IF I AM PRESIDENT

Everywhere you go, there seem to be, at least, a person, who claims to understand the roots of our political crisis and also seem to have the appropriate solutions to them (all). You would see someone engaged in a futile oratory exercise trying to convince the raptly attentive audience about his/her superior views. Wrong or right, he not only criticises government policies, he also makes unlegislated amendments or outright abolishment of them. Even with feeble arguments, unfound premises and questionable fallacies, you could feel the passion of a patriot wanting to rescue his country from economic, social and political doldrums.

On security, he laments about the unfair treatment of the operatives and the consequential brutalities meted out on innocent citizens by these operatives in their quest to extort them in the name of law enforcement. He explains to you why the hundreds of road blocks cannot be removed and how the daily N20 (twenty naira) service charge (how dare you say bribe?) unlawfully placed on motorists could help in the upkeep of a serving Police officer and that of his family; as if you don’t know. In fact, what one thing, then, can anybody say about the overall welfare of Security Operatives and their operations in the country that would not be depressing, except for hypocrites?

The education sector is on its knees at the mercies of heedless and extravagant administrators. How do you explain that the entire Universities in the country were under locks and keys while an academic Professor held sway as Education Minister? What would be the explanation for the hike in tuition fees while senators and members of the house representatives spent over a trillion naira on trip allowances annually and their monthly salaries stood firmly at N2.5 million and N1.5 million respectively? Their quarterly allowances of N45million each are exclusive. Let him say that he would make education free and compulsory, and then you will be left with no better alternative than to agree.

The government boosts of about a hundred and sixty million population strength and stresses this fact to the World Bank and the International Monetary Funds (IMF) on the need to support the country on several financial fronts. With an economic analysis that yields billion-dollar-worth dividends for these International organizations, they can not but agree that Nigeria is a viable economy for investment (Loan Granting). However, is it not pathetic that the projects for which our futures are being dashed for loans are never even implemented? How then does it not make sense to heed to the call of this “roadside legislator”, who promises a vibrantly re-engineered economy through the development of the real sector?

There are more scenarios offing. And it is startling at how Nigerians easily formulate “street” and unorthodox policies that could (hypothetically) better the lots. However, after all these heated roadside discourses about the health of the country, most of which happens at a newspaper vendor’s stand, you will hear his depressing conclusion, “Only If I am President …” and this is where my astonishment brewed.

You have just witnessed someone who can neither manage his home nor his own finances making unlegislated policies about the economic, social and political situation in the country. In fact, he had just proclaimed that if only he is President, Nigeria will be blah, blah, blah… Does governance not start from self? In the “peoples’ parliament”, you would find a landlord, who absurdly, unreasonably and unethically increases house rents complaining about an unregulated upsurge in the price of petrol. There also, you would find a man who would stampede and encroach upon the fundamental human rights of his less privileged neighbour crucifying the government of injustice and abuse of civic rights. Does justice, too, not begin from self?

There will be no such thing as a New Nigeria, if individuals refuse to rebirth them with upright, righteous and Godly personal virtues. The country we collectively blame for our communal and individual inappropriateness is an extension of our homes; and by implication, an extension of our individual beings. And if we refuse to reconstruct ourselves and our homes with foundation bricks of good virtues, what miracles are we expecting to create the new country that we desire?
As in my old article (A New Nigeria), birthing a new Nigeria essentially will involve birthing a new set of people; people who have embraced a new set of values and virtues, people with radical opposition to corruption and people with unwavering commitments towards the socio-economical and political growth of the country. The evolution of a new Nigeria requires an internal change i.e. a change in the mentality of the people. It requires a shift of paradigm. Nigeria needs not people with only verbal oratory acumen but people who will backup their words with genuine corresponding actions.

