THE E.B. GBONIGI THAT YOU PROBABLY DO NOT KNOW
By: Ifeoluwa Orimoloye

I was only about 10 years old when I had my first memorable encounter with Rt. Reverend (Dr) Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi, the then Lord Bishop of Akure (Anglican) Diocese. He was the pioneer Bishop of that Diocese between the year 1983-2000.

On this particular occasion, I was playing football as was the usual routine with Boys of my age when his car pulled up in front of our family apartment at Ondo road. He looked simple but had an air of grace around him. As I inched towards the car, he asked after grandma and the rest of the family. There was nobody at home and so he asked further, “Do you know me?”
I remember that I replied by mentioning the full names and his title as it appears in the Church bulletin at that time. He was quite amazed at the fact that a youngster like me could mention his name the way I did. Fifteen years later, Baba would later inspire me to champion the birth of the Youth wing of the Yoruba Unity Forum.
My Grandpa (who died about thirty years ago today) and Bishop Gbonigi attended the popular Meville Hall, now Immanuel College of Theology, Ibadan.

Apparently, their relationship started from the clergy school and ever since they became families.
By the time grandpa departed away from the troubles of this world, Baba took charge and became more like a father to the children. He is the type that the Yoruba would refer to as a dependable ally, who demonstrated during and after grandpa’s existence the kind of friendship that is expected of human creatures.

It seemed like grandpa encountered so many challenges in the course of discharging his duties such that he found companionship in some of his fellow clergies including Baba. Granpa’s experience in the ministry is a story for another day.

The real motivation for putting this up is Baba Bishop’s exemplary life. I remember putting it up elsewhere that I revere people who, outside their usual duties do extraordinary exploits for humanity. I remember mentioning the names like that of Professor Soyinka. So it is with Baba, who some people refer to as the “Desmond Tutu of Nigeria.”
Grandma once told me the story of how a certain wealthy politician visited Baba in his Office attempting to influence him with a cash gift and how Baba rebuffed it and even other attempts to get him to receive the money. That is the extent of Baba’s integrity.

Even as a priest and a leader of the Church of Nigeria (Akure Diocese), he acted as a democrat and without fear resisted oppression in the days of the military incursion into our democracy.
Baba is one of the heroes of this generation not just because of his exploits as an activist or as a priest but because of his exemplary lifestyle which is further exemplified by people who have had an encounter with him.

Today, I pray for God’s grace upon Baba’s life so that he could continue to be an ambassador of humanity. However, whenever Baba gets the call to return home, one thing for which I am sure is that he would have left so many Bishop Gbonigis in this world; a descendent of honest and exemplary generations who will continue to advance the cause of humanity.

OF CORONA VIRUS AND THE PRINCIPALITIES OF THE MUNICIPAL

The wake of 2019 came with the manifestation of many church prophets predicting election results. With the confidence of some of these prophets, one will almost think the 2019 Nigeria's presidential and gubernatorial elections were fixed matches that sports lovers should stake highly on. Bet9ja may have thought of introducing election bets into its platform. These powerful prophetic energy was suddenly lost in 2020, with no one to foresee the coming of this great pandemic that has now invaded the world. Oga o. As if God only speaks to prophets on election and money matters. What's kuku my own.
Well, I wish to join my opinion with that of great sages many of whom have been heavily criticised that the Church remains one of Nigeria's biggest problem. Over the years, it has served the purposes of extortion and continuous social and economic division between the haves and the have nots. Karl Marx don kuku talk am (*OPIUM* to baed). Similarly the continuous and growing influence of pastors on the masses is of serious concern, many of whom are dogmatic Religious worshippers. The bulk of their daily activities are decided and regulated by the pastors' words which often are not in the interest of the masses. The painful thing is they are too blind and dogmatic to realise. (Some go still fight me now).
During elections, pastors dictate who the people should vote for via prediction on pulpit and sometimes by direct campaign for their favourite candidate, commanding members to vote them. And when those they predicted and made the people elect become oppressive, they again suppress the voice of the masses (from the pulpit), discouraging them from speaking against bad government or bad government policies with the claim that leaders are ordained by God. (What do I even know).
Unfortunately, their pockets get fat from donations made by these corrupt and oppressive leaders.
In another dimension, they keenly obey in its literal sense the words of Jesus in Matthew 13:12. (Maka no too stress this one before i turn daddy freeze).
While the people are not permitted to touch the anointed, the anointed continue to stretch their hands to people's pockets, marriages, health, morals and daughters... (readers discretion o).
After what seems to be an endless thought and out of great concern for a possible way forward, I wish to suggest to fellow church members that we can use the stone of this period to kill two birds. The outbreak of this pandemic may eventually lead to a ban on all forms of gathering in Nigeria including religious gatherings. The restrictions will aim at curtailing the spread of the virus... Now I'm just thinking of something funny but not impossible to try. What if we seize the opportunity to try a new dimension of worship?
For instance, we can simply convert what use to be a mere family devotion to a complete church. That is, church services can now become strictly a family affair. Instead of going to some big cathedrals to see some pastors, let every home have its pastor, create it's altar and decides what to do with its offering. We simply have home services on Sunday in order to avoid contacting corona. let's see how much we can save financially and psychologically within the period until the curfew is over, and let's see if we'll wanna go back to our big cathedrals. I know these won't be effective in many homes especially those with different religious ideologies or those where the heads are not religiously active (some parleh no spiritual at all and them no go allow the home service go well). Well there is something else on my mind;
Come to think of it, the world is now a global village. Technology has affected all spheres of life. Many activities now take place online without the physical presence of parties in areas such as education, business, trade etc. I feel we can bring this tech to church too. I mean we can as well have an online church. For instance, with the name *Believers Online Ministry (BOM)* (you can name your online church whatever Christ inspires you to). After all the Bible says where two or three are gathered in His name, He is with them. Let's bring His presence to our WhatsApp groups, Telegram and Websites. *Woli agba started IPM* on Instagram�. With our online Bible studies, online prayer meetings, online Sunday service etc, we can save a whole lot of money that should go into building multi million cathedrals attended by financially and spiritually poor members. our offerings can then simply go to our poor neighbours and those less privileged children in our streets, getting phones and subscription for our absent members. The group admin and pastor can have a job or business just as Apostle Paul. (I will so enjoy this online church thing o)
I don't even know if I'm making sense. if I realise I do, I can discuss the structure of an effective online church that is devoid of exploitation some other day. Lemme rest my case for now.

@obm_Fabro

"These were people who were suspected of being members of Boko Haram and it was discovered that they were not,” he said.

“The rest are children of Boko Haram or actual Boko Haram members..."

That's according to The Cable News.
What does it mean to be "actual Boko Haram members"?

Officialgarri:
Rip to the slain.



I think those of us regarded as zombies have a better IQ than wailers.
Y'all will cry when SARS or EFCC clamps down on "suspected" fraudsters.
How many more innocent people killed unjustly by the Government ? Or you simply do not care because you have no relatives in the far North.

