LOVING AND HELPING OTHERS: ONE OF GOD'S MYSTERIES REVEALED?

When you find someone in need of your help and you step up to help them, normally you feel like an hero. When your classmate needs you to explain that difficult concept to her/him and you help her/him, he/she says "Thank you" and most times you'll respond saying "You're welcome".  Deep down, basically every human tends to expect to be appreciated when she/he helps others.

The other day, I discussed God being Love and Love being the foundation of our Christian faith. God loved us first of course (He still does), interestingly every time we help someone in need, we express our love for Him, we touch His heart. You don't exactly believe me? Well have a look at what Jesus Christ taught himself.

Matthew 25:31-46 NKJV

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;  I was  naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;  I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' "Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'  Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Notice how highly Jesus places the act of helping others, that he gave it as the condition to make it into that glorious city. Well, I don't want to go into that now, I guess that's an issue for another time. But please pay attention to how Jesus directly related ordinary people to himself 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' and please don't dismiss the manner in which Jesus said He will condemn those who don't help others 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food...' Here, Christ even made no mention of how one's serving, praising and worshipping Him will give one access to heaven on judgement day but like I said, I have no intention to go there this time or maybe I'm not led to go there now.

So really, when you help others, you don't really help them but you show your love for God and also boost your chances of making it to you know where. This is a mystery, that being in the position to help someone else is a great opportunity to actually turn God's attention to you, an opportunity one shouldn't miss, especially considering how Jesus described the Judgment day.

God wants us to understand how important loving one another is. Ultimately important.
Paul passionately prayed for the people of Ephesus.
Ephesians 3:14-19 NKJV

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being ROOTED and GROUNDED in LOVE, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the WIDTH and LENGTH and DEPTH and HEIGHT— to know the LOVE of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the FULLNESS of GOD.

Also pay attention to how Paul rates the knowledge of Christ's Love and how everything will lead to being filled with the fullness of God. (GOD IS LOVE) If you replace God with Love in the phrase "fullness of God" then you'll have "fullness of Love" which will mean that the ultimate goal will be being full of Love. Paul's prayer wasn't for them to become very rich and never lack anything but to become filled with fullness of God, grounded and rooted in love and to realise that there's no limit whatsoever to the width, length, depth and height of Christ's love. Romans 8:35-39 "Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ?"

PRAYER: For this reason I bow my knees to You Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that You would grant me, according to the riches of Your glory, to be strengthened with might through Your Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith; that I, being ROOTED and GROUNDED in LOVE, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the WIDTH and LENGTH and DEPTH and HEIGHT— to know the LOVE of Christ which passes knowledge; that I may be filled with all the FULLNESS of GOD.

In this month of September, God will reveal to us His mysteries. Be attentive, spend more time in his presence, studying the word and please remember to share with your brothers and sisters in the Lord what He puts in your heart. Happy new month! Welcome to the month of "God's mysteries"!

LOVING AND HELPING OTHERS: ONE OF GOD'S MYSTERIES REVEALED?

When you find someone in need of your help and you step up to help them, normally you feel like an hero. When your classmate needs you to explain that difficult concept to her/him and you help her/him, he/she says "Thank you" and most times you'll respond saying "You're welcome".  Deep down, basically every human tends to expect to be appreciated when she/he helps others.

The other day, I discussed God being Love and Love being the foundation of our Christian faith. God loved us first of course (He still does), interestingly every time we help someone in need, we express our love for Him, we touch His heart. You don't exactly believe me? Well have a look at what Jesus Christ taught himself.

Matthew 25:31-46 NKJV

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;  I was  naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;  I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' "Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'  Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Notice how highly Jesus places the act of helping others, that he gave it as the condition to make it into that glorious city. Well, I don't want to go into that now, I guess that's an issue for another time. But please pay attention to how Jesus directly related ordinary people to himself 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' and please don't dismiss the manner in which Jesus said He will condemn those who don't help others 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food...' Here, Christ even made no mention of how one's serving, praising and worshipping Him will give one access to heaven on judgement day but like I said, I have no intention to go there this time or maybe I'm not led to go there now.

