NIGERIA'S CURRENT 36 STATE STRUCTURE SHOULD BE SCRAPPED BECAUSE IT ONLY FAVORS CIVIL SERVANTS, POLITICIANS AND GOVERNMENT APPOINTEES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

"Osun State Will Not Pay State Workers March Salaries. According to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the government will not be able to pay the State Secretariat's electricity bills, let alone its N2.6bn wage bill." Sahara Report

There are around 24 states with the same problem that Osun State is currently facing but we keep running away from the practical solutions to these problems.

The jamboree constitutional conference on which over N7 billion was wasted in 2014 only exposed the underbelly of some of our politicians especially those who call themselves Afenifere who had for many years championed the idea of restructuring our federal system into a true federal system with just 6 regions but by the time they got their share of the proverbial national cake at the Conference, they came out with a recommendation for the creation of over 80 states.

The 9 Ingredients to Success.. By Olusola Kish

Success is available to anyone who wants to pay the price for it; it’s available to anyone who can afford its costly rate.  Which begs the questions: do you want it, and can you afford it?

The 9 Ingredients to Success:

1.       Luck

I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. – Ecclesiastes 9:11 

…If you are born the son of Earl Woods, teacher and golf fanatic, you have a much better chance at becoming Tiger Woods.  This is indeed self-evident; if you were born the child of actor Jerry and actress Anne Stiller, your chances of becoming Ben Stiller (American actor) increase significantly.  

In some ways, we are all lucky: it may be where you were born, when you were born, or a million other possibilities, but in some way, you are lucky.

2.       The Right Physical Attributes, or the Right Genetics 

… but time and chance happen to them all. – Ecclesiastes 9:11

Once again, some things related to success are out of your hands.  If you’re 6 foot 6 inches tall, you have a much better chance of becoming Michael Jordan.  If you’re 6 foot 6 inches tall, you have virtually no chance of becoming a gymnast.  If you were born with vocal cords like Celine Dion, you have a good chance of becoming a singer, if you were born with vocal cords like mine, then, well, not so much.

Sometimes You Need to Break It By Olusola KIsh

 

Sometimes You Need to Break It
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you
should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye
on you.
Psalm 32:8 (NIV)


Years ago I read a book by Robert J. Kriegel and
Louis Patler entitled If it Ain't Broke...Break it. In
direct opposition to the old saying "If it ain't
broke, don't fix it," the authors proposed that
some things, even though they seem to be
working, should be changed.

We can be stubborn and argue all of the reasons
why we shouldn't change, but sometimes change
is simply necessary. In fact, you change for one of
two reasons: wisdom or crisis.
You can either lead change or have change drag
you kicking and screaming in directions you don't
want to go.

Many people wait for a crisis to change. Some
don't take their health seriously until they are
faced with a major illness; others refuse to make
changes in their management approach until
great employees have quit. Some churches refuse
to change until attendance has dipped so low that
they're having trouble keeping the lights on. They
wanted to avoid change, but change is coming
regardless--even if that change comes in the form
of having to close their doors.

The Deluded Son Of An Ethnic Miscarriage: A Rejoinder To Femi Fani-Kayode's Verbal Masturbation, By Usama Dandare

"The year was 1965. I was an innocent starry-eyed 13 year-old and Nigeria was in turmoil. It was the era of the "wetie," when the houses of politicians and key public-figures were burnt down in the brouhaha that was then Western Nigeria.

We lived in Oke-Ado in Ibadan and our next-door neighbour was Chief Ogundiran, a minister in the government of Chief S.L. Akintola , the Premier of the Western Region. (Ogundiran was famous for only wearing white.) In the spirit of the times, a mob came early one morning and burnt down his house. He jumped out of the window and managed to escape.

Fani-Power, Fani-igbo: I was having private lessons in Mathematics at the home of a colleague, Enitan Abiodun, when we heard the noise of a crowd outside. We rushed to the veranda to see Chief Remi Fani-Kayode (alias Fani-Power), then Deputy Governor of the Western Region, standing on the seat of a moving convertible. He was surrounded by a mob, which was shouting and hailing him. On hearing the noise, Enitan's mother rushed to the veranda shouting "Awo!" only to discover that the people outside were not supporters of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, but those of his arch-enemies.

