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Politics / Re: Dear Gov Seyi Makinde By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 9:49pm On Sep 16
flokii:
It's the invaders of South West that are making local government officials enforce discipline.. the fines will keep going up till people voluntarily relocate to their regions.

Another opinion
Politics / Re: Dear Gov Seyi Makinde By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 9:11pm On Sep 16
Factcheck0001:
Dem just chop u mugu aswaerdown

Dem dey best Dem steady for my side for here, Dem dey always carry keke napep around

D most annoying thing is that micra will park on that same spot they won't arrest him cos shishi e no go drop but once they see private car Dem go happy


Precisely
Politics / Re: Dear Gov Seyi Makinde By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 8:09pm On Sep 16
Postscript

The author's wife has now has reminded him of the name of the man: ADERIBIGBE JOSHUA. A staff of Akinyele LGA, Moniya, Ibadan, along with his boss, robbed him of 15k today.
Politics / Re: Dear Gov Seyi Makinde By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 6:48pm On Sep 16
Oluyole74:
I was once with this agency as traffic officer in that akinyele LG, before your vehicle might have been impounded as traffic offender, you must have parked along the highway without putting on emergency light, open your bonnet indicating that the vehicle is faulty,or put on c caution signs,there is no ignorance in law.thanks

The author parked very well. There was no "no parking" sign anywhere. Thus is not how to run a country!
Politics / Re: Dear Gov Seyi Makinde By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 6:07pm On Sep 16
dawnomike:
Well, I commend you gentle-manism... As for me, that local govt official that will get me to his office will try!!!
I will give him the official lesson of his life....
All the same, sorry about your experience... We can only hope for the best in all sectors in this country.

All that's left is for these people to pull up a gun and shoot you... they are plain heartless.

Thanks
Politics / Dear Gov Seyi Makinde By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 5:51pm On Sep 16
Dear Gov' Seyi Makinde: Rein in Your Local Government People

Let me begin my appeal with a veiled threat: the next time, dear Governor, any of your officials get into my car in the name of traffic infraction, I'll drive the **** to Ilorin, and I'll ensure I drop him off on the expressway. He will find his way back to Ibadan on foot. Your people call it "abduction"; I call it "extortion". And now, I'll begin my story.

My family and I had an assignment to do on the outskirt of Ibadan. I purposely left it till today because of the public holiday. At about 10:30 am, we drove through the Ojoo roundabout. I suddenly remembered that there was another route to our destination. I did a scan of the area, so I could park and check Google map for directions. Thr general park was closed down. There were "no parking" sign board on one side of the "Terminal" complex - the major garage serving that side of town. I noticed the other side had no "no parking" sign. Many vehicles, particularly commercial ones, were parked there. I assumed I could also park too and I did.

In less than five minutes parking there, one local government official appeared at my side window. He announced that car had been clamped. When I demanded an ID, he said he was one "ADERIBIGBE JOSHUA" - I cannot remember his other names. He explained I am required to drive to the local government office at Moniya. That they will only take down my name and that as first offender, I'll be permitted to leave. I knew he was lying but I gave him a chance.

We drove to Akinyeley LGA. I met with another senior official who explained to me that I had committed a serious infraction. That I am liable to pay N78,000.00 and that for each night my car spends at the local government, I'll pay N5,000. I pleaded with him. He then comuted my fine to N18,500. After much pleading, he demanded I pay N15,500. One of his men followed me to an ATM where I withdrew the money and gave him - cash. Unreceipted. But before I gave him, I told Joshua that he and his people were robbing me.

Dear Governor, I know people in your office who I could call and I'll be left off the hook. But I gave them that money - poisoned money - to make this case public.

One should commend you, sir, for your good work. But I dare say that most of the people in your local government are not fit to serve even animals, talkless the civil populace. They are theives. And this will not be the first time they will be extortng people. I parked my car in a public space, off the road, with no sign indicating not to park there, yet I am fined. I pay a fine with no receipt, etc. It is time you rein in your local government people. The next time any of them get in my car, I'll ensure I drive them away and when we meet in court, I'll counter their case for abduction with my case for extortion.

Oyo State can be a Dubai or any city in the West. But how do you achieve this with the kind of individuals you put on your streets?

Written by Deji Yesufu - a resident of Oyo State.

Career / Re: Dear BOLT Driver By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 8:27pm On Sep 12
Politics / Re: Obafemi Awolowo's Twenty Pounds To Biafra by Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 5:23pm On Sep 10
gidgiddy:

That is because you are a very poor student of history talking nonsense. Before Ojukwu declared Biafra, he was given the mandate to do so by the Eastern Nigeria consultative forum, the body that represented the 20 provinces that that made up the Eastern Region, and they voted on it first.
Ojukwu's younger brother, Tom Bigger, died in the war
Lastly, Ojukwu did not start any war, if anything, he tried to prevent war by going to Aburi, Ghana, to sign an agreement with Gowon that would prevent war

Guess who broke the agreement?

Poor student of Nigeria's history usually like to talk nonsense

Well...
Politics / Re: Obafemi Awolowo's Twenty Pounds To Biafra by Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 2:53pm On Sep 10
Sonyboom765:
You know I wish there is a public discuss on this issue so that the foolishness you Igbo proud in can be deflated forever.
Is there any Igbo that owned a bank account and could prove the amount in his or her bank account but was denied ?
I know passbook were used back then, so tell us or give me a single prove that any Igbo had his or her passbook with a balance closer that 20€ but got only €20 ?!

This is the reason Seun never places any "Biafran" thread on front page... you people continue to bite and tear at one another.
Politics / Re: Obafemi Awolowo's Twenty Pounds To Biafra by Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 12:28pm On Sep 10
Jayhome24:


Hahahaha another ozuor ewu on the beat. Ewu who belief all Igbo must be idiot, no sense, abusive, mockers, arsonist etc. Ozuor ewu who belief every character deficiency must be trace to igbo people. Ewu who believe every igbo must submit to lie without thinking or critically analysing the situation before blaming others.

