-
Sharing ABIOLAS Thoughts
An Unpublished work of Olajide David Abiola
By: Nnamdi Okeke 2015.
Nnamdis Comments These are candid excerpts of Olajide David on
different issues as posted from his online thread. Do enjoy this
Piece.
About David
Is a multidisciplinary professional bringing a broad vision,
measured success and rich experience in business and operations
management, technical sales and legislation/government
administration spanning over seven strong years and preceded by six
years of impeccable record of military service. A prolific writer
and commentator.
-
My thoughts IDLENESS OF FUNDS (A TETFUND Perspective) In year
2009, a full page publication listing all Tertiary institutions
(University, Polytechnic and Colleges of Education) who were yet to
access the sum of N23.6bn from the TETFUND in the Punch news print.
Some hadn't accessed 3 years of funds as at that time, while a few,
just a year. My feelings were mixed at this discovery. On the one
hand, I was a bit perturbed that such huge funds for a few number
of institutions were stashed away fallowing while these instiutions
suffered huge deficit and degradation in critical educational and
instructional infrastructure and facilities. On the other hand, I
saw this as a huge business opportunity to proffer IT solutions
with ETF fund compliant and accessible criterion. I believed
strongly, and still do, that one of the problems with many of our
public institutions is the poverty of ideas and absence of the
moral and political will do get simple things done. I took time to
develop some well researched solutions, which were drafted into
well detailed proposals, outlining core education services merits,
benefits and advantages to the institution with clarity. These were
sent out to the institutions listed in the publication. They were a
little over 30 in numbering. On seperate dates after some weeks,
they started replying, with invitations to come make presentations
or to communicate preferred dates. Out of all of them, the only
institution meaningful headway was made is the University of Uyo;
the commitments of the rest fizzled out quickly no sooner had we
had any meaninful negotiations. By October 2013, the funds had
grown to N73.87bn, and by July 2014, it had topped over N100bn,
unaccessed. And it keeps growing. One can't blame TETFUND but the
institutions. Most aren't serious about accessing funds they don't
have control and management of. Many of them make attempts at
accessing the funds to execute irrelevant projects like school
fencing, Bus procurement and the likes, which have no benefits to
nor correlation with the improvement of education systems delivery
for both lecturers and students.
-
Legislation cannot in any way deter or prevent acts and crimes
of racism or tribalism, it is only effective at apprehending and
punishing culprits. If laws were effective at obviating crimes, the
United States wouldn't have the highest convicts per population
ratio in the world, and Singapore, Indonesia, China and Malaysia
wouldn't still be attractive to drug traffickers considering the
very stiff penalties for such crimes. The issue of racism will be
more effectively addressed if the right values are ingrained at the
family, school, work place and worship house levels. One's
prejudice or outright dislike for a person is an easy road to
believing anything bad, unsavoury or negative about such a person,
even when facts, reason and logic proves otherwise. The same thing
when you like someone. It becomes difficult to accept a bad or
negative reality regarding such a person. SOLUTION: Investigate all
things thoroughly before holding on to that which is true. The
world pays attention to talk but understands action better. It
wasn't lamentations and rhetorics that stopped Adolf Hitler in his
war tracks, it was affirmative military action by global coalition
of nations. Rhetorics are good if it can galvanize inmediate
affirmative action. If the African Nations whose citizens are being
targeted in the ongoing South-African genocidal xenophobic frenzy
cannot transmute their criticisms, lamentations and despair into
pursuing a formal complaint at the ICC or pressuring the
South-African government to rein in the xenophobic marauders, the
anguish, frustrations and agitation are pointless and needless.
This xenophobic episode shouldn't have recurred if the appropriate
measures were taken the first time it happened. Can Africa do
better than lament? I have maintained at every opportune time at
different fora that the white man can never and should never be
blamed for any socio-economic and socio-political woes of the black
man. Even
-
the much talked about and scholarly denounced transatlantic
slave trade is the Black man's own undoing. It should have been
described as Slave Capture but it was aptly phrased "slave trade"
because it was a concensual transaction between buyers and sellers.
As a human being, salvation in any area of one's life begins with
acknowledging and embracing self responsibilities, rather than
misdirecting blames. The black man is his own enemy. The black man
doesn't even know the basci responsibility that comes with power of
any sort. Who needs all these socio-cultural and socio-political
groups? Whose interests do these groups really serve? Self or
altruistic? Are groups required to address issues related with bad
governance like unemployment, poor infrastructure, social
insecurity et al. Personally, I think groups like AFENIFERE, AREWA
and OHANEZE should altogether be proscribed by our collective
attitude of ignoring them. Their views are always representative of
a very few and self serving at best. Who can really state with
confident assertion that these groups really represent interests
beneficial to an egalitarian society for all within their regions?