The shout of "Awo!" by Mrs. Abiodun brought the procession to a screeching halt. "Who said that? Who said that?" demanded the mob, enraged. "Fani-Power" turned and looked up at us. His eyes were the usual blood-shot red. At the time, many claimed it was because he regularly smoked Indian-hemp. Fani-Kayode pointed to our building and identified to his thugs that the offending shout came from our direction. We did not know that the floor of the convertible he was standing in was loaded with empty bottles. His thugs reached for the bottles and rained them down on us as we all scrambled back inside the house for dear life." Femi Aribisala describing Chief Remi Fani-Kayode, the father of Femi Fani-Kayode.

THE CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST FOR GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN AND HIS CABAL! By Dr. Idris Ahmed.

Last week, we learnt that angry former ministers and senior PDP officials under Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had an emergency meeting during which they threatened to expose him for being duplicitous in the theft of $2.1 billion meant for defence procurement. They vowed to carryout their threat unless he intervenes and stops the EFCC from prosecuting them. 

What a load of balderdash from ill informed shameless thieves and enemies of the Nigerian state!

Unless one is delusional and mentally deranged to think so, what powers does Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has to stop the lawful prosecution of financial and war criminals in Nigeria?

Grow a Pair. You’ll Go Far in Life. Steve Tobak

If you actually have the courage to say what you mean, mean what you say, and stand up for your principles, even when that flies in the face of prevailing cultural norms, will it ever come back to haunt you someday?

I really couldn't say, but if that ever happens to me, you'll be the first to know.

Don't get me wrong. I've shot myself in the foot more times than I care to remember. After all, nobody's perfect, least of all me. But personality disorders and dysfunctions aside, being genuine and speaking my mind have served me well. I highly recommend it, with certain caveats..

Being comfortable in your own skin and having the courage to be you is a way of being, not a reason for being or raison d'etre, as they say. It's a way of behaving, not your purpose on Earth.

Still on the Kaduna State Religious Preaching Bill... By Yakub Aliyu

Still on the Kaduna State Religious Preaching Bill...

Now it seems that both Muslim and Christian religious leaders are not sincere and even overtly hypocritical. And the media is also complicit in playing the two sides just to achieve their commercial interests.

Otherwise, if Muslim and Christian leaders are truthful to their calling why are they afraid of subjecting themselves to the laws of the land?

Are they telling us that all that we hear in cassettes and CDs of some preachers in the markets, motor parks, along the road side and other public arenas, with all the hate speeches and outright charlatanism should be left without any check, even if that will, with time, result in some violence and killings, as we have experienced in the last two decades or so?

WHERE ARE THE OWNERS OF THOSE HOUSES ❓ By Tola Adeniyi

🔻When I wrote Visit the Mortuary in the Sunday Times early in 1974, the motive was to draw attention to the emerging decay in our national ethos brought about by the emergency millionaires created by the Civil War, the Udoji bonanza, and the untouchables in the Gowon administration.

🔻It was the era of lavish parties where bundles of wads of currency notes were thrown at the feet of musicians or pasted on the foreheads of sweating celebrants.

🔻I was at the Church service for the funeral of my former boss Mr Kola Bamgbelu's father and had my nostrils confronted by the heavily perfumed, gaily dressed women whose well packaged and padded buttocks were bulging through the pews they sat on. It was the most lavish display of wealth and opulence I ever saw.

HOW TO SPOT A SPONSORED CAMPAIGN. By Tope Fasua

In the Jonathan days i had cause to explain to people how to spot a sponsored protest. I will try again. And this works in every occasion - especially in Nigeria. No matter what someone tells you, in Nigeria, a sponsored protest will:

1. Usually sport very expensive banners. The people's protests are usually haphazard, spontaneous and... cheap.

2. Letterings on banners will usually be monotone, big, clear and ready for cameras/tv. The people's protest will be scrawled by different people and written in bad english and illegible writings. 

3. Sponsored protests will be well-arranged and choreographed. They would have received briefings on how to act and what to do. The only issue is that you can see the poverty among those who are fighting for the big men/women. The people's protest are usually done by people looking rather average - not too poor, not rich as well.