The “If I am President” syndrome underscores the reason you will find a pathological drunkard wax lyrical, even in his state of mindlessly, about his country. It is amazing to find out that what lies innermost in his heart is an undying love for his country. But how can we consciously put the future of our beloved country in the hands of a drunkard? Though, we eventually did (because they stole it and we refused to take it back). We still do. But so are the consequences that befall us either as individuals or as a nation. We empowered the drunks in our midst and allowed the sane to analyse their insanity. As result, everyone either becomes sanely insane or insanely sane.

Most of us, even the highly educated, lack the quality elements to back our words with actions. Basically speaking, while you might not agree with me, most Nigerians are either cowards, who are too afraid to face their futures, or hypocrites, who are just looking for someone to blame for their self-inflicted chronological failures.

The fact that we love our country cannot be consciously expressed though, but we do. And right there somewhere in our heart lays our undying love for Nigeria. Shouldn’t we then recreate ourselves in an effort to rebirth the new country we not only desire but really deserve? If only I am President, I will institutionalise a movement that will recreate Nigerians into people whose love and dedication for their country is not only verbally expressed, but also dutifully and responsibly delivered.

Now, that I am not, I write this article for you, in the little light that you will readdress your attitudes towards our country. And above all, that I should not be also caught in the same web of “If I am President”.

A Prisoner's Message to You on Democracy Day

As I got closer to the venue
My heart beats were in leaps and jumps
So many people couldn't be waitin for me
But that was just a thought
There you were with big smiles
Chanting and rejoicing
All in my name

With severe pinches
I tried to wake myself up
From these fantasies of a slumber
I could only feel my blood
Streaming down my skin
And reality dawned on me
That, I was at the center of a big stage

That reception was Princely
My throne was king-size
Nothing else befitted a king
I did not know I was
But you all made me
And that was years ago

With a face made beautiful
An elegant robe of pride
With sprinkles of star-like studs
A heavy metal of gold
Wrecked my neck in absolute pressure
But my face was starched
In a permanent smile

I managed a message of victory
Freedom and hope
Peace and Unity
I painted you a future
That glorified your nature
But soon I ruptured
Knowing I have been captured

In a thrash beside me
Was a ruffled piece
Of my overnight scribblings
There I defined you as you were
Beautiful and intelligent
Truthful and diligent
Prayerful and Obedient

As I descended that dais that day,
Backing you, the jubilant multitude,
I felt my legs in shackles.
I have been defeated
Right in my own speech.
I was taken a prisoner
Never to return.

50 years ago,
I gave my words to you.
I promised you all that can be.
Sound Education,
constant electrification,
Good transportation,
job creation,
And global recognition.

I promised you Food,
Housing, Security, Justice,
Freedom, and Protection.
I promised you good health care.
I made promises to you
That I cannot remember
Since I lost that piece in that thrash

I want to let you know
Now and always that,
Those promises are real and alive.
My stance for you then,
Brought me this incarceration.
While you might have lost hopes in me,
For 50 years of brutality and torture,
I am hanging on my dreams of you.

So, I need you all to stand up for me
As peaceful guerrillas
In a unit of unwavered force
With a front for my liberation
From the claws of these political hawks
Today, now and always
Only then,
Would I deliver to you
My Nigerian Dreams!

HIV AND THE NIGERIAN CHILD: MY ADVICE TO MY PEERS

You must read this is unedited thought of a 12-year-old Nigerian Child.
Introduction
HIV is the short form for “Human Immunodeficiency Virus”. This is the virus that causes the dreaded “Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)". While AIDS is very popular amongst the Nigerian Children, HIV is not. Unfortunately, HIV worsens to AIDS. So there comes the need to educate every Nigeria Child about the dangers this killer-virus poses to our future.

Brief History
According to Wikipedia (an online free Encyclopaedia), HIV/AIDS was first discovered between 1980 and 1981. And as at 2006, 25 years after its discovery, it had killed more than 25 million people. In 2005 alone, AIDS claimed an estimated 2.4 – 3.3 million lives; 570,000 were children.
During my research, I also found out that Nigeria has the third-largest population of people living with HIV/AIDS and this revelation motivates me to writing this article with more energy than a school-work demands as much as it scares me.

The FactsheetUnited Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is an international organization working for children’s right, their survival, development and protection. In 2007, UNICEF released a fact-sheet on Nigeria and it was revealed that:

1. An estimated 3.5 to 3.8 million people were living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria;
2. 4.7 per cent of the above estimate, were between 20 and 24 years old;
3. 4.9 per cent of 25 – 29 years were affected by the virus;
4. 4.4 per cent of women attending antenatal clinics are infected with HIV;
5. About 240,000 children were living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria; and
6. Sadly, about 930,000 children had been orphaned by AIDS;

My fear for the Nigerian ChildThe Nigerian Child is one that is defined by many expressions. A lot of these expressions bother me. In all, they paint to me a little helpless child who is not only able to survive without support and guidance; he is also largely neglected by his community.

As a result of this neglect, he freely roams the streets seeking food and shelter. He is without education and he is totally vulnerable. In this search for survival, HIV/AIDS is one of the several dangers that await an innocent Nigerian child.

While some of us are lucky to have great parents, who care, cater and love us, I wonder if there exists anyone anywhere who cares, caters and loves the Nigerian child.

Preventing the Nigerian Child from HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS, from my research, can only be transmitted in a number of ways. They are:
1. Blood: If infected blood comes into contact with any open wound, HIV may be transmitted. This includes the sharing of sharp objects such as Injections, clippers, razor blades and even needles. Children who engage in tattoos and piercing are also exposed to HIV.

2. Mother-to-Child: The transmission of the virus from mother to the child during pregnancy, childbirth and breast-feeding.

3. Sexual: Children that engage in early sexual relationships, as shown by records, are more exposed to HIV. While we are encouraged to love one another, we must equally avoid sexual relationships. They only known results of early sexual relationships are poverty, illiteracy, neglect and even, death. Therefore, children should be exposed to sex education and be encouraged to totally avoid any sexual relationships.

My advice for my peersThe Nigerian Child is largely neglected. And thinking about this little opportunity to explore the dangers HIV/AIDS poses to children, my utmost appreciation goes to my lovely parents and my teachers. There is no way I would be able to learn about HIV/AIDS if I was not cared for by my parents and if this assignment was not given.

I will like to use this opportunity to advice my peers and other Nigerian children that the most important habit to develop is Obedience. We have been educated about HIV/AIDS. Now, while our parents and teachers are not looking, can we be the obedient children who heed to advice all of the time knowing that HIV/AIDS has no cure?

Sanusi faults Olaniwun Ajayi on Northern domination

The Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, surprised guests present at the Muson Centre for the launching of the book of Sir Olaniwun Ajayi at the Muson Centre in Lagos.

The book titled: “Nigeria, Africa’s failed asset?” attracted many important dignitaries, intellectuals and some governors.

The argument by discussants centered on whether or not the colonial masters laid the foundation for the problems Nigeria is currently facing. Many argued that the British loved the North and that was why it gave more than 5o percent of the National Assembly seats to the North at independence.

Sanusi, however, stole the show when he spoke. His speech was anchored on the plank that the British and Nigerian rulers are responsible for the state of the situation Nigeria finds itself today.

Below is his unedited speech.



“Let me start by saying that I am Fulani (laughter). My grandfather was an Emir and therefore I represent all that has been talked about this afternoon. Sir Ajayi has written a book. And like all Nigerians of his generation, he has written in the language of his generation.

“My grandfather was a Northerner, I am a Nigerian. The problem with this country is that in 2009, we speak in the language of 1953. Sir Olaniwun can be forgiven for the way he spoke, but I can not forgive people of my generation speaking in that language.

“Let us go into this issue because there are so many myths that are being bandied around. Before colonialism, there was nothing like Northern Nigeria. Before the Sokoto Jihad, there was nothing like the Sokoto caliphate. The man from Kano regard himself as bakane. The man from Zaria was bazazzage. The man from Katsina was bakatsine. The kingdoms were at war with each other. They were Hausas, they were Muslims, they were killing each other.

