Posts by solomon2day

    • Conflict Analyst

Interests and hobbies: Reading, Travelling and Meeting People

About the author Solomon Adewunmi attended Local Authority Primary School, 1A, Osho-Drive, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos(October 1976-June,1982), and Sinclair Grammar School(October 1982-July1985 and Ibadan Grammar School(September, 1985-June, 1987. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, where he studied Sociology. He graduated in October, 1992. He was a reporter, Senior Reporter(News) and Assistant News Editor of The Nigerian Tribune between August 1999 and June 2002. After voluntarily resigning his position as Assistant News Editor of the Nigerian Tribune, he was hired as a Correspondent by Insider weekly magazine, a Lagos based general interest magazine. He was there from June 2002 to December, 2007. He was again hired by Scroll Nigeria, also a Lagos based weekly news magazine as a Correspondent. A position he held from December, 2007 to December, 2009. Still on the move, he was engaged by the Pulse magazine in December, 2009 as a Senior Correspondent. And in January, 2010 he was promoted Assistant Editor. He is a member Economist Intelligence Unit, Global Executive Forum, The Economist, London. Solomon is also a member of the International Association of Religion Journalists(IARJ) Solomon also possesses the following : * BBC/EC CERTIFICATE IN NEWS JOURNALISM (FEB. 2001) * CERTIFICATE IN ARTS AND CULTURE CRITICISM (NANTAP MAY 2001) * CERITIFICATE IN PEACE JOURNALISM (JUSTICE,DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE COMMISSION) *CERTIFICATE IN CONFLICT ANALYSIS[UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAMME, OCT.2004] *CERTIFICATE IN INTERFAITH CONFLICT RESOLUTION( UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE, JAN. 2009). In addition he has the following professional awards : 1. NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS (NUJ), OYO STATE COUNCIL, REPORTER OF THE YEAR AWARD (PRINT) FOR YEAR 2000. 2. NUJ, OYO STATE COUNCIL, COURT./CRIME REPORTER OF THE YEAR, 2000. 3. COMMENDATION LETTER FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE NIGERIAN MEDIA MERIT AWARD (NMMA) IN THE CATEGORY OF ERNEST SESEIIKOLI’S PRIZE FOR NEWSPAPER REPORTER OF THE YEAR 1999/2000 4. COMMENDATION LETTER FROM THE MANAGEMENT OF AFRICAN NEWSPAPER OF NIGERIA PLC. FOR EXCLUSIVE STORIES JUNE, 2000. 5. NUJ, OYO STATE COUNCIL, REPORTER OF THE YEAR 2001 6. NUJ, OYO STATE COUNCIL, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER OF THE YEAR 2001.

Favorite quote:

Be as you wish to seem

  • The Nation needs you-UI VC to postgraduate products

    Education quotes for students 10Images 6The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, has expressed confidence that the postgraduate products of the university have been well equipped to proffer solutions to the multifarious challenges of the country.

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    Prof. Adebowale expressed this view on Monday at the 76th Foundation and 2024 Convocation ceremonies of the university in Ibadan, Nigeria.

    ''The nation needs many like you who can provide feasible and practical solutions to the complexities that it is grappling with.

    We are confident, however, that if you could successfully pass through the crucible of doctoral education at the University of Ibadan, you have all it takes to be exemplary in word and deed in the world out there.

    The worth of a university degree is in the industry, learning, and character that the holder of the degree displays daily from the moment of obtaining the degree.''

    He also appealed to the federal government to grant the university a special status, saying, I passionately appeal to Mr. President for special attention to be given to the University of Ibadan in the form of dedicated reconstruction and rehabilitation funds, as well as increased allocation spread over time." As the oldest university and an academic heritage of all Nigerans, the University of Ibadan should be given a special status that comes with sufficient support and resources to transform it into a world destination for academic and intellectual pilgrimage.

    He stressed that power supply was one of the major challenges of the university, adding,We have initiated communication with the Federal Ministry of Power to seek solutions, and I respectfully appeal to all stakeholders to support us in this effort, both through resources and investments.''

     

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  • Partner with Us- President Tinubu to ASUU and other unions

    Images 2712670President Ahmed Tinubu has called on labor unions in universities in Nigeria to partner with his administration to fashion out a way out of their funding problems.

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    President Tinubu, who is the visitor to the University of Ibadan, made this call on Monday at the 76th Foundation Day and 2024 Convocation Ceremonies of the University in Ibadan, Nigeria.