So really, when you help others, you don't really help them but you show your love for God and also boost your chances of making it to you know where. This is a mystery, that being in the position to help someone else is a great opportunity to actually turn God's attention to you, an opportunity one shouldn't miss, especially considering how Jesus described the Judgment day.

God wants us to understand how important loving one another is. Ultimately important.
Paul passionately prayed for the people of Ephesus.
Ephesians 3:14-19 NKJV

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being ROOTED and GROUNDED in LOVE, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the WIDTH and LENGTH and DEPTH and HEIGHT— to know the LOVE of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the FULLNESS of GOD.

Also pay attention to how Paul rates the knowledge of Christ's Love and how everything will lead to being filled with the fullness of God. (GOD IS LOVE) If you replace God with Love in the phrase "fullness of God" then you'll have "fullness of Love" which will mean that the ultimate goal will be being full of Love. Paul's prayer wasn't for them to become very rich and never lack anything but to become filled with fullness of God, grounded and rooted in love and to realise that there's no limit whatsoever to the width, length, depth and height of Christ's love. Romans 8:35-39 "Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ?"

PRAYER: For this reason I bow my knees to You Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that You would grant me, according to the riches of Your glory, to be strengthened with might through Your Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith; that I, being ROOTED and GROUNDED in LOVE, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the WIDTH and LENGTH and DEPTH and HEIGHT— to know the LOVE of Christ which passes knowledge; that I may be filled with all the FULLNESS of GOD.

In this month of September, God will reveal to us His mysteries. Be attentive, spend more time in his presence, studying the word and please remember to share with your brothers and sisters in the Lord what He puts in your heart. Happy new month! Welcome to the month of "God's mysteries"!

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THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING CORRUPT: A Proposal by Ayo Sogunro

That Vexatious Issue

Like any patriotic Nigerian, I have once again
turned my thoughts to the problem of tackling
corruption in the country. Of course, better
people than myself have also expounded on this
issue and given their own suggestions—none of
which has worked so far. And because of this
failure, Nigerians—and foreigners—have
simply resigned to fate, and accepted the
continued existence of corruption in the
country: like a tiresome but strong-muscled
housewife—you can't stand her and you can't
send her packing.
However, I am here with delightful news:
having contemplated the problem again, I have
thought of a way to eliminate corruption. In
this regard, our religious readers have a point:
only fasting and prayer could have done this,
for it was after a long spell of impecunity-
induced hunger that it struck me, forcefully,
and with some bite, that the vocal social
crusaders of my generation have been
approaching the issue of corruption very
wrongly.
Why do I think so? Because these current
crusaders tackle the issue in the same manner
as their predecessors: writing long articles no
government official will read, shouting on TV,
demanding vigorous anti-corruption laws,
crying for enforcement of anti-corruption
laws, punishment of offenders, transparency in
government—and a lot of other yawn inducing
measures. Who needs all that wahala?
Certainly not my hungry stomach. And
definitely not our busy, hardworking
governments. In any case, none of the
suggested reforms has had any effect, even
when implemented. In fact, the more one tries
to enforce these reforms, the more corrupt
the country becomes! As a general example,
take the EFCC, which—forget it, you know how
that hilarious experiment ended.
It is popular wisdom that only a mad man
repeats the same process and keeps expecting
a different result. It is therefore obvious that
we cannot keep trying to tackle corruption the
same way these social crusaders and activists
keep on suggesting, and expect a different
result. And if anyone argues otherwise, it is
only proper to have him or her locked up in a
mental asylum. Does this mean there is no end
to corruption in Nigeria? Of course not! The
solution I will propose in the next few
paragraphs is foolproof enough to put an end
to corruption in Nigeria—at least, as a
problem, if not as a concept.
The Inevitability of Corruption
Now, it is generally accepted that although no
sensible Nigerian praises corruption—not even
privately—yet every sensible Nigerian, and his
brother, practices it in one form or another.
Trying to avoid corruption in Nigeria is to
prepare for an early grave. You will wake up
every morning cursing the government, you will
get delayed by policemen, your files will go
missing in government ministries, your days will
screaming be spent ranting at civil servants,
teachers, lecturers, clerks, gatemen, registrars,
contractors, permanent secretaries, doctors,
judges, lecturers, policemen, until you give in
to a fatal heart attack, or at least, an
apoplexy. We will bury you with fanfare and
continue with our corrupt lives.
What's worse: at judgment, you will be blamed
for failing to "give unto Caesar what is
Caesar's". The point is: we all have been
involved in some corrupt transaction at one
point or another in our journey as Nigerians.
Its as much a part of life in Nigeria as soaking
garri is in a boarding school. Nobody is proud
of it, but nobody can deny it. And that brings
us to my main point.