Multichoice and MTN are white owned businesses. Sanctioning these
firms in an effort to rein in those black blood suckers will be
misplaced. Those murderers should be hit so hard and bad that
they'd think twice resorting to the madness called xenophobia.
Afterwards, they need to be properly desensitised and orientated.
Beasts they're, and should be treated as such. Seriously, the
singular most important major difference between the white race and
the black race is the white man's "sheer will to get things
done".
-
When it really comes to getting things that matter to them or
their society done, their egos, petty differences and those silly
prejudices aren't ample hindrances or saboteurs. I hear and read
many Nigerians adduce a flawed constitution as cause of many of our
National problems. This is weak and myopic in several ways as
there
What have we made of the numerous aspects of our constitution
considered ok? As the Nigerian constitution stand today, does it
permit theft or corruption, murder, tribalism, violence, economic
sabotage, anarchy, partiality, insecurity, chaos?
is no nation of the world where the citizens were every content
or satisfied with all the articles that define the
constitution.
The black man's problem seem to be getting trapped in the white
man's idealism; being unable to transmute them into action or
practice. Nigerian government at all levels are bedevilled by the
spirit of time wasting and sluggishness. We can learn how to spend
a 4 year tenure from the likes of China, U.A.E, Singapore or even
Ethiopia. Aswear, a lot can be done in 4 years if the sheer will is
present. I once had a time wasting experience of 2 years with a
State government that really wanted to procure my professional
services. The proposition was initially tendered 2 years into the
government's administration. It spent approximately 18 months going
back and forth in the name of due process. By the time it was
approved, the administration had 6 months left with a re-election
bid on the horizon, causing its suspension till after election on
the premise that the intended solution may hurt electoral chances.
The incumbent governor lost, having 3 months duration left to
handover. He totally shelved the project because he didn't want to
appear vindictive by going ahead to implement the solution. 2 years
gone! Hahahaha
-
Should we wish back the evil of APARTHEID upon this black
South-Africans? No wonder the white population reside in mostly
heavily secured homes, relying on private security outfits, and arm
themselves to the teeth with sophisticated firearms. Their
xenophobic craze no fit near them, even foreigners. Violence seems
to recognize higher power. From the body languages broadcasted in
the photos emerging from the streets of South-Africa, it seems to
me that the government is complicit, what with the way the police
look on and even laughing while the flames of immolation burns on.
One reason the materially wealthy status of many Nigerians lack the
substance of inspiration to many aspiring entrepreneurs, gifted and
professionals is the absence of a real narrative that led to the
wealth. What you get for your inquisition is usually "Na Godu ooo",
as if God is a sorcerer. I guess not too many are have the pride of
dignity to share how they came into their material wealth. I see a
new generation of honest and hardwork forged entrepreneurs emerging
with the new Nigeria, not those "Microwave" millionaires who mock
the dignity of labour of others. Some join the mob or assume a mob
mentality, for there in they derive strength to act or think as
they wouldn't do alone. For others, they form a clique to feel
safe, secure and to have a sense of belonging. And you have those
who stand with sense, reason, logic and the truth, causing the mob
and the cliques to buzz about them. Luggard and Bortha's similar
verdicts on the black man several decades ago continues to generate
indignation from black readers till date, however, very little to
nothing has improved in the general affairs of the black man or the
societies which they doninate and organize. Rather than react
indignantly, it is only wise that one takes a critical and careful
study of these verdicts in
-
a passively objective way. This will help seperate the chaff
from the grain, enabling a good That there is nothing genetically
inferior in the makeup of the black man as compared to other races
is an absolute truth requiring neither scientific experimentation
nor historical study. The least developed mental faculty can
comprehend this.
takeaway.
So if the black man is provenly mentally at par with other
races, with intricate superior physicality, what can evidently be
alluded for his century endured hopelessness and decade long
confusion in spite of immense natutal resources and great
advancement in science and technology to aid his salvation and
significantly thrust him ahead of other races in many or all
frontiers? I for one do not believe there exist and elusive Holy
Grail to salvage the black man other than the simple, yet ignored
principles. A quick list will do without deviating into an academic
discourse. THINGS OTHER RACES DO RIGHT THAT THE BLACK MAN HASN'T
UNDERSTOOD - Other races plan, prepare and execute * The black man
believes in fate - Other races are altruistic and sacrificial * We
are more self oriented & more focused on who takes the credit
than who will bene- fit. - Other races think with their head * The
black man thinks with the heart mostly. - Other races have stronge
senses of reponsi- bilities. * God takes responsibility for
everything with the black man. - Other races seek power to serve,
to work * The black man seeks power for aggrandise- ment.
