FASHOLA DESCENDING INTO THE ABYSS OF INFAMY. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

        Of all the present and past governors in the Southwestern Nigeria, the present Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola remains one of my favourites. I fell in love with this man when he was listed among the best global thinkers. I took time to research about this dude and what actually it is about him that distinguishes him from the rest of our leaders.
     At a time, Colin Freeman, of The Telegraph, United Kingdom, touched a pleasant chord with me when he wrote that though Fashola 'famously claims to be "just doing his job" but has somehow won near-celebrity status for transforming west Africa's biggest city, cleaning up its crime-ridden slums and declaring war on corrupt police and civil servants!
     BRF as he's fondly called is simply one of a kind. Apart from being brainy, he's equally goal-driven and resulted-oriented.
    Over the years, hardwork and unwavering determination leads to success; continual success brings fame but fact is, not many people can manage fame. Some people having attained limelight suddenly become the opposite of what they have been known for.
    Fashola may have allowed his giant strides in Lagos State and past records get into his head because there cannot be any sensible justification for his actions in the last few months.
    For instance, early this year,  our own BRF publicly called his political opponent and PDP governoship candidate in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, a tax defaulter and claimed the pharmaceutical company owned by the fellow was owing Lagos State huge amount and it was only few days back that Jimi paid part of the debt.  Just few days after, Lagosians were shocked when in January, the Honourable Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, Mr Ayo Gbeleyi sent and signed a personal letter to Mr. Agbaje, commending him for his faithfulness in payment of taxes. This clearly showed BRF acutally lied considering the fact he's a lawyer and knows the consequences of such action.
    Just few days ago, same Fashola was quoted to have said, 'training Almajiri children has no gains!' This coming from a public office holder and till today, I have never seen anyone either on the social media or in the newspapers condemning this speech credited to Fashola.
     The real shock came again when he claimed the Presidency was responsible for the recent robbery attack in Lekki. This is one of the most irresponsible comments I have ever heard from a public office holder. He claimed the security operatives who were supposed to secure the area all went to secure the venue President Jonathan visited in same Lagos. If all the security operatives were engaged with GEJ's visit as Fashola claimed, how come 3 policemen where among the casualties?

     Meanwhile, if I'm not mistaking, Fashola made this statement at the APC Youth Rally held at Intercontinental Hotel which had in attendance Buhari, APC governors and other top party's officials. Is he fooling us that no policeman was deployed to the hotel in their hundreds? Or his hundreds of police attachment in his convoy couldn't have faced the robbers some close distance to the scene of the incidence. I think it's high time we quit politicising issues that concern lives.

   It's disheartening to see how money and politics could change a man we all admire and respect. Just imagined what a political party reduced a once respectable SAN to?
 An African proverb says when a leaf stayed longer in the soap, it becomes a soap as well. Fashola has stayed long enough in the system and has suddenly become one the regular Nigeria politicians.

IJEBU NORTH-EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF OGUN STATE: BETWEEN OTUNBA REMI ODUBOTE AND MR FEMI ODUFOWOKAN

