HUGE POLITICAL EXPENSES: A JUSTIFICATION FOR LOOTING? Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

  Someone bought a governorship party's nomination form for N11million; lobbied all the party executives with N50million. He won his party's ticket and moved to the next level.
  
     Again, he spent over N200million for the general election campaign; spent another N100million to settle political godfathers in addition to another N200million to buy votes on election day.

   In essence, he has spent close to N1billion from his hard earn money to win the governorship election...

    Let's say he eventually won and got sworn into office, how does he recoup all the outrageous expenses of his political investments without having to divert State allocations or other public funds to settle the various political debts he owed?

    I think it would be unreasonable and unfair to think that he incurred such expenses on election for nothing. He obviously didn't establish a kind of charity organization. Even if he's a philanthropist, the people that invested in his campaign are not. They need returns for their investments.
  
     Or let's view it this way, we know it's unethical to embezzle while in government office but is it ethical not to make gain from your huge investment? If we say he should never tamper with State allocations in settling his debts, then he's faced with conditions that would make him pay debt throughout his lifetime!
    
     Yet in all of these, two things stand out. First, if things continue this way, no typical Nigerian youth would ever aspire to be elected into a governorship position. Why? Because it's simply impossible for a typical Nigerian youth to raise such an amount to obtain nomination form, let alone affording other millions for the campaign.
Two, it would also be unfair to assume that one who spent such a huge amount would not loot State treasury.

     This underscores the overwhelming nature of our problems. We need to first fix the psyche of a worsted and damaged citizenry who sees politics as a good business that must be hugely invested into and public offices as a passport to become moneybags before we can ever fix this great country of ours.

      I think I might agree with Barrister Oshuntoye, a Canadian-based lawyer who onced suggested that fixed minimum wage be established for public office holders, from ordinary Councilors to the President. If this is achieved, no one will go take a bank loan of N27.5m to obtain a party's presidential nomination form when no means of recouping such amount is guaranteed.

    Our political parties and political culture in Nigeria is faulty; our political structure too needs reform, until we reform these institutions, no good person can come out of them and perform excellenctly. We must change our mindset and the way we view public offices.

    Reforming our political structure and changing our mindset and beseeching our citizens to see the danger that lies ahead if this tradition is not stopped is a job that must be done if we are to step forward. If not, how are we ever going to hold anyone accountable?

OUR BANANA IS ROTTING, WE SAY IT IS RIPENING. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

      Heavenly father, bring back the good old days in Nigeria. Restore those years when Ghanaians came to Nigeria to work at construction sites as labourers; as gardeners and drivers. They sold ‘puff-puff' and repaired our shoes yet we pursued them in Ghana-must-go bags. Today, our leaders have stolen us dry in same Ghana-must-go bags and we are fleeing to Ghana to be educated.

    In those good years, graduates were like kings. Right there on the convocation ground, employers would be falling on themselves to reach and grant you on-the-spot employment you rightly deserve. Today, over 67million Nigerian graduates are without jobs. So serious is the case that some PhD holders applied for truck drivers job in response to Dangote Cement Factory advert placement many months ago.

    Oh Lord, bring back those years when values count. When government office holders had genuine interest of the masses at heart and were transparent and answerable to their citizens. Bring back the likes of selfless leaders like Cheif Obafemi Awolowo who built Cocoa House not in his hometown nor consider OAU better situated in his domain.

      In those good years, there were genuine trust on fellow Nigerians so much that while driving and your car broke down on the highway, all you need do was to wave and other cars driving by would fall on themselves to help you. Today, armed robbers would attack you on the same highway and leave you practically naked and fellow Nigerians would drive pass and ponder in the car with their partner, 'see fresh mad man!'

     During those good old days, most of us all went to public schools and still compete adequately with those who studied in United Kingdom,  but now, the public schools are reserved for only poor men's children where pupils learn under roofs made of thatches and benches that termites have devastated.

   In my entire years at Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University) as an undergraduate, my total tuition fees between year 2000 and 2005 was just N33,500. Today, same amount is nowhere near the exorbitant acceptance fees charged in many public higher institutions in Nigeria.

    Today we ignore the experiences of those good old days and concluded we're making progress. We bank on endless number of sub-standard private universities in our land, increasing number of private jets owned by few superrich Nigerians, fleet of expensive vehicles own by few Nigerians and untold depravity ravaging amidst our youth all in the name of civilization as indicators for positive development. Our banana indeed is rotting while we brag it is ripening!