-
- Other races thrive through organized societ- ies. * The black
man requires chaos to thrive. It is not a close ended list, but it
isn't endless either. The sooner we realize heaven is yet to come
upon us, the less jarred we would feel about the vicious ways of
men in this checkered universe. Prime your mind for the unexpected.
If you're feared or deified by your subordinates, never look
forward to sound and good counsel from them. All you'll ever get is
stroking of your ego. The black man will accomplish so much if he
cared less who took the credit. People hardly remember the shape of
the trophy, but the memory of the winning performance or act
endures. Personally, I don't believe there are ethnic haters and
religious extremists in the real sense of it. There are simply
enemies of HUMANITY. Wicked people! Evil people. All these
classifications simply give them less indignant and evil
appellation. Intense enthic hatred and religious extremism
invariably leads to inciting murder and triggering unrest.
Profiling crimes against humanity on the grounds of race,
ethnicity, gender, religion et al is flawed. Religion and ethnicity
doesn't just cut it. Haven't you variably encountered both good and
bad people of the same ethnicity and religious faiths as you? A
criminal or an evil mind saying ngbati ngbati and ni oruko Jesu
will not be less harmful to you because he shares your faith and
ethnicity. There are bad people and there are good people. It
doesn't get simpler than that.
-
Does a terrorist shouting the name of Allah while blowing
himself up along others or savagely cutting another's throat make
everyone who says Allah akbar a real or potential demon? No! You're
likely to consumate more meaningful and rewarding friendships,
social and business relationships if you focused on people's
character rather than their religious proclamations or ethnic
descents. The greatest challenge to the 21st century individual is
preserving self when almost everyone is taken by the active ongoing
pressure within society to make the individual conform, accept and
embrace the status quos. This is often angrily greeted with the
protestation language like "I have a right to be myself;
justifiably so. However, before we exercise this right, it is
incumbent we answer the question of our sanity, civility, mannerism
and humanity. The moral and natural r
A lot of people have fallen under the hypnosis of society's
influence to tune other's lives with conceited overbearing
attitudes. The tyrants of this age are not physical brutes, but
social and emotional control freaks, many of whom are really
oblivious of their state of being or minds. Their attitudinal
dispositions can be rightly discerned if you're sensitive and
observatory enough. They want to dictate the mood and atmosphere of
any given social space. They want to set the agenda of social
discourse and determine what's relevant and intellectual to
stimulate their participation or respect; they want to determine
who you can and ought to relate with. If they don't relate with
person A, they expect you not to too; doing so earns you a
systematic boycott.
ight to be one's self should never include being noxious.
Therefore, before agitating and pursuing the right to be self,
these conditions beg for satisfaction.
To roll with their illusional league, your lingo has gotta
conform, else the right of place in their world is not guaranteed.
They're mental meddlers. They may even not engage you, but they
observe and monitor your social trail, beating and agitating
themselves with why you should be relating with this or that
person, the trendy topics you should be buzzing along with or
initiating, the timing of your activities, and finally the
intellectual upper crust you should identify with to belong to
their virtual island of "gbo gbo" big boys and girls. Lol.
-
Be yourself, everyone in the world is taken. What makes
socialisation exhilarating is the diversity of our narratives and
the issues thrown up for discourse. But before you be yourself,
make sure the self is not rude, mannerless, uncouth, uncivil,
treacherous and overbearing. Good morning. For a Corporate or
Government really committed to getting anything worthwhile done in
good and reasonable time, it is no brainer that eliminating or
shrinking bureacracies to the barest minimum is the most important
thing to do. On board the smartest minds and the most dilligent
hands all you can, yet, very little will be accomplished at the
expense of irredeemable time and material resources. The same way
one can be in the middle of Oceanic waters and remain thirsty (due
to salinity), is the same way one can remain acutely ignorant in
the midst of vast amount of information in this age. Information
overload doesn't equate knowledge. Upon hiring a coach, you leave
him be to choose his players and define his game formation and
strategy. You don't behave meddlesome. The overall purpose of
bringing a coach on board is to improve game performance leading to
more victories, trophies, earnings and perhaps bragging rights for
team and fans. How he does it is not the business of the fans nor
stakeholders in as much as the rules, principles and spirit of the
game are not undermined or violated. If you didn't have
Like a student, I don't have to read late into the night, early
in the morning or go to some remote places to find solitude
conducive for study as is the practice and habits of some; they may
not be my own approach to effective study. The koko is that I study
and pass my examinations. I choose the strategy best suited for my
cognition.
confidence in the character and competence of the coach, why
hire him if you'd have to preemptively censor his team selection
and strategy?