I only send a message I mean a clear message go and ask your parent to tell us among the 3million innocent Igbo that died during the war does any Ojukwu family among?

Go and ask you parent who and who did Ojukwu consulted and he was given the nod to go into war that killed 3million innocent souls.

Go and ask your parent what and why did Ojukwu suddenly turned back from going to the North which is the initial agreement with Awo and started attacking Ondo State up to Ore with his mission heading to Lagos to take over Yorubaland, is Yorubaland the North?

Go home and use your senses and stop been emotionally stupid. This was how Kanu came ordering idiots like you to be burning down everything and attacking non Igbos and idiot like you jumped straight to the street and did his order without even thinking twice. Same thing Ekpa is doing by sitting our people a s s down home by force on every Monday yet idiot like you praises him. Same the bastard called Obi-diot came and silent every politician in SE till date that no single Igbo politician dare mention he wish to contest for president, he successfully cowed the entire region into submission yet idiot like you still following him like a donkey.

Use your head. One head can not always bullies entire region into submission under his feet. Get lost bruv....

You can make your point with raining invectives
Politics / Re: Obafemi Awolowo's Twenty Pounds To Biafra by Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 6:00am On Sep 10
Nexus25:
Awo speaks - an excerpt from a town hall interview in Abeokuta in 1983.

CIVIL WAR

Question: Chief Awolowo, …Your stand on the civil war, however unpopular it might have been to the Biafrans or Ibo people, helped to shorten the war. Today, you’re being castigated as the sole enemy of the Ibo people because of that stand, by among others, some of the people who as members of the Federal Military Government at that time, were party to that decision and are today, in some cases, inheritors of power in one Nigeria which that decision of yours helped to save. How do you feel being painted in this role, and what steps are you taking to endear yourself once again to that large chunk of Nigerians who feel embittered?

Awolowo: As far as I know, the Ibo masses are friendly to me, towards me. In fact, whenever I visit Iboland, either Anambra or Imo, and there’s no campaigning for elections on, the Ibo people receive me warmly and affectionately. But there are some elements in Iboland who believe that they can maintain their popularity only by denigrating me, and so they keep on telling lies against me. Ojukwu is one of them. I don’t want to mention the names of the others because they are still redeemable, but ….Ojukwu is irredeemable, so I mention his name, and my attitude to these lies is one of indifference, I must confess to you.

I’ve learnt to rely completely on the providence and vindication of Almighty God in some of these things. I’ve tried to explain myself in the past, but these liars persist. Ojukwu had only recently told the same lie against me. What’s the point in correcting lies when people are determined to persist in telling lies against you, what’s the point?. I know that someday the Ibos, the masses of the Ibo people will realize who their friends are, and who their real enemies are. And the day that happens woe betide those enemies. The Ibos will deal with them very roughly, very roughly.

That has happened in my life. I have a nickname now, if you see my letterhead you’ll find something on top, you’ll find a fish done on the letterhead. Some people put Lion on theirs, some people put Tiger, but mine is Fish. And Fish represents my zodiac sign, those of you who read the stars and so on in the newspapers; you’ll find out that there’s a zodiac sign known as Pisces, in Latin Pisces means Fish.

So I put Pisces on top, that’s my zodiac sign being born on the 6th of March,….er well, the year doesn’t matter, it’s the day that matters. And then on top of it I wrote Eebudola. All of you know the meaning of that. You know I don’t want to tell a long story but………………Awolowo school, omo Awolowo, the school…… started in Urhoboland, in the Mid-west in those days. They were ridiculing my schools, I was building schools – brick and cement, to dpc level, block to dpc level and mud thereafter. And so the big shots in the place..”ah what kind of school is this? is this Awolowo school? Useless school” and when they saw the children..”ah these Awolowo children, they can’t read and write, Awolowo children” that’s how it started, with ridicule, and it became a blessing, and now they say “Awolowo children, they are good people” no more ridicule about it, that’s how it started, so the 'Eebu' has become honor, the abuse became honor.

And so when I look back to all my life, treasonable felony, jail, all the abuses that were heaped on me, to Coker Inquiry, all sorts, and I see what has happened to the people who led, who led all these denigration campaign, where are they today? Those that are alive are what I call 'Homo Mortuus' - dead living, 'oku eniyan', that’s what they are, those that their lives have gone.

So when I look back, I come to the conclusion that all these abuses which have been heaped on me all my life for doing nothing, for doing good, they have become honor, and so 'Eebudola' is one of my nicknames. So I’ve cultivated an attitude of indifference, I’ve done no evil to the Ibos.

During the war I saw to it that the revenue which was due to Iboland - South Eastern states they call it, at that time..East Central State, I kept it, I saved the money for them. And when they ….were librated I handed over the money to them - millions of pounds. If I’d decided to do so, I could have kept the money away from them and then when they took over I saw to it that subvention was given to them at the rate of 990,000 pounds every month. I didn’t go to the Executive Council to ask for support, or for approval because I knew if I went to the Executive Council at that time, the subvention would not be approved because there were more enemies in the Executive Council for the Ibos than friends. And since I wasn’t going to take a percentage from what I was going to give them, and I knew I was doing what was right, I wanted the state to survive, I kept on giving the subvention – 990,000 pounds almost a million, every month, and I did that for other states of course - South Eastern State, North Central State, Kwara and so on.

But I did that for the Ibos, and when the war was over, I saw to it that the ACB got three and a half million pounds (£3,500,000.00) to start with. This was distributed immediately and I gave another sum of money. The attitude of the experts, officials at the time of the ACB was that ACB should be closed down, and I held the view: you couldn’t close the ACB down because that is the bank that gives finance to Ibo traders, and if you close it down they’ll find it difficult to survive. So it was given. I did the same thing for the Cooperative Bank of Eastern Nigeria, to rehabilitate all these places, and I saw to it as Federal Commissioner for Finance that no obstacle was placed in the way of the Ministry of Economic Planning in planning for rehabilitation of the war affected areas.