Show me any reputable source that says the released were actually terrorists.
Were you all blind when Amnesty International were publishing reports that Nigerian Government was detaining people unlawfully?
Now these reports have negative influence on the war perspective or what was one of the reasons Why you think Obama banned Goodluck Jonathan's government from buying weapons? only for them resort to black market through Dasuki

All is Vanity
'Sesan Ogunturoti

Don’t you know?
Life isn’t always a bed of roses
It’s full of tough challenges that
Come with considerable risks

It’s then your choice to be happy
Only you can make yourself happy
Only you know why you choose
To seek protection from a helpless person

But living a good life is worthwhile
You see life demonically differently
You consult the oracle
You desire to seek protection from a helpless person

each day you take 21 seeds of alligator pepper
All hell let loose
Whenever you arrive places
nobody dares you

you load your body with charms
you don’t know that
you should only trust in your arms
you carry 1,400 juju gourdlets





Could the small gourd save itself
before they put charms into it?
Charms upon charms
Incision upon incision

High potency upon high potency
You use a leopard’s skin as an ingredient
to hold off death; had the leopard not died
would you have had access to its hide for the medicine?

everyone shall give the account to God of his stewardship.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness
By: Ifeoluwa Orimoloye

How you got to know I don't know,
But I know that you know that which my heart feels,
That we may be just artificial,
Held by fragile atomic lattices,
That nothing, absolutely nothing lasts forever.

How you might have discovered I don't know,
That which you chose to believe,
That we may be just pencils in the hand of love,
Or maybe, that love, our love itself is emphemoral and temporal,
That it gets activated and reactivated by materialism.

How you chose to know I don't know,
That either nothing is mutual,
Or that nothing is mutually beneficial,
Either way, no one can chose to be perfect in the eyes of love,
Not even that silent, succulent or even intrinsically innocent soul of yours,
Where lies even the selfish demon and agendas of the Noah days,
Not even my gullible and imperfect eyes of the immaculate virgin,
Which houses the insatiable nature of brother Jerome,
Could have thought about that which you know.

I wished I had known that which you know,
The prolonged journey of the Isrealites,
The hard feelings of the hands of Jacob,
In which lies the monotonous voice of Esau,
The false signal looming, crying from within the wilderness,
The smokes of hatred arising even from the forest of sambisa,
If I had the chance, I could have given myself to the thought of that which you know.

The Other Side to Life

The meeting is a movie that exposes certain issues associated with bureaucracies within the Nigerian system. It would seem that the movie is a mere fantasy until these things happen to you. That day, you will regret the fact that you are born in this Country. You will curse our leaders; the ones ruling us since time immemorial. You will blame yourself for the crimes of others. In fact you will be forced to think that this Country has gone worse and even beyond repair.
This brings to the mind the experience of myself and some of my friends in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. As young and aspiring youth corp members, we were self motivated. We drew inspiration not from daily doses of Indian hemp but from the energy still bustling in us.
We wanted to create an innovation, something incredible from youth Corpers. We wanted to get our names written in the very good books. We wanted to be one of those that history will perhaps look kind upon. So, we started with the 25th edition of the creation of Akwa Ibom State. We unveiled a logo and a banner in commemoration of the event. But because our source of inspiration lies not in the canal things, we spent so much in getting some of these things done, including our time and money. At the end we erected the banners. We went further by writing letters to the Governor.
We wanted to communicate certain ideas to the Governor. The ideas are meant to reposition the State for the better. So, we wrote letters. It's been one year since that time and I have a cause to thank God for bringing me back to my homestate. Whatever that means, it would later turn out that our letters either did not get to the Governor or it didn't matter to the Governor.
At some point, we soft pedalled. We went back to the drawing board as we deviced means to meet with certain commissioners or appointees.
Fast forward to years after, this same predicament followed me to Akure and to my alma matter precisely. I was to collect a copy of my certificate for certain productive reasons. Unfortunately, bureaucracies has to be followed even to the letter.
If I am not enlightened, I would have assumed that my village people were at work. Things got 'clumpsy' and complicated. It got to a stage when everyday, the chances of getting my result within that time frame became slim.
Life became difficult. And in spite of certain influences. My files travelled from one office to another in an unimaginable pace. At the end, I spent over seven business days getting the required signatures for my clearance form. Something that should otherwise take two to four business days. I had to abandon the things that I was meant to do all in a bid to obtain my certificate. The experience was challenging. I was frustrated. I cursed and swore silently under my breath.
I realised unfortunately that life as a Nigerian is the worst that one can imagine for themselves...If this Country has to work, it has to start with efficiency. It has to start with individuals performing their duties duly, in whatever capacity that they find themselves.
The fact that money must change hands for these bureaucracies to be fulfilled puts a dent on real intentions for establishing them.
I have thus seen another dimension to life and Nigeria is in fact the other dimension.

IFEOLUWA ORIMOLOYE

MUSIC HOUSE DEMOLITION: THE HEIGHT OF INSENSITIVITY

The bar should begin to put prospective members into a serious screening process. Common sense, although not common, should be made common in the legal realm. We must commit every resources at our disposal into achieving this objective, even if it requires the introduction of courses such as "the use of common sense" or even "the use of discretion" into the curriculum... We must, as a matter of priority, begin to reemphasize the need for the study of philosophy and logic as a foundation study in our schools.


As if the unforgivable demolition of that music house (in spite of a court "process" ) was not enough, I read with disgust another statement credited to the counsel to Oyo State Government pointing to the pictures of the demolition as (probable) photoshop documents. The statement according to him: "I have not seen any demolition exercise carried out anywhere, and with this, photos on display could be photoshop, we have to be empirical about whether there is demolition or not.”- Vanguard newspaper (20th August, 2018)
He also said that the affected parties weren't served with a court injunction.

Starting with the issue of photoshop, that Counsel (with due respect to him) may either be ignorant or playing on our collective intelligence. How do you say that you cannot authoritatively confirm a demolition that was (as at yesterday) the subject of even the most credible of our newspapers?

How do you say that you are a counsel, and you failed in your duties to confirm an issue which has a direct bearing on the case you're defending?

That said, the second issue is a matter of discretion and logic. Even learned individuals or legal luminaries would agree that not all processes or matters are viewed holistically without regard to discretion or logic. Some court processes or procedures requires just logic. It doesn't have to be spelt out!

It is only logical to say that parties involved in a case in the Court should stay or obey the status quo, whether or not it is spelt out, especially as it pertains to a Court injunction or restraining order, even in the absence of an 'express' order from the court. A party must not be quick to 'preempt' the court of law. That's disrespect, that is contempt!

The implication is that the status of the issue in contention has to be duly maintained. Maybe a status quo ante bellum, so as to give credence to the issue.

Fundamental questions thus arise;
Why was the case in Court in the first place?
The answer is simple, that the Court should restrain the State Government from taking the said action.
And now that the State Government has taken the action, what is left for the Court to determine?
Then, where is the place of logic?
I mean, this is abuse of State Powers which in itself is punishable under the law.

Lastly, the demolition of that music house is another draconian action of this government aimed at suppresing the freedom of the press.

It would be recalled that it took the intervention of Amnesty International to secure the release of the editor-in-chief of the weekly source magazine, after spending two years in incarceration

This was followed by the detention of a premium times reporter.