The Final Solution

You don't have to send a tiresome wife
packing: embrace her and she will stop being a
problem—assuming, of course, that she doesn't
strangle you in the process. Treat corruption as
a friend and not as an enemy, because fighting
it only makes it stronger. So, we will no longer
fight corruption: instead, we will make it our
prime commodity. We will pass legislation
making corruption a legal phenomenon. We will
start by removing all those useless anti-
corruption laws (since they are not enforced
anyway), stop requesting transparency in
government spending and activities, and start
giving national honours to people who have
demonstrated the most admirable cleverness in
setting up excellent corruption schemes.

Now, before you throw your hands up in alarm,
consider this. Nothing, really, will have to
change. We are practicing all of my
suggestions already, only that we do it
secretly, instead of publicly. So why suffer at
both ends? Why not simply make the whole
issue legitimate, and be done with? For those
activists who keep predicting that corruption
will destroy us: has it done so? No! In fact,
corruption unites us all. The man from the
North and the man from the South can jointly
sit down together and loot everybody else.
What better demonstration of unity can you
get? Take a look at our major political party.
As long as it was corrupt, it was a united house.
Soon as some elements started pretending to
an air of righteousness: breakdown! That's a
lesson for us all: corrupted we stand,
pretended we fall.

Of course, everybody cringes from the word
"corruption". It does not sit well with our
super-religious nature. You see, corruption is
not our problem: the word "corruption" is the
real problem. We have to fight this word very
seriously. We will ban it from our languages,
and issue a Nigerian edition of the English
dictionary, erasing the word "corruption", and
redefining those actions that the world calls
"corruption" under names more suitable to our
spiritual palate: "facilitation", "logistics",
"miscellaneous", "appropriation" and so on and
so forth. We will wipe out the word
"corruption" from Nigeria.
Even though the advantages in a nationwide
legitimisation of what is currently referred to
as corrupt activity cannot be quantified, I will
attempt to summarise some obvious benefits in
the next paragraphs.

1. Conserving Public Funds
First, we will conserve the public funds
currently spent on "anti-corruption". We all
know this so called "fight against corruption"
is a mockery, a joke, but we keep spending
public funds on it anyway. This wasteful
spending will stop. With our new ideology, we
can cheerfully dismantle the EFCC, the ICPC
and all those special fraud units of the police
force. We will save: the money paid as salaries
to the idle staff of the agencies; the
expenses spent on importing technical
equipment that do nothing; and the monies
spent on investigations and prosecutions that
yield no results! Do the math, and you will see
the clear advantage in this.
Of course, there is the downside that
governments in power will no longer be able to
arrest political opponents on charges of
corruption: but that can be remedied by
setting up a Corruption Commission that would
investigate and arrest people who have a clean
balance sheet, but are opposed to the policies
of the government.
Even more splendidly, we can stop wasting all
the money we spend on elections, and simply
allow the politicians to sort themselves out
every four years—just as they have always
done.

