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ANOTHER LOOK AT VICTOR BANJO

by Deji Yesufu

Two Sundays ago, I had the immense privilege of meeting Prof. F. A. Ogunsheye. She is the elder sister of Victor Banjo and matriarch of the Banjo family.

Prof. Ogunsheye is the author of the book A Break in Silence, a historical narrative on the life of Victor Banjo, published by Spectrum in 2001. Mama Ogunsheye, as we would appropriately refer to her in Western Nigeria, is in her 90s but she is still strong and you cannot miss that beautiful Queen’s English with which she speaks.

I had gone to see her after Church service to give her a copy of a draft of my book on her brother. I introduced myself and I showed her the book, which has a bold picture of her brother on the front cover. She brightened up immediately, “O… Thank you.”

Then she said:“Were you at the war with him…”

I let out a smile. My grey hair keeps betraying me.

“No ma. I learnt about Victor Banjo by reading your book and in the other books on him, particularly the one written by Prof. Omigbodun.”

“O yes, that’s my niece… Thank you. You would do a launch of this book, wouldn’t you?”

“We will by God’s grace,” I said. And she walked away carefully to her car.

My publishers had requested I get a number of reviews on the book from notable persons in Nigeria. I thought that I could get one or two from retired Army Generals who had either served under Banjo or knew who him somehow. The one or two I approached declined very courteously.

I was still wondering why they did this when I spoke to Prof. Fasanmade, of the University of Ibadan, about my challenge. Prof told me that his experience with the Banjo matter was that even long after his death, Victor Banjo was still feared by many people in the Nigerian Army.

And most would rather not speak about him. I knew immediately that whenever my book was released, it would stare some hornet’s nest.

Victor Banjo was not an alien to controversy in his life time. The central part of the book, Why We Struck, told the story of this great Nigerian.

Adewale Ademoyega, the author of the book and one of the plotters of the first coup in this country, recounted how he used to fear for Banjo’s life. He said while Banjo was not loquacious, he never hid his disdain for the lacklustre manner with which the war was being prosecuted by the government of Ojukwu. It was not difficult for many of Ojukwu’s spies, planted all around him, to give a bad report of Banjo to Ojukwu.

My deduction is this: when Ojukwu executed Banjo, he was doing the Nigerian side their greatest favour. Victor Banjo was Gowon’s greatest threat in the early days of the war.

Here is a long quote from Victor Banjo in his letters to his wife, as published in A Gift of Sequins (pages 148-150). It is his thoughts on courage and the factor of fear in the average Nigerian male:

“…But then I have ceased to attempt to explain the behaviour of Nigerian average males since these events started (the events being the January 1966 coup). Fear seems such a powerful deteriorating influence on the character of the average Nigerian male… I have thought long and deeply about the phenomenon of the clear fickleness and lack of courage of the average male under conditions of direct individual confrontation.

“In fact the phenomenon is not new, the extreme circumstances of this year have only served to accentuate it. The tragedy of our nation is primarily due to this fact. I think the reason stems from the fact that the male is fundamentally self-centred; an attitude of mind largely engendered by the sociological factors of our present age… The struggle is fundamentally among the male because our society is basically male oriented.

“The condition of a permanent state of struggle for social elevation, creates in the male an attitude of mind whereby his every action is subjective to the consideration that it assists or retards his march upward… With females it is different. Generally they are divorced from the struggle in the sense that their status is invariably relative to that of the man they are associated with, so they have not generally developed the instinctive subjective attitude to life except in a few cases of career girls.

“There are of course other contributory factors such as psychologically, women are more naturally self-sacrificing and hence are more likely to be loyal to an ideal even a loosing one… such as historical, most British colonial officers in the past were usually poorer species of those back in the UK, and tended to encourage a great deal of fawning, sycophant adulation amongst the subject peoples in order to enhance their superiority cult, consequently the system tended to elevate the fawning sycophant who normally lacks character competence or principles and retard the man of worth, so that over the years there has been a general precipitation upwards of worthless men, who have tended to sustain the tradition of success being at the price of principles. There are of course a host of others. I could write a book on the subject, and might before long.

“But your theory is certainly correct: the Nigerian male is certainly in general terms less morally brave than the female.”

