And the next Pope is . . .

Really do not have any interest in this and neither do I have any stake. I am aware of the tense feelings that usually dominate the air when a Muslim engaged a Non-Muslims or a Christian engaged a Non-Christian and the likes in a discussion that affect the other faith, especially in a less friendly manner. In this light, I am conscious of what I say or right when it comes to inter-faith and religious-based issues, for anything said, even it is a public knowledge will be thrown and twisted back at you, such is the situation we have found ourselves. But, as a citizen of the world and a pursuant of moral society, it pains when one spot darkness where light supposed to be beaming. Well, I will not say anything more than this before some brainwashed fanatics would be raining curses on my page.

I stumbled on the link and wish to share it - www.talkofnaija.com/news/172074_conclave-2013-sex-abuse-victims-network-names-dirty-dozen-would-be-popes and the next Pope is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of black origin.

It's Friday

Loaded sermon. Emphatically good attitudes. . . So many Muslims with beards, hijab, and all that can be traced to a Muslim whenever you see one is present with them. Admirable, but when you move closer to them, in businesses, homes, or public interactions you will begin to ask what effect does their look have on them. Some are purely fashionista some not but do not understand the tenet of Islam they practice. While Islam prescribes a dress code of not being a social nuisance, and not contributing to evil on earth, it is not all about the dress and appearance, attitude is key. Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W)is the best of all mankind as revealed in the Holy Qoran because of his attitudes. And Imam continues . . . Islamic channel . . . Back home as I lay back trying to relax and regain momentum to continue the task I left undone before leaving for Masjid, I tuned in to Islamic channel to have a glimpse of the activities of the glorious day, guess what, same topic was discussed. . . Show people people what Islam is not with your look but your attitudes. Thank you Imam for today's sermon, you hitted the nail just on the head and to that I say Jazakum Lahu Khaeran. As-salam alykun and jumat kareem.

Just before the dust settles

Everywhere was full of drama, as he disappeared form the public radar not long after the elections. There were mixed concerns likewise feelings from friends and foes, and March 5, 2013 after a long battle with cancer was the final day of his life, he took the final breath and rest the course of his pursuit on the shoulders of his admires and haters. The world have lost another gem, an Iconic leader. You will be remembered for what you stood for, what you said, the battle you won and that wish you lost, your victories and association with the commons, and surely what you are known for and did. Mahatma Gandhi was not, Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) and JF Kennedy(JFK) were not and so, you are not an angel just like them. For all your errs I believe history will absolves you like your mentor - F. Castro. I want to, just before the dust settles sympathise with the Venezuelans. Ina-lilahi Wa-hi-na Ile-hi Roji-hun. Rest in peace Hugo Rafael Chavez.

Leadership That Impoverishes (4)

The University days wasn't much better, not worse either, on the surface; of gorgeous nice architectural buildings and fanciful cars, and of cute girls and handsome dudes, of bizarre attitudes and amazing meekness, and above all, of seemingly vibrant looking people, you will tend to think all the odd things of the universe surround only you. But in the deep, underneath the surface, you will know that there are fake characters and there are, genuine and indeed people with real vigour and zeal. Unfortunately, you find darkness where light supposed to be beaming; in the latter, there are only very few you can find, not the one you think you know. Knowing this fact gave me an impetus, then I could take on my fears and bury inferiority complex, I discovered I was richer and hungary. I gave a soft fight and what I got was huge. There were moment of despair, of excessive perspiration out thin air, and of huge laughter, rib cracking joy and unimaginable victories. The best moment never seems obvious as to be mentioned really, but the not so bright moments were in the classrooms. I hated lectures and find it difficult to comprehend and follow out. Just hated it. Yet, I was never absent in any of those classes I claimed to hate. Judge me as you wish! On a fateful morning in one of our classes, I changed where I used to sit, often the window side or rear-front, to enjoy the gang of cluster guys at the back of the class. First finding, nobody was writing as the Professor representative dictates. Second finding, they had all the notes. They only made a writing gesture when he approaches them. There I began to get uneasy, I barely waited for the class to end when I asked where the note was from. So you don't have this he asked, gesturely I replied no. 'Well, I got this from a graduating student, and he added, ' there is no problem for Baba's note, it is everywhere, he has been using this note since he took Dr. X when he was an undergraduate' he mentioned. Dr. X was also our lecturer. Same note still in use since, I couldn't gather my thought until I lost out of class. Then we were in part one. My emotion was deeply attached to this, we were just being fed trash. I sought to derived joy outside of the classroom by reading multi-layered junks, yeah, anything readable, partaking in clubs activities and reading Again. Not a bookworm though. Can you get it now, I didn't have hatred for education, but the process.

