JONATHAN VS. BUHARI: TRANSFORMATION OR CHANGE? CONTINUED.

Does the decision of Buhari picking Yemi Osinbajo who is a well respected person as his running mate make him more credible? The vice-president doesn’t have much work to do but if people are claiming that Buhari might die in office and Osinbajo as a Yoruba man will take the presidency as Jonathan did when Yar’Adua died in 2009, they are wrong.

Buhari is over 70 years it’s not going to be easy to rule Nigeria. I believe ruling Nigeria is one of the toughest jobs in the world. I really don’t see how this man will eliminate the corrupt leaders in the system. Or is he going to do what Ghana’s Jerry Rawlings did by assassinating corrupt leaders of Ghana in his so called quest to “purge Ghana of corruption and social injustice”? Absolutely not. Rawlings was running a military government then. That is however not the case here for Buhari.

Looking at the manifestos of both Jonathan and Buhari, they both don’t look convincing. We all know Jonathan’s promises are lies. Saying he would create 12 million jobs in Oyo and Ogun State. How is that possible in just two states? How many will he now create across the country? 300 million? Buhari says he will create about 700,000 jobs nationwide within the first few months if he assumes office. This sounds reasonable but what type of jobs will he create? Is it making people becoming law enforcement officers like Babatunde Fashola did in Lagos state for those in agencies like LASTMA? Those who were employed are area boys roaming the streets of Lagos but in this case what will Buhari do for the many university graduates without jobs? Buhari says he will provide one meal a day for children in public primary schools nationwide. How visible is that? What will the quality of food be like? These are deep questions we as the electorate should ask these aspirants unfortunately we are not doing so.

As March 28 approaches, let’s get our acts right by reflecting on how to move the country forward. It’s not by shouting for these aspirants. They promise us so many things but we don’t see it in the end and typical of Nigerians we move on not minding what goes on in the system. If I were to make my choice I would go for Buhari not because I see him as the right man for the job, it’s something that will take a while to find, but I choose him because Jonathan has taken the country to all time low in terms of international prestige. Nigeria has lost its image in Africa thanks to the many clueless statements made by Jonathan. He isn’t a leader material afterall he never got into leadership roles legitimately; it was only out of circumstance. The fact that I will vote Buhari doesn’t mean I go about shouting CHANGE! carrying a broom. NO! But what I would do is to monitor what Buhari is doing. If he fails in addressing something, we question and interrogate him. Not that we leave him to do as he pleases. We let Jonathan get away with too many things and that can’t happen with Buhari. We must constantly voice our concerns with him. That way he acts in the right way. That is what true democracy is all about.

Lets ensure the election exercise is carried out in the proper manner, if INEC needs to be questioned let’s do it. Let’s also ensure that we accept or challenge the result of March 28 in a reasonable way. Political violence is bound to ensue from the outcome of the result but we can prevent that. Spread the word to vote right and act right during the election. Don’t join the plots to carry out electoral malpractice. The outcome of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections turned out to be a bloody affair. Don't make it happen this time if your family, friends and your country means a lot to you. Failure to act right means we should prepare for a more gruesome version of June 12.

Paul Collier in his book: Wars, Guns and Votes says change is difficult because there are strong forces resisting it. Let’s use this to reflect on the tough change Nigeria needs rather than APC or Buhari change.

  

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*All photos sourced randomly from Google Images.

JONATHAN VS. BUHARI: TRANSFORMATION OR CHANGE?

To think six weeks was far away when INEC announced that the originally scheduled elections of February 14 and 28 would be shifted to March 28 and April 11, well its almost here. In a week’s time Nigeria decides. I’m still upset by the fact the elections had to be postponed. Why put election on Valentine’s Day? Anyways we are now almost there so we can all do the exercise and go to bed. But wait, go to bed? Not quite. There’s so much tension around the country, questions are raised if the elections would hold next week or not. It had better hold because lots of personal plans and preparations have been shifted because of the delays.