TWENTY POUNDS POLICY

That’s what I did, and the case of the money they said was not given back to them, you know during the war all the pounds were looted, they printed Biafran currency notes, which they circulated, at the close of the war some people wanted their Biafran notes to be exchanged for them. Of course I couldn’t do that, if I did that the whole country would be bankrupt. We didn’t know about Biafran notes and we didn’t know on what basis they have printed them, so we refused the Biafran note, but I laid down the principle that all those who had savings in the banks on the eve of the declaration of the Biafran war or Biafra, will get their money back if they could satisfy us that they had the savings there, or the money there. Unfortunately, all the banks’ books had been burnt, and many of the people who had savings there didn’t have their savings books or their last statement of account, so a panel had to be set up.

I didn’t take part in setting up the panel, it was done by the Central Bank and the pertinent officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance, to look into the matter, and they went carefully into the matter, they took some months to do so, and then made some recommendation which I approved. Go to the archives, all I did was approved, I didn’t write anything more than that, I don’t even remember the name of any of them who took part. So I did everything in this world to assist our Ibo brothers and sisters during and after the war.

And anyone who goes back to look at my broadcast in August 1967, which dealt with post-war reconstruction would see what I said there.

STARVATION POLICY

Then, but above all, the ending of the war itself that I’m accused of, accused of starving the Ibos, I did nothing of the sort. You know, shortly after the liberation of these places, Calabar, Enugu and Port Harcort, I decided to pay a visit. There are certain things which I knew which you don’t know, which I don’t want to say here now, when I write my reminisces in the future I will do so. Some of the soldiers were not truthful with us, they didn’t tell us correct stories and so on.

I wanted to be there and see things for myself, bear in mind that Gowon himself did not go there at that time, it was after the war was over that he dorn himself up in various military dresses - Air force dress, Army dress and so on, and went to the war torn areas. But I went and some people tried to frighten me out of my goal by saying that Adekunle was my enemy and he was going to see to it that I never returned from the place. But I went.

But when I went what did I see? I saw the kwashiorkor victims. If you see a kwashiorkor victim you’ll never like war to be waged. Terrible sight, in Enugu, in Port Harcourt, not many in Calabar, but mainly in Enugu and Port Harcourt. Then I enquired what happened to the food we were sending to the civilians. We were sending food through the Red cross, and CARITAS to them, but what happened was that the vehicles carrying the food were always ambushed by the soldiers. That’s what I discovered, and the food would then be taken to the soldiers to feed them, and so they were able to continue to fight. And I said that was a very dangerous policy, we didn’t intend the food for soldiers. But who will go behind the line to stop the soldiers from ambushing the vehicles that were carrying the food? And as long as soldiers were fed, the war will continue, and who’ll continue to suffer? and those who didn’t go to the place to see things as I did, you remember that all the big guns, all the soldiers in the Biafran army looked all well fed after the war, its only the mass of the people that suffered kwashiorkor.

You won't hear of a single lawyer, a single doctor, a single architect, who suffered from kwashiorkor? None of their children either, so they waylaid the foods, they ambushed the vehicles and took the foods to their friends and to their collaborators and to their children and the masses were suffering. So I decided to stop sending the food there. In the process, the civilians would suffer, but the soldiers will suffer most.

CHANGE OF CURRENCY

And it is on record that Ojukwu admitted that two things defeated him in this war, that’s as at the day he left Biafra. He said one, the change of currency, he said that was the first thing that defeated him, and we did that to prevent Ojukwu taking the money which his soldiers had stolen from our Central Bank for sale abroad to buy arms. We discovered he looted our Central Bank in Benin, he looted the one in Port Harcourt, looted the one in Calabar and he was taking the currency notes abroad to sell to earn foreign exchange to buy arms.

So I decided to change the currency, and for your benefit, it can now be told the whole world, only Gowon knew the day before, the day before the change took place. I decided, only three of us knew before then- Isong now Governor of Cross River, Attah and myself. It was a closely guarded secret, if any Commissioner at the time says that he knew about it, he’s only boosting his own ego. Because once you tell someone, he’ll tell another person. So we refused to tell them and we changed the currency notes. So Ojukwu said the change in currency defeated him, and starvation of his soldiers also defeated him.

These were the two things that defeated Ojukwu. And, he reminds me, when you saw Ojukwu’s picture after the war, did he look like someone who wasn't well fed? But he had been taking the food which we sent to civilians, and so we stopped the food.

ABANDONED PROPERTY

And then finally, I saw to it that the houses owned by the Ibos in Lagos and on this side, were kept for them. I had an estate agent friend who told me that one of them collected half a million pounds rent which has been kept for him. All his rent were collected, but since we didn’t seize their houses, he came back and collected half a million pounds.

So that is the position. I’m a friend of the Ibos and the mass of the Ibos are my friends, but there are certain elements who want to continue to deceive the Ibos by telling lies against me, and one day, they’ll discover and then that day will be terrible for those who have been telling the lies.

Cc: Mynd44, lalasticlala


https://ng.opera.news/ng/en//5b5cc54460a555715d287c66c83620a6

Politics / Re: Obafemi Awolowo's Twenty Pounds To Biafra by Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 5:33am On Sep 10
Awolowo on the Twenty Pounds Policy:

This is a continuation of the excerpts/minutes from a Chief Obafemi Awolowo interview on my previous thread.

TWENTY POUNDS POLICY

"That’s what I did, and the case of the money they said was not given back to them, you know during the war all the pounds were looted, they printed Biafran currency notes, which they circulated, at the close of the war some people wanted their Biafran notes to be exchanged for them.
Of course I couldn’t do that, if I did that the whole country would be bankrupt.
We didn’t know about Biafran notes and we didn’t know on what basis they have printed them, so we refused the Biafran note, but I laid down the principle that all those who had savings in the banks on the eve of the declaration of the Biafran war or Biafra, will get their money back if they could satisfy us that they had the savings there, or the money there.
Unfortunately, all the banks’s books had been burnt, and many of the people who had savings there didn’t have their saving books or their last statement of account, so a panel had to be set up.