    The president, who was represented by the Minister of State of Education, Hadjia Suwaiba Ahmad, also lamented that his administration ''inherited an economy that was struggling to stay afloat across all sectors. We have, however, managed to salvage the country from imminent bankruptcy.''

    ''I submit that unions should partner with the government to arrive at a funding blueprint for the university system in the country that will take cognizance of local peculiarities and modern realities based on global best practices.''

    ''Indeed, the incessant industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions in the university system always revolve around the issue of adequate funding. I fully understand the situation of the university system in the country and the efforts taken by the unions to draw governmental and public attention to the need for more funding of the system.''

    In his address, the Chancellor of the university and the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'Ad Abubakar, appealed to the Federal Government to increase its funding of higher education in the country, saying, ''Permit me to use this medium to appeal to the government to do more in the provision of adequate and proper funding of tertiary institutions.''

    ''We are not unaware of the dwindling state of the economies of nations, world over. However, we are optimistic that prioritizing education will raise the standard of the output of our institutions and thereby address some of the ills bedevilling our society.''

     

     

  • The gospel's word of liberation

    Download 4 8Download 5 5We can sometimes harbor romantic illusions about what the Church should be like, a company of saints in shining armor!

    But then we meet some local congregation, and we become disillusioned.

    It is never a good thing to live with illusions.

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    The reality about the Church is much more splendid.

    It is among this frail, struggling, sinful community of folk that we find heroes and heroines of the faith who outshine and outshame those whom the world admires for their power, their wealth, and their strength.

    The gospel speaks its word of liberation, not through the powerful but through the oppressed. May God make us humble enough to receive it from them. Read Hebrews 11:7

     

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  • A dehumanized mental psyche

    Images 1 4Download 3 12Nigerians have expressed visible worries over the activities of criminals operating in commercial motorcycles, vehicles with tinted glasses, vehicles with foreign plate numbers, and vehicles without number plates.

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    They argue that most crimes in different parts of the country are committed through these motorcycles and vehicles and express surprise over the way the criminals beat the scrutiny of law enforcement agents along the road.

    Innocent citizens who reside in Lagos, Ibadan, Benin City, Port Harcourt, Warri, Onitsha, Aba, Kaduna, Kano, and Abuja, among others, have continued to recount their tales of woe to whoever cared to listen.

    Sadly, the law enforcement agents, saddled with the responsibility of ensuring law and order and the adherence to the road safety rules and regulations, have for long adopted a conspiratorial attitude, mainly because of the benefits that would accrue from aiding and abetting criminals.

    Nigerians are now of the opinion that the laws of the land are either no longer functional or  those in charge and the law enforcement agencies are deliberately sabotaging the enforcement of the laws for their self-centered motives. 

    A victim of the worrisome state of insecurity in Ibadan, Nigeria, who spoke incognito, reveals his experience.

    ‘’There is a beer parlor opposite the Iyanganku Magistrate; it is among the several shops that share the same fence with the police barracks. A door inside the beer parlor leads into the barracks. Visit the beer parlor and observe those who patronize the beer parlor, and you will agree that those who break the law have the blessing of the persons whose statutory functions include the protection of lives and property, he stated.

    The general feeling is that some criminally minded law enforcement agents make use of criminals as proxies in carrying out their statutory functions, which has resulted in the harassment, intimidation, and arrest of unsuspecting citizens.

    Of worry is the adopted official status of lawlessness, indiscipline, and criminality in different parts of the country.

    Indeed, illiteracy and ignorance have also contributed significantly to the scheme of things as presently constituted.

    The mental psyche of millions of Nigerians has been dehumanized and degraded; this has resulted in unthinkable occurrences.

    These occurrences have consumed a sizable chunk of those in charge.

    The widespread, uninhibited prevalence of  lawless acts, to millions of Nigerians, is an indication that there is already a failure in leadership; with no visible remedy in sight for now.

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  • UCH cannot pay prohibitive electricity tarriffs-Health Workers

    Untitled 18Untitled 19Health workers in the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Nigeria, have declared that the internally generated revenue of the hospital is insufficient to cater for the monthly astronomical electricity bills brought by the officials of the Ibadan Eelectricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

    The health workers who made this declaration on Tuesday, through the chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union and Associated Institutions (NASU), Comrade Kehinde Abiona, appealed to the Federal Government to rechannel the gains of the subsidy removal to fund the health sector's challenges.