I will leave the rest to the hands of legal professionals but those who are concerned should know for sure that the world is watching!

Ifeoluwa Orimoloye
loveorims@yahoo.com

PRESIDENT BUHARI IS GUILTY OF CRASHING OUR STOCKS
BY: IFEOLUWA ORIMOLOYE

A favourite mentor of mine would say that nothing happens in isolation. More importantly, I expressed this very feeling in my article about the scandal currently trailing Zuckerberg and facebook, his technology company. It would be recalled that I stated in that very article that politics, business and economics are quite interwoven (see Mark Zuckerberg to run for political office: https://www.nairaland.com/4448127/mark-zuckerberg-run-political-office#66639518). Many atimes, actions and inactions goes a long way in defining the interrelationship between these elements.

That President Buhari declared his intention to re-contest in 2019 wasn’t the problem with the stock market, at least going by a report by Premium Times.

Although, like WS, I may not be an economist or business analyst, but I also “know that stocks rise and fall”. In the relationship between politics and economics the word ‘body language/stance’, investors’ ‘confidence’ and ‘uncertainty’ defines an economic response to political happenings.

However, Premium Times reported that “there is no evidence the declaration was directly related to the stock market’s negative trend”.
The news platform further stated that “analysts said the market was weighed down by profit-taking by investors, with major firms recording price losses”.

Now to the questions associated with the word ‘body language’, investors’ ‘confidence’ and ‘uncertainty’.
Premium Times' dissociation of the declaration from the crash is true in this very circumstances. Premium times wasn't able to DIRECTLY link the crash in stocks to Buhari's declaration.

Yet, Buhari’s administration has only been defined in terms of poor body language. Take for instance the reputation of this country both at the local and international scene. Buhari's body language is in itself fraught with uncertainties. This is evident in the economic policies of Mr Buhari which is by the way incoherent. He has shown us that some of his policies are not workable. This is also evident in the continued plunging of the value of the naira at the international market in the face of the very many ineffective macro-economic policies.

There has to be a trust in the economy which is missing in this case. Buhari's leadership style is such that it dampens the investor’s desire or will to want to invest, in other words, confidence.

It is instructive to also note that the future of this Country under President Buhari is fraught with uncertainties. The uncertainties in fact ranges from even his health condition, to economic situations owing to the fact that the economy is still very fragile and is at the recovery stage. A senior colleague of mine, Victor Okechukwu, described this as another very serious factor that should be considered. There is also an uncertainty in terms of what will become of the political stability or even peace in view of the President's decision to contest. Maybe the aftermath of such a DETERMINATION would even portend peace or chaos in the short or long run is worth investors' consideration. Meanwhile, the Country as well as potential investors would not forget in a hurry the fact that the recession in itself was heralded by the emergence of the man in contention.

For these reasons, it is therefore not misplaced to posit that the determination of President Buhari to contest as evident in his declaration might have in fact, dealt a terrible blow to our stock market either directly or indirectly.
But beyond all these, President Buhari has not only succeeded in crashing the stocks, he has also crashed the ‘stocks’ of our hope and expectations for his government.

MARK ZUCKERBERG TO RUN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE?
BY: IFEOLUWA ORIMOLOYE

Whether I saw it in a dream, trance or elsewhere is a debate for another day.
But speculations are rife that Mark could be up to something. At the background, the young owner of facebook has been sponsoring politicians, helping to fund or (maybe in plain terms) contribute to their political ambitions.
I cannot place exactly where I saw the caption, "Mark Zuckerberg to run for political office".
However, the recent revelation is coming just days after I encountered that headline.
Although, I am not saying that Mark is facing persecution or charges for daring to 'wear political shoes' but the investigation has taken some political dimensions. Maybe not political dimensions, but his offence has actually taken a political dimension.
Again, I'm not saying that Mark is facing persecution, but if this had happened in Nigeria to one of our rich businessmen, it would have been referred to as a political persecution.
Again, I am not saying that Mark is being persecuted because the concerns raised against facebook and it's owner are genuine and are in fact justified.
But think of it, politics, business and economics are quite interwoven.
That may be just the focus of this write-up and nothing more.

IFEOLUWA ORIMOLOYE

Education’s first quality is affordability, Akeredolu should know better
BY: ORIMOLOYE, Ifeoluwa

Lagos is Nigeria’s Centre of Excellence. In Lagos, beatification and landscaping of the environment is currently on-going and is quite evident in the pictures below. As Lagos is progressing, so also is the volume of wastes. You can attach any name to these pictures, but for me, I choose to refer to them as the ‘EKO ATLANTIC PROJECT’, no apologies please.

Meanwhile, last week witnessed a lot of activities in Ondo State or maybe, Ondo State witnessed a lot of activities last week.

From a purported imposition of #25,000 delivery charges for pregnant women, to a reported hike in school fee at Akungba varsity and then to the congress of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party, where our good friend, Henry Olonimoyo was elected the State Publicity Secretary of the Party.

Earlier, I and Busayo Oluyemi had argued about Rotimi Akeredolu’s stance or position as it relates to governance. While I argued that Akeredolu simply knows nothing about governance, Busayo had objected by saying that Akeredolu simply lacks the will to serve the people. Either ways, recent occurrences in Ondo State points to the fact that we are both right in our perception of Akeredolu.

It would be recalled that the immediate past administration in the State was reported to have made delivery absolutely free, or maybe the charges for delivery was kept at bay. It was controlled in such way that it is incapable of causing controversies such as this.

Against the backdrop of the fee hike at AAUA, one might be tempted to believe that the Government in Ondo State is also in a “trance” like its bigger brother at the centre. I can explain to you that the Government of Ondo state has shot itself in the leg with the increment as there is to be neither a basis nor justification for it.

How do you explain an increment in school fee for students of a school that is named after a man like Adekunle Ajasin? A man whose love for education echoes and re-echoes even long after his death. This action countervails the ideology of Adekunle Ajasin himself who stood side-by-side Awolowo in the quest for free education. It is simply contradictory.

In the memory of that very innocent man, Akeredolu had better renamed that school if he is bent on pegging the school fee at the outrageous figure. He had better renamed the school after himself to become Oluwarotimi Akeredolu University, Akungba Akoko. Only then will it be appropriate and justified to increase the school fee. It wouldn’t take anybody by surprise, rather, it would further amplify Akeredolu’s ideology and I mean the ideology that we all know.

In no doubt, the government of Ondo State has again shot themselves in the leg and I can tell you that the effect will be catastrophic.

It is in fact already becoming disastrous given especially the overall effect of the action. Already a friend hinted me over the weekend about plans by another friend of his to drop-out of school owing to the increment in school fee. What this means is that the new school fee regime is not affordable and may lead (like the anonymous student) a host of students out of school.
We will probably have more dropouts in this administration than in any other administration in Ondo State. Maybe the increase in dropouts will lead to an attendant increase in social vices and then Rotimi Akeredolu will be known for something remarkable.