-
Lets allow the incoming President choose whoever he pleases to
drive and implement his vision and goals, not satisfy our fantasies
about those we consider competent or otherwise. Competence isn't
lacking in a population of 170 million. Who knew Dora until she was
appointed DG NAFDAC? Who knew Nuhu Ribadu until he was appointed
EFCC chair? Who knew Adeshina, the minister or Agric before he was
appointed? Who knew Fashola before he became Lagos governor? The
names are endless. There are more capable but obscure minds and
hands than we can ever imagine. To understand how impressionable
the average human mind is, craft an averagely articulate
sensational fictitious reportage on any state actor or affair and
publish it on Social media. Shaka boom! It has accelerated and gone
round the globe and back long before the veracity or logicality is
attempted to be determined. If you believe your "religion", sect or
denomination is superior to others, I have one question for you.
How did you realize this? As an adherent of one of the monotheistic
religions, have you ever paused to ask yourself how you found and
developed faith in it? Chances are good that you were born into it
and grew to accept it as a religious heritage. So, assuming you
were born into and grew under a different religious practice, would
you have maintained an open mind and assu
I know if the fear of being ostracised or persecuted at
different levels of family and society are removed or eliminated,
many would choose their beliefs differently.
med the courage to explore other religions objectively? If no,
how sure are you that your beliefs and faith is true and accurate?
If you feel they are, why then do you disdainfully act and think
towards others who came abother their "religion" through family
heritage as you?
-
The world would be a better place if people weren't meddlesome
in the affairs of others except those affairs are hurtful to
individual and society, or criminal. The error many people make is
to accept others' lifestyle and experiences as absolute verdict.
Someone has a distasteful experience in marriage and concludes
marriage is overrated. You totally embrace it, ingraining it as a
mindset. Another tells you marriage is sweet and singleness is not
good or idealic. Neither marriage nor singleness confers happiness
or joy whatsoever. You're the architect of your own experiences and
feelings. The world is populated by equal numbers of m
What's the conclusion? You're happy or sad because you chose to,
not because anything is faulty with the institution of marriage or
the state of singleness.
iserable and happy married and single status individuals.
Refrain from mindsets as this and liberate yourself.
You make your choice. Live your own experience. Let no one's
experience define your reality. OF WRONG MINDSETS. When an
experience is tough, it is the DEVIL. When an experience is smooth
and easy, it is GOD. If you have a mindset as this, I ask, who
bewitched you? No wonder many people lack the toughness of
character to come into significant living; because they associate
easy with God and hard with the devil. Show me one really great
soul who ever had it easy on the road to accomplishing something
noteworthy. Check your doctrine, evaluate your understanding and
reset your mind.
-
AIT Freedom of any kind is naturally accompanied by plethora of
responsibilities; therefore, it must not be trifled with nor
abused. Those who defended the defamatory and hate broadcasts
against President elect Buhari and others cannot tolerate an ounce
of slander, yet they'd be the most vocal in pulling out the Freedom
of Expression card, as if my freedom to give expression to an
opinion includes defamation, hate and slander. Buhari's barring of
AIT from covering his activities is well within his right to do so.
Se fini. He hasn't violated any laws! Shikenah. Whatever reactions
towards it is one of the fine attributes of democracy: Everyone can
have their say! We will all have divergent views on how Buhari
should have handled AIT, but the prerogative to do so is his in as
much as he doesn't undermine the law. Simple! Were the AIT
reporters assaulted? No! Have they been hindered from broadcasting
on air? No! So what are the issues here? NONE! Your SIN is what you
address with God through your conscience. Your CRIME is what the
STATE deals with. Woe betide you if your SIN also amounts to CRIME.
God will forgive you but the law will still take its cause. If you
doubt me, ask the repentant theif crucified beside JESUS. As an
independent business person or sole entrepreneur, the
responsibilities are huger than a pay slip drawing exployee. A pay
slip drawing employee has his job schedule, duties and
responsibilities interwoven with those of his mates, superiors and
subordinates. A significant drop in his productivity in many
-
instances will not eat away at such a person's pay. This isn't
so for the business person. A business person earns every dime of
his cheque. No slack cutting from the cus
You should ponder it well. Your reason for going into business
for yourself should greatly transcend the desire of freedom to be
your own boss. Such a freedom is ladened with immense
responsibilities.
tomers, except from the "money miss road sorts" of clients.