Victor Banjo would therefore not have been surprised that men in the Nigerian military, that he served wholeheartedly in his lifetime, cannot write a review on him 50 years after his death.

Banjo was an example of courage on fire. By the break of the day of 15th January, 1966, when it was obvious to all that senior military officers of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and above were being hunted by certain majors for extermination, Banjo took his life in his hands and launched out to stay the mutiny in the army.

As at 9am of 15th January, Lt. Col. Victor Banjo was the most senior military officer on the streets of Lagos and the only one for that matter. He was ensuring that law and order was restored to the polity. Ironsi and others were in hiding. In fact, Banjo’s arrest was premeditated on this fact: his sheer boldness in the face of danger. His superiors could not believe that he could not have had a hand in the coup.

But the simple fact was this: If Banjo had been part of the coup plotters that morning, his aim would have been to entrench himself in the seat of power and not restoring order and peace among his colleagues as he was doing when he was treacherously arrested. You may read the rest in my upcoming book.

I end this short thought on Banjo with this: Did Victor Banjo waste his life?

I have a feeling that many who have read the story of Victor Banjo think that this great Nigerian wasted his life. Mrs. Funto Oyeleye, Banjo’s eldest child, told the story of how, after they had visited their father in the State House in Enugu in the first quarter of 1967, where Banjo was living with his friend and colleague in the military, Col. Emeka Ojukwu, their mother had begged Banjo to return to Lagos with her and the children, or at least flee the country with them.

The war was no longer his business. Banjo could have left this country at that time. Banjo would not bulge. Later when they where flying to Lagos, Banjo was told that his wife was weeping throughout the trip. He sent a letter to her and assured her that he would be fine. Here is the point:

Victor Banjo could have left Nigeria by May 1967, before the civil war broke out in June; but he would not. He was too much of a patriot to do so. Banjo was on his way to the University of Ibadan, when he joined the Nigerian military as the 16th Nigerian to do so in 1954, at the age of 24. He was trained by the military from that level until he became a graduate – being one of five graduates in the army in those days. He had been trained as a military officer to restore peace to a nation in time of crisis. How could he abandon this country at a time when the country needed him most?

Why then did Victor Banjo join the Civil War? You would have to learn about that from my book.

My point in this essay is this: though Victor Banjo was killed at 37 years of age, at the prime of his life, his contribution to the Nigerian story will remain with us as long as life remain on this earth.

100 years from now, when all of us will be dead and buried, Western Nigeria will still be talking about him because of all the books that have been written on him. There is no sound story on the Biafran conflict that does not mention him.

We understand from the life of Jesus Christ, who died at 33, that it is not how long but how well people live that matters. Banjo died for a united Nigeria. He fought for true federalism. His only sin was that he was 50 years ahead in his thinking in relation to those of his contemporaries. And because they could not match his elevated mindset, they preferred him silenced.

And he told them at the point of his death that he could not be killed: “I’m not dead yet…”, were his final words, as the bullets tore through his chest. He and three others being the first set of Nigerian military officers to be executed on trumped up charges of a military coup by the military of junta of the then Biafran nation.

Dr. Okey Ndibe’s review on my book on Victor Banjo read in part: “…a zestful, concise and highly readable book…” We plan that the book would be out before May 2018. I hope you all make out time to attend the launching, which hopefully will be in the city of Ibadan.

Victor Banjo did not waste his life. He gave his life for the saving of his people – particularly the Yoruba tribe. Victor Banjo is not dead… he yet lives on. Fifty years after his death, Victor Banjo is my man of the Year 2017; his life and ideals are worth remembering in these times.

Source: http://mouthpiece.com.ng/another-look-at-victor-banjo/

Seun, Lalasticlala do consider for front page.

See the exclusive video below as Deji Yesufu supports Daddy Freeze on his campaign against tithing by churches.

The video, posted to his Facebook page two days ago, has gone viral.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGCKS1uTDms

CC: Seun, Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Why Atiku May Win the 2019 Elections

by Kenneth C. Baba

For those with any insight to how the political machinery runs in Nigeria, you will agree that the race to occupy the Presidential seat of power for 2019 has already began.

