Since we are still in the month of January, it is appropriate to wish all Nigerians Happy 2018. I am constrained to issue this special statement at this time considering the situation of the country. Some of you may be asking, “What has brought about this special occasion of Obasanjo issuing a Special Statement?” You will be right to ask such a question. But there is a Yoruba saying that ‘when lice abound in your clothes, your fingernails will never be dried of blood’. When I was in the village, to make sure that lice die, you put them between two fingernails and press hard to ensure they die and they always leave blood stains on the fingernails. To ensure you do not have blood on your fingernails, you have to ensure that lice are not harboured anywhere within your vicinity.
The lice of poor performance in government – poverty, insecurity, poor economic management, nepotism, gross dereliction of duty, condonation of misdeed – if not outright encouragement of it, lack of progress and hope for the future, lack of national cohesion and poor management of internal political dynamics and widening inequality – are very much with us today. With such lice of general and specific poor performance and crying poverty with us, our fingers will not be dry of ‘blood’.
Four years ago when my PDP card was torn, I made it abundantly clear that I quit partisan politics for aye but my concern and interest in Nigeria, Africa and indeed in humanity would not wane. Ever since, I have adhered strictly to that position. Since that time, I have devoted quality time to the issue of zero hunger as contained in Goal No. 2 of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN. We have set the target that Nigeria with the participating States in the Zero Hunger Forum should reach Zero Hunger goal by 2025 – five years earlier than the UN target date. I am involved in the issue of education in some States and generally in the issue of youth empowerment and employment. I am involved in all these domestically and altruistically to give hope and future to the seemingly hopeless and those in despair. I believe strongly that God has endowed Nigeria so adequately that no Nigerian should be either in want or in despair.
I believe in team work and collaborative efforts. At the international level, we have worked with other world leaders to domicile the apparatus for monitoring and encouraging socio-economic progress in Africa in our Presidential Library. The purpose of Africa Progress Group, which is the new name assumed by Africa Progress Panel (APP), is to point out where, when and what works need to be done for the progress of Africa separately and collectively by African leaders and their development partners. I have also gladly accepted the invitation of the UN Secretary-General to be a member of his eighteen-member High-Level Board of Advisers on Mediation. There are other assignments I take up in other fora for Africa and for the international community. For Africa to move forward, Nigeria must be one of the anchor countries, if not the leading anchor country. It means that Nigeria must be good at home to be good outside. No doubt, our situation in the last decade or so had shown that we are not good enough at home; hence we are invariably absent at the table that we should be abroad.
All these led me to take the unusual step of going against my own political Party, PDP, in the last general election to support the opposite side. I saw that action as the best option for Nigeria. As it has been revealed in the last three years or so, that decision and the subsequent collective decision of Nigerians to vote for a change was the right decision for the nation. For me, there was nothing personal, it was all in the best interest of Nigeria and, indeed, in the best interest of Africa and humanity at large. Even the horse rider then, with whom I maintain very cordial, happy and social relationship today has come to realise his mistakes and regretted it publicly and I admire his courage and forthrightness in this regard. He has a role to play on the side line for the good of Nigeria, Africa and humanity and I will see him as a partner in playing such a role nationally and internationally, but not as a horse rider in Nigeria again.
The situation that made Nigerians to vote massively to get my brother Jonathan off the horse is playing itself out again. First, I thought I knew the point where President Buhari is weak and I spoke and wrote about it even before Nigerians voted for him and I also did vote for him because at that time it was a matter of “any option but Jonathan” (aobj). But my letter to President Jonathan titled: “Before It Is Too Late” was meant for him to act before it was too late. He ignored it and it was too late for him and those who goaded him into ignoring the voice of caution. I know that praise-singers and hired attackers may be raised up against me for verbal or even physical attack but if I can withstand undeserved imprisonment and was ready to shed my blood by standing for Nigeria, I will consider no sacrifice too great to make for the good of Nigeria at any time. No human leader is expected to be personally strong or self-sufficient in all aspects of governance.
