gear,Power doors working, Fabric seats,buy and drive

Location:Yaba_Lagos

Contact s:08141662666,08028297594[/quote]

God bless you in all ramifications.


]Did your parents take permission from her before they trained you?


Kini gbogbo ibeere katikati yii nitori olorun? [/quote]

God, why this country?
Am ashamed seeing myself a Nigerian. Those we call leaders that we should be looking up to are setting very very bad precedents for innocent generations that are coming up. See the audacity in display... Someone that was convicted of a financial crime, and all of a sudden he becomes a free man on grounds of the technicality or non technicality of the law of the country. This is sickening!
There is God sha

Glink2018:
How does this post add to our personoal economy

The ones people have shared in the past that affected our economy nko, how did it affect our own purse?

Some people will just sit with comfort in their room, bring out their phone when they done have a reasonable thing to say or do, come on a faceless forum and type complete rubbish.
How did u come about this ur take story sef? It's not by mouth but which u can still even counter since u have an access to Google. The only tribe in Nigeria that can stand and die for a true course, if u did not know before, is Yoruba. Their people can trade their lives even for a friendship, if it so demands.
Try and research how Adekunle Fajuyi did for Aguiyi Ironsi at his government house in Ibadan.
Would u want to blame Awolowo for being proactive by making education free for his people when same could have been done by his fellow premiers on other regions?
So u want to blame him for being on the side FG of Nigeria he was an important member of, to allow Ibos achieve their self-rule? The same ambition that still suffers some setback since they cannot really settle so many score within and among themselves internally?
Do u know Abiola literally traded his own life for a course he wholly believed in? He would reneged like Ojukwu did who eventually ran away and left his ignorant people die ignorantl?
Try and google how Tunde Idiagbon stood so firmly in support of a regime he was part of?

We cannot continue to act as if we are wise, when on the contrary, we are wide apart from simple wisdom. Enough of all our ethnic blindness!!!

I always wonder why people are yet to believe marriage is not for everyone. Is it not the same marriage some men have become hypertensive for? And they can't just wait to go back to previous singlehood life. Some things I have come to realise they are purely negligible in this life. Having children. Marriage. Religion. God never created us and told us to leave the sky for the purposes of getting married, having kids or to be religious.


God never created us for these reasons cos we won't need them afterall when we return to Him

That's d kind of gesture expected of all the General overseers.

Ebonyeyes:
There is no vindication for Buhari, if you are the Leader of the country, then you are responsible for the actions of your Government. If he has no control then he should step down from the top job. He is equally corrupt as well.

They have used this pandemic crisis to go on a loan shopping spree that will cripple this country even further and they have shared the monies. They have also shared all the monies donated by the UN/WHO/IMF/EU.

The next President of this Country (2023) will inherit so much debt that he may decide to run away from power.

On this covid-19 in question, let's try and localise our concerns a bit so we all can see every of our representatives same way.

I remain a critic of Buhari, though

fulaniHERDSman:
One of those bullshit you stumble upon on internet.

Bullshit? Am also a critic of Buhari any day anytime. But don't U think Buhari stands aloof at this period of covid-19? Do U agree with me monies are comfortably flying around among politicians?
I just think we should not downplay the activities of some of other smaller politicians in the era of covid-19

There are music and there are good music. In good music is where you find class, education and entertainment, and that is why they stand the test of time. They are evergreen. Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey in one of his numerous musical outputs in the 70s stood out as an educator and entertainer combined. In a particular record of his, titled "The Horse, The Man and The Son", he sought to remind his listening audience to never see themselves as ones that could meet all of the satisfaction of human beings. Doing so could be chasing a wild-goose. Man's insatiable nature is sacrosanct and as long as he lives, he would forever be complaining. Jesus too, had his own back-biters among whom, was Judas, a desciple.

Do I belong to a political party? No, I don't need any political tent under which I owe allegiance for me to air my opinions on observed public issues. I lend my voice and support in favour of any government policies and programmes that ultimately improve the livelihood and further emancipate the majority of Nigerians. Whoever is doing this under whatever political party is secondary.
Infact, there is nothing stopping the Nigerian electorate from being neutral politically.
They have been led by governments of the APC and PDP, and I think experiences from the two should be enough for evaluation. Even in the US where ideology and philosophy of the Republican and Democratic parties can never be mistaken for one another, about 30 percentage of her population are politically indifferent.