All the political meandering has already begun; the change of party affiliation, the indirect campaigning and the courting of political heavyweights has begun in earnest.

Nigeria’s democracy is nascent but it has it own peculiarity, distinguished from other democracies of other parts of the world.

Nigeria’s democracy is money democracy.

Whoever will sit on the seat of power in this country must have either of two things, or both: he must have money or he must have influence; or he must possess both.

The emergence of Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 showed us that a person without money but with influence can still win elections in this country.

The Turaki Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has both money and influence.

On Friday, the 24th November, 2017, Atiku, as he is known by many in Nigeria, resigned his membership of the All Progressive Congress (APC). Right now he has no party but there are strong indications that he is heading to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to become that party’s flag bearer for the 2019 Presidential elections.

The political permutations are easy to sum up from that point: the ruling APC shall be presenting the incumbent President Buhari as its presidential candidate; while Atiku shall muscle his way financially through the PDP to obtain the presidential ticket there.

The same way Jonathan went face to face with Buhari in 2015, all indications show that Atiku will be facing Buhari in the 2019 elections. This writer shall henceforth suggest few reasons why Atiku might win the 2019 presidential elections.

First, a disclaimer. This writer is not suggesting that Atiku is the best political material in Nigeria today. Far from it. I will be the first to enumerate the various allegations levied against Atiku.

It is common knowledge that Abubakar Atiku is not a flawless politician. The fact of his alleged corruption are so immense that it is believed that the US government is after him and that he will be arrested on arrival on the US soil for his alleged involvement in the Haliburton financial scandal.

Besides this, Atiku’s political empire is financed from a vast network of businesses that are sprawled through Adamawa State – most of these businesses originates from financial roots that are questionable. The allegations against Atiku are mountainous.

Nonetheless, Abubakar Atiku’s chances at the polls do not come from his own credentials as a person but from the failures of the incumbent government. This should not surprise anyone because the success of Buhari at the 2015 elections came mostly from the failures of Goodluck Jonathan’s government too.

Muhammadu Buhari and his government have frittered away too much goodwill and time, and have sat in Abuja for the most part of over two years, simply maintaining the status quo. Buhari promised Nigerians that he will deal corruption a death blow.

So far, the only people his anti graft agencies have gone after are people in the opposition. Buhari promised Nigerians so much that at some point after winning the elections, he has had to come out to repudiate these very promises.

Under Buhari, governance has entered full go-slow. Hampered by old age and ill health, Nigerians have realized that the Buhari they voted for is not the Buhari of 1984/85. The General seem to have simply gone to sleep while government agencies fight each other in public or contradict each other at press time.

The Nigerian people in North Eastern Nigeria would certainly thank the President for reducing the carnage of Boko Haram in that sector, but even that project stands unfinished.

Sporadic attacks on army formations and civilians still abound. Buhari has not lived up to the expectations of those who voted him into office. Atiku chances will be built principally around the Buhari government’s failures.

And this is not new. Even Buhari himself thrived on Jonathan’s failures. Jonathan failed to provide Nigerians security and under him corruption became almost legitimate. Buhari came with a CHANGE credential, built most around his military administration’s dealing with a corrupt Shagari government.

So if Atiku builds his campaign around Buhari’s failures, he will simply be doing the normal. Besides, the beauty of democracy is the ability of the electorate to hold the politicians accountable. If a politician fails in his first term, rather than be allowed to repeat, as Chief Igbenidion instructed Edo People concerning his son, Lucky, in the 2003 elections, that politician should be voted out of office! And Nigerians have learnt now that an incumbent can be defeated at the poles.

The second reason why Atiku stands a chance at the poles is his political sagacity and business sense. Simply put: if Atiku were to stand with Buhari in the 2019 elections, Nigerians will be left with very little to choose from. At the same time, we must make a choice of the better of them – what some may call the best of two evils.

In that case, Nigerians will remember that Atiku has managed his business empire well without government influences or funds for twelve years, since leaving power in 2007. The best business Buhari could put up were a few cows he has been tending since retiring from the military. Buhari is old and sickly. Atiku is old but agile (Atiku will be 72 in 2019). Buhari may have integrity but his lack of competence in handling the business of governance is clear to all. Atiku may not have integrity but he seem to be able to manage people.

Nigeria needs a good manager. Someone who will provide jobs for its youths, who will handle the business of governance as if there is indeed a Sherrif in town.

Lastly, here are Atiku’s chances at the 2019 polls: Usually there are essentially three geopolitical zones in the country – the North, West and East. Whoever wins an elections must take two of these three. Buhari thrived on the masses that voted for him in the North and West in 2015. With Atiku as his major challenger in 2019, all of these will change.

The votes in the North will be divided between Buhari and Atiku. Atiku winning mostly the North East and possibly the larger part of the North-central. Then the South-East and South-south, which are PDP strongholds, will vote Atiku to spite Buhari. Western Nigeria’s vote will be divided between Buhari and Atiku, with Atiku standing the chance of winning there too. With an electoral body like INEC that has truly become independent, Atiku stands a good chance of beating Buhari in the 2019 Presidential elections.

Again, the beauty of democracy is the opportunity for change to come to a nation’s body polity. If we have been promised change and we saw none, it makes sense to try another. And if Atiku fails us, we will change him also. Nigerians have the time and resources to invest in finding a leadership that works. And we shall continue to do this until we find a wise, visionary, productive and forward looking leader.

May Nigeria succeed.

http://mouthpiece.com.ng/why-atiku-may-win-the-2019-elections/

CC: Seun, Lalasticlala, Mynd44 please consider for front page.

Seun:
I was going to commend your write-up, until I noticed the part I highlighted above. What a deviously clever write-up! Essentially you want to replace the tithe of 10% with a “compulsory habitual contribution” of at least 10%, which “true believers” “must” pay. You are a genius, bro.

Hi Seun.

It is a honor to have you comment on my thread.

First, I'll implore you read the piece again and see that in no way does the article support tithing. The last line, which summarises it, says this much: tithing is Jewish and not Christian.

Second, by habitual giving, I mean consistent guving of any amount. If a church has 100 members and each give an average of 2,000 monthly, that church's income is N200,000 monthly. It can plan with this. Amount given nay vary from 20 to 20,000. But BC it is consistent giving, not tithing, the church can work around this.

3. Lastly, I learnt about the errors of tithing from a 2013 thread I opened on Nairaland from foremost anti tithe folks here then: frosbel, PastorKun and Goshen360, to mention a few. It changed my whole perspective of Christianity. But after not tithing for 4 years, and encouraging others not to, I see clearly from scriptures and fellow Christians that giving, not tithing, is expected of every Christian.

These are the thoughts I have trued to express on this page...

... And consider it for front page, abeg.

Babacele:
so balanced ,well written and correct biblically referenced article. But money can't really stop the gospel if we become the bible that the world reads. Nonetheless a true Christian must wholeheartedly support the church but not cajoled to do so. I think we can give not necessarily money alone but all God given resources at our disposals.
Op I must commend your beautiful perspective on tithing and the Nigerian pastors' approach to it.

Thank you

Now, I recounted Pastor Nick’s experience to say this: true believers, although not compelled to tithe, must begin to make a habit of giving consistently and habitually, in a disciplined manner, to whatever church they attend. Usually, what the Freeze’s type of tithe campaign does is that it stops people from giving to churches altogether. In the process, while the false churches suffer funds deprivation, the true churches will also suffer.

In our world today, money is what will make the gospel spread. Missions are run on monies donated by church members. When there are no funds, missions suffer. This is the reason, and I say this guardedly, that there is some wisdom in Christians tithing today. Tithing can be a minimum, at least for folks who receive a regular income. This way a local assembly can work with funds that are consistently available from members who practice a disciplined form of giving. And, as it has been observed by others, this has been practiced by believers of yore and no one had trouble with the Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and Catholic churches collecting tithes. But when these new generation churches began to pop up everywhere, with their pastors living ostentatiously, with some of them owning as much as four private jets, it remains God’s consistent nature to raise up folks to speak against the financial cash-cow through which these wicked men enrich themselves.

So, the long and short of my essay is this: 1. Tithing is not a Christian practice; it is Jewish. 2. Let every man know his God: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved. This is what is truly Christian. 3. Lastly, Christians should give only as they are led by God but they should give consistently and in a disciplined manner to support Christian missions. And let those who collect these monies use them judiciously for gospel matters. Amen.

