Political Delicacies

History and Biblical records told about certain folks that were far away from home but were able to preserve faith and their identity. We will never forget Daniel and his friends. Every generation had emerged after them has always ‘dared to be Daniel’. Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego did not bow down to the king’s graven image. The Lion couldn't devour Daniel also. This feat is traceable to the fact that they stayed away from the king’s sweet food. They were away from home and they took the captivity as their temporary home even though the return home after seventy years will not be in their life time. They had every reason to partake of the king’s rich meat but they did not. This seemingly irrelevant abstinence engendered many things and their testimony is eternal. Their feat is still illogical to the skeptics and unbelievers. Fiery furnace couldn't decimate them and the lions became a pet overnight.

In our Nigeria milieu, the king’s portion is the fabled ‘National Cake’. It is seen as ‘chop I chop’, who cares about the future. When you cut your portion, I will cut mime for there to be peace in the land. This mentality is taking its tow on the economy. The rich are said to be getting richer and the poor, getting poorer. Who stands the chance of not joining the fray in modern day Nigeria? After all, if you can’t beat them to it, you can join them. Everyone knows that stealing is sinful and unethical. The question now is simply: where is the Nigerian man is or woman who can is and is willing stay away from these things?

Our irony is simply the need to position people with the mind to say no to pilfer our resources or the Nigeria of our dream will not be attainable. There is no doubt whatsoever that the Nigeria of our dream is gradually emerging. We are about to see the generation that will run governance at the expense of the deceitful ‘Immunity Clause’. However, we still need people that will put to a halt the evil status quo and shame traceable to our democracy. Spread the news and shout it on to the roof top if you or they want to be relevant politically and historically, they must never take what is not theirs when they are privileged to be in power. Don’t pilfer, don’t divert and don’t ever steal Nigeria’s money. Providence will ask but the best news is still Nigeria Lives and cannot die!!!

Fate of our Fathers

Nigeria celebrated its 52^nd Independence Anniversary last October. We are very close to the centenary mark of the Amalgamation of the Nigeria State. This is just two years from now. It’s in the year 2014. Many generations have emerged and are exiting the colossal Nigeria. Some are living relishing their bounty while some are regretting their identity as Nigerians. Those who looted the treasury were cut up in most cases. Those that are still around are in big trouble, they are never at peace. This is because the curse of the Lord is in the house of a thief. Hasty wealth is trendy in the country of our birth and its most vulnerable platform is in our political sphere. But in all these circumstances and challenges, the most pitiable persons among of us are our fathers.

They believe that their generation is wasted. They are part of the problem but not all of them. They are in their latter years and they are facing their graves. They stand the chance of entering the graves unfulfilled. They will exit the scene without really fulfilling their part of the assignment to make the Nigeria State enviable. What is their fate?

They will go six feet beneath unfulfilled. This is not because there are no opportunities to make things right but they believe it’s too late for them to start. But the truth is ‘it’s never late to start anything good’. Even if they are at the very end of their sunset years, they must endeavour to do what they can to rewrite the beautiful Nigeria story. Therefore, to all fathers that are sensitive to their legacy, they must endeavour to do well. They have a role to play, a gap to fill and a lesson to impart to the emerging generation. If they do not, even their ‘so called’ resting place is not secured. On a light note, their fate is not sealed; they are left with a choice.      

God Bless Nigeria!!!

The Nuisance of Omo Onile in New Lagos

Omo Onile literally means ‘Owner of the land’. From a straight Biblical point of view, God is the owner of every land. Bible states explicitly ‘the Earth is the Lord and its fullness there of’ {Ps24:1}. However, human kind over the ages has given credence to foremost settlers as rightly owner of territories and geographical locations. This suggests there are Citizens and land owners, Aliens and sojourners and Nomads as in some places in Africa. If an individual decides to settle in a location, not as a sojourner, he will make enquires about his choice of abode and look for the rightful owners to purchase a plot of land or more. He will pay price and then proceed to develop his land with ease and peace into something habitable.

This is obtainable in most places in Nigeria. But the case is not the same in Lagos, South West, Nigeria. There are some scoundrels who parade themselves as ‘Omo Onile’. It doesn’t matter if the price of the land is fully paid, they will harass the new land owner, and in most cases assault and threaten them. What is going here? I had the experience recently and I was really disgusted at this unconstitutional act. Even if we don’t really have respect for constitution in Nigeria, this inhumane act must stop. However, they know how far they can go in some cases. They don’t harass the very rich that is influential. They also avoid sites of Armed Forces because they know how the story will end if they do. Who will help those who are not connected in high places?       

I believe this harassment of ‘Omo Onile’ is an abuse of fundamental human rights privilege in Nigeria. However, it can be curtailed because its prominence is in Lagos, South West Nigeria only.  It must stop! It’s not negotiable. The truth is some of us will not take any claptrap. They should never dare us with it. Omo Onile beware...don’t go near my site...it’s under construction! Therefore, Lagos State Government is hereby encouraged to do what is right. An Omo Onile extra charge is unconstitutional and it cannot be justified. It is inhumane and it must stop.  

Nigeria Lives!!! God bless Nigeria!