I didn’t take part in setting up the panel, it was done by the Central bank and the pertinent officials of the ministry of finance, to look into the matter, and they went carefully into the matter, they took some months to do so, and then make some recommendation which I approved. Go to the archives, all I did was approve, I didn’t write anything more than that, I don’t even remember the name of any of them who took part. So I did everything in this world to assist our Ibo brothers and sisters during and after the war.

And anyone who goes back to look at my broadcast in August 1967, which dealt with post-war reconstruction would see what I said there"

https://www.nairaland.com/6617192/obafemi-awolowo-interview-twenty-pounds

The complete interview:

https://www.nairaland.com/6522560/awolowo-speaks-twenty-pounds-policy
Politics / Re: Obafemi Awolowo's Twenty Pounds To Biafra by Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 5:29am On Sep 10
Orangedreams:



I am a typical Igbo man. I cannot agree less with this piece. Thank you an exceptional Yoruba man who puts forward points as they ought to be.

The point where you said God has restored their looses, I agree with you. But do you know why Igbos have remained angry till date? Imagine Amaka being arrested while Oba of Lagos and MC oluomo are walking the streets free. I rest my case.

Thank you 😊
Politics / Re: Obafemi Awolowo's Twenty Pounds To Biafra by Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 8:26pm On Sep 09
Naira20:
Unfortunately, the writer didn't read the book well or is trying to be clever by half.
20pounds wasn't given to every adult male- it was given to those who could prove they had bank accounts with monies in it.

Awolowo can't justify what he did.

Anyone with an objective mind knows Awolowo was part of the foundation of Nigeria's problems.

This is not 1980 when people don't research. Don't insult people's intelligence


Well said
Politics / Re: Obafemi Awolowo's Twenty Pounds To Biafra by Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 6:32pm On Sep 09
Sirmwill:
This is total rubbish...

Understandably...
Politics / Re: Obafemi Awolowo's Twenty Pounds To Biafra by Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 6:13pm On Sep 09
immortalcrown:
Hmmm!

It is worth a thought...
Politics / Obafemi Awolowo's Twenty Pounds To Biafra by Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 6:02pm On Sep 09
Obafemi Awolowo’s Twenty Pounds to Biafra

By: Deji Yesufu

A few weeks ago, a Canadian-Nigerian woman, by the name of Amaka Sonnberger, a 46-year-old lady, was seen on social media inciting people of Igbo extraction against Yoruba and Benin people. Amaka made the point that anywhere Igbo people see these people in Canada, they should ensure that their food and drinks are poisoned. The video took on a life of its own and eventually, the Nigerian government brought the matter to the Canadian authorities. What might have occasioned this latest brouhaha between people of different ethnic groups in Nigeria? It is the Nigerian civil war. This war ended in January 1970, yet the pain it triggered, like any other crisis in other parts of the world, is yet to subside. The Igbo nation feels she was betrayed by no other than Chief Obafemi Awolowo – a Yoruba man. Awo had made the statement in 1966 that if by any chance the Igbo nation is allowed to secede from Nigeria, the Yoruba nation will also leave the union. Unfortunately, on May 30, 1967, Col. Ojukwu led the Igbo nation out of Nigeria. Rather than keeping his promise, Awo joined the government of Nigeria and fought a bloody war to keep Nigeria one.

When Awolowo returned to the Igbo people in 1978/79 asking for their votes to be President of Nigeria in the second republic, the Igbo people said he betrayed them. Awolowo told them that what happened was not betrayal but an unfortunate misapprehension of basic English. Awolowo explained that the Igbo nation seceded from Nigeria but that she was never permitted to go by the Nigerian nation. His statement remains sacrosanct today: if the Igbo nation had been allowed to go by Nigeria, by all means, the Yoruba nation would have gone too. The mere fact that Nigeria went to war with Biafra is a clear statement of the fact that the Igbos were never permitted to leave. They left of their own volition and Nigeria fought a war to keep them in the union – like many other countries have done in the past and present to preserve their nation’s unity. When that debate was settled, the Igbo people roused the sentiment that Obafemi Awolowo gave each Igbo male twenty pounds following the war. They say “What exactly does Nigeria expect that we do with twenty pounds?” Awolowo was the minister of Finance under the Yakubu Gowon government, the government that prosecuted the war, and he was certainly one of the brains behind the twenty pounds sum. How did Awolowo come about giving each adult Biafran twenty pounds as part of the rebuilding process for the war? Well, while reading HID Awolowo’s biography, “In the Radiance of the Sage”, written by Wale Adebanwi, I found the answer.

Obafemi Awolowo grew up from a very humble background. His father was quite successful but the man died when Awo, his first child, was just nine years old. The custom in those days was that the wife would be married off to the man’s siblings and he would care for the late brother’s children and wife – while owning all his properties. Unfortunately, as it turns out in many cases, these men would prefer to own the properties but they leave the wife and children to care for themselves. The only thing that propelled the young Awo was remembering his father’s often-made remark that he wanted his first son to be educated. So Awolowo did all kinds of menial jobs to get himself to school. The impetus behind the free education he brought to the Western Region years later came from his own experience: perhaps if he had had someone pay his fees, he would have enjoyed school more. Awolowo spent about five years in elementary school and only one year in secondary school. Every other learning the great sage acquired was self-taught. In the early 1940s, it became clear to Awolowo that if he was going to attain his calling of becoming a politician, he would have to get a law degree.

In those days, you could only study law in England. Awo was married at this time, and he had three children. He did not believe that his wife should work and he made his position known to Hannah (HID), his wife. Like a dutiful wife, the dear woman obeyed her husband. HID was the only child of her mother – who herself was the only child of her mother. These three great women had entrepreneurship running in their blood. HID had been raised by her mother to do business. Yet, when she married Awo, the man would not allow his wife to work. However, things changed in the days to come. Awolowo passed his entrance examinations to study law overseas. He then took his now heavily pregnant wife to the bank one faithful day in 1944. He explained to her that he had saved twenty pounds in an account for her and the children. She was to use that money wisely, and that as soon as he reached England, he would ensure that he sent her more money. Hannah nodded. The following day, she escorted her husband to the ship in Lagos which took him to England for his studies. As soon as Awo was out of sight, this dear woman headed to the bank – with an eight-month pregnancy. She withdrew the money and began to trade with it. And with her experience in trading, she soon began to make a lot of money from it.

One day, Hannah sent her husband twenty pounds in the United Kingdom. He wrote her back and thanked her. He explained that the money arrived at just the time he had nothing left on him. Then he began to wonder: “…now that you have sent the money I left for you, how are you and the children going to cope?” HID did not respond. Those days, communication was not that quick and this dear woman had the liberty of distance to do a few things before her husband arrived home. Awolowo spent two and a half years in the UK and returned in 1947, a lawyer. In this period, Hannah sent her husband money four times in all. The second time he received money, the man flared up: “…who is giving you money?!” Of course, by the time he returned to Nigeria, he realized that his wife had wisely used the resources he left her and even multiplied it. He still did not think she should work but seeing that the woman was making so much money, more than he did, he permitted her. When he entered government work in 1951, he reached a deal with her: she was to work from home henceforth. She could however have someone else handle the business outlets. HID became the financial rock behind her husband. Awolowo’s political philosophy was so intense that he often lost friends and supporters. It was the financial backing of his wife that saw him through. When in 1962, he was sent to prison, HID easily handled the home front and even borrowed the Action Group money on occasions. That is where the idea of giving every adult male twenty pounds came from in 1970.

Now, twenty pounds is certainly very small money – even in today’s terms. However, when a country has just finished a costly war and is seeking to rebuild, it is not likely to have a lot of money to throw around. What would have happened in those days in Eastern Nigeria is that wise men would have formed cooperatives, combined their resources, and done business with them. And when you consider that the Igbos are the most business savvy, of the three major tribes in Nigeria, you will appreciate why, despite all the angst against Awolowo and the Yoruba extraction, these people used their twenty pounds very well. It multiplied and the Igbos are some of the wealthiest people groups in Nigeria today. I understand that many other things happened at that time. I understand that some people had property in some parts of Nigeria and by the time they returned to them after the war, the properties had been taken. I understand that some people even had money in the bank but ended up with twenty pounds. All of those are understandable. Yet, after fifty years of having prosecuted that war, with the usual resentment that could occur, the Igbo nation should realize that God has very graciously restored their losses. There is no reason to be angry with anyone – anymore. The real enemies of this country are not people of a certain tribe or religion – our enemies are people who simply do not have the good of this country at heart. They are people who would rather eat up the country so that their own selfish interest could be furthered.

It is good to learn that Amaka Sonnberger is now being prosecuted by the Canadian government and is likely to go to jail for a very long time. I am happy to realize that not many Igbo people share this woman’s demonic sentiment about other tribes in Nigeria. There are things we have in common in this country: the fact that we are all human beings and we share a geographical location called Nigeria. Those who insisted on the unity of this country understood the fact that there are diversities among us as a people. They, however, saw that rather than these diversities become a means of division among us, it could be to our advantage. Every people group in the world today are seeking more and more to come together, rather than divide. There is a lot that can be done through unity. The Nigerian civil war was too costly in people and resources for this country not to have learnt some valuable lessons from it.

Deji Yesufu is the pastor of Providence Reformed Baptist Church Ibadan. He is the author of HUMANITY and Victor Banjo.

Source.

1 Like 1 Share

Religion / Re: Nigeria: God Feeds The Sparrow By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 9:20am On Sep 07
caye:
When you see only NGOs, missionaries/ religious rulers, politicians and criminals thriving on a society...it's time to flee.

Haba!
Religion / Nigeria: God Feeds The Sparrow By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 9:02am On Sep 07
Nigeria: God Feeds the Sparrow

By: Deji Yesufu

If you are not aware of how difficult things have become in Nigeria, it is probably because you live under a rock – or something like that. Those of us in the real world, who must transport to work and school, are having to come face to face with high cost of goods and services. Nigeria’s economy, like most countries in the world, is closely tied to the price of fuel. Fuel is the only means of transporting goods and services around the country, and a slight increase in the cost of fuel, leads inevitably to increase in the cost of goods. The Nigerian government has increased the cost of fuel by 400% since the beginning of this administration, such that we now buy fuel at almost a thousand naira now. The resulting effect is that the value of the naira is perishing. In fact, I have not seen twenty naira around in a long time. Fifty naira is also becoming increasingly worthless. There is no end in sight for all these. Is there any hope for this country? To answer this question, I’ll relay a scenario next.

I am a pastor, although I work a secular job full-time. In the course of my ministry I meet with many missionaries. These people are usually supported by friends, family, and churches. There is one common denominator about these people: they don’t live under Nigerian economy. No matter how difficult things get, these people never complain. Why? Because the Lord is their helper and provider. Now this may sound like cliché but for these people it is not. They have tasted and they have seen God practically take care of them. The same way God sent manna to the Israelites over a forty-year period, is the way he sustains these people today. They have gotten so used to this manna-lifestyle that they almost take it for granted. Their rents are paid; their children go to the best schools; they build houses to retire into; etc. They live just like you and me, the only difference is that it is like Christ that pays them. The Lord called these people to ministry, and the Lord, not salary, sustains them. The One who feeds the Sparrow, feeds them. So, what about those of us who don’t live on this heavenly provision? How do we survive Nigeria? We survive Nigeria by also realising that the same God who calls some to full time ministry, calls others to full time secular jobs. Any legitimate work you do is spiritual service to Christ, and if you do it well you will find sustenance in it. It doesn’t matter what happens to the economy. Your work is service to God and God will bring provision through the labours of your hands. Let me lament Nigeria a bit and then bring this article to a close.