IT MUST BE SAID By Olaoluwakitan Martins

"Even if she made a mistake in her mathematics, she made a good point. She is focusing on the civil service leakages. The biggest in this country"

~ Ken Agala

****

The story of Kemi Adeosun's 16+6 equals 24 gaffe took FB by storm in the past few days that i have to celebrate those card-carrying PDP folks, especially those FB celebrities among them, who have not allowed themselves to sink to the deepest depths of gutter politics and have urged restraint among their followers. It is the reason i have reproduced the quote above.

I say shame on those, who as usual are so infinitely obtuse as to persist in their acts of ignominy.

They will often say, one takes matters too seriously, to which i say, life itself is serious. It is serious when you shamelessly engage in acts, not once, but many times, of besmirching the reputation of an individual to enhance your partisan objectives.

Inside the underbelly of the savaging of Kemi Adeosun is the usual ethnically-motivated perfidious proclivity that is the bane of our politics; that has always been at the epicenter of our coexistence in Nigeria.

This phenomenon of supporting or defending one of our own and castigating the other is clearly evident here.

DELE MOMODU, POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM AND MASSES' COMPLACENCY. By Yahaya Balogun

"Integrity and honor are not common, deceit and opportunism are easily accessible" - Yahaya Balogun

"President Buhari, this obsession with 'they stole our money', is too much. We know Jonathan did not do anything that's why we sacked him. So Buhari, do your own. If the gods cannot improve our lives they should please maintain it. If you are hungry you will grumble, and I am hungry". - Dele Momodu
#LyingLiar

The statement above was credited to Dele Momodu. He was hungry for power, and he was denied power, therefore, he grumbles. President Buhari knows he is an existential disadvatage to his government. He was shrugged at the presidency. Some of us who were acquainted with his surreptitious moves penultimate the elections of 2015 cried out. We are being vindicated by the judgement of history now.  "A few people of integrity can go a long way." -  Bill Kauth.

Dele Momodu was dissappionted by not being appointed into Buhari's cabinet. Buhari is a principled man. He understands his stealthy political moves. Buhari is ahead of his likes in thought process; he knows their grandstanding and body language.
"Wisdom is knowing the right path to take. Integrity is taking it." - M.H. McKee.

AMAKA...

Standing at the front of the lecture hall in his well fitted
black suit with a green tie was Professor Iyagba.

"Stand up!" He had thundered. I knew if he had to repeat
himself again or come over to pull me up I'll be in a lot
more trouble so I reluctantly stood up murmuring a silent
prayer to my God.

"I'm so sorry sir..." I said once I had stood up leaning
slightly on the desk at my front.

"Would you stand up right!" He thundered once more. He
sounded a lot louder this time, I felt a cold shiver run down
my spine. I did as told.

DECONSTRUCTING FANI KAYODE, THE PRETENDER

It is pertinent to take a closer look at the real FFK beyond the façade we see.
1. He claims to have graduated from Cambridge University in the United
Kingdom. But it is one thing for FFK to pass through Cambridge; it is
another thing for Cambridge to have passed through him. All Oxbridge
products we knew and interacted with have in common, one thing at
least: civility, refinement and literate. Evidently FFK is the direct
opposite of these attributes. He comes through as uncultured, crude,
uncouth and greedy.

2. He claims to be a lawyer. But without a law chamber, without a
legal practice, and a without a legal career very untypical of lawyers
from the South-west. We learnt from good authourity that he inherited
a very robust legal chamber from his late father but he was unable to
make a success of it. What a tragedy.

ALL NIGERIANS ARE WEED-SMOKERS!

I had just moved out of my parents house and was sharing a room with my "friend". I had no idea he smoked weed, despite his suspicious movements and signature weed scent(abi na odour?) barely two weeks after moving in with him, my worst fears were confirmed as he started bringing home his weed smoking buddies and they would occassionally roll a wrap and smoke it right there in the room or mix the weed with beans or spagehtti. Being a very curious person i always wondered what made them happy after smoking, so i decided to find out for myself(wrong move)


It was a very hot day in february, a saturday i think it was, my friend was out as usual. I searched everywhere for his stash but couldn't find it so i decided to go and get mine. I arrived the weed joint all sweaty and nervous, half expecting to get muged but nobody seemed to be aware of my presence there, they were all on different planets all expect one i concluded that he must be the seller so i approached him and the following conversation ensued: