THE IMBALANCE CALLED 'CHANGE'. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

  
One African proverb says he who does not understand the cry of a palm-bird complains of the noise it makes. When I first wrote that beheading can never be solution for headache and that even though the former President Goodluck Jonathan may not have done enough to convince Nigerians to re-elect him, the desperate Northern candidate cannot be a better replacement, some people tagged me a pro-Jonathan activist. Yet, the recent action of the incumbent President is a clear pointer to the fact that this government made possible by all Nigerians is simply for the Northerners.

    One highly respected Northern elite was quoted to have said, 'the damage has already been done. The key positions had gone to the North and what remains may not correct the imbalance even if all the 300 future appointments go to the South. This is the gospel truth that would never be spoken by CHANGE evangelists in APC camp. Even in the ministerial appointments to come, at least, by law 19 must go to the North in addition to the existing appointments.
   Fact is, each time we talk or author an article about this injustice in our system, few of our over-enlightened people would say "my own is who can do things better, nothing concern me about tribe."

     The Northerners do not think the way we are thinking. They don't joke with power and their rights and they are not pretentious of it. But here in the Southwest, we allow sentiment to becloud our sense of true judgement. Incidentally, some of these imbalance practices have a way of coming back to haunt us and regrettably, the result is what we are faced with today.

      For instance, over the years, the Northerners were in charge of the military, where they raised standard for all non-Northern candidates and lower it for the North in the name of federal character. Again, let's consider this. The Chief Justices of Nigeria since 1987 till date are Northerners and this happened because federal character principle was not followed in the appointment of Judges into the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Same for other federally owned agencies yet none of these seem to bother us, especially the party 'faithfools' who would say "if Buhari likes, let him appoint everybody from his home town, my own is I want change".
I believe Federal cabinet selection is not like national soccer team selection where people don't care where players come from as long as they deliver the trophy. It's about ensuring the colonial legacy that legitimizes adherence to our peculiar Quota System in which every region counts.

    Our children and grand children will ask us questions that we may not be able to answer and make no mistake, either you agree or not, Buhari has concluded the most important appointments of his government only that the skewed appointments lacked political, regional, religious and ethnic colour and this evidently is not the change entire Nigerians voted for.

UNDERSTANDING WHEN CHANGE AND TRANSPARENCY DOES NOT INCLUDE EXPOSING THE ROT IN YOUR GOVERNMENT (A Case of Ogun State Ministry of Education) Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

In the last few days, the internet has been littered with stories of how Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State sacked 2 Directors, 1 Deputy Director and 3 officers in Ogun State Ministry of Education over ‘offensive’ exam question.
    An examiner, Adegbenro Joel in one of the schools within the State, had prepared English Language exam questions for the third term academic session of the State’s Unified Examination in Public Secondary Schools for SS1, which had a summary passage that took a critical look at the negligence of the education sector by the government. At the end of the controversial summary passage, students were asked to state the evidences given by the author that government has not done enough to assist the education sector and the way forward. That singular act started the whole controversy that led to the sacking of top officials in the Ministry of Education.

  In civilized climes, the concerned government would have taken time to read through the various scripts to see what the poor students have suggested in response as solutions to the challenges rather than going for the messenger and those who approved it.

  Be that as it may, the question I asked those who supported the action of the Governor is simple and clear. Would he have sacked them if the writer of the summary passage had praised Governor Amosun's government especially in the education sector where he practically hasn't done much?

   There are those who keep blaming the writer and those who approved it claiming it was wrong for them to bite the fingers that feed them. But for how long shall we continue to keep mute on issues bothering on the future of our children and besides, I think we are in the Change Era where everything has got to change for good? Gone are the days when governments seek citizens' opinion on issues affecting the general populace. Today, we hardly have listening governors but emperors and self colonial masters who just want to do things the way they deem it fit.

    I had written in my previous articles that we cannot build a great nation if all we do is seeing nothing wrong with everything our government do but unfortunately, we live in a nation of sycophants. In fact, it's almost becoming a tradition that when people benefit from a government, they will never see anything wrong done by their benefactors, others are perpetual praise-singers because of what they hope to get.