Few months into the administration of Buhari with his "body language" mantra and all his calculated tendencies towards governance, he had already contradicted the personae that I and many more similar ignorant like-minds canvassed unrivalled support for. And as he failed to prove himself, our optimism naturally diminished. Ever since then, we have only been showing patriotism through prayers and good luck wish. Online and offline, I have literally been anti-Buhari whenever I think it is necessary, with my regular articles.

But with careful observation of Nigeria's battle against covid-19, I admonish fellow countrymen and women to develop special interests. Buhari is just one out of about 2000 political office holders in the country. When putting blames, we can do it objectively and not with partisanship. It seems some people are just after character defamation without them knowing. They give in to emotions easily, making them to overlook so many others misdoings from other equally important quarters.

Take away the late closure of borders and major international airports that allowed people troop in without proper testing and isolation (same error governments of many other countries made), all decisions made by Pres. Buhari thereafter, have been taken in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

A task force is a group of individuals appointed to carry out a particular task over a given period of time. Leaders are not necessarily expected to be everywhere at all times. There are leaders whose gifts are in talking in public. Some like to delegate and follow up. Baba Buhari, we knew in 1983 – as military head of state – is a speech economist. A presidential task force on covid-19 was appropriately inaugurated and given a timeline of six months. It comprises government personalities like the DG of NCDC, the minister of health and his State counterpart, ministers of information, foreign affairs, education etc.

This team of individuals cannot be said to badly assembled. Chaired by the secretary to the federal government in person of Boss Mustapha, they are responsible for bringing an up-to-date awareness to Nigerians on testing, containment and management of this virus as well as advise the government as at when due. How these functions will be carried out should not be Baba's headache.

Members of this committee have in the past, occupied different managerial positions in their respective endeavours. What more can I say? For a health crisis that respects no status, creed or religious faith, they all are meant to discharge this national duty with the highest level of responsibility required.

The duty of every government is to protect life and property of its citIzes. Without debate, the period of covid-19 has proven to be the best opportunity for Buhari to show his sensitivity to their feelings. The spiraling tendencies of the virus in Lagos, being the epicenter, necessitated that the state should be on lockdown. Ogun and Abuja too were added. Nigerians couldn't not wait for this at all. Afterall, it was long due and the announcement immediately received all-round compliance. No one saw any effect on the economy: "country bad, country bad, but nobody wan die na".

Fourteen days later, figures skyrocketed. This meant people were just literally walking about "dead" with the disease in their body, without knowing. There was no other thing that to entend. Hardly had Buhari done this, than groaning started brewing from left, right and centre. Alas! Capitalist-minded voices were no longer at ease. The average article published at that period was critical of Buhari and the extension. Slowly and steadily, he was becoming the "enemy of the state" because he didn't put the state of the economy in consideration. Unlock Nigerians! Free us! No palliative and you want us stay indoor! To die of hunger? Strong economy was being prefered to human life. Were these reasons not strong enough, especially with the fact this same economy we are talking about is largely driven by the informal sector? The barbers, the petty traders, the farmers, the carpenters etc constitute more than 65 % of our economy, according to marketaxfair.net.

They cannot eat if they don't work in a day. Moreso, chance of surviving the viral infection is very high – at 90% or thereabouts. Another reason was the increasing crime rate in some parts of the country that was evidently caused by youth idleness.
But Nigerians seem to have forgotten that the presidency is not as close as state and local governments to them. For me, the presidency looks too far to access. More than 250 different local ethnic groups choose Nigeria as their ancestrial homes, according to USEmbassy.gov. The country houses more than 200 million inhabitants. She has never had one system of government for more than 30 years without interception. Since gaining independence about 60 years ago, military had its own share and left. Parliamentary system too had, though a short one. Federalism – the most suitable option – for these features sited above and which we claim to be practicing is not allowed to soar. If it were practised at its best, one individual should not have been the recipient of all types of blame that he gets, particularly with the handling of disasters like covid-19.

Since the outbreak of the virus in the country, only God knows the enormity of corruption that is going on across the country, but people have decided to be over concentrating on one person, leaving out other political office holders like members of the National Assembly, local government chairmen, members of states' houses of assembly and ward councillors. Some of these politicians are already "cashing out" with reckless abandon. These are representatives we know their homes, family houses and how they started their political career.