    ''Management cannot pay the prohibitive tariffs; even before the increment, the hospital had been grappling to cope with the increasing costs of administration. It is just like a patient that is struggling to survive and the oxygen line is suddnely removed.''

    ''The Federal Government should rechannel the subsidy it removed on petrol to the power sector. The government should subsidize power consumption. It promised to subsidize electricity in teaching hospitals, but surprisingly this promise has no seen the light of the day.'' Comrade Abiona stated.

    He called on well meaning Nigerians to prevail on the government to do the necessary for teaching hospitals in the country,  saying''everyone is a potential patient, we should all be concenred about how the hospitals are run.''

     

  • Be Vigilant

    Download 24Download 1 20Your little action goes a long way in revealing the will of God in your life.

    Limitless opportunities abound in little responsibilities.

    God puts together little actions here and there to make something big out of it for you.

    Those little actions, which are not noticeable, pave the way for the fulfillment of great accomplishments.

    It is now left for you to identify these great opportunities that abound in the little responsibilities you carry out day by day.

    Be painstaking in all you do and take responsibilities with all seriousness. Read  Nehemiah 4:14

    Be vigilant detractors are everywhere.

  • A Disturbing Political Representation

     Images 26Download 2 17Chief Obafemi Awolowo was a political leader of Yoruba extraction who lived by example.

    His leadership impacted positively on the Yoruba people in all spheres of life. However, it is doubtful if those who hold sway in this dispensation followed in his footsteps.

    Chief Awolowo had a formidable political structure that outlived him. In his time, political meetings were held at his Ikenne home in Ogun State.

    After the passing on to glory of Chief Awolowo, in the days of military rule, Chief Adekunle Ajasin took over the mantle of leadership, and meetings were held at his Owo home, Ondo State.

    During this period, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) came into being.

    After Chief Ajasin did his beat, Pa Abraham Adesanya  took over the structure up till the end of the military era.

    In the course of Pa Adesanya's leadership, those who could best be described as pseudo-Awoists and pseudo-democrats were accepted into the fold; sadly, the true and real progressives were barred due to the fact that they took up appointments in the military regime of the late despot, Gen. Sani Abacha.

    Now known as Afenifere, the group restricted its membership while maintaining a closely knit relationship with the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

    At a glance, Afenifere was composed of the first generation of Awoists, the second 11, and the unknown elements. 

    The unknown elements eventually hijacked the structure through unconventional means.

    A prominent first-generation Awoist was a one-time governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.

    However, Chiefs Bisi Akande and Segun Osoba belong to the second 11, while others were not yet into reckoning during the functional period of the group.

    At a point in time, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, the director of organization of  the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), then stated that in 1982, during the last convention of the UPN, Chief Awolowo expressed the hope that a time will come when the good elements in the conservatives ill join the good elements in the progressives to form a synthesis.

    But present happenings in the political sphere have defied this theory; rather, polarization and division are tools that have brought about the present scheme of things.

    Of note is the fact that the progressives of the time past embarked on laudable programs such as free education to empower the Yoruba people.

    Sadly, capitalist-inclined policies and nocturnal ideals and preferences are the working tools of today's leaders in the southwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria, to the chagrin of the disillusioned and impoverished people.

    The new definition of the progressives includes, but is not limited to, the payment of school fees in primary and secondary schools, the introduction of multiple tax regimes, and the preference for mediocrity and people with doubtful educational qualifications to carry out government duties. So sad.

    Today, the mindset and body language of the political leadership at the center is best represented by  their  followers on the streets, offices, worship centers and other public places across the country. Very disturbing.

  • Examine Thyself

    Download 23Download 1 19People react to the pressure of  events and never to the changes of their character and attitude.

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    Make it a duty to examine yourself periodically and spiritually, to determine your closeness to the Lord or distance from Him.

    Most Christians live on the surface of life.

     

    Once you expose your heart and life to Jesus Christ, who is the light, then all illusions will be  stripped away, and the gate will open for the healing and redeeming power of Christ in your  life.

    Accepting Christ will give you a direction and make you to know yourself.

    Knowing yourself will prevent you from committing sins, while if you don't allow God in you, you will never discover God.

    Read Daniel 12:1, John 4:25

  •  Ibadan residents at the mercy of cultists

    76010d5bd0cbb1da568f6f74642213b1Lysander spooner quote 6 fija pngCultists have, for over 5 years running now, taken over most of the communities of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

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    These cultists, who operate with impunity, boast of their untouchable status openly, to the consternation of members of the public.