Leadership that Impoverishes (3)

We have managed to wobbled and ruffled it all along, even when we don't attend classes when we leave our parent homes; most turning to full time labourer, that was all we knew, that was all that manifested to us, hard labour. Why going to school and at the end you go back to crude farming like the parents, uncles in the village or that you can hear of their stories, partly from parents that wanted to dissuade their children from attending school so they will have more hand on farm, and largely by the retarded who would want to justify their state of penury. Of course it did have effects; ebbing away of youngster aspirations to conquer the world but who, by circumstances of their birth, where they live, school they attend, their so called friends, and all that, just but to name a few without leaving behind the african magic, yes, I believe they exist - the wicked souls - do not know of way out of their predicament and can neither communicate it to the outside World, nor bring themselves to it realisation for, things appear so crude and so remote to be reach. So, it was a collective or let me say, self verdict unifying all, of practicing the future work today. Why wasting years in school when you can start today, afterall, we are all after same thing, making a living. If providence will have its way, the law of natural selection may takes it course. For the whole six years, nobody ever asked for my result but we kept going. Little wonder why I am crediting the nature.

Leadership that Impoverishes (2)

Moving forward into the future, I had break through the deadlock of upbringing. But I am just a lucky one; credits to parents, for they did what was within their reach, and credits to nature that made me see the light among the flock of my friends that, now buried, in grave, and under circumstances, who, then were the vanguard of truancy, herald of illiteracy, and conveyor of odd reasoning. Not all though, there are others with wonderful stories, yes, their circumstances were not much different from mine. Well, while most of us, myself inclusive, are yet to get a hold of any reasonable living, but, in my own assessment, anyone with education has not just a future, but a whole World lined up for exploration. Our settlement, to respect it a bit, I will say village but in actual sense, a hamlet was one, still is, one out of eighteen settlement under a village called Ogotun - the territorial headquarter - in Ekiti State is six miles away. There was our secondary school and we would trek that distance, we do get some jalopy that would cram us together, that would be our best of week.

NGF, blur vision

You see, we started; I do not seem to understand anymore. I mean, are we confused as a nation. If am not mistaken I continue, Nigeria as a country has high number of security agencies compare to other countries, yet, Nigeria and Nigerians never had peace. And, in fact, Nigeria is rated recently as among the unsafe country in Africa (rated sixth). And the recent blow, Nigeria appeared fourteenth on the list of failed state in the world. He cuts in, I sensed your dilemma. You are just as concerned as me. His words “in a country where the safest places are not even safe; we are surely on a row with our founding mission, we are surely astray”. He flinched I asked what he will do if his apparels are dirty. Buy another one I pre-empted. Of course no he snaps, and said I will get them washed. I added, assuming you a father of three and they are not doing well in school or as you might want it, will you then multiply their number to get your next Ben Carson. He said I know where you are going, why adding to your burden when you can improve on what you have. Only want to know your view on the demand for state police I said. I knew that, he retorted. This reminds me of a very interesting story he said. I left home hurriedly on that fateful day rushing to an event in Lagos. I got to a police post and was stopped. After the check, the officer wanted something more, but I was not ready to give a dime. Reading my non-cooperative attitude, I was asked to pack to a roadside. “Oga, wey your particulars”. I handed over the complete particulars. I observed he was fidgeting and squinting through the documents as if he was looking for an offence to charge me with. But because I was late for my destination, I moved closer to the officer to see if I could persuade him to let go. Sucker! I found that he actually turned the driving licence upside down pretending to be reading it! Mess!!! I hope, just hope this is not what the Governor’s forum wants to be replicated. Perhaps, the unemployment that cannot be solved through developmental projects is being channeled by recruiting clowns carrying guns they merely know their uses. No wonder they are using civilians as the dart board for training; these they termed accidental discharges. Apart from perhaps few sates, how many states can effectively manage the so called state police if granted when, in fact, some states are still battling with minimum wage. I can only say the situation has confused Nigeria Governors Forum for them to be demanding for state police. We must ask ourselves, is the state police going to be of different orientation and efficiency from what is currently obtained, have they considered the option of making the current security architectures stronger before venturing into adding more burden, have they asked and answered the question of politicising our security settings, and how can state police be effective in the current political estrangement when the incumbent use all to retain power, and what is the current capacity of the Nigeria Police Force compared to the country’s population. There are endless questions upon questions to be asked. It was not too long ago I saw a clip (one of the evidences) used by the current governor of the state of Osun where the ousted governor was instructing and, at the same time lashing the head of federal security agencies in the state for not being hash on the opponent. I was imagine what such a regime would do if he has absolute control of such body. Frankly speaking, the call for state police is an invitation to Armageddon. The explanation and justification given by the Governors Forum do not just add. The intervention fund for security you are demanding for is incongruous when there are people that cannot afford a cup Garri. The current JEG administration budgeted more than ever for security, yet, it is the bloodiest era in Nigeria apart from civil war. Please note that Nigeria and Nigerians do not need more people carrying weapons, what we need as a country is more people with food in their belly, good governance, and egalitarian society. Apologies but, NGF has a blur vision. What happens to strengthen the existing institutions, training the officials on latest crime combative techniques, recruiting qualified personnel, better equipment, service condition and enticement like insurance, enhancing community vigilante groups, not the least, sound education for the ignoramus and engaging the youth in productive works. If the agitation is truly on security, NGF should look elsewhere.