Customers are really a person's boss in this circumstance. You lose
your pay check if you're denied patronage.
The same common sense required to get a spare tyre placed in the
trunk of your car, to change a deflated tyre and to have it fixed
and inflated back is what is required for good governance. No
rocket science nor high sounding philosophies required. Common
sense, character and resolve in that order. What's hard about
receiving monthly allocation? What's hard about signing off payment
of workers' remuneration monthly? What's hard about getting thr
road fixed or getting waters running from the taps? What's hard
about getting classrooms equipped and getting instructors well
trained to do the job? What's hard about charging working residents
as tax to get all of the above done?
Nothing! No new laws are even required to do these basic things.
What's hard about building hospitals and getting equipped?
Money isn't the problem, neither is education. The problem is
simply the lack of willingness and the character. All our problems
as a nation requires simple COMMON SENSE, CHARACTER AND RESOLVE to
solve. Not Havard, not Yale, not MIT type education. Just PLAIN
COMMON SENSE that makes every human to get water to drink when
thirsty. SIMPLE! As a lucky beneficiary of the cheap appellation of
HEROISM around this clime, I had expected he would fix a mouth
guard to
-
prevent self-denigrating words proceeding from it, revealing him
as the real VILLAIN he was and remains. Who are the real HEROES
between millions of people habitually subjected to the harrowing
and tortuous experience in Nigeria, but self-restrained from going
berserk on the leadership, and a leadership that came to power with
the most widespread goodwill ever given by Nigerians and oversaw
the hugest resources ever made available to any government in
Nigeria, but frittered everything. Where and what were all the
religious minds watching and doing till the country got under
dysfunctional bondage in several respect? This is a critical
question one needs to sit down and really ponder upon. Christians
and Muslims alike calling loudly unto God. It is either we are
calling upon the wrong God, or there is no God at all (which I
doubt) or we are just plain hypocrites. The Chinese we consider
atheists, the Indians we understand to be idol worshippers, the
Japs we
The truth is, Nigerians misrepresent God on earth the most.
They're the worst marketers of God. If Christianity and Islam
started in Nigeria, no one would practice both religions today.
also perceive to be a blend between atheists and Buddhists
massively dwarf us in Science, technology, industry, economy,
order, organized society, citizen character et al. To cap it all,
many of them don't even speak English.
You blame another's chicanery for your deception but excuse your
own lack of discretion and discernment. This is not to excuse vice
but to question absence of virtue. Lacking or possessing few vices
is not evidence of the presence or abundance of virtue. Sometimes
being naive does pass for virtues.
-
For criticism to be valid, it must be aimed at improving the
quality, performance and occurrence of the object or activity being
criticized. Anything to the contrary is misguided, misplaced and
nonsensical. Any criticism outside the realm of influencing and
causing good improvement is ill informed, regardless of the
compelling eloquence and brilliance by which it is crafted or
spoken. Most criticisms (Not all) are motivated by strife, envy,
bitterness, hate, and in some instances sycophancy. As poisonous as
snakes are, they don't bear their fangs on every prey unless to eat
or in self-defense.
Throughout history, no single man (anthropic) of reckon in any
sphere has ever escaped fallibility of deed, speech and judgement,
nor successfully dodged the dart of vicious and maligning
criticism, envy and bitterness. Such a persona has neither bestrode
this checkered pavement of mortality nor can a biography of the
like be found filed on the shelf of any human library.
One cannot be hopeless and optimistic at the same time. They're
diametrically opposed. You assert that it's not possible for a lady
to be very successful without compromising, questioning and
suspecting the success of another on this premise, yet you desire
and are in pursuit of achieving success without compromise. How can
you pursue or become what you have the conviction not to be
possible? Do people really think about what they think and do at
all? You believe it is not possible to be rich without cutting
corners but your own aim is to actually make it without cutting
corners. Are you alright?
-
Many things in life are similar to food preparation. You need
some heat to cook or prepare. Apply too much heat for longer than
necessary and the food gets burnt, becoming inedible, in spite of
the completeness of ingredients. Similarly, apply inadequate
intensity of heat for either short or long periods and you also get
an inedible or unenjoyable outcome, in spite of the proportional
balance and completeness of ingredient. Heat can be likened to
efforts and duration is same as time. Timing and efforts often go
hand in hand than any other factoral combination. Often, people
quit when they ought to have held on and hold on when they ought to
have quitted. Choice making on the surface seem easy, but it is as
hard as a crucible for the majority of people. Remember, what's
good may not be right, but what's right will always be good.