    Their presence in the midst of unscrupulous law enforcement agents has not helped matters.

    Indeed, residents have decided to keep quiet when all their complaints have never attracted any uplifting response from those in charge.

    Of great worry is the nonchalance of the state government and the state legislature towards breathing constitutional and statutory life into the anti-cultism law in the state.

    The cultists have, for long, broken into the houses of residents and forcefully made away with property documents.

    On Monday, at about 7.40 am in the morning, cultists led by one Lekan Adewale made a failed attempt to break into an apartment at 3, Kehinde Aderibigbe Street, Olorunsogo, Molete.

    Sadly, occupants of No. 5 (a two-story building) served as accomplices.

    The leader of the cultists operates from No. 8 Kehinde Aderibgbe Street, Olorunsogo, Molete.

    For long, the cultists have been forcefully evicting residents from their landed property and disposing of such property with the aid of erring law enforcement agents and government officials.

     

  • The burden of Parents and Guardians

    Download 22Download 2 16The judgment of God shall always come upon parents who fail to bring up their children in the Lord's way.

    Indeed, a sizable number of fathers and mothers do very well in guiding other people's children towards the right path, but this is not so for their biological children.

    Even though the children of this category of parents are lacking and deficient in several aspects of life, their parents see all the goodness and perfection in them.

    Today, most parents have failed to instill moral discipline in their children.

    It is imperative for all to care for their vineyards, as they also care for the vineyards of others. Read 2 Kings 16:3

  • Achieving your Dreams

    Download 21Download 1 18Dreams are planned, pursued, and achieved.

    Dreams don't come true on their own unless they are made to happen.

     

    Steps to Take Towards Achieving Your Dreams:

    1) Identify a dream

    Without doubt, the journey to success starts with a dream. The dreams become a purpose and driving force to the destination.

     

    Once a dream is identified, an individual now has an objective and is purposeful; life becomes meaningful while the journey towards actualizing your dream is on track.

     

    2) Your goals must be realistic ;

    It is quite convenient and realistic to set up goals with a six-month and 24-month accomplishment target.

    Make a mental vision and evaluation of these goals, and give each of the goals a critical thought.

     

    3) Diligence : Regardless of your desire or aspiration, diligence is a prerequisite. This is the secret behind success. Genuine successes never happen suddenly, accidentally, or by wish.

    4)Determination :

    Be determined in the pursuit of your dreams. Determination is the inner power embedded in you by God that enables you to defy any form of obstacle.

    Without it, success is not certain.

    In confronting your challenges, be determined.

    5) Opportunities:

    Identify opportunities and make good use of them.

    In whatever form opportunities come, recognize them and fulfill your dreams. Read Jeremiah 23:28

  • Leading by example

    Download 3 11Download 4 7We want our heroes to remain on their pedestals, so that we who aspire to be like them may hope one day to share in the honor and privilege they enjoy.

    Jesus Christ's humility shows itself in his readiness to serve us. Ours shows in our readiness to receive His service.

    It is said that it is better to give than to receive.

    But it is sometimes harder to receive; it puts us in debt to the one who gives and robs us of the pride of being in the position of giving to others. Read Joshua 1:6

  • The Food Question

    Images 24A safe affordable and plentiful supply of food is a national security issue quote 1Nigerians are proud to live in a country with a land area of 923,773 km2, with varied vegetation and types of soil suitable for various agricultural purposes.

    In 1960 and the years following, up until the early 1970s, Nigeria's economy was between the agriculturally friendly ''grassroots'' and the ''white collar'' city-oriented center.

    All that had to do with the production of goods was concentrated in the city, while a large percentage of Nigerians resided in the villages, with farming as their major occupation.

    The villages, then, lacked major amenities of life.

    Governance during this period was with a chain of challenges.

    Then, most of the earnings from exports were from agriculture, while 65% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) also came from the sector.

    Nearly 50% of government revenue in 1960 could be traced to agriculture.

    Today, as in the 1960s, the provision of quantitative and qualitative education, quality health care delivery, and the absence of social and economic infrastructure are just a few of the long list of challenges that confront the government.

    In 1973, when crude oil emerged as the mainstay of the economy, the government took a ''nap'', having noticed the 'light at the end of the tunnel.'.

    That 'nap' was at great cost, as can be seen in the unfolding events of the present time.