2. Increased Public Revenue
Also, legitimising corruption will boost
government revenue. Taxes can be imposed on
income derived from corrupt—or rather,
"miscellaneous"—activities. A number of
Nigerians make more money illegitimately than
they make legitimately, with the legitimisation
of corruption, this excess income can be taxed
as well. Our Oga Perm Sec no longer has to
worry about keeping foreign bank accounts.
The government will take its percentage, no
questions asked. Here is the further usefulness
of this idea: the money stolen
—"appropriated"—from the government
coffers is taxed again by the government! And
so, instead of the money fleeing Nigeria to
other countries, it can be utilized here in
Nigeria, for the good of the general public.
Somehow.
On a related note, the government can also
factor corruption expenses into the national
budget—so that we all know that even though
N200bn has been budgeted for education this
year, only N10bn will actually be spent. As long
as we all know this from the start it's not
really an issue anymore, and the newspapers
can learn to shut up.

3. Contributing to Human Knowledge
Speaking of education: by legitimizing
corruption, we will open up a whole new field of
human endeavour. Finally, Nigeria can take
pride in its contribution to human philosophy
and knowledge. We will take strive for—and
pride ourselves in—the title of Most Corrupt
Country in the world. "419" will become a mark
of honour. Our most corrupt politicians will be
rewarded with even higher political offices.
Our football clubs will demonstrate how to
score a 100 goals in a 90minute game. Our
school syllabus will include corruption related
subjects; the school awards will go to the
students who can pass without even taking the
exam. We will launch degrees in Corruption
Studies, and encourage doctorates in Advance
Fee Fraud. Nigeria will become a centre of
learning, as people come from all over the
world to hear our most corrupt lecturers share
their inspirational success stories. We will be
the Giant of Africa once again, and this time,
for more valid reasons.

4. Increased Foreign Investment
We all love dollars, and legitimising corruption
will create an influx of even more dollars. This
may seem doubtful at first look, but consider
the possibilities. Shrewd businessmen will flock
from all over the world to hide their assets in
Nigeria, safe from the clutching fingers of
their anti-corruption agencies. International
corporations will prefer to do business in
Nigeria for the free money they will get—
therefore creating job opportunities for
Nigerians. And when things go bad, we will
readily grant asylum to international fugitives
wanted on corruption related charges, and even
pardon our indigenous fugitives convicted in
foreign courts. And, of course, we will swindle
our foreign investors from time to time—as a
matter of principle. And they will respect us
for that.

All Those Activists and Social Crusaders

We will have to shut them up, firmly. In fact, I
propose that we make anti-corruption a crime
straightaway. Anybody found discussing how to
fight corruption should be arrested and
charged as an economic saboteur. No one really
likes these people anyway—those impudent
people, always demanding their rights and what
have you; insisting on due process; criticising
the government, preaching to their fellow
citizens, refusing to bribe the policemen; and
generally making life uncomfortable for
everybody else around.
These people are selfish and ungrateful to the
system that produced them. They simply want
their voices to be heard and we don't need
their hypocritical protests. In fact, hanging is
too good for them. They should all be exiled
from Nigeria, and sent to Europe and the US
where their opinions are wanted.

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EVERYTHING IN NIGERIA IS GOING TO KILL YOU | By Ayo Sogunro

There are two things you need to note: first, the title above is not panic propaganda. Of course, it sounds like one, talks like one and smells like one, yet it's no propaganda, it's a fact. But even if you disagree with this premise, then let's call it propaganda, but it is one that has become necessary and urgent at this point.

Second, I'm quite serious about the intent stated in the title: Nigeria is out to kill you. The country is going to hell in a hand basket. This is not a drill. And we have arrived at this point simply because you don't care. If you understand this statement, then you need not read any further.

Are you are still wondering how we got to this point? There are many articles with superb analysis of the current crisis. These have listed all the factors responsible: from an incompetent president to malevolent and influential sponsors of terrorist activities. But the singular—if remote—cause of Nigeria's current situation is this: we stopped caring about Nigeria. At a point, we gave up on our government and country and became irrationally selfish.