Photo credit: Thisdayonline, nairaland

NOW IS THE TIME
(My responsibility as a King Maker)
BY: IFEOLUWA ORIMOLOYE

In giving credence to this argument, I will start by inserting Lagos state into this narrative. One will understand that Lagos State as a Centre of excellence, tend to excel in everything. For instance, trade and commerce in Lagos state is incomparable, likewise the traffic congestion. But sometimes in the midst of a traffic congestion, you may be probably driven by curiosity to get to the root of the congestion. Once you dig, you will be surprised to note that the causes of the congestion may be the very trivial things caused by either the senselessness, carelessness or ineptitude of some driver or the clannishness or overzealousness of some LASTMA officials. Either ways, we all get to suffer for someone’s lack of sense. This extends to leadership. The moment we limit the function of decision making to certain individuals, the wrong people may get into position of authority. And the moment we allow the smooth transition of the wrong people by the virtue of our indifference towards election or decision making, we will all suffer for the (selected) person’s senselessness, lack of direction or “clannishness”.
I fall into the category of people who would naturally not come out to vote. For those of us in this category, this is never our fault. It is naivety. We have either been fed with the wrong information, or our perception, although not entirely wrong, might have been just not right. Therefore, many of us would love to stay at home and listen to the second hand information being peddled either by passers-by or those that have been able to courageously take the decision to exercise their civil rights. But even beyond just voting during elections, we have other responsibilities. For instance, it is instructive to note that the transparency of any election cannot be entrusted in the hands of just law enforcement agents, at least, judging from experience.
Therefore, it is up to us, to be the required election observers and with the widespread audience guaranteed by even the social media, we can also become that (citizen) journalists that we want to be during elections. This therefore means that as citizens, much more than we can be able to realize, we have the very strong ability to influence elections. More importantly, if we have the very strong will and a united voice, we can overcome any ‘”cabal” whatsoever or any weapon brandishing urchin for that matter. We must begin to understand that in our stead, we are all decision makers by the virtue of the powers vested on us as Citizens.
However, by saying that we should become active in playing our roles as citizens and by consequently taking active part in the electioneering process, we are not just saying that we should “join the multitude to commit sin”. That is, even after registering and obtaining the voter’s card, it is up to us to make the judicious use of it by taking a wise decision. In all of these things, just like love, according to the Bible, is the greatest of all virtues, wisdom in this case, should be our greatest asset.

Written in line with the mandate and objectives of the Choose Your Future Advocacy.

THE MAN IN US
BY: Ifeoluwa Orimoloye
loveorims@yahoo.com

Once, my colleagues on a particular WhatsApp group page mentioned the criterion required for members to donate recharge card in commemoration of something, as reviewed by another member, suggestions started flowing, and like the kegites would say, members started vibrating.
"Send us recharge card,,,you won the heart of a new love? recharge!...celebrating your wedding? send the recharge!...You shoot your shot and won? recharge!, one man proposed to you? rechage!... We cannot be waiting for only birthday recharge cards this year", a member exclaimed.
And then, the motion was raised. Then came the announcement that the motion raised should be " commemorated" with a recharge card.
As funny as it was, this brought to my mind what a lot of us do to impress others, particularly the men.
The popular notion is that by default, men are required to toilin a bid to get the approval of women. Men sometimes tend toward the extreme by losing their senses in the process of asking a lady out.
And so, this is how it works...
Whenever that particular lady you've been stalking uploads a picture, you may be forced to say casually,
" Nice DP"
You may have done this not just to impress her, but to get her attention.
The lady, the object of the affection, having observed the 'lacuna' in your behavioral pattern would then simply say,
"Thanks"
You wouldn't want the discussion to end there and all in a bid to continue to stirr the discussion, you think of what else to say, all to no avail.
In the end, absently mindedly, you retorted,
"Congrats on your new dp..."
And the lady would respond with one awkward smiley like that.
That very moment, you would feel the burden of carrying the sins of the world...
That's why we say that "to be a man is not a day job"

As inspired by: Abiodun Iwaloye

THE TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION
By: Ifeoluwa Orimoloye
loveorims@yahoo.com

Let us assume that by the virtue of the nature of our environment or society, it may be wrong and ungodly to impose the payment of tax on worship centers. Let us say that because we live in a hyper-sensitive society with a very high craving and penchant for religious activities, it may become absurd to request for taxes from religious bodies.
Yet, the question that we must begin to ask ourselves is, what then would be the responsibility of these religious bodies to their immediate society?

What would for instance be the responsibility of ABC miracle center to its immediate society, if a vast majority of the congregation cannot afford to enroll their children in a school that is closely affiliated with the parish?
How would the same ABC miracle center justify its soul-winning and evangelism activities, if let us say, after boasting of a gigantic cathedral, it cannot still contribute to the construction of the road linking the church with sensitive areas within the community? A road which has, by the way, transformed to a death trap.

Again, assuming without conceding, that the motive for the establishment of these worship centers is only to win souls for the creator or progenitor, but how possible is it to, like the popular saying, give a piece of cake to a child with the right hand and simultaneously hold a cane with the left? How do we practice religion or proselytize without considering common incentives needed for conversion?
It would be pertinent to cast our mind back to the very active roles played by the missionaries who brought some of these religion to us. They behaved in the manner in which progressive societies behave.

Among other community services, they established schools and in fact made it affordable. All these charitable services in turn got the attention of our people.
It is a known fact that priority and focus of worship centers has for instance changed such that religious concerns are only directed at structures, derivative politics and nothing else, in contrast to charity which even the holy book(s) preaches.

Here is the details of an open letter written to Arakunrin 'Rotimi Akeredolu, the Governor of Ondo State, by a concerned Citizen:


HIS EXCELLENCY,
ARAKUNRIN ‘ROTIMI ODUNAYO AKEREDOLU, (SAN)
THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE,
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE,
ALAGBAKA, AKURE,
ONDO STATE.
Arakunrin,
SHALL WE AWAIT THE COMING OF ANOTHER MESSIAH?

According to sages, the best time to tie a palm-frond is in the morning, for it easily withers at the appearance of the sun. I say this, Arakunrin, because a lot would rather point out the fact that seven months is not enough to measure or determine the path (and the eventual direction) that a government would be steered.

However, for some of us who are critical observers, we could point out the direction to which a government is facing by a rare gift which can be best referred to as intuition. For, to the best of my knowledge, my father predicted the end of Mimiko’s administration barely seven (7) months into his tenure, shortly after the former Governor froze the central account for very flimsy reasons. Arakunrin, the rest is now history.

You should bear in mind Arakunrin, the fact that even though your administration is barely seven (7) months old, just seven months, yet, the civil servants are already groaning right under your nose and may be set for a showdown with you, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
That the treasury was almost blank when you assumed power is quite understandable, and the fact that this Country is in a serious economic situation is yet understandable, but what you make of these situations in the end, in terms of prompt payment of workers’ salaries, provision of basic infrastructures and the management of the scarce resources in such a way that you can be vindicated by posterity stands to be your priority, Arakunrin. Needless to say that in Nigeria we care so much about results such that we take no cognizance of the circumstances surrounding the process.