           Late last year, 8th of November, 2014, one Wale Ifemi wrote an erroneous piece on one of the Ijebu North-East Local Government (LG) facebook pages. His piece is so much unintelligible and I tried very hard to actually understand his drift. He claimed the current Ijebu North-East LG boss, Femi Odufowokan is the most performing chairman while Otunba Remi Odubote's regime was the most corrupt regime ever.
     One of the things I have learnt about facebook is how to ignore low and uninformed minds. Some people are just too narrow-minded and irredeemably moronic and it's needless raising one's BP trying to whip a deadhorse. It's based on this fact that I resolved not to react to his piece yet we cannot leave people like him to form an opinion for the general public on issues they evidently are not equipped enough to handle.
      To say Odufowokan's regime is most performing is blatantly unfounded and saying Odubote's regime is most corrupt is wickedly ungodly! Femi Odufowokan is a very good gentleman and I honestly don't have anything against him and his office. It's just that in terms of performance, Otunba Remi Odubote and Mr Femi Odufowokan differ. In fact, based on unparallel achievements achieved by Odubote-led administration, one can boldly say she's the best chairperson the LG ever had.
      It's easy to criticize my analysis here afterall comments are free only the truth is sacred. Whoever therefore has an opposing view can clearly show who in the history of the Local Government has actually done better than this woman.
       Before analyzing her achievements, it's important to mention here that in my self-funded organization, affiliated with National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corps, we have already compiled how much the current administration of Ijebu North-East LG got from Abuja since June 2011. Our people will ask this administration in the nearest future what work/project has been done with the billions allocated to our local government. Even if they escape scrutiny, history will not forget those who conspired to squander our collective wealth and the sycophants who shun the truth because of peanuts from these execuTHIEVES.
    For records, here are the giant strides of Otunba Remi Odubote while in office as the executive Chairperson of the LG:
  In her first term in office, succeded in constructing ten (10) blocks of two (2) classrooms each in 10 Wards of the Local Government. Those schools are still there till today and are being put into proper and effective use.
      The free surgical operations sponsored by Otunba Remi Odubote-led administration to which over 150 hernia patients benefitted from is still the first of its kind in the history of the Ijebu North East Local Government.
     Her administration constructed and equipped three (3) community health centres in Isonyin, Odedeyo and Ilese in addition to the ultra modern ones at Igbeba and Odosendora. Only God knows how many lives have been saved through using these institutions.
      It would be recalled that it was during this woman's second term in office that 8 befitting vehicles were distributed to some Obas in the Local Government. It was in the heat of these giant strides by Otunba Remi-Odubote's administration that Ijebu North-East LG was voted the best in the entire Ogun State.
   At this juncture, I want to humbly beseech Mr Wale Ifemi to hold me in the hand like a kindergarten and show me how many projects the current administration executed successfully since they started.

TOLERANCE: JUST WHAT WE NEED BESIDES RIGHT LEADERSHIP.Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

 In my previous articles, I have been accused of showing preference for one presidential candidate than the other. Fact is, I am neither for GEJ nor GMB. In the last few months, the social media has been bombarded with 'change' messages that unless you are completely aware of the purpose behind the wild agitations, you will quickly become part of the "mainstream."
      Let's even assume the change of government happened, so what next? Jimmy Cliff wrote that there are 'many rivers to cross
but I can't seem to find my way over.' The essential ingredients to accompany genuine change is tolerance and attitudinal change. The message of tolerance is more paramount right now than before especially in the North.
      Few days ago, Nigeria was spared the Rwandan moment in Gombe when some disgruntled elements almost bombed Mr President and can you imagine level of silence on the matter ever since on social media? Same thing happened immediately he rounded up campaign in Maiduguri? Till today, no single person in the north has condemned the act. I pray and hope the minds behind these attacks won't take it further than this. It is on records that the killing of President Juvenal Habyarimana sparked the Rwanda genocide!
      In Bauchi, the other day, all sorts of missiles were fired at the president's convoy with some of his followers brutally attacked. Some other grown ups were quick to cite that PDP supporters carried out the attacks. What kind of milk did these adults drink from their mothers' breasts that they talk and lie like children?
     Free and fair polls begin right at the stumps, the campaign grounds. Aspirants irrespective of his tribe must be allowed to campaign in the strongholds of their opponents without being attacked or harassed.
     Question is where are we heading with all these? What makes a typical Nigerian see the suffering of fellow citizens as being okay for them? What makes a parent feel that the abduction of young female children and women is okay as long as they're from a different tribe? This certainly will not leading us anywhere and the much-agitated change wouldn't stand the test of time if this issue goes unaddressed.
    Political godfathers and key players in the opposition are childishly playing around while Nigeria is burning. They should be very careful about what they wish for. They might just get it! In a state of war no one is an untouchable. And if Nigeria actually won the war, why is everyone still crying forty years after? We must learn, even from our own history else, this uprising, as Fela says, will bring out the beast in all of us.

LETTER TO PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND MUHAMMADU BUHARI. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

Dear Presidential Candidates,

     I believe that both of you followed the last US 2012 elections and learned a few lessons about democracy. You would recall that even when Florida votes had not been counted, the Republican had already conceded and accepted Obama as the winner. No guns involved, no bombs, no court cases, no cold wars, no kidnapping, no abuses and that's exactly what we want.

    No matter who wins or loses in 2015, nobody should incite bloodshed please!