Probably the biggest argument against tithing as of the Old Testament is the purpose behind the giving of the tithe. The Jewish nation were to be a people of God. The worship of Jehovah was important to him and thus he selected a whole tribe from the 12 tribes of Israel to lead worship. Among the Levites were the priests, the descendants of Aaron. The priests were to be wholly given to worship and were not to work the farms. In return the people of Israel, who worked the land, were to bring a tenth of their products to support the Priests who were fully serving in the temple. This was God’s debate with Israel in the famous Malachi 3:8-12. There God was speaking about bringing in tithes to the storehouses in the temple, so that there might be food in the house of God, and so that the worship of God in Israel will not suffer. Therefore, if anyone must tithe today, they must bring farm products to a Jewish temple and hand it over to Levites. Any thing short of this is not the biblical tithes.

Having said this, I must provide a balance to my argument above.

God’s primary concern for all humanity is not whether or not they are giving their tithes to churches. This is the reason why there is practically no mention of the subject of tithing in the churches of the New Testament. It is safe to conclude that the churches under the apostles collected no tithes. They could never have because even in their days, Jewish practices and the place they occupy in Christian communities were equally contentious. In the days of Jesus, the Jews could not understand why he and his disciples did not observe the Jewish Sabbath as seriously as they thought they should. Jesus himself hinted at the replacing of the old order with the new when he said, in response to one of such criticism, that you could not put old wine in new wine skin (Matthew 9:17). Later on in the records of the New Testament, Paul will also contend with those who were trying to make a Jewish practice of circumcision a Christian one. Paul refuted these men even rather harshly (Philippians 3:2). So we see that it is consistent of Satan to distract the churches with matters that concern the old order and to try to bring them to the new.

The heart of the Christian gospel is not for men to give money to churches. The heart of the Christian gospel is for men to come to living faith in Jesus Christ. There are countless professing Christians who will be lost in hell, despite having tithed all their lives. These ones have placed the confidence of their salvation on tithing or giving of money to God, as if anyone could buy God’s favor with money. When in reality they ought to have place their hope in Christ alone for redemption from their sins. Others who never tithed will equally be damned not because they campaigned against tithing, but because they never believed in Christ as their Lord and Savior. Their grouse against tithing was simply a humanist campaign.

Tithing or not tithing, God’s concern for all men is that they might be repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. In the process, that they might be saved. This is the heart of the gospel and this is God’s call on all men. When the gospel was first preached by Peter in Acts 2, he never requested anyone to bring God money. In fact it would have stood as preposterous for him to do that because in those days those who collected tithes were Jewish priests who worked in the temple. If Peter or any of the apostles had ever demanded a tithe, they would have been stoned. And, as if to indicate an end to the Jewish ways of life, God providentially brought an end to Jewish worship with the destruction of the temple in AD 70. The temple remained destroyed for 1900 years until it was rebuilt by the Jews who had gathered back in Israel after 1948. In line with Peter’s message, we see first that people came to faith in Christ and subsequently these people came together as a community and had all things in common (Acts 2:44-45). They sold possessions and laid them at the Apostle’s feet in a communal kind of living in Acts 4:34-35. This proves simply that only after a heart is converted can we begin to talk about what he gives as offering to God. In fact a truly converted person shall be taught of the Holy Spirit to give, even as the community of God are led by godly and exemplary leadership.

Speaking about leadership, my trainer at the Institute of Pastoral and Theological Training, Pastor Nick Kennecott, Egbe, Kogi State, told us in class that though the church he pastors still collects offering during Sunday worship, he would rather that they don’t. He said as a practice, his offering for the month to his local assembly is paid directly from his account to the church’s account, as his pay cheque arrives. Therefore, for him, a Sunday worship can be wholly given to worshipping God and edifying the saints. Now, a practice like that will ensure two things: that the collection to a church is made by godly people. People whose hearts have been touched by God and taught to give. I think there is something inherently dangerous about passing the offering basket about in a Sunday worship. A good amount of the money given will be by people who are not saved. And this is abomination to God. Yes, unsaved persons can pay into a church account too; there is no doubt about that. But such cases are bound to be reduced.