Depending on the severity of the spread of covid-19, state governments have been given allocation. Miyetti Allah, an association of cattle herders in the country was accusing some state governors of trying to play politics with covid-19 management. Some Nigerians have said the same thing because antecedents don't change easily when it comes to such national cake like this.


I will end this piece with this David Schwimmer's quote: "You are only as good the sum of your parts, and one person can't be a team"


Opinion of Kola

http://2023.ng/covid-19-who-will-vindicate-baba-buhari/

skyhadi16:
I hope your last paragraph will come though.

The Buhari I know will never envisage to further toy with people's wrath

Never in the history of modern humanity have people, governments and economies been this hit by an invisible common enemy – Corona Virus. It has tested the scientific intelligence and technological prowess which man has hitherto boasted of, and which he has conveniently failed. So man could be this clueless, this helpless?

The "almighty" US is on her knees because her much-cherished public treasury will continue to suffer as long as the virus spread is not significantly contained and curtailed, pending when a reliable therapy shows up...
This is not a traditional warfare that demands some sort of militarization or deployment of fiercely-looking Russian soldiers, or the armament of some officers that will put their lives on the line to safeguard the territorial integrity and vulnerability of the land of the Asian Tigers.

Also, the use of all of those expensive state-of-the-art guns and ammunitions by the North Korean Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un has been put on hold. Countries are now missing their missiles in action. I ask again: can the entire world be this humbled? What a God!

As the United States prepares for the polls later this year, covid-19 will undoubtedly, be among the major discussion points between the aspirants and electorate when they decide who their next representatives will be for another term of four years. US presidential elections in particular, will be characterised by political thrills and intrigues, part of which may eventually consume some of her political "big shots". It will take the Republican Party's candidate, Mr Trump's sagacity, maturity and diplomacy to even get a return.

The way I see it, American people are earnestly waiting, with their loads of carefully-prepared questions to know why some decisions were taken in the era of covid-19. These are questions Trump can not answer, without sweating. I deliberately went this far to help prepare the mind of the Nigerian readers of this piece to, inter-alia:

* Use as a template for voting in Nigeria and as "copy and paste" when the 2023 General Elections approaches. What is good for the goose, as they say, should be good for the gander. The presidential system of government being practised in Nigeria is a replica of the America's. We cannot "copy" the division of power among our 3 arms of government: legislature, executive and judiciary; copy the downward sloping of government levels from the Centre to its autonomous state and local governments and refuse to "paste" all the processes and procedures thpat sustain and strengthen the same system with sincerity and the needed seriousness. Nigeria cannot continue to be a hypocritic nation when all she knows is run to these super powers during periods of financial distress, and yet continue to treat her people like trash.

* Remind the Nigerian people, once again, that sovereignty of democracy rests in their hands. Like the Americans, Nigerian people can singlehandedly decide to elect who truly care about them.

* Remind them that the best time they have to partake in nation building process is during free, fair and credible elections. On these seasonal occasions, they can ask aspiring public holders reasonable and salient questions regarding their welfare and security.

Covid-19 came to our land uninvited; it will go without a farewell. If all the regular press conferences by governments at both the federal and state levels are religiously adhered to, we should beat this "thing". As a developing nation whose only foreign exchange earner – crude oil – is no longer a "jewel" in the international market, Nigerian people cannot but embrace the easing of more than 5-week lockdown they embarked on.

In 2023, President Muhammad Buhari would have completed his constitutionally-required two terms in office. Nigerians, as usual, would be hoping to exercise their customary civic obligations to elect who should represent their interests again. Similar to that of US, the handling of, and politics around 2020's covid-19 will form part of the electoral discussions. Some conversation may ensue between politicians and voters, and it would be advisable for Nigerians not to forget in a jiffy, all that transpires during this darkest period of their political life. 2023's political jobbers are already keeping adequate records for future references. Amount of funds disbursed under the guise of private purses and government allocation for this "project" as well as what and what constituencies are getting what amount and on what date may be revisited.

Nigerian voters will be astonished to see how real teachings of POS101 will be taught by our politicians. They will see the re-play of all recorded transactions of 2020 being played on HD screen in 2023. It is not too late to start taking stocks of all their "received and receivables" of covid-19 palliatives now.