    In 1980, crude oil constituted 81.1% of government revenue and 96.1% of export earnings.

    Indeed, the growth of the economy was tied to projected earnings from crude oil exports; this was despite the fact that signs had begun to manifest on the imminent collapse of crude oil prices in the international market.

    With fiscal and current account deficits occasioned by unstable crude oil prices, resulting in internal and external imbalance, and the state governments contending with monetary challenges, Nigerians insist that those who are at the helm of affairs at all levels, presently, know little or nothing about governance. 

    The cries of hunger and poverty has now become the chorus on the lips of millions of Nigerians.

    Their only hope lies in the newly elected political office holders in the new dispensation. Shall they be able to deliver the dividends of democracy? Time will tell.

  • The Steady Drift

    342231221091455969320240116084701636Those in security circles around the globe insist that a government that is responsible and accountable to its people does not give deadlines, ultimatums, and time limits to criminals.

    They go on to attribute insurmountable insecurity in several countries to either the covert involvement of the government itself, its admirers, well-wishers, or agents.

    These personalities stress that such a government must have identified and isolated fifth columnists within its ranks before it ever thinks of commencing a maximum cleansing of the criminals impeding good governance.

     

    But sadly, this is not the case in Nigeria, as unfolding events have proven beyond reasonable doubt.

    Nigerians have concluded that the government does not have ready solutions to the kidnappings, killings, and other violent crimes, while they daily pray for God’s intervention.

    Even the security summits that have already been organized in the past several days by some interest groups, with some state governors in attendance, have been seen by Nigerians as mere jamborees.

    With the continuous spate of kidnappings, killings, and other violent crimes not abating, Nigerians have come to the conclusion that the country is already in a state of emergency, though the government is yet to make such a declaration.

    They attribute the agitation for the establishment of state police by a few self-serving individuals to the uninformed perspectives of these individuals.

     

    Of worry are the great difficulties experienced by government praise singers and bootlickers to accept the hard fact that the present administration can no longer address the overwhelming insecurity in the land without reaching out to personalities and institutions it had hitherto ignored.

    What is the situation?

    The present administration continues in its condolence culture, for which the citizens have known it for.

    For how long shall this go on? Nobody knows.

  • The Steady Drift

    342231221091455969320240116084701636Those in security circles around the globe insist that a government that is responsible and accountable to its people does not give deadlines, ultimatums, and time limits to criminals.

    They go on to attribute insurmountable insecurity in several countries to either the covert involvement of the government itself, its admirers, well-wishers, or agents.

    These personalities stress that such a government must have identified and isolated fifth columnists within its ranks before it ever thinks of commencing a maximum cleansing of the criminals impeding good governance.

     

    But sadly, this is not the case in Nigeria, as unfolding events have proven beyond reasonable doubt.

    Nigerians have concluded that the government does not have ready solutions to the kidnappings, killings, and other violent crimes, while they daily pray for God’s intervention.

    Even the security summits that have already been organized in the past several days by some interest groups, with some state governors in attendance, have been seen by Nigerians as mere jamborees.

    With the continuous spate of kidnappings, killings, and other violent crimes not abating, Nigerians have come to the conclusion that the country is already in a state of emergency, though the government is yet to make such a declaration.

    They attribute the agitation for the establishment of state police by a few self-serving individuals to the uninformed perspectives of these individuals.

     

    Of worry are the great difficulties experienced by government praise singers and bootlickers to accept the hard fact that the present administration can no longer address the overwhelming insecurity in the land without reaching out to personalities and institutions it had hitherto ignored.

    What is the situation?

    The present administration continues in its condolence culture, for which the citizens have known it for.

    For how long shall this go on? Nobody knows.

  • Grace and Knowledge

    Download 20Download 1 17Titus 2:11-14

    For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

    12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

    13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

    14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

    Hold on to the teaching and commandment of God. When you embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, then you are already with the power of God unto salvation.

    It is mandatory that you grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ so as to 

    to be able to ward off false doctrines.

    You can only grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

    The word Christian means people who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. 

    Therefore, a true believer is a christian you who practices and does the will of God.

  • Don't be Discouraged

    Untitled 17Psalm 55-22

    Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.''

    Discouragement is a life threatening state of mind, as it renders an individual vulnerable to attacks by enemies of the soul.

    In most situations, discouragment is inevitable in the life of a believer, however, Jesus Christ is the solution.