The biblical tithes may be divided into two epochs: tithing before the law and tithing after the law. Abraham gave a tithe in Genesis 14 and Jacob promised to tithe in Genesis 28. These two instances are the tithing recorded before the law. After the law was given through Moses, the Bible gives us a record of what the tithe was. In Leviticus 27:30-33, the Jewish tithes were listed as agricultural products. Therefore, Christians who are knowledgeable enough argue that they do not tithe according to Moses but according to the tithing practice before the law. Now, even this argument does not hold because Abram’s (not yet Abraham then) tithing in Genesis 14:19-20 does not fit the tithe practice of today. In that context, Abram tithed once, he gave a tithe of war spoils and not his income, and it was clear that there was something symbolic about that tithing. Because Abram received a blessing from the Priest, Melchizedek, before he gave him a tithe. Not that he tithed to receive a blessing as many are taught today.

But even more importantly, the New Testament tells us why Abraham gave a tithe in Genesis 14. In Hebrew 7 we see that Abraham tithed to Melchizedek as a symbol of Melchizedek’s greatness. The Jewish lineage came from Abraham, from which we had the Levites who were given tithes. But here was Abraham tithing to someone and also getting a blessing. Hebrew 7 was therefore not talking about Christian tithing but about a greater covenant in Jesus, who is of the order of Melchizedek, than the covenant of Moses. Hebrew 7 was saying in effect that the Christian covenant is greater than the Jewish one.

Jacob was never recorded to have tithed in spite of his promise to do so. Some have indicated that Jacob’s vow to tithe was actually fulfilled in Leviticus 27 when God was giving the Jews the laws pertaining to keeping of vows. The last thing he spoke to them about was how to tithe. Therefore Jacob did tithe but through his descendants.

Tithing: Jewish or Christian

Daddy Freeze and his campaign against tithe collection by churches, especially by Pentecostal assemblies where little or no accountability for monies collected are made and where the Pastors/General Overseers come off as being stupendously wealthy, is the talk of the Nigerian public today.

I suspect that Freeze’s campaign is already biting into the finances of many churches and the Pastors are not happy at all about it. The fact that his main medium of campaign, his Instagram account, has been hacked numerous times is proof that Freeze is touching the heart of some people’s religion: which undoubtedly is money.

While I do not know which denomination or faith he belongs to, I must state quite frankly that Daddy Freeze is right concerning the subject of tithing today. New Testament Christianity has no place for tithing.

In fact, Christians could very well begin to offer burnt sacrifices, worship at a Jewish temple or observe the Jewish Passover, if they must also tithe today. Despite the fact that numerous people give a tenth of their income to churches, the honest fact is that nobody gives the biblical tithes today. How can this be? It is quite simple really.

Culled from:

http://mouthpiece.com.ng/tithing-christian-or-jewish-practice/

CC: Seun, Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Consider for front page: Mynd44, Lalasticlala, Seun

THE NICD INAUGURAL MEETING IN LAGOS

by Deji Yesufu

Saturday, 11th of November, 2017, had every person who was a “who is who” on the Social Media, particularly Facebook, converge at Hall 2, St. Leo, Catholic Church, Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos, at 12 noon. It was the inauguration meeting of the New Initiative for Civil Development (NICD).

When I walked into the meeting at about noon yesterday, the convener of the meeting, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, was already seated in the hall. I walked up to her and sat next to her, introducing myself. She was very familiar with my name on social media and immediately we latched into a hearty discussion on social-political issues in Nigeria.

In a little while, the program began and the convener, the key note speaker, Mr. Kelechi Deca, and other members of the board of trustees of the NICD were introduced to the high table. The room, where the event held, was about full when the meeting commenced but this did not deter the hearty national anthem with which participants sang. The singing of the Nigerian national anthem, that preceded the meeting, was an indication of the nationalist spirit that will envelope the whole meeting; a meeting did not last more than three hours.

Immediately, Mrs. Ademola-Olateju was called forward to give the opening remark and state in a formal way why we all were gathered there. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju is a known name on Facebook. A regular columnist on the online news portal, Premium Times, Madam Bamidele, as I usually call her, was recently on the black book of the Buhari government, when she reported on her Facebook wall her experience at visiting a government school in a rural community in Lagos.