    Generally, the way education sector is being handled all over the nation calls for consideration. In those days, there were no private schools yet our students were competing favourably with those who attended schools abroad. Today, many schools run by the government, which were formerly known for academic excellence have suddenly lost their prestige and are living on past glories, all because of action and inaction of past and present governments.

   Ogun State's case is more worrisome. In fact as I type this article, the information reaching me has it that the JSS1 and SSS1 students in public schools across Ogun State were asked to come to school for their report sheets but surprisingly, the results were dictated to them because government couldn't provide dossiers for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd term. Yet the State government expect people to keep mute over this. It's not done! It's now left for the government to try as much as possible to improve the sector. And the best way to go about it is to seek people's opinion especially the practitioners in the sector. Government must embrace criticism in order to move forward. We just must right the wrong to have a nation of our dream

BUHARI, HIS SYCOPHANTS AND THE POLITICS OF THROWING THE BABY OUT WITH BATHWATER. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

   We cannot be doing same thing and expect a different result. We cannot build a great nation if all we do is seeing nothing wrong with everything our government do. We must be ready to praise Mr President's hits and not condole his misses if we want him to achieve. This is why I give kudos to Dele Momodu, the Ovation publisher, who managed to hit the nail on the head in his open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Regretablly, we live in a nation of sycophants. In fact, it's almost becoming a tradition that when people benefit from a government, they will never see anything wrong done by their benefactors, others are perpetual praise-singers because of what they hope to get. Sycophancy, like someone rightly observed is what will make you see everything wrong with PDP and nothing wrong with APC. We must right the wrong to have a nation of our dream. The recent activities of Mr President showed he might not make any genuine headway if he doesn't change his pattern. His aides and supporters are equally making matter worst. We shun best hands because they're not in our party and we are paying dearly for these and we shall continue to pay unless we espouse merit over mediocrity.

    It is a pity how we allow talents to waste away in Nigeria because of short-sightedness, tribalism, and sycophancy. It is still disheartening to know our own Tony Elemelu was introduced to President Barack Obama by Uhuru Kenyatta. Not only was he appreciated by Obama, this Nigerian banking guru and philantrophist, Tony Elemelu CON is equally billed to speak at a White House event hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama this Monday to celebrate emerging entrepreneurs around the globe.

    Arunma Oteh who was widely condemned by die-hard Buharists has been appointed Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank. Arunma was most recently the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria.  As Vice President and Treasurer, Arunma will manage and lead a large and diverse team responsible for managing more than $150 billion in assets and she was selected to this position through an international competitive search. Her appointment is effective on September 28, 2015.

     Bad as the previous administration was pictured by some sections of the Nigeria's media, there are still few brilliant minds who worked assiduously for this country and such cannot be ignored because they worked for the previous government of Goodluck Jonathan. Diezani Allison Maduekwe was appointed President of OPEC despite the negatives news in Nigeria's media about her.
Akinwunmi Adesina, a Former Agriculture Minister is now the President of the African Development Bank. All from the widely-condemned Goodluck Jonathan-led government.

     The message is simple and clear. Buhari should look beyond his camp and party in terms of appointing those to work with him. That Amechi and others sponsored his campaign doesn't automatically imply they must be appointed into where they are not needed. The earlier he starts tapping into the intelligence of people like Tony Elemelu, Mike Adenuga, Aliko Dangote and others, the better for him instead of surrounding himself with a ragtag who cannot differentiate between governance and economy. He should ensure our sensitive positions are not manned by misfits who do not merit the offices by all standards.

THE CONTROVERSIAL OGUN 262-PAGE LAND PANEL REPORT AND THE UNMENTIONED GOOD PART. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

   Early this year, I accompanied an old friend who lives in the United Kingdom to Abeokuta to get some documents. Personally, I don't feel comfortable plying Lagos-Benin expressway because of cases of accident that occurred along the axis in recent times. So, that Tuesday morning when my friend suggested I accompanied him, as we sat in his place in Sagamu, I was a bit reluctant to respond but considering the fact that we would only be driving through the expressway briefly and as soon as we pass the Sagamu-interchange, my fear would be over. I agreed and he chose to drive us.
     I was again surprised when after few meters from the interchange, my friend stopped the car. He came out and was staring at the magnificient Nestle plant across the road and the beautiful roundout at the centre of the three roads. He told me he couldn't believe the area could be that transformed. I smiled and pointed out there are still other companies all around asides Nestle.