    It destroys the faith of a believer and wrecks havoc on an individual's will power to live.

    The enemy always makes use of the weapon of discouragement, but it is left for you to ward off same, by having a mindset devoid of resentment and bitterness.

    The devil makes use of discouragement to destroy initiative and render an individual useless and disillusioned. For these reasons, you must be strong in faith and reassure yourself that all things will continue to be good.

  • Wanted Urgently-Qualified and Experienced Teachers

    Images 22Images 23 The first term of a new session across private and public secondary schools is underway in Nigeria. Parents and guardians are out there, doing whatever it takes to ensure that their children and wards continue their education.

    Curiously, in a number of major cities and state including Ibadan, Oyo state;private and public school proprietors, proprietresses and owners of schools are still in urgent need of qualified and experienced teachers to justify the ridiculous fees  they charge.

    Nobody knows what happened to the workforce.

    However, the underlying challenges could be traced to the action and inaction of the government, staff of the ministry of Education and the law enforcement agencies among others.

    Indeed, the policy of education of a number of state governments is defective, this is in addition to the unwillingness of pupils and students to learn.

    The behavior and activities of pupils and students on the streets of Ibadan are a good reflection of the bleak future that lies ahead of young people in Nigeria.

     

  • Violent Crimes-The Position of Spectators

    B0c883fbf462248bdd715fb95c7c9262Images 21

    The consensus among Nigerians is that the arms build-up in different parts of the country has its background woven around the aspirations of actors in the socio-political scene in the land.

    The arms build-up festers side by side with poverty, hunger, and brigandage, while the land has over time become fertile for trading in illegal arms with evil deeds as the major focus.

    Indeed, state actors are familiar with the negative effects of injustice, inequality, nepotism, and favoritism, but are, sadly, handicapped by self-centered interests and incurable greed.

    Interestingly, the competition for power and privilege has resulted in the loss of precious lives and the wanton destruction of the properties of innocent and harmless citizens. The debate among Nigerians now is on what constitutes the major functions of state actors.

    The illegal influx of arms and ammunition has continued unabated through constitutional and unconstitutional channels with the active connivance of those who ought to be well-informed on security matters.

    As violent crimes soar nationwide through the use of sophisticated weapons, Those-in-Charge have adopted the position of spectators to the amazement and chagrin of Nigerians.

    Believers are not only friends of Jesus Christ, but are also friends of one another.

  • Government Attitude and Workers' Devotion to Duty

    Untitled 16Images 20At the present time, in Nigeria, only a handful of civil and public servants take their duties seriously and wholeheartedly.

    Their attitude is directly related to the position of government in the three tiers on issues of workers' welfare and conditions of service.

    Indeed, the focus of those on government payroll in any given line of duty or assignment is what is in it to gain and not what ought to be done. In other words, selfless devotion to duty is no longer there.

    Assigned tasks in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies are no longer done properly and promptly. A sizable number of workers no longer possess a sense of responsibility. Who is to blame ?

    For several years now, the monster of indiscipline has continued to fester, with due process as the major casualty. The struggle for ''power'' among government workers is the most prominent activity going on in most offices.

    Sharp practices are the order of the day. This is partly as a result of the sectional democracy in vogue today.

    At the federal, state and local government levels, workers, who are co-opted to generate revenue for the government, make good use of the opportunity to protect their future.

    The source of inspiration for this category of workers includes stories of government workers who retired in 2010 and are yet to be paid their gratuities.

     Workers ought to be devoted and committed to duty, to avoid negative reports from their superiors.

    The worrisome question everywhere at present is : has the insensitive attitude of government ensured workers' devotion and commitment to duty ?

     A Disturbing Community Leadership

    For a while now, the chairman of the Molusi street, Molete, Ibadan, Oyo state Landlords and Tenants Association, one Akeem, alongside Indian Hemp smoking hoodlums, who operate from the unfenced IMG Schools 1 and 2 Ibuko, Molete, Ibadan, attacked and dispossessed innocent residents of their valuables.

    Just on Tuesday, at about 6.15pm, the chairman alongside his boys, attacked and dispossessed a resident of his personal belongings a few metres from the primary school, along the road.

    Similarly, a police rank and file serving with the Oyo state Police Command, has for long operated a brothel, where questionable characters hibernate. The brothel located along Oyegbami street, Olorunsogo, Molete, has been a subject of worry for the residents in the community, considering the status of the owner.