Look, the struggle for food is real. Surviving in Nigeria today has boiled down to the ability to fill your stomach—literally and metaphorically—and the stomachs of your family members, I get that. I'm a part of that struggle. I earn my living as a lawyer and I try every day to live comfortably on my livelihood. Nigeria has no plan to feed you and you have to sort yourself out. I have no arguments against that in principle. Except this: you still have to care.

And here's what happened to me last night: I had just read about the new bomb blast in Abuja—almost immediately after reading an email from a client in Asia. The client's email was important—and as a professional, my response should be immediate and devoid of emotion. After all, money must be made. But yet, at that moment, I was possessed of a wild madness, for—within the larger scheme of things in Nigeria today—that email, the client and every other money-making channel is as self-sufficient as a bottle of water floating in a flood. I turned off my phone and went to bed, angry. Why? Because it doesn't matter how much I earn individually when my safety to earn the money is no longer guaranteed.

And that's the bad news: the Nigerian nightmare has changed. Nigeria has evolved from "not taking care of you" into "actively trying to kill you". Human induced deaths are intensifying. And as far as a reasonable layman's analysis can be relied on, things are going to get worse. Much worse.

The Igbos had a taste of this concept during the civil war. They understood the idea of a country being out to kill a portion of its citizens. Also, Nigerian society in general has also experienced this minutely in the deaths caused by bad roads, fake drugs, faulty constructions, poor health service and other substandard government services. Experiences that propelled us to, individually, search for alternatives from private sources or migrate to the care of foreign governments.

But these deaths at the hand of poor services are insignificant compared to what is coming for us now. Corruption kills slowly, but bombs and guns don't waste time. Things have escalated now, and both the government and the opposition have nothing to say. Nigeria is going to kill us all—and this is not a metaphor.

Unless you start caring.

You have to understand that the Nigerian struggle is no longer about feeding your family. It is now about keeping your family from being killed. Write this on wall: the struggle has changed. Nigeria isn't just a corrupt country anymore; it is now a dangerous country. And if you don't change your thinking and actions along with this fact, you are going to die—or someone close to you will.

And no, prayer isn't the answer now—if it ever was. If prayer is your thing, by all means, pray. You're going to need that confidence builder. But don't mistake the tranquilizer for the cure. Just as you install a car alarm and fasten the locks on your gate, you will also have to take some physical or mental action before you get killed by Nigeria.

And there's more bad news: you can't secure yourself by isolation. You can scramble to the top of your career all by yourself, you can fill your bank accounts by your own game plan, in fact—you don't need any help to get up and about in life. In life. Everything you're doing right now only makes sense because you expect to be alive in the next few minutes. But your safety is no longer a valid proposition.

And this is unfortunate because you can't prevent yourself from being killed—all by yourself. This is why man invented society. Because isolation is dangerous. Countries exist, principally to guarantee safety. But now, your country is out to kill you.

Unless you start thinking seriously, and start caring deeply, about Nigeria's fortunes now. Nigeria will kill you unless you start caring.

Look, you don't have to love Nigeria. You don't have to love this government or even love your fellow Nigerians. Love is a different issue entirely, and the gods know Nigeria—and probably your neighbour too—has done nothing to deserve your love. Love is a higher calling, it has to be earned. No, you need not love Nigeria. But you need to care about Nigeria. The same way you care about your education, the same way you care about your religion, the same way you care about your career, the way you care about your favourite sport or hobby. You have to reorient your priorities and place Nigeria at the top of your care list.

And if you still don't understand this, then you are the problem with Nigeria. And you deserve to die by its hands. You are too involved in your private battles that you are no longer in touch with the big picture. You can no longer see the wood for the trees. You're so caught up in your aspirations to become the main salary earner in your company that you forget there will be no company without a functional legal system. You bury your head in the sand of your goals and delight in your private accomplishments. Well, boardroom battles, market strategies, classroom troubles, bedroom issues—these will all vanish when the proverbial shit finally hits the proverbial fan. And the said shit has piled up.