Nigeria is what she is because our people despise work. This country is incredibly non-productive. What was meant to be a blessing, oil, has today turned out to be a curse. Nigerians learnt very quickly that if you cut corners, if you do gbajue, or, if you know the right people in authority, you can do very little and earn a lot of money. So, a culture of no-work and obscene laziness was instilled in us. I hear someone say, years ago, that for her she will prefer to work little and earn plenty. And that person remains despised in my eyes till today. Naturally speaking the Nigerian economy has dwindled this badly because this country is not productive. We produce crude oil but we watched as our public refineries failed at refining the crude. Government invests large sums in the NNPC yet they have not produced a litre of petrol in decades. They will rather go the long route of exporting crude oil, refining it, and then bringing it back to sell at inflated prices. NNPC is not working because every public institution in this country is near comatose. Nigeria’s public institutions will not work because people know they will earn a salary whether they produce anything there or not. This will never happen in a private entity and that is why the whole country now relies on Dongote. Now, let’s conclude these thoughts.

God is the Father of all creation. As a responsible Father, God will provide for you. But he requires something from you. In Genesis, God created Adam and put him in Eden to work the place. As long Adam did his work, Adam found provision. Similarly, every single person has a field of work. For a baby, his duty is to feed on milk faithfully and to learn to walk. For growing children, their field of work is learning at school. For adults with jobs, their field of work is to be faithful stewards of whatever work God has set before them. Even people without jobs still have a duty to do whatever they are doing faithfully – no matter how small or insignificant. When you work at a place, your preoccupation should never be an increase in salary; you shouldn’t be spending your time looking for another job. Your preoccupation should be to do your work so well that it advances the system. Now, if that happens, there is the likelihood that your salary will increase. If they don’t increase your salary, someone will spot you as the brain behind a working system, poach you, and pay you better. But let your work do the talking, not your CV. Sincerely I cannot remember the last time I wrote a CV… I am my own curriculum vitae!

One morning in March 2020, I was trapped in a foreign land. I was supposed to take a flight from Berlin to Lagos. When I arrived the Tegel airport in Berlin, I noticed CNN reporting that Donald Trump had banned all flights from Europe into America. I then had an incline that the delay we were experiencing with being checked in was not unconnected with that news item. Eventually Turkish airline told us that we couldn’t fly out of Berlin that morning. Turkey had banned all flight through their country because of the Coronavirus pandemic. They eventually booked me on Air France because France was still open. I was cold and hungry. I had no money. The institution that invited me to train at Berlin had borne all my expenses. I reached my younger brother in Lagos and he sent me N10,000 for breakfast. When I converted the money to Euros, it was almost nothing. I figured that when I arrive Lagos the following day, that money would be useful then. That was 2020. The naira has even worsened in value now and it will continue to get worse unless you and I work and are productive. The magic of the international market system is that a people prosper as other people bring foreign exchange to their country to purchase the goods they are producing. When you produce nothing, you earn nothing and you will be poor as a nation.

Things are difficult, yes. But God is on the throne. God will feed those who work – that’s why missionaries without salaries are doing well even within this failed system. If you never knew it before, understand it now: the man that does not work will not eat.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Deji Yesufu is the pastor of Providence Reformed Baptist Church Ibadan. He is the author of HUMANITY.

Source: https://textandpublishing.com/nigeria-god-feeds-the-sparrow/

Career / Dear BOLT Driver By Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 8:49pm On Sep 02
Dear BOLT Driver

By: Deji Yesufu

Yesterday will be the third time I would be employing your services and it is already clear to me where your deficiencies are. I am writing this public letter to you with the hope that some of you that take up this job can get the best out of it. I suspect that there is nothing I will be writing in this essay that will be new to you because I am aware that the company that employed your services takes the effort to train you very well on customer care and basic work etiquette. After I sent in a poor report on the gentleman that drove me home yesterday, BOLT sent me a letter of apology and said among other things:

“… We are sorry that you had to deal with this and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you may have expereienced as a result of this issue. This is is definitely not the type of services we are aiming to provide our clients. Unfortunately, not all our drivers follow our instructions. This is a one-off situation and we will be investigating what led to this…”

So, I will only be reiterating some of the instructions that I know your company has already given to you and I hope that as this is coming directly from a customer, not your bosses, it will further encourage you to do your job well.

First, may I begin by reminding you or perhaps informing you that the job of a private company transporter, like the one you are employed with at BOLT, is one of the best jobs in the world. It is true that the pay may not be excellent; it is true there are dangers, along with the usual ups and downs that comes with driving on Nigerian roads; yet it is a job that offers a lot of opportunities that you can leverage on to move forward in life. There is the liberty of time it gives you. One of the guys that drove me told me that he completes his work for the day at 5pm and still earns enough at the end of the week. It is a job you can do along with a 9am to 4pm job. You can shut down your driver’s app, while you pursue some other businesses and put it back on whenever you want. It is simply work and earn as you go – not too many people have such liberties with the job they do.

Then there are the opportunities of meeting people. And I do not mean ordinary people. Whoever can afford to charter private vehicles for transportation in Nigeria of today will not be in the lower class of soceity. While a few middle class earners will employ your services, most of the people who will call you are folks in the upper class. Every single person in this world, no matter how rich they are, has a need. God has designed humanity to be in need always. The manner you attend to your customers can be your ticket out of this job into doing something much better, while you also earn much more. The way you drive can tell a customer that you are the best person to meet his/her need. This is not something your employers will tell you because they will not want to loose you to others. The secret words here are: CUSTOMER CARE, COURTESY, RESPECT and being COURTEOUS.

For example, you drive into the location where you are to pick up your customer. You see the customer, worn out from the day’s job, sitting under a tree by his children’s school. You can tell he has ordered for your services to ferry his family home. You drive in, park your car – with the engine and air condition still working – you approach him: “… good afternoon sir. Are you Mr. Deji… ah, sorry for keeping waiting. I am your BOLT driver for this trip… please come inside the car (you open the door while you ensure he is well seated). Children I hope you had a great day in school (You offer them sweets that you should have kept in the car for such pursposes)… sir, your trip begins now…” Then you keep your mouth shut from that point and do not initiate a conversation except the customer speaks to you first or asks a question. If you treat your customers like kings, one day one of them is bound to employ you into his royal palace.