I knew President Buhari before he became President and said that he is weak in the knowledge and understanding of the economy but I thought that he could make use of good Nigerians in that area that could help. Although, I know that you cannot give what you don’t have and that economy does not obey military order. You have to give it what it takes in the short-, medium- and long-term. Then, it would move. I know his weakness in understanding and playing in the foreign affairs sector and again, there are many Nigerians that could be used in that area as well. They have knowledge and experience that could be deployed for the good of Nigeria. There were serious allegations of round-tripping against some inner caucus of the Presidency which would seem to have been condoned. I wonder if such actions do not amount to corruption and financial crime, then what is it? Culture of condonation and turning blind eye will cover up rather than clean up. And going to justice must be with clean hands.
I thought President Buhari would fight corruption and insurgency and he must be given some credit for his achievement so far in these two areas although it is not yet uhuru!
The herdsmen/crop farmers issue is being wittingly or unwittingly allowed to turn sour and messy. It is no credit to the Federal Government that the herdsmen rampage continues with careless abandon and without finding an effective solution to it. And it is a sad symptom of insensitivity and callousness that some Governors, a day after 73 victims were being buried in a mass grave in Benue State without condolence, were jubilantly endorsing President Buhari for a second term! The timing was most unfortunate. The issue of herdsmen/crop farmers dichotomy should not be left on the political platform of blame game; the Federal Government must take the lead in bringing about solution that protects life and properties of herdsmen and crop farmers alike and for them to live amicably in the same community.
But there are three other areas where President Buhari has come out more glaringly than most of us thought we knew about him. One is nepotic deployment bordering on clannishness and inability to bring discipline to bear on errant members of his nepotic court. This has grave consequences on performance of his government to the detriment of the nation. It would appear that national interest was being sacrificed on the altar of nepotic interest. What does one make of a case like that of Maina: collusion, condonation, ineptitude, incompetence, dereliction of responsibility or kinship and friendship on the part of those who should have taken visible and deterrent disciplinary action? How many similar cases are buried, ignored or covered up and not yet in the glare of the media and the public? The second is his poor understanding of the dynamics of internal politics. This has led to wittingly or unwittingly making the nation more divided and inequality has widened and become more pronounced. It also has effect on general national security. The third is passing the buck. For instance, blaming the Governor of the Central Bank for devaluation of the naira by 70% or so and blaming past governments for it, is to say the least, not accepting one’s own responsibility. Let nobody deceive us, economy feeds on politics and because our politics is depressing, our economy is even more depressing today. If things were good, President Buhari would not need to come in. He was voted to fix things that were bad and not engage in the blame game. Our Constitution is very clear, one of the cardinal responsibilities of the President is the management of the economy of which the value of the naira forms an integral part. Kinship and friendship that place responsibility for governance in the hands of the unelected can only be deleterious to good government and to the nation.
President Buhari’s illness called for the sympathy, understanding, prayer and patience from every sane Nigerian. It is part of our culture. Most Nigerians prayed for him while he was away sick in London for over hundred days and he gave his Deputy sufficient leeway to carry on in his absence. We all thanked God for President Buhari for coming back reasonably hale and hearty and progressing well in his recovery. But whatever may be the state of President Buhari’s health today, he should neither over-push his luck nor over-tax the patience and tolerance of Nigerians for him, no matter what his self-serving, so-called advisers, who would claim that they love him more than God loves him and that without him, there would be no Nigeria say. President Buhari needs a dignified and honourable dismount from the horse. He needs to have time to reflect, refurbish physically and recoup and after appropriate rest, once again, join the stock of Nigerian leaders whose experience, influence, wisdom and outreach can be deployed on the side line for the good of the country. His place in history is already assured. Without impaired health and strain of age, running the affairs of Nigeria is a 25/7 affair, not 24/7.
I only appeal to brother Buhari to consider a deserved rest at this point in time and at this age. I continue to wish him robust health to enjoy his retirement from active public service. President Buhari does not necessarily need to heed my advice. But whether or not he heeds it, Nigeria needs to move on and move forward.