You have to start caring now.

And no, caring isn't a tweet or two; caring isn't a Facebook like or simply sharing this article; caring isn't your anxious expression of concern while discussing at work; caring isn't just the 15 minute prayer topic in church.

Caring is your conscious and active engagement of the realities of your society and government through the exertion of your physical, mental and material resources.

See, society won't transform itself magically. There is no "society" out there, waiting to do as you say. Society is the collective identity of individuals. And if the individuals don't care, then society doesn't care. And that society will be destroyed. If you cannot stop what you're doing today—if you cannot stop it for a second and take some time to reflect on how your actions will restore some sanity to Nigeria—then you are the problem with Nigeria.

But you don't care. And so Nigeria is going to kill you.

And so, by all means continue to grow your cassava and your maize, pass your exams, do your job, earn your daily bread, pastor your churches, lead your prayers, teach your classes, fill out all those forms, strike that new deal, reply all your emails, and chase up those clients.

But unless you already have an exit plan for when things go to hell, then you might as well go to an undertaker and book your coffin today.

Because: everything in Nigeria is going to kill you.



Ayo Sogunro is the author of The Wonderful Life of Senator Boniface and other Sorry Tales. A lawyer by profession, he also indulges in socio-legal philosophy on this blog. Interact with him on Twitter via @ayosogunro.

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Chimamanda Adichie: The President I Want

Some of my relatives lived for decades in the North, in Kano and Bornu. They spoke fluent Hausa. (One relative taught me, at the age of eight, to count in Hausa.) They made planned visits to Anambra only a few times a year, at Christmas and to attend weddings and funerals. But sometimes, in the wake of violence, they made unplanned visits. I remember the word 'Maitatsine' – to my young ears, it had a striking lyricism – and I remember the influx of relatives who had packed a few bags and fled the killings. What struck me about those hasty returns to the East was that my relatives always went back to the North. Until two years ago when my uncle packed up his life of thirty years in Maiduguri and moved to Awka. He was not going back. This time, he felt, was different.

My uncle's return illustrates a feeling shared by many Nigerians about Boko Haram: a lack of hope, a lack of confidence in our leadership. We are experiencing what is, apart from the Biafran war, the most violent period in our nation's existence. Like many Nigerians, I am distressed about the students murdered in their school, about the people whose bodies were spattered in Nyanya, about the girls abducted in Chibok. I am furious that politicians are politicizing what should be a collective Nigerian mourning, a shared Nigerian sadness.

And I find our president's actions and non-actions unbelievably surreal.

I do not want a president who, weeks after girls are abducted from a school and days after brave Nigerians have taken to the streets to protest the abductions, merely announces a fact-finding committee to find the girls.

I want President Jonathan to be consumed, utterly consumed, by the state of insecurity in Nigeria. I want him to make security a priority, and make it seem like a priority. I want a president consumed by the urgency of now, who rejects the false idea of keeping up appearances while the country is mired in terror and uncertainty. I want President Jonathan to know – and let Nigerians know that he knows – that we are not made safer by soldiers checking the boots of cars, that to shut down Abuja in order to hold a World Economic Forum is proof of just how deeply insecure the country is. We have a big problem, and I want the president to act as if we do. I want the president to slice through the muddle of bureaucracy, the morass of 'how things are done,' because Boko Haram is unusual and the response to it cannot be business as usual.

I want President Jonathan to communicate with the Nigerian people, to realize that leadership has a strong psychological component: in the face of silence or incoherence, people lose faith. I want him to humanize the lost and the missing, to insist that their individual stories be told, to show that every Nigerian life is precious in the eyes of the Nigerian state.