There is a lot of adrenaline running in Nigerians all because of two men that will decide the next step the country takes. The rivalry between Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari has been so intense. It’s a rivalry that hasn’t been seen in Nigeria’s transition to civilian rule in 1999. Indeed there was no rivalry because the PDP that has been in power since then never saw any tough opposition to challenge it. The Alliance for Democracy (AD) never posed a serious threat to PDP’s hold on the presidency and it went through numerous changes to become APC today. When the APC merger was created in 2013, I felt it was just another failed attempt for a party to form as the main opposition to PDP. I guess I was wrong. APC has indeed unsettled PDP and we can see the result of the many schemes by Jonathan to prevent Buhari from contesting.

Buhari has been able to gather so much support, the APC slogan “CHANGE!” is chanted almost everyday. Groups all over the place are formed campaigning for change. It brings me to ask the question is Buhari really the man for change? Nigerians are obviously tired of the Jonathan administration which has so far failed in leadership. It has been riddled with widespread corruption, mismanagement of public funds and currency crisis. Nigerians are tired of epileptic power supply that is ruining businesses, mass unemployment for the vibrant youth populace. Jonathan doesn’t seem to get it right. Let’s not even forget the Boko Haram insurgency. I for one never saw them as a national/international threat. The kidnapping of the over 200 Chibok school girls is well under control. I do not believe so many girls will disappear like that. The military been incompetent is also false. In other words, Jonathan fooled us while some believed the country was on the verge of splitting which I still stand strong to say will never happen.

So Jonathan needs to go because he has failed and brings me back to what I asked earlier: is Buhari the man for change? Let’s put aside his military record or the fact he doesn't have a valid SSCE certificate. Your academic qualification doesn't necessarily determine who you are. Buhari under the civilian era has been contesting for the presidency since 2003. This he has done under the platform of various political parties which have included ANPP and CPC which formed part of the APC merger. If Buhari is the man for change, why didn’t we vote him in all these years? Why now that he’s in APC which seems to be his biggest platform. What if Atiku Abubakar won the APC presidential ticket in Lagos? Would be shouting CHANGE? Are we voting for party or personality?

Many people say PDP has ruled for 16 years and nothing to show for it. I would like to ask where would you put Obasanjo? He might have had issues but he laid foundations of many things we are enjoying today. The boom in the telecom and banking sector was made through this man. These two sectors are partly responsible for why Nigeria is now the largest economy in Africa. He had the best ministerial cabinet and hired the best brains. He still remains the best civilian head of state till date. It only remains unseen if Buhari or Jonathan will surpass him so much for the change and transformation agendas. Let’s stop been party driven but personality driven in our choices.

Is Buhari a credible candidate for the presidency? I can understand Jonathan needs to go but let’s stop shouting CHANGE! all over the place. How are we sure that this CHANGE! campaign isn't a ploy to sway us just like Jonathan used “I had no shoes” in 2011. Buhari might have a zero tolerance for corruption and indiscipline but this isn't a military era. Things are entirely different. I know he can’t do worse than Jonathan has done but is serious change for Nigeria going to come under Buhari? Buhari is attached to Bola Tinubu who is allegedly corrupt and I’m still yet to see how both will co-operate. I won’t be surprised if I saw a fall out between them similar to that of Jonathan and Obasanjo. Is it under the watch of Tinubu Buhari wants to bring change? What of the many bad eggs that decamped from PDP to APC? Have they become good eggs for joining APC?

                                                

*To be continued.

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*All photos sourced randomly from Google Images.

ARE WOMEN GRADUALLY TAKING OVER THE WORLD? CONTINUED

One area I give credit to the women is in business. I've been able to see they are better managers. I’m amazed at how women entrepreneurs multitask. They can combine as much as four business ventures together and manage it successfully without seeing signs of stress and fatigue on their faces. I know some of them personally. Men can hardly do this. I think it’s a special gift they have and that’s a plus for the woman.