Gullibility of voters will further be tried by those I would call the "passive politicians". Faces of this set of people, though may be hidden now, will come out in no time. They are capitalising on this wonderful opportunity presented by covid-19 to do their KYC i.e know your customer on their potential clients, the voters. Some of them include the members of corporate body of this world, the self-acclaimed human rights activists, executives of multinationals in Nigeria, notable media practitioners and musical industry's reknowed names. I would have loved to be an advocate of voter apathy, but doing so in this country, is as dangerous as intentionally voting the wrong candidate. It is case of "what human beings failed to do, spirits will do better". Thanks to our faulty Electoral Law on this!

I do not foresee President Buhari enforcing or endorsing a candidate because this administration already has too many enemies than friends. The administration of Buhari is disfavoured by dwindling crude oil prices for almost the whole of the 8-year rule, albeit striving to ensure the country's economic status quo is maintained and improving infrastructural facilities. The septuagenarian Buhari would prefer to return home in peace. He surely would do away with some eleventh-hour decisions that he may forever regret.



Opinion of Kola (To be continued)

https://2023.ng/covid-19-and-intrigues-of-nigerias-2023-general-elections/

Never in the history of modern humanity have people, governments and economies being this hit by an invisible common enemy – Corona Virus. It has tested the scientific intelligence and technological prowess which man has hitherto boasted of, and which he has conveniently failed. So man could be this clueless, this helpless?

The "almighty" US is on her knees because her much-cherished public treasury will continue to suffer as long as the virus spread is not significantly contained and curtailed, pending when a reliable therapy shows up...
This is not a traditional warfare that demands some sort of militarization or deployment of fiercely-looking Russian soldiers, or the armament of some officers that will put their lives on the line to safeguard the territorial integrity and vulnerability of the land of the Asian Tigers.

Also, the use of all of those expensive state-of-the-art guns and ammunitions by the North Korean Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un has been put on hold. Countries are now missing their missiles in action. I ask again: can the entire world be this humbled? What a God!

As the United States prepares for the polls later this year, covid-19 will undoubtedly, be among the major discussion points between the aspirants and electorate when they decide who their next representatives will be for another term of four years. US presidential elections in particular, will be characterised by political thrills and intrigues, part of which may eventually consume some of her political "big shots". It will take the Republican Party's candidate, Mr Trump's sagacity, maturity and diplomacy to even get a return.

The way I see it, American people are earnestly waiting, with their loads of carefully-prepared questions to know why some decisions were taken in the era of covid-19. These are questions Trump can not answer, without sweating. I deliberately went this far to help prepare the mind of the Nigerian readers of this piece to, inter-alia:

* Use as a template for voting in Nigeria and as "copy and paste" when the 2023 General Elections approaches. What is good for the goose, as they say, should be good for the gander. The presidential system of government being practised in Nigeria is a replica of the America's. We cannot "copy" the division of power among our 3 arms of government: legislature, executive and judiciary; copy the downward sloping of government levels from the Centre to its autonomous state and local governments and refuse to "paste" all the processes and procedures thpat sustain and strengthen the same system with sincerity and the needed seriousness. Nigeria cannot continue to be a hypocritic nation when all she knows is run to these super powers during periods of financial distress, and yet continue to treat her people like trash.

* Remind the Nigerian people, once again, that sovereignty of democracy rests in their hands. Like the Americans, Nigerian people can singlehandedly decide to elect who truly care about them.

* Remind them that the best time they have to partake in nation building process is during free, fair and credible elections. On these seasonal occasions, they can ask aspiring public holders reasonable and salient questions regarding their welfare and security.

Covid-19 came to our land uninvited; it will go without a farewell. If all the regular press conferences by governments at both the federal and state levels are religiously adhered to, we should beat this "thing". As a developing nation whose only foreign exchange earner – crude oil – is no longer a "jewel" in the international market, Nigerian people cannot but embrace the easing of more than 5-week lockdown they embarked on.

In 2023, President Muhammad Buhari would have completed his constitutionally-required two terms in office. Nigerians, as usual, would be hoping to exercise their customary civic obligations to elect who should represent their interests again. Similar to that of US, the handling of, and politics around 2020's covid-19 will form part of the electoral discussions. Some conversation may ensue between politicians and voters, and it would be advisable for Nigerians not to forget in a jiffy, all that transpires during this darkest period of their political life. 2023's political jobbers are already keeping adequate records for future references. Amount of funds disbursed under the guise of private purses and government allocation for this "project" as well as what and what constituencies are getting what amount and on what date may be revisited.