THE TRUTH THESE PROGRESSIVES NEVER TOLD MUHAMMADU BUHARI. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

  I'm still wondering which bank gave N27.5m loan to a 72 years old man to invest in politics? Ok let's assume it's not a lie (which glaringly it is) how does he intend paying N27.5m plus interest in the unlikely case he becomes president if not through tax payers' money?
By implication, Buhari has stated in clear terms that he will offset his many debts from our commonwealth. Should we begin to expect this from someone the 'progressives' say would drive away corruption?
    These are the questions I expected these desperate armies of boll weevils and termites called APC to have considered and asked Buhari before allowing him to be their candidate.
   There are two categories of Nigerians that want Buhari: the Northern oligarchy hiding under religion and zoning to actualize their aims and the unsuspecting youths who don't realize this old man is using part of their time. It's more like they have concluded they may never be relevant in governance or that they don't believe in themselves. They have refused to accept the stark reality that Buhari has served his time already and he's using part of theirs.
    What new vision does Buhari have? When will these men with greedy minds but weak bodies hand over the batons of leadership to the youths? When Buhari was Head of State, President Barack Obama was probably in high school. Americans have since stopped talking of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, yet we keep worshiping and re-cycling these old men and expect Nigeria to be like America!
   Meanwhile, Buhari's generation was a very privileged one indeed and he achieved everything possible in term of wealth and government power. In 1975 at the age of 33, he was appointed the Military Governor of the North-Eastern State, present day Borno & Yobe states. In 1976 at the age of 34 he became the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources. In 1978 at the age of 36 he was appointed the Chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). In 1983 at the age of 41, he became the Head of State. Most Nigerians at that age have not had the opportunity to serve. Today the reverse is the case. Most Nigerians at age of 35 are still unemployed and still living with parents. Many are still not married. One major reason for this unfortunate turn of events is that many elders like Buhari have refused to voluntarily hand over the baton to the next generation. This is the fact many youths clamouring for Buhari never realised.
    I quite agree with Professor Wole Soyinka who pointed out that some Nigerians love to point to Buhari’s past agenda of discipline as the shining jewel in his scrap-iron crown. But to inculcate discipline however, one must lead by example, obeying laws set down as guides to public probity. Example speaks louder than declarations, and rulers cannot exempt themselves from the disciplinary structures imposed on the overall polity.
    The case of selective punishment for drug pushers under Buhari's regime is still fresh in our memories. What about Nduka Irabor, Tunde Thompson and other journalists that Buhari jailed unlawfully. Tai Solarin was sent to jail by same Buhari for publicly opposing him; Fela Kuti was jailed by Buhari and parents and friends of Barth Owoh, Ojuolape and others wept when they were sent to their early graves. Come to think of it, is any coup plotter justified to rule Nigeria, especially the one that truncated our hard-earned democracy at all?
      I believe, as a former Head of State, Buhari is automatically a member of the Council of State. He has every avenue to channel his views across on how to move Nigeria forward. He doesn't necessarily have to be in a frontline role, he can serve in an advisory capacity.
He should go sit down and allow agile youths take charge.

SAINT OLAWALE JIMOH IN PICTURES

 

 

 

 

Endorsements

 

Saint-Olawale Jimoh after a successful public engagement..

 

With 'OGD Apostles', a team of committed and core ogdists. With the grand patron of the OGD political family, Otunba Gbenga Daniel at the centre. 

 

 

With Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the immediate past Governor of Ogun Sate and Com. Diran Olatokunbo

 

                                 Rocking it with Ijebu Descendants Association of Minnesota

 

 

With Adekoya Boladale of Sahara Reporters, a journalist, media entrepreneur and political analyst

 

With colleagues at The Political Academy, a privately established platform for training young leaders and political aspirants

 

     At The Political Academy with Hon. Ogunkoya, Hon. Matthew Ogunjobi, John Ogunlere and Hon. Femi Sokeye

 

With Nafiu Abimbola Olawale, Dejie Rowland, Hon. Matthew Ogunjobi and Hon. Centro at Asoludero Hall, Sagamu, Ogun State.

                               

 With Nigerian star actress, Dayo Amusa
 

                                At Ogun State Political Stakeholders' Conference in Sagamu.

With Miss Nigeria

 

With former Ogun State Commisioner of finance, Mr Kehinde Shogunle

 

                                                          Still at The Political Academy

 

With Mr Kayode Ajala, the publisher of Hints Magazine

 

With Comrade Ifekayode Akinbode, former SA to Gov. Gbenga Daniel

 

With Sf Ojo Emmanuel Adediran, an award-winning blogger political analyst

 

                 At an enlarged gathering of young Ogun Political Stakeholders and core Ogdists

 

Ojude Oba 2014 playground

 

With Hon. Deacon Kenny Awolade

 

With Mr Sina Kawonise (SK), the foremost governorship aspirant of Yes Party for Ogun State, Nigeria 

 

 With Comrade Taiwo Solanke of Teemoney Publicity and Comrade Bukonla Okubanjo

 

 Self while receiving a certificate at the Political Academy

 

At the launching of Association for Greater Ogun State (AGOS) with Comrade Segun Okeowo Kayode and Mr Segun Okeowo Kolade 

 

 With Mr Avner Mnamchi, the former MD of Sparkwest International

 

At a political event with Mr Akinbayo Oshuntoye, a Canadian-based lawyer, certified private investigator and Counter Intelligence Specialist (CIS)

 

In a group photograph with Mr Sina Kawonise (the governorship candidate of LP for Ogun State, Nigeria) shortly after his trip from China.