Bamidele Ademola-Olateju began her opening remarks by reminding us all of the “change” we all are clamouring for in Nigeria. She made it clear that the NICD was not a political party, but a platform on which political consciousness shall be bred. She stated that the beginning of success for Nigeria’s political life is for Nigerians to be able to cast an informed vote.

She said that cases where the electorate are so easily enticed with food and money to vote was bad for Nigerian politics and would never make the electorate make an informed vote. She stated that NICD is mobilizing for political change. She encouraged participants to go out and spread the gospel of change. She thanked all who came and reminded us all that the success of this meeting thus far was hinged on the efforts of volunteers: men and women who simply bought into the idea of the NICD and sought to ensure that it inaugural meeting was a success.

The keynote speaker was Mr. Kelechi Deca. He spoke on a topic titled “THE POWER OF THE POWERLESS”. Mr. Deca began his speech by reminding us of the “Butterfly Effect”. This is a phenomenon where a butterfly, waving its little wings in one corner of the earth, can lead to a tornado in another corner of the earth. Mr. Deca reminded us of how the death of Mr. Bouazizi, that little known Tunisian boy, led to the Arab Spring and the call for democracy and good governance in many Arab countries. He showed us that that event is at the root of activities of ISIS today and terrorist attacks in many cities in Europe. We must not underestimate what can happen in Nigeria as a result of this meeting today.

Mr. Deca reminded participants at the meeting that Nigeria still remains one of the best nations to live in. That no matter where a Nigerian goes to, home still remains home. So, since we do not have another home to call our own, why don’t we all come together and ensure that this country works. Mr. Deca told us that there is little hope for the poor Nigerian child, as the rich are ensuring that their own children succeed them in public and private institutions in the country. Then he reminded us of how social media has redefined journalism in the world and called on us all to make our views known publicly and unafraid, while we endeavoured to make our spheres of influence better. Mr. Deca quoted the late Dele Giwa, saying that Nigerians are “unshockable”, that we have endured so much in this country. It was time for change in a real sense. Mr. Deca showed us in his speech that Nigeria’s problem was not a tribal or religious problem but an economic problem. He said that if Nigerians can find food to eat, more than half of our troubles will be solved.

After the keynote address, the meeting launched into a period of questions and statements. By this time, the room was filled to capacity and participants at the meeting were very eager to state their desire for a better Nigerian nation. In answering questions, the organisers of the events and members of the boards of trustees of the NICD, stated that another meeting shall be holding soon in Kano and other major cities in the country. The aim of it all being to sensitize Nigerians towards a better comprehension of their political life and to seek good governance. The conveners stated that NICD, while not being a political party, shall become a voice in Nigeria for choosing competent individuals for political offices and supporting them to victory. It shall also not shy away from bringing these individuals to remember to fulfil their campaign promises. They shall also ensure that the recall clause in the constitution for members of the legislative arms are actively used for erring politicians.

In the inaugural meeting of the NICD, very little space was given to aimless talk and grandstanding. From the conveners to each of the participants, a sense of how to make Nigeria better, was convened to everyone. The meeting offered opportunity for participants to see, in the flesh, leading commentators on national issues on Facebook, like the delectable but firm Funmi Adewola. We left Toyin Street yesterday with the confidence that indeed this is a beginning of a new thing to come to Nigeria.

http://mouthpiece.com.ng/nigeria-one-of-the-best-nations-to-live-in-kelechi-deca/

A Nigerian man cooks for his wife. He decided to relieve his wife in the kitchen. The fun part was his wearing a helmet as he did this.

What a woman can do, men can do better... With helmet on!�

Photos from Facebook.

CC: Seun, lalasticlala, Mynd44

ugotex85:
Nobody ever presides over his or her own matter and comes out guilty. So madam I don't expect you to admit that your father was a traitor. But history knows him to be so. Go and settle your family squabble with Gowon. He's still alive.

The family has reached out to Gowon a couple of times. He has however never responded to these. It is the reason they have the freedom to speak about these matters in public now.

As for presiding over her matter, except for those blinded by prejudice, most people who know the Banjo story agree that Ojukwu murdered Victor Banjo.