Should I look at the consequences that may follow the writing of this letter, I may exercise restraint, but to say that I am not one of those many youths that have turned the Governor’s office to a shelter like asylum seekers, all in expectation of political appointments, gives me the confidence with which I am writing this letter to you.

Again Arakunrin, the fact that prior to the election that ushered you into government, some of us were blacklisted and crucified in your name, for your sake and that of your political party, gives me the more effrontery to write this letter to you.

Let me reiterate and reemphasize Arakunrin, the fact that we voted for you not because you are better than the others, but because we had to remove Governor Mimiko and his vestiges from the reins of affairs in Ondo State. And so, some of us even defied calls from our motherland and the accompanying agendas all in a bid to ensure that the ‘right’ people get into position.

Pertinent to say that although I currently reside outside the State, reports reaching me from Ondo State is not in any way encouraging.
Permit me to draw your attention to the fact that the very first error made by President Buhari was the appointment of some individuals based only on political considerations and not merit. In your case sir, it is such that there is for instance the case of nepotism levelled against you in respect of some appointments that you have made so far. This is none of my concern, but for the fact that some of these individuals lack credibility. Some of these people are for instance, offshoots of previous administrations that have plunged this state into the current situation. Arakunrin, nothing can be used to justify the appointment of a Madueke into the ministerial cabinet of the supposed anti-corruption Government of President Muhammadu Buhari. Such is the case in some of the appointments that you made.

It is time, Arakunrin to ignore lamentations and the euphoria that came with your assumption and set out to work in order to deliver the State from the shackles of abject poverty caused by some of your predecessors.

Conclusively, I want to strongly advise that at the end, you should endeavor to let your achievements justify the income accrued to the state in such a way that posterity would justify you.

Like John (the Baptist) asked of Jesus in those days, I may be compelled to again pose the same to you thus; Are you the one who is to come, or should we keep on expecting the coming of another Messiah?

Accept my kind regards.
Yours Sincerely,

ORIMOLOYE IFEOLUWA.

I'm really wowed!

YOUTH CORPERS UNVEILS A NEW LOGO FOR AKWA IBOM STATE

As part of activities marking the 30 years anniversary of Akwa Ibom State, some serving youth corp members recently launched a new logo in commemoration of the event.
According to the Youth Corp members, the launching of the logo is a way of giving back to the society that has accommodated them thus far.
It was gathered that the Youth Corp Members also expressed delight at the rapid development witnessed by the State in the last few years which has heralded a new chapter in their lives and has thus contributed to their success story.
It will be recalled that Akwa Ibom State will clock 30 years on the 23rd day of November, 2017 following her creation from the then Cross River State.
The launching of the new logo is in synchronization with the hashtags #AkwaIbommyfuture and #AkwaIbommysuccessstory which was exclusively created for the anniversary.

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BETWEEN THE DOCTRINE OF NECESSITY, THE TWENTY-FIFTH AMENDMENT AND PRESIDENT BUHARI’S STATE OF HEALTH

BY: ORIMOLOYE, Ifeoluwa

Although, I am always ashamed to admit this, but I must say that the African continent is in a critical state which is caused by no other enemy other than the continent itself. The moment we say that we are imitating the developed countries, we either dogmatically, extremely or fanatically imitate them, and at times we inadequately or most inappropriately imitate them. That is why, whenever anything is transferred to us in form of an ideology, we follow them dogmatically or fanatically, ignoring our own established and indigenous ideologies which are of benefit, given the kind of society we live in. These ideologies later-on erode our values as a people.

On the other hand, transmitted ideologies that might be beneficial to the society are sacrificed on the altar of politics, loyalty, selfishness and other sentimental realities. This is the case of the political ideologies of the far more advanced United States that we are always striving to imitate.

It is no longer news that the health of the President of Nigeria is in a very parlous state. It is also no longer news that there seems to be a cover-up on the actual state of health of the President. We may dismiss the last statement only as a conspiracy theory only if we can take the Presidential spokespersons at their words. But, by their antecedents and conflict-ridden statements, the spokespersons have given considerable or reasonable reasons why they should not be trusted. Albeit, this is far from the point that I am trying to make here.

The motive behind the twenty-fifth amendment and the doctrine of necessity is of prime focus here. By studying both provisions critically, it will be observed that these provisions became necessary in view of the fact that there is always a need for the Country to be governed efficiently at any given time, without any lapses or deficit arising from one person’s incapacity. That is, I am of the firm believe that the provisions arose from the fact that the whole country must not be thrown into ransom in the likelihood of a ‘key’ citizen’s ill-health.

That is for instance why, in the United States the twenty-fifth amendment was adopted in the Year 1967. The amendment permits the Vice President to assume the position of the President, in the event that the President is incapacitated, dead or removed from office. That is, when the President is unable to discharge his duties. How then does one know that the President is unfit to discharge his duties?

This question can be answered by adopting the following instances as a precedent:
1. President George W. Bush’s transfer of powers to Vice President Dick Cheney at the time when he underwent a colonoscopy. He reclaimed the powers on the recommendation of his physician and after writing a letter to the Congress. This occurred on two occasions: in the year 2002, and 2007 respectively.

2. In the year 1987, Reagan was almost removed from office on the basis of laziness and ineptitude on his part. According to his Biographer, he was placed under “close watch to see if he was losing his mental grip.” The idea was shelved when he was realized to be in perfect command of himself.

Also, in Nigeria, the twenty-fifth amendment became applicable at a critical time in the Nation’s history when President Musa Yar’adua was indisposed. The Senate was then compelled to pass the “doctrine of necessity” which became the country’s own twenty-fifth amendment, paving way for the emergence of the then Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

The key words here being ‘leadership deficit’ and ‘necessity’. Irrespective of the President’s actual state of health, it would be understood that the country is not currently being governed the way it is supposed to be governed, judging from the way things are. That is, like a chieftain of the APC once said, the President’s actual state of health is taking a toll on the country. The President missed three consecutive FEC meetings as important as these meetings are in determining the direction in which the Country should be steered.

Also, regardless of the President’s actual state of health, it is known to all that the President is only at the recovery stage. Recovery does not portend that the President is fit. This is because recovery itself is a process. Therefore, it is only wise, that the President should give the recovery process a boost by attending to his health and not governance. He must give his health the needed priority.

In solving the riddle associated with the amendments, I would say that as much as the President’s actual state of health is in serious doubt or contention, or as much as there is a widespread apprehension arising from the President’s actual state of health, just as we are witnessing, then there is a need to invoke the Nigerian version of the 25th amendment, in the interest of the Citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in the interest of the ailing President. The President can then resume his duties when he has fully recovered and is seen to be fit to discharge his duties by all. Until then, it is necessary to invoke the “doctrine of necessity” in order not to plunge this country into a crisis arising from leadership deficit.