At Lagos Airport Hotel Ikeja, Lagos for the launching of "Across Decades", a book written by Sina Kawonise, the current governorship candidate of SDP in Ogun State

With Mustapha Musa Dapo (MMD), the DG of Hon. Ladi Adebutu Kessington's Campaign Organisation at Lagos Airport Hotel Ikeja, Lagos for the launching of "Across Decades", a book written by Sina Kawonise,

 

 

Myself and old classmate, Comrade AfrikaWee Tunde former SA to Governor Gbenga Daniel

 

Myself and Colonel MKO Awokoya, a former Deputy Rector of the prestigious Gateway Petro-Gas Institute, Oni, Nigeria.

 

Myself and Adenuga Don Mayor

 

  Alone outside the Political Academy

 

 Alone at 2014 Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu Ode

 

      Alone outside The Political Academy, Ogun State

OGD'S DEFECTION TO PDP: BETWEEN REALITIES AND SENTIMENTS. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

      Things are changing and we can't afford to be adamant. Politics is such an interesting game and Nigeria's own is much sweeter, only that it's not for dullard and learners!
      Ever since the former governor of Ogun State Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the grand patron of OGD political family, the largest political family in Western Nigeria officially announced he would return to PDP  there has been rumbles in several camps of OGD family. Much has been said and published regarding the issue but of all the stories authored on social media, Fela Rotimi's piece appeared shocking where he labelled the action as 'ambitious criss-crossing and outrageous dis-loyalty to voters.'
    He further lamented the plight of thousands of taken-for-granted and forgotten innocent electorates who are neither carried-along, nor have their opinions sampled in the negotiations and are left confused by rumour mills.
     Many even viewed Labour Party (LP) in the light of this action as not more than a mere ram one reared and nourished only to be slaughtered for festive merriment. This can be said to be true given the fact same OGD built and nourished LP to become the strongest force in Ogun and imagining same party collapsed into another party with the consent of the one who built it calls for questioning.
      Labour Party surely had earned a high-profile show of acceptance from Ogun people in the last few months. Confidence in LP has continued to soar to high heavens with the activities of the stakeholders of the party. It has exhibited unparalleled readiness to transform Ogun for better if voted in comes 2015. Supporters of political aspirants for various offices made the campaign more interesting but challenging for the incumbent government. In summary, LP dwarfed other main parties in ideas, programmes, consolidation, organisation, political oration and paraded best brains Ogun can ever produce!
   Sina Kawonise for instance, is a combination of abilities; a resourceful entrepreneur, outstanding media giant with enviable past records in public office and private business. This proud Ijebu son has done wonderfully well and has all it takes to move Ogun forward. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka is a complete gentleman with proven track records. A seasoned banker of all times. What about Sarafa Tunji Ishola, who is equally a seasoned administrator and a qualified candidate for the job? All these people have reasons to be worried at action of the leadership of LP to merge with PDP.
  In fact, sizeable percentage of OGD political family are bound to detest the idea at this time but same action might end up becoming blessing for the family and those who might have resolved to stay back in LP may still need to have a re-think. Either ways, those who moved to PDP shouldn't be seen as cowards, while those who might still be skeptical shouldn't be viewed as being disloyal to their leaders. It's a personal decision only that a personal interest shouldn't supersede party's political ideology.
      It would be recalled that PDP was defeated in the last election not because the opposition had greater hold on the people but largely because of the internal crisis within the PDP fold. Whenever there's a problem in larger organisations, smaller ones take such opportunity to excel, same for political parties. In the 1990s here in Lagos, the conflict between Messers Agbalajobi and Dapo Sarumi paved way for the emergence of late Micheal Otedola. The same thing happened in Ogun in 2011. The conflict in PDP gave birth to PPN and same dis-agreement between top stakeholders gave victory to Amosun of the then ACN at the time.

    Sentiments apart, it isn't a child's play wrestling power from an incumbent government let alone a government that does not give a damn if a thousand people die all in a bid to return to power. I believe so much in Labour Party, yet I still contest the survey results that rated it as the strongest in Ogun. The truth is Labour Party is much more stronger in Ogun East but not the same for Ogun Central and Ogun West.
  Going into next year’s general election with these indicators might result in political suicide. It's in the light of all these facts that I would give kudos to Otunba Gbenga Daniel for that brilliant move. I believe going  into a coalition with another political party that also has some grounds might just be what we need.
     Those who have their eyes trained on political participation would undoubtedly agree with me that  only a solid coalition of all the old PDP members scattered all over different parties would give Amosun a chase in 2015.

GRADUALLY, THE NORTH IS GOING INTO EXTINCTION. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

        In the last few years till now, Northern Nigeria has witnessed bloodsheds like never before. Much more than that of civil war and the usual argument by the Northern elites is that North has always been peaceful before the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan.
    History has proven this claim to be wrong. The North has always been known for bloodsheds. Killings began in the North during 1966 riot that started in May and lasted till October where thousands of people mainly Igbos were killed. Some were buried alive, others were crucified and killed gradually by having their eyes plucked out, their ears chopped off, their tongues cut and their manhood hacked off. The luckier ones just had their heads severed from their body. Women were raped and thereafter broken bottles forced into their womanhood and President Jonathan whom the North loves to blame for their crisis was probably still in secondary school at the time.