Women might have been successful in the areas of business, management, academics, media, law among others but one area that has little representation is politics. Very few women are seen engaging in politics across the world. It’s even more restricted in Africa and Asia but some have decided to stand tall and defy the norm. To the credit of the woman, we have female heads of state that are heading powerful nations. Germany is the largest economy in Europe and is headed by Angel Markel. Brazil, Argentina and Chile are the three leading economies in South America and are headed by women in Dilma Roussef, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Michelle Bachelet respectively. Emerging Asian economy South Korea’s current president Park Guen-hye is female. Australia had a former female prime minister in Julia Gillard. This shows that women are taking over powerful nations. I believe the greatest achievement for ‘Girl Power’ would be to have a female president in the most world’s powerful nations: The United States, Russia and China and also a female UN Secretary-General. A Nigerian female president would also be a plus to Africa’s largest economy. Can that happen?  It will be tough but with the current trend, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes reality. Afterall late Margaret Thatcher who was popularly known as ‘Iron Lady’ is the longest serving and one of the best British prime ministers till date.

Inspite of the success Girl Power has been able to achieve since the protests of the 1960s many women still continue to be denied equal rights and face sexual violence and harassment. Nevertheless the emancipation of women has given them a bigger audience and louder voice in a society that is dominated by men.

The one problem I have with Girl Power is that women who find themselves in position of authority tend to be authoritarian in character. They go overboard on little issues and it becomes annoying to the male subordinates. The success of women in business and management has seen them in some cases earn more than their male counterparts and as such fail to respect or give regard to the men.

Regardless of how successful a woman can be, the man will always be ahead of her. This is proven biologically. Only if a woman decides not to have a family can she keep up with a man. Even at that, it’s still impossible. Men and women do not possess the same physical strength. The woman can say all she likes to defend herself but I think the man is still in charge. Women need to know that they are an integral part of a man’s life and vice versa. I refuse to accept those lines in girl power songs that say the woman can do without a man. If the woman can do that, it won’t last a life time. She’ll need a man at some point and that’s why it’s important for both sexes to respect each other rather than do the blame game. Even Beyoncé after ranting so much about women taking charge in her acclaimed song ‘Run the world (Girls)’ said “boy I’m just playing… hope you still like me…..” I think that says it all. *winks.*

    

                     

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*All photos sourced randomly from Google Images.

ARE WOMEN GRADUALLY TAKING OVER THE WORLD?

And the saying goes ‘what a man can do a woman can do better’. I grew up with that statement been said over and over again and men were still in charge. The role of a woman has traditionally been confined to the home while the man does all the work. That was the status quo for many centuries until women started challenging it through writings in the 18^th century. The 1960s saw a mass wave of protests by women in the developed world calling for equal rights with men. The woman has the right to equal pay, equal education, equal opportunities in the work place, legal and financial independence, right to birth control and abortion, the right to determine sexuality and non-discrimination against lesbians and also freedom from violence and sexual coercion.

These were some huge demands by the women and it can said that their efforts to put themselves on the same scale as men without discrimination has taken shape not only in the developed world but the entire world. One area that is having huge influence in the rights for women today is music. Many of today’s female artists compose songs whose themes center on liberty and emancipation of women popularly termed ‘Girl Power’. Artists such as Beyoncé Knowles have led the trail in this area. Her song ‘Run the world (Girls)’ has got to be the best Girl Power song till date. Its lyrics and music video seems to intimidate the man by saying Girls are in charge and not men. Other energetic Girl Power songs by the Creole lady include ‘Independent women’, soundtrack to Charlie’s Angels and Survivor by Destiny’s Child. Other popular female artists that have composed Girl Power songs include Pink, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin among others.