“The Yoruba were Ijebu, Owo, Ijesha, Akoko, Egba. When did they become one? When did the North become one? You have the Sokoto Caliphate that brought every person from Adamawa to Sokoto and said it is one kingdom. They now said it was a Muslim North.

“The Colonialists came, put that together and said it is now called the Northern Nigeria. Do you know what happened? Our grand fathers were able to transform to being Northerners. We have not been able to transform to being Nigerians. The fault is ours. Tell me, how many governors has South West produced after Awolowo that are role models of leadership? How many governors has the East produced like Nnamdi Azikiwe that can be role models of leadership? How Many governors in the Niger Delta are role models of leadership? Tell me. There is no evidence statistically that any past of this country has produced good leaders.

You talk about Babangida and the economy. Who were the people in charge of the economy during Babangida era? Olu Falae, Kalu Idika Kalu. What state are they from in the North?

“We started the banking reform; the first thing I heard was that in Urobo land, that there will be a course of the ancestors. I said they (ancestors) would not answer. They said why? I said how many factories did Ibru build in Urobo land? So, why will the ancestors of the Urobo people support her?

“We talk ethnicity when it pleases us. It is hypocrisy. You said elections were rigged in 1959, Obasanjo and Maurice Iwu rigged election in 2007. Was it a Southern thing? It was not.

“The problem is: everywhere in this country, there is one Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba and Itshekiri man whose concern is how to get his hands on the pile and how much he can steal.

Whether it is in the military or in the civilian government, they seat down, they eat together. In fact, the constitution says there must be a minister from every state.

“So, anybody that is still preaching that the problem of Nigeria is Yoruba or Hausa or Fulani, he does not love Nigeria. The problem with Nigeria is that a group of people from each and every ethnic tribe is very selfish. The poverty that is found in Maiduguri is even worse than any poverty that you find in any part of the South. The British came for 60 years and Sir Ajayi talked about few numbers of graduates in the North (two at independence). What he did not say was that there was a documented policy of the British when they came that the Northerner should not be educated. It was documented. It was British colonial policy. I have the document. I have published articles on it. That if you educate the Northerner you will produce progressive Muslim intellectuals of the type we have in Egypt and India. So, do not educate them. It was documented. And you say they love us (North).

“I have spent the better part of my life to fight and Dr. (Reuben) Abati knows me. Yes, my grandfather was an Emir. Why was I in the pro-democracy movement fighting for June 12? Is (Moshood) Abiola from Kano? Why am I a founding director of the Kudirat Initiative for Nigerian Development (KIND)?

“There are good Yoruba people, good Igbo people, good Fulani people, good Nigerians and there are bad people everywhere. That is the truth.

“Stop talking about dividing Nigeria because we are not the most populous country in the world. We have all the resources that make it easy to make one united great Nigeria. It is better if we are united than to divide it.

“Every time you talk about division, when you restructure, do you know what will happen? In Delta, Area, the people in Warri will say Agbor, you don’t have oil. When was the Niger Delta constructed as a political enlity? Ten years ago, the Itshekiris were fighting the Urobos. Isn’t that what was happening? Now they have become Niger Delta because they have found oil. After, it will be, if you do not have oil in your village then you can not share our resources.

“There is no country in the world where resources are found in everybody’s hamlet. But people have leaders and they said if you have this geography and if we are one state, then we have a responsibility for making sure that the people who belong to this country have a good nature.

“So, why don’t you talk about; we don’t have infrastructure, we don’t have education, we don’t have health. We are still talking about Fulani. Is it the Fulani cattle rearer or is anybody saying there is no poverty among the Fulani?”, he said

THE FARMER INSTINCT: THE HABITUAL SUCCESS FACTORS

I wonder why you'd want to read this article. This is a piece of my thought while you were, probably, busy with something else. Sometimes, reading other people's thought through articles like this could be a sheer waste of time. Do you know why?

You probably, or most definitely know everything that is written in there.