    As we continued with our journey, I pondered on the activities of the past and present government of Ogun State and the change each of them brought to the state.
Then I remembered the controversial 262-Page Report of Ogun State Land Panel set up by the present government of Ogun State to probe into Otunba Gbenga Daniel-led administration's land policy between 2003-2011. The report, as far as I know, is a sad picture of how we politicise almost everything in this state. As a matter of fact, the summary of the entire report was that land was made too cheap for investors during Otunba Gbenga Daniel's administration.

     The area which is now home to Nestle plant was no more than a robbers' den where motorists were waylaid prior to 2003. I still recall a story of a senior colleague at work, whose entire family members were almost killed in same area by robbers who attacked their vehicle and found no money on any of them in 2001. As I learnt, the same Nestle plant in Sagamu was originally meant to be built in one of the neighbouring countries but the land incentives offerred by the then government of Ogun State convinced the then chairman of the company, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye to support the sitting of the plant in Sagamu. This singular pioneering effort of Nestle Plc encouraged other companies to come and settle in that area.

   As for whether Otunba Gbenga Daniel's land policy of making land too cheap for corporations and investors is wrong or right, I leave the general public to determine that. All I know is, the transformation that began from that interchange has spread and extended into Sagamu town thereby turning it into another industrial city. Asides Nestle plant, Day Waterman School is around the area while the large portion of land adjacent to Nestle has already been acquired by Guiness Nigeria Plc. Willwich Roof and Eterna are on the same axis with Nestle. Coleman Cable&Wires is across the expressway near old Sagamu tollgate. As at this morning, more than 7 new companies have moved into Sagamu which includes Maths Metals, DH, SMC near Lafarge estate, Ceplast and others. It's historically important to add that Sparkwest Steel Company and Wescom Wireless all moved into the town after Otunba Gbenga Daniel-led government's land incentives policy took off.

      In civilized climes, nothing stops state governments from creating industrial zones, wooing investors with tax holidays and other incentives in order to enhance additional job creation opportunities. In the United Kingdom for instance, there is a Welsh Development Agency set up in 1967, tasked with rescuing the ailing Welsh economy by encouraging business development and investment, clearing derelict land and encouraging growth of local businesses. State governments in Nigeria can learn from this.

   Sometimes, we need to present issues as clear as they are so posterity will not judge us and we must as well endeavour not to throw the baby away with the bathwater. In my humble opinion, I see Otunba Gbenga Daniel-led government's land policy as a big blessing to Ogun State and Sagamu in particular. More than 5000 people are working in the companies that sprang up following the land incentives he offerred investors during his days in office as Executive Governor of Ogun State. Footprints they say are forever and what a leader does for himself dies with him but the good he does to his people outlives him.


SAINT-OLAWALE JIMOH,
Observers' Reflections International
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LET THEM KNOW THAT WE KNOW (A MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF CITIZENS OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA) Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

Dear new Nigerian leaders,

   Let it be known, that we know the recent fight in the floor of the national assembly is not the first one since the beginning of democracy. It has happened before and it's clearly not in the interest of the masses but for your selfish interest. Your ultimate concern is robbing and fleeching our treasury to enrich yourselves. You negotiate away the future of our unsuspecting youths; share our collective heritage among yourselves while you distract us with unnecessary drama.

   Our being silent doesn't mean we are unmindful of how things are being done. In a gradual process, we will say things the way they are. We know how four times a year, each of the 360 members of House of Representatives receive about #55million as Constituency Allowance and how more than #65million is being given to each member of the 109 senators and how nothing can be shown for it in constituencies being represented by these legislators.

   The politics behind assigning our oil blocks among the cabals alone will shock a typical Nigerian commoner if he hears how much millions of Naira these selfish few Nigerians make per day from the deal. The worst tragedy is to suffer amidst plenty. We have oil, yet we over-pay for it. Even when we are ready to buy, another group will connive to hoard it in order to make us pay more, yet you call yourselves our leaders and legislators.