I want the president to seek new ideas, to act, make decisions, publish the security budget spending, offer incentives, sack people. I want the president to be angrily heartbroken about the murder of so many, to lie sleepless in bed thinking of yet what else can be done, to support and equip the armed forces and the police, but also to insist on humaneness in the midst of terror. I want the president to be equally enraged by soldiers who commit murder, by policemen who beat bomb survivors and mourners. I want the president to stop issuing limp, belated announcements through public officials, to insist on a televised apology from whoever is responsible for lying to Nigerians about the girls having been rescued.

I want President Jonathan to ignore his opponents, to remember that it is the nature of politics, to refuse to respond with defensiveness or guardedness, and to remember that Nigerians are understandably cynical about their government.

I want President Jonathan to seek glory and a place in history, instead of longevity in office. I want him to put aside the forthcoming 2015 elections, and focus today on being the kind of leader Nigeria has never had.

I do not care where the president of Nigeria comes from. Even those Nigerians who focus on 'where the president is from' will be won over if they are confronted with good leadership that makes all Nigerians feel included. I have always wanted, as my president, a man or a woman who is intelligent and honest and bold, who is surrounded by truth-telling, competent advisers, whose policies are people-centered, and who wants to lead, who wants to be president, but does not need to – or have to- be president at all costs.

President Jonathan may not fit that bill, but he can approximate it: by being the leader Nigerians desperately need now.

Chimamanda Adichie is an award winning author.

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Incredible Woman In History: Hatshepsut (Queen of Egypt, 1479 - 1457 B.C)

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Today is the International Women's day, what you are about to read should motivate you if you are a woman and convince men out there to respect women a lot more. 

Hatshepsut was the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt. She's widely regarded as the first great woman in recorded history.


RISE TO POWER



Like in most parts of the world today, women were not in the mix to rule in Egypt. History tells us that Hatshepsut in fact took power for herself basically by force. She was the daughter of Thutmose I and wife to Thutmose II.

She's said to have declared herself Pharaoh after the death of her husband, denied her step-son who was the heir but was deemed too young at the time to rule but Hatshepsut didn't let him have his throne when he came of age.

"Welcome my sweet daughter, my favourite, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Maatkare, Hatshepsut. Thou art the King, taking possession of the Two Lands."

                                         - Hatshepsut claimed the god Amun spoke to her

REIGN AND ACHIEVEMENTS



Hatshepsut ruled for twenty-two years according to records and during her reign the economy in Egypt flourished.

Her reign ushered in lot of developmental projects in Egypt, hundreds of construction projects were commissioned. She also restored trade networks that were disrupted before her reign.

Hatshepsut's rule was summarily regarded as a time of peace and prosperity. Upon her death, her step-son who clearly developed hatred for her destroyed her monuments in bid to take revenge.

Even though Hatshepsut took power by force, a move which some opinionated people dislike and history can't tell us all we wish to know. I feel she defied the odds and became a great leader. She has her place in history and set the stage for women after her to keep going for it and this has practically proven that gender difference isn't pivotal in leadership.

Toward the end of her reign, Hatshepsut erected a second pair of obelisks at Karnak. On one the inscription reads: “Now my heart turns this way and that, as I think what the people will say—those who shall see my monuments in years to come, and who shall speak of what I have done.”


Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-queen-who-would-be-king-130328511/#ZIymhkI2sVJBJAX9.99
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Toward the end of her reign, Hatshepsut erected a second pair of obelisks at Karnak. On one the inscription reads: “Now my heart turns this way and that, as I think what the people will say—those who shall see my monuments in years to come, and who shall speak of what I have done.”


Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-queen-who-would-be-king-130328511/#ZIymhkI2sVJBJAX9.99
Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

Toward the end of her reign, Hatshepsut erected a pair of obelisks, on one the inscription read,

"Now my heart turns this way and that, as I think what people will say, those who shall see my monuments in years to come and who shall speak of what I have done."