     If today, powerful people in the North, for reasons best known to them chose to make Nigeria ungovernable for Jonathan, who bears the brunt of their Boko Haram activities? A visit to Borno, Yobe, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Barkin Ladi (Jos) and parts of Adamawa provides one with  views similar to that of the remnant of nuclear war scene. The other time, despite assisting Kano to repair some affected areas with some undisclosed billions of Naira, Sanusi Lamido still lamented that #50b cannot restore the damages Boko Haram activities caused the State and that was just Kano alone.

     Anyone who visits some of these affected areas would not need a soothsayer to tell him or her that North is dying and gradually may become history. Killed by the Northerners themselves and not Jonathan or PDP. Why? Because a Northerner started Boko Haram and most prominent people that have been arrested so far in connection with these killings are core Hausas. Kabiru Sokoto, Nuhu Mohammed even a serving Senator Alli Ndume linked to this dreaded sect are all from the North. It's possible original Boko Haram may have been hijacked by foreign forces but why start a war when you cannot predict the end in your own soil?

  Things are getting worst everyday over there; over 200 kidnapped school girls are still in the custody of the dreaded Boko Haram, businesses are closing down, textile companies are dead, factories closed; students can't go to school for fear Boko Haram, still, everyday people get killed. If head counts is taken today in all the affected states in the North, I am sure more than 10million would have gone yet the killings hasn't stopped. Indeed the North has murdered its own sleep.
   This is the same North that can boast of extremely powerful and rich individuals many of whom are ex-rulers and are still relevant in governance today. None of these individuals in the area has moved into the trench to assist in efforts to stop Boko Haram. These are people who made their names, fortunes and positions due to their geographic area of origin. Atiku for instance, owns one of the best private universities in Nigeria with several other giant investments all over Nigeria; Aliko Dangote, the richest black person in Africa is from same region. What about the powerful and super rich retired military generals, T.Y Danjuma, Ibrahim Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari?
  These are persons with quality pedigree and enough clout to rouse the North into action against Boko Haram. Babangida once threatened to fight whoever preaches disintegration in Nigeria but his region is being troubled today and the old general doesn't seem to be moved.

  If elders in the Niger Delta made the militants to dropped their guns, these individuals and the so called Northern elders and Arewa should be proffering solution to the incessant killing of innocent Nigerian by Boko Haram instead of concentrating of anything of lesser values while innocent folks get killed everyday.
   Few months ago, a report has it that in one of the communities in Borno State, there has been several cases of some families losing almost all their family members to these killings. If things continue unchecked, many families in the North will be wiped out almost completely!
   This is therefore a wake up call to the Northern elites to swing into action before the North gets wiped out. If the sincere intervention of the likes of Atiku and Buhari could stop this large scale killings, they would have saved thousands of lives, which is far better than the badly dreamed-of Presidency.

LASU FEES REDUCTION: BEFORE STUDENTS START REJOICING. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

    The recent reduction in tuition fees of the State-owned Lagos State University surely call for celebrations among the students. This is understandable given the fact the battle that lasted for almost nine months eventually ended in their favour. So you can't blame the students for throwing a party and doing a thorough boogie down when the news broke out.
 But the real question the students should have asked Fashola, instead of celebrating, is until when because quite frankly, this sudden decision calls for suspicion?

   The decision to return to the old fees regime of about N25,000 (minimum) was announced by Governor Babatunde Fashola at the 19th graduation/convocation of the school which held at the main campus, Ojo last Thursday, after almost two years of running battle, punctuated by agitations and protests by students, lecturers and non academic staff. Before now, the fees were raised to N192,000 for arts courses and N350,000 for sciences (medicine). The announcement by Fashola while delivering his address at the convocation sparked off wild jubilation among the students and staff of the school.

 Indeed, the reversal is a good development no doubt but I personally see this gesture as a ‘Greek gift’ which shouldn't be trusted. Anyone familiar with trend of events lately in this nation will undoubtedly agree the decision is politically motivated and aim at appeasing parents and students who might have resolved have resolved to vote APC out of Lagos in forthcoming due to its anti-people policies. I had written earlier that these armies of boll weevils and termites called APC can do anything to get people's votes in the forthcoming general elections. The gesture is momentary, deceitful and politically-induced rather than being in good faith.

 My advice to the students is to postpone their celebrations until after February next year. If APC wins Lagos State and the fees remain untouched then, they could go about celebrating the fees reduction but right now, it would be unnecessary!

 On the contrary, if Fashola had done it in good faith, why has he ignored public outcry in the first instance, thereby causing irredeemable losses in the system? How is he going to make up for students who were unable to attend school for the three years that the policy had been in place?

I think Fashola needs to tender an apology to the students, who had been victims of school fees policy for the past three years, and their parents for the trauma they went through.