I have had occasion in the past to say that the two main political parties – APC and PDP – were wobbling. I must reiterate that nothing has happened to convince me otherwise. If anything, I am reinforced in my conviction. The recent show of PDP must give grave and great concern to lovers of Nigeria. To claim, as has been credited to the chief kingmaker of PDP, that for procuring the Supreme Court judgement for his faction of the Party, he must dictate the tune all the way and this is indeed fraught with danger. If neither APC nor PDP is a worthy horse to ride to lead Nigeria at this crucial and critical time, what then do we do? Remember Farooq Kperogi, an Associate Professor at the Kennesaw State University, Georgia, United States, calls it “a cruel Hobson’s choice; it’s like a choice between six and half a dozen, between evil and evil. Any selection or deflection would be a distinction without a difference.” We cannot just sit down lamenting and wringing our hands desperately and hopelessly.
johnnyvid: The University of Ilorin, Ilorin Kwara State has banned female student of the institution from hair attachment, and any form of Brazilian hair whatsoever. According to a memo dated 22nd of January, the female students in the school are expected to go natural, which according to the school is a way of being modest and better reflection of individual character and personality. Below is the memo: Recall in 2017, the management of Unilorin shared this notice; All students are hereby reminded that there is a DRESS CODE put in place by the University which must be observed at all times. The University is determined to continue to impact positively on its students not only intellectually but also morally in pursuit of its avowed commitment to the development of TOTAL MAN. To this end, it will award its degrees to only deserving students who have been found worthy not only in learning but also in character. Students are therefore strongly advised to exhibit good behaviour and dress decently at all times. MALE STUDENTS SHOULD NOTE THAT: the hair should be neat and well combed at all time; the hair should not be coloured (except it is natural colour); the hair should be well kept and groomed always; the haircuts should not carry inscriptions; curled hair is not acceptable; artificial dread locks, plaiting, weaving o rebraiding of hair are not acceptable; and beards must be well kept. FEMALE STUDENTS SHOULD NOTE THAT:
Weaving, plaiting, braiding, fixing and wigs are acceptable;
hair extensions with colours such as; Blue, Green, White, Yellow, Red, Pink, and Purple or a combination of any of these colours are not acceptable;
hair must be neatly packed and weaved;
the hairstyle should not carry inscriptions;
all wears must be below the knee level;
pencil trousers are allowed but must be complemented with tops that cover the butt line; and all traditional and corporate wears that do not reveal sensitive parts of the body are acceptable.
The mode of dressing of a student speaks volumes about him or her. In other words, one’s appearance influences people’s perception of one’s person.
Students should, therefore, always dress responsibly to command respect. All students must refrain from wearing INDECENT CLOTHINGS, if they must be accorded respect and protect their dignity.
EVERY STUDENT MUST HANG STUDENT I.D. CARD ON HIS / HER NECK
You are hereby required to note that the following constitute inappropriate mode of dressing that will not be tolerated in the University environment (including Lecture Halls, Library, Laboratories, Examination Venues, Seminar Rooms, Faculties and Administrative building as well as in University Vehicles):
Dress that exposes any sensitive parts of the body e.g. cleavage, chest, back, navel, thigh and armpit (clothes that reveal the armpits when hands are raised e.g. sleeveless/half sleeves);
Tight fitting wears; Transparent/See Through Wears; Tattered Jeans/Ripped Jeans; T-shirts with obscene inscriptions, depicting immorality, hooliganism, etc.; Indelible markings and body tattoos by male students; Leggings/Jeggings trousers with shorttop; Skimpy dresses e.g. Spaghetti, Camisole only, body hugs, topless blouse and shorts; Knickers; Bathroom slippers not acceptable within the administrative and academic areas; Heavy make-ups; Sagging trousers; Wearing of earrings by male students; Rumpled and dirty clothes; Skin/ear piercing by male students; Dread, Galax, Fadeoutand Rough Coil Haircuts, Unkempt Appearance; and Hair plaiting or weaving by male students. Some Faculties and Departments have prescribed Dress Codes for their students. Students in such Faculties or Departments are expected to comply with such Codes.
THE WAY YOU DRESS DETERMINES THE WAY YOU ARE ADDRESSED.
zoba88: According to a report by Ekemini Simon,the gallant troops of 2 Brigade Nigerian Army have in the early hours of today, Tuesday 16 January 2018 recorded another success in their bid to restore peace to the terrorized axis of Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of the state by killing two gang members of the notorious killer, Akaninyene Uko alias Isoakpaefid who was killed yesterday.