   We know how they live in palaces and move around in exotic cars with security guards. Their children are provided with everything they can think of including access to best education in best schools home and abroad.  Governors now make their children and family members their Special Advisers just like Kabiru Aregbesola receives 'allocations' for being 'first son' of Osun State. Their children simply never experienced hunger all their lives. This in same nation where two siblings died of hunger same day in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria, which is one of several other cases.

    Let them know that we are aware they know  there are people who can't afford three square meals in a day; they see destitute everyday and people who died because of their inability to settle their medical bills. With all these situations, how then can you publicly deny  there is no endemic poverty in the land? Either you acknowledge it or not, your actions and inactions have succeded in turning the masses into slaves by continuing to plunge them into the bottomless pit of poverty and mental malnutrition.

     Be assured this intimidation will end one day, the voices of the people will sound soo loud that the decibels will break ear drums. The blood of the innocent people who died as a result of your negligence will rise up with fury for vengeance. The empire of the oppressors will crumble before their own very eyes and power will truly return to the people. The time is near.

Perhaps you think, it's impossible? Alright listen to this, about 800 years ago, in Britain, the famous King John of England was forced to sign the Magna Carta bill in 1215 and by signing the document, it means he has agreed to do his duty as King of England, upholding the law and running a fair government. There at The Runnymede, on the banks of the River Thames by a little group of men who could sacrifice anything for freedon, he was offerred two options: to sign the bills or lose his heads and he went for the best option; he chose to live. Today, the Magna Carta is considered one of the most important documents in the history of democracy and that single act by the barons paved way to our rights, our human rights, rule of law, due process, Habeas Corpus, freedom and liberties, fair hearing and all of what we take for granted today.

To all our selfish leaders, the day of reckoning is here. On that day, your excesses, abuse of office and reckless financial profligacy will trigger actions from the masses that will eventually make governors' salaries equate with that of any state civil servant and legislative jobs becoming part-time with no salaries but only seating allowances for our senators and House of Representatives' members.

   Nigerian masses will demonstrate to you they can no longer be slaves to your rubbish by marching on to Abuja to occupy the entire power house

BEYOND POLITICS: A MESSAGE FOR THE YOUTHS. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

     The activities of the youths in the present day democracy is a sad picture of the terrible situation we are, in this country; a clear symptoms of the sickness of this society and I am gravely worried about the future of a nation that care less and provides little guidance to her youths.
     This brings to mind a Yoruba proverb that borders on back sores. The proverb warns that a motherless child, should not be into the business of having sores on his back. The back is not exactly a part of your anatomy you could see or reach easily. It therefore takes the dedication of your mother to take care of sores on your back. If the nation is not playing the motherly role on her youths, it implies that the youths should put more than ordinary efforts in order to stand tall rather than surrendering themselves for all manner of tides that come their ways. Regrettably, politics absorbs a sizeable number of these indecisive young folks.
      In recent times, the youths have been hired to do all manners of untold damages especially in the last general elections. The involvement of hired youths in the circumstances as a tool for continuous confrontation either for or against political entities is worrisome. They use these young ones for political intimidation, harassment and even assassination of political opponents. Bad as it may appear, there are still many youths that see it as a means to an end.
      On the social media, there are those who are specialists in character assassination. Most times, they get sponsored to author malicious attack on certain individuals or a candidate that their sponsors perceived as a threat in order to discredit them before the general public and the unsuspecting masses soon take them serious.
      These youths are easily manipulated due to the factor of hunger and starvation that has claimed the lives of many Nigerians in recent times. It's a general belief that those who sent them are not different from them. Majority of the politicians we hear and read about today don't have other job than politics. Those who were celebrated professionals abandoned their jobs after tasting politics money. The late Ibadan political godfather, Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu was once quoted to have said he never worked all his life. He lived strictly on politics and there are thousands like him all over all the geo-political zones in Nigeria.
While it's possible to classify all politicians as one, yet there are surely pockets of excellence here and there. Men who are shiny examples of truthful leadership and enviable track records outside of politics.