THE PROPOSED IJEBU STATE CAPITAL: BETWEEN FACTS AND SENTIMENTS. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

  In the last few years l have learnt my lesson in Nigeria's politics especially on the social media where people always manage to protect "their own" people or areas when situations demand, not minding the overall negative effect of such action on others. The recent confab's recommendation as regards additional states creation to which Ijebu State was included has generated controversies bothering on its proposed capital.
   The more aggrieved people were Remos who felt the capital should be in Remoland.
   Hon Yinka Mafe, a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly from Sagamu few days ago on his facebook page declared that if the State capital can't be situated in Remoland, then he and his people would not be part of the proposed Ijebu State. Another Pan-Remo group met and even issued a communique stating that except the proposed capital is situated in their domain, it would not do them any good.
    This state creation which should have been a blessing to us (knowing fully well that among all the 25 Provinces/Kingdom approved by British colonial masters for Nigeria, it is only Ijebu that has not gotten its State) may easily start unending crisis between the two ethnic divisions. Same sentiment that deprived us of the opportunity during Abacha regime may mare the whole agenda again if care is not taken.
    But come to think of it, should Remoland be both the administrative and economic capital together when Sagamu has naturally been positioned to be the economic capital of the proposed State? Or what special benefits has Abeokuta enjoyed as a State capital more than Ota?
Is Ikenne or Sagamu the central?
Is Sagamu not too close to Abeokuta to be another capital again?
If Chief Obafemi Awolowo were to be alive today, would he be fighting that the capital be situated in his home town?
What meaningful contributions have those clamouring for Remo as capital made in support of the proposed State?
If the capital is situated in Remoland as Remos are are agitating for, how then do we honour the likes of Awujale and other magnificient persons from Ijebu who have toiled hard on this Ijebu State project and even went as far as bringing David Mark and Aminu Tambowal to Ijebuland all in a bid to make them witness the craving of the people for the new State and throw in their weight where necessary?
    The Remos should take things easy and see this matter as one that can be settled amicably.
Fact is, if a Remo State for instance, is proposed today, there will still be issues of location. That is when you will know that Makun is not Offin. And Ajaka will say they only sell their land to Makun people and so so so. It's normal but should not be allowed to generate into crisis.
    What I expect the leaders of aggrieved people to do is simply to appeal to their people who have limited knowledge of state creation and make them realize the collective benefits lying ahead if our wish is granted.
    We are one and we shall continue to be. Those areas called 'Remo' were formerly known as 'Ijebu-Remo'. Suddenly they removed the Ijebu from the original nomenclature. Like birds, Remo and Ijebu needs both wings to fly. So rather than throw away the child with bad water, we can concentrate on the overall benefits in health, education, infrastructure, rural development and other new opportunities.
    What we would have thereafter will be enough to go round. We will have 3 senators; about 7 House of Representatives, maybe 15 or more local government councils. Then, if the Governor is from Ijebu, deputy will come from Remo and vice versa. We shall be contending in that line and at the end we would all be better of. We should all see this State creation as a blessing and an opportunity that should be embraced knowing fully well that if we behave otherwise, there might be another Ife-Modakeke kind of story right here in our land.

BETWEEN POLITICS, MOB MENTALITY OF OUR SOLDIERS AND THE REST OF US. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

  The crushing of a young Lance Corporal in the Educations Corp of the Nigerian Army by a BRT bus and reactions of men of the Nigerian army that led to the burning of 6 BRT buses surely generated controversies as expected. Of all the comments I read online, the one that shocked me most was the one authored by Mr Donald Ekpo, a die-hard supporter of the ruling PDP, where he opined that, "it is natural for soldiers or members of any other organized profession to react with anger if something of this sort should happen to a colleague of theirs; knowing that the BRT drivers have been doing these atrocities without any repercussion. It is normal to show solidarity and I will not condemn such in totality even though I have my reservations."
    Is Mr Ekpo suggesting soldiers should always kill and destroy properties whenever a soldier is involved in an accident? It's a pity that Mr Ekpo should make comments. Sometimes, it's not all about politics and we don't have to malign any political party and State government here. It's about the substance! See what they have reduced human lives to in Nigeria all in the name of politics. We all belong to one political party or the other and we're bound to always speak to credit our party but when it comes to human lives, we need to have a rethink. Why do we always politicize everything in Nigeria?
     While I condemn the careless driving of BRT drivers and regret the death of the soldier, I also find the wanton destruction of BRT buses and thuggery of the soldiers in reaction to their colleague's death reprehensible.
In London the other day, Officer Rigby was hacked to death in broad daylight by a misinformed Nigerian fanatic. British soldiers did not go about in a rampaging hoard to attack blacks or destroy properties.
    The spokesman for the army exonerated the soldiers and claimed the destructions were carried out by thugs. Very true, but we know who the thugs are in this case. It's just that we are gradually getting to a situation where we can't believe some of our spokesmen. BRT management must do something about their drivers' reckless driving and ensure that the bad eggs that have found their way into the organization are flushed out. In the same vein, the military should also put its foot down on the mob mentality of our soldiers.
   The nation is going through a time that is harrowing enough. What happened yesterday is simply a clear show of madness and a threat to our national security!

CHANNELS TV AND THE NATIONAL SHAME
Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

'It was a great surprise to me when I discovered that the ugliness I see in others is but a reflection of my very nature'.  -Anonymous


   This piece is not intended to nail anyone, as a matter of fact, it is not even a criticism rather, it is an observation, aimed at calling the attention of the general public to the excesses of some of our journalists and  media houses. Channels Television has been voted the best in Nigeria and Freedom Of Information (FOI) makes their journalistic exploits more enabling for them but would the FOI have covered or does it involve showcasing our shame?