According to a release signed by the Assistant Director Public Relations 2 Brigade Nigerian Army, Uyo, Major Umar Shuaib, and made available to this reporter, after the first operation which led to the killing of Isoakpaefid, the Brigade troops following another tipoff invaded the hideout of the remaining gang members at Ikpe village in Etim Ekpo Local government area on Tuesday 16 January 2018 and engaged the hoodlums at 1:30am.
The release states that the troops succeded in killing two members namely Aniebet Udoh who is said to be the second in command to Isoakpaefid and Thankgod Friday who is the spiritualist to the kingpin while the remnants escaped with gun shot wounds.
Items recovered by the troops include one pump action gun, two locally made short guns, 13 live cartridges, eight expended cartridges, 2 Dane guns and two cuttlasses. Their corpses have been deposited at University of Uyo Teaching Hospital mortuary. It could be recalled that the troops on Monday had killed the ring leader Akaninyene Uko.
Pussyisfood: Today we shall be learning 35 words that are commonly pronounced incorrectly, and how to correctly pronounce these.
Let's begin
1. Pronunciation Although we pronounce the word, pronounce as /prə-nouns/, the correct way to pronounce the word pronunciation is /prə-nən-si-'ei-shən/.
2. Says This word is commonly mispronounced by people learning English as /saiz/, but the correct way to pronounce the word is /sez/.
3. Etcetera (etc) Although many people pronounce the word as /ek-'se-tra/, the correct pronunciation however is /et-'se-tə-rə/ or /et-'se-trə/ (this pronunciation is less common but it's ok).
4. Often Now many people pronounce this word with the t. That is not wrong, but a more preferable pronunciation is /ɒ-fən/.
5. Women Nigerians alike have perfected the art of mispronouncing words. Now although we pronounce woman as /wu-mən/, the correct pronunciation for the word women, is infact /wi-min/.
6. Police The correct pronunciation is /pə-'lees/. shikenan
7. Vehicle If you guessed /'vee-ə-kl/ then you are correct.
8. Genre The correct pronunciation for this word is /'zhɒn-rə/.
9. Video The important thing to note in this one is that the i and the e are pronounced as short i sounds. So it's /'vi-di-o/. Tan queue, Shola.
10. Comment Most speakers in Nigeria will pronounce this word as /kə-ment/ or /koment/, but the real pronunciation is /'kɒ-ment/. The secret is in realizing that the stress is in the first syllable. You can simply watch this 9 seconds video for the vocals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLYU2hfzOyQ
11. Suite This word is pronounced, /'sweet/ and not /'soot/
12. Restaurant This word is not pronounced, /'rest-orant/ as many Nigerian speakers will make us believe, as a matter of fact the correct pronunciation for this word is /'res-tə-rɒnt/. You might hear some British speakers pronouncing this word as /res-trɒnt/. This is also correct
13 Sewage I hear a lot of Nigerians pronounce this word as /'sea-wage/. This is incorrect as the correct way to pronounce the word is /'soo-ij/.
14. Breakfast /'brek-fəst/
15. Vegetable The e after the g is silent, and so the pronunciation is /'vej-tə-bl/
16. Cucumber Ladies and gentlemen, it's not /'koo-koom-ba/. It is /'kyoo-kəm-bər/. Also make sure you pronounce the r
17. Lettuce This vegetable is called /'letis/
Many word in the English language have silent letters or alphabets we don't pronounce. Take for instance
18. Receipt Here the p is silent, and so the pronunciation becomes /ri-'seet/.
19. Debt Here too the b is silent in this word, and so the pronunciation becomes /'det/.
20. Mortgage This word that means a loan that a bank gives you to buy a house is actually pronounced /'mor-gij/ and you have to pronounce the R too. It's not there for nothing.
21. Subtle How will you say this word? It is /'sə-tl/ because the b is silent.
22. Singer In this word, the g is silent and so our end pronunciation is /'siŋ-er/. Other words like younger and finger have the G present but not in singer... no, it's not.
23. Plumber The mistake that Nigerians make is pronouncing this word with the B in it and so replacing the R with an A. The correct pronunciation for this word is /'pləm-ər/.