The singular attitude of underestimating and undermining the
intelligence, greed, pride and ambition of your competitor or
subordinates reveals inferiority of your thinking, strategy and
tactics. This alone makes you inferior. You can't go into a contest
with emphasis and focus on solely your own merits, strength and
advantages without factoring those of other contestants and
participants. A GOOD person is not immune from the consequences of
a bad decision, choice and strategy. Likewise, a BAD person cannot
be denied the rewards of a good choice, decision and strategy.
-
I don't fret, worry, panic or lament over what is outside the
sphere of my control and influence. This singular principle and
attitude have made a lot of difference in my career, business,
relationships and interaction with the world.
Much of our international image is shaped by the values
projected by the citizens. We believe image making is the inherent
and statutory responsibility of government. Few years ago, Nigeria
was a permanent feature on the blacklist of many commercial (not
economic) platforms, while countries like Somalia, which hardly had
a stable government, with a wobbly socio-economic structure wasn't.
What this implied was that the Somali people were and still
considered more honest than
The few foreigners I have interacted outside will remark or ask
thus: 'why are you people? Why do Nigerians indulge in this or
that? All their negative perceptions and beliefs of Nigeria were
shaped by engaging and observing Nigerians, not the government. The
illicit activities of dubious Nigerians have created more degrading
images, identity and perception for the country than the government
and leaders. After all, the government is formed by individuals
from the citizenry.
Nigerians, despite their lingering multifaceted socio-political
problems.
We have a reputation outside as dishonest people, and this is
justifiably so. It won't be the job of the government but the
people to fix this.
People should endeavour to read and listen to UNDERSTAND first;
not to respond, not to remark, but to get the message, to really
assimilate what is meant and what is implied and in the right
context.
-
I believe we most times mean the same things but read things
with the wrong mindset. Finally, you can never read or listen to
understand someone you despise, envy, jealous or hate. I have
keenly observed this phenomenon. No matter the effort, it doesn't
just work.
DEALING WITH TREACHERY I don't know why many people think
heaping vituperations on a treacherous person is a sound strategy
for dealing with such behaviour. I don't just get it. It doesn't
work. You'd make a hero out of a villain that way. Attacks don't
reverse the situation, turn the tide or punish the behaviour. All
the betrayed needs to do is put up measures to protect against such
treacherous conduct from the traitor in the future. TRAITORS have
self-destructive mechanisms within their character. They never fail
at doing themselves in. People are in the habit of always seeking
technical ways of solving problems instead of simply allowing
NATURE to take care of things where it matters. Don't fight
traitors. Don't attack them. Just insulate/protect yourself and
watch them do themselves in.
THE FALLACY OF JUSTICE The general idea of good Justice through
the is that of the judgement favouring popular expectations of
people. Anything contrary to this is considered miscarriage of
justice or compromise. Either fair or unfair, we have to accept any
final judgement from the secular temple of justice as final, at
least, in the scheme of human affairs (This doesn't obviate appeal,
but an appeal still leads up to a final judgement). The conclusive
assumption of guilt over an accused is wrong both morally and
legally. Doing so opens the pathway for anyone to
-
easily fabricate an accusation to pin on another, relying on the
'mob justice mentality' of the mass of people. The best disposition
is to condemn the offence while maintaining the benefit of doubt
over the suspected offender. Lets reorganize our law enforcement
and judicial systems, while embarking on mass moral rejuvenation.
Without moral rejuvenation, the best of laws and judgements will
never be properly enforced and dispensed. The law cut FANI KAYODE
free. That's the law! It isn't prejudiced towards commonly held
opinions. The government can appeal the verdict, but as of now the
law has determined him Not guilty of the alleged crime of
corruption. Case closed, case brief filed away. Lobatan! RELIGIOUS
FAITH To me, religious faith is like a piece of stone viewed
differently by two or more people. One says this is a limestone;
another says this is a gravel stone, and another, this is a
gemstone. Expectedly, another says this isn't even a stone, it
merely has the apperance, creating and illusion. How the the stone
is percieved by each will determine the end for which they attempt
to use the stone regardless of the real nature of the stone. It is
all ok if we don't percieve the STONE the same way provided we
don't hurt one another with it. The debate on whether the stone is
lime, rock, gem or wether it is a stone at all is all ok in as much
as we don't resort to using the stone to harmfully hit one another
in an attempt to have others percieve as we do. If you believe it
is a lime, by all means attempt making cement with it. If yours is
seen as a rock, make concrete pillars. And if yours is seen as a
GEM, please polish and sell. All I know is that divergent
perceptions doesn't change the real nature of a thing.