     For several months early last year, the most popular slogan in Nigeria has been ‘my oga at the top’, a term generated from the ill-fated interview granted by Mr Obafaiye Shem, the former Lagos State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to Channels Television during its breakfast show on March 6, 2013. Comedians and musicians can’t crack a joke or sing a line without referring to it. T-shirts, baseball caps and movies have been inspired by it.  The situation was much that the wife of the victim was said to have barged into the premises of the television station, asking what they really stand to gain from over-publicizing her husband's mistake.
     Those who watched the interview would agree that the Channels Sunrise Daily interview team manipulated the situation. They clearly knew the man did not know what the NSCDC’s website was based on his first response,  rather than change the subject, they resorted to exploiting his ignorance.

    While I am not totally in support of Mr Shem, I still believe that those making the noise about the interview are not being fair to him. How many of our National Assembly members know the country’s national anthem, let alone its official website? Ijeoma Bristol, the current Ambassador of Nigeria to Portugal, could not sing the national anthem during her ambassadorial screening. When asked to explain the Geneva and Vienna Conventions, she said she was “confused”. And yet, she was confirmed by the senate. What is the real difference between him and today’s youths who know a thousand websites addresses, but are dumbfounded when asked for their house number? There are people out there who are educated, but do not know how to send you a message on their mobile phone. So tell me: is there a difference between such people and Mr Shem as far as technology is concerned?

    Before Mr Shem's saga, there was what Channels TV tagged 'River State House Of Thugs,' a video clip that showed the violent and kangaroo impeachment drama within the River State House Of Assembly complex in which one lawmaker hit the on the head with House mace. The video clip generated controversies and attracted several negative comments from the international communities about our democratic system.

    It would be recalled that on the 17th of September, 2008, the late President Yar'Adua lenient as he was almost close down Channels when it carried the news that "President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua may resign after cabinet reshuffle, on health ground!" As expected, the local and international broadcast media quickly picked up the story and broadcast it to the whole world. Swiftly, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) disowned the story, while presidential spokesman at the time, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, emphatically denied the rumour, saying it was the handiwork of those who do not wish Nigeria well. Yet Channels TV was the source of the news!

    The latest this year from Channels Television is the one tagged 'there is God o'. A video clip about Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan, the first lady of this nation! Whoever watch the clip would acknowledge that it's a calculated attempt to expose the woman's flaw.  Channels had already made their point when they only reported about Mrs Patience's meeting with some concerned folks over Chibok abducted girls without the woman's voice and the annoying video. Question is, why did Channels had to go back and retrieve the video when they had said their news successfully without it?

   All these I consider too unprofessional for a media house that takes pride in being the best in the land and a very low sort of comedy. More than anything else, they have succeeded in generating further distrust between journalists and general public who will surely think twice before honouring invitations from them.
  This Channels folks need to be reminded that there are better things to do in enlightening, informing and educating the public rather than making mockery of the first lady and turning same to national pastime. It pride on being the best in the land yet the most incisive human-angle stories regarding Chibok abduction was the one  on the BBC website. What happened to investigative reporting/journalism? Has Channels ever taken up the challenge of researching how many people actually died in Nyanya? What about Chibok girls, how many girls were genuinely abducted? Do they have families? What are their names?  We now live in a society where newspapers and TV station rely on facebook postings by individuals for news updates.

   Nigerian newspapers and journalists have lost all sense of responsibility and shame, people are now mere hustlers, jobbers looking for rich and crooked sponsors at home and abroad, bullshit artists turning tricks, beheading the truth for pennies from the West.


-Saint-Olawale Jimoh
Observers' Reflections Int'l
www.saint-olawalejimoh.blogspot.com

TRIBUTE TO A QUINTESSENTIAL GENTLEMAN, MR ADENIYI JOHNSON TALABI AS HE RETIRES FROM TEACHING SERVICE.
Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh


‘One man of courage makes a majority.’ - Andrew Jackson


The media today is awash with tales of successful people who created class for themselves in their chosen fields by virtue of their achievements. I am always skeptical about such stories most especially when it has got to do with individuals from rich families. If Femi Otedola today buys all the refineries in Nigeria, I would not be surprised and if tomorrow I read that Paddy Adenuga is the richest young Nigeria, it won't amaze me, they're all from extremely rich families.

   You bring a story of a man who was born with a sliver spoon; who never tasted hardship, who studied under pleasure and attended one of the best universities in the world and you want me to toe his lines or envy him? No, we do not have the same conditions and owing to the difference in places of birth, we started the race of life at a different pace. Show me a man who was raised by parents who couldn't afford 3-square meal a day; who walked almost bare-footed to school and who wore same clothes for many years, yet made gold using these extant conditions and I will appreciate!