In many words when you have the combination letters, m and b, the b is silent. Like comb or climb or even thumb and tomb
24. Bury Apparently one of the words that Nigerians pronounce correctly is bury. It is pronounced /'beri/ as like berry. Forget those Nollywood actors.
25. Wednesday This day of the week is pronounced without the first D. The pronunciation is /'wenz-deɪ/.
26. Sword This word is pronounced /'sord/ with the R inclusive. So don't go pronouncing the word as so:d then that will just be absurd.
27. Arctic /ark-tik/
28. Mischievous I hear a lot of people pronounce this word as /'mis-chi-vi-yourz/, and that is wrong. The correct way is /'mis-chi-vəs/.
29. Tuition The right way to pronounce this word is /tu-'wi-shən/. British call it /tyu-'wi-shən/. Both are correct.
30.Zoology If you pronounce the word as /zoo-lo-ji/ or /zoo-a-lo-ji/ then you're wrong. The correct pronunciation for this word is /zo-ɒ-lə-ji/.
31. Develop /di-vel-əp/
32. Photography /fə-'tɒ-grə-fi/
3. Jewelry Although it's spelt differently in American and British English, the pronunciation is the same. /'joo-əl-ri/
34. Quote Often mispronounced the same as coat, the correct pronunciation for this word is /'kwot/.
35. Schedule American pronunciation is /'ske-jool/ and the British pronunciation is /'shɛ-jool/ or /'shɛd-yool/.
36. Bonus lesson Am is a state of being verb. I'm is a contraction that means I am. So how we came to a point where people use 'am' in place of 'I'm' is mind boggling.
ideologies: The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) is now accepting applications for business ideas that can transform Africa. The Programme, in its 4th cycle, is Tony Elumelu Foundation’s 10-year, $100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor and fund 10,000 African entrepreneurs by 2024.
1,000 entrepreneurs will be selected based on the viability of their idea, including: market opportunity; financial understanding; scalability; and leadership and entrepreneurial skills demonstrated in the application.
Benefits The Programme provides critical tools for business success, including:
Training:12 weeks of intensive online training which guides creating and managing a business Mentoring: A world-class mentor to guide during the early transformation stages of the business Funding:$5,000* in seed capital to prove the concept, plus access to further funding Network: Access to the largest network of African start-ups and TEF’s own global contacts Eligibility Requirements for Tony Elumelu Foundation Application 2018: The business must be based in Africa The business must be for profit The business must be 0-3 years old Applicants must be at least 18 and a legal resident or citizen of an African country
EdificationBoss: Burning Lagos Transport bus on Ogudu, Ifako bridge Inward Lagos was burnt down today. Incident scene has been cleared and no casualty were recorded but the bus was burnt down totally.
Let's read the below story as it is worth reading.
In 2010 I was a senior manager in a nice firm, my future was bright in the company and I was highly recommended for head of my department. There was a rising star as well, his name is Jacob. I tutored him and tried to manage his excesses because he was exceptionally brilliant. But, he was lazy and carefree. Hardly would he take corrections and rarely would he apologise.
My other colleagues wondered what I saw in him, but they weren’t working directly with him. I knew his type: he hated structure and would never last under a corporate environment. Still, he was a brilliant strategist. I handled him well and our results together with others on my team was highly commendable.
There came a time I was having marital issues and for this reason, I had little patience with Jacob and his shenanigans. I was short-tempered with him but he had gotten used to me managing his excesses, he didn’t take my anger seriously. In two weeks, I had given him 3 queries. This meant dismissal and when I was asked by HR if I truly wanted to let him go, I could not care less. I had my own problems and was not in the mood to babysit anyone.
Three years later, I lost my job because the company was downsizing and top management was affected. I foolishly assumed I would get a job anywhere so initially, I wasn’t worried. But 12 months in, I was still searching and my savings was dwindling fast. I decided, since I wasn’t getting any job, I’d drive my SUV as a cab to those commuting from the airport. This was better than waiting around for nothing…
The cab job surprisingly was not doing badly as I was picking up and dropping off esteemed clients. It wasn’t a lot of money but it was steady.