Hu Bash!

All the work just went with dust. Sometimes, you don't get to appreciate some happenings until it has actually happen to you. You know the saying before you criticise people, put yourself in their shoes, slippers, sandals whatever, just wear anything, or, lend or borrow their 'waka waka' leg, walk a mile and by that time, you will know how it feels and, you will be a mile distance away. Most of the time when we encounter failure or disappointment from external object, we often felt irritated and probably, be the first to react, perhaps in a soft tone or in rage; though with mix reaction, guess I fall in the latter category. Gbam! But with this, hunhun, I will henceforth be a fact finder. Chei, grammar! For anyone that have visited this blog page recently would have simply retorted why having a blog when you can't post anything. Neigh, not like that fellas, I was trying to tune-up my site and, mysteriously or mistakenly I detonated the bomb. Gboom, and, everything was off. Felt skunked but was a big lesson; never criticise other people blindly. Indeed the saying that never test the depth of a river with both feet can never be more true. Guess I did but thank God I did not drown. It was actually a big bash. Hu!

Leadership that impoverishes (1)

My early live was full of memories that will lingers on till that time I will breath no more. It is a story worth telling, my unborn grand and great grand children if I ever lived to see them will hear it; if not, my archives will tell the story more. You surely will not want to know how I started muttering mum- mum - mummy, nor will you be interested in how I began to crawl, likewise, I do not have all the time in the world to do that. I like writing, telling stories, but not unending tales. Early in my life, you do not wake and take your bath, dress in gorgeous cloth and look luring, jump into the vehicle and head to office. Likewis you do not sit under air conditioning that can blow you off your stand, tap your pen and cash started rolling in. That was to us far unimaginable; a mission impossible. The first thing you see in the morning when you wake is the network of cobweb (that is by the way an electricity cable!), and hills of goat dung and dillapidated mud houses when you eventually stepped out. Typical of any rural community in Nigeria, the block that is feeding the nation that can ironically sustain itself, a life very challenging and restrictive with high illiteracy level. Survival of every resident depends on hoe and cutlass; how hard you can work and your family size is a plus. No one cares about the transport, shelter, water; just the blessing of the nature with small streams nearby, if dry season extends beyond normal, plague is come knocking; but thanks to the nature that is ever helping. If all these basic were lacking who cares about electricity, health, security, and, you can imagine the state of education. This is not a celestial fable of unfounded facts, it was even the best of their time, a cursory visit there today will leave no one in doubt that these people are making unheard statement.This is by the way, an introduction and probably a preface to this article. This will be a kind of long walk.