    Mr Adeniyi Johnson Talabi was born on 3rd of April, 1959 in Ilese, at a time when our forefathers had fed their children with negative tales about western education. It was even some families' tradition not to invest in education because to then, education would make their children oppose their customs and traditional practices yet there was a little boy who despite this notions and impediments found that his fortune lies in same education and did everything humanly possible to realize his dreams.
     He attended St Paul's Anglican Primary School, Ilese between 1965 to 1970 and Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu-Ode where he obtained S75 in 1974. He attended Methodist Teachers Training College, Sagamu for his Grade II certificate in 1974. He again proceeded to Tai-Solarin College Of Education, Ijebu-Ode in 1986 and University Of Ado Ekiti in 2003 for his degrees.
   This man toiled hard to achieve all these. He blazes the trail and sets himself as a role model, not only for the youths, but importantly for his contemporaries. All my life, I have never privately sat side-by-side with this man, never! In fact, I can count on the finger of one hand the number of times I have set my eyes on him this year, yet news of his great deeds keep reaching me every now and then.
    I am not going to make pretence of it at all. I have a fondness for him, his overwhelming humility, his sincerity of purpose, his dedication to duty and his remarkable gentlemanliness.
He is useful to mankind in all ramifications. At St Paul's Anglican Church, Ilese, where he's a pillar, he has been the secretary of the church's Harvest Committee since 1995. He is currently ACF President and Vicar's warden.
   In service, he is the Treasurer of Ogun State Association Of Primary School Headteachers (COPSHON) till retirement; Ijebu Divisional Chairman, COPSHON from 2009 till retirement, Assistant Secretary, Odogbolu Zonal COPSHON between 2001 till 2007 and Chairman of Endwell Scheme Building Committee, Odogbolu.
   Within the community, he is Vice President and co-founder of St Paul's Co-operative Multipurpose Society, Ilese; board member of Ijebu Central Cooperative Service Society (ICCSS) and Vice President, Olorunsogo Cooperative Multipurpose Society Limited.

Mr Adeniyi is a recipient of many awards including Fellow Of the Teaching Industry (FTI) and Best Headteacher Award in Odogbolu which was presented to him by foremost industrialist and former Ogun State governorship aspirant, Rev Olajide Awosedo.

Above all, Mr Johnson Adeniyi Talabi possesses one thing that most of our leaders are lacking; a gift you cannot buy with money; you cannot learn it in school, it's simply humility! His humility is legendary; to me, he  remains the most humble individual I have ever seen walking the surface of this earth.

-Saint-Olawale Jimoh
Observers' Reflections Int'l
www.saint-olawalejimoh.blogspot.com

GREAT NATION, CORRUPT SYSTEM. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

    America and the rest of the developed nations feed us with stories of their heroes and we worship them so long as they are non-Nigerians. You bring a story of a man who has electric power twenty four hours a day, whose mental capacity has not been impaired by sleeping and waking to the sound of a running 2.5 KV generator, who had not spent eight years for a four-year degree course because of strike actions of the university lecturers and you want us to toe their lines? No, we do not have the same conditions and owing to the difference in places of birth, we started the race of life at a different pace. Show me a great Nigerian, who made gold using our extant conditions, and I will appreciate him more than Pope!
        Americans have Obama we have Fashola; they have Bill Gate we have Philips Emeagwali, they have Beyonce and we have Bukonla Elemide(Asha). Nigeria is a great nation with few man-made problems (corruption and impunity) that can be fixed.
      The difference between Abuja and New York is simple; the former is subject to pretentious dead letters disdainfully styled as 'law' while the latter is subject to a gripping and sweeping operations of prevailing sanctionable rules and regulations devoid of class discrimination. The sword of justice is useless if it can't pierce through the flesh of corrupt elements among us. In any case, corruption is not limited to financial crimes. The least act of disrespect for established values (for personal gain) is a manifest case of corruption which ought to attract appropriate sanction. Justice should not look at the face or status of offenders. Afterall, the statue of justice rightly displayed an energetic blind woman, except in Nigeria where 'justice' has a special eye for the protection of the rich. And we jointly made it to be so. Yes, our laws are probably meant to protect the rich and oppress the poor. Sadly enough the poor aid and abet this ignoble process. With all these, one begin to wonder if there is something wrong with our soil or the air we breathe in this part of the world.
        My theory is that there is nothing wrong with our land except that our system conditioned the way we react. Nigeria is still a wonderful land in spite of our leaders' reckless activities and can be one of the best in the world if we first learn to fight corruption and impunity associated with governance and the holders of public offices!
        Wherever you look among Nigerians, there are people who hate to abide by rules and want privilege where they have not sown. It's got to stop. This is 2014, and anybody who spends taxpayers' money like confetti or wants extraordinary consideration in anything must be held accountable for earning it.

Saint-Olawale Jimoh
(Observers' Reflections Int'l)
©2014

BETWEEN THE VICTIMS OF NIGERIAN IMMIGRATION RECRUITMENT STAMPEDE AND THE FUTURE OF NIGERIAN YOUTHS. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

    I am gravely worried about the future of a nation that toys with its youths. What happened last Saturday is one of the symptoms of sickness of this society. It's rather unfortunate that innocent youths would have to bear the pain and brunt of the excesses and reckless activities of our leaders.

   It is heart-rending seeing those gory pictures of the dead and dehydrated jobless and helpless youths of my country, including three pregnant women. Indeed, Nigeria needs help.