Toward the end of her reign, Hatshepsut erected a second pair of obelisks at Karnak. On one the inscription reads: “Now my heart turns this way and that, as I think what the people will say—those who shall see my monuments in years to come, and who shall speak of what I have done.”


Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-queen-who-would-be-king-130328511/#ZIymhkI2sVJBJAX9.99
Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

Hatshepsut was a great and effective leader in my opinion, big mention to one of the women who defied stereotypical beliefs, She's indeed an "Incredible Woman In History".

Happy International Women's day!

“could scarcely wait to take the vengeance on her dead that he had not dared in life.”


Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-queen-who-would-be-king-130328511/#1umZbjJSsbsl0kkx.99
Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv
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“could scarcely wait to take the vengeance on her dead that he had not dared in life.”


Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-queen-who-would-be-king-130328511/#1umZbjJSsbsl0kkx.99
Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

“could scarcely wait to take the vengeance on her dead that he had not dared in life.”


Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-queen-who-would-be-king-130328511/#1umZbjJSsbsl0kkx.99
Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twit

    

THE BOOTCAMP (O.A.U) : Take A Stand

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WHAT:THE BOOTCAMP

WHEN: Friday, March 14, 2014. 5pm

WHERE: Amphitheatre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria

What is "THE BOOTCAMP"?

                           

The bootcamp is an organisation founded by Mr. Seun Fakuade in 2013 with the aim of ensuring citizens participate in the democratic process and in quest for the emergence of a "New Nigeria". SEE MORE HERE 
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What's the "fuss" about?

 The progress of this country has been stunted over the years mainly as a result of bad leadership. The trend of having same bad eggs at the helm of affairs has gone on for so long and is bound to continue if nothing is done to stop it. Poor leadership has led to serious indiscriminate killing of Nigerians, corruption unlimited, poverty and political/National injustice.
This is where Nigeria needs you and where "The Bootcamp" comes in.

 

The truth is a good number of us if not all of us wants this change. The little kids on the streets who have to hawk so that they and their parents don't die of hunger want change, the jobless university graduates who have to settle for dirty jobs want change, the government workers want change, we all dream of this "New Nigeria". The "New Nigeria" will never come to reality if you and I don't get involved...

Until All Nigerians make the progress of the country their business,the long-standing problem remains unsolved.
— Adedeji Oluwaferanmi (@ferans9) June 23, 2012

Over the years, certain men have benefited from our ignorance, refusal to act and our proclivity towards surviving by whatever means and have inflicted suffering on us (the masses).  If we stand aside and allow other men snatch the future of our generations to come away from them, history will never forgive us.

"The Bootcamp" is that platform that affords Nigerians the opportunity to, unite and discuss these National issues, map out strategies to bring the change we want, voice out against the excesses of those in government, reflect on our past and look to forge ahead, do away with our tribal, ethnic and religious differences and above all raise "The Replacement Generation".

 

WHO WILL BE THERE?

 

Seun Fakuade Follow @seunfakze
Yadoma Bukar Mandara  Follow @Yadomah  
Japheth Omojuwa Follow @omojuwa  
Chinedu Ekeke Follow @ekeke  
Seun Onigbinde Follow @seunonigbinde  
Mobolaji Ibrahim
Bukola Ogunyemi Follow @zebbook  
Bisi Ogunwale Follow @bisiogunwale  
Chuba Ezekwesili Follow @ChubaEzeks  
Niyi Fajimi    




UNITED WE STAND

                

Individually, everyone is a Nigerian. Fakuade is only a Nigerian, Omojuwa is just a Nigerian, Ekeke is only a Nigerian, Onigbinde is just a Nigerian, I'm only a Nigerian, you are just a Nigerian, but together we are not just Nigerians, WE ARE NIGERIA!

               

We are Nigeria, we want change and we won't sit in our houses and ask them for change but get it done. "The Replacement Generation" has come and the "New Nigeria" will come to be. Nigeria needs you and I to rescue her, TIME TO TAKE A STAND! BE THERE!