      Two weeks ago, the Nigerian Tribune reported a story about the immediate former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who was nominated in faraway land as the Chairman of Nigeria-Finland Business Council. This top Nigerian politician, who is fondly called Engr. J.O. Daniel by his business partners, professional associates, colleagues and clients both in Nigeria and overseas is equally the Chairman of Kresta Laurel Limited. The company received the ISO 9000 certification earlier this year for international best practices, thus becoming the only Nigerian company to be so certified in the crane and vertical transportation industry. In a similar development, Kresta Laurel Limited has also been named the best KONE distributor all over the world while KONE has been rated the best manufacturer of elevators in the world. Meanwhile, Otunba Gbenga Daniel as I learnt, originally founded Kresta Laurel business in 1990 when he was barely 34. Following year, he became Fesojoye of Ile-Ife at 35 in 1991, a traditional title conferred on him by Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Oni of ife and the traditional spiritual head of Yoruba kingdom and people. At that age, he became the youngest Yoruba person to take a chieftaincy title from the Source. Few years after, National Concord listed him among 100 most successful businessmen in Nigeria.  As at this morning, I gathered this politician has received over 500 awards!

     Maybe this story will inspire young men of my generation who sees politics as passport to become moneybags in Nigeria. Hardworking pays and if failure is real then success is more real. There are practical instances all around us showing that we can make it if only we learn to stick to what we know how to do best. Few months ago, a Nigerian youth like us, Chinedu Echeruo sold his application to Apple for $1billion; the founder of facebook, Mark Zuckerberg is not older than some of the political mercenaries who are on the social media to insult our collective intelligence only for peanuts that can't last them a week.
I think it is high time the timid and indecisive youths go about their normal duties and stop acting as a tools to some heartless politicians who continually and selfishly explore the political terrain while taking undue advantage of these helpless youths to attain to power at all cost.
    And to the general public, there's a lesson to be learnt here, never never entrust power into the hand of a man that has POLITICS as his first address. A little they say is enough for the wise.

NIGERIAN GOVERNORS AND THE ERA OF UNPAID SALARIES.Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

  The likes of of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikwe who were founding fathers and the national heroes of this nation will all be weeping in their graves when they hear how things are being done in the land they sacrificed everything to set free. How Nigeria leaders just do things as they want not minding the effect on ordinary Nigerians. We have endured several harsh policies and conditions imposed on us by the government, yet they feel it's not enough. Today, the civil servants are their targets.
    In Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, we heard they have been paying their workers 40% of their salary for so long now (when it is paid at all) that the unpaid 60% for each worker now brings the total unpaid months to 13. One year and one month of unpaid salaries!
     In Benue State, the civil servants are being owed almost 12 months' salaries and the primary school teachers had to go on strike in order to make government pay their unpaid 14 months salaries.
     If this trend continues, we will start seeing deadbodies of government workers who died of hunger. It might get to that and there are those who will not even wait for such to happen before they end the shame.
   Last month, right there at house number 13, Cele Close in Agbowo area of Ibadan, Oyo State two siblings died of hunger and another senior civil servant in the Obokun LG Area of Osun State, Mr Ojo Owolabi attempted to end his life by drinking large quantity of insecticide because of the failure of the State government to pay his salaryies for the past six months.
Just last Sunday, the State pastor of The Living Faith Church in Osogbo, Olumuyiwa Emmanuel, had to make passionate appeal to members of the church to start bringing foodstuffs and money to assist members who are civil servants that have not been paid for seven months.
    Osun State case is more worrisome. Aregbesola, the Governor of the State has severally been accused of wasteful spending on areas that has got nothing to do with the State. He is paying millions for the parking space of his helicopter but Osun workers are going to bed hungry everyday. His son, Kabiru Aregbesola is still collecting his office running cost as "First Son" of Osun State.
Sometimes I wonder what kind of milk did these adults drink from their mothers' breasts that they behave and act like satan? They are gradually pushing the masses to the wall and I can bet that before long, this uprising, as Fela says, will bring out nothing but the beast in all of us!