    If Abuja National Stadium for instance is to carry a sitting capacity of 64 thousand four hundred and sixty or thereabout and the stadium was  filled to capacity with more people outside. Invariably we have close to a hundred thousand applicants there or more. Yet official figures has it that the agency recorded 560,000 applications from these job seekers. If over 2million people applied for the 3000 jobs and paid N1000 for application forms. By multiplying N1000 by 2 million applicants we arrive at N2billion.  It is therefore disgracefully shocking to know that government has made over N2billion from these job seekers with no jobs available them!

  In some civilized climes in this same world,  government actually pays her citizens a job seeker allowance to be able to weather whatever hardship that comes with being jobless. In United Kingdom for instance, jobless citizens get access to free house, health and money. But rather than help my Nigerian jobless youths, government is actually taking everything away from them.

   Imagine a country of about 160million people with about 100million people living below poverty line and over 60million jobless youths with no feasible future, yet its Presidency has 10 private jets with another new one more at a whopping price of $1.6billion. A country where elected leaders stole billion of dollars without being questioned; where a government official bought N300million bullet-proof car without being queried, where Phd holders applied for truck drivers' jobs, where you can have all the university degrees and still end up as a roadside newspapers vendor...

   Who will blame the innocent jobless youths for attending the job screening test? They are agile yet jobless and suffering!  We have an army of angry, jobless and desperate youths on our hands in this country and we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder but some selfish political apologists and sycophants would keep assuring Mr President that all is well.

   A time is coming when some section of our jobless youths would occupy National Assembly to demand for what they really deserve while some would be going from house to house of former national leaders to pay them back for the pains they caused them!



Saint-Olawale Jimoh
(Observers' Reflections Int'l)
www.saint-olawalejimoh.blogspot.com
©2014

LEGACIES OF A DEMOLITION KING. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

    Every new government has its leadership pattern which usually outlive their tenure in office. The overall impact of such government on people determines whether that government will be praised or cursed after its mandated tenure.
   Governor Ibikunle Amosun's style of governance in Ogun State means different things to different people. To the elite, who wish to drive his car without hindrance through a well flowered road, a road that is devoid of poor children hawking the streets, to him, Amosun is a hero. Such person will sing his praise and would undoubtedly stop at nothing to defend his government if need be.
    It is a different case to a poor woman who had lived all her life selling in the corner of the road, a condition forced down her throat by immense poverty, with her children hawking all over the street at the risk of being crushed by moving vehicles. She managed to send her child to school (through the proceeds from her petty business and assistance from well meaning Nigerians) and 8 years after graduation the guy could not secure a job. In may 2011, he got a job with state government and he was very happy, only for Amosun to sack the poor boy again (without pay) not considering the amount the poor boy spent on transport, registration, feeding and others.
   A small apartment her mum stays is already demolished all in the interest of urban renewal. To her, Ogun state has never been so hellish as it is now. Of the 3,728,098 population in Ogun state, over 65% are living below poverty level. The question is, under genuine democracy,
Who really own Ogun State? Is that the way to go about urban renewal?
   What is even the rational behind destroying businesses they can not provide, and housing need they can met and just creating homelessness , employment they can not provide, because some of the shops destroyed kept people in employment and safe some youths from wondering about and making them provide income for their families while contributing to government revenues and many more.

There are several prominent individuals currently nursing their pains from demolition exercise of SIA's administration:
- There was a case of Late Apagun Olumide whose properties were demolished and his hotel confiscated in May 29, 2011. The very first day this administration started. It's interesting to note that the demolition took place in the night!
-Hon Moruf Musa had his filling station and shops demolished in Ogun Waterside LG area of same State despite having valid documents supporting the construction of the properties.
-Hon Motunrayo Adeleye's property equally received the demolition touch of this administration.
-If not for swift intervention of some prominent people and Obas in the State, Abraham Tabernacle (a church constructed by Otunba Gbenga Daniel in honour of his late father and handed over to the Baptist Church of Nigeria) would have been history, because the entrance concrete poles had already been pulled down with the construction  bulldozer on the order of the government.
- Recently, there was an attempt on the property belonging to Ogun former Commissioner for Sport&Youth Development, Mr Bukonla Olopade's property. This property had already been marked for demolition.

 This government has no regard for commoners. Governor bikunle Amosun was not elected to humiliate the people he is meant to serve. There were no consultations with the people before embarking on rampage of destructions , all was done in a military styles. The roads that needed completion were either not addressed or left uncompleted as part of his personal vendetta. A Governor with sympathy votes should not be behaving like a tyrant.

 The handlers of this man need to have a rethink so as not to debase an institution that would outlive them. They must realized that the power of the people is greater than people in power! Many years ago, four hundreds thousands (400,000) Catalans joined hands to form a human chain stretching 250 miles across the Mediterranean coast of the north-eastern region to demand independence from the rest of Spain.
Similarly, a time is coming when Ogun masses will occupy Governor's Office to demand what they really wanted because the real power lies in the people and their votes!



Saint-Olawale Jimoh
(Observers' Reflections Int'l)
www.saint-olawalejimoh.blogspot.com
©2014