Again, the customer is the boss; you are not. Right from the moment you make the call to initiate the trip, you should be able to speak courteously to him or her on the phone. Explain why you might delay a bit to reach his location; give him a clear understanding of where you are and how much time it will take to reach him; and please use the word “sir” or “ma” profusely. Customers who do not wish to be referred to in that manner will tell you but always be courteous and respectful. If a customer requests you take a route, take it. If you do not think it will be safe to take that path, explain, very courteosly too, why you do not think you should take it. He is most likely bound to understand.

I have mentioned the matter of conversing with the customer in the car but I will wish to elaborate on it here. Understand that not all customers are chatty and not all of them are in a mood to talk. However, I suspect that because human beings are social animals, most people that you pick up will want to initiate a conversation with you. By all means, please, after you are done with the initial welcoming of the customer into the car, do not continue with the conversation. Do not switch on the radio or play a music – except as the customer demands. Then only respond to the customer’s questions or comments; do not try to initiate conversations. Do not even ask him or her how their day was. You may be rousing unpleasant memories and you do not want to receive the butt of their frustrations. The customers who wants to talk will talk to you. Those who wish to be silent and enjoy their own thoughts will do the same. Respect your clients privacies; they own your car space for the duration of that trip.

On a final note, remember that the app system has a system of feedback. Your customers can give your employers any feedback they want on you. By all means pursue getting a positive feedback from your customers. Here is the thing: most people in the world are not narcissistic. Most people do not leave their homes or return to it, with the aim of ruining the career of a BOLT driver. The chances that you will offer excellent services to an individual and they will then go on and write a negative report on you is almost nil. If as a driver, the company gets five negative feedback on you in one week – I will recommend that you will be let go off that employment.

While I gave the yesterday guy a one star and sent in a poor report on him, I gave the person who picked me two days ago a five star and gave him excellent reportage. I could have not written anything on either of them but the manner they related to me in the car, for the less than fifteen minutes we were together, told me a lot about their personalities. The guy who picked me up two days ago was a fresh graduate and he was also a foreigner (from one of the “Guinea” countries). He was a bit too chatty but I appreciated the spirit of honesty in him and the courteousness in his work. The yesterday guy was behaving as if he was doing me a favor driving me home. I suspect that the problem with him is something that is inherently wrong with many people from South-West Nigeria. It has to do with an air of superiority and the attitude of “…I am better than being a mere driver; do not look down on me…” While it is true a lot of people treat public transporters with a lot of disdain, it is wrong to approach everyone with that presupposition. It does not matter the attitude that a customer brings, reciprocate with respect.

This brings me to my final point: I suspect that the best BOLT drivers will not remain in the employment of that company for too long. This is what I mean: It was Pastor Tunde Bakare that told me, many years ago while I was searching for work in Lagos, that “jobs are not scarce, only faithful men are few”. If an individual brings the right spirit into his work and does it well, it does not matter how lowly that job is – he will not remain in that employment for too long. A lot of people are looking for people to do a lot of things for them but the problem is that many people just want to earn money, they do not want to work and add value to a system. The moment somebody discovers that an individual is a value adder, they will receive that person into their employment. BOLT employs the services of graduates from universities because they believe that such persons have been trained in manners and they possess initiative, and that they have the requisite skill to do the job of driving well. Unfortunately the downside of tertiary education in Nigeria is that many graduates cannot even do the mere work of driving well.

Dear BOLT driver, there is a lot more I wish I could tell you but I trust that your experience behind the wheel will teach you the rest. The blessing of life is that if we learn fast from our adversities, we will not remain in that situation for too long. Taxi driving is not exactly a job that one can boast about but if it is done well, it can be a springboard to doing something better and earning a lot more. The ball, like they say, is in your court because a few words is enough for the wise.

Deji Yesufu is the pastor of Providence Reformed Baptist Church Ibadan. He is the author of HUMANITY.

Source

1 Like

Politics / Re: Why Kamala Harris Cannot Be President (A Nigerian Perspective) - Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 11:14am On Aug 31
Oghene86:

Just simply say you didn't support him 👿

You're smart like that
Politics / Re: Why Kamala Harris Cannot Be President (A Nigerian Perspective) - Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 6:37am On Aug 31
Oghene86:

After you all supported Tinubu to be President that has tumbled the country, you have now carried your bad luck to America. Is it that you guys are always on the wrong side 😔

Did every Yoruba person support Tinubu?
Politics / Re: Why Kamala Harris Cannot Be President (A Nigerian Perspective) - Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 10:28am On Aug 29
happney65:
Never knew Deji Yesufu is a Misogonist. As in claiming women cannot do any other job apart from nurturing children. I was even thinking he would give genuine reasons but he was just talking off points
A total and complete Dissapointment

Deji Yesufu sends his regards
Politics / Re: Why Kamala Harris Cannot Be President (A Nigerian Perspective) - Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 8:20am On Aug 29
Difrent:


In Trump's voice
"When did she become black"
She's always been indian but because of election she started claiming to be black.
Actually her father never recognized as African American but a descendant of a slave owning white Cuban, so where is the black connection coming from.
But blacks in America ain't buying it and have been telling her to her face, I'm afraid theres little the Obamas could do to change that

Precisely

1 Like

Politics / Re: Why Kamala Harris Cannot Be President (A Nigerian Perspective) - Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 6:36am On Aug 29
Politics / Re: Why Kamala Harris Cannot Be President (A Nigerian Perspective) - Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 5:51pm On Aug 28
TheWinterBird:
The thousands of intelligent and prominent individuals and groups who have endorsed Kamala Harris: federal executive officials, senators, municipal, substate and local officials, international politicians, organizations, Lawyers, academics, activists and public figures, business executives and leaders, influential celebrities, and more, all know what they're doing. But an irrelevant nonentity like Deji Yusufu who supports a liar, incompetent candidate and criminal like Trump thinks he knows better, smh. As a Nigerian pastor, I'm sure he's armed with these qualities, hence no wonder he's pro-Trump. The majority of guests on CNN sef find Trump appalling and can't imagine him returning to the White House due to the many risks involved.


Those people are human beings

Deji Yesufu is very human too
Politics / Re: Why Kamala Harris Cannot Be President (A Nigerian Perspective) - Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 2:10pm On Aug 28
Akpaamunsi:

Why are most Pastors from zoogeria always stuupid?