The women might have been protesting for equal rights with man but who would think that it would really take serious effect. The result today is jawdropping. Women now make up 45% of the world labour force this includes the Arab world were many women are restricted in the work place due to gender and religious segregation. They now work with men without any problem. If one takes a look at Nigeria, women are gradually taking over the corporate world. Women are now flooding the banks, they are heading departments in corporate organisations and are becoming CEOs. Women are now taking up positions in management and are been favoured over the men. There’s the saying that woman are better managers and their position in the management field tends to show that.

Girls are also flooding schools. Infact the ratio of girls in class today outnumbers boys. While doing some research, I found out that girls make up the large population in management courses in University such as Accounting, Economics, Marketing and Business Administration. I used Babcock University, the University of Ibadan and University of Lagos to make these findings. Courses relating to the media such as Mass Communication also have large population of girls as well as Law. Girls are now topping the class ahead of the guys. Some guys even rely on the girls to pass their courses. The population of girls is small in the pure and applied sciences. Fields such as Medicine, Engineering and Computer Science have a small fraction of girls but I’m sure their little numbers would dare the norm and aim to top the class and come up with innovative ideas which have been all created by men. Women have defied the odds in doing extreme activities that are highly dangerous and of course only done by men. We now have women who have gone on space missions such as Valentina Tereshkova, Kathryn Sullivan, Rhea Seddon, Mae Jemison, Anna Fisher, Roberta Bondar among many others. A few women have been able to challenge men on the race track such as Danica Patrick and Johanna Long in Indy Car Racing and NASCAR, Maria Teresa de Filippis and Lella Lombardi in Formula one, Vanina Ickx and Desiré Wilson in the 24 Hours of Le Man race.

*To be continued.

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*All photos sourced randomly from Google Images.

WHAT THE NEW YEAR SHOULD BE ALL ABOUT.

Another New Year is upon us and as always is the tradition, there's a lot of frenzy to mark the New Year. December 31st is always seen as a tense day. People bustling all over the place to make last minute preparations towards the New Year. The night time is the most noisy, fireworks lighting the sky, music all over the place, people drinking up in bars, guys stroking girls in motels or their private homes and of course people flocking to church for the cross over service. This is great but is that all that really matters?

We all make New Year resolutions wanting to improve on something and make fervent earth shaking and ground moving prayers to God to bless us and increase us in all we do. As the year goes by, we do see improvement in ourselves, job promotion, marriage, new house, new car, earning an academic degree among other things. God indeed is moving and prayers are being answered but there is one thing that is missing from us: THE ART OF LOVING, FORGIVING AND CARING FOR OTHERS.

God might have blessed some people beyond expectations but rather than be a blessing to others just as God did, they neglect those going through difficult and turbulent times. Many are out there who don’t have anyone to care for them. Some are going through depression because of the loss of a loved one. Some have had terrible accident which has taken a toll on their health and don’t have the means for treating themselves, some don’t have a place to sleep. Every day is a struggle for them. We bypass these people while we smile and put joy in our hearts. Some of these people just need someone to talk to, someone that could give them a smile, a phone call of upliftment or encouragement to that woman who lost her husband and first son. Sometimes it’s not all about giving money but being there. One’s presence is enough to make sad emotions disappear. Even those who are blessed financially do not give to worthy causes but keep gathering the wealth, racking up millions that isn't channeled to developmental needs of society.

As said earlier, we all pray fervently for God to bless and increase us. Our prayers most times are all about ourselves neglecting to pray for others going through difficult times. Prayers shouldn't be about ‘I’ all the time. 90% of our prayers have ‘I’ while the remaining 10% is on other people or not at all. This is an entirely wrong thing. Jesus Christ prayed more for others than himself even at the point of death so why can’t we do the same? The result of such is that the lives of millions would be better and not just us alone.