Sometimes again, we find ourselves learning new things like we do in schools. However, at some certain age, we seldom learn. So, at such ages, what do we do reading? Why must we even read in the first place? I hear you say that "As long as Man lives, learning is continual". Well, I agree. But have you also heard that "A man learns 50% of everything he needs to learn between the ages of 5 and 7 years"? Yes, 50% it is!

Have you answered the puzzle why a child tends to believe his/her nursery school teacher, even at old age? Anyway, I leave that to a probable next article!

Basically, most times we read, we are most likely rekindling knowledge that went gray or totally lost in our memory. However, I hasten to add that, if what we read is not about researches, discoveries or inventions.

So, I ask again: Why are you still reading this article? There is nothing in here that you do not know. If you think you are going to find anything new, then you are mistaken. If you think you are going to rekindle some parts of your gray or lost knowledge, well, that i don't know but you are still reading.

I woke up today and I rekindled in the farmer's instinct. It is a simply philosophy to success that is well-known to all. It is not something thought in the classrooms. Yet, everyone learns it. By the virtue of life, everyone knows it. Then I wonder why anyone would still be unsuccessful in this life. I wonder why we need a Brian Tracy or a Fela Durotoye to be the King that we already are. Maybe you'd find an answer at the end of this article. Are you still reading? Wow!

Ok. Let's go there!

By the virtue of the name that he is called, and the conscious/unconscious acceptance of it, a farmer learns, and learns over and over again, all the skills that he needs and can learn to make cultivation habitual, convenient and utmost, profitable.

In the beginning, he has the mental picture of the end. He is aware of the toilings to be made. He is aware of the weather and seasons. He knows harvest-time is a subject of sow-time with respect to the weather and season.

Like any business man, he is calculatively aware of his mean turnover, below which a loss would be recorded; a non-acceptance level.

After all these prequisite skills, he never goes to sleep. He put his idea to test. And just like a believer, his faith is high. He is optimistic. He is aware of probable challenges. However, he is not daunted because  he knows that "the only thing you see when youtake your eyes off your goals, are distrations".

He then acquires the right tools to prepare the farm for sowing. He does prepares. He keeps his tools in good shape. he can't afford damages to them. At least, avoidable amages. Afterwards, he sows!!! WOW!
He actually plants the seeds?


Think this is the right time to sleep? Nah, dear reader!

He comes at scheduled periods to weed!Thus, creating an enabling environment for the growth of his seeds. He allows them to grow. A more important facto here is that, he KNOWS that Time is imperative.

Unlike a Yahoo! boy, he is not in a haste to wait the appropriate time for the seeds to grow and be matured enough to be ready for harvest. He understands the power of patience! Understand that while he waits, he is not sleeping. Waiting does not mean sleep. Waiting probably means in this context the period to allow growth and prepare for harvest.

While he waits also, he is aware of the probable attacks from pests in all forms: insects, animals and human beings alike. He wades an unending war them. He walks in the wake of every morning and in the dark of the nights protecting his crops. He is ready to die in the cause of a definite success. Remember, whatever that is not worth dying is not worth lliving for. He is just a Soldier!


During harvest, he know how to harvest. After harvest, he know how to sell. Just before selling, he reserves for his household. He keeps some grains to be sowed again. Then he pushes the rest to the market.

Now, his dream has been accomplished you think? Stop reading and get busy!!!

True success is an accummulation of small successes. This he knows so well ans believes iin. You what happens next? Now,He know how to succeed. He had succeeded once. He knows what if feels like to succeed because he had succeeded once again. He would want to succeed again then the whole process begins again! the same way, if you think this article makes sense, you can read again. You had probably not read means to some of my thoughts. Maybe i did not present them well enough.

Success can be calculated. It all depends on how badly you want it and how badly you crave for it.

This is off-my-desk. In a more organised mood, I will put this up fpr a re-write. Maybe you might want to buy.