Nigerian voters will be astonished to see how real teachings of POS101 will be taught by our politicians. They will see the re-play of all recorded transactions of 2020 being played on HD screen in 2023. It is not too late to start taking stocks of all their "received and receivables" of covid-19 palliatives now.

Gullibility of voters will further be tried by those I would call the "passive politicians". Faces of this set of people, though may be hidden now, will come out in no time. They are capitalising on this wonderful opportunity presented by covid-19 to do their KYC i.e know your customer on their potential clients, the voters. Some of them include the members of corporate body of this world, the self-acclaimed human rights activists, executives of multinationals in Nigeria, notable media practitioners and musical industry's reknowed names. I would have loved to be an advocate of voter apathy, but doing so in this country, is as dangerous as intentionally voting the wrong candidate. It is case of "what human beings failed to do, spirits will do better". Thanks to our faulty Electoral Law on this!

I do not foresee President Buhari enforcing or endorsing a candidate because this administration already has too many enemies than friends. The administration of Buhari is disfavoured by dwindling crude oil prices for almost the whole of the 8-year rule, albeit striving to ensure the country's economic status quo is maintained and improving infrastructural facilities. The septuagenarian Buhari would prefer to return home in peace. He surely would do away with some eleventh-hour decisions that he may forever regret.



Opinion of Kola (To be continued)

Ever since I became conscious of life; when I can differentiate good from bad. I have always had a kind of underestimation about life and anything that this world encompasses. In this good-for-nothing world, I av lost people who were so close and dear to me. I lost Daddy Lati who was like a father to me. I lost my grandpa whom since his death, av not seen his match in terms of care, human relations and kindness to a fault. I have also lost my grandma, Iya Shomolu. In less than 3 years in d family of Noibi which is my mum's family, the household lost three members. Most painful one is my talk handsome and very caring uncle, fondly called Brother Mi by us, his cousins. All in all, no amount of weeping can wake all of U. Since Ur demise, my belief in no-after-life or any after-life-judgement has been strengthened beyond control. After all, we are all born to die someday.

ZombiePUNISHER:
Shut up there

Buhari government is a conglomeration of past present friends and family members

Is that how to run a government?...
Who in this administration is more experienced in the area of Economy and finance like Iweala

But tribalism and who knows who won't allow the nation progress
When this onyema was yapping rubbish about what went down in China regarding Nigerian citizens there... I knew he was handed a script by his employers..

We have never had it this bad

So in everything Sarrki said, U couldn't pinpoint one single sense in it. Bros U try gan o

GamalNasser:
It's clearly both of them na .. Abba Kyari was 67

Th

God will bless U

“Yesterday” is the day that precedes “today” and it has in its stock, a reservoir of experiences from which lessons on how to live a desirable tomorrow can be learnt. These experiences, either good or bad, have always been the best teacher anyone can have at any time, away from the four walls of a school and most importantly pro-bono i.e free of charge.

Apart from its wide range of lessons on how man can have a fine “today and tomorrow”, “yesterday” should now belong to the past, to the old and to the then. “Yesterday” belongs to history!

Having handed over the baton to “today” without any human or nature – driven interceptions, a motion is already set in for “today” to continue in like-manner so that a potential “tomorrow” can assume its responsibilities and take charge. This age-long procession from time immemorial, is sacrosanct. It is “fait accompli”….

Unfortunately, some “tomorrows” may have already come and gone, even before their conceptualization. When you have a “tomorrow” that has been predicted to be beauty – personified, but which suddenly emerges, wearing rags and old-fashioned regalia, with a wrinkled face, looking ostensibly dejected and with tears dropping from eyes downwards, then it is either there is no future at all or it is unassuring. Away from being metaphorical, the planet we are living in is a composition of a large chunk of dependent and powerless inhabitants who will never have it all good, well and pleasant ( born and will die impoverished and/or diseased).
Their faith or religiousness will be ineffectual because it is a mystery begging to be unraveled.

PS: The most vulnerable people and nations of the world are the most religious.

Another “tomorrow” many had tipped to be a compensating one and that which will cancel out some of the failures of “yesterday and today”. The one that promises to be full of so many goodies, fulfilment, peaceful mind, less conflicts and wars, advancement in technology, good health system capable of combating any diseases known by man, serene environment, perfect companionship, graceful ageing and so on. All these may have been enjoyed by very few but a lot will still not.