I've come to realize that many people might be prayer warriors, praying day and night against the forces of evil but deep in their heart is hate and an unforgiving spirit. How is it that we pray during cross over services and yet we carry grudge and hate in our hearts just because that woman said something that wasn't pleasant to you? I've heard insults and unpleasant things in my life over and over again but does that mean that I hold grudge over such person? Absolutely not. Having bitter resentment over someone for doing something painful and hurtful doesn't make much sense. Some have carried hate in their heart for years. That’s just unbelievable. 

Jesus Christ for once never had hate in his heart. It was all about forgiveness even when people did things that didn't please God. The martyr Stephen at the point of being stoned to death prayed to God to forgive those who were doing the cruel act to him. His prayers might have saved those people so why do we find it hard to forgive someone? There’s no point keeping malice, holding grudge and hating. It just simply is an act of immaturity no matter the degree of hurt caused. Keeping such in mind can have psychological effect as time goes on so what hate? Bury the hatchet please. God isn't pleased with a heart that can’t forgive when He did much more than that for us.

Rather than start this New Year in the same fashion we have been doing over the years, why don’t we turn a new leaf. Lend a helping hand, give all you can, let someone feel happy because you were there in time of need. Pray more for those who need love and care than for yourself. God has blessed you so be a blessing to others. End the hate and grudge you have towards that person. Show some love back, if the person isn't warm towards you, do your part and leave the rest. Your bright face might just change the person’s approach.

Wishing you all a wonderful 2015. Have a great year.

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*All photos sourced randomly from Google Images.

A DAY LIKE NEVER BEFORE

Going down memory lane, four days back to this day (May 30) 2012), is still fresh in mind. It's like it just happened. Getting the news from school that the man who took care of me from the day i was born has said Adios! to the world didn't sink in on the spot. I'm like 'what is happening? How is that possible?' but i still didn't understand what was going on. I'm either watching or I'm in a movie scenario. Why is that? Only God knows. The tears wanted to come out but they couldn't. Those tears have still refused to come out till today.

With the sad news that hadn't sunk in yet even after four days, it was finally time to call it a day on June 3, 2012 after four years of academic work. It was graduation day from university. It should be the happiest day of my life. Shouldn't it? Yes it was, but something was missing. The man who bore me was no longer existing but i determined that the day must be fun. It was a packed stadium that day filled with over 2500 graduands as well as family and well wishers and the frenzy of a world famous doctor (Dr. Ben Carson) live in Ilisan. The day was super indeed and I was feeling it. There wasn't a trace of the inevitable that happened four days back in my head. The whole ceremony was finally over and the merry making began. Even from as far away a place like Port Harcourt, they could hear that something big was going on in a town I believe Bodija in Ibadan is bigger than. There was nothing that could ignite sad emotions in me at that moment.

After all the graduation frenzy and merry making on campus, I was back at home and tired as ever after a long day, I lay on the bed, looked up to the ceiling and then thoughts started flowing in. The best man ever known to me was supposed to be there with me at my convocation. He planned to come even in the weakest state of mind and body but the inevitable just had to happen. I planned to call him on the 30th of May to know if he will still make it for Sunday, June 3, 2012. I didn't know that i won't be making the call and that Sunday 27th  May 2012 was the last time I would see his face. I always wonder why it had to happen when it was supposed to be the happiest week of my life. Its a mystery that I might never have an answer to.

As I was still gazing at the ceiling, the news came of a plane crash just happened in Lagos. It was the DANA plane. It crashed into a neighbourhood killing all on board including a family I heard where just coming to Nigeria for the first time from the United States. How sad it was.

What a day, first I battle with emotions then a fatal plane crash all in one day. Today June 3 was an epic day in 2012. A day like no other. A day I first knew what reality of life was all about. There is nothing I can do to change the events especially the inevitable of 30th May 2012. Its sad but what can I do? Its left for me to move on carry on with life. Being sober can take a toll on my health and I'm not ready to face health challenges at this young age. Rather its to be stronger than ever before and attain greatness while I remain here so that when its a wrap, I will remember all I've done with a smile even though the events of May 30 and June 3, 2012 would never go away.

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