WHEN MUSLIMS' VEIL BECOMES A SECURITY THREAT IN NORTHERN NIGERIA. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

   When I first wrote the Northerners are their own worst enemy, while reflecting on how their rigid religious practices aid terrorism in the North, I got over a dozen messages in my inbox from those who saw no sense in the write up.
Today, the responses of those who attacked Prof Wole Soyinka who suggested the use of Hijab or other uniforms depicting pupils' religion be stopped left me utterly bewildered. Majority of those who attacked the nobel laureate were Northerners.

  Is a mere facial covering more important than human lives being wasted almost on daily basis through Boko Haram activities? Do these people prefer a situation where the female suicide bomber taking advantage of the Hijab being worn by female students to kill innocent Nigerians there in the North?
Day in day out, bombs explode in places of worship in Northeastern Nigeria and few communities are becoming desolate already.
Speak of restricting the use of certain facial coverings, and you'll promptly realize that a piece of black cloth can be more sacred than the lives of the entire members of the community.

   After the World Trade Centre was attacked in New York City in 2001, new tough measures were put in place, to secure airports and other places of public accommodation. We haven't heard of any case similar to it after the measures were put in place. When Ebola came to our land, people were asked to wash hands regularly. I did not hear anyone claim that such a practice amounted to gross violation of their culture. Southern religious leaders were instructed to end the practice of Christian religious revivals and crusades, as it was an excellent breeding technique for Ebola. Shaking hands, a sacred religious rite, was suspended in all Catholic churches. Ebola was nipped right in the bud. It did not fester because government had the balls to take tough measures, and the people were liberal enough to adapt themselves to change.
In some Islamic nations like Senegal, here in Africa, the use of facial covering has been banned yet their religion hasn't changed. But the reverse is usually the case in the Northern Nigerian. They are too religious to see sense in suggested preventive measures to help curb the loss of lives to the terrorists' activities in their domain. They simply never imagined the  number of lives that will be lost while defending the sanctity of the cloth

BEFORE WE CONDEMN FRENCH FLAG WATERMARK APPLICATION. By Saint-Olawale Jimoh

I almost joined the bandwagon of those criticizing Nigerians whose facebook profile pictures were watermarked in French flag in honour of those killed in Paris terrorist attack.
What initially came to my mind was why Facebook never deemed it fit to come up with such an innovation when worse cases occurred in Nigeria.
I repented after reading Mark Zuckerberg's side of the story, who stated "many people have rightfully asked why we turned on Safety Check for Paris but not for bombings in Beirut and other places. Until yesterday, our policy was only to activate Safety Check for natural disasters. We just changed this and now plan to activate Safety Check for more human disasters going forward as well".
In essence, facebook is constantly changing features for better, coincidentally, the Paris attack happened around when they were getting ready for the new profile feature and that started the whole arguments.
But come to think of it, did they make the application compulsory for us? Nope! I think it's about time we look inward and come out with our own inventions. Even if there was no explanation for French flag application, what can we do? If for instfance facebook refuses to include Africa in the feature there is nothing we can do. Today, China is developing alternatives like weibo, so they can boycott the West. Why should the West do all the innovative thinking and expect them to dance to the tune of Africans? So long as we're contented to being consumers they will always dictate the pace. So, enough of the unwarranted arguments of being ignored. If we feel ignored by these developed nations, let's rise to the task of investing in technology. And lastly, the the international communities have always stood by us. West and other continents showed solidarity during the #‎BringBackOurGirls‬ campaign.
#‎IstandWithParis‬

SARAKI'S TRIAL: BETWEEN FACTS AND SENTIMENT. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

    One of the reasons the international communities are not taking our anti-graft war serious is because of our one-sided approach. We don't see any leader as being corrupt except when he tries to occupy a position where he might become a threat to us. Whereas a corrupt person shouldn't have even be given chance in the first place. While the law says everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court, I still believe Nigeria can align with global best practices and allow the due process of law to establish an individual's innocence before he or she is given public office.

        It's simply to ensure people with dubious background never hold serious political offices.  For instance, a mere allegation that she hired an illegal immigrant as a nanny was enough to deny Zoe Baird the post of the United States Attorney-General under President Bill Clinton in 1993. Again, the candidacy of George McGovern, the Democratic Party Candidate of the 1972 US Presidential election lost traction because of his past records. In Ghana, the other day, Victoria Hammah was sacked as Deputy Minister for Communication for merely voicing her ambition to make a "million dollars in politics."

         Fact is, every Nigerian knows what corruption is and the damages it has done to our nation since independence, just like Bukola Saraki, the embattled Nigeria Senate President's antecedent is not unknown to us. Nigerians are well aware of what happened to their family businesses and how Kwarans' wealth were managed. The APC people knew Saraki is a criminal yet they allowed him into their camp; offered him ticket and he won the Senate seat under their party. They allowed him to sponsor the party too. Suddenly, they reasoned he can't be in that position because he's corrupt.

    There is no way we can separate the Code of Conduct Bureau's trial from Saraki's Senate Presidency. If he has not emerged the Senate President against the will of top hierachy of APC there wouldn't have been any issue. I strongly believe he is not on trial because he is corrupt, rather, he is on trial because his being at Senate Presidency is against the wishes of a section of the party. Let me assure you that if Saraki resigns today, the probe will stop.

     Yet in all of these, I won't blame Saraki. And you ask me why? The reason is simple. APC created the skewed playing field on which Saraki out played the party. Meanwhile, negotiating your path to the top in a democracy is playing right like someone once said. Saraki therefore cannot be faulted on that.

    Mark my words, the trial and its drama are not in the interest of Nigerians. It's a mere charade and a game of power sharing. And to the youths who are raising their BP trying to follow the whole drama, my advice is simple. Don't waste your time joining old men to battle field, the issue is not always far from disagreement on sharing of "yams". By this age a youth should be interested in planting. Afterall, Fashola might be right with his 'pig' story!

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
Comments/Feedbacks: saintolawalejimoh@gmail.com
+2348058257541