Ever since the wind (or maybe the whistle) blew and we saw the behind of the fowl, I have encountered myriads of articles and press statements in relation to the money that was discovered in the Ikoyi apartment.
Assuming but not conceding that that money belongs to the NIA and is meant for a covert operation, does the obvious lapses associated with the said operation not speak volumes about our Intelligence agency.
To put it straight, given the prevailing circumstances, does the discovery of the money allegedly meant for a convert operation not portray our intelligence agency as incompetent? Or can we say that the intelligence agency was careless such that it carelessly left the trail that led to the discovery of the money which is meant to be, for all intent and purposes, covert?
If that money is meant for a covert operation as alleged, does the discovery not leave much to be desired especially with respect to the covert nature of the money?
Is that 'covert mistake' or carelessness not costly enough for that particular undercover operation?
Does the exposure of the convert operation portend danger to National Security?

These are the questions begging for answers even as I am constrained to 'deliver' the blames at the 'doorpost' of the intelligence agency.

-ORIMOLOYE, Ifeoluwa

THE CONSEQUENCES OF ADIN-ALAADIN (ALIEN CULTURE) ON AKURE COMMUNITY

(THE REVIEW OF AN ARTICLE TITLED: ADIN-ALADIN: RETHINKING THE CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGE TO AKURE CULTURAL IDENTITY)

AUTHOR: OLUKAYODE R. ADESUYI
PUBLISHER: THE JOURNAL OF MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY
REVIWED BY: ORIMOLOYE, Ifeoluwa
YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2016

A character in Chinua Achebe’s Things fall apart, Obierika observed sadly to his dismay that “the foreigner came quietly and peaceably with his religion…now he has won our brothers and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
Adesuyi towed this line of thought in his argument about the consequences of multiculturalism and ethnocentrism in his article titled “Aadin-Alaadin: Rethinking the contemporary challenge to Akure cultural identity.” In a Country that depends solely on importation of goods and services and by extension, cultural identity, Adesuyi explores the dangers associated with the continued importation of alien culture and the threat it poses to the “natural” culture of the people of Akure town.
According to him, through an undue admittance of alien cultures into the process culminating in the ascension of Kings to the throne, particularly in Akure town, the cultural identity has been exposed to danger. Thus, the traditional process which has hitherto brought peace and tranquility to the town has been jettisoned for a more controversial/alien method.
Using Yoruba proverbs, Adesuyi suggests that one should not allow an ancient culture to drive his own culture into extinction because, a meat does not drive another meat out of a pot of soup (eran kii le eran ninu Isasun).
Adesuyi’s line of thought would be considered valid if one put into consideration the controversies trailing the contemporary method of selecting kings in Akure town following the abandonment of the erstwhile traditional process.
He backed up his argument by appealing to the use of linguistics, as he established the relationship between “adin” – an encompassing term which could mean culture, character and tradition- and Iwa which means character. He further exemplified this by relating the words adin and alaadin (al-aadin) to form adin-alaadin, meaning another person’s culture and tradition.
He also delved into the meaning of culture and explored the non-material aspect of culture which, according to him includes values, norms, belief and so-on of a people.
According to him, although different societies have peculiar cultural practices, the concept of cultural differences have been often used to classify some cultures as worse, backward and some as better or advanced. That is, the term cultural difference has been used to give “hierarchy” or to discriminate rather than “variation” between cultures. The implication of this, according to him is that a culture may eventually become regarded as superior to some others. This led to the concept of mixed culture and multiculturalism.
Giving Akure as an instance, Adesuyi argued that “an attempt to make a particular culture (which is peculiar to a society) bow for another culture is tantamount to killing such a society. This relates to the fact that the life of a society may be embedded in the culture of that society, and the life (the culture) gets exterminated when an alien culture is allowed to lord over the indigenous culture. This brought about the concept of culture conflict.
He also argued that the existence of multiculturalism (the co-existence of diverse cultures) results in ethnocentrism. In order words, Adesuyi argued that multiculturalism (the co-existence of different cultures) allows for comparison between different cultures thus, resulting in the conclusion that one culture may be distinct than the other (ethnocentrism). Ethnocentrism as described by Adesuyi is made manifest in his assertion that “it is not the case that the consequence of the rejection of ethnocentrism is multiculturalism; rather, it is the acceptance of the latter that results in the former” and that ethnocentrism exists “because groups, races and nations have mixed together different ideas, cultures and traditions to see which of these ideas are superior, better, inferior, worse.
On the other hand, the writer argued that ethnocentrism may not be entirely bad, because “it is an attempt to judge the other group’s way of life by the standard of the way of life of one’s own group.”
By implication, this means that ethnocentrism may be the channel through which an ethnocentric sees his culture as superior and imposes it on others.
Again, by implication, the effect may be on the reverse in which case, an “ethnocentric acknowledges his culture as inferior and another culture (other than his) as superior and imposes it on his culture. The implication according to him, is “culture conflict and anarchy.”
The writer also argued that the negative effects of multiculturalism and ethnocentrism is reflected in the westernization of the system of governance, as well as other aspects of the culture of Akure people. This multiculturalism in this context can be traced to the colonial era, in which case, the culture of the British was allowed to penetrate into the culture of most places in Nigeria, especially the South West.
Quoting some Authors, Adesuyi stated that the aforementioned scenario has resulted in the downgrading of the traditional rulers, their authority and influence.
The writer also linked the origin of the introduction of an alien culture in Akure land to the emergence of Oba Afunbiowo (I) where the King had to borrow money to offset the debts incurred during the course of lobbying for the traditional stool. His decision to support the British rule in return for the money spent, debt incurred and even more, led to the ceding of the kingdom to the British colony and by extension, the introduction of alien culture.
The writer highlighted the controversies trailing ascendency to the throne of the Deji since the admittance of adin alaadin (alien culture), although, he raised fundamental questions as to the ethic or moral standard of the traditional rites. By the way, Deji is the title used for the King of Akure.
For instance, some kings were said to have declined to perform some rites as demanded by tradition while in some other cases, Ifa, the diety concerned wasn’t consulted. Meanwhile, it would be understood that traditionally (and in the past), Ifa dictated who would be the King and the positive (or otherwise) effect of the ascendency of such candidate(s) in relation to the development of the town. This, therefore, poses some questions as to whether it is the abdication of this traditional process that have led to some unpleasant occurrences that plagued the town, especially the ruling houses, in the recent past.
The writer argued that there have been politization and the ‘exertion’ of undue influence in the selection process.
Emphasis was laid on voting and election as opposed to nature, or the natural way of selecting the Kings. Voting-cum-election are seen by the writer as alien to the ‘known’ traditional process of selecting kings as reflected by history.
Although, according to him, Ifa may not be “immune” to error; but that the controversies generated by the selection of Deji would have been settled by the traditional method, using what the writer described as objective consultation which may be accepted by all as trustworthy since it is known to be the historically preferred/valid method. The traditional method is thus preferred because, it is seen to be fair, objective and trustworthy as opposed to the electoral process common to Nigeria terrain in which free, fair and objective elections can be best described as a mirage.
Adesuyi allayed fears that the people might be shortchanged through elections due to the fact that only “sixteen electoral colleges” (that is, the sixteen kingmakers who are highly placed Chiefs) may not be sufficient to represent all the compounds in the town and by extension the voice/interest of the community.
This argument was further buttressed by an insight into the belief of some people in Ifa oracle such that they believe “its voice is the voice of the people,” as such, setting it aside according to him, may spell doom.
Adesuyi concluded by making a case for the need to identify and embrace one’s cultural identity. He warned that other aspects of culture may be at the risk of extinction if the appropriate adin (culture) of Akure, especially in the process of the selection of the Deji is not embraced.
According to him, in order to avert the controversies, complications and catastrophe associated with the electoral process, the known traditional method which is by all means peaceful, should be explored.