In July 2016, an esteemed client asked me to pick up his friend from the airport because his driver had flaked on him. This person I was to pick up would turn out to be Jacob. When he called to confirm his location, I instantly recognised his voice. My heart plunged but I wasn’t going to reject the job and disappoint a long-term client. Jacob exited the airport with only a hand luggage so there was no need for me to alight from the car. As he got in the car, I looked back from the driver’s seat to greet him but he was distracted on the phone and never looked up to notice me. He only answered my greeting and asked me to get going
As I drove him all the way to a hotel on the Island, I had tears in my eyes. He looked like he was doing well, his conversations on the phone also showed that he was in control. Jacob had done well for himself and I was now driving him. Life is tricky and has a way of making you the butt of its joke. I cannot lie that I was ashamed but I would never forgive myself if I let him go without letting him know I was proud of him.
We got to the hotel and I quickly got down from the car to open his door. This was when he noticed me. He was speechless for a while then he said in Yoruba “Oga you have been the one driving me since?” He was shocked at first but then he hugged me tight. The tears finally poured, I can’t really say what I felt but I know I didn’t expect his reaction.
“I heard you were let go, I sent you a message on my other number to find out how you were but you never responded”He said while still holding on to my shoulders
I remember receiving a message from him but he was one out of many that called or texted to pity me. I didn’t want anyone’s pity so I never responded.
Jacob made me park my car and took me in to his room to talk. He immediately told me about his new gig. After he was laid off, he got a consultation deal with a multinational which opened doors for him in other multinationals. Now, he has 15 people working for him but he was in desperate need of someone who does the same as him and he didn’t have to worry about their competence. He just wanted to focus more on bringing business to the company.
My life changed that day. I resumed work with Jacob in one week and I have made sure since then to treat his company as if it were mine.
I don’t know why he treated me so nicely after what I did to him but as men, we have never talked about it. I am sure though, that he can feel my gratitude in the way I work and my zeal in doing all I can to make sure he doesn’t have to worry about the back-end.
I hope someone learns from this. lf the world turns upside down, you may end up cleaning for your cleaner. Please always remember this when you act without consideration of the other person’s future.
Let's read the below story as it is worth reading.
In 2010 I was a senior manager in a nice firm, my future was bright in the company and I was highly recommended for head of my department. There was a rising star as well, his name is Jacob. I tutored him and tried to manage his excesses because he was exceptionally brilliant. But, he was lazy and carefree. Hardly would he take corrections and rarely would he apologise.
My other colleagues wondered what I saw in him, but they weren’t working directly with him. I knew his type: he hated structure and would never last under a corporate environment. Still, he was a brilliant strategist. I handled him well and our results together with others on my team was highly commendable.
There came a time I was having marital issues and for this reason, I had little patience with Jacob and his shenanigans. I was short-tempered with him but he had gotten used to me managing his excesses, he didn’t take my anger seriously. In two weeks, I had given him 3 queries. This meant dismissal and when I was asked by HR if I truly wanted to let him go, I could not care less. I had my own problems and was not in the mood to babysit anyone.
Three years later, I lost my job because the company was downsizing and top management was affected. I foolishly assumed I would get a job anywhere so initially, I wasn’t worried. But 12 months in, I was still searching and my savings was dwindling fast. I decided, since I wasn’t getting any job, I’d drive my SUV as a cab to those commuting from the airport. This was better than waiting around for nothing…
The cab job surprisingly was not doing badly as I was picking up and dropping off esteemed clients. It wasn’t a lot of money but it was steady.
In July 2016, an esteemed client asked me to pick up his friend from the airport because his driver had flaked on him. This person I was to pick up would turn out to be Jacob. When he called to confirm his location, I instantly recognised his voice. My heart plunged but I wasn’t going to reject the job and disappoint a long-term client. Jacob exited the airport with only a hand luggage so there was no need for me to alight from the car. As he got in the car, I looked back from the driver’s seat to greet him but he was distracted on the phone and never looked up to notice me. He only answered my greeting and asked me to get going
As I drove him all the way to a hotel on the Island, I had tears in my eyes. He looked like he was doing well, his conversations on the phone also showed that he was in control. Jacob had done well for himself and I was now driving him. Life is tricky and has a way of making you the butt of its joke. I cannot lie that I was ashamed but I would never forgive myself if I let him go without letting him know I was proud of him.