OK
Politics / Re: Why Kamala Harris Cannot Be President (A Nigerian Perspective) - Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 12:00pm On Aug 28
Namaster:


First of all, I am NOT your friend. Wtf? grin

Secondly, the respect of people who get TRIGGERED because I called a fool a FOOL mean ZILCH to me.

Also, the fact that you think you can "win" people like Trump supporters and religious FANATICS like the writer of this article with logical arguments and facts shows you DON'T even know what you're talking about.

Finally, your comments reek of CONDESCENSION and passive-aggressiveness. You're not fooling anyone.

You want to come across as a socially intelligent person but you are not. The first line of this comment says "when you grow up".

Let me interpret that for you:

You called me INFANTILE and IMMATURE for calling out a FOOLISH man for his folly.

In your original comment, you called my opinions "BILE". How do you interpret that?

Semantics may DIFFER but you are NO LESS rude than I am.

Save your advice for someone who won't call you out on your BULLSHIIIT.

I am glad you got the message
Politics / Re: Why Kamala Harris Cannot Be President (A Nigerian Perspective) - Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 10:48am On Aug 28
Namaster:


Where is the bile?
Show me the bile.

A BRAINWASHED scammer (ALL pastors are scammers) wrote an article to spread STUPIDITY and brainwash other LESS intelligent people.

I countered with FACTS. So that anyone who could spare a few minutes would realise the guy is a LIAR and a FOOL.

For instance, he's questioning why there are now so many women in the Secret Service. That's because women were PREVIOUSLY severely discriminated against.

America is working to give EVERYBODY the chance to PROVE themselves and show their competence. The women this IDIOT is bitching about were NOT just taken and assimilated into the Secret Service.

They underwent TRAINING and TESTING. So that's another foolish argument.

Another FOOLISH thing he did was to call into question the TRUST that the rest of the World have in America's Military Leadership.

That's just STUPID!

Sweden, a NOTORIOUSLY neutral country, joined NATO in March of this year. Meanwhile, Trump has been casting doubt on the US's membership of and continuous SUPPORT of NATO.

America was NEVER better under Trump.



My friend, when you grow up, you will understand that one can make up a point without being unnecessarily pugilistic. That way, you can win people with your opinions, and still have the respect of those who disagree with you.

When you do things like these, you lose both your supporters and your detractors. Check through all my posts and identify one insulting word I used. You can imitate this.
Politics / Re: Why Kamala Harris Cannot Be President (A Nigerian Perspective) - Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 8:03am On Aug 28
Ojiofor:


Kamala presidency will only favour LGBTQ nothing more just like Obama.

Be'eni

1 Like

Politics / Re: Why Kamala Harris Cannot Be President (A Nigerian Perspective) - Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 11:15pm On Aug 27
Ojiofor:


Trump presidency will bring much needed leadership to the world that will help stop the wars in Russia/Ukraine and Israel/Palestanian wars.

Brilliant 👏

2 Likes

Politics / Re: Why Kamala Harris Cannot Be President (A Nigerian Perspective) - Deji Yesufu by VBCampaign: 10:58pm On Aug 27
Namaster:
I saw "woke" and "leftist" and I knew the writer was an IDIOT. Then I got to the end and saw "Pastor" and realised the guy is a SCAMMER like Trump. grin

ONE thing the idiot didn't mention:

The person that shot Trump was a REGISTERED, card-carrying member of the REPUBLICAN party.

In other words, Trump's own people tried to kill him.

Secondly, he needs to dispense with this "missed Trump by an inch" NONSENSE.

Investigations by experts suggest a bullet did NOT touch Trump. According to the investigations, if a bullet from the weapon used by the would-be assassin had touched his ear cartilage, as Trump and idiots like these would have you believe, it would have taken off a HUGE chunk of his ear and the bleeding would have been more SEVERE.

Also Trump is a SHAMELESS opportunist who would have MILKED an injury for all it's worth. Instead, he stopped wearing the bandage in a couple of weeks.

The FOOL also called into question Harris's COMPETENCE. He basically called her incompetent.

Can the FOOL provide evidence of Harris's incompetence?

That's apart from the fact that she's BLACK. And she's a woman.

Meanwhile, 40 of the 44 cabinet members who actually served with Donald Trump REFUSE to endorse him.

Heck, even his OWN Vice President Mike Pence REFUSES to endorse Trump.

Talk about incompetence. grin

Another thing this BRAINWASHED BUFFOON fails to mention is how Trump sicced a VIOLENT mob on the US Capitol after he lost the election.

Members of the US Congress had to be SNEAKED out by security operatives because Trump's supporters wanted to LYNCH them.

They specifically build a GALLOW to hang Mike Pence because he REFUSED to rig the election like Trump wanted.

Trump fomented that INSURRECTION and it led to the DEATH of NINE people. The US is still prosecuting and sentencing participants of the insurrection to THIS day. That's how bad it was.

As if all that isn't bad enough already. Trump's Golf Resort is hosting an awards Gala and a FUNDRAISER for the Jan 6 participants of his INSURRECTION. And Trump is going there to celebrate CRIMINALS.

In addition to all his CRIMES, Trump also invoked DOUBT in the electoral process of the US. After he lost, he claimed it was rigged. Despite IRREFUTABLE evidence that proves he was the one that wanted to rig the election.

He continued to bitch and moan about the 2020 election being rigged as if the US was a THIRD-WORLD country. With the help of Fox News, where idiot Yesufu gets his news, and Tucker Carlson; he got his supporters to believe him.

Because of Trump's lies and FOX News' role in spreading the lies, Fox News was sued and had to settle with a WHOOPING $787 MILLION. That's almost a BILLION. For lies. grin

Also, there is a reason Tucker Carlson is now a "content creator". grin

Anyway, the point of my epistle is that IDIOTS like these should NEVER be taken seriously. They masquerade their STUPIDITY, HATRED and BIGOTRY as savvy political commentary.

But it's NOT. It's just PLAIN stupidity.



Save for the bile, you made some sense

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