NIGERIA IS STILL IN DARKNESS (II)
BY: PETER, Ekemini
Email: ekeminicephas1@outlook.ccom

Favouritism and tribalism is another problem of Nigeria. I am aware that Nigeria lacks a common goal and identity. I learnt that tribalism and favouritism is one of the causes in the light of such lecture.
In order not to favour some people and render this paper too sentimental, let me declare my views as regards some uniform officers. Our security personnel, as the name implies, are supposed to protect our right and existence as long as we remain loyal and patriotic. It is on the contrary that some of our uniform officers operate. I am aware that by the virtue of their work, a uniform officer should be given some level of benefit and preferential treatment. He may need to attend to an emergency in the next moment. But it is not right for a uniform officer to take undue advantage of the people by collecting the ATM cards meant for certain individual(s) and go straight to withdraw money for them without taking permission from the people on the queue. Some of them do it to be rewarded by their employers. Such action cause murmur in a place where such an officer was deployed to constitute and maintain peace. Sometimes the persons they work for are not even the pregnant women or aged that are permitted in such cases. I do know that some cases would demand a mass arrest by the police without requiring detention but to extract information that can lead to the arrest of a culprit. But I do not understand why some selfish officers would go contrary to what is expected of them. Some police officers would go against the command of a superior officer while on a mission to arrest. They will immediately beat up the suspect who may be innocent without carrying out any investigation. It is very common to see three to about five well-armed police officers going to arrest an unarmed civilian who only fought with a neighbor without shedding blood or causing severe injury. I am aware it is not so in developed countries. Those countries are the ones actually on track, we are still miles away.
What about our Doctors and Nurses and their negligence of duty. They will leave some patients to struggle and die in their pains in the name of “buy card and register first…you have to pay your deposit first”. They do that too in some Government hospitals. I know they want to ensure effective generation of fund. But what should be our priority in the case of life and death? Is it money? (Private hospitals may be exempted in that question). Can our government not make provisions for such cases in all government hospitals at least?
We have been in this darkness for far too long. Now is the time to wake up. We have been dreaming for years before now. Let us wake up. Otherwise it will be just like the much emphasized Vision 2020 which is now witnessing little or no attention. Our government should play her role well in development of appropriate systems for the nation’s building. Good monitoring team should be set up. Members of such team should ensure honesty, faithfulness and diligence in executing their duties. Respective leaders should refrain from greed and ensure they deliver their duty without selfish interest. Let us not concentrate on criticizing the leaders and the police with the understanding that we have failed as a group; a country. And that the police and politicians are seen to be very corrupt because there are closer and more open to us. We hardly speak against senior civil servants because they do their evil with just pen and paper inside their offices. Let us stand to the fact that we owe our country duties and obligations and we must do them. Let every citizen have a change and renewed mind and things will be better. Nigeria, our country will only continue to remain in darkness if the youths continue to say “I am just waiting for an opportunity to be there, I shall make money. Corruption won’t end in my time”. If corrupt minds are not renewed, things will not work normal since a corrupt mind breeds a corrupt leader. A corrupt mind produces a corrupt lecturer. Corrupt minds brings about corrupt masses. A corrupt youth will be a corrupt leader.

I do welcome corrections and critics but in polite, friendly and educative manner.
#IamMcCoyMcPeter.
© April 17

NIGERIA IS STILL IN DARKNESS (I)
BY: PETER, Ekemini
Email: ekeminicephas1@outlook.com
The earlier we realize that we are not actually progressing in the manner and direction that we ought to, the better for us and generations to come. We are in a country where almost nothing seems to go in the right direction and yet we close our eyes, silence our consciences and claim that we are on our way to the promise land: a land where unemployment will be reduced to minimum, a land where the problem of power failure will be reduced or completely eradicated, a land where our parents, brothers and sisters will be diligent and committed in executing duties in their places of work (especially government establishments), a land where our youths will shun violence and the so called leaders would refrain from sponsoring them, and so on. I am talking about the Nigeria we see in vision. It is high time we stopped looking for who is wrong outside our immediate environment, organizations and team and see things in a different way. We should start by accessing ourselves, parents, brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, friends and relatives. Whether (or not) these crime and errors can be attributed to someone is not my concern in this paper and better still can be deliberated upon by someone who cares to make his feelings known, as I am not willing to join in the blame game.
Exploitation we know was the major cause of agitation for Nigeria’s independence in the late fifties and early sixties. An achievement some define as a premature and an untimely harvest (without source). Our fathers as at then shouted “we want to be free and control our own things…The exploitation is too much…Stop keeping us in the dark”. But the question is: has the exploitation they fought against been eradicated? I say NO with my reasons. Some of our leaders left the period of darkness and slavery with some sediments, traits and traces of darkness. They could not for some selfish reasons and interest leave everything that has to do with exploitation. They could not shun greediness, desperation for wealth and the likes. These characters were passed on to their children, friends and relatives who circulated them. The evidence is what we are seeing today. When allocations are made for specific purposes, our corrupt leaders embezzle the fund. Each one of them (the corrupt ones) takes a portion until little or nothing is left. This is the reason why most infrastructures set up by government are never used just a day after commissioning. Why would contracts not be awarded to people who cannot carry out their duty when some members of committee that has to do with infrastructural development and project supervision has a share in the “proceeds” from the contract.
Our education system is another problem we must solve. The standard associated with learning is dying daily and yearly, even on occasions when we say we are developing it. Some of the corrupt senior staff of our universities, polytechnics, colleges, secondary and primary schools will not want the government’s effort to yield any or better results. In my secondary school, I never knew that WAEC scratch card was free for every candidate until 2011 and 2012. Candidates were given scratch cards alongside their examination numbers. Why will I continue to pay for the facilities meant for a particular level even after I have left the stated level? In certain instances, they say it is for maintenance but yet the place is filled with furniture devoid of routine maintenance. Some of these facilities are even very old. What about the ones you pay for and are not provided or installed the way it ought to be? One will pay for a facility which will only be provided at a time they know majority of the students will not be able to enjoy it. It is now very common to hear “we will not go deeply into that area of the topic, you will be taught in the university” in secondary schools. And in the university you are told “we will not deal much on that, you learnt that in secondary school”. Sometimes you are lucky to have actually learnt it in secondary, sometimes not. We believe these topics were in our secondary school curriculum, but do some schools have the necessary facility and required skilled-manpower to teach their students as required? In addition, some students and pupils belonging to some schools that are blessed with good and sound teachers will not want to study. A lot of us (students) waste our precious time on meaningless and harmful things (I do not want to count them) and forget about our aim of being in school. As a result, indulging in “sorting” of lecturers and bribing lecturer’s assistant to pass examinations in common. Some of us intentionally waste our study time and wait for examination time with the mentality of “it is just to cram and pass”. It is true that you will graduate but how will you solve problems? How sure are you that you can solve one out of a million problem? I know you will point to a lecturer in your school that does not (want to) teach when he should until periods close to examination. Nigerians, let us not deceive ourselves, we will continue to produce half-baked graduate if we do not access ourselves and ‘debug’ (permit me to use it) the errors. We must change our life style, behaviour, mentality and mindset towards things.
Another thing I do not understand is the grounds on which the political appointments given to our politicians are based. Is it based on expertise in the individual’s carrier? Is it based on acquired skill? Is it based on experience to be acquired? Maybe it is based on just compensation and recommendation. I wonder why the position of the Minister of power should be given to someone who studied neither power and machine nor Electrical/Electronic Engineering. Do Nigerians not excel in the field of transport management technology? Let us say we do not want to use just graduates, Doctors and Engineers. Do we not have Professors? I am sure that our present Minister of Works did not study engineering. In this respect, what has the Nigerian Society of Engineers done? I am yet to find out. If you feel you are clever, try NBA and NMA.
How about our economy? Do you realize that inflation rate in our country normally grows geometrically? If you do, who is to be blamed? Is it the government or private sector? To me, it is the private sector. Some individuals who in their spare time criticizes government and leaders, police and fake religious leaders will be waiting to take advantage of inflation in order to increase the price of a commodity. You will discover that handkerchief within a period of two days will be sold at N70 from N50. Those who have fuel stations can sell a liter of petrol at N150 from N120 within 24hours or less. Even at a time like this when there are lot of enlightenment messages preached almost everywhere, some of us do not want to shun the act of vandalism. Some citizens are still stealing armoured cables from electrical power substations and transformer unit.