We got to the hotel and I quickly got down from the car to open his door. This was when he noticed me. He was speechless for a while then he said in Yoruba “Oga you have been the one driving me since?” He was shocked at first but then he hugged me tight. The tears finally poured, I can’t really say what I felt but I know I didn’t expect his reaction.
“I heard you were let go, I sent you a message on my other number to find out how you were but you never responded”He said while still holding on to my shoulders
I remember receiving a message from him but he was one out of many that called or texted to pity me. I didn’t want anyone’s pity so I never responded.
Jacob made me park my car and took me in to his room to talk. He immediately told me about his new gig. After he was laid off, he got a consultation deal with a multinational which opened doors for him in other multinationals. Now, he has 15 people working for him but he was in desperate need of someone who does the same as him and he didn’t have to worry about their competence. He just wanted to focus more on bringing business to the company.
My life changed that day. I resumed work with Jacob in one week and I have made sure since then to treat his company as if it were mine.
I don’t know why he treated me so nicely after what I did to him but as men, we have never talked about it. I am sure though, that he can feel my gratitude in the way I work and my zeal in doing all I can to make sure he doesn’t have to worry about the back-end.
I hope someone learns from this. lf the world turns upside down, you may end up cleaning for your cleaner. Please always remember this when you act without consideration of the other person’s future.
Let's read the below story as it is worth reading.
In 2010 I was a senior manager in a nice firm, my future was bright in the company and I was highly recommended for head of my department. There was a rising star as well, his name is Jacob. I tutored him and tried to manage his excesses because he was exceptionally brilliant. But, he was lazy and carefree. Hardly would he take corrections and rarely would he apologise.
My other colleagues wondered what I saw in him, but they weren’t working directly with him. I knew his type: he hated structure and would never last under a corporate environment. Still, he was a brilliant strategist. I handled him well and our results together with others on my team was highly commendable.
There came a time I was having marital issues and for this reason, I had little patience with Jacob and his shenanigans. I was short-tempered with him but he had gotten used to me managing his excesses, he didn’t take my anger seriously. In two weeks, I had given him 3 queries. This meant dismissal and when I was asked by HR if I truly wanted to let him go, I could not care less. I had my own problems and was not in the mood to babysit anyone.
Three years later, I lost my job because the company was downsizing and top management was affected. I foolishly assumed I would get a job anywhere so initially, I wasn’t worried. But 12 months in, I was still searching and my savings was dwindling fast. I decided, since I wasn’t getting any job, I’d drive my SUV as a cab to those commuting from the airport. This was better than waiting around for nothing…
The cab job surprisingly was not doing badly as I was picking up and dropping off esteemed clients. It wasn’t a lot of money but it was steady.
In July 2016, an esteemed client asked me to pick up his friend from the airport because his driver had flaked on him. This person I was to pick up would turn out to be Jacob. When he called to confirm his location, I instantly recognised his voice. My heart plunged but I wasn’t going to reject the job and disappoint a long-term client. Jacob exited the airport with only a hand luggage so there was no need for me to alight from the car. As he got in the car, I looked back from the driver’s seat to greet him but he was distracted on the phone and never looked up to notice me. He only answered my greeting and asked me to get going
As I drove him all the way to a hotel on the Island, I had tears in my eyes. He looked like he was doing well, his conversations on the phone also showed that he was in control. Jacob had done well for himself and I was now driving him. Life is tricky and has a way of making you the butt of its joke. I cannot lie that I was ashamed but I would never forgive myself if I let him go without letting him know I was proud of him.
We got to the hotel and I quickly got down from the car to open his door. This was when he noticed me. He was speechless for a while then he said in Yoruba “Oga you have been the one driving me since?” He was shocked at first but then he hugged me tight. The tears finally poured, I can’t really say what I felt but I know I didn’t expect his reaction.
“I heard you were let go, I sent you a message on my other number to find out how you were but you never responded”He said while still holding on to my shoulders
I remember receiving a message from him but he was one out of many that called or texted to pity me. I didn’t want anyone’s pity so I never responded.