-
RESPONSIBLE MONEY LIFESTYLE AND ONE OTHER. Majority of Nigerians
are financially undisciplined on several grounds, especially at
savings and spendings. That's what you see reflected in public
governance. People spend what they don't earn on what they cannot
afford (what you can buy doesn't equate affordability). This isn't
perculiar to a particular economic class. It cuts across all. Low,
middle and high income earners. People are simply mindless,
careless and irresponsible Somone earns a profit (not transaction
value) of N36m from a business break and already broke within 12
months struggling to pay a house rent of N800,000. Another has to
borrow to renew house rent in spite of earning salary in the 7
digits region. Some become financially in disarray just one month
after being out of job. Sadly, the most financially irresponsible
are 'religious' folks. They're so reckless and senseless when it
comes to money management.
with money.
Funny enough, 80 percent of religious gymnastics in Nigeria
revolves around how to come into overnight wealth or preserve your
existing 'prosperity' supernaturally. Overnight financial
breakthrough, debt cancellation and transfer of the 'wicked's'
wealth to the lazy, undisciplined and unintelligent 'righteous'. No
lifestyle changes sought or emphasized, no organized commitment to
a spontaneous and responsible wealth building and wealth creation
pathway followed; just mindless expectation of an EFFECT without a
CAUSE. The same applies to 'HUSIBAND' seekers (A very legitimate
desire). Getting a spouse or marriage is not a MIRACLE, it is a
covenant. Covenant is a binding agreement between two consenting
parties based on mutually agreed terms and conditions. Marriage is
not a miracle, it is a lifelong designated relationship with somone
of the Opposite sex (my irrefutable believe) whom you agree with.
Getting married is a CHOICE, not an obligation whatsoever. It is a
relationship, not an ACHIEVEMENT. You won't get a SPOUSE by giving
'GOD' money (seed). Whoever, and I mean whoever told you this was
possible is a thief, liar and demon. You get a spouse by making
yourself visible, attractive and communicative to someone or people
with similarly shared interests, values and views. If it is your
character hindering you, modify it for the right
-
reasons and you'd be more attractive. MARRIAGE doesn't make you
happy. If you are an UNHAPPY lot, that's exactly what you're taking
into that COVENANT. And woe betide you that your partner too is
unhappy. That's going to be an explosive fusion of TOXICITY. You
can be happy being single. N.B IF you've got to give GOD a SEED in
exchange for an answered prayer or heart desire, trust me, that's
not God. It is scam, it is gimmick to fleece you. If you don't
agree or understand now, I am patient enough to witness your
frustrations in the years to come. GOOD MORNING.
DISCIPLINE AND SELF CONTROL If you lack any of these virtues,
forget achieving sustainable stability of anything worthy, good and
right. They should rank high above in one's stock of virtues. Our
generation is grossly deficient of these two essential virtues.
DISCIPLINE sees one through, SELF-CONTROL insulates one from so
many troubles.
'WHAT SIGNAL WILL SUCH INDICATE'? is more important and valid
than 'WHAT WILL PEOPLE SAY'? They are two entirely different
things. What if I am caught? So if you won't be caught, the act
would have been committed? Integrity and ethics tied to
surveillance or monitoring isn't INTEGRITY; it is playing to the
gallery. The appropriate thing is to abstain or refrain from an act
for being WRONG instead of the fear of embarrassment and shame
of
-
being caught. It means the deed will be done if all
possibilities of getting caught can be eliminated. LISTEN TO THE
SOUND OF VALUES IN EVERY STATEMENT
Humans, especially those of the African stock, have yet to
progress in the act and practice of collaboration and team working.
A little, negligible difference of no consequence amongst them and
work or progress is stymied.
Majority of Nigerian activists are opportunists and
"chopvitists". Their motivation is pecuniary not altruistic.