If you have gotten this far in this article, you hard probably spent a while reading! Do you want to do this again? No, I suppose. Better imbibe the farmer's instinct then and live with it all your life. Like this, you'd safe alot of money buying motivational books


O ti remi jo! i am tired. See ya again!!

The Giants' Race (part 1)

“And the cripple leaps ahead…”
Once upon a time in a country-side of HEROS, there was prophesy of draught, starvation and death in the land in few days to come, and the people were afore-warned to move out of their domain into a new land where dreams come true - The Promise Land. The oracle had also warned that only the strong and the highly skilled shall survive the throes. However, before the exodus commenced, every man was advised to make a worthy sacrifice. When asked what the contents of the sacrifices were for each person, the oracle just said again, “SACRIFICE”. Then, there was confusion.

Alphareus, the Lord of the land, knew the oracle could not be wrong. It had not. He consulted the wise men who interpreted the oracle’s responses as “PREPARATION” before the journey and “STEADFASTNESS” during the journey. Skills were necessary, but not ultimate. The path to the new land, whose length was unknown, was described by a narrow slippery bridge across a boiling river. Alphareus felt sacrifice could not have come in such simple terms of PREPARATION & STEADFASTNESS. He called a congress.

“Once again, we have to fight against extinction for survival. Immediately after our victory over CHOURMOGUS, I have known that this is not our home. There is going to be another movement from this domain of death to one with livelihood. Probably, the greatest movement mankind will ever witness. The good news is that we shall know no bitterness in the new home. The bad news however is that, ONLY the strong and the highly skilled will survive. Now, go home, get fit and harness your skills for the journey that commences by the next 7 days.” Alphareus descended the dais and retired to his palace.

The congress dispersed. One could see no fears on anyone’s face. They were all warriors. After all, they had won all battles that came there way. Even the chourmogian war that seemed insurmountable was conquered. “Victory is certain”, said the Lead Warrior.

While everyone had gone to garner their arsenal, one man had gone for consultations on the description of the paths that led to the Promised Land. Metomiphius was a cripple. He knew that apart from severe death during wars, several were others that were stampeded during massive movements; most of them, crippled. He knew he had neither weaponry nor horses, still he decided to survive with the strong and the highly skilled.

Few hours after consultaions, Metomiphius set upon a journey that was billed for the next seven days. He had stocked himself with essential resources for the journey. He knew a delay is detrimental as much as an overload of resources. He took just enough essential resources and set forth.

For Alphareus, there was no need to be in a hurry. He had warriors and fast and healthy horses. However, he understood that after some lay-off, his chariots needed rejuvenation – Strength and Skill alike. He set aside a training camp and equipped it with new weaponry. He got more carts for storage. He was getting prepared.

The Values of Man (Part 2): Fighting the Shadows

"Imagine a man that fights fiercely against his own shadows"

In the shadows of the dark, one man, while lots were asleep, was awake not only with his eyes opened but also with his mind made up on issues that were once tagged “SACRED”. He had thought about the unthinkable for other men. Even where the company he used to work for said “NO” and spelt Sceptics, he was able to bombard the affinity of his thoughts with the fantasy of the reality. Today, he stands at the threshold of a global command; at least in the field he had chosen for himself.

Microsoft, the software “big giant”, was never at a point the dream of Bill Gates. Events unfolded, and Microsoft came to life to redefine the way we see our PCs. The rewards came forth with the dedications and sacrifices. Today, more than 70% of computer users (novices and professionals alike) in the world run on Windows – the brain child of Gates. He walked in through the Do(or)S, blew up our minds opening the Windows, and some other cliques saw the Sun. The breeze that took the wind now makes us believe that we can fly even without wings. From the shadows of his thought, we have mounted an industry worth Trillions of trillions of dollars. However, as Gates’ bold steps had motivated millions into the field, he has to fight against his own shadows (the creativity of others) for survival. While Microsoft looked at Visual Basic as a major breakthrough and was proud of it, Sun Microsystems overtook it with almighty Java, and today C# has had to trail the path defined by Java. After the DO(or)S came the Windows, Bill might open new GATES. The values of Bill Gates unfolded.