Jacob made me park my car and took me in to his room to talk. He immediately told me about his new gig. After he was laid off, he got a consultation deal with a multinational which opened doors for him in other multinationals. Now, he has 15 people working for him but he was in desperate need of someone who does the same as him and he didn’t have to worry about their competence. He just wanted to focus more on bringing business to the company.
My life changed that day. I resumed work with Jacob in one week and I have made sure since then to treat his company as if it were mine.
I don’t know why he treated me so nicely after what I did to him but as men, we have never talked about it. I am sure though, that he can feel my gratitude in the way I work and my zeal in doing all I can to make sure he doesn’t have to worry about the back-end.
I hope someone learns from this. lf the world turns upside down, you may end up cleaning for your cleaner. Please always remember this when you act without consideration of the other person’s future.
Believe the NUT executives @ your own peril! they are toothless dogs for not representing us well in Kwara State. They are doing this to have their own share of d Paris fund. After two days into d strike, they will ask us to go back to work; unserious elements
olasaad: I think Dangote and Otedola are share holder in this present National Assembly bcz anywhere Saraki go they go with him.
Today Dogara birthday they are there tomorrow again Saraki birthday they will be there too. Happy birthday Hon. Speaker and happy birthday in advance to the senates president.
stephenduru: According to the story shared by Desmond,one of the Directors of State of Osun Ambulance died in Osogbo while using her phone where she was filling her gas cylinder.
She was actually celebrating her mum's 70th birthday & she needed to go and refill as they ran out of gas while cooking. She went with her driver and getting to the filling station, she had a call and right inside her car, there was fire ignition and explosion as a result of the phone she answered close to the gas cylinder.
LibertyRep: If you are not self employed already and would be seeking for employment after your program, please I beg you in the name of whatever you worship, don't buy that HND form.
Don't make that mistake. Buy Direct Entry form or buy UTME form to start afresh at a conventional University. You also have the opportunity of approaching any Open University study center close to you and explore the opportunities therein available. All of these would eventually make you get a University degree. Worry less about the number of years and fund involved. Please don't buy that HND form.
Don't be fooled by those who will tell you that you can always proof your worth on the field. See, the truth is that you may not even be given the opportunity to proof anything at all. A large percentage of Nigerian employers including the government worship certificates and there isn't any traces that they might change any soon.
Take for instance, Ogun government commenced the sale of ASCON forms for the employment into the civil service of the state and HND holders are barred from partaking in the exercise. Even if you make it to the civil service through other avenues, there's is a level beyond which you can't rise because of your HND background. Why would you want to be subjected to such ridicule? Don't buy that form!
You may also be thinking of doing PGD, Masters and PhD later on. Well some universities wouldn't let you pass the Masters stage. LASU for Instance specifically stated that MED holders with HND and PGDE background are not eligible to apply for PhD. You see, the discrimination is huge and you wouldn't like it later on. Please drop the idea of the HND form.
What I don't understand is why the government and others in charge of our education have not scrapped these Polytechnics. Why would they allow them to churn out products that are not accorded the right respect in the society? Scrap the Polytechnics or at best stop them from awarding HND Certificates forthwith
Don't get carried away with the fact that HND holders are also called graduates and are allowed to partake in the NYSC scheme. See, the euphoria of their 'graduates' status expires with NYSC. If you doubt me, try to pick up a masters form with your HND after your NYSC. The discrimination is huge and you wouldn't like it.
Whilst it is true that some HND holders are doing very very well in their various fields, their percentage is also very very small compared to those battling with the ridiculous discrimination both in public and private establishments. Why would you therefore allow yourself experience such mockery after spending five years pursuing the certificate. (2 years for ND, 1 year for IT and another 2 years for the HND)
It is good to be educated but please be educated properly at least In Nigeria's context. This is because the most ridiculed certificate in Nigeria now is the HND Certificate.
Again, if you don't have a business of your own and would be seeking employment later on, don't buy that HND form. My two cents.
Politics › Re: Obasanjo’s Letter To President Buhari (Full Text Of The 13-paged Letter) by highbee02: 10:07pm On Jan 23, 2018