Agreed that the future is full of hopes, pseudo-hopes and uncertainties, it is usually a result of man’s actions, decisions, small coincidences and a bit of luck. This littlest bit of luck is attributable to divinity _ The Creator _ who, we know only helps those who help themselves.

Everywhere in the world, a small percentage of people who are opportuned to be strategically positioned are deciding whether the remaining bulk of the world should have that desirable beautiful tomorrow or not. This fraction of people are the shapers and deciders of our future. They determine how long the rest of the world’s inhabitants will live on earth. They orchestrate unnecessary wars and social unrest. They trigger unwanted apprehension among people. They invent diseases and still discover their antidotes. They erect boundaries and walls on nations’ territories to cause unnecessary patriotism among citizens of neighbouring villages. Yet, they overstep their limits by encroaching on other countries social, political and economic environment. They preach civility, here and there, but they are not civil in their disposition. They are devil’s incarnate on earth.

Their ingenuity, sophistication and intelligence in politics, science and technology are so massive that whatever actions taken within their geographical territories have far-reaching consequences that leave the rest of the world helpless and hopeless. As harmful as these consequences are, they change the trajectory of “tomorrows” of lots of optimistic souls. Smaller nations that do not align accordingly become easy preys. If they are not punished economically, they will suffer limitations in other areas. In turn, innocent citizens face poverty. Trans-border diseases and infections are given free entry, thereby shortening lives and disrupting many beautiful personal and developmental national plans.
As a result of all of these, the beautiful “tomorrows” of persons and countries would have already been decided, today.

In an interview with Al-Jazeerah, a US- based TV station last Sunday, the UN Secretary -General Antonio Guterres was quizzed on how the body could stop the continued spread of COVID-19 outbreak which has been a global threat to lives and economies all over the world, and to prevent a similar occurrence in future. The programme anchor was obviously accusing certain world powers (now a public knowledge). The UN scribe in an attempt not to be misconstrued and without taking any sides, used diplomacy in answering questions thrown at him. But the world cannot continue to suffer the recklessness and unguarded actions of these two super powers _ all to achieve some aim. To prove invincibility or what?
They must be reminded that Israel was once a super power to reckon with. Where is Germany of Adolf Hitler today? USSR was broken and its fall out gave birth to the independence and autonomy of some countries. The United Kingdom, US and the likes will never forget the aftermath of the Great Depression during the 1930s. This too will surely expire and I pray it should, soon.

Conoravirus is not a wrath of God. It is man’s inhumanity to fellow man. It is man’s stupid way of letting the entire humanity doubt the possible existence of a “tomorrow” somewhere. Coming to the world should not only be a privilege _ as some world powers want us to accept _ with their inordinate selfish egoistic ambitions, each and every world inhabitant also has the right to live in a free, peaceful, disease – free and prosperous world, irrespective of where they are born.

Opinion of Kola GANIYU

https://ngg.ng/2020/03/28/covid-19-an-asymbiotic-relationship-between-nigerian-capitalism-and-human-life/

With the coronavirus getting realer and scarier than we might have envisaged, there is no better time to priotize life over interests _ personal or public than NOW. On their part, the FG and a good number of states governments have given directives restricting movement of people so as to keep the spread of the ravaging pandemic to a manageable limit. There is no basis for unnecessary helter-skelter, unless you are a producer of essential goods and services. It is expected that if these human movements can be controlled, within three weeks or thereabouts, normalcy should return to life, business and the economy.

Like Pastor and Motivational Speaker, Sam Adeyemi on his Twitter page, advised Nigerians not to believe in the piecemeal update of those who have contracted the virus as it is being reported by the Nigerian Centre for Disease and Control (NCDC), the direct opposite is what other countries are keeping their people abreast of. Even those African countries that had their borders closed days before we did are doing more justice and sincerity by letting their citizens know the true number of people with confirmed cases of the viral infection.

It is therefore better for the Nigerian people to know the true situation of coronavirus effect so we do not underplay the plague and later get caught unawares or after we would have been constrained by human and material shortages. It is also this unwanted information hoarding that keeps emboldening capitalism believers and fans of the school of thought to continue to take this escalating global concern with levity.

Life is a privilege. And it is ephemeral! Once it stops, there is no further privilege of replacement and so it must be pampered and tendered. Even animals seek solace when in crisis. They keep their heads and hibernate, then resurface when a "storm" is over. During crisis, with vigour and desperation, they leave their pursuit behind them and go enmasse to seek temporary protection and cover. The ants are a good example.