In the gutters on a street in the defunct West Germany, one man can up with the “SACRED” law of relativity. The little voice that spoke in the heart of the angry Jew opened up the path to the new world order of Atomicity. It was glorious he made such an enormous achievement, but it was the same little idea that ruined the entirety of Hiroshima. The values of Albert Einstein, narrating the final reactions to his actions, seem to me were built on the pride of discovery and the threat of extinction. He won the Nobel Prize for Physics for his massive discovery but had to fight his own shadows to win for Peace. (The same way Adolph Hitler fought and lost against his own shadows for denying the Jews). The values of Einstein unfolded.

As the sound of the Pop music make some people giggle, Michael Jackson created a niche for himself as one of the most popular men ever to live. However, another man in a far desert in the east love the detonation of a ballistic so much that he created the “9/11”. Osama bin Laden, unfolded how crude the heart of man could be. With feeble arguments, he made justification for the actions that shook the world to its roots. Though accepted by millions like him, I still wonder why a supposed CIA agent took a U-turn on his former ally. A ballistic battle broke out and we found the “9/11” DJ running from the stage, when the music played in his domain. He has refused to dance. But in all, America has been fighting their own shadows in Osama bin Laden. They trained and made him we learnt. The values of US and Bin Laden unveiled in clashes.

To be continued…

The Values of Man - Part 1

“Of what gain is it for a man that gains all in this world and loose his life?” – A biblical verse

The first man – Adam – was mold out of clay but with a direct breathe of God. He was acclaimed to be in the image of God. He was built as a physical civil construction by the most divine. His worth was more than all the Angels that God commanded all clarions to bow before him. This is the story that first questioned the values of man. Adam was, at that point, the most valued being created by God.

Most depressingly, after the almighty fall of Adam and Eve, most of the treasured values of man were lost. But the most merciful gave his words to restore them all; but this time, shared and spread among and across all generations as time past. Early men were treasured in height and physical strength. As most men lived by the sword, the skills to lead and win battles were utmost values to classify man. That was the virtue that brought Julius Caesar to the threshold of undaunted global power. Fortune-tellers were most treasured too.

Time past and the values of the real men became more demanding. Knowledge soon overtook might and strength. The world marshaled into one driven by mental strength rather than physical strength. Nations with the most intelligent men soon led others into a new dawn. This was the virtue that brought Rome, an ancient city in modern Italy to the frontline of civilization; never forgetting that Egypt was the first to be liberalized by the Pythagoras’. Philosophers were the treasures of those ages. Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Archimedes to mention just a few were the men that manned the gates to the new world.

Just before the Second World War, Adolph Hitler was the only man at the threshold of a global command. His orders spread across the globe. He was feared from east to the west. His values were the treasures of the mighty Western Germany. His virtues were utmost respected until he was power drunk. God was ready to fulfill his promise to share and spread human values across and among tribes and castes over time. The most historic war broke out and power was moved by its roots in bits and strategically to the west.

We heard about the Knights of the Temple of Solomon. We heard about the Freemasons and we know the Jews but who knows how these people have been able to grab on global power? Myth or history, the truth is that power moved to the west. One man in the dark, scientifically and single-handedly led this marshalling of power to the west. He was at that point the most intelligent in the world. He lost 50% of his brain but was still able to create a revolution in the world of sciences. Albert Einstein discovered the law of relativity that soon became the clue behind the little stone that destroyed Hiroshima. He had lived in Germany for so long without a being a national of any country. The announcement that he was an American brought the most desired power drift to the US.

ODUSOTE, Ayodeji Y.
Solution Developer

The New Nigeria

The first 1st of October in the history of the country – Nigeria – was in 1960. That day, a new country was borne. Statements were declared uniting the several castes in the nation. It was the first time that we had agreed to one term of living and of governance without chauvinism. A new life was created; new people, new nation, new Nigeria. The atmosphere was alive and we were relieved of the colonial masters. That day, our destiny was placed in our hands for the first time but under one singular fact that "we shall remain one single nation – Nigeria".