NOBODY IS A SAINT
BY: ORIMOLOYE, Ifeoluwa

Lamurin recently arrived from a sojourn which was spent snooping about. He had crossed an ocean, two seas and three rivers all in a bid to return back home. The travelling difficulties notwithstanding, home is home, not even when it all seemed like the odds were against him and indications were high that he had overstayed his welcome at the ‘temporary site’, which is his abode where he had initially decided to settle in pursuit of a greener pasture. Yet, he is appreciative, for, he returned with goods, the ones the Yoruba will ‘prefer to refer’ to as dukia. Although, he had held onto death by the mouth (and not by the whiskers) by escaping through a safe route at the time when his fellow countrymen were targeted for allegedly taking the jobs and other source of earnings meant for the Citizens of the foreign land. He was in fact one of the major targets because he is known to be a snooper, and had stepped on toes in the process of snooping on other people’s affair.

Hardly had he settled before he was informed about the purported ‘media death’ of the President of his Country, who is presumed dead by the citizens of the country with the presidency trying unsuccessfully to refute the claims. According to his source, the Presidency has only failed this once to deceive the people because the masses are now wise, “very wise!” his source had emphasized.

He was as well taken aback by the news that the Governor of his state who was due to handover in a matter of days, suddenly launched a desperate wide-goose chase for the Accountant General of the state who was said to have disappeared into thin air all for his safety. This was said to have occurred after he was asked to help in facilitating the looting of the remaining commonwealth of the state so that the outgoing-governor could have a soft financial-landing.

“A lot has happened since you left this state,” another source added, welcoming him heartily. This source not only hinted him about the events happening in his alma mater but also the series of maladministration confronting the indigenous students’ association he has helped build over the years.

According to this source, the Vice Chancellor of Lamurin’s alma mater was arraigned by enforcement agents for 9-count charge bordering on financial crimes and abuse of office. Yet, he has refused to tow the path of honour by acting exactly the way his global contemporaries would have done. At that, he has chosen to continue to govern the school without applying what is regarded to be the extant rule, which is the standard rule guiding the school. But because the extant rules applies to other individuals except him, the source then concluded by saying that the Vice Chancellor seem to be greater than the law.

Lamurin was also confronted with the news that the indigenous students’ association he helped build is in shambles. He was told that while the President of the Country, in his absence, delegated powers to the deputy to act on his behalf, the President of the indigenous students’ association differed by taking with him to a journey, the acting capacity as well as the full capacity and has left the association with what could be best referred to as leadership deficit. This source also stated that the song that best suits the association at the moment is “it is well with my soul…the soul of the association.” The source also indicated that the burial ceremony being organized in honour of the indigenous students’ association was borne out of the injuries inflicted on the association by some previous (executive) administrations.

As if these unfortunate reports were not enough, he had returned to his shell only to receive the shocker of his life the following day. His parents swindled him if he is to go by the information at his disposal. The money he has been sending to his parents since his sojourn abroad for the purpose of constructing his desired apartment has only earned him signed pieces of paper and pictures -the ones he was sent while he was away in pursuit of greener pastures. His parents had only built an apartment for him perhaps in his imaginations. The apartment he had hoped to see only exists in the picture, not in the “real” life. In fury, he ‘escaped’ back to the killers’ zone because according to him, back home, it seems to him that “nobody is a saint” afterall.

A poem which centers on a young man’s quest for a desirous partner, and the travails that ensued during the adventure. It is the young man’s expression of what should be described as a bliss…

Just after the cloud in my eyes was about to give way,
After receiving from my heart the deepest lamentations,
Located in the discreet part of my soul,
For what gives one a heartache,
Than giving Kilimanjaro a trial of faith,
And still wishing for its stagnancy,
For what you see after Kilimanjaro moves is trembling,
Then you shall pause and ask,
What shall it profit my whole self?

I had wanted Kilimanjaro to make its move,
And cover the whole distance to my room,
Either to return to me the crown on its helms,
Or describe to me the road of no return,
For the reward for spending my faith is supposed to be you,
At that, send me, send me, my soul yearns,
Without me getting a control of myself,
Then I paused to ask myself,
What shall it profit me?

For what shall it profit me,
When high up Kilimanjaro you, the crown stood,
Shining, reminding me of a lost rib,
Myself empty, with my soul vanished,
Your position was where I doth sent my soul,
But now that you, my crown is salvaged,
I hope my exploratory will be considered,
Else, my soul shall scream to its feathers,
What has profited you?

Composed by: ORIMOLOYE, Ifeoluwa
On the 29th day of April, 2015.

A poem that is meant to represent a letter, to that special someone who might deem it fit that this message is meant for her...receive it!

Arabirin, each time your figure, becomes my guest,
My heart covers a lot of paces at a stance,
Distance only trance could measure,
I hope it doesn't become a heart-ful matter,
Arabirin, I would rather assume that I ate the éfò,
The trap-ful vegetable of the elders.

Only those with the inner sight could see, Arabirin,
The rate at which your skin emits radiation,
Dark, shiny radiation escaping into my redness,
Leaving patches of emotions,
My immunity must have failed, could it be that éfò
That trap-ful vegetable of the elders.

Arabirin, damn whatever happens after this, I don't care,
'Cos I would rather die for love than commit suicide,
If we cannot become one,
Then you can never become somebody else's half,
What's wrong with me, could it be that éfò
Oh! shame on that trap-ful vegetable of the elders.

COMPOSED BY;
ORIMOLOYE, IFEOLUWA