On the opposite, amidst coronavirus which is an evidently international emergency, we still have very selfish business owners having a "continuum" with regards to their operations at the expense of the health of their employees. It is most unfortunate that these workers have already accepted their fate in good faith. Agreed that we may have been born human, it would be wrong to answer that generic name when some humans are worse than even animals.

A Nigerian capitalist sees exploitation as his best business strategy to achieve his overall mission which is to make an abnormal profit. He sees his worker's life as an additional factor of production that he can use the way he likes and not the way the life owner likes. His selfishness knows no bounds. He is purely wicked. He is not to be blamed too, because he is more of a trust custodian of an anonymous government official or politician hiding somewhere. Try find out names on Companies' boards of directors, you will see names of our political representatives and leaders filling a space or another. Nigerians are being dealt with left, right and centre. This conveniently explains the similarities in the ways our public and private sectors are operating. Human life is secondary in their plans.

As I am writing, some notable companies in Nigeria that do not specialise in essentials such as food, drugs, fire services and the likes have not deemed it all-important and dire to comply with the #StayHome directive by the government, thereby exposing their staff to the contagious virus. Should any employee dare defy, a replacement is already in handy.

An opinion of Kola GANIYU

What started like a child's play last December in a not-too-popular Province of Hubei in Wuhan City in far East China has gained notoriety by becoming the world's most pandemic disease ever suffered since the creation of modern humanity. Expectedly, the outbreak has been generating quite a number of controversies or what I can describe as conspiracies, given its attendant hue and cry. Leading the league of these conspiracy theories is the public perception about the US and other world powers. If accusing the world powers, especially the American government of having masterminded the whole Coronavirus saga does not hold water in any sense, the same cannot be said of their handling of COVID-19 media propaganda.

In the last few days, there have been allegations - though yet to be solidified with evidences- gracing the airspace about the US high-handedness like the dropping and spread of the popular infection. The US Army officers are specifically accused of having been deployed to certain areas in Wuhan City of China to plant and pollute the environment with substances that have the capacity of endangering the lives of human. Carriers of this news believe the aftermath of that military action is the Coronavirus outbreak that is threatening the continued existence of human race after its manifestation towards the end of 2019. Nevertheless, believers of this theory need not rush to throw in the towel now, for in every accusation, at least an atom of truth is always present. Bob Marley of his blessed memory said "if some people are fooled at sometime, fooling everyone everytime is a task of impossibility"

The other conspiracy theory is the strategic application of media power to confuse the world. The media, as powerful as it is, has remained one of the best tools to affect the minds and conscience of the larger proportion of the listening public, especially the ignorant populace. The media if well employed, can even make the most sophisticated or enlightened to question the correctness of their own knowledge. At the global stage like such that is being controlled by advanced nations, vibrant international politics is well at play. They decide which information they want the world to know and for how long it will last. China and the US are leading the respective East/West blocs as it relates to the scramble for influence and dominance on other smaller nations of the world. So there is a battle of who is more influential on the economic and social lives of those countries. China, a fast growing super power has steadily been at the upfront. The American government will not be at peace with herself about this. So the hype via the use of its media coverage about Coronavirus is a very lethal strategy.

As all these hypotheses remain to be substantiated, they constitute the perception of a fractional population of the enlightened world. We can therefore take them to be unfounded assumptions, at the moment.
Aside the sensitivity of the human lives involved like the gradual depletion of human race from the surface of the Earth, nations' economies are adversely affected. Industrial production activities have considerably reduced. Schools' gates shut. Movement of a substantial percentage of Italian citizens is said to have been restricted in the last one week. Investors are not smiling because of million dollars losses being reported on a daily basis. The entire Europe is not taking it funny, with their major football leagues notably, the European Champions League suspended till a later date. Stagnation in almost every sphere of life is what we now see.

