On the minds of many Africans these questions could be probing: Can Africa actually get out of its leadership troubles that often lead to squabbles, violent struggles and coup d'tat? Can the meeting going on at the Aso Rock Villa - Abuja, Nigeria bring peace to Guinea today? When shall we witness true Democratic Transition? Well, time shall tell. But I think our developed country leaders owe us some leadership counsel; if possible they should take a harder stance towards political corruption and power tussle which often result in the death of innocent souls.
The local media this morning had reported how the former leader of the crisis ridden Guinea flew into Nigeria for the ECOWAS Leaders meeting at the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT _Abuja) in bounded head, a development that has been attributed to the torture he suffered in the hand of the Military - Junta. It's amazing that many Africans have come to condone the culture of indifference, especially when the beneficiary is not the victim. Yet, the same cries woe, when the opposite is the case, and calls unruly behavior barbaric and injustice.
The time has indeed come for Africans to voice out what is morally wrong with brute force and leadership tussle, and to loath injustice in its entity, if we must have lasting peace throughout the continent. And if possible stick our necks to it or make some sacrifices to enthrone eternal peace, so that those evils genus would be deterred. Otherwise our silence and non-challance will continue be capitalized by those sadists who see nothing wrong with brute force and corruption be it power, finance, material or otherwise.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS Leaders should be bold enough to tell Capt Camara what he has done wrong and to quit the stage without any further delay, unless we want to continue with our old tradition of talk, talk, without walking or acting the talks. Guinea, Congo, Somalia and every other part of Africa deserve peace and the people of Africa are entitle a peaceful life and democratic governance.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Strike Ridden Nigerian Educational System...
After about 319 days or more, Nigerian Universities will experience academic live again. Oh what a serious intellectual sapping and a wicked way of impoverishing the Nigerian youths? It is often said that when two Elephants fight the grass is made to suffer, and so no human been is ever hurt by their insanity.
This seemingly unwitty proverb spans over every human and animal crises, so even though no Elephants are engaged in any physical fight, and no grass anywhere suffering. But I tell you, intellectual growth has been stunted or dwarfed by that singular show of power. It beats many peoples' imagination as to why, the Nigerian educational system keep suffering this same strike syndrome. Or why on earth is it that, the government could pay a deaf ear to the the yearnings of these scholars for over three months, especially at a time, when those at the hem of affairs in government were once classroom teachers or lectures.
Well the issues have been raised, discussed, dialogue upon and several stalemates and agreements flaunting witnessed. But the questions are: does the losses count to anybody? Have we learnt anything? Do the authorities truly value education? Can this be the last one? Only time shall tell.
However, the frequency of strikes in our educational system has constituted itself into a re-branding issue, which we all owe a collective duty to resolve as Nigerians who honestly meant well for the nation - Nigeria
This seemingly unwitty proverb spans over every human and animal crises, so even though no Elephants are engaged in any physical fight, and no grass anywhere suffering. But I tell you, intellectual growth has been stunted or dwarfed by that singular show of power. It beats many peoples' imagination as to why, the Nigerian educational system keep suffering this same strike syndrome. Or why on earth is it that, the government could pay a deaf ear to the the yearnings of these scholars for over three months, especially at a time, when those at the hem of affairs in government were once classroom teachers or lectures.
Well the issues have been raised, discussed, dialogue upon and several stalemates and agreements flaunting witnessed. But the questions are: does the losses count to anybody? Have we learnt anything? Do the authorities truly value education? Can this be the last one? Only time shall tell.
However, the frequency of strikes in our educational system has constituted itself into a re-branding issue, which we all owe a collective duty to resolve as Nigerians who honestly meant well for the nation - Nigeria
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The Demise of...True Humanist
When the popular music Icon/legend passed on, it left an uncanny reverberation and mark which keeps reflecting on the minds of his lovers and followers. Yet, most people are felt or missed most when they're no more. So is the case of a true legend and humanist who fought for the voiceless in Nigeria.
Indeed I remember late Chief Gani Fayehinmi, a true human rights activist and freedom fighter, whose major victories saw many opportunists in the corridors of power in Nigeria today. Many would remember those relentless fights of his, which saw him in jail many times.
I miss him very dearly, my prayers are that he be granted eternal rest - Amen!
Adieu Chief Gani (SAN)
Indeed I remember late Chief Gani Fayehinmi, a true human rights activist and freedom fighter, whose major victories saw many opportunists in the corridors of power in Nigeria today. Many would remember those relentless fights of his, which saw him in jail many times.
I miss him very dearly, my prayers are that he be granted eternal rest - Amen!
Adieu Chief Gani (SAN)
When the Road...Driver
Some times we do things without remembering the next moment. Interestingly, what goes round must always come round. Yesterday, it was Sony - according to Nigeria's Minister of Information: Prof. Dora Akunyili, the electronic giant forgot so easily the land that flowed with business milk at some glorious moments, when she decided to embark on the campaign for calumny against Africa's most populous nation.
It's a pity that Sony, through Youtube and other public domain has succeeded in painting Nigeria black and as a nation plague with the worst evil that must be avoided. Sad enough some of the people who through their action and inaction have helped in doing the spoil are the ones crying most. But who can right the wrong especially when the painting has been accomplished, couple also with the fact that our sins are far too many, with no sincere effort to truly redeem the situation.
Before we cry our voices out to a some worth spilt-paint of defamation; first we should examine ourselves to see whether that which is said about us is all true. Even though the truth is bitter, Sony owes Nigeria as a nation quantum unreserved apology. Again, our leaders and policy makers as well as stakeholders must rise to their individual responsibility. We must make a concerted effort to move out talk, talk to action and also to apply those books' principles into our real challenges.