Then, the new Nigeria was defined by the several cultures of her constituting tribes, the form of government, the population strength, the geographical location, its seasons & weathers, and most importantly, its resources (both natural and human alike). It was the Agricultural and Industrial Ages together, and the new country had both advantages of man power accordingly to fit into the industrial class, and the perfect varying weather conditions supported by a vast fertile landscape endowed with rich natural plantations to fit into the agricultural class. Africans looked westward for a prospective young giant to lead the continent through the ages. The focal point became Nigeria, the land of plenty.

1976 marked the beginning of another Nigeria. An exodus of the workforce from the farms into our industries soon defined a new Nigeria driven by the economic impact of the most lucrative Oil & Gas industry. The agricultural age soon died a painful death (in the country). Our farm lands were being taken over by thick forests while the Industrial age was entering a new level of advancement. The era of the Oil boom channeled a new course for the labour force. The Industrial age replaced the agricultural age.

All the while, the west was marshaling into a new age - the Information age. Information and its dissemination (i.e. communication) were major challenges and several tools were developed to launch a global revolution in the new age, so was the tool, Information Technology. Global political and economic powers were soon closely attributed to those nations with immense IT values, and those people with the required skills manned the gates to the new world. They set the new rules of the game. They led the revolution.

However, it is most unfortunate that the Information Age is over two decades and Nigeria remains in the doldrums of the new world. While India has been able to create both political and economic leverages with the Oil-powered economies of the world through the adoption of IT, Nigeria, the one-time focal point for Africa’s Reformation, is drifted away by the wind of corruption and an overwhelming sense of greed through the acquisition of wealth while the youths’ potentials and future are being jeopardized; the resultant factor being the loss of a national sense of commitment among growing youths to render selfless services to their father-land. Every opportunity to man a public or political office thus becomes one to an endless greed to enrich the insatiable desire for crazy wealth. I wonder how many Nigerians wake up daily to bless the country like an American would do. We, subconsciously, hate the present Nigeria!

This disheartening phenomenon is almost becoming a communal norm that has been rooted into our thinking. A typical Nigerian youth sees the advent of the e-world as an open gate to a new world of cyber crimes. Several millions of dollars are spent occasionally by the governments of the world to ensure that these gates to the e-world filter hacks and secure our vital information to its constituting data, but as this campaign increases, youths found other entries into the world of crimes through scams (in its various types). By this means, several individuals, even governments of the world, have lost millions to these little opened holes. People are cajoled daily in the pretence of "friendship" and have lost fortunes to these cheap concealed relationships. This is the present Nigeria we have found ourselves.

In it also, we know giants without might, thinkers without thoughts, dreamers without vision, achievers without labour, leaders without purpose and directions, and youths without dreams and visions. A community governed in chaos by unscrupulous leaders and their rash policies rather than one governed by fundamental laws and principles.

In my opinion, birthing a new Nigeria essentially will involve birthing a new set of people; people who have embraced a new set of values and virtues, people with radical opposition to corruption and people with unwavering commitments towards the socio-economical and political growth of the country. The evolution of a new Nigeria requires an internal change i.e. a change in the mentality of the people. It requires a shift of paradigm. Possible ways of doing this involve orientation and re-orientation of the present people to birth new people, youth empowerment through capacity building, and setting up programs & structures that will give the people a sense of future security.

The foundation brick to these structures thus becomes ceaseless and massive youth orientation to transform our youths into more productive and patriotic citizens of the country. Nigeria will only come alive again if, for everyone, there is a bright future coupled with equal opportunities and healthy environments for constructive competitions. The future of Nigeria is the newness of our individual beings and the readiness of everyone to put a hand in nation-building. Once this is achieved, we shall begin to live in a new secured society governed by fundamental laws and principles. One that is conscious of her entire citizenry. Then, we shall live in a country we all love with passion, a new Nigeria.



ODUSOTE, Ayodeji Y.