Everything is easy behind the screen and in front of the
keyboard of social media. So easy to condemn, jeer, sneer and
criticise without profering any solutions. This is very typical
behaviour of armchairs. Armchair: used to describe people who like
to give opinions about matters they do not have to deal with
themselves and do not have responsibility for. That moment when a
momentary flunk is cast in stone. I have laughed myself silly from
that moment up till now. When something one does effortlessly is
staged competitively, murphy's law can upstage even the most
prepared and capable. Ouch! I guess making occasional mistakes keep
us humble and human after all. MS Excel related task on my mind. *
It's a personal habit to review my efforts after any task during
the day immediately or before retiring to bed, and being objective
makes it easier to identify fault lines I take full responsibility
for.
-
FORGETTING IS THE CULPRIT We need to receive and heed counsel as
often as we can, not owing to lack of KNOWLEDGE or WISDOM, but
because of our susceptible human nature of forgetting our learning.
Many are very knowledgeable and wise yet, very few people benefit
from such virtues when they FORGET to utilize or apply it. Humans
have an inherent inclination to forget virtues which they
posses.
We should never come under any illusion. If religion and race
did not exist, HUMANS would still have devised other banners of
reasons and excuses to murder one, kill many, hurt people and
pillage lands. As long as MONEY is to be had, POWER is to be
grabbed, INFLUENCE is to be exerted, GREED to be fed, EGO to be
massaged and HATE nurtured in the hearts of Men, killings and
destruction on either small or large scale would exist, with or
without RELIGION or RACE. A lot of people don't understand the
nature of humans hence they quibble over RACE and RELIGION.
I was grazed on the left rear side while awaiting the traffic
light indicator by an SUV which squeezed itself through a very
narrow opening. Immediately, the driver alighted while I cleared
off the road and did same. He approached me and immediately
admitted his error of judgement, making me speechless with just
smiles on my face; an amusing sight to onlookers at the traffic
stop. He was ready and willing to accompany me to go get it fixed,
to which I declined because he was elderly and also
-
impressed me with his display of civility and responsibility
(and perhaps the damage wasn't much). At my decline, he fetched his
business card and handed it to me, asking that I give him a call
afterwards. I have given him a call, asking if he has yet fixed his
(which was worse than mine and across the full length of his
vehicle). The man is happy and so am I. I guess it isn't what
happens but our disposition and reaction to what happens.
The blatant exaggerations and utter disregard for information
accuracy and fact validation by the Nigerian press in their
reportage is very disturbing, irresponsible and nonsensical. A
social and professional disease aggravated by the frenzy driven
appetite for the absurd, superstitious, negative by the mass of
mis-educated citzens.
When we've erred in an instance of misinforming the public, we
should be ethically responsible in making the appropriate
correction. It starts from such seemingly little matter. Days ago,
social media was abuzz with the reportage and attendant excitement
over a $5,000,000,000 donation to the FG's fight against insurgency
by the United States government. Unfortunately, the actual figure
has been accurately determined to be $5m i.e $5,000,000. Freedom of
expression must be acco
mpanied by the responsibility of accuracy. The long term
implication of this is usually adverse. Just imagine detractors
waking up tomorrow demanding where $5,000,000,000 disappeared to
when only $5,000,000 was in question.
GOOD GOVERNANCE & PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
-
You shouldn't be civic-minded or focus to the detriment of your
own life. Of what use is good governance without a resourceful and
useful you within same society? Government is not responsible for
making individual lives better, it is only responsible for making
the public space and systems functional and level for everyone.
Therefore, while demanding for good governance, don't ignore to
equip and develop your own capacities and ca
Government is not designed to take up personal/individual
responsibilities.
pabilities to benefit from the resulting results of good
governance.
The fact that there are considerable numbers and presence of
poor, wretched, invalid, alcoholic, loafers, homeless, criminals,
et al within the population (though in varying degrees and
proportions) of all nations is emperically conclusive of the
irrefutable role of personal responsibility in shaping the good
life. Government plays its own part, you also play yours. No spoon
feeding.
VALUE & USEFULNESS IS OGBONGE Acquired knowledge that can't
be distilled into the sequence of understanding and action is
USELESS. The aim of knowing is doing, not retrievable storage. Not
all shreds, coloration and layers of information or knowledge are
USEFUL. This is similar to the issue of NUTRITION. 'Ponmo' (Cow
hide, for those too anglicized to understand) is edible, gives the
teeth a good feel when biting or chewing, and can even be tasty
when garnished with the balan
I hope all you have as information/knowledge can't be likened to
'ponmo', the local favorite 'hide' delicacy with no nutritional
benefit.
ced combination of seasoning; but it is all NURITIONALLY useless
to the body. Yet, after it, your belly and your mind both conspire
to convince you that something 'good' has been eaten.
You sef consider the matter small.