Meanwhile Sony must remember that she has not only bitten the fingers that feeds her, but has also polluted a land that would forever flow with the milk of good business. Thus, she must appease our land with the best detergent; beyond that, she must take the Nigeria Rebranding Campaign to other planets, otherwise many of us will begin by discarding our Sony products and instigate our African friends to do same in retaliation.
It's a pity that Sony, through Youtube and other public domain has succeeded in painting Nigeria black and as a nation plague with the worst evil that must be avoided. Sad enough some of the people who through their action and inaction have helped in doing the spoil are the ones crying most. But who can right the wrong especially when the painting has been accomplished, couple also with the fact that our sins are far too many, with no sincere effort to truly redeem the situation.
Before we cry our voices out to a some worth spilt-paint of defamation; first we should examine ourselves to see whether that which is said about us is all true. Even though the truth is bitter, Sony owes Nigeria as a nation quantum unreserved apology. Again, our leaders and policy makers as well as stakeholders must rise to their individual responsibility. We must make a concerted effort to move out talk, talk to action and also to apply those books' principles into our real challenges.
Meanwhile Sony must remember that she has not only bitten the fingers that feeds her, but has also polluted a land that would forever flow with the milk of good business. Thus, she must appease our land with the best detergent; beyond that, she must take the Nigeria Rebranding Campaign to other planets, otherwise many of us will begin by discarding our Sony products and instigate our African friends to do same in retaliation.
Africa and Leadership Tussle
The rest of the world would have written Africa off if it were possible, but who is that man who can abandon his farmland for the mountains? Indeed Africa is so richly endowed that every continent of the globe has an interest in it. Unfortunately, the reign of terror has not given Africa any breathing space. It is high time global leaders pay genuine interest in the leadership of the countries where their investment interests are domicile.
The sit-tight sydrome my friend Oliver B. Robert and many others wrote about concerning leadership in the continet Africa is beginning to dawn on me. Some times I wonder why most of the great elites from this part of the world are insensitive to the plights of helpless fellow continent-men. Or do we say complacency is responsible for this seeming insensitivity and non-challance. Perhaps, it's a function of cowardice on the part of the led, and of course the leadership understanding of the people's docile and inactive nature.
To my mind, I feel many African Leaders have capitalized on the people's inactivity and the very fact that many of us only bark without biting. But trust the Gunnieans with their wise preference clearly craft in the saying..."We prefare freedom in poverty to wealth in slavery" during their independence struggle. So it didn't come to me as a shock that people from that part of Africa could troop out to their national Stadium to demand for a choice of leadership.
I wasn't amaze either to hear that a military leader - Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara could order a shot out of defenseless Guinea Civilians. In fact the 300 dead Guineanians are the true heros of Africa of our time. We may have lost track of the death toll from that of Congo, where Umar Bongo heir apparel emerged as winner in controversial election of two months ago. What a shame that I belong to a part of the world where some people highjack leadership as if it were a birth right or something fought for by their fore-parents and as such, no one else must aspire for it.
We honestly need some civil education to recognize the fact that, we all have equal stake in our continent and its leadership. And that the same power most of these bigots use excessively to enthrone evil and corruption, thereby smearing our collective enviable reputations, we too have. In truth African Legal Experts owe it as a duty to enlighten us all on our rights and how to defend them.
If we must get out of our political mess, then African political Scientists on their part, need to educate us all, on the things we need to know. Many Africans elites and non-elites and even the Americans, Europeans and Asians alike lack same political education. And that's why many of us are often busy with criticism of what the politicians are doing right or wrong, instead of participating actively or passively.
We truly need a change that will enthrone social justice, integrity, moral uprightness, fairness, peace and equity in our world. But first, it has to begin from Africa.
The sit-tight sydrome my friend Oliver B. Robert and many others wrote about concerning leadership in the continet Africa is beginning to dawn on me. Some times I wonder why most of the great elites from this part of the world are insensitive to the plights of helpless fellow continent-men. Or do we say complacency is responsible for this seeming insensitivity and non-challance. Perhaps, it's a function of cowardice on the part of the led, and of course the leadership understanding of the people's docile and inactive nature.
To my mind, I feel many African Leaders have capitalized on the people's inactivity and the very fact that many of us only bark without biting. But trust the Gunnieans with their wise preference clearly craft in the saying..."We prefare freedom in poverty to wealth in slavery" during their independence struggle. So it didn't come to me as a shock that people from that part of Africa could troop out to their national Stadium to demand for a choice of leadership.
I wasn't amaze either to hear that a military leader - Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara could order a shot out of defenseless Guinea Civilians. In fact the 300 dead Guineanians are the true heros of Africa of our time. We may have lost track of the death toll from that of Congo, where Umar Bongo heir apparel emerged as winner in controversial election of two months ago. What a shame that I belong to a part of the world where some people highjack leadership as if it were a birth right or something fought for by their fore-parents and as such, no one else must aspire for it.
We honestly need some civil education to recognize the fact that, we all have equal stake in our continent and its leadership. And that the same power most of these bigots use excessively to enthrone evil and corruption, thereby smearing our collective enviable reputations, we too have. In truth African Legal Experts owe it as a duty to enlighten us all on our rights and how to defend them.
If we must get out of our political mess, then African political Scientists on their part, need to educate us all, on the things we need to know. Many Africans elites and non-elites and even the Americans, Europeans and Asians alike lack same political education. And that's why many of us are often busy with criticism of what the politicians are doing right or wrong, instead of participating actively or passively.
We truly need a change that will enthrone social justice, integrity, moral uprightness, fairness, peace and equity in our world. But first, it has to begin from Africa.
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