Back home, one may be compelled to doubt the realness of the viral outbreak when it is compared with the level of seriousness and reactions of governments of all countries in both the spread containment and search for cure. Perhaps the White can help us with another name for the disease. Ours can't be said to be this same much-talked-about COVID-19. News updates that keep bombarding the online media space alone from all over the world will make one tremble and in the same vein, our leaders would rather elbow shake or leg shake for photo shoots sessions with 'hypocritical' smiles on their faces.

https://ngg-ng.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/ngg.ng/2020/03/16/coronavirus-and-its-attendant-politics/amp/

Opinion of Kola GANIYU

I now clearly understand the angle U are coming from. It's unfortunate that we in Nigeria do not have that kind of leadership U r still wrongly comparing with the West. What would have made the likes of the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to always kick against the country's growing population. With seminars and leadership sessions he must have attended across the globe on this issue, don't U think it's because he must have concluded that we don't have such responsible political class? Have U quickly forgotten d amount budgeted for education in the 2020 budget, yet U are speaking in favour of this menace. That certain situations become beneficial to some countries doesn't say it will not be a curse to some other countries. For example, is Nigerian abundant crude oil a blessing to us or not? quote author=RisenPhoenix post=85391787]

They did not start out as advanced countries. Post world war II Japan was less developed than post independence Nigeria and had less resources to utilise for development. 1960s China and Germany were wrecks. Malaysia was a mess. Indonesia likewise. Did they get to where they are today by limiting populations or by educating and training that very population to form the bedrock of their development? You have set your mind on the false belief that population is a hindrance and unnecessary because you believe the narrative of USAID and other Western agents that seek to limit non white expansion and want us to remain underdeveloped so that we keep consuming their trash that no one else will buy if we were all equal technologically. That is why you can never see it as the strong resource that it is. No nation has grown relying on an aging population and without a strong vibrant youth base. Your way is too shortsighted. Who takes up the introduction of advanced technology? Where does the manpower come from to drive industry? What Nigeria needs is an educated population not a reduced one.[/quote]

I just shake head when U are comparing China or Japan that are advanced countries to a developing country that Nigeria is. I reiterate, any developing nation whose public goods are far below their populations both in quality and quantity should never be seen celebrating unnecessary population increase. Am still finding it hard to comprehend ur stand on this issue. quote author=RisenPhoenix post=85390433]

The first is the link to the transgenders having kids;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/transgender-man-gives-birth-non-21177808?utm_source=whatsapp&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

The following countries pay incentives to couples to have kids. Notice that no African country is included.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125495746062571927

https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilhowe/2019/03/29/nations-labor-to-raise-their-birthrates/

Large populations did not hinder China, the US, Brazil or India from developing their economies. It was you that failed to look at all other purposes of life and concentrated on limiting populations. Is that the only advance you can think of? Wanting to have children needs no justifications from white masters. If the earth was so overpopulated, explain why the ones above are paying for more kids.[/quote]

Bro, which white people are encouraging their transgenders to procreate numbers of children indiscriminately as U just remarked? Am talking of how we can do things as commoners to help d economy in our own little ways. Why don't we look at all other purposes of life aside increasing our population unjustifiably? quote author=RisenPhoenix post=85384647]Rubbish. Stop spewing white man propaganda on NL. White people be even encouraging their transgenders to give birth while discouraging our women. When someone comes to you for upkeep of his family, advice him. Until then, keep your advice to yourself. Me I'm even going for a full dozen. I'll spend my money as I like.[/quote]

Noted Graxie. Well said. If our people down here in the south can inculcate this culture, all well and good.

Graxie:
The people that needs this write up are not here, you know where to find them.

Thanks. But have U forgotten that their large population does not translate to any human development for more than 70percent of northerners, despite the fact their kinsmen have always been at the helm of affairs. Pls lets think na...

Chapter1vs6:
Leadership and Politics is a game of numbers..

. Have fewer kids if you like, the North will always be in charge due to numbers

Thanks so much sir.

All I just want to let people know is that our population is not proportionate to the resources and social amenities being provided by the government. So it behoves on all of us to monitor what we produce as children....

We will all be better for it.

The majority of Nigerians are poor & mostly uneducated—so it’s foolhardy to advocate for deregulation of family planning preferences. Government needs to step in to save poor Nigerians from themselves (reproductive regulation).

We would continue to advocate for population control because we cannot trust uneducated people to decide for themselves. Most of you insulting those of us agitating for family planning are not richer or more educated than us. The fact that we are Africans doesn’t give us the license to be careless & destroy the earth for other races on planet earth.

Whether you like it or not, population control & eugenics has come to stay. We are going into 2020 with full drive to control the unproductive population of Nigeria—and Nigerians like me will be at the forefront of that.[/quote]