      Few days to the commencement of our 2011 presidential election, one of the groups loyal a presidential candidate alleged that an aeroplane was loaded with electoral materials to rig the election, the allegation which was found to be untrue. While the false alarm is yet to die down, presidential election took place, one won and the other lost. Hell let loose at the northern part of the country where over 800 people lost their lives including 11 youth coppers who served as INEC electoral officers. What incited the mayhem was the comments of the one who lost. We don't want a repeat of such in our land.

       In fact, both of you must count yourself lucky and highly favoured for emerging again to be in position to be elected as the president of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria. You have both tasted the position once and emerging again is not just by chance, but a very rare privilege. Today, there are many brilliant and intelligent Nigerian youth who have best qualifications yet unemployed. Or how do we profile a 35 years old youth who still share same room with his parents and siblings. You guys must therefore count yourself lucky that you have youths who are not only unsuspecting but resilient and non-violent, else the story would have been different. This is more reason why you must see this as a golden opportunity to reshape Nigeria's history.
    

        President Goodluck Jonathan is a key to ensuring peace in the Niger-Delta in case he doesn't win. The ex-militants still listen to him. Muhammadu Buhari too can ensure there's peace in the North if only he can choose to accept in good faith if he's defeated in the on-coming election. Knowing fully well that negative comments from the defeated party can incite another untold bloodsheds.
Posterity will not forgive whoever goes against peaceful co-existence of Nigerians in whatever form.

NIGERIANS' QUEST FOR NEW PRESIDENT: BEHEADING IS NOT A CURE FOR HEADACHE. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

  One of the reasons why the international communities are not taking our war against corruption serious, is because of our corrupt approach. Where we stand as part of this enterprise of Nigeria is not well defined. We want change but we are not absolutely sincere about it. Yet no matter how we want to rationalise it, there can never be a better definition of corruption than perversion of our institutional controls and laws? We allow sentiment to becloud our sense of true judgement. Incidentially, some of these unruly practices have a way of coming back to haunt us.
    Over the years, the Northerners were in charge of the military and they allowed all manners of individuals to get enlisted even without the required educational qualifications. They raised standard for all non-Northern candidates and lower it for the North in the name of federal character, that is what is boomeranging now. The result is what we are faced with today. We now have a military personnel who escaped military verification exercise over the years and eventually rose to the rank of Major General and was still not investigated as at the time he retired in 1985.
        If these practices continue unchecked or the likes of Buhari are allowed to have their ways despites their records, it means a dangerous precedent has been set in Nigeria and it will haunt the soul of this nation forever. In advance nations, perjury is taken as a serious offence, but it doesn't matter in Nigeria so long as we like the one who commited such offence. What a nation! Sometimes I wonder what we expect the younger generation to learn from all these.
       While President Goodluck Jonathan (GEJ) may not have done enough to convince some Nigerians why he must be re-elected, General Muhammad Buhari cannot be a better alternative. A man cannot change overnight, just as a tiger will never change its strips. Asides from the disputed certificate issue, Buhari has made many public indicting and inciting statements not befitting of a national leader. Making GEJ leadership ungovernable; bloody baboons stories, advocating BH amnesty, an attack on BH is a fight against the north and all of that.
      Past leaders including Buhari instilled fear into people in order to conceal and covered their ill-acts while others suppressed the press and other out-spoken sources. Governments before GEJ killed and silenced every grassroot interest in politics. But now, we can write, campaign and advertise politics as we wish. This is democracy!
There are other meaningful improvements. As at today, Nigeria's Interstate High Speed Rail Project has been listed amongst the world's top 100 infrastructure projects with a sense of fulfillment. Nigeria now has two automobile industries manufacturing vehicles, Innoson in Nnewi and Nissan in Lagos under this administration.
And last time I checked, our GDP is now viable, overtaking that of South Africa and Brazil for the first time. Nigeria is now the biggest economy in African. All these were achieved under an administration led by someone people say he's clueless.
As for the insurgency, it's a collective battle. If the Northern leaders have genuinely agreed to work with GEJ just like South-South leaders persuaded the militants to surrender their arms, things wouldn't have gone this bad.
In conclusion, the war against corruption must be absolute and not partial and should be championed by credible people with verifiable records!

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!